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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1287 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Mar 2024 : 23:51:43
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A warm welcome to you all.
Similar to a previous discussion regarding Aglarond, I am curious as to why some Dungeon Masters are compelled to explore this land, this...Tethyr. How does it differ from the tried-and-true fantasy standard embodied by Cormyr? Is there anything noteworthy about its geography or demographics? Is there an inimitable quality to its history which deserves attention?
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Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
Edited by - Azar on 25 Mar 2024 23:51:16
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2384 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2024 : 07:29:48
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Depends on the era, of course. The well-described one is after restoration (Lands of Intrigue), so...
From Cormyr of all places? Uh, the atmosphere is completely different.
Lack of Vangey, and generally local powers are less looming and more subtle, it's not called "lands of intrigue" for nothing. Social environment is more adventurer-friendly, but less stable.
Actually sharp politics, rather than posture with occasional backstabbing. I mean, the country is stuck between Amn, Calimshan, wood elves, other wood elves, drow, ogres, beholders... and even the tlincalli of all things are not too far (if they decide to start an outpost in a warmer place, Tethyr happens to be on their way South).
Edit: plus hobgoblins right under the middle of it (Holorarar) and illithids (at least old tunnels to Oryndoll, back from Mindstalker Wars).
Minor shadow wars are possible at a drop of a hat (and not even a big hat, at that): Knights of the Shield, local assassins, Shadow Thieves, Twisted Rune, some Harpers, occasionally Zhentarim, Eldreth Veluuthra and who-knows-what. |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
Edited by - TBeholder on 17 Mar 2024 08:55:19 |
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Werthead
Learned Scribe
United Kingdom
174 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2024 : 15:09:11
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Tethyr has an interesting and rich ancient history: possibly the very first organised human society in Faerun settled around the mouths of the Wurlur (Ith) and Agis (Memnon) after the forests thinned out in those regions and the Keltormiri elves allowed human tribes to cross the Shining Sea starting c. 14,000 BDR. Later, the history of Tethyr became deeply involved with that of neighbouring Coramshan/Calimshan that led to the founding of the Calimshan Empires and later the Shoon Imperium. The relationship between Tethyr and Calimshan feels a little like that between Scotland and England or Ukraine and Russia, a "smaller" power dominated and sometimes controlled by its neighbour, sometimes with fierce nationalist independence feelings emerging, at other times the two working in conjunction. The difference is that Tethyr is significantly larger than Calimshan (almost twice the size) and its population is in no way as outnumbered (3.7 million compared to Calimshan's 5.3 million, c. 1372 DR).
I think the main flavour differences of Tethyr to, say, Cormyr, is that Tethyr recently emerged from a brutal civil war and the healing and reconciliation process in late 2E era and through 3E is still raw and ongoing. Tethyr is also much more diverse in terms of population: the elves of Tethir are integrated into the population as a political unit, which is quite unusual, and there's a large halfling population in the Purple Hills and along the Amnian border, meaning numerous halflings serve in Tethyr's military and civil administration. There's also a strong dwarven population, remnants of ancient Shanatar. There's also a series of Eiliastraee-worshiping "good" drow cities along the Calimshan border in the Marching Mountains and Forest of Mir. There's also a large sea-elven kingdom with Ondroth just off the west coast. The human population is also divided between the more Calimshan-influenced population along the southern border, the more Amnian-like population in the north and a native Tethyrian core in the central regions.
Tethyr is also much, much larger than Cormyr with several massive cities that outshine anything in Cormyr several times over (Zazesspur being almost as large as Waterdeep and Riatavin not far behind).
You also have the single largest ruined city in the history of Faerun, if not Toril, with Shoonach located on the River Agis in the south. |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2384 Posts |
Posted - 16 Mar 2024 : 21:58:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Werthead
There's also a series of Eiliastraee-worshiping "good" drow cities along the Calimshan border in the Marching Mountains and Forest of Mir.
The moondancers seem to be all in the Northern forest (Forest of Tethir/Wealdath), FRwiki refers to Demihumans of the Realms on this.
Those in the Forest of Mir are refugees from Guallidurth, mostly Vhaerunites. And (of course) Lolthites occasionally hunting them.
