Lavender

Surrounded, yet left alone by the three great empires, the Holy Protectorate of Lavender, also known as the Sanctuary of Lavender, was created by mysterious circumstances. Legends say that St. Aylia the Peacemaker (NG female half-angel, favored soul 9/apostle of peace 10) was killed at the hands of the Obsidian Legion, in a field of lavender flowers during the First Lavender Crusade. In the ensuing pandemonium that erupted, an entire undead army of the Obsidian Legion and its summoned fiends were completely annihilated, and a mass resurrection occurred that raised every last slain person of the last one hundred years in a ten mile radius. In addition a powerful field of holy energy saturated the land, such that one attempting to harm another within this area would be affected as by the spell, Sanctuary (will save DC 30). Undead cannot enter the hallowed land of Lavender, for one step on the sacred soil turns them to ash.

This event, known as the Awakening, brought an end to the First Lavender Crusade. Over time, the area affected became known as St. Aylia’s Sanctuary, and later as the legend fell to obscurity, simply the Sanctuary of Lavender.

The strange affects of St. Aylia’s sacrifice continue to affect the area now referred to as Lavender, to this very day. Thus, despite being surrounded on all sides by powerful militaristic empires, Lavender remains unconquerable and beyond the control of any malevolent authority. In fact, it has become a sort of haven for exiled nobles, repentant criminals, and anyone who wishes to live in secret, free from the threat of assassination or retribution.

Maylene Auridant (NG female human, favored soul 4) is the current Prodigal Child of Lavender, a girl who is found at an early age to show signs of the power of St. Aylia, and is sent to the Cathedral of Lavender to manifest her abilities. It is said that the child has the power to heal any ailment or wound, even those that normal divine magic cannot. Unfortunately, it is also said that the child can never leave Lavender or else she will die the moment she touches unsanctified soil. The child lives only to the age of 30, after which St. Aylia’s blessing becomes a curse.

Industries

Most of the economy of Lavender exists to support the Church of the Sanctuary and its holdings. In the past, tourism and pilgrimages were a significant industry, but constant warfare in the lands surrounding Lavender have made travel to this country rather tough. The unique properties of the sanctuary do provide some interesting economic benefits however.

Pacificite, a mysterious crystal dug out of the earth under Lavender, has been found to have medicinal properties unlike any magic seen before. When ground in a pestle and fed to a wounded patient, it puts them into a coma for any period of time between 2 weeks and 1 year. During that coma, all illnesses, poisons, or anything else that has put the person to harm is removed from their system, including foreign objects (Knowledge DC 30?). As such Pacificite is one of Lavender’s most valued exports.

Life and Society

Life here is fairly peaceful. The effects of the sanctuary permeate life and society in Lavender, with crime being virtually nonexistent and religion playing a major role in people’s lives.

Government and Politics

Essentially the church is the major authority, but for all intents and purposes there isn’t really an organized political force in the country. Aside from Sandel Delores (LG male human, aristocrat 3/cleric 2), the Mayor of St. Ayliasburg, there isn’t a significant presence of law. Disputes and issues are usually settled by the council of priests who advise the Child of Lavender, who serves mostly as a figurehead.

Power Groups

The aged and wise Bishop Hans Aldehart (LG male human, cleric 7) serves as the primary advisor to the Child of Lavender. As such he wields tremendous influence in the country, though he himself is a humble and benevolent man, mostly concerned with protecting the Childs, whom though he has seen several in his life, he views as his own daughters.

Religion

The Church of Lavender, for all intents and purposes, is the Protectorate of Lavender. Thus, most all residents worship Solace (NG) and venerate St. Aylia.

Major Settlements / Important Sites

St. Ayliasburg: The only real city in this tiny country is St. Ayliasburg, which includes most of the central regions, with the rest of the population living in small villages surrounded by fields. Two small mountain ranges run mostly parallel through the region and form natural chokepoints at the north and south entrances to the country.

Sanctuary of Lavender: The Cathedral in the centre of Lavender was built upon the believed spot where St. Aylia fell. In its vast halls one can find tremendous works of art, great collections of books, and a modest school of divine magic.

The Child of Lavender spends almost all of her life within the cathedral, and the centre of the cathedral is in fact an open-air dome of stone arches that enshrines a mysterious garden whose flowers and trees require only the sunlight from the openings above and the presence of the Child to flourish.

Adventuring In Lavender

The power of the Sanctuary makes combat all but impossible in the sacred lands of Lavender.

Do nothing to insult the name of St. Aylia or her chosen Child, lest you find yourself thrown out by the monks that guard these lands. Though they cannot kill you, they are masters of disabling foes.

Some of the most powerful clerics and healers reside in these parts, and unlike some places, healing of any sort is free, though donations are encouraged.

This is also one of the few places where you can find those that can truly raise the dead, but generally only those deemed deserving can be raised. For those that have unfinished matters on the material plane, who died before their time, Lavender is often the gateway to their return.