The Close was a fortress created by the Nentyarch atop the ruin of Dun-Tharos[1] in 722 DR.[2] It served as the seat of their power until 1371 DR,[3] when the Rotting Man ousted them from the fortress and take it for his own. He abandoned the fortress in 1373 DR,[4] though the Nentyarch had not returned by 1497 DR.[1][5]
Description[]
The fortress of the Nentyarch in the Rawlinswood was a circle of immense trees, roughly over 0.5 miles (800 meters) in diameter; these trunks were contiguous, touching and blending together at times, witho only the narrowest of paths existing between the trees, requiring a human-sized person to walk sideways through some of them. Those paths reached about twenty paces before reaching the inner side. After the Rotting Man captured the fortress in 1371 DR, the trees became bare, petrified, and a faint greenish phosphorescence shone all over them, resembling an eldritch cliff from the inside.[6]
On the inside, there had been fields of flowers and fruit trees, stone bridges, and paths between the gardens. Starting on 1371 DR, the life had moldered to rot instead, leaving dry brooks full of nothing but worms and aggressive insects, the paths were full of mud, and the fruits had become blots of poisonous putrescence. There were great holes on the ground, reminiscent of a cemetery. From the inside, the tree ring forming The Close was carved with scores of openings, and held catwalks.[6]
During the Nentyarch's holding, there was a simple hardwood structure in the middle of the Court. In the Rotting Man's time, he had replaced it with a lone ash tree of towering size, more than 100 feet (30 meters), though still shorter than the petrified fairy ring. It was crowned with sickly green leaves forming an oval mass, with a twisted, blackened trunk holding a massive swollen cyst:[6] the Thieving Ash.[7] Ahead of the tree was a hardened, fetid mud throne, where the Rotting Man sat; before his throne was a rough stone altar, where he kept a magical flower with a petal for each of his Talontar blightlord living (or rather, animate) servants. The Rotting Man kept the arrangement hidden with a thick mist.[6]
Government[]
The Close served as the seat of the Nentyarch, the leader of the Circle of Leth, in Dun-Tharos. When the Rotting Man took over, it served as his seat instead. After the Rotting Man retreated, Dun-Tharos was abandoned to demons, including The Close.[1]
Defenses[]
The Close was defended by the forces of the Nentyarch until 1371, when it passed into the hands of the Rotting Man.[8] Neither had returned to defend it by 1497 DR.[1]
History[]
The fortress of magical trees was created by the Nentyarch atop the ruin of Dun-Tharos in 722 DR.[1] It would serve as the seat of their power[1] until 1371 DR, when the Rotting Man would oust them from the fortress and take it for his own.[3] Though he'd abandon the fortress in 1373 DR after a battle with a servant of Lurue,[4] the Nentyarch had not returned by 1497 DR.[1][5]
Inhabitants[]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
Appearances[]
- Novels
- Lady of Poison
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 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. 135. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 100. 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. 151. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 154. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 122. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Bruce R. Cordell (July 2004). Lady of Poison. (Wizards of the Coast), chaps. 29–30, pp. 276–281. ISBN 978-0786931613.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell (July 2004). Lady of Poison. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 30, p. 288. ISBN 978-0786931613.
- ↑ Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 118. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.