Akanûl in 1479 DR
Akanûl
Geographical information
Capital	Airspur
Area	Chessenta
Societal information
Races	Primarily genasi
Political information
Government	Meritocratic constitutional monarchy
Ruler	Queen Arathane Heads of Government: The Four Stewards

Akanûl is a land that once belonged to the world of Abeir as part of the realm of Shyr, but was transposed onto the plane of Toril during the ravages of the Spellplague. The land carried with it a large population of Abeir genasi who, as of 1479 DR, control the region that used to be Chondath and western Chessenta.^[1]

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Climate 1.2 Regions 1.3 Towns and cities 2 Society 3 History 4 Government 5 Military 5.1 Foreign relations 6 Demographics 7 References 7.1 Notes 7.2 Sources

GeographyEdit

Akanûl resembles Abeir much more than Toril. The vast majority of land is a hodgepodge of spectacular spires and erratic ravines. It boasts the largest number of earthmotes and watermotes in all of Faerûn. The southern edge of the region is bordered by a large finger of the Underchasm. One of the land's more unusual feature is an enormous piece of translucent quartz known as the Glass Mesa, which citizens are forbidden from approaching.^[1]

ClimateEdit

Akanûl is primarily temperate, but due to the large amount of wild elemental energy lingering from the separation from Abeir, wind patterns are erratic, as is weather. The climate in Akanûl is largely humid, due to the constant drift of mist and rain from the watermotes that float over the countryside.^[2]

RegionsEdit

Akanapeaks

These mountains lay to the north of Akanûl, along the coast of the Sea of Fallen Stars. They are believed to be the home of a powerful gray dragon, whose name is unknown.^[3]

Chondalwood

One of the few original features of Toril remaining in Akanûl, the Chondalwood is not officially claimed by the Akanûl government, though it frequently sends foresters into the haunted forest. Once the home of the ghostwise halflings the Chondalwood was sharply changed by the Spellplague into a landscape of floating junglemotes and cavernous ravines overrun by plaguechanged vegetation.^[3]

Mere-That-Was

Formerlly a lake known as the Akanamere, the Spellplague dried up most of the water and now only a small remnant of the lake remains. Parts of the region are lush grasslands but the southern region contains a wasteland that's lashed by strange elemental storms. Strange rock and crystal formations are found throughout the region. The Mere-That-Was is almost completely uninhabited by humans or genasi.^[4]

Spur Forest

This small forest nestled next to the Akanapeaks contains strange, plaguechanged vegetation. It's the home of the Kaia, a huge, nocturnal wormlike beast.^[4]

Towns and citiesEdit

Airspur

Built from sea to sky, Airspur is a city of wondrous sites and inventions. Earthmotes and steeds, magical teleportation, and a system of pulleys and counterweights. The result is a sprawling city of mechanical and magical marvels. This is Akanûl's seat of power, where Queen Arathane rules along with the Stewards of Earth, Fire, Sea, and Sky. ^[5] Airspur is built upon the ruins of a previous human city of the same name.^[2]

Brassune

Though Airspur may be Akanûl's most prominent city, Brassune is its oldest and it was the first settlement established in Akanûl by the genasi. The city proper is, at this point, abandoned although the Firestorm Cabal, a renegade nationalist group that believes the government incompetent or negligent, maintains a large stronghold on a forestmote overlooking the ruins of the old city. There, the Firestorm Cabal stands vigilant against the threat posed by the Abolethic Sovereignty.^[3]

Deepspur

Although most genasi of Akanûl have the windsoul manifestation, those who manifest other elements gravitate to Deepspur, a city built into the sheer cliffs that sink into a chasm in the Akanapeaks. The precious gems and metals found in the caves surrounding this city have made Akanûl rich, but of late, many genasi and other humanoids have disappeared from Deepspur without a trace.^[6]

New Breen

Rising up above the Bay of Akanûl, this city stands on an earthmote and is inhabited almost entirely by genasi. The city was created in the image of an Abeiran genasi city called Breen. Waters flow from an unseen source deep within the earthmote, spilling in a perpetual mist into the sea below. The falls encircle and island neighborhood known as Lower Breen, which is a rich and thriving trading port. The island prospers as a gateway between the east and west.^[7]

Tohrepur

This ruined city sat on the shore of the Akanamere before it dried up during the Spellplague. The city was destroyed by the Abolethic Sovereignty in 1473 DR.^[4]

SocietyEdit

Akanûl is mostly composed of the descendants of the genasi refugees of the land of Shyr in Abeir. The genasi of Shyr were being oppressed by the primordial Karshimis. When Akanûl dropped into Toril, the residents were overjoyed to find that Karshimis' citadel had not made the jump. Those refuges set about creating a realm of their own and founded the city of Airspur on the shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars. Akanûl is now counted among the kingdoms of Faerûn.^[1]

