Waterdeep

Waterdeep, officially the City of Waterdeep, is a fictional metropolis in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons. It is a major port city on the western coast of Faerûn along the Sword Coast, renowned for commerce, culture, and magical activity. The city is cosmopolitan, with a diverse population of humans and many other races, and serves as a hub for trade routes, merchants, adventurers, and scholars.

Geography and wards: The harbor features a crescent-shaped bay protected by a natural breakwater; the city is divided into wards: Castle Ward, North Ward, South Ward, Dock Ward, Trades Ward, and the Field Ward, plus occasional outlying districts.

Government: Waterdeep is governed by the Lords of Waterdeep, a council of nobles who wield political influence from the shadows (the Masked Lords) and a public Open Lord who chairs sessions; local administration is handled by the City Guard and various guilds and institutions.

Notable features: The city hosts notable landmarks such as Castle Waterdeep, the Yawning Portal inn and its adjacent entry to the Undermountain dungeon, the Blackstaff Tower, and the Hall of the Open Lord; it is home to powerful mercantile houses, magic orders, and scholarly academies.

History and role in the Realms: Waterdeep has a long history of trade and political intrigue, and it often serves as a focal point for adventures and campaigns in the Forgotten Realms.

In popular culture: It appears in numerous novels and game products, including the 5th edition adventures Dragon Heist and Dungeon of the Mad Mage, which depict the city’s intrigue and its vast Undermountain.