Sundabar, previously known as Citadel Sundbarr,[4] was one of the wealthiest and most militaristic cities within the nation of Luruar, or all of Faerûn for that matter.[2] While it was originally a dwarven citadel, it evolved as its demographics, exports and overall culture changed.[4] One thing remained however, Sundabar continued to serve as the rampart of the north, keeping the realm's dangers beyond civilized lands.[2]
Description[]
The Sundabarans were a vigilant, wary, people, as life in the north demanded. Outsiders, enthusiastic passers-by and people who simply asked too many questions were looked at with suspicion and apprehension within the city.[2]
Layout[]
Sundabar was a fortress.[4] Its harsh and treeless[5] surface was surrounded by two ringed walls, surrounded by Tarnar's Moat, a water-filled trench that was rumored to be filled with man-eating eels.[2] Within its walls, Sundabar's massive stone buildings were encircled by cobblestone streets, with no flora to be found save for the sparse window-box garden of fragrant herbs.[4]
Four gates and bridges led into the city: Swordsgate in the north, Eastgate in the northeast, Turnstone Gate in the southeast and Rivergate in the west.[6]
Beneath Sundabar was a volcano rift known as the Everfire.[7]
Connected to the surface by a steep passage, the Undercity was home to most of the dwarven population.[8]
Government[]
The Ruling Master served as the ultimate leader of the city. However, the Forgemaster served as the leader of the dwarven community and was an important adviser to the Ruling Master.[4]
Adventuring charters[]
The government office of Sundabar maintained a standing list of jobs they needed to have completed and would hire adventuring companies to this end. The adventurers were granted a city charter, which granted them limited authority to complete their specified task. This charter was to be made available to any city official upon demand.[9]
Pay for these jobs varied, depending on what was needed, the time of year and whether the task involved a significant threat to the city. Fewer adventurers and increasingly dangerous weather in the winter led to more gold for the hired swords. However, the charters came with a provision that 10% of the value of any loot or valuables gathered by adventurers during their contract, be contributed to Sundabar as a fee for being granted a contract.[9]
Economy[]
The city was a trading hub for ore from Citadel Adbar and the dwarves of Fardrimm.[10] It was also the source of magical weapons enchanted by the Everfire volcano.[7]. Due to the access of such unique resources, Sundabar's coffers were often quite full, and allowed them to be more indulgent when it came to defense or other needs.[2]
Furthermore, the city was well-stocked, with larders that could feed the city for months, and had a protected source of fresh well water from the subterranean Lake Anfarra.[2]
Defense[]
In addition to their structural defenses the city was protected by a number of groups and organizations:
- Stone Shields: Sundabar's city watch; led by the Watchblade, who often received magical assistance from the local clerics of Helm or Tyr.[2]
- Watchful: A network of spies also under command of the Watchblade.[2]
- Shieldsar: Sundabar's main defense were the ~2000-strong riders, infantry and archers who patrolled the Sundabar Vale in defense of their city.[2]
- Vigilant: An elite group of dwarven warriors that constantly stood guard at the Everfire.[8]
Under the reign of Helm Dwarf-Friend, taxes from the Sundabarans were used the proceeds to shore up Sundabar's defenses against orc attacks, which had become a regular occurrence during those years.[7] The deep treasury of the city helped keep both adventuring companies, as well as hardened mercenaries on retainer. This latter group, who also just happened to be old friends of one Helm Dwarf-Friend, were known as the Bloodaxe Mercenary Company.[10]
Sundabar could also count on allies from the region of the Underdark located under the lands between the North and the Anauroch desert known as the Fardrimm.[2]
Geography[]
Sundabar was located in Sundabar Vale on the eastern side of Silverymoon Pass, with the Nether Mountains making up the southern border of the valley.[11]
The Rauvin Mountains and Citadel Felbarr were upriver on the River Redrun, Rauvincross downriver, Baraskur to the east, and Auvandell in the western slopes of the Nether Mountains. Sundabar was directly connected to Citadel Adbar by the Dead Orc Pass, but only the most daring (or foolish) of travelers took that route.[10]
Sundabar was connected to Silverymoon via the road that ran through Silverymoon Pass.[6] The road was well patrolled, but it was often impassable in winter due to avalanches. The Hawk's Nest watchtower at the top of the pass was manned by a dozen Knights in Silver and provided a place for travelers to rest in safety.[12] The entire journey took between one and two tendays, with the distance making up nearly 150 miles.[5]
Notable locations[]
Map of Sundabar, circa 1372 DR.
