Contents

The Player-Choice Style Campaign

Setting Essentials

In-game requirements that help with this setting is creating a home-base. A home-base needs to have some level of isolation to allow exploration based Session Choices, at the heart or the frontier of the unknown. Ideally a home-base would be somewhere the players start as an unknown party, that is open enough that players can influence it but is ruled by an authority they are unable to challenge. This is where players get their Session Choices and retreat to once objectives are achieved. Their characters have a safe haven, free of outside threats, a place for Out-of-Session Choice and access to whatever facilities you deem necessary. It should also not be completely detailed allowing expansions depending on the player characters personalities and demands. It is possible in a later stage to allow characters to change home-bases to another faction but this should not be necessary unless players are unsatisfied with the current set up.

Another feature is managed player travel. The home-base should be set somewhere far from large political factions, free of external threats but close to exploring unknown frontiers. So usually it is isolated in some way. Yet unless the players choose the Explore Choice they should be able to be transported to their objective with minimal in-game time. As such travel should be controlled to some degree by the GM to manage time along the journey. Travelling back from the mission should not take up session time or incur any encounters.

This player-choice style campaign brings more relevance of exploring and shorter quests. As we discuss in Session Choices players can choose to explore some of the unknown areas around their home-base or take a mission that takes as little as one session to complete. This does not mean that your sessions should play like a series of one-shots with no narrative threads or unity. Overarching plot and separate anthologies are both fun to play. I recommend using a mixture of both and give out clues when the players stumble upon a larger story-arc. Or if players actively want a long narrative, let them know what is available around them out-of-game or even in game. This can be done through Faction missions, things they discover during Exploring or even within an Out-of-Session Choice.

What can your setting be about?

Whatever you and the players choose! This guide will be focused on an example setting called Sea of Knives and what can be chosen there. It is an unexplored marine area broken up by small uncivilised islands surrounded by dangerous seas, in the world of Terra Transbietta. It is perfectly suited for the play style listed above. Players will start as neutral adventurers operating out of Black Tooth Cove, a secret guarded pirate haven in the centre of the Sea of Knives. Before each session players can decide who they want to play with and what Session Choices (chapter 4) they want to take. They can do much to explore uncharted wilds, dig deep into clues for a conspiracy, search for lost knowledge, raid merchant vessels, get involved with political schemes, save the world, fight monsters, take loot or just sail past any of this. It is up to you to provide the players with the choices from what you enjoy running. Remember as a GM you are a player too. If you try a few Session Choices and find the experience unsatisfactory you can make the options you prefer more frequent.

The Sea of Knives is just one example, the player-choice style principles can easily be applied to other settings. Rather than a fantasy pirate-exploring setting you can easily take your players on a sci-fi adventure in an uncharted solar system, or a post-apocalyptic scenario through a wasteland on traversable on dirty war machines, a dead wild-west where the only way to explore is through ancient rails on steam trains or a portal hopping adventure through time and space. Just remember your setting is for players and players are not made for it.

It is up to you to provide the players with the choices from what you enjoy running. Remember as a GM you are a player too. If you try a few Session Choices and find the experience unsatisfactory you can make the options you prefer running more frequent.

Factions and Societies

The Sea of Knives is surrounded by other larger biomes. Aimos acts as a connecting point for civilizations that otherwise would never meet. Those civilizations that have grown around here are desperate to keep their foothold, keep their traditions or dominate trade, causing conflict between them. The main powers the players would have heard of are below. I recommend using Black Tooth Cove as the Home-base for players. You can use the format used in its description as a template to convert any other settlement in Aimos into a home-base to suit your and the players' game. In a player-choice style campaign I do not recommend fleshing out every service or aspect of each possible home-base to leave room to reflect what your players would enjoy more.

Xorns Desire – Clothes and Cobbles

Along the high street towards Krakens Pub is the best place for the finest clothes. Based in the captain's quarters of a wrecked luxury schooner that was called Xorns Desire is a tailor called Doogey Windarmour. A Vruunid dwarf who has thinning bald hair and perfectly trimmed beard everything about him is neat and disciplined. This includes the rankless uniform of the old Vruunheim Navy he still wears. Lacking a lot of customer service skills at first Doogey tries to get to the point but once working on his craft his inner personality shows. He becomes excited and flamboyant, possibly in a way strict military Vruunid dwarven families may not encourage. He sells clothes, fine clothes and a few magical items e.g. cloak of protection found in the Player's Handbook. He also custom makes items such as costumes for the Bloodlocker.

Plastered and Blastered - Naval Ammunition

This establishment caters to captains and quartermasters that wish to provide the best for their crew. Does your crew love strong liquor to celebrate success? Do you look at your rum stores full of empty barrels and wish the space could be used more efficiently...like for weapons? Do you like coconuts? Introducing the one stop shop for your moonshine-projectable-flammable needs! Founded by Human treasure seeker Captain Throatslitter, who got the idea of propelling moonshine filled coconuts at her enemies, this brewery/ armoury is developing ammo that is also drinkable (see Chapter 10.)

Inns and Brothels

As a pirate cove in the middle of the remote and dangerous Sea of Knives many things are lacking here. Fresh water, basic infrastructure, foodstuffs, culture and law. What is not not lacking are taverns and brothels that cater for the needs of visitors and residents. Below are some of the examples found in Black Tooth Cove.

The Bloodlocker – Fight Club

Overseen by war clerics but run by a goblin bookey called Yufric, Guv'nor of Pain this is Black Tooth Coves prized entertainment. Basically a bowl of dirt in the ground surrounded by a domed cage yet it attracts more people every night than any other establishment. Yufric is rude and ugly who insults patrons, everyone hates him which he uses to goad people to give him money or enter the ring to fight. A variety of fights can happen here to single duels, group battles, gladiator events or other weird sports. Killing outright is discouraged but accidents do happen. Visitors can bet on victors as much as they want and can see as much as double their reward. Participants can do the same and winners get a standard 100gp each and one free post match punch on Yufric. Participants are encouraged to come up with a pseudonym and disguise to avoid outside match grudges. This is an excellent way for players to test their abilities, work as a team and learn more about combat, in a relatively safe way, in wrestling outfits. This can also be the site to resolve tensions and dramatic punishments e.g. The Dread Pirate Killer Leviathan in the past has used The Bloodlocker to force disappointing crew members to fight to the death, only allowing one to leave.

Part-time traders

Many traders and travellers pass through Black Tooth Cove before heading to ports where goods get taxed. These set up shop in stalls called the Dockside Market. As such PCs can find a huge array of goods and interesting characters

Important NPCs

Secrets

Nirvorth is an ancient Black Dragon daughter of the Ebon Doom, Ruler of the Black, the most powerful dragon since the first age. He sent Nirvorth and her siblings centuries ago to conquer Aimos by taking over places of power. They were never heard of again and the house of the Ebon Doom diminished in that time. She was chosen to take over a point of greatest power in Aimos, a place guarded by The Lightkeepers, and nearly succeeded. One last defender stopped her by using an ancient curse the “Mallachd Ceangail Anam,” a curse of soul binding. The Lightkeeper tied her souls to Nirvorths bonding them for life. If the defender dies Nirvorth dies. If they separate too far they die. This also left Nirvorth with some interesting side effects, she couldn't die while her soul bound was alive and she began to share the nature of her captor, as such she has a conflicting personality and morality of an evil black dragon and a heroic Lightkeeper. Finding an accord with her new position, she protects the Lightkeepers interests whilst picking at and interfering the civilisations around her and gaining followers under a banner of black. That doesn't mean she is happy about being chained to another, so secretly keeps an eye out on how to break her bond. If this happens her cruel and evil nature will return fully.

Black Tooth Cove is the weapon of The Lightkeepers. All the power of an activated Beacon can be collected, focuses and utilised from here. The appearance of a Knife is an illusion in reality it is a giant ancient lighthouse and one of the most powerful weapons in the world. The entrance of this structure can be found in The Bonethrowers Cave. The Bonethrower is an ancient lightkeeper who used her ancient magic to prevent Nirvorth conquering it. They came to an accord, after much conflict, that allows the site to be guarded while pursuing their now shared desires of wealth and power. The Bonethrower was once known as Brona of Sorrows, a firlbolg follower of the celtic deities and trained under Slievenamon, the mountain of women, in the feywild. She was a hero but that all changed when using the soul curse for Nirvorth. She constantly hold back her now corrupted nature, although the desire to hoard is obvious as is her now skeletal appearance under the veil. She purposefully isolates herself worried of hurting others but the occasional lightkeeper still tries to connect with her plus she watches Nirvorth for any sign of betraying their accord.

Vruunheim States & The Argent Supremacy

The last shrinking “true” Grotid (see appendices) human nation has been driven to the edge of the continent by other civilisations and wild hordes. These humans were forced to turn to new ways to thrive after being pushed into resource limited lands. This bastion of Grotid culture united in these trying times under the dynasty of Grotvulfs and have since turned from fruitless land-based wars to newer ways to establish themselves. They have invested greatly in their naval abilities, winning them many victories and establishing themselves as a power in Aimos. This was not enough for some. A coup successfully wiped out the royal family and now the new regime is making waves.

Now under the control of Feldmarschall Schwarzen Egger and Zeemarschall Tronald Dump the Vruunheim States is now a colonial war machine. The coastal city of Argid has led the charge for colonising the surrounding islands, discovering resources and building vast fleets. Tronald Dumps state sponsored company, The Argent Supremacy, is leading this domination of Aimos leading to hostilities with the other civilisations. Although not concerned with the morality of their missions, The Argent Supremacy also suffers from unconcerning leaders, willing to shift blame and dodge responsibilities. The fortified city of Xerid, under The Feldmarschall is amassing an army. Using propaganda he has convinced the Vruunid people enemies are everywhere and only through strength of arms and loyalty to him can they defeat such evil. He categorises all people as part of his glorious mission or enemies that must be stopped. It is no wonder there are those that hate the new regime, perhaps waiting for a chance to overthrow these oppressors.

The Old Navy rebellion is ready to topple the regime. Veterans sworn still to the royal family and disgusted at the moraless leadership ready themselves for warfare. Expecting revolters, especially after a bloody coup, the regime has been harsh on any resistance. Public executions of suspects are common and forces dedicated to hunting for dissidents are very active. The Old Navy rebellion bides its time, especially since they are also protecting the last surviving Grotvulf, Princess Katya!

One of the greatest civil rights issues within this human nation is the multi-generational internment camps for Orcs. These Orcs are descended from an invading horde that caused brutal devastation to Vruunheim at that time. Only a few remember this event and a majority of those held have no connection to their traditions. Those held have been used as free labour or even as soldiers by the State in return for the promise of freedom and a form of citizenship. There are some examples of Orcs making their way in Vruunheim society and leading good lives but many that are released find themselves still subject to obstacles. The amount of work some of these Orcs must do can be variable, in some cases nearly impossible.

Sigmud Fraud

The offices of Sigmund Fraud seem like one of many upper class homes in Agrids well paved streets. A humble sign with brass lettering stating “Dr Fraud Offices, Mentanalyst'' is the only external signal otherwise. A pioneer in the field of Mentanalyst Sigmud claims by talking with a patient he can cure a wide range of personality defects and emotional trauma. Many are happy with the results although confused why they had to talk about their mother so much.

Jodel College

Grotid people have developed an ancient tradition of Jodelling. This specific form of singing was utilised by their bards in the upper mountains around Oxtrid to communicate long distances, cause avalanches to fall upon foes and other incredible feats. The practise has been shrunk much and this bardic college has been formed by a few masters that have left Oxtrid to encourage new blood to join. They have failed to impress many people and the city guards have been called repeatedly for noise complaints.

Uberkart

A new wave of transport has revolutionised inner city travel. Founded by great mages from a distant valley, is Uberkart. Using a magical calling device (see chapter 7) a mount is summoned and will carry the user to their destination. They have even integrated the spell within other devices used by those with a lot of money such as the P-watch made by Plum tech. Users of this device have been assaulted mid journey by traditional carriage drivers in a street war between the humble taxi and the arcane giants.

Old Navy Barracks

Founded generations ago by the first Zeemarschall Starkstahl. When the Vruunid people were nearly pushed to the brink of collapse this is where their first navy developed and overcame most of the issues of the time and since then has led the way for Vruunheims cultural, technological and military turn towards the sea. Since the rise of the regime and Zeemarschall Tronald Dumps focus on his Argent Supremacy this harbour has been left to crumble, focusing on the new dockyards. The site was meant to be stripped of all its worth but members of The Old Navy Rebellion have hidden aspects of this academy, including facilities for marine training, weaponry, shipyards and secret entrances to the city.

Important NPCs

Secrets

In the heart of Agrid (see Chapter 3) is a resistance force against Zeemarschall Tronald Dump made up of veterans of the Old Navy. They are still sworn to the royal family and hate those that sully their flag. They plan on a series of maneuvers that puts Princess Katya back on the throne but little do they know there is a traitor among them.

Xerid (see Chapter 3) based on Feldmarschall Eggers new worship of the Ascendent, supernatural strength, brutal machine and religious purges are all tied together. In order to perform the coup and ascend to power he made a deal with the ruler of the Nine Hells themself, although they are hiding their identity. This has also led to him seizing control of one of the Lightkeepers temples and taking their relic. As if this wasn’t bad enough this was only his side of the deal, the worst is still to come for the innocents of Xerid and the world when it is time to fulfill his end of the bargain.

Coradite Coralition

Mostly former-enemies, these are individual city states that have recently formed a loose trading coalition. They contain a variety of governing styles, cultures and interests. Though in a loose coalition and supposed allies against common threats (like Argent Supremacy, Bathylon Dominion & Pirates) they are very jealous and suspicious of each other. Privateers are often hired and used to alleviate these feelings.

Zamides

Hidden somewhere on an island in the Ghostmarches is the Theocracy of Zamide. Worshippers of an extreme religion dedicated to harsher aspects of The Stormfury. It is uncertain what they want out of the coalition making many in the coalition uneasy but their magical manipulation of weather, mastery of haemocraft and other gifts are highly prized. They rarely welcome delegates or traders, the only people entering seem to be slaves bought at markets throughout Aimos who do not return. Slavers around Aimos use the threat of selling slaves to this Theocracy as a threat to those who are difficult to control. However there are stories of the city state itself. They tell of following a strange labyrinth throughout the swamp, hearing the city before fogs reveal it. Chants of drones singing and screaming “May we see her depths!” Eventually this leads to a wide lake with crumbling ruins around and within it. In the heart is a small island in between where bridges connect it to the two sides. Here is a large half sinking black dome now dedicated to the most wicked aspect of The Stormfury. This island is where tributes are brought.

The city states main focus is the worship of and actions dedicated to The Stormfury as such the leader is the highest priest of the Tidecallers, Elder Mistmyr. Although her origins are up for debate there is no denying her devotion and swift solving of problems. The ranks of the Tidecallers seem to only include the hardened, the fanatical and the broken. Supporting society to help their leadership live in constant fear of being called heretics, leading to a fate worse than death. They are supported by a huge slave population to act as labour for industry and services. The one escape for them seems to be joining the ranks of the Tidecallers, an option open to even slaves. Death is rumoured is not the end here.

What the Tidecallers actually want in Aimos is unknown to even most of them, questioning Mistmyr’s vision is cause for heresy. She claims to be building towards a way for them to prove themselves and gain the favour of their Divine. Outsiders worry how much strength they actually have in reserve and what they could do if it is released.

Mother Mari

Appearing as an old dwarf woman is the woman responsible for the training of Tidecallers, nurturing or breaking them to achieve their best selves. Called by some as sadistic, correctly, her methods are brutal. She has been challenged to the Broken Shore many times and despite appearing beyond her peak, her power is still growing.

Secrets

This branch of worship makes sacred the right of challenging and striving for betterment. It is also the same religion that would make The Kraken (See Below) its highest member, as the current Chosen of The Stormfury. Elder Mistmyr outwardly supports The Kraken and claims Zamides is a vassal for its Reach but truthfully she wants it dead. She believes her purpose is to take the title of Chosen from The Kraken or atleast offer a challenge to keep it strong. Something The Stormfury seems to agree with. Elder Mistmyr is patient and has tried many schemes without being obvious enough to bring the wrath of the current champion against her people. It is only a matter of time before she crosses that line.

Bisu

On a few scattered fragile tiny islands, amongst the crystal water and reefs, lies the enchanted atolls of Bisu. Run by descendants of a great archmage and his apprentices, this city state contains scholars and arcanists obsessed with the pursuit of magical knowledge and growing their prowess. The populace is a mixture mainly of humans, half-elves, elves and dragonborn who all value the goals of this Magocracy. Currently those goals are to further their knowledge, gain arcane components and recover lost magical artefacts. It is presided over by the Archmagus, a group of the most well accomplished wizards in their fields, all in charge of a different aspect of the Bisunians teachings. This is the same structure that has been in place for the few centuries since its founding and the positions are usually kept till death, with a few exceptions. Changes have been proposed but long debates and longer processes make sure those proposals are lost.

The Magocracy is centered on a large island made of three joint steep sided dormant volcanos that have begun their slow descent to the bottom of the sea, becoming atolls. On the outer side very little development or activity occurs for several reasons. One being the obsidian structure of the ancient volcano is hard to manipulate by magical or other means. The second is that the structure inside thrives. This site was founded in a place of arcane resonance which were settled by ancient Dragonborn who have left ruins, who built within the caldera rock by unknown means. One of these Caldera ruins is used as living, work and research quaters of the upper echelons of society known as Caldera City. Due to growing population size a sign of excelling in the society is to have a floating home that stays within the confines but grants the residents more space than within the carved city. The second is reserved for The Azure Academy whose traditional schooling function is massively different in aesthetics to the crowded magical metropolis in Caldera City. The Third is off limits to those not on the Council, much to the annoyance of the residents in the small space. This is known as the Closed Crater.

Likely the least populated of the Coradite Coalition but they make up in attack power what they lack in numbers. A single war-mage can rain fire equivalent to a warship. Combining this with the elemental airships produced flown by the Bisunians make them welcome allies.

Amonora Cahagan

Archmagus of Innovation - The only female member of the Council and only one that has been for some time. Although Bisu is technically an equal society where magical merit is what a person's worth holds, in practise promotions come about with who you know and what club you are in. Most of the exclusive clubs are male only. Amonora is an old elf who has seen this countless times and waited for an opportunity to prove herself beyond doubt. After being missed again for promotion, she went over the heads of the council, helped write the Coradite Coalition and set it up so Bisu would gain favourable conditions and trading agreements. This has wrinkled a few powerful people but Amonora, gained promotion and has held onto her new position and often takes chances on those that would have little.

Uzin Onorim

Archmagus of Civilogistics - a fantastically old humanoid who nobody is quite sure what race or gender Uzin is. Uzin rarely is found outside of their chambers and acts as administrator, judge and civil leader in Bisu. Rarely speaks, preferring to communicate through subordinates, the rare time they do speak however leave scholars and poets scribbling it down like gospel and debate for decades over each word.

Wobey Eronin

Archmagus of Natural Wonders and Structures - a jolly human male that is rarely in Bisu except to catch up on his favourite shows and stock up on his favourite tea. An explorer in every aspect. He searches the world trying to find and understand new phenomena and uncover secrets within the physical realms. Despite his significant contributions he is a frustrating academic to work with often forgetting to fulfill his duties in research or teaching.

Exalted

Archmagus of Realities - nobody can tell if Estria is a bad or good example of what happens when you throw yourself into your own research. Estria was an aging human who used a nexus of focused ley lines to increase his divination and thought processes, believing himself close to a breakthrough or perhaps even Divinity. Something went astray in one of these experiments and Estria was no more, until reformed into the energy being called Exalted. Exalted has since roamed through Bisu, motives unknown, occasionally intervening or helping with research. Some of these examples are quite shocking, including the time an adept rudely requested his assistance and was polymorphed permanently into a talking chicken.

Headmaster Fumblefloor

Archmagus of Teaching - Like most of the Archmagus, Fumblefloor is a wizened old man of incredible age and talent. He stands tall, usually wearing traditional robes, small spectacles and often eating sweets. He appears to be a gentle and kind soul but there are rumours of some of the secrets he used to ascend to and hold his rank, enough to give even Ekalis pause.

Ildor Camorn

Archmagus of Defense - the latest to hold this revolving door position. The Archmagus of Defense is traditionally the Council position that has the shortest tenancy. Usually it attracts people who develop their own speciality in the most extreme way leading to it backfiring in some way. Some examples in the last century include the Flying Zombies Incident of 820 T.A., The Giant Blob Kerfuffle of 853 T.A. Roving Reverse-Dragons Slaughter of 873 T.A., The Time We All Became Jeff of 866 T.A. and The Let's Not Talk About It of 902 T.A. Ildor is the latest to rise to the position and the most promising and most controversial. He was not a native Bisunian but a captive hunjat warrior (see appendices) that was abandoned by his country. A mage slayer by speciality with some basic arcane learning, he is a practical man growing up with little but this practicability is an effective way of thinking the Bisunians fail at. He doesn’t believe in learning for its own sake but for necessity and tactical surprise. Since taking the position he has focused on fundamentals. This includes strengthening the already existing defences, uniformed and integrated training, building up intelligence networks and not focussing on big personal projects. Although many do question his motives, he lets his actions speak for themselves and although once a captive he feels he was always in a similar choiceless position in his homeland.

Secrets

The original settlers of Bisu should have been more cautious and less excited to claim an abandoned place of power. The extinct dragonborn culture they inherited was part of the resistance against evil Divines alongside the Lightkeepers. Not all the soldiers of this evil force were destroyed but imprisoned in magical isolation. As the millenia pass some of the wards keeping these beings back have weakened slightly. Enough for one of Those-From-Beyond has been able to slowly corrupt Bisunian leadership and make deals with more receptive individuals.

