Selgaunt

A large city at the mouth of the River Arkhen (the natives will inform you curtly that its true name is the Elzimmer, named after a local water mage), Selgaunt is the wealthiest (and by connotation, most advanced) city in Sembia. Originally named Chauncelgaunt, it was renamed after the powerful merchant Selgar, whose tomb is within the city walls.

Selgaunt is ruled by the hulorn, a hereditary merchant mayor. The current hulorn is Andeth Ilchammar (CN hm W6), a halfmad, bored playboy who thinks himself gifted by mysterious and unrevealed greater powers to have a higher purpose in life, a divine mission that has yet to be revealed. As in all Sembian cities, the true power is with the merchants. Selgaunt has a number of powerful temples, including ones dedicated to Lliira, Sune, Milil, Deneir, and Oghma, in addition to shrines to Lathander and Tymora.

Selgauntans are proud, almost snobbish people, barely tolerating other Sembians, much less the great unwashed masses beyond the borders of civilization. They regard the Dalesmen as savages, and those of Archendale in particular as brutal savages. Given that the natives of Archendale have within living history destroyed another Dale and still maintain a significant army, this may not be the smartest attitude to profess.