Moonshae Isles

The Moonshae Isles were a collection of islands located west of the Sword Coast.

"My journeys to the Moonshaes linger as some of the more fascinating voyages that I have experienced, in a life not entirely devoid of fascination. These isles, so placid and pastoral on the surface, proved to be nests of tension and conflict. I must confess to some surprise as I began to perceive the true capabilities of the peoples of the Moonshaes."

- Elminster Aumar, Travels Along the Sword Coast.

Geography
The Moonshae Isles were a group of islands that formed a roughly circular archipelago with the Sea of Moonshae in the center. They lay roughly west of the region of Amn and to the southwest of the Sword Coast.

Along the coasts, long flat beaches were found. Most of the beaches lacked sand, instead were comprised of pebbles and rocks. Tides were significant among the islands. At low tide, the beaches could be exposed as much as a quarter mile from the waterline. At high tide, the water line could rise up to. During storms, the beaches were battered by waves. The coastlines of the islands were dotted with bays and coves, were ships could find a safe harbor from the harsh northern seas.

The remaining coastlines were jagged rocks. Tall cliffs of granite towered over the water, some up to in height. These cliffs wore worn smooth from exposure to the wind, and in the winter were covered with sheer ice.

Further inland, stagnant saltwater marshes were usually found. These gray and desolate marches lacked trees and an odor of sulphur hung constantly in the air. Traveling in these marshes was hazardous, with about 10% of the terrain quicksand. Some of the fens and swamps in the Moonshaes rivaled those found in the jungles of Chult. These putrid and decaying swamps were filled with stagnant. The Fens of the Fallon, on the island of Gwynneth, was likely the most dangerous area in all the Moonshaes.

Fresh water streams were common on the islands. Most are shallow, reaching a maximum depth of. Most streams were not safe for boats due to rapids. The islands were home to a handful of rivers, which were deeper and calmer, and safe for boats. Ferries and bridges allowed for safe crossing.

Much of the Moonshaes terrain was moorland. This rolling grassland was dotted with lakes, ponds and swamps, but most of it was well-drained and dry. The terrain was safe and pleasant and was used as pasture for cattle and sheep.

Mountains and highlands made up another sizable portion of the Moonshaes terrain. These rugged and twisted mountains were jagged and cracked from centuries of erosion. The steep mountains reached in height. From autumn to early spring heavy snow covered the highlands, only melting away completely by summer.

The islands that made up the Moonshae Isles were as follows:


 * Alaron:

One of the largest of the Moonshaes, much of the island was under the control of King Derid in 1479 DR. Dernall Forest was under the control of dark fey who entered from a portal to the Feywild.


 * Flamsterd:

By 1367 DR, Flamsterd was desolate and largely destroyed. Monsters occasionally attacked the few settlers that remained.


 * Gwynneth:

By 1479 DR, most of the isle was controlled by fey loyal to High Lady Ordalf and was known as Sarifal.


 * Korinn Archipelago:

Hundreds of small islands stretched northward from the main archipelago into the Trackless Sea. The isles were favored by pirate bands who preyed on shipping.


 * Mintarn:

This medium-sized island was ruled by the tyrant Tarnheel Embuirhan in mid–1300s DR. This island was known as a haven for pirates, fugitives, mercenaries, and other unsavory types who were looking to get away from the watchful eyes of the authorities. The wine halls and fest halls of this island were renowned for how dangerous they were and how amazing their services were.


 * Moray:

In 1479 DR, this island was the most war-torn of the Moonshaes. The interior was controlled by the Black Blood Tribe of lycanthropes while the Orc Skull Mountains were controlled by humanoid tribes. Only a few humans lived in villages on the coast.


 * Norland:

Inhabited mostly by humans who earned their livings through fishing.


 * Oman:

Once a center of Northlander culture, the island was overrun by fomorian giants after the Spellplague.


 * Snowdown:

This small isle in the southeastern Moonshaes was annexed by Amn and was ruled by Erliza Daressin, a vampire.


 * Tetris:

This small island was covered in green hills and rocky coasts, as well as a small village of thatched huts along a river. Moira, the wife of Captain Hrolf of the Elfmaid lived here. The village and their druid worshiped local spirits in the river and elsewhere with gold offerings, which the pirates of the Elfmaid once snatched after drugging the villagers.

Weather
The climate of the Moonshaes was considered subarctic. The weather was severe, with long winters. During the winter, biting freezing wind roared across the moorlands, the lack of cover caused the wind to sweep uninterrupted across the exposed terrain. The winter also brings storms to the islands. The storms originate in the Trackless Sea, usually striking the islands from the northwest. Storm season began in late Eleint and ended in Ches. Huge swells reaching in height made the sea unnavigable during storm season.

