Moonshae
Encyclopedia
Moonshae is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons
campaign setting
Forgotten Realms
. It describes the Moonshae Isles of Faerûn
.
campaign setting describes the Celtic-like isles in the Sea of Moonshae, describing the climate, topography, and economy of the islands, and describes two different cultures: the realms of the indigenous Ffolk, and the area held by the invading Northmen. It also includes a map which matches the edges of the maps in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set. This supplement details the setting for the novel Darkwalker on Moonshae
(and the Moonshae trilogy as a whole), by Moonshae author Doug Niles.
This is a 64-page booklet wrapped in a removable cover. Included with the book is a fold-out color poster map of the Moonshae Isles. This large color insert has maps of the Moonshae Isles printed on both sides: one at 20 miles to the inch, the other at 30 miles to the inch. Both maps contain the same amount of detail, the major difference being that there's less sea space surrounding the 20-miles-per-inch map. The book focuses on the region known as "The Moonshae Isles", including the Korinn Archipelago which was created by Aaron Allston
and first detailed in the module N4 Treasure Hunt. Two appendixes are featured, including using the Moonshaes in a campaign, and magical items
of the Moonshaes.
This book focuses on the Moonshaes, a group of islands to the west of the main continent of the Forgotten Realms setting. The book discusses the character races, character classes
, politics, conflicts, geography, and economics within the Moonshaes. The islands are home to the Ffolk, a druidic
people who worship the Earthmother, a neutrally aligned aspect of Chauntea, the neutral-good goddess of agriculture. The Ffolk share the Moonshaes with the Northmen, a strong, warlike race of raiders who hail from the lands north of Waterdeep, although conflicts frequently erupt between the two races as the Northmen expand their holdings on the Moonshaes at the expense of the Ffolk. Magic-users
are viewed with suspicion by both races. The Moonshaes are also home to marauding firbolgs
, orcs
, goblins
, trolls
, and other more dangerous monsters.
The book next describes the major supernatural entities which exist in the countryside and seas. The most important of these is the Earthmother. She gives life and vitality to the land, and her power is manifested in the Moonwells. The Moonwells are pools of water with the magical power to cure the wounds of those who strive to maintain the mystic balance, and are tended by druids who can use them to charge or restore charges in magical items. The Earthmother is served by her three immortal children: Leviathan, a huge whale; Kamerynnm, a majestic unicorn; and the Pack, a pack of dire wolves who roam the Isles. They are opposed by the evil Kazgoroth the Beast, who seeks to disrupt the balance and bring corruption to the Isles, aided by its magically created Blood Warriors: undead
soldiers who obey its every command.
Several specific locales of the Moonshaes are also described, from the perspective of Elminster as a tour of the people and places he has visited. The style of presentation is similar to that used in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set.
, with cover art by Tim Hildebrandt and interior illustrations by George Barr
, and was published by TSR in 1987 as a 64-page booklet with a large color map and an outer folder. The book features editing by Mike Breault, and cartography by Dave S. LaForce
.
magazine #140 (December 1988). Bambra felt that the physical quality of this supplement was high, althgouh he felt that not all available space was used to its best effect. For example, the inside of the wrap-around cover is blank, as it could have been used to provide village or town maps, or even sample monster lairs. He did feel that maps were also put to good use to graphically depict the extent of Northmen settlements in the Moonshaes, and to show the economies and trade routes of the Isles. Bambra commented on Niles's design of the book: "it's more than just the background and people presented in this supplement that makes Moonshae a very strong source pack. Doug has written about the Moonshaes in his novels, a situation which means he is very familiar with them as a place where people live, work, and play." He criticized the wandering-monster tables, as "Moonshae is designed as an adventure setting for characters of any level, and yet we have beholder
s and dragon turtles popping up here and there to devastate low-level adventurers". Bambra found the section on Elminster's Notes to be the most impressive: "Here, the descriptions become very absorbing and vibrant as we follow Elminster on his travels. As well as providing an insight into life in the Moonshaes, we also get a good indication of Elminster's personality and share with him in his discomforts and pleasures." Bambra concludes by saying: "Evaluation: The style of presentation used in Moonshae is superior to the styles used in the other Forgotten Realms setting supplements [...] While not containing as much detailed information as FR1 Waterdeep and the North
, Moonshae contains more evocative descriptions and gives a good insight into life in the Isles."
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
. It describes the Moonshae Isles of Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
.
Contents
This book for the Forgotten RealmsForgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting describes the Celtic-like isles in the Sea of Moonshae, describing the climate, topography, and economy of the islands, and describes two different cultures: the realms of the indigenous Ffolk, and the area held by the invading Northmen. It also includes a map which matches the edges of the maps in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set. This supplement details the setting for the novel Darkwalker on Moonshae
Darkwalker on Moonshae
Darkwalker on Moonshae is a fantasy novel by Douglas Niles, set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(and the Moonshae trilogy as a whole), by Moonshae author Doug Niles.
This is a 64-page booklet wrapped in a removable cover. Included with the book is a fold-out color poster map of the Moonshae Isles. This large color insert has maps of the Moonshae Isles printed on both sides: one at 20 miles to the inch, the other at 30 miles to the inch. Both maps contain the same amount of detail, the major difference being that there's less sea space surrounding the 20-miles-per-inch map. The book focuses on the region known as "The Moonshae Isles", including the Korinn Archipelago which was created by Aaron Allston
Aaron Allston
Aaron Allston is an American game designer and novelist of many science fiction books, notably Star Wars novels. His works as a game designer include game supplements for several role-playing games, several of which served to establish the basis for products and subsequent development of TSR's...
and first detailed in the module N4 Treasure Hunt. Two appendixes are featured, including using the Moonshaes in a campaign, and magical items
Magic item (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a magic item is any object that has magical powers inherent in it. These may act on their own or be the tools of the character in whose hands they fall into. Magic items have been prevalent in the game in every edition and setting, from the...
of the Moonshaes.
