Gauntlgrym

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Gauntlgrym
Population	30,000
Races	Dwarves, humans

Gauntlgrym was an ancient dwarven city that fell into ruin before the memory of any living dwarves. Via the Underdark, Gauntlgrym connects with Deepearth, Nuur Throth, a long and treacherous tunnel to the Great Worm Caverns and an even longer tunnel to Shadowdale.^[1]

[edit] History

The building of the city was commissioned by the arcanist Maerin of Illusk in -335 DR. He tasked several dwarven artisans of Delzoun, including Immar Fardelver to begin construction of the subterranean city in the Crags east of Illusk. The job was completed within 4 years and Maerin invited humans from Illusk and netherese refugees from Runlatha and Sundabar as well as the Delzoun dwarves of Clan Goldspire to live in his new city.

In -111 DR Gauntlgrym and Illusk both fell due to the orc hordes descending en masse from the Spine of the World and Ice mountain ranges. The city was resettled with the aid of Highlord Narandos of Illusk in 141 DR but by 153 DR the city fell again, this time to the illithid and numerous lycanthrope thralls. The few survivors were taken in by the Gray Wolf Uthgardt tribe and the city forgotten about.

In 1357 DR the Company of the Gryphon rediscovered the city but it was still ruled by the Illithid. They spent a huge amount of money on weapons and armour in Waterdeep and went back to loot the treasures of the city, but not one of them returned, nor did any news of Gauntlgrym resurface over the next 10 years.

Only part of the city was controlled by the illithid, the rest was controlled by several wandering banshees.

The Knights of Myth Drannor discovered Gauntlgrym on one of their many adventures. It was reported that they were able to make their way through the Underdark back to Shadowdale from Gauntlgrym.^{[citation needed]}

The illithid residing there were undertaking research into cross-breeding illithid and derro. Their attempt proved successful in 1363 DR but the illithiderro or "madminds" bred too quickly for the mind flayers to control. They craved freedom as well and rebelled against their masters, hunting down and killing every single one of the mind flayers and their thralls. Since then, the madminds have spread through Gauntlgrym's lower levels like a plague, but have yet to reach the uppermost level which contains a company of bugbears, goblins and leucrottas who are led by a Baphitaur and who call themselves the Hargrath^[2].

Bruenor Battlehammer believes that Mirabar is looking for this place, but that Gandalug Battlehammer knew more than anyone about it, although he is now deceased.^[3]

[edit] References

1. ↑ slade (April 1996). The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier, p. 38. TSR, Inc. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
2. ↑ Richard Baker, Ed Bonny, Travis Stout (February 2005). Lost Empires of Faerûn, p. 143. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 0-7869-3654-1.
3. ↑ R.A. Salvatore (July 2003). The Thousand Orcs (Mass Market Paperback), p. 30. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0786929801.