Unapproachable East.pdf - The Forgotten Realms
Unapproachable East.pdf - The Forgotten Realms
Unapproachable East.pdf - The Forgotten Realms
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others believe it is a gift from the spirits of the land for<br />
anyone brave enough to claim it. <strong>The</strong> treasure remains unclaimed<br />
because its exact location is unknown, and a creature<br />
known as the ice dragon guards it. No one knows its exact<br />
nature, but it is probably a mutant aquatic white dragon with<br />
ice-clear scales that make it almost impossible to see without<br />
magic. Strange patches of ice appear on the surface of the lake<br />
at all times of the year, usually with a hapless foreigner frozen<br />
to death inside, a victim of the dragon’s icy breath. <strong>The</strong> creature<br />
is under the control of the hathrans, or at least acknowledges<br />
their power, and leaves normal Rashemi alone.<br />
<strong>The</strong> North Country<br />
Spoken of as if it were a different land, the North Country accounts<br />
for almost two-thirds of Rashemen’s territory. <strong>The</strong> site<br />
of many battles between old Narfell and Raumathar, the place<br />
is scattered with old ruins and decrepit fortresses of those dead<br />
empires. Rashemi nobles explore these dangerous sites to prove<br />
their bravery and bring back great treasures. Few survive, but<br />
the reward of ancient treasure is worth the great risk.<br />
Few people live in the North Country. Those who do inhabit<br />
small, isolated farming settlements as far as possible from the<br />
nearest ruin. <strong>The</strong> local people have many stories about the<br />
ruins and those who explored them, but only a handful of<br />
these describe nobles returning laden with gold, weapons, and<br />
magic. Rumors about the nearby sites are almost always tales<br />
handed down from earlier generations, for no sensible<br />
person would approach such places.<br />
THE RING OF GRAY FLAMES<br />
Raumathari ruins are usually clusters of tall towers, most of<br />
which are fallen or severely damaged. Guarded by lethal and<br />
large-scale battle-spells, some leach magic into the nearby area,<br />
creating odd effects and mutating natural creatures. <strong>The</strong>ir<br />
treasures are usually spells designed to slaughter large numbers<br />
of foes or items that augment sorcerers’ magic. One ruin,<br />
called the Towers of Smoke by the nearby villagers, constantly<br />
leaks a plume of deadly vapors (equivalent to a cloudkill spell)<br />
and is said to be guarded by iron golems of many sizes.<br />
<strong>The</strong> most famous ruin is the Ring of Gray Flames, a circle<br />
of five narrow towers, each with a harsh gray fire burning<br />
atop it. <strong>The</strong> flame emits only a feeble light but disrupts divine<br />
magic brought near it. Occasionally, grinding noises can be<br />
heard within the two intact towers. <strong>The</strong> countryside surrounding<br />
the towers is roamed by spell wards, free-willed magical<br />
constructs that seem to be spells given life.<br />
THE FORTRESS OF THE HALF-DEMON<br />
Nar ruins are squat fortresses with many underground levels<br />
used for summoning terrible beings. Protected by powerful<br />
glyphs, chained demons, and imprisoned spirits, some still contain<br />
portals into the Abyss and the Nine Hells, although the<br />
keys have been lost. Nar structures usually hold devices to<br />
RASHEMEN<br />
134<br />
summon and banish demons, as well as repositories for scrolls<br />
of lost clerical spells.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Fortress of the Half-Demon is so named for the remnants<br />
of a gigantic iron gate made in the shape of a huge demonic<br />
face. It may still be the home of fiendish and halffiendish<br />
creatures that cannot leave their place of summoning.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Fortress of the Half-Demon is currently the stronghold<br />
of Losk (CE male hagspawn Ftr4/Wiz9), a warrior-mage<br />
who leads a vicious group of brigands.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Running Rocks<br />
<strong>The</strong>se granite peaks form a spur of the mountains that define<br />
the High Country. <strong>The</strong> lower reaches have a few quarries and<br />
mines for copper and iron, but the rest of the mountains are<br />
avoided by normal Rashemi. <strong>The</strong> upper mountains have a mystical<br />
reputation and are thought to harbor violent spirits that<br />
dump rocks on visitors rather than accept offerings. As well,<br />
trolls and bheur hags plague the region. Unknown to most<br />
except the Witches, these mountains are the secret lairs of the<br />
vremyonni, or Old Ones, male Rashemi wizards who manufacture<br />
magic items for the Witches and train the young recruits<br />
in arcane magic. <strong>The</strong> caves of the Old Ones are well<br />
guarded by rare spells and sealed with great stone doors that<br />
require the proper magical command word to open.<br />
IMMIL VALE<br />
Along the northern edge of the Running Rocks is a deep fissure<br />
in the earth known as Immil Vale. No matter the season<br />
or temperature above, this place is continually warm and<br />
green. Grass, flowers, and trees grow everywhere, and crystalclear<br />
streams are free of ice year-round. Many kinds of colorful<br />
birds nest here that live nowhere else in Rashemen, while<br />
deer and small animals live in the underbrush, hunted by<br />
small predators such as lynxes.<br />
Legend has it that the goddess of magic blessed this place with<br />
protection from the cold so the Rashemi would always have a<br />
vision of spring even in the heart of winter. <strong>The</strong> real explanation<br />
is mundane—subterranean volcanic activity heats underground<br />
water, keeping the vale warm and creating many hot springs,<br />
which emit clouds of steam. Fortunately, these springs are not<br />
tainted with the brimstone stench of some volcanic vents, so the<br />
air is pleasant. Sometimes the vale fills with mist, giving it an<br />
ethereal quality and enhancing its magical reputation.<br />
Many spirits live here, bound to the trees and stones. One<br />
famous spot is the Mosstone, a huge moss-covered piece of<br />
rock near the center of the vale. Those who camp in the<br />
stone’s shadow are blessed with prophetic dreams and are<br />
sometimes visited by Hulmarra Murnyetha (N female<br />
telthor human Rgr9), a beautiful and skilled Rashemi<br />
tracker killed by a Red Wizard over two hundred years ago.<br />
She was fond of visiting the rock, and after she died, her spirit<br />
found its way back to it. Hulmarra sometimes steals away visiting<br />
men who remind her of her long-dead husband, returning<br />
them years later looking not a day older.