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T O P I C    R E V I E W
Senbar Flay Posted - 31 May 2005 : 03:29:52
Hello fellow scribes!
Just wondering over here if there is anywhere I can find lore on
Sossal geography'culture'rulers etc. And I was wondering is it on the map of Faerun given with the FRCS? I can't find it.Is it the northernmost nation?
30   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
Wooly Rupert Posted - 14 Nov 2016 : 17:10:22
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas

Yes, Queen Icehottie.... because no matter where they are, all realmsian royalty must dress as scantily clad vixens... even in the frozen tundra.



And Azoun IV did not really have the legs to make the vixen garb work. He really tried, though.
sleyvas Posted - 14 Nov 2016 : 13:38:54
Yes, Queen Icehottie.... because no matter where they are, all realmsian royalty must dress as scantily clad vixens... even in the frozen tundra.
Markustay Posted - 13 Nov 2016 : 22:26:34
I went looking for just such a list years ago - never found one, and had to figure-out each abbr. myself.

I forgot about this project - too bad it petered-out (like so many good FR projects have done). I guess I'll have to reference this thread whenever I get to this region for re-mapping (not for quite awhile).

I picture Sossal as a cross between Russia (ancient to modern) and Frigia from Mongo (Flash Gordon), ruled by 'Queen Icehottie'.

Tell me you can't picture THIS going on on the Great Glacier.

EDIT:
Just thought of something peculiar - I have to wonder why the Twilight Giants trilogy wasn't set in Sossal, rather then having it set in some non-FR tableau that had to be retconed-into the far north. I guess he couldn't be bothered with rewriting it to fit FR (because NO-ONE can convince me it was written with FR in mind).

And now looking at even the title in hindsight, I can't help but laugh when I think of 'shiny giants'.

Who will Brianna choose - 'Team Travis' or 'Team Lanaxis'? LMAO
Gary Dallison Posted - 13 Nov 2016 : 18:52:58
Races of faerun most likely. A great resource often over looked
Vivian Galad Posted - 13 Nov 2016 : 18:24:01
quote:
Originally posted by coach

a little late to the scroll but Sossal info coming up:

