Silverymoon
Scattered through the sweep of wood and mountain, like islands in a vast sea, the cities of the North stand as bastions of civilization, home to those who brave the challenges of the frontier. The great cities are centers of vital trade, seats of political power, and home to the majority of the citizens who dwell in the Silver Marches. This chapter details some of the most important communities of the Silver Marches. Some, such as Silverymoon and Everlund, are large cities; others, such as Quaervarr or Newfort, are little
more than rustic settlements. Most fall somewhere in between, but each is unique in its construction, layout, and situation. These cities are the starting and ending points for most Silver Marches adventures, because they offer the best opportunities for a respite from the unpredictable northern weather. Settled areas also represent the only locations where characters can reliably gain access to many goods and services necessary for success in the wilderness. The larger communities are centers for vital trade, and enable adventurers to acquire magic items and rare local lore. And all settlements are places of refuge from the dangerous predators and hungry monsters of the wildlands—or most of them, anyway.
The anchor of the Silver Marches and the most wealthy and important surface city of the North next to Waterdeep itself, Silverymoon is truly “the Gem of the North.”
Notable Imports: Food (especially grain and livestock), armor, weapons, footwear, textiles and clothing.
Notable Exports: Books, paper, furniture, herbs, inks, glass, glassware, furs, timber, valuable ores.
Silverymoon is that rarest of things, a bustling city dominated by trees and beautiful stone buildings. Old oaks, shadowtops, and duskwoods compete with tall, thin spires to touch the sky, and blueleaf trees shade flagstone sidewalks along most of the cobbled streets. The prevailing style of stonework is flowing curves, as if buildings grew rather than being erected block by block. Many older buildings are clad in a thin layer of fused royal blue or emeraldgreen glass. Balconies and curving stairs are everywhere—and windowsills, railings, and newel-posts are all adorned with herbs and flowers growing in sculpted bowls. Most dwellings have grass paths leading to sheltered bowers. Many folk take time every day to lift their harps, pipes, or voices to make music, and things of beauty are more than prized and admired— such design is expected. Many places preserve lore, but in Silverymoon knowledge is highly valued. Most folk find satisfaction in being well informed in at least one area of expertise. The citizens of Silverymoon, also called Silvaeren, love witty sayings, sharing jokes, lore, music and readings of ballads, poems, and romantic fiction; most attend revels or private dances and feasts thrice per tenday. They tend to dabble in many interests, so shops in the city appear and disappear with the seasons—but these small, cozy boutiques are always crammed with beautiful, fascinating objects, small magics, books (including blank tomes for writing use), and maps. The older part of Silverymoon on the north bank of the River Rauvin is linked to the newer environs on the south bank by the famous Moonbridge, a magical construct of silvery force whose central span can be deactivated to protect the city from invasion, or to allow tall-masted ships to pass. It impresses the eye more than the many soaring spires of the city, slender and graceful towers unmatched elsewhere in Faerûn. Unquestionably the foremost center of learning and culture in the North, Silverymoon is a happy place where folk of many races dwell in peace together. Much of this feeling of safety and goodwill is due to the influence of powerful local mages and the Harpers. Both forces are joined in the person of the lady who shaped modern Silverymoon, the kindly, diplomatic mage Alustriel, known to Silvaeren as Lady Hope. She encourages many feasts and revels; outlanders are warned that her spies are everywhere at such diversions. Alustriel prefers to keep people happy and hopeful through enlightened rule, but she recognizes that intrigue, deception, and evil deeds are unavoidable, and long since established and trained a cadre of personal agents to guard against such things. Some of these individuals now act as her heralds as High Lady of the Silver Marches, but others remain in the service of the new High Mage and serve Silverymoon first. The city’s army, the Knights in Silver, openly patrols the land for seven days’ ride around the city, and the city remains a member of the Lords’ Alliance.
Visiting Silverymoon
The anchor of the Silver Marches and the most wealthy and important surface city of the North next to Waterdeep itself, Silverymoon is truly “the Gem of the North.”
Notable Imports: Food (especially grain and livestock), armor, weapons, footwear, textiles and clothing.
Notable Exports: Books, paper, furniture, herbs, inks, glass, glassware, furs, timber, valuable ores.
