Valley of Obelisks 

Hundreds of years ago, the Thulkarr - an army of celestials, eladrin and good folk, including an alliance of Gaian elves, dwarves and humans - erected dozens of black obelisks throughout this fertile valley in an effort to block an Abyssal invasion.  They turned back the forces of Mu-Tahn Laa and prevented the abyssal Moutains of Sorrow Beyond Measure from manifesting in the material plane.  Many years after the war ended with the destruction of the fortress of Slaughtergarde, settlers from the Kingdom of Oberwald traveled north out of the Elsir Vale to settle the valley.  These human settlers worked the land and negotiated treaties of friendship and nonaggression with the elves and Kagan dwarves in the region.  The Valley of Obelisks is now a productive territory within the Kingdom of Oberwald, and its mountain passes to the north are the nearest gateway to the trade roads of Moridar.  Its resources are plentiful, including timber, fish, copper, silver, iron, game and spices.  Its largest city is Sumberton, also known as the "City of Bridges" or the "City of Alehouses," depending upon whom is asked.  Sumberton is bisected by the Marrilach River, and is famous for its early spring festival, the Dance of the Wellspring.

In 22CR the Valley of Obelisks was finally freed of the taint of Slaughtergarde forever.  A company of adventurers assembled in Sumberton and began exploring the ruins of Slaughtergarde, eventually uncovering a Laboratory, a Temple and an Armory that remained intact from the old days of the war.  After many battles and adventures the gates of Slaughtergarde were closed forever, and a relative peace fell over the valley in the months that followed.  With the threat of Slaughtergarde eliminated, the communities of the Valley were able to send reinforcements south to the Elsir Vale, where they assisted in repelling a terrible invasion of goblinoids and dragons.

Aside from the local political interests, two powerful organizations exert their influence over the Valley of Obelisks.  The valiant and brave members of the Luminous Order of Bahamut patrol the roads and delve the hillside dungeons to keep the Valley safe, spreading justice and healing wherever they roam.  Another group, the secretive and exclusive Ebon Cabal, works in the shadows to increase its own power and holdings and those of its members.  Greed and the gathering of power itself seems to motivate the Ebon Cabal's arcanists and researchers as they prospect among the old ruins for ancient artifacts of great power.

Azarr Kul's Ambition