Athalantar

Uthgrael Aumar, grandfather of the famous Elminster of Shadowdale, founded the fabled realm of Athalantar, the Realm of the Stag, in the Year of the Murmuring Dead (183 DR). After a long and prosperous reign, his death in 216 DR saw the realm fall into strife as the “Warring Princes of Athalantar” vied for the throne.

The accession of Beluar in the Year of the Dancing Lights (218 DR) saw the ushering in of the reign of the Magelords until they were cast down by Elminster and his allies, led by the wise and loyal Helm Stoneblade, Knight of Athalantar. Elminster bestowed the Stag Throne upon Helm and his successors, and they ruled benevolently and well until the reign of Onthrar, “the Ill-fated”.

Onthrar suffered the misfortune of rebuffing the affections of the noblewoman Aratanta Orrspear, who swore vengeance and found it in a faded old tome in her family library, recovered from a tomb on the High Moor by her ancestor, the sorceress Arlathra. The “Book of Banes” as the tome came to be known, was a collection of spellcurses and dark rituals, which the increasingly crazed Aratanta studied with feverish and deadly intent. In the Year of Regretful Births (313 DR), Onthrar and his wife Tyril welcomed the birth of triplet daughters. What should have been a joyous celebration was destroyed by the vile sorceries of the now madwits Aratanta, who ensured that instead of giving birth to three human girls, Tyril instead gave birth to three infant hags.

Having to slay his own progeny snapped the reason of Onthrar that day, and he lingered on for a further year, a broken man, until he took his own life. His brother Faeram took up the rulership, but it appeared that the Land of the Stag itself was cursed. Harsh winters, virulent plagues and blighted crops featured with unceasing regularity in the years that followed until the roused orcs of the Horde of Black Banners swept down from their mountain demesnes in the Greypeak Mountains and laid waste to the land, slaying many of its inhabitants.

Most of the survivors fled east to Elembar, while a brave few, led by Faeram’s nephew Dorgild, trekked north into the fringes of the High Forest. There they encountered the Uthgardt barbarians of the Tree Ghost tribe and were taken in, losing all memory of their ancestry and the Kingdom of the Stag. These survivors unwittingly brought with them the Hag Curse of Aratanta however, and in the years and centuries that followed, the Tree Ghosts would be bedevilled by the sporadic birth of these abominations.

The rulers of Athalantar are presented below:

Monarch Realm(s) Ruled Birth Death Reigned Notes

Aumar Dynasty

Uthgrael, “the Stag King” Athalantar 152 216 183/216 Founder of Athalantar; Dies of heartstop.

Beluar Athalantar 189 240 218/240 1st son of Uthgrael; Slain by his nephew Elminster.

Stoneblade Dynasty

Helm Athalantar 181 262 240/259 Knight of Athalantar; Chosen to rule by Elminster; Dies of old age.

Elthryn, “the Young King” Athalantar 242 ? 259/282 Son and sole heir of Helm; Relinquishes the throne to go and live with the elves of the High Forest.

Roreld Athalantar 263 290 282/290 1st son of Elthryn; Slain by orcs of the Norglor tribe led by their chieftain Hurolk; Dies without issue.

Rindol Athalantar 266 309 290/309 2nd son of Elthryn; Dies of disease.

Onthrar, “the Ill-fated” Athalantar 289 314 309/314 1st son of Rindol; Father of the “Hag Princesses”; Takes own life.

Faeram Athalantar 292 342 314/342 2nd son of Rindol; Slain in battle with the orcs of the Horde of Black Banners.