Table Of ContentVolo(cid:146)s Guide to
Cormyr
Another morn brightens the rain
And so I must travel on again
To see fresh marvels ahead.
Eating wayfarers(cid:146) bread,
The leavings are my only pain.
(cid:151)Synder Gallowglass,
The Minstrel of Many Roads,
(cid:147)Ballad of the Wayfarer(cid:148)
Dedication
To Wes Nicholson(cid:151)
Grand host, greater booster of gaming, and a traveler even more energetic (and con-
siderably more competent) than Volo.
A good man(cid:151)may Earth and Toril alike hold many more of them.
Credits
Design: Ed Greenwood
Editing: Julia Marlin
Cover Art: John and Laura Lakey
Interior Art: Valerie Valusek
Cartography: Dennis Kauth
Typesetting: Angelika Lokotz
Production: Dee Barnette
Other Sourcebooks in This Series
Volo’s Guide to Waterdeep
Volo’s Guide to the North
Volo’s Guide to the Sword Coast
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2
Contents
Foreword ..................... .4 Stag Steads. ................ .169
Volo(cid:146)s Ratings System. ......... .5 Tyrluk..................... .172
Waymoot .................. .174
The Forest Kingdom ........... .6
Bearing Arms in Cormyr....... .7 The East Reaches ........... .180
How Best to Behave ........... .8 Hultail. .................... .189
Passwords ................. 8 Juniril..................... .191
Procuring Licenses. ........... .9 The High Helm. .......... .192
The Crystal Grot .............. 10 Thunderstone .............. .194
The Swords of State ........... 11 Tilverton. .................. .195
The Character of the Realm .... 11
The West Reaches. . . . . . . . . . . . .204
The Cities .................... .12 Greatgaunt. ................ .209
Suzail ...................... .15 Hornshield. ................ .212
Marsember ................. .34 Wyvernhunt. . .............. .215
Arabel.......................53
Appendix I:
The Coast .................... .76 Folk of Cormyr . . . . . . . . . . . . .217
Bogbrook ................... .81
Dawngleam ................. .83 Appendix II:
Gladehap ................... .87 The Sword Heralds . . . . . . . .225
Kirinwood .................. .92
Monksblade. ................ .97 Appendix III:
Wheloon. .................. .104 Magic in Cormyr . . . . . . . . . . .230
Wormtower. ............... .117
Appendix IV:
The Heartlands .............. .122 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...238
Aunkspear .................. .127
Blisterfoot Inn. ............. .129
Dhedluk ................... .135
Espar....................... 139
Eveningstar ................. .142
Immersea. ................. .152
Jester(cid:146)s Green .............. .159
Games ................. ..161
Knightswood............... .163
(cid:147)The Cormyte(cid:146)s Boast(cid:148). .... .165
Mouth O(cid:146) Gargoyles .... . .... .166
3
F o r e w o r d
elcome to the fourth of folk thinking of Cormyr from afar. The
my groundbreaking section on the heartlands is followed
(umm, perhaps that(cid:146)s an by one covering the east reaches,
unfortunate choice of where the countryside is more open,
word) travel guides. Many and finally by one on the almost-
folk have long clamored for coverage of forgotten, mountainous west reaches. I
the fair realm of Cormyr in my oeuvre (I think you(cid:146)ll be as pleasantly surprised
don(cid:146)t know what that word means, but as I was to find all the delightful back-
Elminster uses it, so it must mean waters and corners the Forest King-
something grand),1 and your wishes, dom holds.
ladies and gentlesirs, are my com- The reader interested in things magi-
mands. I pray, therefore, to all the gods cal is urged to consult the second and
who may be disposed to smile favorably third appendices forthwith. They con-
upon such efforts that your eyes also tain much of interest to the visitor to
find favor with this latest of my works:2 Cormyr.