Landmarks[]
- The Circle
- A large square in the center of the city that housed market stalls and caravans.[13] In the center of the Circle was the Master's Hall.[6]
- Everfire
- Master's Hall
- Crowded group of towers and battlements that houses the city's government. It is located at the very center of the city on the Circle.[13]
- Undercity
Temples[]
- Hall of Everlasting Justice
- Temple of Tyr and Torm. Overseen by Defender of Justice Lathkiera Morlund.[8]
- Hall of Vigilance
- Temple of Helm. Overseen by Winterlord Senior Steeleye Mraskin Thoelaunth in 1372 DR.[8] Located close the Eastgate.[6]
Inns[]
- Baldiver's
- Similar in appearance to an old castle, this quiet, spacious inn catered to the older, quieter clientele of the city.[14]
- Firestar Chariot
- This lively inn[8], which featured loud music and furnishings, was quite popular among Sundabar's younger bar patrons.[14]
- Malshym's House
- A clean, quiet inn whose no-nonsense aesthetic made it popular with traveling merchants.[8]
- The Trumpet
- Luxurious and expensive,[8] this discreet establishment was home to a number of adventuring companies.[14]
- Lusty Wench
- An inn located near a warehouse that was once the Anstruth, the old bard college.[15]
Taverns[]
- Halabar's Horn of Spirits
- A filthy dive on Lanthalar street whose patrons stumbled and fought out into the streets.[16]
- Maiden at Midnight
- This rather famous festhall was the only of its kind within the Circle of Sundabar. The Maiden featured the often-favorite "trapdoor room" within its cellar.[16]
- Sighing Sylph
- A quiet, fairly indistinguishable bar for the locals who lived on Northwind street.[17]
- Tabbard & Tankard
- Similarly unremarkable as the Sylph, this tavern had the dubious distinction of being fairly overpriced.[17]
- Unshimble's Ugly Face
- A rowdy tavern named after the gigantic signboard of a goblin's head that adorned its entrance.[17]
Shops[]
Sundabar featured some of the finest craftsmen of both the North, and all of Faerûn. Among these were master carpenters, wheelwrights[18] and of course, blacksmiths.[19] The city housed the following shops: Blackraven Wagons, Doors, and Shutters • Feldar's Wheels and Wagons • Furjur's Flying Carpet • Gullaxe's Stairs, Rails, Poles, Staves and Handles • Hammerlar's Fine Floors and Housework • Krystryn's Shelves • Larantarn's Chairs and Stools • The Lutery • Mith's Carved Whimsies and Woodcuts • Naeth's Nails, Pegs, Locks, and Other Woodfinery • Old Anvil Smithy • Old Block • Old Fireblower Pouch & Pipe Shop • Old Ornar's Beds and Tables • Shyndle's Lutes & Pipes • Thimm's Shingles, Shakes, and Finefinish Tabletops
History[]
Sundabar was originally Citadel Sundbarr, a primarily subterranean dwarven citadel of the Delzoun empire, built around the year −500 DR. The hold garnered its strength from massive foundries built around the underground inferno known as the Everfire. The citadel's most skilled metalworkers and forgers could craft massive works and work with alloys that were typically too volatile without such intense heat.[4]
In the Year of the Black Unicorn, −100 DR, as the great underground northkingdom of Delzoun fell around them, Citadel Sundbarr was saved by the ingenuity of its master forgers. They created a massive, molten wall that protected the dwarven stronghold.[4]
Over the years to follow, however, Sundabar's influence and strength waned as its population lessened. In Year of the Closed Scroll, 329 DR, the surface fortress was assaulted and plundered by orcs. Continued monster attacks would plague the city for over the next 500 years, though it never fully succumbed to the onslaught.[4]
In Year of the Curse, 882 DR, one of the High Captains of Ascalhorn, Prince Simberuel Astalmé, fled his city with a group of refugees to Sundabar Vale, pursued by vrocks. The refugees were saved at the last minute by the Forgemaster of Sundbarr. Astalmé gave his life to save the Forgemaster, and in return, the humans were allowed to settle in the abandoned surface portion of Citadel Sundbarr.[4]
A city reborn[]
The next 500 years would be much more fortuitous for the citadel. As the new human inhabitants settled in and united with their dwarven brethren, the reconstruction of the stronghold led to the birth of a new city. As dwarven craftsmanship became perfectly interwoven with human mercantilism, the newly-named Sundabar flourished into the symbol of strength it would become in the North.[4]
