The Tears of Selune - Current Setting Details - 1366DR

[Mr.Moloch]

In 1366 the City of Arabel and its environs discovered that they now floated in the Tears of Slune -

The Tears of Selûne are mysterious landmasses that trail the moon. Legends say Selûne saves people and entire civilizations from destruction, placing them here for unknowable reasons; but others whisper her dark sister Shar brings dangers to destroy Selûne's plans. Others believe the Tears hide paths to lost treasures and empires or godlike power, revealed only to the worthy. These legends of the Tears serve as a kind of end-game content, so when your character has reached level ten and you feel ready to move on from their story, they provide an avenue for an adventure that can retire your character in a climactic way with the help of a DM. We encourage you to work with us to develop a story or goal connected to the Tears via our Discord channel. https://discord.com/channels/366755644256157698/366755644256157702

By setting our story in the Tears, we give our DMs room to create new stories and mysteries while staying grounded in the Forgotten Realms lore.

History

Circa −3500 DR an astronomer from Shou Lung called Tu Pi Chei reported seeing many objects "pop" into existence. Soon, all of Toril's oceans were wracked by massive tidal waves. The Emperor was informed and the next night he too looked at the sky and saw the new objects. Twenty astrologers were tasked with determining their meaning. Most said that Shou Lung would expand inland, some said that a member of the emperor's family would soon die, one claimed that the emperor himself would become pregnant (that astrologer was immediately put to death). Shou Lung did indeed expand inland soon after and became one of the largest countries on Toril. The emperor's wife also died in childbirth later that year.

By 1366 DR, the true nature of these bright bodies was still unknown.

Mythic Views

The elves of Evermeet took the appearance of the Tears as a sign that the gods were pleased with their magical research and viewed the Tears with pride, while many goblinoids believed that the Tears were part of a plot by human mages to bathe the night in moonlight. The goblinoids feared that the night sky would soon be filled with moons, resulting in the elimination of their precious darkness. As a result, many goblinoids set out to kill as many humans and elves as they could due to this belief.

Most human legends told of the goddess Selûne who fell in love with a handsome warrior who turned out to be an evil shapechanging monster bent on destruction and conquest. Selûne sealed the warrior and his minions in a gem made of her life essence and wept, forming the tears that came to rest trailing the satellite of Selûne's namesake.

The Church of Selune holds that the Tears are a refuge, a place of safety where Selune shows her greatest mercy to the world and its people. Though, the exact nature of this mercy is a fiercely debated point of theology.

The Church of Shar teaches that the Tears are forgotten civilizations, a limbo where those unworthy yet of the gods judgment dwell and the gods hide secrets to be kept from mortals. A place where Shar's greatest servants wait to carry her followers to a place of peace and darkness to await a better age.

Legends

One legend holds that there is a citadel at the center of the Tears, one that can only be reached by the greatest hero. It is said that whomsoever claims this Citadel shall have the power of a god, that it was created as the home of a deity who attempted to claim Toril for itself but was driven out by the others, or it is a place of incredible power that can grant any wish made by whoever sits upon its thrones.

The Rock of Bral, a legendary city said to float in the Tears of Selune. A place full of pirates and scoundrels, where anything can be bought and sold from simple spices and cloth to lost memories, to prophecies, and a Destined Fate promised by the Fey Lords. If you can reach it, it is said to bring the opportunity for wealth beyond imaginations.