Amn Amn , also known as the Merchant ' s Domain , was a tremendously wealthy nation in West Faerûn . Prior to the Spellplague and the continent ' s disappearance , Amn held colonies far away in Maztica . Post - Spellplague it still controlled important trade routes to Calimshan and Baldur ' s Gate as well as colonial ports in the Moonshaes and Chult . Its population , mostly human with a large minority population of halfling s , was historically in the range of 3 million . The country ' s natural resources and wealth , combined with its mercantile nature led Amn to become one of the most important and influential trading centers throughout Faerûn . The crowning jewel of this powerful state was the capital city of Athkatla , founded in 100 DR or 0 AR in official documents and often known as the " City of Coin . " Geography . Geographically , Amn was a fairly small state , though its size was impressive compared with its neighbor and frequent rival , Baldur ' s Gate . Historically , Amn held several colonies in Maztica but during the Spellplague these disappeared from Toril along with the rest of the continent . However , Amn remained a colonial power through the 15th century DR , primarily through its fortified ports in both Chult and the Moonshae Isles , as well as the Mhair Archipelago . Climate . The weather was pleasant almost all the year round in Amn . At Lake Esmel , the temperature was warmer due to the hot springs . A diverse selection of crops grew very well in Amn , making for a surplus which was traded with other nations . Amn ' s rainy season was from Uktar to early Tarsakh . The winters were mild with minor freezes and a little snow all across the nation with the exception of Esmeltaran on Lake Esmel . Although the rivers froze over during Hammer , they did not harden enough to make crossing the ice safe . Due to blizzards in the Cloud Peaks over the winter , Nashkel could often become isolated from Athkatla . History . Amn , one of Faerûn ' s youngest nations but also one of its richest , had a brief but crowded history . By the time of the Spellplague , Amn had expanded further than any other Faerûnian power yet , reaching its influence to the shores of the fabled continent of Maztica across the Trackless Sea . There , it remained a local power until , during the cataclysmic events of the Year of Blue Fire the entire continent disappeared , along with all of its inhabitants . Even so , Amn ' s status as a colonial power was hardly broken and in the absence of its old colonies , the ambitious rulers of the Merchant ' s Domain instead opened up colonies in the more local arenas of Chult , the Mhair Archipelago , and the Moonshae Isles . Economy . Money flowed in and out of Amn like no other country . It received a lot of goods from Calimshan and Tethyr to the south , on their way to the Heartlands in the north . It was rivals with Waterdeep and Sembia . While most often drawing merchants and businessmen , it also attracted adventurers from many lands , even from outside Faerûn . Thanks to its vast wealth and the amount of import that was placed upon smooth and efficient trade , merchant companies , often run by wealthy families or " houses , " held a great deal of the power in Amn , so much so that they could compete with more traditional political forces in the country . In the past , stone was imported from Mirabar via Luskan for use in construction , having been magically transported which was an expensive process . Since Luskan ' s demise , however , this particular route was cut off . While trade was definitely profitable in Amn the nation ' s lifeline of commerce was constantly under threat from the savage land of Muranndin directly to the south . Government . Since its unification under Thayze Selemchant Amn was ruled by the Council of Six , who resided in Athkatla . Their main duties were to maintain trade within and outside of Amn , controlling nearly every aspect regarding the economy of the nation . Separate from their economic concerns , the council also coordinated the militaristic defense of the nation , a task in which each individual member had a particular role . These positions were anonymously held . After the Spellplague , however , things changed . The number of seats on the Council was reduced from six to five . Amn remained an oligarchy but abandoned all pretenses of being anything else and the positions on the Council were openly held by the rulers of five noble houses : Alibakkar , Dannihyr , Nashivaar , Ophal , and Selemchant . However , despite all appearances to the contrary , many other forces continued to hold a great deal of power in the country , despite the efforts of the Council to contain them . Directly beneath the Council in power were the head merchant families , who often wielded considerable political power as it is from among their ranks from which new council members were elected . While families who didn ' t have a member on the council had little direct governmental power , their influence and authority among the town or cities in which they resided was still considerable . In any given city of Amn there were between ten and thirty heavily influential families , with Athkatla having forty - two families that controlled the nation ' s trading houses . Next down in the power scheme of Amn were its mercantile houses , companies formed by the consolidation of two or more lesser merchants ' or merchant families ' wealth . Both the Council and the Shadow Thieves supported these consortia , investing small shares in order to keep an eye on the economic interests of the guilds and lesser families . The success of a house might make or break the influence and power of its investors . Standing beside the merchant houses in power were the Cowled Wizards , the Emerald Cabal , and the Shadow Thieves , each of whom possessed an enormous degree of unofficial power behind the scenes . The Cowled Wizards were themselves the only legal arcane institution in Amn , all others banned by decree of the Council , and were controlled by the powerful Selemchants , who they served most often as underhanded agents or mercenaries . Opposing the Cowled Wizards were the secretive Emerald Cabal , a league of illegal arcane spellcaster s opposed to the entire Amnian system and who were unafraid to use violent means to achieve their ends . Like the Emeral Cabal , the Shadow Thieves ' power was substantially illegal but in spite of this they held a considerable amount of power comparable to that of the merchant houses of Cowled