Silverymoon

Silverymoon was often dubbed "the Gem of the North", for it resembled and emulated the (formerly) lost elven city of Myth Drannor in many respects. It was one of the few civilized places in the middle of the rough and untamed wilderness that was the North of Faerûn. It had a rich cultural life and was renowned as a meeting place for all races that were morally inclined towards good. Even the occasional drow with good intentions (most notably the famous ranger Drizzt Do'Urden) could eventually find hospitality in the city of Silverymoon. Though this has changed with the advent of the Aerundal mageocracy, the city still claims to be the shining beacon of civilization in the north.
The city was divided into two sections, Northbank and Southbank, divided by the River Rauvin. Northbank was the older section of the city. 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.
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.
The city was said to contain dwarven tunnels beneath its streets, but they were collapsed following lady Alustriel's death.

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. 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.
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.
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 landmark along with the wards of Silverymoon. Eventually Elué became High Mage in 857 DR after Amaara left for Evermeet. Elué left the post in 876 DR with Lynx.
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.
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, Threskaal, succeeded Tanisell. Threskaal reigned for over a hundred years in peace until his death during 1050 DR. 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. However another disaster that befell Silverymoon was a plague in the year 1150 DR. nearly half the city's inhabitants perished because of it. In 1230 DR, Orjalun appointed the next High Mage as Sepur. After two years Sepur disappred from the city, resulting in an elected mayor ruling for the next three years.
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.
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. Alustriel's reign was a blessing to the people of Silverymoon.
Silverymoon was involved in the destructive War of the Silver Marches between 1484 DR and 1485 DR. However the city's lacklustre efforts to help Sundabar during the war tarnished its reputation.

The Mageocracy of Silverymoon

In 1536, at the end of the war, Lady Alustriel was assassinated by Drow assassins allied with the orcs of many-arrow.
Following the death of Lady Alustriel, Archmage Aerundal ascended to the role of High Mage of Silverymoon. He immediately recalled all forces from the north and closed the city off from the outside world. As the Elven people mourned the death of the champion of Mystra, Aerundal set in motion plans to establish magical trade routes using teleportation magic.
The city would be closed off to the outside world save for a market place ringed by portals to every major city in the sword coast (save Mithral Hall). Before the year was over, the market place had been established and supplies were streaming in regularly from across the region. Over the next century, the importance of pure elven bloodlines was emphasized through propaganda and, in some cases, magical persuasion. Citizenship in Silverymoon became dependent on racial purity, with all "lesser" peoples being relegated to the market ward. The most recent and controversial change in Silverymoon has been the exclusion of the Wood Elves of the moonwood from entering the city and the banning of druidic magic among the mages of Silverymoon.
Rumours of dissident elements within the city are beginning to take shape, but the Mageocracy's scrying eyes are ever present and any open rebellion is far from the minds of the good people of Silverymoon.
Following the defeat of the Aboleth Illuun in 1586 DR, the intellect devourer within Archmage Aerundal's head died and exploded out of his skull violently. The arcane council called it an assassination and blamed the Moonwood. Within days, the Knights in Silver aided by the Spellguard teleported to the settlement of One-Stone in the Moonwood and razed it, killing everyone there. This sparked a retaliation from the resistance in the Moonwood led by the Silver Mask, and the free peoples of the Moonwood attacked Silverymoon in force. Wood elves, barbarians and other denizens of the wood burst through the hunter's gate and assaulted the city. When the Savage Seven arrived, they sided with the Moonwood and helped them by defeating the Arcane Council, thereby taking the city.
The Silver Mask revealed himself to be Teldaron Silvermask, a high elf from Silverymoon. He ordered his forces to help rebuild the city while keeping the citizens and captured military forces in camps outside the city. Eventually, the citizenry were allowed to return to their homes. The Knights in Silver and spellguard who swore allegiance to the newly formed Council of Silverymoon were allowed to remain in service. Under the council of Silverymoon, the city returned to its roots as a source of beauty, magic, and a haven for the goodly folk of the Silver Marches. Trade began anew between Silverymoon and Mithral Hall, and the people of the Moonwood were free to visit the city to sell their wares or purchase supplies.

Defences

The fighting force that protected Silverymoon was comprised of the famed Knights in Silver and their spellguard allies.

Knights in Silver

Named by the adventurer and bard, Mintiper Moonsilver, the Knights in Silver slowly earned their reputation as a noble and chivalrous fighting force. Although they were often found protecting the walls of Silverymoon many times they roamed the countryside around the city in a 50-mile radius with a member of the Spellguard.

