The first Faerunian Empire of humans has apparently been formed, but it's not without it's problems and it's not the only world power. Recent events have sparked tensions, but thanks to a political marriage the nation was enshrined in law and now exists to exert itself. Unfortunately, civil war soon followed along with a denouncement and skirmish like war to the south. Faerun now faces a political upheaval.
The Major Players
The West Faerunian Empire
A loose empire that consists of the former city states and small nations of the Swords Coast, as well as Cormyr and the rest of the Heartlands. It in effect, covers all nations north of Amn and west of Vaasa. Decentralised and with the intention of being respectful of independent national customs, the empire wishes to pool resources in order to account for the threats of the world, and in a world of magic, dragons, and monsters, those are many...
Of the nations of the Faerunian Empire there are 16 supposed nations, each often merely more than a few towns in size and rarely numbering more than 1 million citizens. The Faerunian Empire in it's entirety is home to approximately 20 million people. This gives the Faerunian Empire more people than any other single nation, but with so many small nations, can this population be brought to bare?
Having one of the best trained armies, some of the largest temples, and some of the most powerful elite magical forces on Toril. The West Faerunian Empire is one of the most powerful; potentially the most powerful power on the planet... if it can unite, which at the moment seems unlikely.
The Merchant Republic Of Amn
Fiercely opposed to magic, this country has become more and more intolerant of the incessant use of arcane magic, claiming it's destroying the planet. Their population spans an area the size of the Heartlands and it maintains colonies in Far Maztica and Chult. It's continental population is approximately 12 million, with a further 4 million people living in their colonies. Additionally, Amn has close ties with it's neighbouring countries of Tethyr, Turmish, Calimshan, and the Nelather Isles; all of which rely on Amn for trade and as such follow strict rules concerning Arcane magic. Combines these nations are known as the Lands Of Intrigue and number more that 28 million people including mainland Amn.
Additionally, Amn reaches out further afield if it can. Thanks to ocean trade through the Shining Sea and The Great Sea, nations in the Shining South have become increasingly more reliant of Calimshan and Amn for trade. The two main nations of the area, the dwarven nation of East Rift, and the southern human nation of Dambrath import much of their food and livestock from the Lands Of Intrigue. If a international incident was to occur, these nations would be forced to side with them or face starvation.
Finally. It's rumoured that Amn has developed trans-planar trade. If this is the case Amn may well be the most powerful nation on all of Toril. Only time will tell.
The Thayan Imperium
The Thayan Imperium, or simply Thay, is know for being an oligarchical mageocracy that employs necromancy and slavery to achieve it's aims. On of the most militarily capable nations despite the rather sparse population of only 5 million people. It greatly limits trade in the region known as the Unapproachable East and has earned the vassalage of many nations including Narfell, Thesk, Aglarond, and most recently Damara and Impiltur; though unofficially. They are known to have large disputes with the last dwarven nation of Vaasa who refuses to give in to Thayan demands to share their technology in order to better the standards of living in Thay.
Stand-offish with Amn, these two nations have been in an effective cold war for decades; with Amn claiming that Thay is polluting the world and barbaric in their social order and civil rights laws; while Thay criticises Amn for it capitalistic ventures claiming they are controlling the world through insidious methods via debt, bribery, and blackmail, where as they have true open markets, ownership of labour, and socialised living for all for merely swearing fealty to the Imperium.
Even with the nations they have on side, the entire region numbers only about 13 million people; however the magical capabilities are intense and the control of trade beyond Thay into the Far East nations of Kara-Tur keep Amn from attempting an invasion. Similarly, the Amnian military is far larger preventing the Red Wizards from forcing their will any further beyond the Sea Of Fallen Stars.
The Elven Isles
The island nations of Evermeet, Lantan, Nimbral, and the Moonshae are hard to reach. Navigating the Trackless Sea is particularly difficult. As such these Elven powers have little influence on the mainland. At odds with both Amn and Faerun, they have little trade. Relying on Elven High Magic they're seen as the height of decadence to Amn, however they're no friend to the Faerunian Empire either, believing the entire region to be rightfully the property of the elven settlers who originally lived there. They're believed to number more than 25 million across all these islands, and possess magics that could outperform even Thay, but their insistence on isolation make them less of a major power and more of a sleeping giant that could awaken at any time.
Returned Abeir / Laerakond
The dragonborn homelands are south of the continent of Faerun, and only newly entered the world stage, however with a population far higher than any other region, numbering more than 37 million, and all the nations united under a single union; this is a power waiting to be realised. Potentially offering the Shining South an alternative to Amn for trade, and opening up trade with the Utter East, Red Lands, and Kara-Tur; the Dragonborn have become a true challenge for economic dominance for Amn. Where their political ideals will fall remains to be seen, but they are likely to become a power player in the politics of Toril.
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