Netheril: Empire of Magic (AD&D Forgotten Realms) BOX SET

198 Pages·1996·8.72 MB·English

by  Slade

Netheril: Empire of Magic
by slade with Jim Butler
Authors: slade with Jim Butler Netheril evokes images of a mystical territory of glistening
Additional Design: Julia Martin and Cindi M. Rice beauty and cultivated extravagance—of days unfettered by
care and nights untouched by the hand of darkness. Most think
Editor: Jim Butler
of Netheril as the land of plenty—of the magical dream come
Project Coordinator: Thomas M. Reid
true. Paradise.
Proofreaders: Eric L. Boyd, Steven Cox, Leonard Was everything so perfect? Was Netheril the age that should
McGillis, and Deneen Olsen be instead of the age that was? Was Netheril really the climax of
Cover Illustrator: Ciruelo Cabral humanity? If so, why did the kingdom abruptly collapse with so
few survivors? Within the pages of these books, mysteries are
Interior Illustrators: Jesus Redondo
revealed. Here, you and your character will experience—first-
Graphic Designer: Dee Barnett
hand—the awesome power and lavishness that was Netheril.
Typography: Tracey L. Isler Many rules have been altered to fit the peculiar setting of
Cartography: Roy Boholst, David C. Sutherland III, Netheril‚ but with little adjustment, play can commence imme-
and Dee Barnett diately. DMs and players alike will easily find the rules needed
to play in the setting. In particular, arcanists, priests, deities,
Art Coordinator: Bob Galica
spells, and magical items are altered slightly to fit in with the
Prepress Coordinator: Dave Conant
“primitive magic” permeating Netheril.
Special Thanks to: Rich Baker, Ed Greenwood, So, welcome to paradise, and live in cultivated extravagance
Jon Pickens, Roger E. Moore, for as long as the magical dream stays true.
Steven Schend, and Skip Williams slade
December 31, 1995
TSR, Inc. TSR Ltd.
201 Sheridan Springs Rd 120 Church End
Lake Geneva, Cherry Hinton
WI 53147 Cambridge, CB1 3LB
U. S. A. United Kingdom
ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, BATTLESYSTEM, DUNGEON MASTER, FORGOTTEN REALMS, and the TSR logo are registered trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. ARCANE AGE,
PLAYER’S OPTION‚ and ENCYCLOPEDIA MAGICA are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. All TSR characters, character names and the distinct likenesses thereof are trademarks owned
by TSR, Inc. Random House and its affiliate companies have worldwide distribution rights in the book trade for English-language products. Distributed to the book and hobby
trade in the United Kingdom by TSR Ltd. Distributed to the book and hobby trade by regional distributors. This FORGOTTEN REALMS game accessory is protected under the
copyright laws of the United States of America and other countries. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork printed herein is prohibited without the
express written permission of TSR, Inc. Copyright © 1996 TSR. Inc. All rights reserved. Made in the U.S.A.
1147xxx1501
Table of Contents
NETHERIL..........................................................4 The Alley .....................................................65
HISTORY.............................................................4 Annagoth Bay...............................................65
The First Age.......................................................5 Arctic Rim....................................................65
The Nether Age..........................................................5 Ascore ..........................................................65
Mythallar Era..........................................................6 The Backwash..............................................65
The Silver Age........................................................7 Barren Mountains.........................................65
The Golden Age......................................................8 Bandor Village .............................................65
Age of Discovery....................................................9 Basin Lake...................................................65
The Shadowed Age...............................................9 Bay of Ascore................................................66
The Fall ...............................................................11 Blister .......................................................66
Bodensee River.............................................66
THE CAMPAIGN.........................................................13 Bone Hill.....................................................66
TIME TRAVELING.........................................13 Buoyance ......................................................66
Time Conduit................................................13 Canlespiere ........................................67
Time Gates...................................................14 Canton River...............................................69
NATIVE CAMPAIGN.......................................14 Cantus ..................................................68
RACES...........................................................14 Cede Run.....................................................68
Dwarves.......................................................15 The Channel Lock..........................................68
Elves ............................................................15 Channel Mountains.......................................68
Gnomes ........................................................16 Cold Forest..................................................68
Half-elves .....................................................16 Coldfoot ......................................................68
Halflings......................................................16 Columns of the Sky........................................69
Humanoids ..................................................16 Conch ..........................................................69
Humans ...............................................17 Conch River................................................69
CLASSES......................................................15 Coniferia ......................................................69
Arcanists .....................................................18 Dagger’s Point.............................................70
Priests ...................................................18 Dahla River................................................70
Psionicists ...................................................19 Dahla River City..........................................70
Rogues ........................................................21 Delia ..........................................................70
Warriors.................................................21 Dementia Range...........................................71
SPELLS.................................................22 Dienere River...............................................71
