Athkatla

Society
Population

122,000 in 1375 DR

Humans 90%
Other 10%
Religions: Waukeen (dominant), Helm, Milil, Selûne, Lathander, Cyric

Politics
Oligarchy
Ruler: Council of Six, Shadow Thieves

Athkatla, also known as the City of Coin, was the oldest settlement and capital of the mercantile nation
of Amn. It was one of the wealthiest countries in all of Faerûn, where nearly every aspect of life revolved
around money and commerce.[3] The concept of affluence was so well-connected with Athkatla there were
rumors in foreign lands that the city's streets were paved with gold.
Contents
Description
The streets of Athkatla were well lit in the evenings, thanks to the massive, halfling-sized street oil lamps
known as "storm-lanterns". They were kept aflame by patrols of six civil servants armed with double-hooked
metal poles and vats of oil.[4]
Society
The City of Coin was abuzz with peddlers and hustlers, hard-haggling merchants who were as competitive as
they were ruthless in their pursuit of coin. The city offered a stark contrast between those who held power,
i.e. money, and those who did not. Organizations that ran the city's economy, such as the oppressive Cowled
Wizards, the enigmatic Shadow Thieves guild or obscenely wealthy mercantile houses could act with
complete authority and near impunity. For the weak and the poor in the slums of the River District,[5] life in
the city was overwhelming affair where danger loomed at nearly every turn.[3]
Decadence and overindulgence was a common pass-time for the wealthier of Athkatla's citizens, especially
those living in the Gem District. When someone eat and drank too much in a night of revelry, or after seafood
that had expired, they would engage in "straking" or the forceful emptying of their stomach.[6]
Inhabitants
Organizations
 Cowled Wizards
 Shadow thief’s of Amn
Families
Main article: Families of Amn
High houses
 Alibakkar
 Dannihyr
 Nashivaar
 Ophal
  Selemchant
Merchant families
 Chainstone
 Crimmor
 Hardsharn
Laws
Just about anything was acceptable in Athkatla and actions that would be illegal or immoral in other lands
were tolerated. The law permitted nearly anything including lewdness and slavery.
Minor laws could be broken, so long as the corresponding fine was paid, which often occurred before the
offense. Thieves within the city operated under written contracts more than anywhere else in Faerûn.
Magic
The practice or use of arcane magic was explicitly illegal within the city of Athkatla,[2] a ban which dated back
to a royal decree by the young King Dhanar the late 13th century DR. Spellcasting
by wizards or sorcerers were limited to a select few who were licensed by the High Houses of Amn, or
their magical enforcement agency, the Cowled Wizards, who acted as little more than mercenaries and spies
for House Selemchant.[2]
Notable Locations
All of the following locations have a grid address so that they can be found in the accompanying map of
Athkatla, circa 1370 DR.

A map of Athkatla in 1370 DR. Hovering over the map will reveal named locations. Clicking will link to the
article for that location.

City gates
The city had six outer gates, that, save for the Sparandar, required a toll of "any one coin" as a fee to pass
through. Typically a fandar was given to the toll-taker but if any unrecognizable currency was used, they
would demand a coin of silver or gold.
Clockwise from the north the gates were:
 Alandamer's Gate (B1): Led north out of the Wave District.
 Meirtyn Gate (F2): Opened eastward on the north bank of the Alandor River.
 Heroes' Gate (F4): Also opened eastward, however on the southern bank from the Guards District.
 Sparandar Gate (E7): Led southbound out of the Grave District.
 Julkoon Gate (D6): Located a few blocks south from Waukeen's Promenade in the Center District.
 Oloemandur Gate (B7)
The Sea-Gates (A4) allowed for ships to enter the city's harbor from the Sea of Swords and the Chain-Gate
(F3) granted access down the Alandor River.

