The Reign of Selfaril

The strength of Mulmaster was always in its control of trade. It sits at the end of the major land and sea routes on the east side of the Moonsea. It controls no farms and very little land beyond its valuable sea frontage. High Blade Jaseen expanded Mulmaster’s influence to Point Iron by reclaiming the mines and constructing a fort there. However, by the start of Selfaril’s rule, the city rested in careful balance among different power groups. The noble Lords and their Blades controlled the law, and by extension, were immune to most of it. Their word was iron and no one, not even clergy of Bane, could cross them. Bribery, intimidation, tyranny, and outright murder have always been the tools of their trade and they wielded them without pause. Given that position among the nobility was fluid, many of the wealthiest middle class families were constantly on the lookout to supplant a noble family past its prime. Otherwise, the Blades maintained their control of the populace through the Cloaks, Hawks and Soldiery.

However the unquenched greed and out-of-control crime during Jaseen’s last reigning years slowly pushed the city into a spiral of depression and decay. The population grew thin as more capable men and craftsmen left searching for better conditions elsewhere. Inspired by a similar rule still effective in Zhentil Gate, Selfaril Uoumdolphin shortly established an exit tribute of 100gp to keep people from leaving. But the nobles greatly feared that the city’s high tensions were bordering on an all-out civil war. Meanwhile, a silent schism among the high ranks of the Church of Bane introduced a cult devoted to a new kind of tyranny: monetary and contractual control, as an extension to traditional Banite martial tyranny. Those new and radical ideas are believed to have greatly influenced Selfaril.

During the fated Flamerule Massacre of 1497 DR, High Blade Selfaril Uoumdolphin gathered all Blades within the halls of the Tower of Blades under false pretext and executed eleven of them. The other four “voluntarily” withdrew from power. Under such dire conditions, all noble families were forced to sign the Codex of Division, creating the third and current government of Mulmaster. This new form of rulership passed the full ownership of Mulmaster to Selfaril, personally. All city functions were consolidated into a

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Selfaril Uoumdolphin

Medium humanoid (human), lawful evil

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• Armor Class 20 (plate +2)
• Hit Points 135 (18d8 + 54)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	15 (+2)	16 (+3)	10 (+0)	14 (+2)	17 (+3)

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• Saving Throws Str +10, Dex +2, Con +9
• Skills Athletics +11, Deception +9, History +6, Intimidation +9, Persuasion +9
• Senses Perception 12
• Languages Common
• Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)

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Brave. Selfaril has advantage on saving throws against being frightened and charmed.

Ingenious Duelist. Selfaril can spend his reaction during his turn to gain extra bonus action; or spend all his bonus actions and gain one extra attack.

Action Surge. (2x, Recharged after a Short or Long Rest): Selfaril can take one additional action on top of his regular action, and an extra Bonus Action.

Indomitable. (2x, Recharged after a Short or Long Rest): Selfaril can reroll a saving throw that he fails.

Actions

Multiattack. Selfaril makes three melee attacks.

+3 Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (1d8 + 11) slashing damage, or 16 (1d10 + 11) slashing damage if used with two hands to make a melee attack.

Bonus Actions

Second Wind. (Recharged after a Short or Long Rest): Selfaril regains 1d10 + 18 hit points.

Reactions

Parry. Selfaril adds 2 to his AC against one melee attack that would hit him. To do so, he must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.

The Contract Census

High Blade Selfaril’s wild ideas of unstable aristocracy, in constant terror of underperforming, could never cement as law without the Contract Census. Spread throughout the city are thirty seven offices occupied by hundreds of law advisers and contract scribes. For a nominal fee of 1sp, any noble can write nearly anything into an official Public Contract: services (and favors), sale or lease over property (and people), and different forms of credit or investment (at outlandish interest). All business operations between Blades can be reviewed by any noble and are constantly studied by High Blade’s army of advisors for any unwanted trends evolving within the city. The Census explores new forms of ownership and trade never tried elsewhere, all of them focused on indenturing and exploiting the weak, needy, and anyone convenient.

Blades, their advisors, and representatives are forced into a complex web of contractual liability since a Blade can rarely operate without doing business with many of the other Blades. To further establish the absolute role of the Census among nobility, High Blade Selfaril has outlawed all non-contractual relationships that cannot be proven by a signed paper in Census’ records. His network of agents spans every Hold and noble family, sometimes unseen and often openly demonstrating their right to verify every aspect of a Blade’s life and business. Failure to prove sources of wealth or reasons behind favors finds both noble and common man punished equally. The Census has authority to strip all property and rights including citizenship, often followed by public execution.

With the blessing of the Church of Bane, High Blade Selfaril Uoumdolphin’s bet on contractual tyranny has proven widely successful. While Zhentil Keep, Hillsfar and other Moonsea cities have faced decline and have struggled to control tension among its populace, Mulmaster has been able to maintain steady growth in industry and trade. They even transformed petty street crime into a highly organized and efficient crime network, with its own Hold and Blade managing it. Selfaril paid for Mulmaster’s success with the the high cost of extreme government turnover, transforming everyone, noble or common alike, into a cog in a colossal machine that oils its gears with wealth and suffering.

Mulmaster Today

By 1507 DR, ten years since the Flamerule Massacre, High Blade Selfaril can no longer afford to maintain his tight steel grip over the city.

Stricken by an incurable illness that neither his contract army of healers nor the blessings of Bane can prevail against, his days are clearly numbered and so is the order he created. The Blades, once crushed under the unyielding machine of absolute control, are becoming restless and power hungry, tasting the bittersweet poison of scheming and treachery. The remnants of the original noble families, dreaming of the old glory days of traditional aristocracy, funnel their wealth and influence into social unrest and discontent towards the Blades. The ever- mysterious Red Wizards of Thay, rumors, and strange affairs are an increasing presence in the city, causing even the lowest classes to doubt the High Blade for the first time.

Selfaril has not yet named a successor, and his only son is kept in absolute isolation from a position as Blade, despite multiple attempts to take one. Selfaril is instead focusing all his efforts towards finding a cure that could stop or reverse his slow descent towards death. Mulmaster may or may not survive the death of its ruler.

Racial Profile

Like all cities coasted around the Moonsea, Mulmaster is a deeply xenophobic human society. Ethnicity and skin color among humans have much less impact on folk's opinion of you than whether you are a native or a foreigner. The tall and fair skinned Damaran easily coexist with the mahogany Turmish or the stocky dark-skinned Nar, as long as they all share the same blood. Outlanders such as half-elves, dwarves, halflings are seen as despicable scourges and are usually driven out of the city with force. The few who try to stay are denied rights and protection unless a Blade steps up to offer them; such a rare act of kindness is widely frowned upon.

The only exception to this rule is made for the Zhent half- orcs. Since Selfaril Uoumdolphin’s coup was mostly funded by Zhentarim gold and slaves, he was forced into a treaty with Zhentil Keep requiring Mulmaster to provide them a blanket set of civil rights, in return for their continued support and current peace. The provision was mostly exploited by the lowest caste of vagrant half-orcs, driven to despair and death by the cruelty of the Zhentarim order. Penniless, homeless, starving, sickly and scarred, the Zhent half-orcs live by their own tribal laws and shun Mulmaster society as much as Mulmasterites ignore their existence. Within the last decade half-orc numbers have grown exponentially from a few hundred to nearly four thousand, causing overpopulation within the ghetto, accompanied by frequent plague and famine.