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Lands of Intrigue book 1, p.54:
The lowest tunnels, where they link with the Underdark and Guallidurth, have been sealed, as the drow of Guallidurth have spent the past 50 years eradicating other drow of the Forest of Mir out of religious zeal. The dark elves that inhabit the southern forest are heretic worshipers of Vhaerun as well as exiles or outcasts.
There are details on their enclaves p.91 and some later:
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Lands of Intrigue book 3, p.24:
Among the Runemasters' greater agents are:
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- Raaghar T'Enorgh, a male drow 10th-level priest of
Vhaerun and patriarchal leader of the drow enclave of Dallnothax in the Forest of Mir;
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- Tleobar T'Enorgh, a female drow 13th-level fighter/12th-level wizardess, wife of Raaghar, and primary guard of Dallnothax in the Forest of Mir;
Per LoI, they repeatedly became a problem, back in Strohm I time, but Zaranda fought them too. |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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George Krashos
Master of Realmslore
Australia
6646 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2024 : 12:39:29
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Druids. Way more druids than Cormyr.
-- George Krashos
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"Because only we, contrary to the barbarians, never count the enemy in battle." -- Aeschylus |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2384 Posts |
Posted - 23 Mar 2024 : 20:30:33
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quote:
Originally posted by George Krashos
Druids. Way more druids than Cormyr.
Ah, yes. Mir (including Count of Mirkazar), the Mosstone circle (with a seat in Royal Privy Council, no less), some in Brost, who else? |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1287 Posts |
Posted - 25 Mar 2024 : 23:50:17
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| It seems that Aglarond is wild(er than usual)/more rural by design, whereas Tethyr's comparative instability is the result of frequent contests - openly displayed or otherwise - by multiple parties jockeying for control. |
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36779 Posts |
Posted - 27 Mar 2024 : 23:38:52
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quote:
Originally posted by Azar
A warm welcome to you all.
Similar to a previous discussion regarding Aglarond, I am curious as to why some Dungeon Masters are compelled to explore this land, this...Tethyr. How does it differ from the tried-and-true fantasy standard embodied by Cormyr? Is there anything noteworthy about its geography or demographics? Is there an inimitable quality to its history which deserves attention?
One could just as easily ask why Waterdeep instead of Shadowdale... Or why Dragonlance instead of Greyhawk. Or why Star Trek instead of Star Wars.
Different strokes, and all that. No one choice is any better or any worse than another.
Except Star Wars. Everyone knows it's better than Star Trek.  |
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Azar
Master of Realmslore
1287 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2024 : 07:55:27
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Azar
A warm welcome to you all.
Similar to a previous discussion regarding Aglarond, I am curious as to why some Dungeon Masters are compelled to explore this land, this...Tethyr. How does it differ from the tried-and-true fantasy standard embodied by Cormyr? Is there anything noteworthy about its geography or demographics? Is there an inimitable quality to its history which deserves attention?
One could just as easily ask why Waterdeep instead of Shadowdale... Or why Dragonlance instead of Greyhawk. Or why Star Trek instead of Star Wars.
Different strokes, and all that. No one choice is any better or any worse than another.
Absolutely. The purpose of these threads is to explore the raw content and (frequently) subtle context which makes each respective land exciting. Perhaps regions detailed in future Realms supplements would benefit from a strong one sentence hook before expanding to a broader paragraph; once sufficiently interested, the reader will - ideally - proceed to pore over the many pages which lie ahead.
quote:
"Tethyr is...
...a land in flux, grappled by turmoil from every corner."
^ Something to that effect.
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Except Star Wars. Everyone knows it's better than Star Trek.
I would say that old Star Trek beats contemporary Star Wars (and vice versa). |
Stand with anybody that stands right. Stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong.
Earth names in the Realms are more common than you may think. |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2384 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2024 : 22:49:36
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Different strokes, and all that. No one choice is any better or any worse than another.
Depends for what.
quote:
Except Star Wars. Everyone knows it's better than Star Trek.
"Was". 
Also, those are simply very different niches. |
People never wonder How the world goes round -Helloween
And even I make no pretense Of having more than common sense -R.W.Wood
It's not good, Eric. It's a gazebo. -Ed Whitchurch |
Edited by - TBeholder on 28 Mar 2024 22:50:42 |
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Tethyr's tempting tumultuous tracts?
