Luskan Luskan , also known as the City of Sails , was a port city at the mouth of the River Mirar on the Sword Coast North . Luskan , despite the presence of the Ten Towns is considered by many to be civilization ' s farthest reach . Although once a bustling city , in the days prior to the Spellplague , the city would suffer greatly at the hands of Arklem Greeth . The resulting disaster would allow the Spellplague to nearly decimate the city , with it having only a fraction of its former populace . Geography . As of 1370 DR , the city was split into northern and southern halves by the River Mirar , and these were connected by the bridges Dalath ' s Span , Harbor Cross , and the Upstream Span . Other than the Host Tower of the Arcane , the city was dominated by two - and three - story buildings . Two inhabited islands sat in the mouth of the river : the island upon which lay the Host Tower of the Arcane ( connected to both sides of the river by bridges ) and Closeguard Island , which housed Ship Kurth ( connected to the southern bank by a bridge ) . Northern bank . The northern section was walled and was almost entirely made up of warehouses . The Mirabar District ( also known as the Mirabar Shield ) was a fortified compound operated by the merchants of Mirabar , and it contained the Throat , the city ' s heavily guarded main water tower , which was situated in a grazing area for sheep . The " Red Dragon Trading Post " , Luskan ' s most successful overland trading company as of 1370 DR ( but no longer in operation in 1483 DR ) , was situated on the northern bank , as was the " North Gate " , the portal between the northern and southern banks . The docks on the northern bank were on the sea coast ( western part of the city ) and consisted of Whitesails Harbor , used exclusively for the Luskan navy , and the unprotected Open Shore , which was situated outside the city walls and was the only place foreign shipping could dock . Southern bank . As of 1370 DR , the southern bank consisted of a heavily fortified inner section surrounded by caravan compounds . This area was home to the majority of residents and shops . The southern wall was semicircular , with over a dozen towers . The two towers flanking the " South Gate " were named the " Twin Teeth " . The southern bank also housed stables , the Captains ' and High Captains ' Courts , the Market and the Prisoners ' Carnival , and the town ' s original harbor , Dragon Beach , a lawless place where even soldiers feared to tread History . Pre - Spellplague . Built on the ruins of the ancient and magical orc ish city of Illusk , Luskan was a port town frequented by pirates , thieves and other disreputable folk interested in money . Although life within its walls was dangerous , Luskan was a very lucrative city . Pirates brought in their goods to be sold to the black market , northern traders frequented the place as a rest stop on their way to the Ten Towns during the warmer months , ready to buy exotic scrimshaw ornaments , several taverns traded in ale and other spirits , the drugs and slave trades were rife ( although obviously sublimated ) and information brokers and prostitutes plied their trade during the night - time . There was a period in Luskan ' s history during which dwarves from Mirabar would paint Luskan sheep different colours in acts of defiance , but as of 1370 DR this practice had ended after savage reprisals from the Luskanites . Luskan had a history of waging war against lesser naval powers , and defeated Ruathym ( not for the first time ) in 1361 DR . It withdrew when faced with war against the Lords ' Alliance . Luskan has previously been defeated by Gundarlun , Lantan , Mintarn , Orlumbor and Tuern . The conflict against Lantan was disastrous enough that inhabitants of Luskan did not even acknowledge its happening . Inland , Luskan would attack Mirabar and the tribes of Uthgardt in order to keep them submissive . In the autumn of 1376 DR Luskan was attacked by an army of mercenaries led by Lord Brambleberry of Waterdeep and aided by the famous Captain Deudermont . The attack destroyed the Hosttower and the grateful populace installed Deudermont as their governor . Although he tried to rebuild as many homes as possible before winter set in , supplies were scarce and most food came via Ship Rethnor in the form of a strange tangy meat and edible fungus . People were being murdered every day for this food and those who weren ' t prepared to kill for it , starved . When supplies from Waterdeep were sent to aid Deudermont ' s new city the land caravans were attacked by bandits paid for by Ship Rethnor and the fleet of trading ships that was supposed to dock was attacked by Arklem Greeth , who had ( unknown to all ) survived the Hosttower ' s destruction . Barely any of the supplies arrived and then Kensidan had Suljack murdered , which sparked off a street war among the hungry masses and guards who had been bribed by Ships Rethnor and Kurth . At the same time Arklem Greeth attacked " Sea Sprite " . When Deudermont ' s corpse was found , it was all over . The survivors fled the city , leaving the four remaining captains to rule over the place , though Kensidan and Kurth would dominate Baram and Taerl . Luskan would become a free port , a place of trade where absolutely no questions would ever be asked . Unknown to most , much of the resources and intelligence that led to this outcome were provided by Bregan D ' aerthe who , once more led by Jarlaxle , wanted to share in the profits the free port would hopefully produce . Post - Spellplague . In the years after the Spellplague , Luskan fell into ruin . Over the next century , the rulership of the city changed from hand to claw to hand so many times that it would be nigh - impossible to document them in any kind of detail . The result was a mockery of a true city . Most buildings were ruined and murderers and demon - worshipers roamed the streets freely , plying their trade in broad daylight . Wretched tribes of goblin s and kobold s skulked in the shadows and the fetid bog that was once the estuary of the River Mirar was infested with aquatic horrors . The place became a haven for escaped criminals who , while escaping punishment for their crimes would likely die on the end of a psychopath ' s blade or a monster ' s claw . Bregan D ' aerthe continued their semi - secret domination of the city and its trading markets , associating with Ship Kurth . Indeed , one of