Sarphil by Phasai-d2y467o

7/26/2019 Sarphil by Phasai-d2y467o

1/41

1

SRP I

LHidden Realm of The Dragons Spine

Lost Realms of Cormanthor Volume VI

Compiled, Edited & in parts written by

Snowblood


2/41

2

ContentsMap of the Hidden Empire page 3Description of the Realm page 4

History of the Realm page 5

Rulers of Sarphillar -8850 DR until 1090 DR page 30

Cities of the Dragons Spine page 31

Map of The Greater Sarphil and Earthfast Region page 39

Lost Items of the Hidden Kingdom page 40

Resources Used page 41


3/41

3

The Hidden Realm of Sarphil

sarphil


4/41

4

Description of the RealmOf old, this realm encompassed the eastern end of the Moonsea, and the mountains running

north to what is now Glister. Beset by orcs and elven resistance to surface expansion, thedwarvres of Sarphil tunnelled under what is now Mulmaster, going deep to pass under theLis. Their delves, sought by adventurers in the Mulmaster region, are called The LostWays, Dwarves of Sarphil developed special moving-stone pumps to keep the waters of theLis at bay, as they extended their underways westwards to the rocky heights north ofpresent-day Elventree.

The Scarp sought by the dwarves is today much reduced in height; the dwarves quarried itfrom the top down for its rich veins of copper. They were perhaps the purest and largestdeposits in the known North. The elves of the Elven Court resented this intrusion, and

repeatedly attacked the dwarves. Before their numbers and magic, the dwarves were forcedback. In the end they had to abandon the entire southern shore arm of Sarphil, retreatingeast and north into the mountains.

The only trace they left behind is the name of the city of Hillsfar, after Clan Hillsafar ofSarphil, principal miners of the Scarp, Clan Hillsafar can be found today in the land of Vaasa,on the other side of the Dragonspine Mountains. Sarphil was founded by NilythraNamarforge, who became its first Queen. Her son, Raulauntar, proved to be an able andastute warrior, and is said to have personally slain over 20,000 ogres, as he defended thefledgling realm against attack.

Sarphils fall is a story common to most of the other Lost Kingdoms; its warriors were toofew to hold what they had seized, and faced too many enemies. The last king of Sarphil wasDauringogh the Doomed.He disappeared in deep caverns under Mount Throndor, in theDragonspine Mountains just south and east of Glister, as duergar and drow, in a rarealliance of the depths, harried the Sarphilan warriors northwards. Sarphil never had clearborders. Its hastily-abandoned caverns, the Lost Ways and all of the many linked caves andpassages that honeycomb the Dragonspine Mountains, are said to hold enough wealth tobuy at least six kingdoms (or so the minstrels say). The Sign of the Realm was a crossed(double-ended) pick and hammer, above an anvil. It can be seen to this day cut into the

westernmost face of the Scarp, facing Hillsfar across the bay. Ed GreenwoodDwarves Deep


5/41

5

History of the Realm9000 DR

Spawn Wars: Skirmishes break out

between the eight subkingdoms of

Shanatar as each fights to extend its

borders at the expense of its neighbours.

Over time, the skirmishes evolve into

open warfare, pitting thousands of

dwarves against one another. This series

of conflicts is known as the Spawn Wars

because the dwarves make extensive use

of deepspawn-bred legions. Refugees, led

by the Hearth Guard, Nilythra Namarforge

of Clan Hillsafar, flee northward over and

under land and sea seeking a place far

away from the strife plaguing their kin.

-8850 DR

After 150 years of wandering, the

refugees emerge from the underdark near

present day Glister, having skirted theDeepmoon Sea. Spying a range of

glittering snowcapped peaks, the dwarves

settle within an ancient gallery of ancient

yet alien dwarven design. Deep within the

bowels of a mountain they name

Throndor after the giant eagles who roost

upon its lofty heights, the newly arrived

dwarves name their realm Sarphil of the

Glittering Spires, and crown lady Nilythra

Namarforge as their first queen.

8170 DR to 8150 DR

The First Spider War: The drow of

Guallidurth take advantage of the

dwarves civil war to attack the caverns of

Alatorin, which were far removed from

the front lines of fighting. Brightaxe Hall is

captured, and the kingdom of Alatorin

falls. Refugees from Altorin make theirway north eventually finding a warm

welcome within the great halls of the city

of Sarphil.

8137 DR

Second Age of Shanatar: The eight shield

dwarf tribes of Shanatar are united under

the rule of the king of Ultoksamrin. Within

150 years, trade is under way with surface

elves. Rune casters from Shanatar

establish a series portal all the way to

Mount Throndor.

8100 DR

Deep Shanatar is at its greatest expanse

beneath southwestern Faern. Trade

with Sarphil is brisk and migration north

to open new sources of iron, silver mithral

and copper is well underway. The

increased number of dwarven miners and

prospectors sees them coming intoconflict with clans of ogres belonging to

the kingdom of Faarhaschiin. Before long

all out war begins between the two

realms for control over territory and the

riches contained. The war rages non-stop

for the next 200 years with a regular influx

of warrior migrants and their families

from far off Shanatar.

-7900 DR

Queen Nilythra dies defending the gates

of Throndor from an enormous army of

ogres led by the Ogre High King. On a

battlefield south east of present day

Glister, the dwarves all but wipe out the

ogres through the use of war machines,

fire oil projectors, giant eagle riders and

sheer ferocity. Crown prince Raulauntar,

proves to be an able and astute warrior,and is said to have personally slain over


6/41

6

20,000 ogres, as he defends the fledgling

realm against attack.

7600 DR

The drow empire of Telantiwar falls with

the collapse of the great cavern of

Bhaerynden. Drow refugees claim lesser

caverns to the north, south, east and west

of the newly formed Great Rift,

establishing cities such as Llurth Dreier,

the City of Ooze.

With help from expatriate clans from

Sarphil and Shanatar the dwarves return

to their ancestral home, now the GreatRift and establish the Deep Realm. In the

millennia that follow, the Stout Folk of the

Deep Realm become known as the gold

dwarves.

-7500 DR

The last ogre stronghold is over run and

the last ogre prince put to the axe, as King

Raulauntar leads his armies to victoryturning the formerly forested lands of

Tharbator into a moor filled waste land so

as to deny the ogres a place to hide. This

wanton environmental destruction does

nothing to endear the dwarves to their

southern neighbours, the elves. With the

death of the last ogre king the Dwarves

officially proclaim the realm of Sarphil by

marking the borders of their realm.

-7340 DR

After bringing peace to the now thriving

realm of Sarphil that has seen the

establishment of settlements and mines

up and down the Spine of the Dragon,

King Raulauntar dies peacefully

surrounded by his 21 children, and 60

grand children, the clan lords elect the

renown general, Besendar Namarforge asthe next king of the ever expanding realm.

-7290 DR

The first clans of wandering drow settle

within caverns on the shores of the

Moondeep Sea, far below the Sea of

Dragons and deep beneath the passages

connecting the cities of Sarphil and Mount

Throndor. The dark elves of Tel Verinal

slowly begin exploring their surroundings

and it is not long before they discover the

thriving dwarven realm above.

-7200 DR

King Besendar and his companions

disappear whilst on route from Sarphil to

Mt Throndor, trackers find traces of drow,

a disturbing development that sends

waves of panic throughout the realm. The

new king Garntar immediately mobilises

the army and begins fortifying the

passages between the two cities.

-7000 DR

The continued discovery of highly

profitable seems of iron, copper, silver,

gold and mithral sees the establishment of

colonies by clans Hillsafar and Rolidar to

the north and south of the capital Sarphil.

Soon migrants are pouring north to newly

opened Hillsafar Hall and south to the

mithral mines of Mount Aergurl.

-6862 DR

Continued clashes between the drow of

Tel Verinal and the warriors of Sarphil

sees the dark elves establish a second,

safer citadel on a mile long island of bare

rock in the middle of the Moondeep Sea,

50 miles beneath the surface lands, the

new settlement, is named V'elddrinnsshar.The priestess of Lolth dedicate the new city to


7/41

7

the Spider Queen with the sacrifice of King

Gantar whom they kidnapped from his own

palace on the western slopes of Mount

Throndor. Enraged by the kidnapping and

murder of their king the dwarves of

Sarphil mount an expedition to wipe outtheir dark elf enemies. The new ruler,

Paladin King Elmryn Namarforge, sends

forth his troops beginning a systematic

massacre of more than 10000 dark elves

over the next 50+ years.

-6790 DR

Having battled the drow for the entire

length of his reign King Elmryn and histroops finally face the dark elves within

the great cavern of Telverell. Before the

very walls of Tel Verinal, the drow and

dwarves pit their final strengths against

each other. After 7 days of bloody and

vicious street battles the dwarves emerge

victorious as the few surviving drow flee

across the Moondeep Sea to their

holdings on V'elddrinnsshar. Their victory is

bitter sweet as at their moment of triumphthe dwarves lose their king to a drow priestess

riding a giant aquatic spider. Dwarven mining

engineers collapse all tunnels leading from the

smoking ruins of Tel Verinal sealing the city

off from the surface once and for all. King

Elmryns son, the canny battle master, Prince

Raulauntar II is chosen to lead the badly

savaged nation on its slow road to

recovery.