The Slums (Bridge + River)

Bridge District
The narrow, winding streets south of Athkatla's bridge (E4) was home to the city's many poor laborers, who
lived lives a mere step above those within the River District. It was full of small, shoddy shops selling illicit
goods and businesses that served the great number of caravans that entered Athkatla's walls.[5]

River District
Home to the slums of Athkatla, the river district was home to the city's poorest and most destitute citizens.
The mean streets near the Alandor river stunk of trash, which was shipped out of the docks by means of
barge.[5]
Taverns
 Copper Coronet: A dangerous and seedy dive whose regulars included smugglers, pirates and other
for-hire mercenaries. Owner: Hendack, an ex-slave and gladiator, he kills the former owner and take
the Copper for himself.
 Redemption of the pure: You can find a Temple of Ilmater perched upon the upper level from
Copper. The place is guarded by a lone priest called Alastor, the pure (LG hm P 11º).

Center District
Nestled in the center of the city on the southern bank of the Alandor River,[9] the heart of Athkatla's
mercantile class[5] housed a sprawling arcane with many of the city's upper-class taverns, inns, and
festhalls.[4]
Landmarks
 Delosar's Inn (C6): This inn and tavern was frequented by city guards.[12]
 Sea's Bounty Tavern (D5): An old inn, tavern, and festhall.[10]
 Silverale Hall (D6): This inn, tavern, and festhall was one of the oldest in the whole city.[12]
 Waukeen's Promenade (C6): One of the most—if not the single-most—recognizable landmarks of the
city,[4]this open air market stadium housed some of its greatest guilds and merchant houses. Within
its shops guests could purchase any item that was found above-ground, and some from below, for a
price.
 The Den of the Seven Valeys: New, clean, great establishment that caters for adventurers and
outsiders. The name leaves some clients confused as there are no seven valleys in the area. Usually
the questioning is received with a jocular smile: "Well, but it brought you here, did not it?"
Gem District
Home to the "new money" families within the city, who constantly competed with their contemporaries with
ostentatious displays of the excesses of wealth.[5][14] If the streets of Athkatla were paved with gold, they
were surely found in the Gem district.[5]
Landmarks
 Dancing Dolphins House: This "open mansion", owned by Albaerlus Gudelmar, was often used to host
Athkaltan "shieldrings", or gatherings of wealthy merchant families[15]
 Flamethrower Fountain: This common meeting place in the west section of the district was frequented
by perfume peddlers[16]
 Shadowgates House: A private club that catered exclusively to wealthy and noble-born Athkatlan
women[16]
Shops
 Blevynsoar House: The proprietor of gem store, Jared Blevyn,[17] dealt in highly-detailed maps of his
travels throughout Faerûn[18]
 Diamond Dragon: The most expensive jewelry shop within the city of Athkatla[19]
 Brightness of the Stars of Belerofost: One of the few magical item shops within the city. Also sells
several other equipments.
Taverns
 Adamantine Mug: This surprisingly reasonable tavern served a club of sorts for the district's
merchants, offering discreet and superb service[21]

Grave District
Within the graveyard of the city, which was connected to the other districts via the Cold Dolor,[4] were ornate
monuments and mausoleums erected in reverence to the Amnian dead. Although it was heavily patrolled by
city guards, the district was often used for discreet meetings and rendezvous at night.[4]
 The Gravekeeper: There’s one man that lives on Graveyard and is name is Crowley. He’s take care of
mausoleuns and crypts from city. At dawn, some servants help him to clean the place, but in the
afternoon and night only him walks among the dead. He knows a lot of things about the dead’s buried
there (including the de’Arnise history).
Guards District
The quarter of Athkatla catered to the city's mercenaries and adventures. The adventuring lifestyle was
looked down upon in the city, and were not often commonly found in other areas of the city.[5]
Taverns and festhalls
 Five Flagons Inn: There are three floors in the inn – the ground floor is the main bar, the rooms are on
the top floor, and in the basement there’s Five Flagons Theatre. Owners are Samuel and Thalia
Thunderburp.
Scepter District
The most exclusive section of the city was home to the administrative office of the Council of Six and
contained the sprawling estates of the most influential Amnian aristocracy such as the Chainstone and
the Hardsharn families.[4]
Landmarks
 Cloakspell tower[4]
 Council House[4]
Temple District
Previously the hub of arcane societies within the city, this quadrant has changed to encompass the business
offices and homes of many wealthy merchants, as well as a number of holy sites and inns that catered to
pilgrims from across Faerûn.[5]
Landmarks
 Temple of Vigilant Shield: The temple of Helm, also known as "Vigilant Shield", is one of the main
deity’s worshiped in Atkatla. The leader of congregation is the High Watcher Oisig and he’s served by
8 priests.
 Dome of the Rose: An elegantly designed monastery devoted to the deity Lathander
 Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart: Gods Tyr, Torm and Helm are worshipped in here. It’s an
order for paladins and good clerics.

