Excerpts From Nonexistent Books

A land of unusual warmth for its latitude, and as notable for its hot springs as for the many miles of caverns that snake beneath it, the Caldera is the site of an ancient catastrophe. Millennia ago it was the site of a violent volcanic eruption, the cause of the Black Year written of in many chronicles, and the culprit behind the collapse of more than one ancient civilization. The cataclysm resulted in a crater-shaped depression surrounded by jagged peaks that are difficult to traverse in the summer and all but impassible in the winter, with only Screefall Pass to the south being open year-round.

The warmth and incredibly rich volcanic soil of the Caldera led to a period of intense settlement after memory of the eruption had faded. Colonies of humans, dwarves, and elves were all established, with the settlements of Vallia, Morinth’s Delving, and Welkor’s Light dating to this time. Pilgrims were also attracted from many of the faiths that had the Black Year as a centerpiece of their cosmology, and many ephemeral temples rose and fell in the area through time.

Perhaps the most notable figure to emerge from the Caldera was Minaka the Conqueror, who was born in Vallia and was able to use the Caldera as a base to carve out an empire for herself. Her tomb, carved into living volcanic rock, is the centerpiece of a great abandoned necropolis–the Valley of the Dead–that houses the bodies of many of Minaka’s most powerful friends and advisors. Unfortunately, Minaka the Conqueror died without an heir, and her incompetent nephew led her realm to dissolution within a generation.

The Caldera has largely remained a backwater since Minaka’s empire fell, attracting a steady number of visitors to its hot springs and a diminishing number of religious pilgrims to the crumbling sites of fading faiths. It has largely wound up being in thrall to whoever has occupied the large walled city of Ulat to the south of Screefall Pass, and the population has been in decline as its remoteness has grown with the turmoil of the world.

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Devtpo – A large but sparsely populated barony in southern Pexate known for its peaks, straddling as it does the Gambeaux Range that helps divide Pexate from Layyia. Its remoteness and solitude have led the Sepulcher to establish many monastaries there. Due to the danger from marauders and Layyian raids, most of the monastaries are fortified and manned by guards, doubling as fortresses.

Toan – A large city on the river, Toan has long been a gateway for shipping inland goods that come from the southern sea, as all but the largest boats can sail up the river to reach it. This gives Toan a cosmopolitan air and its marketplaces and back alleys are among PExate’s most powerful engines of commerce. As a barony, it is among the smallest, encompassing only the city itself and a bit of the surrounding countryside as a legacy of its former status of a Liberated City of the Crimson Empire. It is also ruled by a bishop rather than a baron, thanks to its status as a coveted prize and the Sepulcher’s reputation for neutrality

Exor – A barony in central Pexate, directly on the border with Layyia. It has been the site of many battles between Pexate and Layyia, and as a result has traditionally been allowed considerable latitude to defend itself. Known for its iron mines and high-quality steel, Exor blades have long been the arms of choice for the kings of Pexate.

Hecoran – A mostly rural barony in central Pexate notable for its many rivers and dense hardwood forests. Like Exor it borders Layyia and has been the site of many a clash between the two kingdoms. Its hardwoods are prized for furniture, and it also has many sites at which the components of gunpowder may easily be gathered.

Ioxus – A large barony in the plains of central Pexate and home of many herds of wild and feral horses. The capture, breaking, and training of hoses has long been its specialty, and Ioxans in general are known for their horsemanship. The barony provides heavy cavalry, scouts, and many other essential troops. It is also a matriarchal barony in that power passes from mother to daughter rather than father to son, a feature that Ioxus has carried over from its long-ago existance as an independent principality.

Gattne – A barony in northern Pexate consisting mostly of wild grasslands and home to the majority of sheep in the kingdom. Its vast herds of sheep have also made it a center of dyeing and weaving. The city of Bleachfield is particularly noted for its textiles, and its finery is famous throughout the land. Bleachfield has been the source of clothes for the Pexate court for centuries, the process behind their brillian “Bleachfield Crimson” a closely-guarded trade secret.

Varrett – A barony in the north of Pexate, notably covered by Greywacke Wood, the largest and densest forest in the kingdom. Its people are notoriously hardy warriors, most of them having hunted from an early age, and forestry is the basis for most of its economy. Notably, Varrett’s forests and fortified crags at Aiov and Ogre’s Reach have meant that it has never been conquered.

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The largest human settlement in the Caldera, Vallia is set around the famous hot springs of the same name. Legend has it that a nymph lives in the spring, imparting healing properties to it, and the Baths of Vallia have made immersion in the spring the centerpiece of the town’s economy. The Baths are frequented by the wealthy elderly from Ulat and further south, with some traveling untold leagues for the privilege.

Another attraction is the Demon Arms Inn, a well-kept place of lodging and drinking that has been in the Gora family for generations. Gora the Seventh is currently the proprietress, catering mostly to people wishing to use the hot springs, but there is one other major attraction: Iazgu the Flayer. A demon from the underworld, Iazgu attempted to conquer the far-off outpost of Beamcog but the founder of the Gora line was able to capture his soul gem and bind him to service. Iazgu currently serves as the tireless server and chambermaid of the Demon Arms, and attracts visitors who have never seen such a being before.

Vallia is governed by a Council of Notables, who choose from among their number a Mayor. The qualifications required are somewhat murky–it’s been said more than once that the only way to become a member is to seat yourself and be powerful enough that the guards too frightened to remove you. The current Mayor is Derex Freehold, a major landowner in the farmlands around the city. Other notable members include Gora the Seventh, Kalto Hearthfire the dwarven owner of the general store, Zero the elven smith, Namidine the halfling proprietress of the hot springs, and Ockham the orcish chief of the city guards.

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