VI. SOSSAL
A. Locales/Cities
1. The Ice Kingdom of Dareth [vanished dwarven realm] (FR11 p54-55) (DD p116)
a. Mountains of Dareth (FR11 p54-55) (DD p116)
b. Hoarfaern [white dragon realm w/ bestial servants] (DD p116) (FR11 p54-55) (RoF p34)
c. Mt. Sundabar (FR11 p55)
d. The Aerie of the Snow Eagles [on Mt Sundabar] (DD p116) (RoF p31) (PGtF p21) (DotR p35)
e. Dareth citadel [ruins] (FR11 p55)
f. Heroes’ Height (FR11 p55)
2. Naupau [trade city on Great Ice Sea] (Horde vol.1 p15, vol.2 p88)
a. Sossarhim [name given to humans who live here] (Horde vol.2 p88)
b. Empire of Raumathar extended here (Horde vol.1 p19) (Horde Ancient Empire map) (RoF p99)
3. Sundice (FR11 p64)
4. Hoarbridge (FR11 p54)
5. Ushar Mountains (GG map)
6. Ironspring Grove (Ruin p2)
a. Sacred druid grove in Western Sossal (Ruin p2)
B. Factions/NPCs
1. Winged Father Aquilan Greatspan, [avariel] (DD p116)
2. Men of the Red Kestrel [adventuring band] (FR11 p64)
3. Eldaerim [sponsors adventurers] (FR11 p64)
4. Anothaer [mage] (FR11 p64)
a. Maintains a magical sending service to communicate with other mages across Faerun (FR11 p64)
5. Dabron Sashenstar [fighter 9] (GTotR p118)
a. Explorer and trader, believed lost to an attack by Tuigan raiders (GTotR p118)
6. Stival Chergoba [ranger of Mielekki] (Ruin p1-11, 154,196-199,248-254)
a. White dragon hunter (Ruin p1)
b. Wears bearskin cloak, has gray eyes, armor made of white dragon scales (Ruin p1)
7. Madislak Pemsk [high druid of Mielekki] [deceased] (Ruin p1, 9-11,244)
a. Leader of coven of 13 druids, stooped old man, blotchy skin, bald, ratty brown robe (Ruin p9-11)
b. Killed by Zethrindor, a white dracolich (Ruin)
8. Natali Dormetsk [female archer] (Ruin p154,222,248-254)
a. Owl wildshape ability (Ruin p154,222)
b. Stress in battle sometimes makes features of her wildshape appear (Ruin p222)
9. Gant [warrior] (Ruin p232-233)
C. Geography/Climate
1. Mountains of Dareth (DD p116) (FR11 p54-55)
a. Divide the Great Glacier from the Great Ice Sea (FR11 p54)
b. Hoarfaern in northern part of range (FR11 p55)
c. Also called the Peaks of Cold Death to humans because of white dragons (FR11 p55)
2. Mt. Sundabar [in Dareth range] (FR11 p55)
a. Named after dwarven city from where the dwarven rescuers originated (FR11 p55)
b. Dareth citadel [ruins] (FR11 p55)
c. Aerie of the Snow Eagles (DD p116) (RoF p31 has in Icerim Mountains) (DotR p35)
d. Miniature jungle environment inside with a tropical clime (RoF p31-34) (DD p116)
3. Heroes’ Height (FR11 p55)
4. Armridge (FR11 p55)
5. Icerim Mountains (PGtF p28) (UE p17-18,130,189)
6. Rumored ‘warm’ lands surrounded by volcanoes can be found far north of the Icerim Mountains (UE p189)
7. Great Ice Sea forms eastern border (UE p189) (Horde) (FRA p7)
a. Sossar Bay (GHotR p116) (FRA p7)
8. Northern Lights (Ruin p1)
a. Green and purple lights seen in northern skies (Ruin p1)
9. Either shamans/druids or some other magic keep the land free of ice (GTotR p118)
D. Politics/Laws
1. White Dragons seek to destroy any threats to their realm (RoF p34)
a. Employ magical items of great force and unknown elder origin (FR11 p55)
b. Fought against dwarves in the past, humans and avariels now (FR11 p55) (DD p116) (RoF p34)
c. Sheared off the peak of Mt. Sundabar where the Dareth clan of dwarves had a citadel (FR11 p55) (DD p116)
d. Also fought a great battle with the dwarves at Heroes’ Height (FR11 p55)
2. Avariels have sent diplomats into surrounding human nations (RoF p34) (DotR p35)
3. Sossrim have good relations with Rashemen (RoF p101)
4. To Sossrim, all dragons are bad (Ruin p156-157,161)
E. Economics/Trade
1. Sossal maintains trading outposts on the Great Ice Sea (Horde vol.1 p61, vol.2 p88)
2. Naupau maintains a sizable fleet on the Great Ice Sea (Horde vol.2 p88)
a. Naupau located on Sossar Bay (FRA p7)
3. Sossal trade ships have been seen in Calimshan, their captains are suspected to know secret shipping lanes through the ice of the Great Ice Sea (Horde vol.2 p88) (FRCS p231)
4. Naupau merchants buy tin from Herlinga dwarves (Horde vol.1 54)
5. Exports: Furs, seal meat, gold, fine wooden furniture (FRCS p111)
6. Imports: Weapons, silver, meats (FRCS p111)
7. Trade takes place in foreign lands, mostly in Damara
8. Sossar furniture brings premium prices (FRCS p111)
9. Mountains of Dareth hold rich veins of metal-bearing ores (FR11 p 54)
10. Humans and Dareth dwarves traded at Hoarbridge (FR11 p54)
11. Humans hunt and cut lumber (FR11 p55)
12. Avariel glassblowing is renowned (RoF p34)
13. Sossrim traders rarely seen elsewhere in Faerun other than Vaasa, and northern reaches of Damara, Narfell, and Rashemi (RoF p108)
14. Crowberry Wine (Ruin p154)
15. Trade is somewhat stagnant due to the ever present threat of a Tuigan raid on trade caravans (GTotR p118)
F. Demographics
1. Avariels (DD p114-118) (Dragon #233 p15-22) (RoF p31-34) (PGtF p23) (DotR p35-36)
a. +4 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom (RoF p32)
b. Level adjustment +3 (RoF p32)
c. Favor transmutation and conjuration magic (RoF p33)
d. Experimenting with Divination magics to find lost or well-hidden Avariels (RoF p33)
e. Invented Wings of Flying and possibly Winged Boots (RoF p33)
f. Use glass where other races use metal, stone, and wood – have mastered glassteel (RoF p34) (DotR p35-36)
g. Ranged weaponry is preferred and mithril armor (RoF p34) usually wear no armor (DotR p35) weapons made from glass or obsidian (DotR p35)
h. Keep arrowhawks, griffons, and hippogriffs as guards of Aerie (RoF p34)
i. Languages: Common, Elven, Auran, Damaran, Draconic, Giant, Rashemi, Tuigan, Sylvan (RoF p34) (PGtF p23)
j. Feats: Artist, Education, Mind Over Body, Rapid Flight, Strong Soul, (RoF p34) Fearless (PGtF p23) Skills and proficiencies (DotR p35)
k. Creation of Glassteel (CoV p65)
l. Average 5’9” tall with 12’ to 18’ wingspans (DotR p35)
m. Wing colors - white, gray, maroon, black, speckled; Skin and eye colors are much the same as moon or gold elves; Majority have white or black hair (DotR p35)
n. In addition to normal elven abilities, avariel also have eyesight 100 times better than normal (DotR p35-36)
o. Hunted by Red Wizards of Thay and by giants for their wings (DotR p36)
2. White Dragons (DD p116) (FR11 p54-55) (UE p130,189) (Ruin p1)
3. Elves (Horde vol.2 p93-94)
4. Shield Dwarves [red-bearded] (Horde vol.1 p54) (UE p8)
a. Dwarven lorefinders (DotR p52-53) search for lost halls of Dareth
5. Arctic Dwarves (RoF p9-11)
a. Along the shore of the Great Ice Sea (RoF p9)
6. Humans: ethnic breakdown: Sossrim 93%, Nar 5%, Ulutian 2% (RoF p111) (GTotR p117-118) (Ruin p2)
