Churches and Religious Orders of Waterdeep

Polytheistic Waterdeep is home to all manner of faiths. The city's largest temples include the Font of Knowledge (Oghma), the Halls of Justice (Tyr), the House of Heroes (Tempus), the House of Inspired Hands (Gond), the House of the Moon (Selûne), the House of Wonder (Mystra), the Shrines of Nature (Silvanus and Mielikki), the Spires of the Morning (Lathander), the Temple of Beauty (Sune), the Tower of Luck (Tymora), and the Plinth (all faiths). Temples to dark gods, such as Ghaunadaur; Loviatar, and Shar, are said to lie in the depths of Undermountain. The City of Splendors is also home to religious orders such as the Order of the Aster (Lathander), the Order of the Blue Moon (Selûne), the Order of the Sun Soul (Lathander, Selûne, Sune), the Order of the Even-handed (Tyr), and the Holy Order of the Knights of Samular (Tyr). The following is a brief accounting of the various faiths active in Waterdeep.

Church of Cyric

The church of Cyric considers Mount Waterdeep sacred to the Dark Sun, for it was here that Cyric's ascension took place in front of the watchful eyes of Waterdeep's populace. The Dark Sun's more fanatic devotees make regular pilgrimages to the City of Splendors. Waterdhavians have never flocked to the Dark Sun's banner, but many rich Waterdhavians winter in the warmer climes of Amn, where the church of Cyric is strong. The interest of a few of these well-off individuals in the decadent practices of the South ensures Cyric's clerics a steady stream of noble patrons willing to fund activities in Waterdeep. Three of the more prominent Cyricists to frequent the City of Splendors are described below.

Malchior of Darkhold: Malchior (CE male Chondathan cleric 13 [Cyric]) is a fat, fleshy, gray-bearded man whose cunning is matched only by his greed. Malchior's first loyalty is to himself; the Dark Sun is a distant second. Although he remains part of the Zhentarim, Malchior rarely returns to Darkhold these days, a place that has fallen increasingly under the sway of the church of Bane. The Cyricist is a master manipulator who enjoys bending others to his will. Malchior regularly exercises influence over they judgments of Dag Zoreth (see "Bronwyn Caradoon,"), Bronwyn's brother, and Sir Gareth Cormaeril through a combination of blackmail, careful prevarication, and charisma.

Xorla Djannas: Xorla (CE female Tethyrian human illusionist 7/arcane devotee 5 [Cyric]) is a native of southern Tethyr who ventured north to Waterdeep with her master Selpar Thynn, but she was abandoned when Thynn died in a tavern brawl. Xorla found her true calling at the end of the Time of Troubles. Having observed the ascendance of Cyric to godhood, she pledged herself to be one of his first and most devoted followers. In the years since her conversion, Xorla has wandered Faerûh in service to the Dark Sun, spreading word of her faith and collecting lost tomes of arcane lore for the church of Cyric. Nevertheless, she often returns to Waterdeep to pray at the spot where Cyric finally received his due.

Tomas Siohcen: Tomas (NE male Chondathan human cleric 5 [Cyric]) is a thin man with a pockmarked face given to frequenting the Dock Ward's dreariest taverns in dark, hooded robes. Tomas harbors a deep and abiding hatred for the Church of Talona, for he suffered greatly as the slave of a Talona-worshiping Calishite in his youth. Tomas sees the Unseen as the perfect expression of the Dark Sun's teachings and his enthusiastic support for the druuth's war against the Lords of Waterdeep is simply a front for his long-term goal of building a cathedral to the Dark Sun atop Mount Waterdeep at the sight of Cyric's ascension.

Church of Gond

Waterdeep has long been a bastion of enterprising artisans and craftsfolk, many of whom worship the Wonderbringer. Merchants from Lantan are believed to have first introduced the teachings of Gond to the settlement, and their teachings were in large part responsible for the ascendance of Waterdeep's mercantile culture. The Waterdhavian branch of the church has long benefited from the generous donations of Waterdeep's prosperous tradesfolk.

In recent years, as Waterdeep's economic troubles have multiplied, donations to the church's coffers have fallen off, undermining the authority of the temple's leaders with respect to the rest of the faith. In response, High Seeker Jhoadil Zulthind has partnered with the Splendid Order of Armorers, Locksmiths, & Finesmiths, the Guild of Stonecutters, Masons, Potters, & Tile-Makers, and the Watchful Order of Magists & Protectors to begin actively marketing constructs to the wealthiest Waterdhavians, attempting to corner the market for such devices. Smiths, stonemasons, and sorcerers across the city are now employed in the fabrication of caryatid columns, dread guards, guardgoyles, helmed horrors, iron golems, nimblewrights, shield guardians, and stone golems.

Base of Operations: House of Inspired Hands.

Many members of the clergy are instructed in the Initiate of Gond feat, once they qualify.

High Seeker Jhoadil Zulthind: Jhoadil (N female Lantanna human cleric 10/techsmith 5 [Gond]) is a plump, green-eyed, copper-haired woman, with the characteristic parchment-colored skin of her ancestors. She projects the amiable - almost grandmotherly - air of someone is a tinkerer with little ambition. In truth, she is extremely strong-willed and driven, consumed with the same drive that leads some to become master artisans. In the High Seeker's case, she seeks acknowledgement as the preeminent cleric of Gond in western Faerûn. Jhoadil has just begun a secret project to automate the creation of golem body parts (thus creating half-golems) despite the risks of doing so. Jhoadil is convinced that she can succeed where those before her have failed, but she has kept such investigations secret from her construct-making partners who might disapprove of her new line of inquiry.

