A – The Sapphire Sea: This vast body of fresh water, formerly known as Devlin’s Lake, was named the Sapphire Sea by King Keslin the 2nd less than a century ago. Almost 100 miles long and over 450 feet deep, this sea is fed by the runoff from the Frostgate Mountains. The sea is worked by a civilian fishing fleet from Highport, small fishing villages along the Greywall shoreline, and fishing villages along the Westrock shoreline. The fishing boats from both sides are competitive but generally cordial. This has not always been the case, and armed conflict has flared up between the two sides in generations past. Greywall has always emerged victorious due to the strategic advantage of having Highport straddling the riverine end of the sea, but generally the city allows the boats of Westrock to fish the waters for a small annual fee to avoid widescale privateering. Greywall has a fleet of a half dozen armed caravels that watch over the several hundred small dories and larger trawlers that ply the waters, discouraging piracy and intervening in the case of potentially deadly squabbles over lucrative fishing areas. During the winter months the entire sea freezes over, and the fishing communities are forced to ice fish and rely on the stockpiles of salted and smoked fish stored up during the rest of the year.

B – The Outer Harbor: This harbor is home to the merchant ships, fishing vessels, and Greywall naval ships that ply the Sapphire Sea. A half-elf harbormaster named Ardisia Geranae oversees the cargo and people using the harbor.

C – The Sea Gate: This 60-foot tall stone fort, built over a thousand years ago during the height of the Therosian Empire, straddles the mouth of the Kirdalin River. It is positioned to control access between the Sapphire Sea and the river. It houses the garrison of 180 city watch, with at least 80 of that number present at any given time. The exterior of the fortress is further defended by 12 gargoyles that remain dormant during times of peace but are enchanted to awaken when summoned by the Watch Commander, to whom they are bound to serve.

Three massive gates, sealed by iron portcullises, cut through the building and allow ships to pass from the Kirdalin River to the Sapphire Sea. The central and largest of the portals is known as [Poseidon’s] Gate. The smaller gates are known as Perthius Gate in honor of the King and Shieldfast Gate in honor of the Duke. Poseidon’s Gate is large enough for the largest carracks to pass through to access the Inner Harbor, but these ships would never venture further down river because of the many bridges that have inadequate clearance. Poseidon’s Gate is generally kept closed but is opened several times a day at allotted hours to allow boats to travel through (and pay the appropriate fee). The raising mechanism for the Shieldfast Gate is broken and has been ignored thus far because the effort to repair it exceeds the current need for a third gate. A rowboat with workers visits the gates once a day to clear away the flotsam and jetsam that has collected on the sea side of the gates.

The edifice was built with 15-foot thick blocks near the base and 5 to 10-foot blocks throughout that were magically bound together so that the entire structure is now a single block of granite and virtually impervious to siege machines. It has six stories and is primarily accessed via a drawbridge on the third floor. The crenellated roof contains ballistas and catapults designed to defend both the seaward and riverine sides. The only windows are third-story arrow slits.

D – Redjack Quay: A small and secluded stone wharf popular among smugglers for centuries. The quay is located on the Kirdalin River in the Gate Ward between the Sea Gate and the Inner Harbor. 

E – Kirdalin River: This river stretches 300 miles from the Sapphire Sea to the Gulf of Adasko. It ranges in width from 80 to 210 feet, with a depth between 18 and 30 feet. Gravel or dirt trails run along the length of the river to accommodate ox-drawn canal-boats.

F – The Inner Harbor: This smaller harbor is better protected from inclement weather on the Sapphire Sea but is mainly used by smaller ships that travel from Highport down the Kirdalin to points beyond.

G – The Laughing Goblin Inn: A three-story wood and stone inn located in the Gate Ward. The signpost in front of the inn features a programmed illusion of a red-nosed goblin who cavorts and performs obscene antics for the pedestrians that ignore it. The inn is owned by Litton Caldwell and his wife Maida, with the following staff: a bouncer, a cook, three barmaids, a scullery maid, and two housekeepers. Prices for food and lodging are slightly above average.

H – City Center: A 30-foot tall marble plinth in the center of this square is topped with a large statue of King Keslin Perthius the 4th. Climbing on or defacing the monument is, of course, illegal.

I – City Hall: A three-story stone building with an assembly hall on the first floor, council chamber and offices on the second floor, and administrative offices on the third. A pair of guards are always stationed at the entrance.

J – The Temple of Hermes: One of the few places of worship not located in the Temple Ward. This temple complex, adjacent to the main marketplace, contains its own market for high-end goods, meeting rooms to discuss business deals, and several banks. A large warehouse also holds goods in escrow while deals or money transfers are pending. High Priest Braask Fenglade is part cleric, part investment banker.

K – Marketplace: A sprawling market of wood and canvas stalls where vendors sell foodstuffs, housewares, textiles, tools, farm implements, and so forth. Any common item can be purchased here at regular prices. The market is open from an hour after sun-up to around dinner time. A couple members of the City Watch patrol this area day and night.

L – The Victory Gate: The main gate to the city, commemorating the return of Highport’s army after Ares’ victory over the Dark Plague from the Abyss.

