Waterdeep

On the Western shores of Faerûn lies a great city, a place of commerce for many, opportunity for some, and called home by countless thousands of others.

Built atop a vast plateau along the Sword Coast, Waterdeep is a bustling, crowded, busy mercantile city where coin is king. Waterdhavians live life at a fast pace, and despite their fervent work ethic, they rarely miss an opportunity to celebrate, with festivals often going on all day and all night. In Waterdeep, wealth brings respect, respect earns influence, and influence is power.

Though it may seem as if all Waterdeep rushes and bustles about with eyes and minds only for their own business at hand, it profits everyone to always remember that part of their business is watching what is unfolding around them, without seeming to, in hopes of seizing on the next big thing, the next road to riches. Even if only to sneer, Waterdeep always watches.

— Largreth the Good Knight

The City of Waterdeep

For centuries, Waterdeep has been divided into wards—each easily the size of a large town—for the purposes of governance and security.

The Upper City

At the top of the city’s plateau, overlooking the rich farmlands to the east and the Sea of Swords to the west, the Upper City hosts the estates and villas of the city’s nobility, the gleaming temples, and the finest inns and shops of the city. Sea Ward and North Ward.

Midtown

Encircling Mount Waterdeep, the center of the city consists of neat rowhouses with shops on the street level. The Palace and the Market dominate the neighborhoods. Castle Ward, Trades Ward, City of the Dead.

The Lower City

The crowded streets of the Lower City slope sharply down to the sea. Tall tenements tower over the crowded streets and alleys, casting them in shadow. Dock Ward and South Ward.

The Outer Wards

In addition to the formal wards, the city also holds unofficial wards beyond the city walls. The Field Ward and Undercliff.

The People of Waterdeep

Given its size and influence, Waterdeep is a cosmopolitan city with a diverse population of citizens. Humans comprise the majority of its populace, but it is home to large number of moon elves, shield dwarves, halflings, and half-elves and gnomes. Even more exotic races make their home the metropolitan city. Waterdhavians tend to be social, stalwart and outspoken people who maintain a worldly perspective of the cultures throughout the Realms.

A merchant citystate to its core, the city is comprised of a strata of merchants and craftspeople. Commerce pervades every aspect of life in the city:

• The Masked Lords run the city.
• The Nobility hold positions of privilege.
• The Guilds hold a monopoly on the trades.
• The Merchants run the shops and caravans.
• The Laborers do the unskilled work and serve in households.
• The Watch and The Guard trying to keep the peace.
• The Factions try to guide people in the right direction
• The Criminals engage in black market trade.

Founding Date

1032 DR

Alternative Name(s)

The City of Splendor, Crown of the North

Population

~200.000 in the City propper

Inhabitant Demonym

Waterdhavian

Included Locations

• North Ward
• Sea Ward
• Trades Ward

Owner/Ruler

Laeral Silverhand

Ruling/Owning Rank

Open Lord of Waterdeep

Other pages to read up on:

• Coinage of Waterdeep 
• Laws of Waterdeep 

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