Silverymoon

Silverymoon, the Gem of the North, is a legendary city skirting the Savage Frontier; a beacon of culture and civilization shining forth from some of Faerun’s most dangerous and uncivilized lands. It has recently become the capital of the nation of Luruar, and its former ruler Alustriel Silverhand leads the governing council of the Silver Marches. Its beautiful architecture, ranging from the vaulted steeples of the city’s many temples to the gilded domes of the palace itself, draws comparisons to some of the greatest living cities of Faerun, and even to cities long since passed into dust and ruin. Bards from across the continent flock to the University and the newly reopened Foclucan Conservatory, and the city hosts the Spring Festival, a huge gathering of performers of all types, in the final days of Mirtul each year.

Early History

Originally a holy site dedicated to Mielikki and Lurue the Unicorn, the bend in the river that is now known as Silverymoon was a pilgrimage spot for many of the local tribes of the area. One of these tribes built a wood and rope bridge over the shallower bend in the river used by those tribes to ford the rushing waters of the Rauvin. Eventually that simple span was replaced with a mighty bridge of dwarven stonework. Decorated with stonework unicorns and called Silverymoon Ford in honor of Lurue, this bridge formed the foundation for what would one day become the Moonbridge.

A short time after the building of Silverymoon Ford, a small inn catering to travelers and wayfarers sprung up – the Moonsilver Inn. Slowly but surely, others came to settle in this place until the name Silverymoon referred to the town rather than the bridge that was its center.

According to local legends, Mielikki and Lurue the Unicorn, in the guise of a female ranger and her mount, visited Silverymoon Town. The two goddesses fell in love with the small town and its folk, who sought always to live in accord with nature rather than using it for their own ends. That same legend claims that the goddesses blessed the Moonsilver Inn with their power, promising protection to all folk who kept such goodness in their hearts. Though the Moonsilver Inn has long since fallen, builders seeking to keep the favor of Silverymoon’s patrons have since incorporated the stones of its walls into the walls of the city itself.

Era of the High Mages

Silverymoon was ruled in its early years by valiant warriors who kept the folk of the city safe from the dangers that surrounded them. By 637 DR, however, Silverymoon was no longer considered a mere town and it elected Ecamane Truesilver, who sought to turn Silverymoon into the sister civilization of Myth Drannor, as its first High Mage. Under the High Mages, Silverymoon slowly transformed from a trapping, hunting and lumbering community into a place of art, learning and magic.

Silverymoon has been without a High Mage only a few tumultuous times in its history. The most notable of these was caused by the treachery of the warlord Lashtor, who slaughtered every wizard in Silverymoon, razed the Lady’s Library (the predecessor to the Vault of the Sages), and burned the Mystran temple to the ground.

The most recent such period occurred in the Year of the Long Watch (1230 DR), when the High Mage Orjalun left the ceremonial symbol of office, the Staff of Silverymoon, in the hands of his apprentice Sepur. Shortly after this the High Mage disappeared, and Sepur revealed his perfidy by raiding the magical treasury of Silverymoon and abandoning the city. Though he is believed to have died shortly thereafter, this did not stop some two dozen mages from vying with one another for the title of High Mage, a contest that slowly grew more heated until open spellbattle broke out in the streets of the city. This event, called Spellsfall, led to the election of a merchant as Silvermayor. Theomel Scalson greatly contributed to the prosperity and growth of the city during his tenure. More importantly, perhaps, he also founded the Spellguard. Despite his accomplishments as Silvermayor, Scalson was deposed by the petty and grasping warlord Khallos, who used the imminent threat of a confederation of orc hordes as a dubious mandate for seizing control of the city.

Khallos proved incapable of defending the walls of Silverymoon, however, and the city was nearly overrun by the orcs. Though the greedy Spellguard captain Shaloss Ethenfrost proclaimed himself High Mage during this siege, it wasn’t until Alustriel Silverhand and her sister Storm led a force of Harpers against the orc hordes that the city would be free. After breaking the siege and fortifying the walls, the band gave chase to the orcs while Alustriel entered the city. High Mage Ethenfrost saw this newcomer as a threat to his power and attacked her; so, while Storm and the Harpers fought the Battle of Tumbleskulls against the remnants of the orc hordes, Alustriel fought for her life in a magnificent spellbattle against Ethenfrost and his two apprentices. In the end, Alustriel stood triumphant and the people of Silverymoon unanimously elected her as High Mage in 1235 DR.

Recent History

Alustriel ruled the city fairly and wisely as High Mage until 1369 DR, when a council was convened among the settlements of the North. At the end of a week of discussion, Alustriel was asked to rule the fledgling nation of Luruar, or the Silver Marches.

After a tenday of contemplation, she acquiesced, stepping down as High Mage of Silverymoon so that she would not favor any one city over another in this new alliance. The Staff of Silverymoon was passed to Taern “Thunderspell” Hornblade, the captain of the Spellguard and one of Alustriel’s advisors. Taern has proven himself a capable ruler in the years that followed.

