Post by DM Leverage on Jun 8, 2013 8:53:23 GMT -5
Chult
Population: 440,640 (humans 60%, goblins 20%, lizardfolk 10%, wild dwarves 5%, pterafolk 4%)
Government: Tribal (rural areas); theocracy (in the city of Mezro)
Religions: Eshowdow (an aspect of Shar), Tharrd Harr, Ubtao
Imports: Food, jewelry, weapons
Exports: Furs, gems, ivory, perfume
Alignments: LN, CE, LG
Located at the westernmost end of the Chultan peninsula, Chult is a mountainous jungle of savage beasts, hulking dinosaurs, and disease-ridden swamps. Reclusive human tribes, fierce goblins, and strange monstrous folk haunt this dangerous land. Nethertheless, Chult draws adventurers who search for its legendary riches.
Faith in the many aspects of the deity Ubtao holds dominion in this land, for the divine powers of Faerûn awarded Ubtao the land of Chult in exchange for his vigilance over the threat from under the Peaks of Flame.
Life and Society
The humans of Chult live in small tribal villages of ten to fifteen family units, moving yearly when the poor soil becomes depleted. They use weapons that don’t require much metal, such as hand axes, bows, clubs, halfspears, bolas, knives, and shortspears. Iron and steel are too rare for the Chultans to produce metal armor in any quantity, so their warriors wear hide breastplates and carry large, oval-shaped hide shields.
Tribal custom restricts the practice of sorcery and wizardry among the rural clans, although people with an aptitude for magic are as common in Chult as they are anywhere else. Only one wielder of arcane magic is permitted to practice his or her craft in any given clan or village. These sorcerers and wizards participate in hunting ceremonies and brew potions to aid the warriors. Renegade mages hide in the jungles and study magic in secret, or abandon their home villages to travel to the college in Mezro.
The Chultans distrust power and wealth, preferring to live simply and trading excess valuables for useful goods. Other than the humans, intelligent creatures living in large numbers in Chult include the Batiri (tribes of green-skinned goblins skilled at tracking), wild dwarves, lizard folk, pterafolk, and yuan-ti. Less common are aarakocras, chuuls, hydras, nagas, troglodytes, trolls, and wyverns. The natives greatly respect the dinosaurs, which have a special place in local mythologies and are sometimes worshiped as aspects of Ubtao.
Major Geographical Features
The famous jungles over most of the western end of the Chultan peninsula. Only the highest mountains rise clear of the verdant growth, although great, marshy clearings and grasslands surround large lakes in the interior.
The Jungles of Chult: If one listens to tavern tales told across the rest of Faerûn, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that the jungles of Chult are the deadliest places on all Toril. Every bush and vine is a strangling poisonous, flesh-eating, or blood-sucking monster--and under every bush lurk a thousand scaled, taloned, fanged monsters.
These tales aren’t far wrong. The heat and humidity is incredible, and the insects are everywhere, clinging and stinging, their noise unceasing. The trackless jungles are home to strange tribes of dwarves and scaly folk found nowhere else. Land leeches, carnivorous plants, and giant slugs are all too common, and every serpent seems to be armed with deadly venom.
Disease is the deadliest killer of Chult. It is carried in plants with stabbing spines, or in any of the hundreds of insect bites suffered in a typical day, or even borne by jungle mists. Those who drink unboiled jungle water are almost certain to acquire some sort of disease or parasite before long.
Travel in the “deep canopy” jungle is easiest, though not without danger. Here giant solifugids, ants, spiders, carrion crawlers, and purple worms slither and scuttle in the everlasting, vine-hung, fungus-filled gloom beneath the hundred-foot-tall trees, where the sun never reaches. At least the undergrowth is sparse, and the alert traveler can see hungry death coming.
Yet explorers from elsewhere in Faerûn enter Chult again and again in search of its fabled veins of gold, gems as large as a man’s palm, and exotic plants prized by collectors in Amn, Calimshan, Sembia, Tethyr, Thay, and Waterdeep (and sources of poisons, perfumes, and medicines by the score), huge jungles timbers, and even rubber trees.
