While all the trouble is going on in the southern Flanaess, with the Goo and the Sunbane, Shade poisoning, Vecna threatening, war looming, countries whelmed and populations massacred ...
Something totally different is happening in the north.
The Empire of Iuz is transforming itself.
Look at a part of the Template sent to me by John Brown, the player of Iuz:
Culture Advancement Points (40 point spent)
Roads - 8 points (The best quality that my current technology level would allow, and trying to take into account future infrastructure needs):
Humanoid of the Yatils (1 PL - focusing on connecting to Ket)
Ket (1 PL - focusing on connecting the largest cities to each other, and so on)
Beings of the Cairn Hills (1 PL - focusing on connecting to their various lairs and the Bright Lands)
The Bright Lands (1 PL - focusing on making defensible roads, tunnels, etc.
through the Abbor-Alz to the Cairn Hills)
Horned Lands (1 PL - focusing on connecting the largest cities to each other, and so on)
Empire of Iuz (1 PL - focusing on connecting the largest cities to each other, and so on)
The Barrens (1PL - focusing on connecting Iuz to Stonehold)
Stonehold (1 PL - focusing on connecting the largest cities to each other, and so on)
Underground Manufacturing Facilities - 7 points (The best quality that my current technology level would allow, and trying to take into account future
infrastructure needs):
Humanoids of the Yatils - 1 PL
Ket - 1 PL (in the Yatils bordering Ket)
Beings of the Cairn Hills - 1 PL
The Bright Lands - 1 PL (in the Brass Hills in the center of the Bright Lands)
Empire of Iuz - 1 PL (in the Howling Hills)
Stonehold - 1 PL (in the Griff Mountains)
The Barrens - 1 PL (in the Wastes)
Improve Mining Facilities and other Natural resources - 9 points:
Beings of the Cairn Hills - 1 PL
The Bright Lands - 1 PL
The Abbor-Alz - 1 PL
Empire of Iuz - 1 PL
Horned Lands - 1 PL
Stonehold - 1 PL
The Barrens - 1 PL
Ket - 1 PL
Humanoids of the Yatils - 1 PL
Infrasture Improvements - 8 points (marketplaces, harbors, aqueducts, libraries, universities, barracks, etc.)
Beings of the Cairn Hills - 1 PL
The Bright Lands - 1 PL
Empire of Iuz - 1 PL
Horned Lands - 1 PL
Stonehold - 1 PL
The Barrens - 1 PL
Ket - 1 PL
Humanoids of the Yatils - 1 PL
- - -
Dorakaa is rapidly become a kind of evil Byzantium.
Under the harsh but firm rule of Iuz, the humanoids have learned discipline, civilization, and law.
They are no longer chaotic evil, but lawful evil.
They work together now, as a team, and they do not practice their usual tribal and racial hatreds against each other.
The humanoids have military academies and magical academies, and even scientific academies.
The humanoids of the Empire of Iuz are growing into a new people, a stronger and more civilized people, a brighter and wiser people.
The humans of the Empire of Iuz are learning civilization, learning organization, learning all the things they never knew under the old Iuz.
Dorakaa is filled with factories churning out war materials, and also building materials.
There are great libraries now in Dorakaa, and magnificent palaces and estates.
The humanoids of Dorakaa are comfortably housed and sheltered, with plenty to eat and safe drinking water.
Disease and hunger have been drastically reduced in the Empire of Iuz.
It is safe to walk the streets of Dorakaa, even at night.
The law is enforced - albeit brutally and with great speed and efficiency - and those with legitimate business can attend to it without fear.
Merchants, miners, explorers, and other hardy individuals of most races are flocking to Doraaka, Molag, and the other rapidly growing cities of the north.
There is a lot of money to be made, amidst a rapidly growing economy.
The human, dwarven, gnomish, and even the elven and halfling populations are growing rapidly.
In the countryside, paved roads allow for the quick transport of troops - or merchant vehicles - from one area to the other.
The roads are in good shape, and carefully maintained by well paid workers who are skilled in their craft.
Fields of well tended crops flourish in the lands north and east of the Whyestil Sea, under the proud flags of the Empire of Iuz.
Radio towers have gone up across the Empire, and the Voice of Iuz can be heard across the Flanaess.
Telephone service is available throughout the Empire.
Electrical power is available throughout the Empire.
Hydroelectric dams are under construction along some of the rivers, while great mines extract coal for fuel, and oil fields have sprouted hundreds of drilling rigs.
Even in remote Stonehold (also known as the Hold of Stonefist) the barbarious ways of the past have given way to early 20th century thinking.
The people of Fellreev Forest, looking out from what they considered a refuge from the evil humanoids all around them, see instead a peaceful, tranquil, law-abiding society with green pastures and fields, well tended forests, and the rule of law.
This is not to say it is good law, or that Iuz is a pleasant fellow, for neither is the case.
The law is hard, the penalties are severe (and usually fatal)
Change is coming to the Empire, but it is change at swordpoint (gunpoint now), and nobody is being given any say in the change.
That privilege is retained by Iuz and his top people.
But nevertheless, the Empire of Iuz is on a par with the Dark Union in terms of it's advancement, it's achievements, and it's wealth.
Overseas, the Isle of the Phoenix is enjoying the same Renaissance, except theirs is benign and truly enlightened.
Westward off the map, the Alliance of the Crescent is also making rapid strides into the Industrial Age.
- - -
In the midst of all this, something happens that is hard to ignore.
Even Kalanyr cannot conceal it.
Observers see the highest peak of the great Crystalmists break off, a full mile below the summit.
The entire MOUNTAIN floats up into the air, then starts to slowly turn.
It's icecap and glaciers shatter, and rain down in an avalanche of Herculean proportions.
Once it is turned completely upside down, it is seen that the top (the former bottom) is one mile wide, at least, and it is PERFECTLY smooth and clear, almost like glass.
The upside down mountain floats slowly, majestically downward from the heights, a mile from bottom tip to flat top, more than a mile wide at the top, until it is over the lower slopes.
Then, it ... disappears.
It disappears, totally and completely.
It is not seen again.
Forrester, employing his 10th level magic, is able to briefly get a vague picture of it.
What Forrester sees, in that vague picture, is astounding.
There is a mighty city under construction on the flat surface of that upside down mountain.
A city to rival Rauxes in glory and splendor.
And the city, obviously goes down into the mountain, for there are towers and buildings being built that stick DOWNWARD from the bottom of the mountain, as if gravity were reversed somehow.
It brings to Forrester memories of his readings of the ancient histories of Toril.
Of the Age of Netheril.
Then, even Forrester can get no further glimpses of the city, the mountain, or anything being done.
The magic masking that city from view must be awesome in it's power.
(Unless Kalanyr specifically allows it, or unless special circumstances dictate it, nobody will ever see that mountain with it's city again.)
