Anghysbel

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## Overview

Far to the north of Alshar lies a mysterious land called Anghysbel. It is fabled to have many strange and wonderful creatures that exist without the benefit of magic. The land itself is the caldera of a super volcano, the heat of which keeps Anghysbel habitable. Minalan and a score of comrades journeyed from Vanador, through the alkaline wastes, and to Anghysbel the summer after the defeat of Shakathet. There they met many strange and curious people, encountered killer squads of gurvani, and discovered fabulous mysteries from the past. They also found danger in abundance. Most importantly, they may have found the means to defeat Korbal and, perhaps, save the world.

## History

The land which was to become Anghysbel in the far north of Alshar is the caldera of a super volcano. Eons past, the volcano became the target of the Formless in their war against the Celestial Mothers by directing an asteroid to impact there and cause a global cataclysm. The Celestial Mothers blunted the attack but could not prevent fragments from striking Callidore, one of which struck the caldera obliquely. Because the asteroid was formed beyond the protection of Ralaan, the fragment had strong anti-magic influence. Called a Jevolar, the fragment suppressed magic in and around the caldera.

The Met Sakinsa settled a grove in the caldera to guard against the escape of the Kurja (see below).

Millenia later, the Alka Alon built a vault to house their most deadly weapons and dangerous secrets. Presumably, the Tal Alon of Lakeshire settled about then, but the other Alon shied away from the area for its lack of rajira.

Human colonists set up a research facility, Unger Station for Geophysical Studies, to study the caldera and the varieties of fauna therein. Soon after, the Northwestern Reserve and Park were established for colonist leisure and recreation. A CSA (Callidore Authority Scouting Association) High Adventure Camp, Campe Melleray, also was founded. With the collapse of the human colony, the area was mostly abandoned.

In the aftermath of the Beldurrazeko incident, the Alon Kilnusk were exiled to Anghysbel. Later, a human domain called Anferny was established. The Kasari also settled a small contingent, Melleray Champa.

## Geography

Surrounded by stony wastelands and tundra, the Anghysbel caldera is warmed enough to support an abundant variety of flora and fauna. Geothermal activity is readily encountered both on land and in the numerous lakes. The habitable area is about nineteen miles long and seven wide.
Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the caldera zone was the exceptionally low etheric density preventing even the simplest of spells from working. The absence of magic was a singular requisite for hiding the Alkan vault and finding Ameras, the missing daughter of the Aronin of Amadia. The magosphere is suppressed by a Jevolar, a piece of an asteroid that impacted in the distant past.
The only path to travel between the Anghesbel and Alshar is by way of the Alkali Wastes.

**Alkali Wastes**
The wastes were once some inland sea or lake now long evaporated. What was left was an expanse of toxic sands and dust which exuded noxious fumes. If mixed with water, the dust became poisonous and caustic.
Gareth erected an outpost from a hoxter pocket that was magically resupplied with water and food, bandages, salves and firewood, as well as fodder for horses. Minalan installed a waystone within.

Tyr Morannan, Kasari for sanctuary. A modest shelter half way through the wastes built over a very deep well … the only place to get drinkable water until Anghysbel.

## Domains and Settlements

**Melleray**

**Cavern of the Ancients**

> **Dr. Hugo Unger Station for Geophysical Studies
> For the Northwestern Reserve Active Caldera Zone
> “UNGER STATION”
> aka: The Edge of Nowhere**
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Midmarket

Anferny

Lakeshire

Grost Kilnuskum

Dragon Lake

The Leshwood

The Crypt of Szal the Yith

The Arsenal of Kova Salainen

## People of Anghysbel

Kasari

Alshari

Tal Alon

Kilnusk

Leshi

Others

Ameras
Rolof
Avius
Davachan
Szal
Lizard People

## Summary

### Necromancer

Micrethiel mentioned "the distant lake in the north known as Salainen" when she listed places in the world with high etheric resistance.

> Your folk call it the Cakered Jevolar, I believe.”
> “The anti-molopor?” Terleman asked. “I thought that was a myth.”
> “It is no myth,” Master Haruthel said, shaking his tiny head. “It is theorized that it – and the Shattered Isle, for that matter – were both giant mountains that fell from the sky, long before the Alon came here.
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When Minalan released the tortured Aronin of Amadia in the crypts of Olum Seheri, he first learned of the volcano in the far north and how, in eons past, that land was scarred.

> "During the Vundel’s war with the Formless, eons ago, the vassals of the Formless contrived to strike at their ancient foe indirectly, by directing a mountain of stone from the Realms of Light, floating in the Void, to strike at a weak spot in Callidore’s crust.  A region of volcanic instability in the north of this continent.  It was hoped by the Formless that puncturing the land so powerfully would blind the skies with dust for decades and choke the sunlight that feeds the reefs that fed the Mothers.  For the best of reasons, the Celestial Mothers tried to destroy the mountain.  It was difficult, as matter formed in the Realms of Light are highly resistant to magic.  But they struck the mountain before it could strike the volcano.
>  [ … ] "But it came at a terrible price: though they had crushed the mountain, it became many great boulders.
> [ … ] "One of those great stones struck [ … ] near to the original target, far to the north. It failed to force the volcano to erupt, but the earthquakes and tremors gave the Land of Scars its name."
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>  - Aronin to Minalan
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### Thaumaturge

The first Minalan heard of a domain in his country that he didn’t know about was when the god Slagur the Cunning mentions it to him while he is looking over the diorama of the Magelaw.

