Also known as the City of Skilled Hands or the Jewel of the North, Neverwinter is thriving metropolis sitting on the northwestern Sword Coast of Faerûn. The city was greatly damaged in 1451 DR, when Mount Hotenow, a nearby volcano, erupted, devastating Neverwinter and killing many thousands, including the Alagondar royal family. After the destruction, the few survivors and refugees from nearby lands settled in the ruins.
A few years later, Lord Dagult Neverember, claiming himself to be a descendant of Neverwinter's former rulers and thus the rightful 'Lord Protector' of Neverwinter, invested a great deal of his own personal fortune to rebuild the city infrastructure, buy the interest of merchants, and even ensuring Neverwintan refugees had enough food and gold in hand. By the late years of the 1480s, Neverember's efforts to rebuild the city proved successful, and Neverwinter had slowly being restored as a center of civilization in the Sword Coast North.
Neverwinter is a friendly city of craftsmen, who trade extensively via the great merchants of Waterdeep; their water-clocks and multi-hued lamps can be found throughout the Realms. Neverwinter gained its name from the skill of its gardeners, who contrived to keep flowers blooming throughout the months of snow -- a practice they continue with pride. ”
— Elminster Aumar
Neverwinter is usually described as being "laid out roughly in the shape of an eye," with the Neverwinter River marking a long axis roughly east and west of its waters. One end of the city is the harbor, and the other end is the Upland Rise, and beyond that the Neverwinter Wood. Four gates are located in its walls, two in the northwestern and the northeastern corners, and two in the southwestern and southeastern corners.
Among its most prominent vistas are its three spectacular, intricately carved bridges: the Dolphin, the Winged Wyvern and the Sleeping Dragon, considered the city's emblems by its inhabitants. Under these, the waters of the Neverwinter River cascades over small, gentle waterfalls as they course into the city's bustling harbor. Its lamps of multi-colored glass, its precision water clocks and exquisite jewelry, and its magnificent gardens (the phrase "The City of Skilled Hands" refers to Neverwinter's accomplished gardeners) ensures the warm winters are colourful and the summers are rich with fresh fruit.
The city is full of beautiful and ingeniously designed buildings, many of which are famous in their own right, such as the House of Knowledge, Neverwinter's tall and many-windowed temple of Oghma; the Hall of Justice, the temple of Tyr and the public office for the rulers of the city; and Castle Never, the castle of the ruler of Neverwinter. In addition, the reputations of such unique taverns as the Moonstone Mask, the Shining Serpent Inn, and the Fallen Tower reach far beyond the city's walls and further add to the city's distinction.
Defenses
As of 1479 DR, the army of the city, known as the Neverwinter Guard,was composed mostly by the Mintarn mercenaries hired by Lord Neverember, and a few independent militia forces assembled by the citizens also helped to protect the city in times of need. Lord Neverember also hired adventuring bands to deal with threats to the city that the Mintarn mercenaries could not handle.
With the city rebuilding in the late years of the 1480s DR, many of the Sons of Alagondar volunteered themselves to serve in the Neverwinter Guard, making Lord Neverember to depend less on the services of the mercenaries. Lord Neverember still hired adventurers and mercenaries to help to protect Neverwinter and train the local troops rather than to accept the help of the armies of the Masked Lords of Waterdeep, who he felt had betrayed him.
Society
As of 1370 DR, Neverwinter was a cosmopolitan and cultured city, and even merchants from Amn and Calimshan, who had a poor opinion about the cities of the North, considered Neverwinter to be a civilized place. The Neverwintans avoided conflict and controversy, and were considered to be a quiet, mannered, literate, efficient, and hard-working folk, who had great respect for deadlines, as well as for the property and happiness of others. Amid all the weird-following tolerance and variety in the city, there was a great respect for peacefulness, law, and order.
After the foundation of the Alagondar royal family in the late years of the 14th century DR, the Neverwintans became a very patriotic people, proud of their leaders and their city.
After the destruction of the city in 1451 DR, the Neverwintans showed a new facet: stubbornness and determination. Many survivors remained in the city, and ever since have demonstrated the resolution to rebuild Neverwinter to its former glory and to defend her from many dangers, both mortal and extraplanar alike
Religion
The main faiths in Neverwinter in the 14th century were those of Helm, Oghma and Tyr. The temples of the Hall of Justice and House of Knowledge served to cater the faithful of Tyr and Oghma, while the faithful of Helm congregated in nearby Helm's Hold.
With the deaths of Helm and Tyr in the years before the Spellplague, their faiths were replaced by those of Torm and his subordinate deity Bahamut, as well as the faith of Selûne, as her followers wanted to bring hope to the peoples of Neverwinter. By 1479 DR, the faith of Asmodeus had become popular as well, and the ashmadai had great influence in the city's politics. Kelemvor's faithful had also a strong presence in the city since before 1479 DR, and members of this faith were focused on cleansing Neverdeath of undead and other evil forces.
The Neverwintans never stopped to revere Tyr even after his death, and when the god returned to life after the Second Sundering, his faith was quickly accepted again in Neverwinter, and became as popular as it was before.
In the late years of the 15th century, as Neverwinter slowly restore itself into a cosmopolitan city, temples of many faiths began to become pretty common in all districts of the city.
Trade and Business
Neverwinter's true assets are its importance as a center of craftwork, learning, and magical innovation.Merchants and crafters usually practice their works in buildings dedicated for such tasks. Street vendors are rarely seen in Neverwinter.
Neverwinter is a city full of opportunities.
As word spread that Neverwinter was being restored, merchants from both the North and the southern lands became interested in trading with the city once again. Likewise, Lord Neverember began to work to forge a trading alliance with the restored Gauntlgrym, in the hopes of increasing the prosperity of both cities, while ensuring his advantage over the nobles and merchants from Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate.
Without guilds to restrict trade or construction, those who want to start a business in Neverwinter can simply do so, and those traders who deal with basic products, such as foodstuff, can become wealthy just by selling their goods in the city. Likewise, there is demand for many jobs, and those who want to offer their services either as workers or as apprentices have plenty of options despite the high competition.