Somehow I find it demeaning for Golarion, equating any part of it with anything from the Forgotten Realms.
They are similar in some ways. Sembia is far larger and more powerful of the two. Other then both being merchant kingdoms they do not really have a whole lot in common that I can think of anyhow. In many ways Sembia has more in common with katatapesh then Druma.
Sembia really is a more anything goes for the most part kind of place. Guards are well schooled and often respected and almost any type of corruption or incompetent is fine as long as ya do not breach a few protocols {piracy}
Old money rules in Sembia, wealth and who you know are power. Locations are even somewhat alike, both on the water with vast trading ports. So I can see the parallels.
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Thanks, guys.
Zaister, I'm sure you won't lose any sleep over it.
Seeker of ShadowLight, Sembia as a "more or less anything goes marketplace" is accurate but, in order to separate it from Westgate, I think the "old money rules" point is vital. It's interesting, I don't think "old money" rules in either Druma or Katapesh. Flavor-wise, I really can't see a connection between Sembia and Katapesh. But I certainly see Druma as being a reasonable amalgam of Westgate and Sembia. This answer is great for me so I can distinguish between the two. Again, thanks.
Set, while I don't know the Shining South so well (never was a huge FR guy), I do know Rand's Utopia and the ethical argument of Egoism -- Your comparrison was a HUGE help!
Druma feels more like the Shining South lands of Darpur, Var the Golden, etc. where the the mercantile system and the local faith are intertwined.
Nice analogy. I always liked that religion dominated those merchant cultures, that helped to distinguish them from other mercantile places.
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The existence of this thread invaded my sleep last night, and I dreamed I was reading the Druma entry in the PCCS and saw that its description actually had the word "Sembia" in it. :p
The existence of this thread invaded my sleep last night, and I dreamed I was reading the Druma entry in the PCCS and saw that its description actually had the word "Sembia" in it. :p
See that guys? Sean does care about us! He even has dreams about us. ;)
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I've never read much about Sembia.
and I'd have to say slightly there Winter. not so much religiously, but Kildastrie's faith perimates the city and state like Mormonisim does Salt Lake.
the way I see it Druma is basicly a theocratic merchant state, Kildastrie's teachings are about acheving materal wealth by denying the physical. Druma was bought out and the followers of Kildastrie tried to build their utopia there.
there are two things you have to do to join I think
1. be able to subscribe to dietary, physical, and sexual restrictions laid down by Kildastrie. for example they don't drink, touch non-members without gloves on, or have sex outside temple approved marrages.
2. be able to turn a substancial profit and busness acumen.
the Merchants of Druma don't do dirty deals, do not use corruption, or rig the game of trade. they are so good at finding markets and focused into turning anything and everything into a profit margen, they don't have to.