Blights

There are twelve Blights on the continent of Irolas. Each of these Blights holds a Planar Portal to the Shadowfell at its center, though the portals themselves are believed to now be inactive1. During the height of the Shadow's War, these Blights grew into one another, creating acres upon acres of desecrated land. At the start of the Flintlock Era, each Blight was considerably smaller and instead formed 12 distinct regions.

1. Most of the Blights on Irolas are now small enough that explorers and miners have been able to reach the portals at their centers. However, three Blight remain large enough (i.e. dangerous enough) that no expedition has returned from their hearts. Because of this, it cannot be confirmed that the portals are inactive, though most scholars agree that if the other portals are closed it would follow that these others would be closed as well.

Nature
The Blights are a product of invasive magics and species from the Shadowfell entering the Material Plane. As a result, the Blighted Lands pose considerable danger to anyone that dares enter their borders. Shadow demons, undead monsters, and even a scarce few surviving black sorcerers. Many scholars have theorized that the environment of the Blights are extremely similar to the natural state of the Shadowfell, and have studied the Blights in order to form a more accurate picture of the nature of the Shadowfell.

Wraithstone
One of the unnatural substances found within Blights is a mineral called wraithstone. In its powdered form, wraithstone can be mixed with sulfur and charcoal (DM Note: this would not be common knowledge for character's without experience in gunsmithing or similar crafting) to create an explosive powder known as wraithpowder. Due to the rarity of wraithstone and the value of wraithpowder in warfare, the powder is extermemly valuable.

Mining
Because of wraithstone's incredible value, mining operations around the Blights are common. Many countries of Irolas have traded away the mining rights of their Blights in exchange for a variety of diplomatic deals.

Due to the dangers found in the Blights, mining operations are rarely located any deeper than a few miles beyond the border of any Blight. Additionally, soldiers, sellswords, and mercenary mages are commonplace in mining towns, hired to protect workers from the many dangers of work in the Blights. Some mining companies choose to place their operations deeper within the Blights, giving them a chance to mine more wraithstone before their competition arrives. Though this strategy is far more dangerous than border mining, and miners are killed by shadowspawn much more frequently.

Since Blights are constantly shrinking, mining towns are inherently nomadic. Depending on the size of the Blight being mined (larger Blights shrink more slowly), towns usually last little more than a few years before the miners are forced to pull up stakes and move deeper into the withdrawing Blight.

Blights in Irolas
During the Shadow's War, Blights were monitored by generals known as Blight Wardens. The Wardens were responsible for slowing the growth of the Blights, conducting reconnaissance into the Blights, and doing battle with any of the Shadow's forces that ventured outside a Blight's borders.

Following the end of the war, each Blight was named for the Blight Warden that guarded it at the time.

Blight Radomir

 * Located on the border between south-eastern Malachar and the city-state Valastus.
 * Mining rights are shared between Malachar and Valastus. Valastus's interests are primarily controlled by the Irolasan Trade Union.

Blight Yilrith

 * Located on the north-western edge of Strasadas Swamp, near Vithdaalmad.
 * Mining rights are controlled by Malachar, but 10% of the mined wraithstone is given to the city-state Vithdaalmad. This is one of the few sources of income the city-state possesses.

Blight Daraln

 * Located on the eastern edge of Strasadas Swamp in central Malachar.
 * Mining rights are entirely controlled by Malachar.

Blight Leister

 * Located in central Bailen, on land that was once Stonecrest, Kentor.
 * Though located in Bailen, Kentor owns all mining rights to Blight Leister.
 * The second-largest Blight, Leister is centered around the former city of Heimstadt. The city was the site of the Battle of Heimstadt, the initial conflict of the Shadow's War.

Blight Leighton

 * Located in eastern King's Garden, Kentor.
 * Mining interest controlled by Kentor.
 * Commanded by Blight Warden Darus Leighton, a descendant of King Idu Leighton.

Blight Blackwood

 * Located on the northern tip of Wintercliffe, Kentor.
 * Mining interest controlled by Kentor.

Blight Turen

 * Located on the southern coast of Bailen, on land that was once the nation of Ligos.
 * Mining rights owned by Bailen.
 * Commanded by the Blight Warden Sindri Turen, the only gnomish Blight Warden.

Blight Lathala

 * Located West of the Kosmian Mountains.
 * Mining rights owned by the nation of Kosmia and the Lighsteel Company.
 * Lathala is the largest Blight. During the Shadow's War, this Blight served as the base of operations for Vecna's invasion force. Blight Lathala also surrounds the ancient city of al' Moaeth.

Blight Yaeldrin

 * Located on the eastern edge of the Daefir Greatwood.
 * Mining rights controlled by the United Alliance of Elves.

Blight Raethran

 * Located on the southern edge of the Daefir Greatwood.
 * Mining rights controlled by the United Alliance of Elves.

Blight Aries

 * Located on the southern coast of the United Alliance of Elves, on land that was once the nation of Armonia.
 * Mining interest is controlled by the nation of Kosmia and the Lightsteel Company.

Blight Bloodkith

 * Located on the southern side of the island of Polemos.
 * Mining interests are controlled by the nation of Kosmia and the Lightseel Company.