List of Forgotten Realms nations
Encyclopedia
This is a list of fictional nations and countries from the Forgotten Realms
setting. These nations have appeared in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting
for the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy
roleplaying game, the multiple series of novels set in the Forgotten Realms, or the numerous video and computer games set in the Forgotten Realms, or any combination thereof.
in the southwesternmost part of the Unapproachable East, with the capital of Velprintalar. It is a peninsula bordered on the west by the Sea of Fallen Stars and Altumbel and on the East by Thay. Most of its land is covered by the Yuirwood. Filled with magic and mystery, it is ruled by one of the most potent spellcasters of the Realms, the Simbul, who also has an affair with the immensely powerful archmage Elminster. On the north are the Dragonjaw Mountains. It is mostly humans who make up the nearly 1,300,000 inhabitants, though one third are half-elves
and a fair number elves
. This area is rumored to have once been the elven realm of Yuireshanyaar, home to the all but forgotten race of Star Elves.
Aglarond is constantly fending off attacks from Thay.
Altumbel is a "sub-peninsula"; that is, a peninsula
's peninsula, which is located at the western end of the peninsula of Aglarond. Its capital is Spandeliyon, and the inhabitants distrust non-humans, especially elves. It has the reputation of being backward.
The economy is mostly fishing, but piracy is exceptionally high here and may be counted as part of the economy.
. It is the land of focus in the titular game Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
.
It is a tremendously wealthy nation, holding colonies in far away Maztica and controlling important trade routes to Calimshan and Baldur's Gate
. It attracts adventurers from many lands, even from outside Faerûn
. Amn's capital is Athkatla
, which was founded in 100 DR, which is year 0 in Amnreckoning (little used except in official documents). Major towns include Crimmor (pop 35,491), a walled trade hub; Eshpurta (pop 105,000), the main military city; Keczulla (pop 47,733), a gem mining town; and Purskul (pop 27,210), a granary city. The city of Murann (pop 43,773) has fallen into the hands of two Ogre mages and their forces, capturing many of the treasure ships in harbour.
Spellhold is an asylum located on the island of Brynnlaw, off the western coast of Amn, under the command of the Cowled Wizards
of Athkatla
, used to house the 'deviants' they have found in Amn, practicing magic without an official license.
Spellhold features strongly in the video game Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
.
(Arabian Spain
).
Successor of Coramshan, Calimshan's capital is the sprawling port-city of Calimport, home of the assassin Artemis Entreri
, known for his longstanding feud with Drizzt Do'Urden
in a number of novels by R.A. Salvatore. Other major cities includes Memnon and the coastal city of Schamedar.
Calimshan covers the southern corner of Faerûn
, including the Calim Desert and the Spider Swamp.
This is a powerful empire; trading rivals with Waterdeep
; ruled by emperor; has many powerful and wealthy "nobles" called pasha
s.
. Apart from the most affluent city of Cimbar, an important town is Luthcheq. Its approximately 3,400,000 inhabitants are mostly humans, with halfling
, dwarven
, half-orc
, and lizardfolk
enclaves.
Italy
. It is a country with a long history, located in the Vilhon Reach on the content of Faerûn
. It is located on what once was the psiocracy of Jhaamdath.
It is presently a confederation of city-states under the capital of Arrabar, but used to be a powerful nation in times long past. It has an estimated 2,000,000 inhabitants, most of whom are humans, but with elven
and dwarven
minorities.
Waukeen
, the goddess of trade, is highly worshipped here. Other important gods are Helm, god of guardians; Lliira, goddess of joy; Malar
, god of the hunt; Talos, god of storms; and Tempus, god of war. It is more or less of a plutocracy
.
Reth
is one of the five free cities which form the city-state of Chondath.
. Its estimated 1,300,000 inhabitants, of human, dwarven
, halfling
and half-orc
blood, are ruled by King Gareth Dragonsbane. The main city of Damara is Heliogabalus, to the west of which lies Bloodstone Village on the border of Damara and Vaasa. While King Gareth and his court reside in Bloodstone Village, most inhabitants of Damara live in Heliogabalus.
The Dolvak Clan is a fictional clan of dwarves from the city of Iron Spur in Damara. The Dolvaks have long been known for their less than honorable business practices and extreme wealth. Strident followers of Vergadain
(though "publicly" followers of Dumathoin
or Moradin
), the clan sends its emissaries to any and all areas within Faerûn to look for new investments, or usually, for new economies to exploit. The two most famous Dolvaks, Foilir and Dwin, were sent to the Land of Narfell
where they have succeeded in becoming wildly rich and powerful.
. The majority of the population are human peasants, but the ruling class are half-drow. The half-drow call themselves the Crinti, and they maintain close ties and trade with their drow relatives in the Upper Underdark
. Tasloi are commonly encountered in this region.
. Like Var the Golden, Durpar follow the teachings of Satama, Toril's Siddharta Gautama (Bouddha) and has an Indian flavour.
on the continent of Faerûn
. The fabled, quiet and wealthy magocracy
of Halruua is justly depicted as a land of wonders. Created by archwizards foreseeing the fall of Netheril, this land combines the peace and harmony of Cormyr
with the magic powers of Thay (Like Thayans, they practice circle magic and two thirds of Halruaans have magical powers of some sort).
Well protected by mountain ranges on three sides acting as natural fortifications (Nathaghal-North Wall, Muaraghal-East Wall, and Lhairghal-West Wall) and the Great Sea
along the south and led by a score of diviners, Halruaans live in a perfect haven. They don't really want to leave their place except for adventuring and why would they? Nowhere else in Faerûn would they find a better place than home.
The nation is divided into sections by three rivers that meet at Lake Halruaa in the center. Along its northern shores lies the small capital city of Halarahh, with around 8000 inhabitants.
Halruaa is not safe from harm, though. They are constantly under the threat of the Crinti marauders from Dambrath and next to them (although separated by a mountain range) lies Rethild, the Great (and cursed) Swamp.
and halfling
s, which is ruled by Queen Sambryl from the capital of Lyrabar. Many Paladins are part of Impiltur's army, the most powerful commanders mounting a legion of Bronze Dragons to protect the realm.
, and is thought by many to be the ancestral homeland of the gnomes. The largest and most heavily populated island is Lantan; the more mountainous southern island is Suj; and the third, almost uninhabited island, is Orlil. After Captain Cordell from Amn discovered Maztica, Lantaneses, being the westernmost extension of Faerûn (with the reclusive Evermeet and the enigmatic Nimbral), also claimed some lands.
