An archer pulling a bow beside the Spear Rock standing stone.
Menhirs were a type of stone formation typically used for portals or outdoor religious shrines.[1]
History[]
In ancient times, the Yuir folk of Aglarond used menhir stones that were infused with crystals[2] to create monumental circles that they performed mystical ceremonies in[3] and used as portals. These menhirs all bore inscriptions that were carved in their ancient Elven dialect. Over time the power of these menhirs faded and they became buried within the undergrowth of Yuirwood,[4][5] overgrown with grass or moss. Those that retained their old magic glowed unearthly colors under the light of the full moon. Some became used as meeting places by fey creatures, such as pixies and sprites.[6]
The menhir circles that remained known of within the Yuirwood formed a portal network that the Masters of the Yuirwood, an elite group of half-elven druids and rangers, used to rapidly move across the woods to respond to any growing threats. Beyond the forest, they could even travel to the realm of Sildëyuir.[7]
In 1359 DR, Zembrath Klun discovered a menhir on Mezeketh Isle that was inscribed in an ancient Jhaamdathan script.[8]
During the Spellplague, many of the menhir circles of Yuirwood seemed to attract active pockets of the eponymous plague.[9]
In 1479 DR,[note 1] the Festering Wound tribe conducted a mining operation within the Tannath Mountains on behalf of a mage known as the Saffron Devil, harvesting within its depths the same menhir stones that were once used by the Yuir folk.[10] They attached the mined stones to sledges, which they then had pulled by giant ants.[11]
Notable Menhirs[]
One of the menhirs from the Coast Way forest.
- A menhir stood just outside the city of Relkath's Foot.[12]
- Temples of Callarduran Smoothhands customarily had a solitary menhir as their central altar. These were fashioned from stalagmites and inlaid with hundreds of tiny rubies.[13]
- The nation of Amn was host to a great number of standing stone formations, including the Five Silvers, the Giants' Dance, the Prayer Stone, the Seventeen Sentries, and Waukeen's Circle.[14]
- The Black obelisks, a series of magical obelisks originating from ancient Netheril that possessed various forms of incredible power.[15][16]
- Calimban Knoll was a circle in the Calim Desert consisting of twenty-one menhirs.[17]
- Circle of Thunder, a circular arrangement of menhirs atop a hill in Neverwinter Wood.[18]
- Fang of Skulls
- Flint Rock had four menhirs encircling its altar, each of which pointed in one of the cardinal directions.[19]
- The Phylund Hunting Lodge's northern section had a large menhir, haphazardly carved with symbols and oaths to Tempus and Malar, forming much of its southwest corner.[20]
- In the forest near the Coast Way crossing stood six ancient menhirs that posed riddles to passersby.[21]
- In the Ice Spires, the kingdom of Hartsvale had the boundaries of it and the neighboring giant lands marked by titanic menhirs, which some speculated were placed there by stone giants.[22]
- Illith'arear, an ancient druidic circle of redwood trees with rune-engraved menhirs embedded within them.[23]
- Ironmaster Vale's borders were marked by menhirs, each inscribed with the coat-of-arms of Ironmaster.[24]
- The plains of Jotunheim were dotted with many ancient menhirs.[25]
- The plateaus of Raven Rock were dotted with a number of menhirs.[26]
- The Speaking Stones was a menhir circle in Blingdenstone, around which the original city was built.[27]
- Stone Stand's two cairn rings were each surmounted by a ring of menhirs.[28]
- The Twenty Stones of Thruun comprised a score of vertical granite menhirs.[29]
- Within Undermountain, the Caverns of Ooze had a pair of menhirs that acted as a portal to the Terminus Level.[30]
- The Wyvernstones of Hullack, a group of menhirs at a site sacred to Eldath in the Hullack Forest.[31]
- Spear Rock, a shrine to Tempus in the western foothills of the Storm Horns.[32]
Rumor & Legends[]
Some claimed that the menhir circles of Yuirwood could transport one to Evermeet.[6]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- The Twilight Tomb
- Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
- Silver Lining
- Video Games
- Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear
External Links[]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Brad Gardner (July 2009). Silver Lining (AGLA1-5). Living Forgotten Realms (RPGA), p. 23.
- ↑ Brad Gardner (July 2009). Silver Lining (AGLA1-5). Living Forgotten Realms (RPGA), p. 17.
- ↑ Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 47. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ Greg A. Vaughan (September 2006). The Twilight Tomb. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 3. ISBN 0-7869-3947-8.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 100. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 60. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 25, 100. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 169. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ 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. 89. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Brad Gardner (July 2009). Silver Lining (AGLA1-5). Living Forgotten Realms (RPGA), p. 12.
- ↑ Brad Gardner (July 2009). Silver Lining (AGLA1-5). Living Forgotten Realms (RPGA), p. 22.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 109. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1999). Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark. Edited by Jeff Quick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 40. ISBN 0-7869-1509-9.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Two: Amn”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), pp. 28, 34–35, 47, 58. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 286. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 81. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 78. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (September 2019). “Dragon of Icespire Peak”. In Scott Fitzgerald Gray ed. Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit (Wizards of the Coast), p. 18. ISBN 978-0-7869-6683-7.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 85. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ Tito Leati, Matthew Sernett and Chris Sims (February 2014). Scourge of the Sword Coast. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 32–33.
- ↑ Beamdog (March 2016). Designed by Philip Daigle, et al. Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear. Beamdog.
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader (July 2004). Serpent Kingdoms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 108. ISBN 0-7869-3277-5.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore, Jeffrey Ludwig, Matthew Sernett, James Wyatt (November 19, 2013). “Campaign Book”. Legacy of the Crystal Shard (Wizards of the Coast), p. 56. ISBN 978-0-7869-6464-2.
- ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 160. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ Philip Athans (2008). A Reader's Guide to R. A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 124. ISBN 0-7869-4915-5.
- ↑ slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 57. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore, Jeffrey Ludwig, Matthew Sernett, James Wyatt (November 19, 2013). “Campaign Book”. Legacy of the Crystal Shard (Wizards of the Coast), p. 29. ISBN 978-0-7869-6464-2.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (November 2018). Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 248. ISBN 978-0-7869-6626-4.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Erik Mona (May 2002). Faiths and Pantheons. Edited by Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 175. ISBN 0-7869-2759-3.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1995). Volo's Guide to Cormyr. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 215–216. ISBN 0-7869-0151-9.