Lords of Waterdeep

The Lords of Waterdeep were the mysterious and predominantly anonymous ruling council of Waterdeep, having governed the city from the 11 century onwards. They oversaw the regional economy, maintained security, performed diplomacy, and held legal jurisdiction over the city and exert their will over the surrounding lands for approximately  beyond its walls.

Organization
A full council comprised 20 Lords, though this number might vary from 16 to 29. The full number of Lords was not always known and some Lords were kept secret

Open Lord
The Open Lord of Waterdeep (also called the "Unmasked Lord") was the sole member of the Lords of Waterdeep whose identity was publicly known. They held a number of additional titles including Warden of Waterdeep, Overmaster of the Guilds, and Commander of the Watch. The Open Lord was also the city's chief diplomat. There was only one Open Lord at any one time, but when the previous one died or stepped down, they were replaced by a new one.

There were seven Open Lords of Waterdeep to 1489 DR; Ahghairon the Mage, Baeron Silmaeril, Lhestyn the Masked Lady, Piergeiron the Paladinson, Caladorn Cassalanter, Dagult Neverember, and Lady Laeral Silverhand.

Masked Lords
The Lords of Waterdeep were only seen in public when sitting in the Lord's Court or when appearing each year at Shieldmeet Council when the Lord's Rule is reaffirmed. The identities of the Lords, other than the Open Lord, were not supposed to be known to the public, although they were known to each other. The intent of this was to ensure that the Lords were free of coercion and could be drawn from any social strata within the city. While the masked Lords were considered to be equal to the Open Lord in authority, some executive authority was reserved for the Open Lord, including the vetting and selection of new Lords, the naming of the next Open Lord, and determining the needed number of Lords.

Activities
Ultimate legal authority in Waterdeep fell to the Open and masked Lords of Waterdeep. The Open Lord and at least two others attended the Lord's Court while it was in session, enforcing the city-state's set of rules and laws known as the Code Legal. The lords listened to the most severe crimes committed against the city and the Waterdhavian people. They also appeared on occasion when asked to by Waterdhavian lower courts, but always only few in number. It was extremely rare for more than seven Lords to sit in Court on a particular occasion, except at Sheildmeet.

The Lords helped maintain peace and order within the city and beyond, by directing the four branches of the Waterdhavian armed forces, namely the City Guard, the City Watch, the Griffon Cavalry, and the city's naval forces. They also held direct command over the actions of Force Grey, an elite strike force formed of former adventurers and other mighty individuals.

The Lords also held some power over Waterdeep's economic status, controlling the minting of coinage and trade bars. They also possessed sole authority to grant nobility to Waterdhavians of great wealth and influence that petitioned as such.

They also controlled diplomatic relations. The Lords had final say in whether to approve the erection of proposed embassies of foreign agents and governments being built within city limits. The Open Lord also represented Waterdeep in the Council of Lords.

Lords' Rule
Every Shieldmeet, at the Shieldmeet Council, the Lords' Rule was reaffirmed.

Anonymity
While no other Lords were formally named, some individuals became the subject of widespread rumors that could even become a general consensus. The penalty for impersonating a Lord, whether by dressing in a set of their identical clothing or by a false claim, was punishable by the impostor's immediate execution.

At any time, the Open Lord could demand the private unmasking of any person posing as a masked Lord, under punishment of death for refusal.

Base of Operations
While the Lords only officially gathered within the Lord's Court, the Open Lord made full use of the Palace of Waterdeep in full view of the city's populace. On occasions when the Lords held discreet meetings to conduct sensitive operations, they utilized the network of sea caves within Mount Waterdeep.

Possessions
All Masked Lords wore black formless robes and spoke through the Open Lord, in order to keep their identities secret. These magical items—known as the Lord's ensemble or "Lords Effects"—included illusion-enhanced robes, a heavily enchanted helm, the numerous magical Lord's Rings, and the Lord's Amulet.

Some powerful spellcasters were capable of piercing through the illusion magic that maintained the Masked Lords' identities.

Relationships
The Lords maintained numerous contacts throughout Waterdeep,  even in the less-reputable places, such as the underground city of Skullport. These individuals often aided agents working on behalf of the Lords, or acted as their eyes and ears within the city streets.

Interestingly enough, Waterdeep's system of rule was so iconic throughout the Sword Coast, that it was more or less mimicked by other governing bodies, such as the Council of Guilds in Daggerford.

History
The first Open Lord Aghairon ascended his role in the, marked by the beginning of the Northreckoning calendar. Declaring that wisdom would reign over the city rather than strength of arms, he founded the Lords of Waterdeep.

The Waterdhavian nobility was first recognized by Aghairon and the Lords in the. This decree proved extremely successful for the Lords and their relationship with the growing number of wealthy merchants in the city and surrounding farmlands. In the years that followed, the two power groups were often at odds with one another, but ultimately the Lords prevented the guilds from gaining too much influence.

The Lords regained governance over the city in the, and over the course of three years added an additional 14 members to their ranks. Baeron Silmaeril ascended as the Open Lord and the Zoar and Gildeggh noble families were exiled from the city.

Years of peace in Waterdeep ended in the, when two masked Lords were slain by Amril Zoar, favored son of the outcast Zoar family.

The Lords of Waterdeep collectively exiled the Shadow Thieves from the city in the, and took action to limit the power of any criminal organization within the city in the decades that followed. The troublesome thieves' guild subsequently relocated to Amn in the south.