Original Names of Spells.................................23 Doubloon.....................................................71
Common Spellcasters......................................28 Earsome ......................................................71
Eastern Forest.............................................72
EQUIPMENT.....................................................30 Escalade Rill...............................................72
Esslin River.................................................72
THE GODS ...................................................32 Far Horns Forest..........................................72
CLERGY MEMBERS....................................32 Fenwick River..............................................73
TIME TRAVELERS AND THEIR GODS..........32 Filibeg River...............................................73
AMAUNATOR .......................................34 Finick Flow.................................................73
JANNATH .......................................................37 The Flats....................................................73
JERGAL .........................................................40 Fluvion ........................................................73
KOZAH ...........................................................42 Flux River...................................................73
MOANDER .....................................................45 Fria River...................................................73
MYSTRYL ......................................................49 Friedricht Lake............................................73
SELÛNE ........................................................51 Frostypaw ...............................................73
SHAR .............................................................55 Frothwater ...................................................74
TARGUS .........................................................58 Gers River..................................................74
TYCHE ...........................................................61 Gillan River................................................74
Glacier Lake...............................................74
CONCORDANCE.....................................64 The Glorifier...............................................74
ENTRIES.......................................................64 Gods’ Legion...............................................74
Abbey Mountains...................................................64 Grog ...........................................................74
Abbey of the Moon..........................................64 Gustaf River ...............................................74
Algid ...........................................................64 Hadely River...............................................74
Allegro River............................................................65 Hairald Cascade ..........................................74
Table of Contents
Hale River ...............................................................74 Redguard Lake......................................................85
Harborage .......................................................75 Remembrance .................................................85
Hatchet Mountain ............................................75 Rengarth Ancestral Lands...................................85
The Hazardous Climb ......................................75 Rengarth Tundra...................................................85
Heip Lake ...............................................................75 Sanctuary......................................................85
Hidden Forest.........................................................76 Sanguine Mountain .............................................86
Hidden Lake...........................................................76 Scourge .......................................................86
The High Ice ..........................................................76 Sepulcher .......................................................86
The High Tributary...............................................76 Seventon ........................................................86
The Hollow .............................................................76 Shade ............................................................87
Holloway .......................................................76 Shadowtop Borough...........................................87
Hoyden ..........................................................76 Shinantra Mountains........................................88
Hungry River..........................................................76 Snarefell Lake...................................................88
Imbrue ..........................................................77 Southfill River ...................................................88
Ioulaum ........................................................77 Specie ..........................................................88
Ischlome River ........................................................78 Spiel ...........................................................88
Jackal Crick ............................................................78 Spiregardt ......................................................88
Janick River............................................................78 Stade Mountain ....................................................88
Jockteleg ....................................................78 Sunderiver .....................................................89
Karsus ..........................................................78 Sunrest Mountain.............................................89
Karsus Overwash..................................................79 Syke ..............................................................89
Kismet .......................................................79 Tarn River..............................................................89
Kraal Brook ...........................................................79 Tempera Channel.................................................89
Lathery ......................................................79 Terrace Spate ........................................................89
Lark-Rindle ................................................79 Thiefsward ......................................................89
Last Ditch River..........................................79 Thunder Peak .........................................................90
Lodestar Mountains.............................................79 Trinity .............................................................90
Lough River ...........................................................79 Two Rivers Reservation .......................................90
Macht Lake............................................................79 Unity ...............................................................90
