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. The city was filled with ancient brass spires, famed for their ability to reflect the setting sun like flame. It's 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.

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 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. The city was a major exported of gains, fish, and horses.

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 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 coat 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.

In 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 in the Vilhon Reach that started in the. By the advent of the war, Ormpetarr was part of the nation of Chondath and has already attempted to secede over six times. The Rotting War ended in a disaster in, resulting in collapse of Chondath and Ormpetarr seized independence as result.

The late-14 century DR was tumultuous in Ormpetarr. Baron Thuragar Foemaster was in the process of bringing law to the city while caravans were menaced by bandit raids and the city's thieves' guild staged bloody battles in the streets, attempting to rebel against the Baron. The guildmaster at the time was Haskar Corintis whose disruptive tactics were sponsored by the neighboring nation of 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 becoming 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.

Landmarks

 * 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 navel.

Temples & Shrines

 * 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.
 * Seven Suns Trading Coster, a wide-reaching trading organization with its Ormpetarr branch led by Alvund in the 14 century DR.

Individuals

 * Haskar Corintis, the leader of Ormpetarr's thieves' guild in the 14 century 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