their agents , Beniago , in guise of a human , became High Captain Kurth . In 1483 DR , the city and its bridges were in disrepair . The rickety Upstream Span was run by gangs that demanded passage for crossing . The Red Dragon Trading Post was no longer in operation , but Baliver ' s House of Horses still was , housing a pony for 3 silver coins per night . One - Eyed Jax was an inn and tavern on the northern bank overtly run by Ship Kurth . Outlook . Sammereza Sulphontis said that traders in Luskan " always wear furs , haughty expressions , and ready swords . " Luskanite traders were always alert and well - armed . The people of Luskan always tended to be tense and paranoid - - rightly so , because of the dangers of the tough city - - and they were extremely prejudiced against non - humans . In fact , few non - humans were allowed past the city gates . Government . As of 1372 DR , the city was officially ruled by the five High Captains , all former pirate lords and each of which led a faction called a " ship " named after its respective captain : Ship Taerl , Ship Baram , Ship Kurth , Ship Suljack and Ship Rethnor . The true power in the city resided with the Arcane Brotherhood . The High Captains encouraged the harassment of the trading routes of small cities such as Mirabar , Neverwinter , and Ruathym , and made sure to avoid conflict with Waterdeep and Amn because they were too powerful . The Arcane Brotherhood also encouraged local traders to treat travelers with disdain and suspicion , due to the possibility that they may be spies for their enemies , often sending low - level agents to follow strangers personally . Luskan was rumored to be allied with the Zhentarim but no evidence of this was ever presented . By 1480 DR there was no true functioning government and gangs ( including the Ships of the High Captains ) carved out territories within the city . Relationships . Although Luskan and Ruathym were often enemies , they had an alliance known as the Captains ' Alliance . Trade . Luskan was the gateway to the the lands northward and as such was a perfect market for ore from the Spine of the World and scrimshaw from the Ten Towns in Icewind Dale . Luskan traded silver from Mirabar and timber from Lurkwood . It also had a good business in dwarven - made weapons . As of 1370 DR , Luskan was the main shipyard for Mirabar . Trade with such places as Amn and Calimshan was carried out on the neutral ground offshore from Mintarn because it was not desirable to be associated with Luskan . As of 1370 DR , the city ' s market only allowed stalls by permit . These were only given to Luskan companies , and those outsiders who were closely watched . The main offerings at the market were fresh goods , firewood and trinkets . After Bregan D ' aerthe took over the city , they began trading Netherese artifacts to Menzoberranzan . Militia . As of 1370 DR , Luskan had an army of 300 spearmen and a navy of 19 dragonships . The dragonships were each armed with 70 archers . The North Gate was guarded by soldiers with spears and crossbows ; in the winter they wore fur caps . Piracy . While not at war , Luskan ships of war carried out independent piracy against shipping destined for other ports , with the aim of increasing trade with Luskan . While this contravened Luskan law as of 1370 DR , the pirates were actually supplied and directed by the high captains themselves . Notable locations . Host Tower of the Arcane . The Host Tower of the Arcane was the site of real power in the city until shortly before the Spellplague . In 1472 DR , Arklem Greeth presided over around 130 mages . While delegating laws to the High Captains , the arcanists within partook in their studies and bouts of infighting . The tower itself resembled a tree with with four " limbs " ( spires ) and exuded a magical aura that many residents found so uncomfortable that they purposely avoid looking at it . The Cutlass . The Cutlass was one of the busiest taverns in the city , a haven for the crews of the pirate ships that docked in the harbor as well as the escorts whom they spend their share of the booty on . The famed barbarian Wulfgar spent some time working here as a bouncer . It was located close to the lawless harbor , the Dragon Beach . Seven Sails Inn . The Seven Sails Inn was an establishment on Setting Sun Street where one could actually get some sleep . However , it was also a place closely watched by the Arcane Brotherhood . Prisoners ' Carnival . The Prisoners ' Carnival was Luskan ' s " court " of justice , although truly it was just a public spectacle of torture and execution . It was located in the most public part of town : the Market . Rat Alley . Rat Alley was narrow alley crowded by trash , such as crates , and lined on both sides by low storehouses . It was the perfect place for thieves in hiding . The Fried Rat restaurant - - which literally served rat meat - - was located here , although it had burned down by 1370 DR . Ruins of Illusk . Some of the ruins of the city that Luskan was built atop of still existed until quite recently , namely on the western side of the South Bank not far from the Host Tower of the Arcane . Most folks stayed away from the ruins as wandering undead , restless spirits of Illusk , were known to prey on the drunks and adventurers who got too close to the hidden passageways to the old city . Crumbled walls and moss - grown statues remained . In 1372 , Arklem Greeth used his lich powers to control the undead and set them to attacking residents of Luskan , effectively turning popular opinion against him . By 1474 DR , Bregan D ' aerthe had set up their secret headquarters in Illusk , with a path connecting Illusk with Closeguard Isle and Ship Kurth . One - Eyed Jax . One - Eyed Jax was a post - Spellplague inn and tavern on the northern bank named for Jarlaxle of Bregan D ' aerthe . It was overtly owned and protected by Ship Kurth ( which was in fact an arm of Bregan D ' aerthe ) . It was one of the most reliable inns for foreigners , although it was often populated with drow . In 1483 DR , the barkeep was young woman named Serena who had gray eyes and brown hair . She was " spoken for " by Jarlaxle . The Winter Palace . In the post - sundering era , the temple of Auril was a great complex adorned with soaring white spires . It had no roof , but was an open court filled with white stone pillars and arches . Its rituals seemed overtly cruel to those not of Auril ' s faith .