Alhaster
Truly a wretched hive of scum and villainy, Alhaster is known south of the Nyr Dyv as a den of corruption. Its ports are safe only for slavers and smugglers, and its despotic ruler Prince Zeech is a cruel tyrant and fallen paladin, who has installed the worship of Hextor as his principality's religion. Officially, all religions are welcome, but those who serve Hextor's enemies, particularly St Cuthbert, seldom report a warm welcome. Moreover, it is known that Zeech is in the pocket of the Bandit Lords who rule the plateaus north of the Nyr Dyv, and thus is a lackey of the feared lich-god Iuz.
As is typical under such rulership, Alhaster is a city of cruel divides, where ancient and opulent stone manors stand in stark contrast to the shanty-towns and ghettoes which occupy most of the city.
It came to the party's attention as an Ebon Triad cultist exulted that it was here that the cult would finally succeed in summoning Kyuss and with him, the Age of Worms and the apotheosis of their Overgod. The cultist taunted that she had no hesitation in telling the party because there was no way they could stop it in time, and even told them that their operations were being led by the head of state, Prince Zeech. She sneered that his power and wealth made him untouchable for such rabble as them.
Alhaster is also significant to the party as the last known location of Balakarde, the "foremost expert in Kyuss-Lore." Balakarde returned from his trip to the ruins of Kuluth-Mar a shaken man, and departed immediately for Alhaster to consult with the sage Lashonna, who was keeping company in Zeech's court at the time, and probably sits in his council still. She may be the one sane voice in Zeech's palace. Balakarde may also have wished to consult with Rhorsk, having purchased and heavily annotated a copy of his book, A History of Alhaster.
Districts
Alhaster proper can be easily divided in two. Low Alhaster composes the east half of the city, including its main gates. Hovels of flotsam and rubbish are crammed together in tangled heaps, using each other for support as much as the sodden ground. Pirates, smugglers, and slavers rule this part of the city, plying their foul trades in the dockyards and street markets.
High Alhaster on the west end of the city, protected threefold by high walls, rocky cliffs, and the rough waters of the Nyr Dyv, stands in stark contrast. Stone estates of considerable age, carved with elaborate yet tasteful gargoyles, entablatures, and moldings, rub gables with huge timber-built temples and lesser manors.
The streets of High Alhaster are regularly patrolled by grey-clad workers who typically keep their eyes on their shoes as they hurry through their tasks.
Presently, the Great Project comprises a sort of quasi-district within High Alhaster. The massive construction contains both the site itself as well as the surrounding tent city for the slaves who build it, as well as more comfortable housing for their wardens.
History
Several years ago, there was a civil war in Alhaster involving an uprising of the Ebon Triad. The details of this event were recorded by an author named Rhorsk in his book, A History of Alhaster. The book is critical of Zeech and thus many copies were burned, but it praises his advisor Lashonna for being instrumental in shutting down the rebellion and eliminating the cultists from the city.
Maps
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Alhaster
Alhaster is the capital of The Principality of Redhand, and sits on the northern coast of the Nyr Dyv. Low Alhaster comprises areas 1-18, High Alhaster encompasses areas 19-39. Areas 35-39, including the Shanties and Eel Town, are geographically outside the city proper, but still belong to the city.
Type
Large city
Included Locations
- 30. Watchers' Compound
- Alhaster Arena
- Alhaster Boneyard
- Alhaster Garrison
- Alhaster Shipping Concern
- Angels' Aerie
- Angry Rifter Tavern
- Cathedral of Hextor
- Church of Blessed Deliverance
- Crafters' Guildhall
- Free Lords' Embassy
- Gulg's Tinctures
- Hoff's Solutions
- Ilsan's Fine Goods
- Iomandi's Wonders
- Kilraven manor
- Lafond's
- Miomay's Playhouse
- Mistwall Manor
- Quemp Manor
- Red Blades' Merchant Consortium
- Sinners' Sanctum
- The Deluxury
- The Laughing Dawn Tavern
- The Ogre's Hidout
- The Scarlet Spire
- The Scattergut
- The Tipsy Nymph
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Related Reports (Primary)
Related Reports (Secondary)