Valefor

succubus concubine/advisor to Thararthel
CategoryRuins
ContinentBrucrumus
RegionHells Womb
Founded19 Brightstar 855 HE
MapLirgaza

Valefor was built by the Dasath. This hobgoblin tribe constructed this stronghold inside the dead volcano Garâtha.

In the Horgon Era, Valefor produced some of the top conjurers for the period. Much of their learning came at the expense of their souls, since they were often duped into trading them for demon names and other Abyssal lore. Some of the strongest wizards, like a hobgoblin demonologist named Thararthel, had a retinue of demons that served them. Thararthel was known to have three succubus that served him as concubines and advisors.

In 1340 HE, the hobgoblins of Trudnar encountered the Zeymah'kein. This meeting turned to combat when the hobgoblins learned that the Kriistvrii were bent on setting up mines in the area. The Kriistvrii envoy claimed that gold was freely exposed on the slopes and that they were laying claim to it. For two years, the Valefor and Zeymah'kein fought along the rugged trails and slopes of Garâtha and Trudnar. The Imrithil succeeded in securing the road up Garâtha and into the crater holding Valefor.

We could see the smoke rising from the spires of Valefor. The crafty hobgoblins were masking the keep from attack by the Silon Viing. Even without the dragons, this place would have fell by the 15,000 veteran soldiers of Imrithil, but the demons came. They poured out of the gates of the hobgoblin fortress and tore into our ranks. Elephant-like monstrosities from the foulest reaches of the Abyss then came out and stampeded both friend and foe. Their numbers and strength was such that all we could do was beat a hasty retreat. The dragons helped cover our four day retreat. Only three silver dragons of the dozen, one of our most powerful units, survived the demon advance.

No longer were we on the offensive, all we could do to survive was dig in and build fortifications to stop their relentless pursuit. We fled back across the Dargirth and into Hlothram. In this area we started building a defensive network to fight the horde tactics of these creatures from the Abyss.

- Ancilcil, War Historian of Imrithil, "The Zeymah'kein Valefor War"

In 1355 HE, Valefor's demon horde turned on them. This occurred after a coordinated attack by babaus on the conjurers. The demons assassinated a dozen of the leading conjurers and as a result, the horde went on a rampage and slaughter nearly everyone in the castle. Thararthel, the leader of Valefor, shattered the rift between the Abyss and this realm. He then activated a powerful defensive spell that sucked any demons near it back to whence they came. The rest, he dispatched himself or drove off. Thararthel remained at the ruins and continued his studies until he died of old age. When he died, his demon pact expired, leaving his soul energy to be taken. This created a bit of a problem, because he had entered into a pact with each of his succubus concubines. They fought wildly, maddened at being tricked. Thararthel ended up the Abyss, starting his new career as a lowly mane.

The Tarukkhâl road goes right through the ruins and into the Underdark reaches of Drarthiel. Valefor is an eerie and dark ruin. Runehounds, once household pets of Valefor, roam the area in pacts. These creatures gain their sustenance from swarms of stirges that nest in Valefor's spires. The place is also haunted by ghosts, spectres, and shadows - these are the Lost Souls of Valefor, hobgoblins that suffered terrible deaths at the hands of demons.