Sharn
Encyclopedia
In the Eberron
campaign setting
for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, Sharn, often called "The City of Towers", is the iconic metropolis
of the setting.
Sharn is the largest city in the kingdom
of Breland and indeed, the continent of Khorvaire
. It is a melting pot
of all races, with the human population being the largest but still only a third of Sharn's some 212,000 citizens.
A vertical city, Sharn is linked with the plane of Syrania, granting enhanced power to flight and levitation magic, a feature that the city's residents have used to build towers that rise higher into the sky than any other place on Khorvaire and possibly the world of Eberron. Due to the myriad of cultures that live and have lived in Sharn, examples of architecture from all over Khorvaire can be found. Most of Sharn's wealthiest inhabitants live in the upper regions of the city, enjoying the freshest air and least claustrophobic views.
A layer-by-layer depiction of Sharn can be found on the Wizards of the Coast Dungeons and Dragons site.
warlords. It was called Ja'shaarat ("Bright Blade") and even then it was one of the greatest cities of the Dhakaani empire. In contrast to modern Sharn's soaring towers, Ja'shaarat was built mostly underground with only its tallest buildings inevitably becoming the foundation of Sharn.
When the Dhakaani empire was devastated by the daelkyr, the city was ruined and never recovered. Goblin tribes who took refuge in the city's bowels renamed it Duur'shaarat ("Blade of Sorrows").
Years later, when a wave of human explorers flooded the coasts of Khorvaire, Malleon the Reaver discovered the fallen city. He enslaved the remaining goblin tribes and renamed the city Shaarat. In time, Shaarat grew into a wealthy and powerful city only to once again be destroyed when Malleon's descendants refused to bow down to Breggor, the man who would become the first king of the nation of Breland.
After a long siege, Breggor's wizards finally rained destruction down on the city. Breggor renamed the city Sharn. During the next 800 years the towers of Sharn rose and the city flourished. When all of Khorvaire was changed with the War of the Mark, Sharn was once again ruined and abandoned for 500 years. When Galifar I became king of the Five Nations he ordered the rebuilding of Sharn. With the funding of noble houses and the help of House Cannith and Dwarven architects from the Mror Holds, Sharn's great towers were returned to their former splendor.
Eberron
Eberron is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, set in a period after a vast destructive war on the continent of Khorvaire...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, Sharn, often called "The City of Towers", is the iconic metropolis
Metropolis
A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...
of the setting.
Sharn is the largest city in the kingdom
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
of Breland and indeed, the continent of Khorvaire
Khorvaire
Khorvaire is fictional continent in universe of Eberron, a campaign setting for Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.The material plane of Eberron contains four major continents, of which Khorvaire is arguably the most well-documented in the various sourcebooks. The others are Argonnessen ,...
. It is a melting pot
Melting pot
The melting pot is a metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" into a harmonious whole with a common culture...
of all races, with the human population being the largest but still only a third of Sharn's some 212,000 citizens.
A vertical city, Sharn is linked with the plane of Syrania, granting enhanced power to flight and levitation magic, a feature that the city's residents have used to build towers that rise higher into the sky than any other place on Khorvaire and possibly the world of Eberron. Due to the myriad of cultures that live and have lived in Sharn, examples of architecture from all over Khorvaire can be found. Most of Sharn's wealthiest inhabitants live in the upper regions of the city, enjoying the freshest air and least claustrophobic views.
A layer-by-layer depiction of Sharn can be found on the Wizards of the Coast Dungeons and Dragons site.
Sharn's past
Sharn has a long and rich history starting with its foundation in ancient times by hobgoblinHobgoblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, hobgoblins are a larger, stronger, smarter and more menacing form of goblins. They are smaller and weaker than bugbears, but better organized. Hobgoblins are humanoids that stand nearly 6'6" tall on average, a little taller than orcs...
warlords. It was called Ja'shaarat ("Bright Blade") and even then it was one of the greatest cities of the Dhakaani empire. In contrast to modern Sharn's soaring towers, Ja'shaarat was built mostly underground with only its tallest buildings inevitably becoming the foundation of Sharn.
When the Dhakaani empire was devastated by the daelkyr, the city was ruined and never recovered. Goblin tribes who took refuge in the city's bowels renamed it Duur'shaarat ("Blade of Sorrows").
Years later, when a wave of human explorers flooded the coasts of Khorvaire, Malleon the Reaver discovered the fallen city. He enslaved the remaining goblin tribes and renamed the city Shaarat. In time, Shaarat grew into a wealthy and powerful city only to once again be destroyed when Malleon's descendants refused to bow down to Breggor, the man who would become the first king of the nation of Breland.
After a long siege, Breggor's wizards finally rained destruction down on the city. Breggor renamed the city Sharn. During the next 800 years the towers of Sharn rose and the city flourished. When all of Khorvaire was changed with the War of the Mark, Sharn was once again ruined and abandoned for 500 years. When Galifar I became king of the Five Nations he ordered the rebuilding of Sharn. With the funding of noble houses and the help of House Cannith and Dwarven architects from the Mror Holds, Sharn's great towers were returned to their former splendor.