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2/27/2008

CountdowntotheRealms
Spellplague:TheWailingYears
byBrianJames

ExcerptfromthejournalofArleenayaKithmaer,FirstMagistratioftheHouseoftheHighOneAscendant,YearofBlue Fire(1385DR) "Reachingoutnorthwestfrombeyondthehorizon'srim,Ibeheldasightwhichwasatoncehorrifyingasitwasbeautifula stormlikecatastropherollingacrossthesky,whichseemedtobeablazewithbluefire.Frozeninstupefyingawe,Iwitnessed theceruleanthunderheadcrashintothemightyLhairghal,throwingpillarsofazurefireskywardtosnatchatSelne's calminglight.Selne,mygods!Thesurfaceofthemoon,longpresentedtousmortalsasabarrenlandscapeofcratersand lifelessvalleys,nowrevealedtomemajesticmountainsandsprawlingseasitselfalightwithsimilarcobaltradiance.A nearbyexclamationfromtheMagehoundreturnedmyattentionearthwardtowitnessashimmeringwallofsapphireflame racingdownMhairPass.FivebreathslongerandthestormwouldcrashintothebattlementuponwhichIstoodwithahandful ofloomwardens.IrecallhastilywhisperedprayerstoAzuth,amomentofunqualifiedstillness,andthennothing." AsduskfellovertheShiningSouthonthe29thdayofTarsakhintheYearofBlueFire(1385DR),amenacingstormbegan formingovertheMhairJungleswestofHalruaa.Beyonditsmassivesize,thestormwasparticularlynotablefortheribbons ofblueflamethatseemedtowritheandflowamongitsformations.InthemountainsnearLhairinwesternHalruaa, dumbfoundedpriestswatchedinabsolutesilence,unabletocomprehendtheterribleeventsunfoldingonthehorizon.What theclericsofAzuthcouldnotpossiblyfathomwasthatthreescoreormoresimilarstormssprangupallacrossTorilborn instantlyupontheassassinationofMystrainherheavenlydominion.ArleenayaKithmaerandfournearbypriestswere teleportedtosafetybyaquickthinkingmagehound.ThenationofHalruaa,however,wouldsufferhorriblythatill fatednight. Thethreegreatmountainrangesthatoftprotectedthenationfromexternalinvasionactuallymadeitdifficultformany Halruaanstoescapetheuncontrolledwildmagicunleashedacrossthecountryside.Halruaatodayisbestknownasa magicalwastelanditisalsothebirthplaceoftherovingmercenarybandsknownastheFiveCompanies. TheceruleanstormanditsaftereffectswouldbecomeknowninlaterdaysastheSpellplague.Despiteitsname,the Spellplaguewasnomeremagicalaffliction.TheSpellplagueburnedfiercestinitsfirstyear,butflareupsandindirect repercussionscontinuedfordecades,irrevocablyalteringwholeregionswhileleavingotherscompletelyunscathed.Whole countriesvanishedinearthquakes,fires,andwindstorms,inexplicablyreplacedwithpeoplesandlandsfromaworld beyondourown.EventhestarryconstellationsintheSeaofNightseeminglyrearrangedthemselvesintheheavensabove. ScholarsinlateryearswouldnamethisdecadeofchaosandupheavaltheWailingYears,orsimplythePlagueYears.For moredetailsontheSpellplagueandthesecondarycatastrophesthatfollowedinitswake,checkoutthe Countdowntothe Realms previewarticleMagicintheForgottenRealms.

