View source for Mezro

{{Location
| image          = Mezro.png
| caption        = [[Ubtao]] building the city of Mezro, while his friend [[Thard Harr]] looks on. His enemies also observe, as [[Sseth]] flies overhead and [[Eshowdow]] creeps along the ground.
| name           = Mezro
| aliases        = The Lost City
| type           = City
| size           = Metropolis
| capital        = 
| area           = 
| georefs        = <ref name=JoC-p10>{{Cite book/The Jungles of Chult|10}}</ref><ref name=FRCS-p104>{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting|104}}</ref>
| demonym        = Mezroans
| languages      = [[Chultan language|Chultan]]
| races          = [[Human]]
| religion       = [[Ubtao]]
| currency       = 
| population1    = 15,000
| popyear1       = 1363
| population2    = 28,126
| popyear2       = 1372
| population3    = 
| popyear3       = 
| imports        = 
| exports        = 
| alignment      = {{Alignment grid | on  | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off }}
| allegiances    = 
| socrefs        = <ref name=JoC-pp11-12>{{Cite book/The Jungles of Chult|11-12}}</ref><ref name=RoF-p106>{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|106}}</ref><ref name=FRCS-p104/>
| founded        = -2637
| destroyed      = 1385
| government     = theocracy
| rulertype      = bara
| ruler1         = King [[Osaw I]]
| ruleryear1     = 1372
| ruler2         = 
| ruleryear2     = 
| ruler3         = 
| ruleryear3     = 
| ruler4         = 
| ruleryear4     = 
| ruler5         = 
| ruleryear5     = 
| rulertable     = 
| govrefs        = <ref name=TGHotR-p31>{{Cite book/The Grand History of the Realms|31}}</ref><ref name=FRCS-p103>{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting|103}}</ref><ref name=JoC-pp15-16>{{Cite book/The Jungles of Chult|15-16}}</ref><ref name=FRCS-p104/>
| usethe         = 
| useon          = 
| inhabitants    = yes
| locations      = yes
| organizations  = yes
| settlements    = 
| events         = 
| food and drink = 
| items          = yes
}}
Before its "destruction" in the [[Spellplague]], '''Mezro''' was the largest civilized population center in [[Chult]]. It was a holy place to the [[Tabaxi (tribe)|Tabaxi]] people, being founded by their god [[Ubtao]].

==Geography and Layout==
Mezro was built along the [[River Olung]], which served as its southern and western borders. Thick jungle was found on the east and north.<ref name=JoC-pp11-12/>

The city was circular and divided into four quarters by wide avenues stemming from the [[Temple of Ubtao]] at the center.<ref name=JoC-pp11-12/>

===Agricultural Quarter===
This quarter was located in the southeast. It was divided up into farms, fields, and groves for growing [[banana]]s, berries, cassavas, nuts, papayas, plantains, sorghum, yams, and various medicinal plants. [[Honey]] was also produced here. The land was magically enhanced to ensure fertile crops. Small dinosaurs were common in this area of the city.<ref name="JoC-pp13-14">{{Cite book/The Jungles of Chult|13-14}}</ref>

===Residential Quarter===
This quarter was located in the southwest. It was a literal maze of simple, one-story, adobe-style houses. Most Mezroans lived here. The byways were of sand with rushes.<ref name="JoC-pp13-14" />

===Market Quarter===
This quarter was located in the northwest. Here were found craftsmen, hostels, inns, and various smiths. Also located here was the famous amphitheater built by Ubtao himself.<ref name="JoC-pp13-14" />

===Scholars' Quarter===
This quarter was located in the northeast. It contained the [[Library of Mezro]], the [[College of Wizards]], and the Warriors' Training Ground. It was full of other schools as well, as the city educated every child in math, history, and literacy, and guilds were not present there to teach crafts.<ref name="JoC-pp13-14" />

==Notable Locations==
[[File:Mezro map.png|thumb|''A map of Mezro.''|347x347px]]
; Amphitheater of Mezro : The center of Mezroan cultural life, this stadium was decorated with gem-studded dinosaur statues and was the site of recitals of Chultan lore, plays, and dinosaur races.<ref name="JoC-pp13-14" /> 
; College of Wizards : This active school of magic was highly guarded to non-students.<ref name="JoC-pp13-14" /> 
; Library of Mezro : This three-story-tall building housed parchment books detailing over fifteen hundred years of Mezroan culture. It also included a museum of statues, paintings, and musical instruments.<ref name="JoC-pp13-14" />
; Temple of Ubtao : Created by Ubtao, this ancient, magical, nine-story, golden-domed temple was found at the center of Mezro. It contains a Hall of Champions and the King's audience hall, from which the bara Osaw ruled.<ref name="JoC-pp11-12" />

