Delimbiyr Vale

The Delimbiyr Vale, also known as the Shining Valley, was an area in the North, encompassing the western, upper reaches of the Delimbiyr River. The vale was a nigh-endless stretch of sweeping valley that attracted travelers and settlers who could brave life in the Savage Frontier. However, parts of it were forsaken, filled with falling ruins, monsters, and ancient secrets.
==Geography==
The Vale was bound on the north by the Nether Mountains and to the south by the South Wood. Its western edge was the High Forest but no part of the High Forest was considered a part of the Vale. Despite this, the High Forest in the south ran almost to the banks of the Delimbiyr, narrowing the Vale considerably.
Two areas of the Delimbiyr Vale were often referred to as Upvale and Gray Vale by the locals. Upvale was an area of open grasslands in the northern Delimbiyr Vale between Tall Trees and the Far Forest. Gray Vale was in the southwest and consisted of the area of grasslands through which the rivers Greyflow and Loagrann flowed.
The lower Delimbiyr had floodplains, situated around Daggerford.
===Geographic Features===
;Bodies of Water:
* Delimbiyr River: The great river ran all the way through the valley before emptying into the Lizard Marsh.
* Loagrann: This river flowed through a part of the Greypeaks, at the landmark of Deadstone Cleft.
;Forests:
* Far Forest: This grove formed the northern point of the Triangle of Trees.
* Laughing Hollow: Seldom visited by men, this fey-inhabited forest was home to the wild elf known as the King of the Woods.
* Misty Forest
* South Wood: The aptly named southern point of the Triangle of Trees was home to a Zhentarim stronghold.
;Mountains:
* Greypeak Mountains: The rocky mountains in the eastern region of the Vale earned their name from the stone giants that dwelled amongst their peaks.
:* Dawn Pass: One of the few passes that cut through the Greypeak Mountains, the Dawn Pass was the only route that could accommodate wagons.
:* Seshrentor: This tower in the Greypeaks was once home to a powerful lich.
;Regions:
* Gray Vale: The fertile, southeastern stretch of the valley passed between Loudwater and the Dawn Pass Trail.
* Fallen Lands: Located in the eastern region of the vale, this area held a number of old ruins and magical anomalies.
* Upvale: The northern stretch of the valley separated the Tall Trees of the High Forest from the Far Forest to the east.
;Wetlands:
* Lonely Moor: This solitary scrub land was located near the Anauroch Desert.
* Lizard Marsh: Before the Delimbiyr River opened into the Trackless Sea, it formed this network of streams, waterways and swampland.
==History==
The ancient elven realm of Eaerlann once held much of the upper Delimbiyr Vale, with its western border lying west of the River Delimbiyr. They established a great fortress at the head of the valley; called Ascalhorn, it became Hellgate Keep.
The Barony of Steeping Falls was formed on the northern back of the Delimbiyr River, in the , by the vampire Artor Morlin. It stood for almost three centuries before dissolving.
A half-century later, in the , the kingdom of Athalantar was founded by the Stag King, Uthgrael Aumar. The king and his son both oversaw the realm for some time, before it was taken over by the powerful magelords. The Kingdom of the Stag was freed from their unjust rule by the Chosen of Mystra Elminster Aumar and saw prosperity for over a century. Unfortunately, Athalantar was wiped out by a horde of marauding orcs in the .
For hundreds of years, the demonic forces of Hellgate Keep controlled a stretch of the Delimbiyr Vale, but the fall of that ancient citadel in the put an end to its authority in the region.
==Notable Locations==
;Landmarks
* Dungeon of the Hark: A group of wererat bandits launched their raids from this underground domain.
* Halls of the Hammer: The whereabouts of the dwarves that dwelled within this hold was unknown to the locals.
* Hammer Hall: Since abandoned, this lone cabin was the home to a group of adventurers.
* The Nighthunt: Favored by adventurers, this tavern was located about a day's ride east of Loudwater.
* The Mosque of Tyr: A temple-stronghold dedicated to the Maimed God. It was run by the elven priest, Elorshin Floshin.
* The Smiling Satyr: This charming tavern was located about eight farms southwest of Loudwater.
;Settlements:
* Daggerford: The walled city of the vale was built around a keep that sat atop a small hill overlooking the coast.
* Julkoun: Surrounded by a moat and wooden palisade, this small village was well-protected from nearby bandits.
* Llorkh: Founded by dwarves and men, this mining town was taken over by the Zhentarim for a time, before being completely abandoned.
* Loudwater: A town by the river.
* Orlbar: This small farming village was located at the junction of Loagrann and Greyflow rivers. It was once controlled by the Zhentarim, but was abandoned when attacked by stone giants in the 1480s DR.
* Secomber: The folk of this town lived well off the land but had to defend against monstrous creatures such as hobgoblins.
* Ammarindar: An ancient shield dwarf kingdom that existed below the upper Delimbiyr Vale.
==Inhabitants==
In the mid-to-late 1300s DR, lightfoot halflings had settlements along the banks of the lower Delimbiyr, with the greatest concentration around Secomber. Tieflings, the progeny of the demons of Hellgate Keep, were found the upper Delimbiyr Vale.
However, circa 1372 DR, few seemed to be interested in founding a settlement in the region of the vale near the Silver Marches as it was a desolate region.
In the late 15 century DR, many settlers of the North were attracted to the lands of the Delimbiyr Vale.
Beyond the civilized folk, the vale was home to monsters and monstrous humanoids, such as hobgoblins and bugbears. Travel through Gray Vale was often dangerous due to bugbear raids.
In the Underdark caverns beneath this wild land dwelt a demonic general known as Kaanyr Vhok, the Sceptered One, who had amassed an army of tanarukks and fiendish beasts.
==Appendix==
===Appearances===
;Adventures:
* Legacy of the Green Regent
* Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle
* Scourge of the Sword Coast
* Princes of the Apocalypse
* Storm King's Thunder
;Video Games:
* Neverwinter Nights: Darkness over Daggerford
===References===
Category:Valleys
Category:Regions
Category:Locations in the Savage Frontier
Category:Locations in Northwest Faerûn
Category:Locations in Faerûn
Category:Locations on Toril