a. Sossrim have natural druidic powers (FRCS p111) many can wildshape and do so to scout enemies (Ruin p105-106,154) very adept at camouflage in snow environment (GTotR p117)
b. Sculpt wooden furniture with their minds (FRCS p111)
c. Snow white skin, silver white hair (WaR p55) (GTotR p117) ice blue eyes, moon-blonde hair (WaP p 41,42) (RoF p108) (GTotR p117) (Ruin p2,160)
d. Wear polar bear furs with intact head as a headcover (WaR p55) (Ruin p1) dress in all white clothing (GTotR p117) (Ruin p160) some wear white dragonscale armor (Ruin p161)
e. Businesslike, direct and to-the-point demeanor (WaR p56)
f. Fanatically hate white dragons, and don’t consider any dragons “good” (WaP p42) (Ruin p156-157,161) been at war with white dragons for as long as anyone can remember (Ruin p2) most attacks ever in 1373 (Ruin p2)
g. Marry and have children at young age (WaP p43)
h. Vulnerable to heat/fire based attacks (WaP p44)
i. Dialect of common called Skaevrym, and speak Damaran (FRCS p85) (RoF p108,111)
j. Use Dethek alphabet (RoF p108,111)
k. Complete adaptation to arctic environment (RoF p108)
j. Height and weight (PGtF p32)
7. Drow are rumored to inhabit the underdark below the Icerim Mountains (UE p8)
G. Flora/Fauna/Monsters
1. Sosser [horse breed] (Horde – loose stat sheet) (CoV p156)
a. Resistant to cold environs (CoV p156)
2. Ghost Rothe (FRCS p314)
3. High Rothe (FRCS p314)
4. Giant Eagles (RoF p34)
a. Allies of Avariel – inhabit same places (RoF p34)
5. Taer (PGtF p28,30) (UE p9,14-15,41, 72-74,130,189)
a. Bands of taer found in Icerim Mountains (PGtF p28) (UE p14-15,41, 72- 74,130,189)
b. Automatic Languages [Icerim taer]: Common,Giant; Bonus: Auran, Damaran, Dwarven, Rashemi, Tuigan (PGtF p30) (UE p41)
c. Regional Feats [Icerim taer]: Battle Jump, Bullheaded, Survivor (PGtF p30) (UE p41,42)
d. Favored class: Barbarian, some druids and rangers (UE p9,41)
e. Attributes: +4 Str, +2 Con, -4 Int, -2 Cha (UE p9)
6. Frost Giants inhabit the Icerim Mountains (UE p48,130,189)
7. Frost worms [Icerim Mountains] (UE p130,189)
8. Encounter tables for the Icerim Mountains (UE p91)
9. Mar-zhugal [demon/troll hybrid] [Icerim] (UE p79,91,116)
10. Ice Trolls [Icerim] (UE p78-79,91)
11. Fell Trolls [Icerim] (UE p77-78,91)
12. Bheur [ice hag] [Icerim] (UE p91)
13. Thomil [Icerim] (UE p91)
14. Blue-leaf Tree (Ruin p3)
H. Dieties/Temples
1. Aerdrie Faenya (DD p114-118) (RoF p31-34) (PGtF p23) (DDaD p10) (Ruin p201)
a. The Aerie of the Snow Eagles (DD p116) (RoF p31)
b. Led for 500 years by Aguilan Greatspan [fighter/cleric/divine disciple/hierophant 4/12/5/1] (DD p116) (RoF p31)
c. Avariel are deeply religious (RoF p33)
d. Sacred animals are tressrym, birds, and swarms (DDaD p10)
e. Sacred monsters are aarakocras, aasimar, air elementals, androsphinxes, avoral celestials, cloud giants, djinn, griffons, hippogriffs, lammasus, lillends, pegasi, pixies, silver dragons, and storm giants (DDaD p10)
f. Sacred gems/precious metals are hornbill ivory, sapphire and turquoise (DDaD p10)
g. Sacred color is sky blue (DDaD p10)
h. Other manifestations are strong winds, rainshowers, and storms (DDaD p10)
2. Auril (RoF p108) (PGtF p30) (DDaD p10)
a. Sossrim worship a benign aspect (RoF p108)
b. Taer (PGtF p30) (UE p14-15)
3. Loviatar (PGtF p30)
a. Taer (PGtF p30) (UE p14-15)
4. Taer also worship deities from the giant pantheon: Grolantor and Thrym (UE p14- 15)
5. Mielekki (Ruin p5,9-11,108)
a. Worshipped by the druids and rangers of Sossal (Ruin p5,9-11)
6. Lathander (Ruin p185)
a. Sossrim honor Lathander (Ruin p185)
I. Classes
1. Wizards (WaR p54-56)
a. Uses nature as energy souce (WaR p56)
b. Shapechangers (WaR p56)
c. Vulnerable to fire/heat damage (WaR p56)
d. Any armor they wear is painted white (WaP p42)
e. Camoflauge themselves by dropping in snow (WaR p54-56) (WaP p43)
2. Fighters (WaP p41-44) can affect weather on a large scale, cursed Sossal with a fierce premature winter preceding the War in 1373 (Ruin p106)
a. Unparalleled in arctic survival and cold-weather combat (WaP p41)
b. Muscular build (WaP p42)
c. Slow to laugh, slow to trust – “As cold as the snow that hides them” (WaP p42)
d. Cold-hearted pragmatists (WaP p42)
e. Bonuses to any roll involving cold or dragons (WaP p43)
f. Have natural “pass without trace” ability (WaP p43)
g. Must slay a white dragon to become a respected warrior (WaP p44)
3. Fighters, rangers, bladesingers, wizards, multi-class clerics and Clerics [avariels] (RoF p31-34)
4. Runecasters [frost giant] (UE p48)
5. Druids (Ruin p1-11,108)
a. Groups of druids called ‘covens’ in Sossal (Ruin p1)
b. Ironspring Grove one location of worship in Western Sossal (Ruin p2)
c. Druidic worship dominates divine classes in Sossal (Ruin p195)
d. Druidic promises: “Swear by the oak and the unicorn’s horn” (Ruin p238) “By the unicorn” (Ruin p248)
6. Clerics (Ruin p195)
a. Rare (Ruin p195)
7. Rogues [Lorefinders, dwarven] (DotR p52-53)
J. Canon Plots/Adventures
1. Auril vs. Aerdrie Faenya (DD p114)
2. Finding ancient Dareth dwarven metalwork artifacts (FR11 p54-55,64) (DotR p52)
3. Discover the reasons that the Ice Kingdom vanished (FR11 p54-55)
a. War with the white dragon realm Hoarfaern (FR11 p54-55) (DD p116)
b. Traded with Sossrim for years then one spring “came no more” (FR11 p54-55)
4. Finding ancient Dareth mines (FR11 p54-55) (DotR p52-53)
5. White dragons at war with Avariels
K. Miscellaneous
1. Marriage is matrilineal (Ed Greenwood post on candlekeep.com)
2. Sossrim is given name of people who reside in Sossal (Poly #74, Greenwood)
3. Sossar is given name of items that are made in Sossal (Poly #74, Greenwood)
4. Great Ice Sea [also called Yal Tengri] (Horde) (UE p189)
a. Forms eastern border of Sossal (Horde)
5. Sossrim perform “mercy killings” on injured and infirmed (WaP p42)
6. Rumors of skyships (Dragon #124 p.18-20)
7. First King of Dareth was Orloebar Snowbeard (FR11 p54)
8. Embryn Shatteredshield - King at the Dareth citadel on Mt Sundabar (FR11 p55)
9. Ice Kingdom of Dareth was founded 4000 years ago, settled by dwarves from Mulhorand and Unther (FR11 p54)
10. Dareth clan – “Sign of the Realm” rune is a row of three mountain peaks with a stone hammer, head to the right, horizontal above them, almost unknown today (FR11 p55)
11. Dareth dwarven metalworks are of exquisite design (FR11 p64)
12. Sossrim mercenaries fought in the armies of Mulhorand during the Orcgate Wars (RoF p108)
13. Briefly fell under Raumathar sway at height of its empire but mainly been isolated and independent (RoF p108)
14. Sossrim fought a war against the Ice Queen and an army of white dragons in 1373 (Ruin p1-11, 105-111, 154-161,192-199,203-210,220-253)



