Hulburg Hulburg was a small city on the northeastern shore of the Moonsea of north Faerûn . Description . Griffonwatch Keep , the ancestral home of the Hulmasters , sat on a rocky outcrop on the eastern edge of the city . The city of 1479 DR only occupied a fraction of the area of historical Hulburg and there were many vacant lots in the city . New construction was built on top of the foundations and basements of ruined buildings . In many cases , the old cellars remained intact and formed interconnected underground passages that could be used to travel underground through the city unnoticed . Geography . Hulburg sat on the northeastern shore of the Moonsea and had a fine natural harbor . The city was situated between two rocky headlands , Keldon Head and Easthead . By 1479 DR , Spellplague - changed land was common in the vicinity of Hulburg and unnatural green hills rose just to the east of the city . Additionally , a rock formation known as the Arches jutted into the Moonsea near Hulburg ' s harbor . The Winterspear river ran through the center of the city . Religion . The people of Hulburg were pragmatic and seemed to have little use for gods . There was a small sisterhood of Shar priestesses in the city and a temple of Cyric stood briefly during the reign of Maroth Marstel until it was destroyed by Geran Hulmaster and Sarth Khul Riizar . Climate . Hulburg had winters cold enough to freeze over the harbor several months of the year . Government . Hulburg was ruled by the Hulmaster family for many generations until 1479 DR when the Merchant Council , with the help of the elven shadow mage Rhovann engineered a coup against the Hulmasters , forcing them into exile in neighboring Thentia . The Hulmasters retook their city in 1480 DR and Natali Hulmaster was made harmach , while Kara Hulmaster was made regent until her niece grew up . Law and order . For many years , the Shieldsworn kept order in the town , but that changed when Sergen Hulmaster became the Keeper of Duties for the harmach ' s council and began giving out trade concessions . The trading companies who came to town formed a merchant council and hired mercenaries to police the town in the form of the Council Watch , though they more often ignored those who worked for — or in the best interests of — the members of the council . Since then , the Shieldsworn were only allowed to deal with high crimes , such as murder . Slaving was outlawed for several generations , as was the opening of barrows on the lands within several miles of the town , owing to the fear of awakening the undead and incurring the wrath of Aesperus , the King in Copper . History . Hulburg was founded in the Year of the Cold Claws , 940 DR by the Hulmaster clan , formerly of Mulmaster . The city was destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries . The city was first destroyed in a surprise attack by an army of giants in the Year of the Bloody Fields , 1150 DR , and was rebuilt shortly thereafter . In 1275 DR , Hulburg was devastated by hordes of orcs and ogres pouring out of Thar . During the Moonsea War of the Year of Thunder , 1306 DR , Hulburg was defeated by Mulmaster . An horde of orcs in alliance with forces of Zhentil Keep destroyed Hulburg in the Year of the Bright Blade , 1347 DR . The population plummeted , with only a few still living in the area , and mostly in the outlying areas . The city slowly repopulated and as of 1479 DR has several thousand inhabitants .