The Nether Mountains were a chain of dark peaks that once marked the boundary between the ancient empires of Netheril and Delzoun.
Many travelers avoided these peaks, because several orc tribes laired in the region, such as the Thousand Fists and the Ripped Gut tribes who fought ferociously over the Moon Pass, a large gorge that split the mountains into its eastern and western ranges. Around 1372 DR, the orcs made an uneasy truce, making them an even greater threat to anyone traveling the region.
The greatest danger within these mountains were an entire clan of blue dragons known as the Morueme which resided in Morueme's Cave on the high slope of the mountain peak aptly named Dragondoom. The dragons' threat was only enhanced by the servitude of a large tribe of hobgoblins called the Red Flayers, who maintain the Doomspire, a citadel carved into the rock, and protect their masters with an almost deific reverence.
Dalagar's Dagger
The highest peak in the northeast. Also known as a Dragon's Graveyard.
Dragondoom
Located in the eastern end of the Nether Mountains; Morueme's Cave and the Doomspire were located here.
Ladypeak
Located at the westernmost end of the mountains.
Mount Ieldroun
One of the tallest mountains east from the Moon Pass.
Mount Thorog
The other of the two tallest mountains east from the Moon Pass.
Morueme's Cave
Home of the Morueme clan of blue dragons.
Thousand Maws
Home to the Thousand Fists orc tribe.
High Thorog
A valley located between Mount Thorog and Mount Ieldroun.
Moon Pass
An ancient gorge through which the River Rauvin flowed splitting the eastern and western section of the Nether Mountains.
Silverymoon Pass
This pass separated the two sections of the western end.
Turnstone Pass
The pass which the road from Sundabar to Ascalhorn, but around 1372 DR, it was a wilderness area.
Baraskur
Main settlement of the Ripped Gut orc tribe.
Doomspire
A hobgoblin village guarding Morueme's Cave.
Rauvincross
A small village within the Moon Pass.
Lady's Hand Monastery
A temple dedicated to Loviatar on Ladypeak.
Telkoun's Tower
A wizard stronghold.
Tombs of Deckon Thar
Seven tombs named after the first bandit chieftain buried here.
The peaks were also home to dozens of other dangerous monster species making them one of the most inhospitable wild regions in all Faerûn. There were even suggestions that portals or deepspawn were responsible for the amazing abundance of monsters roaming the higher slopes of the Nether Mountains. For those daring enough to brave the dangers, gold, silver, and copper could be mined in quantity. Finally, many adventurers hunted the mountains in search of the legends of lost caches of Netherese magic.
A clan of blue dragons that laired in the easternmost peaks.
An orc tribe which lived on the northern slopes.
The orc tribe who resided on the southern slopes.
830 habitants
Deadsnows was a large village located on the northen edge of the Nether Mountains. It was the smallest member of the confederacy of the Silver Marches and would not have normally been accepted as a signatory unless as a vassal to a larger city, but due to the request of Lady Arletha Icespear it was allowed to join, though did not have a seat on the council. Deadsnows was connected via a trail to Fork Road which eventually lead to Sundabar.
Originally a keep for a human lord who desired his own kingdom, his dream was shattered before it had ever really started. He died in the Battle of Deadsnows, a minor skirmish with some of the countless orc raiders that continually plagued his designs and the battle which gave the place it's name. Two religious groups, Dwarves of Marthammor Duin and Humans of Lathander eventually settled here, building impressive temples to each of their respective gods.
In Eleint, 1372 DR, during the winter melt a hunter was filling his waterskin at a swollen river 3 miles from the village when he noticed the water contained tiny golden flecks. He returned and began to prospect, discovering to his joy that there was indeed gold to be found. Word spread around the village which then got out, and within a couple of months, 300 dwarves, elves, humans and halflings had flocked to the village, either looking to mine the gold themselves or hawk their wares to said miners. A few also arrived for more nefarious ends, to sell illegal items or to steal.
This sudden influx of people taxed the village to it's limit and it looked like it would continue to do so until the gold ran out. However, the Spellplague destroyed the buildings and fields of the village, forcing the survivors to flee.
Deadsnows still drew visitors however – rumours abounded in Sundabar that a powerful group of adventurers, the Brotherhood of the Moon, were unable to retrieve the majority of their collected treasure when the Spellplague struck and so treasure hunters scoured the area for hidden caches for years to come.