Where do I find a key to those products listed? FR11, ok, but Rof can´t figure it out. Nice research, by the way.
Razz Posted - 05 Dec 2015 : 16:08:32
Which isn't much from what we know in previous editions. Which is almost next to nothing about Sossal. I am all for leaving a DM to flesh out a realm, but at least give a couple pages of info to work with. There's just a blip, not even a skeleton, to work with for Sossal.

Whenever they let Ed do his Realms articles, I wish he were to do something much more broad like a "Sossal Overview" as opposed to how Westgate makes glass windows or some minor noble family has *gasp* a secret they hold or guard.
pedro2112 Posted - 28 Nov 2015 : 04:49:34
According to the SCAG that was just released about a month ago, there are no drastic changes made to Sossal in 5th Edition. As with most things, they leave a lot of what happened in the post sundering Realms up to each indvidual DM.
George Krashos Posted - 12 May 2010 : 06:42:16
I'm happy to lend a hand with the history/back story.

-- George Krashos
coach Posted - 11 May 2010 : 21:50:09
i was planning on building a Cold Lands sourcebook based on the 3.5 timeline in the area and also patterning it like other regional sourcebooks with a heavy lean towards lore with maybe a campaign adventure at the end to tie it all together

i'd be happy to collaborate

my main goal was to "Realmsify" the region since Damara/Vaasa aren't really part of the original Faerun
Jakk Posted - 11 May 2010 : 05:43:36
quote:
Originally posted by coach

no Jakk, i'm about done with my outline, then hope to have a rough draft done by end of summer

it isn't a Sossal project only, it is Cold Lands, with Sossal as one of the Chapters (along with Damara, Vaasa, Narfell, Great Glacier, and the underdark under that region)

i am going to make it 3.5ed because i have been working on it for years and the massive changes for 4e in this area just would ruin 90% of my work if i added them



I didn't even know you had a full-blown project in the works, coach... I knew that MarkusTay and George Krashos were working on something at various points, however, as evidenced earlier and later in this scroll... you may want to share your thoughts with them and see if the three of you can come up with something consistent and that much more detailed... detail... mmm...

Just an idea, mind you... GK? MT? Your thoughts on a collaborative project?
Jakk Posted - 11 May 2010 : 05:39:08
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos

Well, as experience shows, timelines are a bit like invading Russia.


Doomed to failure as winter sets in?



I had an analysis of this, rather amusing actually, but too RW for my liking... so instead, I'll just point out that the comparison is equally appropriate to invading Sossal...
The Sage Posted - 11 May 2010 : 05:07:08
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos

Well, as experience shows, timelines are a bit like invading Russia.


Doomed to failure as winter sets in?

Well, winter *is* coming for us soon anyway, so...
Wooly Rupert Posted - 11 May 2010 : 04:48:31
quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos

Well, as experience shows, timelines are a bit like invading Russia.


Doomed to failure as winter sets in?
George Krashos Posted - 11 May 2010 : 00:13:14
quote:
Originally posted by Jakk

No worries, GK; any ideas on a timeline for completion? I'm only asking because it really has been a sadly neglected corner of the Realms; otherwise I wouldn't be so persistent, or I'd just make something up myself.



Well, as experience shows, timelines are a bit like invading Russia. You start on a few narrow fronts and then are forced to funnel out into more and more territory. In addition, unlike the North, I have far less source documentation to work with in providing anchor points for dates and events.

So the answer to your question is: "not soon enough". I haven't done much to it in a while. I'll see what this weekend might conjure.

