Volos Guide to the North Wind by the Fireside So as you shiver in the cold and the dark, Look into the fire and see in its spark My eye Watching over you. As you walk in the winds whistling claws. Listen past the howling of the wolfs jaws. My song Comes to you. And when youre lost in trackless snow, Look up high where the eagles go. My star Shines for you. In deep, dark mine or on crumbling peak, Hear the words of love I speak. My thoughts Are with you. You are not forsaken. You are not forgotten. The North cannot swallow you. The snows cannot bury you. I will come for you. Faerûn will grow warmer, And the gods will smile But oh, my love, guard yourself well All this may not happen for a long, long while. (A traditional trail ballad of the Savage Frontier— composer unknown) Credits Design: Ed Greenwood Editing: Victor K. Wertz, Lisa Stevens, and Kathryn Haines Additional Editing: Julia Martin and Karen S. 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POB 756 120 Church End Lake Geneva Cherry Hinton WI 53147 Cambridge CB1 3LB USA United Kingdom 2 Contents Preface ...................................................... 4 The Frozenfar ........................................ 147 Volos Ratings System ............................... 4 Icewind Dale (The Ten Towns) ..............148 Mirabar ............................................... 151 A Word from Volo ...................................... 5 The House of the Bright Blade ..........157 The Goblet and Gems ..................... .159 Savage Frontier ......................................... 6 The Sign of the Forgehammer ..........161 A Warning to Travelers ............................ 8 The Interior ...........................................163 A Note About Wards ................................... 9 Everlund .............................................165 Silverymoon ........................................170 The Dessarin ........................................... 11 Sundabar ............................................178 Amphail ................................................ 13 The Stag-Horned Flagon ....................17 Delhnbiyr Vale ........................................189 The Stone Stallion .............................19 Loudwater .......................................... 190 Mother Gothals ................................22 Other Places of Interest in Bargewright Inn .................................... 27 Delimbiyr Vale ................................ 193 Beliard .................................................. 35 Calling Horns ........................................ 37 Other Places of Note in the North ..........195 Conyberry ............................................. 40 Places in the Dessarin .......................... 195 Goldenfields .......................................... 43 Uluvin ............................................ 195 Griffons Nest ........................................ 45 Places in the Coast ...............................196 Grunwald ............................................. 46 Phandalin .......................................196 Kheldell ................................................ 50 Thundertree ...................................197 Longsaddle ........................................... 52 Places in the Frozenfar .........................198 Mornbryns Shield ................................. 63 Fireshear ........................................ 198 Nesmé .................................................. 68 Hundelstone ...................................199 Noanars Hold ....................................... 74 Ironmaster ..................................... 200 The Boar with Black Tusks ................75 Places in the Interior ............................201 Rassalantar ........................................... 78 Citadel Adbar ..................................201 Red Larch ............................................. 79 The Citadel of Many Arrows .............203 Triboar ................................................. 82 Deadsnows ..................................... 204 Westbridge ............................................ 89 Jalanthar ........................................ 206 Xantharls Keep ..................................... 90 Mithral Hall ....................................207 Yartar ................................................... 93 Olostins Hold ................................. 208 Beldabars Rest ................................. 97 Quaervarr .......................................209 Places in Delimbiyr Vale .......................210 The Coast ............................................... 107 Hellgate Keep ..................................210 Leilon ................................................. 108 Llorkh ............................................ 212 Luskan ................................................ 111 Orlbar ............................................ 214 The Ruins of Illusk ..........................119 Zelbross .........................................215 The Host Tower of the Arcane ..........121 The Cutlass ..................................... 125 Appendix I: Folk of the North .................216 Seven Sails Inn ................................127 Neverwinter ........................................ 130 Appendix II: Wardings of the North ........226 The Fallen Tower ............................135 The Moonstone Mask ......................138 Appendix III: Elminsters Notes .............230 The Shining Serpent Inn ..................140 Port Llast ............................................. 144 Appendix IV: Index .................................238 3 Preface I dont know how he talks me into ventures north of Waterdeep for mere these things. Look yeanother tome entertainment must be a fool. Even of hilarious misinformation about those who do it to earn riches are part of the Realms, from the irre- ruled by reckless greed, not good pressible, nay, pompous and preten- sense. tious Volo. This time, hes presuming But enough. It is for such that Ive to tell travelers something of where to agreed to provide a crucial modicum go and what to do in the northern of behind-the-scenes information. My Sword Coastthat part of Faerûn we colleague, Ed of the Greenwood, has still call the Savage Frontier. It lies recast my words into notations of north of Waterdeep for as far north as import to gamers. I must warn all of the snow blows, east of the Sea of ye: its been many long winters since I Swords and west of Anauroch. Its a was that special sort of fool known as land of endless mountains and vast an adventurer in the North. My lore forests, home to more gems and is surely incomplete and outdated metal richesand to more orcs and surpassed in faults only by the work worse monstersthan any other of the esteemed Volo. Gods give ye region of Faerûn. good luck, readersyoull assuredly Id feel a mite guilty if I let fools need it! trust in Volos guidance without a lit- tle warning. Fools? Aye. Anyone who Pipes Tankards Coins Daggers (Inns) (Taverns) (Prices) (Alleyways, Courtyards, etc.) 4 A word from Volo o all who would see the Sword Coast are built. Many a fortune has splendors of the Savage been made by venturing boldly into North: Well met! Welcome remote corners of the North. Your riches to the only guidebook to may be next. the perils and glories of the Come North with me, after reading two fabled lands north of Waterdeep. words of warning: Youve heard of the Savage Frontier, I This book is your guide to the friendly know. Folk all across Faerûn hear of the locations in the North. Once off the North, where countless monsters roam trails, youre on your own. dark and trackless forests, and snow and Until youve slept a night out under wind howl into mountain valleys where the stars of the North, you dont know no human has ever walked. White what cold is. Bring extra clothing to dragons wing over realms of tortured ice; wear, and even more to burn, to keep korred dance and treants walk. Every- yourself warm. Dont, I beg, burn where, cruel and hungry orcs lurk with your guidebookthe information ready blades. herein may save your life several These tales are not fanciful. Ive been times over. there, and I know! This is the only guide- If it does, tell your friends, and look for book to the Savage Frontier, because few my other guidebooks. Keep in mind this dare to go where I have gone, to see first- one blessing from the gods: In the North, hand the beauty and the dangersand of there are few insects, and remarkably