The Quoya Desert

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


At a Glance


Visiting

What You See

Deserts are always dry, but among the naturally formed deserts of the Realms (in other words not counting Anauroch, the Plains of Purple Dust, or Raurin) the Quoya is the driest.  This picture shows what might be a sandy area near the Arundi River.

The Namib Desert... aka the Quoya Desert?

This picture is courtesy of the wikipedia article on the Namib Desert. Specifically, this is Sossusvlei, a tourist destination.  This is not an oasis… the salt/clay pan is (occasionally) filled by a nearby stream during summer rains.


Sources

Maps

Disclaimer

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The Land of the Snow Spirits

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

Antarctica... aka the Land of the Snow Spirits

At a Glance

The tribes of the Ama Basin (Pazruki, Issacortae, and Tayanuchi) believe that their ancestors include both the humans of the Horse Plains and the spirits of the north. According to the shamans, the spirits inhabit another place which is simultaneously here and not-here. These ancestors have watched over the tribes for countless generations, unseen and unheard but all-seeing and all-hearing.

The shamans say the Land of the Snow Spirits only seems barren and desolate because mortal senses cannot perceive the spirit world. The perfect serenity of this plain should suggest to the wise observer, they say, that this is a home of the spirit ancestors. Similarly, the absence of food and the uncomfortable temperatures in the region say that the ancestors do not wish people to settle here… you may visit, and experience the serenity of proximity to the ancestors, but do not attempt to shape or dominate the land. The tribes respect these “obvious” wishes, and so dwell in the Ama Basin to be as near as they can be to their past, and future.

Neighboring nations and regions include the Koryo Peninsula to the east, Ulhai Shan and the Ama Basin to the south, and Yal Tengri to the west.

The year, in the Xaeyruudh campaign, is 1365 DR. It is unknown who, if anyone, controls the Land of the Snow Spirits.

DM’s Notes

The ground here is ice, and the southerly winds off Yal Tengri ensure that topsoil doesn’t blow here by mistake. The lack of soil means there are no plants, of any size. Since plants are the foundation of an ecosystem, there are no small animals either… what would they eat? A few great white bears hunt for seals and so forth along the southern coastline, but once you move north past the Mountain of Iron at the southern end of Ulhai Shan the absence of small animals means that larger predators are also nonexistent.

Sources

  • The image is courtesy of the wikipedia article on Antarctica. The author notes that this “is typical of most of the continent’s surface.”
  • The Horde [1055b] page 127-128 talks about the climate of this area, but I don’t rely on it because it’s not consistent with an area which stretches into the polar ice cap, which is what this region is. The Land of the Snow Spirits never experiences temperatures above freezing, and thus never thaws. The poster map shows the region, and the tribes in the Ama Basin, but the climate information is the only published material I’ve found on this area.
  • So I made up the rest.

Disclaimer

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High Moor

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


At a Glance

The High Moor is a large moorland inhabited by trolls, orcs, and hobgoblins, among less dangerous creatures like wild sheep.  Due to its creation by dark magic, the moor bounds rather than being bounded by the features at its periphery.


Visiting

What You See

I may, of course, be entirely wrong, but this is what comes to my mind when I think of the High Moor. Well… with a few hostile locals running this way.

The Desert of Wales, from Wikipedia... click on the image for the link.

Roads

The Trade Way runs south and west of the moor, but there are no recognized roads within.

Landmarks
  • Hammer Hall
  • The Halls of the Hammer
Neighboring Nations and Features

Notable Individuals

Several dragons lair in the High Moor, including red (Maughrysear), copper (Aaronarra and Carynnallerastis), amethyst (Sh’derra D’zeer), and a family of black dragons (Aswidorg, Calathanorgoth, Cheleen, Vilholin, Wastirek, Woklef) plus Maelestor Rex, who is apparently unrelated. Nymmurh feeds here (traveling through portals of his own devising) from time to time. Saquathos and Zilanthar were offspring of Calathanorgoth, but they were slain in the dracorage of 1018 DR.


Sources

  • Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting [11836] page 223
  • Elminster’s Ecologies Appendix II: High Moor & Serpent Hills [9490]
  • A Grand Tour of the Realms [1085a] page 94
  • Under Illefarn [N5/9212] inside cover map
  • Cyclopedia of the Realms [1031a] page 50
Passing Mention
Maps
Other Resources

Disclaimer

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References in Anauroch (FR13)

