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The Savage Frontier was the region of northwest Faerûn north of the Delimbiyr River, excluding the Sword Coast North, the High Forest and the former nation of Luruar, also known as the Silver Marches.[1] In contrast to the civilized cities found to the south and west, the Savage Frontier comprised rural farmsteads and rough settlements of miners and loggers.[2]

It was a temperate land,[3] with rugged landscape that was rich with natural resources.[1]

Geography[]

Generally speaking the Savage Frontier comprised three greater regions: the expansive Delimbiyr Vale that encompassed its namesake river along the eastern and southern borders of the High Forest;[4][5] the Fallen Lands, which rebuffed the Anauroch desert;[6][7] and the lowlands of the Dessarin Valley, that bordered the western trees of the High Forest.[8][9]

Geographical Features[]

Bodies of Water[]

Three Rivers

The rivers Laughingflow, Dessarin and Surbrin were collectively known as the Three Rivers by locals.[10]

Forests[]

The three forests of the region were known as the Triangle of Trees.[6]

Hills and Mountains[]

Landmarks[]

  • Dawn Pass: The only pass that cut through the Graypeak Mountains received brief sunlight from the rising sun.[19]

Wetlands[]

History[]

Long before the Savage Frontier was home to barbarian tribes and farmsteaders, it was home to the great elven kingdom of Eaerlann. That realm was located in the region that was later known as the Delimbiyr Valley.[2]

In the Year of Watchful Eyes, 705 DR, the mages of the Covenant orchestrated the unity of the region's Uthgardt barbarians. The unified tribes banded together and fought against the frontier's goblinoid masses.[20]

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Inhabitants[]

Humanoids[]

The Savage Frontier was a racially diverse region. However, small towns and villages dominated by humans tend to have few if any non-humans. Most dwarves, elves, and halflings preferred to live in their own settlements, far from human-claimed lands.[21]

Elves
Sun and moon elves lived among human settlements. The wood elf tribes of the neighboring High Forest made little contact with the outside world.[22]
Halflings
Strongheart halflings in the Savage Frontier frequently had homesteads hidden off the beaten paths through the valleys. Small populations of lightfoot halflings could be found in most human-dominated settlements.[23]
Humans
There was no unified human nation in the Savage Frontier. The various towns, city-states, and roaming barbarians traded but also frequently came into conflict.[24] While any human ethnicity could have been encountered in the Savage Frontier, the majority were of Illuskan, Tethyrian, Uthgardt, and Chondathan descent.[citation needed]
  • Chondathan: Slender, tawny-skinned folk with brown hair ranging from almost blond to almost black and green or brown eyes. Those dwelling in the Savage Frontier were more likely to have blue eyes and a fair complexion. A small number of Chondathans migrated into the region from Sembia after the Year of the Watching Raven, 913 DR.[25]
  • Illuskan: Also called Northlanders or Northmen, Illuskans were typically tall, fair-skinned folk with blue or gray eyes. Those living in the Savage Frontier were prone to raven-black hair; indicating significant Netherese heritage.[26] Illuskans were considered barbarians in spite of founding the cities that would become Luskan, Neverwinter, and Waterdeep.[27]
  • Tethyrian: Tethyrians were of mixed ancestry including Calishite, Chondathan, Illuskan, and Low Netherese. They tended to be of medium height and build, with dusky hued skin, brown hair, and blue eyes. Their skintone tended to be more fair the farther north one traveled. Tethyrians emigrated to the Dessarin river valley after the Year of the Triton's Horn, 697 DR. [28]
  • Uthgardt Barbarians: The Uthgardt were a black-haired and blue-eyed folk descended from a mixture of Northmen, Netherese, and a few savage tribes. They were superstitious with a paranoid dislike of magic.[29] The Elk, Gray Wolf,[30] Griffon, and Thunderbeast tribe claimed territory in the Savage Frontier.[31]

Notable Locations[]

Settlements[]

Ancestral Mounds
Villages
Towns
  • Loudwater: The town of Loudwater remained strong and vibrant during the 15th century when so many other settlements fell to ruin.[36]
  • Triboar: Located on the crossroads where the Long Road met the Evermoor Way, Triboar was a busy merchant's town that served as the rallying place for the armies of the North.[44][45]
Cities
  • Yartar: The booming city of Yartar was well-protected to the dangers of the North.[46]

Landmarks[]

Ruins[]

Roads[]

Cairn RoadDawn Pass TrailDelimbiyr RoadDessarin RoadEvermoor WayGrayvale RunIron RoadJundar's PassLong RoadStone TrailSurbrin Trail

Appendix[]

Behind the Scenes[]

Ed Greenwood once compared the nomenclature of the "Savage Frontier" to similar naming for cities found in the western United States.[citation needed]

External Links[]

Further reading[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 168. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 169. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  3. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 4. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 63. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 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.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 62. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  7. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 83. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  8. 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.
  9. 9.0 9.1 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.
  10. Steve Kenson, et al. (November 2015). Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Edited by Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 57–58. ISBN 978-0-7869-6580-9.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 73. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  12. Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 23. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
  13. 13.0 13.1 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.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Melisande Calador (2015-04-01). Travel Talk: The Dessarin River Valley (Web). In Matt Chapman ed. Dragon+ #1. Wizards of the Coast. p. 8. Retrieved on 2019-10-14.
  15. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 96. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  16. Ed Greenwood and Jason Carl (July 2002). Silver Marches. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 25. ISBN 0-7869-2835-2.
  17. Eric L. Boyd (2006-05-03). Environs of Waterdeep (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for City of Splendors: Waterdeep. Wizards of the Coast. p. 6. Archived from the original on 2016-08-16. Retrieved on 2009-10-07.
  18. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 110. 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. 80. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  20. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  21. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  22. 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.
  23. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 68. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  24. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 14. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  25. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  26. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 92. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  27. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 15. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  28. {{Cite book/Races of Faerûn}|102}}
  29. slade, et al. (April 1996). “The Wilderness”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 16. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  30. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 66. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  31. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 67. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  32. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 84. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  33. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 76. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  34. 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.
  35. 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.
  36. 36.0 36.1 36.2 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.
  37. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 104. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  38. Wolfgang Baur, Steve Winter (August 2014). Hoard of the Dragon Queen. Edited by Miranda Horner. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 72. ISBN 978-0786965649.
  39. 39.0 39.1 Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 106. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  40. 40.0 40.1 slade, et al. (April 1996). “Cities & Civilization”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 38. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  41. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 111. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  42. Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 89. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
  43. 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.
  44. slade, et al. (April 1996). “Cities & Civilization”. In James Butler ed. The North: Guide to the Savage Frontier (TSR, Inc.), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-0391-0.
  45. 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.
  46. 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.
  47. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 128. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  48. 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.
  49. Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 48. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
  50. Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
  51. 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.
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