New campaign near Skull Gorge. [Archive] - Wizards Community

New campaign near Skull Gorge. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Corran
10-30-05, 12:16 AM I also posted this message at the Candlekeep forum, so my apologies for any cross posting.

I will be starting a new Forgotten Realms campaign soon and it will be set in the Western Heartlands. To be precise in a village (of my own making) on the south bank of the River Reaching, upstream of Hill’s Edge. The campaign will start somewhere around 1366 DR and (hopefully) last at least until 1373 DR.

I’ve been reading up on the area in all the books I have (most of all the published FR material), and a few questions remain. I hope someone more knowledgeable than me in FR canon can help me with these.

Skull Gorge is just upstream and there seems to be a lot of conflicting information about it. All books tell about it being the final stand after the Battle of Bones (the best source: Elminster’s Ecologies). However, some state that since the gorge has been empty, home to goblinoids, home to monsters (either of the last 2 options in some cases under Zhent control) or, hinted at in the 3rd Edition FRCS, fiends. The Tashara of the Seven Skulls article (Dragon 206, page 76) says one of the seven skulls resides there with a number of monsters. All this can’t quite be explained by it being in a certain chronological order. If anyone could shine some light on this that would be much appreciated.

Also, on one of the maps of the Interactive Atlas it shows something called the ‘Misty Stair’ just downstream of the Skull Gorge. It’s very likely this is a waterfall; however I can find no reference at all to this in any book. Anyone know where I can find any information?

Forgotten Realms Adventures, page 121: ‘Zhent “Long Road to Riches:” a controlled caravan route from Zhentil Keep to the Sword Coast, via the Tesh valley, Daggerdale, the Stonelands, the Desertsedge and Goblin Marches, Yellow Snake Pass (guarded by the great Zhentarim fortress of Darkhold), Skull Gorge, Dawn Pass, Llorkh, Loudwater, and the River Delimbiyr.

Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast, page 123; ‘Feuding tribes of giants dwell in the Hill of Lost Souls and the Battle of Bones (two craggy areas named for past human struggles). The giants battle endlessly over the rolling grasslands between the two areas.’

So, how do the Zhent on their ‘Long Road’ get past the giants, since it seems to be directly in their path? Do they pay the giants to leave them alone, have they dominated them? Skirting around them seems unlikely. BTW, on the new 3rd edition map, the Skull Gorge ends pointing south, below the Hill of Lost Souls, making the ‘Long Road’ even crazier. Is the Trade Way really that dangerous to take for them?

The FRCS, page 225 says about the Zhents in Yellow Snake Pass; ‘until early in 1372 DR., when Thayan wizards and mercenaries from Hill's Edge drove the patrols into cavern shelters in the Underdark. For the moment, Yellow Snake Pass is free.’

The Bane – Cyric strife within the Zhents had already made me decide that Darkhold (being Cyricist controlled) has split from the ‘Eastern’ Zhents in all but name. The 3rd edition books aren’t quite clear if this split is a reality. The question that comes to mind is; if Darkhold is alone now and no longer receiving caravans from Zhentil Keep (they focus on the Dark Road) what are they going to do? They have no industry, so caravans (and smuggling) to the Sword Coast seems unlikely. What will be their focus?

Also, what is the weather like in this region? I like the weather table they used in the Silver Marches supplement; I might use the River Valley entry from it, but might that be a bit too cold?

Finally question (I see I have rambled quite a bit already); what kind of fish would be found in the River Reaching between Hill’s Edge and Skull Gorge?

Thanks.
ericlboyd
10-30-05, 05:16 AM Not to clear things up, but to add to the confusion, you're missing references to:

1) A major temple of Velsharoon (see Powers & Pantheons, Velsharoon, Major Centers of Worship)

2) Ruins of Holloway (sp?, see Netheril boxed set, available for free on the WoTC website)

3) Lair of Harondalbar, great black wyrm in the employ of the Zhents, discussed in Polyhedron #84, page 20, Ruins of Zhentil Keep: Campaign Guide, page 41, and Cloak & Dagger, page 44.

FWIW, my plan is to set some of the later Age of Worms modules here in the Realms conversion notes.

