Post by thedungeonmaster on May 25, 2009 17:59:38 GMT 8
This update is based on what I know of the Forgotten Realms. It seems that Faerun is just a part of continent larger than what we know it is. And based on what I have gathered, the Forgotten Realms campaign setting hosts more, much more, than what is currently present in the FR Campaign Guide.
First and foremost, please remember that the Nentir Vale is a location I have planted into the lands of Faerun.
The world of the Forgotten Realms is actually known as Toril. Toril has a twin world known as Abeir. During the Spellplague in 1385DR Year of the Blue Fire [your adventures are currently held in 1479DR Year of the Ageless One]; it seems that the destructive waves caused by the Spellplague had brought the twin worlds together and lands from each world were switched and transposed on each other.
Before the Spellplague, Toril consists of a large continent; with Faerun on the west.
Kara-Tur
To the east of continent across a large vast unchartered land lies the realms of Kara-Tur. Kara-Tur is a place for oriental adventures as they have cities like Shou Lung and an island Kozakura. Kara- Tur was designed to represent the real world countries like Japan, China, Tibet and etc. And it’s in Kara-Tur where you will meet samurais and ronins; and dragons of oriental origins.
Zakhara
On the south of the same land mass, separated from Faerun by another vast land area and also the Roof of the World; a large mountain range [something like the Himalayas]; is the region of Zakhara [or known as the Land of Fate]. Zakhara is a campaign setting for Arabian Nights – inspired adventures; flying carpets, genies in bottles and guards under the Caliph all come alive.
Therefore, Faerun, Kara-Tur and Zakhara is one big mass of continent. To the west of Faerun across the continent of Anchorome.
Anchorome
The following excerpt is lifted from the Wikipedia encyclopedia
Anchorome is the equivalent of North America, and as such could be translated as real-world's Vinland from the vikings. It is almost unexplored and is at the North of Maztica. Its best-known inhabitants are the Azuposi (a Pueblo-like people), as well as the defunct Esh Alakarans and the xenophobic Poscadar elves (Native American-style shamanic elves. They are so xenophobic they did not even speak with the ambassador from Evermeet — this may have been inspired by the Skræling). There is also a sahuagin realm called Itzcali located in the sea nearby.
Maztica
South of Anchorome is the continent of Maztica.
The following excerpt is lifted from the Wikipedia encyclopedia
Maztica, called by its inhabitants The True World, is a fictional continent that parallels the American continents in the time of their discovery by Christopher Columbus, more exactly Mesoamerica, albeit confused with the whole “western lands” (like the Americas). The Maztica Campaign books provide a mythical setting where players can imagine their characters traveling for adventure. They describe a mythical civilization similar to the Aztec, Incan, Toltec, or Mayan cultures.
West from Faerûn, across the Sea of Swords, the Trackless Sea, and 'Tayola' the Eastern Ocean, Maztica is a land of jungles and (to the Faerûnians) mystery. Early in its history it was a land fought over by the gods Qotal the Plumed Serpent and his brother Zaltec. For a crime against his sister, Qotal retreated from Maztica for an age but returned in recent times.
It was 'discovered' by Amnian explorers led by one Captain-general Cordell and his Golden Legion in 1361 DR. Amn was quick to carve out its claim to the land for trade benefits, establishing the port city of Helmsport, and the church of Helm led the encroachment into the new land. The native peoples were devastated by foreign diseases and the ruthlessness of the invaders, and this, coupled with the difficulties encountered on Maztica backfiring against them, caused the church of Helm to come under heavy criticism. It has to be noted that Lantan also claimed some lands.
Maztica is divided into the nations of Nexal, Kultaka, Huacli, Kolan, Pezelac, and Payit. The region known as Far Payit neighbours Payit, both in the east around Helmsport. The native people of Maztica from Payit and Far Payit are known as Payits, whereas natives from the other nations are known as Mazticans. There are also the human races known as the Dog People and the Green Folk. Many monstrous races also live in Maztica, including wild halflings and Chacs—jaguar spirits. In very old times, Couatl came from Maztica to fight the Yuan-Ti of Chult.
Some scorpionfolk from Maztica found an Underdark passage to the Underdark of Faerûn.
Katashaka
South of Maztica is the continent of Katashaka modelled to resemble the environments of Africa.
