CHULT
Also referred to as the very South-western corner of Faerun, Chult is located off the Southwest coast of Calimshan between the Trackless Sea and the Shining Sea. A few centuries ago, it used to be an empire that spanned the entire south side of the continent. Currently, it is bordered by the God’s Gates and the surrounding seas.
The region is governed by a consulate system with two consuls leading different administrative areas. Mezro is the capital, housing both consulates, while Port Nyranzaru has the highest population density.
Chult faces a critical population decline, with only about 1,200 inhabitants across various races.
The climate is influenced by a magical aura, with high humidity and distinct rainy (summer) and dry (winter) seasons. The Chultan jungle is a vast lowland with complex water systems and a dense canopy about 60 feet above the ground. While the jungle floor is relatively traversable, river banks present the densest vegetation.
Political system
Chult is a consulate, currently led by two consuls, Ronen Arcturus of The First Consulate, and Veritas of The Second Consulate. Both consuls have authority over Chultans and shared responsibilities, however their main duties and administrative authorities are separate.
The First Consulate
- Social System
- Healthcare System
- Educational System
- Agricultural System
The Second Consulate
- Justice System
- Economic System
- Military System
- Public Safety System
Shared responsibility
- Political System
- Transportation System
- Communication System
Each consulate has its own seal that is used by each consul to sign and validate official documents. Neither of the consuls is allowed to use the other’s seal.
Each settlement, including the cities are led by a Sultan. Sultans deal with administrative tasks that pertain to each settlements and report to the consuls. Improvements proposed by Sultans must first be approved by the consuls before being implemented.
Capital
The capital of Chult is Mezro, where both consulates are located. It has the second highest population density in Chult, the first being Port Nyranzaru.
Population
Chult has a dangerously low population, facing imminent extinction among all the inhabitant races. This issue is accelerated by the current civil war that makes victims almost every day within the borders.
Humans ~ 400 Elves ~ 150 Yuan-ti ~ 350 Kobolds ~ 300 Total ~ 1200
The main causes of the population decline are the past wars that have wiped vast parts of the populations. A huge part of the inhabitants have also permanently left Chult due to the country’s instability along the centuries.
Most people currently live in Mezro and Port Nyranzaru, however there are also small isolated settlements that hide in the vast jungles, such as Ishau and Luo.
Climate
The climate of Chult is directly influenced by the magical aura that envelops the peninsula. Temperatures don’t vary greatly between seasons. Unlike many locations in the Northern part of Faerun, Summer is the rainy season in Chult. Even with the additional precipitation, the average temperatures are still higher than in the winter months.
The jungles and mountains receive an extraordinary amount of rainfall.
During the rainy seasons (Summer), it will rain every day. Length of rain varies from downpours lasting 30 minutes and dumping 15” of rain hitting several times a day to non-stop torrents lasting all day. During the dry season (Winter), the jungle can go 3 or 4 days at a time without rain before a shower rolls through.
The humidity in the jungle is overwhelming as the water soaked ground heats up and the moisture is trapped under the tree canopy. Modern explorers have described it as literally living in a sauna.
The Jungle
The Chult jungle is a vast lowland. Water basins drain out through the jungle starting at the high ground of the Peaks of Luo and draining in all directions to the coastlines in the East and West. The landscape of the lowland undulates creating complex and unpredictable streams draining down to the major river system.
The jungle is not impossible to traverse. The jungle floor is relatively unblocked in most places. Clumps of vines and broad leafy plants do block a straight path but allow a party to meander their way in any general direction. Above the floor, there is a light shrub layer. This includes massive fern and palm plants but doesn’t get too thick as the vast variety of huge herbivores eat anything that gets too established. At around 60’ above the floor, the Understory and Canopy form a dense roof to the jungle.
The densest tangle of foliage is found along the banks of rivers. This mix of trees, vines and heavy brush often make getting to and from rivers impossible without significant work to chop through 10’ of blocking plant life.