Spellguard

The Spellguard was established in 1255 DR as a personal bodyguard for Alustriel herself but over the intervening years grew to 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. During the Mageocracy of Silverymoon, the Spellguard numbered nearly 100 with the Arcane Council overseeing their activities.

Other Defenses

The Silverwatch policed Silverymoon's streets while the Moon Garrison protected the city from external threats. The High Guard, all veterans from the Knights, were responsible for the security of the palace and its environs.

The Mythal

Silverymoon's Mythal was thought lost during the Spellplague, but it was merely dormant within the Moonbridge. With Mystra's Return, the mythal of Silverymoon blossomed out of the Moonbridge in all its former glory. During the Mageocracy, it was used to erect a magical barrier around the market and prevent teleportation or scrying magic from entering the rest of the city. It was used to transport the forces of Silverymoon during their attack on One-Stone in 1586 DR.

The Market

Kronk's Krushers and Kleavers (Half-Orc (m) Blacksmith)
The Block and Anvil (Dwarven smiths (m), Magni and Nori Deepmountain of Felbar)
The Oak and Sinew (Talmun, half-elf (m) fletcher)
Leomund’s sizeable establishment (Leomund Tanner, a human (m) leatherworker)
Harkin's Dry Goods (human (m) general store)
The Green Thumb Apothecary and Herbalist (Lilly (f), half-elf herbalist)
Fazzlethorp’s Glitters (Belwip Fazzlethorp (m), jeweler.)
Eldarin Alcar (elven glory) – a purveyor of magical items and trinkets run by the city of Silverymoon. Each item is carefully tracked and buyers are investigated before purchasing them.

Taverns within the market

The Dwarven embassy – The old embassy to Mithral Hall, repurposed as a Dwarven pub.
The Silver Lady – tavern run by a halfling couple named Ferland and Daisy Tealeaf.
Yomenië Arda (meeting place) – Elven tavern frequented by the Knights in Silver. Run by a former captain named Eladrienne

Places of interest

The Hunter’s gate – physical entry point into the market. Entry is through a portal, and all goods are carried in through the physical gate by the knights in silver to be inspected.
The House Invincible – former temple of helm, now the market garrison for the knights in silver. Endpoint for the hunter’s gate portal. Here all visitors are questioned and day passes are handed out.
The map house – Ancient library containing elven texts, heavily curated by the Archmage.
The portal house – Constructed after the division. Contains portals to every major trade partner, and a customs house for inspecting goods. Portals can only be used by merchants with portal licenses. Portals link to Waterdeep, Luskan, Neverwinter, Mirabar, Sundabar, and Everlund.

Northbank

Gates

The Moorgate
Hunter's Gate
Sundabar Gate

Taverns & Inns

Bright Blade Brandished
Golden Oak Inn & Temple to Shiallia
Wayward House (Formerly, the Inn of the Wayward Sages)
The Dancing Goat
Helmer's Wall
The Stagstand

Shops

Optym's Blade
The Shining Scroll
Adbar Trading Coster
The Hammer and the Helm
A Handful of Stars
The Wyrmworks on Many Cats Lane

Temples & Religious Sites

Golden Oak Inn & Temple to Shiallia
Rhyester's Matins
Everdusk Hall
The Halls of Inspiration
The Temple of Silver Stars
Fortune Hall
The Tower of Balance
Silverglen

The Conclave of Silverymoon

Arkhen's Invocatorium (fomer site)
House of the Harp
Utrumm's Music Conservatory (former site)
The Map House
Everdusk Hall

Other Notable Sites

The Docks
The Market
Eastern Garrison Barracks
The High Palace
Star Court
The Main Gate (formerly)
The Moonbridge

Southbank

Gates

Blacklar Gate
Mulgate

Taverns

Sorlar's Smiling Satyr

Religious Sites

Mielikki's Glade

The Conclave of Silverymoon

Arkhen's Invocatorium
The Eladrin College
Vault of the Sages
Miresk's School of Thaumaturgy
Utrumm's Music Conservatory

Other Notable Sites

The Moonbridge
The Guardposts
Western Garrison Barracks
Spellguard Isle

Maps

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  4. Silverymoon

Government: Council of Silverymoon
Ruler: Teldaron Silvermask
Size: Large city
Population: ~20,000
Economy: Trade (largely magical goods)
Races: Elves 71% Humans 10% Half-elves 9% Dwarf 10%

Related Historical Events

• 1586
  Silverymoon re-opens its gates
• 1586
  Battle of Silverymoon