Church of Lathander

Although humankind has dwelt in the shadow of Mount Waterdeep since the abandonment of Aelinthaldaar, the City of Splendors has retained the energy of an up-and-coming commercial center full of promise for generation upon generation. This spirit of renewal is both in harmony with the teachings of the Morninglord and the primary reason so many Waterdhavians embrace the teachings of Lathander. As a result, the Church of Lathander is one of the leading churches of Waterdeep.

The Church of Lathander is divided into three factions, although there is little discord between the three: the clergy of Lathander, the Order of the Aster, and the Order of the Sun Soul. The clergy focus primarily on ministering to the faithful. The Order of the Aster encompasses the Morninglord's holy warriors, dedicated to the destruction of evil undead and the defense of the clergy. The Order of the Sun Soul is not formally part of the Morninglord's church, as it claims equal allegiance to the churches of Selûne and Sune, but in truth, this monastic brotherhood has long been primarily associated with the followers of Lathander. However, the Waterdhavian branch of the Sun Soul Order has recently begun espousing a heresy that might eventually lead to a split among the three branches of the Morninglord's church:

Clergy of Lathander

The clergy of Lathander are considered by the followers of the Morninglord to be the Church of Lathander, encompassing both the Order of the Aster and the Lathander-worshiping members of the Order of the Sun Soul. In practice, however, the cleric faction of the Morninglord's church encompasses only those individuals who are not members of the other two factions.

The clergy of Lathander concern themselves primarily with the encouragement of the arts and acting as patrons for artists, performers, and craftsfolk.

Base of Operations: Spires of the Morning.

Ghentilara: Sunrise Lord Ghentilara (LG elderly female Chondathan human cleric 6/morninglord of Lathander 10 [Lathander]) is the aging high priestess of the Spires of the Morning. Ghentilara still has the smooth, olive-hued complexion of a young girl from her native Chondath, but her long braided hair has turned snow-white over the years. Although she is strict and has little patience for mischief or blasphemy, Ghentilara is much beloved by her congregation. Ghentilara is as comfortable tending to an ill family in a small hovel in Dock Ward as she is while attending the most extravagant gala of the year, and she makes time for both in her busy days. Although she is increasingly uncomfortable with the preaching of Hanor Kichavo of the Sun Soul Order, she has yet to break publicly with him, fearing that such a split would divide the church and undermine its effectiveness.

Mhaere Dryndilstann: Mhaere (NG female Illuskan human cleric 5 [Lathander]) is the quiet, devoted, iron-willed wife of Durnan the Wanderer. She hails from Neverwinter, where she was raised by an uncle who served as a priest of the Morninglord. Mhaere's hands are skilled in both healing and dealing death in battle. Her skills are frequently called upon to heal dying adventurers as they are hoisted out of Undermountain, and she has been known to drop a coin to those in desperate need of a way up from the bottom of the shaft when Durnan is not looking.

Order Of The Aster

The Order of the Aster serves as the church army of the faithful of Lathander. In alliance with devotees of the Moonmaiden and other like-minded deities, members of the order, sometimes known as Soldiers of the Light, continue their eternal battle with the forces of darkness and destruction, specifically the followers of Bane, Shar, and Talos.

Each member of the Order of the Aster is assigned to a company of the Morningbord's church army. Each company is housed in one of a dozen or so church-sponsored abbeys scattered across western and central FaeriTh. Companies are dispatched by the commanding abbot to battle enemies of the faith, usually in response to an entreaty from a high-ranking cleric of the Morninglord. Between tours of service, members of the order are frequently given leave to pursue their own goals. Most, spend their time defending individual temples of the Morninglord, but some serve the faith by becoming adventurers. In Waterdeep, many members of the Order of the Aster contribute to the defense of the City of Splendors by serving in the City Guard.

Base of Operations: Spires of the Morning.

Jandar Ilbaereth: Jandar (LG male moon elf wizard 7/arcane devotee 2 [Lathander]) is tall, thin moon elf with fair, blue-tinged skin, silver-white hair, and striking gold-flecked purple eyes. He joined the Foes of the Fang in the Year of Maidens (1361 DR) to help rid the northern frontiers of a heretofore unknown plague of vampires. Jandar met his future wife, Corinna Lathankin, during his adventuring years when she joined the Foes of the Fang. After disappearing in Mirabar, Jandar returned to alert his comrades-at-arms to the presence of a troupe of vampires in Mirabar. The Foes of the Fang destroyed the charm, but they were forced to slay Jandar as well when it became apparent that he too had become one of the undead. After his resurrection, Jandar rejoined the group as a living member. The elf and his wife are the only surviving members of the now-defunct group, as the others died destroying a vampire in Castle Khommel in the Gray Peak Mountains several years past. Jandar joined the Order of the Aster upon his return, intent on reshaping the order into the most efficient vampire-hunting army ever seen.

Corinna Lathankin: Corinna (LG female half-moon elf wizard 3/cleric 3/Mystic Theurge 10 [Lathander]) has a beautiful, waiflike figure and soft face that belie her intense energy and loud, commanding voice. Corinna is a highly emotional woman who focuses her passions into her spells and activities. The illegitimate daughter of a minor noble, she grew up at the Spires of the Morning and has dedicated her life to the worship of Lathander and the destruction of vampires. Corinna is married to Jandar Ilbaereth, and remains close with Olanhar Wands (see page 63), who tutored her in the Art. Like Jandar,

Corinna was until recently a member of the now-defunct Foes of the Fang and joined the Order of the Aster upon her return to Waterdeep.