Marsh of Amnesty ...................................................79 Vandal Station ......................................................91
Marsh of Deception................................................79 Waterbourne River ...............................................91
Marsh of Simplicity...............................................80 Watercourse ...................................................91
Meiter River .............................................................80 Weimar River .........................................................91
Mere River ...............................................................80 Westview River ......................................................91
Mill Lake .................................................................80 Westwendt Village .................................................91
Meander’s Footstep ................................................80 Widowmaker Mountain.......................................91
Monikar .......................................................80 Wolfsberg River ......................................................92
Moran River...........................................................80 Wont Surge .............................................................92
Moray River............................................................80 Wreathe ..............................................................92
The Moss................................................................81 Xanth ............................................................92
Myconid Forest ......................................................81 Yeoman’s Loft.......................................................92
The Narrow Sea....................................................81 Zeig River ................................................................92
Nauseef Flow ..........................................................81 Zenith ..............................................................92
Nethereril River.....................................................81 Zweihaus River.......................................................93
Northreach .....................................................82
The Nugatory ........................................................82 KARSUS ENCLAVE...................................................94
Nyanza Lake..........................................................82 ARCHITECTURE..................................................94
Opus ............................................................82 LAW & ORDER.....................................................94
Oxbow Lake............................................................82
Palter ...........................................................82 NPCS...............................................................106
Patrician Peak .......................................................83
Paw Bay ..................................................................83 AFTER THE FALL...............................................116
The Paws...............................................................83 SPELLCASTING .................................................116
Peril Current...........................................................83 MAGICAL ITEMS.................................................116
Pommel Estuary ....................................................83 WHAT REMAINED? .............................................116
Portent River..........................................................83 WHERE TO FROM HERE?.................................116
Portolake .......................................................83 PHAERIMM ......................................................118
The Pox ...................................................................83 SHARN ...........................................................119
Purple Mountains .................................................83 TOMB TAPPERS .............................................120
Quagmire ......................................................83 APPENDIX I: ARCANIST SPELLS....................121
Quickwater River...................................................84 APPENDIX II: SPELLS BY WINDS.....................124
Rampant Peaks .....................................................85
Table of Contents
N
ETHERIL
elcome to the Netheril: Empire of Magic campaign expansion
for the Forgotten Realmsfi Campaign Setting. This boxed set
contains all the information a Dungeon Master requires to
begin a series of epic adventures Faerßn(cid:146)s past. From the birth
of Netherese society until it(cid:146)s thousands of years later(cid:130) this
campaign expansion contains all of the relevant facts about one of the
Realms(cid:146) most magical of kingdoms.
dozen ioun stones circled his skull, and globes of red light
It’s important that the Dungeon Master read through all gazed up at Szass Tam as he approached.
of the materials before beginning play or allowing players “As I expected, we ran into some Harper resistance,”
to create characters for the setting. This allows the DM to Tam replied, taking a seat opposite the Shadow King.
better answer player questions regarding events that their “They weren’t going to give up the mantle without a fight.”
characters would have knowledge of. Players should read “If they had any inkling of its power‚ they wouldn’t have
the Campaign chapter so that they can become familiar given it up in death‚ either‚” Larloch grumbled. With a
with the changes that Netheril bestows upon character
wave of his hand‚ the entire collection of books
classes‚ relying on the DM to answer other
questions that their characters might have that lay before him scattered back to their
concerning Netheril. appropriate shelf. His skeletal hand then
History reached toward Tam. “The mantle?” he
asked.
Szass reached into a pouch and
pulled from its magical confines a
The dusty corridors of Warlock’s metal vest enveloped in a violet
Keep led everywhere and yet glow. Larloch’s red eyes shim-
nowhere, but Szass Tam knew mered briefly for a moment,
where he was going. Walking determining the magic surround-
through seemingly solid walls, ing the mantle to be a form of
Thay’s Zulkir of Necromancy felt preservation spell. He then took the
his body magically whisked away vest from Szass and laid it on the
to deeper and darker chambers of table. A moment later‚ Larloch glanced
Keep. The lich glanced around the halls
up at Szass Tam.
as he walked‚ noting the many traps that
“Why are you still here‚ Tam?” questioned
would have destroyed a mortal form that the ancient lich. “This part of your payment is
walked these halls. completed.”
“Larloch!” Szass called out, entering an ancient library. “The search for this ancient magic has raised my
“I bring part of the payment that I promised you. Show curiosity,” the Zulkir replied. “I wish to know more about
yourself.” what Netheril really was.”
