Cormyr

For most folk in central Faerûn, the notion of a human kingdom is inextricably linked to Cormyr. A strong realm bolstered by its loyal army the Purple Dragon Knights), a cadre of magical defenders and investigators (the War Wizards), and numerous wealthy and influential nobles, Cormyr is recovering from its war with Sembia and Netheril— a conflict that cost the nation much, but left the kingdom standing, and which, in the end, Netheril didn’t survive. The pride of that victory remains strong in Cormyr’s collective consciousness, even as Queen Raedra Wyrmskyr draws back from plans to permanently welcome into the realm towns that lie beyond Cormyr’s traditional borders.
Cormyreans are justly proud of their homeland, and go to great lengths to guard it and its honor. Still, there is no shortage of danger in the Forest Kingdom, whether from scheming, treacherous nobles, monsters out of the Hullack Forest or the Stonelands, or some ancient, hidden magic. Cormyr is many things, but dull isn’t one of them.
Cormyr has been ruled by a monarchy ever since it was founded. There are some in recent times who would like to see the nation run by council. The ruling monarch has an advisor, who has the title (amongst others) of High Wizard, and who is in charge of the War Wizards.

Laws of the Kingdom

The following laws have been posted at all major entry points to Cormyr.

1. All persons entering Cormyr must register with the officials of a border garrison.
2. Foreign currency can only be used in certain locations. Please exchange your coins for Cormyrean golden lions at your first opportunity.
3. Adventurers must acquire a charter before undertaking any operation as a group.
4. All weapons must be peace-bonded. The only persons exempt from this law are members of chartered adventuring groups and members of mercenary groups that can offer proof of employment.
5. Harming cats is forbidden.
6. Bow your head to royalty and the local nobility.
7. Purple Dragons have the right to search you upon request.
8. Hunting on private land is forbidden.

Nobility

The nobility of Cormyr are composed of the most wealthy and influential households. There is an annual ceremony at the beginning of the summer where each noble house comes to the capitol city, Suzail, to meet and see the monarch and discuss their achievements over the previous year, before retiring to their summer residences. Nobles swear allegiance to the crown on the sword Symylazarr. Nobles owe the king of Cormyr a certain number of troops, in lieu of their military service, under Cormyrian law.

Locations

Arabel

During the goblin war, Arabel was evacuated to Suzail with the help of magic, and the city was occupied for several months by an army of orcs and goblins. The trading company outposts were looted, the mercenary groups that were not slain fell back to other cities, and the great temple to Tymora was burned (as were the shrines to Chauntea, Helm, Tempus, and Waukeen) Arabel's lord, Myrmeen Lhal, known as the Lady Lord, swore to reclaim her city. Despite the loss of her left arm and its subsequent restoration by powerful magic, she spent the last few months collecting mercenaries, rangers, scouts, and adventuring bands for that purpose, then forced the orcs from the city. The orcs fled to the Hullack, King's Forest, eastern Storm Horns, and the plains to the north of Arabel. While routing the humanoids from the open farmlands may go easily, clearing the forests of their presence will be far more difficult.

Castle Crag

Built to defend Cormyr's northern border against dangers from the Stonelands, Castle Crag houses five hundred Purple Dragons and a detachment of five War Wizards. The stiff-necked commander Bren Tallsword calls for frequent drills and inspections. Adventurers are not welcome here; those who arrive are sent on their way as quickly as possible.

Dhedluk

This community in the King's Forest is home to farmers and woodcarvers; cutting live wood has been forbidden for several years. Surrounded by a stockade, the village is now threatened by the orc raiders driven out of Arabel. Dhedluk's lord Thiombar has a talent for reading people and a reputation for knowing everyone in Cormyr. A two-way portal on the outskirts of town connects to a spot near the entrance to the Royal Court in Suzail.

Eveningstar

Eveningstar is a crossroads settlement. It serves the nearby farms, a small number of craftsfolk who rely on the farmers' goods, and the adventurers who travel this way. Lord Tessaril Winter is a quick and efficient ruler. The village maintains a temple to Lathander but is mainly known for its proximity to many ruins, notably the Haunted Halls of Eveningstar. The winged cats known as tressym are common in this area, making Eveningstar a popular place for anyone who would have one as a familiar. A portal created by cleric of Mielikki connects a blueleaf tree here with another in the royal gardens of Suzail. The quiet pace of life here was interrupted by Myrmeen Lhal, who used the city as a mustering-point in her battle to reclaim Arabel, and the place has had to fend off occasional orc raids ever since.

