Old Empires (sourcebook)

Old Empires is a 2^nd-edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons accessory for the Forgotten Realms.

“

This booklet presents the Old Empires for DMs and players alike. Descriptions of all the major cities and towns, maps of the most important ones, information on the people, places, economics, geography, and cultures of these countries are within these pages. Prepare, then, to enter the realms of god-kings and pharaohs, of strange magic unknown even to the likes of the Red Wizards of Thay. These are the Old Empires.^[4]

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Description[]

Old Empires is the 10^th book in the FR series and covers the regions of Mulhorand, Unther, and Chessenta.^[1]

Each kingdom is meticulously explored in dedicated sections within the accessory. The introduction, occupying a single page, sets the stage for the detailed examination that follows.

The initial pages (3–6) provide a historical overview of the Old Empires, enriched with a two-page timeline that chronicles key events. Subsequent sections (pages 7–10) offer a concise description of the geographical neighbors of the Old Empires, including Thay, Semphar, Murghôm, Aleaxtis, the Plains of Purple Dust, the Coastal Cities, Aglarond, Raurin, Durpar, Veldorn, Eastern Shaar, and Chondath.

An in-depth analysis of Mulhorand (pages 11–34) delves into its societal structure, geography, contemporary economy and politics, legal system, adventure opportunities, religious practices, notable personalities, cultural nuances, and technological advancements. Unique to Mulhorand, its inhabitants venerate deities reminiscent of ancient Egyptian gods, such as Isis, Thoth, and Osiris.

The section dedicated to Unther (pages 35–49) examines its demographics, societal norms, geography, religious beliefs centered around Sumerian deities like Ishtar and Ramman, prominent figures, and cultural practices.

Chessenta’s exploration (pages 50–64) encompasses its societal organization, geography, current economic and political climate, religious affiliations, influential personalities, mercenary groups, and cultural identity.

The booklet also proposes several concise adventure scenarios suitable for the Old Empires region (pages 65–70), introduces spells unique to southern magic distinguished by its indecipherability to practitioners of standard magic (pages 71–80), and outlines magical items exclusive to the area (pages 81–86). A chart for generating random encounters in Mulhorand is provided on page 87, followed by a presentation of eight new regional monsters—including the brown dragon, the dracosphinx, and the desert wraith—spanning pages 89–96. It also introduces the stone colossus, brown dragon, hakeashar, werecrocodile, divine minion and skriaxit.

Included with the book is a fold-out color poster map depicting the region in detail. The inside front cover features a layout of the Pyramid of the Sceptanar’s interior and corridors, while the inside back cover showcases a chariot race track diagram, enhancing the utility and immersive experience of the guide.

The 32" x 21" fold-out map consists of:

18" x 21" map of East Faerûn from the Yuirwood to the Great Rift and from Reth to Murghyr
14" x 10" map of Luthcheq
14" x 11" map of Skuld

Contents[]

Introduction
History of the Old Empires
Lands Surrounding the Old Empires
People and Society of Mulhorand
Geography of Mulhorand
Current Economy of Mulhorand
Current Politics of Mulhorand
Laws of Mulhorand
Adventurers in Mulhorand
Religion of Mulhorand
Personalities of Mulhorand
Culture of Mulhorand
Technology of Mulhorand
People and Society of Unther
Geography of Unther
Religion of Unther
Personalities of Unther
Culture of Unther
People and Society of Chessenta
Geography of Chessenta
Current Economy of Chessenta
Current Politics of Chessenta
Religion of Chessenta
Personalities of Chessenta
Mercenary Companies of Chessenta
Culture of Chessenta
Adventurers in the Old Empires
Southern Magic
Magical Items
Encounters in Mulhorand
New Monsters

Index[]

Click here for page index

Characters[]

Akonhorus I • Akonhorus II • Alakin • Anhurtep • Annunaki • Asshurat • Avid • Azurax Silverhawk • Bendensar • Bokasin • Borsipa • Brathes • Ceianre • Chathuulandroth • Curnetheres •Dama • Derlaunt • Ekur • Ereshkigal • Esarhaddon • Ethnestus • Furifax • Gestaniius • Gilgeam • Gudea • Guyanothaz • Halcaunt • Halduplac • Hamsetis • Hargid Tenslayer • Haskrayth • Havell • Heptios • Hethhab • Hippartes • Hodkamset • Holin • Horuseres II • Horustep III • Hyurkes • Ibalpiel • Imthalos • Isimud • Jehokim • Jesthren • Karigulzu • Kesia • Knesha • Koramon • Kreodo • Kromes • Larsa • Lauzoril • Leppidon • Lorien • Maelos Karanok • Mardikan • Mefraset • Morgalshym • Mulhortep • Nebuseddar • Nekiset • Nephita • Nessisi • Nezram • Nimrud • Perithor • Pyrimestes • Rauthok • Rezim • Ruduk • Rutters • Saed • Sanuet • Seti • Shudu-Ab • Shulgi • Shurlash • Shuruppak • Shutep • Simbul • Skuthosiin • Sorn • Sturion • Suliyar • Tammuz • Teldartham • Temis • Teumman Bloodletter • Thayd • Therescales • Theriheb • Theris • Tholaunt • Tiglath • Tukulti • Ulara • Urius • Utuhegel • Veoyh • Xaoch • Yeda • Yrkhetep • Zimrilim • Ziusudra

