SARPHIL

Hidden Realm of The Dragons Spine

Lost Realms of Cormanthor Volume VI

Compiled, Edited & in parts written by

“Snowblood”

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Contents Map of the Hidden Empire page 3 Description of the Realm page 4 History of the Realm page 5 Rulers of Sarphillar -8850 DR until 1090 DR page 30 Cities of the Dragons Spine page 31 Map of The Greater Sarphil and Earthfast Region page 39 Lost Items of the Hidden Kingdom page 40 Resources Used page 41

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The Hidden Realm of Sarphil

sarphil

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Description of the Realm

Of old, this realm encompassed the eastern end of the Moonsea, and the mountains running north to what is now Glister. Beset by orcs and elven resistance to surface expansion, the dwarvres of Sarphil tunnelled under what is now Mulmaster, going deep to pass under the Lis. Their delves, sought by adventurers in the Mulmaster region, are called ‘The Lost Ways, Dwarves of Sarphil developed special moving-stone pumps to keep the waters of the Lis at bay, as they extended their underways westwards to the rocky heights north of present-day Elventree.

The Scarp sought by the dwarves is today much reduced in height; the dwarves quarried it from the top down for its rich veins of copper. They were perhaps the purest and largest deposits in the known North. The elves of the Elven Court resented this intrusion, and repeatedly attacked the dwarves. Before their numbers and magic, the dwarves were forced back. In the end they had to abandon the entire southern shore arm of Sarphil, retreating east and north into the mountains.

The only trace they left behind is the name of the city of Hillsfar, after Clan Hillsafar of Sarphil, principal miners of the Scarp, Clan Hillsafar can be found today in the land of Vaasa, on the other side of the Dragonspine Mountains. Sarphil was founded by Nilythra Namarforge, who became its first Queen. Her son, Raulauntar, proved to be an able and astute warrior, and is said to have personally slain over 20,000 ogres, as he defended the fledgling realm against attack.

Sarphil’s fall is a story common to most of the other Lost Kingdoms; its warriors were too few to hold what they had seized, and faced too many enemies. The last king of Sarphil was Dauringogh “the Doomed.” He disappeared in deep caverns under Mount Throndor, in the Dragonspine Mountains just south and east of Glister, as duergar and drow, in a rare alliance of the depths, harried the Sarphilan warriors northwards. Sarphil never had clear borders. Its hastily-abandoned caverns, the Lost Ways and all of the many linked caves and passages that honeycomb the Dragonspine Mountains, are said to hold enough wealth to buy at least six kingdoms (or so the minstrels say). The Sign of the Realm was a crossed (double-ended) pick and hammer, above an anvil. It can be seen to this day cut into the westernmost face of the Scarp, facing Hillsfar across the bay. Ed Greenwood – Dwarves Deep

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History of the Realm

–9000 DR welcome within the great halls of the city of Sarphil. Spawn Wars: Skirmishes break out between the eight subkingdoms of –8137 DR Shanatar as each fights to extend its borders at the expense of its neighbours. Second Age of Shanatar: The eight shield Over time, the skirmishes evolve into dwarf tribes of Shanatar are united under open warfare, pitting thousands of the rule of the king of Ultoksamrin. Within dwarves against one another. This series 150 years, trade is under way with surface of conflicts is known as the Spawn Wars elves. Rune casters from Shanatar because the dwarves make extensive use establish a series portal all the way to of deepspawn-bred legions. Refugees, led Mount Throndor. by the Hearth Guard, Nilythra Namarforge of Clan Hillsafar, flee northward over and –8100 DR under land and sea seeking a place far away from the strife plaguing their kin. Deep Shanatar is at its greatest expanse beneath southwestern Faerûn. Trade -8850 DR with Sarphil is brisk and migration north to open new sources of iron, silver mithral After 150 years of wandering, the and copper is well underway. The refugees emerge from the underdark near increased number of dwarven miners and present day Glister, having skirted the prospectors sees them coming into Deepmoon Sea. Spying a range of conflict with clans of ogres belonging to glittering snowcapped peaks, the dwarves the kingdom of Faarhaschiin. Before long settle within an ancient gallery of ancient all out war begins between the two yet alien dwarven design. Deep within the realms for control over territory and the bowels of a mountain they name riches contained. The war rages non-stop Throndor after the giant eagles who roost for the next 200 years with a regular influx upon its lofty heights, the newly arrived of warrior migrants and their families dwarves name their realm Sarphil of the from far off Shanatar. Glittering Spires, and crown lady Nilythra Namarforge as their first queen. -7900 DR

–8170 DR to –8150 DR Queen Nilythra dies defending the gates of Throndor from an enormous army of The First Spider War: The drow of ogres led by the Ogre High King. On a Guallidurth take advantage of the battlefield south east of present day dwarves’ civil war to attack the caverns of Glister, the dwarves all but wipe out the Alatorin, which were far removed from ogres through the use of war machines, the front lines of fighting. Brightaxe Hall is fire oil projectors, giant eagle riders and captured, and the kingdom of Alatorin sheer ferocity. Crown prince Raulauntar, falls. Refugees from Altorin make their proves to be an able and astute warrior, way north eventually finding a warm and is said to have personally slain over

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20,000 ogres, as he defends the fledgling realm against attack.

–7600 DR -7290 DR

The drow empire of Telantiwar falls with The first clans of wandering drow settle the collapse of the great cavern of within caverns on the shores of the Bhaerynden. Drow refugees claim lesser Moondeep Sea, far below the Sea of caverns to the north, south, east and west Dragons and deep beneath the passages of the newly formed Great Rift, connecting the cities of Sarphil and Mount establishing cities such as Llurth Dreier, Throndor. The dark elves of Tel Verinal the City of Ooze. slowly begin exploring their surroundings and it is not long before they discover the With help from expatriate clans from thriving dwarven realm above. Sarphil and Shanatar the dwarves return to their ancestral home, now the Great -7200 DR Rift and establish the Deep Realm. In the millennia that follow, the Stout Folk of the King Besendar and his companions Deep Realm become known as the gold disappear whilst on route from Sarphil to dwarves. Mt Throndor, trackers find traces of drow, a disturbing development that sends -7500 DR waves of panic throughout the realm. The new king Garntar immediately mobilises The last ogre stronghold is over run and the army and begins fortifying the the last ogre prince put to the axe, as King passages between the two cities. Raulauntar leads his armies to victory turning the formerly forested lands of -7000 DR Tharbator into a moor filled waste land so as to deny the ogres a place to hide. This The continued discovery of highly wanton environmental destruction does profitable seems of iron, copper, silver, nothing to endear the dwarves to their gold and mithral sees the establishment of southern neighbours, the elves. With the colonies by clans Hillsafar and Rolidar to death of the last ogre king the Dwarves the north and south of the capital Sarphil. officially proclaim the realm of Sarphil by Soon migrants are pouring north to newly marking the borders of their realm. opened Hillsafar Hall and south to the mithral mines of Mount Aergurl. -7340 DR -6862 DR After bringing peace to the now thriving realm of Sarphil that has seen the Continued clashes between the drow of establishment of settlements and mines Tel Verinal and the warriors of Sarphil up and down the Spine of the Dragon, sees the dark elves establish a second, King Raulauntar dies peacefully safer citadel on a mile long island of bare surrounded by his 21 children, and 60 rock in the middle of the Moondeep Sea, grand children, the clan lords elect the 50 miles beneath the surface lands, the renown general, Besendar Namarforge as new settlement, is named V'elddrinnsshar. the next king of the ever expanding realm. The priestess of Lolth dedicate the new city to

6 the Spider Queen with the sacrifice of King Gantar whom they kidnapped from his own palace on the western slopes of Mount Throndor. Enraged by the kidnapping and murder of their king the dwarves of Sarphil mount an expedition to wipe out their dark elf enemies. The new ruler, Paladin King Elmryn Namarforge, sends forth his troops beginning a systematic massacre of more than 10000 dark elves over the next 50+ years.

-6790 DR

Having battled the drow for the entire length of his reign King Elmryn and his troops finally face the dark elves within 6400 DR the great cavern of Telverell. Before the very walls of Tel Verinal, the drow and King Raulauntar II and his Earls learn that dwarves pit their final strengths against the kingdoms outlying southern holdings each other. After 7 days of bloody and are under attack, and in many cases vicious street battles the dwarves emerge already over run by a massive horde of victorious as the few surviving drow flee orcs pouring north out of the southern across the Moondeep Sea to their Earthfast Mountains. Gathering his holdings on V'elddrinnsshar. Their victory is armies the king force marches south to bitter sweet as at their moment of triumph meet this ravaging menace in the foothills the dwarves lose their king to a drow priestess at the western gates of Hollow Mountain. riding a giant aquatic spider. Dwarven mining Sorely over matched, King Raulauntar’s engineers collapse all tunnels leading from the 15000 troops are only saved by the smoking ruins of Tel Verinal sealing the city sudden appearance of legions of elven off from the surface once and for all. King knights, spearmen and archers who Elmryn’s son, the canny battle master, Prince savage the orcs from the rear. Raulauntar II is chosen to lead the badly savaged nation on its slow road to The elves of Arcorar meet the dwarves of recovery. Sarphil on the battlefields of the Vast and

forge a tenuous alliance since the elves -6500 DR save the dwarves from death at the orcs’ hands. The Treaty of the Axe & Bow is New loads of mithral and gold are signed with great ceremony on the banks discovered south of Mount Aergurl, this of the Nuathlis River and almost causes an new influx of migrants from immediately a trade depot is established Shanatar which in turn leads to the upon the sight. establishment the mighty citadel eventually known as Hollow Mountain. -6355 DR King Raulauntar II visits the new city dedicating it to the worship and glory of King Raulauntar II dies suddenly during a Dumathoin. raucous feast celebrating the anniversary

7 of his people’s victory over the drow. The fierce trade rivalries amongst the various king is found dead, face down in a pool of clan halls and holdings. spilled vomit and ale on the morning after the feast in which nobles from all the -5490 DR major families had gathered. The aged king is buried with great ceremony and on In response to increasing demand from the 44th day after his interment, the the elves, Queen Gwythir orders the gathered Earls crown the soft spoken, building of a trade tunnel and port on the Princess Isdlara Namarforge as the next shores of Galenaar, at the eastern end of ruler of Sarphil. the Dragon Sea, thus allowing direct trade between the realms of Arcorar and the –5960 DR burgeoning realm of Sarphil.

