CREDITS

Content: John Silman, Ed Greenwood

Editor: John Silman
Proof reading: Lauren Reeves
Cover illustrator: Dean Spencer
Interior illustrators: Dean Spencer, Alan Subankulov, Paul
Rous, Erik Shoemaker, Digiwiz.se, Bob Greystein,
thievesguild.cc, A. O. Lamplough, David Edwards, Anass
Enaji, Patvit, DraakeT, Gaëtan Guiné, Ian Chen, Paula
Garcia, Stu Harrington, Daniele Gay, Pengzhen Zang, Marc
Mons, Virginie Gill, Warmtail, Boris Kerney, Manuel Robles,
Marek Purzycki, Livio Ramendelli, Ashvejlou Arts, Fredrick
Eriksson
Map illustrator: Sean Schnell
Play testers: Robert James, Andy Jones, Joseph Glasbey,
James Loweth
Special thanks: Scott Bennie (rest in peace) for his incredible
Mulhorand source material, which served as a reference
and inspiration for taking Mulhorand into present times.
George Krashos & Ed Greenwood for their invaluable help
and input into book design and Forgotten Realms lore.
On the cover

“Blue Dragon” by Dean Spencer. This sensational artwork

depicts an elven warrior hanging from the back of an angry
blue dragon, having just dispatched its Imaskari rider. This
aerial battle takes place high above the desert wastes of post-
Spellplague Mulhorand. In the background, pyramids of the
ancient God-Kings can be seen rising from the sunbaked
desert, and the skeletal remains of one of the Dragon’s kin are
half-buried in the dunes below.
Disclaimer:

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, the dragon ampersand, Ravnica and all other Wizards of the Coast
product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries.

This work contains material that is copyright Wizards of the Coast and/or other authors. Such material is used with permission under the Community Content
Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.

All other original material in this work is copyright 2022 by John M Silman and published under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild.

Artwork on cover and inner pages © Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved.

Artwork from various artists on inner pages © and used with permission. All rights reserved.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword by Ed Greenwood .............................................. 3
Introduction ....................................................................... 5
About this book ........................................................................ 5
Chapter 1 History of Mulhorand ....................................... 6
Imaskar ..................................................................................... 6
The Death of an Empire.......................................................... 8
Mulhorand is Born .................................................................. 9
The Orcgate War ..................................................................... 10
The Great Decline ................................................................... 11
The Second Empire ........................................................... 11
The Rise of Thay ................................................................ 11
The Time of Troubles ............................................................ 12
Pharaoh Horustep III ....................................................... 12
The Third Empire .............................................................. 12
The Spellplague ...................................................................... 13
High Imaskar ........................................................................... 14
The Second Sundering ........................................................... 15
Horuskhet I ........................................................................ 15
Nezram, the World Walker.............................................. 15
Mulhorand Reborn .................................................................16
Timeline of Events .......................................................... 17
Chapter 2 People of Mulhorand ...................................... 20
Brave New World ................................................................... 20
Divine Rule ........................................................................ 20
Government ....................................................................... 21
Justice .................................................................................. 21
Religion ............................................................................... 21
The Afterlife ....................................................................... 21
Culture & Traditions ............................................................. 22
Art ....................................................................................... 22
Education........................................................................... 22
Entertainment .................................................................. 23
Contests & Tournaments ................................................ 23
Food & Drink ..................................................................... 23
Festivals ............................................................................. 24
Language ........................................................................... 25
Fashion .............................................................................. 25
Architecture ...................................................................... 25
Technology........................................................................ 25
Rebuilding a Nation .............................................................. 26
Food Production ............................................................... 26
Foreign Relations & Trade ............................................. 26
Imports & Exports ........................................................... 26
Churches of Mulhorand ....................................................... 27
Other Factions ........................................................................ 33
Prominent Characters .......................................................... 34
Chapter 3 Places of Mulhorand....................................... 37
Geography of Mulhorand ..................................................... 37
Map of Mulhorand................................................................. 38
Cities ........................................................................................ 39
Skyclave ............................................................................. 39
Gheldaneth ........................................................................ 43
Mishtan .............................................................................. 45
Neldorild ............................................................................ 46
Sultim ................................................................................. 47
Towns & Settlements ............................................................ 50
Ruined Settlements ............................................................... 55
Skuld ................................................................................... 57
Dungeons ................................................................................ 58
Places of Interest ................................................................... 62
2
Chapter 4 Deserts of Mulhorand .................................... 65
Desert Hazards .......................................................................65
Dehydration ...................................................................... 65
Sandstorms ....................................................................... 66
Mirages .............................................................................. 66
Quicksand ......................................................................... 66
Whirlwinds ....................................................................... 66
Supernatural Hazards ...........................................................67
Dead-Magic Zone ............................................................ 67
Flaywind ............................................................................ 67
Glass Plain ........................................................................ 67
Planar Tear ....................................................................... 67
Wild Magic Storm ............................................................ 68
Wild Magic Zone .............................................................. 68
Desert Travel.......................................................................... 69
Navigation ........................................................................ 69
Desert Encounters ................................................................. 70
Chapter 5 Characters of Mulhorand .............................. 72
Mulhorandi Characters ......................................................... 72
Naming Convention ......................................................... 72
Mulhorandi Backgrounds..................................................... 73
Desert Nomad ................................................................... 73
Divine Ancestry ................................................................. 73
Mulhorologist ................................................................... 75
Nezramite ......................................................................... 76
Class Archetypes .................................................................... 77
Desert Domain .................................................................. 77
Oath of the Glorious Servitor ........................................ 78
Tomb Raider ..................................................................... 79
Spells ....................................................................................... 80
Magic Items ............................................................................ 82
Chapter 6 Creatures of Mulhorand ................................ 85
Common Playable Races ....................................................... 85
Known Monsters ................................................................... 86
Apep ......................................................................................... 88
Adventure Hook: The Summoning .............................. 88
Ashen Husk ............................................................................ 89
Desert Hag .............................................................................. 90
Dune Worm ............................................................................. 91
Dust Elemental (Skriaxit)..................................................... 93
Fang of Set .............................................................................. 94
Fang of Set: Isseth ................................................................ 94
Isseth’s Lair ...................................................................... 94
Gemstone Golem ....................................................................95
Giant Scarab Beetle ................................................................97
Imaskari Colossus ................................................................. 98
Adventure Hook: Walking Doom.................................. 99
Jackalweres ........................................................................... 100
Lamia Noble ...........................................................................101
Sand Dragon .......................................................................... 102
A Sand Dragon’s Lair ..................................................... 103
Sphinxes ................................................................................ 105
Hieracosphinx ................................................................. 105
Criosphinx ....................................................................... 105
Swarm of Scarabs ................................................................. 106
Werecrocodiles ..................................................................... 107
Usebek .............................................................................. 108
 FOREWORD
ell met, gentle reader! Ye are viewing a tome And where roofs drain elsewhere across Faerûn, to carry

W
that has long been needed, for Mulhorand is water away from buildings or their cellars and prevent
not a new land, nor a small one or flooding, in Mulhorand water is channeled into shaded
insignificant to trade across Faerûn—and rock rawda (“traps”), cisterns to store collected water
yet has been neglected in the writings of for “rough washing.”
scribes both lofty and learned and everyday and Where space and resources permit, ye will see stones
practical, for lo these past too many centuries. arranged in channels to form shallow pans, where
This book lays bare lore that even high priests have sunlight and copper are used to purify water, which is
struggled to learn, or have discounted, words about what then filtered through charcoal or sand, and after these,
Ao himself hath done that have hitherto been temple cloth, to yield water as clear as possible. Then it is often
secrets. It tells truth about the plans of mighty rulers boiled, ‘ere being left to cool and then siphoned, using
who are but names even to most the large hollow reeds that
scholars—and when ye know the grow on the banks of all
whys of someone’s deeds, ye can the rivers that drain the
more clearly see what they may do Menesankh, into
in future. earthen vessels, both
In short, this is the guide lidded jugs and ewers for
to Mulhorand that has long carrying and pouring,
been needed, an essential and buried jugs kept
book in understanding what nigh shaded gardens
is to many but a land of hot for daily watering.
sands and pyramids where Which brings me to
slaves once toiled, one of another trick ye should
the traditional foes of look for: buried jugs
sinister Thay. For used for other purposes,
keeping the Red like storing nuts, grains,
Wizards at bay alone or other cached food
many people should give when harvested or for
fervent thanks, but emergency eating. Not to
Mulhorand is more than mention for keys, or
that: it is a cradle of written messages, or
much culture and coins, or small tokens
innovation, from left to pass on a
perfumes and meaning to someone
seasoned cooking who comes looking in
oils to textile dye recipes that jug. When I say
and processes of gilding ‘buried jugs,’ I mean
woods and stone. In short, set into the ground
much of what crafters all and entirely hidden,
across Toril take for with loose stones
granted originated in over the lid, and
Mulhorand (even if it was sometimes a double
part of the Imaskari lid: the first being a
Empire at the time). Elminster Aumar by Alan Subankalov mere cap, over a
Based on the original art by Clyde Caldwell
Ye are in good hands second that’s a tray
when reading the trapping a scorpion or
words set down in these poisonous spider or even a small viper, so
pages, by a scholar who that someone who doesn’t know of this defender
sees Mulhorand more clearly and dispassionately than and just comes across the jug by luck or accident, will
most, so I will augment his work with a few small take harm—but someone who knows will use a stick or
touches of relevant lore hitherto overlooked or even left-handy stones to access the buried jug safely.
secret, or so every day that it tends to get passed over in So that’s one little household or everyday thing to
written histories in favor of battles and emperors and watch out for. Here’s one to listen for: folk of Mulhorand
grand workings of magic, soaring dragons, and strife have an antipathy to their foes and neighbors the
among gods. Ye know: the Big Stuff. Well hearken, then, Thayans, and Thayans often casually hum or whistle
to some of the Little Stuff: tunes—so Mulhorandi do not. Rather, they chant,
In rocky places, ye will notice “walls” around sometimes chanting monophonic tunes, but they never
dwellings that are not walls at all, but mere foundations: hum or whistle. To a Mulhorandi, a whistle is a danger
unbroken rings of sharp stones that surround a building. alert, or a means of insult. However, Mulhorandi do
These serve not just to mark boundaries, but to keep share the habit of drinking tea with Thayans, elkammat,
snakes at bay, as they don’t like to slither over sharp a brown, nutty brewed drink sipped hot after dark but
stones that bake by day. Flat or tilted flattish stones cold by day, that’s made from water boiled with the
backing these up are often used to bake flatbreads in the fibrous husks of groundnuts (in Mulhorand, the kamma
sun or dry out wet washing. nut and the larger, rarer, more bitter ulkaumma nut).

3
 I could write much more of the everyday, for
Mulhorandi is an old land and culture is piled up deep in
it like fur winter blankets in a Sossrim hut, but I’ve been
given to understand that many readers crave adventure,
and tales of magic, and the like, so let me oblige ye with
just a few tidbits.
If ye hear of the Seeking Shadow, know that it is a
nigh-silent, flying gray smoke-like entity with ruby-red
eyes, that dwells in clefts in the Dragonsword
Mountains, and drifts west out of them by night to hunt.
Sometimes it settles on the living and drains them
utterly of blood and fluids, biting with many needle-
fanged mouths, but more often it merely nips and
“leaves its mark,” biting only enough to taste blood.
Many have unwittingly fed it, awakening with a vivid,
strange dream—for the creature always leaves a mind-
image unfamiliar and intriguing. There are Mulhorandi
who betimes sleep naked on rooftops in hopes of being
coins hidden in Jhalhoran down the years, though some
say Klondor holds more.
And then there’s the tale of the farming family, who
dwells somewhere along the River of Spears, who are
weredragons but keep this so well hidden that only when
they face death will they transform to fight or flee. I
happen to know who they are and will never betray
them.
I will add that there’s a map of great value hidden in
the Ruins of Skuld, and a buried ship near Delgora that
holds more magic than many a proud ruler can
command.
Yet enough of such odds and ends, for the entire grand
sweep of Mulhorand the Magnificent, Cradle of Might,
awaits ye in these pages—so read on!
And until next we meet; yours in the service of Mystra,

Elminster of Shadowdale
found and bitten by the Shadow so as to receive an
image, for they desire to be guided in future decisions by
what they so see. There are some who believe the
Shadow is mighty, or that there are many Shadows and
one of them is truly a leviathan, for no less than an adult
blue dragon once crashed down dead on the Taranoth,
utterly drained of blood and covered with bites that
pierced its very scales—a victim of the Seeking Shadow?
And if ye hear of the Lost Eyes of Tassala, be aware
that these are gems, sapphires the size of a big man’s
hand, that have black occlusions at their hearts that look
like the pupils of eyes, and they are “lost” because they
were stolen in Jhalhoran not long ago, but hidden
somewhere by the thief ‘ere he was captured and
tortured to death to reveal their whereabouts, but did
not, even when magic was used upon his corpse…so they
must be hidden there yet. And they are but the most
talked-of treasure of several sizeable caches of gems and

4
INTRODUCTION
“Mulhorand is a land of rebirth. Its terrible past has seen it
ravaged by war, its once green and fertile landscape reduced
to a desert wasteland by sorcery beyond comprehension.
Yet, despite these terrible hardships, the land and her
people always return; unbowed and unbroken. The scars of
Imaskar, the Spellplague and the Second Sundering will
never heal, but the people of Mulhorand, and their gods,
refuse to be vanquished. We can all learn from their
perseverance, as well as their refusal to be encapsulated by
the echoes of their past.”
—Nezram, the World Walker, Unique Mageries
e welcome traveler, for your path has brought
Chapter 5 includes a multitude of new player options
for creating characters from Mulhorand or similar
setting, including new backgrounds, subclasses, magic
items and a selection of spells unique to this book.
Chapter 6 showcases an expansive list of new
monsters that have made Mulhorand their home,
providing Dungeon Masters with a host of options for
building encounters in this unforgiving land, or that can
be used with any similar setting.
DATES AND NAMING
Throughout this book, whenever dates with specific
years are mentioned, these will generally be formatted in
accordance with the Dalereckoning (DR). This will keep
this book consistent with other works as the most
common dating format used in the Forgotten Realms.
Mulhorand does have its own calendar (abbreviated to
MC) commenced when the God Re and his followers
finished construction of the former capital city of Skuld
in -2134 DR (two thousand one hundred and thirty-four

B you to Mulhorand, a place unlike anywhere else

in Faerûn. Encompassing the far eastern shores
of the Inner Sea, it is a realm of great mystery
and beauty, buried beneath a turbulent and tragic past.
The scars of history are all too visible across its desert
years before the start of the Dalereckoning calendar).
This calendar is rarely used, generally only in ancient
texts found within Mulhorand and so is not used when
describing dates in this book.
For naming, the standard roll of years, as described by
landscape, but it refuses to disappear into the wastes and Alaundo of Candlekeep, will be adhered to, unless
be forgotten. otherwise specified. The current year in Mulhorand is
For adventurers, it is a land of extraordinary the Year of the Tyrant’s Pawn, 1495 DR.
opportunity. Ancient cities now lie in ruins, their
treasures and secrets guarded by terrifying creatures. ABBREVIATIONS
Vast constructs of bygone Empires are scattered across
This book assumes that readers have access to, or are at
the land, many still unexplored. Pyramids rise out of the
least familiar with, the Dungeons & Dragons core
desert like sun-blasted teeth, marking the location of
rulebooks, including the Player’s Handbook (PHB),
long-forgotten tombs beneath the sands.
Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG) and Monster Manual
There is fortune and glory to be had here in
(MM). For any other books that are mentioned, these
Mulhorand, for those with the courage and skills to
will be referenced in full.
survive its many perils…

ABOUT THIS BOOK

In this book you will find all you need as a Dungeon
Master to run exciting adventures based in Mulhorand or
similar setting, or as a Player who wants to create a
detailed character who hails from the region.
Chapter 1 explores the extensive history of
Mulhorand, giving an insight into the background, lore
and legend of this mythical land. Included is the
expanded history of the region, and what has occurred in
the years following the Spellplague and Second
Sundering, as well as a comprehensive timeline covering
the past ten thousand years of its history.
Chapter 2 introduces the Mulhorandi; a proud people
who have survived the tumultuous past. We explore their
culture, daily life as well as the many different factions,
old and new, that vie for control of this re-emergent
nation. Each organization is explained in detail with its
hierarchy, motivations and important characters.
Chapter 3 ventures into the different locales and
places of interest across Mulhorand, including the
capital: Skyclave, the Ruins of Skuld, Ghelandeth and the
Land of the Dead to name just a few. Along with a
detailed description of each location, we also describe
the current goings on and what any adventuring party
might find there, including adventure hooks.
Chapter 4 details the multitude of perils that exploring
the desert wilderness of Mulhorand might encompass,
including effects of dehydration, natural hazards and
encounter tables to assist planning desert adventures.

5
 CHAPTER 1
HISTORY OF MULHORAND
M
ulhorand. A realm of legend. A land
where history is not just told in stories
or recorded in books; it is etched across
the landscape and carved into the very
stone beneath your feet. Every grain of
sand bears testament to the rise and fall
of a dozen empires, and the bones of
god-kings stir in their tombs beneath the desert.
This chapter delves into the extensive history of this
mythical region, exploring the origins of the Mulani
people and their subjugation at the hands of the Imaskar
Empire, right up to the present day following the events
of the Spellplague and Second Sundering.
IMASKAR
The Imaskar Empire, whose founding is one of the
earliest recorded segments of Faerûn’s history,
stretched far across the land; its capital Inupras standing
in the center of what is today the Raurin Desert.
Thousands of years before even the Netherese existed,
around -8350 DR, the Imaskari dominated Faerûn; their
empire stretching from the Shining South to the
northern wastes of the Great Ice Sea; and from the
Alamber Sea in the west to the Hordelands in the far east.
The Imaskari Emperors, god-like beings known as
Lord Artificers, raised cities of vast edifice in
proclamation of their glory. Mastering dimensional
magic, they created entire cities in the confines of
structures that were many times larger within than
without. They also created the ‘Bukhara’ spires –
arrayed towers of polished bronze conduits that housed
networks of dimensional portals. These allowed for the
Imaskari Legions to be instantly transported across
Faerûn wherever they were needed, and none could
stand before their might.
The Empire expanded east into the reaches of Kara-
Tur and west towards modern day Aglarond. This was
not just limited to the surface either; entire sections of
the Underdark were claimed, subjugating Dwarves,
Kobolds and anyone else unfortunate to exist in the path
of their expansion. Thus, Lower Imaskar was born.
6
THE SHARTRA
For nearly four thousand years, the Imaskar Empire
reigned supreme over Eastern Faerûn. Yet, as history will
always show, no empire is immortal. Assured of their
omnipotence, the Imaskari expansion continued
unabated. Smaller nations and kingdoms were brushed
aside, their people subjugated or enslaved. This included
the great Elven city of Myth Arvael, whose destruction
led to the deaths of some twenty-thousand elves,
dwarves and gnomes. In response, an alliance was
formed in the city of Telthalassia, where the Selutaar
High Elf mages began weaving a powerful Ritual of
Myriad, creating a terrible plague that, in its gruesome
design, would see only humans afflicted.
In -4366 DR, this devastating plague, named the
Silent Death, was unleashed upon Imaskar, virtually
wiping out their invading armies, before reaching the
cities of Lower Imaskar. Simultaneously, a blight caused
crops to fail across the land. Those who survived the
plague were subject to terrible famine. Entire cities fell
to ruin and close to twenty percent of the entire
population of Imaskar perished, mostly in the lower
realms. Not suspecting the elven alliance, the Imaskari
instead believed the gods had turned against them and
many of their vast city temples were put to the torch
after no cure could be found. Others believed the bitter
rivalry festering between Upper and Lower Imaskar had
ignited into a civil conflict. That the plague had
somehow left their brethren on the surface mostly
unaffected was regarded with great suspicion.
This event caused the period of Shartra; meaning
“Darkness” in the Imaskari tongue; and was no doubt
the death knell of the Imaskar Empire as it was. The
plague swept through Lower Imaskar like a wave of
death, surviving as its enemies were in no position to
capitalize on its sudden weakness. The Imaskari
civilization stood on the brink of collapse, its military
and industrial might decimated. The harvest had
returned, but there were few able-bodied workers to sow
and reap. The current emperor, Lord Artificer Khotan,
looked to the stars for salvation.
WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
Once the Silent Death had run its course, the Imaskar
Empire became locked in social and economic decline.
Khotan needed a way to quickly recover; especially his
legions of slaves who had either perished or escaped
during the Shartra, leaving the empire without its ability
to expand and develop. The emperor turned once again
to the Bukhara spires and built, in secret, a pair of new
dimensional portals. These did not lead to elsewhere in
Faerûn, but to other worlds entirely.
Gathering his remaining forces, Khotan went through
the portal to begin an invasion of this new world. Many
armies rose up in defense, but they had no knowledge of
the arcane arts and so stood little chance. Once the
Imaskari Artificers, and even Khotan himself, brought
their devastating sorcery to bear, any resistance was
annihilated in short order.
The invasion saw a number of different lands
conquered, their peoples enslaved and torn from their
homes. Winding chains of shackled slaves were sent back
through the portals into the empire; any who resisted
were destroyed. One land in particular, a place the locals
called ‘Kemet’ stood out from the others. Here, a vast
empire had risen from the desert sands, erecting
incredible structures at the whim of god-kings known as
pharaohs.
The Empire of Kemet took the longest by far to
conquer and subjugate, their fierce desert warriors
emboldened by faith in a pantheon of strange gods.
Eventually they too would fall before the might of
Imaskar, and over one-hundred thousand slaves were
marched back through the portal to Faerûn. Kemet was
left empty; the once glorious empire sinking back into
the sands. Furious, the gods of the enslaved peoples
attempted to follow, but the Imaskar had sealed the
portals with powerful wards, preventing any divine
transcendence into the world of Toril. The people were
helpless and alone, doomed to fade from existence.
DIVINE INTERVENTION
Unbeknownst to any, one of the most powerful beings in
the Multiverse had become aware of the malevolent
actions of the Imaskari Artificers. Lord Ao himself, the
Hidden One and creator of all things, seethed at the
petulance of these mortals. How dare they breach the
limits of the Realmspace he had created for them?
He summoned the powerful inter-planar being known
as Ptah, the Opener of the Ways, sending him beyond the
boundaries of Realmspace to reach the home world of
the enslaved Mulan. Once there, he communed with their
bereft gods; not only those of Kemet, but the gods of all
those who had been taken by the Imaskari. They were
offered a single chance to reunite with their people,
saving them from eternal servitude. This would involve
great sacrifice, but with most of their congregation
stolen from their world, they had little choice.
THE WAR OF RETRIBUTION
In the year -2489 DR the divine barrier was finally
breached. Ptah had enabled the distant gods to take the
form of avatars; manifestations who could pass
unimpeded through the dimensional gates. This power
came with sacrifice, however; they would be trapped in
Toril, unable to return to their home world ever again.
Their power would also be limited, forced to adopt a
mortal shell and be reincarnated with each passing.
Most did not hesitate, flying through the planes on
Re’s solar barge Semktet. The pantheons of what would
become modern day Mulhorand and Unther landed
together on the peaks of Teyla Shan, now known as the
Godswatch mountains and proclaimed the demise of the
Imaskar Empire. The Mulan rose up in holy fervor, their
gods walking among them as divine will made manifest.
Those Mulan who showed most faithful were rewarded,
gifted part of the gods’ own power to become Glorious
Servitors; conduits of the gods’ burning rage.
Imaskari slavers and nobles were slaughtered as the

A NEW REALM
Mulani rebellion boiled across the land. The remaining
legions and artificers retreated towards Inupras,
Torn from their home world, the people of Kemet were overwhelmed by the uprising. Besieged on all sides, the
marched into eastern Faerûn. This was a green and Imaskari became more and more desperate, bringing
fertile land, with a temperate climate quite unlike the their devastating sorcery to bear. In the bastion of the
desert people of Kemet were used to. It was the empire’s Jorhat Citadel, Artificer Mardava performed a spell so
breadbasket, and they were tasked with working the powerful it not only destroyed the besieging Mulani
land, providing food for distant Imaskari cities they army, but every man, woman and child within Jorhat’s
would likely never see. walls as well.
Though subjugated and brought to Faerûn as slaves, Meanwhile, a host of Imaskari Artificers lured the
as the years passed the people began to settle as best elder evil Pandorym from a distant dimension, hoping to
they could. Farming hubs and markets soon evolved into use it as a deterrent against the Mulan. So powerful was
bustling towns and villages. They would always be this being, the Artificers were forced to separate its mind
subservient to the Imaskari nobles and artificers that and body to pacify it, storing them in the Celestial Nadir
ruled over them from their lofty towers and citadels, but demi plane inside the Palace of the Purple Emperor.
they at least found some identity in the strange land they
now inhabited. Over the next few centuries, the Imaskari
began mixing with this new population, burgeoning
their empire. A name was given to these foreigners
across Faerûn, as well as their mixed-race children: the
Mulan.
For a time, there was relative peace. With little other
choice, the Mulani slaves tolerated their existence under
the Imaskar Domin. Worship of their old gods was
outlawed under pain of death, but their prayers
continued in secret. Groups gathered in forbidden
shrines and temples, hoping and praying they would be
delivered from their existence of servitude. Though they
did not realize, someone was listening.

7
THE DEATH OF AN EMPIRE
Within a single year, arguably the greatest empire to
have ever existed across all of Toril was on its knees. The
Mulani uprising was unstoppable, washing across the
land like a tidal wave of vengeance. The Imaskar had
their legions and artificers, but against the surging
Mulani horde and the zealous fury that incited them,
they stood little chance.
By the end of the year -2488 DR, the Imaskar Empire’s
capital Inupras stood as a final bastion of defiance
against the rebellion. The current emperor, Lord
Artificer Yuvaraj refused to accept defeat. Atop his
ancient copper dragon mount, Zaltellorax, he soared out
from the Imperial Palace to meet the Mulani army head
on. Though outnumbered, the remaining Imaskari
defense was made up of the empire’s most elite forces,
including a legion of Yuvaraj’s elite guard and an entire
cadre of Artificers. Yuvaraj wielded two of the
Imaskarcana; artifacts of incredible power that
contained the knowledge and power of the empire’s long
and tumultuous reign.
The battle was cataclysmic. Thousands died with each
passing second as the sorcery of Imaskar met the divine
strength of the Mulani gods. The city of Inupras was
desolated in the carnage, entire districts torn asunder
and tossed into the planar void or simply disintegrated
in a torrent of energy. Finally, Yuvaraj stood alone upon
the crumbling steps of his Imperial palace. The God
Horus, son of Re, stepped forward in challenge, his
incarnated form rippling with power. The two came
together in an eruption of arcane and divine magic,
scouring any surviving life from the city around them.
Malevolent energies ravaged the surrounding lands,
turning the heartlands of the empire into a wasteland; a
vast desert now known as the Raurin.
It was three days before the cyclonic magical dust
storms began to settle around Inupras. The once
magnificent capital of the Imaskar Empire was now little
more than a ruin. The few survivors looked up to the
palace steps to see Horus standing triumphant over the
slain form of Emperor Yuvaraj. Thus ended the Imaskar
Empire in all but name.

AFTER THE STORM

The war had been brief, but utterly devastating. In its
wake, much of the empire’s heartlands were
transformed into uninhabitable wasteland. Any
remaining Imaskari had either fled east towards Kara-
Tur or into the cracks and crevasses to take refuge in
their remaining Underdark holds. The surviving Mulan,
once united in their cause, now separated. Led by the
gods who walked among them, they would need to find
somewhere new to settle. Though for the first time in
nearly two millennia, they were a free people.
Those Mulan who had originated from the land of
Kemet travelled West, settling on the eastern shores of
the Alamber Sea. This rich and fertile land would be an
ideal location for a new civilization, and they began to
build. The divine incarnations of the gods Horus, Re,
Osiris, Isis, Geb, Anhur, Thoth, Set, Nephthys, Hathor,
Bes and Sebek worked in unison to establish their
edification in this strange new world. By the year -2135
DR they had completed the creation of Skuld, a new
capital city, from where the incarnation of the God Re
would rule. The name of this new nation was whispered
across Faerûn: Mulhorand.

The God Horus battles Lord Artificer Yuvaraj in Inupras by Alan Subankalov.
Based on the original artwork by Jason Engle.
8
MULHORAND IS BORN
With the mortal incarnation of the god Re taking his
place on the throne of Skuld, the emergent nation of
Mulhorand began to thrive. The next few centuries were
a period of great prosperity and expansion as the
Mulhorandi took advantage of the fall of Imaskar to
claim lands as far south as the Okoth region around the
Lake of Salt, east as far as Semphar and north to the land
that would one day be known as Thay. Alongside Re and
his son Horus who governed Mulhorand from the
capital, each god and their worshippers began to find
their own place in this strange new world:
Thoth, god of knowledge, established Mulhorand’s
second city; Gheldaneth, on the banks of the River of
Spears. Here, he formed the Arcanum of Magic, a temple
dedicated to understanding the strange but incredible
forces of arcane and divine magic that existed in Faerûn.
Osiris, god of the dead, built Mishtan to the southeast
of Skuld, close to the Dragonsword Mountains. This city
would eventually become the gateway to the Land of the
Dead; the final resting place of Mulhorand’s pharaohs
and their families across the ages.
Anhur, god of war and weather, built the Blood Keep in
Sultim, from where he marshalled Mulhorand’s armies
against threats within and without.
Isis, goddess of love and agriculture, took
responsibility for the nourishment of Mulhorand’s
burgeoning empire, becoming the patron of farmers
across the land and ensuring a bountiful harvest.
Nepthys, goddess of trade and wealth, took charge of
the economy of Mulhorand, advancing the prosperity of
the nation through trade deals with neighboring
countries and implementing a new financial system
complete with banks and coin minting.
Set, god of the desert, kept his machinations secret
from the rest of the other gods. Unlike them, he did not
act for the good of Mulhorand but for his own ambition.
In secret he built numerous secret temples across
Mulhorand, from where he and his followers plotted
their nefarious schemes.
Even the lesser deities; Bast, Hathor and Sebek; all
began to find their place in the empire, mostly working
together to further the glory of Mulhorand; though in
the case of Sebek it was a chance to find new hunting
grounds. It was a time of plenty and pride restored after
nearly two millennia of subjugation at the hands of the
Imaskari. God-kings walked across the empire as living
vessels of divine magnificence. The people rejoiced and
gave praise for their salvation.
UNTHER
This early period of prosperity in Mulhorand continued
for several centuries, the first empire basking in the
glory of its rebirth. But it seemed inevitable that the
Mulhorandi would come into conflict with other powers
across Faerûn. Unexpectedly, the first major conflict
would arise with their former Mulani allies. In -1967 DR,
skirmishes began to break out with the nation of Unther
along the southern shores of the Alamber Sea. Their
common enemy long-gone, the two Mulani nations
came to blows over territory either side of the River of
Swords. Soon, the conflict had escalated into all-out
war, though the Mulhorandi and Untheric gods kept
away from the fray for fear of unleashing a cataclysm.
Instead, both sides recruited a number of different tribes
from the surrounding lands, including the Rashemi, Nar,
Raumviran and Sossrim, to fight as proxies.
9
AN UNEASY TRUCE
In the year -1961 DR, after six years of bitter conflict,
and little ground gained by either side, the god-kings of
Mulhorand and Unther agreed to meet at the River of
Swords near Sekras and agree the Treaty of the Gods.
There, they waded, unarmed, into the sacred waters,
twenty-six gods that had travelled together to Faerûn to
rescue their people, now facing each other as opposites.
Few words were exchanged, but a common
understanding was shared between them; the war must
end. To continue it left both Unther and Mulhorand
vulnerable, and the Mulan people who had suffered for
so long at risk of being subjugated again. Henceforth, the
River of Swords would define the boundary between the
two nations. There would be peace, at least for a time.
THAYD, THEURGIST ADEPT
Though Imaskar was defeated, the people of Mulhorand
would soon come to learn that remnants of their power
still remained. Relics of the old empire were left behind,
whether buried in the various Imaskari constructs that
dotted the land, or in the hands of travelling merchants
that would offer them for a price. There were those
among the Mulan who began following the Imaskari
creed, seeking their ancient knowledge and power.
One such follower was Theurgist Adept Thayd, also
known as the Last Surviving Apprentice of the Imaskari.
He had become obsessed with seeking the power of
Imaskar, gathering ancient relics and scrolls with which
to expand his arcane knowledge. He saw the Mulani
people as weak, born to follow their living gods like
sheep. Others joined his cause and in -1087 DR he led a
brutal rebellion against both Mulhorand and Unther, he
and his wizard followers infamously clad in red robes.
The uprising briefly seized the northern provinces of
both Mulhorand and Unther, as the wizards brought
their powerful sorcery to bear. Only when the god-kings
of both nations committed their divine power in -1081
DR, was he finally defeated. Henceforth in Mulhorand,
arcane magic would be strictly regulated to avoid this
happening again. Thayd and his disciples were executed,
though before his death he prophesized that Mulhorand
and Unther would crumble. Unknown to the Mulani
allies, he had begun workings in secret that would see
this fulfilled. In the distant future, a nation would be
born, named in honor of this wizard in red; Thay.
THE ORCGATE WAR
At first, nothing was thought of Thayd’s prophecy. The
Mulan just considered it the idle threats of a condemned
and insane man. By the time of his capture, the
Theurgist Adept had become so corrupted and twisted by
arcane power, that he barely resembled a human and
was part way through the process into lichdom.
However, the nations of Unther and Mulhorand would
soon come to find out it was no idle threat. In secret,
Thayd had been experimenting with the inter-
dimensional magic practiced by the Imaskari Lord
Artificers. Hidden beneath the northern realms of
Mulhorand, the land that would one day be named Thay
in his honor, the Theurgist had built a portal. Not
dissimilar to the one used to link Toril to the home world
of the Mulan people, it was also linked to another world;
though this was quite unlike anything the Imaskari had
ever encountered. Dominated by savage gray orcs, this
world, known as Adzadar, was a brutal realm, its
landscape torn apart by constant tribal war.
With Thayd’s execution, all knowledge of the portal
vanished. For the next five years, life returned to normal
in Mulhorand as the gate lay dormant; but this calm
would soon be shattered. In -1075 DR over one-
hundred-thousand gray orcs invaded Faerûn, surging
through the portal and out across northern Mulhorand.
The warring orcs had been united under the banner of
their God Gruumsh; his desire to conquer and destroy
unifying the various tribes into one colossal horde. Like a
living tide of unrestrained brutality and violence, the
orcs surged across the land. What would become the
Plateau of Thay in modern times was overrun, with any
villages or towns the orcs reached put to the torch. With
much of the Mulhorandi armies still based in the south
following the war with Unther, there were only minimal
garrisons left and these were brushed aside like insects
clinging to the hind of a charging bull.
Only at Sultim did the orcs meet any kind of dedicated
resistance, as the incarnation of Anhur expertly
organized the city’s defense. The orc army smashed
against the walls of the Red Keep, but like a rock
protruding from an ocean swell, it refused to fall. This
gave the rest of Mulhorand some time to marshal their
forces and send to the Rashemi, Nar and Sossrim for aid.
The orcs had also begun to attack Unther’s northern
provinces by this time, dragging them into the war.
10
THE BATTLE OF THE GODS
For several years, the war raged on. The gray orcs were
just as powerful combatants as their relatives who
already existed across Faerûn, however they possessed a
much stronger connection to their God Gruumsh, and
the rest of his pantheon. The orc shamans weaved
incredibly powerful spells, even able to call directly upon
the power of their gods to descend onto the battlefield in
avatar form. The Mulhorandi and Untheric pantheons
still had the power of their own avatars, however these
were still weakened after the battles with Imaskar, so
any confrontation would be at great risk.
Unwilling to engage the main orc army, the forces of
Mulhorand and Unther fought a constant skirmish,
luring their foe away from major cities but never
committing to full scale battle. Despite this, the horde of
Gruumsh continued to pillage the land, burning
farmland and razing any villages or hamlets they could
find. With their populace at risk of starvation, a decisive
battle was inevitable. And so, in the year -1071 DR, a
combined force of Mulhorand, Unther, and the Rashemi,
Nar and Sossrim auxiliaries marched north to confront
the orc horde on the plains of Thazalhar. The avatars of
the Mulhorandi and Untheric marched with them, no
choice but to risk their mortal incarnations to try and
counter the presence of the orc gods. Without them,
there was no chance of victory.
The battle was monumental. Devoid of any tactics, the
one hundred thousand strong horde of orcs surged
across the plains to meet the organized rank and file of
their Mulani foe. The lead elements, riding bestial
worgs, surged ahead of the rest, smashing into the
phalanxes before the rest of the orc horde arrived on
foot. The massed Mulani archers replied, however,
slaughtering orcs in their thousands in a constant rain of
arrows. As expected, the sky above rent apart as the
shamans weaved their magic and Gruumsh and the other
orc avatars waded into the fray. They were met by a full
twenty-five Mulani divine incarnations, for only Set had
not heeded the call. The titanic clash of gods shook the
ground like thunder, the unleashed power tearing great
fissures through the land. Re led the Mulani forces,
meeting Gruumsh in single combat.
When the dust settled many days later, Re and six of
the Untheric gods had been utterly destroyed. The battle
was lost.
THE GREAT DECLINE
The death of Re was a devastating blow, but it was not in
vain. With his dying breath, the god-pharaoh imbued
the weapons of his kin, an enchantment known as Re’s
Redemption, that would be deadly against the gray orcs
and their kin. He then devolved his divine powers to his
son Horus, who would henceforth become known as
Horus-Re, inheriting the domains and power of his
father. The battle may have been lost, yet the orcs had
been dealt a huge blow. Notably, most of their shamans
had been slain, leaving them bereft of their ability to
summon avatars of their gods. Many thousands lay dead
on either side, but the tide had begun to turn.
They had once been close allies, but Horus-Re blamed
Anhur for their defeat and ultimately for the death of his
father. The weight of leading the Mulhorandi pantheon
on his shoulders, the new Lord of the Sun had started to
become much more of a staunch traditionalist, like his
father, opposing Anhur’s desire for expansion and
change. Anhur was wracked by guilt and so took it upon
himself to rid the land of the orc menace. The armies of
Mulhorand and Unther were much diminished, yet
Anhur continued to harry the remaining orcs forces, his
tactical genius outwitting the horde at every turn. The
enchanted weapons of his soldiers, blessed with Re’s
Redemption, were unstoppable.
Finally, in -1069 DR, the horde of Gruumsh was
routed in a decisive flanking attack along the Priador, led
by the Mulhorandi god of war, Anhur, himself. The
location of the Orcgate was discovered and promptly
destroyed, preventing any more incursions. The
surviving gray orcs fled north, scattering into tribes as
any remaining unity fell apart. They still exist in Faerûn
to this day, dispersed across Thay, the Moonsea and
regions further north; bitter infighting preventing them
from returning to their former power.
A HARD VICTORY
The war had finally been won, but the impact on
Mulhorand was unimaginable. Once a burgeoning
empire, the nation was now in economic, social and
military decline. This slow decay would continue over
the coming centuries as their northern holdings slowly
began to disappear. The tribes that had been allies
during the wars began to settle, eventually forming the
nations of Rashemen and Damara, and the birth of two
new empires: Narfell and Raumathar. Meanwhile,
Mulhorand’s territories north of the Rauthenflow
started to drift into their own autonomy, which would
eventually lead to them breaking away into the daughter
nations of Thay, Murghôm and Semphar.
Much to the chagrin of Anhur, Horusret I, the first
pharaonic incarnation of Horus-Re, refused to take
action against this decline, instead following Re’s desire
to preserve and safeguard Mulhorand against further
incursions. Anhur, whose expansionist ideals sought to
continue the growth of Mulhorand into a prosperous
empire, could only watch from his seat in Sultim as its
strength waned. A civil war between the gods erupted in
-1050 DR, as Set murdered Osiris in an attempt to steal
the seat of the god of death. Isis managed to revive Osiris
whilst Horus-Re hunted down Set, defeating him in
single combat and sending the serpentine god into exile.
During this turmoil, Semphar took the opportunity to
declare independence.
Thus ended the first empire of Mulhorand.
11
THE SECOND EMPIRE
For nearly two thousand years, this slow decline
continued. Known as the second empire of Mulhorand, it
was in truth a period of consolidation. The pharaonic
incarnations of Horus-Re continued to sit passively on
the throne in Skuld, even as more and more of
Mulhorand’s northern borders began to shrink. The
Empire of Narfell became more and more aggressive,
culminating in -623 DR when they attempted a full-
scale invasion of the mainland from across the Alamber
Sea. This was swiftly rebuffed and proved disastrous for
Narfell, as their rival Raumathar took advantage and
attacked, beginning a war between the two that would
last centuries.
A further invasion occurred in 202 DR, this time from
the southlands, as raiding Arkaiuns from Eltabranar
poured into Unther and Mulhorand, laying waste to
many towns and villages. Known as the War of Claws,
this sudden attack was motivated by the Demon Lord
Eltab. He coveted the power of the Mulhorandi
pantheon, knowing they were vulnerable in their mortal
shells. The incarnation of Anhur once again rose to
Mulhorand’s defense, arming himself with the
legendary sword Hadryliss, which had centuries earlier
been used by the Rashemi to defeat Eltab. By 205 DR,
Anhur had defeated Eltab, imprisoning the demon in a
Demoncyst beneath Thaymount far to the north.
Mulhorand and Unther had fought side by side, as they
had often done throughout history, and in 211 DR, the
combined force crushed Eltabranar and sent the
remaining Arkaiuns fleeing to the southwest.
THE RISE OF THAY
Other than these two incursions and some contests over
territory in the north, it was a time of relative peace. This
would not last however, and in 922 DR, Mulhorand paid
the price for its passivity. A sect of powerful wizards had
gathered in secret, defying the arcane laws created after
Thayd’s rebellion. To them, the Theurgist Adept was a
hero, a martyr who died to overthrow the tyranny of the
pharaohs and they clad themselves in red robes in his
honor. They also knew of Eltab and the location of the
Demoncyst prison from the War of Claws. The leaders of
this new sect, the Archmage Ythazz Buvaar and Conjurer
Jorgmacdon, tunneled into Thaymount and enslaved the
Demon Lord to do their bidding. The Red Wizards
marched on Delhumide, Mulhorand’s provincial capital
in the north, sacking and razing it. The Mulhorandi army
marched north to meet this rebellion on the plains of
Thazalhar, where nearly two millennia before they had
marched to meet the gray orcs in the Battle of the Gods.
This time however, it was a slaughter.
Empowered by Eltab, the wizards were unstoppable,
unleashing waves of devastating sorcery on the
Mulhorandi legions. Demons of every kind vomited forth
from the abyss and into the fray, sowing carnage
through the enemy ranks. Even Eltab himself strode
forth, routing the remaining forces of Mulhorand. Three
separate incarnations of Horus-Re, were killed during
this conflict, leaving Thothibistep I, an incarnation of
Thoth, to become the first pharaoh not part of House
Helcaliant. This would last until a suitable heir would
come of age. Their victory complete, the Red Wizards
claimed all land north of the River of the Dawn as part of
their new nation: Thay.
Thus ended the second empire of Mulhorand.
THE TIME OF TROUBLES
Over the next few centuries, Mulhorand and the seceded
nation of Thay took turns to invade each other. First
Mulhorand was defeated in an attack on the River
Thazarim in 976 DR, then a Thayan invasion was
repelled outside Sultim in 1098 DR. The Zulkirs were
more successful in 1280 DR: attacking Mulhorand’s
northern territories and putting Murghôm to the torch.
They came very close to defeating the Mulhorandi army
at Sultim, which would likely have been the death knell
for the whole of Mulhorand. Anhur once again came to
his nation’s aid, marshalling the defense and driving the
Thayans back across the River of Dawn. Despite this,
Anhur and his priests were blamed by the rest of the
pantheon for allowing Murghôm to be ravaged.
The war between the two nations descended into a
bitter stalemate, with neither side willing to risk another
major confrontation. Unbeknownst to either side,
however, something was coming that would make this
conflict pale in insignificance; an era of Toril’s history
that would change everything. During the Year of
Shadows, 1358 DR, Lord Ao once again took a direct
involvement in the events of the mortal realm. Bane and
Myrkul had attempted to steal his Tablets of Fate and,
driven to anger, Ao decided to teach a lesson to all the
divines of Faerûn. So obsessed were they with power,
and so negligent of their mortal followers, he sentenced
the gods to walk the earth of Toril as mortal
incarnations. They would come to learn the error of their
ways. Some would not survive the lesson.
The Mulhorandi pantheon, however, had already been
restricted to their avatar forms since their arrival in
Toril. Lord Ao decreed that the opposite would apply to
them and thus the barrier holding the god-kings in their
mortal prison was lifted. The incarnations of Horus-Re
and the rest of the pantheon were able to rejoin their
divine essences in Heliopolis, in the Outer Planes, taking
their place as true gods in the Great Wheel cosmology.
They would continue to guide and influence their flock,
though from a distance, guiding the Mulhorandi through
priests and other selected vessels.
PHARAOH HORUSTEP III
No longer an incarnation of Horus-Re, Horustep III
began to rule Mulhorand as a mortal pharaoh. His
human characteristics quickly began to show, the chains
of divine will cast aside. Unlike Horus-Re, Horustep was
demanding and domineering, not afraid to make a show
of power, or make examples of those beneath him. He
saw himself like the old pharaohs of the land of Kemet
and was determined to return the glorious days of the
first empire to Mulhorand. Horustep still held a strong
connection to Horus-Re but was now free to make his
own decisions and lead as he saw fit. Looking down from
Heliopolis, the God Anhur saw in the newly ephemeral
pharaoh a great opportunity.
With Horus-Re no longer in a direct position of rule,
Anhur, the god of war, began contacting and influencing
Horustep in secret, urging him to act. For too long had
had the pharaohs sat idly as the empire slowly rotted
away. Where once Mulhorand was an empire to be feared
across Faerûn, it was now regarded as a toothless old
dog; lying passively as the world moved on. This time of
unprecedented change was the chance Mulhorand
needed to reclaim its former glory. Horustep saw himself
as the pharaoh the empire had been waiting for and
believed he would bring salvation for the gods.
12
Pharaoh Horustep III and Kendera Steeldice, Year of the Lost Keep, 1379 DR
THE THIRD EMPIRE
With the Time of Troubles leaving much of Faerûn in
disarray, Horustep III began to seize the opportunity
Anhur was guiding him towards. Gathering the strength
of the Mulhorandi legions he went on the offensive.
Following the volcanic eruption of the Ship of the Gods
in the Alamber Sea, Mulhorand launched an invasion of
the Alaor Islands in 1369 DR. Thay was able to retake the
island chain the following year, though much of their
naval infrastructure in the Alamber would need to be
rebuilt, preventing any immediate retaliation. During
this time, Horustep had become enamored with an
outsider; Kendera Steeldice; a paladin of Red Knight and
head of the Gold Swords mercenary company. As well as
a lover, he saw her as a trusted military advisor, ignoring
much of the advice of his aides within House Helcaliant.
He also enlisted the warrior Brathes; a childhood friend
and servant of Anhur; as his personal bodyguard, further
strengthening the bridge with the House of Anhur.
Gilgeam, head of the Untheric pantheon, was slain at
the hands of Tiamat during the Godswar, thus the Treaty
of the Gods became invalid. Horustep allowed the war
priests of Anhur and the Gold Swords to lead an invasion
of Unther in 1371 DR. Caught by surprise and weakened
by internal strife, Unther was devastated by the attack
and by 1373 DR, Mulhorand had conquered most of the
mainland, leaving only the city of Messemprar under
siege. Horustep’s empire nearly doubled in size in the
space of one year and he basked in his own glory.
His reign was not without issues; with most of the
men away fighting Unther in the west, there was a
significant shortage of workers back on the mainland.
Heeding the advice of Kendera, he took action,
abolishing age-old laws to bring equality between the
sexes in Mulhorand. Women would take up any work
that men could, quickly solving the labor shortage to the
indignation of the elders of House Helcaliant.
After their initial success, progress slowed as the siege
of Messemprar dragged on for nearly six years. Unther’s
stubborn resistance and aid from Thay frustrated the
Mulhorandi assault whilst they were attacked in the
flank several times by a force of mysterious Aasimar.
Eventually in 1379 DR Messemprar fell, completing
Horustep’s campaign and hold over Unther. Unknown to
the pharaoh, however, calamitous events were in
motion. The third empire would not last long.
THE SPELLPLAGUE
Horustep III reveled in his own magnificence, his
dominion over Unther complete. Horus-Re may have left
the mortal realm, but Horustep had more than earnt the
right to rule Mulhorand in his stead. The gods looked
upon him with content and the Mulhorandi people
worshipped him as if he were still the true essence of the
Sun Lord. Other nations became fearful of this
burgeoning third empire and diplomats from Chessenta,
Aglarond, Rashemen and beyond began to visit Skuld in
attempt to win the pharaoh’s favor. It seemed the
glorious days of the first empire had returned at last and
nothing could stand in the way of Mulhorand’s rebirth.
It was not to last. During the Year of Blue Fire, 1385
DR, Cyric murdered Mystra with the aid of Shar. The
resulting cataclysm tore the world asunder. Mystra’s
control of the weave was severed, unleashing a tempest
of raw magical energy across Toril. As the weave fell
apart, many spellcasters across Faerûn either died or
went insane and spells of any kind became warped by
wild magic. A storm of blue fire tore across eastern
Faerûn, originating in Halruaa then spreading out across
the land. It even found its way into the many planar
portals hidden beneath the surface, spreading the plague
beyond the boundaries of Toril, most noticeably in the
distant realm of Abeir, where it began to spread across
Laerakond. Consumed by the magical conflagration,
parts of Abeir and Toril began to overlap and merge in a
catastrophic fulmination. A huge segment of the land of
Skelkor in Abeir, crashed through the planar divide and
into Unther in Faerûn. The citadel of Djerad Thymar,
capital of the Dragonborn nation of Tymanchebar came
with it, bringing the Dragonborn race to Toril. The
resulting impact consumed much of Unther, engulfing
Messemprar and killing thousands from Mulhorand and
Unther alike. Other parts of Unther were torn from the
face of Toril and hurled back across the planar divide,
landing in the Abeir province of Shyr.
13
CATACLYSM OF CHANGE
The Spellplague reached the Mulhorandi mainland with
unimaginable ferocity. A swirling maelstrom of wild
magic engulfed the land, scouring life from its surface
and warping the fabric of reality. The once green and
fertile region was reduced to little more than a
smoldering wasteland. Unending earthquakes tore open
rifts like great wounds in the earth and the sun was
blotted out by boiling dust clouds. Skuld, Maerlar and a
number of other towns and cities were left as ruins as
the conflagration washed over them. Hundreds of
thousands died or vanished in this calamity, including
most of the population of Skuld. Horustep III and many
of the divine houses; including all of House Helcaliant;
disappeared without trace, leaving Mulhorand in
disarray. Those lucky enough to survive fled, their home
no longer habitable. Others vanished into the swirling
chaos, never to be seen again; presumably transported
away to Abeir or another plane of existence.
Even the gods, freed of their mortal chains by Ao,
could not escape the cataclysm. The entire Mulhorandi
pantheon disappeared as the tendrils of the plague
reached even into Heliopolis. The priests were left in
torment as their gods abandoned them and the people
despaired as prayers went unanswered. Nightmarish
creatures spawned from the wild magic chaos, lingering
even after the swirling maelstrom had passed. They
scuttled between the ruined streets and buildings of
cities like Skuld, preying on any survivors and lairing in
the cracks and crevasses across the land. With no
warriors left to protect them, the people of Mulhorand
had no choice but to flee. Many travelled west, to
Chessenta and beyond, leaving Mulhorand deserted but
for the howling winds and lurking monsters.
Elsewhere, a people long lost and long forgotten
began to emerge from the shadows. They saw the
Spellplague as an opportunity; the great cataclysm
offered a chance for redemption, and they would take it.
HIGH IMASKAR
The Spellplague lasted a full ten years, its roiling
eruption of wild magical energy transforming the face of
Toril and scouring Mulhorand’s surface beyond
recognition. As the dust settled and the magical
conflagration dissipated, explorers began to emerge
from Deep Imaskar; an Imaskari refuge hidden far
beneath the Hordelands. They found their ancestral
lands in the Mulhorand region devastated and mostly
abandoned; yet after millennia hiding underground and
with the city now under siege, even this desolate
wilderness was a tempting opportunity. The Underdark
had not been spared by the plague either, and Deep
Imaskar had been left surrounded by vile Plaguelands
where pockets of the wild magic chaos would linger for
many years after the Spellplague had ended. The
Imaskari would return and reclaim the land that had
been stolen from them.
USUSI MANAALLIN
Ususi Manaallin was an Imaskari artificer who had spent
her young life trapped in the confines of Deep Imaskar.
Longing to feel the fresh air of the surface upon her face,
she escaped the city in 1363 DR, cracking the Great Seal
that had kept it hidden for so long. She had also become
obsessed with the Celestial Nadir, an artificial demiplane
crafted by the Imaskari artificers of old and spent much
of the next decade searching for a way to access it. She
joined an adventuring party, travelling the land and
other realms searching for a way into the Nadir; in the
process however, the ancient entity known as the
Pandorym that had long ago been sealed inside was
awoken and began attempting to free itself. This
malevolent being immediately began attacking Deep
Imaskar with relentless fury, seeking revenge for its
imprisonment. In 1374 DR, Ususi and a party of fellow
adventurers travelled to the Raurin desert and there
found the buried Palace of the Purple Emperor.
Teleporting inside, they entered the Imperial weapons
cache where the mind of Pandorym had been
imprisoned, and then found the gateway to the Celestial
Nadir where its physical form lurked. With the help of
Qari Manaallin, a mirrored version of Ususi that had
been pulled from an alternate timeline by Pandorym’s
meddling, they managed to defeat the Elder Evil and seal
it away once more.
Following the Spellplague in 1385 DR, Ususi activated
the arcane mechanisms of the Palace of the Purple
Emperor, transporting it out of the Raurin desert and
through the Celestial Nadir dimension to appear north of
the ruins of Skuld in Mulhorand. The palace was vast, its
spire looming thousands of feet above the scoured
landscape. It was also a self-contained city, created
many thousands of years ago to be the palace of the Lord
Artificers of Imaskar. Each level of the colossal towers
was infused with inter-dimensional magic, making it
ten times larger within than without, though it was
already massive on the outside. This would become the
seat of Ususi’s new empire, and the return of the
Imaskari to mainland Faerûn. With the Spellplague over,
many of the citizens of Deep Imaskar abandoned their
Underdark home, escaping the vile Plaguelands that
surrounded it, and follow Ususi to Mulhorand. High
Imaskar was born and Ususi Manaallin was crowned
empress, the first ruler since the old empire was
destroyed nearly four thousand years before.
14
A RISE TO PROMINENCE
For the next century, Ususi led High Imaskar into a
period of progress. Much of Mulhorand’s landscape was
now a sun-blasted desert but, keeping close to the rivers
and coast where the land was still fertile, she and her
people were able to carve out the start of a new Imaskari
empire in the ruins of Mulhorand. Unlike the hubristic
and tyrannical Lord-Artificers of the old empires, the
Empress decreed that Imaskar would be a fair and free
nation. Slavery was outlawed and she immediately set
her ‘Vengeance Takers’, a unit of elite enforcers who
policed the population, to task in hunting down
renegade slavers. In making High Imaskar a free nation,
Ususi hoped to win the hearts and minds of those who
feared the return of the old empire, proving that the
infamous Imaskar of millennia past had changed and
could live peacefully in this new world. She also set up
ruling councils of Artificers, Planners and Apprehenders,
whose power was equal to hers to ensure High Imaskar
could never return to tyrannical rule. Despite these
measures of good faith, in secret she outlawed the
worship of the Mulhorandi gods in, fearing that the
pantheon could return at any time and foil the rebirth of
Imaskar as a dominant force in Faerûn.
Ususi also took a much more amicable approach to
foreign relations, firstly establishing healthy trade
partnerships with the dragonborn of Tymanther and the
genasi of Akanûl. These two nations had been
transported to Faerûn from Abeir during the Spellplague
and so found common ground with High Imaskar as
displaced nations in a strange new world. Ususi also
offered generous trade terms to the northern nations
who had won their freedom from Mulhorand; Thay,
Murghôm and Semphar. This would limit the risk of
attack from the northern borders and maintain stability
in the region. She also kept trade relations with Deep
Imaskar, though these became increasingly strained
over the years as the former bastion of Imaskar looked
upon its surface cousin with envy and distrust.
Not all of Ususi’s neighbors were so cordial, however.
Many of the Mulani survivors from Mulhorand and
Unther were now refugees in Chessenta, which openly
opposed the emergence of High Imaskar and the foreign
invaders from Abeir. No formal war was declared,
though Chessentan warriors actively targeted Imaskari
trade caravans and merchant ships in an attempt to limit
the new empire’s expansion. In 1478 DR the Empress
convinced the principality of Murghôm to begin
mounting counter attacks on Chessenta, promising them
great wealth and improved trade that included the
legendary Imaskari arcane knowledge. A more insidious
threat presented itself the next year in 1479 DR, as the
blue dragon Gestaniius, child of Tiamat, invaded High
Imaskar from its lair in the Dragonsword Mountains. It
led an army of Dragonspawn, dune worms from the
Plains of Purple Dust and numerous other minions,
seeking to conquer the land west of the Dragonswords.
Its motivations were to gain more standing in the
Xorvintal; a game played between dragon kind to prove
their eminence amongst one another. Ususi was saved by
her Dragonborn allies as the Platinum Cadre of Bahamut
arrived to defend Skyclave and slay Gestaniius.
These threats would pale in significance as Empress
Ususi’s worst fears came to be realized. Now old and
weary, she began looking for a successor to the throne.
Unknown to her, however, the gods of Mulhorand were
returning and history would repeat itself once more.
THE SECOND SUNDERING
In 1482 DR, Lord Ao once again became directly involved
in the affairs of the Realm. Having witnessed the
worldwide instability and merging of Abeir and Toril,
caused by the destruction of the Tablets of Fate and then
the Spellplague, Ao decided to recreate the Tablets in an
attempt to undo the carnage that had been wrought. This
unraveled Abeir and Toril from each other and reverted
some of the colossal changes that had befallen both
worlds over the past century. For Mulhorand, this could
only mean one thing: the return of the gods.
Despite what many thought, Horus-Re and the other
eleven gods had not perished during the Spellplague;
they had instead fallen into a catatonic state. At the same
time, many thousands of Mulhorandi citizens that
vanished during the Spellplague had actually been
transposed to Abeir, including the entirety of House
Helcaliant and the Pharaoh Horustep III himself. They
had spent much of the last century surviving in the
wilderness of Abeir, desperate to reach their vanished
gods and find a way home. Though Horustep and the rest
of his followers were eventually claimed by their
mortality; either by old age or the harsh environment
they had found themselves in; the line of succession was
maintained. Horustep had passed away in 1426 DR,
leaving numerous heirs, who in turn further procreated,
saving the sacred line of Horus-Re from extinction. The
other divine houses did the same, ensuring that when
the gods returned, the strength of each line was The Demigod-Pharaoh Horuskhet I, wearing the ceremonial hawk headdress
preserved. As Ao reforged the Tablets of Fate, and the of Horus-Re. Art by Ed Fox.
worlds of Abeir and Toril were unraveled from each
other, the exiled people were returned to Faerûn, NEZRAM, THE WORLD WALKER
reappearing in the consecrated grounds of the Land of
Nezram was a Mulhorandi wizard of great power who
the Dead, hidden in the foothills of the Dragonsword
was famous for his extra planar travel. Born in the late
mountains.
fifth century DR in southern Mulhorand, he began
training in the magical arts from a young age, though
HORUSKHET I staying well away from the radical teachings of the Red
With Ao’s will, and hearing the desperate pleas of their Wizards. His studies mainly focused on the arcane
people, the Mulhorandi gods awoke from slumber and tradition of gemstone magic, the method of harnessing
took back their place in Heliopolis. They communed with the innate magical properties of rare gemstones. He also
their surviving temples and priests across Faerûn, each became very interested in interplanar magic, having
choosing a new heir to become the manifestations of discovered the ancient Sarrukh ruins in the depths of
their divine will in the mortal realm. Granted the power Azulduth, Lake of Salt. Nezram was fascinated by the
of demigods, these ‘Chosen’ were tasked to defeat High Sarrukh, who built the first recorded empire in Toril’s
Imaskar and return Mulhorand to its rightful owners. history some thirty-five thousand years ago. Long
Other Chosen had been sent by the native gods of before the rise of humans in Faerûn, they had already
Faerûn into the mortal realms, however in Mulhorand mastered planar travel and had built a vast network of
they were different, recognized by their people as living portals that linked across the outer planes. In 643 DR he
gods, like the incarnations of old. From House left his tower on the banks of the Azulduth and began an
Helcaliant, Horus-Re heralded his true heir as eight-hundred-year journey through the planes in
Horuskhet I, destined to become the new pharaoh of search of the Sarrukh and their ancient secrets. The
Mulhorand. He would lead the uprising against High powerful magics of the Saurian progenitors allowed him
Imaskar and claim back the land for the glory of the to cheat his own mortality, surviving through the ages
gods. He and the other demigods immediately began and growing his power to incredible levels.
summoning the Mulhorandi people that had fled during In 1479 DR Nezram finally returned to Faerûn, having
the Spellplague a century ago, sending word to priests heard of the Spellplague and that Deep Imaskar had
across Faerûn to gather their flock and return home. risen to claim Mulhorand once more from his people. He
Though a separate entity, Horuskhet was bound to the found his tower in ruins and his many descendants,
Horus-Re’s purpose, unlike the previous pharaoh known as Nezramites, scattered or slain. Unknown to
Horustep III who had ruled as a mortal. As a demigod, Nezram, the green dragon Chaathuuladroth had laid
Horuskhet was imbued with great power in order to waste to his home many centuries ago, and the ruins had
enact Horus-Re’s will upon the material plane. He was a been picked clean of all his treasured possessions in the
noble and just ruler, dedicated to bringing Mulhorand years since. He found the surviving Nezramites in their
back from the ruination of the Spellplague and a century new settlement in the deserts east of the Dragonsword
of rule under High Imaskar. Learning from the lessons of mountains, named Nezras in his honor. Reuniting with
the past, he would see Mulhorand restored to its former his kin, he waited for the gods to return, from where he
glory and flourish into the dawn of a new age. and his descendants would join the uprising.