-6500 DR

New loads of mithral and gold are

discovered south of Mount Aergurl, this

causes an new influx of migrants from

Shanatar which in turn leads to the

establishment the mighty citadel

eventually known as Hollow Mountain.

King Raulauntar II visits the new city

dedicating it to the worship and glory of

Dumathoin.

6400 DR

King Raulauntar II and his Earls learn that

the kingdoms outlying southern holdings

are under attack, and in many cases

already over run by a massive horde of

orcs pouring north out of the southern

Earthfast Mountains. Gathering his

armies the king force marches south to

meet this ravaging menace in the foothillsat the western gates of Hollow Mountain.

Sorely over matched, King Raulauntars

15000 troops are only saved by the

sudden appearance of legions of elven

knights, spearmen and archers who

savage the orcs from the rear.

The elves of Arcorar meet the dwarves of

Sarphil on the battlefields of the Vast and

forge a tenuous alliance since the elves

save the dwarves from death at the orcs

hands. The Treaty of the Axe & Bow is

signed with great ceremony on the banks

of the Nuathlis River and almost

immediately a trade depot is established

upon the sight.

-6355 DR

King Raulauntar II dies suddenly during a

raucous feast celebrating the anniversary


8/41

8

of his peoples victory over the drow. The

king is found dead, face down in a pool of

spilled vomit and ale on the morning after

the feast in which nobles from all the

major families had gathered. The aged

king is buried with great ceremony and on

the 44th

day after his interment, the

gathered Earls crown the soft spoken,

Princess Isdlara Namarforge as the next

ruler of Sarphil.

5960 DR

Third Age of Shanatar: The dwarves of

Shanatar claim the surface lands north of

the Marching Mountains as their own,establishing the kingdom of High

Shanatar. The rune casters of Sarphil

open up an trade portal from the capital

to the new settlement and it is not long

before trade wares from the far north are

making their way into the human markets

of the deep south and vice versa. This

move make clans in both realms very, very

rich.

-5888 DR

Powerful earth quakes rock the Spine of

the Dragon and thousands of beings are

killed in collapsed caverns, mines and

halls. Amongst the dead is Queen Isdlara

and many of her nobles and their thanes,

killed when the royal audience cavern in

Sarphil collapses crushing all within. In

the aftermath, Crown Princess GwythiirNamarforge, the ruler of Throndor

becomes the 8th

ruler of the realm and

Mount Throndor becomes the new capital

whilst Sarphil is rebuilt.

5600 DR

Height of High Shanatars civilization is

realised. Several more trade portals are

opened up from Hillsafar Hall, MountAergurl and MT Suncatcher leading to

fierce trade rivalries amongst the various

clan halls and holdings.

-5490 DR

In response to increasing demand from

the elves, Queen Gwythir orders the

building of a trade tunnel and port on the

shores of Galenaar, at the eastern end of

the Dragon Sea, thus allowing direct trade

between the realms of Arcorar and the

burgeoning realm of Sarphil.

-5479 DR

The dwarves of Sarphil discover the hard

way that their mortal enemies the

Duergar have established themselves in

the disused mines below old Sarphil

Citadel. An angry horde of grey dwarves

and their goblin slaves boil out of long

forgotten tunnels slaughter hundreds of

innocents including the ailing queen who

has returned to her ancestors ancient

home to pay homage to her forebears.

After a series of brutal encounters theintruders are driven back to their dank,

dark holes which are then sealed with

powerful rune magics. The new queen,

Maegara Namarforge places a 100gp

bounty on the head of any Duergar that is

caught within the tunnels of the realm.

-5300 DR

Further incursions by wandering clans ofDuergar into the mines of Hollow

Mountain and Mt Suncatcher sees a

renewed effort to eradicate them and

their goblinoid allies from the realms

below. What begins as a simple search

and destroy mission very soon becomes a

dirty war of mutual genocide deep below

the wild, uncharted tunnels of the eastern

Moondeep Sea.

5200 DR


9/41

9

The last gray dwarf is slain in the caverns

deep below Port Galenaar, the survivors,

driven west by the dwarves of Sarphil are

eventually enslaved by the darks elves of

V'elddrinnsshar and are immedialtly set to

work rebuilding the ruined city of Tel Verinal

alongside thousands of dwarven, elven,

Orcish and goblin slaves.

-5185 DR

The aging Queen Maegara dies quietly in

her sleep and is interred with her

ancestors within the halls of the ancestors

in Old Sarphil City. After 44 days ofmourning and careful deliberation the

earls elect, the childless queens eldest

nephew, Prince Rorn Namarforge to be

the 10th

monarch of the realm.

5125 DR

The dwarf realm of Oghrann is established

beneath the Plains of Tun by emigrants

from overcrowded Shanatar anddisgruntled dwarves from southern

Sarphil angry at King Rorns ruinous taxes

and extravagant building programme as

he attempts to return the halls of Old

Sarphil City to their former ancient glory.

-5002 DR

The hated King Rorn dies suddenly with

his rebuilding programme only halfcompleted. With accusations flying about

the council chamber of muder and

deception, the earls split the kingdom

down family lines beginning perhaps the

darkest period in Sarphils long history.

Dwarven armies from Throndor and Old

Sarphil led by the self appointed King

Raulauntar lll Namarforge march south to

confront the rebel earls and their

supporters.

To the north-east, the earls of Hillsafar

Hall, Suncatcher Citadel, Orithiar and

Ironspur and their various thanes declare

their neutrality in the ongoing power

struggle for the throne and Hillsafar Hall

seals off the main passageways between it

and the capital.

-4900 DR

After 100 years of bloody and internecine

civil war which has seen brother slay

brother and thousands slain, the final

battle, takes place in the halls and mines

of Hollow Mountain. Emerging victorious

after personally slaying the usurperRaulauntar lll, his father, Earl Raulauntar

lV, of Mount Aergurl is crowned the 12th

ruler of a drastically weakened and

internally riven realm.

-4867 DR

Beset by orcs and elven resistance to

surface expansion, the dwarves of Sarphil

led by the Earl of Clan Hillsafar tunnelunder what is now Mulmaster, going deep

to pass under the Lis, following copper

veins of unusual quality.

-4800 DR

The dwarves of Sarphil develop special

moving-stone pumps to keep the waters

of the Lis at bay, as they extend their

underways westwards to the rockyheights north of Elventree. The Scarp

sought by the dwarves is quarried from

the top down for its rich veins of copper,

gold and iridium. It forms the cap of the

purest and largest deposit in the known

North.

-4684 DR


10/41

10

The elves of the Elven Court resenting the

continued intrusion and wanton

destruction of their forests by dwarven

woodcutters seeking timbers for their

mines, repeatedly attack the dwarves.

This Initiates the Axe & Arrow War that

sees the armies of western Sarphil and the

elves of the Elven Court and Jhyrennstar

clash repeatedly. Before their numbers

and magic the armies of haughty King

Raulauntar IV, are forced back after the

monarchs death at the hand of

Jhyrennstars Grand-High Mage.

In the end they have to abandon all of

their holdings on the southern shore armof Sarphil, retreating east and north into

the mountains. The dwarves officially

retreat but small parties of independent

miners and prospectors continue to scour

the old tailing sights looking for iridium

deposits, the key ingredient in their

superior mithral mail and weapons. The

more circumspect and surviving earls the

dead kings most trusted son, Dauringogh

Namarforge as the next ruler of a muchreduced Sarphil.

-4493 DR

Both elven scouts of Jhyrennstar and

dwarven miners of Sarphil are found

dead, not by accident but by murder. The

mysterious deaths continue for decades

with no answers, though many rumors

frayed dwarf and elf tempers alike as eachchose to accuse the other of wrongdoing.

4400 DR

Elven Courts and Sarphils clan leaders

meet at Midwinter and re-establish their

alliance at Elven Court. Then, during the

longest, darkest night of the year, evil

strikes. Hordes of drow and duergar, the

evil Underdark cousins of both races,

flood out of previously unnoticed tunnels

and swarmed into Elven Court.

The start of the fray shows the forces

matched evenly, but when the second

wave of dark elves and dwarves comes up

from the depths, the forces of good falter.

The meager forces assembled are easily

overwhelmed, especially since the elves

and dwarves have set aside their weapons

at Elven Court. More than thirty clans of

dwarves and elves lose their leaders in the

slaughter. The dark elves of Tel Verinal

have learned many potent and malignant

magics during their exile, and their

resistance to elven spells helps turn thetide in their favour. They summon spiders

and deepspawn and other hideous

monsters into Elven Court, ensuring mass

destruction.

As the drow and duergar keep erupting

from down below, the dwarves fight

holding actions in the tunnels, and many

brave dwarves die by collapsing the

tunnels upon themselves and their foes.As the tunnels begin closing with

increasing frequency, two-thirds of the

drow and duergar abandon their attacks

on the elven settlement and flee down

the tunnels that lead to Sarphil.

