- List of Forgotten Realms nations
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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.
Aglarond
Aglarond Capital Velprintalar Government Autocratic Ruler none Population 1,270,000 (est.) Races Humans, half-elves, elves Aglarond is an autocratic kingdom on the continent of Faerûn 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.
Amn
Amn Capital Athkatla Government Plutocracy Ruler Council of Six Population 3,000,000 (est.) Races Humans, halflings, half-orcs Amn is modeled on medieval Spain. 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.
Calimshan
Calimshan Capital Calimport Government Autocracy Ruler Ralan el Pesarkhal Population 5,300,000 (est.) Races Humans, half-orcs, halflings, half-elves Calimshan is modeled after al-Andalus (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 pashas.
Chessenta
Chessenta Capital Cimbar Government City-states Ruler none Population 3,390,000 (est.) Races Humans, halflings, dwarves, half-orcs, lizardfolk Chessenta is a country of individual city-states, modelled after Ancient Greece. 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.
Chondath
Chondath Capital Arrabar Government City-states Ruler none Population 2,000,000 (est.) Races Humans, elves, dwarves Chondath is modelled after Renaissance 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.
Cormyr
Further information: CormyrDamara
Damara Capital Heliogabalus Government Monarchy Ruler King Gareth Dragonsbane Population 1,300,000 (est.) Races Humans, dwarves, halflings, half-orcs Damara is a scarcely populated northern kingdom of Faerûn. 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.
Dambrath
Dambrath is a land at the very south of the Shining South on the continent of Faerûn. 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.
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 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 Capital Halarahh Government Magocratic oligarchy Ruler King Zalathorm Population 1,675,000 (est.) Races Humans, dwarves, halflings, elves, half-elves Halruaa is a land of wizards 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.
Impiltur
Impiltur Capital Lyrabar Government Monarchy Ruler Queen Sambryl Population 1,200,000 (est.) Races Humans, dwarves, halflings Impiltur is a kingdom of 1,200,000 inhabitants, mainly humans, but also dwarves and halflings, 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 gnomes, 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.[1] 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.
Luiren
Luiren Capital Beluir Government Theocracy Ruler Faran Ferromar Population 840,000 (est.) Races Halflings, humans, elves, half-elves Luiren is the land of the halflings 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.
Moonshae Isles
The Moonshae Isles are a group of islands in the Trackless Sea, 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.[2] 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 Ruathym, the Nelanther Isles, 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 Viking-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.
Economies of the Moonshaes
While each Moonshae kingdom is relatively self-sufficient, a certain amount of trading 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.
Conflicts
The Northmen are a violent, Viking-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 longships.
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 firbolgs 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.
Mulhorand
Mulhorand Capital Skuld, City of Shadows Government Theocracy Ruler Pharaoh Horustep III Population 5,339,520 (est.) Races Humans 95%, Half-orcs 2%, Planetouched 2% Mulhorand is a country modeled after Ancient Egypt, 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.[3]
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 Sumerian origin).
The Mulhorandi are esclavagists.
Murghôm
Murghôm, inhabited by the Murghômi, is an eastern kingdom of Faerûn. 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:
"They sort of remind me of the Turanians from Robert E. Howard's Hyborian Age."
"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 Russia (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."[citation needed]
Narfell
Further information: NarfellRashemen
Rashemen Capital Immilmar Government Magocratic gynarchy Population 650,000 (est.) Races Humans Rashemen is a magocratic 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 spirits which protect the land.
Sembia
Sembia Capital Ordulin Government Plutocracy Ruler Kendrick the Tall Population 2,460,000 (est.) Races Humans, halflings, elves Sembia is a country on the continent of Faerûn. Apart from the capital of Ordulin, additional important cities in Sembia are Saerloon and Selgaunt. It has been modelled upon Italy during its Renaissance.
Semphar
Semphar Capital Dhaztanar Semphar is the mightiest nation of the Endless Wastes, and deserves this name as it is far from Faerûn, 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 Capital Darromar Government Feudal monarchy Ruler Queen Zaranda Star Rhindaun
King Haedrak IIIPopulation 3,750,000 (est.) Races Humans, halflings, elves Tethyr is one of the Empires of the Sand. The country, on the continent of Faerûn, 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[1].
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.
Thay
Thay Capital Eltabbar Government Magocracy Population 4,900,000 (est.) Races Humans, gnolls, orcs, dwarves, goblins, halflings Thay is the magocracy 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.[citation needed]
This region was first described in the campaign setting publication, FR6, Dreams of the Red Wizards, published in 1988.[4]
Thesk
Thesk is an oligarchian region consisting of 850,000 people, inhabited by Humans, gnomes, 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[when?] 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 Capital Alaghôn Government Republic Population 1,700,000 (est.) Races Humans, dwarves, halflings, elves, gnomes, half-elves, half-orcs Turmish is a republic 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 halflings, elves, gnomes, half-elves and half-orcs.
Turmish is modeled after medieval Turkey.
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 Faerûn and Zakhara.
Unther
Unther Capital Messemprar (presently) Government Magocracy Population 4,260,000 (est.) Races Humans, dwarves, halflings Unther, like its long-standing enemy, Mulhorand, was once a great empire, but now seems to be in decline. The country is a magocracy 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 halflings.
Unther resembles the Mesopotamian civilization.
Vaasa
Vaasa Capital none Government Various hamlets Ruler none Population 145,000 (est.) Races Humans, dwarves, orcs Vaasa is a country on the continent of Faerûn. 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-orcs. 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.
Var the Golden
Var the Golden is a peninsula at the far south-east of Faerûn. 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.
Veldorn
Nicknamed as Land of the monsters, Veldorn is barely a country at all. It is not ruled by any civilization but by monsters.[citation needed]
References
- ^ http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=2447774&postcount=27
- ^ Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books. ISBN 0-87975-653-5.
- ^ Specialty Priests of Ptah
- ^ Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Buffalo, New York: Prometheus Books. ISBN 0-87975-653-5.
Categories:- Forgotten Realms locations
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