Reth

Reth was one of the largest and most powerful city-states in the Vilhon Reach. It also was one of five free cities located in the Chondath region of the Vilhon Reach in Faerûn.

Description
Reth was a fast-growing trading port city of Chessenta. One of its most renowned structures was a grand amphitheater rivalred only by one in Manshaka. The amphitheater was used as a gladiatorial arena that hosted battles twice per tenday.

Geography
Reth laid at the westernmost costal border of Chessenta and close to the Akanapeaks to its south. One of the very few passages across Akanapeaks was the Gap of Reth that connected the city with Airspur that, by the mid-14 centiry DR, fel under Reth's control. The Gap of Reth was located behind a sizable gate that protected the city from dangers of the savage inhabitants of the Akanapeaks.

Government
Like with many other trade cities, Reth's government laid in the hands of the council of merchants, the Lords of Reth. The council of merchants leader was wizard Murzig Hekkatayn circa 1357 DR.

By the 1370s DR, Reth was governed by an elected Mayor and the Seven Senators. Each of the Senators held absolute power in their aspect of the government.

Laws
Chessenta, as well as the city of Reth, followed the revised version of Unther's Code of Enlil. According to it, any individual accused of piracy (or other capital crime) had a tight to defend themselves in front of a court and a jury. The conviction was always done after the jury reached the verdict unanimously. Smuggling was considered a major crime as the coastal cities of the Vilhon Reach, including Reth, profited from taxation on trade goods that passed the city's harbors. Convicted smugglers and tax evaders were fined, their gods were confiscated, and individuals were sometimes banished from Reth.

Trade
The council of merchants that governed Reth kept tarifs and taxes low so the city attracted high numbers of trade ships. Even though the city was located far from major centers of production and industry, the city had acess to iron mined in the Akanapeaks. Most of the food and drink in Reth came from the cities of Akanul.

Reth atracted torism via its popular gladiatorial battles. Many of the gladiators were freeborn adventurers who were promised fame and riches, unlike many other gladiatorial arenas that existed on the backs of slaves.

Apart from entertainment, Reth produced fish, quarryed stone, and lumber. Reth's logging operations took place in Nunwood and brought ire of the Emerald Enclave in the past. By the late 14 century DR, Reth was winding down its production of lumber under the Enclave's preassure.

Defenses
An alliance was forged between Reth, Hlath, and Nun. The cities agreed to offer eachpother protection from sea-side attacks. However, Reth failed to aid Hlath in its war with arcanaloth Yrkhetep of 1357 DR, causing tensions in the aftermath.

History
Reth was founded in the, along with Nleeth and Amah, as a location to training centers for the ritual combat of the Southsand Games.

Circa the, Reth was struggling with separatist sentiments as a significant portion of population sought to leave Chessenta and become part of Chondath. However, the ruling council did non wish to change Reth's status quo nor wanted to have close ties with Chondath. During the same period of time, Reth came under regular attacks from the orcs of Akanapeaks. The inhabitants of Reth called for a retaliatory action against the mountain tribes, however the council knew that that would lead to a war and eventual destruction of the city-state.

Circa the Highharvestide of the, Xvimlar clerics led by Ruinlord Glorganna, arrived in Reth to establish a temple of Iyachtu Xvim. By Uktar 18 of the same year, a large shrine of Gargauth was claimed by the Xvimlar cultists and was turned into the Temple of the Dark Eyes. Folk of Reth were unnerved with the presense of Zhents and their evil god, while the council of merchants was quite content with the new trade brought to the city by the Zhentarim. By the, Xvimlar planned to have the Temple of the Dark Eyes usurp the rulership of Reth, becoming one of the most influential centers of Xvim worship.

Reth was destroyed during the Spellplague, leaving behind rotting ruins that attracted adventurers to plunder the city's remnants.

Notable Locations

 * Palace of the Seven, the seat of power of the Seven Senators of Reth.
 * Temple of the Dark Eyes, a Zhentarim temple to Iyachtu Xvim, built on the shrine to Gargauth in 1370 DR, with Bane's return in 1372 DR, the temple transitioned into the hands of the Church of Bane.
 * Temple of Waukeen, the largest temple dedicated to the Merchant's Friend in all of Chessenta.

Notable Organiations

 * Wraith of the Inner Sea, a mercenary company that consisted of four ships that used the harbours of Reth as their base in the 14 century DR, led by half-orc Kreodo.
 * Zhentarim, the Black Network established a solid foothold in Reth along with the Church of Iyachtu Xvim in 1370 DR.

Notable Individuals

 * Marcon Hastori, a former guard of the Palace of the Seven who was cursed with undeath and servitude in 1373 DR.

Appearances

 * Novels
 * The Ruby Guardian &bull; The Sapphire Crescent
 * The Last Paladin of Ilmater &bull; Vanity's Brood
 * The Last Paladin of Ilmater &bull; Vanity's Brood

Connections
Reth