NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Faerûn

Faerûn is a fictional continent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. Faerûn is one of at least three continents on the world, known as Toril (more formally, "Abeir-Toril"), the others including Kara-Tur (original setting of the D&D Oriental Adventures campaign setting), and Maztica, home of a tribal, Aztec-like civilization. The subterranean regions underneath Faerûn is the Underdark. Description: This is a flatbed scan of the book cover for Unapproachable East, a Forgotten Realms source book from Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ... Description: This is a flatbed scan of the book cover for Unapproachable East, a Forgotten Realms source book from Wizards of the Coast, Inc. ... The Three Graces, here in a painting by Sandro Botticelli, were the goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility in Greek mythology. ... Dymaxion map by Buckminster Fuller shows land mass with minimal distortion as only one continuous continent A continent (Latin continere, to hold together) is a large continuous land mass. ... The original Dungeons & Dragons set Dungeons & Dragons (abbreviated as D&D or DnD) is a fantasy role-playing game (RPG) published by Gary Gygax and David Arneson in January 1974. ... The Forgotten Realms is a fictional setting created by author and game designer Ed Greenwood for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. ... Categories: Forgotten Realms | Fictional planets | Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings | Game stubs ... This articles content is specific to the fictional setting known as Forgotten Realms. ... This articles content is specific to the fictional setting known as Forgotten Realms. ... Maztica, called by its inhabitants The True World, is a fictional continent, set on a world Toril of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for RPG Dungeons & Dragons. ... The Underdark, a fictional region, is the vast network of underground caverns and tunnels underneath the continent of Faerûn in the Forgotten Realms setting of Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. ...

Economically and technologically, Faerûn is comparable to western Europe during the late middle ages. Gunpowder is starting to make an appearance, but much of the armanent is still dominated by swords, spears, bows, and the like. Most of the population consists of farmers, organized somewhat loosely in a semi-feudal system. There are also a number of notable cities, and trade between nations is common, comparable to the Renaissance era. Likewise there are regions where more barbaric tribes and customs still persist. Economics (deriving from the Greek words οίκω [oeko], house, and νέμω [nemo], distribute) is the social science that studies the allocation of scarce resources through measurable variables. ... Technology ( Gr. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Gunpowder is a substance which burns very rapidly and is used as a propellant in firearms. ... A sword (from Old English sweord; akin to Old High German swerd lit. ... A spear is an ancient weapon, used for hunting and war. ... The word bow has several meanings and two pronunciations, depending on meaning: Rhymes with low A kind of weapon; see bow (weapon). ... Farmer spreading grasshopper bait in his alfalfa field. ... Feudalism comes from the Late Latin word feudum, itself borrowed from a Germanic root *fehu, a commonly used term in the Middle Ages which means fief, or land held under certain obligations by feodati. ... A city is an urban area, differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or legal status. ... The Wikipedia community considers the subject of this article to the encyclopedia. ... A nation is an imagined community of people created by a national ideology, to which certain norms and behavior are usually attributed. ... By Region: Italian Renaissance Northern Renaissance -French Renaissance -German Renaissance -English Renaissance The Renaissance was an influential cultural movement which brought about a period of scientific revolution and artistic transformation, at the dawn of modern European history. ...

The great equalizer in this setting is the presence of magic. This is subdivided into divine and arcane, with the former empowered by a god in one of the Pantheons or nature, and the latter by peculiar rituals or innate abilities which manipulate the Weave, the source of magical energies. There are many shades of gray in this mixture, with the societies containing both good-natured magic practitioners and those with a decidedly evil bent. Magic: The Gathering. ... The deepest visible-light image of the universe, the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. ...

Faerûn is also home to a number of non-human creatures that can be highly civilized (or barbaric) in their own right, in some cases more so than the humans. Among these are several different races of dwarves, gnome, halflings and elves, as well as goblins, orcs, lizardmen, ogres, various giants, and even dragons. In Norse mythology, fairy tales, and sword and sorcery fiction and role-playing games, a dwarf is a sprite, a member of a humanoid race, much like humans, but generally living underground or in mountainous areas. ... Lawn Gnome A gnome is a mythical creature characterized by small stature and living underground. ... Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkiens hobbit and is a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. ... An artists rendition of an elf, as a peaceful woodland humanoid. ... A goblin is an evil or mischievous creature of folklore, often described as a grotesquely disfigured, elf-like phantom. ... Orc (sometimes spelled Ork) comes from the Latin word Orcus, a title of the god Pluto, the king of the underworld. ... Reptilian humanoids are a recurring theme in mythology, fiction, and especially science fiction, fringe theories, and conspiracy theories. ... This article is about the mythical creature. ... For other meanings of the word giant, see Giant (disambiguation) Giants are humanoid creatures of prodigious size and strength, a type of legendary monster that appear in the tales of many different races and cultures. ... The term dragon, according to context, may be referring to: Dragons of ancient mythology Chinese dragon, mythical creature European dragon, mythical creature Persian dragon (Azhi Dahaka) Living things named after ancient dragons Komodo Dragon (Varanus komodoensis), a big lizard (a reptile) Some small species of lizards in Australia, in the...