Corinna continues to rely on her half-brother, Djarrus Gost (NG male Chondathan human aristocrat 6, now charmed), for news and information of vampire activity in western Faerûn. Unbeknownst to anyone but Corinna and Jandar, Djarrus was the silent patron of the Foes of the Fang, donating money and resources to the group's efforts and supplying them with information about ongoing vampire activity in the North. Of course, Corinna would be horrified to learn that Djarrus is a charmed servant of Artor Morlin, receiving the bulk of his information from the master vampire of Waterdeep.

Order of the Sun Soul

During the Age of Netheril, the Netherese venerated Amaunator, Keeper of the Eternal Sun, as the lord of bureaucracy, contracts, law, order, sun, and rulership. An order of itinerant monks known as the Brotherhood of the Sun served the faithful in the field, bringing the comforting words of Amaunator to the peasants and common folk. Although the Brotherhood of the Sun survived the fall of Netheril and the death of the Yellow God, it never coalesced around a successor to Amaunator. Instead, each monastery chose its own god to serve, with most eventually gravitating to Lathander (god of dawn) or Selûne (goddess of the moon and stars), but a few choosing Sune Firehair.

Today, the Brotherhood of the Sun is known as the Order of the Sun Soul, and the group's original association with the Church of Amaunator has been largely forgotten. The order now admits both men and women, but retains its itinerant nature and ancestral focus on serving the common folk of the Realms.

The Order of the Sun Soul maintains a large monastery in the city of Waterdeep, due in large part to the presence of prominent churches of Lathander, Selûne, and Sune. The order's current leader, Monastic Abbot Hanor Kichavo, is attempting to unify the three sects of the order into a cohesive whole for the first time in centuries. Drawing selectively on historical texts that survived the Netherese diaspora and the fall of Calimshan's Cajaan dynasty, he preaches that Lathander, Selûne, and Sune are tripartite fragments of Amaunator, and that the Yellow God shall rise anew once the three are unified to form the one.

Base of Operations: Monastery of the Sun.

Hanor Kichavo: Monastic Abbot Hanor (LG male Tethyrian human monk 10/Sun Soul monk 10) keeps his head shaved and favors bright yellow robes. Although he has an easy smile, he speaks with the fervor of a true believer, who finds himself called to be a teacher. Hanor is the spiritual heart of the Waterdhavian branch of the Order of the Sun Soul and one of only a handful of monks with a following across the order as a whole. Hanor has drawn the ire of Waterdeep's powerful churches of Lathander, Selûne, and Sune for his heretical preaching, a feeling echoed by the more traditional members of his order. More than one rumor has spread through the City of Splendors suggesting that the esteemed Monastic Abbot is in the thrall of the Lady of Loss and that his teachings are designed to weaken Waterdeep's good-aligned churches. Whether or not his actions lead to such a state, Hanor truly believes in what he preaches.

Church of Loviator

The Church of Loviatar has a large and growing body of adherents among the more decadent members of the Waterdhavian nobility, including several members of House Anteos and House Husteem. In the City of Splendors, worship of the Maiden of Pain has traditionally been confined to private homes and disreputable Dock Ward cellars, but the cult has flourished with the recent establishment of a new temple in the uppermost level of Undermountain.

Base of Operations: House of Pain.

Hlethvagi Anteos: High Whipmaster Hlethvagi Anteos (LE male Chondathan human cleric 10 [Loviatar]) is a fat, wispy-bearded, sinister little man who favors fine robes, silken sashes and waistcoats, bejeweled daggers, and fine whips. He enjoys only two things in life: inflicting pain and staying filthy rich. Hlethvagi has long led a double-life in Waterdeep; his public persona is that of a somewhat prosperous warehouse-operator, carter, and moneylender who lives in a mansion in Sea Ward and runs a business based in Southern Ward, but most of his fortune comes from his undercover trade run through a web of intermediaries. His minions have controlled the Long Dark Stair - a fabled, long-forgotten entrance to Undermountain - for nearly two decades. He rarely exposes himself to danger, and is never without a group of bodyguards.

After years of leading foul worship services to Loviatar in various cellars in Dock Ward, Hlethvagi funded the construction of a new temple in the northwestern chambers of Undermountain's first level in the Year of the Banner (1368 DR). The House of Pain is now a growing power in the upper reaches of Undermountain, guarded by the orcs of the Grinning Skull tribe. It is drawing increasing support from various disaffected nobles.

Yolanda Shamat: Yolanda (NE female Tethyrian human cleric 5/maiden of pain 4 [Loviatar]) is a daunting figure: a tall, sturdily built woman in her late thirties with dark, swarthy features. She has pale-blue eyes and midnight black hair that she braids and coils around sharp iron needles. Yolanda, or "Yola" as she is sometimes known, carries herself rigidly erect and moves with deliberate purpose, cowing everyone around with an icy stare. She serves as chamberlain for Lady Ellandra Tolbert (N female Illuskan human necromancer 14), an important financier of the church's activities in Waterdeep, who purchased Yolanda's release from slavery.

Church of Mystra

Waterdeep has a strong tradition of both wizardry and sorcery. Waterdhavians inclined to worship one of the "arcane" faiths (Azuth, Mystra, Savras, or now Velsharoon) have traditionally favored the Lady of Mysteries, dating back to the establishment of the House of Wonder m the Year of Starlight (1215 DR).

In Waterdeep, the Church of Mystra has long played a secondary role to the Watchful Order of Magists & Protectors because the sale of spells and magic items is traditionally the province of the guild, not the church. The relationship between guild and church has been upset in recent years by the growth of the Enclave of Red Magic and attempts by Meleghost Starseer, the temple's high priest, to reach out to the Red Wizards.