“Ashrath,” intoned a rumbling voice some distance A long moment of silence descended over the two
away. The library slowly illuminated itself in a flickering undead creatures, their gazes locked on one another. If
red glow, casting a fiery light across the assembled tomes. Szass would have had a heart, it would have been racing.
“I’ve been expecting you, Tam,” the voice intoned. “But Finally, Larloch replied.
you’re still three weeks late with payment.” “You are both vain and impetuous,” the Shadow King
Szass Tam walked toward the sound of the voice, round- replied. “All who have visited me in the past have been
ing the end of a bookshelf and strolling nonchalantly destroyed, regardless of their allegiance.”
toward an ornate golden throne pushed into a corner. “That’s because the others who came before me were
Larloch, the ancient lich who hailed from Netheril, sat inept,” said Szass.
amidst a clutter of books and braziers. “True,” replied Larloch. “You have not failed me,” he
The Shadow King’s body was in stark contrast to that of intoned. “Not yet.”
Tam. While the Zulkir of Necromancy strove to maintain Another long moment of silence filled the library. Years
his human appearance, Larloch was nothing more than a could have passed for all either of the undead cared. Time
collection of bones partially covered in fine garments. The was meaningless. Finally, without warning or preamble,
Netheril lich’s bones were bright white in color, and trails Larloch, the Shadow King, revealed the secret past of
of emerald energy traveled across his form. More than two Netheril.
Netheril
The First Age
taught more than those who had a lazy, careless attitude toward
it. The importance placed on magic helped bring Netheril to the
Netheril’s history began nearly 5,000 years ago at the site of top of Toril’s magical nations.
seven fishing villages during the time of the First Flowering. Word of a nation of “humanlike rock beings who dwelled in
Those who follow Dalereckoning would place the date at -3859 earthen mountains and hills” reached the ears of the Netherese
DR, but to the Netherese, it was the dawn of the new age. Within around year 132. The brave traveled south and far to the west in
a scant few decades, the citizens of the fishing villages of search of these strange, stone creatures. To the south, the trail
Fenwick, Gers, Gilan, Gustaf, Moran, Nauseef, and Janick turned cold, and the scouts returned empty handed. The scouts
referred to the years as NY, which stood for Netheril Years who traveled west headed farther and farther with each expedi-
(unless otherwise noted, all years past this point are in Netheril tion, and each time, the trail seemed to get warmer.
Years). The birth of Netheril was known as the First Age, lasting By 204, the western-reaching scouts intercepted a Rengarth
up until the year 326 NY. hunting party and befriended them. These nomadic human bar-
The villages had made the decision to band together for mutu- barians told tales of the peoples populating the underground and
al protection against marauding orc bands. The shaman king of revealed the location of the rock creatures to the Netherese. The
Gers, called Nether the Elder, created a calendar to celebrate the scouts sent word back to Seventon, reporting their new-found
union. The coalition of villages was named Seventon, since the information, and immediately headed toward the mountains to
marriage of seven villages created the newfound nation. Great the north.
joy reigned through Seventon, the people celebrating both their As they approached the Barren Mountains south of the Cold
first steps toward civilization and the wisdom of their leaders. Forest, the adventurers were beset by one of the largest orc
A few years later, however, King Nether renamed the kingdom hordes ever to hit the area. No one survived to warn the Rengarth
Netheril‚ which meant Nether’s Land. He demanded more and people or the Netherese of the approach of the horde.
more tribute from the united villages, and many feared that As the orcs cut a 20-mile-wide swath of death and carnage
Seventon would collapse. The citizens from the united villages across the Rengarth ancestral lands and swooped south and west
cried out in protest, and the future for the kingdom began to look toward the elves, the Eaerlanni and Illefarni nations prepared for
very dim. war. With aid from Netheril (a token—but sincere—gesture com-
A poisoned dirk signaled the end of Nether the Elder’s reign, pared to the might of the elves, considering Seventon’s low pop-
however, and a strong and just successor—Nether the ulation and magical ineptitude), the elves began a long-running
Younger—stepped in to take control. No one ever learned who campaign to remove the orc threat.
held the lethal blade, and frankly, no one was really in any hurry The elves of Eaerlann were the greatest threat to the orc inva-
to find out. The stress of living under a tyrannical and egotistical sion, and their warriors and arcanists fought with such fervor that
leader fell away, and the people lived in peace once again, free to the Netherese were in awe. Behind Netheril, the Illefarn elves bat-
concentrate on trade. The nation’s name, however, stood the test tled the orcs. It was believed Illefarn had importance in only two
of time. battles, their presence elsewhere barren of results.
