The Sword Mountains were a range of peaks located on the Sword Coast North.[2][3]
Geography[]
With an arc-like shape, the mountains were located northwest of Waterdeep and east of the Mere of Dead Men.[3] Their western slopes led to the Trackless Sea in rolling foothills.[4] The mountains themselves were steep and craggy, with snow-capped peaks.[2]
Trade[]
Gold and Platinum were found in the foothills of the Sword Mountains.[5]
History[]
After Karsus's Folly in -399 DR, the leaders of the realm of Illefarn asked the dragon Nolalothcaragascint for aid in defeating the King of Shadows, but the dragon was defeated. The force of his body striking the ground created a massive valley within the Sword Mountains. The leaders of Illefarn transformed the dragon's heart into a crystalline floating structure reminiscent of a Phylactery, where the dragon's soul remained for centuries within the fertile valley. [6]
The mountains were home to orcs and trolls, but after the orcs were united by Wund and the Brotherhood of the Scarlet Scourge in the Year of the Red Rain, 927 DR, the orcs drove the trolls out. This was a contributing factor to the Trollwars.[1] Uruth Ukrypt conquered the dwarven citadel of Melairrin within Mount Sar that same year. [1]
Uruth Ukrypt's orc horde came out of the mountains to attack Waterdeep in the Year of the Sky Riders, 936 DR, but they were defeated and forced to retreat.[1] They hatched another plan to attack in the Year of the Cold Claws, 940 DR, but this plan was ruined by the gold dragon Palarandusk.[7]
Phandelver's Pact was formed circa the 10th century DR by dwarf and gnome clans joined by human spellcasters to bind the magical energies of Wave Echo Cave into a powerful forge capable of producing magical items, known as the Forge of Spells. However, in the Year of the Empty Hourglass, 951 DR, Uruth Ukrypt destroyed the nearby town of Phandalin and sacked Wave Echo Cave, and the location of the Forge was considered lost to history.[5]
In the Year of the Dracorage, 1018 DR, the ancient dragons Claugiyliamatar and Shammagar attacked Uruth Ukrypt's food and treasure supplies.[8][9] Shammagar drove the orcs from Melairren, claiming the stronghold as his new lair.[10]
Due to a raid on Ukrypt's crypt by a human adventuring company called the Dawnbringer Company in the Year of Lathander's Light, 1024 DR, the orcs of the Brotherhood of the Scarlet Scourge formed a horde called the Broken Bone with the intent of destroying Waterdeep. Their plans were once again ruined by a dragon; this time Lhammaruntosz. Still determined to exact their revenge, the orcs formed another horde, calling it the Black Claw, and in the Year of Crimson Magics, 1026 DR they came from the mountains to attack Waterdeep.[7] This attack proved unsuccessful and they were defeated, causing the orcs to lose their unity and plunge into a period of tribal conflict.[11]
Notable Locations[]
- Hills & Peaks
- Icespire Peak, the tallest peak of the Sword Mountains.[2]
- Mount Galardrym, the peak that was home to the dwarves of Clan Forgebar.[12]
- Mount Sar, the second-most southern of the range's peaks, which was named after a legendary fomorian.[10]
- Mount Helimbrar, the southernmost peak of the mountains was home to the underground stronghold of the Shadow Thief Marune.[10]
- Landmarks
- Mountain's Toe Gold Mine, a successful gold mine owned by a Neverwintan business consortium.[13]
- Wave Echo Cave, the labyrinthine caverns that housed the fabled Forge of Spells.[14]
- Settlements
- Axeholm, an abandoned dwarven stronghold that was haunted by a banshee.[15]
- Gnomengarde, a minor kingdom of rock gnomes that was located in caves at the base of the mountains.[16]
- Ieirithymbul, another gnomish settlement nestled in the valley of Felrenden.[12]
- Kheldell, a rather small human logging village.[17]
- Structures
- Icespire Hold, the mountain-top fortress that was claimed as a lair by the young white dragon Cryovain.[18]
- Temple of Abbathor, another site abandoned by the dwarves, later uncovered by a mining excavation.[19]
Inhabitants[]
The mountains were known to be home to several tribes of orcs and goblinoids.[20]
Appendix[]
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References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Christopher Perkins (September 2019). “Dragon of Icespire Peak”. In Scott Fitzgerald Gray ed. Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4. ISBN 978-0-7869-6683-7.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Map included in Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (March/April 1999). “Eye of Myrkul”. In Christopher Perkins ed. Dungeon #73 (Wizards of the Coast) (73)., pp. 22–53.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Wizards RPG Team (July 2014). “Lost Mine of Phandelver”. Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7869-6559-5.
- ↑ Obsidian Entertainment (October 2006). Designed by Ferret Baudoin, J.E. Sawyer. Neverwinter Nights 2. Atari.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 140. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 115. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Eric L. Boyd (2006-05-03). Environs of Waterdeep (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for City of Splendors: Waterdeep. Wizards of the Coast. p. 14. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved on 2009-10-07.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 10. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ed Greenwood (October 1998). “Wyrms of the North: Palarandusk”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #252 (TSR, Inc.), p. 70.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (September 2019). “Dragon of Icespire Peak”. In Scott Fitzgerald Gray ed. Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit (Wizards of the Coast), p. 36. ISBN 978-0-7869-6683-7.
- ↑ Wizards RPG Team (July 2014). “Lost Mine of Phandelver”. Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 3, 42–51. ISBN 978-0-7869-6559-5.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (September 2019). “Dragon of Icespire Peak”. In Scott Fitzgerald Gray ed. Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit (Wizards of the Coast), p. 12. ISBN 978-0-7869-6683-7.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (September 2019). “Dragon of Icespire Peak”. In Scott Fitzgerald Gray ed. Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 978-0-7869-6683-7.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 50. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (September 2019). “Dragon of Icespire Peak”. In Scott Fitzgerald Gray ed. Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit (Wizards of the Coast), p. 30. ISBN 978-0-7869-6683-7.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins (September 2019). “Dragon of Icespire Peak”. In Scott Fitzgerald Gray ed. Dungeons & Dragons Essentials Kit (Wizards of the Coast), p. 22. ISBN 978-0-7869-6683-7.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 110. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.