I was thinking exactly this. Maybe this is the fate of all sphere's on the prime material plane. At least Mystra prevented level 10+ spells to slow this down on Faerun.
@@shaggycan i like the idea that everything starts to be created from the positive elemental plane, but slowly drifts to the obliviating nothingness of the negative material plane. so if your particular crystal sphere starts to die, you can just hop over onto a younger crystal sphere.
I am DMing a 2E campaign that has been going strong now for 15 months. There was a chapter of the campaign in the Anauroch Desert. I delved into the Dark Sun box set and Dark Sun Monstrous Compendium and turned the desert into 'little Athas'. I added a bit of a Mad Max vibe to it with the Anauroch being so big that the people living in the interior had no idea that 'green places' still existed. It was fun crossing campaign worlds, and it was a hit with the players.
There's a trilogy from Forgotten Realms called "Return of the Archwizards" that are about the Phaerimm's breaching their prison walls by Evereska because of a battle between Bedine & Netheril's forces. A elf has to fight to save his peoples land from the "Magic Grubs", aka Phaerimm, while dealing & battling with the Netherese city Thultanthar, the shade enclave. The city has returned from the Shadowfell & hates the Phaerimm. The elf teams up with a Bedine woman, who if I'm remembering right was named Ruha the Harper witch and a earth or mountain giant, if I'm remembering right. You really need to read them, they're really good books.
I'm so happy you made this! I have an ongoing connection on my tabletop involving Anauroch. One of my players made a character from Zakhara who's family was kidnapped by a treacherous uncle. Her search took her to Little Calimshan in Baldur's Gate. She uncovered a slave trade that lead her to Anauroch. There was a group of Zhentarim that was lead by a rakshasa. He was keeping slaves for money on the surface and souls for Avernus. My PCs had to go to Avernus to kill him in devil form and rescue the slaves (and family members) who were now lemure.
I love you man. You and MrRhexx make my favorite dnd videos hands down. I love the lore videos from both of you. I leave every video inspired to create, love it.
If you are in this area of Fearun, any plans on making video about Cormyr? Along with Dalelands might be an interesting video. I would love to hear your thoughts about that area! :)
Always a possibility. When it comes to new videos I just glance over my video topic list. I'll add this to the list and see what I can dig up! Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for these videos! My current character was a Red Wizard who managed to study one of the Nether Scrolls to learn chronomancy. I try to learn as much as I can about Netheril and associated things.
In regards to Cyric, Kelemvor and how the Bedine whose traditions predate both as deities could worship them, there's also mentions of the Bedine worshipping Myrkul under the name of N'asr, and N'asr still exists in their present day pantheon. So I'd imagine that they've just venererated Myrkul, Cyric or Kelemvor not by name, but instead as a god of the dead they call "N'asr", without really paying attention to the mantle shifting owners several times, since what those three gods have in common is that they've all held that same portfolio at various points. So they likely called Myrkul as N'asr, much like they presently refer to Kelemvor as N'asr. Likewise, while they worship Talos, they call him "Kozah" in their pantheon. It'd explain the timeline inconsistency. Since they've their own version of the god of the dead, and live in a pretty closed-off culture, they probably either don't even realize or refuse to believe that they've called three gods by the same name of N'asr, or that's just what they call the holder of the title at the time regardless.
Wow... I run an epic 3.5e campaign on Anauroch against the resurgence of the Phaerim. Levels 21 to 47... Soooo cool. Also there were some Sharns. Love this lore.
A guy i knew in college wrote a module about the Anouroch and the Netherese. Never finished as he went off to grad school but it's a really fun setting with deep lore. I don't know if this is from official material or if he brought it in himself, but story of the Neth and the desert was tied deeply to the rebirth of magic to explain changes between 2nd and 3rd edition.
I would like to point out that there being a dessert in that area makes sense geologically. There's another guy on youtube that did a video on the Geopolitics of Faerun and explained the runoff effect past the mountains.
I have a shifter barbarian from out that way. Very Conanesque, sword and sorcery pulp type character going on adventures in the ruined wastes. Very cool place to do some games, fighting monsters and exploring long lost ruins in a dead wasteland. Throw some tribal politics in and an underground world to explore and you've got some crazy potential for story telling. Love Anauroch.
