The High Forest - Overview

[DM Leverage]

The High Forest

The High Forest is a holdover from the early days of the world, when elves, giants, and dragons ruled a continent covered in green. The forest is home to all the woodland races, including aarakocras, centaurs, drow (including Vhaeraun- and Eilistraee-worshiping surface-dwellers and Lolth-worshiping Underdark marauders), gnolls, gnomes, hybsils, moon elves, pixies, satyrs, treants, and wild elves.

The few humans who live or travel within the forest are usually druids, rangers, members of the Harpers, or adventurers used to surviving in environments in which they are not entirely welcome. Druids say that the forest is under the protection of the deities Eldath and Mielikki. If true, that explains how he High Forest has survived the woodcutter's axe unscathed.

The forest is too large for any one group to rule completely. At present, the greatest powers within the forest are the treants, the wood elves, and the centaurs.

Life and Society

The nonhumans, druids, rangers and adventurers of the High Forest live in a self-contained and self-sufficient world. Merchant Caravans from Waterdeep or the Moonsea travel to Loudwater or Secomber or Everlund, human cities on the edge of the great wood, but the forest itself needs nothing that the outside world has to offer.

The denizens of the High Forest live by hunting. Some cultivate herbs, mushrooms, and other plants that can be grown under the trees or in natural clearings. The various races hunt different animals and harvest different plants - slow nomadic shuffling of the various clans and tribes keeps the forest's resources from being exhausted in the same manner that crop rotation keeps farmers' lands healthy.

Many races and factions of opposed alignment and interests occupy the forest. Small-scale skirmishes between them are frequent. Large-scale conflicts only occur when one side or the other cares enough to track its enemy through difficult terrain and expend valuable magic and lives pursuing battle. The different races have zones of influence within the forest, but few attempt to exert complete control over a given territory for long.

At the moment, the most combative groups active in the forest are the wood elves who seek to exterminate the orcs who flow in steadily from the Spine of the World and know no other way than violence, the treants who dominate the north tip of the forest, and the tieflings and half-fiend elves of House Dlardrageth who still lair in underground ruins near the Nether Mountains.

Source: Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting; pg 165-166


Regional History

Long ago, whe nthe elves truly ruled Faerun, the kingdom of Eaerlann held sway in the High Forest. Eaerlaan fell in 882 DR when Ascalhorn became Hellgate Keep. Soon after the elves began to slip away from the High Forest, embarking on their Retreat.

As the elves slowly vanished, the great treant Turlang carefully gathered his strength and took control of much of the northern High Forest, the area most threatened both by orcs and by the demons and devils that once resided in Hellgate Keep. Turlang's treants have gradually pushed the boundaries of the wood, moving the tall trees up the side of the Hellgate crater, miles past the former boundaries of the High Forest proper. Simultaneously, the High Forest near Everlund has crept several miles to the north, coming within a hero's bowshot of the walls of Everlund.

In recent years, many woodelves who moved to Evermeet in the Retreat returned to Faerun through portals into Evereska, then slipped northwest to join the wild elves of the High Forest. They seek nothing less than the reestablishment of the kingdom of Eaerlann. Thus far, the efforts to retake their forest consists of a determination to handle problems with elven skills and elven magic, and to drive the orcs and gnolls from the woods.

Other elves within the great forest have actively evil intent. In ancient Eaerlann, the sun elf mages of House Dlardrageth made pacts with demons. For their crimes they were imprisoned deep beneath what would later become Hellgate Keep. The destruction of the Keep freed them. While seeking to piece together their former magical arsenal, they rescued other sun elf tieflings who had been imprisoned for centuries by the moon elves. The various demon-spawned sun elves have joined forces under the orders of Countess Sarya Dlardrageth. They may never become organized enough to pose a serious threat to the settlements of the North, but anyone who discoveres their lairs in buried elven ruins outside the High Forest finds them dangerous foes indeed.

Source: Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting; pg pg 167

[DM Leverage]

Realms of the High Forest

In far older days, when the High Forest spanned much of the land from the River Dessarin to the Graypeaks, numerous elven and dwarven realms rose to prominence. Dwarven kingdoms grew mighty by working metal and stone, while elves nurtured great civilizations. For many ages these realms flourished, enduring repeated invasions by orcs, ears among the elves, and incursions from the Underdark. Ultimately, however, all of these civilizations were doomed to fall.

