Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount has brought Exandria into official Dungeons and Dragons canon, but the campaign setting focuses almost exclusively on the continent of Wildemount. The northeastern Wildemount is a vast and varied landscape, divided by jagged mountains and struggling civilizations in equal measure.
Western Wynandir
The region of Wynandir is separated from the rest of the continent by the Cyrios Mountains. Wynandir itself is bisected into west and east by the Ashkeeper Peaks.
Western Wynandir is the heartland of Wildemount, and it is largely defined by tiny villages, ancient ruins, and pockets of uncharted wilderness. Western Wynandir is dominated by the Dwendalian Empire. A relatively young nation (by Wildemount standards), the Dwendalian Empire originated in the northern Zemni Fields, before expanding southward into the Marrow Valley and conquering the Julous Dominion.
The Zemni Fields are known for its hardy folk who fight back against muddy conditions on the plains and dangerous creatures in the Pearlbow Wilderness. Gray skies bring either cold rain or snowfall, depending on the season. But it is here that the imperial capital of Rexxentrum proudly stands: the seat of power and commerce for the entire region.
The Marrow Valley to the south could not look more different. Though it can still be as gray and cold as the Zemni Fields, the Marrow Valley is a mostly rural expanse of lush farmsteads, verdant forests, and crystal-clear lakes. In the cities, one can find modern industry churning out machines for the Dwendalian war effort. But truly, it is the vast fields of grains and grasses that keep the Empire (and indeed, most of the continent) fed. Though not as powerful or wealthy as Rexxentrum, the metropolis of Zadash (former capital of the Julous Dominion) is the nexus for trade and travel in the Marrow Valley. The Righteous Brand, the imperial military, is headquartered in the city of Bladegarden, on the eastern edge of the Dwendalian Empire.
The Menagerie Coast
The ocean currents near the western shores of Wildemount are notoriously treacherous. However, with skilled enough crews, ships can find their way to the port cities that literally shimmer like jewels along this verdant coastline.
Though Wildemount is at a higher northern latitude than Exandria’s other continents, the perilous seas of the Lucidian Ocean also keep the Menagerie Coast as a warmer, more humid tropical region. Forests north of the Siltbasin Pass might more closely resemble the timberlands of Whitestone just across the Shearing Channel in Tal’Dorei, but most of the Coast is dominated by lush jungles and beaches.
The trade routes that dominate these bustling seas bring travelers to the Coast from as far as Tal’Dorei, Marquet, or even Vasselheim! Thus, the city-states of the Clovis Concord (especially Port Damali, the “Jewel of the Menagerie Coast”) have some of the most diverse populations in the world…or at least, compared to the rest of Wildemount.
Just off the Menagerie Coast are the Swavain Islands: a cluster of islands overgrown with flora and/or fauna, whose isles and reefs must be navigated around to ship goods to and from the Coast. It is on these waters that the pirates of the Revelry prey upon unsuspecting merchants.
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The Biting North
North of Wynandir is the Biting North, which consists of two regions: the southern Greying Wildlands and the northern islands of Eiselcross. The Greying Wildlands are a desolate northern tundra. Both the Greying Wildlands and Eiselcross are lawless wildernesses where power-hungry scavengers hunt for powerful artifacts that predate the Calamity: the apocalyptic war that only ended when the gods withdrew from the Prime Material Plane.
Both the Greying Wildlands and Eiselcross are dominated by dense forests, rolling mountains, and icy tundra. However, Eiselcross has the added dangers of blizzards and yetis.
The Dunrock Mountains separate Western Wynandir from the Greying Wildlands, and Eiselcross lies across the icy seas of the Frigid Depths from the port of Icehaven. The Dwendalian Empire has sought to expand north into this desert of ice and snow, but has struggled against the criminal outlanders and barbarian hunters that stalk the wilderness past the Quannah Breach.
Most of the Greying Wildlands is dominated by the Tribes of Shadycreek Run, but easily the most impressive civilization in the Greying Wildlands is the dual dwarven and elven society of Uthodurn. Expeditions from across Wynandir and the Greying Wildlands have been sent to Eiselcross is search of artifacts from Aeor: a flying city-state with weapons so powerful that the warring gods had to agree to a momentary armistice to destroy the shared threat.
Eastern Wynandir
Though both west and east make up the region of Wynandir, Eastern Wynandir could not look more different than its western counterpart. Giant monsters and fiends stalk the cracked and blighted valleys of Eastern Wynandir.
For it was here in the Wastes of Xhorhas that the last battles of the Calamity were fought. The desolate plains are now ruled by broken badlands, muggy swamps, corrupted forests, and fierce storms. Many creatures have been twisted into fierce predators by the lingering dark energies of the Betrayer Gods.
Among the warring beastfolk, goblinkin, and nomads of Xhorhas has arisen a core civilization of dark elves. Known to other nations as the “Xhorhas Empire”, the Kryn Dynasty have claimed the ruins of Ghor Dranas as their new capital of Rosohna. Though many outlying regions of Xhorhas resist joining the Kryn, Rosohna is unquestionably the dominant power of Eastern Wynandir.
Separated from the Wastes of Xhorhas by the Penumbra Range is the blackened seaboard of the Miskath Strand…more popularly referred to as “Blightshore”. Along with Eiselcross, Blightshore marks the genuine frontier of Wildemount. Blightshore was once a seaside paradise until it was defiled by the Betrayer Gods. Now, hazardous terrain has created weird new flora and fauna…the land itself cursed. The powers of Wildemount all seek to establish footholds, in order to explore the vaults of wealth hidden among the wasteland’s horrors.
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Where Will You Adventure Next?
Be sure to check out Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount for even more information about all the beautiful and exciting locations to be found in Wildemount! You can purchase the campaign sourcebook from Your Friendly Neighborhood Game Store, D&D Beyond, Amazon, and more!
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