Cormyr

Overview

Cormyr, also known as the Forest Country and the Land of the Purple Dragon was an independent nation in interior Faerûn. It was historically one of the most prosperous countries of Faerûn.
As of 1372 DR, the country was under threat from all sides and struggling to hold onto order. Nobles bickered over land rights, Sembian merchants and a Cult of the Dragon cell tried to gain a trading foothold, and there was a Zhentarim presence. The city of Shade and the ruins of Myth Drannor both posed a threat.
Around 1372 DR, the country felt the effects of the Goblin War and the death of King Azoun IV. Bandits inhabited the roads and remnants of orc and goblin armies inhabited the forests. The town of Tilverton was destroyed in a battle against the Shadovar, leaving the strategically important northeast of the country open to raiders wishing to invade.
The ruler as of 1372 DR, Regent Alusair Obarskyr, had her hands full dealing with all of these threats. She had the experienced Purple Dragons and War Wizards at her disposal.
As of 1486 DR, Queen Raedra Obarskyr ruled the country and focused on rebuilding after the past few years of war.
As of 1589 DR, King Reman Obarskyr struggles to keep up as he fights a war with Sembia, the growing Thaycreep and a rising democratic movement in the countryside.
Adventuring was frowned upon without an official license, but adventurers could likely lend a tremendous amount of aid to the overstretched Cormyrian military. Kings were known to offer land in exchange for services rendered to the country, so this was a place adventurers wanting to make a name for themselves tended to flock to.

History

Cormyr was founded in the Year of Opening Doors, 26 DR. Its first king was Faerlthann Obarskyr, son of Ondeth Obarskyr and Suzara Obarskyr. The kingdom was initially formed because the elves and humans in the region needed to get along with each other. Since that time, Cormyr grew by absorbing the realms of Esparin and Orva and claiming the Stonelands as its own.
Some time between 376 DR and 432 DR, Cormyr was invaded by many dragons, including Thauglor, the Purple Dragon, so-called because his scales went purple with age, who laid waste to virtually all of the settlements in the country. It was then raided by orcs from the Stonelands, who occupied the King's Forest until they were finally driven out in the Year of the Cat's Eye, 429 DR, by King Duar Obarskyr. By the Year of the Sea Princes, 432 DR, many noble families had left Cormyr for either the Dalelands or Waterdeep, or split into small factional bands. The city of Suzail was sold to Magrath the Minotaur and his pirates by a traitor to the crown around this time, and it was after Magrath's death that the Purple Dragon was adopted as the nation's official symbol.
In the Year of the Dragon, 1352 DR, Gondegal, also known as "The Usurper King" and "The Lost King", attempted to establish a separate kingdom centred on the city of Arabel. He was overthrown, after only eight days in power, by an allied army composed of forces from Tilverton, Sembia, and Daggerdale, along with the Purple Dragons, led by King Azoun IV.
The Goblin War begun by the elf-dragon Nalavara did significant damage to the kingdom, resulting in the deaths of King Azoun IV and his heir, Tanalasta Obarskyr in 1371 DR. This began the Steel Regency of Alusair Obarskyr, until Tanalasta's newborn son Azoun V could take the throne.
The Spellplague did not spare Cormyr, but it survived relatively unharmed, save for the loss of a third of its War Wizards. The Wailing Years were not so kind to all its neighbours, and many would join the budding empire as Cormyr reluctantly grew to counter the Netherese vassal-state of Sembia. Tensions between Cormyr and its neighbors Netheril and Sembia were constant, further fueled by the assassinations of Cormyrean royalty.
Between 1484 DR and 1486 DR Cormyr fought a war on two fronts as it mustered troops to defend the Dalelands against Sembia's invasion and its own borders were invaded by Netheril. King Irvel Obarskyr was killed during the Siege of Suzail and was succeeded by his daughter Queen Raedra Obarskyr. By the end of the war Cormyr had successfully reclaimed its land from the Sembian and Netherese forces and turned its focus to recovery.
Following the collapse of Thay and the creation of the Thaycreep in 1490 DR, Cormyr began sending knights to investigate. As the knights returned with magical items discovered in the ruins of Thay, further expeditions began. After merchants began sending adventurers into the Thaycreep to retrieve magic items for sale back in Cormyr, the crown began to take interest in the affairs of these magic item dealers. Following an incident with a cursed item nearly leveling a city block in Suzail, the King outlawed Thayan magic items in Cormyr. Expeditions to the Thaycreep were to remain the business of the crown. Cormyr would continue to send expeditions into Thay over the next few decades to cull the undead and monitor the growth of the "Creep." Venturing into the Thaycreep became a favorite quest of knighthood for new knights, favorable to slaying dragons in the mountains and forests.
As of 1589 DR, Cormyr has been at war with Sembia for 6 years following a dispute about fishing rights in the sea of fallen stars. With dwindling viable fishing routes due to the Thaycreep expanding into the sea, the wealthy merchant nation attempted to reclaim their old fishing rights near Cormyr's border. The affair sparked into all-out war when a Sembian fishing vessel was sunk by Cormyran marines. Cormyr as been on the losing side of the war since Sembia began employing pirates from the pirate isles in the sea of fallen stars as mercenaries. King Reman Obarskyr faces mounting pressure from the merchants and fishermen of Cormyr, whose trade has been affected by the war. Meanwhile, a rising democratic movement has been growing in the countryside and among the slums of Suzail.