The pair both rule from the High Palace – Taern over Silverymoon, and Alustriel over the Silver Marches as a whole. The two are great friends; though the occasional rumors make the rounds about Taern and Alustriel being lovers, nothing concrete is known. It is known that Taern reveres Alustriel in a chivalric fashion; he has done much in the name of his Lady in the past, and will undoubtedly do so again.

Religion

Silverymoon’s extravagant temples and her citizens’ pious devotion to the city’s patron deities leave many with the impression that the town is dominated by religion. To a point this is true, as the gods have blessed very few places on Faerun as they have the Gem of the North. On the other hand, religion is only one of many factors that drive the social circles of noble and commoner alike, and it ranks no higher than the pursuit of art, commerce, and magic in the minds of most Silveraen.

Though Silverymoon remains remarkably open about individual religious observations, there is still a single restriction that must be

observed: the Edict of the High Mage. As a result of this edict, decreed by High Mage Orjalun, no faiths may carry on any warfare with any other in the bounds of the city, nor may any faith use any religious practices that bring harm to another. This edict applies equally across all lines – priests of Torm are forbidden from attacking priests of Cyric just as the faithful of Malar are bound against harming druids.

Commerce

Silverymoon exports a number of rare and expensive items throughout the Realms. Her many merchant caravans bring coveted works of art and other fine products all throughout the North, where they are snatched up by other merchants and sent to places as far flung as Halruaa, Aglarond and a hundred other distant places.

Silverymoon is known for her lumber, often taken from the Moonwood to the north, which supplies the massive shadowtop and duskwood trees, coveted across Faerun for their fine grain and strength. The massive, straight trunks are also used to build ships’ masts all throughout the North, and even as far away as Calimshan.

Silverymoon is also known as a bastion of artwork and fine crafts – merchants the Realms over clamor for the fine musical instruments, statuary, woodcarving, glassworks and other pieces of artwork that come out of Silverymoon.

Indeed, Silverymoon is also known as one of the few places where one can get the fine work of both elves and dwarves without having to deal directly with those reclusive folks in their far-removed places.

While places such as Citadel Adbar and Sundabar sell dwarven arms and armor aplenty, it is rare to find those dwarven craftsmen willing to sell their leather works, jewelry and other small “trinkets.” Likewise, elven jewelry, glass and other works of art are eagerly sought after.

Despite all of this, Silverymoon is perhaps best known as a haven of bards, scholars and wizards. In many ways, it might be said that education and music are its finest products, for folk come from far and wide in order to benefit from the University, the Vault of the Sages, Foclucan and other such institutions. Indeed, it has been posited that Silverymoon has the largest number of sages of any city in the Realms. While this may or may not be true, it certainly has far more than cities of like size elsewhere in the Realms and rivals the number of sages found in cities much larger than the Gem of the North.

This frequency of magical lore and training also means that Silverymoon sometimes has minor magical items for sale. These are rarely something as simple as walking into a shop and purchasing something from a case, however – the sale of magic items, even items of minor power, is viewed as a very special affair. More likely, these items are put up for auction or made to order. Some shops, however, have been known to have a prize piece that they are willing to sell, usually traded to them by an adventuring band or wizard in return for services rendered.

Culture

Art and music are the living soul of Silverymoon, and the Silveraen are provided with ample opportunity to enjoy both. The temples of Silverymoon are works of art themselves, and they house some of the greatest sculptures and paintings of the North. Music can be enjoyed any time in the taverns of Silverymoon, and the constant recitals of Foclucan provide another source of entertainment for concertgoers. Storytellers and puppeteers amuse children in the parks, while almost every daughter in the city learns to play an instrument in order to entertain guests of the family.

Owing to the long winters and rainy springs, the Silveraen take full advantage of summer to enjoy their beautiful surroundings. The Spring Faire at the end of Mirtul signals the beginning of the festival season, although most of the Silverymoon’s festivals are held during the peak months of Kythorn, Flamerule and Eleasis. Ceremonies such as marriages are common during this time as well. Not surprisingly, then, Ches and Tarsakh are the most common months for birthdays in the city. During the summer months the streets are full of performers and artists of all kinds, and every day marks a new or ongoing festival.

Midsummer Riverfest is another large festival for the city. Only artists are allowed to set up tents and booths along the river during this time, though they often rent out part of their space to local merchants on a commission basis. Musicians wander the festival and play on the dozen stages set up along the river. A premiere concert is given on the third night of the festival in which the musicians play from the Moonbridge while members of the Spellguard cause the waters of the Rauvin to spray up in dazzling patterns and illusionists fill the air with colored lights. The festival culminates with a ritual bathing in the river that signifies the commonality of all of the city’s denizens. Each citizen then plants a seed in the Garden of Silvanus, whose winter fruits and vegetables are used to feed the city’s poor.

