Elsambul's Lane

'''Elsambul's Lane''' is an alley located in Castle Ward, Waterdeep.

This short alleyway runs up and down the interior of the city block bounded by Bazaar Street, the Street of the Sword, Cymbril'’s Walk, and Warriors'’ Way. It is crossed, and most easily reached, by Lamp Street.

Elsambul was a priest of Mask, who lived somewhere along this alley over 70 winters ago. He held the view that thieves should not be crude snatch-and-grab thugs, but a deft, subtle brotherhood of organized companions. He began to gather a band under his leadership, but was betrayed by an underling. He fell fighting defiantly here, using his magic to take as many foes as possible with him - a defiant last stand that left the alley red with blood and strewn with bodies (or parts of bodies), local tavern tales attest.

Elsambul began the practice of writing cryptic messages for his gang along the walls of this lane, and this graffiti writing has been taken up by others. It is absent from almost everywhere else in Waterdeep. Today, the visitor can see some amusing, puzzling, and disgusting messages from one Waterdhavian to another (most of them unattributed).

Many of the messages hint at treasure to be won, dragons to be duped or destroyed, and great adventure. Others promise revenge of that something will not be forgotten. Adventurers should find them intriguing - and perhaps even useful.

It helps to be a confident adventurer just to go into this alley. You never know just who (or what - —I'’m sure I saw purple tentacles under that hood!) you may find reading the messages.