Southkrypt

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

At a Glance

An abandoned dwarven hold and silver mine, reaching under the southern Sword Mountains, north of Kryptgarden Forest.

It was also once called Southkrypt Garden, because the dwarves tended a farm of astonishing verdancy and yield. Today, the garden has grown wild and tangled.

Source

  • Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting [11836] page 296

Disclaimer

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Sarbreen

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

At a Glance

In its heyday, Sarbreen was called the City of the Hammer and it was a prosperous city of Roldilar. Today, the ruins lie beneath Ravens Bluff, with various shafts and passages descending to unknown depths.

Source

  • Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting [11836] page 296

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 Purple Halls

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

At a Glance

A small subterranean stronghold found under a hill in Tethyr. The original name is lost; it takes its modern name from the mercenary band called the Purple Claws which laired here until their deaths. It’s now a monster-infested dungeon.

Interestingly, the stronghold has an identical twin in the Spiderhaunt Peaks north of Gbor Nor.

Source

  • Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting [11836] page 296

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 Nameless Dungeon

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

At a Glance

A crypt found beneath the overgrown ruin of a mansion that once belonged to the elven realm of Eaerlann.

Source

  • Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting [11836] page 296

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.

Szass Tam

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


At a Glance

Szass Tam is the Zulkir of Necromancy and a lich; this much is known to many of the Red Wizards, and at least suspected by most residents of Thay. Vanity keeps him from admitting it openly, however, so he uses magic to preserve his body.

Szass is born the son of Shevas Tam in 1104 DR, and later becomes a necromancer and a red wizard. In 1159 DR he feels like he’s close to achieving immortality without resorting to the ignominy of undeath, but he’s forced to became a lich after sustaining life-threatening injuries while leading an attack on Rashemen. This affront turns into an obsession with bringing about the destruction of Rashemen; something which consumes most of his efforts for the next two centuries.

Szass is credited by Elminster with creating the belt of spells.


The Xaeyruudh Campaign

With the exception of the picture in FR6, official depictions fail to take his vanity into account; it seems that subsequent artists chose to ignore this detail. This campaign chooses to abide by the original lore.


Sources

Primary Sources
  • Epic Level Handbook page 297
  • Villains’ Lorebook [9552] page 54
  • Dreams of the Red Wizards [FR6/9235] page 52
Passing Mention
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.

Gerti Orelsdottr

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

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

At a Glance

The daughter of frost giant jarl Orel the Grayhand. Also a cleric and runecaster of Auril.

Source

  • Epic Level Handbook page 294

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.

Shuruppak

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

This post has nothing at all to do with real-world geography. For more information on the Sumerian city, please consult the Wikipedia entry.

At a Glance

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

Executioner and assassin favored by Gilgeam. Commonly known as the Reaper.

He’s a mulan human fighter and mage.

Sources

  • Epic Level Handbook page 304
  • Old Empires [FR10/9274] pages 37, 47

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.

Iyraclea

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

Iyraclea, from the WotC ELH 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 cleric and divine disciple of Auril.

Commonly known as the Ice Queen. Infamous for the destruction of Myth Ondath, using the Gatekeeper’s crystal. She’s said to reside in a castle of sculpted ice, in or on the Great Glacier.

Sources

Primary Sources
  • Epic Level Handbook page 302
  • Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting [11836] page 110
Passing Mention

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.

Alustriel (Chosen)

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


At a Glance

Alustriel is a Chosen of Mystra, one of the Seven Sisters, a wizard and archmage, the High Lady (ruler) of Silverymoon, and a senior Harper.

She is also the author of A Harper’s Song and To Harp and to Help, and crafter of Alustriel’s Queenmantle.


Sources

Primary Sources
  • Epic Level Handbook page 300
  • Code of the Harpers [FOR4] pages 42-43
Passing Mention
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.

Undermountain

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


At a Glance

A vast subterranean complex of tunnels and chambers, found beneath Waterdeep. Halaster Blackcloak rules here, relying in part on a mythal-like system of spells he created to manage the dungeon and its occupants.

There are many entrances to Undermountain, including portals from Myth Drannor and probably a dozen other old cities. Even within Waterdeep there are more than a handful of doors both magical and not. There’s the Long Dark Stair, the Blue Mermaid Passage, and the Dungeon of the Crypt, as well as various dark tunnels in the sewers that are easily accessible from anywhere in the city. The most widely known and most often used, however —the “front door” of the dungeon— is the dry well in the Yawning Portal.

Levels and Sublevels

It can be difficult to imagine all these levels in three dimensions, so here’s a handy profile map.

  • The Citadel of the Bloody Hand is not a level so much as an attic. It’s accessible via the Falling Stair on level 1. Unfortunately for the curious, the Falling Stair also leads to the dungeons of Castle Waterdeep, so visitors are not allowed up the stairs without verifiable credentials.
  • The Dungeon Level (level 1)
  • The Storeroom Level (level 2)
  • The Sargauth Level (level 3) features the River Sargauth, obviously enough, but also grants access to Skullport.
  • The Farms Level (level 4)
  • The Shaft is not really a level
  • The Maze Level (level 5)
  • The Seadeeps (level 6)
  • The Wyllowwood (sublevel)
  • The Lost Level (sublevel)
  • Trobriand’s Graveyard (sublevel)
  • The Slitherswamp (sublevel)
  • Muiral’s Gauntlet (sublevel)
  • The Troglodyte Warrens (sublevel)
  • The Obstacle Course (sublevel)
  • Maddgoth’s Level (sublevel)
  • The Crystal Labyrinth (sublevel)
  • Arcturiadoom (sublevel)
  • Vanrakdoom (sublevel)
  • The Runestone Level (sublevel)
  • Shadowdusk Hold (sublevel)
  • The Caverns of Ooze (level 7)
  • The Terminus Level (level 8)
  • The Mad Wizard’s Lair (level 9)

Sources

  • Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting [11836] (3e) page 179
  • Magic of Faerûn page 48
  • Ruins of Undermountain II [1104]
  • Ruins of Undermountain [1060]
  • Living Forgotten Realms — The Xaeyruudh Campaign rejects most 4e Realms material, but this brief description of levels is helpful, and it’s a simple matter to ignore everything that happens after 1365
Passing Mention
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.