Malum

The country of Malum is a country to the south west of Hyranor, separated from it by the Western Ocean, as it is called in Hyranor.

## Description

Malum is an island nation, an archipelago in the shape of a crescent comprising the northern edge of an immense crater, the Lacuna, that sinks deep into the South Azurian Sea. The southern part of the crater is not formally a part of Malum. The crater of the Lacuna was originally struck by a meteor, creating a deep ocean trench that trapped the magic inside of it. The magical influence of the crater and Whatever Lies Beneath It, and residue from the initial event that formed the crater, seep outwards into the country.

Malum sits on its own continental plate; no other landmass is there.

In the eastern parts of Malum, there is a swamp jungle. There are mountains in the north, and plains to the west.

A vast number of weird monsters roam the lands of Malum, and it's shores are plagued by piracy.

## Politics

Malum is reigned by a monarchy, which is ordained by gods and cannot be gotten rid of, since it is the one thing that all the gods agreed on. However, the crown does not have a lot of power, because they lack the forces to make the people obey them that refuse to do so. To have a semblance of power in a land that is ruled by gods, the people have organised into labor unions and similar organisations, and acrued large amounts of power, essentially undermining the monarchy. Thus, if the people do not approve of their current monarch, they just ignore them, but the monarch still technically has their title.

Due to the weak monarchy, mercantilism in Malum is soaring.

The royal family of Malum has a prince of marrying age in 133 AE, and King Alaric Eirik of Hyranor considers marrying his daughter, Princess Sybilla, to him.

In the Lacuna, there lives a people of Merfolk ruled by their own queen, Queen Luminessa. The origins of her power, and how she managed to harness the primordial magic, are unknown, but she is an ancient queen that many people in Malum believe to be a legend.

Arcane magic is not outright forbidden in Malum, but not far from it, either.

## Economy

Malum's main exports are textiles, especially ones made in lifestock production, and rare magic substances.

The country has a problem with piracy.

## Culture

Malum is the ancestral origin for the worship of many divine magics and beings. Gods are said to be walking the land and commune with their followers to better understand them.

While divine and primordial magic is very present on the archipelago, arcane magic is frowned upon and generally discouraged.

## Notable Geographic Places

### Islands

* **Luno**
* **Tarnish** - the largest distributor of a very rare leather made of Catoblepas, monsters that are only domesticated on this island.

### Cities, Towns, Villages

* **Flur**
* **Lunano**
* **New Port**
* **Port Manteau** - a city on the island of Luno
* **Trenton**

### Bodies of Water

* **The Lacuna** - a crater struck by a meteor in the South Azurian Sea
* **The South Azurian Sea**

## Notable Inhabitants

* **Bishop Batters-Westberry** - Arc 10 partymember, contract killer
* **Chance Grimmawk of Tarnish**, Lord - Lord of Tarnish, vampire king, husband of Count Dion
* **Chip Lovejoy** - an estranged member of the Lovejoy family that ran away to Malum.
* **Diamond** - the child of Aezrelle and some Lovejoy, born and raised in Malum, with Chip Lovejoy as her adoptive co-parent, but not biological father.
* **Dion Alexander Grimmawk**, Count - Arc 10 partymember, husband of Lord Chance Grimmawk
* **Marigold Westberry** - Arc 10 partymember, owlbear rancher
* **The Royal Family of Malum** - the (officially) ruling monarchs.
* **Theodrink Davies** - Arc 10 partymember, butler of Tiffany
* **Tiffany** - a powerful wizard

## Notable Organisations

* **The Necromancer's Guild** - an organisation that is shrouded in a lot of secrets and surrounded by many rumours

## Notable Visitors

* **Aezrelle** - runs away to Malum as she realises that she got pregnant from a Lovejoy.
* **Alaric Eirik**, King - visits Malum to get to know their prince of marrying age, since he considers marrying his daughter Sybilla to him.
* **Casimir Eirik**, Prince - joins his father Alaric Eirik on his mission to Malum in 133 AE and later marries a prince from there.
* **Kix** - goes to Malum to get more information about the Elemental Planes.
* **Luminessa**, Queen - Queen of the Lacuna, visits Malum regularly

## Trivia

* Beverages based on sparkling water are common in Malum
* Because of the magical interferance, compasses and clocks don't work right in Malum.