Population
Approximately 22,000 individuals inhabit the city at any one time. Humans make up the majority, however with a nearby Dwarven city that swears fealty to the Prince there is a sizable number of Dwarves present as well. Halflings and Gnomes are also present within the city working and plying trade where they can. Elves are the subject of low-level bigotry from some of the population resulting from their past failure to join the Great Alliance, or their present failure to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Kingdom of the Northern Isles to the holding of its present lands. The city is relatively cosmopolitan, and most races are at least tolerated (half elves and orcs receiving pity from the people) as long as they obey the laws of the city.
Government
The city is divided into four wards that are nominally ruled by a noble family. A fifth ward, the Market District is technically ruled by the City Council, but this role is delegated to the Merchant Traders Alliance. The city as a whole is ruled by the City Council, which is made up of the Prince, or his delegated representative, a member of the ruling house of the four outer wards, a representative of the Merchant Traders Alliance and a representative of the Hegemony. Currently the Prince delegates his authority to his principle advisor, Lord Dardanus.
The wards of the city are ruled by four Barons. The most powerful ward is the Wintergate Ward, the northern most word of the city. The human Wintergate family has ruled for nearly 500 years; however the current Baron, Lord Archibald Wintergate has been focusing on studying the arcane rather than administering his ward. The Wintergate ward includes the northern gate (named the Wintergate) and is principally made up of high class residential areas, inns and is the location of the Cathedral of the Order of the Builders.
The second ward, rivalling Wintergate for power, is the southern Darkwatch ward. The Dwarf Lord Nathanial Darkwatch rules it, having been rewarded with title and position for services to the city as an adventurer. The ward contains the island facing river dock (though the lake itself falls under the jurisdiction of Keepgarden) as well as the large craftsman’s district. The Ward is well known for its comfortable and well stocked taverns and inns that are usually filled with merchants and craftsmen. The South gate (known as the Boar’s Gate) has a small section of sums that surround it known as the Hogsfall. Additionally temples to various pagan gods can be found throughout this ward.
The third ward is the eastern Waterdeep Ward. Ruled by Lady Gwyneth Waterdeep, the ward was once the centre of learning in the city but has fallen on hard times through a combination of 200 years mismanagement and the resulting increase in the poor finding residency within the ward. The only remnants of the wards past glories are the Tower of the Nine Ascendancies, an arcane repository and academy, which is ruled by the illuminated council and swears its allegiance to the Prince himself and not to the ward Baron, and the Great Library. Today the ward principally contains bakers and other food makers.
The fourth ward is the western Starfire Ward. Ruled by the eccentric and reclusive Lord Rutherford Starfire, the ward principally contains middleclass housing, inns, taverns and entertainment venues including the city Colosseum. Additionally temples to various pagan gods can be found throughout this ward.
Keepgarden is the name given to the fifth ward, which is composed primarily of the Central Market District. It is ruled by the Merchant Traders Alliance, which is made up of all the merchants, craftsmen and traders that reside in the city and it is here that you can find their Guild halls. Through their alliance they control all trade in the city, and have made it an offense to trade with anyone who is not a member.
The Keep itself is the administrative centre of the city, with the lake having no bridges or permanent structures crossing it, all travel is done by ferries. Principally designed as a defensive keep, it also houses the treasury and the armoury.
Defences
Each wards keeps a standing army of 100 soldiers, called the City Guard, that report first to the Baron and secondly to the Prince. The Prince further has under his direct command 500 soldiers. The City Guard is augmented by the City Watch, which report to the City Council and is made up of roughly 80 and act as the city’s police, firemen and tax collectors. The head of the City Watch is Sheriff Gorman Truart, who is well known for his brutality and corrupt nature.
Nine hundred members of the citizenry are part of the City Militia, who are regularly trained in combat and city defence but are not professional soldiers. At times of crisis the City Militia can be called into service. Further, the Builders under a long standing agreement have 100 Battle Monks that will be provided to defend the city.
The Illuminated Council is bound to the protection of the Prince, and consequently provides him at all times with a Mage of the First Order to facilitate this agreement. The Current Mage is unknown to the people, however many suspect that it may be Lord Dardanus.
The city is constructed in a ring walled system. The Keep is the most defended area of the city, located at the centre of the lake. In times of emergency all ferries are brought into the keep to prevent any earstwhile attacker who makes it into the city from using them. The keep further has several high powered, high range and high accuracy arcane cannons, along with more conventional balista and mangonel defensive arrangements. There is only a single mountable entrance to the Keep, which makes it on the whole completely defensible.
Keepgarden is ringed on all sides by walls, with the four other wards being seperated out by solid walls that further connect to the outer walls. There are two outer walls, the most outer is taller than the second one and is crenulated with several large towers with mounted defense canons. The inner wall has taller towers built into it, and the space between the walls is littered with traps and other dangers. Temperary bridges, most simply ladders extended across the gap, allow defenders to use the outer wall and its mounted defense cannons.
Inns
Each ward has an inn, catering to that area’s expected visitors. Jared Ilanov owns both the Heavy Horse Inn at the Wintergate and the Broken Lantern at the Boar’s Gate. These are standard quality inns catering to travelling merchants and adventurers. Both offer rooms for 5sp a night; with meals costing 2sp. Jared manages the Heavy Horse directly, while he delegates management of the Broken Lantern to Marcus Halfear.
For those wanting more up-market treatment, the Gold and Lace in Keepgarden offers rooms for 2gp a night. Simple meals are available for 5sp, while feasts are available for 5gp. The human Jonas Rowe runs the Gold and Lace.
Those willing (or forced) to brave it can stay at the Tanner’s Daughter, an inn nestled up against the city wall in Waterdeep Ward. Rooms here go for 2sp a night (for a double bed, wink), but come with the risk of rats and disease. Meals are 2sp, though still of poorer quality than at the Heavy Horse Inn or Broken Lantern.
Taverns
Both the Broken Lantern and the Tanner’s Daughter have taprooms, with the Tanner’s Daughter in particular being known for being a good place to meet certain outlaw elements, for good or bad. Along similar lines is the Two Sheep Tavern in Waterdeep Ward. In Wintergate Ward is Shelley’s Rest, a popular ale and tea house for merchants, while the Golden Rule in Keepgarden is something of a soldier’s bar, catering to the city’s guards and watchmen. The Fire & Steel Alehouse alongside the Heavy Horse Inn is geared towards catering to guests there.