Harvestshield Mountain was a mountain located not far from Waterdeep atop which stood Chauntea's Citadel.[1]
Description[]
The mountain stood above a fertile plain. It was centrally located such that any army that held the mountain would be well-positioned to reach almost any member of the Lords' Alliance.[1]
There was a forest on the south side which afforded the safest path up to the Citadel. However, as of the late 15th century DR, parts of this forest were tainted by sulfuric runoff originating from the lair of the red dragon Argathakul that sat at the mountain's summit. Only undead, such as ghouls, could live in these areas.[1]
History[]
The mountain, and Chauntea's Citadel atop it, once protected a fertile plain that was a bountiful agricultural center for many generations, and it was this role that earned it the name "Harvestshield". During this time, the region was home to wizards and nobles as well as farmers. The wizards worked to create golems—such as the Harvestshield Reapers—to defend the mountain and the fields, while the nobles placed little value on combat and instead focused on banquets. This era gave rise to local legends, such as the unsuccessful rebel Bellorath and the foolish duo of Elcharn and Cielaro.[1]
This all ended when the entire region was decimated by Argathakul at some point between the late 8th and early 15th centuries DR.[note 1] The dragon then claimed the mountain's summit as his lair.[1]
In the late 15th century DR, the hobgoblin warlord Mrolgyet and his Legion claimed Chauntea's Citadel as their base of operation. From there, they proceeded to recruit or subdue local tribes in order to amass an army with which to wage war on the Lords' Alliance.[1]
Just as the Legion began to march its invasion force down the mountain, Laeral Silverhand sent a group of adventurers alongside an army to counter them. The adventurers managed to sneak up on the enemy while the armies held the line, and ultimately the Legion was driven back to the Citadel. That was when Argathakul reappeared to assert his claim over the mountain, but the dragon was beaten back by the adventurers.[1]
Inhabitants[]
The mountain was a habitat for owlbears and chimeras. Gangs of trolls and tribes of ettins were also known to live on or near the mountain. With the arrival of Mrolgyet's Legion, the mountain became home to goblinoids, giantkin, and gnolls.[1]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Warriors of Waterdeep is set in the late 15th century DR during Laeral Silverhand's tenure as Open Lord of Waterdeep, and Laeral states that "Few are still alive who remember how cruelly Argathakul despoiled Harvestshield Mountain, but I do." Laeral was born in 765 DR, giving the stated range from the late 8th to early 15th century DR. Laeral subsequently describes Argathakul as "young for a dragon", which might suggest a more recent date within this range.