The Sword Coast
The Sword Coast was an expansive tract of wilderness, dotted with independent cities and overrun by bands of monstrous creatures, that some saw as merely a place through which you had to travel in order to reach an actual meaningful destination. It was much more than that of course, a rich and vibrant land with a long and storied history that encompassed some of the most important cities in all the Realms.
It was considered one of the rougher locales of Faerûn, both geographically and by virtue of its people.
Some say the Sword Coast took its name from the white cliffs that rose up sharply for hundreds of miles along the coastline between the River Dessarin and Baldur's Gate. Traveling author Volothamp Geddarm attributed the region's name to its dangerous inhabitants, both humanoid and bestial.[1]
It was considered one of the rougher locales of Faerûn, both geographically and by virtue of its people.
Some say the Sword Coast took its name from the white cliffs that rose up sharply for hundreds of miles along the coastline between the River Dessarin and Baldur's Gate. Traveling author Volothamp Geddarm attributed the region's name to its dangerous inhabitants, both humanoid and bestial.[1]
Geography
While scholars disagreed as to the exact borders of the Sword Coast, it was generally considered to have been bordered by the merchant nation of Amn in the south, and in the north by Waterdeep the Delimbiyr Vale. Some guides considered it to begin south at Candlekeep and continued all the way north until the city of Luskan, though most other cartographers and writers shared the former opinion on the matter, designating the coastal lands north of Waterdeep as the separate Sword Coast North.
Geographical Features
The landscape of the coastal lands varied from the verdant fields along much the Coast Way to the dangerous badlands found north of the Chionthar. The River Chionthar was vital to trade all throughout the Western Heartlands, linking the great port of Baldur's Gate with other inland cities including Elturel, Iriaebor, Berdusk, and the ever-important Caravan City of the West, Scornubel.
Bodies of Water
River Chionthar, the great river that ran across the Heartlands was vital for commerce in the region, serving as a trade route between a half dozen major cities. Lizard Marsh, a seemingly-endless stretch of fetid wetlands infested by lizardfolk tribes, otherwise seldom-encountered dinosaurs, and even the terrifying black dragons. Sea of Swords, the coastal waters of the Trackless Sea that bordered and were named after the Sword Coast. Winding Water, a long waterway that twisted through the stretch of Wilderness between the Troll Hills and the River Chionthar.
Caves & Caverns
Lykortha Expanse, a network of fungi-filled caves that was touched by the influence of the demon lord Zuggtmoy.
Forests
Cloak Wood, an old and overgrown forest was home to many fearsome monsters, malevolent fey, and portals linking it to other locales across the continent. Trollbark Forest, the dense and overgrown forest that – as it's name suggested – were infested with trolls.
Hills & Mountains
Sword's Teeth, the precarious sheer cliffside that lined the coast for miles upon miles. Troll Hills, a collection of hills south of the similarly forest that remained an extension of shared territory of the troll tribes. Trollclaws, a grouping of hills that held within it many monstrous creatures including the horrific tall mouthers, along with even more trolls. Wild Hills, the stretch of barren land south of Daggerford.
Geographical Features
The landscape of the coastal lands varied from the verdant fields along much the Coast Way to the dangerous badlands found north of the Chionthar. The River Chionthar was vital to trade all throughout the Western Heartlands, linking the great port of Baldur's Gate with other inland cities including Elturel, Iriaebor, Berdusk, and the ever-important Caravan City of the West, Scornubel.
Bodies of Water
River Chionthar, the great river that ran across the Heartlands was vital for commerce in the region, serving as a trade route between a half dozen major cities. Lizard Marsh, a seemingly-endless stretch of fetid wetlands infested by lizardfolk tribes, otherwise seldom-encountered dinosaurs, and even the terrifying black dragons. Sea of Swords, the coastal waters of the Trackless Sea that bordered and were named after the Sword Coast. Winding Water, a long waterway that twisted through the stretch of Wilderness between the Troll Hills and the River Chionthar.
Caves & Caverns
Lykortha Expanse, a network of fungi-filled caves that was touched by the influence of the demon lord Zuggtmoy.
