Vorostokov

Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Status: NPC

Description

The land of Vorostokov once was a paradise (by Vos standards) of warmth and happy people. Long ago Gregor killed the liege lord of the realm in a tangled situation of a love thought betrayed. The dying regent called out to the gods and the forces of the Shadow World and wrought a great curse upon Gregor, the realm changed its nature overnight. The summers are now very brief and the mountain passes seldom unthaw enough to allow anyone to travel through them into the realm. During the winter months the temperature is from 0 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 20 to 30 degrees below at night. Often there are frequent blizzards that coat the land dropping temperatures to below -50 degrees with wind below 70 miles per hours. This time is called the "Black Ice". Anyone unwise enough to be caught out in one of these blizzards is given up for lost.

Cold damage, exposure, frostbite, hypothermia and starvation all are major concerns of any traveler within the domain. Even small tents and fires are not strong enough to protect travelers fully. Those who have disregarded this often given advise freeze in the colds. The only inhabitants that seem to be able to move in the normal weather with little difficulty are the large populations of wolves that scour the lands. They travel in packs and on occasion a lycanthrope may be with them.

Domain Holding Table

Provinces/Holdings

The realm of Vorostokov takes little notice of lands and people outside its own borders. Vorostokov is a land of harsh winters that bring death to the unwary through blizzard, freezing fog and avalanche, and cool summers that fade all too quickly. The realm’s temples, once bastions of hope have crumbled into ruins under the uncaring rulership of the current king; the only faith that survives within the land is that within the city of Vorostokov run by Terenshy Mackelfis. The land’s mercantile trade has dwindled to near nothing over the past few years as well with the few guild holdings remaining within Vorostokov city alone. Magic and mystery run deep within the hills and valleys of the land. It is said that elemental forces and dark spirits roam the land here in the bodies and minds of its inhabitants; strangers are unwelcome in these hills where isolated families raise their kin and packs of Zegracki roam.

Law

Vorostokov's law is collectively governed by the Boyarsky; a group of men paying allegiance to the Boyar himself, Gregor Zolnik. The law in Vorostokov is harsh and any who oppose it simply vanish, or their remains are found having been ravaged by wild beasts. As harsh as the rule of the Boyarsky is however, there is little else to appeal to the youth of the region, many of whom desire to one day take up the reins of the older law holders.

Temples

The faithful here are scattered to the far reaches of the domain. There is one temple to Lirovka (Vorynn) in the realm. It is located within the city of Vorostokov and is led by Brother Terensky (MV; P1; Vo, minor, 16;LG), a middle aged man who has seen the glories of the past and dreams of them still. His temple is taxed heavily by the King and its few staff often bullied by the Kings men, the congregation seldom openly visits and to the casual observer the people seem to have lost hope of bettering their lives and the temple seems unable to restore their vitality. Terensky operates several underground shrines however where he preaches to his isolated worshipers though many of those who come do so merely to briefly lift the gloom from their lives by listening to one of the few people who yet dares to speak out against the king and of better times.

Guilds

While no one person operates all of the local trade through out the region, the Wood Cutter, Oleg seems to have the respect of many in the area and his word in merchant affairs is often heeded. Oleg (MV;F1;Br, minor, 23; NG).

Sources

The magical forces are divided between the Sister's of the Boyar and Marik the Mouse Eater. The sister witches, Natalya (FV; M6; Az, major, 32; LE) and Elena Zolnik (FV; M6; Az, major, 34; LE) live in a small house in which they leave only rarely. They despise their brother Gregor, but are terrified to make any move against him openly. They have become more and more twisted in their years as they have slowly turned into twisted crones and are now filled with nothing but hatred, malice and spite viewing all others as tools to use, or enemies to dispose of.

Marik the Mouse Eater (MKh; M2; Ma, tainted, 8) lives alone and most believe this frail man of Khinasi decent to be addle brained. He is fond of proclaiming himself, "I is Marik, hedge wizard, say you have hedges..." As a result of his strange comments and bedraggled appearance most people discount the man although none know if he is really as dim witted as he appears or simply playing the fool to allay Gregor’s suspicion. Regardless, over the course of the years Marik has avoided death at the hands of the notoriously wizard-hating Vos and claimed half of the sources within the land, Marik has often supported the battered temple of Lirovka in Vorostokov with regency, spells, and even small amounts of gold – though the church would never say where it got the money from lest Gregor remove their last source of real funds.

Domain Assets

Regency Generated/Accumulated: 2/34 RP.

(Gregor Zolnik collects regency from all of the provinces and also collects all of the regency from the Boyarsky).

Treasury: 12 GB.

Gregor mainly has money left over from when the lands were warm and rich. Now he has very little use for his gold for his pleasures lie in the thrill of the hunt and not in fineries and other things brought by gold, as such he and collects little taxes from most of his remaining people – although in this wretched land few people remain and they have little of value left to be taxed.

Army

The Boyarsky and their followers comprise of two units of irregulars in total which serve at no cost to the state. In addition Gregor can summon two units of wolves to fight in times of crisis as well as one unit of lycanthopes (Loup du Noir werewolves).

Regent

The Boyar, Gregor Zolnik (MV; F8; Az, major, 37; CE) is a very charismatic man who it appears is not effected by the passage of time. Gregor rules his people with an façade of boasting and broad confidence that most believe is the true nature of the man. What is little known amongst the people is that long ago he was afflicted with a curse that has left him with the disease of lycanthropy. Since that day Gregor has come to terms with his warped nature and has determined that all who follow him will do so as a lycanthrope as well. He has gained the ability to control other werewolf lycanthropes as well as those he or his followers personally infect. His curse it seems has also given him an ability to resist the effects of age. To what details no one knows.

Lieutenants

Gregor trusts few people - even amongst his lycanthropes he constantly watches for treachery. Currently he mainly uses his brother Alexei Zolnik (MV; F5:Az, major, 32; CE) or acts through Dmitri Dneprov (MV;F6; non blooded; CE) when he cannot personally take charge of a matter.

Important NPC's

The youngest brother of Gregor, is Mikhail Zolnik. He has also been effected with the curse of the Loup du Noir, lycanthropy. Due to his shared bloodline of his brother he appears to be able to resist the controlling effects of the other werewolves in the domain. As of yet Mikhail does not yet know he has been affected. If he also has the ability to resist the evil temperament as his curse remains to be seen. (MV; R6; Az; major, 32; CG)

Allies & Enemies

Nations seem unable, or unwilling, to breach the colds and the high passes of the mountains. Gregor in turn has seemingly no interest in lands outside the borders of Vorostokov. As a result Vorostokov has neither allies nor enemies.