The City of Seven Spears
Overview
Once the pinnacle of Olmoy civilization, Abarrane stands as an enduring mystery in the dense jungles of Moog, a relic of a bygone era haunted by legends and surrounded by whispered myths. Hidden away and protected by powerful magical wards, Abarrane's discovery is a prize coveted by adventurers, treasure-hunters, and scholars alike. Its name echoes throughout the histories of Moog as “The City of Seven Spears,” a testament to its ancient power and the seven towering obelisks erected to honor virtues of Olmoy rule.
Constructed nearly a millennium ago, Abarrane served as both a tribute to the Olmoy heroine Abarrane and a fortification against the resurrected threat of the serpent god Sheshnag and the deep, sinister city of Ilmurea below. Its towering ziggurats, mystical wards, and elaborate stonework were designed to keep both invaders and the dark magic of Ilmurea at bay, while its seven districts, each with its own towering stone obelisk, paid homage to the values of the Olmoy and their achievements over the forces of darkness.
Defensive Wards
Mirage Arcana: The valley encompassing Abarrane is cloaked by a powerful mirage arcana spell, making the city appear as nothing more than dense jungle when viewed from afar. Only those who journey into the valley itself can see the grand ruins.
Nondetection: All of Abarrane is protected by a nondetection spell, preventing any scrying, divination, or magical tracking from outside the valley. However, divination spells cast within the valley function normally, allowing Abarrane secrets to be protected from prying eyes.
Preservation: The transmutation magic embedded in the city’s very foundation significantly retards the effects of erosion and time. Buildings, monuments, and artifacts remain mostly intact, giving Abarrane an eerie, preserved quality. Yet the preservation is imperfect; vines and jungle plants have still taken root, creeping across walls, leaving the city’s bones covered in a shroud of green.
History and Significance
The Founding of Abarrane
Abarrane was established as a bastion of Olmoy culture following the defeat of Yaxun B’alam by the Dawnblades, led by the hero Abarrane. The city was named after her for her bravery and sacrifice. The city’s location above Ilmurea, the ruined heart of a serpentfolk empire, was a strategic choice. Not only did it symbolize Olmoy vigilance over their old foes, but it served as a constant reminder of the threat of dark forces lurking beneath the land. This “City of Seven Spears” became a hub of knowledge, trade, and worship, a bastion of light against the old evils of Moog.
At the height of its influence, Abarrane was a marvel of art, architecture, and magic, a city-state ruled by philosophers, priests, and warriors who sought to preserve the Olmoy legacy. The towering ziggurats in each district represented values that the Olmoy held dear, such as bravery, wisdom, loyalty, and justice. Each ziggurat was crowned by a monumental spear-like obelisk, representing both vigilance and might.
The Age of Darkness and the Prophecies of Cadmael
As Abarrane prospered, dark signs began to emerge. One priest, Cadmael, a zealous and paranoid cleric of Cthulhu, foresaw doom and destruction. His warnings, cloaked in apocalyptic rhetoric and dire omens, sparked fear among the populace. Convinced that the city’s wards and vigilance would not protect them from an encroaching darkness, he amassed influence over a growing cult who believed that abandoning Asura in favor of the darker powers would save them.
Fearing an imminent disaster, Abarrane leaders and citizens began hiding their wealth in secret vaults carved into the bedrock below the city. Ironically, despite their efforts, the destruction of Abarrane came not from some ancient evil, but from a volcanic eruption in the Land of Ash and Smoke. This sudden eruption, fueled by gases from the depths of the earth, unleashed toxic fumes that swept through the valley, killing every last inhabitant. The city was entombed in stillness, a place of wealth and wonder awaiting a new discovery.
The Modern Day: Abarrane Awaits Rediscovery
After 495 years of isolation, Abarrane is poised to be uncovered. The ancient wards that kept it hidden from the world have weakened over time, allowing the curious to draw near. Despite being shrouded in magic, vines and creeping plants have overtaken its architecture, and creatures—both beast and fiend—have found homes within its abandoned streets.
Abarrane now hosts a variety of strange denizens:
- Undead Serpentfolk: Restless spirits of ancient snakefolk, partially preserved by the city’s magical wards, roam the deeper ruins. These are said to be the remnants of Ilmurea’s loyalists, forever cursed to haunt the city they once sought to reclaim.
- Maddened Followers of Cadmael: Distorted echoes of Cadmael’s cult, these spirits are trapped between life and death, wandering the ziggurats as eternal guardians of secrets they barely remember.
- Jungle Beasts and Predators: Monstrous plants, mutated animals, and magical predators now roam the city freely, drawn to the magic that saturates the air.
As adventurers and rival factions arrive in the valley, hoping to unearth Abarrane's ancient treasures, they face not only the challenges of the jungle and the city’s ruins but a looming shadow from Ilmurea below. Abarrane's greatest secrets lie within its vaults and ziggurats, awaiting those brave enough to unravel them. The wealth and power hidden within Uk’ K'awil could tip the scales for any faction in Moog, but such rewards come at the price of contending with the ancient evils lurking both above and beneath the City of Seven Spears.
Abarrane's treasures and dangers beckon, promising glory—or a swift and brutal death.