Contents

Geography

The continent includes terrain that is as varied as Europe, western Asia, and much of Africa is on our planet Earth. Besides the exterior coastline to the west and south, the most dominant feature on the continent is the Sea of Fallen Stars. This is an irregular inland sea that keeps the interior lands fertile and serves as a major trade route for many of the bordering nations. World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... World map showing location of Asia A satellite composite image of Asia Asia is the central and eastern part of the continent of Eurasia, defined by subtracting the European peninsula from Eurasia. ... World map showing location of Africa A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Asia. ... Earth, also known as the Earth or Terra, is the third planet outward from the Sun. ...

Next in significance is the Shaar, a broad region of grasslands in the south that, together with the Lake of Steam, separates the area around the inland sea from the coastal nations at the southern edge of the continent. To the east, Faerûn is bordered by a vast regions of steppe from Kara-Tur, and in the north are massive glaciers and tundra. South of the continent, separated by the Great Sea, is the tropical land of Zakhara. The steppe of Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, steppe (from Slavic step) is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally reckoned as being dominated by tall grasses, while short grasses are said... This articles content is specific to the fictional setting known as Forgotten Realms. ...

The continent includes the following geographic and political regions:

Northwest — A region of wilderness, difficult winter weather, orc hordes, and barbarian tribes, this region is generally referred to as "The North". It is a mostly-untamed region that lies between the large Anauroch desert in the east and the expansive Sea of Swords to the west. This area contains the High Forest, Icewind Dale, Savage Frontier, Silver Marches, Sword Coast, and the port city of Waterdeep. This area is one of the most popular regions for role-playing campaigns set in Faerûn, and has been the setting for a number of popular computer role-playing games.

North — This region stretches from the wide Anauroch desert in the west to the eastern edge of the inland Moonsea, in the northern region of the continent. It is a region of contrasts, with the forested Dalelands, the wastes of Anauroch, the coastline of the Moonsea, The Vast, and the bitterly cold steppes of The Ride.

Northeast — This remote area begins in the cold, forbidding lands along the great ice sheets and continues south toward the northeastern shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars. It is bordered on the west by the mountain-hemmed land of Vaasa and stretches east to the vast steppes of the Hordelands. This region also contains Damara, the Great Dale, Impiltur, Narfell, Rashemen, and Thesk.

West — This region includes the nations south of Waterdeep and north of the Shining Sea, that border along the Sea of Swords. The west includes Amn, Calimshan, Evereska, Lantan, the Moonshae islands, Nimbral, Tethyr, and the Western Heartlands. It also includes the multitude of islands that lie to the west in the vast ocean called the Trackless Sea, collectively named the Nelanther islands. The closely-linked nations of Amn, Tethyr, and Calimshan have been collectively termed the "Lands of Intrigue" in the campaign setting publications.

Interior — With the exception of the Shining Plains, these lands lie along the irregular coastline of the western Sea of Fallen Stars. In the north the Dragonmere arm of the sea extends far to the west, ending close to the Western Heartlands. To the south, the Vilhon Reach forms a second arm leading to the southwest. The notable areas within this region include Chondath, Cormyr, the Dragon Coast, Hlondeth, the Pirate Isles, Sembia, Sespech, Turmish, and the Shining Plains.

East — Most of the nations in this region border the eastern expanses of the Sea of Fallen Stars. Here the sea forms a long arm that travels to the east before turning south to become the Alamber Sea. The northern nations of this mysterious area are termed the "Unapproachable East" and the southern nations the "Old Empires" in campaign setting publications. This region includes Aglarond, Altumbel, Chessenta, Chondalwood, Mulhorand, Murghöm, Thay, and Unther. Many of these nations allow slavery, and depend on slaves for much of their economy.

Southwest — This region lies along the great Chultan peninsula that juts out toward the west. The waters to the north are named the Shining Sea, a body bounded by Calisham to the north and joined to the Lake of Steam through the Straits of Storm. To the south of the land is the Great Sea. Located in this area are Chult, Lapaliiya, Samarach, Tashalar, and Thindol.

South — This land lies to the south of the regions around the Sea of Fallen Stars, being somewhat isolated by the Lake of Steam in the west, and the vast length of the Shaar. It is bordered along the south by the Great Sea; to the west by the Chultan peninsula region, and in the east by Luiren. The south includes the Border Kingdoms, Dambrath, the Great Rift, Halrauaa, the Lake of Steam, and The Shaar.