Creatures[]

air elemental • baboon • bass • bear • beholder • blue dragon • brown dragon • cattle • desert wraith • divine minion • donkey • dracosphinx • drow • dwarf • elephant • fire elemental • gnome • goat • green dragon • griffon • hakeashar • half-drow • half-elf • half-orc • halfling • hippogriff • hybsil • ibis • lamia • leopard • mongrelmen • monkey • ogre • orc • oxen • pig • plesiosaurus • purple worm • pyrolisk • rabbit • rakshasa • red dragon • sahuagin • salamander • salmon • satyr • sheep • skriaxit • squid • stone colossus • stone giant • sylvan elf • tiger • troll • trout • vampire • were-creatures • werecrocodile
Human Ethnicities: Mulan • Rashemi • Tethen • Turami

Locations[]

Bodies of Water

Bays: Bay of Chessenta • Golden Water
Lakes: Azulduth • Brightstar Lake • Lake Meth • Methmere • Riftlake
Oases: Grinning Skull • Lonely Lake
Rivers: Adder River • Akax • Blue Sword River • Green Sword River • Rauthenflow • River Alamber • River Angol • River of the Dawn • River Ghaast • River Haqar • River of Metals • River of Shadows • River of Spears • River of Swords • River Thazarim • Winding River
Seas: Alamber Sea • Sea of Fallen Stars (Inner Sea) • Wizards' Reach
Waterfalls: Rauthgor

Buildings: The Drakelight • Grey Chimera • Temple of Entropy • Temple of Ishtar (Shussel) • Temple of Osiris (Mishtan) • Temple of Osiris (Skuld) • Temple of Ramman
Countries: Aglarond • Aleaxtis • Amn • Chessenta • Chondath • Cormyr • Durpar • Great Rift • Mulhorand • Narfell • Rashemen • Raumathar • Sembia • Semphar • Thay (Thazalhar) • Tethyr • Thesk • Turmish • Unther
Deserts: Plains of Purple Dust • Raurin
Forests: Chondalwood • Ganathwood • Methwood • Shalhoond • Yuirwood
Islands: Alaor • Ship of the Gods
Landmarks: Fields of Pryollus
Mountains: Adder Peaks • Akanapeaks • Cliffs of Leaping Horses • Dustwall Mountains • Fuirgar • Giant's Belt Mountains • Godswatch Mountains • Hills of Maerth • Mount Fussel • Mount Temmikant • Mount Thulbane • Riders to the Sky • Smoky Mountains • Sword Mountains
Mountain Passes & Roads: Great South Road • Midwinters Pass • Unthangol Pass
Plains: Akanul • Black Ash Plain • Greenfields (Old Empires) • Menesankh • Methtir
Regions: Ashanath • Dalelands • Land of the Dead • Shaar (Eastern Shaar) • Taranoth • Veldorn • Vilhon Reach • Watchers' Cape
Settlements: Aina • Amruthar • Arrabar • Bezantur • Cimbar • Dalath • Delgora • Delhumide • Delthuntle • Eartheart • Escalant • Firetrees • Gheldaneth • Great Rift • Hardcastle • Heldapan • Hilbrand • Hlath • Jhalhoran • Kaoll • Klondor • Laothkund • Lasdur • Maerduuth • Maerlar • Messemprar • Mishtan • Mulharahold • Murbant • Murghom • Neldorild • Nethjet • Nethra • Nezras • Oslin • Rasolind • Rauthil • Red Haven • Rodanar • Sampranasz • Scornubel • Sekras • Shussel • Skuld • Ssintar • Sultim • Surbroar • Taskaunt • Teth • Thamor • Thasselen • Tyraturos • Ulzel • Underhome • Unthalass • Vaelan • Vahaxtyl • Waterdeep
Valleys: Great Vale • Rolling Stone Gap

Magic[]