Third Age of Shanatar: The dwarves of -5479 DR Shanatar claim the surface lands north of the Marching Mountains as their own, The dwarves of Sarphil discover the hard establishing the kingdom of High way that their mortal enemies the Shanatar. The rune casters of Sarphil Duergar have established themselves in open up an trade portal from the capital the disused mines below old Sarphil to the new settlement and it is not long Citadel. An angry horde of grey dwarves before trade wares from the far north are and their goblin slaves boil out of long making their way into the human markets forgotten tunnels slaughter hundreds of of the deep south and vice versa. This innocents including the ailing queen who move make clans in both realms very, very has returned to her ancestor’s ancient rich. home to pay homage to her forebears. After a series of brutal encounters the -5888 DR intruders are driven back to their dank, dark holes which are then sealed with Powerful earth quakes rock the Spine of powerful rune magics. The new queen, the Dragon and thousands of beings are Maegara Namarforge places a 100gp killed in collapsed caverns, mines and bounty on the head of any Duergar that is halls. Amongst the dead is Queen Isdlara caught within the tunnels of the realm. and many of her nobles and their thanes, killed when the royal audience cavern in -5300 DR Sarphil collapses crushing all within. In the aftermath, Crown Princess Gwythiir Further incursions by wandering clans of Namarforge, the ruler of Throndor Duergar into the mines of Hollow becomes the 8th ruler of the realm and Mountain and Mt Suncatcher sees a Mount Throndor becomes the new capital renewed effort to eradicate them and whilst Sarphil is rebuilt. their goblinoid allies from the realms below. What begins as a simple search –5600 DR and destroy mission very soon becomes a dirty war of mutual genocide deep below Height of High Shanatar’s civilization is the wild, uncharted tunnels of the eastern realised. Several more trade portals are Moondeep Sea. opened up from Hillsafar Hall, Mount Aergurl and MT Suncatcher leading to 5200 DR

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To the north-east, the earls of Hillsafar The last gray dwarf is slain in the caverns Hall, Suncatcher Citadel, Orithiar and deep below Port Galenaar, the survivors, Ironspur and their various thanes declare driven west by the dwarves of Sarphil are their neutrality in the ongoing power eventually enslaved by the darks elves of struggle for the throne and Hillsafar Hall V'elddrinnsshar and are immedialtly set to seals off the main passageways between it work rebuilding the ruined city of Tel Verinal and the capital. alongside thousands of dwarven, elven, Orcish and goblin slaves. -4900 DR

-5185 DR After 100 years of bloody and internecine civil war which has seen brother slay The aging Queen Maegara dies quietly in brother and thousands slain, the final her sleep and is interred with her battle, takes place in the halls and mines ancestors within the halls of the ancestors of Hollow Mountain. Emerging victorious in Old Sarphil City. After 44 days of after personally slaying the usurper mourning and careful deliberation the Raulauntar lll, his father, Earl Raulauntar earls elect, the childless queens eldest lV, of Mount Aergurl is crowned the 12th nephew, Prince Rorn Namarforge to be ruler of a drastically weakened and the 10th monarch of the realm. internally riven realm.

–5125 DR -4867 DR

The dwarf realm of Oghrann is established Beset by orcs and elven resistance to beneath the Plains of Tun by emigrants surface expansion, the dwarves of Sarphil from overcrowded Shanatar and led by the Earl of Clan Hillsafar tunnel disgruntled dwarves from southern under what is now Mulmaster, going deep Sarphil angry at King Rorns ruinous taxes to pass under the Lis, following copper and extravagant building programme as veins of unusual quality. he attempts to return the halls of Old Sarphil City to their former ancient glory. -4800 DR

-5002 DR The dwarves of Sarphil develop special moving-stone pumps to keep the waters The hated King Rorn dies suddenly with of the Lis at bay, as they extend their his rebuilding programme only half underways westwards to the rocky completed. With accusations flying about heights north of Elventree. The Scarp the council chamber of muder and sought by the dwarves is quarried from deception, the earls split the kingdom the top down for its rich veins of copper, down family lines beginning perhaps the gold and iridium. It forms the cap of the darkest period in Sarphils long history. purest and largest deposit in the known Dwarven armies from Throndor and Old North. Sarphil led by the self appointed King Raulauntar lll Namarforge march south to confront the rebel earls and their -4684 DR supporters.

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The elves of the Elven Court resenting the flood out of previously unnoticed tunnels continued intrusion and wanton and swarmed into Elven Court. destruction of their forests by dwarven woodcutters seeking timbers for their The start of the fray shows the forces mines, repeatedly attack the dwarves. matched evenly, but when the second This Initiates the Axe & Arrow War that wave of dark elves and dwarves comes up sees the armies of western Sarphil and the from the depths, the forces of good falter. elves of the Elven Court and Jhyrennstar The meager forces assembled are easily clash repeatedly. Before their numbers overwhelmed, especially since the elves and magic the armies of haughty King and dwarves have set aside their weapons Raulauntar IV, are forced back after the at Elven Court. More than thirty clans of monarchs death at the hand of dwarves and elves lose their leaders in the Jhyrennstar’s Grand-High Mage. slaughter. The dark elves of Tel Verinal have learned many potent and malignant In the end they have to abandon all of magics during their exile, and their their holdings on the southern shore arm resistance to elven spells helps turn the of Sarphil, retreating east and north into tide in their favour. They summon spiders the mountains. The dwarves officially and deepspawn and other hideous retreat but small parties of independent monsters into Elven Court, ensuring mass miners and prospectors continue to scour destruction. the old tailing sights looking for iridium deposits, the key ingredient in their As the drow and duergar keep erupting superior mithral mail and weapons. The from down below, the dwarves fight more circumspect and surviving earls the holding actions in the tunnels, and many dead kings most trusted son, Dauringogh brave dwarves die by collapsing the Namarforge as the next ruler of a much tunnels upon themselves and their foes. reduced Sarphil. As the tunnels begin closing with increasing frequency, two-thirds of the -4493 DR drow and duergar abandon their attacks on the elven settlement and flee down Both elven scouts of Jhyrennstar and the tunnels that lead to Sarphil. dwarven miners of Sarphil are found dead, not by accident but by murder. The Trusting that his elven allies can handle mysterious deaths continue for decades the remaining invaders above, Sarphil’s with no answers, though many rumors King Dauringogh and 44 dwarves frayed dwarf and elf tempers alike as each (including two of his four sons) chase the chose to accuse the other of wrongdoing. dark invaders to Sarphil, where they find Sarphil’s warriors dead or routed. Despite –4400 DR days of fighting and knowledge of his homeland, King Dauringogh (hereafter Elven Court’s and Sarphil’s clan leaders called ‘the Doomed’) finds himself and his meet at Midwinter and re-establish their people inundated with the evil Underdark alliance at Elven Court. Then, during the races, most malevolent warriors and longest, darkest night of the year, evil wizards. Within a month of Midwinter, strikes. Hordes of drow and duergar, the Dauringogh and his remaining dwarves evil Underdark cousins of both races, flee north, abandoning Sarphil. The King and his troops disappear in deep caverns

10 under Mount Throndor, in the -4184 DR Dragonspine Mountains just south and east of Glister, as duergar and drow, harry Having led his people out of the darkness the Sarphilan warriors northwards. and chaos of war, King Daurael ‘The Great’, dies peacefully at the ripe old age After all was over, there were no more 501. After 44 days of mourning, the than 30 dwarf and 15 elf survivors of the surviving nobles of a much reduced realm feast hereafter remembered as the Dark elect, Prince Thirag Namarforge, Daurael’s Court Slaughter. Sarphil fell, and it was aging younger brother, as the next king of split into two occupied realms for the Sarphil. drow and duergar. -4050 DR With the destruction of the citadels of Old Sarphil, Mount Suncatcher, Mount A religious revival begins within the Aergurl, Hollow Mountain and Mount kingdom fuelled by visions said to have Throndor, the surviving dwarves of Sarphil come from Moradin himself. King Thirag lead by the princes Daurael & Thirag orders the building of a grand temple Namarforge retreat behind the sealed complex in the mountains south of the vaults and doors of Hillsafar Hall, wielding Weeping Wall. Looking south over the the rulers hammer, Gorathmund, Prince Glacier of the White Worm the temples Daurael becomes the ruler of a much glass-steel windows give viewers an reduced, and now highly secretive and panoramic view worthy of the gods. The inward looking realm. Eyes of Moradin, a carefully hidden temple reminiscent of the one in lost -4320 DR Mount Aergurl becomes home to a monastic community of warrior dwarves The war of axe and spiders concludes with seeking a life dedicated to the worship of the building of the Weeping Wall. A series their deity. of massive mithral, iron stone and iridium fortifications along the tunnels and mines of Hillsafar’s south-western border. King Daurael leads his troops on increasingly brutal retributive raids against the duergar and their goblin allies, avoiding all direct conflict with the drow.

-4190 DR

Having all but eliminated the gray dwarves and goblins from the upperdark regions of his realm, King Daurael orders 100 days of games along with the establishment of a new citadel further north atop a seem of almost pure iridium enriched iron. Ironspur becomes the northern most city -4009 DR of Sarphil.

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The already aged King Thirag dies quietly arm themselves in numbers enough to whilst on pilgrimage to Moradin’s Eye, he withstand the orcs before it is too late. A is interred there with his brother in the small party of battle weary dwarven newly completed royal crypts in a tresure priests, rune casters, paladins and their filled vault deep within the heart of the families appear in the under halls of temple. The pious nobles seeking Moradins Eye one of them bearing the Moradin’s favour select the kings’ eldest regalia of the Royal House of the Helm of son the monkish priest, Prince Zuth Gharraghaur. Namarforge as the 3rd king of Sarphillar. -3550 DR -3900 DR With a continued influx of refugees from The devout King Zuth dies whilst leading a across the north, King Cathor signs the raid on drow found attempting to charters establishing a new city in the establish a new colony beneath the mountains far to the south. The Citadel of glaciers just north of Hillsafar Hall. The Ironaxe is proclaimed and many of the drow are wiped out at great cost to the formers residents of Oghrann are dwarves and a new ruler, the late kings resettled in this virgin land. great nephew and eldest living relative, Duke Cathor Hillsafar becomes the next -3513 DR monarch to wield the rulers hammer. King Cathor dies in a mine collapse whilst –3770 DR inspecting an unusually rich vein of mithral, rescuers fail to find his body nor The dwarf realm of Oghrann falls. Beset the bodies of his guards, but traces of gray on all sides by enemies—lizardfolk, dwarf miners are eventually found on the nomadic human tribes, wemics, and the far side of the cave-in. The new ruler, usual bugbears, trolls, and goblinkin King Gwarr Hillsafar sends deep patrols to races—the realm is swept away by disease root out the newly discovered intruders. and war. Refugees make good use of the long established trade portals and begin -3406 DR flooding into the abandoned halls of Mount Suncatcher. Meeting fierce A sudden shift in the glacial layers north of resistance from a band of itinerant the realm causes many small earthquakes goblins, the dwarves are finally rescued by throughout the north. In one such a patrol of warriors from Hillsafar Hall. It instance a massaice crevasse opens up is not long before word spreads back to revealing a previously entrapped ancient ruined Oghrann and thousands more white wyrm. The dragon is insane after come pouring through the portals before millennia in suspended animation and Sarphillans runecasters finally seal the goes on a killing spree across the great ice portals. sheet and mountains ranges that last for more than 70 years. –3611 DR

Gharraghaur becomes the first of the great dwarf kingdoms to fall to orc attacks. Its people are too busy mining to

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-3335 DR -2999 DR

Good King Gwar and his party of reindeer King Baergurn abdicates in disgrace after hunters are set upon by the ‘Mad Wyrm’, it is revealed that he has a secret Gray Chorophatarix in the ensuing battle upon Dwarf lover. Hounded from his throne the slopes of Mount Hammerthrone the the king and his mistress are exiled to the king slays the dragon using the rulers frozen lands to the north. His persecutor, hammer, but at the cost of his own life. the xenophobic Prince Yurdag Hillsafar The survivors trek back to Hillsafar Hall attempts to have all mention of his where the new ruler, the mighty smith, disgraced father removed from the public Duke Baergurn Hillsafar in crowned. records and statutes of his cast down and used for road fill. King Yurdag then has himself crowned the 7th ruler of Sarphillar.

-2990 DR

King Yurdag ‘The Mad’ is unceremoniously struck down by his own grand-daughter after beheading his own wife in front of the gathered courtiers. His accusations of her adultery are proved to be unfounded and his mutilated body is dumped upon the glacier and the new Queen Asrynda Hillsafar sends out search parties to look for her exiled kin with little result.

