Gwaeron's Slumber was a sacred forest located west of Triboar in the Dessarin Valley. It was a place of reverence for worshipers of Gwaeron Windstrom, the god of tracking, and the followers of Mielikki, the goddess of the forests.[1][2][3][5][4]
Description[]
Much of Gwaeron's Slumber was ruled by autumn, with leaves of yellow, orange, and red, and this remained unchanged by the passing of the seasons.[4] Despite its sacred status, there was no actual shrine here.[1][2][3]
Significance[]
It was widely believed that Gwaeron himself visited the wood[4] so that he might sleep within its leafy fastnesses.[1][2][3][6][5] Hence, when he was seen, he was usually walking the land around Triboar and going in and out of the forest.[1][3][7] Thus, bustling Triboar was nicknamed the "Town Where Only Gwaeron Sleeps".[1][2] Witnesses reported seeing him roam amidst the trees, appearing as a tall and well-muscled man with long white hair and beard blowing in a wind, even if there was none.[1][4] He did not manifest to those who came looking for him, but only when not expected and only rarely.[1][3][4]
The faithful of Mielikki, and later those of Gwaeron too, believed that if they slept in the forest they would receive dreams of prophecy, hinting at what their deity desired of them.[1][2][3][4] Rangers that followed Mielikki visited the forest to pray[1][2][3] and later those that followed either deity came to search for inspiration.[4] Those who were not rangers would suddenly learn the skills of tracking just like real rangers, but only for the day, and only once in their life.[1][2][3] Many Gwaeronans tried to make a pilgrimage there at least once in their lives.[5]
The Lord Protector of Triboar forbade anyone from hunting wildlife or woodcutting in this forest for fear of angering Gwaeron.[1][2][3][4] The militia patrolled to prevent orcs, trolls, and other similar creatures from camping here, while true monsters were never sighted within the woods.[1][2][3] In the late 1400s DR, the Triboar playhouse displayed a mural that included rangers venerating the Master of Tracking at Gwaeron's Slumber.[8][9]
History[]
In the late 15th century DR, an oni who resided in a hillside cave further to the west of Triboar sometimes came here to hunt the rangers who went to sleep at Gwaeron's Slumber. It disguised itself as Gwaeron before attacking its awed prey. Afterward, it fastidiously cleaned up, leaving little to no trace of itself or its victim. The disappearances gave life to a new belief that Gwaeron was spiriting away his worshipers to his divine realm.[4]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 85. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 slade, et al. (April 1996). “Cities & Civilization”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 37. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 28. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 58. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 29, 134. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 97. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 27. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- ↑ Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley (2023). Honor Among Thieves. (Paramount Pictures).
- ↑ Eleni Roussos (April 4, 2023). The Art and Making of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. (Random House Worlds). ISBN 9781984861863.