Locations in Skullport

Skullport is broken up into three districts: the Port (P), theTrade Lanes (T), and the Heart (H). Locations are also differentiated as either Lower (L), Central (C), or Upper (U).

As such, locations in Skullport begin with a combination of altitude and district, such as UH (Upper Heart) or LT (Lower Trade Lanes).

There are also four peripheral regions, known as Skull Island (SI), the Promenade of the Dark Maiden (PD), the Dungeons (DG), and the Xanathar's Lair. Finally, below the city lies the Sewers (SW).

The Port

Lower Port (LP)

Connected to Skull Island directly via New Murkspan Bridge, the Lower Port is undeniably the filthiest area of Skullport. It is occasionally known to flood with water from the Skull Pool, leaving a thick layer of muck on the ground.

Points of Interest

• Dead Man's Corner. Within this dilapidated shop, zombies made from humanoids' corpses can be purchased from the sea hag Olive Stillwater.
• Old Slave Market. A dismal, dreary space that peddles in sentient creatures.
• The Pierced Navel. A relatively new business that offers piercings and tattoos, run by a pair of rambunctious sisters.
• Thimblewine’s Pawnshop. A legacy establishment that buys and sells all manner of tools and curios.
• Old Fish Market. A largely-vacated old market where fish was once sold.
• The Troll’s Guffaw. This rustic theatre once ran all manner of entertainment but now mostly just puts on plays depicting the heroics of the Xanathar Guild.
• The Black Tankard. A small, filthy tavern that falls solidly under the domain of the Xanathar Guild.
• The Drowned Buoy. More flophouse than inn, the Buoy is a cheap place to rest one's head.
• Gyudd’s Distillery. A tall, three-story stone building that features a number of ales alcoholic beverages of varying quality.
• The Bruised Blade. This fighting arena is a good place for those with strong fists to make some quick coin.

Central Port (CP)

The highest area of the Port district, the cavern ceiling of the Central Portslopes diagonally up toward the east, and is home to a massive forest of stalactites that drip down an intermittent rain of collected water from the damp, humid air.

Points of Interest

• Piercer Peak
• The Bat's Roost
• Buttons, Boots, and Rags
• Crafty Carafe
• The Hull Harvester
• Enough to Hang
• The Keel Hall
  

Trade Lanes

Lower Trade Lanes (LT)

The midsection of Skullport’s ground level, the Lower Trade Lanes has its fair share of shops and services. It is somewhat less disgusting than the Lower Port, but the smell drifts over nonetheless.

Points of Interest

• The Mizzen Mast
• The Sea Chest
• The Tawdry Nymph
• The Boneyard
• Glowing Gumpfish
• Violet Iris Hideout
• Skull Square
  

Central Trade Lanes (CT)

Many of the longest bridges in Skullport span through this area, which extends from the Port to the Heart. More than a few buildings in this area are built into walls or stalagmites for additional stability.

Points of Interest

• The Poisoned Quill
• Lilanth's Librams
• Twoedge's Dumplings
• Delver's Folly
• The Lanternlight's
• Sargauth's Bounty
• Twinbeard's Traps
  

Upper Trade Lanes

The persistent gale blowing over from Whisperhaunt Pass is the defining trait of this area, and as a result, the smell of the Skull Pool below is somewhat muted by the persistent stream of fresh air coming through. Hanging high above is the Swingin’ Riggin’, a massive galleon connected to the cavern ceiling by heavy iron chains—how it got there, one can only speculate.

Protruding from the ceiling to the east of it is the Timekeeper, a massive water clock which no longer functions. A natural shelf provides sturdy support for buildings up here and as a result, this cavern has been mined out somewhat toward the north in the interest of more housing space.

Points of Interest

• Dumathoin's Jest
• The Overflowing Urn
• NIghtshade's Caress
• Clockwork Wonders
• The Swingin' Riggin'
• The Timekeeper

The Heart

Lower Heart (LH)

The Lower Heart is one of the more open areas of Skullport, though that doesn’t say much. Streets and alleyways have a little more breathing room here, though the tangled mass of criss-crossing walkways and rigging overhead dispels the illusion of freedom.

