Chernabos
Fiery wind howls above Chernabos and casts a strange reddish glow across its scorched wastelands and deserts dotted with ashen, skeletal remains.
This land is full of extremes: blistering heat, relentless drought, and violent eruptions and earthquakes, all laced with the promise of wealth beyond one's wildest dreams. Beneath the volcanic peaks, rich veins of gold and more valuables like hell iron are hidden. Treasure hunters, opportunists, and the truly desperate seek their destiny here.
The only law that exists in this land are what the people can get away with or enforce, whether it's through might, guilt, or luck. The province is additionally tethered to the otherworldly realms of the devils. Sin itself suffuses the land, air, animals, and people with greed.
Provincial Folklore
Hell Iron
A fiendish metal, pitch black and streaked with red. Used for the construction of devilish machinery that can outperform entire factories. When enormous amount of hell iron was discovered deep within the volcanic landscapes of Chernabos, there was an overnight population explosion and practically everyone profited. Hell iron mines dot the hills, mountains, ridges, and volcanoes of the province. The constant threat of cave-ins, hellfire eruptions, and the unearthing of malevolent Fiends deters many from stepping into a mine. Still, people flock for the fiendish metal that's more valuable than gold. Coins and bars made from it are used as currency across Chernabos.
The Devil Rail
Built and operated by the Midas Railroad Company. An enormous train constructed from hell iron, plated in gold, and fueled by hellfire. Meant to be a direct competitor to the Ghostlight Express. Currently provides passage across the treacherous landscape of Chernabos on rails of fire and brimstone and emerges from beneath the earth to collect its passengers from wherever they desire at a predetermined time. A pretty new service that allows for once-impossible travel throughout the province in comfort and style. Those who board without a ticket, miss the train at the exact time of departure, or request an emergency spiriting from a life-threatening situation forfeit their soul that gets fed into the firebox to fuel the devilish locomotive.
Noteworthy Folk
Ol' Mister Scratch
A devil that takes the decrees of the Crescent Court as mere suggestions and strives to keep his province lawless where destiny is determined with free will and the flip of a coin. Operates in the Deadwood Theater which also serves as a saloon, hotel, and casino. Deals with other powerful entrepreneurs of the province through temptation and manipulation. Every soul that succumbs to sin in Chernabos becomes his.
Sister Malignance
Lingers atop Pale Mountain that stands at the southernmost border of Chernabos. The eldest of Mother Midnight's daughters, the occult power of Malignance is immense and uses her mastery of necromancy to command death itself. Every night, she rides her white undead steed along the towering wall of shrieking fog at Druskenvald's border and pulls forth twisted, tormented souls that she dominates to her will. She works tirelessly to weaken the Shroud's barrier so that a tide of death will spill forth and crash upon Chernabos and beyond
Location Location Location
Brimstone
The capital of Chernabos that's a boiling cauldron of desire and desperation. Offers the tempting and truthless promise of sin without consequence. The streets are lined with saloons, gambling halls, theaters, and brothels. Countless games of chance are played throughout the city where gamblers wagers gold, hell iron, or their own souls to win jackpots beyond imagination. Its signature liquor is called Fiddler Johnny, made with poisonous cactus juice and rattlesnake venom. Disputes often turn heated and settled with duels to the death.
Hotel Durango
Not a myth, but hard to find. When someone's luck runs out and they lose everything, they wander off into the desert in delirious damnation. That's when Hotel Durango appears. An impossibly large and remote hotel in the middle of the desert that acts like a shimmering oasis for the desperate. Within the hotel is everything one's heart might desire: water, food, vices, companionship, or some chips for gamblers who want one last game. Once a soul checks into Hotel Durango, they leave the world they knew behind, find everything they'll ever need, and can never leave. However, certain tales whisper the ways to find the hotel and free the souls within.