Tension is also building among Mulmasterite nobles and common people, who claim the ghetto has become a growing cancerous tumor feeding on their city. One of the Blades, whose Hold is over racial affairs, has full control over the Zhent Ghetto and used to funnel spoiled food as well as other discarded trash, disguised as “humanitarian aid”.

People

The people of Mulmaster are pessimistic dynamos. “Take what you can, when you can, because who knows if you'll see tomorrow,” would be their motto. The harsh landscape and living conditions as well as the history of the city have made Mulmasterites hard nosed, stubborn folk, whose minds are always scheming to further their own positions. The people of Mulmaster are not foolish or reckless; they are (as a rule) single-minded, driven, ambitious, and amoral folk.

Mulmasterites set about life with a fierce determination. The average Mulmasterite is always looking to gain advantage on his or her neighbor, coworker, superior, or shopkeeper. They push and push to achieve their ends, and die in the trying if need be. Of course, someone else dying would be much more convenient. Neither zealots nor reckless idiots, they are inexorable, patient, relentless opponents, who wait for and exploit every weakness. Their schemes often extend towards visitors with false bravado and hospitality that seeks to take advantage on them.

It is this spirit that makes Mulmaster such a hotbed for commerce, industry, and intrigue. Mulmasterites love to live well when they can, going to taverns to drink, dance-houses to flirt and dance, fighting rings (bears, dogs, cocks, and/or people), street theater, gambling at the Gate of Good Fortune, and many other venues of entertainment and vice.

The Moonsea climate is not as cold as the Silver Marches, but significantly foul enough to cause the seas to freeze over during the winter. People of the Moonsea are used to wearing cold-weather and other bulky clothes year-round; only half-orcs are hardy enough to brace the harsh winds naked. Mulmasterites frequently wear furs to defend against the city's fierce winds and cold, including leggings and “maliskers” (chest aprons), with leather gauntlets and boots.

Citizenship

Life is extremely cheap in Mulmaster, but Selfaril’s law has allowed for a new kind of meritocracy to emerge from the urban chaos and provide protection and security to those that excel. As he distributed the city assets, trades and services among Blades, he also instituted that all citizens are to be issued writs of citizenship. A writ is a contract of its own, issued by any of the Blades on behalf of the High Blade, and grants each citizen specific rights to live, work, use public services and seek protection from the City Watch. A writ is usually issued to a male of adult age; women and children (unless nobility) are issued writs bound to the name of the master of the house.

Each citizen is allowed to approach the administration of any Blade to offer his services or prove his worth to the Blade’s advisors. Depending on need and mood, the citizen receives an answer within days or must endure many months of wait. Typically, people have little choice since each Blade is granted monopoly on entire domains of trade, crafts, services, or business affairs. Sometimes a man’s ability is so sought after that another Blade will send covert envoys to convince him to change allegiance, providing him with an underground, illegal, and highly profitable practice. While change of allegiance is allowed by the word of law, practicing illegal trade or activity in Mulmaster is punished by death. Most Blades would rather kill a dissident than allow a rival Blade to get hold of her; and so every Blade operates a spy network, separate from the High Blade’s Contract Census, to insure every one of their “employees” has absolute fear of their Blade.

Visitors to Mulmaster are forced to go through a similar process. Outside the gates of Mulmaster there’s a small village offering lodging to travelers and merchants, waiting for a Blade to review their case and grant a temporary visitation writ. People with valuable skills and professions are given priority and are usually directly invited by one or more Blades. Others wait days or weeks, before receiving an answer or giving up and leaving. Only vagrant half orcs are put through a different process: after they pass standard medical exams and questioning, they are sent into the Zhent Ghetto to fight and scavenge for food and housing.

A Mulmasterite’s life is completely defined by whatever writ he is granted. He may only live in specific neighborhoods, only eat at specific mess halls, only drink at particular inns - all of them owned by his Blade. A tradesman or craftsman is allowed to practice his trade only if he is indentured to the right Blade who controls that domain of public life and economy. Most tradesmen own nothing but their own two hands; the means of labor are fully owned by the Blade, who receives 80% of all profits. Very few can climb the ladder to own their own shop or house, but these few “independents” only have to share 30% with their Blade.

The Mulmaster writ is no simple matter. Without it a person has no citizenship rights, receives no protection and cannot even leave the city gates. Individuals without a writ are exposed to the unlimited cruelty and amoral nature of Mulmaster, and sometimes treated worse than slaves and Zhent half-orcs. Frequently, they end up dead, imprisoned, or both. If a Mulmasterite loses his writ he seeks a Census office to reissue it as quickly as possible. The right to destroy a writ is only granted to a Blade or the Census personnel; for anyone else it is a crime punishable by death. Forging a Blade’s writ under a false name is dealt with in similar manner, but with additional cruelty. As times change and Selfaril slips closer to death, these crimes get harder and harder to prosecute.

Writs

There are six types of writs:

• Hereditary writs (or citizenship) are issued to people born or permanently owning a home or business in Mulmaster. Issued on a durable, yellowish parchment.
• Visiting writs are issued for a period of time (from a week to a full season) and are issued on thin, brown paper.
• Noble writs use only the best and whitest of card stock, often imported and decorated excessively. Noble writs include the heraldic symbol of the noble family and lists of powerful relatives who vouch for the credibility of the owner of the writ. Named relatives are considered liable for any damages done by the owner of the writ to other nobility or Blades.
• Investigative writs are issued by a Blade only to Hawks, executive members, and top spies investigating the Blade’s private affairs. Investigative writs are issued for short periods of time (usually days) and grant their owner the right to question and to use non-lethal force against anyone including nobility. Investigative writs are issued on reddish-tinted parchment with a leather cover. Common folk and low-ranked Zor dread the sight of one and think twice before speaking a lie to their owners.
• Authoritative writs are issued on green-tinted parchment with a leather cover. Authoritative writs are issued to members of the Soldiery and a Blade’s closest circle of executive agents. It gives them right to use lethal force, and to repossess property belonging to others, excluding nobility. All damages and liabilities, especially concerning other Blades, are guaranteed by the estate and Hold of the Blade that issued the writ.
• Cloak-writs are issued to members of the Brotherhood of Cloak. They are signed on silvery-blue parchment with silver coating, and leathery cover. Owners of a cloak-writ are allowed to cast arcane magic in public without repercussions. These writs almost always have some low-level enchantment, making forgery extremely difficult.

The Arcane Banishment

After decades of being outlawed, arcane magic is universally hated in the City of Danger. The common people despise it, the nobility fear it, and the Cloaks constantly hunt for it. All forms of Arcane magic and its practitioners are effectively illegal in Mulmaster and are punished severely!

Upon entering the City, all who openly declare themselves as arcane practitioners must take an oath to cast no spell while in Mulmaster. Any spell caster already present in Mulmaster is assumed to have given the oath. All magical items have to be inspected and recorded, and may be detained by Cloaks if deemed too powerful, only to be returned when their owner leaves the City. Authoritative writs and membership into the Brotherhood of Cloaks gives immunity from the oath and detainment of magical property.

