Hellfurnaces
The Hellfurnaces are the southern portion of the Crystalmist Mountains, defining the eastern border of the Sea of Dust.
Description
Some of the most infamous Underdark regions in the World of Greyhawk exist beneath the Hellfurnaces, including the Vault of the Drow, the Sunless Sea, the realm of the Lerara, the White Kingdom, and Dra-Mur-Shou. Aboleths, kuo-toans, svirfneblin, illithids, drow, cloakers, and duergar all war beneath the depths.
The legendary Passage of Slerotin connects the Sea of Dust to the Yeomanry through the Underdark.
On the surface, volcanoes and heat-loving monsters dominate, including fire giants with their hell hound pets, and red dragons with their firenewt servants. Manticores are common in the lower altitudes.
The equatorial Hellfurnaces seem even more violently volcanic than the portions that border the Flanaess, with six major volcanoes and a dozen minor ones identified.
History
The Hellfurnaces were known simply as the Southern Crystalmists before the Rain of Colorless Fire, when it is said that the cataclysm ignited many previously dormant volcanoes. Prior to this, an ancient war is said to have been fought between giants and dragons, both sides recruiting orc mercenaries and the Suel Imperium even becoming involved.
Bibliography
- Gygax, Gary. The World of Greyhawk. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
- -----. World of Greyhawk Fantasy Game Setting. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1983.
- Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean K. Reynolds, and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000.
- Moore, Roger E. "Legacies of the Suel Imperium." Dragon #241. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 1997.
- Reynolds, Sean K. The Scarlet Brotherhood. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999.
- Sargent, Carl. From the Ashes. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1992.
