The Mere of Dead Men
Purpose / Function
The Mere of Dead Men (or Merdelain, meaning "Slow Marching Court" in Elvish) is a swampy area located along the Sword Coast North.
The Mere is located along the Sword Coast on the Sea of Swords between Neverwinter and Waterdeep. The High Road skirts its eastern edges on its way through the foothills of the Sword Mountains to the east.
Architecture
The Mere of Dead Men is a cold saltwater swamp roughly 100 miles (160 km) long by 30 miles (48 km) wide along the shore. It is a desolate place full of monsters and few members of the civilized races. The swamp constantly grows over time, swallowing homes and property located close to its boundaries.
The Mere itself is full of trees, vines, quicksand, and hidden islands, and it is generally covered in fog, making visibility very poor. The bones of fallen creatures are clearly visible throughout the Mere. The water is deep enough that it could be navigated on a flat-bottomed boat, but the dark water and hidden obstructions make that choice dangerous.
History
The Mere was created in 615 DR. After the armies of Phalorm were overrun by the Horde of the Wastes in 614 DR, the few that had rallied made their stand at Iniarv's Tower, a tower that had once belonged to Iniarv, the former Mage Royal of Uthtower. Unbeknownst to all, Iniarv had retreated into the tower's crypts to become a lich. He was awakened by the orcs and enraged by the commotion. King Uth VII begged him for help, calling upon Iniarv's ancient alliance with Uthtower. Iniarv acquiesced, calling on the ocean to flood the entire area, killing all goblinoids and humanoids alike. When the waters receded, all that was left was a saltwater swamp. The land was never permanently resettled, although there were a few attempts that were thwarted by the wetlands and strange monsters released by Iniarv.
Tourism
Inside the Mere are the flooded ruins of a number of castles and settlements. Many of the castles have strange wards that would either strengthen certain magic or negate it.
Type
Natural Wonder
Characters in Location