Calaunt Calaunt was a city - state in the Vast , and formerly the village of Vespermouth . It sat on the mouth of the mouth of the River Vesper on the eastern side of the Dragon Reach , at the end of Blaern ' s Trail from Thindilar and at the end of the Hlintar Ride from Hlintar . Language . The city ' s people spoke the Easting language , which was related to the Damaran language . People and things from here were called " Calauntan " . The terms " Calauntian " and " Calaunan " were both incorrect . History . The Time of Glorious Fools . Originally , this was the site of the village of Vespermouth , named for its location on the mouth of the River Vesper . Prior to Calaunt ' s rise as a city , it was held by a band of robber - barons , who constructed the Fortress of the Five Vultures , which was named for them . During the Vast ' s so - called Time of Glorious Fools ( from 649 DR onwards ) , Calaunt was among those harbors that served as landing spots for immigrants and rest stops for pirates . These harbors were developed as trade ports for the trading vessels came from Aglarond , Impiltur , Sembia , and Westgate . From its beginnings , Calaunt was a free city , but equally free for criminals and a haven for the lawless . Around the 1330s DR , Bellas ' s Band , an adventuring company , took over Calaunt , naming themselves Supreme Scepter and the Merchant Duke s . Modern history . The Time of Troubles . During the Time of Troubles , in the Year of Shadows , 1358 DR , refugees from Hlintar and other chaos - stricken areas fled to Calaunt , as well as Ravens Bluff , and Tantras . However , Calaunt suffered great strife of its own , producing its own displaced peoples . Looting mobs of refugees from Calaunt , together with those from Tantras and Mulmaster , wandered the Vast . Meanwhile , in the southern Vast , many wealthy merchants of Procampur and Tsurlagol fled to their country houses in the town of Maerstar . However , they were harassed by the mobs , who ' d also come through Maerstar , and some were killed . A superstitious but dependable Calauntan sea - captain gave Kelemvor , Midnight , and Adon passage on his galley as they left Tantras . Recent history . In Mirtul of the Year of the Shield , 1367 DR , drow were spotted lurking on the streets at night . Some thought they slaughtered the Ladies of the Green Shield near Calaunt . Meanwhile , unidentified ships — claimed to be pirates by some Dragon Reach merchants — docked at secure locations in the city , apparently uninhabited by day but becoming very busy at nights . By 1370 DR , Calaunt ' s aggressive competition and campaign of intimidation and assassination against the neighboring town of Ylraphon helped ensure that its rival was unable to compete . Ylraphon was left struggling and in decline . In the Year of the Tankard , 1370 DR , a band of adventurer s hired to defend the property of Tantran merchants in Calaunt came under attack from the mysterious " Calaunt gargoyle s " . The creatures ignored Calauntans , and gave rise to rumors of a connection to the Merchant Dukes . Once only the third - largest city , by 1372 DR , Calaunt had risen to become the largest city in the Vast , as well as the most influential . Post - Spellplague . Calaunt eventually united with Tantras and Ravens Bluff to form the nation of Vesperin by 1479 DR . However , it was no longer the largest city in the region , with Ravens Bluff claiming that title . Demographics . According to the tax rolls of 1358 DR , the city had a population of 86 , 012 people . This could rise to ~ 88 , 600 in the summer . This made it was the third - largest city of the Vast , after Ravens Bluff and Tantras . The mostly human population was of largely Chondathan and Damaran extraction . The resident population included some 6200 half - elves and around 3000 dwarves . In 1372 DR , Calaunt was listed with a population of 38 , 706 , making it the largest city in the Vast . In 1479 DR , Calaunt had a population of around 32 , 000 . Government & Politics . In the mid – 14th century DR , Calaunt was ruled by the self - styled Supreme Scepter Bellas Thanatar and the Merchant Duke s , named Pirithin Alagost , Iritar the Dark , Saleska Mintharl , Halabankh Ormsarr , Haldyn Stormkin , and Alascartha Vyperwood . They were all former adventurer s of Bellas ' s Band , and each of them grew increasingly wealthy and powerful by following him and supporting his rule . In all decisions on major policies , each duke had one vote while Bellas had two . Nevertheless , the Dukes wielded significant power . Under them were two barons , Uthorn and Wenszrin . Their regime was evil , oppressive , and kleptocratic . The Scepter and his Dukes often confiscated property and