Anauroch (accessory)
Encyclopedia
Anauroch is an accessory for the fictional Forgotten Realms
campaign setting
for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
. The book, with product code TSR 9320, was published in 1991, and was written by Ed Greenwood
, with cover art by Brom
and interior art by Valerie Valusek
.
The 96-page booklet is wrapped in a removable cover. The book includes a one-page introduction, Anauroch, the Great Desert, explaining that this book covers Anauroch, a vast fictional desert between the Sword Coast North, and the Moonsea North. Pages 4–6 present a whirlwind tour of Anauroch, including settlements of the local peoples, and important oases and trade routes. Pages 7–9 detail the secret of Anauroch; that thousands of years ago it was once a glacier that became swallowed up by the howling sands. The role of the phaerimm
and the sharn
in Anauroch's history is also revealed. Pages 10–24 detail the society of the Bedine, the native people of Anauroch. Page 25 details the phaerimm, slave rulers of the lands. Pages 26–30 describe the role of the Zhentarim
in Anauroch, as they attempt to take control of the lands. Pages 31–33 describe the other peoples of Anauroch, including the D'tarig (possible descendants of crossbreeding humans and dwarves
), the laertis, and the lamia
. Pages 34–58 detail the Sword, the large region that lies like a broad swordblade across the southern end of Anauroch; it is named not for its shape, but of the local humans' and orcs
' chief activity of carving up others with gusto. Pages 59–62 detail the Plain of Standing Stones, the central plain-like region of the Great Desert. Pages 63–67 describe the High Ice, the glacial ice that covers the northern reaches of Anauroch. Pages 68–69 describe the Lost Kingdoms that disappeared under the sand millennia ago: Anauria, Asram, and Hlondath. Pages 70–72 detail the gods of Anauroch, namely At'ar
, Elah
, Kozah, N'asr
, and Shaundakul. Pages 73–80 present the wind and sand magic spells of the Bedine. Page 81 details three NPCs
of Anauroch. Page 82 includes various news and rumors of Anauroch. Pages 83–90 present four Anaurian adventure scenarios. Pages 91–95 detail the monsters of Anauroch, including the laerti, the dark naga
, the orpsu, the phaerimm, and the tomb tapper (thaalud).
This book also includes a fold-out color poster map of the region. The inside covers describe Bedine languages and names, as well as dangers of the desert.
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
. The book, with product code TSR 9320, was published in 1991, and was written by Ed Greenwood
Ed Greenwood
Ed Greenwood is a Canadian writer and editor who created the Forgotten Realms. He invented the Forgotten Realms as a child, as a fantasy world in which to set the stories he imagined, and later used this world as a campaign setting for his own personal Dungeons & Dragons playing group...
, with cover art by Brom
Gerald Brom
Gerald Brom is an American gothic fantasy artist and illustrator, known for his work in role-playing games, novels, and comics.-Early life:Brom was born March 9, 1965, in Albany, Georgia. As the son of a U.S...
and interior art by Valerie Valusek
Valerie Valusek
-Works:Valerie Valusek has produced interior illustrations for many Dungeons & Dragons books and Dragon magazine since 1985, as well as interior art for several Dragonlance novels, and cover art for the 1992 module Rary the Traitor...
.
The 96-page booklet is wrapped in a removable cover. The book includes a one-page introduction, Anauroch, the Great Desert, explaining that this book covers Anauroch, a vast fictional desert between the Sword Coast North, and the Moonsea North. Pages 4–6 present a whirlwind tour of Anauroch, including settlements of the local peoples, and important oases and trade routes. Pages 7–9 detail the secret of Anauroch; that thousands of years ago it was once a glacier that became swallowed up by the howling sands. The role of the phaerimm
Phaerimm
The phaerimm are a fictional species of creatures in the Forgotten Realms setting, in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
and the sharn
Sharn (Forgotten Realms)
The sharn are fictitious creatures in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They are central to the plot of the fantasy novel Blackstaff by Steven E. Schend and are best known as those responsible for imprisoning the malevolent phaerimm...
in Anauroch's history is also revealed. Pages 10–24 detail the society of the Bedine, the native people of Anauroch. Page 25 details the phaerimm, slave rulers of the lands. Pages 26–30 describe the role of the Zhentarim
Zhentarim
The Zhentarim is a fictional organization in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Also known as the Black Network, it is an evil organization based on the continent of Faerûn. One of its goals is to dominate the lands from the Moonsea to the...
in Anauroch, as they attempt to take control of the lands. Pages 31–33 describe the other peoples of Anauroch, including the D'tarig (possible descendants of crossbreeding humans and dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
), the laertis, and the lamia
Lamia (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the lamia is a magical beast. The lamia was introduced in the first edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game's original Monster Manual sourcebook...
. Pages 34–58 detail the Sword, the large region that lies like a broad swordblade across the southern end of Anauroch; it is named not for its shape, but of the local humans' and orcs
Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, orcs are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoid.-Publication history:The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the orcs appearing in the works of J.R.R...
' chief activity of carving up others with gusto. Pages 59–62 detail the Plain of Standing Stones, the central plain-like region of the Great Desert. Pages 63–67 describe the High Ice, the glacial ice that covers the northern reaches of Anauroch. Pages 68–69 describe the Lost Kingdoms that disappeared under the sand millennia ago: Anauria, Asram, and Hlondath. Pages 70–72 detail the gods of Anauroch, namely At'ar
Amaunator
Amaunator is a fictional solar deity of the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting devised by Ed Greenwood. He was long considered to be a dead deity, but was revealed to be Lathander in the 4th edition Forgotten Realms campaign setting....
, Elah
Sélune
The Sélune is a 91 km long river in the Manche department, Normandy, France, beginning near Saint-Cyr-du-Bailleul. It empties into the bay of Mont Saint-Michel near Avranches, close to the mouth of the Sée river. Other towns along the Sélune are Barenton, Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët and...
, Kozah, N'asr
Cyric
Cyric is a deity in the fictional Forgotten Realms campaign setting, a branch of Dungeons & Dragons. Cyric has many titles, including the Prince of Lies, the Dark Sun, the Black Sun, the Mad God, and the Lord of Three Crowns...
, and Shaundakul. Pages 73–80 present the wind and sand magic spells of the Bedine. Page 81 details three NPCs
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
of Anauroch. Page 82 includes various news and rumors of Anauroch. Pages 83–90 present four Anaurian adventure scenarios. Pages 91–95 detail the monsters of Anauroch, including the laerti, the dark naga
Naga (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, nagas comprise a variety of similar species of intelligent aberrations with widely differing abilities and alignments. Nagas appear as large snake like creatures with humanoid heads. They often range widely in coloring and scale patterns, but are all...
, the orpsu, the phaerimm, and the tomb tapper (thaalud).
This book also includes a fold-out color poster map of the region. The inside covers describe Bedine languages and names, as well as dangers of the desert.