Tholl Votar Timeline Between 1017 to 1020 AC
by AozNew Kolland and Tholl Votar 2.0
Tholl Votar 3.5
Added white line (tunnel connecting Tholl Votar to The Thunder Grog Brewing and Wall around the Thunder Grog Company)
The dates have been left open for Micky the Mage. Whenever and whatever he wishes to add later can be easily placed anywhere with the framework of Timeline.
The district of New Kolland that was home to the dreaded trolls and swamp horror. Similar to its namesake, the Tholl Votar was a small goblin and kobold village of lawlessness and danger.
When seven thousand miners, entrepreneurs, and opportunists poured into the Tholl Votar. Prior to this influx of people, only a small population had called Tholl Votar home. By 1014 - 1015, a population of about 200 had swelled to above 15,000 by 1017-1018 AC, and the guards found themselves to be utterly incapable of governing the wave of human newcomers. Without the presence of a strong government, various criminals thrived and transformed the Tholl Votar area into the epicenter of their illicit activities. The tails of gold in New Kolland spread quickly.
In the spring of 1017, several dozen veteran's kobold had made their way to Tholl Votar and began to call themselves the Trenot hundur Tribe (Mad Dog in Orc). The gang spent their time intimidating the Tholl Votar’s non-kobold citizens, specifically humans. It was from this activity that the Trenot hundur Tribe.
The wealthy opened a score of brothels and pubs within the Tholl Votar. Having been seduced by prostitutes affiliated with the Trenot hundur Tribe, the unfortunate men who entered these brothels would be drugged and mugged. Shortly after arriving in Kolland, the Trenot hundurs deliberately set fire to parts of the city for the first of four in 6 months Archy created by these fires created the ideal conditions for the Mad Dogs k upon an unprecedented spree of murder and mayhem.
As the gang violence spiraled out of control, until Zoa Kram and Sadie Silverwing in 6.1018 AC and his Elder Dead from the Feywoods came together to combat the threat posed by the Trenot hundur Tribe. Zoa Kram stopped a major attack on Prince Kol. As a reward he is given the keep on the island in the middle of Troll Lake and place in charge of the area with some influence from Sadie Silverwing.
Over the next several months, instances of violence increased exponentially, and Tholl Votar would serve as the frontline in a war between citizen-organized patrols and the Mad Dog Tribe. Eventually, the size and organizational prowess Undead Regulators allowed them to drive the criminals from the city.
As the profits from these establishments and the mines skyrocketed with each passing year, the rule of law all but vanished within the confines of the Tholl Votar. Undead officers fearlessly patrol the district by themselves, and a night rarely passed without at least one destroyed. Throughout this time, the disparate entertainment establishments were united by more than an abundant supply of Thunder Grog. With Tholl Votar’s elite choosing to either profit from or ignore the resurgence of criminal activity, all manner of vices flourished, from prostitution to drug use.
Deimos, the Lich and ally of Synn, is a high-level magic user when he was alive. A Lich will make a secret deal with the Dragon named Cybrikain to leave Tholl Votar and one Darokin Merchant House alone for some material components and "some" future information.
Tholl Votar grow around areas where kobolds could easily meet and provide some protection from the creatures and the elements. Thankfully with the constant fog fresh water was as easy to get resource. It provides the water used for washing and drinking and special toilets with dung slimes were used for the disposal of sewage.
Village people came to towns to trade therefore those who were in charge of a town had to do what was needed to ensure that their town was safe. The towns had built a great wall around them, and the gates of these fences were locked at night to keep out undesirables. Even vents to the surface to allow fresh air into Tholl Votar to make it more habitable for Glantrians.
Tholl Votar and New Kolland gave people in a town certain right as any Glantrian would have. However, the Elder Dead and Zoa Kram court of law acted fast on any legal problems could be settled quickly via spells. Tholl Votar is kept clean by unseen servants and undead. Undead Rats were very common in towns and kept the Elder Dead well informed.
The criminals of Mad Dog Tribe and outlaws that operate in the town of Tholl Votar. Their leader was chief known only as "Graytooth" a were-lizard kobold. Since the town was too small to have its own defense force, the gang had free reign of the city, keeping the under their thumb as well as suppressing the people.
The gang had no known goals beyond controlling and oppressing the town of Tholl Votar, but it was later confirmed that Graytooth and the Shadw Elves were planning something involving the Forge in Tholl Zajar. The gang organized regular patrols of the town and hassled human merchants and towns folk alike. The gang was entirely kobold although they have been seen to have had the help of at least three Bugbears Redspot Tribe and a goblin shaman.
