Sembia Overview
Established: 913 DR
Languages: Common, Faerunian, Halfling
Races: Human, halflings
Territory: Dalelands
Capital: Ordulin
Major Cities: Selgaunt, Ordulin, Daerlun, Saerloon, Yhaunn
Population: 3,000,000 (80% Human (60% Sembian, 20% Netherese, 20% other), 10% gnome, 6% halflings, 4% other)
Brief History
Sembia began in 913 DR in the human city known as Moondale, and still part of the post-the-weeping-war Cormanthor, which barely stood after losing Myth Drannor. The small council of elves left clung to their land as much as they could during this time. Moondale, later to be the first city of Sembia had been around since the Dale Reckoning occurred in 0 DR. The human in charge of Moondale was Rauthauvyr "the Raven" (R-ow-th-ow-veer) and the city was eager to expand and break free from the rule of Cormanthor. After 913 years of peace under Cormanthor, Rauthauvyr demanded the ability to build trade roads through the Elven Kingdom or wage war against the nearly-destroyed elves. The Elves, in a weak state, agreed and let the trade roads get constructed. The trade roads constructed reached the shore of the Sea of Fallen Stars, connecting many lands and becoming the nation of Sembia. Many of the Moondale populous married merchant families and the power of Sembia grew. Rauthauvyr created a military based in Moondale which would police the trade roads and keep everything safe (The Silver Ravens). There was also a merchant council created which elected an Overmaster that served 7-year terms. In 1067 DR after some rebuilding, it dawned on Sembia that they did not have claim over the land of their capital, Moondale, and once again began a conflict with the Elves of Cormanthor, who were now rebuilt and a powerhouse once more. Sembia decided to wage war with them and it became a very long and drawn out conflict, coming to actual fighting in 1215 DR. After a few years of fighting began the Elves and Sembites allied against an infernal threat that begun to rise in the secrets and together they drove the armies away. As thanks for their service Cormanthor granted Moondale to them and Sembia renamed it Ordulin. . But Sembia's cravings were still not satiated and wanted more from the Elven Kingdom. The land they had had little to no lumber necessary for large expansions on its territory and Cormanthor was a Forest Kingdom. So in 1270 DR Sembia just started logging Cormanthor's territory without their consent (woo yeah great job Sembia totally not gonna escalate the situation). The situation escalated between Cormanthor and Sembia. Cormanthor had given Sembia what they wanted but Sembia was far more greedy. Cormanthor asked for assistance from their good pals Cormyr, and Cormyr answered the call. With the combined force of Cormyr and Cormanthor the threat of Sembia to the Elven Kingdom was destroyed swiftly and Cormyr took a large amount of Sembia's territory, including the city of Daerlun in 1280 DR. For nearly 200 years Daerlun was under Cormyr's control until 1465 DR. In 1370 DR the goblin wars in Cormyr began and Sembia rallied a massive force and sent delegates to Suzail to request for Sembia to "assist" with the Goblin War. Princess Tanalasta, daughter of King Azoun IV answered them and denied them access, weakening their relationship. There are some that speculate that Sembia caused the Goblin Wars, however it is a conspiracy. . During the time of troubles in 1384 DR Sembia brewings of a civil war came about when the church of Waukeen and the goddess of wealth stopped answering prayers for the great merchant nation. The Overmaster at this time, Kendrick Selkirk, had a lot on his plate, trying to cope with the effects the Time of Troubles had on the world. His son Miklos Selkirk was renowned for adventuring and was the current leader of the Silver Ravens. Kendrick Selkirk attempted to claim absolute power over Sembia and to disregard the Merchant council entirely. He had handled the time of troubles well, re-established trade, and swelled the power of Sembia's military significantly. Cormyr's one-leader system worked great for them, so why wouldn't it for Sembia? The country split into two factions, the Monarchists (Ones who wanted a Sole Leader) and the Coinists (Ones who wanted to keep the council system). In 1390 DR Kendrick Selkirk was assassinated by a still unknown figure and the Sembian civil war began in full swing. The Silver Ravens were a third party for most of the conflict, Miklos Selkirk tried to hold peace during the civil war but eventually sided with the Coinists, practically securing the