Godsmount

Overview

Godsmount, also known as the Peak of the Gods, is a massive mountain that stands where the kingdom of Rictaria once existed. It was not a natural mountain. Godsmount was created during the final stages of the conflict between Correries and Magerris, when the two newly ascended gods battled above Rictaria and unleashed enough magical power to completely destroy the kingdom below them.

The magical forces involved in its creation left Godsmount fundamentally unstable. The mountain became notorious for areas of both dead magic and wild magic, making exploration dangerous even for powerful spellcasters.

The Destruction of Rictaria

During the war between Correries and Magerris, the two gods eventually came into direct conflict above the kingdom of Rictaria. Their battle unleashed such overwhelming magical forces that Rictaria was completely destroyed. The ground itself burst upward beneath them, forming the mountain that became known as Godsmount.

The battle continued as Correries fled westward toward the End of the World, with Magerris pursuing him. According to the surviving history, Magerris was carrying The Aegisstaff during the battle, making Godsmount the last known location where the artifact was definitely seen.

The destruction of Rictaria and the creation of Godsmount therefore marked one of the most dramatic consequences of the war between the newly risen gods.

A Mountain of Unstable Magic

Godsmount's unusual origin left it saturated with dangerous and unpredictable magic. Reports described the mountain as containing numerous areas of both dead magic and wild magic.

These conditions made ordinary exploration hazardous. Even the Chosen considered the magical dangers significant enough that the party initially avoided bringing the Sunchaser directly into the mountain. Instead, they searched on foot and devised ways to detect dead magic zones before entering them.

The mountain was also inhabited by dangerous creatures. During the party's exploration, they encountered frost giants and trolls, and discovered evidence of a larger frost giant settlement higher in the mountains.

Under the Bus

By the time of Under the Bus, Godsmount had become an important landmark. The party eventually traveled to Godsmount while searching for The Aegisstaff. Their research had established that Magerris had possessed the artifact during his battle with Correries above Rictaria, but the historical record did not establish whether he still carried it when he pursued Correries toward the End of the World. Godsmount was therefore the logical place to begin their search.

The party spent several days exploring the mountain and its surrounding terrain. They encountered frost giants, trolls, and other dangers while attempting to locate evidence of the Aegisstaff and determine what had happened to it after the battle.

Eventually, they located a dead-magic zone surrounding what appeared to be a flat grassy area. The apparent landscape proved to be an illusion concealing a vast cemetery and ruins, believed to be part of ancient Rictaria.

A concealed passage led from the area into a canyon containing trees and additional ruins. The party eventually discovered a Church of Demmazon within a dead-magic zone.

The Ruins of Rictaria

The ruins beneath and around Godsmount preserve remnants of the civilization that was destroyed when the mountain was created.

Among the structures encountered by the party was a large Age of Wonders-era palace or mansion. Unlike most of the surrounding ruins, this building appeared to have been repaired and maintained rather than simply abandoned.

The discovery of the structure led directly to one of the most dangerous encounters on the mountain.

Cain

The repaired mansion was the stronghold of Cain, the first vampire.

Cain had established himself on Godsmount with a large force of undead. The party encountered skeletons, ghouls, wights, vampire spawn, and other undead during their exploration of the area.

Cain had been watching the party's progress up the mountain and confronted them at his manor. His forces included more than a hundred vampire spawn, along with a number of actual vampires.

The party eventually fled from the manor and sought refuge in the dead-magic Church of Demmazon they had previously discovered. The dead magic suppressed many of the vampires' supernatural abilities, allowing the party to survive the encounter, although it also severely limited the party's own magical abilities.

The Peak of the Gods

The name Peak of the Gods reflects Godsmount's origin as the product of a battle between beings who had recently ascended to godhood. The mountain itself remains a physical reminder of the devastation caused by the conflict between Correries and Magerris and the destruction of Rictaria.

For the people living in the surrounding region, Godsmount was therefore more than simply a mountain. It was a landmark created by divine warfare and a place where the remnants of that immense magical power continued to affect the world.