Waterdeep's Mystran church is closely allied with the Church of Selûne, and the two faiths work together to battle the followers of Shar. In the aftermath of the Time of Troubles, Meleghost Starseer joined Naneatha Suaril in founding the Knights of the Blue Moon, in large part to remove High Moonknight Xale from his leadership role at the House of Wonder. Although Knights of the Blue Moon are officially welcome in the House of Wonder, Meleghost has made clear that he finds their presence distasteful.

Base of Operations: House of Wonder.

Ilbrost Mythyl: Ilbrost (NG mak Tethyrian human cleric 3/enchanter 6/dweomerkeeper 3) is an aging enchanter who deftly relies on his magic to maintain his prominent social position. Ilbrost is always immaculately groomed, with a wand-thin mustache, sumptuous wizardly robes, and slicked-back, thinning gray hair. Ilbrost is the nominal leader of the cleric faction seeking to unseat Meleghost, but his lack of personal ambition for the job has kept him from rebelling strongly against his superior. Ilbrost is nervously attentive to the growing wave of dissatisfaction with Meleghost's leadership, seeking to position himself on the winning side, no matter who prevails.

Meleghost Starseer: Magister of Mystra Meleghost (LE male Chondathan necromancer 13/arcane devotee 5) is the cruel, urbane master of the House of Wonder. He has long, slender fingers, a shaven head, and a neatly trimmed goatee. Given to long flowing robes adorned with runes, Meleghost is fiercely devoted to the Lady of Mysteries and her patronage of all avenues of arcane investigation, including necromancy. The Magister of Mystra is a close friend of the Dragon Mage Maaril and the leaders of the Eltorchul family, but he has never gotten along well with either the Blackstaff or the members of the Wands clan. Meleghost has a cold, formal relationship with Naneatha Suaril, high priestess of Selûne, and an icy, almost hostile, relationship with Xale of the Starry Glen of the Order of the Blue Moon (see page 83).

Of late, Meleghost has been reaching out to members of the Red Magic Enclave, despite the opposition of his long-time allies in the Watchful Order of Magists & Protectors. Although the Magister of Mystra professes that he is simply observing his vow to the Lady of Mysteries and ministering to all the faithful, the long-standing campaign by some members of the clergy to remove him from his position as high priest has gathered strength as more and more guild members voice their discontent.

Church of Oghma

Although the Binder has long been honored Waterdeep's bards, wizards, and sages, only recently has the church of Oghma achieved the status of a major faith among the populace of Warerdeep. The faith's recent rise to prominence is the result of hard work and careful diplomacy by Savant Sandrew the Wise. House Estelmer gave generously to the construction of the Great Library, assembling the tomes in the Estelmer villa before the temple was completed.

In the Year of the Banner (1368 DR), the Font of Knowledge was finally completed, and the temple staff moved from its former temple, a row house on Swords Street, to the beautiful new structure. House Estelmer took the lead in collecting and organizing the collection of tomes and scrolls before the temple was even complete, allowing the church of Oghma to open the doors of the Great Library in possession of the greatest assemblage of books found in the City of Splendors.

Although the most valuable service offered to the city by the Binder's disciples is the Great Library, the informal result has been the creation of a "market square" for the city's notoriously independent sages. Because most recognized sages spend at least several hours each day among the stacks, adventurers in need of immediate information have taken to seeking out "the Council of Sages" in the Font of Knowledge.

The Church of Oghma is closely allied with the bardic college of New Olamn and receives a great deal of financial backing from members of House Estelmer and House Majarra. It is also closely linked with the Scriveners, Scribes & Clerks Guild, which hosts a small chapel to Deneir within its guildhall. A keyed two-way portal links a bricked-up archway in a scribes' chamber on the second floor of the Font of Knowledge and the library on the second floor of the Zoarstar to a library hidden in a secret chamber of the old dwarf hold in Undermountain's Maze Level.

Base of Operations: Font of Knowledge.

Sandrew the Wise: Savant Sandrew (LN male Illuskan human cleric 12/divine disciple 2 [Oghma]), formerly of the Silver Marches, came to Waterdeep nearly a decade ago, intent on constructing a temple and library worthy of the Binder and the City of Splendors. He brought with him a handful of clerics from his old temple in Silverymoon, and he has continued to recruit additional clerics and librarians.

Church of Selûne

The church of Selûne is one of the city's oldest faiths, as followers of the Moonmaiden have worshiped on the slopes of Mount Waterdeep since the Year of the Half Moon (390 DR). During the time of Bloodhand Hold, the church was known as the Cult of the Howling Moon, made up of good-aligned lycanthropes who gathered at what is now the Dancing Court. The cult was driven from the city by Nimoar the Reaver, but subsequently returned.

In the Year of the Gleaming Crown (1097 DR), two years after donating the Plinth to the Lords of Waterdeep, Selûnites began worshiping at the newly constructed High House of Stars (see Vault of Stars, page 120). The temple stood until the Year of the Tomb (1182 DR), when it was attacked and burned by infiltrators from below. The Moonmaiden's followers began worshiping at the House of the Moon in the Year of Soft Fogs (1188 DR), where they have remained ever since, having foiled an arson attempt in the Year of the Saddle (1345 DR) on the "Night of Temple Fires."

Led by the charismatic Priestess of the High Moonlight Naneatha Suaril, the church of the Moonmaiden has waxed in strength since the Time of Troubles, when the church of Selûne foiled the dark plots of Shar and her followers. Naneatha lent strong backing to the effort to found the Order of the Blue Moon after the Time of Troubles, and High Moonknight Xale and other knights of the order are in regular attendance at the House of the Moon.

Current Base of Operations: House of the Moon and Selûne's Smile.

Former Base of Operations: High House of Stars and the Plinth.