TheWailingYears
Ingameterms,theSpellplaguerepresentsthedefinitiveeventfortransitioningthesettingfromonerulessystemtothenext, andthelossoftheWeavewillhaveaprofoundeffectonarcanespellcastersinyourcampaign.Thoughasmallpercentage ofmagesaredriventomadnessattheoutsetoftheSpellplague,it'srecommendedyouspareyourplayersfromthisignoble fate.Instead,wizardsandotherarcanespellcastersfindthattheirmagichasgonewildordepartedaltogether.Ineffect,allof AbeirTorilisblanketedbyamassivezoneofwildmagic.Refertothe3rdEdition ForgottenRealms CampaignSetting (page55)forTable21ofWildMagicEffects.AstheWeaveunravelsthroughoutthemonthofNightalintheYearofBlueFire, thesewildmagiczonesarequicklyreplacedwithdeadmagiczonesuntilonedayarcanemagicceasestofunction altogether. DMsmightwishtotakeadvantageoftheWailingYearstorunalowmagic/meleecentriccampaignusingrulesorconcepts fromsourcebookssuchas TomeofBattle:BookofNineSwords or IronHeroes .Otherwiseitmightbewisetosimplymove yourcampaignforwardtotheYearofSilentDeath(1395DR)orbeyond,wheredirecteffectsoftheSpellplaguehavelargely subsidedandmostspellcastershaveonceagaingainedmasteryoftheirmagic.SeethesectionbelowontheVilhonReach foradescriptionofafunctioning timeportalyoumightwishtouseforthispurpose.

altogether. DMsmightwishtotakeadvantageoftheWailingYearstorunalowmagic/meleecentriccampaignusingrulesorconcepts fromsourcebookssuchas TomeofBattle:BookofNineSwords or IronHeroes .Otherwiseitmightbewisetosimplymove yourcampaignforwardtotheYearofSilentDeath(1395DR)orbeyond,wheredirecteffectsoftheSpellplaguehavelargely subsidedandmostspellcastershaveonceagaingainedmasteryoftheirmagic.SeethesectionbelowontheVilhonReach foradescriptionofafunctioning timeportalyoumightwishtouseforthispurpose. IncludedbelowisatimelineofkeyeventsthatoccurredduringtheWailingYears,whichcanbeusefultoatransitional campaignsetinthekingdomofCormyrortheVilhonReach.Followingthetimelineisabriefupdateofthesetworegions, includingsampleadventurehooks.

Timeline
1385DR(YearofBlueFire) TheSpellplague: AnunthinkablecatastropheensueswhenCyric,aidedandabettedbyShar,murdersMystrain Dweomerheart.Theplaneitselfdisintegratesatonce,destroyingSavrasandsendingthegodsAzuthandVelsharoon reelingintotheendlessAstralSea.WithoutMystratogoverntheWeave,magicburstsitsbondsallacrossTorilandthe surroundingplanesandrunswild.InFaern,thiseventisknownastheSpellplague.Thousandsofmagesaredriven insaneordestroyed,andtheverysubstanceoftheworldbecomesmutablebeneathveilsofazurefirethatdanceacrossthe skiesbynightorbyday.
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WhereoncestoodtherealmofSespech,theGoldenPlains,andtheNagalands,theSpellplaguerevealsasurreal landscapebreathtakinginitsbeauty,grandeur,andchangeability.Forthenextcentury,activeSpellplaguecavortson thisterritorycalledthePlaguewroughtLands,contortingterrain,naturallaw,andthefleshofanycreaturethatdares enter. Cormyrisstruckhard,butnotsoviolentlyasmanyothernations.RoughlyonethirdofallWizardsofWarareslain, drivenmad,orsimplyhavegonemissingintheyearfollowingMystra'sdeath.

1386DR(YearoftheHalfling'sLament) AportionofToril'ssiblingworldAbeirviolentlyexchangesplaceswithlargesectionsofChondathandwesternChessenta. DisplacedgenasifromtheAbeiranlandofShyrquicklysetaboutcreatingakingdomoftheirown.

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TheformerexpanseoftheSeaofFallenStarsisalteredwhenwideportionsofthelandscapecollapseintothe Underdark.Whenthesealevelreachesitsnewequilibrium,theaveragedropinwaterlevelmeasurednearly50feet. ThewatersoftheVilhonReachweresimilarlydrained,uncoveringseveraldrownedruinsfromancientJhaamdath.

1387DR(YearoftheEmeraldErmine) TheEmeraldEnclavebeginssendingagentsthroughouttheVilhonWildstocountertheeffectsoftheSpellplague.Asyears becamedecades,theiroriginalmissionisslowlypervertedfromoneofrespectforandguardianshipofnaturetoavain struggleagainstforcesfarbeyondtheircontrol. 1388DR(YearoftheTanarukka) BullywugstribesfromtheFarseaMarshesbeginharryingZhentarimforcesoperatingthroughouttheTunlands,diminishing BlackNetworkactivitiesintheregion.

