Silverymoon
Long a powerful and influential member of the Lords’ Alliance — and, for its entire existence, the Silver Marches of Luruar — Silverymoon is what many cities aspire to be: a quiet, peaceful realm, where many races live together for common knowledge, celebration, and defense. The city is peopled primarily by the “goodly” races (humans, dwarves, gnomes, elves, halflings, and half-elves), but no being is turned away from Silverymoon because of its race — though a drow or an orc proving true to one’s blood is sure to be punished in full for transgressing against the peace of the city. I will make no secret of my love for my home in the following summary, but I will endeavor to be as evenhanded as I can in describing it.
The Gem of the North is a stunning place of sweeping curves, soaring towers, and structures built into the living trees. To many elves, the city is a reminder of the ancient elven cities of old; some call it the Myth Drannor of the North, even nowadays after the restoration and subsequent fall of that fabled city. Even where stone is employed in construction, ivy and other living plants grow through, over, or around most structural elements, giving most of the city a green cast.
Despite its arboreal architecture, Silverymoon is very much civilized, boasting schools of music and magic, a great library, bardic instruction, and temples or shrines to Mielikki, Oghma, Silvanus, Sune, Tymora, and Mystra. Knowledge, both the acquisition of it and the wisdom that comes from diligent study, is the real treasure of Silverymoon, as much as magic or wealth could ever be.
While it is easy and pleasing enough to get lost among the trees of the city, anyone who comes close enough to the River Raurin is awed by the vision of the Moonbridge: the great arch of silvery force that spans the water. Even for those native to the city, it is a powerful, moving sight, and some claim to see the goddess Lurue (for whom the city is named) dancing above the motes of the bridge when no one else is watching.
Given its beauty, a visit to Silverymoon is among the most memorable experiences most non-Silvaeren might have. Even among those that regularly fight monsters or handle magic, Silverymoon is a place of quiet, contemplative beauty, splendid opportunities for learning, and respite from the harsher realities of the North.
Folk seeking knowledge that has been lost or hidden often come to Silverymoon seeking a means to find it, whether by studying in the Vault of the Sages or perusing the Map House for the location of a lost city or grove. These are but two of the many buildings and houses of learning in the Conclave of Silverymoon, the great center of knowledge and wisdom that forms much of the city’s southern part. If a map, a book, or a spell exists anywhere in Faerûn, knowledge of it likely exists here, even if only a mere mention in a tome or a recollection of one of the city’s great sages. Candlekeep might be the greatest assembly of written knowledge anywhere in the world, but in the end, that place represents accumulation for its own sake. Silverymoon is where study and wisdom are honored. If your charge is to translate an ancient tome in a lost language, to learn the proper intonation of a complex song, or to better understand the cryptic writings of a long-dead sage, there is no better place to seek aid than Silverymoon.
It is an easy thing to come to Silverymoon seeking knowledge of one subject, and find oneself so enraptured by the study that it takes a lifetime to accomplish — or to realize that it was the study, rather than the sought-after fact, that one truly desired. Although tutors and sages in every field can be found In Silverymoon, rarely is interaction with one so simple as to ask a question and be provided an answer. Learning to cast a particular spell, to find an ancient ruin, or understand a specific secret might involve undergoing months of instruction to prove to a teacher that the knowledge imparted is being entrusted to a deserving person.
In the east of the city is the High Palace, capital of the city and of the fallen state of Luruar. Lord Methrammar Aerasumé lives in this high, slender-spired structure. The merlons of its battlements are carved to resemble unicorn heads. The soldiers of the High Guard, clad in shining silver plate, protect the residence and seat of power, and keep those out that don’t have business within.
Silverymoon has long been led by a high mage. One of the longest ruling, and certainly the most influential of these, Alustriel Silverhand, stepped down more than a hundred years ago to become the High Lady of Luruar, and was succeeded by Taern Hornblade. Though he ruled wisely over the last century, Taern recently relinquished the city’s leadership to High Marshal Methrammar Aerasumé, Alustriel’s half-elf son and the leader of Silverymoon’s armed forces. Taern still speaks for the city on Methrammar’s behalf at meetings of the Lords’ Alliance, as the new ruler is far too blunt and impatient to suit the other lords of the compact.