Naneatha Suaril: Priestess of the High Moonlight Naneatha (CG female Illuskan cleric 6/silverstar 10/divine disciple 4 [Selûne]) is deliberate, proud, and more than a match for Waterdeep's haughtiest nobles. As the daughter of a minor Neverwintan noble family and the sister of Lady Wylynd Moonstar, Naneatha has impeccable fashion sense and is known for her rich, bejeweled gowns of the finest make. Having never forgiven herself for falling victim to Shar's machinations during the Time of Troubles, Naneatha has crusaded against the Dark Lady's followers ever since.

Order of the Blue Moon

Mystryl, the original goddess of magic, is said to have been born of Selûne. Although Mystryl's second successor Mystra (once the mortal wizard Midnight) retains dominion over the Weave, Selûne is thought by some to retain a measure of influence over her twice-removed daughter's portfolio, causing the Weave to ebb and flow much as the moon causes tides in Torilian bodies of water.

The Order of the Blue Moon is a small religious order dedicated to both the Mother of Mystryl and the reigning Lady of Mysteries. The group draws its name from fluctuations of the Weave that result in localized concentrations of magic that occur at varying locations during nights of the full moon, causing Sehine to appear blue in color. Members of this order serve both goddesses in their endless battles with Shar, the Mistress of the Night. They seek advantage over the dark servants of their eternal foe by making strategic use of Selûne's influence over the Weave combined with the power of the Weave itself.

The order gathers only to debate shared goals and propose new missions beneath the light of a blue moon. The order's hidden chapter house is said to lie amid the Red Rocks north of Waterdeep, protected by both the ever-raging waters of the sea and a permanent maelstrom of wild magic. However; Waterdeep's House of the Moon serves as the order's day-to-day center of operations, for Naneatha Suaril actively supports the order's goals. Knights of the Blue Moon are most active along the Sword Coast and western Inner Sea lands.

Paladins who join this order are permitted to freely multiclass as sorcerers, as long as their sorcerer level never exceeds their paladin level. Note that only Mystra allows paladins in her service.

Base of Operations: Hall of Reflected Moonlight.

Church of Shar

Although adherents of the Nightmaiden have long been active in the shadow of Mount Waterdeep, the Waterdhavian church of Shar traces its origins to a disastrous expedition to the Black Jungles in the Year of Dark Dawn (1104 DR) by Lord Vanrak Moonstar, a noted explorer in his day. Formerly a charismatic, outgoing swashbuckler, Vanrak returned a pale shadow of his former self. Within a tenday of his return, Lord Andvarran Moonstar, the family patriarch, died of a strange wasting disease unknown to Waterdeep's healers and strangely resistant to their spells.

Lord Vanrak assumed leadership of House Moonstar and publicly broke with the priests of the High House of Stars (see Vault of Stars), whom he blamed for his father's untimely death. Consumed with bitterness, the Dark Ranger, as he came to be known, secretly embraced Selûne's ancient enemy, the Lady of Loss.

By the Year of the Howling Moon (1130 DR), House Moonstar was in open schism. Those Moonstar nobles who still venerated Selûne aligned themselves with Lord Vanrak's sister, Lady Alathene, and took refuge in the temple of Selûne. At the Moonstar villa in Dock Ward (now the Blushing Mermaid festhall), Lord Vanrak and his followers - a small army of mercenaries and priests of Shar - extended their dark influence over much of the city's harbor.

On the night of the seventh full moon of the year, Lady Alathene asked the Lords of Waterdeep to strip her brother of his title and banish him from the city. To prove her case, she presented evidence of her brother's numerous crimes including slavery, arson, theft, and murder. The Lords ordered the Dark Ranger's immediate capture, but when the watch breached the gates of the Moonstar villa, Lord Vanrak and his followers had disappeared.

Unbeknownst to his moon-worshiping kin, Lord Vanrak had fled through a secret portal into Undermountain. For decades thereafter, the Dark Ranger and his followers explored Halaster's Halls. In the Year of the Dark Mask (1181 DR), Vanrak and his followers conquered a highly defensible redoubt in the Dark Levels of Undermountain. From this base, the church of Shar grew strong, exerting its influence throughout much of Undermountain and periodically dispatching assassins and marauders to battle followers of the Moonmaiden in the city above.

The church of Shar achieved its most dramatic success in the Year of the Tomb (1182 DR), when Vanrak's followers infiltrated the cellars of the High House of Stars and slaughtered most of the inhabitants. They also acquired enough treasure from the temple vaults to fund Lord Vanrak's personal quest for immortality. Within a few years, the Dark Ranger voluntarily transformed himself into a death knight - the perfect, eternal servant of the Lady of Loss.

In recent years, Lord Vanrak's followers have failed to execute several important plans. In the Year of the Saddle (1345 DR); the Dark Army of the Night tried to set afire the House of the Moon as part of the "Night of Temple Fires." In the Year of Shadows (1358 DR), the avatar of Shar attempted to subvert the Moonmaiden's church by masquerading as her ancient foe and imprisoning the avatar of Selûne. Shar's faithful were driven from the city after followers of the Moonmaiden freed Selûne from Shar's clutches, forced to nurse their bitterness anew in the darkness of Vanrakdoom.

Base of Operations: Vanrakdoom

Gathgaer Miomynt: Gathgaer (NE male Chondathan human cleric 7 [Shar]) is a beak-nosed, alert-looking man with close-cropped brown hair and beady brown eyes. He favors dark robes and a handy mace at his belt. Gathgaer purports to be a medicinal healer, selling medicines and treatments out of a run-down house in Dock Ward. In truth, he is a slaver, kidnapping folk of little influence or profile in Waterdeep and transporting them down into Undermountain's second level by a two-way keyed portal that leads from his iron maiden to a sarcophagus. Gathgaer sells the slaves to Hlethvagi Anteos, who transports them down to Skullport.