In the 13th century DR, the foundries and workshop closest to the Everfire rift were destroyed by a surge of fire and never repaired. Since then, the fires burned without any control by the dwarves.[8]
In Year of the Harp, 1355 DR, Helm Dwarf-Friend became the sixth Ruling Master of Sundabar after the previous Master died defending the city from orcs.[4]
In Year of the Wave, 1364 DR, Iriador Wintermist brings a hailstorm to Sundabar to avenge the loss of the barding colleges in Faerun.[20]
In Year of the Gauntlet, 1369 DR, fiends from Hellgate Keep attacked Sundabar, burning much of the city before being forced out.[11] Just four years later, in 1373 DR, Kaanyr Vhok attempted to take control of the city because of a rivalry he had with Helm Dwarf-Friend. He first used Aliisza to infiltrate Helm Dwarf-Friend's house, then allied with Zasian Menz and Banite priests. His plan ultimately failed.[21][22]
In 1369 DR, Sundabar was one of the city-states to join together in the League of the Silver Marches, later renamed "Luruar", alongside Silverymoon, Citadel Adbar, Deadsnows, Jalanthar, Quaervarr, Citadel Felbarr, Everlund, and Mithral Hall. The goal of the alliance was to protect the North from the growing hordes of orcs in the mountains.[citation needed]
In Year of the Awakened Sleepers, 1484 DR, during the War of the Silver Marches, Sundabar was conquered by a orc army commanded by the warlord Hartusk and renamed Hartusk Keep.[23][page needed] The Silvaeren were blamed for providing insufficient aid for Sundabar, whose surface population had been completely wiped out. As a result, all of the dwarven states left the League of Silver Marches, and without their support, Luruar collapsed.[24]
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Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Lords of Darkness: "The Tombs of Deckon Thar" • Dungeon #29, "Ex Libris" • Halls of the High King • Hellgate Keep
Novels & Short Stories
Comics
Video Games
Baldur's Gate • Neverwinter Nights series (Neverwinter Nights • Neverwinter Nights 2) • Neverwinter • Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (March 2015). Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6570-3.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (February 2015). Rise of the King. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 269. ISBN 0-7869-6568-1.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 66. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 38. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Map included in Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 173. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 68. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 87. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Philip Athans (2008). A Reader's Guide to R. A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 138–139. ISBN 0-7869-4915-5.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 7. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 67. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 187. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ Elaine Cunningham (April 2000). Elfsong. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 185–186. ISBN 0-7869-1661-3.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 185. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 186. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 181. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 183. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ Elaine Cunningham (April 2000). Elfsong. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 154. ISBN 0-7869-1661-3.
- ↑ Thomas M. Reid (May 2007). The Gossamer Plain. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 978-0786940240.
- ↑ Thomas M. Reid (November 2008). The Fractured Sky. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786948078.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (September 2014). Rise of the King. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-6515-0.
- ↑ Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 54. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
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