Immersea

This community is home to the Wyvernspur and Thundersword noble families, who inhabit several of the manors on the southwest end of town. Visitors are warned to respect anyone dressed in finery or displaying arrogance, since the families are powerful and not afraid of proving it.
Immersea is a stop on the trade road. Its Five Fine Fish inn produces ale famous throughout Cormyr. There are no temples here, but a large open-air shrine to Selûne is maintained by a cleric of that faith. The lord of Immersea is Culspiir, former herald of the previous lord.

Marsember

The second-largest city in Cormyr, Marsember is a seaport constructed on a series of islands connected by bridges and cut with canals. Originally built on a swamp, Marsember grew to include nearby terrain, but it still often smells like a marsh. Known as the City of Spices for the local trading companies that procure those goods from far nations, the city relies on trade. Small boats crowd the canals, and many dealings are done in secret to avoid the law.
Flat, hard ground is hard to find here, and only the wealthy can afford large paved areas, usually on top of buildings. Marsember's single large temple is to Lathander, though it also has small shrines to Tymora, Umberlee, and Waukeen. Bledryn Scoril has taken over as lord of the city since the untimely demise of the previous lord. A twelve-ship detachment of the imperial navy is stationed here.

Suzail

The royal capital and richest city in Cormyr, Suzail is home to the important nobles and merchant houses of the country. The center of the city is the royal palace which is surrounded by gardens and the buildings of the Royal Court. The city maintains a large barracks for the Purple Dragon, plus stockyards, shipyards, and dozens of inns, taverns, and feasthalls. Tymora's is the most prominent temple, though shrines to Lliira, Oghma, Malar, Milil, Tempus, and Waukeen are also found here. The famous ivory carvers of Suzail buy exotic ivory from many lands, shape it into new and decorated forms, and export it at a greatly increased value.
The lord of the city is Sthavar confident and loyal man who also commands the Purple Dragons. The presence of the Purple Dragons and War Wizards has been more visible since the death of Azoun, as the Princess Regent wishes to assure the common people of their safety and simultaneously be prepared for riots or rebellious activities instigated by contrary nobles. She makes regular appearances with the heir in order to or make herself available to the people and to show that she is not afraid for her life or for Cormyr's future.

Thunderstone

Named for the nearby Thunder Peaks, this logging and fishing town has become a haven for adventurers preparing to explore the Hullack Forest. A group of gnome alchemists has set up shop here, selling alchemical items to adventurers and making quite a profit. Popular items include acid, tanglefoot bags, and (of course) thunderstones. A garrison of one hundred Purple Dragons guards the pass to Sembia and occasionally has to rescue adventurers fleeing the forest with monsters on their tails. The town has no lord, but the Purple Dragons enforce Cormyr's laws as directed by their commander, Faril Laheralson.

Tilverton

This city was occupied for many years and was formally absorbed into the nation of Cormyr last year. Once a valuable piece of territory overlooking one of the three passes through the Thunder Peaks, Tilverton suffered an attack of unknown origin in Mirtul of 1372 DR. Now all that is left is a dark, concave space filled with shadows and flitting regions of deeper darkness. A force of fifty Purple Dragons has been stationed nearby to ward off visitors, for those who enter the area become dim and eventually vanish, never to return.
A triad of wizards from Waterdeep has been studying the site from a distance, but so far has reported only that a great deal of powerful magic has been used in the area. It has caused a disruption in the Weave to such an extent that it greatly limits their ability to investigate further. A dirt road has been cleared around the strange ruin to allow caravan traffic passing through the area.

Waymoot

Waymoot was built in a five-mile-diameter artificial clearing inside the King's Forest. The town has a large keep, but because of the general safety of this forest, the outlying buildings are not protected by the walls. A trader's town, Waymoot breeds quality horses and creates and repairs wagons. Its lord is Filfar "Trollkiller" Woodband, a very strong man somewhat uncomfortable with his well-deserved title (gained when he helped repel a troll attack when he was younger). The town has a small temple to Tymora and one to Lliira.

Wheloon

Known for its vibrant green slate roofs, Wheloon grew up around the ferry traffic on the Wyvern flow river. The roofs color is derived from the stone of a large and monster-haunted quarry due north of the town.
Most of the locals are craftsfolk, making boats, baskets, sails, and pottery. Their lord is Sarp Redbeard, a head strong man who disagrees with court policy on many matters and is liked by the locals for his attitude, which they suspect keeps the Purple Dragons out of their daily lives. The town has a temple to Chauntea and a shrine to Silvanus.

