The Labyrinth
Located beneath the western corner of the Taj-Nar Mountains, the Labyrinth is a vast underground complex of tunnels and superstructures built in ancient times. It serves as a gateway into the demonic Abyss, where Lazu the God of Chaos is imprisoned. Allegedly, the Labyrinth was partially formed by Lazu's magic trying to force its way out to the surface.
Not only a geographic region, the Labyrinth is also an independent domain -- a subterranean empire of dangerous warriors, brigands, and villains. They are ruled by a single monarch, who is the greatest of their warriors. Their most famous monarch was Queen Chikara Nadir, who ruled the Labyrinth from roughly 100 to 610 PC. Under her reign, she united most of the Underdark under one banner and fought numerous wars against the other domains and the Hegemony.
The Labyrinth is shrouded in Lazu's magic. It bestows exceptionally long life to its most devoted residents. As a result, most of the Labyrinth's raiders are at least a century old and have decades of combat experience. This experience is offset by their limited
History
The Brotherhood of Lazu
As the war between Order and Chaos came to a close, Lazu was imprisoned in the Abyss by Diel. Many of Lazu's most devoted followers descended into the Underdark in an attempt to free them. This attempt was ultimately unsuccessful, but they nevertheless found a home in the complex tunnel and cavern networks beneath Death Mountain. The tunnels were so vast that they could sneak into cities like Van'Duras and Ur'Almen (and possibly even Olimandias!) and attack them without warning -- leading them to raid Hegemony territory in revenge for their loss in the divine war. Their first leader was a man named Hakubi Washu-Yu, one of Lazu's top mortal generals. The "Brotherhood" earned its name by being almost exclusively male at first. Other figures from this era have become legends in their own right. "Veteran" began his story as a member of the Labyrinth before later breaking away to become a nearly godlike archfey. Keel, a high priest of Lazu, has long haunted the countryside of the Hegemony as a shadowy raider. And an unknowable eldritch being from beyond the world, Jinn, was one of the Labyrinth's key mischief makers. During this era, the first chambers and settlements in the Labyrinth were constructed.The Rise of Chikara Nadir
Shortly before year 100, a young girl arrived in the Underdark. The elite warriors -- Veteran, Jinn, Ballard, and Keel -- collectively raised her to adulthood. She showed considerable ferocity, wit, and innate magical power. Before they knew it, she was commanding warbands all on her own and had captivated most of the Labyrinth. She had a protective nature for those she cared for, and mercilessly eradicated any threat to her power. After becoming an adult, she was crowned the first Queen of the Labyrinth. Chikara was both a warlord and a diplomat, depending on the nature of her opposition. Her first objective was to unite the disparate kingdoms and factions of the Underdark. She subjugated the duergar dwarves in an aggressive conquest, winning their respect by deliberately killing their Obsidian King in single combat, appointing his nephew as the next ruler of the duergar.... now one of her vassals. The cities of the Lolth-sworn drow were brought to heel with skirmishes followed by diplomacy and gifts, for they respected a matriarchal leader. And the svirfneblin were just happy to be given an offer to join an empire! With much of the Underdark united, sights were then turned on the Hegemony. Numerous raids were launched against southern Verden, pillaging cities and raiding the wealth of Olimandias.Defeating the Hall of Heroes, Surviving Kakariko
The Hall of Heroes attempted to conquer the Labyrinth and Kakariko, only to be soundly defeated at the foot of the Taj-Nar Mountains. The defeat caused the Hall of Heroes to descend in a civil war. Chikara bided her time and watched from a distance, and then struck when both factions were at their weakest. She and her apprentices, Selena and Wisp, lead a warband into northern Verden and successfully stormed the Hall and killed all those within. A few years later, the Hegemony decided to forcibly annex Kakariko Village. They sent an overwhelming force into the mountains and attempted to scout out entrances into the Labyrinth while they were there. The Labyrinth locked its gateways and trapped its many tunnels, and all Hegemony soldiers that attempted to find the settlements below met with gruesome deaths. The Labyrinth then chose to "go dark" for a few decades until the Hegemony's attention was directed to more pressing issues.The Unholy Trinity
Selena Nadir and Wisp Contras were promoted from "apprentices" to co-rulers after the year 320, though Chikara naturally retained the title of queen. This structure remained in place for three hundred more years, with each ruler focusing on different specialties. Chikara remained the Labyrinth's governor and diplomat, using intrigue and deception to undermine threats. Wisp focused on bolstering morale and keeping the warriors in good health. Selena commanded their offensive warbands and engaged in wars abroad -- especially against the Desert of Mystery. The Desert of Mystery was the Labyrinth's biggest rival during their era, and their wars were heated and frequent. By the year 600, however, Olimandias took over that title. The Hegemony was proving to be unstoppable in its slow and steady annexation of land. And now it appeared that they were about to divide and conquer the Kingdom of Unidiel. If successful, the Hegemony would have no true rival in terms of manpower and logistical strength. Selena led an effort to create an alliance between the domains, intending to have them invade Olimandias and stop Unidiel's collapse. The would become the foundation of the Legends Alliance.610: The Year of Sorrows and the Infernal Invasion
