Silverymoon

Silverymoon

Geographical Information

Size: Metropolis • Location: Silver Marches

Societal Information

Populace: 26,000 • Human 41%, Elves 21%, Half-elves 20%, Shield dwarf 10%, Halflings 5%, Gnome 2%, Others 1%

Religion: Temples: Athenaeum of Philosophy (Dugmaren Brightmantle), Dawndancer House (Sune), Fortune Hall (Tymora), Golden Oak (Shiallia), Halls of Inspiration (Milil, Oghma), House Invincible (Helm), Mielikki's Glade (Mielikki), Rhyster's Matins (Lathander), Temple of Silver Stars (Selûne), Tower of Balance (Mystra)

Imports: Food (esp. grain and livestock), armor, weapons, footwear, textiles, clothing

Exports: Books, paper, herbs, inks, glass, glassware, furs, timber, valuable ore

Political Information

Government: Constitutional magocratic republic

Ruler: High Mage (Alustriel Silverhand)

Military: Knights in Silver, Spellwatch, the Moon Garrison (military), Silverwatch (city watch), the High Guard (security of palace, all Knights in Silver veterans)

Silverymoon is a beautiful city that stands amid the ancient trees of the Moonwoods. Home to over 26,000 humans, dwarves, gnomes, elves, half-elves, and halflings, it is often called the Gem of the North. Silverymoon's considered the North's center of learning and culture, and its close ties with the Heralds and Harpers, as well as powerful local mages (such as the Mistmaster or the mysterious Shadowcloak), only aid in its reputation as the North's major seat of knowledge. It's a happy place where many races dwell together in peace. The city's peace and civilized demeanor owes much to its kindly, diplomatic ruler, the High Lady Alustriel, a silver-haired sorceress known to be at least two hundred years old.

Silverymoon straddles the River Raurin at its bend westward toward the Evermoors. The heart of the city, including the palace and Silverymoon's oldest buildings, lies located on the northern bank. Its half-circle shape is surrounded by defensive walls that have been breached only three times in the city's history. The walls are pierced by three gates: Moorgate on the west, Hunter's Gate to the north, and Sundabar Gate at the city's eastern perimeter. A road surrounds the walls on the outside, and it connects with the three trade roads leading out the gates.

Across the Rauvin lies the newer sector of Silverymoon. This area contains many warehouses, paddocks, docks, and caravan businesses, but it also plays host to the city's pride and joy - the Vault of the Sages. In addition, a number of magic schools are in residence, and there has been talk for years of unifying them into a mages' university of sorts. The north bank links to the south by the Moonbridge, a construct of invisible magic that glows with a silver sheen in the moonlight.

Defenses

The first line of defense for the mighty city of Silverymoon is her wall. Massive constructs of Silverymoon’s ubiquitous silvery-white stone, the walls of Silverymoon have only been breached three times in the history of the city. Four gates pierce the walls: the Hunter’s Gate in the north, the eastern Sundabar Gate, the New Gate in the south and the Moorgate in the west.

Local legends have it that these gates are protected by a variety of wards; some claim that they detect and identify sources of evil and malice, while others whisper that these spells limit the magics that can be worked near them. What is certainly known is that the areas around these gates radiate strong abjurative auras and those who examine them too closely bring themselves under the scrutiny of the Spellguard.

The fair city of Silverymoon spans the River Rauvin and the main thoroughfare between the Old and New Cities is also one of its best defenses. The Moonbridge, as it is known, is a span of invisible, magical force that arches above the Rauvin. In times of need the middle of the bridge can be dispelled, preventing invaders from crossing or enabling ships with tall masts to pass easily beneath.

The defenses of Silverymoon do not end at her gates, however. The Knights in Silver, accompanied by two Spellguard battle-mages and a volunteer cleric (usually of Helm, Lathander or Mystra) venture forth, patrolling all lands within three days’ ride of Silverymoon. These patrols, often called “land-rides”, were once far more extensive, but have been scaled back thanks to the formation of the Shining Host, who ride the wilds between the settlements of the Silver Marches. The Knights in Silver and Spellguard now tend to limit themselves to the area directly around Silverymoon.

Ultimately, though, the defenses of Silverymoon lie in her inhabitants. In addition to Silverymoon’s potent standing army, the city is home to many powerful individuals, any of whom bear powerful magic, great strength or prodigious skill. All stand ready to bear all of that and more – down even perhaps to their lives – in defense of their precious Gem of the North.

Layout

Silverymoon is divided into two quarters by the River Rauvin: the Old City (to the north of the river), and the New City (to its south), with only the magical and wondrous Moonbridge spanning the waterway.

The New City

• The Vault of Sages: The greatest library in the North, the Vault is also the home to the largest number of sages in known Faerun, including the hallowed halls of Candlekeep. Only a portion of its stacks are available for public perusal, but it maintains a virtual army of archivists and Deneirran clerics in addition to its many sages to help those in search of obscure lore find what they require.
• The Silver Inkwell: Tavern (3c•4p) A fine tavern that caters to the many students, scholars, mages and bards of the surrounding collegia, the Silver Inkwell is a favorite place for many of the staff at the Vault of Sages to find a meal. It frequently has several bards there playing, and always hosts an interesting collection of odd folk, philosophers and debaters.