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== Session Notes ==
 
== Session Notes ==
 +
* [[July 18]]
 
* [[June 18]]
 
* [[June 18]]
 
-hiatus-
 
-hiatus-

Revision as of 19:49, 11 August 2018

dndwiki - a wiki resource for Scott's d&d campaign

Player Characters

  • Atala, Free Shadow of the Order (Human Fighter, Eldritch Knight)
  • Heian, elf ranger
  • Kunoh of the Ellanher, human barbarian
  • Maybellina Stoneraven, human warlock
  • Ophion, tiefling bard
  • Professor Ruben RR Ravenholft PhD Arch, PhD Anth, PhD Psy, dwarf rogue
  • Tranquil Mind, Tabaxi Monk of the Binding Oasis Clan

Retired Player Characters

Game Information

Terminology

Cosmos

Constellations

  • Sabean’s Giant
  • the Golden Serpent
  • Tep Ceafi the Augur
  • Reigo the wiley
  • Small cub, Big cub
  • Sif the fire eater
  • the Juggler
  • Dahlia, the Enchantress
  • the Broken Peak
  • Mezzoa the plunderer
  • the Revellers
  • Griffin’s Nest
  • Noeno, Queen Sailfish
  • the brothers; Meti, Novta and Lasu
  • Cradicii’s Harp
  • the Hydra bell
  • Watchers
  • Great Stallion
  • Leja’s halo
  • Leja’s fleet
  • Beresson the Youth
  • the Twins, bringers of Law and Chaos
  • the White Brazier
  • the Silver Crown
  • Time’s Arrow
  • King Tiger
  • Faceless Traveller
  • Amphorae
  • Muphusoe, Devilray Prince
  • Negd’s Raven
  • Kingfisher

Discontinuance Events

  • Discontinuance events come in both major and minor forms and cause disruptions to the planes of existence
  • A discontinuance occurs when parts of a plane that were previously connected to another part of a plane are no longer connected; or when different planes become no longer connected
  • When this occurs the following is possible for the broken plane/world:
    • travel to and from is extremely difficult (best case scenario) or totally impossible
    • it is set adrift in the void between planes
    • it merges with another plane/world
    • it ceases to exist
  • There have been a series of discontinuance events over the vast life of the multiverse
  • They have had many causes, some natural and some not
  • Discontiuances are often responsible for the inability to planeshift to only a limited number of worlds in the prime plane, limiting worlds to ‘local clusters’
  • Realignment of the stars can add or subtract new worlds into and out of a local cluster
  • This realignment of the stars is known as the ‘Star Dragon Ascendant’ by some cultures
  • The Echo Planes are particularly brittle and vulnerable:
    • Once in the earliest of elder days the Feywild was a means to travel to many other worlds without having to travel through the void that separates worlds
    • Over millions of years discontinuances cracked and smashed the Feywild into so many fragments that it's now impossible to travel via it to any other world and each Feywild is significantly smaller than the worlds they echo
    • Many worlds no longer even connect to their Echoes


History

Helegu vs Telehetti

After enduring 10 years of Helegu expeditionary forces making deep incursions, the western mamba plain was decimated by a huge (50,000 Helegu + 100,000 ancillaries) Helegu lead army 135 years prior to the fall of the last Khaganate. For 5 years the Helegu lead army rampaged across the Erensari destroying farms and villages but were unable to draw Telehetti warriors into a pitched battle.

The Telehetti turned away the great herds and burnt crops to deny the Helegu food, dammed rivers to slow the invaders, abandoned poorly defensible areas, melted away before the invader, engaged in an endless guerilla war campaign and summoned the dark forces of the land to drain the will of the invaders.

Lead by the Telehetti Champion Dogon the Star Holder, a small force of Erensari cut off the Helegu’s army leadership and slaughtered them. Foremost among them Mengu-Timur Khaganate, the ruler of the United Helegu Confederation. His killing struck the deathblow for the demoralised army which returned to the horse clan homelands.

Under the Roaring Host the Helegu continued to conduct raids into the Erensari for almost a century. Learning how best to strike at the Helegu from success and defeat , the Telehetti became expert in frustrating the long-term Helegu ambition in their homeland.

20 years ago a force of 15,000 Helegu and 35,000 ancillary forces were lured deep into the southern Mamba Plains where they were annihilated in less than a day. Seemingly vanished without a trace, they are now known as as Jayaatu’s lost army and are now the stuff of legend.

There have been numerous ‘unsanctioned’ raids by both sides since the comprehensive beating down of the Helegu in the past 20 years but nothing that would suggest full scale war is inevitable.

A Carkade Structure
A Carkade Pyramid
A Carkade Structure


Carkade

Ancient and fallen empire

Carkade crumbled as a civilisation so long ago (6,000 years ago) even the elves remember them only as a name and from their ruins, scattered across the world.

The Elite of Carkade were a race of beings whose culture at its height had an obsession with death and sacrifice. The Gods and Goddesses of Death and Destruction were elevated, feared, revered and worshipped during their reign.

Carkade had a strong tradition of seeking out the forbidden and unknown including contacting powerful beings in the cosmos in an eternal search for power and glory (including making pacts, providing service, learning from, allying and alternately opposing).

The elder being Ammutseba was one such being that one Carkade faction was in thrall to and created a widespread cult dedicated to it. Contact with Ammutseba was one reason some Carkade magicians were so powerful in necromantic magic.

Cruel subjugation, enslavement and mass sacrifice were the fate of most Carkade foes.

Huge step pyramids were the architectural centres of Carkade religious and sacrificial life.

Contact with the Alin

An elder race Carkade had contact with were the Alin. Some of powerful among the Alin elite became “the Patrons” of some Carkade factions. This introduced the Horned God (and others) to the world of Faerun and Ammutseba (and others) to the Alin. Terror and death across worlds followed.

An arrogant race, Carkade were ultimately brought low when caught up in a conflict between their Alin patrons and a swathe of their Alin patrons enemies.

War, death and destruction on a colossal scale quickly found the Carkade homelands bringing about what appeared to be utter destruction.

Mummies of Carkade

Faced with an existential crisis the elite who were secret members of the Cult of Ammutseba made a pact with that elder being. While the rest of their race, lands, cities and culture were immolated, the elite and important servants were saved from oblivion with the gift of immortality. They were turned into undead - the mummies of Carkade created from the elite, lesser undead from the servants and shades & shadows from the slaves.

The King and Queen became immensely powerful Mummy Royalty, the inner-circle of prominent and powerful nobles became Mummy Lords, other nobility became Mummy Nobles while servants and some others were transformed into normal mummies and other undead of varying stability.

Put into stasis deep beneath the ruins of their great houses and then set adrift in the timevoid (the cracks between space and time), the Mummies of Carkade are awaiting a summons from the elder being (Ammutseba) that created them.

In game

Houtl-het is a Mummy Noble

Teyrin elves had defeated a Mummy Lord and his court somewhere in the vicinity of the Erensari but at a huge cost with many Teyrin slaughtered during the conflict.

A Vision, one of the great undead that dwelt in the dark of the sacrificial chamber in Houtl-het's temple exposed Ophion and Heian to visions of ancient Carkade, complete with pyramids of corpses, the skies alight with towering flames and death rapidly approaching from beyond.

Alin.jpg


The Alin

Overview

The Alin were a powerful mortal elder race that dwelt on distant worlds. Some were so powerful they *did something interesting* and became patrons to some of the Carkade elite. These ascended allowed a chosen few into their ancient mysteries and by extension thrall. The Alin were said to be to shuffle reality like a deck of cards (transformation and summoning) while the Carkade were unsurpassed in necromantic power.

The Alin were fractious and in constant conflict with other factions and and other races.

The present day state of Alin is unknown

In game

Courtyard tiles from Houtl-het's temple were inscribed with the constellation leading to the Alin homeworld.

