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The Gulthmere Forest, known for a time as the nation of Gulthandor,[3] marked the boundary between the Dragon Coast and the Vilhon Reach in central Faerûn. It was an overgrown forest of pine and cedar that was sacred to the god Nobanion and his followers.[1] To those within the Reach, it was known as the "seat of power" for the lands' druids.[7]

Description[]

It was an untamed, subtropical[8] expanse of woodland predominantly made up of cedar and pine trees. The terrain of the forest was hill country,[9] with rich mineral deposits and so was coveted by miners,[1] particularly gem stones such as rubies and topazes.[10]

The forest housed several portals, including one that was connected to the lost city of Ilimar,[11][12] the underground city of Fluvenilstra,[13] and another linked to Nobanion's divine realm in the House of Nature.[14]

Geography[]

The forest was located along the eastern stretch of the coast along the southwestern waters of the Sea of Fallen Stars.[2] leading up to the Mountains of the Alaoreum and the Orsraun Mountains in the south.[9] [15]

Just north of the forest were the ruins of the small coast city of Starmantle.[2][16]

Geographical Features[]

The Cedar River flowed north through the Gulthmere Forest, dividing the city of Cedarspoke in two. It was fed by its northern and southern arms, that flowed down from the Orbrekh and Orsraun Mountains respectively.[17]

Located within the forest south of Starmantle was the Lightless Lake, also known as the Moonmere. It was home to a tribe of bullywugs who believed the lake to be holy to Ramenos.[18]

The hilly terrain of the forest included at least two dormant volcanoes.[8]

Government[]

For hundreds of years beginning in the 3rd century DR, the Gulthmere Forest along with the Chondalwood were watched over a band of druids, led by one the five Grand Druids of the Realms.[7][19][20] Their order defended the the forest realm from the expansion of neighboring nations,[21] and eventually formed the expansive druidic organization known as the Emerald Enclave.[22]

Some time during the 15th century DR, the forest of Gulthmere transformed into the nation of Gulthandor. This forest realm was still governed by the druidic leaders of the region, headquartered in Cedarspoke.[3] By the late 1480s DR, the forest was once again known as the Gulthmere.[23]

Society[]

The faith of Nobanion was perhaps the strongest in all of the Gulthmere forest;[10] the deity himself was nicknamed the Lion God of Gulthmere.[7][24]

History[]

The great city of Cedarspoke was founded in the forest around the beginning of the 3rd century DR.[25]

When the druids of Silvanus in the forest united to form the Emerald Enclave in the Year of the Druid's Wrath, 717 DR, in order to strike out against the encroachment of the wizards of Turmish known as the Windlass. They led precision assaults against the Turmish logging camps and drew them into a great battle at Cedarspoke, from which they emerged victorious.[26]

During the Time of Troubles, in the Year of Shadows, 1358 DR, the forest was the location of a great battle between Nobanion and the god Malar. With the help of his druid allies, Nobanion kept Malar from entering the Reach, and the Beastlord was forced to turn north.[27][28][29]

In the Year of the Banner, 1368 DR, the Fellowship of the Purple Staff established themselves within the forest, and by 1372 DR, had founded three small hamlets in its northeastern region. Although they were originally resisted by the Nobanionites, who mistook their actions for wanton slaughter of wildlife, the two groups formed a steady alliance. With the help of the Fellowship, the inhabitants of these settlements built roads to trade with nearby Amry and Telpir as well the subterranean dwarven miners.[30]

When the Fane of Shadows came to Toril on the Prime Material plane, it first appeared in the Lightless Lake within the forest.[18]

Notable Locations[]

  • Cedarsproke: A small city, in the heart of the forest, that served as a druidic stronghold. Despite their presence in the area, the city was not a settlement of the Emerald Enclave.[7][31]
  • Gurnth: This village, located in the forest's depths, was home to a cult of Nobanion-worshipers.[27][32]
  • Monastery of Oghma: A small holy building that was destroyed in the 14th century DR.[33]

Inhabitants[]

As was the case with other untamed forested regions of the Realms, Gulthmere was home to a great many fey creatures.[6] Green dragons were known to dwell in the forest,[34] as was at least one rookery of kir-lanans.[35]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Video Games
Referenced only
Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate

Reference[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 142. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Map included in Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 116. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  4. Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 92. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
  5. Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Player's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 21. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 68. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Dungeon Master's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds (October 2001). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 148. ISBN 07-8691-989-2.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 221. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), A Grand Tour of the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 123. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
  11. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader (July 2004). Serpent Kingdoms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 132. ISBN 0-7869-3277-5.
  12. Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 137. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  13. Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 227. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  14. Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 158. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  15. Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Dungeon Master's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 41. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  16. Map included in Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  17. Map included in Jim Butler, Dennis Kauth, Robert Lazzaretti (1996). The Vilhon Reach. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Paul S. Kemp (July 2003). Twilight Falling. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 229, 231. ISBN 0-7869-2998-7.
  19. Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), A Grand Tour of the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 17. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
  20. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 185. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  21. Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Dungeon Master's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  22. Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Dungeon Master's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 10. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  23. Mike Schley (2015-11-18). Map of Faerün (from Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide) (HTML with JPG maps). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2018-10-30. Retrieved on 2019-02-17.
  24. Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 158. ISBN 0786960345.
  25. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 66. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  26. Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Player's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 5. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  27. 27.0 27.1 Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Dungeon Master's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  28. Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Dungeon Master's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 13. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  29. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 144. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  30. Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds (Nov. 2005). Champions of Valor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 80. ISBN 0-7869-3697-5.
  31. Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 143. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  32. Jim Butler (1996). The Vilhon Reach (Player's Guide). (TSR, Inc), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-0400-3.
  33. Ed Greenwood (2014-03-04). Hulther's Mimics. Forging the Realms. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2017-08-27. Retrieved on 2017-08-27.
  34. Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
  35. Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds (October 2001). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 150. ISBN 07-8691-989-2.

Connections[]

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