Faerûn

Like all of the Forgotten Realms, Faerûn is a a world of strange lands, dangerous creatures, and mighty deities, where magic and supernatural phenomena are quite real.   Economically and technologically, Faerûn is comparable to Western Europe during the late Middle Ages. Most of the population of Faerûn consists of farmers, who are organized somewhat loosely in a semi-feudal system. There are also a number of notable cities and trade between nations is common, as in the Renaissance era. Three such cities - Waterdeep, Neverwinter, and Baldur's Gate, are part of a coalition known as the Lord's Alliance. There are also many regions where more barbaric tribes and customs persist.   A major difference between the setting and Earth is the presence of magic. The system of magic is subdivided into divine and arcane categories, with the former empowered by a Faerûnian deity, and the latter by rituals or innate abilities which manipulate a mystical energy field called the Weave. Faerûn has a pantheon of deities that are worshipped by the inhabitants of this region. These are comparable to mythological deities of the ancient Greek pantheon, and cover a range of ethical beliefs and portfolios of interests.   There are a number of organized alliances in Faerûn, with each pursuing their own particular agenda. A few are dedicated to decent and honest causes, such as the nights of the Order of the Gauntlet, the wilderness survivalists of the Emerald Enclave, and the mysterious Harpers, all of whom protect the good-natured races and seek a balance between civilization and nature.