Thay

Thay is a primarily human magocratic nation located in the northeastern part of Faerun. Thay came into existence in 722 DR when a group called the Red Wizards razed the city of Delhumide and claimed the land for themselves. Their nation prospered with a slave based economy and continued to grow their lands. They quickly became a fearsome country and one of the top military forces in Faerun.
The Red Wizards maintained control over Thay and instilled a council that consisted of eight individuals. Each of the eight council members specialized in a different school of magic and were all powerful wizards. The council then appointed Tharchions, governors who ruled over individual sects throughout Thay.
Thay has a strict social class that is filled with deceit and assassination. The Red Wizards are considered the highest of the aristocracy in Thay, followed by a magocratic noble class. Beneath these, there are varying levels in the hierarchy depending on one's wealth. Despite the income disparity in their society, members of even the lowest social classes often bought slaves, though depending on the rarity and capability of certain races, some of the slaves could be out of a lower echelon's price range. The high demand for such a commodity causes Thay to maintain one of the largest slave populations on Faerun.
Religions are almost nonexistent in Thayan society, as arcane magic is the largest driving force in Thayan culture. It is a common trend for nobles to send their children to learn at wizard towers and continue to explore the realms of magic. The more successful and talented children would bring power and money to their family name. Sorcerers were especially esteemed within their society; a child that was born with a natural connection to magic was guaranteed a place in the upper echelons of their society.
Unlike other societies, Thay does not maintain any prisons. When someone is convicted of breaking the law, they are instead stripped of their citizenship and forced into slavery. Despite this harsh punishment, Thay is fairly lax on all laws, often over looking crimes as serious as murder. The only things that could truly get you stripped of your position in your society was treason against the nation of Thay or unpaid debts. If a family had a debt that was unpaid, they could sell family members into slavery in an attempt to alleviate some of that debt.
While many other countries within Faerun do not agree with the slave trade generated in Thay, their military force is one filled with powerful wizards and ruthless warriors. The only army that is comparable to their size is that of the Radiant Shield. Tensions between the Radiant Shield and the Red Wizards is one that remains fragile and tenuous, especially with their conflicting ideologies. Many fear that war between the two would lead to the devastation of Faerun.

In Thayan society, it is common to wear a mask and ornate wardrobes while in public. The fashion of Thay is always extraordinarily intricate, incorporating rare materials into their fabrics.
Along with what they consider a heightened sense of fashion, Thayans wear masks to protect themselves. Assassinations are common in upper society, so citizens will don masks to protect their identity.