Trusting that his elven allies can handle

the remaining invaders above, Sarphils

King Dauringogh and 44 dwarves

(including two of his four sons) chase thedark invaders to Sarphil, where they find

Sarphils warriors dead or routed. Despite

days of fighting and knowledge of his

homeland, King Dauringogh (hereafter

called the Doomed) finds himself and his

people inundated with the evil Underdark

races, most malevolent warriors and

wizards. Within a month of Midwinter,

Dauringogh and his remaining dwarves

flee north, abandoning Sarphil. The Kingand his troops disappear in deep caverns


11/41

11

under Mount Throndor, in the

Dragonspine Mountains just south and

east of Glister, as duergar and drow, harry

the Sarphilan warriors northwards.

After all was over, there were no more

than 30 dwarf and 15 elf survivors of the

feast hereafter remembered as the Dark

Court Slaughter. Sarphil fell, and it was

split into two occupied realms for the

drow and duergar.

With the destruction of the citadels of Old

Sarphil, Mount Suncatcher, Mount

Aergurl, Hollow Mountain and Mount

Throndor, the surviving dwarves of Sarphillead by the princes Daurael & Thirag

Namarforge retreat behind the sealed

vaults and doors of Hillsafar Hall, wielding

the rulers hammer, Gorathmund, Prince

Daurael becomes the ruler of a much

reduced, and now highly secretive and

inward looking realm.

-4320 DR

The war of axe and spiders concludes with

the building of the Weeping Wall. A series

of massive mithral, iron stone and iridium

fortifications along the tunnels and mines

of Hillsafars south-western border. King

Daurael leads his troops on increasingly

brutal retributive raids against the

duergar and their goblin allies, avoiding all

direct conflict with the drow.

-4190 DR

Having all but eliminated the gray dwarves

and goblins from the upperdark regions of

his realm, King Daurael orders 100 days of

games along with the establishment of a

new citadel further north atop a seem of

almost pure iridium enriched iron.

Ironspur becomes the northern most city

of Sarphil.

-4184 DR

Having led his people out of the darkness

and chaos of war, King Daurael The

Great, dies peacefully at the ripe old age

501. After 44 days of mourning, the

surviving nobles of a much reduced realm

elect, Prince Thirag Namarforge, Dauraels

aging younger brother, as the next king of

Sarphil.

-4050 DR

A religious revival begins within the

kingdom fuelled by visions said to have

come from Moradin himself. King Thirag

orders the building of a grand temple

complex in the mountains south of the

Weeping Wall. Looking south over the

Glacier of the White Worm the temples

glass-steel windows give viewers an

panoramic view worthy of the gods. The

Eyes of Moradin, a carefully hidden

temple reminiscent of the one in lost

Mount Aergurl becomes home to a

monastic community of warrior dwarvesseeking a life dedicated to the worship of

their deity.

-4009 DR


12/41

12

The already aged King Thirag dies quietly

whilst on pilgrimage to Moradins Eye, he

is interred there with his brother in the

newly completed royal crypts in a tresure

filled vault deep within the heart of the

temple. The pious nobles seeking

Moradins favour select the kings eldest

son the monkish priest, Prince Zuth

Namarforge as the 3rd

king of Sarphillar.

-3900 DR

The devout King Zuth dies whilst leading a

raid on drow found attempting to

establish a new colony beneath the

glaciers just north of Hillsafar Hall. Thedrow are wiped out at great cost to the

dwarves and a new ruler, the late kings

great nephew and eldest living relative,

Duke Cathor Hillsafar becomes the next

monarch to wield the rulers hammer.

3770 DR

The dwarf realm of Oghrann falls. Beset

on all sides by enemieslizardfolk,nomadic human tribes, wemics, and the

usual bugbears, trolls, and goblinkin

racesthe realm is swept away by disease

and war. Refugees make good use of the

long established trade portals and begin

flooding into the abandoned halls of

Mount Suncatcher. Meeting fierce

resistance from a band of itinerant

goblins, the dwarves are finally rescued by

a patrol of warriors from Hillsafar Hall. Itis not long before word spreads back to

ruined Oghrann and thousands more

come pouring through the portals before

Sarphillans runecasters finally seal the

portals.

3611 DR

Gharraghaur becomes the first of the

great dwarf kingdoms to fall to orcattacks. Its people are too busy mining to

arm themselves in numbers enough to

withstand the orcs before it is too late. A

small party of battle weary dwarven

priests, rune casters, paladins and their

families appear in the under halls of

Moradins Eye one of them bearing the

regalia of the Royal House of the Helm of

Gharraghaur.

-3550 DR

With a continued influx of refugees from

across the north, King Cathor signs the

charters establishing a new city in the

mountains far to the south. The Citadel of

Ironaxe is proclaimed and many of theformers residents of Oghrann are

resettled in this virgin land.

-3513 DR

King Cathor dies in a mine collapse whilst

inspecting an unusually rich vein of

mithral, rescuers fail to find his body nor

the bodies of his guards, but traces of gray

dwarf miners are eventually found on thefar side of the cave-in. The new ruler,

King Gwarr Hillsafar sends deep patrols to

root out the newly discovered intruders.

-3406 DR

A sudden shift in the glacial layers north of

the realm causes many small earthquakes

throughout the north. In one such

instance a massaice crevasse opens uprevealing a previously entrapped ancient

white wyrm. The dragon is insane after

millennia in suspended animation and

goes on a killing spree across the great ice

sheet and mountains ranges that last for

more than 70 years.


13/41

13

-3335 DR

Good King Gwar and his party of reindeer

hunters are set upon by the Mad Wyrm,

Chorophatarix in the ensuing battle upon

the slopes of Mount Hammerthrone the

king slays the dragon using the rulers

hammer, but at the cost of his own life.

The survivors trek back to Hillsafar Hall

where the new ruler, the mighty smith,

Duke Baergurn Hillsafar in crowned.

-2890 DR

With the underground way blocked by the

newly emergent drow and duergar realms

to the west, the dwarves of Sarphillar

begin sending their wares overland to Port

Galenaar where their small ships and

barges receive the goods before taking

them to the trade depot in Tailings Bay to

the west. This trade grows slowly over

time as a thriving community of Hill

Dwarves of Clan Orothiar, establish and

thence maintain a god working

relationship with their trading

counterparts from the various elven

realms within Arcorar.

-2999 DR

King Baergurn abdicates in disgrace after

it is revealed that he has a secret Gray

Dwarf lover. Hounded from his throne

the king and his mistress are exiled to the

frozen lands to the north. His persecutor,

the xenophobic Prince Yurdag Hillsafar

attempts to have all mention of his

disgraced father removed from the public

records and statutes of his cast down and

used for road fill. King Yurdag then has

himself crowned the 7th

ruler of Sarphillar.

-2990 DR

King Yurdag The Mad is unceremoniously

struck down by his own grand-daughter

after beheading his own wife in front of

the gathered courtiers. His accusations of

her adultery are proved to be unfounded

and his mutilated body is dumped upon

the glacier and the new Queen Asrynda

Hillsafar sends out search parties to look

for her exiled kin with little result.

-2857 DR

After years in the icy wilderness, the

exiled Lord Baergurn and his followers

settle within the caverns beneath a

mountain they name Forondar. There

they encounter strange winged elves. The

two groups rarely cross paths with the

dwarves agreeing to keep to the woods

and dells of the lower slopes.

-2786 DR

The much loved Queen Asrynda retires

gracefully from office and takes her place

amongst the matrons of the temple of

Sharindlar. The assembled nobles cannot

decide upon a successor from amongst

the many possible candidates and Queen

Asrynda refuses to nominate an heir.Before she knows it she has lost
http://images.clipartof.com/small/215951-Royalty-Free-RF-Clipart-Illustration-Of-A-Vintage-Black-And-White-Dragon-Design-With-A-Curled-Leafy-Tail.jpg


14/41

14

everything and bitter infighting ensues.

When the dust and sounds of battle clear

more than 40 nobles and thanes are dead

with twice as many wounded. The battle

ends with the hearthguard, Princess

Cathlynn Hillsafar picks up the rulers

hammer and shatters the ancient

Sarphillan crown.

2642 DR

Establishment of the arctic dwarf kingdom

of Dareth in the mountains north of

Rashemen under the rulership of King

Orloebar Snowbeard. The emigrants from

Shanatar soon discover a small colony ofShield Dwarves living peacefully within the

mountains they choose as their new

home, led by the daughter of old Lord

Baergurn. The newcomers are not made

to feel welcome and soon the two groups

come to blows.

-2490 DR

A mini ice age settles over the northleading to the expansion of the Vaasan

Glacier. The dwarves of Sarphillan lose

most of their northern pastures of the

Sunderlands, and are forced to graze their

rothe herds on the more dangerous

southern slopes of the Dragons Spine.

This in turn leads to greater conflicts with

the orcs who dwell within the caves of the

southern foothills.

2460 DR

The Nar human tribes and the hobgoblins

of the northern mountains and tundra,

pushed south by the expansion of the

Great Glacier, come into conflict with each

other and the elves of Lethyr. Dwarves in

the lesser halls and holds north of

Ironspur come under attack by fleeing

bands of hobgoblins and humans. QueenCathlynn sends her Thunderhammer

legion north to deal with this emerging

threat.