Armor & Clothing: Armor of Horus • boots of striding and springing • bracers of defense • gloves of lightning • robe of protection
Artifacts: Ankh of Life • Chariot of Re • Font of Time • Galley of the Gods
General Magic Items: book of Thoth • claw of Nezram • dice of chancelessness • horn of command • jewel of Karathoth • scarab of life • scarab of venom • stone of everburning • talisman of the beast • talisman of tongues • talons of the danse macabre • witchweed
Jewelry: amulet of protection from alignment change • necklace of protection against charm • necklace of strangulation • ring of armoring • ring of dishonesty • ring of dizziness • ring of false alignment • ring of immunity • ring of protection from undead • ring of reverse alignment • ring of strength • ring of thunder • ring of windwarding
Materials: saltsteel
Potions: oil of agelessness • oil of armor • oil of beauty • powder of obsession
Rods, Staves, Wands: rod of generalship • staff of fury • staff of the necromancer • wand of salt • wand of sleep • wand of water-finding
Spells: agitate wounds • animal vision • army • bane • barrier • beckon • bombard • breathe • call • chill • cleanse • command elementals • damage mirror • deathbolt • deathguard • detect ambush • detect curse • detect lie • devastate • dune • dying curse • enfeeble • etherealness • foothold • ignite flame • inscribe • javelin • ladder • major curse • move object • mummy • omen • protection from telekinesis • resist injury • resist magic • reverse missile • run • sandstorm • soul shift • slumber • stormvoice • stumble • summon minion • target • thunderball • thunderstroke • time loop • timewarp • trick • tumble • ward • weapon immunity • witchweed • worship
Weapons: Dagger of Set • The Bladeless Sword • Staff of Osiris • staff of stunning
Others: conjuration • necromancy • Southern magic

Organizations[]

Autunuk • Brotherhood of Skuld • Cult of Tiamat • Dragon's Bane • The Fangs of Set • Flaming Spike • Grey Ghosts tribe • House of Helcaliant • House of Osriant • House of Ramathant • House of Tholaunt • Lords of the Inner Reach • The Northern Wizards • Red Wizards • The Renegades • Sailors of the Crimson Sea • Scribes' Guild • The Society of the Sword • The Wraith of the Inner Sea

Miscellaneous[]

Art & Literature: Epic of Gilgeam
Clothing: cloak • sandal • tunic
Conditions: lycanthropy • mummy rot
Fields of Study: architecture
Food & Drinks: ale • beer • cheese • milk • olive oil • spice • wine
Games: boxing • chess • discus throw • pankration
Gemstones: agate • amethyst • diamond • emerald • ivory • jade • jasper • lapis lazuli • opal • pearl • ruby • sapphire • topaz
Items: block and tackle • drum • flute • harp • lyre • mirror • rope • soap • vial
Languages: Rauric languages (Mulhorandi language • Untheric) • Thorass alphabet
Materials & Substances: brass • bronze • copper • gold • granite • hizagkuur • incense • ink • iron • lead • limestone • marble • paper • perfume • pewter • salt • sand • sandstone • silver • vellum
Titles: Ataman • Pharaoh • Vizier • Zulkir
Vegetation: barley • beech • catnip • cedar • cypress • date • fig • flax • grape • juniper • mahogany • mulberry • orange • papyrus • rice • sesame • tobacco • wheat • witchweed • yew
Vessels: chariot
Weapons: javelin • khopesh • long bow • long sword • mace • polearm (lance • pike) • scimitar • short bow • throwing dagger

Gallery[]

Credits[]

Editing: Mike Breault
Cartography: Diesel
Keylining: Dee Barnett
Typography: Kathleen C. MacDonald
Cover Art: Brom
Interior Art: Valerie Valusek

Appendix[]

Background[]

In Polyhedron #75, "The Everwinking Eye", one of the erratas provided therein notes that three locations on this sourcebook's color map are misspelled. Aerilpar Forest is misspelled "Aenlplar Forest," Fuirgar is misspelled "Furgar," and Thamor is misspelled "Thamon."^[5]

External Links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 Scott Bennie (February 1990). Old Empires. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 1. ISBN 978-0880388214.
↑ Scott Bennie (February 1990). Old Empires. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 6. ISBN 978-0880388214.
↑ Shannon Appelcline. FR10 Old Empires (2e). Dungeon Masters Guild. Retrieved on 2014-08-06.
↑ Scott Bennie (February 1990). Old Empires. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 978-0880388214.
↑ Ed Greenwood (September 1992). “The Everwinking Eye: Sagely Secrets Made Known”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #75 (TSR, Inc.), p. 11.

[OE-p1-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 ^1.7 Scott Bennie (February 1990). Old Empires. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 1. ISBN 978-0880388214.

[OE-p6-2] Scott Bennie (February 1990). Old Empires. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 6. ISBN 978-0880388214.

[3] Shannon Appelcline. FR10 Old Empires (2e). Dungeon Masters Guild. Retrieved on 2014-08-06.

[OE-4] Scott Bennie (February 1990). Old Empires. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 978-0880388214.

[5] Ed Greenwood (September 1992). “The Everwinking Eye: Sagely Secrets Made Known”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #75 (TSR, Inc.), p. 11.

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