Nan-Avathar (The Cradle of Vampires) (updated 2005/08/11)

  Csethe    Illych    Jasri    Kurg'Rhi ("Vampire Lords")    Nechushtah    Sarresh    The Sour Downs    Val'Negra, Black Tower of the Blood ... 

Straddling the Silver River and nestled at the feet of the Wintercrown Mountains, the former heart of Alornea is now a harsh realm held in a grip of tyranny and superstition. This land is no longer a proper nation, but a wilderness territory known by various names such as: Nan-Avathar, the Valley of Shadows, the Cradle of Vampires, and Old Alornea.

Nan-Avathar is a harsh landscape that is surprisingly beautiful given its terrifying reputation. Lofty crags and smoking volcanoes thrust upwards in tall spires along most of the borders, forming a dramatic canvas. While the mountains do not overly impede travel, they do trap the clouds and fogs that roll in from the Dragon Sea, making Nan-Avathar a realm of abundant water resources and lush greenery. Although the winters are long and brutal--resembling those of neighboring Hrivlyggdor--the remainder of the year is mild, characterized by constant fogs and gentle precipitation. Crystalline mountain streams quickly transform into broad, mighty rivers that wind their way through the thickly forested dales. The waters of the Black Drim river teem with fish (mostly eels and trout) and small watercraft. With the exception of the upper reaches, the region is covered with hills and dominated by ancient forests, broken only occasionally by mossy meadows.

The upper reaches along the Wintercrown Mountains are completely unlivable volcanic wastes that were never part of Old Alornea. These lands are dominated by the grim Mounts Baratok and Ghakis--ancient and terrible volcanoes that constantly spew forth poisonous ash and smokes. The blighted volcanic canyons are choked in a miasma of poison fog and ash that makes them completely unlivable by normal folk, but are favored by the Vampire Lords and their most trusted Kugan vassals. This lends strong credence to the theories that the Vampire Lords and the oldest Kurgans were once Baal. All the common folk know is that armies of shadow often sweep south from these terrible mountains to wage war upon Alornea or collect tribute from the surrounding countrysides.

The people of Nan-Avathar dwell in constant fear not only from oppression but from superstition. At night, hulking wolves stalk the woods, and the skies swarm with huge, screeching bats. It is said that the fish in this region have black eyes and souls. It has been suggested that most of the superstitions are simply attempts to forget that this region is plagued by vampires. Drawn by the shadows and constant fogs that let them walk during the day, they can infiltrate human society more easily than ever before, living among their cattle undetected. The populace have few ways of dealing with this threat, and are generally at the mercy of their fears.

Most buildings in Nan-Avathar are constructed of brick and dense timber that is plastered and painted deep russet or light dun. Many homes and shops are adorned with rows of mineral-flecked stones set into the plaster. The thatched rooftops are steep and set with tiny, leaden rose windows in the gables. In the spring, window boxes overflow with vivid flowers, and harvest time brings pumpkin lanterns, intended to keep the minions of evil at bay.

Amazingly, trade still commonly takes place within and through Nan-Avathar. The Old Svalich Road stretches from Alornean lands in the southwest to Hrivlyggdor in the northeast and is the sole link between those realms. Thus, despite the forbidding landscape, a surprising number of merchants and pilgrims travel through the realm each summer, urgently crossing before the Old Svalich becomes impassable again in late autumn.

.. map?ambarmap:tile-02800-02400.jpg:5:4

• Capital: Illyich
• Population: 30,000 (Kurgans 15%, Avathars 50%, Alorns 25%, Kith 10%)
• Government: Evil vampiric aristocracy. Nan-Avathar is ruled by the dread Vampire Lords--the thirteen Kurgan kings of Avathar prophesy.
• Religions: Duirgurth
• Trade: The region is rich in minerals of all kinds but poor in most other resources. Most cities are built in tuff and basalt and timber. A few materials are unique to this region:
  • Bloodwood is a hard timber taken from vampiric trees.
  • Wormwood is a soft wood used for carving and decoration.
  • Adamant (Night Iron) is an extremely hard black metal that can only be forged in the volcanoes of Nan-Avathar.

Csethe (updated 01/05)

Csethe is a wide river valley that forms the southern pass of the Ephel Duath into inner Nan-Avathar. Csethe is the main staging area for Avathar armies and military reserves, which can move directly east, south, or west to the three borders. The river contains both the Sour River and the Drim River, which can also be used for moving armies or sending supplies to the war fronts.

Ruled by the Kurg'Rhi Garithoth, Castle Csethe sits between the two rivers and serves as the main strategic command for the Avathar military campaigns. Garithoth is an exceedingly skilled military strategist whom the Avathars claim has powers of foresight to see shadows of the future. Garithoth maintains a competent staff of commanders and logisticians to carry out his designs.

