According to Ken Rolston, "The haughty and arrogant Red Wizards of Thay employ their awesome sorcerous powers in their expansionistic and imperialistic policy of swallowing up neighbor states.
[2][3] The lands of Thay and the Red Wizards were revisited and detailed in the 2nd edition AD&D boxed set Spellbound (1995),[4] which pits player characters against them in two adventures.
[2] According to the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting book, Red Wizards are the usually notorious and nefarious spellcasters who are the ruling class in the inhospitable but well-inhabited country of Thay.
They constantly scheme to bring down their neighbouring nations of Rashemen—where they are thwarted by the Witches of Rashemen; Aglarond—where they are turned back by the Simbul of the Seven Sisters; and Mulhorand—where the people of Thay originated.
In 1030 DR the Council of Zulkirs was established by the lich Ythazz Buvaar and the original Red Wizards that fought for Thay's independence a century earlier.
[11] One plot started after another failed attempt at securing Rashemen in 1357 DR is to infiltrate the nations of Faerûn legitimately—in Thayan enclaves which will publicly sell magic items and quietly also traffic drugs, wicked spells, and slaves.