-- George Krashos
coach Posted - 10 May 2010 : 19:59:57
quote:
Originally posted by Cleric Generic

ooo... Underdark under the Great Glacier, that should be interesting. >:)



actually it also will include the underdark under the rest of the countries too
Jakk Posted - 10 May 2010 : 08:55:38
No worries, GK; any ideas on a timeline for completion? I'm only asking because it really has been a sadly neglected corner of the Realms; otherwise I wouldn't be so persistent, or I'd just make something up myself.
George Krashos Posted - 10 May 2010 : 06:35:33
I can say that my Sossal "project" was placed well and truly on the back burner by my Impiltur work which continues on a haphazard basis when I get a spare moment to put a few thoughts on paper or on my HD. I usually start with the history, and have an "unfinished" East Timeline, quite a bit of which made its way into GHotR. So basically, other than the few references I put into GHotR at WotC's request, at the moment I've got nothing in particular to share with you. Sorry about that!

-- George Krashos
Cleric Generic Posted - 10 May 2010 : 01:29:53
ooo... Underdark under the Great Glacier, that should be interesting. >:)
coach Posted - 10 May 2010 : 01:05:52
no Jakk, i'm about done with my outline, then hope to have a rough draft done by end of summer

it isn't a Sossal project only, it is Cold Lands, with Sossal as one of the Chapters (along with Damara, Vaasa, Narfell, Great Glacier, and the underdark under that region)

i am going to make it 3.5ed because i have been working on it for years and the massive changes for 4e in this area just would ruin 90% of my work if i added them
Jakk Posted - 09 May 2010 : 22:25:14
Awesome work on the source compilation, coach; I'm just getting back into exploring the far north again now thanks to the excellent Great Glacier/Sossal map by our scribe HandsomeRob, and I was looking for published (and unpublished) lore on the region.

GK: Did you get that Sossal project you were talking about back on the first page of this scroll finished up? If so, where might we find it?

MT: Same question for you.
The Sage Posted - 01 May 2010 : 01:29:58
quote:
Originally posted by coach

Even though Sossal is lumped in the Cold Lands with Damara/Vaasa, it isn't shoehorned in like those two were, i believe it is in Ed's original Faerun
That's about the jist of it... yes.
coach Posted - 30 Apr 2010 : 18:37:32
Even though Sossal is lumped in the Cold Lands with Damara/Vaasa, it isn't shoehorned in like those two were, i believe it is in Ed's original Faerun

i also seem to remember it being one of those places not given alot of love by published material so it could be the DMs option to use as they deem
Cleric Generic Posted - 30 Apr 2010 : 08:24:39
Yeah, it's not really mentioned in the 4e FRCG, but it's popped up in a couple of places so far. One being the article Sage just mentioned, the other being in Dungeon 177 where a little bit of Pelvuria get's mapped out in the Vaasa article.
The Sage Posted - 30 Apr 2010 : 01:40:33
quote:
Originally posted by Razz

Is Sossal non-existent in post-Spellplague Faerun? If so, why would it be against NDA for Ed, or whoever "has the know" on what officially was supposed to be Sossal, for them to speak about it now? I doubt WotC will ever make use of it, sort of like how the authors of Tome of Horrors received permission to make that book with monsters WotC most likely would never reproduce.

I'd say Sossal still exists.

From DRAGON #367 "Hall of the Frostmaiden" by Brian James:-
quote:
Some observe that it appears to mirror the terrain and species found in Pelvuria or Sossal—the wintry lands of Auril’s Teeth in northern Faerûn.
This particular section would seem to suggest that Sossal is still existent in the post-Spellplague Realms.
Razz Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 23:38:38
Is Sossal non-existent in post-Spellplague Faerun? If so, why would it be against NDA for Ed, or whoever "has the know" on what officially was supposed to be Sossal, for them to speak about it now? I doubt WotC will ever make use of it, sort of like how the authors of Tome of Horrors received permission to make that book with monsters WotC most likely would never reproduce.
Markustay Posted - 29 Apr 2010 : 19:37:14
Excellent compilation, and I got your mails

coach Posted - 18 Apr 2010 : 22:49:37
sorry about the loss of indentation above, my outline is indented but when i copy paste it loses it

if any mod has a quick fix feel free to adjust
coach Posted - 18 Apr 2010 : 22:43:29
a little late to the scroll but Sossal info coming up:

