Klethos
Country: Klethos
Area (Square Miles): 119,000
Population: 200,000
Demographics: Humans: 50%, Tieflings: 15%, Goblins: 15%, Undead: 10%, Orcs: 5%, Other: 5%
Capital City: Muir
Notable Inhabitants: Belzzorath the Unholy, Nathrak Ultar, Ket’Thal, Xereth Yorn
Factions: The Order of Ket’Thal, The Sisters of the Void
Notable Cities, Towns and Locations: The Necropolis
Map of Zyricus
Description: Klethos, a once thriving coastal country at the far southwest corner of Zyricus, is now a desolate and ruined land, forever marred by the dark events that led to its downfall. Initially settled by the descendants of House Azpar, the region was home to a community of mages, oracles, scholars, and seers who dedicated themselves to the mystic arts and the pursuit of arcane knowledge. This scholarly enclave thrived, producing many notable advancements in magical theory and practice.
However, within this bastion of knowledge, a dark sect of warlocks, mages and necromancers emerged, pushing the boundaries of arcane exploration. These practitioners of the dark arts, led by the malevolent mage Ket'Thal, became increasingly obsessed with the pursuit of power, undeath, and immortality. Ket'Thal, driven by his insatiable thirst for power, made a pact with an ancient Pit Fiend named Belzzorath, eventually opening a portal to The Nine Hells that would set in motion The Great Cataclysm, a catastrophic even that nearly consumed the entire realm of Zyricus. Although the impact of the Great Cataclysm was felt throughout Zyricus, its most profound impact was felt in Klethos and the most southwest regions of Dorinar.
Klethos, a once-prosperous land, was laid to waste, its fertile fields reduced to scorched earth and black cinder, and its vibrant communities decimated and utterly ruined. The portal to The Nine Hells unleashed a torrent of fiendish dark energy that permanently scared the land, leaving it burning and reeking of brimstone and death even centuries later.
During the conflict of the Great Cataclysm, the goodly forces of Zyricus fought heroically to drive back Belzzorath, Ket’Thal and his cabal of warlocks, and the hellish forces they unleashed upon the world. Belzzorath was defeated and forever bound to the dark necropolis that now floats above Klethos, unable to return to The Nine Hells or escape the Material Plane.
Although Belzzorath was now contained and Ket’Thal apparently destroyed, dark forces still stir in Klethos. Nathrak Ultar, one of Ket’Thal’s closest companions and a fellow practitioner of the dark arts, survived the conflict and now rules over the remaining inhabitants of Klethos. Nathrak and his conclave of evil followers now worship Belzzorath as a living demigod. Even though Belzzorath is bound to the Necropolis, Nathrak and his closest followers frequently visit Belzzorath to plot and devise nefarious plans to unshackle Belzzorath in exchange for dark forbidden powers and enact revenge on those who thwarted their plans centuries ago.
Nathrak’s most trusted advisors and acolytes are three tiefling sorceresses know as The Sisters of the Void. They are triplets fathered by Nathrak and a succubus gifted to him by Belzzorath for his loyal service. The Sisters regularly advise Nathrak and loyally and ruthlessly carry out his nefarious plans. Nathrak, like Belzzorath, is bound to Klethos and cannot travel outside of the boundaries of the land therefore he relies on his daughters and their minions to execute his schemes and the dark will of Belzzorath outside the borders of Klethos.
Another evil sect that still dwells in Klethos is the Order of Ket’Thal. This cabal of necromancers lives to carry on the teachings of their namesake and is dedicated to the necromantic arts and the pursuit of undeath. The Order of Ket’Thal has a tenous relationship with Nathrak and his daughters. Although though they reluctantly acknowledge Nathrak as the ruler of Klethos they truly believe one day Ket’Thal will return and reestablish himself as the ruler of Klethos and the right hand of Belzzorath.
Klethos is a land of perpetual darkness, where the sky is often obscured by ominous clouds and the air is thick with the stench of sulfur. The ground itself is charred and cracked, and the remnants of once-great cities lie in ruins. The ancient floating Necropolis above stands as a grim reminder of the chaos, evil, and death that have stained the soul of this wretched place. It symbolizes the dark legacy of Belzzorath, Ket'Thal, and the enduring curse that hangs over Klethos, a land where hope has long been extinguished and only the echoes of despair remain.