Government

The Wyrmskyr family rules Cormyr, assisted by wise Royal Mages. The long reign of Azoun IV, aided by former Royal Magician Vangerdahast, gave the realm a legacy of stability and prosperity that's the envy of much of Faerûn.
Beneath the royal family is a wealthy, sophisticated, often fractious group of noble families of long lineage, influence, and demonstrated loyalty to the crown. The War Wizards - a force of battle-mages under the command of thoughtful wizards such as Caladnei - temper both royal and noble excesses. As the sage Bradaskras of Suzail put it, the Wyrmskyrs, the nobility, and the War Wizards "form three legs of a stool on which the common folk sit."

History

In ancient times, the Forest Country between the Thunder Peaks and Storm Horns mountain ranges was the domain of dragons, including "the" Purple Dragon, the mighty wyrm Thauglorimorgorus. Elves who settled here found themselves at war with the dragons. This ongoing strife ended in a Feint of Honor duel in which the elf Iliphar Nelnueve, Lord of Scepters, defeated Thauglor. Even as the elves displaced the dragons, humans from Impiltur and Chondath eventually pushed back the elves from the coast of the future Cormyr.
As strife between elves and humans grew and humans cleared forests to establish farms, the wisest elves saw that they could not stop or defeat the human intruders. Judging the settler Ondeth Wyrmskyr to be the most influential human leader, they selected the human wizard Baerauble Etharr (consort to the elf Alea Dahast) to be their agent in guiding Ondeth. In this way the elves hoped to slow settlement, keep peace, and retain the best stretches of forest Ondeth's farm ultimately grew into the great city of Suzail, named for Ondeth's wife Suzara. Ironically, she hated Cormyr and the frontier life so much that she eventually left him.
Ondeth was a just and honorable man, and although Baerauble was reluctant to leave elven society, he became the first of the famous guiding Royal Magicians of Cormyr. When Ondeth died, the elves convinced his son Faerlthann to become the first king of the human realm they'd shaped and so, in the Year of Opening Doors (26 DR), Cormyr was founded.
Through the efforts of Baerauble and his successors, as well as the vigor and wits of Cormyr's royal family, the throne has been held by the Wyrmskyrs for over a thousand years. During that time, the Forest Kingdom has grown prosperous and strong, survived several invasions, absorbed the realms of Esparin and Orva, claimed the still-wild Stonelands, and crushed repeated rebellions in the cities of Arabel and Marsember. Despite several challenges to the throne and internal uprisings, the Wyrmskyrs have remained in control of Cormyr, assisted and directed by wise and forward-looking wizards.
Cormyr reached its zenith under the rule of King Azoun IV, who was crowned in 1336 DR. Years of prosperity under his capable rule, bolstered by the wisdom of the Royal Magician Vangerdahast, made Cormyr stronger. Its might and influence waxed, its population grew, and Cormyrians became successful merchants and shopkeepers, each generation achieving more wealth and learning than the last.
During Azoun's time the westernmost marches were settled in earnest, Sembia was rebuffed in border disputes, forays were mounted against the growing Zhentarim power in the Stonelands, Tilverton was occupied as a protectorate, and overtures of lasting alliance were made to the Dales. Though never a match for the glittering wealth of neighboring Sembia, Cormyr was widely envied for its strength and security. Cormyr's peace finally failed in the last two years of Azoun's reign. A blight fell upon the land, orcs and goblins invaded in numbers not seen in Cormyr for centuries, and old foes of the Wyrmskyrs, risen through evil magic as ghazneths (magic draining winged creatures of great power), tore at the realm. Cormyr roused itself to war, only to suffer defeat after defeat. Goblin castles arose in the northern reaches, Vangerdahast disappeared, and the ghazneths were joined in the skies by a huge wyrm, the "Devil Dragon," Nalavarauthatoryl the Red.   Azoun and his warlike younger daughter, Alusair the Steel Princess, fought the goblinkin but tasted more defeat. The city of Arabel was besieged, evacuated, and lost to goblin armies. Some nobles committed outright treason, and others openly defied the Crown Princess, revealing that many among Cormyr's nobility no longer felt any loyalty to the crown beyond their personal respect for Azoun.
By the end of the crisis, the Devil Dragon and Azoun IV had slain each other on the battlefield, and a great number of the realm's mightiest warriors, officials, soldiers, War Wizards, and highest nobility were lost. Crown Princess Tanalasta defeated the ghazneths but, died soon after in childbirth giving the land a new king: the infant Azoun V.
Today Princess Rhaedra rules Cormyr as regent, ably assisted by the Dowager Queen Filfaeril. The ailing wizard Vangerdahast has chosen a successor, the battle-sorcerer Caladnei, and hidden himself away from the eyes of the world. Many nobles are on the sword's edge of rebellion, others seek to claw their way back from exile, and Sembian interests are trying to covertly take control of Cormyr or at least gain substantial influence. As the land rebuilds, it offers new opportunities-and new dangers.

