Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Character Creation
Character Backgrounds
Waterdavian Noble Families
Waterdeep contains well over a hundred noble families. The
following noble houses are fine choices for any character with
the noble background from the Player's Handbook or the
Waterdavian noble background from the Sword Coast
Adventurer's Guide.
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 Illuskan 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
be denied access to sages, libraries, and
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.
Guilds of Waterdeep
Bakers' Guild
Carpenters', Roofers', and Plaisterers' Guild
Cellarers' and Plumbers' Guild
Council of Farmer-Grocers
Council of Musicians, Instrument-makers, and Choristers
Dungsweepers' Guild
Fellowship of Bowyers and Fletchers
Fellowship of Carters and Coachmen
Fellowship of Innkeepers
Fellowship of Salters, Packers, and joiners
Fishmongers' Fellowship
House Casslanter. The Cassalanter noble house of
Waterdeep is among one of the richest families within the city,
having made their fortune in banking, money-lending and
rumor-mongering for the highest payer. Their motto is "At any
cost." The family has an estate within the city's Sea Ward.
Guild Membership
Any characters with the guild artisan background are
assumed to have free membership in one Waterdeep guild of
their choice. Arcane spellcasters living in the city are required
by law to register with the Watchful Order of Magists and
Protectors, so that they can be called on to defend the city
with their magic in times of need.
Waterdeep's most prominent guilds appear on the Guilds of
Waterdeep list. By law, there are no active thieves' guilds in
Waterdeep, and the Xanathar Guild isn't an actual guild but a
faction.
To join a guild, one must possess a background, a
proficiency, or a status that the guild values. For example, a
character with the sailor background is welcome to join the
Master Mariners' Guild. One can practice a profession and not
be a guild member, but such autonomy carries a cost. The
guilds do everything they can to entice new members to join
and pay for membership, and they go out of their way to
hinder independent business owners, up to and including
driving them out of business. A baker who refuses to join the
Bakers' Guild might find her flour supply cut off, while a
wizard who refuses to join the Watchful Order of Magists and
Protectors might
other useful resources.
Guilds charge members monthly or yearly dues that vary.
For simplicity, you can have a guild charge 1 gp per month or
10 gp for a year's dues paid in advance. A guild can expel a
member for any number of reasons, not the least of which is
failing to pay dues.
 
Guild of Apothecaries and Physicians
Guild of Butchers
Coopers' Guild
Guild of Chandlers and Lamplighters
Guild of Fine Carvers
Guild of Glassblowers, Glaziers, and Spectacle-makers
Guild of Stonecutters, Masons, Potters, and Tile-makers
Guild of Trusted Pewterers and Casters
Guild of Watermen
Jesters' Guild
Jewelers' Guild
Guilds of Waterdeep, Cont.
Launderers' Guild
League of Basket-makers and Wickerworkers
League of Skinners and Tanners
Loyal Order of Street Laborers
Master Mariners' Guild
Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths and Metalforgers
Most Diligent League of Sail-makers and Cordwainers
Most Excellent Order of Weavers and Dyers
Order of Cobblers and Corvisers
Order of Master Shipwrights
Order of Master Tailors, Glovers, and Mercers
Factions in Waterdeep
A character with the faction agent background (described in
the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide) must choose a faction to
belong to and can choose to belong to one of the factions
described below, provided the character meets the faction's
prerequisites. Characters of other backgrounds will have
opportunities to join a faction later in the adventure.
Harpers
Any smart, non-evil character can join the Harpers of
Waterdeep. Bards and wizards are especially welcome.
Harpers are altruists who work behind the scenes to keep
power out of the hands of evil tyrants. Various nobles and
guild masters in the city are Harper sympathizers. Harpers
prefer to conduct their business in bustling inns and taverns
such as the Yawning Portal, or in quiet locations such as the
City of the Dead.
Order of the Gauntlet
Any non-evil character can join the Order of the Gauntlet in
Waterdeep. Clerics, monks, and paladins are especially
welcome, particularly if they worship Helm, Torm, or Tyr.
The order's mission is to seek out and destroy evil before it
gains a foothold. An individual can be a member of the faction
and also a member of the clergy or a knight pledged to a
specific god or temple. Members of the order act alone or in
small groups. Some are Waterdavian natives; others hail from
distant settlements and have come to the city on temple
business.
