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8 E B 0 8 II
Credits
Exandria created by: Matthew Mercer Head of Darrington Press: Ivan Van Norman
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Table of Contents Orcs............................................................................ 162
Tieflings..................................................................... 163
Mixed Ancestry........................................................ 163
Preface.........................................................5 Other Races.............................................................. 164
Hemocraft..................................................................... 165
Chapter 1: Welcome to Tal'Dorei....7 Subclasses ................................................................... 165
Lands of Tal’Dorei...................................................... 7 Barbarian: Path of the Juggernaut....................... 165
What's in This Book?................................................. 7 Bard: College of Tragedy....................................... 167
Calendar, Time, and the Cosmos............................ 8 Cleric: Blood Domain............................................. 168
A History of Tal'Dorei................................................ 12 Cleric: Moon Domain............................................. 169
Myth of Exandria........................................................ 12 Druid: Circle of the Blighted................................. 171
Running a Tal’Dorei Campaign............................... 23 Monk: Way of the Cobalt Soul.............................. 173
Chapter 2: Allegiances of Paladin: Oath of the Open Sea............................. 174
Tal'Dorei......................................................27 Sorcerer: Runechild............................................... 176
Pantheon of Exandria................................................ 27 Wizard: Blood Magic.............................................. 178
Prime Deities........................................................... 27 Backgrounds................................................................ 180
Betrayer Gods.......................................................... 34 Ashari......................................................................... 180
Lesser Idols.............................................................. 39 Clasp Member.......................................................... 181
Factions and Societies............................................... 42 Lyceum Scholar....................................................... 183
Tal’Dorei Council.................................................... 42 Reformed Cultist..................................................... 185
Arcana Pansophical................................................ 46 Whitestone Rifle Corps.......................................... 187
The Ashari................................................................ 48 Supernatural Blessing: Fate-Touched....................... 189
Brawler’s League.................................................... 50 New Feats..................................................................... 190
Chamber of Whitestone......................................... 50 Chapter 5: Game Master’s
Claret Orders .......................................................... 52 Toolkit.........................................................193
The Clasp.................................................................. 53 Creating Adventures.................................................. 193
Golden Grin.............................................................. 54 Tal’Dorei Treasures.................................................... 194
Houses of Kraghammer........................................ 55 Magic Items.............................................................. 194
League of Miracles................................................. 56 Tools of the Ashari.................................................. 198
Library of the Cobalt Soul..................................... 58 Vestiges of Divergence........................................... 200
The Myriad................................................................ 60 Optional Campaign Rules......................................... 212
The Remnants.......................................................... 61
Wardens of Syngorn............................................... 63 Chapter 6: Allies and
Adversaries of Tal’Dorei....................217
Chapter 3: Tal’Dorei Gazetteer......65 Nonplayer Creatures.................................................. 217
Lucidian Coast............................................................. 66 Adranach....................................................................... 223
Alabaster Sierras........................................................ 72 Ashari ........................................................................... 226
Mooren River Run...................................................... 72 Cinderslag Elemental................................................. 231
Dividing Plains............................................................ 80 Clasp Operatives......................................................... 232
Cliffkeep Mountains .................................................. 93 Cold Snap Spirit.......................................................... 234
Stormcrest Mountains............................................... 108 Cyclops Stormcaller................................................... 235
Rifenmist Peninsula................................................... 112 Demonfeed Spider...................................................... 236
Verdant Expanse......................................................... 120 Ember Roc.................................................................... 238
Other Lands of Exandria.......................................... 145 Golems.......................................................................... 239
Chapter 4: Character Options........149 Jourrael, the Caedogeist............................................ 244
Playing in a Tal’Dorei Campaign............................ 149 Kraghammer Goat-Knight........................................ 246
Races and Cultures.................................................... 150 Magma Landshark..................................................... 247
Dragonblood............................................................. 151 Plainscow..................................................................... 248
Dwarves.................................................................... 152 Ravagers....................................................................... 249
Elemental Ancestry................................................ 154 Remnants ..................................................................... 251
Elves........................................................................... 154 Rivermaw Warriors.................................................... 253
Firbolgs..................................................................... 156 Skeletons...................................................................... 255
Gnomes..................................................................... 157 Vos’skyriss Serpentfolk............................................. 257
Goblinkin.................................................................. 158 Wraithroot Tree........................................................... 259
Half-Giants............................................................... 159 Vox Machina................................................................. 260
Halflings.................................................................... 160 Index..............................................................276
Humans..................................................................... 161
Index of Artists.......................................278
Preface
Inspiration can come from anywhere: a musician’s song, the advice of a close friend, or just the
trust that another being places in you. In my experience, few things can compare to the surge of
joy and motivation that being inspired gives.
I have often found inspiration in fantasy worlds and books of adventure, mystery, and magic.
I grew up devouring every novel I was handed, seeking to lose myself in the words of another
mind, channeling the images they evoked in my mind into my sketchbook. But it wasn’t until
I discovered tabletop roleplaying games that I felt truly empowered to create my own worlds,
places like the ones that I so often found myself lost in. Even better, it let me share all the ideas
in my head with my friends, and they could do the same with me. I was spellbound.
It’s been about twenty-five years since my first game. Since then, I’ve drawn endless inspira-
tion from the imaginations of my friends and loved ones as we tell heroic stories around a table
with dice and paper. I’ve found a circle of friends who share my love of dramatic storytelling, my
belief that failure in games is just as exciting as success (maybe even more so), and my delight in
being inspired by moments of improvisational brilliance. It’s still surreal that we found a way to
share that with the world; Critical Role has become a phenomenon that’s surpassed my wildest
dreams. Over the past few years, we’ve built the magical world of Exandria together, warts and
all, and somehow it’s become a world that millions of others have engaged with and invested
their imaginations in. I hope it’s inspired you to create your own adventures, stories, and joyful
memories. Through Vox Machina’s epic tale, the land of Tal’Dorei became a landscape rife with
intrigue, conflict, and endless possibility…and we wanted to share it with you.
Years ago, I had an opportunity to bring Tal’Dorei to the page and invite the world to tell their
own stories in Exandria. The thrill of the opportunity was incredible, but the immense pressure
and fear of failure (given my absolute lack of experience doing something like this) made it a stren-
uous journey on an incredibly short timeline. I was incredibly blessed to have become friends with
the immeasurably brilliant James Haeck around that time, and I asked him to join me in this task.
My good fortune found him agreeing, and with his help and inspiration, it somehow came together.
With that, a limited run of the Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting went into the world.
Time has passed, both in our world and within the world of Exandria. Vox Machina’s greatest
adventures came to a close. Looking two decades later (within Exandria), we embarked on a
new adventure with the Mighty Nein in the land of Wildemount…but Vox Machina and Tal’Dorei
remained deeply dear to my heart. The question arose: what would Tal’Dorei look like these two
decades later? What changes would have taken place in the recovery following the Chroma Con-
clave and the ascension of the Whispered One? How would the legendary heroes of Vox Machina
have adjusted to life after the end of their story? What dangers and threats, both old and new,
would the next generation of heroes need to rise up against?
Inspiration struck once more, and now that Critical Role had the means to do so…we needed
to answer these questions for both ourselves and the numerous Critters who often conjectured
as we did. “Who is on the Tal’Dorei Council?” Well, we can finally answer that! I immediately
called James Haeck back to the fray, and we were joined this time by the extraordinary mind and
talents of Hannah Rose to elevate these ideas into something better than I could have hoped.
Between us, Tal’Dorei was Reborn. We invite you to get lost in this world, learn of its intricacies
and secrets, and, I hope, be inspired to make this world yours as well.
Matthew Mercer,
Game Master of Critical Role
Chapter 1
Welcome to Tal'Dorei
Tal’Dorei is a land of epic adventure, filled with The Ashari. The elementally attuned Ashari peo-
heroes who do great deeds for love, for justice, and— ple are reclusive and dedicated to their mission of
maybe more often than not—for gold and their own safeguarding elemental rifts across the world. Two
egos. Villains are draped in shadow and draw upon of the greatest rifts exist in Tal’Dorei, and the Earth
the power of cruel gods—but they are just as moti- Ashari of Terrah and the Air Ashari of Zephrah keep
vated by love, their own twisted concepts of justice, watch over them from their secluded homes.
and their hunger for gold, power, and glory. The Deep Halls of Kraghammer. Deep beneath
Tal’Dorei is a land created by Matthew Mercer to the Cliffkeep Mountains is Kraghammer, the ances-
introduce his friends to fantasy roleplaying games, tral home of Tal’Dorei’s dwarven people. Though
and he filled it with the greatest high fantasy tropes Kraghammer is home to people other than dwarves,
and played them to the hilt—and then twisted its dark and claustrophobic halls act as a deterrent
them, defying his own clichés when it would hit to non-dwarven residents—as does the dwarf clans’
the hardest. famous inhospitality.
This book is for Game Masters who wish to run The Verdant Enclave of Syngorn. In the heart of
fantasy roleplaying game campaigns set on the con- the trackless Verdant Expanse is a city of elves who
tinent of Critical Role’s first campaign, and for the hid in the Fey Realm from a war that nearly annihi-
players who will create characters for those games. lated all life on Exandria. Syngorn is welcoming to
The game mechanics in this book use “fifth edition all who brave the Verdant Expanse to reach them,
rules,” but it also includes enough lore about the though there is an expectation that those who visit
world to form the foundation for a game using the take pains not to flaunt the strict and ancient rules
rules of any fantasy RPG. of Syngornian society, lest their stay come to a swift
and unceremonious end.
Lands of Tal’Dorei The Iron Authority. This imperial force rules the
Beynsfal Plateau in the southernmost reaches of the
The name Tal’Dorei refers to three things through- continent. There they train legions of soldiers in an
out this book. Most often, Tal’Dorei means the endless campaign to conquer the entire Rifenmist
continent that is home to all of the people, locations, Peninsula. The other powers of Tal’Dorei are just
monsters, magic items, and more within these pages. beginning to take notice of the movements of the
It is one of four major continents on the world of Iron Authority, but most of their knowledge is based
Exandria. Tal’Dorei can also mean the Republic of in rumor. The Tal’Dorei Council has little interest in
Tal’Dorei, the largest nation on the continent. And drawing the authority’s ire while it is preoccupied
finally, Tal’Dorei was first the surname of a mighty with its conquest of Rifenmist.
hero who lent her name to the land that she helped
liberate from evil.
See “A History of Tal’Dorei” later in this chapter What's in This Book?
for more details about the heroic Zan Tal’Dorei, the Chapter 1 is an introduction to Tal’Dorei’s lands and
land she founded, and her descendants. history. It also describes certain fundamental details
The continent of Tal’Dorei encompasses several about the world of Exandria as a whole, including its
nations and independent city-states, all of which calendar, the planes, and the cosmos. Finally, this
are home to diverse peoples who view the world chapter provides an overview of Tal’Dorei’s society
in ways influenced by their cultures and the lands today—and the brewing tensions and secrets that
they call home. The most significant nations of Game Masters can use to plot their own campaigns.
Tal’Dorei include: Chapter 2 describes the allegiances player
The Republic of Tal’Dorei. From the great city of characters and non-player characters (NPCs) may
Emon in the west, across the vast Dividing Plains, have to deepen their connection to the world. Their
and even as far as the isolated city-state of Whites- allegiances may be to factions, such as governments
tone in the northeast, the Republic of Tal’Dorei spans or guilds, or to the gods. These divine beings can
the breadth of the continent that bears its name. only affect the Material Plane through their mortal
It is ruled by a council of elected representatives followers, or occasionally supernatural messengers
and is cordially allied with all other nations on the like celestials or fiends.
continent. Chapter 3 is the Tal’Dorei Gazetteer, a detailed
look at all of Tal’Dorei’s regions and cities, their
Chapter 1: Welcome to Tal'Dorei 7

points of interest, the people who reside within them,
and the quests that heroic adventurers might under-
take there.
Chapter 4 contains new options that players can
use to build their characters, including story descrip-
tions of the different ancestries; new subclasses,
backgrounds, and feats; and a handful of optional
rules for the whole table.
Chapter 5 contains advice to help Game Mas-
ters create exciting and compelling campaigns in
Tal’Dorei, and magic items that you can give your
players as treasure during their perilous adven-
tures—including the unstoppably powerful Vestiges
of Divergence.
Chapter 6 presents game statistics for monsters
and NPCs that you can use to challenge your char-
acters or aid them in a pinch. Among them are the
legendary heroes Vox Machina, some twenty years
after the conclusion of their greatest adventures.
Calendar, Time, and

the Cosmos
The world of Exandria is a planet with regular sea-
sons and a wide variety of climes, ranging from frigid
ice caps to arid deserts, temperate forests, wind-
swept plains, sweltering jungles, and storm-tossed
oceans. It orbits a single sun, is orbited in turn by
two moons, and is surrounded by distant stars that
twinkle in the evening skies.
The ancient people of Exandria told time by these
celestial bodies, and the elves created a calendar
based on their movements.
Calendar
The calendar year of Exandria runs a total of 328
days, grouped into seven-day weeks over the course
of eleven months. These months are outlined below
in the order of their arrival within the calendar year,
along with their respective number of days and holi-
days common throughout Tal’Dorei (many of which
are detailed within the “Pantheon of Exandria”
section in chapter 2).
Counting Years
In Exandria, the years are most commonly counted
by a reckoning known as “Post Divergence,” with
year 0 being the fateful year that the Prime Deities
ended the Calamity by sealing all the gods behind
the Divine Gate. This book describes the world as
it is in the year 836 P.D. If you’re familiar with the
Critical Role campaigns, this year is twenty-four
years after the end of Campaign 1 (Vox Machina) and
toward the end of Campaign 2 (The Mighty Nein).
Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Months and Seasons However, if you want to immerse your players in
The names of the months and days of the week vary the fantasy world of Exandria, using this unfamiliar
between cultures, but the elven calendar described calendar may help you on your quest.
here is the standard means of reckoning dates in Exandrian Calendar
Tal’Dorei—as well as in most nations around the Month Day Holidays
world, for ease of international trade and diplomacy.
Just as in our world, there are four seasons, Horisal 29 New Dawn (1st)
and the year ends and begins just after the win- Hillsgold (27th)
ter solstice. Misuthar 30 Day of Challenging (7th)
The first blush of spring in Tal’Dorei is felt as Dualahei 30 Renewal Festival (13th)
new flowers bloom on Wild’s Grandeur, a holy day Wild’s Grandeur (20th)
on the 20th of Dualahei. The official start of the
Thunsheer 31 Harvest’s Rise (11th)
season, however, is observed a week earlier and
Merryfrond’s Day (31st)
celebrated with games, music, and just-ripened food
at the Renewal Festival. Summer brings hotter days Unndilar 28 Deep Solace (8th)
toward the middle of Unndilar. The noonday sun of Zenith (26th)
the 26th day is called the Zenith, and this solstice is Brussendar 31 Artisan’s Faire (15th)
considered the first true moment of the summer. Elvendawn, or Mid-
The colors change and winds cool as autumn summer (20th)
begins in the early days of the month of Fessuran, Sydenstar 32 Highsummer (7th)
marked by the Harvest’s Close on the 3rd day. The Morn of Largesse (14th)
chill of winter arrives to bring longer nights and
Fessuran 29 Harvest’s Close (3rd)
cleansing snow on Barren Eve, the 2nd of Duscar,
a nighttime celebration and remembrance of those Quen’pillar 27 The Hazel Festival (10th)
who fell in battle. Civilization’s Dawn (22nd)
The seven days of the week are named Mire- Cuersaar 29 Night of Ascension (13th)
sen, Grissen, Whelsen, Conthsen, Folsen, Yulisen, Zan’s Cup (21st)
and Da’leysen. Each day is 24 hours long, and Duscar 32 Barren Eve (2nd)
most city-dwellers in the Republic of Tal’Dorei are Embertide (5th)
expected to work eight hours of that day—except for Winter’s Crest (20th)
Yulisen and Da’leysen, which comprise the weekend,
and on holidays.
These social rules don’t necessarily apply to cul- Catha and Ruidus
tures where sleeping patterns are different (such as When the people of Tal’Dorei gaze into the morning
in Syngorn, where most of its people are elves who sky, they see the sun, a blazing disc the size of a gold
trance a mere four hours of the day), or to people piece, looking back at them. It is the domain of the
outside of cities—such as farmers, who rise with the Dawnfather, a god of life and light honored politely by
sun, and traveling merchants and adventurers, who nearly all the realm’s denizens.
work highly unusual hours. At night, the skies are filled with countless distant
stars, a gleaming silver-white moon called Catha,
Using a Calendar and occasionally, a dim, ruddy moon called Ruidus
The Exandrian calendar is intentionally quite that is nearly half Catha’s size. Both moons are the
different from our own. The creation of calendars domain of the Moonweaver, a capricious god of trick-
is a messy and often illogical process, with strange ery and illusions, but there are sects throughout the
artifacts of their making that linger on only because world that believe only Catha represents the Moon-
of tradition—and because it would be too much of a weaver’s cunning and grace. Catha’s pearly glow is
hassle to get the entire world to change their way of said to bless the just with cunning and caution, and
counting time and days. to make hidden the goodhearted when they require
You don’t need to bother with the Exandrian calen- stealth and subtlety.
dar in your home game. It’s perfectly reasonable for Ruidus, on the other hand, is so surrounded by dis-
you to use a nice, simple seven-day week, thirty-day quieting rumors and folkloric tales of misfortune that
month, and twelve-month year. You may even use some believe another unknown god or power rules
our names for the months and the days of the week this small, reddish-brown moon. Cultures around
so that when an NPC tells the party to meet them at the world tell countless legends of prideful rulers
noon on “Grissen, Misuthar 7th,” they’re basically who made grand plans or attempted deeds under the
talking about “Tuesday, February 7th.” moon’s full light—when it shines a brilliant vermilion
rather than its usual ruddy color—and were forced to

watch in horror as their endeavors fell to unforeseen Material Plane
misfortune. It is said those who fall afoul of Ruidus The Material Plane is a land where natural laws
failed to give it the deference it is due—and so super- work as we expect. It is a place of all four elements,
stitious folk rarely dare to make plans while the full and of plants, animals, and minerals. Exandria is but
light of Ruidus shines above, let alone enact them. one of many worlds on the Material Plane—though
Worse yet, some tales forebode dark fortunes for none but the most accomplished astronomers have
those born under the light of a full Ruidus, a curse of become aware of this fact, much less devised a way
ill luck that will follow them throughout their lives. of traveling between material worlds.
Though the cruel practice of moon-sacrifice is no
longer permitted in any of Tal’Dorei’s cities, some Elemental Planes
far-flung settlements still secretly sacrifice children When the Protean Gods discovered Exandria, it was
born under a full Ruidus to “save” them from a like a barren ship adrift in a sea of churning, chaotic
cursed life, and to appease the dark and unknowable elements. As a part of their creation, the elements
appetites of the red moon. were thrust away from the world. Some theorize
Fortunately for the superstitious, Ruidus is rarely that the Elemental Planes were created from this
full. While its cousin, Catha, completes a full cycle banished chaos, while others believe the elemental
approximately once a month, Ruidus’s haunting, half- chaos seeped into the Material Plane from tears in
year orbit, combined with its eerie and unexplainable the fabric of the planes.
tendency to simply not appear in the sky on certain The latter may be more likely, as rifts between the
nights or glow with unknown light, creating an Elemental Planes can be found across Exandria. The
unexpected full moon, has only added to its mythic largest of these rifts are tended to by the four Ashari
reputation as an omen of ill fortune. civilizations, and any who gaze within find wild
wastelands of pure elemental power: roiling seas of
Prologue to the Song of Alyxian fire, towering mountains of gnashing stone, infinite
O Ruidus, grant humble chorus leave skies filled with cloudtop settlements, and endless,
To sing the song which hails the zenith of stormy oceans of water.
Your accurséd, thrice-blessed Apotheon;
Remember’d best by deeds in war, and yet Faerie, Shadow, and Ether
Whose acts were driven oft by fate most foul. Parallel to Exandria are odd reflections of its reality.
The Fey Realm is a plane of natural beauty and
His kindly brow bore gifts from gods ferocity, inhabited by fey folk. The Plane of Shadow
of change, is a dour, sinister mirror of the world that is. And
And art, and moon, yet in his soul was pain, the Ethereal Plane is a hazy film across the material
The suffering of your vermilion light world, as if it were viewed through an old, cloudy
Drove the Paragon to a desert realm mirror, inhabited not only by restless spirits, but also
Bestrewn with blades and drenched by predators that target those who cling to the world
in crimson blood.
of the living.
So hear, O moon of curséd deeds and fates! Astral Plane
The song of he who rose above your great
All the prior planes exist directly adjacent to the
And mighty pow'r, to save Exandria.
From flames of war fanned by the Ruiner's blade. Material Plane, buttressing and occasionally comin-
gling with its inhabitants. All the planes that follow
are separated from the material world by a vast sea
of starlight, barren asteroids, and misty nebulae of
Planes unpredictable magic. In the ancient past, arcanists
Though this book concerns itself mostly with the had to craft vessels to sail the treacherous sea of
world of Exandria, and specifically the continent of stars to travel between their home plane and the
Tal’Dorei, high-level adventurers may eventually gain mysterious Outer Planes.
magic that allows them to travel to other planes of These days, magic such as the plane shift spell has
existence beyond the material world in which Exan- allowed planar travelers to bypass these methods,
dria resides. but there are still a number of strange creatures and
The planes surrounding Exandria are similar to forgotten, imprisoned demigods who float eternally
the planes presented in fifth edition lore. Below are through the Cosmic Sea.
brief descriptions of some of the planes that a party
of powerful adventurers may travel to. These planes Outer Planes
go by many poetic and fanciful names. The Prime Deities imprisoned the Betrayer Gods
in prison planes after the Founding, and retired
10 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

to planes of their own creation after the Diver- of so much unfamiliar stimulus. These maddening
gence. Over time, the divine beings on these planes realities and the alien horrors that live within them
reshaped their new homes in their own image, creat- are mercifully kept away from the known multiverse
ing places where natural laws don’t function as one by the unimaginable distance of space.
native to the Material Plane might expect. Some creatures of the beyond have lurked on the
All of these planes are strongly aligned to one Material Plane since ancient times, perhaps at the
or more cosmic principles of good, evil, law, and invitation of the Chained Oblivion itself, or because
chaos, based on the divine powers that reside there. the divine powers unleashed in the Calamity
Because of the Divine Gate established after the punched holes in time and space that allowed such
Divergence, no divine powers can depart these aberrations to slither into Exandria unimpeded.
planes, for the sake of all Creation. The gods’ super- Major known locations of aberrant activity in
natural creations can pass through the Divine Gate, Tal’Dorei include Yug’Voril beneath Kraghammer,
though the more powerful they grow—and thus, the the Crystalfen Caverns beneath Emon, and the realm
closer they come to divinity—the harder it is for them of Ruhn-Shak beneath the Stormcrest Mountains.
to pass through. However, mortals and lesser super-
natural beings who possess magic to travel between Demiplanes
the planes can travel to and from Outer Planes like Massive, infinite spaces such as the Material, Ele-
the Hells, the Abyss, Elysium, and Pandemonium mental, and Outer Planes are not the only types of
unhindered by the Divine Gate. reality. Through the use of powerful magic, arcanists
can create stable demiplanes—finite pockets of
Realms Beyond extraplanar reality that they can shape to their
Far beyond even the divine Outer Planes is a realm whims. These “pocket dimensions” exist as bubbles
where all laws of nature break down completely. of floating color within the Cosmic Sea, and can only
Mortal senses have no way of properly perceiving the be traced or penetrated by extremely powerful, lost
nature of these far-distant realms, and most minds magical arts.
that try to comprehend them snap under the strain
...then, the vast empty heart of endless shadow befell To speak a full and accurate truth of Tal’Dorei
the light of the Seeker. Cascading from the pits was the is an impossible task, yet Tal’Dorei is known for
font of life. The first moon formed the endless oceans. creating folk who regularly do the impossible. What
The second sun brought the lush soil. The third wind follows is the Myth of Exandria, an account based
carried breath of life. The fourth flame ignited the Heart on the investigations and best efforts of Tal’Dorei’s
foremost scholars—the homegrown Alabaster
of Exandria.
Lyceum of Emon, and the international knowl-
—The Fourth Astural Scroll edge-seekers and anti-propagandists of the Cobalt
Soul. These two organizations have assembled this
history by digging beneath the layers of dust and
A History of Tal'Dorei decay that hide battles long past, unearthing texts
long thought burned and censored, and exhuming
Where did Tal’Dorei come from? The origin of this historical treasures from tombs of heroes long
land is a time-shrouded question that everyone forgotten. The details are often debated, for the
has pondered in some way, from the most exalted, question of the land’s origin remains—consuming
world-traveling hero to the common farmer who the curious, calling those hungry for purpose, and
has never traveled three miles beyond their village. fueling the business of adventuring to delve into the
Everyone has their own ideas on where Tal’Dorei, tantalizing unknown places of the world.
and all of the wide world of Exandria, came from.
These varied thoughts all have some things in Myth of Exandria
common, since they are all born of jumbled mis-
understandings of ancient myths told orally from Before the history of the lands of Tal’Dorei can
bard to bard, then passed from father to daughter, be explored, its context in the history of Exandria
and eventually codified into religious rewritings of itself must be thoroughly established. The world of
history that favor the teachings of a given deity. Exandria is home to four major continents, dozens
of nations, and untold tiny pockets of civilization
amid a wondrous, dangerous wilderness. Every
civilization, from the largest empire to the tiniest
nomadic clan, has its own interpretation of where
its story began. Even within the world of Exandria,
different cultures have creation myths that eventu-
ally converge with history, but there is no known
definitive story.
Even so, life ever seeks to understand its inception.
In this report, the collected minds of the Cobalt Soul
and Emon’s Alabaster Lyceum can say, with only the
most trivial of doubts, that the city of Vasselheim in
Othanzia truly deserves its title of the “Dawn City.”
It is here, to our researchers’ best understanding,
where the stories of all mortal peoples begin. Vas-
selheim became Exandria’s oldest surviving city by
virtue of not just being built long ago, but by enduring
the Calamity (which shall be elucidated presently), a
miraculous feat that few other charted settlements
can claim to have accomplished.
In short, Vasselheim houses the earliest known
temples to the gods, and the earliest known records
of history that survived this catastrophe. It is these
sources that this joint research initiative treats
as its primary documents, though great effort has
been made to corroborate their claims through later
sources. It is in the chronicles of Vasselheim that
the earliest account of the myth of the Founding is
recorded—and indeed, this history is the most com-
monly accepted origin of the world in the Republic
of Tal’Dorei. Though countless regional variations
muddy the historical record, the broad strokes of
this mythic history are undeniable.

