Murghôm

Murghôm was an inland nation of farmers and horsemen in East Faerûn north of Brightstar Lake. Before the 15 century DR, it was theoretically a subjugated territory of Mulhorand, having been a part of Mulhorand in the past. However, Murghôm was an independent nation, rival to Semphar. In the 15 century DR, Murghôm became a nation ruled by dragons.

Geography
With their position beside Taan, Murghôm was surrounded by Thay, the Great Wild Wood, Brightstar Lake and the Plains of Purple Dust.

Flora & Fauna
Fearsome dire horses were known to roam its wilderness, inspiring fear, awe, folk tales, and even cultist veneration.

Defenses
Under the rule of the dragon princes of Murghôm, the nation issued permits for mercenary companies of 40 or fewer veterans. All were formed by former Murghômi commanders as the nation's armed forces were reduced by the dragon princes' decrees over the decades. Murghômi mercenary companies were forbidden from banding together while on the nation's lands or its immediate neighbors, like Thay. In the 15 century DR, some of the noteworthy mercenary companies were Naelor's Banner, based out of Nimjammir, Shaele's Shields, based out of Vurlakh under the command of Shaele Flamehair, and Turvuld's Swords in Sessim.

Government
During the age of ancient Netheril, Murghôm was thought to have been ruled by the family of the then mortal Myrkul, known at the time as Myrkul Bey al-Kursi, the Crown Prince of Murghôm.

Before the 15 century, the leaders of the Murghômi were called atamans. The state was a series of semi-autonomous communities that gathered into collective government only in times of war. Murghôm was nominally ruled by a king from the city of Murghyr whose law was enforced by the nation's army, but as of 1359 DR the king was a senile old man with little control over the country and the Murghôm army was composed mostly of shady mercenaries.

That changed in the 15 century DR, when Murghôm was "conquered" by dragons. As of 1489 DR, the nation was ruled by the powerful dragon princes.

History
The Daggers of Dusk were known to have meddled in the affairs of Murghom after the fall of the Shoon Dynasty, for a bit longer after.

Demographics
Inhabitants were referred to as Murghômi. As of 1479 DR, the population was made up by dragons of many varieties and a large population of Mulani.

Culture
The Murghômi were known for their skill with horses. Their goads often had a whip on the back, and could be reversed for use as either. Along with the Mulhorandi, the Murghômi spoke Mulhorandi and revered the Mulhorandi pantheon (as of 1372 DR ). There had been a printing industry for approximately three hundred years as of the mid-late 14 century DR.

The term for a tannery was "batar" as of. The same word was used in Semphar. Kukri were popular in Murghom. A local industry made cheap boxes for import.

Elkammath tea was brewed from the fibrous roots of groundnuts found in Murghom, its neighboring regions, and Chondath. Halva from Murghom was made with hard honeycomb. Marka was made from a bush that grew in local foothills. Ring-shaped loaves were a known food, measuring at least 10 inches in width, with some far larger.

In the mid-14 century DR, Murghom had a small silk industry, though it was inferior to Shou production. There were also some traders in the late 14 century DR who had attempted to raise korontaun, though the goats struggled in the climate.

Notable Inhabitants

 * Iraun
 * Srivven

Geographic Features

 * Mountains and Hills
 * Mountains of Copper


 * Forests
 * Ganathwood • Shalhoond


 * Rivers and Lakes
 * Brightstar Lake • River Ghaast • River Haqar • River Murghol • River Rauthenflow • Sempharwater


 * Plains
 * Fields of Ganath • Plain of Heroes


 * Deserts
 * Plains of Purple Dust


 * Cities and Towns
 * Alzayat • Athah • Delbyi • Diyala • Graumot • Hashimyi • Hatra • Isa • Isfasan • Jihandyl • Jurash • Khalab • Kilastann • Madan • Morten • Mulharahold • Murghyr • Nimjammir • Port Ghaast • Rume • Sinilyr • Skalnaedyr (formerly Phannaskul) • Somraggah • Sughra • Taj • Tar Arabal • Thalathat • Thandyl • Turvuld • Tuulish • Umarah • Ustann • Vurlakh • Wakirnayskul • Zindalankh


 * Roads
 * Road of the Dawn


 * Structures
 * Dracowyr • Skalnaedyr's Tomb

Appearances

 * Novels
 * Elminster: The Making of a Mage • Sentinelspire • The Edge of Chaos • The Captive Flame • Whisper of Venom • The Spectral Blaze
 * Video Games
 * Descent to Undermountain
 * Descent to Undermountain
 * Descent to Undermountain