When an orc bandit named Histarack discovered the Brotherhood's treasures, he had the tale spread that a new pocket of active Spellplague energy had erupted in the area to keep the scavengers away, however, the story only served to gain the attention of the Order of the Blue Fire who sent envoys to reveal the hoax for what it was.
The Hospice of Marthammor
A travellers sanctuary manned by devout dwarves of the dwarven god of adventurers, Marthammor Duin and led by Observer Kerrilla Gemstar. It lay two miles north-west of the village itself. Visitors could stay for one night with a meal of hard bread and cheese for free, but after that they were required to pay two silver pieces a night, or three if they also wanted to eat. The place regularly had five or ten guests a night but could hold up to twenty. People were turned out if they stayed for a tenday unless they were Dwarves or friends of Kerrilla. Healing was provided to good folks in return for services such as volunteering for the militia or doing a job for the village or the abbey itself.
The Blazon
A tavern owned by the shrewd businessman Lonnor. He realised how scarce rooms were in a boom-town like Deadsnows and raised his prices to five gold pieces a night. He only had 3 such rooms, but one of these three could house up to six people.
Icespear House
A former manor house rebuilt and renovated by the Brotherhood of the Moon as a base to send out mounted patrols. A haven for visiting nobles and good adventurers of renown. No payment was expected or accepted from said guests, though they were expected to be civil and to not stay longer than two tendays. In the cellar, a spire of supernatural ice blasted cold energy at intruders – the Brotherhood used this spire to guard their accumulated wealth.
Vandarhouse
A simple barn that its half-orc proprietress Vandar ran as an inn. She was not a kind person and gladly charged three silver pieces for the 'privilege' of sleeping on a cold, damp, pallet for a night. She charged an extra two silver pieces if one wished to have a meal of hardtack and broth and an additional siver piece for a mug of the cheapest ale she could get her hands on. She and her band of ruffians paid off a few of the town guards so that they were free to steal from those who might bring anything of value into the 'inn' while they slept.
The Rose and Hammer
The only actual inn within the walls of the village. It had twelve private rooms and a common dormitory that could house twenty.
The Morning Watchtower
A watchtower and temple to Lathander, led by Morninglord Ashnar the humble. He and five other clerics operated the place, while a pair of guards made sure they were protected from harm. Ashnar fostered good relations with Kerrilla and the pair were the two most respected people in the village and usually the first people turn to when help was needed. Ashnar was also a bit of a crusader and was not above prodding known adventurers into action.
Snowtown
This is what the shanty town that sprang up outside the village became known as. A maze of ramshackle huts that had become a haven for illegal goings-on. During the day, most of the place was empty while everyone was out prospecting. By night it became rowdy as most of the occupants took to drink and drugs. Prostitution, gambling and other vices started appearing in addition to the theft and claim-jumping problems that had been associated with Snowtown since its inception. Deadsnows jail became full of residents of Snowtown as a result.
After the village was destroyed, only the ruins of The Rose and Hammer remained evident.
100h
Hilltop is a tiny community nestled in the southern foothills of the Nether Mountains. The trail to Hilltop branches off the trail between Everlund and Sundabar, between Lhuvenhead and Jalanthar, which are the nearest communities.
Neverwinter Nights :
Hilltop is a tiny community nestled in the southern foothills of the Nether Mountains. To the east is the village of Blumberg and far to the west, down the River Rauvin is Everlund. Hilltop is a sleepy little village led by mayor Veraunt Shuttlescomb. Although falling within the boundary of Luruar, it was not one of the signatories of the League of the Silver Marches, being too small. The only point of interest was Drogan Droganson's adventuring school.
In a particularly cold Kythorn of 1372 DR, Hilltop was attacked by a large group of kobolds. Casualties were relatively light, with only a few militiamen and two civilians killed in exchange for dozens of kobold dead. Drogan though, the one who could likely do the most to repair the damage to the village was poisoned in the attack and incapacitated, leaving his eldest apprentice to try and solve everyone's problems. This apprentice would go on to do great things like destroying the Netherese flying city of Undrentide and defeating the Valsharess and Mephistopheles.
Hilltop has won second place in the "Communities in Bloom" competition, losing to Blumberg (it is unknown if there were any other entrants), which was sacked by Gnolls on the same day as the Hilltop kobold attack.
Khelb was a tiny village at the western end of Silverymoon Pass.