Novgorod
The dark, forbidding confines of Harwood Forest open up into the streets and buildings of a massive city without any clear division or preamble. Buildings twist into the boles of giant, rotting trees, while the streets and alleys are carpeted with stinking moss and fungi. Novgorod is a hidden, dark city, as dark as the forest around it, and the secret enclave of the demonkindred banished here and cursed with mortality. From a distance, the citizens might appear elven, but here, in their greater numbers, the superficial resemblance is unconvincing. Though their appearances vary, the small horns, long canine teeth, and predatory expressions make it clear that these are no ordinary humanoids.
The forests in the vicinity of Novgorod are filled with many dangers and ruins. Stone circles, forbidden temples, and a great crater are all said to be deep in the Harwood Forest in proximity to the dark city.
History
The Kashverai, a race of demons, served Lilith, the Demon Queen, in Fortress Neëriel, her grand home in the hells. These loyal servants were tempted to betray their queen, an action considered so vile by this powerful goddess of chaos that she stripped the entire race of their demonic powers and banished them to the material plane where they were doomed to die, in time, of old age. The Kashverai did not die out, however, but bred new offspring, not as powerful as their parents, but still carrying the taint of demonic chaos in their bloodline.
After battles, infighting, and a mix of assassination and blackmail, Vargoth Novgorod, an exiled elf from the realm of Caer Myrrdin in Harwood Forest, took over the displaced Kashverai and, moving deeper into the forest, founded the city of Novgorod, which his bloodline has retained unstable control of ever since. Novgorod was founded here to avoid the eye of Lilith and any other punishments she might mete out on those who betrayed her. In truth, as time and generations have gone on, she has all but forgotten the Kashverai, who now call themselves demonkindred. If reminded of their presence and their hope to once again attain full demon status, she would undoubtedly find some way to torture and abuse them for further revenge.
Government
Morwenna, Queen of Novgorod, Chosen of Medhiba, is the Novgorod heir presently on the throne, but her rule, while strong, is somewhat tenuous. Numerous factions with varied interests in the demonkindred city and the infighting between them has resulted in assassinations, murders, and outright fighting in the streets. Some groups are aimed at simply removing the Novgorod family from power, while others are focused on the promises made by the demoness Medhiba to return the demonkindred to true demonic form and power. Still others want to ignore the demon lords and gods and simply go out to conquer the world outside Harwood Forest and make it their own. Needless to say, such infighting is a blessing to the outside world, which is largely unaware of the presence and threat the demonkindred could pose. If the demonkindred residing here become truly unified behind a single leader and purpose, the results for those nearby could be disastrous.
Places of Interest
Spread throughout the trees and twisted growths of this part of Harwood Forest, Novgorod has several areas of note, though it would take a truly bold adventurer to risk entering the demonkindred city.
Comments