-2857 DR

-2890 DR After years in the icy wilderness, the exiled Lord Baergurn and his followers With the underground way blocked by the settle within the caverns beneath a newly emergent drow and duergar realms mountain they name Forondar. There to the west, the dwarves of Sarphillar they encounter strange winged elves. The begin sending their wares overland to Port two groups rarely cross paths with the Galenaar where their small ships and dwarves agreeing to keep to the woods barges receive the goods before taking and dells of the lower slopes. them to the trade depot in Tailings Bay to the west. This trade grows slowly over -2786 DR time as a thriving community of Hill Dwarves of Clan Orothiar, establish and The much loved Queen Asrynda retires thence maintain a god working gracefully from office and takes her place relationship with their trading amongst the matrons of the temple of counterparts from the various elven Sharindlar. The assembled nobles cannot realms within Arcorar. decide upon a successor from amongst the many possible candidates and Queen Asrynda refuses to nominate an heir. Before she knows it she has lost

13 everything and bitter infighting ensues. legion north to deal with this emerging When the dust and sounds of battle clear threat. more than 40 nobles and thanes are dead with twice as many wounded. The battle -2400 DR ends with the hearthguard, Princess Cathlynn Hillsafar picks up the rulers The last hobgoblin and human tribes are hammer and shatters the ancient driven south away from the lands claimed Sarphillan crown. by the dwarves. The returning legions fall upon a horde of starving goblinoids as –2642 DR they are attempting to break down the gates of Orothiar at the mouth of the Path Establishment of the arctic dwarf kingdom of Blood & Tears. of Dareth in the mountains north of Rashemen under the rulership of King -2300 DR Orloebar Snowbeard. The emigrants from Shanatar soon discover a small colony of Queen Cathlynn dies peacefully and is Shield Dwarves living peacefully within the mourned by one and all, statues and mountains they choose as their new stellae are raised in her honour is halls, home, led by the daughter of old Lord and holds up and down the kingdom. The Baergurn. The newcomers are not made people of Orithiar carve a great statue to feel welcome and soon the two groups dedicated to her on the high slopes above come to blows. the Path of Blood & Tears and venerate her as a semi-divine saviour. After the -2490 DR two score and four days of mourning the attending dukes, earls and thanes elect A mini ice age settles over the north the queens middle son, Prince Hyndbruin leading to the expansion of the Vaasan Hillsafar as the 10th monarch of the Glacier. The dwarves of Sarphillan lose hidden realm. most of their northern pastures of the Sunderlands, and are forced to graze their -2221 DR rothe herds on the more dangerous southern slopes of the Dragons Spine. King Hyndbruin orders the retaking of the This in turn leads to greater conflicts with halls of Mount Suncatcher in order to the orcs who dwell within the caves of the increase the safety of the dwarves southern foothills. caravans to the west. After many months the returning dwarves find the halls eerily –2460 DR empty filled with naught but the desiccated husks of duergar drained of The Nar human tribes and the hobgoblins life. It is not long before the source of the of the northern mountains and tundra, destruction is revealed... pushed south by the expansion of the Great Glacier, come into conflict with each other and the elves of Lethyr. Dwarves in the lesser halls and holds north of Ironspur come under attack by fleeing -2080 DR bands of hobgoblins and humans. Queen Cathlynn sends her Thunderhammer

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King Hyndbruin and his wife, along with portals into the trade galleries of Mount every guard and servant within the royal Suncatcher and the silent ruins of Old complex are found slumped in positions of Sarphil. contorted agony their desiccated husks devoid of moisture, life and blood. Priests -1798 DR of Moradin are brought in from the Temple of Moradin’s Eye to track down Alarmed at this sudden increase in the the nameless terror that haunts the dwarven population is the realms above, passageways of Hillsafar Hall. Fleeing the dark elves of V'elddrinnsshar begin south the people temporarily abandon the sending out raiding bands to test the strength capital and resettle within the newly and resolve of their erstwhile opponents. reclaimed halls of Mount Suncatcher. King Ghaern Hillsafar assumes the mantle -1796 DR of rulership donning the Sun Crown of Sarphillar. In response to the increasingly violent raids by the drow King Ghaern places a bounty upon the head of all drow caught within -1943 DR the passageways of the upper dark.

Within a short time expeditions are sent Undead continue to plague the lowers by greedy nobles and thanes wanting to halls and passageways of the Hidden line their pockets with the kings gold. Realm, King Ghaern orders his priest and Soon hundreds of dark elf skulls are lining rune caster led legions into the mines to the king’s hall in Hillsafar. In response to wage war upon their nameless foe. Soon the increasing violence the dark elves they discover nests of dwarven vampires begin planning a counter strike of their and banshees and bloody and horror filled own. battle ensues.

-1927 DR -1705 DR

The last vampire is dusted and the final After 90 years of patient planning and banshee laid to rest as the halls of ancient observation the dark elf magi and Hillsafar are reclaimed. The end of the sorcerers of V'elddrinnsshar, Tel Velinar and Dread Wars sees a sudden upsurge in Maerymdra gather together in a grand conclave to summon a fell nightmare within trade with the surface realms and the the heavily fortified halls of Old Sarphil. In a doubling of the populations of Port ritual reminiscent of the ancient high magic Galenaar and the trade post of Tailings long since lost to the drow, the combined Bay. arcane casters summon a demonic infernal that begins reeking havoc within the great –1800 DR halls and chambers of the old subterranean city. Within days, 70000 dwarves are dead or The descendants of Clan Duergar invade missing, having fled into the deep wastes and the realms of Ultoksamrin and Holorarar the rune casters of Sarphillar are sealing their in Deep Shanatar and others soon follow. ancient capital behind millions of tonnes of rock and eldritch runes of godlike power. To Only Iltkazar survives the gray dwarf seal the mantle placed over the city to entrap invasion, leaving Shanatar fallen in all but the beast, King Ghaern sacrifices himself to name. Many thousands of refugees once set the seals with blood and his soul. again pour through long dormant trade

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The few surviving nobles elect the more Prospectors working old tailings in the far circumspect Earl Rhamildar Hillsafar, son northern mountains strike a new vein of of the now dead Duke, as the new ruler. pure mithral ore sparking a rush of miners His first order of business is to set a watch and claim jumpers to the lands along the over the sealed city issuing a decree that far western mountains. The incoming is death for any who seek to break the revenue allows the dwarves to build new seals around it. holdings south within the bowels of diamond rich Mount Ironaxe. Migrants -1600 DR begin drifting south the holdings within the Earthfast Mountains. King Rhamildar journeys to the city of Cormanthor to once again establish a -1350 DR formal cultural, trade, and military alliance with the various realms of Arcorar. He is The southern thanes petition the king to accompanied upon his return to Mount sign the charter for a new city in the Suncatcher by an Elven Ambassador, Lady mountains to the south far away from the Thaeryll Audark and two high magi who trouble and strife of the northern realm. begin setting up more permanent and The smithies of Sarphillar ring day and powerful wards around the entombed night with the clang of hammers beating infernal. In gratitude, King Rhamildar out the weapons and tools needed for the orders the building of a mighty citadel of establishment of the new citadel. incredible beauty and light for the ambassador to dwell in. Kiirantelholme -1277 DR Palace when it is finished is considered one of the finest blendings of dwarven Alerted by the increased activity within and elven architecture ever seen. their mountains the orcs of the Earthfasts led by the chieftain Gralkash -1556 DR ‘Bonesplitter’, begin hathering to repulse the invaders. In a series of stunning Enamoured of elvish ways the young king reversals the dwarves are routed from dies violently upon the claws of a giant their newly opened halls and driven north owlbear whilst hunting said same at great loss of life. In response King creatures in the forests south of Tailings Rhamildar II leads his legions south in a Bay settlement. His untimely demise is flanking manoeuvre that traps the sorely felt by both realms and the ir rampaging orcs against the ice cliffs of the respective leaders vow that the late kings White Wyrm Glacier. The fighting is diplomatic efforts will not be in vain. The without quarter and by day’s end both late kings some, the inexperienced, elf King Rhamildar II and Chief Gralkash are loving Prince Rhamildar II Hillsafar is called dead, having slain each other axe to axe. home from his studies in Orithiar and is The resolute ferocity of the dwarves soon crowned the next wearer of the Sun carries the day and it is many generations Crown. before the orcs rise to pose a serious threat again.

-1423 DR -1197 DR

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The lacklustre King Uindolfin Hillsafar is begin actively searching out the root killed whilst practising with the rulers cause of the growing orc problems. throwing hammer. Bashing his own brains out the unfortunate king is quickly -899 DR interred and his successor, the charismatic and flamboyant Prince Pyradar Hillsafar is The first clashes between the orcs of the elected the next King of Sarphillar. In a northern Earthspurs and the warriors of few short years his rambunctious rule has Sarphillar begin in the mines and caverns seen the establishment of the glorious city of the Deeper Dark. Initially the dwarves of Earthfast as the new, southern most are successful but over time they begin to citadel of the ever expanding Hidden encounter monstrous orcs with demonic Kingdom. strengths and powers.

-1002 DR -810 DR

An unusually cold winter sees the The Ice Way – the main subterranean southern passes closed for most of the trade way linking northern and souther trading season. This in turn leads to Sarphillar is cut by the sudden emergence shortages of all but the essential items. of tens of thousands of goblinoids and Before long the cold begins to take its toll their demon tainted masters. King Starag and many elderly dwarves in the outer orders the sealing of the passageways holdings freeze to death as winter wolves south and begins fortifying the paths and and white worms roam free through the tunnels leading north to his realm. A high mountain pastures. trade portal is established between the cities of Mount Suncatcher and Earthfast -988 DR thus negating the relative threat posed to trade by the ever increasing orcs. King Pyradar disappears mysteriously along with the the royal procession whilst -775 DR on route to his summer residence at Port Galenaar. Many suspect duergar or drow, The Ironhammer and Thunderfist legions but the actual cause is much more of Sarphil begin a systematic insidious. After extensive searches lasting extermination of the orcs beneath their many months, the new King, Starag lands. The highly mechanised nature of Hillsafar declares the king and his retinue their attacks more than balances their officially dead and then assumes the vastly inferior numbers. In a few short mantle of the Sun Crown King. months 100 000 orcs and their demon kin are slain and the orcish Over King -950 DR Gargendar is slain. With the dwarves offensive driving the orcs south deep into King Starag travels south to Lisen to meet the central Earthspurs the elves of Lisenar with his counterpart the Lady Oluvaera to come under increasing pressure from the discuss the increasing orcish activity in the east. mountains surrounding their respective realms. A formal military alliance is agreed upon and scouts from both realms

17

-736 DR with several clans of Stone Giants recently brought under the rule of King Gorgath. With a virulent plague currently ravaging The dwarves manage to wipe out most of the gray dwarf population the Matron the giants but in doing so Wyrmwite Mother of V'elddrinnsshar send envoys to Citadel (in the far eastern Earthspurs) is the new orcish Over King Gorgath seeking destroyed. The new king, the giant slayer, an alliance of convenience against their (and distant nephew of the exiled king mutual foes the elves and dwarves on the Baergurn), Raulauntar V Namarforge is Vast. handed the throne in an attempt by the dwarves to fulfil an ancient prophecy that –722 DR states that the lost king Raulauntar would return to save them in their hour of Elves of Ylraphon suffer attacks by drow greatest need. forces from Tel Verinal in winter who use the bitter darkess of a roaring blizzard to -686 DR cover their approach from above and below the city. The Thunderhammers Lady Oluvaera leads an attempt by the from Mount Suncatcher manage to break forces of Lisen to retake the city of the siege but at great cost to all. In the Ylraphon. After initially taking back the summer the orc hordes of King Gorgath ruins, the triumphant army is all but manage to swarm the defences of the annihilated by a horde of demonic orc kin already weakened city slaughter hundreds lead by the Over King Gorgath himself. of residents. Again the dwarves force This horde in turn is besieged by King march to the city, leaving thousands of Raulauntar and the Thunderfel Legion smashed orc skulls in their wake but the who proceed to slay every orc, gnoll and Thunderhammers arrival is too late to tiefling they can lay their axes into. save the city. The dwarves act as a shield Pesruing the orcs west they manage to for the fleeing refugees allowing trap the fleeing remnant in a box canyon thousands to escape to Lisen and beyond. and with the help of elven wizards the slaughter really begins. Despite this -700 DR victory the surrounding orc numbers are so great that the loss of 10000 barely Orcs rule the eastern shore of the Reach, makes a dent in the population. from the ruins of Arlistaar to the Earthspur Mountains. Their time as -671 DR overlords of Vastaar is a brawling rule of constant coups, counter-attacks, and The first great hordes form as orcs grow strife with all other inhabitants of the so numerous as to gather into raiding mountains. The dwarves of Earthfast as hordes every dozen summers or so. Sarphillar withdraw into their mountain Pushed west by the continuous strongholds only venturing out when the harassment of the dwarves of Sarphil, orcs push too hard against their defences. these great, undisciplined hosts of warriors build or seize ships and sail away -695 DR south to plunder and slay.

