Cormyr

Biodata

History

Cormyr was founded in 26 DR on land the Elf Imperium had ceded to humans. Its settlers nevertheless fought Goblins, Lizardfolk, werecreatures, dragons, and pirates for centuries. The purple dragon became the kingdom’s emblem in remembrance of Saghro, an ancient dragon driven from the region by elves and human tribes—not because Cormyrians worship dragons 16.

In 432 DR, King Duar Obarskyr reclaimed Suzail from the pirate king Maglas. The victory marked the effective end of roughly four hundred years of struggle to establish human sovereignty over the land. The Purple Dragons trace their beginnings to the soldiers Duar invested after the campaign 16 33.

Cormyr prospered under Azoun IV, whose reign began in 1336 DR. He strengthened the kingdom alongside royal high wizard Vangerdahast and helped defeat the Tuigan invasion. Later, the Time of Troubles and the Goblin War brought severe losses: Azoun died fighting a Great Wyrm Red Dragon, Arabel fell to Orks, and the army could not immediately retake it. After Crown Princess Tanaerasta died in childbirth, Alusair became regent amid a succession dispute 12 18 29.

Geography and Settlements

• Suzail — the capital, beside the Dragonmere. After Arabel’s fall, it housed refugees under Alusair’s orders 16 18.
• Arabel — a major northern city seized and devastated during the Goblin War 18.
• King’s Forest — a forest where hostile forces remain active; Hobgoblin warlord Adan Heavyhammer camps there with goblinoids and ogres in August 1360 9 45.
• The Rocklands — roughly 250,000 acres of sand, desert, and hills north of Arabel and east of Tifanton. The Crown offers a hereditary barony to anyone who conquers it, but its Orcs, Gnolls, outlaws, and Zhentarim outpost have deterred adventurers 34.
• Road network — patrols and fortified roadside inns make travel comparatively safer than in many parts of the Realms, though Cormyr’s forests and mountains remain dangerous 9 10.

Government and Law

• Royal authority — the Obarskyr house rules Cormyr. Alusair governs as Princess Regent following Azoun IV’s death and Tanaerasta’s death in childbirth 2 29.
• Queen’s Blade — a secret organization established under Azoun IV to watch nobles and commoners. Its agents investigate suspected threats and can suppress public dissent 11 12.
• Noble titles — ranks include duke, marquess, earl, viscount, baron, baronet, and knight. Subsidiary titles such as viscount generally cannot be inherited; Azoun IV made a one-generation exception for Aaron Salian 19 25.
• Travel and arms — entry rules require registration, while adventurers face permit requirements and weapon restrictions. Under Alusair’s decree, only sword-bearing nobles may carry weapons through Cormyr’s cities 10 26.
• Cats — Alusair forbids harming them, a law the Dragon’s Tooth Gang secretly circumvents by disposing of unwanted cats 36.

Military

• Purple Dragons — the kingdom’s knightly order and a pillar of its defense alongside the Obarskyrs and War Wizards. Its knights may be drawn from commoners as well as nobles, though recruits must be able to train full-time 2 33 34.
• War Wizards — the royal spellcasters. Cormyr’s army and War Wizards have historically made its villages more secure than those in many other realms 15.
• Recruitment after the Goblin War — with only about 300 full Purple Dragon Knights against a theoretical strength of 500–600, Alusair calls for new recruits across the kingdom 34.
• Navy — increasingly important to trade while land routes face hostile neighbors. Competition over recognition and resources fuels a long-standing rivalry with the army 42.

Economy and Current Conditions

Cormyr exports armor, clothing, coal, food, weapons, timber, and ivory goods; major imports include glass, spices, and ivory. Trade has brought repeated conflict with Zambia to the east and the Zhentarim-dominated Moonsea region to the north 42.

Despite war damage and refugees, Suzail’s markets retain ample supplies and relatively stable prices. The kingdom’s population has fallen to about 1.3 million—half its reported height under Azoun IV—and its knightly ranks are similarly depleted 23 34.

The Three Crowns is platinum; the Gold Lion is gold, the Blue Eye is gold-and-silver, and the Thumb is copper 30.