Suzail (soo-ZALE)

Suzail

Suzail was the capital of Cormyr and the seat of power. It was named after Suzara Obarskyr, the mother of the first king. It was originally the farm of Ondeth Obarskyr, the father of the first king. Suzail was a large port city on the shores of lake Dragonmere. The capital had a direct link to Waterdeep via the Waterdeep portal.

"The brightest gem in Cormyr's crown.
— Olaurae, sage of Myth Drannor c. 855 DR

Suzail is the royal capital and richest city in Cormyr, and it is home to all of the most important nobles and merchant houses in the country. The city is divided into two distinct districts. The center of the city is the Royal Court, containing the palace, the Royal Gardens, and numerous noble estates. The Royal Court is separated from the rest of the city by Lake Azoun, which serves as a small natural moat. A long semi-circular street known as the Promenade runs along Lake Azoun from Eastgate to Horngate, defining the border between the Royal Court and Suzail proper.
Those coming to Suzail from other large cities in Faerûn are often astounded by its relative cleanliness and lack of slums. City authorities would claim that the cleanliness is largely the result of civic pride, while its lack of shantytowns or slums is largely due to the abundance of opportunity and relative safety of areas outside of Suzail’s walls. There is some truth to both statements, but in fact the small size of the city proper, high rents, and abundance of regulation and legal enforcement leads to poorer citizens and those with criminal intent making their way to Marsember instead.
Population 125,000

Demographics

Suzail is home to more immigrants than many other parts of Cormyr, and while still primarily human, there are many gnomes, dwarves, and halflings within the city. The city is quite tolerant, and non-human citizens enjoy all of the same rights as any other Cormyrean. Gnomes, in particular, have been quite prosperous as cobblers, plumbers, roofers, and tinkerers. Gnomes and halflings alike work in the warehouses near the docks performing load-label-and-fetch jobs.
Humans 85% Halflings 5% Half elves 5% Dwarves Elves Eladrin Gnomes Other

Government

Suzail was the capital of Cormyr and the home of the ruling Obarskyr family. Queen Raedra Obarskyr delegated much of the day-to-day tasks of running Cormyr to his Lord Magister Edwin Morahan who was responsible for keeping the peace, maintaining city services, and collecting taxes. The Lord Magister was assisted by a herald who handled the paperwork necessary to run the city.

Defences

Suzail is also the military center of the realm. A mighty eighty-foot tall curtain wall surrounds the landward side of the city, Purple Dragons and War Wizards maintain a large garrison within the city’s barracks on the far south-eastern side of town, and the Imperial Navy is harbored in the royal docks. From here, the military of Cormyr is able to rapidly deploy to nearly any part of the interior of the nation, ensuring that revolutions are short-lived and ill-advised.
Guards in Suzail are friendly and courteous, though the War Wizards who often accompany them are significantly less so. Knowingly lying to a city guard is a criminal offense incurring a fine of no less than 20 gold pieces and placement on a list of known lawbreakers. Outlanders who violate this law are often instead exiled on the spot.
Suzail maintains a strict curfew, though legitimate traders may acquire licenses to load and unload caravans after dark. Such licenses cost 1 gold piece per night and come with a small patrol of Purple Dragons that serve as both protection and to ensure that all such activity is lawful. Order is maintained after dark at least partially due to the well-lit streets, with each corner bearing an oil lamp in a large metal cage suspended by pulleys and chains from black, cast-iron brackets mounted to the walls.
In the wealthier parts of town to the north, such lamps are more frequent, several to a block, and are mounted instead on tall free-standing poles. Many private residences also have a lamp in a window, on the inside sill, to allow the light to shine out onto the street below. The only area of the city not well lit is the western heart of the city, known as the “Darkstreets” and is primarily residences for unskilled laborers.

Industry & Trade

Imports: Wine, spices, silk, citrus fruits Exports: Copper, grain
Suzail was one of two Cormyrean ports and a huge variety of trade goods flowed through the city.
Suzail primarily exported copper bars and grain and imported luxury goods such as spices, silk, and citrus fruit. Trade was dominated by merchant families and trading companies such as the Seven Suns Trading Coster, Trueshield Trading Priakos, and the Glanend and Skatterhawk families.
The city had a large number of trade guilds who took pride in their craftsmanship. The city was known for producing musical instruments, cloth, garments and swords, and armor. As of 1479 DR, the shipbuilding business, which had moved to Marsember, was beginning to make a comeback.
Animal pelts from the Thunder Peaks and the Storm Horns did very good business in Suzail.

Infrastructure

South of the Promenade lies the common portion of the city, where rows of neat little shops and houses line the streets. To the east stands the market hall, where farmers from outside the city gather early each morning to sell their wares. The houses and shops on the north of town, near the Promenade, are typically tall, narrow, and well kept, and gradually grow less impressive as one nears the docks and open market. Taverns and inns are plentiful, and a custom among wealthier merchants and nobles is to have meals from their favorite establishments “run-in”, which is to say delivered hot to your door. All of the buildings in Suzail are stone, by civic law, to prevent fire and damage from the wind and rain that sweeps in off the Dragonmere. To the south, along the banks of the Dragonmere, are three distinct harbors. To the west is the Basin, a deep harbor that is regularly dredged and can accommodate up to twenty large ships. The central harbor can accommodate up to thirty large ships and dozens of smaller crafts. This is the primary harbor for commercial vessels. The central wharves are accessible only through large royal warehouses, where goods are painstakingly inspected and taxed as necessary. The easternmost harbor contains the royal docks used by the Cormyrean navy, known colloquially as the Blue Dragons.

Guilds and Factions

Guild of Constructors

History

Suzail began as a farmstead in 6 DR when Ondeth Obarskyr and his immediate family settled there. Others soon joined the new settlement and by 16 DR the population had grown to 350, having become a port a year earlier with the construction of the first dock.
Between 376 DR and 432 DR, Suzail was affected by a plague brought from the merchants of Marsember, and many people died, despite the efforts of the priests. Once the priests had almost exhausted their healing spells, they reserved them for their own use and were consequently slaughtered by the peoples of Suzail. Only priests of Talona survived, but they merely further spread the plague.
Around 429 DR, Suzail was sold to Magrath the Minotaur, a pirate lord, for 500 sacks of gold, by Melineth Turcassan, father-in-law to King Duar Obarskyr, who was away fighting orcs at the time. The city's treasury was plundered and Magrath assumed its rule. Magrath was later defeated by King Duar and the city returned to normal.
In 1018 DR, much of Suzail was set ablaze by three red dragons. The docks and the lower wards were worst affected because of their wooden construction. The garrison of the city was able to defeat all three dragons, but Thauglor soon arrived, demolishing a part of Castle Obarskyr and setting it on fire. In all, half of Suzail was destroyed in the attack, and a third of its population was wiped out, in addition to extensive damage to the castle.

Tourism

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.
Black Rat, a murky tavern but renowned for its hospitality.
Braundlae's Best, a tavern that 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, is 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', 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 pawnshop that carried a variety of wares.
Tavernant's Tellings, a print shop that printed broadsheets and notices.

Residences

Wyvernspur House

Architecture

Cormyrean Architecture During the winter and spring, much of the nation is battered by heavy snow and rain. As a result, most houses in Cormyr are built with the weather in mind: sturdy stone houses with high pitched slate roofs to provide adequate drainage are a necessity if a home is expected to last. Among the upper class, balconies are popular, allowing for long lazy days relaxing in the sun during Cormyr’s long summers.
Older homes follow a style known as Azounian architecture, named for King Azoun IV who reigned during the height of this syle. It is characterized by symmetry and restrained ornamentation in the classical style. Columns were popular, and often larger than strictly necessary to display strength and stability. The newer Alusairian style is, in contrast, characterized by asymmetry and ornamentation, particularly along with the corbels that support the building’s roof. Both architectural styles feature vaguely militaristic elements like towers, even on manor homes not built for the purpose of withstanding sieges. Widow’s walks, small rooftop balconies where families could watch for the return of soldiers, were also somewhat common on larger manor homes, though they were used in peacetime for entertaining guests. These militaristic elements went out of style during the reign of King Foril, but are experiencing a revival under Queen Raedra.
Aside from manor houses, a particularly Cormyrean building style is the tallhouse: tall narrow homes intended to pack as much living space into narrow city lots as possible. Many of these tallhouses are three and even four stories tall, and some are divided so that different families live on each floor of a single home. Suzail boasted two large temples, one of Tymora and one dedicated to Oghma.
House of Oghma, the temple dedicated to the Lord of Knowledge that served as a school and academy, training teachers, scholars, and scribes.
The Silent Room, the temple of Oghma that was formerly dedicated to Deneir. It was home to the Oghmanyte Church in Exile.
Towers of Good Fortune, the local temple of Tymora.
Two unnamed shrines to Lliira and Tyr.
In addition to the temples, there were shrines dedicated to the exarch of joy Lliira, the beastlord Malar, the god of war Tempus, and the exarch of bards, Milil.

Founding Date

10 DR

Type

Large city

Population

Population: 55,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Suzailan

Owner/Ruler

Queen Regent of the Kingdom of Cormyr Raedra Obyrskyr

Owning Organization

Cormyr

Guilds of Suzail