Border Kingdoms

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

At a Glance

The Border Kingdoms is a collection of lands, clustered on the southern shore of the Lake of Steam. The realms include (or have included) Adaerglast, Alamontyr, Arnglar, Arthyn, The Barony of Blacksaddle, Bedorn, Derlusk, The Principality of Fairbanner, The Grand Duchy of Shantal, Irl, The Land of Two Princes, Luthbaern, Manywaters, Oeble, Ondeeme, Owlhold, The Realm of the Mount, and The Realm of the Ready Sword.

Neighboring nations and regions include the Lake of Steam to the north, the Firesteap Mountains to the east, the Shaar to the south, and the Shining Sea to the west.


Sources

Passing Mention
Maps
Other Resources

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.

Shaar

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


At a Glance

The Shaar is a broad steppe between the southern Inner Sea nations and the southern coast of Faerûn. It is bisected by the Landrise into the Shaar to the west and the Eastern Shaar to the east.


Visiting

Communities
  • Channathgate
  • Delzimmer
  • Hammer and Anvil
  • Kormul
  • Rethmar
  • Shaarmid
Ruins
Other Landmarks
  • Blaskaltar
  • The Channathwood
  • The Dun Hills
  • The River Firesteap
  • The Landrise
  • Lake Lhespen
  • The Lhespenbog
  • The Misty Vale
  • The River Pelevar
  • The Rathgaunt Hills
  • The Rift River
  • The River Shaar
  • The Shaareach Forest
  • The Shaarwood
  • The River Shandaular
  • The Toadsquat River
  • The Wyrmbones
Neighboring Nations and Features

Sources

Primary Sources
  • Shining South [17929] pages 155-174, with maps on pages 156-157
  • A Grand Tour of the Realms [1085a] page 128
  • Cyclopedia of the Realms [1031a] page 76
Passing Mention
Other Resources
  • Search for the Shaar on the FR Wiki

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.

The Forest of Amtar

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


At a Glance

A forest on the southern edge of the Shaar.


Sources

Primary Sources
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.

The Swagdar

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

At a Glance

The Swagdar is a steppe outside Halruaa. Dambrath claims the land, but is unable or unwilling to enforce it… not that anyone else wants it. Everyone else regards it as a lawless region best avoided.

Neighboring nations and regions include Halruaa to the west, the Shaar to the north, the Forest of Amtar to the east, and Rethild to the south.

The year, in the Xaeyruudh campaign, is 1365 DR. It is unknown who, if anyone, controls the Swagdar.

Source

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.

Rethild

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

At a Glance

Also called the Great Swamp, Rethild is —as might be guessed— a huge swamp.

Neighboring nations and regions include Halruaa to the west, the Forest of Amtar to the north, Dambrath to the east, and the Great Sea to the south.

The year, in the Xaeyruudh campaign, is 1365 DR. It is unknown who, if anyone, controls Rethild.

Source

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.

Dambrath

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


At a Glance

Dambrath is unique in a couple of ways. It’s the only known nation ruled by a caste of half–elves, and the only nation of drow (their descendants, anyway) on the surface of Faerûn.


Departure

Much of the material found in this entry is based on the 2e The Shining South and the 3e Shining South. However, there are discrepancies between the timelines in these two sources. The general rule is that recent sources trump earlier sources. However, I’ve chosen in this particular case to favor the original dates implied in The Shining South. So to sum up: The timeline in the History section below is modified for my campaign.


Visiting

Communities
Other Landmarks
Neighboring Nations and Features

Politics

Who Rules

The year, in the Xaeyruudh campaign, is 1365 DR.

Dambrath is ruled by Queen Yenandra.


Notable Individuals


Local History

The problem I have with the dates given in the 3e Shining South is that they ignore the earlier lore for no apparent reason, and they end in the wrong year. However, the history in FR16 isn’t 100% right either. The account of Dambrath’s reigns covers 646 years in FR16. The events which set off Reinhar’s misguided invasion of the Underdark supposedly took place in 802 DR, making the “Present Day” 1448 DR… hardly an appropriate date for a 2e Realms book. So something is definitely goofy.

The dates in the 3e Shining South attempt to rectify this by crunching the reigns given in FR16 down to a total of 554 years. However, the reign of Queen Yenandra, which was current in FR16, is marked in the later source as ending in 1356 DR, which is before the beginning of the 1e Realms setting… *buzzz*. As further evidence that the numbers are wonky, consider that Queen Melanith was saved by a dolphin “over 300 years ago” but according to the 3e Shining South she didn’t become queen until 1094 DR. No worky.

