General Info

The most famous continent on Toril, the home of note worthies such as Elminster of Shadowdale and Drizzt Do’Urden, and the location of cities such as Neverwinter, Baldur’s Gate, Calimport and Waterdeep, and nations such as Cormyr, Halruaa, Calimshan, Mulhorand, Sossal and Thay. Faerûn makes up the western portion of a larger supercontinent and also contains offshore islands such as the Moonshaes, Lantan and Nimbral.

See Faerun Interactive Map

Geography of Faerûn

The continent features terrain as varied as any other. Alongside the western and southern coastlines, the most dominant feature is the Sea of Fallen Stars. This irregular inland sea keeps the interior lands fertile, connects the western and eastern regions of Faerûn, and serves as a major trade route for many of the bordering nations.

The Shaar follows in significance — a broad region of southern grasslands which, together with the Lake of Steam, separates the inland sea from the southern coastal nations. To the east lies a vast region of steppes stretching from Kara-Tur, while the north holds massive glaciers (Pelvuria and Reghed) and wide tundra. South of the continent, across the Great Sea, is the sub-tropical land of Zakhara.

Northwest Faerûn

A region of wilderness, harsh winter weather, orc hordes, and barbarian tribes, this area is often called The North. It is largely untamed, lying between the vast Anauroch Desert in the east and the Sea of Swords in the west, north of the High Moor.

Notable Areas:

• High Forest – Traditional home of the elves.
• Frozenfar – The frigid north, containing Icewind Dale, the Spine of the World, and the Sea of Moving Ice.
• Savage Frontier – A rugged frontier attracting settlers and those who live off the land.
• Silver Marches – A confederation of humans, dwarves, and elves, centered on Silverymoon.
• Coastal North – A dangerous coastal region with major cities, including Waterdeep and Neverwinter.

North Faerûn

Stretching from the Anauroch Desert in the west to the Moonsea in the east, this region is one of stark contrasts.

Notable Areas:

• Anauroch – Once the fertile land of Netheril, now a vast desert.
• Dalelands – Rich farmland and home to many human communities, including the wizard Elminster.
• Moonsea – A northern inland sea bordered by unstable regions.
• The Ride – Northern steppe home to mounted barbarians.
• The Vast – A pioneering land with constant struggles between orcs and dwarves.

Northeast Faerûn

This remote region begins at the icy lands along the great northern glaciers and stretches south to the northeastern shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars. It borders Vaasa to the west and reaches east toward the Hordelands.

Notable Areas:

• Damara – A tolerant and resource-rich land, often in conflict with Vaasa.
• The Great Dale – An insulated land of farmers, woodsmen, and druids.
• Impiltur – A friendly and peaceful merchant nation.
• The Hordelands – The vast, barren homeland of the Tuigan horde.
• Narfell – Expansive frigid plains, home to nomadic tribes.
• Rashemen – A rugged realm of berserker clans and sorceress witches.
• Thesk – A mercantile land along the Golden Way, acting as a gateway to Kara-Tur.
• Vaasa – A frozen tundra, bleak yet resource-rich.

West Faerûn

South of Waterdeep and north of the Shining Sea, this region covers most of the Sword Coast and the Lands of Intrigue.

Notable Areas:

• Evermeet – Island homeland of many elves after the Retreat.
• Lantan – An island-nation of human and gnomish inventors devoted to Gond.
• Amn – A powerful, wealthy human nation.
• Calimshan – A kingdom of wealth and mercantilism, founded by genies.
• Tethyr – An arid land wracked by wars and intrigue, also home to elven forests.
• Moonshae Isles – Harsh and rugged islands off the western coast.
• Nelanther Isles – Pirate-dominated islands that raid the Sword Coast.
• Nimbral – A mysterious island realm of wizards and aerial knights.
• Sword Coast – A rich coastline of trade and adventure, with Waterdeep and Baldur’s Gate as major hubs.
• Western Heartlands – Farmlands and cities stretching between Cormyr and the western coast.

