Tor'Zag's shelter

A great city in the middle regions of the Empire, Tor'Zag's Shelter occupies the inside of a gigantic system of caves in the belly of the Blackblood Mountain. It is often called 'Sergorod's City' due to the presence of the Church of Sergorod's greatest temples.

###### **Activities:**

Though the vast caverns and tunnels inside Blackblood Mountain merely gave refuge to Warleader Tor’Zag many centuries past, the Imperial city of Tenebvitris – as as people have been persistently calling it: Tor’Zag’s Shelter – that sprung up there following the war managed to transform into one of the most important settlements on the continent. Often referred to as ‘Sergorod’s City’, the Shelter not only houses the Cathedral of the Raging One in its immense, everdark caves but is also a bustling trading settlement and the center of obsidian harvesting in the region. Thousands toil and haggle under its wrought iron chandeliers every day while servants of the Master of Curses deal out justice in the name of their malevolent God.

## Description

Tor'Zag's Shelter is built inside a cyclopean cavern - half natural, half man-made - inside the easternmost large mountain hill of the range called Blackblood Mountain. The cave, along with its web of tunnels and smaller caverns, is big enough to house an entire city. The only public entrance to Tor'Zag's is a mile wide and several hundred yards tall cave mouth - significantly enlarged since the Orc War - blocked by a reinforced city wall with a gatehouse and towers. Buildings are place quite close to each other due to lack of space and many dwellings are carved into the rock itself. The inner side of the cavern has terraces and these house the Villa and Temple Districts. Since the Church of Sergerod considers Tor'Zag's Shelter its own (the overlooked its siege in the war), most of the Temple district is dedicated to the God of Revenge and Curses, Sergorod, as well as to the Knights of the Black Sun so much so that often Tor'Zag's Shelter is referred to as Sergorod's City'. A great colosseum can also be found here and gladiator games are organized often.

The lower parts - closest to the gate - make up the Merchant District, while the Undercity, situated below the terraces and at the sides in the walls themselves, is home to the city's poor and forsaken. The truly rich live in roof villas, huge buildings attached and carved into the giant stalactites that hand from the cave ceiling. These often have intricate elevator systems and even hanging bridges between them. Lighting is a constant problem in the ever-dark cave of Tor'Zag's Shelter. Most of it is done with great metal chandeliers handing from the cave roof. These are filled with oil imported from the Bronze Desert or brightkelp brought in from Everdark. The chandeliers are covered in Dwarven runes that enhance the burning and light emission. Even so, with thousands of torches, braziers, and light-carriers (an important and traditional profession there) all throughout the city, Tor'Zag's is constantly in a twilight. People who grow up here get so used to the darkness that they are often blinded by harsh sunlight. When the sun sets outside in the Jagged Waste, city officials turn off the giant runed chandeliers, and true darkness settles on the Shelter.

## Location

Tor'Zag's Shelter lies in the eastern end of the Blackblood Mountain. It is directly south of Arken and west of the Hollow Crags.

Tor'Zag's shelter is usually the first real city you set foot into as a new vagrus. It serves as your first major quest hub and its central location makes it probably the most important city for many trade routes. Here, you can obtain your first companions.

## Exploring the City

Tor'Zag's Shelter is a dangerous city. Exploring it early on can lead to frustrating experiences, as encounters with both mutants and Loaders' Guild thugs can lead to battles with multiple enemies. If you have no companions, this leads to an immediat defeat, usually costing you money, resourcefulness or faction reputation. You can also find a job offer to transport passengers to the city of Crystal, gamble, receive news from nomads from the Forlorn Wastes, get free insight at shrines of the Imperial Gods, or start the Dread Reavers quest line. As the city is at the frontline of the Abolitionists' activities, a variety of encounters with escaped slaves, death fights between slaves or legionnaires harassing people.

### Walk around the lakes

#### Visit the pleasure houses

Here, you can buy +1 Morale at the cost of -2 Movement. The reward remains the same for any of the three options.

### Visit the Alchemist's shop

This location is initially locked by a rumor.

Here, you can turn 3 slimegrass into 1 dampsmoke.

Buy something the alchemist is selling: cheaper than the infirmary but more expensive than the herbalist.

* Purchase medical supplies: 1 for 1 Lyrg 8 Changers.
* Purchase a bunch of medical supplies: 5 for 9 Lyrg.
* Purchase a whole lot of medical supplies: 10 for 1 Bross 8 Changers.
* Purchase potent andidote: 1 for 1 Bross.
* Purchase poison: 1 for 8 Lyrg 4 Changers.
* Purchase herbalist tools: 1 for 9 Lyrg 4 Changers.

