Faerûn

Biodata

Background / History

Faerûn is a vast continent in the Forgotten Realms, home to thousands of races, innumerable legends, and major centers of magical and political power. Its civilization combines medieval-level production with extraordinary supernatural forces: powerful mages can reshape terrain, command weather, construct floating cities, and travel between planes. 7 8 13

The ancient Netheril Empire represented a high point of Faerûnian arcane civilization. Its mages drew on knowledge from the Nether Scrolls to develop magical theory, Mythallars, and floating cities, eventually attempting to rival the gods themselves. 22 24

Netheril fell after the archmage Karsus cast Karsus's Folly, the only recorded twelfth-circle spell. The spell temporarily stole the power of the first Goddess of Magic, Mystryl, and the catastrophe destroyed the empire's floating cities. 5 24

The gods subsequently suppressed forbidden magic above the tenth circle. Under the new Goddess of Magic, Mystra, spellcasting became further constrained through spell levels and spell-slot systems. 5

Geography and Settlements

Magic

The Weave

The Weave is a monumental magical creation in Faerûn that enables widespread spellcasting while also imposing restrictions on wizards. Most local mages use it to prepare and cast spells through spell slots. 2 5

• Spell-slot casters transcribe spells into spellbooks and prepare them in advance; expended slots must be restored through later preparation. 2
• Casting requires the construction of spell models through intellect, then the channeling of ambient energy using magical materials. 5
• Spells and prepared spell lists are treated as closely guarded secrets among Faerûnian mages. 5

Arcanistry

Arcanists parse magic independently rather than relying on the Weave. They construct spell models with their own intellect and channel mana directly, avoiding spell-slot restrictions at the cost of exceptionally demanding talent requirements. 2

Elemental Foundation

Faerûn's physical world is permeated by elemental magic. Magic and elemental particles exist in living beings, air, land, and water, forming a foundational framework expressed through matter, energy, information, and soul. 49

Society

Magic is associated with mystery, nobility, and social power. Mages are a privileged class, while the cost of spell models, scrolls, training, and magical materials places arcane education beyond the reach of many commoners. 5 8 25 33

• In Silverymoon, legitimate mages possess Mage Association certification and receive magic-stone stipends according to rank; forging such credentials can result in imprisonment or execution. 8
• Commoners often fear mages more than they respect them due to their destructive potential and taboo experiments. 14
• Magical knowledge is frequently restricted by organizations through high prices, merit requirements, and controlled access to spell models. 25
• Waterdeep is notably open to merchants, adventurers, mages, non-human races, and even individuals with suspect motives, trusting in its government and defenses to contain threats. 17

Major Organizations and Powers

• Mages Guild — A powerful magical institution with branches in Silverymoon and Waterdeep. It controls magical resources, organizes expeditions, and secured the Sword Mountains Netheril ruin after its discovery. 6 21 23
• Zhentarim — A ruthless criminal organization with an extensive intelligence network. It targets political, military, religious, mercantile, and good-aligned factions across Faerûn. 13
• Netheril Empire — A fallen arcane empire whose magical achievements underpin much of modern Faerûnian magical theory. 22
• Thultanthar — Netheril's surviving remnant, whose arcanists seek alliances while facing pressure from other powers, including the gods. 5 7
• Elven Empire — A historical continental power that rose after elven high mages created the Mythal of Dragon Madness, contributing to the collapse of the Dragon Empire. 31

Notable Magical Legacies

• Nether Scrolls — Priceless artifacts containing magical knowledge that helped establish Netheril and continues to underpin modern magical theory. Each reader may gain deeper insight into magic, spells, and techniques. 22
• Mythals — Powerful location-bound magical defenses that can restrict magic, protect major sites, and in exceptional cases alter magical or physical rules within their area. 31
• Mythal of Dragon Madness — An elven continent-spanning Mythal centered on the Kingslayer Star. Its effects drove dragons into destructive madness and helped end the Dragon Empire's dominance. 31
• Adam Morgoth's Ruin — A Netherese inheritance site containing research into steel, biology, and magical experimentation. Its safeguards destroy the legacy if entry restrictions are forcibly bypassed. 23

Trivia

• Faerûnian gunpowder differs chemically from the gunpowder known in Ryan's former world and is substantially less effective against powerful creatures. 49
• Primitive firearms exist in Faerûn, including northern dwarven flintlocks and southern pirate matchlocks. 49