WATERDEEP POLITICS

As always, the Open Lord is selected and supported by several masked lords, who bear masks, robes, and amulets to
disguise themselves when publicly sitting in judgment or council, and who make policies for Waterdeep. Every
Waterdhavian has suspicions as to whether this or that influential citizen is or isn't a lord of the city, and some are
willing to make their beliefs public, but few who are confronted in such a way have ever claimed to be a lord, and
none of those have also produced proof of that assertion.

Not hidden at all are the other lords of the city- the nobles ofWaterdeep, whose high-nosed behavior and heavy-
handed spending establish fashion in the city, which in turn creates trends all across the North for clothing,
weaponry, favored trinkets, music, and any other preference that can be changed at a whim by those with enough
coin to afford the expense. More than seventy-five noble families call Waterdeep home, representing between them
all manner of business interests, rivalries, and internal strife.

Dagult Neverember was until recently the Open Lord of Waterdeep. During the recent conflicts of the second
sundering, his corruption and focus on rebuilding his ancestral home of Neverwinter at the expense of Waterdeep
became increasingly intolerable.

In 1489 DR, Neverember and other members of the Lords' Alliance meet with some metallic dragons to deal with the
growing threat of the Cult of the Dragon. During this meeting, Neverember was exiled from Waterdeep and replaced
as Open Lord by Laeral Silverhand.

DAGULT NEVEREMBER – Ex Open Lord

Since Dagult Neverember was

deposed as the Open Lord of
Waterdeep, he has thrown his full
attention and effort into the rebuilding
of the city of Neverwinter from which
he claims descent.

LAERAL SILVERHAND – Current Open Lord

Laeral reluctantly stepped into the position of Waterdeep's Open Lord at the
request of the Masked Lords, and has served ever since. A controversial and
powerful, but overwhelmingly good figure in Sword Coast’s recent history,
Laeral remains Mystra’s Chosen (god of magic’s champion) even though the
gods have distanced themselves and their influence reduced.
VAJRA SAFAHR - Blackstaff (High Wizard of Waterdeep)

Vajra is a capable wizard in her mid-thirties, the youngest person

ever to hold the position of Blackstaff, which reports only to the
Open Lord.

As the High Wizard of Waterdeep, she is charged with using all

the magic and resources at her disposal to defend the city
against threats. Vajra isn't the city's most powerful wizard, but
she can hold her own.

WATERDAVIAN NOBLE FAMILIES

https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Waterdhavian_houses

House Amcathra. The Amcathras are a Tethyrian family that specializes in horse breeding and training, cattle
ranching, wine-making, and weaponsmithing. The family motto is "We trample our troubles:· The family has a large
villa in the North Ward, on the east side of the High Road between Hassantyr's Street and Tarnath Street.

House Margaster. The Margasters are an llluskan family whose business interests lie in land-based shipping and bulk
goods trading. The house also has a quiet history of wizardry. The family motto is "Nothing is beyond our grasp." The
Margaster family estate is situated between Stabbed Sailor Alley and Shattercrock Alley in the North Ward.

House Phylund. The Phylunds are a Tashlutar family that captures and sells monsters. Monsters that can't be trained
as pets or guard beasts are sold to arenas or harvested for their meat. bones, and skins. The Phylunds sponsor
adventuring parties and monster-hunting expeditions, and their motto is "What you fear, we master." House
Phylund has an estate on Copper Street, west of the High Road between julthoon Street and Trader's Way in the
North Ward.

House Rosznar. Once banished from Waterdeep for smuggling, slavery, and other crimes, this Tethyrian house bas
returned and is trying to overcome its dark past and disgraceful reputation by focusing on legitimate business
ventures such as wine-making and gem trading. The family motto is "We fly high and stoop swift." Rosznar Villa is
situated on Thunderstaff Way between Copper Street and Shield Street in the Sea Ward, west of the High Road.

House Anteos. They were prominent traders and money changers throughout the region, but had initially created
their fortune through slavery. Since the 13 th century the family has maintained an estate in the North Ward of the
city on a street that shared their name. Lady Belinda Anteos runs a novel business called the Sword Coast Traders'
Bank, which accepts deposits from traveling merchants and enables them to receive these funds at a similar location
in Waterdeep, Daggerford or Baldur’s Gate. The bank supposedly uses secure magical communication for traders to
access coin in any location without carrying their riches on the dangerous roads.

House Thann. The Thanns are Waterdeep's most prominent vintners and have deep roots in the city, with a walled
estate in the Sea Ward. Corylus Thann (LE male Tethyrian human noble) is happy to let other members of his family
manage the wine business. Rumors continue to circulate that he places the welfare of humans above nonhumans.

House Umbrusk. Until recently House Umbrusk were wealthy money lenders but now appear to have fallen on
harder times. Nothing has been confirmed, but gossip is that Jelenn Umbrusk (N female Tethyrian human noble) is
constantly busy and that balls and soirees have been few and far between at their manse in the Sea Ward.

AERINE’S BACKGROUND

House Ghallanda -

The majority of inns, taverns, and restaurants in the Five Nations are either directly owned by House Ghallanda or
licensed by its Hosteler’s Guild.

House Symbol: Blink dog

The Gold Dragon Inn

While young and rebellious your family’s guard captain was a better minder for you than the nanny. The captain
encouraged your willful streak, buying you a ridiculously overpowered gnomish toy crossbow for a midwinter festival
present. Some of your few happiest memories are of the captain teaching you target shooting, and then rapidly
matching her skill. You may choose to take the following sentimental item when moving out of home:

Gnomish Toy Crossbow, 10 gp, 1d4-1 piercing, 3 lb., Ammunition (range 20/60), light, loading

Two second cousins on your mother’s side have some wizardly skill and are junior reserve members of the Watchful
Order of Magists and Protectors. The independence granted by their skills has always impressed you. You may
choose to take the following item out of the family library when moving out of home:

Rare book titled Mordenkainen’s Magical Primer for Young Mistresses and Masters, 25 gp

Your father took a large loan from one of the banking families to finance expansion. Things are starting to go well
when the first payment is due. A crew of hired guards overseen by your family guard captain were taking the
payment to the bank but never arrived. Your mentor has not been heard from since. The city watch investigated and
concluded that the guard captain did a runner with the cash, so their name is mud in your family, which you could
never believe.

The loans were still called in which your family could not afford, resulting in reposession of all the new taverns and
most of the old ones that your family already owned which had been used as security. The family has moved out of
the estate in which you were raised and have returned to residing in the top floor of their flagship Gold Dragon Inn
as your grandparents did.

YAWNING PORTAL CONTACT

You’ve put the word out through a contact of yours that you have a job that needs an extra pair of hands with more
magical skills than you can currently bring to bear. This contact of yours is rumoured to have some relationship with
the Zhentarim mercenary company but he’s not a fully-fledged member, no snake tattoos or anything. You don’t
have the cash on hand to pay for a magical mercenary up front, so if any organisation decides to support your
scheme, they’ll be directly involved in any crime, which could be a dicey proposition for a legitimate business.

A response has come back telling you that an unnamed group is willing to talk. You’re to meet Yagra Stonefist, a half-
orc, in the Inn of the Yawning Portal just after sundown on the 9 th of Eleint.