Minerie Capital

The largest and backbone of the Coradite Coalition, spread along hundreds of picturesque islands by the sunlit coast, is the Minerie Capital. An offshoot of the old crumbled Viborian Empire, these Mhye humans (see appendices) were left stranded amongst the sub-tropical islands and were determined to rise back to wealth. A mostly mercantile based society where wealth means all, shown in expensive displays and tastes, these humans are trying to keep themselves to the comfort they are used to.

The society was founded after the disastrous fall of the Old Viborian Empire. Refugees of this mysterious catastrophe fled to the mining outposts, colonies and summer villas in Aimos through the help of traders. Emperor Narcissus IV also arrived and claimed dominion over his subjects again. For generations the citizens followed the supposed exile emperors. However a lack of any significant military victories, by the Narcissus dynasties lack of military experience or counsel, shrunk the Mhye haphazard empire even smaller. Under Philto Narcissus II the Tumultuaria occurred. Philto, disconnected & ignorant to the needs of the masses or anything outside his Villa island, diverted more guards, wealth and resources to him and his council of Patricians. People starved, settlements attacked, suffered and all the while taxed or property just taken for the Emperor. Using the Minerie mines built under the Villa an underground attack occurred ending once and for all the Viborian dynasty and shackles of the old caste system. The Patricians threw Philto to the wolves, in an attempt to save themselves. When it was obvious they were still targets they ran into the mines themselves. They eventually were cornered and rather than fight, they sealed themselves in. Later on it was discovered that they turned to cannibalism in order to survive but no Patrician lived in the end. It was said the diplomacy of the merchant Gallicles Minervalis that saved the Aimos Mhye from chaos and built the founding principles of The Minerie Capital. Working with other companies the Mhye merchants used their connections to rebuild infrastructure and trade, dismissing the old fashioned notion of colonies and empires instead operated in a few islands in the Cote du Soleil and have slowly built up their wealth and naval presence.

On the outside this capitalist civilisation may seem harsh and unfair. There are many without wealth, without freedom even, but there is a belief that merit and hard work leads to riches, so respect those that have made it to that level is strong. For a warrior society only the strong can rise. In an aristocratic society only those of the right breeding can flourish. In a hunter society only the hungriest. In a magocracy only the smart. In a theocracy the most devout. Within this society theoretically anyone can succeed, the strong, the smart, the lucky, the hungry, the industrious.

It is a vibrant, multi-cultural and distinct society. Formerly the greatest power in Aimos and was trying to dominate many of the other factions until the rise of the Vruunheim States. The leaders of this land generally come from merchant backgrounds so know when to cut losses and adapt to new opportunities. The Minerie Capital founded the Coradite Coalition believing it the most cost-effective solution to ending warfare and the acquiring of their new allies' values. Ran by a senate that is openly for sale. Every vote for a representative is bought for and whoever out of the big merchants puts in the most money will see their chosen candidates in the senate enacting policies that suit them, usually laws to stem their business rivals. Although there are people with more civil motives. There is alot to this game however, spending too much can leave a bidder out-of-pocket which may not recover by next elections. Pacts, double-crosses and sabotages are common.

Va Dincis Workshop

In the midst of the rabble by the dockside is a small workshop people give a wide berth, despite the only occupant being a small human in ragged noble clothing. More rough denizens have tried to break in to steal from this apparent noble but leave maddened, spouting about contraptions and strange designs. This apparent inventor is watched over by many interested parties hoping something will be produced that is understandable and useful.

Preening Tower of Lisa

Amidst all the splendor and wondrous architectural achievements, standing slighting off kilter is the ancient Preening Tower. Apparently home to the traditional delicacy the Minerie call Piza, and finest chef school in Aimos.

Chapel of Divinity

The working title name of a long awaited exhibit made by four extremely gifted Tortles who excel in painting and sculpting. These Tortles are slow to complete their masterpiece but when they do produce something it is deemed excellent. Many of the elite class compete heavily to be their patrons and receive their gifts.

Important NPCs

Secrets

Behind the glamour of the Minerie Capital there is a secret organisation controlling almost everything. Tenebris Fortuna oversees the advancement of the Minerie Capital from the shadows. Using a system of strange favour coins (known as the bloodied coin, made from pieces of the daggers used in the Tumultari), criminal and political influences are the unknown rulers of the land. Founded when the Tumultari occurred. Philto actually invited his major critics from the mercantile class to his Villa and poisoned and threw them down the mine. Desperate and dying, these merchants cried out for help and the Vile Throne listened.

In return with power to fight back against the Emperor and being spared death the Vile Throne would ask for their assistance throughout the ages until the debt is paid. As collateral it will hold until the souls of all the citizens of the land. Amassing power, knowledge and wealth they spread rumours and rewards hoping one day they could be strong enough to fulfil the deal whilst also preventing another unworthy ruling class to rise and promote Minerie Capitals growth.

The leaders are the Hades Damnatio, cursed immortals with twisted powers. Each one requested an ability from The Vile Throne but are lessons of being careful for what you wish for. Obol, the leader, appears like an old man but with his eyes replaced with coins. He wanted to always see what fate had coming but now can never see what is around him.

Currently there are few people in the Minerie Capital structure that do not owe their success to this shadowy group.

Fingortab

Connecting a set of lifeless solid rocks is the gnome city of Fingortab. Nobody knows how they got there or why, but for whatever reason these gnomes are determined to work in this harsh environment, coming up with ingenious/ deadly solutions to survive.

The gnomish city of Fingortab is built like some sort of metallic spider sprawled over and through three gigantic rocks hundreds feet above the surface of the water. Entry to this city is done by being hoisted into its belly in a giant bucket, leaving incoming visitors in a small artificial lagoon. Instead of a blue sky theirs is bronze, instead of a beach there are rusted iron docks. But it is a port, just with an atmosphere of claustrophobia and insanity.

This city state is split into four areas, three built into the rocks Fingortab stands on and the sprawling structure that connects them. Drop Bucket Hold is the metallic connecting construction between the three rocks, highly protected by the Patrollers and where most visitors stay and trade. It also contains the Architects Auratorium, the meeting place of the choosing society leaders, their workshops and living quarters. It is also where petitioners meet them and a great arena for showcasing the annual designs which is the selection process to becoming or being removed from The Architects. The Architects is a sprawling and competitive organisation, containing 99 of the greatest inventors in Fingortab, selected by committee during the annual selection. Most are too afraid of losing their position next year so focus only to promote themselves in the rankings rather than trying to make Fingortab a better place. The gnomes here work hard, and play harder. Revelry rock is where gnomes spend their work tokens for entertainment. The deeper into the rock the newer and scarier the entertainment. A combination of magic, recklessness and innovation has led to unique entertainment found only here. Alot of which is very loosely regulated and can cause harm or death.

The reason for the need of Revelry Rock is Quota Quarry. Where the majority of work takes place. Gnomes clock in, work, and sleep in bad conditions in this area until they have enough tokens or completion of their own project is to clock out. Many will work months or years straight in an Architects factory for a binge in Revelry Rock whereas some will work full time for years to support their own projects in hopes of ascending to the Architects ranks. In order to cope with the high work demand and shorten their time here many gnomes take Fizz (see chapter 7), a drug that prevents exhaustion and prevents long rests. The Slab is the final area and the physical representation of the cost of this society. Once a residential area the bottom levels were turned to mines to gather more resources, something began to change. People began to go mad and change physically becoming what is now referred to as Hacked. The response was to seal this off entirely, only opening to throw in other undesired from the society. Yet breaches do occur so Patrollers are always on the lookout.

There is a faction within Fingortab that believe the practises made common are wrong. They believe The Architects do not serve the interests of the people, the Slab event needs answering for and people need better working conditions. This faction is called The Demolitionists, once a political stance now driven to the extreme, as moderate members have been sent to The Slab or killed. They are currently engaged in guerrilla warfare but how they plan to achieve their ultimate goal of toppling the current administration is unknown. Being the closed member of the Coradite Coalition to Vruunheim States makes the situation here worse. Almost constantly at siege by warships the gnomes of Fingrortab joined the alliance as a way to have supplies shipped to them while they maintained defense, something the gnomes excel at. Their navy is small but contain elite “Turtleships” which are slow but tough ironclads and their offensive weaponry is based on blackpowder, a rarity in Terra Transbietta. This gives them a devastating advantage in combat. The gnomes have yet to reveal the secrets of blackpowder to their allies but Praitan Port, who supply them a special pitch that can be refined into powerful blackpowder.

Blastborg

Another staple of Revelry Rock is the noisiest attraction, which is saying something, Blastborg is a shooting range, which has the twist of utilising Blackpowder (see chapter 7.) Here customers can fire weapons at explosive targets and enjoy watching it split into millions of little pieces. They also design experimental weapons but to utilise them there is a long list of paperwork one needs to sign. Ran by a gnome only calling himself Nitro. Always covered in soot and completely deaf but cannot use sign language since most of his fingers are missing. His assistant Woopsie helps translate for him.

The Pigeon Toss

The most highly anticipated event of the year is The Pigeon Toss. It is so beloved that this annual event has a huge space of land in the limited Revelry Rock. The Pigeon Toss is where competing tinkerers must race each other in mechanical machines to catch the “pigeon” for great prizes. To keep things fresh all year workers toil away to change this arena and add new challenges. Plans and prototypes for new vehicles and vehicle improvements can be discovered here.

Cogsmiths

The heart of Quota Quarry are rows of stacked workshops where tinkerers work on their employers designs and if they have enough energy, their own. The greatest tinkerers in Aimos work here and may be persuaded to stop their own task to produce something for wealthy travellers.

Gemseekers

Gemseekers are a guild of dungeon and cavern raiding gnomish warriors who exploit passages found and breaches into the slab. These independent hunters work outside the Patrollers for great profit, although the risk from creatures of the Underdark is high.

Auratorium

In Drop Bucket Hold is the sprawling centre of The Architects power. The Auratorium is the meeting place and living place of the ruling class of Fingortab society. Here is where candidates present their annual contribution to society in order to become one of ninety-nine Architects. To gain such an attempt takes an insane amount of work hours worth of tokens, let alone an incredible design or invention to get into this exclusive club, which is likely subject to party politics, corruption and conspiracies. Architect quarters are within this structure and have great workshops and living space according to their ranking.

Turntables

One of few establishments within Drop Bucket Hold is the Inn called Turntables. Ran by Klebbor, a gnome whose mother comes from outside Fingortab and his father from within, this place offers rest to the few traders that come to Fingortab and currency conversion for those that want to explore the city. The rates nobody knows is accurate but at least people who buy token don’t have to spend decades working in the Quota Quarry for them.

Important NPCs

Secrets

Master Architect Gnodwepp actually stole the plans of Praitan Pitch engines from a partner who he murdered in industrial sabotage. The original designs that have his victims' names on its held in his safe.

The Hacked are actually people who have suffered ill effects of Fizz. Some people who overuse it and suddenly rest can have a flood of magic and energy on their next long rest causing madness and mutation. The Architects know this but banning Fizz will destroy production.

Demolitionists use the air vents to move around, including those in the slab. They have a secret invention, a submarine, in a moonpool there that they use to get supplies. It was deemed a good place to have as a headquarters away from the patrollmen. Yet their network and supplies have come under notice from the denizens of The Slab. These include Hacked, criminals and monsters coming from the underdark.

Praitan Port

The final and newest member of the coalition. Invited by the gnomes of Fingortab these humans live in a stone city surrounded by a vast swamp. Descendents and followers of an ousted Grand Duke, Edmer Praitan I from a distant feudal society, made a home in the swamp to build their strength to one day return to their fatherland and claim it for themselves. They still claim this distant throne despite generations of never seeing this productive land and only the dismal landscape of the Ghostmarches around them. Still clinging to this claim, the Duchy is in charge but most of the government is run by stewards coming from the aristocracy. The rest of the people fall under a strict class system. This city state has found some luck in discovery of Praitan Pitch, cordite infused pitch that burns bright or can be refined into Blackpowder. This source led to trade pacts with the gnomes of Fingortab who in turn have shared some knowledge on how to utilise it. The gnomes concentrate on exciting and novel ways of utilising it; these humans have made advancements in the basic principles of Praitan Pitch making some new designs to benefit the town.

Despite being of Grotid descent, Praitan Port has failed to create good relations with Vruunheim throughout the years despite several attempts. The arrogant nature of the so-called Dukes and Duchess have not lent to good diplomatic ties, although most of these were before Vruunheim had seen their Blackpowder weapons. This is the same for most of the interactions with the other denizens of the Ghostmarches. Now with the dawn of their military armed with muskets they claim many small villages and outposts as vassals, much to many dislikes. Although technically agreed to these terms most of these settlements are so overlooked by the Praitan Port authorities they are an authority to themselves creating smuggling and crime rings within Praitan Ports structures. There are a few that want to be part of Praitan Ports protection and willingly pay homage but some have found the actual benefits outweigh the costs.

The city of Praitan Port itself is divided between highly industrious working class areas and wealthy neighbourhoods. From smoking factories and labyrinths of tightly packed terraced homes, workers pass through the smog to small pitch warmed homes, usually stopping at a pub or gin house before doing so. The most elevated areas are reserved for the upper class. Here is grand gothic architecture, grand churches, parks, townhouses, and The Iron Palace of Praitan. Members of this class have pitch lighted streets, proper sewage and as fresh as air as possible. Gentlemen spend their time overseeing their investments before retiring to membership clubs and lounges. Ladys are not held in equal regard in this society but a movement by a group called the Electettes have been gaining momentum to stop this.

The lineage of Praitan have had recurring issues with madness and rarely shown good leadership qualities. Most think the shame and pressure leads to this. The current heir is no different. Edmer the fourth is still a teenager but inherited some of the faults of his parents. Rarely seen by the public he spends most of his time in The Iron Palace, leaving the running of the civilisation to advisors. He does not have a direct heir yet but there are several members of his extended family that can make a claim for his title.

Cadtree Factory

Being part of the Coradite Coalition has allowed Praitan Port access to new foodstuffs. John Cadtree was a humble trader who saw an opportunity to turn some of the bitter beans imported into sweet treats. The Cadtree factory now produces the addictive substance known as chocolate.

Important NPCs

Edmer Praitan IV - The current Duke of Praitan Port and at the age of twenty he lives up to his ancestors legacy. That legacy happens to be useless, arrogant and drunk. Edmer is under the belief any hardship is an attack on him so defends by attacking those around him or ignoring it entirely. These traits has led much of the day to day running of Praitan Port to underlings, some with their own agendas.

Secrets

The smog around the town of Praitan is dangerous more so than most. By burning Praitan Pitch the coradite within it forms a special reaction altering the veil around the town. Distant planes and entities can interact with the town and its denizens. Lord Bootington and Sir Stephenson are aware of this and are trying to prepare accordingly.

Victoria Praitan is sponsoring the Electettes and trying to create social change within Praitan Port. Working with Sir Ewart Gladrock they are trying to change the situation in the city for the betterment of all. Alot of industrialists and Aristocrats hate this and are working to find these benevolent sponsors and leading a campaign, in private and public, to ruin them.

Other Factions

Bathylon Dominion

Deep beneath the blue sea and stretching from Aimos atolls to distant Vanith Coastline is the isolated Bathylon Dominion. An empire under the sea including many aquatic humanoids and a society foreign to all surface dwellers. Bathylon is truly strong and its savagery is the fear of every sailor. They rarely bother with friendly relationships with the surface world. The few times they have tried to be diplomatic have ended badly and they have long memories. So if a surface dweller encroaches on what they believe is theirs, there is no warning or explanation, they just end the threat.

This multiracial society was founded by sea elves retreating away from surface wars and coming across rifts to the plane of water. These rifts allowed colossal monsters to slip between worlds and sow havoc. The elves reached out for any allies, finding some through these rifts itself. In the plane of water the mighty Tritons tried to stem this tide on their side with martial prowess but found themselves completely outgunned. Together with the elves they formed an army and on Terra Transbietta sealed most of these rifts, saving the world for invaders from beyond. From there they settled forming a safe community under the sea integrating many other aquatic residents without homes.

The society still holds deeply to their noble warrior structure, with good reason. Under the sea there are few natural or built boundaries that can be used for defense and enemies still prowl. Most are trained as militia to supplement the standing army. Other than martial training civilians and soldiers are encouraged to take up divine and natural magics. These not only provide a magical arsenal, utilities and protections but also unite the citizens internally with the same moral structures, keeping peace. The community does not really have a concept of private property for the most part, everything was done for the betterment of everyone, although luxuries and individual treasure are held acceptable so long as it wasn’t a gaudy display. Theft is almost unknown and generosity is expected, including from leaders. Bonds and truths are held sacred, most die before breaking a vow and in doing so, their clan takes on the vows' completion. In past dealings with surface folk one of the sources of tensions was this. They were surprised by liars or people not living up to vows generations after it was accepted.

A new threat to this Dominion are the exploration and colonial efforts of surface dwellers. Although mainly underwater there are a few tactical and economic atolls Bathylon holds. The biggest threat however is the seemingly unstoppable Kraken and its forces. They are bent on the destruction and subjugation of Bathylon and may prove the greatest threat they have ever faced. Already losing territories some have accepted the need to adapt to new ways for help and others believe the tools to defeat it are within their own lost ruins.

The Krakens Reach

Beneath the waves lurks the most legendary creature in the world. The fear of the ocean can be traced back to one creature who bides its time, allowing coastal civilisations to recover before feasting again. Even those that escape its clutches by reaching land turn in fear as it crawls out of the sea, its huge maw just as capable of swallowing them in air. The Kraken is said to be one of the oldest and most powerful creatures on Terra Transbietta. A survivor of eons, it is rumoured to be part Divine or practically a god in its own right, but nobody knows its true history. Powerful beyond reckoning, able to warp the weather into a frenzy just with its presence and strong enough to topple cities, its greatest weapon is its mind. This monster has watched the rise and fall of races, civilisations and knowledge and learned. Almost a force of nature it has been granted boons by The Stormfury, becoming its Chosen champion in the realm, furthering its power to untold heights.

The Krakens Reach is the name given to everything under The Krakens' control. A network of monsters, slaves, civilisations and spies that allow The Kraken to spread its vast influence over the world. The Krakens Reach offers no gifts except abilities to highly useful agents such as spies or warlords. To those that join they are stripped of their cultures, histories and even names and put to work wherever The Kraken deems. The Reach currently extends to frozen shores to distant tropical lands, some villages outwardly worship it and others have no idea they have been subtly controlled, above and below the sea.

The Lightkeepers

The Lightkeepers are a secret group of heroes from all over the world, united in keeping the world protected from evil, particularly from Evil Divines. Originally descended from an alliance of five different cultures that united at the end of the Primal Age against evil invaders, over the ages The Lightkeepers have changed dramatically.

Originally made up of worshippers of good Divines to save the world they have at times, like many institutions, has been corrupted. In their history they have an evil authority, other times fractured with infighting and destroyed multiple times. The current structure is its simplest and keeps the mission. Warriors, mages, healers and heroes from all over the world have been recruited in its ranks. They go about their own business but if they discover an evil plot that is beyond them, they can call their allies.

At the end of the Primal Age an alliance of evil Divines tried to corrupt Creation by targeting the world of Terra Transbietta, seeing a weakness in Creation there. Spurred on by the arrival of Atropus, the not quite sentient Unborn Planet they attacked. The devastation was immense. Ancient races wiped out, old empires destroyed and the fabric of the world was warped. Some creatures like dragons and giants which previously dominated had their fertility greatly reduced, so have never been able to recover their numbers. It was ended by the assistance of good Divines, including the recently ascended Dawnchosen and a number of mortals. These mortals, worshippers of the divines focussing on different ones, banded together and built a weapon called The Beacon. This Beacon was activated when the worshippers concentrated holy relics together by placing them in hallowed structures known as The Lighthouses. The Beacon has not been activated since then, most fear using it as it has the power to kill even Divines.

Since this ancient battle some of these Lighthouses and Relics have been lost. The Lightkeepers currently hold The Lighthouse of Argid, powered by the Harp Strings of The Radiant One built by ancient Dragonborn, using it as their secret home base, under the guise of simple worshippers. The next is the Bastion of Xerid (see chapter 3) built by Earthen, ancestors to Dwarves. It and its Relic, the Gauntlet of The Oathkeeper, are currently under the control of Feldmarschall Schwarzen Egger who uses it for his own designs and has outlawed Lightkeepers. Close to the forested west is the Taighsolais on Ebon Rock (see chapter 3), built by Firbolgs. It is united with its Relic, the Cauldron of the Changebringer, but its power has been twisted. Lost by the Lightkeepers to a powerful necromancer who has reversed its power. He was supposedly killed by his slaves who now run the island in isolation. They are fearful of becoming enslaved again so do not even allow Lightkeepers entry but the shadow of the necromancer lingers still. In the far stormy north there is the Blastforge built by the Giants of old Ustaria, its exact location is lost as is its Relic, The Rod of The Stormfury. The final one is the Moonspire of Aslanis, built by the elves. It, like the city, has fallen deep beneath the waves and now is the lair of The Kraken. Its Relic, The Sceptre of the Starwanderer, has been lost somewhere in the feywild. The Lightkeepers wish to collect the Relics and the Lighthouses as they are powerful but together can help prevent a threat that slips through their proactive protection. Rumours have it whoever helps united these Relics with the lighthouses could receive a Divine Boon (see chapter 7)

Aimos and The Sea of Knives

The Sea of Knives is surrounded by other large biomes together making up the mostly marine continent of Aimos. Aimos has been ravaged by various cataclysms in the past and is still subject to magical and natural energies, strange ocean currents and weather patterns. These factors make the lands of Aimos variable in ecosystems ranging from sub-arctic to tropical systems with diverse dangers to match. During various ages civilisation have risen or expanded into it but have all fallen, littering the continent with various treasures and pieces of history. Below are the biomes in Aimos and what can be found in them.

Broken Teeth

A vicious set of knives stab out of the water like a series of joined broken teeth. They seem completely bare of flora, fauna and settlement but the cracked rocks and deep shadows may hide something you can't see without landing. A group of large, kelp-eating, lizards live on the islands eating fish & a group of very isolated and in-bred goblins. They are convinced the party are their deities as they believe everything beyond the sea is the afterlife. A group of goblins will try to sneak aboard the player's ship to reach the Holy Lands. They don't mention it but one of the reasons they believe the players are gods is because they an ancient shrine built by their ancestor crudely depicting at least one of the party

Broken Teeth Adventures: Recently ships have gone missing, last spotted near this Knife. The crews can be found toiling away in a quarry on this island with no memory or personality, bringing up massive piles of blackpowder. The culprit is a mad gnome using psychic manipulation on them all. They plan on loading ships with Blackpowder to enter and blow up Fingortab (see Chapter 2.)

Players encounter prospectors from the Argent Supremacy or Coradite Coalition looking to discover resources on the island. They find many exposed veins of precious metals within the goblin tunnels. The goblins are completely hostile to any attempt to exploit the resources of their home, not caring of their value to others. They are also resistant to accepting “civilised” cultures. The prospectors are likely to recommend “sudden relocation” or “forceful employment” of the goblins, which are gathering forces far beyond originally thought possible to repel them.

Choker Cove

A jagged Knife pierces the sky flanked by a wide reef of treacherous rocks, a thin cave shows light from the other side. The current begins tugging at your ship as if pulling you towards this mouth. Going around it could a day on your journey but going through is told be suicide by veterans of this sea. This cave is a place of hundreds of shipwrecks, all trying to get shortcuts or sucked through accidentally. Navigating your way quickly through requires a successful skill check to avoid crashing by being taken with the current. Stopping in order to search through these wrecks you must anchor your ship after navigating your way in and swim down. When searching, use investigation checks to see how quickly it goes. Meanwhile the ship will be attacked by scavengers, like Chokers (see wizards of the coasts Volo's Guide to Monsters), interested in live flesh for a change. They come in waves, sometimes jumping down, running across flotsam or swimming underneath. Underwater conditions get harder the deeper the players go, increasing the investigation check needed to search the shipwrecks. Failure on the investigation can lead to random underwater combat.

Choker Cove Adventures: A nobleman's daughter from Praitan Port wishes to claim her inheritance over her fathers estate, unfortunately her step-mother has an old will stating his estate will pass solely to his wife. This was three wives ago. An up to date will is in a locked safe aboard his pleasurecraft, she will give the players the combination of the safe and permission to take whatever else is inside, if the will is given to her.

A shipbuilder has been trying to crack the secrets of gnomish technology from Fingortab for ages but is unable to recover a wreck to investigate. If players help him investigate a wreck he promises them a considerable sum.

Bottom - 60ft+

Neonach Ship – The water here is getting darker, the silt ever present choking and binding but it clears just for a second to show the bottom of the ravine and briefly what it contains. A half buried ship in bad condition, , a ship of strange design and glittering wing like sails. Includes: wizard spell book (containing spells up to 6th level), scroll of (4th level spell), +2 arrows, golden dragon sail, wings of flying, wand of secrets. It is covered in silt and mud that can act like quick sand or blinds . Something in the dark however may be able to take advantage.

Frost-giant Galley – The descent into the cove only gets darker and more frigid, more than natural. A faint ghostly blue light surrounds a ship, larger than any you've ever seen. Clearly a simple design, single hulled longship but made for giants and judging by the ice that surrounds it, probably frost giants...Includes: a frost-locked hull.

Shadowfell Ship – In the dark heart of the gulley, yet still very obvious to see this ship. There is no seaweed or shoal of fish obscuring it, in fact getting closer not even visible is a barnacle on this chain covered pale white ship of otherworldly feel. Includes: churning hull, screaming sails, bone of endless torment, onyx dog, ebony fly, holy oil, cloak of the bat, periapt of wound closure, lantern of revealing. However every round spent in the ship whispers try to make the PCs join them. Increasing DC wisdom saving throws or they start drowning

Ebon Rock

One the western extreme of Aimos lies Ebon Rock, the site of the great library and Lighthouse (see chapter 2) Taighsolais. Once a green land now decimated by the last ruler, an evil necromancer. They used the island and place of power to experiment evil magics, including how to reverse the Cauldron of Dagda to create undead, trailing it with slaves. They were slain by those slaves who now use Ebon Rock as a colony for freed slaves. They are worried about being enslaved again so have cut off ties to all but those that need sanctuary, even The Lightkeepers. The colony has also sealed off Taighsolais to avoid the minions of necromancers but despite these efforts the evil is spreading again. Sickness and famine has ripped through their settlements and some have whispered that the necromancer is returning.

Eversal

An island, made of salt. The surface is a caldera of wonderland of salt in crystalline form. These crystals vary in size from dust to halfling size. The crystals here do not dissolve in fresh water as such a small lake is at the top. Some say this place is the result where a falling star had thrashed into the earth, boiling away all the water leaving behind the salt. The adamantine at the core of this knife still absorbs and releases heat so when the salt dissolves too much it evaporates the seawater around to reform the island. Trading goods: Export: Salt at 0.25x cost. Special Resource: Adamantine

Evershine Adventures: Right now the island is being probed by excavators looking to investigate the strange properties of this Knife, believing it has rare materials leading to its strange properties. They do not realise that the island has been used as a salt mine in the past, the entrances resealed. They accidently trigger a sequence of events, by drilling into these tunnels the freshwater above leaks into the mine causing a loop of dissolving salt, allowing more water to enter the salt mines, potentially collapsing the island entirely.

Isle of yesterday

The crashed site of a Nautiloid, an illithid dimension hopping ship. It was founded a few decades ago by a Bisunian researcher looking into this source of great power that still generates a small fog of strange arcane energy. They rescued an arcane illithid who became their apprentice then murderer. The illithid is continuing trying to better understand how to be human and set out ooblex gardens made from his experiments. Heading towards it reveals ghosts of the past that try to lure players into senses of normality then try to take them towards the nautiloid for experiments. He doesn't really care if players live or die as he still can continue working from their preserved brains. A lot of his notes and machines are in quasit so unreadable to most. The broken nautiloid contains an augmentation machine (see Volo's Guide to Monsters by Wizards of the Coast) prison, dissection chamber, transformation chamber (ooblex sources) and The Brain Library. The Brain Library contains the original brains of the Illithids victims including the original researcher that can try to help the players.

Isle of Yesterday Adventures: Rumours of a strange island that have echoes of the past that may hold the key to many secrets. Yet people that have dared to visit come back drained of personality. The culprit is the garden of ooblexes in the arcane fog, that construct fake scenarios of their former victims. They interact with the players the best they can to feed on their memories or to take them to their master.

Junk Island

The water around this island has a reflective sheen on top of it unknowingly caused by The Clockengine at the heart of the island digging for oil. It is an out of control construct made by a Fingortab (see Chapter 2) tinkerer designed to autonomously produce clockwork machines. It is now out of control and its children have taken over the island killing all organic life bar those hiding in the long grass of the island. Trading goods: Iron & Copper (both in scrap form so worth half the trade price see chapter 7) and Charged Copper.

Muse

A very thin Knife with steep sides leading to a small plateau. The waters around it and the slopes are covered in what looks like scrap paper. It has only one inhabitant, a crazed eladrin artist trying to find his muse. He has been banished from the Seelie Court by the Summer Queen herself until he paints something as beautiful as he destroyed, the purest form of mortality. He constantly mumbles to himself until he spots the players. "Something as strong and wild, but subtle and wise, with beauty and charm, quick wit and a reservoir of so much more....something that is worth a thousand stories and can inspire a thousand more! That is what I must paint, yet....i am stuck here! I need a muse...you! You will be my muse!" The shore is littered with slashed paintings of incredible quality. Muse Adventures: The artist will paint portraits of all who visit him and ask them to perform their greatest mortal skill, but slash the character's portrait after if they do not meet his standards (players need a 30+ or natural 20 to please him.) Slashing the portrait causes psychic damage to the players. If the players attack him, he will fight by pulling out scenes from his pictures to attack him while slashing at them or their portraits. As he dies he exclaims, “I see it! finally I have it...the key to capturing life's picture of course you need to see its end...” If the players actually manage to become his Muse he grants them a boon, they won't die of natural causes so long as the portrait hangs in the Palace of the Summer Queen.

Oasis

Everything seems plentiful on this lush large Knife but anybody that eats the food must make a wisdom saving throw or never want to leave. The plants want them to lie down and become fertiliser or worse. The plants have evolved greatly as this was once an ancient elvish mythal. This is a site of heightened magic and protection, this one used the unique coradite substance to help create livingwood and other experiments. Before their retreat the elves managed some success unknowingly. The plant life here became sentient but fearful they were not powerful enough to stop whatever made the elves flee. They have evolved many strategies from this fear including the ability to turn humanoids into their servant defenders by killing them and reanimating them as plant monsters. The island can be split into sections and challenges listed below.

Treasure: depends on the areas explored below.

Trading goods: exports hard and soft lumber at 0.25x cost. Special resource: Ironwood and Coradite.

Cortahaugh – A rose-filled hall home to a former-humanoid Tam Lin. He doesn't quite remember being a humanoid and fully a champion for the plants. He may be convinced to let the players on the island live if they remind him of his humanity. Cortahaugh is where the source of elvish magic is, from a fountain made of coradite feeds the fresh water system of the Knife. It appears to be a grand hall lined with beautiful rose-like flowers. A single thorn-prick causes a fatal poison. If a player comes here and is afflicted he emerges and says, “What makes you take the poison rose, why did you break the tree? Why comest thou to Cortahaugh, Without the leave of me?” Depending on the response he heals the player by drawing the poison into himself with an embrace. During this embrace players and Tam Lin share an intense psychic connection and are able to share memories and ideals beyond speech. The Coradite fountain feeding the plants can be destroyed and about 6000 gp worth of Coradite extractable. Doing so will kill the plants and players have to survive waves of enemies before they drop dead. Firstump – a very gentle old ironwood treant. He tries to restrain the players and warns them not to move until he can summon the guardian, it is dangerous for mortals and could be dangerous for the plants too. Firstump if killed produces 15000gp worth, or can freely give 1000gp worth if this encounter is solved on friendly terms. Sprouts Spring – this is what looks like a massive graveyard mixed with a vegetable garden. This is where people are taken to become mindless plant guardians. Failure to sneak past this area causes guardians like wood woads to rise and attack them. This place can contain random loot from bodies, including 2d4 trinkets, potion of gaseous form, 200gp in various currencies, amber jewelry (worth 100gp), tourmaline brooch (100gp) and a wooden shield.

Plane of Wenches

A small nub of a knife with a single cave entrance guarded by an old crone. She offers all who visit a choice to visit her home or go to the portal towards the Plane of Wenches. What players don't know is that everything in the Plane of Wenches is made of wenches. Everything. If you choose her home you have a delightful cup of tea and she can talk to you about healing herbs and gossip about rumours of the land. In the plane of wenches you have to fight hungry cannibal women after waking up in a leather and fur covered room being offered some sort of delicious smelling meat…

Sleeping Watcher

A temple slowly sinking into the sea is already impressive. The gargantuan titan, made of the essence of earth frozen, half-erupted from it, makes this even more impressive. Some older sailors say this was the site of some sort of cult who dared summon a buried primordial to do their bidding before it was halted by the forces of good. Many say it is a weapon built by the giants of old to destroy the dragons before slumbering in victory. Others rumour it was a cursed celestial punished to always be tied by the earth and never fly to the heavens. Whatever the case the titan remains inert leaving three questions. What is within this temple it is emerging from? Can it wake up again? More importantly, what will it do when it wakes up?

The Salty Surprise

Not actually a Knife but a tavern on the back of a dragon turtle that moves often. Run by Marco Hlothran (halfling) & Lagakh (half-orc) who travel the ocean with their dragon turtle friend Kale. They are beholden to nobody and are retired adventurers. They are currently happy in life by serving drinks, providing aid, swapping stories and getting goods. If the players provide them with an interesting quest however they may find themselves with an old itch that needs scratching.

Thunderforge of the Flaming Sword

A sheer slick Knife with no obvious way to get up to the top. The empty bowl caldera at top is empty for most of the year yet a few times per year it is host to trials hosted by a war cleric Lightkeeper (see Chapter 2.) This ceremonial site can be used for dueling but the most important event is once a year the challenger can take a Trial of the Storms and whoever is left standing gains a great boon. Trials are based on the individual Divines' tenets. Thunderforge of the Flaming Sword Adventures: Players particularly of martial interest may hear rumours of the Trail of the Storms, the greatest arena fight in all of Aimos. If they fight well enough in the arena they may be visited by Lightkeeper Roiland Aker (see Chapter 2) and told of the next bout.

The war Divine who runs the Thunderforge is angry with the unchallenged rise of the cruelty and dishonourable warfare, likely sponsored by one of his enemies. He demands any of his prospective champions defeat a tyrant which can include that of The Swamp Queen, Lady Nirvorth or Feldmarschall Egger.

The Tower of Jen'Gaa

This Knife is the abode to an Archmage of The Lightkeepers (see Chapter 2) and on it is the ancient mysterious Tower of Jen'Gaa. Said to be built by a Dao in the second Age Massive stone slabs make up this tower are constantly shifting, some levitating from their spot and being lifted on top as if this stone building is trying to defy the dominance of the sky. The docking site is guarded by two gargoyles who only let people pass peacefully if they know the right passcode. The area around the Tower is a fruitful garden due to its lush loamy soil tended by homunculus familiar to the Archmage.

The Archmage focuses on the earthen element and can give quests and knowledge based on these. His sanctum is in one of the slabs of the tower which is reached by going through a dungeon. Every room in the dungeon has a choice of gemstones players press to be taken to a different room, each with a challenge based on the earth element.

The first room the players enter is the opal room. The players emerge into an unearthly landscape. It is a place similar to what the priests describe the Hades is like, mist covered floors hiding pits of bubbling despair except unlike the Grey Wastes however there is light being reflected off these strange multicoloured rocks giving the area a sickening glow. Pillars of rainbow rocks rise up dripping in some sort of strange mud before sinking back down again. They stand on a cracked shifting colour platform and see about 40ft across is another similar one with some sort of alcove with a glowing ruby, sapphire and yellow topaz. The smell and heat are intolerable. It is hard to imagine anyone in this place and that is when the ground shifts underneath the players...

Depending on their choice they may enter another room like the yellow topaz room. It is a cavern with beautiful gold glowing stalagmites and stalactites, both slick and very wet. At the top of the room are the gems to leave. An opal, sapphire and a citrine. The cavern is 60ft high and wide. In the centre of the room is a sand-timer attached to a table. Turning it upside down switches gravity briefly causing players to rapidly impale themselves on the stalactites and stalagmites. Players must make two Dexterity Saving Throws or take 6d6 bludgeoning damage on each failure, half damage on a success.. Turning it to the side suspends gravity allowing players to safely touch the leaving gems.

One of the third tier rooms could be the Citrine, which looks much like a jewelers workshop containing all sorts of scopes and tools for the trade. Workbenches of copper reflect a source-less orange light giving the place excellent sight of gems being made into jewelry. To help clean and cut gems there are various oozes in bottle jars, one of which is broken...At the end of this room is a set of gems, a diamond, a ruby and an amethyst.

This dungeon can continue for as long as you wish but end in the diamond room, The Mage's Sanctum which contains the below treasures.

The Tower of Jen’Gaa Adventures: a homunculus familiar flies to your ship, injured and confused. His master the Archmage of Jen'Gaa has been turned to stone! He needs help getting to the top of the tower to give him a potion of un-petrification.

Wild Primals

Crazed elementals run the Knife, using wild natural magic against any creature they can see. The island is beautiful and contains many unpicked ruins of a bygone civilization. Wild Primals Adventures: The primordials of this Knife were peaceful and worked often with druids and other nature inclined folked. They only became maddened after someone took an idol keeping them in check. If it is discovered and returned they may return to a peaceful existence. You just need to find it and get past them first...

Zeal of Approval

Ogre is a Knife that strangely enough is home to ogres. Originally fleeing to this island to escape True Giants they have set up a bizarre society. They achieved this peaceful society only by making a deal with a fiend. Part of the deal was that they must send a steady stream of their greatest warriors into The Cavern of Champions. Here the champions must face-off with a fiend and if they lose their soul is used in infernal combat for eternity. If they succeed the deal is over. Failure to provide applicants means the devils can claim whatever soul they fancy. To determine their champion, rather than having a blood sport, the Ogres play the hit game known as Melonball (see chapter 5) in Melonsmash Stadium. This is an oddly genius way of determining who is actually most likely to free their people without having to lose lives.

Trading goods: - Exports: Hard and Soft Timber at 0.75x cost. Imports: Livestock at 1.5x standard cost. Special resource: Melon.

Zeal of Approval Adventures: A halfling and ogre duo can be seen picking melons from the shore line. They are on their own as nobody wants to help them, let alone be on their team. The ogre is extremely short sighted and the halfling is...rabid. They would be best friends with anybody who helps them win the game!

Ghostmarches ruled by The Swampqueen

The Ghostmarches linger further to the north of the Sea of Knives. It is a hostile quagmire full of feral folk, hungry monsters and people shy to authority and taxes. Harsh terrain and the struggle to survive are dominating features here. Morality tends to be a luxury many go without especially those that are greedy for more. Yet there is diversity here. Human settlements are quite recent, a majority of the humanoids here are the rarer sort than found on the more civilised continent. Lizardfolk, bullywogs, tortles, goblinoids, yuan-ti and other races are native to this land and have all developed their own alien cultures.

When players first enter this region it is in the grips of a creature known as The Swamp Queen, who has taken over the marshlands and laid a fog over the land. She has summoned and united various monsters to rule over this land, exiling or destroying any folk that stand against them. As they enter players can get this read to them: “You sail on hope thinking that the mist will fade soon. That hope fails as the mist does not. It thickens and permeates everything around you. It intrudes into your clothes making it feel humid one minute and cold just as you get used to humidity, reminding you it is still there. It muffles your words. And it may be your imagination but does it carry a greenish tint? A slight hint of land shows this is just a reflection of the monotony misery that awaits landers. An endless quagmire awaits. This is a place better folk tend to avoid. This is a place that oozes...ooze. This is a place where life struggles but death doesn't. The mist hides things from you. But you are not hidden from them. They watch. They watch until you are weak.

Until the mist is destroyed players will not be able to update their map for this region

The mist thickens, dampening everything around, choking the sound of your ship even from slapping the dirty water. You look around for your comrades who are obstructed from you and the cold seeps in further making you feel lonely. "Hahahaha" a cackling laughter coming from all directions or just in your head. "This land is claimed, for the lost, the outcasts, the monsters. Only those that follow my call are allowed on these hallowed lands. YOU ARE NOT WANTED HERE! HEAR ME AND BEGONE! CREATURES OF THE GHOSTMARCHES HERE MY CALL, insert character names here ARE UNWELCOME, SO DECREES THE SWAMP QUEEN!"” (At this point the players can make a wisdom saving throw or be subject to Curse of The Ghostmarches: Avatars made of the ghostly fog of this land will rise up randomly to fight any character who fails. The Fog avatars are only visible to those players affected.)

Until The Swamp Queen is destroyed the entire biome acts like a dungeon. Friendly settlements are gone. The fog makes it so nobody but a monster can navigate their way through. Players can enter and never leave or enter and find themselves in part of the land meant to be days traveled from their entry. So where they end up can be entirely random. To escape The Swamp Queen's terror, players must fight their way through the areas under her control and defeat the villains holding it for her. Once players weaken her control enough they are able to take the fight straight to the Swamp Queen and end her reign of terror.

The Ghostmarches can be split up into the sections below each containing different challenges and dangers traversing throughout and possible villains they can run into. Other challenges can be up to the GM including environmental threats, traps, survival challenges and role-playing encounters. Suggestions can be found in the below Encounter Tables for each area. For every hour of travel I suggest rolling a d4 running a scenario. Some of these challenges will lead to rewards or things that may benefit the party throughout the Ghostmarches. Others will be combat with some monster that drains their resources. Sometimes the players may randomly bypass these scenarios and end up taking the fight straight to the lead monster.

Myth Lha Otheid Encounter Table

Spring of Seasons

The area is mostly stunted trees but in the centre is a grove surrounded by one quarter cherry blossoms, another orange trees, another in oak and the final quarter has evergreens. In between lies a coradite fountain in elvish runes, some of which protect the fountain from harm. The fountain can be twisted to change the flow of water, right now the water flows into the swamp creating various corrupted awakened plants. The fountain can be manipulated to pour water in different directions creating different creatures or setting it in the right combination turns it off allowing the coradite to be extracted without engaging the protection runes. Inscribed into the base is the following poem written in elvish:

“To Stop the flow of Life, You must journey the Seasons If not will find Strife For not following our Reasons Those who rings in great number Water has a way, to wake life from slumber, start with hope, joy and play, followed by light, a time of reckless abandon, then share the harvest with goodwill sleep again with worries foregone even with the dark and creeping chill”

The poem gives a clue in which way the water should flow, starting with Cherry Blossoms, then the Orange Trees, then Oak, finally the Evergreens. These represent the normal flow of seasons. It takes an action to manipulate the fountain. Every failure leads to a tree awakening to become a corrupted tree. After the puzzle players are attacked by the Heartwood Centurion.

