Page 130 - Serpent Kingdoms

REALMS

it eventually drains into the Thingulph. Slow-moving scows Formed from a confl uence of creeks arising in the Tching
transport produce along this wide, peaceful river to the mar- Mountains, the River Tching drains into the Thingulph between
kets in Delselar. From time to time, swimming snakes (both Lundeth and Thindar. The fl owing river gives way to stagnant
living and undead) emerge from the Black Jungles to prey on marshes at several points along its length, and its mouth forms
the unwary. Local lore correctly attributes their attacks to the a delta several miles across.
yuan-ti. The remaining lizardfolk tribes of Thindol lurk along this
River Guth: The River Guth marks the northern edge of river’s length. Their human neighbors tolerate them as long as
the Guthland. Arising in the heart of the Hazur Mountains they limit their activities to the river’s immediate environs, but
and rushing down to the Thingulph, the River Guth is only relations are not cordial. These lizardfolk are in regular, secret
navigable a few miles above its terminus. No bridges cross this contact with the Sseradess tribe of yuan-ti, and they regularly
waterway, and the only ford lies at the point beyond which most ferry messages and goods between the Thingulph and Narubel
boats cannot pass. on behalf of their serpentine masters.
The gold dwarves of the Hazur Mountains have carved a Tching Mountains: This isolated range in northwestern
steep-pitched cart road along the northern banks of the river, Thindol rises up between the Hazur and Sanrach Mountains
and their mule-pulled carts are a common sight along its and overlooks the Tashtan Coast. The Tching mountains are
length. Dwarven watchposts, carved into cliff faces above the largely devoid of wildlife, thanks to the presence of a chaos
road, guard the entire length of the river. Since the Stout Folk roc MM2 that lairs atop a windswept peak. This colossal avian
cannot spare enough of their number to keep all the watchposts preys on nearly anything that moves in the surrounding region
fully manned, many humans (usually lower-class Chultans from and has been known to attack ships that venture too close
the Guthland) fi nd gainful employment in dwarf-led teams of to shore.
trail guards. Thingulph, The: At the heart of Thindol lies the Thingulph,
River Gur: The River Gur bubbles forth from the depths of a Y-shaped bay. Its shallow, shimmering waters conceal an
the eastern Sanrach Mountains, curves near the base of Sormarl abundance of sea life. In addition, numerous yuan-ti from
Pass, and fi nally drains into the Thingulph. Before the division the Sseradess tribe make their homes in the depths of West
of Samarach from Thindol, boat traffi c on the River Gur was Thingulph, about 10 miles south of Thindar. There they have
heavy. Goods of all sorts were ferried upriver to Sormarl Pass, constructed Khass’insara, a coral fortress that is all but unrecog-
where they were offl oaded onto wagons and shipped westward. nizable as such, even to those who know it’s there. Other yuan-ti
Today, this river is much quieter, and the small settlements that dwell in the tunnel known as Labrand’s Folly (see above). With
once lined its northern shore have fallen into disrepair. increasing frequency, kuo-toa raiders from Gathgoolgapool (see
River Lundeth: Also known as the Cascades, this very short Labrand’s Folly) have begun attacking small settlements along
and wild river arises in the western Hazur Mountains and plum- the Thingulph’s shores as well as lightly manned watercraft on
mets down to the Thingulph in a series of small waterfalls. its waters.
Although the inhabitants of Lundeth have tamed the river
mouth with a series of watermills, most of the watercourse is Important Sites
the preserve of a pool of fossergrims MM2 and a tumble of galeb
duhr. Hierophant Dezelyna Goldeagle (N female Chultan human Thindol is home to numerous human and gold dwarf settlements,
druid 12/hierophant 5) reportedly makes her home somewhere as well as a variety of sites important to the serpentfolk.
near the highest cascades to ensure their continuing sanctity. Aztul (Large Town, 4,631): This unremarkable fi shing
River Salban: The River Salban originates in a subterranean town lies at the base of the Guth Mountains. Wealthy Thin-
spring at the heart of the eastern Sanrach Mountains, winds dolese have been coming here in recent years to mount hunting
through the depths of the range, and then emerges from a cliff expeditions for blood apes MM2 , since their pelts have become
face high above the grasslands of western Thindol to form a status symbols among the Thindolese elite. More than a few
towering waterfall known as Salban Falls. The lower reaches of treasure seekers visit Aztul as well, drawn by stories of a “City
the River Salban are broad and slow, and this section is usually of Apes” in the depths of the mountain range. Though such
fi lled with heavily laden scows taking produce from local farms stories persist, no evidence has been found that such a city ever
down to the markets in Thindar. existed here.
According to legend, a side passage leading away from the Delselar (Metropolis, 76,412): Also known as Dolselar in
main watercourse gives access to the mines of Selgol, and from the local vernacular, the City of Succulent Jewels is named for
there to the Firelands beneath the Jungles of Chult. Many have the large volume of delectable fruits that passes through its
sought this secret path, but none have returned to tell the tale. markets. Delselar is a 3-mile-long, unwalled town that stands on
River Tching: The River Tching and the River Lundeth the southern embankment above the River Dosel. Because most
are the only two “wild” rivers remaining in the Thindol Basin. of its buildings lie within a stone’s throw of the water’s edge,
These two waterways lack the merchant traffi c and bankside countless punts are available for hire to transport residents and
settlements of the other Thindolese rivers. visitors from place to place in town.

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