The alchemist buys spectral residue, bloodstone, dragon eggs, slimegrass, ceruleus crystal, flavo crystal, herbs, salz, bogweed, tin, copper and silver.

### Go to the bathhouse (Loaders' Guild headquarters)

With enough Loaders' Guild reputation, you can lower your imperial criminality for 10 bross and -40 reputation, talk to their leader Rhak'tar, sell exquisite weapons and moondust for money and reputation or borrow money you have to pay back with interest.

Purchase one of the abandoned storage spaces, available for 15 Bross every 30 days, this has random outcome:

* +2 Ancient Tablet, codex entry for the Valley of Sleepers and your level of knowledge increases for the quality Secrets of the Varotians.
* Hit by a trap: You gain Weakened and -5 Resourcefulness.
* A scroll case a shelf reveals a stack of licensing documents for stalls around the Market District. Pick a faction to gift the documents for 30 reputation.
* Empty

## The Civic District

*Inns in the shadows of public buildings.*

### Visit the Gardens of Lavienna

With enough Herb Lore (1/3), you can get free insight and gather some slimegrass. With enough History (4), you can gain another 4 insight by talking to the superintendent about the garden's mysterious past.

Mention Thatmas' Idol to the superintendent and he will turn it into Gardener' Idol, it will only cost 1 Movement.

The gangs in the garden buy bogweed, dye, mushroom beer, moondust, Jah-Rai-Vek's Pipe and Luck Talismans. They also sell hidden compartments. Doing business with them, however, will lower your reputation with the Loaders' Guild.

Visit the herbalist's hut.

She can turn 3 slimegrass into 1 dampsmoke for 1 Changers.

She can teach you if you have 4 Herb Lore, you gain 2 Insight.

Buy something the herbalist is selling: cheaper than the infirmary and the alchemist

* She has some fresh stalks of Arkan's Bell. Purchase enough for Vorax's challenge. Vorax: The Trial of Trials. 16 Bross 5 Lyrg.
* Purchase medical supplies: 1 for 1 Lyrg 4 Changers.
* Purchase medical supplies in bulk: 5 for 6 Lyrg 5 Changers.
* Purchase medical supplies in greater bulk: 10 for 1 Bross 3 Changers.
* Purchase potent andidote: 1 for 8 Lyrg.
* Purchase herbalist tools: 1 for 3 Lyrg 8 Changers.

Sell something the herbalist is interested in:

* Sell some slimegrass: 1 for 6 Lyrg 3 Changers.
* Sell brightkelp: 2 for 1 Bross 3 Lyrg 2 Changers.
* Sell some herbs: 1 for Bross 3 Lyrg 2 Changers.
* Sell some spice: 3 for 6 Bross 9 Changers.
* Sell dome bogweed: 3 for 8 Lyrg 2 Changers.
* Sell her a flask of antidote: 1 for 6 Lyrg.

### Visit the Arena Maximus

The Arena Maximus is relevant for Gor'Goro's personal quest.

### Visit the Dragon's Nest Inn

Here, you can buy +2 Morale for the cost of 3 Lyrg, -1 Vigor as well as all your remaining movement points.

Moreover, there are passengers who you can take to the Drusian Quarry.

### Visit the Bestiaris Arena

Here, you can fight against different beasts. If you have Eylani as a companion, she will lose loyalty each time you enter a fight.

* Fight 3 Sand Wyrms with 4 companions, 1 Bross reward, Eylani will not loose Loyalty.
* Fight 4 Tainted Madman with 4 companions for 6 Lyrg.
* Fight 3 Ghoul with 4 companions for 1 Bross 4 Lyrg.
* Fight 3 Yrg Worker with 4 companions for 1 Bross.
* Figth 1 Black Krawag, 1 Bronze Krawag, 1 Red Krawag with 5 Companions for

### Visit the Infirmary

Here, you can buy medical supplies, antidotes, medical tools, heal companions and cure diseases.

* Purchase medical supplies for the road: 1 for 2 Lyrg 4 Changers.
* Purchase medical supplies in bulk: 3 for 7 Lyrg 2 Changers.
* Purchase medical supplies in greater bulk: 10 for 2 Bross 4 Changers.
* Purchase potent andidote: 1 for 1 Lyrg.
* Purchase tools that trained healers can use: 1 Medicos Tools for 6 Lyrg.

