7/17 - Olak Vald Info Dump
General Summary
The party, after providing a favor to the Altar of the Wayward, were given clearance to enter Olak Vald proper.
The group visited several spots within the city, including the Church of the Skinned Saint and the Seminary of the Faithful in order to learn more about the city of Olak Vald, its people, its culture, and how those might interact with the artifact The Mockery of Life.
(Below are organized snippets of information learned through the party's discussions, reading, and research in and around Olak Vald.)
The group visited several spots within the city, including the Church of the Skinned Saint and the Seminary of the Faithful in order to learn more about the city of Olak Vald, its people, its culture, and how those might interact with the artifact The Mockery of Life.
(Below are organized snippets of information learned through the party's discussions, reading, and research in and around Olak Vald.)
On Olak Vald:
- Ruled by God-King Dreadgrax, a centuries-old half dragon descended from a long line of dragon kin.
- Religious leader named Archbishop Eldmor, a two century old elf who oversees the various religious orders within Olak Vald.
- Arcane seminary run by Headmaster Grimrock, a centuries-old dwarf.
- Monthly holidays to celebrate the continued safety of Olak Vald, which include sacrifices both human and otherwise.
On The Church of the Skinned Saint:
- House of worship of Dol Azur. (God of trickery and 'unjust' warfare, brother of Dol Azur and Dol Dorn, also known pejoratively as The Mockery.)
- Holds regular service throughout the week for citizens.
- Normal clergy wear stark white robes with flesh-colored cloaks over them.
- Alternate clergy, who practice some form of advanced skillset, wear close fitting flesh-colored scrubs, and are often loaned out to the Abbey of the Sacrificer for their monthly rituals.
On The Abbey of the Sacrificer:
- House of worship of Dol Arrah. (Goddess of sacrifice, sister of Dol Azur and Dol Dorn.)
- Prepares citizens for sacrifice to The Throat of the Devourer.
- Heads the monthly ritual sacrifice.
- Partners with The Church of the Skinned Saint to 'prepare' sacrifices in the days running up to the monthly ritual.
On The Seminary of the Faithful:
- Arcane academy of Olak Vald.
- Run by Headmaster Grimrock.
- Contains a well-stocked library of books both mundane and arcane.
On God-King Dreadgrax:
- Centuries-old half dragon.
- Descended from a long line of half dragon rulers.
- Last of their clutch and last in their bloodline.
- Has been in the seat of God-King for five centuries.
- Inherited the seat of God-King from their brother, God-King Dracnaph.
- Former God-Kings in the bloodline generally only ruled for 1-2 centuries before dying of natural causes.
- No public records as from which dragon Dreadgrax and their forebears are descended from.
- Very rarely seen outside of their keep atop The Throat of the Devourer.
On Archbishop Eldmor:
- Two century old elf.
- Religious leader of Olak Vald, oversees all public religions.
- Rarely seen outside of God-King Dreadgrax's keep, aside from on monthly holidays and other high holy days.
On The Cult of the Wyrm:
- Organization that exists outside of Olak Vald, elsewhere in the Scorched Lands.
- Believes that The Throat of the Devourer is home to a great, slumbering wyrm called Pyrotol, Eater of Worlds.
- Wishes to free Pyrotol so that he may enact a 'great cleansing' across Faerun.
- The powers-that-be in Olak Vald have spent a great deal of effort attempting to erase all mention of the cult from records within the city.
On The Inferni:
- Organization that exists outside of Olak Vald, elsewhere in the Scorched Lands.
- Comprised primarily of lesser Devils.
- Believes that The Throat of the Devourer is home to a half-sealed portal to Baator, The Nine Hells.
- Wishes to unseal the portal and remake The Scorched Lands as a haven for Devils to prosper in Faerun.
On The Goblin Hordes:
- Organization that exists outside of Olak Vald, elsewhere in the Scorched Lands.
- A disjointed collection of groups of goblinoids loosely united by their desire to conquer Olak Vald and take control of the infinite lava source.
On The Throat of the Devourer:
- Volcanic spire with seemingly limitless amounts of lava, smoke, and ash.
- The subject of myriad legends.
- The Cult of the Wyrm believe the great dragon Pyrotol slumbers deep beneath the Throat.
- The Inferni believe that the Throat contains a portal to Baator.
- Local legend says that the Throat contains a portal to the Elemental Plane of Fire.
- Local legend says that the Throat is a literal embodiment of The Devourer, god of destruction and nature's wrath.
On Dragons:
- Olak Vald's records have intermittently tracked the movement and domains of various dragons throughout the centuries.
- The black dragon Undrieg, Lord of the Lake is well documented within the last few centuries, as is the establishment and expansion of his domain.
- The brass dragon Ildreth, The Resplendent is documented having a territory within the deserts to the far, far West (The Cursed Expanse), but these records are very old.
- The dragon turtle Oturro of the Deep is known to live within the Wandering Sea, and be home to the pirate colony of Turtle Reef.
Rewards Granted
- 1880 EXP/PC (bringing the PC total to 73,500 EXP)
