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Originally posted by Vvornth

Speaking of Amn and Tethyr, on the timeline I noticed that two areas seceded willingly from Amn to Tethyr in 1370. This tells me that their cultures are fairly similar for such an event to take place. Anyone know the specifics in this secession?

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Originally posted by Lemernis

Um, I'm not sure how to get a hold of Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II...

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Originally posted by Lemernis

Anyone mind sharing what info is available re: the Battlescarred Bard...

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Originally posted by DM_Djinn

Hello folks! So, I'm a few years late to the game but I've been using the Lands of Intrigue Boxed Set for my campaign for years now.

I'm reading through all the replies here and it is so helpful to learn how other DMs used this info for their portrayals!

I have to ask, someone linked a Lands of Intrigue web expansion by WotC, but the link went dead (as did all those other wotc links).

Does anyone have a copy of this free web enhancement that they could share?

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Originally posted by Lemernis

I'm in the process of learning more about the "Empires of the Sands", namely, Amn, Tethyr, Calimshan. Looking at the source material I can see that there are clearly real world Arab cultural inspirations there.

I realize this discussion opens a larger can of worms about how the Forgotten Realms draws so heavily from real world historical cultures and mythologies. There advantages and disadvantages to that. But for many regions in the Realms there's no mistaking that they are heavily derivative from real world sources. I realize the parallels with real world cultures of the past are intended as a point of departure, but I just want to make sure I understand that foundation correctly.

The 3rd Ed. Net Compendium submits the following parallels:

Amn
Cultural Reference: Spain and Portugal
Names: Spanish and Portugese

Tethyr
Cultural Reference: North Africa
Names: Arabian

Calimshan
Cultural Reference: Iranian Sultantate
Names: Iranian or Turkish

But as I look over Lands of Intrigue and Empires of the Sands, I think the Net Compendium missed the mark for two of these regions.

For Athkatla at least, the mention of pashas, emirs, and the like is distinctly Turkish. Djin are certainly inspired by Arab mythology. The illustrations in Lands of Intrigue: Amn show a turbanned folk, sitting on rugs and pillows.

And Athkatla strikes me as having a fairly strong parallel with Constantinople during the Byzantine era. Constantinople was situated at the crossroads of the Romanized/European and Arab worlds; and similarly Athkatla, seems a mixture of Faerunian and Calishite influences--though more strongly influended by Calimshan.

Anyway, so far Amn strikes me as derivative of Turkey, not Spain/Portugal.

Tethyr, on the other hand, in contrast does feel much more like Spain, with its European-styled monarchy and aristrocracy. I'm not seeing any Calishite (i.e., pseudo-Persian) influence to speak of. When I read about Tethyr I'm having a hard time distinguishing it from any Heartlands (pseudo-European) region. So I could see this region as having stronger parallels with Spain--i.e., it seems much more like a northern of central European power during the Renaissance.

For Tethyr, I do not see any parallel at all with North African Arab culture. When I think "North Africa/Arabian" I'm immediately put in mind of Morocco, or perhaps Saudi Arabia. And I don't see any of such cultural influence at all so far as I look over Lands of Intrigue: Tethyr

Calimshan seems unambiguously derivative of Persia. Pashas, sultans, djinni, flying carpets, the whole nine. So there I think the Net Compendium got it right.

Anyway, what do you think? Are the parallels I'm making above roughly accurate? Any history buffs out there that can correct any mistaken impressions I may have?

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