Silverymoon is that rarest of things, a bustling city dominated by trees and beautiful stone buildings. Old oaks, shadowtops, and duskwoods compete with tall, thin spires to touch the sky, and blueleaf trees shade flagstone sidewalks along most of the cobbled streets. The prevailing style of stonework is flowing curves, as if buildings grew rather than being erected block by block. Many older buildings are clad in a thin layer of fused royal blue or emeraldgreen glass. Balconies and curving stairs are everywhere—and windowsills, railings, and newel-posts are all adorned with herbs and flowers growing in sculpted bowls. Most dwellings have grass paths leading to sheltered bowers. Many folk take time every day to lift their harps, pipes, or voices to make music, and things of beauty are more than prized and admired— such design is expected. Many places preserve lore, but in Silverymoon knowledge is highly valued. Most folk find satisfaction in being well informed in at least one area of expertise. The citizens of Silverymoon, also called Silvaeren, love witty sayings, sharing jokes, lore, music and readings of ballads, poems, and romantic fiction; most attend revels or private dances and feasts thrice per tenday. They tend to dabble in many interests, so shops in the city appear and disappear with the seasons—but these small, cozy boutiques are always crammed with beautiful, fascinating objects, small magics, books (including blank tomes for writing use), and maps. The older part of Silverymoon on the north bank of the River Rauvin is linked to the newer environs on the south bank by the famous Moonbridge, a magical construct of silvery force whose central span can be deactivated to protect the city from invasion, or to allow tall-masted ships to pass. It impresses the eye more than the many soaring spires of the city, slender and graceful towers unmatched elsewhere in Faerûn. Unquestionably the foremost center of learning and culture in the North, Silverymoon is a happy place where folk of many races dwell in peace together. Much of this feeling of safety and goodwill is due to the influence of powerful local mages and the Harpers. Both forces are joined in the person of the lady who shaped modern Silverymoon, the kindly, diplomatic mage Alustriel, known to Silvaeren as Lady Hope. She encourages many feasts and revels; outlanders are warned that her spies are everywhere at such diversions. Alustriel prefers to keep people happy and hopeful through enlightened rule, but she recognizes that intrigue, deception, and evil deeds are unavoidable, and long since established and trained a cadre of personal agents to guard against such things. Some of these individuals now act as her heralds as High Lady of the Silver Marches, but others remain in the service of the new High Mage and serve Silverymoon first. The city’s army, the Knights in Silver, openly patrols the land for seven days’ ride around the city, and the city remains a member of the Lords’ Alliance.
Visiting Silverymoon
Silverymoon looks more like a series of gardens or forest glades than a stone city, and thanks to all the growing things, it reeks less than most settlements a third its size. It’s also quieter, thanks to the gentle breezes and soundmuting properties of the city’s mythal, which also prevents surprise rainfalls, extremes of temperature, and the harshest winter weather. A good series of dwarf-built cisterns, pumps, and piping ensure that the city has both flushed privies and ample fresh water both for drinking and for gardening. The lush beauty of the city and its many forest districts makes it quite easy for visitors to become lost. Thankfully, Silvaeren don’t mind furnishing directions, and every cistern cover in the cobbles of an intersection has an arrow graven into it, denoting north. Most city buildings have cellars, and four or even five floors above them, but the trees and gently rolling landscaping make the spires of Silverymoon seem to loom over passersby a lot less than the structures in most cities. The older part of the city is Northbank, and the newer, still swiftly expanding area is Southbank. Many folk have rushed to buy and build in the new city and are short of coin. They eagerly rent rooms or floors to strangers without question or scrutiny.
Population: 1,090,800 (humans 40%, dwarves 20%, elves 20%, half-elves 10%, halflings 5%, gnomes 2%, half-orcs 2%)
Government: Confederation of lords headed by Alustriel of Silverymoon
Religions: Corellon Larethian, Helm, Lathander, Mielikki, Moradin, Mystra, Oghma, Selûne, Sune, Tymora
Import: Armor, books, manufactured goods, pottery, spices, wine
Export: Dwarven and elven craftwork, furs, heroes, precious metals
Alignment: LG, NG, CG
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