While still technically illegal, apprentices unable to cast Arcane spells of level 3 and higher are not considered dangerous. Their spellcasting is often overlooked, unless it is directly witnessed by a city official or is used against nobility. Nevertheless, members of the City Watch are not trained to tell the difference between apprentices and other casters, and are likely to beat an apprentice to death if they witness one using Arcane magic, including simple cantrips.

Disregarding the Edict of Arcane Banishment carries grave consequences. All people of Mulmaster are rewarded for reporting use of Arcane magic or ownership of lead-laden equipment, and eagerly do so unless very well bribed or very strongly threatened. Since use of Arcane magic guarantees the person will have his writ annulled, he is considered lower than a slave before judges. Prosecution is extremely short and punctual, with real or false witnesses coming forth to vilify the culprit, and the verdict is always final. Well-versed with the provisional nature of death, Iridium Lastdawn has taken all precautions to make sure death, when issued, is final and irreversible. The caster is either publicly burned alive, or decapitated and each body part burned separately. His or her remains are then quietly scattered in the Moonsea to prevent return from the dead. A cleric of Bane curses the person’s soul to torment in the Nine Hells. All of the belongings and wealth on the character’s person are claimed, or burned as well. In extreme cases, the guilty party’s remains are transferred to a demiplane to prevent a chance for true resurrection or a wish spell.

Exceptions

There are very few other exceptions. Foreign dignitaries, like the Red wizards of Thay, are usually granted exemption from the Edict if the High Blade deems it appropriate. Also the Zhent Ghetto is not officially part of the City, and lack of law enforcement of any kind there makes arcane magic impossible to track. It is, perhaps rightfully, assumed that half-orcs are too poor and uneducated to have access to any form of magic. The Brotherhood of Cloaks dismisses the dark rites of faux-hemomancy practiced by half-orcs as harmless, and considers their inhuman Crimson Canon to be useless, mad scribbles.

Uncontested by arcane magic, divine practitioners - from street charlatans to true prophets - thrive among both simple folk and nobility. As long as the supernatural effect cannot be mistaken for arcane magic or used to harm others in public, diviners are free to entertain and empower. Moreover, Mulmaster nobility has always had an appreciation for divination of dark and aberrant nature, hopeful to seal an unholy advantage with the forces beyond or learn what their

future holds in store for them. Having a high-ranked cleric or Imperceptor (paladin of the Church of Bane) in one’s family is a great honor and valued devotion, a clear sign for potential for a future Blade candidate.

Hiding Spell Casting

In some situations you may attempt to hide the act of casting spells, cast them in a non-threatening manner, or disguise the use of specific components as part of the spell casting from prying eyes.

If a spell has a Verbal component, you must roll Intelligence or Wisdom (Stealth) opposed by Passive Perception if you are not actively observed, or Perception Roll if observed. Loud background noise give advantage to the your roll. If the observer suspects that you are able to use magic, they have advantage to the Perception Roll.

If a spell has a Somatic component, you must roll Dexterity (Stealth) opposed by Passive Perception if you are not actively observed, or Perception Roll if observed. Lots of nearby movement (such as a crowd) give advantage to your roll. If the observer knows you are able to use magic, they have advantage to the Perception Roll.

If a spell has a Material component, you must roll Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) opposed by Passive Perception if you are not actively observed, or Perception Roll if observed. If the observer is trained to recognize spell components, he has advantage to the Perception Roll.

If a spell has multiple components, you must roll separately for each. Failure to one roll reveals only suspicious activity unless the observer can recognize magic use. Failure to two or more rolls reveals unmistakable evidence of casting magic.

Living in Mulmaster

To visitors used to the liberties of the sprawling cities across the Sword Coast, life in Mulmaster is a shocking contrast. The citizens enjoy very little freedom to decide where they live or work, however their servitude is rewarded with amenities and security that is rare for the Moonsea region.

Organizations

The Shadow Breeze

In the secret tongue of the Thieves' Cant, "the Sun" refers to the Law imposed by authority, opposed by the "The Wind" referring to the Zhentarim, the criminal underworld. So when someone asks "You think it'll be sunny today or windy?" they are asking if there's any law around. To what the cunning members of the Shadow Breeze will answer, "It will be cloudy with only a soft breeze. A good time for a walk."

The members of the Shadow Breeze, the thieves guild in Mulmaster, hide in plain sight. There are simple men with unremarkable faces at the tavern, with lightning fast reflexes that shuffle decks of cards or fidget with pair of dice, only to involve into long boring conversations about family matters. There are plain women with irresistible smiles who laugh at filthy jokes, drink like a dockhand and can throw anyone a wink. There are children that play outside, but their games are eerily complex and when approached they speak back with no flinch of an eye to adults or authority. Mulmasteries have learned to recognize the signs of the Shadow Breeze and pay them respect by treating them as fellow friends and neighbors, and maintaining the charade. Only through such respect, the Shadow Breeze can maintain its hold over the city and protect their own territories against the open attacks of the enemy gangs or the City Watch and the Soldiery.

While driven by the same entrepreneurial greed as anyone in Mulmaster, The Shadow Breeze is the only force of good among the criminal underworld. Unlike other gangs that seek to exploit the plight of every citizens within their territories and even dare to oppose the authority of their Blade, Shadow Breeze actually works towards helping citizens in need and nurturing support for their cause. They will often conduct robberies of merchants who believe themselves untouchable enough that they don't have to pay insurance to Theryssa, only to feed the hungry and impoverished folk within their neighborhood and shame the victims for their wealth. Such altruism makes cunning sense when nobody else even tries to win the populace for their cause. Shadow Breeze enjoys overwhelming support among Mulmasteries. Everyone who had their rent paid or meal gifted by invisible hands has his home open to shelter members of the Breeze. Even among those who never need the help of the Shadow Breeze, it is a common courtesy to aid them as thieves never forget a favor.

Other than redistribution of wealth, the Shadow Breeze specializes in trading with favors. Everyone who owes to the thieves is a valuable asset to be offered to any contractor. People are often unaware for whom they work and what the consequences of their actions are, and end up woven into the spiderweb of intrigue within Mulmaster. Their homes may end up storehouses of illicit goods, mysterious artifacts, or hideouts for persecuted criminals. Many of these favors are assumed to be assets in Theryssa's name, however the Shadow Breeze holds few aces in its sleeve to be used in the right moment to further their independent interests.

The Shadow Breeze believe their tactics of calculated altruism should give them monopoly on winning people's hearts. They will oppose any attempts of the Wolfbrothers to employ agents through fear of death, although the assassin clan has not yet responded to the veiled declaration of war. They also struggle to gain support among the impoverished souls and even the half-orc immigrants before the Sharkteeth get firm hold of them. While most gangs see no interest in cooperating with the thieves, the Velvet Hands often pass contracts to them when they need not to involve directly, such as collecting evidence and investigating for their clients.