There is one more continent – Osse which I can’t really find information on. So, if you notice, the continents on Toril are seriously reflections of the real world that we live in.
The lands after the Spellplague
However, when the Spellplague occurred, and land masses changed between the worlds of Toril and Abeir, Maztica was removed from the world of Toril, and is believed to have been moved to the world of Abeir. [Think of it as a very massive conjunction that occurred.] In return, a continent replaced Maztica in Toril, known as Returned Abeir. In fact, some land masses in Faerun itself were replaced by land masses from Abeir, places like Akanul.
Due to the Spellplague and the cataclysmic events that shook both worlds, dragonborn and genasi were brought from Abeir into Toril.
However, there is no information on what happened to the lands of Kara-Tur and Zakhara, or even the continent of Anchorome, Katashaka and Osse. Probably they would have been affected by the Spellplague too. But even then, there is no information in the FR Campaign Guide that denotes what has happened.
Hopefully, there will be campaign material released at least for the other parts of the continent Faerun is on – Zakhara and Kara-Tur.
Therefore, now I can see why the Forgotten Realms has been chosen almost as the generic world for 4th Ed D&D. Due to its vibrant cultures and lands, it is possible to give a reason why your PC can exist in the world of Toril. Imagine the monk PCs that Elijin had always wanted to draft, they could easily be distant travellers from Kara-Tur.
But at this point of time, I am just sticking to information in the FR Campaign Guide and restricting adventures within Faerun.
And as if Toril isn’t enough, there are 7 other planets orbiting Toril, in addition to the moon – Selune. The 7 planets are dusky Anadia, green Coliar, blue Karpri and Chandos, ringed Glyth, odd-shaped Garden, and disk-shaped H’Catha.
All these exist within the same plane… that Prime Material Plane. Adventures within these plane can last endless Level 1 – 30 campaigns…
And we have the Astral Sea, the Elemental Chaos, Feywild, Shadowfell, Underdark, and the demiplanes [one of which will be the Ravenloft setting].
In a previous post, I mentioned about players getting the Forgotten Realms PG, because I mentioned I will be sticking to this campaign world. Now, with this new influx of information, and the endless possibilities of adventuring in other kinds of themed campaigns like Kara-Tur and Zakhara, I will be sticking to the Forgotten Realms in a long time to come.
It would do you good to get the Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide and to read up not only the game technics in the book, but also the history and lands of Faerun.
First and foremost, please remember that the Nentir Vale is a location I have planted into the lands of Faerun.
The world of the Forgotten Realms is actually known as Toril. Toril has a twin world known as Abeir. During the Spellplague in 1385DR Year of the Blue Fire [your adventures are currently held in 1479DR Year of the Ageless One]; it seems that the destructive waves caused by the Spellplague had brought the twin worlds together and lands from each world were switched and transposed on each other.
Before the Spellplague, Toril consists of a large continent; with Faerun on the west.
Kara-Tur
To the east of continent across a large vast unchartered land lies the realms of Kara-Tur. Kara-Tur is a place for oriental adventures as they have cities like Shou Lung and an island Kozakura. Kara- Tur was designed to represent the real world countries like Japan, China, Tibet and etc. And it’s in Kara-Tur where you will meet samurais and ronins; and dragons of oriental origins.
Zakhara
On the south of the same land mass, separated from Faerun by another vast land area and also the Roof of the World; a large mountain range [something like the Himalayas]; is the region of Zakhara [or known as the Land of Fate]. Zakhara is a campaign setting for Arabian Nights – inspired adventures; flying carpets, genies in bottles and guards under the Caliph all come alive.
Therefore, Faerun, Kara-Tur and Zakhara is one big mass of continent. To the west of Faerun across the continent of Anchorome.
Anchorome
The following excerpt is lifted from the Wikipedia encyclopedia
Anchorome is the equivalent of North America, and as such could be translated as real-world's Vinland from the vikings. It is almost unexplored and is at the North of Maztica. Its best-known inhabitants are the Azuposi (a Pueblo-like people), as well as the defunct Esh Alakarans and the xenophobic Poscadar elves (Native American-style shamanic elves. They are so xenophobic they did not even speak with the ambassador from Evermeet — this may have been inspired by the Skræling). There is also a sahuagin realm called Itzcali located in the sea nearby.
Maztica
South of Anchorome is the continent of Maztica.
