A tiny city nestled high in the mountains with a tower overlooking the snow-covered roofs – difficult to reach even if one knows where to look. Turbulent weather and harsh cold protect the austere, black walls from invasion.

Rispast was established long ago while the rest of the world was distracted by the Three Crises, and it remained hidden for over 1,000 years. During that time, they secretly hunted and collected the undead, leading to them be discovered by the authorities in Keridwyn. Instead of attacking, the crown decided to keep their existence secret in exchange for knowledge, magical services, and trade with trusted and brave merchants.

Led by Shelia, an ancient and powerful mage from antiquity. She was the first to accomplish deliberate conversion into undeath while retaining her original mind and soul. She currently rules from her wizard’s tower where she spends her time dedicated to knowledge and keeping the living and dead safe from each other. Her small number of trusted assistants tend to the few needs of the denizens, mindless undead who wander the streets of the city until a ‘cure’ for mindlessness can be discovered. The shambling undead are kept placid by the exerted will of Shelia and her assistants. The handful of success stories were allowed to either remain and assist the effort or leave to attempt to integrate into larger society with the vow to never speak of the city.

During the collapse of the alliance, knowledge of their existence got out and inspired fear throughout the other cities. Mages at Beacon discerned Rispast’s location, and many rallied behind the idea of exterminating the undead city despite Shelia’s declaration of truce. Faced with watching her life’s work burn, she reached out with an offer of mercenary forces of undead, knowing that any of the cities accepting would turn their attentions toward each other and away from her. The gambit worked, marginally. The attention of the other cities was split between each other. An incident where the master necromancer was taken out by the opposing army caused the mindless undead to turn against all, including those who hired them. An attack against Rispast quickly followed, blame for the loss of control directed at them while other attacks still come from fear or principal.

Within the current events, Rispast offers their undead as mercenaries under the guidance of their master necromancers. The souls charged are used by Shelia in her pursuits of knowledge. The living are now allowed within the walls of Rispast. There are many advantages to risking the danger. The coherent locals have accrued knowledge and craftsmanship over years beyond mortal lifespan by the immortal mindful denizens. Many plants useful for alchemy are dangerous or impossible for mortals to harvest but are readily available for sale by the merchants of Rispast. These benefits are appealing as long as one is careful not to stray too far from the soothing influence of the mindful undead.

The Animalfused were first created long ago while the Humans and Dragons fought a grand war called the First Crisis. The first generation of Animalfused were unstable, prone to violent swings in emotion. They were largely considered monsters rather than people.

One such Animalfused was Huig, The Mountain, a man fused with a bear to become a dire beast. Even with the general acceptance of Animalfused in the community, his condition makes it virtually impossible to coexist with modern society. Thus, he has lived for centuries in near solitude in the mountains that Shelia settled for her experimental city.

Huig and the city of Rispast are both outcasts from greater society. Too dangerous to mingle with others. In this they are kindred and support each other as much as they can. Though aging, Huig still rouses in defense of Rispast. The rampage that inevitably overtakes him in battle able to cause minimal damage to his allies, as they are difficult to break and easy to recover.

When not in battle, Huig spends most of his time in his cave overlooking the city. Shelia has calming things brought to his home when she can. Both magically soothing artifacts and mundane trinkets. He is fond of music boxes and books.

The first success story of Rispast. Yara was the name that the Dwarf chose on her resurrection day.

There is no memory in her head of the body’s previous life. No memories to share what her vibrant jade eyes have seen. Nothing to explain the soft hands void of callouses. No way to tell how her voice became so rich and pleasant.

It does not matter. She has new life now.

Yara has little talent for spellcasting. She doesn’t spend her time in the tower, assisting in the complex research of the necromantic arts. Instead, she stands unrestingly at the gate of Rispast like a statue, always ready to defend the city, ensuring that others have the same opportunity she did.

Stories abound through the land of the solitary undead who stood immovable at the gates of Rispast, bodies piling before her, giant hammer swinging in wide arcs, ignoring attacks from any army, all the while calmly promising her enemies the same chance she had.

Yara is the first person one sees when arriving at the city, and the last when they leave. Her hauntingly beautiful song lets travelers know they are close as it echoes through the stones of the mountainside.