VI. SOSSAL
A. Locales/Cities
1. The Ice Kingdom of Dareth [vanished dwarven realm] (FR11 p54-55) (DD p116)
a. Mountains of Dareth (FR11 p54-55) (DD p116)
b. Hoarfaern [white dragon realm w/ bestial servants] (DD p116) (FR11 p54-55) (RoF p34)
c. Mt. Sundabar (FR11 p55)
d. The Aerie of the Snow Eagles [on Mt Sundabar] (DD p116) (RoF p31) (PGtF p21) (DotR p35)
e. Dareth citadel [ruins] (FR11 p55)
f. Heroes’ Height (FR11 p55)
2. Naupau [trade city on Great Ice Sea] (Horde vol.1 p15, vol.2 p88)
a. Sossarhim [name given to humans who live here] (Horde vol.2 p88)
b. Empire of Raumathar extended here (Horde vol.1 p19) (Horde Ancient Empire map) (RoF p99)
3. Sundice (FR11 p64)
4. Hoarbridge (FR11 p54)
5. Ushar Mountains (GG map)
6. Ironspring Grove (Ruin p2)
a. Sacred druid grove in Western Sossal (Ruin p2)
B. Factions/NPCs
1. Winged Father Aquilan Greatspan, [avariel] (DD p116)
2. Men of the Red Kestrel [adventuring band] (FR11 p64)
3. Eldaerim [sponsors adventurers] (FR11 p64)
4. Anothaer [mage] (FR11 p64)
a. Maintains a magical sending service to communicate with other mages across Faerun (FR11 p64)
5. Dabron Sashenstar [fighter 9] (GTotR p118)
a. Explorer and trader, believed lost to an attack by Tuigan raiders (GTotR p118)
6. Stival Chergoba [ranger of Mielekki] (Ruin p1-11, 154,196-199,248-254)
a. White dragon hunter (Ruin p1)
b. Wears bearskin cloak, has gray eyes, armor made of white dragon scales (Ruin p1)
7. Madislak Pemsk [high druid of Mielekki] [deceased] (Ruin p1, 9-11,244)
a. Leader of coven of 13 druids, stooped old man, blotchy skin, bald, ratty brown robe (Ruin p9-11)
b. Killed by Zethrindor, a white dracolich (Ruin)
8. Natali Dormetsk [female archer] (Ruin p154,222,248-254)
a. Owl wildshape ability (Ruin p154,222)
b. Stress in battle sometimes makes features of her wildshape appear (Ruin p222)
9. Gant [warrior] (Ruin p232-233)
C. Geography/Climate
1. Mountains of Dareth (DD p116) (FR11 p54-55)
a. Divide the Great Glacier from the Great Ice Sea (FR11 p54)
b. Hoarfaern in northern part of range (FR11 p55)
c. Also called the Peaks of Cold Death to humans because of white dragons (FR11 p55)
2. Mt. Sundabar [in Dareth range] (FR11 p55)
a. Named after dwarven city from where the dwarven rescuers originated (FR11 p55)
b. Dareth citadel [ruins] (FR11 p55)
c. Aerie of the Snow Eagles (DD p116) (RoF p31 has in Icerim Mountains) (DotR p35)
d. Miniature jungle environment inside with a tropical clime (RoF p31-34) (DD p116)
3. Heroes’ Height (FR11 p55)
4. Armridge (FR11 p55)
5. Icerim Mountains (PGtF p28) (UE p17-18,130,189)
6. Rumored ‘warm’ lands surrounded by volcanoes can be found far north of the Icerim Mountains (UE p189)
7. Great Ice Sea forms eastern border (UE p189) (Horde) (FRA p7)
a. Sossar Bay (GHotR p116) (FRA p7)
8. Northern Lights (Ruin p1)
a. Green and purple lights seen in northern skies (Ruin p1)
9. Either shamans/druids or some other magic keep the land free of ice (GTotR p118)
D. Politics/Laws
1. White Dragons seek to destroy any threats to their realm (RoF p34)
a. Employ magical items of great force and unknown elder origin (FR11 p55)
b. Fought against dwarves in the past, humans and avariels now (FR11 p55) (DD p116) (RoF p34)
c. Sheared off the peak of Mt. Sundabar where the Dareth clan of dwarves had a citadel (FR11 p55) (DD p116)
d. Also fought a great battle with the dwarves at Heroes’ Height (FR11 p55)
2. Avariels have sent diplomats into surrounding human nations (RoF p34) (DotR p35)
3. Sossrim have good relations with Rashemen (RoF p101)
4. To Sossrim, all dragons are bad (Ruin p156-157,161)
E. Economics/Trade
1. Sossal maintains trading outposts on the Great Ice Sea (Horde vol.1 p61, vol.2 p88)
2. Naupau maintains a sizable fleet on the Great Ice Sea (Horde vol.2 p88)
a. Naupau located on Sossar Bay (FRA p7)
3. Sossal trade ships have been seen in Calimshan, their captains are suspected to know secret shipping lanes through the ice of the Great Ice Sea (Horde vol.2 p88) (FRCS p231)
4. Naupau merchants buy tin from Herlinga dwarves (Horde vol.1 54)
5. Exports: Furs, seal meat, gold, fine wooden furniture (FRCS p111)
6. Imports: Weapons, silver, meats (FRCS p111)
7. Trade takes place in foreign lands, mostly in Damara
8. Sossar furniture brings premium prices (FRCS p111)
9. Mountains of Dareth hold rich veins of metal-bearing ores (FR11 p 54)
10. Humans and Dareth dwarves traded at Hoarbridge (FR11 p54)
11. Humans hunt and cut lumber (FR11 p55)
12. Avariel glassblowing is renowned (RoF p34)
13. Sossrim traders rarely seen elsewhere in Faerun other than Vaasa, and northern reaches of Damara, Narfell, and Rashemi (RoF p108)
14. Crowberry Wine (Ruin p154)
15. Trade is somewhat stagnant due to the ever present threat of a Tuigan raid on trade caravans (GTotR p118)
F. Demographics
1. Avariels (DD p114-118) (Dragon #233 p15-22) (RoF p31-34) (PGtF p23) (DotR p35-36)
a. +4 Dexterity, -2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom (RoF p32)
b. Level adjustment +3 (RoF p32)
c. Favor transmutation and conjuration magic (RoF p33)
d. Experimenting with Divination magics to find lost or well-hidden Avariels (RoF p33)
e. Invented Wings of Flying and possibly Winged Boots (RoF p33)
f. Use glass where other races use metal, stone, and wood – have mastered glassteel (RoF p34) (DotR p35-36)
g. Ranged weaponry is preferred and mithril armor (RoF p34) usually wear no armor (DotR p35) weapons made from glass or obsidian (DotR p35)
h. Keep arrowhawks, griffons, and hippogriffs as guards of Aerie (RoF p34)
i. Languages: Common, Elven, Auran, Damaran, Draconic, Giant, Rashemi, Tuigan, Sylvan (RoF p34) (PGtF p23)
j. Feats: Artist, Education, Mind Over Body, Rapid Flight, Strong Soul, (RoF p34) Fearless (PGtF p23) Skills and proficiencies (DotR p35)
k. Creation of Glassteel (CoV p65)
l. Average 5’9” tall with 12’ to 18’ wingspans (DotR p35)
m. Wing colors - white, gray, maroon, black, speckled; Skin and eye colors are much the same as moon or gold elves; Majority have white or black hair (DotR p35)
n. In addition to normal elven abilities, avariel also have eyesight 100 times better than normal (DotR p35-36)
o. Hunted by Red Wizards of Thay and by giants for their wings (DotR p36)
2. White Dragons (DD p116) (FR11 p54-55) (UE p130,189) (Ruin p1)
3. Elves (Horde vol.2 p93-94)
4. Shield Dwarves [red-bearded] (Horde vol.1 p54) (UE p8)
a. Dwarven lorefinders (DotR p52-53) search for lost halls of Dareth
5. Arctic Dwarves (RoF p9-11)
a. Along the shore of the Great Ice Sea (RoF p9)
6. Humans: ethnic breakdown: Sossrim 93%, Nar 5%, Ulutian 2% (RoF p111) (GTotR p117-118) (Ruin p2)
