Virthal
Witnesses recall a great and terrible tempest sitting above the city center on the night Gradal fell to the Kraken. King Oriol the Defiant had held the crown for less than two weeks. He had inherited the crown from his brother King Luka the Martyr after he and his entire family had been killed attempting to flee westward to Bartsama. The King issued one last order to the Silver Guardians, the elite of the Virthalian Rangers. To protect his children, and the children of his sister Cloe and get them out. These orders given, King Oriel took silver sword in hand and attempted to defend the elevator shafts to the Encarna Plateau. By morning, the royal line of Mistral had been abolished, and the banners of the Kraken hung from the royal palace. As a reminder to the state of Virthal, who had traded vassalage from one empire to another, the Marid conqueror Sassol the Grandiose beseeched the Kraken for water. The rain has not stopped on the shores of Virthal since.
Virthal has existed for centuries in a state of vassalage, first to the Moerasian Empire, a partnership if not of equals than at least on friendly terms, and now to the Kraken, a tyranny that promises nothing but cruelty and delivers on it's promises. Even before these crises, the kingdom of Virthals long history goes back far further to wars against Fire Giants and Hobgoblins, to defense against the Ghostfire March, and to the taming of the land itself, its waters infused with the blood of titans. This water causes creatures to reach unusual sizes and levels of ferocity, and perhaps no nation on Mana Jalqabaa is prone to as many sightings of beasts and monstrosities than Virthal.
To combat these creatures, long ago an order was founded from the heroes of the Ghostfire March, the Virthalian Rangers. Using swords of silver crafted by duergar within the depths of Fireshriek Mountains, they turned their blades upon the monsters sewing up from the rivers and forests of Virthal to cleanse the land and protect the populace. Their order has endured for millennia since, spawning myths and legends among its heroes, and secret vaults that are said to exist throughout Virthal, Moeras, the Dresh Plantations, and Kabout Ral where a ranger may find aid. In the modern day amongst the tyranny of the Kraken, the Virthalian Rangers are officially outlawed, though their order still exists, and is fanning the flames of resistance.
Joining in the effort to push back on the Kraken's tyranny, Firebrands from the Broken Spine, and even the Hurricane King himself have sent aid to Virthal overland from Yadis or through smuggling operations in Kabout Ral. While the Kraken controls Gradal completely its grip on the backwoods of Virthal is more tenuous. Civil War brews in the swamps and mires of Virthal, where rumors persist that the royal line of Mistral still endure. Multiple people claim to be a bastard son or daughter of a distant heir of their ancient bloodline, any of which might be used as a figurehead to spark a revolution when the time comes. Indeed, the Kraken's forces seek out signs of the Mistral bloodline, interrogating and harassing villagers, seeking out ancient storerooms and hidden places, all in attempts to find traces of the royal line and it's secrets. The Kraken searches for something, and seems desperate to find it.
Structure
With the death of the monarch, the Genasi Lord Uruhuz the Proud has assumed the role of Governor of Virthal for the last dozen years. They rule with the consent of the "Virthalian people" of Gradal, the sons and daughters of the last true administrators of the nation.
Culture
The people of Virthal are extremely insular, villagers do not stray far from the riverside into the surrounding wilderness, or indeed far upon the river itself. Wayfinders are a respected profession for this purpose, as the roads across the river are often treacherous, due to monsters and treacherous currents.
While the Rangers of Virthal and their swords of silver are perhaps the greatest defense against the dangers of the surrounding countryside, the merchant captains of the Fireshriek company are equally as capable. A band of mountain climbers and explorers of the old duergar roads between Kabout-Ral and Virthal famous for revitalizing the mining operation near Mt. Nanos. However with the destruction of the Agaltan pass, their mission has become more dangerous in recent years, requiring passage through Osar and circling around the Sunspear desert.
Fire and Water play an intense role in the mythology and religion of the Virthalian region. Myth tells that the original founders of Virthal came from the plane of water, and the effects of the Ghostfire March and its effects on unifying Virthal are well documented. Fire wards against the angry spirits and monsters of the backwaters, water from the titan river has kept thousands of generations alive since the days of the antediluvians.
Religious worship of Gozreh is commonplace, as is the worship of Erastil as the god of the hunt. The Virthalian rangers revere Cayden Cailean, and increasingly Milani as the goddess of revolution. Reverence to the goblin heroes and the Godclaw are also commonplace among the remnants of Moeras located in the outer lands. Within those cities loyal to the Kraken revere the titan directly as a demigod from the plane of water.
