Vaenyth

In a word, Vaenyth is cruel. Its jagged shale hills are full of dangerous monsters and deep chasms. Its sparse woodlands are equally perilous. Vaenyth’s mountain range plays havoc on weather patterns and the nation suffers from seasonal typhoons, hailstorms, and tornadoes.

Vaenyth’s population is a humanoid incarnation of this turbulent cruelty. With a savage governing system and near- constant civil wars, Vaenyth is a nation of anger and blood.

Academic.

Vaenythan culture places little value in formal education. One’s capacity to perform their job well is usually all that matters.

Aristocratic and Political.

With perhaps the most bizarre governing system in Gathandia, Vaenyth chooses their new monarch once every ten years. When they do so, each noble family who wishes to make a bid for the monarchy sends forth a champion to fight on their behalf. These champions each battle to the death in a massive arena riddled with traps and captured monsters. The sole surviving champion is ritually slaughtered, and the new monarch bathes in their blood before ascending to the throne for the next ten years.

Mercantile and Trade.

Vaenyth generally does not trade with other nations, with the exception of Pash. Vaenyth produces iron ore, stone from quarries, and animal and plant byproducts, which primarily circulate within Vaenyth’s own economy.

Militant.

Vaenyth’s military is quite strong and well- equipped but lacks discipline and cohesion. More often than not, Vaenythan military contingents go to war with one another than with common enemies.

Religious.

Vaenythans primarily worship the Exiles and the Archfiends of Inferno. They believe that the most powerful deities are those who can survive in the least comfortable circumstances. This power then translates into understanding and knowledge. Vaenythan priestly rituals often involve animal slaughter and occasionally include humanoid sacrifice.

Social and Underworld.

Criminal activity is standard in any Vaenythan settlement. Cheating on taxes, mugging a neighbor in a back alley, petty burglary, and vengeance- driven murder are all commonplace. The only law of the land is the proclamations of the monarch, and even then, these are more suggestions than hard and fast decrees.

Bloodstone

The capital citadel of Vaenyth and the death-soaked throne of the monarchy is Bloodstone. This is a massive fortress carved from stone and reinforced with an iron-Arcanium alloy developed by ancient mystics long ago and since forgotten to history. A hundred thousand soldiers have been turned away by a mere eighty that held Bloodstone, the legends say.

Points of Interest

Floating Islands. The floating islands that stretch as far south as Pash’s Great Bay soar high above Vaenyth. Given their disinterest in scholarly pursuits, Vaenythans have no idea that Arcanium and Primor could be mined from these islands in abundance.

Quest Ideas

• Vaenyth’s rulers ask the heroes to infiltrate Pash and siphon large sums of money back into Vaenyth’s own pockets.
• The monarch of Vaenyth asks the heroes to find a way to reach the floating islands and crash them down to the ground so that they can be studied.
• Vaenyth has decided to hold a special electoral battle with teams of champions. The heroes have been chosen as one such team.