This constellation and others which were inscribed in tiles or carved as reliefs were not part of the modern sky.

Alin linked to 13 worlds

A single image above the entrance into the main shrine of a 'Patron' - a dew drop shaped face with two slits for eyes surrounded by feathered and radiant aura that streams outwards with a chest piece made of dozens of interlocking blocks resembling a wall. The chest piece gave way to stars - the bottom half of the image was ruined. There was a trace of colour around the edges of the face (white), top corners (black) and in the aura (yellow).

In the lowest level of the temple there was a great looming passageway representing fallen foes of the Carkade. Towards the end of the corridor figures of patrons begin to appear.

Among many skulls piled into a pit were a number of elongated skulls with 'day of the dead' patterns painted on the inside of the skulls. Many others had the images painted on the outside, most were unadorned.


Sarpadian Empire

Overview
  • A military power that conquered and ruled a large region of the northern part of the western continent
  • Initially a small kingdom, the militaristic Sarpadians expanded over centuries bringing to heel neighbouring duchies, principalities, tribes and kingdoms underneath the banner of one unifying empire
  • Their expansion commenced some 1,200 years ago, reached a zenith some 900 years ago before the utter collapse of the Empire some 500 years ago
  • Collapsed after a centuries long struggle against a deadly foe which destroyed them both
Rulership and military
  • Ruled over by a series of Grand-Marshalls, under their iron fist the Sarpadians brought a “golden age” to the areas under their control
  • Disciplined and hardened legions, cadres of war mages and devastating cataphract formations were the backbone of the Sarpadian armies.
Sarpadia today
  • The homelands are a terrifying place filled with ruins, destructive curses and death


Kingdom of Argos

  • A mercantile kingdom that started in the southern Focian plains, the Kingdom of Argos was contemporaneous with the Sarpadian Empire
  • The Kingdom of Argos existed for 500 years sending out colonies far and wide before succumbing to the same terror that saw the end of the Sarpadians
  • Had a very active Cult of Bhaal within the Argos Irregulars - shock troops wielding murderous killing magic with close ties to the secret police of the kingdom


Caridern

Overview
  • Extinct elder race of blue skinned elves
  • Among the first elves to return to the Feywild eons ago after their home was made inhabitable in a war with the Alin
  • The final cause of their extinction is unknown
  • Were the builders of the "Feywild Fortress"
  • They were a society skilled relentless warriors ruled by an elite of arch-mages
  • Using the Feywild they sent expeditionary forces to other worlds prior to at a series of discontinuance events what created fissures between worlds and and when the Feywild linked 1,000s of worlds
In Game
  • Party visited what was purported to be the Caridern homeworld via the Feywild Fortress
    • bleak, dusty & windblown with minimal breathable atmosphere
    • a desiccated Caridern corpse was found half buried in the sand of a broken surrounded by 3 dead Moranth
    • Broken mountain sized metal discs on the horizon, jutting out from the ground at steep angles
  • Archaeological evidence connected them to the worlds of Eo and Cah-Galel, not to Faerun


Geography


Peoples

The Helegu Khanate

Helegu horsemen charging in to battle
Overview

A powerful confederation of nomadic tribes that were united under a great leader Khagan Temir 300 years ago. Over the next 200 years the Helegu consolidated a huge inland khaganate obliterating and subjugating many civilisations and tribes, both human and non-human. Tens of millions million were killed during these years.

The Khaganate stretched from the cold steppes in the north, then south across grasslands, plains, deserts to the tropical savanna. It is often referred to by the Helegu as the “Land under the Eternal Blue Sky”.

Upon the death of Mengu-Timur Khagan on the Erensari Plains 135 years ago the confederacy broke up due to internal divisions, ongoing insurgencies, constant rebellion and a series of rolling coups. After 50 years of bloody chaos five great hosts emerged 80 years ago to rule a collective khaganate reduced in size:

  • Silver Host (Jumulkha Khan)
    • Capital is the great tent city of Onon
  • Roaring Host (Tocave Khan)
  • Blue Host (Kuju Khan)
  • Burning Host (Tangut Khan)
  • Golden Host (Damed Khan)
    • last ruler killed 10 years ago

After a 20 years of sheer nonstop brutality the Golden Host was torn apart 10 years ago and its territories are now contested over by a vast number of different contenders and Helegu factions.

The Silver Host is currently expanding, primarily into territories of the other Hosts and is rumoured to be on the verge of full scale war with the Blue Host.

Ranks in the Helegu Court
  • Khagan - Ruler over more than one Khan and rules over a Khaganate
  • Khan - Ruler over more than one tribal chief and rules over a Khanate
  • Ambassador - High ranking representative sent to foreign lands and empowered to speak on behalf of the Khan in certain matters of war, trade and tribute
  • Emissary - A representative sent on an errand or mission with specific delegated powers relating to that mission
  • Sub-Emissary - Deputy to an Ambassador or Emissary
  • Envoy - A representative sent as a messenger or representative
  • Consul - An official who looks after commercial or citizen welfare
  • Agent - Any representative empowered to act on behalf of a higher ranking official
  • Legate - Assistant to a General, Consul, Emissary or Ambassador
  • Viceroy - Ruler as the deputy of the Khan
  • Magistrate - A representative charged with the administration of the Pax Helegeus
Client Nomadic Tribes
  • Emen
  • Ceva
  • Sutu
  • Huvec
  • Vevesi
  • Kelosi
  • Gimu
  • Dolg
  • Inini
  • Busuqi
Serving the Helegu

The Helegu extract annual tribute from all client states and tribes.

Civilised areas will be under the control of a Mughal (Governor) with day to day administration will be left to viceroys or client Kings & rulers. The appointment of any client king or ruler can only be made with the consent of Mughal. A Mughal is responsible for ensuring tribute flows to the Khan, that the client people do nothing against the interests of the Khan and to demonstrate Helegu power so as to constantly remind the locals of who is boss.

The Treonol Autocracy

Overview

Ruled by Autocrat Maro Kush Nefor - appointed by the Mughal 10 years ago. Vicious and cunning, the Autocrat expands his own wealth and power at the expense of his own people while playing a dangerous game to keep the Helegu from interfering too directly.

The rulership of Treonol is oppressive and fights an ongoing war to suppress and oppress the people to maintain the rule of the elite merchant caste. The people hate the rulers of their own land with more passion than they loathe the hated Helegu.

The Treonol Autocracy is a client state of the Roaring Host (Tocave Khan).

Regular tribute to the Roaring Host includes silver, hides, livestock, olive oil and slaves.

The Roaring Host currently have turned their attention westward against the Paracer Ascension and have left behind in Treonol:

  • the Mughal (Governor);
  • a small detachment of Helegu (1000 horse-warriors); and
  • the blood sworn Gimu horse warriors (a client tribe of the Roaring Host).

The Autocrat, the Mughal and his detachment are based in and around the Citadel of the Autocrat which is 50 miles to the east of where the party enters. The edge of the plateau is a further 50 miles to the east.

Geography

The nation exists on a plateau with hills to the west and east, mountains to the south and the Brass Desert to the north. It is dry and hot in summer, cool and wet in the brief winter. Thousands of years ago it was incredibly wet and lush and still maintains some remnant forests and deep lakes which are seemingly bottomless.

The eastern part of Treonol is largely borderlands and wilderness with towns strung out along the old caravan routes, which are now being turned into the fortified roads. Before the Helegu invasions the east was more heavily populated and the Treonol in constant conflict with Jayak tribes.

Orcs once roamed the fringes of Treonol in the more rugged and forested parts, while hill giants remain common and constant problem. A few stone giants have made their way north in recent years and occasionally other humanoids such as gnolls and trolls will migrate through. Dwarves fought alongside the Treonol 130 years ago but have bunkered down in their underground fortresses, never having made a formal peace deal with the Helegu, though they seem prepared to wait out this current human empire.

