Sword Mountains

The Sword Mountains were a range of peaks located on the Sword Coast North.

Geography
The mountains were located northwest of Waterdeep and east of the Mere of Dead Men. Their western slopes led to the Trackless Sea in rolling foothills.

Description
They formed in a shape similar to that of a boomerang.

History
The mountains were home to orcs and trolls, but after the orcs were united by Wund and the Brotherhood of the Scarlet Scourge in 927 DR, the orcs drove the trolls out. This was a contributing factor to the Trollwars.

Uruth Ukrypt's orc horde came out of the mountains to attack Waterdeep in 936 DR, but they were defeated and forced to retreat. They hatched another plan to attack in 940 DR, but this plan was ruined by the gold dragon Palarandusk.

Due to a raid on Ukrypt's crypt by a human adventuring company called the Dawnbringer Company in 1024 DR, the orcs of the Brotherhood of the Scarlet Scourge formed a horde called the Broken Bone with the intent of destroying Waterdeep. Their plans were once again ruined by a dragon; this time Lhammaruntosz. Still determined to exact their revenge, the orcs formed another horde, calling it the Black Claw, and in 1026 DR they came from the mountains to attack Waterdeep. This attack proved unsuccessful and they were defeated, causing the orcs to lose their unity and plunge into a period of tribal conflict.

Notable Locations

 * Hills & Peaks:
 * Icespire Peak, the tallest peak of the Sword Mountains.
 * Mount Galardrym, the peak that was home to the dwarves of Clan Forgebar.
 * Mount Sar, the second-most southern of the range's peaks, that was named after a legendary fomorian.
 * Mount Helimbrar, the southernmost peak of the mountains was home to the underground stronghold of the Shadow Thief Marune.


 * Landmarks:
 * Mountain's Toe mine, a successful gold mine owned by a Neverwintan business consortium.
 * Wave Echo Cave, the labyrinthine caverns that housed the fabled Forge of Spells.


 * Settlements:
 * Axeholm, an abandoned dwarven stronghold that was haunted by a banshee.
 * Gnomengarde, a minor kingdom of rock gnomes that was located in caves at the base of the mountains.
 * Ieirithymbul, another gnomish settlement nestled in the valley of Felrenden.
 * Kheldell, a rather small human logging village.


 * Structures:
 * Icespire Hold, the mountain-top fortress that was claimed as a lair by the young white dragon cryovain.
 * Temple of Abbathor, another site abandoned by the dwarves, later uncovered by a mining excavation.