This thread is to talk about the world that this campaign takes place in. Faerûn Continental Map: <a href="https://loremaps.azurewebsites.net/Maps/Faerun" rel="nofollow">https://loremaps.azurewebsites.net/Maps/Faerun</a> Faerûn (pronounced: /feɪˈruːn/ fay-ROON or: /ˌfeɪɛrˈuːn/ FAY-er-OON) was a major continent on the planet of Toril. The word "Faerûn" is a modified version of "Faerie", the name of the homeland of ancient elves. The continent included terrain that was as varied as any other. Besides the exterior coastline to the west and south, the most dominant feature on the continent was the Sea of Fallen Stars. This was an irregular inland sea that kept the interior lands fertile, connected the west and east regions of Faerûn and served as a major trade route for many of the bordering nations. Next in significance was the Shaar, a broad region of grasslands in the south that, together with the Lake of Steam, separated the area around the inland sea from the coastal nations at the southern edge of the continent. To the east, Faerûn was bordered by a vast region of steppes from Kara-Tur. and in the north were massive glaciers (Pelvuria and Reghed) and tundra. South of the continent, separated by the Great Sea, was the sub-tropical land of Zakhara. The continent included many different geographic and political regions, but I'll only talk about the Northwest here (where Waterdeep is located). Northwest Faerûn A region of wilderness, difficult winter weather, orc hordes, and barbarian tribes. It was a mostly untamed region that lay between the large Anauroch desert in the east and the expansive Sea of Swords in the west, north of the High Moor. Northwest Faerûn, generally referred to as the North or even the Savage North was a region of Faerûn full of untamed wilderness, wracked with difficult winter weather, and home of many hardy folks and fearsome beasts. In spite of this reputation, the North was home to two of the greatest cities in all of Faerûn: Neverwinter, Jewel of the North, and Waterdeep, the City of Splendors. The inhabitants of areas further south, in West Faerûn, described this area in condescension as "the Savage North," which was a reference to the Savage Frontier and a time when its inhabitants were less civilized. This area contained: High Forest: A traditional home of the elves. Frozenfar: The frigid north that contained the Ten Towns of Icewind Dale, the Spine of the World and the Sea of Moving Ice. Savage Frontier: The rugged frontier of the north that attracted farmsteaders and others that chose to live off the land. Silver Marches: A confederation of humans, dwarves, and elves, with the city of Silverymoon at its heart. Sword Coast North: This dangerous coastal area comprised several great cities, including the metropolis of Waterdeep. Waterdeep The seal of the City of Splendors Waterdeep, also known as the City of Splendors or the Crown of the North,[1 was the most important and influential city in the North and perhaps in all Faerûn. It was a truly marvelous cosmopolitan city of great culture that attracted the most talented artisans, artists, and scholars from across the Realms, as well as a commercial hub for financial interests along the coast and beyond Waterdeep was ruled by a sixteen-seat council whose membership was largely secret. These hidden Lords of Waterdeep maintained their identities behind magical masks, called the Lord's Helm, and while they ruled in public, none knew the true identities of most of them. The Open Lord of Waterdeep is the sole member of the Lords of Waterdeep whose identity is publicly known. There is only one Open Lord at any one time, but when the previous one dies or steps down, he or she is replaced by a new one.