Yo some of the pharam could still be alive but most were killed off in Troy Dennings Return of the Archwizards series which is what introduces the netherese return. Evermeet almost got wiped off the map by the Pharam resurgence too , it was nuts. Love the vid ! Can you do a video on the Phoenix prophecies ?
@@Piqipeg Well, during the time of the netherese 11th level spells were possible... Sadly, Karsus's Folly, a 12th level spell was casted to replace the prior goddess of magic with himself to save netheril. Because he chose the goddess of magic to supplant, he caused the spell plague and split Abeir-Toril into seperated worlds... It didn't remain that way though.
Great video! Since we are back to doing regional content, I would like to request (as usual lol) individual Daleland videos. I feel like they just get lumped together a lot, and I believe each individual Dale has its own history and lore that you could shine a light on! Thanks in advance! Keep up the great work, Jorphdan!
There were two Italian comics called "The Forbidden Sands of Anauroch" in the year 2000. They were supposed to be 6 graphic novels but they did only 2. They take into account a little of what you say in the video, but maybe if they have finished the story maybe we have see more of the desert or their story! There are books, manuals and video games (I think) but now it's time to have a comic about Anauroch and see some phaerims, Netheril ruins and maybe a mithalar that can be repaired!
I read somewhere (I think it was the FR wiki) that some wizards transformed themselves into the Sharn and were then able to the defeat the Phaerim. I also remember that they with their new form became part of the walls of some city and are still there to protect it. I could just be mixing up some stuff
Maybe there was something akin to the ice age north american Forest camel in the old empire. Or maybe when they pulled people from other worlds they brought there livestock too. Bc they were from earth's egypt and summaria right ?
In the FORGOTTEN REALMS paperbacks that described the return of the Netheril the main characters meet a SHARN. This creature reveals that his kind were once humans who were "voluntered" to become such creatures to protect the REALMS from destructive creatures like the Phareun.
Am I the only one that has noticed the hexagonal shapes on the wall. Hummmmm. Jorphdan the PH is silent. .... PHD.... PhD for doctor The Doctor!!??!! Jorphdan is a Timelord.
He hasn't seen what windsocks are truly capable of. Those who know the truth are never seen or heard from again. Never turn your back to a windsock; you may end up joining the others....
Maybe camels weren't other places because they're mean and their only redeeming quality is because it can survive in a desert? I mean that's not that hard to put together lol
Actually the reason the Pherim attacked the Netherese because the drain or effect on the ambient magic was causing harm to their young. I dunno if they were ever evil per say. I recall reading that their was even a Netherese wizard who sought them out and joined them, giving them a fortress shielded from Netherese magic to protect them
Question , new to 5e was wondering how a pc makes magic items via the rules ( not the generic get with your dm answer) played 2nd for over a decade just unclear how to make magic items without , enchant an item spell , and the permanency spell . Thanks
Question: In DR 1372DR timeframe is Anauroch a "dead magic" zone on the surface? Trying to find definitive answer as to the conditions on the surface with regards to magic. My party is about to embark across the desert and I want to understand what, if any, conditions exist related to casting or using magic while in Anauroch. I understand the "life drain" accomplishments of the Phaerimm but wandered if, after the phaerimm were imprisioned, was magic able to resume normally in the great desert? Please clarify for my edification.
The Phaerimm are trapped there through a magical barrier that I believe only affects them. I don't think it's a dead magic or wild magic zone by default. Would be cool though! You could treat it like the Mornlands in Eberron. Living Spells walk the desert.
@@Jorphdan Thanks. I've used Phaerimm previously but wasn't sure how the environment (being dead) would work in terms of game mechanics. I'm trying to make it so that "magic" doesn't ruin the realism of a PC being able to cross the harsh environment with minor magics that ruin the survival aspects. Homebrew is my current remedy...but I don't want to be "too harsh" with my players agency.
