Page 74 - D&D - Player's Handbook

Lantan drowned, or so they say. Four ship captains of contact with Arvandor- that's right, the mad fools actu-
my acquaintance claim to have seen it one moment, and ally wanted to bring into our world some of the lands in
then not seen it the next, and sailed straight through its which their gods dwelt!
former location as though it was never there. Tales differ on whether Corellon allowed this or was
Some claim that powerful magic moved or hid the powerless to prevent it, but it happened, and calamity
island in a vast illusion. That I find believable, because gripped Tori! as a result. This was the first Sundering,
the Lords of Nim bra! have long been known for illusion and elves have always said it echoed through time.
and trickery. If any isle were to vanish into thin air, it Recent calamities would seem to prove them right.
would be theirs. Likewise, Nimbral's return is certainly When things settled down, the elves realized their
within their capabilities, and perhaps this event is the folly. For thousands of years, no elf dared set foot on
climax of a trick so long and complex that even a gnome Evermeet. But eventually Corellon must have forgiven
can envy its scope. his wayward children, for the oldest elves began to feel
Nimbral today is much as it has always been: far-flung the call to the west.
and f>ecretive. Where the island went, what it did while Perhaps you've seen a moonbow hang over Selfine
gone, and why it came back all seem to be facts the and heard the idea that it means an elf is being called
Lords of Nimbral prefer to keep to themselves. to Evermeet. Well, that is no children's story. Ever
Nimbral is still ruled by its mysterious lords, a closely met an elderly elf? How would you know, right? Well
related family of archmages, master illusionists all. They if you're ever honored to meet an elderly elf at such a
in turn appoint the heralds, who proclaim the laws, and time, you'll see a similar arc in each of the elf's eyes
the Knights of Nim bra I, fabled hippogriff riders clad in above the pupil. This is Sehanine Moonbow's way of
armor clear .as glass but strong as steel. Don't let the guiding the elf to the afterlife. The arcs can blind the
fact that they are called knights fool you. The Knights of elf to this world, but they vanish when the elf enters
Nimbral have always acted as pirates when out on patrol the next, allowing sight of the elven heaven. Well that's
over the seas, preying on ships that strayed close to exactly what happens in Evermeet, and the elf need
their island. not be dead to achieve it. Don't believe me? Well, I saw
What my captain friends were doing in waters so what I saw.
close to Nimbral they did not disclose. "Business" was Some elves followed their aged kin to Evermeet, and
all they'd say, but no one has business so far south as soon a kingdom of elves dwelt in a heaven on Tori!. For
Nimbral, unless they expect to dock at the island. Alas, ages Evermeet was protected by mighty beasts, mighty
in the time since we last spoke, all those captains have magic, and the might of the Seldarine themselves.
died, and I can't question them further about what they Elves of all types from all over the world journeyed to
know of the place. Evermeet seeking solace. And when the elves declared
If you have cause to sail south by Chu It, keep a wary their Retreat from the world, where do you think
eye on the skies. It might not help, since the Knight of they went?
Nimbral have been known to appear out of nowhere, Then the Spellplague struck, and some of that old
apparently invisible before they attacked, but it pays to elven High Magic must have unraveled. Evermeet
be cautious when you're doing something foolish. became unmoored from the world and found itself
instead in a sea of the Feywild, that strange realm of
EVERMEET faerie that touches the world in mystical places. For a
What I tell you now is truth as pure as Garl's nugget, century, it seemed Evermeet was lost to the world. Ven-
and the only reason I've written it in a book for all to erable elves tried to hold on, hoping that this echo of
see is that no one else shall ever achieve the feat: I the first Sundering might echo Evermeet's connection
stowed away on a ship bound for Evermeet, and my feet to the world once the period of calamity ended.
Their patience (who but an elf could have such
touched its blessed ground!
patience?) was at last rewarded, when ships from Ever-
Any who're knowledgeable about the place might
meet docked once more in Sword Coast ports.
scoff at my claim, and those ignorant of it like as not
think the deed not the feat of legend it was, so let me SAILING TO THE WEST
explain to those doubters among you what Evermeet is Knowing all this and having just met a venerable elf
and why, by the end of my tale, you'll envy my boots.
who was preparing for the journey, how could I not
take the opportunity to tag along? I felt a little bad
A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN
Legend has it- and so believes every elf I've ever met- about taking advantage of the elf's blindness and forc-
ing him to leave behind some of his baggage, but it was
that the island of Evermeet is not of this world, and
the opportunity of a lifetime!
that it never was. In ancient days, so long ago that even
I overheard it said by the captain of the ship that
elves think of it as their mythic past, the elves of many
Evermeet now somehow straddles all three planes:
nations sought a perfect homeland for their people.
our world, the Feywild, and Arvandor. It touches them
(That was the problem there, of course. You'll miss out
on a wealth of beauty it you're always looking for the all, but exists fully in none of them. To find it, you must
perfect gem.) Not finding it in the world, some elves follow a pattern of stars until the stars change and then
(sun elves, I'd wager) looked beyond the world to create follow new stars. (I swear by Garl's nugget that's what
one. These High Mages gathered together to perform he said!) Those who stray from the path are lost. How
a mighty work of magic that would bring Tori! into
CHAPTER 2 I THE SWORD COAST AND THE NORTH