is a common practice, a seemingly accepted means of
gaining the favor of one of the High Captains to obtain
fishing rights, earning an advantageous decision from
the Magistrates, or having a business rival or undesired
suitor arrested, accosted, or roughed up.
Given its status as the harbor that feeds the goods of
Mirabar to the Sword Coast, bridging the coast with
the utter north, and offers the only convenient crossing
of the River Mirar for many miles, Luskan makes con-
siderable coin as a crossroads. Merchants wishing to
avoid Luskan can choose to use the Blackford Crossing,
some thirty miles upstream, eventually connecting with
the Blackford Road on the northern bank, but the savvy
know that Luskan's Ships control the cable-guided
ferries at the crossing, and demand tolls based on the
size and contents of the goods being ferried across.
The Blackford Road still bears the ancient marks of the
dwarven realm of Gharraghaur, reminding travelers of
whose wealth sustains the region.
North of the city, the Northern Means heads up
toward Icewind Dale. Not many take this route without
purpose, but scrimshaw from the dale finds its way into
Luskan, where those who would purchase it can do so
without going any farther into the frozen terrain.
The north side of the city, known as North Bank,
is devoted almost entirely to warehouses, caravan
yards, and workspace. It includes the Mirabar Shield,
the fortified compound that represents Mirabar's
trading interest in Luskan. Mirabar uses it as a base
to trade with the Sword Coast and the islands of the
Trackless Sea.
The main city stands on the southern side of the River
Mirar. North of Reaver's Run is the Reach, where most
of the homes and smaller businesses are located. South
of the Run are the slums, the "bad" area of town. Near
the s lums is the Captain's Close, where the residences
of High Captains Taerl and Suljack stand, but the area is
otherwise quite poor.THE ISLANDS
Five islands stand in the bay formed by the River Mirar
and are claimed by Luskan:
Blood Island is filled with Ships' soldiers tasked with
guarding the city; it holds a guard tower, barracks, an
armory, and little else of interest.
Closeguard Island is the home of High Captain Kurth.- Cutlass Island has two rocky heights split by a peb-
ble-strewn beach. The southern peak is surmounted
CHAPTER 2 I THE SWORD COAST AND THE NORTH