Skullport

{{City

|image=

|Name=Skullport

|Type=Large Town

|Location=The Underdark, Undermountain, beneath The Sword Coast North

|Population=2,250 within the city limits (x2 in spring and fall months)

|Demographics=Integrated (humans 832, half-orcs 405, goblins 225, kobolds 157, elves (mostly drow) 113, dwarves (mostly duergar) 68, others 450)

|Religions=Shar, Loviatar, Lloth, Beshaba, Umberlee, almost all others represented

|GP Limit=40,000 sp

|Assets=337,500 gp (675,000 in spring and fall months)

}}

Skullport is a subterranean community on the banks of the River Sargauth in the depths of Undermountain’s third level. Built atop the ruins of the Sargauth Enclave, the Port of Shadow has long been the dark mirror of Waterdeep’s fair face. The Lords of Waterdeep have long tolerated Skullport’s existence, reasoning correctly that if they were to destroy the Port of Shadow, the sinister commerce of the place would inevitably migrate upward to the city proper, despoiling the City of Splendors. However, the Lords do keep a close eye on activities within Skullport, predominantly through the efforts of Laeral and “Kitten”.

Skullport serves as a smuggling and trading base for stolen and illegal cargo in the City of Splendors. Body parts, cadavers, drugs, ask-no-questions mercenaries, slaves, evil and vile magic, poisons, and almost anything else can be found for sale in its dark ways. Aside from the community’s location and Skull Isle, the most notable feature of the Port of Shadow are its inhabitants—beholders, gargoyles, illithids, drow, vampires, and all manner of terrible monsters.

Skullport has no government per se, although the various competing power groups form a fluid oligarchy of sorts, with disputes resolved outside the town through proxies. The Skulls of Skullport, remnants of the Netherese wizards who once ruled the Sargauth Enclave, keep what peace exists. Shradin Mulophor is the nominal lord of Skullport, harkening back to an ancient agreement with Halaster, but since his transformation during Halaster's Higharvestide, he has exercised little actual authority. His clone has largely retreated within his manse, ignoring all else.

Other important power groups in Skullport include the Agents of the Eye, the Arcane Brotherhood, the Chosen of Eilistraee (from the nearby Promenade of Eilistraee, UM L3), the Dark Dagger, the drow of House Tanor’Thal, duergar from Gracklstugh, the Harpers, the illithids of Ch’Chitl, the Iron Ring, the Keepers, the Kraken Society, the Lords of Waterdeep, various Skulker gangs, and the Unseen.