Southeast — These lands lie to the south and east of the grassy plains known as the Shaar, along the shores of the Great Sea opposite the land of Zakhara. The region includes the lands of Durpar, Estagund, Luiren, Var the Golden, and Veldorn.

Underdark — The immense complex of caverns and passages that lie beneath many parts of the continent of Faerûn — it contains cities of drow including the infamous Menzoberranzan and the ruins of Ched Nasad, as well as Maerdrimydra, Llurth Dreir and Sshamath; cities of duergar such as Gracklstugh and Dunnspeirrin; and almost unpronounceable cities of kuo-toa, illithids, and beholders.

Faerûn is a fictional continent in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting world of Forgotten Realms. ... Icewind Dale is the arctic region of the fictional world of the Forgotten Realms, along the northernmost part of the Sword Coast. ... The Silver Marches, in the fictional Forgotten Realms world of Dungeons and Dragons, is a region and political entity in Faerûn. ... Categories: Stub | Forgotten Realms ... This articles content is specific to the fictional setting known as Forgotten Realms. ... Computer role-playing games (CRPGs), often shortened to simply role-playing games (RPGs), are a type of video or computer game that traditionally use gameplay elements found in paper-and-pencil role-playing games. ... Faerûn is a fictional continent in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting world of Forgotten Realms. ... Faerûn is a fictional continent in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting world of Forgotten Realms. ... Faerûn is a fictional continent in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting world of Forgotten Realms. ... Faerûn is a fictional continent in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting world of Forgotten Realms. ... Faerûn is a fictional continent in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting world of Forgotten Realms. ... Faerûn is a fictional continent in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting world of Forgotten Realms. ... Faerûn is a fictional continent in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting world of Forgotten Realms. ... Faerûn is a fictional continent in the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting world of Forgotten Realms. ... The Underdark, a fictional region, is the vast network of underground caverns and tunnels underneath the continent of Faerûn in the Forgotten Realms setting of Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. ... Drow (pronounced: ) are a species of elf in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. ... Menzoberranzan is a fictional city in the world of Forgotten Realms, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. ... In Norse mythology, Duergar or Dvergar is the name of Dwarfs. ... In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Kuo-toa are a debased humanoid fish-like race that dwell in the Underdark. ... In the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, illithids (also known as mind flayers) are semi-humanoid beings with an octopus-like head with psychic powers that often live in moist caverns and underground cities. ... In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the beholder is a fictional monster comprised of a levitating spheroid body with a large fanged mouth and single eye on the front and ten flexible eyestalks on the top; it was once described as a big eye with a bunch of...

History

Timeline of Faerûn

This is a timeline compiled from official Forgotten Realms sources, and is a history of what takes place on the fictional continent of Faerûn, which is a campaign setting for the game Dungeons and Dragons. ...

Notable Characters

The following individuals figure prominently in the lore of Faerûn, particularly in Forgotten Realms novels. The List of Forgotten Realms novels is a listing of the many works of fantasy fiction that are based in the role-playing game setting of the Forgotten Realms. ...

Artemis Entreri is an assassin from the Forgotten Realms fictional world of Dungeons and Dragons, creation of author R.A. Salvatore. ... Bruenor in battle In the Forgotten Realms setting, based on the Dungeons & Dragons RPG, Bruenor Battlehammer is the dwarven adoptive father of Catti_brie and Wulfgar, King of Mithral Hall, Friend of Drizzt and Regis, and crafter of Aegis-fang. ... Cattie-Brie is a fictional character in the Forgotten Realms setting, based on the Dungeons & Dragons RPG. She is the creation of author R.A. Salvatore. ... Drizzt, as imagined in the campaign setting book. ... Elminster, the Sage of Shadowdale, is a powerful wizard in the Forgotten Realms, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. ... Drizzt and Guenhwyvar, from the cover of Homeland In the fictional universe of Forgotten Realms, Guenhwyvar is a magical black panther from the Astral Plane. ... Khelben Blackstaff Arunsun Khelben Blackstaff Arunsun, Lord Mage of Waterdeep, is a fictional character of the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, brainchild of Forgotten Realms creator Ed Greenwood and Realms game designer Steven Schend. ... Regis the halfling from the Forgotten Realms is a major character in R. A. Salvatores series of novels detailing the adventures of the drow ranger Drizzt DoUrden. ... Volothamp Geddarm - Volo for short - is arguably one of the two most lasting fictional characters created by Ed Greenwood for the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, along with Elminster. ... Wulfgar, from the cover of The Spine of the World Wulfgar is the Barbarian hero of Icewind Dale in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, and one of the Companions of the Hall along with Drizzt DoUrden, Cattie-Brie, Regis the halfling, and Bruenor Battlehammer. ...

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History

Notable Characters

See also

Geography