Shops
 Brundith Fine Furnishings: This shop specialized in replica furniture with discreet hiding places.
 Pride of Athkatla: An enclosed market where traveling merchants could hire vendors within the city to
sell their goods[26]
 Silkstone Fashions: A tailor's shop that offered quite fashionable accessories[25]
 Temple Bell: This shop specialized in the sale of religious texts, priestly vestments, holy symbols and
other divine accessories[25]
Residences
 House of "The Lady of Masks": Lady Bellasdreia sold perfume and beauty masks from her home.
Taverns and festhalls
 Harfin Draether: An expansive tavern that was renowned for its hearty and delicious fare of foods.
Trades District
Home to the great many independent merchants lived and operated out of Athkatla.
Landmarks
 Dunstul's pump: This water pump was a popular gathering place
Taverns
 Black Frog: The tavern of choice for local citizens
Wave District
A region of the city that housed a number of seafaring business such as cartographers, shipwrights and other
nautical craftspeople. Due to its proximity to the Temple District it is home to a fair number of scribes
and sages.[3]
Landmarks
 Great Griffin: This massive, seven-ton (6.5 Mg) bell was used to warn ships docking in the harbor during
storms[5]
Temples
 Moonhall: A well-recognized temple of Selûne[3]

History
The city was founded around 100 DR by the Shoon Imperium along with Murann and Crimmor with
mostly Calishite immigrants,[29] in what was then known as "the emirate of Amin". The Empire fell and
in 460 DR, Amn became an independent nation with the city of Esmeltaran as its capital city (despite Athkatla
being the oldest and most established city).[30]
The nation was blessed with peace and prosperity for over 700 years, a period during which the rulers of
Amn initiated trade with the far north. Money became the center of every good Amnian citizen's world, and
the nation's taste for accumulating wealth corrupted many of the mercantile classes.[citation needed]
Trade Wars
Things got worse from 1238 DR forward as every three or four decades saw a trade war erupt that would last
for two or three years at a stretch. The worst one came in 1333 DR when all trade in or out of Amn was
stopped. A young merchant from Athkatla named Thayze Selemchant had just inherited a rich spice-
importing business and the most affluent trading house in the city. He refused to allow this trade war to
squash the wealth and power he would inevitably gain from his inheritance, so he personally went out and
"persuaded" (using his intelligence, charisma, secret powers of magic and the third largest personal fortune
in the country) five other Amnian merchant house leaders into forming a new government that wouldn't be
so susceptible to these trade wars. The attempt succeeded and peace reigned once more (though only with
a compact of mutual nonaggression with the Shadow Thieves). The new "Council of Six" was based in Athkatla
and the city became Amn's new capital and busiest trade port on the Sword Coast.[citation needed]
In the late 14th century DR as the last free port in Amn, Athkatla became the hub for nearly all the trade
from Maztica although contact with Maztica ended when the entire continent was transported
to Abeir during the Spellplague in 1385 DR.[2]