Amn

Amn, also known as The Merchant's Domain, is a tremendously wealthy nation, holding colonies in far away Maztica and controlling important trade routes to Calimshan and Baldur's Gate. The country's natural resources and wealth, combined with its mercantile nature has led Amn to become one of the most important and influential trading centers throughout the Realms. The crowning jewel of this powerful nation is is the capital city of Athkatla. Founded in 100 DR, or 0 AR (Amnreckoning, little used, except in official documents), the City of Coin is the heart of this rich and imbued nation of Amn.

Climate
The weather is pleasant almost all the year round in Amn. At Lake Esmel, the temperature is warmer due to the hot springs. A diverse selection of crops grow very well in Amn, making for a surplus which is traded with other nations.

Trade
Money flows in and out of Amn like no other country. It receives a lot of goods from Calimshan and Tethyr to the south, on their way to the Heartlands in the north. It is rivals with Waterdeep and Sembia. While most often drawing merchants and buisnessmen, it also attracts adventurers from many lands, even from outside Faerûn.

Government
Amn is ruled by the Council of Six who reside in Athkatla. Their main duties are to maintain trade within and outside of Amn, controlling nearly every aspect regarding the economy of the nation. Seperate from their economic concerns, the council also coordinates the militaristic defense of the nation, a task in which each individual member has a particular role.

Politics and borders
Some of the southern settlements in Amn have split loyalties, with some preferring to join Tethyr to the south, because of its recent prosperity. Currently the border between Amn and Tethyr is formed by the Tethir Road, although some dispute this, claiming it to be the Tejarn Hills. To the east, Amn's extend is marked by the Shilmista Forest, and to the west, by the Sea of Swords. In the north, Amn extends to the northern edge of the Cloud Peaks and Nashkel.

Head Merchant Families
The head merchant families of Amn weild considerable political power as it is from among their ranks in which new council members are elected. While famiilies who don't have a member on the council have little direct governmental power, their influence and authority among the town or cities they reside in is still considerable. In any given city of Amn there are 10-30 heavily influential families, with Athkatla boasting the lion's share of 42 families that control the nation's remarkable trading houses.

Mercantile Houses
Next down in the power scheme of Amn are its mercantile houses, companies formed by the consolidation of two or more lesser merchants' or merchant families' wealth. Both the council and the Shadow Thieves support these consoritums, investing small shares in order to keep an eye on the economic intrests of the guilds and lesser families. The succes of a house might make or break the influence and power of its investors.

Major Geographical Features

 * Cloud Peaks : A mountain range at the northern edge of Amn.
 * Mount Speartop : The highest point in Amn, three miles above sea level.
 * Small Teeth : A mountain range near the southwest of Amn.
 * Troll Mountains : A range of low mountains, so named for the rather intelligent trolls that inhabit their peaks. Also notable for their large deposits of gems.

Major Cities

 * Athkatla : (pop. 118,000) The City of Coin is the capital and crowning jewel of Amn's kingdom. It is considered a pilgramage site for followers of Waukeen. Athkatla rests just east of the Trade Way, south of Nashkel and north of Trademeet.
 * Crimmor : (pop. 35,491) A walled trading hub east of Athkatla, just south of the Cloud Peaks along the southern Trade Way.
 * Eshpurta : (pop. 24,252) Amn's main military city, located in the eastern part of the kingdom, south of the Troll Mountains.
 * Keczulla : (pop. 47,733) A gem-mining town located west of Eshpurta.
 * Murann : (pop. 43,773) Located in southern Amn at the base of Peninsula Tulmere west of Trademeet. The city has fallen into the hands of two ogre magi and their forces, capturing many of the treasure ships in harbor. The lowest point in Amn.
 * Purskul : (pop. 27,210) A granary city, located about 20 miles south of Crimmer along the Trade Way.

Related Places

 * Spellhold is an asylum located on the island of Brynnlaw, off the western coast of Amn, under the command of the Cowled Wizards of Athkatla, used to house the 'deviants' they have found in Amn, practicing magic without an official license.

Appearances

 * Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn.