Hello everybody Jorphdan here the PH is silent.
Let’s talk about Calimshan.
I feel like we’ve talked a lot about Calimshan already, I mean it did conquer most of the
regions we’ve been talking about.
And Calimshan was there before Amn and Tethyr.
In hindsight perhaps I should have started with Calimshan, or perhaps I’ve saved the
best for last.
Let’s dive in.
Early Calimshan history is covered in elves, dragons and giants.
The Elves lived in the forests that covered much of the regions of Amn, Tethyr, and Calimshan.
The giants came in seeking to dominate the creatures in these forests but the elves were
too clever and would get alerts from the birds.
Thus able to hide from the giants.
The dragons however did not hide from the giants and fought with them over who would
control this area, and in reality who would control all of Faerun.
Humans at this time mostly survived by hiding in caves, or becoming slaves to dragons.
Eventually the dragons and giants stop warring.
Dwarves settled in for mining operations and the humans lives peacefully with all races,
mostly avoiding them.
The Dwarves and Elves established trade routes between their forests and mountain homes.
Then came the time of the genies!
In -7800 DR a large force of genies and their servants arrived in present-day Calimport.
They enslaved many of the inhabitants.
It’s unclear if the Djinn came from the elemental plane of Air, or from Zakhara.
The main Djinn that was in charge went by the name Calim.
He said that it was in revenge for their servitude, their magical bondage to wizards etcetera
that they seek to enslave mortals.
Their arrival led to the end of humanity's freedom in these areas.
The Djinn created cities and this started the Calim Empire.
For a thousand years the geni lord Calim drove his servant genies and mortal slaves to build
the early calimshan civilizations.
They drove out dragons and giants and angered the elves by taking their forests and cutting
it down.
Now different Genies went out and started to control other areas of present day Calimshan.
This angered Calim who wanted to unite control under himself once more.
So for several thousands years a great war occurred between these Genie generals.
They didn’t have many battles but when they did the destruction was catastrophic.
The elves were not having it anymore, and devised a plan to imprison the genies.
Elf high mages began casting a powerful spell collectively.
The spell pulled more than half of the major genies from around the lands including the
two Genie generals Calim and Memnon.
Within hours the genies gathered here were crushed together into a massive crystalline
red gem that hovered 20 feet from the ground.
The High Elves imprisoned Calim and Memnon there last of all, but not before splitting
their minds and bodies.
They scattered Calim’s consciousness into the four winds and Memnon’s mind into the
soil.
Thus the genie rulers were technically imprisoned in two places, within the crystal and outside it
If their minds could somehow get back to the gem it would be reunited with their body,
augmented with all the power of their followers trapped in the gem.
Spooky thought.
This spell pulling all the genies and fusing them into a crystal destroyed the area transforming
it into a hostile desert.
This location is currently the Calim desert.
This occurred around -6100 DR leaving behind human slaves and servants not knowing what
to do with their new found freedom.
The humans of Calim’s areas rebuilt much of the cities such as Calimport.
Priests filled the power gap as rulers.
Many interpreted their right to rule as a sign from the gods.
The priests ruled for several thousand years until a Red Dragon came and overthrew them.
She then ruled for 112 years until driven off by human dragonslayers.
The noble family that slew her rose up to be the royal house that ruled Calimshan, after
much infighting and debate.
Giving the title Pasha to their emperor a new ruling family was now in place.
The Marching Mountains define the northern boundaries of Calimshan.
While the eastern boundary goes all the way to the Lake of Steam.
It’s population is varied, with Humans making up the majority of it’s citizens.
But also dwarves settling in the Marching Mountains, and elves living in the lands south
of those mountains.
Halfings, Half-Orcs, and Half-Elves are not an unusual sight in Calimshan.
Off the coast lurk Sahuagin, Krakens and others.
Frightening creatures exist in the desert along with a few dragons.
Even the drow have been seen in Calimshan with major drow enclaves in the south (under
ground) and in the Forest of Mir.
Genies still exist in Calimshan but are enslaved for the most part.
They are rare and wondrous creatures that are both coveted and feared.
They are bound to servitude by a bottle, or a ring.
Religion plays an important part in Calmishan life and history.
After Calim and his genie overlords were imprisoned the mortal races embraced the worship of gods
other than Calim.
Many humans worshiped angry, vengeful gods in order to gain power quick and stamp out
the last influence of the genies.
Thus for over seven millennia the dark gods had a foothold in the hearts and minds of
many Calishites.
There haven’t been any state-mandated religions since the fall of the Shoon Imperium.
Other lands like Tethyr shun gods because of their evil practices (human sacrifice etc).
Calimshan has tolerance for all.
It sees itself as the greatest land on Faerun because it accepts all creeds and religions.
Plenty of Calishites pay lip service to whatever god will help them in a situation.
Waukeen for business, Umberlee for sea traders etc.
If more profound worship is deemed necessary, a shrine or temple for nearly every major
or minor power can be found in most communities.
Calimshan citizens seek the acquisition of money.
Where different from Amn who seeks wealth for weaths sake, Calimshan seeks wealth to
afford luxuries for your particular lifestyle.
The pursuit of money is only acceptable in order to reach a level of comfort where a
person does not have to work hard ever again.
They labor until they are rich and no longer have to work for money.
Finally Magic!
Magic is so predominant in Calimshan that even the lowest of slaves is unimpressed by
simple magics.
Their views of magic stem from its use to make everyday life easier; it has become mundane
through being used to perform common activities like serving wine or cleaning a home.
Kind of like Netheril in that respect, although in this case it must have been the
magical genies that ruled Calimshan for so long that influenced the citizens views
of magic.
And that’s where we’ll end today.
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and I hope to see you all next Wed!