15
MULHORAND REBORN
The Mulhorandi uprising began in Gheldaneth in 1485
DR, as Horuskhet I led his army of exiles up the River of
Spears. He was joined by Nezram and the Nezramites,
who promised to aid against the powerful magic of the
Imaskari artificers. The crusade grew each day as more
and more Mulhorandi refugees arrived to heed the call of
their gods, their faith and conviction renewed with
promised salvation. And it was not just Mulani humans
that would answer their new pharaoh’s summons, but
all those who had been displaced by the Spellplague and
the occupation of High Imaskar. Humans from all
different heritages, elves, dwarves, tieflings and many
other humanoid races from across Faerûn began
travelling back to fight for their ancestral home. Many of
these were former slaves, or the descendants of slaves,
for the gods had returned with a message: Mulhorand
would be reborn a truly free nation, and all would be
welcome to call it home. Gone were the days of
subjugation and enslavement, of hatred and xenophobia;
whether by Imaskar or the Mulan; and all would be equal
in the eyes of the gods.
Once Horuskhet reached Gheldaneth, the uprising had
become a tidal wave of roaring defiance. It swept into the
city, gathering up those who had been subjugated by
Empress Ususi over the past century. The Imaskari there
were caught totally by surprise. The garrison and cadre
of vengeance-takers employed to keep order in the city
were overwhelmed and either put to the sword or sent
fleeing into the desert. Without delay, Horuskhet
continued north up the coast, gathering momentum,
and crushing any Imaskari resistance in his wake. Nine
of the other demigods marched with him; only those of
Set and Sebek were absent, having vanished shortly after
arriving back in Faerûn.
Empress Ususi, on her death bed, remained
determined not see her beloved High Imaskar cast aside
so easily. She summoned the Artificers and commanded
the Imaskari to go forth from Skyclave and defeat this
uprising. Former slaves and bitter vassals would be no
match for the arcane might of the Imaskari. A lesson
would need to be taught to these interlopers, one that
would cement the empire of High Imaskar in Faerûn,
and Ususi’s legacy, for millennia after her death.
Thus, the army of High Imaskar met the Mulhorandi
rebellion in the desert plains north of the Skuld ruins in
1487 DR. The Imaskari strode forward, confident their
magic would obliterate the rabble before them. Yet they
were confounded as their spells failed. At the center of
the Mulhorandi lines was a wizard whose power eclipsed
even the Artificers. Nezram and his descendant
Nezramites countered the incoming magical onslaught,
protecting the massed infantry as they surged forward.
Without the power of their artificers, the Imaskari were
left to fend against a surging tide of a hundred thousand
Mulhorandi, as well as ten demigods of their pantheon.
The battle became a slaughter. Outmatched, the
Imaskari forces were routed in swift order. Those that
survived fled back to the Skyclave, only to find their
Empress had passed away during the battle.
Horuskhet urged his forces after them, not allowing a
moment for the defeated Imaskari to regroup. Reaching
the city-tower, he prepared for a lengthy siege, but was
surprised to find the citadel already abandoned, its doors
wide. High Imaskar was no more; its remaining populace
using the teleportation magic of surviving artificers to
flee to distant safeholds. Mulhorand was reborn,
returned to the rightful rule of the Mulhorandi.
16
THE NATION RESTORED
Following the rebellion, Horuskhet I and his people
began the slow process of rebuilding their ancestral
homeland. Mulhorand had been scarred irrevocably, yet
its people were indomitable and would not allow the
events of the past century to determine their future.
Much of the mainland was now a desert, with rolling
sand dunes that stretched for hundreds of miles,
reaching the Dragonsword mountains in the east, the
border with Thay and Murghôm to the north and the
Shaar to the far south. The Spellplague had also caused
massive tectonic activity in the region with treacherous
rifts and scraggy, sun-blasted rock peaks emerging as
the land writhed in agony. Despite this, there were still
areas of the land that would sustain life. Mulhorand was
not the green and verdant realm it once was, yet along
the Alamber coastline and the banks of the four rivers
and was still fertile, and it was here that the nation
would be reborn.
Skuld, the former capital of the Mulhorandi Empire,
was irrecoverable. Its smoldering ruins were thick with
lingering wild magic from the plague and horrors lurked
in every nook and cranny. Despite how important the
City of Shadows had been to the first three empires,
Horuskhet would need a new seat from which to rule.
Thankfully, Empress Ususi and High Imaskar had left a
parting gift which he would reluctantly accept. The
Skyclave was a true marvel of creation, unlike any other
bastion of civilization in all of Faerûn. Its main tower
was a colossal spire of purple, stretching a mile into the
sky; a visible beacon for hundreds of miles. Harnessing
Imaskari dimensional magic, its interior was ten times
larger than its outer appearance, each level housing the
necessary workings of a city. Additional settlements had
been constructed around its base, including a large dock
that fed into the River of Shadows delta and out into the
Alamber. Horuskhet did not trust the Imaskari
machinations, yet its value could not be ignored. He
called again upon Nezram who set to work disabling the
many wards inside. Skyclave was expropriated as the
new capital of Mulhorand.
Many of the other cities and settlements began to be
repopulated as well. Sultim, Mishtan, Neldorild, Rauthil
and many smaller settlements began to rise from the
ashes of the Spellplague. Any remaining Imaskari
structures were repurposed; large villas that once
housed the noble elite of Empress Ususi’s reign became
home to entire communities of Mulhorandi settlers.
Farms were established along the riverbanks; fishing
colonies sprang up along the coast and over the next ten
years the nation became entirely self-sufficient. Trade
even started to resume with its neighbors; the past
animosity with the breakaway nations of Murghôm and
Semphar forgotten as all nations struggled to recover
from the turmoil that had ravaged much of Faerûn. Even
Unther was too busy in its war with Tymanther to seek
vengeance for the invasion of Horustep III prior to the
Spellplague. Thay, however, would forever remain a
threat to the north.
Now in 1495 DR, Mulhorand has been reborn into an
era of peace and prosperity, yet many dangers still
remain. The demigods of Set and Sebek continue to lurk
in their hidden lairs, forever planning and plotting
against their brethren. The wastes hide countless secrets
and forgotten ruins, the treasures and dangers within
waiting to be uncovered. Imaskar, though beaten, still
survives, waiting for their chance for vengeance. It is a
land in turmoil, but ripe for adventure…
 TIMELINE OF EVENTS
c. -8350 DR. Imaskari tribes begin to settle a vast, fertile
plain named “the Raurin”.
-7975 DR. The great city of Inupras is founded,
becoming the center of the Imaskar Empire. Lord
Artificer Umyatin becomes the first emperor of
Imaskar.
-7891 DR. Omanond creates the Imaskarcana, seven
artifacts of immense power in which the empire’s
knowledge and magical lore is recorded in for all
eternity.
-7397 DR. The first Bukhara Spires are created to house
interdimensional two-way portals, allowing the
Imaskari to travel vast distances in an instant; across
Faerûn and even to other worlds.
-6422 DR. Inupras is razed by a devastating Krakentua
attack. The resulting turmoil leads Imaskar to split in
two, with many of its citizens descending into the
Underdark and forming Lower Imaskar.
-4366 DR. The Silent Death plague decimates the
Imaskar Empire, beginning the Shartra or ‘Darkness’.
c. -4370 DR. Lord Artificer Khotan creates a new portal
to a world outside the known limits of Realmspace.
Hundreds of thousands of people, who would become
known as the ‘Mulan’, are abducted and brought back
to the empire as slaves. Many of these come from a
land known as ‘Kemet’.
-3920 DR. Lord Artificer Omanond reunites Upper and
Lower Imaskar, rebuilding the capital in Inupras and
ending the Shartra.
-2489 DR. Lord Ao summons Ptah to the home world of
the Mulan, guiding the many gods of the enslaved
people past the planar barrier to Toril as divine
incarnations. Twenty-six of them arrive on Re’s solar
barge atop the peaks of the Godswatch mountains.
-2489 DR. Driven by the arrival of their gods, the Mulani
slave rebellion begins. Imaskar comes under siege
from all sides and its legions are overwhelmed by the
attack. Many towns and cities fall with little
resistance.
-2488 DR. Artificer Mardava leads the defense of Jorhat
Citadel and unleashes a spell so powerful it kills not
only the attacking Mulan but every man, woman and
child within its walls.
-2488 DR. The current emperor, Lord Artificer Yuvaraj,
summons the Elder Evil Pandorym in an attempt to
use it as a weapon. He is forced to imprison it in his
Palace of the Purple Emperor.
-2488 DR. The final battle takes place as the Mulani
forces besiege Inupras. The energy unleashed during
the battle scours the surrounding land, reducing it to
what is now known as the Raurin Desert. The god
Horus battles Yuvaraj on the steps of the palace in
Inupras. Horus is victorious and the emperor’s death
marks the end of the Imaskar Empire.
-2487 DR. Surviving Imaskari flee across Faerûn to
escape the Mulani uprising. Many settle in the far east
enclave of Thakos or the city of Solon. Others seek
refuge in the Underdark.
c. -2485 DR. Their shackles of slavery gone; the
remaining Mulan people begin settling in the lands
around the Raurin desert.
-2481 DR. Lord Ilphemon forms the refuge of Deep
Imaskar, far beneath Faerûn’s surface, which would
become the last major bastion of the Imaskari people.
c. -2140 DR. The Mulan originally from the land of
Kemet begin travelling west and reach the eastern
shores of the Alamber Sea, settling along the coast and
many rivers of this fertile region.
17
-2135 DR. The nation of Mulhorand is born, as the
mortal incarnation of the god Re founds the capital
city of Skuld on the banks of the River of Shadows.
c. -2130 DR. Other cities and towns are founded across
Mulhorand by the various gods including Gheldaneth,
Sultim and Mishtan.
-2087 DR. West across the Alamber Sea, the god Enlil
founds the city of Unthalass, establishing the rival
Mulani nation of Unther.
-1967 DR. Fighting breaks out between Mulhorand and
Unther over the territories around the River of Swords
on the border of both nations, this escalates into all-
out war by the end of the year.
-1961 DR. The Treaty of the Gods is agreed between
Mulhorand and Unther as both pantheons meet at the
River of Swords near Sekras, marking the river as the
new border between the two realms.
-1500 DR. Mulhorand expands into the Priador, Raurin
Desert and Plains of Purple Dust. Murghôm is
annexed. This marks the beginning of the First Empire
of Mulhorand.
c. -1500 DR. Unther also expands into the Eastern Shaar
and Wizards’ Reach, beginning its own empire.
-1482 DR. Mulhorand conquers the eastern realm of
Semphar, further expanding its borders.
-1124 DR. The outpost of Semkhrun is founded in
Semphar, enforcing its hold on the region.
-1087 DR. Theurgist Adept Thayd leads his fellow red-
robed wizards in a rebellion against Mulhorand and
Unther, briefly seizing the northern provinces of both
empires over the next five years.
-1081 DR. The rebellion is defeated and Thayd is
captured by the Mulhorandi forces. He is executed but
prophesizes that both empires would soon fall.
-1075 DR. This prophecy is unleashed as a vast horde of
gray orcs surge forth from the portal Thayd had
hidden in the north. The Orcgate war threatens to
destroy Mulhorand as tens of thousands are
slaughtered. Unther’s north is also attacked.
-1073 DR. Sultim holds against the invasion, its defenses
marshalled by the incarnation of the god of war,
Anhur. This gives Mulhorand precious time to regroup
and request aid from the Rashemi, Nar and Sossrim.
-1071 DR. The forces of Mulhorand and Unther march
together to face the orc horde at the Battle of the Gods.
Many thousands are killed, including six of the
Untheric pantheon and Re, head of the Mulhorandi
pantheon, is slain by the orc god Gruumsh. The allies
are defeated but the orc forces are also crippled
beyond recovery.
-1071 DR. Horus is given the power and domains of his
dead father and becomes Horus-Re. With the aid of
Re’s legacy, the orcs begin to be driven back.
-1069 DR. The Orcgate is destroyed as Anhur leads a
decisive attack along the Priador Coast. The gray orcs
are routed and flee north into scattered tribes.
-1050 DR. Set assassinates Osiris in an attempt to steal
the domain of death, believing this will allow him to
replace Horus-Re as the god-king of Mulhorand.
-1048 DR. Isis resurrects Osiris. Horus-Re defeats Set in
single combat and sends him into exile. Worship of Set
is outlawed henceforth.
-1048 DR. The end of the First Empire of Mulhorand and
dawn of the Second Empire.
-1045 DR. Horusret I is anointed as the first Pharaoh of
Mulhorand, beginning a line of succession that would
place each incarnated heir of Horus-Re on the throne
as an ageless god-king.
-946 DR. The Nar Kingdoms unite into a rival empire
named “Narfell” that borders much of Mulhorand’s
northern regions.
-926 DR. Setkhamun, incarnation of Set, murders
Horusret I, attempting to steal the rule of Mulhorand.
-900 DR. The Raumvirans establish the city of
Winterkeep, capital of the Raumathari empire to
Mulhorand’s north east.
-734 DR. Enlil devolves his power in the Untheric
pantheon to Gilgeam and vanishes from the Realms.
This marks the end of the First Empire of Unther.
-700 DR Year of Twelve Gods. Augathra the Mad’s
naming of the Faerûnian Roll of Years begins.
-623 DR Year of Clipped Wings. Narfell makes an
ambitious attack on both Mulhorand and Unther
across the Alamber Sea. This is swiftly rebuffed and
Ramathar takes the opportunity to attack Narfell
whilst its back is turned.
-425 DR Year of Ancestral Voices. Paladins of the
Church of Osiris destroy the settlement of Sekras
which had become a hive of Sebek worshippers.
-339 DR Year of the Sundered Webs. “Karsus’s Folly”
sees the destruction of the Netherese empire and a
magical backlash that is felt across Faerûn. Horustep I
is obliterated by the event.
-160 DR Year of the Stone Giant. The war between
Narfell and Raumathar culminates in a decade-long
cataclysm that leaves both empires in ruins.
Mulhorand nervously defends its northern borders to
defend against summoned demons and worse.
-135 DR Year of Old Beginnings. Mulhorand founds
Kensten (later Bezantur) in Wizards Reach, this would
become the capital of modern day Thay.
-75 DR Year of Leather Shields. An alliance of barbarians
and witches defeats the demon lord Eltab and founds
the nation of Rashemen in the ruins of Raumathar.
1 DR Year of Sunrise. The Dales Compact is agreed
between the elves of Cormanthyr and humans of the
Dales, commencing the Dalereckoning (DR) calendar.
202 DR Year of the Fanged Gauntlet. Mulhorand and
Unther are invaded from the south by Arkaiuns from
Eltabranar who raid and pillage the southern lands.
This is known as the War of Claws.
204 DR Year of the Avarice. The incarnation of Anhur
wielding Hadryliss defeats the demon lord Eltab and
imprisons him in a demoncyst beneath Thaymount.
211 DR Year of Spoiled Splendors. A combined army
from Mulhorand and Unther crushes the remaining
Arkaiuns and drives them from their homeland.
504 DR Year of the Eclipsed Hart. Starting with Teth and
Nethra, then followed by Escalant and Mourktar in the
coming centuries, various cities of Unther begin
secession, threatening civil war across the empire.
602 DR Year of the Glimmering Sea. Nezram, “the
World Walker” is born in southern Mulhorand and
from an early age begins his studies of forgotten
arcane lore.
643 DR Year of the Nesting Harpy. The wizard Nezram
leaves his tower on the shores of the Azulduth to
explore the outer planes.
679 DR Year of the Scarlet Sash. Unther is forced to
recognize the sovereignty of its breakaway provinces,
ending the Second Untheric Empire.
681 DR Year of the Zombie Lords. The ancient green
dragon Chaathuulandroth destroys Nezram’s tower
and slays many of his descendants. The surviving
Nezramites flee north into the Raurin desert.

18
921 DR Year of the Falling Maeran. Chaathuulandroth
returns, laying waste to much of Skuld and slaying the
Pharaoh Horuseres II before finally being defeated.
922 DR Year of the Spouting Fish. A second Red Wizard
rebellion begins as the demon lord Eltab is freed and
unleashed on the northern capital Delhumide. The
forces of Mulhorand are routed at the battle of
Thazalhar and the nation of Thay is born. Three
separate pharaonic incarnations of Horus-Re are slain
during the war with Thay, leaving no suitable
descendant. Thothibistep I, incarnation of Thoth,
takes the throne until a suitable heir comes of age.
925 DR Year of the Enchanted Trail. Thothibistep I is
assassinated by Nezrak with the only known casting of
the Spelldoom. Thothibistep II becomes pharaoh.
929 DR Year of the Flashing Eyes. Akonhorus I resumes
Horus-Re’s pharaonic line of succession. Chessenta
secedes from Unther, under the warlord Tchazzar.
955 DR Year of the Telltale Candle. The “Orcgates
Affair” sees the Red Wizards of Thay transport a horde
of orcs through portals into southern Faerûn away
from the north. Pharaoh Akonhorus I is slain driving
them away from Mulhorand’s southern borders.
976 DR Year of the Slaying Spells. The armies of
Mulhorand attempt to invade and reclaim Thay,
however they are defeated and repelled at the
Thazarim River.
1030 DR Year of the Warlords. A small cabal of eight Red
Wizards declare themselves the ruling “Zulkirs” of
Thay, beginning a period of civil strife in the region.
1074 DR Year of the Tightening Fist. The last resistance
to the Zulkirs is crushed, cementing them as the
ruling council of Thay henceforth.
1098 DR Year of the Rose. The Zulkirs of Thay launch an
invasion of Mulhorand but are defeated outside Sultim
and withdraw. Ramenhorus III is slain in the battle.
1183 DR Year of the Grisly Ghosts. Paladins of Osiris
return to the ruins of Sekras, driving out an
infestation of werecrocodiles.
1248 DR Year of the Cockatrice. Rehorusteb I is killed by
sahuagin of Aleaxtis whilst traveling across the
Alamber. He is succeeded by Rehorusteb II.
1280 DR Year of the Manticore. Thay invades Mulhorand
again, this time with much greater success, pillaging
Murghôm and almost defeating the Mulhorandi forces
at Sultim. Anhur rallies the defense, but his church is
blamed for the devastation suffered in Murghôm.
1311 DR Year of the Fist. Rezim of House Helcaliant is
appointed Vizier of Mulhorand. He immediately
begins a campaign of persecution against the church
of Anhur, replacing the Anhurites with Chessentan
mercenaries as the official guards of Mulhorand.
1317 DR Year of the Wandering Wyrm. The Plague of
Dragons spreads across the Inner Sea, devastating
Unther, Chessenta and Wizard’s Reach. Mulhorand is
largely spared as Rezim orders its borders closed.
1320 DR Year of the Watching Cold. Seti, incarnation of
Set, begins a resurgence in worship of the exiled god.
Set joins the Faerûnian pantheon by the name Zehir.
1350 DR Year of the Morningstar. Seti and the Cult of Set
secretly take control over the fishing village of
Sampranasz, gaining a base of operations close to
Skuld. The ‘Fangs of Set’ assassins are founded there.
1357 DR Year of the Prince. The Fangs of Set
assassinate Akonhorus II as part of a plot to weaken
Horus-Re. Horustep III becomes the new pharaoh.
1358 DR Year of Shadows. Mulhorand sends a fleet of
ships to attempt to take the Alaor island chain from
19
Thay, however a series of storms and sahuagin attacks
decimates the fleet. This begins the “War of Summer
Storms” with the sahuagin of Aleaxtis.
1358 DR Year of Shadows. Lord Ao casts the Faerûnian
gods out from the planes to live as mortal incarnations
upon Toril, beginning the Time of Troubles. Later, he
dissolves the planar barrier allowing the Mulhorandi
gods to reunite with their divine essences in the outer
planes. Horustep III becomes the first mortal ruler of
Mulhorand as Horus-Re leaves his incarnated form.
1363 DR Year of the Wyvern. Ususi Manalin escapes from
Deep Imaskar, cracking open the city’s Great Seal.
1369 DR Year of the Gauntlet. The island known as the
Ship of the Gods explodes in a volcanic eruption,
causing a tidal wave that devastates the Alaor,
Vahaxtyl and Bezantur. Horustep uses the opportunity
to briefly capture the Alaor island chain.
1371 DR Year of the Unstrung Harp. Gilgeam is slain by
Tiamat during the Godswar. Horustep declares the
Treaty of the Gods invalid and invades Unther with an
army of Anhurite war priests and mercenaries. Thus
begins the Third Empire of Mulhorand.
1373 DR Year of Rogue Dragons. In just two years Unther
is mostly conquered, though Messemprar still stands,
and Gilgeam is reanimated to aid its defense.
1374 DR Year of Lightning Storms. Ususi Manalin finds
the lost Palace of the Purple Emperor in the Raurin
and enters the Celestial Nadir, defeating Pandorym.
1379 DR Year of the Lost Keep. Messemprar finally falls,
completing Horustep’s conquest of Unther.
1385 DR Year of Blue Fire. Cyric murders Mystra in the
heavens, shattering the Weave and unleashing the
Spellplague upon Toril. Mulhorand and Unther are
torn asunder and scoured by the magical
conflagration. Many citizens, including the pharaoh,
are transported to Abeir as the two worlds overlap.
1398 DR Year of the Voyage. Ususi Manalin transports
the Palace of the Purple Emperor north of the Skuld
ruins. She is crowned empress of High Imaskar as
many of her kin flee Deep Imaskar to join her. The
palace is renamed Skyclave, capital of the new empire.
1479 DR Year of the Dark Circle. The blue dragon
Gestaniius attacks High Imaskar with an army of
dragonspawn, but is defeated with the aid of the
dragonborn of Tymanther. Nezram, the World-Walker
returns to Mulhorand.
1484 DR Year of the Awakened Sleepers. Lord Ao
recreates the Tablets of Fate, beginning the Second
Sundering and unravelling Abeir and Toril. Many of
the Mulani people who had vanished during the
Spellplague return to Faerûn from Abeir through
planar tears. The Mulhorandi gods also awaken from
their catatonic state.
1485 DR Year of the Iron Dwarf’s Vengeance. Horuskhet
becomes demigod Chosen of Horus-Re and leads a
rebellion against High Imaskar.
1487 DR Year of the Rune Lords Triumphant. Empress
Ususi passes away without an heir. High Imaskar is
utterly defeated in battle outside the ruins of Skuld.
Surviving Imaskari flee, abandoning Skyclave.
Horuskhet I is anointed pharaoh of Mulhorand reborn.
1488 DR Year of Dwarvenkind Reborn. Skyclave is
commandeered as the new capital of Mulhorand.
Other cities and settlements across the nation are
resettled, though Skuld remains uninhabitable.
1495 DR Year of the Tyrant’s Pawn (Current year). Some
normality has returned though Mulhorand’s scars will
never heal. The dawn of a new age beckons.
 CHAPTER 2
PEOPLE OF MULHORAND
he people of modern day Mulhorand are strong,
T tempered by generations of turmoil and strife.
This ancient nation has risen and fallen from
eminence time and again through history, its
past littered with glorious triumphs and catastrophic
decline; yet the Mulhorandi refuse to fade into the
annals of history as so many have before.
Scoured by the Spellplague, the once rich and fertile
landscape of Mulhorand is now little more than a desert
wasteland, stripped of life but for the narrow patches
along the rivers and coastlines, as well as the few oases
hidden amongst the shifting sands. Despite this, the
Mulhorandi survivors have begun to rebuild the nation
after the cataclysm. For those of Mulan descent, the
desert life is in their blood, dating back more than three
thousand years to when their distant ancestors ruled the
land of Kemet.
This chapter looks at the people and culture of
Mulhorand, detailing what daily life looks like in this
mythical realm, as well as the different characters,
professions and personas that make up its population. It
also explores the many different factions that make up
the political and ecclesiastical landscape of Mulhorand,
such as the divine houses, temples and cults.
BRAVE NEW WORLD
The Mulhorandi are much changed from those who
inhabited it during the First, Second and Third Empires.
During these eras, Mulhorand was an extremely
xenophobic nation with a social hierarchy based on
Mulani ethnicity and divine house allegiance. Humans
not of Mulani descent were looked down upon and the
only non-humans that could be found across the land
were those shackled as slaves. Since the defeat of High
Imaskar, the gods and Pharaoh Horuskhet I have decreed
that slavery is now abolished, and Mulhorand would now
be open and free to all. There are some not happy with
this change, yet the will of the gods cannot be ignored,
and so, peoples of varied races have begun to resettle the
land, many of whom are former slaves or descendants of
slaves themselves.
20
DIVINE RULE
Though Mulhorand is now a ‘free nation’, its social
hierarchy remains. As a theocracy, the divine houses and
priesthoods retain their influence, only surpassed by the
pharaoh himself. Members of each royal house can trace
their lineage back through a line of succession to the
mortal incarnations of their god from the old empires of
Mulhorand. Of these, House Helcaliant and the
priesthood of Horus-Re hold ultimate power, with the
current Pharaoh Horuskhet I being a demigod and direct
descendant of the Lord of Sun. Horuskhet rules from
Skyclave, the new capital of Mulhorand, and House
Helcaliant is responsible for governing across the nation.
These are the other royal houses:
• House Tholaunt of Thoth, God of Knowledge, which
regulates the use and teachings of arcane magic.
• House Ramathant of Anhur, God of War, which
maintains the defense of the realm, including the
military and city guard.
• House Osriant of Osiris, God of Death, which presides
over burials and protects the dead once entombed.
• House Gebthant of Geb, God of the Earth, which
oversees all industry and construction.
The goddesses do not maintain royal houses as such, but
their temples still observe a line of succession
descending from their god’s mortal incarnation. Like
Horuskhet, the head of each church or house is the
chosen ‘heir’ of their god and has been granted part of
each god’s power to become a demigod themselves.
• Church of Isis, Goddess of Agriculture, which oversees
food production across Mulhorand.
• Church of Nephthys, Goddess of Wealth, which
regulates Mulhorand’s economy and external trade.
• Church of Hathor, Goddess of Fertility, whose clergy
provides help to those that need it, especially the poor.
• Church of Bast, Goddess of Love, whose worshippers
bring pleasure and festivity to the people.
The outlawed evil gods, Set and Sebek, maintain their
own succession within cults, though any temples are
well-hidden, and their affairs kept secret.
GOVERNMENT
The process of government in Mulhorand has remained
much the same since before the Spellplague; House
Helcaliant is responsible for governing and has been for
most of its history. The Pharaoh Horuskhet I is the head
of the House and guided by the divine will of Horus-Re
himself. He presides and rules from his throne in
Skyclave, though many trivial matters are dealt with by
other members of the royal house. Below the pharaoh is
the vizier, the most powerful person in Mulhorand not
descended from a god. They are responsible for
governance of the nation when the pharaoh is otherwise
engaged and act as their most senior advisor. Like the
pharaoh, the vizier is always a member of House
Helcaliant and a senior member of the church, selected
for their service to Horus-Re. The current incumbent of
the role is Vizier Ozarim Helcaliant, a wizened high
priest who had maintained a temple of Horus-Re in
secret beneath the streets of Gheldaneth during the
reign of High Imaskar. He had been a major influence in
guiding Mulhorand’s second city in uprising against the
Imaskari and Horuskhet had rewarded him with the
position soon after. Stoic and loyal, he has proven a
resourceful leader over the past decade and holds the full
trust of the pharaoh. Despite this, there are some who
look upon his position with envy.
Below the vizier are the precepts; these are local
governors and can be found in every town and
settlement across Mulhorand. They are responsible for
managing day to day life across the nation, settling
minor disputes, regulating laws and administering
taxes. Unlike the vizier, precepts can be chosen from the
churches of other gods, though they are selected by the
vizier with the pharaoh’s blessing. There is also a council
of precepts in Skyclave, one from each church, who
support the vizier and pharaoh in overall rule. Each
precept will have the same structure of government;
however, the by-laws and implementation of rule can
vary between precepts.
JUSTICE
The judicial system in Mulhorand is loosely delegated by
the vizier and ruling council in Skyclave, but ultimately
left for each precept to manage locally. These regulate
the laws of their own principality, but the actual
administration of justice is carried out by House Osriant.
Priests of Osiris travel between the various cities and
settlements, acting as judge, jury, and where necessary,
executioner. This has been tradition in Mulhorand for
thousands of years, ensuring that each case is handled
with total impartiality. Punishments are severe, with
even minor infractions dealt with harshly. For capital
crimes, this usually manifests as an execution, designed
to be a deterrent to others in their sheer brutality.
Murderers, for example, will be entombed alive with
their victims, their screams muted by stone sarcophagi.
Even relatively small transgressions such as theft or
cursing a priest can be punished with exile; the
perpetrator stripped of all worldly possessions and
banished into the desert. The worst punishments,
however, are reserved for tomb raiders. For those who
would defile the sanctity of death, the sentence is
Simikhara, where they are partly mummified, though
kept alive. They are then entombed, but before being
buried alive, they are joined by a swarm of flesh-eating
scarab beetles. These will slowly eat them alive, in total
darkness, keeping the unfortunate felon alive for days.
21
RELIGION
Religion is everything to the people of Mulhorand. To
them, the gods are not some abstract concept to offer
prayers to in the hope of improving their fortune; they
are a tangible presence in their daily life. In millennia
past, the gods existed among their people as
incarnations, treading the sacred earth of Mulhorand as
living beings. Now returned to Heliopolis in the Outer
Planes, they instead select heirs to become their
presence in the mortal realm, each granted the power of
a demigod. The Mulhorandi view these demigods as an
extension of the gods and worship the very ground they
walk upon. And it is not just the gods and demigods who
are venerated, but their entire extended families. This
derives from ancient tradition that extends back to when
the gods first walked upon Faerûn, siring mortal
progenies to become their incarnations in the mortal
realms. These families became the Royal Houses of
Helcaliant, Tholaunt, Ramathant, Osriant and Gebthant;
the Churches of Isis, Nephthys, Hathor and Bast; as well
as the forbidden Cults of Set and Sebek. Each bloodline is
devoted to their respective god and form their clergy and
priesthood. Mulhorandi priests all share the essence of
their patron deity and are sacred themselves; an attack
on a priest is an attack on their god and punishable by
death. Even beyond theocratic rule, priests are treated
with the utmost respect; ordinary people bow their head
as they pass and will go out of their way to help, even if
from a different church than their own. Indeed, the gods
place their trust in the priesthood of their church to rule
Mulhorand in their stead, only intervening in affairs in
the mortal realm when absolutely necessary, preferring
to offer guidance from afar.
For the general population, they may choose any of
the gods (outside of Set and Sebek whose churches are
forbidden) to worship at any one time, as long as they do
worship. Often, an individual will focus their devotion
towards a single church; for example, they might openly
worship Nephthys whilst maintaining reverence towards
the other gods. Each person’s faith will also be heavily
influenced by the life they lead; craftsmen will worship
Geb, farmers pray to Isis, warriors venerate Anhur and
so on. Prayers are mandatory, occurring at four times
each day; upon waking, midday, before supper and
before going to bed. The first-day of each tenday (Day of
the Sun) is commanded as a holy day for all Mulhorandi.
Non-essential businesses and shops close for the entire
day, and all are required to attend sermons at the many
temples across the land.
THE AFTERLIFE
The Mulhorandi all share one common belief; death is
not the end. They all live their life to the guiding
principle that when they die, they shall ascend to join
their gods in Heliopolis for all eternity. This belief in the
afterlife permeates all aspects of life and culture, for to
be granted entrance into Heliopolis, each person must
live their life in accordance with the tenets of their god.
This has also caused the Mulhorandi to become
somewhat obsessed with death. It is no ending to these
people, but a celebration of a journey into paradise. Great
expense goes into constructing vast tombs and burial
monuments; especially for those of importance; often
long before they die. Much of daily life in Mulhorand is
spent preparing for this transcendence and the land is
covered with great pyramids and monuments, each full
of treasure to be taken on into the afterlife.
CULTURE & TRADITIONS
Mulhorand has changed significantly since the height of
the third empire and society has changed with it. A once
intolerant and ethnocentric people are now mostly
welcoming and embracing of outsiders of different races
and backgrounds. Those who were once slaves, or the
descendants of slaves, have become valued citizens and
members of the community, bringing their own heritage
and customs into a melting pot of cultural identity.
Despite these changes, much of Mulhorand’s culture has
survived, largely due to its theocratic establishment. As a
nation it has advanced greatly in its abhorrence of
slavery and tolerance to race, but there is no such
advancement in creed. Worship of gods outside the
Mulhorandi pantheon, along with worship of Set and
Sebek, is forbidden. Not only that but those who are part
of the Mulhorandi people are expected to adhere to the
customs and traditions of the gods and join in their
worship, those who refuse are banished.
ART
Art plays a huge role in Mulhorandi society, from basic
carved hieroglyphics on a wall, to magnificent scriptures
and sculpture adorning the tombs of god-kings; art is
everywhere. The people use it as an expression of
worship, depicting the glory of the gods all throughout
the history of the first, second and third empires, and
even to ancient history before the coming of Mulhorand
when the pharaohs ruled the land of Kemet.
Mulhorandi art is usually carved into or sculpted from
the soft sandstone that is common across the land. Inks
and dyes made from flowers and berries are then dried
onto the stone to add color. Carvings are flat and two-
dimensional, often covering entire sections of stone
such as the interior of buildings. Each piece seeks to tell
a story, depicting the gods and pharaohs as incredible
beings that have saved Mulhorand time and again.
Sculpture is equally as grandiose, with huge statues
(usually depicting the gods or pharaohs) a common sight
in the cities and mausoleums. The best artists and
sculptors are revered as celebrities and often hired by the
churches and nobility for exorbitant sums.
22
EDUCATION
Education is freely available in Mulhorand, harking back
to the days of the old empires when attendance was
mandatory for all citizens. Though it is no longer
mandated most of the population will go through at least
basic education, though the level will vary wildly and
often depends on the individual; a politician in House
Helcaliant will receive a better education than a
prospector in House Gebthant for example. Aacademic
institutions are all run by House Tholaunt, including all
libraries, universities and arcane academies across
Mulhorand. Noble houses and other churches will donate
significant sums of money to support these institutions
and receive the gifts of the God of Knowledge.
The most closely guarded and heavily controlled
academic institutes are those dealing with the arcane.
Thoth has always sought to advance the cause of magic
and science within Mulhorand, expanding knowledge
and understanding of the strange world of Toril the gods
and their people found themselves thrust into. There is
great power available for those who can harness it,
however with this power comes great temptation. Twice
through Mulhorand’s long history those who have
studied the arcane have become corrupted by it, their
desire for knowledge twisting into a thirst for power.
Both events nearly resulted in the annihilation of
Mulhorand and altered the nation beyond recognition.
It falls to House Tholaunt to closely regulate
knowledge of the arcane and those who study it,
ensuring that no more renegade wizards can threaten
the realm. All arcane knowledge, as well as teachings on
the subject, are restricted to the Arcanum of Magic in
Gheldaneth. Students are thoroughly vetted and may
only practice in the Arcanum confines. Open displays of
arcane magic are forbidden in Mulhorand, and clerics of
Thoth enforce this law vigorously.
The only exception to this are the Nezramites, who
live on the borders of Mulhorand east of the
Dragonsword Mountains and are given special
permission by the pharaoh to practice the arcane arts in
their own academy, set up by Nezram himself. House
Tholaunt is highly displeased by this arrangement but
cannot go against the will of the pharaoh.
ENTERTAINMENT
Despite its strict theocratic nature, Mulhorand has
always valued the notion of bringing entertainment and
enjoyment to its people. The pharaohs, viziers and
precepts have always understood that without respite
and distraction from their daily toil, order would be lost.
The settlements and cities of the land contain a variety
of establishments to this end, including taverns, banquet
halls, stadiums, markets and gladiatorial arenas. After a
long day of work, streets are packed with those looking
to unwind and revelry is a common sight.
Taverns and inns offer a wide selection of exotic
drinks, nearly always produced locally such as the
famous Shedeh wine. Prices for drink, food and lodging is
generally very reasonable, though if the bartender
suspects that a patron is an outsider and not
Mulhorandi, they will often raise the prices well above
what locals are charged. Players attempting to fit in with
the locals to avoid higher prices must succeed on a DC 15
Deception check to delude the bartender or innkeeper.
S AMPLE MENU (LOCAL /O UTSIDER P RICE ):
Shedeh (Red Wine): cup 3 cp/1 sp.
Shedeh (Red Wine): jug 1 sp/ 3 sp.
Heqet (Beer): cup 1 cp/5 cp.
Heqet (Beer): jug 5 cp/2 sp.
Mead: cup 2 cp/7 cp.
Mead: jug 5 cp/ 2 sp 5 cp.
Fine Wine: glass 2 gp/5 gp.
Fine Wine: bottle 8 gp/20 gp.
Meal (Basic): 5 cp/2 sp.
Meal (Decent): 1 sp/3 sp.
Meal (Extravagant): 1 gp/4 gp.
Lodging prices will vary significantly, alongside the
quality, from inn to inn, though the following offers a
guide to what prices may be expected per night.
S AMPLE LODGING (LOCAL /OUTSIDER P RICE ):
Poor quality: 1 sp/3 sp.
Decent quality: 5 sp/2 gp.
High quality: 2 gp/5 gp.
Extravagant quality: 4 gp/10 gp.
FOOD & DRINK
The average diet in Mulhorand is now heavily restricted
by difficulties in food production; no grazing land means
most meat must be imported and is only afforded by the
wealthy. Despite this, its people make good use of what
is available, forming a surprisingly healthy diet. The
most common crops are barley and millet, making bread
the keystone of most recipes, and the scent of baking is
constant in every settlement. Popular grown vegetables
include onions, lentils, leeks and radishes; garlic is also
used as a seasoning in virtually every meal. Fruits such
as dates, figs, pomegranates, melons and grapes are
readily available and also used to make a variety of
alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Of these, the
most common drinks in Mulhorand are Shedeh, a
crimson wine that is said to be formed from Hathor’s
own blood, as well as Heqet, a very sweet, thick beer that
is highly nutritious and often drunk more than water,
especially by the poorer classes. Squeezed fruit juices are
also popular, especially with children. For protein, the
dangers of the Alamber make the larger sea fish such as
bass, tuna and swordfish more expensive, so commoners
rely on the rivers to catch their own supper such as
catfish, eels and mullet.
The most famously served meal in Mulhorand is
ta’amia, a falafel of sorts made from fava beans fried
with onion, garlic and cumin. It is usually served with
green vegetables and a spiced sauce. Fava beans are also
popular at breakfast time, with medames mixing beans
in a stew with garlic, onion and lemon juice. For bread
dishes, there is kaak, dough rolled into a spiral and
seasoned with sugar or spice, or aish’baladi, a type of
flatbread that can be served with vegetables or fish, or
even alongside a lentil soup. For the noble classes who
can afford it, meat dishes such as fattah, minced beef and
garlic-tomato sauce, or baladi, chicken or mince baked
into a pita bread almost like a pie. For deserts, ma’moul
is a shortbread treat, filled with fruit and nuts in a
sugary paste. They can be eaten hot or cold and are very
popular with children. Sweets are also common, made
with tiger nuts or dates, then glazed with honey. Food is
generally served on pottery dishes, then eaten by hand.

CONTESTS & TOURNAMENTS

Sporting and gladiatorial events are a common spectacle
in Mulhorand, with stadiums and arenas a common
sight. Great games are often held in the major cities,
either to commemorate an event in history or during the
many festivals that occur throughout the year. Physical
prowess is highly regarded amongst the Mulhorandi,
and those who do well in the games are highly regarded.
House Ramathant of Anhur oversees the games and
coordinate the construction of stadiums and arenas, as
well as training athletes and gladiators. It also derives
much of its income from the inevitable gambling that
comes with such spectacle.
Athletics are very popular, with running, wrestling,
charioteering and javelin throwing the most popular
sports, and all are taken very seriously. Mulhorand holds
a friendly rivalry with Chessenta, and teams of athletes
travel between both nations to compete in tournaments.
The nation’s arenas used to be populated with slaves,
however, events are now held only with professional
gladiators. Blood sport is still extremely popular and
those who survive and do well can find their fortune
upon the bloodstained sands of the arena. The greatest
gladiators are revered as heroes across the land.

23
FESTIVALS
Festivals are incredibly important to the Mulhorandi,
and their calendar is structured around huge events that
fill the land with exultation. All the people of the land
cease their daily life to come together and celebrate.
They are usually religious occasions as well, dedicated to
single or multiple gods at once. These are an opportunity
for the people not just to enjoy themselves and unwind
in the festive revelry, but to give thanks and praise to the
gods. Many of these events are organized by the church
they relate to, though the Church of Bast is usually
commissioned to arrange the entertainment and
logistics. This section goes over the most well-known
festivals and the dates they occur:
DEEP REST
Deep Rest occurs during Midwinter on Hammer 15.
Although winter in the sun-blasted land of Mulhorand is
something of a foreign concept, the Church of Osiris
leads this somber festival to commemorate and
remember the dead. Pilgrimages are made to Mishtan
and the Land of the Dead to pay respects to those who
have passed on into the afterlife. Priests and paladins of
Osiris also use this festival as a time to resanctify and
bolster the protections and wards on tombs and
mausoleums across Mulhorand.
TIME OF STORMS
Running the entirety of the month of Tarsakh, the Time
of Storms festival is held by House Ramathant in
celebration of Anhur. As raging storms bring the annual
rains, flooding the four rivers of Mulhorand, a grand
tournament fills the nation’s arenas. Mulhorandi
warriors seek to gain the favor of the Falcon of War,
competing for glory and the chance to become Champion
of Anhur. As lightning tears across the sky and great dust
storms roll in from the desert, the people use the games
as a distraction, with gambling a huge source of income
for House Ramathant’s coffers.
GREENGRASS
Running from Tarsakh 30 to Mirtul 1, the Greengrass
festival is one of the largest and most important in the
Mulhorandi calendar. As the Tarsakh floods begin to
recede, it marks a period of growth and rebirth across
the land. The tournament of the Time of Storms
concludes with the Sharpening of the Sword, where the
tournament winner is declared Champion of Anhur for
the coming year. After this. Attention turns to the fields
where the Church of Isis begins their ceremonial
planting, preparing the crop for the year ahead. The
people come together to join in the ceremony, even
those who do not normally work in the fields will help
with the sowing of seeds. Children dance in the
floodwaters as festhall marquees are erected in the rural
parts of the nation. This festival has become especially
important following the Spellplague; since much of
Mulhorand is now a desert, only the floodplains around
the rivers are suitable and fertile for growth.
THE UNWRAPPING
A small festival run by House Gebthant on the first day of
Mirtul following Greengrass, the Unwrapping celebrates
the many bounties offered by the earth, giving praise to
Geb to bless the mining expeditions planned for the year
ahead. It also gives praise to nature for uncovering new
deposits that may be found by prospectors to bring great
wealth to Mulhorand.
24
THE BIRTHING
On the first full moon after Greengrass, the Church of
Hathor begins a fertility festival, celebrating new life and
renewal of nature. Expectant mothers gather and receive
blessings from Hathor, ensuring the health of their
unborn babies. Priests of the Nurturing Mother also take
this time to gather charity from the wealthy, then travel
to the poorer communities to deliver alms.
THE CEREMONY OF INTROSPECTION
During the summer equinox on Kythorn 20, House
Tholaunt begins a twenty-four-hour fasting period to
symbolize their dedication to the teachings of Thoth. Not
a typical festival, it is more a celebration of learning,
where all the students and academics of Mulhorand
come together to meditate and reflect on knowledge
gained. Priests of Thoth ritually bathe themselves in ice
water, focusing the purity of their understanding. For
this day only, the academies, schools and universities
allow non-students entry to join in worship of Thoth.
MIDSUMMER
From Flamerule 30 to Eleasis 1, Midsummer is a huge
event in the Mulhorandi calendar. It is a festival of great
celebration, where the entire nation comes together in
passionate revelry. Horus-Re, the Lord of the Sun,
celebrates this day as the triumph of light over dark, and
all government establishments shut down for the
duration of the festival, declaring a public holiday for all.
On Midsummer’s eve, the Church of Hathor begin their
Celebration of the Moon, leading a ritualistic dance that
observes the end of the long day and the rise of the moon
to illuminate the darkness of night. Perhaps the most
involved church during the proceedings of Midsummer
is that of Bast, whose worshippers instill a notion of
romantic hedonism in the festivities, encouraging a
pursuit of pleasure throughout the night. Midsummer is
often where new lovers meet and affairs blossom into
betrothals. Many marriages occur during this two-day
period, making the Midsummer festival a celebration of
love as well as the gods.
HIGHHARVESTIDE
At the end of summer, from Eleint 30 to Marpenoth 1,
the main harvest begins in Mulhorand. The people feast
together to celebrate the bounty of the earth and the air
is filled with the scents of cooking and the sounds of
merriment. The Church of Isis leads the festivities, and
all are invited to join in the harvest, filling the grain
stores and larders ready for the drier season ahead.
House Osriant also celebrates a more metaphorical
version of the harvest, where priests of Osiris lead
somber processions across the land in a ritualized
procession of the souls of the dead transcending into
Heliopolis. House Ramathant also use this as a time of
remembrance for all those who have died in service to
Mulhorand and Anhur, honoring their fallen comrades.
FEAST OF THE SILVER COIN
Known as the Feast of the Moon elsewhere in Faerûn, the
Church of Nephthys leads this final festival of the year
from Uktar 30 to Nightal 1. All come together to give
thanks to Nephthys and the other gods, for what they
have and what they shall come to receive. It is a time of
giving gifts and for families to come together in grateful
reverence for the lives they have. This festival has great
importance to the Mulhorandi, for they know better than
most what it is to lose everything.
LANGUAGE
The Mulhorandi tongue has been evolving for over three
thousand years, since it was derived from the Mulani
slaves brought to Faerûn by the Imaskar Empire.
Originally known as the Rauric language, it has evolved
between Mulhorand and Unther to resemble two very
different tongues. Mulhorandi is an inflected language
with a variety of verb tenses and cases, allowing the
speaker to construct sentences with alternating
structure. It is slowly spoken and very descriptive, owing
to the religious and ceremonial influence. Most people in
Mulhorand use common for every day conversations,
with the Mulhorandi togue reserved for formal occasions
such as temple sermons. The written form is highly
complex and based on a vast array of hieroglyphs that
imply meaning through a visual display. A simple story
can easily cover an entire building interior, and scribes
and stone carvers will work tirelessly to bring such
works of art to life in temples, tombs and wealthier
homes across the nation. The basic written vocabulary
contains around three thousand hieroglyphs, though the
scribes of House Tholaunt will know many times that
number. For more mundane writing tasks, the celestial
alphabet is used to allow quick notation and translation
from Mulhorandi. Both Thay and the Cult of Set instead
use the infernal alphabet as an insult to Mulhorand.

FASHION
Mulhorandi dress fashion differs greatly between the
classes, with the rarer materials such as silk reserved for
wealthier nobility. Royalty and those of high station
within the churches wear the khat, an elaborate
headdress, as a symbol of their station. Commoners,
both men and women, mainly wear long flax linen robes
that protect them from the sun, though laborers and
other manual workers can often be seen wearing little
more than a loincloth called a shenti. Colors are usually
kept to plain white, though those who can afford dyes
may wear colors associated with their god, such as blue
for Thoth, purple for Nephthys or pink/red for Bast.
Most people shave their heads due to the presence of
lice, though ceremonial wigs are sometimes be worn,
especially by priests. Virtually everyone, regardless of
class, will wear a hat or headdress, as the sun in
Mulhorand is a lethal presence to those left exposed.
ARCHITECTURE
To the Mulhorandi, architecture is fundamental to every
aspect of their culture. From the huge sandstone temples
and government buildings that dominate city skylines,
to the magnificent pyramids marking the tombs of
ancient kings, evidence of their incredible craftmanship
can be seen across the nation. Without doubt the most
impressive of these is the Face of the Gods; the tomb of
Horuseres I. Carved into an entire mountain face in the
Dragonswords, it shows the face of the beloved pharaoh.
There is an unusual juxtaposition between old and
new, with much of the extraordinary purple-stone
edifice of High Imaskar now repurposed. Nowhere is this
more evident than the new capital, Skyclave; a colossal
tower-citadel that houses an entire city within its walls.
The Imaskari interdimensional magic also expands
space inside their structures to be many times larger.
For new projects, the Church of Geb oversees the
construction guilds. Historically, great armies of slaves
would have been forced to build the great monuments of
Mulhorand, this is now performed by paid laborers.
TECHNOLOGY
Driven by House Tholaunt, Mulhorandi inventors and
artificers always seek to improve ways of doing things,
whether that is upgrading national infrastructure, new
tooling for industry or even building new armaments for
the military. Mulhorand of old was one of the most
advanced empires in the early age of Toril, though other
nations have now emerged, such as Lantan, who are
much further advanced. Technology has become a
matter of some contention in Mulhorand, with a divide
between traditionalists who are untrusting of invention,
especially arcane, and those who embrace it. Since the
rebellion of the Red Wizards and subsequent separation
of Thay, anything related to the arcane must be put
through rigorous examination before it can be approved
for use. The Church of Thoth regulates this, but other
houses such as Helcaliant add enormous bureaucracy to
the process. Much of the artifice left behind by High
Imaskar is still going through this lengthy assessment,
frustrating those who see the immeasurable benefits
such technology could bring.
Despite this, advancements are being made all the
time. Previously reliant on nightsoil wagons, functional
sewer systems have now been implemented in the major
cities. Paved roads link all settlements together along
the rivers and coast to keep away from the shifting sands
of the desert. Horse-drawn ploughs now harvest the
fields where once hundreds would have to toil with the
scythe. House Ramathant’s navy combats sahuagin raids
with powerful prow-mounted ballistae on their byblos
warships. Even in the average home or street, oil lamps
are used for lighting rather than torches which
previously posed a considerable fire risk.
More recently, a group of devour Thoth-worshippers
known as the Technologists have begun to further their
research into primitive steam pressure engines. These
were originally outlawed during the third empire by
Horustep III, though so far Horuskhet has allowed
further investigation into what benefits such a powerful
invention could bring to Mulhorand.

25
REBUILDING A NATION
Over the last decade, the Mulhorandi have begun to
adapt to a new world, reclaiming their home from the
devastation of the Spellplague and the subjugation of
High Imaskar. Forced to settle along the rivers and
coastline, away from the lifeless desert that the
Spellplague left inland, the population numbers a
fraction of what it was during the height of the Third
Empire. The Mulhorandi are no stranger to tragedy,
however, and adapt they have.
With slavery outlawed, the rebuilding process has
fallen to the regular citizens, with both those who have
returned to Mulhorand and those who have chosen to
make a new life there having to pitch in and work
together. Under the supervision of House Gebthant,
materials are ferried from the mines, as well as salvaged
from Skuld and other ruins, to rebuild settlements,
homes and businesses. Many High Imaskar structures
have also been repurposed, not just the tower-citadel of
Skyclave, but the villas and estates of Imaskari nobility
across Mulhorand as well. The strange, purple-hued
edifice of Imaskari architecture can be found alongside
the traditional sandstone construction of Mulhorandi
architecture. Other infrastructure needed rebuilding as
well; much of the road network that once linked the
various towns and settlements together, along with
trade routes into other nations, has been swallowed by
the desert. Travelling inland is incredibly dangerous,
with shifting sand dunes, desert predators and residual
Spellplague storms an ever-present danger. Camel trains
do make the passage, but use desert trails, navigating by
sun and stars. A new road network has recently been
completed by order of House Gebthant, creating links
between Mulhorand’s settlements and cities by
following the rivers and coastlines. Most land travel now
follows these roads or the waterways themselves,
keeping away from the perils of the desert.
FOOD PRODUCTION
Agriculture has also presented a significant challenge;
with much of the land now a barren wasteland. Where
once there was a bountiful harvest each year, feeding the
nation has now become something of a quandary.
Farmland has been established wherever it can, making
use of the fertile soil in the flood plains either side of the
four main rivers. Farms are arranged back-to-back,
every inch of soil made use of, and channels dug from
the river for natural irrigation. There is little space for
grazing livestock, so most farms concentrate on
producing cereal crops, with meat and dairy foods now
an imported delicacy for the rich. The growing of sugar
and grapes is still commonplace to ensure production of
perhaps the most important sustenance for motivating a
nation to rebuild; beer (heqet) and wine (shedeh).
It quickly became apparent to the priestesses of Isis
that farming alone would no longer be able to support
the burgeoning population. More of the burden began to
fall on the fishing towns such as Sampranasz and
Delgora, though this too was not without difficulty. The
new sahuagin empire of Kurrimal, building on the ruins
of Aleaxtis, had survived the Spellplague era and begun a
new regime of violence in the waters and coastlines of
the Alamber. King T’Kalah, the Black Clawed One,
believes himself an avatar of Sekolah and has increased
attacks all the way along Mulhorand’s coast, forcing
House Ramathant to maintain regular naval patrols into
the Alamber Sea fishing waters.
26
FOREIGN RELATIONS & TRADE
With dwindling options for Mulhorand to feed itself, it
has been forced to look abroad. The Church of Nephthys
has already begun negotiating trade agreements with
neighboring countries. Chessenta, who accepted most of
Mulhorand’s refugees after the Spellplague, has
maintained good relations, though its division into city
states has left some complexity to negotiations. Despite
Mulhorand’s invasion of Unther in 1371 DR, there has
been good progress in talks with Gilgeam; his war with
Tymanther (who now share Mulhorand’s southwestern
border) a suitable distraction from past transgressions.
Elsewhere, the Dragon Princes of Murghôm to the
Northeast have been open to trade discussion, though
the greed of dragons can seldom be trusted.
Relations with Thay in the north remain
unsurprisingly antagonistic. An uneasy peace has
remained since High Imaskar was deposed, though with
the Zulkir Council embracing the perverse magic of
lichdom and the dread ruler Szass Tam seeking to
expand his borders in all directions, it is unlikely this
will last. Mulhorandi eyes also still enviously gaze north
towards their former lands of the Priador Coast and
beyond, though the forces of Horuskhet are still far too
weak to attempt any invasion. Somewhat thankfully for
Mulhorand, Thay has been preoccupied with other
nations such as Aglarond and Rashemen, as well as civil
war with the renegade Zulkirs of the Alaor and Wizard’s
Reach to attempt any southward invasions. These
conflicts have mostly subsided, however, so the old war
may begin to flare up. The priests of Nephthys have at
least been able to take advantage of Thay’s many
enemies, arranging trade routes through the Alamber to
the breakaway nations of the Alaor and Wizard’s reach
and onwards to Aglarond and the northern continent.
The presence of the sahuagin of Kurrimal makes this
journey incredibly dangerous, forcing merchants to
travel in large armored convoys for protection.
IMPORTS & EXPORTS
Prior to the Spellplague, Mulhorand was a veritable
paradise, with vast plains of fertile farmland and access
to abundant resources of every kind. It exported a variety
of goods across Faerûn, filling the coffers of the Vault of
Golden Commerce. It was also entirely self-sufficient,
not needing to import any natural resources. Now, after
Mulhorand’s lush landscape has been reduced to a
desert, it has become much more reliant on other
nations to import essential items like livestock, wood,
paper, wool and even drinking water to support its
regrowth. Travel has also become much more perilous
since the Spellplague, even with the construction of a
new road network along the comparatively safer rivers
and coastlines. This has led to huge increases in
merchant costs for caravans, especially those which
attempt to travel across the Alamber by boat.
Thankfully, Mulhorand has not been left without
anything to offer in return. The Spellplague tore across
the land, opening great canyons and ravines like wounds
in the earth. However, in doing so it exposed massive ore
and mineral repositories. House Gebthant has spent the
last decade setting up vast mining camps across the
Dragonsword and Giant’s Belt mountains, as well as
braving the deserts either side, to bring all manner of
riches to the pharaoh’s table. Iron ore, gold and all
manner of precious gems now flow from Mulhorand,
making trade negotiations much more lucrative.
CHURCHES OF MULHORAND
This section will explore each of the churches of
Mulhorand, detailing each including their domains,
responsibilities, major temples and dogmas. Each
church is wildly different in the way it is run, how
worship is conducted and the types of people who make
up both the clergy and congregation. The Mulhorandi
pantheon is unique in Faerûn as the gods, church and
people live in constant union; religion is as much a part
of daily life as families gathering for mealtimes. Beyond
worship, the churches are each responsible for different
aspects of life, and priests often serve other roles
alongside their religious duties. To note: the portfolios
of some gods have changed since before the Spellplague.
HOUSE HELCALIANT
Head of the Church: Pharaoh Horuskhet I.
Symbol: Crowned hawk’s head within a solar circle.
Portfolio: The sun, vengeance, rulership and kings.
Alignment: Lawful Good.
Cleric Domains: Light, Desert, Order.
Worshippers: Administrators, nobles, politicians.
The Church of Horus-Re is known as the Royal House
Helcaliant. It has been responsible for the rule of
Mulhorand since the Orcgate War in -1071 DR when Re
was slain by Gruumsh and bestowed all power to his son
Horus. Up until the Spellplague, House Helcaliant had
maintained its theocratic rule for over two thousand
years, and now High Imaskar has been deposed, their
sovereignty has been restored. The head of the house is
Pharaoh Horuskhet I, who is a direct heir of Horus-Re
and ruler of Mulhorand. Gifted the power of a demigod,
Horuskhet sits upon the throne in Skyclave. Second to
the pharaoh is the vizier, currently Ozarim Helcaliant.
Priests of Horus-Re often serve as governors or precepts
alongside their religious duties. The church follows
Horus-Re’s defined principles of maat, which they
believe is a code of justice, honor, order and
righteousness that all things must conform to.
Though the Solarium of Skuld, the main temple of
Horus-Re, was ruined along with Skuld itself during the
Spellplague, great effort has gone into rebuilding the
Solarium within Skyclave. An entire level of the colossal
tower-city has been dedicated to the Lord of Sun,
containing the pharaoh’s throne room and residence,
government chambers and a vast temple. Elsewhere in
Mulhorand, temples of Horus-Re often serve as
government buildings alongside their religious purpose.
Clerics pray for their spells at midday when the sun is
at its zenith. They usually wear and equip themselves
with the most practical clothing and gear; preferring
light armor to keep cool with a headdress in the shape of
a hawk. They wield Horus-Re’s favored weapon, a
Khopesh with a handle fashioned as an ankh.
27
DOGMA OF HORUS-RE
Goodness, honor, and order are the natural state, and
that which leads to evil, treachery, and chaos is by rights
unnatural and the enemy. Lead Mulhorand by example,
and let your deeds speak your intentions. Goodness and
harmony come from living within maat rather than
fighting it. Laws exist to bring prosperity to those under
them. The pharaoh and the church rule with Horus-Re’s
guidance and set laws as guidelines for honorable action
within Mulhorand's tradition. Make no hasty changes or
decisions, as their consequences are always suspect and
may undermine the steadfast rule of eternity. Protect the
weak and avenge all wrongs. Smite traitors with
righteous vengeance.
HOUSE THOLAUNT
Head of the Church: Ramenthoth II.
Symbol: Ankh resting above an Ibis bird.
Portfolio: Knowledge, scribes, invention and the arcane.
Alignment: Neutral.
Cleric Domains: Arcana, Knowledge, Order.
Worshippers: Scribes, wizards, loremasters.
The Church of Thoth is known as House Tholaunt. It is
founded on the principle of advancing knowledge and
wisdom to achieve divine enlightenment. Thoth
originally founded Gheldaneth after Mulhorand had
been freed from the yoke of the Imaskar Empire in -2130
DR, constructing the Arcanum of Magic which has
survived the Spellplague and still stands today as its
main temple. Ramenthoth II rules the House from
Gheldaneth having been granted demigod status by
Thoth during the uprising against High Imaskar. The
rest of the church is organized in a strict hierarchy, with
senior positions obtained as a reward for advances such
as scientific breakthrough or new invention, rather than
via political meandering or birthright.
Most Mulhorandi wizards come from House Tholaunt,
or at least follow Thoth as a patron, and many Thothian
clerics also study as wizards to improve understanding
of the arcane. Temples of Thoth, such as the Arcanum,
are used not just as places of worship, but as centers of
learning. Indeed, of all the churches, House Tholaunt
puts the least emphasis on pageantry and ceremony,
believing it a waste of valuable time that could be spent
in research. The church vehemently opposes Thay and
regulates all arcane practice in Mulhorand fearing any
further influence of the renegade wizards.
Clerics of Thoth pray for their spells each dawn,
preparing themselves for a new day of learning and
discovery. They wear simple robes and little, if any,
armor, preferring to keep well away from the melee
during combat. The favored weapon of Thoth is a mage’s
quarterstaff, further emphasizing their inclination
towards spellcasting over close-quarters fighting.
DOGMA OF THOTH
Learn all you can and help to spread wisdom throughout
the world. Research and absorb knowledge, protect the
secrets of Thoth, and better understand the science of
arcana. Explore new inventions and more efficient ways
of living, advancing the limits of engineering,
architecture and magical construction. Protect
Mulhorand from the traitorous Red Wizards of Thay and
oppose their nihilism at every opportunity.
HOUSE RAMATHANT
Head of the Church: Bezanhur Ramathant.
Symbol: Hawk-headed falchion bound with a cord.
Portfolio: War, physical prowess, desert storms.
Alignment: Chaotic Good.
Cleric Domains: War, Tempest.
Worshippers: Soldiers, guards, gladiators, rangers.
The Church of Anhur is known as House Ramathant.
Those who follow the General of the Gods are students of
war and devote themselves to the defense and glory of
Mulhorand. All those who serve in the military follow
Anhur in some regard, for the God of War is who they
pray to for courage in battle. His is also worshipped by
many outside of the military, including athletes and
gladiators. Though slavery is abolished, blood sport and
other games that test physical prowess are still very
popular, and church often organizes many of its own
events in arenas across Mulhorand.
The center of House Ramathant is the Blood Fortress
in Sultim, originally built by Anhur around -2130 DR
during the founding of Mulhorand. The city has survived
the Orcgate war, multiple Thayan invasions and the
Spellplague, standing like a pillar of defiance against
Mulhorand’s enemies. The Blood Fortress has long been
the military center of the nation, acting as its
headquarters, training grounds and first line of defense
against invasion from the north. Elsewhere, temples of
Anhur serve as fortified garrisons, their menacing
structures towering over the settlements they inhabit. If
the settlement comes under siege, then the temple can
be used to shelter civilians whilst repelling the assault.
House Ramathant also organizes and trains the
Medjan, the national guard and police force of
Mulhorand. The head of the church, Bezanhur III, acts as
overall commander of the Mulhorandi military and the
Medjan, alongside his religious duties.
Clerics of Anhur are usually trained to be warrior-
priests, preferring heavy armor and shields. They train
with a wide range of weapons, though the favored
weapon of Anhur is the falchion, known as the
‘Warhawk’. They pray for their spells at dawn, in
anticipation of battle or to be ready for the drill fields.
28
DOGMA OF ANHUR
Protect Mulhorand, for she is your mother. Show bravery
and valor in combat and guard your brothers and sisters
in arms. Protect the people of Mulhorand and the
property of the church of Anhur. Defend your home with
the fury of a lioness defending her cubs. Beware Set, for
his spies are everywhere and his actions turn brother
upon sister and parent upon child. Defend against the
fierce storms that sweep down from the north, for they
are the work of crimson magic. Carry the glory and
prosperity of Mulhorand forward into this new age.
HOUSE GEBTHANT
Head of the Church: Gebzalim.
Symbol: A mountain of earth and stone.
Portfolio: The earth, stone, crafting, building, mining.
Alignment: Neutral.
Cleric Domains: Forge, Nature, Desert.
Worshippers: Miners, smiths, craftsmen, builders.
The Church of Geb is known as House Gebthant. It has
long been responsible for regulating mining and
industry in Mulhorand. Post-Spellplague, Geb has risen
to greater prominence than ever before, especially now
slaves are outlawed. Miners, builders and other
craftsmen are in constant demand, and those who serve
the God of the Earth are the ones who must build the
foundations for a Mulhorand reborn. It is also one of the
more welcoming to the nation’s new views on outsiders,
welcoming the expertise of dwarves and gnomes into the
church. With much of the land torn asunder, Geb’s
portfolio has grown to include the desert, with its vast
chasms and rocky crags now covering the landscape of
Mulhorand. Mining expeditions and stone collection
from ruins like Skuld are now extremely treacherous,
and prayers to the Father Under the Skies and Sands are
common before heading underground.
House Gebthant is loosely organized, with no central
place of worship, and temples are usually makeshift,
built into mine complexes or hidden away in the
industrial sectors of larger cities. Little is offered to
ornamentation, with temple construction often formed
from hewn rock of the earth. Priests of Geb typically
work in other professions alongside the clergy, leading
prayers before beginning their daily labors. The head of
the church, Gebzalim I, resides in the forges and mason
yards of lower-Skyclave, coordinating construction
projects and mining expeditions across Mulhorand.
Clerics of Geb are usually honed from a lifetime of
labor, clad in armor and wielding well-made weapons.
They pray for their spells at midnight, in a process
known as the Hidden Gift and Bountiful Joy; hiding a
precious gem or mineral, then dig it up come dawn.
DOGMA OF GEB
Know the earth. Explore its beauties and reveal its
hidden secrets but do so in such a way as to highlight
their fundamental mysteries, not merely to exploit their
monetary value. Protect those who work in the earth and
punish those who ravish it of its treasures without
regard. Become one with the earth, and you will know
Geb, who abides in it. He will lend you the strength of the
living rock to defend and protect Mulhorand.
HOUSE OSRIANT
Head of the Church: Osirius II.
Symbol: White crown over a crook and flail.
Portfolio: Death, afterlife, tombs, judgement, justice.
Alignment: Lawful Good.
Cleric Domains: Grave, Order, Death.
Worshippers: Judges, executioners, embalmers,
undertakers.
The Church of Osiris is known as House Osriant. It has
the dual responsibilities of interring and protecting the
dead, as well as judging the deeds of those still living.
The God of the Dead demands adherence to the basic
principles of order and goodness in order to win
admission into the Offering Fields of Heliopolis. His
priests either serve as guides of this transition into the
afterlife; leading funeral rites, embalming the dead or
guarding the tombs that cover Mulhorand’s landscape.
Alternatively, they act as judges of the living, travelling
across the nation to bring justice to wrongdoers.
House Osriant is centered in the ancient city of
Mishtan, founded by Osiris in -2130 DR. It stands as the
gateway to the Land of the Dead, a vast necropolis that
contains the pyramid-tombs and burial sites of
Mulhorand’s honored dead, including many of the
pharaohs and divine incarnations of the ancient gods.
Paladins of Osiris guard this realm with unending
vigilance, ensuring the departed can rest undisturbed,
their many treasures kept safe from the hands of thieves
and tomb raiders. The current head of the church,
Osirius II, coordinates the clergy from the Gateway to
the Afterworld; a huge temple in the center of Mishtan
formed of darkened granite and formed in two
concentric rings of towering pillars. Elsewhere, temples
of Osiris are usually looming and menacing structures,
such as the Crypt of Shadows in Jalhoran, serving to
remind the populace of the judgement that awaits them.
Clerics of Osiris are usually somber individuals,
dedicated to the purpose of their god. They dress in plain
white robes signifying the purity of death and shave
themselves from head to toe, covering their features
with headdresses and ornate masks. They pray for their
spells at dusk, reflecting and passing judgment on the
day’s pursuit of maat (see Horus-Re on page 27).
29
DOGMA OF OSIRIS
Goodness, honor and order and the natural state, and
that which leads to evil, treachery and chaos is in turn
unnatural and unlawful. You are the protectors of the
dead; those who have already transitioned to the
afterlife and the tombs that carry their mortal shell unto
Heliopolis. You are also the judge for those who wait
their turn for a place in paradise, for the judgement of
Osiris is law and great is his justice when it is even-
handed. Follow the principles of maat and be wary of
those who reject it, such as the followers of Set and
Sebek. Deliver the wrath of Osiris unto them.
CHURCH OF ISIS
Head of the Church: Ibisis I.
Symbol: Ankh on a lunar disk.
Portfolio: Weather, agriculture, love, peace.
Alignment: Neutral Good.
Cleric Domains: Peace, Life, Nature, Arcana.
Worshippers: Farmers, druids, fishermen.
The Church of Isis is responsible for overseeing
Mulhorand’s food production, feeding the nation as best
it can following the desolation of most of the interior
farmland. The only fertile ground that remains after the
Spellplague is the narrow stretches of land either side of
Mulhorand’s four rivers. The other main source of food
is the many fishing villages lining Mulhorand’s coast,
braving the increasingly treacherous waters of the
Alamber to bring food to the table. Prior to the
Spellplague, most of the church was made up of Mulani
women, many with ties to those descended from Isis.
Most of the farmers and fishermen at this time were
made up from Mulhorand’s large slave population. Now,
with slavery outlawed, the work falls to ordinary citizens
to feed the nation, and a more diverse congregation has
found its way to Isis and her nurturing embrace.
Ibisis I, head of the church, resides in the Mystic
Cornucopia; a luscious oasis-temple at the tributary of
the River of Spears. Here, the distribution of food across
Mulhorand is organized from the many storehouses and
silos. Priests and priestesses of Isis assist with the
tending of the farms and fisheries, using weather control
spells to enhance the crops for harvest. Many druids also
follow the Bountiful Lady and druidic circles can be
found tending the gardens and desert oases. Temples of
Isis are kept open to the elements and are typically
encompass beautiful gardens and exotic wildlife.
Clerics of Isis often study arcane magic as well as
divine and prefer to keep away from combat where
possible, preferring to heal and empower their allies.
They pray for their spells before the first meal each
dawn, in preparation for a new day sowing seeds of hope
across Mulhorand and beyond.
DOGMA OF ISIS
Cultivate love, affection and peace in the citizens of
Mulhorand. Sow the seeds of happiness, family and
peace wherever you go and provide wise counsel for
those in need. Use your magic to benefit the people of
Mulhorand and never to harm them. Feed those who
hunger, live as one with nature and rejoice in the coming
harvest. Mulhorand shall regrow from the dust, as the
crops grow in spring, and you shall be the hand to tend
its people, nurturing them into the glorious future.
CHURCH OF NEPHTHYS
Head of the Church: Amenephthyst II.
Symbol: Golden offering bowl below an Ankh.
Portfolio: Wealth, trade, economy, coin.
Alignment: Chaotic Good.
Cleric Domains: Trickery, Ambition (Amonkhet).
Worshippers: Merchants, banks, tax collectors, rogues.
The Church of Nephthys is responsible for the economy
of Mulhorand as is structured and run like a business
enterprise, encompassing financial institutions, markets
and merchant consortiums. Priests and priestesses of
the Avenging Mother spend much of their time engaged
in matters of financial regulation, managing the coffers
of Mulhorand to rebuild its economy in this new era.
They also act as tax collectors, brokers and, where
necessary, bailiffs. With Mulhorand having only recently
emerged from the ashes, they are also involved with re-
establishing trade relations with neighboring countries.
The head of the church, Amenephthyst II, regulates
the economy of Mulhorand from the Vault of Golden
Commerce in Neldorild. This structure dominates the
coastal city skyline, with its looming white marble shape
and colonnade front. It is heavily fortified and in its
vaults sits much of the wealth of Mulhorand, as well as
collections of treasures from across Toril, collected over
the millennia. Mulhorandi nobility pay the church great
sums to keep their family wealth safe within the vault,
for its ensorcelled walls have never been breached, not
even by the fury of the Spellplague. The attendant
priests, here and in other temples of Nephthys, also
work with Osiris in conveying the heirlooms and
treasures of the deceased into their tombs in the Land of
the Dead or elsewhere in Mulhorand. They will then
conjure protective wards around the burial crypt, as well
as constructing elaborate traps to keep out tomb raiders.
Adventuring clerics of Nephthys are quite uncommon,
with the order preferring to engage in matters of wealth
and commerce at home. However, on occasions where
the Avenging Mother must send her neophytes into the
wider world, they prefer to keep hidden, often picking up
the skills of a rogue. They pray for their spells at noon
when the golden sun illuminates all.
30
DOGMA OF NEPHTHYS
Accumulate and invest wealth wisely, but do not hold
money above your devotion to the goddess. Protect the
economy of Mulhorand; for only with trade, commerce
and the nurturing of its wealth will we return to our
former glory. Trade with other nations, but always
beware the Red Wizards of Thay, for they are corrupt and
cannot be trusted. Uphold the institutions of the goddess
and root out those who would seek to undermine our
holdings, especially the spies of Set.
CHURCH OF HATHOR
Head of the Church: Umunhathor.
Symbol: Horned cow’s head inside a lunar disk.
Portfolio: Motherhood, music, festivals, fertility, the
moon, dance, healing.
Alignment: Neutral Good.
Cleric Domains: Life, Twilight, Peace.
Worshippers: Mothers, bards, entertainers, healers.
The Church of Hathor is closely linked to that of Isis in
the portfolio it encompasses, though much more loosely
organized. Both gods are popular with the common folk
of Mulhorand; there is an old saying that Hathor is the
mother and Isis is the wife. The Nurturing Mother is
commonly worshipped in hospitals, orphanages and
other refuges for the poor and downtrodden, her priests
dedicated to healing the sick and bringing joy to those
most in need. The church holds no official temples,
giving its wealth to those in need rather than dwelling in
the trappings of theocratic power like many of the other
churches. Shrines are kept, but by the worshippers,
freeing the clergy to focus on helping those in need. Even
the head of the church, Umunhathor I, holds no fixed
temple abode, travelling with her clergy around
Mulhorand to deliver help where it is needed. She is a
powerful healer and is revered by the lower born as a
miracle worker. The church also provides entertainment
for the common folk, organizing many of Mulhorand’s
annual festivals. Hathor is closely associated to the
moon, and the church follows the waxing and waning of
Selûne across the thirty-day lunar cycle. Joyous
celebrations occur when it is full, with many of the
festivals planned for this event, such as The Birthing,
which takes place on the first full moon after Greengrass
in springtime to symbolize renewal and new life.
Clerics of Hathor pray when the moon is at its zenith,
whether that is day or night, and will always be aware
where it is in the sky at any time. It is unusual for
followers of the Nurturing Mother to become
adventurers, however if the vulnerable are under threat,
they will not hesitate to take up arms and fight for their
cause. In battle, they focus on healing and supporting
their allies from afar.
DOGMA OF HATHOR
Help all those who are in need, no matter their standing,
for all children of Mulhorand are equal in the eyes of the
Nurturing Mother. Provide sustenance for the hungry,
healing for the wounded, health for the sick, joy for the
sorrowful and protection for the endangered. Treat those
in need as you would royalty, for all will be deemed equal
in the paradise gardens of the afterlife.
CHURCH OF BAST
Head of the Church: Basturess.
Symbol: A cat adorned with jewelry.
Portfolio: Cats, love, hedonism, sensuality, temptation,
beauty, lust.
Alignment: Chaotic Good.
Cleric Domains: Life, Twilight, Trickery.
Worshippers: Lovers, bards, hedonists, courtesans.
The worship of Bast has spread further across Faerûn
(and beyond) than any of the other Mulhorandi gods.
Unlike her brethren, the Mother of Cats was eager to
explore the new world that had been thrust upon her and
the Mulani people. Early on in Mulhorand’s history, she
subsumed the portfolio of Felidae, a primitive deity of
felines, as well as Zandilar, god of passionate love. This
led her on a pleasure-seeking adventure across Toril,
spreading her hedonistic church to every corner of the
land. Unfortunately, this also led Bast to encounter Shar
who enthralled this curious lesser god under her sway;
leading Bast to become known as Sharess across wider
Faerûn. Though Sune managed to free her from Shar
during the Time of Troubles, Bast is still commonly
known as Sharess outside of Mulhorand.
After some decline during these darker years, the
influence of Bast in Mulhorand has begun to grow
recently, spurred by a new attitude to freedom and
tolerance across the nation. The church’s structure is
very casually organized, its priests more concerned with
spreading love and pleasure than erecting great temples
in Bast’s name. They work with priests of Hathor to
arrange the many festivals and will often be seen at the
heart of the revelry, spreading the word of Bast not
through sermon, but with love.
Clerics of Bast are usually beautiful and wear little to
hide this fact. They protect cats as sacred beings and will
hunt those who dare to harm them. In battle, they often
utilize charm spells to enthrall their opponents. They
pray for their spells at dusk, the time of love.
DOGMA OF BAST
Live life to its fullest, seeking pleasure wherever it may
be found to ensure fulfilment of yourself and others
around you. Spread the bounty of love so that all may
join the endless revel and beauty of life.
31
CULT OF SET
Head of the Church: Isseth.
Symbol: A coiled cobra, waiting to strike.
Portfolio: Evil, desert drought, destruction, snakes,
betrayal, murder, poison, betrayal.
Alignment: Chaotic Evil.
Cleric Domains: Desert, Arcana, Death, Trickery.
Worshippers: Assassins, criminals, necromancers.
The Cult of Set is abhorred across Mulhorand, with
worship of the Snake God forbidden under pain of death.
Set worshippers operate in the shadows, striking out like
a venomous snake to poison the followers of the other
gods wherever it can. The most infamous aspect of its
clergy is the Fangs of Set, a syndicate of assassins
founded by Seti, a former incarnation of Set. Its aim was
to sow chaos across Mulhorand wherever it could,
disrupting the other gods and delivering Set to the
throne. Several pharaohs, viziers and precepts have met
their end to a poisoned blade or worse as the Fangs
strike. The cult also encompasses many thieves’ guilds
across Mulhorand and wider Faerûn, raiding tombs and
ancient ruins to gather more treasures in Set’s name.
The cult’s former headquarters were located in
Sampranasz in the temple known as the Cavern of the
Jackal, but this was abandoned during the reign of High
Imaskar and lies empty and undiscovered to this day.
Isseth, the head of the Fangs and demigod of Set, has
moved the cult, in secret, far into the depths of the
desert, claiming the ruins of Maerlar as a new lair. The
wasteland created by the Spellplague is well suited to the
Cult of Set, for its many dangers and nightmarish
inhabitants not only act as a ward against interlopers,
but also as a trial for those wishing to join. Only those
able to survive the treacherous journey to Maerlar will be
deemed strong enough to become part of the cult.
Clerics of Set are malevolent beings, who value power
over all else. They will stop at nothing to get what they
want and achieve greatness in the eyes of Set. Fearing
persecution, they keep their true identity hidden,
blending in with the general population. They often
possess the skills of assassins alongside their deadly
magic, striking from the shadows with poisoned blades.
They pray for their spells at night, when the shadows
gather, and snakes stir from their nest.
DOGMA OF SET
Serve Set in all that you do, for when he ascends to his
rightful place upon the throne of the world, he shall
reward those who have served him. Oppose the
machinations of the weaker gods; especially Horus-Re,
Osiris and Isis; and assassinate the sheep who follow
them whenever you can. Spread word of the cult and
bring others to join our glorious cause.
CULT OF SEBEK
Head of the Church: Usebek.
Symbol: Werecrocodile with plumed headdress.
Portfolio: Rivers, savagery, swamps, floods, predators.
Alignment: Neutral Evil.
Cleric Domains: Nature, Tempest, War.
Worshippers: Evil druids, werecrocodiles, monsters.

The Cult of Sebek are the second forbidden church in the

Mulhorandi pantheon, though far smaller and less
organized than the Cult of Set. Afflicted by the curse of
lycanthropy, it is mostly made up of werecrocodiles,
though in recent years some other monstrous races have
begun to adopt Sebek as patron. The cult itself is loosely
structured under the rule of Usebek, a demigod
werecrocodile of immeasurable strength.
Previously driven out of their lair in Sekras by paladins
of Osiris, the cult has moved back since the Second
Sundering, using the ruined and flooded city as a lair.
The only temple of Sebek, the River’s Maw, has been
rebuilt. The entire River of Swords is now swarming with
followers of Sebek, putting the river delta settlements of
Kaol and Aina at constant risk of attack. Further inland,
the Okoth swamplands around the Lake of Salt are also
infested, with hunts ranging as far south as Azun and
Buldamar. Citizens of these towns venture out to leave
sacrifices in the swampy wetland shrines, hoping to
appease the cult and keep the hunt from their door.
Clerics of Sebek are usually afflicted with the
lycanthrope curse that affects the bloodline of Sebek,
turning them into werecrocodiles (see page 107). This sees
them shunned by most of Mulhorandi society, so they
mainly keep to their own communities. Clerics of Sebek
are seen more as shamans than traditional priests,
spurring their kind to greater acts of savagery, and in
battle they rely on their werecrocodile form to kill. They
pray for their spells at dusk, ready for the night’s hunt.

DOGMA OF SEBEK
Hunt or be hunted. Kill or be killed. Eat or be eaten. You
are the apex predator, whom all fear, or you are nothing
but meat to another. Kill, maim and devour your prey in
the name of Sebek, for only the strongest are worthy in
his eyes.

THE FORMER CHURCHES OF RE & BES

Thirteen gods originally travelled from Kemet to form
the Mulhorandi pantheon. Of these, Re fell in battle
against Gruumsh during the Orcgate War and his church
merged with his son Horus. The Church of Bes faded not
long after the fall of Imaskar, when its portfolio was
subsumed by the dwarven God Vergadain.

32
OTHER FACTIONS
The royal houses and churches form the main factions of
Mulhorand, though there are other groups who make up
Mulhorand’s sociopolitical landscape. Some are as much
a part of daily life as the churches, whilst others keep to
the shadows, their existence a secret.
THE NEZRAMITES
Originally sired by the great Archmage Nezram, the
World Walker, his children went on to found an entire an
entire ethnic subsect of the Mulhorandi known as the
Nezramites. Part of Mulhorand but in many ways
separate, they mostly live in the remote town of Nezras
on the eastern side of the Dragonsword Mountains.
There, they go about their daily life, following in their
ancient ancestor’s footsteps in investigating ancient
knowledge, especially the arcane. They are also heavily
involved in new inventions and arcane research, with a
focus on gem and interplanar magic, the specialisms of
Nezram. Their arcane practice is tolerated as the
pharaoh knows well the value of the archmage and his
descendant, much to the indignation of House Tholaunt.
With all the aid Nezram has given Mulhorand over his
near-millennia of life, most recently against High
Imaskar, the Pharaoh Horuskhet is also happy to abide
this distant community, though rumors of their
investigations into ancient Imaskar magic have begun to
stir up doubt. Nezram himself has recently returned
from his centuries-long travels across the planes;
though it cannot be known how long he will stay. Since
the fall of High Imaskar, he has built a new home as well
as commencing building of a new arcane academy in
Nezras, promising to bring a new age of learning and
prosperity to his descendants.
IMASKAR
Defeated in 1487 DR by the Mulhorandi uprising, Empress
Ususi and the remnants of the Imaskari fled, disappearing
into the shadows from where they had come. Most fled
east, into the Raurin; the seat of the Imaskar Empire of
old. Some remained on the surface, suffering a harsh
existence as desert nomads. Others ventured into the
Underdark, seeking to found a new life beneath the earth
as the ancient Imaskari had done in Deep Imaskar. Their
vengeful eyes would always glare west towards the
despised Mulhorandi who had now twice left their empire
in ruins.
The survivors of the High Imaskar uprising activated a
teleportation circle from within Skyclave, forced to
abandon the great city-tower to their enemy. They
teleported back to their ancestral home of Deep Imaskar,
which had only just begun to recover from the
Spellplague. Forced to seek refuge in the Underdark city,
they vowed that the Mulhorandi and their abominable
gods would suffer for the destruction they had wrought,
yet with their forces decimated and leader dead, this was
a daunting proposition.
Despite this, there are some determined to carry on
the Empress’s legacy and reclaim the glory of High
Imaskar. Rumors have begun to circulate about
organized units of Imaskari saboteurs and assassins
launching raids across Mulhorand, seeking to
undermine and disrupt workings of their former vassal.
Through all this, a single name has been whispered, a
name that has begun to unite the dispersed factions of
Imaskar to begin a new war against the usurpers. A new
Emperor in the making; Lord Artificer Ult’Axion.
33
THE ADVENTURER’S GUILD
Mulhorand has had a troublesome relationship with
adventurers in the past. Seen by most as glorified tomb
raiders, their presence in the nation was barely tolerated
during the First, Second and Third Empires, and
typically adventurers of other races were not permitted
entry at all. Those that were had to hand over all
weapons and armor to the guard on arrival into any city
and were strictly forbidden from venturing to any of the
sacred burial sites, including the Land of the Dead.
Nowadays, Mulhorand is much less strict, and though
the adventuring profession is still not officially
recognized, it is at least accepted. Many monstrous
creatures still linger from the aftereffects of the
Spellplague and with the military and guard already
stretched thin, the benefits of outsiders coming to
Mulhorand to help clean up are obvious.
Adventurers are free to come and go, with their
equipment and weapons, as they please, as long as they
abide with the control of the Adventurers Guild, a semi-
official organization based in Skyclave. The guild is
tasked with regulating all adventuring expeditions
across Mulhorand and must share profits back to the
Vault of Golden Commerce. They are also responsible for
ensuring no sacred relics are stolen; anyone caught
attempting to smuggle relics out of the country faces the
death penalty, though the royal houses do incentivize
the guild with handsome rewards for any recovered. On
arrival into Mulhorand, adventurers must register with
the guild; freelancers manning their own expeditions are
not permitted and will be arrested if caught. The Land of
the Dead and other burial sites manned by the paladins
of Osiris remain off limits, though many such sites have
been swallowed by the desert and are no longer guarded.
Currently, most of the expeditions being contracted by
the guild seek to venture deeper into Skuld, the City of
Shadows. Ruined by the Spellplague, it is now infested
with deadly creatures and lingering wild magic from the
conflagration. Adventurers delve into its streets, fighting
off monsters and salvaging what treasure they can find.
Other contracts seek to locate Imaskari constructs
hidden in the desert, abandoned by a defeated High
Imaskar, and full of artifacts of incredible power.
THE TECHNOLOGISTS
Mulhorand is still very strict when it comes to the
advancement of technology, though there are many who
wish to see such regulation abolished in favor of making
greater use of technology, including taking steps to
make greater use of arcane magic. Known as the
Technologists, they are separate from House Tholaunt
though still follow the teachings of Thoth. Currently,
they are resurrecting an abandoned project to use
primitive steam engines in industry, agriculture and
many other potential applications.
THE TIEFLINGS OF GHELDANETH
Over the last decade, a significant community of tieflings
has emerged in Gheldaneth. They are believed by many
to have been sent by the Mulhorandi gods, appearing in
Mulhorand to aid in the uprising against High Imaskar.
They have been accepted into Mulhorandi society,
though some Mulani purists still view them with
distrust. With a wide range of skills, they have integrated
with the wider workforce, though their natural affinity
for sorcery has led many to join the arcane academies of
Thoth or the military as battle wizards.
PROMINENT CHARACTERS NEZRAM, THE WORLD WALKER
An Archmage of incredible power, Nezram is one of
This section details some of the most well-known
Mulhorand’s most famous descendants. He is close to
characters currently residing in Mulhorand, with
one thousand years old, yet little of his magically
information on who they are, their current motives,
extended human life has been spent in Mulhorand. His
personality and stat block references in bold in case your
thirst for knowledge and discovery took him on a vast
players encounter these individuals.
journey through the planes many centuries ago, from
which he has only recently returned, aiding Pharaoh
PHARAOH HORUSKHET I Horuskhet I in the reclamation of Mulhorand from
The current pharaoh of Mulhorand, Horuskhet rules High Imaskar (see page 15 for his full history).
from Skyclave where he resides in the Solarium level. As Following the defeat of the Imaskari, Nezram has
a demigod of Horus-Re (use the statistics of a medium- returned to his descendants, the Nezramites, in the
sized Empyrean), he is guided directly by the Lord of remote settlement of Nezras. There, he has nearly
Sun. As Horus-Re’s Chosen, Horuskhet is charged to completed the construction of a colossal new tower to
return the nation to its former glory and ultimately give replace his former home on the shores of Lake Azulduth.
rise to the Fourth Empire of Mulhorand (see page 15 for It is a truly magnificent construct, visible for hundreds
the full history of Horuskhet). of miles in the surrounding desert, and is no doubt
The pharaoh spends much of magically warded to protect against any further
his time in the chambers of unprovoked dragon attack after the attack on
the Solarium in Skyclave, his previous home. Whilst he is
communing with Horus-Re home, he has also begun helping
on matters of import, his descendants in their own
leaving the mundane duties pursuit of knowledge, taking
of rule to his vizier and the time to pass on his
Precept Council. Unlike his extraordinary knowledge to
arrogant and despotic the Nezramites. They act
predecessor Horustep III, almost as his disciples,
Horuskhet is a more gracious blessed to have their ancient
ruler with incredible gifted forefather returned to unite
onto him by the Lord of Sun them. Nezram views the
himself. Those who are lucky Nezramites as his own legacy
enough to speak to him in and is very protective over them
person are often surprised to and his new home in Nezras.
find the pharaoh quite In secret, however, he is
amicable and courteous, already planning a new
though his enemies will meet a venture into the beyond.
very different character. He is Having spent centuries in
currently attempting to uncover search of the fabled sarrukh,
the location of the Cult of Set, he believes he has a lead
knowing well that the Serpent somewhere in the
God will not wait long before Concordant Domain in the
striking again. His gaze does not Outer Planes. Before he
stray from the north for long can begin a new planar
either, as though an uneasy adventure, he will need to
peace remains between Thay and track down his long lost
re-emergent Mulhorand, he knows spellbook; Unique
well this is doubtful to last long, Mageries, which was taken
especially if there is a chance for him to from his old tower. The last
regain the ancestral lands of the Priador sighting of it was in possession of the
and beyond. Nezram, the World Walker half-drow Maeve Starmantle, though he
By Alan Subankalov will certainly offer reward for any more information, or
VIZIER OZARIM HELCALIANT perhaps help in finding it.
As second in command from the pharaoh, the vizier is Nezram is a surprisingly reserved and humble man,
the one of the most powerful positions in government. considering his incredible power as a wizard and the
Any requests to the pharaoh will need approval from the endless knowledge he has accumulated over the
vizier. Ozarim, an aged human Priest of Horus-Re, centuries. Despite this, he values privacy greatly and
proved his worth to Horuskhet during the uprising does not often engage in conversation with those he
against High Imaskar and now assumes the role. Like does not know and trust. He may come across as
Horuskhet, Ozarim resides in the Solarium in Skyclave, somewhat distant or uninterested, unless he is engaged
where he attends to matters of the realm, including in a conversation that is of specific interest to him. These
selecting and leading the Precept Council. Wizened by topics are likely related to the one passion that has taken
years, he is a stoic and well-mannered individual, him across the multiverse: the arcane. He has specialized
though it is clear there is a lot more to him than what in both interplanar and the secrets of gem-enhanced
meets the eye. Above all, he is devoted to Mulhorand and magic. He is unlikely to give this away to just anyone,
its divine patriarch; Horus-Re. He will do anything to though he is dedicated to broadening his intellect
ensure the glory of both is restored, anything else is beyond the normal limits of human comprehension, so a
secondary. Currently he is aiding Horuskhet in the trade of knowledge might tempt him to share teachings
search for the Cult of Set, knowing the danger it poses. beyond his Nezramites.