Monsters

Heartwood Centurion – Once an elf guardian of this mythal that refused to retreat with his kind. Now maddened by loneliness and protects this twisted forest long forgetting the reason for its creation along with his humanity. Utilises practised martial prowess and nature based magic to attack precisely, damaging greatly and frequently with a few protective spells cast on himself.

Colleen the Conjurer – She is a wood-based fey creature whose actions boost her conjuration as she hides. A trickster with a cruel heart she was cast out of the feywild for cheating in games and would respond violently. She seems immature but very dangerous due to her lack of empathy and care for life.

Knot Branch – It is a plant creature of your choosing but splits themself to make a smaller version. Each splinter has equal health to half of the propagator. One of many corrupted awakened plants in this section Willow of the Wisps – She is a witch that can summon will-o-wisps. Very little is known about Willow or her relationships with the unworldly entities she summons but her connection to death is unmistakable.

Eleath Phantomscream – A shambling corpse dressed in decaying doctor's clothes, Eleath still refuses to behave in any way that acknowledges he is no longer a learned scholar. Some say he was far too involved in his research into what causes death, even recreating some deaths on his assistants. This undead necrotic magic user has two unique abilities. One is that he can cause an area of effect blast. Secondly any effect, spell or attack that causes a creature to go to 0 HP is repeated.

Dazlar Thinglehoof – A delusional satyr charmer who enchants his opponents as a legendary action. He believes he provides inspiration to simple mortals and he is on a mission to spread good music. The truth is he is average, pretty good after three or four drinks. Unable to accept this he controls people around him to celebrate his work, forgetting that they aren't able to look after themselves while under his spell.

Skill Challenge

Chase from wisps - skill challenge for each player to avoid being touched by these undead spirits, failure leads to lightning damage that reduces a character's maximum hit points until their next long rest. Success leads to escaping the wisps and finding loot from an unfortunate soul that didn’t. Recommended skills: athletics, acrobatics, survival and nature.

Ent patrols - skill challenge for each player to avoid being spotted and squashed by these living sentinels, failure leads to bludgeoning damage and destruction of some non-magical items. Success lets them overhear conversations and gives them the choice of what is next on the encounter table. Recommended skills: stealth, nature, athletics, survival and acrobatics.

Grasping vines - skill challenge for each player to avoid being entangled by thorny venomous vines, failure leads to poison damage and reduction in movement until the character's next long rest. Success leads to gaining poison that can be applied to weapons. Recommended skills: perception, acrobatics, medicine, survival and nature.

Crazed lumberer - skill challenge for each player to try to calm down a maddened lumberer swinging and screaming wildly, failure leads to players taking slashing damage and having their speed reduced. Success leads to information by the lumberer preparing them for their next combat encounter, gaining a surprise round. Recommend skills: persuasion, intimidation, survival and history.

Scenario

Divine Sanctuary - players find a hallowed site belonging to a Divine or similar power. This site provides enough safety for a long rest and the chance for further checks to gain other divine benefits.

Refuge - players find a brief respite of safety which provides them enough safety for a short rest and the chance for a long rest.

Cache of goods - players find a hidden pile of potentially useful items that can help them heal, repair, harm their next enemy, gain information or just monetary value.

Recruit ally - players meet a local or group of locals to the area that is trying to survive the monsters. With the right dialogue they provide the players aid and join them for their next combat.

Recruit powerful allies - players meet a powerful individual or group that is trying to defeat the Swamp Queen forces. With the right dialogue options they provide the players aid and join the players for every combat until the area is freed.

Petrified Praitan Port

Praitan Port is one of the members of the Coradite Coalition (see Chapter 2) however right now this gothic city has been taken over by The Swamp Queens minions, who have taken revenge on the high and mighty people of this town. A majority of them are predominately petrified like gargoyles within the fog covered city with strange shadows coming from poor gas lights. Dominated by those who have suffered for or because of the City, both alive and dead, all part of The Swamp Queens forces. In order to remove the Swampqueen's influence on this place and move into the next part of the Ghostmarshes players must make their way past villains and towards the Iron Palace of Praitan and end the echoes.

Skill Challenge

Labyrinth Streets - skill challenge to navigate through the partially destroyed, fog covered city, failure leads to the next monster encounter having a surprise round against the party. On a success the party gains a surprise round against the next monster encounter. Recommended skills: survival, perception and history.

Desecrated Shrine - skill challenge to repair a fallen idol, failure leads to a curse on the characters granting them the effects of the Bane spell until their next long rest. On a success they gain a blessing such as healing or another beneficial effect. Recommended skills: religion, history and carpenters tools/ mason tools.

Dark Rooftops - skill challenge to navigate over the rooftops of the city once it is clear the ground is too dangerous or blocked, failure leads to bludgeoning damage and reduction in movement until the next long rest. On a success, characters can choose their next encounter from the table. Recommended skills: acrobatics and athletics.

Sewn shut - skill challenge to help still living victims of the monsters, some of which have their mouths sewn shut, failure leads to the screams attracting a nearby encounter. Success and players immediately recruit an ally. Recommended skills: medicine, investigation and sleight of hand.

Bank vault - skill challenge to quickly infiltrate and extract wealth from an unguarded bank vault before an enemy patrol occurs, failure leads to the party being split as some are trapped and are forced to find another route. Success leads to the party gaining treasure. Recommended skills: stealth, sleight of hand, perception and investigation.

Scenario

Divine Sanctuary - players find a hallowed site belonging to a Divine or similar power. This site provides enough safety for a long rest and the chance for further checks to gain other divine benefits.

Refuge - players find a brief respite of safety which provides them enough safety for a short rest and the chance for a long rest.

Cache of goods - players find a hidden pile of potentially useful items that can help them heal, repair, harm their next enemy, gain information or just monetary value.

Recruit ally - players meet a local or group of locals to the area that is trying to survive the monsters. With the right dialogue they provide the players aid and join them for their next combat.

Recruit powerful allies - players meet a powerful individual or group that is trying to defeat the Swamp Queen forces. With the right dialogue options they provide the players aid and join the players for every combat until the area is freed.

Quagmire

The quagmire is by far the biggest section of the Ghostmarches and dominating feature of the land even without The Swamp Queen. The monotony is endless and every step is footstep is harder than it should be, each sinking down in the wet earth. This area is home to the roaming monsters that have been hunted to the edge of the wilds by angry humanoids.

To free this area from The Swamp Queens influence you must free the prisoners at Bullywog Bog from Dr Ooze and his dreaded Amalgor. Other creatures roam the quagmire to find others to bring back for this wicked fate or to eat since the experiments are off limits until the Dr is done with them.

Quagmire Encounter Table

Bullywog Bog

The brackish lagoon home to a bullywog tribe became a sanctuary of many of the denizens of the Ghostmarches. Once conflicting tribes and species flocked together for protection from The Swamp Queens forces, little did they know they were being herded. Now Bullywog Bog is a pen for Dr Ooze to conduct his experiments on their poor souls .

Monsters

Dr Ooze - is a mad alchemist who turned himself into an ooze now obsessed with the ideas of combining creatures in different unnatural ways. Chased out of civilisations he has found purpose in The Swamp Queens forces and with ample subjects has managed to create Amalgor. Amalgor is an abomination that consumes and integrates creatures around him and is all types. Dr Ooze has not only been feeding him denizens of the Ghostmarches but also others loyal to The Swamp Queen to make it more powerful.

Face taker – A changeling of sorts, it kills humanoids and carves off their faces. By wearing the face it also absorbs some of the memories of its victims and abilities. Every time it is reduced HP of a certain amount it reveals another creature it has killed with a different set of abilities.

Blerub the Scumsucker – a giant that throws smaller creatures at players from its sack. Some of these creatures are feral starved animals, others mad humanoids, some may be half-eaten from the previous mentions. Nobody understands why he collects things in his bag and none have survived asking him.

Grum – A monstrous mound of decaying plant life and warped magic. This creature absorbs magic and gains the spell slot used to cast druid spells as a legendary action.

Skill Challenge

Quick Mud- skill challenge to escape the swamp mud that tries to pull down the characters, exerting great pressure to even keep moving, failure leads to characters gaining a level of exhaustion. Success they find the body of a previous traveller who was not so lucky but seemed to be carrying useful items. Recommended skills: survival, nature and athletics.

Mangy Wolves - skill challenge to fend off a group of starving desperate canids, on a failure characters gain piercing damage and reduced movement until the next long rest. On a success, characters recruit the wolves as allies. Recommended skills: intimidation, animal handling and performance. Harvest Fungus - skill challenge to extract useful components from nearby fungus, on a failure they erupt in poisonous gas and players gain the poisoned condition until their next long rest. On a success the characters are able to gain temporary hit points. Recommended skills: nature, sleight of hand, survival and herbalist kit.

Harvest Fungus - skill challeenge to extract some useful fungus without triggering a reaction from it or the neighbouring clusters. Failure leads to gas spores being released poisoning them. Success makes the equivalent of a healing potion or similar. Recommended skills: sleight of hand, nature and survival.

Strange Smells - skill challenge to identify and avoid strange scent in the air, caused by hallucinogenic gas leak, failures leads to the frightened conditioned until the next long rest. A success can lead them to find abandoned loot before escaping the gas. Recommended skills: perception, investigation, medicine and persuasion.

Mangrove Roots - skill challenge to avoid the wrath of an abandoned temple of snake themed worship after falling into it, failure leads to being cursed. On a success players gain a blessing. Recommended skills: persuasion, religion and history.

Scenario

Divine Sanctuary - players find a hallowed site belonging to a Divine or similar power. This site provides enough safety for a long rest and the chance for further checks to gain other divine benefits.

Refuge - players find a brief respite of safety which provides them enough safety for a short rest and the chance for a long rest.

Cache of goods - players find a hidden pile of potentially useful items that can help them heal, repair, harm their next enemy, gain information or just monetary value.

Recruit ally - players meet a local or group of locals to the area that is trying to survive the monsters. With the right dialogue they provide the players aid and join them for their next combat.

Recruit powerful allies - players meet a powerful individual or group that is trying to defeat the Swamp Queen forces. With the right dialogue options they provide the players aid and join the players for every combat until the area is freed.

Hungering Hollow

Only unlockable when at least one of the other settings is completed. The Hollow is a hill that sits within a hill surrounded by swamp waters, before The Swampqueens arrivals were already unpleasant, now noxious if not poisonous. The Hollow has a network of dark mud caves where twisted roots reach and worms can drip like rain. It seems to shift as players make their way through. Eventually The Swamp Queen invites them to her grand ritual.

Secrets

The Swamp Queen is likely someone the players know or a character from their backstory such as a parent they believe to be dead. After the tragedy she struggled to cope, going to the civilised lands to seek aid. After being treated badly she slips into insanity but finds her way to the Hungering Hollow where she is corrupted by the influences of the Hungering Maw. Her goal is to have a ritual that brings through an avatar of this evil Divine to cause savage destruction onto the world. The ritual relies on the death of people choosing to become monsters but can be stopped by one selfless sacrifice of someone who has kept their humanity.

Vruunheim Coast

To the south of the Sea of Knives lies a sliver of sea that is dominated by the continental Vruunheim States (see Chapter 2). Colonies on a few small islands act as buffers between the rest of Aimos and the mainland which boasts picturesque lowlands to the north that fades into dramatic forests and mountains to the south. The land can provide well for the denizens of the Vruunheim States but political turmoil has led to ineffective bureaucracies that fail to govern the populace well. This has led to the desire of rapid expansions into Aimos as both a national focus to distract people and a way to bring in short-term cash. As such the Vruunheim Coast is the frontier for a war for dominance of trade, land and resources. This makes the area dangerous for any who are not in favour with Vruunheim States navy, The Argent Supremacy, whose silver and black sails police these seas. Yet The Argent Supremacy is limited, weaknesses in the frontier are exposed and taken advantage of very quickly by enemies of the state or monsters seeking rewards, usually at the price of innocent Vruunid people's suffering.

Greenid

The bread-basket of Agrid. This recently colonised island has been a relief for the expansion of the metropolitan Agrid, thanks to its fertile soil and large flat land it provides plentiful food for the island settlers and the mainland. The people here see themselves as true servants of Vruunheim but over recent years have been shocked by the pulling of Argent Supremacy forces. Raiders and monsters have in the past overrun the town and still no action was taken to help support the island. The governance was then taken over by Kommodore-Kommissar Nachthugel, who has been scorned by Tronald Dump for using resources to build up defences, food stocks and train up the local militia. He has even treasonly dealt with would-be raiders by buying them off or paying for protection. Nachthugel skirts a dangerous line in order to protect his charges, something he knows the current regime would never do.

Trading: Export crops and livestock at 0.5x cost, Import silks and ore at 1.5x cost.

Greenid Adventures: People are demanding the Kommodore-Kommissar exile the orc farmers from the island. The orcs are freed orcs, rare in Vruunheim and have come to Greenid to find a peaceful existence. Or so they claim. Neighbouring farms are losing crops and racial tensions are high. Attempts to talk to the family have not gone well, some were raised in Vruunid internment camps and are enraged having demands made of them. The truth is they are suffering too. Does one of their children have an affinity to the Crawling Rot? Is somebody setting them up? When the players investigate, do they pass the same scarecrow in every field? Greenid is under attack by wyvern riding bandits. Players arrive as farmers try to enter the fort as guards scramble towards the ballista and the walls. Many folk are cut off and the wyvern riders have control of most of the island, looting and killing as they will. To survive they will need the players to reinforce defences, scout the enemy, interrogate captives, fight champions, save hostages and defeat the enemy.

Kotbussid

Founded as a mining settlement for rare materials this small island is relatively bare and reliant on supplies from the mainland. As the miners kept following veins, conditions got more dangerous as they began mining under the sea itself. Alot of the original settlers began refusing the dangerous conditions causing a problem for the original Kommodore-Kommisar who had to report the strikes to the Argent Supremacy. They soon replaced him with Gauleiter Herr Felix Fleiss who came up with a “pleasingly efficient” solution to the worker rights issue. He requested labourers from the mainland internment camps. Orcs descendents from an invading horde generations ago, pirates, prisoners of wars and undesirables were forced to go beneath the surface of the island. Their only access to goods coming from the guarded entrance which only arrives when the prisoners gather enough usable goods. Not everyone on the island has been happy about the Argent Supremacy direct takeover. Many of the original settlers have had to cut their losses and leave, unable to compete with the forced labourers. Others have found work in helping Fleiss’ scheme and supporting the Argent Supremacy forces.

Trading: Export copper, salt & gems at 0.5x cost, Import Livestock at 1.5x cost.

Kotbussid Adventures: The forced miners refuse to work, causing a hunger strike. They claim there is something in the tunnels with them that they need the soldiers to deal with. The Gauleiter refuses to negotiate and sends men to the mine, believing it to be a trap to take hostages and escape. The truth is they have mined into an underground pocket where an ancient aberration has been released. It is enjoying the hunt in the dark but once its food supply runs out it may seek other hunting grounds. Gauleiter Fleiss is under pressure to continue mining high quantities of goods and is using any excuse to condemn people into forced labour. Passing trading ships with slightly irregular paperwork, anyone in town causing a “disturbance” and even children loitering. The settlers are terrified and under his heel.

New Vresdid

A military outpost staking a claim over a resource-rich island. The problem is built on the opposite side of the island The Minerie Capital has an outpost with claim over the island too. The forested island is a daily battlefield with naval strikes, sabotage and raids. Currently exportation is reduced as Kommodore-Kommissar Katzen is building a fleet with the resources harvested in an attempt to gain a great naval victory and end the stalemate.

Trading: Export hard timber and iron at 0.75x cost (reduces to 0.5x cost if one side takes complete control.) Import weapons for 1.5x cost. Special Resource: Coradite (not available until one side takes complete control.)

Treasure: Kommodore-Kommissar Katzen personal map of Vruunheim and areas of their interest, half built and fully built warships, siege and ship weapons, and hundreds of tonnes of mahogany, iron, flour.

Oxtrid

Oxtrid has a royal and illustrious history but now is a reminder of how dire the Vruunheim States situation is. It was the ancient seat of power in the centre of all the fractured Vruunheim States that all those Grotid people respected. The once numerous states have been reduced and Oxtrid is now on the very western edge of its control. Upon the extreme mountainous range bordering Aimos with the next continent the supposed capital city of Oxtrid hangs dearly onto the illusion of grandeur. Once famed for their production of medicine and scholars, it now faces hordes of imminent invaders to its west, still suffering from The Regimes rise and a massive wealth loss as many citizens and nobility have left for places like Agrid. During the Rise, royal institutions have been destroyed, looted and not replaced. The peoples that have been left behind are high nobles in denial, stubborn scholars and citizens unable to afford the costs of protection to leave via the mountain pass. A few of them have stepped up to try and save the city but two political factions have formed. Those that wish to adapt to their new circumstances and try to become more self-sufficient. Then others that wish to use every resource to embed themselves back as the centre of Vruunheim States, winning over nobility and encouraging trade to come back.

Trading: Export: medicine & dairy goods for 0.5x cost. Import: fish, timber & spices for 2x cost.

Oxtrid Adventures: A group of dissidents have stolen a piece of the Broken Crown of Vruunid, a precious heirloom of Vruunheim State and Oxtrid pride. They plan to cross the mountains to sell it to an enemy warlord called Vonlawine. The dissidents are doing this in order to gain more peace with the warlord so they gain more land for the city's dwindled farms.

Help a researcher called Luddenheimer with an experimental furnace capable of heating the entire city, independent from burning coal, timber or other imports. He needs more of a special material called Radstein, the trouble is the only source he knows off is in a cavern system that has been overrun with creatures that have now mutated in its presence.

Help the Committee get the palace for the Feldmarschall’s visit. Members hope to offer it to him as his permanent abode so his regime focuses on protecting Oxtrid more. Rumours begin to circulate there will be an assassination plot, likely a survivor of The Coup.

Port Llastid

An old coastal town and once home to the Old Navy. Formerly the launching site of Vruunheims naval forces, it has a violent history that has not stopped since focus has shifted to Agrid. Port Llast's harbor is strewn with shipwrecks-the tombs of seafarers and marines who fought for the town's spoils and lost.

Trading: Export: fish, salt & canvas at 0.5x cost. Import: Iron and stone at 1.5x cost.

Port Llastid Adventures: The town is under attack! Opportunistic raiders (e.g. frost giants, drow, sahuagin or pirates) have attacked the town. Rather than defend the entire town many of the veterans are in reserve protecting a single vessel. This is the secret hiding place of the only surviving member of the royal Von Grotvulf family, Princess Katya!

Traisdid

On the border of the Sea of Knives is an Argent Supremacy colony, usually peaceful making decent livings from fishing and lumbering. Slowly the citizens are being subtly killed off and being replaced by shapeshifting monsters that can appear human. Those that remain live in fear, not knowing who to trust and not wanting to be next.

Trading: Export fish, soft timber & silver at 0.75x cost. Import: Beer, wine, spirits at 2x cost and Textiles at 1.5x cost.

Traisdid Adventures: A ship is guarding the harbour by a crazed captain preventing anybody leaving or entering and trying to bomb the town. The captain has tied up most of his crew and is acting alone. The truth is one of the men that was onshore trading had been replaced and tried to kill him. He has gone mad with the experience. All the crew he has tied on the ship are innocent unlike those that stayed onshore for the night.

Cote du Soliel

Cote du Soleil, or Isles of Enchantment, is an area of south-eastern Aimos distinguished by a tropical climate, warm water current and passionate desires for wealth and blood. “As you slow down, sweat dripping off your brow, you finally take a moment to look around. You see the crystalline turquoise water stretching in front of you tempting you to dive into their ultimate escape. Islands off in the distance shine like jewels with their jade crowns of sub-tropical trees and pristine white beaches. Bold and colourful in every sense of the word in the vivid emerald wilderness, one can spot sunshine-yellow parrots and glimpse fiery-red orchids, and fish of every color dart through corals in shades of purple and orange under the crystal-clear waters. How this paradise can be so close to where you were before is baffling. This is the first time you feel the sea has fully invited you to join her, rather than challenge you or fight you. It is beautiful. Others may not feel like sharing this beauty. Welcome to what the Mhye call the Cote du Soliel also known as the Isles of Enchantment.”

Aureli Insular

A mining colony with few resources and few things of worth. The only reason why this venture is set up by the Minerie Capital is for Coradite mining. Even the most minor amount is worth a fortune, hence why the soldiers assigned and the poor slaves are stuck here. The island has few other resources and conditions are harsh. Small scale fishing and a coconut plantation are the only other industries on the island neither a wealthy source of living. Survival on the island is heavily reliant on shipments of fresh water from Minerie Capital merchants or other private interests. As such the Navarch (naval officer) Felecitus has been assigned to protect mining interests and supply lines from pirates and enemies.

Trading goods: Coradite at 1.25x cost.

Aureli Insular Adventures: Navarch Felecitus shipments have been targeted by aquatic humanoids. If they don’t get the next mining shipment to their contact no new water supply will be sent. You are to help to prepare an ambush.

Bisu

These sunken volcanoes are home to a magocracy part of the Coradite Coalition (see Chapter 2.)

