Thar Amphala


 * For episode 101 (chapter 8, episode 2) see Thar Amphala (episode).

Thar Amphala is a city in the Shadowfell. It serves as Vecna's base of operations.

Following the completion of the ritual atop Entropis, Thar Amphala was transported to the Prime Material Plane, some distance northwest of Vasselheim.

History
Little is known about Thar Amphala's founding and history before Vecna's involvement. Near the beginning of Vecna's rise to power, he overtook the city to act as the base of operations for his growing army of followers and undead creatures. In the centre he built the tower known as Entropis.

From his new seat of power, Vecna then used an event called the celestial solstice by manipulating magical ley energies which allowed him to open up portals between the Shadowfell and the material plane on a whim. With this, Vecna sent his forces across Exandria to spread his influence, wreak vengeance on past enemies and strike fear into the masses, beginning his rise to infamy.

As Vecna's terror spread from Thar Amphala, those working against him discovered the celestial solstice and reverse-engineered it in order for the Beacon of Arms, the holy army of Pelor led by champion Yos Varda, to invade the ancient city.

During the ensuing battle Yos Varda perished, but not before witnessing Vecna's vampire lieutenant attempt to kill and usurp his wounded master. Kas the Bloody-Handed and Vecna were both destroyed in the ensuing fight, and the victorious Beacon of Arms left Thar Amphala. The Sword of Kas, the weapon wielded by Vecna's lieutenant, had been imbued with a fragment of Vecna's consciousness, and so was buried beneath the city at some point.

Vox Machina first saw Thar Amphala when Vex'ahlia successfully shot an Oracle Arrow through the mysterious Siphon beneath Whitestone, where Delilah Briarwood had attempted a ritual to Vecna some year or so prior. Through it Vex saw the distant outline of the tower of Entropis.

After discovering and tracking down the second Ziggurat to contain a Siphon similair to the one in Whitestone, Pike communed with Sarenrae for more information. Through her goddess's help Pike was able to see the Siphon as a doorway into the Shadowfell, and also saw the vision of Entropis and city around it as Vex previously had. Once Vox Machina discovered the secret behind safe travel through the Siphons, they returned to the one beneath Whitestone and entered, arriving on a pedestal on the outskirts of Thar Amphala.