Being built on the ruins and waste of so many former kingdoms and having recently been subject to so much bloodshed, hauntings and undead are not uncommon.

Population

The population of Treonol is 2.5 million humans, which is significantly less than the population from 130 years ago. They are a largely rural nation with people living in small villages and towns as Indebted on the extensive estates of the Grand Merchants.

Wildlife
  • Aurochs, horses, hyrocon, antelopes, pronghorns, white-tailed deer, elephants on the plateau
  • Chalicos, indricotheres, Giant Ground Sloth in wooded areas
  • Sabretooth cats, sand wolves, hyenas, yellow fox, terror birds, lions, bears
Regions

Treonol has not been allowed to build any fortifications around its towns or cities until recently. Undebted and free Treonol citizens live in constant fear of becoming an Indebted to one of the Grand Merchants. Travel is restricted by the Autocrat’s court and only the Grand Merchants may travel freely without the need for permission. Even general traders need permission to cross territories and permission to leave is rarely granted to free citizens and never to the Indebted.

Banditry is a problem outside of the Citadel. Often times non-human join human bandits in their endeavours

Villages are often enclosed with low lying walls of stone sometimes painted white but often surrounded by a series of ditches and bramble like fencing designed to slow down raiders and thieves rather than out and out stop them.

Society

They believe in the Season of the Witches (3 days of each solstice)

The Autocrat is appointed by the Mughal and his power is absolute. His power stems from the backing of the Helegu and access to power, trade and favours to the Grand Merchants.

The Grand Merchants rose to replace the nobility after their defeat by the Helegu, with many nobles and their families slain or fled during the decades long conflict.

The Mughal is one of Tocave Khan’s generals.

History

Before the Helegu the Treonol alternately fought and traded with the Gimu Steppe Warriors, Jayak tribes , dwarves, humanoids and previous dynasties of Semudan. Interaction with Orcs and dwarves of the western hills was frequent, though the Orcs have now retreated to distant strongholds and dwarves make infrequent contact at trading posts.

The Argos Kingdom ruled this area more than 500 years ago, falling after a series of succession wars (the last of which was orchestrated by Death Cults) and pressure from waves of humanoids being driven east and south by steppe nomads. The western part of Argos overlapped with eastern Treonol.

Treonol has been a client state to the Helegu for the last 150 years. Over 1 million Treonoli were killed in the initial Helegu invasion and all cities were razed except for the Citadel which remain unconquered. The Helegu have fought several Treonoli rebellions since the breakup of the great khanate 130 years ago which killed and enslaved at least a further half million Treonol. For the past 50 years the Treonol elite have thrown in their lot with the Helegu and actively suppressed any idea of rebellion among the populace.

10 years ago Treonol supported the winning side in a Roaring Host factional war and have been granted preferred status as a result, with minimal Helegu interferenc in their internal affairs.

Typical Treonol Names

Male - Hemez, Haybek, Banara, Behmet, Gulnara, Sukhrab, Ruslan, Taalay, Zhurghul, Benoka, Jamilya, Machi, Hahmed, Nurlan, Guljigit, Meder, Burul, Gulbadam, Ruhsora

Female - Anari, Ulnari, Alimi, Aiperi, Eleni, Eri, Imkim, Umirin, Azagul, Ubusara, Istan, Aniar, Eshori, Indrini

  • All male names start with a consonant, only end in “a” if ending in a vowel
  • All female names start with a vowel, only end in “i” if ending with a vowel
  • House Names of the Grand Merchants start and finish with consonants
  • Lesser surnames start with vowels, end in consonants


Telehetti and the Erensari

Telehetti riding war elephants
Telehetti buildings
Overview

The Erensari is a vast plains and grassland stretching over more than a thousand miles. This grass sea is interspersed with woodlands, rolling hills, deep open pits and crisscrossed by more than a dozen navigable rivers.

In the very north is the Kingdom of Serakka, which is a former client state to the Helegu.

Telehetti are the dominant ethnic humans who dwell on rest the Erensari.

Arborvimancers are uniquely Telehet druids who are responsible for ensuring the natural abundance of the tribes and for growing the Spar Towers from the living wood of the Adansoni Tree.

Due to centuries of conflict, anyone entering Telehetti homelands who is thought to be acting on behalf of the Helegu will at best be treated with outright hostility. Anyone declared guilty of spying on behalf of the Helegu is killed graphically and horribly. Often times by being hung, then crushed on the living Adonsoni Tree - painted in the yellow of the traitor symbol.

Tribal Circles

The tribes of the Erensari, grouped together under Tribal Circles. Occasionally they unite under great Confederations under a common cause.

Each circle is ruled by a Grand Matron or Patron. Each is advised by a great court made up of wise people from the tribes under their sway.

The Singidi Circle whose tribes include Joco, Dodoma, Wyangi, Kisi, Sangu, Ngasa are overseen from the City Maa.

City of Maa

A population of 20,000 to 30,000 which is in constant transition. Demi-humans include a thriving gnome population with dwarves and elves commonly traders, scouts, travelers or outcasts.

The slow moving Chordata River, makes its way through the edges of the city. The undulating plains mean at times the river is bordered by steep banks and other times deep wetlands.

Buildings are almost uniformly round and often slightly bulbous in shape.

Ruins of an Argos fortress are beneath the city's major marketplace.

Due to the Helegu-Telehetti war there are no other structures older than the initial Helegu invasion. In 20 years Maa has transformed from a small tribal outpost to the growing metropolis it is today. Maa's Spar Towers are typically between 30ft to 120ft, with Tower of the Matron coming in at 180ft.

Visitors and Inhabitants
  • Janto Trader Clans
  • Monks of Oba
  • Treonol Grand Merchants
  • Teyr'in Elves
  • Emissaries from Treonol, Kingdom of Sebakka, the Koresian Shore, Semudan, Gulg
  • Representatives of other tribal circles
Sights and Sounds
  • War Drums
  • War Elephants
  • War Rhinos
  • Keepers of Leopards, Dire Hyenas, Mandrills and other great Apes/Monkies
Typical Erensari Names

Male - Diboko, Mosiuoa, Refilwe, Phethisi, Refilwe, Nkoenyane, Molapo, Khethang, Mojalefa

Female - Ata, Sekekana, Teemana, Matsumi, Saba, Zalika, Moloa, Salau, Karega, Kioni


Keshin Sea and Chalk Tablelands

Overview

There are a number of small settlements along hundreds of miles of the western edge of the Keshin Sea.

No central government.

Many fugitives and refugees from the Helegu expansion over the last 300 years, as well as those looking to disappear or stay low for a while.

There is a strong Telehetti presence, mostly those from defeated and forgotten tribes.

Warlords and chieftains emerge and disappear constantly

The Skaedguard is slowly expanding its zone of control and brutally demanding tribute from nearby settlements. Those that fail to submit are brutally brought under thumb with killings and hostages commonplace.

Dangers, the wilderness and presences

A true borderlands, with thin strips of civilisation surrounded by the omnipresent wilderness. The entire area sits atops the ruins of many former civilisations both human and other. The lure of hidden palaces and lost cities attracts many adventurers and fortune seekers, with many returning disappointed, beaten or not at all.

Gnoll bands infest the area, many were driven from the Focian Plains (far to the north of the Erensari) at the time of the great Helegu invasion over 200 years ago. Their numbers are being swelled by gnolls currently moving again from the north.

Goblinoids, orcs and kobolds also regularly travel through the area to avoid the Erensari heartland. They use the many hidden valleys and caves that eventually spill into the Rakis Rift to traverse insecret, far from the prying eyes of the settlements of their enemies.

Recently wandering Stone Giants have wreaked havoc. They have randomly caused destruction, made alteration to the landscape or even abducted inhabitants.

