The Environs of the Realms' City of Splendors

The environs of the Realms City of Splendors stretched to the east of the forest, in what from a small keep with a farm to a walled by Ed Greenwood is now rolling moorlands known as the farm complex 20 miles on a side. Over Fallen Kingdom. The forest is now forlorn 5,000 inhabitants, all of whom are devout and largely empty. The elves have all gone worshipers of Chauntea, tend crops of The following is an introduction to the city overseas to Evermeet via many covert edible vegetables. Patrols of adventurer- of Waterdeep, often mentioned in many of voyages aboard The Morning Bird, a ship priests scour the lands around Golden- Ed Greenwoods tales from the Forgotten owned by Mirt the Moneylender, a local fields as far north as the Stone Bridge and Realms published in DRAGON® Magazine. merchant of Waterdeep. as far east as the High Forest. Raveling in Though this was originally written for FR1 The elves have left the forest of tall mounted groups of 20 or more, these Waterdeep and the North, the first of the blueleaf, duskwood, and weirwood trees patrols seek trolls, goblinkind, and other FORGOTTEN REALMS sourcebooks, unattended (see DRAGON issue #125, evil to fight; they also track game for there was no room for it so we were Woodlands of the Realms). This region capture and domestication. able to steal this piece away for publica- was known as Faraway Forest to the To protect their environs, these patrols tion here. It will not be seen in the final elves because, although it was near the challenge all whom they meet, but will not version of Waterdeep and the North, but it western coast of Faerun, it was still far fight unless they meet evil creatures or is compatible with the material in that away from what the elves considered are themselves attacked. These groups work. With that, we welcome you to home: the island realm of Evermeet. It is usually include four or five clerics of 3rd- Waterdeep. here that exploring PCs may encounter 5th levels, five or six men-at-arms (accou- the NPCs Quth and Vedellen Hawkhand tred with chain mail and lances), and a (detailed in chapter 7 of Waterdeep and remaining force of zero-level devotees Waterdeep is the gateway to the North. the North), as well as some fearsome for- (accoutred with leather armor and a varie- It dominates the lesser cities of Silvery est creatures that the elves once lived in ty of weapons). There is a 20% chance for moon, Mirabar, Luskan, Neverwinter, and harmony with. each patrol to include a magic-user of 2nd Sundabar (listed here in order of relative After deleting encounters with evil crea- to 5th level who is of neutral-good or size and influence). The North is a frontier tures, lycanthropes, and bandits, the cold, lawful-neutral alignment. land of rugged mountains, seemingly civilized forest encounter table on page Goldenfields is rapidly becoming the endless forests, many ruins and dungeons 141 in Monster Manual II may be used. granary of the North, supplying food to (subterranean cities left behind by the Most evil elves have left the area entirely Waterdeep and the other inland cities. dwarves), and mineral wealth now being or have gone into the City (see Elaith With the increased importance of Golden taken by humans as the dwarves retreat, Craulnobur and Zabbas Thuul in chapter fields, the influence and stature of Tolgar as detailed in the first chapter of Water- 7 of Waterdeep and the North). Few were Anuvien have also increased. He is quickly deep and the North. This article deals with welcomed onto the ship to Evermeet. DMs becoming equal in power to the rulers of the immediate vicinity of Waterdeep, as should check for encounters only once Silverymoon and Neverwinter. Tolgar shown on the Environs of Waterdeep map. every two turns. plans to expand Goldenfields north to Numbered map features are detailed Somewhere deep in this forest is the control the strategic Ironford river cross- below. The area to the immediate east and overgrown tomb of Reluraun, a warrior- ing, then to use that control to safely south of the City of Splendors is mostly hero of the elves, who is said to lie in his expand to the east bank of the Dessarin. open, rolling grassland, long since logged vault clad in magical elfin chain mail, with To do this, Tolgar needs adventurers who bare. This land is currently used by many a sword +2, dragon slayer upon his are willing to defend Goldenfields and herdsmen for grazing camps near their breast. According to legend, the tomb is push back the evil creatures that roam the markets in Waterdeep. not unattended; magical creatures guard