Ormpetarr

Ormpetarr was the capital city of Sespech in the Vilhon Reach. During the century that followed the Spellplague, Ormpetarr was known as the City of the Scar.

Description
Ormpetarr was an ancient metropolis, protected from the outside dangers by a thick wall. The walls stretched all around the city, including the side of Ormpetarr that fronted the Nagawater. Impressive stonework was interrupted every now and then by thick wooden gates and piers that stretch from each. Docking vessels were guided to free docks by small tugboats. Each harbor gate was manned by a duo of soldiers who served as city entry customs. Past the harbor stood the Warehouse Row district. The city was filled with ancient brass spires, famed for their ability to reflect the setting sun like flame. Its straight streets were tightly packed with buildings, homes, and businesses and lit with ordinary lanterns through the night. Helm was the primary deity of the city which was obvious by his symbol on the guard's uniforms and wide city squares decorated with silver gauntlet-bearing statues.

As of 1396 DR many of the brass spires lay broken and strewn down the rocky side of a cliff. The city degraded and became notoriously lawless settlement.

Geography
The metropolis was built on the eastern shores of the Nagawater lake in the Golden Plains, along the Golden Road trade way. Ormpetarr's closest neighbors along the Golden Road were Fort Arran and the city of Arrabar to the north and Innarlith to the south.

Government
In the 14 century DR, Ormpetarr was ruled by Baron Thuragar Foesmasher, supported by the city's merchants, who stood in dire opposition to the nation of Chondath. Before his rule, Ormpetarr was a barony of Chondath that seceded following the Weeping War. After gaining independence, Ormpetarr was ruled by a speckling of self-proclaimed barons, lucky adventurers, and Chondath's puppets. Baron Thuragar Foesmasher ruled with open-door policies and had daily scheduled public court sessions, in contrast to ruling from behind a closed door done by his predecessors.

In 1479 DR, there was no official government. but power was shared uneasily by the Order of Blue Flame, forces loyal to Tyrangal and the huge Monastery of Kelemvor.

Laws
Between the Spellplague and the Second Sundering, Ormpetarr was guided by a single unspoken law: only types of a crime punishable by the unofficial rulers were crimes that interfered with pilgrims' flow.

Trade
Ormpetarr was a banking center and handled all trade on the Golden Road and a busy caravan stop. It was surrounded by lush fertile fields growing grains for export. Other major exports included fish, and horses. Merchant vessels that sailed the Nagawater often carried import wine. Fishermen of Ormpetarr were assisted by water nagas of the Nagawater lake. The monstrosities drove fish into Ormpetarr's nets, while the fishers respected nagas' territory indicated by buoys lit with continual light spell.

Between the Spellplague and the Second Sundering, Ormpetarr existed thanks to pilgrims and travelers that passed through the region. Its streets were dotted with establishments that catered to pilgrims: taverns, inns, and pawn shops were main businesses within the shrunken city bounds. Ormpetarr also attracted mages and mystics who sought to explore ruins left behind by the magical cataclysm. During that time, Ormpetarr was too chaotic and too little to offer to maintain active trade relationships with other cities. One trade partner of note, however, was Riatavin.

Defenses
Prior to 1385 DR, Ormpetarr was home to the bulk of Sespech's military. The most prominent troops of Sespech was Ormpetarr's cavalry, the second-best in the Vilhon Reach after Lheshayl's. The city guard were tasked with patrolling and assigned to stand sentry at Ormpetarr's many gates. Each member of the watch was outfitted with a polished breastplate, adorned with the holy symbol of Helm. Underneath, they wore a set of padded leather armor coats that hung low, ending around human guard's knees. Their open-face helmets were topped with purple plumes. City watch carried their weapons openly – knobbed maces.

Between the Spellplague and the Second Sundering, by 1479 DR, there were several militias in town. The Order of Blue Flame had a militia known as the Peacekeepers, and Tyrangal had soldiers known as the Copper Guard. The Monastery of Kelemvor maintained a fighting force of monks and clerics.

History
Ormpetarr was established long before the Rotting War, several years after the. Quickly, it established itself as an important caravan stop for southern countries bringing their goods to the north. Ormpetarr invested the lion's share of its finances into establishing and maintaining the Golden Road, neglecting the defense budget. Due to the lack of defenses, the Mayor of Ormpetarr at the time began relying on Arrabar for defense. With years passing, Chondath rose to power and took over what would become the Barony of Sespech, which included Ormpetarr. For several centuries that followed, the Barony earned to leave Chondath after growing dissatisfied with the rule. By the advent of the Rotting War in the, Ormpetarr has already attempted to secede over six times. The conflict ended in a disaster in, resulting in the collapse of Chondath, and Ormpetarr seized independence as a result.