34
AMENEPHTHYST II
As head of the Church of Nephthys and Chosen heir of
the Devoted Lady, Amenephthyst is responsible for
managing the economy of Mulhorand. She is also a
powerful Diviner Wizard (Monsters of the Multiverse page
261) and uses magic to aid in her duties. Residing in the
Vault of Golden Commerce in Neldorild, she can usually
be found in trade negotiations or discussing funding
allocation with House Helcaliant officials. Those lucky
enough to earn an appointment in her busy schedule will
meet a lady of incredible intelligence, though one of
little warmth or emotion. She can come across quite
terse and direct, utterly dedicated as she is to business,
and will not suffer timewasters. Currently, her focus is
on arranging new trade agreements with neighboring
nations and has been travelling across Eastern Faerûn to
attend negotiations in person.
BEZANHUR RAMATHANT
Descendant of the God of War himself, Bezanhur is a
human Warlord (Monsters of the Multiverse page 257)
who commands Mulhorand’s military and national
guard from the Blood Fortress in Sultim. He was
instrumental in the brief war with High Imaskar, having
been gifted the strategic brilliance of Anhur in
his demigod form. Stern and ill-
tempered but with the courage of a
lion, Bezanhur does not take
kindly to fools or timewasters,
though he is fiercely loyal to
his pharaoh, his country and
those he considers friends.
He is currently under
command from Horuskhet
to shore up the northern
defenses against any
possible new attack
from Thay, whilst
driving recruitment into
the army and navy for a
potential Mulhorandi
invasion of the Priador.
He also commands and
oversees the Medjan,
Mulhorand’s national
guard and police force who
keep order across the land,
run the various prisons and
assist the guardians of House
Osriant in their duties protecting the
tombs of the dead and delivering
judgment to the condemned. Ibisis Siamut
By Dean Spencer
BASTURESS SOZUTH
Blessed with incredible beauty, Basturess is the head of
the Church of Bast. She is the Chosen heir of the Lustful
Mistress and is desired by men and women alike. A free
spirit, she is incredibly charming and an expert in
seduction. As an Enchanter Wizard (Monsters of the
Multiverse page 261: change her Charisma to 20 and add
persuasion/deception as +9 proficient skills) she also
possesses magical means of manipulation. Of all the
Chosen of the gods, Basturess is the one least tied to
Mulhorand as, like her patron, she often travels across
the rest of Faerûn and even wider Toril where Bast is
more commonly worshipped as Sharess. She can often be
found sampling the pleasures and delights of faraway
lands, spreading the love and joy of Bast to all.
35
GEBZALIM GEBTHANT
Head of House Gebthant, Gebzalim is a hardy, rough
character who would much rather be in the depths of a
mine or hammering at the forge than engaged in any
political or ceremonial meandering. Geb has blessed him
with incredible strength and crafting skill (use stats for a
medium-sized Stone Giant). He has no fixed residence,
instead travelling across Mulhorand to wherever he is
needed; be it a mining operation or the industrial sectors
of Skyclave. Gebzalim values work ethic above all and
does not suffer laziness. He is currently focused on a
number of new mining expeditions in the High Plain
desert where the Spellplague exposed numerous ravines
thick with veins of gold and iron ore.
IBISIS SIAMUT
Ibisis is the head of the Church of Isis and heir of the
Bountiful Lady. She is a powerful Archdruid (Monsters of
the Multiverse page 48) and uses her powers to help
cultivate and heal Mulhorand’s farmlands, ensuring a
successful annual harvest. Residing in the Mystic
Cornucopia on the River of Spears tributary, Ibisis works
hard to coordinate Mulhorand’s food production, a
vitally important role now much of its once-bountiful
farmland has been reduced to desert. She is a kind
and caring leader, and the Mulhorandi love
her dearly.
OSIRIUS II
Osirius is a powerful War Priest
(Monsters of the Multiverse page
254) and is the descendant
and heir of Osiris, God of the
Dead and the head of House
Osriant. He resides in
Mishtan where the Church of
Osiris organizes its vigil over
the Land of the Dead and other
important burial sites across
Mulhorand. Since the defeat of
High Imaskar, Osirius has
been focused on reclaiming
sites that have been lost to the
desert, saving them from tomb
raiders and agents of Set. He is a
noble but somber man, utterly
committed to his duty in the
service of Mulhorand. He is
untrusting of outsiders, especially
adventurers, always suspecting their
true motive is to steal the treasures of the
honored dead.
RAMENTHOTH I
An Archmage of considerable power, Ramenthoth is the
descendant heir of Thoth, Lord of Magic. He is the
ordained leader of House Tholaunt as well as the head of
the Arcanum of Magic in Gheldaneth. He was kept
prisoner during much of the reign of High Imaskar,
having protested the indecency of their rule over
Gheldaneth and closing of the Arcanum. Upon his release
after the city was liberated, Thoth rewarded
Ramenthoth’s loyalty in making him his Chosen. He
then joined Nezram in countering the magic of the
Artificers during the Battle of Skuld. Ramenthoth is
incredibly intelligent, with knowledge of the arcane that
transcends mortality. He specializes in transmutation
magic and occasionally teaches in the Arcanum.
UMUNHATHOR ZIATHUN
Umunhathor is the heir descendant of Hathor and head of
the Church of the Nurturing Mother. She is seen by her
followers and much of the population as a maternal
figure, compassionate and caring for all. As a humble
Priest she spends most of her time caring for the sick in
Mulhorand’s many hospitals, channeling the power of
Hathor to heal the suffering. She is also committed to
helping the impoverished and takes time visiting the
poorest areas of the nation to deliver charity and goodwill.
Always happy to meet anyone on her travels,
Umunhathor is a kind and gracious soul who brings
sunlight wherever she treads. Her focus in recent years
has been on establishing orphanages in all the major cities
in Mulhorand, finding a place for those children who lost
their parents in the war with High Imaskar. Priests of
Hathor run these institutions, relying on charitable
donations from nobles and other churches.
ISSETH
Demigod and heir of the Brother of Serpents, Isseth is the
current head of the Cult of Set and a living conduit for the
evil god’s malevolent schemes. He resides, in secret, in
the ruined city of Maerlar, deep in the Taranoth desert,
where he plots against Pharaoh Horuskhet and the rest of
the Mulhorandi power structure. Set chose Isseth
(see page 94) for his ruthless and determined nature,
trusting his ambition to advance the cause of Set
wherever possible. He keeps his identity well hidden from
those not in the cult, but any who do meet him encounter
a sinister character who will stop at nothing to get what he
wants.
Currently, Isseth is attempting to summon the
serpent-god Apep from the Abyss and bind it to Set’s will,
involving an incredibly complex and nefarious ritual that
may well see one of the most diabolical entities in
existence unleashed upon Mulhorand and wider Faerûn
(see page 88). He also he commands the Fangs of Set, a
nefarious brotherhood of assassins who strike out at
various targets across Mulhorand that have been
marked. Lastly, he keeps in constant communication
with the Tieflings of Gheldaneth, who serve Set in secret,
and have infiltrated Mulhorandi society under the
leadership of Aybtep Kohl.
USEBEK
Since the return of the Mulhorandi gods after the Second
Sundering, Usebek (see page 108) has been chosen and
blessed by the Lord of Crocodiles to lead the Cult of Sebek
into a new age. He has taken a lair in the ruined city of
Sekras, rebuilding the River’s Maw temple and
commencing a new era of fear and suffering for the
residents of Mulhorand and surrounding lands. A great
number of werecrocodiles follow him as a divine leader,
hunting and feasting on Mulhorand’s soft southern
underbelly. At Sebek’s command, Usebek is currently
attempting to spread the lycan curse further across
Mulhorand to reclaim the other three rivers, as well as
west into Tymanther and Unther.
As a fearsome werecrocodile himself, Usebek is blessed
with inhuman strength and a cold hatred of the
Mulhorandi who have done wrong by his people for so
long. He often joins the hunts into the villages and towns
close to Sekras, slaughtering their inhabitants before
slinking back into the river. Usebek knows that these
attacks will not go unnoticed. The Paladins of Osiris will
return to cleanse Sekras as they did a thousand years
before, but this time Usebek will ensure they are ready.
36
OTHER CHARACTERS
AYBTEP KOHL
Aybtep is the (unofficial) leader of the community of
Tieflings in Gheldaneth. A tiefling Spy, he arrived with
his people during the reign of High Imaskar and helped
Pharaoh Horuskhet I in defeating Empress Ususi during
the uprising. Now accepted for the most part by the
Mulhorandi people, Aybtep works hard to maintain
relations with the royal houses and churches, ensuring
his people are seen as part of the reemergent nation, not
a separate entity. He is extremely charismatic and
handsome, his charms and wit earning him influence
(and lovers) across the political landscape.
Unknown to the rest of Mulhorand, there is a more
sinister reason for the appearance of the Tieflings in
Gheldaneth. Their true lineage is none other than Set
himself, who sired them from members of his cult as
part of a long-term plan to expand his influence. Aybtep
secretly plots with Isseth in Maerlar to aid in the revival
of Set as the true ruler of Mulhorand.
KEL’ANUT RAMERES
The head of the Adventurer’s Guild, Kel’Anut is a human
female Veteran of Mulani descent with close ties to
House Helcaliant and the Church of Nephthys. She is a
veteran of the uprising against High Imaskar and has led
several expeditions into Skuld herself. Much of the left
side of her face is horribly burnt and her left eye white
with blindness from the acidic spray of an Ankheg. She
now wears the creature’s chitinous hide as ceremonial
armor, its insectile head crafted into a shield, though her
own adventuring days are over. She is extremely blunt in
her manner, though a few rounds of strong drinks can
often earn her favor.
LORD ARTIFICER ULT’AXION
After the fall of High Imaskar, no formal heir of Empress
Ususi was ever declared and most thought her death
marked the end of the empire. Yet there were those who
refused to accept such a conclusion. Among the
Imaskari, one did step forward to take the mantle,
declaring himself the new Lord Artificer and Emperor of
High Imaskar. Since then, he has amassed a considerable
following; his defeated comrades, as well as new allies
from Deep Imaskar, where many have been weary of the
city’s passive rule. Many Imaskari want more than to eke
out their pitiful existence hidden away beneath the earth
like rodents. As an Archmage, Ult’Axion wields powerful
Imaskari magic to rival the lord artificers of the old
empires. There are also rumors that he has recovered
both the First and Fifth Imaskarcana which, if true, is a
dire concern for Mulhorand as the power of such
artifacts is incredible.
He currently resides in the Raurin Desert in the
ancient, ruined city of Inupras, the former seat of the
Imaskar Empire. There, he has begun to rebuild and
amass his forces, envisioning a return to the glorious
days of Imaskari history. Above all else, he wishes to
annihilate Mulhorand entirely, seeking revenge for their
insolence and uprising against the people of Imaskar.
Despite his power, Ult’Axion is something of a
hubristic and scornful leader, obsessed with revenge and
glory rather than the realities of rebuilding the Imaskar
Empire. Whilst he remains a very real threat to
Mulhorand’s east, it will be some time before he can
muster the strength to make any kind of aggressive
move beyond meagre espionage.
 CHAPTER 3
PLACES OF MULHORAND
espite the destruction wrought by the
D Spellplague, Mulhorand remains a land of
unparalleled beauty. The sand dunes that
disappear into its shimmering horizons add a
romantic mystery to this wonderous realm. Its people
are now concentrated along the rivers and coastlines,
with irrigated fields, bustling settlements and huge
cities clinging to the life-giving waterline. Yet the vast
deserts that make up its interior are themselves far from
empty; ruins of both the Mulhorandi and Imaskari
Empires of old litter the wastes, half buried by sand and
full of secrets.
This chapter explores the many places of interest that
cover Mulhorand’s landscape, providing a detailed
description of each location and what might be found
there. For Dungeon Masters, the chapter will offer a
guide to what your players may encounter. With
settlements and cities, it will describe a general layout,
including any temples, shops or other landmarks, as well
as an idea of population size and what that population
are mostly engaged in; along with any factions and key
characters present, and the quests or plot hooks these
may offer. With wilderness, ruin or dungeon locations, it
will describe what fauna or wildlife may be found there,
any monsters that inhabit that area (with reference to
where their rules are located) as well as any interesting
adventure hooks related to that location.
37
GEOGRAPHY OF MULHORAND
Mulhorand is broken up into three main regions that
divide the nation. Prior to the Spellplague, the climate
and wildlife of these regions differed significantly, and
whilst they still possess varied topography, each has
been reduced to a similar desert climate. The Mulhorandi
still refer to these regions however, using them when
describing directions to a location or even when
identifying where in Mulhorand they are from.
• The Taranoth is by far the largest of these regions,
encompassing everything north of the River of
Shadows, as far as the borders with Thay and
Murghôm, and east as far as the Dragonsword
Mountains and Plains of Purple Dust. It is also known
as ‘the High Plains’, having a much higher topography
than the rest of Mulhorand. Sandstorms frequently
rage across its vast desert and only the brave or foolish
dare to cross it; the Road to the Dawn that once
traversed it, as well as the inland settlements such as
Maerlar, are now mostly buried in the dunes.
• The Menesankh encompasses the coastal regions
south of the River of Shadows, extending in a crescent
around the southern shores of the Alamber to meet the
border with Tymanther at the River of Swords, then as
far south as the Okoth. It was once known as ‘the Plain
of Life’ due to its verdant and fertile farmland, but
that no longer describes the desert it has become.
Caravans of camel riders are more common here,
crossing between Gheldaneth, Jalhoran and Skyclave
to avoid the lengthy road journey, however many
dangers still lurk in the sand dunes between.
• The Asanibis is by far the smallest of the three
regions, sitting inland away from the Alamber, nestled
at the base of the Dragonswords. Also known as ‘the
Great Vale’ it encompasses a valley that extends to a
wide gap between the towering mountain range. A
great number of settlements are gathered here on the
two tributaries of the River of Spears, as well as the
vast necropolis known as the Land of the Dead.
MAP OF MULHORAND

38
CITIES
The Spellplague left most of Mulhorand’s great cities in
ruins, the opulent grandeur of the third empire lost in an
unimaginable cataclysm. Even Skuld, once the seat of the
god-kings and largest city in all of Faerûn, was
devastated, its golden streets and divine monuments
reduced to rubble or, worse, utterly torn from existence.
The other cities; Sultim, Neldorild, Mishtan and Maerlar
were also obliterated, with many of their residents
transported across the planes to Abeir. Only Gheldaneth
survived the cataclysm, though much of its population
was likewise torn from their homes and cast upon the
unforgiving surface of distant Abeir.
With its cities in ruin and population mostly depleted,
Empress Ususi founded High Imaskar and took control
of the region. The Mulhorandi who did not flee as
refugees into neighboring lands were forced to exist
under Imaskari rule. Ususi founded the new city of
Skyclave around the ancient Palace of the Purple
Emperor and Gheldaneth was turned into a vassal state.
Yet Ususi and High Imaskar would reign barely more
than a century, with the return of the Mulhorandi gods
and Pharaoh Horuskhet I swiftly defeating the Imaskari
and reclaiming Mulhorand. The next decade would see
the rebuilding of a nation, with many of its former cities
being repopulated by the descendants of those who were
cast out of their homes a century before. Over the next
decade, Sultim, Neldorild and Mishtan regained
something of their former glory, House Gebthant
leading the rebuilding efforts. Unfortunately, some
locations were beyond salvation. Skuld, the former
capital, was not just devastated by the Spellplague, it had
been utterly corrupted by it. Pockets of wild magic
lingered across it like lesions, spawning monstrosities
that skittered through the ruins. Instead, Horuskhet
claimed Skyclave, abandoned by the Imaskari, as a new
capital. The ruins of Maerlar and Mulharahold were
swallowed by deserts that now cover much of Mulhorand
and were also abandoned, or so it was thought.
SKYCLAVE
Standing like a pillar of purple magnificence, over a mile
high, on the eastern shores of the Alamber sea and
visible for hundreds of miles in every direction, the
Skyclave is a marvel of technological and magical
construction. Previously known as the Palace of the
Purple Emperor, it represents the pinnacle of the
Imaskari civilization, dating back close to ten thousand
years; a time when artificers of incredible power ruled
over much of Faerûn. Since the fall of High Imaskar and
death of Empress Ususi, however, it has been claimed by
Mulhorand. Pharaoh Horuskhet I hesitantly took the city
after defeating Ususi, declaring a new capital of
Mulhorand, since the former capital, Skuld, had been
decimated by the Spellplague. Though appropriating
Skyclave was the obvious solution and a great boon, it
was done so reluctantly, for the Mulhorandi had long
learned to despise the artifice and dimensional magic of
the Imaskari; it had been used, after all, to enslave them
in millennia past.
Horuskhet employed Nezram, the World Walker, to
ensure the citadel was safe and foil any devious plans of
Imaskari revenge. The great Mulhorandi wizard first
disabled the many wards and teleportation circles across
the city, cutting off access from Deep Imaskar and any
other surviving enclaves. Then, he accessed the intricate
mechanisms and control chambers that gave the tower
39
its extradimensional capability. Setting his own wards
and deploying powerful gem golems to guard these inner
chambers, he ensured the city would be protected from
saboteurs. Finally, he rendered inert the arcane
apparatus that had originally allowed the Palace of the
Purple Emperor to teleport itself from the Raurin,
ensuring it would not be able to relocate again. Trusting
the wizard’s assessment that the Skyclave was secure,
Horuskhet led his people into the city and made
residence in the tower’s upper floors, constructing a new
Solarium, throne room and grand temple of Horus-Re.
From here, he would rule a new Mulhorand, gazing out
from his chambers across the Alamber Sea to the west
and endless desert horizons to the north, east and south.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 528,000
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 82%, Human (Other)
14%, non-human races 4%
Ruler: Horuskhet I, Pharaoh of Mulhorand
Commerce: Ironworks, forge works, masonry, retail,
naval trade, fishing
Imports: Timber, livestock, linen, silk
Exports: Iron, steel, gold, glassware, gems
Skyclave is the only city in Faerûn that has a literal top-
down hierarchy. The working class live mainly in the
Sprawl outside of the tower, overlooked by wealthier
noble families as the wealth increases with each level of
the tower traversed. This continues to the upper levels
which encompass the reimagined Solarium of Horus-Re
and the chambers of government that rule Mulhorand.
Beyond this, at the very pinnacle of both the Skyclave
and Mulhorandi class hierarchy, there is only the private
chambers and throne room of the pharaoh himself. Here,
the demigod of Horus-Re and divine ruler of Mulhorand
sits in communion with the Lord of the Sun.
First time visitors to Skyclave can find themselves
quite overwhelmed when entering the tower, its inside
space being many times larger than the outward
appearance would suggest. Each floor of the tower is
located inside a permanent extradimensional space,
allowing each floor to be much larger inside than the
tower could physically encompass. As an added benefit
to this incredible arcane feat, the air inside is kept cool, a
welcome refreshment from the hot streets of the Sprawl.
This extradimensional magic is another legacy of the
ancient Imaskari Empire, the secrets of its creation
remaining a mystery even to Nezram.
Each of these extradimensional spaces is linked by a
series of short-range portals, allowing easy travel
between floors. Such passage is only granted to those
who are permitted, however; the portals are rigorously
guarded by the city guard to ensure no trespassers end
up on a floor where they do not belong.
The inner tower is sheltered from the heat and the
sun's ferocity but daylight is allowed to flood the inside
through a remarkable network of mirrors that spreads
light across the thirty-foot ceilings. At night, globes of
magical light hover over the streets, resembling the
starlit sky as they keep the city illuminated.
Great efforts have been made to redesign the interior
in the Mulhorandi style, with many decorations and
statues to honor the gods, as well as redesigned
sandstone architecture noticeable on many of the
buildings and streets. Despite this, the Imaskari
influence is impossible to remove completely, and the
vast tower and its purple walls will always stand as
something of a reminder to their genius.
 CITY OVERVIEW
Totally unique in Faerûn, Skyclave forms a city within a
colossal tower. Each level houses a vastly different
makeup of citizenry, establishments and purpose, from
the busy industry of the Sprawl outside the tower, to the
government chambers and the pharaoh’s personal
residence located high in the upper spire. Skyclave is a
city of opposites, at once embracing the modern
liberalism of Mulhorand reborn, whilst still clinging to
the class hierarchy and wealth disparity of the old
empires. Truly vast, many of its one-hundred-and-
eighty floors are still empty, allowing room for
expansion as Mulhorand’s population slowly regrows.
Others are reserved for official uses such as those given
to agriculture; entire fields of rare crops grown by
magical light to support the city.
This section gives a more general overview of what
can be found in the city:
THE SPRAWL
Clustered around the base of the great tower, a dense
conurbation spreads out as far as the shores of the
Alamber to the west, and with large walls keeping out
the desert from the east. Known as the Sprawl, it is
mostly made up of poorer tenement wards, industrial
areas, dockyards and bustling street markets. This is the
home of the working class of Mulhorandi society, and
around half of the city’s total population live in this
urban sprawl surrounding the tower-citadel. The wards
contain wide variety of industries, including numerous
mason yards, forges and ironworks, as well as a large
port that houses a naval base, fishing fleet and one of
Mulhorand's main hubs for trade imports and exports.
Skyclave by Anass Enaji
Based on the original 4th edition art by Mark Tedin
40
Temples of three of the gods can also be located in the
Sprawl; the Forge Heart, Temple of Geb, stands at the
center of Skyclave's industrial sector. It is the
headquarters of House Gebthant, serving more as a
center for organizational planning than a place of
worship with little in the way of iconography or
symbolism. Here, the many construction, manufacturing
and mining projects across Mulhorand are organized
and set in motion. Gebzalim, head of House Gebthant,
can sometimes be found here if his input into planning is
needed, though he prefers more hands-on involvement
with the work.
The Blessed Sanctum is known as the unofficial
Temple of Hathor in the city, but was actually set up to
provide a refuge to those in need, and doesn't contain
any formal temple grounds. Any money raised or
donated to the church goes back to helping the people
rather than on any lavish decor or iconography. Located
in deep in the Sprawl in the poorest ward nicknamed
“the Bits”, it contains a large orphanage, women's
refuge and food bank. Priests of Hathor do lead services
to the Nurturing Mother, but these are informal and
voluntary. It has become the home of the Sisters of the
Merciful Mother, a noble order of all-female clerics of
Hathor who have sworn oaths of pacifism and are wholly
dedicated to helping those in need.
House Ramathant also maintains a strong presence in
the Sprawl, controlling the large naval dockyards which
also serve as a Temple to Anhur. The Mulhorandi navy
has become a vital presence in recent years, with an
increasing need for overseas trade and growing threat of
sahuagin attacks from the Alamber sea. Merchant
convoys regularly petition the navy for escorts and
continual patrols are needed to ward off the sea devils.
The city guard, known as the Guardians of Skyclave, in
honor of the former Guardians of Skuld, also use the
temple as their main headquarters, though further
barracks can be found across the city. Bezanhur
Ramathant, head of the Church of Anhur, mainly resides
in Sultim, however he regularly attends meetings with
the pharaoh in Skyclave and any other matters of import.
THE BAZAAR
The entrance into the tower proper has been redesigned
to an avenue flanked on each side by towering statues of
the nine Mulhorandi gods (omitting Set and Sebek), each
one crafted from gleaming gold. Once inside, the ground
floor is known as the Bazaar, a vast labyrinth of
interconnecting streets, market squares and merchant
houses. Here, those with coin can find virtually anything
they might need, including the Arcanist’s Emporium, a
sanctioned enchantment and magic item store run by
the Adventurer's Guild and whose services are only
available to those who hold guild membership.
Entertainment venues such as taverns, inns and music
halls are common, and whilst excess and hedonism are
frowned upon in Mulhorandi society, they are not
banned outright, allowing those who know where to look
to find anything they might desire. Unsurprisingly, a
Temple of Bast has been set up here in the Bazaar,
though its location is a secret and only those who receive
a perfumed invitation may attend its ‘services’.
The Bank of the Devoted Lady, an imposing and
heavily guarded Temple of Nephthys is also located here,
controlling the flow of coin through Skyclave whilst
ensuring all taxes are paid correctly and on time. The
Order of the Golden Coin, a sect of Nephthys priestesses,
maintain a presence across the Bazaar, working
alongside the guard to catch thieves and collect taxes.
LOWER LEVELS
The next levels of the citadel up to the seventy-first
house much of the city's middle-class populace, with the
wealthier households taking apartments on the outer
edge with views across the city and beyond. Numerous
art galleries, theatres and libraries line the picturesque
streets, along with indoor parks and pleasure gardens,
many of which have been landscaped to resemble
Mulhorand prior to the Spellplague.
Two temples of the gods are found on these floors; the
Library of the Learned is a vast Temple of Thoth on the
fourth tower level and is open to all across Skyclave.
Whereas the Arcanum of Magic in Gheldaneth is
dedicated specifically to the study of the arcane, the
Library of the Learned focuses on learning in general.
Many priests of House Tholaunt also work as teachers
and all are welcomed, especially children, to improve
their education within the library. Books from all over
Faerûn can be found here, many of which were recovered
from the infamous Imaskari ‘Collectors’ who had
scoured the world for such knowledge.
The Eternal Rest, Temple of Osiris, is located on the
ninth level and is a place of remembrance and tribute to
those who have passed on into the afterlife. Whilst the
wealthier nobles and members of the various churches
are more likely to be interred in elaborate tombs such as
those in the Land of the Dead, those who cannot afford
such luxury will instead receive a more basic funeral. For
the dead in Skyclave, they will be prepared by the clergy
of House Osriant, and then led in a procession out of the
city and into the desert beyond the walls to the east.
Graves are dug in the sand and the dead interred along
with whatever possessions they had in life that might aid
them in Heliopolis. Priests of Osiris will also act as
judges and, if needed, executioners, for any court
hearings in Skyclave, though the actual courtrooms are
maintained by House Helcaliant on the higher levels.
Some of former Imaskari eating houses can be found
here, though much-changed and under new
management. This includes Ayar’s Table on the twelfth
level, an affluent dining hall which was once famous for
mushroom ale and fennel worms, but now specializes in
Heqet sweet beer and aish’baladi flatbreads. The
iconography of Deep Imaskar has all been removed,
though its invisible uskura servers remain, gliding across
the hall to provide food and drink to the patrons.
MIDDLE LEVELS
The tower levels ranging from the seventy-second to the
one-hundred-and-thirty-eighth are home to the city's
upper-class nobility, most of whom are descendants of
the Mulan noble families of the old empires of
Mulhorand. Exorbitant wealth is on display everywhere
here, with beautifully crafted architecture forming the
many marble streets, noble villas and extravagant
boutiques. These floors are carefully guarded to ensure
the ‘wrong’ people are not permitted entry, and anyone
found by the many patrolling guard who does not belong
will be quickly returned to the lower levels.
The Gardens of Bounty, Temple of Isis, can be found
on the ninety-seventh level, and is an exquisite garden
that is lit by magical daylight to allow the growth of an
incredible range of flowers, trees and foods from all over
Faerun. Many of these are grown as a delicacy to satiate
the wealthiest of Skyclave's citizens, rather than
providing for the general population, however the
wealth generated from such fine dining and donations
from the rich goes a long way to funding many other
agricultural projects across Mulhorand.
41
Another former Imaskari venue, The Edge, can be
found here; a luxurious enterprise spanning multiple
levels with connecting balconies on the western side of
the tower between the eightieth and eighty-fifth floors.
Once used by the nobles of High Imaskar to sample the
culture and cuisine of the nation it displaced, the
Mulhorandi nobility have embraced it for their own
exotic dining. Food and drink from all across Faerûn and
beyond are served here, at exorbitant prices, alongside
entertainment from all manner of different cultures,
whilst offering incredible views over the Alamber.
UPPER LEVELS
The upper levels are reserved for the government of
Mulhorand and is the center of House Helcaliant and the
Church of Horus-Re. These floors are a bustling hive of
activity, as daily administration of the nation is
performed. Priests of Horus-Re move between the many
different floors, discussing political developments and
matters of state. The law commission and central courts
of Mulhorand are also located here, with proceedings
jointly held between House Helcaliant and House
Osriant. Custodial sentences are carried out in the city
prison which can be found outside the eastern wall.
The reconstructed Solarium takes up the entirety of
the one-hundred-and-seventy-ninth level in one vast
chamber of gleaming marble. In the center of this room
is a large spinning globe of magical light that represents
the sun, casting a golden glow throughout the space.
Priests clad in white robes and nemes headdresses pace
along the marble walkways between immaculate
fountains and shrines to Horus-Re. Others lead open
congregations, speaking the word of the Lord of the Sun
in sermons for those lucky enough to be allowed entry.
During the three daily celebrations of the Greeting of the
Lord, Zenith Aspirant and Girding of the Guard, the
Solarium lifts in communal praise as the worshippers
sing praise to their lord.
THE SPIRETOP
At the very top of the Skyclave tower, looking out for
hundreds of miles in every direction, is the Spiretop. As
the permanent residence of Pharaoh Horuskhet I, it is
here where the providence of Mulhorand is decided. The
pharaoh sits in communion with his patron, considering
what actions to take against the myriad threats,
challenges and opportunities that the nation is faced
with. Very few are permitted into this level of the tower,
and the dimensional portal that leads there is hidden and
closely guarded. An entire garrison of Claws of the Sun
and the Ankh; champions devoted to Horus-Re, act as
royal guard to the pharaoh, and at least twenty are on
duty at all times. The Vizier Ozarim Helcaliant is one who
is permitted into this level, bringing any matters of vital
import to the pharaoh's attention and consulting him if
any decisions from him are needed.
Other than very occasional appearances in the
Solarium, Horuskhet rarely ever leaves his chambers,
with his decisions delegated out to the Vizier and other
Precepts in his government. The chambers themselves
continue the elaborate decor of the Solarium, though
with much more emphasis on luxury and meditative
contemplation. Instead of the gleaming sunlight, a warm
golden glow fills the many rooms and corridors. Braziers
crackle as incense fills the air and a soft melody can be
heard from endorsed musicians of House Helcaliant.
Occasionally, the pharaoh does invite guests into his
residence, usually his demigod peers such as Bezanhur
of House Ramathant whom Horuskhet consults with
regularly on military matters.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Skyclave is a hive of opportunity for adventurers, both
within the walls of the city and its great tower, as well as
quests that lead away into the surrounding lands.

THE ADVENTURER’S GUILD

Before engaging in any kind of adventuring activity in
Mulhorand, adventurers will need to register with the
guild. Failing to do so is a serious offence, with those
caught without membership being treated as tomb
raiders. There are smaller hubs in each of the major
cities, though the guild headquarters are in the Bazaar in
Skyclave. A large facility, fronted by the Arcanist’s
Emporium adventuring store, adventurers wanting to
join will need to arrange an appointment with Kel’Anut
Rameres (see page 36), the guild leader. She will brief
them on the strict requirements of joining the guild
(see page 33) and, once agreed, produce agreements to
be signed. Once signed up with the guild, adventurers will
be able to access the Arcanist’s Emporium store as well
as the guild’s notice board for upcoming contracts.
These range from quests to find and retrieve particular
relics from lost ruins or dungeons, expeditions to
hostile, unexplored areas of Mulhorand and hunting
down dangerous beasts or brigands that have been
preying on citizens of the nation.
The guild receives requests for aid from numerous
sources, including the royal houses and churches, local
guard forces and regular Mulhorandi citizens. Payment
is made to the guild who then pay out to the adventuring
party on completion. Current contracts include:
• A daring rescue: Abjal Horutep, son of Horatus, a
politician of House Helcaliant, has gone missing in the
desert outside Skyclave. The contract states that Abjal
had fled into the desert, though does not say why. If the
party accepts, they can opt to question Horatus or set
out immediately in search of his son. Horatus will say
he doesn’t know why his son fled the city, though any
DC 14 Insight check will reveal he is lying. Abjal was in
fact caught with his lover, a male elf from the Sprawl
named Kazin. Horatus ordered Kazin’s arrest and when
Abjal fled in protest, contacted the guild rather than the
authorities to avoid disgrace. If the party sets out into
the desert, they will be able to find a single recent trail
heading eastward with a successful DC 12 Survival check.
After two days travel (can use appropriate encounters
for the party’s level) they will find Abjal dead, having
succumbed to the desert heat. They can return his body
for a suitable reward.
• Monster hunting: terrifying creatures of all kinds
inhabit the wilderness of Mulhorand, preying on
smaller settlements and travelers. Chapter 5: Monsters of
Mulhorand, gives suggestions on what types of monsters
can be found, as well as many new monster profiles, to
select an appropriate monster for the party to hunt,
based on their current level. If accepting this contract,
they will then make preparations to venture out of
Skyclave into the desert to hunt the monster. They will
need to track the creature down, identify what it is and
bring proof of its demise back to the guildhall to earn a
reward suitable for the party’s level.
THE SUMMONING OF APEP
Page 88 describes an adventure hook around the Cult of
Set attempting to summon the god-like being Apep from
his prison in the Abyss. Hartep can approach the party
either when resting up after completing another
adventure. Adjust rewards based on party level,
including gold, magic items and the pharaoh’s favor.