King Starag and much of the -630 DR to 100 DR Thunderhammer legion are slain in a clash

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The first organised horde crosses the River success and the dark elves soon learn to Nuathlis and begins raiding deep into the fear the heavily armoured, magically eastern woods of the Elven Court. They protected dwarves and their insidious are finally stopped at Morkyls Drift on the killing machines. eastern shores of the Duathamper. To build their crude, ramshackle ships the orcs fell the timber of The Vast repeatedly, until little remains in the central and western reaches, (only in the north are their efforts thwarted by the bows of Lisen and the axes of Sarphil), and they have to seize what they need from the Elven shores across the Reach. -454 DR

The orcs soon find that if they sail across King Raulauntar V and many of his finest the storm-torn Reach without securing a warriors are slain by sea faring drow landing-place first they are doomed to a travelling by ship from Port Galenaar to swift death under elven arrows and magic the settlement at Tailings Bay. The only ere they can land. So army after army survivor, a young dwarf named crosses the River Nuathlis at the northern Thistlepwent describes in graphic detail end of the Reach via the fords of Arlistaar the black sailed ships of the dark elf having been driven west away from their pirates. Back in Hillsafar Hall, the late mountain homes by the systematic kings son, Duke Olagondir Namarforge is attacks by the legions of the crowned the next king by the gathered Thunderhammers, in the years between thanes and nobles. hordes. –343 DR Time after time these armies find the elves waiting for them. The hail of arrow- The arctic dwarves of Dareth come under fire on orcs slogging slowly through the attack from Hoarfaern, a realm of white marshy banklands of the Nuathlis brings dragons and their bestial servant great slaughter, earning the Nuathlis the creatures, and are forced to flee to deeper nickname “Blood River”. Caught between caverns. A small group of dwarves, the axes of Sarphil and the arrows of descendents of the exiled Lord Baergurn Arcorar, more than half a million orcs end flee in the Deeper Dark armed with the their days in the Nuathlis swamp lands. knowledge passed down to them by the Gray Dwarf ancestors. Heading south –470 DR they seeking sanctuary in the Deep Dwarven metropolis of Ghaandraghan. The Shadow Wars, pitting Cormanthyr and Rystall Wood against the Twisted Tower –327 DR begin. Honouring the Third Axe & Arrow Treaty, King Raulauntar V sends military The shield dwarves of Clan Shattered assistance in the form of Tunnel Ratters Shield arrive in Dareth to find their arctic and deep earth engineers to assist ther dwarf cousins beset by the forces of elves in their wars with the drow of Hoarfaern. They rescue the surviving folk Maerymdra. They meet with much of Dareth and retreat to a lone mountain

19 which they name Mount Sundabar in herself back by an army of Deep dwarves honor of their home in Delzoun. The she begins a reign of absolutism that sees refugees are welcomed by the small clans her isolate the realm ending all contact of dwarves already living in the mountains with the outside world. shadow but animosity and suspicion prevail when they realise that their hosts -203 DR are surface dwelling Duergar. Soon after slaughtering most of the peaceful gray Bloody and internecine warfare grips the dwarves the new arrivals commence upper halls of Sarphillar as nobles loyal to building a fortress of their own there, the imprisoned king attempt to drive off using the hidden citadel of their erstwhile the usurper and her ruthless mercenary hosts as a base, and elect Embryn army. The intense guerrilla warfare sees Shattered Shield as their king. He leaves countless dwarves orphaned on both his clan to take the name of Dareth. sides. Digging deeper thet dwarves of clan Dareth find the tomb of King Baergurn in -162 DR all his Sarphillan royal regalia. The loyalists led by the Prince Royal, Duke Crying Wolves: The dwarves of Dareth and Ulric Namarforge of Mount Suncatcher the white dragons of Hoarfaern destroy storm the underhalls of Hillsafar each other in a final climactic battle on slaughtering the rebels when ever & the broad mountaintop now known as where ever they find them. Finding the Heroes’ Height, bringing this dwarf old kings mummified body still within the kingdom to an end. Months after the fall cell he was imprisoned in, Prince Ulric of the realm, dwarves from Ghaandraghan orders the immediate execution of move through the ruins searching for Belsimara and her supporters. In the survivors. Finding none they remove all ensuing throne room battle Prince Ulric items of use burning the dead and battles and beheads the pretender collapsing the entrances to the ruind revealing her to be a malaugrym of citadel. Heading south the Half Duergar ancient power. Namaforge clan of King Baergurn head south, leading an army of Deep Dwarf –153 DR mercenaries. With ever increasing numbers of dwarves –205 DR being born in southern Sarphillar and the principality of Earthfast, King Ulric signs a Orc hordes engulf Rystall Wood charter leading to the founding of the city throughout the year, the worst hordes and port of Proeskampalar. The city arriving in winter. The winter hordes also quickly becomes an important trading over run Ironspur, and the outer holdings partner of Westgate due to an influx of of Orothiar and The Ice Watch. Only with refugees from fallen Jhaamdath. The city the timely arrival of an unexpected army grows rapidly standing as it does near the of Deep Dwarves led by the Paladin greatest ruby, emerald, sapphire and Belsimara Namaforge are Othrothiar and diamond mines on the North Hillsfar Hall saved. Taking advantage of Coast. From its earliest days, the city is the confusion she imprisons King known for its skilled goldsmiths and gem- Olagondir and seizes the throne for cutters.

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are appearing at the Trading Post at Daggers Ford.

–64 DR

Rystall Wood falls in its Twelfth Rysar to giants and orcs. The survivors either remain in Yrlaancel or migrate to Cormanthyr. King Ulric opens up a second front against the old enemy in Thar drawing orcish forces away from their offensive against the elves. Using the Tethyamar trade portal, elements of the Thunderhammers pour forth to trap the retreating orcs and giants in a massive –145 DR hammer & anvil manoeuvre. After 40 days of hard campaigning, Teshar and Roryn, blood of Thordbard, of the Iron Tethyamar are saved but the realm of House of fallen Oghrann founds the dwarf Rystallar is no more. realm of Tethyamar in the present-day Desertsmouth Mountains. Migrants from 005 DR Sarphillar (joining their cousins from the west) soon swell the ranks of those within After a life time of warfare and struggle Tethyamar. Soon trade portals are King Ulric “Bloody Axe” dies peacefully in established and regular caravans pass his sleep on the eve of his 450th birthday. between the two realms bypassing the He is buried with full honours, the solemn savage realm of Thar, the pirate infested ceremony attended by hundreds of Dragon Sea and the drow & deurgar thanes and nobles from realms across the infested tunnels beneath. heartlands; human, elf and dwarf. His heir, the Hearth Guard Princess Tassarli -132 DR Namarforge ascends the throne in a time of great uncertainty and social change for Princess Tassarli Namarforge marries the dwarves. Gerthan Thorbard untiing the two realms poltically and militarily. The dwarves of 99 DR Tethyamar recognising the strength of the Sarphillar holdings acknowledge King Ulric Queen Tassarli marries Duke Fathrynn paying tithes and homage to his rule. Ironaxe in a grand ceremony the two almost immediately begin to argue as Lord –75 DR Fathrynn attempts to control his new wifes’ words and actions. It is not long Teshar is founded in the cleared lands before their frosty relationship leads to between Rystall Wood and Cormanthor. political strife and uncertainty with the The dwarves of Tethyamar soon establish southern lords loyal to the duke. trade relations with the humans and within a few months goods from Sarphil

21

163 DR schism between the northern and southern halves of the realm. With the growth of trade between the elves and dwarves, and a smattering of 261 DR adventurous human traders the village of Elmwood is established as a small way The elf city at the heart of Cormanthyr station for ship traffic to and from the becomes the unified city of Myth Drannor. River Lis. Aside from the elves living in the Coronal Eltargrim, in an edict called the village, Queen Tassarli charters members Opening, declared that Cormanthyr was of the Orothiar clan to establish a trade to be an open realm, accessible to all non- presence there to forward the kingdoms elves (N’Tel’Q uess), following the laying own commercial and political interests. of the mythal and the renaming of the city. In the months that follow many 199 DR dwarven nobles, including the opportunistic King Daggan visit the realm Dwarven Miners from Mount ironaxe to pay their respects to the Coronal. The delving deep beneath Wolf Mountain dwarves of Hillsafar establish a canton disturb a drow mining operation. The within the city which doubles as the ensuing underground battles rage for embassy for the realm. months in the deep mines and caverns. Sensing a political opportunity Queen 328 DR Tassarli sends her husband the recalcitrant Duke and a force of 5000 Alarmed at the sudden rise in orc and southern dwarves to help to besieged giant numbers in the mountains dividing citizens of Mount Ironaxe. In a series of northern and southern Sarphillar, King bloody clashes the relief column and its Daggan announces an crusade against the leaders are all but wiped out by demonic hated foe beginning a campaign of drow ambushes. Sensing that her realm is genocidal persecution against the in real trouble the Queen calls upon the goblinoids and their giantish neighbours. elves invoking the Axe & Arrow Alliance Treaty. The forces of Lisen are eventually 331 DR called in to seal the deep caverns with high magic to prevent the Drow and their After three years of relentless warfare demonic minions from returning. against the dwarves of Sarphillar the orcs of Vastar launch an unexpected attack on 221 DR eastern Cormanthyr late in this year seeking to escape the murderous axes of Queen Tassarli is badly injured in an their foes, and occupy some of the lands avalanche whilst out hunting white worms east of the Elven Court for the next few on the northern glaciers. Refusing to years. The orcs spend the next years both name her son as heir and successor, solidifying their forces here and exploring (despite vehement protests by the the ruins of the ancient elf temple city. southern nobles), when she eventually dies the crown passes to the late queens 335 DR nephew, the crafty and ruthless Earl Daggan Namarforge thus creating a The Darkwoods Massacre: The fourth major foray by Myth Drannor forces

22 against the invading orcs occurs within the immediately commissions a wyrm hunt Darkwoods in high summer. The battle is and dispatches his kingdoms greatest lost as the orcs surround over half of the dragon slayers north to find, and kill the allied forces and decimate them in their murderous wyrm. sleep; since the human guards are also among the slain, no explanation is 393 DR apparent for the negligence. In all, more than 1,000 soldiers die that night, though Thousands of dwarven and human only 100 of them are elves. refugees from independent holds on Thars eastern broders flee into the Dwarven Wayfinders keeping track of the ancient halls and holds of Mount goings on between the orcs and the elves Throndor. There they are met by a report back to King Daggan that both sides number of deep patrols of wayfinder have suffered grievous losses, but still the dwarves assigned to watch over the king stays his hand refusing to offer ancient tombs and citadels. They bring assistance to the elves. with them reports of an enormous build up of giant and goblinoid kin within the 339 DR hills and blasted moorlands of Thar.

