Mire of Dead Men
Type: Coastal marshland / swamp region Location: Sword Coast — northwest of Leilon, roughly 80 miles of coastline; between Leilon and Neverwinter approximately Status: Active — party traveled through and reached the Tomb of Orcus; Lizardfolk of the Mire guides available First Referenced: Session 041 (DM confirmation that the Tomb of Orcus lies within; Audrey Spring Bloom confirms the black dragon twins reside here) Traveled Through: [[Session 042 - [No Recording]|Session 042]] — Session 043
Description
A vast coastal swamp — dark water, standing dead trees, thick mist, and the particular silence of a place where things rot and are not replaced. The Mire of Dead Men has a reputation as one of the more dangerous regions of the Sword Coast: not because it is actively hostile in the way of a dungeon, but because it is large, disorienting, and thoroughly occupied.
From the party's intelligence and direct travel, the Mire contains at least:
- Varagamanthir and Werverender — twin black dragons known collectively as "the Black Death." Voaraghamanthar (Varagamanthir) is currently injured and in the lizardfolk's castle. Waervaerendor (Werverender) is at the Tomb, asleep.
- The Tomb of Orcus — located at the largest hill in the Mire; the party reached it at the end of Session 043.
- Lizardfolk of the Mire — inhabit the swamp; their ancestral castle was occupied by Voaraghamanthar. The party brokered a peace deal in Session 042.
- Bog undead — large groups (50+) observed moving under autonomous compulsion toward the Tomb's hill, apparently drawn by whatever force is active there.
Travel Details (Sessions 042–043)
The Mire is not navigable without a guide. Key environmental features:
- Water that is inky black — no visibility to the bottom; the terrain cannot be trusted.
- Perpetual cold mist — no rain, no weather, just fog; landmarks are unreliable.
- Channels and shallow waterways navigated by flat-bottomed skiffs. The lizardfolk pole these expertly; the party slept aboard while being transported.
- Known monster lairs — the lizardfolk routes avoid these; the party had no ambush encounters the entire transit once guides took over. Without them, they estimated a dozen ambushes before reaching the Tomb.
- "Strong Raindrop" hill — the lizardfolk's name for a specific dry-ground campsite on a small rise; now the site where Griggen's lost scout's protective sphere collapsed (Session 043). The lizardfolk quietly noted the name would have to change.
- Zombie traffic — undead groups traveling toward the Tomb's hill passed through the same channels the party was using; they ignored the living entirely, pulled by something stronger.
What the Party Knows
- Confirmed by DM (Session 041): The Temple/Tomb of Orcus is within the Mire of Dead Men.
- From Audrey Spring Bloom: The black dragon twins Varagamanthir and Werverender have territories here. They are the legend called "the Black Death."
- From Varagamanthir (Session 042): The Tomb is the largest hill in the Mire — he knew exactly where it was. He directed the lizardfolk to guide the party there.
- From the departed Knights of Vindictus Leilon chapter: The last-seen direction of the Leilon KoV chapter pointed toward the Mire. They have not returned. The party found evidence inside the Tomb (infernal writing, dried blood) that they arrived — and were turned.
- KeYs can sense dragons within 3 miles. (No longer needed for navigation — the Tomb's location is known.)