Booty Island

This is a very large and very thickly forested boot-shaped island, hence why some people say it gets its name. This forest paradise is home to many unique endemic creatures from gentle deer-fish, large beetles that act as lawnmowers and huge boars. All useful ingredients to the owner of this private island, Totalli Notdolce. A famous master cobbler and icon to the capital's fashion industry. He spends his time designing, enjoying art and auditioning for his harem of beautiful big-bottomed women. This is the real reason behind the name. Every year he hosts a competition where women fight to be number one in his fashion show, by any means necessary.

Trading goods: Export: fish & soft timber at 0.75x cost. Import: textiles and crafted goods at 1.75x cost.

Booty Island Adventure: One of the finalists of Notdolces Miss Secrets Competition has been murdered. Can the players work out that death is more than what it seems?

Castrum Tempestas

One of the forts developed by the Minerie Capital, this one fights threats from the north including that of the Bathylon Dominion (see Chapter 2). On the outside of the barrier reef surrounding the inner islands of the Minerie Capital it is the first line of defense and a power centre for all settlements outside the barrier. This is also what makes its takeover so devastating for the Minerie Capital. A gladiator by the name of Gladicus has taken over it and is calling from a slave revolt. The merchants of the Minerie Capital have so far underestimated him and the cost needed to remove his rebellion.

Castrum Tempestas Adventures: Discover why Castrum Tempestas has not been sending reports back to the rest of the Minerie Capital.

A merchant had his estate plundered by Gladicus’ soldiers, and they took his son. Bring him back for a great reward. Perhaps upon finding the son you discover he ran off willingly with a slave he loves. Go to Castrum Tempestas and challenge Gladicus to single combat for the prisoners he has taken in return he gains a lawful deed to the fort signed by the Praefecti herself.

Gladicus has had his rebellion split. Kriklius, his second, has formed a great army to march into Minerie Insular and free those from the bonds of the wealthy and cruel. Gladicus takes those who remain and attempts to flee across the Sea of Knives where they can be free. Who do you assist on their journey?

Castrum Manlius

The Coradite Coalition opposite of New Vresdid (see Vruunheim States above.) A military outpost staking a claim over a resource rich island. The forested island is a daily battlefield with naval strikes, sabotage and raids. Currently the focus of Praefecti Caelistis, the fleet commander for the Minerie Capital. She is frustrated by the lack of investment from the merchant elites she fights for. With a complete report from a prospector there will be no doubt she will be offered more fire power but the island remains contested for now.

Trading: Export hard timber and iron at 0.75x cost (reduces to 0.5x cost if one side takes complete control.) Import weapons for 1.5x cost. Special Resource: Coradite (not available until one side takes complete control.)

Castrum Manlius Adventures: Praefecti Caelistis is trying to hire privateers and mercenaries to help gain control of the island. Missions include sneaking into key enemy posts for reconnaissance, assassination of key targets, escort workers extracting goods, rescue kidnapped, lead new troops into battle, interogate prisoners, join a naval bombing and sabotage structures.

Northlander Mercenaries launch a surprise landing on the island. Find out who leads them and on whose side are they on. If searched they all have pockets of Minerie coins and perhaps a note from a political rival of the Praefecti.

Courtyard

You observe a rather small island in the distance, being no bigger than the size of a small courtyard. The floor is all level paving slabs and framed by columns. Upon closer inspection, you notice that there is a table in the center of the island, surrounded by ten or so chairs. The table is set for what seems to be a grand feast, displaying all sorts of exotic food and drink, completely fresh. However, there is no mention of this island on any map, and you find no indication that anyone else has been there recently.

Courtyard Adventures: Tantalus escaped Tartarus long ago but not his curse of constant starvation, of everything he wants being just out of reach. So he set up a trap. A banquet where the more you eat the further away reality becomes until you are in his demi-plane away from divine powers. He traps devout people hoping they or their Divines can break his curse. They can't walk off the courtyard as it expands with every step, whereas others can leave fine. Players may find their party members or npcs trapped. Find a way to destroy Tantalus or his curse.

Crescent Island

A small sandy atoll that curls around Feverant Fons (see below). It is a beautiful beach island made of pure white sand from the reefs. Rumours say it is a piece of an elvish temple to the Starwanderer. Crescent Island Adventures: A couple of young spa guests from Fervent Fons have taken an impromptu sailing trip on the desert island. Had they paid more attention they would have realised that this month it is dangerous to be on the local beaches due to a migration of creatures of deep, that swarm in unimaginable numbers.

The rumours of this island being tied to a moon goddess are partially true. When the moons align in the right way it can reveal secrets and treasures hidden by the elves. A Bisunian mage wishes to recover some of these and willing to hire people to help. The path is not as clear as they believe however as Minerie interests seek a cut and the elves themselves will want some things kept secret.

Dead Man's Sand

Also known as the hill of Calimord. A wide island made of cresting sand dunes. The high staging post is used by the Minerie Capital to crucify enemies coming into their land. Crucified and on display to all that pass it is a grim reminder to all that don’t pay their dues. Many would consider it a waste of land but it was deemed inhospitable as at night biting insects emerge to feast on anything they can. Trespassing on the island is forbidden.

Dead Man's Sand Adventures: A convicted pirate has information required by a patron of PCs but they won’t tell it unless the PCs help them escape. Can they trust their target? What will releasing this convict into the world do?

Dawnlight Pass

A huge natural arch over the barrier reef that shields the inner islands owned by the Minerie Capital. The Minerie Capital uses this as one of few entrances to their seas by the west where traders and travellers get their first taste of capitalist society. It is essentially a toll booth combined with a fort. The prices vary on whatever guard is on duty or how they are feeling. Corruption is not seen here as the way it is in most societies. Everyone has a duty in Minerie Capital to the coin. As such bribery is to be expected.

Dawnlight Pass Adventures: A new appointment by the Praefecti is trying to clean up the nature of bribery within the Pass. This is causing great disruption in trade, from merchants unused to this honest policy from the Minerie Capital. Traders, honest and villainous, have to wait together until processing is done and creating a flotilla of tension and crime. Some of the guards want things to go back to the old ways. Whose side will the PCs support?

Diamondus

An island discovered generations ago by shipwrecked convicts and criminals, namely the family calling themselves Serptius. They were rediscovered by the Minerie Capital and immediately paid off their old fines and purchased the island. They did this using the abundance of raw gems on the atoll. Attempts have been made to acquire the island back from the Septius but no prospector has returned except one who claims something protects the islands and lives in its lagoon.

Trading: Export: gems (diamonds) at 0.25x cost. Import: water, food & crafted goods at 1.5x cost.

Diamondus Adventures: A young aristocrat is looking for help. They have fallen in love with the heiress of the Serptius fortune on one of her trips to Minerie Insular. They have had correspondence but all contacts have been cut off since she was forced to return to Diamondus. She mentioned something in her letters that her father was about to crash the Minerie Capital forever.

Encitio

Built on a small cluster of islands is The City of Canals and Faces. Encito is a one of the southern cities of the Minerie Capital and has created its own distinct culture and reputation. Encito has been at times independent, invaded by foreign powers, devolved and pulled back into the fold. It has unique industries specialising in the creation of luxury goods but also tourism, especially from those hoping to get a glimpse of the glamour of the many nobles trying to outdo each other. Encito is split into districts: Urbs Antiqua, Azeshi District, Portus district, Inrigua District, Arcane District, Shining District and the Faceless District.

Trading: Exports: Silk & Crafted Goods at 0.5x cost. Import: Gems, Spices and Food at 1.5x cost.

Encito Adventures: The ruling Doge, a title exclusive for the somewhat devolved Encito, is about to perform a symbolic ceremony marrying Encito to the Sea, on the prized ship The Ducentaur. An excellent opportunity for separatists and nationalists alike to attack.

In one of the masked ball parties of the nobles a woman has fallen off the walled mansion to the main street, dead. A spoiled drunk noble having an accident is easy to sweep up, even after the civilians see it but this one lingers. Especially once her devil mask and wings can’t be pulled off and seem to be real. Waste from the prospering city is being filtered into the heart of the Inrigua District, a problem for the poorer folk that is deemed acceptable plague too. When mysterious monsters are spotted lurking the canals coming from there.

Favianguard Castello

Home to the flamboyant Aethergale Society, an obnoxious name for a more obnoxious bunch of rebellious children of nobles, who have had enough of the boarding schools. At first their nature led them to fleeing with their prized Hippogryph mounts to indulge in banned games and aerobatics. Then they began a club of sorts and started delusions of forming their own society, paid with parents' money, something those parents have invested a lot in trying to hide. The Aetherknights grew in name, less so in deed, as did their own list of tenets. They promote a dashing image and are given to drinking, singing, wearing fashionable clothing, and general revelry As it began to grow the members accepted more diverse people. Peasants with ideas of becoming nobility, criminals they believed could have second chances and an enigmatic Eladrin, who seemed to possess secret knowledge of flight and power.

Feverent Fons

A volcanic landscape of exploding geysers, home only daring gem hunters and native lizardfolk. The lizardfolk have made domiciles around the natural hot springs but development on this island has likely peaked due to the volcanic activity.

Trading: Export: gems at 0.75x cost. Import: chickens at 1.25x cost. Special resource: Ignin

Feverent Fons Adventures: A mining operation has been trapped under a solidified lava flow. Only tools of Ignin can break through to free them but the nearest source is guarded by a powerful creature.

Lilac Refuge

An island of tranquil druids from all walks of races, carrying a necklace of bright purple (see chapter 7) matching the lanterns around them. Those subject to the light who are evil will lose their memories and become pacifists unless they have their lights taken away. In the forbidden temple is a central light created by a Lightkeeper of old and is the source all the others stem from.

Lilac Refuge Adventure: A criminal awaiting trial has gone missing from a prison ship nearby. A simple druid matches their description and is surrounded by people who swear by them.

Minerie Insular

The main city of the Minerie Capital. A major city of great wealth and architecture. It has a rigid class system where the few are wealthy but there are many slaves and those treated barely above such. It has many notable features:

Villa Reliqua Maris - The ancient seat of power of the Minerie, though repairs have been made since the great revolution it's a shadow of its former splendor. Used during large events and political meetings it sits on a hill looking down on Novus Urbaris and on top of the minerie mines.

Minerie Mines - The ancient tunnels that were mined for gems before the Villa was built. Some of the Villa has been built into these and apparently contains secret passages and tunnels. Novus Urbaris - The sprawling residential area of most of the citizenry of the Minerie capital that leads straight up the Villa and around the Aurum Fons up to the dockside. Contains a variety of different classes built alongside each other. Piazza Superiores - On the other side of the island, across from the docks, a newer district of great manors for the greatest Merchants Faucibus Industria - A large sprawling dockside containing most of the industry and honest work. Hortus Voluptatis - A pleasure ground built behind the Piazza Superiores leading up to the Villa. Aurum Fons - Whatever business isn’t done at the docks is done in this great entertainment square between Novus Ubaris and the docks. Contains large entertainment including the colosseum. Founded by Mhye refugees, part of the ancient Viborian Empire. When it collapsed many fled on boats run by the merchant class to safety to the former colonies across the sea and found themselves still under the rule of the surviving emperor. When this dynasty continued to lead them to disaster the mercantile class began demanding more rights leading to a bloody coup that has made Minerie Capital what it is today, a capitalist government where those with the most wealth gain the most privilege to decide the fate of the society (See Chapter 2 for more)

Trading: Exports: everything at normal cost. Imports: slaves and livestock at 1.25x cost.

Minerie Insular Adventures: noblewoman's prized pet blink dog she was walking in the park is set upon by her rival who hired some thugs. She will offer great rewards and favours for those who help return it to her. The Colosseum is having a massive event attracting warriors from the globe for a very grand prize. To gain entry you must prove yourself worthy by bringing a trophy to the event, taken from an enemy of the Coradite Coalition. A Vruunheim Colour perhaps?

Common folk and slaves are rising against the current status quo inspired by Gladicus. A slave in the Colosseum who threatens the rulers themselves.

A collector is unable to finish his library and needs people to acquire books from their Bisunian allies without being caught.

A descendent from the line of Narcissus wants their ancestors' prized ring in order to unlock a safe recovered in the ruins of Old Viboria. It is said that under the Villa the final emperor was killed. In the mines however not all that fell to the blades have necessarily departed.

Paradise Lost

A tribe of aasimar women that have been exiled from the rest of the world by one of the Divines. They have sworn to never leave their island and guard a passage to the Grey Wastes. In ages past they helped a plot of an enemy Divine Their law made by their queen Dippolota says only women are allowed to the island.

Paradise Lost: The residents of the island have all been transformed into Stone by an evil mage who will only undo the curse in return for several artefacts of great power.

Find out what happens to the men born on the island.

Krakens Corridor

The largest sea in the world and possibly the most dangerous area. Although life is sparse on the surface, underneath it holds secret biomes, empires and life hostile for those who dwell on the surface. A frontier even more alien than that of other realms but holds lost secrets and treasures of their own.

Shattered Reef

Found in the Bathypelagic Zone. Once the heartland of the Bathylon Dominion now a ghostly shell of deep reef and broken cities. Between the Mountains and Grey Dunes. Here lies Osirey, the once Dominion capital now a city ruled by Undead.

Session Choices

Once delivered the handout mentioned above players should be presented a list of options they can take. Each option should be clearly defined with expected rewards and sessions needed to complete.

Take a Faction Mission

The home-base of your players and other factions the players can interact with should provide quests for their characters. Player characters tend to be more powerful than ordinary citizens and can take missions of great consequence and risk, as such these are highly paid. Below are some examples but to immerse your players the phrasing of these should reflect the culture they are in. For example a lawful trading post could have delivery quests but a pirate cove could have smuggling missions instead. An enclave of priests can have missions of resolving conflicts whereas a bloodthirsty warrior society could dominate.

The exact details of the sessions do not need to be fleshed out until players choose it. You can be vague in these descriptions so long as players are given a general idea of what is happening. Below are examples using Black Tooth Cove as the home-base:

Exploration

In these sessions players decide to approach the vast wilderness without knowledge of a particular end point. Before the session begins the party has to decide where they want to go. They must tell the GM what directions they wish to take and how many sessions they wish to go on for. To make this travel interesting I recommend that every day of travel has a chance of some sort of encounter, therefore the longer the journey the more chance of discoveries and risks. The rewards here are less tangible. Perhaps players will find plot hooks, loot, interesting locations, areas off-limits they need to return to or just losses. There is another reason players can take this choice, especially with games with lots of parties. By exploring and claiming things before other players they may find themselves greatly advantaged compared to those who will never be able to recreate those initial discoveries. Therefore exploring can yield great rewards but also greater risk just to get there.

Free Roam a known Settlement

Sometimes the adventurer's life is a bit much. A little break is needed to recover, stocks need resupplied, or maybe players want to explore more of a particular setting like the Home-base. In which case a party can take this action. In the game they can go shopping, take part in local customs and interact with interesting NPCs. They may be able to find information, make connections, reveal more about their characters and have a greater understanding of the setting. Crafting, research and other out-of-adventure activities can be considered but likely the GM will suggest to do this using the Out-of-Session Choice. If players wish for more guidance during these Sessions you can create background events that players can engage with. Below is a list of examples for background events for Black Tooth Cove. Honeymoon Festival – the moons of this world reflect the light of the Sun in a rare orange glow which marks the Honeymoon festival. People of the world take this as a sign for romance. It is said that anybody that finds love on this day is true love. How can you get your players to engage with this? Does an NPC confess their love to a player? Can a local bard put together a show called “Light Me Up”/ “Non-seeing date” / Romance Island and they can invite players to participate?

A slave trader comes to town – a slave trader has come to town to sell their wares, on the safety of their boat. Anybody who trespasses or tries to free can be killed with weapons or magic. They also won't have any protection of the Blacktooth Bruisers though.

Game Masters Choice

Sometimes you can write a session for your players that you want to run. Maybe it has been inspired by something they have done, to do with one of the player backstories, or a consequence of their efforts. Present this option alongside the others after one of their choices.

Out-of-Session Choice

Out-of-session choices can be an excellent way to save time in session and allow players to progress/ interact with the setting created. Out-of-session choices can be anything from a player asking for a conversation with a NPC they didn't have time to talk to, spend gold, take a downtime activity (ideas outlined in Xanathars Guide to Everything by Wizards of the Coast) or talk to each other in character. These are excellent ways to bond to the game in everyone's own time. I recommend none of them be too demanding to do mechanically, as few skill checks as possible if a conflict is chosen, and to be resolved quickly.

Naval Travel and Combat

Naval Combat

During Naval Combat, Ships and their Crew become one entity during naval combat unless there are special characters on board. PCs can choose to be outside of this entity. Individual crew stats no longer apply their lives dependent on their ship out-surviving the threat. Damage is felt by the ship every quartile of the ship's Hull HP rather than continuously like a PC. Since the crew and ship are wrapped into a single entity during battle assume every time a ship Hull HP drops down a quarter around a quarter of the crew are unable to continue their duties. As a result the ship slows by 1/4, firepower is reduced by 1/4 and commands given by PCs or captains are only enacted by the remainder.

During combat the Captain takes responsibility for the ship and crew decisions. They decide what movement and ship actions to take and any saves and rolls use the Captains proficiency bonuses added to the appropriate stat. Actions include attacking, dashing, dodging (can be called taking evasive maneuvers), surrendering, parleying, boarding or abandoning the ship. As a bonus action The Captain also chooses one Special Crew, if available, to take their special crew action.

Parleying involves trying to open up negotiations between parties. In order to take this action a Captain must make a Charisma (persuasion or intimidation) check, the DC = 10 + Ship Level + Captain Proficiency Bonus, to be heard. This still can be rejected by the enemy. Surrendering involves telling the crew to lay down arms and give up control of the ship to another group; this may need another check to restrain a more aggressive or less trained crew. Abandoning Ship relinquishes control of the ship and crew members look to their own survival, the Captain loses all control of the situation.

Boarding the Ship requires suspends naval combat turning the fight into regular combat, both ships are considered battlefields and damage is taken by individual members of the crew. It can only occur if both ships are alongside each other. All boarders must make athletics or acrobatic checks (at advantage if the enemy ship is grappled) when crossing ships unless other means are made. Generally the goal is to get the captain and crew of the enemy ship to surrender by breaking their morale. Killing an entire crew is a rare practice as your own crew may be too hurt to get the ship home let alone a captured vessel. Getting a surrender is usually done by getting a high enough kill count, beating the captain, or causing enough damage. In rare cases the crew may be so loyal to the captain and their combined ability is so good that the only way to capture a ship is to kill everyone.

Crashing can occur if skill checks are failed or ramming occurs on a ship causing crashing damage. This is 4d10 damage for level 1 ships, 8d10 for level 2 ships and 16d10 for level 3 ships generally. If a ship crashes it must make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw taking the full damage and is immobile on failure, if successful it takes half damage and is not restrained. If a ship crashes against a creature or object the creature struck must make a Dexterity saving throw with a DC equal to 10 + the ship’s Strength modifier, taking the same crashing damage based on its size. A ship may be outfitted with a Ram (See Improvements below) so that when it deliberately crashes against an object it doesn’t take the crash damage itself. Repairing can be done for the crew at a friendly port for the usual price of 10gp per HP lost. PCs or the ship's Bosun can make minor repairs if time and materials are given, anybody making repairs without this requires passing appropriate checks. These tend to be temporary measures and onboard repairing materials tend to be limited.

Crew

Crew shouldn't be as powerful as the players although their stats can increase. Depending on the crew their stats can increase depending on active training or investing in equipment by the players, due to completion of a companion quest or can level up with the players at certain times. Skilled crew can cost 2gp per member per day but prices vary at other ports. Slave crewed ships do not cost as much but you risk the morality of the crew being low at all times increasing the likelihood of a mutiny.

Special crew have abilities that can be used as a bonus action with the ships turn during Naval Combat and have responsibilities outside of combat. No one special crew member can take their special action twice in a row. Their abilities reflect the work of multiple crew men they lead during the effort.

Captain - issues the orders. The best captains tend to have high charisma and intelligence scores as well as proficiencies in water vehicles, persuasion and maybe intimidation. During combat they decide what action the ship takes (e.g. to engage, to parley, to move, to retreat) and also chooses which one of the special crew to make a roll as a bonus action. They can also decide to cease hostilities, to surrender or to abandon ship. Out of combat they are the final authority aboard the ship and decide who takes on a special crew role. Their rank may come from a crew vote or appointment by an authority, but their removal can be decided by the crew at any moment.

First mate - responsible for morale, discipline and supervision of the crew as well as safety and security. A good first mate has high charisma with proficiency in insight and persuasion. In combat a first mate can give their proficiency bonus + d4 inspiration to an upcoming roll by the crew. If the first mate already has inspiration dice they can use that instead. Outside of combat the first mate can keep up the morale of the crew with a successful persuasion check, reducing the chances of mutinies or once per day tell the crew to "look alive" on a successful DC 10 persuasion check the next sailing related check in the next 10 minutes has advantage.

Upgrades

Upgrades and improvements can be made at any friendly port with the correct equipment taking 1/100 days of the total cost of the improvement. Siege Weapons can be fitted onto empty weapon slots. These are a list of standard weapons found in Aimos but just like ship types there may be more waiting to be discovered, let alone the variety of magical upgrades (see chapter 7).

Items, Treasures and Assets

Wonderous Materials

Throughout Terra Transbietta are magical materials that can be used in crafting magical items. Can be found in many forms but only useful enough in crafting in certain forms or concentrated purity. Extracted from rare nodules, usually around rifts between realms, or within components of creatures that have some of these properties. Below are general examples of native Wonderous Materials found in Aimos, materials from other planes, like Infernal Iron forged in the Hellfire of The Nine Hells, are rarer but possible to be found. Every individual creature, plant or ore can contain different components which can be traded, used by a master craftsman or be crafted by a player. If players have tools they wish to use to make ingredients of their craft available the examples below can be modified to encompass that e.g. a player with alchemist's tools could make a potion of resistance (acid) with Caustic Ooze but a chef may not. Instead they may be able to create a meal with the same effect by buying or harvesting the Decaying Heart of a Black Dragon.

