Volo's Guide to Waterdeep (Accessory, Forgotten Realms Game)

243 Pages·1993·12.36 MB·English

by  Ed Greenwood

Volo’s Guide
to Waterdeep
A Toast to Waterdeep
Here’s to the City of Splendors
Deep water where the edge of the sea
Meets rivers of gold; all the coins ever made
Flow past (cid:151) gods, throw some to me!
(A traditional toast, sung in the taverns of the Waterdeep)
Credits
Design: Ed Greenwood
Editing: Julia Martin
Cover Art: Robh Ruppel
Interior Art: Valerie Valusek
Cartography: Joel Meyer and
Dennis Kauth
Typesetting Angelika Lokotz
Production:
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2
Contents
Preface: From Elminster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Other Places of Interest
Volo(cid:146)s Ratings System. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 4. in Trades Ward. . . .. . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . .. . . . .116
Homes. . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .118
Introduction: A Word From Volo . . . . 5 shops . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . . . . .120
Taverns . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. ... . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .125
Castle Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . .. . .. . . . . .7 Inns . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . ..126
Landmarks. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . .. . .7 Alleys . .. . . . ... . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. ...... . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . .129
Places of Interest
in Castle Ward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . 3. . . . Southern Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . 3. .5
Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . 3. . . . . . . Landmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . .3 . . 5. . .
Shops.. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . .. . . ... . . . . . . . . . .. . .14 Kappiyan Flurmastyr(cid:146)s House . . . . 138
Taverns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. . .1 . . . . . . The Moon Sphere. . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . ..142
Inns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 The OldMonster Shop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . .46
Festhalls... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. . . 4. . . . The HouseofGoodSpirits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Alleys .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . . . . . .37 The Jade Dancer. . .. . . . .. . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. ..... .155
Other Places of Interest
Sea Ward 51 in Southern Ward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . .5 .9
Land. m. . . a. . r. k. . s. . .. .. .. . .. .. ... .. . .. ... . .. .. . .. . . . .. . . . .. . .. .. .. ... ... . ... .. . .. . . .. .. .. . .. . . . .. . .. . . .. .. .5. . 2. . . . Shops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. . .159
Tespergates.. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . ..55 Taverns.... . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . ..159
The Fiery Flagon. . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 .6 Alleys . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . .. . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . .163
Other Places of Interest
in Sea Ward. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . ... . . .. . . .58 Dock Ward . . . ... . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .169
Shops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5. . .8 . . . . . . . Landmarks. . . . ... . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . . .170
Taverns. .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . . .. . . . .. . . . . .60 The Hanging Lantern. .. . . . ... . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 1.71
Inns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . ..61 Helmstar Warehouse. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . .173
Festhalls. . . . . . .. . . . ... . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . ... . . ... . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .64 The Old Xoblob Shop . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 176
Alleys. . .. . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . .. . . . ... . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . ... . ...65 Serpentil Books & Folios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Three PearlsNightclub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . .84
NorthWard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. . .1 . . . The Thirsty Sailor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . .87
Landmarks . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. ..81 The Ship(cid:146)s Prow. . . . ... . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . ... . . . . . . . . . . 1. 90
The Gentle Mermaid. .. . . . ... . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .8 .3 TheBlushing Mermaid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . .93
Hawkwinter House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8. . .7 The Copper Cup. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . ... . . . .. . . . . . .197
The Misty Beard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. .0 Other Places of Interest
Other Places of Interest in Dock Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. .99
in North Ward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. .3 Shops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . 9. . .9 . . . .
Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . 3. . . . . . . Taverns. ... . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. .00
Shops. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . ... . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .93 Inns. .. . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . ... . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . ... . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .205
Taverns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. . . 5. . . . . . Festhalls . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ... . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . .. ........207
Inns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9. . . 7. . . . . . . . Alleys. . . .. . . . ... . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . .208
Alleys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . .00
Appendix I: Folk Of Waterdeep . . . . 214
Trades Ward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . .0 . .5
Landmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................................... 105 Appendix II: Index of Places ............235
The Bowels of the Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
The Inn of Appendix III: Color Map Key ........... .238
theDripping Dagger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . .11
3
Preface
The engaging rogue Volo has done a May the gods smile upon ye, traveler,
better job on this tome, know ye, than on broader than they do upon Volo.