magic from visitors , allegedly " for the benefit of the city " , but mostly used it only for personal gain and use , to increase their power . They acquired a large collection of magical item s this way , and still sought more . In particular , Duke Iritar slew and robbed any wizard of even middling power who stayed long in Calaunt , to secure the dukes ' rule . Merchant Dukes still ruled Calaunt in 1479 DR . Relations . Calaunt was an independent city - state , one of the five so - called " sister cities " of the Vast , together with Procampur , Ravens Bluff , Tantras , and Tsurlagol . It grew from being the third largest in the Vast in the 1350s and 60s DR to being the largest and most influential among them by 1372 DR , and wealthier and more powerful than Ravens Bluff . Calaunt feared and despised Ravens Bluff , and Ravenians of any stripe were not welcome there . Calaunt competed aggressively with the neighboring town of Ylraphon . Its agents employed intimidation tactics and a few careful murders to make certain that Ylraphon could not grow to compete with Calaunt or take its trade . The town was left struggling and in decline by 1370 DR . Rumors circulated that the Merchant Dukes were in league with slavers preying on the city ' s beggars , with drow spotted wandering the streets , and the so - called " Calaunt gargoyles " . By 1479 DR , Calaunt had united with Ravens Bluff and Tantras in the nation of Vesperin . Law & Order . The authorities of Calaunt were ruthless with pirates and smugglers , punishing them swiftly and without mercy — unless , of course , they ' d made a deal with the local thieves ' guild , the Shadowcloaks . The Shadowcloaks had a tight control on all fencing and smuggling through Calaunt , and had their own lethal punishments for those who engaged in such in their territory without sanction or tithe . For these reasons , pirates rarely docked at Calaunt , let alone raided it . Those pirates who were accepted , however , traded freely with the Shadowcloaks . Pirates were more welcome in Calaunt than any other port on the Dragon Reach , and city defenders didn ' t care about pirates simply passing along the river . However . by 1479 DR , Calaunt had grown watchful of pirates and raiders , as it controlled trade on the River Vesper . Travellers to the city required a Writ of Trade , a legal document issued by the Merchant Dukes or by the Golden Lord s of Tantras , in order to pass with interference . Regardless , corruption remained rife , and money , influence , and blackmail could see dodgy deeds go unhindered . Defenses . The city maintained a standing army named " The Teeth of Calaunt " . They numbered six thousand soldiers , twenty battle - mages , and twenty warcaptains . Each battle - mage was an illusionist and an apprentice of Duke Halabankh Ormsarr . One battle - mage served each warcaptain , who each served Barons Uthorn and Wenszrin . The Teeth were poorly trained brawlers , their captains little better , though they were well equipped . They occasionally indulged in piracy in the Dragon Reach and hunting for orc s on land . Calaunt ' s authorities always hired mercenary armies , known as " lances " , to support the Teeth in times of war or orc assault . The barons commanded these units directly . The mercenaries did most of the actual fighting , while the Teeth conducted raids and ambushes and only entered the final stages of a battle to steal the victory . It also kept a small navy of six vessels , each with a crew of seventy - three . Their purpose was mainly to guard against pirates , though pirates were not actually unwelcome , provided they did not actually raid Calaunt . In fact , some pirate vessels accepted by the Shadowcloaks sometimes served an impromptu navy , usually against rival pirates . Calaunt was ringed by city walls , topped with guard towers . The gates were additionally guarded by a force of six stone golem s , commanded by the dukes . The docks , meanwhile , were barely defended and there were no fortifications of note by the mouth of the river , as the city trusted to its deals with pirates . Economy & Trade . Calaunt was one of the wealthiest cities in the Vast , wealthier than Ravens Bluff and second only to Procampur . It earned this position thanks to its monopoly on all legal trade in and out of the River Vesper ; the Shadowcloaks ' iron grip on fencing , piracy , and smuggling in the city ; and ruthless competition with Ylraphon . Nevertheless , it remained a place of squalor and poverty . The city ' s major industry was tanning , several large tanneries located there . Its primary products were leather and vellum , as well as wool and preserved meats , all produced from livestock taken from the