victory for them due to Miklos' control over the Silver Ravens. . In 1394 DR the Coinists claimed Sembia as their own and Miklos Selkirk gained a spot on the council. He was a master negotiator and ambassador and even bargained trade deals with the drow of the underdark. Cormanthor, after finding out about the new relationship with the drow, grew even more enraged at Sembia and was beginning to threat war with them until Miklos went to Myth Drannor and negotiated for forest land and better trade deals between the two. He also promised to keep the elven way within the territory and uphold the forest. In 1397 DR the territory's logging began and Cormanthor lost all trust it had in Sembia. Also around this time Sembia's currency was recognized as valid in most all Kingdoms on Faerun, an impressive feat for any country. In 1465 DR Daerlun broke away from Cormyr and joined Sembia since it was closer and offered better trade prospects. After this Cormyr dispatched spies to check out important Sembite's to see if they were pulling any strings too hard and in the wrong places. Right around this time the Oligarchists began to rise in the country once more, secretly backed by Cormyr. By 1480 DR the Sembian Council of Merchants and the Overmaster failed to uphold trade deals and the cities which relied on imports began to fall into economic decline and the Oligarchists rose up once more. However the threat was quickly vanquished when a mysterious figure who is unknown to this day assassinated all of the Oligarchist leaders and exposed the Cormyrean spies. Since then relations with Sembia and Cormyr have been miserable. Sembia cut most trade deals Cormyr had with them, and Cormyr stopped recognizing Sembian coin as valid. There were very few merchant families who used Sembian coin that were allowed to keep using it in Cormyr, and of course they had relations with Nobility. . In 1500 DR Sembia saw a great trade opportunity with the returned Netheril and practically threw themselves at Netheril, gaining lost magic and technology. Netheril accepted this because of the common enemy of the Cormanthor elves and the great influence Sembia had as a nation. Since then the country's economy has been at an all time high and war has been waged against Cormyr and Cormanthor.
Languages: Common, Faerunian, Halfling
Races: Human, halflings
Territory: Dalelands
Capital: Ordulin
Major Cities: Selgaunt, Ordulin, Daerlun, Saerloon, Yhaunn
Population: 3,000,000 (80% Human (60% Sembian, 20% Netherese, 20% other), 10% gnome, 6% halflings, 4% other)
Brief History
Sembia began in 913 DR in the human city known as Moondale, and still part of the post-the-weeping-war Cormanthor, which barely stood after losing Myth Drannor. The small council of elves left clung to their land as much as they could during this time. Moondale, later to be the first city of Sembia had been around since the Dale Reckoning occurred in 0 DR. The human in charge of Moondale was Rauthauvyr "the Raven" (R-ow-th-ow-veer) and the city was eager to expand and break free from the rule of Cormanthor. After 913 years of peace under Cormanthor, Rauthauvyr demanded the ability to build trade roads through the Elven Kingdom or wage war against the nearly-destroyed elves. The Elves, in a weak state, agreed and let the trade roads get constructed. The trade roads constructed reached the shore of the Sea of Fallen Stars, connecting many lands and becoming the nation of Sembia. Many of the Moondale populous married merchant families and the power of Sembia grew. Rauthauvyr created a military based in Moondale which would police the trade roads and keep everything safe (The Silver Ravens). There was also a merchant council created which elected an Overmaster that served 7-year terms. In 1067 DR after some rebuilding, it dawned on Sembia that they did not have claim over the land of their capital, Moondale, and once again began a conflict with the Elves of Cormanthor, who were now rebuilt and a powerhouse once more. Sembia decided to wage war with them and it became a very long and drawn out conflict, coming to actual fighting in 1215 DR. After a few years of fighting began the Elves and Sembites allied against an infernal threat that begun to rise in the secrets and together they drove the armies away. As thanks for their service Cormanthor granted Moondale to them and Sembia renamed it Ordulin. . But Sembia's cravings were still not satiated and wanted more from the Elven Kingdom. The land they had had little to no lumber necessary for large expansions on its territory and Cormanthor was