View source for Gulthmere Forest

{{Location
| image           = 
<gallery>
DragonCoast 4E.jpg|1479 DR 
Gulthmere settlements.png|1372 DR 
</gallery>
| caption         = Map of the Gulthmere
| name            = Gulthmere Forest
| aliases         = Gulthandor<br />Gulthandor Forest
| type            = Forest
| size            = 
| capital         = 
| area            = [[Vilhon Reach]], [[Dragon Coast]]
| georefs         = <ref name="FRCS3e-p142"/><ref name="FRCS3e-map" /><ref name="FRCG-p116" /><ref name="FRPG-p92">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Player's Guide|92}}</ref>
| demonym         = 
| languages       = 
| races           = [[Fey]] ([[elves]]), [[half-elves]], [[human]]s
| religion        = [[Nobanion]], [[Eldath]], [[Malar]]
| currency        = 
| population1     = 
| popyear1        = 7,000
| population2     = 1479
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| histrefs        = <ref name="FRCG-p116" />
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| socrefs         = <ref name="FRCS3e-p142"/><ref name="FRCG-p116" /><ref name="VR:PG-p21">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Player's Guide|21}}</ref><ref name="FRCG-p68" />
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| usethe          = yes
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| inhabitants     = yes
| bodies of water = yes
| locations       = yes
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The '''Gulthmere Forest''', known for a time as the nation of '''Gulthandor''',<ref name="FRCG-p116">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide|116}}</ref> marked the boundary between the [[Dragon Coast]] and the [[Vilhon Reach]] in [[Interior Faerûn|central Faerûn]]. It was an overgrown forest of [[pine]] and [[cedar]] that was sacred to the god [[Nobanion]] and his followers.<ref name="FRCS3e-p142">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition|142}}</ref> To those within the Reach, it was known as the "seat of power" for the lands' [[druid]]s.<ref name="VR:DMR-p47">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Dungeon Master's Reference|47}}</ref>

==Description==
It was an untamed, subtropical<ref name="LoD-p148">{{Cite book/Lords of Darkness|148}}</ref> expanse of woodland predominantly made up of [[cedar]] and [[pine]] trees. The terrain of the forest was hill country,<ref name="FRCS3e-p221" /> with rich mineral deposits and so was coveted by miners,<ref name="FRCS3e-p142"/> particularly [[gem stones]] such as [[rubies]] and [[topaz]]es.<ref name="GTotR-p123">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised)/A Grand Tour of the Realms|123}}</ref>

The forest housed several ''[[portal]]''s, including one that was connected to the lost city of [[Ilimar]],<ref name="SK-p132">{{Cite book/Serpent Kingdoms|132}}</ref><ref name="FRCG-p137">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide|137}}</ref> the underground city of [[Fluvenilstra]],<ref name="FRCG-p227">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide|227}}</ref> and another linked to [[Nobanion]]'s [[divine realm]] in the [[House of Nature]].<ref name="PGtF-p158">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|158}}</ref>

==Geography==
The forest was located along the eastern stretch of the coast along the southwestern waters of the [[Sea of Fallen Stars]].<ref name="FRCS3e-map">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition/Map}}</ref> leading up to the [[Mountains of the Alaoreum]] and the [[Orsraun Mountains]] in the south.<ref name="FRCS3e-p221">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition|221}}</ref> <ref name="VR:DMR-p41">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Dungeon Master's Reference|41}}</ref>

Just north of the forest were the ruins of the small coast city of [[Starmantle]].<ref name="FRCS3e-map">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition/Map}}</ref><ref name="FRCG-map">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide/Map}}</ref>

===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.<ref name="VR-map">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Map}}</ref>

Located within the forest south of Starmantle was the [[Lightless Lake]], also known as the Moonmere. It was home to a tribe of [[bullywug]]s who believed the lake to be holy to [[Ramenos]].<ref name="TF-p229, 231">{{Cite book/Twilight Falling|229,231}}</ref>

The hilly terrain of the forest included at least two dormant volcanoes.<ref name="LoD-p148" />

