The Cloud Peaks were a range of mountains in the west Faerûn that marked the northern border of Amn and its separation from the Sword Coast and the Western Heartlands.[3][1]
Geography[]
While the Cloud Peaks were a relatively small mountain range, they were very tall, with Mount Speartop at an elevation of 14,500 feet (4,420 meters) above sea level.[4] Many steep ravines and sudden drops lay along the paths, and the winds were dangerous. The mountains were snow-covered most of the year and quite cool.[5] Mountain climbers who could afford the cost could use the cliffs of the range for rock climbing.[5] The southwestern foothills were known as the Hamlar Hills.[5]
Fauna[]
Many sheep and goats roamed and grazed the foothills of the Cloud Peaks,[5] and remorhazes were among the apex predators of the region.[1] Winter wolves were also endemic, and hunted for their pelts.[6][7]
Trade[]
The mountains were thoroughly mined for iron, gems, and precious metals.[1] The nearby town of Crimmor processed a good portion of the ore and gems coming from the Peaks before shipping them to Athkatla.[4]
The foothills of the Cloud Peaks near Crimmor were home to the first tree farms of Faerûn, which produced ash, oak, duskwood and silverbark.[8]
Inhabitants[]
Tribes of ogres and hill giants lived in the mountains, as did a family of cloud giant bandits until they were eliminated in 1342 DR.[2]
White dragons inhabited the mountains as well. One such white dragon was named Icehaupt, who lived on Mount Speartop but preferred to never leave his lair.[9][5][10][1]
Until 1369 DR, an ancient red dragon also lived in the mountains, but it was slain by the blue dragon Araugauthos, who then returned to her own lair.[11]
Notable Locations[]
Snow-covered top of the Cloud Peaks and the Dark Moon monastery's entrance.
- Citadel of Amnur, one of two grand fortresses built to defend the northern border.[12]
- Citadel of Rashturl, the second fortress built to guard the northern border.[12]
- Dark Moon monastery, a secret monastery of the Order of the Dark Moon.[6]
- The Fangs, a pair of steep crags that flanked the Trade Way as it passed to the Sword Coast region.[12][5][1][1]
- Gnoll stronghold, an old abandoned castle inhabited by gnolls.[6][7]
- The Hamlar Hills, lightly forested foothills used by farmers for grazing their animals.[5]
- Mountain of Skulls, a well-hidden cave that was a temple to Bane and later Cyric.[10]
- Mount Speartop, the tallest peak in the range, and rumored to be the resting place of several massive, sleeping dragons.[2]
- Nashkel, a high-altitude village of Amn on the north side of the mountains.[6][7]
- Nashkel mines, a large productive mine that supplied iron to Amn and the Sword Coast.[6][7]
- Orlsfall, an abandoned mining town in the eastern foothills.[13]
- The Neck, a mountain pass across the Cloud Peaks.[14]
- The Ridge, an exposed stretch of fault line that started near the eastern portion of the mountains.[15][10]
- Scarsiir's Crag, the lair of the silver dragon Eacoathildarandus until he was killed by the red dragon Balagos.[16]
- St. Carwell's Vale, a small village in the foothills near the coast.[13]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Video Games
External links[]
Cloud Peak Mountains article at the Baldur's Gate Wiki, a wiki for the Baldur's Gate games.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 154. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Scott Haring (1988). Empires of the Sands. (TSR, Inc), p. 4. ISBN 0-8803-8539-1.
- ↑ Scott Haring (1988). Empires of the Sands. (TSR, Inc), p. 3. ISBN 0-8803-8539-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Scott Haring (1988). Empires of the Sands. (TSR, Inc), p. 7. ISBN 0-8803-8539-1.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Two: Amn”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 26. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Beamdog (November 2012). Designed by Philip Daigle, et al. Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition. Beamdog.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 BioWare (December 1998). Designed by James Ohlen. Baldur's Gate. Black Isle Studios.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (August 2005). “Crimmor: City of Caravans”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #334 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 29.
- ↑ Scott Haring (1988). Empires of the Sands. (TSR, Inc), p. 17. ISBN 0-8803-8539-1.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Two: Amn”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 27. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Two: Amn”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 30. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Scott Haring (1988). Empires of the Sands. (TSR, Inc), p. 15. ISBN 0-8803-8539-1.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Two: Amn”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ ProFantasy Software Ltd. (1999). Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas. TSR, Inc. File: Amn.FCW
- ↑ Scott Haring (1988). Empires of the Sands. (TSR, Inc), p. 18. ISBN 0-8803-8539-1.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (August 1996). “Wyrms of the North: Balagos”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #232 (TSR, Inc.), p. 84.