Marsember

This information is intended for use with the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.


At a Glance

The second-largest city, and most important port, of Cormyr. Sometimes called the City of Spices. Dragoneye Way leads west to Suzail, and the Bluemist Trail leads east to smaller communities.

Marsember rises from a collection of small islands, with natural channels and cut canals riddling both the mainland and several of the isles. It’s always damp here, mist clinging to the dark stone buildings and rotting wharves. A web of narrow and decrepit bridges connect the upper floors of many buildings, but the only way to traverse the city at ground-level is by poled skiffs (typically rafts, 8 feet long by 2 feet wide). Hard, dry ground is rare and therefore only the wealthy can afford courtyards.

Citizens of Marsember are referred to as Marsembian or Marsemban.


Visiting

Neighborhoods

Thayan diplomats have established a Thayan Enclave here.

Locations

In addition to the specific locations listed below, rumor hints at hidden shrines to Blibdoolpoolp, Sekolah, and other dark powers.

Streets
City Defenses

The Purple Dragons have a strong presence here; a garrison of 3,000 led by Ayesunder Truesilver.

There is also an Imperial Navy detachment of 12 ships. Two of those warships are Sea Snake and Thomdor’s Fist. Ansiber’s Wrath is one of four leaky old galleons used for training purposes.

Finally, it’s estimated that 16-20 War Wizards dwell among the citizenry.


Politics

Who Rules

The year, in the Xaeyruudh campaign, is 1365 DR. Ildool, King’s Lord of Marsember, rules in the name of King Azoun IV.

The War Wizards and local Harpers are ever-vigilant in Marsember, regularly ferreting out hostile influences including the Zhentarim, the Cult of the Dragon, Semmite spies, and slavers. Thieves’ guilds are also struck down before they get a foothold. The mind flayers and doppelgangers are a bit more problematic.


Culture and Society

Demographics

The population of Marsember varies between roughly 46,000 in the winter and 53,000 in the summer, with the average probably falling around 49,000. About 90% of Marsembans are human, 6% half-elven, 2% hin, 1% dwarven, and 1% are members of other races. The humans are 85% Chondathan, 15% Tethyrian, and less than 1% other subraces.


Notable Individuals


Sources

  • Forgotten Realms [11836] (3e) page 113
  • Marsember, mended! — an expansion/correction of lore by Ed Greenwood, hosted on Candlekeep
  • Volo’s Guide to Cormyr [9486] pages 34-52
  • Cormyr [9410] pages 12-16
  • Forgotten Realms Adventures [2106] pages 92-93, with a map on page 93; Marsembian and Marsemban are from page 73
  • Forgotten Realms [1085] (2e) A Grand Tour of the Realms pages 44, 52-53
  • Forgotten Realms [1031] (1e) Cyclopedia of the Realms pages 33, 58-59
  • Candlekeep thread on Cormyr
  • Xaeyruudh: I fudged the demographic numbers, based on information in the FRCS and Races of Faerûn (for Cormyr as a whole) combined with the local variations suggested in FR Adventures
Passing Mention
Maps
  • Cormyr [9410] poster, inside cover, page 14
  • Forgotten Realms Interactive Atlas
  • Crusade (novel)
Other Resources

Disclaimer

Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, Forgotten Realms, and their logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. This blog is not affiliated with, endorsed, sponsored, or specifically approved by Wizards of the Coast LLC.

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