Man, the Phaerimm are definitely one of the silliest and worst ideas that D&D writers ever came up with. I remember being SO disappointed when I cracked open that Netheril box set. Hubris wasn't enough to wreck this Empire? Who's the one guy at TSR obsessed with giant slugs with too many arms, anyhow? Just... retcon the whole thing, like all DMs end up doing LOL
Not true that there is no reason besides magic for Anauroch to be desert. The area should be naturally arid as winds from the west would travel over the Greypeaks and lose moisture as air masses rise and cool over the mountains. Winds from the north would inherently be low in moisture, again becausethe cold air cannot hold much moisture. There are also mountains to the south and west (although not as extensively), so if prevailing winds came from those directions, they would lose moisture too.
YES this right there It kind of annoys me that they just slapped north African stereotypes there completely forgetting cold deserts are a thing and having the possibility to create something unique, similar to the Gobi desert but with a heavy European influence
@@agustinvenegas5238 Search for Geopolitcal Breakdown of Faerun for more of this kind of reasoning. Not me, but the guy there hits on similar ideas that I took from a course in climatology in my distance past.
Zoom in Toril map! It was in the description but lots of interest so here's the link!: www.dndcombat.com/toril/
Also: loremaps.azurewebsites.net/Maps/Faerun
Also: www.aidedd.org/atlas/index.php?map=R&l=1
Also Waterdeep: www.aidedd.org/atlas/index.php?map=W&l=1
Crazy nice map
*doobly-doo
Interesting to think about how the Pherims life drain is similar to what happened on Athas
I was thinking exactly this. Maybe this is the fate of all sphere's on the prime material plane. At least Mystra prevented level 10+ spells to slow this down on Faerun.
@@shaggycan i like the idea that everything starts to be created from the positive elemental plane, but slowly drifts to the obliviating nothingness of the negative material plane. so if your particular crystal sphere starts to die, you can just hop over onto a younger crystal sphere.
I am DMing a 2E campaign that has been going strong now for 15 months. There was a chapter of the campaign in the Anauroch Desert. I delved into the Dark Sun box set and Dark Sun Monstrous Compendium and turned the desert into 'little Athas'. I added a bit of a Mad Max vibe to it with the Anauroch being so big that the people living in the interior had no idea that 'green places' still existed. It was fun crossing campaign worlds, and it was a hit with the players.
Yup. Even though it would fly with newer players but this is why id be nice to see multiple magic systems.
Doesn't eberron also have a magical, life draining desert? Anyone knows if dragonlance also has anything like that?
Netheril Jorphdan: " We live in a *magical* society " .
And there, the PH aint silent!
Arcanists... reminds me of bartenders that call themselves mixologists.. 🙄
Wizards rise up
Nethetil is delicious content. Pretty much the only forgotten realm lore I actually use.
Thanks for that sweet Toril Map! Ive been looking for something like that for ages. Great lore drop as always!
Can someone send me the link?
Please?
It's in the description but also here! www.dndcombat.com/toril/
@@Jorphdan Thank you!
@@Jorphdan I didn’t see it
There's a trilogy from Forgotten Realms called "Return of the Archwizards" that are about the Phaerimm's breaching their prison walls by Evereska because of a battle between Bedine & Netheril's forces. A elf has to fight to save his peoples land from the "Magic Grubs", aka Phaerimm, while dealing & battling with the Netherese city Thultanthar, the shade enclave. The city has returned from the Shadowfell & hates the Phaerimm. The elf teams up with a Bedine woman, who if I'm remembering right was named Ruha the Harper witch and a earth or mountain giant, if I'm remembering right. You really need to read them, they're really good books.
i bet he has? agreed tho, love the novels
Those are fantastic novels! Some of my favorite Forgotten Realms novels I've read.
Maybe the answer for the Sharn is simple? They wanted to protect their home, and having succeeded, didn't desire anything else?
I'm so happy you made this! I have an ongoing connection on my tabletop involving Anauroch. One of my players made a character from Zakhara who's family was kidnapped by a treacherous uncle. Her search took her to Little Calimshan in Baldur's Gate. She uncovered a slave trade that lead her to Anauroch. There was a group of Zhentarim that was lead by a rakshasa. He was keeping slaves for money on the surface and souls for Avernus. My PCs had to go to Avernus to kill him in devil form and rescue the slaves (and family members) who were now lemure.
Very cool.
This is awesome, I have a desert in my game that needed lore, and this is perfect!
