Tantras

Tantras was a city on the east coast of the Dragon Reach between Calaunt and Ravens Bluff.

It was a busy port city made popular for trade by the ability to move large amounts of freight in and out quickly. The crest of Tantras was a silver breaking ocean wave surmounted by three silver stars, on a field of royal blue.

Etymology & Language
People and things from Tantras were called "Tantran". Its people spoke the Tantran dialect of the Easting language, which was related to the Damaran language.

History
With the Horde Wars in east and northeastern Faerûn over 1359–1360 DR, the Tuigan Horde was expected to overrun Thesk and Impiltur and then the Vast, before continuing east. Thus, King Azoun IV of Cormyr called for a crusade against the Tuigan Horde in the Year of the Turret, 1360 DR. Tantras was among those free cities that sent envoys to Azoun's council on Tarsakh 10, and contributed 1,600 well-trained volunteer soldiers, as well as wizards, to the crusade.

Demographics
In 1358 DR, the city had an estimated population of around 69,000 people. This could rise to ~86,000 in the summer. However, the city had space to comfortably house up to 89,000. This made it the third-largest city in the Vast at the time. In 1372 DR, Tantras was listed with a population of 21,816, making it the fourth-largest city in the Vast. The mostly human population was of largely Chondathan and Damaran extraction.

In 1479 DR, Tantras had a population of around 23,000.

Armed forces
The armed forces of the city were called simply the "Guard", and had the duty of both defending the city and policing it. Just after the Time of Troubles in 1358 DR, the Guard was commanded by Lassalar Ormitar, a member of the Council. Although the Guard was directly responsible to the Council, their loyalties lay with Lassalar, who was more serious about restricting merchant freedoms in favour of law and order.

The Guard consisted of about 900 male and female fighters. Regular troops, who patrolled in units of fourteen, were outfitted in plate mail armor and carried spears, short swords, and daggers. Patrols were led by "longswords", or sergeants, who carried longswords and maces. When multiple units were involved, they took orders from officers, who wielded maces, morningstars, or short swords. Crossbowmen and wizards were called in emergencies. Thirty-strong garrisons of crossbowmen mainly guarded the harbor and manned the ballista batteries there.

Tantras also had a reserve militia of about 6,000 that could be called up when needed. However, these were mostly not professionals but folk who had other jobs and thus they were considered poor-quality troops.

Tantras was also home to the Trueblades, a Torm-worshiping crusader order. The Trueblades performed damage control during warfare and disasters, such as after the cataclysmic battle between the gods Torm and Bane in 1358 DR.

As the city-state had little outside territory to defend, Tantras's naval forces were few. Nevertheless, the city maintained almost half-a-dozen warships in case it had need of them.

Notable Churches

 * The Temple of Torm's Coming got its name after the Time of Troubles in honor of Torm's physical manifestation within the temple itself which quickly resulted in robust growth and great influence on the city's spiritual and social life, led by High Priest Barriltar Bhandraddon.
 * The Morning Halls, temple of Lathander; High Morninglord Alansyn Ambrilar.
 * The House of Skilled Hands, temple of Gond; High Artificer Eldorn Mindalar.
 * The House of Moonlight, temple of Selûne; High Priest Pellar Thalangrim.
 * The Happy House of Splendor and Song, temple of Milil; High Mistress of Song Elassuara Narithan.
 * The House of Hope, temple of Tymora; High Priestess Lashaera Thindol.
 * Shrines to Lathander, Loviatar, Umberlee, and Waukeen.

Notable Organizations

 * The Grayclaws, an organization of thieves and smugglers that operated against visitors and those Tantran natives they felt deserved it, i.e., the privileged, the rich, and the unscrupulous. Led by Amlithor Harlguss and Othniir Xalast.
 * The Harpers, under the guidance of the local Temple of Milil. They largely left the Grayclaws alone in a "devil you know" sort of policy.

Notable Inhabitants

 * Dhaerhaera Nanatar, an adventuress wizard who captured and tamed a griffon.
 * Tarntassa, a wizard and friend and ally of Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun, easily recognized by her tall stature and very long ponytail.
 * Zhundult Ulblesk, known as "Stormhand", was aggressively private and considered a dangerous mage.
 * Bhaeryta Chassendora, a merchant specializing in rare spell casting components.
 * Somidorr Danthan, a wealthy smuggler known to desire useful magic items and stop at nothing to get them.
 * Felitarr Wendilar, known as "Flyingfingers", an important Harper.
 * Deltara Dragynstarr, also with the Harpers.

Notable Locations

 * Tantras harbor was well fortified with ballista batteries and a chain-boom barrier to guard the port. Ingenious mechanical cranes installed by the followers of Gond from the House of Skilled Hands quickly loaded and unloaded cargo to and from trade ships.
 * The Roaring Lion Inn, was considered "the best in town".
 * The Weeping Wyvern inn.
 * The Green Sirene inn.
 * The Lazy Moon Inn, also considered the best in town, was located on Shendle Street.
 * Gulder's Good Grub Inn.
 * The House of Twilight, a famous nightclub.
 * The Net of Stars tavern.
 * The Silly Satyr, an infamously wild tavern.