Shining South

The Shining South is a region in the fictional fantasy setting of the Forgotten Realms.

Dambrath
Dambrath is a land in the Shining South. The majority of the population are human peasants, but the ruling class are half-drow. The half-drow call themselves the Crinti, and they maintain close ties and trade with their drow relatives in the Upper Underdark.

Economy: Ruled by the Crinti; economy largely supported by human peasants; heavy trading with nearby drow cities in the Upper Underdark.

Durpar
Durpar is, together with Var the Golden and Estagund, a part of the Shining Lands. It is hardly in a good location, as it is surrounded by mountains and a sea for wich it doesn't have guaranted free access on North, East and South and by the even more dangerous Veldorn on the West. Like Var the Golden, Durpar follow the teachings of Satama, Toril's Siddharta Gautama (Bouddha) and has an Indian flavour.

Estagund
Estagund is, alongside Durpar and Var the Golden, a part of the Shining Lands. It is modeled after an Indian culture mindset. As all Shining Lands, it is largely centered toward trading.

Great Rift
The Great Rift is the land of the Gold Dwarves, though there is also a human city nearby, called Khôltar.

Halruaa
Halruaa is a land of wizards. The fabled, quiet and wealthy magocracy of Halruua is justly depicted as a land of wonders. Created by archwizards foreseeing the fall of Netheril, this land combines the peace and harmony of Cormyr with the magic powers of Thay (Like Thayans, they practice circle magic and two thirds of Halruaans have magical powers of some sort).

Well protected by mountain ranges on three sides acting as natural fortifications (Nathaghal-North Wall, Muaraghal-East Wall, and Lhairghal-West Wall) and the Great Sea along the south and lead by a score of diviners, Halruaans live in a perfect haven. They don't really want to leave their place except for aventuring and why would they? Nowhere else in Faerûn would they find a better place than home.

The nation is divided into sections by three rivers that meet at Lake Halruaa in the center. Along its northern shores lies the small capital city of Halarahh, with around 8000 habitants.

Halruaa is not safe from harm, though. They are constantly under the threat of the Cintri marauders from Dambrath and next to them (although separated by a mountain range) lies Rethild, the Great (and cursed) Swamp.

Luiren
Luiren is the land of the halflings, and may have been inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's Shire.

The city of Delzimmer is north of Luiren, close to the Eastern Shaar.

Rethild
Rethild, also known as Great Swamp, is a swamp cursed by an ancient wizard, and the home of the magic-draining monsters called larakens. It is separated from Halruaa by the East Wall Mountains (Muaraghal).

Var the Golden
Var the Golden is a peninsula at the far south-east of Faerûn. In front of it is Ulgarth. Its name comes from huge quantities of wheat fields.

Like Durpar, Var the Golden follows the teachings of Satama and therefore has an Indian flavour. Both constitute with Estagund the Shining Lands.

Official Material

 * Dambrath
 * Shining South
 * History of the Crinti
 * Brief description by Ed Greenwood


 * Durpar
 * Shining South
 * Brief description by Ed Greenwood
 * Estagund
 * Shining South
 * Brief description by Ed Greenwood
 * Great Rift
 * Dwarves Sneak Peek
 * Shining South
 * Elminster Speaks Articles on Khôltar and surroundings from page 58 to 88
 * More of the Shining South!
 * Great Rift Portals
 * Halruaa
 * Halruaa
 * Shining South
 * More of the Shining South!
 * Brief description by Ed Greenwood
 * Luiren
 * Shining South
 * Elminster Speaks Articles on Delzimmer and surroundings from page 42 to 61
 * More of the Shining South!
 * The Portals of the Gathering
 * Rethild
 * The Great Swamp portals
 * Valraxaxath (Black Dragon)
 * Var the Golden
 * Shining South
 * Brief description by Ed Greenwood

Specific prestige classes

 * Dambrath
 * Crinti Shadow Marauder (image)
 * Scourge Maiden (image)
 * Durpar
 * Hand of the Adama (image)
 * Estagund
 * Maquar crusader (image)
 * Great Rift
 * Great Rift Deep Defender Crypt (image)
 * Great Rift Skyguard (image)
 * Halruaa
 * Halruaan Elder (image)
 * Halruaa Magehound
 * Jordain Vizier
 * Luiren
 * Hin Fist (image)
 * Luiren Marchwarden (image)
 * Var the Golden
 * Hand of the Adama

Regional feats

 * Halruaa
 * Arcane Schooling

Specific templates

 * Halruaa
 * Jordain-born

Novels and Modules

 * Halruaa
 * Counselors and Kings