Thank you all for the nice words. It's much appreciated.
Now something for Witchlight Strand.
As I didn't find much text about the land, I'm making this up as I go.
The area has had it's share of trouble with orcs and goblins and the northern parts of Witchlight Strand are regularly switching ownership between humans, orcs and goblins and occasionally even elves. Port Magalie is one of the mightiest cities in the troubled land having a mixed population of elven, halfling and human origin. Many of the elven inhabitants come from the nearby Liaglades forest, but some have their origins much farther away. Thus there is a certain level of tension between the different elven clans and communities taking residence in the city. This tension is very subtle and almost invisible to all except elves themselves.
Port Magalie's current highest authority, Lord Weers, has a firm grip over the affairs of the city and is thought as one of the major reasons why the city has gained prosperity and has avoided open confrontations with the restless groups of humanoid tribes northeast. The firm grip has it's grimmer side in that many justly think Lord Weers as just another tyrant who finds ways of suppressing any echoes of opposition. In reality one of the key elements in Lord Weers' power is his magical advisor, the half-elven High Counselor Colm Theron. Colm Theron goes to great lengths to keep himself out of the awareness of the general public and instead pulls strings and exerts influence behind dark curtains.
High Counselor Theron has his own remote castle in the heart of Bone Hills - area plagued by both orcs and goblins. Theron Castle is not an easy place to reach and it holds unspoken secrets within it's walls. High Counselor is actually a necromancer belonging to a widely spread, but small, group of necromancers who call themselves Cult of the Black Flame. Black Flame necromancers draw their power from natural phenomen, but corrupt and taint the power when channeling it into their own foul deeds. Counselor Theron's black art originates from the Withclights forest not far in the south and year by year he has advanced his skills into gaining access to more and more of the power the forest has to offer. Unfortunately the necromancer's activity has slowly started to taint the whole forest as every time he uses his magic, small portions of corrupted mana flow back into the source.
High Counselor Theron's castle is protected by the necromancer's magic and also by resurrected orcs, goblins and humans who have been foolish enough to try and invade the castle. The undead presence is a highly kept secret by Theron, but nevertheless rumours about Theron's bony guardians are starting to spread even into Port Magalie - he denies it, of course. But the humanoid tribes know the true side of things and have grown more careful about the castle and it's surroundings. In effect the castle is no longer a regular target and this in turn only validates Theron's determination to go deeper into the black arts - because it works.
Theron has been friends with Lord Weers since childhood and nothing has made ripples between them in over 60 years. The necromancer always travels alone and in cognito and moves in and out of the city undetected as he wishes. Many elven magicians know what Theron truly is, but they are reluctant to do anything about it - yet. Theron's actions are tolerated because his role in keeping Port Magalie safe from the hordes of humanoid tribes is understood. Lord Weers does not perceive his trusted aide as a master of the black arts, but as Theron deteriorates towards the Black Flame year by year, it's only a matter of time until Lord Weers gets a rude awakening.
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