==Government==
Mezro was a theocracy ruled by the [[bara]]e, the Chosen of Ubtao. Each bara lived forever and was granted unique powers by Ubtao. There were seven in number.<ref name="JoC-pp15-16" />

At the end of the 14{{th}} century [[DR]], the barae were:<ref name="JoC-pp15-16" />
* [[Osaw I]]
* [[Kwalu]]
* [[Dhalmass Rayburton]]
* [[Alisanda Rayburton]]
* [[Mainu]]
* [[Fipya]]
* [[Ras Nsi]] (exiled)

Tabaxi warriors patrolled the city of Mezro and would brand any lawbreakers with a blue triangle on their forehead. Punishment for murder might be execution, but most crimes resulted in just compensation.<ref name="JoC-pp11-12" /><ref name="MoC">{{Cite book/Master of Chains||10}}</ref>

==History==
The god Ubtao founded the city of Mezro in {{Yearlink|-2637}}.<ref name="TGHotR-p31" /> He raised its temple and amphitheater directly from the chaos of the jungle.<ref name="JoC-p10" />

In the [[-137 DR|Year of Blooded Sunsets (−137 DR)]], during the great war between the Tabaxi and the [[Eshowe]], the shadow creature [[Eshowdow]] nearly brought the city to ruin.<ref name="TGHotR-p57">{{Cite book/The Grand History of the Realms|57}}</ref>

The entire city became invisible around [[863 DR]].<ref name="TGHotR-p108">{{Cite book/The Grand History of the Realms|108}}</ref> This was caused by a magical wall that was built around it. Not only did the wall render the city invisible but it also caused magical confusion to whomever came too close to its walls. It remained hidden like this for nearly 500 years until [[1363 DR]], when the rulers of Mezro decided to lower the magical defenses after a solid victory against the [[Batiri]] [[goblin]] tribe. After that time, travelers were once again welcomed in the city, and it saw a surge in growth.<ref name="JoC-pp11-12" />

In [[1385 DR|The Year of Blue Flame, 1385 DR]], when the Spellplague struck the world, a great cataclysm separated the [[Chultan Peninsula]] from the rest of the continent.<ref name="FRCG-p102">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide|102}}</ref> To save the city from destruction, as well as from [[Ras Nsi]] ambitions, the barae created a [[demiplane]] and transported their city and all its citizens there. They left behind artificial ruins to discourage Ras Nsi and every other troublemaker from finding what really happened to the city.<ref name="ToA-p74">{{Cite book/Tomb of Annihilation|74}}</ref> According to the bara Alisanda and the [[naga]] [[Saja N'baza]], Mezro would not return to Toril as for as long Ras Nsi was alive.<ref name="ToA-p74" /><ref name="ToA-p83">{{Cite book/Tomb of Annihilation|83}}</ref>

For the rest of the world, Mezro was destroyed during the Spellplague.<ref name="ToA-p74" /><ref name="FRCG-p103" /> By [[1479 DR]], the artificial ruins of Mezro were an undead- and monster-infested site.<ref name="FRCG-p103">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide|103}}</ref> At some point during the late years of [[1480 DR|1480s DR]], members of the [[Flaming Fist]] looted most of the ruins and began to use them as training grounds for their forces in Chult.<ref name="ToA-p74" />

==Appendix==
===Gallery===
<gallery>
River Soshenstar 2e.png
</gallery>
===Appearances===
:;Adventures
::{{refonly}}
::<small>''[[Tomb of Annihilation]]''</small>
:;Novels
::[[The Ring of Winter (novel)|''The Ring of Winter'']]
::{{refonly}}
::<small>''[[Master of Chains]]''</small>
:; Video Games
::''[[Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms]]''

===References===
{{Refs}}
[[FR:Mezro]]
[[Category:Metropolises]]
[[Category:Theocracies]]
[[Category:Settlements]]
[[Category:Locations in Chult]]
[[Category:Locations on the Chultan Peninsula]]
[[Category:Locations on the Shining Sea]]
[[Category:Locations in Southwest Faerûn]]
[[Category:Locations in Faerûn]]
[[Category:Locations on Toril]]
[[Category:Locations]]