Chult

Chult is a remote island nation off the west coast of Faerun, Toril's largest continent, in the Sea of Swords. Queen Maxima Al-Gharib is the current reigning ruler of Chult. She won the crown after working with a band of heroes, Amazons, and Aarakroca to overtake the Merchant Princes. Port Nyanzaru is the largest city in Chult and it's capital.

Queen Maxima is currently expanding her queendom by creating various settlements around the island. Outside of the people in Port Nyanzaru and the other smaller human settlements that have sprung up around it, Queen Maxima commands the Aarakocra, Grungs, and Goblins.

Three major societies exist in Chult that are independent from Queen Maxima's rule. These are the Amazons, Crystal Queer, and the Yuan-Ti The first two are allies of the queen while the Yuan-Ti are enemies to the crown.

In the jungles of Chult exist smaller communities of Albino Dwarves, Vegepygmies, and Tabaxi. They are neutral to the crown and simply wish to live in the jungle. Queen Maxima respects their territories and sovereignty.

It takes approximately 60 to 90 days to reach Waterdeep by ship depending on weather, the type of vessel, and how many stops are made along the way. Notable locations between Chult and Faerun include Treasure Island and the Oral Coral Kingdom.

According to myth, the god Ubtao created the island and served as its patron until 1290.

## History

In 1290, Queen Zalkore Al-Gharib was the last ruling monarch over Chult. She wanted to be young and reign for eternity so she struck a deal with the Yuan-Ti to become immortal. The Yuan-Ti, who coveted the capital city of Omu, instead turned her into a gorgon. Zalkore was then exiled to Nangalore by her royal council.

King Daemon, the husband of Zalkore, led the exile efforts against the queen and killed Thiru-Taya, her loyal guard and secret lover. Worshipers believed the Chultan god Ubtao abandoned the island nation around the same time.

Without Zalkore and Ubtao, Omu descended into chaos. Famine, crime, and disease blighted King Daemon's reign. Many citizens fled the city. Nine gods revealed themselves to the those who remained in Omu and the city was splintered into nine different faith groups. These groups built shrines to their respective gods and often violently clashed with one another. The faiths killed Princess Visenya. However, Prince Viserys was able to flee the city. King Daemon also escaped.

All of this strife attracted the attention of Acererak, an arch lich who travels between dimensions only to bring them death. Acererak proved the gods were simply demigods and slayed them. The lich then enslaved the Omuan people to build the Tomb of Annihilation, which acts as the final resting place for the nine gods. Acererak had it filled with death traps to feed his phylactery.

King Daemon returned to the city to broker peace with Acererak before the tomb was completed. Acererak cursed Daemon to live forever as a mummy inside the tomb. Princess Visenya suffered a similar fate as a skull.

Acererak left the city after the tomb was constructed to continue his inter-dimensional travels.

In 1387, Ras Nsi raised an army of undead soldiers to conquer Mezro, a community of magic users. He was defeated by the Mezroans who were joined by Artus Cimber. A year later in1388, The village of Mezro predicted the Spell Plague and left to a demiplane. Artus’ Mezroan wife gave him the Ring of Winter so he could wait for her to return.

One year after that in 1389, the Spell Plague struck the entire realm resulting in the disappearance of magic for a decade. This caused Ras Nsi to lose control over his undead army.

## Recent History

In May of 1490, Ras Nsi activated the Soul Monger, causing the Death Curse. The Soul Monger collected the souls of anyone who died on Chult. This prevented any newly deceased people from being resurrected. The Death Curse affected those who were resurrected prior to the Soul Monger's activation. They became terminally ill and their souls were trapped within the device once they died. Overtime, the Soul Monger's effects were felt as far away as Faerun.

At the behest of her mentor and supreme, Syndra Silvane, Calypso Cockhart established the Strangers With Weapons to investigate and end the Death Curse in June of 1490.

Queen Maxima Al-Gharib conquered Port Nyanzaru with the help of the SWW, Amazons, and Aarakocra in November of 1490.

In January of 1491, The SWW defeated Ras Nsi and ended the Death Curse. The group renamed themselves Acquaintances With Weapons.

A new set of Merchant Princes rose up and declared war against Queen Maxima in March of 1491. In September 1491, AWW killed Highfather Zitembe and defeated the Merchant Princes. One week later, they left Chult to kill Szass Tam and liberate Thay.

Queen Maxima went to Thay to help establish its new government and build diplomatic relations after AWW killed Emperor Szass Tam in June of 1492. She then used the glass candle obtained by Voloth in Thay to destroy what remained of Ras Nsi's undead horde roaming the Chultan jungles.

## Notable Locations

**Port Nyanzaru** - Chult's capital city founded in 1419. Since its inception and until Queen Maxima's rebellion in 1490, it was ruled by a council called the Merchant Princes. Each of the princes owned a virtual monopoly on a particular industry. They were extremely corrupt and their reign often exploited the poor. The city is home to 12,000 people. Most of its citizens are humans, however, others call Port Nyanzaru home like elves, tabaxi, grungs, goblins, and aarakocra. The city's areas of interest include the dockyard neighborhood, the Queen's Palace, the Tower of Magic, the Manhole bathhouse, the shuttered Savras Temple, the Temple of Sune, the Church of Procan, Voloth's Home for Children, the abandoned Coliseum, and Grab-Stab's chicken coop manor.