Volo’s Guide to Cormyr. What(cid:146)s Here
Using
and Why
This Guidebook
A casual glance at this peerless tome
Entries have been included not for may reveal to the discerning reader a
every hamlet or backlane crossroads in slight paucity of information on the
Cormyr, but for every place that(cid:146)s likely larger cities of the Forest Kingdom.
to be interesting(cid:151)or unavoidable and Please be aware that this is not due to
useful(cid:151)to the traveler. For ease of use, I any lack of proper diligence on my
have divided Cormyr into the districts part but is part of a deliberate plan:3 It
familiar to most Cormyreans. From is my purpose in this work to eschew
them I have plucked the cities to investi- repeated coverage of the all-too-famil-
gate first. iar ground of what(cid:146)s where in Suzail,
As you page through this guide, first Arabel, and Marsember, and instead
you(cid:146)re presented with the cities and show the reader something of the
then the coast. These are followed by countryside of the Forest Kingdom, the
the heartlands, which are the area cov- glories of its lesser-known and smaller
ered by the King(cid:146)s Forest(cid:151)the endless settlements, and places even some
deep green woods envisaged by most Cormyreans may know little of. Read
1Elminster: The base flattery of the man disgusts me.
2Elminster: Sigh. He(cid:146)s been taking lessons, hasn(cid:146)t he?
3Elminster: I used to sound like this(cid:151)about a thousand years ago.
4
reporting everything folk would fain keep
on, then, and discover the real secret for good reason. When he was done,
Cormyr4(cid:151)Volo(cid:146)s Cormyr.
what he(cid:146)d produced was a treatise on the
security of Cormyr, how precisely the war
wizards guard it, and how ye(cid:151)or rather, a
less honest and scrupulous reader(cid:151)could
shatter it and quickly bring about the
downfall of the realm.
Mindful (sigh) of the beauty of Cormyr
and how some of us are responsible
[Ahem. (cid:147)Real(cid:148) Cormyr, eh? Ah-hah. Well, enough that we(cid:146)d like to preserve it, I set
the reader who hopes this book provides about expunging the most vital of his reve-
any sort of useful place-by-place guide to lations. What remains is far more than
the fair kingdom of Cormyr will of course enough for adventurers to get themselves
(and as usual) be sadly disappointed. Those into deep trouble and give Vangerdahast
who want to get a feel of the flavor of back- more than few anxious moments (heh-
country Cormyr will, I trust, be generally heh). That should only make the realm
well served by this work. As gossip, (cid:145)tis pure stronger(cid:151)and a more entertaining place to
gold, and as entertainment, (cid:145)tis worth(cid:151)sev- dwell in.]
eral tankards. (Er . . . empty ones, of
course.)
Ahem, yes. There(cid:146)s something I should
tell ye. Volo spent his youthful energies
doing what he does best(cid:151)spying and then
4Elminster: Delusions this grand are the final frightening stages of the descent into babbling idiocy. Hmmm,
perhaps the lad would(cid:146)ve made a good mage after all. . . .
Volo’s Ratings System
Pipes Tankards Coins Daggers
(Inns) (Taverns) (Prices) Alleyways,
Courtyards, Etc.)
5
6
The Forest Kingdom
elcome to a Volo(cid:146)s-eye view trings. For these purposes, a weapon is
of Cormyr the fabled any knife larger than a belt blade used
realm of ancient forests, for dining, or anything that does harm
galloping knights, happy when swung that can(cid:146)t be explained
folk, feasts that roar on (cid:145)til away as a wayfarer(cid:146)s staff or tradesman(cid:146)s
moonfall, and proud keeps where bright tool. Purple Dragon patrols and passing
pennants flap in the breeze. Cormyr is a war wizards are surprisingly frequent,
place folk from the Dales to bustling and anyone going armed will be chal-
Waterdeep to the back streets of Amnian lenged unless their weapons are clearly
cities to the crowded Vilhon Reach tied. Being found with an unbound
uplands dream of visiting. It is a land of weapon(cid:151)unless one has just defended
chivalry and romance, where the throne one(cid:146)s life against an armed attacker and
has been held by Obarskyrs in an unbro- has witnesses who can attest to the fact
ken line since the realm was founded that you didn(cid:146)t draw steel first(cid:151)is
and ever-watchful war wizards keep the grounds for arrest on the spot and a sen-
realm and the throne secure. tence of at least confiscation of goods
and expulsion from the realm.
