Kresalor
Geography
Kresalor maintains a cold damp climate throughout the year, seeing plenty of rain, but precious little floral growth despite this. The landscape is harsh and unforgiving, mostly rocky barren. Lorcrann Thicket to the south provides a bit of forest growth, though most of it has died away from the dark activity of the witches in the area.
The Grimspires in the east are home to many monsters, including trolls, giant spiders and various ghouls. These jagged peaks create a natural barrier between the island's northern and southern regions. In the North lies the Umbraglade, a dense swamp that's easy to get lost in, while the infamous Red Reach dominates the northwestern pensinsula, a desolate place where only Castle Ceridwen and the surrounding town of Gravmaron sees any life (or unlife) at all.
Most people live in the central region of the island, where there are a few notable settlements such as Lathov Port, St. Andras and Kelmar.
The entire island is surrounded by a perpetual mist that seems to thicken at its edges, making navigation to and from Kresalor basically impossible.
Government
Kresalor operates under a complex feudal system with Nostoc, the Vampire King, at its peak. Nostoc maintains a structured, if brutal, order throughout his domain. His style of governance resembles that of a mafia organization, where order is maintained through a combination of fear, obligation, and twisted protection. An example of this is the Tithe. Each region under Nostoc's protection must provide regular tributes to their vampire lord, but this is handled through voluntary regulated collection rather than random hunting.History
Kresalor was once a prosperous region in the northwestern reaches of Caelwhyn, known for its breathtaking landscapes and the benevolent rule of its noble houses. This golden age came to an end during the reign of Lord Nostoc, in a series of events that would forever change the island's destiny.
During this period, Kresalor attracted nobles from across Caelwhyn, particularly when the young Lord Nostoc sought a bride. The lord's choice fell upon Odette, a minor noblewoman whose grace and kindness won his heart. Their marriage marked what many thought would be the beginning of a new prosperous era.
Tragedy struck when Odette, pregnant with their first child, fell gravely ill. A servant's attempt to save her through a blood transfusion backfired horrifically when the blood proved to be cursed. Odette's condition deteriorated, marked by painful pustules and constant agony. Despite giving birth to their daughter Ceridwen, Odette succumbed to her affliction.
Driven by grief and desperation, Lord Nostoc launched a campaign of bloodshed across neighboring lands, seeking a cure for the blood curse that now affected his infant daughter. The Red Reach earned its name during this period, as the very earth became saturated with the blood of Nostoc's victims. However, no cure emerged from this brutal crusade.
In his desperation, Nostoc turned against his oldest allies, the Four Fae Sisters - ancient spirits who had long protected Kresalor. When they refused to help save Ceridwen, he destroyed them, an act that began the island's descent into darkness. This betrayal, combined with Nostoc's subsequent pact with Xyrthan, triggered a catastrophic transformation of both ruler and realm.
Following Nostoc's transformation into the first vampire and his dark pact, Kresalor began to separate from the rest of Caelwhyn. The Myst, that mysterious force that surrounds the known world, gradually enveloped the island. This separation was both physical and metaphysical - even memories of Kresalor began to fade from the minds of those in Caelwhyn.
Now Kresalor exists in a state of perpetual twilight, ruled by Nostoc and his court of vampire lords. The island maintains a semblance of its former civilization, though twisted by centuries of vampire rule.Maps
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The Cursed Isle of Kresalor
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