Ormpur

Ormpur, or in the local vernacular "Ormpar", and known as the City of Saffron, was an independent city-state on the northeastern edge of Lapaliiya in southwest Faerûn in the mid–14th century DR. It was one of the Cities of the Seabreeze, and was often treated as part of the realm of Lapaliiya.

Geography
The city stood at the eastern tip of the Shining Sea, at the head of Ormpur Bay at the northern foot of the Sheir Peninsula. It lay at the northwestern end of the range called the Wormbones. From Ormpur, trails led south to Sheirtalar in Lapaliiya, northwest to Theymarsh and northeast to Derlusk in the Border Kingdoms.

Economy & Trade
Ormpur was named the City of Saffron for good reason. Ormpur Bay was the only place in Faerûn where the crocus flower grew in abundance. From this flower, the rare spice saffron was produced in Ormpur.

History
Early in its history, Ormpur established a long-running alliance with a clutch of chromatic dragon wyrmlings and formed a cavalry mounted on them. They allowed Ormpur to remain independent and grow strong. With these allies, Ormpur repelled the lizardfolk armies of the yuan-ti empire of Serpentes (−304 DR to 34 DR), even as Lapaliiya was conquered by the Year of Sunned Serpents, −189 DR,

In the age of the Shoon Imperium, Qysara Shoon V (281–300 DR) demanded that the Cities of the Seabreeze host garrisons of imperial soldiers. In the Year of Wasteful Pride, 285 DR, the Shoon Imperium snatched control of Lapaliiya, then launched the Tashalar Campaigns, conquering the cities as possessions of the Shoon Imperium. But through shrewd diplomatic maneuvering in the imperial court and the tacit threat of the wyrmling cavalry, Ormpur kept its independence, even if in name only.

In the Year of the Sword's Oath, 1142 DR, the Coiled Cabal, a group of yuan-ti pureblood mages, attempted to reconquer the Cities of the Seabreeze. They were opposed by over two dozen archmages of Lapaliiya and Tashluta, who fought first the yuan-ti, then each other as they vied for their own power. For a full season, in a conflict called the Rage of Wizards, they waged wild spell battles up and down the Tashtan Coast. By its end, the cities of Lapaliiya and the Tashalar had suffered gratuitous destruction, but not one wizard or yuan-ti had won a single crown. Disgusted, for centuries after the Lapaliiyans and Ormpurrans would see wizards with suspicion and instead treat the clergies with much greater respect, leading to the establishment of the civic faiths, as well as the faith-based relations between the cities.

Once, a legendary bandit lord of Lapaliiya called Felingar stole a chansreena of Ormpur, together with her dowry, as she journeyed to her wedding to an important archmage of Halruaa.

In the 13th century DR, Ormpur was ruled by High Suikh Naether. He was succeeded by his nephew, Askulder, known as the "Hand of Tiamat". Both were served by the court fool Jeremmer Hardree, called the Mad Jester for his bold tongue. Askulder adopted a foster daughter, Maerildarraine, who would be declared Chansreena of Ormpur.

On Kythorn 12 in the Year of Thunder, 1306 DR, High Suikh Askulder was murdered by his own foster daughter, Chansreena Maerildarraine. She seized the throne and declared herself Queen of Ormpur, then led her loyal knights to plunder and burn the temple of Tiamat, but the flames spread through the city. This outrageous act triggered a holy war, and by the end of the day, hundreds lay dead. To Ormpurrans, this shocking day would be known ever afterward as "Bloodsword". Nevertheless, the jester Jeremmer continued to served Queen Maerildarraine too.

Supported by the church of Tiamat, Helbareim "the Storm Wind" Alanasker eventually deposed Queen Maerildarraine. She died fighting in her own throne room, and the fool Jeremmer was grievously wounded defending her, but survived in the care of priests. Helbareim then became High Suikh himself. However, Ormpur would not recover; once a great city-state, these internal conflicts saw its power wane, leaving it a weak realm.

Ormpur was steadily succumbing to the influence of the Overkings of Lapaliiya by 1372 DR.

Government
 Ormpur was a monarchy, with a ruler titled the High Suikh. Circa 1372 DR, the current High Suikh Helbareim "the Storm Wind" Alanasker. However, with his daughter and sole heir missing, he was the last of his line.

A custom of the royal court was the Torch Court, a brief daily session held just before midnight. The full court was in attendance.

The rulers of Ormpur were attended and entertained by a court fool. The most notable was Jeremmer Hardree, the Mad Jester, who served two kings and a queen in the 12th and early 13th centuries DR.

Relations
The city had a long-established alliance with a clutch of chromatic dragon wyrmlings. With it, they fielded wyrmling-mounted cavalry.

Despite being an independent city-state, Ormpur's waning power left it weak and succumbing to the influence of the Overkings of Lapaliiya. It was commonly counted as culturally a part of that realm.

As recounted in the records of the royal court, dating back to Ormpur's founding, the wild elves of the Misty Vale were known to be utterly feral and xenophobic, hunting and slaying all trespassers.

Religion
Ormpur had the same tradition of a civic deity as in Lapaliiya, though it was not as stringently applied. Nevertheless, Tiamat the Dragon Queen was the official civic deity of Ormpur, owing to her church supporting Helbaerim. The royal temple of Tiamat was looted and burned on the day of Bloodsword.

Population
Ormpur was a large city of 24,612 people. The human population was of largely original Tashalan ethnicity. This was in contrast to the largely Shaaran population of neighboring Lapaliiya. Unlike Lapaliiya, Ormpur was never invaded by Shaaran nomads, who were instead invited into the markets.