Church of Talos

The Storm Lord does not have a large following in Waterdeep, although many sailors in Dock Ward whisper prayers as a storm approaches while at sea. Nevertheless, itinerant Talosians visit the City of Splendors from time to time, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.

Sumer of Calimport: Sumer (CE male Calishite human cleric 5/stormlord 4 [Talos]) is tall, slim, dusky-skinned and dark-haired, favoring purple robes and an excessive amount of silver jewelry. He has become rich trading goods between Calimport and Waterdeep, and he visits the City of Splendors two or three times per year for a tenday or so each visit. Sumer is never without his regular bodyguard (five Calishite human warrior 3) and his crony Greeme (CE male Calishite human fighter 5/rogue 1/assassin 2), who favors poisoned blades.

Although Sumer keeps a low profile and does not cause public trouble, he kills at least one person on each visit for the glory of Kozah (Talos), despite the efforts of his brother-in-law Olophin (a civilar in the City Guard) to frustrate him. Sumer usually targets adventurers, as they regularly disappear through their own foolishness and thus are unlikely to be missed. Sumer typically chooses a target after concluding his business, follows the target around the city until they are weak or resting, and then attacks. He will flee if is life is threatened, sacrificing his guards to make his escape.

Church of Tymora

The City of Splendors has long been a beacon for adventurers who trust their lives to Lady Luck. The donations of those who braved the depths of Undermountain and survived to tell the tale alone were enough to construct the Tower of Luck in just a few short years. Nevertheless, the church of Tymora continues to struggle, due in large part to the lack of adherents among the year-round citizenry. Some say that High Lady Priest Seenroas and Lord Prior Markos are too mercenary, trading in luck as if it were a commodity, while others say they are ignoring the burgeoning number of adherents among the halfling population of Waterdeep.

Base of Operations: The Tower of Luck.

Elegul Another: Elegul (male Tethyrian human cleric 7 [Tymora]) is a kind soul who aids those in need of healing and help. To avoid creating a dependence on Tymora's favor, he eschews joining adventuring bands and instead wanders, dispensing the beneficence of Lady Luck. Since his recent escape from Undermountain, he has confined his ministries to the city proper and its immediate aboveground environs.

Lamris Kholl: Lamris(CG female human cleric 5 [Tymora]) is a strikingly beautiful woman from Llorkh with a vivacious and unpredictable nature. Although loyal and true to her calling, she can be rather irresponsible and capricious. She recently managed to rescue her family from Zhent-controlled Llorkh thanks to the unasked-for aid of Adama, and now after years of toying with his emotions, is beginning to view him in a much more positive light.

Adama Miiralin: Adama (CG male Chondathan human cleric 5 [Tymora]) is a naive, kindly young priest from Arabel with aspirations of rising up in a temple hierarchy far from the heresies of his native church. He is a nightly regular at the Yawning Portal, attending to adventurers entering or exiting Undermountain and keeping a record of who dares the ultimate test of Lady Luck. Despite his normally wise demeanor, Adama trusts in luck implicitly; taking wild risks as a matter of course.

Church of Tyr

Waterdeep has long been a bastion of justice and the rule of law in the North (or at least has aspired to be such), thanks in large part to the followers of Tyr who have long played an illustrious role in the governance of the City of Splendors. As such, the church of Tyr and its associated religious orders hold a prominent role in the city's religious and political life, but conflicts between the twin obligations of faith and public service have created discord and division among the faithful.

The four primary factions within the Waterdeep arm of the church include members of the government, the formal cleric hierarchy, the Holy Order of the Knights of Samular, and the Order of the Even-Handed. Members of the government include Piergeiron the Paladinson, Madeiron Sunderstone, Mulgor of Tyr, Rulathon, and Texter. Few last long in such positions if their primary obedience is not to god and government first. For example, Piergeiron would not last long as Open Lord if it became apparent that he put the dictates of the cleric hierarchy above the best interests of Waterdeep. In contrast, members of the cleric faction owe their primary allegiance to god and church hierarchy, while members of the religious orders owe their primary allegiance to god and brotherhood.

Clergy of Tyr

The clergy of Tyr are considered by the followers of Grimjaws to be the church of Tyr, encompassing the independents, the Order of the Even-Handed, and the Holy Order of the Knights of Samular. In practice, however, the clergy encompasses only those who are not members of the other three factions.

Base of Operations: Halls of Justice.

Hykros Allumen: Hammer Lord Hykros (LG male Illuskan paladin 20) is the high priest of the Halls of Justice and the leader of the clergy of Tyr in Waterdeep. Hykros is a devout worshiper of the Maimed God and a strong pillar in the defense of the rule of law in Waterdeep. He is also a student of the church's early traditions, believing that the followers of Tyr have gradually fallen away from the truths revealed when Tyr first marched across Faerûn in the Procession of Justice.

As a result of his traditional and orthodox beliefs, Hykros rejects many aspects of the modern church. In particular, he firmly rejects the notion that Tyr is the latest incarnation of Anachtyr, a belief held by most southern sects of the church, and his prejudice in this regards extends to most non-Northerners. In addition, he regards Tyrran cleric, monk, and paladin traditions as distinct and separate, and he looks with distaste upon those who attempt to fuse these clearly defined roles.