The orcs in the eastern forest are routed 400 DR by elf and human forces. Instrumental in the battles is the human warrior Velar. Evil, inhuman forces known collectively as Velar and his human (and some elf) allies the Dark Alliance sweep out of Thar and resettle the lands around the coastal destroy Northkeep. After a dark ritual is forest, and the area soon becomes known performed by over 40,000 humanoid as Velarsdale. As they retreat back priests, mages, and shamans, the city of towards their mountain homes the Northkeep sinks beneath the purple remnant orcs are met by small armies of waves of the Dragons’ Sea. The city’s dwarves who track the survivors back to Royal Mage Akempus ’Lord of Roses’ betrays their holes and then proceed to wipe Northkeep to its enemies in return for the title them out parents, warriors, whelps and and privileges of overlord of the city. Akempus's allies however, double-cross him, all. The slaughter is so complete that it is destroying the city instead of merely more than 200 years until orc numbers conquering it The neighboring settlement rise to such numbers in the Earthspurs of Phlan is also sacked by the inhuman again. army. With the life force gathered by the 12000+ human deaths the gathered 389 DR spellcaster combine their arcane might to shatter the mythal and unleash the King Daggan and a host of warriors are infernal trapped within Old Sarhpil. killed whilst riding out to battle a great red wyrm that is ravaging holds near Mt 402 DR Suncatcher. The wyrm, Carofarratichyr manages to make off with many rare The combined arcane and martial forces artefacts of great power from the of Cormanthyr, Sarphillar, Teshar Moonstar, Bronzehammer, and Athelmist Tethyamar and the wild humans of The clan holds, leaving hundreds of dead in its Ride combine to battle the inhuman army wake. The new ruler, Adalaer Namarforge of Thar. Led by the human, dwarven and

23 elven rulers the arcane and faith based gathers another army, which routs the casters begin a ritual of their own to orcs at the Battle of Bloody Reeds. He is contain the rampaging monster before it crowned king of Impiltur on the battlefield destroys all in its wakes whilst the allied and establishes the Durlarven Dynasty of army drives deep into the gray wastes to Old Impiltur. battle the rampaging horde. In a calamitous battle that shakes the very 572 DR mountains the forces of good battle the hordes of evil on a grassy northern plain The orcish realm of Vastar falls into chaos that buckles and boils with the primal with the death of Ologh the Overking at forces unleashed by both armies. After the claws of Iyrauroth the black wyrm. the total annihilation of the Dark Alliance Flying back to his lair the dragon reports the bone littered plain is forever after known to his master that the first act in his grand as the Tortured Land. scheme is complete.

501 DR 575 DR

King Adalaer and a large host of warriors Prompted by a series of realm wide are slain in an ambush 30 miles east of the strange visions and dreams of untold Viperstongue in the western Earthspurs. riches The Mad Queen Hathlia directs The ambitious leader of the raid, a mighty dwarves from Sarphil, mining in the orc warrior-shaman Ulbror ‘Jagged Fang’ mountains, to head west and south uses this success against the dwarves to underground, following veins of good ore. strengthen his position within the tribes. There they meet with the orcs in the Mourning the loss of her father, the lightless ways of the deeps. After the Priestess, Princess Hathlia Namarforge, initial skirmishes, the dwarven war- dons the Sun Crown and immediately councils determine that no orc who has announces 100 days of mourning and seen a dwarf in the mines must be commissions the building of statues and allowed to live, so that no word can get temples dedicated to her father’s back to the orc chieftains of any organized memory. Her ruinous and wasteful edicts foe. are all but ignored by the southern nobles and thanes. 580 DR

The deaths of many orcs in the mountains 512 DR are ascribed to the great struggle for the throne of Overking (created by a Pushed south by the vengeful forces led monstrous orc known only as Ologh and by fanatical Queen Hathlia, the orc left vacant upon his death in the jaws of chieftain Ulbror leads a horde out of the great Wyrm of the Peaks, the black Vastar and into the uplands of Impiltur by dragon Iyrauroth). Warring factions means of countless small mountain trails among the orcs battle each other up and over the Earthspurs. King Sharaun of down Vastar for eight blood-soaked Impiltur leads his three sons and a small summers and winters, until Grimmerfang army north but is defeated, and he and his defeats (and ceremonially spits, cooks, sons are slain in battle. The dead king’s and eats) the last of his rivals, renaming son-in-law Duke Harandil Durlarven

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Ologh’s court of the Hollow Mountain southern coast of Vastar at the mouth of “Mount Grimmerfang”. the Fire River. This dwarven city becomes a beacon of free trade throughout the 608 DR Selu’marrar.

The dwarves work in secret, with a few men and elves from Lisen (headed by Lord 620 DR Hlastarl) to develop a steel whose bite is poison to orcs, and with its aid break out Dwarves of Rolidar, led by the Hearth of the mountain caverns and sweep across Warden Sella Brimbor Hillsafar, move into the lowlands beginning two years of the ruins of Ylraphon, driving out the last bloody genocidal warfare. pockets of goblinoid resistance. Over the next 5 years they rebuild the docks and 610 DR many of the major buildings and surround the city in a solid 50’ high 20’ thick curtain Led by forces of Mad Queen hathlia the wall. Soon they are joined by several dwarves of Sarphillar conquer the lands of Moon Elven families seeking to reclaim the Vast, overcoming Grimmerfang and some of their lost properties. This leads to his orcs. The victorious dwarves drive the several rather heated and at times violent orcs far to the north and south into the clashes over ownership. In the end a mountain heights. Claiming all the Vast as treaty is signed by Lord Hlastarl and King their own, the dwarves found a surface. Tuir ‘Stonebeard’ Hillsafar agreeing to “The Realm of Glimmering Swords”, share the rulership of the city whilst dwarven songs call it, though it also has a allowing old Elven families the right to less grand, everyday name: Roldilar. In a reclaim their properties. New Dwarven slap in the face or the queen and her mansions, towers and citadels spring up northern court the Nobles and thanes of amongst the many aging Elven towers and the south secede proclaiming their villas. independence from the ancient and corrupt northern realm. 645 DR

Rolidars’ dwarves build themselves stone The wizard Maskyr gains Maskyr's Vale towers and bring herds of sheep, goats, (the centre of the Tumlin Vale), from King and shaggy-hair cattle up from the lands Tuir "Stonebeard" by plucking out his right south across the Inner Sea to roam the eye as the cost of gaining the vale. rolling grasslands cleared by the orcs. The Humans begin making their first dwarves devote themselves to drinking permanent settlements in the Vast. (concocting fiery, legendary potables to do so), mining, and the making of 649 DR wondrous armor, finery, adornments, and weaponry. Orcish numbers again reach plague numbers and all too soon, they rise again, 611DR - 616 DR and the surface dwarven kingdom of Rolidar vanishes like an elephant swarmed With support from the Princes of by a million ants. Without the support of Earthfast, the Dwarven City of Sarbreen – the Thunderhammer legions of Sarphillar the City of the Hammer is built upon the the dwarven defences are broken by

25 defeats at the fords of the Vesper and in sounds of dwarven hammers, caravans the battle of Deepfires, a long and bloody and drums. fight that rages throughout the underground ways of the Mount 673 DR Glimmerfang for nearly twenty days. Built upon the site of the old Orothiar In the aftermath of this disaster, the trading post, the fledgling town of weakened dwarves retreat east and Hillsafar, named in honour of the dwarven overseas southwards. A number of rulers of the same name, is founded by dwarven clans flee under the earth, while elves, half-elves, and humans on the other craftsmen and non-combatants western shore of Tailings Bay to trade migrate to Myth Drannor. Humans remain with the dwarves of The Scarp. Some of its and fight the orcs to retain their new founders help establish this settlement to homes. Sarbreen is abandoned. Orcs both keep drow out of the area and promptly pillage and burn the fallen city, maintain some vigilance over Moander’s and its ruins become the haunt of Crypt. Within a few decades, the town’s monsters, pirates, and brigands; heaps of name is corrupted and shortened to stone rubble above ground and a maze of Hillsfar. Many of Myth Drannor’s less abandoned dwarven tunnels and established craftsworkers migrate to this chambers below. new city in search of new opportunities.

The walled city of Ylraphon is again 679 DR reduced to rubble by a lengthy siege that is only broken by the use of a giant bull Hillsafar is nearly destroyed by an army of headed demon to crack the gates. Almost deepspawn-bred monsters emerging from every warrior is slain defending those the tangled, treacherous Beast Marches to people fleeing through various portals and the west. Amongst the more notable underground passages into the northern deaths is the aged Queen Hathlia who is marshes and to the hidden city of Lisen. resident in her seaside villa at the time of the first attacks. The Akh’Velahr 672 DR reinforcements of Cormanthyr succeed in dispersing the beasts by the first snowfall Many dwarf settlers of Myth Drannor, of winter. A small garrison of troops from most of them refugee clans from the Cormanthyr and Sarphillar remains fallen Realm of Glimmering Swords, leave stationed in Hillsafar for the protection of the city and move north to the southern the northern forests and villages. Duke shore of the Dragon Sea (Moonsea). With Keldorn Namarforge of Mount Suncatcher permission from the elves and Queen is crowned the 37th wielder of Hathlia they reopen the westernmost Gorathmund. mines of Sarphil, known as the Lost Ways, which honeycomb a lengthy escarpment 680 DR (known as the Scarp) that looms over the eastern reaches of the Tailings Bay. The Many human and dwarf stonemasons new Earl of The Scarp, Torgan Hillsafar, migrate from Myth Drannor and Sarphillar kneels in homage to Queen Hathlia upon to Hillsafar to aid that fledgling city in her visit to the newly opened holdings and constructing its first encircling defensive once again the Lost Ways hum to the wall.

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tunnels leading from the city’s sewers to 751 DR – 1050 DR the “Lost Ways” of Old Sarphil that allow her spies to keep a close eye upon the Swelling numbers of humans, aided by more nefarious goings on beneath the immigration as much as by birth-rate, city’s streets and alleyways. soon absorb the former inhabitants of Rolidar and Lisenar and push the 913 DR predators of the Vast back into the mountains and wilder foothills. The city of Sembia is founded under the Raven Ylraphon is reclaimed by the advancing Banner, the personal emblem of humans who are cautiously welcomed by Rauthauvyr “the Raven,” a human war- the stoic elves of Lisen. The harbour of the leader who gathered and commanded a city becomes a trade-stop, in addition to standing army to police the roads of the its uses as pirate rest-and-repair stop and fledgling human territory. The trade savy immigrant-ship landing-place. Human dwarves of Sarphillar almost immediately settlers encounter dwarven patrols and begin open trade negotiations with the holdings and with the Kings’ blossoming human realm. This leads to encouragement explore the nearer and the establishment of a trade canton more accessible mines of the area and within every major settlement of the new prosper further. realm and a flood of new wealth for the previously empty coffers of the ailing 803 DR realm.