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SomemembersofCormyr'sremainingWarWizards,havinglostaccesstotheArt,begincrosstrainingwiththe PurpleDragonsinswordplayandmartialdefense.Inyearstocomethese swordmages willproveinvaluableagainst neighboringaggressionintheregion.

1389DR(YearoftheForgivenFoes) AstrangelyangularblackmonolithissometimesvisiblebreakingabovethewavesalongCormyr'scoast,neverinthesame placetwice. 1390DR(YearoftheWalkingMan) DowagerDragonQueen,FilfaerilSelazairObarskyr,dies.Alusairattendsthestatefuneral,arguesbrieflyandprivatelywith hernephewtheking,anddisappearsaltogetherfromCourt.Rumorspersistofherridingthroughthefrontiersand borderlands,butnoconfirmedreportsofherappearanceexistfollowingtheburialofFilfaeril. 1391DR(YearoftheWrathfulEye) ThehumandruidZalaznarCrinios,transformedintoamightytreantforhisservicetonature,takesholdofthedruidcirclein Cedarspoke.Alesserdruid,abletotakelionformandcallinghimselfFiremane,risestoprominenceinthesamecircle. 1392DR(YearoftheScroll) TheDragonCoastcityofProspetitionstheCrowntobecomeavassal stateofCormyrinordertoprotectitfromtheravages oftheSpellplague.AzounVreluctantlyaccepts.Byyear'send,Pros'sister townofIlipurjoinstheForestKingdomaswell. UnfortunatelytherecedingwatersoftheSeaofFallenStarshavespelledruinforthesesmalltradingtowns. 1393DR(YearoftheRing) SembianinvestorsbeginbuyinguplandinthesouthernDales.Concerned,AzounVissuesaformalobjectiontotheDale's CouncilinArchendalebuttheKing'semissaryisrebuffed.
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SpellscarredbeingsandpilgrimshopingtoobtainaspellscarbeginjourneyingtothePlaguewroughtLandsinlarge numbers.TheyarewelcomedinOrmpetarrbytheOrderofBlueFire.

1394DR(YearofDeathsUnmourned) TheGrandCabaloftheEmeraldEnclavebeginsattemptingtostemthetideofspellscarredpilgrimsthatpassthrough Turmish.

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YearsofstrainingwiththeirconflictedSembianandCormyreanidentities,andstrugglingagainsttheruleofNetheril, culminatesintheannexationofthebordercityofDaerlunintotheForestKingdom.

1395DR(YearofSilentDeath) Sakkors,theNetheresefloatingenclavenotseensincethedaysbeforetheSpellplague,makesareappearanceover Daerluninthedeadofnight.Thefollowingmorningcivilunrestbreaksoutthroughoutthecity.AzounVsendselite swordmagestorestoreorderinthecity.

VilhonReach
ThelandsoftheVilhonReachwereaffectedgreatlybythemergingofAbeir withToril.ThewatersoftheReachitselfwerepartiallydrainedduringthe Spellplague,revealingseveraldrownedCitiesoftheSwordfromancient Jhaamdath.TheoncewelcomingandcosmopolitanfolkofTurmishhave

ToneandFeel Onepartofcreatinganeweditionofthe ForgottenRealms isreenvisioningthelook ofFaernandcreatinganewinterpretation ofthisclassicfantasysetting.Weve

swordmagestorestoreorderinthecity.

VilhonReach
ThelandsoftheVilhonReachwereaffectedgreatlybythemergingofAbeir withToril.ThewatersoftheReachitselfwerepartiallydrainedduringthe Spellplague,revealingseveraldrownedCitiesoftheSwordfromancient Jhaamdath.TheoncewelcomingandcosmopolitanfolkofTurmishhave grownincreasinglyxenophobicthroughouttheWailingYears.Akan l,formerly thelandsofChondath,arenowpopulatedbygenasifromtheAbeiranlandof Shyr,aregionthatwillbarelysurviveitsfirstcontactwiththeAbolethic Sovereigntysomeyearslater.SincetheYearofBlueFire,civilizationhasbeen slowtoreturntothewilderSpellplaguemorphedregions.Thenotorious PlaguewroughtLandsliecloseby,contortingterrain,naturallaw,andthe fleshofanycreaturethatdaresenter.

