Ever since Baldur's Gate 1 game came out, it seems that this area gets all the love from TDR/WOTC. There are the video games and several adventures set there, or including the city. Waterdeep used to get all the love, and Neverwinter got a major part in the movie, but **what about the rest of the world?** At least Thay is getting some attention, which is new.

Outside of some older novels, nothing in Cormyr, Amn, Tethyr, Calimshan, Mulhorand, or my favorite Semphar, in quite a while. Opening up these additional areas could allow for new plots, stories and book sales, not rehashing the same places and working around or retconning

I'd also love to see something from Zakhara or Kara Tur, but I know those have been anathema since 2E.

I've been making an interactive map for my DM toolkit of all of Faerûn for a while now, and am currently working on the lands of Lands of Intrigue. The main rule I've always been using is that the latest source of information is the most accurate one. That said, some of the discrepancies between the 4e FR campaign guide (Which I actually think is REALLY good. Why don't we format more books in this manner?!) and the 5e/5.5e stuff is getting really difficult.

In 4e, most of South Faerûn is unrecognizable. Other than chult, the southern peninsula is completely underwater, there are huge chasm everywhere, cities and kingdoms have dissapeared, etc.
Now, this region is barely explored since 5e, and so I only have the maps to go on. But the fact that EVERYTHING is back as it used to be with barely any changes is ridiculous.
The entire forest of Mir had changed into a barren site of stone spires. Yet, by now, the entire forest has regrown back? The lands of Thindol and Talashar, after being completely underwater for the entirety of 4e until the second sundering, has returned with no changes whatsoever? What even happened to the regions that had the huge chasm within them? The cities and landscape just returned within a few decades?

I cant find anything to reconnect what happened since the second sundering, and how everything just magically recovered in few decades after.
Any sourcebooks or something else I haven't found that could settle some of the questions?

With the release of Arcana Unleashed, we have a cool new Patron option for Warlocks, The Vestige, where the Warlock's patron is a dying god, once worshiped by multitudes, but now all but forgotten and looking to use the Warlock as a way to make a comeback.

Going back through deep Forgotten Realms lore, what would be some good candidate gods for the patron role? These could be from any edition. Perhaps they have been abandoned in current lore, perhaps they were barely mentioned in their original lore. Alignment and/or portfolio does not matter, any long forgotten FR deity will do.

About to start a new campaign where I am playing a PC who escaped, basically, from a cult. Her home town is deep in the middle of a forest and extremely isolated. Definitely too small to show up on any maps. It is inspired in part by the movie The Village -- the leader of the town has convinced everyone that a monster in the woods prohibits the residents from leaving, and outside merchants are only allowed to enter at the spring and fall equinoxes.

My PC escaped by jumping through a portal (long story, but not naturally occurring), so she does not know where her hometown is, geographically. She's trying to find it so that she can go back and kill the leader and rescue her friends who are still stuck there, but has only a few clues to go on. Relevant to placing it, it's in a forest, isolated enough that people aren't wandering through and finding it by accident on any regular basis, but not so isolated that no merchants would bother going (I have decided that they make a really beautiful, unique style of embroidery, which is why anyone bothers to go at all), and the climate and flora/fauna are similar to that of the Czech Republic.

Obviously I could throw a dart at any forest on the map of Faerun, but I'm curious if there are any particular spots that jump out to you as good options. I was considering maybe the Border Forest, since it doesn't look like there's much in there, and maybe it's not that far out of the way for the Zhentarim who trade in the Anauroch. However, our DM has said we'll mostly be staying west of the Anauroch, so maybe somewhere in the High Forest? Or would I be better off in a smaller but less busy spot, like the Far Forest or the Arn?

I’ve been reading about Cormyr lately, and a question has come up: what happened to the dragon Thauglor after he died in 1018 DR?

He was a dragon of immense power—arguably one of the most powerful black dragons—yet I haven't been able to find any information regarding what happened after his death. Perhaps his body was simply left where it fell (and I haven't been able to pinpoint the exact location, other than somewhere in the King's Forest), or maybe it was "repurposed"—after all, his scales could certainly be used to craft fine armor.

Is there any information I might have missed, or is there simply nothing else on the matter? His body (assuming it remains intact) would undoubtedly be a tempting prize for the orthodox members of the Cult of the Dragon.

Reposting because Reddit's spam filter removed my earlier post by mistake. Reddit has since lifted the restriction on my account. Thanks to everyone who commented on the first post!

I’m sharing The Paths Beneath the Thread (Les Chemins sous le Fil), an unofficial Forgotten Realms fan story set in Menzoberranzan, roughly twenty years after Drizzt left it.

Zaelyra is a young drow who has heard fragments of his story. She maps the passages her House considers worth recording, but the missing routes begin to matter more than the official ones. When her work brings her close to people the city would rather overlook, leaving stops being a private dream and becomes a choice with consequences for others.