--Eric
Corran
10-30-05, 01:22 PM Thanks a million Eric!

As usual your knowledge of everything Realmsian is unsurpassed. ;-)

And indeed your comments have added to the confusion, but that just leads to more questions.

The Velsharoon temple (Crypt of the Arisen Army; was on the map and I wondered what it referred to); another party that claims dominion of the Skull Gorge. It's getting crowded in there. ;-)

So now we have goblinoids, monsters, Zhents, Velsharans and fiends all laying claims to the gorge. Any idea how to best explain this? Related to that; only a few of the FR books mention what year of DR the book is set in. So I've been looking at the year of publication; is it possible to link that to a DR year?

Netheril boxed set has something strange too; the map shows Holloway being North of The Hollow, but the text of The Hollow says it is buried under Anauroch. As to Holloway itself; I assume that the caves in the cliff face are / contain the ruins of this city; none of the other books say anything about this.

I don't have that Polyhedron issue, but I had found the reference to Harondalbar in Ruins of Zhentil Keep; I just didn't think to mention it. But now that you have; any (semi-)official word as to what happened to the dragon in the battle for Yellow Snake Pass?

KnightErrantJR mentioned on the Candlekeep forum that in your Waterdeep book there is a mention that Banites have been taking over Darkhold. I found it, I think, in the Malchior write up, page 38. Anything you can tell us about what's happening with the Zhents in Darkhold?

I will of course also keep an eye on your Age of Worms conversion notes.

BTW, and off topic:

I use the Index function of Acrobat to search all my 2nd edition books and of course I don't have Powers & Pantheons, nor does the Netheril boxed set mention Skull Gorge by that name.

That index function really is great though, looking for any reference in all the 2nd edition books, the 3rd edition FRCS, the first 250 Dragon issues, Ed's answers from Candlekeep and the Forgotten Realms web enhancements only takes seconds.

It would be so easy for WotC to make available these indexes to the books on their website (including all the new 3(.5) edition books). That way you could see directly which books (and which pages) to read (or buy if you don't have it). Perhaps I should pitch this idea to them.