The Founding Sorrow is said to have filled the hearts of the gods as
Long ago, this world was one of tumultuous and they watched their children struggle against a land
chaotic forces, naught but unbridled fire, seething that rebuked them. The gods ultimately lent their
oceans, and churning, gnashing rock. Through the children tiny fragments of their own power, gifts with
ashen skies of Primordial Creation, the gods arrived which they might shape the world around them.
from an unknown realm located beyond the ether. This small mercy of the gods was the birth of
These ambitious divinities—young and still form- magic, and with it the people of Exandria learned
less—looked down upon this roiling realm and saw to bend the angry earth to their will, to temper
potential for great strength and outstanding beauty, the wrath of its explosive mountains, to tame its
and the chance to learn their own place in creation. unyielding floods, and to make the hard earth soft
From the divine hands of the Arch Heart sprung and bountiful. Wandering peoples settled, language
forth the First Children, the elves. It is thought that became commonplace, survival gave way to art, and
they were made in their creator’s image, yet it is just governance replaced anarchy. The Protean Creators,
as likely that the Arch Heart, and all the gods who the divinity beyond the ashen skies, saw progress
shared their ideas with them, actually adopted forms and saw that it was good—but fragile, and in need of
inspired by the image of their creations. The First guardians.
Children walked the lush Green and gazed upon the Thus were born the First Protectors: the Dragons
heavenly Blue as the gods tamed Primordial Cre- Metallic of Tal’Dorei. These Protectors pledged
ation around them. themselves to defend the weak against tyrants. It is
Not long after, in the scale of the cosmos, a here that the mythic tales connect to the oldest, most
second mortal creation was wrought by the divine fragmented passages of recorded history as civiliza-
All-Hammer: the dwarves, a hearty people imbued tion’s reach stretched across the world. The people
with the desire to continue the gods’ work—taming praised the gods for their newfound safety, and their
a primordial world filled with the craft and invention prayers gave them forms, names, and purpose.
of the divinity that lay beyond the ashen void. In their
turn, a third people were given life by the passion-
Wrath of the Primordials
ate lovers of Order and Chaos, the Lawbearer and Yet the realm refused to be tamed. Quaking cliffs
the Wildmother. Their children were the humans, roared in defiance of mortalkind’s magical gifts.
endowed with hearts of passion to bring meaning to Seas swelled and seethed. Flames erupted from
the world as it assumed an orderly form. Yet in their below with greater intensity than any had seen
hearts burned a spark of chaos, cursing them with before. Beneath the elements, unknown to the Cre-
short life just as it blessed them with the unquench- ators beyond the ashen skies, lived ancient beings
able ambitions, mirth, and curiosities of the gods who were born in the primeval chaos of the world the
that crafted them. gods had found: the Primordials. These elemental
As a note from the High Curator of Emon’s Cobalt titans that once dwelt deep within the land now rose
Reserve, the chronicle of Vasselheim states that the from their unseen domain to sunder it once more.
gods were given form and name only when the peo- The gods watched as their children were crushed
ples of Exandria began to worship them—yet many of between gnashing rocks and fed to formless terrors
the various races of the world ascribe their creation unleashed in the wake of the destruction. Thus
to a single god or group of gods. It would be remiss were the seeds of Exandria’s greatest cataclysm set
to not at least conjecture that while the Protean Gods into motion.
lacked distinct form, they still had unique thoughts, Some gods were so full of grief and anger that they
emotions, and motivations that were later codified wished to abandon this world for another. They tried
through the worship of the people. to convince their divine kindred to join the Primor-
As inspiration flowed from the Protean Gods, dials in reclaiming the realm for chaos, so that they
other creations followed, giving life to Exandria’s could move on to start anew. Others wished to prove
many peoples. Here the mythic record of Vassel- they could tame the world for their beloved children.
heim grows unclear, for while the elves, dwarves, This caused a divide among the gods. The schis-
and humans were undeniably Exandria’s first races, matic deities, known today as the Betrayer Gods,
the identities of the many Children of Creation that joined their songs and swords to those of chaos and
followed were left unrecorded by the Dawn City’s destruction, taking and twisting their children into
chroniclers. the image of their intent.
These myriad young races explored their freshly The cosmos itself seemed to recognize the magni-
founded world. As their knowledge grew, they tude of the battle on Exandria, and beings of Order
attempted to build. But the land was fierce and and Chaos spilled forth from the still-young multi-
treacherous, and the lives of the children were verse. Creatures of chaos emerged from a formless
extinguished mercilessly by the still-chaotic world. void that Exandria’s peoples came to call the Abyss.

These demons fed upon the suffering of the wounded of magic, they could become as powerful as the
and the dying, and grew cruel. Sentinels of order gods themselves. Though this hurt and surprised
emerged from a distant realm of celestial harmony. the Prime Deities who had imprisoned their kin for
The Prime Deities beseeched these celestials to aid the sake of their children, they sought to sympathize
them. In turn, the Betrayer Gods forced order upon with the willfulness of their creations, remaining out
the demons and made them devils, perfectly lawful of love and hoping that the mortals would learn the
soldiers who lived only to cause harm. error of their ways.
As the clash of gods and Primordials spiraled out
of control, the desperate mortal races sought their
own way to defend themselves from the rebellious The foremost scholars of our day would make it
elements. Seeing that their creations still suffered, seem an indisputable fact that the gods created
the Arch Heart taught them the secrets of mak- Exandria. That they blessed us with the bounty that
ing magic themselves. The most intelligent and all peoples of the world now make use of. So too,
inquisitive mortal minds followed the path the gods they say, was magic their gift to us. But such zeal-
had revealed to them, and created incantations and ots ignore the fact that there is another likelihood:
formulae to create new spells on their own terms, that the gods did not create mortals, and their
without the aid of divine power. These people called world—but the opposite. That the dreams of mor-
themselves arcanists, for they were masters of the tals mingled in the wild magic of the young world,
arcane secrets of magic.
and gave that magic form and order: divinity. Of
With their potent new magics, these resourceful
mortals subdued the Primordials long enough for course, the dogmatic zealots of our day will dismiss
the Prime Deities to banish their traitorous kin to such ideas as heresy—but not you, reader! The avid
secluded prison planes. With the Betrayer Gods mind feeds not on dogma, but on new ideas!
locked away, the gods were overjoyed to see the –Fragment of a scholarly essay
resourcefulness of their children. The defeated on divinity dating back to ancient
Primordials were destroyed, and from their ever-en- Vasselheim, anonymous
during essences, the gods channeled their wild and
destructive powers into the Elemental Planes that
surround the material world of Exandria.
For the first time since the Creation, Exandria
finally settled into an idyllic peace. From this peace
was born the first enduring mortal civilization, the
heart of which was a grand city called Vasselheim,
the Cradle of Creation and the Dawn City.
Culture developed anew, the races ventured
beyond to explore and discover their own lands, and
great music filled the air to give name to this world
once and for all: Exandria.
Age of Arcanum
Ages passed, and society flourished. Great kingdoms
sprung up. Castles were built in a day, accelerated
by the arcanists’ newfound power. Even though
magic could be used to complete the most difficult
tasks with hitherto unknown speed, magic-users
strove always to innovate. As mages practiced and
perfected their powers of creation, they soon
unlocked the secrets of life itself, giving birth to
wondrous, dangerous new forms of life
and power.
Yet, with the benefit of hindsight, it is clear
that the very magic which allowed mortalkind
to prosper also instilled a deep rot within their
civilizations. The arcanists of the world grew
arrogant. They came to see their arcane gifts as
proof that the gods held no sway over their fate,
and that with a sophisticated enough command
14
The advent of the arcane seemed to be the key to Gods soon made their presence known to the world
a bountiful age of plenty, but also proved to threaten with a surprise assault on Vasselheim itself.
it, as prosperity soon gave way to greed. Rather Though much of the city was reduced to rubble,
than universal goodwill and comfort for all, the Age Vasselheim weathered the initial assault, saved by
of Arcanum came to be defined by endless petty the intervention of their protectors, the metallic
squabbles over wealth and power among the elite, dragons, and even a number of the Prime Deities
while those without magic hunted for their scraps. themselves. The creators descended to trade blows
Tantalizing rumors of a path to immortality slithered with their former brethren. The battle, which pitted
through the most decadent circles of magi and nobil- gods against mortals and heroes against demons,
ity. One mortal mage, her name lost and presumed raged ceaselessly for twenty days and nights, until
to be struck from history, crafted now-forbidden rites the dark forces were forced to retreat, their surprise
to challenge the God of Death, felling him and taking attack thwarted.
his place among the pantheon, making of her the Yet this victory was a tainted one. Evil had been
first and only living mortal to ascend. The name of repulsed momentarily, but the revelation of such a
this original death god was likewise lost to history. terrible foe incited an arcane arms race. Trust was
Only the title of his now-godly successor, the Matron shattered indefinitely: if mortals could fall under
of Ravens, survives. the sway of the Betrayer Gods, who could be true
Her victory over divinity was a catalyst for many allies? If ruin like this could be unleashed under the
of the horrors of the Age of Arcanum. An archmage watchful eyes of divinity, what value did mortal lives
named Vespin Chloras, renowned throughout hold? Fearing all powers but their own, the most
ancient Vasselheim for his wealth, skill, and cruelty, self-interested and singular human arcanists warped
was inspired by this display. He sought the guidance their greatest creations, magical instruments of pros-
and power of the banished gods, rending open the perity and joy, into arms and armor of horrific power.
gates of their prisons and releasing the Betrayers The dwarves’ fascination with rock and earth turned
into the mortal world. toward isolation as they burrowed further into the
In their imprisonment, these Gods of Hatred and mountains, using their divine gifts to animate legions
Despair had warped their prisons into reflections of of autonomous golems to protect their ancestral
their depravity. The Abyss, once a formless place of halls. Elves used their understanding of creation’s
chaos, a byproduct of the gods’ Creation, was twisted beauty and intricacies to weave spells of unimag-
into a place of evil. Countless other planes of cruelty inable destructive force, the likes of which Exandria
were born from the Betrayer Gods’ hatred, and those had never before seen.
realms’ evil depths endlessly churned forth horrors For the first time since the awakening of the
that lived only to transform peace into suffering, and Primordials, the focus of magic was warfare. The
righteousness into arrogance and greed. gods themselves agreed to join their children on the
Released unto the mortal world once more, the field of battle, descending from the heavens to take
Betrayer Gods’ urge to ruin was supplanted by the up arms once more for the war now referred to as
desire to dominate, and they turned their sights first the Calamity.
to the archmage who had freed them, making Vespin
the first of their many mortal thralls. Records of The Calamity
diabolical texts safeguarded within the libraries of
Few records remain of the terrible war that followed,
the Alabaster Lyceum suggest that Vespin, now long
but its effects are still felt today. Most tales that
dead, serves the Betrayer Gods to this day—now as a
remain are of great champions who the Prime Dei-
devil at the left hand of the Lord of the Hells. These
ties blessed with their power. Some deities created
corrupt gods sought out the shattered remnants of
warriors of their own from light and holy fire. Others
the devils they had crafted and the demons they con-
imbued fragments of their power into the weap-
scripted, and secretly created with them a fearsome
ons now called Vestiges of Divergence. More still
new kingdom on the far end of the world, the capital
bestowed blessings upon mortals and called them
of which was named Ghor Dranas, the Gathering
champions. One tale even tells of a champion blessed
of Shadows.
by three of the gods in their times of greatest need.
In this land, where the twisted power of the
Now all but forgotten, this Apotheon was forced by
Betrayer Gods’ corrupted planes seeped into the
fate into terrible battles across the world.
world, the lords of evil welcomed mortals whose
The sheer magnitude of the energies unleashed in
heartlessness and lust for power made them suscep-
the ensuing battles of gods and mortals frayed the
tible to the gods’ grand promises. The most fertile
boundaries holding back the elemental chaos, spill-
soil of all for these noxious seeds lay in mortal hearts
ing unbridled destruction into the world and bringing
obsessed with the infinite power of the arcane. With
utter annihilation. Even the ley lines that direct the
a legion of the damned behind them, the Betrayer
flow of magic across Exandria like veins direct blood

through the body show signs of being warped by buried ruins and forgotten relics remind all people
the raw power that the Calamity unleashed. Some of a darker time—and of mistakes that should never
well-preserved ruins of the ancient civilizations be repeated.
remain, such as the Drowned City of Cael Morrow
in the lands of Marquet, but for the most part, all
Names of the Divergence
traces of the old world were erased from the face
Of these many formative events, the tale of the
of Exandria.
Divergence is the most oft-told among the many
So great was the loss of life during the war that
faiths and civilizations of the world. When seeking
even liberal estimates suggest no more than a third the truth of this event, the researchers of the Cobalt
of Exandria’s population survived it. This unthink- Soul found that it was called by many titles around
able devastation inspired some civilizations to flee the world, for many different reasons.
Exandria entirely and seek refuge on other planes, • The Second Spark. This name is most often used
scattering the Children of Creation across the by those who study the arcane, for it was the
multiverse. By the war’s end, the only bastion of gods giving them a second chance to use magic
civilization left on the face of Exandria was the Dawn for the betterment of the world.
City itself: Vasselheim. • The Penance. Priests, clerics, and religious
scholars across Exandria refer to the departure
The Divergence of the gods by this name, for they see it as a
In the wake of the Calamity, the victorious Prime self-imposed atonement for the gods’ role in the
ravaging of the world.
Deities once more banished their traitorous kin
• The Divergence. The most common name for this
to their realms of deception and hate. The world
event, the Divergence, is used by people of all
entered a long, dark period of recovery, as history
classes and creeds. This descriptive name simply
had to be recovered and purpose restored, and the
refers to the gods’ final act of divergence from
threat of the Betrayer Gods still loomed heavily upon the mortal world.
the minds of all. Even the Prime Deities felt guilt for
their role in the conflict, for it was the unrestrained
clash of divine power that had unleashed such horror
upon the world. Origins of Tal’Dorei
The records of the Scalebearers assert that the Following the creation, and subsequent razing, of
Platinum Dragon and the Lawbearer descended Exandria, a post-Divergence world was now left to
upon Vasselheim and spoke a decision: the Prime rise from the ashes and begin a new era. While every
Deities would depart from the world and establish a region had its own rebirth following the terrible
Divine Gate that would forever prevent any god from destruction of the Calamity, the continent that now
ever acting directly upon Exandria again. This proc- bears the name of this setting shall remain the focus.
lamation shocked the other Prime Deities and the The modern calendar began in the year 0 P.D.
beleaguered survivors of the war in equal measure, (Post-Divergence), over eight hundred years before
but while mortals railed against this announcement, the writing of this text. Though the modern nation-
the other gods quickly realized that the decision of state of Tal’Dorei did not emerge for some time after
the two most dutiful and self-sacrificing of their num- year 0, the history of Tal’Dorei truly began with the
ber was unimpeachable and just. founding of Gwessar.
Thus, in hopes of ensuring such ruin would not
befall Exandria again, they left their children to Gwessar
rebuild civilization anew within the walls of Vassel- At the dawning of modern history, what is now
heim and beyond. The Creators returned to their known as the continent of Tal’Dorei housed the
own realms, sealing all divine powers behind their germinating seeds of civilization. It was the hardy,
newly constructed Divine Gate. Only in this way dependable dwarves who best weathered the war
could they prevent their corrupted brethren from between gods and mortals, beneath the Cliffkeep
physically returning to the Material Plane. Mountains. Dozens of dwarven redoubts rose and
Much time has passed since, and the world has fell in the tumult of the Calamity and the uncertain
been reborn once again. The gods still exhibit their era that followed it. For many years, dwarves lived in
influence and guidance from beyond the Divine the tunnels beneath the Cliffkeep Mountains,
Gate, bestowing their knowledge and power to their leaderless and chaotic, until the various clans unified
most devout worshipers, but the path of mortals is to form the subterranean city of Kraghammer. Proud
now their own to make. New cities, kingdoms, and of their grand new home, the dwarf clans were
cultures have retaken the world, building over the content to remain beneath the earth. They saw the
ashes of the old. New songs fill the air, and the hope war-scarred surface world as a source of naught but
of a brighter future drives people day after day, while misery and death, and their new underground

