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AndrewD2
Acolyte
2 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 15:14:01
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Hi, I'm looking for information on the Dragon Coast. Could anyone point me in the direction of books and such that may have information on them.
Also I'm looking for information on the Church of Bahamut in Faerun.
Thanks in advance,
Andrew
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 16:36:35
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There's not to much information on the Dragon Coast. If you could get hold of the old Forgotten Realms adventures book for 2ed. it has a few settlements detailed. The city of Westgate is further detailed in the Cloak and Dagger settlement for 2ed.
There's also some information in different novels and some tidbits spread through other products through the years. |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 21 Jan 2007 : 18:04:07
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| Ed also gave us details about the Purple Lady tavern in Westgate in his replies, since I was going to use that tavern for something that I never got around to finishing. I should finish that. Sigh. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31701 Posts |
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 07:11:54
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I cast Raise Dead on this thread instead of making a new one.
I was in a Fantasy Grounds-fueled game last night. First time as a player in 15 years - kind of a shame the DM waited until I had eight minutes left of my alloted time before my character met the party 
Anyway, it was set on the Dragon Coast and it made me realize that this is an area I haven't researched much, and doesn't have much info on it (except for the sources already mentioned above-thread; however, if there has been more lore published since then, feel free to say so).
It made me wonder a little bit about the geography - or rather, the flora and fauna - of the Dragon Coast. Am I supposed to be thinking of the Dragon Coast as northern Africa in terms of climate, flora, fauna? According to the DM last night, there were lions about, and the party had to fight off a large pack of hyenas - both animals I associate with Africa (albeit not northern Africa). I know the Shining Plains are lion-y, but are there lions all the way up to the Sea of Fallen Stars? Around the road between Teziir and Westgate?
Just curious :) |
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Cyrinishad
Learned Scribe
300 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 19:41:45
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Well, although the Dragon Coast is a bit north of Chessenta, Mulhorand, and Unther, those areas probably would have Lions & Hyenas. So, he may be making his own mental connection that anything on the Southern side of the Sea of Fallen Stars is fair game for African-style wildlife...
However, it's also worth noting that Lions were in Europe until around 300 BC. So, I wouldn't consider them to be necessarily out of place, in a more temperate climate.
Hyenas were also in Europe, but were extinct there prior to the rise of human civiliaztion... However, since Gnolls exist to the North of the Moonsea in Faerun... I wouldn't consider Hyenas to be out of place along the Dragon Coast either. |
To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge. -Socrates
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. -Dr. Seuss |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6353 Posts |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 19:58:20
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Piqued my interest, dazzler.
Do any of Erin M. Evans books go in the direction of the Dragon Coast? |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 20:16:37
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quote:
Originally posted by dazzlerdal
I'm not sure where the wemics come from but I suspect it is something to do with magical tinkering from the Shoon or Netherese (or both).
The Shaar (pre Spellplague) was the only place I had heard of wemics occurring naturally. |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 20:16:47
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Thanks for all the interesting replies!
Yeah I was thinking northern africa primarily because of the Shining Plains. In fact it never hit me that the southern shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars would be / could be north Africa-like.
While playing it just occured to me that I knew little of the area, and that there is very little information about the area, but that goes for most anything south and east of said Sea of Fallen Stars.
There's so little..."local color", if you will - what kind of architecture, what kind of people, what kind of cultures?
When I read the Teziir adventure in "Pirates of the fallen stars" Teziir sounds like a generic city that could just as well have been a port in Sembia, or on the Moonsea. |
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Rymac
Learned Scribe
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 20:17:26
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| Other bits of lore you can draw upon are the 2e Realms specific class kit books Warriors and Priests of the Realms and Wizards and Rogues of the Realms. From those sources you definitely get the feeling that the Dragon Coast is rife with corruption. Not necessarily all of the corruption is evil, but in order for PCs to get things done, they would need to grease a lot of palms. It's just how I interpreted the lore, but I always got the feeling that the Dragon Coast was a region where numerous kingdoms failed to take hold, perhaps because the character of the region is one of "what's in it for me?". |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6353 Posts |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 20:24:16
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| I keep thinking some of Ed's Forging the Realms articles touched on the Dragon Coast, but no luck for me in finding one (so far). |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 21:44:29
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All right, I've been doing a little digging :)
Volo's Guide to All Things Magical:
* Stolen ward tokens - like keys for the wardmist spell, are traded in, among other places, Westgate.
* The deep black jet gemstone is the "stone of sorrow and mourning" in wealthy cities such as Westgate.
* Ardretha Laurindar, a professional slayer has posed as an evening escort in Calimport and Westgate.
* Alzurth was the king of Westgate from 1117 DR to 1162 DR; he was slain by Zelazadar the Ghost Sword.