Thanks!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Corran 10-30-05, 12:16 AM	I also posted this message at the Candlekeep forum, so my apologies for any cross posting. I will be starting a new Forgotten Realms campaign soon and it will be set in the Western Heartlands. To be precise in a village (of my own making) on the south bank of the River Reaching, upstream of Hill’s Edge. The campaign will start somewhere around 1366 DR and (hopefully) last at least until 1373 DR. I’ve been reading up on the area in all the books I have (most of all the published FR material), and a few questions remain. I hope someone more knowledgeable than me in FR canon can help me with these. Skull Gorge is just upstream and there seems to be a lot of conflicting information about it. All books tell about it being the final stand after the Battle of Bones (the best source: Elminster’s Ecologies). However, some state that since the gorge has been empty, home to goblinoids, home to monsters (either of the last 2 options in some cases under Zhent control) or, hinted at in the 3rd Edition FRCS, fiends. The Tashara of the Seven Skulls article (Dragon 206, page 76) says one of the seven skulls resides there with a number of monsters. All this can’t quite be explained by it being in a certain chronological order. If anyone could shine some light on this that would be much appreciated. Also, on one of the maps of the Interactive Atlas it shows something called the ‘Misty Stair’ just downstream of the Skull Gorge. It’s very likely this is a waterfall; however I can find no reference at all to this in any book. Anyone know where I can find any information? Forgotten Realms Adventures, page 121: ‘Zhent “Long Road to Riches:” a controlled caravan route from Zhentil Keep to the Sword Coast, via the Tesh valley, Daggerdale, the Stonelands, the Desertsedge and Goblin Marches, Yellow Snake Pass (guarded by the great Zhentarim fortress of Darkhold), Skull Gorge, Dawn Pass, Llorkh, Loudwater, and the River Delimbiyr. Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast, page 123; ‘Feuding tribes of giants dwell in the Hill of Lost Souls and the Battle of Bones (two craggy areas named for past human struggles). The giants battle endlessly over the rolling grasslands between the two areas.’ So, how do the Zhent on their ‘Long Road’ get past the giants, since it seems to be directly in their path? Do they pay the giants to leave them alone, have they dominated them? Skirting around them seems unlikely. BTW, on the new 3rd edition map, the Skull Gorge ends pointing south, below the Hill of Lost Souls, making the ‘Long Road’ even crazier. Is the Trade Way really that dangerous to take for them? The FRCS, page 225 says about the Zhents in Yellow Snake Pass; ‘until early in 1372 DR., when Thayan wizards and mercenaries from Hill's Edge drove the patrols into cavern shelters in the Underdark. For the moment, Yellow Snake Pass is free.’ The Bane – Cyric strife within the Zhents had already made me decide that Darkhold (being Cyricist controlled) has split from the ‘Eastern’ Zhents in all but name. The 3rd edition books aren’t quite clear if this split is a reality. The question that comes to mind is; if Darkhold is alone now and no longer receiving caravans from Zhentil Keep (they focus on the Dark Road) what are they going to do? They have no industry, so caravans (and smuggling) to the Sword Coast seems unlikely. What will be their focus? Also, what is the weather like in this region? I like the weather table they used in the Silver Marches supplement; I might use the River Valley entry from it, but might that be a bit too cold? Finally question (I see I have rambled quite a bit already); what kind of fish would be found in the River Reaching between Hill’s Edge and Skull Gorge? Thanks.
ericlboyd 10-30-05, 05:16 AM	Not to clear things up, but to add to the confusion, you're missing references to: 1) A major temple of Velsharoon (see Powers & Pantheons, Velsharoon, Major Centers of Worship) 2) Ruins of Holloway (sp?, see Netheril boxed set, available for free on the WoTC website) 3) Lair of Harondalbar, great black wyrm in the employ of the Zhents, discussed in Polyhedron #84, page 20, Ruins of Zhentil Keep: Campaign Guide, page 41, and Cloak & Dagger, page 44. FWIW, my plan is to set some of the later Age of Worms modules here in the Realms conversion notes. --Eric
Corran 10-30-05, 01:22 PM	Thanks a million Eric! As usual your knowledge of everything Realmsian is unsurpassed. ;-) And indeed your comments have added to the confusion, but that just leads to more questions. The Velsharoon temple (Crypt of the Arisen Army; was on the map and I wondered what it referred to); another party that claims dominion of the Skull Gorge. It's getting crowded in there. ;-) So now we have goblinoids, monsters, Zhents, Velsharans and fiends all laying claims to the gorge. Any idea how to best explain this? Related to that; only a few of the FR books mention what year of DR the book is set in. So I've been looking at the year of publication; is it possible to link that to a DR year? Netheril boxed set has something strange too; the map shows Holloway being North of The Hollow, but the text of The Hollow says it is buried under Anauroch. As to Holloway itself; I assume that the caves in the cliff face are / contain the ruins of this city; none of the other books say anything about this. I don't have that Polyhedron issue, but I had found the reference to Harondalbar in Ruins of Zhentil Keep; I just didn't think to mention it. But now that you have; any (semi-)official word as to what happened to the dragon in the battle for Yellow Snake Pass? KnightErrantJR mentioned on the Candlekeep forum that in your Waterdeep book there is a mention that Banites have been taking over Darkhold. I found it, I think, in the Malchior write up, page 38. Anything you can tell us about what's happening with the Zhents in Darkhold? I will of course also keep an eye on your Age of Worms conversion notes. BTW, and off topic: I use the Index function of Acrobat to search all my 2nd edition books and of course I don't have Powers & Pantheons, nor does the Netheril boxed set mention Skull Gorge by that name. That index function really is great though, looking for any reference in all the 2nd edition books, the 3rd edition FRCS, the first 250 Dragon issues, Ed's answers from Candlekeep and the Forgotten Realms web enhancements only takes seconds. It would be so easy for WotC to make available these indexes to the books on their website (including all the new 3(.5) edition books). That way you could see directly which books (and which pages) to read (or buy if you don't have it). Perhaps I should pitch this idea to them. Thanks!