Silverymoon is defended by several forces. First are the Knights in Silver, the shining-armored warriors that patrol the city and the nearby lands. Officers of the Knights are well trained in tactics and military history, and have high opinions of their own abilities and those of their comrades — opinions that are very often borne out. They are bolstered by the Spellguard, a cadre of powerful wizards and sorcerers that train in battle magic. Last is the city’s own mythal, the great field of magical force that prevents the inhabitants of the city from engaging in all manner of spellcasting. In particular, spells that summon flame, conjure creatures, or permit teleportation fail when their target is within the bounds of the mythal. Should a foe try to traverse the Moonbridge, the span can be willed (by the city’s rulers, and certain others specially attuned to the mythal) out of existence, dropping attackers into the river.
No city’s prestige was harmed more than Silverymoon’s by the recent war and the subsequent dismantling of the Silver Marches. Though they tried to bolster the nearby cities, the Silvaeren were accused of providing insufficient and incompetent support to Sundabar, the surface population of which was entirely wiped out. In the end, all of the dwarven states stepped away from Luruar, and without the support of those kingdoms or the leadership that Alustriel provided at its founding, the confederacy collapsed. Taern Hornblade isn’t as powerful a voice in the Lords’ Alliance as Alustriel was, either, in part because his affection and respect for the former High Lady has been extended, in large part, to her sister Laeral, now the Open Lord of Waterdeep.
Despite reports of her death decades ago, rumors have recently reached the city that High Lady Alustriel is in fact alive and active in southern lands. Seemingly, she has contacted neither her son nor her former comrade, Taern Hornblade — though given how widely known Taern’s hopeless love for the High Lady was, and the long years he took to overcome his grief, it’s not certain how he would react upon receiving proof of her survival.
Silverymoon has nonetheless long been known as a safe haven for Harpers in the North, because the city doesn’t see the aims of the Alliance as conflicting with Those Who Harp. Where other cities’ rulers might see the presence of the Harpers as a threat to their authority, Silverymoon desires an end to tyranny as fervently as the Harpers do, and thus the greater good is served. At the same time, some Silvaeren believe that the city’s tolerance of certain other members of the Alliance (some mention Mirabar, others Baldur’s Gate) is somewhat naive.
Demographics
| Species | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Humans | 41% |
| Elves | 41% |
| Shield dwarf | 10% |
| Lightfoot halflings | 5% |
| Gnomes | 2% |
| Other | 1% |
Government
Silverymoon is a constitutional magocratic republic, overseen by a High Mage.
When Alustriel was still in power, the politics of the city flowed smoothly. Legal disputes were delegated over in the morning with spare time left for private appointments with those who request them. In the evening, she declared any new laws or decrees, met with foreign delegations and oversaw policy debates. If these debates went on for too long, she would ask that the arguments be submitted to her in written form and then these would be copied and distributed freely to the citizenry. The public would themselves argue about the matter and then their written opinions were collected the next day and, guided by her own experience, Alustriel would cobble together the final policy.
Defences
The Silverwatch policed Silverymoon's streets while the Moon Garrison protected the city from external threats.
