¶ Overview
Ustalav, often dubbed the Immortal Principality, is a gothic, mist-shrouded land in northeastern Avistan, teeming with superstition, ancient evils, and decaying nobility. Long haunted by its dark history—particularly the tyrannical reign of the lich-king Tar-Baphon, also known as the Whispering Tyrant—Ustalav is a setting rich with horror, intrigue, and old-world melancholy.
¶ Geography and Regional Division
Ustalav is divided into three distinct regions:
¶ Soivoda
The heartland, consisting of nine counties:
- Amaans
- Ardeal
- Barstoi
- Caliphas
- Odranto
- Sinaria
- Ulcazar
- Varno
- Versex
Each county is ruled by a noble count or countess. These lands are steeped in tradition, plagued by rivalries, and largely self-governed despite national law.
¶ The Palatinates
- Canterwall
- Lozeri
- Vieland
These northwestern counties abolished hereditary rule in favor of elected councils in 4674 AR. Home to innovative science, particularly in Lepidstadt, this region is intellectually vibrant but politically marginalized.
¶ Virlych
A desolate, haunted land formerly under the direct control of the Whispering Tyrant. Governmentless and cursed, it is populated only by the desperate or the damned. Gallowspire, once Tar-Baphon's prison, lies here.
¶ Major Cities
- Caliphas: Capital and largest city, located on Lake Encarthan. Cosmopolitan, but plagued by crime and eldritch threats.
- Lepidstadt: Center of learning and innovation in the Palatinates.
- Other cities: Ardis, Karcau, Thrushmoor, Tamrivena.
¶ Economy
- Soivoda: Maritime trade hub, especially Caliphas. Trade and craftsmanship are central, though strained by refugee influxes.
- Palatinates: Scientific research and industrial development thrive, particularly in Lepidstadt with alchemy, anatomical studies, and clockwork tech.
- Rural Areas: Agriculture, timber, and artisanal crafts dominate, but these are often hindered by isolation and supernatural dangers.
¶ Foreign Relations
- Ustalav’s diplomacy is shaped by fear of the Whispering Tyrant’s return.
- The fall of Lastwall has prompted tentative alliances with Nirmathas, Molthune, and others.
- Internally, xenophobia and noble rivalries disrupt cohesion. Refugees and foreign aid are met with suspicion, particularly in urban centers.
¶ Society and Culture
Ustalavic society is a blend of:
- Crumbling noble houses
- Cautious peasants
- Ambitious merchants
Bloodline and reputation dictate social standing. Fear of the supernatural permeates every level of life.
¶ Superstition and Folklore
Ustalav is steeped in dark traditions:
- Omens: Animals like crows, foxes, and whippoorwills are seen as bearers of doom.
- Burial Customs: Corpses are chained, weighted, or buried upside down to prevent undead rising.
- Divination: Harrow cards, spirit boards, and soothsayers are commonplace and feared.
¶ Threats and Adventure
- Whispering Way: A death cult working to revive Tar-Baphon.
- Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye: Scholars and mystics who oppose necromantic threats.
- Hauntings, curses, monstrous infestations, and ancient conspiracies await.
¶ Notable Adventure Locations
- The Furrows: War-torn wasteland steeped in necrotic energy.
- Gallowspire: The Whispering Tyrant’s former prison, surrounded by the corrupted Gallowgarden.
- Carrion Hill, Castle Corvischior, The Saffron House: Each with unique horror and mystery.
¶ Tables
¶ Locations
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Lepidstadt University | Smarts and Spooks |
¶ Cities
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Lepidstadt | Smartest city in Ustalav |
| Ravengro | Quaint Farming Town in western Ustalav |
¶ People
| Name | Status | Faction | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siska Marrow | alive | Owner of The Crooked Kin |