Stromgaurd Pass

Kind of a rough sketch (doesn't show the Underdark Portions however) some of the names are still in flux.

Mount Vol is actually more of an un-collapsed side-vent for the real volcano which lies under stream lake (which is unapproachable even in the underdark since it is a magma chamber).

Underdark Notes:

UPDATE: Renaming the Underdark city to Ssussun Orthae(Sacred Light) The Drow city is not very populated, it is founded upon the ruins of another Drow city, the current inhabitants follow Elisatree, spider and Loloth Motifs are slowly being replaced with Sword, Moon and Maiden ones as well as other deities that non-Lolothian Drow and other underground races who call the reclaimed city home.  AKA : City of Twilight

Most farming, other than substance is geared toward Zurkwood Mushrooms (for their wood) and a local variant that is tapped for it's natural latex-like substance used both in exotic clothing and industry.

There are various mines around most only on the eastern southern sides of the valley.

Around Fell Keep the Underdark has also been changed and is now called the Shattered Labyrinth, some say there are portals to the Nine Hells

the majority of the local underdark are a series of underground lakes.

Map of the Underdark of Stromgaurd Pass can be found here:


Other notes:
If Red Stone is a Wild Magic area (with dimensional interfaces and still floating Earthmotes the Icy Bogs are a dead magic zone (Which extends across most of the pass making it unpleasant to cross even for Uthgardt Shamans and the large Ravens.)

Small Animals in Tamon's cross speak, and there is a young "genius" Copper Dragon who makes his lair beneath the town. (He can Polymorph to human although most of his kind usually gain the ability later in life)


The City/Fort at the northern end of the Valley Stromgate is ruled by Baron Alexander Greyland of Earth. An adventurer with ties to the Lords Alliance who was given this valley to keep him occupied (they feared incorrectly that he might take over other city-states). It also houses the largest Library, workshops, and Magic academy's and also is the registration point for any and all magic users in the valley. The Magic Academy also has classes for Artificers of all stripes, some of them quite innovative.

It is also the home to Greyland's Roughnecks a mercenary company that he created before becoming Baron.

There is a Goblin Presence in the valley but they were defeated and annexed, most of the older male goblins are dead and the three tribes are now rules by one queen who is on Greyland's Privy council.

From my story Notes:

• Baron Alexander Greyland of Earth: Appointed Baron of Stromgate by the Lord's Alliance(Warduke) (Level 20 Artificer-Artillerist/Scholar) Which he does so from Greyland's Keep. His primary Mission is to keep the Ice Giants from using the passage through the mountains to attack the Storm Coast. He commands a battalion Standing force of Soldiers to man the wall and patrol and two Company's of Mercenaries for hire. He took the position because the gateway to his home falls within his new Territory. His is a Christian of an unspecified denomination.

• Intara The Goblin Queen: (Level 5 Druid) Rules the Goblin Tribes (Stormgorge-green/ Frostreaver-yellow/Fellstorm-red) conquered by Greyland, not sure how to deal with a Human that conquers them but makes life better for them?

• Quillathe Ha'Duar the Fleshweaver: Drow (Level 17 Wizard-School of Transmutation) Originally an enemy of Greyland her many failures to kill him have long ago turned into plots to wed him (with only marginally more success). She has gone from Chaotic Evil to Chaotic Neutral. loves holding "Costume" parties(An odd mix of the frenzied-Nedeirra and formal-Illiyitrii Costumes are often glamours and transformations). Was given a gift of sunglasses from Earth last Shieldmeet. Quillathe leads a small sanctuary for Drow(Neutral and Good aligned). She has recently become a follower of Ellistraee the Dark Maiden.

•  Storn Dundragon Luskan-born Tethyrian Archmage: (Level 20 Wizard-School of Conjugation) Second in command of the Greyland's Roughnecks and overall charge of it's Magical assets Loosely associated with the Arcane Brotherhood has 3 Apprentices and one magically inclined servant and a Cook in his tower.

• Sensei Shin Long: (Level 17 Monk-Way of the Four Elements) Long finds Greyland and his otherworldly tales...fascinating-Harper Contact (Open Secret)

• Balasar Yarjerit Dragonborn(Gold) (Level 5 Paladin-White Knight) Unit Commander for Fireteam Lancer and several others teams, based from Stromgate. Contact Faer for the Order of the Gauntlet

• Quinlan Thoss Representative of the Merchants Guilds and quietly the leader of the local Zhentarim.

In addition the Order of the Gilded Eye has taken a recent interest in the valley but there is a split among the moderates and zealots. Some want to help the residents of Fell Keep other wish to send them to the Abyss where they [think they] belong.


    In the center of the valley pass on an island in of many northern tributaries of the Mirar River sits the red granite batholith named Red Stone; this batholith, or rock dome is a natural passageway between several dimensions, including to Earth. (Enchanted Rock in Texas) Aside from the nearby fortification on one of the few surviving earthmotes, the closest town is Steamfalls Keep, a half day's ride to the west.

    Or it used to be called Steamfalls Keep, a few months into 1491 DR a group of Warlocks gathered at night to sacrifice the town to their infernal patrons. As a result the entire town of Steamfalls Keep vanished from the face of Toril for six hours, when it returned the town and it still sleeping inhabitants, both the living and inanimate had been changed, some say corrupted by what happened.The humans and Faer became a new breeds of Tieflings, pets and farm animals became feral mockeries of what their former selves, the very buildings and landscape made to look ominous.

    Even the Underdark was affected, possibly even more-so as in addition to an underground maze, the portals to worst parts of both the Feywild and Shadowfell, is the now open portal to the Nine Hells layer of Avernus.

  So began the legend of Fell Keep.

Edit:Minor changes the play-test Artificer Class had me intrigued
Edit:More information as Fell Keep might become the focus more than the Giants pounding the walls of Stromgate. portal to Toril from the Nine Hell and a Portal to Earth nearby?