Adamantine - 5000gp/lb - a rare ultrahard metal with a dull green tarnish. When used to craft metallic weapons and armour all Adamantine used count as double its material worth. It can be smithed solely to create magical Adamantine Armour. It can also be used to create weapons or ammunition that are effective against objects. Whenever an adamantine weapon or piece of ammunition coated in adamantine hits an object the hit is a critical hit. The knowledge of its formation in Terra Transbietta is unknown, much to the annoyance of geologists, miners and alchemists. The preceding theory is that they are actually parts of meteorites or gifts from cosmic beings. Therefore Adamantine can rarely be found anywhere.

Arcane Essence - 300gp/lb - distilled powered form of magic itself, a useful adaptable reagent used within all crafting. When refined it usually breaks down in small piles of sand that are constantly changing colour. When used to craft spell scrolls, Manuals, Tomes or write in Wizard spell books all Arcane Essence used count as double its material worth. Can be ground into ink that can be used to create Manuscript of the Weave. Harvestable from many magical creatures, through the recycling of magical objects or found in places exposed by extreme magic.

Blackpowder - 35gp/ Powder Horn (2lbs) or 250gp/Keg (20lbs) - small black granules with a salty taste used to create explosives or other powerful mechanical effects.Setting fire to a container full of blackpowder can cause it to explode, dealing fire damage to creatures within 10 feet of it (3d6 for a powder horn, 7d6 for a keg). A successful DC 12 Dexterity saving throw halves the damage. Setting fire to an ounce of blackpowder causes it to flare for 1 round, shedding bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet.

Magical Items

Clockwork Bolt Launcher

Weapon (Ballista), Rare

If the materials are available the Gnomes of Fingortab utilise these mechanical siege weapons even over the blackpowder cannons. Shaped like a ballista but with numerous complicated cogs built within it. This has the same statistics of a Ballista with the following changes. It takes one medium sized creature an action to aim and fire. An action a user can also put it in automatic mode, which fires all the bolts held within the clip within the same action at a single target. During this mode the target must make a Dexterity Saving Throw (DC = 10 + number of bolts fired.) On a failure they take the damage of all bolts fired. On a success all bolts miss and the clip needs to be reloaded. Up to 6 bolts can be held by the clip at any one time. It takes an action to reload the clip.

Explosive Ammunition

Weapon (Ammunition), Uncommon (Loaded), Very Rare (Overloaded)

Whether using magical means or mechanical being struck with this ammo is a destructive chaotic blow few ever forget. Loaded Explosive Ammunition deals an extra damage dice (equal to its original damage dice), the type of which is fire, Overloaded Explosive Ammunition deals an extra two damage dice. If any of these damage dice reach the maximum amount it could be, the dice is rerolled and the new number is added onto the previous total. Once the Explosive ammunition impacts a target it is no longer magical and is destroyed.

Eyes of Reflection

Wonderous Items, Rare (Requires Attunement)

These obsidian lensed goggles fit over humanoid eyes, adjusting for the wearer. While wearing these lenses you have advantage on Intelligence (Investigation) and Wisdom (Perception) checks to spot illusions and invisibility and can cast the Find Traps spell once per day.

Favianguard Saddle

Armour (Barding), Uncommon

While this saddle and decorative armour is attached to a mount, dexterity checks for the mount and the rider are at advantage whilst flying. Once per day can cast expeditious retreat on the mount.

Five Pearl Feast

Wonderous Item, Rare

This platter of deliciously prepared food is welcome on any occasion. It comes in many forms as the Pearlescent Salt that gives the meal its magical properties can be applied to many recipes. Those that have ever tasted such a delicacy agree it was the tastiest meal ever. Due to the magical salty nature of the Feast the meal is preserved until eaten. Each Five Pearl Feast contains 6 charges. Taking a charge worth of a Feast takes 10 minutes after which any participant gains the below benefits.

Gain 2d8 temporary hit points for a day

Gain advantage on any saving throws against fear or poison until their next short rest

Gain the effects of the Bless spell for an hour

Fizz

Potion, Common This bubbly purple liquid is often found in small canisters. Drinking it removes the negative effect of an exhaustion level. You require an equal number of Fizz to the exhaustion level. When you take this potion make a constitution saving throw the DC equal to 5 + the number of Fizz consumed within 24 hours. On a success no negative effect happens. On a failure the GM rolls on a Madness table of their choice.

Flask of Corrosion

Wonderous Item, Uncommon

Similar in size to an oil flask, this flask contains a thick noxious concoction that clears nostrils for a large area around. The flask can be thrown at a single target, on a hit the target takes 8d8 acid damage and half as much on the next turn. Or can be applied to a melee weapon as an action and for next minute every melee attack with that weapon does an extra 1d8 acid damage. If the weapon is non-magical the weapon is destroyed at the end of that minute.

Fluxweave Battlelauncher

Weapon (Siege), Very Rare

Built by half maddened and fully drunk pirate tinkerers, The Fluxweave Battlelauncher is a dangerous example of what happens when you retrofit an Amulet of the Planes so the safeguards to prevent tears between worlds are instead weaponised. Armour Class: 15. Hit Points 25. Range 60/120ft. 15ft radius effect. Action to prepare, Action to sim and action to fire. On a hit 8d6 force damage strikes the target area and any creature within it. Due to the chaotic nature of the device any 6 on the rolled d6 is rolled again, increasing the damage. On a 10 or less the player rolls on the below Fluxweave Battlelauncher random effect table. On a natural 1 the table is rolled and both the effect and damage is applied to those within 15ft of the Battlelauncher.

Gauntlet of The Oathkeeper

Wonderous Item, Artifact (Requires Attunement)

Wielded by many leaders throughout the ages to hold order and peace of the civilians they have sworn to protect. The rumours of its power has prevented wars and given sanctuary to those hoping to escape the ravages of the world. Imbued with the power of The Oathkeeper to protect those who hold their tenets at heart.

The Gauntlets are made of pure adamantine and the only blemishes are the celestial script for the words “Truth, Honour and Loyalty.”

Random Properties. The artifact has the following random properties, which you can determine by rolling on tables in the “Artifacts” section of the Dungeon Master’s Guide:

2 minor beneficial properties

2 major beneficial properties

Enhanced Attacks. While wearing these gauntlets your attacks and defense are enhanced. Your weapon attack rolls and AC are increased by +3.

Lawful Spells. While wearing the gauntlets you can use an action to cast one of the following spells using your spell save DC and spell attack modifier (if you do not normally have spellcasting abilities with this staff it is intelligence.) The Gauntlets contain 10 charges. These charges are regained every time after it is bathed in dusk light for 30 minutes.

2 charges each: Compelled Duel, Heroism, Shield of Faith 3 charges each: Branding Smite, Zone of Truth 4 charges each: Crusader's Mantle, Remove Curse 5 charges: Banishment, Death Ward Once per decade: Geas (at a 7th level)

Blessing of The Oathkeeper. You gain +2 intelligence while attuned to the gauntlets. As an action you can give help to a creature you can see. That creature receives a bonus to their next attack roll, ability check or saving throw equal to your level. Once you use this ability you can’t use it again until the next dusk. Sentience. The Gauntlets are a Lawful Good item with an Intelligence of 16, Wisdom of 14 and a Charisma of 14. It has hearing and darkvision out of a range of 120 feet. The Gauntlet communicates by giving feelings of encouragement, shame and other to the wielder.

Geobukseon Dragonhead

Weapon (Siege), Rare

Crafted by shipwrights of a peninsula in the distant Jade Sea. This beautifully carved iron dragonhead replaces a ship's figurehead and is often used on turtleships. It works by loading the iron mouth with explosive bundles and lighting them to produce an inferno. Armour Class: 15. Hit Points 50. Range 30ft cone. Misfire 3. Takes two actions to prepare and action to fire. Target takes 8d10 fire damage. Ammo: blackpowder or similar package worth 50gp.

Misfire. Whenever you make an attack roll with a firearm, and the dice roll is equal to or lower than the weapon’s Misfire score, the weapon misfires. The attack misses, and the weapon cannot be used again until you spend an action to try and repair it. To repair your firearm, you must make a successful Tinker’s Tools check (DC equal to 8 + misfire score). If your check fails, the weapon is broken and must be mended out of combat at a quarter of the cost of the firearm. Creatures who use a firearm without being proficient increase the weapon’s misfire score by 1.

Harp Strings of The Radiant One

Wonderous Item, Artifact (Requires Attunement)

Some moments throughout time have been captured perfectly that they echo throughout the ages. Deeds of valour have only been completed with the encouragement of a passing bard. Towns unite in darkest times through simple songs. An ailing person performs one last dance with their one true love. These are just some of the deeds performed by instruments made with the Harp Strings of The Radiant One. Blessed by the youthfully spirited Divine.

Seemingly made of pure golden thread with a faint glow inside, the Harp Strings are always warm to the touch.

Random Properties. The artifact has the following random properties, which you can determine by rolling on tables in the “Artifacts” section of the Dungeon Master’s Guide:

2 minor beneficial properties

2 major beneficial properties

Shining Resilience. While these Harp Strings are on your person your defenses are enhanced. Your saving throws and death saving throws are increased by +3.

Hopeful Spells. While wearing the gauntlets you can use an action to cast one of the following spells using your spell save DC and spell attack modifier (if you do not normally have spellcasting abilities with this item is charisma.) The Strings contain 10 charges. These charges are regained every time after it is bathed in midday light for 30 minutes.

2 charges each: Bless, Healing Word, Guiding Bolt 3 charges each: Calm Emotions, Enhance Ability 4 charges each: Fireball, Daylight 5 charges: Charm Monster, Hallucinatory Terrain Once per decade: Firestorm

Blessing of The Radiant One. You gain +2 charisma while attuned to the Strings. As an action you can use the light within yourself to give yourself aid when most in need. As an action you can gain a number of hit points equal to your character level. Once you use this ability you can’t use it again until the next midday. Sentience. The Strings are a Neutral Good item with an Intelligence of 14, Wisdom of 10 and a Charisma of 18. It has hearing and darkvision out of a range of 120 feet. The Gauntlet communicates by sending off pulses of warmth and searing heat.

Immortal Reflection

Wonderous Items, Very Rare (Requires Attunement)

Everlasting life has been pursued by mortals since their dawning. Some have tried pursuing a noble legacy, some have tried to find impossible treasures, others through service to otherworldly powers and some use twisted necromancy. Unknowingly some artists have found a secret, although have not realised the cost till much later. Creating a self-portrait from only Wisps of Shadow and attuning to it binds the characters soul to it. When attuned in this way the player does not age and no longer has to make death saving throws. They can become unconscious but cannot die. Their body cannot be destroyed or physically permanently damaged by normal means. However if the painting is destroyed all the damage they have taken since attunement happens at once to the player. The self-portrait takes every wound or physical change the player should have. The painting has an AC of 10 and HP of 100. It is vulnerable to fire and radiant damage.

Ki Infused Nun-Chuck

Weapon, Uncommon (Requires Attunement by a Monk)

Developed by the martial arts experts of the Far Dynasties to further utilise their discipline in an impactful way no other class could. Before attacking the monk can choose to do one to three flourishes. For each flourish the monk spends a ki point and makes an acrobatic check (DC= 10 +(5 x number of flourishes)). On a success the monk gains +3 on the attack roll and gains an extra d6 for each number of flourishes they perform. On a failure the monk accidently hits themselves taking the damage that was meant for their target. The nunchucks have the same stats as a mace but have finesse and light properties.

Last Breath

Potion (poison), Rare

Extracted and distilled by master poisoners is the concoction known as Last Breath. Usually comes in a small vial, what many do not realise is that it is not the sickly grey liquid that kills, but the vapour that builds around it. Upon opening or smashin the vial every creature within 10ft radius, that isn’t a construct or undead, must make a DC 17 Constitution Saving Throw. On a failure the creature is poisoned and has disadvantage on death saving throws, until neutralised. A creature unable to breath lives 1+its constitution modifier minutes after which it drops to 0 HP.

Lilac Torque

Wonderous Item, Very Rare (Requires Attunement)

The Torque has 10 charges. While wearing it you can use cast the following spells by spending the required charges, using your spell save DC (choose wisdom or charisma if you do not currently have one): Calm Emotions (2 charges), Misty Step (2 charges), Non-Detection (3 charges), Healing Word (2 charges), Lesser Restoration (3 charges), Dimension Door (5 charges) and Life Transference (4 charges.) The charges are regained by taking a long rest on Lilac Refuge (see Chapter 3.)

Curse: If the character is of evil alignment their alignment changes to Neutral Good. Anyone who attunes to the Torque has their memories removed unless aware of the secret of the Lilac Refuge. The memory loss can be removed with a Remove Curse or Greater Restoration spell.

Mantle of Terror

Wonderous Item, Uncommon

Mantles of Terror take many forms, some are pieces of recently slain monsters wrapped around the shoulders of a warchief or others are stitched pieces of unnerving flesh wrapped around the bony frame of a long maddened mage. Wearing a Mantle of Terror grants a +2 to intimidation checks against creatures that can see you. At the start of initiative the wearer gains Terrifying Presence action. If the wearer isn’t incapacitated they can use this action and cause every creature of the wearers choice make a wisdom saving throw (DC 14) or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat this saving throw at the end of their turn, ending the effect on a success. Creatures that succeed are immune to this action for 24 hours.

Manuscript of the Weave

*Wonderous Item, Very Rare *

This thick arcane tome is instilled with the raw essence of the magic and connects to the ley lines of the world. With enough dedication a character can unlock magical secrets otherwise locked to them. If you spend 48 hours over a period of 6 days or fewer studying the books contents and delving into its secrets you can gain a fifth level spell slot and the knowledge to cast one spell up to fifth level. Intelligence, charisma or wisdom can be used as the spellcasting modifier. Once this knowledge is gleaned the book is unable to provide this benefit with anyone for a century. A wizard can use this Manuscript as a spellbook and an arcane focus.

Map of Secrets

Wonderous Item, Rare

This map can focus on a location and reveal secrets beyond the vision of normal vision. As part of a 10 minutes ritual you can unfurl the map at a location no larger than 100ft. During this ritual you create a command word, binding the map to the site. Once the map is bound to a location it is unable to be changed. From then on whilst on the same plane of existence you can unfurl the map and speak its command word as an action. Doing so reveals a blueprint of the bound, showing any magical sources, creatures and passages. Saying the command word again removes the map, making it appear as a blank parchment.

Petrified Mast

Wonderous item, uncommon

Made from the glowing husk of a former ancient tree. A valuable ship improvement that helps defend a vessel against dangerous storms and creatures. By attaching this mast to a ship you give the boat resistance to lightning damage.

P-watch

Wonderous item, Uncommon

A revolutionary new device from Plum Inc. and master artificer Jeeves Stobbsprocket. An elegant pocket watch with a beautiful electrum sheen would sell for a hefty amount of gold just on its looks but it also allows mundane members of the public to channel some cantrip-like abilities known as Aspps (application spells). The p-watch holds up to 3 Aspps. To change the currently held Aspps you must visit a Plum Store. Aspps choices are below. All Aspps take an action to use.

Climate Aspp - can create a tiny harmless sensory effect from the watch that predicts what the weather will be at your location for the next hour.

Torch Aspp - can use the watch to create an area of bright light of 10ft radius and dim light for 10 ft. P message - can send a short voice message to another p-watch wearer within 60ft. May be disrupted by magical effects, built up area and faint winds.

Ringer - can create a sound that lasts up to 1 minute from the pre-installed library of P Sounds. To unlock more sounds join P-Sounds + subscription!

**Portie **- can show a minor illusion of an image that you have previously captured as Pimage as an action. P-watches can hold up to 5 images.

Find your party - can locate any other p-watch wearer that has accepted your party invite within 200ft. Remember do not accept party invites from strangers.

More to come in the next update! Visit your local Plum Store to find out more!

Savage Stalkers

Wonderous Item, rare (requires attunement)

Harness the primal power of monstrous creatures these boots give the wearer to perform outlandish feats. Using a bonus action you can activate this raw potential. For 1 minute your speed is increased by 10 feet, your jump speed is doubled and unarmed strikes deal an extra 1d6 slashing damage. This damage is magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to non-magical attacks and damage.

Sceptre of The Starwanderer

Weapon (Quarterstaff), Legendary Artefact (Requires Attunement)

Of all the items that the graceful elves have ever been blessed with, this is one of the most secret and powerful. A gift from the Starwanderer to the mortals of this world in their darkest days, to guide them to salvation. Utilised by lunar priestesses it has been responsible for a number of incredible features from stopping genocides in the bitter Crown Wars, transporting refugees to the Feywild, helping lovers find love and holding back the oceans itself. Yet with the Retreat of the Elves begun and the world changed, the legendary object and its deeds have slipped from mortal memory. Originally passed down from High Priestess to High Priestess of the Moonspire of Aslanis, its lineage was interrupted by the city slipping beneath the waves. Great efforts were made to find this object but war distracted the Elves. What they didn't know was that it was used by an acolyte to escape into the Feywild where it was stolen by a trickster Fey. This rod has an end made of a pearlescent stone, said to be a piece of moon rock that reflects and shimmers, encased in three decorated crescents. The rod is made of silver and covered in elvish astronomical symbols that occasionally move, fade or glow depending on the star's positions.

Celestial Spells: While holding the staff you can cast the following spells using your spell save DC and spell attack modifiers (if you do not have spells normally your spellcasting ability with this staff is charisma.) The Staff contains up to 10 charges. Charges are regained everytime a long rest is taken after holding it under starlight for 30 minutes.

2 charges each: Charm Person, Sanctuary, Tashas Hideous Laughter 3 charges each: Mirror Image, Pass without Trace 4 charges each: Dispel Magic, Beacon of Hope Once per decade: Crown of Stars

Exalted Radiance: Can be used as a +3 magic staff or mace that grants a +3 to attack and damage rolls and does an extra d8 radiant damage on hit. It can be used as a spell-casting focus granting +3 to spell attack rolls.

Blessing of The Starwanderer: you gain +2 Charisma while attuned to the Staff. As an action while wielding this Staff you can teleport to an area you can see within your character level x5 feet away. Once this ability is used it cannot be used until you rest under the next starry night.

Sentience: The Staff is a sentient chaotic good weapon with an Intelligence of 12, Wisdom of 10 and a Charisma of 16. It has hearing and darkvision out of a range of 120 feet. The weapon communivates by transmitting emotions and lighting up the patterns of the Stars on it.

Standard of Starkstahl

Wonderous Item, Artifact (requires attunement)

A torn naval banner, displaying a snarling black wolf facing forwards on a golden background, that always seems to move like a strong sea breeze is blowing even when still. It can be attached to a 10ft pole or a ship's mast. Furling and unfurling the banner requires an action. The Standard has the following properties: Symbol of Strength. As a bonus action you touch the unfurled standard and cause it to emanate inspiration. You and your allies within 20ft gain advantage on their next attack roll within the next minute. Once this property is used it can’t be used again until finishing the next long rest.

Fearful Visage. As a bonus action you can touch the unfurled standard and invoke an unworldly howl frightening your enemies. All enemies within 120ft must make a DC 16 wisdom saving throw or become frightened. This effect lasts 1 minute or until the banner is furled. Once you use this property it can’t be used until finishing the long rest.

Call of the Sea. As a bonus action you can touch the unfurled standard and summon the knowledge of the seafaring lineage of the Starkstahls. If aboard a ship all vehicles (water) checks are at advantage for 1 minute or until the banner is furled. Once this property is used it can’t be used again until finishing the next long rest.

Unyielding Focus

Wand, rare (requires attunement)

This wand has 7 charges. While holding it, you can cast a reaction to spend 1 charge to cast the shield spell, or 1 or more of those charges to give yourself a bonus equal to the number of charges spent on a saving throw. The wand regains 1d6+1 expended charges daily after a long rest buried in soil. If you expend the wand's last charge roll a d20. On a 1, the wand crumbles in ashes and is destroyed.

Vestment of Fortune

Wonderous item, very rare (requires attunement)

The robe is black with streaks of gold moving through it like comets streaking through the night sky. While you wear this robe you gain the following benefits: You can reduce the damage of a critical hit against you by your character level once per long rest. Whenever you see a creature within 60ft roll a 1 or 20 on a d20 you can use a reaction to make them reroll. You must use the 1 or 20 on your next d20 roll. You can ignore disadvantage on one attack roll, ability or saving throw once per long rest.

Zen Pulse

Rod, rare (requires attunement)

Whilst holding this rod you gain advantage on wisdom saving throws against charm or frightened effects. You can use an action and present the rod and say its command word to let out an aura of calm. Each creature of your choice within 60ft that is currently charmed or frightened has that effect ended upon them.

Zepte of Grotvulfs

Rod, Artifact (requires attunement)

Handed down the royal lineage of Vruunheim from before written history, this Sceptre has magical abilities that have kept the nation from falling in their darkest times. Whilst holding the rod you can enhance your leadership skills with the following properties: Once per day you can make your voice loud enough to be heard clearly from 300ft, while this effect is active you can gain advantage on a Charisma check of your choice. As an action you can grant temporary hit points equal to your character level to allies within 30ft. These temporary hit points last 1 minute. Once this property is used it cannot be used again for 1 month. You can cast the Ceremony spell without components once per day. Attack and damage rolls with this weapon gain +3.

