Moonshae Isles

The Moonshae Isles

The Moonshae Isles (pronounced: /ˈmuːnʃeɪ/ MOON-shay) are a group of islands that form a roughly circular archipelago with the Sea of Moonshae in the center. They lay roughly 400 miles (644 km) west of the region of Amn and to the southwest of the Sword Coast. As of 1371 DR, the majority of the Moonshae Isles were ruled by High Queen Alicia Kendrick, who ruled from the capital city of Caer Callidyrr on Alaron.
After the Spellplague, House Kendrick lost much of their control over the isles. In 1479 DR, much of the isle of Alaron is ruled by House Kendrick, although the King's forces do not control the entire island. The Isle of Snowdown is controlled by the vampire Lady Erliza Daressin, who is loyal to Amn. The Isle of Gwynneth is controlled by the Kingdom of Sarifal, which is ruled by High Lady Ordalf. A tribe of fomorians crossed from the Feywild into Faerûn after the Spellplague and took control of the island of Oman. The isle of Moray is under the control of Malarite lycanthropes.

Geography

The islands that make up the Moonshae Isles are as follows:

• Alaron - One of the largest of the Moonshaes, much of the island is under the control of King Derid in 1479 DR. Dernall Forest is under the control of dark fey who entered from a portal to the Feywild
• Flamsterd
• Gwynneth - By 1479 DR, most of the isle is controlled by fey loyal to High Lady Ordalf and is known as Sarifal
• Korinn Archipelago - Hundreds of small islands stretch northward from the main archipelago into the Trackless Sea. The isles are favored by pirate bands who prey on shipping
• Mintarn - This medium-sized island was ruled by the tyrant Tarnheel Embuirhan in mid–1300s DR. This island is known as a haven for pirates, fugitives, mercenaries, and other unsavory types who are looking to get away from the watchful eyes of the authorities. The wine halls and fest halls of this island are renowned for how dangerous they are - and how amazing their services are
• Moray - In 1479 DR, this island is the most war-torn of the Moonshaes. The interior is controlled by the Black Blood Tribe of lycanthropes while the Orc Skull Mountains are controlled by humanoid tribes. Only a few humans live in villages on the coast
• Norland - Inhabited mostly by humans who earn their livings through fishing
• Oman - Once a center of Northlander culture, the island was overrun by fomorian giants after the Spellplague
• Snowdown - This small isle in the southeastern Moonshaes was annexed by Amn and is ruled by Erliza Daressin, a vampire 
• Tetris - This small island is covered in green hills and rocky coasts, as well as a small village of thatched huts along a river. Moira, the wife of Captain Hrolf of the Elfmaid lives here. The village and their druids worship local spirits in the river and elsewhere with gold offerings, which the pirates of the Elfmaid once snatched after drugging the villagers

Climate

The climate of the Moonshaes is considered subarctic. The weather is severe, with long winters.

Societies

Native Societies

The Moonshae Isles are populated mainly by the Folk and the Northlanders, two human societies. Over the one hundred years since Queen Alicia consolidated her rule, the two groups intermarried and became more culturally unified.

Demi Humans

There are a small number of Llewyrr elves living in isolation on the islands of Alaron and Gwynneth. Dwarves and halflings also populate the Moonshaes although their numbers are far smaller than the human occupants.

Lycanthropes

As of 1479 DR, the Black Blood Tribe of lycanthropes controlled the island of Moray. The tribe worships the Beastlord Malar and consists of native Faerûnian were-creatures as well as some that crossed over from Brokenstone Vale in the Feywild.

Giants

A group of fomorians loyal to Queen Connomae entered Faerûn after the Spellplague and conquered the island of Oman. The formorians are loosely allied with the Black Blood Tribe.

History

Northmen-Ffolk conflict

The Northmen are a violent, war-like society with little interest for or tolerance of the Ffolk's monarchical ways. Historically, this has created a continuous tension between the two human peoples, with Northmen raids on Ffolk farmsteads a common occurrence. A large majority of the Ffolk worship a druidic goddess - the Earthmother - an aspect of the benign goddess of agriculture, Chauntea. The Northmen worship warlike deities like Tempus (god of war).
The conflict escalated into what has been termed the Darkwalker Wars, which lasted a number of years. In the start of the conflict, the Northmen and the Ffolk fought a series of battles mainly around Caer Corwell (Gwynneth). The true force behind the invasion of the Northmen was the creature known as Kazgaroth The Beast, a minion of Bhaal (god of murder). Through Bhaal's powers, Kazgaroth had taken the shape of the Northmen chieftain Grunnarch the Red. Through him, Kazgaroth initiated the invasion of Gwynneth and Caer Corwell.
En route to Caer Corwell, Kazgaroth (in Grunnarch's shape) challenged and killed the Leviathan, which was one of the children of the goddess Earthmother. Around the town and fortress of Caer Corwell, the Northmen were halted by the combined forces of Prince Tristan Kendrick and his companions.
In year that past, the conflict between the Northlanders and the Ffolk waned due to the hard work of the High King Tristan Kendrick and later through his daughter, High Queen Alicia Kendrick. Through their queen's work for peaceful solutions to arguments between the Northlanders and the Ffolk, the Moonshaes enjoyed several decades of relative peace. By 1479, the direct confrontation between the Northmen and the Ffolfk has transformed into an awkward form of tolerance, as the two have learned to share the islands. This is, in part, due to the problems both cultures have been having on their home islands.

Eladrin domination of Gwynneth

In the Year of Risen Elfkin, 1375 DR, the Fey city of Karador rose from the waters of the Myrloch on the Island of Gwynneth. The leShay High Lady Ordalf proclaimed herself queen of the Island, giving it the name of Sarifal. The human kingdom of Corwell, and its capital Caer Corwell fell into ruins.
By the year 1479, the Isle of Gwynneth has become deeply connected to the feywild. In the northern forests of the island, Prince Araithe, fights against dark fey who seek to take the land for themselves. High King Derid seeks to establish an embassy, but can not find a way to secure Lady Ordalf’s permission.

Type

Archipelago