The History of Sembia - Forgotten Realms Lore

The History of Sembia is one mired in merchant power struggle and Cormanthyr interests.
Today we speak with a native Sembian Historian to get an understanding of where his nation came from, and what major milestones defined its History.
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At Faerun History we take Forgotten Realms Lore seriously and will research each episode heavily before writing the script. - If you find something in this video that goes against Forgotten Realms Canon Lore, please highlight this to us in the topic, and we will do our best to address this.
This story is read to us by a fellow Realms Historian, Michael from the channel RoleReviewsal. - Check it out here:
/ rolereviewsal
Sources for the information found in this video can be found at: faerunhistory.wordpress.com/
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Also available on Reddit under:
/ faerunhistory
#dnd #dungeonsanddragons #rpg

[@kainlockley]

I would love to see a series on the Dalelands. Also, one on Vaasa & Damara detailing the triumph of Gareth Dragonsbane over Zengyi the Witch-King.

[@kainlockley]

That's fair. Life happens & stuff. Love the content.

[@GokmenOncu]

Another great video! Thanks! I actually was waiting for the details about Sembia - Cormyr war which mentioned in SCAG. I found really little about this major event and really looking for informations about it. You already mentioned about the last part, about Netherese flying cities. Sembia moved into Dalelands which protected by Cormyr. Cormyr retaliate and soon after Dalelands became war zone. Netheril moved its troops near Cormyr border. But in the end both Sembia and Netheril defeated.

[@Jorphdan]

That spinning world opening was amazing. What software do you use to edit your videos and effects?

[@madhatterhimself181]

I think a particularly interesting topic to clarify would be "A History of the High Forest" So much of what lies within those ancient woods are a mystery, while some truly important locales lie within them as well. Adding to this is that the forest itself is the primary home of not one, not two, but three minor Fearûnian deities: Shillia, her father Tapann, and the spirit of the High Forest itself: The Tree Ghost.

[@yager6627]

I love all that you produce. I absolutely enjoy the work you put into these video productions. The nasal lisp vernacular induced me to immediate rage. In a campaign, I would punch this guy's face in. He's soooooooo snoooooootty!! Great job of adding several sniffing sounds between your delivery. The voice actors performance of being the most annoying, arrogant, and 'know-it-all' noble nailed the character. Even if I do hate him he did a great good job. All I can think of is Ferris Buhler being the sasage king of Chicago and dealing with a rude waiter.

[@joshpwnsnoobs]

thanks for another great video. didnt know lots of this

[@johnnyredleg1]

This is impressive. Any chance we can get longer videos?

[@TenguBE]

awesome work man

[@thad594]

This is awesome. Where do you get those pictures for the characters? Thanks for sharing.

[@johnstuartkeller5244]

The history of Amn, soon?

[@johnstuartkeller5244]

Would it! The fashion may be different, but Athkatla reminds me of Dumas' Paris as depicted in the Three Musketeers books.

[@FelipeWalker2]

new sub here :)

[@Finn_MacCool]

It's the Moonsea. Not the "Dragon Sea". There is no Dragon Sea in Faerun. Also, Rauthauvyr's Road doesn't go all the way through Cormanthor. It links with the Moonsea Ride near the Standing Stone. Which is a much older road created by the Dalesmen.

[@anon-yw4wd]

Why did this project stop making content? ☹️☹️☹️

[@wildersmith9443]

Fantastic

[@ForgottenRealmsHistory]

Thank you :)

[@MrSambroady]

Neverwinter would be nice topic 🖖🏻

[@madhatterhimself181]

If one was to do Neverwinter, it would probably be wisest to focus on Neverwinter either Post or Pre the eruption of Mount Hotenow. That still wouldn't fix the endless stream of information about the city, but it would certainly be a start.

[@JuergenGDB]

Not sure if its done but the Western Heartlands is full of history as well as the Silver Marches.

[@JuergenGDB]

Watched them all.. :) I guess as a GM I do more research on the countries and city states than I do Dieties, planes and the Hells. Anyways good stuff.

[@EricoDeCastro]

This video makes me believe that Netheril actually returned in, aparently, a significant way after the Avatar spell. Is that the case?

[@madhatterhimself181]

I'm not sure "set back" is the right word to describe: "All their major leaders are dead and their flying cities destroyed + they no longer have the support of Shar the goddess of night, to protect and guide them." Honestly, after the Second Sundering, it would be far more appropriate to say that Shade-Netheril has been broken, its unique "flair" of humans barely even existing anymore, especially with basically every other country in Faerûn seeing them as: "Kill on Sight"-Targets.

[@madhatterhimself181]

Certainly possible. An additional factor is that at the end of "The Herald" both Manarlume and Lelavdra Tanthul were alive and in the company of one of Shade's most powerful Arcanists. These two princesses of Shade were highly popular with each rank of Shadovar-Society; so perhaps the two of them could reclaim a significant following among the returned Netherese (especially since they feel quite a lot of good will and loyalty towards one another).

[@madhatterhimself181]

We do definitively need an explanation of why the Zhentarim has taken the turn that it has. Especially since Manshoon as he is after Spellstorm is somewhat of an enigma: "Has he returned to controlling the Black Network, or hasn't he? And if not, is he going to?" In addition, if he has taken over the Black Network again, is the shift in business-philosophy his doing? It certainly would fit what he claims is his new outlook on himself, Toril, the Zhentarim, and Elminster... Or is this a change that occurred without him? It feels hard to believe since the Zhentarim was in a "civil war" between its Banite and its Cyricist members less than a decade earlier (by Dale Reckoning).

[@madhatterhimself181]

Manshoon is back, and indeed not as he used to be, he is a far different character in "Spellstorm" Reasonable, literally willing to ally himself with a Harper, Melchor Harpell. Greenwood comments on the matter here: dnd.wizards.com/articles/interviews/ed-greenwood-spellstorm I definitely agree that the Zhentarim has become more gray, now literally Good-Aligned characters can find themselves comfortably fit into the organization. It makes sense that this change has been made from a Meta-Perspective, as described in the Dungeons & Dragons Podcast "Lore You Should Know" relating to the Emerald Enclave and why it suddenly was made into a massive organization, spanning across the Realms, despite that absolutely not being the case earlier on. To me, the only real question is WHY the change has occurred within Fearûn itself. I would definitively like to see a D&D-Book focused on the status of the different factions of "evil" within Toril as it stands (a bit about the Cult of the Dragon and the Elemental Cults would also be interesting), and with how Wizards have been focusing on releasing books written "In Character" I kinda see Mirt as perhaps the most interesting option for a in-lore writer of such a book, especially with how he was depicted in "The Herald," as someone so familiar with the villains of Faerûn and how they think, that he doesn't truly fear them, while still understanding them as being far mightier than him. "The Masked Lord's Guide to Villainy"

[@joshpwnsnoobs]

love this threatd

[@millerdiamond708]

there where no elfs on earth we never had to deal with them in the middle ages the Medieval era of human history

[@SimonAshworthWood]

"Mere of Dead Men"? So that's where all the victims of murder hobos are put.