domain as a place of undiscovered prosperity. This adversity. It was under Yenlara’s wise rule that elven
city was dug underneath the mountains, and its deep society once again began to reform. Upon returning
roots, though young, survived where more ancient to Exandria, Yenlara led her people westward to the
ancestral halls were annihilated. Clan Jaggenstrike Verdant Expanse, an untamed forest born from the
were the architects of Kraghammer’s hardy, residual elemental power that lingered after the end
unassailable redoubts, and easily became the first of the Calamity.
ruling clan of the Kraghammer dwarves. So beautiful was the forest they settled in that
While the dwarves busied themselves excavating Yenlara’s people were the first elves known to bear
the world below, a group of elves appeared suddenly the now-widespread name of syn'alfen—wood elves,
in the south. At the outset of the Calamity, a society in Common parlance. Likewise, the beauty of their
of elves used a powerful, obscure ritual to transport forest home inspired the name of their first settle-
many of their people to safety on another plane: the ment: Syngorn, the great elvenhome that stands
Fey Realm, a plane of primordial beauty where elven proud within the Verdant Expanse to this very day.
legend says the Arch Heart lovingly fashioned their As Yenlara’s people began to explore beyond the
people before placing them upon the face of Exan- forest, they found vast fields of grass emerging from
dria. They returned at the turning of the ages under the ash-darkened ground, with tall, snowcapped
the guidance of an elven sorceress named Yenlara mountains visible on the horizon. Overwhelmed by
Alderwreath. the beauty of the restored world, the syn'alfen called
The elves rallied around her both for her defiant their new land Gwessar, the Fields of Joy, a name by
strength and for her compassion in the face of
which elves (and those enamored with elven culture)
still call the continent of Tal’Dorei to this day.
The dwarves and elves are long-lived people, and
when they struggled to rebuild their civilizations,
there were those among them who still remembered
the world that was. Humanity was not so fortunate.
Human histories, written by wasteland warlords in
fading ink on waterlogged parchment and vellum,
did not survive the years. Yet, somehow, humanity
endured. Several centuries after the Jaggenstrike
dwarves began this period of renewal, a clan of
humans braved the angry Ozmit Sea and sailed
to Gwessar’s western coast from the continent of
Issylra, though whether or not they came from Vas-
selheim itself is unknown.
These people had the sea in their blood, and leapt
from island to island for generations, but something
called them to Gwessar. The ruins of their first
settlement—the port city of O’Noa—still stand today.
From O’Noa the seafarers expanded outward, until
all of the western shores flew their banner. In the
north, they found fertile fields protected from the salt
of the sea, and an inlet unmarred by looming rocks
and dangerous reefs, and they began to build. They
did not know their city would become the heart of a
great empire. They did not know the glory and sor-
row that would surround the city of Emon.
The Iron Rule of Drassig

The rise of human colonies irritated the elves of Syn-
gorn. Forests that had stood for centuries fell under
the axes of rash, short-lived beings who sought to
exploit, expand, and propagate thoughtlessly. These
tensions did not build to war, for long were the mem-
ories of the elves, but humanity remained a thorn in
the side of elfkind, chafing at their hard-won efforts
to protect their society and threatening to encroach
upon their sacred woodlands.
As the first human civilization on this part of the
world after the Calamity, Emon gave rise to a handful
of self-entitled noble houses who went on to establish
civilization in the name of the Lawbearer—but those
who wrote the game stacked the deck in their favor.
Corruption spread through the upper echelons of
Emon, and power-hungry politicians seized each
new and valuable resource that was discovered in
their bountiful new kingdom. They turned their
citizens against each other, forcing them to fight for
scraps while they hoarded the lion’s share.
Emon was a political war zone, and the greatest
warrior of them all was a loudmouthed braggart
and cunning oligarch named Warren Drassig. The
chaos and mistrust in Emon allowed Drassig and his
agents to seize power and transform the realm into
the Kingdom of Drassig, with Warren himself as its
supreme monarch. Drassig was quick to sever any
remaining connections with the elves of Syngorn

and make new alliances with the dwarves of Kra- King Neminar, bent on bloody-minded vengeance,
ghammer, marrying Drassig’s autocratic power with led his army back to Torthil, where the corpses of
the dwarves’ immense material wealth. the elven and human traitors were piled high upon
The elves were furious, but the ambassador from the outer walls. Their pyres ignited the night as
Syngorn to Emon, an idealistic grandson of the the entire city was reduced to rubble. And so the
still-living Yenlara, hoped to resolve this diplomati- Scattered War continued, unabated by the death of
cally. Upon arrival, he was apprehended, tortured, Warren Drassig.
and slain. This final act of treachery drove Syngorn The rule of Neminar marked the darkest days of
to arms, and the continent erupted into a terrible, the war. He introduced tactics and magic that drove
protracted war between Yenlara’s kin and Drassig’s his soldiers beyond human limits, leaving their bod-
bloodline known as the Scattered War. ies altered and mutated by foul necromancy. Their
warped minds craved bloodshed and domination,
The Scattered War and their bodies needed no sustenance to fuel their
The Scattered War lasted for thirty-two years, and bloodlust. Drassig’s forces became the perfect weap-
is recalled in bardsong as the Time of Shrouds. The ons of war, their ranks blessed by the divine touch of
war spanned the Cliffkeep Mountains and parts the Strife Emperor—the first Betrayer God to extend
of the Verdant Expanse, with the human colonies his power to mortals beyond the Divine Gate. All the
spread throughout the soon-to-be-warring territories. gods soon learned that though they could not walk
King Drassig encountered little resistance as he upon Exandria themselves, they could still grant
conquered each village, town, and city in turn, giving magic to their faithful.
these isolated settlements no way of warning one In the face of such terrible power, the alliance of
another of the warlord’s advance. humans and elves bolstered their ranks with venge-
No common warmonger, Drassig was a cunning, ful orphans and eager heroes of all ancestries who
heartless master of psychological warfare. Weeks in suffered under Drassig's tyranny. One such hero who
advance of his armies, he seeded spies throughout came to be instrumental in the coming conflict was
the land. They traveled swiftly through the secret Zan Tal’Dorei. A human who rose from the harried
dwarf-tunnels that crisscrossed the Cliffkeep Moun- streets of Syngorn, Zan quickly showed her mettle as
tains, and infiltrated settlements throughout the both a warrior and an inspirational leader. Rallying
region, turning the people of each settlement against the broken ranks of the resistance, Zan lured Nemi-
their own leaders, eating at them from within, nar and his lead forces into the Verdant Expanse.
poisoning them against one another. By the time Neminar’s undoing was an arrogant attack upon
Drassig’s armies reached their targets, they were the Shifting Keep, a Syngornian outpost protected
already poised to fall. The lights of human towns and by the slippery magic of the Fey Realm. The illusory
elven groves were snuffed out with equal savagery. fortress vanished, leaving the Drassig army without
Yet, a mere nine years after the war began, King a target and vulnerable to ambush. The forest itself
Warren Drassig died. seemed to lend its fury to the weapons of Zan’s war-
It happened at Torthil, an abandoned village riors, and Neminar and his blighted soldiers were
in Gwessar’s heartlands. For years, rumors had crushed in one swift stroke.
grown that Torthil was a haven for war refugees. Word of Neminar’s defeat and death spread like
The king and his soldiers fell upon the village with wildfire across Gwessar, and the banner of Zan
a vengeance, seeking survivors to slaughter. As they Tal’Dorei’s rebel army became a symbol of hope for
regrouped in the town square, Drassig stood among all of the oppressed peoples of the realm.
them, blade raised, eyes wild, and voice booming, to Even so, the last years of fighting were still ahead
rally their bloodthirsty spirits. It was at the height of them, for the late King Warren Drassig’s youngest
of his wicked speech that the first arrow struck, fol- son still stood to take power, and swore to avenge
lowed shortly by a volley that clouded the sky. After his family.
nine years of suffering, Yenlara’s wood elves and
the rebellious humans of the scattered colonies had Battle of the Umbra Hills
joined forces and formed an alliance against their King Trist Drassig, second-born son of the despotic
common enemy. Warren Drassig, took the throne with unearned con-
After Warren Drassig fell, he was succeeded by his fidence. So enamored was he with arrogant visions
eldest son, Neminar Drassig. Neminar shunned the of victory that he ignored the truth of his tenuous
crude, brutal methods of his father, instead finding rule: he was neither as brilliant nor as charismatic
his interests in more sinister powers. He became as his father, his armies were stretched thin, and his
known as “Neminar the Black-Fingered,” as his people rioted. The rebels, led by the young warrior
forays into necromancy left one arm withered and Zan Tal’Dorei, won battle after battle, and before
tainted. Nevertheless, his weaponization of forbidden long, King Trist found his army backed against the
magic elevated the threat of Drassig’s war machine. imposing base of the Cliffkeep Mountains.

In the wake of certain victory, Zan and her rebels, “A king should not stand apart from their people. A
allied with the elves of Syngorn, pursued Drassig to ruler must know sacrifice, for how else are they to
this valley, but were met with fiends amidst the ranks know those who till the fields, who tend to the cattle,
of their enemy. King Trist had a secret weapon— and who raise our children? A ruler should know
through his family’s dealings with the Strife pain and sorrow, for war is bloody and cruel. A ruler
Emperor, the spawn of the Betrayers had returned who asks their people to fight is one who asks them
to the world. They spilled into the battlefield like a
to die, and no person should die for a selfish king
river of nightmares, and in minutes, the surrounding
or an unjust cause. A ruler should know justice, but
hills ran dark with blood and ichor, and the bodies
of humans and demons alike littered the battlefield. also mercy, for not all crimes are committed with
Yet, despite all odds, the hero Zan defeated King evil intent, but rather in grief and shame. I am no
Trist, ending the Drassig bloodline—and with it, the king. I am the peasant in the fields. I am the painter
demonic pact the Drassigs had made. It is said that at the easel. I am the young soldier donning their
the grass and flowers of the Umbra Hills grow black father’s rusted armor. You will not find me sitting
and burnt as an echo of this battle, their sap coursing upon a bejeweled throne disdaining my supplicants,
with the fiendish blood that was spilled that day. but working beside your mothers and fathers, fight-
ing beside your valorous children, and aiding those
Tal’Dorei Ascendant who have suffered in the name of unjust kings.
Society had all but collapsed once more amidst the “Henceforth, Tal’Dorei shall not be just a name: it
Scattered War. Within the Verdant Expanse, the is a principle. From this day, Tal’Dorei is a princi-
triumphant rebels assembled a council of trusted ple that stands for honor, an everlasting honor that
and proven minds, but the people were accustomed binds its people. A principle that is a beacon for the
to a singular leader, a king. In the hearts of the lost, the helpless, and the forgotten. Tal’Dorei is a
people, it was not the crown that had failed them, but principle that you should declare with honor as you
the bloody-minded family that wore it. The council stand side-by-side with the people of Tal’Dorei as
assented to the will of their people, and nominated
kin. Tal’Dorei is not a name; it is to be proud, it is to
the war hero Zan Tal’Dorei to take the throne. She
have honor, it is to be loyal, and loving, and kind.
humbly accepted the role, but refused to take the title
of king or queen. Her name, she asserted, was Zan. Tal’Dorei is not a name; it is a people. And you are
After some debate, she eventually relented to being the people of Tal’Dorei! I refuse the title of king. If
called Sovereign Tal’Dorei, if such formality was you wish me to rule, I shall do so as a sovereign of
required. the people—and if you permit me, if you accept me
Again in spite of Zan’s protestations, the council as such, the Sovereign of Tal’Dorei! For the Honor of
unanimously agreed the realm should be renamed Tal’Dorei!"
Tal’Dorei in her honor. Power was divided between —Acceptance speech of Sovereign Zan
the sovereign and the council, both of whom ruled
Tal’Dorei to her people
from Emon. From there, Emon’s leaders expunged
any remnants of Drassig’s reign from their city, while
the allied armies of Tal’Dorei and Syngorn did the
same throughout the realm. The leading clans of conquest. Errevon the Rimelord, a cruel elemental so
Kraghammer pleaded for clemency, claiming they mighty that he is speculated to have been a scion of
were coerced to serve Drassig. They spent many the Primordials, one that escaped the gods’ wrath in
years paying reparations and making amends, but the Founding, seized this opportunity.
the fractured trust between Gwessar’s peoples took On the next winter solstice, Errevon tore wide
generations to heal. the Frostweald rift and commanded the endless
blizzards of his home plane to ravage the prosperous
The Icelost Years land around it. Tal’Dorei’s southern reaches, thus
Not two years into Sovereign Zan’s reign, a cataclys- weakened, were easy pickings for the Algid Legion,
mic evil tested her mettle and the skill of the council. a mighty army of frost giants and animate blizzards
A creature from the Elemental Plane of Ice slunk led by the Rimelord himself. Their relentless advance
into the Material Plane through a hitherto unknown covered all they touched in snow and death.
rift between the planes. It appeared in a mystical Countless brave warriors and civilians alike
forest of eternal winter known today as the Frost- fell to the invaders’ gelid weapons, for they were
weald. From its hibernal abode, this elemental spirit unprepared for such an onslaught so soon after the
spied upon the untested realm of Tal’Dorei and saw Drassigs’ protracted war. The storm of ice widened
an opportunity. The spirit dove back to its extrapla- year by year, consuming the Tal’Dorei heartland
nar home and informed its master of a land ripe for as Errevon claimed all lands that fell beneath the