his misguided volume on magic ( Volo’s
Guide to All Things Magical). It were best
he should leave dabbling in Art to those
who know better. P.S. FR1 Waterdeep and the North
Naetheless, he missed a lot of Water- remains the definitive guide to features
deep that even an occasional visitor such of Waterdeep, augmented by the City
as myself can spot. Much, no doubt, System and Ruins of Undermountain
passed unseen beneath his very nose. He(cid:146)s boxed sets, the Knight of the Living Dead
got some things quite wrong, too(cid:151)but gamebook, and the module FRE3 Water-
ye(cid:146)ll discover what when ye meet them, deep. Those desiring to explore alleys Volo
even if that(cid:146)s (ahem) just a might late. mentions would do well to consult where
My colleague, Ed of the Greenwood, the alleys meet with the sewers, on page
has prevailed upon me to include some 28 of Waterdeep and the North, if they
small items of import to gamers. Reluc- wish to avoid (or find, I suppose) danger.
tantly I have done so, adding probable One note more: For the safety of
details(cid:151)trust not in their veracity I warn Waterdeep, I(cid:146)ve refrained from passing
ye!(cid:151)of various Waterdhavians at the back on details of the abodes or persons of
of this tome (including the impetuous Durnan, Khelben (cid:147)Blackstaff(cid:148) Arunsun,
Volo himself). All the rest, errors and all, Laeral, Mirt, Piergeiron, and certain
I(cid:146)ve left. I must warn ye. Khelben and his others(cid:151)and cut out much or all of what
lady Laeral laughed to tears on several Volo had to say about them, too. If you(cid:146)d
occasions while reading this work(cid:151)and know such folk, meet them yourselves(cid:151)
as I can find little amusing in it, I can only and learn what they(cid:146)ll grant ye. Enjoy thy
conclude they found hilarious errors! read. . .
Volo’s Ratings System
Daggers Pipes Tankards Coins
(Alleyways, (Inns) (Taverns) (Prices)
Courtyards,etc.)
Worst Lowest
Better Average
Best Highest
4
A Word from Volo
his guidebook is the and other places restricted to
result of extensive, those of one faith aren(cid:146)t explored
often hazardous in these pages.
explorations of the My forays into the City of the
City of Splendors, Dead, the sewers, and various
most colorful city of the Sword City fortresses were also severely
Coast. It is the dream of many limited, and their coverage here
folk across Faerun to someday reflects that. I believe only a
visit this fabled, bustling market- longtime citizen of Waterdeep-
place and grandest of abodes. which I(cid:146)m not(cid:151)should attempt a
This tome attempts to steer guide to the pleasant parkland
visitors to sights and folk they that houses the city(cid:146)s legions of
want to see(cid:151)or avoid. dead.
No one traveler can go every- Anyone drawing near any gate
where and see all in Waterdeep, of the city can see Mount Water-
and with passing time, some- deep(cid:151)and that(cid:146)s as close as most
things I have written will change. of us are ever going to get. Every-
With a few exceptions, I one goes to gawk at Castle Water-
couldn(cid:146)t enter the villas and deep and at Piergeiron(cid:146)s Palace
walled homes of the nobles (again, seeing little indeed of their
without invitation, so they do not inside, except by invitation of the
appear herein (and for obvious Lords), so I(cid:146)ve largely left those
reasons, I dare not write of my out, too.
few covert glimpses of their A traveler could spend a
splendors(cid:151)ladies, I(cid:146)ll not forget). lifetime in Waterdeep and not
If you visit a guildhall in fully sample its every nuance,
Waterdeep and are not a mem- pleasure, back alley or experi-
ber, you are typically shown (as I ence. There must be many
was) into a small number of noteworthy places I(cid:146)ve missed.
meeting rooms, and are not free Those omissions aside, I think
to wander. Watching, attentive you(cid:146)ll agree this is the best guide-
guards deter prying, and the book to Waterdeep available. I
result is a boring visit unless you urge you all to remember with
have business with the guild. favor the name of:
Guild members would not look
favorably on my giving away
secrets, either, and so I avoid
describing guild buildings. For
the same reason, temples, shrines, (Volothamp Geddarm)
5
6
Castle Ward
ome to most of Water- granary and its flying griffon
deep(cid:146)s administrative steeds. These caverns are linked
buildings and build- to Castle Waterdeep, from which
ings of state, this first the ward takes its name, and
ward of the city is various cliff top eyries (landing
the heart of power in Waterdeep and springing-aloft areas for the
today. It(cid:146)s also the area most folk griffons)(cid:151)and, it is rumored, to
who(cid:146)ll tell you of Waterdeep talk both Piergeiron(cid:146)s Palace and the
about. Much has been written many levels of Undermountain,
about it,„ so in these pages, I(cid:146)ll the vast dungeon or subter-
treat it more lightly than any ranean city beneath Waterdeep.
