The Undersullen are creatures of the deep, forged in the shadows beneath the mountains. Their horns curl like a crown of darkness, and their skin bears the scars of the long, subterranean war for survival. They are the forsaken, the cursed—yet in their eyes burns a defiant flame, a will that refuses to be extinguished. The Undersullen walk a thin line between madness and brilliance, their every step a dance with the forgotten horrors that lurk beneath the surface of the world.
The Undersullen dwell in the vast caverns that lace the world, constantly embroiled in trade disputes and strife with the Dwarves. Though their fierce appearance—with one or two sets of horns atop their heads and glowing eyes—can send the unprepared fleeing, these stalwart folk are much more than their looks suggest. Undersullen are excellent merchants, renowned for their mastery of spider silk and gem trades. They hold verbal agreements as law and never back out of a deal without proper payment, even if it causes tension with others. As avid travelers and merchants, Undersullen can be found in cities across the world, selling goods, protecting traders, or simply passing through.
Standing at an average of 5 feet 9 inches tall, with sturdy builds, their horns vary in size, and their eyes glow red, blue, or gold. Their skin reflects the earth they dwell within, ranging in shades of blue, purple, black, or gold. Their innate connection to the dark grants them the ability to see perfectly in darkness, unless it is magically obscured. Undersullen gain a +1 bonus to Dexterity and Charm, speak the languages Merchant and Void, have a lifespan of 250 years, and a movement speed of 30 feet.
Kingdom of Anavar
Known as the Golden Kingdom, Anavar sits as the deepest settlement in the Dracador Range, with miles upon miles of earth separating it from the sun. In these depths, the Undersullen have built towering cities adorned with the gold and silver they mine. The palaces of their capital, Angora, are carved from volcanic black stone laced with glittering gold. Having existed as a kingdom as old as any Elven nation, they have established powerful merchant dynasties. These guilds mine, refine, and transport gems, iron, silver, and gold to the Kingdom of Bellator, where they sell these treasures at fair prices.
While Queen Vala Zerith has the final say in all state affairs and military matters, the ten guild families have the power to cast votes that can influence her decisions. Anavar uses its immense wealth to hire massive armies of mercenaries from the Kingdom of Bellator for its defense. Many of the guild families have intermarried with Bellator's noble houses, including its generals and chief advisors, making Bellator an unofficial vassal to its much larger and wealthier neighbor
Kingdom of Bellator
The Kingdom of Bellator is a realm built on deals and craftsmanship. They mine what they can, buy what they cannot, and pride themselves on producing both fine warriors and exceptional goods. Though they cannot match their dwarven neighbors in sheer output, they strive to surpass them in quality. Every sword, shield, and breastplate forged in Bellator is crafted with the precision and care of an oil painting; nothing less than “well-smithed” leaves their forges.
This high standard of quality makes Bellator’s crafted items valuable, and as a result, its smiths, chefs, and merchants enjoy a life of luxury. The guilds maintain steady trade with wealthy foreign powers, including elven and human nobles, as well as the Kingdom of Anavar to the south. However, the high price of these goods has led to economic disparity. Laborers and miners, unable to afford the expensive food and items produced by their own kingdom, often embark on dangerous journeys into the untamed lower caverns to find food and resources. Skilled soldiers who are not hired as guards for the guilds and the royal family frequently seek fortunes as mercenaries, often taking contracts in Anavar.
Many among the lower class believe that this disparity is part of a deliberate scheme by the Kingdom of Anavar to weaken Bellator, hoping to make them willingly accept vassalization as their society crumbles from the ground up. Meanwhile, the upper class, particularly those holding guild leadership positions, view this situation as simply the price of doing business.