Marsember Marsember , also known as the City of Spices , was a metropolis and the busiest port in Cormyr , situated on the west bank of the mouth of the Starwater River . Geography . The city was based upon trade and lay on sandy islands in swampy terrain , making use of canals that doubled as open sewers , often causing a stench problem in warm periods , but preventing the water from freezing during the cold periods . Open areas of solid ground were a rarity here . In 1368 DR , the population was as high as 46 , 000 , but was reduced to around 36 , 000 in 1372 DR . The population swelled by up to twenty percent each year during the fishing season . Marsember was often shrouded in mist . The individual islands making up much of Marsember had many local names . Amongst them were Sharmran Isle , also known as " Fishgut Rock " , and Antanmaran ' s Isle , whose shape led to the name " the Prow " . Trade . The main trade in Marsember was spices ( giving it the alternate name " City of Spices " ) and the local merchant companies traveled great distances to acquire these substances . The trade fell off in the years up to 1370 DR . The fish trade was large , with fish being caught in the Lake of Dragons . The port was a builder of ships and Maerun Stoutbold had a large shipbuilding facility here . The Six Coffers Market Priakos was based here . Mustard produced in the uplands of Cormyr was exported in Marsember . Furniture with curved edges and coiled legs , the Marsembian style , and perfumes , were produced here . Government . Bledryn Scoril was the crown ' s representative as of 1370 DR , and the War Wizard Kyler Blackbone also had a hand in running the city . Ildool was formerly in charge , but he was not widely trusted , despite being kept in check by local Harpers . Local laws . All mages entering the city had to register with Ildool or Bledrin Scoril before sundown . Buildings had to be constructed from stone and covered with stucco that had to be replaced whenever deemed necessary by a local inspector . Cedar or slate had to be used for roofing . Culture . Lifestyle . The sandy islands on which Marsember was built were all connected with bridges , but transport via skiff was common , and they served as status symbols . The Sea Snake and Thomdor ' s Fist , two war caravel s , were based in Marsember . It was common to wear boots covering the entire leg as well as cloaks and gloves . Dancing was a popular leisure activity . The Thundersword and Illance noble families both had houses in Marsember . Folklore . There are many local stories of monsters that lived in the marshes surrounding Marsember . Will - o ' - wisp s were reported to extinguish , then pose as lamps in order to lead people astray into the bogs . Legends also surrounded those who drowned in the mouth of the Starwater River , allegedly rising as undead . One of Gondegal ' s boats sank in the mouth of the river , full of gold , and the corpse of Sissra was floated with much treasure on a blazing riverboat before it sank . Burials . Crypts and cellars in Marsember were damp at all times and flooded regularly . For this reason , burials were conducted upland , where the ground was both elevated and dry . However , this form of burial was limited to those who possessed the funds necessary to pay for the construction of crypts and mausoleums resistant to desecration , robbery and those wishing to bury their own dead inside without permission . Those who could not afford inland burials had the option of utilizing dead barge cremations . A service provided by Marsemban city officials , dead barge cremations involved amassing corpses on a flat - bottomed boat that was set on fire after first being towed out onto the Dragonmere . Defense . Military . Ayesunder Truesilver was the Warden of the Port and was responsible for the twelve ships ( with around 2 , 200 crew ) from the Imperial Navy that were stationed in Marsember . These ships regularly patrolled the Neck , the area of the Dragonmere known for piracy . About 250 new naval crew were recruited each year , using old galleon s , including Ansiber ' s Wrath . There were 3000 Purple Dragons garrisoned here , who were required to learn how to swim , and wear only leather armor with metal helmets to prevent accidental drownings . They patrolled the city on skiffs and also acted as customs agents . Every few years the soldiers in Marsember were rotated to cut down on corruption . Notable locations . Temples . The main temple in the city , Morningmist Hall , was to Lathander , but there were also shrines to Tymora , Umberlee and Waukeen . The shrine to Waukeen was abandoned but was used for profit by the government . Inhabitants . Inhabitants of Marsember were known as Marsembians , or rarely Marsembans . History . Marsember was originally founded on the Marsember Marsh by smugglers and pirates . Its expansion was attributable to the ease with which goods could be transported north up the Starwater River , which made it an excellent site for a port . In 6 DR , it was little more than a marshy port settlement . By 26 DR , there were rumours that Marsember was hit by a plague or a sea monster , causing more trade to head to nearby Suzail . By 376 DR , Marsember had been abandoned twice . It lay in ruins at this time and was used regularly by pirates , but hired adventurers periodically cleared them out . Some time between 376 DR and 432 DR , merchants from Marsember spread a plague to the rest of Cormyr , infecting many in Suzail . Beginning during the reign of King Palaghard II , Marsember has paid for quarry rubble from mines near Tyrluk to be dumped on the seaward side of the sandy islands of which much of the city is comprised , to prevent them being swept into the sea . The city has had problems for many years with doppleganger s , members of the Dragon Cult , illithid s , Sembian s and the Zhentarim . In 1188 DR Marsember was a nominally independent city - state and was sought by Sembia . A Sembian acquisition was favoured by Marsemban merchants , but not by the nobility in the city , because its independence made it a good place to conduct affairs away from the scrutiny of the Cormyrean population . The Sembians withdrew their attempt to seize Marsember after an assassination attempt on King Pryntaler Obarskyr failed .