Blacklake District
Description
When Mount Hotenow erupted in 1432 DR, devastating much of Neverwinter, the northwestern district remained relatively unscathed by the pyroclastic flow. However, the Blacklake area transformed into a pit of debris, garbage, and ash due to the eruption. As the city underwent reconstruction, the Blacklake District emerged in the northwestern part of Neverwinter, while the northeastern region became the River District. By 1459 DR, Dagult Neverember's attempts to rebuild the Blacklake District faced significant challenges due to obstruction by the Sons of Alagondar and their allies. The Nashers seized control of the district, using it as their base of operations. They resorted to theft from the poor to fund their rebellion against Neverember, prompting impoverished citizens to hire adventurers to restore stability. The Nashers openly defied Lord Neverember's authority, assaulting those who refused to pledge allegiance and driving away dissenters. They resorted to burning down homes or barricading inhabitants inside for those who resisted relocation. Meanwhile, the Neverwinter Guard struggled to mount a makeshift defense of certain areas and gates.Following the calamitous events that befell the city, the buildings in the Blacklake District remained remarkably intact, thanks to the quality materials, sound architectural techniques, and magical protection employed by the noble inhabitants. However, as the city faced ongoing challenges, these structures were repurposed into makeshift barracks to safeguard survivors against looming threats. Over time, many buildings fell into disrepair, succumbing to neglect or vandalism by vagrants, altering the district's appearance significantly. Along the southeast shore of Blacklake, lay two particularly distressed areas: the Tatters and Riverside, connected by a short bridge. Both regions lay largely in ruins, with notable locations like Brimbleton Place, Chadwick Stoop, and Thatcher Road reduced to little more than rubble. The once pristine Blacklake, now filled with ash, volcanic debris, and refuse dumped by locals, resembled a vast midden rather than a body of water. Its depths harbored destroyed ships and a dense black sludge, imbued with magical properties that spawned sludge-covered zombies in the streets. Alchemists, like Hazel, dedicated themselves to studying this phenomenon. Despite the existence of detailed maps of the Blacklake District, mass production was prohibited by Lord Nasher to safeguard against illicit activities and espionage, emphasizing the district's importance and the need for vigilance in protecting it and the city at large.
Demographics
In the mid-to-late 14th century DR, the Blacklake District was the domain of Neverwinter's nobility until the city's devastation during the eruption of Mount Hotenow in 1432 DR. In the aftermath, a handful of survivors and determined refugees opted to remain in the city, seeking refuge within the District.
These resilient survivors, deeply rooted in nationalist sentiments and proud of their Alagondar lineage, staunchly oppose the rule of Dagult Neverember. The Nashers, seizing control of the area, defiantly challenged Neverember's soldiers and mercenaries, daring them to attempt to wrest it from their grasp by force.
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