Jhassalan "of the Lightning": Jhassalan (LG male Illuskan human evoker 7/arcane devotee 1 [Tyr]) is a native of Silverymoon whose title stems from his penchant for electricity spells and the lightning-shaped shock of blond hair that runs from his temple and over his brown-haired scalp. Jhassalan was a member of the ill-fated Guild of the Just, an adventuring band of Tyrrans, who attacked the House of Pain in Undermountain to free a bunch of captives but was then ambushed by the forces of Loviatar. Jhassalan escaped only due to the unlooked-for aid of Muiral the Misshapen. In the years since that failure, Jhassalan has rededicated himself to the service of Tyr, and now leads the small contingent of arcane spellcasters who serve in the Halls of Justice. He retains his deep loathing for the Church of Loviatar and continues to investigate from where it is receiving its funds.

Holy Order Of The Knights Of Samular

In the Year of the Rings Royal (952 DR), the Second Troll War finally ended under the leadership of Aeroth, War Captain of Silverymoon. One of the great heroes of that war was Samular Caradoon, a Tyrran knight whose bravery and faith were unsurpassed. Samular was the third of three brothers: The oldest, Renwick, studied wizardry, while Amphail the Just and his younger brother Samular became paladins of Tyr.Nearly two decades before the war, Renwick Caradoon acquired a trio of artifacts of mysterious purpose now known as the rings of Samular and later gave them to Samular to hold. When the Second Troll War began, the magic of the three rings enabled the brothers (each of whom temporarily held one of the rings) to employ a magic siege engine known as Kezefbane to great effect against the trolls, lifting the siege of Waterdeep. For his heroism and leadership, Amphail was elevated to the position of War Lord of Waterdeep after the battle, only to die in a troll raid less than a year later. Without the third brother, the effectiveness of Kezefbane against the trolls was greatly diminished. Nevertheless, Samular played a key role in Aeroth's eventual victory through his martial prowess and valor; in so doing, Samular acquired a legion of devoted followers. Renwick fell in the final battle, but the eldest brother had prepared to transform into an archlich, a process he began as he lay dying. Only Samular knew that Renwick had survived his "death" in battle.

After the war, Samular formed an order of Tyrran paladins based in the North. Under Samular's leadership, the order seized Thornhold, the keep of a petty warlord named Brunyundar Margaster, and made Thornhold its chapterhouse. Located just south of the Mere of Dead Men, Thornhold became the personal property of Samular and his direct heirs. Renwick retreated into his tower in the Sumber Hills - his undead state would have been considered an abomination by many of Samular's followers - and Samular's acceptance of such would have destroyed the fledgling order. Samular ordered that a training monastery; Sunimit Hall, be built around Renwick's tower, and that the tower remain undisturbed for all time, in honor of his brother's memory. The heart of the order moved to Waterdeep, occupying a wing of the Halls of Justice.

Current Base of Operations: Summit Hall (Sumber Hills, southeast of Red Larch), Halls of Justice.

Former Base of Operations: Thornhold (just south of the Mere of Dead Men on the Long Road, now held by Bronwyn Caradoon and shield dwarves of Clan Stoneshaft).

Algorind: Algorind (LG male Tethyrian paladin 6) has strong features, short, fair, curly hair, and a guileless, direct blue-eyed gaze. He favors chainmail covered by a white tabard bearing the symbol of Tyr and rides a white stallion named Icewind. Where once he was an earnest young man, full of certainty and strong in faith, Algorind is now a man adrift. Although he is earnest, dedicated, and sincere, his willingness to follow the orders of his superiors unquestioningly has led him far from Tyr's principles, much to his confusion. As a result, Algorind relies on Sir Gareth Cormaeril (see below) for advice and direction even more than he did in years past, unaware that it was Sir Gareth's manipulation that has sent him on one lonely, futile quest after another for the past few years. Algorind has only recently returned to Waterdeep, determined once again to prove his worth to his beloved order. He has orders to avoid Bronwyn Caradoon, since the two worked to opposite ends in the Thornhold affair.

Harkas Kormallis: Harkas (LG male Illuskan human paladin 8/justiciar of Tyr 6 [Tyr], Hand of Tyr feat) is the eldest son of Lord Helm Kormallis. He is also Tyr's Champion, tasked with the defense of the Halls of Justice. Of the two roles, Harkas takes only the second seriously, because he is fanatically devoted to the service of the Maimed God, going so far as to cut off his right hand to demonstrate his faith. Harkas is the senior paladin of the Knights of Samular based in Waterdeep, and he strictly governs the conduct of members of the order. Harkas is a strong believer in the importance of regular quests, and he regularly calls upon younger Knights of Samular to handle reports of evil doings in the wilds of the North.

Among the Knights, Harkas is closest with Lord Morus Brokengulf II, whom he regards as a son and protége. Harkas has somewhat strained relations with Hykros Allumen, believing that the Hammer Lord's prejudices blind him to the greater glory of Tyr. Of course, Harkas himself has failed to notice the seed of evil now staining the order, embodied in his right-hand man, Sir Gareth Cormaeril.

Morus Brokengulf II: By the age of 16, Lord Morus (LG male Illuskan human paladin 4, Hand of Tyr feat) was a paladin and Tyrran zealot, cutting off his own right hand in sacrifice to Tyr and devoting himself to the teachings of Harkas Kormallis. After roaming the Sword Coast for years, doing good in Tyr's name, the death of the elder Lord Morus I forced Morus II to return to Waterdeep and assume the mantle of patriarch. After several months of frustration, the new Lord Morus II turned over day-to-day operation of the family business to his close friend, Sir Gareth Cormaeril, Exchequer of the Knights of Samular, so that he could once again sally forth against the evils of the North in the name of Tyr. Lord Morus II returns to Waterdeep periodically, but now spends most of his time away, battling evil monsters and hunting Old Gnawbones, a long-standing enemy of the family.

