
Mt. Sithrasos
-------------

The volcano, Mt. Sithrasos, arose from the sea in a spectacular
eruption over 700 years ago in a sparsely populated section of mid-
oceanic reef known as the Sea of Dread. It served the serpent-god
Sithrasos for six centuries, who used the warm baths of the newborn
isle as his home and captured slaves from sunken galleys for
burrowing numerous tunnels and chambers. The snake-men who came to
serve him eventually set up residence on the island, or rather
within it, digging aquatic channels to and from their master's
lair. Then, only a century ago, the mountain erupted again, boiling
to death many of the snake men and leaving Sithrasos crippled, in
terrible need of healing. He was soon slain by a band of warriors
who had infiltrated the isle from far off Dusklan and who had
through some magical means caused the eruption. Among this band was
a Drune sorceress by the name of Belit, who chose as her share of
the loot the remains of poor Sithrasos. Her band, seeing no reason
to refuse her whim, watched with revulsion as she cut into the
skull of the godling serpent and proceeded to eat its brains. By
this act some form of its essence was transferred to her, and with
it, the power to seduce along with the desire to conquer.

The King of Dusklan, upon hearing of the band's success, sent ships
to collect treasure which had (over several centuries) been lost to
Sithrasos. Belit refused his demand and organized the snake men to
set snares for the King's ships. As time wore on, she soon
discovered that many of the serpent's memories came back to her in
dreams. She also discovered that serpents and snakes held an
affinity for her and used this to tame the numerous pterodactyls
who came to nest on the island.

Eventually, her defiance of the King led to the attraction of
certain unsavory followers, people who had been pursued out of
Dusklan for various crimes against the state. Among these was a
necromancer by the name of Neril who, over time, raised an undead
army for Belit, allowing her to crew a fleet of longboats with all
variety of loyal non-volunteers. Over several decades, her power
and influence spread, ever so slowly, until the people of Dusklan
and other nearby states began to rumor her responsible for every
plague and pestilence. Some said that she had made a pact with
demons. Others said that Sithrasos still lived within her.

Belit, however, was not all bad. She did steal cargo from merchant
vessels voyaging through her waters, calling it a tax, and even
then never taking more than half, however, when it came to slave
boats, she would freqently butcher their crews, handing the dead
over to Neril and allowing any able bodied slaves to join her
"society". Those who didn't want to join were typically placed with
merchant vessels at the very next looting (their fate left in the
hands of the disgruntled merchant captains). The rest were charmed
to ensure their continued loyalty and were trained in the arts of
personal combat. Those who were light-weight and agile enough,
typically elves or human women, could become pterodactyl riders.
These warriors were the long-range eyes and ears of Belit, keeping
a watch on the surrounding islands for any sign of encroaching
danger.

Mt. Sithrasos consists of seven levels. From sea level up are:
   (1) Port: Construction and docking of Belit's fleet
   (2) Barracks: Lots of communal living
   (3) Commons: Meeting hall, blacksmith
   (4) Store Chambers: Armory
   (5) Chambers of Neril: Necromatic library, scads of zombies
   (6) Chambers of Belit: Her private chambers
   (7) Aviary: Housing and training of pterodactyls

Underneath the sea level are the caverns of the snake people who
still serve Belit.

Belit knows of the plight of Lesbos but not of the capture of
Corina. She was hoping to forge an alliance between herself and
Lesbos, realizing that Dusklan would attempt to use the island as
a staging area of their fleet if Corina should forge a peace with
them. Corina, not wanting to be caught between two powers, refused
to do this in her talks with Duke Trag. When Belit realizes that
Corina has been imprisoned, she'll want to re-extend her hand of
friendship to the new ruler, or perhaps arrange for Corina's
escape...