The Knights in Silver
Silverymoon's primary fighting forces were the famed Knights in Silver, named as such by the the adventurer and bard, Mintiper Moonsilver. These gallant humans and half-elves were a hearty group, even in the face of sundry threats to the city and the North at large, but their enthusiasm was nothing if not earned, having repeatedly claimed victory in battles that others would call hopeless. The assistance of the Mistmaster or the Shadowcloak, two mysterious mages, in winning these combats did little to undermine the importance of the Knights' willpower and temerity.12
By 1372 DR, they were led by a paladin named Sernius Alathar,21 and recruitment was overseen by Recruiting Master Mazillor Shatterstave, who scrutinized each potential applicant for suitability among their ranks.41 Under Mazillor's watch the Knights in Silver rose to 704 members.42
Although the Knights were often found protecting the walls of Silverymoon, they were also sent on patrols of the wilderness around the city in a radius of 50 miles (80 kilometers). On these sojourns, they were always accompanied by a wizard or sorcerer of the Spellguard, another one of the city's standing armies.43
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The Spellguard
The Spellguard,21 led by the half-elf wizard, Jorus Azuremantle,44 was established in 1255 DR as a personal bodyguard for Alustriel herself. Over the intervening years, however, it grew to into a city-wide force, spreading their duties between the High Palace and the rest of Silverymoon. By 1372 DR, the Spellguard numbered 32 members, 7 of which were Warders that oversaw the activities of the rest.41
The High Guard
Veterans of the Knights in Silver were the only people allowed to work as part of the High Guard, a subsection of Silverymoon's military that was solely and directly responsible for the security of the High Palace and its environs.45
The Argent Legion
The army of the Confederation of the Silver Marches, composed of soldiers from every signatory of the confederation, also resided in Silverymoon for a time. This group, known as the Argent Legion, was led by a High Marshal. The first among these was a half-elven man of prodigious skill, both as a fighter and a wizard, by the name of Methrammar Aerasumé.44
Magical Defenses
The Arbatel was a magical instrument, a tome crafted of beaten mithril plates, which was intended to assist in the continued protection of Silverymoon. Orjalun, its creator and one of the city's past rulers, was aided by some of the city's elven smiths in engraving within it spells that he believed would come most useful to Silverymoon, acting as a kind of permanent repertoire that would outlast him and his wisdom. The Arbatel, however, was unfortunately lost soon after its crafting, being stolen by Orjalun's successor, Sepur.46
Later, by 1357 DR, the mage known as Irentalar invented the cloaks of reflection. Any messengers or rangers employed in the name of Silverymoon were bestowed one such magic item.
Industry & Trade
Silverymoon minted its own coin, the moon. It was valued at 2gp and was accepted throughout the Silver Marches.36 Some of the good produced in and exported out of Silverymoon was a variety of white wine with a distinct blue tint: Silverymoon Blue. It became all the rage in Ravens Bluff in the late 14th century DR.15
Given the isolated and dangerous nature of the land around Silverymoon, merchants traveling to and from the city would sometimes hire the help of the Company of the Wolf, a capable adventuring company of the Northern Interior.37 The city was also home to an outpost of the Six Coffers Market Priakos, a widespread and successful mercantile company.38
Silverymoon often saw overland trade arriving from the rich mines of Sundabar,20 but by 1357 DR, excursions through Silverymoon Pass were often reaved by orc patrols from the Citadel of Many Arrows. Though the stronghold was an everpresent threat to both cities, sometimes coming as far as to attack the city gates themselves, its vast forces made it impossible for Silverymoon to eradicate them.
Districts
Silverymoon was the largest city of the Interior North,1220 with the River Rauvin splitting it into two sections: Northbank and Southbank. Northbank was the older section of the city.24 It was shaped roughly like a half-circle and had three gates in its wall at west, north, and east. A large area known as the Market divided Northbank west and east, cutting from the wall to the Docks at the river. There were many shops around the Docks. The High Palace was located on the eastern side of Northbank, just inside the walls. Most places of worship and the houses of the nobles were also located on the eastern side.25
Southbank was originally an area for caravan business and warehouses, but it expanded to become nearly as large as Northbank and was known for containing most of the schools that were part of the famous Conclave of Silverymoon.