Followers and Enemies

Nightcrew

*Medium humanoid (any race), *

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• Armor Class 15 (studded leather)
• Hit Points 84 (13d8 + 26)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	16 (+3)	14 (+2)	14 (+2)	11 (+0)	14 (+2)

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• Saving Throws Str +5, Dex +6, Wis +3
• Skills Athletics +5, Deception +5
• Senses passive Perception 10
• Languages any two languages
• Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)

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Evasion. If the Nightcrew member is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, the Nightcrew member instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails.

Actions

Multiattack. The Nightcrew makes two melee attacks or makes two ranged attacks with its shortbow or fires and loads the musket

Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Shortbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 80/320 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Musket. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 120/480 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d12 + 3) piercing damage. Two-handed, reload 1, Misfire 4

Reactions

Parry. They can add 2 to its AC against one melee attack that would hit it. To do so, the Nightcrew member must see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.

Damned Orc

*Medium humanoid (orc), *

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• Armor Class 16 (chain mail)
• Hit Points 93 (11d8 + 44)
• Speed 30 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
18 (+4)	12 (+1)	18 (+4)	10 (+0)	11 (+0)	13 (+1)

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• Saving Throws Str +6, Con +6, Wis +2
• Skills Intimidation +3
• Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
• Languages Common, Orc
• Challenge 4 (1,100 XP)

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Aggressive. As a bonus action, the orc can move up to its speed toward a hostile creature that it can see.

Orcish's Fury. The Orc deals and extra 4 (1d8) damage when it hits with a weapon attack (already included)

Actions

Multiattack. The Damned Orc makes two attacks.

Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (1d12 + 3 + 4) slashing damage.

Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d6 + 4 + 4) piercing damage.

Battle Cry (1/day). Each creature of the Damned Orcs Choice that is within 30ft of it that can hear it, and not already effected by Battle Cry, gain advantage on attack rolls until the start of the Damned Orcs next turn, The Damned Orc can make one attack as a bonus action

Blunderbuss. Ranged Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, range 15/30 ft., reload 1, misfire 4, scatter. Hit: 17 (2d8+3+4) piercing damage.

The Bloodied

Hailing from the harsh fjord dominated land to the north are a group of veteran raiders that have been banished by their Jarl. These Northlanders wander the Sea of Knives to rediscover their purpose, honour and strength.

Aimos Character Options

Aimos, in the material world of Terra Transbietta, is mostly a marine sub-continent full of adventures, conflicts and mysteries. New breeds of adventurers and heroes have journeyed here developing unique skills and abilities to overcome their struggles.

Barbarian Path – Pulseless

Some people describe warriors as cold blooded killers, in the case of these Barbarians they aren’t too far wrong. The Path of the Drowned is one few people would ever choose, seen as most as a curse. Usually the result of an incomprehensible ritual, injected with a formaldehyde based serum in a mad experiment or a warrior too stubborn to die at sea, Pulseless Barbarians are those whose rage has managed to take them through death and back. By going through this process they lose many aspects of humanity and gain something...other. Those of the Path of Pulseless wander the world as outcasts, feared by folk, scared of the aura of death they surround themselves with. Some embrace this dark path, others seek a way to escape this path and others remain lost for all of their long days.

Bard College – Shanty

The College of Shanties house the most widespread and well travelled Bards in the world. Witnesses to new lands, heroic deeds, bad tattoos and the edges of existence itself these bards motivate and untie the crew around them to push through lulls and fight off danger to complete the most epic of voyages.

Bards of this college are usually accepted on most seasoned captains ships but newer ones may require convincing to host one aboard, seeing the expense of hiring a Bard as impractical. These bards need one chance to remove this doubt. Their abilities range from helping avoid boarding with simple parlays and quelling mutineers with a simple karaoke night. These bards are capable of forming intense friendships quickly but just as quickly move on to the next adventure when they dock.

Cleric Domain – Chance

The Powers of Luck affect all peoples and societies with and without their knowledge of so. They determine who gets born into what family, the events and hardships that they must overcome and if any amount of struggle can be successful. Luck is what many people try to control, with talismens and wierd rituals but it cannot be truly controlled but higher beings have found ways to influence it subtly. The Power of Luck is often the hardest for mortals to recognise as their interventions are hard to determine as the regular path of fate or the chaos of the multiverse. Some of these Powers imbue individuals with the ability to change the odds for moments great and small although they too must weather the burdens of a world of chance themselves. Some of these gain livings through gambling, others as guides in dangerous ventures and others are sought after by powerful but superstitious entities. Chance Clerics are welcome additions to most operations as they not only empower themselves but their allies too.

Druid Circle – Abyss

The deep ocean holds many wonders. It includes voids of darkness bigger than any desert, trenches deeper than any on land but also motes of erupting volcanic activity giving enough energy to create delicate life. Despite being the largest environment in the world it seems completely alien to those who have peaked into it. The denizens of this ecosystem are even more strange. This fragile unknown can be a harsh place, light and resources are scarce and pressure immense, but the creatures there have adapted. The primal need to survive has led to arms races of evolution. Druids of the Abyss take lessons from this struggle for survival, channeling the beautiful although dangerous adaptations of the denizens in the dark, in the light of day.

Fighter Archetype – Tactician

Tacticians are fighters who do not merely deal damage for the sake of it. They choose to fight knowing they will win, every blow part of a grander scheme that can lead to their enemies falling. Combat is a puzzle they must solve before moving onto the next one. They contain a wellspring of knowledge that they enact with precise blows. They travel in various forms, such as captains boarding enemy ships or as pugulists chipping away at larger foes or unassuming champions of lofty empires.

Monk Tradition – Way of the Balance

Monks of the Way of Balance learn to understand and embrace the extreme spectrums of life and forces in order to utilise powerful offensive and insurmountable defensive techniques in order to create harmony in the world. They wander as travellers learning about various life experiences, acquiring skills and bringing peace between opposing forces.

Members of this order have diverse backgrounds, encouraging each other to try to diversify their life experience so together they can work on creating a shared wisdom. Their greatest fears are those that become imbalanced and hostile to listening and open discussion.

Paladin Oath – Odyssey

The Oath of Odyssey calls to those warrior souls who gather their shield brothers to seek out the horizon, explore the world and return from each journey stronger and more epic. Every culture has examples of these individuals, usually demi-gods, naval commanders, exiled kings or larger than life figures that acquire followers and together make it through the unknown. Many folk tales, poems and ballads revolve around these figures seeking out their fate but the truth of what happened on these journeys are only known by the legends themselves and their faithful companions.

Ranger Archetype – Explorer

This Ranger travels beyond the borders of the known in order to unite to bring unity and solutions to both the familiar and unfamiliar. They may root out secrets, treasures, histories and even societies to find they are protected, so this ranger quickly adapts to whatever danger is in front of them. These Rangers seem driven to shed light in the hidden corners of the world but can leave without a trace to preserve any balance they find. They are sought out as guides for travellers for their knowledge and expertise in navigating uncharted territories with ease and providing safety for their charges.

Rogue Archetype - Treasure Seeker

This Rogue works to bring the past to the present to unlock a greater future for themselves or others. Some secrets are protected and better hidden than others so this rogue deftly manages these obstacles with research, knowledge and skill. They gather resources in many ways including navigating through at home to a grand library, to dealing with shady customers in the back room of an inn. These rogues are seemingly guided by fate itself, or dumb luck, to uncover their quarry no matter the risk.

Sorcerer Origin - Siren

Storytellers around the world all tell of mysterious events where sailors and travellers vanish after being lured away from their path by otherworldly singing or tempting treasure. The result of which is never known. Your innate magic comes from these events. Maybe you have been exposed to some unknown ritual by witches in the mists or the descendant of some unknown magical creature or your birth coincides with some sort of magical marine confluence.

Whatever the origin you may not have known you were special until later on in life. You may have always had a magnetism with people which has grown suspiciously so. You may have discovered physical features such as scales or the ability to hold your breath for a really long time.

In some cultures these are signs of a dangerous individual that is a threat to the common folk and others the gift of a leader and others may see you as a weapon to be warped. In certain lands dynasties with Siren blood hold positions of power without discovery or ever questioning their true origin.

Warlock Patron - Timeless

Your choices have led you to making or some day making a deal with a patron that can alter the flow of time itself. As a being that works across the passage of time their motives can be far reaching and may not be found out till generations pass. Many beings are envious of this power or wrathful of any changes to their detriment leading to enemy entities targeting you as a tool of this great power.

Expanded Spell List

The Timeless lets you choose from an expanded list of spells when you learn a warlock spell. The following spells are added to the warlock spell list for you.

Timeless Spell List

Wizard Arcane Traditions – Naturalist

Wizardy is academic in nature but the study of nature is difficult to do without getting your hands dirty, literally in most cases. Naturalist wizards may be just as capable in studying and education as their counterparts but can receive a stigma to haughtier mages keeping to ivory towers. A Naturalist knows better and understands that life in the world is an amazing source for designs, inspirations and knowledge so venture out for field research, despite the harm they could face. Utilising their knowledge of the natural world these wizards are able to use abilities that they have researched in the wild and apply them with intelligence in new and exciting ways.

Appendices A - Powers and Pantheons

There are many powerful entities beyond mortals and monsters that operate in Creation, the multiverse around Terra Transbietta, that are capable of shifting cosmic scales. Some individuals or groups can overlap for example a God can also be a Demon Lord. Most rarely interact with mortals of Terra Transbietta whereas Divine Deities take an active interest.

Allhearth

The Allhearth, the Welcoming, is the patron of families and all the subtle and obvious things that are needed to keep healthy communities together. Often identifying as a maternal figure, the Allhearth is credited by mortals for hygiene, families and communication. She is often called for help with childbirth, patience and endurance throughout the world under many names such as Frigg by Northlanders, Hestia by Mhye and Macha by Calba.

The Allhearths worship is widespread throughout but does not attract rigid hierarchical institutes or massive temples but the love of The Allhearth creates small festivals of thanks shared by communities.

The Allhearth has been overlooked but stories prevail of her wrath are to be some of the most feared. Tales of sickness taking those who fail to keep up good domestic principles or cities that do not provide good infrastructure occur in every civilisation. She is also credited for taking away sickness and sometimes hands it to those who deserve it.

She is said to work with the Eternal Warden, to provide respectful treatment of the dead, whisper good matches in the ear of the Bringer of Smiles, works with the Grand Architect and hosts many others such as the youthful Radiant One between their travels. She despises the Crawling Rot and is always on the lookout for the Vile Thrones schemes to dismantle homes and families.

Atropus

Atropus, The Unliving Unborn or The Dark Star, is the patron of undeath and stillbirth. When the Divines first came to be, one failed to emerge. That potential energy was corrupted and became a planet sized mass of unconscious evil. Atropus drifts through the cosmos ignorant of the destruction it causes by its proximity. Being too close can collapse fertility, increase necromantic powers and warps light itself.

Atropus has no worshippers in Terra Transbietta and it's only interaction in the world was drifting close to the realm during the end of the Primal Age. Its presence has forever reduced the fertility of the creatures exposed in that age, like dragons, elves and giants, thus changing the powers forever.

What became of Atropus is unknown, it is predicted to have been destroyed by an immortal alliance known as The Lightkeepers or even destroyed by what would become Dawnchosen. It seems not to have any consciousness or communication but some suggest it is able to follow cues or is aware enough to move towards certain attractions. Pieces of it have been discovered exploding an area with a massive amount of evil.

Banished Titans

When the world was fresh consciousness formed around the primordial chaos of the elements themselves. These Titans ruled with pure strength dominating Creation sending worlds reeling as their very presence was both creation and destruction. Some of these died, their essences forming the Elementals Planes, fueling the Material Realms. Others were imprisoned in a realm of barriers, depths and impossible escape. Yet they roar and snap the endless chains around them, ready to explode through any weakness of their bounds. They are credited with the creation of elemental chaos, the vastness of Creation and the continual forming and destruction of worlds.

Cults of the Banished Titans flare up causing times of great upheaval. Their children still wander the Elemental Planes as well as many primordials that heed their call and will support individuals or cults that seem strong enough to finally begin the events that will free the Banished Titans. Every few centuries these cults seem to flare up, led by an evil Elemental Prince of Evil after years of building their strength. Occasionally all the evil Elemental Princes will try to establish themselves into the Material realms, using a mortal prophet as a key component. Not all of them realise if they are all summoned into Terra Transbietta it could allow for the Banished Titans to follow, their very presence could shatter the world itself.

The Banished Titans have rarely worked with any other Divine, they find the intricate plots of the Vile Throne, Fallen Grace and Ceaseless Spinner ineffective and weak. It finds the Wildfather and Lifewell its greatest opponents, usually more attune with the natural world and will see signs of its not subtle coming before it is strong enough to contest.

Bringer of Smiles

A joyous presence wherever he goes, The Bringer of Smiles, also known as The Changebringer, is the patron of providers and agriculture. Seen in many forms, from a jolly old man at harvest time giving away treats to a well muscled wanderer passing through a stilted relationship, the Bringer of Smiles has often been seen as male but there are unconfirmed sightings he has taken many forms. He is credited with the changing of the seasons, reckless loves, lucky encounters and good revelry.

The Bringer of Smiles is worshipped in various forms throughout the world especially in rural areas. People hoping for change often leave out tribute, depending on what they want to change, this could be from relationship status, working situation, place in society or a cultural upheaval. Priests of his are often travelling and permanent places of worship are kept humble though big enough for large gatherings. Communities hold festivals, particularly around harvest time, giving thanks to him and stepping into the new season together.

By no means is The Bringer of Smiles may seem at times very simple but he often takes a leadership role if the good aligned Divines need to work towards a common goal. He is said to be as knowledgeable as the Song Seeker, can control the flow of time like the Fateweaver and will wage into any foray alongside the war gods being indistinguishable in his fight.

The Bringer of Smiles works with most of the good or neutral Divines, even those such as the often rigid Grand Architect consider him a friend. Some stories place him as son of The Lifewell, sibling to the Wildfather, father to Radiant One and more interestingly husband to the Stormfury.

He despises The Fallen Grace and the deals made in its name to bind mortals to service and doom, he will often try to route out any clauses and provide chance ways for its victims to escape his clutches.

Ceaseless Spinner

In the shadows something watches. It watches everything you do, to see if you are doing what it wants and you better make sure you are. You should be thankful. She watches over you, she protects you. Within her plan you have purpose, Her purpose and it is the only thing that matters. You do not know exactly what that is but you hope you are fulfilling the silent ultimatums. In the corner of your eye you may see something scuttling ready to report on your deepest secrets. You do not know if you have done things right but you hope that thin, pointed dark limb reaching out is not for you. You aren’t ready to be dragged into the dark. Maybe you should prove yourself? Someone must have done something to displease Her. A traitor, if you could prove yourself...How did this dagger end up in your hand? This is the presence of the Divine known as the Ceaseless Spinner, Queen of Spiders, She Who Watches, That Which Lies. Patron of spies, assassins and liars. It is known to promote the stealing of secrets, the feeling of being trapped and infiltration. Normally taking the form of a beautiful dark elf woman or taking the form of a poisonous spider but her domain indicates she can be invisible, the darkness itself or even appear as your closest ally.

The Ceaseless Spinner is worshipped as by many manipulators and spies and is the prime source of worship in Drow culture. In the matriarchal society arcane use is limited, anything that is not within her doctrine is heresy and social advancements are commonly through assassination. Her worshippers are often responsible for causing strife between factions using the guises of other Divines and manipulating good and evil folks for a long term outcome that benefits themselves. Since The Ceaseless Spinner deals in long term schemes it can be hard to tell when you are being manipulated.

The Ceaseless Spinner willingly uses other Divines in their schemes, rather than using her own power but has burned many bridges when these schemes have been found out. Those with simpler motives like the Hungering Maw have been an easy source of manipulation but their simple drive has led them to blunder her operations or just easily ignore her. She delights in particular trapping Divines such as the Oathkeeper in schemes using their own mechanisms and rules as a web. Her greatest foes of the Divines are those with secrets and knowledge she cannot access The Fateweaver being her greatest enemy and to a lesser extent The Song Seeker. The Star Wanderer is her most hated however, able to avoid her traps and turned a majority of her worshippers into the cursed Drow. This hatred is not surprising, in some lore they were the co-creators of the elvish race before sundering. A break up made even more painful by the amount of love that was there before.

Crawling Rot

In the deep places of the cold earth and the fearful soul is the touch of the Crawling Rot, the Buried Horror. Depicted as a colossal skittering worm like creature, a creature made of leaking poisonous fungi or a plague victim hounded by flies, The Crawling Rot is said to be responsible for rampant disease, choking to death, claustrophobia and revolusion.

The Crawling Rot is worshipped by desperate people, tribes at the edge of plague filled swamps or Underdark societies in order to spare themselves from the many afflictions it can bring to them. In other parts of the world which has defences against disease and cave-ins the essence of the Crawling Rot can infiltrate weak willed leadership bringing about xenophobia or the fear of being rejected. Necromancers often turn to The Crawling Rot hoping to find a way to avoid the natural cycle of life and death. From these pockets of panic springs of rot and disease pour forth.

The Crawling Rot has some overlapping goals with the Vile Throne and occasionally The Fallen Grace. It did have more in common with the Ceaseless Spinner but has grown weary of its schemes and now contends with it in various places. The Allhearths teachings in the world reduce its chances of gaining footholds and The Oathkeeper often acts as a barrier to its infiltrations. The Eternal Warden is its greatest enemy, able to sense the rise of needless death and prevent the spread of necromancy and plagues.

Dawnchosen

The most tumultuous event in the history of Terra Transbietta ended with a sacrifice. When the evil Divines assaulted the realm all seemed lost. Entire empires crumbled by The Hungering Maw, once mighty races brought to near extinction by Atropus, land masses changed by The Crawling Rot and even the sun was consumed by one of Those-from-beyond all coordinated by The Ceaseless Spinner. The most ardent of mortal defenders was a dragon. He was slain by the combined assault of the enemy, sacrificing himself so others would escape and continue the fight. His death was not in vain. He returned with Divine power in an event known as the Duel Destruction which ended with The Dawnchosen defeating the Those-from-beyond in an explosive battle which created the New Sun. Pieces of the divinity he was imbued still continues to defend the world of his birth. The Dawnchosen is the patron of good aligned draconic creatures and dragonborns and is a symbol of hope and renewal.

The Dawnchosen is actively worshipped by elements of the now scattered dragonborn race and other societies they occupy. Festivals of thanks remain within the societies that remember the event and huge temples are built to commemorate the event. Some societies shun the origin of the Dawnchosen, whether by prejudice of dragons or to belief it is heresy that mortals can ascend to such heights.

The Radiant One, The Oathkeeper and strangely The Eternal Warden were his greatest sponsors whereas The Grand Architect and The Fallen Grace were opponents of his ascension, feelings that may not be entirely resolved although The Fallen Grace ended up supporting it in a deal. The greatest foe is The Draconic Despot, the five-headed patron of evil dragons. This eneminity is deep because it is caused by heartbreak, when both were mortals they were soulmates.

Draconic Despot

The Draconic Despot, the Five-Headed Dragonqueen, is the patron of chromatic dragons and evil leaders. Once a champion of ancient dragonkind she took part in the defense of Terra Transbietta against the assault of evil Divines at the end of the Primal Age. She saw her mate, now known as the Dawnchosen die. In desperation she turned The Fallen Grace and made a deal. What the deal contained exactly is unknown but it led to The Dawnchosens ascension and her own descent to madness, greed and destruction. She led a war after the duel descents that nearly saw her children dominating what was left of the fragile world. She was slain and went to the Nine Hells.

Although not part of the bureaucracy itself she seems to hold territory and power something that is hated by the Archdevils. She seems to be amassing power and it is no secret many of her descendents still act in her name. Her return may be inevitable. Her influence can be felt when raiders take part in razing innocent settlements and stripping it of worth and hoarding it for its own sake.

She seems to have a relationship with The Fallen Grace although seemingly mutual it is impossible for most to fathom The Fallen Grace can work with something not subservient to itself. Her hatred is most focused on The Dawnchosen who was in mortal form her love but was responsible for her destruction and fall to Hell.

Eternal Warden

All mortals know and fear the power of death itself. The boundary of life and death is inevitable and unknown. They make up stories of what is beyond and villainise the act of dying. Many imagine the figure behind this transition as a spectre reaping lives with cold disregard, a monstrous judge who sorts your soul into an afterlife or an angelic figure who carries them away. The Eternal Warden can be all of these things yet people that have been brought back from the beyond tell of a young stranger, with a sad but warm smile. The Eternal Warden is patron of those that deal with death and loss.

The Eternal Warden is shunned by many peoples except those fearful or desperate to prevent a loved one from dying. Yet churches are common providing healing, funeral and counselling services. Its greatest concern is with the slaying of the abominations that mock death such as unliving entities. Entire orders in its name go hunting and preventing these creatures and their sources.

The Eternal Warden interacts with all the Divines and other non-divine powers, good and ill, delivering souls to the final place. His interactions with The Vile Throne and The Crawling Rot are tense yet The Eternal Warden carries out their duties, many evil deities try to manipulate or even conquer The Eternal Warden but none have been successful. They also have conflicts with good aligned divines that beg on behalf of mortals to prevent them carrying out the duty. The Fateweaver is often understanding of the duty they carry. The Lifewell always welcomes them and the relationship is described as a mother with a son.