The Csethe river valley contains the camps of tens of thousands of Avathar soldiers, as well as hundreds of towns and villages. Most of the camps are permanent, used for training, reserves, or as lodging for armies passing through the region. Most of the [ more... ]

Illych

Illych is the capitol of Nan-Avathar, in the heart of "inner" Nan-Avathar where the mountain shadows are strongest. The dread city was the place where the thirteen Kurg'Rhi were anointed by Kurg to rule Nan-Avathar and built their grim thrones on heaps of bone. From this seat they began the rule of an empire, conquering the Lothians and forging them into the Avathar people. In the centuries since the city was founded most of the Kurg'Rhi have left Illych and made new thrones in places of their choosing, but a seat still remains for them here. [ more... ]

Jasri

Jasri is one of the few port cities along the Grand Canal of Mrmym, positioned on the border of Harnendor and Nan-Avathar. A relatively young city, Jasri was raised from the stones of the nearby hills by magic, and is protected by a small council of wizards to this day. The citizens guard their entrances carefully from vampires and even have moats of running water.

Kurg'Rhi ("Vampire Lords") (updated 01/05)

  Acererak (Liche of the Barrow Downs)    Agarwaen (Witch of Val'Negra)    Ashram (Kurg'Rhi of Targoviste)    Garithoth (Seer of Csethe)    Gaur'Utok (Waker of Spirits, Kurg'Rhi ...    Keraptis (Thaumaturge of White Plume ...    Nammat (Seer of Zhunzir)    Saracek (Lord of Rhi'Annon)    Sirihaas (Warlock of Nechushtah) 

The Kurg'Rhi are the priest-kings of Nan-Avathar, more commonly known as the "Vampire Lords".

There are no beings in the northlands so feared as the Kurg'Rhi. They are not merely extremely powerful warlords, or cruel rulers, but high-priests of Kurg and the other Duirgurth gods of death. Mortals whose fate brings them under the shadow of Nan-Avathar are claimed in this life and the next--and neither are likely to be pleasant.

Although the Kurg'Rhi are known as the "Vampire Lords" by common folk throughout Ambar, this name was given to them by the Alorns and should not be taken literally. Most are necromancers, liches, wraiths, or vampires of such power that the classical limitations do not apply. All of the Kurg'Rhi are Kurgans of vast arcane power and influence, and "Kurgan High Priest" is the most correct description.

While there were originally thirteen Kurg'Rhi, their ranks expanded and contracted over time, and their actual number is unknown. Most of the Kurg'Rhi rule Avathar cities and are well known, but some have chosen to rule behind the curtain and keep their existence hidden. Some Avathars known as powerful Necromancers may in fact be Kurg'Rhi, particularly those with close ties to Reshuk, god of secrets.

Several of the Kurg'Rhi sleep, and have appointed stewards of their authority in their absence. Thus, one might find a "Voice of Keraptis" or "Steward of Acererak" acting on behalf of a lord. In the Avathar capitol of Illych each Kurg'Rhi is represented by potentially several voices. [ more... ]

Nechushtah (updated 01/26)

Nechushtah is a mountain fortress that guards the short northeastern border that Nan-Avathar shares with Belerion. The fortress is the forward staging point of campaigns against Belerion and Hrivlyggdor and is constantly manned by large standing armies of undead thralls and Avathars. Nechushtah is ruled by the Kurg'Rhi warlock Sirihaas.

This region is near the heart of Nan-Avathar, and the choking volcanic fumes are at their most potent here. The extreme living conditions make this post one of the least favored for Avathar soldiers, and "a post at Nechushtah" is a commonly used threat to keep subordinates in line. Favored officers are often given leave to travel to nearby Torvilis.

Sarresh

Sarresh is a fortified northern town on the Sour River on the Nan-Avathar border near Ringwall. Sarresh has risen to prosperity due to Ringwall's ever-darkening reputation, but the hostility and strangeness of its neighbors is incentive enough to keep the strong walls manned and patrolled at all times.

The Sour Downs (updated 2009/08/14)

  Thingizzard    White Plume Mountain, Fane of Keraptis 

This vast salt marsh in central Nan-Avathar is dominated by the famed White Plume Mountain. This trackless swamp has few visitors, save those seeking some of the ancient barrow downs that have sunk beneath the marsh, or the famed treasure of White Plume Mountain.

Val'Negra, Black Tower of the Blood Witches (updated 2003/09/30)

This coven of Avathar "Blood Witches" is ruled by Agarwaen, the "Lady of Blood", one of the most dreaded "Vampire Lords". The "Blood Witches" of Val'Negra are feared for their capacity for violence and destruction, and mystic arts of Bloodfire. "Blood Witches" are said to engage in forbidden rituals within the bowels of their dark stronghold, breeding successive generations of witches to wield ever-greater power.

The black tower is a tall spike of basalt towering above Sepulchre and the "Stygian Swamps", commanding a view for many miles. Travelers lost near Val'Negra are presumed dead. In addition to housing the Blood Witches the tall, ebony towers and thick walls house the males of their coven, a formidable army of Avathar "Blood Scorpions". These evil monks versed in war arts and magic arts alike, but unlike most monks, the "Blood Scorpions" attack foes with insect-like pincers and stings that have been grafted on their bodies through the dark arts of "Blood Alchemy".