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The Dragonspine Mountains, also referred to simply as the Dragonspines, was a range of peaks in the western Moonsea of North Faerûn,[2] that divided the region into two separate halves.[3]

Description[]

While not the largest peaks of the Realms, the Dragonspines were a series of rough crags that were extremely difficult to traverse. They were wracked with frigid temperatures that turned away all but the most experienced travelers.[3]

Those that dared to brave the peaks could find themselves with great rewards however, as they were rich with natural resources,[3] including a wealth ore,[4] such as black granite.[5]

Geography[]

The mountains were bordered on the northern side by the vast steppes known as the Ride, and to the west by the Border Forest.[6] Nestled along its southern slopes were the Ticklebelly Hills, and beyond them the Grass Sea.[1][7]

Two trails snaked through the mountains south from the Citadel of the Raven, the Teshpost Trail down to Teshwave, and the Zhentilar Trail all the way south to Zhentil Keep.[8]

Geographical Features[]

Notable peaks in the range included mounts Launt, Ombaddor, Horgrymborr,[1] Throndor,[9] Tesh,[10] and the caves of Skondarr beneath it,[11] as well as Eastwall, the mountain that loomed over the entire Moonsea.[12]

Situated among the higher altitudes of the Dragonspines was the Glacier of the Silver Blades. Runoff water in the mountain formed two major rivers in the mountains; the western Stoneshoulder Creek flowed north into Lake Maltorus,[1] and the Stojanow river in the east ran southeast towards Phlan before emptying into the Moonsea lake.[6]

The Lords of Zhentil Keep had mines in the western half of the range,[13] while Melvaunt and Hillsfar had mines in the eastern half.[2] Deep with the mounts was a network of caverns and subterranean passageways, remnants of the ancient dwarven realm of Sarphil.[9] Located somewhere within the mountains was one of the Dragon's Claw portals, a portal network maintained by the dragon wizard Valraxaxath.[14]

Trade[]

The eastern slopes of the Dragonspines held a passage to the Underdark, that facilitated slave trade between the Zhentarim and the drow.[15][16]

History[]

The Treaty of the Ride was signed at a peace accord held within the foothills of the Dragonspines in the Year of the Plough, 906 DR.[17]

In the Year of the Harp, 1355 DR, the group of Zhentarim-hating freedom fighters known as the Knights of the North formed in the foothills of the mountains. For over a decade they led raids against Zhent forces until they grew to greater prominence.[18]

Notable Locations[]

Inhabitants[]

As of the 14th century, red, white, and at least one pair of copper dragons were known to lair in the higher peaks,[2][25] along with other aerial creatures such as dire hawks,[26] and hippogriffs.[27]

Goblins, orcs, and giants filled the lower areas and valleys,[2] that latter of which were occasionally enslaved by the dragons of the peaks.[28]

Notable Inhabitants[]

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Brian R. James and Matt James (September 2009). “Monument of the Ancients”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dungeon #170 (Wizards of the Coast) (170)., p. 56.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 159. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Darrin Drader, Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds, Wil Upchurch (June 2006). Mysteries of the Moonsea. Edited by John Thompson, Gary Sarli. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 122. ISBN 978-0-7869-3915-2.
  4. Kevin Melka, John Terra (March 1995). “Campaign Book”. In Julia Martin ed. Ruins of Zhentil Keep (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 0-7869-0109-8.
  5. Darrin Drader, Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds, Wil Upchurch (June 2006). Mysteries of the Moonsea. Edited by John Thompson, Gary Sarli. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 126. ISBN 978-0-7869-3915-2.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Map included in Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  7. Chris Tulach (2015/03/01). Pool of Radiance Resurgent (DDEX1-13) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Tyranny of Dragons (Wizards of the Coast), p. 33.
  8. Map included in Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised). (TSR, Inc). ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
  9. 9.0 9.1 Ed Greenwood (October 1990). Dwarves Deep. (TSR, Inc.), p. 60. ISBN 0-88038-880-3.
  10. Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), p. 6. ISBN 978-0880388573.
  11. Ed Greenwood (January 2002). “Elminster's Guide to the Realms: The Skondarr”. In Jesse Decker ed. Dragon #291 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 80.
  12. Ed Greenwood (October 1990). Dwarves Deep. (TSR, Inc.), p. 63. ISBN 0-88038-880-3.
  13. Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn. Edited by Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
  14. Robert Wiese (2002-05-22). “The Dragons' Claw Portals: The Dragonspine Mountains Portal”. Perilous Gateways. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2006-07-08. Retrieved on 2021-04-28.
  15. Kevin Melka, John Terra (March 1995). “Campaign Book”. In Julia Martin ed. Ruins of Zhentil Keep (TSR, Inc.), p. 40. ISBN 0-7869-0109-8.
  16. Kevin Melka, John Terra (March 1995). “Campaign Book”. In Julia Martin ed. Ruins of Zhentil Keep (TSR, Inc.), p. 45. ISBN 0-7869-0109-8.
  17. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 110. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  18. Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds (Nov. 2005). Champions of Valor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 93. ISBN 0-7869-3697-5.
  19. Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 160. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  20. Ed Greenwood, Julia Martin, Jeff Grubb (1993). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2nd edition (revised), A Grand Tour of the Realms. (TSR, Inc), p. 65. ISBN 1-5607-6617-4.
  21. Darrin Drader, Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds, Wil Upchurch (June 2006). Mysteries of the Moonsea. Edited by John Thompson, Gary Sarli. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 154. ISBN 978-0-7869-3915-2.
  22. Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  23. Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 246. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  24. Jobe Bittman (2014-08-29). The Courting of Fire (DDEX1-5) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Tyranny of Dragons (Wizards of the Coast), p. 5.
  25. Nigel Findley, et al. (October 1990). Draconomicon. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 0-8803-8876-5.
  26. Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds (Nov. 2005). Champions of Valor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 119. ISBN 0-7869-3697-5.
  27. James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Explorer's Manual”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), p. 7. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
  28. Darrin Drader, Thomas M. Reid, Sean K. Reynolds, Wil Upchurch (June 2006). Mysteries of the Moonsea. Edited by John Thompson, Gary Sarli. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 132. ISBN 978-0-7869-3915-2.
  29. Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 152. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
  30. Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 158. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.
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