Dawnforge Mountains The Nerath Campaign & The Nerath Timeline The current year for our Nerath campaign is set during the year 103AE. Inspired By Gary Gygax

Named for the legendary mountain at the eastern edge of the world where Moradin is said to have crafted the sun, the massive Dawnforge Mountains define the eastern boundary of the Nentir Vale. Beyond the mountains, the land grows quickly wilder, for only a few settlements were ever established that far from Nerath’s capital, and even fewer have lasted to the present day. The foothills to the east of the mountains are infested with goblins and orcs, making trade with those remaining towns dangerous and difficult.

The dwarven fortress of Hammerfast is often considered the last point of civilization before departing the Vale.

It is said by the dwarves who make these mountains their home that the Dawnforge Mountains are the anvil upon which Moradin built all of creation. Though other folk are not as fervent in their beliefs regarding the mountains, it is nearly universally felt that these giant peaks are the oldest and tallest mountains in the world stretching well over 100 miles across the eastern half of Nentir Vale.

Few passes penetrate all the way through the mountains and none of them are passable in winter — the only way through them at that time of year is by the endless tunnels and caverns that criss-cross the range. Without a guide, a traveler in these underground passages is sure to be hopelessly lost in the Underdark or worse.

Legend holds that the Dawnforge Mountains arose when Torog nearly erupted from the Underdark through to the surface of the world, and the peaks' steep slopes and rocky, forbidding facade support the tale. They stand against the sky, a wall of rock and stone bounding the Nentir Vale's eastern border. Portions of the mountains are covered with snowcapped evergreen forests, although the three most notable peaks in this region, the Sentinel, Mount Starris ~ (named for the Wizard), and Forgepeak, rise above the tree line.

Most of this mountain range remains unexplored and very danagerous to those wishing to explore it. Many legends, rumors and tales of lost cities, deep dungeons and ruins are rumored to exist within this vast stretch of mountains.