Trollskull Alley

Trollskull Alley is a neighborhood located in Waterdeep's North Ward.

History
Many Waterdhavians think the alley has "always" had its name but it was originally known as Lormaundeir’s Skulk thanks to a smuggler, Lormaundeir, who lived there and rented several buildings in the alley in the 1270's.

In 1298 DR, during the bloody collapse of the Shadow Thieves guild, some of its members sought to cover their escapes from the city. One member teleported a foraging band of trolls from the Evermoors to North Ward where they stalked this alley.

The trolls slew some citizens along the alley until they perished from flaming spheres hurled at them by the wizard Tazhara Lurael, of Turmish. Tazhara was racing about the city dealing with many monsters released by the Shadow Thieves guild, and lacked the time to “clean up” properly, so some local youths ended up playing with scorched troll bones, bowling with the skulls for some years.

By then, the rest of the city had dubbed the way “Trollskull Alley," a welcome change for the denizens of the neighborhood to be known as survivors of a troll attack rather than dwelling in the abode of a smuggler.

Locations
Trollskull Alley is mainly a residential area but many of its citizens have opened up businesses in and around their homes.

Trollskull Manor
Trollskull Manor was a large, dilapidated building before its eventual restoration. The building is four stories tall, boasting balconies, a turret and five chimneys. It is one of the grandest buildings in Trollskull Alley. A large tavern named Marmaduke's occupies the building's ground floor. Trollskull Manor is owned by Azir Hawkwood.

The Bent Nail
A carpentry and woodcarving shop owned and operated by a male half-elf named Talisolvanar "Tally" Fellbranch.

Steam and Steel
A forge owned and operated by a married couple: a male fire genasi named Embric and a male water genasi named Avi.

Corellon's Crown
An herbalist's shop run out of a three-story townhouse owned by a wood elf named Fala Lefaliir.

Tiger's Eye
A private detective business operated by a male human named Vincent Trench.

Book Wyrm's Treasure
A bookstore managed by a male gold dragonborn named Rishaal the Page-Turner.