The gang have been operating in the village for the close to a year but to the locals it felts like a thousand. Upon entering the town, some Kol's inspectors heard many tales of the gangs exploits from the townsfolk. Kol inspectors resolve to take on the ruffians come nightfall but before they can leave the Stonewall Inn, they are set upon by a dozen "Mad Dogs" demanding they leave town for good immediately. A fight inevitably breaks out and the inspectors are defeated. and feed to the swamp horrors.
Everything changed following the infamous week-long Bloody Purge, which reduced the gang to nothingness. Zoa Kram unleash his Elder Dead along with their minions to kill of the gang and the animated the bodies as new undead servants. The Elder Dead started building a better Tholl Votar, and in doing so, create a new area for entertainment appealing to most Glantrians. The months and years following the great the Bloody Purge witnessed the rebirth of the Tholl Votar as Lawful place through the use of Magic, Terror and Undead might.
When the Mad Dog Tribe lost their stranglehold on the town. The time they spent regrouping allowed Zoa Kram along with the Elder Dead and The White Serpent to mount a crushing raid on the organization. Together the dark champions killed or subdued all the remaining Mad Dog including 3 Redspot Bugbears that was helping the tribe. Almost all 200 thugs were taken and converted into Undead but their leader Graytooth almost escaped capture; however, the White Serpent offered Graytooth another option. The raid was not completed without loss a few human adventurers met a bloody death at the hands of two dozen Mad Dog Tribe. The Dragon named Cybrikain will offer to revive the adventurers as his agents but since the spirit must be willing only 3 out of 7 will choose to embrace undeath (Rogue, Fighter and a Wizard).
Also encountered during the raid, a goblin shaman who was being held prisoner by the Mad Dog Tribe along with a Merchant family from Darokin. The female shaman Goblin named Wen first met Zoa Kram when he killed the Redspot Bugbears; they keep her around for healing. The lonely Goblin decided to follow the Zoa Kram calling him her new master. The grateful Merchant family offered a reward but Zoa kram said a trade deal would be better. Lastly, the Zoa Kram met with a Shadow Elf who was in an alliance with the Mad Dog Tribe. The Shadow Elf was going to make a deal, but the White Serpent eat him and told Zoa, "Evil knows Evil."
The raid on the Mad Dog Tribe showed how weak they had become in the wake of the failed attack on the Stonewall Inn. With all but a few converted the Mad Dog Tribe influence on the town is no more. It was also on this raid that the party first learned of the White Serpent's Pact, the Shadow Elf and the Forge of Zajar after reading an old journal in Graytooth's cave.
Later, it became clear that Graytooth was working alongside The White Serpent, who had switched sides helping convert the Mad Dog Tribe for the greater gift of undeath. The Copper Dragon Sorcerer King named Cybrikain will make the White Serpent into an undead under his Command in Vatermont 3 of 1019 AC.
Tholl Votar underwent a period of unprecedented growth and prosperity, evolving from a chaotic, unplanned town to a city of commercial and cultural significance. This transformation allowed the local government to grow in strength and size. The authorities used their newfound power to thwart any further uprisings. Unfortunately, the city’s political and economic elite were motivated more by greed and selfishness than a sense of civic responsibility. Without the threat of Mad Dog Tribe, and emboldened by the disinterest of corrupt politicians, criminal enterprises the Elder Dead created a company named Vras Kor Nen Nadarog to counter these. Even using the animated remaims of the Mad Dog Tribe to enforce the rule of Law.
White Serpent | Image from bing.com
--The White Serpent will get a small cult of followers including a few Shadow Elves. --
Zoa Kram makes an undead copy and leaves for a break in late 1019 AC, a group of assassins kill the decoy, Sadie Silverwings and Zoa Kram return to seek revenge for killing the decoy. Together the two are enough to capture the assassins though most are killed, and one converted into an undead servant. Zoa, takes two assassins as prisoners for interrogation. They learn the information and details from Shadow elves (followers of Atzanteotl) put out the hit.
Later that month, as darkness falls in the fog filled cave, more assassins seek a reprisal against the town and Zoa Kram for their lost squad by attacking the Stonewall. The assassins bring a lesser fiend along with them in order to strike fear. Unfortunately for the assassins, the team of undead adventurers with the help of the Master of Tholl Zajar Research Station were staying at the Inn at the time and foiled the plot by leading all civilians to safety before defeating the fiend and capturing the assassins. The nine shadow elven assassins were given to the White Serpent; the Shadow Elves were given a choice to be eaten or forced to join its cult (becoming undead horrors: 6 joined after three were eaten).
