NORTHEDGE
The Northedge residential area is the quietest quarter
of Sham. At first glance there's little to attract adventur
ous sorts, unless someone is interested in purchasing
top-quality real estate. At the same time, you never
know when this charming and innocuous area could be
the site of a nefarious cult or a devilish plot.UPPER NORTHEDGE
Upper Northedge is the perfect place for the noble who
can afford a manor in the clouds but wants to avoid the
bustle of Upper Central. The districts of Crystal Bridge
and Oak Towers are filled with spire-topped manors and
grand estates. A host of rooftop parks and gardens pro
vide lovely spaces to sit and reflect.--THE--SM��n �no��S�J�W�
ENIGMA OF THE
DIAMOND VOICE
I challenge anyone to leave a performance of The Broken
Sword with dry eyes. I believe that even a warforged
would be moved to tears by this unflinching look at the
spiritual cost of war. It's brutal, painful, and true-which
is why it was all the more shocking when it first opened
at the Diamond Theater. The Downstairs district of
Lower Menthis is mainly known for its bawdy enter
tainment and base comedy, not cutting-edge political
commentary. Thus, we critics assumed that this dra
matic work was a singular event, until a new play titled
Fallen Angels exceeded our every expectation. Month after
month in recent times, the Diamond has struck us to the
quick with emotional works about the Last War and the
psychic wounds we're still struggling with.
Who is the playwright of the Diamond Theater re
sponsible for these stirring stories? Her name is Luca
Syara, but beyond that, she's an enigma. There's no such
person on the rolls of the bardic colleges of Breland,
and House Phiarlan and House Thuranni claim to know
nothing about her. Syara shuns the spotlight and refuses
all interviews. While her works are being debated and
celebrated in classrooms and taverns, the artist spends
her days in the dingy back rooms of the Diamond The
ater. This seclusion has led to a number of fanciful ru
mors. Some say Syara fought in the Last War and that
she was in Metro! on the Day of Mourning. A wilder ru
mor maintains that she is an exile from the Faerie Court
ofThelanis, an archfey bound to human form.
While we wait for answers to this mystery, we encour
age you to sample Syara's latest work. Five Lives is a gut
wrenching tragedy that forces us to look at our darkest
hours, and to consider the suffering of our enemies and
the common threads that unite us all. If you're looking
to forget your troubles, by all means, go see Facade or The
Late Count. But if you want to take in a performance that
might make you a better person, do whatever it takes to
get tickets to Five Lives.
Shae Lias is arguably the most remarkable district of
Upper Northedge. Its population is largely composed of
elves, and it is a bastion of Aereni culture and traditions.
The heart of Shae Lias is the Gates of Passage, a grand
structure that is both the Aereni embassy and a temple
to the Undying Court. The priests of the Undying Court
don't share this information with outsiders, but many
residents believe that an actual member of the Court
an ancient undead elf possessing vast knowledge and
divine power-resides in the temple.
Other points of interest in Shae Lias include the Oaks,
one of the finest restaurants in Sham, which serves
food of the highest quality (and priced accordingly).
The Veil of Flesh specializes in Aereni body art, in the
form of both traditional tattoos and temporary illusions
woven directly into the skin. The business known as
Nightshade might be the most unusual watering hole
in Sham, doubling as apothecary and tavern; the house
specialty is beverages tainted with weak poisons, de
signed to take the imbiber to the very edge of death.MIDDLE N ORTHEDGE
This ward caters to the middle class of Sham, offering
a wide range of comfortable housing. Dwarves make up
most of the population, with the highest concentration
in the district of Holdfast. In contrast to the residents of
Highhold in Upper Dura, the dwarves of Holdfast have
deep roots in Sham and feel no strong connection to the
Mror Holds or its traditions.
High Hope is a temple district; although the city's
most impressive churches and shrines are located
in Upper Central, it's commonly known that if you're
looking for a truly devoted priest, you should go to High
Hope. The most notable feature of the district is Daca's
Watch. Twelve feet high, this pillar is thought to have
once held a statue or monument. Over a century ago,
a gnome named Daca climbed atop the pedastal. She
has remained there ever since, and shouts advice to
anyone who passes by. Although Daca doesn't claim to
be a priest, the people of the community say that she's
blessed by the god Boldrei and speaks with the Sover
eign's voice. True or not, Daca's advice has proven to be
remarkably sound, and she and her pillar have become a
tourist attraction.LOWER NoRTHEDGE
Although it's poverty-stricken, Lower Northedge is a
significant step up from the slums of Lower Dura. The
people of Lower Northedge don't look for trouble, and
they don't like it coming to their doorstep. North Mar
ket is one of the largest markets in Sham, though in
contrast to the Bazaar of Dura it mostly offers simple,
everyday goods.
Lower Northedge has a significant shifter population.
The Rat's Nest is a tavern that caters to shifters, and the
Bear's Rest is an inn run by a family of shifters. Tooth
& Nail is an apothecary specializing in the care of fangs
and claws. Particularly in the districts of North Market
and Stoneyard, shifter children play hrazhak in the
streets; this flamboyant sport involves making dramatic
leaps and scaling walls.CHAPTER 3 I SHARN, CITY OF TOWERS
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