Black Maw Bog The Time of Troubles & Era of Upheaval Inspired By Ed Greenwood

The Black Maw Bog is a wetlands surrounding the Huntinghorn Water, a stream out of the foothills of the Sword Mountains in the Dessarin Valley region of the Savage Frontier. The bog covers an area of about 8–10 square miles (21–26 square kilometers) mostly to the east of the Long Road. The stream disappeared into the bog, forming a landscape of thick mud that reaches about 30 ft (9.1 m) at its deepest point, but averages over 20 ft (6.1 m) deep across most of its sprawl.

It is difficult to detect the edge of the muck without a sharp eye or some experience in the wilderness because it is covered with crabgrass and other small, hydrophilic plants, just like the more solid parts of the valley. Two or three strides into the bog are usually enough to reach the edge of the shallows where a medium-sized humanoid slowly would sink hip to chest deep in heavy, sucking mud. Movement is slowed to a crawl and it takes significant strength to pull someone out. If that creature moves any further into the Black Maw, or can not touch bottom for some reason, they begin a slow descent to total immersion in roughly six minutes.

The narrower, western end of the bog is crossed by Ilikur's Bridge (known as simply the "Haunted Bridge" by most folks in the region) which carries the Long Road connecting Westbridge and Triboar. The enormous megalith spans the Huntinghorn Water and bog for 100 ft (30 m) with another 100 ft of ramps on either end. At 40 ft (12 m) wide and 30 ft (9.1 m) above the Black Maw, it is easily the most dominant feature in the region.

Ilikur's Bridge had been standing for at least 800 years and is described as "old" in records that date back that far, so Black Maw Bog is probably even older. Over the years, it shifted and expanded, mostly toward the east. Rumors of treasure-laden merchant wagons and nobles' carriages submerged in the bog are enough to draw the brave, ingenious, or foolish to the vicinity of the Haunted Bridge in the hope to recover some of this lost wealth. Some well-equipped adventurers have found valuables on occasion, which serve to perpetuate the stories, but most are lucky not to drown in the attempt. Rumors also state a powerful Naga dwells somewhere within the marsh.

The "known" primary inhabitants of the region around the Black Maw Bog are bugbears, and they keep an eye on the bridge. Travelers from Triboar or Westbridge are often advised not to camp on the Haunted Bridge for superstitious reasons, but it is excellent advice for avoiding an almost certain bugbear raid.