In the north, the dwarves and orcs have been fiercely vying for domination of the Farolas Hills for centuries. Although the dwarves are generally better organized and are better fighters, the orcs have the advantage of numbers. Dwarves produce few offspring, but orcs are eхtremely prolific and view their kin as expendable. The orcs are thus slowly whittling the dwarves away. They believe that, someday, there will be no more dwarves to oрpose them-unless hated adventurers foil their plans. Anyone traveling in the Farolas Hills will almost certainly encounter a force of either orcs or dwarves, and encounters with orcs will definitely be in the majority. Occasionally, adventurers may witness remarkable pitched battles between these foes. The savagery of these engagements often shocks observers, for the dwarves and orcs spare no thoughts of pity for one another. Both sides welcome allies in their ruthless war, wanting only to eliminate the other as soon as possible.
Goblins and kobolds swarm throughout the Burning Hills to the northeast. Their numbers are not so large that the nearby town of Kleine feels especially threatened, though. The monsters are, on the other hand, numerous enough to pose a very real threat to any who are so brave or foolish as to venture into their territories. The goblins and kobolds are not the only threat in these hills. There is at least one pack of dire wolves that has gone bad, and they prey on any helpless or weak creature they find, be it deer or humans. (Since game is rather rare in these hills, the dire wolves will take whatever they can get.) Occasionally, goblins catch and "tame" some of these creatures, using them as mounts in their search for more victims. There are also mountain lions prowling in the hills, lying in wait for the unwary and searching for any food that might satisfy them. The crags and bluffs that predominate the landscape provide ideal cover for their surprise attacks. Indeed, many who were on their guard have been found mauled by huge claws and halfeaten.
In the Gloomfens, unnatural shapes are often seen through the constantly swirling mists that seem to hang over the swamp even on the brightest of days. Since there have been so many battles there, there are bound to be unclaimed dead bodies hidden amid the weeds and muck of the swamp. Considering the number of undead creatures that infest the swamp, it is a wonder that there are any living beasts there at all. From time to time, small battalions of skeletons and zombies under the command of some unknown being have marched from the fens into the areas of the living. 24 The Denizens of the Rift There, they have laid waste those who stayed to defend their holdings instead of fleeing. None know the inspiration behind these attacks. Perhaps some Chaotic cleric has taken up residence in the Gloomfens and hopes to destroy any semblance of civilization. On the other hand, the undead might well be the creation of the "Mad Mage," who is said to dwell in Wizardspire. His power is rumored to be great enough to command the forces of the dead to perform his bidding. It is well known (these days, that is) that any who settle too near Wizardspire are likely to find destruction close at hand. Although none have settled there for a long while, the attacks from undead seem to coincide with the establishing of a new homestead. This could be sheer chance, for the undead may patrol the area even when there are none to witness their movement. No one has ventured into Wizardspire for decades. Even those inclined toward adventure have avoided it for one reason or another. None can say why, but it seems as if someone has gone to a lot of trouble to make sure that no one becomes too interested in the Spire. A nameless, seemingly sourceless fear pervades the very fiber of any who dare intrude upon the lands held by the Mad Mage. This terror dissuades nearly all of those who decide to investigate the mysterious mountain. Only those who are brave of heart and spirit can hope to overcome the enchantment of Wizardspire. (Interested DMs and players can undertake this adventure in the forthcoming D&D® adventure, In the Phantom's Wake.)
The Grasslands hold many creatures, a mixture of those who live in the surrounding lands. Orcs from the Farolas Hills are common, as are goblins and kobolds from the Burning Hills. Undead occasionally wander in from the Gloomfens while centaurs and harpies are known to leave the sanctuary of Brichtwood to explore the Grasslands. Owlbears, bugbears, and gnolls leave nearby Grakken Wood and Gauntlin Forest to hunt in the prairie. Dwarves like to hunt their enemies down in the open plain, knowing that the orcs cannot hide there for long. Elves often chase the gnolls and bugbears from Gauntlin, harrying them until they fall to the predators of the Grasslands. There are also the ever-present human adventurers who know that the Grasslands can be a constant source of excitement. The plains near the towns, however, tend not to yield as many monsters, since the citizens of the towns work actively to keep this area free from intrusion. Many marauding monsters have learned the hard way that these farms are not lightly defended.
In the vast Gauntlin Forest, the elves hold sections of the Forest securely under their sway, making them safe for those who mean the elves no harm. Other portions of the forest conceal dark contrasts to the elven light. In at least one part of the forest, gnolls hold power. Once each season, they organize themselves into hunting bands of 10 to 15 members and travel throughout their realm. While on their hunts (which they use as a rite of passage), they systematically slay every creature they encounter. This process takes longer for some victims than for others, for the gnolls are particularly fond of torturing elves to death. Periodically, intrepid explorers may find the mutilated bodies of someone who imprudently wandered into a gnoll hunting party. The gnolls, swollen with courage by the ritual, often have the temerity to ignore the boundaries set by others, and a full-scale battle erupts. Since they regard it the ultimate proof of maturity to slay an elf, their feuds are most often with the elves. The gnolls provoke fights with their neighbors, the bugbears. The gnolls and bugbears live in an uneasy peace, and these gnoll raids cause the bugbears to fly into fits of rage. They retaliate by slipping undetected past the typically lazy sentries into gnoll villages. There, they embark on one of two courses: either they slay every creature in the village, leaving the remains for the lax sentries to find, or they kidnap the females and young, taking them into a life of slavery. Though the gnolls and the bugbears generally do not actively make war against each other, choosing to save their strength for crushing elves, their routine bickering does a more effective job of limiting their growth than the elves could possibly hope to aсcomplish on their own. The elves remain the dominant power through the south of the forest while the gnolls control the northwest and the bugbears terrorize the northeast, but there are many more races of creatures in the Gauntlin Forest than just these three. The horrifying wyvern is not an uncommon sight in these woods, and tales tell that there is more than one; indeed, there may be an entire nest! Furthermore, it is well known that there are places in Gauntlin where even the most thick-headed gnolls do not travel, for the spiders hold the lands there. Although spiders are not widely renowned for their intellect, there seems to be a malevolent force that binds them toward some common goal. Even those who do not fear the gnolls are afraid of this guiding force. This land, near the center of the For25 the denizens of the Rift est, is customarily avoided by all who would travel through the wood. The game in the Gauntlin is plentiful, and there are multitudes of monsters that plague the forest. Although they are too numerous to explore in detail, any traveler may rest assured that there are more beasts in the forest than one might expect from such a beautiful wood.
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