High Captains of Luskan

The High Captains of Luskan are the leaders of the five factions who rule over the city of Luskan. They are Kurth, Baram, Rethnor, Taerl and Suljack. When a High Captain dies, a longstanding tradition causes the new High Captain to become known by their predecessors' name.

History
In 1310 DR a fleet of pirate ships out of the Nelanther Isles took over the city of Luskan, putting paid to any hopes of Neverwinter, who had rebuilt the city only eight years ago, had about gaining a trading partner to the north.

The five most prominent captains of the fleet, Captain Baram, Captain Kurth, Captain Rethnor, Captain Suljack and Captain Taerl, each declared themselves the High Captain of Luskan. Of course, five pirate captains each desiring leadership of one city was bound to cause friction and the fleet fractured down factional lines.

A year later Arklem Greeth arrived and opened the Host Tower of the Arcane, quickly forming the Arcane Brotherhood and within 43 years, Arklem's group had completely dominated all five of the High Captains, directing them to attack merchant shipping but avoid boats flying the flags of Waterdeep for fear of bringing the wrath of the Lords' Alliance. The High Captains became the public face of Luskan's government but no one was in any doubt as to who really reigned. While they still had temporal power and were given a large degree of respect by the populace, they took orders from Arklem and the Brotherhood that overrode any wishes they might otherwise have had.

Five wars of conquest were started with the fleets of the High Captains, two with Ruathym and one each with Mintarn, Orlumbor and Lantan - which all eventually ended in failure but Luskan ships were still organized enough to endanger most shipping along the Sword Coast North.

Briefly, the attacks wound down as Arklem got older and more frail, almost coming to a stop just after an attempted coup within the Brotherhood in 1371 DR. When Greeth returned as a lich however, he exerted his influence once more and the High Captains became vastly more organized again almost immediately.