Asram

Asram was one of the Lost Kingdoms that survived the collapse ancient Netheril, having been one of the three flying cities that was spared destruction by divine intervention.

"...imply that (The Book of the World) originated from a fairly sophisticated culture. This is paradoxical, since no cultures of sufficient sophistication apparently ever arose in Asram."

- Excerpt from The Origin Myths – A Treatise, by Dunzelzahn in the.

Description
While it was considered only the second most-wealthy of the three kingdoms that emerged after Netheril's fall, Asram was renowned for excessive indulgences of its citizenry. Due to the protection afforded them by practitioners the arcane arts the people of Asram felt wholly free to pursue whatever they so desired.

Geography
The small crossroads town of Oum was located between the kingdoms of Asram and Hlondath, while the forest of Orlath Wood marked the city's border with the kingdom of Anauria.

Culture
The young nobles of Asram were known to enjoy a bizarre sport referred to as "monster-baiting" that involved putting on garish outfits and drawing monstrous creatures out to be slain by waiting armed spellcasters.

History
It was one of only three cities (the others being Anauria and Hlondath) high enough above the ground that the reborn Mystra was able to save them before they tumbled to the ground and shattered. Instead, Mystra ensured they landed safely, although never again would they be able to fly.

After the Fall, Asram slowly expanded to become an independent kingdom. At its height, Asram was the second richest of the three realms that survived Netheril's fall. Abandoning or renaming the formerly-floating city that formed the realm's core, Asram became governed from the wealthy city of Phelajarama, known as the City of the Serpent for the gold-leaf-covered carved serpents that decorated it. More important, though, was Orolin, the City of Magicians. In Orolin, magic was used in everyday tasks by all citizens, not just the ruling elite as things had been in Netheril. With the wealth of its magicians, Orolin became a city of sprawling orchards and villas, with canals, parks, and a fortress in the city's central core. With the power of its magic, the merchants of Orolin found precious gold, copper, and zinc in the secret places in the encroaching sands, and used it to make themselves still wealthier. The land of Asram became the most decadent of the three realms, with parties that went on for days, citizens who believed that doing whatever they wished was the whole of the law, and jaded nobles who sought and killed monsters for naught but sport. Other settlements in Asram included Miirsar, a port on Lake Miir known for its fine ships, and Ulshantir, known for its fine works of copper and brass.

In, Asram was struck by a horrendous plague. In the spring months that led up to what many call a repeat of the Dark Disaster, cattle were found dead in the fields and crops withered and died, sometimes overnight. During the first week of Eleasius, however, the plague struck the entire nation. Few survived. This seems to have been the result of the interloper goddess Kiputytto attacking the goddess Talona, using the city of Phelajarama as a battleground. Talona gained the upper hand by plaguing the city, forcing the inhabitants to pray to her. Kiputytto struck back with similar method; however her plagues overcame the curative resources of the city and left the population dead in less than a month. In the aftermath, Talona slew Kiputytto.

Because the plague still clings to Asram's ruins, its treasures still remain untouched.

In approximately 854 DR, a humanoid culture living in Asram created the Book of the World, a sacred book filled with myths they had apparently learned from red dragons. The book was discovered in approximately 1254 DR, at which point whatever culture had created the book had vanished.

Notable Locations

 * Settlements
 * Phelajarama, the kingdom's decadent capital known as the City of the Serpent.
 * Orolin, the City of Magicians.
 * Ulshantir, known for its skilled metalsmiths.
 * Miirsar, the port town of fishers situated on the shore of Lake Miir.