The Fell City of Yang
He stared at us as we walked through the streets of the abandoned city, disheveled, unwashed clothing ripped apart at his knees. Unblinking. He refused to move when we'd dismounted, nor did he answer when I called towards him. Only when we stepped closer, passing some line in the road, did he respond. Retching, hacking, and coughing, handfuls of snakes slipped from his open mouth, slithering towards us. He -- it, fell over, convulsing.
The Fell City of Yang is seen as a blight upon the lands by the righteous, and a haven of otherworldly mysteries by the despoilers. It is a city of evil, accursed under the Heavens, standing opposed to the Will of the Emperor, one which must be eradicated no matter the cost. The wicked look upon the city with equal passion, desiring to uncover magic lost within the sands of time. Tales of an ascension have called many to seek out this city, making strange allies of former enemies.
Demographics
Little information is known about what remains of Yang. The Imperial Light has disappeared, and scholars in the Imperial Cities have debated whether to remove it from the annals of Trel history for the past year. Scouts, diplomats, and soldiers have been sent to uncover the secrets buried within the city, yet only a handful have returned, a tenth of each expedition sent. For the last few months, there have been no survivors.
The information returned to the metropolises is unclear, contradicting itself. Some claimed the city to be thriving, filled with people, while others have reported barren streets and silence in the unnaturally humid city. The call for adventure draws closer to an end; should the records of Yang be removed, it will become a forbidden land, guarded only by a specifically orchestrated group of government soldiers.
Points of interest
The Temple of the Ascended:
Hundreds of would-be heroes from across Trel, her bordering kingdoms, and lands across the seas desire to visit this city for innumerable reasons. While it is unclear if a new god has risen, a bitter mockery towards the Emperor's Ascent, something unnatural is stirring within the city. The Temple of the Ascended may not hold a false god, but there are claims that it contains the greatest collection of ancient artifacts and magical tomes, rivaling that of the haughty Elf. Whether any of these claims are true or not, the city holds enough stored resources to allow a wealthy adventurer to live a life of luxury, far above their station, for three generations.
Natural Resources
Yang appears to be of little importance. The land is unkempt, though the overgrown trees, currently out of control, can aid several villages. Few caravans have crossed into this territory, which was built upon a major crossroad, and escaped. Survivors claim that there are many resources to be found, extraordinary loot within the city and among the ruined caravans, though few are willing to return. They speak of hollow-eyed denizens, ever-watching, bound by some strange magic, unlike anything they've seen among the undying of their allies.
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Some of the Xùyì material (like this one) gives me old-school Ravenloft vibes, and that's always welcome!