ToneandFeel

Onepartofcreatinganeweditionofthe ForgottenRealms isreenvisioningthelook ofFaernandcreatinganewinterpretation ofthisclassicfantasysetting.Weve decidedtoshiftthevisualsofthesetting towardaslightlymorefantasticlook, drawinginspirationfrommanysourcesfor example,theexquisitevisualsofartists suchasRogerDeanorFrankFrazetta (withoutthenudity,itsaPGgame).We sometimesthinkofthisasplaying D&Dina worldthatlooksjustalittlebitlikethecover ofa Yes album.Highfantasydoesn'tmean TheVilhonReachisagreatexampleofthenew"ToneandFeel"ofthesetting thattheRealmsareturningintoamagical inaction,makingitagreatregiontoexploresomeofthemorefantastic steampunksetting. Eberron alreadyhas localesonFaern. elemental poweredairshipsandtrains,and thatisnotthedirectionsetforthe Realms . l ANDRIO'SGATE: TheReachhappenstocontainoneofToril'sfew functioning timegates ausefultoolforbringingcharactersforward Instead,thelandscapeitselfisoften beyondtheWailingYears(1385DRto1395DR)toamorestabletime spectacular,striking,andmagical.Of periodforcampaignplay.The timegate islocatedwithinMount courseeachregionmaintainsitsown Andrus,avolcanicpeakwithintheOrsraunMountainsonTurmish's distinctiveflavorWaterdeepisntadriftona westernfrontier.Therethe timegate hassurvivedmillenniadespite floatingearthmote,andtheDalelandsstill severalvolcaniceruptions,shieldedfromthemonstrousheatandthe haveplentyoffarmlandandforestwith effectsoftheSpellplaguebypowerful,andsomewouldsaydivine, justalittletouchofthefantastichereand wards.Adrio'sGateisactivatedbyspeakingthenameofayearas there. givenintheRollofYearsthensteppingthroughthe gate 'sevent horizon. Turmish TurmishsufferedmuchlessthanChondath,butthepartialdrainingoftheSeaofFallenStarsdidleaveitsbusyportat Alaghnhighanddry.Today,thisrealmofincreasinglycompetitiveanddesperatemerchantcostersisalsoathrough route forfanaticsonspellscarpilgrimagestothePlaguewroughtLands.TheoncewelcomingandcosmopolitanTurmishans havegrownincreasinglyxenophobic,andtheyareguardedandsuspiciousofstrangers,eventhoughtheyremain dependentonoutsidetrade. NorthandwestofTurmishbeyondtheOrsraunandAlaoreumMountainsstretchestheforestedrealmofGulthandor. GulthandorhasnotieswiththelargelydisbandedorganizationonceknownastheEmeraldEnclave.Iligh n,oncetheisland homeoftheEnclave,becamepartofmainlandTurmishwhentheseasretreatedin1386DR.
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YURGRIM'SDELVE: AlaghnremainsthecapitalofTurmishthecity'scuriousarchitectureistheresultofthe Chondathanhumansbuildingoverexistingstructuresleftbyapreviousdwarvencivilization.Thedwarvesalsoleftan abandonedmine amazeofsubterraneantunnels,vaults,andcatacombsthathaveneverbeenfullyexplored,or fullyridofmonstersbeneaththecitystreets.FewentrancestotheUndercityremain,butadventurerscontinueto bravetheirdarkreachesinsearchofplunder.AfewancienttomesmakereferencetoalichqueenfromUnther residingbelowthepalace,yetmostdiscounttheseaccountsaswildtalesoffiction. PRIDEOFFIREMANE:ZalaznarCrinios(NEtreantdruid12),hassecretlyturnedawayfromtheteachingsofMielikkito embraceMalar,who"rewarded"theHighDruidbytransforminghimintoatreant.Criniosusedthistransformationas proofheismeanttoleadinGulthandor.Darkcreaturesnowthreatentheforest,aswellasnearbysettlements. UnawareofCriniossduplicity,adruidwhopreferslionformandcallshimselfFiremanehasputoutthecallforthose willingtopurgetheforestofwhateverblightgrowsatitsheart.