Wizards , heading a criminal network that flowed between their lair in Crimmor , the rest of Amn , and the nations of the Sword Coast to the north . Foreign relations . Some of the southern settlements in Amn had split loyalties , with some preferring to join Tethyr to the south , because of its recent prosperity . Currently the border between Amn and Tethyr is formed by the Tethir Road , although some disputed this , claiming it to be the Tejarn Hills . To the east , Amn ' s extent is marked by Shilmista , and to the west , by the Sea of Swords . Muranndin , the " monster kingdom , " poses a significant threat to Amnian trade from the south and during the 1370s waged a destructive war on Amn that resulted in the slavery of thousands of Amnians , whose unfortunate descendants continued to suffer under foreign rule . To Amn , a country known for its sparse values but which banned open , outright slavery , this was a festering wound . In the north , Amn extended to the northern edge of the Cloud Peaks and Nashkel . Historically , Amn had a strong rivalry with Baldur ' s Gate , which nearly resulted in war during the Iron Crisis of the 1360s . However , more recently Amn ' s attentions have turned to Waterdeep , Amn ' s chief rival for international trade . Generally speaking , Amn had few friends , and even Tethyr , ostensibly Amn ' s ally , viewed its neighbor ' s activities with deep concern . Demographics . Around a sixth of the population of Amn lived within its cities and major towns , with the rest living in villages and rural farmlands . Two thirds of the population lived west of Lake Esmel . Around the Year of Wild Magic roughly 84 % of inhabitants were human and 15 % halfling . The latter number , however , grew substantially in the 15th century DR due in large part to the destruction of Luiren , the ancestral home of the halfling race . The native humans of Amn were primarily descended from Calishite s and Tethyrian s . A very small proportion of Amn ' s inhabitants were shield dwarves ( in the mountainous areas ) and wild elves ( in Shilmista or Snakewood ) , and fewer still from these races decided to inhabit the cities . Gnomes were a rare sight in the cities and aroused interest . Except for Purskul , whose labour force was more than 20 % half - orc , this race and half - elves were rare . Half - orcs were looked down upon as second - class citizens . The establishment of a Shou Town is on the way at Athkatla . ( source ) Halflings . In Amnian society , humans treated halflings as equals thanks to their business skills . Although human businesses tended to have a strict hierarchy and leadership , halflings tended to rely more on teamwork , with no one individual having sole responsibility . Few halflings lived west of Esmeltaran , preferring to live in segregation in this city or in Riatavin , because these settlements were near the lost halfling realm of Meiritin Languages . Although most languages were spoken in Amn due to the large number of traders from all across the Realms , Thorass was used for official documents and speeches . This was despite Common being used exclusively for this purpose in other neighbouring lands . A regional language sometimes referred to as Amnian common was spoken by the rural inhabitants of Amn , and this was made up of a dialect of Common with certain words in Thorass . There were a number of phrases in common usage in Amn which are unique to the nation . See Amnian phrases . Culture . Religion . There was no state religion in Amn . Any religious practice was tolerated provided it did not interfere with the Council of Six ( the government ) . All religions were represented in Amn , and religious freedom was important to its inhabitants . Some deities were more favoured than others due to their portfolios in relation to the day - to - day affairs of the people . Status . Money was the key to status in Amn . A successful person was measured by the amount of wealth they display in material possessions , to the extent that it was possible to buy nobility , at the right price . Lavish parties were common in recognition of events such as a business success , and these were often expensive , but acted to further demonstrate the wealthy status of the host . Status could also be demonstrated by giving expensive gifts or gratuities . Status could be measured in terms of the location of a person ' s property , although not so much importance was placed on the amount of land owned . Athkatla was the most coveted of places for a residence , and the Gem District was the best area in the city . As a merchant family rose in status , it was expected to acquire more than one property , and estates around Lake Esmel were the finest of these . Another form of demonstrating status was one ' s attire . Women often wore turbans , with more elaborate and ornate examples showing off higher status , such as gold , silver or platinum threaded embroidery . Metal - embroidered silk garments were popular amongst all classes and both genders . Vests or cloaks of fur from the North were in fashion , despite the temperate climate . Jewellery could be another show of status . Gem - inlaid precious metal rings were common , and pearls ( especially black pearls ) were in high demand . Dressing in ornate or fancy garments and jewellery was frowned upon amongst the wealthiest Amnian families , who wore simpler clothing , resorting to the other displays of status instead . Status was measured using a scale of precious metals , from " ore " at the bottom , to " mithral " at the top . Lower ranks were often used as insults , while a higher rank could be used to compliment something or someone . These ranks were as follows : Etiquette . In general , the richest inhabitants commanded the less wealthy . A recent show of wealth such as a large purchase or high bid could immediately raise a person ' s status , even above those who were wealthier overall . More emphasis was put on proper business conduct than racial stereotypes , so as long as a potential customer adhered to these rules , it did not matter who they were or where they were from . Even so , Amnians were wary of potential threats to business , so the more wealthy were often accompanied by at least two guards . Magic . In Amn , arcane magic was considered illegal . Only those wizards who had the patronage of one of the Council of Five , could practice their art . However , divine magic was not considered a problem in Amn as long as the caster was connected to a recognized religious sect .