Chult’s riches are not exaggerated in the slightest. Satraps of Calimshan send a constant stream of slaves into the jungles to carve roads through the fast-growing vines and creepers and reach known mines and ruined cities. Most perish, but a few escape to tell colorful tales of extensive caves underlying the jungles haunted by gigantic bats or cloakers, and of ruined cities choked with coins and gems and lurking monsters, where only vines hold up the crumbling stones and weird six-headed snakes slither and even fly. They speak of the fabled city of Mezro, where the Chultan priest-kings dwell, worshiping strange deities…and of the eerie creatures known as deepspawn that vomit forth living duplicates of creatures they’ve devoured before.
Peaks of Flame: Home to salamanders and other fiery creatures, the Peaks of Flame stand over a pair of iron doors that lead to the realm of the dead. When the doom of the world approaches, Dendar the Night Serpent (a terrible monster that feeds on the unremembered nightmares of all creatures) will break down these doors and escape into Toril.
Valley of Lost Honor: A place surrounded by the thickest parts of the jungle, this valley was the last refuge of the Eshowe before they were destroyed. The entire wealth of the Eshowe may be hidden in caves here, but other legends say that the evil deity Eshowdow (Shar in another guise) resides here, recruiting followers and planning for revenge. The surrounding jungle teems with great numbers of Batiri and natural predators.
Wild Coast: The rocky, inhospitable stretch of Chult’s southwestern coastline creates a hazard for ships. Sailors give it a wide berth, for whirlpools, shifting gale-force winds, and aquatic monsters are all common, and above, flying dinosaurs battle giant eagles for supremacy of the skies. Brave or foolish folk explore the caves along the coast, hoping to find tunnels leading to the rich mines that lie under the jungle.
Important Sites
Despite the dangers from the jungles, determined folk still manage to carve out civilized areas for themselves and for visitors to the country.
Fort Beluarian (Hamlet, 313): This outpost belongs to the Flaming Fist, a mercenary company based in Baldur’s Gate. Its membership includes rangers, wizards, clerics, and a large number of fighters who hire themselves out for any venture that doesn’t serve an evil purpose. They are well supplied and familiar with the jungle, and they even let desperate adventurers stay in the fort for the night if in great need.
Mezro (Metropolis, 28,126): Mezro is the largest civilized area in Chult. In past years, a magic wall surrounded the city, preventing it from being seen and causing confusion in those who approached too closely. This protection was lowered in 1363 DR after a victorious battle against the Batiri goblins. It is now safe haven for explorers battered by the jungle.
Mezro is a holy city to the Chultan tribes, and it is generally peaceful, with few people carrying weapons other than utilitarian knives. Any chronic lawbreaker is tattooed with a blue triangle on the forehead and exiled. Ubtao’s undying baras, six paladinlike Chosen who exist to protect the city from all harm, rule Mezro.
The city has its own college of wizardry, although it is generally closed to non-Chultans. After studying at Mezro for several years, wizards generally go back to their native tribes. Only rarely do Chultan mages travel to the other regions of Faerûn to find their fortunes.
Port Nyanzaru (Small City, 9,375): The major trading center in Chult, this port town’s harbor was designed with defense as its first priority, since many pirates roam these waters. It is rumored that the harbormaster pays tribute to a powerful dragon turtle that drives away all other sea monsters.
Regional History
Millennia ago, the deity Ubtao created the jungle and populated it with creatures. Four thousand years ago he built the city of Mezro with his own hands and empowered the baras--his Chosen--to defend it. Eventually Ubtao tired of the constant demands of the people in the city and retreated, allowing the baras to rule Mezro in his stead.
Realizing that the act of creation had distanced him from mortals, Ubtao imbued a portion of his essence in the land, creating nature spirits and inadvertently drawing the attention of a dark shadow. A tribe of humans called the Eshowe freed this shadow-creature, Eshowdow, who attacked Mezro only to be driven back after causing great destruction. In retaliation, a bara called Ras Nsi hunted down and killed the entire Eshowe people. Most Chultans have forgotten the Eshowe and Ras Nsi’s ancient crime.
Several years ago, the undying King Osaw (LG male human Pal15, Chosen of Ubtao) opened Mezro to the outside world again. Trade goods now flow back and forth to the rest of Faerûn.
