Hordelands

This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.


At a Glance

The Hordelands are, for most of Faerun, the eastern edge of the known world. In Kara-Tur, the Hordelands are the no-man’s-land separating civilization from the barbaric west. In Zakhara, the Hordelands are a mythical place beyond the northern hinterlands.

Most outsiders from the west know the entire region as the Endless Waste, but merchants and adventurers who have traveled the region have named three broad regions: the Horse Plains in the north, the Quoya Desert in the east, and the southwestern High Plains which are sometimes called the Great Waste.

It’s not really a wasteland, however. It’s true that trees are few and far between, but grass and shrubs are plentiful. There is adequate water, for those who know where to look.

The inhabitants of these wind-blasted steppes know their land as Taan, and call themselves Taangan. They are divided into twelve great tribes on the plain, with additional tribes dwelling in the Ama Basin and the Koryaz Mountains.


Visiting

What You See
Settlements
Ruins
Other Landmarks
Neighboring Nations & Features

Culture and Society

Demographics

The overall population is 85% humans, 8% gnolls, 5% centaurs, 1% dwarves, and 1% other races.

The human population is 70% Tuigan, 24% Rashemi, 4% Raumviran, and 2% other subraces. The primary language is Tuigan.

Caste and Class
Religion

Among the Tuigan, the pantheon consists of Etugen (Grumbar), Teylas (Akadi), and an array of lesser gods and nature spirits. This latter group includes aspects of Eldath, Selûne, Malar, and a beast cult that venerates horses. There are no evil gods in the Tuigan worldview, but there are evil spirits.

Factions

Politics

Who Rules

With the exception of the brief rule of a khahan (such as Yamun), and the limited reign of Yaimunnahar following the Crusade, the tribes of the steppe do not form a monolithic presence. This means there is no single central ruler, for most of the region’s history.

Who Really Rules

Before the rise of Yamun Khahan, and after his fall, the steppe is ruled by the tribal khans.

Political Divisions
  • Commani Lands
  • Dalat Lands
  • Fankiang Lands
  • Gur Lands
  • Kaghun Lands
  • Khassidi Lands
  • Naican Lands
  • Oigur Lands
  • Quirish Lands
  • Tsu-Tsu Lands
  • Tuigan Lands
  • Zamogedi Lands

Sources

Primary Sources
Passing Mention
  • Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide [21828] (4e campaign setting) pages 142-143 — this would be a primary source for a campaign set in a post-Spellplague era; however, this campaign is not and therefore 4e material may be used or ignored without consideration for context
  • Races of Faerûn [88578] page 110 — the human demographics
Maps

Disclaimer

Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.

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