Indications are emerging of a half-orc warlord known as Clade to the west of the Rakis Rift who is gathering to him fearsome outcasts like himself. No overt movements have been yet made beyond his zone of control but he has clashed with travellers and neighbouring tribes & territories. He is rumoured to be ruthless in killing anyone who crosses his territory without permission.

Here be dragons

Well known stop over and habitat for dragons, most notably copper, green and the occasional red.

The Keshin Sea

A gigantic freshwater inland sea that is over 500 miles from north to south, many rivers empty into it with a large number of rivers also outflowing from it.

Its exact depth is unknown, but it is generally accepted to be over a mile deep at its lowest point. There are reliable reports of cave systems honeycombing its entire length.

Freshwater sharks, giant turtles, dolphins and mososaurs make their home here alongside the expected population of fish, crocodiles, freshwater crustaceans and sea birds.


Janto Traders / Janto Sea People

Overview

Across the length of the eastern cost the Janto Traders travel in huge linked caravans exceeding 60ft in length pulled by massive paraceratherium. These large multi-generational Janto trader clans frequently join up with their fleets in secret ports and other bases which are hidden from outsiders.

The different trader clans compete with each other, internally the families vie for high status and engage in an endless cycle of politicking and power plays.

Title to trade and clan property resides with the headman, who holds it in the name of the community, although family proprietors enjoy the use of Clan goods as long as they actively support Clan activities

The headman of each clan is a boss.

Race

Janto Trader Clans appear to be half-elves with dark coppery skin and exotic oriental features.

Other races serve with them but are rarely part of the inner-circle.

Known Clans

Clan Crokuz - Boss Jari

Clan Tegbotho - Boss Necan

Clan Zentarkis - Boss Tinto

In Game

The group joined a caravan after saving the life of Boss Jari and were taken south to the Keshin Sea. Part of the travels involved the group being locked in a plushly decked out lead caravan after they observed Jari in negotiations with a warlock - who seriously wounded one of the Clan. After that time space and time were stretched and 'jumping' occurred that invoked a similar feeling when the Monks of Oba shadow stepped.

The group joined the caravan after after a dispute has turned deadly when Boss Jari of Clan Crokuz refused a deal and humiliated an opponent, Boss Necan of Tegbotho by disallowing a marriage agreement after lengthy negotiations between his eldest granddaughter and the son of a rival. Boss Jari has instead chosen to marry his middle granddaughter to the new head of the Zentarkis Clan, Boss Tinto.

Boss Necan retaliated by sending an assassin to kill Jari and kidnap his eldest grandson for ransom from Jari's son who is next in line.

Necan’s son Mektith manipulated his father the hot-headed Necan doing something stupid. If the marriage was to still go ahead he would occupy a prestigious position within Clan Crokuz, and if failed and Necan was revealed he could push to step in as the new boss of Clan Tegbotho as part of a peace deal.


Teyrin Elves

Symbol of the Teyr'in Elves
Overview

Covered in blue tattoos, the Teyr'in are a wide ranging and hidden kingdom of elves that stretch across much of the Western Continent.

Secretive in the extreme, the Teyr'in are wild elves who lead largely nomadic lives. Skin colour is pale and slightly luminescent when born before darkening into a deep ivory when mature.

They avoid contact with other races, only occasionally making an appearance in the wider world. Even other elves find them difficult to locate and interact with.

Society

Ruled over by Shadow Watchers, the rulers of Teyr'in rulers communicate through proxies when dealing with the outside world.

A hidden place known as the Hall of Lamentations is where the powerful, wise and influential meet. It is also said to hold artefacts of tremendous force that are sacred to the Teyr'in.

Preferred character classes

Barbarian, Druid, Sorcerer, Ranger


Radiant Coast

Gramidern
Overview
  • City population in excess of 100,000
  • Kingdom population exceeds 2 million people (humans and and demi-humans)
  • King Wysedin of Serr rules 200 miles of coast and up to 100 miles inland
  • There have been many cities before Gramidern stretching back over 10,000 years into human prehistory
  • Current archaeologists and historians believe there are at least 10 layers of cities beneath present day Gramidern
  • Current city was founded 300 years ago by Lord Thronstrom who overthrew the Tyrant Keren Strongarm; Thronstrom’s crest was a shield half-back & half-white with the black half showing the sharp profile of a half face with eye only – this is still used as the crest of the city, with banners displayed as white with jet black edge sewn in silver trim
  • King Wysedin’s banner is same as the city top half with a half silver crown on the black half and the bottom half dark crimson on the black half and gold on the white half, with the bottom part of the face in gold on the crimson half
  • Beneath the King sits the Council of Ministers who oversee the Kingdom's bureaucracy (Trade, Treasury, Arms, Works, Law, State)
  • Nobles control ancestral lands and while they wield considerable influence in their own rights often seek to gain prominence among the ministries
  • A canal system operates through the kingdom, including a series of locks in the foothills of the mountains and tunnels passing beneath hills and even the Castle of Thorns, which is the main fortress used to guard the Golden Road as it exits the mountain pass
  • An ancient roadway system is still in use including long stretches of useable viaducts of great antiquity
  • Gramidern has improved many of these roads and has 2 major roads – the Golden Road leading roughly east-west and connecting to the western edge of the kingdom and the Grand Trade Road leading roughly north-south to the other major cities of the West Radiant.
  • The Kings Road is a roughly straight road that is carried on a series of viaducts, bridges, tunnels and elevated roads that leads from the city of Vesten beneath the Castle of Thorns to the city of Gramidern proper. This is a road controlled by the Ministry of Arms who use it to move troops but also offer passage for non-military people at a cost of 2gp for each 10 mile marker
  • Ethnically is Tethyrian - medium build & height, dusky skin, brown hair & blue eyes common
Features of the City
  • 3 main protective walls have been built as the city has expanded
  • The Inner walls (up to 50 ft in height and 15 ft thick) enclose the extent of the city as rebuilt by Thronstrom after he defeated the Tyrant Keren Strongarm and the Castle of Kara’Kar at the heart of the old city; a series of small connected keeps with high viaducts links the castle to 4 keeps heading to the harbour, the 4th of which (Traders Keep) is located on the Radiant Sea, next to the main trading port
  • The old city is located on a hill and runs down to the harbour; A bridge connects from the Traders Keep to the Sea Fort which is on an island where the harbour gives way to the open sea)
  • The Middle Wall was constructed 100 years ago and encloses the extent of the city before its destruction after the fall of Keren Strongarm, It largely falls around the base of the few hills clustered around the port and is between 25ft - 35ft tall and roughly 10ft think; There are 5 main gates, all of which are currently being strengthened and repaired
  • The Outermost Wall is currently three quarters finished and is 12 miles in length; When finished it will be over 50ft high and between 15ft to 20ft think at the base
  • Corpse Grim – a fabled creature who dwells within the City of the Dead and who sometimes is known to venture into the surrounding countryside and into Gramidern itself
  • The City of the Dead is an ancient necropolis that sprawls over several hills to the north of the city; The growth of Gramidern means that some parts of the city are starting to encroach upon the outskirts of the unwalled sections of the necropolis
  • Multiple marketplaces including the Grand Forum which is a series of connected covered and open marketplaces culminating the in the Serr Marketplace
  • Teams of Ogres work the docks; each Ogre working the docks is permitted into the city by special permit issued jointly by the Ministry of Arms and the Ministry of Trade and must wear a prominent Brass Vambrace with the Gramidern crest stamped into it at all times
  • Current excavations include 2 ancient stone statues, 20ft tall & partly in ruin of 2 Stone Giant Kings sitting on thrones staring at each other across the Golden Road 2 miles out from the outer walls
  • An Equinox festival is a rolling 3 day celebration including a parade featuring giant puppets made of wood and cloth, including a darkly ominous puppet with 6 fingers on each hand and dark grey horns representing Corpse Grim


Port of Seas
Wolves Reach


Moranth

Overview
  • Elder race of humans
  • Wear armour sutured to their skin
In Game
  • The only Moranth the party has met have been wearing "plague doctor" armour and had skill in magic