ice as his own. North of the rift, he built a towering was presumed dead nearly two hundred years prior,
citadel of frost, forcing those he conquered to swear killed by the brass dragon Devo’ssa—yet it could not
fealty in exchange for warmth and liquid water. The be denied that Thordak survived, and that he sought
Rimelord’s tyrany lasted for three long years as the new peoples to enslave, ones with fewer defenses.
nascent Council of Tal’Dorei struggled to convince The mighty armies of Tal’Dorei marched finally
Syngorn and Kraghammer to ally for the sake of the south, but morale was low. They marched toward
realm. This monumental diplomatic mission com- fiery, painful death, and soldiers grumbled of a
pleted, the combined might of Tal’Dorei, Syngorn, heartless sovereign who luxuriated in his castle in
and Kraghammer assaulted Errevon’s Citadel and Emon while his people put their lives on the line for
forced the Rimelord back to the rift from whence the realm. They finally clashed with Thordak and his
he came. It was in this time of need that the druidic mercenary armies south of the Stormcrest Moun-
Ashari people first revealed themselves to the people tains, but the forces of Tal’Dorei were soon forced
of Tal’Dorei, and used their unrivaled elemental into a panicked, disorganized retreat as the rocky,
magic to seal the rift once and for all. The snow exposed terrain worked to the advantage of their
began to melt, the fortress toppled into the nearby airborne foe.
Foramere Basin, and the people celebrated their The valiant soldiers of Tal’Dorei would surely have
freedom from the oppressive cold. This victory is been brought to utter ruin were it not for the heroic
now celebrated annually throughout Tal’Dorei as the intervention of a band of young—yet able— adventur-
Winter’s Crest festival. ers. Led by Arcanist Allura Vysoren, who sits today
upon the Tal’Dorei Council, they cornered the Cinder
Thordak, the Cinder King King alone and defeated him—though his power
Zan Tal’Dorei passed peacefully after a long and was so great that they could not manage to kill the
happy rule, and was succeeded by a long line of her dragon outright. Instead, Allura and her companions
descendants. Many generations of peace ensued, and used powerful magic to imprison Thordak within the
the Tal’Dorei Empire formed as dozens of tiny city- Elemental Plane of Fire forever. The Fire Ashari of
states across the Dividing Plains flocked to the stable distant Issylra vowed to watch over Thordak’s prison
rule and heroic reputation of Tal’Dorei in the wake of until age could consume even him.
the Icelost Years.
The adroit statecraft of the Council of Tal’Dorei The Chroma Conclave
maintained cordial alliances with both Syngorn Forever lasted a mere sixteen years. In that time, life
and Kraghammer, but, despite their best efforts, returned to mundane quarrels over the price of bread
couldn’t keep the elves and dwarves from regress- and taxes. During this time of quietude, an old and
ing to hostility over ancient quarrels. In the time of unexpected ally of Thordak’s, a green dragon called
Sovereign Odellan Tal’Dorei, word of a shadow in Raishan the Diseased Deceiver, found Thordak
the south came to the ears of the council. Contact and conspired to release him from his prison so he
with numerous outlying townships at the edges of could conquer the land that had once rebuked him.
the empire halted abruptly, and traders that made Raishan formed a plan and forged an unprecedented
circuits from Emon to the Rifenmist Peninsula in the alliance with three other power-hungry chromatic
south vanished without a trace. The council was slow dragons: Umbrasyl the Hope Devourer, Brimscythe
to act in defense of territories that routinely flaunted the Iron Storm, and Vorugal the Frigid Doom.
imperial law, but were finally driven to action when After infiltrating the Fire Ashari of Pyrah for
allied villages south of the Verdant Expanse begged nearly five years, Raishan finally unlocked the seal
for protection against a “nightmare of fire and between the planes that bound Thordak and set him
malice.” The dour Sovereign Odellan blocked the free. Thordak’s physical body was warped by the
council’s relief efforts, claiming the economic cost of fiery energies of his prison. Now stronger than ever,
sending a regiment that far south to outsider commu- he rallied his draconic allies, the Chroma Conclave,
nities was a misuse of resources, especially without to destroy or conquer Tal’Dorei as they saw fit—
proof of a threat. It wasn’t until two years later, when starting with a retributive assault of catastrophic
reports of a powerful red dragon reached the ears proportions on Emon. Nearly three centuries of
of the sovereign, that the Council of Tal’Dorei was Tal’Dorei rule in the realm ended under the rule of
able to act. Sovereign Uriel Tal’Dorei II, his life cut short when
By then, much of the Mornset Countryside much of Emon was reduced to rubble.
had been reduced to ash by a self-obsessed and The attack not only killed the Sovereign Uriel, but
power-hungry red dragon named Thordak, who pre- also scattered the Council of Tal’Dorei, throwing
ferred the self-styled moniker of “the Cinder King.” the realm into chaos. The remnants of the civilized
According to Cobalt Soul records from the Temple of lands were divided up and taken as trophies by the
the Mentor in the lands of Marquet, the Cinder King Conclave, while the capital Emon was ruled by the

Cinder King himself, with Raishan secretly manipu- How could the Last Sovereign not feel that it was
lating the course of his rule from the shadows. his office’s immense power to overrule the council
The Alabaster Lyceum need hardly introduce the that ultimately cost thousands of loyal citizens their
heroes of this story. One by one, the members of lives? How could he not compare the singular power
the Conclave fell to the might and cleverness of a of the sovereign to the abuses of power committed by
band of misfit warriors known as Vox Machina, their King Drassig in ancient times?
might bolstered by a number of the lost Vestiges of Regardless of his private feelings, Uriel II’s last
Divergence, artifacts of incalculable power forged act as sovereign transformed his family’s imperial
amidst the chaos of the Calamity. After many adven- dynasty into the Republic of Tal’Dorei. Zan Tal’Dorei
tures, these heroes gathered their allies and stormed was reluctant to accept the singular role of rulership
the capital of Emon, slaying Thordak the Cinder at the dawning of the nation, an ideal she had to
King and freeing its people. Upon discovering the compromise upon to ensure stability for her fledgling
machinations of the real mastermind, Raishan the nation. Uriel’s relinquishment of power is seen today
Diseased Deceiver, with whom Vox Machina had as a fulfillment of that ideal. It will be the duty of
held a tenuous alliance, they gave chase and finally future historians to judge if his decision stood the
slew this last standing member of the Chroma Con- test of time.
clave, ending their reign over the land and restoring
rule once more to the Council of Tal’Dorei. The Time of Regrowth
The Tal’Dorei Council has guided the fate of the
A Fledgling Republic nation since Vox Machina slew the Cinder King. For
most of the past two decades, the goal of the council
The final act of Sovereign Uriel Tal’Dorei II’s life
has been to rebuild that which was lost—and to
was to abdicate the throne and end the line of sov-
assure far-flung territories that the nascent republic
ereigns—permanently. To analyze the historic Last
is just as stable as the empire ever was.
Sovereign’s final acts is the duty of biographers, not
Recovery has been slow in both Tal’Dorei’s heart-
chroniclers, yet it can readily be surmised that he
land and its most distant reaches. Even though cities
saw flaws inherent to his station. Uriel was the son
like Kymal and Stilben were not direct targets of the
of Odellan Tal’Dorei, the sovereign who singlehand-
dragons’ rampage, the age of unrest that followed
edly prevented the council from swiftly handling the
Cinder King when first he rose in the wilderness
south of the empire.

made these small cities easy targets for ransacking The simple fact is that the cost of rebuilding
by roving bandits and corrupt magistrates alike. Tal’Dorei was far more than the council or local
Even today, outlying settlements are slow to trust the leaders could afford to pay. Far be it from the Ala-
good intentions of the Tal’Dorei Council. baster Lyceum to cast aspersions on so beneficial an
Major cities like Westruun and Emon have been organization, but there are fears among the Tal’Dorei
the greatest beneficiaries of the Time of Regrowth, people that the league has already begun to collect
for even though they suffered the worst of the Con- on what they are owed in forms other than gold, as
clave’s destruction, the dragons also kept their lairs more and more league mages receive preferential
close by, allowing vast amounts of plundered wealth treatment from local margraves and even members
from their treasure hoards to flow rapidly back into of the Tal’Dorei Council itself.
these cities’ coffers. Over the last twenty years, these Beyond Emon, the landscape of Tal’Dorei has been
cities have hired legions of arcanists to magically forever scarred by the presence of the Conclave,
restore much of what was lost. especially the Cinder King. His hellfire left marks
However, perhaps the one city that can say it on the land that will never heal—magical wounds
directly benefited from the Chroma Conclave’s that bleed fire and ooze chaotic magic. Smaller
reign of chaos is Whitestone, a formerly indepen- cities beyond the reach of the council have begun to
dent city-state that is now a member of the republic. succumb to sinister influences. Demons and devils
Whitestone took in countless refugees from Emon crawl into the world, summoned by occult powers
after the Conclave’s initial attack, and countless answering fell voices from beyond the Divine Gate.
more in the aftermath. Sequestered in Tal’Dorei’s The Betrayer Gods sense weakness within the
cold northeastern reaches, Whitestone is an isolated world. The entropic fury of the Chained Obliv-
city, but it has rapidly become a powerhouse of politi- ion churns beneath Gatshadow. The lost blade of
cal, cultural, artistic, and economic influence—to the Neminar the Black-Fingered calls from the Umbra
chagrin of some traditionalists in Emon. Hills for a new master. The Cloaked Serpent raises
armies south of Syngorn. Cults of the now-divine
Apotheosis Thwarted Whispered One spread like poison through the veins
The world was troubled by a disturbance in Issylra of Tal’Dorei’s cities.
a year after the Chroma Conclave’s defeat, as a lich Yet despite these threats, the legendary heroes
attempted to achieve godhood and crush the Dawn of Vox Machina have largely set down their blades,
City of Vasselheim in one fell swoop. His success guns, and spells and taken up the mantle of lead-
would have meant catastrophe for the Material ership. More than twenty years have passed since
Plane, leaving him the sole god on this side of the their greatest adventures, and though the surviving
world’s impenetrable Divine Gate. However, beyond members of Vox Machina are still canny rulers and
hearing news of Vox Machina’s involvement in this cunning warriors, the Tal’Dorei Council can no
conflict, few in Tal’Dorei were concerned by rum- longer rely upon their skills as readily as they once
blings on the other side of the world. did. Rumors of the heroes’ permanent retirement
Though the lich’s defeat confined him to a remote swirl, inspiring fear and nostalgic sorrow in many of
demiplane, there is no way to strip him of his stolen the people—but adventurers across the land see this
divinity. Occult worshipers yet scurry throughout as an opportunity to rise to the level of Vox Machina
Tal’Dorei’s darkest corners, seeking the favor of a and beyond.
lich-god known as the Whispered One. Tal’Dorei needs heroes—and this time, Vox
Machina alone will not be enough.
Seeds of Peril
A generation has passed in relative peace. Yet all
who have studied history know that each age’s
Running a Tal’Dorei
conflict sows the seeds of the next. The Republic of Campaign
Tal’Dorei has proven it can prosper in peacetime, but Tal’Dorei is more than just its history; do not treat
it has yet to be tested by the pressures of war or a this book as an encyclopedia, nor as shackles that
supernatural cataclysm. bind you to portray its characters and environments
After two decades of expensive reconstruction with perfect fidelity. As you read this manual, con-
and princely investments in skyship moorings, the sider why you want to run an RPG campaign set in
Republic of Tal’Dorei is deeply indebted to arcanists Tal’Dorei, and in the larger world of Exandria. What
across the land. Chief among them is the League of about Critical Role inspires you as a Game Master?
Miracles, a consortium of thaumaturgists who have You might cherish the bonds of family and love
claimed untold fortunes from reconstruction boun- between its many heroic characters. Perhaps you are
ties all over the country. drawn to the various factions that vie for power over
Tal’Dorei’s peoples. Or perhaps it’s the way that evils

