History of Waterdeep

Waterdeep is on the site of an elven settlement called Aelinthaldaar, which was the capital of Illefarn at the time, and dates from around -8500 DR.

Early history
In -1288 DR, Melairbode was created in the mountain beside and underneath Aelinthaldaar by the dwarven King Melair I, who began mining mithral there. As more and more "Melairkyn" arrived, the dwarves expanded their home to include areas nearer and nearer to the surface, which made the elves uneasy. In exchange for a large amount of mithral being mined by the Melairkyn dwarves, the elves created a magical effect on the plateau on which their city stood. This effect ensured that no matter what occurred below, the surface would remain unaffected and no collapse would occur there.

Aelinthaldarr was razed in -1100 DR after the elves inhabiting the city retreated to Evermeet. It was soon taken over by barbarian tribes who used it as a trade center from -1088 DR, doing business with peoples further south. The deep natural harbor on the site made it a particularly good point to hold trademoots because large ships were able to load and unload goods. Eventually, tribes made the area their permanent home rather than revisiting for each trademoot. Conflict was common due to the lucrative trade opportunities, but the area was eventually secured by a tribe of people led by Nimoar, who named the town "Waterdeep," or "Nimoar's Hold." By 52 DR, a permanent farming community had been established.

Halaster
In 168 DR, the wizard Halaster Blackcloak moved to the area and constructed Halaster's Hold a little to the northwest of the farming community. It was used until 307 DR, when The Seven, Halaster's apprentices, moved into the Undermountain and abandoned it. It fell into disrepair at this point.

Trollwars
Due to massive orc uprisings and population growth in the north, trolls were forced out of their homes and pushed south, into the area now known as the Evermoors, and into conflict with the humans. The first conflict occurred in 932 DR but was ended before the year's end, with the humans purging the moors area of trolls. The second conflict erupted in 940 DR when the trolls began making continual raids on the humans. It lasted until 952 DR, when it was ended decisively by the magic of the 32-year-old mage Ahghairon, but six of the War Lords were killed in the combat. Following the conflict, a walled keep was constructed on the slopes of the mountain, and the walls continued to expand as more and more people from the surrounding area came to it for protection. At this time, the "Free City of Waterdeep" was ruled by War Lords.

A temple and monastery to Lathander was constructed outside the city, and this would later become the Spires of the Morning.

Ahghairon
Warlord Raurlor became the Warlord of Waterdeep, and aimed to use the city's wealth to create a vast empire in Northwest Faerûn. Ahghairon voiced strong opposition to this in 1032 DR, and Raurlor ordered that he was to be arrested. When Ahghairon used his magic to prevent his own arrest, Raurlor struck out at him, but Ahghairon turned Raurlor's sword into a snake, which bit him, poisoning and killing him. Ahghairon declared himself the first Lord of Waterdeep, and created the current system of government whereby all Lords but one (initially himself) have hidden identities.

Under Ahghairon, Waterdeep secured the areas to the north for the humans and built new roads to interconnect them, while continuing to grow to five times its size, becoming more and more prosperous. The city developed the nickname "the Crown of the North." Ahgharion restructured the army and navy that Raurlor had built up into the city watch and the city guard (for both navy and army). As crime and deceit began to develop in Waterdeep, Ahghairon ordered the creation of guilds, a trend from cities in the south, to prevent the further spread of problems. It was under Ahghairon that the city began to use its system of wards, which was first introduced in 1035 DR. By 1064 DR, the city had reached 50,000 inhabitants.

In 1037 DR, creatures from another plane appeared in Waterdeep after emerging from the Undermountain. Ahghairon and one of the masked Lords named Kherris turned them back.

1101 DR saw further expansion of the city walls, to include the Spires of the Morning, the temple to Lathandar that had previously been outside the city. In 1150 DR the city was hit by the plague that was travelling the Sword Coast. This was also the year Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun (then known as "Khelben the Elder") first arrived in Waterdeep. Maulagrym attacked Khelben's tower in 1179 DR, but they were defeated by Khelben, Elminster, Hamiklar Wands and other Waterdhavian mages.

The city was besieged in 1235 DR by the largest orc horde ever recorded. The siege lasted for nine months, but it was broken when Ahghairon used griffons to fly supplies of food and aid into of the city.

The only incident of betrayal amongst the Lords of Waterdeep occurred in 1246 DR when Kerrigan, a masked Lord, began slaying the other Lords. He murdered three before Ahghairon confronted him in a battle of magic that ended in the Southern Ward, where Kerrigan was killed.

Owing to a lack of space, the individual graves were replaced with tombs, creating the City of the Dead in 1250 DR. By 1252 DR, problems with undead from the area led to the raising of walls to separate it from the rest of the city. In 1255 DR, the Shadow Thieves begin operating in Waterdeep.

Eventually, even Ahghairon's magic could not keep him alive, and he died in 1256 DR. He was buried in his own tower, which was sealed off and protected by magic. It is believed that his resting place has remained undisturbed ever since.

Guildmasters
Turmoil followed Ahghairon's death while the merchants of Waterdeep bickered over who would assume power. Nothing was heard from the masked Lords of Waterdeep, either because they could not communicate without revealing their identities now that Ahghairon was gone, or because their identities had already been compromised and they had been murdered. In fact, the only survivors amongst the masked Lords were the woodworker Baeron and the apprentice wizard Shilarn. After two months, power was taken by the Guildmasters who had been appointed by Ahghairon. The following six years were termed "the Guildwars" because of the violence and murder that occurred, often between private armies, ultimately leaving only two surviving Guildmasters.

The surviving guildmasters, gemcutter Ehlemm Zoar and shipwright Lhorar Gildeggh eventually tired of bloodshed and agreed to rule together, as "Lords Magister," in 1262 DR. They did not agree on much else, and continued to argue, leading to continuing tensions within the city. Eleven years later, in 1273 DR, the Lords Magister were visited by Baeron and Shilarn who had concealed themselves underneath cloaks. Shilarn ordered the Lords Magister to leave the city. When they refused, she struck them down with magic, killing them both, and she and Baeron, the two remaining former masked Lords, took power.

Baeron
The Gildeggh and Zoar houses were banned from Waterdeep. The other noble houses were given the choice either to leave the city, or to obey the new rulers. Baeron publicly revealed his identity, assuming the role of the Open Lord. The original form of government, whereby Waterdeep is led by one Open Lord and a number of Masked Lords, was restored. In order to further prevent the discovery of the identities of the Masked Lords, a group of Magisters named "the Black Robes" were instated as judges and dispensers of the law. In Uktar of 1273 DR, the Shadow Thieves were outlawed in Waterdeep.

1276 DR saw the birth of Lhestyn (later known as "the Masked Lady"), daughter to Baeron and Shilarn. The North Ward and the Sea Ward were introduced in this year, and the Lords of Waterdeep increased their number to sixteen.

Present day
In present-day Waterdeep (circa 1374 DR), the only remnants of the long-razed Aelinthaldaar are crypts beneath the Pantheon Temple of the Seldarine, and the magic that prevents the plateau from collapsing.