Ephereum

Overview
  • an alien race of fey with nictating eyes and green luminescent skin containing algae beneath the surface
  • travel on lean barges that traverse all waterways in the connected realms
  • connected by tithe to the Abyssal Demon Lord Orcus who is seeking the ascension rights for Bhaal
In Game
  • An ephereum brought demons to the Feywild in return for breaking a tithe of servitude to Orcus


Semudan Empire

Overview
  • Known as the Ruby Empire of Red Semudan
  • Emperor Oghenkaro rules from Zinj
  • 10 years into a brutal civil war between Emperor Oghenkaro and his sister Empress Ememchiamo
    • Oghenkaro was the younger child of the former Emperor and was crowned as imperial ruler upon death of his father
    • Ememchiamo was the Emperor's oldest child and claimed she was made heir by her father and that Oghenkaro is an usurper
    • The ensuring civil war has split the Empire into many different factions
  • Raiding parties from the Jin Jungle
  • Sea raids by the Jagged Host
    • A strong tribe of Orcs whose raids on south eastern Semudan have stepped up in intensity
    • Have pushed inland so frequently and viciously that parts of the coast are being considered as "off limits" for resettlement
Cities
  • Zinj
    • traditional capital, controlled by Emperor Oghenkaro
    • 1,500,000 permanent within city
  • Houromo
    • controlled by Empress Oghenkaro
    • 800,000 permanent within city
    • Near south-western border with Nephilim
    • Considered to be an impenetrable fortress with 80” stamped clay walls
  • Goropéla
    • Port controlled by Emperor near Sokotu
    • Governed by Oba Dedesi of Redin
    • 15,000 permanent within city walls, requires a permit to stay if not a favoured servant or slave of the Oba
    • 130,000 in city outside of city walls in sprawling unwalled city runs miles down several valleys leading to the main port
    • Jungle grows in places through city
    • Further 1,000,000 farmers and rurals who grow rice, bananas, kola nuts, okra, sorghum & millet; are fisherfolk; tend to herds of buffalo, goats, ibex, pigs
Dynasties
1050 Emerald Empire of Gaoro Semudan
1170 Unification of Helegu
1322 3rd Time of Chaos (end of Gaoro Semudan)
1337 Helegu invasion of Telehetti
1351 Time of Warring Princes
1410 Ruby Empire of Redin Semudan
1473 Now
In Game
  • Characters have entered Semudan via the Port city of Goropela

Magic

Magical Items

Dark Heart of the Night

Unique magic item

Dark pulsating artefact accessed through sacred Stone Groves

The Dark Heart of the Night is a physical naturally formed artefact that has reappeared. It is ancient and wild and nasty and revels in the battle of fang and claw and blood and violence. It is part in this world and part in ******* and will phase in and out of existence according to its own dark nature.

The Dark Heart has a dark intelligent cunning, it is a thing of brutality and by bonding with it the Crag possesses many of its powers.

It has appeared within a large double ring of standing stones “sacred stone grove” in a wild and hilly area of Treonol that was once surrounded by a large number of villages until they were destroyed by the Helegu.

The Dark Heart connects through ****** to *******, from which it draws its power.

Its appearance is that of a floating dark womb, where some dark, coiled serpentine thing rattles its scales and threatens death. It is entirely transparent and floats amid a glow of dark violet light that automatically reveals the unseen within 30”. Its other powers:

  • ** charges - recharge *d* each sunset
  • Allows the right of the beast at certain times (e.g. full moons at midnight when the wanderers are in the correct pattern - ** charges
  • Create disease 3x (from sunset to sunset) - * charge
  • Create major disease 1x recharge *** on d* (from sunset to sunset) - * charges
  • Cast * 2nd level spell (minor benefit) recharge *** on d*
  • Counterspell - * charge
  • Meld with Minor Loa Warrior Spirit - * charges = +*AC (natural), +**hp, +* damage type by melee weapon, spell resistance - Lao Warrior Spirit melds with attuned
  • Meld with Lesser Loa Warrior Spirit - * charges = +*AC (natural) +**hp, +* damage type by melee weapon, *** damage reduced by *; spell resistance, reaction add d* to AC
  • Grant resistance to ****** (minor benefit)
  • Weapon gains d* of damage type (major benefit)
  • Animals within 30” are hostile (minor detriment)
  • Appearance changes (minor detriment)
  • Dilutes potions within 10” making them non-magical (major detriment)
Arkham Bell

Revered item of each Wererat Clan

Staff of Shadowfel

Rare magic item (requires attunement) There is one unique staff that is aligned with a unique Staff of the Feywild. When paired they serve as control keys for the Pale House artefact mechanism.

Bronze Band (belongs on the head of the unique Staff)
  • Summon Shadows (3x individual Shadows in a day + 3hp loss that cannot be recovered until a long rest) can be done as a bonus action (requires concentration)
  • Grants darkvision 60” (increases darkvision by 30” for those already in possession of darkvision)
  • Darkness spell (1x day)
  • Summon Shadow Demon (1x week + 12hp loss that cannot be recovered until a long rest)
  • Shadowstep (1x day as per monk skill) can be done as a bonus action (reduce Con by 2 until a short or long rest) (requires concentration)
Staff of Feywild

Rare magic item (requires attunement)

Engineer’s Juggernaut Armour (Wererat Horned God Cult)

Rare magic item (requires attunement)

Chaos Cannon (Wererat Horned God Cult)

Rare magic item (requires attunement)

Zombie Master’s Rattlestick

10 charges, recharge d8+2 each dusk,

  • Maximum CR of affected undead = proficiency bonus of holder
  • 1 charge = bonus action - range 30’, target undead heals 2d6 hit points
  • 1 charge = reaction - range 30’, target undead rerolls 1 saving throw
  • 1 charge = action - radius 30ft, target undead gains AC bonus = proficiency bonus of holder. Duration = wisdom or charisma bonus of holder +1 in rounds
  • 1 charge = action - range 30’, target undead gains 2x proficiency bonus of holder on successful melee hit and loses 1x proficiency bonus in hp when damage is dealt
    • Duration = wisdom or charisma bonus of holder +1 in rounds


Magic

Sigil Magic


Constructs

Yawgoth Spawn

Inspired by the fallen empire of Yawgoth and the Elder God Architeuthis, Jessudu the Sumptuous created a water-construct known as the Yawgoth Spawn.

Using broken shards and potsherds from that empire she spent decades designing and building the sacred jars that are necessary to contain the skins, bones, horns and cartilage needed to reform the Yuggoth Spawn each time it is created. The columns through her coral palace contained the sigils to reconstitute the Yuggoth Spawn each time. Incredible force of will was required to hold it together otherwise it would breakinto millions of pieces and dissolves back into the ocean.

Jessudu was working towards the spawn existing fully and not dissolving back to water without her will to hold it together. According to recovered aqueous humour scrolls, Jessudu was very close to doing so but needed to time it with the coral palace's close celestial proximity to the Elemental Plane of Water.

