I’m looking to start a campaign in The Cold Lands of Forgotten Realms after the Sundering and was wondering if you have any recommendation on where I can find good information on the going-ons in the area? There's very little official, as 5e lore continues to concentrate on the Sword Coast. One thing the Sundering did was plunge many "outland" (Abeiran) creatures (notably monsters) into Vaasa, Damara, and Narfell…they're bewildered and looking for shelter, food, and warmer climes
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 3, 2018
…. So they are roaming the area, marauding and sometimes teaming up and generally making everywhere even more dangerous than usual. Opportunistic adventurers are coming to battle, capture, and/or butcher and process (smoke, pickle, etc.) their remains for transport and sale…
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 3, 2018
In the sword coast adventurer’s guide it mentioned the warlock knights of Vaasa. I wonder if they are servants of Zhengyi or Orcus (who Zhengyi served). Also there was rumors of Castle Perilous was going to be used by Tiamat. The warlock knights serve Orcus, yes, but not all of them realize that, as their pacts are with various of his servitors. What they are directed to do depends on what you as DM deem happened in Out Of The Abyss. Similarly, decide how the Rise Of Tiamat played out to determine…
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 3, 2018
…if or how she'll use Castle Perilous. In general, deities and powers of all sorts, if they learn anything at all from the Sundering, it's to work increasingly through (usually layers of, many of them dupes) mortal agents, not directly in the Realms (as avarars).
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 3, 2018
How would Out of the Abyss and Rise of Tiamat change the direction of Orcus and/or Tiamat? I’m of the sort that I feel since my campaign is taking place after both of them that they were defeated and sent back to their realm. So any plans they would take would be of subtle nature I agree, they would be pursuing subtle, long-term-to-human schemes to increase their influence on Toril. Yet if they defeated the forces of good (the PCs) decisively in either of those, they would likely have installed or otherwise 'locked up' the loyalties of some mortal…
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 3, 2018
…rulers or local kingpins to do their bidding, and would be farther along in such plans. Meaning if PCs blunder in and thwart unfolding plans or even just get in the way, there will be other enforcers already in place to ambush PCs, frame them for things, etc. rather than…
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 3, 2018
…simply reacting to PCs victories with slapbacks.
In other words, if Orcus and/or Tiamat "succeeded" before your campaign begins, they've had more opportunity to shape local societies/power structures. If they "failed," they're being much more covert (secret cults, etc.)— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 3, 2018
A pleasure to talk Realmslore with you! A lot of work, indeed, but sounds like you're building a rich campaign where the players can really choose their fates and everything has rewards and consequences…I salute you! HAVE FUN! (It's okay to leave breathing space instead of…
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 3, 2018
…detailing everything and making too much work for yourself to keep it fun.)
— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) September 3, 2018