## Garrik's Business

*Sell and buy contraband using his contacts.*

This option can only be unlocked by completing Garrik's personal quests.

Here, you can buy and sell Dragonsteel, Dragonbone, Bogweed, Moondust and Obsidian Weapons.

### Visit the Kal-rish Market

Here, you get a choice of 3 daily deals, changing randomly every day.

### Listen to News and Rumors Circulating the Market.

For a fee of 4 changers, you can get random news.

### Visit Braxius in his Store

Here, you can obtain your first companions (see below).

He sells common jewels, rare jewels, valuable treasure, dragon egg, demon horn, dwarven gadget, jade figurine, Sadirar bone necklace, tribal trinket, crystal lamp, dwarven gadget, jade figurine, bronze statue, spectral residue, arcane text, ancient table, simple jewelry, rare jewelry, odd bone carving, marble statuette, moondust, antidote, dampsmoke and pure white crystal.

He buys amulet of protection, amulet of concentration, energy crystal, dragonstone of clairvoyance, dragonstone of teleportation, dragonstone of protection, bloodstone, demon vambraces, magical scabbard, bronze owl pendant, ring of leeching, orc totem, black magic candle, strong poison, luck talisman, varukai gauntlet, necromancy wand, sergorod talisman, dwarven rune of urd, dwarven rune of gvald, skeleton key and Jah-Rai-Vek’s Pipe.

### Visit Drius' Compound

Here, you can recruit Gor'Goro as a companion.
If Gol-Goro is already a companion, he may gain loyalty for visiting his previous comrades.

### Talk to a Merchant's wife

Needs a rumor to be activated., is non-repeatable.

## The Temple District

*Home to the servants of the Empire’s Gods.*

### Go to the Grand Mortuary

Here, you can remove undead curses, receive the Blessing of Ashkul to reduce encounter chances with undead, receive the Blessing of Unbinding to damage spectres and certain demons, buy Ashkulite Charms, sign away your body for reanimation after death for 6 Lyrg, hand in spectral residue for 3 Lyrg and +3 reputation with the Church of Ashkul each (you need them for other quests, so don't) and get the Disdain of Ashkul, which increases your encounter chances with undead.

### Go to the Cathedral of Sergorod

Here, you can curse your enemies, receive the Blessing of Ashkul to increase your damage or get the Disdain of Sergorod to increase the damage of your enemies.

### Go to the Authorities

Here, you can reduce your imperial criminality at the cost of 5 Bross or 40 reputation with the Church of Sergorod, obtain quests for bounty hunting, buy licenses for having armies of more than 60 / 100 fighters, ask about the wind situation and inquire about a license for a permanent outpost. The first payment can be paid here, everything else will need to be conducted in Deven, however.

### Look for the Imperial official called Caepasius

Needs a rumor to be activated, only available during the quest.

Here, you start the quest to go into Fort Larius.

## At the Mansio

### Trade Goods Worth Buying in Tor'Zag's Shelter

Bones, Dyes, Hides, Ivory, Linen, Mushroom Beer, Mushroom, Obsidian, Pottery

### Factions Present

Carpenters' Guild, House Darius, House Oquo, House Venari, Loaders' Guild, Ratharnak Alliance, Scythichnis Covenant, The Curch of Ashkul and The Church of Sergorod.

## Companions in Tor'Zag's Shelter

In Tor'Zag's Shelter you can recruit your first companions.

The first one can be recruited by talking to Braxius. You have a 33% to encounter each one. If you're not proposed the one you want, you have to reload a previous save.
The three proposed companions are:

- Renkailon the dark elf (can be recruited later in Deven)

- Criftaa the tainted avian mutant huntress (can be recruited later near Velarias).

- Harvek the mutant armed with a mantis limb (can be recruited later in Lumen).

Once you've recruited one of the three companions, Braxius will propose to recruit one more companion, but this time it won't be for free. You will owe Braxius. He doesn't tell you what, but it's probably going to be a favor that will come at a high cost.

The two choices are:

- Gor'Goro, a former orc gladiator that you will need to help win a fight for his former trainer. If you do not choose him now, you can still get recruit him by obtaining a rumor and completing his recruitment quest.

or

- Garrik, a dwarf rotting in the Loader's guild cell. If you do not choose him now, you can still buy him for 50 bross from the Loader's guild (requires positive reputation).

Artwork

On the Map