Vishaal (Vish-awl)
A wasteland of fire and magic
The barbaric lands of Vishaal operate in the magicless wasteland southwest of the elven kingdom. When Telarion, The High Mage, delved too deeply into the magics of Orias she created a rift of arcane power that rent the lands asunder. No arcane magic is produced within the bounds of Vishaal, although divine and natural magics still abound. The barbarian tribes and orcish marauders that call the wastes home are often blessed with elemental magics straight from the titans. The Zaratan, the great turtle who commands the powers of the land, walks his way across the wastes and is worshiped by the tribes who live there. A land of survival and chaos and once ruled over by Sarkath, the red dragon, who was worshiped by the tribes that now hold their own divine power. His army was vast and ruthless but when they gained divine magic from the titans he turned on them and burned their bodies to ash before delving below the earth. The tribal leaders and shamans tell of The Age of Flame, a time to come when Sarkath will wake and revisit Vishaal and cleanse it with fire.
Rumors amongst those few who wish to gain the knowledge of the High Mage assume that her tower is located somewhere in Vishaal. None have yet to discover it as of the present day.
Sarkath was once the undefeated leader of the barbaric hordes of Vishaal. He reveled in destruction and violence and often forced his greatest warriors to fight to the death to determine who would be the strongest ally for him. After the arcane destruction of the wastes forced out all created magics, divine feral powers began to take root in the wandering tribes of Vishaal and Sarkath lost many of his followers who became powerful divine casters in their own right. He turned on his forces and in one day destroyed his entire army, before retreating into the lava fields and disappearing to hibernate within the earth. Many barbarian tribes believe he will return to rampage across Vishaal in an apocalyptic fury known as The Age of Flame.
Vishaal is a collection of survivors and nomadic peoples who move across the wastes in tribes. The divine shaman who guide these tribes are revered as tethers to the Zaratan and the land itself, as well as the gods.
Most Vishaalians worship Sarkath, The Zaratan , The Devatas , and many tribes worship the lines of chosen shaman that guide their families.
There are many ancient ruins of old tombs of warriors and generals of Sarkath's army across the wastes, along with environmental wonders and undead horrors that stalk the dark dunes at night. The main majority of fauna are the Thunder Lizards, or dinosaurs. The herded Saurus are used as domestic food and mounts while the predator saurus are used as trackers, mounts and entertainment. The largest wild saurus are avoided as many are dangerous or food for larger predators. The dreaded tales of the "Gusano morado", a huge predator of the open wastes that feeds on the largest tallneck saurus and can take out entire tribal caravans in one attack, circulate amongst the explorers of the wastes.
Vishaal is also inundated with magic that calls those who have passed back to the living world. Zombies, ghosts, skeletons and other shades of the past haunt the ruins and dunes of the wastes. Many say that when Sarkath returns to ignite the Age of Flame he will burn away the undead and lay them to rest permanently.
Oases are important landmarks amongst those who travel within the wastes. Each major oasis is controlled by a large tribe, many with their own motivations and cultural rules. Some wish to conquer their neighbors, others wish for a peaceful relationship with the rest of the tribes. All view the path of the Zaratan as a blessing for trade or news or political acts that can further their own power.
Rumors amongst those few who wish to gain the knowledge of the High Mage assume that her tower is located somewhere in Vishaal. None have yet to discover it as of the present day.
History
Sarkath was once the undefeated leader of the barbaric hordes of Vishaal. He reveled in destruction and violence and often forced his greatest warriors to fight to the death to determine who would be the strongest ally for him. After the arcane destruction of the wastes forced out all created magics, divine feral powers began to take root in the wandering tribes of Vishaal and Sarkath lost many of his followers who became powerful divine casters in their own right. He turned on his forces and in one day destroyed his entire army, before retreating into the lava fields and disappearing to hibernate within the earth. Many barbarian tribes believe he will return to rampage across Vishaal in an apocalyptic fury known as The Age of Flame.
Culture and Religion
Vishaal is a collection of survivors and nomadic peoples who move across the wastes in tribes. The divine shaman who guide these tribes are revered as tethers to the Zaratan and the land itself, as well as the gods.
Most Vishaalians worship Sarkath, The Zaratan , The Devatas , and many tribes worship the lines of chosen shaman that guide their families.
Environment
There are many ancient ruins of old tombs of warriors and generals of Sarkath's army across the wastes, along with environmental wonders and undead horrors that stalk the dark dunes at night. The main majority of fauna are the Thunder Lizards, or dinosaurs. The herded Saurus are used as domestic food and mounts while the predator saurus are used as trackers, mounts and entertainment. The largest wild saurus are avoided as many are dangerous or food for larger predators. The dreaded tales of the "Gusano morado", a huge predator of the open wastes that feeds on the largest tallneck saurus and can take out entire tribal caravans in one attack, circulate amongst the explorers of the wastes.
Vishaal is also inundated with magic that calls those who have passed back to the living world. Zombies, ghosts, skeletons and other shades of the past haunt the ruins and dunes of the wastes. Many say that when Sarkath returns to ignite the Age of Flame he will burn away the undead and lay them to rest permanently.
Oases are important landmarks amongst those who travel within the wastes. Each major oasis is controlled by a large tribe, many with their own motivations and cultural rules. Some wish to conquer their neighbors, others wish for a peaceful relationship with the rest of the tribes. All view the path of the Zaratan as a blessing for trade or news or political acts that can further their own power.
Famous Dragons
Vishaal has a lot of territory to cover - which lends itself to a wide range of flourishing dragons claiming stakes in prominent places. Some of the more famous dragons across the region are listed here:- The Cousins: A group of three blue dragons who all control territory near each other. Known as Cloudripper, Stoutjaw and Grandscale, their draconic names are not widely known.
- Once known as Davathnar but now calling himself The Prophet, a wasteland dragon guards the crumbling desert city of Osiran where the Devata's tomb lies buried.
- Thystarixith Flamebringer is a haughty red dragon who lays claim to territory close to the Fissura de Fogo. She has made it widely known that she is a direct descendant of Sarkath.
- Khoryasin Stoneclaws is a bronze dragon who made a name for himself by ripping apart the walls of the ancient fortress of Cicero to lead the invading armies against Sarkath's defenders and take back the city. He defeated the Devatas Zola during the battle and now controls a swatch of coast between the bottom of The Spine "Djed" and Cicero:City
- One of the great caravans that wander the desert is led by a powerful diviner brass dragon named Erothi Fateclaw.
Prominent Races in Vishaal
- Aarakocra
- Centaur
- Dragonborn (Red, Blue)
- Earth Genasi
- Fire Genasi
- Goblinoids (Goblins, Hobgoblins, Bugbears)
- Goliath
- Human (Vishaalian)
- Leonin
- Loxodon
- Minotaur
- Orc
- Tabaxi
Vishaal and Magic
Due to some catastrophic event in the past, arcane based magic in Vishaal can get a bit wonky. Divine magics work fine and the shamans and clerics of the tribes that survive amongst the wastes use this to protect and guide their people. If an arcane spell is cast within the bounds of Vishaal, the user must roll on the Vishaalian Wild Magic Table and suffer the consequences of the surge of power that follows.
Type
Wasteland
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