- Source: Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting
Population: 440,640 (humans 60%, goblins 20%, lizardfolk 10%, wild dwarves 5%, pterafolk 4%)
Government: Tribal (rural areas); theocracy (in the city of Mezro)
Religions: Eshowdow (an aspect of Shar), Tharrd Harr, Ubtao
Imports: Food, jewelry, weapons
Exports: Furs, gems, ivory, perfume
Alignments: LN, CE, LG
Located at the westernmost end of the Chultan peninsula, Chult is a mountainous jungle of savage beasts, hulking dinosaurs, and disease-ridden swamps. Reclusive human tribes, fierce goblins, and strange monstrous folk haunt this dangerous land. Nethertheless, Chult draws adventurers who search for its legendary riches.
Faith in the many aspects of the deity Ubtao holds dominion in this land, for the divine powers of Faerûn awarded Ubtao the land of Chult in exchange for his vigilance over the threat from under the Peaks of Flame.
Life and Society
The humans of Chult live in small tribal villages of ten to fifteen family units, moving yearly when the poor soil becomes depleted. They use weapons that don’t require much metal, such as hand axes, bows, clubs, halfspears, bolas, knives, and shortspears. Iron and steel are too rare for the Chultans to produce metal armor in any quantity, so their warriors wear hide breastplates and carry large, oval-shaped hide shields.
Tribal custom restricts the practice of sorcery and wizardry among the rural clans, although people with an aptitude for magic are as common in Chult as they are anywhere else. Only one wielder of arcane magic is permitted to practice his or her craft in any given clan or village. These sorcerers and wizards participate in hunting ceremonies and brew potions to aid the warriors. Renegade mages hide in the jungles and study magic in secret, or abandon their home villages to travel to the college in Mezro.
The Chultans distrust power and wealth, preferring to live simply and trading excess valuables for useful goods. Other than the humans, intelligent creatures living in large numbers in Chult include the Batiri (tribes of green-skinned goblins skilled at tracking), wild dwarves, lizard folk, pterafolk, and yuan-ti. Less common are aarakocras, chuuls, hydras, nagas, troglodytes, trolls, and wyverns. The natives greatly respect the dinosaurs, which have a special place in local mythologies and are sometimes worshiped as aspects of Ubtao.
Major Geographical Features
The famous jungles over most of the western end of the Chultan peninsula. Only the highest mountains rise clear of the verdant growth, although great, marshy clearings and grasslands surround large lakes in the interior.
The Jungles of Chult: If one listens to tavern tales told across the rest of Faerûn, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that the jungles of Chult are the deadliest places on all Toril. Every bush and vine is a strangling poisonous, flesh-eating, or blood-sucking monster--and under every bush lurk a thousand scaled, taloned, fanged monsters.
These tales aren’t far wrong. The heat and humidity is incredible, and the insects are everywhere, clinging and stinging, their noise unceasing. The trackless jungles are home to strange tribes of dwarves and scaly folk found nowhere else. Land leeches, carnivorous plants, and giant slugs are all too common, and every serpent seems to be armed with deadly venom.
Disease is the deadliest killer of Chult. It is carried in plants with stabbing spines, or in any of the hundreds of insect bites suffered in a typical day, or even borne by jungle mists. Those who drink unboiled jungle water are almost certain to acquire some sort of disease or parasite before long.
Travel in the “deep canopy” jungle is easiest, though not without danger. Here giant solifugids, ants, spiders, carrion crawlers, and purple worms slither and scuttle in the everlasting, vine-hung, fungus-filled gloom beneath the hundred-foot-tall trees, where the sun never reaches. At least the undergrowth is sparse, and the alert traveler can see hungry death coming.
Yet explorers from elsewhere in Faerûn enter Chult again and again in search of its fabled veins of gold, gems as large as a man’s palm, and exotic plants prized by collectors in Amn, Calimshan, Sembia, Tethyr, Thay, and Waterdeep (and sources of poisons, perfumes, and medicines by the score), huge jungles timbers, and even rubber trees.