a. Sossrim have natural druidic powers (FRCS p111) many can wildshape and do so to scout enemies (Ruin p105-106,154) very adept at camouflage in snow environment (GTotR p117)
b. Sculpt wooden furniture with their minds (FRCS p111)
c. Snow white skin, silver white hair (WaR p55) (GTotR p117) ice blue eyes, moon-blonde hair (WaP p 41,42) (RoF p108) (GTotR p117) (Ruin p2,160)
d. Wear polar bear furs with intact head as a headcover (WaR p55) (Ruin p1) dress in all white clothing (GTotR p117) (Ruin p160) some wear white dragonscale armor (Ruin p161)
e. Businesslike, direct and to-the-point demeanor (WaR p56)
f. Fanatically hate white dragons, and don’t consider any dragons “good” (WaP p42) (Ruin p156-157,161) been at war with white dragons for as long as anyone can remember (Ruin p2) most attacks ever in 1373 (Ruin p2)
g. Marry and have children at young age (WaP p43)
h. Vulnerable to heat/fire based attacks (WaP p44)
i. Dialect of common called Skaevrym, and speak Damaran (FRCS p85) (RoF p108,111)
j. Use Dethek alphabet (RoF p108,111)
k. Complete adaptation to arctic environment (RoF p108)
j. Height and weight (PGtF p32)
7. Drow are rumored to inhabit the underdark below the Icerim Mountains (UE p8)
G. Flora/Fauna/Monsters
1. Sosser [horse breed] (Horde – loose stat sheet) (CoV p156)
a. Resistant to cold environs (CoV p156)
2. Ghost Rothe (FRCS p314)
3. High Rothe (FRCS p314)
4. Giant Eagles (RoF p34)
a. Allies of Avariel – inhabit same places (RoF p34)
5. Taer (PGtF p28,30) (UE p9,14-15,41, 72-74,130,189)
a. Bands of taer found in Icerim Mountains (PGtF p28) (UE p14-15,41, 72- 74,130,189)
b. Automatic Languages [Icerim taer]: Common,Giant; Bonus: Auran, Damaran, Dwarven, Rashemi, Tuigan (PGtF p30) (UE p41)
c. Regional Feats [Icerim taer]: Battle Jump, Bullheaded, Survivor (PGtF p30) (UE p41,42)
d. Favored class: Barbarian, some druids and rangers (UE p9,41)
e. Attributes: +4 Str, +2 Con, -4 Int, -2 Cha (UE p9)
6. Frost Giants inhabit the Icerim Mountains (UE p48,130,189)
7. Frost worms [Icerim Mountains] (UE p130,189)
8. Encounter tables for the Icerim Mountains (UE p91)
9. Mar-zhugal [demon/troll hybrid] [Icerim] (UE p79,91,116)
10. Ice Trolls [Icerim] (UE p78-79,91)
11. Fell Trolls [Icerim] (UE p77-78,91)
12. Bheur [ice hag] [Icerim] (UE p91)
13. Thomil [Icerim] (UE p91)
14. Blue-leaf Tree (Ruin p3)
H. Dieties/Temples
1. Aerdrie Faenya (DD p114-118) (RoF p31-34) (PGtF p23) (DDaD p10) (Ruin p201)
a. The Aerie of the Snow Eagles (DD p116) (RoF p31)
b. Led for 500 years by Aguilan Greatspan [fighter/cleric/divine disciple/hierophant 4/12/5/1] (DD p116) (RoF p31)
c. Avariel are deeply religious (RoF p33)
d. Sacred animals are tressrym, birds, and swarms (DDaD p10)
e. Sacred monsters are aarakocras, aasimar, air elementals, androsphinxes, avoral celestials, cloud giants, djinn, griffons, hippogriffs, lammasus, lillends, pegasi, pixies, silver dragons, and storm giants (DDaD p10)
f. Sacred gems/precious metals are hornbill ivory, sapphire and turquoise (DDaD p10)
g. Sacred color is sky blue (DDaD p10)
h. Other manifestations are strong winds, rainshowers, and storms (DDaD p10)
2. Auril (RoF p108) (PGtF p30) (DDaD p10)
a. Sossrim worship a benign aspect (RoF p108)
b. Taer (PGtF p30) (UE p14-15)
3. Loviatar (PGtF p30)
a. Taer (PGtF p30) (UE p14-15)
4. Taer also worship deities from the giant pantheon: Grolantor and Thrym (UE p14- 15)
5. Mielekki (Ruin p5,9-11,108)
a. Worshipped by the druids and rangers of Sossal (Ruin p5,9-11)
6. Lathander (Ruin p185)
a. Sossrim honor Lathander (Ruin p185)
I. Classes
1. Wizards (WaR p54-56)
a. Uses nature as energy souce (WaR p56)
b. Shapechangers (WaR p56)
c. Vulnerable to fire/heat damage (WaR p56)
d. Any armor they wear is painted white (WaP p42)
e. Camoflauge themselves by dropping in snow (WaR p54-56) (WaP p43)
2. Fighters (WaP p41-44) can affect weather on a large scale, cursed Sossal with a fierce premature winter preceding the War in 1373 (Ruin p106)
a. Unparalleled in arctic survival and cold-weather combat (WaP p41)
b. Muscular build (WaP p42)
c. Slow to laugh, slow to trust – “As cold as the snow that hides them” (WaP p42)
d. Cold-hearted pragmatists (WaP p42)
e. Bonuses to any roll involving cold or dragons (WaP p43)
f. Have natural “pass without trace” ability (WaP p43)
g. Must slay a white dragon to become a respected warrior (WaP p44)
3. Fighters, rangers, bladesingers, wizards, multi-class clerics and Clerics [avariels] (RoF p31-34)
4. Runecasters [frost giant] (UE p48)
5. Druids (Ruin p1-11,108)
a. Groups of druids called ‘covens’ in Sossal (Ruin p1)
b. Ironspring Grove one location of worship in Western Sossal (Ruin p2)
c. Druidic worship dominates divine classes in Sossal (Ruin p195)
d. Druidic promises: “Swear by the oak and the unicorn’s horn” (Ruin p238) “By the unicorn” (Ruin p248)
6. Clerics (Ruin p195)
a. Rare (Ruin p195)
7. Rogues [Lorefinders, dwarven] (DotR p52-53)
J. Canon Plots/Adventures
1. Auril vs. Aerdrie Faenya (DD p114)
2. Finding ancient Dareth dwarven metalwork artifacts (FR11 p54-55,64) (DotR p52)
3. Discover the reasons that the Ice Kingdom vanished (FR11 p54-55)
a. War with the white dragon realm Hoarfaern (FR11 p54-55) (DD p116)
b. Traded with Sossrim for years then one spring “came no more” (FR11 p54-55)
4. Finding ancient Dareth mines (FR11 p54-55) (DotR p52-53)
5. White dragons at war with Avariels
K. Miscellaneous
1. Marriage is matrilineal (Ed Greenwood post on candlekeep.com)
2. Sossrim is given name of people who reside in Sossal (Poly #74, Greenwood)
3. Sossar is given name of items that are made in Sossal (Poly #74, Greenwood)
4. Great Ice Sea [also called Yal Tengri] (Horde) (UE p189)
a. Forms eastern border of Sossal (Horde)
5. Sossrim perform “mercy killings” on injured and infirmed (WaP p42)
6. Rumors of skyships (Dragon #124 p.18-20)
7. First King of Dareth was Orloebar Snowbeard (FR11 p54)
8. Embryn Shatteredshield - King at the Dareth citadel on Mt Sundabar (FR11 p55)
9. Ice Kingdom of Dareth was founded 4000 years ago, settled by dwarves from Mulhorand and Unther (FR11 p54)
10. Dareth clan – “Sign of the Realm” rune is a row of three mountain peaks with a stone hammer, head to the right, horizontal above them, almost unknown today (FR11 p55)
11. Dareth dwarven metalworks are of exquisite design (FR11 p64)
12. Sossrim mercenaries fought in the armies of Mulhorand during the Orcgate Wars (RoF p108)
13. Briefly fell under Raumathar sway at height of its empire but mainly been isolated and independent (RoF p108)
14. Sossrim fought a war against the Ice Queen and an army of white dragons in 1373 (Ruin p1-11, 105-111, 154-161,192-199,203-210,220-253)
Markustay Posted - 21 Oct 2008 : 05:00:07
It will be eventually.