Bearing Arms
Only persons named in a royal charter
in Cormyr of arms (customarily sold to adventurers(cid:146)
bands for sizable sums of money), bear-
Let those who read these words of prac- ing a license to sell weapons, able to
tical advice to travelers not misinterpret prove that they belong to the Purple
my intent: I mean no ill to the throne or Dragons or the war wizards, or fulfilling
fair realm of Cormyr1 but strive only to other specific circumstances, have the
enlighten readers who might otherwise right to bear arms in the realm. Some of
unwittingly blunder into unlawful acts or the other valid reasons for bearing arms
sensitive areas and thereby offend in are: if one is of noble Cormyrean birth, if
ignorance. on militia duty, if pursuing weapons
The war wizards(cid:146) vigilance makes a practice under the supervision of your
word or two of warning necessary: Any- local lord, if on a hunt sanctioned by
one bearing an item clearly a weapon your local lord, if temporarily attending a
into Cormyr must seek out the nearest recognized hunting lodge, or if holding a
Purple Dragon guardpost and have these Crown writ. Outlanders visiting Cormyr
arms inspected and bound with peaces- can only use the latter two reasons.
1Elminster: Oh, no, not much. Bah! That such fools walk Faerßn!
2As little as 2,500 pieces of gold per person for a seven-day battle pass, or 3,000 gp per head for the more usual ten-
day pass, and upward from there. A permanent adventuring band charter can cost 25,000 gp or more.
A band of six persons or less is considered a fellowship and is charged only 1,000 gp for a charter, plus an annual tax
of 300 gp. The first year(cid:146)s tax must by paid upon receipt of the charter.
7
Crown writs are issued to confirm tion of what I mean, have a look at the
temporary rights to bear arms. For lyrics to the popular ballad (cid:147)The Cormyte(cid:146)s
example, one might confirm a person(cid:146)s Boast(cid:148) in the entry on Knightswood.
status as a noble guest of the realm (such This is not to say one can(cid:146)t find folk
as a visiting envoy from another land), a who retie peacestrings in the secret knots
noble guest(cid:146)s bodyguard, or a special used by Purple Dragons, but only wizards
messenger or agent of the Court. Such able to magically read thoughts can get
persons must either bear the writ with away with doing so for long. The custom-
them, a Purple Dragon ring,3 or a Court ary way of contacting such dark mages is
token.4 In all cases, records exist to verify to buy a drink in a tavern, letting the tav-
issuance of writs, tokens, charters, and ernmaster see a cord, hair, or straw tied
the like. Travelers who wish to unlawfully around your finger. You(cid:146)ll be covertly
go armed in Cormyr must be very good probed to be sure you aren(cid:146)t a mage and
bluffers or their careers at large won(cid:146)t be questioned to force your thoughts into
long. Such vigilance by the Purple revealing any status as an agent of the
Dragons and war wizards keeps the Crown. If you(cid:146)re deemed safe, a fee of at
realm largely free of casual brigandage. least 500 gp must be paid when contact
with the mage is finally made. For those
How Best
not partial to their weapons, a simpler
to Behave solution is to toss the offending items
down a well or privy hole and, if ques-
Cormyr(cid:146)s defenders are diligent and tioned, claim they were stolen.
watchful. Folk who pry and openly seek
information arouse suspicion, and they Passwords
often earn themselves a body search and
questioning by Purple Dragons supported When caught armed, it(cid:146)s often simplest
by one or more war wizards. My coverage to brazen it out. Just act as if you(cid:146)ve every
of several locales in Cormyr suffered in right to bear arms. Caution whoever(cid:146)s
these pages because my curiosity made accosting you to speak quietly, and mut-
me unwelcome. Be warned. ter, (cid:147)I serve the Crown!(cid:148) Say no more,
Yet don(cid:146)t skulk fearfully about, either. save to drop mysterious hints, until
Such behavior labels one as a thief and a escorted into the presence of a war wiz-
fool. Cormyreans love their king and ard(cid:151)and you will be.
respect Purple Dragons, though they are Assuming you(cid:146)re not facing Vangerda-
wary in the presence of powerful nobles hast himself (in which case I fear your
and war wizards, who(cid:146)re apt to be a bit career is, as they say, sharply at an end),
overbearing and willful. Your average tell the august war wizard that your name
Cormyrean is honest, self-confident, and and mission are known to Vangerdahast
loyal to his or her country. For an illustra- only, and utter, (cid:147)My orders are to give you
3See Appendix III of this guidebook.
