Mirt has quite a history with Durnan, the proprietor of
the Yawning Portal. Together they descended into "the
Well," as the e ntrance to Undermountain was known in
olden days. Waterdeep used to throw criminals in the
Well, leaving them to die horribly in Undermountain's
dungeons. Durnan and Mirl ente red th e dungeons of
their own free will- and not only that, but returned
lade n with treasures. Both used magic to extend their
lives, but they eventually parted ways. Mirt kept on with
a life of adventure, while Duman built the tavern called
the Yawning Portal over the Well and now, almost two
centuries late r, charges coin to descend into it. Not a bad
way to part fools from their money!
The glorious Spires of the Morning, dedicated to
Lathander, is one of Waterdeep's most beautiful tem-
ples. But it is rivaled in this ward by the Temple of the
Seldarine, dedicated to all the elf gods. The journey
through Mount Melody Walk, a tunnel cut through
Mount Waterdeep, to New Olamn's academy of mus ic
and other arts is a wondrous daytime exc ursion. The
Market offers a wild array of s ights, smells, and sounds
in which folk might lose themselves for a tenday. The
Font of Knowledge is a temple to Oghma, yes, but also
the city's largest public library. Titles written throughout
the ages can be viewed here- unde r the watchful eyes of
the temple's priests. In short (if I can claim this section
of the enchiridion to be such), the Castle Ward offers far
too many splendors to list them all he re.
TwE STAT ELY, CLEAN, /\NO IVELL·OEl'ENOEO CAS TLE WARDThe Castle Ward's colors are blue and purple, and its
mascot is a griffon. typically depicted in gold. These bor-
row colors from the city's flag and reference the Griffon
Cavalry, of course. Champions for the wa rd often come
from among the ranks of the Guard , the Navy, or the
Cavalry. Although such competitors have often have the
advantage in races and competitions, their crowds of
rabidly c heering fans are naturally much smalle r than
those of other wards.TRADES WARD
S hopping, shopping, s hopping galore! Or eating, ea t-
ing, eating! Or drinking, drinking, drinking! Or lavish
accommodations, or fine art, or legendary parties! The
Market in the Castle Ward is the largest market square
in the city, but the Trades Ward is like a market town in
itself- and is easily thrice the Market's s ize.
This ward bustles day and night with activity, both on
the street and on balcony wa lkways that run the length
of blocks and are sometimes layered five stories high.
S hop s igns appear to leap out from buildings, whose
sides a re plastered with advertisements all vying for the
attention of the eye. Glove shops, shoe s hops, jewelry
s tores, perfume ries, flower s hops, cake shops, taverns,
cafes, tea shops, inns, row houses, boarding schools,
offices, dance academies, grocers, pottery stores, armor
vendors-as long as it's not illegal, you can find it in the
Trades Ward. But if you a re looking for something ille-
gal, the Trades Ward is likely the place to get that too.