Chondath AportionofToril'ssiblingworldAbeirviolentlyexchangedplaceswithlargesectionsofChondathandwesternChessenta duringtheSpellplague.Theshatteredruinsofcitiesliebrokenatthebottomofravinesorthrusthighatopstonespires,a constantdrawtoadventurersseekingtrovesoflostgold.Thelandtodayischaracterizedbycrazedstonespires,cavernous ravines,andcliffslikepetrifiedwaves.Freefloatingearthmoteshostminiatureforests,grasslands,lakes,andever replenishingwaterfallsthatmistthelandbelowindraperiesofmist.Thewildlandscapeisperfectlysuitedtothe tempestuouspopulationofgenasithatnowclaimthelandastheirown.Akanlisthenameofthisgenasiruledrealm,and thecapitalcityofAirspurholdsthebulkofthenation'spopulation.ThewatersoftheVilhonReachwerepartiallydrained duringtheSpellplague,revealingseveralruinedCitiesoftheSword,lostsincethelastdaysofJhaamdath.Travelerstothe regionarefewandfarbetween.Thefewwhotravelthroughthistreacherousfloodplainreturnwithmadnessornotatall. TheChondalwoodisaconfusionofravinesandfloatingjunglemotes,somesailingfree,otherswebbedtolowerjungle regionsbythickvinesandvegetation.TheChondalwood'svigorisimpressiveitgrewintheSpellplague'swakeinsteadof beingdiminishedorbeingerasedbyitwitnessitscolonizingjunglemotesspreadinglikeairborneseedsnorth,south,and east,andwest.Thehalflingsandcentaursthatonceroamedthesewoodsarenowgonereplacedwithspellscarredsatyrs andferalelveswhodeclarebloodfeudonanyoutsiderenteringthejungle'sheartwood.
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LESSEROFTWOEVILS: Duringaviolentspringthunderstorm,astrangeangularblackmonolithisspottedinthe shallowwatersofftheNunCoastnearReth.Thefollowingmorning,kuotoaharpoonersflyingstrangewinged morkothattacktheportcity.TheinvadersarerepelledbyHighLadyGlorgannaandadetachmentofBaniteguerrillas. ItremainsunclearwhattheAbolethicSovereigntywasseekinginthecityhalfofwhichliesinshatteredruinatthe bottomoftheBayofSilvanus. MAGEDOOM:AtthecenteroftheChondalwoodisaruinofancient,toppledstonetowerswhosecellarsarepacked withlosttreasures.TheelvesofWildhomesteerwellclearofit,citingterriblebodilessguardiancreaturesthatravage flesh,inspiremadness,andtargetspellcastersinparticular,ignitingthemliketorches.

PlaguewroughtLands WhereoncestoodtherealmofSespech,theGoldenPlains,andtheNagalands,nowstandsasurreallandscape breathtakinginitsbeauty,grandeur,andchangeability.ActiveSpellplaguestillcavortsonthisterritory,contortingterrain, naturallaw,andthefleshofanycreaturethatdaresenter.Earthmotesaplentybreakuptheskyinastrangeparitywiththe fracturedterrainbelow.Swathsofmovingearthchangewithmercurialspeed,andgreatravinesemptydirectlyintothe Underdark.Artistrenditionsthatcapturetrueglimpsesoftheplace'sexquisitelovelinessandhorrificstrangenesscan commandlargesumsbackincivilizedlands.

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SCARPILGRIMAGE: Plaguechangedandpilgrimshopingtoobtainaspellscarsometimesjourneyherebecauseit's themostprominentplaguelandinFaer n,aswellasagreatholdoftheOrderofBlueFire.Thestabilityofthe plagueland'sborderprovidesanenvironmentwheretheclever,ambitious,orinsanecanexperimentwiththe Spellplagueanditseffects.Aswithmostwhobraveplaguelands,fewpilgrimswhoenterthePlaguewroughtLands areeverseenagain,butthosewhodoreturnsometimesclaimnewfoundpower.