History
Silverymoon became a city in Uktar 637 DR, when a stone wall was built around it for the first time and the first ruler of Silverymoon, High Mage Ecamane Truesilver, was elected.49 Prior to that it was mainly a village of wooden buildings named Silver Village. It was built at a location considered sacred to the patron deity of rangers, Mielikki, and the unicorn goddess Lurue. Since that time the settlers sought to work with nature rather than against it, a decision that is said to have compelled the aforementioned deities to bless the site.50
Ecamane Truesilver was instrumental in setting the foundation to the city's enduring (and totally justified) fame of a center of lore and knowledge throughout the North (often called "Myth Drannor of the North", as it was an echo of the legendary capital of the Elven Court). Truesilver founded a library and subsequent rulers of the city pursued artistic endeavors and further consolidated Silverymoon as a place where art, culture, lore, and magic are highly valued before his death in 712 DR. Ecamane was followed by his nephew, Aglanthol the Red as the second High Mage of Silverymoon. When Myth Drannor fell in 714 DR, some prominent scholars found shelter in the city, but they were followed by the demons that destroyed their home. The then reigning High Mage, Aglanthol, perished in the ensuing fight in 719 DR. His successor, Ederan Nharimlur, by contrast, reigned for many years in peace. It was in his reign that the city almost doubled in size.9
Upon Ederan's death in 784 DR, his daughter Amaara Nharimlur became the High Mage of Silverymoon. In 815 DR, Elué Dualen arrived in the city and befriended Amaara and her sister Lynx. In 821 DR, Elué and Lynx established the Lady's College, the first open school for mages in Silverymoon to take students, not apprentices, and as payment for tutelage required an equal amount of time of service in defense of the city. In 843 DR Elué and other wizards created the Moonbridge, the city's most famous landmark9 along with the wards of Silverymoon.51 Eventually Elué became High Mage in 857 DR after Amaara left for Evermeet. Elué left the post in 876 DR with Lynx.9
The succession of High Mages was disrupted in 876 DR, when the warlord Lashtor, then commander of the city's army, took the city by force, destroying many important buildings and killing many wizards in the process. He could not remain in power for more than a year, however, as he was deposed by Tanalanthara Mytersaal, a mage also known as Lady Wolf. Lady Wolf sacrificed herself in 882 DR while fending off a horde of orcs.52
The next High Mage was chosen by the people of Silverymoon to be Tanisell the Cloaked, who during his reign strengthened the wards of the city and constructed the Vault of the Sages. In 920 DR the Keeper of the Vault of Sages, Nunivytt Threskaal, succeeded Tanisell. Threskaal reigned for over a hundred years in peace until his death during 1050 DR.53
High Mage Orjalun was the next to take up the mantle of rulership and oversaw a reign that included the emergence of many famed mages such as Ahghairon and Bowgentle.53
Circa 1057 DR, the great dwarfhold of Citadel Felbarr, north-east of Silverymoon, was left behind by the Stout Folk. Very soon after, more than three thousand Silvaeren soldiers and other military officers were sent to occupy the keep,2754 seeking to annex it into an outpost to the nearby Ice Mountains and Coldwood. The Silvaeren hoped for mineral wealth, to bolster their coffers of gold and silver—the latter of which was in particularly low supply—but they also sought massive trees, which they thought to use in the building of their ships.54 It was almost immediately after the Citadel was garrisoned that nearby orc tribes began skirmishing with the human forces.2754
For 50 long years, Silverymoon held to Felbarr. This was only until they found themselves surrounded by an awful horde of orcs, which had charged the Citadel from Dead Orc Pass, the mountain cleft between the Silvaeren and the wilderness they sought to explore.2754 It was said that, so numerous were the orcs, it was impossible for the arrows flooding the sky to miss.54 Though the onslaught was endless, and though the garrison's forces were decidedly not, they nonetheless shot everything they had into the orcs, missiles both mundane and magical. The Battle of Many Arrows, as it came to be known, lasted for over four months, with orc corpses piling higher and higher against the Citadel's walls until their still-unrelenting brethren finally crested the Silvaeren's defenses. The monsters butchered Silverymoon's people, and wrested control of their base to the east.2754
