M'Bala
Upon a Plateau some miles West of where the River Soshenstar flows out from the Aldani Basin, stands the scattered ruins of an old civilisation. All that remain are vague rumours of some evil presence amongst the barren remains. Upon the plateau's Eastern face, steps have been carved into the rock, zig-zagging up the 1,800ft sheer cliff. At each turn stands a small stack of stones, of the same red-brown rock of the plateau itself, and upon each, a skull, staring blankly, undisturbed.
The occasional rumour or hope brings adventurers towards M'bala, the promise of lost treasure still left from an ancient people, but all that can be found are the fallen bricks and pillars of the old city, mostly worn down by the unrestrained winds and heat into red dust, the sparse flora of Chult taking root where possible.
Towards the centre of the old city can still be seen the foundations of the original palace, and a statue in the courtyard still upright, in the commanding figure of Ubtao. Underneath in a hidden dungeon, the only surviving evidence of who the M'Balan people were, pictograms and carvings detail the story of Ubtao's rise to Godhood, and the worship of the ancient Omuans. After the fall of Omu, descendants of the slaves and commoners who managed to flee were the ones who settled M'Bala originally.
On the outskirts of the city, a single hut remains alone, the home of a blind old woman.
Revelations
The Hag, Nanny Pu'Pu, had lived among the M'Balans for many years, in many forms. She had worked tirelessly to sow misery and pain, using these vile deeds to fuel her own powers, and using the very people of M'Bala in her twisted death magic. The city fell upon itself over time, until a kind stranger emerged, bringing hope to the people. Eku proved too powerful a being for Nanny's spells to affect, and slew the Hag in combat. Unfortunately death was a mere setback to her, returning, Nanny finished her work, destroying the final M'Balans and setting a curse upon Eku that broke her mind upon her return to the Plateau. The curse was finally lifted by The Sexiles, and Eku once again slew Nanny, severing her head. These details of M'Bala's sorry history were revealed in Nanny's diary, translated by Jark.
RUINED SETTLEMENT
Unknown
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