Sharkteeth

During Jaseen's uncertain reign after the Devastation Days, much of the crime plagued the poor population. While all resources went into the reconstruction of Mulmaster in favor of the nobility and the merchant caste, not a dime was spared for the unfortunate that lost everything during the return of the Princes of Apocalypse. Homeless, impoverished, and desperate people found themselves on the wrong side of the law, either forced to leave into the wild or commit to crimes to survive. The Southroad Keep, Mulmaster's prison, was overflowing with people hoping rotting in a dungeon for petty crimes would at least provide shelter and meager food. It was during those dark days before the arrival of Selfaril's armies, that the Sharkteeth gang reared its ugly head. Established by Dozer Hassad and Umrish Braldwater, two pirate slave traders who had settled in Mulmaster when Moonsea was shortly unsailable due to wild magic, the gang quickly gained extreme notoriety as the most violent gang in Mulmaster.

Sharkteeth comprises of the lowest castes of the city - from the fallen out of favor who lost their writ or the beggars who never had anything to the unskilled, uncivilized Zhent half-orcs that have no place in orderly society. Anyone who finds

Foreign Influences

Zhegot Scourge

During Selfaril's yearly years of establishing the Contract Census, the big jewel of the Moonsea - Zhentil Keep - went through a decade of political and economic decay. Much of their hubris was their undoing. The decline of wealth and opportunity unleashed a wave of hate crimes against all immigrants, and even the half-orc population that were treated worse than slaves, were forced into exile.

During these difficult times, an influential Zhentarim general named Zhegos Vetis took reign on the boiling hate consuming the city. After spending years into full isolation into the depth of Cormanthor, he returned with an apocryphal tome. This Book of Zhegos is said to be enthralling treatrise glorifying racial purity, hate as deific virtue, and teaching violence, masculinity and self-destruction to the oppressed, lost man. Zhegos preyed upon the children of the poor Zhent slums, offering protection and training in rural boot camps to turn them into vicious warriors. His army bears his name, "zhegots". Nowadays, they have reached to Mulmaster.

Zhegots are a frightful sight on the streets of Mulmaster. These youth - from 10-year old recruits to grizzled 21-years veterans - have their bodies and faces covered with a maze of intelligable tattoos that glorify violence, pain and murder. They take pride in showing off their bruises, scars and wounds, as well as only respect others who lead violent life. Zhegots revel in physical conflict, with disregard of their survival. They usually prey on the weak - frail men, women and children - only to teach them harsh lesson that only the strong survive. Zhegots denounce any pleasures in life as false delusions that stray from the path of a true warrior. The more suffering a zhegot is able to endure, the more pain he can deal to others, the higher he grows in the hierarchy among Zhegos' order.

Thay Embassy

The Red Wizards of Thay have maintained a sizable embassy in Mulmaster for over a century. One of the previous High Blades was even married to a Tharchioness of Thay: the Red Wizard Dmitra Flass of Eltabbar. After Szass Tam assumed control of Thay, relations cooled somewhat, but Thay’s interest in the Moonsea shifted as the power of the Zhentarim waned and the returned Netherese made gains in Sembia. The Embassy had been staffed by necromancers until very recently. During that time the Cloaks kept a close eye on it, but it became apparent that the Thayans had no significant interest in the city except for trade in magical reagents and ingredients and occasionally buying writ-less slaves to serve in their Embassy.

Now that living Zulkirs and Tharchions control much of Thay, most of the necromancers have been replaced by other wizards and their interests in Mulmaster are once again unclear. They have been investing in the city and supplying diplomatic missions to others. It seems they hope to use Mulmaster has a foothold for reintroducing their nation to other powers in the Moonsea and beyond. In the short term the reinvestment in the city is good, but the Blades fear that successful alliances with other states will make their own pact with Thay less of a deterrent.

Тhere are rumors that Thay has been showing interest in the discontent surrounding the Zhent Ghetto. Thay supplies intelligent and exotic slave labor (and magical services) to the nobles of Mulmaster. The use of increasingly skilled half-orc labor is a potential threat to their highly profitable agreement with Mulmaster. A well timed revolution could potentially weaken Mulmaster’s pact with Zhentil Keep and send a lot of gold flowing in Thay’s direction.

3. Ironhold Street

The centre of this quarter contains several amalgamations of storehouses for ore, surrounded by metalluric workshops. These imposing buildings of stone sing the song of thousands hammers and vomit thick layers of smoke in the sky that choke the streets with thin carpet of raven-black soot. The streets are busy by massive carriages and dirt-plastered workers that yell loudly at sorry apprentice, while half-orc workers slave under unbearable burden.

Blade Ruler: Tarin Nanther, Blade of Construction and Repairs. A mountain of a man in his seventies, the longest serving Blades of all, he is known to always deliver his tithe against any odds, fueled by his inhuman cruelty for failure.

Criminal Activity: Shadow Breeze have moderate presence, so does the Bastbard Bulls collective.

4. Miner's Town

Once a well maintained neighborhood, it is slowly decaying due to lack of maintenance and renovation. Almost fully populated by families of miners and steel workshop workers, during workdays you may only see women and children scouring the streets. Twice a week the neighborhood fills with hundreds of carts and carriages, with fathers returning to see their families, kiss their wives, hug their children, before returning to the depths of Earthspur Mountain.

Blade Ruler: Damian Tusk, Blade of Ironworks and Exports. Despite the success of Ironhold Street is solely his achievement, he was crushed by Tarin Nanther's ambition. He now focuses on ensuring workforce productivity.

Criminal Activity: Shadow Breeze have secondary headquarter here.

5. Good Fortune Street

One of the busiest and most decorated neighborhoods, often more populous than the City Centre. Most buildings are two to three story mansions that belong to nobility, specialty shops and cultural trappings. The main attraction is the Gates of Good Fortune, Theryssa Shadweld's palace of gambling and fortune. Such palace of gold, surrounded by smiling angel statues greet the passerby and whisper prayers for success and fulfillment of their deepest desires.

Blade Ruler: Theryssa Shadweld, Blade of Internal Affairs - also known as Lady of Crime. The sole ruler of all criminal underworld in the city of Mulmaster. Her hold is exemplary display or order and peace, only disturbed by laughrer and jolly conversations.

Criminal Activity: Headquarters of the Velver Hands. Secondary headquarters of all gangs in Mulmaster, except the Sharkteeth, their savagery unwelcome here.

6. Eastern Meadows

A peaceful quarter littered with tidy, two floor family houses owned by the richer stratum of Mulmaster population, many of whom hgih ranks within the Soldiery and the Cloaks. Known for its overabundance of City Guards during all time and strict night time laws, the brightly illuminated streets fall into deep slumber during midnight. It is said that this is the quarter of choice for wizards - few of whom unregistered - who seek solitude away from the street noise of the city.

Blade Ruler Kullin Lastdawn, Blade of Contracts and Treasury. An aged, diminutive bachelor with a hawkish expression and whispery voice, he is said to be the second richest and most influential man in all Mulmaster. He prefers solitude, and offers peace to those who can afford it.

Criminal Activity: Headquarters of the Shadow Breeze. By contact with Kullin Lastdawn, the gang does not commit any acts of thevery in the quarter, neither lets anybody else do it.

