Page 95 - Serpent Kingdoms

REALMS

The Wall of the Amphisbaena encircles the temple. This High Mages of Nikerymath (now the Chondalwood). This event
defensive barricade was sculpted in the form of a giant, two- reshaped the coastline into the contours of the Vilhon Reach
headed snake, with the two heads serving as gate towers. Within known today.
the wall lies the Shrouded Jungle, a mist-shrouded fragment The survivors attempted to refound the realm in the wake
of the Black Jungles that is much larger than the space would of Jhaamdath’s fall, but such efforts faltered in the face of con-
apparently permit. At its heart is the Emerald Canopy, a tinued skirmishing with the elves of Nikerymath. Most of the
semitranslucent hemisphere of emerald marble and steel-hard surviving humans migrated north across the Sea of Fallen Stars
green glass that sits atop of the Forest of Serpents—a thicket to settle the lands along the southern slopes of the Earthfast
of columns carved to resemble intertwined snakes. A giant Mountains. The fi rst of these settlements was Proeskampalar
constrictor snake carved from serpentine stone wraps its coils (later Procampur), founded in the Year of the Starry Shroud
around the entire dome. Bejeweled statuary and guardian jaculi (–153 DR).
fi ll the Forest of Serpents, and the whole area is inundated The founding of Iljak in the Year of Fallen Fury (20 DR)
with constant rain. Just north of the Emerald Canopy stands marked the end of the large-scale Jhaamdathan exodus and the
Semorav’s Tower, home to Semorav of the Cobra’s Hood (LE beginning of efforts to build a human realm along the shores of
male pureblood yuan-ti necromancer 14). the Vilhon Reach. By 50 DR, humanity had founded the cities
A massive, open pit in the center of the cathedral leads down of Arrabar, Asple, Daroush, Mussum, Samra, and Torl. The
to the armories, brood chambers, laboratories, prison pantries, port city of Hlondeth was founded in the Year of Dark Venom
and residences below. (37 DR), at the western end of the Turmway (now known as the
Hlondeth (Metropolis, 45,360): Towering walls of emer- Halondar) from Alaghôn. Such Vilhonese efforts nearly came
ald marble encircle the city, and its architecture is marked by to naught when plague wracked the Vilhon Reach in the Year of
tall, graceful arches and coils of verdant stone. Ramps and Clinging Death (75 DR), killing more than half of the popula-
poles have replaced stairs, and at night, the city glows green tion in less than a decade.
because of the interaction between magical lighting and the For nearly a century, Hlondeth was ruled by a succession of
emerald-hued stone. warlords from House Gestin. During this period, the humans of
Scaled Halls of Varae: In the deepest catacombs beneath House Extaminos rose to prominence, quarrying green marble
Hlondeth lies an ancient temple, built when one of the Twelve from the Osraun Mountains and trading it at ports throughout
Cities of the Sword stood here on the shores of Jhaamdath the Vilhon Reach and the rest of the Sea of Fallen Stars. In the
Bay. In the early days of the realm, Jhaamdathan explorers Year of the Pirates’ Port (145 DR), Dempster Turmish marched
brought back the worship of Varae from the Black Jungles and Alaghôn’s armies down the Turmway to besiege Hlondeth. The
constructed the Scaled Halls of Varae—a nearly identical copy city’s ruling warlord prevailed by enlisting various pirate ships
of the Pit of Vipers in the ruins of Ss’inthee’ssaree. The temple to attack Alaghôn’s navy in exchange for the promise of a safe
was abandoned after the destruction of Jhaamdath in the Year port. This tactic enabled the city to bring in supplies by sea and
of Furious Waves (–255 DR), only to be rediscovered centuries thereby outlast the besieging army. Hlondeth defeated Dempster
later (after 527 DR) by the scions of House Extaminos. The Turmish again the following year, thanks to the invoker Riliton
Scaled Halls have been largely neglected since House Extaminos Mandleweave and the Company of the Howling Harpoon. A
began openly ruling Hlondeth in the Year of Smoldering Spells third attack planned for the Year of the Lost Library (150 DR)
(1020 DR). It is now visited only by complacent state clerics collapsed after the death of Dempster Turmish.
who are more loyal to House Extaminos than to the yuan-ti as The century that followed is known as the Calmwaters
a whole. because civilization in Turmish and along the Vilhon Reach
The Serpent Sibyl (see page 140), chosen avatar of Sseth fl ourished during this period. The increased trade throughout
during Time of Troubles, appeared in the Scaled Halls in the the Reach greatly enhanced the fortunes of the human Ex-
Year of the Wild Magic (1372 DR). Since then, she has built up taminos clan, and a succession of Extaminos patriarchs slowly
a cult of serpentfolk followers who worship at the long-neglected expanded their primary villa, transforming the original manor
altar. So powerful has her cult become that she now schemes to house into an opulent shrine to Ilmater.
unite yuan-ti holdings across Faerûn into a grand empire on a In the Year of the Speaking Mountain (257 DR), Mount
par with Mhairshaulk at its height. The Sibyl’s Chosen are grow- Ugruth erupted, and the resultant popular backlash led to the
ing rapidly in strength and number, and they may soon pose a fall of House Gestin. But before House Extaminos could seize
threat to the primacy of House Extaminos. power in Hlondeth, House Illistine, whose members ruled Chon-
dath, seized the so-called jewel of the Vilhon. For nearly three
Regional History centuries, House Illistine ruled Hlondeth as well as the rest
of the Vilhon Reach, while House Extaminos turned inward,
The heart of ancient Jhaamdath now lies beneath the waters of focusing on trade and hedonistic pastimes. During this period,
the Vilhon Reach. The Twelve Cities of the Sword were smashed the Extaminos compound was ringed in a wall of emerald-hued
in the Year of Furious Waves (–255 DR), after Jhaamdath Bay marble, and Ilmater’s shrine was encircled by a lush garden of
was inundated by a gargantuan tidal wave raised by the elven exotic plants harvested from distant jungles. Small outbuildings

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