Thentia

Thentia was a city located in the Moonsea North region of Faerûn. It was well known for its citizens' impassioned sense of self-determination, its reputation as the free and open of the cities around the Moonsea lake, as well as its significant population of arcane spellcasters.

Description
Thentia was considered to have an unrestrained albeit disorderly spirit, without the ever-present malice harbored by some cities of the Moonsea. Much of the city was considered to be a rough and crude place.

Weather
Unlike much of the Moonsea, particularly neighboring Melvaunt, the weather in Thentia was most often rather pleasant, resembling a crisp Spring day.

Geography
The city was located at the mouth of the River Thent, where it emptied into the Moonsea lake. The Sword Trail ran west from the city along the coast towards Melvaunt, and the Ruined Way went northeast towards Hulburg.

Government
Elected by the city's nobility each year, Thentia's head of state was its Watchlord - an inheritor who served as little more than a symbolic figurehead. They were largely responsible for overseeing trade contracts and maintaining commercial regulations within the city, known as the Trade Decrees. The Watchlord along also oversaw the Thentian city watch, and elected trial juries from among the city's residents.

The fate of Thentia's citizens was truly in the hands of the Thentia's noble families, each of which were offered support by the city's numerous independent mages.

Altogether Thentia's government considered quite enlightened and progressive by Moonsea standards.

Law & Order
Thievery was absolutely not tolerated in Thentia, and no thieving guilds were permitted to operate within its walls.

Similarly, anyone caught committing any sort of commercial malfeasance such as extortion, fraud or economic subversion were severe punishments. While the sentences were harsh, including fine, imprisonment, and even death; the greater penalty was the damage done to a person's commercial reputation.

Culture
Thentia was a free-spirited place that welcomed those that did not fit in with Realms around the Sea of Fallen Stars. A relaxed atmosphere filled the city's streets and it's citizens often had little cares beyond their own personal goals.

Nobility
Nobles in Thentia were granted the titles of "Lord" or "Lady" along with scarce few benefits. They were permitted to fly their own coat-of-arms and keep a private force of no more than 40 men in house livery. Noble houses of Thentia were those families that remained in the city for many years, some since its founding in the 9 century DR. Some of these founding noble families of Thentia included the Swifthands, Khodolis, and the Birneirs.

Economy
Citizens of Thentia enjoyed low taxes and affordable establishments in their city, allowing for free-flowing commerce and the continued fostering of the entrepreneurial spirit.

People looking to take up residence within the city had to pay a tax of anywhere from 3 to 5 gp for the season. Ships docking at the city were required to pay a 1 gp fee.

Trade
Due to its focus on free enterprise, Thentia conducted more trade outside its borders than other, larger Moonsea cities.

Defenses
Thentia had one of the weakest militaries among the Moonsea powers. They were guarded by a cavalry of some sixty mounted soldiers known as the Riders of Thentia. Despite their small numbers, the Riders were given considerable training and wielded massive lances in battle.

The city watch known as the Warders served as Thentia's police force. They numbered about 80 strong, 10 of whom were always stationed at the Watchlord's Tower.

While Thentia boasted no navy, their ships were protected by city's resident spellcasters. In truth, Thentia's archmages were impressive enough in their own right to discourage open aggression taken towards the city or their sea trade.

History
The city was founded at the start of the 9 century DR, in the.

In the, Thentia was among the settlements and city-states that lent their resources to the reconstruction of the ancient Citadel fo the Raven in the northern slopes of the Dragonspine Mountains.

During the early 14 century, circa the, Thentia was captured and occupied by Maerhul, one of the lords of Zhentil Keep. The city's residents left their home for nearby Hillsfar then slowly reintegrated themselves into its walls as merchants and traders. In short order they threw the Zhentarim's economic hold over the city in disarray, and Thentia was freed from its control.

Later on it was among the powers of the Moonsea that agreed to the treaty of unity put forth by the Coronal of Myth Drannor some time before the. The cities and nations allied themselves to stand against the returned empire of Netheril and its campaign of conquest against the Realms of north Faerûn. After the conflict came to end and Netheril's plans were thwarted, Thentia and many of the Moonsea's smaller cities strove to form their own identity in the Realms, lest they come under the heel of another over-zealous power.

Rumors & Legends
Local legend spoke of an intelligent blade known as the Bright Sword that hovered throughout the city at times, cutting down members of the city's spellcasting community. It was said the sword craved the unique magical items that these individuals possessed.

Notable Locations

 * Inns & Taverns:
 * The Beacon, a pleasant and lively inn that provided outside illumination via a globe that had been enchanted by continual light.
 * The Inlet, the tranquil establishment run by the knowledgeable and genteel minotaur named Thud.


 * Landmarks:
 * Watchlord's Tower, the residence and seat of power for Thentia's watchlord.


 * Residences:
 * Firefinger's Tower, the wizard tower of Flammuldinate "Firefingers" Thuldoum.
 * Zhentish Merchant Quarters, the home of who Zhentish merchants that dealt in spices and perfume.


 * Shops:
 * Angrym's Livery, the one-stop-animal-shop that doubled as a waypoint for Harpers agents of the Moonsea.
 * Mad Melyrk's, a new-and-used equipment shop that offered all manner of gear, save for armor and weapons.


 * Temples:
 * House of the Moon, a large white-marble temple dedicated to Selûne.

Inhabitants
Thentia boasted one of the largest communities of un-aligned and otherwise non-affiliated spellcasters in all the Moonsea. Many retired mages from neighboring lands, such as the Brotherhood of the Cloak in Mulmaster, and the War Wizards of Cormyr chose to spend their retirement in Thentia, well away from the duties of their home nations. Some of these wizards and sorcerers did band together to form a rather powerful mage's guild.

Organizations
A minor cult formed in veneration of the enigmatic Bright Blade for some time, but dissolved over time.

The Knights of the North were known to have maintained a secret hideout in Thentia as of the early 1370s DR.

Notable Inhabitants

 * Beldergast, a textile merchant that also served as a spy of the Zhentarim.
 * Flammuldinath Thuldoum,
 * Norrin, a renowned blade and the leader of the Golden Gauntlets.
 * Phourkyn One-Eye, the sunwyrm that assumed the identity of a human man.
 * Rilitar Shadow-water, a powerful moon elf wizard.
 * Yalaith Oruboryl, the infamous "Lady of the Parties".

Appearances

 * Novels
 * The Rite