Volo's Guide to Cormyr:
* For decades, the restaurants of Marsember were the subject of bitter, derisive jokes up and down, among other locales, the shores of the Dragon Coast
* The waters off the Dragon Coast are "choppy"
* Mushroom gravy from Kirinwood (Cormyr) is eagerly sought by restaurants up and down the Dragon Coast.
* The Dragon Coast has net-fenced bay hatcheries for fish
* The presence of warships in Suzail serves to persuade (among other maritime powers) Westgate from attacking
* Cities such as Westgate and Nimpeth vie for importance in shipping condiments to the Sword Coast lands
* Glindlar, a minstrel of Westgate, once described the Pride of Arabel as a place "for those with money to throw who want to make a show."
* There are utterdark fanciers in Westgate
* Westgate Ruby: An alcohol beverage
* Glow-in-the-dark domino masks are favored in Westgate (among other places)
* The merchant coster Cormyrean Coins uses small, fast coastboats to run cargoes to Westgate, Ilipur, Teziir
* Hanno Minstrelsong, former tief, sells herbs to caravan merchants headed for markets in, among other places, Westgate
* Rumors about a renegade priest of Waukeen who buried a temple treasury he'd stolen from Westgate in a Zundian paddock
* It seems there's a slave market in Westgate (p. 221)?
* Mellomir of Arabel single-handedly destroyed an entire Westgate family after it deemed him a foe and tried repeatedly to assassinate him.
* False rumors persist in Westgate and Sembia about the great riches Ungathros of Mistrim, a wizard, has supposedly stores in his country mansion near Marsember.
* Cormyrean commander's rings sell for a hefty price to enemies of Cormyr in Westgate (18,000 gp instead of 12,000)
* Poisoners act for Westgate
Volo's Guide to the Dalelands
* Harried city folk from Westgate think that all countryside is a bucolic paradise
* Sponsors of merchants in Westgate are harsher and poorer
* Rare and exotic spices and curios from Impiltur, Chessenta, the Tashalar and Calimshan can be found in Westgate
* Some brave adventurers, the Proud Mace band of Westgate managed to temporarily destroy the wraiths of the Barrowfield in a titanic spell battle.
* Alduvar Snowbrand, the merchant-mage who operates Jendalar's Fine Fruits in Archenbridge, thinks that Hillsfar and Westgate are itching to become even worse expansionist aggressors than Cormyr
* Westgate has agents in Archendale's armies, which Dheren Ogresbane, the Red Sword (spoiler!) tries to root out
* Rhannon Manycoats, a retired thief who runs the Hitching Post store in Essembra, was born in Westgate
* Thaliach Mindogar, the High Harvestmaster of the Bounty of the Goddess temple in Archendale, has a network that has just grown large enough to be noticed by the powerful merchants of Sembia and Westgate
* Alias from "Azure Bonds" was from Westgate
Volo's Guide to the North
* The Stone Stallion Inn sells a good, dry sparkling wine from the Dragon Coast
Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast
* Westgate and Amn have both tried to take over the Sunset Vale ("by weight of coins, not swords").
* The Free Traders of Westgate have always used many hideouts and subterfuges to smuggle goods into and out of Hill's Edge tax free.
* Some dim cellar of Torleth Mindulspeer's shop (in Gillian's Hill south of Daggerford) is rumored to hide a magical gate offering instant travel to Waterdeep, or Suzail, or Mirabar, or Westgate - or perhaps all of those places.
Volo's Guide to Waterdeep
~ Didn't find anything~
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 21:49:53
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A "little" digging?
That's an impressive summary of information. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 21:52:08
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I am allowed to quote these books like this right?
If not, holler and I'll remove the post :)
As for Warriors and Priests of the Realms, it says that Westgate is the largest and probably most powerful city on the Dragon Coast, that warriors from this city are harder to interrogate, intimidate, or coerce than other folk. Teziir has never been at war, has a vast number of religions, nothing new really. The lawlessness of the area is mentioned, and how everyone is an opportunist but not flaunting wealth or family ties.
Wizards and Rogues.. mentions that the way wizards dress in the area is "too varied to be described". Independence is mentioned here, too. Countless caravans pass through (which is weird, considering there's a coastline, but I guess these are caravans from the Western Heartlands moving toward the Dragon Coast). The book stubbornly names Teziir "Teziit". Teziir/Teziit is a fast-growing and prosperous town
The word "trade" is synonymous with Westgate - I guess Waukeen must be the most prominent deity in the area.
Pirates are "constantly harassed by the law enforcers of the Dragon Coast" (this doesn't sound like lawlessness to me)
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 21:55:24
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| Oh, wow, there's an entire appendix devoted to Westgate in Cloak & Dagger. That will be my evening read :) Have a good night/day y'all. |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 14 Sep 2015 : 22:07:09
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quote:
Originally posted by Caladan Brood
I am allowed to quote these books like this right?
