Post by Velaryon on Aug 6, 2013 0:29:34 GMT -5
Amn, located immediately to the north of Tethyr, is known as the Merchant's Domain. Bordered by multiple mountain ranges to the north, south, and east, Amn is a fertile valley full of rivers and lakes.
The population is about 2.5 million people, so almost as large as Tethyr. Although humans are the majority by a great margin, halflings make up about 18% of the population, and there is a sizable portion of half-orcs in one city, Purskul. Elves are far less numerous than in Tethyr, and half-elves and gnomes are almost unheard of, at least as permanent residents. However, due to the nation's status as a mercantile and trade center, people of all races can be found there at one time or another.
Due to its location between mountain ranges, its middling latitude, and its several lakes, most of Amn has relatively mild winters. Rivers do usually freeze over in midwinter, but not so much that travel across the ice is safe, especially with wagons or carriages.
Culturally, Amn is descended from the same stock as Tethyr; that is, Calishite with some more northern influence as well. Calishite influence is even less apparent in modern Amn than it is in Tethyr, however.
Money rules in Amn, even more so than elsewhere. While titles of nobility do exist, they pale in importance compared to the wealth a person has at their command. However, one's social status is determined less by how much wealth they possess, but more by how much they display, and how much they spend. Lavish parties are common, even expected, to commemorate every occasion from the start of a business venture to a major personal accomplishment. The lavishness (or lack thereof) of these parties goes a long way toward raising or lowering one's perceived social status in the eyes of their peers.
This obsession with wealth and flaunting of it extends to Amnian fashion as well. It is easy to determine a person's relative social status by seeing how fine their garments are, how much embroidery is on their cloaks, how much jewelry they wear, and how much disposable wealth they display. Conversely, however, those at the very top of the Amnian social ladder dress in a comparatively austere manner - only one or two precious metal rings per hand, and with little embroidery on their still perfectly-tailored garb. This allows them to display that they are above such petty social climbing.
Government and religion operate independently of one another in Amn. The ruling Council never interferes with churches unless they interfere with trade or other business. Those that do interfere in trade are usually terminated with extreme prejudice. No official state religion exists, nor is there a social consensus of the "proper" gods to worship, so most major religions and many smaller religions all are represented in Amn. Religious freedom is a way of life there. However, the most common gods and goddesses to be worshipped are Waukeen (goddess of trade and wealth), Sune (goddess of beauty and love), and Chauntea (goddess of agriculture). Selune (goddess of the moon) has a small but steady following in Amn as well. Surprisingly, Bane (god of hatred and tyranny) and Cyric (god of murder, lies, and intrigue) are also well represented.
Amn is governed by the Council of Six, who meet in a windowless, fortress-like building in Athkatla, the nation's capital. Each council member is known by their title rather than their name, partly because their identities are closely guarded secrets known only to each other and a few others. From most to least powerful, their titles are the Meisarch, the Tessarch, the Namarch, the Iltarch, the Pommarch, and the Dahaunarch. Council members generally hold their positions for life, and when one member dies, each member below them moves up a rank and a new Dahaunarch is chosen from among the merchant families. The Council's anonymity not only keeps the members mostly safe from bribery, assassination, and external manipulation, but also makes them more intimidating and helps to maintain order. This secrecy is now codified in law, and to reveal the identity of a member of the Council of Six is punishable by slow and painful death.
The population is about 2.5 million people, so almost as large as Tethyr. Although humans are the majority by a great margin, halflings make up about 18% of the population, and there is a sizable portion of half-orcs in one city, Purskul. Elves are far less numerous than in Tethyr, and half-elves and gnomes are almost unheard of, at least as permanent residents. However, due to the nation's status as a mercantile and trade center, people of all races can be found there at one time or another.
Due to its location between mountain ranges, its middling latitude, and its several lakes, most of Amn has relatively mild winters. Rivers do usually freeze over in midwinter, but not so much that travel across the ice is safe, especially with wagons or carriages.
Culturally, Amn is descended from the same stock as Tethyr; that is, Calishite with some more northern influence as well. Calishite influence is even less apparent in modern Amn than it is in Tethyr, however.
Money rules in Amn, even more so than elsewhere. While titles of nobility do exist, they pale in importance compared to the wealth a person has at their command. However, one's social status is determined less by how much wealth they possess, but more by how much they display, and how much they spend. Lavish parties are common, even expected, to commemorate every occasion from the start of a business venture to a major personal accomplishment. The lavishness (or lack thereof) of these parties goes a long way toward raising or lowering one's perceived social status in the eyes of their peers.
This obsession with wealth and flaunting of it extends to Amnian fashion as well. It is easy to determine a person's relative social status by seeing how fine their garments are, how much embroidery is on their cloaks, how much jewelry they wear, and how much disposable wealth they display. Conversely, however, those at the very top of the Amnian social ladder dress in a comparatively austere manner - only one or two precious metal rings per hand, and with little embroidery on their still perfectly-tailored garb. This allows them to display that they are above such petty social climbing.
Government and religion operate independently of one another in Amn. The ruling Council never interferes with churches unless they interfere with trade or other business. Those that do interfere in trade are usually terminated with extreme prejudice. No official state religion exists, nor is there a social consensus of the "proper" gods to worship, so most major religions and many smaller religions all are represented in Amn. Religious freedom is a way of life there. However, the most common gods and goddesses to be worshipped are Waukeen (goddess of trade and wealth), Sune (goddess of beauty and love), and Chauntea (goddess of agriculture). Selune (goddess of the moon) has a small but steady following in Amn as well. Surprisingly, Bane (god of hatred and tyranny) and Cyric (god of murder, lies, and intrigue) are also well represented.
Amn is governed by the Council of Six, who meet in a windowless, fortress-like building in Athkatla, the nation's capital. Each council member is known by their title rather than their name, partly because their identities are closely guarded secrets known only to each other and a few others. From most to least powerful, their titles are the Meisarch, the Tessarch, the Namarch, the Iltarch, the Pommarch, and the Dahaunarch. Council members generally hold their positions for life, and when one member dies, each member below them moves up a rank and a new Dahaunarch is chosen from among the merchant families. The Council's anonymity not only keeps the members mostly safe from bribery, assassination, and external manipulation, but also makes them more intimidating and helps to maintain order. This secrecy is now codified in law, and to reveal the identity of a member of the Council of Six is punishable by slow and painful death.