Yawgoth Spawn abilities at full potential:

  • Multiattack (3x pseudopod only against separate targets):
    • Pseudopod +14 2d12+10 bludgeoning damage + 3d10 acid damage (Range 20”)
    • Engulf (DC14 Dexterity save) or 2d12 bludgeoning damage + 3d10 acid damage
  • Regeneration
    • 3/day while fully immersed in water may spend full round (no other actions) to regain 3d10hp (recharge 6 before 2nd or 3rd healing action may occur)
  • Engulfed:
    • Engulfed victim is restrained, has total cover, can’t breathe and takes 6d10 acid damage + 4d12 bludgeoning damage
    • DC20 strength check to pull victim trapped out of the Spawn but takes 3d10 acid damage + 2d12 bludgeoning damage
    • Gains HP = ½ acid damage done to any creature engulfed; Any temporary HP above maximum disperse 3 rounds later
    • Damage Resistance - Cold, Fire, Lightning, water based damage
    • Damage vulnerabilities - Thunder, adamantine weapons
  • Damage immunities - Acid, slashing, piercing
  • Blindsight 120”, PP 8
  • Water transparency - DC15 perception check to find if it hasn’t moved or attacked

Antagonists & Protagonists

Elder Gods

Aves Reva

An Elder God who dwells deep in perpetual darkness

A bringer of nightmares

Known groups that seek or claim a connection to him are the "Order of the Hidden Aves Reva" and the "Monks of Oba"


The Horned God

An Elder God, certain cults (including those of the Wererats) revere the Horned God

The Horned God dwells in the Great Beyond

On the last night of first new moon after the autumn equinox and on the last night of the last new moon before the spring equinox it is named as the Time of Sacrifice

At the Time of Sacrifice a living creature/s (preferably a sentient creature) is sacrificed – totally 13 in each year - starting with 1 autumn/12 spring, 2 autumn/11 spring etc. until it starts over again

On every 13th cycle it is possible for a Time of Hunger and Sacrifice is announced by the Grey Seers

The Time of Hunger and Sacrifice means that over a 13 day period culminating on the last night of the new moon a series of sacrifices occur at the deepest night hour – 1 on night 1, 2 in night 2 etc. culminating in 13 on night 13 (total 91 sacrificed)

The Horned God is heavily linked to chaos, destruction and slaughter

Cultists believe the Horned God is returning to the world

Some believe that the Horned God will devour this world and spare only those who bond themselves in servitude to it

The Horned God is linked to the Alin and the war that destroyed them and the empires they patronised

Warred with Ammutseba and other Elder Beings in the distant past

The Horned God first became aware of Faerun via the Alin who initially were allied with the Carkade


Ammutseba

A powerful elder being, the Carkade elite made pacts with Ammutseba as their empire collapsed around them. While the rest of their race, lands, cities and culture were immolated, the elite and important servants were saved from oblivion by being granted the gift of immortality and being turned into undead - the mummys of Carkade.

They now await a summons from Ammutseba and it's agents to step into the present day.

A cult has sprung up in worship of the Mysteries of Ammutseba

Ammutseba is heavily linked to death and sacrifice

Warred with the Horned God and other Elder Beings in the distant past

Cultists believe that Ammutseba wanders the darkness of the void and its return is imminent


Hecate

Elder Goddess of Witches

Has been absent for millenia


Yurlunggur
  • The Elder God of Dissonant Transpirarion
    • Transpiration = the action of Transpiring
    • Transpiring = to escape through pores/openings; to be revealed or become known
  • Was once more; many and the same Yurlunggur; now there is just the one
  • Yurlunggur spends all existence seeking and calling out across all existence and the voids for its lost selves
  • Depicted as a blind serpent whose planet spanning body blackens the night sky where it touches this plane from the Great Beyond as it continues on its eternal journey, unknowable to most beings
  • Yurlunggur is truly an ancient Elder God
    • exists at the very fringes of existence
    • passes through the void of the Great Beyond
    • almost perpetually distant from all things
    • exists purely within its own mind-dream state
    • almost entirely unaware of the multiverse about it
  • Yurlunggur is one of the few beings that can pierce "the threshold"
  • Is contained within the voids but is free to roam existence during times of upheaval
  • Yurlunggur is a force of the cosmos that cannot be reasoned or be communicated with; but whose wake changes the shape and underpinnings of existence
  • Avatars of Yurlunggur are parts of itself split off to go search among existence for its other selves
  • Most Avatars simply disintegrate back into the quanti where they wait to be reabsorbed by the Elder God; however a very few become self aware and become creatures of significant power in their own right
  • One Avatar is Wonambi, who is the powerful creature that propels the power of the Dark Heart of the Forest
  • Archilogical evidence supports the Cariden having made made contact with Yurlunggur in the distant past
In game
  • The party has what is claimed to be a genuine scale from Yurlunggur:
    • found in the Eekeb Vandorack's chamber in the Feywild Fortress
    • is transluscent hinting at varying colours
    • is extremely light and thin, but very tough (cannot be bent)


Architeuthis
  • Elder God of Prophecy and Hunger
In game
  • Jessudu's records indicate that Jessudu claimed to have had an encounter with Architeuthis and pointed her on the path to creating the Yuggoth Spawn


Gods

Distant Players


Powerful & Cosmic Beings

Ancient Witch Queens

There were once more but only 3 are known to modern day warlocks.

They stepped freely across multiple planes and dimensions and could phase in and out existence. So powerful they had multiple patrons (i.e. were the most powerful of warlocks) and eventually exceeded the strength of their patrons and ascended.

Were a fractious triumvirate constantly contesting and struggling against each other. Used followers to conduct an endless proxy war with each other.

Rarely seen after the fall of the Sarpadian Empire 500 years ago - they were seekers and followers of Hecate, Elder Goddess of Witches, whose dormant power they craved above all else.

Emtariath - Ancient Witch Queen of the Aphotic

Depicted as striking woman with multiple arms, headdress, golden reticulated talons covering the length of each finger, face beading, hair in lavash rolls. Sharp Ruby between eyebrows. A powerful golden amulet over her breasts.

Aphotic - Growing in the absence of light; untouched by light

Toruja - Ancient Witch Queen of Otherwhere

Wears a half mask of a black hawk with prominent silver & black beak and metallic appearing feathers fanning out in an aura effect. Wears a blue or white dress trimmed in gold and a lapis lazuli amulet around her neck.

Sows discord

Sili - Ancient Witch Queen of Lamentations
Witch Queen Sili

Wears a green Day of the Dead mask with a series of different length spikes emerging in a halo from the mask. The longer spikes are gold covered in small circular etchings. The shorter silver spikes are partly covered in pressed colour beads. Three beaded chains link the spikes that cross over beneath her mask. Sensual. She has tattooed ivory skin.

Brings suffering


Hosts of the Feywild
Marquis Artimar Mal Adra (Lord of the Silvery Sea, Preserver of the Deltic Knots, Watcher in the Evenwoods and Delusion’s Favourite Child)

One of the powerful lords of the Feywild and patron of the Bruja Ubusera

Unseelie Lady Nakiasha Wysayra keeper of Angelfire

Patron of High Steward Eeked Vandorack

Lady Auchomelgen

"blessings and protection be upon you"

Protector and defender of the scattered Ephereum throng

Important NPCs

Boss Jari
  • Boss Jari of Clan Crokuz is the leader of the one of the Janto Trader Clans
  • Boss Jari wears a heritage suit of armour which has affinity only with those of his kin
    • It can be called into existence as a bonus action
    • Calls up a war javelin that can throw bolts of lightning


Boss Jari's granddaughter
  • She is a powerful seer and claims to know the identity of Ophion's 'father'
  • In exchange for sharing this information with Ophion, they are now betrothed, set to marry in 3 years time.


