Lore and Information on Blackmoor D20 Map Locations?

[Havard]

Here is the updated list of northeastern Blackmoor locations where I still do not have any information:

• Buccaneer Bay
  
• Crofter's Fen
  
• Elkhorn Island
  
• The East Channel
  
• The Glanes
  
• Ning's Channel
  
• The River of Sighs
  
• The Shoals
  

Thanks for reviving this topic Greg!

Buccanneer Bay: This area is connected to Bartertown detailed in DA1 p 42. Bartertown is a place where Skandaharians, Pirates and even cynical merchants from Maus meet in a neutral area. Slaves, captured sailors and loot from ships is sold here.

The Shallows: Also, mentioned in the same paragraph, the Shallows is the newly formed strait between Blackmoor and Buccaneer Bay. As you noted in your writeup of the Sinking Lands, this region was formerly land, but has been formed by the rise of the Egg of Coot. Interestingly, the term Sinking Lands also appears in the Fritz Leiber novels about Lankhmar. I assume the name means the waters here are fairly shallow and must be navigated with caution.

The Shoals/Elkhorn Island: I assume these were parts of the mainland before the Egg of Coot caused the seas to rise. I believe these lands were part of the much larger elven forest (Redwoods) when it once extended from Blackmoor to the Northern Lands, but as you say this concept comes mostly from fan speculation and interpretation of the older Blackmoor wilderness map from the FFC interior. Elkhorn has a funny shape so I could see where the name comes from. Fun facts: Elkhorn is the name of a city in Wisconsin. TSR game designer James Ward is from Elkhorn and was sometimes called by this nickname. Elkhorn is also the name of a D&D action toy from the 1980s (a dwarf).

East Channel/Ning's Channel: These are channels formed along the Crab Coast, leading south to Jackport and Archlis. The channels are mentioned, but not by name in DA1 p 44 near the sections on Jackport and Archlis. Skandaharians use these waterways to raid the coast, although it seems Archlis is more frequently attacked (and better defended) than Jackport. Ning's channel extends to Dirks Cove outside of Jackport. Just based on the names I always imagined Jackport to be a more pirate oriented town, but it seems it is not. Dirks Cove certainly sounds to me like a pirate place, but perhaps that was more true historically? The d20 line made Archlis larger than it is in DA1. The name Ning is interesting to me. I wonder who or what "Ning" is? The name of a famous ships captain?

Crofter's Fen: These marshlands are located along the Raiders Road leading south from Maus towards Blackmoor. The only details I can find are in DA1 p 44. It just says the fen has been unmapped and that the road continues through barrows, so it sounds like a dreary area. This coast is also where we find the abandoned Old Northwatch Tower which is secretly the home of the Wizard known as the Green Man.

The Glanes: I have not found antything on these coastal swamplands south of the Gremlin Forest. It is possible that these lands were more fertile before the Egg Rose. The name could mean something like river banks or coastal banks which would make sense.

The River of Sighs: Nothing on this one either, but the name is very evocative. Based on its location, it likely extends from the mountains of the Skandaharian lands to the North.


Hope this helps!

-Havard