Faerun

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Faerun (Faerûn)
Alias(es)	Faerûn Continent
Type	Continent
Documented Era	1360 DR, shortly after the Year of Turmoil 82
First Appearance	Chapter 6: Last Preparations Before Escape 6

Background / History

Ancient civilizations

Faerun's oldest recorded civilization was founded by the creator race, the Saluk Wu Hui, during an era when the northern lands were warm, humid jungles. They recorded their magical knowledge on the Skin of the Great Cosmic Serpent, later known as the Nether Scrolls. 468 722

Elves arrived in Faerun more than ten thousand years ago, bringing High Elf Magic and establishing a long period of dominance. Their internal Crown Wars ultimately fractured their pantheon, drove the Dark Elves into the Underdark, and ended elven hegemony. 189 430

The human magical civilizations of Netheril and Imaskari rose afterward. Netheril developed the Arcanist profession and shaped the foundation of the modern arcane system, while Imaskari became renowned for artifacts, constructs, and interplanar gates before its knowledge was largely erased. 189 542

Modern developments

The West Coast Empire emerged through the merger of the Amn and Xia En Empires under Zuo Si. It expanded rapidly through infrastructure projects, bureaucratic administration, magical urban development, and military consolidation. 501 580 629

The return of Undercity, a Netheril survivor city from the Shadow Plane, destabilized the continent. Its princes began seizing Netherese relics and killing local owners, while neighboring powers prepared for conflict or sought contact. 581

Geography & Landmarks

Region / Landmark	Description
Caledon Desert	Formed when Air Giants and Fire Giants fought a large-scale war that devastated a once-prosperous land. 155
Anauroch Desert	Faerun's largest desert; its life force and magic were drained by the Felan Demon Flower following Netheril's fall. The floating city Revival is later constructed there. 155 560
Desert of Desolation	Created during a war between the Imaskari Empire and the Entherian Pantheon. 155
Evermeet	A secretive elven island in the Endless Sea east of the western coast, regarded as a prosperous refuge with apparently inexhaustible resources. 599 619
Underground City of Ley Lines	A subterranean city built around an indestructible Weave node left behind when the elven capital Erendyl was erased. Prolonged exposure to the node can drive residents—especially arcane casters—mad. 191
Sea of Falling Stars	A major inland sea whose closely spaced port cities support extensive maritime trade and political expansion. 411
Undercity	A Netheril-era floating city that returned from the Shadow Plane, led by Tamanth and populated largely by half-shadow beings. 581

Magic

The Weave

The Weave is the underlying magical framework of Faerun, described as the world's magical root. Midnight, the Goddess of Magic, is its incarnation and governs the magical order of the realm. 193 564

• The second Goddess of Magic sealed the Deep Weave, forcing arcane casters to develop the modern casting model from older Netherese theory. 468
• Powerful Weave nodes concentrate magical energy and can sustain large-scale barriers such as Mythals. 191
• Anti-magic fields can suppress a Mythal because Mythals ultimately rely on the Weave. 564

Arcane traditions

Faerun has two principal arcane traditions:

• Netherese-derived magic — Based on the Nether Scrolls, it is the mainstream magical framework used by modern arcane casters. 468 542
• High Elf Magic — An elven system tied to the spirits of the elven race and its gods. It is the foundation of elven High Magic and Mythals. 189 563

Mythals

A Mythal is a large magical barrier system that establishes local rules over an area by operating through the Weave. Elven Mythals are especially efficient and can provide environmental protection, teleportation, flight, defensive wards, and restrictions on specific forms of magic. 563 564 632

Non-elves ordinarily require Corellon's permission to use High Elf magical rituals, though non-elven spellcasters may create other forms of Mythal through different methods. 563

Shadow Weave

The Shadow Weave is a specialized magical system whose use requires belief in its true master. It is associated with Shar and the return of Undercity. 589 561

Governance & Society

Faerun's cities and nations depend heavily on powerful arcane and divine casters rather than conventional armies alone. Waterdeep and Silvermoon City are cited as examples of city-states whose spellcasters allow them to rival larger nations. 177

The West Coast Empire replaces much of the traditional noble administration with a large bureaucracy responsible for governance and taxation. 580

Its expansion also supports a continent-spanning commercial system:

• Unified currency with fixed gold content.
• Reduced tariff, transportation, and market barriers.
• Greater legal protection for merchants, property, and trade. 839

Major Political Powers

• West Coast Empire — Zuo Si's expanding empire, formed from Amn and Xia En and centered on modernization, bureaucratic rule, magical infrastructure, and commercial integration. 501 629 839
• Silvermoon Alliance — A northern alliance led by Elastra that strengthened its defenses after Undercity's return. 581
• Waterdeep — A powerful caster-supported city-state and major political center on the western coast. 177 561
• Undercity — A resurgent Netherese power seeking relics, population growth, and the restoration of Netheril's influence. 581
• Santhilburg — A militarily and commercially powerful Sea of the Moon city-state, as well as the most important base of the Zhentarim. 411