The Netherese chose a new form of government—one based
loosely on democracy. They had a single king whose surviving The Nether Age
firstborn was destined to take the place of the elder, but the lead-
ers of each village had a single vote. The vote of the king was The year 326 marked one of the most important dates in
worth five votes, however, giving him more political clout than Netheril’s history-the discovery of the nether scrolls (these
any single leader. scrolls are detailed in the Encyclopedia Arcana supplement).
Fourteen years after the formation of Netheril, the Earlanni This set of 100 scrolls provided the Netherese with an incredible
elves approached the loosely tied villages. Until this time, elves jump in spellcraft unseen in the history of Toril. This was an age
were a mere myth—imaginary creatures sent by the gods to lend of tremendous learning in Netheril that lasted until the birth of its
a hand and redirect erred humans to the correct path. Netheril greatest archwizards.
bowed its head in awe to these “messengers of the earth spirits” The person responsible for unearthing these vital pieces of
and venerated them. It took several years for the elves to con- magical lore was unknown; he’s referred to as Finder. While
vince these scarcely civilized humans that they were mortals. searching the area west of the Far Horns Forest, Finder ran
With this accomplished, the elves established trade with across an ancient ruined building that appeared to have been
Netheril beginning a friendship that lasted for centuries. inhabited by a race who utilized the walls as well as the floor. The
One of the many things the elves traded was magic. Nether the chairs and utilitarian furnishings seemed to indicate the species
Younger’s friend, Therion Gers, was the first Netherese to learn possessed more than two legs—possibly four.
this new trade. After one year of tutelage in the ways of cantras Finder searched every nook and cranny in this old, dilapidated
(0-level spells), he cast a spell to start a campfire. Two years building, hoping to find something of value to sell when he
later, the community considered the first human arcanist reached home. When he discovered the gold scrolls, he realized
(Netheril’s name for a wizard) the third-most-important person he had found something worth far beyond the scrolls’ monetary
in their society, under Nether the Young and Spiritsummoner the value. He returned the scrolls to Netheril and studied them inces-
shaman. The people changed the mage’s name to Therion the santly. Finder discovered that the 100 gold pages were actually
First of Gers, since he was the first arcanist of Netheril. two sets of 50 scrolls. One set looked much older and tarnished
For the next century, trade continued with the elves, and than the other. He called the gold foils the nether scrolls, named
magic use in this small nation grew in leaps and bounds. Unlike after the nation of his birth, and shared his newfound information
many other cultures, magic use was considered essential, and with the arcanists of Seventon and Zenith a few years later.
everyone who turned the age of ascension (13 summers) was Within a few short decades, everyone in Netheril was blessed
taught the ways of magic. Those showing an aptitude were with the knowledge contained in the scrolls.
Netheril 5
•
Congenio’s Pebbles
the largest concentration of orcs in Netheril’s land at the time—
Few spellcasters existed that commanded the respect of their leading them into the Rampant Peaks. Fourteen days later, the
peers, and fewer still are those whose names survived millennia orcs retreated, but not before over 18,000 bodies lay rotting on
after their death. Congenio Ioun was one such arcanist; his the slopes and valleys of the Rampant Peaks, 10,000 of whom
name is still known 4,000 years after his death in the form of were orc corpses.
ioun stones. These magical stones floated above the head of Ioulaum, however, was not finished. He wanted to find out
their owner, bestowing a variety of special powers, and they where the orcs were stationed, and he wanted to remove the
were highly sought after by the arcanists of Netheril. threat forever. He tired of the loss of people, food, and caravan
Congenio was born in the year 364 and, in an unprecedented cargo to the looting beasts, and nothing was going to stop this
feat of skill, created his first magical item at the age of 33: conflict until every orc was exterminated. After years of scout-
Congenio’s pebbles. During his lifetime, he created over 30 ing, tracking, and scrying, Ioulaum’s outriders and seers found
Congenio’s pebbles that did everything from allow a creature to their major habitats: the knolls surrounding the headwaters of
see in the dark to provide a temporary level increase. the Canton River.
