Mortavia

"We sang to the stars, but the void answered"
Once a radiant jewel of elven civilization, Mortavia was a city of unmatched beauty and refinement, standing as a beacon of wisdom, magic, and artistry. Now, it is a cursed necropolis, swallowed by the Shadowfell, its streets haunted by the echoes of its tragic past. Once the final stronghold against Orcus, Demon Prince of Undeath, it fell in a cataclysmic ritual that sealed him away but left the city forever cursed.
Mortavia stands as a monument to both grandeur and tragedy—a city that defied a demon but paid an eternal price. Its ruins are filled with untold knowledge, cursed relics, and the ever-present whispers of the dead, waiting for those brave (or foolish) enough to listen.
History
Once a radiant jewel of elven civilization, Mortavia was a city of unparalleled beauty and refinement, its ivory spires reaching towards the heavens, its streets adorned with enchanted gardens and flowing rivers of liquid light. Here, scholars, artisans, and warriors alike flourished, bound together in devotion to the gods of the Eversong, who blessed the city with wisdom and longevity. But Mortavia’s brilliance was coveted by Orcus, the Sin of Pride and Demon Prince of Undeath. In his boundless arrogance, he sought to break the elves’ unyielding spirit, to taint their immortality with his foul necromantic will. Thus began the Pandora War, a cataclysmic struggle that would scar not just Mortavia, but all of Blaezasia. ________________________________________ The Fall of Mortavia As Orcus’ undead legions swept across the island, Mortavia stood as the final bastion of elven resistance. Its people fought with desperate valor, their magic clashing with the abyssal power of the Demon Prince himself. Yet, for all their might, the elves could not match the endless tide of undeath. In their final hour, the High Warden of Mortavia led a last, desperate gambit—an unthinkable ritual to bind Orcus within Blaezasia itself, sealing him away forever. The ritual succeeded, but at a terrible cost. The spell shattered the city's foundations, tearing open a rift to the Shadowfell, a wound upon reality itself. The elves who perished in battle did not pass into the afterlife. Instead, their souls were twisted by the unnatural energies of the Shadowfell, their luminous forms darkened into Shadar-kai, cursed to forever haunt the ruins of their own home. Those who had not yet fallen were doomed to fade, their mortality stripped away, bound eternally to the island they had fought to protect. Orcus was sealed, but Mortavia was lost. ________________________________________ The Ruins of Mortavia Now, Mortavia is a haunted necropolis, its once-majestic spires collapsed into shadowed ruins, its streets veiled in ghostly mist. The air is thick with whispers—the echoes of elves who will never truly die. • The Hollow Spires – The skeletal remains of Mortavia’s once-glorious towers loom over the city, their stone blackened and brittle, infused with Shadowfell energy. The spires never cast shadows, defying the laws of nature. It is said that those who dare climb them vanish, only to appear days later, wandering the ruins with hollow eyes, speaking in voices that do not belong to them. • The Weeping Courtyard – The heart of Mortavia, where the last of the living elves gathered before the ritual was cast. The ancient fountains still flow, but the water is inky black, mirroring shifting shapes that do not belong to this world. Those who gaze too long into the pools hear the soft cries of the fallen, their voices begging to be freed—or luring the foolish to join them. • The High Warden’s Tomb – Buried deep beneath the ruins lies the resting place of the elven general who led the final stand. His tomb is hidden within the Catacomb Fields, its entrance lost amidst thousands of nameless graves. Legend holds that the High Warden's soul never left, that he watches over Mortavia still, waiting for the day the seal on Orcus begins to crack. • The Abyssal Scar – The very site where Orcus was bound, a gaping chasm of swirling darkness at the city's edge. Shadows move unnaturally within it, and strange, whispering winds emerge from its depths. The Shadar-kai forbid anyone from approaching, for they know the seal is not unbreakable—and that Orcus' influence still lingers within the void. ________________________________________ A City Bound in Death Though Mortavia is ruined, it is far from lifeless. The Shadar-kai remain, bound to their ancient duty as stewards of the city, ensuring that Orcus' will never rises again. They walk its streets like ghosts, mourning their past while standing vigil against the horrors that still lurk within the ruins. The Leonin warriors of Blaezasia patrol its borders, ensuring that none disturb the balance, while the Satyrs dare to bring light to the cursed city, their music a fragile defiance against the eternal night that threatens to consume it. But still, the dead whisper, and still, the darkness stirs. The seal weakens. And one day, Mortavia may fall once more.

