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The Nepenthe River was an underground body of water that flowed beneath a region of the Sword Coast, primarily the High Moor.[1][3][2][4]

Geography[]

The source of the river was somewhere in the Misty Forest and was accessible by a cave therein.[1] It flowed southeast, along a path underneath the southern border of the High Moor. The river culminated in a large, subterranean whirlpool that emptied into Kanaglym, within the Underdark.[7][2]

Description[]

The waters of the Nepenthe were extremely cold, to the point of nearly freezing. The air was equally cold and noticeably humid.[1]

Along the path of the river, the surrounding caves were quite striking. The walls sparkled with veins of valuable minerals and incandescent mushrooms shone in a wide variety of colors.[1]

History[]

During the fall of Dragonspear Castle, in the Year of the Whelm, 1290 DR, the mage Ithtaerus Casalia stole a clutch of eggs away from Halatathlaer's lair. He hid them away in a cavern on the banks of the Nepenthe.[6]

In the Year of the Wyvern, 1363 DR, a group of adventurers rafted down the river in order to reach the labyrinth beneath Dragonspear Castle.[1]

When the Shining Crusade took over Dragonspear Castle, around the Year of the Banner, 1368 DR, they established a supply depot on the banks of the Nepenthe and used it as a means of transporting soldiers and resources. Among them was the mage Strunk of Silverymoon, who was binding the river's water elementals to his will.[6]

Sometime before the Year of the Ageless One, 1479 DR, a group of undead led by Born rose up from the Nepenthe and made their way into Dragonspear.[4]

Notable Locations[]

The river passed directly under Dragonspear Castle.[4] It was accessible through the castle's cellar,[1][2] by means of the underground warrens.[6]

Inhabitants[]

A number of creatures dwelled within the caves around the river, including sahuagin and ankhegs. The waters were home to a number of water elementals, a nereid,[6] and even a particularly nasty morkoth called Sallissi.[5]

During the mid–14th century, the alchemist Bellowgulp Bluefingers and his myconid companion known as the Concoctor regularly traveled along the banks of the Nepenthe, selling their concoctions.[6]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Novels
Waterdeep
Video Games
Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 William W. Connors (October 1992). Hordes of Dragonspear. Edited by C. Terry Phillips. (TSR, Inc.), p. 20. ISBN 1-56076-333-7.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ed Greenwood (1994). Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast. (TSR, Inc), p. 75. ISBN 1-5607-6940-1.
  3. 3.0 3.1 slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 4. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 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. 36. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  5. 5.0 5.1 William W. Connors (October 1992). Hordes of Dragonspear. Edited by C. Terry Phillips. (TSR, Inc.), p. 21. ISBN 1-56076-333-7.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Beamdog (March 2016). Designed by Philip Daigle, et al. Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear. Beamdog.
  7. Ed Greenwood (1989). Waterdeep (adventure). (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN 0-88038-757-2.
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