Vaasa

Perhaps the greatest area to have changed during our campaigns, Vaasa underwent major upheaval during an epic trilogy of campaigns during the years 1479-1483, culminating in Chaos Unbound, Control Lost. Destruction of cities, new alliances, and new leadership all highlight a new (and ultimately improved) Vaasa.

All changes listed below are as of 1483. For specific timing of events, refer to the individual campaigns:
 * Lost Control, The Shears are Forged
 * Seeking Control, The Restraints Become Loosened
 * Chaos Unbound, Control Lost

Telos City
In 1483, the newly anointed Witch King of Vaasa attempted to harness the power of Telos for himself. His former allies helped to stop him, but in the process Telos' heart was replaced, awakening the primordial.

Luckily for all involved, Telos just wanted to leave, but decided those in Telos City must pay a price for his enslavement. The result was the total destruction of the city and almost its entire population (including the majority of the Warlock Knights) killed. Those that survived fled the city south to Darmshall. As of 1483, only scarred Earth exists on the grounds of what once was Telos City. Given its history, the ground has been and will be avoided for some time.

Palischuk
Palischuk's former ruler, Mansard Kanaoth, was killed in his attempt to become the Witch King of Vaasa and take over Castle Perilous. Mansard's eldest son is now a chosen of Amanuator and locked away in another plane for all time (although very few know this); his younger was killed. Today, Mansard's biological daughter has been elected ruler of Palischuk. With the destruction of Telos City, rule of Vaasa defaulted to Palischuk and Serana Kanaoth became queen shortly thereafter. Later, she married Zash [Level 22 Sorcerer] in a lavish ceremony in Palischuk.

Queen Serana [Level 16 Cleric/Warlock Knight of Torm] now openly follows Torm and has become a popular, kind, and efficient leader of her people. Serana and Zash have worked hard to change the Vaasa they was raised in: slavery of all kinds is now illegal in Vaasa, and Palischuk has blossomed as a free city of trade. A temple to Torm has been erected with city funds; a mural to Serana's younger brother graces one of its walls. Serana's main opposition rests in Galvin Hildenoth [Level 19 Fighter/Ranger/Warlock Knight]. The former head of Talagbar and Palischuk before the return of Serana, Galvin has reluctantly given into the will of the people and has let Serana lead the city. He serves as head of the military, the Winterguard (no longer called Warlock Knights), and maintains day to day business in the city. Galvin is gruff, intolerant of disobedience, and has a dislike for nonhumans. Many who know his past do not fully trust him, Zash included, but Serana seems to.

Palischuk is also home to several of the epic level adventurers who are credited with saving Vaasa, and the world. Serving as personal bodyguards to the King and Queen, both Iris Sinbar and Rose keep Galvin in his place and help with the defense of the city. Both Iris and Rose also serve as the Voice of the Queen in other Vaasan cities should the need arise. Gavirello Tinkerwisks, a legendary artificier, established the College of Palischuk, complete with a huge library. The gnome often stays in the city and advises the Queen on all that is arcane. He has also assembled a small group of arcane casters to aid in the defense of Palischuk, with more being educated in his College every day. Lastly, Joseph Savioré Daydominico established two temples to deities in the city - one to Amaunator, and one to Bahamat, both funded and built with his own funds. While Joseph calls the city home, he seems to come and go often and does not interact much with his former allies.

Completing the Religious Square near the center of the city is a temple to Moradin, built and funded by Vinok Darksong Anakalathai and the dwarves of the Spirit Lands. As one can imagine, with a religious base of Torm, Moradin, Amaunator, and Bahamat, Palischuk has a reputation for justice and law. As of 1483, its population has nearly doubled to 20,000 people.

Darmshall
Darmshall has changed little. It absorbed the influx of refugees from the destroyed city of Telos (with monetary donations helping), and has grown to roughly 10,000 people, standing as the second largest city in Vaasa. It holds more adventurers and non-humans than any other town in Vaasa, and holds the largest contingent of Winterguards. It still supports and defends the Iron Divide and the Bloodstone Pass, although friendship with the new leaders of Damara have eased tensions and defenses in the Pass. Darmshall is led by an appointed Duke who reports and answers to the Queen. Having some of the best arable land surrounding it, Darmshall's fields are of great value for the nation as a whole.

Delhalls
Like Telos City, Delhalls felt the chaos of the times. The city was burned to the ground by Galvin Hildenoth during the power vacuum left after Mansard Kanaoth's death. While the population evacuated before its burning, there are many who do not forgive Hildenoth for his actions. Most of the population relocated to Talagbar to continue its mining operation. As of now, no effort has been made to rebuild the town.

Talagbar
Once a small mining speck of a town, Talagbar has grown to over 1,500 people, and its mining operation continues to this day. Though still the smallest of the three cities in Vaasa, its mines make it a very valuable part of the nation, one Queen Serana has been sure to watch over and protect. Its placement between Palischuk and Darmshall has made it a stopping point for travelers between the cities as well, creating a large boom for the Tavern industry.

