Lords of Waterdeep

The Masked Lords of Waterdeep are a council of sixteen people who rule over the city-state of Waterdeep.

Fifteen of them attempt to keep their identities secret with Piergeiron Paladinson announcing his status openly, as is the tradition. Most people agree that Khelben Arunsun was one but he only revealed that fact after he resigned the post and a few people also know that Mirt is one although it is not a widely-known fact as he fabricates evidence to suggest the contrary. Some people also suspect that Durnan, the proprietor of the Yawning Portal is one as well as Larissa the courtesan and Texter the Paladin but this is pure conjecture.

Novels have revealed that Khelben's cousin Danilo Thann became one of the lords after Khelben himself left the council.

They only appear in public when deliberating on high crimes or when asked to by the lower court but even then only four generally appear and one is always Piergeiron. All save him wear black formless masks and robes and speak through Piergeiron to keep their identities secret.