from Exandria’s mythic past inevitably rear their ugly is suffering growing pains, and unless some heroes
heads, always when circumstances are already at are able to help, the realm may fall into anarchy
their most dire, that most captures your attention. and chaos.
No matter the initial spark that led you here, hold While fantasy politics isn’t every gamer’s cup
tight to it as you read, and search for ways to feed of tea, the struggles of the fledgling republic can
your personal flame of imagination. And when you serve several purposes. Players looking for fantasy
are done, create. Create boldly, using these words as intrigue can meddle in the internal politics of the city
a launching point for your own tales. of Emon and root out corruption within the council,
This section is for Game Masters’ eyes only, which may have been planted by any number of
though GMs are welcome to share tidbits with this land’s power-hungry factions, from the invasive
their players to set the stage for the campaign, or to crime syndicate known as the Myriad to the shadowy
inspire them to create characters that will dovetail mages within the Arcana Pansophical who splin-
with the GM’s story ideas. tered off into a new schismatic faction, the League of
Miracles.
Secrets of Tal’Dorei Game Masters can also use political elements
to flavor or provide a backdrop for their otherwise
The world of Exandria is steeped in familiar fantasy
action-focused games. On a smaller scale, corrupt
themes, with all the elves, dwarves, and wizards you
margraves may hire bandits to pillage their own vil-
might expect from a fantasy roleplaying game. But it
lages, requiring heroes to step in. On a broader scale,
also holds secrets that will challenge your expec-
a threat to the stability of the Republic of Tal’Dorei
tations, and you may enjoy putting your own twists
itself may force the characters to stop a megaloma-
on these great mysteries of the world. Each of these
niac bent on conquering the republic from within.
secrets can form the backbone of an entire cam-
paign, or can serve as flavor to create the impression Criminal Shadow War
of a world that is larger than just the player charac-
A criminal syndicate known as the Clasp has lurked
ters’ story.
in Tal’Dorei’s underworld since the foundation of the
All-Powerful, Imprisoned Gods old Tal’Dorei Empire. It’s almost become a cliché, for
people across the land know the Clasp as the stereo-
Tal’Dorei was nearly destroyed when the gods fought
typical face of organized crime. Novels romanticizing
one another in the Calamity. Now, the Betrayer Gods
their allure have been adapted into stage plays and
are sealed in otherworldly prison planes, and the
bard-song in all corners of the republic.
victorious Prime Deities live in self-imposed exile.
And perhaps the Clasp has bought its own good
An unbreakable barrier stands between the mortal
publicity. After the Cinder King’s famous conquest
and immortal realms. At best, a deity can grant their
of Emon some twenty years ago, it was the Clasp
most skilled devotees a small measure of divine
that saved countless innocent people and led them to
power to enact their will upon Exandria.
safety through their extensive network of smuggling
However, there are a number of cults who yearn
tunnels beneath the city. It was the organized action
to circumvent this barrier and summon their dark
of criminals, just as much as Vox Machina’s heroic
patron onto the Material Plane. Others still seek to
power, which saved Tal’Dorei—and the Tal’Dorei
unravel the forgotten rites of ascension, just as the
Council knows it. The Clasp has gone mainstream.
Matron of Ravens did in ancient times—just as the
However, the Clasp is under threat from the
Whispered One did in living memory. What would
Myriad, another criminal syndicate from the
happen if an omnipotent deity somehow managed
nearby continent of Wildemount. The Myriad sees
to arise on the mortal side of the Divine Gate? Or
Tal’Dorei’s slow legitimization of the Clasp as an
even simply managed to fool the gods into thinking
opportunity to seize power in the nation’s criminal
they had done so? Would the gods of good be forced
underground. Violence is on the rise in Tal’Dorei’s
to unleash their powers as one to break the Gate,
cities as the Myriad uses local gangs as pawns in
unleashing another Calamity upon the world?
their bid to dethrone the Clasp.
Dawn of a Republic A Land Thrice-Destroyed
It was the dying decree of Sovereign Uriel Tal’Dorei
First there was the Calamity, and the palaces of the
II that the continent-spanning Tal’Dorei Empire be
gods were devoured by the earth. Then came the
reborn as the Republic of Tal’Dorei. No more would
wars of Drassig, and his defeat at the hands of Zan
a sovereign rule the myriad peoples of this land, but
Tal’Dorei. And then came Thordak. The Cinder King
instead the wise Council of Tal’Dorei would enact
and the Chroma Conclave shook the very founda-
the will of the people and protect them from the
tions of Tal’Dorei. Thordak “merely” reduced the city
dangers of the world. But things don’t always go
of Emon to slag, but through fear, panic, and malice,
according to plan. The nascent Republic of Tal’Dorei

the flames of destruction were spread across the Neverfields push up against the northern edge of the
continent by mortal hands. Today, a generation after map. South of the Verdant Expanse is the Rifenmist
the dawning of the Republic of Tal’Dorei, the ruins of Peninsula, where vast jungles and the brutal forces
three civilizations lie buried beneath your feet, and of the Iron Authority prevent any explorer from filling
some secrets long to be unearthed. in the map’s southern tips.
To help you create stories that feel at home in
Mother of Invention Tal’Dorei, chapter 3 of this book contains a num-
Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de ber of story hooks throughout its description of
Rolo III—Percy, to his friends—wanted to take the Tal’Dorei’s landscape and settlements. See “Creating
secrets of his inventions to his grave, especially the Adventures” on page 193 for more information on
deadly power of his firearms. Unfortunately, because how to turn these plot seeds into full adventures that
of his now-deceased archenemy Anna Ripley, the you can run for your gaming group.
secret of gunpowder has begun to spread across While this book gives insight to one version of
Tal’Dorei. Now, isolated groups of tinkerers, both Exandria, its lore exists to serve you, not the other
noble and unscrupulous are working to develop new way around. Your campaign is your own creation—if
technologies from Percival’s research, and other you delight in adhering to Critical Role canon and
black powder technologies from Marquet. Some of delving into its lore, then by all means, dig deeper!
these modern marvels will no doubt help the people If you like subverting expectations, revealing that
of Exandria—but others, if placed in the wrong things believed to be true were nothing but myth
hands, are sure to enable the deaths of thousands. and rumor all along, tell that story! And, if you love
Renaissance technologies, especially firearms, are characters and places from Critical Role, but want
not common in Tal’Dorei. If you want to keep your your stories to go to brand-new lands of your own
fantasy purely medieval, it’s a simple matter to ignore creation, take inspiration from this book and steer
the tinkerers, gunsmiths, and budding industrialists your campaign in whatever direction you see fit.
scattered across the continent. Never forget that you are the creator of your own
version of Tal’Dorei. No matter who is playing at your
Uncharted Territory table, even if it’s Matthew Mercer himself, no one can
The corners of Tal’Dorei’s maps are not all filled tell you that your vision of the world is inaccurate—
in. North of the Cliffkeep Mountains, the trackless because it’s yours now.
Chapter 2
Allegiances of Tal'Dorei
The lands of Tal’Dorei are governed not just by their
history, but by factions and faiths striving to achieve
Divine Domains
myriad goals, fighting for conflicting ideals, and Most clerics can gain their magic from a single god,
vying for the power to come out on top. The gods of or even from a number of gods that share domains
Exandria may be barred from walking upon the land or divine provinces. Ultimately, how your cleric
in material form, but they can still put their thumbs serves the gods or their core religious philosophies
on the scales of history through their mortal follow- is for you and your Game Master to discuss. Each
ers. Such followers include clerics with the power god in this chapter has two or three Divine Domains
to cast mighty spells, paladins who wield blades from which many of their clerics are granted power.
alight with idealistic verve, and untold thousands of Nevertheless, almost all deities can have clerics
common folk whose voices can affect the decisions of who gain the power of any domain, if you and your
even the most powerful leaders of the land. Game Master agree.
A number of factions hold just as much sway over
the daily lives of the people as the gods and their Prime Deities
clergy—perhaps even more. These factions range in
Deity Alignment Province
might and influence from the greatest of the great
to the smallest of the small. The Tal’Dorei Council Changebringer Chaotic good Change,
institutes political policies that affect everyone in freedom, luck
grand, sweeping, and often inscrutable ways, while Platinum Dragon Lawful good Honor, justice
the Golden Grin is a group of folk heroes who seek to Arch Heart Chaotic good Art, beauty,
subvert evil across the land. Whether these factions elves
are governments or just tiny organizations, they can
add depth and conflict to your Tal’Dorei campaign. Lawbearer Lawful neutral Civilization,
law, peace
Pantheon of Exandria Knowing Mentor Neutral Knowledge,

learning,
During the Divergence, the Prime Deities created a teaching
powerful barrier between the Material Plane and the
Stormlord Chaotic neutral Battle, competi-
supernatural realms of the Outer Planes. This gate tion, storms
sealed all gods, including the evil Betrayer Gods,
within their respective domains. If the Divine Gate Wildmother Neutral Seas, wilderness
were to be destroyed by the unanimous effort of All-Hammer Lawful good Craft, creation
the Prime Deities, all powers would be unleashed, Dawnfather Neutral good Healing, sun
threatening armageddon. Thus, the gods patiently
Everlight Neutral good Atonement,
watch their creations from beyond the veil, aiding
compassion
their faithful with what small power they can send
through the barrier. Matron of Ravens Lawful neutral Death, fate,
Some lesser idols, such as archdevils, demon winter
lords, fiends and celestials of near-divine power, Moonweaver Chaotic good Illusion,
as well as a number of unaccounted-for demigods moonlight, night
reside among the planes. They are affected by the
Divine Gate, preventing them from crossing it of
their own volition, yet are not so bound by it that they
Prime Deities
cannot be summoned by mortal magic. The Prime Deities are the leaders and luminary
The following gods are recommended as the creators that battled the Primordial Titans and
existing Exandrian pantheon, but they are only a instigated the Founding, forging the mortal races
recommendation. As long as the GM and the players of Exandria. They hold sway over powers that
agree, you are welcome to tailor, alter, or completely represent a spectrum of sunlight, truth, moonlight,
change the gods in your Tal’Dorei campaign to fit benevolent concealment, protection, love, death,
your needs. The domains listed are the likely choices and all other facets of freedom and life in the world.
for followers of that deity, but these are not the While these gods may disagree and squabble, they
only options. are united in an alliance dedicated to ensuring the
survival of their creations.
Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 27

The Changebringer The Platinum Dragon
Also known as “She Who Makes the Path,” the The pillar of justice, protection, nobility, and honor,
Changebringer champions freedom, travel, trade, the Platinum Dragon is a beacon to paladins of order
and adventure across the lands. Her will heralds and good, and is revered by most metallic dragons
open frontiers, and her call beckons her followers to as the first of their kind. The crest of the Platinum
discover that which awaits them beyond the known. Dragon adorns many halls of high leadership and
There are few urban temples dedicated to the judgment, invoking his will in all matters of justice.
Changebringer, but her shrines are often found along To follow him is to look after those who cannot look
well-traveled roads and on isolated wilderness hill- after themselves.
tops. Many merchants, adventurers, and free-spirited Depiction. The Platinum Dragon is often seen
folk worship the Changebringer, and many a gala emblazoned on shields and armor, both functional
toast and tavern song celebrate her as a bringer of and decorative, in the form of a brilliant silver dragon
luck and fortune. head in profile. Temples and works of art depict a
Depiction. She is often depicted as a young massive, glittering dragon with vibrant platinum
woman of dark complexion and long, light brown scales and a wingspan that fades into etherealness.
hair that cascades to form the road left behind her. Divine Domains. Many of the Platinum Dragon’s
Most art shows her in constant motion, ever leading clerics are granted powers of Life, Order, or War.
into the unknown. Holy Day. The Platinum Dragon’s holy day is
Divine Domains. Many of the Changebringer’s called Embertide and is celebrated on the fifth day of
clerics are granted powers of Moon, Nature, or the eleventh month. This is a day of remembrance,
Trickery. solemnity, and respect for those who have fallen in
Holy Day. The Changebringer’s holy day, called the defense of others.
New Dawn, takes place on the first day of the first
month, when the old year gives way to the new. In Commandments of the Platinum Dragon
Emon, the day of New Dawn is celebrated with a • Stand as a paragon of honor and justice.
grand midnight feast that commonly features a short • Smite evil wherever it is found, yet show compas-
play celebrating the changes of the past year. sion to those who have strayed from righteousness.
• Defend the weak, bring freedom to the persecuted,
Commandments of the Changebringer and protect the ideals of justice and order.
• Luck favors the bold. Your fate is your own to
grasp, and to do so is to have the Changebringer
behind you.
• Change is inevitable. The righteous can ensure
that such change is for the better.
• Rise up against tyranny. Fight for the freedom
of yourself and others when you can, and inspire
others to fight when you cannot.
Symbol ofthe
Platinum Dragon
Symbol ofthe Changebringer

The Arch Heart The Lawbearer
Guardian of spring, beauty, and the arts, the Arch The driving inspiration behind many great inven-
Heart is the patron of arcane magic, elves, and the tions, the creation of vast cities, and law and order
fey. The Founding inspired them to wander the within society, the Lawbearer claims dominion over
twisted lands, seeding them with the first arcane civilization. Judges and lawful rulers pay respect at
magics and raising the most ancient of forests. It was her temples, which are central structures in major
by the Arch Heart’s hand that the first elves wan- cities around the world. Peace and order—through
dered from the Fey Realm, and for this reason, they structure and law—guide the will of her devout fol-
are considered the Parent of all elves. Those who lowers. The Lawbearer has a tempestuous romance
seek art in all of their work, whether magic or mun- with the Wildmother, a furious love that is only tem-
dane, often worship at the altar of the Arch Heart. pered when civilization and nature are in balance.
They loathe the Spider Queen and her priestesses Civil unrest and riots blossom within her beloved
for leading the drow astray. cities in these times of imbalance.
Depiction. Most modern tapestries and tomes Depiction. Illustrations and statues show the
depict the Arch Heart as a genderless elf of impos- Lawbearer as a hooded, armored woman with light
sible grace and beauty, androgynous and alluring, brown skin and a strong, lithe body, sitting atop a
framed by long, wavy, golden hair. The Arch Heart throne of pillars. Her face is generally obscured or
inspired many early elven art pieces, and elements depicted without expression, giving her presence an
of their visage or symbol are included in most elven impartial yet imposing nature.
architecture. Divine Domains. Many of the Lawbearer’s clerics
Divine Domains. Many of the Arch Heart’s clerics are granted powers of Knowledge or Order.
are granted powers of Arcana, Nature, or Light. Holy Day. The Lawbearer’s holy day is Civili-
Holy Day. The Arch Heart’s holy day is called zation’s Dawn, and is celebrated on the autumnal
Elvendawn, or Midsummer. It’s celebrated on the equinox, usually the twenty-second day of the ninth
twentieth day of the sixth month, and commemo- month. In Emon, each neighborhood celebrates by
rates the elves’ first emergence from the Fey Realm. dancing around great bonfires in the square and
In Syngorn, the elves build magical wards, open giving gifts to celebrate their community.
small doorways into the Fey Realm, and celebrate
with uncharacteristic vigor with the wild fey. Commandments of the Lawbearer
• Utilize the company and aid of others. The efforts
Commandments of the Arch Heart of the individual often pale against the capabilities
• Create, inspire, and find beauty in all that you do. of community.
• Follow the echoes of lost magic, forgotten sites, • Strive to tame the wilds in the name of civilization,
and ancient art, for within these lie the Arch and defend the points of light and order against the
Heart’s first works. chaos of darkness.
• Combat the followers of the Spider Queen wher- • Uphold and revere the spirit of invention. Create
ever they may be. new settlements, build where inspiration strikes,
and expand the edicts of the Lawbearer.
Symbol ofthe
Arch Heart Symbol ofthe Lawbearer

