Page 103 - Serpent Kingdoms

REALMS

Sheirtalar is the capitol of Lapaliiya and the largest and most Regional History
powerful of the confederated city-states. Its ruler is the Overking
The great couatl-led migration of humans to the Jungles of
of Lapaliiya, Shaliim Wyrmslayer (CN male Tashlutan human
Chult in –2809 DR prompted the long-enslaved human tribes
fi ghter 5/sorcerer 5/eldritch knight 7). The Domed Palace of the
of the eastern jungles, known as the Lapal, to rebel against their
Overking, the most prominent of Sheirtalar’s landmarks, sits
serpentine masters. In –1732 DR, after centuries of intermittent
atop a granite outcropping in the upper third of the city. Because
clashes with the ruling yuan-ti, the Lapal fl ed north and east
most trade goods exiting the Shaar for western Faerûn pass
from their villages along the shores of the great inland lake
through this port, it has become one of the most cosmopolitan
that now bears their name. They settled on the southeastern
cities in the South.
shores of the Shining Sea and in the lands that would one day
The seedy Liongirt District, which lies along the eastern edge
become Halruaa.
of Sheirtalar, is named for the long-vanished tower of Onsilur
In the Year of Fragile Beginnings (–690 DR), threatened
Maerdrathom, who styled himself “The Ruling Magister” from
by renewed attacks from the yuan-ti, the Lapal tribes along
321 DR to 326 DR. Onsilur forced the imperial satraps of the
the Shining Sea came together and established the nation of
Tashtan Coast to give all arcane spellcasters legal protection
Lapaliiya, naming the city of Sheirtalar as its capitol and
and quell the worst of their skirmishing. His infl uence was
designating the Fortress of Lapalgard as the symbol of the
signifi cant but short-lived. Shortly after Onsilur’s victory with
citizens’ common cause. Dwarfed by the empires of Calimshan
the satraps, Q ysar Shoon VII demanded that his vassals hire a
and Jhaamdath to the north and the omnipresent threat of the
large number of mages to slay the Ruling Magister, thus ensur-
yuan-ti to the southwest, Lapaliiya remained a barbaric back-
ing that the Cities of the Seabreeze would return to squabbling
water on the southern shores of the Shining Sea, known only
and not pose a unifi ed threat to his throne. Even today, however,
for warlike tribesmen who harried the Calimshan’s easternmost
the district has a reputation for hidden portals and unexpected
colonies during the fi rst half of that realm’s Third Age (-900 to
spell-triggerings.
–200 DR).
The civic deity of Sheirtalar is Waukeen, and her Gilt House
In the Year of Silken Sabers (–569 DR), Calishite trading
of Gleaming Coins is second only to the Palace of the Overking
ships laden with unknown luxuries docked at Sheirtalar’s docks
in over-the-top opulence.
for the fi rst time. This event ushered in an era of trade and pros-
Untisczer: Once one of the Cities of the Seabreeze, Untisczer
perity along the shores of the Shining Sea. The infl uence of the
now lies in ruins. Its remains are located on a now-drowned
Calishites had a civilizing effect on the northern Lapal tribes,
point of land east of Tashluta that once extended north of the
transforming their tribal encampments into cities. In the Year
Lapaliiyan city of Malaxer. A terrifying display of military and
of Plentiful Wine (–553 DR), Tashluta was founded by Calishite
magical might by troops of the Shoon Imperium destroyed the
merchants and Lapal fi eldhands.
city during the Tashalar Campaigns in the Year of Wasteful
Lapaliiya’s golden age came to a close in the Year of Clutch-
Pride (285 DR). Most of Untisczer’s tumbled and plundered
ing Dusk (–375 DR), when the same rat-laden Calishite ships
stones have since been carried away, but some still lie about
that had brought prosperity two centuries before introduced the
a mile offshore, choked in shallow mud. The haunt of scrags, Empire Plague. Almost 30% of Lapaliiya’s population died
sharks, morkoths MM2 , giant octopi, and other monsters, this site
within a matter of months, and the realm all but collapsed. As
is rumored to hold a great deal of “drowned treasure.”
a result, when Merrshaulk’s avatar Sseth founded the yuan-ti
Uzurr (Small City, 10,305): The City of Toiling Monks
empire of Serpentes in the Year of Erupting Crypts (–304 DR),
sprawls across three hilltops on the west side of the Lapal Way.
human resistance was weak and disorganized. By the Year of
Ilmatari missionaries from Calimshan founded the Cloister
Sunned Serpents (–189 DR), the lizardfolk armies of Serpentes
of St. Uzurr on this spot during the Shoon Imperium. In the
had conquered all of Lapaliiya except the city of Ormpur and
centuries since, the city of Uzurr has grown up around the
brought in large numbers of Shaaran nomads as slaves.
walled monastery.
Lapaliiya remained part of the Serpentes Empire until 34
The Order of St. Uzurr strives to further the Crying God’s
DR, when it became part of Tashtan (34 DR to 285 DR). It
teachings along the Tashtan Coast while supporting itself through
thereafter became part of Shoon Imperium (285 DR to 450
the production of olives, wine, and various spices. The Abbot of St.
DR), although its cities were effectively independent during the
Uzurr, Kadar al Ilmater (LG male Calishite human monk 14) is
reign of Qysara Shaani (367 DR to 427 DR). (See the histories
the titular ruler of Uzurr, and Ilmater is its civic deity.
of Serpentes and the Tashalar for details on these eras.)
Zashuma (Small Town, 1,399): Zashuma lies along the
In the Year of Willing Sacrifi ce (435 DR), the towns along
Lapal Way, overshadowed by the city of Ithmong to the north.
Lake Lhespen and the River Shaar rose up in rebellion against
Like many inland towns in Lapaliiya, Zashuma is a farming
the puppet rulers installed by the Shoon and the imperial gar-
community specializing in the production of wines and olives.
risons that backed them. These colonies were the fi rst in the
The fact that the majority of its citizens are rock gnomes sets
empire to defy the rule of distant Shoonach, and for a short
it apart from the many similar communities in this area. The
time (436 DR to 437 DR), no Shoon troops ruled over the cen-
ruler of the town is Clanlaird Burinn Rivenstone (NG male rock
tral Shaar or the costal city of Sheirtalar. In response, Q ysar
gnome warrior 5), and the civic deity is Garl Glittergold.
102
620_96566_SerpentKin92-135.indd 102 5/12/04, 4:14:07 PM