Relations between Goblinoid races and the rest of Virthalian society remains unfriendly. The Kraken's forces have largely used humanoid surrogates, putting them in a position of power to create an "other" in the form of their former oppressors. Within Kraken-controlled Virthalian society goblinoids have been relegated to second class citizen status, and in many places servitude. Their condition is not necessarily reversed in areas loyal to the kraken, where many see Moeras' years of subjugation as cause enough for revenge against their former oppressors. Still others see goblinoid species as groups that worked in partnership with Virthal's government, or who have come to the conclusion that it will take everyone to oppose the Kraken's occupation, and now is no time to be picky.
Among the legendary monsters of Virthal, a few are well known in household names. Hags are thought to be common in the woads, with some even hiding in human form. The most famous of these hags is known as the mosquito witch, who is said to stalk the Mosquito forest near Saral and Tarvez. Forest giants, and even fire giants are common enough in the fringe territories and are the subjects of multiple songs and fables. With the arrival of the Kraken, openings to the plane of water have become increasingly commonplace, flooding the rivers of Virthal with sea monsters and even merfolk. As with most of the Kraken Coast, Dinosaurs are common and diverse, and are often used as livestock in more fringe villages.
Perhaps most notable of the Virthal's monsters are known as the FloodBorn. Said to emerge when the rain swells every seven years and causes predictable flooding of the titan river, the monsters vary heavily in size and appearance, but each possess the ability to manipulate water in some capacity. A few of the FloodBorn slain by rangers or other enterprising adventurers are on display in Gradal. They include beasts 20 feet in size, monstrous bipedal creatures with 6 arms, and antlers jagged as spears or scales that reflect sunlight to make them appear invisible.
Assets
Virthal is flush with bountiful amounts of fish, fertile farmland from a predictable flood plain, and ample fruits born from volcanic soil. Virthal served as the breadbasket of Moeras in it's heyday, and for whatever dangers it now faces, starvation is not one of them.
Other key resources in Virthal include obsidian, gemstones fruits, nuts, grains, and darkwood.
Demography and Population
The majority of the population of Virthal is human, but significant minorities exist for goblinoids, merfolk, water genasi, fire genasi, changelings, serpentfolk, halflings, and dwarves.
Territories
Banin: The gateway to the Great River Runway has for years been under occupation from the Kraken's forces. Their goal is to ensure no one goes in or out of Virthal. Smugglers and pirates along the runway are swiftly captured and enslaved, and those attempting to flee Virthal are killed. Banin is also famous for the mines near Mt. Nanos, being the supplier for much of Virthals obsidian used in weapon supply, as well as silver used in the creation of monster slaying weaponry.
Encarna Plateau: The cliffside of Virthal is what largely protected the country from the Kraken's onslaught, as destruction by tidal wave alone became distinctly impossible. Still the area below the cliff face has actually had water recede in recent years due to the Kraken's effect on the regional climate. The remains now are the Encarna Plateau, a dried stretch of ocean where dead coral, and previously unknown ocean treasures now sit clear as day in a makeshift desert of what was once watery terrain. This terribly drying of the land has also made naval transport nearly impossible without the Kraken's assistance, isolating the nation on land.
Fort Rano: The ancient fortress of the Mistral dynasty is still under occupation by humanoid forces, at the Kraken's direction. Charged with keeping order in Virthal, these humanoids go where the agents of water cannot, and increasingly rumors suggest that unknown and devious rites are being taught to soldiers there to allow them to infiltrate other villages and unmake them from within.
Gradal: The opulent capital of Virthal was largely spared the Kraken's wrath, and is now occupied by the Marid ruler Uruhuz the Proud. A form of institutionalized slavery has been put in place in Gradal, with the former goblinoids of Moeras being cast into servitude by their humanoid overlords, who in turn have been placed in servitude by the Kraken's legions. The beautiful blue and green streets of Gradal do little to hide the sense of oppression that exists now within the city streets, where every faction of the government and of it's people has been turned to enrich the glory of the Kraken and his vassals.
Lake Olas: The most significant landmark in Virthal is home to massive fishing operations, ferrying services up river, and now a newly constructed merfolk city loyal to the Kraken. Rifts in the plane of water have allowed for easy access of the Kraken's forces to the region, and below the surface of the lake, a boomtown of merfolk has emerged of immigrants from the plane of water come to claim Virthalian land as their own.
