Sharn's quarters are stacked neighborhoods rather than five streets stretching across a single surface. The same tower can contain homes, workshops, shops, and passageways at several heights. A bridge joins particular doors or landings, not every floor of the buildings on either side.
The schematic above shows the main layers. It is an orientation diagram, not a measured map.
| Layer | What it is like |
|---|---|
| Skyway | Magically supported estates above the tower city |
| Upper wards | More daylight, expensive homes, prominent institutions, and quicker access to services |
| Middle wards | Busy connections between workplaces, homes, shops, and public destinations |
| Lower wards | Dense housing and foot traffic beneath the shadows of higher construction |
| Depths and Cogs | Buried structures and passages, with the Cogs forming the city's industrial underside |
These are broad patterns. A household's income, its building's upkeep, and the people on its landing matter as much as the label on a map. Cliffside follows the river-facing cliffs and does not fit this simple stack.
Beneath the bridges
From a lower courtyard, daylight and upper gardens remain several bridges overhead.
Reading an address
A useful Sharn address names quarter, ward, district, and entrance. “Menthis” leaves three wards and many routes unresolved. A room directly overhead might require a long walk to a stair or lift; a visible balcony across a gap might have no nearby footbridge at all.
Routes also have costs. Stairs and bridges take time and effort, while hired flight and other paid transport depend on fares and available service. A destination can be physically close and difficult to reach during a work break. The transport guide covers the main choices.
The ward maps show how the layers fit together. Life on the landings describes what those differences mean for tenants, maintenance, and neighborhood life in 1250 YK.
Above the towers
Skyway's gardens and estate terraces sit above the tower tops. Commercial signs remain present here, but small illuminated emblems and fine lettering leave room for quiet views. Gardeners, attendants, couriers, and other staff sustain that comfort.
Sources & adaptation
- Mana Standard Player Primer — PDF pages 2-7, campaign-era additions
- Top 10 Most Unique Cities in Dungeons & Dragons — Sharn: social height
- Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron — Ch. 6: The Shape of Sharn; Sharn: Above and Below