In the year 451, he changed the name of the pebbles to Ioun’s With more than 50,000 troops, Ioulaum began his greatest
stones, and in 1319, he passed away to the realms of the gods, campaign—a war that lasted 16 months. Called the “Excursion
living an abundant 955 years. Congenio was considered the first into Extinction,” Ioulaum led 32,000 troops to their death, but
major arcanist to come out of Netheril and was always looked he succeeded. No orc was able to escape Ioulaum’s gauntlet,
upon as a genius before his time. since the whole area was surrounded and magical gates set up
throughout the hills allowed the instantaneous transport of
Delzoun
troops from one location to another in order to block all points
In the year 401—after 269 years of searching—the Netherese of desertion. Over 140,000 orcs were slaughtered, their bodies
finally discovered the realm of the stout, short, humanoid crea- reddening the snows of two mountains that became known as
tures who dwelled within the hills and mountains. The creatures Bone Hill and Thunder Peak.
were none other than the dwarves of Delzoun. The long search
The First Loss
to find the dwarves didn’t make establishing ties any easier,
however. In the year 764, a tragedy occurred in Netheril: Half of the
It took a few years to discover what each culture wanted nether scrolls— one complete set—were stolen. The two copies,
from the other. The Netherese found it nearly impossible to sell luckily, were separated in order to assure that one copy would
their new magical items and spell research techniques to the remain in case of fire or other loss. The newer-looking set was
dwarves, since the dweomers failed to function some of the stolen and never found. The storage vaults used to contain the
time (the Netherese believed this was due to the dwarves’ close- scrolls were sealed, alarmed, and trapped to the best of
ness to Jannath, whom Netherese sages saw as being a very Netheril’s magical ability, but the scrolls were nonetheless
nonmagical being). The dwarves found a steady purchaser of removed without setting off the alarms, unsealing the vault, or
finely crafted metal weapons in the Netherese, however, and activating the traps.
that single commodity consumed most of the trading between
The Mythallar
Delzoun and Netheril.
The Netherese established trade routes across the Narrow Ioulaum proved his importance in the year 845, when he creat-
Sea between the dwarven port city of Ascore and the Netherese ed the mythallar. This magical device dug deep into the weave
cities of Harborage and Zenith. They also created the Lowroad, of magic (controlled by the goddess Mystryl) and gave access to
which passed through a heavily guarded passage through the raw, unfiltered magic. It allowed Netherese arcanists to create
Underdark. Back before the days of the phaerimm, this was an magical items without need of a permanency spell and provid-
area actively patrolled by the dwarves in order to keep it free of ed the constant magical force that allowed entire mountains to
illithids, drow, and other denizens of the evil Underdark. hover in the air.
Before this device was created, Netherese arcanists could
Mythallar Era
place only simple dweomers on small objects with limited abil-
ities—at the supreme cost of a mage’s vitality. In times before
With the discovery of the nether scrolls behind them, the the mythallar, arcanists who made multiple permanent magical
Netherese now concentrated on spellcasting. The Mythallar Era items could be picked out of the crowd: Their bodies appeared
provided the one invention that would shape Netheril’s future in much older and bent than their years. The process of making an
ways no one could possibly foresee. It took its creators to amaz- item with permanent effects took its power from the mage’s
ing heights of power. body, a process not many arcanists were willing to succumb to.
With the advent of the mythallar, arcanists were able to cre-
Ioulaum
ate magical items that would, in effect, be permanent incanta-
One of the greatest human archwizards to ever grace the lands tions as long as they stayed within the one-mile-radius effect of
of Toril—quite possibly the longest-lived creature known—was the mythallar. The first of these quasimagical items was creat-
born in 544. Ioulaum was a major catalyst for Netherese spell- ed in 848 by Ioulaum himself. He created an elaborate mantle
craft, training over 3,000 arcanists. Without his imposing pres- that allowed the wearer to see in the dark and hear the thoughts
ence, the magical mythallar (discussed below and detailed in of all those within 20 feet.
the Encyclopedia Arcana supplement) that allowed Netheril’s Once this magical item was created, the floodgates were
cities to float in the air might never have been created. opened, and the nation of Netheril was suddenly faced with a
Ioulaum led a major battle in 714, bringing thousands of glut of magical items. The prices of such quasimagical items
Netherese spellcasters and warriors to mount an attack against dropped to one-tenth the going rate for “real” magical items.