-2400 DR

The last hobgoblin and human tribes are

driven south away from the lands claimed

by the dwarves. The returning legions fall

upon a horde of starving goblinoids as

they are attempting to break down the

gates of Orothiar at the mouth of the Path

of Blood & Tears.

-2300 DR

Queen Cathlynn dies peacefully and is

mourned by one and all, statues and

stellae are raised in her honour is halls,

and holds up and down the kingdom. The

people of Orithiar carve a great statue

dedicated to her on the high slopes above

the Path of Blood & Tears and venerate

her as a semi-divine saviour. After the

two score and four days of mourning the

attending dukes, earls and thanes elect

the queens middle son, Prince HyndbruinHillsafar as the 10

th monarch of the

hidden realm.

-2221 DR

King Hyndbruin orders the retaking of the

halls of Mount Suncatcher in order to

increase the safety of the dwarves

caravans to the west. After many months

the returning dwarves find the halls eerilyempty filled with naught but the

desiccated husks of duergar drained of

life. It is not long before the source of the

destruction is revealed...

-2080 DR


15/41

15

King Hyndbruin and his wife, along with

every guard and servant within the royal

complex are found slumped in positions of

contorted agony their desiccated husks

devoid of moisture, life and blood. Priests

of Moradin are brought in from the

Temple of Moradins Eye to track down

the nameless terror that haunts the

passageways of Hillsafar Hall. Fleeing

south the people temporarily abandon the

capital and resettle within the newly

reclaimed halls of Mount Suncatcher.

King Ghaern Hillsafar assumes the mantle

of rulership donning the Sun Crown of

Sarphillar.

-1943 DR

Undead continue to plague the lowers

halls and passageways of the Hidden

Realm, King Ghaern orders his priest and

rune caster led legions into the mines to

wage war upon their nameless foe. Soon

they discover nests of dwarven vampires

and banshees and bloody and horror filled

battle ensues.

-1927 DR

The last vampire is dusted and the final

banshee laid to rest as the halls of ancient

Hillsafar are reclaimed. The end of the

Dread Wars sees a sudden upsurge in

trade with the surface realms and the

doubling of the populations of Port

Galenaar and the trade post of TailingsBay.

1800 DR

The descendants of Clan Duergar invade

the realms of Ultoksamrin and Holorarar

in Deep Shanatar and others soon follow.

Only Iltkazar survives the gray dwarf

invasion, leaving Shanatar fallen in all but

name. Many thousands of refugees onceagain pour through long dormant trade

portals into the trade galleries of Mount

Suncatcher and the silent ruins of Old

Sarphil.

-1798 DR

Alarmed at this sudden increase in the

dwarven population is the realms above,

the dark elves of V'elddrinnsshar begin

sending out raiding bands to test the strength

and resolve of their erstwhile opponents.

-1796 DR

In response to the increasingly violent raids by

the drow King Ghaern places a bountyupon the head of all drow caught within

the passageways of the upper dark.

Within a short time expeditions are sent

by greedy nobles and thanes wanting to

line their pockets with the kings gold.

Soon hundreds of dark elf skulls are lining

the kings hall in Hillsafar. In response to

the increasing violence the dark elves

begin planning a counter strike of their

own.

-1705 DR

After 90 years of patient planning and

observation the dark elf magi and

sorcerers of V'elddrinnsshar, Tel Velinar and

Maerymdra gather together in a grand

conclave to summon a fell nightmare within

the heavily fortified halls of Old Sarphil. In a

ritual reminiscent of the ancient high magic

long since lost to the drow, the combined

arcane casters summon a demonic infernal

that begins reeking havoc within the great

halls and chambers of the old subterranean

city. Within days, 70000 dwarves are dead or

missing, having fled into the deep wastes and

the rune casters of Sarphillar are sealing their

ancient capital behind millions of tonnes of

rock and eldritch runes of godlike power. To

seal the mantle placed over the city to entrap

the beast, King Ghaern sacrifices himself to

set the seals with blood and his soul.


16/41

16

The few surviving nobles elect the more

circumspect Earl Rhamildar Hillsafar, son

of the now dead Duke, as the new ruler.

His first order of business is to set a watch

over the sealed city issuing a decree that

is death for any who seek to break the

seals around it.

-1600 DR

King Rhamildar journeys to the city of

Cormanthor to once again establish a

formal cultural, trade, and military alliance

with the various realms of Arcorar. He is

accompanied upon his return to Mount

Suncatcher by an Elven Ambassador, LadyThaeryll Audark and two high magi who

begin setting up more permanent and

powerful wards around the entombed

infernal. In gratitude, King Rhamildar

orders the building of a mighty citadel of

incredible beauty and light for the

ambassador to dwell in. Kiirantelholme

Palace when it is finished is considered

one of the finest blendings of dwarven

and elven architecture ever seen.

-1556 DR

Enamoured of elvish ways the young king

dies violently upon the claws of a giant

owlbear whilst hunting said same

creatures in the forests south of Tailings

Bay settlement. His untimely demise is

sorely felt by both realms and the ir

respective leaders vow that the late kingsdiplomatic efforts will not be in vain. The

late kings some, the inexperienced, elf

loving Prince Rhamildar II Hillsafar is called

home from his studies in Orithiar and is

soon crowned the next wearer of the Sun

Crown.

-1423 DR

Prospectors working old tailings in the far

northern mountains strike a new vein of

pure mithral ore sparking a rush of miners

and claim jumpers to the lands along the

far western mountains. The incoming

revenue allows the dwarves to build new

holdings south within the bowels of

diamond rich Mount Ironaxe. Migrants

begin drifting south the holdings within

the Earthfast Mountains.

-1350 DR

The southern thanes petition the king to

sign the charter for a new city in the

mountains to the south far away from thetrouble and strife of the northern realm.

The smithies of Sarphillar ring day and

night with the clang of hammers beating

out the weapons and tools needed for the

establishment of the new citadel.

-1277 DR

Alerted by the increased activity within

their mountains the orcs of the Earthfastsled by the chieftain Gralkash

Bonesplitter, begin hathering to repulse

the invaders. In a series of stunning

reversals the dwarves are routed from

their newly opened halls and driven north

at great loss of life. In response King

Rhamildar II leads his legions south in a

flanking manoeuvre that traps the

rampaging orcs against the ice cliffs of the

White Wyrm Glacier. The fighting iswithout quarter and by days end both

King Rhamildar II and Chief Gralkash are

dead, having slain each other axe to axe.

The resolute ferocity of the dwarves

carries the day and it is many generations

before the orcs rise to pose a serious

threat again.

-1197 DR


17/41

17

The lacklustre King Uindolfin Hillsafar is

killed whilst practising with the rulers

throwing hammer. Bashing his own brains

out the unfortunate king is quickly

interred and his successor, the charismatic

and flamboyant Prince Pyradar Hillsafar is

elected the next King of Sarphillar. In a

few short years his rambunctious rule has

seen the establishment of the glorious city

of Earthfast as the new, southern most

citadel of the ever expanding Hidden

Kingdom.

-1002 DR

An unusually cold winter sees thesouthern passes closed for most of the

trading season. This in turn leads to

shortages of all but the essential items.

Before long the cold begins to take its toll

and many elderly dwarves in the outer

holdings freeze to death as winter wolves

and white worms roam free through the

high mountain pastures.

-988 DR

King Pyradar disappears mysteriously

along with the the royal procession whilst

on route to his summer residence at Port

Galenaar. Many suspect duergar or drow,

but the actual cause is much more

insidious. After extensive searches lasting

many months, the new King, Starag

Hillsafar declares the king and his retinue

officially dead and then assumes themantle of the Sun Crown King.

-950 DR

King Starag travels south to Lisen to meet

with his counterpart the Lady Oluvaera to

discuss the increasing orcish activity in the

mountains surrounding their respective

realms. A formal military alliance is

agreed upon and scouts from both realms

begin actively searching out the root

cause of the growing orc problems.

-899 DR

The first clashes between the orcs of the

northern Earthspurs and the warriors of

Sarphillar begin in the mines and caverns

of the Deeper Dark. Initially the dwarves

are successful but over time they begin to

encounter monstrous orcs with demonic

strengths and powers.

-810 DR

The Ice Way the main subterranean

trade way linking northern and souther

Sarphillar is cut by the sudden emergence

of tens of thousands of goblinoids and

their demon tainted masters. King Starag

orders the sealing of the passageways

south and begins fortifying the paths and

tunnels leading north to his realm. A

trade portal is established between the

cities of Mount Suncatcher and Earthfast

thus negating the relative threat posed totrade by the ever increasing orcs.

-775 DR

The Ironhammer and Thunderfist legions

of Sarphil begin a systematic

extermination of the orcs beneath their

lands. The highly mechanised nature of

their attacks more than balances their

vastly inferior numbers. In a few shortmonths 100 000 orcs and their demon kin

are slain and the orcish Over King

Gargendar is slain. With the dwarves

offensive driving the orcs south deep into

the central Earthspurs the elves of Lisenar

come under increasing pressure from the

east.