There is an easy fix, however: the 802 DR date given for the conflict between Reinhar IX and the drow of T’lindhet was a typo; it was meant to say 702 DR. Here’s how I believe the timeline of Dambrath should look.

Timeline
DR Events
The Nars of Shandaular begin to spread outward from the Council Hills, calling themselves Arkaiuns in honor of their lost king.
211 The Arkaiun tribes flee the vengeful armies of Mulhorand and Unther, migrating southeast and eventually settling around the edge of the Bay of Dancing Dolphins.
314 The Arkaiuns establish Shantil (now Cathtyr), a trade city.
385 The Arkaiuns establish Hazuth, another city.
545 Reinhar I (518-554 DR) rises to power and establishes the Arkaiun realm of Dambrath.
546 Reinhar I conquers Luiren.
551 Reinhar I conquers Estagund.
552 Reinhar I conquers Var.
553 Reinhar I invades and occupies parts of Durpar and Halruaa.
554 Reinhar II (536-578 DR) rises to power, after Reinhar I is slain in Halruaa by Mycontil.
578 Reinhar III (556-600 DR) rises to power.
600 Reinhar IV (576-617 DR) rises to power, after Reinhar III is slain by giants.
617 Reinhar V (596-636 DR) rises to power, after Reinhar IV dies of plague.
636 Reinhar VI (614-656 DR) rises to power.
656 Reinhar VII (640-683 DR) rises to power.
683 Reinhar VIII (659-702 DR) rises to power.
702 Reinhar IX (686-740 DR) rises to power and begins his expansionist campaign.
706 First skirmish between the forces of Reinhar IX and the drow of T’lindhet.
740 Reinhar IX is slain and the Arkaiuns fragment.
743 Cathtyr (676-948 DR) solidifies her power and establishes the Crintri realm of Dambrath — she rules for 205 years.
948 Filina (868-953 DR) seizes power — she rules for 5 years.
953 Cathakay (899-1007 DR) seizes power — she rules for 54 years.
1007 Melanith (948-1163 DR) seizes power — she rules for 156 years.
1163 Ausitil (1087-1288 DR) seizes power — she rules for 125 years.
1288 Yenandra (1234-1366 DR) seizes power — she’s worn the crown for 71 years as of the “Present Day” of 2e.
1359 “Present Day” in FR16.
1366 Hasifir (1301-? DR) transforms Yenandra into a spectral guardian and takes power.
1373 “Present Day” in 3e Shining South.

Sources

  • Shining South [17929] pages 94-108
  • The Shining South [FR16/9388] pages page 23 (map); the note about Queen Melanith being saved by a dolphin is on page 24
Passing Mention
Maps
Other Resources

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.

Luiren

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

Festival, from the WotC Shining South Art Gallery... click on the image for the link. All rights are assumed to be reserved by Wizards of the Coast


At a Glance

A halfling nation on the southern coast of Faerûn.


Overview

The Landscape: What You See
Settlements
Ruins, Dungeons, Etc
Roads
Other Landmarks
Neighboring Nations & Features

Culture and Society


Politics

The year, in the Xaeyruudh campaign, is 1365 DR.

Who Rules

Faran Ferromar, the patriarch of Yondalla, is the nominal leader of Luiren.

Who Really Rules

Local History


Notable Individuals

Noble/Merchant Families
  • Faran Ferromar
Citizens
Transients

Sources

Primary Sources
  • Shining South [17929] pages 142-154
  • Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting [1085] (2e) A Grand Tour of the Realms page 128
Passing Mention
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.

The Toadsquat Mountains

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

At a Glance

The Toadsquats are a mountain range forming the southern boundary of the Eastern Shaar.

Neighboring nations and regions include the Eastern Shaar to the north, Veldorn and the Shining Lands to the east, Luiren to the south, and the Forest of Amtar to the west.

The year, in the Xaeyruudh campaign, is 1365 DR. It is unknown who, if anyone, controls the Toadsquats.

Source

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.

Veldorn

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


At a Glance

Veldorn is perhaps unique in the Realms, as a nation of monsters… not just one type of monsters, but any monster capable of holding a domain may rule it. It’s also called the Beastlands, and its rulers are sometimes referred to as the Beast-Chieftains.


Sources

Passing Mention
Maps
Other Resources

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.

The Shining Lands

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

At a Glance

The Shining Lands is colloquial term encompassing the nations of Durpar, Estagund, and Var.

Neighboring nations and regions include Luiren and Veldorn to the west, the Raurin Desert to the north, Ulgarth to the east, and the Great Sea to the south.

The year, in the Xaeyruudh campaign, is 1365 DR. The Grand Nawab of Durpar rules the Shining Lands.

Source

  • Shining South [17929] pages 109-123, with a map on page 111

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.