Lantan is by far the most technologically advanced country on Faerûn, with only the technology of the eastern Shou Empire coming in a close second. After the Time of Troubles
, Gond gave the gnomes of Lantan the secret of smokepowder, (Toril's black powder), and they are on the verge of inventing the printing press
. Other inventions said to exist in Lantan include the steam engine
and rudimentary flying machines not unlike the zeppelin
. They still are a minor power, because, due to the emphasis and reliance on magic on the Realms, technology is seldom used.
s and may have been inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien
's Shire
. It is a theocracy
ruled by Faran Ferromar, who oversees 840,000 inhabitants, almost only made up of halflings, with a small number of humans, elves, and half-elves. Its capital is Beluir.
The city of Delzimmer is north of Luiren, close to the Eastern Shaar.
, in the west of Faerûn
. They are modeled after Wales
and Scotland
. The islands form a roughly circular archipelago
with the Sea of Moonshae in the centre. They lie roughly 400 miles (644 km) west of the region of Amn and to the southwest of the Sword Coast. The Moonshaes are ruled by the High Queen Alicia Kendrick, who rules from the capital city of Caer Callidyrr on Alaron. But this title could be disputed since the rise in 1375 of Karador and the queen self-proclamation of the leShay High Lady Ordalf.
The isles were described in FR2, Moonshae
published in 1987 by TSR, Inc. They have been the geographic location of multiple works of fiction and game adventure modules.
, the Nelanther Isles
, Mintarn, and The Whalebones. The islands that make up the Moonshae Isles are as follows:
-like Northmen
. The Ffolk are organized into a number of small kingdoms, loosely collected under the leadership of a High King
. The High King is more of a figurehead
than a true ruler, however. The Ffolk are primarily an agricultural society, though they can fight savagely when called on to defend their homes. The Ffolk are of normal stature, with light to dark hair and eyes.
The Northmen scorn agriculture in favor of raiding and making war. They have wrested much of the northern Moonshaes from the hands of the Ffolk. The remaining kingdoms of the Ffolk are the favored raiding targets of the northmen, but their adventures also carry them to the Sword Coast, and occasionally as far south as Calimshan. The Northmen are tall in height, with hair of light to dark blonde and blue eyes.
A large majority of the Ffolk worship a druidic
goddess
the Earthmother, an aspect of the benign goddess of agriculture
, Chauntea. The Northmen worship the god Tempus, Lord of Storms and Battle.
The race of elves
living on the Moonshaes is the Llewyrr. Once the dominant race on the isles, the Llewyrr now claim only small and remote portions of Gwynneth and Alaron as theirs. The Llewyrr are very similar to High Elves
.
Like that of the Llewyrr, the Shield Dwarves
on the Moonshaes go back a long way. These stocky and war-like demihumans have also been driven into small holdings on the isles. More numerous than the Llewyrr, the dwarves love their privacy and vigorously defend their lands against any further human encroachment.
Of all the demihumans, halflings have adapted most easily to human domination of the Moonshaes. Halfling communities are located beside most major communities of the Ffolk; some halfling towns can be found near the strongholds of the Northmen. The halflings thrive on the trade with their human neighbors and welcome the security provided by nearby castles.
There are no known communities of gnomes on the Moonshaes, but many gnomes live among the halflings and humans.
nonetheless serves to supply goods that a particular nation does not
produce. This trading occurs via overland transport between kingdoms on the same island, and overseas trading of goods between the various islands and the lands along the Sword Coast. Trading partners of the Moonshae kingdoms include Calimshan, Amn
, Tethyr, and Waterdeep
.
-like society with little interest for or tolerance of the Ffolk's monarchical ways. This creates a continuous tension between the two human peoples, with Northmen raids on Ffolk farmsteads a common occurrence. The raids of the Northmen have gradually become oriented toward conquest, and the kingdoms of the Ffolk have succumbed one after the other to the enemy longship
s.
However, in recent years, the conflict between the Northmen and the Ffolk has slowed down due to the hard work of the High King Tristan Kendrick and later through his daughter, High Queen Alicia Kendrick. Through their queen's work for peaceful solutions to arguments between the Northmen and the Ffolk, the Moonshaes have enjoyed several decades of relative peace.
The firbolg
s are the scourge of the remote areas of the Moonshaes. Huge, ugly, and mean, these giants
are prone to attack anything that is not of their race.
Fortunately for the other inhabitants of the isles, the firbolgs rarely leave
their remote domains. This makes them primarily a threat to those who venture
to explore these areas.
The firbolgs do, however, occasionally muster a large force and venture into
civilized areas for raiding and plunder. These outings consist mainly of slaughter and destruction as the firbolgs are not much inclined to stealing or enslaving.
, located on the continent of Faerûn
. Actually, Mulhorandi are Egyptians but, contrary to their Earth counterpart, their specific civilization never faded away and they are still building pyramids and being governed by pharaohs. They were brought to Toril
by the evil Imaskar in order to help rebuild after a great plague swept through the nation. After countless praises, Lord Ao contacted Ptah
who led a part of the Egyptian pantheon (actually, avatars of themselves) from Earth to Toril.
Ironically, their traditional enemy is another tribe of Mulan (the name given to the ethnic group that both nationalities belong to) who had been captured by the Imaskari at the same time, the kingdom of Unther, whose people come from ancient Mesopotamia
(and thus are of Babylonian or Sumer
ian origin).
The Mulhorandi are esclavagists
.
. It is theoretically a subject territory of Mulhorand. Its second largest city is Phannaskul and another major town is the heavily militarized Port Ghaast. It may be related to real-world Israel
/Canaan
, however certain details in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
sourcebook suggest that the area is likely inspired by Cossack
culture. Like the Cossacks, the leaders of the Murghômi are called ataman
, and the people are known for their skill with horses. Their position beside the Hordelands, which draws on the history of the Mongol Empire
, also suggests the Cossacks, as does the organization of the Murghômi state as a series of “semiautonomous communities” that “gather into collective government only in times of war.” However, the Second-Edition sourcebook The Hordelands mentions a powerful "Bey
of Murghôm," suggesting Turkish culture.
