| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Azar
Master of Realmslore
1332 Posts |
 Posted - 22 May 2025 : 01:10:22
|
Hello!
If Anauroch were bordered by mountains to the west, south and east (including the Desertsmouth peaks presently in existence), how might that affect the region? Trade routes would be hindered/obstructed, certainly; the Zhentarim might not be so eager to use its wastes as a means of bypassing more civilized regions (unless they knew of a secret path...). Fewer monsters would trickle into The Stonelands. What else?
|
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
|
|
sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12055 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2025 : 02:15:29
|
| Too many factors. Would people just use the Underdark or a tunnel through the mountains? Would these points become major cities because of their importance? Would people seek to control both sides (but if its Underdark passages, will there be multiple entrances/exits)? Would someone setup a skyship ferry service that just goes over the mountains? If that were the case is there a caravan service that stays IN the desert such that people travel to the skyship, sell their caravan wagons to people leaving the desert, and then buy a new set of wagons on the other side? |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
 |
|
|
Delnyn
Master of Realmslore
USA
1041 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2025 : 11:10:33
|
For skyship ferry services, I would expect Halruaans to charge steep fees for transport. They would not be eager to sell their trade secrets of skyship design. For Underdark routes and tunneling through mountains, that is inherently risky with the additional risk of freeing the phaerimm under Anauroch. The Zhentarim would likely not bother maintaining the Black Road with the expense and risk.
I would expect trade routes to go around the mountains. |
|
|
|
sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12055 Posts |
Posted - 22 May 2025 : 12:29:33
|
quote:
Originally posted by Delnyn
For skyship ferry services, I would expect Halruaans to charge steep fees for transport. They would not be eager to sell their trade secrets of skyship design. For Underdark routes and tunneling through mountains, that is inherently risky with the additional risk of freeing the phaerimm under Anauroch. The Zhentarim would likely not bother maintaining the Black Road with the expense and risk.
I would expect trade routes to go around the mountains.
To Note: Halruuans aren't the only ones who know how to make skyships. People think that way, but Thayans are in canon also makers of skyships. So are elves. Thayans also have their own model of spelljammers, as do the people of Kara-Tur. If a spelljammer were staying in atmosphere and looked "ship-like" and people saw it, they might think its just another model of "skyship". Now, I don't see the Thayans using their spelljammers for this (i.e. for other people), but I could see the Guild of Foreign Trade running a ferry service with skyships.... if only for the prestige of gaining similar notoriety to what the Halruuans can do. Once other nations see this in action, it wouldn't be too hard to design their own variation of Halruaan skyship (or go down to Halruaa and steal one and use it in secret with illusory cover for their own goods).
On the underdark and/or tunnels .... WE know about the Phaerimm, but most people don't. Yeah, is it more dangerous? Maybe. I think people would do tunnels before underdark though. That's easier, especially if you can get something that burrows or disintegrates things to help (forcibly or not). Hell, there's even the idea of short jump portal system or even something as simple as a very narrow but long series of passwall effects that can only be activated for say ten minutes a day (i.e just enough that a caravan could get lined up in a valley and just pass on through in a relative rush.... anything breaks down .... sucks to be you because your wagon is getting disintegrated).
Something like the passwall effect would mainly be for use by a highly secretive organization, because its annoying, unsafe, and probably more expensive than a portal system. However, there is security in it, especially if there's a couple sets of these with a stopover point each day where people could stay in some encampment, etc... |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
|
|
|
Azar
Master of Realmslore
1332 Posts |
|
|
sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12055 Posts |
Posted - 30 May 2025 : 13:09:41
|
quote:
Originally posted by Azar
My long-running erroneous recollection: Anauroch is surrounded by mountains.
Far from impenetrable and there's breaks. From what I'm gathering, you were asking us to focus on the idea that "because of the mountains, people can't cross".... but even with that, we've already shown ways that people would get around it.
Things that in our world that would be exceptionally hard to do, become ridiculously easy if you put your mind to it in the realms. For instance, if you can get a beholder under your control (and possibly even remove all its eyes except the disintegrate one), you can quickly tunnel through mountains at a rate that would absolutely stun people in our world. Granted, you still have to shore it all up, etc.... So, speaking of using beholders to tunnel.... who do we know with beholder friends? Zhents. |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
Edited by - sleyvas on 30 May 2025 13:10:58 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
"What if?": Anauroch surrounded by mountains?