Yes.
There is also an article on Westgate by Erik De Bie I on Eif the last online issues of Dragon Magazine.
http://archive.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/dragon/2013October |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
Edited by - Jeremy Grenemyer on 14 Sep 2015 22:10:06 |
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Seravin
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1266 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2015 : 03:05:33
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| The novel Masquerade is set in Westgate and has a neat map with legend of the city in 2ndE era. It's my least favorite Alias book, but I still love it! |
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2015 : 08:46:33
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I wish there was a way to get hold of that article (and other Insider articles). Now that D&D Insider no longer exists, why can't they release the material to the public? Or is it still possible to become a D&D Insider member?
I was reminded that there's a Neverwinter Nights 2 expansion on the Dragon Coast as well, Mysteries of Westgate. I recall trying it but not getting on with it; and that the game could not do justice to the scale of the city. It had a menagerie of unusual races walking about, though, which the lore supports but which still surprised me (some cognitive dissonance going on, as "my" Realms has unusual races farther in the background, more like Middle-earth perhaps). Westgate in this expansion does look, in terms of style, just like any city on the Sword Coast or the Moonsea would look - ye olde medieval town.
As each edition added more detail to the Forgotten Realms maps, it is also difficult to judge what is and what isn't on the map at any given point in the timeline (not that it matters much, as I can just mix and match anyway) - or does this mean that towns like Ilipur and Pros did not exist in 1366DR (second edition) but were built before 1372DR (third edition)? EDIT: I notice further down that some of these small settlements were actually mentioned as early as the Campaign Set.
Since this thread is all about Dragon Coast information, I'll add some more finds. My apologies for forgetting to add page numbers in the previous findings.
Book of Lairs
* A newly blazed trade route between Ormath (Shining Plains) and Westgate was wrecked by a small band of slavers (p. 57)
Calimport
* Saarkanlyth's Antaglass, an ancient full-length mirror of polished silver, was last seen in the cellars beneath the main villa building of the Lady Lanciya Dinahar of Westgate in the Year of the Bow (1354 DR). (p. 90)
Forgotten Realms Campaign Set
* The adventurer band Halfling, Inc. destroyed a gate to the Lower Realms, in Westgate (p. 19)
* The Men of the Basilisk operate in the intrigues of Westgate (among other cities) (p.20)
* Arghul was a prominent merchant "of Amn and of Westgate", and thought to be a member of the Zhentarim; he is believed to have been murdered by agents from Lantan (p. 56)
* The Bloodaxe Mercenary Company, a Dwarvish organization, has members from Westgate (p.60)
* The fees the merchant houses of Westgate demanded from the Dragoneye Dealing Coster to have the coster's cargo accompany caravans was too stiff for the coster (p. 63); kind of contradicts the "everything can be had cheaper" theme of the Dragon Coast, unless the Dragoneye Dealing Coster are really stingy
* Priapurl is a small, sleepy way-town along the Trader's Road between Iriaebor and Westgate, notable for a large keep (p.70); oh, so it *did* exist in 1st edition AD&D already
* Pros is a small lake-town, its harbor is silting up (p. 70)
* Proskur is a trading waystop (p. 70)
* Reddansyr, a small town, is the "jumping-off" spot for caravans south (p. 73)
* The leader of the Windriders Trading Coster is Torshilm Firetel, formerly of Westgate (p. 74)
* Interestingly, here Teziir is mentioned as the largest free city "on the banks of the Dragonmere", sprawling and unwalled (p. 84)
* Some info about Westgate that has been reproduced in other products; a number of merchant families/city rulers are mentioned with names, including House Dhostar, House Guldar, and House Athagdal; the Night Masks are mentioned
* Torm, the character from Ed Greenwood's campaign, is from Westgate. Torm's father was Dathguild, one of the Lords of Westgate. (p. 4)
* Brandon Battlemaster of Priapurl once forcibly removed the imprisoned mage Rhondethar Windrider from the dungeons in Westgate (p. 19)
* The veteran mercenary leader Natchim, who served the Zhentarim in Teshwave, was of Westgate (p. 23)
* In the Year of the Prince (DR1357), an internal struglle - an all out merchant's or nobles' war - erupted in Westgate (p.43)
* In the same year, merchants in Westgate were asked if any adventurers knew the whereabouts of the fabled Warrior's Crypt (p. 43)
* In the same year, the mysterious mage known only as "the firemaster" has been seen in Westgate (p. 43)
* In the same year, gemstones from the royal mines near High Horn have been smuggled into Westgate (p. 43)
* Toward the end of the same year, agents of the Red Wizards have openly slain merchants in Westgate (p. 45)
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Edited by - Caladan Brood on 15 Sep 2015 08:47:59 |
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Cyrinishad
Learned Scribe
300 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2015 : 13:38:36
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Wow, lots of great replies after I last checked this scroll!