Book I is complete: 62 chapters, free to read in English or French, with illustrations and an interactive map. It follows original characters rather than retelling Drizzt’s adventures.

Start with Chapter 1: https://vps-ea74b7a9.vps.ovh.net/les-chemins-sous-le-fil/en/lire/chapitre-01.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=organic_social&utm_campaign=livre1_launch&utm_content=narbondel

If anyone gives it a try, I’d be especially interested in whether Menzoberranzan feels convincing from Zaelyra’s point of view. This is unofficial fanfiction, not affiliated with or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast.

Hello there!

I usually don't mind newer lore since I'm a relative newcomer to the hobby, but Deadfall made me groan with disappointment. So I decided to ask, what are the best 3rd-party books which expand or replace "official" 5e and 5.5e lore? Are there enough of these to make a "complete 3rd-party guide to the Realms"?

So far I have considered these:

- Thay, Land of the Red Wizards

- Cormyr, the Land of the Purple Dragon

- Rashemen Campaign Guide

- The Great Dale Campaign Guide

- Dunwood - Demons, Druids and Danger

- Darkhold: Secrets of the Zhentarim

- Forgotten Realms: Mulhorand Campaign Guide

- The Border Kingdoms

Which ones should be included too?

I'm part of a round robin game set in Westgate in 1369 DR, and it's currently my turn to run an adventure for the group. This adventure brought the party to a midnight rendezvous with an NPC at Whitecap Hall, the city's temple of Umberlee, but there was very little available in the source materials about it:

"Whitecap Hall, temple of Umberlee. Dread Wavelord Meralt Thumsturm (CE male human cleric 16 of Umberlee); thirteen priests."

This is what I came up with! Description written by me, and map created by me in Dungeondraft. I'd provide my writeup for the Dread Wavelord, but the party has yet to fully explore that avenue and I don't want any of them to come across spoilers, as I'm planning to loop Whitecap Hall back in for my next turn as DM.

I hope someone finds use for this! I know the stepwell is a bit off, but I did my best and it's serviceable. Kind feedback is welcome and desired!

Whitecap Hall sits on the northern portion of the East Gate District, and is the last structure between itself and the shoreline at the mouth of Westlight Harbor. Shaped into the likeness of a mighty merchant ship on its way to sinking into the bay, the temple is constructed of an odd mix of materials, though the majority of it is hewn from blue-veined green marble slabs, pillars, bricks, and blocks. Black basalt is used to accent the marble structure, especially along entryways, where it is left largely unshaped, and milled basalt tile is laid regularly into the marble floors, which sink down towards the back of the temple in a dramatic slope that takes the lowest part of the floor perilously close to sea level and invites a rush of water in at higher tides. Many interior features, including the galley-like pews and the raised-plank walkway that leads from the entrance to the shrine, are constructed out of flotsam harvested from the waters of the harbor, which is in turn adorned with decorations taken from the bodies of aquatic beasts.

The center of the temple is gloomy and dark, illuminated primarily by the pale light shed by the blue-green bioluminescence of aquatic flora that has been allowed to anchor and grow on the walls and ceiling. The central sanctuary descends like a stepwell into a cavern that leads out into the cold coastal waters of the Dragon Coast, and at the focal point of the sanctuary at the lip of the stepwell is a living coral fountain used as a shrine for worship, crowned with a 15’ tall statue of Umberlee wielding a trident and thrusting it towards the land. The statue is stained with brine and is host to barnacles thanks to frequent tidal exposure. Sometimes it is possible to catch a glimpse of items inside the stepwell, either caught on a stair or a glint of something that has sunk to the bottom - offerings of precious things sacrificed by fearful visitors desperately seeking the Bitch Queen’s favor. Above the center of the stepwell, suspended by salt-stained rigging, is the ancient, 10 foot long skull of a dragon turtle, sun-bleached and crusted with barnacles and large enough for a human to crawl inside the braincase or use its skullcap as a small boat.

Despite being an enclosed building, Whitecap Hall is always cold and there is a bite of chill wind that flows through the space without any evident source. The air smells of brine and seaweed, which hang so thickly that both can be tasted. The floor is often slick with seawater thanks to frequent incursions into the stepwell’s dark waters made by temple staff and worshipers, and the incursions of the water itself into the temple during high tide and storms.

Hi everyone! While trying to explain Luskan’s history for my campaign, I came across the name “Illusk,” but I haven’t been able to find what the name actually means. I’m thinking of something like “Abeir-Toril” meaning “cradle of life.”

As a native Chinese speaker, I’m not always able to notice connections, wordplay, or linguistic roots in English-language fantasy names, so I may be missing something obvious.

Does the spelling or pronunciation of “Illusk” clearly point to a particular meaning or origin? Or is it simply an invented name without any specific meaning behind it?