42
GHELDANETH
Mulhorand's second city is located on the northern
banks of the River of Spears, where the mouth empties
into the Alamber Sea. Originally founded around -2130
DR by the incarnation of Thoth himself, Gheldaneth has
stood for over three-and-a-half thousand years. It was
one of the few cities to survive the Spellplague mostly
intact, though much of its population was teleported
through the planar divide into Abeir. Those that
remained were mostly Mulani humans of the Third
Empire, alongside a small community of tieflings;
former slaves who declared themselves descendants of
the Mulhorandi gods. The subsequent reign of High
Imaskar saw the city occupied, with an imposed apostasy
of worship of the Mulhorandi pantheon, but otherwise
granted self-rule as a vassal city.
Yet worship continued in secret, with many of the
population meeting in underground temples to avoid the
eyes of Imaskari Vengeance-Takers; a secret police force
who enforced this apostasy. The people defied the
Imaskari wherever they could, praying for their gods to
return and save them once again from their subjugation,
as they had done so millennia before, when they Mulan
were first brought across the planes to Toril. And, just as
before, their prayers were answered.
In 1484 DR the Second Sundering returned the gods
and their lost people from Abeir. The citizens of
Gheldaneth joined Pharaoh Horuskhet I and rose up
against the Imaskari who had ruled them for close to a
century, slaughtering the vengeance-takers and sending
any surviving Imaskari fleeing to Skyclave. Gheldaneth
became the main base of the rebellion as Horuskhet
pushed north, eventually defeating Empress Ususi's
legions and deposing High Imaskar in 1487 DR.
With Mulhorand reborn, Gheldaneth could return to
how it was before the Spellplague, with House Tholaunt
ordering the refurbishment and reopening of the Great
University and Arcanum of Magic. It would not take long
for the city to become a symbol of Mulhorand's progress
into a new era and a place where all are welcome to find
edification and enlightenment.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 124,000
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 57%, Human (Other)
19%, Tiefling 16%, Non-Human Races 8%
Precept: Ramenthoth I, Head of House Tholaunt
Commerce: Fishing, Education, Magical Enchantment
Imports: Timber, livestock, linen
Exports: Books, magical items & scrolls
Gheldaneth's location is of significant strategic and
economic importance, linking Mulhorand's isolated
south and east to the major coastal cities of its north.
With travel across the nation's desert interior being
limited and incredibly dangerous, most travelers coming
from Tymanther, Unther and beyond to the south-west,
or the Asanibis region to the east, will reach Gheldaneth
as the first major city for hundreds of miles. Its sheltered
position at the mouth of the river also affords it
protection from the majority of threats from the
Alamber, and its large port holds the biggest fishing fleet
in Mulhorand. Gheldaneth and its surrounding lands are
ruled by Ramenthoth I, demigod descendant of Thoth,
who acts as precept. The city is best known for its
institutions of learning, the most prominent being the
Arcanum of Magic and Wizard's College, both of which
are run by House Tholaunt.
43
CITY OVERVIEW
Unlike the magnificent tower-citadel of Skyclave,
Gheldaneth is a more traditional Mulhorandi settlement
with little to no Imaskari influence. Though it did not
escape the Spellplague entirely unscathed, those
structures that were damaged have been rebuilt as they
were, giving the city an antiquated feel, with many of its
buildings being hundreds if not thousands of years old.
THE ARCANUM OF MAGIC
The Arcanum is the main temple of Thoth in Mulhorand
as well as the center of House Tholaunt's ecclesiarchy.
Though it is a place of worship, it is also known as the
Great University, and forms a vast campus that covers
much of the northern side of the city. Large towers,
many of which have only recently been rebuilt, stand
looking out over the Menesankh desert by the northern
wall, and numerous classrooms, lecture halls and study
chambers are formed around open cloisters.
During the first, second and third empires, all those in
the city were mandated to attend the Arcanum, even
slaves. Now there is no such mandate, but students still
come from all over Mulhorand to receive their education,
including learning to read and write, as well as teachings
on the Mulhorandi history and the gods. There are no
formal tuition fees, though other churches and families
of nobility are expected to provide significant donations
to support the institution. Much of the great university is
reserved for students of specific ages to complete their
formal education, however there is an extended syllabus
available for older students who wish to improve their
education or specialize in their field.
Those students who excel may be offered the chance
to join the Scribes Guild, an ancient and prestigious
order that operates both within the Arcanum and across
wider Mulhorand. They often go on to serve as senior
administrators within House Helcaliant's government as
well as directing architectural or engineering projects
alongside House Gebthant. Members of the guild are also
granted the opportunity to take the entrance exams
required to become fully fledged members of the
Thothian clergy, and some are even selected by the Order
of the Ibis Feather; a fellowship of scriveners who enact
the will of Thoth.
THE WIZARDS’ COLLEGE
Next to the Arcanum of Magic is another education
facility, though a much smaller college campus,
surrounded by walls and heavily guarded. This is the
wizards college; the only place in Mulhorand (other than
Nezras) where study and practice of the arcane arts is
permitted. Following two separate wizard rebellions in
Mulhorand's history, arcane magic is heavily regulated,
with unsanctioned use highly illegal. Those who wish to
learn the ways of the arcane must gain admittance into
the Wizards’ College and follow the teachings of Thoth.
Apart from the Nezramites who have reluctantly been
granted a unique license to study the teachings of
Nezram in Nezras, all other Mulhorandi wizards are
required to study at the college.
THE EAST WARD
Much of Gheldaneth is contained in a singular urban
sprawl that covers the eastern half of the city, slowly
expanding out into the desert. This is where the majority
of the city's residents live, making their homes in a
mixture of architecture dating back to the old empires
and newer structures mostly made from sandstone.
Apart from various inns, markets and shopping districts,
the Outer Sprawl also contains minor temples to Isis and
Nephthys, as well as the entrance to the underground
temple of Horus-Re. Known as the Hope of the Rising
Sun, this temple was kept a closely guarded secret
during the reign of High Imaskar, offering the
Mulhorandi who remained in Gheldaneth a connection
with their vanished gods. The temple remains open to
this day, maintained by priests of Horus-Re, though
apertures have been carved through the rock to allow
sunlight into the main chamber. When the sun reaches
its zenith, beams of sunlight fall on the temple altar as
worshipers of Horus-Re gather in congregation.
THE TIEFLING QUARTER
The tiefling community has existed in Gheldaneth since
before the Spellplague, forming there when Mulhorand’s
xenophobic restrictions of the early empires were
relaxed. Most believe them to be descendants of former
slaves, however the truth of their origin is much darker;
they are minions of Set, born from an infernal pact made
several centuries ago, and remain in league with Set to
this day. Aybtep Kohl (see page 36) leads the community
and keeps in secret commune with Isseth in Maerlar.
Under his leadership, the tieflings have done all they can
to integrate with Mulhorandi society, and it is common
to see tieflings across every aspect of daily life, from
shopkeepers, to members of the guard, to students at the
university; even becoming members of House Tholaunt.
The Tiefling Quarter is fairly isolated from the rest of
the city; whilst the tiefling presence is tolerated, the rest
of the population continues to regard them with some
suspicion and rarely venture into their community. The
buildings here are some of the oldest in Gheldaneth, and
Mulhorand as a whole, surviving the worst of the
Spellplague and inhabited by the tieflings during the
reign of High Imaskar. It is fairly run down, with little
care taken in preserving the architectural history of
Mulhorand. The tieflings live in tight knit families,
keeping up a façade of peaceful citizens, until it is time
to rise up Set’s name and claim the city as their own.
44
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Gheldaneth is a unique location for those who seek
adventure, its position on the River of Spears making it
the first major settlement travelers will encounter when
arriving in Mulhorand from the southwest. It is a city
dedicated to learning, and for adventurers versed in
magic, somewhere they can look to broaden their skills.
MURDER IN THE ARCANUM
When the party arrives in Gheldaneth, they may be
approached by a man named Thotep who asks for their
aid in solving a murder. A few weeks ago, one of the
teachers at the Arcanum of Magic was found murdered; a
female half-elf named Nulara who had recently become
a professor of anthropology and was Thotep’s lover. The
guard had made some attempts at investigation, but
after finding no clues, promptly abandoned the case.
Thotep feels her mixed heritage means the mostly-
Mulani human guard force will not attempt a proper
investigation, and so has turned to outside aid. He will
provide a sizable reward of coin (adjust for party level) if
they can bring the murderer to justice.
If they agree to help, the party will need to gain entry
to the Arcanum and examine the crime scene; Nulara’s
classroom. A DC 12 Investigation Check will find scorch
marks of fire magic, as well as a journal in her desk
which details a growing concern with the tiefling
activities in Gheldaneth and her attempts to uncover
them. She mentions a single name; Sethroz.
Travelling to the Tiefling Quarter, the party will need
to track down Sethroz, a female tiefling mage who will
attack if discovered and attempt to kill the party or
escape. If they manage to defeat or incapacitate her, they
can return to Thotep who will reward the party and
thank them before going to notify the guard.
This can develop into a much larger quest where the
party continue Nulara’s investigation into the tieflings
to attempt to uncover what they are really up to in
Gheldaneth (see the Summoning hook on page 88).
MISHTAN
Located in the Asanibis region, also known as the Great
Vale, Mishtan is on the banks of the southern tributary
of the River of Spears. Mishtan is a small city, but one
with huge cultural significance, and an important
pilgrimage site for all of Mulhorand. Founded by Osiris
around -2130 DR, it stands as the gateway to the Land of
the Dead (see page 63), Mulhorand’s most sacred burial
ground. Since then, Mishtan has become the center of
House Osriant and worship of Osiris, the Judge of the
Dead. The clergy of Osiris works mainly to manage and
maintain the nearby burial grounds, guarding the tombs
against thieves, presiding over burial rituals and
overseeing the construction of new tombs and pyramids.
Ruined by the Spellplague, House Osriant has worked
tirelessly since to restore Mishtan and the Land of the
Dead. Following the defeat of High Imaskar, Osirius II,
heir of Osiris, reclaimed the city and now governs from
the rebuilt Gateway to the Afterworld temple, a huge
structure in Mishtan’s center.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 7,000 – increasing up to
80,000 during the spring floods
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 73%, Human (Other)
21%, Non-Human Races 6%
Precept: Osirius II, Head of House Osriant
Commerce: Funerary services, tomb & pyramid building,
religious services
Imports: Steel, wood, stone, food
Exports: Masonry, stone carving
Mishtan is more of a town than a city for most of the
year, though during the spring season when the River of
Spears floods, it swells in size as pilgrims travel from
across Mulhorand to visit the Land of the Dead. The
construction of new tombs often commences at this time
as well, with artisans and masons from House Gebthant
erecting the great pyramids and monuments that would
once have been built by armies of slaves.
45
CITY OVERVIEW
Mishtan is small but busy riverside town, its streets
echoing with the hammering of mason’s tools. Most of
its buildings are fairly basic; sandstone tenements and
boarding houses built to accommodate the large influx
of visitors during the spring months. Only the temple
stands out in its center, as well as the great pyramids in
the distance that mark the Land of the Dead.
THE GATEWAY TO THE AFTERWORLD
This imposing structure is the most significant temple of
Osiris in all of Mulhorand and is the seat of House
Osriant in Mishtan. It is formed of multiple huge pillars
of polished basalt, arranged in two concentric rings and
interconnected by walkways that lead between
neighboring pillars. Each pillar is a large self-contained
tower, filled with a multitude of chambers with few
windows, permeating the temple with an eerie gloom.
Burning braziers fill the rooms with smoky incense and
the hum of priests chanting in meditation can often be
heard reverberating through the darkened stone.
The temple serves a number of purposes, each
dedicated to Osiris. It is a center of administration for
House Osriant; from here all matters of the Church of
Osiris are administered across the land. This includes the
assigning of judges who travel to all corners of
Mulhorand who preside over court hearings and settle
disputes. The clergy also administers burial services
across Mulhorand, including the construction of new
burial sites, in the Land of the Dead or elsewhere.
Finally, it is also the headquarters of the Brotherhood of
Those Who Smile in the Face of Death, more commonly
known as the Deathgrins, an ancient order of paladins
dedicated to combatting evil, especially undeath,
wherever it manifests.
Osirius, the head of House Osriant (see page 35),
presides over the temple. He personally oversees the
sentencing of any tomb raiders that are caught stealing
from the Land of the Dead. He is renowned for his hatred
of any who desecrate the sacred tombs, and there is
usually only one sentence he will pass: death.
NELDORILD
On the coast between Skyclave to the north and
Gheldaneth to the southeast is Neldorild, a city known
for its extreme wealth and the worship of Nephthys, the
Devoted Lady. Compared to the other cities, it is still
relatively new, having only been built by the Church of
Nephthys during the third empire, with work
commencing on the Vault of Golden Commerce during
the Year of the Arch, 1353 DR. The vault dominates the
city, acting as both the main temple of Nephthys and
Mulhorand's central bank. Money is everything in
Neldorild and those without coin are not tolerated.
Founded as a haven for the wealthy, everything in the
city was built with extravagance in mind. Most of its
original inhabitants were nobility seeking to escape the
politics and stresses of Skuld or the other cities, as well
as the army of slaves that inevitably followed them.
Indeed, the city was founded on slavery, with the Church
of Nepthys having a dark past in administrating the
importation (mainly from Thay) and sale of slaves
across the nation, as well as the management of
incredibly prosperous papyrus plantations in the nearby
River of Spears delta. The majority of Neldorild's
extravagant villas, temples and the vault itself were all
built from the toil of such industry.
This changed with the Spellplague, which obliterated
the city and tore the surviving populace from their life of
luxury and cast them into the unknown realm of Abeir,
leaving rubble and ruin as the only reminder of their
former affluence. Much of the Vault of Golden Commerce
was kept below ground, however, and the Imaskari were
never able to bypass its wards and defenses.
When the Mulhorandi retained control of their nation
from High Imaskar after the Second Sundering,
Amenepthyst II, heir of Nepthys, immediately set about
rebuilding the vault temple and part of the city around it.
With slavery outlawed, this was now a slow process,
relying on contractors from House Gebthant who were in
demand across the nation. Much of the surviving
nobility did not return either, preferring to inhabit the
upper levels of the Skyclave.
Despite this, Neldorild remains an important location
on Mulhorand's landscape. The Church of Nephthys is
still responsible for the economy of the nation and the
city represents its economic prowess, with trade
dignitaries and officials of House Helcaliant often
attending the Vault of Golden Commerce to discuss
matters of finance. Amenepthys is a master negotiator
and is relied upon by the pharaoh to return Mulhorand to
the economic powerhouse it once was.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 10,000
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 76%, Human (Other)
17%, Non-Human Races 7%
Precept: Amenepthyst II
Commerce: Financial services, vault storage
Imports: Stone, food
Exports: Coin
The affluence and prestige Neldorild held prior to the
Spellplague is much reduced, now closer to a large town
than the metropolis it once was. Its population is a
fraction of before, and it resembles more the center of
the priesthood of the Devoted Lady, as well as a place to
visit for those wishing to access their wealth in the vault.
Eventually, once Mulhorand’s economy is restored, it is
possible the city may recover to its former glory.
46
CITY OVERVIEW
Much of Neldorild remains in ruins, its once glorious
streets reduced to rubble and the numerous symbols of
its wealth; statues, golden iconography and artwork,
ransacked by looters or destroyed by the Spellplague.
Rebuilding has begun, however, and the Church of
Nephthys is unbowed, knowing the most important part
of the city, and its contents; the vault; remains intact.
THE VAULT OF GOLDEN COMMERCE
At the center of Neldorild stands the mostly rebuilt
edifice that forms the Vault of Golden Commerce. The
splendor it held prior to the Spellplague has been
recaptured to the finest detail. Its marble staircase leads
up to a massive colonnade supporting an entablature
formed of an architrave, frieze and cornice, each
emblazoned with hieroglyphics and the iconography of
Nephthys. Inside, this grandeur continues, with a marble
antechamber leading to the main hall; a huge dome-
shaped chamber constructed from white marble and
decorated with golden ornamentation. A large skylight
focuses sunlight during the day, casting a heavenly glow
across the expanse. Around its circumference, priests of
Nephthys are stationed in a variety of tasks; assisting
visitors to the vault with whatever service they might
need, guarding areas not admissible to the public or
performing their administrative duties behind desks of
polished wood.
THE OUTER CITY
The rest of Neldorild is mostly a ruin, with only a few of
the noble manors restored after the Spellplague. Most of
the ruins have been picked clean by thieves in the years
since, though paladins of Nephthys continue to patrol the
city limits, warding off any further opportunists. Since
most of the Mulhorandi nobility have now moved to
Skyclave, the homes that have been restored are mainly
occupied by the priesthood of Nepthys and others who
work within the Vault. Some have been turned into
luxury hotels to accommodate nobles visiting the vault;
adventurers can stay here though rates are exorbitant.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Neldorild is a shadow of the city it once was, though
much of it lies in ruins, there is still opportunity for those
who have the right mentality.
VAULT HEIST
The Vault of Golden Commerce is an attractive target for
those with a rapacious mindset, though far from an easy
target. For adventurers seeking to run a heist on the vault,
they will need to prepare extensively to even find a way
inside and once there they will have to contend with all
manner of guardians, traps and other defenses before
they can reach the wealth contained within. When
preparing the Vault Heist, consider the party level when
designing what encounters they may face.
The vault is made up of three levels, descending below
ground, with the vault’s contents stored on the third. To
get there, the party must overcome numerous obstacles,
whilst trying to avoid raising the alarm. With the clergy
of Nephthys located nearby, this is likely to mean the
capture and imprisonment. Numerous gemstone golems
(page 95) have also been created to guard the vault and
will attack intruders on sight. You can make use of the
traps section in the Dungeon Master’s Guide to design
suitable traps that the party will be forced to overcome. If
they manage to reach the vault proper, they will be able to
grab as much treasure as they can carry, though the
longer they stay, the greater the risk of capture.
SULTIM
Standing as a bastion of defiance in Mulhorand's remote
north, Sultim has long stood as the first line of defense
against invasion and it is famed for having never fallen,
despite many attempts over the millennia. It is located
on the coast north of the Rauthenflow River, west of the
Ganathwood and south of the border with Thay. Founded
around -2130 DR, Sultim was built by the incarnation of
Anhur to become the headquarters of House Ramathant
and the Mulhorandi military. The city is built around the
imposing structure of the Blood Fortress, an
impregnable citadel formed from a deep crimson
granite. The fortress contains numerous barracks and
training grounds which saw the marshaling of legions
for the first, second and third empires. Its port, the
largest naval dockyard in the nation, keeps Mulhorand
safe from any attack arriving from the Alamber Sea.
From his Blood Fortress, Anhur coordinated the first
empire's expansion north into the Priador, Murghôm,
Semphar and beyond, then east into the Raurin,
conquering much of Faerûn’s Unapproachable East.
During Thayd's rebellion and the subsequent Orcgate
War in -1075 DR, Sultim became the rock against the
tide, Anhur's strategic brilliance ultimately defeating
both invasions. Almost two-thousand years later,
another red wizard uprising began, forming the
breakaway nation of Thay and starting a war that would
last centuries. Sultim would be tested by two separate
Thayan invasions; firstly in 1098 DR where Thay was
defeated outside the city walls and forced to retreat. The
second came with much greater success in 1280 DR;
much of Sultim was sacked by the red wizards, though
the Blood Fortress held. Mulhorand nearly fell, though
yet again Anhur would come to the defense of his nation,
driving the Thayans back across the River of Dawn.
With the coming of the Spellplague a century later,
Sultim and the Blood Fortress were reduced to ruins, its
population mostly obliterated, cast into planar oblivion
or transported to Abeir. High Imaskar left the city to
disappear into the wastes, and only after the Second
Sundering, with the return of the Mulhorandi gods and
their people, would Sultim rise again. The Blood Fortress
was rebuilt by order of the new demigod heir of Anhur,
Bezanhur Ramathant, reorganizing the military and
ensuring the city would once again become Mulhorand's
bastion of strength in the north. The war with Thay is
currently dormant as both nations focus on other
matters, but such an uneasy peace could end at any time,
especially with the rise of the lich Szass Tam.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 72,000
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 62%, Human (Other)
24%, Non-Human Races 14%
Precept: Bezanhur I, Head of House Ramathant
Commerce: Smithing, shipbuilding, military training
Imports: Steel, wood, stone, food
Exports: Arms and armaments, ships
Sultim is incredibly important to Mulhorand, with its
strategic position on the northern coast providing
protection for the more populous south. From here,
House Ramathant trains and equips much of the nation's
army, navy and guard force; though a significant
garrison is maintained in the city itself to defend from
northern threats. With most of the Taranoth region now
reduced to sweltering desert, Sultim also stands as one
of the only remaining settlements in Mulhorand's north.
47
CITY OVERVIEW
Ruined by the Spellplague, much of Sultim had to be
rebuilt over the last decade, and there are many
construction projects still in progress. The blood-red
stone that the city is famous for is mined from the
Sunrise Mountains to the north, as House Gebthant
continues its tireless work to rebuild Mulhorand.
THE OUTER WARD
Surrounding the Blood Fortress and the Naval Dockyard
is a well-organized conurbation of paved streets,
tenement blocks and industrial sectors that make up the
rest of Sultim. This is where most of the city's
population live and work, relying on the military and
guard presence to protect them from threats at home
and abroad. The ward is enclosed by a lengthy wall that
encircles it, preventing unauthorized entry into the city
and acting as a first line of defense to any attack; though
history has proved that it only offers a token resistance
with the ward having been sacked and many of its
residents slaughtered during both the Orcgate War and
Thayan invasion of 1280 DR. Three gates watch the roads
north and south along the coast, as well as east into the
desert towards Rauthil, and any travelers are questioned
and inspected before being allowed entry.
Standing in the shadow of the Blood Fortress, the
Outer Ward is very much aligned to House Ramathant
and the military, with the clamor of hammering
smithies and clash of steel from the training grounds
audible in every direction. There is little in the way of
hospitality for visitors, though a number of basic inns
and taverns can be found in the center, which are
popular with those on leave from the guard or military,
as well as blacksmiths and laborers after a hard day. The
most famous, or perhaps infamous, of these is the
Warriors Rest; a large tavern in between the central
barracks and guard outpost in the main square.
Competition between the guard and military has led to
the creation of an organized fighting syndicate and
construction of a fighting pit in the tavern where steam
can be let off and scores settled in bare-knuckle boxing.
Gambling is not strictly legal, though with a share of the
cut going to House Ramathant, it is usually tolerated.
Outsiders are permitted to join in the action, though
must front their entry with a minimum twenty-five gold
pieces a head to receive a share of the prize if they win.
Combat and competition is the main form of
entertainment in Sultim, and in the Outer Ward can be
found the largest arena in Mulhorand; Anhur's Foundry.
Here, displays of gladiatorial combat or athletic contest
are a daily occurrence, culminating in the Time of
Storms Festival; a weeklong event in the month of
Tarsakh which celebrates Anhur's arrival with the
annual storms to defeat the enemies of Mulhorand. This
is the biggest holiday of the year in Sultim and the arena
is packed from dawn until dusk to watch the spectacle.
Gladiators and athletes are trained by House Ramathant,
with many coming from the ranks of the guard or
military. Those who are successful, and survive long
enough, become celebrities across the nation.
There is little in the way of shopping in Sultim, though
those looking for arms or armor will be able to purchase
whatever they are looking for from the smithys present
across the city (at a much higher rate than those sold to
the military or guard). Adventurers can also find work as
mercenaries in the city; there are many tasks that House
Ramathant cannot get involved in for political reasons,
especially anything located across the border into other
nations.
48
THE BLOOD FORTRESS
Sultim is dominated by this formidable citadel which
towers over the rest of the city, its crimson walls glowing
in the Taranoth sun. The fortress serves multiple
purposes; its walls and vast array of defenses protecting
those within during sieges, whilst also providing a base
for mustering and training new recruits for the army,
navy or guard forces, as well as an armory. It is also the
headquarters of House Ramathant, from where
Bezanhur, demigod descendant of Anhur, rules from the
Blood Fortress, constantly strategizing alongside his
generals to coordinate troop and ship movement, as well
as the allocation of the guard across Mulhorand.
The fortress is made up of a series of concentric
curtain walls, perched atop a steep rampart with towers
at each corner and either side of the main gate. Its many
battlements are continuously manned by a large
garrison, with the internal barracks supporting a full
cohort of five hundred soldiers with provision for a
further five hundred if needed. The main keep stands at
the center of the fortress and is protected by a series of
overlapping inner walls and seven obelisk-like towers,
each bristling with ballistae. This keep contains
Bezanhur's personal residence and is both the strategic
nerve center of House Ramathant and the central temple
of Anhur in Mulhorand. This is maintained as a last line
of defense and is a small castle in its own right, manned
by the senior clergy of Anhur; veteran war priests and
glorious servitors of the Falcon of War, more
comfortable on the battlefield than leading sermons.
If the city does come under siege, the Blood Fortress is
quickly secured and its drawbridge raised, leaving any
attacker needing to cross a twenty-foot dry moat
between the rampart and the outer wall. From the
battlements or arrow slits in the walls, archers will
unleash fire down on any attackers attempting to climb
the rampart or cross the moat, whilst burning pitch
pours down on any that reach the base of the wall.
Meanwhile, the heavy ballistae in the towers focus on
any siege equipment the enemy can bring to bear,
launching enchanted eight-foot quarrels that can
penetrate even the thickest of armor up to a half-mile
away. If an attacker does manage to breach the outer
wall, the inner walls are arranged concentrically, forcing
the enemy to navigate a maze of heavily defended kill
zones whilst receiving enfilading and defilading fire.
When the outer wall of the fortress was breached by the
sorcery of the Thayan Zulkirs during the 1280 DR
invasion, the forces that entered the breach were all cut
down before they could get close to the inner ward to
take it. The defenders kept the Thayans at bay for several
days before reinforcements finally arrived from the
south, routing the Zulkirs with the incarnation of Anhur
himself leading the counter attack.
The Blood Fortress is heavily guarded and outsiders
are not allowed access without express permission.
There are no inns, taverns or shops within the walls,
only barracks, mess-halls and stockpiles with provisions
in case of siege. Anyone caught attempting to sneak into
the fortress risks summary execution without trial;
House Ramathant is far less forgiving of lawbreakers
than the other churches.
THE NAVAL DOCKYARD
The Blood Fortress overlooks and defends the huge
harbor, dry-dock and shipyard that makes up the Naval
Dockyard. This is the headquarters of the Mulhorandi
navy, as well as where new ships are wrought and repairs
can be made to the fleet. With sahuagin attacks from the
49
new Empire of Kurrimal becoming more and more
prevalent, the navy constantly patrols Mulhorand's
coastline south to Skyclave and escorts convoys of
merchant ships on the dangerous route past the Priador,
through the Wizard's Reach west to Aglarond, Chessenta
and beyond. The Alaor Islands, visible to the west from
Sultim, are still controlled by Thay, ever since
Mulhorand's last attempted invasion in 1369 DR. Any
voyage that passes too close risks igniting a new conflict.
The harbor itself is protected by magical
enchantment, allowing the defenders to raise an
empowered wall of force to prevent any entry, above or
below water, into the Naval Dockyard. Any that do make
it through before the barrier is raised are easy targets for
ballistae; from the prow-mounts of moored warships or
from the Blood Fortress hundreds of feet above.
Outsiders are permitted into the civilian areas of the
dock, mainly the shipyard district where the shipwrights
and sailors on shore leave can be found enjoying some
relaxation after a hard day's work or long voyage at sea.
The Depths of the Maiden is a rough and ready tavern,
famous for its Heqet beer and regular brawls. Passage
can be acquired for those wishing to travel south to
Skyclave or Gheldaneth, or west towards Aglarond,
Chessenta and the Sea of Fallen Stars.
ADVENTURE HOOKS
Sultim is a hard city, born of the military discipline and
martial prowess of Anhur. Adventurers, and outsiders in
general, are looked on with distrust, with the presence of
Thayan spies a constant concern. Any sort of unlawful
activity is severely punished and citizens of Sultim will
not hesitate to report outsiders to the guard or military.
Yet there is still opportunity in the city, mainly for those
who share Anhur’s ideals of strength and courage.
THE F OUNDRY OF ANHUR
The largest arena in Mulhorand, the Foundry of Anhur is
a proving ground for those who seek glory in the eyes of
the Mulhorandi God of War. Adventurers are welcome to
pit themselves in any of the competitions that take place
here, and do so by approaching the master of the arena;
Anhelos, an old, battle-hardened priest of Anhur. He will
offer a selection of events available:
• Gladiatorial combat is the main event of the arena,
with brutal battles drawing huge crowds to witness
their favorite champions battle to the death. These
take the form of individual duels or group battles,
often taking the form of famous battles from
Mulhorand’s history. Magic is not allowed and
warriors must use weapons from the arena’s arsenal
rather than their own; priests of Anhur will use detect
magic before battle commences to ensure no cheating.
• Monster hunts are another popular spectacle, with
House Ramathant going to great lengths obtaining
rare and powerful creatures from the desert wastes
and beyond to bring back to the arena for blood sport.
Adventurers can take on such a challenge, either
individually or as a party, and the restrictions on use
of magic are more relaxed. Select a monster from
Chapter 6: Monster of Mulhorand suitable for the
party level, adjusting to the combatants.
Athletics are also extremely popular in Sultim and there
are numerous sporting events on display across the
arena. Adventurers can compete in everything from
running, javelin throwing, wrestling and even camel
racing. Most of these will resemble a contest of athletics
checks against the opposition, though camel racing will
need animal handling to succeed.
TOWNS & SETTLEMENTS
There are towns, villages and other settlements
scattered across Mulhorand, mostly concentrated along
the Alamber Coast and the four main rivers. Many other
smaller settlements once existed inland, however have
been lost since the Spellplague, either reduced to sun
blasted ruins, or swallowed up entirely by shifting sand
dunes. Those that remain reflect the ancient Mulhorandi
way of life; tightknit communities of god-fearing
farmers, fishermen and traders, carving out their
existence in this harsh new world.
AINA
A small town on the southern shore of the Alamber Sea,
Aina is well known as a way-stop for those traveling into
or out of Mulhorand from Tymanther to the southwest.
Its population of less than three-hundred mainly work
farmland on the nearby River of Swords delta, though it
also moors a number of fishing boats by a small wharf,
and a number of other trades operate in the town.
A temple of Thoth stands as the largest building in
Aina, from where Alakin Thelor acts as the current
precept. The temple doubles as a school for the locals,
and attendance for children is mandatory. The second
largest building is the Guild of Many Crafts, which works
alongside the temple to teach and regulate various
crafts, including blacksmithing, weaving and stone
masonry. For those seeking entertainment or rest, there
is the Silver Scarab, a decent inn run by the fire genasi
Femi Bakkar.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 250
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 53%, Human (Other)
36%, Non-Human Races 11%
Precept: Alakin Thelor, Priest of Thoth
Commerce: Farming, fishing, crafting
ADVENTURE HOOK
Sean Schnell’s The Restless Ruins is a fantastic short
adventure based in Aina and the surrounding lands and
ideal for a new party of first-level adventurers in
Mulhorand. The party are hired by Alakin Thelor to
investigate a strange tablet that has been dug up from an
ancient ruin excavation to the south of town. The
Restless Ruins is available now on www.dmsguild.com.
ADVENTURE HOOK
The seas around Delgora are notorious for their
dangerous currents as well as raids from the nearby
sahuagin city of Ik’Talos. Many shipwrecks can be found
scattered around this stretch of coastline, many of their
broken hulls visible beneath the waves.
There is rumor of one such wreck; spread by villagers
after a ship’s log was found washed up on the shore; of a
wealthy merchant ship, laden with treasure and magic
items. Apparently, the log showed the ship’s route
between Kaol in Tymanther, traveling north to Skyclave
and keeping to the coast to avoid Ik’Talos.
Adventurers can speak to villagers in Delgora who will
point them in the direction of Emrep, an old fishermen
who found the logbook. If the party persuades him well
enough, he will agree to share it with them, but only if
they agree to take him on the expedition to find the
wreck, and give him a share of the spoils. Emrep has a
fishing boat; an old skiff that is well past its best years.
The party will need to help sail out into the Alamber to
where they might find the wreck and then begin
searching for the treasure. They will also need to prepare
a way to be able to dive down and investigate each wreck,
using water breathing magic of some kind.
Sahuagin of various types will be attracted to their
efforts, as well as other sea creatures such as hunter
sharks, giant octopi and even more powerful creatures
such as dragon turtles and krakens. Design suitable
encounters for the party’s level, noting that it is possible
for the skiff to be sunk by one of the attacks, leaving the
party in a precarious position having to swim for shore.
For each shipwreck they investigate roll a d100; on the
roll of a 90-100 they have found the wreck the logbook
belongs to. If they fail to find it after searching four
other wrecks, the fifth will automatically be the correct
one. Provide gold and magic items suitable for the party
level as a reward; if Emrep is still alive, he will expect his
share of the prize, though he will only be interested in
the gold.

DELGORA
Sitting on the Alamber Coast just southeast of Neldorild,
Delgora was once the home of Mulhorand’s largest
fishing fleet. Since the Spellplague and the increase of
sahuagin raids along the coast, however, the main fleet
is now based at Gheldaneth, in the much safer natural
harbor provided by the River of Spears Delta. The village
has been rebuilt, though is much smaller than before,
used mainly as a stopping point for travelers and
caravans moving along the coastal trade road between
Gheldaneth and Neldorild. It retains a small number of
fishermen and their boats, though the threat of sahuagin
attack from the Kurrimal empire is ever present.

GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 60
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 71%, Human (Other)
27%, Non-Human Races 2%
Precept: None
Commerce: Fishing

50
JHALHORAN
Once a city that guarded the important Great South Road
connecting Maerlar in the north and Surbroar and Ulzel
in the south, Jhalhoran has been reduced to a minor
town. The desert has swallowed up the Great South Road
and Maerlar is no more than a ruin. Some travelers do
continue to risk the treacherous trails, but most now
take the much safer, albeit longer, river or coastal roads.
Some of Jhalhoran has been rebuilt since the
devastation wrought by the Spellplague, but most of it
either still lies in ruins or has been pulled down to
harvest stone and other building materials. It now
resembles something of a shanty town, a home to those
who cannot afford to move to the more prosperous cities
of Skyclave or Gheldaneth. The town’s main commerce
now lies in farming along the River of Shadows and
cameleering; providing camels for those venturing into
the desert. These mounts are the only way to navigate
the dunes and long trains of camels can often be seen
stretching away into the hazy horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 1850
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 41%, Human (Other)
40%, Non-Human Races 19%
Precept: Currently vacant
Commerce: Cameleering, farming
ADVENTURE HOOK
Adventurers arriving in Jhalhoran may hear rumor of the
Lost Eyes of Tassala, a set of extremely valuable
sapphires, each the size of a man’s hand. They were
stolen from a pyramid in the Taranoth by a notorious
tomb raider known as the Desert Scoundrel. The thief
was eventually caught by paladins of Osiris, but had
hidden his acquired treasure and no manner of magic or
torture would get him to reveal its whereabouts. He was
sentenced to the Simikhara and buried alive in an
unmarked tomb somewhere in the desert southeast of
Jhalhoran to suffer an agonizing death.
Those looking to find the Lost Eyes of Tassala will
need to first begin an investigation, attempting to find
the Desert Scoundrel’s heist party who have gone to
ground in Jahlhoran. With suitable investigation roles
and listening to the gossip of the town, they will hear
mention of the name Kessaro, a Mulani human female
spy and apparent accomplice of the heist. Tracking her
down will not be easy, she has taken on a false identity
and lives in hiding somewhere in Jhalhoran. The party
will need to try and tempt her out of hiding somehow or
somehow locate her in the town. There are other
members of the heist party still around they might also
find, including Rekar the halfling scout, Ihrotep the
Nezramite mage and Beros, a Rashemi berserker.
Finding any of these and persuading (or intimidating)
them should lead to Kessaro.
When they do find her, she will attempt to do
everything she can to escape the party. Only she now
knows where the gems are located so killing her will
likely mean they are lost forever. If they manage to
capture her, they will need magical means (such as zone
of truth) to get her to confess the location; a forgotten
tomb from the first empire, deep beneath the streets of
Jhalhoran, its hidden entrance in the ancient sewers. If
the party manage to find the tomb and bypass its traps,
they can recover the sapphires (worth 5000 gp each) and
either keep them and risk becoming hunted themselves,
or return them to House Osriant for a 1000 gold reward.
51
KLONDOR
Sat at the foot of the Dragonsword mountains on the
northern tributary of the River of Spears, Klondor is a
small town most famous for the huge sphinx monument
in its center. Built during the first empire in honor of the
gods, this great statue has stood through the millennia;
even surviving the Spellplague whilst the rest of the
town was laid to ruin. Klondor has mostly been rebuilt
and now exists as a farming town, the majority of its
residents working the fertile farmland along the River of
Spears. With much of Mulhorand now a desolate
wilderness, the river farmlands are vitally important,
serving as a breadbasket to the major cities.
The Church of Isis is responsible for organizing and
managing the logistical challenge of providing food for
Mulhorand’s populace, and the presence of the Bountiful
Lady is ever-noticeable in Klondor. The Temple of the
Golden Harvest is found opposite the sphinx monument
in the center, run by Emithis, priest of Isis and the town
precept. She coordinates the farming activity along the
Klondor tributary of the river, ensuring the correct quotas
of barley and millet are shipped down river to the Mystic
Cornucopia, the main temple of Isis in Mulhorand. From
there it is sent on Gheldaneth, Neldorild and on up the
coast to Skyclave.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 860
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 63%, Human (Other)
31%, Non-Human Races 6%
Precept: Emithis, High Priest of Isis
Commerce: Farming
ADVENTURE HOOK
Klondor was attacked centuries ago by an elemental force
known as the Rage of Dust; a cluster of powerful skriaxit
dust elementals (see page 93) formed into one terrifying
storm. This malevolent entity was driven off but there is a
rumor it has resurfaced in the wake of the Spellplague,
inhabiting the deserts north of Klondor and devouring
hapless travelers following the desert route towards
Jhalhoran, it will surely not be long before it strikes the
town again. Adventurers may receive a plea for aid from
Emithis to save Klondor from doom. Note that this will
involve a battle with a sandstorm of 8 dust elementals so
they will need to be high level (15+).
If the party accepts, they will travel to the town and
prepare to meet this foe before it can lay waste to Klondor
and its people. Most of the residents are simple farmers
and cannot help against such a powerful enemy, however
Emithis is a powerful archdruid (Monsters of the
Multiverse page 48) and will aid the party if they ask. She
is a kind and nature-loving Mulani woman, but will gladly
use her powers to defend her home.
Emithis will urge the party to head out to find the
elemental menace rather than letting it attack the town.
If they agree, she will accompany them into the area of
desert north of Klondor along the road towards
Jhalhoran. A violent sandstorm will soon engulf the
party, forcing them to seek shelter or suffer the effects
(see page 66). When it eventually subsides, they will
notice the surrounding desert covered in a strange black
sand. The elementals will then attack as one, using their
sandstorm ability in unison to engulf the party. If they
overcome this difficult battle and emerge victorious,
Emithis will thank them (if she survives) and whilst she
has little coin, she will offer them an empty home in
Klondor as reward.
NEZRAS
Named after its founder, the great wizard Nezram, the
World Walker, Nezras is a small town located on the
eastern side of the Dragonsword Mountains. Technically
part of the Raurin desert, not Mulhorand, it is
nevertheless regarded as a remote extension of the
nation. It was founded by Nezram’s descendants, known
as the Nezramites, in 1357 DR after they had fled his
original home on the banks of the Lake of Salt. The green
dragon Chaathuuladroth laid waste to his tower there
and slaughtered many of the Nezramites, forcing the
survivors to flee north into Mulhorand. Ostracized as
outsiders, they built this remote settlement which has
slowly expanded into the town it is today.
Nezras is formed into a circular community, with the
rebuilt Nezram’s Tower at its center. The wizard’s new
home also doubles as an arcane academy, the only
tolerated magical school outside of the college in
Gheldaneth. Nearly every resident of the town is
involved with the academy in some way, the gift of
arcane intuition passed on by the blood of Nezram.
There is no restriction on the use of magic like the rest of
Mulhorand either; the people openly practice magic and
use it regularly in everyday life.
Unlike the rest of Mulhorand, Nezras has not adopted
such multicultural tolerance and outsiders, even non-
Nezramite Mulhorandi, are looked on with disdain.
Whilst not prevented from entering the town,
adventurers will not be welcomed. There are no inns or
taverns and Nezram’s tower and the academy are off
limits unless invited. Trade is permitted, with a number
of stalls found around the academy, though the
Nezramite merchants charge exorbitant fees to outsiders
for their selection of magic items and enchantment
services. Even general goods are sold at twice their
normal value to those deemed as ‘tourists’.
Those traveling to Nezras will likely fall foul of this in
hospitality, unless any member of their party has the
Nezramite background (see page 76), in which case they
will be welcomed (provided the individual can prove
their heritage and left Nezras previously on good terms).
Any character with this background will be able to find
lodging for them and their companions, and be offered
regular prices for trade and services in the town. They
will also stand a much better chance of gaining an
audience with Nezram, if that is their intent.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 2650
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 99%, Human (Other)
<1%, Non-Human Races <1%
Ruler: Nezram, the World Walker
Commerce: Magic & enchantment services
52
ADVENTURE HOOKS
With Nezram returned and currently residing in his new
tower in Nezras, there is a unique opportunity for
adventure, if one can gain the wizard’s audience.
THE WALKING DOOM
For the Walking Doom adventure hook (see page 98),
Nezram will meet the group on arrival in Nezras,
assuming they are of suitable level to take on the
Imaskari. He has become aware of Ult’Axion’s plans and
has been waiting for allies of suitable power to aid in
stopping him. He will invite them to his tower to discuss
and point them in the direction of Fortress Maskana.
PLANAR VOYAGE
Famed for his adventures to other worlds and not one to
settle in one place for long, Nezram has unsurprisingly
already begun planning his next planar adventure.
Providing they can gain the wizard’s attention, and his
trust, a party with suitable talent (level 10 minimum)
may be able to persuade the legendary Archtransmuter
to take them with him on his next adventure. This is an
excellent opportunity to make use of the Planescape
setting guide; Sigil and the Outlands, using Nezram’s
travels as a focal point for a Planescape adventure.
Nezram is still fascinated by the power of the sarrukh
progenitor race, and has spent many of his long years
following them through the planes. He has heard rumor
of a sarrukh civilization somewhere in the Outlands, and
is planning to venture to Sigil to seek information on their
whereabouts from the Lady of Pain herself. Sigil cannot
be accessed by any kind of plane shift magic, so Nezram
must make use of the one portal he knows; at the bottom
of Azulduth, Lake of Salt.
Reaching Sigil, Nezram will lead the party through the
City of Doors to find the Lady of Pain. They can follow
him to join the negotiation or split off to explore the
incredible city. After a tense negotiation, the Lady of Pain
offers up the last known location of the Okothian
Sarrukh, as well as a portal to get there, though at a price.
Nezram must first help her by venturing to Mechanus
and the realm of Doomcourt to retrieve a stolen amulet
from one of the servants of the Doombringer. If Nezram
and the party accomplish this, the Lady offers them a
route to the Beastlands where the Sarrukh were known
to have built an enclave in the Forbidden Plateau.
Traveling through the portal, the party will help
Nezram battle through bioluminescent jungles teeming
with dinosaurs and stranger, more alien creatures. They
will eventually find the Sarrukh enclave, though it has
seemingly been abandoned for some time. Searching the
area, the party will be able to find an assortment of
ancient Sarrukh relics, as well as another portal, linking
back to Azulduth in Faerûn…
PE-RETHOR
A medium-sized town nestled in the Dragonsword
Mountains, Pe-rethor has become the center of
Mulhorand’s mining industry. Gold and gemstones are
always sought after, and the demand for stone, iron and
other building materials has increased dramatically
following the devastation left by the Spellplague. House
Gebthant has been tasked with rebuilding Mulhorand
since High Imaskar was defeated, and the Church of Geb
has claimed much of the town as its base of operations in
the region. Numerous mines have been opened, either
side of the rocky route known as the Mourning Road that
heads east into the range. Convoys of miners climbing
this steep path, as well as carts laden with stone and ore
coming down, are a common sight throughout the year.
House Gebthant has also established good
relationships with the various gold dwarf settlements
that exist beneath the Dragonswords, making use of
their mining expertise in return for lucrative trade
agreements. These gold dwarves have had a history of
being mistreated by the Imaskari and were happy to see
the return of Mulhorand to the lower plains. A number of
dwarves have even left their mountain holds to find a life
amongst the humans, some even joining the clergy of
Geb to fully integrate into human society.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 1490
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 51%, Human (Other)
32%, Dwarves 12%, Non-Human Races 5%
Precept: Ghebus, Priest of Geb
Commerce: Mining
ADVENTURE HOOK
The Dragonswords are named so for a reason; these
mountains have long been the nest of powerful blue
dragons for centuries. However, as great a danger as
these creatures are, there is rumor of an even greater
threat in recent years. Adventurers of suitable level (12+)
arriving in Pe-rethor will be petitioned by Ghebus,
precept of the town. A number of mining convoys have
been obliterated by blue dragons, each with a human
rider clad in strange armor. The attacks are swift and
well-organized, striking then disappearing before Pe-
rethor’s guard garrison can react. Ghebus will ask the
party to venture into the mountains to try and find
where these dragon riders are based and defeat them,
offering a lavish reward of gold and gems.
If they accept, the party will travel along the Mourning
Road, finding a mine that was recently attacked, the
miners slaughtered. A search inside the mine will find a
lone survivor who managed to get away and hide. He will
explain that four dragons attacked from the north, each
with a rider that hurled spells at them from above.
The party can venture north, deeper into the
mountains. They will come across a dwarf settlement
that has been left to ruin, and if they take time to
investigate the dragon riders attack again. Use the stats
for four blue dragons with type based on party level, and
mage riders. If they are victorious and bring any of the
riders down, they will find a map showing the location of
a lair. It also has writing in a strange language: Imaskari.
Heading there, they will find a base of operations where
a force of Imaskari have been preparing an army of
dragon riders, attacking Mulhorand’s mining trade as
the precursor for a bigger invasion. There are three more
dragons at the camp, along with three mages and their
archmage leader.
53
RAUTHIL
Clinging to the banks of the River Rauthenflow, Rauthil
is a small merchant town located on the main route
leading from Mulhorand into Murghôm and beyond. It
possesses one of the few bridges that crosses the
Rauthenflow; further west the river turns into a raging
torrent as the water tumbles towards the Rainbow Falls.
Travelers from the south heading towards Sultim must
cross at Rauthil before making their way north. This
crossing means caravans and merchant convoys are
commonplace, making their way along the relatively
safe riverside road to avoid traveling through the desert.
Many merchants stop in Rauthil for respite, as well as
trade in the town’s own thriving market.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 720
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 57%, Human (Other)
32%, Non-Human Races 11%
Precept: Horthys, Priest of Horus-Re
Commerce: Trade
SAMPRANASZ
Sampranasz is a small fishing village in Mulhorand’s
southwest, nestled on the Alamber coast between
Neldorild and Skyclave. Its tragic history has seen it
destroyed and rebuilt four times; first razed to the
ground during the Orcgate Wars, flattened twice by
tsunamis from the Alamber Sea and then most recently
obliterated by the Spellplague. It has now been rebuilt
once more, though as a fraction of the size that it was
prior to the Time of Troubles, when it resembled a town
with a population over three-thousand.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 90
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 75%, Human (Other)
20%, Non-Human Races 5%
Precept: None
Commerce: Fishing
ADVENTURE HOOK
Adventurers may hear that the citizens of Sampranasz
have been beset by a mysterious menace. Several
residents have been found turned to stone. If they offer
to help Ramas, the village elder, the party will need to
investigate and work out what is causing this horror.
Their investigation will uncover Sampranasz’s dark
past as they find evidence of Set’s influence across the
village, with occult symbols etched on walls and an
abundance of snakes slithering through its ancient
streets. For many centuries, Sampranasz was the secret
headquarters of the Cult of Set in the temple known as
the Cavern of the Jackal deep beneath its streets.
If they wait for nightfall, they will spot a horrific,
eight-legged creature emerge from the old ruins and
stalk through the village. If they defeat the basilisk, they
can track down beneath the streets where it came from.
Formed into a natural cavern, the old temple extends far
out beneath the Alamber Sea, with tunnels reaching as
far as Unther. Venturing down, they will encounter
massive stone colossi with jackal heads that animate as
stone golems when the party attempts entry. Inside,
they will find a nest of a dozen basilisks, as well as
numerous relics and treasure of the cult that was
abandoned here. Clearing the temple, the party can
return to Ramas, for a small reward of coin and the
village’s gratitude.
SURBROAR
Located on the Klondor tributary of the River of Spears,
Surbroar is one of several small villages in the area.
Mulhorand’s breadbasket, this part of the Asanibis
region is responsible for providing the rest of the nation
with its growing need for food. A temple of Isis, the
Scythe’s Rest, is the only remarkable building in
Surbroar, with the rest made up of humble sandstone
houses. The people here are simple, god-fearing folk,
just happy to return home after a long day’s toil in the
fields. Visitors are few and far between, with travelers on
the river road bypassing the village entirely.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 360
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 62%, Human (Other)
31%, Non-Human Races 7%
Precept: Ibis Nykara, Priestess of Isis
Commerce: Farming
ULZEL
Like Surbroar, Ulzel is another river village, located
further south on the Mishtan tributary of the River of
Spears. It too is dedicated to farming and falls under the
purview of the Church of the Bountiful Lady. Nearly all of
the village’s modest population work in the irrigated
fields along the banks of the river. The priestesses from
the Bounty of Emerald temple also join, turning the cycle
of crop rotation into a ritualized dedication to Isis.
Ulzel does guard the route into the southern deserts,
so travelers are more frequent in Ulzel, coming and
going from the Okoth region and beyond to the Shaar.
GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Population: Approximately 480
Racial diversity: Human (Mulan) 54%, Human (Other)
37%, Non-Human Races 9%
Precept: Abisis Rahos, Priestess of Isis
Commerce: Farming
54
ADVENTURE HOOK
Adventurers passing close Surbroar or Ulzel may hear of
some unusual happenings between these two farming
villages and can be approached by a concerned priestess
of Isis from the Mystic Cornucopia; Murisi Asaris. There
have been noticeably less farmers working the fields in
recent months, yet neither village have reported any
incidents or reasons for why their workforce is
dwindling. The two precepts (also priestesses of Isis)
continue as if nothing is amiss, with the rest of the farm
laborers working double time to ensure quotas are met.
If the party wishes to investigate, they can travel to
either location, finding them both pleasant, friendly
villages. The people live simple lives, waking at dawn to
begin toiling in the riverside fields, then returning at
dusk to their homes. On the surface, there seems nothing
untoward about either. The only building of note in
Surbroar or Ulzel are their temples of Isis, impressive
buildings that also serve as crop storage. Adventurers
will be welcome to enter the temples, where the clergy
who aren’t out in the fields will offer healing services.
Any prying into the reason for the disappearing villagers
will be met with perplexity, with the clergy or any other
villager seeming unaware of this. Successful insight
checks will hint they are hiding the truth.
If the party investigates further, they will find
numerous empty dwellings, seemingly quite recently
abandoned. Sneaking into either village at night will
reveal the awful truth, as they come across a ritual in
progress. The priestesses of Isis, dressed in full
ceremonial garb, lead a procession of villagers into the
temple. Inside the congregation gathers, praying for the
Bountiful Lady to provide the harvest. One of the
villagers will step forward to the altar and the priestess
slices a blade across their throat, sacrificing them in a
spray of crimson.
Seeing this, the party will need to decide whether to
intervene and stop the ceremony. Stopping the macabre
sacrifices will see the precepts replaced and the party
rewarded by Murisi with coin suitable for their level.
RUINED SETTLEMENTS
Mulhorand is one of the oldest, still-surviving nations in
all of Faerûn, and it holds numerous ruins of former
cities and settlements, some of which date back
thousands of years to the reign of the god-kings. Others
have been more recently created; decimated by the
Spellplague and swallowed up by the desert in its wake.
They are now forgotten to all but the dangerous
creatures that now inhabit them but represent fantastic
opportunities to adventurers seeking riches and glory.
MAERLAR
Once a great city in the heart of the Taranoth region,
Maerlar once controlled all of the main trade routes
running through Mulhorand, including the thousand-
mile-long Road to the Dawn. Great merchant caravans
were once a regular sight, stopping in the city to rest
between long journeys across the Unapproachable East.
The Spellplague reduced the city to a smoldering ruin,
like many other settlements across Mulhorand. Unlike
other cities, however, there was no rebuilding Maerlar.
The scorching conflagration reduced the once fertile
Taranoth plains into a desert wasteland, leaving only
sunbaked rock and shifting sand dunes for hundreds of
miles in every direction. The great trade roads that
crossed through the city were swallowed, and its elegant
architecture began to crumble into the desert.
The city ruins lay empty for over a century, only
occasionally visited by looters or camel trains brave
enough to cross the desert. With the return of the
Mulhorandi pantheon, however, there was one faction
for whom this remote, empty ruin would provide the
perfect sanctuary. Isseth, the new demigod heir of Set,
formed a resurgence in the cult of the Brother of
Serpents, seeking to rival Pharaoh Horuskhet I. The
former hideout of the cult in Sampranasz was no longer
suitable and so, under guidance of Set, the cult set off
into the desert to claim their new home. From here, they
are able to operate in total secrecy, the desert providing
a natural barrier to any would-be interlopers. The
infamous Fangs of Set assassins are free to venture out
into wider Mulhorand, eliminating their marks and then
disappearing back into the dunes.
The ruins are mostly formed of old sandstone
buildings; residences and farmsteads that have
crumbled and blackened from the force of the
conflagration. An ancient temple of Isis stands in the
central square, mostly restored by the cult and
reimagined as a temple of Set. A gruesome altar stands in
front of the main doors, stained crimson with the blood
of previous sacrifices. This is also the residence of Isseth,
where he sits in commune with his lord, plotting the
domination of Mulhorand in Set’s name.
ADVENTURE HOOK
‘The Summoning’ described on page 88 is intended for
high-level parties reaching Maerlar. Lower-level
adventurers, or those passing through, are still likely to
encounter the cult, especially if they start exploring the
seemingly empty ruins. Fangs of Set (see page 94),
assassins and monstrous creatures in the cult’s service
such as giant poisonous snakes and basilisks will strike
out at any party foolish enough to disturb Set’s new
domain. Adventurers will find themselves attacked by
more and more of these servants of the Lord of Carrion
the deeper into Maerlar they go, and will be unable to
rest as they are repeatedly harassed.
55
MULHARAHOLD
Another settlement that once sat on the important trade
routes out of Mulhorand, Mulharahold was the nation’s
most eastern town, marking the north-eastern border
with Murghôm. Like Maerlar, it has been left to ruin as
the deserts of Raurin and the Taranoth merged into a sea
of sand stretching between horizons. Once popular with
merchants and travelers on their way between
Mulhorand and Murghôm, it is now a ruin, its half-
buried houses echoing with the howling desert wind.
The town has been mostly forgotten by the rest of
Mulhorand, with only the whispered tales of passing
camel trains revealing that it still exists at all. They
speak of a ruin lost to the sands, the souls of its former
residents who perished in the cataclysm still wandering
the buried streets. It is a place to be avoided, they say,
lest the spirits claim you to swell their ranks.
ADVENTURE HOOK
An adventurer’s guild contract may be offered to the
party requesting they travel to the ruins of Mulharahold
to retrieve an heirloom from the town’s former temple
of Nepthys. This quest can be obtained from any of the
major cities throughout Mulhorand, all of which have an
adventurer’s guildhall, and best suited to parties around
levels 10-12. The journey to Mulharahold is perilous;
further into the desert wilderness than anywhere else in
Mulhorand, almost crossing into the Raurin. Use the
desert encounter tables on page 70-71, along with any
additional suitable monsters from Chapter 6.
Once the party arrives in Mulharahold, if it is daytime,
they will find nothing untoward in the town. Dust and
sand blows around the half-buried ruins but nothing will
impede the party from making their way along the
streets. At night is a different matter; the rumors of
ghosts are very much true. Ghosts, wraiths and specters
will assail the party as soon as night falls; the spirits of
those slain by the Spellplague somehow disturbed from
their rest. Reaching the temple, the party will find the
source; the once sacred grounds have been placed under
a necromantic curse, most likely by the servants of the
Defiler of the Dead, Set himself. They must defeat the
mummy lord (the former priest of the temple), which
arises from its sarcophagus as the party enters, to end
the curse and complete the contract. Once the mummy is
defeated, the rest of the spirits immediately disappear,
returned at last to their eternal rest.

SEKRAS
Once a flourishing city in Mulhorand’s south, Sekras sits
on the River of Swords where the two tributaries, the
Blue Sword and the Green Sword, join and flow towards
the Alamber. During the Second Empire of Mulhorand it
was a place of technological advancement, and was the
origin of the khopesh sword. The majority of
Mulhorand’s salt also came from Sekras, with a complex
machine created by priests of Thoth filtering salt in
great quantities from the Green Sword tributary that
flowed north out of Lake Azulduth.
Yet, for all its prosperity and advancement, this jewel
in Mulhorand’s far south has always held a dark secret.
By the commencement of the Dalereckoning calendar,
Sekras had become the center of Sebek worship in
Mulhorand, and the Lord of Crocodiles blessed his loyal
followers with the gift of lycanthropy. This spread across
the city and soon it was infested with werecrocodiles.
These Sebek-spawn thrived in the aquatic environment
provided by the sediment-rich River of Swords and soon
began preying on other local settlements in the region,
their hunts ranging as far north as Aina.
Unlike the other ruins described in this section, Sekras
was destroyed long before the Spellplague. In 1183 DR, an
order of paladins of Osiris known as the Deathgrins,
marched on Sekras with a single objective: annihilate the
infestation. The paladins struck without mercy,
delivering the wrath of Osiris upon the vile Sebek-
spawn. None were spared, not even children; the only
survivors those who managed to flee into the river. The
city was put to the torch and left in ruins to remind the
spawn of Sebek should they ever return. In the current
age, Sekras remains a ruin, though this has not deterred
the werecrocodiles from returning. Led by Usebek,
demigod heir of Sebek, they have rebuilt the River’s Maw
temple and resumed their eternal hunt.
Adventuring parties that visit Sekras will find an
overgrown ruin, its proximity to the River of Swords
allowing verdant life to flourish in the city streets and
giving it a feeling of tranquility. This doesn’t last long,
once their presence is noted by the many werecrocodiles
(see page 107) infesting it. There remains treasure to be
found here, however, and it is not uncommon to find
adventurers braving the ruins in search of riches, though
few are known to have returned.
56
The River’s Maw Temple
by Ian Chen
ADVENTURE HOOK
The return of the werecrocodile spawn of Sebek has not
gone unnoticed by the royal houses. Teor Anorsiris,
current head of the Deathgrins of Osiris, may approach
the party as they travel through any of Mulhorand’s
major settlements. He will speak to them in confidence,
explaining that the head of House Osriant, Osirius, does
not trust adventurers, yet he needs their help. The
Deathgrins were decimated during the war in Unther and
the Spellplague that followed, and cannot return to
Sekras to clear the infestation. Instead, they would ask of
the adventurers to find a way into the ruined city and cut
off the head of the beast before it grows out of control. If
they can end the threat posed by Usebek, it is possible
the rest of the Cult of Sebek will falter.
The party, with a recommended level between 12-14,
would need to travel to Sekras making their way south
along the River of Swords. Once there, they will have to
battle their way through werecrocodiles, as well as
regular crocodiles and giant crocodiles that are in
service of Sebek. Much of the ruins are now under water
as the river has started to swallow the city over time,
making it very easy for these reptilian predators to
ambush the interlopers.
If the party manages to reach the River’s Maw Temple
in the center of Sekras, they will be able to find Usebek
(see page 108), though he will be well prepared for their
arrival. He and his retinue of werecrocodiles and giant
crocodiles (adjust retinue number based on party level)
will allow the party into the partially-submerged temple
unopposed, then launch a devastating ambush whilst
they are within Usebek’s lair where adventurers will
suffer half movement due to moving through waist-high
water. He will use his legendary actions to summon
crocodiles and attempt to drag weaker adventurers into
the water in an attempt to drown them. At any point if it
seems like he is losing the fight, Usebek will have no
qualms about fleeing into the murky River of Swords in
an attempt to escape, using his crocodile form if
necessary. If he does manage to escape, the party will
need to hunt him down, or be unable to claim the reward.
This will be a difficult battle, but if the party are
victorious, they can return to Teor for a significant
reward of coin (use the Dungeon Master’s Guide to
calculate a suitable reward based on the party’s level).
SKULD
Known as the City of Shadows, Skuld was once the
capital of Mulhorand’s great empire, a majestic,
sprawling metropolis that covered both banks of the
River of Shadows where it empties into the Alamber. The
city was home to the god-kings of old and known as the
oldest inhabited settlement in all of Faerûn. It was famed
for having never been conquered, despite multiple
attempts; its walls standing strong for nearly four
millennia. As history has shown, no city or empire is
immortal, and Skuld’s majesty was crushed by a single,
cataclysmic event; the Spellplague.
The city was hit harder by the conflagration than
anywhere else in Mulhorand and now stands in ruins.
Great swathes of the city were torn apart by explosions
of wild magic, ripping entire buildings from their
foundations and launching them into the planar void.
Other areas were transformed by the tempestuous
energies, leaving behind pockets of wild magic that
continue to warp and alter the areas around them to this
day. Even the fabric between planes has been torn open
in places, allowing strange, alien creatures to spill into
the city streets, skittering between the shadows.
Recovering Skuld will be a monumental task, if it is
even possible at all. Some progress has been made over
the last decade, with the Pyramid of Re, the sacred tomb
of the dead God of the Sun, now mostly reclaimed from
the foul creatures and malevolent energies that infest
the city. Work has already begun on restoring this sacred
monument, as well as some of the temple buildings
around it. This area also now acts as a staging ground for
any further incursions deeper into the city and a mixed
garrison of Paladins of Horus-Re, Osiris and Anhur work
together to defend its perimeter.
The nation cannot spare the number of soldiers
required to take back the rest of the city, however. With
some reluctance, the task has fallen instead to outsiders,
with the Adventurer’s Guild holding an ongoing contract
to delve into the city, clearing out monsters and
retrieving lost artifacts. Theft is still a major concern and
the guild has strict measures in place to ensure that
Skuld’s treasure is returned to Mulhorand.
57
ADVENTURE HOOK
Adventurer’s Guild expeditions to the ruins of Skuld
depart regularly from the guild headquarters in
Skyclave, as well as the guildhalls in other cities across
Mulhorand. These adventures into the City of Shadows
aim to delve deep into the so-called ‘exclusion zone’, the
vast area of the city that is unrecovered and extremely
perilous. There they will combat the many dangers
lurking in the shadowy streets, whilst searching for lost
relics and other sacred treasures to return to their
former owners. If they accept the contract, the party will
join a larger band of adventurers from the guild; use
Chapter 5: Characters of Mulhorand to generate some NPC
adventurers or otherwise use the generator in the
Dungeon Master’s Guide (page 89). These expeditions can
accommodate parties of different levels any party lower
than level 5 will likely find the city incredibly deadly,
especially if including the star spawn encounter below.
On arrival, they will split into two groups to delve into
the ruins; keep the party together in one group with a
guild guide who knows the general layout of the city. The
other guild adventurers will form a second group and
split off in a separate direction. Use Chapter 6, Monsters
of Mulhorand, to produce suitable encounters for the
players’ level as they make their way through the ruined
streets of Skuld. The expedition will essentially become a
dungeon crawl, with the party battling through
monsters and lingering pockets of wild magic.
The expedition will culminate with the party coming
upon the gory remains of the other adventuring group at
the entrance of the Vizier’s Palace in the northeast
district. There is no sign of what killed them. If they
decide to go inside, they will be ambushed by a colony of
star spawn who have inhabited it (adjust the type of
spawn encountered using Monsters of the Multiverse page
227-230). If they survive, the party will find a cache of
magical items (select items appropriate to party level)
the spawn had been collecting from across Skuld, as well
as a number of sacred relics and tomes belonging to the
royal houses. The party will need to decide whether to
report their find to the guild or attempt to smuggle them
out of Mulhorand without being caught.
DUNGEONS
Mulhorand is covered by a vast number of ancient
tombs, ruins and vaults that have become sprawling
dungeons over the centuries; often forgotten by society
but ripe with opportunity for adventurers. Monsters and
deadly traps lurk within their dark corridors and
chambers, providing obstacles in the way of
unimaginable treasure.
ARROKHAN
Several leagues southeast of Sultim is an ancient
Imaskari ruin that dates back to around -3450 DR, when
the Imaskar Empire was still expanding westward into
Faerûn. Originally, it was built as a subterranean portal
chamber to link back to the bukhara spire portals across
the greater empire, allowing the Imaskari legions to
easily travel great distances. With the Mulani uprising,
the defending garrison was overrun and the portals
destroyed. For several millennia, Arrokhan was
forgotten and left to crumble into ruin. Only during the
reign of High Imaskar were the doors to its dark
chambers opened again, as Empress Ususi began
building, in secret, a doomsday weapon: the Colossus.
Arrokhan was abandoned once more with the defeat of
High Imaskar, Empress Ususi not managing to complete
work on it before Pharaoh Horuskhet’s victory. The
Colossus still dwells deep within, standing in perpetual
slumber until the final components can be assembled to
animate it. From there, it will rise out of the desert to
destroy the enemies of Imaskar. Thankfully none have
been able to find a method of doing so. Yet.
The dungeon is very difficult to find, with a small,
unremarkable tower of Imaskari design marking its
location above ground, hidden in the rolling dunes of
northwest Mulhorand. There is no discernible entrance
to the tower, with the door only opening to the
command word domin, spoken in ancient Imaskari. This
is to prevent most travelers who stumble across the
entrance from ever gaining entry. Those who do manage
to gain entry will find a bizarre relic of Imaskari
architecture, with neatly hewn purple-stone walls,
emblazoned with the iconography of the ancient empire.
Adventurers can wander through chambers filled with
strange apparatus and tools, with half-finished
creations of no discernible purpose left gathering dust;
any experts of Imaskari lore will know these to be the
ancient workings of the artificers.
The dungeon will begin to descend through a labyrinth
of corridors and tunnels, many of which are defended by
complex traps and constructs such as stone golems and
iron golems. Eventually, this will lead into the incredibly
vast central chamber that once contained the Bukhara
Spire Portal but now contains the hulking, silent shape
of the Colossus, standing in the gloom well over one-
hundred feet tall, its head bowed in slumber.
ADVENTURE HOOK
The Walking Doom adventure on page 99 culminates in
the party traveling to Arrokhan to stop Ult’Axion from
awakening the Colossus, or somehow defeating it if he
has already managed to. The door will be open when the
party reaches the location; Ult’Axion and his followers
not sealing it behind them in their rush.
Any adventurers who find their way in outside of this
will find the dormant Colossus, as well as an assortment
of Ult’Axion’s cultists and mages who will be in the
middle of working on the huge construct.
58
THE DRAGON MORTUARY
Deep in the Dragonsword Mountains, east of Pe-rethor
at the end of the Mourning Road, stands the Dragon
Mortuary. This ancient tomb was built in 627 DR as the
tomb of the ancient sand dragon Mot-nefer-mose. This
great wyrm was a somewhat infamous resident of
Mulhorand during the second empire, known for
terrorizing the Dragonswords and amassing a great
hoard in his lair beneath Mount Midalheh.
There is a bedtime story, still told to children to this
day, that Mot was once visited by a wizard, a warrior and
a scholar. The wizard tried to ensnare the dragon with
his magic but was devoured. The warrior tried to slay
him with a magical khopesh, but they too were eaten.
Last came the scholar, who did not try to battle the
dragon, but instead asked him a riddle: “What dreams
false, but remains true to itself; what darts like a sparrow in
a fickle wind, yet is steady as earth; what bends like dragon
wings, though neither hand nor claw touches it.”
Mot could not answer the riddle, and devoured the
third man in his frustration, yet the riddle would play
over and over in his mind, tormenting the ancient
dragon. After some years, and driven half mad, he
travelled to the gates of Skuld and sought an audience
with Pharaoh Horuseres II. The dragon begged the
pharaoh for an answer to the riddle, even offering his
great treasure hoard, but Horuseres refused,
condemning Mot for killing the scholar. He only offered
that should the dragon dedicate his life to the defense of
Mulhorand, then on his death would a great tomb be
constructed to guard his hoard, and if one should come
who might answer the riddle, Mot would finally know
peace. The ancient wyrm agreed and became a champion
of the nation, defending against several small invasions.
Finally in 626 DR, Mot’s long years came to an end.
Horuseres honored his word, and the Dragon Mortuary
began construction, completing in 627 DR. The great
dragon was carried there and embalmed, then placed
alongside his hoard in a grand sarcophagus. The doors
were closed, but not sealed, allowing entry. Many have
tried to enter and solve the riddle since, but none have
succeeded, with many falling foul of the dungeon.
ADVENTURE HOOK
Adventurers seeking Mot’s treasure will first reach the
Mourning Road; a grand avenue that stretches for ten
miles, flanked by many lifelike sculptures of sand
dragons. At the end of the avenue stands the huge statue
of Mot himself, sculpted from the mountain side, its
mouth the entrance into the dungeon. The jaws open
only twice each year; exactly one month before and one
month after midsummer, when the sun sits in the right
position to shine directly into the dragon’s eyes.
Once inside, the Dragon Mortuary is comprised of six
levels, each composed of great chambers hewn from the
mountain’s rock. Numerous traps provide a test to those
who dare entry, as well as various gemstone golems that
were placed by Horuseres and commanded to attack only
if Mot’s treasure is disturbed, otherwise remaining in
eternal slumber. The fifth level is known as the Teeth of
Ma’at and requires one of pure heart to make a worthy
sacrifice, proving themselves before the principles of
ma’at. Only then will the entrance to the sixth and final
level open, where the party will reach Mot’s resting place
and treasure. Answering “reality” will solve the riddle
and grant access to the hoard, a wrong answer will see
the mummified Mot rise up (dracolich using the ancient
sand dragon template) and seek to destroy the party.
FORTRESS MASKANA
In the southern reaches of the Plains of Purple Dust
stands an ancient bastion known as the Fortress
Maskana. Originally built by the Imaskar empire around
-4600 DR, it was once a great fortress covering an entire
hillside, designed to impose Imaskari authority across
the region. During the Mulani uprising around -2100 DR,
the fortress was levelled and in its place the Mulani
forces built their own, smaller, fort. This would guard
against any counter attack, as well as block access to the
extensive subterranean facility beneath the desert.
Over the millennia, the fortress was abandoned and
fell into ruin as the desert winds and purple dust took its
toll. All that remains standing is a single tower, rising up
out of the desert surrounded by crumbling sandstone
ruins. Unknown to most, however, the Imaskari dungeon
beneath remains in immaculate condition, separated
from the desert by extradimensional magic. It was
rediscovered in the Year of Wild Magic, 1372 DR, by
Tyaral who sought to use a powerful Imaskari artifact to
bring back his dead god Bhaal, but was, thankfully, slain
by adventurers before he could complete the ritual.
Access to the dungeon can only be gained via a secret
door at the base of the tower, hidden under the rubble.
Inside, the architecture changes noticeably, switching
from crumbling sandstone to the immaculate purple
stone commonly used by Imaskar. The temperature will
also immediately change from the hot desert air outside,
to a cool, unchanging temperature inside. The dungeon
exists on a single level, with numerous corridors leading
to large chambers, including a barracks with fifty beds,
portal chamber and the quarters of the artificers once
stationed here. Though the facility, close to six-
thousand years old, is in immaculate condition, it is
shrouded in total darkness, the power to its magical
lamps long-since faded.
The Imaskari artificers once used the facility as a
research laboratory, performing alchemical and
extradimensional research. Ancient iron shackles along
one of the laboratory walls indicate that they may have
used live test subjects for some grim purpose.
59
ADVENTURE HOOK
If the party are travelling here as part of the ‘Walking
Doom’ adventure (see page 99), Nezram will have told
them where to find the secret door and succeeding on a
DC 12 Investigation check will be enough. Otherwise,
they will not know how to gain entry and the DC is
increased to 20 for those searching the ruin.
Once inside, any party members familiar with
Imaskari technology may recognize the change in
temperature as extradimensional magic with a
successful DC 12 Arcana check. Devious traps designed to
stop intruders are common through the dungeon,
including a sliding wall trap where two ends of a corridor
will close and the walls start closing together. A pressure
plate will need to be found along the wall (DC 12
Investigation) to avoid being crushed. The dungeon is
also patrolled by numerous helmed horrors, who
immediately attack any intruders who do not bear the
mark of the Imaskari artificers.
Eventually, the corridors will lead to the main
laboratory chamber, where the Imaskari Artificers would
have once worked. Strange contraptions and tools are
scattered around dusty workbenches. The size of this
chamber appears to only measure around forty feet by
forty feet, however walking across it will take much
longer, showing its true dimensions to be closer to a
hundred feet. The party will find evidence here of the
battle with Tyaral that happened a century before. Much
of the laboratory will have been looted, including the
chest that once contained the Fifth Imaskarcana, and the
star sapphire to power the Imaskari Colossus (removed
by Darrok who has escaped through a nearby portal). A
successful DC 15 Investigation check will reveal a hidden
cache of powerful (appropriate for party level) scrolls
and potions in one of the desks.
HALLS OF THE IMPRISONED FAITHFUL
On the eastern of the Dragonsword Mountains from
Mulhorand, north of Nezras on the shores of the Lonely
Lake Oasis, sits a cleverly disguised and warded cave
entrance in the side of a rocky hill. This is actually an
entrance to a vast underground cavern, stretching out
far below the lake. The Nezramite wizard Khoresvent,
having been exiled from Nezras over his malefic
experiments, drained the cavern and built a vast
complex in the Year of the Evening Sun, 1303 DR. Here he
performed his arcane experiments and other mechanical
invention, without interruption from his peers.
House Tholaunt were informed of this unsanctioned
development by those Khoresvent had offended in
Nezras, and sent a group of wizards to stop him. A fierce
battle ensued, with the magic unleashed shaking the
cavern’s foundations. Sensing defeat, Khoresvent used
the last of his magic to cast an earthquake spell at the
ceiling, bringing the waters of the Lonely Lake crashing
down, killing himself and the Thothian wizards.
Unbeknownst to any but him, Khoresvent had been
experimenting with dark soul magic, and the wards
around his dungeon prevented the souls of the slain
wizards from reaching Heliopolis and the afterlife. Their
spirits were trapped to wander the submerged cavern for
all eternity, giving this dungeon its tragic name.
Khoresvent was prepared for this eventuality, and had
already ensured his soul would be transferred to a
phylactery; the necromantic ritual to achieve lichdom
already performed. However, with his phylactery and
form submerged and buried, he must wait for an
unwitting victim to come and release him from the Halls.

