Melairrin was an ancient dwarven citadel that sat in the heart of Mount Sar in the Sword Mountains north of Waterdeep.[1]
Description[]
The ancient dwarfhold was long abandoned, and consisted of both a citadel and adjoining caverns. It connected to the exterior of Mount Sar via western tunnels that led through the abode of the frost giant Harshnag, a member of the Gray Hands.[1] The lower reaches of the hold were also accessible via a portal known as the Sundered Throne in the Dungeon Level of Undermountain,[2] although reports differed as to whether this was a one-[1] or two-way gateway.[2]
History[]
The fortress was claimed by the orcs of Uruth Ukrypt shortly after the founding of their realm in the Year of the Red Rain, 927 DR, and provided them a secure base from which to wage wars on the surrounding human and gnome settlements of the Sword Coast North and Dessarin Valley.[3][4][5] It also served as the seat of the realm's political power where the Bloodbone Throne of Uruth was kept.[6]
During the Rage of Dragons in the Year of the Dracorage, 1018 DR, the black dragon Shammagar attacked Melairrin and claimed it from the orcs as his lair.[1][6] Three centuries later, much of his hoard was famously plundered by Asilther Graelor, a wood elf thief and Harper.[6][7] Wary of further thefts, Shammagar abandoned the citadel to seek more remote lairs in the middle of the Trackless Sea[1][8] and to take revenge on Asilther.[7]
Inhabitants[]
As of the mid-to-late 14th century DR, Melairrin was home to a variety of monsters that had arrived from the caverns of the Underdark beneath it, as well as to bands of half-dragon orcs believed to be descended from Shammagar. The deepest depths of the fortress hosted the lair of Rorrina Stoneshaft, a dwarven vampire who served Artor Morlin of Waterdeep.[1]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Eric L. Boyd (2006-05-03). Environs of Waterdeep (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for City of Splendors: Waterdeep. Wizards of the Coast. p. 14. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved on 2009-10-07.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Eric L. Boyd, Ed Greenwood, Christopher Lindsay, Sean K. Reynolds (June 2007). Expedition to Undermountain. Edited by Bill Slavicsek. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7869-4157-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 111–112. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 115. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Eric L. Boyd (January 2007). “Volo's Guide: Lost Regalia of the North: The Toppled Thrones”. In Erik Mona ed. Dragon #351 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 73.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ed Greenwood (September 1993). The Code of the Harpers. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 69. ISBN 1-56076-644-1.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 155. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.