Tel-Quessir the elven empire in the north west spread from the Swords Coast to The Moonsea, and as far south as The Dragonmere. It was a leading force in magical knowledge particularly Druidic magic. For a long time the elves where considered the paragon of the humanoid races and history tells us it's from the elves that humans learned to harness magic, and develop cities. It is widely agreed that elves and humans where once one race, which explains why they're able to interbreed, and why the half-elf is still possible today. Sadly for the elves, this empire was destroyed in one of the most famous wars; when the Dragons and Elves fought. Legend has it that only six elder dragons opposed Tel-Quessir, and yet the elves still lost handedly. Still to this day no empire has come close to it's size in Faerun. The reminiscences of the elven empire can be seen across the north to this day. The Silver Marches region is littered with Elven Ruins, and the city of Silverymoon still stands. In the east of what was the empire, the last of the elves on the mainland have formed the nation of Cormanthor. Ultimately though the land has fallen into chaos as multiple kingdoms, mainly human moved in to fill the vacuum left after the war. The kingdoms of Sembia and Cormyr formed first, and smaller city states still make up most of the rest of this area. Rich in history the Swords Coast has rebuilt on the sites on many of the old elven cities, and adventurers regularly go in search of relics. Old magic knowledge lost to time, or technologies yet to be rediscovered.
Of the human nations of old, Chondath and Chessenta; both along the south of the Sea Of Fallen Stars, where two of the richer and more enlightened. With vast cities, growing populations, and by being pioneers in social reform, art, and the sciences; these two nations became the centre of human culture. Such was their influence, that the Chondathan and Chessentan languages are still two of the most widely spoken in Faerun despite neither nation surviving. In the east of Faerun a third human nation, Thay, was becoming a reasonable regional power, later becoming the leading authority on arcane magic amongst the humans. Today, Thay is the only one of these great nations still to exist and many claim that fascism and corruption has destroyed it after all; so none of the great human nations still exist. The main culprits for the downfall of these nations was the earthquake that caused the formation of Underchasm and the spellplague that followed, creating massive issues with wild magic and killing 1/3rd of the population of Faerun in a single generation. While the history of humanity isn't as devastated as the elves, much of the great history of humanity has been lost, leaving plenty of space for adventurers to discover.
In the south, the dwarven kingdoms of Halruaa, Luiren and Dambrath where leading forces in trade and technology, developing leaps forward such as the discovery of gunpowder, the invention of the glass lens, and pioneering better methods of forging steel and other alloys. Together these three kingdoms became known as the Southern Union; a political power second only to Tel-Quessir. While the south was the lands of the dwarf, other dwarven kingdoms did exist. In the north the kingdom of Vaasa was a smaller but powerful dwarven nation; today it is the only remaining dwarven kingdom after natural disasters and orcish and gnoll invasions have destroyed much of the dwarves history. The southern kingdoms where devastated by the great earthquake and many cities physically fell into underchasm while others found themselves swallowed by the rising seas. Though parts of Dambrath still exist it is a shadow of it's former self, and Vaasa has a shrinking population besieged by orcs and trolls. It's clear the dwarves have little left on Faerun and many wonder if this is the beginning of the end for the noble race.
Many lament that Faerun is slipping backwards. That war, tribalism, disasters, corruption, and the monstrous prevent greatness. That all three of the humanoid races; Elves, Humans, and Dwarves; have already seen the peaks of their achievements and are now waining... waiting to be replaced by something better. Others see it as merely a dark age that needs to be fought against, a chance for adventurers and explorers to rediscover what is lost and help rebuild the world better than before.
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