The Knowing Mentor • Uphold and teach the importance of reason,
Revered by seers, sages, and teachers of all walks perception, and truth in guiding one’s emo-
of life, the Knowing Mentor guided the growth of tions and path.
civilization throughout the Age of Arcanum like • Condemn those who lie without moral cause, for
sunlight guides the branches of a tree. Her teachings evil folk gain power when their followers obscure
were silenced when she was grievously wounded the truth. Never stoop to the level of selfish liars.
by the Chained Oblivion during the Calamity, and
though she survived and went into hiding behind the
The Stormlord
Divine Gate, her followers are hunted by agents of Where thunder cracks and conflict rises, prayers
her ancient foes to this day. Her devout now worship to the Stormlord are shouted into the maelstrom.
in private, spreading knowledge, philosophy, and lore Reveling in all tests of strength, the blessing of the
anonymously through traceless channels. Stormlord finds those that prove themselves on the
The one exception are the scholars of the Cobalt battlefield. Worshiped by athletes and warriors all
Soul (see page 58), an international organization across Exandria, he exalts those whose force of
of knowledge-seekers, spies, and archivists that seek spirit and passion for victory call his attention. He
to reveal the truth at all costs. Most members of the brings tumultuous storms over land and sea, and
Cobalt Soul aren’t zealous worshipers of the Know- those who wish for clearer skies offer their praises
ing Mentor, but still pay homage to her in some form. and prayers to appease him.
Depiction. Common representations show the Depiction. Within his temples and carvings, the
Knowing Mentor as a greying, mature woman of Stormlord is shown as a quintessential warrior,
welcoming, matronly smile swathed in billowing often nude with a beard and short, curly hair. As the
robes and scarves that fan into books and scrolls. epitome of muscle and strength, most art depicts the
Some call her the Knowing Mistress, revering her as Stormlord in a stance of dominance, typically assert-
a headmistress of knowledge among the gods. ing his power by wrestling a terrible beast.
Divine Domains. Many of the Knowing Mentor’s Divine Domains. Many of the Stormlord’s clerics
clerics are granted powers of Arcana, Knowledge, are granted powers of Tempest or War.
or Twilight. Holy Day. The Stormlord’s holy day is the Day
Holy Day. The Knowing Mentor has no public holy of Challenging, and it is celebrated on the seventh
day, for her public worship was shattered during the day of the second month. The Day of Challenging is
Calamity, and she has since fallen into half-remem- one of the most raucous holidays in Emon, and thou-
bered myth. Only in Emon has the Knowing Mentor’s sands of spectators attend the annual Godsbrawl
faith been publicly resurrected—though her worship held in the Temple of the Stormlord to root for their
by the intellectuals of the city bears little resem- favored deity’s champion, particularly the chosen of
blance to that of the knowledge-seekers of old. the Stormlord and the Platinum Dragon.
Commandments of the Knowing Mentor Commandments of the Stormlord

• Unmask those who would destroy the Knowing • Bravery above all. There is no glory in cowardice.
Mentor. Learn their secrets and unveil them to • Strength is the path to greatness, but greatness is
the world. the responsible use of strength.
• The glory of the Stormlord lives through your own
glory on the battlefield.
Symbol ofthe Knowing Mentor Symbol ofthe Stormlord

The Wildmother The All-Hammer
The realm of the Wildmother extends to wherever The patron of craft and creation, the All-Hammer is
the seas shift and the land grows over. As the keeper worshipped by smiths, artisans, and miners alike,
of the wilderness, she represents the wild creatures granting inspiration where respect and prayer are
of nature, the rush of the angry rapids, and the heat- given. He shaped the mountains from the chaos of
heavy stillness of the desert. Hunters, druids, and the Founding, and stands as the patron protector
nomads worship her, seeking her blessing to live in of home and family. Devotion to the All-Hammer
harmony with lands that still bear their wild fangs. is strongest in dwarven communities, and many of
Likewise, those seeking safe passage across danger- his temples mark the center of a mighty dwarven
ous waters pray to her to guide them. stronghold.
The druids of the Wildmother and clerics of her Depiction. Many guildhalls and workshops
lover, the Lawbearer, work together to preserve the contain images of the All-Hammer, a faceless,
balance of nature and civilization. It is said that the stout dwarf of immense strength, hunched over a
two goddesses grow furious when this balance is flaming heart clasped within his massive hands. The
upset, and this fury manifests as devastating natural All-Hammer’s dwarven appearance is consistent
disasters. Clerics of the Matron of Ravens also pay across Tal’Dorei, with some exceptions. Other cul-
homage to the Wildmother, for the work she begins tures that pride themselves on their metallurgy, like
is the work that their deity must respectfully end. the fire giant enclave of Vulkanon (see page 220),
Depiction. Immortalized through wooden reliefs depict the All-Hammer as one of their own—in this
and carved idols in hidden, overgrown groves and case, a faceless giant with a flaming mane.
rural shrines, the Wildmother is shown as a beau- Divine Domains. Many of the All-Hammer’s cler-
tiful woman with green or deep brown skin nearly ics are granted powers of Forge, Knowledge, or War.
swallowed by a wild, tangled wreath of hair, leaves, Holy Day. The All-Hammer’s holy day is Deep
and vines that envelop her strong, full-figured form. Solace, celebrated on the eighteenth day of the fifth
Divine Domains. Many of the Wildmother’s cler- month. Especially devout followers of the All-Ham-
ics are granted powers of Life, Nature, or Tempest. mer spend the day in isolation, meditating on the
Holy Day. The Wildmother’s holy day is Wild’s meaning of family and how they may be better
Grandeur, and is celebrated on the vernal equinox, mothers, fathers, siblings, and children. Dwarven
usually the twentieth day of the third month. The communities in Kraghammer and abroad celebrate
people of the southern wilds honor the Wildmother with a full day of feasting and drinking.
by journeying to a place of great natural beauty,
like the top of a mountain waterfall or the center Commandments of the All-Hammer
of a desert. Wild’s Grandeur is rarely celebrated in • Remain stoic and tenacious in the face of
Emon, but some folk will plant trees in observance of catastrophe.
the holiday. • Uphold and promote loyalty to your family, loyalty
to your clan, and loyalty to your people.
Commandments of the Wildmother • Legacy is paramount. To create something that
• Protect the untamed wilderness from exploitation lasts is to change the world for the better.
and destruction.
• Slay abominations and other mockeries of nature.
• Embrace and respect that which you cannot con-
trol in this world. Exist in harmony with it.
Symbol ofthe
Wildmother Symbol ofthe All-Hammer

The Dawnfather The Everlight
The Dawnfather rules over sun and summer, and his God of compassion and redemption, the Everlight
vigil encircles the ages as the keeper of time. As the bears a divine message of determination and com-
lord of agriculture and harbinger of the harvest, he passion, even in the darkest of times. She believes
is worshiped by farmers and most common folk, and that the corrupt can be redeemed, a mindset that led
his priests are welcome in lands all over. Supporter to a betrayal by the Lord of the Hells, who decimated
of the needy and destroyer of evil, the Dawnfather her followers during the Calamity. Only recently
is often the patron of paladins and rangers who has her faith been rediscovered and her temples
follow a similar creed. The Dawnfather is mythically returned to prominence. The Everlight’s followers
renowned for his defeat of the Chained Oblivion and are often rural healers and community philosophers,
is revered by those who hunt aberrations. offering voices of reason and empathy in angry and
Depiction. Tapestries of old match early texts cynical times.
describing the Dawnfather as a kindly patriarch clad Depiction. Those who rise to bring the Everlight’s
in silver and gold armor, his head a beacon of light words back to the light either unearth her image
and fire so bright that his face can barely be seen. from ruined temples or create new art to inspire
Many statues in holy places use the Dawnfather’s others with her message. She is represented as a
head as a brazier, lit with each dawn and extin- beautiful, strong woman with dark skin and light
guished with the dusk. hair, rising betwixt a set of angelic ivory wings.
Divine Domains. Many of the Dawnfather’s cler- Divine Domains. Many of the Everlight’s clerics
ics are granted powers of Life, Light, or Nature. are granted powers of Life, Light, or Peace.
Holy Day. The Dawnfather’s holy day is called Holy Day. The Everlight’s holy day has long been
Highsummer and takes place on the fifteenth day forgotten, and her followers have yet to decide when
of the seventh month. In Emon, the entire week is her festival should be held, or even what the festivi-
celebrated with gift-giving and feasting. Festivities ties should be. The debate has gone on for years, and
begin on Highsummer day and end at midnight on no great miracles have yet been performed to unify
the twenty-first, the day that Zan Tal’Dorei dethroned the squabbling clerics.
Trist Drassig at the Battle of the Umbra Hills. In
Whitestone, the feast of Highsummer is celebrated Commandments of the Everlight
with gifts and a festival of lights around the Sun • Lead with mercy, patience, and compassion.
Tree. Most folk choose to spend Highsummer with Inspire others to unite in fellowship.
their family, recounting the small things they are • Aid those who are without guide. Heal those who
thankful for. are without hope.
• Those who are beyond redemption, who revel in
Commandments of the Dawnfather slaughter and remorseless evil, must be dispatched
• Be ever vigilant for evil. People are quick to forget with swift justice.
the lessons of the past.
• Help relieve the suffering of the innocent. The Matron of Ravens
• Deliver the light of the Dawnfather where dark- Master of the skein of fate and the mistress of winter,
ness dwells, and do so with kindness, compassion, the Matron of Ravens is the god of death. Her gaze
and mercy. follows and marks the end of each mortal life, watch-
ing over the transition between life and death—and
ensuring that the natural transition is undefiled.
Symbol ofthe Dawnfather Symbol of the Everlight

Mourners at funerals across the land invoke her The Moonweaver
blessing in hopes that she will protect the deceased The Moonweaver is the god of moonlight and the
from the terrible curse of undeath. autumn season, as well as the patron of illusion and
Keepers of ancient lore believe the Matron of misdirection. Widely worshipped in halfling and
Ravens was once mortal herself, and thus the only elven culture, she is also considered to be the deity
mortal known to have ascended to godhood—before of love, shielding the trysts of lovers in shadows of
the rise of the Whispered One, at least. Her rise her own making. Those who work in darkness and
instantly obliterated the previous, now-forgotten trickery often ask for her blessing.
god of death, and in its wake, the other gods quickly Depiction. Depictions of the Moonweaver are as
and fearfully destroyed the secrets to the rites of numerous as the myths and stories of her meddling
ascension. within simple unions. However, she is most often
Depiction. There are very few visual depictions painted as a young girl of light-blue skin and white
of the Matron of Ravens; many temples simply use hair, with a body and limbs that dissolve into silky
the raven as a symbol of her blessing. Rare images, strands of silver moonlight, caressing and creating
however, portray the Matron herself as a tall, pale the edges of the shadows.
woman wrapped in dangling black linens, her Divine Domains. Many of the Moonweaver’s cler-
onyx-black hair straight and never-ending, her face ics are granted powers of Arcana, Moon (see page
obscured by a white porcelain mask. 169), or Twilight.
Divine Domains. Many of the Matron of Ravens’s Holy Day. The Moonweaver has no holy day,
clerics are granted powers of Death, Grave, or but is celebrated by most elves on the night of the
Twilight. decade’s largest full moon. Elven astronomers track
Holy Day. The Matron of Ravens’s holy day is the the moon’s phases and how it grows closer and
Night of Ascension, which celebrates her apotheosis. farther to Exandria, and can predict these days with
The actual date of the goddess’s rise to divinity is great accuracy. Many high and haughty elves use
unclear, but the Night of Ascension is nonetheless this festival as an excuse to be sly and mischievous;
celebrated on the thirteenth day of the tenth month. some younger elves use costumes and illusions to
Many people of Emon see this cheery celebration prank their peers. The wyvern-riding skyswimmers
of the dead to be unnerving and macabre, but the of Lyrengorn, however, venerate the Moonweaver in
Matron’s followers believe that the honored dead their own way: with the annual arrival of the Moon-
would rather be venerated with cheer than misery. weaver’s Ribbons, a majestic aurora that illuminates
The Matron of Ravens is also considered by some the skies above the Elvenpeaks.
to be the patron of Winter’s Crest, a holiday that
celebrates freedom from Errevon the Rimelord and Commandments of the Moonweaver
is observed in Tal’Dorei on the twentieth day of the • Seize your own destiny and pursue your
eleventh month. own passions.
• Let the shadows protect you from the burning light
Commandments of the Matron of Ravens
of fanaticism and the absolute darkness of despair.
• Death is the natural end of life. Grieve the fallen, • Walk unbridled and untethered, forging new mem-
but do not pity them. Exult in the time that they ories and experiences.
were granted.
• The path of Fate is sacrosanct. Those who pride-
fully cast off destiny must be punished.
• Undeath is an atrocity. Death is too good a punish-
ment for those who pervert the rightful transition
of the soul.
Symbol of the Matron of Ravens Symbol of the Moonweaver

