Eldrichten
"And in my trek across this continent, I searched, ever longing for a place to call home. Woe, for I found no such place in the halls of men or dragons or elves or the myriad of races in the South. Though my people had abandoned the old ways long ago, I was still a monster, a nightmare that needed banishing. It seems that even if it were ten thousand years later, the sins of my forebears would still stain my kind. So it was that I trekked to the farthest point from it all that I could find to call my home. It was then that I came before the least hospitable, most pitiful forest I had ever laid eyes upon. This would be my sanctuary -- my hall. For if I am not welcome in the halls of the decent folk, then they shall never be welcome in mine."
--Astrophel the Nomad, from Eldrichten, A General Historie
A larger collection of outcasts, rejects, freaks, and monsters will not be found in Ultor. Eldrichten is the land of the forsaken, a home for those who have been banished from theirs. It is not uncommon to see a Tiefling, Dhampir, and Drow in the same market, buying the same goods, or looking to sell their services to the highest bidding military contractor.
Vampires control Eldrichten, and always have. They are the wealthiest, longest lived, and most powerful denizens of the small state. Their existence still depends on blood of living creatures, but they are able to get this blood without forcefully feeding off of other creatures as is so often portrayed in folk tales. In fact, the vampires trade for blood, offering protection, food, teachers, and even just advice in exchange for donations from villages and towns. The resulting trade in and out of the kingdom generates vast wealth, and, ironically, the standard of living in Eldrichten is often much higher than the lands that each outcast was banished from.
Other than a lucrative trading network, Eldrichten also supplies Ultor with the much sought-after "freak armies." These mercenary groups are some of the best trained in the world, and are contracted to fill roles from city guards to warriors on the battlefield. As a result, the "undesirables" of society can often be found in every corner of Ultor where strife is prevalent.Geography
Eldrichten is located on the south-western coast of Galzhûr, bordered by the sea to the west, the Galzhûr Mountains to the south, and the Wildlands to the north and east. At the center of this tiny nation is a large petrified forest, where much of the ruling class of Eldrichten lives. The forest is surrounded by wide, open savanna, with scattered villages and townships dotting the land. The network of roads in and out of Eldrichten are among the finest in the land, a result of their dependence on trade and military contracting.
Fauna & Flora
The usual flora and fauna of the Wildlands savanna are mysteriously absent from Eldrichten, likely a result of the pervasive undeath and daemonic energy radiating in the area. Instead, they are replaced with whatever livestock can be herded by the denizens of the forsaken land, and whatever pets or creatures of war that they decide to keep.
Natural Resources
The Wildlands has a wealth of natural resources in terms of precious metals and gemstones. These are often traded for the food that the citizens of Eldrichten need to survive -- as food is sparse in the area. However, seeing as many of the denizens of the vampiric realm need...exotic food to survive anyway, the wealth of minerals is certainly a boon for the populace.
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