**Calypso Bay** - Formerly the Bay of Chult. Queen Maxima renamed the waters surrounding Port Nyanzaru after Princess Calypso Cockhart.

**Neo Mezro** - Mezro was once a metropolis populated by mystics. Ras Nsi hailed from here but turned against his home in an attempt to conquer it. He was defeated. The Mezroans foresaw the Spell Plague and sought refuge in the Astral Plane. While in the Astral Plane, they became enslaved by Krang's mind flayer colony. AWW helped liberate them. With Ras Nsi and Krang gone, the Mezroans returned to Chult and now live in Neo Mezro. They've accepted Queen Maxima as their rightful monarch.

**Kir Sabal** - A monastery of the Aarakocra where they worship the Four Winds. Queen Maxima spent her youth here. Her parents died when she was infant soon after arriving in Kir Sabal.

**Mistcliff Mountains** - A mountain range on the west coast of Chult. Home to many Aarakocra nests. Part of the queendom.

**Vulvhala** - Formerly known as Mbala. The city once rivaled Omu in scale and beauty. It was the second largest city in Chult and a loyal territory to the crown. A green hag named Granny came to the city in 1414 and slaughtered all of its citizens and then lived in the abandoned wastes. The SWW slayed her. The town is now being rebuilt in honor of Vulveeta at Queen Maxima's request.

**Dungrunglung** - The homeland of Chult's grungs. The SWW liberated them from an oppressive ruler named King Groak. Their faith leader, Roork, now serves on Queen Maxima's council and the city is part of the Chultan queendom.

**Omu** - Once the largest city in Chult and the nation's capital. When the original Al-Gharib reign ended, the city fell into ruin for centuries. It was only rediscovered by the SWW during their war against Ras Nsi. Queen Maxima has a contingent of guards monitoring the forbidden city to ensure no one enters it or gets close to the Tomb of Annihilation.

**Oralunga** - An abandoned temple that once served Ubtao. Saja N'Baza, a guardian naga, has since taken up residence in it. She was the one who warned the SWW about Ras Nsi and Granny. With Saja N'Baza's blessing, Queen Maxima is now building Neuriel Town around it.

**Mount Voloth** - Formerly the Peaks of Flame. It's a mountain range home to several active volcanoes. Inside is Wyrmheart Mine. The mine has traded hands several times over the years. It was originally operated by dwarves from Faerun. Tinder, a red dragon, stole it from them. The new Merchant Princes then drove her out. The mine now serves the Chultan crown.

**Bigsby's Bluffs** - A beautiful cove formerly known as Refuge Bay. It was used as a base by Captain Eurin Gayjoy of the new Merchant Princes. Queen Maxima is now establishing a vacation resort here. Not far off of its coast is a sunken city of unknown origin.

**Fern Garden** - Formerly Nangalore, a vacation palace and garden of the original Al-Gharib royal family. Queen Zalkore was exiled here when she became a gorgon. The Yuan-Ti allied with the new Merchant Princes and destroyed it, killing Queen Zalkore. Queen Maxima is converting it into an agriculture community to feed the island.

**Peggy's Peaks** - Formerly the Sky Lizard Mountains. The range dominates the southern coast of Chult.

**Sudsy Slums** - Born out of the ruins of Fort Beluarian, which once served as the headquarters of the Flaming Fist mercenary group that worked for the original Merchant Princes.

**Olivia's Vineyards** - Formerly the Nsi Wastes. Ras Nsi's necromancy blighted this area until Queen Maxima lit the glass candle. It's now a large winery named after Olivia Fig Newton John.

**Salty Sea** - Formerly Jahaka Bay but renamed after Captain Salty Twat. This was once a pirate paradise and home to the small seaside pirate community called Jahaka Anchorage.

**Dickburg** - Formerly Jahaka Anchorage but renamed after Wet Dick. It's now a prominent trading post.

**Stzu San City** - A new settlement being built over the ruins of a fallen port city named Castigliar.

**Dani Valley** - Formerly the Valley of Lost Honor. Home to Hrakhamar Cave. It's currently under construction to be a new settlement.

**Karen Canyon** - Formerly the Land of Ash and Smoke.

**Vunderland Village** - A small town who worshipped Saint Nicholas. The town suffered heavy damages and loss of life after their faith leader, Santa Clause, enacted a holy war against all the naughty ones. Carol Belle serves as the town’s matriarch but has pledged fealty to the crown.

**Ataaz Kahakla** - The homeland of the Chultan Amazons located in the southeast. A close ally to the crown.

**Crystal Queer** - The kweendom of Queen Yas located in central Chult. A close ally to the crown.

**Hisari** - The homeland of the Chultan Yuan-Ti. After their betrayal of Queen Zalkore, Thiru-Taya cursed the land and banished the Yuan-Ti from it, preventing them from ever returning home. They worked with Ras Nsi and the new Merchant Princes in hopes of reclaiming their home and ending the Al-Gharib bloodline for good. After losing both wars, the Yuan-Ti's leadership was decimated and they're now in a civil war deep within the jungle. They still do not recognize the crown.

**Aldani Basin** - A large body of water in central Chult. It's named after the Aldani lobsterfolk who live in the underwater community called Crabshack. They are independent from the crown.