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Purple Hills

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The Purple Hills were a range of hills on the coast of Tethyr, lying in County Vintor in the duchy of the Purple Marches,[1][2][8] inhabited almost exclusively by halflings,[9] fames as the best winemakers in Tethyr.[10]

“
Our journey nears its end. Where the hills end, Calimshan begins.
”
— Captain Deudermont[11]

Geography[]

Lands of intrigue - War in Tethyr

A map of Tethyr showing the location of the Purple Hills.

The town of Vineshade was located there.[12] The Hillstrail ran through the Purple Hills to connect Myratma in the south and Zazesspur in the north, passing the ruins of Canaith, town of Barrowsmorn, Vineshade, and crossing the Red River.[3] The Purple Hills was a lush and fertile land of green farmlands overlooking the Sea of Swords.[13][9]

The coastal area of the Purple Hills was called the Purple Cliffs[3] – a virtually deserted land as it was not suitable for farming. The local hin were also terrified of large bodies of water and naval vessels. This fear contributed to the Purple Cliffs remaining uninhabited,[14] rising 50 feet (15 meters) above sea level near Fortress Faithful to as high as 200 feet near the center of the cliffs. The coastline was so named due to an abundance of creeping, purple flowers that hung over its edge, and the rich quartz deposits found throughout the rocks. These flowers and mineral deposits gave the area its name.[1] The southern edge of the hills was formed by the Red River, a tributary of the River Ith.[3]

Government[]

As halflings were not allowed in Tethyrean government,[15] the numerous communities of the Purple Hills assembled their own government – the Purple Hills Council that maintained close relations to the governments of Myratma and Zazesspur.[16] Halflings of Purple Hills were sure to receive aid from both Myratma and Zazesspur, thanks to their friendly relations rooted in trade. Minor dangers such as rampaging ankhegs were known to on occasions arise in the region.[14] The Count of county Vintor in the late 14th century was a dwarfish hin Fleet Chancellor named Krimmon Amethystall who lived alongside the Purple Cliffs.[1]

Trade[]

The farmlands on the hills produced cattle like sheep and wool that were produced in quality fabrics in Tethyr, as well as various fruits, vegetables, and other foodstuffs that fed the city of Zazesspur in the north and Myratma in the south.[17][18] Some of the fruits of the Purple Hills included gooseberries,[19] plums, blackberries,[20] and quinces.[21] One such farm belonged to Oraundas Haeltower, a producer of cheap, smooth wine from vineyards north and east of Vineshade. During a sale of such wines in 1479 DR, treasure and other valuables began appearing in the wines. This was discovered to be a smuggling operation from the families of Amn.[12] The region's hin population was known to produce Tintoram's Select, a blackberry brandy.[20] Other libations of note produced in the Purple Hills were Farlindell Red wine[22] and Purple Hills Cider from the Kraljaom Distillery.[23]

History[]

Circa the Year of Dwarves' Descent, −450 DR, a slave rebel named Ankar led an army of fellow escapees from Calimshan into the Purple Hills, where they were safe from their masters. The human slaves eventually continued moving north, past the Purple Hills, towards the Dragon's Neck Peninsula.[24] By the Year of Shattered Walls, −387 DR, Zazesspur was rebuilt into an outpost of the decaying Calishite empire, keeping the Purple Hills as its territory.[25] By the Year of Stonerising, −200 DR, the Purple Hills were claimed by Tethyr as Clan Bormul completed Ithalyr on the Purple Cliffs. This became the first royal palace of Tethyr.[26]

Purple Hills was home to a population of Arvoreen-worshiping halfling farmers who were forced out of their homes in the Year of the Raised Banner, 227 DR. The hin migrants ended up forming the realm of Meiritin. Centuries later, during Tethyr's Interregnum, Arvoreen's Marchers – gnomes and halflings of the Purple Hills, led by Estemal Talltankard, were responsible for keeping the region from being consumed by anarchy.[6] Despite Arvoreen's Marchers's best efforts, the Ten Black Days of Eleint of the Year of the Bright Blade, 1347 DR left a mark of chaos and death on the Purple Hills. Members of the Riiklass family of Princess-Consort Dhara were murdered by rioting mobs in the Purple Hills. Another victim of the mob killings was cruel Count Romar Miklaas, who abused the hin of the Purple Hills. Long-suffering halflings, aided by druids, ended Romar's life.[27]

