Situated between the eastern shore of the Lake Encarthan and the western-most of the River Kingdoms, Razmiran is not a particularly large country when compared to the great nations of the Inner Sea region like Andoran or Taldor. It is, however, a huge country when compared to the River Kingdoms to the east. Considering that Razmiran began as a small River Kingdom, its current size—after only sixty years of existence—is considerable, and few would deny that Razmir's conquests are impressive. The biggest geographical feature of Razmiran is the Exalted Woods in the center of the country. A secret fortress devoted to the worship of Razmir lies at the center of the woods, giving the place a fell reputation.
The Glass River is the most notable river of the region, which runs through southern Razmiran before emptying into Lake Encarthan.
Settlements
Pilgrimage is a small but growing port town in the nation of Razmiran, on the northeastern shores of Lake Encarthan. The town began as a roadside tavern on the road between Xer on the Glass River and the new capital of Thronestep farther up the coast. It has since expanded into a small town with a dozen inns, a large temple to Razmir, a functioning port, and a rapidly developing black market. Pilgrimage is the main Razmiri town for those wishing to do business out of sight of the Church of Razmir, or at least without their direct interference. Although most business is still conducted with their knowledge, a growing amount takes place without their approval. Those found conducting business in this manner are severely punished, and are sent to the prison-mine known as the Forgotten Track or worse. Pilgrimage nevertheless remains a hotbed of Razmiri citizens who wish for a life away from the Masked God's harsh rule.
Thronestep is the capital, a port city on the banks of Lake Encarthan, and the capital of the growing theocracy of Razmiran. A city of sharp contrasts, it is among the newest settlements in Avistan, having been built by the Living God's faithful less than 50 years ago. Thronestep was built by a small army of laborers in a remarkably short time in 4672 AR, and was designed to be Razmiran's new capital and home of the living God, Razmir. Designed as a paradise for the faithful, its buildings were constructed of fine woods and imported stones, with depictions of Razmir's masked visage looking down on everyone. Due to the attitudes and policies of the Church of Razmir, the city quickly became divided into two sharply delineated districts: the Steps and the Stones. The Steps is the smaller of the two districts, and is home to Razmiran's elite. A place of debauchery and decadence, it is the home of the Visions and the other highest-ranking officials of the Church of Razmir. The Stones is much larger than the Steps, and is a slum that houses the majority of the nation's poor. It is filled with those stricken with poverty and disease who dwell in ramshackle hovels, living in hope of gaining an audience with their god through the Choosing, a weekly ritual in which five worshipers are selected speak and plead their case with Razmir himself. Unknown to most, this ritual is as fake as Razmir's divinity, as those who are chosen are plants put there by the church, leaving an entire city living in perpetual false hope.
Whispertruth is a small settlement of runaways located in the Vergan Forest of Razmiran. Paranoid of being discovered, they do everything they can to keep the location of their town a secret from the government. The nominal leader of Whispertruth is Fineona Laygas, and her assistants are Kilswalloh Fwen and Glimma Yon, responsible for security and interrogations, respectively. They seek to keep Whispertruth safe and secret while trying to get rid of Razmir's false religion. They frequently communicate with the spirits of the forest, who reveal that a terrible thing is going to befall Whispertruth but do not provide details. Whispertruth's inhabitants are composed of failed priests, criminals, iconoclasts, and others who have fled the government and Church of Razmir, and wish nothing more than to be left alone. They go to great lengths to keep the location of Whispertruth a secret, blindfolding anyone who leaves the town, and setting up false camps throughout the Vergan Forest to fool those who is looking for it. The town has never been raided by the government, but not because Razmir does not know where it is: he discovered Whispertruth's location long ago via divination, and by regularly scrying on its leaders. He plans to use the town as a scapegoat for a future atrocity, and currently does not see the need to expose them.
Xer is an important port on the banks of Lake Encarthan and the Glass River. It serves as one of the two main ports for all Razmiran, and much of the trade goods that flow from across the lake are funnelled through Xer. The importance of Xer means it is tightly controlled by the priests of Razmir, who collect tithes from every business in Xer—since anyone who lives in Xer must be a worshiper of Razmir, they collect from everyone. Unfortunately for those who visit the city, the priests aren't fussy about who they demand tithes from, and happily "indoctrinate" any foreign sailor or merchant with the tenets of Razmir's religion until they agree to the "willing donation" asked of them. Even worse, this sort of behaviour is not just limited to those who walk the streets of Xer. Faith barges piloted by Razmir's masked priests sail the surrounding waters, boarding the ships of those who are not making port in Xer to spread the word of their faith (generally by bullying non-believers) and collect tithes (by demanding tribute to pass). Rumour suggests that because Xer was the first city Razmir conquered when he came to the area, some of its inhabitants remember certain secrets that the faithful would deem blasphemy, including the fact that Xer might be home to a number of bastard offspring of the Living God.
