Tsar

Tsar
Population: ~58,000 (of those, 28,370 are permanently housed humanoid residents)
History: Tsar was the ancestral home of the Valley's churches, normally the seat of power for whichever god was in favor (excepting Thyr, whose church and power structure was always based out of Skor). During Muir's time, the city was built and expanded. During Tsathogga's rain, a massive undercity was built by the priesthood to give them a constant supply of monstrous soldiers. The undercity was built and maintained by the tsathar, a race of monstrous frog-people. The undercity was constructed by letting acid hollow out the bedrock, making the undercity a maze of chambers, passages, nooks and crannies.
In the time leading up to the events of the First Righteous March, Tsar was a sleepy city, content to carry on as it was, without any call for growth or expansion. The real reason for this was not apathy by the leadership, but rather a sinister cancer growing below. In the undercity, the cults of Orcus were rapidly growing and solidifying their numbers, backed by Seneshal Lorviticus. By the time the armies of Orcus arrived at the city, few remained within its walls that would (or could) actively oppose them. The history of this period is recorded in the bardic epic "The Saga of the Slumbering Tsar".
When Zelkor and his army of light stormed the city in 1023E, much of it was leveled. in 1024E, a quartet of powerful spellcasters staked a claim to the ruins, vowing to rebuild it. The identity of these four wizards is not common knowledge, but their successors rule the city to this day. The city was rebuilt, and is now the largest city in the Valley.
Council of Magi:
* High Lady High Arcanist Gwendil Teyr'ranaric: The only one of the magi to spend any time in the public eye. An old elf, Gwendil was born in the Dales, and inherited their gift for divination.
* High Priest Loke of Ordheilm: Loke commands the Watch, Guard and Army of Tsar, although he is rarely seen by anyone other than his commanders. Loke is human, but is rumored to have aged very slowly, gifted by Pharasma to stave off death. Very little is known about him before he joined the council, except that he was a priest of Pharasma in a distant land.
* High Arcanist Drin'ma Tural: Another recluse, Drin'ma is also the youngest of the magi. Her last public appearance was in 1783E, when she completed a challenge set by Archmage Fondon to earn the title of High Arcanist. She is a young aasimar, known for being instrumental in a war far to the north, where her practical knowledge of siege magic earned her fame and fortune. In spite of her success, Tural earned herself many enemies, and spends her days well away from open spaces.
* Aeryn of the Lower Dales: Very little is known of Aeryn, except that they are a genderfluid elf, specializing in transmutation magic. Rumors abound, such as that they are said to have been trained by a raksasha, and that they sold their true form to a devil in exchange for a tome written by a Modron.
Army: The Holy Army of Tsar Size: 4,500 + 1,200 support staff + 12,000 reserves Commander: High Priest Loke of Ordheilm (Pharasma)
(see the armies page)