Ardeep Forest

[sandcastles]

Ardeep Forest

A short days ride outside of the walls of Waterdeep, Ardeep was the home of moon elves who could remember when their forest had streatched all the way to the High Forest and beyond. Some echo of elven power still remains in the woods, and evil creatures do not feel comfortable among its tall blueleaf, duskwood, and wierwood trees.

FRCS; pg 176

[DM Leverage]

Ardeep

The elven realm of Ardeep, also known as the Realm of the Deepening Moon, has a history that stretches back thousands of years. Ruled by the coronals of Shantel Othreier, Aryvandaar, and Illefarn at various times, Ardeep merged as an independent realm in tis own right after the razing of Aelinthaldaar. Ardeep later allied with the dwarves of Dardath, the humans of Delimbiyran, the gnomes of Dolblunde, and the halfings of Secomber to form Phalorm, the Realm of Three Crowns. But after the fall of Phalorm, most of Ardeep's moon elves retreated to Evermeet, leaving the forest abandoned for centuries. During this period, heavy logging reduced the forest to the size it is today. Moon elf refugees from Eaerlann eventually reconstituted the realm, but Ardeep never regained it's former splendor.

Ardeep's borders varied nearly as much as its rulers did, but they generally encompassed the forested lands north of the River Delimbiyr, between the areas now known as the Forlorn Hills and the Sword Coast. Most folk of modern-day Faerun believe that the elves inhabited only the area currently covered by the Ardeep Forest, but in truth the Realm of the Deepening Moon occupied at least three times that much territory. Thus, the ruins of Ardeep can be found not only in the depths of Ardeep Forest, but also in the surrounding countryside.

Ardeep Forest is a thick woodland of tall blueleaf, duskwood, and weirwood trees. its verges are deceptively pleasant, with sun-dappled paths roamed by foraging deer. Farther into the forest the terrain is broken by ridges and breakneck gullies cloaked in thick vines and shrubbery and concealed by mist. Wild boars roam through ruins hidden beneath the forest loam, and faintly glowing mushrooms provide dim spots of ghostly illumination.

The Fair Folk call Ardeep the Faraway Forest because of its distance from Evermeet. Outlaws and a few lonely elves dwell in its depths, and many elves and half-elves who live in Waterdeep come to Ardeep from time to time to revisit the green silences of unspoiled woodlands. Three small glades near the northwestern edge of the forest are traditional meeting spots for young lovers whose families are actively hostile to their matches. Harpers also meet in Ardeep from time to time, and rangers patrol the edges of the wood to ensure that neither large predatory beasts nor brigands settle here.

Important Sites

Dancing Dell
Soft moss, short grasses, and ferns cloak this smooth bowl and the raised ring of earth that surrounds it. In the middle of the bowl stands the Ladystone, a finger of rock touched by Eilistraee and sacred to her. The Ladystone's powers guard the dell and can strike at intruders as commanded by the goddess or her priestesses. The origin of the Ladystone is unknown, but it is believed to date back to the earliest settlements in Ardeep.

Qilue Veladorn of the Seven Sisters sometimes leads worship services here, and Eilistraee herself has manifested in Dancing Dell on more than one occasion.


Green Glade
This ring of elm trees lies in the southeastern reaches of the Ardeep Forest. Fern thickets cloak its approaches , and no trail - no matter how well cleared - survives for more than one night in its vicinity.

Perpetual spring has reigned within this circle of trees for centuries, and the entire glade is under a permanent hallow effect. These features have been attributed to a wide range of deities over the years, but they are in fact the effects of a minor mythal. The mythal also enhances minor healing effects cast within its boundaries. (Specifically, the Empower Spell feat is automatically applied to all conjuration [healing] spells cast within the circle.) Finally, any nonmagical wood - no matter how old - brought into the Green Glade begins to sprout and grow, even if it has been cut, stained, polished, fashioned into furniture, or damaged by fire.


House of Long Silences
A facade of pale white stone separates the echoing halls of this ancient, ruined manor from the surrounding stands of cedars and blueleafs. The House of Long Silences encompasses a nexus of two-way portals, including links to an abandoned watchtower in the eastern reaches of the Trollbark Forest, the undercroft of the Temple of Labelas in the ruined city of Mhiilamniir, and a subterranean grotto beneath the Snakewood. In addition, a one-way portal from Evermeet exits in the neighboring woods. Lord Elorfindar Floshin, (NG male sun elf fighter/wizard/eldrich knight), whose estate encompasses the lands between Daggerford and Ardeep forest, has created a web of warding spells in the manor and the surrounding woodlands that alerts him to intrusions.

Reluraun's Tomb
In a clearing at the heart of the Ardeep Forest lies the vault of a fallen elf warrior named Reluraun (CE male moon elf, ghost, fighter), whos spirit was twisted into a mad, undead creature by evil magic during his final battle. Reluraun appears as two disembodied eyes and a pair of skeletal arms and hands that wield Reluran's Hoarcut, a +3 ice burst longsword. Reluraun's tomb is guarded by no less than three baelnorns (LG moon elf baelnorn wizard), and his coffin floats alone in a domed, underground vault. An extremely lifelike effigy of the warrior clutches Wyrmsheart, a +2 dragon bane longsword.

~ Forgotten Realms - Lost Empires of Faerun; pg 142 - 143