High Hope

### Buildings

Temples (Silver Flame, Sovereign Host, Onatar), shrines (Aureon, Boldrei, Kol Korran, The Undying Court), upscale lodging (5), average lodging (15), upscale food (15), average food (30), exotic trades (23), upscale trades (26), average trades (40), upscale services (40), average services (100), upscale residences (20), average residences (80)

### First Impression

Shrines and temples line the suspended streets of High Hope. Compared to the gaudy trappings of Sovereign Towers, High Hope appears plain and functional. However, the temples are large and well maintained, and throngs of devotees fill the streets.

### Location

Sharn, Middle Northedge

The most impressive temples in Sharn are found in the Sovereign Towers district of Middle Central. But the glory of these monuments is tarnished by the corruption within the churches themselves. High Hope lacks the gilt trappings of Sovereign Towers, but what it lacks in pomp it makes up for with faith and sincerity. In addition to the three primary temples and the three large shrines, there are a wide range of smaller monuments dedicated to other deities and to religious heroes and martyrs. The people who live in the district or who come to High Hope to pray are typically quiet and serious in their devotions. The councilor of Middle Northedge lives in High Hope. Doran Cantar (NG male human expert 4/adept 1, Community domain) comes from a long line of advocates and mediators. In addition to inheriting the wealth and talents of his family, Doran has a strong faith in the Sovereign Lady Boldrei; while he does not serve as a priest, he draws strength and minor mystical abilities from his faith. Doran often consults with Daca (See Daca's Watch, below).

## Locations

**Coldflame Keep:** While it looks more like a fortress than a place of worship, Coldflame Keep is the local church devoted to the Silver Flame. Established during the Purge as a garrison of the church templars, Coldflame Keep has slowly dwindled as the hierophants have drawn resources away to the temples of Sovereign Towers and Pinnacle. Today, the keep is a shadow of its former self. Flamebearer Mazin Tana (LG male human cleric 6) does his best to maintain the temple and serve the community. His acolytes consist of two teenagers and one crippled scribe. The garrison was built to house a hundred soldiers, but currently there are only eight templars in residence, most of whom are 2nd level warriors. While these soldiers are supposed to protect the district from supernatural threats,

Mazin believes that they have been chosen by the Archierophant to keep an eye on the aging priest—to make certain that Mazin does not try to interfere with the powers that control the Church in Sharn. While he is disillusioned with his superiors, Mazin still believes in the ideals of the Church and does his best to help those in need. If the party needs the aid of a true priest of the Silver Flame, Mazin is one of the few people who can help them.

**Daca’s Watch:** High Hope contains an unusual shrine to Boldrei, a monument that has come to be known as Daca’s Watch. A thick, 12-foot pillar of densewood, this structure was supposed to hold a statue of some priest or martyr, but funding for the project evaporated, and the pillar stood empty for many years. One day, a gnome named Daca climbed up to the top and sat down. From this high perch, she watched and studied the people, occasionally shouting advice to people who seemed troubled or distressed.

That was 120 years ago. Daca still sits on her post, watching over her neighbors. While she has no oracular powers, she is very familiar with the people of High Hope and has a great deal of common sense. The inhabitants of the district often come to her for advice or when a mediator is required, and she served as an emotional pillar of the community over the course of the Last War. While she has no religious training and does not profess to be a priestess of Boldrei, most of the locals believe that she has been touched by the goddess and consider her to be a holy woman. They are not alone in this; a handful of priests from other districts regularly visit High Hope to discuss events in Sharn with Daca.

**Shared Hope Shelter:** The temple of Boldrei in the High Hope district doubles as a homeless shelter and halfway house for any who may need a place to rest for the night. The temple was established after Daca's Watch, and under her guidance. Shared Hope is tended to by the dragonborn priest known as Ardal (LG male bronze dragonborn life cleric 3), who has dedicated his life to charity and helping those in need. Ardal served as a combat medic with Sergeant Germaine Vilroy during the Last War, and is on occasion called in by the Sharn Watch to assist with an investigation. Ardal is visited often by his close friend, a kenku named Maxim (NG female kenku artificer 3) who operates a traveling toy shop called *Maxim's Truisms and Trinkets: Knowledge is Power, a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words*.