The Liontongue is a slow but powerful river, averaging around twelve hundred feet from bank to bank, that flows through Veldorn from the Thrulaliel Mountains, in the west, to the Golden Water in the east. The river loosely comprises the north-south border of Veldorn and Estagund, and its tributary, the River Darkulh, marks the western border of Durpar. Of course, geographical borders shift less than political borders, and so it is that Estagund "chooses" not to fully enforce its claims as far north as the Liontongue, leaving much of the open terrain near the Beastlands Plateau to the beast-chieftains of Veldorn; simultaneously, Veldorn has become more a colloquial name for the region it describes than a name for a cohesive sovereign state, and the people of the Shining Lands largely regard the Liontongue instead as the southern border of the Shaar.

The river—or at least the section of it near Freehold—was previously claimed to be populated by "river spirits," to whom archdruid Ash Nahcomence has demonstrated the ability to "speak," apparently moving and shaping it through entreaty rather than under his own power. The waters have also shown a firm but nonviolent refusal to allow certain creatures to pass. Beyond this, the Liontongue was good for little other than watering animals and responsible bathing (it seemed to permit swimmers who didn't pollute the area), as fish always coincidentally seem not to be wherever prospective fishermen are currently located. The Darkulh tributary to the east of Freehold displays none of these properties, perhaps related to its origins in Aerilpar Forest, but is also completely devoid of normal river life, including fish.

Much of these mysterious properties were explained on 3 Hammer, 1374DR, following Freehold's clash with the kobold frackers, when the river arose into a towering humanoid form and spoke directly to the village on Her banks. Claiming that She has long been called by many names (Basasoni Ogwê, Wu-ta-nv u-we-yv, Furat, and others), the river thanked the settlers for cleansing Her waters not simply to save themselves, but also to preserve the Liontongue. She revealed that the forbiddance against watercraft, fishing, and travel by wicked creatures was Her will, and proposed a pact to the stunned Freeholders:

Pollute not my waters nor the bosom of the land, and ward all from waste and hurt with love, not obligation. Layest I not this onus upon thee for desire of paltry offerings, but in partnership, that all mayest endure as one. Passeth now the days, it seemeth me, when my forewarding, alone, sufficeth to protect. Now must come alliance. Lovest thou the water, and I shall in fondness looketh back. Teacheth thy children, and they shall be as mine, also, for so long as thou keepest this oath.

There being little else but to agree, Councilors Lysander Arkaine, Raxam Kelastro, and Vio Belc promised to uphold the agreement, and the Liontongue's avatar returned to the water with a warning:

Knowest thou that other hazards lieth unquiet in these lands, many beyond my power. No evil may cross my length, but I am no shield against strangeness which may findeth thee from elsewhere. Keepest thou a wary watch, if thou art to honor this pact of ours. Rememberest thou the river doth not rise at thy beck and call; yet, in the direst of need, comest thou to my shores. If thou hast been true to our pact, mine aid shalt succor thee.

Needless to say, despite the apparent friendliness of the river, Her manifestation was greeted with considerable trepidation by most of Freehold, which had experienced largely only bad luck, up to the event. A special Council session was called to soothe citizens' worries, but the village's new relationship with its water source remains tense and uncertain despite no further surprises from the Liontongue. News of the changes was discussed following the return of parties from negotiations at the iron mines and the first caravan to Assur, and on 30 Hammer, 1374DR, Lord Aram Lazard ordered his Durpari merchant vessel, the Maanasikataasampann, to attempt the journey upriver from Assur to Freehold as a test of the spirit's ability to discern Her allies. The ship completed its voyage successfully, bearing a load of materials for new construction; some conservative attempts at winter fishing also saw success, heartening the settlers and generally boosting morale.