I love you man. You and MrRhexx make my favorite dnd videos hands down. I love the lore videos from both of you. I leave every video inspired to create, love it.
Thanks!
This is so good explained netherese and anouroch 😊👍
If you are in this area of Fearun, any plans on making video about Cormyr? Along with Dalelands might be an interesting video. I would love to hear your thoughts about that area! :)
Always a possibility. When it comes to new videos I just glance over my video topic list. I'll add this to the list and see what I can dig up! Thanks for the comment!
Oh Lamao! I fond this older video: th-cam.com/video/mEU2oQ42QzU/w-d-xo.html
Thanks.
The nether-ese, as opposed to "the netheril" I think? Bedine probably got camels from Calimshan.
Tomb Tapper is lovecraftian horror and I love it. I’m considering using one in my next campaign. (Which I hope is desert based!)
Good history and video as always
Glad you enjoyed it
this is my favorite setting in faerun .
I think the Bedine are supposed to be pronounced "bed-een" as a sort of nod to the bedouin. Great vid as always Jorphdan!
Thanks for these videos! My current character was a Red Wizard who managed to study one of the Nether Scrolls to learn chronomancy. I try to learn as much as I can about Netheril and associated things.
This is perfect! I'm about to run an adventure in Anauroch and I'm looking for monsters to throw in there
In regards to Cyric, Kelemvor and how the Bedine whose traditions predate both as deities could worship them, there's also mentions of the Bedine worshipping Myrkul under the name of N'asr, and N'asr still exists in their present day pantheon. So I'd imagine that they've just venererated Myrkul, Cyric or Kelemvor not by name, but instead as a god of the dead they call "N'asr", without really paying attention to the mantle shifting owners several times, since what those three gods have in common is that they've all held that same portfolio at various points. So they likely called Myrkul as N'asr, much like they presently refer to Kelemvor as N'asr. Likewise, while they worship Talos, they call him "Kozah" in their pantheon.
It'd explain the timeline inconsistency. Since they've their own version of the god of the dead, and live in a pretty closed-off culture, they probably either don't even realize or refuse to believe that they've called three gods by the same name of N'asr, or that's just what they call the holder of the title at the time regardless.
Running Alkazaar's Appendix today, this bit of info is wonderful! Thanks!
Excellent video as always Jorphdan! Also do you have a video on the Raurin desert and Plains of Purple Dust?
This would be great, I wanna play a character from there but I haven't seen much on them
Amazing! I am starting a campaign in this area in less than 2 weeks! so timely and great content!
Wow... I run an epic 3.5e campaign on Anauroch against the resurgence of the Phaerim. Levels 21 to 47... Soooo cool.
Also there were some Sharns. Love this lore.
Reminds me of the Bermuda triangle 👍
Inclusion of the tomb tapper info was greatly appreciated!
ohhhhh heck yes!
The Bedine worship of Cyric and Kelemvor before they existed got a chuckle out of me.
Man the underdark is fucking terrifying
I'm playing an archeologist from High Imaskar in a Rime of the Frostmaiden campaign and your videos are helping me figure out his journey west.
A guy i knew in college wrote a module about the Anouroch and the Netherese. Never finished as he went off to grad school but it's a really fun setting with deep lore.
I don't know if this is from official material or if he brought it in himself, but story of the Neth and the desert was tied deeply to the rebirth of magic to explain changes between 2nd and 3rd edition.
Dropping by to say that oh lord the quality of this channel keeps improving, it's amazing!
Thanks!
I would like to point out that there being a dessert in that area makes sense geologically. There's another guy on youtube that did a video on the Geopolitics of Faerun and explained the runoff effect past the mountains.
I have a shifter barbarian from out that way. Very Conanesque, sword and sorcery pulp type character going on adventures in the ruined wastes. Very cool place to do some games, fighting monsters and exploring long lost ruins in a dead wasteland. Throw some tribal politics in and an underground world to explore and you've got some crazy potential for story telling. Love Anauroch.
Yo some of the pharam could still be alive but most were killed off in Troy Dennings Return of the Archwizards series which is what introduces the netherese return. Evermeet almost got wiped off the map by the Pharam resurgence too , it was nuts. Love the vid ! Can you do a video on the Phoenix prophecies ?