King Keldorn dies unexpectedly upon the throne whilst hosting a visit from nobles 940 DR of Tethyamar and Cormanthyr. Investigations find that the kings heart Following in tghe steps of dwarven miners burst while he was arm wrestling with the from Port Galenaar human gold Duke of Tethyamar. Forty days after his prospectors moving up The Winterspear interment, his niece, the Duchess Ingaret River, panning for alluvial gold in an effort to make a quick fortune from the Namarforge is crowned the next monarch mineral wealth of the Spine of the of Sarphillar. Dragon, as it is swept down towards the Moonsea., The city of Hulburg is soon 934 DR founded with Queen Ingarets blessing. Soon human and dwarven mining Mulmaster is founded as a trading fortress expeditions sponsored by Sarphillaran between the Moonsea, the River Nuathlis, notables are criss-crossing the blasted and the Dragon Reach. The elves of Lisen heaths of Thar in search of the maintain a careful watch upon the undiscovered riches buried there. growing city trading intelligence with their allies, the dwarves of old Sarphil. Queen Ingaret opens up a canton within the city and offers up her stone masons and engineers to help build the city’s forbidding fortifications and harbour. What she does not reveal to the humans is the extensive network of halls and

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1018 DR

Rage of Dragons: A Rage of Dragons devastates the Heartlands, the lands around the Shining Sea, and the western and southern coasts of the Inner Sea. Cities of Sarphillar devastated by the dragons include Mulmaster, Hulburg, Orothiar and Procampur.

1038 DR

The Great Glacier retreats from the lands of Damara, Vaasa, and upper Narfell. Many folk from Impiltur and Thesk migrate north to the newly uncovered lands. The first to take advantage of the retreating ice are the miners and hunters of Sarphillar. Queen Nilythra II orders her armies north to secure new lands before 974 DR the goblinoids of savage Thar can lay claim. This migrations marks the greatest The Moonsea settlement built around the expansion of Sarphillars subterranean stronghold of retired half-elf adventurer borders in more than 1000 years. It is not Sulass Drowsbane is incorporated as the long before great wealth from newly city of Sulasspryn. This is despite the discovered ore bodies begins pouring back reapeated warnings by traders from south into the royal coffers. Sarphillar. Increased activity by drow from long slumbering Tel Verinal causes 1090 DR great alarm amongst the subterranean traders from Sarphillar, Hillsfar, Battle of the Bones: A horde of 200,000 Mulmaster and Hulburg. goblins and orcs arises from the High Moors due to extreme drought and 1000 DR attempts an invasion of the North. Answering the call to arms from across Queen Ingaret and most of the royal the north, the warrior Queen Nilythra II family are slain by drow pirates in black Namarforge leads her Thunderhammer sailed ships as they travel from Port legions west through the Ogrhann trade Galenaar to Hillsfar. Left back in Mount portals and from thence to join the join Suncatcher, the queen’s daughter, the the forces arrayed against the evil of Paladin Princess Nilythra II Namarforge Hlundadim. The Battle of the Bones marks enters into protracted negotiations with the spot of the great battle that destroys the drow free sailors of Tel Verinal, the horde. eventually offering them an annual bribe to avoid them raiding and slaughtering dwarven merchants and sailors.

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“They came from Beregost, Baldur’s Gate, pieces...” Donald J. Bingle – Elminster’s Berdusk, Iriaebor, Elturel, Scornubel, Ecologies. Soubar, and the reaches of the High Moor. Although just five decades old and not as When the dust and din of battle clears and nearly as large as city as it is now, the mighty horde is no more tens of Waterdeep sent 20,000 humans to meet thousands and dwarves, humans and the evil foe. The Dwarven Halls sent a elves lay dead upon the field. Buried in fearsome army, battle axes gleaming as great barrows amongst the countless by they marched without rest to join the the survivors is Queen Nilythra II assembling troops. Though no one could Namarforge and buried with her is remember having sent a messenger to Gorathmund. With Nilythra’s death and ask, even a force of elves came to offer the loss of the Gorathmund, the ruling their services. One squad hailed from dynasty of Sarphillar is no more. Despite Evereska, and a larger elven army came countless expiditions by dwarves with from Silverymoon and other forest homes claims to the ancient throne, without the in the north. More than 140,000 people Rulers Hammer. None can ever claim the descended upon little Hill’s Edge to join throne and the mighty kingdom soon the combined army... Almost 400,000 splinters into individual halls and holds dead, or soon to be dead, littered the with the fading Principality of Earthfast plain. Many were indistinguishable as being the biggest remaining remnant of a separate beings, scattered in limbs and once proud empire.

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Rulers of Sarphil -8850 DR until 1090 DR

-8850 until -4400 DR until 1090 DR

Length of Reign Rulers Name Age & Gender -8150 DR to -7900 DR Nilythra Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female -7900 DR to -7340 DR Raulauntar Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -7340 DR to -7200 DR Besendar Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -7200 DR to -6862 DR Garntar Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -6862 DR to -6790 DR Elmryn Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -6790 DR to -6355 DR Raulauntar II Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -6355 DR to -5888 DR Isdlara Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female -5888 DR to -5479 DR Gwythiir Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female -5400 DR to -5185 DR Maegara Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female -5185 DR to -5002 DR Rorn Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -5002 DR to -4900 DR Raulauntar lll Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -4900 DR to -4684 DR Raulauntar IV Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -4684 DR to -4400 DR Dauringogh Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -4400 DR to -4184 DR Daurael Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -4184 DR to -4009 DR Thirag Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -4009 DR to -3900 DR Zuth Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -3900 DR to -3513 DR Cathor Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male -3513 DR to -3335 DR Gwarr Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male -3335 DR to -2999 DR Baergurn Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male -2999 DR to -2990 DR Yurdag Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male -2990 DR to -2786 DR Asrynda Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Female -2786 DR to -2300 DR Cathlynn Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Female -2300 DR to -2080 DR Hyndbruin Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-2080 DR to -1705 DR Ghaern Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-1705 DR to -1556 DR Rhamildar Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male -1556 DR to -1277 DR Rhamildar II Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male -1277 DR to -1197 DR Uindolfin Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male -1197 DR to -988 DR Pyradar Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male -988 DR to -695 DR Starag Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male -695 DR to -454 DR Raulauntar V Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -454 DR to -162 DR Olagondir Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male -162 DR to 005 DR Ulric Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male 005 DR to 221 DR Tassarli Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female 221 DR to 389 DR Daggan Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male 389 DR to 501 DR Adalaer Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male 501 DR to 679 DR Hathlia Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female 679 DR to 803 DR Keldorn Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male 803 DR to 1000 DR Ingaret Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female 1000 DR to 1090 DR Nilythra II Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female

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Cities of the Dragons Spine

Sarphil City -sarphilcity

Population: 97000 Products: iron, steel, copper, gold, silver, weapons, armour, metal tools & household goods, doors, siege engines & traps, mining equipment, water pumps, beers & ales, fortified spirits, statues & artwork. Who Rules: The High Queen or King Who Really Rules: The Monarch & Council of Dukes & Earls and their representatives. Armed Forces: 15000 heavy foot armed with heavy Crossbows, axes & swords in platemail, 4500 engineers specialising in the construction of traps, fortifications, siege engines & the like. 1500 Heavy Cavalry – armoured rothe riders. Temples: Moradin, Dumathoin, Clanggeddin, Sharindlar, Vergadain, Berronar, Haela Brightaxe, Marthammor Duin Notable Organisations: Order of the Crescent Moon: Known as "ghost dwarves” these dwarves are renowned as resolute warriors who never back down from danger and who refuse to surrender even when all seems lost. The Hammers of Moradin – A knightly order of warriors sworn to defend the realm at all costs. They form the core fighting force as officer cadre of the infamous Thunderhammer Legions of Sarphillar. Notable Locations: The Ironstone Palace: Carved from the very rockface of the Great Cavern, the Rulers palace dominates the central forum and market square. Faced by great huge granite blocks stained, the city’s greatest warriors command villas and balconied apartments that look out over the sprawling cavern city. Great statues of past heroes line the walls of the city square. The city is guarded by warriors and priests in the finest armour baring shining mithral and everbright steel weapons Local Lore: The city of Sarphil rests within great natural cathedral cavern where a climatic battle was won against the orcs of the region. Much of the city is carved out of solid rock and is filled with vast smithies dominated by grand halls of hardworking dwarven craftsmen. Hammers and anvils, the signs of the Moradin, are the dominant decorative themes, as are statues of the Gods and great dwarven heroes of bygone days. The centre of the city is a huge temple dedicated to Moradin. The Soul Forger's temple is dominated by a great ever- burning hearth and a forge from which have emerged the greatest weapons and armours of the age.

Mount Throndor mountthrondor

Population: 55000 Products: iron, steel, copper, gold, silver, weapons, armour, metal tools & household goods, eagle eggs, mules & donkeys, drilling machinery, forges & smelters, leather goods, tack & harness, mithral, books & tomes, Who Rules: The Eagle Duke or Duchess Who Really Rules: The ruling lord/lady and council of craftmasters & guild bosses. Armed Forces: 5000 heavy infantry, 500 cavalry (pony riders), 300 giant eagle riders. Temples: Dumathoin, Clanggeddin, Sharindlar, Abbathor, Marthammor Duin

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Notable Organisations: The Seekers in the Sunlight: A benign, inquisitive, cheerful, and optimistic order of priests and lore seekers dedicated to the recovery of lost and obscure knowledge and then restoring and sharing it with all who care to listen and learn. Notable Locations: Forge Soot Hall: Temple of Dugmaren - Is a sprawling complexe crammed full of the detritus of countless experiments as well as artifacts collected on extended sojourns to distant locales. At the center of the temple is a huge library housing a large collection of rune stones plus the tomes and scrolls of other races. The temples alter consists of a simple block of granite upon which sits a single ever-burning candle symbolizing the quest for knowledge. Visiting scholars of any race are welcome to reside in the temple for a night or even a tenday. The library is open to all and priests of Oghma are especially welcome. There are rumours that much of the lore stored here has been duplicated and sent to the libraries of Deep Shanatar and Candlekeep. Certainly scholars of dwarven lore find the priests, lore seekers and scribes here most willing to share end exchange knowledge…for a fee of course. Local Lore: The northern most city of the empire, Mount Throndor is home to the Eagle Lords & Ladies. Huge aeries are carved into the sheer rock walls of the three peaks of the mountain. The dwarves and eagles came to an agreement long ago and now both thrive upon this relationship of mutual protection and respect. Only the lightest and most lithe of dwarves become riders, and many are considered mad by their more earthly cousins. From Throndor’s great heights the riders patrol the lands of Thar and the eastern Moonsea acting as scouts and messengers.

It was from here that the dwarves launched their campaign against the ogres and goblinoids of Thar, the halls are covered in bas-relief carvings depicting the mighty deeds of heroes past, chide amongst these are the two 200’ high statues of Sarphils founders, Nilythra and Raulauntar Namaforge that flank the entrance to the main hall. A mighty stair links watchtowers set upon each of the three peaks. From these dizzying heights the spiralling stairs lead into the aeries and finally the halls and galleries deep within this honeycomb city. A deep & cold sunless lake sits at the heart of the mountain fed by the perpetual snows of the mountain peaks and melt water from the glacier high above. Blind cave fish, crabs, eels and other less savoury creatures inhabit this body of water, and dwarven coracles made from hollowed out giant mushrooms ply the waters providing a varied diet for the inhabitants of the mountain. To the people of the mountain the Lake is known as “The Mirror in the Darkness”, but to most its simply Darkmiir, a foreboding and evil pit filled with the bones of the unwary deep beneath its cold unforgiving surface.

