The Ashen Gorge is the crater of a two-peaked mountain in the Stormcrest Mountains that once served as the lair of Thordak, the Cinder King.[1]
Description[]
The Ashen Gorge sits on an active volcano in southeastern Tal'Dorei that constantly emits smoke and fire. It is a frequent site of magical storms, and was Thordak's lair when he first attacked the continent in the 790s PD. It is full of narrow, labyrinthine tunnels, carved by the various dragonkin who once served Thordak and who live there to this day. It is rumored that the Cinder King's treasure remains, but is nearly impossible to access, thanks to the warring tribes of the gorge.[1]
Like other places scarred by Thordak, it gives birth to cinderslag elementals[2] and flaming skeletons[3].
Society[]
Depiction of lizardfolk in the Ashen Gorge, by Svetoslav Petrov from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 109.[art 2]
The Ashen Gorge is home to several factions that are constantly fighting for control of the region.[1]
The Scions of Flame[]
The Scions of Flame are lizardfolk with black scales. In 812 PD they were led by a powerful but aged druid named Burning Oak, and had control over the Ashen Gorge.[4]
Tinysoot[]
Tinysoot is a kobold tribe, led by a succession of warqueens as valiant as they are brief, all bearing the name Yabber Tinysoot. They have control of the key to the Everflame Crevasse, site of Thordak's most hidden treasure. The Tinysoot tribe's primary power is in their relatively large numbers compared to the other clans.[5][6]
Black Snow[]
The Black Snow tribe were created from the corpses of slain goliaths from the Herd of Storms, animated by the power of the blood of Umbrasyl and the magic of Gatshadow. They take the form of undead black dragonborn revenants with skeletal wings, and in a reverse of the Tinysoot, are small in number but deadly warriors. They guard the Ruby of Oblivion, a black gemstone with sinister powers, which they store in their vault, called the Obsidian Geode. This vault is guarded by elementals and golems.[5]
Tatterwing Kin[]
At some point between 812 PD and 836 PD a trio of young green dragons, Toxoshuul, Chloroxodon and Snagglefang, arrived to the region wanting access to Thordak's treasure to add it to their own hoards. In the meantime, the three of them act as mercenaries for the other factions of the Ashen Gorge in exchange of some sort of tribute. Since all three are siblings, the children of the feared Tatterwing of the Kirmont Valley, they never fight each other, even when they are on opposite sides of a skirmish, choosing to annihilate the humanoids beneath them instead.[7]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 72.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 130.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 255.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, pp. 72–73.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 73.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 109.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, pp. 109–110.
Art:
- ↑ Official map of the Ashen Gorge and nearby features, by Andy Law from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Depiction of lizardfolk in the Ashen Gorge, by Svetoslav Petrov from Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 109. This page contains unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC.