Sword Coast
A rugged coastline of ancient cities and dark magic where destiny awaits.
The Sword Coast is a vast region along the western edge of the continent of Faerûn in the Forgotten Realms setting. It serves as the primary backdrop for the events of Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast, encompassing everything from the small town of Ulgoth's Beard to the mysterious Isle of Ice and the ruins of Durlag's Tower. This coastline is renowned for its rich history of commerce, magic, and conflict. It acts as a crucial artery connecting northern strongholds with southern powers. For adventurers, it represents both opportunity and peril, where ancient ruins hide secrets and new threats rise from the depths to challenge free will.
Quick Facts
- Major city
- Baldur's Gate
Facts from the source article.
Background
Geographically, the Sword Coast stretches along the Sea of Swords, featuring a mix of dense woodlands, rolling hills, and fortified city-states. The region has long been a crossroads for cultures and races, including humans, elves, dwarves, and tieflings. Its strategic location made it a prize for various factions throughout history, from merchant guilds to dark cults seeking power. In the context of the expansion, the land bears scars from eldritch corruption.
The Isle of Ice, a mysterious island in the Trackless Sea, now twists under an unnatural influence that traps adventurers in its dungeon. This corruption is tied directly to the mage Shandalar, who forcefully teleports the Ward's party to the island to recover his cloak. The local populace lives in fear, while adventurers seek to uncover the truth behind the werewolf attacks plaguing the island village. Despite the darkness, the region remains resilient.
Ancient towers like Durlag's Tower still stand watch over the river valleys, and the great city of Baldur's Gate continues to function as a beacon of civilization amidst chaos. The interplay between surface life and subterranean threats defines the lore here, with dwarf influence from the ruins occasionally surfacing to complicate political alliances.
Did You Know?
- The expansion adds 20 to 30 extra hours of gameplay, including four new areas and minor tweaks to mechanics.
- Tales of the Sword Coast sold 600,000 units by 2003.
- The experience point cap was raised to 161,000, allowing characters to reach higher levels.
- The expansion won the Origins Award for 'Best Roleplaying Computer Game of 1999'.
- The game went gold on April 26, 1999, and shipped to retailers on May 4.
More in Lore & History
Elsewhere in Baldur's Gate 3
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