Braktu
The city-state of Braktu sits on the Barren Coast of the Talanos Peninsula beneath the looming escarpment of the High Barrens, The, some 500 miles away from the shadowy walls of Vilik Strad. Those approaching the city from the sea are met with the terrifying sight of a series of monolithic demon faces carved into the side of towering rock walls. The largest of these carved demon faces is over 120 feet tall and can be clearly seen from nearly two miles out to sea. The face bears the likeness of a fiendish horned goat with its mouth outstretched as if it vomited forth the chaotic tumble of fortresses, buildings, towers, crumbling walls, and destitute hovels below it and surrounding the foul-smelling harbor.
Braktu is ruled by a mad theocracy of death worshippers dedicated to the Demon Lord Orcus. It is surmised by some that the dead within Braktu outnumber the living, and if that is true, the High Horn of Orcus and his priests may command one of the largest armies of the dead in all of the Lost Lands.
History and People
The city was founded sometime between 500 and 700 I.R., but by who and for what reason remains largely a mystery. The city has a large population of orcs and ogres, as well as humans and humanoids of blended heritage descended from captured shipwreck survivors and a slave market maintained by the Brotherhood of Skulls, as well as migrations of people back and forth to Carcass on the Razor Sea. It is possible that independent tribes who broke away from Vilik Strad’s sphere of influence after the cataclysm that brought the Cinderhame Mountains up from the bowels of Boros settled here as well. None know the truth, and few truly care.
Regardless of its origin, the city has flourished after its own fashion as a center for piracy, slave trade, and other darker mysteries on the southern coast of the Talanos Peninsula since its inception.
Braktu keeps an uneasy alliance with Vilik Strad. Neither trusts the other, yet both know a war between them would be disastrous for their goals, many of which share several of the same ends.
At one point in time, the High Altar of Orcus was located in Braktu, though that season has long passed, and the favor of the Lord of the Dead has moved back to Rappan Athuk, the legendary Dungeon of Graves on eastern Akados. As a consequence, a fierce rivalry exists between those of Orcus’ priesthood that were trained in Braktu and those who rise from the pits of Rappan Athuk. Indeed, High Horn Docefris refuses to acknowledge emissaries from Rappan Athuk as authentic to the cause of the Lord of the Dead.
Braktu is overrun with hordes of undead. Entire districts are populated with ghouls, ghasts, and zombies (infectious and otherwise). It is believed that one of the city’s many charnel houses is in fact a gateway to Styx where the Necropolis of Ankev itself can be accessed. The less intelligent undead are subservient to the living in all ways, and a steady stream of captives brought in by boats captained by the Brotherhood of Skulls ensures that the more intelligent dead have a fair amount of fresh flesh to feast upon.
Religion
Braktu is steeped in the worship of Orcus, though some tribes of hobgoblins and goblins in the city also pay homage to their paternal deity Snuurge and keep altars to him within their lairs. Within the city, the chief priests and necromancers of Orcus maintain retinues of dozens of zombies or other lesser undead, with stronger undead such as ghouls and their ilk as household thralls and guardians.
Monthly mass sacrifices to the Lord of the Dead take place during the ritual of the horned moon. There prisoners brought on ships of the Brotherhood of Skulls await their cursed fate. Some are executed by the priests of Orcus before his altar and raised immediately as fresh fiends of the undead. Others are led like cattle through stockyard pens to slathering masses of ghouls and other creatures where they are torn asunder for the entertainment of the living denizens of this municipality of mayhem.
Trade and Commerce
Braktu’s economy is principally based on trade in the sale of undead armies and the importation of living prisoners. Would-be warlords and necromancers from around Akados seeking ready-made warriors to fill out their armies or defend their strongholds know that such forces can be had for a price in the city of Braktu. Other revenue is generated from the mining of bitumen and phosphorus from the walls of the plateau.
Among thriving ventures in the City of Ten Thousand Skulls are a chapterhouse of the Underguild, the Brotherhood of Skulls’ Slave Market, the Necromancers’ Market, and various mercenary tribes of orcs, hobgoblins, and humans of the plateau willing to sell their swords to well-paying would-be generals.