7. The Heart of the City

The largest and busiest quarter of any in Mulmaster, The Heart of the City is hive of entering and departing ships, hundreds of dockhands loading crates and sacks, drunk captains advertising departure times and nobility holding their nose above the filthy rabble. The docks are swarming by trade workshops and markets of any foreign produce or pubs specializing in foreign culinary. The streets tremble with marching squads of the Soldiery. Their headquarter - The Shield of Mulmaster - decorates the square as two looming gothic towers, connected together to become a gate over the massive road leading into the city centre.

Blade Ruler Zeydon Wingstarl, Blade of Soldiery. A statuous man of exemplary charisma, most beloved and desired man in Mulmaster. With the bravery of a lion, a heart of pure gold, and unheard virtues that would shame a paladin order, Zeydon walks among the common men, he and his men ready to help anyone in need, to buy any simple man a drink or wink to any woman in heat. Said to be Selfaril's favorite, he excels above any man for he truly believes and relishes Selfaril's tyranny with all his heart.

Criminal Activity: Headquarters of the Bastard Bulls, who struggle to keep both Sharkteeth and Shadow Breeze off their territory.

8. Shipwright District

Very few people call this district their home since recently a massive fire consumed half of the buildings and the neighborhood is undergoing massive renovations that are the focus of Tarin Nather's investments at the moment. People are pushed into the city walls living in hand-made shelter and tents hoping by winter the district would welcome them back. Much of the district is massive warehouses occupied by aging ships needing repair before they return to the Moonsea. Trying to cut costs, the Blade of Shipright is currently hiring zhent half-orcs despite otucry from human population. The boiling racial injustice is fueling the growth of zhegot gangs in this quarter.

Blade Ruler: Thames Lastdawn, Blade of Navy and Shipwright. A pale and effeminate man in his mid thirties, a competent soldier rejected from the Hawks for being too worldly and narcissistic. He always pretends to be far wealthier than he is, from his clothes to his choice of food. However, he would cut any corner to save money at the expense of his own men. The other Blades do not respect him, but he has kept a good watch over Mulmaster’s navy.

Criminal Acitivity: Sharkteeth base of operation for Umrish Braldwater. He is funding the growth of zhegot in the neighborhood, recognizing their racial purity virtues and cult towards violence as valuable asset. Umrish is known to have vast collection of human skin he has removed himself, and wears as clothes.

9. The Market Hold (The Kidney)

Centuries ago, this used to be the shipwright quarter but has since become the busiest marketplace in all Mulmaster. Housing the bi-weekly West Market where all the citizens come to barter and buy their tools and clothes as well as enjoy a rare selection of exotic load from foreign trade caravans, the Kidney have since became more of a tourist trap where the most expensive and exquisite shops are operated, with prices that make the common Mulmasterite laugh and walk away.

Blade Ruler: Meladia Lor, Blade of Trade and Provision. Deeply conservative and religious woman who despises any sign of weakness among her domain. It is believed she never leaves her house without a group of divinators and fortune-tellers who foresee the success of her every decision. Every foreign trader who sets foot into the city must attend a private meeting with her, and have his inventory scoured for anything she demands to be offered first to her - often as a maiden gift.

Criminal Acitivity: it is rumored that The Wolfbrothers have their headquarter somewhere in The Kidney or Wardentown.

10. Wardentown

A poor residential area bearing its name from its closeness to Southroad Keep, the prison of Mulmaster. Long ago this used to be a small village where families of prison guards would be kept close to take their hourly shifts. Nowadays the area is a spawl of poorer citizen of all walks of life. Cheaper lodging is offered to those foreign traders who decide not to leave the city after a busy day at the West Market. The large hills near the Southroad Keep are now covered with stockades where petty criminals are put at display, for citizen to ridicule and throw rotten food and animal dirt at them.

Blade Ruler: Alethia Drakehorn, Blade of Records. An old hag consumed by her insatiable thirst for knowledge and order. She is the head of the administrative Contract Census in the Southroad Keep and oversees the infinity of records between Blades and tradesmen. She is so consumed by her work that common folk haven't seen her in months.

Criminal Acitivity: it is rumored that The Wolfbrothers have their headquarter somewhere in The Kidney or Wardentown. Due to the closeness with the Zhent ghetto, zhegots gang activity is main source of violent crime.

11. The City Centre

A showcase of the Mulmaster wealth, the City Centre is a beatiful arrangement of mansions hidden behind tall decorated walls. Each Mansion has three particular sides - one is entrance for the administration busy with clerks and overseers; one is a richly embasoned in messageboards with a gate leading to a small building where accountants and creditors meet clients who wish to take a debt from the noble house; and one that is for ceremonial visits from other nobility that attracts crowd from the less fortunate wishing to be blinded by the display of beauty, wealth and influence that Mulmaster has cultivated. It is almost king-worthy tradition that the nobility revels, but Selfaril dismisses as peacock rabble, and most Blades are too busy surviving to attend.

Blade Ruler: Garreth Wingstarl, Blade of Execution and Ceremony. A charming man in his fifties with a forever crooked smile that excels in venomous sarcasm. To him life and death are equally cause for celebration and waste of other noble's funds.

Criminal Acitivity: A rare island of order in all Mulmaster. Bastard Bulls sometimes show their faces only to be kicked back to where they belong.

12. Gates (The Staircase)

Known as The Starcase for the weaving incline streets that give carriages and old people the trouble, this sprawling hill- bound quarter is the first that welcomes visitors into the city. It is also home most of the pubs, taverns and hostels that comfortably display welcoming signs everywhere; so frequent are also the pickpockets, the con men and the secret agents of The Cloaks that scour for any sign of illegal use of magic. Night time, the quarter explodes in sound and sights as here operates the Black Blade Tavern, the biggest one in all Moonsea region, said to be bigger than the Yawning Portal itself. The streets are littered with young beautiful women in heat, many of them hailing from The Carcass.

Blade Ruler: Levia Drakehorn, Blade of Beliefs, happens to be a non-believing woman. However she firmly believes in maintaining order and peaceful coexistence between all competing factions in the city. Little of that involves faith, instead she employs a cunning knowledge of human psyche.

Criminal Acitivity: Bastard Bulls operate here, however their venues are frequently attacked by Sharkteeth.

13. Zhent Ghetto

Built on top of swampy mire and enclosed by high stone walls guarded all the time by the hateful watch of City Guards, the Zhent ghetto is home of the most miserable, tormented group in all Mulmaster denizens - the Zhent half-orcs. Crowded together to fight over meager human waste and eat each other in misguided rage, these creatures are reduced to worse than their wild ancestors. Few of them with their will crushed to servile insensitive pulp are walked in chain row to labor at the Ironhold Street or cart city waste by night.

Blade Ruler: Paige Lor, Blade of Non-Human Affairs. A weak and sensitive woman struggling to appear strong and authoritative to the bestial subjects she must command. Suffering from the infidelity of her father - the late Blade who held the same position and who was willingly cucked by his unfaithful wife with half-orc specimen, she must hold her face proud and hide the tears when all nobility laughs behind her back, calling her "orc maiden" or much worse.

Criminal Acitivity: No human gang dares step into the mire slums. Some say only Wolfbrothers earn the fear of the half-orcs and enter and leave the ghetto unharmed.

