Sarifal was an isolated fey and elven kingdom located on the Isle of Gwynneth in the Moonshaes.[1][4] Among its fey inhabitants, "Sarifal" referred not only to their kingdom but to the entire island of Gwynneth. Non-fey were generally not allowed on the island.[3]
Description[]
Sarifal was a breathtakingly beautiful and magical place.[3] It felt almost otherworldly, as if steeped in dreams and myth,[5] and nothing was ever truly as it appeared.[6] Parts of Sarifal were so wondrous, majestic, or nefarious that some believed the region had been transported wholly from the Feywild.[5] The ethereal feel of the land played with the senses: colors seemed more vivid, shadows seemed darker, smells seemed to change, sounds seemed clearer and travelled further, and the wary were prone to see sinister shapes at the edges of their peripheral vision.[7] It was a wonderland of mysteries and natural splendor[5][6] where fey creatures danced throughout the wilderness each night, their laughter echoing through the realm.[3]
The realm's lush forests, rivers, and valleys were filled with fantastic (and sometimes sentient) flora and fauna,[3][2] and everything from the rocks to the animals seemed touched by the Feywild.[7] Harsh weather was common, especially during winter, featuring frequent and violent thunderstorms, biting winds, and driving rain. However, this only made the natural beauty of Sarifal more intense whenever the sun shone over the land.[8]
Geography[]
The heartland of Sarifal was the verdant Myrloch Vale. As of the late 15th century DR, the kingdom's borders encompassed the whole of the island of Gwynneth as well as the shallow underwater realms along its coast and the Underdark beneath it.[5]
Government[]
The kingdom was ruled from the city of Karador by High Lady Ordalf and her leShay advisors, although by the late 15th century DR, she had delegated most responsibilities to her son, Prince Araithe.[5][8] Great care was taken by the High Lady to project her image as an all-powerful ruler to outsiders, but to the inhabitants of Sarifal, it was known that the High Lady instead managed a careful balancing act to maintain her rule, having to appease powerful archfey, spirit lords, and fomorians.[5]
The royal seat was known as the crystal throne.[9] The royal symbol was that of a climbing rose, and was known as the "Rose of Sarifal". Some members of the leShay royal family had this symbol tattooed on their bodies.[10]
By legal decree of High Lady Ordalf, the realm was isolated from contact with the outside world, meaning no visitors and no trade (although restrictions on trade could technically be circumvented as long as visiting merchants were elves or eladrin).[7] Those fey who left the island were seen as traitors by the High Lady.[10][11]
Culture[]
The fey of Sarifal were prone to mischief, both benign and malicious. Political intrigue and shifting alliances were commonplace.[6]
The preservation of the natural world was upheld as a moral good.[12] The fey and fey-descended folk of Sarifal had a connection to the Feywild that made them uniquely attuned to nature in a way that transcended the mortal world. This made them surprisingly acrobatic and athletic, allowing them to navigate even challenging terrain with swiftness and stealth.[5][12]
Things like culture or technology changed very slowly or not at all in Sarifal.[13] While the fey enjoyed cultural pastimes such as drinking, music, and hunting,[14] their interests were largely aesthetic and lacked in quality: their clothing was gaudy, their wine was terrible, and their music was frantic yet haunting (even as they found human music to be fascinating).[15] Because they did not tend to travel beyond the shores of their island (largely out of fear), they had little knowledge of the current events or even languages of nearby islands.[10]
Religion[]
The inhabitants of Sarifal, especially those who channeled primal magics, venerated primal spirits and archfey in a manner similar to divine worship,[16] a situation that led to some of these entities jockeying for political influence within the realm.[5] The Earthmother was most prominent, but worship was also present for Amarok the Wolf, Aurilandür the Frost Sprite Queen, Lurue the Unicorn Queen, Magnar the Bear, Nobanion the Lion, Ouroboros the World Serpent, Quorlinn the Raven, Relkath of the Infinite Branches, Remnis the Eagle, Sarula Iliene the Nixie Queen, and Verenestra the Oak Princess.[16] There were no temples to these entities, but small shrines existed in abundance in places like the capital city of Karador.[8]
