Far to the north, on the frozen island of Farlnen, the lich called Vol (NE lich [elf halfdragon], wizard 16) holds court. In the halls of Illmarrow Castle, among the ice-laden peaks of the Fingerbone Mountains, Lady Vol nurtures her plans for dominion and revenge. In life, Vol was the heir to the fortunes of House Vol. She carried the Mark of Death and proudly proclaimed her heritage as both elf and green dragon. Her half-dragon blood, once thought to be a way to end the elf-dragon wars, eventually led to the eradication of House Vol as both elves and dragons declared the mixing of the species to be an abomination. Lady Vol survived the destruction of her family, but became an undead creature—a lich. In the centuries that followed, she gathered followers to her side and created the cult of the Blood of Vol (as well as more recently the Order of the Emerald Claw, which secretly serves her). Cultists loyal to Vol spread word of her religion throughout the Lhazaar islands, and a handful of people among the Principalities consider it their primary religion. Most followers know nothing of Vol the lich or her history. Instead, they worship the idea that blood is life and that undeath provides a life beyond death and a path to divinity. Vol uses her highly placed loyalists to gather information and issue suggestions to the sea princes and their advisors. In many cases, Vol is the power behind the throne—both in the Principalities and in unexpected places on the mainland.