Moonsea North
The Moonsea Region, also known as the Moonsea North, was a region in north Faerûn, dominated by the large sea after which it was named. It was a grim and wild frontier that was home to several city states dominated by evil despots, with no central capital to maintain order. While it was not necessarily a safe place to live, its settlers were driven, independent, and strong-willed people. Its central location between the untamed lands to the north, along with the rustic farming communities and powerful trading powers to the south fostered varied and contrasting communities that suffered much conflict and turbulence between their people.
Geography
The Moonsea region comprised the coastal lands around the sea from which it drew its name, and was considered the northernmost of the Eastern Heartlands. It was bordered on the northwest by the appropriately named Border Forest, to the north by the vast steppes of the Ride and the desolate lands of Thar, on the west and southwest by the Dalelands, and along the south by the expansive forest of Cormanthor.
Geographical Features
The Dragonspine Mountains in the northwest of the Moonsea, were rugged and bitterly cold, but rich in raw, natural resources, and home to the great River Tesh. To the west were untamed and sparsely inhabited hinterlands, the serene plains of the Grass Sea, and savage wetlands such as the Twilight Marsh. The marshlands were nearly entirely undevelopable; attempts to construct buildings and lay roads outside the major cities were futile, and all that could be found within were scattered ruins and sporadic farms, home to bands of ravaging humanoids and monstrous beasts. The Stojanow river and the Quivering Forest separated the western and eastern stretches of the Moonsea's north shore, acting as a barrier with Thar to the northeast.
Most of the southern shores of the Moonsea were lands of peace and natural beauty in comparison to the north. While the northern borders of Cormanthor lacked the raw, valuable riches of the Dragonspines, they were plentiful in lumber, which complemented the wealth of fish and sea life within the rivers that fed into the Moonsea itself. The beauteous and bountiful terrain came to and end as they reached the River Lis, east of which were the cold, cruel lands around the Bay of Mulmaster and its namesake city. South of these rough lands were the River Dalton, that formed from the fetid swamp known as the Flooded Forest.
Climate
The Moonsea climate could be described as harsh and cold. While not as cold as the Silver Marches to the west, the weather was significantly foul, enough to cause the seas to freeze over during the winter. People of the Moonsea were used to wearing cold-weather and other bulky clothes year-round.
The bitter, eastern shores around Mulmaster and the Earthspur Mountains were particularly harsh, as they were constantly battered by piercing winds and heavy snowfall. To add to the despair that permeated the land, the sky itself was black from pollution, a by-product of the industry of Melvaunt.
The turbulent waters of the actual sea were beset with constant storms. As unpleasant as the skies were over the waters, they were not nearly as foul as the black cloud of smoke that hung over the north shores above Melvaunt.
Tourism
North Coast
Settlements
These barren and deadly lands on the Moonsea's north shore were rampant goblinoid hordes, and polluted with the endless clouds of smoke of industry.21
- Melvaunt, located south of desolate Thar,27 this smoke-filled mercantile metropolis was a political hotbed and well-known hub of slave trade in the region.42.The lands surrounding the city proper were among the most dangerous in all of Faerûn.27
- Phlan, the small city at the mouth of the Stojanow River,89 that had been destroyed countless times by war and monsters, only to have been continuously rebuilt.63
- Thentia, a small, militarily weak city that retained fierce independence and strong trade71 in what was a harsh climate, both geographically, and politically.21
- Turell90
Landmarks
Crossing Inn • Gazzeth • Giant's Cairn • Grimshackle Jail • Hulburg • King's Pyre • Lone Tower • Point Monsea • Seawave Ruins • Sorcerer's Isle • Sulasspryn • Vig's Dock
West Branch
The most populated region of the Moonsea was also most rife with Zhentarim influence and Zhentilar occupation.91
Settlements
- Zhentil Keep, a widely influential city-state that was home to the infamous network of spies and manipulators known as the Zhentarim.43 Before having been twice destroyed,14 it was the oldest standing settlement within the region.92
- Hillsfar, the large mercantile city-state that was located on Tailings Bay on the southern coast of the Moonsea. It was a crucial hub of commerce and was home to important merchant-nobles and guild masters.1473
- Aleston, a small town with a brewery and mill.93
- Citadel of the Raven, the fortress-complex of interconnected towers and underground passageways was once shared by the powers of the Moonsea,52 before becoming a seat of power and symbol for the Black Network.94
- Elventree, a small Sylvan settlement that was established shortly after the fall of Myth Drannor that was intended as a place where elves could safely meet with their non-elven allies.9596
- Hillpicket, one of several small farming villages.97
- The Stop, a minor caravan stop situated on the Tradeway.98
- Teshwave, while officially this city was under the jurisdiction of Teshendale, it eventually under sway of Zhent influence.89
- Voonlar, an apparent independent barony that acted as the chief rival to the town of Shadowdale.89 The city was in fact under Zhentarim control for quite some time.43
- Yûlash, The city-upon-a-plateau was once an important city but fell into decline over the centuries.4399100
Landmarks
Chamber of Spells Guarded • Elua's Lighthouse • The Maiden's Loss • Scarp • Seat of Bane • Shrine to Tempus • Tinfellow Valley • Waydown • Wizard's labyrinth
South Coast
The desolate lands on the southeastern shores of the Moonsea were secluded away from the rest.2017
- Mulmaster, a crime-ravaged metropolis on the southern shore was seen as a distinctly evil place.45 After decades of influence from the Zhentarim,89 it had by the 15th century become the home for worship for the god Bane.46
- Elmwood, a small farming community that was one of the rare locales of peace and serenity.73101
- Ironfang Keep: This ominous keep, of unknown origin,10240 was long-rumored to be home to a school of dark and powerful wizards.103
Landmarks
Dalton's lighthouse • Drowned Tower • Harr's Hold • Lis Ruins • Point Iron • The Retreat
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