Holy sites dedicated to Silvanus were said to be found in the deep wilderness of Sarifal,[17] and Eldath was venerated as a spirit of the Myrloch lake.[18] Worship of Corellon and the rest of the elven pantheon was notably absent from Sarifal, which some followers of Lashrael saw as a result of the corrupting influence of the leShay.[8] Some fomorians honored Selûne[9] while the leShay were content to let her old temples fall into ruin.[10][14]
In the Underdark beneath northeastern Sarifal, a population of drow worshiped Lolth as a combination of her modern Spider Queen incarnation and her original aspect as Araushnee.[15][19] This cult maintained effigies of Araushnee as an elf, as a spider, as an elf/spider hybrid, and as a hypersexualized human woman. They maintained that the Earthmother intended to help cleanse Araushnee and raise her out of the Demonweb Pits.[15] Despite venerating her as a goddess who was innocent of the crimes imposed on her by Corellon, this cult was still known to make blood sacrifices in her name.[20]
Defenses[]
The fey and eladrin armies and champions of Sarifal were led by Prince Araithe.[4][21] The kingdom was further protected by a fanatical force of guardians and spies loyal to the High Lady, known as the Sarifal feywardens, who wielded arcane and primal magics to preserve the realm and maintain its natural beauty.[12][22] The leShay also maintained a cadre of elite dragonborn guards, who rode dragonspawn mounts into battle.[14]
Relationships[]
Sarifal shared Gwynneth with a number of dwarven settlements as well as the Llewyr subkingdom of Synnoria.[4] Their most immediate enemies were denizens of the Feydark and the unseelie fey of Winterglen forest.[4][22]
The fey of Sarifal were not on friendly terms with the human kingdoms of the Moonshae Isles, although they were allied with the local human druids and were sometimes known to accept aid from trustworthy adventurers from the Isle of Alaron to the north.[4] The concerns of human realms were generally beneath the notice of Sarifal's rulers,[23] although they did have some spies in foreign lands.[12]
Sarifal had a long history with Imaskar, a human empire far to the east,[6] and the only humans permitted near or in Sarifal's capital was a delegation from High Imaskar.[8]
History[]
Sarifal was originally founded by the leShay around −10,500 DR to rule over the fey who had begun settling the Moonshaes as early as −15,000 DR.[2]
At some point prior to −4366 DR,[24] Sarifal forged an alliance with Imaskar, a relationship which led the Imaskari to master the creation of portals which would allow them to capture and enslave people from another world, who would eventually become the Mulan.[6]
After Kazgoroth wrecked havoc on the isles for the first time circa −2000 DR, Sarifal fell into decline. The realm ultimately retreated into the Feywild around −500 DR,[2] following a prophecy that foretold High Lady Ordalf's death on the Prime Material plane.[25] The fey thus abandoned their lands, and capital city of Karador sank beneath the waters of the Myrloch.[2]
In the Year of Risen Elfkin, 1375 DR, High Lady Ordalf moved the city of Karador through a portal from the Feywild and it rose from the depths of Lake Myrloch.[2] Her fey forces soon began pushing out the Ffolk of the kingdom of Corwell, despite efforts by the ruling House Kendrick to hold them back.[26] After mercenaries from Amn torched the countryside of Corwell, High Lady Ordalf declared that all non-fey were to be expelled from Gwynneth in the Year of the Dauntless Dwarves, 1412 DR. Soon, all humans were driven from the island.[5][note 1] While a tenuous peace would eventually be brokered with the Ffolk thanks to negotiations by the Callidyrr dragoons,[27] humans continued to be barred from Sarifal.[3] Over the next century, the ruins and remains of Corwell were largely reclaimed by the wilderness.[8]
By the late 15th century DR, it was rumored that many of the eladrin, elves, and fey had come to despise their leShay rulers—who could be petty and cruel—and some members of the Llewyrr even plotted to overthrow them and install Ordalf's half-sister, Amaranth, on the crystal throne.[28] As of 1479 DR, High King Derid Kendrick of the Ffolk sought to establish a lasting peace between his kingdom and Sarifal, and pushed to be allowed to reclaim his ancestral city of Caer Corwell on Gwynneth as an embassy.[3][26] As late as 1489 DR, High Lady Ordalf would not consent to allow this.[4]
Notable Locations[]
A map of Sarifal on the isle of Gwynneth.