Lucion: A tiny village under occupation of the Kraken's forces, Lucion is currently engaged in a terrible conflict with giants in the region, as well as FloodBorn from the nearby river. Many have fled the city as a result, and even the Kraken's forces seem content to leave the village to it's fate.
Osar: The home of the Fireshriek company is a glorified trading post, for people to pass between Kabout-Ral and Virthal. In recent years it has also become home to Firebrand smuggling operations and adventuring parties looking to explore the duergar ruins, making Osar a settlement prone to rugged violence.
Peta: Once Peta was a large trade city and the gateway to Kabout-Ral, but with the divide of Agalta now separating the continents, Peta has come into disrepair and squalor. Increased volcanic activity from Mt. Kodemai has only encouraged people to abandon the village, and even the Kraken's forces have largely overlooked the town as irrelevant.
Saral: Saral was until recently a city in rebellion; however brigands have overtaken the nearby drawbridge and boathouse and have brought travel to the village to a complete halt. Now the forces of the Kraken and the rebels are in a standoff in the village, with both awaiting a resupply and reinforcement that is not coming.
Tarvez: With the downfall of the monarchy Tarvez has become increasingly isolated. Communication outside the village has become sporadic, and within many have begun to pray to more local and unusual deities. While they are still friendly to outsiders, fewer and fewer visit each year.
The Eastern River Woad: One of the more ancient Floodborn known as "it which walks the water" has made the eastern woad it's home. During the fall of Virthal, it is said that this beast destroyed the royal caravan fleeing from Gradal, leaving countless treasures sinking into the swampy mire of the region.
The Imperial Hunting Grounds of King Dounia: Before the collapse of the monarchy this forest was a meeting point between the Virthalian Rangers and the Pterodactyl Riders of Moeras, who commissioned this forest as a royal hunting ground for the Virthalian Monarchy and the Moerasian Empire to hunt in unity. A monument exists deep within the forest's heart to the Rangers first meeting with Moerasian scouts, to commemorate that unity. With the end of organized government however, the forest has become overrun with monsters, including corrupted unicorns, evil fey, FloodBorn horrors, and unnamable abominations.
The Mosquito Forest: Named for the Mosquito Witch, an entity that has existed for at least a millennia, the forest and it's surrounding swampland are considered cursed to outsiders. Hags exist here, along with the remains of countless people who have been lured into the forest and never returned. If a changeling is discovered amongst the populace, many locals assume that it originated from this wood.
The Purpura Woods: Named for the Purpura, a group of psionic monsters that hunt the wood, illusions within the forest are common, as are mental breakdowns. Even the rangers avoid this forest. Rumor suggests that only the royal family could traverse it safely, and that their treasured remnants lie within the forest, though none can be certain.
The Silver Forest: The traditional home of the Virthalian Rangers, the silver forest contains sacred silver deposits mythically blessed by the Titans themselves. While the rangers have gone into hiding their old camps and shrines still remain within the forest. The monsters here are tamer compared to the other regions of Virthal, indicating that the old guardians may not have completely abandoned their posts.
The Titan River: Perhaps the largest individual river on the continent, the titan river's origins are rumored to come from the mythical Beast of the Sea. Whatever the truth, the river floods on a predictable schedule, and allows for incredibly fertile soil. Every seven years, the floods of the titan river become incredibly intense, destroying cropland and many structures built along the river. From these floods the FloodBorn emerge, creating a new generation of monsters that traverse the backlands of Virthal. Ferryman along the river are in constant demand, though as of late travel between settlements has slowed due to the Kraken's tyranny.
The Western River Woad: The western river woad has always been known to monsters, but recently a number of forest giants living within the woods have become incredibly aggressive, attacking the settlement of Lucion and the Kraken's forces therein. The reason for their aggression is unclear, and the sightings of fire giants aiding their forest brethren have delayed any effort to investigate.
Tucuro: The second largest city in Virthal is known for a large scale resistance movement being led by survivors of Moeras and rebellious firebrands with the Hurricane King's backing. Unfortunately for Tucuro, it's presence near lake Olas has led to numerous planar tears into the plane of water appearing periodically throughout the city. Combined with threats from the Ghostlord to the southwest, and Tucuro's attempt at rebellion as not gotten off the ground.
Many Paths, One Purpose
Capital
Alternative Names
The Vassal State of Virthal
Leader
Ruling Organization
Head of State
Government System
Dictatorship
Power Structure
Client state / puppet state
Economic System
Command/Planned economy
Parent Organization
Neighboring Nations
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