Fallen Grace

In the depths of the nine hells lies The Fallen Grace, head of the bureaucracy that keeps the armies of the most evil fiends under their control. The Nine Hells is filled with the sound of the agonising tortures of damned souls, toyed with for punishment of their life sins, enjoyment of higher fiends or being manipulated into becoming part of the very system that hurts them. How one creature has amassed this superpower is partially forgotten. It is said The Fallen Grace was an Ancient One that was charged with controlling the fiends and punishing the souls of the damned. A duty it may still do, forcing it into making tough decisions or has been corrupted by the evil it stood against. Other stories say it is part of a great world serpent that wrapped around Creation itself to protect it, it was shattered splitting into two beings, one evil and the other fell creating Hell in with its descent. Others say it was a snake that grew in the hellish depths of the Creation that grows still with each passing sin. Either way it has managed to hold onto that power not by using its incredible power but with long term schemes, compromising innocents and tempting wills with deals. It was instrumental in creating the Pact Primeval, where after The Dawn War the Divine and Non-Divines agreed on the division of the Creation and agreements of conduct. Some say The Fallen Grace may have made the pact in its favour. This being has been seen by some as the patron of deceivers, tyrants and the wicked.

The Fallen Grace has worshippers throughout the realms and agents. Fiends in disguise and damned souls try to infiltrate places of power, blackmailing figures or getting them to sign deals and distracting them with the fine print. Some worship him without knowledge, doing deeds in the name of other Divines but contributing to their schemes. Most are unwilling victims out of fear but some actively seek its power out, believing they can avoid the repercussions, they never do. Some of these worshippers gain terrible influences and can pass on lingering scars of their sins to their children.

Despite being evil The Fallen Grace has had working relations with other Divines. As a lawful being and one with a stake in Creation it actively works to preserve it. The armies of The Nine Hells engage in wars with The Vile Throne, Crawling Rot and Hungering Maw and other realms. It is likely without these wars the forces of the Evil Divines would have overwhelmed the good. There are occasional plots against the goods but rarely outwardly enough to cause enough of reparations. Most try to avoid it, the long term goals of The Fallen Grace are unknown but total domination of Creation likely and they would best like to avoid that.

Fateweaver

The Fateweaver, Dictator of Destiny, is the patron of seers and magic. Often seen as one or more figure weaving golden threads, their faces covered, The Fateweaver is seen as the balancer of order and protector of the threads that hold Creation. Often called upon to change the past or guide the future The Fateweaver is one of the Divines whose intervention is rarely able to be distinguished.

Worshipped by scholars and diviners as a source to glimpsing into mysterious knowledge and further understanding of concepts beyond the day to day. Rarely petitioned by humble folk except to help in times of great strife. The Fateweaver is also meant to know intimately about magic, past and future as such orders of mages have beckoned the Fateweaver to be their patron, whether patronage is given is as mysterious as The Fateweavers will.

The Fateweavers duty in tending and watching over the creation leaves their relationships hard to tell. They are said to offer support to the Eternal Warden but closest relationship is with the Star Wanderer. Their relationship is antagonistic but close and sometimes described as sibling-like. The Fateweaver often contends with some of the evil Divines hoping to glimpse more into the threads of creation to give them an edge. The worst foes are that of The Ceaseless Spinner who tries to wind the threads for her own benefit and Those-From-Beyond, that just try to ruin Creation itself.

Grand Architect

The Grand Architect, The Forgeheart, is the patron of craft, workers and cooperation. Seen by some cultures as a smith, others an authority over a massive industry and some as a father figure returning home to a dysfunctional family. When taking an avatar they appear in a masculine figure, sometimes as a wise old man and other times as a strong worker. Seen as a particularly hard worker he takes the role of planning and organising the structure of the good Divines.

Worshipped commonly thought Terra Transbietta under various names such as Odin and Moradin. Temples are found in the beating heart of industries and leaders of communities look to him for help advancing their civilisations and grander schemes. Guilds are often built upon tenets thought to please him and religious worshippers will contribute time and services to the wider community in his name.

He is known to be ruthless when incompetence or intervention threatens his designs or mechanisms. Efficient in carrying out his duties he can often overlook smaller figures, yet has often seen error of his ways once a strong enough challenge is presented.

The Grand Architect works hard to safeguard those he deems under his protection. Cooperating with The Oathbringer, The Allhearth and often in conflict with The Stormfury, The Bringer of Smiles, and the strongest challenge from The Wildfather. The Radiant One at times has been a student and someone who keeps him in check. Most Evil Divines he tries to prevent any plot lest they grow too large, Those-From-Beyond being completely despised, but The Fallen Grace is his greatest adversary, able to understand best how to corrupt his own designs for its own gain.

Hungering Maw

Roaming hordes once armies that explode into a machine of unrelenting bloodlust, beasts without conscious delighting in viscera, predators lurking in dark alleys for naive innocents...These are the creatures the Hungering Maw, The Bloodlust Unleashed, inspires and sponsors. It sometimes appears as a roaming mutated predatory beast striding along plains birthing hungry monsters that follow it towards new prey, this is in essence the spirit of savagery, the hunt and sick desires.

Worshipped by sects of fiends and bestial humanoids in various names and forms. Groups of these worshippers erupt in the fringes of societies or in rural areas, leading to raids to gather victims for their primal urges. If not stopped some of these can gain powers that mutate them into disgusting abominations.

The Hungering Maw is fickle and impatient with allies although not choosy so long as there is a promise of slaughter soon. At times has been in conflict with all others but been pushed back but never defeated.

Lifewell

The Sacred Water is one of the most well regarded of all Divines. She (referred to as but never confirmed) rarely appears in avatar forms but is seen as a force or spirit who some say all Divines descend from. Some even suppose she is an Ancient One who out of kindness takes active interest in all wellbeing of the creatures of Creation. Tales throughout the world tell of spirits, blessings and safety emerging from secret glades and rivers at chance times when exiles and soon to be heroes need it most.

The Lifewell is worshipped throughout the realm both passively and religiously. Some druids and priests take her as an example and draw upon her power for healing and peace. Her tenets are unknown except for absolute kindness.

She rarely intervenes with other Divines directly but chance blessings have found their ways to good Divines in their battle with evil ones.

Oathkeeper

The Oathkeeper, also known as The Just Hammer, is the patron of knights, law enforcement, monarchs, lawyers and honest merchants. The Oathkeeper is a protector of sorts patrolling boundaries in the Upper Realms, occasionally acting as judge in internal affairs and truth seeker. There are various depictions of the Oathkeeper, as an armoured knight, an ancient king, a notary or even as a gryphon, usually seen as a male but exceptions have been made. They are often called upon to strengthen vows, to help with promises, investigate the truth, repel invaders and make sure deals go through.

Worship in the Oathkeeper is common in law enforcers who see them as a patron but also some merchants. Those merchants that do worship The Oathkeeper can be trusted to keep their word and if something falls through will default without issue. As such guilds of these merchants are trusted and stable investments welcome in most societies. The Oathkeeper is also sworn on by romantic adventurers setting out for the first time in quests of good and justice. Many ceremonies and awards are done under the symbol of the Oathkeeper, alot of societies not believing them to be official otherwise, these include marriages, namings and entering into community service.

The Oathkeeper can be a bit zealous in their search for the truth or correcting a believed wrong. At times can be quite lacking in understanding in particular circumstances and requires convincing what is technically wrong and right can be the same. The Oathkeeper duty of guarding boundaries and agreements between the Divines and other entities makes them the first line of defense against conflict. Likely the most experienced in combat of the good Divines.

The righteous path of The Oathkeeper brings them in regular conflict with many Divines particularly The Stormfury whose regular bouts of wrath can encroach on ancient lines agreed eons ago. The Oathkeeper in the past has worked with The Fallen Grace but is not naive enough to ever let their guard down against one with a bad reputation. The Ceaseless Spinner and The Vile Throne are those it keeps the most watch for, knowing they delight in breaking their word and can slowly manipulate those in need.

Radiant One

The Shining Flame, is the best spirit of youth, adventure and hope summarised. They wander between realms of other Divines learning crafts and specialities, taking them further or incorporating them in new exciting ways. The Radiant One excels and pioneering and thinking outside the box. Their personality is bright as flame, teeming with optimism and warms even those less welcoming of Divines. As such they can be seen as the patron of students, pioneers, poets and apprentices. The Radiant One has been said to be a golden haired young warrior or red haired young woman. Either way they always take on a handsome youthful appearance.

Often overlapping with many different Divines rolls, The Radiant One does not have extensive worship on their own. Few orders or temples are built to them but a lot of people create small shrines if they feel like they felt The Radiant Ones touch. Celebrations around new seasons and olympic style events are often in The Radiant Ones honour.

The Radiant One spends a lot of time learning from the other Divines, they excel at smithcraft, healing, travelling, fighting, domesticating beasts, magic, romance, playing music to name a few. They also can combine and put their own twist on these skills making it hard to predict what exactly they will do next. The Radiant One also seems to hold a wellspring of pure light within themselves that is barely controlled. Some say it can bless and heal when in a good mood and in a bad mood erupt like an exploding star.

Song Seeker

The Song Seeker, The Eloquent One, is a jovial figure that is said to make great journeys throughout the planes, often appearing in avatar forms, learning everything from the greatest scholars, wisest drunks and wondrous innocents. The Song Seeker is said to be the most knowledgeable amongst The Divines, even more so than The Fateweaver and The Ceaseless Spinner. Their avatar constantly shifts taking on an unassuming mortal bard, high wizard, ancient dragons and other creatures. Yet where they go after their journeys remains a mystery. The Song Seeker is the patron of bards, writers and singers.

The Song Seeker inspires many stories and worship. There is great variety in how they are perceived and what they inspire. Bardic colleges, arcane schools and artistic festivals can all be parts of their worship.

The Song Seeker can be a bit of an anathema in terms of actions. They can slip away from trouble leaving behind only a taunt for foes and sometimes stand strong hurling rocks the size of mountains and other times mastering magic beyond armies of archmages with ease.

The Song Seeker occasionally works with The Star Wanderer both travellers but will diverge paths towards unknown roads and messier affairs and will occasionally settle down in areas without any known reason. They hate The Ceaseless Spinner who tends to hide inspiration but more hates The Crawling Rot who infects entire groups of innocents and takes them away too soon.

Starwanderer

The Starwanderer is the preserver of light. A being that dances between the stars and all places of beauty between. They are a being of freewill, grace and etherealness. They are said to appear as pure moonlight, a unicorn or a celestial elf, usually in female form. They revere natural beauty, especially hidden pieces of it. She is said to be the creator of the elves and still their patron alongside being a patron of navigators, astrologists, poets, good outlaws and romantics.

The Starwanderer is worshipped in many cultures as beauty and love are her interests, things revered in most societies. Elves in particular hold her as the highest of Divines, and she seems to hold value they do. Temples provide healing services, guidance, poetry readings, divinations and marriages. Small gatherings occur in her name doing secret rituals in shadowy glades.

She rarely directly intervenes with events preferring her own delights but when she is outraged her foes can burn up in a beam light, followers be suddenly beset with inspirations or visions or she can appear in a winged worm striking beautiful and deadly bolts into her enemies.

The Starwanderer has good relationships with many of the Divines, those with similar penchants such as the Songseeker but also with those more dutiful such as The Fateweaver and even occasionally the Eternal Warden, who she visits on time. Strangely she spends a lot of time with the Wildfather who provides her sources of beauty although the nature of this relationship is unknown. Her greatest intervention was with The Ceaseless Spinner, who corrupted the Dark Elves of Terra Transbietta in the Crown Wars. She cursed all of them into the Drow who now hide from her light in the Underdark. Yet her most hated foes are The Hungering Maw and The Vile Throne, who destroy beautiful things for fun.

Stormfury

Northlanders sailing on a raid hear the sounds of lightning behind them, the wind picking up the rain from behind them and into the faces of the watch who look away. In an orc fighting pit a warrior challenges his father murderer for chiefdom, he is hurting from the poisoned cuts yet he beats his chest, as she does so this ancient act is taken up by the crowd, the stadium starts to roar, the chief staggers in fear. A dwarven whale hunter gains another catch, fattening his already bulging pockets and smiles, not realising the creeping tentacle reach up from the depths. Riders of humans woop in joy as they shoot their new blackpowder weapons at the fleeing rebellious peasants, overtaking them just as a fog descends, making their ranged weapons cease with moisture and cover for the vengeful victims to rush in close. A Calba champion stands at the ford, preventing an invading army entering his homeland. An accord was agreed that they can cross if he is defeated in single combat. Many have fallen to him, yet in the forest a woman dressed in blood red watches his next foe enter the ford, just as the champion is about to strike a killing blow a swarm of ravens descends upon him. These are the actions of The Stormfury, a chaotic Divine that seems to love violent confrontation and challenging those who are comfortable. They seem to manipulate events so fights are even so the real victor is indisputably the strongest, although it may not be seen as entirely fair by some. They appear to be fickle even amongst their champions requiring much service to prove themselves. They are able to wield the most terrifying aspects of nature, fighting and magic but can be cunning and play long games. They are the patron of warriors, sailors and competition.

Worshipped in some way in many cultures, prominent in warrior cultures of harsher lands. Here they are seen as unstoppable tempests or a woman with blood red hair riding a chariot surrounded by crows or a handsome warrior whose smith work makes thunder. Tributes are gathered to their shrines, especially in port towns for safe passage or before feats of strength or before battle.

The Stormfury can be benevolent and unkind, seemingly good and evil depending on the situation and what side you are seeing it from. They are divisive. They have supported coups which could be seen as destabilizing a government or the replacement of a corrupt leadership. When they have taken to battle there is no dispute whatever form they take, it is intimidating.

Those-From-Beyond

Outside the multiverse of Creation lies The Far Realm. To say nothing is there is a lie. Forces of entropy, madness and undefinable terror all lie within, some of these are sentient. The cosmic horrors known as Those-From-Beyond care only about the unravelling of everything. They have long fought to piece the weave that defends Creation and they have succeeded. Since then they have corrupted Divines, created the abyss, destroyed countless worlds and spawned monsters. Their leader The Elder has been confined by the other Divines into The Sea of Fallen Stars, yet his influence still reaches out spawning chaos and disruption. They are the patron of nothing but a representation of vastness, alien ideals and unknown reality.

The alien minds of Those-From-Beyond make it hard to tell what they want and their structure, it is possible even they don’t know. Since they have come to the world there is an increase in aberrations all with varieties of motives, powers and societies. These include Beholders, Aboleths and Mindflayers. Most of these creatures may not know of their original source or care to. Some mortals have been drawn by their psychic calls, especially those on the edge of madness. They receive visions and perceive reality differently which allows them to navigate through physical challenges with ease. Some are given psionic powers and others have their shape warped to be akin to twisted deep sea creatures.

With The Elder and most of Those-From-Beyond sealed, remaining aspects of it still in Creation hide in the deep places of worlds, out of view of wrathful Divines. Those-From-Beyond have no known allies, although are said to be responsible for the corruption that turned the Banished Titans and Ceaseless Spinner into evil beings alongside other monstrosities. The Fateweaver remains vigilant watching the Weave of Creation for signs of warping due to their presence.

Vile Throne

The Ruler of the despairing fields of The Grey Wastes, a swamp like realm without colour, joy and hope. The Vile Throne is depicted in many ways, an empty throne on a pile of moaning dead made out of bones, a dour celestial called Hades cheated into ruling this miserable underworld and sometimes Hel, a giantess with a half rotted face. The Vile Throne is the Divine that promotes the feelings of loneliness, abandonment, shame and depression. They are the patron of exiles, revolters and jailors.

Worship of this Divine was common with most having a similar tale. They say The Vile Throne was a well regarded beautiful member of The Divines then became exiled to The Grey Wastes. Some say they were betrayed or became ambitious. Since then they wander in a place without joy gathering as many lost souls as possible to join their torment. Worship is now done in secret as many of the wishes of the Vile Throne is to harm other Divines, bring them low by stealing or defacing their own beauty. Worshippers may gain manipulation of necromantic forces or control the emotions of others. They can occasionally do deals, similar to The Fallen Grace, yet these appear to be less iron-clad guarantees.

In the gloomy underworld they rule The Vile Throne seems only to enjoy hurting others out of spite and schemes barely beyond that. Although intelligent and ambitious they can be fickle and not as committed to deeper plots or long term goals, occasionally getting obsessed by something in particular. The Vile Throne hates The Star Wanderer and is jealous of The Radiant One.

Wildfather

Only appearing as natural phenomena, The Wildfather has no known avatar, voice or even personality. Alongside The Lifewell they may be one of the oldest Divines if not an Ancient One. Yet those intune with its power called The Wildfather a he. Their power is routed in the natural world if not actually responsible for all of nature itself. They are the patron of druids, living creatures and protectors of the natural world.

Worship is common throughout Terra Transbietta in societies that are in tune with the natural world such as Woodelves, Calba and druid sects. More seen as a force of nature there aren't known tenets besides protecting natural life cycles and preventing conflict between civilisation and the wild. Since the wilderness is vast and has many aspects to it there are multitudes of beliefs focussing on different aspects. Worshippers gain many powers from summoning lightning, turning into beasts and healing.

The Wildfather has confusing relationships with other Divines and Powers. They conflict with some in some regards yet will support them in others. Their worshippers are often the first to sense an evil Divine scheme being more in tune with the balances of life and seek out a way to regain the balance.

Appendices B - Human Peoples and Cultures

In this section we discuss some of the major human races found in Terra Transbietta. Humans are capable of great diversity so can vary in terms of lifestyle and beliefs not just country to country but even within one domicile. The “races” described here are a large scale overview of the origins of certain groups of humans that have some shared characteristics but the truth as in our world is a bit more complex. The Peoples described below are very broad categories so players and GMs may find exceptions or changes in their own campaigns. Many of these Peoples are inspired by some of our own cultures but are not accurate analogies of them or their complexity. Our world has contained a huge array of distinct cultures with their own subtleties that have changed over millennia. As such the Peoples below may share some aesthetic traits as cultures in our world, they are not meant to be a fully comprehensive example of certain cultures. Rather the general categories below are meant as ways for players to see diversity exists in this world and if they wish to play humans with traits similar to their own identity or one they admire it is perfectly reasonable they are allowed to do so. It is not a comprehensive list either, there are many more Peoples to be discovered. It is also important to keep in mind these humans have been influenced by humanoids, magic and events that have never occurred in our world.

The homeland of humanity is widely debated. It is hard to point down an original location because as dwarves say, the bastards were suddenly everywhere. Despite the confusion humans are undeniably successful. Divided in many ethnicities, tribes & some have become plane-touched or bred to become other distinct Peoples, it is hard to keep track of all of them. One theory is they come from an original race from what is now the Fever Sea before the eruption of Megurc and so they scattered. Although a lot of scholars say that they most likely arose in Kroul once the eruption of Megurc wiped out other dominating creatures nearby.

Kroul was home to a range of races & peoples to begin with. Some say the resource rich land fell to in-fighting in which the mighty dark skinned human reigned supreme. This is supported by the fact that the main human Peoples are the Watu Tribes. Watu are dark skinned tall people with dark eyes. Watu are rare outside of Kroul but can be found in metropolises & great trading areas. Their own culture was rare to see outside of their land but rumours had it was a haven of advanced knowledge and morality. Almost every venture to Kroul by other Peoples was met with failure, even those with the ability to cross the Fever Channel. Yet in recent generations others have been able to cross and found a land nearly empty of a dominant power or any People capable of expelling them. This has led some to believe a catastrophe has led to the downfall of the Peoples here and allowing for others to come and try to establish their own settlements and agendas. Nations of Watu have been rebuilding but have become split in differences of worship, tradition and core values.

The northern parts of The Great continent is home to many cultures of paler human races collectively known as The Armen. The first encounters with them were by the Elves in Ravran who state they then split into many Peoples.

Some became the Calba also known as the Secret Ffolk. They are pale skinned with hair ranging from red to brown with blue or green eyes. It is common to find descendants of this People in the Collitrean retreat or Alvaron Isles, although what some people call “True Calba” culture has shrunken to a few wild islands, secret glades and deep glens. These are said to have learned the natural ways of the Wild Elves, some forging by the Dwarves, ingenuity & craftiness from the gnomes. As such they have a deep tie to nature and tend to form rural based societies, with complicated but strict hierarchies, religious beliefs and warrior codes. Calba are known as romantics and freedom loving.

Grotids are a People of pale people with hair ranging from blonde to black with gray to blue eyes. It is said they closely learned from the dwarves, learning strength in stone, laws and settlement. The origin of what Grotid means is debated but some translate it as “Brotherhood” or “Fortified” which both have purpose in their core values. Grotid Peoples have tried carving the land to their benefits, setting up settlements with strong fortifications and relying on martial prowess. They often create systems of laws to protect themselves and their people but do tend to follow aristocratic based leadership. Examples of Grotid culture can be found in Ravran, Vruunheim states in Aimos and Traldor. Grotid peoples are known as rational, hard working and reliable.

To the coasts of the cold Frojish lands comes the harsh People known as the Mennesker, also known as the Northlanders. Northlanders tend to be tall pale people with blonde hair and blue eyes. They claim they were ousted from The Great Continent by other Peoples forcing them to resource lacking, uncomfortable islands and coastal regions. As such many Mennesker societies have roots or are still deeply involved with raiding. These societies revere warfare and conquest. Some have carved out kingdoms and jarldoms in the Moonlit Sea, Aimos, Traldor and the Endless Frojish. In theory these Jarldoms may be aristocratic hierarchies but unlike others of the Armen the Mennesker reward are more likely to advance individuals by their value not their heritage. Mennesker people are known as boastful, warmongering and revelry.

Appendices C - Map of Terra Transbietta