Emerald Enclave
A character must demonstrate an interest in protecting nature
or the natural order to join the Emerald Enclave. Druids and
rangers are especially welcome.
Waterdeep harbors a few members of the faction, which
seeks to foster harmony between nature and civilization.
Members living in Waterdeep help guard the city against
unnatural threats, including aberrations and undead. They
also watch over the City of the Dead (Waterdeep's public
cemetery) and the city's parks.
 
Saddlers' and Harness-makers' Guild
Scriveners', Scribes', and Clerks' Guild
Solemn Order of Recognized Furriers and Woolmen
Splendid Order of Armorers, Locksmiths, and Finesmiths
Stablemasters' and Farriers' Guild
Stationers' Guild
Surveyors', Map-, and Chart-makers' Guild
Vintners', Distillers', and Brewers' Guild
Wagon-makers' and Coach Builders' Guild
Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors
Wheelwrights' Guild
Lords' Alliance
To become a member of the Lords' Alliance faction in
Waterdeep, a character must be a Waterdavian citizen. Those
with criminal records can also join, provided they
demonstrate their allegiance to the city.
The Lords' Alliance is a confederation of cities and towns
up and down the Sword Coast and throughout the North,
including (among others) Baldur's Gate, Mirabar, Mithral Hall,
Neverwinter, and Silverymoon. Members of the alliance must
come to one another's aid in times of need, and the
organization uses field operatives (diplomats, spies, and
assassins) to safeguard its interests. Waterdeep is one of the
most influential and invested members of the Lords' Alliance.
Zhentarim
The Black Network has an open recruitment policy. Anyone
can join. Tenacity and loyalty are highly valued (but not
essential) traits in new members.
The Zhentarim is a shadow organization that trades
mercenaries and goods (including weapons) for profit. It has
long sought to gain political influence in Waterdeep, but the
strength of the city's Masked Lords, nobility, and professional
guilds makes that difficult.
Bregan D'aerthe
A character must be a drow, preferably a male, to join this
faction.
Bregan D'aerthe is a company of mercenaries originally
made up of the much-derided and dishonorable castaways of
destroyed drow houses. The group's leader, Jarlaxle Baenre, is
always looking for new members to fill the ranks, and loyalty
is what matters to him most.
Almost all Bregan D'aertbe members are male because
female drow rarely condescend to take orders from a male. A
female drow can earn a place in the faction by decrying the
drow matriarchy and convincing Jarlaxle that she would be an
asset to the brotherhood. Jarlaxle employs non-drow
operatives as well, none of whom know they're working for
him; such individuals aren't considered members of the
faction.
Force Grey
To join Force Grey, one must first become a member of the
Gray Hands. An individual who has served in the City Watch
or the City Guard is eligible to join, as are characters who are
willing to swear oaths to defend Waterdeep, its citizens, and
its laws with their lives. Adventurers who show promise might
be invited to join the Gray Hands, a faction overseen by the
Blackstaff, Vajra Safahr. Members of the Gray Hands
complete assignments dictated by Vajra.
Force Grey is an elite cadre of specialized adventurers,
drawn from the ranks of the Gray Hands, whose fighting
prowess is matched only by their loyalty to the city. Force Grey
attracts the best of the best. Characters don't begin their
adventuring careers as members of Force Grey, but they can
work up to that status.
Whenever Waterdeep has a problem that can't be handled
by diplomats or the city's other armed forces, the Open Lord
has the option to mobilize Force Grey. Such action is usually
taken as a last resort, since some past members of the group
have exhibited a tendency to indulge in wanton violence,
causing as much damage as they ostensibly prevent.
Xanathar Guild
Anyone can join the Xanathar Guild, which, despite its name,
doesn't have official guild status in Waterdeep. Before
membership is granted, however, an applicant must pass a test
that always involves the perpetration of a serious crime.
Possibilities include murdering a guild member who has
failed Xanathar in some fashion, kidnapping a Waterdavian
citizen, collecting a ransom, robbing a hire-coach, or looting a
warehouse.
Among low-ranking guild members, rampant speculation
goes on about the true nature of Xanathar. Few have any
inkling that their boss is a beholder, and fewer still have seen
or spoken to the eye tyrant.
Given that the faction is fundamentally evil, advancement is
based on one's wiles or one's ability to dispose of rivals.
Competition within the organization is fierce and often deadly.
Evil characters can thrive in this environment, but the risks
are seldom worth the reward.
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