Forests
Cloak Wood, an old and overgrown forest was home to many fearsome monsters, malevolent fey, and portals linking it to other locales across the continent. Trollbark Forest, the dense and overgrown forest that – as it's name suggested – were infested with trolls.
Hills & Mountains
Sword's Teeth, the precarious sheer cliffside that lined the coast for miles upon miles. Troll Hills, a collection of hills south of the similarly forest that remained an extension of shared territory of the troll tribes. Trollclaws, a grouping of hills that held within it many monstrous creatures including the horrific tall mouthers, along with even more trolls. Wild Hills, the stretch of barren land south of Daggerford.
Fauna & Flora
Because much of the coastland was still relatively untamed wilderness, it was rich with game: rabbits and fowl including grouse, bustards, and rock doves, could be hunted in abundance.
History
Tens of thousands of years before the Era of Upheaval, the Sword Coast was dominated by the ancient elven kingdom of Illefarn.
During the Age of the Proud Peoples,circa -4974 DR, the dwarven realm of Haunghdannar emerged as a power of the Sword Coast. It remained active for over 1500 years before rapidly falling into decline for reasons lost to time.
The elves of land secured a great victory against the orc hordes when they routed the armies of Gluthtor in the Year of the Shattered Skulls, 225 DR.
Delimbiyran the Kingdom of Man arose within the northern lands of the Sword Coast during the early 6th century DR. It continued for nearly two hundred years until the Year of the Triton's Horn, 697 DR, when riots broke out across the cities, subsequently leading to the martyrdom of the Sharran priestess Lalondra and the assassination of King Davyd. The kingdom's dissolution saw the formation of numerous lesser realms and the founding of new cities and settlements.
A devastating plague spread throughout the Sword Coast in the Year of the Scourge, 1150 DR. Worship of Talona soared in the wake of the disaster.
14th Century
The people of the Sword suffered years of strife during the onset of the Era of Upheaval. The First Dragonspear War broke out in the Year of the Worm, 1356 DR, and saw the armies of Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate fighting back against goblinoid and fiendish forces that poured out from a portal beneath Dragonspear Castle. Interestingly enough, this conflict led to a swell in the tiefling population in the region.
The Second Dragonspear War broke out a mere seven years later, following the Realms-wide catastrophe of the year-long Time of Troubles. The battles of this conflict far eclipsed the first, calling to arms a coalition of united dwarves, elves, soldiers from Daggerford, along with Waterdhavian forces, some of whom fought in the first Dragonspear conflict. For two years the people of the Sword Coast were forced to defend themselves from the forces of the Nine Hells in battles across their homeland and even at the gates of their cities. The losses were much greater than before however; many of the coasts' people suffered great loss and the collective trauma took its toll on many.
While the Sword Coast enjoyed a brief reprieve for a few years, the ever-looming threat of war arose again in the Year of the Banner, 1368 DR. The organization known as the Iron Throne manipulated the availability and quality of iron, while simultaneously hiring bandits to ambush any caravans bearing iron or weapon shipments, in a series of events that came to be known as the Iron Crisis. These events were revealed to be a piece the political machinations of the charismatic Iron Throne leader Sarevok Anchev and were put to a stop before the year's end.
Before the end of the year, war and chaos did finally erupt for the third time in less than a decade and a half. The charismatic aasimar paladin Caelar Argent raised the Shining Crusade army and marched her followers to the ruins of Dragonspear Castle, claiming she could bring back the souls of those that died in the previous wars. Innocent bystanders fled from small towns and farmlands along the crusade's path of conquest and sought safety from nearby cities and fortifications. The profound migration of people created a refugee crisis in the fortified city Baldur's Gate. Caelar Argent's crusade was finally put to an end at the decisive battle at Dragonspear Castle, when Caelar Argent and a group of adventurers entered into the Nine Hells themselves.
15th Century
Circa the early 1470s DR, a movement to resurrect the glory of ancient Illefarn emerged among the wood elf communities along the coast. These efforts were led by Alagarthas, the son of King Melandrach of the Misty Forest.
In the Year of Three Ships Sailing, 1492 DR, the saprophytic plague ravaged areas of the Sword Coast. Many people and animals, along with massive stores of foodstuffs were afflicted by the mysterious fungal disease. It finally ended when a group of adventurers investigated its source and destroyed its creator.
