Collapsed Kingdom

The **Collapsed Kingdom** is a region of the eastern continent of San'Hai in the south, between Zersch and Cyclopia with a partial northern border shared with the Grand Caldera. It is also bordered to the north by the Melting Sea and the south by the open ocean with linear access to the area of influence of the Balencia Flotilla.

The collapsed kingdom was first recorded and written about in 215 AC, but has assuredly been known about since the early years following the Calamity. The collapsed Kingdom is one of the few places with clear and distinguishable pre-calamity structures and architecture. As the name suggests, the region is the ruins of a former Kastacalian kingdom that partially survived the Calamity that befell the planet. Worked stone, metal, and other materials are present in the structures that litter the region. Many of these structures are open and hollow, indicating that they were buildings or shelters before their destruction.

Shortly after word spread, travelers and scavengers began encroaching upon the region. Soon after this new influx of peoples, more reports emerged of toxic pools of viscous liquid intermingled with the previously known structures. These pools ranged in size from small puddles to ponds and lakes stretching for hundreds of yards. These pools quickly became a point of study for many early scholars, where it was discovered that biological material was quickly destroyed when it came in contact with these pools. Plant matter was decomposed quickly, while the proteins in hair and flesh became necrotic once exposed. The vapors that emanated from these pools were also studied. It was quickly discovered that direct exposure to these vapors would strangle any life forms requiring access to breathable air. All in all, the Collapsed Kingdom was found to be wholly inhospitable to life, or so it was thought.

In 319 AC, during the closing years of the construction of the Mauerwerk, a seemingly incurable respiratory disease ravaged the building population of the walls. in 320 AC, to attempt to alleviate the spread, a group of more than 40 Zerschians who had contracted the disease left the wall and journeyed into the Collapsed Kingdom in self-imposed exile. It was assumed after a year that this group met their demise in the harsh environment of the region. In 322 AC the impossible happened, 6 of the original group returned to the Mauerwerk and were taken to Smaragd Spear. Not only had they survived the journey, but any signs of the respiratory disease that was thought to be incurable was gone. Again, word traveled quickly that while the other 34 members of the group were never heard from again, those 6 that had returned were cured. This gave an air of hope to many across Kastacal that the Collapsed Kingdom could be a last resort to renewed health. In 347 AC small, self-contained, colonies of the sick and destitute started showing up in the Collapsed Kingdom. From time to time, traders in the area would leave offerings for these colonies in an attempt to help them and also discourage raiding for those travelers that wanted to travel through the region to reach the Mauerwerk.

In 686 AC, a Zerschian trader returning from Cyclopia, through the Collapsed Kingdom, brought news of a new disease moving through some of the colonies. This disease manifested in the form of bony or chitinous growths on the skin of the infected. These reports were unsurprising to those studying the area due to its isolated and toxic nature. It was not until 809 AC that the Momentus Plague was recorded as changing the physiology of those infected, enough that carriers of this plague were catalogued as a new sub-race of people, the Morrai. Soon after this classification, rumors of a 'leader' among the Morrai emerged, a being that had some form of control over the Morrai. This leader was colloquially dubbed "The Tumor Lord" and the healing pilgrimages ceased almost overnight. While some still made the trek to the Collapsed Kingdom as a last resort, the populations of the fringe colonies soon dwindled and moved inward, making them much more difficult to observe.

In 826 AC a joint group of scholars from around Kastacal petitioned for more information from the Collapsed Kingdom, Zersch offered great reward for that information to be brough to their own scholars and removed any requirements to declare or relinquish any artifacts without agreed upon compensation. This caused a large spike in explorers and adventurers to travel into the Collapsed Kingdom in search of their fortunes. Over the next decade many stories, both horrific and fantastic, emerged from the Collapsed Kingdom. Great treasures were found, but many lives were lost to the 'natural' toxicity of the area and also hostile incursions believed to be the plague colonies. By 840 AC most people had given up on the idea of learning anything new and this second wave of exploration had all but ceased.

The last true record of any activity related to the Collapsed Kingdom came in 865 AC out of Daahsoon, in Baahinta. A mercenary, claiming to be a guard for a local trade caravan, was discovered to be infected with a very advanced form of the Momentus Plague. This Advanced Morrai was killed in a conflict with multiple Baahintan guards, and the body was taken to a location controlled by the Silent Seven.

News from the Collapsed Kingdom, or about the Momentus Plague and the Morrai has since been only communicated through stories and myths. It is unknown if the Tumor Lord is even a real being or if more of the Morrai have left the region. The reward for information still stands for those brave enough to venture in and return to the scholars of Smaragd Spear in Zersch.