Population of Tholl Votar
1018 AC: 16,956 (3600 undead*)
1019 AC: 17,125 (4800 undead*)
1020 AC: 17,296 (6000 undead*)
*1/3 Undead Protect and Work in the City, 1/3 the Mine and 1/3 on Patrol; however, number does not include undead rats, insects and similiar animated minions of the Elder Dead.
Cleric Spell Side Note:
Next, a circle of clerics links together using a combine spell. The high priest casts prayer upon the seed, then casts the renew deposit spell
Renewal Time
or a something similar would allow mining for hundreds of years.
Renew Deposit (AD&D 2e)
Sphere: Creation
Level: 7
Range: 0
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 2 hrs.
Duration: Special
Area of Effect: Special
Saving Throw: None
This spell permits a high priest to renew the normally nonrenewable mineral resume upon which society depends. With this spell, a depleted mineral or metal ore deposit can slowly grow and renew itself. First, a mineral “seed” must be prepared. The type of seed must be the same as that of the deposit to be renewed (example a gold seed is used to renew a gold vein; a diamond seed is used to restore a diamond mine). The value of the seed ranges from 5,000 gp for a base metal (such as iron) up to 25,000 gp or more for a very rare substance (Such as mithral or adamantite).
with the circle linked again by combine. The seed is planted in the depleted vein at the midway point of the spellcasting. The clerics involved in the
circle must then rest for 72 hours after the spell is completed, because the spell is so physically and spiritually draining, Once the spell is cast, the depleted deposit slowly grows new ore until the vein is completely renewed. The vein renews itself at a rate that depends on the substance growing in the vein, as given in the list.
5 to 100 years depending on type
The Vras Kor Nen Nadarog will take care of all other scheming criminals, and which were replaced by Illusion Therapy, Arenas and glamorous dance halls. Criminals disappear and later reappear as undead servants of the Elder Dead or Zoa Kram. Vras Kor Nen Nadarog company directed by the Elder Dead and with the help of the Darokin Merchant Family** made spending coin easy in Tholl Votar. The Mine provides coin to Prince Kol and Glantri while Vras Kor Nen Nadarog makes sure the Mine and the Tholl Votar are profitable.
**Darokin Merchant Family (Corran***) gets preferred treatment along with instant pass at the toll gates. Other Darokin merchants must wait 9 days to pass through the Gates (No Coins...just must wait). Zoa Kram calls these safety and health check points; however, if after three day the Merchant wants through can pay 1000 dc (Fee to Cast Spells as Needed: Detect Disease, Cure Disease, and similiar spells).
***Very Distant relatives of Alexander Corran. From the WOTI: Corran Keep. Zoa Kram will send the undead adventurers if the Corran's wish to retake and rebuild their abandoned keep.
Zoa Kram dislikes slavery but indentured service is something else. [A "Law" Zoa Kram will have] Any slave in Trollhattan or Tholl Votar may "choose" the arena to get out of the current "place" and could even earn their freedom along with a few gold pieces and a ticket out of Glantri and New Kolland. Of course, it will be many battles [100 wins or so].
Miners will get a place in town, water, Fungus Soup, transport to and from the mine and wage of 4 dc per month. Zoa Kram will not tolerate any citizen from a commoner or even an intelligent spider (his skin will still crawl) being turned into a slave and will use his full magic might to correct the problem. Even if he has to wipe out a whole clan of Hill giants to make his point.
New Kolland and Tholl Votar expanded exports ores, mushrooms, unique mounts, spell scrolls, Thunder Grog, Kolland Water (clean water from the Broken Lands), unique paints, phosphorescent ink from fungus, giant slugs, herbal medicines, lava glass, obsidian furniture to carvings, perfumes, skin care products, spiced jerky: Muul'dac Lhaagec, potions, stone sculptures, spider silk textiles, gemstones, underground animals to creatures, all types of fungus, slimes, oozes and components.
Tholl Votar gives guided tours to spelunking to Kol Club's Lava Mud Spa, spells, Youth "Treatment" and culinary experiences. Zoa Kram youth treatments are something his Darokin Merchant allies will help him sell for a few extra years for themselves.
Zoa Kram will help run the Vras Kor Nen Nadarog and work on expanding business. Making coin in every way possible for New Kolland, Tholl Votar and his Master Cybrikain. The White Serpent will be his go between for all the monstrous races of New Kolland.