The elves of land secured a great victory against the orc hordes when they routed the armies of Gluthtor in the Year of the Shattered Skulls, 225 DR.
Delimbiyran the Kingdom of Man arose within the northern lands of the Sword Coast during the early 6th century DR. It continued for nearly two hundred years until the Year of the Triton's Horn, 697 DR, when riots broke out across the cities, subsequently leading to the martyrdom of the Sharran priestess Lalondra and the assassination of King Davyd. The kingdom's dissolution saw the formation of numerous lesser realms and the founding of new cities and settlements.
A devastating plague spread throughout the Sword Coast in the Year of the Scourge, 1150 DR. Worship of Talona soared in the wake of the disaster.
14th Century
The people of the Sword suffered years of strife during the onset of the Era of Upheaval. The First Dragonspear War broke out in the Year of the Worm, 1356 DR, and saw the armies of Waterdeep and Baldur's Gate fighting back against goblinoid and fiendish forces that poured out from a portal beneath Dragonspear Castle. Interestingly enough, this conflict led to a swell in the tiefling population in the region.
The Second Dragonspear War broke out a mere seven years later, following the Realms-wide catastrophe of the year-long Time of Troubles. The battles of this conflict far eclipsed the first, calling to arms a coalition of united dwarves, elves, soldiers from Daggerford, along with Waterdhavian forces, some of whom fought in the first Dragonspear conflict. For two years the people of the Sword Coast were forced to defend themselves from the forces of the Nine Hells in battles across their homeland and even at the gates of their cities. The losses were much greater than before however; many of the coasts' people suffered great loss and the collective trauma took its toll on many.
While the Sword Coast enjoyed a brief reprieve for a few years, the ever-looming threat of war arose again in the Year of the Banner, 1368 DR. The organization known as the Iron Throne manipulated the availability and quality of iron, while simultaneously hiring bandits to ambush any caravans bearing iron or weapon shipments, in a series of events that came to be known as the Iron Crisis. These events were revealed to be a piece the political machinations of the charismatic Iron Throne leader Sarevok Anchev and were put to a stop before the year's end.
Before the end of the year, war and chaos did finally erupt for the third time in less than a decade and a half. The charismatic aasimar paladin Caelar Argent raised the Shining Crusade army and marched her followers to the ruins of Dragonspear Castle, claiming she could bring back the souls of those that died in the previous wars. Innocent bystanders fled from small towns and farmlands along the crusade's path of conquest and sought safety from nearby cities and fortifications. The profound migration of people created a refugee crisis in the fortified city Baldur's Gate. Caelar Argent's crusade was finally put to an end at the decisive battle at Dragonspear Castle, when Caelar Argent and a group of adventurers entered into the Nine Hells themselves.
15th Century
Circa the early 1470s DR, a movement to resurrect the glory of ancient Illefarn emerged among the wood elf communities along the coast. These efforts were led by Alagarthas, the son of King Melandrach of the Misty Forest.
In the Year of Three Ships Sailing, 1492 DR, the saprophytic plague ravaged areas of the Sword Coast. Many people and animals, along with massive stores of foodstuffs were afflicted by the mysterious fungal disease. It finally ended when a group of adventurers investigated its source and destroyed its creator.
Maps
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The Sword Coast
The Sword Coast was an expansive tract of wilderness, dotted with independent cities and overrun by bands of monstrous creatures, that some saw as merely a place through which you had to travel in order to reach an actual meaningful destination. It was much more than that of course, a rich and vibrant land with a long and storied history that encompassed some of the most important cities in all the Realms. It was considered one of the rougher locales of Faerûn, both geographically and by virtue of its people. Some say the Sword Coast took its name from the white cliffs that rose up sharply for hundreds of miles along the coastline between the River Dessarin and Baldur's Gate. Traveling author Volothamp Geddarm attributed the region's name to its dangerous inhabitants, both humanoid and bestial.
Alternative Name(s)
The Empty Lands
Type
Coast / Shore
Location under
Included Locations
Included Organizations
Official D&D Sources:
Sword Coast Aventurer's GuideOther Sources:
Fandom