Mount Hotenow

Mount Hotenow is an active vulcano in Northwest Faerun. The human city Neverwinter is located near it. The vulcano enriches the soil around the river Mirar, making it a fertile place for agriculture. Its magical warmth also wards against the punishing cold from beyond the Spine of the World mountain range.

History
Mount Hotenow is rumored to be a temporary vulcano, as it does not seem to be a part of any vulcanic range. It is speculated that during the upheavels of 0 DR, the last Divinic Retreat, a semi-permanent rift was created to the Plane of Fire, that resulted in Mount Hotenow. The discovery of an active portal to the plane of fire in current days supports this theory.

The rift to the fire plane, and the vulcano itself, seem to be weakening and becoming more gentle. Violent eruptions seem to be steadily declining over the centuries. Ancient entries of the Netherin Elven Empire indicate a more hostile vulcanic environment than is seen in the days of the Lord's Alliance.

Mount Hotenow erupted violently in 1740 DR, sending hazardous smoke, debris, and lava into the surrounding regions, as well as unleashing a magic storm that tormented the region for months. This event incited an Orc and Goblinoid invasion of Northwest Faerun, who saw it as a call to war by their deities Gruumsh and Maglubliyet respectively. The combined effects of the eruption and the invasion severely weakened the Lord's Alliance for several decades, who had to spend most of their time keeping the major population centers secure. As of 1770 DR, most of the hostile influences from the eruption were removed, and the Lord's Alliance diverted their resources to the redevelopment of infrastructure and lost towns such as Thundertree and Phandalin.