Underguild Chapterhouse
Undead allies of the Brotherhood of Skulls, the Underguild keeps a chapterhouse in the city of Braktu. The Dead Prince Evoine of Cailin Lee presides over the chapterhouse, which is a gaming hall popular with pirates, slavers, hobgoblins, bandits, and other generalized scum of the High Barrens, The who come down to the shore for a good time. Dead Prince Evoine has been a vampire for 400 years, having been chased from Olduvar after rising from the grave and slaughtering several of his kinfolk. With naught but a coffin of dirt from his own grave, he booked passage to the Duchy of Borss. Before the ship could make Borss, he caused it to wreck in sight of pirates, who brought him (and the other survivors of the wreck) to Braktu. Before long, Evoine managed to acquire enough coin to buy an interest with the Underguild and has run the chapterhouse ever since.Necromancers’ Market
Necromancers from across the Crescent Sea often make a pilgrimage to the City of Ten Thousand Skulls for training in the dark arts of the dead. Several powerful necromancers call the city home and accept apprentices from among these pilgrims. Material components required for casting a variety of necromantic spells can be found in the city, as well as such components needed to craft permanent necromantic magic items. The market also provides access to permanent common undead for those who would have use for their services.Brotherhood of Skulls’ Slave Market
The Slave Market and a portion of the docks of the city are managed by the pirate confederation known as the Brotherhood of Skulls. The brotherhood accept death as a part of their daily business and as such pay homage to Orcus, though not all of their number are outright worshippers of the Bloated Goat. The Brotherhood of Skulls ply the Strait of Praeis, the Mouth of Akados, Treachery Bay, the Barren Coast, and as far off as Tywyl Bay. They seek out merchant ships, transports, and small, lightweight warships that they can outfit and add to their pirate fleet. The brotherhood brings their prisoners back to Braktu for sale to the high horn and his priests or to be bid over by the various factions of orcs, hobgoblins, and goblins who call the city home. Captain Griego Aiello is a burly half-orc sorcerer that now manages the slave pits for the Brotherhood and sits upon their captains’ council. The brotherhood keeps a half-dozen ships near harbor and has a dozen more out to sea plying the straits at any given time.Loyalty and Diplomacy
Braktu is a self-contained city-state owing no particular loyalty to anyone save its rulers’ blind devotion to the Lord of the Dead. The city does, however, have diplomatic ties to Vilik Strad due to their proximity to one another. Braktu’s priesthood does not fear the dark elves of the walled city, as they have an army of undead at their beck and call, and nearly as many demons on retainer to do their bidding should the dark elves contemplate an invasion.
Government
Braktu is a theocracy dedicated to Orcus. The high priest of Braktu is High Horn Docefris, and the Horned Hierarchy ordain rules from the Demon Temple-Tombs carved into the rock face of the plateau wall. Most business with the Brotherhood of Skulls or the Underguild is assigned via personal contract with Docefris’ inner circle of bishops. Decisions begin and end with Docefris, who serves as patriarch and High Horn of Orcus in Braktu. Docefris claims to confer directly with Orcus (which he does … in a manner of speaking) on all matters.
Military
Death-priests of Braktu command squads of common undead and units of orcs, hobgoblins, and, depending on their rank and power, ogres and trolls. These priests are organized in a hierarchy of deacons, protopriests, bishops, and metropolitans ending in Docefris himself. The bishops and beyond command their own demonic hosts in battle when needed.
Despite his city’s alliance with the Brotherhood of Skulls, Docefris recently commissioned several triremes each capable of carrying a complement of 200. His intent is to fill the holds with infectious undead and beach the ships near the shores of civilized lands where the spread of the undead may hasten the re-entry of Orcus, resurrected in Arvonliet’s Apocalypse.
The city is unsure if it can count on the Brotherhood of Skulls as an ally against any seaborn invasion. They know that the brotherhood can be paid to ferry mercenary forces to other locations. Docefris’ bishops expect that the brotherhood will do whatever it can to ensure its own survival. As a result, the priesthood garrisons their own mercenary armies of orcs, hobgoblins, and more powerful monsters in a manner that prevents the brotherhood from cutting and running if faced with a serious threat against the city.
Major Threats
Though an uneasy alliance exists between them for now, the dark elves of Vilik Strad could pose a serious threat to Braktu were they to find a reason to attack. Additionally, the growing naval and financial might of the earl of Borss and his allies could someday be turned against the City of Ten Thousand Skulls in the form of a new crusade. Should any such threat materialize, the priesthood of Braktu would be forced to empty their tombs of the dead, and in the mind of Docefris, begin the doomsday his visions have always promised.
For the time being, the ships of Sataama Vierta and the Green Realm are no match for the pirates of the Brotherhood of Skulls. Were the elves of the Green Realm to become a threat to the port of Braktu, they could seek assistance from Vilik Strad, though the priesthood would be very reluctant to do so. Any such assistance would come with a price, and that price could affect the hierarchy of power not only in the Lost Lands, but also in the far reaches of the dark planes.
Region
Braktu, City-State of
Type
Geopolitical, City-state
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