Arstor's Roost

"'There's no denying it — Port Tustre is easily one of the most beautiful cities on the planet, with its gorgeous white stone structures and its neoclassical architecture. And for goodness sake, don't get me started on the beaches. It's a shame the rest of the island isn't as nice. Had it not been for the Jewel of the Roost, this place would be the closest thing Faerun's got to a taint.'"

"-W"

Overview
Ancient kobolds might have been the first sentient residents of the island, but it was Arstor who lorded over it for over a millennia. The day of his arrival changed the island, which was then known as Sesslith, into the gassy, fetid hellhole it is today. The kobolds — as kobolds do — submitted to the dragon and pledged their eternal allegiance, granting Arstor full reign over the island. Thus, Arstor's Roost was born, and it served as a testing ground for the dragon's vile, necromantic experiments which eventually led to the surge of undead that linger to this day. The residue left over from Arstor's arcane and alchemical ventures permanently warped the Roost, inadvertently cursing it with an aura of undeath, which in turn fed local strains of fungi. Several of its residents say that nothing ever truly dies here, though whether or not this is mere superstition is unclear. Given the omnipresent threat of zombies, it's likely that there's some truth to these claims.

Given Arstor's inclinations towards some of the darker and more taboo aspects of magic, not to mention the fact that he was one of the Dragon Queen's own children, made him very unpopular with the denizens of the Moonsea regions. Over the next thousand years, dragon slayers, adventurers and would-be heroes would storm the Roost to slay the dragon, for crown and for country. Naturally, they failed. This all changed when an unnamed band of heroes, with no common backgrounds to tie them together, invaded the Roost and succeeded in taking Arstor's life. The dragon’s body was hacked apart and buried in several corners of the island – a process which, according to the history books, took many days to complete. There are several theories as to why they did this, but most historians agree that it was done out of spite.

Today, the people of the Roost commemorate Arstor's death once every ten years by throwing a massive festival fit for thousands in Port Tustre, the island’s capital. People from all walks of life gather at the island to honor the heroes who felled the mighty dragon by engaging in acts of merriment, buying and selling wares from all across the continent, and by partaking in the various facilities hosted by locals. Though several of the kobolds remain loyal to their slain master, many have moved on to serve the common folk who've come to colonize the island.

Colonials
Following Arstor's death, the Roost swiftly became a highly sought-after location for some of Faerun's most rich and powerful. Although the common folk who reside in the island have only been around for less than a hundred years, their population is swiftly growing thanks to the efforts made to expand and establish cities and towns all throughout the island. There has been a mixed reception from the kobolds regarding the settling of the mainlanders, but it's clear that the social elite who've staked their claim on the Roost have already made their minds.

The Gentle Claw
With a leader like Akan, the Gentle Claw are undoubtedly the most peaceful and friendly among all of the kobold tribes in the Roost. Unlike the other tribes, the Open Hand have allied themselves with the humans, though whether or not the kobolds are seen as equals in the Roost is a matter up for debate. The Gentle Claw is also known for being accommodating, accepting the exiles and the rejects from the other two tribes. Although this has made them unpopular with the Horncallers and the Chosen, their consistent displays of altruism and sense of community has improved their reputation with the more civilized folks of the Roost. With Arstor out of the picture, Akan and his tribe needed new patrons to look up to. Who better than the very heroes who were strong enough to best their former master?

Horncallers
Tharn and his tribe of warriors have more in common with Arstor than any other tribe in terms of intelligence. Not only have they proven themselves to be cunning and adaptable, but also cold and ruthless. When one thinks of kobolds, the first words that come to mind are pathetic, groveling, and weak. The same cannot be said for the Horncallers, whose combat aptitude and strategic thinking rivals that of Port Tustre colonials. Although the Horncallers would rather focus on isolating themselves to improve their own strength, they have attained a certain degree of infamy within the island for their occasional raids on towns and caravans in search of arms and armor.

Arstor's Chosen
On a more physical level, Villik and his followers are closer to Arstor than any of the other tribes. They possess wings, lengthy tails, and affinities to acid akin to that of their former master’s. Those who do not possess these traits are left behind or enslaved. The Chosen believe they are the worthiest among all the kobolds and make frequent attempts to force the other tribes into submission so that the kobolds can become united once again – only this time, it would be under the leadership of the winged folk. Although the Chosen are hostile towards any non-kobold race, they will not go out of their way to meddle in the affairs of civilized folk until they know they are ready to make their counterattack.

Notable Locations

 * Port Tustre
 * Sable
 * Brinefort
 * The Saltmeadow
 * The Dragonscar