ADVENTURE HOOK
Any adventurers that hear about the Halls of the
Imprisoned Faithful and seek to explore the lost
dungeon (recommended level 15+) will first need to find
it. Khoresvent made it intentionally hard to find, using
wards to conceal the entrance and protect from any
divination magic that might locate it. The party will need
to search the area around the lake, succeeding on a DC 20
Investigation check to locate the entrance.
If they do manage to locate it, they must then contend
with a number of magical traps guarding the
entranceway, including glyphs that when passed will
cast a maze spell on the entire party. Once past this, the
tunnel descends into the fully submerged cavern; water
breathing or similar enchantment will be needed to
explore the dungeon. Inside, the party will find
Khoresvent’s laboratory, his apparatus and various
treasures floating in the pitch-black water. Once the
adventurers enter the main laboratory, the six wraiths
that are the trapped souls of the Thothian wizards will
attack, drifting through the water without impediment.
After defeating the wraiths, the party may search the
laboratory, with a successful DC 15 Investigation check
revealing Khoresvent’s hidden treasure cache, including
a number of magical items as well as gems containing
the souls of his experiments. One gem in particular, a
large crimson ruby the size of a human fist, seems to
glow if it is picked up. At this point, Khoresvent’s lich
form will awaken from slumber and attack, seeking to
free itself from the dungeon at last.
If the party survives this deadly encounter, they are
free to take the Khoresvent’s treasure and leave (the
phylactery will need to be destroyed however, or the lich
will return to existence in ten days’ time).
60
RUBIA
Rubia lies southwest of Aina, a former settlement lost to
ruin. It contains a Pyramid Temple of Osiris which has
sunk beneath the sand dunes, its treasures lost to time.
For full details of what the party may encounter in Rubia
and its temple dungeon, Sean Schnell’s The Restless
Ruins is available now on www.dmsguild.com.
THE THIEFKILLER
The Sword-Tower of Khopatunme, also known as the
Thiefkiller, is a great tower southeast of Maerlar, deep in
the desert. Those brave enough to cross the Taranoth
often use it as a waypoint; along with the spire of
Skyclave far to the southwest, it is possible to calculate a
relative position whilst traveling through the dunes.
The octagonal tower is formed of solid basalt, with no
windows and rising over four hundred feet to a sharp
point. Four androsphinx statues are placed at each point
of the compass from its base, their basalt faces twisted
in angry warning to those who would dare approach.
A Thothian archmage named Khopantunme created
the tower in the Year of Flying Daggers, 345 DR, during a
terrible famine which caused an outbreak of thieving and
tomb raiding across Mulhorand. The mage decided to
challenge the thieves, building the tower with the aid of
slaves, dwarves from the Dragonswords and even
summoned earth elementals to quarry seven levels
beneath the tower; then filled it with a great hoard of
treasure. He then installed a wide assortment of deadly
traps and powerful wards, designed to ensnare and kill
thieves, who are viewed like vermin by the Mulhorandi.
Like mice seeking the cheese, it did not take long for
thieves to arrive hearing word of the treasure on offer.
Over the centuries, thousands of attempts have been
made, with most ending in the thieves’ demise; either to
the many traps or dangerous denizens within. Some
treasures have been retrieved successfully, including an
enchanted golden chariot of incredible value. It is
tradition for archmages of Thoth to travel to the tower
each decade, offering treasure and magic items into the
mouths of the androsphinxes. These are then magically
teleported into the dungeon depths, providing more
temptation for tomb raiders to enter. The Cult of Set has
also secretly fed the statues scrolls of undead
summoning, adding additional perils to the dungeon.
ADVENTURE HOOK
Adventurers who wish to brave the Thiefkiller will be
confronted by a dungeon of incredible danger. Whilst the
main entrance is open to all and safe to enter, beyond
that virtually every corridor and chamber is filled with
all manner of traps (mechanical and arcane) and
dangerous creatures. Use chapter 5 of the Dungeon
Master’s Guide implement suitable dangers as the party
descends. Monsters include various elementals, golems
as well undead in the lower levels such as mummies,
mummy lords and ashen husks.
The dungeon is made up of the base level, six upper
tower levels and seven underground levels, each with its
own assortment of traps and monsters that get
progressively more deadly with each level ascended or
descended, along with the treasure which grows
progressively more lucrative. Parties of different levels
can attempt this dungeon, however should be a
minimum of level 5 and may need to attempt the more
dangerous levels at a later date.
THE TOMB OF HORUSERES II
TOMB RAIDING IN MULHORAND
Pharaoh Horuseres II ruled Mulhorand for 917 years,
from 4 DR to 921 DR, becoming longest reigning Mulhorand is covered in old tombs and dungeons that are
pharaoh’s in history. As a divine incarnation of Horus- filled to the brim with incredible treasure and magical
Re, he did not age and so led Mulhorand through much artifacts, making it a land of great temptation for those
of its second empire. His reign ended in 921 DR, with a glint of greed in their eye. However, this has led to
however, when he was slain by the green dragon the Mulhorandi becoming extremely precautionary against
Chathuulandroth whilst visiting the Land of the Dead. the menace posed by tomb raiders and thieves. Entire
The nation was placed into mourning for one-hundred orders of paladins exist to protect many of the tombs and
days and work immediately begun on constructing a the treasures they contain, and tomb raiding is viewed as
great tomb, at the time rivalled in scale only by the great amongst the worst crimes someone can commit. Indeed,
pyramid-tomb of Re in Skuld. The tomb was carved from there is a truly horrific punishment reserved for this crime,
an entire side of one of the Dragonsword mountains the Simikhara, (see page 21) used as a deterrent.
located north of Klondor. Whilst technically not located Adventurers should be made very aware that attempting
within the Great Vale, the tomb is still considered one of to steal from the dead is considered sacrilege and comes
the most sacred tombs in the entirety of the Land of the with great risk. They may survive the traps and guardians of
Dead, and so is maintained and protected vigilantly by a tomb only to find themselves awaiting execution.
House Osriant. The tomb has famously never been
breached by thieves and is defended round the clock by
paladins of Osiris and numerous divine wards placed by
priests of Horus-Re.
ADVENTURE HOOK
Though sacking the great Tomb of Horuseres II is
regarded by most as an impossible task, this may make it
all the more of an invitation to those who enjoy a
challenge. For any party wanting to attempt stealing
from the tomb, they will need to make significant
preparations and should be level 10 at minimum.
The tomb is formed of an entrance level and a tomb
level, both of which are patrolled continuously by a
garrison of twenty knights and five priests of Osiris led
by a champion (Monsters of the Multiverse page 74). The
tomb is also guarded by a plethora of traps and twelve
diamond gemstone golems who are programmed to
attack anyone or anything not part of the guard.
If the party can bypass the traps and guardians, there
is a vast sum of treasure in the tomb, however it has
been marked with warding spells, so escaping
Mulhorand with it will be an additional challenge.

61
PLACES OF INTEREST
Many of Mulhorand’s places of interest, natural and
manmade, have been wiped away by the Spellplague.
Despite this, there are still many wonders beyond the
endless sand dunes and rocky crags that now make up
the majority of its interior. Beauty remains, for those
who know where to find it.
THE ALAMBER SEA
The Alamber is a vast inner sea that dominates
Mulhorand’s western border, providing a vital source of
food, trade and transportation throughout its history. It
connects, via the Wizard’s Reach, to the Sea of Fallen
Stars, allowing Mulhorand to make contact and trade
with the dozens of nations arrayed along many
thousands of miles of coastline.
Inevitably, with the opportunity generated by this vast
stretch of water, there is great danger as well. This is
posed most noticeably by the vast sahuagin empire of
Kurrimal (formerly Aleaxtis), who regularly raid the
waters along Mulhorand’s coast. Beyond this, and the
other monsters that populate the sea’s azure depths, the
Alamber also presents an avenue of invasion to any
enemies, and Mulhorand has had numerous battles with
Thay over the Alaor island chain as both nations look to
establish dominance over the naval routes.
ADVENTURE HOOK
Adventurers who wish to travel to or from Mulhorand
may look to navigate the Alamber Sea to avoid the vast
stretches of desert that now cover much of the
Unapproachable East. To do so they will need to book
passage on a ship, though rates are expensive owing to
the dangers described above.
Travel along the coastline falls under the protection of
the Mulhorandi navy, however any travel beyond
Mulhorand’s waters should be taken with great care.
Many merchant ships travel in fleet convoys with their
own escorts and keep close to the coast to minimize the
danger. There are all manner of monstrous threats
lurking in the Alamber that may provide suitable
encounters for a sea-borne journey, see page 87 for
suggestions.
AZULDUTH, THE LAKE OF SALT
Though part of the Okoth region, not Mulhorand, this
huge lake has nevertheless played a significant role in
Mulhorand’s history. The lake feeds the River of Swords,
providing a natural source of salt as it flows north and
joins the tributary at Sekras. It was also famously the
home of Nezram, the World Walker, who built his
wizard’s tower on the eastern shore.
Two small settlements, Azun and Buldamar, have
sprung up in recent centuries around the lake, providing
respite for travelers coming from or going to the Shaar,
Council Hills or Shining South.
ADVENTURE HOOK
The lake’s shore is dotted with ancient Sarrukh and
Sauroid ruins, half-buried in salt. These, along with the
ruined tower of Nezram, provide a tempting proposition
to adventurers. Stories are told in Azun and Buldamar of
an ancient dwarven mechanism in the Underdark
beneath the lake, that once filtered the salt water and
funneled fresh water through a network of pipes. Many
adventurers go in search of these ruins, seeking riches
and glory, though often falling foul of the
werecrocodiles and other monsters that inhabit the lake.
62
CLIFFS OF LEAPING HORSES
Much of Mulhorand’s northwest coastline is formed of
towering limestone cliffs that rise high over the
Alamber. The region takes its name from the wild herds
of horses that use to roam this part of the Taranoth
plains prior to the Spellplague.
The cliffs are interspersed with sea caves that connect
in labyrinthine tunnels that stretch for miles under the
surface. These are often used by smugglers and other
criminals to peddle wares into or out of Mulhorand.
THE DRAGONSWORD MOUNTAINS
These mountains form a natural barrier between
Mulhorand and the Plains of Purple Dust beyond its
eastern borders. These peaks, many of which rising over
twenty-thousand feet, are considered by the Mulhorandi
as impassable, and most of the mountain range remains
unexplored. They are also inhabited by a wide range of
deadly creatures such as blue dragons, sphinxes,
goblinoids and giant kin, as well as more peaceful
neighbors in the gold dwarves that inhabit a number of
settlements beneath the mountains, providing trade and
services in craftmanship.
ADVENTURE HOOK
Adventuring parties seeking to cross the Dragonswords
(despite the best advice of the locals not to) will find a
drastically different environment to the desert climate
that now dominates Mulhorand’s interior. The soaring
temperatures will quickly subside to cold and equally
unforgiving conditions as they ascend. Without proper
mountain clothing and climbing gear there will be no
way to survive. Even if they possess such equipment,
attempting to find a route through this unexplored
region will be incredibly perilous, fraught with
monsters, avalanches and biting cold.
Such a hazardous journey is not without opportunity,
however. A vast network of caves and mine shafts cover
the mountain range, many leading deep inside the
mountains or even descending down into the Underdark.
The dwarven clan settlements in the area do welcome
trade, though are suspicious of outsiders and only allow
visitors into designated trading areas.
THE GANATHWOOD
Straddling northern Mulhorand and western Murghôm,
this small forest serves as an unofficial border between
the two nations. It covers the southern base of the
Sunrise Mountains and stretches as far as the river
Murghol. Formed mostly of willow trees, the forest was
once a primary source of wood for Mulhorand’s empires.
Yet, the conflagration of the Spellplague has reduced it
to little more than a graveyard of twisted, dead trees,
their blackened branches grasping claw-like at the sky.
ADVENTURE HOOK
Though it is now little more than a wasteland, there are
rumors that the Ganathwood holds great opportunity for
adventurers. It was once home to a village of wood elves
that shared a heritage with the elves of Yuirwood. They
died off in the mid-14th century but there is legend their
ancestral home contained a large cache of ancient elven
magic and treasure, hidden deep in the forest.
Adventurers seeking this treasure must navigate
through twig blights, harpies and wyverns that inhabit
the forest. The ruined elven village is located in the
center but guarded by blighted treants that have been
animated by wild magic and attack anyone on sight.
THE GRINNING SKULL OASIS
This oasis in the northern reaches of the Plains of Purple
Dust takes its name from the huge dragon skull that
shields it from the harsh winds that frequent the plains.
It is said to have originated from an ancient blue dragon
that died there several thousand years ago.
Travelers stopping for water at the oasis must take
great care, for the Imaskari laid a powerful enchantment
upon it as they retreated from the Mulhorandi uprising.
Of the six pools that make up the oasis, five are
poisoned, with the one safe pool changing randomly
changing each sunrise. Anyone who drinks from one of
the poisoned pools must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution
saving throw or take 3 (1d6) poison damage and become
poisoned. The poisoned creature must repeat the saving
throw every 24 hours for 4d6 days, taking 3 (1d6) poison
damage on a failed save. Until this poison ends, the
damage the poison deals can’t be healed by any means.
LAND OF THE DEAD
Also referred to as the City of the Dead, this vast
necropolis dominates much of the Asanibis region,
stretching east from Mishtan and north into the Great
Vale. It is almost as old as Mulhorand herself, designated
as the resting place of the honored dead, including the
many pharaohs, divine incarnations and mortal
descendants of the gods. Here, great monuments are
visible in every direction; pyramids of white stone in
rows like jagged teeth; huge statues depicting the gods
in all their grandeur; and the entrances of mausoleums
that disappear beneath the sand. Some have begun to
crumble and fade over the millennia, though restoration
work is continuous to preserve such a vital part of the
nation’s history. New projects commence regularly, as
well, constantly expanding its borders. The pyramids
mostly date back to the First Empire, initially with step
pyramids, then later replaced by larger sloped pyramids
such as the Tomb of Re. During the Second and Third
Empires, the trend switched to ornate monuments
marking the entrance to tombs and mausoleums.
House Osriant is responsible for the protection of the
necropolis and there is a small army of paladins and
clerics who preside over it, restricting access to the
tombs to prevent tomb robbing and directing the
embalming process and burial ceremonies, made
possible by the donations of the royal houses, churches
and nobility; the only people in Mulhorand that can
afford such a lavish transition into Heliopolis.
63
LONELY LAKE OASIS
Located just north of Nezras in the eastern foothills of
the Dragonsword Mountains and the fringes of the Plains
of Purple Dust, this large oasis provides a lifeline to the
Nezramites who rely on it for food and water. It is also the
only source of natural life for hundreds of miles in every
direction, with the vast purple plains stretching away to
the east and mountainous barrier to the west. There is a
large underwater cavern beneath the lake, see the Halls
of the Imprisoned Faithful adventure on page 59.
ADVENTURE HOOK
Adventurers stopping to rest at the oasis will likely find
themselves confronted by the Nezramites who take great
care to guard what they see as their territory. These
descendants of Nezram are suspicious of outsiders and
much like when entering Nezras (see page 52), they will
not be allowed access without permission and any
hostility or failure to comply will see the swift wrath of
the mages and archmages of the town. Earning the favor
of Nezram will avoid such a confrontation and allow
unrestricted access to the oasis.
THE MYSTIC CORNUCOPIA
The Mystic Cornucopia is the most prominent temple of
Isis in all of Mulhorand, located where the tributaries of
Klondor and Mishtan join to form the River of Spears.
Beyond just a place of worship, the temple now is the
center of Mulhorand’s agriculture industry, coordinating
farming and food transport across the entire nation. With
most of its inland farmland reduced to a desert
wasteland, Mulhorand’s four rivers are now integral to
farming, and feeding the nation is managed from the
cornucopia.
The temple is a huge complex, made up of lush flower
gardens, flowing streams, serene pools surrounding
ornate sculptures and fountains. Priestesses of the
Bountiful Lady constantly work to tend these beautiful
grounds, their worship taking the form of nurturing
cultivation instead of religious ceremony.
Those outside of the Church of Isis are permitted
entry into the main temple grounds (donations are
strongly encouraged), though access to the vast
storehouses and grain silos in the western side of the
complex is strictly prohibited and guarded by paladins of
the Lady. From here, a constant convoy of wagons and
heavily laden boats arrive and depart, delivering produce
along the roads and rivers to reach the cities and towns.
THE RAUTHENFLOW
This river stretches from the Brightstar lake east of
Murghôm, flowing west along the northern reaches of
the Raurin desert and Plains of Purple Dust to where it
empties into the Alamber Sea south of Sultim. Known for
its white-water rapids and dangerous currents, the river
is only navigable to traffic due to extensive efforts by the
Mulhorandi (and previously Imaskari). Engineering
projects added canals and cataracts, as well as fortifying
the banks with stone and removing large boulders to
make it possible for boats to sail along its length.
At its western limit, the Rauthenflow meets the
famous Rainbow Falls, also known as the Rauthgor; a
huge waterfall that sends a constant torrent of water
down into the Alamber from atop the Cliffs of Leaping
Horses. These falls make it impossible for ships to enter
or leave the river via the Alamber and the merchant town
of Rauthil is typically as far west as boats will travel.
Much of the traffic derives from Murghôm, whose
merchants travel to Rauthil to peddle their wares to the
Mulhorandi. Rauthil also once held the only bridge that
crossed the Rauthenflow along its entire length,
however since the Spellplague a new bridge has been
constructed over the Rainbow Falls to allow easier
passage to and from Sultim.
THE RIVER OF SHADOWS
Originating in the foothills of the Dragonsword
mountains, this river flows through the city of Jhalhoran
and reaches the sea at the ruins of Skuld (the City of
Shadows giving the river its name). Once the most
prosperous river route in Mulhorand, linking the former
capital with Jhalhoran, it is now mostly used to ferry
produce from the many riverside farms as well as camels
from Jhalhoran. Its waters do not flow as fast as the
River of Spears or Rauthenflow, but its rocky waters are
treacherous, especially during the flood season.
64
THE RIVER OF SPEARS
Formed from its two tributaries at Klondor and Mishtan,
this river is by far the busiest in Mulhorand, delivering
food west to Gheldaneth and beyond. The seasonal
floods enrich the surrounding riverbanks, which are
heavily irrigated and worked along nearly the entirety of
its length. The Mystic Cornucopia, temple of Isis,
coordinates the feeding of the nation as well as the huge
number of Mulhorandi farmers who work there.
THE RIVER OF SWORDS
This river is formed of two parts; the Lower Sword and
Upper Sword. The Lower Sword consists of two
tributaries, the Blue Sword, which originates in what
was once Unther but now claimed by the emergent
nation of Tymanther. This clearwater river then meets
the Green Sword at Sekras, which flows north from
Azulduth, the Lake of Salt. The Upper Sword forms in
Sekras where the two tributaries meet and flows north to
the Alamber. The river serves as a border between
Mulhorand and Tymanther but is now mostly
uninhabited other than a few colonies of salt miners and
the malicious werecrocodiles in Sekras.
THE STONE OF KEST
An ancient monument in the northern foothills of the
Dragonsword Mountains, this peculiar obelisk stands
over sixty feet tall and is covered in ancient Mulhorandi
hieroglyphs. Though weathered by the ages, the tale is
mostly legible to those who can understand the archaic
language, and a successful History check (DC 15) by
those who speak Mulhorandi will allow an individual to
recite the tale. The stone records the epic story of the
Orcgate Wars, raised to commemorate the countless
lives lost, including those of the Untheric gods as well as
the Mulhorandi God Re, and describes the heroic victory
of the Mulani forces over the horde in -1069 DR.
 CHAPTER 4
DESERTS OF MULHORAND
ince the Spellplague, much of Mulhorand's
S interior has been reduced to great stretches of
desert wasteland, formed of hundreds of
leagues of rolling sand dunes, broken only by
the peaks of sun-blasted crags. This is a harsh world,
detrimental to life and without mercy to those who dare
to travel through it. Yet, it is far from empty. All manner
of interesting places still exist; from ruined cities half-
buried in sand, forgotten tombs brimming with treasure,
to luscious oases hidden in the dunes. There is life here,
too, as creatures great and small adapt to the harsh
environment. Many migrated west from the deserts of
the Raurin and Plains of Purple Dust, whereas others are
new inhabitants, spawned by the wild magic
conflagration or teleported here from other planes of
existence.
This chapter offers Dungeon Masters details on what
to expect when their players dare to venture through the
desert regions of Mulhorand and beyond, including
wilderness hazards like sandstorms, mirages, extreme
heat and dehydration. It also includes random encounter
tables to present players with a wide range of monsters
and other perils they may be confronted with during
their journey. The deserts of Mulhorand were created by
the Spellplague, and whilst that cataclysmic event has
long since passed, there are many lingering effects that
pose an even greater threat than sun, sand and thirst.
These supernatural energies manifest in areas of intense
wild magic that warp and twist reality. Whilst this
chapter will suggest a variety of different supernatural
encounters that a party may encounter, there is scope
for Dungeon Masters to invent their own as well.
Beyond the deadly desert hazards adventuring parties
might experience, there are plenty of non-perilous
opportunities they may encounter as well. Perhaps a
hidden oasis, desert cave or half-buried settlement or
ruin; there is plenty to break up the days and nights of
traveling between more defined places of interest such
as those included in chapter 3. Mulhorand's modern
climate is much like the Saharan region of northern
Africa in our own world, and adventures across its desert
wilderness can use this as inspiration with a fantastical
twist!
65
DESERT HAZARDS
Traveling through the desert wilderness of Mulhorand is
incredibly dangerous; most humanoid races are simply
not designed to survive in such a hostile environment.
Without proper equipment and supplies, adventurers
will quickly succumb to heat exhaustion and
dehydration. This section builds on the Wilderness
Hazards section of the Dungeon Master's Guide (page
110), with the rules around extreme heat used as the
basis for desert travel.
DEHYDRATION
The biggest killer in the desert is not a monster or any
other natural or unnatural hazard; it is the desert itself.
Adventurers will need to consume at least two gallons of
water per day or begin suffering the effects of extreme
heat. This requires them to succeed on a constitution
saving throw every hour, with an escalating DC of 5 for
the first hour, then increasing the DC by one every hour
thereafter, to avoid receiving one level of exhaustion.
Any creatures wearing medium or heavy armor, or heavy
clothing, will suffer disadvantage on the saving throw.
If the party can avoid traveling during the heat of the
day, such as by traveling at night, or keeping to shaded
or underground areas, the amount of water required
drops to one gallon per day. However, they will still need
to succeed on a constitution saving throw at the end of
the day if they only drink half that amount, or fail
automatically if they have only drunk less than half a
gallon. If they already have at least one level of
exhaustion, they take two levels instead. Any levels of
exhaustion received from dehydration cannot be
removed until the required amount of water is consumed
(as described on page 185 of the Player's Handbook).
Oases do exist across the deserts of Mulhorand,
however can be very difficult to find. They will often be
hidden by dunes and if an adventuring party does
manage to stumble across one, the shifting sands make
finding them again incredibly difficult. They can also be
dangerous themselves with lurking predators, bandits
and even poison making these tropical islands in the
desert less than paradise.
SANDSTORMS
The weather is another dangerous factor to consider
during desert travel. Whilst the norm is dry and hot, with
blue skies and still air; this can quickly change as the
desert sand itself is turned into a frenzied storm. These
sandstorms can roll in at incredible speed, engulfing
anyone unlucky enough to be caught in them. Dust and
sand whirls through the air, blinding, suffocating and
abrading those caught within it.
The ferocity of such storms is dependent on the
strength of the wind behind it, varying from strong
winds whipping up dust to provide a minor
inconvenience, to hurricane force winds turning the
desert into a hellish maelstrom that can bury entire
settlements in minutes. The difference in effect on those
caught inside it is significant:
• Dust storm: No damage, movement halved
• Sandstorm: 1d3 bludgeoning damage per round,
movement halved
• Violent sandstorm: 1d3 bludgeoning damage per
round, speed reduced to 0 feet
• Hurricane sandstorm: 1d6 bludgeoning damage per
round, speed reduced to 0 feet
During the day, it may be possible to detect when a
sandstorm might be approaching. Usually, they will
appear as a colossal wall of sand in the distance rolling
across the desert like a wave. A successful Perception
check (DC 15) or Passive Perception above 15 will notice
the incoming storm and allow a few minutes to try and
find shelter.
Those caught in a sandstorm will have disadvantage
on all Perception checks. Visibility is greatly reduced and
the entire area of the storm is considered heavily
obscured as described in the Player’s Handbook. Worse,
those without proper desert clothing and equipment will
find themselves asphyxiated by the sand and dust that
seeks to clog every orifice. A creature without an
appropriate mouth cover is considered suffocating as per
the PHB. Attempting to move through the storm is also
extremely difficult and attempts to do so will often lead
to becoming lost. Survival checks made to discern the
correct path must be made with disadvantage and will
have a much higher DC (see page 69) as desert routes
and tracks are buried in sand.
66
MIRAGES
Hot air rising from the desert floor causes shimmering
convection currents that can blur and distort terrain
features to produce optical illusions called mirages. The
hot convection currents hit cooler air higher up which
acts like a mirror, refracting more distant objects to
appear much closer. This, especially when combined
with the effects of glare and dehydration, can disorient
travelers, making distances seem shorter than they are
or even obscuring landmarks entirely.
Any desert traveler who witnesses the effect of a
mirage and is unsuspecting will need to rely on their
Passive Perception (minimum 15) to notice that what
they are seeing may not be as it seems. Those who do
suspect a mirage can confirm their suspicions by
succeeding on a DC 10 Perception check.
QUICKSAND
This deadly hazard is created where sand is saturated by
a water source beneath, creating a thick soupy area
that’s often indistinguishable from regular sand. This
can occur close to water sources such as oases or rivers,
though can also appear in deeper desert where water is
hidden beneath the sand. Desert travelers may not
realize they are in quicksand until it is too late and have
sunk to their waist. Contrary to the stories told to scare
children away from the desert, it is not possible for
someone to fully sink and drown in quicksand; it is much
denser than the form of any creature that might step
into it. The real danger of quicksand is its ability to trap
the unwary with surprisingly strong suction and glue-
like pulp, condemning them to a slow death from heat,
dehydration and exhaustion.
Anyone who becomes trapped in quicksand must
succeed on a DC 12 Athletics check to escape. Each failure
increases the DC by 1 to a maximum of 20 as their efforts
to escape only see them sink deeper into the clogging
sand. After three failures, they will also receive one level
of exhaustion as their energy begins to wane. Those on
the outside can attempt to help with rope or a long pole,
giving advantage on the check.
WHIRLWINDS
As well as the deadly tornadoes produced by dust
elementals, these whirling vortexes of sand and dust can
occur naturally as well. As the sun-scorched ground heats
the space above it, this causes the air to rise rapidly,
pulling loose sand into a rotating vortex known as a dust
devil. These are impressive sights but rarely dangerous,
with relatively weak wind speeds proving more of a
nuisance. When this hot air collides with the cooler
winds from the Dragonsword Mountains to the east or off
the Alamber from the west, however, much more
monstrous whirlwinds can emerge, some up to a mile in
width. Worse, these powerful tornadoes can become
hidden in the midst of a storm, cloaked behind a wall of
sand. Often, the only sign of the incoming tornado will be
the terrible roar of its two-hundred-mile-an-hour winds,
and that is often too late.
Those unfortunate enough to be caught in the path of
such a whirlwind suffer the effects of a hurricane-force
sandstorm (see opposite). If they come within twenty feet
of the whirlwind they must also succeed on a DC 20
Dexterity saving throw or be sucked into the vortex and
thrown 1d20 x 10 feet through the air in a random
direction (taking bludgeoning damage as described for
falling in the Player’s Handbook).
SUPERNATURAL HAZARDS
Alongside the natural desert hazards, there any many
supernatural hazards that exist in the deserts of
Mulhorand, many of which were caused by the
Spellplague that created them. Where the weave has
been broken and distorted, wild magic continues to spill
into the material plane like water through the hull of a
breached ship. This emerges as a wide variety of
manifestations, most of which are incredibly dangerous
to those who encounter them.
DEAD-MAGIC ZONE
The Spellplague not only introduced areas of intense
wild magic activity, it also created areas of dead magic,
which are effectively holes in the weave. These are not
visible to the eye, but once entered, magic of any kind
ceases to function. Spells cannot be cast, enchanted
items stop working and any passive magical effects are
instantly dispelled. Constructs that rely on magic for
their existence, such as golems, are immediately
rendered inert, and living creatures born of magic such
as dragons would find their inherent magical abilities
(like dragon’s breath) unavailable whilst inside the zone.
As the boundaries of each dead-magic zone cannot be
seen, it is not possible to know when the zone has been
exited. Spells do nothing (though spell slots are used as
normal), magical items do not work and any auras,
summoned creatures or other ongoing magical effects
are immediately dispelled.
FLAYWIND
Natural sandstorms are terrifying enough, but on
occasion such a storm can become imbued with wild
magic energy. Such power can propel the sand to such
speed that it strips exposed flesh to the bone in minutes
and even scours solid rock, reducing entire settlements
to rubble. Fortunately, these horrific storms are fairly
rare, only occurring where a sandstorm passes through
an area of intense wild magic in the desert.
A flaywind will always have the effect of a hurricane
sandstorm (see page 66), however the damage caused
changes to 2d6 slashing damage per round. Basic shelter
such as sandstone buildings will also offer little
protection against a flaywind, which quickly blow out
windows and doors to reach those inside. Only heavy
cover such as a deep cave or reinforced building with
shuttered windows will provide an escape.
PLANAR TEAR
When the Spellplague ravaged Faerûn, it rendered the
barriers between planes brittle and porous, allowing
alien creatures to wander into the prime material.
Worse, large sections of Faerûn were torn away from
Toril’s surface and replaced with elements of her sister
world, Abeir. Some of these planar tears still exist to this
day, hidden in the depths of Mulhorand’s deserts,
spilling out nightmarish monsters and transforming the
surrounding area.
If a planar tear is encountered, the party may also
encounter denizens native to the plane it links to,
attempting to cross into Faerûn. When approaching a
tear, roll a d6; on the roll of a 5 or 6 some kind of denizen
of the realm on the other side of the tear is attempting to
come through! You can either select a suitable plane or
roll on the following table:
P LANAR TEAR
d6 Plane Creature Type
1 Abeir Various
2 The Abyss Demons
3 The Feywild Fey
4 Heliopolis Celestials
5 The Nine Hells Devils
6 Plane of Dust Elementals
Use suitable creatures from the Monster Manual or other
sources based on the associated creature type that are
appropriate for the party’s level. For Abeir, this can be
virtually any creature that could be found in Faerûn,
including former residents of Mulhorand that have
found their way back after the Spellplague displaced
their ancestors more than a century ago.
Any party who encounters a planar tear may also pass
through the tear themselves, leaving Faerûn behind.
This is incredibly dangerous, not only due to the hostile,
alien world they might emerge into, but also because
planar tears can disappear as quickly as they appear,
leaving the party stranded in another plane of existence.

GLASS PLAIN
The unimaginable heat of the Spellplague conflagration
fused some areas of the desert sand into plains of
polished glass. Traveling across these plains is highly
treacherous, with the surface slick like ice and dotted
with jagged spikes of broken glass that can pierce
through boot soles with ease. The surface also reflects
the sun’s glare, causing blindness and making it difficult
to spot incoming hazards or find the right path.
Any party who attempts to cross a glass plain will
count as moving through difficult terrain. Additionally,
Perception and Survival checks are made at
disadvantage, and each hour anyone crossing the plain
must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or
become subject to the blinded condition for 1d4 hours.
Each five-foot square of glass has an AC of 13 and 5 hit
points and is vulnerable to bludgeoning and force
damage. When reduced to 0 hit points it will shatter,
revealing unfused sand beneath.

67
 WILD MAGIC STORM
In areas of concentrated wild magic, remnants of the
Spellplague conflagration can ignite and burn across the
desert as they did a century ago. These blue flame storms
are formed of raw magic, unleashed from wounds in the
weave, and burn across the desert like wildfire, their
bright blue flames visible for miles around. Thankfully,
they are short lived, burning with great intensity then
subsiding to leave only scorched sand behind. On rare
occasions, one of these storms threatens to engulf one of
the major settlements of Mulhorand. To avoid such a
catastrophe, mages and priests of Thoth from House
Tholaunt have established an intricate barrier of arcane
wards around the boundaries of each settlement
designed to counter wild magic. If the magical flames
reach the barrier they are immediately dispelled.
Anyone caught in such a conflagration will risk being
consumed in magical fire. The storm moves randomly,
imbued with the chaos of wild magic. Have those caught
in its path roll initiative; the storm moves on initiative
count 10. On its turn roll 1d10 and the storm will move a
number of feet equal to the roll multiplied by 10. On a roll
of 1 the storm does not move and begins to subside,
disappearing after 1d4 rounds. Those engulfed by the
magical blaze suffer escalating damage for each round
they remain within it; 5 fire damage at the start of their
turn for the first round, 10 fire damage for the second
round, 15 for the third, and so on. This damage ignores
any resistance to fire damage, as the inferno burns with
condensed magical energy rather than normal fire. Other
than escaping from the boundaries of the storm, or
waiting for it to fade, a dispel magic, antimagic field or
similar spell or effect will put out the fire in a target area
temporarily, though the storm will re-engulf that area at
the start of the next round if possible.

WILD MAGIC ZONE

Where the weave has been damaged or distorted by the
Spellplague, raw energy spills unfettered into the
material plane, causing zones of magical chaos. Any
spells cast inside a wild magic zone can cause
unpredictable and spectacular surges as the weave is
unleashed. These zones can stretch for dozens, if not
hundreds of miles across the desert, growing and
shrinking randomly as the damaged weave distorts.
Like with wild magic storms, these zones
sometimes threaten to envelop Mulhorand’s major
settlements; however, the barrier created by the
arcanists of House Tholaunt to prevent wild
magic storms also act to prevent zones such as
these from crossing settlement borders.
If a spell is cast whilst within a wild magic
zone, roll 1d20; on a roll of a 1, a wild magic
surge is triggered.
Use the wild surge table in the Player’s
Handbook (page 104) to identify what
effect this has. Any time a Wild Magic
Sorcerer casts a spell inside the
zone, this automatically triggers
a wild magic surge.

68
DESERT TRAVEL
Navigating the deserts of Mulhorand is no easy task.
Along with the aforementioned desert hazards and
assortment of deadly monsters detailed in Chapter 6, it
is also a mostly empty and barren land with very few
landmarks. Rolling dunes stretch like a sea of sand to
every horizon, which themselves shimmer and distort in
the heat. The desert drags at every footstep, often
slowing travel pace to a crawl.
SAND WALKING
The process of walking long distances through sand
dunes is arduous at best and dangerous at worst. The
effort of dragging tired feet through sand for a full day’s
travel is slow and exhausting, made worse by the intense
heat. The depth of the sand encountered will affect travel
in different ways:
• Shallow sand is the most common terrain encountered
when crossing the desert. Up to a foot deep, it presents
a similar experience to walking through thick snow,
with high, deliberate footfalls needed to progress. Fast
travel is not possible through shallow sand.
• Deep sand mainly occurs between dunes or after
sandstorms recede, where large amounts of loose
sand, up to three feet deep, is pulled together by the
wind. Deep sand counts as difficult terrain and can
only be crossed at a slow pace.
• Sand dunes represent a tempting route away from the
deeper sand between them, as well as high ground to
see into the distance. However, these dunes also pose
their own danger, collapsing and burying the unwary
beneath tons of sand. Anyone crossing a large dune
may trigger a collapse on a d100 roll of 1-10; they must
then succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or be
buried alive and begin suffocating as per the Player’s
Handbook, requiring success on a DC 18 Athletics check
to escape (anyone outside can dig them out).
These penalties can be mostly avoided by using an
appropriate desert mount. The Mulhorandi breed camels
for this purpose, their wide hooves perfectly adapted for
walking on sand. Traveling by camel eliminates the
penalties for traveling through shallow or deep sand.
69
NAVIGATION
Crossing the desert is not only incredibly dangerous, it is
also very difficult to find the right path. When every
horizon looks the same, there is very little to navigate by
and getting lost is very easy. Shifting dunes and regular
sandstorms quickly swallow any roads or route markings
and the effects of dehydration, heatstroke and mirages
can quickly disorient and lead astray even the most
seasoned explorer.
When making Survival checks to find the correct route
across deserts in or around Mulhorand, a number of
factors such as terrain, weather and other hazards
should be considered by the Dungeon Master when
determining the Difficulty Class for the check:
D ESERT SURVIVAL DC S TO A VOID GETTING LOST
Terrain feature or hazard Survival check DC
Flat plains 10
Low dunes 12
High dunes 14
Mesas, ravines, canyons or crags 15
Mountainous regions 15
Unsuspected mirage (see page 66) 18
Sandstorm 20
Other factors will affect the Survival check DC too.
Nearby landmarks (e.g. the spire of Skyclave), or having
a guide, map or an innate ability to navigate desert
environments (such as the Desert Nomad background on
page 73) will make finding the way easier, or the effects of
exhaustion and dehydration making it harder. Use
discretion when selecting an appropriate DC.
If the party does become lost during travel, consider
what they may encounter as they try to get back on the
right path. You can roll on the encounter tables available
on page 70-71 or select a suitable encounter. The amount
the Survival check was failed by will determine how badly
they are lost and how long it will take to find the correct
path, with each point of failure representing one hour. At
the end of this time, they may attempt to succeed on a
further Survival check.
DESERT ENCOUNTERS
The following tables can be used to determine random
encounters a party may face when crossing the desert.
These are arranged according to the combined level of
the party; however, it is worth double checking any
encounter selected is suitable for the current adventure.
For each hour spent traveling, check for random
encounters by rolling a d20 (do not roll if they have had
two random encounters in the past day):
• If the party is traveling during the day, an encounter
occurs on the roll of 18 or higher on a d20.
• If the party is traveling during the night, an encounter
occurs on the roll of 15 or higher on a d20.
Feel free to roll on the tables or select an encounter that
is appropriate for the adventure. Names highlighted in
bold refer to monsters detailed in either the Monster
Manual or chapter 6 of this book. These may also provide
appropriate treasure (use the Dungeon Masters Guide).
LOW -LEVEL (1-4) RANDOM DESERT ENCOUNTERS
d20 Encounter
1 A desert caravan formed of 2d6 Mulhorandi
commoners, d6 caravan guards and 3d6 camels
2 1 giant scarab beetle and 1 swarm of scarabs
M ID -LEVEL (5-10) R ANDOM DESERT E NCOUNTERS
d20 Encounter
1 A traveling party of 2d6 priests of Osiris making a
pilgrimage to an ancient temple in the desert
2 1d4+1 giant scarab beetles and 1d4+1 swarms of
scarabs
3 1d4 juvenile dune worms
4 A sandstorm heading in the direction of the
party (see page 66)
5 A wild magic zone envelops the party (see page 68)
6 2d6 jackalwere bravos and 1 jackalwere deceiver
attacking a desert caravan (see result 1 opposite)
7 A half-buried stone obelisk covered in hieroglyphs
8 1d4+1 fangs of set lurking in ambush, sent to
assassinate one of the party and then escape
9 A witch’s hovel containing 1 desert hag and 1
enthralled noble who fights to defend her
10 A campsite containing 1d4+1 ashen husks inside
tents who attack when disturbed
11 A partially buried pyramid, containing the treasure
hoard of 1 criosphinx who attacks if disturbed

3 1d4 thri-kreen searching for a new hive lair in the 12 A dead magic zone envelops the party (see page 67)
deserts of Mulhorand (will only attack if provoked) 13 1 young blue dragon who attacks from the sky with
4 A dust storm heading in the direction of the its lightning breath
party (see page 66) 14 A ruined desert settlement inhabited by 1 lamia
5 A human skeleton half-buried in sand wearing a noble and 1 lamia
silver ring worth 20 gp 15 The party reaches the borders of a glass plain that
6 1d4 jackalweres attacking a desert nomad scout stretches for miles in every direction (see page 67)
riding on a camel 16 1 dust elemental hidden inside a whirlwind
7 A hidden pit of quicksand (see page 66) heading in the direction of the party (see page 66)

8 1-2 fangs of set lurking in ambush, sent to 17 A violent sandstorm heading in the direction of the
assassinate one of the party and then escape party (see page 66)

9 1d4 giant vultures circling in the sky above a 18 1 hieracosphinx that swoops down from the sky
collapsed and dying scout and attempts to carry one of the party away

10 A small desert cave offering shelter but containing 1 19 A desert cave containing a nest of 1 young sand
giant scorpion dragon mother and 1d4+1 wyrmling sand dragons

11 A partially buried pyramid, already looted but 20 A hidden oasis containing 1d4 werecrocodiles who
containing thick webs and 1d4 giant spiders wait in the water ready in ambush

12 A Mulhorandi priest traveling to a nearby

settlement (select their deity or pick at random)
13 1 ghost standing by its mortal remains, awaiting
proper burial to be able to travel to the afterlife
14 A mirage that presents a settlement on the horizon
but leads the party away from their path (page 66)
15 1d4 giant hyenas that begin hunting the party (they
only attack when an opportunity presents)
16 1d6 dust mephits hidden inside a dust devil spell
that moves in the direction of the party
17 A sandstorm heading in the direction of the party
(see page 66)
18 1 young sand dragon buried in the sand who
ambushes from below
19 The entrance to an ancient tomb containing 1
mummy in a sarcophagus
20 A small oasis surrounded by palm trees and totally
hidden in the dunes

70
H IGH-LEVEL (11-16) R ANDOM D ESERT ENCOUNTERS
d20 Encounter
1 A desert caravan formed of 4d6 Mulhorandi
commoners, 3d6 caravan guards and 6d6 camels
2 1 androsphinx guarding the entrance to a treasure-
filled tomb including a Claw of Nezram (page 82)
3 1 adult dune worm and 1d4 juvenile dune worms
4 A violent sandstorm containing a whirlwind
heading in the direction of the party (see page 66)
5 2 adult brass dragons who don’t attack but are
angered by the party entering their territory
6 1 lamia noble, 1d4 lamias and 1d4 jackalwere
deceivers attacking a caravan (see result 1)
7 A stone obelisk covered in hieroglyphs that if read
aloud in Mulhorandi trigger a glyph of warding spell
8 2d4 dust elementals hidden inside a whirlwind (see
page 66) moving in the direction of the party
9 A planar tear (see page 67) linking to Abeir from
which emerges a group of displaced Mulhorandi
10 A desert cave that leads down into the underdark
11 An abandoned temple of Thoth, guarded by 1d4
gemstone golems (select gemstone type)
12 2d6 Muhlorandi priests traveling to a nearby
settlement (select their deity or pick at random)
13 A wild magic storm heading in the direction of the
party (see page 68)
14 A vast glass plain imbued with a dead magic zone
(page 67) with mirages on every horizon (page 66)
15 1 adult blue dragon with a mage rider who attack
from the sky with spells and lightning breath
16 A partially buried pyramid containing a
sarcophagus with 1 mummy lord inside
17 A hurricane sandstorm heading in the direction of
the party (see page 66)
18 1d8 hours of extreme heat (see chapter 5 of the
Dungeon Master’s Guide)
19 A desert cave containing a nest of 1 adult sand
dragon mother and 1d4+1 wyrmling sand dragons
20 A large oasis surrounded by palm trees that
contains the remnants of an abandoned camp
71
E PIC -LEVEL (17-20) RANDOM DESERT ENCOUNTERS
d20 Encounter
1 Pharaoh Horuskhet appears, requesting the party’s
aid (see the Summoning adventure on page 88)
2 The Font of Time (see page 82) in the depths of an
ancient tomb, hidden in the desert for millennia
3 2 adult dune worms who attack from below
4 A hurricane sandstorm imbued with a flaywind
heading in the direction of the party (see page 67)
5 1 adult blue dracolich who rises from the desert
when the party passes by and disturbs its rest
6 A planar tear appears in the center of a wild magic
zone (see page 67-68). Roll for the plane normally
7 1d4 hieracopshinxes chasing 1 gynosphinx
through the sky above the party
8 One of the Mulhorandi gods (choose or randomise)
manifests before the party with a terrible warning
9 An Imaskari raiding party of 1 archmage and 2d4
mages attacking a desert caravan (see 1, opposite)
10 A desert cave that leads down into the underdark,
guarded by 1 death tyrant
11 4d6 stone giants migrating across the desert
12 1 lich, a red wizard of Thay, searching for a lost relic
belonging to Thayd, the first red wizard (see page 9)
13 A wild magic storm containing a wild magic zone
heading in the direction of the party (see page 68)
14 The wizard Nezram appears, requesting the party’s
aid (see the Walking Doom adventure on page 99)
15 1 ancient blue dragon with a mage rider who
attack from the sky with spells and lightning breath
16 The tomb of an ancient noble containing 1 mummy
lord and 1d4 mummys that come alive and attack
17 A hurricane sandstorm containing 1d4 whirlwinds
heading in the direction of the party (see page 66)
18 12 hours of extreme heat (see chapter 5 of the
Dungeon Master’s Guide)
19 A desert cave containing a nest of 1 ancient sand
dragon mother and 1d4+1 young sand dragons
20 A large oasis containing a submerged planar
tear (see page 67) leading to the Plane of Water
 CHAPTER 5
CHARACTERS OF MULHORAND

U
nique and mysterious, Mulhorand offers
players a wide range of options; both for new
characters from this region, or developing
existing characters lured by the promise of
glory and riches. This chapter presents a host
of different backgrounds, class archetypes, spells and
magic items that players can use to establish their
characters in Mulhorand.