Geographical Features
Avalon Bay is the northernmost extension of Lake Encarthan. It borders Ustalav to the west and north, and Razmiran to the east. Major settlements on the bay include the Ustalavic capital Caliphas, in addition to the settlements of Vauntil, Thrushmoor, and Illmarsh.
Lake Encarthan is one of the largest bodies of water in Avistan and was once one of its most highly traveled as well. The nations of Druma, the Gravelands, Kyonin, Molthune, Nirmathas, Razmiran, and Ustalav all share the lake's coastline, and the port cities of Caliphas, Kerse, Tamran, and Thronestep each serve as their nation's capital, no doubt bolstered both economically and militarily by their strategic locations on Encarthan's banks. Trade was once of paramount importance on Lake Encarthan, but has been significantly scaled back since Tar-Baphon relocated to the Isle of Terror. Since then, much of the trade has relocated to the Sellen River, which handles most of the trade between northern and southern Avistan. The lake contains numerous creatures, including merrows, scrags, and skum. The latter are known to make items out of fishgold, the unique red gold found in its depths.
Exalted Wood is a vast, untamed forest located in central Razmiran, north of the much smaller Vergan Forest. In the days before Razmir ascended to power, the Exalted Wood was known as the Vergan Forest. It was during this time in 2021 AR, that the famous Taldan gladiator Maldar Tymon was given jurisdiction over a large section of the region that included the Vergan Forest. The Exalted Wood is known for a wide variety of dangerous beasts and animals including the blood boar and the large emerald owls. An unusual variant of centaur possessing human arms and torso but with the head of a horse lives in the northern part of the forest, and speak their own language that is nearly unintelligible. Razmir's faithful have tried to tame the forest and subjugate the strange centaurs, but thus far have not succeeded. Far more dangerous than any forest creatures are the clergy of Razmir who dwell in a hidden fortress known as the First Step in the central part of the wood, east of the capital of Thronestep. New acolytes of the faith are sent there to complete their training and come out forever changed, fanatically loyal to the faith regardless of any previous misgivings. Despite this, the Exalted Wood remains a hotbed for outlaws and rebels dreaming of a life without the masked god's harsh rule.
Glass River drains from Lake Encarthan, flows along the southern border of Razmiran and empties into the West Sellen River. The ruins of Fort Agate sit at the estuary, built on a bluff above the river. The promontory gives a commanding view of local shipping and the Glass River valley.
The Tracks is a wild area of jagged cliffs, canyons, and arroyos north of the city of Thronestep in Razmiran. The region looks as if the earth is decaying to resemble a set of tracks; hence the name. A particularly deep canyon at the heart of the region is called the Forgotten Track, and is the location of a secret prison mine where the Church of Razmir sends those who have lost faith or who displease them.
Vergan Forest is the smaller of the two forests in Razmiran, located in the southern part of the nation between the Exalted Wood and the Glass River. During Razmir's conquest of the the Arch-Duchy of Melcat in the 4660s, the woodland served as a hiding and resupply location for his forces. Today it is largely abandoned, and home to vigilantes, anarchists, and outlaws wishing to live outside the control of the dictatorial government and the Church of Razmir. Fifty years ago, this dark and musty region served as cover for guerilla forces loyal to the powerful wizard Razmir, while he conquered the region and mercilessly slaughtered those who refused to bend their knees. Today, those unquiet souls infuse the Vergan Forest with latent psychic power with which its primary inhabitants must contend. Razmiri dissidents and anarchists alike now use the forest to hide from authorities, but they are not alone; also lurking in the forest are driders, giant vermin, assorted undead, and a terrible ancient power that could bring ruin upon the whole region. The woodland is strewn with crumbling structures that were not meant to last and forgotten caches of weapons and other supplies. The Vergan Forest is home to a small community of outcasts and dissidents called Whispertruth, as well as the ruins of the ancient Taldan resupply fort of Gensmaren.
West Sellen River is part of the vast Sellen River system but is, in itself, a long and important river forming the boundaries between nations for its entire 1,200-mile length. South of Lake Laruba, the River Kingdoms form the eastern bank of the West Sellen River. In this phase the river is joined by its tributary, the Twinetongue River. Eventually, the border of Ustalav turns westward and the river now becomes the border between Razmiran and the River Kingdoms, as the river continues southwards.
