Chessenta took its name from the first Grand Viceroy Iphram Chess when the region was a province of Unther [2] Prior to the Spellplague, Chessenta was a country of individual city-states that were often at war with one another. The city of Cimbar was the theoretical capital of Chessenta[3] as it was the definitive capital of Tchazzar's brief Chessentan Empire.[4]
After Chessenta defeated Threskel in 1479 DR, Threskel became a vassal state.
Culture
While they appreciated culture and theatre, the culture of the Chessentans revolved around war and war heroes. Magic was distrusted by most Chessentans but when Tchazzar returned he legalized magic and enacted laws protecting mages.[5]
Diplomatic Relations
Post-spellplague, Chessenta had extremely chilly relations with High Imaskar and the two countries often engaged in naval raids. Chessenta had friendly relations with Akanûl but was on the verge of war with Tymanther.[5]
History
Chessenta was founded in -1771 DR as a province of the first Untheric empire. In 929 DR the city states of Chessenta, led by the war hero Tchazzar, drove the armies of Unther to the Riders to the Sky mountains, freeing Chessenta from Untheric rule. In 1080 DR, Tchazzar disappeared while fighting Sahuagin and the people of Chessenta believed he had ascended to godhood. After Tchazzar's disappearance, the kingdom slowly broke apart into squabbling city states. Tchazzar returned in 1373 DR to reestablish his kingdom but disappeared again during the Spellplague in 1385 DR. In the decades after the Spellplague the war hero Ishual Karanok rose to rule Chessenta. In 1479 DR Tchazzar was rescued from the Shadowfell by the Brotherhood of the Griffon and is currently king of Chessenta once again.[2] The Brotherhood of the Griffon along with Chessentan rebels lead by Shala, and the genasi, defeat Tchazzar and the great bone worm. Shala is reinstated as the war hero.[1]
Religion
After the Spellplague, Amaunator gained many followers who saw him as the ancient Untherian god Hokatep returned to Faerûn. As Chessenta was a martial society, Tempus had many followers. Oghma had a large temple in Erebos and, since Kelemvor had almost no presence in the region, the temple of Waukeen assumed responsibility for tending to the dead.[2]
In addition to the common Faerunian religions there were several regional cults. The Cult of Tchazzar always had a large membership in Chessenta and with Tchazzar's return the cult was been reinvigorated and was building a huge temple in Luthcheq in 1479 DR.[5] The Cult of Entropy worshiped the primordial Entropy and a cult worshiped the archfey Sebakar, the Lord of Crocodiles.[2]
Major geographical features
Lakes
- Bay of Chessenta
- With the drop in the water level of the Sea of Fallen Stars this shallow bay all but dried up.
- Adder Swamp
- When the Bay of Chessenta dried up the swamp all but disappeared.
Mountains
- Riders to the Sky
- A range of hills and mountains that was the domain of trolls and duergar.[4]
Other
- Maw of the God Swallower
- This area of plagueland in south-central Chessenta continues to grow, swallowing everything in its path. In its center the primordial Entropy hangs over the landscape.[2]
Notable locations
Cities and Towns
- Akanax
- This large city was in essence a large military camp.[4]Now in ruins.[citation needed]
- Cimbar (formerly)
- Now in ruins, this was the largest city and the spiritual capital of Chessenta in the pre-spellplague era.[4]
- Erebos
- Large city in the northwest. A temple of Tiamat stood near the sea.[6]
- Heptios
- A former city-state of 9,000 now under the dominion of Chessenta.[6]
- Luthcheq
- The City of Madness was ruled by Tchazzar. It was formerly ruled by the Karanok family, all of whom were members of the Cult of Entropy.[4] As such, magic was shunned in the city.[7]
- Mordulkin
- A city on the eastern side of the Bay of Chessenta. Ruled for a long time by the Jedea family and a haven for wizards.[8]
- Pandrik
- Fortress city of 6,500 souls situated near the Adder Swap. It had a precarious treaty with Luthcheq.[6]
- Soolabax
- A large town near the border with Threskel.[9]
- Toreus
- Grew significantly after the Spellplague to become Chessenta's third largest city with a population of 17,000.[6]
Chessentan vessels were named after sea creatures or sea-related myths.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Richard Lee Byers (June 7th, 2011). The Spectral Blaze. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786957980.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Template:Cite dungeon/Chessenta
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 182. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 183. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Richard Lee Byers (2010). Whisper of Venom. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786955619.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Brian R. James. "Backdrop: Chessenta" Dungeon #178. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, May, 2010.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 184. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Scott Bennie (February 1990). Old Empires. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 55. ISBN 978-0880388214.
- ↑ Richard Lee Byers (May 2010). The Captive Flame. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0786953969.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 15. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.
Further reading
- Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 86–87. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
- Rand Sharpsword (January 2002). More Old Empires and Sembia! (HTML). Rand's Travelogue. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2015-09-20. Retrieved on 2010-10-31.