Since summer is the best time of year to visit Silverymoon, visiting nobility and dignitaries are treated to lavish parties during this time. The temples of the Palace Quarter often throw celebrations designed to attract patronage from believers from around the Realms. The egalitarian tradition of Silverymoon’s temples demands that they exclude none from these parties, so they are usually all day affairs. The nobility attend the temple parties during the day when most commoners are plying their trades and move to private gatherings in the evening as the less fortunate begin to show up. Most of the working folks wouldn’t have it any other way.

Silverymoon’s culture doesn’t die out during the winter months, it just, like most things, goes inside. Taverns and homes are ablaze with music and many of the city’s merchants retreat to the Undermarket, where the harsh and unpredictable weather will not interrupt the flow of trade. Many Dwarven festivals also take place at this time, their timing designed so as not to conflict with the surface celebrations. All Silveraen are invited into the Underhome for these festivals, and many oblige. The largest of these festivals is the Brewfest in early Nightal, where the best spirit-makers in the city compete for the title of Brewmaster. Brewers, vintners and distillers all compete in their own categories, and the three winners then compete for the grand prize, the Golden Goblet. The Golden Goblet itself is a prized piece of artwork that is cast differently each year. Smiths and artists from far and wide compete each year to turn in the winning proposal that will eventually be made into the cup.

Politics

With Taern taking over the mantle of High Mage, the city has rejuvinated itself in the last few months. The Star Court has begun streamlining its procedures so that civil matters can be cleared up in the least amount of time, and the Spellguard have stepped up their efforts to keep the city clean and safe. Although the people of Silverymoon do not choose their leaders, there is a sense of participation nonetheless. All official positions are nominated and accepted by general acclimation of the other leaders, and citizens may protest actions or decisions they find unjust. This serves to keep the leaders accountable to the people while insuring a stable and trustworthy government.

People

Silverymoon has gained a reputation as a place of learning, culture and unexpected elegance in the brutal and untamed Savage North. The folk of Silverymoon consider themselves to embody the best of both worlds. They feel that they are still practical folk, as most frontiersmen are, and they are accutely aware that just beyond the glittering silvery-white walls of the Gem of the North lie untamed wilds lethal to most folk. Only the hardiest of survivors prospers here.

By the same token, however, the citizens of Silverymoon take pride in their city. The Gem of the North is no rough frontier town with rough-hewn log buildings and equally coarse citizens. They know that they are hailed across the North as a bastion of culture and civilization, a worthy heir to fallen Myth Drannor.

Two things have been part of the spirit of Silverymoon – and thus, part of its people – practically since its founding: the patronage of Mielikki and Lurue, and the practice and learning of wizardry. This has led to a folk that are, for the most part, unfazed by most things. Talking animals, magical motes of light and sound, wizardly duels and divine manifestations interest and concern the folk of Silverymoon, but don’t necessarily frighten them. Surrounded by arcane threats within the city and by more worldly threats outside of the city, citizens of Silverymoon are best summed up by the words of the bard Therian Tunesilver:

“Honest, civil and open, with an understanding that this is the right way to behave with proper company. When company behaves improperly – be they divine messengers, arrogant archmages, high and mighty elves or would-be petty tyrants, pretty manners are set aside and troubles are dealt with. When the dust clears, we get along with a shrug and an apology for the necessity of it all, and go back to living our lives.”

Adventurers in Silverymoon

As in many places in the Realms, adventurers are looked upon with no small curiosity; after all, the average person does not willingly put themselves in danger time and again for the benefits of wealth, fame and magical power, however much the average person may dream about doing so.

For the most part, adventurers are seen as somewhat crazy and reckless, though certainly exciting. The arrival of an adventuring band to a tavern or inn is always something of interest to those within, who will often buy a round of drinks for the band, especially if they are telling tales of their latest expedition or showing off their souvenirs.

Unlike many places in the Realms, folk here don’t automatically assume the worst of adventurers. The Savage Frontier has a long history of heroes and intrepid adventurers cutting a swath for civilization, and the folk of the Silverymoon (and the North in general, usually) respect that “hero’s tradition.”

However, Silveraen are not fools, either – they know true heroes are few and far between and that many adventurers are simply mercenaries, cutthroats and sell-swords. Silveraen have learned to judge the band by the company they keep; most Silveraen try to identify any clerics or paladins within the group to get a hint as to the overall nature of that company.They also know that many adventurers are only too willing to engage in sword or spellplay at the slightest provocation; therefore, most Silveraen clear out when an adventuring band gets its “knickers in a twist,” if only to summon the Knights in Silver or Spellguard. Most Silveraen also know that the first folk usually to stand up against bullying adventurers are likely to be other adventurers and are only too happy to show their gratitude appropriately.

A note to those who would misuse Silveraen hospitality: many of those everyday citizens with whom one interacts have had training in battle or spell themselves. Few are those in the North who do not find themselves in situations where the knowledge of how to wield a sword or cast a spell would not come in handy. With the number of adventurers about, it is not uncommon to find the barkeep who has learned to use the broadsword he keeps above the bar or the shop-keep who is able to use a cantrip or three to make his job easier – or that of a would be burglar more difficult.

Geography of Silverymoon