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''Lost Empires of Faerûn'' is a campaign supplement for the fictional
Forgotten Realms ''Forgotten Realms'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setti ...
campaign setting A campaign setting is a setting for a tabletop role-playing game or wargame campaign. Most campaign settings are fictional worlds; however, some are historical or contemporary real-world locations. A '' campaign'' is a series of individual adve ...
for the 3.5 edition of the ''
Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical ...
''
fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...
.


Contents

This 192-page hardcover book begins with a two-page introduction explaining that this book covers the various ruined kingdoms of the ancient world of
Faerûn Faerûn ( ) is a fictional continent and the primary setting of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' world of ''Forgotten Realms''. It is described in detail in several editions of the ''Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting'' (first published in 1987 by TSR, I ...
, in other words the Lost Empires of Faerûn. Chapter 1: ''Ancient Secrets'', on pages 6–35, details prestige classes, feats, and spells common for characters that keep alive the ancient secrets and traditions of the past. Chapter 2: ''Dreams of the Past'', on pages 36–50, examines how the ancient past plays a role in the modern Realms. Chapter 3: ''The Crown Wars'', on pages 51–59, described the elven realms of the Crown Wars, which were waged upon each other and resulted in the descent of the
drow The drow ( or ) or dark elves are a dark-skinned and white-haired subrace of Elf (Dungeons & Dragons), elves connected to the Subterranea (geography), subterranean Underdark in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy roleplaying game. The drow have t ...
and the establishment of Evereska and
Evermeet The elf is a humanoid race in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, one of the primary races available for player characters, and play a central role in the narratives of many setting worlds of the game. Elves are described as ...
. Chapter 4: ''God-Kings of the East'', on pages 60–82, details the Old Empires of
Mulhorand ''Forgotten Realms'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a settin ...
and
Unther ''Forgotten Realms'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (''D&D'') fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a settin ...
, and rival empires Narfell and Raumathar. Chapter 5: ''Realms of the High Forest'', on pages 83–94, describes the kingdoms of
Eaerlann The elf is a humanoid race in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, one of the primary races available for player characters, and play a central role in the narratives of many setting worlds of the game. Elves are described as ...
, Siluvanede, Sharrven, and the surrounding states. Chapter 6: ''Fallen Netheril'', on pages 95–112, describes Netheril, the most famous of Faerûn's fallen states, which now lies buried under Anauroch. Chapter 7: ''The Imperial South'', on pages 113–124, examines Coramshan and Jhaamdath. Chapter 8: ''The Dream of Cormanthyr'', on pages 125–135, described the fabled realm of Myth Drannor. Chapter 9: ''The Old North'', on pages 136–150, details the history of the
Sword Coast A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed tip ...
North. Chapter 10: ''Artifacts of the Past'', on pages 151–159, introduces
magic items Magic or magick most commonly refers to: * Magic (supernatural), beliefs and actions employed to influence supernatural beings and forces ** ''Magick'' (with ''-ck'') can specifically refer to ceremonial magic * Magic (illusion), also known as sta ...
created and used by people of the various lost empires. Chapter 11: ''Monsters of the Ancient Lands'', on pages 160–192, presents twenty-nine monsters that originated in these long-lost lands, including the
crawling claw This is a list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd-edition monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd Edition supplements published by TSR, Inc ...
, the deepspawn, the
flameskull This is a list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd-edition Monsters in Dungeons & Dragons, monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, ''Adv ...
, the
helmed horror This is a list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd-edition monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd Edition supplements published by TSR, Inc ...
, the
phaerimm This is a list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd-edition monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd Edition supplements published by TSR, Inc ...
, and the
tressym This is a list of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd-edition monsters, an important element of that role-playing game. This list only includes monsters from official ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd Edition supplements published by TSR, Inc ...
.


