Narfell

Narfell is a region in the eastern part of the continent of Faerûn, in the Forgotten Realms setting. It was once the heart of a vast empire that included the Great Dale, much of Thesk, part of the Plateau of Thay, and other lands. In its height of power, evil priests ruled Narfell. They maintained their power through horrid blood-pacts with demon lords, spawning half-demon children. This once great civilization fell over 1,500 years ago in a terrific battle with its ancient enemy, Raumathar.

The empire's few survivors fled to Narfell's current borders, vowing to rebuild their mighty realm. That dream, however, has long since faded. Now, Narfell is a frigid land of barbarian tribes who have little or no knowledge whatsoever of their grand and sinister past, preoccupied as they are with simply surviving the region's harsh and bitter winters. The area directly beneath Narfell in the Underdark is plagued by nightmarish horrors and wraiths, and even the drow dare not travel there.

The remnants of Narfell's magnificent empire still exist, the ruins littering the region's plains. These ruins are often avoided by the Nars, for they have learned that the ruins usually contain ancient and long-dormant magical traps, as well as ghosts and wraiths. Once in a while, a group of foreign adventurers decide to explore the ruins. The Nars do not discourage this, as they can always pick up the pieces after the foolhardy adventurers set off any traps, which are usually lethal.

Merchants who do not wish to traverse the empire of Thesk sometimes pass through Narfell instead by way of the Long Road. The Long Road starts in Damara and enters Narfell through the pass in the Giantspire Mountains before intersecting with the Cold Road at N'Jast. From that point, the road continues on to Nathoud, which stands in the shadows of the Icerim Mountains in northern Rashemen. The Giant Gap, as the road is commonly called, is vertually impassable in the winter and is plagued by hobgoblins.