Zalthum, a.k.a The Crow's Nest

Zalthum has a dark past and an evil core. In the many wars between the serpentine Kakistocracy of Hardum and Edraxia both sides sought to gain an advantage. The Great Shamans of Hardum turned to the Black Dragon for power and support. Raising undead and creatures from the Deep they started to turn the tide and brought Edraxia close to defeat. However, the barbarian lord 'The Scaled Fists' betrayed the Great Shamans. They gathered them into a great pit and slaughtered them and their followers. Legend says The Scaled FIit watched their people being ripped apart by their own undead creations. Some scholars believe that Hardum lost half its number in this horrific genocide. It is at the site of this pit that later worshippers of the Black Dragon would erect the Crooked Ziggurat and begin the great project of Zalthum (which means dark refuge). Trading in magic, undead mercenaries, slavery, demonolgy and every other dark act or ritual, Zalthum became powerful and fear. Fearing Zalthums support for their rival, both Edraxia and Hardum have left Zalthum to become a great naval power. They have survived many Locust Swarms through their dark magic and in the protection of the Dark Lords (a council of vampires, lichs and gargoyles). There is no crime in Zalthum, because little is illegal and the Dark Lords use fanatical assassins called The Mask to dispose of any issue. The only problems that do arise come from the Catacombs, a labyrinth that connect to the Deep. Every so often the Dark Lords must contend with a chaotic Daemon or some such monstrosity.

Population: 80 000 Humans, 50 000 Lizardfolk, 30 000 Dhampir, 10 000 others

''"It is a brave act of valor to condemn death; but where life is more terrible than death, it is the truest valor to dare to live." ''Regilio Vespar, a Dark Lord of Zalthum