other ward of Waterdeep. Any City watch and guard patrols
fool can see the mountain and are heavy in this ward. The city
the castle from far off. You don(cid:146)t guard deliberately puts on a
need my words to find them! show of force in this district.2
Although it looks large on a
map, much of it is taken up by Landmarks
Mount Waterdeep, the rugged
height that protects much of the The most prominent landmarks
city from the full fury of the of Castle Ward are the mountain
winter storms (which blow from and the castle. The next most
west-northwest). The mountain is important is the many-spired
honeycombed with caverns and Palace of Waterdeep, popularly
passages where the city guard known these days as Piergeiron(cid:146)s
maintains its armories, the city(cid:146)s Palace, after the First, and only
„FR1 Waterdeep and the North describes features of Mount Waterdeep (page 22), Castle Ward (page
23), and all city features at some length. The City System boxed set includes detailed maps of the main
aboveground structure of Castle Waterdeep, as well as detailed street maps of the city, and a selection
of building floor plans. Module FRE3 Waterdeep contains notes on the Yawning Portal inn and a partial
map of Blackstaff Tower.
The Ruins of Undermountain boxed set describes the uppermost levels of vast Undermountain,
including its surface connections and the infamous subterranean smuggling port known as Skullport.
The novel Elfshadow gives the reader a taste of Waterdhavian social life, and a glimpse of many
features of the city(cid:151)including some ancient gates linking it with far places.
†City watch patrols are detailed on page 17 of FR1 Waterdeep and the North. In this ward,four-sword
detachments pass a given point about every 8 minutes and look into a tavern or inn dining room about
every 20 minutes.
As detailed on pages 15-16 and 23 of the City System set booklet, the city guard also patrols Castle
Ward, in six-man detachments. Typical patrol details are as given therein, on page 23. Reinforcements
will be a dozen LG hm F3s to F6s clad in chain mail and armed with maces, long swords, daggers, slings,
and a polearm appropriate to the situation.
Guard patrols pass a given street location about every 15 minutes, but appear in 1d4 minutes when
a city watch patrol blows a warning horn in this ward.
7
publicly known, Lord of Water- Known, imaginatively enough, as
deep. His court is held there, and the Mountain Tower, it is strictly
he entertains visiting embassies off limits to the public.
and envoys there on an almost There is a large open court-
daily basis. Accompanying one of yard in front of the palace. To
them is probably the best way to even get to the Main Gate, you
get a look inside. The palace has must pass a lone tower in the
four gates. From the north, these midst of this open space: Ah-
are Horn Gate, Sally Gate, Main ghairon(cid:146)s Tower.
Gate, and Guard Gate. You(cid:146)ll be This slim stone tower has been
challenged if you try to use any totally enclosed above, around,
way in but the Main Gate. and beneath in a series of potent,
So pass through it. The entry invisible magical barriers since
hall beyond is impressive the death of the famous wizard,
enough(cid:151)an echoing room all of many years ago.‡ Don(cid:146)t approach
polished marble, empty except too closely(cid:151)on the north side, a
for benches along the walls skeletal figure still stands facing
carved into the likenesses of the tower with arms raised,
seated lions, and the massive about 10 feet away from its side.
pillars that hold the upper floors It is all that remains of a wizard
of the palace up. who tried to get into the tower in
For me, though, the most order, no doubt, to seize Ahghai-
impressive thing in the palace ron(cid:146)s magic for himself. He
was the scale model of the entire dispelled the outermost barrier, a
city(cid:151)building by building(cid:151)set on forcecage, but was trapped
a huge stone table in the office of between it and the prismatic
the city clerks. To find it, turn sphere within when the force-
right and go through the arch- cage reformed behind him.
way at the end of the entry hall. The man(cid:146)s name has been
The large, grand stairs leading forgotten with the passage of
out of the hall in the other years, and his robes and flesh
direction are the way to Pier- have both rotted away, but the
geiron(cid:146)s court and audience magic of the tower holds the
chambers. bones in position. Until Pier-
The palace stands with its back geiron forbade it some years ago,
hard against a cliff face of Mount it was a favorite game of local
Waterdeep. To the north and children to rearrange the
south are barracks. A small wizard(cid:146)s bones. They can be
tower set into a mountain cleft to dislodged with a stick, but they
the north guards an entrance to always drift slowly back into the
the tunnels of Mount Waterdeep. same position, floating upright,
‡ For details of the defenses of Ahghairon(cid:146)s Tower, see page 22 of Waterdeep and the North.
8