Forgotten Realms - The Frozen North

[Arnwyn]

3e sources? The FRCS only.

This area is called the "Vast" and is covered in 2e sources. The best sources for the Vast (and the Earthspur Mountains) include:

City of Raven's Bluff - the entire back section details the Vast (including Tantras and King's Reach - though the old FR Adventures hardcover covers Tantras best)

FR11 Dwarves Deep - mentions the dwarven holds in the area (notably in the Earthspur/Earthfast mtns)

Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark - covers the Underdark details of the region (ties a bit into FR11)

Underdark (3e) - come to think of it, this might have some info as well (though probably not much different than DDGttU)


As others have mentioned, this region has absolutely nothing to do with what is usually referred to as "The North" (it's about the same latitude as the Western Heartlands, Cormyr, and Sembia).

 

[Henry]

Bloodstone lands/Ravens Bluff covers more of it.

The North box set really covers the "Northwest" more than "The North." (Basically, north of Waterdeep area.)

There is some stuff said in the 3E FRCS book, enough to make a basic background, but I'd check the Ravens Bluff source that ruleslawyer mentioned.

 

[ruleslawyer]

Incidentally, Tantras (the module) will not be so useful; despite the name, it doesn't really cover this area in any detail (descriptions of Tantras are largely limited to the temple of Torm itself, with only cursory attention paid to the harbor). CoRB is your best bet. (FR11 Dwarves Deep does indeed have some info on the Earthspurs and Earthfasts, and, if you haven't checked it out, happens to be an amazing game product for anyone playing in a campaign that features dwarves.)

 

[Arnwyn]

Incidentally, Tantras (the module) will not be so useful; despite the name, it doesn't really cover this area in any detail (descriptions of Tantras are largely limited to the temple of Torm itself, with only cursory attention paid to the harbor).

It does have a nice big color city map of Tantras, though...

 

[BlackMoria]

The Vast Primer is a site in which alot of the material from Raven's Bluff and a series of articles by Ed Greenwood on The Vast from the old Polyhedron mag's Elminster's Everwinking Eye articles can be found.

The Vast Primer

The best way to navigate the site is to go the map link, in which all the map locations are hyperlinked on the map. Tantras, King's Reach and all the significant points in the area are on the map.

Edit: The site is an archive and the hyperlinks on the map don't work. However, on the same page as the map are individual links for the locations and those do work.

 

[Vanye]

Champions of Ruin and Champions of Valor both include information on Impiltur, which is in the same general area. There may be information relating to the areas your DM has mentioned.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

Thanks for the additional input.

And, of course, I just got the new issue of Dragon in the mail yesterday, and there's an article on Impiltur. Another tidbit to add to the reading.

Thanks again, everyone.

 

[Dross]

Another thing to consider.

Your DM wrote: It's COLD (emphasising the cold aspect)

So look up the books that deal with a cold/frozen environement Frostburn comes to mind (although I don't have it) as well as the environmental section in the DMG.

Getting equipment (and magic items if you can afford them) appropriate for the environment is a good idea, and is something that someone who grew up in such an area should have. I'm sure that the various FR books (FRCS comes to mind) has equipment specifically meant for such environs.