Obskurbark

## Overview

Where nothing is created, instead the dead of every other dukedom in Seltzpyre is brought and buried in the rolling mounds and dried out river beds of a once lush forest, now a rotten and decaying place. While the town of Obskurbark is small, the region itself expands across hundreds of kilometers, the landscape pocked with gravesites, mausoleums and the odd settlement where the grave wardens dwell. The only work in Obsurkbark is grave keeping, with some exceptions given to licensed necromancers who create powerful constructs to guard the larger mausoleums and wander the paths in search of graverobbers and other, rogue necromancers. Life is grim, but the people are fulfilled knowing that every life on the island inevitably falls into their care, along with a measure of wealth for those who run the funeral manors at the centre of the town with the largest being owned by The Duke Corvax DeMystique.

While not often visited due to its nature by wanderers and tourists, Obskurbark still pulls in a level of interest from those beyond the black steel fences that line the giant graveyard, namely mercenaries in search of easy gold guarding old stones and priests who offer their services to the dead and their families during last rights depending on their faith.

Though it is not unheard of in The Great Coffin for undead to wander, in recent months there has been a staggering increase in sightings and attacks, as well as the appearance of new forms of reanimated and ghoulish horrors never before seen since antiquity.

## History

Most of the history of Obskurbark is steeped in mythology and legend, being regarded as the first settlement on the island of Seltzpyre during what is commonly referred to as 'The Old Night'. Physical records are all but lost to time, but tales and ballads from the time describe a land tightly in the grip of The Black Dragon Marbh'Gan'Deireadh, who wished for freedom from his draconic siblings that took his wings and placed him there as a backwater ruler. While the series of events that followed are all but erased from memory, it is known that the people of Seltzpyre rose up against the tyrant and he was destroyed, leaving the first settlement and founding the other dukedoms of the island.

Those who stayed rebuilt, keeping the land to the purpose Marbh'Gan'Deireadh gave at its core; the burial of the dead. In the aftermath of the calamity that was the Black Dragon's death the people decided to dedicate the region to the last rites and entombment of those who died across the settlements and regions now forming across the island. Now called 'Obskurbark' due to the rotting trees and heavy mists that settled after the death of the Twilight King, it set in motion the trend of specializing each dukedom to a craft and in turn creating prosperity across the realm of Seltzpyre.

Since, the ruling power of Obskurbark has always fallen to the most prominent Funeral Manor, large family owned businesses that oversee the burial rites of all that die on the island. The title of Duke falls to the head of the Manor which over the centuries has changed between families, from the Korandians which have existed since The Old Night to the Crucifaxes which have since been annihilated after a vampiric corruption was exposed.

Since, the foreign DeMystiques have persisted as the rulers of the Dukedom, with the only living member being the adopted son Corvax, the current Duke of Obskurbark and head of the DeMystique Funeral Manor. While his rule is questioned due to his legitimacy, Corvax remains a loved ruler due to his compassion and great respect for the duty his people are charged with. His dedication to the legacy of his family is concrete, especially since the biological children of the family were murdered during what is only called, in whispers, 'The Red Moon'.

The land is no stranger to undead challenges due to its nature, with mad necromancers and ancient evils creating armies to retake Obskurbark for long dead rulers or simply themselves. Many a book has been filled with the conflicts that have ravaged the already solemn realm, yet the people remain to remember the dead, and keep them in the ground.

## Society

As a people characterized by death, the Obskurians are surprisingly hardy and honorable. Seeing their duty to Seltzpyre as a necessity, the vast majority feel no grief or disgust towards their work. Many of the inhabitants work for one of the funeral manors, either as a grave digger, embalmer or more religious services such as providing the last rites to a specific faith. Corvax maintains a small standing army, The Obskurian Guard, who provide law and order as well as military service in the event of greater threats, as rare as they are, while also maintaining the ancient stole wall which surrounds the town of Obskurbark.

Magic is generally accepted, with all schools being respected bar Necromancy, which is treated under a far more sinister light due to the potential danger it poses to the safety of the people and the final rest of those entrusted to the Obskurian soil. Any who wish to dabble in Necromancy must undergo a strict vetting process, and must work within one of the funeral manors reporting their activities, in order to maintain their license. Licensed Necromancers offer protection to the dead by creating permitted constructs using the bodies of executed criminals, as well as ensuring that unlicensed necromancers cannot desecrate the graves. Practicing Necromancy without a license is seen as treasonous and is punishable by death, such is the threat is poses to the safety of the people.

Music and merriment are core parts of the Obskurian life, as despite their resolve outlets must exist for when the job becomes inevitably disturbing, such as the burial of a child or grievously wounded soldier. The Korandian Brewery ensures that every tavern, from the beloved Locked Jaw Inn to the smallest backwater drinking hole, has its supply of beers, ales and spirits. Musicians travel to every settlements to ensure that old ballads are heard and hearts lifted. Corvax works to ensure that his people are fit and well spirited, even if it means giving a level of power to his biggest rival, Sylas Korandian. In the land of the dead, however, those above must cooperate whenever possible to keep those below safely in their place.