M – The Rookeries: A large slum that gets its name from rooks, crows that like to build crowded, jumbled nests together in a treetop. This area of the city contains three and four-story stone buildings packed together, with additional wooden structures perched on the rooftops or stretching over the narrow streets and alleyways. Consequently, it’s possible to walk down the street from one end of the Rookeries to the other without ever seeing sunlight. The larger streets are crowded with illegal street vendors and the entire ward is teeming with the lowest-class inhabitants of the city, not to mention street gangs, pickpockets, doxies, urchins, and beggars. The City Watch only half-heartedly patrols this area but does maintain a presence on all the main routes in and out.

N – The Temple of Nyx: A two-story stone flophouse (economy inn) owned by Tidah Dryzu. The “temple” has a life-sized marble statue of its namesake minor goddess in the bar that is regularly desecrated by the patrons. The building is in poor condition and is frequented by lower-class clientele and prostitutes. Prices are cheap and the beer is surprisingly good, but the rooms are cramped and filthy. The flophouse is staffed by owner Tidah, a cook, serving wenches, and three bouncers who relish any opportunity to break up a barfight with extreme violence.

O – The Magic Palace: This two-story stone magic shop, which has no windows and looks like a fortified manor house, is owned by Pontius Rathmore. The owner is extremely paranoid of theft and has two dragonborn warriors in plate armor guarding the door, as well as a pseudodragon named Rikis that prowls around the rafters watching for shoplifting. The shop also makes use of arcane locks, magic mouths, and death symbols for additional protection. The Magic Palace is currently the only magic shop in Highport after the other two burned down under mysterious circumstances. 

P – The Dapper Explorer: A two-story stone general store owned by Gundo Bramblethorn and staffed by all halflings, including several veteran guards. This store stocks all typical equipment, including a large assortment of clothing. The most noteworthy aspect of this business is the large stock of gemstones and jewelry it has available for sale.

Q – Highport University: This centuries-old institution is a rarity outside of a capital city. The hundreds of students that attend here study arcana, astronomy, grammar, law, logic, mathematics, medicine philosophy, rhetoric, and theology. Chancellor Athemia Glynvaris is the half-sister of elf ambassador Aquilan Glynvaris.

R – Shieldfast Palace: An impressive fortified palace that contains the palace proper, well-tended gardens, a carriage house, and servants’ quarters. This is the residence of Duke Shieldfast when he is in residence in the city. Shieldfast Palace employees a staff of 20 servants along with 16 household guards. A castellan by the name of Beatrice Longwright runs the affairs of the palace in the absence of the Duke.

S – The Dragon’s Table Inn: A four-story inn located in the High Ward. Owned by Lady Lydia Thorngard with a staff of a bartender, two chefs, four servers, and four housekeepers. Food and lodging are expensive, but the food is exquisite and the accommodations are first rate. Attached to the inn is a large bathhouse (“The Dragon Baths”) with separate male and female baths, as well as unisex elven garden baths. The most common guests are merchants and upper-class travelers.

T – The Golden Gate: The eastern gate of the city, named for the gold found in Sorrow Mountain.

U – The Secret Grotto: This two-story stone building is built into the side of Sorrow Mountain in the High Ward. It is a general store owned by a mermaid named Indara Silverfin who also employs a pair of female aquatic elves. The back part of the building opens into a large water-filled grotto where Indra lives. While Indara is helping customers, she wears a magical harness with mechanical legs. This large store caters to adventurers and anyone requiring that sort of arms, armor, and gear. Prices are as found in the standard equipment lists, and more exotic items. Common magical potions are often in stock, and the store is happy to purchase any magical items brought in. 

V – Highport Catacombs: An ornate marble façade decorated with statues, columns, and friezes adorn these catacombs tunneled into the base of Sorrow Mountain. An iron gate (DC 15 lock) is kept open during daylight hours and locked at nightfall. A nearby stone cottage houses the four caretakers who tend the Catacombs and inter new “residents”. The narrow tunnels of the Catacombs are filled with gated crypts, sealed sepulchers, and open internment niches. During the daylight hours a dozen or more people can be found visiting this location at any given time. The catacombs are sprawling and would take several hours to thoroughly search. 

W – The Royal Armories: This complex of weapon and armorsmiths is overseen by Bergen Hammerlord and is the preeminent smithy in Highport. Over one hundred human and dwarf smiths labor here. Every imaginable type of arms and armor is available here at standard prices, including silvered and adamantium. There are also storerooms containing many thousands of suits of armor and weapons. It bears the “royal” name not because it is owned by the crown but is solely commissioned to produce the royal arsenal.

X – Sorrow Mountain: The southernmost peak of the Frostgate Mountains, Sorrow Mountain is riddled with old gold mine shafts and contains the Catacombs
as well as the secret tunnel dug by the dwarf grave robbers. The upper slopes of the mountain are extremely steep and sufficiently treacherous to discourage attackers from scaling the heights to access the city. A narrow staircase is carved up the cityside face and climbs to a lookout near the summit that is always manned by a pair of half-elf rangers.

Y – The Sapphire Gate: The gate that opens onto the coast of the Sapphire Sea.

Z – Elf Enclave: This small island oasis is home to a small colony of elven ex-patriots, as well as elvish and half-elf travelers, merchants, and diplomats. A grove of trees sits at the center of the enclave, surrounded by luxurious villas, workshops, and a fortified embassy. The Lord Ambassador from Elfhaven, Aquilan Glynvaris, is on good terms with most of the lords of Highport, including the Duke.