Unapproachable East.pdf - The Forgotten Realms

The zulkirs appoint tharchions, or governors, to run the
eleven tharchs. These tharchions in turn appoint a number
of local bureaucrats called autharchs to oversee various locations
and projects for them. Autharchs are often replaced
quickly, always at the whim of their tharchion. Those who
are incompetent are removed soon after being discovered.
Those who are successful are promoted to tharchion as soon
as there’s an opening, but many of the current tharchions,
not wishing to lose their jobs, engineer the downfall of such
hopefuls to eliminate contenders. Only the truly ruthless and
resourceful manage to work their way up to the rank of tharchion,
and they’re not going to go down without a fight.
The leader of a trade enclave is called a khazark. This position
is supposedly equal in rank to an autharch, but in practice,
it is even more respected, because only Red Wizards can
hold such rank. Members of any class can become tharchions,
the highest post in the land to which a Thayan can aspire who
is not one of the Red Wizards.
There is supposed to be a chain of command in which the
zulkirs hand orders down to the tharchions and khazarks, and
they to their inferiors, and so on until commoners boss around
slaves. In reality, the zulkirs order around whomever they like,
whenever they like. None dare tell them they should work differently.
The problem is that the zulkirs end up being the only
ones who can see the big picture. Since there are eight of them,
each with their personal agenda, each issues orders that are
often in direct conflict with others. It is then up to subordinate
Thayans to choose which master to follow and hope they
can escape the wrath of the zulkir whose orders they were
forced to ignore.
This inherent problem with the Thayan government has
proved to be its weak point again and again. Because there is
no one in charge of everything, no one responsible for making
it all work, the various factions in Thay end up spending more
time battling one another than carrying out their plans for
world domination. This has been a saving grace for the rest
of Toril. Should a single zulkir ever manage to take full control
of the nation, the rest of the world is in for a rough ride.
The latest example of Thayan disharmony is the fact that
not every zulkir and tharchion is behind the “make trade, not
war” doctrine the zulkirs are currently following. Tharchion
Homen Odesseiron of Surthay, for instance, is planning to
launch an invasion of Rashemen soon, largely at the urging
of Tharchion Azhir Kren of Gauros, who is itching for a fight.
Both tharchions feel they have been shut out of the prosperity
brought about by the trade boom, and they are desperate
to reestablish themselves as the figures of importance they
were during Thay’s more warlike years.
Both Odesseiron and Kren have been massing their forces
for months. They plan to take Mulsantir before anyone,
zulkirs and the Rashemi alike, realizes what is happening.
They believe that if they succeed, there will be no complaints
from Eltabbar. If they fail, they hope to be dead enough to
be beyond even the necromantic grasp of Szass Tam.
For more details on the Red Wizards and the specific people
who rule Thay, see the FORGOTTEN REALMS Campaign Setting
and the Lords of Darkness accessory.
THAY
164
Enemies
From Thay’s point of view, every other nation in the world
is its foe. It used to be that the Thayans expressed this belief
openly, making diplomatic efforts pointless. In recent years,
as a part of their trade plans, they have toned down their
rhetoric. The Red Wizards see themselves and their way of life
as superior to all else, but they are circumspect enough not to
tattoo this on their own foreheads or on those of their defeated
foes—for now.
AGLAROND
Over the centuries, the Aglarondans have been Thay’s most
implacable foe. From the Thayan point of view, the peninsula
of Aglarond must be theirs. It’s a perfect point from which
to launch offensives into the other lands surrounding the Sea
of Fallen Stars. If the land is not in Thayan hands, it’s the
primary spot from which any counteroffensive against Thay
would likely begin.
Despite their best efforts, the soldiers of Thay have never
been able to penetrate Aglarond. The Dragonjaw Mountains
and the Yuirwood defend the country almost as thoroughly as
the First Escarpment guards Thay, and the Aglarondans have
made the most of these advantages. The primary example of
this is the Watchwall, which keeps the Red Wizards from
sending undead troops through the treacherous Umber
Marshes into Aglarond.
The Red Wizards have an especially cold hatred in their
rotten hearts for the Simbul. It frustrates them to no end that
a woman—and a sorcerer to boot—can thwart their combined
efforts. The zulkirs are elated that the Simbul agreed to the
most recent truce, but they are suspicious at the same time.
They hope she will soon permit them to place an enclave in
Glarondar, but they know it will require far more to worm
their way into Aglarond than simply asking.
MULHORAND
To the Thayans, Mulhorand is the gateway to southern
Faerûn. Also, it is the motherland of the Mulan people, whom
the Red Wizards would love to unite under a single banner.
However, Mulhorand, once a nation in decline, is on the rise
once again.
Thay has tried to invade Mulhorand a number of times
over the centuries since winning its independence. The largest
problem has always been the geography of the region. Only a
narrow strip of land along the Sunrise Mountains allows Thay
to march an army south. The Mulhorandi always patrol this
territory, so the Thayans have a hard time getting far into the
country. Likewise, the Mulhorandi Empire has attacked Thay
on more than one occasion, hoping to recapture their long-lost
northern province and forge an unstoppable giant in eastern
Faerûn.
Foiled by the stalemate in the north, Mulhorand recently
turned west and invaded decrepit Unther. Like everyone else,