If one is not a noble, a local lord, a member of the military, a mage, or an adventurer, then one is usually referred to as a commoner.

Farmers

The farmers of Cormyr are perhaps the most stable group of people in Faerûn. Cormyr itself is conservative and civilized, and farming, the largest occupation in Cormyr, is the foundation of that conservatism.

A typical farmer in Cormyr lives a simple life, farming land usually quite a distance from any town of size. Cormyrean farmers have greater loyalty to the crown and greater unity among themselves that farmers in other places.

Loyalty

farmers are extremely loyal to the king of Cormyr. They readily volunteers to join the Purple Dragons in times of emergency, as was the case when Gondegal threatened to break Cormyr apart.

If there is a greater loyalty in their lives, it is to their families and community. The farmer of Cormyr, though often living far from a town, takes great pride and interest in what his home town can accomplish with his help.

Unity

Farmers support each other's needs and interests almost like no other guild or class does. Their existence is so fragile and dependent on the economic and political climate, as well as the weather, that they band together on matters of self-interest.

Therefore, when a local lord or perhaps a noble in Suzail attempts to enact a law or decree that is detrimental to even a single farmer, all farmers speak with one opposing voice. Generally the well-being of the local lords and the nobility is dependent on the success of the local farmers, so they rarely act contrary to farmers' wishes once the latter´s position is known.

A popular lord among farmers is Sarp Redbeard of Wheloon, who often acts independently of Suzail and generally sides with farmers. Many farmers live within Redbird´s domain.

Festivals

Central to a farmer's life is the town festival. There are many festivals throughout the year in every town in Cormyr, with many celebrating farming or some aspect of it, such as harvest.

However, to a farmer, a festival is an opportunity not only to celebrate, but also to talk with other farmers about issues of mutual concern, new techniques, and of course the weather.

While a festival offers a fine opportunity to get together, festivals are often the only time farmers gather. This can hamper efforts to respond quickly to situations such as flood or bruchfires.

Craftsmen

Cormyr has a long tradition of craftsmen, who are respected for being gifted by the gods with talents to transform worldly materials into products that are useful or decorative (or both, in the finest cases).

Several towns in Cormyr are centers for particular types of crafts. There is a large artisan concentration in Wheloon, which is known for craftsmen who produce fine boats, baskets, sails, and clay pots. Gray Oaks has a reputation for excellent wood craftsmen.

Each town usually has at least one craftsman guild. The guilds look after the interests of their members, combatting taxes and trying to improve working conditions, supplies, and sales opportunities.

The guilds have not been particularly powerful over the years in Cormyr. Here, guilds are mostly similar to benevolent fraternal organizations: groups of people who practice the same craft, who join the organization for the social interaction and the opportunity to further their expertise. Most guildmasters are content to know that their organizations give their members a sense of camaraderie and a venue in which they can hone their craft among their peers. The "labor union" concept is nearly unknown in Cormyr.

Nearly unknown, because the construction guilds--bricklayers, stonemasons, joiners, etc.-- have indeed discovered the degree of influence they can exert on local politics. Such guilds typically look after their own interest with a passion and know how to manipulate situations to their advantage.

Merchants

The most powerful class outside of the nobles, merchant are the energy that drives the wheel of the economy and progress in Cormyr.

In many societies that have a ruling noble class and lower "commoner" class, a merchant class can rise to become as powerful as the nobles. This is true in Cormyr, where merchants have become quite powerful and their riches certainly dwarf some noble families'.

What distinguishes the Cormyrean merchant from others is that each merchant is a citizen of Cormyr first and a merchant second.

This loyalty to the kingdom means that a merchant will almost always bow to the greater interests of the nobles and to the king in particular. They would not think of jeopardizing Cormyr for their own interests. Certainly part of this loyalty arises from the merchant's appreciation for the favorable business environment maintained by their rulers.

While the nobles and merchants have good relations with each other, there is no such peace within the merchant class. One cannot see greater competition that between two Cormyte merchants.

Merchants in Politics

Though nobles are at the top of the power pyramid, merchants exert considerable influence and it´s increasing.

One example of merchant influence occurs when a merchant house sees a noble family in trouble. A family might have taken a great loss; for example, a natural disaster might have ruined the farmland of the family's holdings, making tax income substantially less than expected. A merchant house will often step in and secretly offer to make up for the loss in tax monies in exchange for some amount of behind-the-scenes control of a post held by member of the distressed family.

Most involvement of this type concerns allocation of space to warehouses in walled cities (except in Suzail, where the Lord Magister is seemingly incorruptible) and other such matters.

Merchants and Cormyte Expansion

The most recent effort to tame the Hullack Forest and open a new avenue of resources was given to Laorlim Ölorim( the local lord of Mistaln).

Merchants are the best indicators of what Cormyr needs in the terms of resources such as wood and metal. No one else, not even the military, consumes as much as all the merchant houses combined.

Therefore, when merchant houses begin looking in earnest for more resources, the crown takes notice, for that means it will not be long before the military and other official agencies will begin to experience shortages.

The commodity in shortest supply is farmland. There is a constant need for more of it. and merchants recognize farmland as a valuable asset. It means not only a regular supply of food and the income from the food, but also rent income and taxes to the crown. The more taxes one pays, the greater his or her influence with the crown.

Merchant companies fund the greatest number of exploration and adventuring parties. Exploration parties are used to gather information about a location that might be suitable for cultivation and acquisition.

Seaward Expansion

Cormyr´s contact with other kingdoms are mainly due to the activity and influence of merchants. It was ivory shipments from distant lands that brought Cormyr´s attention to affairs beyond its borders. Unfortunately, the presence of Cormyte merchant ships in the Lake of Dragons has escalated the amount of pirate activity there, making the lake a more dangerous place.

There are many rumors that pirates on the lake are actually competing merchant ships in disguise. There is no way to substantiate such rumours without capturing a pirate ship and interrogating the captain, which has yet to confirm such rumors.

Imperial Navy ships sometimes escort merchant vessels back and forth to the Neck.

Ayesunder Truesilver, warden of the port of Marsember, decides which merchant ships need escorts, and there have been charges that his choices are often politically motivated.