18/41

18

-736 DR

With a virulent plague currently ravaging

the gray dwarf population the Matron

Mother of V'elddrinnsshar send envoys to

the new orcish Over King Gorgath seeking

an alliance of convenience against their

mutual foes the elves and dwarves on the

Vast.

722 DR

Elves of Ylraphon suffer attacks by drow

forces from Tel Verinal in winter who use

the bitter darkess of a roaring blizzard to

cover their approach from above and

below the city. The Thunderhammers

from Mount Suncatcher manage to break

the siege but at great cost to all. In the

summer the orc hordes of King Gorgath

manage to swarm the defences of the

already weakened city slaughter hundreds

of residents. Again the dwarves force

march to the city, leaving thousands of

smashed orc skulls in their wake but the

Thunderhammers arrival is too late tosave the city. The dwarves act as a shield

for the fleeing refugees allowing

thousands to escape to Lisen and beyond.

-700 DR

Orcs rule the eastern shore of the Reach,

from the ruins of Arlistaar to the

Earthspur Mountains. Their time as

overlords of Vastaar is a brawling rule ofconstant coups, counter-attacks, and

strife with all other inhabitants of the

mountains. The dwarves of Earthfast as

Sarphillar withdraw into their mountain

strongholds only venturing out when the

orcs push too hard against their defences.

-695 DR

King Starag and much of theThunderhammer legion are slain in a clash

with several clans of Stone Giants recently

brought under the rule of King Gorgath.

The dwarves manage to wipe out most of

the giants but in doing so Wyrmwite

Citadel (in the far eastern Earthspurs) is

destroyed. The new king, the giant slayer,

(and distant nephew of the exiled king

Baergurn), Raulauntar V Namarforge is

handed the throne in an attempt by the

dwarves to fulfil an ancient prophecy that

states that the lost king Raulauntar would

return to save them in their hour of

greatest need.

-686 DR

Lady Oluvaera leads an attempt by the

forces of Lisen to retake the city of

Ylraphon. After initially taking back the

ruins, the triumphant army is all but

annihilated by a horde of demonic orc kin

lead by the Over King Gorgath himself.

This horde in turn is besieged by King

Raulauntar and the Thunderfel Legion

who proceed to slay every orc, gnoll and

tiefling they can lay their axes into.Pesruing the orcs west they manage to

trap the fleeing remnant in a box canyon

and with the help of elven wizards the

slaughter really begins. Despite this

victory the surrounding orc numbers are

so great that the loss of 10000 barely

makes a dent in the population.

-671 DR

The first great hordes form as orcs grow

so numerous as to gather into raiding

hordes every dozen summers or so.

Pushed west by the continuous

harassment of the dwarves of Sarphil,

these great, undisciplined hosts of

warriors build or seize ships and sail away

south to plunder and slay.

-630 DR to 100 DR


19/41

19

The first organised horde crosses the River

Nuathlis and begins raiding deep into the

eastern woods of the Elven Court. They

are finally stopped at Morkyls Drift on the

eastern shores of the Duathamper. To

build their crude, ramshackle ships the

orcs fell the timber of The Vast

repeatedly, until little remains in the

central and western reaches, (only in the

north are their efforts thwarted by the

bows of Lisen and the axes of Sarphil), and

they have to seize what they need from

the Elven shores across the Reach.

The orcs soon find that if they sail across

the storm-torn Reach without securing alanding-place first they are doomed to a

swift death under elven arrows and magic

ere they can land. So army after army

crosses the River Nuathlis at the northern

end of the Reach via the fords of Arlistaar

having been driven west away from their

mountain homes by the systematic

attacks by the legions of the

Thunderhammers, in the years between

hordes.

Time after time these armies find the

elves waiting for them. The hail of arrow-

fire on orcs slogging slowly through the

marshy banklands of the Nuathlis brings

great slaughter, earning the Nuathlis the

nickname Blood River. Caught between

the axes of Sarphil and the arrows of

Arcorar, more than half a million orcs end

their days in the Nuathlis swamp lands.

470 DR

The Shadow Wars, pitting Cormanthyr and

Rystall Wood against the Twisted Tower

begin. Honouring the Third Axe & Arrow

Treaty, King Raulauntar V sends military

assistance in the form of Tunnel Ratters

and deep earth engineers to assist ther

elves in their wars with the drow ofMaerymdra. They meet with much

success and the dark elves soon learn to

fear the heavily armoured, magically

protected dwarves and their insidious

killing machines.

-454 DR

King Raulauntar V and many of his finest

warriors are slain by sea faring drow

travelling by ship from Port Galenaar to

the settlement at Tailings Bay. The only

survivor, a young dwarf named

Thistlepwent describes in graphic detail

the black sailed ships of the dark elf

pirates. Back in Hillsafar Hall, the late

kings son, Duke Olagondir Namarforge is

crowned the next king by the gathered

thanes and nobles.

343 DR

The arctic dwarves of Dareth come under

attack from Hoarfaern, a realm of white

dragons and their bestial servant

creatures, and are forced to flee to deeper

caverns. A small group of dwarves,

descendents of the exiled Lord Baergurn

flee in the Deeper Dark armed with the

knowledge passed down to them by theGray Dwarf ancestors. Heading south

they seeking sanctuary in the Deep

Dwarven metropolis of Ghaandraghan.

327 DR

The shield dwarves of Clan Shattered

Shield arrive in Dareth to find their arctic

dwarf cousins beset by the forces of

Hoarfaern. They rescue the surviving folkof Dareth and retreat to a lone mountain


20/41

20

which they name Mount Sundabar in

honor of their home in Delzoun. The

refugees are welcomed by the small clans

of dwarves already living in the mountains

shadow but animosity and suspicion

prevail when they realise that their hosts

are surface dwelling Duergar. Soon after

slaughtering most of the peaceful gray

dwarves the new arrivals commence

building a fortress of their own there,

using the hidden citadel of their erstwhile

hosts as a base, and elect Embryn

Shattered Shield as their king. He leaves

his clan to take the name of Dareth.

Digging deeper thet dwarves of clan

Dareth find the tomb of King Baergurn inall his Sarphillan royal regalia.

Crying Wolves: The dwarves of Dareth and

the white dragons of Hoarfaern destroy

each other in a final climactic battle on

the broad mountaintop now known as

Heroes Height, bringing this dwarf

kingdom to an end. Months after the fall

of the realm, dwarves from Ghaandraghan

move through the ruins searching forsurvivors. Finding none they remove all

items of use burning the dead and

collapsing the entrances to the ruind

citadel. Heading south the Half Duergar

Namaforge clan of King Baergurn head

south, leading an army of Deep Dwarf

mercenaries.

205 DR

Orc hordes engulf Rystall Wood

throughout the year, the worst hordes

arriving in winter. The winter hordes also

over run Ironspur, and the outer holdings

of Orothiar and The Ice Watch. Only with

the timely arrival of an unexpected army

of Deep Dwarves led by the Paladin

Belsimara Namaforge are Othrothiar and

Hillsfar Hall saved. Taking advantage of

the confusion she imprisons KingOlagondir and seizes the throne for

herself back by an army of Deep dwarves

she begins a reign of absolutism that sees

her isolate the realm ending all contact

with the outside world.

-203 DR

Bloody and internecine warfare grips the

upper halls of Sarphillar as nobles loyal to

the imprisoned king attempt to drive off

the usurper and her ruthless mercenary

army. The intense guerrilla warfare sees

countless dwarves orphaned on both

sides.

-162 DR

The loyalists led by the Prince Royal, Duke

Ulric Namarforge of Mount Suncatcher

storm the underhalls of Hillsafar

slaughtering the rebels when ever &

where ever they find them. Finding the

old kings mummified body still within the

cell he was imprisoned in, Prince Ulric

orders the immediate execution of

Belsimara and her supporters. In theensuing throne room battle Prince Ulric

battles and beheads the pretender

revealing her to be a malaugrym of

ancient power.

153 DR

With ever increasing numbers of dwarves

being born in southern Sarphillar and the

principality of Earthfast, King Ulric signs acharter leading to the founding of the city

and port of Proeskampalar. The city

quickly becomes an important trading

partner of Westgate due to an influx of

refugees from fallen Jhaamdath. The city

grows rapidly standing as it does near the

greatest ruby, emerald, sapphire and

diamond mines on the North

Coast. From its earliest days, the city is

known for its skilled goldsmiths and gem-cutters.


21/41

21

145 DR

Roryn, blood of Thordbard, of the Iron

House of fallen Oghrann founds the dwarf

realm of Tethyamar in the present-day

Desertsmouth Mountains. Migrants from

Sarphillar (joining their cousins from the

west) soon swell the ranks of those within

Tethyamar. Soon trade portals are

established and regular caravans pass

between the two realms bypassing thesavage realm of Thar, the pirate infested

Dragon Sea and the drow & deurgar

infested tunnels beneath.