Great stuff! The Hedge character in my Descent game is from Hedge communities in sandstone tunnel villages in the Anauroch! 🦔
Thanks for the videos, man. You are my favorite sage of dnd on YT, and I often show your videos to my kids (who I MD for).
I wish I could have watched this video before running an Anauroch campaign! 👍🏻
Your timing is amazing. I will be using this info on Saturday. Thanks Jorphdan! Great and informative video.
Thank you for all of your videos and really appreciate the map
So it was created using Defiler Magic?!
Dark Sun is Faerún's dark timeline confirmed
I wonder what level the drain life spell was at, I mean if you go by the lore it can't be higher than a lv9 right?
@@jackdizzy123 That's what I was wondering
@@Piqipeg Well, during the time of the netherese 11th level spells were possible... Sadly, Karsus's Folly, a 12th level spell was casted to replace the prior goddess of magic with himself to save netheril. Because he chose the goddess of magic to supplant, he caused the spell plague and split Abeir-Toril into seperated worlds... It didn't remain that way though.
@@Piqipeg 9th level spell limit were rather recent in the timeline of D&D
Great video! Since we are back to doing regional content, I would like to request (as usual lol) individual Daleland videos. I feel like they just get lumped together a lot, and I believe each individual Dale has its own history and lore that you could shine a light on! Thanks in advance! Keep up the great work, Jorphdan!
The sharn are super creepy and ultra powerful and few beings in the realms know about they even exist. XD
There were two Italian comics called "The Forbidden Sands of Anauroch" in the year 2000. They were supposed to be 6 graphic novels but they did only 2. They take into account a little of what you say in the video, but maybe if they have finished the story maybe we have see more of the desert or their story! There are books, manuals and video games (I think) but now it's time to have a comic about Anauroch and see some phaerims, Netheril ruins and maybe a mithalar that can be repaired!
Great video, would love to see more that explore the lesser known/unusual areas of Faerun Toril.
Thank you for more Netheril content
The sharn were in the original Ruins of Undermoutain boxed set. They have 3 heads.
I read somewhere (I think it was the FR wiki) that some wizards transformed themselves into the Sharn and were then able to the defeat the Phaerim. I also remember that they with their new form became part of the walls of some city and are still there to protect it. I could just be mixing up some stuff
love the D&D Lore but the Nethetil is my fav
Great video
Thanks!
Maybe there was something akin to the ice age north american Forest camel in the old empire. Or maybe when they pulled people from other worlds they brought there livestock too. Bc they were from earth's egypt and summaria right ?
Messing with the monsters that created the Anauroch desert can really suck.
Just ask the Netherese.
Have you done anything on the Shaar region? I struggle to find good sources of information on the place
In the FORGOTTEN REALMS paperbacks that described the return of the Netheril the main characters meet a SHARN. This creature reveals that his kind were once humans who were "voluntered" to become such creatures to protect the REALMS from destructive creatures like the Phareun.
WHY COULDN'T THE HIGH WIZARDS MAGICALLY GROW FOOD HUH?
Read the book Blackstaff...has a more explained story of the sharn and pharen
Loved your coverage. Bedine equal Bedouin, get it?
yusss content!
What was that map of Faerun?! I need that map!
I would imagine that with the newer gods, they adopt the personas of older gods that share their specific portfolio.
Am I the only one that has noticed the hexagonal shapes on the wall.
Hummmmm.
Jorphdan the PH is silent. ....
PHD....
PhD for doctor
The Doctor!!??!!
Jorphdan is a Timelord.
Waiting for Dark Sun to return.
Are you assuming that wind socks arent deadly?
He hasn't seen what windsocks are truly capable of. Those who know the truth are never seen or heard from again. Never turn your back to a windsock; you may end up joining the others....
I hear the ch in Anauroch as the ch in loch. I’m Scottish, so that may explain it 😂
But, nitpicking about pronunciation aside, loving the videos. Sweet Lady Mystra and all the orphans,!
It’s a bit more guttural
Maybe camels weren't other places because they're mean and their only redeeming quality is because it can survive in a desert? I mean that's not that hard to put together lol
Actually the reason the Pherim attacked the Netherese because the drain or effect on the ambient magic was causing harm to their young. I dunno if they were ever evil per say. I recall reading that their was even a Netherese wizard who sought them out and joined them, giving them a fortress shielded from Netherese magic to protect them
Like Dark Sun's.
