Owlhold

Owlhold, sometimes called the Forgotten Land, was a wild and sparsely populated and largely unknown territory in the Border Kingdoms of the South Faerûn and, once, the gnomeish kingdom of Oelerhode.

"They say there are caravans that went into Owlhold twenty summers ago, and haven't found their ways out yet. After seeing the lanes thereabouts, I can well believe it."

- Ghuldribrand Mroster, Mage Royal of Zindalankh, in conversation with Volothamp Geddarm

Description
Untamed lands, Owlhold was a spiderweb of veering paths that could easily leave even the most competent rangers lost. The ever-present shade and dampness hid the region's main dangers: bogs and bandits. The region was dotted with small lone inns, single-home steadings, and sporadic waystables for travelers, equipped with a freshwater pumps and a small shack-sized taverns.

Geography
The territories of Owlhold were sandwiched between the Talduth Vale to the west, the Barony of Blacksaddle to the east, the city of Oeble to the north, and the lands of the Shaar to the south. The realm's closest thing to a town was Bloutar, but by 1374 DR it was lost to the neighboring Barony of Blacksaddle. No settlements in Oeble appeared to be big enough to be described as hamlets. Qurth Forest was another part of Owlhold that was lost to the Barony of Blacksaddle.

Most maps of Owlhold bore little accuracy to the region's collection of roads, trails, streams, and rivers. However, several larger boards crossed Owlhold. The busiest route was the Green Road that edged the region, connecting Oeble and Bloutar. The road known as the Bowshot was hard to navigate as it wildly winded through the wilderness. It was connected to the Longcrag Ride that stretched between Talduth Vale and Beldargan.

Flora & Fauna
Owlhold was a wild territory of shaded thickets, rolling hills of hedges, woods, vines, and hanging moss. The realms was named after its large population of owls who fed on vermin and small creatures that ran rampant as Owlen folk did not farm in the common sense of the word.

Government
Despite not having an official government, Owlhold supported the Faceless Master's politics of keeping the city of Oeble independent. Together with the Barony of Great Oak, Owlhold aided the Faceless Master against the Talduth Vale's attempts to annex Oeble circa the mid-to-late 14 century DR.

Trade
The Owlen lived via hunting and gathering. They collected a wide-variety of local edible and medicinal berries, herbs, and mosses. One notable local product was a type of wine fermented from a special blend of local vegetation. It was popular for the throat-scorching flavor and Owlen sold the libation or exchanged for food to traveling merchants to dared to traverse the untamed realm.

History
Before Owlhold, the land belonged to a gnomeish kingdom of Oelerhode, several thousands of years before the 14 century DR. With time, the gnome nation became arrogant and bloated, encroaching on the forests and caverns, above and below ground. The nation fell to a horde of ravaging orcs that left the kingdom a crumbling and blood-drenched ruin within a single tenday. Swiftly enough, the wilds reclaimed the ruins that crumbled under a slow onslaught of vines, elements, and decay. Some cellars and underground passages remained hidden, possibly filled with ancient treasures, but any sins of them on the surface were swallowed by the nature.

By the late 14 century, Owlen became home to sporadic populations, some retired adventurers, outlaws, and wizards searching for seclusion settled in the realm. Many of them settled in remnants of gnomish buildings, caverns, and spell-chambers.

In the, several caravans were sent into the land of Owlhold, but none of them made it back. Unfortunately, such events were quite common, some of them being nothing more than rumors, bur at least two of such events definitely took place.

Notable Locations

 * The Four Stags was a busy inn at the northern end of the Bowshot that served as the Owlen trading outpost.
 * The Griffon Aflame was a more secluded inn on the southern end of the Bowshot where the Owlen gathered, avoiding outsiders.

Inhabitants
The realm was inhabited by simple Owlen folk who tried to live in harmony with the land and nature, instead of trying to tame it. These humans were quiet, non-confrontational, and reserved, accustomed to their lives in a sparsely populated world. However, that did not mean Owlhold was safe for travelers. The territory was rich with bandit bands. When hostile outsiders found a way into homes of the Owlen folk, all they found was empty rooms, snuffed candles, and back doors wide-open. Owlen took shelter in nearby woods and trees and were ready to shower near-do-wells at the first sign of ill intent.

Apart from humans, Owlhold was home to a significant number of elves and half-elves.

Notable Inhabitants

 * Baeremyl Clathaderra, a watchghost woman who owned nine powerful enchanted swords.
 * Ongolym Nlerreth, a hermit lich who commanded flying golems, powerful exotic magics, and owned an airship.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Bloodwalk
 * Bloodwalk