Geography

The Forest Kingdom is a rolling, green, and pleasant land, flanked by mountains and well fed by its own farms and ranches. Old, deep, and lush forests dominate the landscape and national character.

Farsea Marshes

A fallen civilization that predated the elves rests in this ugly marsh. Its only remnants are ornate buildings made of glass as strong as steel. Those who have seen these structures seldom live long, however, for the swamp is thick with pestilence and plague. The ruins hold gold and strange creatures, which draw adventurers despite the dangers.

Hullack Forest

Once a part of the forest of Cormanthor, the Hullack used to define the eastern border of Cormyr. Over the prosperous reign of Azoun IV, people heavily settled the forest verge and cut it back substantially. The Hullack is the most primeval forest in Cormyr, with dark valleys and hidden vales that have gone unseen for decades. Ghostly creatures and odd monsters pepper the local folklore, and orcs and goblins are frequent visitors from the Thunder Peaks. Cormyrian wardens often direct adventurers to the Hullack in the hope of taming this wood.

King's Forest

This forest was originally given over to humankind long ago by the elves. With little undergrowth, a wealth of wildlife, and a high canopy, the King's Forest is entirely the property of the crown and usually a pleasant place to ride.

Stonelands

A band of wide, rocky desolation between the Storm Horns and Anauroch, this region is inhabited by small groups of military-minded goblins, gnolls, orcs, and evil humans, all of which are referred to as "border raiders." For decades, Cormyr's rulers have offered generous land grants to adventurers willing to tame these lands and carve out human holdings. The Zhentarim, on the other hand, actively marshal the goblin bands as raiders, but have had only erratic success in recruiting them.

Storm Horns

These forbidding mountains are massive and sharp, forming a high wall broken only near High Horn Pass and Gnoll Pass, which are guarded by Castle High Horn and Castle Crag. The Storm Horns protect Cormyr from attack but also limit expansion to the north and west. Although humanoid tribes live in the mountains, their power was broken long ago. They pose a threat only when a shaman or charismatic barbarian manages to pull them together for raids. Some of the tribes are learning to trade peacefully, exchanging iron ore and furs for food and gold. Other tribes deeper within the Storm Horns resent the flatlanders and prepare ambushes for explorers. A number of orc survivors from the attack on Arabel have fled to the eastern Storm Horns, and many roam the flatland between the mountains and the city. The mountains are also home to rogue dragons, which often wake up, hungry after resting from their last great flight.
The Storm Horns have two permanent human settlements. The hamlet of Eagle Peak is built on a large outcropping. and is a popular caravan stop, while Skull Crag is a mining community overshadowed by a large standing stone called the Needle.

Thunder Peaks

Named for the sudden and devastating storms that batter them all year, these wild and unsettled mountains are home to tribes of orcs and goblins that bear no love for Cormyr, Sembia, or the Dales. The humanoids raid settlements constantly despite Cormyrian patrols, and travelers are advised to go armed and wary. The mountain passes are blocked in the winter by snow. The inclement weather makes large-scale mining operations difficult, although solitary prospectors some times return with silver nuggets the size of fists. Many never return at all, however, having encountered Aurgloroasa the Sibilant Shade, a dracolich that lairs in the abandoned dwarven city of Thunderholme.

Vast Swamp

This region of marsh forms the border between Cormyr and Sembia, as neither country wishes to claim it and both disregard the area unless its monsters wander into their territories. Home to gnolls, hobgoblins, lizardfolk, and trolls, the swamp is also known to shelter a few small black dragons, a mad beholder or two, will-o'-wisps, and stranger things. This is probably the deadliest region within the country, but since the creatures usually remain in the swamp and the people of Cormyr have no reason to enter it, they are content to ignore it.

Wyvernwater

This clean, clear, star-shaped lake produces abundant fish, crabs, and eels every year. In the morning the water is covered in a thick fog, and fisherfolk who rise early to fish the lake are known as mistfishers. Connected to The Dragonmere by the Wyvernflow River, the Wyvernwater provides access to the Sea of Fallen Stars.

Founding Date

26 DR

Alternative Name(s)

The Forest Kingdom

Type

National Territory

Population

1,360,500

Inhabitant Demonym

Cormyrians

Location under

Faerûn