History of Waterdeep (in-universe)

The History of Waterdeep was a six-volume series of books that outlined the storied history of Waterdeep, the City of Splendors.

"...Since that time, the city has continued to grow and prosper. Humankind and other races come from all over the realms to earn hard coin in the City of Splendors...Waterdeep is a place tolerant of different races, religions, and lifestyles."

- Excerpt from Volume I of the History of Waterdeep.

Description
The series of books detailed the history of the famous metropolis, from its pre-history as a gathering place for local traders, throughout the founding of Nimoar's Hold in the 9 century DR, up to the early Era of Upheaval in the mid–14 century.

Volume I - History of Waterdeep
The first volume of the History of Waterdeep offered an appreciated version of city's past, touching on the most impactful events that shaped growth and development over the centuries. It touched upon the city's criminal justice system, contemporary Waterdhavian lifestyle, and briefly mentioned the famous guilds that played such a critical role in Waterdeep's history.

Volume II - Age 0, Trademoots and Pioneers
Volume two set the scene for Waterdeep's founding. It shared with the reader details about life in the Savage Frontier and the Sword Coast North, in the era before the earliest settlement was established at Deepwater Harbor.

In the spring and autumn months, passing traders docked within the harbor to trade with hunters and crafters from local tribes. Timber was gathered at each of these trademoots, so the seaborn merchants could repair their vessels and return next season.

Volume III - Age I, The Rise of the Warlords
The third volume detailed the rise to power of the Waterdeep's first ruler Nimoar, along with the early challenges the city faced. As a burgeoning community grew from the bi-annual trademoots, Nimoar raised the first wooden palisades to ensure its protection. The growing settlement came to be known as "Nimoar's Hold, the Town of Waters Deep."

After Nimoar's Hold successfully weathered a few failed attacks by pirates and nearby raiding tribes, it faced its first truly great challenge. Conflicts between elves and orcs north of Nimoar's Hold displaced large populations of trolls, that settled in the nearby Evermoors. After Nimoar's passing, the settlement that bore his came to be known only as 'Waterdeep'. The city's warlords rallied together to fight off hordes of trolls in a decade-long series of conflicts known as the Trollwars. These battles ended following the emergence of a skilled young mage named Aghairon, who turned the tide of war in Waterdeep's favor.

Volume IV - Age II, The Lords' Rule Begins
Volume four of the History of Waterdeep detailed the final years of the reign of Raurlor during the 11 century, his growing conflict with Aghairon―who had become an aged old mage, and the rule of Raurlor's successor.

When Aghairon came to learn of Raurlor's plant to created a grand empire of the North, the old wizard confronted the warlord before the city's people. Raurlor attempted to imprison Aghairon for his public impudence, and even struck out at the old mage with his sword, but was ultimately stopped and slain by Aghairon's magic.

Aghairon called upon the heads most prominent Waterdhavian families and founded a new governing body, one that he served in publicly, while others were granted anonymity. Waterdeep thrived under the rule of Aghairon and the 'Masked Lords'. The city's walls were expanded outwards twice over and the influential Council of Guildmasters was founded, to help manage the increasing amount of wealth that flowed in and out of the city.

Volume V - Age III, The Bloody Reign of the Guildmasters
The fifth volume detailed the rise and fall of Waterdeep's guild masters and the accompany Guildwars that broke out in the mid–13 century DR.

After Aghairon's death, the Lords of Waterdeep stopped appearing in public, and the Council of Guildmasters consolidated power in their absence. Many of the Lords had actually been slain by guild agents, in preparation for the council's emergence. Unfortunately for Waterdeep's citizens, the guild masters fell to vicious in-fighting, as each member openyl assaulted and even murdered their competitors. When so many of the guilds' leaders had all but wiped each other out, the council's two remaining members took the "throne" of Waterdeep for themselves, as the two Lords Magister.

Volume VI - Age IV, The Return of the Lords
The sixth and final volume of History of Waterdeep described the fall of the two Lords Magister and the return of the true Lords of Waterdeep. It then told how the city continued to thrive and flourish, and briefly mentioned some of the more profound events that occurred within its walls.

After a decade of rule, the Lords Magister were visited by the two Lords of Waterdeep that survived the guildmasters' coup, Baeron and Shilarn Silmaeril, the latter of whom was Aghairon's apprentice. The Lords Magister were killed in short order. Baeron declared he would take on the role of Open Lord, as Aghairon was before him, and Shilarn—who remained masked—would recruit from among the city's nobility to restore the ranks of the Masked Lords.

History
Information from the History of Waterdeep was republished in Volo's Waterdeep Enchirion, written by Volothamp Geddarm in the 15 century DR.

Notable Owners

 * Gantoladan, a resident of Baldur's Gate owned at least the first volume of the series.
 * Saerk Farrahd, a wealthy Amnian businessman of Athkatla owned the fourth volume.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
 * Video Games
 * Baldur's Gate series