The Dalelands

The Dalelands, also referred to as the Dales, was a region in north Faerûn of dense forests and bountiful, rolling farmlands.1 It comprised a loosely-organized group of countries called dales that were as diverse as they were independent.

Geography

The Dalelands were located around and partially within the Cormanthor forest, west of the Sea of Fallen Stars. They were neighbored to the southwest by the kingdom of Cormyr, to the south by the nation of Sembia, and to northwest by the Desertsmouth Mountains and beyond them the Anauroch desert.

Major Geographical Features

• Arch Wood: Rumored to be haunted, this dark, dense forest was full of oak, ash and elm and home to ferocious owlbears.8 Its trees spanned the borders of Archendale, Deepingdale and Tasseldale and played a major role in the lives of their people, both socially and economically. Woodcutting was almost always prohibited, despite the constant pleas of Archendale during the annual Dales Council.9
• River Ashaba: This massive river flowed from the Desertsmouth Mountains, through nearly half the dales, over Feather Falls and into the Scar before emptying into the Dragon Reach fjord off the Sea of Fallen Stars.10 A number of villages and towns, including Feather Falls,11 Chandlerscross,12 and Scardale Town13 rested on or straddled this river and attributed at least part of their economy to its prominence throughout the dale, especially Featherdale.10
• Thunder Peaks: These massive mountains spanned the southern border of the dales, separating them from the nation of Cormyr. They were rich in copper and iron and mostly uninhabited, save for a few tribes of hobgoblins, hill giants,14 and the family of wyverns who took roost in one its tallest peaks.15 The mountains received their names from the year-round thunderstorms14 that would close Tilver's Gap and Thunder Gap with snow during the winter.

Climate

<TBD>

Fauna & Flora

In addition to their verdant valleys, that were rich with wheat, oat, and a variety of vegetables; the Dalelands were abundant with wildlife including game, fish and fowl. Sheep, pigs and cattle were often raised in the farmlands and the fields and forests were rich with rabbits, deer, bears and even woodchucks and porcupines.

Regions located further out from settlements, along the fringes of the dales, contained trolls and bands of bugbears.

Called out:

• dense forest was full of oak, ash and elm and home to ferocious owlbears
• tribes of hobgoblins, hill giants,14 and the family of wyverns

Type

Territory

Location under

The Heartlands

Included Organizations

• Dales Compact