Prisoners’ Isles
The Prisoners’ Isles (also referred to as Prisoner’s Isles, Prisoners’ Isle, or the Peninsula Prison) is Neverwinter’s high-security island prison, situated in the city’s coastal Peninsula district. Connected to the mainland by a heavily guarded bridge, it serves as the primary correctional and detention facility for the Jewel of the North. Within its damp, heavily fortified cells, the prison houses some of the region’s most dangerous criminals, rogue magic-users, pirates, and political dissidents.
Notable Detainees
Talis the White
Talis the White (also spelled Tallis) is currently held as a detainee within the high-security cells of the Prisoners’ Isles.
Polly
Another notable inmate of the high-security wing is Polly, an associate of Anthony Calloway, known as “the Gentleman” of Beggar’s Nest’s Cha-Ching Club. The Gentleman has made Polly’s extraction from the Isles a non-negotiable condition—enforced by an unbreakable oath—before he will share crucial underworld intelligence regarding which members of the Neverwinter Small Council have been compromised by outside factions.
Authority and the Small Council
The prison falls under the direct jurisdiction of Lord Nasher Alagondar’s Small Council, which rules Neverwinter from Castle Never. The Small Council consists of several key figures who govern the city’s state affairs:
- Lady Aribeth de Tylmarande: Captain of the Guard and Right Hand of the Lord, who oversees local law enforcement and delegates investigations.
- Lucien Nightshade: The city’s Spymaster and secret chapter leader of the Neverwinter Zhentarim.
- Count Gelden Allfield: The Treasurer, who constantly laments the city’s depleted coffers.
- Aldis Trueshot: Captain of the Armies and Master at Arms.
- Archmage Vael Tarmyth: High-level magic advisor, who rarely attends council meetings.
- Admiral Finster Lionheart: Admiral and Shipmaster of Neverwinter.
The Threat of Incarceration
The threat of imprisonment on the Isles remains a powerful tool of state authority. Following the disastrous skirmish and subsequent resurrection of the green dragon Villathas (also spelled Virethas or Villethas) at Dragon Barrow—an event mockingly dubbed “Gilmore’s Folly”—Lady Aribeth confronted the adventuring party known as the Magnificent Five or Fantastic Five. Lacking immediate proof of a coordinated dragon cult, she strictly warned them that without hard evidence, the state would view their actions as simple grave-robbing, noting that the Prisoners’ Isle “could always use a few more occupants.”