MULHORANDI CHARACTERS
Creating characters of Mulhorandi origin allows players
much more freedom in this new era of history. Since
Pharaoh Horuskhet I proclaimed all welcome in his new
Mulhorand, virtually every humanoid race can be found
living here. Adventurers, though by no means trusted,
are also much more welcome than before the Spellplague
and are a common sight, especially close to Skuld and
other ruins. The Adventurers’ Guild tightly regulates the
profession, however, with a responsibility to prevent
trespassing or raiding of sacred tombs.
Some older national traditions do remain, and these
are likely to impact Mulhorandi characters in some way.
For example, worship of the Mulhorandi pantheon is
mandatory, with all citizens expected to partake in
religious festivals and ceremonies. Likewise, open
worship of gods outside this domain, as well as the evil NAMING CONVENTION
gods Set and Sebek, is strictly forbidden. Clerics and
paladins from Mulhorand will almost always be devoted Names are highly important in Mulhorandi culture and a
to one of the Mulhorandi deities. Social hierarchy and person’s name will usually say a lot about their station in
structure are also prominent, with those of the various life as well as where they have come from. Those
churches and houses of the gods above the nobility, who descended from the gods will have names associated to
in turn stand above the masses. Some humans of Mulani their god e.g. Horuskhet. The family names of
origin retain the prejudices of the old empires, viewing Mulhorandi nobility date back thousands of years, to the
themselves as superior to other humans and non- time before the Mulan were taken from Kemet by
humans, despite the pharaoh’s proclamation. Imaskar, and are a symbol of status and power.

72
MULHORANDI BACKGROUNDS DIVINE ANCESTRY
Characters hailing from Mulhorand will have varied and The Mulhorandi gods once walked the earth, leading
interesting backgrounds that represent their experiences their people in the form of mortal incarnations. Their
prior to becoming an adventurer. The backgrounds in lineage was sustained by siring of mortal heirs, creating
this chapter work the same as those listed in the Players entire families imbued with their power; these would
Handbook and are selected during character creation. form the royal houses and churches (and cults of Set and
Sebek) of Mulhorand. You are a descendant of one of
DESERT NOMAD these eleven gods, their divine blood
flowing in your veins.
To most, the change in Mulhorand’s climate after the
For most this means
Spellplague was devastating. To others, the desert has
become a way of life and adjusting to its harsh extremes a life devoted to the
is a natural adaptation. You are one such nomad, church of their patron,
whether as a priest or other holy
traveling the great desert and facing its many perils
alongside your trusty camel companion. servant, though not all follow such a
Perhaps you hail from Mulhorand and defined path.
have chosen to make a life in the Skill Proficiencies: Choose 2 from
wilderness rather than among Arcana, History,
the crowded cities and Intimidation, Nature and
settlements like Skyclave Religion
and Gheldaneth, or Languages: Mulhorandi
perhaps you originate Equipment: A set of fine
from the deserts of clothes, a holy symbol of
surrounding lands, your god, and a purse
bringing your survival containing 25 gp.
skills to this newly
formed desert realm. THE PANTHEON
Many nomads are Eleven gods make up the
valued for their ability Mulhorandi pantheon,
to lead expeditions into each with their own
the wastes or to guide distinct portfolio and
caravans across the domains. See the
sands, saving weeks that Churches of Mulhorand
would otherwise be spent navigating section on page 27 for full
the coastal roads. details on each deity. Before choosing Set or Sebek as
Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Survival your ancestor god, note that both are evil deities whose
Languages: Mulhorandi or one other of your choice worship is strictly forbidden in Mulhorand; this is likely
Equipment: A camel with pack saddle and saddlebags, a to affect games in the setting. Consult your DM before
waterskin and a set of traveler’s clothes (suitable for giving your character the divine ancestry of an evil god.
desert travel)
SUGGESTED CHARACTERISTICS
DESERT HOMELAND Your characteristics will vary depending on who you are,
You know the desert of your homeland like the back of though the influence of your blood will inevitably impact
your hand, able to navigate across it by sun, stars or on your persona and who you are today:
landmarks and find what you need to survive. 2d6 Personality Trait
d6 Homeland Desert Region 2 I seek to subvert and influence others around
1 Mulhorand - Asanibis me to do my bidding. (Set)
2 Mulhorand - Menesankh 3 I am happiest when bringing love, merriment
3 Mulhorand - Taranoth and joy to others. (Bast)

4 The Plains of Purple Dust
5 The Raurin
6 The Shaar
FEATURE: SURVIVOR
Your knowledge of the land has kept you alive where
others would have succumbed; whilst you are traveling
in your desert homeland (see above) you gain advantage
on any survival check to find sustenance to keep yourself
alive or find a route through the desert terrain.
4 I admire hard work above all else and don’t
suffer idleness in others. (Geb)
5 I live my life with discipline and conviction to
succeed at everything I do. (Anhur)
6 I always seek to lead by example and follow the
principles of maat in all I do. (Horus-Re)
7 I see nature as a mother and believe the
Spellplague was punishment for our sins. (Isis)
8 I prefer the company of books. (Thoth)
9 I am solemn and stern but fiercely loyal. (Osiris)

SUGGESTED CHARACTERISTICS 10 I am always focused on saving money; I do not

Desert nomads are often considered outsiders, travelling
alone or in small tribes. You may use the Traits, Ideals, 11
Bonds and Flaws suggested for the outlander in the PHB 12
page 136, modifying them if needed to fit your character.
abide frivolous spending. (Nephthys)
I feel empathy for those who suffer. (Hathor)
My strength and dominance over others is all
that matters. (Sebek)

73
2d6 Ideal
2 Power. I will strike like a coiled serpent,
silencing my enemies to claim victory. (Set)
3 Joy. The purpose of life is to spread love and
laughter. (Bast)
4 Diligence. Hard work and determination shows
how we will be judged in the afterlife. (Geb)
5 Glory. Mulhorand’s victory over its many
enemies is paramount above all else. (Anhur)
6 Order. I will strive to live my life according to
the principles of maat. (Horus-Re)
7 Cultivate. I seek to cultivate others as I seek to
cultivate the land. (Isis)
8 Knowledge. Only by learning can I bring
Mulhorand forward into the future. (Thoth)
9 Rebirth. I must guide the honored dead to the
afterlife and guard their rest. (Osiris)
10 Prosperity. Improving our wealth will ensure
the glory of Mulhorand. (Nephthys)
11 Compassion. I must help those most in need
and bring hope where there is despair. (Hathor)
12 Consume. Live for the hunt. Slaughter the weak
and let them feed my strength. (Sebek)
2d6 Bond
FEATURE: BLESSED
As someone with the blood of the gods themselves, you
are revered by the Mulhorandi people. Your lineage gives
you a position of privilege within society and common
people will go out of their way to help you. When you
encounter any member of the church you are descended
from (who is aware of your divine blood) they will
always do their best to help you with whatever you need,
whether that is offering food, suitable lodging or sharing
any knowledge they might have with you. You also gain
advantage on persuasion checks when encountering any
common citizens of Mulhorand who are aware of your
divine blood.
VARIANT FEATURE: EXCOMMUNICATED
For those with Set or Sebek as a divine ancestor, the
above will only apply when in the company of other
worshippers of these evil gods. Common citizens who
become aware of your ancestry will have the opposite
reaction, chastising you and usually informing the local
guards. If you are caught by any of the guard or military,
you will be arrested and interrogated over your heritage
and your involvement with either cult. However, there
are advantages from such infamy; you gain advantage on
any intimidation checks against any common citizens of
Mulhorand who are aware of your evil ancestry, though
this feature will not impact city guards or clergy of the
Mulhorandi churches.

2 My daggers and poisons allow me to strike out

at those who would stand against me. (Set)
3 Festivals are where I am most alive. (Bast)
4 My tools are the most important things I own,
without them I have no purpose. (Geb)
5 I would happily die for my comrades. (Anhur)
6 I live to serve the pharaoh. (Horus-Re)
7 I am bound to the land; nature will provide
everything that I need. (Isis)
8 Books contain the knowledge I need. (Thoth)
9 I am sworn to defend an ancestral tomb. (Osiris)
10 Coin brings me happiness, the more coin the
happier I am. (Nephthys)
11 Everything I do is for people in need. (Hathor)
12 The River’s Maw temple is sacred to me. (Sebek)

2d6 Flaw
2 If one of my schemes fails, I will take out my
anger on those around me. (Set)
3 My pursuit of pleasure gets me in trouble. (Bast)
4 I am too obsessed with my craft. (Geb)
5 I can be rash and anger easily. (Anhur)
6 My obsession with maat leaves little time for
anything else in my life. (Horus-Re)
7 I worry about that which I cannot control. (Isis)
8 I struggle to connect with others. (Thoth)
9 I am suspicious of anyone I don’t know. (Osiris)
10 I can be selfish and greedy. (Nephthys)
11 Others take advantage of my altruism. (Hathor)
12 My aggression creates many enemies. (Sebek)

74
MULHOROLOGIST
Mulhorand, perhaps more than anywhere else in Faerûn,
is a place of incredible historical value. This has drawn
archaeologists and anthropologists from across Faerûn
to specialize in investigating Mulhorand’s fascinating
past. You are one of these so-called Mulhorologists,
dedicating your life to uncovering its ancient secrets.
Whether for personal gain or for academic purposes, you
venture out in search of the next great discovery.
Skill Proficiencies: History and Investigation
Tool Proficiencies: Artisan’s tools (Archaeology/
Anthropology)
Languages: Mulhorandi and Imaskari.
Equipment: Your archaeological treasure (see below), a
set of archaeologist’s tools, a leatherbound journal, a
set of sketching pencils, a bullseye lantern, a shovel, a
two-person tent, a set of traveler’s clothes and a
pouch containing 20 gp.
FEATURE: ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE
During one of your expeditions, you unearthed a relic of
Mulhorand’s ancient past. You are sure it will lead to a
much greater find; you just need to solve the puzzle and
find it. Speak to your DM so they are aware of what
archaeological treasure you possess and what it may link
to in the game they are planning.
d6 Possessed Treasure
1 A key to a lock of a vault door
2 A map that shows the location of a forgotten
tomb somewhere in the Taranoth desert
3 An ancient Imaskari puzzle box, almost
impossible to decipher
4 The embellished handle of a khopesh
5 A medallion with a symbol of the dead god Re
6 A ceremonial dagger with a snake-shaped blade
d8 Bond
1 My journal contains all my notes and drawings
on all my discoveries, losing it would ruin me
2 I am desperate to find the tomb of my ancestors
3 I hope to build and populate a museum of
archaeology in Mulhorand
4 I don’t go anywhere without my digging tools
5 I am obsessed with the ancient history of Kemet
6 My mentor disappeared on an expedition years
ago, I will continue searching for him
7 I have a rival who I compete with to be the best
Mulhorologist
8 I believe the treasure I possess is the key to
discovering a long forgotten Mulhorandi tomb
d6 Flaw
1 I have a terrible phobia of snakes
2 I am always stuck in the detail and often fail to
spot the obvious
3 When I’m not on an archaeological dig, I am
impatient and unhappy
4 I am unable to resist taking any treasure that I
find, even if it belongs to someone else
5 I prefer the company of dusty history books and
relics; other people irritate me
6 If I find a puzzle I can’t sleep until it’s solved

SUGGESTED CHARACTERISTICS:
Mulhorologists are individuals who have focused their
work on the history and culture of Mulhorand. Your
characteristics will reflect your specialism:
d6 Personality Trait
1 I love digging to uncover the past
2 I have no issues stealing from the dead
3 I prefer to be in a quiet tomb than any city
4 I will stop at nothing to find my fortune
5 I never throw anything I find away
6 I am more concerned about the past than I am
about the present or future

d6 Ideal
1 Adventure. I live for the thrill of discovery (Any)
2 Preservation. Keeping the history of Mulhorand
preserved is most important (Good)
3 Knowledge. I seek to increase my own
knowledge through archaeology (Any)
4 Danger. The more dangerous the job, the better
the reward (Chaotic)
5 Power. I seek powerful Mulhorandi magic (Evil)
6 Respect. The customs of Mulhorand must be
adhered to at all times (Good)

75
NEZRAMITE d6 Knowledge Subject
You are a descendant of the famous Mulhorandi wizard 1 Gem magic & golem creation
known as Nezram, the World Walker. Across his 2 The ancient history of Mulhorand and Kemet
magically-extended life, Nezram has sired many
3 Ancient Imaskari magic and lore
children, known as the Nezramites, who have
themselves formed an entire community of his 4 The history and lore of the Sarrukh
descendants. Your ancestors originally populated and 5 Interplanar travel
maintained Nezram's tower on the shores of Lake
6 The power of the Netheril
Azulduth whilst the wizard was away on his interplanar
adventures. After the Green Dragon Chaathuuladroth
attacked and ruined the tower in 681 DR, the survivors SUGGESTED CHARACTERISTICS:
fled north, settling in the Raurin Desert east of the Use the tables for the sage background in the PHB (page
Dragon Sword mountains in a small colony known as 137) as the basis for your traits, ideals, bonds and flaws,
Nezras. Over the centuries, this has developed into a modifying where appropriate to suit your character.
small but vibrant town, still part of Mulhorand but Nezramites can often be quite standoffish and
separated by the mountains and shielded from the worst untrusting of others until they get to know them; many
effects of the Spellplague and the reach of High Imaskar. believe their heritage as descendants of Nezram makes
Here, the Nezramites have formed a tightly knit them superior to others, especially in the arcane arts.
community with everything they need and are very wary Despite this, there are those who, like Nezram, seek to
of any outsiders who may arrive at their door. travel away from the close-knit bubble community that
Not all Nezramites have been content to become part Nezras has become. These Nezramites are likely to have
of this isolated community, however. Perhaps the most more distinct personalities; wider Faerûn broadening
famous (or infamous) descendant was also named their horizons and opening up new possibilities and
Nezras and left the town of his namesake at a young age facets of knowledge.
to broaden his horizons in wider Faerûn. He began a
search for his granduncle Nezram's Tome of Mageries
which led him down a dark path that would see him
become a student of the Lich Lord Laummas and betray
the defenders of Myth Drannor in Cormanthyr.
You, too, will need to decide if your character hails
from Nezras or if they are a Nezramite that has chosen to
venture out into the world in search of more unique
knowledge.
Now that Nezram has returned to Faerûn, it is a time
of great opportunity for you and other Nezramites. The
great wizard has begun building a new tower in the heart
of Nezras, promising to create his own arcane academy
for his Nezramite descendants to make use of. This is
tolerated by House Tholaunt and the pharaoh, though
there have been rumors of investigations into ancient
Imaskar magic that have roused suspicions.
Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, History
Languages: Mulhorandi and one other of your choice
Equipment: A textbook on your chosen knowledge
subject, a bottle of ink, quill and parchment, a set of
common clothes and a pouch containing 10 gp.

FEATURE: MAGICAL STUDIES

With the blood of Nezram in your veins, you have a
natural affinity to understanding the arcane arts and
other such knowledge. Even if you are not a wizard
yourself, you will still possess an excellent aptitude for
learning, either from time spent in Nezras, or from your
experiences travelling the wider world.
Like your great ancestor, you share a thirst for
knowledge, especially the arcane and interplanar travel.
From your studies, you have begun to specialize in a
single area of academic comprehension which will give
you a deepened understanding on anything relating to
that subject. Roll a d4 or choose a pursuit from the
following table. You may consult your knowledge and
understanding of your chosen subject at any time and
your DM will provide you with any relevant information
you have, using their discretion on how much or little
you may know. Additionally, if you are making a skill
check in relation to your chosen subject, you do so with
advantage.

76
CLASS ARCHETYPES
This section details a number of new class archetypes
that can be used in games set in Mulhorand, or other
similar settings. They follow the same template as class
archetypes in the PHB and are selected at the same class
level, for example a rogue would select the Tomb Raider
archetype at level 3.

DESERT DOMAIN
Deserts are places in the world where life has failed.
Whether due to environmental decline or magical
catastrophe, huge parts of the world’s surface can be
transformed from a habitable environment to an empty
wasteland, where simply surviving is a grueling struggle.
Here, nature itself works against you, with leagues upon
leagues of impassable terrain; shifting sand dunes,
wind-sharpened crags and canyons that carve through
the earth like the claw marks of gods. Despite this, there
are still some who choose to make a life in such
inhospitable regions. These hardy peoples often rely on
their faith to give them hope in such a desperate world,
for gaining the favor of the gods is crucial to their
chances of survival. Here, priests are venerated as
spiritual leaders, able to interpret the visions of their
gods and divine the path to salvation.
In Mulhorand, the land has only recently fallen to
waste, scoured of life by the Spellplague. Once fertile
lands have been reduced to a desolate wilderness;
seemingly endless stretches of ever-shifting dunes and
sunbaked rock. Of the Mulhorandi pantheon, Set is the
god most closely associated to the desert and his priests
use the shifting sands and stinging winds to conceal
their malevolent schemes. The priests of less sinister
gods also find their way to the desert domain: Anhur,
whose warrior spirit manifests in the desert winds and
sandstorms, Isis, who guides lost souls across the desert
to hidden oases, and, of course, Horus-Re, god of the
sun, who sits above all else, guiding his faithful away
from Set’s darkness and into the light.
Mulhorand is not the only desert in Faerûn or indeed
the wider Planes either. Further East, the great Raurin
desert ranges from the Dragonsword mountains, across
the Plains of Purple Dust to the reaches of Kara-Tur.
Once the seat of the great Imaskar Empire, it was
devastated by war in millennia past. Elsewhere,
Anauroch once housed the empire of Netheril, but the
Phaerimm wrought its destruction, and it now forms a
continent-sized desert in the north. Calimshan, in the
far southwest corner of Faerûn, hosts the Calim Desert,
formed in the dispute between two powerful Djinn. On
Mulhorand’s borders sits the Shaar, a vast plain that was
also scoured by the Spellplague. Many Faerûnian gods
are worshipped in these desolate lands, Lathander,
Istishia and Chauntea to name but a few. Beyond Faerûn,
deserts will be present on virtually any world. Speak with
your dungeon master about where your character might
hail from and which god they might serve to suit the
desert domain.
Clerics of the desert domain can usually be found away
from the confines of civilization, preferring the serenity
and peace of the desert. They may have spent much of
their life surviving in these harsh climes and will often
have found their connection to a particular god whilst in
the wilderness. Caravans and many other nomadic
groups that travel or make a home in the desert realms
are always glad for the presence of a cleric of the desert
domain, for this will ensure the gods look favorably on
whatever expedition or homestead they are making. As
adventurers, desert domain clerics bring their expert
survival skills to any party, helping guide or scout where
needed. They can also wield the divine power of their god
to manipulate the world around them, creating food or
water from nothing, controlling the wind, or even
turning the sand and dust into a weapon.
D ESERT D OMAIN S PELLS
Class Level Spells
1st create or destroy water, absorb elements
3rd dust devil, pass without trace
5th leomund’s tiny hut, wall of sand
7th hallucinatory terrain, stoneskin
9th control winds, far step
BONUS PROFICIENCIES
At 1st level, you gain proficiency with martial weapons.
WASTELAND SURVIVALIST
When you choose this domain at 1st level, you gain
proficiency in the Survival skill, and you have advantage
on any Constitution checks against exhaustion from the
effects of dehydration. You also learn the mold earth
cantrip and can affect dust, sand, or ash with this spell,
in addition to ‘dirt or stone’ as described in the spell’s
entry (Xanathar’s Guide to Everything page 162-163).
CHANNEL DIVINITY: CYCLONE
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity
to turn the desert around you into a swirling cyclone.
As an action, you present your holy symbol, and pull
the sand, dust, dirt, or ash from the surrounding area to
create a miniature storm in a sphere around you. This
sphere is centered on you and is 10 feet tall, has a 15-foot
radius and moves with you when you move. The sphere
blocks line of sight, but not movement, and creatures
other than you (including allies) are blinded and must
spend 2 feet of movement for every 1 foot moved within
the sphere. This ability lasts for one minute, or until you
are incapacitated or die, or use a bonus action to end it.

77
DESERT STALKER discussing with your Dungeon Master and other players
Starting at 6th level, you master the ability of surviving if you are thinking of playing an evil-aligned character
and moving unseen through desert regions; you gain as this may not be suitable for the adventure or
expertise in the Survival skill and gain advantage on campaign they have in mind.
Stealth checks when in a desert or similar wasteland
environment. TENETS OF THE GLORIOUS SERVITOR
The tenets of each Servitor will vary greatly depending
DIVINE STRIKE on the god they serve; however, each will generally share
At 8th level, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon the following tenets:
strikes with divine energy. Once on each of your turns Serve. My god is everything. I will follow their
when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can command, no matter what is asked, and devote my life
cause the attack to deal an extra 1d8 force damage to the to their service.
target. When you reach 14th level, the extra damage Glory. I will not suffer the enemies of my church to
increases to 2d8. live; I will stop at nothing to defeat them and bring glory
in the name of my divine patron.
CHANNEL DIVINITY: DESERT STORM Dedication. I exist to ensure the divine will of my god
At 17th level, you master control of the desert. You can is realized. I am their chosen champion and through me
use your Channel Divinity to conjure a huge storm of their values and dogma shall manifest.
sand, dust or ash. As an action, you present your holy Sacrifice. I will gladly give up my own life if it is
symbol and center the storm on a point you can see required for the furtherment of my holy cause.
within 120 feet. This storm forms a sphere 60-feet tall
and has a 60-foot-radius, it blocks line of sight and lasts O ATH OF THE G LORIOUS SERVITOR SPELLS
for one minute or until you are incapacitated or die. Class Level Spells
Creatures other than you that begin their turn in the
storm must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (spell 3rd divine favor, shield of faith
save DC) or take 5d6 slashing damage on a failed save, or 5th prayer of healing, spiritual weapon
half as much on a successful one. They are also 9th crusader's mantle, spirit guardians
considered blinded whilst within the sphere and must
spend 4 feet of movement for every 1 foot moved. 13th divination, guardian of faith
17th commune, reincarnate
OATH OF THE GLORIOUS SERVITOR
In times of desperate need, the gods may call upon their CHANNEL DIVINITY
most devout followers to become exalted champions, When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the
ordained to carry out the tenets of their will. These following Channel Divinity options:
Glorious Servitors swear an oath to uphold the values of Divine Magnificence. You use your Channel Divinity to
their god and are then connected to them, becoming call forth your god to manifest upon the battlefield, their
imbued with a fraction of their divine power. dazzling appearance blinding those who dare
These champions devote their entire stand against you. As an action, you
life to the service of their patron, may choose a creature within
embodying their dogma, whilst 60 feet; they must succeed on
becoming a beacon of hope a Constitution saving throw
for the wider congregation of (spell save DC). On a failed
their church. save, that creature is
Often, Glorious Servitor blinded for 1 minute unless
paladins are called upon in immune. The creature
times of conflict, or when can repeat the saving
the church is threatened throw at the end of each
by a powerful enemy. of its turns. On a
They will lead the success, the blindness
defense (or attack) ends.
against this foe, Glorious Inspiration.
stopping at nothing to As an action, you use
achieve victory in the your Channel Divinity to
name of their god. The invigorate yourself with
first Glorious Servitors the divine energy of your
were created during the god, inspiring yourself
Mulani rebellion of -2489 and allies around you to
DR, when the Mulhorandi greater acts of heroism.
gods selected their most For the next minute, each
faithful followers to become creature of your choice within
Glorious Servitors and lead an 5 feet of you, including you,
uprising against the Imaskar receive the effects of the bless spell
Empire. Other gods across the planes (whenever they make an attack roll
are known to create similar champions, sometimes or saving throw, they may roll a d4 and add the result to
known by a different name. the attack or saving throw.) This effect ends if that
To note, unlike paladins of other oaths, Glorious creature moves more than 5 feet away from you or if you
Servitors are not restricted by alignment, as they always are incapacitated or die. Note: this effect cannot stack
share the alignment of their god. However, it is worth with the effect of the bless spell.

78
BESTIAL FORM
Starting at 7th level, your patron deity grants you the
ability to transform into the form of their associated
animal. Once per long rest, you may use an action to
transform, as per the druid Wild Shape feature. You
remain in this form for 1 hour or until you are reduced to
0 hit points. Then you will immediately revert to your
original form, with any additional damage carrying over
into your regular hit point total. You may also transform
back into your regular form as a bonus action. All other
rules follow the druid wild shape feature from the PHB
(page 66-67) unless otherwise stated here.
The bestial form you adopt will be dependent on your
patron deity. Below is a table listing the animal forms of
the Mulhorandi pantheon; if you are using a different
deity then speak to your Dungeon Master about which
animal form would be appropriate. As a guide, each
deity’s bestial form will always be restricted to the beast
type and limited to a challenge rating of no higher than 1
(0 if it has a flying speed) to maintain balance.
M ULHORANDI P ANTHEON BESTIAL F ORMS
Deity Bestial Form
Anhur Lion (PHB p307)
Bast Panther (PHB p308)
Geb Black Bear (PHB p304)
Hathor Ox (Volo’s Guide to Monsters p207)
Horus-Re Hawk (PHB p306)
Isis White Dove (Raven PHB p309)
Nephthys Giant Rat (MM p327)
Osiris Wolf (PHB p311)
Sebek Crocodile (PHB p305)
Set Giant Poisonous Snake (MM p327)
Thoth Owl (PHB p308)
EMPOWERED FORM
Beginning at 15th level, your shapeshifting abilities have
been greatly increased as the connection to your god
strengthens. You can use your animal form twice per
long rest and may stay in that form for as long as you
wish with no time limit. Additionally, whilst in your
animal form, your attacks count as magical weapons,
and you may cast any spell that does not require material
components to cast.
AVATAR OF FAITH
At 20th level, you can become the mortal manifestation
of your god’s will. As an action, you turn into a divine
avatar and gain the following benefits for 1 minute:
• You emit an aura of dazzling magnificence in a 30-
foot-radius sphere; the first time an enemy creature
enters the radius or begins its turn there it must
succeed on a Constitution saving throw or become
stunned until the end of its next turn (each enemy
only needs to attempt the save once)
• Creatures attacking you within the 30-foot-radius
have disadvantage on their attack rolls
• You and allies within 30 feet gain advantage on all
saving throws including death saves
This effect ends early if you are incapacitated or die.
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you
finish a long rest.
79
TOMB RAIDER
Vast amounts of wealth are buried away in the ancient
tombs and vaults of the long dead. Such treasure often
lies tantalizingly close to those who still walk the earth
in life, oblivious to the entombed riches left to gather
dust in lightless crypts. Yet not all are so oblivious. There
are thieves of remarkable talent and cunning who make
a prosperous, if exceedingly dangerous, profession from
raiding the treasure hoards of those who no longer need
such wealth. A very specialized set of skills are needed
for such daring larceny; not only to evade the myriad
traps, guardians and wards left by the tomb's occupants,
but also the still-living guardians who have sworn to
defend the resting dead and their possessions.
There is no place in Faerun with a greater
concentration of tombs than Mulhorand. Its scorched
deserts and cities are filled with great pyramids,
mausoleums and vaults that house the god-kings and
nobility of old. The Mulhorandi believe that after death
they will join their gods in Heliopolis, bringing with
them the possessions and wealth they had in life. This
tradition is fiercely guarded, with House Osriant, the
Church of Osiris, maintaining a vigil over sacred burial
sites across Mulhorand. This includes the Land of the
Dead near Mishtan; a sprawling necropolis housing
unimaginable treasure. To the Mulhorandi, Tomb
raiding is viewed as the most heinous crime, more so
even than murder, and thus the most brutal punishment
is reserved for those that dare to steal from the dead.
Those caught in the act receive the Simikhara, a brutal
punishment that involves partial mummification,
followed by the condemned being entombed with a
swarm of scarab beetles that will slowly eat them alive.
Despite such horrific deterrents, there are still many
tomb raiders in Mulhorand seeking to earn their fortune,
both native Mulhorandi and those from elsewhere. These
scheming rogues will often scope out a target tomb for
months in advance, carefully planning their heist and
assembling a group of like-minded individuals to aid
them. They will be found with all manner of equipment
for their purpose; for grisly punishments are not the
only deterrent to put off thieves. Devious traps, magical
wards and terrifying guardians have to be expected,
though may not be revealed until inside the tomb. It is
not an uncommon sight to find the skeletal remains of
another thief whilst raiding a tomb; perhaps captured by
a trapped door and left to starve, obliterated by arcane
glyphs or torn to pieces by eternally-patrolling golems.
Macabre sights, but often very useful for the next tomb
raider attempting entry, as these remains may show the
location of hazards to avoid.
Of course, Mulhorand is not the only place in Faerun,
or any other world or setting, that has tombs ripe for
raiding. Ancient ziggurats lie hidden deep in the jungles
of Chult, sunken ruins cover the bottom of the Sea of
Fallen Stars, even great cities such as Waterdeep have
treasure-filled family tombs of nobility. This class
archetype for the rogue is suitable for most settings and
campaigns.
EXPERT DUNGEONEER
When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you have
become an expert in raiding tombs and other dungeons.
You gain the Dungeon Delver feat from the PHB (Page
166). If you already have this feat (as part of the variant
human feature for example), you may select a new feat
that you meet all prerequisites for.
HEIST PREPARATION
Starting at 3rd level, you have learned the importance of
preparing for dangerous ventures such as raiding tombs.
You might scout the area you are going to, gather
information from locals, acquire equipment for the task
at hand and generally prepare yourself and your party
for the inevitable perils ahead. You may take a full day
(at least twelve hours) and gain an inspiration dice for
you and each member of your party; your preparations
ensuring your group are ready for the trials ahead.
ARCANE INSTINCT
At 9th level, you have learned to detect the presence of
arcane glyphs and writing that often heralds the
presence of a magical trap. You gain proficiency with the
Arcana skill (if you already have it, you may choose
another from the list of skills available to a rogue) and
may check to determine the presence and nature of a
magical trap as if you were a spellcaster.
PARKOUR ADEPT
By 13th level, your lithe, dexterous form can overcome
any test of strength with graceful flowing movement
that would rival the mightiest barbarian. Any skill check
that requires you to use Athletics (climbing, jumping,
swimming etc.) you may use Acrobatics instead.
Additionally, you can disengage as part of your
movement without needing to use a cunning action.
MASTER DUNGEONEER
When you reach 17th level, you have become
unparalleled in your tomb raiding abilities. There is no
vault you can't crack, and no trap gives you pause. You
gain advantage on all Dexterity saving throws and
Dexterity-based skill checks (Acrobatics, Stealth,
Thieves' Tools, Initiative etc.). You also gain advantage
on any Arcana, Investigation and Perception checks
relating to finding or understanding traps of any kind.
80
SPELLS
The great Mulhorandi wizard Nezram, the World Walker,
was a pioneer of the ancient and mysterious art of gem
magic. Indeed, he realized at a young age that the many
precious gemstones that litter Faerûn’s subterranean
surface hold much greater value than any bazaar
merchant can appraise. The primordial energy that
creates these gleaming stones imbues them with a
modicum of power, which reacts when exposed to the
raw magic of the weave. Artificers and wizards of
suitable training can tap into such power, using gems as
spell components to augment their existing spells or
create entirely new ones. Different gemstones offer
different magical enhancement, altering and focusing
the weave in unique ways.
The spells listed here are creations of Nezram, the
World Walker, originally documented in his spellbook
Unique Mageries, which was lost to the wizard many
centuries ago. Over time, they have begun to spread
around the various arcane circles of Faerûn, adopted and
reimagined by wizards and artificers alike. The following
spells are available for artificers and wizards to learn,
provided they meet the level requirements and possess
the expensive components needed to cast:
CREATE GEMSTONE GOLEM
8th level conjuration
Casting Time: 8 hours (Ritual)
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, M (a single gemstone as noted below,
which the spell consumes)
You conjure a powerful golem, created from a single
gemstone “heart” that expands through rapid arcane
nucleation to form the desired humanoid shape. Unlike
traditional conjuration magic, the golem is made by
chaining an unwilling spirit from the elemental plane of
earth to this gemstone heart and subjecting it to the will
of the creator. This animated construct will not
unsummon after a certain time and will only disappear if
the vessel is utterly destroyed, allowing gemstone
golems to linger for millennia, guarding the tombs and
pyramids of Mulhorand’s ancient dead.
The process of conjuration and creation takes a full 8
hours and cannot be interrupted, or the spell will be lost
and its components wasted. You must also make a DC 20
Arcana check as the final part of the casting ritual or the
golem creation fails and it immediately becomes hostile.
If made successfully, the golem will obey your
commands and continue to do so until it is reduced to 0
hit points or the elemental spirit within is returned to its
native plane of existence (for example via a Banishment
spell). If the golem is destroyed, its physical form is
reduced to worthless dust, but the original gemstone
used for its heart will remain, allowing a new golem to
be created. The golem is an ally to you and your
companions. In combat, it shares your initiative count,
but takes its turn immediately after yours.
See page 95 for the different gemstone golem stat
blocks available. The type of golem created will depend
on the type of gemstone used as its component, with the
required costs for each as follows:
• Opal Golem: a perfect opal worth at least 500 gp
• Ruby Golem: a perfect ruby worth at least 2000 gp
• Emerald Golem: a perfect emerald worth at least
3000 gp
• Diamond Golem: a perfect diamond worth at least
5000 gp
DIAMOND DOME OF BRILLIANCE The ray has the following effects depending on the
7th level abjuration nature of its target:

Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self (15-foot-radius sphere)
Components: V, M (a diamond or diamond dust worth at
least 500 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration: 1 minute
Focusing the most powerful gem magic, you emit a
brilliant dome of sparkling diamond energy that
encompasses you and a 15-foot-radius sphere around
you for the duration. Enemies within the dome's radius
count as being blinded whilst within it, and any ranged
attacks against your or other allies in the dome are made
with disadvantage.
NEZRAM'S AMETHYST AURA
3rd level abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, M (an amethyst or amethyst dust worth
at least 25 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration: 1 hour
You touch a willing creature. Until the spell ends, the
target is enveloped in an amethyst-purple aura and is
immune to poison and disease of any kind. This will not
remove or prevent the effects of any existing poison or
disease before the spell was cast.
NEZRAM'S EMERALD ENERGY SHIELD
4th level abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, M (an emerald or emerald dust worth at
least 50 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration: 10 minutes
You touch a willing creature that becomes imbued with
an emerald-green glow and is protected against any
mind-altering magic. Until the spell ends, they
automatically succeed any charisma, intelligence or
wisdom saving throws versus spells and magical effects.
NEZRAM'S SAPPHIRE SCREEN OF SHIELDING
5th level abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Self
Components: V, M (a sapphire or sapphire dust worth at
least 100 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration: 10 minutes
• Any magical trap is immediately dispelled, and any
mundane trap is immediately sprung.
• Any lingering spells or magical effects e.g. a wall of
force, polymorph or a major image are dispelled.
• Any spells affecting a target such as mage armor or
stoneskin are immediately dispelled (this also includes
harmful spells such as bane).
• Summoned creatures hit by the ray are immediately
banished.
• Creatures that have been created by magic such as
constructs or undead are stunned until your next turn
as the magic holding them together is rendered inert.
WALL OF CRYSTAL
3rd level evocation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 90 feet
Target: A point you can see within range
Components: V, M (a crystal or crystal dust worth at
least 25 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
You manifest a wall of crystal into existence at a point
you choose within range. The wall is 6 inches thick and is
composed of six 10-foot-by-10-foot panels. Each panel
must be contiguous with at least one other panel.
If the wall cuts through a creature’s space when it
appears, the creature is pushed to one side of the wall
(your choice). If a creature would be surrounded on all
sides by the wall (or the wall and another solid surface),
that creature can make a Dexterity saving throw. On a
success, it can use its reaction to move up to its speed so
that it is no longer enclosed by the wall.
The wall can have any shape you wish, though it
cannot occupy the same space as a creature or object.
The wall must rest on a firm foundation such as earth or
stone. It is an object made of crystal that can be damaged
and thus breached. Each panel has AC 12 and 10 hit
points per inch of thickness. Reducing a panel to 0 hit
points destroys it and may cause connected panels to
collapse (DM’s discretion). If you maintain your
concentration on this spell for its whole duration, the
wall becomes permanent and cannot be dispelled.
Otherwise, the wall disappears when the spell ends.

You conjure a swirling sapphire-blue sphere of energy

that surrounds you and shields you from physical harm.
Until the spell ends, you gain +5 to your AC and
resistance against nonmagical bludgeoning, piercing
and slashing damage.

RUBY RAY OF REVERSAL

6th level abjuration
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 120 feet
Components: V, M (a ruby or ruby dust worth at least
200 gp, which the spell consumes)

Using the power of gem magic, you conjure a thin ruby-

red beam that shoots from your fingertips to negate any
hazards that may stand before you.