Can you do a lore video on Sharandar?
Interesting, was wondering how it got started.
Dont quote me on this, but i believe the Netherese were preceded by the nation of Imaskar?
1 share = 3 heads
what about the lizard people who live in Anauroch?
Didn't sharn used to be elves or some other humanoid?
can you cover grimhollow?
Please, Greyhawk
ioulaum video someday?
Will your matt colville character ever be making a return? Lol
Oh maybe! I mean, I still have the beard.
When is April Fool's this year?
Jorphdan isn’t it the same day that silent PH finally speaks? Lol 😂
Question , new to 5e was wondering how a pc makes magic items via the rules ( not the generic get with your dm answer) played 2nd for over a decade just unclear how to make magic items without , enchant an item spell , and the permanency spell . Thanks
Try Xanathar's Guide to Everything. In addition to rules for other downtime activities, it contains a fairly detailed process to making magic items.
The artificer class can create magic items if I remember correctly, you can go through the description and steal the process for your magi to use
You start reading the books yet?
Question: In DR 1372DR timeframe is Anauroch a "dead magic" zone on the surface? Trying to find definitive answer as to the conditions on the surface with regards to magic. My party is about to embark across the desert and I want to understand what, if any, conditions exist related to casting or using magic while in Anauroch. I understand the "life drain" accomplishments of the Phaerimm but wandered if, after the phaerimm were imprisioned, was magic able to resume normally in the great desert? Please clarify for my edification.
The Phaerimm are trapped there through a magical barrier that I believe only affects them. I don't think it's a dead magic or wild magic zone by default. Would be cool though! You could treat it like the Mornlands in Eberron. Living Spells walk the desert.
@@Jorphdan Thanks. I've used Phaerimm previously but wasn't sure how the environment (being dead) would work in terms of game mechanics. I'm trying to make it so that "magic" doesn't ruin the realism of a PC being able to cross the harsh environment with minor magics that ruin the survival aspects. Homebrew is my current remedy...but I don't want to be "too harsh" with my players agency.
I wonder would high elven magic suffice to regenerate the desert?
Naw, otherwise they would've done that ages ago.
Any thoughts on making a video about Tethyr?
Yep! th-cam.com/video/2RGL7EELYEI/w-d-xo.html
@@Jorphdan I must be blind, thought I had looked over your playlist! Thank you!
Instalike xD
w00t!
Jorphdan, what's the spelling on that blue dragon??
Ghondalaath
Man, the Phaerimm are definitely one of the silliest and worst ideas that D&D writers ever came up with. I remember being SO disappointed when I cracked open that Netheril box set. Hubris wasn't enough to wreck this Empire? Who's the one guy at TSR obsessed with giant slugs with too many arms, anyhow? Just... retcon the whole thing, like all DMs end up doing LOL
Can you link us to that giant map?
Sure it's in the description, but I'll link it here too: www.dndcombat.com/toril/
Not true that there is no reason besides magic for Anauroch to be desert. The area should be naturally arid as winds from the west would travel over the Greypeaks and lose moisture as air masses rise and cool over the mountains. Winds from the north would inherently be low in moisture, again becausethe cold air cannot hold much moisture. There are also mountains to the south and west (although not as extensively), so if prevailing winds came from those directions, they would lose moisture too.
YES this right there
It kind of annoys me that they just slapped north African stereotypes there completely forgetting cold deserts are a thing and having the possibility to create something unique, similar to the Gobi desert but with a heavy European influence
@@agustinvenegas5238 Search for Geopolitcal Breakdown of Faerun for more of this kind of reasoning. Not me, but the guy there hits on similar ideas that I took from a course in climatology in my distance past.
How do you write "faram" ?
Phaerimm!
@@Jorphdan Thanks ^^
There's 3. !!!!!!!!! Please contact me. . .
You know I'm stealing everything you say about the netherise into my campaign, right?
The PH is silent!!!!!!!!!
You pronounced Doobleedoo wrong.
doh!
Is it just me or could this be a precursor to the Darksun setting?