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The Dessarin Valley, also known as the Gateway to the North by its residents, was a valley region situated between the Sword Mountains and the High Forest.[2] It was home to a diverse range of folk, although most inhabitants were either humans or halflings. The main industry of the Dessarin Valley was agriculture,[6] and Goldenfields played a large part in the agricultural economy of the North.[7]

The Dessarin was unlike the rest of the Savage Frontier. While it was largely unsettled, comprising many scattered, remote villages and farmsteads, the valley was much safer than the surrounding area had been in years past.[8][6]

Geography[]

The region of the Dessarin Valley was bordered on the east by the High Forest and the Forlorn Hills, and on the west by the Long Road.[6]

Geographical Features[]

Mountains and hills
Rivers and streams

The valley was named for the great River Dessarin, that flowed from the Evermoors in the Savage Frontier, to the Sea of Swords just south of Waterdeep.[2] It was fed by a number of tributaries, including the River Surbrin, Horn Stream, and Gaustar's Creek.[1]

Wetlands

History[]

In −4420 DR, the shield dwarf kingdom of Besilmer was founded. Besilmer was a very atypical dwarf kingdom, built above ground with fields and pastures to support it. For years, Besilmer flourished but then fell under attack by giants and trolls. This led to the construction of Tyar-Besil, an underground city. Besilmer fell a century after its construction. Ruins from the kingdom still stood as late as the 15th century DR, most notably the Stone Bridge that spanned the Dessarin River; and, although in poor condition, the ruins known as the Halls of the Hunting Axe.[10]

In the Year of the Raised Sword, 893 DR, the Knights of the Silver Horn discovered the ruins of Tyar-Besil. The knights set up strongholds in the ruins but came under attack by Uruth Ukrypt. This led to Dessarin Valley being dragged into the Orcfastings War, and the First and Second Trollwars. By the Year of the Circling Vulture, 942 DR, all signs of human civilization had been wiped out.[10]

Around the Year of the Wailing Winds, 1000 DR, following the expansion of Waterdeep, a few small villages started to develop. This led to the founding of Red Larch, Yartar, and Triboar.[10]

Notable Locations[]

Settlements[]

Thorps
  • Bargewright Inn: Though it began as a single boarding house, this settlement grew large enough to be targeted by the Zhentarim and fall under their sway.[11]
Villages
  • Amphail: The village of Amphail was well known for the quality horses that were bred within.[11]
  • Beliard: This delightful little village served as a marketplace for cattle ranchers from the surrounding areas.[5]
  • Calling Horns: Like several settlements found throughout the North, Calling Horns grew from a single building to a thriving community.[12]
  • Longsaddle: Home to the famed Harpell family, this small village fell under the protection of the Lords' Alliance.[13]
  • Noanar's Hold: The isolated village on the edge of the High Forest was located within the region patrolled by the undead Hunt Lords.[14]
  • Red Larch: This way-stop settlement was located on the Long Road, a ways north of Waterdeep.[15]
  • Westbridge: The town that housed the charming Harvest Inn, was so named for its location to the west of Stone Bridge.[16]
Towns
  • Goldenfields: Also known as the "Granary of the North", this massive temple-farm provided food for many settlements in the North.[5]
  • Mornbryn's Shield: Located on the western edge of the Evermoors,[17] this town was forced to regularly defend itself from the creatures of the swamp.[18]
  • Triboar: This bustling crossroads town was the meeting place for many merchants that traveled along the Long Road or the Evermoor Way.[19]
  • Womford: This small village featured a mill, a marketplace and riverside docks.[20]
  • Xantharl's Keep: Named after a famous ranger of the North, this fortified village fell under the authority of the northern city of Mirabar.[20]
Cities
  • Yartar: The member-city of the Lords' Alliance,[3] was the commercial center of the region.[21]
Other

Landmarks[]

Abbeys, Monasteries and Temples
Scarletmoonhall

The building of Scarlet Moon Hall.

Keeps and Towers
Ranches and farms
  • Anderil Farm: This farm was run by the half-elf Selwyn and his wife Maygan.[27]
  • Dellmon Ranch: The Dellmon farm was quite successful and its namesake family were well known throughout the region.[28]
  • Nettlebee Ranch: The Nettlebee clan of halflings raised cattle, sheep and ponies on their quaint little ranch.[29]
Ruins
Bridges
  • Ilikur's Bridge: This grand bridge spanned a stretch of wetlands along the Long Roach, between the Sword Mountains and Dessarin Hills.[1]
  • Ironford: The surrounding village of Womford grew around this bridge, which crossed the Dessarin River at the Iron Road.[30]
  • Stone Bridge: The great stone archway that crossed the Dessarin once connected two regions of the dwarven realm of Besilmer.[31]
  • Zundbridge: While not as remarkable as the valley's other bridges, Zundbridge allowed for crossing of the Dessarin just south of Waterdeep.[32]
Roads
Cairn RoadDessarin RoadEvermoor WayJundar's PassIron RoadKheldell PathLarch PathLong RoadStone Trail

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Further Reading[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 32. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 74. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 115. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  4. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 137. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 33. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 81. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  7. Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  8. Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 18. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  9. Ed Greenwood (May 2003). “Elminster's Guide to the Realms: The Haunted Bridge”. In Jesse Decker ed. Dragon #307 (Paizo Publishing, LLC), p. 56.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 19. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 31. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  12. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  13. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  14. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 101. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  15. Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 79. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
  16. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 113. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  17. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 99. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  18. 18.0 18.1 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 100. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  19. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 53. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 114. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  21. Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  22. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 89. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  23. Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 36. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 34. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  25. Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 172. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  26. Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  27. Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 164. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  28. Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 165. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  29. Richard Baker, et al. (April 2015). Princes of the Apocalypse. Edited by Michele Carter, Stacy Janssen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 168. ISBN 978-0-7869-6578-6.
  30. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 46. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  31. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 109. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  32. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 50. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
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