The Northern Moonsea Region

The Moonsea is a region in the central north of Faerûn, dominated by a large deep natural sea connected to the Sea of Fallen Stars to the south by the River Lis. The shoreline is a wild, frontier area, home to several city states dominated by despots, with no central capital. The Moonsea is a dangerous place to live and its people are driven and independent as a result.
The Moonsea region is infamous for its unforgiving landscape, cold winters and dangers that comes from both cities ruled by iron gripped tyrants. In addition to the aggressive city states are the dangers of lake pirates, ravaging dragons and the ever present threat of the sinister neighbouring lands of Ride and Thar.

Geography

The Moonsea itself is the dominant feature in the Moonsea area, along with the fast, cold rivers that feed and drain it and the mountains that border it. North and west of the Moonsea, the intrigues of the cities fall away to the brutal dangers of the environment and native inhabitants who don't care for having their lands invaded.

Dragonspine Mountains

The western end of this high mountain range marks the western extent of the Moonsea area. Red and white dragons lair among the higher peaks. Goblins, orcs, and giants occupy the lower peaks and the valleys. Mines are dotted around the mountain range that supplies the northern cities with ore.

The Moonsea

The depths of the Moonsea's cold, clear, and purplish waters are said to have connections to underground seas and to the Elemental Plane of Water. The cold weather of the region makes it dangerous to swim in the lake even during the summer. There are numerous pirates that plague the lake and there is even whispers of a Pirate Haven protected by dangerous sea creatures.

Stojanow River

The Stojanow river begins high in the Dragonspine Mountains and flows south into the Moonsea. Fertile ground along the river has bought opportunity of farming of grains and hardy vegetables and as a result there are several farms and fortified villages along its course. West of the river is the Grass Sea and, on along its east bank is the Quivering Forest.

It is the primary means to transport ore and minerals from the Dragonspines down to the cities of Phlan and Melvaunt.

Tempest River

West of the Stojanov runs the river Tempest from the Dragonspine Mountains south through the Grass Sea runs out in the Moonsea Lake. While less fertile, numerous farms and villages has sprung up along its shores.

Settlements

Melvaunt

Located adjacent to the Great Gray Land of Thar, this smoke-filled mercantile metropolis is a well-known hub of slave trade.The lands surrounding it are among the most dangerous in all of the Realms.

Phlan

This ancient city at the mouth of the Stojanow River, has been destroyed countless times by war and monsters, only to have been continuously rebuilt.

Thentia

A small, militarily weak city that has managed to retain its fierce independence and strong trade despite harsh climate, both geographically, and politically.

Hillsfar

The City of Trade: The walled city-state of Hillsfar is on the southern coast of the Moonsea, just north of the Forest of Cormanthor where three major roads meet. What began as a convenient trade stopover under the control of the Elven Court has become one of the major powers of the Moonsea, a power until recently based on free trade and brutal racism.

Zhentil Keep

It used to be a widely influential city-state that was home to the infamous network of spies and manipulators known as the Zhentarim. It was razed over a century ago but returning Zhentarim has started to rebuild it from the ashes.

Elmwood

This small farming community lies on the southern shore of the Moonsea and west of Mulmaster. It is one of the few locations within the Moonsea that bring its inhabitants some peace and serenity.

Mulmaster

The City of Danger is a crime-ravaged metropolis that lies on the southern shore of the Moonsea. After decades of influence from the Zhentarim, it has become the home for worship for the god Bane.

Surrounding Regions

Thar

Also known as the Great Gray Land, is a rocky, broken moor stretching for hundreds of miles with a harsh climate north of the Moonsea. It is inhabited by wild tribes of humanoids such as orcs, goblins and ogres who are constantly at war with one another.

The Dalelands

A region in north Faerûn of dense forests and bountiful, rolling farmlands. It is comprised of a loosely-organized group of countries called dales located around the Cormanthor forest, west of the Sea of Fallen Stars.

Cormanthor

The forest of Cormanthor was long the place of the elven empire of Cormanthyr. It is a large, dense forest. It is largely abandoned today because of the Elven Retreat.

Type

Region

Included Locations

• Allin Thicket
• Phlan
• Strayhill
• Tempest River
• Whispermist Region