Other Places of Interest
Aerduin's Folly sits on the southern edge of the Vergan Forest in the southern half of nation of Razmiran. Aerduin was the capital of the Arch-Duchy of Melcat until the coming of the Living God, Razmir. When Duke Melcat refused to pledge his fealty to Razmir, the wizard destroyed the town and all of his inhabitants on 17 Erastus 4661 AR. Undead eventually began to rise in the ruins, and the place is now controlled by a powerful skeleton lord, who some claim is Duke Melcat himself, risen from the dead to enact his revenge. Now known as Aerduin's Folly, the ruins have lain abandoned for 50 years.
Coastal Cairns can be found near the banks of Lake Encarthan in the nation of Razmiran. They are believed to have been built by a race that predates human settlement in the region.
First Step is a massive fortress located at the heart of the Exalted Wood in the nation of Razmiran. Here, new recruits to the Church of Razmir are trained to become missionaries for placement both at home and abroad. The fortress is a large and imposing edifice of black stone that descends almost twice as deep below ground as it reaches above. New recruits to the Razmiran priesthood are broken, stripped of any misgivings or doubts, and trained here. This is done both through conventional religious education and magical coercion and torture. Some who enter First Step are never heard from again, but all who do emerge are loyal and often covered with fresh scars and burns. They are sent from here to new temples in the Inner Sea region in order to help spread the faith, or else to areas where the worship of Razmir is unknown. In either case they are ordered to convert as many of the poor as possible to the worship of the Living God.
Fort Agate was a ruined castle located on the estuary of the Glass River in Razmiran. It has since been repaired and renovated and serves as a new lodge for the Pathfinder Society. The fort was constructed around 500 years ago by a minor Varisian noble and his Kellid wife after they had been driven out of their home city of Caliphas due to their worship of Urgathoa. Using the fort as a base of operations, they hired bandits to attack travelers on the river and on Lake Encarthan. After their deaths, the fort fell into the hands of various bandit groups until the complex was finally cleared out by Razmir in 4661 AR. Fort Agate was left abandoned for many years until 4720 AR when members of the Pathfinder Society were permitted to explore, repair, and claim the fortification as their own. After surviving an attack of undead soon after, it was converted to the Exalted Lodge. The ruin was built atop a tall and narrow promontory with a spectacular view of the Glass River valley. It is located less than an hour's walk from the port town of Xer
The Forgotten Track is a prison mine located at the bottom of a particularly large canyon in a region of Razmiran known as the Tracks. Those who have lost faith in or displease the Church of Razmir are sent here; it is called the Forgotten Track because that is the eventual fate of most who are sent there. New arrivals to the prison are lowered to the floor of the canyon in an iron cage, after which they are assigned to their work gang. There they continue to work in the mines until they either die from overwork or, more rarely, serve out their sentences. The Forgotten Track produces some precious metals and ores, but this does not seem to be its primary purpose. The wardens of the prison occasionally receive new directions and schematics from Razmir himself, who directs them to tunnel in new directions. The man in charge, a Mask named Rastagar, has become increasingly nervous of late as some of his tunnels have begun to intersect those of the Darklands, exposing the prisoners and guards to dangerous threats from below.
Gensmaren is located in the Vergan Forest of Razmiran. At the beginning of the Age of Enthronement, Taldor's Second Army of Exploration† built numerous supply forts as they moved through the area around Lake Encarthan. Many grew into villages and even cities over the following centuries, while others were abandoned and forgotten. Gensmaren, built in the Vergan Forest between Lake Encarthan and the West Sellen River, was one of the latter group. In the early days of the Age of Enthronement, a witch coven make it their home. Razmir scattered the witches when he came to power but it is said that the witches left behind magical mysteries that even Razmir was unable to reveal. The fortress now is half-collapsed, stinks or rotten, and is covered with thick webs. It is rumored to be the haunt of giant vermin, some undead, and a cult of demon worshipers. The last point is actually correct, as a group of driders who revere the demon lord Mazmezz has recently taken up residence there. They rarely leave Gensmaren and generally confine themselves to the extensive catacombs beneath the site, fearing to attract too much attention from the Razmiri authorities in the nearby cities of Pilgrimage or Xer. They do not know how to return to their Darklands home, as the tunnels they took to get to the surface have collapsed. Holgarin Smine, the Pathfinder Society venture-captain of the River Kingdoms town of Tymon, is said to have considerable knowledge of Gensmaren.