The late-14 century DR was tumultuous in Ormpetarr. An adventurer named Thuragar Foemaster rose to power in the, through a series of assassinations. He claimed the title of Baron for Ricjolo Tomrase, a political puppet of Arrabar. Now Baron Foemaster drove his predecessor from Ormpetarr back to Chondath. In retaliation, Arrabar sent an army to Arranford that stood roughly between the two cities. The Arrabarran "peace-keeping force" clashed with Baron Foemaster's men in a short battle from which Ormpetarr emerged victorious. Shortly after, Arranford was transformed into Fort Arran and housed 1,000 soldiers guarding Ormpetarr against its bitter neighbor. Despite his bloody rise to power, Baron Thuragar Foemaster had support from the citizens of Sespech, who approved of his anti-Chondath views. The Baron vowed to bring law to Ormpetarr, securing it from bandit caravan raids and the city's thieves' guild. The thieves staged bloody battles in the streets, attempting to rebel against the new Baron. The guildmaster at the time was Haskar Corintis whose disruptive tactics were sponsored by Chondath.

In the century that followed the calamity of the Spellplague, Vilhon Reach was devastated by wild magics, becoming known as the Vilhon Wilds. By the, much of the city was full of half-collapsed and abandoned buildings. When the border of the Plaguewrought Lands stabilized in the center of Ormpetarr, the city became a center for Scar Pilgrimages from whence travelers ventured into the rain Wilds in hopes of acquiring a spellscar. The pilgrimages were inspired by Madruen Morganoug who accidentally became spellscarred with skin aglow in blue fire. His skin absorbed the Spellplague flames, making it almost impervious to swords and daggers. According to the locals, the success rate for the pilgrims looking to get spellscarred was one out of every ten surviving individuals. Significant number of pilgrims perished in the Vilhon Wilds left behind orphans who roamed Ormpetarr in gangs that labored by day and pickpocketed or thieved by night.

With Spellplague's end and the goddess of magic Mystra's return during the Second Sundering that started in the, the lands of Vilhon Reach were returned to Toril, damage done to the world was healed, and wild magics of the Plaguewrought Land – wiped by the goddess's hand.

Landmarks

 * Foesmasher Keep, the seat of power in Ormpetarr, located at the center of the eastern edge of the city, surrounded by tall walls.
 * Nagapark, a large city park that stood just in front of the Foesmasher Keep walls.
 * The border of the Plaguewrought Land ran through the center of town and appeared as an eye-watering cloud of color. The Plaguewrought Land was healed in the Second Sundering, returning the city to its past size and safety.
 * Tyrangal's Mansion, a large mansion that belonged to the copper dragon Tyrangal in the years of the Spellplague. The mansion stood alone, surrounded by collapsed buildings, and was heavily warded against intruders.

Inns & Tavers

 * Finara's, a popular 15 century inn that catered to pilgrims and travelers like every other establishment in the city. Finara was the inn's elderly owner, and she offered reasonably-priced accommodations.
 * Jewel, a filthy beer and urine-smelling festhall and a brothel that existed in the century between the Spellplague and the Second Sundering. Its most famous employee was Moirah with her spellscar just below the navel.

Temples & Shrines

 * High House of Swords and Banners, colloquially referred to as "the Bloodhall". The biggest temple dedicated to Tempus that began as a meeting spot for mercenary companies of the Vilhon Reach several centuries before 1370 DR.
 * Monastery of Kelemvor, built in 1479 DR on the southern side of town, ministered to pilgrims undertaking their Scar Pilgrimage, most of whom died during the experience.
 * Temple of Silvanus, a large temple dedicated to the worship of the Oak Father.
 * Temple of Tyr, one of the biggest temples dedicated to Tyr in the Vilhon Reach.
 * Ormpetarr had several minor shrines dedicated to Eldath, Helm

Organizations

 * Many Bright Teeth, an adventuring band from Ormpetarr, presumed dead in the 15 century DR at the claws of Aglaraerose.
 * Order of Blue Flame, the organization whose members embarked on the Scar Pilgrimages during the century between the Spellplague and the Second Sundering. Their headquarters were located in the Changing House in Ormpetarr.
 * Order of the Golden Cup, a knightly order of paladins of Ilmater, whose Ormpetarr representative was Sir Guth circa 1342 DR.
 * Seven Suns Trading Coster, a wide-reaching trading organization with its Ormpetarr branch led by Alvund in the 14 century DR.

Individuals

 * Clas Denwith, a General and the leader of the Church of Tempus in the 14 century DR.
 * Gavilon Jostins, a member of Baron Foesmasher's old adventuring troupe who became the Mayor of Elbulder in the late 14 century DR.
 * Haskar Corintis, the leader of Ormpetarr's thieves' guild in the 14 century DR.
 * Lalaskra, also known as "Leatherskin", was a priestess of Loviatar in the 12 century DR.
 * Murkiltan, an adventurer from Ormpetarr who won a Silvanite artifact Leaves of Green in a bar game in 1331 DR.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * A Handful of Dust
 * Novels
 * Once Around the Realms &bull; The Shadow Stone &bull; Lies of Light &bull; Viper's Kiss &bull; Plague of Spells &bull; The Edge of Chaos &bull; The Sentinel
 * Vanity's Brood
 * Vanity's Brood
 * Vanity's Brood