a Forest Kingdom. So in 1270 DR Sembia just started logging Cormanthor's territory without their consent (woo yeah great job Sembia totally not gonna escalate the situation). The situation escalated between Cormanthor and Sembia. Cormanthor had given Sembia what they wanted but Sembia was far more greedy. Cormanthor asked for assistance from their good pals Cormyr, and Cormyr answered the call. With the combined force of Cormyr and Cormanthor the threat of Sembia to the Elven Kingdom was destroyed swiftly and Cormyr took a large amount of Sembia's territory, including the city of Daerlun in 1280 DR. For nearly 200 years Daerlun was under Cormyr's control until 1465 DR. In 1370 DR the goblin wars in Cormyr began and Sembia rallied a massive force and sent delegates to Suzail to request for Sembia to "assist" with the Goblin War. Princess Tanalasta, daughter of King Azoun IV answered them and denied them access, weakening their relationship. There are some that speculate that Sembia caused the Goblin Wars, however it is a conspiracy. . During the time of troubles in 1384 DR Sembia brewings of a civil war came about when the church of Waukeen and the goddess of wealth stopped answering prayers for the great merchant nation. The Overmaster at this time, Kendrick Selkirk, had a lot on his plate, trying to cope with the effects the Time of Troubles had on the world. His son Miklos Selkirk was renowned for adventuring and was the current leader of the Silver Ravens. Kendrick Selkirk attempted to claim absolute power over Sembia and to disregard the Merchant council entirely. He had handled the time of troubles well, re-established trade, and swelled the power of Sembia's military significantly. Cormyr's one-leader system worked great for them, so why wouldn't it for Sembia? The country split into two factions, the Monarchists (Ones who wanted a Sole Leader) and the Coinists (Ones who wanted to keep the council system). In 1390 DR Kendrick Selkirk was assassinated by a still unknown figure and the Sembian civil war began in full swing. The Silver Ravens were a third party for most of the conflict, Miklos Selkirk tried to hold peace during the civil war but eventually sided with the Coinists, practically securing the victory for them due to Miklos' control over the Silver Ravens. . In 1394 DR the Coinists claimed Sembia as their own and Miklos Selkirk gained a spot on the council. He was a master negotiator and ambassador and even bargained trade deals with the drow of the underdark. Cormanthor, after finding out about the new relationship with the drow, grew even more enraged at Sembia and was beginning to threat war with them until Miklos went to Myth Drannor and negotiated for forest land and better trade deals between the two. He also promised to keep the elven way within the territory and uphold the forest. In 1397 DR the territory's logging began and Cormanthor lost all trust it had in Sembia. Also around this time Sembia's currency was recognized as valid in most all Kingdoms on Faerun, an impressive feat for any country. In 1465 DR Daerlun broke away from Cormyr and joined Sembia since it was closer and offered better trade prospects. After this Cormyr dispatched spies to check out important Sembite's to see if they were pulling any strings too hard and in the wrong places. Right around this time the Oligarchists began to rise in the country once more, secretly backed by Cormyr. By 1480 DR the Sembian Council of Merchants and the Overmaster failed to uphold trade deals and the cities which relied on imports began to fall into economic decline and the Oligarchists rose up once more. However the threat was quickly vanquished when a mysterious figure who is unknown to this day assassinated all of the Oligarchist leaders and exposed the Cormyrean spies. Since then relations with Sembia and Cormyr have been miserable. Sembia cut most trade deals Cormyr had with them, and Cormyr stopped recognizing Sembian coin as valid. There were very few merchant families who used Sembian coin that were allowed to keep using it in Cormyr, and of course they had relations with Nobility. . In 1500 DR Sembia saw a great trade opportunity with the returned Netheril and practically threw themselves at Netheril, gaining lost magic and technology. Netheril accepted this because of the common enemy of the Cormanthor elves and the great influence Sembia had as a nation. Since then the country's economy has been at an all time high and war has been waged against Cormyr and Cormanthor.
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