Empire of Angathor
In darkness we tread!
Leader - Immortal Emperor QuenthelDemonym - AngathorianCapital City - AngathorCurrency - Red crystals
Behind the Gate of Despair
Rule and Isolation
Angathor maintains its isolation from the rest of Lothaycor behind the Gate of Despair. Within the Empire, necromancy serves both the army and the economy, although its practice is illegal in most of the world.
Emperor Quenthel rules from the capital, Angathor, where the Empire’s dark elven elite is based. His authority is absolute. A worshipper of Skotadian, he regards his subjects as descendants of the dark elves, even though the Empire is home to many peoples.
People and Landscape
Dark elven traditions dominate Angathorian society, with magic and the worship of Skotadian, god of death, central to its culture. The capital, Onraad and Ganrath are among the Empire’s principal settlements. Onraad is home to all the races of Lurra; Ganrath is a centre of necromancy, dark magic research and Skotadian worship.
Much of the land is covered by blighted forests inhabited by dangerous creatures. Undead occupy the caves beneath it and attack intruders who disturb their resting places. Yet Angathor is not wholly barren: suitable areas still support crops and livestock.
Resources and Undead Labour
Angathor’s living population depends on its own crops and livestock. Undead workers carry out much of the heavy labour, reducing the need for living workers and their provisions. Magic supports production, but conjuring food is too costly to feed whole cities routinely.
The dead used in this work have been animated, not restored to life. Necromancy does not remove the limits of healing and resurrection.
Little is known outside the Empire about its other resources. Red crystal mining is the best-known industry, and the crystals also serve as currency. Their reputed dark energies remain a matter of rumour.
Dreadon: An Independent Neighbour
Beyond the imperial gate lies Dreadon, an independent city-state ruled by Harvand Arenthon, leader of the Sons of Darkness. Harvand is King Rommald II’s younger brother, banished after a failed assassination attempt. He seeks to consolidate his rule and secure an alliance with Quenthel. No such alliance has yet been established.
The Sons of Darkness offer refuge to escapees. Dreadon shelters outcasts, bandits and criminals, including fugitives from Sahr, many of them deserters who rejected the Four Houses and refused military service. Its population brings together influences from Venris and Sahr, while orc and goblin communities inhabit the mountains.
Dreadon has no standing army. Its citizens take up arms together when the city faces invasion.
Armed Forces
Angathor’s army is the smallest, but its ranks include powerful warlocks, spellswords and undead soldiers. Its size alone gives little indication of the force it can bring to war.
Typical angathorian landscape.
Royal Palace of Emperor Quenthel seen in the distance