LUSKAN ~ The Luskanites
Luskan is a Northman faction of raiders and pirates under the strong influence of the mysterious and malicious Arcane Brotherhood. Their culture is similar to the Nordic/Viking culture. Led by five High Captains, the men of Luskan are ferocious, seafaring bandits focused on conquering primarily coastal regions of the west and north, but sometimes going on forays as far south as Lantan. The armies of Luskan will mostly consist of viking-like units, but also some pirates, barbarian mercenaries and mages.
WATERDEEP ~ Lords of Waterdeep and Neverwinter
The mercantile and cultural centre of the west, Waterdeep is inhabited by a mix of different peoples including the Netherese, Illuskan and Chondathan cultures. It is ruled by a council of nine Lords and is a core member of the Lords' Alliance. The city of Waterdeep itself (its capital) is considered by many to be one of the most advanced and rich cities of all Faerun. Known from the eponymous computer game series, the city of Neverwinter is also included into Waterdeep's domain as its long-time ally and friend. The armies of Waterdeep consist of knights, adventurers, militias and mercenaries, with a few special magical units.
BALDUR'S GATE ~ Duchy of Baldur's Gate
The Duchy of Baldur's Gate consists primarily of the city-state of Baldur's Gate, but being a strong naval power it has also managed to establish oversea colonies, including in the tropical southern region of Chult far to the south. Ruled by a Grand Duke, it is a member of the Lords' Alliance and is the biggest rival of Amn to its south. Baldur's Gate has its own professional army of the Flaming Fist mercenary company but also employs some knightly orders and mercenaries.
SILVER MARCHES ~ Confederation of Silver Marches
Formed as a confederation of a number of small kingdoms, cities and duchies, the Silver Marches are a unique faction. Here, elves, dwarves and humans live together in harmony, with a common goal of protecting each other against the threats coming from the north. They are members of the Lords' Alliance. Their army consists of a variety of forces - depending on their origin, there are dwarven, elven and human troops. The humans of Silver Marches also often adopt the armour and weapon styles of either dwarves or elves, creating a unique army.
MANY-ARROWS ~ Kingdom of Many-Arrows
The realm of Many-Arrows is only one of the many orcish kingdoms located in the Spine of the World mountains, but is the only orcish kingdom officially recognised by the outside world (by the Silver Marches in 1371 DR). Inhabited mostly by orcs, their lands are also home to other goblinoids such as orogs, ogrillons, goblins and hobgoblins, as well as a number of humans (either barbarian tribes or slaves in orcish captivity). Their army primarily consists of orcs, with the other monstrous races filling out the army's ranks. Apart from some worg riders, they lack cavalry, but make up for it with their big numbers.
ELTURGARD ~ State of Elturgard
Staying in close and friendly relations with Baldur's Gate, Elturgard is a theocratic crusader state of the paladins and clerics of Torm, and a member of the Lords' Alliance. This is one of the few countries where there is a state religion, and consequently clerics and men of faith have a high standing in society. Elturgard is otherwise culturally and ethnically similar to other western human factions. Their army consists of various knightly and crusader orders of paladins, with some local militias recruited at times. They have strong cavalry and infantry but lack strong magical units.
SHADOVAR ~ Empire of Netheril
Returned to Faerun in 1372 DR, the Shadovar are remnants of the ancient Netheril Empire, the most magically advanced country in Faerun - their highly advanced use of magic allowed them to build cities floating in the sky. Inhabited originally by Netherese humans, some of their inhabitants changed into shades (shadow form of human). Ruled by twelve princes, with the High Prince in charge, the Shadovar reside in the sands of the Anauroch desert, but their floating enclave allows them quick and unhindered access to almost anywhere in Faerun. Their army consists of light and heavy infantry, powerful mages and also some cavalry. A special feature of this faction will be huge moving points bonuses for their leaders to simulate their fast travel in their floating enclaves.
CORMYR ~ Kingdom of Cormyr
Known as the Forest Kingdom, Cormyr is one of the oldest continuously existing human realms of Faerun. Ruled by a single royal family since its foundation, it created a highly respected knightly culture and is seen by many as the leader of the human nations in the west. Their army, known as the Purple Dragons, is a strong professional force of knights and militias, with the support of War Wizards.
SEMBIA ~ Republic of Sembia
The Republic of Sembia is a mercantile faction ruled by oligarchs from the wealthiest noble-merchant houses. Being located on the coast of the Sea of the Falling Stars allows Sembian merchant ships easy access to ports of all of Faerun's interior, the east and the south. Trade is the main source of wealth for this faction. Their armies are composed of professional militias, noblemen, mercenaries and a handful of specialist units.
CHONDATH ~ Confederation of Chondath
Once a strong and proud human kingdom in the south, Chondath is today a confederation of city states ruled by their local lord-governors, with the Lord of the ancient city of Arrabar as their leader. Chondathans have a legacy of colonising large parts of Faerun (namely Cormyr and Sembia) and their culture and language spread far north and west to become one of the leading cultures of west Faerun. Their army is based on professional mercenary companies of men and the elves of Chondalwood - one of the largest forests of Faerun still inhabited by wood elves.
ZHENTARIM ~ The Zhentarim
The Black Network (as the Zhentarim are often called) was started as a mercenary company but over time, achieved by conquering several cities and castles, they developed into a faction in its own right. Motivated by greed and a lust for power, the Zhentarim follow the religion of the evil deity Bane. They are known for conspiring against many other nations and factions of Faerun, and are regarded as enemies by most of them. Their armies are strong all round and consist of professional soldiers, militias, orcs, the fearsome knights and clerics of their evil deity and some specialist magical units.