-132 DR

Princess Tassarli Namarforge marries

Gerthan Thorbard untiing the two realms

poltically and militarily. The dwarves of

Tethyamar recognising the strength of theSarphillar holdings acknowledge King Ulric

paying tithes and homage to his rule.

75 DR

Teshar is founded in the cleared lands

between Rystall Wood and Cormanthor.

The dwarves of Tethyamar soon establish

trade relations with the humans and

within a few months goods from Sarphil

are appearing at the Trading Post at

Daggers Ford.

64 DR

Rystall Wood falls in its Twelfth Rysar to

giants and orcs. The survivors either

remain in Yrlaancel or migrate to

Cormanthyr. King Ulric opens up a second

front against the old enemy in Thar

drawing orcish forces away from their

offensive against the elves. Using the

Tethyamar trade portal, elements of the

Thunderhammers pour forth to trap the

retreating orcs and giants in a massive

hammer & anvil manoeuvre. After 40 daysof hard campaigning, Teshar and

Tethyamar are saved but the realm of

Rystallar is no more.

005 DR

After a life time of warfare and struggle

King Ulric Bloody Axe dies peacefully in

his sleep on the eve of his 450th

birthday.

He is buried with full honours, the solemnceremony attended by hundreds of

thanes and nobles from realms across the

heartlands; human, elf and dwarf. His

heir, the Hearth Guard Princess Tassarli

Namarforge ascends the throne in a time

of great uncertainty and social change for

the dwarves.

99 DR

Queen Tassarli marries Duke Fathrynn

Ironaxe in a grand ceremony the two

almost immediately begin to argue as Lord

Fathrynn attempts to control his new

wifes words and actions. It is not long

before their frosty relationship leads to

political strife and uncertainty with the

southern lords loyal to the duke.


22/41

22

163 DR

With the growth of trade between the

elves and dwarves, and a smattering of

adventurous human traders the village of

Elmwood is established as a small way

station for ship traffic to and from the

River Lis. Aside from the elves living in the

village, Queen Tassarli charters members

of the Orothiar clan to establish a trade

presence there to forward the kingdoms

own commercial and political interests.

199 DR

Dwarven Miners from Mount ironaxe

delving deep beneath Wolf Mountain

disturb a drow mining operation. The

ensuing underground battles rage for

months in the deep mines and caverns.

Sensing a political opportunity Queen

Tassarli sends her husband the

recalcitrant Duke and a force of 5000

southern dwarves to help to besieged

citizens of Mount Ironaxe. In a series of

bloody clashes the relief column and itsleaders are all but wiped out by demonic

drow ambushes. Sensing that her realm is

in real trouble the Queen calls upon the

elves invoking the Axe & Arrow Alliance

Treaty. The forces of Lisen are eventually

called in to seal the deep caverns with

high magic to prevent the Drow and their

demonic minions from returning.

221 DR

Queen Tassarli is badly injured in an

avalanche whilst out hunting white worms

on the northern glaciers. Refusing to

name her son as heir and successor,

(despite vehement protests by the

southern nobles), when she eventually

dies the crown passes to the late queens

nephew, the crafty and ruthless Earl

Daggan Namarforge thus creating a

schism between the northern and

southern halves of the realm.

261 DR

The elf city at the heart of Cormanthyr

becomes the unified city of Myth Drannor.

Coronal Eltargrim, in an edict called the

Opening, declared that Cormanthyr was

to be an open realm, accessible to all non-

elves (NTelQ uess), following the laying

of the mythal and the renaming of the

city. In the months that follow many

dwarven nobles, including the

opportunistic King Daggan visit the realm

to pay their respects to the Coronal. Thedwarves of Hillsafar establish a canton

within the city which doubles as the

embassy for the realm.

328 DR

Alarmed at the sudden rise in orc and

giant numbers in the mountains dividing

northern and southern Sarphillar, King

Daggan announces an crusade against thehated foe beginning a campaign of

genocidal persecution against the

goblinoids and their giantish neighbours.

331 DR

After three years of relentless warfare

against the dwarves of Sarphillar the orcs

of Vastar launch an unexpected attack on

eastern Cormanthyr late in this yearseeking to escape the murderous axes of

their foes, and occupy some of the lands

east of the Elven Court for the next few

years. The orcs spend the next years both

solidifying their forces here and exploring

the ruins of the ancient elf temple city.

335 DR

The Darkwoods Massacre: The fourthmajor foray by Myth Drannor forces


23/41

23

against the invading orcs occurs within the

Darkwoods in high summer. The battle is

lost as the orcs surround over half of the

allied forces and decimate them in their

sleep; since the human guards are also

among the slain, no explanation is

apparent for the negligence. In all, more

than 1,000 soldiers die that night, though

only 100 of them are elves.

Dwarven Wayfinders keeping track of the

goings on between the orcs and the elves

report back to King Daggan that both sides

have suffered grievous losses, but still the

king stays his hand refusing to offer

assistance to the elves.

339 DR

The orcs in the eastern forest are routed

by elf and human forces. Instrumental in

the battles is the human warrior Velar.

Velar and his human (and some elf) allies

resettle the lands around the coastal

forest, and the area soon becomes known

as Velarsdale. As they retreat backtowards their mountain homes the

remnant orcs are met by small armies of

dwarves who track the survivors back to

their holes and then proceed to wipe

them out parents, warriors, whelps and

all. The slaughter is so complete that it is

more than 200 years until orc numbers

rise to such numbers in the Earthspurs

again.

389 DR

King Daggan and a host of warriors are

killed whilst riding out to battle a great

red wyrm that is ravaging holds near Mt

Suncatcher. The wyrm, Carofarratichyr

manages to make off with many rare

artefacts of great power from the

Moonstar, Bronzehammer, and Athelmist

clan holds, leaving hundreds of dead in itswake. The new ruler, Adalaer Namarforge

immediately commissions a wyrm hunt

and dispatches his kingdoms greatest

dragon slayers north to find, and kill the

murderous wyrm.

393 DR

Thousands of dwarven and human

refugees from independent holds on

Thars eastern broders flee into the

ancient halls and holds of Mount

Throndor. There they are met by a

number of deep patrols of wayfinder

dwarves assigned to watch over the

ancient tombs and citadels. They bring

with them reports of an enormous buildup of giant and goblinoid kin within the

hills and blasted moorlands of Thar.

400 DR

Evil, inhuman forces known collectively as

the Dark Alliance sweep out of Thar and

destroy Northkeep. After a dark ritual is

performed by over 40,000 humanoid

priests, mages, and shamans, the city ofNorthkeep sinks beneath the purple

waves of the Dragons Sea. The citys

Royal MageAkempus Lord of Roses betraysNorthkeep to its enemies in return for the titleand privileges of overlord of the city.Akempus's allies however, double-cross him,destroying the city instead of merely

conquering it The neighboring settlement

of Phlan is also sacked by the inhuman

army. With the life force gathered by the

12000+ human deaths the gatheredspellcaster combine their arcane might to

shatter the mythal and unleash the

infernal trapped within Old Sarhpil.

402 DR

The combined arcane and martial forces

of Cormanthyr, Sarphillar, Teshar

Tethyamar and the wild humans of The

Ride combine to battle the inhuman armyof Thar. Led by the human, dwarven and


24/41

24

elven rulers the arcane and faith based

casters begin a ritual of their own to

contain the rampaging monster before it

destroys all in its wakes whilst the allied

army drives deep into the gray wastes to

battle the rampaging horde. In a

calamitous battle that shakes the very

mountains the forces of good battle the

hordes of evil on a grassy northern plain

that buckles and boils with the primal

forces unleashed by both armies. After

the total annihilation of the Dark Alliancethe bone littered plain is forever after known

as the Tortured Land.

501 DR

King Adalaer and a large host of warriors

are slain in an ambush 30 miles east of the

Viperstongue in the western Earthspurs.

The ambitious leader of the raid, a mighty

orc warrior-shaman Ulbror Jagged Fang

uses this success against the dwarves to

strengthen his position within the tribes.

Mourning the loss of her father, the

Priestess, Princess Hathlia Namarforge,dons the Sun Crown and immediately

announces 100 days of mourning and

commissions the building of statues and

temples dedicated to her fathers

memory. Her ruinous and wasteful edicts

are all but ignored by the southern nobles

and thanes.

512 DRPushed south by the vengeful forces led

by fanatical Queen Hathlia, the orc

chieftain Ulbror leads a horde out of

Vastar and into the uplands of Impiltur by

means of countless small mountain trails

over the Earthspurs. King Sharaun of

Impiltur leads his three sons and a small

army north but is defeated, and he and his

sons are slain in battle. The dead kingsson-in-law Duke Harandil Durlarven

gathers another army, which routs the

orcs at the Battle of Bloody Reeds. He is

crowned king of Impiltur on the battlefield

and establishes the Durlarven Dynasty of

Old Impiltur.

572 DR

The orcish realm of Vastar falls into chaos

with the death of Ologh the Overking at

the claws of Iyrauroth the black wyrm.

Flying back to his lair the dragon reports

to his master that the first act in his grand

scheme is complete.

