AT A GLANCE: Westgate is an important 
port/CARAVAN-city transfer POINT on 
the overland route that joins the Inner 
Sea and its lands to the west (Amn, 
Tethyr, and North, the Sword Coast) 
and the Far South.  It is a large, fortified 
city with a smattering of trading companies 
and smaller buildings set up 
beyond its walls.

ELMINSTER'S NOTES:  Westgate has fulfilled 
the role of trading link between 
Inner Sea (east) and Sword Coast (west) 
for as long as humankind have been in 
the Inner Sea AREA.  Once a simple stopover 
and stockyard similar to Scornubel 
or Iriaebor today, Westgate has 
gained in importance as the TRADE 
increased, diversifying into shipyards, 
wagonmakers, and sideline industries.  

Its local industries include pottery (of 
average to poor quality), scent-making 
(excellent fragrances) and wine-making 
(which varies wildly from superior to 
merely good). 

Westgate lies on the southern side of 
the long western armof the Sea of 
Fallen Stars, across from Cormyr.  It is 
independent of all kingdoms and outside 
authority, and considered an "open 
city," free to all manner of TRADE from all 
sides. 

The local nobility, the Lords of 
Westgate are the heads of rich merchant 
families.  All such families usually 
have long-standing traditions and 
feuds, CARAVAN companies and trading 
fleets on the Inner Sea, as well as other 
diverse business interests.  The families 
of Westgate and their lords and symbols 
are: 

Family: Athagdal
    Lord Urlyvl
        Family Trading badge: Russet weighing scales

Family: Dhostar
    Lord Luer
        Family Trading Badge: Tawny wagon wheel, topped by 3 stars

Family: Guldar
    Lord Dathguld
        Family Trading Badge: Black hawk


Family: Malavhan
    Lord Thamdros
        Family Trading Badge: Red sun

Family: Ssemm
    Lord Orgule
        Family Trading Badge: Ivory bird's claw

Family: Thalavar
    Lady Nettel (matriarchal widow)
        Family Trading badge: Green feather

Family: Thorsar
    Lord Maergrym
    Family Trading Badge: Blue hand holding corn

Family: Urdo
    Lord Ssentar
        Family Trading Badge: Yellow eye

Family: Vhammos
    Lord Thontal
        Family Trading Badge: Steel-grey open hand

Westgate has a secret set of rulers as 
well.  A band of professional assassins, 
extortionists, coercers, enforcers, and 
thieves known as the Night Masks have 
set up shop in the city.  They are for hire 
by all, and as such independent of the 
various noble-houses, switching alliances 
as their purse leads them.  The 
Night Masks control most of the illegal 
doings in the town, and seek to expand 
their grasp to the north and west, into 
other civilized lands.  

Finally, though Westgate is patrolled 
by a leather-jerkined militia, reports 
speak of strife in the city by night.  
Whether this is one family warring 
against another, the activities of the 
Night Masks, or a new organization in 
the city is as yet unknown.  

GAME INFO: The Night 
Masks make no secret of their existence, 
and their symbol, marked on 
shops to indicate protection, or left in 
some adventurer's Home as a WARNING, 
is a domino mask. 

The Masks are primarily thieves, but 
include fighters, assassins, and Mages 
as the job demands.  Normally they 
operate in groups of 5, with members 
only aware that the 4 others of 
the group know what the team is up to.  
In this fashion, if one is caught, only 
that group is endangered.  Levels range 
from 1-10, with higher level beings 
available only for the most dangerous 
jobs.  Leadership of the Night Masks is 
unrevealed.