Mount Suncatcher mountsuncatcher

Population: 22300 Products: diamonds, rubies, emeralds, amethyst, geodes, jewellery, perfumes, wines, fruits & vegetables, musical instruments, unusual pets, herbs, weapons & armour, rune cast magic items. Who Rules: The Sun Duke/Duchess & The Matriarch/Patriarch of Berronar Who Really Rules: The ruling lord/lady and council of Elder Rune Casters. Armed Forces: 600 Rune casters, 2500 heavy infantry, 150 cavalry (ponies), 50 eagle riders. Temples: Dumathoin, Berronar, Haela Brightaxe, Marthammor Duin

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Notable Organisations: The Order of the Silver Knightingale is a loosely structured order composed primarily of physicians, medics, clerics, and specialty priests skilled in the art of healing. Notable Locations: The House of the Healing Hammers- this temple to Berronar consists of a great wood and stone hall set atop a high platform recessed into the shear side of the mountain. The grassy covered forecourt consists of a circle of stones, usually in a wooded in which small fires are kindled in a random pattern. Gems and metal sculptures are set up among them on metal poles to sparkle and reflect back the firelight during worship. The senior priest of Berronar holds a position of great influence that rivals, if not exceeds, that of the Duke or Duchess. The Hall of Mantles Ghost, The Afraobriar Library, The Hall of Trade. The Heart of the Sun, The Hall of Mirrors, The Grand Vault of the Age, Haskar’s Redoubt. Local Lore: Considered the jewel in the royal crown, the City of the Sun is lit almost entirely by sunlight using cleverly crafted ventilation shafts that send copious amount of sunlight via huge mirrors to all parts of this extensive, multi-level city. The second royal capital (after the fall of Sarphil) the city of artists and crafters has always considered itself the centre of the empire. It is beneath this mountain that the great jewellers’ academies and rune caster school can be found. The city is run as a duchy but it has always been a religious and conservative place with the Matriarch/Patriarch of the Church of Berronar holding equal power and often managing to overrule the edicts of the more independent minded rulers. The vaults and treasuries of the city are said to be overflowing with countless gems valuable enough to bankrupt a kingdom. Yet the dwarven jewellers refuse to part with these superbly cut gems coveting them and displaying them to a lucky few, bringing them out only upon special occasions or to sacrifice to the gods. These vaults are the most heavily guarded in all Sarphil and have never been plundered. The deep, tunnels leading down to the treasuries are littered with the charred and dusty fragments of those who have tried.

Port Galenaar portgalenaar

Population: 9500 Products: trade goods, chandlery, rope & sails, small sailing ships, boats & barges, weapons & armour, wines, fruits & vegetables, scrimshaw carvings. Who Rules: Local Earl Who Really Rules: The ruling lord/lady and council of merchants, guild masters & traders. Armed Forces: 500 heavy infantry & 1500 marines/sailors. Temples: Eldath, Umberlee, Clanggeddin, Sharindlar, Vergadain, Marthammor Duin Notable Organisations: Golden Hands of Vergadain, The Stunsail Reavers, Irondust Stevedores Guild, The Ambergris Watchmen, The Harlots Hearts- Entertainers Guild. Notable Locations: Windstrong Hall, The Blue Rose Hostelry, Aesiimjer House – Elven Canton, The Silver Penny – Bondstore & Treasury, The Irondust Docks, The Eye of Clanggeddin – Lighthouse, Grondale Hall – Merchants Moneylenders & Investers. Local Lore: The cavernous city of Port Galenaar is made up of great halls, free of pillars or other architectural features. Serving as both chancels and grand ballrooms, they are well lit, often above ground and typically hold fountains, pools, and formal gardens. Many of the villas, homes and halls have numerous small guest chambers for visiting merchants and traders, of which there are many. Most of the homes and businesses have a small records hall that serves as a repository of runestones inscribed with dwarven mercantile transactions, clan records, court records, descriptions of formal trade agreements,

33 navigational charts, mercantile practices, agricultural and husbandry records, warehouse inventory etc.

The vaults and warehouses are windowless chambers located either in underground complexes or on the surface in fortress like, near impregnable vaults. They are filled with countless coins, jewels, and other treasures with appropriate magical and nonmagical traps to guard them. The city docks are a collection of solid stone piers several hundred feet long jutting out into the sea. The harbour is protected by a series of sea towers armed with a variety of anti-ship and monster weapons. A long 50’ high 30’ thick sea wall capped by a towering white marble light house topped by a magical mirrored beacon that can be seen for 50 miles on even the foggiest nights.

Mount Aergurl Mountaergurl

Population: 37000 Products: religious icons, jewellery, weapons, armour, metal goods, toys, magic items, water features, art, music, sculptures, rune stones, beers & ales, fruits & vegetables, meats & leather goods, Who Rules: The Duke or Duchess & council of Thanes & Priests. Who Really Rules: The Duke & High Priest of Dumathoin. Armed Forces: 2500 heavy infantry, 1500 engineers & tunnel ratters Temples: Dugmaren Brightmantle, Dumathoin, Haela Brightaxe. Notable Organisations: The Starkeepers of the Silent Lord, Brinkworths Delvers & Wayfinders, The Sun Sisters – Creators of glow stones & mirror based lighting systems, The Tunnel Dogs – tunnel ratters & goblinoid hunters, Karteliin Brewers Guild, The Gem Cutters & Polishers of Garthane, The Society of the Silent Thunder – Knightly order dedicated to keeping the sacred places of the mountain safe from harm. Notable Locations: The Five Grand Galleries – a series of multilevel, interconnected caverns filled with shimmering stalagmite & stalactites of enormous breadth and height. Most are cut through with gems whilst the cavern walls are studded with raw gems and shot through with veins of precious mithral, cooper, and gold. Combined with the lighting provided by glowstone and sun mirrors, the Grand Galleries offer breathtaking subterranean vista that houses much f the population who live within halls, side caverns and hollowed out stone columns within the five main chambers. The Halls of Swords – Heavily guarded & warded vaults containing the magical and martial might of the city. Here the armouries, foundries and smithies are to be found, with wracks of weapons & armour stored behind massive, cunningly hidden doors that also store the hidden wealth of the mountain. Local Lore: Mount Aergurl is considered a paradise under the mountains for the shield dwarves and is considered sacred to the worship of Dumathoin. The expansive, crystal lined caverns of Hollow Mountain are full veins of precious ores & many gems in the surrounding rock, although these riches are not mined. The presence of Dumathoin's hidden gifts at the heart of the mountain is ample reason for the dwarves to have settled here since the earliest times. Statues of the Silent Keeper, depicting him in his many aspects, line the walls of many of the greater halls and passageways. The lower mountain is riddles with ancient mines and from time to time special squads of rune casters and priests will venture down to supervise new mining operations and maintain underground safety and security. They work

34 to clean up the rubble of mining, to grow and put in place luminous fungi and edible deep- mosses, and to direct water through the earth to best serve the dwarves.

Hollow Mountain (Mount Grimmerfang) hollowmountain

Population: 63000 Products: Iron, coal, fungi, rothe, ponies, mountain sheep & goats, cheeses, leather gods, clothing, spider silks, weapons & armour, beer, ales, meads, herbs & vegetables, glass & crystal ware, paints, everbright items, scrolls & tablets, stone water pumps, mining gear. Who Rules: The Emerald Duke or Duchess Who Really Rules: The Duke/Duchess and council of Earls & Thanes Armed Forces: 800 Hearth Guards, 2000 Heavy Infantry, 150 giant eagle riders, 1000 engineers & tunnel ratters, 250 cavalry. Temples: Dugmaren Brightmantle, Vergadain, Sharindlar, Marthammor Duin Notable Organisations: The Smashers – Goblinoid Hunters Brotherhood, The Sisters of Serene Slaughter – Giant Killers Guild, Catanaer Plasterers – makers of ceramics, mosaics & water features, Goraslanng – Engineers & Tunnellers, The Black Rabbits – Thieves, spies, scouts & assasins for hire, The Gem Jumpers – Rune Master casters & carvers. Notable Locations: All Gods Theatre, Celestosa Amphitheatre and the Comtiurum (the centre of all political activity and a meeting place for important community moots). Private houses are expansive marble affairs with polished pavement floors decorated with mosaics, and walls decorated with paintings. The Necropolis: One of the largest complexes within the mountain in the big necropolis for their dead, where nobles and commoners alike would return to bury their love ones with in the halls of the first arrivals from war torn Shanatar. Local Lore: This ancient mountain city was the sight of the original home of the people of Sarphil. Emerging from their long and arduous underground journey on the original ‘Long Road’ the dwarves found themselves high atop a permanently snow capped mountain overlooking a great glacier and an inland sea. The quickly built a watch tower and beacon atop the mountain and then proceeded to carve out a never ending series of vaulted halls and galleries lined with huge tree like columns. The dwarves soon discovered vast reefs of gold and copper and seams of coal and iron ore of unusual purity.

Delving ever deeper to the very roots of the mountain the dwarves soon discovered they were not alone, orcs and goblin like creatures soon began to invade the lower mines. Before long the dwarves peaceful isolation was shattered by the first orcish horde that poured up out of the depths led by their demonic allies. The dwarves led by Lady Nilythra Namarforge were soon forced to abandon the deepest mines, sealing them off forever. So then began migration north looking for places where they could settle down away from violence and strife. Soon scouts reported finding the perfect place, deep in the high northern mountains in the shadow of the Great Glacier itself. Even though the majority of dwarves left Hollow Mountain, a hardy few hundred stayed and in secret began mining the very mountain itself. Made of almost pure iron, it proved a practical home so long as the lowest passageways and deep caverns were left undisturbed.

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Mount Ironaxe mountironaxe

Population: 18900 Products: iron, steel, lead, silver, leather goods, toys, water clocks & sundials, magnesium, iridium alloys, weapons & armour, statues, mining machinery, rubies. Who Rules: Duke or Duchess Ironaxe Who Really Rules: see above + council of thanes & priests. Armed Forces: 2500 heavy infantry, 250 engineers, 800 tunnel ratters Temples: Moradin, Dumathoin, Sharindlar, Marthammor, Haela Brightaxe. Notable Organisations: Sisters of the Mithral Sun, The Brotherhood of the Bloody Axe, Sarfael Deep Delvers Guild, Sheeners & Silversmiths Guild, Stoneshapers Guild, Guides of the Deepways, Talargon Hunters, Greenways Herders, Sazass Runeshapers & Carvers. Notable Locations: Hall of 1000 Echoes – communal market chambers, The Palace of the Axe – rulers redoubt, Blueways – illusion covered valley, House of the Shattered Hammers – armourers guild hall, Cloudrose Hall – House of healing, The Well – pit from mountain top to the Darkmiir, Seven Serpents Docks – fishing community on shores of Darkmiir. Local Lore: The most southerly holding of old Sarphil, Mount Ironaxe takes its name from the clan who first settled there. A sept of clan Hillsafar, the Ironaxe dwarves are a hardy and independent lot who pay little head to the daily goings on of their more northerly cousins. Always battle ready the people of the mountain are ferocious pit and cavern fighters, feared by most denizens of the deep passageways and vaults found in the vicinity of their city. The mountain sits astride a great reef of silver and iridium both of which are valued by the dwarves. Rich almost beyond measure the people here lead a quality of life envied by their northern kin. Half of the city sits nestled in a high mountain valley, 3 miles long and ½ a mile wide with many homes dug into the surrounding valley walls and bedrock. Great warding runes keep the city shrouded in a permanent illusion of cloud and fog. Even those beings who pierce this shroud see naught but a jagged, rock strewn pound with little plant and not animal life to speak of. The city gets its water from natural springs that bubble up from the surrounding peaks, his has allowed the dwarves to retreat here in times when their lower caverns and halls have been over run. A large cistern dug into the southern end of the pound holds enough water to flush out all of the lower tunnels whenever they are invaded. The honour of releasing this water goes generally to the ruler, I kind of royal flush if you will.

