The ruler of most of Almor’s old lands is the evil Duke Szeffrin. Szeffrin is a fighter, one of Ivid‘s most prized generals and advisors until the demented Overking had him slain and raised as an animus. Szeffrin has a reputation for appalling cruelty, and the fate of the living folk who fell into his clutches in the war can barely be thought about. While Szeffrin has yet to attack Nyrond, the creatures in his lands are still considered dangerous for many reasons, one of which is numbers; no one has any real idea of how many creatures are in Bloodcrystal. There are other reasons.
First, Szeffrin has many goblinoid soldiers in his lands and service. Most are ex-Aerdi soldiers. A few Bone March rabble attracted to Szeffrin‘s reputation are also present here. Patrols of 10 to 100 of these creatures have been observed, stalking the land a mile or so from Nyrond’s border. These creatures raid Nyrond on a whim.
More disturbing is that these forces often have other, more powerful creatures as well. Phalanxes of ogres, hill giants, and even trolls have been reported. It is unknown how control is kept over these monsters.
Secondly, Szeffrin clearly has what could only be termed priestly aid as well. There is little doubt that these clerics use their powers to beset Nyrond. Whether they worship a Power or fiends is unknown. Undead sent by these priests have been seen on the borderlands.
Third, Szeffrin is no stranger to the company of fiends. Just as Ivid is seated upon the Fiend-Seeing Throne, Szeffrin has friends in low places. Tanar’ri, Yugoloths, and Gehereleth have all been sighted in his lands. These creatures delight in marauding into Nyrond, their abilities allowing them to bypass most defenses.
Finally, Szeffin can apparently call upon magic of a colossal scale and unknown origins for special occasions. Bloodcrystal, his malign fortress, is said to have sprung up in a week. Radiating magic and evil intensely, no sage has discovered how on Oerth this was effected. Unknown magics stalk his lands and skies. Flying stone chariots, spraying acid and smoke, bear howling fiends aloft. A hazy blood-red streak of smoky fire on the horizon seems to virtually reach the sun. A red-streaked “rainbow” followed a thunderstorm which deposited bloody hailstones the size of eggs.
In addition to these dangers, there are varying areas in Szeffrin‘s lands which bear the terrible scars of the wars. Tens of thousands perished, and fiends and dire priests razed these lands. Wastelands of unburied corpses harbor disease and stalking undead. In places, it seemed as though Oerth itself screamed out against the rain of iron, acid, fire, blood and lightning which struck and saturated it. Life draining, enfeebling, and enervating effects are all said to fester here.