Government

Cormyr was founded as a monarchy in about 26 DR Around 1370 DR, there was some sentiment that the nation should be run by a council. The ruling monarch had an advisor, who had the title (amongst others) of High Wizard, and who was in charge of the War Wizards.

Laws of Cormyr

By 1368 DR, the following laws had been posted at all major entry points to Cormyr.
"All persons entering Cormyr must register with the officials of a border garrison."
"Foreign currency can only be used in certain locations. Please exchange your coins for Cormyrean golden lions at your first opportunity."
"Adventurers must acquire a charter before undertaking any operation as a group."
"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."
"Harming cats is forbidden."
"Bow your head to royalty and the local nobility."
"Purple Dragons have the right to search you upon request."
"Hunting on private land is forbidden."

Politics

Keeper of the Royal Purse: One of the Scribe Royals, charged with paying all Crown officials and military personnel, as well as signing all Crown Writs (employment contracts).
Lord Chamberlain: The Lord Chamberlain is responsible for overseeing all permits, licences, city ordinance, and taxes are issued correctly. The title was originally created during the reign of Thargreve “The Greater” in order to stop vigilantes from enacting Court justice and claiming such acts were legal (they were burning down plague infected houses and then returning to the ashes later to find coins and valuables). The current holder of the title of Lord Chamberlain is Anzser.
Lord Magister: The Lord Magister is a Court title, charging the holder with the day to day running of the city of Suzail and commander of the garrison of Suzail. The Lord Magister is required to attend the Royal Palace of Suzail each day, and receives a staff of War Wizards (usually novices or veterans on punishment detail) to monitor known and suspect magic users.
Other responsibilities include keeping a register of all magic users not enrolled in the War Wizards or a priest of one of the officially chartered Churches in Cormyr. The register includes the name, aliases, residences, associates, and any suspected or convicted criminal activities. The Lord Magister also advises the Crown in matters of law regarding the use of magic, but as War Wizards and the Mage Royal are more qualified in that regard, the Lord Magister ends up championing the interests of visitors and citizens in such matters. The current holder of the title of Lord Magister is Sthavar (Good, Human – Chondathan, Warrior 10).
Lord Magistrate: The Lord Magistrate is the head of the law courts in Suzail, and is specifically tasked with adjudicating disputes against the city of Suzail. Cases where nobility or the Crown are property owners and the subject of legal disputes fall firmly under the responsibility of the Lord Magistrate. Disputes involving the nobility or the Crown or the House of Obarskyr itself are heard in secret in the Royal Court and adjudicated by a court of peers (senior nobles).
The Lord Magistrate is also responsible for ensuring a written record of every sentence is made (although scribes are usually employed to do the actual recording). The Lord Magistrate has the power to change sentences and so also acts as the Court of Appeals, especially where sentence recordings are unclear or incomplete.
Lord Master: The Lord Master is responsible for all sewers, roads, public wells, waterways, government owned buildings, and monitoring the general health and safety of all buildings. The Lord Master has the power to inspect any building in Suzail and order repairs to be made, the current Lord Master is hiring beggars, youths, and the elderly to inform on buildings in a poor state of repair. The Lord Master is one of the few noble titles often awarded to common citizenry (usually as a reward).
Master Chirugeon of the Realm: The Master Chirugeon of the Realm is the personal physician to the Royal House of Obarskyr (and peers in attendance at the Royal Court). The current holder of this title is Lord Andor Velantur.
Maid of the Forechamber: The Maid of the Forechamber oversees a team of chambermaids that clean and maintain the rooms of state in the Royal Palace, this excludes the Royal Chambers (the private chambers of the Royal House of Obarskyr). The current holder of this title is the elderly and matronly Malathea Aercauldron.
Privy Amanuensis to the Queen: One of the Scribe Royals, the Privy Amanuensis is the personal letter writer and archivist to Queen Filfaeril, helping prepare all documents and correspondence. The current holder of this title is Lathlan.
Registrant General: The Registrant General is responsible for all things related to the governance and administration of Adventuring Companies within Cormyr, this includes laws relating to Adventuring Companies. The Registrant General is responsible for signing all Charters of Arms. The current holder of the title of Registrant General is Lord Partic Thistle.
Royal Gardener: This position is given to the most accomplished of the Palace Gardeners, and for 30 years was held by Gordroun Palonder (an elderly and increasing senile man who secretly kept a poisoners garden on the roof of the Royal Stables) who died recently in 1352 DR. The current Royal Gardener is Relvarra Lionwinter, a wise, clever, and homely woman from a long time family of Palace servants.
The Royal Gardener is tasked with maintaining the health of the Royal Gardens and Quessarium Hall. Much of the Royal Gardener’s time is spent consulting with his Gardeners, monitoring the gardens for signs of stress or disease, checking the markets for new plants, and planning the rotations to supply the Palace flower arrangements and vegetables and herbs for the kitchens.
Royal Overscribe: An official of the Royal Palace, the Royal Overscribe coordinates all written records at the palace (using a team of Scribe Royals), excluding Privvy Documents; personal documents of the Royal House of Obarskyr (wills, declarations of lineage, correspondence, and Dark Documents; internal security documents kept by the War Wizards.
The Royal Overscribe is responsible for ensuring all documents (excluding those noted) are full, accurate, and readily accessible (it is expected that the Royal Overscribe organises the storage and categorisation of documents so they can be found quickly). The Royal Overscribe is assisted by a team of Scribe Royals, made up of Masters and Undermasters of various departments, each with their own area of responsibility when it comes to documentation.
The current holder of the office of Royal Overscribe is Dlara Highshield.
Undermaster of the Coin Rolls: One of the Scribe Royals assisting the Royal Overscribe, the Undermaster of the Coin Rolls is also known as the Undercoin (to avoid confusion with the similarly title Undermaster of the Rolls). The Undermaster of the Coin Rolls keeps a record of all tax payments and licence payments made to the Crown (past payments, and outstanding payments and expected payments). The current holder of the Undermaster of the Coin Rolls is Amaundra Duthwood (a fat, homely woman who never forgets a name or face).
Undermaster of the Rolls: One of the Scribe Royals assisting the Royal Overscribe, the Undermaster of the Rolls is responsible for maintaining the official lists of all citizens of Cormyr including their addresses, properties, assets, jobs, affiliations (including guild membership), Crown pledges and employment (including military service), plus any relatives. The current holder of the Undermaster of the Rolls is one Blaunel.

