Telflamm Telflamm was usually considered to be the biggest and most important city in Thesk ; however , Telflamm was actually an independent city - state but wielded so much power and influence over the country that it might as well have been the capital . Telflamm was officially founded in 926 DR by Windyn Balindre , who moved his base of operations from Impiltur to this newly - built settlement and declared himself ' Merchant Prince ' , a hereditary title . Situated at the start the incredibly profitable Golden Way trading route , Telflamm quickly became the biggest trading station in the region , with most trade concerning the products of Kara - Tur which was in wide demand across Faerûn . Sometime in the early part of the fourteenth century DR , the most wealthy and influential merchants in the city set up a regulating body to check any excesses of the prince . This Merchant ' s Council was viewed as the real power in the city by most outsiders . This was not actually the case , however . Once the merchants began squabbling with Thesk and becoming too worried about their own profits , things started to go downhill . In 1360 DR , the Tuigan Horde weakened the city ' s security and four years later The Sharkjaw Pirates extorted massive amounts of gold from the council to not interfere with Telflamm ' s trade . The local thieves guild , the Shadowmasters of Telflamm slew the pirates two years later in a single night . By 1372 DR , the Shadowmasters were the absolute power in Telflamm , though few knew how powerful they really were . The last Balindre Prince died some time after the Spellplague , leaving the Merchants ' Council in charge of the government , but the Shadowmasters remained the true power in the city . Trade . Trade was the most important aspect of life in Telflamm . They did not have to produce much themselves as almost all the collected wares traveling along the Golden Way come through its gates . Eastern silk , spices , " smokepowder " , Long Jing and works of art passed through Telflamm to reach the rest of Faerûn . The city was also home to the biggest Thayan Enclave ever built , making the city a hub for the purchase of magic items . Points of Interest . Castle Balindre . Built by Windyn Balindre , Telflamm ' s founder , this fortified building sits on the waterfront on top of a large hill . It played a key role in the city ' s fortunes over the years . Balindre declared himself the city ' s Merchant Prince , and descendants have lived in the castle ever since . The castle also houses the city ' s militia . The Merchants ' Fortress . Home to the Merchants ' Council , the Merchants ' Fortress is a sprawling stone complex whose polished , white stone walls can be seen throughout the city . The Golden Way . Thesk was most famous for the Golden Way . This well - maintained road began ( or ended in ) Telflamm and led all the way to distant Kara - Tur . The Golden Way was a major overland trade artery . Its existence was the primary reason that Thesk wasn ' t simply part of the Great Dale or Thay .   Shemszarr Square . The business of Telflamm was business , and this was its heart . Most commerce in the city flowed through here at one point or another . It housed most of the city ' s merchants and the headquarters of some of its most powerful organizations . Gold from all corners of the world flowed through this square . The Red Wizard Enclave . The Thayan Enclave in Telflamm was one of the first enclaves established by the Red Wizards of Thay and grew into their largest . The shops of the enclave sold all manner of imported items , but discounted magic items were their most popular merchandise . The House of the Master ' s Shadow . The hidden temple of Mask and headquarters of the Shadowmasters . The Hall of the Avenging Hammer . A small temple to Tyr . Its members often tried to oppose the rampant corruption that plagued the city . Shou Town . A quarter of the city that was decidedly more eastern in nature . The architecture was distinctly Kara - Tur an , the businesses were mostly Kara - Turan restaurants and inns , and the people were mostly Shou . Few major merchants operated here and most residents were poor but honest . The only exception was the yakuza gang of the Nine Golden Swords . Xiang Temple . Xiang Temple , home to an order of monks dedicated to mastering fighting with both weapons and their hands , also lay within Telflamm .