Legacy of Darkness (3.5e Campaign Setting)/Geography/Sayatai

Sayatai

 * Size: Large (Small country)
 * Shape: Sphere
 * Location: Outer Ring
 * Climate: Cold
 * Terrain: Marsh
 * Race:
 * 92% Sayatamese
 * 1% Annis Hag
 * 5% Imperial
 * 2% Others (Mane, Troll)

Civilization Traits

 * Owner: The Shadow Court
 * Dominant Alignment: Lawful Evil
 * Civilization State: Small villages
 * Religious Beliefs: None
 * Authority Figures: Nath Re'Talae (NE Annis Hag Shc ToM 20), Nath Sorcere (NE Annis Hag Shc ToM 20), Nath Theristas (NE Annis Hag Shc ToM 20)

History and Background: When the Empire first discovered Sayatai in 1242 AS, the found a large, dark shard filled with ruthless barbarians who were plagued by the depredations of a strange species of behir that inhabitated the marshes. Building a small well-defended fortress on the shard, the Imperials left a small contingient of troops behind, before moving on to search for other hospitable shards.

When the Imperials returned in 1258 AS, they were met by an army of heavily armed warriors mounted on the backs of the very behirs that had hunted them. In a battle that lasted a meager twenty hours, the natives defeated the invaders, gaining control of the three warships that they had brought, and blackmailing the captains to leave.

In the years since the Imperials' first landing, the rulers of the tribes on Sayatai, the alien Shadow court, seized control of their fortress, using it as a focal point from which to unite all of the tribes together. With a new, virtually impenetrable base of operations, the Shadow Court forged a treaty with the behirs, offering them slaves in exchange for their aid in battle. Once peace was established, there was little to do except sit and wait for the Imperials to return.

Today Sayatai remains one of the few entirely Imperial-independant shards, controlled exclusively by the Shadow Court, a powerful covenant of annis hag shadowcasters. Although the empire has sought to conquer them more than a few times, the Sayatamese bear little animosity towards them, in fact they have actually established trade with them in recent years, trading rare herbs and medicines for produce, namely vegetables, which are very scarce on the dim-lit shard.