Renwick "Snowcloak" Caradoon: Renwick (LN male archlich [augmented Illuskan human] wizard 14/arcane devotee 5 [Tyr]) is the elder brother of Amphail the Just and the legendary Samular. Centuries ago, he engineered the founding of the Holy Order of Samular and then retreated into undeath and seclusion. The Guardian of the Order has hidden for centuries in his old tower in Summit Hall, awaiting a descendant of Samular to claim the third of the rings of Samular. Although Bronwyn Caradoon briefly united the rings and Kezelbane, Renwick's long-laid plans are blocked once again by her decision to divide the rings among the Knights of Samular, the church of Cyric, and the Harpers, and to hide Kezefbane away again in a location unknown to Renwick (in Blackstaff Tower).

Gareth Cormacril: Sir Gareth (CE male Chondathan human paladin 7/blackguard 5, Veil of Cyric feat) is a tall, well-made man in vigorous late life distantly related to the now exiled Cormyrian noble house of the same name. He wears his white hair in precise waves and has bright blue eyes. Although he retired from active service in the Knights of Samular over three decades ago, thanks to a grievous wound that left him with a withered night arm, Sir Gareth has continued to serve the order for many years as Exchequer of the Knights and the senior paladin of the order based in Waterdeep at the Halls of Justice.

Unbeknownst to his fellow knights, or indeed anyone other than Malchior and Dag Zoreth of Darkhold, Sir Gareth fell away from the faith of Tyr decades ago after saving the life of Hronrulf Caradoon at the cost of his arm. It was Gareth who sold the location of Hronrulf's children to the Zhentarim in the Year of the Spur (1348 DR), and it was Gareth who nearly engineered the assemblage of the rings of Samular and Kezefbane in the hands of Dag Zoreth, a priest of Cyric.

Sir Gareth has never admitted even to himself that he no longer follows the teachings of Tyr, constructing elaborate rationalizations and falling back on willful ignorance to justify his actions to himself and others. Nevertheless, he continues to follow the lead of Malchior of Darkhold and fund his activities, claiming to Dag Zoreth, for example, that "Whatever else he might be, Malchior's a scholar and most knowledgeable in the lore and history of the order. Therefore, it is right and fitting that some of the order's monies support his work. I have no firsthand knowledge that these funds were used in any other manner." The fallen paladin never explicitly lies, but often omits inconvenient truths or misleads others.

Order of the Even-Handed

The Order of the Even-Handed is a local monastic order dedicated to Tyr. The order's small chapterhouse sits on the slopes of Mount Waterdeep, overlooking Smuggler's Bay. Due to longstanding philosophical differences between Grand Master Hlam and Hammer Lord Hykros Allumen (Hykros believes Hlam's mixing of cleric and monk traditions to be heresy), the order has closer ties with the Hall of Justice in Neverwinter than it does with the clergy of Waterdeep's Tyrran temple, going so far as to send its tithes to the City of Skilled Hands.

Hlam, Grand Master of the Even-Handed, has long dwelled in a small cave partway up the eastern slopes of Mount Waterdeep. Over the years, as he trained a succession of younger monks who found their way to his cave, Hlam developed a monastic discipline that he called the Way of the Sacred Fists, giving equal weight to cleric magic and monk training. In recent years, his students organized themselves into a monastic order, one that taught both individual self-reliance and a duty to bring justice to the world. With the assistance of Piergeiron, Hlam's disciples purchased an aging manor near their master's cave to serve-as the order's chapter house.

Although Hlam has always preferred to adventure alone, most of the younger members of the order seek out companies of fair-minded adventurers of varied skills, as opposed to journeying with other members of the order. However, it is a goal for every member of the order to have one grand solo adventure in the service of the Grimjaws before they die. Most also seek to battle and defeat a Helmite monk in ritual combat.

Base of Operations: House of Two Hands.

Hlam: Hlam (LG male Tethyrian human monk 7/cleric 1/sacred fist 6 [Tyr]) is a humble man who fled Tethyr during the Ten Black Days and found his calling as a monk in the service of Tyr in the wilds of the Savage Frontier. He is of slight build and middling height, but he is incredibly fit. Hlam keeps his head and face completely shaved, favoring simple tunics and a ritual blindfold of thin white gauze. The Grand Master has little involvement in the order he nominally leads, but he looks with great favor on the efforts of his student to extend his teachings, seeing it as the will of Tyr.

Church of Umberlee

Although the Bitch Queen is given more than her due in the City of Splendors during the annual donations to Umberlee's Cache, the church of Umberlee has never been strong in the City of Splendors. The Bitch Queen's official emissary to Waterdeep is usually a priest based in Stormhaven House on Orlumbor, charged with overseeing the Fleetswake ceremonies and observing which ships pay proper homage to the Bitch Queen upon departing Deepwater Harbor.

In the Year of the Gauntlet (1369 DR), Dread High Trident Meritid Archneie discovered a magic abalone shell floating in the harbor, which he believed to be the legendary Orglara, a sacred text of the Bitch Queen. Seeing this as a good omen, Meritid promptly petitioned the Lords to use half the annual tithe to construct a temple to the Bitch Queen atop a large outcropping of rock near the end of the large sandbar that extends south of the city's South Gate. Without explanation, the Lords agreed to his unlikely request, and construction was begun on the azure-hued Queenspire. Now, after many years of work, the Queenspire is finally nearing completion, and Meritid has sent out a call far and wide for Umberlants to join him in worshiping the Queenspire in the lee of Mount Waterdeep.

Base of Operations: The Queenspire.

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Organizations of Waterdeep

Organizations of Faerûn
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