Atlas
Imarel Travel Guide - by T.A. Saunders ©2010 v1.2
In 968 AC Blackgate Outpost was founded by a colony from Windsong, sent to investigate a strange black metal gate that the original expedition found standing in the middle of the steppe. Unbeknownst to them, the edifice was actually the remains of an ancient Asyndi stronghold that was destroyed sometime after the War of Twilight. The colonists built this outpost around this alien structure and began populating it with the families of the researchers and Windsong troops send to protect them.
However, the structure was not so alien to the Voraath, who knew the sorcerous marks of their former masters well. Having never encountered the shorter, less warrior-like Shalzaarian Humans before this time, the Voraath tribes did not know what to make of them initially. Friendly enough-seeming, they introduced themselves to their new, industrious neighbors and soon trade began between wandering tribes and the settlement of Blackgate Hold. All the while, however Voraath shaman would keep a mindful eye on their Human neighbors, assuring that whatever evil the Shar'Vaire had brought here eons ago remained forgotten.
By the time 972 AC rolled around, Blackgate Hold was a bustling trade post and foothold into the continent of Zoda for Humans and Elves. However, the mystery behind the Blackgate itself remained and drew the attention of many scholars from across Imarel as well as the Cult of Khavos. The infamous cult had been seeking a way to return Khavos to the mortal plane, to take vengeance for his banishment by Zorah.
Archeological digs began in various places in the Hold, including exploration into some particularly promising catacombs located in the Blackgate operation bunker itself. Despite warnings from their Voraath trading partners, the Humans delved deep and unearthed the knowledge to activate the Gate by way of a crystalline key, that had to be placed within the operating pedestal, then turned to certain runes to attune it to a particular place, or plane. The Cult of Khavos had infiltrated the archeological team working the Blackgate site and managed to acquire this crystalline key, known as the Vin les Vala or Key of Worlds then attempted to use it to unleash Khavos on the mortal world.
The cultists had an imperfect understanding of the ancient Asyndi language however and their attempt to attune the portal to bridge it to Khavos' Abyssal plane of Xos was an flawed one, which resulted in only a partial bridging. Because of this, heroes at the outpost were able to shut down the Blackgate in time, but not before several demons escaped into the mortal realm and slaughtered all but twelve people, out of several hundred people. Out of fear and catastrophic loss of lives, the outpost was abandoned by the Windsong Republic and left to ruin.
For 350 years, only Masoq live in the Ruins of Blackgate. Not a particularly industrious people, they have made no effort to rebuild the smashed fortifications and were content to live in the squalor of the ruins and in the comfortable darkness of the catacombs. They are no taller than five and a half feet for either gender and have brimstone black skin and beady onyx eyes, wiry black hair, along with a slight hunch to their overly thin frames. Savage worshipers of forgotten fiends, the Masoq remained in the ancient catacombs during the day and wandered the ruins and beyond at night, mostly to hunt or salvage anything they can find. While not incredibly bright, they are cunning and absolutely ruthless to those they encounter, including other Masoq clans.
Near the end of 1322 AC the Blackgate Outpost was finally reclaimed after 350 years of being left abandoned, by a multinational organization called the Blackgate Vanguard, led by Commander Geriah Langsford. Entrusted with the Key of Worlds, which has been kept in secret in Windsong all these centuries, The Vanguard has established the outpost as a place to strike at the arch-villainess, Arisyeema, with the hopes of using the Blackgate as a means to strike upon her.