Points of Interest

• The Flagon and Dragon
• The Guts and Garters
• Dark Harvest Market
• The Feathered Rat
• Thaglar's Foundry
• The Sword and Sextant
• The Pointed Pipe
• Mama Rutterkin's
  

Central Heart (CH)

A web of tangled bridges and rigging defines this area, which is perhaps the least organized section of Skullport proper. Skulkers vie for space in this area; up off the ground and out of the muck, it is somewhat more sheltered from the smell of Skull Pool, and also somewhat protected from the dripping water above.

Points of Interest

• Dalagor's Fortress
• Lodge of the Beastlord
• The Cleaver's Edge
• Ambersmith
• Muse of Misery Hideout
• The Patch Job
  

Upper Heart (UH)

Not for the faint of heart or those fearful of heights, the Upper Heart is the highest region of Skullport and often the darkest. The most significant source of light in this area is the faint, violet glow of persistent faerie fire spells around the eyes of the Tanor’thal Refuge watching from high above.

Points of Interest

• The Worm's Gullet
• The Maedar's Widow
• The Wheel Hall
• The Tangled Winch
• The Tanor'Thal Refuge
  

Peripheral Regions

Skull Island (SI)

This island is dominated by a massive fortress that runs nearly to the edge ofthe landmass, surrounded by 20-foot high stone walls manned at all hours by agents of the Xanathar. Atop these walls are cannons that shoot alchemist's fire and ballistas, which keep the island safe from invaders.

The massive subterranean lake in which Skull Island sits is called the Skull Pool, and is the first part of Skullport most people see. The ceiling of the cavern is dome-shaped and 120 feet high at its peak. A massive, hollowed-out column rises from Skull Island all the way to the ceiling.

Points of Interest

• New Murkspan Bridge
• The Maw
• Parley Pool
• Visitor Registration & Armoury Requisition
• Tower of Seven Woes
• The Old Cave
  

The Promenade of the Dark Maiden (PD)

Adjacent to Skullport, a group of Eilistraee-worshipping drow (among otherraces) have built a church in a large cavern system. This cavern is something of a well-kept secret, shrouded in rumour and myth.

In Taglath’s Gap—a short, dead-ending tunnel on the north end of the Lower Heart—faint music can occasionally be heard echoing. Many people believe this is a result of the spirit of Taglath, a once-famous bard who inhabited Skullport and is now thought to haunt this passageway. In reality, this music echoes out from the Promenade of the Dark Maiden.

Hidden among the rocks of the Gap is a secret door carved with a tiny symbol of Eilistraee: a crescent moon with a sword running through it. Those who can open it can enter the Promenade. The area was once home to a cult of Ghaunaudaur-worshipping drow. Centuries ago, they were ousted by the Protectors of the Song, worshipers of the Dark Maiden who continue to occupy and guard the territory.

The Dungeon (DG)

This complex of cells runs from under the Port toward the Trade Lanes. The main entrance is through the pit in the Old Fish Market, where enforces of the Xanathar Guild throw undesirables.

TheUnknown

No one seems to know where it is, but it's got to exist.

Right?

The Sewers (SW)

The sewers of Skullport are an ancient construction, developed by the Netherese arcanists who lived in the cavern millennia ago. As such, it is quite functional to this day, though considerable work has been done on it by the various folk who have lived in Skullport since then—particularly the Melairkyn dwarves, whose craftsmanship was unrivalled.

Entry is easy to find via manholes—there are three or four in each ground-level district. The sewers are still quite functional, but also multilevelled and exceptionally labyrinthine. Trying to map them is an exercise in futility and getting lost results in trudging through dark, dirty water for an hour or more, potentially contracting a disease—or meeting with one of the sewer’s more capricious residents.