The hint that Slagur left Minalan indicating that he was missing someplace, bothered him enough that he didn’t forget it.  When he casually mentioned a missing domain to Brother Bryte, Bryte chuckled and said that he must have meant *Anghysbel*.

The legends say that when the Wilderlords first came north they sent explorers out even as far north, beyond the Alkali wastes to beyond the perpetually frozen mountains in the far north.  Eventually a monk returned with stories about the hidden Vale way to the North that is warmed by the earth and contains a pristine lake, many unique plants and animals and even tribes of Alon.  The Duke read the account and sent off an expedition there and there was an attempt to settle it.

>  Indeed, it was quite clear that there was a ‘lord of Anghysbel’ as recently as seventy years ago, when his son appeared at court in Wilderhall and swore fealty on his father’s behalf. - Bryte to Minalan
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According to documentation by the Alshari scribes, Anghysbel is 19 miles long and 7 miles wide and consists of a single village and a castle, with a beautiful lake that is warmed by the earth.  The journey was reputed to take 90 days to reach it from Vorone past the alkali wastes, the steppes and nearly impassable mountains.

When Minalan heard the stories that Bryte knew, he instructed Brother Bryte to make searching for more information a priority.

Penny was able to provide additional information from the Ducal archives, that included a map and a few accounts of the land.  When Minalan asked Forseti about an area far to the north with volcanic activity, Forseti had information from the colony exploration teams about the area and cited that it was located about 390 miles north of Vanador.  Forseti also mentions that there was a geological research station installed there as well as sensors for the volcanic activities.

>  It is what volcanologists call a ‘super-volcano.’ It is a large field where the rocky mantle of the planet is thin, allowing magma to seep up through the cracks.  It lies well beyond the sub-arctic zone, yet the geothermic activity allows the survival of several unique examples of flora and fauna in a complex and as-of-yet mysterious ecology.- Forseti
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It was designated ‘’Northwest Reserve Caldera Zone’’ by the early colonists.

### Arcanist

When Heeth learned from Gareth that Minalan is interested in Anghysbel he relays to Minalan additional information.  He mentions that he has read a lot about the place and that it contains many fanciful flora and fauna, including the legendary plant men, the *Leshi*.

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Once Heeth is hired as Minalan’s Arcanist he is instructed to gather information concerning *Anghysbel* and determine the route to get there.

Minalan makes plans to go on a journey to *Anghysbel* that summer and then Alya surprises him with the information that she is going to go with him.

### Footwizard

Minalan organized an expedition to the mysterious land of Anghysbel in the north. His quest had the following goals:

1. Find Ameras, the daughter of the Aronin of Amadia/Angriel and the Alka Alon secret arsenal.
2. Find a possible installation built by the Ancients that may have survived.
3. Find a substance that can help create snowstone.
4. Find the lost Wilderlord domain of Anferny.

The expedition party included Alya, Tyndal, Taren, Gareth, Lilastien, Fondaras, Ithalia, Masters Suhi and Azhguri, Natia, Ormar the alchemist, and Forseti. Tyndal brought several gentlemen as guards. Two Kasari rangers and four or five other Kasari also became part of the group.

Members of the expedition visited Melleray, the Cavern of the Ancients/Unger Station, Midmarket, the Domain of Anferny, the Tal settlement of Lakeshire, Grost Kilnuskum, Dragon Lake, the Leshwood, the Crypt of Szal the Yith, and the Arsenal of Kova Salainen. (See above.)

Upon clearing the Alkali Wastes, the expedition party met the Kasari of Melleray, among whom was Natia's brother, Travid. He led Minalan, Lilastien, Gareth, Natia, and Forseti to the Cavern of the Ancients. Forseti was able to open the great steel door and gain access to the geophysical research station. Much of the equipment was operational and Forseti was able to interface with the station's automated devices. The group found a garage with several "Beast" wagons, a closet of colonial era armaments, an emergency medical suite, and a treasure of digital records and the means to view/read them. Lilastien found a brochure in the Unger Station from the days of (human) colonial research and exploration. The brochure is called "Northwest Reserve Brochure" and provides an insight into the lives and pastimes of the colonists from Earth.

## References

1. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Thaumaturge: Book Eleven of the Spellmonger Series.  Chapter 27. Kindle Edition.
2. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Footwizard: Book 13 Of The Spellmonger Series . Kindle Edition.
3. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Necromancer: Book Ten Of The Spellmonger Series (p. 1360). Kindle Edition.
4. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Necromancer: Book Ten Of The Spellmonger Series (pp. 759-760). Kindle Edition.
5. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Thaumaturge: Book Eleven of the Spellmonger Series (p. 488). Kindle Edition.
6. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Thaumaturge: Book Eleven of the Spellmonger Series (p. 752). Kindle Edition.
7. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Arcanist: Book Twelve of the Spellmonger Series (p. 167). Kindle Edition.