Hlondeth is an independent city-state at the end of the Vilhon Reach which controls a region of mountainous territory to the southwest of Turmish. The city has long had an association with serpents, and is ruled by the Extaminos family, with mixed blood that is not quite human. The matriach of the Extaminos family is Dediana Extaminos who sports a snake's tail and no legs; she rules over the city with a light hand. Her current mate is First Consort Ssibalentanamas, a spirit naga cleric of Sseth, who is also known as First Keeper of the Sacred Eggs, his main task being guarding the yuan-ti brood chambers.
Dediana's heir is Dmetrio Extaminos, who has been connected for a few years with Glisena Foesmasher, eldest daughter of Baron Thuragar of Sespech.[1]. Besides serving as Hlondeth's ambassador to Sespech, Dmetrio secretly leads the Hlondethan cell of the Cult of the Dragon. He uses the cult to undermine his mother's rule and increase his personal power so that he can one day seize control of Hlondeth and the surrounding region. A recent attempt to extend the cell's influence to Surkh failed, thanks to the Cult of Tiamat active in that city. The Hlondethan cell has been far more successful creating urbroodguards.
Buildings
Great Aviary of Extaminos
The great aviary of Extaminos is claimed to be the most wondrous building in the city. It was completed in 1368 DR.[1]
Cathedral of Emerald Scales
Dedicated to Varae, a beast cult, power of snakes and aspect of Sseth, the Cathedral of Emerald Scales thoroughly dominates the religious, political, and architectural life of Hlondeth.
Constructed over the course of thirteen centuries by the Extaminos family, the structure served first as the family villa and then as a small shrine to Ilmater on the periphery of the family compound. When the Extaminos family shifted its allegiance to Varae's cult, its members expanded the shrine into a small chapel and reconsecrated it. Although nearly everyone in Hlondeth realizes that Varae is simply an aspect of the yuan-ti god Sseth, the priests of the cathedral still maintain the facade of venerating Varae.
The leader of Varae's clergy is Medusanna Mhairdaul of the Se'Sehen tribe, whose human head sports countless poisonous snakes in lieu of hair. Medusanna personally loathes the relatively cold climate of Hlondeth, the city's inhabitants, and House Extaminos, and the feeling is reciprocated. This mutual dislike only exacerbates the already high tensions between the Se'sehen tribe and the ruling family of Hlondeth.
The Knights of the Forked Tongue defend the temple, and the clergy consists of orphidians, yuari-ti purebloods, tainted ones, and halfbloods.
Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rand Sharpsword (2002-05-08). More of the Vilhon Reach!. Rand's Travelogue. Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved on 2007-02-15.
Notes
Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd, Darrin Drader (July 2004). Serpent Kingdoms. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. p93–94. ISBN 0-7869-3277-5.