After the Netherese enclave of Thultanthar returned to Faerûn in the, the Lords of Waterdeep began negotiations with Prince Aglarel Tanthul. The negotiations went poorly and the burgeoning alliance that was to be formed between the two cities was immediately halted.

In the, the Lords issued the 'Tarnsmoke Proclamation' effectively legalizing bounty hunting within the city and surrounding lands.

When the Cult of the Dragon reemerged as a threat to the Realms in the 1480s DR, the City of Splendors hosted four sessions of the Council of Waterdeep in response. During the meetings, the Lords were represented first by Open Lord Dagult Neverember, then by his successor Laeral Silverhand.

Members
Throughout the council's history, the exact number of masked Lords was never known, but scholars estimated that there had been between 50 and 80 Lords as of The Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, four of whom had also served as Open Lord. The Lords came from all walks of life and while they were predominantly human, they had had members of various races from throughout the Realms.

Rumored Lords
On occasion some individuals garnered suspicion that they were one of Waterdeep's Masked Lords, while in fact they were not. Such was the case with the mercenary fighter Daria the Hammer.

Early Lords
Some of the known Lords during the governing body's first three centuries included:
 * Ahghairon, The first Open Lord and founder of the Lords of Waterdeep.
 * Carril Byndraeth, a crime lord and husband of future Lord Brianne Byndraeth.
 * Kerrigan the Arcanist, the first Lord that openly betrayed Waterdeep.
 * Lhestyn, Open Lord during the late 13 century.
 * Tamaeril Bladesemmer, one of the two Lords killed by Amril Zoar in 1355 DR.
 * Resengar the Whitebeard, the other target of Amril Zoar.

14 Century
Circa 1370 DR and the following three decades, known Lords included:
 * Piergeiron the Paladinson, the 4 Open Lord of Waterdeep.
 * Caladorn Cassalanter, scion of the wealthy Cassalanter and 5 Open Lord.
 * Brian, the often outpsoken master smith and armorer
 * Brianne Byndraeth, a sorceress and the widow of the former crime lord Carril Byndraeth.
 * Deliah the White, a thoughtful and cautious Waterdhavian wizard.
 * Durnan, retited adventurer and proprietor of the Yawning Portal, that moonlighted as secret head of the Red Sashes.
 * Khelben Arunsun, a chosen of Mystra and the city's first Blackstaff that resigned circa 1372 DR.
 * Kyriani Agrivar, the proprietor of Selûne's Smile in the Dock Ward and rumored chosen of Selûne.
 * Nindil Jalbuck, the stylish grocer that was secretly killed and replaced by Hlaavin, a doppleganger, six months prior to this time.
 * Mirt the Moneylender, a wealthy former adventurer that famously delved into Undermountain who found enough success and influence as a trader to become a Masked Lord of the city.
 * Larissa Neathal, a courtesan that was an expert at changing her appearance to suit whatever the need.
 * Nymara "Kitten" Scheiron, a secretive rogue that also frequently disguised her appearance.
 * Sammereza "Sammer" Sulphontis, the skilled Calishite merchant and trader.
 * Texter, the fearless paladin of Tyr.

15 Century
The two Open Lords of the late 15 century DR were Dagult Neverember, 1479 DR to ~1489 DR, and Laeral Silverhand, 1489 DR and onwards.

Known Masked Lords during their tenures included:
 * Arthagast Ulbrinter, an unfortunate killed by the Cult of the Dragon during the Tyranny of Dragons events.
 * Berithro Tharlivar, the jovial warehouse owner, shipper, and financial investor.
 * Corylus Thann, a nobleman that employed the Zhentarim to violently prevent non-humans from achieving positions of power in Waterdeep and was in turn blackmailed by the Black Network.
 * Dorgar Adarbrent
 * Jelenn Urmbrusk, a noblewoman that was similarly blackmailed by the Zhentarim.
 * Lilianviaten Dlardrageth, a high priest and chosen of Beshaba.
 * Mirt, the former Lord returned to the council after an almost century-long absence.
 * Nazra Mrays, an alleged spymaster.
 * Omin Dran, the entrepreneurial founder of Acquisitions Incorporated.
 * Santar Belrune, the wealthy Tharsult, an importer and investor.
 * Thardouk Starbuckler

In 1491 DR, the following twelve Masked Lords were killed within a short time of one another: Ammasker Gwelt, Avner Ravelmark, Barkheld Haelinghorse, , Belgantur Haelhand, Braethan Cazondur, Dathanscza Meiril,  Nammandus Gorlar Ieirmeera Stravandar,  Khaliira Arhond,   Landarmyn Voskur, Ondreth Tolvur, Oszbur Malankar

An additional six Lords had their identities revealed, after which their status of Lordship remained uncertain. Among these lords were: Gruthgar Hrimmrel, Lammakh Heirlarpost, Kassalra Maremthur, Sarathue Serendragon, Zereth Keltaerond, and Halark Tarncrown.

The four Lords chosen immediately to replace some of the murdered Lords included: Daerrask Querreth, Zuzeena Qeldur, Cadraethe Haulhenarr, and Vaelra Kallo.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Tymora's Luck • The Siege • Death Masks
 * Video Games
 * Lords of Waterdeep (mobile game)
 * Baldur's Gate
 * Board Games
 * Lords of Waterdeep (board game)
 * Lords of Waterdeep (board game)