Blackstaff Tower

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.

• Waterdeep •
The Gem of the North

• People •
The Lords • Nobility • Magistrates • Herald • Watch Guard • Guilds • Trading Costers • Sages Gangs • Fences • Usurists • Factions • The Harpers • The Heralds
• Wards •
Castle Ward • Sea Ward • North Ward • Trades Ward • South Ward • Dock Ward • Mountainside • City of the Dead • Undercliff • Undermountain • Skullport
• Locations •
Residences • Businesses • Nightlife • Temples • City Buildings • Guildhalls • Alleys & Courts
• Calendar •
Year of the Scarlet Witch (1491 DR) Calendar • History • Waterdhavian Festivals 1353 DR • 1354 DR Hours of the Day
• Language & Communication •
Language Glossaries: Common • Dethek • Espruar Northern Languages • Languages of Faerun • Songs of Faerûn • Broadsheets • Popular Publishings • Writing & Archival • The Lingo of Twilight Vaeteru
• Other Lore •
Deities • Coin & Wealth • Goods & Services • Festhalls & the Soft Trade • Laws of Waterdeep • Wines • Gems • Drugs • Musical Instruments • Dueling in Waterdeep
• City Map •

Campaign Locations

House Rules
Battle Exhaustion • Cantrips • Expendable Magic Item Costs • Libraries • Pickpocketing • Scriptures • Spellbooks
Rules Additions
Alchemy • Additional Armor • Additional Weapons • Backgrounds • Chase Scenes • Domains • Downtime • Wizard Traditions • Feats • Rare Materials • Spells • Gambling

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

Player Characters

Ahmadar Catcatcher, dwarven mage & bounty hunter; played by Chillos
Evendur Husteem, human cleric & priest of Mystra; played by Jeff
Ciro Melshimber, human cleric of Deneir & spy; played by Josh
Glim, Halfling Rogue & Street Urchin; played by Jamie

The People of Waterdeep