In the Year of the Gauntlet, 1369 DR, the village of Geniste was swiftly destroyed within mere hours by a flood green slimes that spilled out of a root cellar. In five hours, the oozes devoured the village and its inhabitants completely, leaving only a wandering priest, his paladin companion, and several villagers alive. The village became a swamp surrounding a cemetery on a hilltop.[28] It was revealed that the slimed emerged from what later would be known as the Gravegate of Geniste, a one-way gate from Undermountain.[29]

Notable Locations[]

  • Dragonstail, a peninsula that once protruded from the Purple Hills and the location of Carathryn. Both sunk in 1123 DR.[30]
  • Grapevine's Root, a sprawling temple villa dedicated to the hin deity Cyrrollalee atop a knoll above the town of Vineshade, famous for its Cyrrojubilee vintage wine.[31]

Notable Inhabitants[]

  • Garvanell of Garvanell's Fine Ointments shop in Zazesspur was born in the farmlands within the Purple Hills.[13]
  • Glissando Homebody, the Enduring Vintage of the Grapevine's Root temple in the late 14th century DR.[31]
  • Jhessar Talltankard, a representative of the Heralds of Faerûn’ in the 14th century DR.[32]
  • Paddy Stoutfellow, a lighthearted halfling jokester of the Company of Eight who planned on eventually retiring to his homestead in the Purple Hills, sometime after the late 14th century DR.[33]

Notable Organizations[]

  • Arvoreen's Keepers, or Keepers of the Vigilant Guardian, a halfling knightly order that served their deity Arvoreen and served as defenders of their kin.[4]
  • Wayward Wardens, an order of Yondallan clerics that spent some time among the halflings of the Purple Hills during Tethyr's Interregnum.[34]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Adventures

A Blight on the Land • Undermountain: Stardock
Referenced only
Expedition to Undermountain

Novels & Short Stories

The Halfling's Gem
Referenced only
Silver Shadows • War in Tethyr • Sandstorm • Blackstaff Tower

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 73. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Steven E. Schend (1997). Lands of Intrigue: Book One: Tethyr (back cover). (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Map of the Lands of Intrigue included in Steven E. Schend (August 1997). Lands of Intrigue. Edited by Roger E. Moore. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Thomas M. Costa (July 2004). “Faiths of Faerûn: Arvoreen's Keepers”. In Matthew Sernett ed. Dragon #321 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 76.
  5. ↑ Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 164. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
  7. ↑ Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 19. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
  8. ↑ Map included in Victor Milán (October 1995). War in Tethyr. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-7869-0184-5.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 43. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  10. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 3. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  11. ↑ R.A. Salvatore (January 1990). The Halfling's Gem. (TSR, Inc), chap. 14. ISBN 0-88038-901-X.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ed Greenwood (January 2012). “Eye on the Realms: A Surprising Vintage”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #407 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 42–45.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Elaine Cunningham (January 2001). Silver Shadows (1996). (TSR, Inc.), chap. 5. ISBN 0-7869-0498-4.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 44. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  15. ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 21. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  16. ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 23. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  17. ↑ Elaine Cunningham (January 2001). Silver Shadows (1996). (TSR, Inc.), chap. 9. ISBN 0-7869-0498-4.
  18. ↑ Steven E. Schend, Dale Donovan (September 1998). Empires of the Shining Sea. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 39. ISBN 0-7869-1237-5.
  19. ↑ Jeff Grubb, Julia Martin, Steven E. Schend et al (1992). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue. (TSR, Inc), p. 129. ISBN 0-5607-6327-2.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Victor Milán (October 1995). War in Tethyr. (TSR, Inc), chap. 22. ISBN 0-7869-0184-5.
  21. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), pp. 77–78. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  22. ↑ Steven E. Schend (September 2008). Blackstaff Tower. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 4. ISBN 0-7869-4913-9.
  23. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 77. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  24. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 23. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  25. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 24. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  26. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  27. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 37. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  28. ↑ Steven E. Schend (January 1997). Undermountain: Stardock. Edited by Bill Olmesdahl. (TSR, Inc.), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-0451-8.
  29. ↑ 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.
  30. ↑ Ed Greenwood and Doug Stewart (1997). Prayers from the Faithful. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 100–103. ISBN 0-7869-0682-0.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 170. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
  32. ↑ Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book One: Tethyr”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 93. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
  33. ↑ Ed Greenwood, et al (1989). Hall of Heroes. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 0-88038-711-4.
  34. ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 181. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
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