6 Netheril
•
The cost of traditional magical creations—those that required a were feeling the pressure of extinction. They felt the only way to
permanency spell—rose to three-times the going rate, since continue as a race was to rid the lands of the Netherese. That year,
only those who left the range of a mythallar required such a major offensive was set against the cities of Zenith and Conch;
items. the orc threat began moving toward the Seventon region.
The seven cities sent their finest warriors westward to con-
Floating Cities
front the orcs, only to be turned back when word of an orc sneak
Ioulaum once again proved his worth when he created the first attack east of Seventon reached their ears. Seventon had never
floating city in the year 866. Tired of fighting orcs, goblins, and fought a two-front war before and, without the help of Ioulaum’s
others who wanted to feed off the toils of the Netherese, enclave, the Seventon region would have turned into spoils ripe
Ioulaum took one of his mythallars to the southern section of for orc plunder.
the Rampant Peaks and sheared off the summit of a mountain
with an 11th-level spell. Using a form of Yturn’s levitation and The Silver Age
Chronomancer’s gravity reversal, he placed the mythallar in
the center of the flat side (effectively upside down) and rotated Badly in need of resources, the Netherese began sending scouts
the mountain point down, giving him a large, circular, flat sur- throughout the region to look for mining opportunities. Their pri-
face upon which to build a city. He called the new structure mary source of raw materials was discovered when Dekanter, a
Ioulaum’s Enclave, and it soon became a flying city as people Netherese miner, unearthed a huge lode of gold, iron, mercury, sil-
from all across Netheril flocked to him, wanting to live in the ver, and platinum in 1101 NY. For over 1,000 years, this mine pro-
clouds, high above the threat of “those who fear and don’t vided Netheril with more mineral wealth than any other location.
understand magic.” During this 550-year push to find natural resources, the
As the leader and creator of Ioulaum’s Enclave, the archwizard Netherese also began setting up small colonies and outposts
was in absolute control. He allowed the people to have a say—and throughout what was to become the Savage Frontier. These out-
he sometimes took their advice and wishes to heart—but when it posts served as safe harbors for the long trek into the Frontier, a
came right down to hard decisions, Ioulaum made them all. place where food, water, fresh horses, and other supplies were
While Netheril was concentrating its efforts to increase the made available to the caravans and explorers delving into the area.
number of floating cities (which, by 1048, had risen to 13), the orcs During Netheril’s territorial expansion, Netherese at home
Netheril 7
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were in tune to another expansion of their own. The constantly activities of the Illefarn elves, who at the time viewed the
available magic from mythallars allowed relatively low-level Netherese as a possible adversary. Despite the tension with the
arcanists to create quasimagical items for themselves, and these elves, Old Owl Well became a major stopping point for thirsty car-
arcanists were all looking for the magical invention that would avans within five years.
allow them to retire. Most of these new magical items were Two other watering stations and spy outposts were created in
designed with the common person (the middle class) in mind. this new frontier. The first was stationed in the forested area
This group of people were the ones in greatest numbers and car- northwest of the future site of Southkrypt. Since these Netherese
ried with it the greatest promise for get-rich-quick schemes. frequently had to leave their outposts—where the mythallars
These small-time arcanists had the right mentality: make an wouldn’t function—they began a long, arduous campaign to cre-
item cheap, simple to use, and make it appear to be invaluable— ate real magical items with the power of the quasimagical items—
basically turn a nicety into a necessity. not an easy process. After several generations, they succeeded.