14. Parade Ward

Five times a year, Mulmaster celebrates the five holy days of the Harptosian Calendar. These celebrations take form of parades, either display of military prowess by the Soldiery or the gratuitous generosity of Blades who bring exotic dancers and bards from distant lands. These rare explosive events are so fondly remembered by Mulmasteries who gruel a boring life that they have named this quarter by their favorite event. Mostly decorates by tall buildings meant to house the rich and the successful, Parade Ward happens to have most of the weapon, armor and specialty shops - frequently visited by newcomers once they climb the Staircase.

Blade Ruler: Moragrin Shadweld, Blade of Justice. A prestigious veteran with feral hunter eyes and strikingly hairy body under which hides a temperate and welcoming composure. While he is rarely seen in public, Moragrin is believed to be Selfaril's private advisor on many subjects and his personal naysayer who opposes any hasty decision that would harm the High Blade or the City with biting honesty.

Criminal Acitivity: Bastard Bulls are trying to expand their influence here.

15. Cloak Street

This veiled ward is known to host the largest number of members of the Cloak, as well as their Libraries of Forbidden Arts that only members of the Cloaks may enter. Even City Guards here are lean and watcful apprentices instead hulking rural brutes. The long winding street is house of many "volunteer clinics" where registered mages are required to work for the community three days in a tenday week, offering healing, repairing and enchanting house tools and more.

Blade Ruler: Iridium Lastdawn, Blade of Cloaks. A rare prodigy hailed as one of Waterdeep's brightest youth, Iridium walked away from the arcane universities to return to his home. Recognized by Selfaril, his Cloaks have established ruthless surveilance across all the city that protects the common populace from any harm of arcane nature.

Criminal Acitivity: No gang members is stupid enough to commit crimes in Iridium's hold.

The Towers of Authority

The Meatgrinder

The Meatgrinder is an underground arena complex built deep into the maze of sewers under Mulmaster. Constructed on the foundation of an old temple to Tempus, Lord of Battles, the Meatgrinder has been illegally used for death fights among convicts and captives, for almost a century. It gradually expanded to illegal gambling, black markets, and providing services of deviant nature. It used to be a running gag among prisoners in Southroad Keep and Mulmasterites' worst-kept secret, until Selfaril's edict granted it official status as part of a Hold governed by a Blade. Since then, a massive investment has transformed the Meatgrinder into a premiere location for entertainment among locals. It holds various sponsored events: ranging from all-ages non-lethal duels, to bear-baiting and animal fights, to good old brutal death matches among convicts on death row. Anyone who can pay the entrance fee and show his writ is permitted - there is no discrimination of age or race for even the bloodiest of events. The Meatgrinder even smells better; rich incense is imported in vast quantities to mask the foul reeking of sewage and rotting corpses.

The Gate of Good Fortune

The Gate of Good Fortune used to be a popular casino and a temple to Tymora, the one and only Good-aligned deity that appeals to Mulmasterites. It was maintained by Lord Priest Wylan Burral (the jovial brother of taciturn Aleyd Burral, a Knight of the Black Fist from Phlan) until 1503 DR his luck finally ran out. When he could no longer pay his mandatory protection fee to Theryssa Shadweld, the Lady of Crime, Wylan sold all his properties and moved back to help with the recovery efforts in Phlan. In his absence the small congregation withered.

Today Theryssa and her cunning Velvet Hands own The Gate and control all gambling operations there. Some believe the underground facilities include her private estate and the treasury of her obscene wealth, second only to the Blade of Taxes. Unlike the old days of simple (and rigged) games of fortune, the Gate now specializes in fixed odds betting: from Meatgrinder matches to the much more lucrative field of political gambling. A new rage among all nobility, every day fortunes are being made or lost, betting on what Blade will meet a disastrous end this season and who will be elected to share the same fate, months later; what noble will strike it rich in trade or who will be swallowed by growing debts; whose offspring will negotiate marriage with a future Blade; and whether High Blade Selfaril will make it through another moon -- a favorite among the Blades themselves. Theryssa herself has vested interest in both fueling the fire of political intrigue in Mulmaster, and making certain that the house always wins at the end.

The Gate’s lush interior, decorated with thick fur carpets and marble statues of an ever-smiling goddess, is a gathering place for political pundits, jaded demagogues and Blade advisors that snoop and listen to the pulse of the City. Among them are the expressionless faces of Theryssa’s lawyer-agents: the Velvet Hands, who meet privately with clients and advise them with barely audible whispers. Unlike typical casinos, the Gate is a place of a silence and intrigue, only occasionally shattered by a bursts of fake laughter or drunken boasting of a conveniently fortunate noble.

Temples of Worship

Religion is not a major factor in the life of the average Mulmasterite. Most are too self-centered too worry about the plight of others and too greedy to consider donating to a temple. Nevertheless, there are several temples and shrines in the City of Danger. The shrines of Mulmaster (except Church of Bane) are generally not well-tended and do not offer spellcasting services, unless a cleric of the deity is visiting Mulmaster.

No Man's Land

Zhent Ghetto

Mulmaster has always been in an alliance with Zhentil Keep, adopting much of its early laws, currency and model of government from them. The alliance crumbled in 1383 DR when Zhentil Keep and the Keep of the Raven were destroyed by the Shadovar. Fleeing the powers of Netheril, a large number of refugees arrived on Mulmaster’s docks. Unwilling to aid their allies when the alliance no longer had anything to offer them, the Blades of Mulmaster relegated the refugees to a piece of swampy land outside the southern wall. In this hastily created ghetto, refugees were heavily taxed for the right to the relative safety afforded by proximity to the nearby City. When Zhentil Keep was eventually rebuilt post-Spellplague, many of the refugees tried to return to their ancestral home but the Zhentarim viewed the migrants as Mulmasterites and ordered them to return to their adopted city. Many chose to migrate elsewhere, but some no longer had the resources to try again. Selfaril Uoumdolphin signed a much-maligned treaty with Zhentil Keep, providing a bare minimum of aid and protection to Zhentarim refugees, in return for military support against Jaseen.

In 1507 DR, the Zhent Ghetto is almost completely void of human presence, and nearly all its inhabitants share some orcish heritage. Zhent half-orcs have little in common with their wild brethren or the spiritually enriched Many-Arrows:

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they are savage, filthy, disease-ridden, ignorant, and underdeveloped from inbreeding and starvation. They speak crude common, relying on hand signs and orcish dialects among themselves. Within the Zhent Ghetto, half-orcs scrape to make a living in the coldest, harshest environment possible. Unspeakable violence, cannibalism, widespread plagues, and lawlessness reign among dung and clay cottages. Rabid dogs scavenge piles of trash and feast on rotting half-orc corpses on the sides of roads like bottomless rivers of mud. In the freezing Moonsea nights, half-orcs burn dry wood and excrement to keep themselves warm. A few among them, recognized by their cut-off ears, silently scour Mulmaster by night and collect trash to bring to the Ghetto where anything that could be worn, eaten or burned for warmth is hard-earned.

Half-orcs are best left alone in Mulmaster, unless you want trouble. However, there is nowhere else where any heavy labor - be it moving or killing - is as cheap as a handful of coppers. For more complex tasks, the more human-looking and intelligent ones can be procured for very little more (usually just real food). These are rumored to be discarded offspring from Mulmasterite affairs with half-orc men and women. No decent person would dare imply such a thing actually happens. But more than money, half-orcs would do absolutely anything for a simple hereditary writ: the one thing denied to any half-orc born in Mulmaster.

