Dragonjaw Mountains
The Dragonjaws separate Aglarond from Thesk to the north. While relations between the two countries are generally fine, both are happy to have a bit of distance between them. For Aglarond, the Dragonjaw Mountains are another natural defense against the forces of Thay or other invaders, preventing armies from crossing the River Umber or the Sea of Dlurg. The northern coastal settlements face only a few small fishing villages across the watery gap, hugging the sheer faces of slopes that drop rapidly into the sea.
Only the Tannath Mountains and the Tannath Gap—both described later—are considered part of Aglarond. The rest of the mountains belong solidly to Thesk.
The Dragonjaw Mountains form Thesk’s southwestern border. This range of tall, majestic peaks rises quickly from the northern foothills and then tumbles down even faster into the Sea of Dlurg to the south. The Dragonjaws stretch from the Umber Marshes west into the Sea of Fallen Stars, although the broad Tannath Gap divides the range near the center. The tip of the western peninsula is known as Cape Dragonfang, and it is a useful navigational point for sailors on the Inner Sea. Creatures of all sorts call the Dragonjaw Mountains home, but only one settlement of any serious size exists there: the city of Milvarune. On the northern shore of the Sea of Dlurg, right at the bottom of a steep and narrow pass that cuts through one of the thinnest parts of the range, Milvarune is bounded by mountains on three sides and by the sea on the fourth.
Dozens of rock gnome clans live in high, hidden vales throughout the range. The Dragonjaws are unusually rugged, even as mountains go, so the gnomes have mastered the art of cultivating narrow terraces that cling to the steep slopes. They are also miners of great skill, and they trade precious metals and gems through Milvarune to the south or Phent to the north in exchange for goods they can’t fashion for themselves, as well as foodstuffs that do not flourish in their mountain homes. A few of the gnome mines scrape copper, iron, and other metals from the ground, but the most successful ones chip up diamonds, rubies, and emeralds from the Underdark.
The gnomes of the Dragonjaws are reclusive and avoid humans (or other big folk) they don’t know. They usually hide when strangers come along, coming out only once they have established that the intruders mean no harm. The gnomes distrust humans wearing any kind of red clothing. If the human has a shaved head as well, they remain in their hiding holes until he goes away. If he is bald and tattooed, they are likely to ambush him the first chance they get. The Dragonjaw gnomes have no use for Red Wizards.
