New Thassilon

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New Thassilon

(Nation)

N

Land

Avistan

Alignment

Neutral

Capital

Xin-Shalast

Ruler

Sorshen and Belimarius

Government

Arcane meritocracy

Adjective

New Thassilonian

Languages

Taldane, Thassilonian

Religions

Nocticula

Images of New Thassilon

Source: Lost Omens World Guide, pg(s). 113–115

New Thassilon is a young nation located in northwestern Avistan, founded by the two surviving runelords of ancient Thassilon, Sorshen and Belimarius.

History

Runelord Karzoug emerged in 4702 AR as the initial one of Thassilon's seven runelords to awaken from millennia of stasis, kept just beyond the fringes of reality until an unwitting stone giant wizard triggered the mechanism that facilitated the runelord's resurgence. A group of heroes rose against Karzoug and his formidable giant forces, ultimately defeating him in 4707 AR and thereby reviving the legacy of Thassilon. As the revelation spread across Avistan that Varisia had once been the domain of a potent and ancient wizard empire that had faded into history, adventurers, scholars, explorers, and researchers arrived from distant lands to explore and delve into the enigma of Thassilon.

Leaders among Varisia's city-states became increasingly concerned. Seven runelords had vanished during Earthfall, and if the upheaval caused by a single awakening was so catastrophic, the potential ramifications of all the runelords rising from their slumber were ominous. Responding to their concerns, a fresh group of heroes embarked on a quest to locate and reconstruct an ancient artifact, the seven-pointed Sihedron, piecing it together from its fractured remnants. Originally crafted by Thassilon's founder, the formidable wizard Xin, the Sihedron housed the secrets of Thassilonian magic and stood as a crucial defense against the awakening of the other runelords, should such a scenario arise.

In 4718 AR, after awakening from her slumber, Runelord Alaznist employed the Scepter of Ages to travel back in time and replace the history of Golarion with one where she rules over a New Thassilon stretching from the Lands of the Linnorm Kings to Ustalav and Nidal and beyond. Her efforts were foiled by a group of adventurers working under her rival Sorshen. By the time Alaznist was defeated, most runelords were also dead, except Sorshen and Belimarius, who claimed the land that would become New Thassilon.

Geography

Xin-Shalast, capital of New Thassilon.

New Thassilon's territory is a sparsely populated stretch of land encompassing most of the Kodar Mountains in northern Varisia. It is further divided into two regions: Eurythnia, which stretches from its capital Xin-Shalast to the western coast; and Edasseril, which consists of Peridot Isle, the deserted southern half of the Ironbound Archipelago, and the Mierani Forest. The two realms share a disputed border.

Governments

Eurythnia

Eurythnia is ruled by the former runelord, Sorshen, who does not involve herself often with the life of her subjects. She and her benefactor, the former demon lord Nocticula, seek to fashion Eurythnia and New Thassilon as a whole into a place where exiles, subversive artists, and misfits can call home. Having seen the deaths of her fellow runelords who attempted to rule the modern world by force as they did in ancient Thassilon, Sorshen seeks to avoid following in their footsteps and to coexist peacefully with New Thassilon's neighbours.

In Eurythnia, the Nolands experienced immense development. Brinewall became a thriving port, and travel between the Lands of the Linnorm Kings and Varisia grew. The church of Nocticula, whose dogma aligns with Sorshen's policies, holds power nearly equal to that of a state religion.

Edasseril

Belimarius, runelord of envy and ruler of Edasseril, continues to view nearby nations with jealousy. Sorshen knows that Belimarius is unstable, might threaten New Thassilon's peaceful existence, and will have to be dealt with eventually, but Sorshen allows her rival to forge her own fate and refuses to voice her dissent for now.

Edasseril, the more aggressive of New Thassilon's two kingdoms, quickly found itself in conflict with the elves of the Mierani Forest and the Linnorm Kingdom of the Ironbound Islands. Belimarius's first major act as ruler was to overthrow the highly unpopular Linnorm King Opir Eightfingers, whose realm of Southmoor lay just north of Edasseril, ironically earning the gratitude of those who hated Opir's posturing. Belimarius has recruited many denizens of the islands (notably giants and xulgaths), setting up Flintyreach as a hotly contested territory, and seeks to seize the Nolands.

People

Many arcane spellcasters in New Thassilon are developing a new magical tradition, melding rune magic of old Thassilon with new techniques, and have adapted the title of runelord for themselves. A vocal and quickly growing faction among these modern runelords seek to emulate the ancient runelords' evil ways; some pledge their service to Belimarius or seek to undermine Sorshen, but most view themselves as rightful rulers, most notably Aethusa, who claims to be the reincarnation of two runelords of the same name. These modern runelords are opposed by a faction who appreciate ancient Thassilon's wisdom and lore but understand that their evil ways of sin magic ultimately led to their defeat, and are more concerned with exploring their magical potential.

References

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.