Flora & Fauna
The islands were covered with thick deciduous forests of aspen, birch, hickory, maple, oak and yew. The thick undergrowth made travel difficult unless a game trail or path was found. The plant growth was thick enough at the height of summer to block the wind, holding in the hot and humid air. During the winter, the trees dropped their leaves and the undergrowth died, making travel much easier.

The islands were also home to forests of coniferous trees. Forests of pine, cedar and spruce had little undergrowth and the forest ground was covered in a thick layer of needles. These forests were usually located in the higher parts of the Moonshaes. During the summer, cool wind swept through the trees, and in the winter the trees acted as a wind block.

The forests of the Moonshaes were home to many animals. In the deciduous forests, smaller animals such as hares and foxes made their homes. During the summer the forests were filled with insects. The coniferous forests on the other hand were home to large animals such as bears, deer and wolves with little to no insects.

The saltwater marshes, fens and swamps were home to swarms of insects. They spawned in the stagnant pools and were generally unpleasant, biting and stinging anyone who traveled the marshes. Dangerous creatures were known to inhabit the dark waters. The freshwater lakes, rivers and streams were home to healthy populations of perch, salmon and trout.

In the highlands, marmots, mice and foxes lived in the barren terrain. Eagles, falcons and hawks made nests in the cliffs. Some copses of coniferous trees were found here, but usually the only plant life was hardy lichen and mosses. In some area, vibrant wildflowers appeared for a brief period during the summer.

Economy
Each kingdom of the Moonshaes, while somewhat self-sufficient, had some amount of trade with one another. Most goods traveled on ships from port to port. Nearly all trade occurred during the spring and summer, it was brought to halt by the fierce winters. The major external trading partners of the Moonshae were Amn, Calimshan, Tethyr and Waterdeep.

Caer Callidyrr, with its sprawling and accessible port, was the main commerce and trading hub of the Moonshaes. Merchants from all over Toril could be encountered here. Exported goods bound for Waterdeep or Calimshan were shipped from the city, and imports from the outside were brought in.

Waterdhavian merchants sought to trade cloth, oil or spice for high quality steel crafted by the Ffolk. Calishite merchants brought horses, parchment, silks and spices in their galleons. The southern merchants sough fur, metals and weapons. Timber from the islands was in high demand, as it was the only easily accessible location for the large trees required to build galleons. Some Calishite merchants sailed the extra week to trade in the ports on Corwell or Moray.

Some Waterdhavians stopped in the ports of the Northlanders. The northmen traded slaves and Ffolk weapons for alcohol, cloth, gold and oil.

Tarnian shipbuilders from Mintarn, an island that exhausted their supply of timber, were a frequent sight in Caer Callidyrr. They arrived in the city, purchased enough raw materials to build another ship, then sailed back to Mintarn in both vessels.

Moonshavian merchants brought ale and livestock from Corwell, and coral and iron ore from Moray, to Caer Callidyrr to be traded for high quality weapons.

Government
As of, the majority of the Moonshae Isles were ruled by High Queen Alicia Kendrick, who ruled from the capital city of Caer Callidyrr on Alaron.

After the Spellplague, House Kendrick lost much of their control over the isles. In, much of the isle of Alaron was ruled by House Kendrick, although the King's forces did not control the entire island. The Isle of Snowdown was controlled by the vampire Lady Erliza Daressin, who was loyal to Amn. The Isle of Gwynneth was controlled by the Kingdom of Sarifal, which was ruled by High Lady Ordalf. A tribe of fomorians crossed from the Feywild into Faerûn after the Spellplague and took control of the island of Oman. The isle of Moray was under the control of Malarite lycanthropes.

Inhabitants
The Moonshae Isles were populated mainly by the Ffolk and the Northlanders, two human societies. Over the one hundred years since Queen Alicia consolidated her rule, the two groups intermarried and became more culturally unified.
 * Ffolk:

The Ffolk were skilled at farming, fishing and hunting. They were also adept traders. While they were more peaceful than the Northlanders, they were still a strong and hardy folk capable of defending themselves.
 * Northlander:

The Northlanders were a warrior society ruled by warlords. Adventure and combat were an essential part of life. Pillaging each other and Ffolk settlements was a a regular occurrence. Both the Ffolk and Northlanders were skilled mariners.

