Osseus, Realm of the Undead
Osseus is a barren land populated only by the undead, ruled by the Wraith King and his death knights. The lands of Osseus consist of the three “lost duchies” of Brentonnia, Destriona, and Rovina, once part of the greater kingdom of Rosalind. Osseus lands border Rosalind in the north and Aurulant in the south, stetching between the land of the giants in the west to the barrier mountains of the Desolation in the east. Osseus looks like it is covered by perpetual clouds, and the land is dotted with fallow fields, abandoned farmsteads and villages, and withered copses of trees on dusty hills of crabgrasses.
History
During the Third Age, during the reign of King Breeswald the Kindly of Rosalind, twin sons are born to the king and his wife, Queen Matilde of Tik, a noblewoman of Erynland. Identical twins, Princes Banquo and Bendil were nearly indistinguishable in appearance, often confusing courtiers in their father's court by pretending to be the other. As they grew into manhood, King Breeswald trained them both in the ways of ruling, so that both men were capable of ascending to the throne upon the death of their father. Both princes were strategically wed to noblewomen of Rosalind, and started families as they jointly ruled over the Duchy of Brentonnia, the old seat of the Kingdom and its capital city, Brentonopolis.
As the king aged, all expected him to make his choice between his sons, naming one as his successor to the throne and the other the successor to the powerful Duchy. Alas, King Breeswald, ever too kindly and equally adoring of his sons, either could not or would not choose between them. He died without naming an heir. Both sons laid claim to the Rose Throne. The other Noble Houses began to choose sides, as did the Matriarchy, and civil war seemed eminent, as neither brother would yield their claim.
Queen Matilde, backed by several of the Noble Houses, declared for Prince Bendil, claiming he had been born a full seven minutes earlier than his brother Banquo. Some doubted the truth of this claim, as the queen had never mentioned it publicly before. Some historians have speculated that as an Erynlander, she chose Bendil over Banquo based on Bendil's private distaste for the Matriarchy. True or not, this claim was sufficient for the majority of Noble Houses to throw their support behind Bendil over Banquo, and on the 6th of Ebbinheet, Bendil was crowned King of Rosalind. King Bendil made his brother Banquo Duke of Brentonnia, to hold in perpetuity through his line.
Despite this significant concession to his brother (typically the King's eldest son would become duke, to hold until they ascended the throne), Bendil badly underestimated Banquo's ambition and bitterness. After losing the throne, Banquo began researching dark magic and evil cults. At some point, it is believed he sold his soul, although to who is in doubt - some tales hold it sacrificed it to Korax the Dominator, others claim he sold it to Astaroth the Demon Lord. One fanciful story told that he made his bargain with the High Witch Baba Yaga. This last tale, which turned into an operetta entitled Banquo's Bargain, played for exactly 13 evenings in Lys before the theater where it played burned to the ground. The operetta is now called "the cursed play" and most acting troupes refuse to play it except on a dare, and then only for twelve nights. It is rumored that despite being cast as a villain, Baba Yaga has seen the operetta multiple times and enjoys it immensely.
Whoever he sold his soul to, Banquo received from this vile bargain a spell to raise an army capable of defeating the standing armies of Rosalind. Under the dark moon in the month of Culdinwhet, only five years after his brother was crowned king, Banquo recited this dread spell in the great cemeteries of Brentonoplis, surrounded by his most fervent retainers who had joined him in this secret plot to overthrow the king.
The spell ripped their lives and souls from their mortal bones, and they rose up as undead creatures. Banquo was no longer human, but a walking wound in the veil between the living and the dead. His followers grew pale and gaunt, knights in death as they had been in life, and were forever afterwards called death knights. Meanwhile, all around them, the dead rose from their graves to join Banquo's army of darkness.
Banquo and his army charged into the capital city, slaying all who stood in their way, not caring if they were soldier or innocent. The city was taken and sacked overnight. While many of the populace were able to flee into the countryside, King Bendil was killed whilst on his throne. The Crown of Rosalind, made of a hundred roses fashioned from gold, was lost that day, as was the sword of the king, which was first carried by Rosalind's founder and reputedly was magic. The slaughter of the night, the days that followed, was perhaps the deadliest single event since the Cataclysm. Thousands were murdered, and Brentonopolis became a one large tomb, such that people began referring to it as Necropolis instead. Singers and troubadours popularized the name and it has since stuck.
In the days that followed, Banquo and his followers conquered two other Duchies beyond Brentonnia, capturing one quarter of the kingdom. By then the rest of the country had become alerted to his treachery and slaughter of his brother and united to resist his advance. The Matriarchy sent its priests and priestesses to join the ranks of soldiers, using their faith to send holy fire against the undead ranks of Banquo's army. His offers to parley were rebuffed, his demands to be acknowledged as the true king of Rosalind were refused. Nobles began referring to him as the "Wraith King" and refusing to name him properly.
Meanwhile, King Brendil's youngest son, Prince Brant the Unready, was hastily crowned king in Lys. The new king made haste to assemble a force to push back the Wraith King. At Ardente Wood, a narrow forest of pines, birch and poplars trees, the Young King's forces, backed by the Matriarchy and armies from the remaining duchies of the realm, pushed back the armies of the Wraith King. While they waited for a counterattack, one never came. Instead, the Wraith King retreated to Necropolis.
A fortnight later, a half-starved, half-mad Human retainer, clad in all black, rode into the garrison near Ardente Wood on a skeletal horse. The man claimed to be an unwilling emissary from the Wraith King, who declared himself ruler over the three Lost Duchies (as they became known), which was now the undead realm of Osseus. The messenger reported that the armies of Osseus would not cross the Ardente Wood, but would suffer no living person to enter the undead realm. This one-sided armistice has since become the status quo.
Demography and Population
Osseus is populated mainly by undead of all types. There are rumors of small populations of humans, elves and goblins kept in perpetual servitude to fulfil some dark desires of the undead lords of the realm. Thus far, no one has been able to substantiate this rumor.
Military
Osseus is essentially all military; every undead creature is a monster that can and will fight. The main forces that have been seen are ranks of zombie infantry and skeleton cavalry and slingers.
Laws
Osseus is ruled by the Wraith King and his death knights, who hold absolute dominion over everything. There are no laws, per se; those undead intelligent enough be independent obey the strictures of the Wraith King out of fear or ambition. Other undead simply follow commands given to them by their creators or their more powerful undead masters, and those few living people within Osseus are treated like slaves and fear for their lives.
Founding Date
Third Age
Type
Geopolitical, Country
Capital
Predecessor Organization
Leader
Leader Title
Head of State
Head of Government
Government System
Dictatorship
Currency
None.
Neighboring Nations
Comments