Chult’s riches are not exaggerated in the slightest. Satraps of Calimshan send a constant stream of slaves into the jungles to carve roads through the fast-growing vines and creepers and reach known mines and ruined cities. Most perish, but a few escape to tell colorful tales of extensive caves underlying the jungles haunted by gigantic bats or cloakers, and of ruined cities choked with coins and gems and lurking monsters, where only vines hold up the crumbling stones and weird six-headed snakes slither and even fly. They speak of the fabled city of Mezro, where the Chultan priest-kings dwell, worshiping strange deities…and of the eerie creatures known as deepspawn that vomit forth living duplicates of creatures they’ve devoured before.
Peaks of Flame: Home to salamanders and other fiery creatures, the Peaks of Flame stand over a pair of iron doors that lead to the realm of the dead. When the doom of the world approaches, Dendar the Night Serpent (a terrible monster that feeds on the unremembered nightmares of all creatures) will break down these doors and escape into Toril.
Valley of Lost Honor: A place surrounded by the thickest parts of the jungle, this valley was the last refuge of the Eshowe before they were destroyed. The entire wealth of the Eshowe may be hidden in caves here, but other legends say that the evil deity Eshowdow (Shar in another guise) resides here, recruiting followers and planning for revenge. The surrounding jungle teems with great numbers of Batiri and natural predators.
Wild Coast: The rocky, inhospitable stretch of Chult’s southwestern coastline creates a hazard for ships. Sailors give it a wide berth, for whirlpools, shifting gale-force winds, and aquatic monsters are all common, and above, flying dinosaurs battle giant eagles for supremacy of the skies. Brave or foolish folk explore the caves along the coast, hoping to find tunnels leading to the rich mines that lie under the jungle.
Important Sites
Despite the dangers from the jungles, determined folk still manage to carve out civilized areas for themselves and for visitors to the country.
Fort Beluarian (Hamlet, 313): This outpost belongs to the Flaming Fist, a mercenary company based in Baldur’s Gate. Its membership includes rangers, wizards, clerics, and a large number of fighters who hire themselves out for any venture that doesn’t serve an evil purpose. They are well supplied and familiar with the jungle, and they even let desperate adventurers stay in the fort for the night if in great need.
Mezro (Metropolis, 28,126): Mezro is the largest civilized area in Chult. In past years, a magic wall surrounded the city, preventing it from being seen and causing confusion in those who approached too closely. This protection was lowered in 1363 DR after a victorious battle against the Batiri goblins. It is now safe haven for explorers battered by the jungle.
Mezro is a holy city to the Chultan tribes, and it is generally peaceful, with few people carrying weapons other than utilitarian knives. Any chronic lawbreaker is tattooed with a blue triangle on the forehead and exiled. Ubtao’s undying baras, six paladinlike Chosen who exist to protect the city from all harm, rule Mezro.
The city has its own college of wizardry, although it is generally closed to non-Chultans. After studying at Mezro for several years, wizards generally go back to their native tribes. Only rarely do Chultan mages travel to the other regions of Faerûn to find their fortunes.
Port Nyanzaru (Small City, 9,375): The major trading center in Chult, this port town’s harbor was designed with defense as its first priority, since many pirates roam these waters. It is rumored that the harbormaster pays tribute to a powerful dragon turtle that drives away all other sea monsters.
Regional History
Millennia ago, the deity Ubtao created the jungle and populated it with creatures. Four thousand years ago he built the city of Mezro with his own hands and empowered the baras--his Chosen--to defend it. Eventually Ubtao tired of the constant demands of the people in the city and retreated, allowing the baras to rule Mezro in his stead.
Realizing that the act of creation had distanced him from mortals, Ubtao imbued a portion of his essence in the land, creating nature spirits and inadvertently drawing the attention of a dark shadow. A tribe of humans called the Eshowe freed this shadow-creature, Eshowdow, who attacked Mezro only to be driven back after causing great destruction. In retaliation, a bara called Ras Nsi hunted down and killed the entire Eshowe people. Most Chultans have forgotten the Eshowe and Ras Nsi’s ancient crime.
Several years ago, the undying King Osaw (LG male human Pal15, Chosen of Ubtao) opened Mezro to the outside world again. Trade goods now flow back and forth to the rest of Faerûn.
- Source: Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting