Page 69 - D&D - Player's Handbook

give tribute to Hoondarrh say they sail into a sea cave
and leave it on a sandy beach within. More caves are
no amount of money Mintarn could offer that would said to lead out from that bay, one even going straight
sweeten the deal. up into the ceiling. Sometimes the tribute carriers can
I like Mintarn. It has cozy inns, and they make a hear Hoondarrh's breathing from one of the caves: great
brilliant green wine unique to their island. But, there inhalations, exhalations, and deep rumbles of slumber.
are safer harbors during the current storm. Maybe in When they can't hear such noises, you might think folk
another decade or two I'll try Mintarn again. of Mintarn would be inclined to explore Skadaurak, but
In the case that you visit, here are a few other things as it was explained to me, the lack of the dragon snoring
you should know of Min tarn. might mean he is away hunting somewhere, but it could
Every five or six years, a new tyrant- yes, that's what just as easily mean he is present, watching, and holding
they call themselves- emerges on Mintarn, ruling the his breath.
island kingdom in the name of preserving its status
as a neutral ground and a free port. A few years ago, THE MOONSHAES
Her Tyrancy was Bloeth Embuirhan, the supposed Cloaked in mists, the rocky cliffs of the Moonshae Isles
great-granddaughter of a tyrant from a century ago.
rise high above the surf of the Sea of Swords, their tops
She ruled the island through its most prosperous
clothed in ancient forests. The Moonshaes lie due west
days, but odds are that the folk of Mintarn (and maybe
from Mintarn- and Baldur's Gate, and Candlekeep, and
herself as well, if she has her wits bout her) wants
even Arnn, for that matter: this great stretch of islands
someone else on the throne now.
is nearly half as long as the Sword Coast, enclosing the
Despite its open harbors and many fine establish-
Sea of Moonshae.
ments, Mintarn remains a loosely settled island. There
On the southern isles live the Ffolk, humans ruled by
are farms and homesteads, to be sure, but also wide,
their High King, Derid Kendrick, from the fortress of
open spaces between them, and enough land that
Caer Callidyr on Alaron. The Ffolk worship a goddess
anyone could make a small living if so inclined.
they call the Earthmother; her druids gather in sacred
groves on the islands. Some of these groves hold moon-
SKADAURAK
wells, magical pools that the druids say the goddess
The Red Rage of Mintarn dwells in this mountain that uses as her windows onto the world.
rises from the sea north of Min tarn. I've never heard of The northern isles are the territory of the Northland-
any treasure hunters making it out alive, but those who
ers, who spread south from Ruathym to settle here,
CHAPTER 2 I THE SWORD COAST AND THE NORTH