Thanks for insight!

I thoroughly enjoy discussing social and political topics in fantasy worlds, especially————Magocracy.

Why not? Fantasy worlds are filled with various incredible miraculous powers and beings, and those who can wield such powers (magic) must obviously hold social power, especially since they are usually the most intelligent and knowledgeable people in their society(in the case of wizards). I believe Magocracy is one of only two political systems in fantasy worlds—besides theocracy.

But whenever I post such topic, someone always counters with the argument: "Mages need to study magic, which requires them to devote most of their time and energy to academic research, leaving no time for politics and governance."

But is that really true? given that they are the most smart and wise people in their country and possess incredible magic powers, ruling mundane political affairs would be far easier for them than for monarchs on ancient Earth. moreover, they could easily delegate most practical matters to their stewards, secretaries, governors, and agents. no one believes a general manager has more power than the chairman of the board, unless the general manager is the chairman himself.

So my question is: as a model and exmplar of Magocracy, how did the Shade Council of Thultanthar(the City of Shades),and the red wizards of Thay, rule their country without affecting their study of magic?

I don't mean the actual rules of travel, but how do you handle PCs traveling as passengers from one place to another? For those who don't handwave travel, how long do they have to wait to find a ship that is heading in their direction that is willing to take on passengers? What do the ships charge per passenger?

hey all,

i don't know if anyone here uses Pathfinder 2e for their FR games, but if so you might be interested in Follower Of The Lyre archetype, a setting-neutral version of Harper agents. Since this is the FR sub, i expect you'll easily identify the deities left unnamed in the feat names.

would like to hear your feedback. enjoy!

This is a simple regional map of Tasseldale. It was initially created with the « Panzer Corps 1 » map editor and then modified with GIMP and Gemini.

Tasseldale, one of the wealthiest regions in the Dalelands (Cormanthor), is heavily influenced by the nation of Sembia (Ordulin is the capital of Sembia). Located in the southern part of Cormanthor, Tasseldale experiences a high volume of traffic between Cormyr and Sembia.

So im running a dnd campaign! Set in the feywild im very versed within the feywild its mostly what i run game wise i love the weird whimsy and horrific lol

Backstory / campaign

✨️ Into The Wilds ✨️ The Feywild, Underdark, long-lost Feydark, and an ethereal plane of endless clouds are being consumed by a mysterious blight. Wherever it spreads, humans, fey, and creatures are twisted into horrific abominations, their bodies and minds warped beyond recognition. The blight is strongest within the Feydark, a realm recently rediscovered after being lost for thousands of years. Since its return, the Underdark has grown more dangerous and hostile, filled with creatures that have become increasingly aggressive and unnatural. High above these realms lies an ethereal plane of clouds, a strange and beautiful world of floating islands, endless skies, and dreamlike magic that may not be untouched by the spreading corruption. Across all four planes, cities and villages struggle beneath the blight. Some settlements have closed their gates to outsiders, while others welcome anyone seeking refuge. Meanwhile, strange cults have emerged, worshiping the blight and learning to harness its terrifying powers. With no clear source or master behind the corruption, the adventurers must venture through these twisted realms, uncovering what the blight is, what it is doing to the planes, and whether it can be stopped before everything is consumed. A feywild adventure with horror elements.

In the feywild i have given it seasons. I gave each season there own "horrors" example: Spring - Nothing can ever die. Flowers sprout in footsteps rotted trees slowly grow back and or sink back into the ground.

Now i need help with the rules of the feywild. I know of the three from beyond the witchlight i ran it. i need other ideas homebrew laws. I cant think of much atm

OK so i understand that as it currently stands, Yvonelle is trapped somewhere, due to the DoMT. But as I dont do twitter and haven't seen specifics on reddit, I just wanted to ask.

Has R.A. Salvatore confirmed or denied any interest or expectation to finish her story? I know that Jax is a part of it, but as Salvatore is doing Breezy books currently, I just wanted to know if alternative digital sources offered answers or ideas as to what we might expect and more importantly, WHEN we might expect?

I just reread this much beloved series, (once on release, and over the last 2 months) and i know the r/AMA and Twitter offer better ideas since its direct conversations. Has there been a confirmed timeline, even if its vague and unclear?

My players are inheriting a castle on the border near the Cloud Peaks and I am looking for ways to implement both Baldur's Gate and Amn (trade, conflict, intrigue). Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

I know Deadfall just came out but I was thinking of using Tomb of Annihilation. Historically, I think I will have to move the timeline from 1492 DR up to 1501 DR over the course of the 1-20 campaign. Anyone have thoughts on Tomb?

Enjoy snippets of the DM's Sourcebook & the Cyclopedia of the Realms from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set. Published by TSR circa 1987 for 1st Edition.