There were a small number of Llewyrr elves living in isolation on the islands of Alaron and Gwynneth. Dwarves and halflings also populated the Moonshaes although their numbers were far smaller than the human occupants.
 * Demi Humans:

As of 1479 DR, Black Blood Tribe of lycanthropes controlled the island of Moray. The tribe worshiped the Beastlord Malar and consisted of native Faerûnian were-creatures as well as some that crossed over from Brokenstone Vale in the Feywild.
 * Lycanthropes:

Song dragons were common in the Moonshaes. The prevalence of song dragons in the Moonshae Isles caused some researchers to theorize that they originated there.

A group of fomorians loyal to Queen Connomae entered Faerûn after the Spellplague and conquered the island of Oman. The formorians were loosely allied with the Black Blood Tribe.
 * Giants:

Religion
Earthmother. who was believed to be an aspect of the deity Chauntea, was worshiped exclusively on the Moonshae Isles. Her clerics were druids and was worshiped by the Ffolk.

In the 14 century DR, Northlanders primarily worshiped the deities Auril, Tempus and Umberlee. A few were also known to worship the god Valkur. The worship of these gods was often little more than cursory for the Northlanders and dependent upon whether or not they were residing in the god's sphere of influence. The Northlander faith expanded in the 15 century, introducing the deity Talos to their pantheon and giving Valkur much more prominence. The latter became viewed as the most important among the gods, embodying the qualities the Northlanders valued most in life.

Starting around, clerics from various faiths have begun visiting the Isles, with the goal of converting the islanders to their faith and establishing churches. The reactions of the islanders were mixed, with the Northlanders killing the clerics while the Ffolk generally considered the clerics harmless and a source of entertainment. The foreign clerics have successfully converted a handful of Ffolk, but the vast majority of the Ffolk remained faithful to their traditional religion.

In, during the Time of Troubles, Bhaal was banished from the Moonshaes.

In, priests of the Risen Cult of Bane led by the cleric Gauntather began establishing themselves on the Moonshae Isles. Their goal was to transform the islands into kingdom led by the Cult.

The Cult of the Dragon had cells within the Moonshaes. Several dragons as well as dracoliches of the Cult were known to be active in the Moonshaes.

Worship to Yondalla, who was known locally as Perissa, was common among the halflings who inhabited the Moonshaes.

History
The Northmen were a violent, war-like society with little interest for or tolerance of the Ffolk's monarchical ways. Historically, this created a continuous tension between the two human peoples, with Northmen raids on Ffolk farmsteads a common occurrence.
 * Northmen-Ffolk conflict:

The conflict escalated into what has been termed the Darkwalker Wars, which lasted a number of years. In the start of the conflict, the Northmen and the Ffolk fought a series of battles mainly around Caer Corwell (Gwynneth). The true force behind the invasion of the Northmen was the creature known as Kazgaroth The Beast, a minion of Bhaal (god of murder). Through Bhaal's powers, Kazgaroth had taken the shape of the Northmen chieftain Grunnarch the Red (Iron Keep, Oman's Isle). Through him, Kazgaroth initiated the invasion of Gwynneth and Caer Corwell.

En route to Caer Corwell, Kazgaroth (in Grunnarch's shape) challenged and killed the Leviathan, which was one of the children of the goddess Earthmother. Around the town and fortress of Caer Corwell, the Northmen were halted by the combined forces of Prince Tristan Kendrick and his companions.

In year that past, the conflict between the Northlanders and the Ffolk waned due to the hard work of the High King Tristan Kendrick and later through his daughter, High Queen Alicia Kendrick. Through their queen's work for peaceful solutions to arguments between the Northlanders and the Ffolk, the Moonshaes enjoyed several decades of relative peace. By 1479, the direct confrontation between the Northmen and the Ffolk had transformed into an awkward form of tolerance, as the two have learned to share the islands. This is, in part, due to the problems both cultures have been having on their home islands.

In the, the Fey city of Karador rose from the waters of the Myrloch on the Island of Gwynneth. The leShay High Lady Ordalf proclaimed herself queen of the Island, giving it the name of Sarifal. The human kingdom of Corwell, and its capital Caer Corwell fell into ruins.
 * Eladrin domination of Gwynneth:

By the year 1479 isle of Gwynneth has become deeply connected to the feywild. In the northern forests of the island, Prince Araithe, fights against dark fey who seek to take the land for themselves. High King Derid seeks to establish an embassy, but can not find a way to secure Lady Ordalf’s permission.

Appearances

 * Novels :
 * Moonshae Trilogy
 * Druidhome Trilogy
 * Tangled Webs
 * The Rose of Sarifal
 * The Shadowmask