The following excerpt is lifted from the Wikipedia encyclopedia
Maztica, called by its inhabitants The True World, is a fictional continent that parallels the American continents in the time of their discovery by Christopher Columbus, more exactly Mesoamerica, albeit confused with the whole “western lands” (like the Americas). The Maztica Campaign books provide a mythical setting where players can imagine their characters traveling for adventure. They describe a mythical civilization similar to the Aztec, Incan, Toltec, or Mayan cultures.
West from Faerûn, across the Sea of Swords, the Trackless Sea, and 'Tayola' the Eastern Ocean, Maztica is a land of jungles and (to the Faerûnians) mystery. Early in its history it was a land fought over by the gods Qotal the Plumed Serpent and his brother Zaltec. For a crime against his sister, Qotal retreated from Maztica for an age but returned in recent times.
It was 'discovered' by Amnian explorers led by one Captain-general Cordell and his Golden Legion in 1361 DR. Amn was quick to carve out its claim to the land for trade benefits, establishing the port city of Helmsport, and the church of Helm led the encroachment into the new land. The native peoples were devastated by foreign diseases and the ruthlessness of the invaders, and this, coupled with the difficulties encountered on Maztica backfiring against them, caused the church of Helm to come under heavy criticism. It has to be noted that Lantan also claimed some lands.
Maztica is divided into the nations of Nexal, Kultaka, Huacli, Kolan, Pezelac, and Payit. The region known as Far Payit neighbours Payit, both in the east around Helmsport. The native people of Maztica from Payit and Far Payit are known as Payits, whereas natives from the other nations are known as Mazticans. There are also the human races known as the Dog People and the Green Folk. Many monstrous races also live in Maztica, including wild halflings and Chacs—jaguar spirits. In very old times, Couatl came from Maztica to fight the Yuan-Ti of Chult.
Some scorpionfolk from Maztica found an Underdark passage to the Underdark of Faerûn.
Katashaka
South of Maztica is the continent of Katashaka modelled to resemble the environments of Africa.
There is one more continent – Osse which I can’t really find information on. So, if you notice, the continents on Toril are seriously reflections of the real world that we live in.
The lands after the Spellplague
However, when the Spellplague occurred, and land masses changed between the worlds of Toril and Abeir, Maztica was removed from the world of Toril, and is believed to have been moved to the world of Abeir. [Think of it as a very massive conjunction that occurred.] In return, a continent replaced Maztica in Toril, known as Returned Abeir. In fact, some land masses in Faerun itself were replaced by land masses from Abeir, places like Akanul.
Due to the Spellplague and the cataclysmic events that shook both worlds, dragonborn and genasi were brought from Abeir into Toril.
However, there is no information on what happened to the lands of Kara-Tur and Zakhara, or even the continent of Anchorome, Katashaka and Osse. Probably they would have been affected by the Spellplague too. But even then, there is no information in the FR Campaign Guide that denotes what has happened.
Hopefully, there will be campaign material released at least for the other parts of the continent Faerun is on – Zakhara and Kara-Tur.
Therefore, now I can see why the Forgotten Realms has been chosen almost as the generic world for 4th Ed D&D. Due to its vibrant cultures and lands, it is possible to give a reason why your PC can exist in the world of Toril. Imagine the monk PCs that Elijin had always wanted to draft, they could easily be distant travellers from Kara-Tur.
But at this point of time, I am just sticking to information in the FR Campaign Guide and restricting adventures within Faerun.
And as if Toril isn’t enough, there are 7 other planets orbiting Toril, in addition to the moon – Selune. The 7 planets are dusky Anadia, green Coliar, blue Karpri and Chandos, ringed Glyth, odd-shaped Garden, and disk-shaped H’Catha.
All these exist within the same plane… that Prime Material Plane. Adventures within these plane can last endless Level 1 – 30 campaigns…
And we have the Astral Sea, the Elemental Chaos, Feywild, Shadowfell, Underdark, and the demiplanes [one of which will be the Ravenloft setting].
In a previous post, I mentioned about players getting the Forgotten Realms PG, because I mentioned I will be sticking to this campaign world. Now, with this new influx of information, and the endless possibilities of adventuring in other kinds of themed campaigns like Kara-Tur and Zakhara, I will be sticking to the Forgotten Realms in a long time to come.
It would do you good to get the Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide and to read up not only the game technics in the book, but also the history and lands of Faerun.