Underdark.Artistrenditionsthatcapturetrueglimpsesoftheplace'sexquisitelovelinessandhorrificstrangenesscan commandlargesumsbackincivilizedlands.
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SCARPILGRIMAGE: Plaguechangedandpilgrimshopingtoobtainaspellscarsometimesjourneyherebecauseit's themostprominentplaguelandinFaer n,aswellasagreatholdoftheOrderofBlueFire.Thestabilityofthe plagueland'sborderprovidesanenvironmentwheretheclever,ambitious,orinsanecanexperimentwiththe Spellplagueanditseffects.Aswithmostwhobraveplaguelands,fewpilgrimswhoenterthePlaguewroughtLands areeverseenagain,butthosewhodoreturnsometimesclaimnewfoundpower.

Cormyr

Motes Aftertheplagueofchange,someelements ofthephysicalworldhavegaineda UnlikethelandsoftheVilhonReach,thenationofCormyrsufferedlittle supernaturalindependencefromcertain geologicalupheavalduringtheSpellplagueYears.Insteadtheupheavalin naturallaws.Themoststrikingofthese(to theForestKingdomwaslargelypolitical.Famine,economichardship,and thoseunfamiliarwiththem)aremotes. unrestamongthepeeragewouldbedifficultforanyrulingmonarch,yetthese challengesperhapsweighedmoreheavilyupontheshouldersofyoungKing Motesarefreefloatingbitsoflandscapethat defygravitytohoverinplaceovercertain AzounV.ClaimingtheDragonThroneintheYearofThreeStreamsBlooded locales(usually,thoselocalesmost (1384DR),Azounhadmerelythirteenwintersbehindhimathiscoronation affectedbytheSpellplague).Thesemotes andonlysixteenmonthsonthethronebeforetheSpellplaguesenttheworld areusuallysmallinsize,butwhole spinningintochaos.Thankfully,thekingsurroundedhimselfwithmenand ecosystemsclingtothem,apparently womenofwisecounsel,includingtheCaladnei,MageRoyalofCormyr. sustainedbythemorenaturallandscape Underhisrule,theForestKingdomquicklyrecoveredfromtheanarchyofthe overorthroughwhichaparticularmote WailingYears,andtheyoungkingwentontobecomeajust,wise,andlong floats. livedruler. Motesareoftenreferredtoaccordingtothe TheHelmlands typeoflandscapeeachsports.Thus,there FormedduringtheTimeofTroubles,thisdesolatelandofhowlingwindsand arejunglemotes,fungusmotes,cavemotes, jaggedrockwasthesiteofMystra'sdestructionatthehandsofHelminthe grassmotes,pinemotes,andsoon.Larger YearofShadows(1358DR).Inthemonthsfollowingitscreation,locals motesmightsupportanimallife,including namedthesitethePitsofMystra,forthelandwasnothingbutbubblingtar humanoids. pitsasfarastheeyecouldsee.PriestsdedicatedtothenewGoddessof Magiccleansedthelandofthefetidpitsinlateryears,butthetearinthefabricoftheWeaveremained.Todayaforestof toweringredwoodshasreturnedtheoriginalwaslostwhenMystra'sdyingenergyblastedthelandlikeamillionShou cannons.InthewakeoftheSpellplague,theHelmlandshavegrown,spreadingalongthenorthernwalloftheStormhorns, stretchingasfarwestasthefoothillsaboveEveningstar.Wildmagicstillpervadestheentireregion,butunlikethe PlaguewroughtLands,visitorscanentertheHelmslandswithoutfearofbecomingspellscarred.
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TEMPLEACHERON: OncetheblastedruinofCastleKilgrave,theimposingstrongholdwasrebuiltbypriestsofBane followinghisapparentresurrectionintheYearofWildMagic(1372DR).AstheLordofStrifehimselfhaddoneduring theTimeofTroubles,thestrifelordsreshapedtheruinsintoanechoofBane'sTempleoftheSufferingintheBarrens ofDoomandDespair.Thirtyfoothighwallsconstructedofaseamlessother worldlymaterialofblacklacedwith greenconnectthewindowlesstowersonfourcorners,andonthewestsideatowering60footobeliskenclosesa drawbridgesetagainstthewall.PurpleDragonKnightsstationedatCastleCragpatroltheeasternperimeterofthe Helmslandsdaily,keepingavigilanteyeforanythreatscomingfromTempleAcheron.

