Map of the High Forest and surrounds

Map of the High Forest and surrounding major settlements south and west, including Waterdeep and the High Moor. The village of Pelanor and forest camp known as Aryen's Hope are located seventy-five miles northeast of Loudwater, along the River Delimbiyr, roughly fifteen miles apart.

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Map of PCs in the Forgotten Realms

I know I always kick around the idea of starting a new, homebrew setting, then keep coming back to FR anyway. While I have a lot of ideas for a custom world that I hope to eventually use, it's tough to start over when I have so much D&D history tied up in Faerûn. How much, exactly? Well...

Here's a map of every character played in campaigns I've run in the Realms (with close-ups of various sections), dating back to 2004. Each campaign is depicted in a separate color which shows (roughly) the region(s) it encompassed. This is pretty crazy to look at, all laid out at once.

The Sword Coast North and the Western Heartlands

Cormanthor and the Moonsea

The Vilhon Reach

Rashemen

Full map (attribution)

This doesn't even include my favorite FR campaign I've played in, a game run by Jason over twenty years ago. I thought about adding Cadazcar and Erik Estrada, but I don't know their geography perfectly, and I had to draw the line somewhere.

In addition to the visuals, a few fun facts:

• Total number of characters played: 52
• Total number of players: 15
• Most characters played by the same player: 7
• PC descendants of other characters: 2
• Total character deaths: 9 (seven in the last five years...)

Will this be the last new Realms game before I finally switch?

Map of session #44 (Fireshear mine)

Map of the mine northwest of Fireshear, where a demon spewed forth from a chasm and was defeated.

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Map of the Dessarin Valley

Map of the Dessarin Valley, purchased from a local merchant in the city of Mirabar in the Year of the Raging Flame (1255 DR).

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Map of session #33 (Orcdoom)

The party traveled due north from the outpost, then veered northwest following smoke plumes and orc trails. On the return journey, Selben erred west before correcting course east upon finding the road.

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Map of the River Mirar and surrounds

The named locales in the map below are known or believed to exist (in some form) in the Year of the Raging Flame (1255 DR).

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Map of the lands north of Longsaddle

The villages of Xantharl's Keep and Grunwald lay betwixt the city of Mirabar and the hamlet known as Longsaddle. The safe haven called Griffon's Nest lay somewhere beyond the Lurkwood.

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The Valley of Khedrun

Map of the campaign area so far. The distance between Shadfeld and Carrock is approximately twenty miles.

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Maps, motivations, and accounting

This post covers a hodgepodge of relatively brief topics. First, here are Wren's map of Grimmantle and an overland map section for the game.

Sword Coast map

This isn't the same map that we've used on paper, but it's easier to read since there's less clutter. I've also reduced the scope in terms of the geographical area pictured; the paper map is a bit overwhelming and denotes many locations that are very far away. Above, Brithem sits along the coast, one-quarter of the way from Luskan to Neverwinter; Port Llast sits on the same path, three-quarters of the way between cities.

It's important to note that the overland map is a metagame aid for the players - that is, the characters don't have access to the map, nor are they necessarily aware of every location it depicts. This is intended as a player resource only, to better understand the relative placement of the locations discussed in-game. It's OK to assume that the characters are aware of nearby towns and renowned cities like Waterdeep. Beyond that, players can ask me what their characters should reasonably know.

Wren's map

The "Grimmantle" map, on the other hand, is intended as an in-game resource that's physically in Wren's possession. Characters may study and form opinions on its nuances to their hearts' content. Wren has had this since the beginning of the campaign, but I didn't want to post it publicly until the other PCs were privy to its existence.

PC Motivations

Sean mentioned at the end of last session that he felt a need for the players to take some time speaking to their characters' individual motivations for adventuring, and I agree. We did an exercise in defining initial motivations before we started, but that feels extremely antiquated at this point. I do think it's important to know what each PC is in the campaign for, both to help the party set its course and also understand why the characters are together in the first place.

Let's plan to take some time at or before the start of the next session to have a brief discussion around this.

Monetary Accounting

Finally, I've created a spreadsheet that I'd like to try using to track the approximate wealth of each PC. I'll start by recording the current gold piece value of the coins and other valuables carried, and record debits and credits as accurately as I can. This should make it easier to track how treasure is split, who's in possession of what, and how much wealth the party has at its disposal at a given time. I still want players to mark their gains and expenditures individually, but I know those details can get muddy over the course of multiple sessions.

Brithem concept drawing

The fiefdom of Brithem is a thousand-acre estate comprised of an expansive castle and a handful of outlying farms. The below drawing is to serve as abstract concept only, illustrating the stylistic architecture and relative size of the primary structure.

(Attribution)

The castle itself is home to nearly a hundred individuals, from soldiers and nobility to servants, laborers, cooks, footmen, and specialized craftsmen such as an armorer and weaponsmith. The surrounding farmlands reap protection from the castle and provide sustenance to its Lady and her constituents. Brithem's banner is a black eagle with red talons, emblazoned on the breastplates and shields of its soldiery.

Heraldic crest of Brithem

OSRIC returns

Setting up to run a game on Saturday, Feb. 5. Amiculum, Gulwar, Rylin, and Ellimorell's grisly corpse have unfinished business in the Village of Hommlet... and of course, the ruins of the moathouse:

Will goodness and valor prevail, or will Gulwar and Dravin's idiocy foil the party to its doom?

Damara Map

Here's the map of Damara I handed out before the first session:

Bloodstone Valley

Bloodstone Valley and Bloodstone Pass are the only passable route between the countries of Vaasa and Damara, known collectively as the Bloodstone Lands.