History of Shadowdale This article covers the history of Shadowdale . Originally Shadowdale ( then known as the " Land Under Shadow " ) was controlled by the drow , who constructed the original Twisted Tower to protect their underground routes in the area . The drow maintained a population of human s and other races on the surface , used as slaves . In the early 900s DR , the increasing human population in the area , made up of Dalesmen who had migrated from the other side of the Dragon Reach over several centuries , caused a conflict with the drow . In the face of a siege lasting around a year , Azmaer Dhuurniv , who was the drow marshall of the Twisted Tower at that time , oversaw a general retreat of the drow into the Underdark . Although the Tower was being supplied from beneath with food and water , a human slave poisoned the Tower ' s well , allowing the human attackers to easily overwhelm it . Azmaer is thought to have retreated into the Underdark . Ashaba . The first human ruler of Shadowdale was the water wizard Ashaba , who took power in 906 DR , and ruled until 940 DR . The Twisted Tower bore his name thereafter , along with the River Ashaba . Despite being old at the time of coming to power , he ruled for nearly forty years after the victory against the drow , and is said to have turned himself to water when he realised he was dying . Before leaving rule , he nominated one of his lieutenants as the new lord , and he was presented to Shadowdale ' s people . This formed the basis for the political system that continued to be used in Shadowdale . Joadath . In 1273 DR , Joadath became the Lord of Shadowdale . Joadath was agnostic and refused to accept the power of any deity . This culminated in the massacre of Tyr ists on Watcher ' s Knoll in 1297 DR . When a beast from the nether planes was summoned to Shadowdale by an unknown individual in 1300 DR , it killed Joadath and rampaged through the town , before being stopped by Aumry and Syluné Silverhand . Aumry Obarskyr . After his appointment as Lord of Shadowdale in 1300 DR , Aumry ruled peacefully over the dale with his wife Syluné Silverhand . The peace in the dale encouraged attacks and sabotage from the Zhentarim , and led to Aumry ' s assassination in 1339 DR . The assassins responsible for Aumry ' s death were captured and killed by Jyordhan . Jyordhan . Jyordhan presented himself to the people of Shadowdale as their new lord and was accepted as such , but was masking his true identity as a Zhentarim agent . He moved the seat of power in Shadowdale from the Twisted Tower of Ashaba to Castle Krag , and when the people rebelled , peacekeeping forces from Zhentil Keep were brought in . Although Syluné knew the true identity of Jyordhan , she was unwilling to move against him , instead focusing her efforts on keeping the dale healthy . When Jyordhan ambushed Khelben " Blackstaff " Arunsun as he was leaving Shadowdale in 1345 DR , Khelben killed him , putting an end to his rule . The official story was that Jyordhan had gone to visit Khelben in Waterdeep , and whilst there , had fallen ill and died . Although Jyordhan had nominated Lyran Nanther of Melvaunt as his successor , the " Pendant of Ashaba " had fallen into Khelben ' s hands , so Lyran had no claim to the lordship . Syluné . After Jyordhan ' s death in 1345 DR , Syluné was unofficially the ruler of Shadowdale , and she was aided in its defence by the adventuring company Mane ' s Band , although she was not the lord . This led to the period being dubbed " the Time of No Lords " , with Syluné opting not to occupy the Twisted Tower and assume official leadership . The period lasted until 1348 DR . Doust Sulwood . When Florin Falconhand was invited to take up the lordship by Khelben " Blackstaff " Arunsun in 1348 DR , he declined the honour and deferred it to his fellow Knight of Myth Drannor , Doust Sulwood instead . Doust took up occupancy of the Twisted Tower , reinstated some democratic ideals dating back to Ashaba ' s time , such as the Lord ' s Court , and was generally loved by the inhabitants of the dale . During his time as ruler , he and the Knights of Myth Drannor thwarted incursions by Lyran Nanther , who had previously been denied lordship . Doust ruled until 1353 DR , by which time he had grown tired of court life and preferred instead to return to adventuring . He passed on the lordship and the " Pendant of Ashaba " to Mourngrym Amcathra . Mourngrym Amcathra . Mourngrym , originally from a Waterdhavian noble family , ruled until 1375 DR , and led the dale against Lyran Nanther in 1357 DR in the first battle of Shadowdale , and the Bane - led Zhentil Keep army in 1358 DR in the second battle of Shadowdale .