area. These adventurers must be com- Relurauns remains. Ardeep was the pletely loyal to Chauntea (or Lathander) 1. Ardeep Forest name of the western region of the ancient and Goldenfields. They will most likely Until recently, this ancient forest, a Fallen Kingdom, and now gives this forest have boring careers in the constant patrol- remnant of the woods that once covered its name. ling of the region, so PCs may not be inter- the North from the river Delimbiyr to the ested in such service. mountains of the Utter North, was the 2. Goldenfields Goldenfields enjoys good relations with home of the Moon Elves. This ancient race Begun only a handful of years ago by the Waterdeep and all the cities of the North of elvenkind once lived in harmony with cleric Tolgar Anuvien of Waterdeep, the (except Hellgate Keep), and happily takes men and dwarves in a kingdom that fortified abbey of Chauntea has grown in adventurers weary of danger or on the 8 DECEMBER 1987 D RAGON 9 run from justice elsewhere, as long as they been collected here, including weapons of Triboar and the northern interior. To the are willing to work in the fields. powerful magic crafted by the elves and west runs the coastal road which, after by dwarven smiths of long ago. passing the two great peaks, enters the 3. Zundbridge The famous bard Mintiper Moonsilver vast and treacherous swamp known as the Named for its creator, the wizard Zund, was allowed to see The House of Stone Mere of Dead Men. The road then passes this squat, massive stone bridge spans the some years ago at the permission of near the ruins of Iniarvs Tower. Iniarv River Dessarin, carrying the main caravan Eroan, Arch-Mage of the Moon Elves. He was a mighty Arch-Mage of the ancient road south from Waterdeep to the lands of reported that its gates were open. A hill North who became a demilich later in his the Inner Sea far to the east, and to giant had forced them apart some months life. Some say Iniarv still guards the ruins Baldurs Gate and the kingdoms of the before my visit, Eroan told the Lords of of his spell library, though others claim South. Zundbridge has held firmly for Waterdeep, for its huge corpse hung just that the famed Company of the Howling over 80 winters, even in the roaring beyond, impaled on a massive stone claw Wolf destroyed him 42 winters ago. None spring floods of the Dessarin, and has not that had sprung out into the space beyond who may have investigated have made been in need of repairs. Waterdeep patrols the doors. The elves just smiled when I public any report on the truth of this the road as far as Zundbridge and main- asked if the place was full of such traps, academic dispute, however. tains a guard post there to stop adventur- and said it was best to assume so from Mount Sar and Mount Helimbrar are ers who come in search of a stone golem safely outside its walls. It seems unlikely named for two great fomorian giants who said to have been used by Zund in the that later visitors will bear Mintipers lived in the mountains until they were construction of the bridge. According to report in mind. Even now, such Waterdha- slain by early Warlords of Waterdeep. legend, the golem was left at the bridge vian adventurers as Elaith Craulnobur (see These mountains are still said to harbor upon Zunds death, and may be taken by chapter 7 of Waterdeep and the North) are stone giants and more fearsome menaces, any who can divine or stumble upon the said to be forming adventuring companies although travelers also report seeing secrets of commanding it. to explore this fabled fortress. sylphs on the high ledges and side peaks. Over the years, many such seekers have Gulyaikin Dzrund, The Mad Dwarf, also dug around the bridge on both banks, 5. Sarcrag lived in a warren of caves somewhere high swum beneath it, and even tried to pry This small, jutting crag of bare rock up in Mount Sar some 70 winters ago (and stones out of the bridge arches. Water- provides a perfect natural lookout. On a may yet live there, if travelers tales are to deeps Guard fears that if the bridge was clear day, some 60 miles of territory can be believed). Gulyaikin was said to possess left unguarded, it would soon be demol- be viewed; on a clear night, campfires can rich treasures and was noted for his occa- ished by these zealous, would-be golem be seen 90 miles off to the north or east. sional fits of berserk glee. During these owners. The post is equipped with a flight Sarcrag also serves Waterdeep as a warn- fits, Gulyaikin delighted in killing all sorts of three griffon steeds to give Waterdeep ing beacon.

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