Telos
The dreaded City of The Warlocks is called Telos. It exists on the plains of Vaasa in an area where the combination of moisture, eldritch magic from an earlier age, and careful management of the land has created a pleasant oasis. The city stands on the site where the ancient primordial of the same name fell from a cosmic battle above the world in 879 DR. Those first adherents that came here mined the steel (called "ironfell") from that primordial god's dead body and used some of it to build the first tower structures along the water line. After the great purge of heretics, warlocks and diabolists from the lands of Cormyr, Sembia, Impiltur and Narfell (around 1100 DR) most escaped persecution by fleeing to Damara and finally through Bloodstone Pass and into Vaasa.
Those who fled were almost all from two major groups: the followers of Malar the Beast Lord, or a group devoted to the worship of Tiamat and her draconic children. The two cults were not particularly enamored with one another but found cooperation and survival more desirable than feud and destruction. They became allies of necessity.
Upon arrival at Telos, a Warlock servant of Tiamat known as Delphaeryn Leiyraghon was able to wrest control from the reigning Primordial cult Lord with the support from the beast lord's followers. As her grip on the city solidified, she immediately set to the construction of a great pyramid at the its heart. Her genius is responsible for the development of the complex magical and mechanical systems that permanently improve the weather, land quality and growing conditions immediately surrounding the city. She counted among her allies the Warlock Lord Dyzghal (also of Tiamat), the Warlock/Warlord of Malar named Savawulfen and the remaining primordial cult leader Pyrultimus who drew his power from Achazar the Raging Flame. The four of them work together, plot against one another, and occasionally kill each other's consorts or cousins.
Governance
Delphaeryn, Dyzghal, Savawulfen and Pyrultimus formed the first Ironfell Council and codified and formalized the Laws of Telos which organizes the Warlocks in such a way that they can each serve their patrons without causing continuous overt civil war. The Ironfell Council oversees and directly controls the lands around Telos for at least a dozen miles in every direction. The Ironfell council acts as a court should the games of murder, posturing and competing for position ever boil over and require a hearing out. During the War
After Dyzghal was turned into a subservient puppet to Zhengyi in 1264 DR, Delphaeryn and Savawulfen pushed Pyrultimus aside and decided to ally their forces with the Witch King and fight in his wars of conquest. For over a century this proved very wise as the initial invasion of Damara was successful and brought to the Warlocks of Telos a great number of slaves who could be forged into Steelwraiths (and later Shardsouls) to serve them in undeath. When the Second Bloodstone War erupted, the Warlocks had largely already withdrawn their important people from Damara and after Zhengyi's defeat in 1365 they simply returned to self governance and their dark games. The city was never directly attacked or razed and suffered little after the wars due to its self sufficiency. Today
Telos today is a mighty imposing fortress in the wastelands of Vaasa. Only fools approach it with their guard down. Delphaeryn still rules but her age is showing and her obsession has turned from raw power, to immortality. Savawulfen's son Dravenwulf has taken over control of Malar's cultists and the rumor is that he is in love with Delphaeryn's ambitious (and impetuous) middle daughter Verieze. Pyrultimus is very old now, but not gone. He still burns with the flame of Achazar in his heart. He truly believes that Telos still rightly belongs to The Raging Flame.
Delphaeryn, Dyzghal, Savawulfen and Pyrultimus formed the first Ironfell Council and codified and formalized the Laws of Telos which organizes the Warlocks in such a way that they can each serve their patrons without causing continuous overt civil war. The Ironfell Council oversees and directly controls the lands around Telos for at least a dozen miles in every direction. The Ironfell council acts as a court should the games of murder, posturing and competing for position ever boil over and require a hearing out. During the War
After Dyzghal was turned into a subservient puppet to Zhengyi in 1264 DR, Delphaeryn and Savawulfen pushed Pyrultimus aside and decided to ally their forces with the Witch King and fight in his wars of conquest. For over a century this proved very wise as the initial invasion of Damara was successful and brought to the Warlocks of Telos a great number of slaves who could be forged into Steelwraiths (and later Shardsouls) to serve them in undeath. When the Second Bloodstone War erupted, the Warlocks had largely already withdrawn their important people from Damara and after Zhengyi's defeat in 1365 they simply returned to self governance and their dark games. The city was never directly attacked or razed and suffered little after the wars due to its self sufficiency. Today
Telos today is a mighty imposing fortress in the wastelands of Vaasa. Only fools approach it with their guard down. Delphaeryn still rules but her age is showing and her obsession has turned from raw power, to immortality. Savawulfen's son Dravenwulf has taken over control of Malar's cultists and the rumor is that he is in love with Delphaeryn's ambitious (and impetuous) middle daughter Verieze. Pyrultimus is very old now, but not gone. He still burns with the flame of Achazar in his heart. He truly believes that Telos still rightly belongs to The Raging Flame.
Demographics
40% followers of Tiamat
30% followers of Malar
15% adherents of the Raging Flame
~ mix of slaves (Dwarves, Half-Breeds)
Government
Ironfell Council