Publication history

The book was published in 2005, and was written by Richard Baker,
Ed Bonny Ed, ed or ED may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Ed'' (film), a 1996 film starring Matt LeBlanc * Ed (''Fullmetal Alchemist'') or Edward Elric, a character in ''Fullmetal Alchemist'' media * ''Ed'' (TV series), a TV series that ran fro ...
, and
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, with cover art by
Mark Sasso Mark may refer to: In the Bible * Mark the Evangelist (5–68), traditionally ascribed author of the Gospel of Mark * Gospel of Mark, one of the four canonical gospels and one of the three synoptic gospels Currencies * Mark (currency), a currenc ...
. Interior art is by Thomas M. Baxa,
Matt Cavotta Matt Cavotta is an American artist and writer. His artwork is focused on the fantasy genre, with notable contributions to popular games such as '' Magic: The Gathering'' and ''Dungeons & Dragons''. Career Cavotta wrote a weekly column for Magic ...
,
Brian Despain Brian Despain is an artist whose work has appeared in galleries, in video games, on book covers and in role-playing games. Career Despain has worked as a graphic designer, 3D modeler, photo retoucher, and illustrator. He worked for ten years in ...
, Marko Djordjevic,
Jason Engle Jason A. Engle is an American artist, whose work has appeared in role-playing games and collectible card games. Early life Jason Engle was born in southern California in 1979. Career His ''Dungeons & Dragons'' work includes '' Shining South'' ...
, Earl Frank,
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, Rafa Garres,
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,
Ralph Horsley Ralph Horsley is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. Career His ''Dungeons & Dragons'' work includes cover art for the adventure '' The Shattered Gates of Slaughtergarde'' (2006), and interior art for ''Monster Manual III'' ...
,
Jeremy Jarvis Jeremy Jarvis is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. Early life and education Jeremy Jarvis grew up in a small town in Alabama, and moved to New York City right after high school just before his eighteenth birthday. There, h ...
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Dana Knutson Dana Knutson is an artist best known for his work on role-playing game products. Career Dana Knutson has had a long career as an artist on role-playing games. He worked at FASA for 10 years, producing art on numerous works for their ''Star Trek' ...
,
Vince Locke Vincent Locke () is an American comic book artist known for his work on '' Deadworld'' and ''A History of Violence'' and for his ultraviolent album covers for death metal band Cannibal Corpse. Biography Locke began work in 1986 illustrating '' ...
,
Raven Mimura Raven Mimura is an artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. Early life and education Raven received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design. He spent a year teaching art and building his portfolio ...
, William O'Connor,
Jim Pavelec James Pavelec (born 1972) is an American artist who started as a freelance illustrator creating artwork for fantasy role-playing games and collectible card games before moving to creating artwork for himself. He is also the co-founder of Professi ...
,
Steve Prescott Stephen Prescott (26 December 1973 – 9 November 2013) was a professional rugby league footballer who played as a during the 1990s and 2000s. Prescott made his début for St Helens in 1993, and soon established himself as the club's first ...
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Wayne Reynolds Wayne Reynolds is a People of the United Kingdom, British artist whose work has appeared in comics and role-playing games. Early life and education Wayne Reynolds was born in Leeds, UK. He attended art college in Dewsbury and Middlesbrough. Gam ...
,
Richard Sardinha Richard Sardinha is an American artist based in Providence, Rhode Island, whose work has appeared in role-playing games. Works Richard Sardinha has been illustrating books since the 1980s. He provided the art work for ''At Lovecraft's Grave'' (ref ...
, and
Francis Tsai Francis Tsai (April 14, 1967 – April 23, 2015) was an American comic book artist, illustrator, author and conceptual artist. He was of Taiwanese and Japanese people, Japanese ancestry. Early life Tsai was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raise ...
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Reception

In a review of ''Lost Empires of Faerûn'' in '' Black Gate'', John ONeill said "''Lost Empires'' is a sourcebook exploring the ruins and secrets of the fallen empires of the ''Forgotten Realms'' campaign setting. Admit it — any time 'sourcebook' and 'ruins' go together, you know you're going to get good some use of it." In a review for
RPGnet RPGnet is a role-playing game website. It includes sections on wargaming, wargames, tabletop games and video games, as well as columns on gaming topics. RPGnet was founded in 1996 by Emma and Sandy Antunes, Shawn Althouse ( etrigan) and Brian Dav ...
, Matt Drake says that ''Lost Empires of Faerûn'' gives a complete history of
Faerûn Faerûn ( ) is a fictional continent and the primary setting of the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' world of ''Forgotten Realms''. It is described in detail in several editions of the ''Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting'' (first published in 1987 by TSR, I ...
, as well as enough information to run adventures in the lost empires described.


Reviews

*''Backstab'' #51


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lost Empires of Faerun (accessory) Forgotten Realms sourcebooks Role-playing game supplements introduced in 2005