There is no mention of Beys in the Third-Edition materials. The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting describes the Murghômi as speakers of Mulhorandi and believers in the Mulhorandi Pantheon, and describes Murghôm as a “daughter state.” The Player’s Guide to Faerûn adds that the Murghômi are ethnically Mulani, as are the Mulhorandi. The Third-Edition materials seem to suggest a mixture of Egyptian and Cossack culture that may not have a real-world equivalent.
Richard Baker
, Forgotten Realms author and game designer, explained the Murghômi in a discussion on the Wizards Community, the official message board of Wizards of the Coast
:
gynarchy, land of the famous Witches of Rashemen. Rashemen is an eastern realm of Faerûn
. The 650,000 people of Rashemen are almost all humans. It is ruled from the capital of Immilmar, where the ruler called Iron Lord resides. However, the true power in Rashemen are the witches called hathran. In addition to the witches, Rashemen is also known for its berserker
warriors and spirit
s which protect the land.
. Apart from the capital of Ordulin, additional important cities in Sembia are Saerloon and Selgaunt. It has been modelled upon Italy
during its Renaissance
.
, even more than Thay. Theorically a part of the empire of Mulhorand, it is modeled after Persian Peninsula. Its capital is Dhaztanar, while its second largest town is Phelzel.
, is modeled after al-Andalus
(Moorish Spain) with some tiny slices of Roman Britain
. There is an important elven
population in its forests that frequently come into conflict with the overwhelming human majority.
Erlkazar is a country that has a system of clans, modelled after pre-historic Scotland
.
The Snowflake Mountains is a mountain range
in the far east of Tethyr. Not directly in the sphere of interest of any nations, the Snowflake Mountains are located between Tethyr, Amn, the Shining Plains, and the Lake of Steam. The Snowflake Mountains are best known for the Edificant Library, a place of Deneir and Oghma worshipping, and the childhood home of Cadderly Bonaduce. It has now been magically rebuilt and is called Spirit Soaring.
of the dreaded Red Wizards. It can be considered as the evil counterpart of the magocracy of Halruaa, which makes sense, both being practitioners of circle magic. The coastal part of Thay is the Priador. Thay is constantly warring with its neighbors. Thayans practice slavery
.
It is modeled from Ancient Egypt/Turkey.
This region was first described in the campaign setting publication, FR6, Dreams of the Red Wizards
, published in 1988.
region consisting of 850,000 people, inhabited by Humans, gnome
s, and orcs
, with no official capital; though the city-state of Phsant commonly fills that role. It is economically dependent on the city-state of Telflamm and Kara-Tur goods shipped from the far east.
Ashanath is a minor kingdom east of The Great Dale
and Thesk, south of Narfell
and north of Thay. Despite its fertile lands, it is at present mostly unsettled, with few resemblances of the fallen kingdom of capital city Shandaular, which was destroyed in –946 DR.
Telflamm is a large city state and a port near Thesk. Its approximately 23,500 inhabitants apparently are under the rule of a "merchant prince", though behind the scene it is the Shadowmasters, a thieves guild, who runs the city.
with the capital of Alaghôn, and is located in the north of the Vilhon Reach on the continent of Faerûn
. The around 1,700,000 inhabitants are mainly humans, but dwarves are common as well, alongside minorities of halfling
s, elves
, gnomes
, half-elves
and half-orc
s.
Turmish is modeled after medieval Turkey
.
and Zakhara.
and is ruled by the Northern Wizards from the capital of Messemprar, formerly named Unthalass. It has around 4,300,000 inhabitants, consisting of mainly humans but also smaller numbers of dwarves
and halfling
s.
Unther resembles the Mesopotamia
n civilization.
. It borders on the Pelvuria, the Great Glacier, to the North, and is largely uninhabited, except for small villages of humans, dwarves
, orcs
and half-orc
s. There is a city named Palishchuk in the Northeastern Corner, primarily inhabited by half-orcs and is in clear view of the Great Glacier. In the northern most part of Vaasa near Palishchuk lies Castle Perilous, a remnant of the time of Zhengyi the Witch-King, that is currently inhabited by a dracolich
named Urshula the Black, controlled by Bregan D'aerthe. Vaasa is bordered on the west by the Galena mountains which are nearly impassable except for a small valley in which the Barony of Bloodstone has been founded. This Barony is enclosed within the mountain range by huge walls known as the Vaasan Gate and the Damaran Gate, respective to which side of the mountain range they open up into.
. In front of it is Ulgarth. Its name comes from huge quantities of wheat
fields.
Like Durpar, Var the Golden follows the teachings of Satama and therefore has an Indian flavour. Both constitute with Estagund the Shining Lands.
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
setting. These nations have appeared in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
for the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
roleplaying game, the multiple series of novels set in the Forgotten Realms, or the numerous video and computer games set in the Forgotten Realms, or any combination thereof.
Aglarond
Aglarond is an autocratic kingdom on the continent of FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
in the southwesternmost part of the Unapproachable East, with the capital of Velprintalar. It is a peninsula bordered on the west by the Sea of Fallen Stars and Altumbel and on the East by Thay. Most of its land is covered by the Yuirwood. Filled with magic and mystery, it is ruled by one of the most potent spellcasters of the Realms, the Simbul, who also has an affair with the immensely powerful archmage Elminster. On the north are the Dragonjaw Mountains. It is mostly humans who make up the nearly 1,300,000 inhabitants, though one third are half-elves
Half-elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
-Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition :The half-elf appeared as a player character race in the original Player's Handbook . The half-elf also appeared in the original Monster Manual...
and a fair number elves
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
. This area is rumored to have once been the elven realm of Yuireshanyaar, home to the all but forgotten race of Star Elves.
Aglarond is constantly fending off attacks from Thay.
Altumbel is a "sub-peninsula"; that is, a peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
's peninsula, which is located at the western end of the peninsula of Aglarond. Its capital is Spandeliyon, and the inhabitants distrust non-humans, especially elves. It has the reputation of being backward.
The economy is mostly fishing, but piracy is exceptionally high here and may be counted as part of the economy.
Amn
Amn is modeled on medieval SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It is the land of focus in the titular game Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and released on September 26, 2000. The game is the sequel to Baldur's Gate, and, opening only a few months after the events of the earlier game, continues the story of the player character, whose unique heritage...
.
It is a tremendously wealthy nation, holding colonies in far away Maztica and controlling important trade routes to Calimshan and Baldur's Gate
Baldur's Gate (city)
Baldur's Gate is a fictional city in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It is a coastal city on the north bank of the river Chiontar, located in the Western Heartlands region of Faerûn...