surrounding farmlands . It had its great trade activity in the summer months , with less in winter . Culture & Society . Calaunt was a free city , but a haven for criminals , outcasts , and all things forgotten and forbidden . Under the oppressive rule of the Merchant Dukes , crime and corruption were rampant , and intrigue and rumor flowed . The nights were often rent by screams and battles , with bodies found on the streets come morning . The social structure at all levels was in a state of decay , and the whole city was described as evil , corrupt , tainted , and a septic wound . Folk regarded Calaunt as being thick with magic , but far from the wonders of other magical cities , its magic was of a cruel and oppressive , dark and strange kind . On the one hand were the stockpiles of magical items stolen by the Merchant Dukes , and on the other was the magic used to guard the city and intimidate the people , such as the stone golem s that guarded the gates . Furthermore , an undefined taint of unpleasant magic seemed to hang over the city . According to folk around the Dragon Reach , Calaunt was always a fey place , and tales held that evil magic was buried there , dormant but far from dead . The aura of corruption , decay , and fey magic infected the Calauntan mage s too . They had a deep understanding of deceptive and corrupting magic , perhaps the best in the Realms . Their illusion and phantasm spell s were harder to resist or disbelieve , especially if cast by an illusionist . But this taint could be felt by others . Domestic animals grew skittish at the approach of a Calauntan wizard , and finally cry out in alarm : dog s would bark or howl , horse s would snort or whinny , and so on . Even some human and humanoid races could feel uneasy in the presence of a Calauntan mage , and this grew more likely with the power of the mage . However , no mages of significant power operated openly in Calaunt , as it was feared that Duke Iritar the Dark robbed and murdered any who stayed there long . Among the rest , it was fashionable to advertise what little power they had , with glowing gem s and similar jewelry . To survive the dark streets , crime , and urban decay of their city , even Calauntan warriors had a knack for moving stealthily and lurking in the shadows . However , they carried the notoriety of Calaunt with them , and outsiders thought less of them for it . The city was also home to sizeable populations of dwarves and half - elves . They had an energetic but usually good - natured rivalry in both trade and social matters . Despite the poverty and slums , Calaunt had surprisingly few beggars . This was attributed by some to tales of monsters hunting the streets , or slavers conducting nighttime raids . Few people from outside Calaunt actually liked the city , though many had to visit on some business matter . Visitors were wise to be careful and avoid flashing around money or magic . This was largely due to the Supreme Scepter and the Merchant Dukes ' habit of confiscating magic for their own use . Most country folk of the Vast thought of Calaunt as outright evil , filled with thieves and ruled by arrogant fools . They had sayings for anyone behaving arrogantly , foolishly , recklessly , calling them a " Calaunt - head " or telling them to " go back to Calaunt " . Description . Calaunt was a medium - sized city , lying on both sides of the wide mouth of the River Vesper . The river delta was fertile ground , but in high summer it was a stinking and hazardous field of mud . Calauntan children played here , while clam - diggers and worm - catchers went to work . It was a squalid and miserable city , the most wretched around the Dragon Reach . The buildings were largely built of grey stone , unremarkable in appearance and mostly dilapidated . They huddled close together , with no parks or trees or other greenery and few landmarks of note to disrupt the monotony . Between these buildings were winding back streets and rotting slums . The streets were cobbled and filthy with mud , refuse , and dumped from the windows ; an inch of sewage could run through the streets in a good rain . The harbor water was polluted with waste from the tanneries , and the air was thick with the smell of them . The smell of Calaunt ' s tanneries could be detected for miles around , and , in the heat of summer , the foul reek swamped all other smells . Sailors of the Inner Sea claimed they could find the city by smell alone in even the thickest fog . Housing and slums made up much of the center of the city and the western parts by the docks , and were given over the working class and the impoverished . The few manor houses lined the inside of the city wall , with merchants and successful