FarseaSwamp Thisslowlygrowingswampconsistsoftwoformerlyseparatemarshes,FarseaandTun.Theswamphasmileaftermileof muddyterrainsweptwithgoldengreentallgrassesbrokenbychannelsofbronzewater.MostcitizensofCormyrseethe wetlandsasdark,forbiddingplaces,whereevilfestersandfoulcreatureslurkinmurkywatertodevourtheunwary.While thisimageislargelytrueofthedeadlyVastSwampineasternCormyr,itisanincompleteandmisleadingportrayalofthe FarseaSwamp.

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LEGACYOFTHEBATRACHI:Amidthevast,foglacedexpanseoftheFarseaSwampreststhescatteredruinsofa vanishedcivilization,notNethereseasmanyhavespeculated.Thickwithpoisonousinsectsandplague,fewenough haveglimpsedtheseruins.Ornatebuildingsmadeofglassasstrongassteelhintatamagicaltechnologylostto thepresentday.Rumorshaveitthattheboldcanclaimgoldandstrangesecretsfromthehalfdrownedbasements, iftheycanbutsurvivetheswamp'spestilenceandwithstandthemightofstrangecreaturessetasguardianswithin theinterioroftheglassteeltowers.

HullackForest DarkandforebodingbestdescribesthethickdensewoodsoftheHullackForest.TheHullackisalmostaprimevalforest, withdarkvalleysandhiddenvalesthathavegoneunseenfordecades.Ghostlycreaturesandoddmonsterspepperthe localfolklore,andorcsandgoblinsarefrequentvisitorsfromtheThunderPeaks.Intheyearsimmediatelyprecedingthe Spellplague,largenumbersofadventurersenteredtheforestseekingtoclearitofmonstersandexploreitsdeeperregions. Thunderstone,asmalltownonthesouthernedgeofHullackForest,wasoftenusedasabaseofoperationsforsuch expeditions. ThesecrownsanctionedactivitiescametoanabruptendintheYearoftheWrathfulEye(1391DR)whentheEldreth Veluuthra,amilitantgroupofhuman despisingelves,claimedtheforestastheirown.Abriefconflictwiththeelvesensued intheYearofDeathsUnmourned(1394DR),butyoungKingAzounVlaterturnedhisfullattentiontomorepressingthreats fromneighboringNetherilandSembia.
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REALMOFWAILINGFOG: SandwichedbetweentheHullackForestandtheThunderPeaks,theRealmofWailingFog remainsalandofdesolatefens,ever presentmist,andeerieechoingcalls.EventheEldrethVeluuthradarenot exploretherealm'slongruinedtowers.Travelerstotheregionspeakofaheavyfeelingof"watchfulness"hanging overeverything.Rumorspersistthatacovenofhagslivesinthearea,buttheseclaimshaveneverbeen substantiated.

AbouttheAuthor Asoftwareengineeringmanagerbydayand ForgottenRealms aficionadobynight,BrianR.Jamesauthoredthe Grand HistoryoftheRealms andcontinuestoserveupnewRealmslorethrough D&DInsider andthe CandlekeepCompendium . Brianalsocontributedtotheforthcoming4E ForgottenRealms CampaignGuide tobereleasedlaterthisyear.Inhisspare timeheenjoysexploring EverQuestII withhisfaeshadowknightIakhovasandpretendinghe'sagooddrummeron Rock Band.BrianlivesinMontanawithhishighschoolsweetheartToniandtheirfourchildren.

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RPGDesignManager JameshasbeenplayingD&Dsince 1979,whenheandafriend acquiredthefirstBasicSet.He "selfpublished"hisowncampaignworldin10th grade,sellingdotmatrixprintedcopiestofriends atschool.Hebeganseriouslywritingfor publicationin1996,andhisfirstpublished appearanceinDragonmagazinecoincidedwith thebirthofhissonin1997.Afterfouryearsof writingforDragonandDungeonmagazines, JamesjoinedWizardsoftheCoastR&Din Januaryof2000.

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