When Lord Karsus (Dagnirion) began it awhile back, he had a lot of help writing, but slowly all that help 'dried-up', and now he is stuck finishing the articles himself, and compiling them all into a decent pdf.

I, myself, am one of those 'guilty parties'.

You just reminded me... I have something I'm working on for my Hordelands project that can probably also be used in HIS Netbook....

I just need to finish Frostfell first (There's some Sossal lore in there, as well
Jakk Posted - 18 Oct 2008 : 21:15:07
quote:
Originally posted by Markustay

quote:
Originally posted by Arravis

1356 DR: The Year of the Worm. Dabron Sashenstar charts a passage through the Novularond Peaks to Sossal. He also discovers the tower of the long-dead mage Caddelyn. Dabron Sashenstar charts a passage through the Novularond Peaks to Sossal. He also discovers the tower of the long-dead mage Caddelyn and returns to Baldur's Gate with the Hauberk of Sossal.

If you can track down wherever the Elven Netbook (AKA Elves of Faerûn) is hiding these days, I mention Mr. Sashenstar's exploits in my Mythical Snow Elves piece, which I've been told is one of my best.

I also mention Wulfgar and Prince Amluiral, so it's a fun little story.

Non-canonical, and very little to do with Sossal, but it's still a tie-in to what little Sossal lore we have.



Is the Elven Netbook available anywhere as a single-file download? Although I suppose that if it were, it would defeat the purpose of it being a netbook, wouldn't it?

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