Nobility

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

Geography

Often referred to as the "Forest Kingdom", Cormyr was once covered in thick forests. Due to commercial logging and clearing for farming, however, the once-great forests became restricted to the King's Forest in the west, the Hullack Forest in the east, and the relatively small Hermit's Wood to the south between Wheloon and the Dragonmere. The Dragonmere, an expanse of water connected to the Sea of Fallen Stars, bordered Cormyr to the south. The Storm Horns mountains formed a boundary to the north and west of Cormyr, with the Thunder Peaks to the east. The Vast Swamp separated Cormyr from Sembia in the southeast. The Wyvernwater was a large lake in the middle of Cormyr. Cormyr itself was dotted with beacon towers, used to quickly relay messages across the land.

Suzail

Landmarks

Castle Obarskyr, the castle of the King of Cormyr.
Citadel of the Purple Dragons, headquarters of the Purple Dragons where 2,000 knights were garrisoned.
The Lockup, an imposing building that resembled a giant stone square and served as Suzail's prison.
The Promenade, a long, semi-circular street that divided the Royal Palace area from the rest of the city.

Clubs, Inns, and Taverns

Bindle's, a drinking club that was popular with merchants.
Braundlae's Best, a tavern which sold live eels and silver dragon sauce.
The Dragon's Jaws, a tavern that was later re-established as an inn.
Dragonrider's Club, a favorite club of the city's nobles, known for its Mask dancers.
The Golden Goblin, A tavern known for its regular brawls.
The Hidden Lady
The Laughing Lass, a tavern that operated as a festhall on warm nights.
The Leaning Post, a quiet, quality inn owned by House Hawklin.
The Nightgate Inn, a damp and gloomy inn located outside the city walls.
The Osculatory, also known as the 'Kissing Club', this was a favorite established with the young nobles.
Roving Dragon, an inn that offered cider and fresh tarts to its patrons.
Shaliber's Ship, this leaky cog permanently moored at Bolliver's Wharf was repurposed as an inn.
The Six Candies
Society of Stalwart Adventurers, an exclusive club located in a grand old mansion.
The Wailing Wheel

Shops

Ring of Coins, a pawn shop that carried a variety of wares.
Tavernant's Tellings, a print shop that printed broadsheets and notices.
Grognak's smashers, a half-orc blacksmith
Woodwolf's fletchers and tanners
Green leaf alchemy, a halfling alchemist from Everlund
Fitzsprocket's curios and gizmos, a gnomish inventor and minor magic item dealer

Temples

The Silent Room, the temple of Oghma that was formerly dedicated to Deneir. It was home of the Oghmanyte Church in Exile. Sold spell components and scrolls.
Towers of Good Fortune, the local temple of Tymora.
Two unnamed shrines to Lliira and Tyr.
Temple of Lathander

Maps

• 

  2. Suzail

Government: Kingdom
Ruler: Reman Obarskyr, high wizard Theron Anderil
Capital: Suzail
Population: 1.4 million
Economy: Armor, carved ivory, cloth, coal, food, swords, timber.
Races: Humans 85% Half-elves 10% Elves 4% Other 1%