. It attracts adventurers from many lands, even from outside Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. Amn's capital is Athkatla
Athkatla
Athkatla is a fictional city in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It is the capital of the nation of Amn, which in turn is a country on the continent of Faerûn...
, which was founded in 100 DR, which is year 0 in Amnreckoning (little used except in official documents). Major towns include Crimmor (pop 35,491), a walled trade hub; Eshpurta (pop 105,000), the main military city; Keczulla (pop 47,733), a gem mining town; and Purskul (pop 27,210), a granary city. The city of Murann (pop 43,773) has fallen into the hands of two Ogre mages and their forces, capturing many of the treasure ships in harbour.
Spellhold is an asylum located on the island of Brynnlaw, off the western coast of Amn, under the command of the Cowled Wizards
Cowled Wizards
The Cowled Wizards are a fictional secret organization in the Forgotten Realms universe of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Organization:...
of Athkatla
Athkatla
Athkatla is a fictional city in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It is the capital of the nation of Amn, which in turn is a country on the continent of Faerûn...
, used to house the 'deviants' they have found in Amn, practicing magic without an official license.
Spellhold features strongly in the video game Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare and released on September 26, 2000. The game is the sequel to Baldur's Gate, and, opening only a few months after the events of the earlier game, continues the story of the player character, whose unique heritage...
.
Calimshan
Calimshan is modeled after al-AndalusAl-Andalus
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to a nation and territorial region also commonly referred to as Moorish Iberia. The name describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Septimania governed by Muslims , at various times in the period between 711 and 1492, although the territorial boundaries...
(Arabian Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
).
Successor of Coramshan, Calimshan's capital is the sprawling port-city of Calimport, home of the assassin Artemis Entreri
Artemis Entreri
Artemis Entreri is a fictional character in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Entreri is depicted as a ruthless assassin and the arch-enemy of Drizzt Do'Urden, the protagonistic dark elf. He is the creation of author R. A...
, known for his longstanding feud with Drizzt Do'Urden
Drizzt Do'Urden
Drizzt Do'Urden is a fictional character in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Drizzt was created by author R. A. Salvatore as a supporting character in the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Salvatore created him on a whim when his publisher needed to...
in a number of novels by R.A. Salvatore. Other major cities includes Memnon and the coastal city of Schamedar.
Calimshan covers the southern corner of Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
, including the Calim Desert and the Spider Swamp.
This is a powerful empire; trading rivals with Waterdeep
Waterdeep (city)
Waterdeep is a fictional city-state that forms part of a popular Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game campaign setting called the Forgotten Realms. It is a port city that is located along the western coast of the Faerûn sub-continent...
; ruled by emperor; has many powerful and wealthy "nobles" called pasha
Pasha
Pasha or pascha, formerly bashaw, was a high rank in the Ottoman Empire political system, typically granted to governors, generals and dignitaries. As an honorary title, Pasha, in one of its various ranks, is equivalent to the British title of Lord, and was also one of the highest titles in...
s.
Chessenta
Chessenta is a country of individual city-states, modelled after Ancient GreeceAncient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
. Apart from the most affluent city of Cimbar, an important town is Luthcheq. Its approximately 3,400,000 inhabitants are mostly humans, with halfling
Halfling
Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
, dwarven
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
, half-orc
Half-orc
The half-orc is a creature born to mixed orc and human parentage in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The half-orc is a playable race for D&D player characters. Half-orcs are typically born in wild frontiers where human and orc tribes come into contact. Half-orcs are between six and seven...
, and lizardfolk
Lizardfolk
Lizardfolk are a fictional humanoid species in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
enclaves.
Chondath
Chondath is modelled after RenaissanceRenaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It is a country with a long history, located in the Vilhon Reach on the content of Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. It is located on what once was the psiocracy of Jhaamdath.
It is presently a confederation of city-states under the capital of Arrabar, but used to be a powerful nation in times long past. It has an estimated 2,000,000 inhabitants, most of whom are humans, but with elven
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
and dwarven
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
minorities.
Waukeen
Waukeen
Waukeen , is the fictional goddess of coins and wealth in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
, the goddess of trade, is highly worshipped here. Other important gods are Helm, god of guardians; Lliira, goddess of joy; Malar
Malar (Forgotten Realms)
Malar is the Faerûnian deity of the hunt, evil lycanthropes , and bestial savagery and bloodlust in Ed Greenwood's Forgotten Realms fictional world of Abeir-Toril for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
, god of the hunt; Talos, god of storms; and Tempus, god of war. It is more or less of a plutocracy
Plutocracy
Plutocracy is rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth. The combination of both plutocracy and oligarchy is called plutarchy. The word plutocracy is derived from the Ancient Greek root ploutos, meaning wealth and kratos, meaning to rule or to govern.-Usage:The term plutocracy is generally...
.
Reth
Reth
Reth is a fictional city in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Reth is one of the five free cities located in the Chondath region of the Vilhon Reach in Faerûn.- Entertainment :...
is one of the five free cities which form the city-state of Chondath.
Damara
Damara is a scarcely populated northern kingdom of FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. Its estimated 1,300,000 inhabitants, of human, dwarven
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
, halfling
Halfling
Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
and half-orc
Half-orc
The half-orc is a creature born to mixed orc and human parentage in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The half-orc is a playable race for D&D player characters. Half-orcs are typically born in wild frontiers where human and orc tribes come into contact. Half-orcs are between six and seven...
blood, are ruled by King Gareth Dragonsbane. The main city of Damara is Heliogabalus, to the west of which lies Bloodstone Village on the border of Damara and Vaasa. While King Gareth and his court reside in Bloodstone Village, most inhabitants of Damara live in Heliogabalus.
The Dolvak Clan is a fictional clan of dwarves from the city of Iron Spur in Damara. The Dolvaks have long been known for their less than honorable business practices and extreme wealth. Strident followers of Vergadain
Vergadain
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Vergadain is the dwarf deity of Wealth and Luck. Vergadain's titles "the Trickster" and "the Laughing Dwarf" are not used by his worshippers. His holy symbol is a circular gold coin. These coins must be acquired in payment for...