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

At a Glance

  • Addas Babar
  • Aerithae’s Rest
  • Alagh’s Pass
  • Amazandar
  • Anauril
  • Araugul
  • Asabi
  • Ascore
  • The River Ashaba
  • The Tower of Ashaba
  • Ashabemar
  • At’ar’s Looking Glass
  • Azirrhat
  • The Battle of Bones
  • Berothir’s Trail
  • Bhaerlith
  • The Bitter Well
  • Black Wing Rift
  • Blind Rift
  • The Bowl of Loneliness
  • The Burn
  • Colored Waters
  • Dagger Falls
  • Dagger Rift
  • Daggerdale
  • Dark Bones Rift
  • Dark Naga
  • Dekanter
  • The Desertsmouth Mountains
  • The Dragon’s Back Peaks
  • Dry Rift
  • El Ma’ra
  • El Ma’ra Dat-ur Ojhogo
  • El Rahalat
  • Elah’zad
  • The Elven Woods
  • Evereska
  • Fallen Giant Rift
  • The Fallen Lands
  • The Far Forest
  • The Forgotten Forest
  • The Frozen Sea
  • The Gap
  • The Gap of Skulls
  • The River of Gems
  • The Goblin Marches
  • The Goblinmount
  • The Greycloak Hills
  • Haunga
  • Helm Rift
  • Helvara
  • Heroes’ Helm
  • The Hidden Valley of Srindin
  • The High Ice
  • The Hill of Lost Souls
  • The Hills of Scent
  • Hlaungadath
  • The Holt
  • The Hunters’ Hills
  • The Lake of Ice
  • The Ice Wall
  • Ironthrone Mountain
  • The Jackal Hills
  • Laerti
  • Lammar Rift
  • Lion’s Eye Oasis
  • Llashloch
  • The Lonely Moor
  • The Long Rift
  • The Lost Vale
  • Lundeth
  • Ma’atar
  • Maedrin’s Rift
  • Malkyn’s Rift
  • Mhaelos
  • Lake Miir
  • Morueme’s Cave
  • Mount Shaddath
  • The Oasis of Vipers
  • Olomaa
  • Oreme
  • Orofin
  • Orolin
  • Orpsu
  • Oum
  • Oume Rift
  • Phaerimm
  • Phelajarama
  • The Pillar of Tauros
  • The Plain of Standing Stones
  • Port Miir
  • The Quarry of the Titans
  • The Quarter of Emptiness
  • Rasilith
  • The Rift of Stars
  • The Road of Jackals
  • Rulvadar
  • The Saiyaddar
  • The Scimitar Spires
  • The Secret Place in the Sands
  • The Shaddan Hills
  • Shaddath Gap
  • Shadow Gap
  • Shadowdale
  • The Shattered Tower
  • The Shoal of Thirst
  • The Sister of Rains
  • Skull Gorge
  • The Skulls in the Sands
  • The Smokeholes
  • The Snout Mountains
  • Spellgard
  • The Spiderhaunt Wood
  • Stingtail
  • The Stonelands
  • The Stoneway
  • The Sword
  • The Swordpoint
  • The Tagorlar
  • The Tail
  • Tel Badir
  • The River Teshuth
  • Tethyamar
  • Thaalud
  • Three Dead Camels
  • The Throat
  • Tilver’s Gap
  • Tilverton
  • Tower Hlithal
  • Tower Ramanath
  • Trollgaunt Mountain
  • Ulshantir
  • Untrivvin
  • Vuerthyl
  • The Wall of Fallen Djinn
  • The Weathercote Wood
  • The Weeping Warrior
  • The Well of the Chasm
  • The Well of the Cloven Rock
  • Wyrm Rift
  • Yliyl
  • Disclaimer

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    Thaalud

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

    Tomb Tapper, from the official WotC Monsters of Faerûn Art Gallery... click on the image for the link.
    All rights are assumed to be reserved by that website

    At a Glance

    A construct.

    Also called tomb tappers, thaalud are found throughout the Underdark. They are connected with the legendary Vault of the Thaalud.

    Sources

    • Lost Empires of Faerûn [17738] page 189
    • Monsters of Faerûn page 82
    • The Winds of Netheril [1147a] page 120
    • Anauroch [FR13/9320] page 95
    • WotC Monster Index

    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.

    Phaerimm

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


    At a Glance

    A phaerimm is an aberration.

    Phaerimm are found throughout the Realms, though most of them are confined under Anauroch.

    Phaerimm have contributed significantly to the fall of several nations including Netheril (-339 DR), Delzoun (-100 DR), and Hlondath (329 DR).


    Sources

    Primary Sources
    • Lost Empires of Faerûn [17738] page 187
    • Monsters of Faerûn [11832] page 70
    • Villains’ Lorebook [9552] page 78
    • Netheril: Empire of Magic [1147] — The Winds of Netheril page 118
    • Ruins of Myth Drannor [1084] — Campaign Guide to Myth Drannor page 35
    • Anauroch [FR13/9320] page 94
    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.

    Orpsu

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

    At a Glance

    An aberration.

    Sources

    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.

    Dark Naga

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

    At a Glance

    An aberration.

    Sources

    • Monster Manual [17755] page 191
    • Anauroch [FR13/9320] page 92 — the 2e description
    • WotC Monster Index

    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.

    Stingtail

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

    Stingtail, from the official WotC Monsters of Faerûn Art Gallery... click on the image for the link.
    All rights are assumed to be reserved by that website

    At a Glance

    A humanoid.

    Stingtails are reptilian humanoids which inhabit temperate deserts including the Anauroch. They are related to the smaller laerti.

    Sources

    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.

    Laerti

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

    Laerti, from the official WotC Monsters of Faerûn Art Gallery... click on the image for the link.
    All rights are assumed to be reserved by that website

    At a Glance

    Laerti are reptilian humanoids which inhabit temperate deserts including the Anauroch.  They are related to the larger stingtails.

    Asabi is the Bedine name for these creatures; they are known to sages elsewhere as laerti, which was the old Netherese name for them.

    Sources

    • Monsters of Faerûn [11832] page 15
    • Villains’ Lorebook [9552] page 60
    • Anauroch [FR13/9320] page 91
    • WotC Monster Index

    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.