Turmish

Turmish was a republic with the capital of Alaghôn, and was located in the north of the Vilhon Reach. The approximately 1,700,000 inhabitants were mainly humans, most of whom are Turami, but dwarves were common as well, along side minorities of halflings, elves, gnomes, half-elves and half-orcs.

Cities

 * Alaghôn
 * Ravilar's Cloak
 * Gildenglade
 * Centaur Bridge
 * Nonthal
 * Jathrin's Jump
 * Xorhun

Ruins

 * Ironcloak
 * Morningstar Hollows

Geography

 * Aphrunn Mountains
 * Mountains of the Alaoreum
 * The Orbrekh
 * Orsraun Mountains

Society
Since the Turmians are known for respecting their land, they often buried valuables, partly as gifts to Chauntea and partly as "seeds" to grow future wealth. It is frowned upon to be found digging in Turmish.

Since the founding of the Academia Vilhonus in 300 DR, the Turmishans usually wore chalk marks on their foreheads to announce their personal abilities. One indicated that the wearer could read, two that the wearer could write, and three that the wearer could use magic. Because visitors often did not follow this custom, some inhabitants assumed that they were illiterate. It was quite common for one to be challenged on the street and asked to prove one's level of ability. If one couldn't prove their ability to read, write or use magic, as indicated by the dots, the punishment might be death.

Reign of Misrule
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History
The Turami people migrated to the region from their native lands around the Alamber Sea when they were displaced by the Mulan after the fall of Imaskar in -2488 DR. After finding these sheltered fertile lands, they settled down.

The coast of what became Turmish was once home to the nation of Scarbala, a country of fisherfolk and pirates. When Scarbala tried to expand inland and was met with raids from angry satyrs, concurrent attacks from vengeful victims of their piracy and several years of harsh winters destroyed the nation. The coast was also subject to attacks from koalinth and ixitxachitls.

In -37 DR, the port city of Alaghôn was founded on top of the ruins of a dwarven mining settlement, and soon became a major trading hub of the Sea of Fallen Stars. In 132 DR, a mercenary leader named Dempster Turmish declared himself mayor of the city. This precipitated a brief civil war that Dempster's mercenaries swiftly won for him. Dempster expanded the lands that he controlled, conquering all of the towns and villages that surrounded his city for thirteen years. However, the city of Hlondeth stalled his wave of expansion. Over five years, Dempster and his men tried to take Hlondeth three times, but all three attempts were foiled by the city's defenders. Dempster died in his sleep in 150 DR and his wife Florentine took over from him. Florentine was far more interested in mercantile ventures than continued expansion, ordering a halt to the wars of conquest. Florentine was assassinated after only four years in power, leading to a leadership contest that lasted 116 years.

An attempt from Chondath to conquer Turmish united the country behind Alesam Mischwin. This war, known as the Stalemate, ended in one but the stability caused by a leader finally being chosen remained. Chondath would try to take Turmish on two further occasions over the next few decades, failing both times. House Illistine proposed a mock war every Shieldmeet between Turmish and Chondath, the winner of which would gain a reward of slaves, resources and trading privileges, while ensuring that the two nations would remain at peace.

In 352 DR, a fire in Alaghôn crippled Turmish's navy and destroyed its food stores, causing a rise in piracy and widespread famine. Turmish's noble houses, rather than working to help solve the issue, bickered with each other over who was liable for the damage. It therefore took over a decade of reconstruction to repair the damage. 374 DR saw the establishment of the House of Silvanus on the Isle of Ilighôn where powerful druids kept close watch on the ships travelling off the coast of Turmish.

Over a century of small incursions from orc and goblin tribes culminated in the War of 512 when the Candlekairn clan destroyed three Turmishan cities and carried off all of their accumulated wealth. When Mount Andrus erupted five years later, all hope of recovering that wealth was lost.

In 522 DR, druids from Gulthmere Forest and elves from Xorhun appealed to Arton Githsberry, the then ruler of Turmish, to stop logging in the forest in order to let the trees grow back. Arton appeased them with a show of consideration, but had no intention to stop collecting timber. The druids continued to pressure Turmish, becoming quite the thorn in Turmish's side by 552 DR. However, in 717 DR, the rulers of Turmish, a conclave of wizards calling themselves the Windlass, decided that enough was enough and launched an attack on both Cedarsproke and Ilighôn. Both attacks were halted before they could do any damage by the magic of the druids and their giant allies. The Windlass were executed, replaced by one of Alaghôn's merchant families. The druids of Ilighôn, now a formal organization known as the Emerald Enclave, had established themselves a force to be reckoned with.

992 DR saw the merchant families of Turmish lose their temporal power to a dynasty of warlords, the first of whom established Turmish a powerful military nation. Their martial strength saw them through the 1018 DR Rage of Dragons quite safely, but the ever-increasing population was feeling the pressure of running out of space so, in 1220 DR, the warlord Sjorn Sendreth initiated a war against Ironfang Deep. It was a protracted war that diminished Turmish's wealth to an unexpected level. Sendreth sent people out to bring back treasure which could fund the war effort - a tactic that worked spectacularly - Turmish was wealthy once more. Unfortunately, one such group of treasure hunters was tracked back home by the ancient blue dragon Anaglathos in 1242 DR, who slew Sendreth and claimed Turmish for himself, killing or charming any who opposed him. The next five years were known as the Time of the Wyrm in Turmishan histories. Anaglathos's rule was brought to an end by a paladin by the name of Corwin Freas, who led the rebellion against Anaglathos and personally slew the dragon. He was then acclaimed Turnish's king by a grateful populace. However, after a reign of only one year, Lord Freas dissolved his own monarchy and established the Assembly of Stars to rule Turmish instead.

With a few small exceptions (The Plague of Dragons in 1317 DR for example), Turmish had become a democratic nation that was peaceful, safe and happy, if occasionally a little overcrowded. The Spellplague changed Turmish's fortunes for the worse, as the Sea of Fallen Stars drained away, leaving Alaghôn's port miles from the new shoreline. Turmishans became xenophobic as bandit raids from Erlkazar terrorized them and they were cut off from their neighbors. Nonthal took over as Turmish's most prosperous city as Alaghôn became increasingly dilapidated, while Sapra became the nation's only port. In 1423 DR, the city of Gildenglade was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Kolimnis.

After the dissipation of The Great Rain, the Sea of Fallen Stars had risen to water levels not seen since before the Spellplague. Turmish's great cities were once again connected to the Inner Sea and its trading opportunities. This, along with a great agricultural boom aided by the Emerald Enclave, brought an upturn in the country's fortunes.