(though "publicly" followers of Dumathoin
Dumathoin
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Dumathoin is the patron of mountain dwarves, and the dwarf deity of mining and underground exploration. He is also the protector of the dwarven dead. His holy symbol is a cut, faceted gem inside of a mountain.-Publication...
or Moradin
Moradin
Moradin is the chief deity in the dwarven pantheon in the Dungeons & Dragons game and is a member of the default D&D pantheon. Moradin's domains are Creation, Earth, Good, Law, and Protection. His titles include Soul Forger, Dwarffather, the All-Father, and the Creator...
), the clan sends its emissaries to any and all areas within Faerûn to look for new investments, or usually, for new economies to exploit. The two most famous Dolvaks, Foilir and Dwin, were sent to the Land of Narfell
Narfell
Narfell is a country in the eastern part of the fictional continent of Faerûn, in the Forgotten Realms setting. It lies in the Cold Lands region but was once the heart of a vast empire that stretched from the Giantspire Mountains to Lake Ashane and included the Great Dale, much of Thesk, part of...
where they have succeeded in becoming wildly rich and powerful.
Dambrath
Dambrath is a land at the very south of the Shining South on the continent of FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. The majority of the population are human peasants, but the ruling class are half-drow. The half-drow call themselves the Crinti, and they maintain close ties and trade with their drow relatives in the Upper Underdark
Underdark
The Underdark is a fictional setting which has appeared in Dungeons & Dragons role-playing campaigns and Dungeons & Dragons-based fiction books, including the Legend of Drizzt series by R. A. Salvatore...
. Tasloi are commonly encountered in this region.
Durpar
Durpar is, together with Var the Golden and Estagund, a part of the Shining Lands. It is hardly in a good location, as it is surrounded by mountains and a sea for which it doesn't have guaranteed free access on North, East and South and by the even more dangerous Veldorn on the WestWest
West is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.West is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of east and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the left side of a map is west....
. Like Var the Golden, Durpar follow the teachings of Satama, Toril's Siddharta Gautama (Bouddha) and has an Indian flavour.
Estagund
Estagund is, alongside Durpar and Var the Golden, a part of the Shining Lands. It is modeled after an Indian culture mindset. As all Shining Lands, it is largely centered toward trading.Halruaa
Halruaa is a land of wizardsWizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
on the continent of Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. The fabled, quiet and wealthy magocracy
Magocracy
A magocracy is a form of government in which society is ruled by such magi, wizards, or witches. The term is used in the fictional universe of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and other works, by analogy with aristocracy, meritocracy, and theocracy.-Historical antecedents:If the premises...
of Halruua is justly depicted as a land of wonders. Created by archwizards foreseeing the fall of Netheril, this land combines the peace and harmony of Cormyr
Cormyr
Cormyr is a fictional country in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting published first by TSR, Inc. and subsequently by Wizards of the Coast for the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy Role Playing Game...
with the magic powers of Thay (Like Thayans, they practice circle magic and two thirds of Halruaans have magical powers of some sort).
Well protected by mountain ranges on three sides acting as natural fortifications (Nathaghal-North Wall, Muaraghal-East Wall, and Lhairghal-West Wall) and the Great Sea
Great Sea
Great Sea may refer to:* Belegaer, a fictional sea in Lord of the Rings* Great Sea, a fictional setting in The Legend of Zelda video game series* Mediterranean Sea, called Great Sea in the Bible...
along the south and led by a score of diviners, Halruaans live in a perfect haven. They don't really want to leave their place except for adventuring and why would they? Nowhere else in Faerûn would they find a better place than home.
The nation is divided into sections by three rivers that meet at Lake Halruaa in the center. Along its northern shores lies the small capital city of Halarahh, with around 8000 inhabitants.
Halruaa is not safe from harm, though. They are constantly under the threat of the Crinti marauders from Dambrath and next to them (although separated by a mountain range) lies Rethild, the Great (and cursed) Swamp.
Impiltur
Impiltur is a kingdom of 1,200,000 inhabitants, mainly humans, but also dwarvesDwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
and halfling
Halfling
Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
s, which is ruled by Queen Sambryl from the capital of Lyrabar. Many Paladins are part of Impiltur's army, the most powerful commanders mounting a legion of Bronze Dragons to protect the realm.
Lantan
Lantan is a grouping of three remote islands north of Chult. It is populated primarily by humans and gnomesGnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
, and is thought by many to be the ancestral homeland of the gnomes. The largest and most heavily populated island is Lantan; the more mountainous southern island is Suj; and the third, almost uninhabited island, is Orlil. After Captain Cordell from Amn discovered Maztica, Lantaneses, being the westernmost extension of Faerûn (with the reclusive Evermeet and the enigmatic Nimbral), also claimed some lands.
Lantan is by far the most technologically advanced country on Faerûn, with only the technology of the eastern Shou Empire coming in a close second. After the Time of Troubles
Time of Troubles (Forgotten Realms)
The Time of Troubles, also known as the Arrival, Godswar, and Avatar Crisis, is a fictional time period in the chronology of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game...
, Gond gave the gnomes of Lantan the secret of smokepowder, (Toril's black powder), and they are on the verge of inventing the printing press
Printing press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
. Other inventions said to exist in Lantan include the steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
and rudimentary flying machines not unlike the zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
. They still are a minor power, because, due to the emphasis and reliance on magic on the Realms, technology is seldom used.
Luiren
Luiren is the land of the halflingHalfling
Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
s and may have been inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's Shire
Shire (Middle-earth)
The Shire is a region of J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, described in The Lord of the Rings and other works. The Shire refers to an area settled exclusively by Hobbits and largely removed from the goings-on in the rest of Middle-earth. It is located in the northwest of the continent, in...
. It is a theocracy
Theocracy
Theocracy is a form of organization in which the official policy is to be governed by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided, or simply pursuant to the doctrine of a particular religious sect or religion....
ruled by Faran Ferromar, who oversees 840,000 inhabitants, almost only made up of halflings, with a small number of humans, elves, and half-elves. Its capital is Beluir.
The city of Delzimmer is north of Luiren, close to the Eastern Shaar.
Moonshae Isles
The Moonshae Isles are a group of islands in the Trackless SeaTrackless Sea
-Description:The Trackless Sea is the name of the western ocean due west of the continent of Faerûn. The Trackless Sea runs from Faerûn in the west, to Maztica and Anchorome in the east, north to the Sea of Moving Ice and south to the peninsula of Chult....