575 DR

Prompted by a series of realm wide

strange visions and dreams of untold

riches The Mad Queen Hathlia directs

dwarves from Sarphil, mining in the

mountains, to head west and south

underground, following veins of good ore.

There they meet with the orcs in the

lightless ways of the deeps. After the

initial skirmishes, the dwarven war-councils determine that no orc who has

seen a dwarf in the mines must be

allowed to live, so that no word can get

back to the orc chieftains of any organized

foe.

580 DR

The deaths of many orcs in the mountains

are ascribed to the great struggle for thethrone of Overking (created by a

monstrous orc known only as Ologh and

left vacant upon his death in the jaws of

the great Wyrm of the Peaks, the black

dragon Iyrauroth). Warring factions

among the orcs battle each other up and

down Vastar for eight blood-soaked

summers and winters, until Grimmerfang

defeats (and ceremonially spits, cooks,

and eats) the last of his rivals, renaming


25/41

25

Ologhs court of the Hollow Mountain

Mount Grimmerfang.

608 DR

The dwarves work in secret, with a few

men and elves from Lisen (headed by Lord

Hlastarl) to develop a steel whose bite is

poison to orcs, and with its aid break out

of the mountain caverns and sweep across

the lowlands beginning two years of

bloody genocidal warfare.

610 DR

Led by forces of Mad Queen hathlia the

dwarves of Sarphillar conquer the lands of

the Vast, overcoming Grimmerfang and

his orcs. The victorious dwarves drive the

orcs far to the north and south into the

mountain heights. Claiming all the Vast as

their own, the dwarves found a surface.

The Realm of Glimmering Swords,

dwarven songs call it, though it also has a

less grand, everyday name: Roldilar. In a

slap in the face or the queen and hernorthern court the Nobles and thanes of

the south secede proclaiming their

independence from the ancient and

corrupt northern realm.

Rolidars dwarves build themselves stone

towers and bring herds of sheep, goats,

and shaggy-hair cattle up from the lands

south across the Inner Sea to roam the

rolling grasslands cleared by the orcs. Thedwarves devote themselves to drinking

(concocting fiery, legendary potables to

do so), mining, and the making of

wondrous armor, finery, adornments, and

weaponry.

611DR - 616 DR

With support from the Princes of

Earthfast, the Dwarven City of Sarbreen the City of the Hammer is built upon the

southern coast of Vastar at the mouth of

the Fire River. This dwarven city becomes

a beacon of free trade throughout the

Selumarrar.

620 DR

Dwarves of Rolidar, led by the Hearth

Warden Sella Brimbor Hillsafar, move into

the ruins of Ylraphon, driving out the last

pockets of goblinoid resistance. Over the

next 5 years they rebuild the docks and

many of the major buildings and surround

the city in a solid 50 high 20 thick curtain

wall. Soon they are joined by severalMoon Elven families seeking to reclaim

some of their lost properties. This leads to

several rather heated and at times violent

clashes over ownership. In the end a

treaty is signed by Lord Hlastarl and King

Tuir Stonebeard Hillsafar agreeing to

share the rulership of the city whilst

allowing old Elven families the right to

reclaim their properties. New Dwarven

mansions, towers and citadels spring upamongst the many aging Elven towers and

villas.

645 DR

The wizard Maskyr gains Maskyr's Vale

(the centre of the Tumlin Vale), from King

Tuir "Stonebeard" by plucking out his right

eye as the cost of gaining the vale.

Humans begin making their firstpermanent settlements in the Vast.

649 DR

Orcish numbers again reach plague

numbers and all too soon, they rise again,

and the surface dwarven kingdom of

Rolidar vanishes like an elephant swarmed

by a million ants. Without the support of

the Thunderhammer legions of Sarphillarthe dwarven defences are broken by


26/41


27/41

27

751 DR 1050 DR

Swelling numbers of humans, aided by

immigration as much as by birth-rate,

soon absorb the former inhabitants of

Rolidar and Lisenar and push the

predators of the Vast back into the

mountains and wilder foothills. The city of

Ylraphon is reclaimed by the advancing

humans who are cautiously welcomed by

the stoic elves of Lisen. The harbour of the

city becomes a trade-stop, in addition to

its uses as pirate rest-and-repair stop and

immigrant-ship landing-place. Human

settlers encounter dwarven patrols andholdings and with the Kings

encouragement explore the nearer and

more accessible mines of the area and

prosper further.

803 DR

King Keldorn dies unexpectedly upon the

throne whilst hosting a visit from nobles

of Tethyamar and Cormanthyr.Investigations find that the kings heart

burst while he was arm wrestling with the

Duke of Tethyamar. Forty days after his

interment, his niece, the Duchess Ingaret

Namarforge is crowned the next monarch

of Sarphillar.

934 DR

Mulmaster is founded as a trading fortressbetween the Moonsea, the River Nuathlis,

and the Dragon Reach. The elves of Lisen

maintain a careful watch upon the

growing city trading intelligence with their

allies, the dwarves of old Sarphil. Queen

Ingaret opens up a canton within the city

and offers up her stone masons and

engineers to help build the citys

forbidding fortifications and harbour.

What she does not reveal to the humansis the extensive network of halls and

tunnels leading from the citys sewers to

the Lost Ways of Old Sarphil that allow

her spies to keep a close eye upon the

more nefarious goings on beneath the

citys streets and alleyways.

913 DR

Sembia is founded under the Raven

Banner, the personal emblem of

Rauthauvyr the Raven, a human war-

leader who gathered and commanded a

standing army to police the roads of the

fledgling human territory. The trade savy

dwarves of Sarphillar almost immediately

begin open trade negotiations with theblossoming human realm. This leads to

the establishment of a trade canton

within every major settlement of the new

realm and a flood of new wealth for the

previously empty coffers of the ailing

realm.

940 DR

Following in tghe steps of dwarven miners

from Port Galenaar human goldprospectors moving up The WinterspearRiver, panning for alluvial gold in aneffort to make a quick fortune from themineral wealth of the Spine of theDragon, as it is swept down towards the

Moonsea., The city of Hulburg is soon

founded with Queen Ingarets blessing.

Soon human and dwarven mining

expeditions sponsored by Sarphillarannotables are criss-crossing the blasted

heaths of Thar in search of the

undiscovered riches buried there.


28/41

28

974 DR

The Moonsea settlement built around the

stronghold of retired half-elf adventurer

Sulass Drowsbane is incorporated as the

city of Sulasspryn. This is despite thereapeated warnings by traders from

Sarphillar. Increased activity by drow

from long slumbering Tel Verinal causes

great alarm amongst the subterranean

traders from Sarphillar, Hillsfar,

Mulmaster and Hulburg.

1000 DR

Queen Ingaret and most of the royalfamily are slain by drow pirates in black

sailed ships as they travel from Port

Galenaar to Hillsfar. Left back in Mount

Suncatcher, the queens daughter, the

Paladin Princess Nilythra II Namarforge

enters into protracted negotiations with

the drow free sailors of Tel Verinal,

eventually offering them an annual bribe

to avoid them raiding and slaughtering

dwarven merchants and sailors.

1018 DR

Rage of Dragons: A Rage of Dragons

devastates the Heartlands, the lands

around the Shining Sea, and the western

and southern coasts of the Inner Sea.

Cities of Sarphillar devastated by the

dragons include Mulmaster, Hulburg,

Orothiar and Procampur.

1038 DR

The Great Glacier retreats from the lands

of Damara, Vaasa, and upper Narfell.

Many folk from Impiltur and Thesk

migrate north to the newly uncovered

lands. The first to take advantage of the

retreating ice are the miners and hunters

of Sarphillar. Queen Nilythra II orders her

armies north to secure new lands before

the goblinoids of savage Thar can lay

claim. This migrations marks the greatest

expansion of Sarphillars subterranean

borders in more than 1000 years. It is not

long before great wealth from newly

discovered ore bodies begins pouring backsouth into the royal coffers.

1090 DR

Battle of the Bones: A horde of 200,000

goblins and orcs arises from the High

Moors due to extreme drought and

attempts an invasion of the North.

Answering the call to arms from across

the north, the warrior Queen Nilythra IINamarforge leads her Thunderhammer

legions west through the Ogrhann trade

portals and from thence to join the join

the forces arrayed against the evil of

Hlundadim. The Battle of the Bones marks

the spot of the great battle that destroys

the horde.


29/41

29

They came from Beregost, Baldurs Gate,

Berdusk, Iriaebor, Elturel, Scornubel,

Soubar, and the reaches of the High Moor.

Although just five decades old and not as

nearly as large as city as it is now,

Waterdeep sent 20,000 humans to meet

the evil foe. The Dwarven Halls sent a

fearsome army, battle axes gleaming as

they marched without rest to join the

assembling troops. Though no one could

remember having sent a messenger to

ask, even a force of elves came to offer

their services. One squad hailed from

Evereska, and a larger elven army came

from Silverymoon and other forest homes

in the north. More than 140,000 peopledescended upon little Hills Edge to join

the combined army... Almost 400,000

dead, or soon to be dead, littered the

plain. Many were indistinguishable as

separate beings, scattered in limbs and

pieces... Donald J. Bingle ElminstersEcologies.