Hillsafar Hall hillsafarhall

Population: 48000 Products: The Grand Duke or Duchess Who Rules: The Grand Duke or Duchess (heir to the royal throne) Who Really Rules: as above + council of earls, priests & thanes Armed Forces: 5000 heavy infantry, 500 engineers, 1500 tunnel ratters Temples: Moradin, Dumathoin, Claggeddin, Sharindlar, Marthammor Duin Notable Organisations: Order of the Crescent Moon, The Smashers – Goblinoid Hunters Brotherhood, The Order of the Bloodstone Shield, The Hilltop Wayfinders Guild, Notable Locations: The Great Hall (see below), The Mines of Blood & Honey, Wallandywr Hall, Shrandass Galleries of Crystal & Glass, Ridgeway Brewery, The Three Chains – Surveyors, Cumberlaast Crossbow Manufacturers & Bolt Cutters.

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Local Lore: Hillsafar Hall is the name for the entrance caverns to the mine complexes of the dwarven Clan Hillsafar. These outer chambers were built for just one purpose: defence. A long tunnel leads into the first chamber. The tunnel walls are lined at varying heights on both sides by arrow slits, and murder holes loom above. The tunnel floor holds no less than ten cunning stonework traps. Every section of every floor in the entry is in the sights of some wickedly effective war machine. After the fall of Sarphil City, the surviving royals shifted the seat of government to the fortified halls and galleries of Hillsafar. For thousands of years the High King of Sarphillar called the extensive city home. With the shift in power, the dwarves of Clan Hillsafar, once a lesser branch of the royal family, assumed much greater prominence. They became the preeminent family from -3900 DR until -695 DR, the name of Clan Hillsafar has lasted longer in the landscape than that of clan Namaforge and their heirs and successors have a much greater claim to the lost throne of ancient Sarphil. The actual throne of the ancient kings remains locked away in storage within the ancient vaults it only awaits a dwarf bearing the rulers crown and hammer to once again unite the clans and bring about the re-emergence of the kingdom once more.

Orothiar orothiar

Population: 17000 Products: Bloodstone, lapis lazuli, iron, silver, steel, iridium, rubies, garnets, sapphires, amethyst, weapons, armour, wines & ales, mushrooms, rothe, leather goods. Who Rules: The Duke of the Bloodstone Throne Who Really Rules: The Duke or Duchess & council of thanes & priests. Armed Forces: 2000 heavy infantry, 350 engineers, 1000 tunnel ratters Temples: Vergadain, Moradin, Clanggeddin, Haela Brightaxe, Marthammor Duin Notable Organisations: Shining Host of the Underdeeps, Order of the Bloodraven, The Kingfishers League – merchants & wayfinders, Magenta Free Rangers – prospectors guild, Puruvia Ice Sailors, Sisters of the Ruby Forge – Hostlers of the Underdeeps. Notable Locations: Mt Greenway Village & pastures, Silverblood Hostlery, Bloodstone Village, Irontree Hall, The Fingerboard Galleries, Hall of Travail – portal nexus, Tailings Bay Trading Post & Village, (site of future Hillsafar City). Local Lore: Originally from the hills found within hills of the coastal forests of the western heartlands dwarves of the Orothiar clan of the Cloakwood now call The Bloodstone Mines home. The ever-expanding tunnels of the Bloodstone Mines frequently link up with the subterranean highways that link the thousands of natural tunnels and holes found under the Spine of the Dragon. The dwarves of Clan Orothiar andtheir allies, the svirfneblin gnomes of Deepearth understand the danger of delving, but the mines are simply too rich in chalcedony to be forsaken. The depths harbor those denizens who never come out to see the sun. Duergar are often encountered, remnants of the grey dwarf communities that were smashed in battles over thousands of years. Svirfneblin legends speak of even more ominous creatures, such as the kuo-toa and the drow, being found in the lowest chambers.

The mines became famous with the discovery of bloodstones, lesser gems stones such as carnelians, jacinths, jargons, red-hued jaspers and crimson-hued rubies have made the entire mine complex a holy site dedicated to Haela brightaxe. The Temple of Haela is at the heart of a great bloodstone and ruby lined cavern. It acts as a warehouse and storehouse of

37 food and other items essential to the survival of the clan and is guarded by over a dozen bloodstone golems. The priests of Haela manufacture and maintain many small smithies, and armouries crammed with weapons and armour throughout the holding of the clan. They provide fortified bolt holes and surface hostelries in out of the way places known only to miners, travellers and those allied to the dwarves of Orothiar and its families.

Ironspur ironspur

Population: 17500 Products: iron, silver, steel, gems & jewellery, ice, mushroom ports, brandies & wines, sleds, sled dogs, deep ice mining equipment, ice-skiffs, sails & ropes, weapons & armour. Who Rules: High Iron Duke Who Really Rules: The earl & council of thanes & priests. Armed Forces: 1000 heavy infantry, 150 engineers, 500 tunnel ratters. Temples: Moradin, Dumathoin, Dugmaren Brightmantle, Marthammor Duin Notable Organisations:The Hotspurs – Ice sailors & traders, The Undeep Delvers – deep miners, Houndmasters of Hastarla, Venesswr – Gemcutters Guild, Order of Bloodstone. Notable Locations: Jormunsalr - The Great Hall, Local Lore: The citadel of Ironspur is rich in exports from the Spine of the Dragon, most off which being either Silver or Iron and in particular fine ever-bright steel for swords and armour. For the most part the halls and galleries of Ironspur are unadorned stone caverns and rooms quarried from solid rock. Such chambers are often adorned with visored helms, a shield or breastplate. Common within the different family precincts is an armoury, a training hall, and barracks, and most such houses are located amidst fortifications that guard entrances to the halls of the family halls. Ironspurs greatest secret and treasure is the ducal throne. A solid intricately decorated hiugh backed edifice carfve from a single piece of brilliant blood red chalcedony. The seat was once blessed by the god Gorm. The magical seat can restore all damage inflicted on any being allowed to sit upon it.

The Scarp thescarp

Population: 7500 Products: Copper, gold, zinc, iridium, glowstones, trading barges, sailing skiffs, coasters, timber products, enchanted bronze/iridium weapons & armour, fruits & vegetables, fish. Who Rules: The Copper Duke Who Really Rules: Guild of Miners & Foundry Owners Armed Forces: 1500 heavy infantry, 200 engineers, 300 tunnel ratters Temples: Dugmaren Brightmantle, Vergadain, Moradin, Clanggeddin, Haela Brightaxe, Marthammor Duin, Abbathor. Notable Organisations: The Wyrm Cult, Holy Knights of The Cleaving Axe, The Seaway Traders Guild, Dragonsea Shipwrights Guild. Notable Locations: Elua’s Lighthouse, Greenstone Slipways & Shipyard, The Lumbermill, The Lost Ways Junction Citadel & Fortified Armoury, The Northkeep Tunnels, Horastriars Tower, Point Iron - This small iron mine is a very profitable enterprise, Firestone Foundry. Local Lore: Dwarves of Sarphil developed special moving-stone pumps to keep the waters of the Lis at bay, as they extended their underways westwards to the rocky heights north of present-day Elventree. The Scarp sought by the dwarves is today much reduced in height;

38 the dwarves quarried it from the top down for its rich veins of copper. They were perhaps the purest and largest deposits in the known North. The only trace they left behind is the name of the city of Hillsfar, after Clan Hillsafar of Sarphil, principal miners of the Scarp. The underground ways known to the dwarves made them ideal smugglers, and many borders were undercut by tunnels enabling dwarven merchants to avoid duties and restrictions (as well as the dangers of transporting valuable goods overland or by sea) in transporting goods from one land to another. Hidden deep within the heart of the Scarps many tunnels and galleries is a temple dedicated to the Great Master of Greed. A sacrificial altar of plain black stone painted in gold leaf and filled with a cache of purloined treasures can be found at the temples heart. It is said that Abbathor himself resides within the escarpment overlooking Tailings Bay.

The Greater Sarphil and Earthfast Region

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Lost items of Legend

The Rulers Hammer – Gorathmund: gorathmund +5 Mighty War Hammer of Hurling – powers of a pick-axe of piercing except it shatters armours instead - A creature with a high (20% or more) natural magic resistance (such as a dragon of advanced age) suffers a temporary 10% loss of personal magic resistance, lasting for one full turn, after suffering a blow from the hammer. Such losses are cumulative: three blows of the hammer robs a creature of 30% magic resistance. This loss is always temporary, even if the creature’s resistance drops to zero. (Gorathmund will not cause negative magic resistance.) Besides shattering dragonscales, armor, or solid rock, and sundering magic resistance, the pointed, double-ended head of Gorathmund is also effective against magical barriers of all sorts. walls, shells, spheres and mantles. Each contact between the head of Gorathmund and a barrier has a 10 percent chance (not cumulative) of causing the magical field to instantly collapse, dispelled. If the field survives, it is unharmed, and has normal effects. A single field can only be tested once per round by Gorathmund.

A bonded weapon, Gorathmund can only be wielded by one of the blood of Namarforge. Dedicated to the god Dumathoin, the hammer when wielded in battle inspires great feats of daring and courage from all who see it. The wielder has their armour class lowered by 5 and gain the ability to turn spells (as per a ring). The weapon is very intelligent, has a NG alignment, and can detect invisibility, gems, lies & magic within 250’. It communicates via telepathy. The hammer was lost with the death of the last scion of old Sarphil on the field during the Battle of Bones in 1090 DR...

The High Sun Crown of Sarphil: highsuncrown This elaborate open faced mithral helm, topped by 7 thrusting points each set with a thumb sized carbuncle cut sun stone. The tapering neck guard has a curtain of golden mail hanging down to protect the neck and ears whilst a nose guard and stunted front peak guard the face. The crown will form to fit any royal head. But any being not of royal blood donning the helm will burst into golden flames and be incinerated in 1d3 rounds, forever destroyed. The helm itself adds +5 to the wearers armour class and adds the same to all saving throws and ability checks. In addition the wearer is immune to heat and fire and all powers that influence the mind and senses. Lastly the wearer can draw on true sight, ESP, truth ear, detect scrying, suppress magic 50’ radius and non-detection at will. The crown was forged by Besendar Namarforge as a way of assuring a blood free succession to be used once the lords and thanes had made their selection. Dedicated to the Morndinsamman, the crown gives off a shimmering golden glow the colour of the rising sun when placed upon a heir approved by the gods. When placed upon an unworthy recipient or usurper the crown becomes the colour and weight of solid lead. It stays this way if lost or stolen, becoming a non-descript battle crown of poor manufacture and design. When a member of the blood royal or a priest of Moradin comes within a ½ mile the crown begins to glow and gives off a soft hum audible only to those the gods consider worthy (heirs & righteous priests of Moradin). As the chosen gets closer the incessant hum grows louder and if ignored will affect the dwarf as if under the compelling force of a geas spell.

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Resources Used

Grand History of the Realms Forgotten Realms Campaign Guides Vol I, II, II, IV. Forgotten Realms Players Guides Vol I, II, III, IV. Forgotten Realm – Underdark Drizzt Do’Urden’s Guide to the Underdark Dwarves Deep The Bloodsone Lands Bloodstone Pass The Bloodstone Wars The Mines of Bloodstone The Throne of Bloodstone Bloodstone Manual V.3a Demi-human Deities Races of Faerun Faiths & Pantheons City of the Spider Queen The Moonsea Mysteries of the Moonsea Forgotten Realms Adventures Dungeon #177 – Vaasa by Brian James Atlas of Faerun City of Ravens Bluff Ravens Bluff Forgotten Realms – Unapproachable East Dragons of Faerun Lost Empires of Faerun Giant Craft Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves Cormyr The Great Glacier The North Boxed Set The Tribes of Thar by Rich Baker

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