Capital: Elgorod (pop. 5,000)
A cursed, blighted land of abandoned castles and small villages, Palaskov is, to many, synonymous with the unquiet dead. Once under the protection of the Grand Prince of Kav, in recent times even he abandoned the region, leaving the terrified peasants to fend for themselves.
When night falls over Palaskov, wise peasants shut their windows and doors, and hang holy symbols over their homes. No sane Palak visits a graveyard after dark, nor travels the roads.
SOCIETY
Palaskov borders Lake Silvermir and the River Dniever. The town of Elgorod is built on Lake Silvermir’s shore, on a hilltop, with walls to keep out the dead. Few boats enter Elgorod‘s harbor. Those who merely look upon the unquiet land often utter prayers of deliverance.
Though most peasants live in walled villages or well-fortified huts, necromancers — who have power over the dead and thus less to fear — live in estates in the countryside. These necromancers are feared and hated by the peasants, but little can be done about them.
The necromancers of Palaskov are in full cooperation with the Council of the Twelve.
HISTORY
Palaskov was not always such a dreaded land. Before the dark epoch, Palaskov was a fertile agrarian province under the influence of the Grand Prince of Kav. In 426 YE, the Grand Prince appointed Elgor Azov as ruling count. The Azov family ruled without incident until the 980 YE when Aemil Azov assumed power. Count Aemil Azov, a talented necromancer, delved deep into art of magic, searching for ways to improve upon his power. His journeys took him as far as the land of Badelgard, where he studied and purchased the surviving Ulfr texts. He created for himself a vast army of undead, which he used to consolidate control over the petty lords. Though he claimed great power for himself and was by anyone’s account a good-natured man, he created a monster from which Palaskov has yet to recover. Despite numerous attempts to kill the surviving undead, they remain in the countryside, walking the lonely roads at night and knocking on peasants’ doors.
RUMORS
- When the Mist creeps in over the countryside, it transforms passersby into monstrous aberrations and awakens the dead.
- The undead activity in the region has attracted the interest of the death-cult of Bal Zaar, which is said to hold ceremonies in rural areas.
- The lingering effects of Aemil’s studies have caused most magical adepts to have the gift of necromancy.