AMN ~ Republic of Amn
Known as the Merchant Domain, Amn is a mercantile republic and the wealthiest nation of the west, perhaps even of all Faerun. Wealth is the measure of everything in Amn, so much so that even the social background of each individual is described with a name of a precious metal. Populated mostly by humans, Amn has the largest halfling minority of all human realms - over 10% of the whole population. Amnish armies are based on professional mercenary companies, but also include paladins, nobles and mages.
TETHYR ~ Kingdom of Tethyr
The Kingdom of Tethyr is an old human realm of ancient arts and culture. Tethyrian is a synonym for quality and beauty, and Tethyrian style crafts are popular and priced across all of Faerun. Suffering from a recent civil war, Tethyr is now again on the rise. The Tethyrian army largely consists of feudal, fielding knights, paladins and nobles, but also contains various militias and mercenaries, and even elven units from the Wealdath.
CALIMSHAN ~ Empire of Calimshan
The southern human Empire of Calimshan is an ancient land with over nine millennia of history and is a direct follower and heir to the ancient Shoon Empire, which ruled most of western Faerun. Because of this, the Calishites are very proud and arrogant, thinking of foreigners mostly as unwashed barbarians. Being established by a race of the Djin, magic is deeply embedded into the fabric of Calishite society. Their culture values the arcane arts very highly, with many arcane universities welcoming adepts from all over Faerun. Ruled by a Syl-Pasha, this faction is modelled after the Arab or Ottoman Empire. Their armies resemble Muslim armies, with the addition of magical units of various kinds.
EVERESKA ~ Elves of Evereska
After the retreat of the elven people to Evermeet, Evereska remained as the only true elven country in Faerun. Evereska is ruled by a council of elders and has good relations with the Lords' Alliance. Located in a well protected valley and surrounded by mountains and magical defenses, Evereska is located in a position of considerable safety. Such a position is crucial as both the Shadovar and the Zhentarim are their close neighbours. The army of Evereska is only made up of professional elven soldiers, trained mostly as archers, but also as mages and sword-mages, with some very exotic units such as the Pegasi cavalry.
MULHORAND ~ Empire of Mulhorand
The oldest continuously existing human empire of Faerun, Mulhorand is an ancient land ruled by Pharaohs and priests. Their people were brought to Faerun through a portal from Earth (yes, the real Earth!) from ancient Egypt. In Faerun they developed the use of magic. Their armies are vast and versatile, composed of diffferent professional mercenaries from across the south, with lots of slave soldiers trained by temples, elite religious warriors, mages, mythical monsters, undead and even riflemen.
UNTHER ~ Magocracy of Unther
Once an Empire, Unther fell under Mulhorandi control with only its northern part being independent. Their gods were destroyed, their heroes slain, and a new order emerged - now Unther is ruled by wizards. Unther, like Mulhorand, is inhabited by a people brought to Faerun from ancient Mesopotamia on Earth, and retains a culture similar to the Mesopotamians or Babylonians. Their armies are composed of mostly mercenaries and militias, with few elite units, but they lack strong cavalry.
THAY ~ Thayan Empire
Ruled by the evil Red Wizards, the Thayan Empire is a mighty faction, but the Thays are often ineffective as a result of internal divisions. Their economy is based on slave labour - a norm in their caste society. The highest caste are the Red Wizards who are mostly of Mulani descent - an ethnicity shared with Mulhorand and Unther - and the whole Thayan culture and language is also similar to that of Mulhorand and Unther. Thayan armies consist of slaves, professional soldiers, monsters, undead and of course powerful wizards.
AGLAROND ~ Kingdom of Aglarond
The land of Aglarond is a magocratic kingdom in the east and was founded in the year 1065 DR after the Battle of Ingdal's Arm, in which the half-elven army defeated the forces of humans. Since then, humans, half-elves and elves learned to live peacefully, side by side, to make Aglarond the country with the largest half-elven population in all of Faerun. Bordered by the Sea of the Fallen Stars from the west, north and south, and the expansionist Thayan Empire from the east, Aglarondans are not very fond of foreigners. Their armies consist primarily of half-elven professional soldiers of all formations, with many powerful wizards and some human militias raised quickly whenever necessary.
RASHEMEN ~ Magocracy of Rashemen
Inhabiting the lands of north-east Faerun, the Rashemen are a nation of barbarian humans who are nominally ruled by a Huhrong (Iron Lord). In reality they are controlled by a caste of powerful female magicians called the Wychlaran, or named the Witches of Rashemen by outsiders. Despite being bordered by the aggressive Thays to their south, the Rashemen, thanks to the Witches, remained unconquered. Additionally, the mountainous terrain and cold climate of their homeland has always helped them to defend their lands. Their armies consist of various tribal warriors and berserkers, as well as several echelons of the Wychlaran, but lack dependable cavalry.
DAMARA ~ Kingdom of Damara
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GREAT RIFT ~ Kingdom of the Great Rift
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LAPALIIYA ~ The Lapal League
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CHESSENTA ~ Kingdom of Chessenta
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DAMBRATH ~ Kingdom of Dambrath
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THAR ~ Hordes of Thar
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(+ some more factions)
Faerūn[Forgotten Realms]TW
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myself if you do this. R. A. Salvatore is one of my favorite authors ever.
) so here is the whole map, with possible factions marked - to give some ideas about starting areas and the general situation.
