Refugee Crisis

Population Migration / Travel

In 1377 DR, a cataclysm in the southern regions of Faerûn displaced thousands of people, forcing them to seek refuge in the Radiant Citadel. A combination of failed harvests, political instability, and the aftereffects of the Spellplague rendered large areas of land uninhabitable. Entire communities, many from rural Ataguan, San Citlán, and Shankhabhumi settlements, arrived at the Citadel seeking asylum. Their sudden arrival overwhelmed existing infrastructure, causing food shortages, overburdened housing, and rising tensions between citizens and newcomers.

The Speakers for the Ancestors struggled to reach a consensus on how to handle the crisis. Atagua and San Citlán advocated for immediate integration, while Yongjing and Siabsungkoh argued for resource rationing and controlled immigration. Riots erupted in the Trade Discal as desperate refugees were denied work and housing, while opportunistic merchants drove up prices on essential goods. The crisis reached its peak when a faction of refugees attempted to form their own self-governing district, an act that was swiftly suppressed.   After weeks of political turmoil, a compromise was reached, leading to the expansion of housing districts and the implementation of structured labor programs to integrate refugees into the workforce. Additionally, this event resulted in the standardization of magical tracking tattoos, ensuring that population movements within the Citadel could be monitored. Though the immediate crisis was resolved, the long-term effects of the migration shifted the Citadel’s demographics, with descendants of the refugees now holding significant positions in various guilds and councils.