This is almost an after-thought... Although Dazzlerdal is completely right that real-world comparisons fall short when dealing with all of the Realms-Lore in a detailed way, I have found them to be very helpful for making some broad generalizations that help get new players into the Realms with a sort of baseline expectation for an area.
When I talked to my new players about Westgate, I started by having them think of Carthage and built upon that concept as their foundation. |
To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge. -Socrates
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. -Dr. Seuss |
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Barastir
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1600 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2015 : 14:34:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Cyrinishad
Although Dazzlerdal is completely right that real-world comparisons fall short when dealing with all of the Realms-Lore in a detailed way, I have found them to be very helpful for making some broad generalizations that help get new players into the Realms with a sort of baseline expectation for an area.
Totally agreed, it helps you to give the players a sense of wonder when discovering new lands (otherwise a bit difficult for us to translate if EVERYTHING is alien to us). As for animals (and plants), different climates also should bring different creatures, and I think it's nice to have these "odd" beasts in foreign lands as part of the "I'm out of my place" feeling... My opinion, though!  |
"Goodness is not a natural state, but must be
fought for to be attained and maintained.
Lead by example.
Let your deeds speak your intentions.
Goodness radiated from the heart."
The Paladin's Virtues, excerpt from the "Quentin's Monograph"
(by Ed Greenwood) |
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader
USA
2717 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2015 : 16:14:24
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| This could easily become an all things Dragon Coast-type thread on the Sages shelf. |
Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver). |
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Lilianviaten
Senior Scribe
489 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2015 : 16:28:49
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For recent information, Troy Denning had a Sundering novel set in Marsember. The characters travel somewhere else early in the book, but you get a decent view of Marsember before they leave. Denning's next book (coming out in March) is also set in Marsember, and it involves illithids!!
Also, Shadowbane: Eye of Justice takes place in Westgate, and it really brings the city alive. I think it was post Spellplague, but pre Sundering. |
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Caladan Brood
Senior Scribe
Norway
410 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2015 : 20:43:34
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I'll repeat my question in case it got drowned out by all my throwing-around-of-lore - Is there any way to access these D&D Insider articles today for a fellow who never was a member of said D&D Insider?
As for this evening's Dragon Coast facts:
Demihuman Deities
* A temple of Ghaunadaur can be found in Westgate (p. 19)
Dwarves Deep
* Calishite slavers operate into Westgate (p. 14)
* The leaders of the Holy Hammer, a dwarven band, travel across the Realms from one dwarven settlement to another, gathering support for their causes; one of these settlements is south of Teziir, a stone plateau at the foot of Needle Peak, which overlooks the eastern end of Breakback Pass, above the Lake of Snows (p. 14)
Elminster's Ecologies I - Battle of Bones
* The quite uncommon bloodrose is cultivated by an obscure conclave of clerics near Teziir (p. 18)
Elminster's Ecologies
* It was believed that Gondegal fled to Westgate (p. 31)
Empires of the Shining Sea
* Tagar the wanderer from Westgate is used as an example (p. 54)
* Jalavaerra Ishtra is a beautiful, retired adventurer from Westgate owning an adventurer's club in Memnon (p. 114)
* The Cloak societies of Calimshan are active in Westgate (p. 174)
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Edited by - Caladan Brood on 15 Sep 2015 20:44:00 |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2015 : 21:53:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Caladan Brood
Elminster's Ecologies I - Battle of Bones
* The quite uncommon bloodrose is cultivated by an obscure conclave of clerics near Teziir (p. 18)
Lol, awesome! I wrote the page about this over on the wiki: http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Common_bloodrose |
Some people have a way with words, and other people...oh, uh, not have way. -Steve Martin
Amazon "KindleUnlimited" Free Trial: http://amzn.to/2AJ4yD2
Try Audible and Get 2 Free Audio Books! https://amzn.to/2IgBede |
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Brian R. James
Forgotten Realms Game Designer
USA
1098 Posts |
Posted - 15 Sep 2015 : 22:03:10
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Backdrop Cormyr in Dragon 365 discusses the state of the Dragon Coast in the 4E era. In particular, it details the Draeven Marauders: skulking freedom fighters resisting the Cormyrean occupation of the Dragon Coast.
The article also includes the most detailed map of the Dragon Coast to date.
http://www.wizards.com/files/365_Backdrop_Cormyr.pdf |
Brian R. James - Freelance Game Designer
Follow me on Twitter @brianrjames |
Edited by - Brian R. James on 15 Sep 2015 22:04:31 |
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Dragon Coast Information
