Devoutdale
Overview
Devoutdale, formerly known as Scardale, is a newly unified nation located in the high, rocky northeast of the Chondathan subcontinent. After the Scardale Republic collapsed, the region was torn by chaos for fifty years, with many warlords and factions partitioning its rich, ore-laden territories. The region, known for its exports of ale, grain, vegetables, raw metals, and, most notably, jewels, played an important role in the Dragon War. During that war, Devoutdale was reforged under the leadership of Basileus Alzario, a Babylonian chosen, with the help of a band of great adventurers, including Vecna's future chosen and Ryoichi, the demigod of corruption and murder.Society
Life in Devoutdale is defined by solid control, legalism, and an overwhelming sense of obligation. Every aspect of life, from marriage and commerce to simple neighborly agreements, is governed by written oaths, contracts, and formal promises. The people, hardened by decades of lawlessness, now embrace order with grim resolve. Public notaries, oath-scribes, and contract-binders are as prevalent as blacksmiths and bakers, and a person's reputation is determined less by their virtue than by how faithfully they keep their word. Breaking a pledge, no matter how trivial, is a significant infraction that can result in social disgrace, legal sanctions, or, worse, an inquisitorial investigation. Trust is transactional, whereas the written word is holy. Devoutdale is ruled not just by a tyrant, but by paper, ink, and fear of retribution.Religion
The three primary religions of Devoutdale coexist in a delicate and often unpleasant equilibrium, with each having an impact on different parts of national identity. The Church of Babylon and its Dark Promise sect act as the government's backbone, enforcing rule through legally binding contracts and servitude. The Cult of Vecna has evolved within the Babylonian framework, despite doctrinal differences on the primacy of death, magical secrecy, and arcane elitism, primarily to survive in the oppressive structure. The Necro-Lords of Vecna manage their temples with unholy devotion, stretching the bounds of the system while masking their necromantic rituals beneath layers of sanctioned ritual and legal justification. In contrast, the cult of Ryoichi—the newly risen deity of murder and corruption—is still a true wild card. Ryoichi, once mortal and a close ally of Basileus, now rules from a city of his own creation, surrounded by zealous followers who enjoy his domains of madness, legend, tragedy, pranks, and murder. Unlike Vecna’s clergy, his faithful do not operate within Babylon's system—they often subvert it, twist it, or ignore it entirely. To Babylon, he is a threat; to Vecna’s followers, a nuisance. But both acknowledge his undeniable influence, spread not through hierarchy but through whispered rumors, strange miracles, and the quiet dread that even in a nation of laws, contracts, and secrets, chaos is alive and watching.Economy
Nestled in the high elevations of northeastern Chondathan region, its rocky topography produces rich veins of ore, valuable gems, and hardy grains, which serve as the foundation for its exports. Jewels, raw and processed metals, and stone are mined in the interior mountains, while specialty mountain cereals, root vegetables, and barley feed a thriving ale and spirits trade that is well-known across the continent. Hearty, resilient crops thrive in its terraced farmlands, frequently aided by magically preserved irrigation networks inherited from earlier republics or newly consecrated by Babylonian architects.Zhentarim Influence
The Zhentarim, being driven out of nearby Daggerdale, have established a stronghold in Devoutdale, where their influence is not only tolerated but meticulously woven into the nation's infrastructure. Working closely with the nations leader, Basileus Alzario, the Chosen of Babylon, the Black Network has reached a mutually advantageous agreement with the reigning Church of the Dark Promise.Demography and Population
Population - 271,410 citizens as of 1202 AC
Religion
Major Religions - Babylon, Vecna, Ryoichi, Ordum
Founding Date
1205 AC
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Demonym
Devoutdalen
Leader
Ruling Organization
Government System
Dictatorship
Power Structure
Unitary state
Economic System
Mixed economy
Currency
Metal Coinage
Major Exports
Exports - Ale, grain, vegetables, raw ore and metal.
Major Imports
Imports - Most luxury goods, tropical produce, textiles, and arcane reagents
Neighboring Nations
Related Ethnicities