The Spirit Lands
In the wake of the chaos in the early 1480s, three groups of non-humans found common ground and allied themselves in a way not seen in any other place in Faerun. This alliance is mostly held together through mutual trust and cooperation, and by the spirit and religious connections between the groups. The central figure of this group is the adventurer Vinok Darksong Anakalathai, known to almost all now as Skychild. Through him, the Wise Mountain Orc Clan, the Galena Mountain Goliaths, and the population of Vaasan dwarves now form an alliance that has given stability to the once wild northwest of Vaasa. Skychild was first accepted into the Wise Mountain Clan of Orcs as a young adventurer, after passing a test given by the spirit of their mountain. Later, he managed to free the Galena Mountain Goliaths from the evil actions of their leader Firmwill, who was being controlled by outsiders for nefarious purposes. Finally, Skychild was chosen by Moradin during his quest to save the world. Although this last factor is only known by a few, those dwarves that know him now say they can sense their god in his actions. Shortly before the destruction of Telos City, the Orcs and Goliaths had already intermingled as one tribe, under the leadership of the Orc Chieftain Ferralnoc [Level 12 Shaman]. Ferralnoc was a young leader, and a friendship and relationship of respect had grown between him and Skychild. Ferralnoc is the only person in the Spirit Lands that remembers Skychild as Darksong, along with his role in saving the world. After the destruction of Telos City, Skychild return to the Clan, and started an effort to invite the so long displaced and enslaved Dwarves of the region. The Dwarves eventually fell into their own clan - Clan Ironfell, an homage to their beginnings - and joined the Orcs and Goliaths in northwest Vaasa.

The three races live peacefully and cooperatively in a large area that runs from both banks of the Pelauvir River to the western mountains. The dwarves have built homes deep in the mountains, the Orcs have a massive camp between the river and the mountains, and the Goliaths tend to dwell on the foothills in between. Ferralnoc, Skychild, and the dwarven leader Gret Thunderhair [Level 10 Avenger of Moradin], form a Triumvirate of leadership when dealing with the humans of Vaasa, and the three work together to make their combined community one that can prosper. They also serve as a watch post for any evils coming from the Tortured Lands or The Ride to the west and the Great Glacier to the North.

Castle Perilous
Castle Perilous was thought destroyed after the events of The Path of the Tome in 1376. However, when it reformed after the earthquake exactly 100 years later, Vaasa shuddered with worry. With the defeat of Mansard, many thought the immediate threat was over. Unfortunately, one of those who defeated Mansard turned into the Witch King himself. Lich and new Witch King of Vaasa Ezekiel Kofflesheist was defeated by his former allies, and his spirit returned to his phylactery. However, after this defeat, Castle Perilous fell silent. Zeke's former allies along with new Orc, Goliath, and Human allies stormed the Castle, finding it empty. In one of the first combined efforts of the people of new Vaasa, they tore the Castle down, hopefully this time for good.

Today, the castle lies in ruins, and the Witch King has seem to have left Vaasa, at least for the time being. All those in Vaasa keep a close eye on the ruins, however, and look for any sign that Zeke will return.

The Warlock Knights
With the destruction of Telos City, the whole of the Ironfell council was killed. In all, under 50 of the original Warlock Knights survived the ordeal. After the coronation of Queen Serana, the Warlock Knights were officially disbanded, and any members who were willing joined the new Winterguard.

Several of the old Warlock Knights resisted the reign of the new Queen and the "new Vaasa." They have formed a splinter cell of humans, and have settled somewhere in the southeast. What they plan is unknown, and they number under 100. There are whispers in Palischuk that Galvin Hildenoth may be in contact with this group, and may even be on their side. The Queen, for her part, has no ill will toward the group as long as they do not cause trouble.

Orcs
The Stormfury Clan of eastern Vaasa was all but destroyed during this time. Those that survived roamed eastern Vaasa but posed little threat. Some journeyed west and joined the Wise Mountain clan. With the new alliances that formed, any remaining Orcs knew that they would have a hard time keeping up their violent ways. Several left the nation, while most just retreated to the eastern mountains and formed a quiet camp there.

Gnomes
Several of Ezekiel Kofflesheist's former evildoer partners perished during this time, but a small group of Gnomes exist in Vaasa. Their small community is headed by Big Benjamin Big [Level 12 Warlord], who helped Zeke and his allies in their quest to save the world. Big Benjamin cooperates with the Queen, but his small community exists outside of the Human cities. When he does visit the queen, he usually travels with a translator.

The Dread Pirate Lazerwolf
Somewhere in the skies above the harsh Vaasan plains flies two airships. This small fleet belongs to the Dread Pirate Lazerwolf. History whispers that Lazerwolf has been around for nearly 100 years, but those that have met him know he is an ordinary human and is most likely the recipient of a title. The larger of the two ships was actually commandeered for him by the very adventurers trying to save Vaasa. It is unknown where his smaller ship came from.

Lazerwolf's motivations are unknown. He is well aware of the vehemence felt toward him by Skychild and his former adventuring group, and is also aware (although he would never admit it) that they are much more powerful than him. As a result, he has resisted pirating Vaasan cities, and many suggest he has left the area for easier targets.

Skychild, for his part, relishes the thought of taking back his flagship and returning it to its rightful owners.