A single act of fiendish summoning that took place nearly five hundred years ago led to a demonic conflagration that devoured the elven kingdoms of the High Forest and neighboring Ammarindar, leaving the North forever changed. The High Forest and its mountains reverted to a savage and lush wilderness in which lost wonders from these bygone civilizations lie concealed.

The High Forest is littered with the ruins of the three elven civilizations that succeeded ancient Aryvandaar. Here in the deep woords, far removed from the more famous ruins of Cormanthyr, lie the age-old remains of great woodland societies that once dwelled under the trees. The graceful architecture of these forgotten elven cities is still amazingly well preserved. Delicate spires, beautiful towers, and ancient temples offer fantastic places for adventurers, antiquarians, and treasure seekers to explore. The magic of the mythals that protect these places has diminished greatly with the elves' departure from the High Forest, but these ancient defenses still embody considerable power.

Eaerlann

Eaerlaan, the predominant elven kingdom of the High Forest, endured for nearly six thousand years. The wood elves and moon elves who made up its populance dwelled in woodland cities and towns of fabulous beauty throughout the northern and eastern portions of the High Forest.

While Eaerlann was still a young realm, its leaders noted Siluvanede's gradual slide towards evil and decided to take decisive action to prevent tehe Siluvanedenn from repeated the errors of their arrogant ancestors in Aryvandaar. With Sharrven as an ally, the Eaerlanni forcibly subdued the realm of Siluvanede, ushering in a five-thousand-year period of peace and prosperity.

In the waning years of Eaerlann, its population began to dwindle as its residents left for Evermeet or joined the newer realms appearing along the Sword Coast. Thus weakened, Eaerlann was uanble to mount any effective defense against the demons of Hellgate Keep that emerged from Ascalhorn in 882 DR, and the realm quickly fell before their onslaught.

Most travelers seeking the known Eaerlanni ruins go by way of the Old Road, an ancient bouevard of cracked and broken cobblestones that connects Elven Port, Mhilamniir, and the Nameless Dungeon. West of Mhilamniir, forest undergrowth has largely swallowed up the Old Road, though the portions that occasionally peek through the roots and shrubs can guide travelers to other sites along its path.

Many Eaerlanni cities consisted of hallowed-out trees and platforms connected by dozens of slender rope bridges. Each major settlement held at least one tree-temple dedicated to the elven gods. Most of these cities have long since succumbed to the forces of time and nature, but a few traces of some still remain.



Sharrven

The ancient elven realm of Sharrven was founded by moon elves along with a few sun elves who rejected the elitism and insufferable arrogance of the Siluvanedenn nobles. Sharrven's end came a few centures later after it had joiend forces with Eaerlann to defeat Siluvanede in the Seven Citadels' War. Without warning, mysterious portals created by fey'ri survivors of Siluvanede opened siultaneously throughout the kingdom, releasing a torrent of rampaging monsterse. Sharrven's survivors fled to Eaerlann and Evereska, leaving their former realm vacant but for a few settlements and outposts.

Today, little remains of Sharrven because the creatures that slaughtered the elves also demolished most of their settled areas. Most of the surviving structures are topped with tremendous stone perches - reminders of the time when elf warriors rode silver and gold dragons into battle. The only fortress still standing is a tower known as Farsilver that is highly reminiscent of the buildings in Silverymoon. This structure is protected by magical wards of the sort that moon elves commonly placed on their buildings.

To this day, travelers in the southern region of the High Forest are likely to encounter a bizarre variety of terrain and unusual creatures. Many of these beasts can trace their lineage to teh fall of Sharrven.



Siluvanede

This kingdom of sun elves was the first elven realm established in the High Forest after the Crown Warsd. Siluvanede occupied the northwestern High Forest, which also included the Silverwood at the time. The Siluvanedenn favored long, graceful, stone structures and bright colors, so they filled their cities with tall towers and slender spires built of brightly colored stone and brick. Magnificent manors lined every street, and every boulevard ended in a park garden where artisans came to create work sof art from stone, wood, and magic.

But beneath Siluvanede's beauty lay a growing cancer - namely, a tendency to embrace the dark ways. In the early days of Siluvanede, the memories of the Elven Court's decree against the Vyshannti and the Descent of the Drow were still fresh in the minds of many sun elves, so the citizens of the new kingdom were more than a little fearful of the Seldarine. In response to those fears, temples were outlawed in the new kingdom, and priests were persecuted and driven out. The goldless nature of Siluvanede later contributed to House Dlardrageth's success in subverting the Siluvanedeen houses to their own dark cause. As more and more Siluvanedenn fell in with the plots of House Dlardrageth, an increasing number of them chose to follow the dark path laid out by their Vyshaan Forbears.

Source: Forgotten Realms - Lost Empires of Faerun; pg 89 - 92


Keepers of the Past

The history of the High Forest is rich with tales of heroic wars and battles, of love gained and kingdoms lost. Because such stories are still popular, characters can learn much about the lost elven and dwarven kingdoms of the North simply by listening to the tales and songs in public houses. Since the fall of the High Forest kingdoms happened relatively recently by dwarf and elf reckoning, the information in these tales is still relatively accurate.

Source: Forgotten Realms - Lost Empires of Faerun; pg 85

[DM Leverage]

Historic Timeline

The last chapter in the history of the High Forest elves began nearly ten thousand years ago, when some sun elves returned to the forest and founded the nation of Siluvanede amid the ruins of Aryvandaar.

The moon elves who arrived soon after founded the hidden kingdom of Sharrven in the woodland areas to the south. The last and mightiest of the elven realms that rose in the High Forest was Eaerlann, a powerful kingdom of moon elves and wood elves that was said to rival the legendary Cormanthyr in spirit and lore.


Timeline

-9000: The Fifth Crown War ends. The elves of Aryvandaar abandon the High Forest.

- 8400: A few sun elves return to found Silvunede in the northwestern reaches of the High Forest.

-7600: Moon elves and a few sun elves disaffected with Siluvandede's growing elitism found Sharrven in the southern reaches of the High Forest.

-5300: The elves of Silvanede erect a mythal in the city of Adofhaeranede and rename it Myth Adofhaer.

-5000: Survivors of House Dlardrageth, a clan of demon-blooded sun elves, flee from Arcorar to Siluvanede

-4800: The Dlardrageths subvert several powerful Siluvanedenn sun elf houses and, by encouraging demon-elf cross-breeding, ceate the fey'ri. The fey'ri houses conceal their secret heritage and come to wield great power in Siluvanede.

-4700: Nobles of Sharrven who seek to restrict the ambitious Siluvanedeen found the kingdom of Eaerlann.

-4550: The elven tree city of Teuveamanthaar is founded on the present-day site of Talltrees and named the capital of Eaerlann.

-4500: High mages from Arcorar track House Dlardrageth to a secret lair beneath Ascal's Horn. With the aid of Eaerlanni forces, they slay several of the Dlardrageths. Other Siluvanedenn houses under Dlardrageth influence retaliate, beginning the Seven Citadels' War. Sarya Dlardrageth and her sons are captured, but the fey'ri-led Siluvanedenn fight on.

-4440: Eaerlann presses Siluvanede. The Siluvanedenn open several of Aryvandaar's ancient citadels and equip their warriors with Vyshaantar weapons. This tactic draws Sharrven into the war.

-4300: The Seven Citadel's War ends, and Eaelann forciby annexes Siluvanede. Upon discovering the deceit of the fey'ri, untainted Siluvanedenn high mages place the city of Myth Adofhaer in magical stasis, effectively fleeing to the far future to escape association with the fey'ri houses. Most of the surviving fey'ri warriors are imprisoned in Nar Kerymhoarth (the Nameless Dungeon), but some avoid capture and eventually spawn long-lived houses of daemonfey that successfully conceal their nature.

-4100: Shield dwarves settle the Graypeak Mountains.

-3900: Delzoun, the great Northkingdom of the dwarves, is founded.

-3843: The drow city of Ched Nasad is founded, beginning of centuries of strive between the drow and and the dwarves of Ammarindar.

-3830: The elves of Eaerlann teach magic to the humans of Netheril.

-3416: The Lowroad, an underground trade route linking Dlezoun to Netherese towns, is completed.

-3373: King Azkuldar of Ammarindar initiates trade realtions with the magic-wielding humans of Netheril.

-2770: The fey'ri who survive the fall of Siluvanede covertly unleash monser hordes in the southern High Forest. The creatures destroy Sharrven before aid can arrive. King Connar IV of Ammarindar then vanquishes many of he creatures, including the red wyrm Rithaerosurffel, the Bane of Sharrven.

-1900: Citadel Felbarr is completed.

-897: King Olaurin, greatest hero-king of Ammarindar, is slain by the deep dragon Erthungaron.

-550: Year of Glistening Dust : King Azkuldar III of Ammarindar secretly creats the Xothol, an arcane collage charged with guarding against the increasingly antagonistic Netherese.

-500: Year of the Running Unicorns : Citadel Sundbarr is comlpeted.

-372: Year of the Owl's Watching : The elves of Eaerlann found Ascalhorn.

-339: Year of Sundered Webs : Netheril, the Empire of Magic, falls. The body of the momentary god Karsus falls to earth in the eastern region of the High Forest.

-335: Year of Seven Spirits : The Illuskan arcanist Maerin Immar commissions Fardelver and other dwarf artisans from Delzoun to build Gauntlgrym.

-334: Year of Three Seas' Rage : The dwarves build Besendar's Blockhouse on the site that will become current-day Everlund.

-333: Year of the Humbling Havens : Ascalhorn and Citadel Sundbarr accept human refugees from Netheril. As the Narrow Sea dries up, the dwarves begin the slow abandonment of Ascore.

- 286: Year of Foul Awakenings : The Xothol is closed.

-272: Year of the Songstones : Citadel Adbar is completed.

-111: Year of Terrible Anger : Delzoun is devastated by countless orc assults that also destroy other kingdoms of the north. The elves of Iliyanbruen, Rilithar, and Eaerlann unite to shatter the strength of the orcs and halt their rampage into the High Forest and Dessarin Valley.

-104: Year of the Star Stallion : The dwarves abandon Besendar's Blockhouse.

-100: Year of the Black Unicorn : The underground realm of Delzoun falls to underdark creatures. The dwarves' surface citadels survive the attack and remain in dwarf hands.

1: Year of Sunrise : The dwarves of Ammarindar complete Citadel Yaunoroth.

273: Year of the Delighed Dwarves : Three dwarf clans from Ammarindar and Citadel Felbarr migrate together to Myth Drannor.

329: Year of the Closed Scroll : Orcs sack the surface fortresses of Citadel Sundbarr.

515: Year of the Frivolous Exchange : Humans from Ascalhorn resettle Besander's Blockhouse and rename it Everlund.

590: Year of the Turning Leaf : Elf and human wizards from Ascalhorn, Eaerlann, Evereska, Silverymoon, and Myth Drannor raise a wizard mythal over the Aaerlanni city of Glaurachyndaar, thereby establishing Myth Glaurach.

714: Year of Doom : Myth Drannor Falls.

820: Year of the Roving Tyrant : The arcanist Wulgreth summons the first devils to Ascalhorn.

864: Year of the Broken Branch : Orcs of the Nethertusk Horde overrun Myth Glaurach.

880: Year of Unfettered Secrets : Human wizards, influenced by the fey'ri, summon the first demons to Ascalhorn.

882: Year of the Curse : Demons and devils battle in Ascalhorn. The triumphant demons stream fourth, bringing about the fall of Eaerlann and Ammarindar (added note: Ascalhorn becomes Hellgate keep). The dwarves allow human refugees to settle in the surface strongholds of Citadel Sundbarr.

886: Year of the Fell Firebreak : Harpers place wards around Hellgate Keep to prevent demons from using their gate abilities.

890: Year of the Burning Tree : The demons beneath Hellgate Keep begin tunneling to bypass the Harpers' Wards.

912: Year of the Sudden Journey : Demons tunneling from under Hellgate Keep reach the Nether Mountains.

1104: Year of the Dark Dawn : Citadel Felbarr is attacked by an orc horde led by the orc chieftain Obould, who defeats the warriors of Silvermoon at the Battle of Many Arrows. The fortress falls into orc hands and is known thereafter as the Citadel of Many Arrows.

1221: Year of the Frozen Flower : Demons tunnel from Hellgate Kepp to the abandoned tunnels of fallen Ammarindar.

1230: Year of the Long Watch : The orcs breach Silverymoon and enter the city but are repelled by Harpers and Elves.

1356: Year of the Wyrm : Demons tunnel from Hellgate Keep to the Nameless Dungeon.

Omitting entries from 1367 - 1374

Source: Forgotten Realms - Lost Empires of Faerun; pg 83 - 85