Unapproachable East.pdf - The Forgotten Realms

and the easiest way for a visitor to gain their esteem is to put
up a good fight against the local champion. They consume an
immense amount of firewine (see Economy, below) and boast
that they drink more of it than any others in Rashemen.
MULSANYAAR PLATEAU
North of the Gorge of Gauros lies the Mulsanyaar Plateau, a
rugged land similar in appearance and topography to the
tharch of Gauros in Thay (see Chapter 11: Thay). The Mulsanyaar
is actually the northernmost arm of the Plateau of
Thay, but the great gorge divides the Rashemi portion from
the rest of the Thayan plateau like a moat twenty miles wide.
Few Rashemi live in this southerly reach of the High Country,
leaving the Mulsanyaar to the goblins that infest the
region. The Iron Lord details several warbands of berserkers
to keep the goblins in check and to watch for signs of Thayan
movement in the Gorge—even though the canyon is virtually
impassable, the zulkirs have tried to invade Rashemen by this
difficult path.
Under the lowering heights of Mount Omvulag stand the
black towers of Omvudurth, a sprawling citadel of crude dark
stone that marks the seat of the Omvurr, a great goblin chieftain.
The Omvurr (LE male goblin Bbn4/Ftr6) claims the
entire plateau as his realm, but in practice, his warriors steer
clear of the Rashemi berserkers.
Lake Ashane
This icy body of water is also known as the Lake of Tears for
the battles fought on its shores centuries ago between Narfell
and Raumathar (and more recently by the Rashemi
against the Red Wizards and the Tuigan Horde). Formed of
runoff from the Icerim Mountains and possibly carved by a
glacier, Lake Ashane is notorious for its cold even on the
hottest days of summer. The water itself is deep, blue, and
beautiful. Ashane has no surface outlets, but somewhere near
its deepest point (almost a mile below the surface) it drains
to a vast underground sea in an unexplored portion of the
Underdark.
The lake itself is inhabited by nixies, nymphs, native water
elementals, and telthor fish, which protect the waters against
those who would drain or defile them. Few other creatures are
present except a few cold-tolerant species of fish, for the
waters are too cold for most animals. The fey and telthors
serve a powerful animal spirit, although only they and the
Witches know its name and nature.
With the exception of one trade-town, Kront, the western
shore of the lake is unpopulated, mainly because of its horrible
weather. The Rashemi shore has more settlements, including
the large communities of Immilmar and Mulsantir
and many villages and hamlets scattered between them.
Most of the smaller communities survive by fishing the lake,
although gardening and small farms make them moderately
self-sufficient. Fishers take to the water in stout rowboats
or feluccas.
RASHEMEN
133
Terrible monsters crawl out of the Ashenwood to plague the
human settlements along the eastern shore. Because of these
frequent attacks, most nearby settlements have simple walls
and even watchtowers, with a higher proportion of combatready
men and women than usual. If a large number of monsters
attack, the townsfolk take to the water and harry the
invaders with arrows from boats.
Lake Mulsantir
Fed by three rivers, Lake Mulsantir is a turbulent muddle of
silty runoff, murky depths, and strange currents that can
overturn craft or suddenly sweep a person away. Its waters
flow north into Lake Ashane through a broad passage called
the River Mulsantir. Rashemen patrols the lake with magically
animated witchboats, piloted by hathrans. (See Chapter
5: Magic items for more information.) The Mulsantir is less
cold than the Ashane and contains more varieties of fish, so
many fisherfolk work here despite the dangers.
Thay used to battle Rashemen for control of the lake, but
Thay has less lumber than Rashemen, and the witchboats are
far more maneuverable than any vessels of the Red Wizards.
Thay eventually stopped aggressive action on the lake, preferring
to invade across the River Mulsantir to the north. The
Red Wizards dumped magically crossbred monsters into the
lake in hopes of upsetting the witchboats, but the currents and
cold made the monsters hug the southern shores and prey on
Thayan vessels and settlements, so they abandoned that practice.
Boats disappear more often here than even the difficult
waters would explain, so it is likely that some of these creatures
remain and occasionally surface to grab a snack before
retreating to the comforting darkness.
Lake Tirulag
This body of water lies in the center of the most populous portion
of Rashemen amid the nation’s major waterway. Its water
is cold and filled with hardy trout, crayfish, and other tasty
creatures, which provide sustenance and trade for a large
number of Rashemi. The tradesfolk who harvest the lake’s
bounty use typical Rashemi boats and ships, and they always
give the witchboats a wide berth, particularly empty ones
moving under magical guidance, performing unknown tasks
for the hathrans.
Lake Tirulag is not as deadly cold as the Ashane, and brave
or foolhardy Rashemi use the lake to prove their toughness
and endurance in bizarre competitions. They strip down to
nothing and swim about, with victory going to whoever remains
in the water the longest. Occasionally contestants die,
but normally the worst result is blue-tinged skin for a while.
These competitions are followed by feasts and drinking in
well-heated lodges throughout the night.
Great treasure is said to lie at the bottom of the lake, although
its source has many explanations. Some say it is wealth
seized from those foolish enough to attack the Witches; others
claim it is the secret hoard of a mad Nar wizard; and yet