- Black Mountains, a steep and barren mountain range dominated by griffons, perytons, and rocs.[8]
- Cambro Mountains, jutting peaks that were once home to the dwarves of Gwynneth.[8]
- Corwell, the ruined Ffolk kingdom that dominated Gwynneth prior to Sarifal's return. The land came to be occupied by moorhounds and owlbears while pirates took up residence in the ruined capital of Caer Corwell.[8][26]
- Crane Point, a promontory in The Highlands that hosted a hunting lodge and a ruin known as Corwell's Steeple, where griffons and hippogriffs were known to roost.[14]
- Goewin Wood, a remote forest home to a bloodthirsty group known as the Jaguar Knights who were said to worship a "Cat Lord".[8]
- Kimball Moor, a windswept plain home to diverse flora and fauna, most notably displacer beasts.[8]
- Llyrath Forest, a large evergreen forest that became darker and more ominous as one traveled deeper into it.[18] Gnomes made their homes in these woods, and regarded the animals as their constant companions.[8]
- Meirig Peatlands, a fetid swamp haunted by bog hags, feymire crocodiles, trolls, and vine horrors.[18]
- Myrloch Vale, a massive and pristine valley of untamed nature that served as the heart of Sarifal.[3] The Vale was named for the huge lake at its heart.[18] Sarifal's capital city, Karador, was located here (in the middle of the lake)[8] as was the Sacred Grove of the Earthmother.[29]
- Shrouded Lands, a fog-covered hinterland that served as an ideal habitat for rothé and drakes.[18]
- Synnoria, a hidden valley that was home to the Llewyrr capital of Chrysalis.[18]
- Tír faoi Thoinn, the "Land Beneath the Waves", a rocky underwater realm of kelp and bioluminescent sea life that was said to be the demesne of Deep Sashelas himself.[18]
- Winterglen, a fir and pine forest concealing Citadel Umbra, a shadowy citadel laying atop crossings to both the Feywild and the Shadowfell.[18][26]
Inhabitants[]
Fey guardians of Sarifal.
Sarifal was home to a wide variety of peoples, many of whom possessed strong charisma and powerful magic.[5][16] The most numerous were the fey, notably the diminutive varieties of fairies, pixies, sprites, and the like,[5] but also including brownies, dryads,[18] faerie dragons,[16] hamadryads,[30] nereids,[18] and satyrs.[30] The gnomes of Sarifal were also regarded as fey,[10] and the most adventurous and mischievous among them were sometimes dubbed "fastpaws".[6] The ruling fey were the leShay, including High Lady Ordalf herself,[16][2] although the populace rarely every laid eyes on them.[8]
The leShay's rule was contested by the unseelie fey of the realm, including banshrae,[8] boggles,[26] fomorians,[5] hags,[29] quicklings, and spriggans.[8] Many of these evil fey, notably the fomorians and their slaves, arrived on Gwynneth alongside the return of Karador.[11] The nine clans of fomorians who dwelt in the Underdark beneath Winterglen were a particularly notable threat because they desired revenge against Sarifal's rulers for the abduction of one of their princesses, Marabaldia. As of the late 15th century DR, they had constructed a massive highway running beneath the Cambro Mountains of eastern Sarifal from Winterglen to Synnoria, enabling them to rapidly move an army nearly to the Myrloch Vale.[13]
Sarifal was also home to elves and eladrin, although in much smaller numbers than most outsiders expected. The only high elves were the Llewyrr, who dwelt in the subkingdom of Synnoria and historically swore fealty to High Lady Ordalf. In contrast, the green elves lived in their own communities and were often at odds with the High Lady and her perceived expansionism.[5][16] The land was also home to some wood elves[12] and winged elves.[8]
Aside from fey and elves, some dragonborn, shield dwarves, wild dwarves (called greenbeards), firbolgs, human druids, treants and shifters were known to make their homes in Sarifal.[6][16][8][18] By law, non-fey visitors were not allowed on Sarifal[7] and non-fey were forbidden within the capital city of Karador, with some exceptions.[26] Humans were not welcome within Sarifal at all: they were sent away if found within the realm[25] or would be attacked if they set foot in Myrloch Vale [23] or in Synnoria.[28] The only exceptions were a handful of esteemed guests[8] and a population of human slaves maintained and bred by the leShay—who made use of them as laborers,[14] servants,[10] and entertainers[15]—with some pockets of escaped slaves occupying the former ports of Kingsbay and Borth.[31] Tieflings were not only also forbidden from the realm, but were regarded with additional apprehension.[7] Drow were likewise unwelcome and excluded from Sarifal,[12] however a population of Araushnee-worshiping drow who dwelt in the Underdark beneath Winterglen aspired to be allowed into the fey society, and were known to serve as mercenaries for the leShay in hopes of receiving permission to live in the forest like surface elves.[15][20]
More monstrous inhabitants included cyclopses, ettins, and trolls, and the land was also host to many sentient undead, including banshees, will-o'-wisps,[18] and fey lingerers.[15]
Notable Inhabitants[]
Leaders[]
- Prince Araithe, the pragmatic son of High Lady Ordalf who battled the dark fey who threatened his realm.[4]
- Serene Matron Ate`Niah, the ruler of the Llewyrr elves of Synnoria.[16]
- High Lady Ordalf, the queen of the realm.[4]
Citizens[]
- Branwyn Moonsinger, granddaughter of High Queen Alicia Kendrick. Held the mantle of Great Druid after 1440 DR.[16][29]
- Cymon the False, a gnome bard known for his illusionary skills.[16]
- Finellen, a five-century old dwarf and the last of her kin in Sarifal.[16]
- Hadarai El'or'riandir, an eladrin noble eager to conduct trade with the outside world.[7]
- Karrin and Kerrin, twin nobles and adventurers.[32]
- Newt, a faerie dragon who traveled throughout the Moonshaes but preferred to winter in Winterglen forest.[16]
