Sarphil was one of the lost realms of the shield dwarves, dating back to the Age of the Proud People, located in the eastern Moonsea region and the Vast in North Faerûn. The sign of the realm was crossed, double-ended pick and hammer above an anvil.[1]
One of their noteworthy legacies was the development of unique moving-stone pumps that regulated the waters of the River Lis, allowing the expansion of their engineered waterways.[1]
Geography[]
Sarphil encompassed most of the mountain ranges of the eastern Moonsea, including the Scarp summit, but had no clearly defined borders.[1] It extended deep beneath the region as far south as where the city of Mulmaster would later be founded[1] and as far north as the Moondeep Sea beneath southern Vaasa.[4] Many of its abandoned caverns and mines, known to adventurers as the Lost Ways, permeated the depths of the Dragonspine Mountains[1] and the West Galena Mountains.[4]
History[]
Sarphil was founded in −7500 DR[5] by Queen Queen Nilythra Namarforge, and the realm quickly expanded outward. They rapidly mined copper from the mountain of Scarp, actually lowering the peak's height in the skies.[1]
This endeavor was seen as an intrusion by the elves of the Elven Court, who wanted to halt their rapid growth beneath the Vast. The two cultures came into contact in −6400 DR, but their relationship devolved into open battle and the dwarves turned back northwest. Eventually the elves of Cormanthor came to the aid of the Sarphil dwarves when they were beset by a horde of orcs, and they formed an alliance that would last for 2,000 years.[1][6][2]
Sarphil's end came when a rare alliance of drow and duergar pillaged the Elven Court took over the dwarven realm in −4400 DR, in an event known as the Dark Court Slaughter. Although the Tel-quessir and the Stout Folk of Sarphil fought alongside one another, the dwarven realm was taken over and divided between the forces of the Underdark, pursuing the Sarphilan warriors northwards.[7][3]
By the Time of Troubles, there were still approximately 16,000 dwarves living underneath the Dragonspines, in small, isolated holds that held no unity with one another. The realm's sign could still be seen carved into the sign of Scarp mountain, which faced the city of Hillsfar across west bay of the Moonsea.[1]
The tunnels and caverns of Sarphil were maintained and patrolled by dwarven warriors called Vault-Wardens. As of the late 15th Century DR, a handful of descendants of the ancient ruling clans were still continuing this tradition.[4]
Notable clans[]
- Clan Hillsafar[8]
- Clan Namarforge[4]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Ed Greenwood (October 1990). Dwarves Deep. (TSR, Inc.), p. 60. ISBN 0-88038-880-3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 21. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Brian R. James (April 2010). “Realmslore: Vaasa”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dungeon #177 (Wizards of the Coast) (177)., p. 80.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend and Kevin Melka (1998). Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves. (TSR, Inc), p. 32. ISBN 0-7069-0761-4.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend and Kevin Melka (1998). Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves. (TSR, Inc), pp. 26, 32. ISBN 0-7069-0761-4.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 129. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1990). Dwarves Deep. (TSR, Inc.), p. 12. ISBN 0-88038-880-3.
Connections[]
Dwarven Valley • Eartheart • Earthfast • Far Hills • Fireforges • Gracklstugh
Graskynar • Harheldur • Iltkazar • Ironmaster • Khaelud • Mithral Hall • Qarlondrar • Raskuldin • Underwatch
Former Cities
Alatorin • Ammarindar • Ascore • Citadel Sundbarr • Citadel Yaunoroth • Dorn's Deep • Gauntlgrym • Halls of the Hammer
Hrakhamar • Kanaglym • Rrinnoroth • Sarbreen • Splendarrmornn • Tyar-Besil • Tzindylspar • Underhome
Fallen Realms
Ammarindar • Besilmer • Bhaerynden • Dareth • Deep Kingdom • Delzoun
Gharraghaur • Haunghdannar • Hollowbold • Ironstar • Oghrann • Roldilar • Sarphil
Shanatar (Barakuir • Drakkalor • Holorarar • Korolnor • Torglor • Ultoksamrin • Xothaerin) • Thunderholme