The White Sails company was the preeminent supplier of mercenaries—both soldiers and ships—operating out of Mintarn in the 15th century DR.[1][2]
Activities[]
White Sails ships traveled all across the Sea of Swords and along the Sword Coast for work, taking jobs from Neverwinter to Elturel and sometimes working for other mercenary groups like the Flaming Fist of Baldur's Gate.[3]
Relationships[]
Dagult Neverember invested heavily in the White Sails company as part of his broader efforts to invest in Mintarn, which included creating a ship-building company and combat training facilities on the island.[1]
The company was on good terms with Janolus Fuscus, a goblin captain of a submersible called the Nudibranch, who trawled the waters between the Moonshae Isles and Mintarn.[3]
History[]
Dagult Neverember's investment in the White Sails company began prior to his ascension to Open Lord of Waterdeep, and with his backing, it grew to become the premier exporter of Mintarn muscle to the Sword Coast.[1] After he became Open Lord circa 1468 DR,[note 1] his efforts to eliminate piracy led to the destruction of Waterdeep's City Navy, and to replace it, he used Waterdhavian funds to hire Mintarn mercenary companies in which he had financial interests (like White Sails). He did something similar when he subsequently hired Mintarn mercenaries to help him secure Neverwinter following the eruption of Mount Hotenow.[4] As part of his "New Neverwinter" movement, he used such mercenaries to patrol the streets, defend his interests, and enforce militaristic order within the city.[5]
By the late 15th century DR, White Sails was famous enough that young adventurers from as far afield as Norland in the Moonshae Isles sought to join. The company was so popular that slavers learned to target aspiring new recruits from outside Mintarn by promising to induct them into the company.[2]
The company retained its reputation through the Year of the Warrior Princess, 1489 DR,[1] even after Dagult Neverember had been ousted from his position in Waterdeep and the demand for Mintarn mercenaries dried up in both Waterdeep and Neverwinter.[1][4] At least some members of the White Sails were present for a hopeless battle to defend Mintarn from the red dragon Hoondarrh when he attacked the island sometime before 1492 DR,[3] and they subsequently helped to treat the wounded and evacuate the survivors before leaving to pursue their own goals.[6]
Members[]
Members were sailors who were grouped by the ship on which they were assigned to serve.[2] Membership was diverse, including not only humans from Mintarn and beyond but also elves, dragonborn, kenku, and more. It attracted all manner of adventurers seeking to travel the world, ranging from rogues and fighters to warlocks and wizards.[2][3]
Notable Members[]
Young adventurers eager to join White Sails.
Notable individuals included:
- Aiden, an aasimar rogue.[2]
- Helene, a wizard-turned-warlock from the Moonshae Isles.[2][7]
- Karrin and Kerrin, elven twins and nobles from the isle of Gwynneth.[2][3]
- Nycto, a tabaxi captain.[3]
- Rayonde, a dragonborn warrior.[2]
- Solivigant, a multi-talented kenku fighter and spellcaster.[2][6]
- Xander, a warrior possibly descended from House Kendrick.[2][3]
Notable ships included:
- The Hesperornis, a ship captained by Nycto which was sunk by Hoondarrh.[6]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Canon material does not provide a year for when Dagult Neverember became Open Lord of Waterdeep, however an approximate date can be derived from 4th edition sources. The Neverwinter Campaign Setting, set in 1479 DR, states that Neverember was already Open Lord as of his arrival in Neverwinter (p. 8), which is dated to 10 years prior to that book's events (see pp. 90 and 138). In addition, the novel Blackstaff Tower, set in Nightal of 1479 DR, indicates that the previous Open Lord was still in office as of 12 years prior to that book's events (ch. 5). These sources suggest that Dagult Neverember became Open Lord sometime between 1467 DR and 1469 DR, which is the most precise date available without using sources lower in the canon hierarchy. A more precise date can be derived from the 2013 game Neverwinter, which states that he arrived in Neverwinter "16 years [after the cataclysm]" (referring to the eruption of Mount Hotenow in 1451 DR): for him to have already been Open Lord at this time, his tenure would need to have begun in either 1467 DR or 1468 DR. An alternative date for the start of his Open Lordship is 1479 DR, which was offered by Ed Greenwood in two separate Twitter threads (from November 2018 and December 2019), although the first tweet is qualified with a disclaimer: "if lore notes passed to me by other sages of the Realms are correct". This date is contradicted by canon sources in addition to those identified above, notably the novella Cold Steel and Secrets, in which Dagult Neverember is the Open Lord during 1478 DR, and in the adventure Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, in which he is stated to have been Open Lord during 1475 DR (p. 88).
Appearances[]
Comics
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 66. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 B. Dave Walters (February 2019). “A Darkened Wish 1”. A Darkened Wish #1 (IDW Publishing) (1)..
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 B. Dave Walters (July 2019). “A Darkened Wish 2”. A Darkened Wish #1 (IDW Publishing) (1)..
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 55. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ Matt Sernett, Erik Scott de Bie, Ari Marmell (August 2011). Neverwinter Campaign Setting. Edited by Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 87. ISBN 0-7869-5814-6.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 B. Dave Walters (October 2019). “A Darkened Wish 3”. A Darkened Wish #3 (IDW Publishing) (3)..
- ↑ B. Dave Walters (January 2020). “A Darkened Wish 4”. A Darkened Wish #4 (IDW Publishing) (4)..