4A Court token is a numbered brass plaque engraved with the Purple Dragon symbol.
5See the chapter on the heartlands of Cormyr.
8
only this password.(cid:148) Then choose from piers in Marsember, from a certain Suza-
among the following valid passwords:6 ilan professional escort to whom you must
(cid:147)Red night,(cid:148) to which the war wizard whisper the name (cid:147)Sharanne(cid:148) when
replies (cid:147)Gray dawn,(cid:148) whereupon you you(cid:146)re in private, or from a serpent-
add (cid:147)And brighter morning!(cid:148) headed man in the taproom of the World
(cid:147)Thorn(cid:146)s keep falls,(cid:148) to which the war Serpent Inn in Arabel (The World Serpent
wizard replies either (cid:147)Forever(cid:148) or (cid:147)No is an establishment that can be found only
more.(cid:148) If she (or he) says (cid:147)Forever,(cid:148) by those who know how to enter it;8 every-
your reply is (cid:147)By the grace of the Nine!(cid:148) one else steps into a run-down tavern
and if she says (cid:147)No more,(cid:148) you say (cid:147)As called the Wild Goose when they stride
dreamed of.(cid:148) through the door.) Purple Dragons have
(cid:147)Black sword,(cid:148) to which the war wizard tried to slay or apprehend the snake-man
replies (cid:147)Meets green shield,(cid:148) where- on several occasions, but he commands
upon you say, (cid:147)To make red war.(cid:148) transposition magic allowing him to
Drop the phrase (cid:147)seven eyes around switch his body with that of a beholder!
the throne(cid:148) to denote a personal, top- From any of these individuals(cid:151)and
secret mission for the king. If a war wiz- probably others in Tilverton and
ard says (cid:147)Bright star!(cid:148) to you at any time, Wheloon as well as several ambitious
instantly reply, (cid:147)But the well is dark!(cid:148) forgers in Suzail(cid:151)one can get a license
to sell weapons for 600 to 900 gp. Bargain
Procuring
shrewdly(cid:151)those willing to perform a
Licenses shady service or two for these vendors
can get their desired document for a
Another way out of trouble if you(cid:146)re caught greatly reduced price.
armed is to produce a license that pro- A passage license can also be had for
claims you are a Cormyrean sword mer- the transportation of weaponry in bulk
chant. These can be had from any local through Cormyr that is not for use or for
lord in the usual way of course, for a fee of sale within the realm. This typically costs
4,000 gp and an annual renewal charge of 25 gp per chest or crate; all weapons must
2,000 gp first due at the next Greengrass. be enclosed in locked containers. The
The approval process involves very slow authorities affix foil seals stamped with
and very thorough investigations of one(cid:146)s the Purple Dragon across all seams of
mind, past, and present doings by any such containers. If these are found to be
number of nosy war wizards. broken when another border is crossed,
A false license can also be had from the the fine is 100 gp per container, plus for-
man who grows an extra eye7 and appears feiture of whatever(cid:146)s in the container! Of
only on misty nights at the end of random course, replacement foil seals can be
6Elminster: Improvise thine own and pray for luck if ye must use this stratagem. War wizards aren(cid:146)t so stupid as
to not peruse this guidebook, rendering Volo(cid:146)s suggestions useless by the time ye read this.
7Probably a doppleganger. It(cid:146)s said he works for a powerful mage. Some whisper he serves Ildool, the local lord,
whose corruption surpasses the double-dealing of even Sembian merchants!
8By knocking in front of the Wild Goose on an imaginary door beneath the signboard and then uttering the name of
any deity of Faerßn. (Elminster didn(cid:146)t strike out this footnote. He just sighed and said, (cid:147)Ah, well, there goes the neigh-
borhood!(cid:148) Then he grinned, very slowly.)
9