, in the west of Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. They are modeled after Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The islands form a roughly circular archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
with the Sea of Moonshae in the centre. They lie roughly 400 miles (644 km) west of the region of Amn and to the southwest of the Sword Coast. The Moonshaes are ruled by the High Queen Alicia Kendrick, who rules from the capital city of Caer Callidyrr on Alaron. But this title could be disputed since the rise in 1375 of Karador and the queen self-proclamation of the leShay High Lady Ordalf.
The isles were described in FR2, Moonshae
Moonshae
Moonshae is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms. It describes the Moonshae Isles of Faerûn.-Contents:...
published in 1987 by TSR, Inc. They have been the geographic location of multiple works of fiction and game adventure modules.
Islands
The Moonshae Isles are bordered by several other islands, including RuathymRuathym
Ruathym is a location on Faerûn, a fictional continent, the primary setting of the Forgotten Realms, for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.-Description:Ruathym is a kingdom of Faerûn....
, the Nelanther Isles
Nelanther Isles
The Nelanther Isles is a location on Faerûn, a fictional continent, the primary setting of the Forgotten Realms, for Dungeons & Dragons.-Description:...
, Mintarn, and The Whalebones. The islands that make up the Moonshae Isles are as follows:
- Alaron
- Gwynneth
- Korinn Archipelago
- Moray
- Norheim
- Norland
- Oman's Isle
- Snowdown
Societies
Two major human societies populate the isles of the Moonshaes. The original human inhabitants of the islands are the Ffolk. The later arrivals are the more VikingViking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
-like Northmen
Northmen (Dungeons & Dragons)
The Northmen are a fictional seafaring people, part of the Dungeons and Dragons universe. They are based on the Vikings, and inhabit the northern parts of the Moonshae Isles. Descendants of raiders from the island of Ruathym, the Northmen are a sturdy, war-ready people who worship the god Tempus...
. The Ffolk are organized into a number of small kingdoms, loosely collected under the leadership of a High King
High king
A high king is a king who holds a position of seniority over a group of other kings, without the title of Emperor; compare King of Kings.Rulers who have been termed "high king" include:...
. The High King is more of a figurehead
Figurehead
A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration found at the prow of ships largely made between the 16th and 19th century.-History:Although earlier ships had often had some form of bow ornamentation A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration found at the prow of ships largely made between the 16th and...
than a true ruler, however. The Ffolk are primarily an agricultural society, though they can fight savagely when called on to defend their homes. The Ffolk are of normal stature, with light to dark hair and eyes.
The Northmen scorn agriculture in favor of raiding and making war. They have wrested much of the northern Moonshaes from the hands of the Ffolk. The remaining kingdoms of the Ffolk are the favored raiding targets of the northmen, but their adventures also carry them to the Sword Coast, and occasionally as far south as Calimshan. The Northmen are tall in height, with hair of light to dark blonde and blue eyes.
A large majority of the Ffolk worship a druidic
Druid (Dungeons & Dragons)
The druid is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Druids wield nature-themed magic. Prior to 4th edition, they gain divine magic from being at one with nature, or from one of several patron gods of the wild, while in 4th edition, they gain primal magic...
goddess
Goddess
A goddess is a female deity. In some cultures goddesses are associated with Earth, motherhood, love, and the household. In other cultures, goddesses also rule over war, death, and destruction as well as healing....
the Earthmother, an aspect of the benign goddess of agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, Chauntea. The Northmen worship the god Tempus, Lord of Storms and Battle.
The race of elves
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
living on the Moonshaes is the Llewyrr. Once the dominant race on the isles, the Llewyrr now claim only small and remote portions of Gwynneth and Alaron as theirs. The Llewyrr are very similar to High Elves
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
.
Like that of the Llewyrr, the Shield Dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
on the Moonshaes go back a long way. These stocky and war-like demihumans have also been driven into small holdings on the isles. More numerous than the Llewyrr, the dwarves love their privacy and vigorously defend their lands against any further human encroachment.
Of all the demihumans, halflings have adapted most easily to human domination of the Moonshaes. Halfling communities are located beside most major communities of the Ffolk; some halfling towns can be found near the strongholds of the Northmen. The halflings thrive on the trade with their human neighbors and welcome the security provided by nearby castles.
There are no known communities of gnomes on the Moonshaes, but many gnomes live among the halflings and humans.
Economies of the Moonshaes
While each Moonshae kingdom is relatively self-sufficient, a certain amount of tradingTrade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
nonetheless serves to supply goods that a particular nation does not
produce. This trading occurs via overland transport between kingdoms on the same island, and overseas trading of goods between the various islands and the lands along the Sword Coast. Trading partners of the Moonshae kingdoms include Calimshan, Amn
Amn
Amn or AMN may refer to:* Abstract Machine Notation, a formal specification language.* Alpha motor neuron , large lower motor neurons of the brainstem and spinal cord....
, Tethyr, and Waterdeep
Waterdeep (city)
Waterdeep is a fictional city-state that forms part of a popular Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game campaign setting called the Forgotten Realms. It is a port city that is located along the western coast of the Faerûn sub-continent...
.
Conflicts
The Northmen are a violent, VikingViking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
-like society with little interest for or tolerance of the Ffolk's monarchical ways. This creates a continuous tension between the two human peoples, with Northmen raids on Ffolk farmsteads a common occurrence. The raids of the Northmen have gradually become oriented toward conquest, and the kingdoms of the Ffolk have succumbed one after the other to the enemy longship
Longship
Longships were sea vessels made and used by the Vikings from the Nordic countries for trade, commerce, exploration, and warfare during the Viking Age. The longship’s design evolved over many years, beginning in the Stone Age with the invention of the umiak and continuing up to the 9th century with...
s.
However, in recent years, the conflict between the Northmen and the Ffolk has slowed down due to the hard work of the High King Tristan Kendrick and later through his daughter, High Queen Alicia Kendrick. Through their queen's work for peaceful solutions to arguments between the Northmen and the Ffolk, the Moonshaes have enjoyed several decades of relative peace.
The firbolg
Firbolg (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the firbolg is a giant.-Publication history:The firbolg first appeared in the first edition Monster Manual II under the "giant" entry....
s are the scourge of the remote areas of the Moonshaes. Huge, ugly, and mean, these giants
Giant (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, giant is a type of creature, or "creature type." Giants are humanoid-shaped creatures of great strength and size.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
are prone to attack anything that is not of their race.
Fortunately for the other inhabitants of the isles, the firbolgs rarely leave
their remote domains. This makes them primarily a threat to those who venture
to explore these areas.