==Government==
For hundreds of years beginning in the 3{{rd}} century [[DR]], the Gulthmere Forest along with the [[Chondalwood]] were watched over a band of druids, led by one the five [[Grand Druid]]s of the Realms.<ref name="VR:DMR-p47">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Dungeon Master's Reference|47}}</ref><ref name="GTotR-p17">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised)/A Grand Tour of the Realms|17}}</ref><ref name="F&A-p185">{{Cite book/Faiths & Avatars|185}}</ref> Their order defended the the forest realm from the expansion of neighboring nations,<ref name="VR:DMR-p9">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Dungeon Master's Reference|9}}</ref> and eventually formed the expansive druidic organization known as the [[Emerald Enclave]].<ref name="VR:DMR-p10">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Dungeon Master's Reference|10}}</ref>

Some time during the 15{{th}} 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]].<ref name="FRCG-p116" /> By the late 1480s DR, the forest was once again known as the Gulthmere.<ref name="5eMap">{{Cite web/Map of Faerûn 5th edition}}</ref>

==Society==
The faith of [[Nobanion]] was perhaps the strongest in all of the Gulthmere forest;<ref name="GTotR-p123" /> the deity himself was nicknamed the Lion God of Gulthmere.<ref name="VR:DMR-p47" /><ref name="EFR-p158">{{Cite book/Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms|158}}</ref>

==History==
The great city of Cedarspoke was founded in the forest around the beginning of the 3{{rd}} century [[DR]].<ref name="GHotR-p66">{{Cite book/The Grand History of the Realms|66}}</ref>

When the druids of [[Silvanus]] in the forest united to form the Emerald Enclave in the {{YearlinkName|717}}, in order to strike out against the encroachment of the [[wizard]]s 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.<ref name="VR:PG-p5">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Player's Guide|5}}</ref>

During the [[Time of Troubles]], in the {{YearlinkName|1358}}, the forest was the location of a ''[[Roar of Shadows|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.<ref name="VR:DMR-p16" /><ref name="VR:DMR-p13">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Dungeon Master's Reference|13}}</ref><ref name="GHotR-p144">{{Cite book/The Grand History of the Realms|144}}</ref>

In the {{YearlinkName|1368}}, 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.<ref name="CoV-p80">{{Cite book/Champions of Valor|80}}</ref> 

When the [[Fane of Shadows]] came to [[Toril]] on the [[Prime Material plane]], it first appeared in the Lightless Lake within the forest.<ref name="TF-p229, 231">{{Cite book/Twilight Falling|229,231}}</ref>

==Notable Locations==
* [[Cedarsproke]]: A small city, in the heart of the forest, that served as a [[druid]]ic stronghold. Despite their presence in the area, the city was not a settlement of the [[Emerald Enclave]].<ref name="VR:DMR-p47"/><ref name="FRCS3e-p143">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition|143}}</ref>
* [[Gurnth]]: This village, located in the forest's depths, was home to a cult of Nobanion-worshipers.<ref name="VR:DMR-p16">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Dungeon Master's Reference|16}}</ref><ref name="VR:PG-p8">{{Cite book/The Vilhon Reach/Player's Guide|8}}</ref>
* [[Monastery of Oghma]]: A small holy building that was destroyed in the 14{{th}} century DR.<ref name="Ftr">{{Cite web/Forging the Realms/Hulther's Mimics}}</ref>

==Inhabitants==
As was the case with other untamed forested regions of the Realms, Gulthmere was home to a great many [[fey]] creatures.<ref name="FRCG-p68">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide|68}}</ref> [[Green dragon]]s were known to dwell in the forest,<ref name="Draco-p36">{{Cite book/Draconomicon (1990)|36}}</ref> as was at least one rookery of [[kir-lanan]]s.<ref name="LoD-p150">{{Cite book/Lords of Darkness|150}}</ref>

==Appendix==
===Appearances===
:;Video Games
::{{refonly}}
::<small>''[[Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate]]''</small>
===Reference===
{{Refs}}
[[FR:Forêt de Gulthmere]]
===Connections===
{{Vilhon Reach}}
[[Category:Forests]]
[[Category:Locations on the Dragon Coast]]
[[Category:Locations in the Eastern Heartlands]]
[[Category:Locations in the Vilhon Reach]]
[[Category:Locations in Interior Faerûn]]
[[Category:Locations in Faerûn]]
[[Category:Locations on Toril]]
[[Category:Locations]]