Cormanthor Forest

The Cormanthor Forest (also known as the Elven Woods) is a vast and ancient woodland in north-central Faerûn, steeped in magic, history, and danger. It serves as a central feature of the Dalelands, including Shadowdale, and is a remnant of the once-mighty elven empire of Cormanthyr.

the Cormanthor Forest (also known as the Elven Woods) is a vast and ancient woodland in north-central Faerûn, steeped in magic, history, and danger. It serves as a central feature of the Dalelands, including Shadowdale, and is a remnant of the once-mighty elven empire of Cormanthyr.

Geography and Scope

The Cormanthor Forest spans a massive area in the heart of Faerûn, bordered by the Dalelands to the west and north, the Moonsea to the north, the Dragon Reach and Sea of Fallen Stars to the east, and the lands of Sembia and Cormyr to the south. It stretches roughly 600 miles east to west and 300 miles north to south, covering thousands of square miles. The forest is dense with ancient trees—towering oaks, shadowtops, and weirwoods—some over a thousand years old, their canopies forming a thick, emerald roof that blocks much sunlight, creating a twilight-like atmosphere on the forest floor.

Key geographical features include:

• Rivers: The Ashaba River flows through the western edge near Shadowdale, while the River Elvenflow marks the northern boundary, connecting the Moonsea to the Dragon Reach.
• Clearings and Glades: Scattered elven glades, like the Vale of Lost Voices, serve as sacred sites or burial grounds, often guarded by fey or magical wards.
• Ruins: The forest is littered with remnants of Cormanthyr, including the ruined city of Myth Drannor, once the capital of the elven empire, now a magnet for adventurers and monsters.
• The Elven Court: The spiritual and political heart of Cormanthyr, located deep within the forest, where the remaining elves maintain their traditions.

The forest’s terrain varies from tangled undergrowth and swampy hollows to rocky hills and hidden valleys, making travel difficult without a guide or magical aid.

History

The Cormanthor Forest has a rich history tied to the elves of Cormanthyr, detailed in Cormanthyr: Empire of the Elves:

• Ancient Origins: Over 12,000 years ago, the forest was home to the first elven settlers, who named it Arcorar, meaning “Great Forest.” They established the kingdom of Cormanthyr, a golden age of elven culture, magic, and harmony with nature.
• Myth Drannor’s Founding (–261 DR): The city of Myth Drannor (originally Cormanthor) was founded as a beacon of unity, opening its gates to non-elves (humans, dwarves, halflings) under the leadership of the Coronal, the elven ruler. It became a center of magical learning, rivaling Netheril, with wonders like mythals (city-wide protective enchantments).
• The Weeping War (711–714 DR): A massive demon invasion, summoned by drow and other foes, devastated Myth Drannor. The city fell in 714 DR, leaving it a haunted ruin overrun by fiends, monsters, and treasure hunters. The Weeping War decimated Cormanthyr’s population, forcing many elves to retreat to the Elven Court or flee to Evermeet.
• Post-Fall (1372 DR): By the 3E timeline, Cormanthor is a shadow of its former glory. The Elven Court remains a sanctuary for the remaining moon elves, sun elves, and wood elves, who are fiercely protective of their lands. The forest is now a dangerous wilderness, with Myth Drannor’s ruins a focal point for adventurers seeking its lost treasures.

Inhabitants

The Cormanthor Forest is a melting pot of creatures, both benign and malevolent, reflecting its ancient magic and turbulent history:

• Elves: The forest’s primary inhabitants are the remaining elves of Cormanthyr, including:
• Moon Elves: The majority, known for their adaptability and love of travel, often found in the Elven Court or smaller settlements like Semberholme.
• Sun Elves: More reclusive and proud, focusing on preserving ancient magic.
• Wood Elves: Isolationist and attuned to the forest, living in hidden groves. Elves patrol the forest, using guerrilla tactics to fend off intruders. They are wary of outsiders, especially after Myth Drannor’s fall, but may ally with those who prove trustworthy.
• Fey: Dryads, pixies, and treants guard sacred glades, often tied to the worship of Mielikki, Silvanus, or Rillifane Rallathil (elven god of nature).
• Monsters: The forest is home to dangerous creatures:
• Drow: Descendants of the dark elves who contributed to Myth Drannor’s fall, they lurk in the Underdark beneath the forest, emerging to raid or plot. The Twisted Tower in Shadowdale was once a drow stronghold.
• Demons and Devils: Fiends summoned during the Weeping War still haunt Myth Drannor, bound by ancient magic.
• Dragons: Green and black dragons lair in the forest’s depths, hoarding elven treasures.
• Beholders and Illithids: Aberrations seek Myth Drannor’s magical artifacts, clashing with adventurers.
• Adventurers and Bandits: Treasure hunters, Harper agents, and Zhentarim operatives roam the forest, seeking Myth Drannor’s riches or elven secrets. Bandits prey on travelers along the forest’s edges.
• Animals and Magical Beasts: Dire wolves, owlbears, and unicorns roam the woods, alongside natural wildlife like deer and hawks.

Culture and Society

The elves of Cormanthor maintain a fractured but proud society, centered on the Elven Court:

• The Elven Court: A hidden city of tree-top dwellings, protected by illusions and mythal-like wards. It serves as the seat of the Coronal, the elven ruler (circa 1372 DR, the Coronal is Ilsenine Olortynnal), who leads with a council of noble houses. The Court is a place of art, music, and magic, but its elves are isolationist, focused on preserving their culture.
• Religion: Elves worship the Seldarine, the elven pantheon, including:
• Corellon Larethian: God of elves, magic, and beauty.
• Rillifane Rallathil: God of nature and the forest.
• Labelas Enoreth: God of time and history, revered by lorekeepers. Non-elves in the forest often honor Mielikki or Silvanus, while evil beings may worship Lolth (drow) or Talos.
• Relations with Outsiders: Elves are distrustful of humans, blaming them for Myth Drannor’s fall, but they honor the Dales Compact (1 DR), allowing human settlement in the Dalelands in exchange for protecting the forest. In Shadowdale, elves occasionally trade at the Old Skull Inn, but tensions remain.

Magic and Artifacts

Cormanthor is a nexus of ancient magic, much of it tied to the elves’ legacy:

• Mythals: Protective enchantments, like the one over Myth Drannor, still linger, though damaged. They can enhance magic, repel evil, or empower defenders, but many are corrupted, spawning wild magic zones.
• Artifacts: Myth Drannor holds legendary items like the Scepter of the Sorcerer-Kings (an Imaskari rod amplifying magic) or the Moonblades, sentient elven swords that choose their wielders. The Nether Scrolls, fragments of which are hidden in the ruins, grant godlike arcane knowledge.
• Spellfire: As discussed previously, spellfire wielders like Shandril Shessair were drawn to Cormanthor, and its raw magic may still linger in the forest’s depths, possibly tied to Myth Drannor’s mythal.

Summary

The Cormanthor Forest is an ancient, magical woodland in the Forgotten Realms, a remnant of the elven empire of Cormanthyr. By 1372 DR, it is a dangerous wilderness, home to reclusive elves, fey, drow, demons, and dragons, with the ruins of Myth Drannor as its dark heart. Its western edge borders Shadowdale, making the village a gateway for adventurers seeking the forest’s secrets. Cormanthor’s blend of natural beauty, ancient magic, and lurking perils makes it a rich backdrop for 3E campaigns, offering endless opportunities for exploration, combat, and intrigue in the Dalelands