81
MAGIC ITEMS
Mulhorand is a land positively teeming with treasure,
magical or otherwise. For the best part of four millennia
its people and their god-kings have accumulated vast
treasure troves of gold, jewels and valuable items of all
descriptions. The Mulhorandi believe that their
possessions from life will be brought with them into
Heliopolis, continuing their affluence into the afterlife.
ANKH OF LIFE
Wand, artifact (requires attunement by a cleric or paladin)
The ankh of life was once wielded by the incarnation of
the god Re, and is perhaps the most powerful
Mulhorandi relic ever created. It was lost during the
Orcgate War at the Battle of Thazalhar Plains, as Re fell
in single combat with the orc God Gruumsh, and despite
the efforts of many paladins of Horus-Re and Osiris,
none have been able to recover it.
Made from fossilized wood and roughly formed in the
shape of an ankh, this ancient artifact does not appear
powerful. Yet looks are ever deceiving, for the ankh
contains the raw divine power of Re himself, offering the
wielder a fragment of the power of a dead god.
The Ankh of Life holds 5 charges and whilst attuned
you may cast Greater Restoration or Heal (1 charge),
Resurrection or Regenerate (2 charges) or Mass Heal or
True Resurrection (5 charges).
However, such powerful divine magic is not without
sacrifice. The Ankh of Life was created to be wielded by a
god; lesser mortals who use it are permanently drained
both physically and mentally. When casting a spell with
the wand, you are immediately drained by 1d4 hit points
for each charge used in casting that spell. These hit
points cannot be recovered in any way other than a Wish
spell. Additionally, you must make a wisdom saving
throw (DC 15 + the number of charges used to cast the
spell). If you fail your memory is temporarily erased; you
become totally unaware of who and where you are, what
you are doing and why, and who anyone is around you.
This effect lasts 24 hours and cannot be removed in any
way other than by a Wish spell.
The Ankh of Life regains 1d3 charges each day at dawn.
CLAW OF NEZRAM
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)
The Claw of Nezram is a powerful and unique magic item
originally enchanted by the wizard Nezram to assist him
with mundane tasks as well as provide him additional
protection in times of danger. Crafted from Alexandrite
crystal and embedded with rubies, it is shaped like a
human hand only with long, diamond claws that are
magically enhanced and razor sharp. There are only five
known copies of the claw scattered across Faerun,
though Nezram may have more in his service and only
the wizard himself knows the true number that exist.
Once attuned, you have telepathic control of the hand
which acts as a sentient being and can be commanded to
perform any functions desired, from mundane tasks
such as item retrieval to attacking or restraining an
enemy in combat. The claw is an ally to you and your
companions. In combat, it shares your initiative count,
but takes its turn immediately after yours.
The Claw of Nezram can attack and be attacked; it has
an AC of 18 and 98 hit points. If it drops to 0 hit points it
is destroyed. It can make two attacks per round at +8 to
hit, dealing 1d6+4 magical slashing damage. It can also
use the spell shocking grasp as an 11th level spellcaster.
82
FONT OF TIME
Wondrous item, artifact
The Font of Time is a powerful artifact from the ancient
empires of Mulhorand, offering the ability to witness the
past as if it were reality. According to the musings of
Nezram in Unique Mageries, the font would appear at
random in a mirage during a full moon, most often in
the Raurin desert east of the Dragonsword Mountains.
For anyone lucky enough to find it, it allows them to
gaze into the pearlescent waters and view Mulhorand’s
ancient history as if they were actually there. Who
created it and for what purpose remains a mystery, and
many Mulhorologists have spent their entire life
searching for it. Unfortunately, with the arrival of the
Spellplague, the Font vanished without trace and there
have been no accounts of it being seen since.
Curse. Made entirely of crystal, the Font of Time
appears out of the desert with sparkling magnificence.
The liquid it holds glows faintly and is bitter to the taste.
Yet its magnificence hides the font’s true, cursed nature.
Anyone who gazes into the shimmering pool is instantly
transported back in time to a period in Mulhorand’s
ancient history. The Dungeon Master will randomly
choose a point in time from the first, second or third
Mulhorandi Empire, prior to the Spellplague (can either
use Chapter 1 of this book which includes a full timeline
or choose a time period that is suitable).
Once you have been transported, you will be able to
move freely through this era of history, though unable to
interact or interfere with transpiring events in any way.
You will be as ghosts, trapped in time and only able to
witness what the font has chosen to show you. The only
way to escape and return to the present era is to find the
font in that period. It acts as a portal and will allow you
to return to the future where, upon arrival, you will find
that no time has passed since you left.
KHOPESH OF THE SANDS
Weapon (scimitar), rare (requires attunement)
The khopesh is the traditional weapon of Mulhorand, its
striking hooked blade a common sight in its military or
among the clergy of Horus-Re. This one in particular has
been ensorcelled with powerful enchantments by House
Tholaunt, its exquisite blade lined with hieroglyphs.
You gain a +1 to attack and damage rolls made with
this magical longsword. Additionally, once per day, you
may use an action to cast dust devil, which functions as
the basic version of the spell (Xanathar’s Guide to
Everything) without requiring concentration and DC 12
for the saving throw.
NEMES OF SHADING
Wondrous item, common (requires attunement)
This traditional Mulhorandi headdress has been imbued
with an enchantment to offer protection from exposure;
a very popular item for those who travel across the harsh
desert wasteland of Mulhorand’s interior.
Whilst attuned, you always count as benefitting from
the effects of shade, as detailed in the desert wastes
section (page 65).
RE’S REDEMPTION
Weapon (any melee weapon), rare
When the God Re fell in battle with Grrumsh during the
Orcgate War, he blessed the weapons of the Mulani
forces with his dying breath. These powerful enchanted
weapons granted a considerable advantage to the
surviving army, ensuring they would defeat the orc
horde and save Mulhorand from ruin. Over the ages,
these blessed weapons have been scattered across the
land, some buried with their owners, others still used by
House Ramathant’s military forces today and many
more lost to time.
Despite the passing of over two thousand years, Re’s
blessing remains intact, offering its wielder a powerful
weapon, especially when fighting against orcs of any
kind. You gain a +2 to attack and damage rolls made with
this magic weapon. Additionally, when you hit an attack
made against an orc of any kind (including half-orcs),
they take an additional 3d6 radiant damage and must
succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be blinded
until your next turn.
PHARAOH’S GIFT
Wondrous item, common
This small sponge, shaped like an ankh, has been
enchanted to provide sustenance. It is a popular gift
across Mulhorand, especially for those who are
travelling across the desert.
Whilst the Pharaoh’s Gift is placed under the tongue,
you receive enough sustenance to avoid needing water
and avoid the effects of dehydration. After 3 days the
enchantment fades and the item dissolves.
SCARAB OF THE SWARM
Wondrous item, uncommon (requires attunement)
This ornate, golden scarab beetle has been beautifully
crafted and inset with precious gems. Holding it in your
hand you can feel a faint vibration, like the buzzing of
tiny wings.
You can use an action to speak a command word and
throw the scarab on the ground within 10 feet of you.
The scarab becomes a swarm of scarabs (page 106) under
your control and acts on its own initiative count. By
using a bonus action to speak the command word again,
you return the scarab to its normal form in a space
formerly occupied by the swarm. Note that the item will
remain in whatever space the swarm was last occupying,
even if it had burrowed underground.
On your turn, you can mentally command the swarm if
it is within 60 feet of you and you aren't incapacitated.
You decide what action the swarm takes and where it
moves during its next turn, or you can issue it a general
command, such as to attack your enemies or guard a
location. If the swarm is reduced to 0 hit points, it dies
and reverts to its item form; which then shatters and is
destroyed. If the swarm reverts to item form before
losing all its hit points, it regains all of them.
83
SCEPTER OF THE GODS
Weapon (mace), rare (requires attunement by a cleric or
paladin)
Holy scepters are often found among the high priests of
the Mulhorandi deities, each one aligned to their specific
god. They are mainly used as an ornamental focus during
religious ceremonies, though they are blessed with the
power of their respective god if called for in battle.
You gain a +1 to attack and damage rolls made with the
scepter (mace). Additionally, you can use an action to
expend 1 or more of its charges to cast spells using your
spell save DC and spellcasting ability modifier. It has 5
charges and regenerates 1d3 charges each day at dawn. If
you expend the last charge, roll a d20, on a roll of 1 the
scepter’s power has faded and it is reduced to a non-
magical mace. The list of spells you can cast with the
scepter is dependent upon the deity that it belongs to:
S CEPTER OF THE G ODS SPELL LIST
Deity Spells (charge cost)
Anhur wrathful smite (1 charge), heroism (1
charge), crusader’s mantle (3 charges)
Bast charm person (1 charge), enthral (2
charges), dominate person (5 charges)
Geb earth tremor (1 charge), meld into stone (3
charges) stone shape (4 charges)
Hathor healing word (1 charge), prayer of healing
(2 charges), beacon of hope (3 charges)
Horus-Re command (1 charge), augury (2 charges),
commune (5 charges)
Isis goodberry (1 charge), plant growth (3
charges), aura of vitality (3 charges)
Nephthys identify (1 charge), locate object (2
charges), glyph of warding (3 charges)
Osiris detect evil and good (1 charge), gentle
repose (2 charges), dispel evil and good (5
charges)
Sebek inflict wounds (1 charge), cause fear (1
charge), water breathing (3 charges)
Set command (1 charge), invisibility (2
charges), bestow curse (3 charges)
Thoth detect magic (1 charge), dispel magic (3
charges), arcane eye (4 charges)
SERPENT BLADE
Weapon (shortsword), uncommon
This cruel shortsword is the favored weapon of the Fangs
of Set, a vicious group of assassins led by Isseth, and
many a mark has been found slain by what would appear
just a minor wound. The dagger’s pommel is curved in
the head of a cobra and the dark steel blade constantly
drips with green venom.
When you hit a creature with an attack with this
weapon, in addition to regular shortsword damage (d6),
the target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw,
taking 3d6 poison damage on a failed save, or half as
much damage on a successful one. Additionally, if you
roll a 20 on the attack roll, the target is poisoned for the
next hour if they fail their save. However, if you roll a 1
or 2 on the attack, the serpent instead turns on its
owner; you must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw
or suffer 3d6 poison damage on a failed save, or half as
much damage on a successful one.
THE FIRST IMASKARCANA
Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement)
Crafted by the first artificers of Imaskar close to ten
thousand years ago, this crown is a relic of the power of
the ancient Imaskar Empire. It was traditionally claimed
by each new emperor as a symbol of their supreme
authority and bestows upon the wearer the combined
knowledge of all previous Lord Artificers who have
donned it. The last known owner of the crown was Lord
Artificer Yuvaraj who fell in battle with Horus during the
battle of Inupras in -2488 DR. It was believed scattered
and buried in the Raurin wastes since then, though
rumor abounds that Ult’Axion, declaring himself a new
Lord Artificer of Imaskar, has reclaimed the artifact to
empower his claim.
Regal and extraordinary, the First Imaskarcana is a
crown wrought from a strange lavender-hued metal,
evident of the master artificers of ancient Imaskar. A
large blue-black sapphire approximately three inches in
diameter adorns the center of the crown.
Whilst attuned, you gain advantage on saving throws
made to resist spells or spell-like effects. In addition, if
you succeed on the save, and the spell or spell-like effect
targets you, it has no effect on you and instead targets
the caster, using the slot level, spell save DC, Attack
bonus, and Spellcasting ability of the caster.
Additionally, the wearer has advantage on any history
checks made regarding the Imaskar
The First Imaskarcana is a sentient magic item and
one that is beholden to the Imaskari. It will only
communicate or respond to commands spoken in
Roushoum, the ancient language of Imaskar. When
attuned, if you speak to or command it in any other
language, you will immediately become the target of a
feeblemind spell (save DC 20).
If spoken to in Roushoum, the crown will not engage
in conversation, however it will answer direct questions
(if it knows the answer). Once per day, the wearer may
use the spell legend lore, though will only get a response
if the person, place or object described is linked to the
ancient history of the Imaskar Empire.
84
THE FIFTH IMASKARCANA
Staff, artifact (requires attunement)
In the centuries following the creation of the First
Imaskarcana, six more of these powerful artifacts were
crafted, for a variety of purposes. Nearly all have been
lost over the millennia, with several having no historical
record. One that is recorded is the Fifth Imaskarcana, a
powerful scepter that was given to the High General of
the Imaskari legions. The last known owner was Lord
Dimarond, High General of Imaskar during the Mulani
uprising. He fell in battle against a host of Glorious
Servitors in -2488 DR and the relic was lost to the newly
formed Raurin Desert. Lord Artificer Ult’Axion, using the
First Imaskarcana, is believed to have uncovered the
Fifth Imaskarcana as well.
The Fifth Imaskarcana is a pitted scepter about two
feet long, with a green jewel mounted on its head. The
haft, pommel and head are elaborately crafted with
bronze and steel, giving the scepter an aura of imposing
authority.
Whilst attuned, you are instilled with the entire
military knowledge of ancient Imaskar; you have
advantage on initiative checks and can never be
surprised (whilst conscious).
Like its older sibling, the Fifth Imaskarcana is also
sentient, and will also only communicate or respond to
commands spoken in Roushoum. If you attempt to
communicate or activate its abilities in a language other
than Roushoum you will immediately be targeted by a
disintegrate spell (save DC 19).
If communicated to in Roushoum, the Fifth
Imaskarcana will not engage in conversation, however it
will respond to direct questions from the attuned wielder
pertaining to the military history of the Imaskar Empire.
It also holds 10 charges and recharges 1d4+1 charges
each day at dawn. These can be used to cast the following
spells using your spell save DC and spellcasting ability
modifier: spiritual weapon or aid (1 charge), crusader’s
mantle or wall of stone (3 charges), arcane gate or
disintegrate (5 charges) or gate or foresight (10 charges).
 CHAPTER 6
CREATURES OF MULHORAND
rom its scorched deserts, buried tombs,
F
ruined cities and dragon-infested mountains,
Mulhorand is inhabited by far more than the
Mulhorandi. Terrifying monsters roam the
desert wastes or lurk in the crevasses and
shadows of the land. Many appeared with the
Spellplague, born from the unbridled energies of the
conflagration which devastated this nation a century
ago. They still linger in places such as the ruins of Skuld,
feeding off pockets of residual wild magic energy, as well
as those foolish enough to cross their path. An
Adventuring Guild has even been set up in Skyclave with
the aim of ridding this blight, encouraging capable
heroes with promises of riches and glory.
This chapter details a number of such creatures that
inhabit Mulhorand, including information on playable
races, existing creatures from other sourcebooks and a
wide selection of terrifying new monsters.
These creatures are designed to fit the theme of
Mulhorand but most can easily be applied to other
campaigns or settings. Monsters are presented
alphabetically, including a description of the creature,
how they fit in the setting and their stat block.
COMMON PLAYABLE RACES
Described here are the playable races most commonly
found in Mulhorand, along with details of where they
might hail from. This list is not exclusive, and other
races certainly exist for players to choose from, though
they are more likely to originate from elsewhere. Most of
these are races from the PHB; any from elsewhere will
reference the sourcebook and page number in brackets.
AASIMAR
It is thought that the Aasimar (Monsters of the Multiverse
page 7) originated from the lands of Mulhorand and
Unther. The gods lived among their people during the
First, Second and Third Empires, forming entire
dynasties with their divine blood. Since then, many have
left and spread across Faerûn, yet many still belong to
the royal houses of their lineage.
85
DRAGONBORN
During the Spellplague, a huge section of the
Dragonborn realm of Tymanchebar was torn from Abeir
and transplanted into Faerûn, south of Unther. This
became known as the nation of Tymanther, who
flourished in this new land, despite their war with the
Untherans they had displaced. Some have migrated away
from the conflict, including eastward into Mulhorand.
DWARVES
Gold dwarves are common across the eastern reaches of
Faerûn, and there are a number of cities and settlements
beneath the Dragonsword and Giant’s Belt Mountains.
Gold and stone dwarves have also become more and
more common in Mulhorand since the borders were
opened to friendly races by Pharaoh Horuskhet I. Some
have joined House Gebthant, earning their fortune in the
desert mines or working their craft in the industrial
sectors of Skyclave.
ELVES
Prior to the Spellplague, wood elves inhabited the
Gannathwood in northern Mulhorand, however this
small forest was decimated by the conflagration. It is
now a graveyard of dead and twisted willow trees, the
elves who once lived there either dead or departed for
other lands. Wandering elves of varying subspecies do
visit or even make their home in Mulhorand.
GOLIATHS
To the south east of Mulhorand lies the Fuirgar, Land of
the Stone Giants. Over the centuries, tribes of these
giants began to trade and mingle with other races,
creating the giant kin races such as ogres, verbeegs and,
most notably, goliaths (Monsters of the Multiverse page
21). Tribes of these powerful warriors range across the
Furitep and the surrounding mountains, living in the
shadow of their stone giant ancestors. Some have begun
to descend from the mountains into human lands,
including Mulhorand, seeking adventure and glory.
GNOMES
Like the dwarves, there are numerous svirfneblin and
rock gnome colonies beneath the Dragonsword and
Giant’s Belt Mountains, and some have begun to venture
out into the surrounding lands to trade or find better
fortune. The Mulhorandi have learned the value of
gnome craftmanship and engineering prowess in the
years since.
HALF-ORCS
Despite the Orcgate War being nearly two-thousand
years ago, the Mulhorandi still look on orcs, even half-
orcs, with distrust. Nevertheless, the pharaoh has
allowed any and all friendly races into Mulhorand and it
is not unusual to see half-orcs in its cities and towns;
some are even part descended from the gray orcs who
survived the war.
HALFLINGS
Until now, halflings have never been common in
Mulhorand. None existed among the Mulan before the
Imaskari enslaved them and brought them to Faerûn,
and the few that did happen to pass through Mulhorand
were often confused with the children of dwarves. They
have become much more common in modern times,
living alongside the ‘tall folk’ as they do in many other
nations across Faerûn.
HUMANS
By far the most numerous of the races, humans have
dominated Mulhorand and the surrounding lands for
close to ten thousand years. First came the Imaskari,
their empire covering most of eastern Faerûn. After a
terrible plague, they abducted an entire civilization from
a distant world to bolster their dwindling population.
These humans were known as the Mulan and lived as
slaves to the Imaskar Empire. After their gods followed
them to Toril, they rose up and deposed their overlords.
The Mulani people then settled in the lands around the
Raurin, forming two new human empires of Mulhorand
and Unther.
Over the centuries, the Mulan have diverged away into
separatist nations including Murghôm, Semphar and
Thay. After mingling with natives such as the Turami
and Tethens, and once Pharaoh Horuskhet I ended the
xenophobia that had plagued Mulhorand’s early
empires, the humans of today’s Mulhorand are a melting
pot of different ethnicities. The title of Mulhorandi is
used to describe the people of Mulhorand specifically
and does not refer to any race or ethnicity.
TIEFLINGS
Unlike the other races who arrived in Mulhorand after
the pharaoh’s decree, the tieflings have been present for
much longer, even before the arrival of the Spellplague
or High Imaskar. A large community of tieflings has
been established in the second city of Gheldaneth, where
they have become a part of Mulhorandi society aiding in
the uprising against High Imaskar in 1485 DR. Their
origins are a mystery, though most believe they are
descendants of Thayan slaves who have been cursed by
dark magic. The truth is much more sinister.
Unbeknownst to the rest of Mulhorand, the tieflings are
descendants of the evil god Set, and have infiltrated
society at his command. Aybtep Kohl, the leader of the
tieflings, keeps in constant communication with Isseth,
waiting for the right time for the serpent to strike.
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KNOWN MONSTERS
Listed here are creatures that are well known and
regularly encountered across Mulhorand, though
certainly not exclusive to the area. Most of the names
highlighted in bold refer to creatures available in the
Monster Manual; any from elsewhere will have the book
and page number referenced in brackets.
ABERRATIONS
The lingering effects of the Spellplague has led to an
influx of the nightmare creatures known as aberrations.
Some, like beholders, gibbering mouthers and mind
flayers, already existed in Faerûn and surfaced in
Mulhorand with the plague, seeking new lairs. More
concerning are those that appeared when the cataclysm
tore open the fabric between planes, allowing alien
beings from the Far Realms passage into Faerûn. Star
spawn (Monsters of the Multiverse page 227) of various
types have recently been encountered in the ruins of
Skuld, their arrival an ominous portent. Whether these
alien beings have appeared as a byproduct of the
Spellplague, or whether the Elder Evils they are aligned
to hold more malevolent plans, is a mystery to all.
Regardless, the fact a direct passage has been made from
the Far Realms into Faerûn is of great concern.
BEASTS
The scorched deserts of Mulhorand are no place for
warm-blooded mammals, but there are plenty of other
beasts who thrive in the wastes. Cold-blooded reptiles
such as giant poisonous snakes, giant lizards and
crocodiles prey on travelers who stray too close to their
lairs. They commonly inhabit oases and rivers, waiting
in ambush for those desperate to quench their thirst.
Insects and arachnids of all shapes and sizes also thrive
in the arid climate, many of which have grown to
enormous proportions or into swarms that will hungrily
devour any prey they come across. Giant spiders, giant
scorpions and swarms of insects are common across
Mulhorand, often inhabiting desert caves, ruins and
tombs. Giant vultures prowl the skies, scavenging easy
prey and circling above those who seem close to falling
foul of the desert’s peril.
A number of new monstrous beasts are detailed later
in this chapter, presenting DMs and players with a range
of natural predators for any wilderness or dungeon
encounter in Mulhorand or other desert settings.
DRAGONS
Dragons have been a menace in Mulhorand for
thousands of years, the nation’s expansive wilderness
and varied landscape providing perfect territory for
wyrm kind. Perhaps the most notorious of these was the
ancient green dragon Chaathuuladroth who laid waste
to the tower and home of Nezram, the World Walker,
whilst the wizard was traveling the planes. In the time
since the Spellplague, Mulhorand’s desert landscape is
most commonly inhabited by blue dragons, including
Gestaniius, an ancient blue dragon that was a thorn in
the side of High Imaskar for many years before the
return of the Mulhorandi. Brass dragons are also found
in the desert, though tend to avoid the local population
unless provoked. Much less common are the sand
dragons (see page 102), also known as brown dragons,
who lair beneath the sand dunes, waiting for prey to
disturb the sand above them.
ELEMENTALS
Following the Spellplague, creatures from the elemental
planes are common where wild magic lingers. Pulled
from their home by the cataclysm, many angry earth
elementals, air elementals and fire elementals wander
in these areas of high energy disturbance, unable to
return to their native plane. Dust elementals (see page
93), somewhere between earth and air, have become
increasingly common as well, swirling across the desert
wilderness and engulfing anything they come across.
Other elementally aligned creatures can also be found,
such as dust mephits, steam mephits (from the Lake of
Salt) and smoke mephits (Ruins of Skuld).
A dust mephit emerges from a sandstorm
GIANTS
By Dean Spencer
Southeast of Mulhorand lies the Fuirgar, Land of the
Stone giants. Tribes of the stone giants that give the land
its name have existed there for millennia, ranging the
Giant’s Belt and Dragonsword mountains as well as the
barren lowlands between. They generally keep well away
from people and are peaceful unless provoked, focusing
on their pursuit of stonecraft, which they sometimes
offer in trade with other races. Unlike most of their kin
in Faerûn, the giants here live mostly above ground,
causing their stony skin to have taken a tanned brown
color in the powerful sun. Hill giants can be found here
too, though more rarely since the Spellplague.
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MONSTROSITIES
Following in the destructive path of the Spellplague,
monstrosities of all kinds began appearing across
Mulhorand, lurking in its wilderness and the many ruins
and dungeons covering the land. In the desert,
jackalweres, lamias, manticores and bullettes prowl the
sand dunes and sunblasted crags looking for prey. The
skies are not safe either, as huge rocs soar for miles
across the desert from their mountain roosts, nothing
safe from their keen sight. Much fouler monsters lurk in
the many dungeons, caves and ruins, such as basilisks,
rust monsters, umber hulks and kruthiks (Monsters of
the Multiverse page 168).
Not all monstrosities are considered monsters.
Sphinxes, such as the androsphinx and gynosphinx are
generally passive towards other races, and even
venerated as creatures of the gods by the Muhorandi.
There are tales of these mysterious beings helping those
in need, though their true motives are as mysterious as
the riddles they speak.
SEA MONSTERS
The Alamber sea presents its own myriad of dangerous
creatures, threatening any who would travel from
Mulhorand’s shores. The most notable of these are the
sahuagin who, following the destruction of Aleaxtis and
arrival of Iakhovas in 1369 DR, have rebuilt their empire
under the dominion of King T’Kalah, the Black Claws, a
powerful sahuagin baron. T’Kalah, the city of the king’s
namesake, lies west of the Alaor in the Alamber, along
with four other settlements that form the new Kurrimal
Empire. Sahuagin attacks on shipping are common and
there have even been reports of raids in river
settlements. House Ramathant maintains continuous
naval patrols to try and ward off this sea devil threat.
There are also other much larger creatures inhabiting
the Alamber; aboleths, dragon turtles, krakens and
leviathans (Monsters of the Multiverse page 171) have all
been spotted; usually by survivors of ships that have
been dragged down into the depths.
UNDEAD
Despite the best efforts of Osiris and House Osriant, the
curse of undeath remains prevalent across Mulhorand.
Necromancy is common, even with the tight regulation
of arcane magic. This mainly stems from the Cult of Set
who use necromancy to further their vile agendas in
service to the Defiler of the Dead. They often desecrate
the honored dead beneath their pyramid tombs,
disturbing their rest and raising them as mummies and
mummy lords. They also use their undead servants for a
wide variety of tasks, including assassination, and have
been known to direct shadows, specters and wraiths to
reach targets their assassins cannot.
The Red Wizards are another influence of undeath in
the region, with Mulhorand and Thay existing in an
uneasy peace since Pharaoh Horuskhet’s return. Under
the leadership of Szass Tam, himself a powerful lich,
many of the Red Wizards have taken the journey into
undeath and their malevolence is ever present to
Mulhorand’s north.
Szass Tam also commands the Legion of Bone, an
army formed entirely of skeleton warriors and wights,
led by vampire generals. The peace between Mulhorand
and Thay is unlikely to last, and inevitably Horuskhet
will have to face this undead legion and the ungodly
liches that command it.
APEP
Perhaps the most terrifying monster in Mulhorandi
legend is Apep, also known as King of Serpents, the
Devourer of Light and by the name Apophis in the
Domains of Dread. He is the living embodiment of evil in
the mythology of Mulhorand and the people pray to
ensure he will never return. He is an ancient demigod,
born of hatred and fire, and consumed with the desire to
annihilate the Mulhorandi gods.
Long ago, before the gods travelled to Faerûn, there
was a ferocious battle in the heavens as Apep attempted
to destroy Re’s solar barge. He was once a servant of Set,
however upon realizing that the serpent’s plans of
destruction included the Lord of Evil as well, Set
ultimately sided with the other gods to defeat Apep. They
banished him to the Wells of Darkness on the seventy-
third level of the Abyss, binding him within the black
pools to prevent his return to the Prime Material Plane.
He lurks there to this day, coiled in slumber beneath the
inky black waters, waiting for the chance to return and
claim his vengeance.
And there are some who seek his return. Though there
is no formalized religion of Apep, there are annihilation
cults that meet in secrecy, communicating to each other
with strange symbols scrawled on walls or in notes.
These worshippers whisper of a ‘great cleansing’ where
Apep will return in a conflagration of fire and death,
ridding the world of all apostates and restoring Toril,
and Mulhorand, to a form of purity and sanctitude.
If Apep is ever released from his prison and returns to
the material plane, his physical form will materialize as
gargantuan a 100-foot-long serpent, scales glowing
with abyssal flame. His reptilian eyes gleam with
malevolence and when his jaws open, they reveal
colossal fangs dripping with poison and liquid fire rising
from his throat. The very air around him distorts and
shimmers from the heat of demonic fire as his massive
form winds and slithers across the land.
In combat, Apep will attempt to scour his enemies
from existence with his powerful breath weapon and
evocation magic. If that fails, he will close the distance
and strike with his poisonous and burning bite,
swallowing his prey whole or crushing them within his
constricting form.
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ADVENTURE HOOK: THE SUMMONING
Though Apep is currently imprisoned for all eternity in
the Wells of Darkness deep within the Abyss, there are
many who would seek his release. Set, the Lord of Evil, to
whom Apep was originally a servant, is one of these. He
believes that releasing Apep from his prison and into
Faerûn will be the catalyst he needs to wrestle power
from the Mulhorandi pantheon, if not annihilate the
other gods entirely. Deep in the northern desert of the
Taranoth, in the ruins of Maerlar, a malevolent scheme
is in motion. Isseth, chosen heir and demigod of Set, has
begun preparation for a ritual that will release Apep’s
binds and open a portal to the Abyss that will allow the
King of Serpents to slither into Mulhorand and taste
freedom for the first time in millennia.
The players will hear a rumor that something is amiss
in Maerlar whilst they are in Skyclave. They will be
approached by Hartep, an official of House Helcaliant,
who will offer the players a significant reward if they can
travel through the desert to reach Maerlar and uncover
what is happening there. The reward should be
appropriate for the party level and contain gold, magic
items and the pharaoh’s favor.
The desert journey will allow encounters with some of
the other unique monsters in this chapter, as well as
other desert hazards notes in chapter 4. Once they arrive
in Maerlar, they will quickly find that this is no empty
ruin; the Cult of Set have taken it as their new sanctuary.
They will not be unaware of the players’ arrival either;
jackalweres, fangs of set (see page 94) and their assassin
commanders will strike out from the shadows in an
attempt to stop the players. If they survive, the players
will reach the center of the ruined city, where they will
find Isseth (page 94) in the middle of performing the
ritual to summon Apep.
This adventure can be played either at medium level
(10th-12th) where failure to stop the ritual will spell
doom for the players and Mulhorand, or alternatively at
high level (18th-20th), where they will do battle with
Apep as he emerges from the Abyss. Encounters before
they reach the ritual can be adjusted based on the level of
characters, along with the reward. If the players are
successful in stopping Apep, the pharaoh himself will
meet them in Skyclave to give them their reward.
ASHEN HUSK
The sun-blasted wastes of Mulhorand’s interior are
incredibly dangerous for travelers. Beyond the deadly
monsters that prowl the shifting dunes, rocky chasms
and forgotten oases, the greatest danger is the desert
itself. Countless leagues pass without any kind of water
source and the sun is a relentless menace to any living
creature that walks beneath its glare. It is common for
travelers to fall prey to the sweltering heat and
dehydration without ever seeing a monster. Those
unfortunate enough to do so in an area where the
necromantic magic lingers have been known to rise from
89
the dead, their shriveled skin dry as parchment. They
wander the desert in search of other living things,
draining them of the life-giving moisture the husks were
denied in life, condemning their victims to join their
ranks. How many of these cursed undead beings exist is
unknown, but as more unfortunate souls are lost to the
desert, the number will only continue to grow.
In combat, ashen husks attempt to grasp and cling on
to their prey with inhuman strength. The husk’s aura
will then siphon moisture until their victim is drained of
all life. Relatively slow, a single husk can be dealt with by
a fast-moving opponent, however, if they attack in a
group or catch their prey by surprise, they are deadly.
DESERT HAG
Relatives of the annis, desert hags are just as barbaric as
their hill-dwelling cousins, though perhaps even more
cunning and cruel. They prefer wasteland environments
where they can be found lairing in sandy ruins or desert
caves. They are physically imposing, standing over eight
feet tall, with sun-weathered yellow skin and wispy grey
hair, though will rarely reveal their true form to anyone
they encounter. Instead, they use their powers of illusion
to disguise themselves as beautiful desert princesses,
luring lost and famished travelers to their doom. Covens
of hags have been known to combine their magic to
create illusions as large as a desert oasis, tempting entire
caravans into their grasp.
Desert hags desire human flesh above all else and will
often make their lair in deserts at the edge of human
settlements and cities, sowing terror and mistrust to
slowly degrade any civilization. They also possess a
perverse sense of romance and enjoy enthralling
handsome prey, taking them as a plaything until they
inevitably grow bored and devour them alive.
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HAGSPAWN
A desert hag’s twisted obsession with love, especially
with human men, leaves them more likely than other
hags to birth children, rather than the profane ritual of
devouring a baby to produce a daughter. Children born
from the union of hag and man in this way are always
male and known as hagspawn.
Inheriting their mother’s grotesque appearance, as
well as her cruel and brutal nature, they are usually cast
out from society, living as outsiders, similar to their
namesake. However, they are not bound to the evil of
their mothers, and some work hard in life to prove
themselves and throw off the burden of their lineage.
HAG COVENS
A desert hag that is part of a coven (see the “Hag
Covens” sidebar in the MM page 176) has a challenge
rating of 8 (3900 XP). They may also make use of an
alternative set of coven spells more themed to the desert
environment and the desert hag’s cunning nature. The
power of a desert hag is focused on harnessing the
energy of the desert around them and manipulating
reality to trick their prey into falling into their trap. This
spell list includes:
1st level (4 slots): hex, silent image
2nd level (3 slots): dust devil, pass without trace,
suggestion
3rd level (3 slots): bestow curse, major image
4th level (2 slots): greater invisibility, hallucinatory
terrain
5th level (2 slots): dream, seeming
6th level (1 slot): mass suggestion

Note: these spells are an optional alternative to those in

the MM and all other rules there apply as normal.

DUNE WORMS IN MULHORAND

DUNE WORM Prior to the Spellplague, dune worms were only
Deep in the desert, where there is nothing but sand
encountered in the harsh wastes of the Raurin Desert
visible in every direction, it can seem like the relentless
and the Plains of Purple Dust to the east. With the
sun is the only danger. Yet the slight disturbance of a
change in Mulhorand’s climate they have begun to
footfall upon the shifting sand can bring unwanted
migrate west, terrorizing those who dare to cross the
attention from a terrifying predator that lurks below the
expansive deserts between settlements and cities.
dunes. A relative of the more widely known purple

worm, dune worms make their home in deserts rather
than the underdark bedrock, burrowing through the
sand as easy as a fish through water.
These worms vary in size from twenty-foot juveniles
to the colossal one-hundred-foot adults that fill the
entire horizon when they appear. Unlike their purple
cousins, their hides are mottled yellow and brown and
their mouths bristle with thousands of fangs. Their long
digestive tracts act like filtration systems, allowing the
worms to carve a passage through the dunes, disgorging
waste sand behind them and engulfing prey from below.
EGG NURSERIES
Like purple worms, dune worms spawn their eggs in
nurseries. Instead of the underdark, these are usually
located in dry caves deep beneath the sands. Once laid,
the mother abandons the nest, leaving her brood in the
care of whatever other denizens inhabit the nursery.
Creatures such as giant spiders and cloakers, who have
no interest in the rock-hard eggs, will often act as a
natural defense against anyone seeking to steal them;
for their alchemical properties are greatly sought after.

91
92
DUST ELEMENTAL (SKRIAXIT)
If the relentless heat, dehydration and myriad other
creatures weren’t bad enough, sometimes the desert
itself will come to life, unleashing its fury on those who
dare to wander the wastes. Known as black storms,
skriaxit or dust elementals, they are incarnations that
are formed where the borders of the elemental plane of
air and the positive energy plane overlap. Known as the
quasi-elemental plane of dust, it resembles a vast desert
wasteland, engulfed in an unending sandstorm. On
occasion, such manifestations have been known to cross
into the deserts of the prime material plane, either by
summoning or after some kind of planar anomaly. Like
most elementals, they only exist as part of their native
plane and resent having been forced from their home
into the Prime Material.
In combat, skriaxit turn the desert into a weapon,
whipping sand and dust into a violent whirlwind. They
are similar to air elementals, though they bring the force
of earth to bear on their victims as well. What makes
dust elementals incredibly dangerous is that they are
virtually impossible to spot until it is too late. Often, they
slumber amongst the dunes, lurking unseen below the
sand’s surface. A traveler wandering by, totally
oblivious, will be engulfed by the dust elemental’s
sudden awakening, its shearing sand vortex leaving only
the bones of the unfortunate victim behind.

DUST ELEMENTALS IN MULHORAND

Skriaxit can be found in the Raurin and now Mulhorand
itself, where remnants of primordial energy still linger
after the Spellplague. Their anger can turn the desert
dunes into a raging storm in seconds, often taking the
form of whirlwinds that turn the sand into a weapon.
Those caught within it are buffeted and blinded by the
maelstrom, exposed skin shredded by fast-moving
particles of sand. It is unknown why these primordial
beings remain here rather than returning to their home
plane, though it is likely the chaos created by the
Spellplague is somehow responsible.

93
FANG OF SET
Created by Seti, an incarnation of Set in 1357 DR, the
Fangs of Set are an order of ancient malevolence,
established with the purpose of furthering the ambitions
of Set by murdering his many enemies. Its members are
sworn in the service of the Lord of Evil and operate from
their secret lair in the ruins of Maerlar, deep in the
Taranoth Desert. Each Fang is trained as an assassin,
including the use of deadly poison and a
variety of weapons. The organization
is structured in a strict hierarchy
beneath the command of Isseth,
and its ranks include
necromancers, clerics of Set and
even spies that have infiltrated
the Mulhorandi government.
The order’s secrecy is its
greatest weapon, as most
believe they were wiped out
during the Spellplague. Yet
they survived the
conflagration and reign of
High Imaskar, lurking in the
shadows to await the return
of their patron.
In combat, the Fangs of Set
are trained assassins and will
rarely attack opponents head
on. Once a mark is identified,
they launch coordinated strikes
from ambush, delivering a single,
deadly blow, then retreating into the
shadows, like a snake coiling back into its
lair. If this initial attack doesn’t kill the target, the
lingering poison will usually finish the task. They wield
vicious serpent blades (see page 83) that constantly drip
with venom, and attack with crossbows from range.
To join the Fangs, a prospect must undertake a
grueling trial to prove their worth to Set, including
crossing the Taranoth Desert alone to reach Maerlar,
undergoing a rigorous gauntlet of traps and finally
surviving the bite of a deadly asp snake. Most new
recruits die long before earning their serpent blade or
the favor of Set.
94
FANG OF SET: ISSETH
The chosen heir of the Set and a demigod himself, Isseth
is a being created in the Lord of Evil’s own image. He has
led the Cult of Set into a new era and works tirelessly to
ensure the ambitions of his patron are furthered in every
way possible (see page 36 for more details).
Isseth is a master assassin, and his natural skills are
further enhanced with the gifts of Set’s lineage. As a
direct descendant of Set, he is blessed as a
demigod with inhuman abilities. Serpent
venom runs in his veins, giving him
total immunity to poison. In
combat, he will always aim to
strike first, delivering a deadly
alpha strike from the shadows.
He will never hesitate to
retreat if the odds are against
him, using his magic or
summoning serpents to aid
him as allies.
ISSETH’S LAIR
Abandoning the Cult’s
headquarters in Sampranasz,
Isseth moved its operations to
a much more covert location in
the ruined city of Maerlar (see
page 55). The city is overrun
with Set’s influence, with deadly
traps, serpentine monsters and
illusion designed to keep intruders
away. Facing Isseth here is a deadly
proposition.
LAIR ACTIONS
On initiative count 20 (losing ties), Isseth can take one of
the following lair actions; he can’t take the same lair
action twice in a row.
Darkness. Isseth casts the darkness spell.
Serpent Swarm. The earth erupts and a swarm of
poisonous snakes emerges to attack those nearby.
They act immediately and continue to act on the same
initiative in future rounds until destroyed. They obey
Isseth and will otherwise attack any enemies on sight.
GEMSTONE GOLEM
One of the most famous inventions of Nezram,
the World Walker, gemstone golems are
powerful constructs created by chaining a
powerful spirit from the elemental plane
of earth to a gemstone heart. Through a
process of arcane nucleation and ritual
(see the create gemstone golem spell on
page 80), the golem is formed into the desired
humanoid shape, its hardened exterior the
same gemstone substance
as its heart. The most common types
are ruby, emerald and diamond,
though the creation of golems using
other gemstones have been
attempted with mixed success.
Once created, the golem will
remain until its form is utterly
destroyed (or its spirit banished back
to its native plane) and is wholly
bound to the will of its creator. In
combat they use a variety of weapons
that are created as part of their form.
They attack relentlessly and their
hardened exteriors are resistant to most
weapons and spells.
95
MULHORANDI GEMSTONE GOLEMS
With Nezram’s influence, gemstone golems are
commonly found in Mulhorand. Their
permanence and pleasing aesthetic make
them ideal guardians for the tombs of
kings and nobility, watching over the
resting dead and warding off any tomb
raiders. They are also used as guardians in
the city of Skyclave, ensuring the
complex inner workings of the tower are
kept well-guarded from any saboteurs.
APPEARANCE
Each golem is unique, its
multifaceted form reflecting the
some of the appearance and imagination of
its creator. Some resemble large, armored
warriors, wielding great weapons and
shields. Others mimic archers or wizards,
launching ranged attacks with bolts of made
from sharpened gemstone. The type of
golem does affect the size, with diamond
golems standing taller than an ogre, right
down to the humble opal golem who
stands about the size of an average
human.
96
GIANT SCARAB BEETLE
Scarabs are a family of over thirty-thousand different
species of beetle that vary widely in shape, size and
appearance. Some of these species are known to grow to
extraordinary size, either evolving naturally or from
powerful magic, and mainly inhabit deserts or warmer
coastal regions. Unlike their smaller, dung-rolling
relatives, giant scarabs are usually carnivorous, often
scavenging on the remains of the dead or even attacking
the living when hungry. They dig large tunnel networks
below the sand away from the glare of the sun, using
tremorsense to detect any prey that may be moving
above them.
Giant scarabs have large wings with thick membranes
that allow them to fly for short distances, though their
large bulk and heavy weight prevent them from traveling
for long or with any grace.
97
GIANT SCARABS IN MULHORAND
Scarab beetles are revered as sacred in Mulhorand,
representing the sun, rebirth and the transformation
from death into the afterlife. A symbol or amulet in the
shape of a scarab would often be placed inside a
sarcophagus upon the heart of the deceased, ensuring
they would be reborn in Heliopolis.
Many believe giant scarabs were creatures created by
Re many thousands of years ago, due mainly to their
natural aversion to undeath. Wherever the dead have
been brought back with foul necromantic magic, giant
scarabs will often appear to feast on their rotting flesh
and return them to the earth.
Scarabs also regularly appear in Mulhorandi artwork
and hieroglyphics, and often appear on the carved stone
walls of pyramids and tombs. The scarab hieroglyph
translates literally to “resurrection”.
IMASKARI COLOSSUS
When Empress Ususi died and High Imaskar fell,
unknown to the Mulhorandi, the Imaskari left
something behind that would ensure their eventual
return to dominance. In secret, Ususi had ordered her
artificers in the fabrication of a construct of incredible
power. And so they began, deep beneath the Taranoth
desert, far from civilization. Into their creation, the
artificers focused nearly ten-thousand years of Imaskari
technological and magical supremacy, developing a god-
like automaton. By 1485 DR and the beginning of the
second Mulhorandi uprising, the colossus was close to
completion, though missing a number of vital
components that would have allowed it to rise from
slumber and destroy the invading forces.
It is known only as the colossus; a titanic construct
lying dormant somewhere beneath the sands of
Mulhorand’s northern plains. Its form resembles a
massive humanoid, wrought from hardened stone and
numerous metal alloys, including adamantine. Standing
well over a hundred feet tall and empowered with
Imaskari sorcery, it is perhaps the largest construct ever
made. If any were able to grant it life, it may well spell
the doom of Mulhorand.
98
COMBAT
The colossus, once awoken, is a terrible foe to behold.
Towering above the battlefield, its only impulse is to
crush anything and everything beneath its stamping feet
and mighty fists. It is also empowered by Imaskari
sorcery, able to move extradimensionally for short
distances and unleash deadly annihilation beams from
its eyes that will disintegrate anything its fists cannot
reach. Formed of magically-reinforced stone and metal,
it is also impervious to most minor types of attack; even
able to absorb elemental damage to repair itself.
WEAKNESSES
The Colossus is a doomsday weapon. Once it has risen, it
will stop at nothing to destroy everything in its path,
friend or foe. It cannot comprehend anything other than
to destroy, and if not defeated it would eventually bring
ruin across Toril and beyond. The Colossus does have
one weakness, though discovering it is no easy task. If
one with the knowledge were able to find a way into its
insides, they could potentially shut down the power
source. The dimensional magic imbuing it prevents any
attempt to teleport inside, however, so they would need
to climb to the single access at the back of its neck.
ADVENTURE HOOK: WALKING DOOM
One of the Imaskari who did work on the construction
was newly declared Lord Artificer Ult’Axion (page 36). He
is well aware of the location of the Colossus, and it
features heavily in his plans to bring vengeance against
his hated foe. The players will be in any of Mulhorand’s
major cities when they will find out about some kind of
Imaskari plot happening in the east. They will be told to
travel to Nezras (see page 52), where they will meet
Nezram, the World Walker, who explains Ult’Axion’s
true intention to find the remaining components needed
to bring the colossus to life, including a giant magical
star sapphire needed to power it. The great wizard bids
them travel to the Fortress Maskana where the sapphire
is rumored to be located and stop Ult’Axion. If they
manage this, Nezram promises a great reward.
The players will venture out into the Plains of Purple
Dust, encountering dune worms, dust elementals and
other desert creatures in this incredibly dangerous
wasteland. Use rules for traveling in a desert
environment in chapter 4, as this will be a difficult and
perilous journey. When they reach the fortress, they will
find an Imaskari camp and come under attack if they are
spotted. One of Ult’Axion’s generals, Darrok, has already
entered in search of the sapphire and the party will need
to descend into the dungeon below.
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STOPPING THE COLOSSUS
The players can then follow Darrok into the fortress (see
page 59 for details of what they may find inside). The
ruined Mulhorandi fortress sits on top of a much older
Imaskari dungeon and they will venture deep beneath
the desert. They will find a portal room which the
Imaskari have already used to escape with the sapphire.
Without the ability to activate the portal, they will be
forced to return to Nezram and report their findings.
The wizard has been able to track down Ult’Axion’s
location in the northwestern Taranoth desert. He will
teleport the players to Sultim where they can regroup
before setting out. The colossus is located several
leagues southeast of the city, deep within an ancient
Imaskari ruin known as Arrokhan (see page 58).
What happens next will depend on the party’s level; if
they are strong enough to face the Colossus then
Ult’Axion will have finished activating it and it will rise
up from the desert as they approach. If not, they will find
Ult’Axion before he can activate it and a battle will ensue
with him, 1 veteran, 2 mages and 12 cultists. If the party
are unable to stop him then the colossus will be
activated. If they are struggling then Nezram may
appear to aid in the fight.
If the players are successful, Nezram rewards them
with gold and magic items (amount dependent on level).
JACKALWERES COMBAT
Most jackalweres are known only as mindless savages, Jackalwere deceivers and bravos will do anything to
twisted by demonic influence. The more feral avoid engaging in a fair fight. They keep hidden until
jackalweres (as described in the Monster Manual page they are certain they have the advantage over their
193) are known as jackalwere harriers; those without a victims, then launch a devastating ambush. The pack
pack who have been reduced to their base instincts and will often send in feral jackalweres and jackals first as a
act little differently to regular jackals. However, other distraction, letting them weaken their prey before
jackalwere types possess a complex pack structure, with engaging themselves. They then make use of their
a hierarchy based on strength, cunning and those that potent stunning and sleep gazes, keeping their foe
possess favor with the lamias they often serve. incapacitated but alive, dragging them back to their
The leaders of the pack are usually a mated pair of lamia masters. If the fight ever turns against them, they
jackalweres known as deceivers. By far the most will not hesitate to show their cowardly nature and flee.
intelligent of their kind, deceivers lead with ruthless
cunning, setting up ambushes and taking prisoners
where possible to present as gifts to their lamia masters.
Deceivers are even known to possess sorcerous powers,
most likely gifts from their patron Graz’zt.
Below the deceivers in the pack are the bravos,
subordinate warriors and drudges who lack the
intelligence of their leaders but are able to follow
commands unlike the harriers. Bravos bicker and fight
constantly to assert their position in the pack but will
follow the orders of a deceiver without question.

JACKALWERES IN MULHORAND
Some in Mulhorand believe that jackalweres are
manifestations of Anubis, the pharaonic pantheon’s
original god of the dead who did not travel to Faerûn on
Re’s solar barge. However, despite both resembling a
half-man, half-jackal, the similarities end there.
Jackalweres are creations of the demon lord Graz’zt who
gifted them as minions to his beloved lamia consorts.
Since the Spellplague, many packs have taken territory
in Mulhorand’s harsh desert environment, serving the
lamias and lamia nobles who reside there. More
recently, they have been encountered as members of the
Cult of Set, the god who is himself sometimes known as
the Father of Jackals. This may perhaps hint at an unholy
alliance between Set and Graz’zt, which would be an ill
omen for the future of Mulhorand.

A jackalwere deceiver
By Ashleiyou Arts

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LAMIA NOBLE
Sometimes mistaken for yuan-ti malisons, these half-
serpentine creatures are in fact more powerful relatives
of the common lamia. Like all lamias, nobles are created
by the demon lord Graz’zt; a reward for his mortal
servants who have proven themselves most worthy.
They are incredibly vain creatures, obsessed with their
beauty and spend countless hours hidden away in their
lairs, gazing at their own reflection.
Like other lamias, they enjoy capturing attractive
victims alive, often presented to them as gifts by their
jackalwere minions. They then use magic to enrapture
victims, creating an army of dominated slaves. They use
these as a shield in combat, only entering the melee
themselves as a last resort. Instead, they prefer to keep
at range, using powerful enchantment magic to
enrapture further minions to satisfy their many desires.
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LAMIA NOBLES IN MULHORAND
Lamias have always existed in the Unapproachable East,
though mainly in the remote deserts of the Raurin. Since
the Spellplague, many have moved west, the newly
scoured deserts providing an ideal residence. They have
found lairs in the numerous ruins covering Mulhorand’s
wilderness, from where they send their minions out to
capture victims. Nearby settlements will begin noticing
their male population begin decreasing once one of these
vile monstrosities takes a lair nearby.
Lamia nobles are especially malicious neighbors, their
insatiable desires leading to scores of male ‘offerings’
disappearing over the course of just a few weeks. Entire
caravans have been known to disappear when passing
close to a noble’s lair. Settlements are forced to petition
the churches or Adventurers’ Guild for aid as their able-
bodied men, even the town guard, are decimated.
SAND DRAGON SAND DRAGONS IN MULHORAND
Also known as brown or desert dragons, sand dragons Unlike the rest of dragonkind who mysteriously arrived
are natives of the desert wastes, their mottled-umber in Faerûn tens of thousands of years ago, sand dragons
hides blending with the rolling dunes. They are unique were created by the Imaskari artificers in the depths of
among dragonkin in that they are not capable of flight, what is now the Raurin Desert. This genetic
their wings reduced to little more than stunted growths experimentation by those who thought themselves gods
on their backs. They make up for this genetic defect with is believed to be the cause of the deformity in their
an innate ability to burrow through sand and dust, wings. Since then, they have migrated westward,
moving unseen beneath the ground rather than soaring inhabiting the Plains of Purple Dust, the Fuirgar and,
through the skies. This has led sand dragons to become since the Spellplague, Mulhorand itself. They have
much more reclusive than the rest of their kin. Even joined the myriad other dangerous predators that now
when hunting, they move with stealth and cunning inhabit Mulhorand’s sunbaked interior, preying on
rather than swooping from above. They possess webbed caravans and warding off dune worms that tunnel too
feet and hooked claws perfect for digging, as well as long close to their underground lairs.
necks and snouts. Their physiology has also adapted for Born of human creation rather than the dragon gods,
this purpose; they are able to devour and survive for long they are shunned by all others of their kind, especially
periods of time whilst only consuming sand, absorbing the chromatics who view them as despicable mutants to
its mineral nourishment until they can find real food. be exterminated. They live mostly solitary lives, even
Despite their lack of wings, they are still formidable among their own kind, only coming together briefly to
predators, able to sense any movement above their mate. Their only focus is their own survival and the
subterranean lairs, then ambushing from below. They accumulation of treasure to satiate the draconic greed
breathe a cloud of corrosive bile and superheated sand they have inherited.
that reduces anything or anyone it envelops into sludge.
They are also able to use the desert itself as a weapon,
whipping up the sand around them into a
violent maelstrom that scours
flesh to the bone.
Sand dragons despise
their blue relatives, who
compete over desert
territory; though they are
heavily outmatched and
will usually yield rather
than risk being obliterated
by deadly lightning breath.
They reluctantly tolerate brass
dragons, who also prefer the
arid climate of the desert lands,
though they prefer to keep well clear
of both them and the conflict between their
chromatic and metallic kin. They are
neutral creatures, caring only for
themselves and avoid draconic politics.

102
A SAND DRAGON’S LAIR
Sand dragons dwell in lairs beneath the desert sands,
formed from natural caves they have appropriated or
chambers they have dug themselves.

LAIR ACTIONS
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the dragon
takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects:

• A cloud of sand and dust fills the air within 120 feet of
the dragon, making the area lightly obscured until
Initiative count 20 on the next round.
• Part of the ceiling collapses above one creature the
dragon can see within 120 feet of it. The creature must
succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 10
(3d6) bludgeoning damage and be knocked prone and
buried. The buried target is restrained and unable to
breathe or stand up. A creature can take an action to
make a DC 10 Strength check, ending the buried state
on a success.

REGIONAL EFFECTS
The region containing a legendary sand dragon’s lair is
warped by the dragon’s magic, which creates the
following effect:
• The desert within 10 miles of the dragon’s lair rages
with constant sandstorms, shifting the sand dunes so
the terrain is completely unrecognizable from one day
to the next. Players have disadvantage on any survival
rolls made to navigate the desert in this area.

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104
SPHINXES
Sphinxes are generally known as wonderous, mystifying
creatures who are mostly passive until disturbed or
threatened, like the androsphinxes and gynosphinxes
described in the Monster Manual. Yet there are other,
lesser-known species of sphinx who are not so
acquiescent or tolerant towards other races.
HIERACOSPHINX
Perhaps the most notorious of these sub-species is the
hieracosphinx, its savage and sadistic nature earning it a
fearsome reputation across the territory it inhabits. They
are extremely predatory and actively hunt warm-
blooded creatures, especially humans who are their
favorite prey. An all-male species, hieracosphinxes
spend much of their time searching for gynosphinx
mates. This explains their low numbers; gynosphinxes
generally detest their feral, nefarious relatives.
Hieracosphinxes are sometimes mistaken for griffons,
sharing the head and wings of an eagle; though they lack
the same front legs, making them easily distinguishable.
They are usually found in arid mountainous regions,
soaring out across neighboring deserts in search of prey.
They covet wealth and a hieracosphinx lair is usually full
of treasure, scattered alongside the bones of past meals.
In combat they will swoop down on their victims from
above, raking viciously with their lion claws and hooked
eagle beaks. Lacking the required intellect or patience of
their relatives, hieracosphinxes don’t cast spells,
preferring to tear their enemies apart in melee. To
compensate for this, they have developed an innate
resistance to magic, allowing them to contend with their
magic-using kin.
SPHINXES IN MULHORAND
Sphinxes are well known across Mulhorand, and even
venerated as creatures of the gods. Androsphinxes are
sometimes associated as servants of Horus-Re,
gynosphinxes of Isis and criosphinxes are known to
serve Nephthys in guarding her great treasure vaults in
Neldorild. Over the millennia, these mysterious beings
have become ingrained into Mulhorandi culture,
featuring in art, hieroglyphics and religious ceremony.
Unlike the androsphinx and gynosphinx who are
rarely seen outside their hidden lairs, where they guard
the secrets of the gods across the millennia,
hieracosphinxes and criosphinxes can regularly be seen
flying high over their desert territory. They scour the
desert for prey, interlopers into their territory or rival
sphinxes, and will not hesitate to swoop down and attack
anyone passing below. Since the Spellplague, more and
more of these aggressive sub-species of sphinx have
taken territory in the vast deserts of Mulhorand’s
interior, causing a menace to caravans and travelers
alike. Hieracosphinxes tend to fly down from their lairs
in the Dragonsword Mountains, whereas criosphinxes
take numerous lairs across the Taranoth and
Menesankh, guarding them ferociously. The two species
fight constantly over both territory and the limited
number of gynosphinx mates.

CRIOSPHINX
Criosphinxes are another lesser species of sphinx that
share the wild nature of the hieracosphinx, though more
intelligent and without the malicious, sadistic nature of
their cousins. They are only interested in their own
survival and prosperity and view other creatures with
disdain. They crave wealth above all else and are known
to extort tolls on travelers for passage through the
territory they inhabit. Criosphinxes are also all-male
and when they aren’t gathering treasure, they can
usually be found searching for a gynosphinx to mate
with, though the fairer species regard them as lesser
beings, mocking them as the ‘sheep’ of the sphinx
family. Only criosphinxes with enough imagination to
come up with an interesting riddle stands a chance of
gaining the favor of a gynosphinx.
With their large ram-like head and colorful plumage
across their wings, criosphinxes are very distinct from
other sphinxes. They are most commonly found in
desert environments where they maintain numerous
lairs in underground caves across their territory, filling
each with caches of jewels and other treasure. They
patrol between each lair constantly, defending them
against any thieves or interlopers.
Like the hieracosphinx, criosphinxes lack the ability to
cast spells, instead charging their opponents with their
powerful horns. Adept fliers, they are even able to
perform these ram attacks midair, striking their foe
before flying away. They defend their territory
vigorously, though will not hesitate to flee if they feel
A criosphinx in its lair
they are outmatched. They share the hieracosphinxes’
By Vyrilien
natural resistance to magic.

105
SWARM OF SCARABS
Scarabs are normally a placid group of dung-rolling
insects who care only for the droppings of camels and
other animals they can roll back to their underground
nests. Some species, however, have evolved to become a
lot less benign. Forming large swarms, these scarabs
have abandoned dung as their primary source of food
and instead adopted a carnivorous diet. Like ants, as
soon as one scarab finds suitable prey, the rest of the
swarm will appear, often burrowing up through the
desert sand to engulf the unfortunate victim. Their
powerful mandibles then quickly set to work, stripping
flesh to the bone in a matter of seconds. Such is the
voracity of these predator-swarms, often the only thing
left behind once they have finished a meal is a pile of
mangled bones and any metallic jewelry, armor or
weapons.

106
WERECROCODILES
Afflicted with a less common curse of lycanthropy,
werecrocodiles are mainly found in river or swamp
regions, sharing the water-dwelling existence of their
reptilian namesakes. They are vicious predators, hunting
other animals or humanoids without discrimination.
They do not share the brash, fiery tempers of the
mammalian lycanthropes, instead possessing a cold,
emotionless savagery, driven by hunger and a desire to
consume flesh.
In their humanoid form, werecrocodiles are difficult
to distinguish from their non-lycanthrope counterparts,
though usually tall and lean, with little body hair and
slightly bowed legs. Their faces are often formed with
sharp features, a hard jawline and noticeable overbite.
They become truly monstrous once in their hybrid form,
growing to hulking seven-foot bipeds with a large
crocodilian head and scaly, muscular humanoid bodies.
They also possess the ability to shapeshift into a true
crocodile form, distinguishable by their deep red eyes.
107
WERECROCODILES IN MULHORAND
Known as the spawn of Sebek, werecrocodiles have
tormented southern Mulhorand and its people for
thousands of years, infesting the wetlands around the
River of Swords. They were originally created by Sebek
during the latter part of the First Empire to create his
cult in the city of Sekras. The curse spread inexorably,
turning the city into a bastion of Sebek, his clergy
preying on its people and the surrounding lands. This
lasted until 1183 DR, when an army of House Osriant
paladins marched on the city and cleansed it of the lycan
infestation, leaving Sekras as little more than a ruin. The
surviving werecrocodiles either fled south to Azulduth or
west to Chessenta where they took refuge in the Adder
Swamps, founding the settlement of Sebakar.
Some werecrocodiles began to return to Sekras, in
secret, throughout the 14th century. Following the
Spellplague and Sebek’s return, the cult has grown in
strength under Usebek, rebuilding the River’s Maw
Temple in Sekras and resuming their reign of carnage.
Usebek, the Smiling Death
by Fredrick Eriksson
USEBEK
Demigod heir of the god Sebek, Usebek is a monster in
every sense of the word. Even in his human form he
stands well over eight feet tall and is a mountain of
muscle. In his hybrid and crocodile forms he is covered
in rock-hard, white-albino reptile scales, distinguishing
him from other werecrocodiles and crocodiles.
Usebek is infused with the cold, primal savagery of his
progenitor and cares only for the hunt and the expansion
of the Cult of Sebek, which he leads from the River’s
Maw in Sekras. Since the return of Sebek after the
Spellplague, he has grown the cult from strength to
strength, feeding on Mulhorand’s weak underbelly in its
southern reaches, and even preying on the new nation of
Tymanther, west of Sekras. An expert hunter, Usebek
can often be found leading raids into nearby settlements
or ambushing travelers crossing the River of Swords,
feasting on the innocent. He knows that it will not be
long before the attention of the Osiris and others returns
to Sekras, but he has vowed to avenge the slaughter of
his kin, and he will be ready for them.
In combat, he prefers to ambush his foe, striking at
them from the water where possible, then using his
incredible strength to overpower and consume. He can
also channel his connection to Sebek, summoning
crocodile allies to aid him in battle.

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