adventurers around the south , and the wealthy and upper - class types around the north and east . The greatest structure in the city was the Fortress of the Five Vultures , known locally as " the Sevensroost " . This big and old castle served as the headquarters of the Supreme Scepter and the Merchant Dukes , as well as a barracks and jail . The fortress was joined by a flying stone bridge to the Keep of the Scepter , where Bellas Thanatar dwelled . The dukes lived in palatial houses close to the fortress . The next biggest structure was actually Calaunt ' s largest tannery , which lay in the north of the city , where the city wall met the coast . Calauntans joked that they didn ' t need a guard tower there , as its very stench guarded their backs . Daily Calauntan life was dominated by two very different temples : Moonsilver House , the temple of Selûne , the Moonmaiden ; and the House of Scarlet Hooks , the temple of Loviatar , the Maiden of Pain . The double - spired House of Scarlet Hooks was one of the few notable landmarks in the city , as were the muffled screams . There was also a temple to Tymora , Lady Luck , The city also had shrines to Auril , the Frostmaiden ; Malar , the Beastlord ; Talos , the Storm Lord ; Tempus , Lord of Battles ; and Waukeen , the Merchant ' s Friend , though this last changed to Lliira the Joybringer after her disappearance . There was also an altar to Cyric , Prince of Lies , which was notoriously graffitied with the word " HERETIC " in permanent black letters by a priest of Xvim . There were many inn s and other establishments that offered accommodation to travelers . However , for security , most had plenty of rules , such as the forfeiting of weapon ry , heft deposits in case of damage , and restricted hours , which adventurer s tended to find rather limited . They were also not particularly welcoming to adventurers . A Thayan enclave was well established in Calaunt by 1372 DR . It was staffed by at least fifty Thay ans . Raven Express kept an office in Calaunt , allowing communication via carrier - raven to its offices in other cities . Organizations . Calaunt was dominated by the Shadowcloaks , a vast and mysterious thieves guild known for the baggy gray cloaks they wore , and led by the unknown Night Hood . They had a ruthlessly enforced monopoly on all fencing , piracy , and smuggling in the city , and many Calauntans believed they worked closely with the ruling Merchant Dukes , either working for them directly or in alliance . A Cult of the Dragon cell serving the black dragon Velvet of the Flooded Forest was thought to be based near either Calaunt or the town of Kurth . Legends & Rumors . Tales from around the Dragon Reach claimed that evil magic slept in Calaunt , and that it slept only lightly , making the city a strange , fell place . Local urban legends told of monstrous creatures lurking in the city , either in the sewers or in the River Vesper . One legend went that someone in the city kept captive a gigantic , flesh - eating lizard , larger than two bulls , hiding it in a cellar or cesspool by day and releasing it on dark nights to wander the streets and devour all it caught . Proponents of the legend pointed to the surprisingly low number of beggars in the city , as well as the huge bite - marks on the severed forelegs of horse s found in the gutters some mornings , and occasional sightings of shark - like or bulette - like fins plowing through the river muck . Meanwhile , according to the Inner Sea pirates , creatures that lurked in the Vesper could curse a sailor who crossed them with bad luck . The city was also apparently home to the mysterious " Calaunt gargoyles " . These creatures resembled gargoyle s with fangs and wings , but were bigger , faster , smarter , even more dangerous , and had the ability to teleport from here to there as they pleased . These creatures attacked adventurer s guarding Tantran merchants ' property in 1370 DR , but avoided Calauntans . This suggested that the Merchant Dukes either controlled the creatures or had some deal with them . Another explanation for the low beggar population was the slavers rumored to raid the city in the dark of night . It was said that the slavers dealt with the Merchant Dukes , and that those kidnapped disappeared into crowded slave ships were carried over the Inner Sea to Westgate or the Vilhon Reach . In 1367 DR , there were sightings of drow on the streets in the nighttime . There were rumors that the Merchants Dukes were in league with them too . Finally , legend had it that in forgotten locations in the city were valuable dwarven treasures . These supposedly dated back to the time of the dwarf kingdom of Roldilar , but were undiscovered by 1358 DR .