Blackstaff Tower

File:Blackstaff-tower.jpg

A Dungeons & Dragons Next Campaign in the Forgotten Realms

Year of the Arch (DR 1353)

The name of Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, the Archmage of Waterdeep, is known far and wide. An ally of the Harpers and suspected Lord of Waterdeep, the Blackstaff is a force for order in the sometimes wild North.

He is also well-known as a master to a great many wizards of note in the North, including Malchor Harpell and Savengriff. His many apprentices all show a flair for magic that others can only envy, and those who survive training with him inevitably go on to excel at the Art.

Mentorship with him is not easy, of course - he is often away tending to his other responsibilities and agendas. Even when he is in residence in Waterdeep, he is frequently embroiled in one task or another. Not only must his apprentices show willingness to comb through the materials he leaves them to study, but they must also demonstrate the motivation to get out and find their own opportunities to sharpen their mastery of the Art; indeed, it is no wonder that many of his finest apprentices are skilled adventurers in their own right.

But above all, they must demonstrate cunning and resilience, for all too often the enemies that Khelben makes while tending to his interests seek to follow him home - or try to lay waste to what is his in his absence.

Player Characters

• Ahmadar Catcatcher, dwarven mage & bounty hunter; played by Chillos
• Evendur Husteem, human cleric & priest of Mystra; played by Jeff
• x, x; played by Josh
• x, x; played by Jamie

The People of Waterdeep

Waterdeep Locations of Note

Castle Ward

• Northern Swords Street:
  • Blackstaff Tower (Residence)
• Southern Street of the Sword:
  • The Crawling Spider (Tavern)
• Southern Castle Ward:
  • Yawning Portal (Tavern)

Sea Ward

• Central Street of the Singing Dolphin:
  • House Husteem Estate (Residence)
• North Diamond Street:
  • House of Wonder (Temple to Mystra)

• Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun: Archmage of Waterdeep, in Blackstaff Tower
• House Husteem, a family of nobles who made their fortune by mercenaries and land-owning

House Rules

• Cleric Domain: Magic
• FR Layout Templates
• D&D Next Battle Exhaustion
• New D&D Next Spells
• New D&D Next Feats

Realmslore

Language & Writing

• Forgotten Realms Languages: A comprehensive examination of the languages of Faerun.
• Everyday Writings in the Realms: A look at the tools of the scrivener: parchment and ink.
• Daily Dwarf Common in the Realms: A look at some of the Dwarven slang that has entered the Common tongue.

Waterdeep

Languages in the North

In Waterdeep, the most common spoken languages are Common and Chondathan, followed by the Illuskan and Northern tongues, though they are considered rural and backwater-ish. Many merchants speak Alzhedo, as do a number of gnomes and halflings.

• Common Languages: Common, Dethek, Espruar, Undercommon
• Regional Languages: Alzhedo (Waterdeep), Bothii (Uthgardt, Hartsvale), Chondathan ("civilized"), Illuskan (various barbarian tribes, Luskan, Mintarn), Northern (Ten Towns, Neverwinter, Waterdeep, Nesme, Llorkh), Reghedjic (Spine of the World)
• Racial Languages: Aragrakh, Auld Wyrmish, Daraktan (very common), Duergan, Jotun and other Giantish languages, Shanatan (shield dwarves), Sylvan, Yipyak
• Trade Languages: Drueidan, Ruathlek, Thieves' Cant

• The Broadcryers of Waterdeep: A look at "short scrolls" or "broadsheets" - the newspapers of Waterdeep.
• The Small Presses of Waterdeep: A look at popular books and the printing thereof in Waterdeep.
• The City Watch of Waterdeep: A look at the City Watch.

Other Lore

• Drugs of the Realms: A look at the narcotics of the Realms.
• Calendar of the Realms: The calendar with a focus on the Waterdhavian year.
• Realms Astrology: Includes a means of generating a natal chart for your character!