- Omik Twede, a gnome armorer and the proprietor of Diamond Thimble in Karador.[8]
- Suka, a gnome who fled the island for a life as an adventurer.[10]
- Yazilliclik, a wood sprite who was known as a friend to druids.[1]
Enemies[]
- Amaka, a drow priestess of Araushnee who dwelt with her clan beneath Citadel Umbra.[15]
- The "Cat Lord", a mysterious, acerbic, and bloodthirsty leader among the shifters of Goewin Wood rumored to be an outcast from somewhere beyond the Trackless Sea.[8]
- Garbh Lludd, a firbolg who led a tribe in the Highlands.[16]
- Phillwyp the Wary, a mad gnome occupying the ruins of Caer Corwell.[26]
- Captain Rurik, leader of a human rebel group known as the Winterglen Claw.[9]
- Shamasar, a captain in High Lady Ordalf's dragonborn guard who ultimately betrayed her.[14]
- Silver Silwyrt, an eladrin pirate captain operating in Corwell Firth.[26]
- Urphania, a powerful and dreaded hag who commanded the unseelie forces of Citadel Umbra.[29]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ Canon sources do not identify a date for the conflict that expelled the Ffolk from Gwynneth, however Brian R. James clarified in a Tweet that the year was 1412 DR.
Appearances[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Brian R. James (June 2009). “Realmslore: Sarifal”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #376 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 59–65.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Brian R. James (December 2007). “Grand History of the Realms: The Moonshaes”. Dragon #362 (Wizards of the Coast). Archived from the original on 2009-06-01.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 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. 152. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 68. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 Brian R. James (June 2009). “Realmslore: Sarifal”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #376 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 60.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Brian R. James (June 2009). “Realmslore: Sarifal”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #376 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 62.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Jean-Philipe Chapleau (October 2008). The Sea Drake (MOON1-2). Living Forgotten Realms (RPGA), p. 6.
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 8.19 8.20 Brian R. James (June 2009). “Realmslore: Sarifal”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #376 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 64.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 11. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 1. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 8. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Matt James (November 2011). “Character Themes: Heroes of the Moonshaes”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #405 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 3.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 13. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 0. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 14. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 Brian R. James (June 2009). “Realmslore: Sarifal”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #376 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 61.
- ↑ Chad Brown (June 2012). “Channel Divinity: Chauntea and Silvanus”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #412 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 23.
- ↑ 18.00 18.01 18.02 18.03 18.04 18.05 18.06 18.07 18.08 18.09 18.10 18.11 Brian R. James (June 2009). “Realmslore: Sarifal”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dragon #376 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65.
- ↑ Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 16. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 18. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ Shawn Merwin (November 2011). “Backdrop: Moonshae Isles”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #196 (Wizards of the Coast) (196)., p. 4. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Matt James (November 2011). “Character Themes: Heroes of the Moonshaes”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #405 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 1.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 112. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Shawn Merwin (November 2011). “Backdrop: Moonshae Isles”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #196 (Wizards of the Coast) (196)., p. 3. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 26.7 Shawn Merwin (November 2011). “Backdrop: Moonshae Isles”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #196 (Wizards of the Coast) (196)., p. 7. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03.
- ↑ Matt James (November 2011). “Character Themes: Heroes of the Moonshaes”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #405 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 5.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 15. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Shawn Merwin (November 2011). “Backdrop: Moonshae Isles”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #196 (Wizards of the Coast) (196)., p. 8. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Shawn Merwin (November 2011). “Backdrop: Moonshae Isles”. In Steve Winter ed. Dungeon #196 (Wizards of the Coast) (196)., p. 2. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03.
- ↑ Paulina Claiborne (May 2012). The Rose of Sarifal (Kindle ed.). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 12. ASIN B006NPFFHY.
- ↑ B. Dave Walters (July 2019). “A Darkened Wish 2”. A Darkened Wish #1 (IDW Publishing) (1)., p. 9.