Another disaster befell Silverymoon in the year 1150 DR, a plague against which nearly half the city's inhabitants perished.53
In 1230 DR, Orjalun appointed the next High Mage as Sepur. After two years Sepur disappeared from the city, resulting in an elected mayor ruling for the next three years.6
The first time that an enemy broke through the walls inside the city, though, was in 1235 DR, when the commander of the army, Khallos Shieldsunder, forcibly gained control of the city while under siege by an orc horde. The orcs, as has been stated, managed to enter the city, but the combined forces of the elves and the Harpers led by Alustriel Silverhand and her sister Storm Silverhand successfully repelled the attack.55
Alustriel subsequently became the city's only ruler to have been unanimously chosen by the people, and the only one to have reigned for so long.55
By 1357 DR, Silverymoon, as well as Sundabar and Citadel Adbar, had faced direct attacks from the demons of Hellgate Keep.28 Though the fiends were turned back, the armed forces of these three cities rallied together with those of nearby Everlund to block off Turnstone Pass, clashing near-endlessly to maintain their strategic hold on the valley and keep their enemies from the northern cities.2028
As part of the First Dragonspear War, the northerly village of Triboar was ransacked, such that, by Mirtul of the Year of Shadows, 1358 DR, its citizens and those of nearby towns had fled. The Gem of the North was one city the refugees escaped to.56
Alustriel's reign officially ended in 1369 DR, when she stepped down, passing the city's supreme office to her trusted adviser Taern "Thunderspell" Hornblade. She assumed the title of High Lady of the Silver Marches in 1371 DR (the year the confederation was born) and became the leading figure of authority in the new-found confederation.19
When the Spellplague struck Silverymoon, it broke the city's mythal. All hope was not lost, however, as this meant it protected the city from the brunt of the Plague's effects.57
Silverymoon was involved in the destructive War of the Silver Marches between 1484 DR and 1485 DR, still under Taern's leadership as of 1485 DR.58 However the city's lacklustre efforts to help Sundabar during the war tarnished its reputation.5960
By 1489 DR, High Mage Taern Hornblade had stepped down as ruler of the city and Methrammar Aerasumé took over as Lord of Silverymoon. Despite this, Taern still spoke for the city among the Lords' Alliance.
Points of interest
Northbank
Gates
- The Moorgate (A3)
- Hunter's Gate (E1)
- Sundabar Gate (H4)
- Sundabar Commons (G4)
Taverns & Inns
- Bright Blade Brandished (A4)
- Golden Oak Inn & Temple to Shiallia61 (C3)
- Wayward House (Formerly, the Inn of the Wayward Sages62) (D2)
- The Dancing Goat14 (E3)
- Helmer's Wall (D2)
- The Stagstand (E2)
Shops
- Optym's Blade (D2)
- The Shining Scroll (D3)
- Adbar Trading Coster (G4)
- The Hammer and the Helm (C2)
- A Handful of Stars (D1)
- The Wyrmworks on Many Cats Lane
Temples & Religious Sites
- Golden Oak Inn & Temple to Shiallia61 (C3)
- The House Invincible (F1)
- Rhyester's Matins (G1)
- Everdusk Hall (G2)
- The Halls of Inspiration (G2)
- The Temple of Silver Stars (G2)
- Fortune Hall (G2)
- The Tower of Balance (H2)
- Silverglen (G3)
- Arkhen's Invocatorium (former site) (G3)
- House of the Harp (F1)
- Utrumm's Music Conservatory (former site) (G1)
- The Map House (F3)
- Everdusk Hall (G2)
Other Notable Sites
- The Docks (C4 & E4)
- The Market (F1–F3)
- Eastern Garrison Barracks (B2)
- The High Palace (H3)
- Star Court (H3)
- The Main Gate (formerly) (D4)
- The Moonbridge (E4)
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Southbank
Gates
- Blacklar Gate (C6)
- Mulgate (E6)
Taverns
Religious Sites
- Mielikki's Glade (F5)
- Arkhen's Invocatorium (D6)
- The Lady's College (D5)
- Vault of the Sages (E5)
- Miresk's School of Thaumaturgy (D5)
- Utrumm's Music Conservatory (B5)
Other Notable Sites
- The Moonbridge (E4)
- The Guardposts (F5)
- Western Garrison Barracks (E5)
- Spellguard Isle (G5)
Geography
To the immediate east of Silverymoon was Silverymoon Pass,27 and the city of Sundabar beyond it,20 while to the Gem's west hid the Heralds’ Holdfast.2028 Moving south would lead one first to Everlund,2023 and then to the north-western reaches of the awe-inspiring High Forest.
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