Necromancer's Realm - The Sulfur Shadow

The dominant portion of the eastern land is the tall, always active volcano, its full name being the Empire of the Sulfur Shadows, but generally known as the Deadly Peak. Though most of the caldera’s rim is lower than 25 thousand feet, parts of the innermost and very active vent have been known to be thrust higher than Willowborn. These peaks never last more than a decade, as their bases are worn down by the constant flow of lava around them. Nothing but elemental creatures or true mages of fire and earth could live near the center of this area. An almost constant plume of steam and ash comes from the Peak, but for whatever reason this has never damaged the overall life cycle of the rest of the planet. Magic is likely the reason.

Though the volcano itself doesn’t have a population to speak of, there are features below its vent and main cone that are notable. The vent itself has occasionally been visited by even normal Humans, if not for very long. Below it in the huge circular valley created by the ever-changing lava, lakes form and burn off, lush forests brought by eager Viridian Country folk actually grow very well until they are rolled over by the inevitable lava flows.

The Smoldering Sea provides a sheltered grouping of port cities, able to bring up many of the weirder creatures which thrive in the hot waters. Specialized boats made with woods cured and crafted by the Elves to the west are required, but in plentiful supply. Generally dragonkin and reptilian sorts enjoy this area most, because it is always even warmer than the rest of the equatorial countryside.

The Land of the Red Bones does not actually sport bones of any kind. They’re actually caused by upheavals of rock, towering over the sandy land. Some are as high as two thousand feet straight up, with very little supporting them from their bases. They are indeed marvels to behold – but also quite dangerous if one gets too close. They have collapsed in the past, great forests of such fallen rocks litter the area. Since that portion of the continent is violently active below the surface, there are almost always new ‘young’ bones springing from the ground. Tourism is pretty much the only thing available here, as it is too dangerous and barren otherwise to make a living.

The Realm of the Necromancers is indeed as black as it comes. Mostly due to the ash from the volcano, but also the heat has on occasion spewed such globs of obsidian down onto the land that whole villages would be covered by it. Mainly inhabited by undead and semi-sentient creatures such as golems and constructs without the intelligence of the Clockwork folks, these are often used in tournaments between the Summoners and the Necromancers to while away the time.

The realm itself is harsh, and would be difficult to live upon even if it wasn’t constantly being hit by earthquakes and fresh lava and ash. Only the very coast is truly habitable, so down along the west and northern coasts are plentiful normal-folk villages and ports. With almost superstitious fervor, they don’t look to the east in many of these towns. They do however greatly respect the Necromancers beyond, and offer their dead into their care.

On the northeast side of the Peak is the Grand Necropolis. Bigger by far than any other single city in the world, but… it’s filled with people without heartbeats: thirteen million of them. Many layers of buildings cover the valley which it was built on several thousand years ago. Each ring set back farther onto the valley walls houses vampires, zombie hordes, undead sorcerers and plenty of Necromancers themselves. Anyone with positive body temperature should likely watch out here. Sectors of this city where the Vampire population dominates others, passage of mortal beings – or immortals as they often stroll around here – is paid for by donating blood to a common ‘bank’. Many magical spells ensure that these donations get to those who require it, and who have paid their own tithes. Far from being a ‘dead’ city, though, the Necropolis is reasonably lively and has all the things one would expect from any bustling location. Bars, pubs, inns, bath houses and everything else, though they cater to people whose dietary needs may run a little exotic – and those who cannot be out in the daylight have plenty of all-night activities mirroring those occurring normally.