Page 118 - Serpent Kingdoms

REALMS

Narubel Pass: This all-but-forsaken pass connects the Important Sites
city-state of Narubel with the town of Taruin by way of the
Samarach boasts several signifi cant towns and cities.
depths of the Samarlogh. Even if trade were still permitted
Mines of Selgol: First established in the waning days of the
between the two cities, the dangers of the Samarlogh make such
Shoon Imperium, the mines of Selgol are among the most pro-
travel infeasible.
ductive salt mines of the Chultan Peninsula. Their output has
River Samar: This peaceful river arises from a confl uence
been shipped east and north to the lands bordering the Shining
of creeks near the town of Taruin and winds its way to the
Sea and the Lake of Steam for centuries.
Bay of Omgar, draining the Sanrach Basin. The banks of the
In the Year of Writhing Darkness (572 DR), deep-digging
river are lined with small farming hamlets, and fl at-bottomed
Thindolese miners broke through to the Underdark region
merchant scows ply its waters. Because the populace lives in
known as the Firelands. In the centuries since, fi renewt ma-
fear that water-dwelling serpentfolk might swim up this vital
rauders and salamanders from the Burning Rift have plagued
artery, massive dwarf-forged nets block the mouth of the
the mines of Selgol, and they still pose a constant threat to the
river, and smaller versions are raised and lowered at check-
doughty miners.
points spaced approximately 10 miles apart between Samargol
Rassatan (Small City, 10,936): The City of Gilded Pearls
and Taruin.
nestles in a steep-sided bowl at the head of Rassatan Bay. A
Samarlogh, The: Northwestern Samarach includes the Sa-
high stone wall divides the city from the docks below. A single
marlogh—the southeasternmost tip of the Jungles of Chult,
gate leads through the center of the wall, and a well-patrolled
which is cut off from the rest of the great forest by the western
tunnel leads through the back of the bowl to another fortifi ed
Sanrach Mountains. Samarachan legends speak of Squamata
gatehouse overlooking the fi elds of the Sanrach Basin. The in-
the Black, the embodiment of the ever-encroaching jungle
habitants of Rassatan dwell in small burrows carved into the
that swallows up anyone who dares the dark depths of the Sa-
terraced walls of the bowl. The City of Gilded Pearls is best
marlogh. Although Samarachan warriors regularly patrol the
known for the oyster beds that lie beneath the shallow waters of
jungle’s borders, the depths of the Samarlogh are true wilder- the bay. These prolifi c beds produce the highest-quality golden
ness areas inhabited by fl ocks of corollaxes MM2 and carnivorous pearls available in Faerûn.
forest sloths MM2 , as well as countless other monsters. A few
Samargol (Metropolis, 105,731): On the eastern bank of the
abandoned strongholds of the Sauringar yuan-ti tribe also lie
River Samar, at the head of Samar Bay, is the City of Veils, the
within its depths.
home of nearly a quarter of Samarach’s population. Although
Sanrach Mountains: This semicircular mountain chain par-
most of the citizens (both male and female) do wear masks or
tially surrounds the Sanrach Basin, nearly dividing the Jungles
veils in public, the city’s name actually stems from the count-
of Chult from the rest of the Chultan Peninsula. The heavily
less illusions woven by the Nimbrese. These dweomers make
forested eastern slopes of the western Sanrach Mountains
the city appear to be little more than a handful of shacks and
form the western edge of the Samarlogh. These jungle-covered a small lord’s keep from the outside and the grandest city in all
foothills support scattered populations of blood apes MM2 and of Faerûn from the inside.
cloaked apes MM2 .
A heavily fortifi ed double ring wall protects this sprawling
Snout of Omgar, The: This rocky, uninhabited peninsula ex-
city. The inner wall encircles a low hill on which most of the
tends south into the Great Sea, separating Samar Bay from the
Nimbrese aristocrats dwell, including the High Phantasmage.
waters of the Wild Coast. The Snout is named for the great sea The majority of the city’s real wealth is concentrated in this
FF
serpent (treat as a sea drake advanced to 36 HD) that lairs in
district. No gates mar the inner wall’s strength, so at least in
a large sea cave on the western side of its tip. Omgar’s outrageous
theory, only those who can fl y (either magically or mounted on
toll varies according to the beast’s whim, but most ships quietly
pegasi) can enter or escape this isolated enclave. In fact, a hand-
pay it regardless of amount, since ships that stray too far away
ful of tunnels penetrate the foundations of the wall, but their
from land risk foundering on the Beacon Rocks. The area’s lesser
use is illegal, as are attempts to climb the wall.
caves are home to tribes of yurians (known locally as aldani, or
The outer wall encircles the bulk of the city and is pierced by
lobster-men).
only three tiny gates. One leads north to Taruin, another leads
Sormarl Pass: This narrow pass winds through the south-
east to Rassatan and Sorl, and the third opens onto the river.
western reaches of the Sanrach Mountains, connecting the
The city docks lie outside the walls within arrow range of the
Thidolian town of Samagard with the Samarachan town of
guards atop them. All traffi c into or out of the city is physically
Sorl. The pass is cloaked in hallucinatory terrain spells, and
and magically searched. This high degree of security results in a
only heavily armed caravans dare to traverse it. From time to
general scarcity of most goods and prices that are double those
time, an individual vanishes from a passing caravan, leaving
elsewhere in Faerûn.
only an eerie, high-pitched whine in his wake. This phenomenon
Sorl (Large Town, 4,612): This garrison town protects the
has given rise to rumors that at least one ethereal marauder
western end of Sormarl Pass. Built into the walls of the steep-
haunts the area.
sided gorge that marks the western end of the pass, the town
is divided into two halves: Northface and Southface. The cave
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