Demographics

Shadar-kai (Cursed elven remnants) – 70% • Wraiths, spirits, and ghosts – 15% • Undead entities (Liches, Death Knights, spectral abominations) – 10% • Others (Lost souls, trapped mortals, daring scholars) – 5%

Government

Mortavia has no functioning government. The Shadar-kai who remain act as silent stewards, bound to their eternal vigil. However, some figures of influence persist: • The Umbral Choir – A secretive council of Shadar-kai mystics who interpret the whispers of the dead. • The Keeper of the Seal – The last High Warden’s spectral shade, guarding the Abyssal Scar. • The Bone Regent – A lich of unknown origins who claims dominion over the deeper ruins.

Defences

The spirits and Shadar-kai of Mortavia repel intruders who seek to desecrate its ruins. • The very fabric of the city shifts unpredictably, confusing and trapping unwelcome guests. • The Bone Regent’s minions patrol the depths, ensuring the abyssal forces remain contained.

Industry & Trade

Mortavia no longer engages in trade, but desperate scholars and occultists still seek its secrets. • Occasional trade occurs with Shadar-kai merchants who deal in cursed relics and shadow magic.

Infrastructure

Once a masterpiece of elven architecture, Mortavia’s infrastructure is now crumbling, warped by shadow magic. Bridges hang over abyssal voids, staircases spiral into nothingness, and some roads lead to places that no longer exist.

Districts

The Hollow Spires – The skeletal remains of Mortavia’s highest towers, looming like jagged fangs. ' The Weeping Courtyard – The eerie, silent heart of the city, haunted by the memories of the fallen.
The Sunken Forum – A former marketplace, now sunken into the Shadowfell’s influence.
The Catacomb Fields – Endless graves that shift and reshape themselves, entrances appearing and vanishing at random.
The Abyssal Scar – The cursed rift where Orcus was bound, seething with lingering abyssal power.

Assets

Most valuables have been lost or cursed. However, remnants of Mortavia’s former greatness persist: • Enchanted elven weapons and armor (sometimes haunted by their former wielders). • Shadow-infused magical artifacts. • Hidden vaults of preserved elven tomes and relics. • Ancient ruins that conceal dangerous but powerful alchemical reagents.
While no traditional shops remain, some entities still "trade": • The Whispering Wares – A spectral vendor trades in lost artifacts but demands memories as payment. • Veilforger's Remnant – An abandoned smithy where weapons forge themselves if left overnight. • The Shade’s Gift – A Shadar-kai apothecary offering potions brewed from the essence of the dead.

Guilds and Factions

The Umbral Choir – A secretive sect preserving Mortavia’s knowledge and containing its darkness. The Bone Regent’s Court – Undead warlocks and necromancers who believe Mortavia should rise again.
The Grave Sentinels – Shadar-kai guardians who protect the ruins from reckless explorers.
The Ashen Pilgrims – Wanderers who believe Mortavia’s curse can be undone and seek to restore it.

Points of interest

• The Echoing Gardens – Where the laughter of the past still lingers, beautiful but unsettling.

• The Shifting Archives – A ruined library where books whisper their knowledge. • The Endless Duels – Spirits of warriors locked in eternal combat, allowing the brave to challenge them.

The Hollow Spires – Once-glorious towers, now home to eerie echoes. • The High Warden’s Tomb – A legendary crypt rumored to contain powerful relics. • The Abyssal Scar – The sealed wound of Orcus’ imprisonment, pulsing with dark energy. • The Phantom Bazaar – A spectral marketplace that appears only under a blood moon. • The Forgotten Amphitheater – Once a place of elven art, now filled with ghosts performing for an empty audience.

Tourism

Few dare to visit Mortavia. Those who do are usually scholars, treasure seekers, or cultists drawn to its cursed power.

Architecture

Elven elegance twisted by darkness. Once-white marble is now gray and cracked, spires curve at unnatural angles, and doorways shift from place to place.

Geography

Located on the island of Blaezasia, Mortavia sits atop a plateau surrounded by jagged peaks. The city’s outskirts are covered in ghostly mists, veiling it from afar.

Climate

• Perpetually overcast, with cold, unnatural winds.

• No true sunlight touches Mortavia, as if the city exists in a state between life and death. • A thick, eerie fog rolls through at night, bringing with it whispers of the past.

Natural Resources

Unique flora like the Duskwither Bloom, used in rare potions. Abyssal ore, dangerous but valuable to those who can refine it.

RUINED SETTLEMENT
5AD

Founding Date

12,540BD

Alternative Name(s)

Eternal Necropolis

Population

Previously 120,000 (Now <3000)

Location under

Blaezasia