The firbolgs do, however, occasionally muster a large force and venture into
civilized areas for raiding and plunder. These outings consist mainly of slaughter and destruction as the firbolgs are not much inclined to stealing or enslaving.
Mulhorand
Mulhorand is a country modeled after Ancient EgyptAncient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
, located on the continent of Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. Actually, Mulhorandi are Egyptians but, contrary to their Earth counterpart, their specific civilization never faded away and they are still building pyramids and being governed by pharaohs. They were brought to Toril
Toril
Toril, meaning bullpen in Spanish, can refer to:* Toril - a District in Metro Davao in The Philippines* Toril - a Barangay in Island Garden City of Samal, Metro Davao, The Philippines* Toril y Masegoso, a town in the province of Teruel, Aragón, Spain...
by the evil Imaskar in order to help rebuild after a great plague swept through the nation. After countless praises, Lord Ao contacted Ptah
Ptah
In Ancient Egyptian Religion, Ptah was the deification of the primordial mound in the Ennead cosmogony, which was more literally referred to as Ta-tenen , meaning risen land, or as Tanen, meaning submerged land, though Tatenen was a god in his...
who led a part of the Egyptian pantheon (actually, avatars of themselves) from Earth to Toril.
Ironically, their traditional enemy is another tribe of Mulan (the name given to the ethnic group that both nationalities belong to) who had been captured by the Imaskari at the same time, the kingdom of Unther, whose people come from ancient Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
(and thus are of Babylonian or Sumer
Sumer
Sumer was a civilization and historical region in southern Mesopotamia, modern Iraq during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age....
ian origin).
The Mulhorandi are esclavagists
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
.
Murghôm
Murghôm, inhabited by the Murghômi, is an eastern kingdom of FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. It is theoretically a subject territory of Mulhorand. Its second largest city is Phannaskul and another major town is the heavily militarized Port Ghaast. It may be related to real-world Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
/Canaan
Canaan
Canaan is a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan...
, however certain details in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is a role-playing game sourcebook first published in 1987, detailing the Forgotten Realms setting, containing information on characters, locations, and history as well as setting-specific rules for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...
sourcebook suggest that the area is likely inspired by Cossack
Cossack
Cossacks are a group of predominantly East Slavic people who originally were members of democratic, semi-military communities in what is today Ukraine and Southern Russia inhabiting sparsely populated areas and islands in the lower Dnieper and Don basins and who played an important role in the...
culture. Like the Cossacks, the leaders of the Murghômi are called ataman
Ataman
Ataman was a commander title of the Ukrainian People's Army, Cossack, and haidamak leaders, who were in essence the Cossacks...
, and the people are known for their skill with horses. Their position beside the Hordelands, which draws on the history of the Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
, also suggests the Cossacks, as does the organization of the Murghômi state as a series of “semiautonomous communities” that “gather into collective government only in times of war.” However, the Second-Edition sourcebook The Hordelands mentions a powerful "Bey
Bey
Bey is a title for chieftain, traditionally applied to the leaders of small tribal groups. Accoding to some sources, the word "Bey" is of Turkish language In historical accounts, many Turkish, other Turkic and Persian leaders are titled Bey, Beg, Bek, Bay, Baig or Beigh. They are all the same word...
of Murghôm," suggesting Turkish culture.
There is no mention of Beys in the Third-Edition materials. The Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting describes the Murghômi as speakers of Mulhorandi and believers in the Mulhorandi Pantheon, and describes Murghôm as a “daughter state.” The Player’s Guide to Faerûn adds that the Murghômi are ethnically Mulani, as are the Mulhorandi. The Third-Edition materials seem to suggest a mixture of Egyptian and Cossack culture that may not have a real-world equivalent.
Richard Baker
Richard Baker (game designer)
Richard Baker is an American author and a game designer who has worked on many Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings.-Early life, education, and military:...
, Forgotten Realms author and game designer, explained the Murghômi in a discussion on the Wizards Community, the official message board of Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
:
"They sort of remind me of the Turanians from Robert E. Howard's Hyborian AgeHyborian AgeThe Hyborian Age is a fictional period within the artificial mythology created by Robert E. Howard, in which the sword and sorcery tales of Conan the Barbarian are set....
."
"If you want a real-world parallel…well, Cossacks aren't bad. Maybe the relationship is something like this: Murghom is to Mulhorand as Cossack is to RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
(not Turkey). Mulhorand is the imperial state that keeps trying to exert more control over its free-spirited and wild frontiersmen. But the Earth history analogy really shouldn't be taken too far. It's a fantastic world, and there should be many things in Faerûn that don’t have easy Earth analogues."
Rashemen
Rashemen is a magocraticMagocracy
A magocracy is a form of government in which society is ruled by such magi, wizards, or witches. The term is used in the fictional universe of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and other works, by analogy with aristocracy, meritocracy, and theocracy.-Historical antecedents:If the premises...
gynarchy, land of the famous Witches of Rashemen. Rashemen is an eastern realm of Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. The 650,000 people of Rashemen are almost all humans. It is ruled from the capital of Immilmar, where the ruler called Iron Lord resides. However, the true power in Rashemen are the witches called hathran. In addition to the witches, Rashemen is also known for its berserker
Berserker
Berserkers were Norse warriors who are reported in the Old Norse literature to have fought in a nearly uncontrollable, trance-like fury, a characteristic which later gave rise to the English word berserk. Berserkers are attested in numerous Old Norse sources...
warriors and spirit
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
s which protect the land.
Sembia
Sembia is a country on the continent of FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. Apart from the capital of Ordulin, additional important cities in Sembia are Saerloon and Selgaunt. It has been modelled upon Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
during its Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
.
Semphar
Semphar is the mightiest nation of the Endless Wastes, and deserves this name as it is far from FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
, even more than Thay. Theorically a part of the empire of Mulhorand, it is modeled after Persian Peninsula. Its capital is Dhaztanar, while its second largest town is Phelzel.
Sossal
The nation of Sossal (inhabitants: Sossarhim) is a chilling place locked between Pelvuria and Yal-Tengri. There is a trade city on the Great Ice Sea called Naupau. Some say Sossarhim sometimes go to Calimshan.Tethyr
Tethyr is one of the Empires of the Sand. The country, on the continent of FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
, is modeled after al-Andalus
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to a nation and territorial region also commonly referred to as Moorish Iberia. The name describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Septimania governed by Muslims , at various times in the period between 711 and 1492, although the territorial boundaries...
