The radiant city on the western coast of Faerûn, north of Amn, was a vast and splendid metropolis: welcoming and open-minded, and an important hub of travel. Here, you could find people of every friendly race and see all kinds of astonishing, thrilling creations and achievements.
Blessed with an excellent harbor, enlightened laws, a spirit of tolerance, and a strong magical tradition, the city had established itself in Faerûn from the very beginning, thanks to its exceptional location and the wise leadership of the great mage Aghairon.
As the years passed, Waterdeep grew in size and wealth. With the permission and protection of its powerful defenses and wise government, trade flourished, and the city prospered ever more. Today, no city in all of Faerûn could rival mighty Waterdeep in any respect.
At the same time, Waterdeep was also a cradle of invention and innovation. In this regard, it surpassed every city along the entire Sword Coast and might even have led all of Faerûn.
That was why Waterdeep's unique prosperity had filled its residents with a distinct sense of pride. The people of Waterdeep knew their city was a wonder, and that life there was better than anywhere else—or at least better than most places.
If the people of Waterdeep had a notable flaw, it was their tendency to believe there was nothing in the world they hadn't seen. They often assumed that the sum of all human and nonhuman experience was already part of their cultural heritage. For now, though, that flaw wasn't always a bad thing.
At that moment, Ryan was gazing through the Spell Eye from atop a carriage at the radiant city hailed as "the Crown of the Northlands."
His gaze swept north from the bustling Southern Ward, over the beautiful surroundings of the City of the Dead and the opulent Sea Ward, and finally to the towering Mount Waterdeep and Castle Waterdeep, built atop it. His mind was full of thoughts, and his eyes brimmed with fond memories.
After three uneventful days on the road, the caravan had finally reached the end of its arduous, eventful journey: the great city of Waterdeep.
Before the imposing southern gate of Waterdeep, city guards clad in scale armor and armed with short swords and bows watched the long line of people waiting to enter, keeping the queue in order.
The caravan members passed through the routine inspection, and Ryan's mysterious mage's attire drew no trouble from the guards.
After all, open-minded, welcoming Waterdeep turned away no one. Whether they were merchants and adventurers from distant lands, or malicious criminals and ambitious schemers, the city was confident it could accommodate them all within its vast, bustling streets, as undisturbed as a drop of water falling into the sea.
The well-traveled guards had seen plenty of mysterious visitors like Ryan. After a cursory inspection, they asked no further questions. They simply warned the mage not to cause trouble and let him pass.
Once they passed through the tall southern gate and entered Waterdeep, they were swept up in a surging tide of people. All sorts of folk in all kinds of garb came and went along the broad streets. Mysterious Mages, burly barbarians, handsome Elves, hearty Dwarves, and small Goblins were everywhere.
Looking at the lively scene, Ryan felt as though he had returned to the modern city of his previous life, with its streams of traffic, crowds and clamor, and dazzling nightlife. He had been away from Waterdeep for years, living in the peaceful, harmonious city of Silverymoon, and for a moment he found it hard to adjust to the energy and excitement of this great metropolis.
Watching the lively streets from the carriage window, Ryan recalled his childhood, when he had played with the neighborhood children along Waterdeep's broad avenues. Before long, the caravan arrived at the Golden Rose Caravan's trading post in the Southern Ward.
Only after entering the spacious courtyard did Ryan get down from the carriage. While the caravan workers unloaded the goods, he found Sphinx, the caravan's president, and bade him farewell. Ryan had planned to part ways there and never see the man again.
But Sphinx insisted, earnestly and repeatedly. In the end, Ryan hesitated, then left him the address of House Chris. Sphinx promised again and again that he would visit to express his gratitude as soon as he had taken care of the caravan's affairs.
After taking leave of Sphinx, Ryan stepped outside and saw Jelona leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed.
"Hey, you weren't planning to leave without saying goodbye, were you?" The Half-elf Ranger eyed the mage with displeasure.
"Ahem. Of course not. I was just about to come find you." Ryan hadn't expected Jelona to keep such close watch on him as soon as they reached Waterdeep, for fear that he would slip away without a word. Although he had planned to keep her out of this matter, it was clear that he hadn't hidden his intentions well from someone who knew him. Over the past few days, Jelona had sensed something was off and kept an eye on his every move.
"The Zhentarim probably have plenty of spies lurking in Waterdeep. I need to return to my family and use their connections to find out what's been happening in the city. So we'll have to split up for a while," Ryan explained.
"Then how am I supposed to get in touch with you?" The beautiful Half-elf Ranger wasn't satisfied with his explanation and pressed him for an answer.
"Let's meet tomorrow evening at the Hearthfire Tavern in North Ward. Their roasted sea bass is pretty good, so you should try it. By the way, what did you tell Kasla and Arata?" Once they had agreed on a time, Ryan curiously asked Jelona.
"I still haven't figured out how to explain the Zhentarim to them. Knowing those two, if I tell them, they'll insist on joining us. But I don't want them to take the risk." Faced with the issue she had been avoiding and agonizing over, Jelona looked troubled.
"Then how about we wait until tomorrow evening? I'll find out what's going on, and then we can decide how to tell them," Ryan suggested.
He planned to find out what was happening once he got home, settle his task with the Mages Guild, and learn more about the situation in Waterdeep before deciding how to handle the problem with Jelona.
"Okay, then. Let's do that." Setting aside the problem that had been bothering her, Jelona stopped dwelling on it.
"Then I'll be off. See you then." With that, Ryan called Bill over, and the two of them left the bustling trading post and headed for his home in this world: the residence of House Chris.
Following the bustling crowds through the lively streets and alleys, Ryan relied on his memories to find his way to the grand estate in the western part of the Sea Ward.
Before the broad, imposing gates of the estate, Ryan stood quietly for a while, gazing at the splendid mansion. The guards at the entrance watched the mysterious mage standing before the gates warily, wondering whether they should approach and question him.
Bill, who had followed Ryan, glanced at him as he stood motionless. He opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing, waiting respectfully at Ryan's side.
Coming back to himself, Ryan stared at the gilded "Chris" on the plaque hanging above the gate and sighed inwardly. The closer I get to home, the more nervous I feel. I suppose I still have feelings for this place after all.
Ryan removed his veil and hood, revealing a head of golden hair and handsome features. Smiling at the guards on duty, he said, "I'm Ryan Chris, the third son of Count Chris. Sorry for the trouble, but please inform Lady Chris that Ryan has made good progress in his studies and has returned home."
Ryan watched as the guard hesitated, looking uncertain. He stopped Bill, who was about to step forward and berate the guard, then continued with a smile. "It's all right if you don't recognize me. Just go and inform her, and you can confirm it that way."
The two guards exchanged a glance. One of them nodded and hurried inside. The other apologized to Ryan. "I'm sorry, sir. It's our duty. Please wait with me in the front hall."
Ryan nodded, not giving the diligent guard a hard time. After all, he had once experienced firsthand the countless strict and complicated rules of a noble household. If not for that, he wouldn't have wanted to leave home so young to study magic in Silverymoon. He had wanted nothing more than to get as far away as possible and live freely.
As he rested for a while in the richly decorated front hall, Ryan soon heard a hurried, eager voice in the distance. "My Ryan is back? Is it true? That boy didn't even send word before coming home. He'll be the death of me!"
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