Esmeltaran, the resort city

[Velaryon]

Esmeltaran is a walled city in central Amn, located on the western shore of Lake Esmel. The Esmel River flows southwest out of the lake just to the south of the city.

Founded more than 800 years ago, Esmeltaran was once the capital of Amn. At some point, the capital was moved to the port city of Athkatla. Since then, Esmeltaran has become more of a resort town, tourist destination, and vacation spot for the wealthy of Amn and other nations.
Most of the wealthy elite of Amn maintain second (or third) homes here, and there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of taverns, inns, and festhalls to accommodate the people who come to Esmeltaran year-round to enjoy vacations or conduct business in a lavish, relaxing atmosphere.

Esmeltaran has only about 25,000 permanent residents, plus another 10,000 or so who come from the surrounding countryside to work or conduct business. However, with its constant stream of visitors, particularly during the boom periods of midsummer and winter, the city often holds two to three times that amount of people at any given time.

Because of its cosmopolitan nature, temples to just about any god worshiped in Faerun can be found in or around Amn, save perhaps some of the truly obscure or very recently ascended deities. Most see relatively little traffic, however.

Despite the city's size, Esmeltaran maintains a relatively small militia. A larger force would be unnecessary, because most of the more prominent businesses, merchants, and families maintain their own private security forces.

[Velaryon]

Several locations in Esmeltaran that have been visited by the party:

The Days of Eleint - located in the heart of Esmeltaran, this establishment is named for the Ten Black Days of Eleint, a period in the history of Tethyr that began when Prince Alemander of Tethyr murdered his father King Alemander IV on the 12th of Eleint, 1347. The tavern contains riches and paraphernalia taken from Tethyr's noble families during the period of civil war that followed that dark period in Tethyrian history.


The Eye Tyrant - this tavern is a hangout primarily for local off-duty law enforcement and private security. Strangers, particularly guests of Esmeltaran's various resorts, are not welcomed and are treated coldly, sometimes to the point of outright refusal of service.


Fizzlebert's - a local magic shop run by a man named Fizzlebert. He specializes in scrolls. One thing that he doesn't carry are items that produce food and drink because, according to Fizzlebert, there is no demand for it in an opulent resort city like Esmeltaran.


The Golden Sands Inn - a tavern owned by the Golden Sands Brewery, a company based in Calimshan. The place is renowned for carrying a variety of Calishite brews that are not easily available in other parts of Amn, including numerous ales and wines made by Golden Sands that are offered nowhere else in Esmeltaran.


Runhave's Masks - a restaurant and tavern located toward the northern end of the city. All staff members wear masks while on shift, creating a feeling of mystique to the place. Because of its affordable prices, it has a reputation for catering to foreigners, though a few unsavory rumors have been spoken of the place.

Thallatos and Leon discovered that Runhave's Masks is owned by an enchanter, who kept his wait staff under charm effects. The hostess, his wife, was kept under an even more powerful enchantment. Hidden in the storeroom is a passageway that leads down to the Underdark, though what purpose it serves is not currently known.


Shazzelim's Retreat - this inn is named after Shazzelim, an intelligent scimitar that was created in Thay for the purpose of slaying Harpers (a good-aligned secret society that opposes evil organizations such as the Red Wizards, the Zhentarim, and the Church of Bane). There is a scimitar above the door that the owners claim is the real Shazzelim. The food at Shazzelim's Retreat is among the best in the city.


The Veiled Vampiress - a tavern and restaurant with a vampire-themed decor. No one seems to be sure whether the people running the place are actually vampires, or just people very dedicated to maintaining the image.