Unapproachable East.pdf - The Forgotten Realms

of a dozen warships, crewed by about 1,000 sailors) is based
there as well.
While there are only 6,000 troops on the Simbul’s payroll,
the farmers, hunters, and fishers of the land are ready to fight.
In times of war, the number of available troops can easily
swell to 30,000 or more. Invaders who reach Aglarond’s cities
can expect to fight against every able-bodied man and woman
in the region. As residents of a peninsula, the Aglarondans
have few places to run.
Aglarondan soldiers are mostly infantry armed with
bows, pikes, and swords. About 15% of their forces are
mounted, including an elite guard of about a hundred
griffonriders stationed at strategic points around the
country. These elite units are normally used as scouts and
messengers rather than in open battle. They are too precious
to risk unless absolutely necessary.
Despite being surrounded by water on three sides, Aglarond
has a small navy. To reach its cities, a fleet from Thay would
have to circumnavigate the entire peninsula, well out past the
cape of Altumbel and the archipelago of the Thousand Swords.
Thus. the Simbul’s ships are primarily intended for pirate-chasing
and spend most of their time at sea patrolling the western
coasts. Aglarond’s army uses small “coastboats,” shallow,
cheap boats like long canoes propelled by oars and a lateenrigged
sail. These can move up and down rivers as well as along
the coast and are particularly useful for hit-and-run attacks
against invaders.
The half-elves of the Yuirwood have an elite corps of
rangers known as foresters. These men and women are loyal
to the crown, but they are more of a police force than a military
unit. They patrol the edges of the Yuirwood, keeping
an eye out for invaders or even travelers who have lost their
way. They also help keep the peace between nonnatives and
the more xenophobic half-elves who live in the forest’s
deepest parts.
RELIGION
Aglarondans are not particularly devout. The typical Aglarondan
believes the gods are not directly involved in ordinary
daily events and does not pay them much mind. Aglarondan
farmers favor Chauntea, while fishers pay tribute to Valkur,
patron of sailors, and Selûne, who is in charge of the stars by
which they navigate. Half-elves often worship forest gods like
Mielikki and Silvanus or any members of the Seldarine, particularly
Rillifane Rallathil.
Adventurers
In the past, adventurers have passed by Aglarond for what
they thought were richer lands, ignoring the dozens of ancient
ruins scattered throughout the Yuirwood in favor of betterknown
locations. With the recent influx of trade in this part
of the world, rumors about the hidden treasures of Aglarond
are spreading.
AGLAROND
103
The people of Aglarond aren’t hospitable toward adventurers.
As the local saying goes, “It’s better to leave some
stones unturned.” Besides the coast-dwellers’ traditional suspicion
of spellcasters, folk here believe that poking around
in ancient ruins can only lead to trouble. There’s a reason
why such places have been undisturbed for so long, after all.
The people of the Yuirwood are no less suspicious of intruders
tromping through their lands. Any foreigner is a potential
Thayan spy and is generally treated accordingly until
proven otherwise.
Politics and Power
Ever since half-elves prevailed in the racial wars that tore the
country apart over three hundred years ago, a monarch has
ruled the people of Aglarond, starting with the legendary King
Brindor. The Simbul has been Aglarond’s queen for a little
over fifty years, and during that time she has built up an informal
hierarchy of trusted officers, civic-minded merchants,
and noble allies who serve as a civil administration. The
Simbul’s cult of personality has drastically increased the
monarch’s ability to get things done, but she has so far neglected
to formalize any of her appointments or arrangements,
so her death or disappearance would signal the end of effective
centralized rule in the country, at least for a time.
A Royal Council of powerful nobles and representatives
from participating Aglarondan communities advises the
monarch. Not all take advantage of the opportunity, preferring
instead to chart their own course, distinct from that of
Aglarond as a whole. The Simbul keeps her own counsel, despite
what her advisors may have to say. They are not often
privy to her larger plans for guiding the land’s destiny. Instead,
they handle the daily affairs of the nation. The council
numbers thirty-three members, some of whom are the
designated representatives of cities and towns, and others of
whom are nobles with hereditary seats. About a dozen council
members are close allies of the Simbul and part of her administration,
but a handful oppose her rule and constrain her
ability to do as she wishes.
Aglarond’s ruler has traditionally chosen his or her own
successor. Often this is the monarch’s heir, but the last few
rulers have not been related by blood. Since the Simbul has
no children of her own, it’s anyone’s guess as to whom she
might name to follow her. Given her penchant for disappearing
for months on end, the Simbul has acceded to the
council’s request to tentatively name a successor. She hasn’t
been so foolish as to make public the identity of this individual,
however. Instead, she has given magically sealed envelopes
to several trustworthy Aglarondans (including her
High Steward), to be opened only upon conclusive proof of
her death. On several occasions in the past, various of the
Simbul’s sisters impersonated her during some of her absences
(at her request, and with her later support of their ruling
decisions), so proof of her death may not be readily accepted
by Aglarondans.