Interior Faerûn

Centred around the western shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars, the region includes:

• Akanûl – A kingdom of exotic genasi, displaced from Abeir.
• Chondath – A confederation of city-states on the southern shores.
• Cormyr – A feudal human kingdom built on former elven and dragon lands.
• Dragon Coast – Infamous for pirates and criminal syndicates.
• Hlondeth – Yuan-ti ruled city-state.
• Pirate Isles – Islands that harbor pirates of the Sea of Fallen Stars.
• Sembia – A powerful mercantile nation.
• Sespech – An independent barony that bans magic.
• Turmish – A republic of peaceful farmers and traders.
• Shining Plains – Vast grasslands with cities, centaurs, and wemics.

East Faerûn

Bordering the eastern Sea of Fallen Stars, this region divides into the Unapproachable East and the Old Empires.

Notable Areas:

• Aglarond – An autocratic magocracy defending against Thay.
• Altumbel – A small, isolated kingdom on the Aglarondan peninsula.
• Chessenta – City-states that value physical strength and the arts.
• Chondalwood – An expansive, growing forest.
• High Imaskar – Remnants of the Imaskari empire.
• Mulhorand – Once-mighty empire, now diminished.
• Murghôm – Became an independent land ruled by dragon princes.
• Okoth – Ancient sarrukh-influenced remnant.
• Thay – Magocracy ruled by the Red Wizards.
• Tymanther – A dragonborn kingdom displaced from Abeir.
• Unther – A declining realm after losing lands and its patron deity.

Southwest Faerûn

Centred on the Chultan Peninsula, this region lies between the Shining Sea in the north and the Great Sea to the south.

Notable Areas:

• Chult – A land of riches, disease, serpentine races, and dinosaurs.
• Jungles of Chult – Deadly wilderness of dangerous flora and fauna.
• Lapaliiya – City-states formed by once-tribal peoples.
• Samarach – A hidden kingdom, veiled in illusion magic.
• Tashalar – A mercantile oligarchy famed for wealth and exotic goods.
• Thindol – Populated by humans and yuan-ti.

South Faerûn

Also known as the Shining South, this region lies beyond the Lake of Steam and the Shaar.

Notable Areas:

• Border Kingdoms – Constantly shifting minor realms.
• Dambrath – Alternates rule between humans and half-drow Crinti.
• Great Rift – A canyon homeland of the gold dwarves.
• Halruaa – A secluded wizard kingdom.
• Lake of Steam – Populated by diverse city-states.
• The Shaar – Endless grasslands of nomads, centaurs, and wemics.

Southeast Faerûn

Located south and east of the Shaar along the Great Sea.

Notable Areas:

• Durpar – The foremost trading kingdom.
• Estagund – A monarchy of honor and virtue.
• Var the Golden – A wealthy nation following the Adama.
• Luiren – The only halfling kingdom in Faerûn.
• Ulgarth – A feudal realm with fair governance.
• Utter East – The land of the Five Kingdoms.
• Veldorn – The Land of Monsters, ruled by beast-chieftains.

The Underdark

Beneath Faerûn lies the immense Underdark, a labyrinth of caverns and tunnels.

Notable Cities:

• Ched Nasad – A destroyed drow city.
• Dunspeirrin – Duergar city in the Darklands.
• Gracklstugh – A duergar city beneath the Evermoors.
• Llurth Dreir – A forsaken drow city under the Great Rift.
• Maerimydra – A large drow city beneath the Dalelands.
• Menzoberranzan – The infamous drow city, home of Drizzt Do’Urden.
• Sshamath – A rare drow city ruled by male wizards.
• Blingdenstone – Former svirfneblin city, later resettled.

The Underdark also hosts kuo-toa, illithid, and beholder cities, hidden in its endless depths.

Regions

Capital Cities