Skullport

History:

Built on an ancient Netherese ruin, within an immense subterranean cavern, the shadowy port is a dark reflection of the City of Splendors above. Skullport fills an immense cavern. Its structure is built in three tiers, interconnected by narrow catwalks and rickety scaffolding. Creaking houses built on stilts are haphazardly built in a dense network that form a near shantytown.  A stone bridge connects the southern end of the town to an island around which flows the sluggish River Sargauth. The island is called Skull Island, and atop this island stands a fortress garrisoned by minions of the beholder crime lord known as Xanathar.

The Port of Shadow has been held, claimed, or occupied over the years by duergar, drow, dwarves, crazed wizards, slavers, and pirates. Currently, the town is under the sway of Xanathar, who has turned the forlorn settlement into a haven for its criminal organization. Few folk have permanent residences in the Port of Shadow, and most of the local businesses are presently shut down. The people who do remain in business pay Xanathar for protection. Adventurers can find food, drink, shelter, and supplies here—or perhaps a quick death, if they antagonize the locals.

Physical Makeup: Skullport, also known as the Port of Shadows, is a subterranean city located far below Waterdeep, within the 3rd level of Undermountain. While rumors of this subterranean domain of villainy persist throughout the surface world, few of its inhabitants have any knowledge of any points of entry.

Skullport is connected to level 3 of Undermountain by the underground River Sargauth and by five meandering subterranean passageways: Beggar’s Rest Pass, Shadow Pass, Steamfall Pass, Taglath’s Gap, and Whisperhaunt Pass. Skullport can be reached by traveling through a series of natural caverns and magical locks that stretch from the South Sea Caves on Waterdeep’s shore to the River Sargauth far below Mount Waterdeep. Crashing waves and jagged rocks make the outermost of these flooded caves dangerous to navigate. Dozens of old ships lie wrecked within, their swollen hulks home to sea hags, merrows, and other aquatic creatures.