Bruja
The Bruja Ubusara
Background
  • Bruja Ubusara lives in the village of Haybek with her blind old aunt (is an Emerald Hag in service to Ubusara)
  • The Hag is the “front” to contact the Bruja.
  • Has a tiny figurine of Gueil (a Loa):
    • cross legged male figure, hooded tunic, metal-banded comforter, waist-tight jerkin, banding on left arm, symbol of Faerun on right foot, and holding a skull in each hand
    • the exposed parts are extremely lean with very long fingers
    • Recently started to become hot for brief periods of time, once glowing so hot with heat that nearby objects caught fire
    • It displays an unknown symbol whenever it heats up.
Affiliations
  • She is a warlock whose otherworldly patron is Marquis Artimar Mal Adra, Lord of the Silvery Sea, Preserver of the Deltic Knots, Watcher in the Evenwoods and Delusion’s Favourite Child.
  • Connections to resistance to Treonol Autocrat and the Helegu unknown
  • Was able to speak on behalf of the Treonol underworld, her status in their ranks is unknown
Relationship with the Crag
  • Knows his chosen name;
  • Knows his previous but not current location;
  • Has alternately fought against and sided with him;
  • Suspects him of being behind the werewolves;
  • Knows about the killing of the Jayak tribe;
  • Knows he has claimed the mantle of Dark Heart of the Night
Relationship with the Witch Queens
  • Sili is spread thin, not sure what this means - Sili can sometimes demonstrate power but doesn’t interact directly;
  • Knows the stories of Sili seeking out Hecate’s power
  • Knows Sili has been active the past few years after decades of silence
  • Has twice had fleeting contact with Sili and it was “compelling and monstrous”
  • No contact with Emtariath or Toreja, but recognises the signs indicating their return
In Game
  • “I put a hurt on him” - she was boiling hunks of meat and hanging them on hooks when the characters arrived.


The Crag
  • Is a druid named Cemcrall Crag leads who leads a resistance to the construction of the forts and roads through the east of Treonol as they cut through his territory and pose a risk to his position as a tyrant among the people, and as the living agent of the dark heart of the night
  • The resistance he leads is a cobbled together alliance of different people and different groups with very differing goals
  • The Crag is a fanatic in his pursuit of returning Treonol to a freer but far more brutal time
  • A cult of personality is rising around him.
  • He used the fury of betrayed Jayak warriors to his advantage and made a dark pact with the surviving elders
  • Using a dark ritual the 8 remaining warriors were “gifted” with wolfen lycanthropy
  • Under the Crag’s control the werewolves were attacking the strung out labourers camps and in the 4 weeks before the party arrived using ambush + hit & run tactics they had killed 200 workers and 75 Treonol soldiers - 2 of the werewolves had been killed but 7 very strong warrior werewolves remained
  • Some fanatics were transformed into werewolves, they were zealots who have sworn a blood oath to serve the Dark Heart
  • They consist of Treonol peasants dedicated to fighting the outsiders and their own people who have turned their back on their culture
  • They willingly serve the Crag, while the Jayak, while human at least, are still filled with anguish over what they have become, although as they descend further and further in bestiality the anguish diminishes piece by piece.
  • The werewolves retreat to the forests during the day and move to a different location each time, normally near one of the many minor sanctuaries the Crag uses
  • While the Crag controls the werewolves while transformed, he does not automatically command them while in human form.
  • He has a number of spies and informants among the Treonol people, especially those who long for a return to “the old ways”
  • The old ways is the primitive, primal way of existence where the strong prevail and violence is both normal and desirable
  • The Crag sees his people as having lost their way, having become soft, have lost their connection with the inner beast and have left their traditions behind
    • “We no longer revere the beast. We run from it. We have forgotten to fear the dark. I am the dark heart that will change all that.”
  • He has a small number of followers who act as go-betweens for him and others, although he will rarely will deal directly with other people of significance
  • He has a tight band of devoted followers who serve him and act on his behalf.


Matron Elekandri Semushina of the Singidi Circle
  • Watches over by the Singidi Circle from the city of Maa
  • Resides in the tallest and mightiest of the Spur Towers
  • Oft-times seen in public on the back of a fully armoured war-rhino, the Matron is a fighter of enormous prestige and power.
In Game
  • Assassination attempt by Duergar wielding warpstone loaded crossbows, concealed under illusion - warpstone harnesses phantom energy - thwarted by characters
  • A Silver Dragon, who is connected by familial ties to the Semushina Tribe agreed to attend on the day of the ceremony celebrating the defeat of the Helegu hordes and allowed the Matron to ride upon it's back.


Grand Merchant Colphon of Jyrgal
  • Seen as the 3rd most powerful figure in Treonol behind the Autocrat and the Mughal


The Treonol Autocrat, Maro Kush Nefor
  • Singular ruler of Treonol


Houtl-Het, Mummy Noble of Carkade
  • Was awakened and brought forward from the timevoid after 6000 years adrift
  • Was searching for the one for awakened her (it was *its safe to go back into the water*) and seemed that she did not anticipate on becoming one of the great undead
  • Had been sending out undead war parties to either chase others away from the ruins or to parts unknown, often lead by Wraiths.
  • Her forces had clashed with nearby hobgoblin legions.
  • Some captives were subject to brutal ritual before their fluids were drained and vital organs consumed - barracks contain butchered bodies hung on hooks, on slabs, organs separated into canopic jars, all for the consumption of Houtl-het.
  • She consumed vast amounts of the mana before the party's arrival and was much more 'fleshy' than the other mummys.
  • Was building and summoning an undead army but had been unable to summon or create a being of greater than CR4; however was partway through a ritual to create Dredge Skeletons before she was disrupted by the party
Temple Complex
  • Originally this complex was the great house of Houtl-het and her family
  • It included many dedications to the Great Alin Patrons on the exterior and Ammutseba in the hidden or private interiors.
  • For millennia the great house was nothing but a handful of ruins covered in centuries of debris and landfall.
  • With the reawakening of Houtl-het, the great house itself has began to emerge from hidden depths, while the servants of Houtl-het and cultists worked relentlessly to repair the grounds and walls.
In Game
  • Ended up in the "care" of the Witch Queen Sili in exchange for the life of the little girl
  • The 'little girl' was both cultist and Houtl-het's human familiar.


Captain Bail Kenzee
  • A former captain of the Ventide Shield and former favourite of the Autocrat Maro Kush Nefor before court politics saw Bail’s opponents threaten his position.
  • "Clashed" with one of the Grand Merchant's of Treonol.
  • Moments before his enemies acted to depose him, the Captain was rewarded for services to the Autocrat and effectively sent into exile.
  • At first interested, now he is obsessed by unravelling arcane secrets and in particular the other planes.
  • He set up a fortified manor at the edge of the Erensari in the Chalk Tablelands east of the monstrous Rakis Rift.
  • With him in exile were 8 bodyguards, his champion, his High Steward, 10 skilled artisans/tradespeople and 200 slaves.
  • He has formed a new mercenary group (the Skaedguard) and trained a small force totally under his control.
  • The Skaedguard now control an area of the Chalk Tablelands and its equivalent space in the Feywild.
  • He is always accompanied by 4 personal bodyguard and except when in his personal chambers at least 1 of his 3 chiefs


Eekeb Vandorack
  • A black Dragonborn warlock currently aligned with the Skaedguard Treanol Chapter House
  • He was the former High Steward of the Eventide mercenaries, and former aide to Bail Kenzee
  • He has been accused by the Eventide mercenaries of stealing a sacred text, 'The Ascension Rites of Bhaal, along with Kenzee.
In Game
  • It was revealed he is a servant of Nakiasha Wysayra 'The Unseelie Lady and Keeper of Angelfire' and supported the Witch Queen Toruja


Drake Olgad
  • He is the personal champion of Captain Bail
  • Was apprenticed to Bail during Bail’s ascension through the upper ranks of the Eventide Shield and during his 5 years tenure as Captain
  • In that time he progressed from a fierce but green brawler to a formidable warrior of great prowess
  • An encounter with powerful Feywild inhabitants that killed the previous Sergeant of Arms left Drake weakened and near dead for months
  • He has now recovered and is regaining his former strength
  • He is often accompanied by the Red Moranth ‘Torn’


Jessudu the Sumptuous
  • A Marid Noble
  • Exiled from the Elemental Plane of Water for her part in a failed coup
  • Carries the mark of the exile on her body at all times
  • Seeking revenge against those who exiled her - the Sibonorn Marid Royal Family
  • Came in contact briefly with the Elder God Architeuthis, whose visions pointed her towards the fallen empire of Yuggoth
  • Using broken shards and potsherds from that empire has spent decades designing and building a water construct - a Yuggoth Spawn
  • Obsessed with the story of Jux (has Jux's face of in mosaic on the workshop floor)
  • Obsessed with the story of the 3 Anti-Gods (Anti-God of Gold, Anti-God of Water and Anti-God of Empire)
  • His palace is saturated with sigils, which Jessudu is able to use & manipulate
  • Is obsessed with vengeance
  • Has the appearance of treating his slaves with respect and grandiosity, but no slave ever leaves alive
  • Uses the remains of his slaves to feed ocean beasts and to fill the contents of his jars
  • Uses Merrow and a Shadow-Serpent as guardians to his Coral Palace, and was appointed 4 gladiators as personal attendants when she was exiled
  • Naishud the Exalted is sibling to Jessudu
In Game
  • Used a "Disjunction" sigil to split her physical body into a thousand pieces in the hope that his essence would survive and she would reform at a later date


Cults/Groups

Cult of Ammutseba


Cult of the Horned God


Cult of Bhaal


Cult of the Dark Night


Order of the Hidden Aves Reva

Based in the far north along Radiant Sea the 'Order of the Hidden Aves Reva' attempt to understand and emulate the Elder God's connection to shadow and dark, both within and without.