Glacier of the White Worm

The glacier used to be great sea of ice that weaves between the tallest mountains of the Earthspur. On the north-west side, it flows over the high cliff and spills into the Moonsea. On the east, it reaches into Lake Icemelt, which lay in the mountains between Damara and Impiltur. The ice covered an area of approximately 1200 square miles (~1040 square kilometers). As old histories and maps recorded, it was once a part of the Great Glacier, the much larger icesheet that lay some 400 miles (640 kilometers) to the north.

Curiously, the Glacier of the White Worm survives at much lower latitude than its altitude allowed, suggesting that magic or some other force might be involved. Sages of the 14th century DR theorized that potent cold-based magic or some other force might be the cause of this. Furthermore, they warned of a sinister power at work beneath the ice, and that the very safety of Faerûn could depend on preserving the integrity of the glacier and discovering the motive of this agency.

The glacier is inhabited by a few polar beasts and enormous –and dangerous– snow spiders, thanks to its former connection to the Great Glacier. Silver dragons laired in the mountains surrounded the glaicer, while red dragons were also sighted in the area. Most notably, it was home to a variety of pale, albino remorhaz, which are unique to this region. These "white worms" gave the glacier its name. Herds numbering from dozens to hundreds could be seen roaming the ice. Remorhaz are gigantic centipedes that reach 25 feet long and 10,000 pounds in weight, and under the pale chitine burns fiery insides fueled by acidic reactions and wild magic. They prey on anything from wandering beasts to dragons, burying deep into the ice and sensing their prey with tremor sense. They need constant contact with ice to cool off, and when they procreate they lay nest of hundreds of eggs drilled deep into the ice so the offspring is protected from burning the whole nest as they form. The remorhazes are said to be led by giant-sized "queen" worm that laired in the very center of the ice. Adventurers also reported seeing (usually in retreat) unusual remorhazes with heads frilled with long, grasping tentacles.

During extremely harsh winters remorhazes feel no longer contrained in the Glacier and spread to hunt for food across the Mulmaster region. During these perilous times, all of Soldiery are stationed outside the city to protect smaller settlements nearby, and mining operations cease. Some mountain barbarian tribes live around the area of the glacier, particularly the Wormhunter tribe. They have dedicated much of their life hunting hermorhaze and relish in shaming the Soldiery by beating them to the kill with savage accuracy.

Ironfang Keep

The stronghold resides in the northernmost parts of the Earthspur Mountain at the cascades where the White River fell into the Moonsea. The Keep is so old, that even the oldest elves remembered their grandparents talking about it. There were legends among dragons which indicate that Ironfang Keep already existed around -25000 DR. It earned its name due to massive iron deposits near the Keep. But no one dared to mine them, because most feared the presence of the Keep and its inhabitants.

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Albino Remorhaz

Huge monstrocity, unaligned

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• Armor Class 17 (Natural Armor)
• Hit Points 195 (17d12 + 85)
• Speed 30 ft., burrow 20 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
24 (+7)	13 (+1)	21 (+5)	4 (-3)	10 (+0)	5 (-3)

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• Damage Immunities Cold, Fire
• Senses Darkvision 60ft., Tremorsense 60ft., Perception 10
• Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)

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Heated Body. A creature that touches the remorhaz or hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes 10 (3d6) fire damage.

Actions

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 40 (6d10 + 7) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) fire damage. If the target is a creature, it is grappled (escape DC 17). Until this grapple ends, the target is restrained, and the remorhaz can't bite another target.

Bonus Actions

Swallow. The remorhaz makes one bite Attack against a Medium or smaller creature it is Grappling. If the Attack hits, that creature takes the bite's damage and is swallowed, and the grapple ends. While swallowed, the creature is Blinded and Restrained, it has total cover against attacks and other effects outside the remorhaz, and it takes 21 (6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the remorhaz's turns. If the remorhaz takes 30 damage or more on a single turn from a creature inside it, the remorhaz must succeed on a DC 15 Constitution saving throw at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed creatures, which fall prone in a space within 10 feet of the remorhaz. If the remorhaz dies, a swallowed creature is no longer Restrained by it and can escape from the corpse using 15 feet of Movement, exiting prone.

Monastery of the Yellow Rose

The Monastery of the Yellow Rose, also known as the Citadel of the White Worm, is a monastery dedicated to St. Sollars the Twice-Martyred and Ilmater, the Broken God. It is built high in the Earthspur Mountains in Damara, overlooking the Glacier of the White Worm. The Monastery is a difficult place to reach, as the trails leading there are hard to follow. The Citadel itself is an immense and sprawling fortress. From the outside, it projects many turrets, balconies, and windows. The top of the structure is a crenulated tower. Lengthy maze of catacombs run under the monastery and through the mountain.

Inside, every room displays the artwork and architecture of the monks of the Yellow Rose, reflecting their discipline. The monastery resembles an impressive museum devoted to the persistence, indomitability, and the rise of human-kind in Faerûn. Being built into the side of the mountain, only about half the rooms have windows looking onto the daylight. The rest are underground, within the mountain itself. By 1497 DR, there is a major portal in the monastery that allows passage to the far-distant Underdark town of Earth's End.

The Monastery accomodates up ot 750 monks. At the Monastery of the Yellow Rose, the monks dedicate their lives to venerating the Syffering God, Ilmater. This seems to be

The Flooded Forest (The Mire)

The Flooded Forest is a swamp lying at the outer reach of Cormanthor, near the Dragon Reach and the Earthspur Mountains. The Flooded Forest used to be a section of the great forest of Cormanthor that lay beyond the River Lis. However, it lay in a low bowl that filled with water, becoming a swamp surrounded by a ring of boggy woodlands. The swamp was stinking and foul and the marshes around the southern edges tend to be wreathed in mists.

Maple and oak trees make up much of the forest. Although the trees have lasted centuries, most died when it turned to swampland; some were still standing a century later, but were so fragile they could fall at a touch. Fallen trees are common sight, and falling trees are common hazard to explorers. Mushrooms and hanging mosses were span everywhere, Duskwoods line the southern edge of the Flooded Forest.

Few clans of Lizardfolk and occasional black dragons make their homes in the Flooded Forest. One particular black dragon was the one known as Velvet, a female adult dragon that was since slain by adventurers back in 1497 DR. There are number of carnivorous plant monsters, including assassin vines, dark trees, shambling mounds, and tendriculoses. There are also fungus creatures, such as shriekers and violet fungi. Other monsters include giant owlbears and stirges, and stranger things that are unknown and unnamed to the local hunters who encountered them.

Some of these creatures were not actually native to the area. This led to conclusion that they were being imported and released by someone, group, or power to drive people away.

One unwilling settlement in the Flooded Forest is the town of Ylraphon on its southern edge and being steadily consumed by the swamp on its eastern and north-eastern sides. The outer runs of the former city is left overgrown and submerged. They include several large, aboveground tombs and crypts, which provide shelter and hiding places for wanderers, bandits and pirates. Recurring local stories tell also of ruined temples to Bane, Gruumsh, and Moander within these parts of the Flooded Forest, north of Ylraphon. They tend to be built on raised and drier areas of the swamp. The ruins and tombs circling Ylraphon, in the fringes of the swamp, are a common target of adventurers seeking treasure or magic, but they'd been entirely robbed by orcs by 1370 DR, leaving little but a few undead. However, with adventurers finding treasure in the House of Moander shortly after that time, more wealth is thought to lie hidden in the temples.