This book focuses on the Moonshaes, a group of islands to the west of the main continent of the Forgotten Realms setting. The book discusses the character races, character classes
Character class (Dungeons & Dragons)
A character class is a fundamental part of the identity and nature of characters in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A character's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses are largely defined by his or her chosen class; choosing a class is one of the first steps a player takes in order to...
, politics, conflicts, geography, and economics within the Moonshaes. The islands are home to the Ffolk, a druidic
Druid (Dungeons & Dragons)
The druid is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Druids wield nature-themed magic. Prior to 4th edition, they gain divine magic from being at one with nature, or from one of several patron gods of the wild, while in 4th edition, they gain primal magic...
people who worship the Earthmother, a neutrally aligned aspect of Chauntea, the neutral-good goddess of agriculture. The Ffolk share the Moonshaes with the Northmen, a strong, warlike race of raiders who hail from the lands north of Waterdeep, although conflicts frequently erupt between the two races as the Northmen expand their holdings on the Moonshaes at the expense of the Ffolk. Magic-users
Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
are viewed with suspicion by both races. The Moonshaes are also home to marauding firbolgs
Firbolg (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the firbolg is a giant.-Publication history:The firbolg first appeared in the first edition Monster Manual II under the "giant" entry....
, orcs
Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, orcs are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoid.-Publication history:The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the orcs appearing in the works of J.R.R...
, goblins
Goblin (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, goblins are a very common and fairly weak race of evil humanoid monsters. Goblins and Kobolds are commonly non-human monsters that low-level player characters will face in combat. In D&D, goblins aren't smaller cousins of orcs, but are a part of...
, trolls
Troll (Dungeons & Dragons)
Trolls are fictional monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Dungeon Masters can use them as enemies or allies of the player characters.-Publication history:...
, and other more dangerous monsters.
The book next describes the major supernatural entities which exist in the countryside and seas. The most important of these is the Earthmother. She gives life and vitality to the land, and her power is manifested in the Moonwells. The Moonwells are pools of water with the magical power to cure the wounds of those who strive to maintain the mystic balance, and are tended by druids who can use them to charge or restore charges in magical items. The Earthmother is served by her three immortal children: Leviathan, a huge whale; Kamerynnm, a majestic unicorn; and the Pack, a pack of dire wolves who roam the Isles. They are opposed by the evil Kazgoroth the Beast, who seeks to disrupt the balance and bring corruption to the Isles, aided by its magically created Blood Warriors: undead
Undead (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, undead is a classification of monsters that can be encountered by player characters. Undead creatures are most often once-living creatures, which have been animated by spiritual or supernatural forces....
soldiers who obey its every command.
Several specific locales of the Moonshaes are also described, from the perspective of Elminster as a tour of the people and places he has visited. The style of presentation is similar to that used in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Set.
Publication history
FR2 Moonshae was written by Douglas NilesDouglas Niles
Douglas Niles is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, and the Top Secret S/I espionage role-playing game.-Early life:Niles was born in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, and...
, with cover art by Tim Hildebrandt and interior illustrations by George Barr
George Barr (artist)
George Barr is a US science fiction and fantasy artist.-Career:Barr's work shows influences from Arthur Rackham, Hannes Bok and Virgil Finlay. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction describes him as one of the least appreciated SF/fantasy artists. His work is often romantic and whimsical...
, and was published by TSR in 1987 as a 64-page booklet with a large color map and an outer folder. The book features editing by Mike Breault, and cartography by Dave S. LaForce
David S. LaForce
David S. LaForce is an artist, noted for his artwork in fantasy role-playing games.-Career:Along with Jeff Dee, Erol Otus, Jim Roslof, David C. Sutherland III and David A...
.
Reception
Jim Bambra reviewed Moonshae for DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine #140 (December 1988). Bambra felt that the physical quality of this supplement was high, althgouh he felt that not all available space was used to its best effect. For example, the inside of the wrap-around cover is blank, as it could have been used to provide village or town maps, or even sample monster lairs. He did feel that maps were also put to good use to graphically depict the extent of Northmen settlements in the Moonshaes, and to show the economies and trade routes of the Isles. Bambra commented on Niles's design of the book: "it's more than just the background and people presented in this supplement that makes Moonshae a very strong source pack. Doug has written about the Moonshaes in his novels, a situation which means he is very familiar with them as a place where people live, work, and play." He criticized the wandering-monster tables, as "Moonshae is designed as an adventure setting for characters of any level, and yet we have beholder
Beholder
The beholder is a fictional monster in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It resembles a floating orb of flesh with a large mouth, single central eye, and lots of smaller eyestalks on top with deadly magical powers....
s and dragon turtles popping up here and there to devastate low-level adventurers". Bambra found the section on Elminster's Notes to be the most impressive: "Here, the descriptions become very absorbing and vibrant as we follow Elminster on his travels. As well as providing an insight into life in the Moonshaes, we also get a good indication of Elminster's personality and share with him in his discomforts and pleasures." Bambra concludes by saying: "Evaluation: The style of presentation used in Moonshae is superior to the styles used in the other Forgotten Realms setting supplements [...] While not containing as much detailed information as FR1 Waterdeep and the North
Waterdeep and the North
Waterdeep and the North is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.-Contents:...
, Moonshae contains more evocative descriptions and gives a good insight into life in the Isles."