Monks of Oba

The Shadow Monks of Oba follow the teachings of their founder Cane Hollow, seeking to understand better the universe and existence through the 'dreams’ of the non waking world they believe seep into the waking world. They differentiate non-waking vs sleeping.

Their leader's title is 'Sechum'.


Eventide Shield (mercenaries)

The Eventide Shield are a mercenary group with several chapter houses across the western continent. They have a fearsome reputation, always fulfill their contract and always sell to the highest bidder.

They have sold their services to the Helegu among others

20 years ago one chapter was employed by the Roaring Host to destroy a rebellious general who had taken up refuge in an abandoned fortress at the fringes of the Brass Desert near the Paracer Ascension.

For destroying the rebel general, his army and his followers Captain Bail Kenzee were allowed a share of the loot which included a +1 greataxe that was formerly in possession of the general’s Jinserric1 personal champion.

Captain Bail’s chapter spent a further 10 years in the pay of the Roaring Host finishing up in Treonol selling their services to the Autocrat. They were heavily involved in massacre at Phobos2, the Gestahl bloodbath3 and Jeshi Widom4 execution.

They have small chapter house, on a fortified hill 10 miles outside the Citadel of the Autocrat.

5 years ago after the Jeshi Widon execution, the Captain retired somewhere to the south of Trenol near the western edge of the Erensari in the Chalk Tablelands; which is on the northwestern edge of the inland freshwater ‘the Keshin Sea’. The Rakis Rift on the western side of the Chalk Tablelands is a huge natural barrier hundreds of miles long, routinely 10 miles wide and many miles deep in places.

He took with him the Great Axe (nick-named the ‘woodcutter’), which he wielded along with a shining greatsword, a personal retinue of guards, his best friend and personal champion Drake Olgad, his lifelong household steward Eekeb Vandorack and an entire household worth of slaves & servants awarded him by the Autocrat.

Leadership:

  • Rin Darkfighter - Captain of the Eventide Shield Mercenaries (Treonol Chapterhouse)
  • Cos Andromias - High Steward of the Eventide Shield Mercenaries (Treonol Chapterhouse). Cos is also a High Priest of Bhaal
Notes

1 Jinserric are a northern tribal people

2 Thousands of combatants and noncombatants deemed to be enemies of the Autocracy hunted down and ‘defeated’ by the Autocrat

3 The annihilation of a united Jayak army (the Jayak were the tribal people who were part-integrated part-at war with the Treonol who warned you about the Tiefling’s curse

4 Well-known ‘hero’ of the Autocracy who became a people’s champion when he was seen to be politically taking on the ruthless Grand Merchant Ruslan of House Mederen; executed at the order of the Autocrat after being declared enemy of the state and a massive manhunt

Ol Alem (dagger)
  • An order older than Semudan from the Time of the Warlords
  • Assassins, spies and killers
  • Founded by “Geele”


Hadrian's Crew
  • Elite fighter school
  • Secret goals of one world emperor under martial rules with the military preeminent
  • Reverence of ancient beings and gods dedicated to war, slaughter and destruction


The Butcher's Bill
  • Mercenary Army with many splinter factions
  • Powerful political players with their own compounds throughout parts of Semudan
  • Loathed but feared and useful
  • Among other reasons they are used by other secret societies and Semudan nobility for assassinations, intimidation and guerilla warfare


The Admired Transcendentals
  • Believe in hard-core blood sacrifice to be beloved among the gods
  • Blood of mortals for the blood given by the gods
  • Other religious practices are useless, soft and taking us farther away from the gods


The Starless Communion
  • Followers of the Gods worshipped during the reign of Carkade
  • All Death and Destruction Gods
  • The Elder God Ammutseba ruling over all others
  • Seeking elevation to rule under its authority


The Faithful of Fallen Sosso
  • Magicians dedicated to the obtainment of magical and esoteric power
  • Have a base in the lost city of Sosso known only to the inner circle


Cherished of Emerald's Blaze
  • Practitioners of the mysteries of secret Gaoro (specific practices revering and using the Loa)
  • Following in the “true” footsteps of the Sorcerer King


Drana's Hammer
  • Seekers of Esoteric knowledge
  • Wanting to rule from behind the scenes, using magic to influence the throne
  • Want to use the Semudan empire to further their own power and control over the “unseen” world


Impalpable Chosen of Skullbriar
  • Warlocks, cultists, necromancers and servants under the sway of Shadowfel entity “Skullbriar”
  • Was an enemy of the Sorcerer King
  • Skullbriar is a long ago fallen Titan whose original name is now unknown


The Nebulous Prestige
  • Believers in the “patrons”
  • Have contact with “Pelu Tolo” - aka the patrons
  • View the Pelu Tolo as the true rulers and creators of the people


Creed of Piceous Strange
  • Cultists dedicated to return of the Elder Gods


Golden Brazier
  • Seekers and users of occult knowledge who wish to rule overtly over the hidden and seen world with humans as rulers over all and the Golden Brazier as elite over all humans
  • Wanting a paradise; believe in the greatness of ancient “supermen”


The Djembe (the rope)
  • Loosely allied thieves-criminal organisation spreading across all of Semudan
  • Required reverence of the silent Carcharias who commands all
  • Traders in esoteric and forbidden objects
  • Each chapter is ruled by a “Kingfish”
  • Breakers of bones and thugs


The Polaris Revelation
  • Believers in the imminent arrival and rising of new gods
  • True bright eyed believers wanting to see the modern gods and elder gods burn

Monsters

Drakes
Wind Drakes
Wind Drake in flight
  • Flights are lead by a Lore Keeper
  • Long serpentine bodies
  • Transparent and slightly amorphous
  • Air elemental nature
  • Rarely (if ever) land, spend their lives in perpetual flight
  • Have been known to provide tribute or service to Cloud Giants


Zombies
Abattoir Zombie
  • Gains hp equal to damage done


Reaper Zombie
  • Does necrotic damage in addition to normal damage


Bog Zombie (Bog Raider)
  • Has sneak attack and stealth


Zombie Master
  • Command and power up zombies
  • Quicker and smarter than other zombies
  • Might not stay *dead* like other zombies after being knocked out for the count


Zombie Juggernaut
  • Has undead fortitude against all attacks
  • Can expel actions to massively regenerate


Vesper Zombie
  • Drain other zombies to throw necrotic energy at enemies


Specters and lesser incorporeal undead
Hypnotic Specter
  • Huger and stronger than regular spectres
  • Have a Hypnotic Glare that stuns
  • Transitional-state makes all attacks by the 'uncharismatic' against them difficult


Skulking Shade
  • Weak individually
  • Gain in strength the larger the pack
  • Do poison damage

Events

Timeline

Secret Chest of Forbidden Knowledge

Session Notes

-hiatus-

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