Re'Taris (The Plague Realm)

Overview

• Classification: Dead Theocracy / Lycanthropic Hive
• Biome: Variable — once prosperous, now plague-consumed
• Governance: The Empire of a God-King or God-Queen (possible names: Ian Bor, Ruan Yor, Arawd Kar, Yrm Hen). The deity may be a true Eldritch Horror rather than a conventional divine being.
• Religion: Dominant worship of an evil demigod that physically dwells in the region

Geography & Features

Once a functional theocratic empire supported by a system of magic portals that allowed rapid movement across vast distances. The portals were a source of both power and vulnerability.

The Plague: The continent is now consumed by a plague of wererat lycanthropy. Possibly other lycanthropic strains exist, but the wererat variant is dominant. A distinct population of rat-men has emerged.

The Portals: Still functional, but now unpredictable and dangerous. The cult uses them to send agents to other continents.

Current State (Post-Fracture)

A total Dead Zone. The God-King is either dead or has transformed into an Eldritch Horror dwelling in the rot. An evil cult continues to operate, meddling in foreign politics — not necessarily to conquer, but to destabilise, seeking new hosts for their plague or furthering the demigod's inscrutable agenda.

Relationship to Iskavell

The Refugee Crisis. Political unrest, famine, and religious persecution are driving mass migration. Re'Taris refugees arriving at Iskavell may be viewed as invaders by some (too many, too fast) or as strategic assets by others (unique skills, knowledge of portal magic, survivors of hardship).

An evil cult from Re'Taris likely has agents in or near Iskavell — their objectives are unknown but presumed hostile to stability.

How Re'Taris Views Iskavell

Religious prophecy frames Iskavell as the "Nightmare of the Sleeper" — literally the frozen dreams of a dying god. Re'Taris commoners view Iskavell as cursed but sacred. Cult agents view it as strategically significant, possibly connected to their demigod's interests. Refugees just want to survive.

Open Questions / GM Notes

• Is the cult currently active in Iskavell? Who are their agents?
• Are any Re'Taris refugees in Oakhaven? What do they know about the portals?
• The God-King's transformation — is the Eldritch Horror form connected to Naeros or the Rifts in some way?
• Wererat plague: could lycanthropy spread to Iskavell via refugees?