The first items to enter the market were simple roomlights, a Some of these items are detailed in the Encyclopedia Arcana
globe that continually shed light in a room. This ended with it supplement. The second outpost was along the northern edge of
being perfected into a globe that would light with an activating the Westwood, tucked away into the foothills of the Sword Coast
command or sound (depending upon the desires of the purchas- Spires.
er). Soon, every house floating on an enclave had one in every
room. The Golden Age
Next came running water, contrived by opening a permanent
fissure into the Elemental Plane of Water, controlling the flow The time of the Chronomancer’s birth in 1652 marks the begin-
with a simple spigot. Once this was accomplished and sold to ning of Netheril’s Golden Age, when the nation was at the very
every house, indoor plumbing and water closets were the next pinnacle of its power. Netheril began lifting one enclave into the
logical step. sky per year. Soon, dozens of these magnificent monoliths of
magic rode the air currents or moved in orbital patterns around
Outposts
the loosely defined borders of the Netheril empire. Each arch-
Netheril’s archwizards began to feel a bit cramped. As more and wizard who created his enclave heeded Ioulaum’s example, set-
more cities rose into the air, they feared their numbers would grow ting up his or her own laws and guidelines that the enclave’s res-
until their presence blotted out the sun. They felt expansion was in idents had to follow. As time went on, the people had less and
order. They expanded their sphere of divination to the east and to less say, and their voice regarding changes in government, tax
the west, but found the land to the west more to their liking. The rates, and the such were drowned out by the archwizards’ lust
east was home to nations that were rising in power, although not for more power. The enclaves soon became a vehicle to provide
really following the magical paths set down by Netheril. funding for the archwizards’ spell research, a staging area for
A few archwizards, however, debated whether to subjugate the campaigns against other archwizards, and excursions into the
eastern nations under their rule. All plans to infiltrate the eastern quasi- and paraelemental planes.
cultures were laid to rest when the western lands, controlled The Chronomancer was concerned about the other human civ-
loosely by barbaric tribesmen who were “sired by the consum- ilizations on Faetin. He felt that Netheril’s snobbery toward less-
mation of the Earthmother (an aspect of Jannath) and a wolf,” magically developed nations was a mistake that would come
were deemed an easier target. The Terraseer, a mysterious oracle, back and haunt the empire. While the Chronomancer shared
was probably the main reason Netheril didn’t expand to the east. many of the archwizards’ weaknesses (such as the belief that the
He and a company of powerful arcanists headed an expedition gods were just powerful archwizards who could be challenged),
into the Frontier to investigate the land for strip mining and gen- he also cared about the well-being of Netheril’s neighbors. This
eral exploitation. included the elves, dwarves, and barbarian peoples.
After 22 months of travel, he returned with reports that amazed When news of an orc horde ravaging the Illusk nation in 1756
the Netherese. “To allow this land to be dominated by mindless reached his ears, he entered the fray, helping the human settle-
savages unable to understand the simple concept of collective ments fend off the attack. Unfortunately, even the incredible
imagecraft (powerful surrealisms or illusions manipulated by the power of the Chronomancer couldn’t save the nation, and he fell
subconscious minds of three or more mentalists that could victim to a degenerative wound that killed him eight years later.
become reality with a simple thought) would be a crime against He very well could have taken healing and curative spells to fix
progress and enrichment,” cried the Terraseer. The Terraseer urged his ailment, but, like all of Netheril archwizards, he believed the
Netheril to immediately establish outposts in this new frontier. gods were merely archwizards like himself who had found “ulti-
In 1491, the Terraseer found an ideal location for an outpost mate magic.” Their pride wouldn’t allow them to put their faith in
that could provide water for caravans and scouts heading into the the deities for fear if they put their trust in these advanced arch-
mineral-rich mountains, but they had to remove creatures that wizards, they would never achieve “ultimate magic” themselves.
called the land home: owlbears. In what was soon to be known as Netheril was never without some rising menace, and the arch-
the Caravan War, Netherese scouts and outriders destroyed the wizards had to spend a lot of time dealing with enemies from both
3,000 owl bears, creatures given existence by the Creator Races the surface world and from within their own ranks. This included
thousands of years ago. Once safety was provided by the war- destructive acts by Netherese citizens as well as the nonhumans
riors, the arcanists came into the town and set up one of the most that swarmed around and within Netheril’s borders. In the year
elaborate piping systems available. Drilling over five miles into 1963, Netheril bore witness to an internal menace: citizens who
the crust of Toril, the arcanists provided the Old Owl Well outpost had little aptitude or respect for magic.
with an everlasting water supply. Nine men broke into the “Most Holy and Magical Chamber of
Old Owl Well was manned with a company of warriors and a Ioulaum the Demidivine,” killing nine guards in the process and
handful of seers who used spells and crystal balls to scry on the losing seven of their numbers, to steal 24 parts of the nether
8 Netheril
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