Mordulkin

Mordulkin was an independent wealthy metropolis on the Bay of Chessenta in Chessenta.

Geography
Mordulkin stood upon the eastern shore of the Bay of Chessenta, a short distance north of the polluted Jade River that flowed down out of the Riders to the Sky Mountains.

History
Formerly a possession of the empire of Unther, Mordulkin was among the cities that rebelled and formed the Alliance of Chessenta under the leadership of the warlord Tchazzar of Cimbar. Driving Untheric forces from the land, they seceded from Unther in the Year of Flashing Eyes, 929 DR. The first ruler of the liberated city was Soldim Jedea, the most capable mage of the Jedea family, a practice that continued ever since. Soldim later founded the Jedea Academy school for magic.

Thereafter, Mordulkin stood as a part of the Union of Chessenta, a confederation of city-state that swelled into the Chessentan Empire ruled by Tchazzar. However, with Tchazzar's death or disappearance in the Year of the Dracorage, 1018 DR, the Empire broke apart and declined. Although each city-state had sworn fealty to a central monarch, after Tchazzar, they disagreed on who this should be. Finally, in the Year of the Twelverule, 1117 DR, Mordulkin defied the king of Cimbar. This act led to the break-up of the realm into a number of feuding city-states, with an ever-changing network of alliances, conflicts, and factions.

Mordulkin and Luthcheq became perennial enemies in trade and in politics, even before the Karanoks seized power in Luthcheq in the Year of the Quiet Earth, 1161 DR. Mordulkin and Luthcheq had fought two wars between the break-up and the early 14th century.

In the Year of the Wandering Wyrm, 1317 DR, the Great Plague, also known as the Plague of Dragons, quickly spread around the Inner Sea, causing victims to turn made and their skin to flake. More than other lands, Chessenta was decimated, and Mordulkin in particular suffered terrible losses. The plague lingered there until the Year of the Grimoire, 1324 DR.

But scarcely before the plague had passed, in 1324 DR, Luthcheq's forces invaded Mordulkin, thinking to seize the advantage of Mordulkin's losses. Yet still Luthcheq lost the war. The Karanoks blamed their defeat on wizard-spies working for Mordulkin, and commenced their horrifying persecutions of mages.

Government
It was a monarchy, ruled by the Jedea family since the rebellion of Unther. As of 1358 DR, it was ruled by King Hercubes Jedea.

Relations
It was the main trading rival of the city of Luthcheq, and much hostility existed between the inhabitants of the two cities.

King Hercubes had no interest in a united Chessenta. He had no interest in forming alliances with other cities or nations, and kept relations with other cities on the Sea of Fallen Stars cordial.

Guilds
The city was home to a number of powerful and influential guilds, marking it as one of the most "western" cities in all the Old Empires. All guilds reported to the king, and each managed one of the city's districts or sections. The three most notable guilds were the merchants' guild, the various crafts guilds, and the builders' guild.

The central mercenary guild required that all mercenary and adventuring companies register within 24 hours of their arrival into Mordulkin. Failure to comply risked imprisonment.

Owing to the city's wealth, Mordulkin also suffered an unofficial thieves' guild. Around 1357 DR, it was estimated to be the biggest organized thieves' guild in all southern Faerûn; in 1374 DR, it was certainly the largest of its kind and most formidable in Chessenta.

Defenses
Around 1357 DR, the city was defended by an army of 8000, comprising 6000 infantry, 1000 archers, and 1000 cavalry. The military was served by a number of mages, accounting for 1% of each of these forces.

Trade
Mordulkin was a wealthy city, and held one of the largest port facilities in Chessenta, second only to those of Cimbar, making it an important port along the Chessentan stretch of the shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars.

The city maintained a small trade alliance with a community of aquatic elves dwelling in the Bay of Chessenta. The citizens of Mordulkin traded spells and magic items for pearls from the aquatic elves, who had trouble with the sahuagin in the area and needed the magic.

Religion
Mordulkin was the center of worship in Chessenta of the Mulhorandi god Anhur, the God of Might and Warrior of the South. His worship had been brought back and spread by Chessentan mercenaries, and he was seen as more of a southern god than a specifically Mulhorandi one.

Being a center of magic, Mordulkin was also a center of worship of the god Azuth, the High One and Patron of Mages. The city's mages sacrificed specially crafted magical items in the honor of the deity each year.

Description
Mordulkin was split into a number of districts each run by one of the guilds. That is, the residential district was managed by the builders' guild, the crafts district was managed by the craft guilds, and the merchant district was operated by the merchants' guild. Even adventuring and mercenary companies had their own district, under the auspices of the mercenary guild. There was even something of a theater district.

The city contained the largest port in Chessenta after Cimbar. It was also home to a large mage school (also not as large as that in Cimbar), known as the Jedea Academy.

Culture
A city of around 35,000 people in the mid- to late 14th century DR, Mordulkin had one of the most cosmopolitan and diverse populations in Chessenta, with humans of Mulan, Turami, Rashemi, and Amnite descent, as well as a number of elves and half-elves, dwarves, and halflings. Although sometimes counted as part of the land of Threskel, the folk of Mordulkin were very much like the Chessentans in their habits and attitudes. Alongside Cimbar, it was the most politically stable city in Chessenta.

In particular, the city was a haven for wizards, sorcerers, and other arcane magic users.

As with other parts of Chessenta, theatre was popular in Mordulkin. Sizable audiences went to watch plays performed in the city's theaters. Poets also read their works in public squares, and philosophers debated each other—usually in the middle of a busy street, it seemed.