When the dust and din of battle clears and

the mighty horde is no more tens of

thousands and dwarves, humans andelves lay dead upon the field. Buried in

great barrows amongst the countless by

the survivors is Queen Nilythra II

Namarforge and buried with her is

Gorathmund. With Nilythras death and

the loss of the Gorathmund, the ruling

dynasty of Sarphillar is no more. Despite

countless expiditions by dwarves with

claims to the ancient throne, without the

Rulers Hammer. None can ever claim thethrone and the mighty kingdom soon

splinters into individual halls and holds

with the fading Principality of Earthfast

being the biggest remaining remnant of a

once proud empire.


30/41

30

Rulers of Sarphil -8850 DR until 1090 DR

-8850 until -4400 DR until 1090 DR

Length of Reign Rulers Name Age & Gender-8150 DR to -7900 DR Nilythra Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female

-7900 DR to -7340 DR Raulauntar Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-7340 DR to -7200 DR Besendar Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-7200 DR to -6862 DR Garntar Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-6862 DR to -6790 DR Elmryn Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-6790 DR to -6355 DR Raulauntar II Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-6355 DR to -5888 DR Isdlara Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female

-5888 DR to -5479 DR Gwythiir Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female

-5400 DR to -5185 DR Maegara Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female

-5185 DR to -5002 DR Rorn Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male-5002 DR to -4900 DR Raulauntar lll Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-4900 DR to -4684 DR Raulauntar IV Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-4684 DR to -4400 DR Dauringogh Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-4400 DR to -4184 DR Daurael Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-4184 DR to -4009 DR Thirag Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-4009 DR to -3900 DR Zuth Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-3900 DR to -3513 DR Cathor Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-3513 DR to -3335 DR Gwarr Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-3335 DR to -2999 DR Baergurn Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-2999 DR to -2990 DR Yurdag Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male-2990 DR to -2786 DR Asrynda Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Female

-2786 DR to -2300 DR Cathlynn Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Female

-2300 DR to -2080 DR Hyndbruin Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-2080 DR to -1705 DR Ghaern Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-1705 DR to -1556 DR Rhamildar Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-1556 DR to -1277 DR Rhamildar II Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-1277 DR to -1197 DR Uindolfin Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-1197 DR to -988 DR Pyradar Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-988 DR to -695 DR Starag Hillsafar Shield Dwarf Male

-695 DR to -454 DR Raulauntar V Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-454 DR to -162 DR Olagondir Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

-162 DR to 005 DR Ulric Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

005 DR to 221 DR Tassarli Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female

221 DR to 389 DR Daggan Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

389 DR to 501 DR Adalaer Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

501 DR to 679 DR Hathlia Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female

679 DR to 803 DR Keldorn Namarforge Shield Dwarf Male

803 DR to 1000 DR Ingaret Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female1000 DR to 1090 DR Nilythra II Namarforge Shield Dwarf Female


31/41

31

Cities of the Dragons Spine

Sarphil City sarphilcity

Population:97000

Products:iron, steel, copper, gold, silver, weapons, armour, metal tools & household goods,

doors, siege engines & traps, mining equipment, water pumps, beers & ales, fortified spirits,

statues & artwork.

Who Rules:The High Queen or King

Who Really Rules:The Monarch & Council of Dukes & Earls and their representatives.

Armed Forces: 15000 heavy foot armed with heavy Crossbows, axes & swords in platemail,

4500 engineers specialising in the construction of traps, fortifications, siege engines & the

like. 1500 Heavy Cavalryarmoured rothe riders.

Temples: Moradin, Dumathoin, Clanggeddin, Sharindlar, Vergadain, Berronar, Haela

Brightaxe, Marthammor Duin

Notable Organisations: Order of the Crescent Moon: Known as "ghost dwarves these

dwarves are renowned as resolute warriors who never back down from danger and who

refuse to surrender even when all seems lost. The Hammers of Moradin A knightly order

of warriors sworn to defend the realm at all costs. They form the core fighting force as

officer cadre of the infamous Thunderhammer Legions of Sarphillar.

Notable Locations: The Ironstone Palace: Carved from the very rockface of the Great

Cavern, the Rulers palace dominates the central forum and market square. Faced by great

huge granite blocks stained, the citys greatest warriors command villas and balconied

apartments that look out over the sprawling cavern city. Great statues of past heroes line

the walls of the city square. The city is guarded by warriors and priests in the finest armour

baring shining mithral and everbright steel weapons

Local Lore:The city of Sarphil rests within great natural cathedral cavern where a climatic

battle was won against the orcs of the region. Much of the city is carved out of solid rock

and is filled with vast smithies dominated by grand halls of hardworking dwarven craftsmen.

Hammers and anvils, the signs of the Moradin, are the dominant decorative themes, as are

statues of the Gods and great dwarven heroes of bygone days. The centre of the city is a

huge temple dedicated to Moradin. The Soul Forger's temple is dominated by a great ever-

burning hearth and a forge from which have emerged the greatest weapons and armours of

the age.

Mount Throndor mountthrondor

Population:55000

Products:iron, steel, copper, gold, silver, weapons, armour, metal tools & household goods,

eagle eggs, mules & donkeys, drilling machinery, forges & smelters, leather goods, tack &

harness, mithral, books & tomes,

Who Rules:The Eagle Duke or Duchess

Who Really Rules: The ruling lord/lady and council of craftmasters & guild bosses.

Armed Forces: 5000 heavy infantry, 500 cavalry (pony riders), 300 giant eagle riders.

Temples:Dumathoin, Clanggeddin, Sharindlar, Abbathor, Marthammor Duin


32/41

32

Notable Organisations: The Seekers in the Sunlight: A benign, inquisitive, cheerful, and

optimistic order of priests and lore seekers dedicated to the recovery of lost and obscure

knowledge and then restoring and sharing it with all who care to listen and learn.

Notable Locations: Forge Soot Hall: Temple of Dugmaren - Is a sprawling complexe

crammed full of the detritus of countless experiments as well as artifacts collected on

extended sojourns to distant locales. At the center of the temple is a huge library housing a

large collection of rune stones plus the tomes and scrolls of other races. The temples alter

consists of a simple block of granite upon which sits a single ever-burning candle

symbolizing the quest for knowledge. Visiting scholars of any race are welcome to reside in

the temple for a night or even a tenday. The library is open to all and priests of Oghma are

especially welcome. There are rumours that much of the lore stored here has been

duplicated and sent to the libraries of Deep Shanatar and Candlekeep. Certainly scholars of

dwarven lore find the priests, lore seekers and scribes here most willing to share end

exchange knowledgefor a fee of course.

Local Lore: The northern most city of the empire, Mount Throndor is home to the Eagle

Lords & Ladies. Huge aeries are carved into the sheer rock walls of the three peaks of themountain. The dwarves and eagles came to an agreement long ago and now both thrive

upon this relationship of mutual protection and respect. Only the lightest and most lithe of

dwarves become riders, and many are considered mad by their more earthly cousins. From

Throndors great heights the riders patrol the lands of Thar and the eastern Moonsea acting

as scouts and messengers.

It was from here that the dwarves launched their campaign against the ogres and goblinoids

of Thar, the halls are covered in bas-relief carvings depicting the mighty deeds of heroes

past, chide amongst these are the two 200 high statues of Sarphils founders, Nilythra and

Raulauntar Namaforge that flank the entrance to the main hall. A mighty stair linkswatchtowers set upon each of the three peaks. From these dizzying heights the spiralling

stairs lead into the aeries and finally the halls and galleries deep within this honeycomb city.

A deep & cold sunless lake sits at the heart of the mountain fed by the perpetual snows of

the mountain peaks and melt water from the glacier high above. Blind cave fish, crabs, eels

and other less savoury creatures inhabit this body of water, and dwarven coracles made

from hollowed out giant mushrooms ply the waters providing a varied diet for the

inhabitants of the mountain. To the people of the mountain the Lake is known as The

Mirror in the Darkness, but to most its simply Darkmiir, a foreboding and evil pit filled with

the bones of the unwary deep beneath its cold unforgiving surface.

Mount Suncatcher mountsuncatcher

Population: 22300

Products:diamonds, rubies, emeralds, amethyst, geodes, jewellery, perfumes, wines, fruits

& vegetables, musical instruments, unusual pets, herbs, weapons & armour, rune cast magic

items.

Who Rules: The Sun Duke/Duchess & The Matriarch/Patriarch of Berronar

Who Really Rules:The ruling lord/lady and council of Elder Rune Casters.

Armed Forces: 600 Rune casters, 2500 heavy infantry, 150 cavalry (ponies), 50 eagle riders.

Temples: Dumathoin, Berronar, Haela Brightaxe, Marthammor Duin


33/41

33

Notable Organisations: The Order of the Silver Knightingale is a loosely structured order

composed primarily of physicians, medics, clerics, and specialty priests skilled in the art of

healing.

Notable Locations: The House of the Healing Hammers- this temple to Berronar consists of

a great wood and stone hall set atop a high platform recessed into the shear side of the

mountain. The grassy covered forecourt consists of a circle of stones, usually in a wooded in

Documents

Sarphil by Phasai-d2y467o