The rumors surrounding Zhegos Vatis, the notorious founder of the zhegot scourge, say that he have spent almost two years in isolation among the ruins north of city of Ylraphon and have only been noticed by few trading supplies in the town before returning to his work that would later to known as the Book of Zhegos and curse the lives of thousands of children to fate worse than death. People who believe that Zhegos Vatis has been or may still be a member of the Wolfbrothers claim that whatever madness he has contracted in the Mires of Cormanthor, is the same that is to blame for the eerie similarity between the assassins.

Folk in Ylraphon tell of ghostly presences and screaming in the ruined temples of Bane, Gruumsh and Moander, and a few feared that they were being reused by living cultists. With the resurrection of Bane in 1372 DR, it was thought quite likely that the temple would be secretly renovated and reopened, perhapsto direct the churck's influence into the Vast - rumors directly denied by Fzoul Chembryl, head of Mulmaster's Church of Bane. Many, however, suspect that smugglers, bandits, or orcs simply store their loot in these places, and that they make the screams to scare people off, or that they'd had a falling out. Evil groups and orcs regularly stock up on supplies in Ylraphon beofre venturing into the Flooded Forest.

Much of the Flooded Forest remains untouched by human foot and its unknown mysteries. On the southern fringe of the Flooded Forest, west of Kurth, stands the mysterious Mage's Tower, said by some to be the base of the even-more mysterious Mage Who Never Dies. He is believed to be a loud and obnoxious master of arcane arts who openly challenges people to try to kill him only to humiliate them with his impossible luck and ability to come unscathed from any situation. Some believe that those evil bandit gangs served him after failing to kill him. In his tower he trades with the souls of those daring to step into his domain, and offers immortality at the coast that few can pay. Made and drunk folk tell stories of the deepest parts of the swamp, dreaming of half-sunken cities, weird mirages, vampiric pixies, and circles of giant frogs casting spells, or even more insane things. Many believe that the remaining treasure of the Turning Key adventuring band of Tavilar also lays somewhere in hte Flooded Forest, sunken in a bog, but this was too large and too dangerous area to be searched by any.

Appendix: Faerun Calendar

Harptosian Week

A month in Faerun consists of 3 weeks, 10 days each. The common folk call a week a "tenday" and similar to the moon cycle they call them "waning", "full" and "waxing" tenday. A typical work consists of 7 labor days days and 3 rest days.

The holidays vary from settlement to settlement and relate to the gods that are praised and worshipped localy. In a place where Chauntea is worshipped, Chaunday, the first day of the week, would be considered a holiday.

Faerun Weekday	Praised Deity
Chaunday	for Chauntea, Goddess of Agriculture
Selday	for Selune, Goddeess of the Moon
Helmday	for Helm, God of Protection
Ogday	for Oghma, God of Knowledge
Mysday	for Mystra, Goddess of Magic
Kelday	for Kelemvor, God of Death
Lathday	for Lathander, God of Dawn and Renewal
Suneday	for Sune, Goddess of Beauty and Love
Lliiday	for Lliira, Goddess of Joy
Sharday	for Shar, Goddess of Darkness and Loss

Appendix: Thieves' Cant

STEPPING INTO A SMOKEY TAVERN THE LAD casts his eyes about to find the card game in the corner. Paying into the pot with the appropriate greeting, he waits to see what cards he's dealt by the man in the parallel brassard. They exchange simple conversation for a time and when he's finished the boy stands, leaving the game and his winnings behind him.

A well-dressed noble frowns, counting his funds for a third time. He has even less than he thought. The lad didn't want to resort to this again so soon, but it seems he has little in the way of options. He stoops out of his rented room, calling to his companions that he'll be at the West Market all morning, clipping a double banded bracelet around his wrist as he does so.

A nimble urchin's hand reaches out for an unattended purse only to feel a firm grasp landing on the matching boy's shoulder. A grinning bearded man with twin earrings greets them; "it's been far too long!" he laughs. Under the stranger's armpit, the urchin spies a patrol of brutish city guards rounding the corner. "Of course!" the boy's face lights up with recognition, "How are the wife and kids?"

Lay of the Land

A rogue seeking generally applicable knowledge upon arriving in a city should look for a deck of cards. Any signified individual actively using a deck of cards will respond to a greeting recognized as an appeal for information - so long as they're paid for their trouble.

Catching Up

When a greeting is accepted, it is customary for the hiree to enquire as to the employer's wellbeing. From there the employer is obliged to answer that they are either "on my own these days" if the job is for them personally, or "starting a family" or similar if the job is on behalf of a larger group. Some might wish to steer clear of crime family work, for example, or to remain unaffiliated with a cause and this could be their only opportunity to turn down the offer of work without causing offense.

How's Your Dad?

The conversation will then move to the general foreseen difficulty of a contract. This will be measured by the health status of a fabricated loved one of the employer. The scale may range from a simple task when the loved one is "well" to a potentially deadly challenge if hey have "passed away". If the obstacles are unknown, the health of the loved one will be similarly uncertain, "a bit touch and go".

Compensation

Payment is also usually discussed during this 'catch up', however the onus is on the hiree rogue to ensure such - if an inexperienced thief takes a job without negotiating remuneration and winds up with little reward to show for their efforts, the fault lies with them. Who are they gonna complain to, the guards?

A discussion of compensation may be brought to the conversation by the introduction of any topic enabling the inconspicuous use of numbers. By context a rogue should be able to gleen whether the number indicates a multipilier of x100gp or x100pp, erring toward x100gp if in doubt. For example:

Number of kids/grandkids. x100gp/x100pp respectively.

Number of younger/older siblings. x100gp/x100pp respectively.

Age of child. Always x100gp.

Haggling for amounts is acceptable, but it is impolite to follow up with an uncertain attendance to the 'card game' for more details on the job; either accept the contract or turn it down.

Rendezvous

The location for further details will always be given as a card game at a particular address, commonly a safehouse, at a specified time.

If the hiree is accepting the work offered, they should indicate their intent to attend the card game. If not, it is not uncommon practice to express uncertainty at one's ability to attend, reserving the option to pick up the job at the time of the card game, or formally accept or decline once more details have been learned. If taking this tactic, however, the hiree rogue should expect competitors to the contract to have been gathered in the mean time, likely lessening their potential earnings.

As an optional extra, the informational card game may be described as a "private game" if the contract is being offered to this rogue alone, or a "party" if it is to be a team operation or a matter of first in best dressed.

Example Conversation

Thieves' Cant Phrasebook

Places

Events

Distance

Scale

Food

Activities

Hand Signals

Fellows of the Cant often dwell in environments requiring vocal discussion but also passage of hasteful information. For this the Silent Cant was created.

Signal	Meaning
1	Hold where you are
2	Something is there
3	Move on stealthy
4	Silence the enemy
5	Silent kill
6	Attack on 3