Riatavin was a city in Amn and later Tethyr in west Faerûn.[1]
Government[]
A group of merchants known as the Chosen Council governed the city in the 15th century DR.[1]
Culture[]
A popular local periodical chapbook called Dansarra's Delights was inspired by a long-gone undead dancer and courtesan whose name and attitude was used to write skewering reviews of local businesses, performances, and opinion pieces about local public figures.[5]
Defenses[]
The city was primarily defended by the Ring Knights of Riatavin, a force of mounted troops armed with longswords, shields, and rods, adorned in chainmail armor. In 1370 DR, the Ring Knights were 3000 in number.[2]
History[]
The city was originally founded by its namesake, Riatan Krimmevol. He, along with two others, founded the trade city after spotting the landmark later known as Riatan's Needle and building a settlement around it.[4] Formerly a city of Amn, Riatavin seceded to become part of Tethyr in the Year of the Tankard, 1370 DR.[1]
On the Feast of the Moon of 1370 DR, the Herald Thorn Tree disappeared hours before he was to perform the Bloodsong. This triggered a storm of controversy. First, there were rumors that the High Heralds had plans to expel Thorn Tree for corruption. Second, the rebel government of Riatavin had hoped to use the Bloodsong to assert their authority over the city amidst their secession from Amn to Tethyr. Third, some claimed that Thorn Tree had been working for, variously, Amn, Tethyr, the Knights of the Shield, or another faction of Riatavin. Thus, Thorn Tree's disappearance was expected to be powerful political ammunition for all these factions, further disrupting the secession. In fact, Thorn Tree had actually been murdered by one the Eldreth Veluuthra, and his body hidden so well it might never be found.[6]
The city lost population in the years after the Spellplague and, as of 1479 DR, parts of the city were abandoned.[1]
Riatavin had a significant criminal underworld and the Shadow Thieves were the dominant criminal organization. The city also suffered from bandit incursions from Erlkazar.[1]
Notable Locations[]
- The Ring of Arms, a fighters' school situated on Redmorn Lane.[7]
- Riatan's Needle, a 90 foot tall butte which marks the exact center of the city. It is crowned with a magically lit brazier whose light is visible to people travelling along Tethir Road during the night.[4]
Inns & Taverns[]
- The Yoxen's Burden, the most lavish inn/tavern in Riatavin.[4]
- The Rook's Treasure, a dirty, smoke-filled tavern used as a meeting place by the Shadow Thieves and other unsavory types.[4]
- The Vilhound, a slightly run-down little tavern that caters to travelers to and from the Vilhon Reach, ran by an unwitting agent of the Twisted Rune.[4]
- The Flipping Coins tavern, once owned by a diviner who chalked his uncanny predictions to "intuition".[2]
- The Roaring Manticore inn.[4]
Temples & Shrines[]
Notable Inhabitants[]
Organizations[]
- The College of the Eclipse, a society dedicated to psionics education and advancement, was based in Riatavin in the mid-1370s DR.[8]
- The Company of Hunnar was a two-hundred strong mercenary company based in Riatavin around 1358 DR. This company specialized in siege warfare, but also employed standard military units.[9]
- The Heralds of Faerûn had an office here, entitled Thorn Tree.[10][11]
- House Tsornyl, survivors of the elven settlement Tsornyl destroyed by Moander, the god of rot, in Year of Clinging Death, 75 DR.[12]
- Laughing Lynx Long-haul Caravan Company, a caravan company decimated by Balagos, the Flying Flame sometime before the late 14th century DR.[13]
- The Order of the Blue Boar, a prestigous mercenary company that operates from Castle Blue, just outside Riatavin.[14]
Individuals[]
- Avimmuck Wanderfoot, the Cloakmaster of Shadow Thieves' Caravan Sect in the late 14th century DR.[15]
- Furbelow Trundlestump, a Harper agent and weaponshith of the Ring of Arms in the late 14th century DR.[7]
- Onyx the Invincible, a hero of the Reclamation War and the commander of Riatavin's fortification in the late 14th century DR.[16]
- Osilant Lharnree, a horse merchant in the late 15th century DR.[17]
Appendix[]
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
A Handful of Dust
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 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. 179. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Two: Amn”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 50. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1998). Demihuman Deities. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 167. ISBN 0-7869-1239-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Steven E. Schend (August 1997). “Book Two: Amn”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Lands of Intrigue (TSR, Inc.), p. 51. ISBN 0-7869-0697-9.
- ↑ So Saith Ed Oct – Dec 2006. (25-11-2021). Retrieved on 25-11-2021.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ed Greenwood (September 1993). The Code of the Harpers. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 71. ISBN 1-56076-644-1.
- ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 173. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- ↑ Tim Beach (1992). Gold & Glory. (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN 1-56076-334-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (September 1993). The Code of the Harpers. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 76. ISBN 1-56076-644-1.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (March 2006). Power of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 106. ISBN 0-7869-3910-9.
- ↑ So Saith Ed 2010-2016. (25-11-2021). Retrieved on 25-11-2021.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (August 1996). “Wyrms of the North: Balagos”. In Pierce Watters ed. Dragon #232 (TSR, Inc.), p. 81.
- ↑ Tim Beach (1992). Gold & Glory. (TSR, Inc), p. 56. ISBN 1-56076-334-5.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend, Sean K. Reynolds and Eric L. Boyd (June 2000). Cloak & Dagger. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105. ISBN 0-7869-1627-3.
- ↑ Dale Donovan (April 1998). “Rogues Gallery: The Heroes of Selûne's Smile”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #246 (TSR, Inc.), p. 73.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (November 2013). “Eye on the Realms: Alsimur Droon”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #429 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 42.