The Labyrinth's rulers were betrayed. Lazu'Ru Xer, one of Lazu's high priests, had decided that Chikara's cult of personality had come to overshadow worship of Lazu. She teamed with Sarael the Sword of Diel to open rifts into the Nine Hells -- allowing an infernal army to invade the Labyrinth without warning and further their overarching war against the Abyss and its demons. Chikara Nadir and Selena were both present at the site of the first rift. They were quickly overwhelmed. Chikara cast Imprisonment on Selena to prevent her from being killed, intending to return with reinforcements. However, Chikara was caught by another wave of fiends as Xer opened another rift. Chikara Nadir was killed when she collapsed the entire tunnel system on herself in order to destroy a pit fiend and its legion, buying the Labyrinth time to defend itself. Selena Nadir remains trapped in an Imprisonment sphere to this day. The Labyrinth never learned of her fate and assumed she and Chikara had both been killed. After the loss of both Selena and Chikara, Wisp became the new Queen of the Labyrinth. She immediately rallied the Labyrinth's warriors, forced onto the defensive. For the last hundred years, Wisp has been fighting a war against a seemingly limitless number of devils. The Labyrinth has been slowly but steadily losing ground in a war of attrition. All inactive members of the Labyrinth were recently recalled in an emergency order, barring a few exceptions.Structure
The Labyrinth has a fairly simple hierarchy. The monarch has supreme executive power, but receives counsel from a small group of appointed advisors. The monarch can consolidate or delegate power as they see fit. Warbands are led by appointed generals and commanders, who are largely given free reign to lead their soldiers as they see fit so long as objectives are completed. The more successful the general, the larger the warband they are assigned.
The number of Labyrinth residents that remain at home permanently are rare and thus overseen directly by the monarch.
Culture
Labyrinth society is primarily one of hedonism and debauchery. When they aren't raiding or at war, the Labyrinth's warriors are at home binge drinking and sleeping around. Every night is a party if you're so inclined. Your status in the Labyrinth is influenced by your victories on the battlefield, the loot you've stolen, or your prowess in the bedroom.
Long-term monogamy in the Labyrinth is exceedingly rare given the immortal lifespans of its people -- most have multiple casual partners or "long-term favorites." The Labyrinth also has no real concept of property or capitalism, as most everything is shared between its members. Raided gold is more for clout than purchases.
More deeply, the Labyrinth views itself as a home for the unwanted and the forgotten, a mindset promoted by the protective instincts of Chikara Nadir, who felt compelled to take in people who had been tossed aside by society. While some members of the Labyrinth are children of older warriors, most new recruits are orphans, outlaws, and other people without a home. The Labyrinth believed they gave people a second chance in life, and for however fearsome they were in battle, they genuinely thought of each other as family.
In modern times, the Labyrinth's traditional lifestyle has been interrupted by focusing solely on survival.
Demography and Population
The Labyrinth's population is very diverse, but trends toward races that have innate darkvision. They do not care who you were before your great descent into the abyss and hold no prejudices. Once you join the Labyrinth, you become part of its extensive family.
Military
Every member of the Labyrinth is a warrior. Those who cannot fight or contribute to a fight have no place in their society. They are required to source their own equipment, preferably taken off the corpses of slain enemies. The Labyrinth military is organized into warbands, each led by monarch-appointed commanders. Each commander has the freedom to structure their warband as they see fit and develop their own tactics. So long as they get the job done.
Combat specialties in the Labyrinth include:
- Warriors of note include champion fighters and zealot barbarians
- Offensive arcanists are primarily shadow sorcerers, necromancy wizards, and all warlocks.
- The main cleric domains are Blood, Death, and Trickery.
- Paladins often swear an oath to the crown or to conquest.
- Gloom Stalker rangers and Phantom rogues protect its settlements.
- Some Labyrinth warriors become Profane Soul Blood Hunters, studying at nearby Dysteris Keep.
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Leader
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Deities
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