Airspur is a glittering three-dimensional city built into a series of elemental spires and earthmotes. The upper regions of the city are not actually directly connected to the ground below. It is ruled by Queen Arathane and the Four Stewards of Earth, Fire, Sea and Sky. The court is entirely composed of genasi. The Stewards oversee specialized sections of government, while the Queen controls the major action of government. The Steward of Earth heads up the spy network of Akanûl. The Steward of Fire serves as the general of the army and is primarily concerned with the defense of Airspur. The Steward of Sea is also known as the Lord of Coin and oversees the business of the realm. The Steward of Sky serves as final arbiter of disputes and enforces the laws of Akanûl.^[1]

HistoryEdit

Historically, Akanûl was a nation-state located in the continent of Shyr on Abeir, Toril's long-forgotten twin world. There, Akanûl was ruled over by the tyrannical primordial Karshimis, who reigned from a fortress of burning ice. During the Spellplague, however, a large portion of Akanûl was transferred from Abeir to Toril, in the location of Chondath and Chessenta. Upon discovering that Karshimis had failed to make the transfer, the genasi of Akanûl celebrated their newfound independence and set about forming their own realm, which continues to exist into the present day.^[2]

Roughly half a century after this, Akanûl faced its first major threat as a nation from the Abolethic Sovereignty. During the ensuing war the capital city of Brassune was laid to waste and the Akanûlian fled to the south, building the city of Airspur on the ruins of an ancient Chondathan city. Today, Akanûl is at peace, though many of its citizens remain concerned about the growing power of their northern neighbor.^[2]

GovernmentEdit

As a genasi-dominated nation, Akanûl's social structure, while largely authoritarian, is highly meritocratic in nature and most genasi can aspire to great heights if they are talented and work hard enough. Ruling over the kingdom but bound by the rule of law is Akanûl's sovereign, currently Queen Arathane, who rules from an enormous floating spire. Queen Arathane plays a large part in Akanûlian society and is responsible for the ultimate well-being of her citizens, which she takes very seriously.^[1]

Though the queen is an important and powerful figure she is legally required to delegate many of her responsibilities to the Four Stewards, each a minister representing one of four elements — fire, water, earth, and wind — and who are responsible for a portion of the kingdom's affairs, ruling from their own private fiefdom, known as a thronemote. The Steward of Fire, currently Magnol, is responsible for the management of Akanûl's military defenses and is the realm's commander-in-chief, while Tradrem Kethtrod, Steward of the Earth, is the nation's chief of intelligence. Myxofin, Steward of the Sea, runs the nation's economy. Lastly, Lehaya, the current Steward of the Sky, is the realm's primary executive officer, charged with ensuring the smooth regulation of the queen's law.^[1]

Although the Four Stewards primarily exist as administrative assistants and advisers, they also hold a considerable amount of power over Akanûl's monarch. By royal decree of Arathane's mother, the previous queen, the Four Stewards are legally empowered to override the king or queen's authority through a unanimous vote. However, should there be any split in the ranks, the monarch's word remains law.^[3]

MilitaryEdit

Akanûl's navy is known as the Waveriders.^[8]

Foreign relationsEdit

Akanûl is on friendly terms with the risen empire of High Imaskar and their neighbors across the Sea of Fallen Stars, Aglarond. The shadovar of Netheril also have an embassy in Airspur, a fact which has damaged relations with the western nations surrounding the Sea of Fallen Stars, such as Cormyr. Akanûl is, however, hostile towards the other major Abeiran exclave in Faerûn, Tymanther, owing to a longstanding grudge with the dragonkin of that land and have engaged in brief skirmishes with the land's military forces in Chessenta. Likewise, despite their common blood Akanûlians despise the slave-keeping genasi that rule large portions of Calimshan, regarding them as depraved and decadent.^[2]

DemographicsEdit

Status in Airspur is primarily racial. Genasi make up the bulk of the population and are given preferential treatment by both the government and local merchants. The refugees of Shyr and their descendants are guaranteed their basic needs by the decree of Queen Arathane. Other races in the city are mostly mercenaries, explorers, or specialized crafters and tradesmen. They are never allowed to hold office.^[1]

ReferencesEdit

NotesEdit

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6} Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p. 90-91. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p. 90. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named FRCG-p91
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} James P. Davis (May 2009). The Restless Shore. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-5131-4.
5. ↑ Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide, p. 78-79. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
6. ↑ Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide, p. 78-79. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
7. ↑ Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide, p. 78-79. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.
8. ↑ Christopher Rowe (March 2011). Sandstorm. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0786957422.

SourcesEdit

4th Edition D&D

• Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, p. 90-91. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.

• Rob Heinsoo, Logan Bonner, Robert J. Schwalb (September 2008). Forgotten Realms Player's Guide, p. 78-79. Wizards of the Coast. ISBN 978-0-7869-4929-8.