Savage Frontier

The Savage Frontier was a region in the subcontinent of Faerûn that included the lands north of the Delimbiyr river that are not strictly part of the High Forest, the Silver Marches, the Sword Coast or Waterdeep. It is located between the Silver Marches and the Sword Coast, where the cities of Neverwinter and Luskan lie.

Contrary to its name, much of the area was really no more a savage frontier than other parts of the Realms and was quite civilized (Ed Greenwood once compared this to similar naming for cities in the US West). However, broader conflicts, such as those between Luskan and Waterdeep and frequent troubles with the Zhentarim made the area a dangerous one.

Races
The Savage Frontier was a racially diverse region. However, small towns and villages dominated by humans tend to have few if any nonhumans. Most dwarves, elves, and halflings prefered to live in their own settlements, far from human-claimed lands.

Elves
Sun and moon elves lived among human settlements. The wood elf tribes of the neighboring High Forest made little contact with the outside world.

Halflings
Strongheart halflings in the Savage Frontier frequently had homesteads hidden off the beaten paths through the valleys. Small populations of lightfoot halflings could be found in most human-dominated settlements.

Humans
There was no unified human nation in the Savage Frontier. The various towns, city-states, and roaming barbarians traded but also frequently came into conflict. While any human ethnicity could have been encountered in the Savage Frontier, the majority were of Illuskan, Tethyrian, Uthgardt, and Chondathan descent.

Chondathan
Slender, tawny-skinned folk with brown hair ranging from almost blond to almost black and green or brown eyes. Those dwelling in the Savage Frontier were more likely to have blue eyes and a fair complexion. A small number of Chondathans migrated into the region from Sembia after 913 DR.

Illuskan
Also called Northlanders or Northmen, Illuskans were typically tall, fair-skinned folk with blue or gray eyes. Those living in the Savage Frontier were prone to raven-black hair; indicating significant Netherese heritage. Illuskans were considered barbarians in spite of founding the cities that would become Luskan, Neverwinter, and Waterdeep.

Tethyrian
Tethyrians were of mixed ancestry including Calishite, Chondathan, Illuskan, and Low Netherese. They tended to be of medium height and build, with dusky hued skin, brown hair, and blue eyes. Their skintone tended to be more fair the farther north one traveled. Tethyrians emigrated to the Dessarin river valley after 697 DR.

Uthgardt Barbarians
The Uthgardt were a black-haired and blue-eyed folk descended from a mixture of Northmen, Netherese, and a few savage tribes. They were superstitious with a paranoid dislike of magic. The Elk Tribe, Gray Wolf Tribe, Griffon Tribe, and Thunderbeast Tribes claimed territory in the Savage Frontier region.

Landmarks
Black Maw Bog

Dawn Pass

Delimbiyr River

Dessarin Hills

Dessarin Valley

Evermoors

Far Forest

Forlorn Hills

Gaustar's Creek

Graypeak Mountains

Horn Stream

Larch Hills

Laughingflow

Lonely Moor

Night Gap

River Dessarin

River Grayflow

River Loagrann

River Surbrin

Southwood

Stone Bridge

Sumber Hills

The Fallen Lands

Weathercote Wood

Settlements
Beliard

Flint Rock

Llorkh

Longsaddle

Loudwater

Nesmé

Orlbar

Summit Hall

Triboar

Uluvin

Vale of Dancing Waters

Westbridge

Yartar

Zelbross

The rivers Laughingflow, Dessarin and Surbrin are collectively known as the Three Rivers by locals.