(Moorish Spain) with some tiny slices of Roman Britain
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
. There is an important elven
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
population in its forests that frequently come into conflict with the overwhelming human majority.
Erlkazar is a country that has a system of clans, modelled after pre-historic Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The Snowflake Mountains is a mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in the far east of Tethyr. Not directly in the sphere of interest of any nations, the Snowflake Mountains are located between Tethyr, Amn, the Shining Plains, and the Lake of Steam. The Snowflake Mountains are best known for the Edificant Library, a place of Deneir and Oghma worshipping, and the childhood home of Cadderly Bonaduce. It has now been magically rebuilt and is called Spirit Soaring.
Thay
Thay is the magocracyMagocracy
A magocracy is a form of government in which society is ruled by such magi, wizards, or witches. The term is used in the fictional universe of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and other works, by analogy with aristocracy, meritocracy, and theocracy.-Historical antecedents:If the premises...
of the dreaded Red Wizards. It can be considered as the evil counterpart of the magocracy of Halruaa, which makes sense, both being practitioners of circle magic. The coastal part of Thay is the Priador. Thay is constantly warring with its neighbors. Thayans practice slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
.
It is modeled from Ancient Egypt/Turkey.
This region was first described in the campaign setting publication, FR6, Dreams of the Red Wizards
Dreams of the Red Wizards
Dreams of the Red Wizards is an accessory for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Dreams of the Red Wizards describes a kingdom ruled by evil slaveholding magicians, wizards who are always involved in intrigue between each other.-Publication history:FR6 Dreams of the...
, published in 1988.
Thesk
Thesk is an oligarchianOligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with an elite class distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, commercial, and/or military legitimacy...
region consisting of 850,000 people, inhabited by Humans, gnome
Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
s, and orcs
Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, orcs are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoid.-Publication history:The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the orcs appearing in the works of J.R.R...
, with no official capital; though the city-state of Phsant commonly fills that role. It is economically dependent on the city-state of Telflamm and Kara-Tur goods shipped from the far east.
Ashanath is a minor kingdom east of The Great Dale
Great Dale
The Great Dale is a fictional location in the fantasy setting of the Forgotten Realms.-Description:The Great Dale is governed by a druidic hierarchy, under rule of Nentyarch. It is a human land, of 200,000 inhabitants...
and Thesk, south of Narfell
Narfell
Narfell is a country in the eastern part of the fictional continent of Faerûn, in the Forgotten Realms setting. It lies in the Cold Lands region but was once the heart of a vast empire that stretched from the Giantspire Mountains to Lake Ashane and included the Great Dale, much of Thesk, part of...
and north of Thay. Despite its fertile lands, it is at present mostly unsettled, with few resemblances of the fallen kingdom of capital city Shandaular, which was destroyed in –946 DR.
Telflamm is a large city state and a port near Thesk. Its approximately 23,500 inhabitants apparently are under the rule of a "merchant prince", though behind the scene it is the Shadowmasters, a thieves guild, who runs the city.
Turmish
Turmish is a republicRepublic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
with the capital of Alaghôn, and is located in the north of the Vilhon Reach on the continent of Faerûn
Faerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. The around 1,700,000 inhabitants are mainly humans, but dwarves are common as well, alongside minorities of halfling
Halfling
Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
s, elves
Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
, gnomes
Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
, half-elves
Half-elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
-Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition :The half-elf appeared as a player character race in the original Player's Handbook . The half-elf also appeared in the original Monster Manual...
and half-orc
Half-orc
The half-orc is a creature born to mixed orc and human parentage in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The half-orc is a playable race for D&D player characters. Half-orcs are typically born in wild frontiers where human and orc tribes come into contact. Half-orcs are between six and seven...
s.
Turmish is modeled after medieval Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
Ulgarth
Ulgarth is a country located in the Utter East, facing Var the Golden. With the free cities of Parsanic (Zendar, Dekar, Zendum, Tharkar and maybe more), it acts as a buffer between FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
and Zakhara.
Unther
Unther, like its long-standing enemy, Mulhorand, was once a great empire, but now seems to be in decline. The country is a magocracyMagocracy
A magocracy is a form of government in which society is ruled by such magi, wizards, or witches. The term is used in the fictional universe of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and other works, by analogy with aristocracy, meritocracy, and theocracy.-Historical antecedents:If the premises...
and is ruled by the Northern Wizards from the capital of Messemprar, formerly named Unthalass. It has around 4,300,000 inhabitants, consisting of mainly humans but also smaller numbers of dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
and halfling
Halfling
Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
s.
Unther resembles the Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
n civilization.
Vaasa
Vaasa is a country on the continent of FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. It borders on the Pelvuria, the Great Glacier, to the North, and is largely uninhabited, except for small villages of humans, dwarves
Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
, orcs
Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, orcs are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoid.-Publication history:The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the orcs appearing in the works of J.R.R...
and half-orc
Half-orc
The half-orc is a creature born to mixed orc and human parentage in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The half-orc is a playable race for D&D player characters. Half-orcs are typically born in wild frontiers where human and orc tribes come into contact. Half-orcs are between six and seven...
s. There is a city named Palishchuk in the Northeastern Corner, primarily inhabited by half-orcs and is in clear view of the Great Glacier. In the northern most part of Vaasa near Palishchuk lies Castle Perilous, a remnant of the time of Zhengyi the Witch-King, that is currently inhabited by a dracolich
Dracolich
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, a dracolich is an undead dragon that possesses certain abilities of a lich.-Publication history:The dracolich was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons...
named Urshula the Black, controlled by Bregan D'aerthe. Vaasa is bordered on the west by the Galena mountains which are nearly impassable except for a small valley in which the Barony of Bloodstone has been founded. This Barony is enclosed within the mountain range by huge walls known as the Vaasan Gate and the Damaran Gate, respective to which side of the mountain range they open up into.
Var the Golden
Var the Golden is a peninsula at the far south-east of FaerûnFaerûn
Faerûn is a fictional subcontinent, the primary setting of the Dungeons & Dragons world of Forgotten Realms. It is described at a relatively high level in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting from Wizards of the Coast, and various locales and aspects are described in more detail by separate...
. In front of it is Ulgarth. Its name comes from huge quantities of wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
fields.
Like Durpar, Var the Golden follows the teachings of Satama and therefore has an Indian flavour. Both constitute with Estagund the Shining Lands.