Betrayer Gods Depiction. A twisted image of the celestial blood
that once bore him, the Lord of the Hells is portrayed
The Betrayer Gods are the deities who strayed in many tomes and murals as a handsome humanoid
from the ideals of the Founding and embraced the with deep red skin and long black hair. Two curling
destructive chaos of the Primordials. The Betrayer horns rise from his crowned brow, and his lips bear
Gods rarely work together, for they see one an eternal, knowing grin.
another as threats to their own goals. This very Divine Domains. Many of the Lord of the Hells’
weakness allowed the Prime Deities to defeat and clerics are granted powers of Order, Trickery, or War.
Enemies. The Lord of the Hells’ enemies are
banish them, ending the Calamity.
numerous, even among the Betrayer Gods, many
of whom only follow him for fear of his immense
Betrayer Gods power. His archnemesis is the Changebringer, whose
Deity Alignment Province mischief and cunning has vexed him throughout the
Lord of the Hells Lawful evil God of devils eons. It was she who defeated him in the Calam-
and the Hells ity by tricking his fiendish armies into attacking
one another.
Strife Emperor Lawful evil Conquest, tyranny The Devil Lord’s greatest triumph during the
The Ruiner Chaotic evil Slaughter, warfare Calamity was fooling and betraying the Ever-
Spider Queen Chaotic evil Deceit, spiders light and slaughtering all her followers in one fell
stroke—a move that today has united the followers
Chained Oblivion Chaotic evil Darkness, destruction
of the Everlight and the Changebringer in a bond of
Scaled Tyrant Lawful evil Dragon god of evil unbreakable fellowship.
Crawling King Neutral evil Enslavement, torture
Commandments of the Lord of the Hells
Whispered One Neutral evil Necromancy, secrets
• Assert dominance and power over others. Show
Cloaked Serpent Chaotic evil Assassins, your strength of will in the image of your Lord.
poison, snakes • Repay cruelty done unto you with further evil. If
others show you kindness, exploit it.
The Lord of the Hells • As you ascend to power, do not pity or show mercy
The devil god of the Hells is the master of tyranny to those you climb over to get there. The weak do
and domination, and was the first to instill his des- not warrant your compassion—compassion itself is
potic will into celestials, creating the first devils. His a weakness.
words are honeyed and carefully crafted, soothing
and corrupting the hearts of mortals and immortals The Strife Emperor
alike. The Lord of the Hells rules his domain with Blood-drenched armies of brutal warriors oft crush
an iron fist, and the punishments awaiting those that their foes in the name of the Strife Emperor, the
cross him are the stuff of nightmares. Evil entities patron of warfare and conquest. To serve his will is
pay him tribute right alongside his devils, and many to accept the call to conflict, seeking lesser people to
warlocks are drawn to his power. break and subjugate. Warmongers worship the Strife
Emperor as they strike out at the world to bend it
beneath them.
The Strife Emperor twists all living things to his
iron will, even forcing nature itself to bow to his
whims. During the Calamity, he grew his armies not
by rallying demons, but by corrupting noble crea-
tures into monsters and by destroying the wilds to
fuel his engines of war.
Depiction. The Strife Emperor is often depicted
as a brutish, ogre-like man clad from head to toe in
jagged black armor. Heads dangle from his belt, and
the shadows that obscure his helmeted face do not
hide his unblinking yellow eyes.
Those who long for conquest often see their own
people as superior to all others. Thus, somewhat
Symbol of the Lord of the Hells appropriately, depictions of the Strife Emperor are
contentious and myriad: he is usually portrayed as a
member of whatever race currently bears his banner.
In the Republic of Tal’Dorei, his face most often has

a human cast, for King Drassig’s bloodline paid him the worst of these cults are the Ravagers, the
tribute long ago. scourge of the Dividing Plains (see page 249).
Divine Domains. Many of the Strife Emper- Depiction. Simple clay representations in
or’s clerics are granted powers of the Forge, communities of the Ruiner’s followers show him
Order, or War. as a hulking, bulbous behemoth of an orc. His
Enemies. The Strife Emperor’s greatest enemy missing eye has shifted, the prominent remaining
is the Wildmother, who defeated him in Rifenmist eye now centered in his face like that of a nightmar-
during the Calamity. In turn, he is also despised ish cyclops.
by her beloved, the Lawbearer, for perverting the Divine Domains. Many of the Ruiner’s clerics are
benevolent rule of law into the manacles of authori- granted powers of Death, Tempest, or War.
tarianism. The Strife Emperor and the Wildmother Enemies. The Arch Heart shot out the Ruin-
clashed many times during the war before his final er’s right eye during the Calamity, and the god of
defeat at Beynsfal Plateau. His massive iron armor slaughter longs for the day he can return the favor
is still scattered across Beynsfal, and his gigantic twofold. Likewise, the Ruiner is a dark mirror of
helmet has become the seat of a ruthless empire. the Wildmother, and his hatred for her kindness is
surpassed only by his lust for vengeance against the
Commandments of the Strife Emperor Arch Heart.
• Fear is your ally. Conquer your fear, and inspire it
in your foes. Commandments of the Ruiner
• Disorder and rebellion are to be punished severely. • Ruin. Ravage. Kill.
• To kill is life’s greatest pleasure, and perfecting the • The weak exist to be crushed by the strong. Be
art of slaughter is life’s greatest pursuit. the strong.
The Strife Emperor is also known as the progen- • There are no emotions but fury and joy. The rest
itor of the Curse of Strife (see “Betrayer Curses” are weakness.
on page 39). The Ruiner is also known as the progenitor of the
Curse of Ruin (see “Betrayer Curses” on page 39).
The Ruiner
The Ruiner commands roving hordes of barbaric The Spider Queen
marauders across the lands to destroy, pillage, and The god of deceit, shadows, and spiders, the Spider
slaughter for the joy of it. Orderless and without Queen weaves a complicated web of schemes and
honor, the creeds of the evil lord goad all living crea- treachery through her worshipers, deceiving allies
tures to shrug off the oppressive chains of courtesy and enemies alike to gain power. The Spider Queen’s
and civilization and to devour the world around worship is entwined with the society of dark elves
them, giving in to the chaotic and selfish nature of across much of Exandria, even as the drow fall ever
the predator. deeper into the thrall of the Chained Oblivion’s aber-
As civilization rises, people of all cultures feel the rant minions. It is said that the Spider Queen can see
draw of the uncomplicated, primeval world. Some through the eyes of all spiders and that she is truly
find their way to the loving embrace of the Wild- all-knowing.
mother and her sects, going on to live in harmony A mysterious faction of elves from Wildemount,
with nature. Others fall into the cruel thrall of the the Kryn Dynasty, escaped this evil god’s thrall in
Ruiner and his bloody cults of slaughter. In Tal’Dorei, ancient times. This civilization’s geographical isola-
tion from Tal’Dorei keeps communication between
Symbol of the Strife Emperor Symbol of the Ruiner

them limited, but a small number of Kryn dark elves they devote the rest of their lives to hastening the end
have traveled to Tal’Dorei to investigate the subter- of this reality so that it may be swallowed up by the
ranean tunnels beneath the Stormcrest Mountains great inevitability: utter, tenebrous cold.
(see page 112). Even the other Betrayer Gods treat the Oblivion
Depiction. Ancient icons and idols dedicated to with caution. In its endless imprisonment, it dreams
the Spider Queen show an alluring woman with deep nightmarish aberrations into existence, deep beneath
purple skin and silver hair, her abdomen swelling Exandria. The Chained Oblivion’s demented cultists
into the terrifying body of a monstrous spider. Her work without word from their twisted patron, await-
depictions are highly polarized between her elite dev- ing the Epoch of Ends, when its freedom will be
otees and her wretched supplicants. They are either attained and all beings shall be consumed in death-
opulent gilded statues, or deranged cave paintings. lessness unending.
Divine Domains. Many of the Spider Queen’s Depiction. Few visual attempts to depict the
clerics are granted powers of Knowledge or Trickery. Chained Oblivion exist, but texts describe a creature
Enemies. The Spider Queen holds a searing of roiling ink and hungry darkness, a spreading
grudge against the Stormlord, for with one throw of cloud of lightless destruction born from a thousand
his mighty thunderspear, he impaled her against a ravenous mouths. Current references show the night-
cliffside, leaving her drow armies leaderless during mare constrained by chains of black and gold, barely
the Calamity. The Spider Queen and the Ruiner also keeping the dark at bay.
share a burning hatred for the Arch Heart, whom she Divine Domains. Many of the Chained Obliv-
claims drove her children below the earth. Despite ion’s clerics are granted powers of Death, Grave,
their shared enemy, the Spider Queen often manip- or Trickery.
ulates the Ruiner’s followers into attacking her foes, Enemies. The few remaining followers of the
so that the drow may remain safe. The only being the Knowing Mentor, who was gravely wounded by
Queen fears is the Chained Oblivion; she dreads its the Oblivion in ancient times, are dedicated to
alien mind and is furious about how its madness has ensuring that the Chained Oblivion is never again
gripped her children. unchained. Their goddess led the charge against the
all-consuming god’s reemergence, and her bravery
Commandments of the Spider Queen allowed the other Prime Deities to shackle their
• It is better to be loved than feared, but you may enemy, though the victory nearly cost the Mentor her
certainly try to be both. immortal life. Some say the Knowing Mentor can
• Misdirection, slander, and shadowed steps have only be fully restored if the Chained Oblivion is fully
more function than direct conflict. destroyed—for good.
• Death to the elves who live under the sun, and
death to all their allies! Commandments of the Chained Oblivion
• Offer light and life into its all-consuming maw so
The Chained Oblivion that it may surpass all divinities and be freed.
It is darkness unending, less like a god and more like • Uncover, restore, and exalt forgotten shrines and
another world of malevolent, alien intelligence. Life relics in its honor.
and death do not exist within the Chained Oblivion; • Ruin and raze the realms to hasten the arrival of
only the absolute end of all things. Few minds can the Epoch of Ends.
comprehend the depth of oblivion. Most who do are
so completely lost to nihilistic despair or denial that
Symbol of the
Spider Queen
Symbol of the Chained Oblivion

The Scaled Tyrant The Crawling King
The evil queen of dragons is a fearsome god of greed, The god of the endless tunnels and caverns beneath
envy, and hoarded wealth. While chromatic dragons Exandria, the Crawling King is patron to torturers,
are her foremost worshipers, the Scaled Tyrant slavers, and jailers across the realms. The furi-
accepts the worship of any who crave wealth. All ous, molten tears he wept upon his defeat carved a
chromatic dragons have a fearful reverence for their network of infinite subterranean pathways beneath
tyrannical queen, but many dragons of near-deific Exandria—and in the vastness of the Outer Planes,
power and ambition chafe under her rule. Though his plane of imprisonment is a realm of logic-defy-
the Scaled Tyrant was pleased by the devastation ing caves and grasping manacles from which few
that the Chroma Conclave spread across Exandria, return alive.
the prideful Conclave never considered themselves Those who rob others of their freedom offer
subservient to the Dragon Queen. prayers to him in cellars and other subterranean
Depiction. Most visual representations of the domains, and other creatures who live in the dark-
Scaled Tyrant exist as warnings within sanctuaries ness below worship him and seek his guidance.
of the Platinum Dragon. She is shown as a dragon Depiction. The Crawling King is rendered as a
of frightful size with five vicious dragon heads, each swollen, malformed worm that slithers through the
one a chromatic color of her evil children. Massive, dark below, with a screaming, hairless human head
leathery wings sprout from her back, spreading and three arms carving through the lightless rock.
clouds of poisonous mist. Divine Domains. Many of the Crawling King’s
Divine Domains. Many of the Scaled Tyrant’s clerics are granted powers of Death or Trickery.
clerics are granted powers of Order, Trickery, or War. Enemies. The Dawnfather and the Everlight
Enemies. The Scaled Tyrant’s hatred for the Plat- defeated the Crawling King during the Calamity by
inum Dragon is as old as the Founding, and her cults luring their nemesis above ground. The Dawnfather
are ever-hunted by his justice. For centuries, the pierced his tenebrous body with ten thousand lances
zealous paladins of the Platinum Dragon have lim- of sunlight, and the Everlight imprisoned him beyond
ited the Tyrant’s worship to the chromatic dragons, the boundaries of Exandria within her serene rays.
but sects of humanoid dragon-worshipers appeared The tears of pain and anger the Crawling King shed
in the wake of the Chroma Conclave’s destruction of burned through Exandria, and his faithful fled into
Emon, and have been secretly keeping her faith alive these tunnels to escape their enemies’ holy light.
in the generation since the Conclave’s defeat. Some
Tal’Dorei oligarchs have even turned to the Scaled Commandments of the Crawling King
Tyrant in secret, as their hoarded wealth begins to • Seek and exalt places where no light touches.
run dry, sapped by the immense cost of rebuilding • Revel in the pain you inflict upon others, and relish
what was lost to the Conclave. the pain you suffer yourself as an offering to the
Crawling King.
Commandments of the Scaled Tyrant • Imprison those who cannot resist you, and drag all
• Amass wealth, but spend little. The gold—and life into the darkness.
the power that comes with it—is sufficient reward
in itself.
• Do not forgive nor forget an indignity to yourself.
Let no affront go unpunished.
• Take what you covet. Those without the strength to
defend their dominion are not worthy of it.
Symbol of the Scaled Tyrant Symbol of the Crawling King

The Whispered One Moonweaver, who benevolently blesses the keepers
The pain of defeat is cruel indeed. Twenty-four years of benign secrets, robbing him of followers.
ago, a cult known as the Remnants rose up against Commandments of the Whispered One
the world, led by an undead archmage known as
• Learn all you can, and keep hidden that which
the Whispered One. This lich had toiled in secret
you know. Reveal what pieces you must, but never
for years within the Plane of Shadow, constructing
the whole.
the towering citadel of Thar Amphala there, while
• Express and cultivate the evil within yourself, and
secretly spreading his poison throughout the storied
in doing so, recognize it in others to exploit them
lands of Issylra. His goal was simple: repeat the lost
for your own benefit.
rites of ascension that the Matron of Ravens used in
• Seed the ruin of all who worship other deities,
the Age of Arcanum to become a god—and this time,
until only those who kneel before the Whispered
to be on the opposite side of the Divine Gate, so that
One remain.
he could rule the world.
His ascension was successful, but the new god The Cloaked Serpent
was ultimately banished behind the Divine Gate
A wanderer in the shadows and the creator of snakes
by the intervention of Vox Machina. Their victory,
and serpentkin, the Cloaked Serpent is the evil god
though grand, was not complete. The Remnants,
of poisons, assassins, and darkness. The ancient
though bloodied, still venerate their spited master
serpentkin worship him over all other deities,
with offerings of secrets and unwilling souls to gain
dragging screaming offerings to their temples in his
his favor.
honor. Most of the Cloaked Serpent’s worshipers
The Whispered One is a god of hidden things, and
were annihilated during the Calamity, and those that
the occult remnants of his followers prey upon those
weren’t are either suspended in self-induced stasis or
who harbor dark secrets, stoking their fears and
hunted for sport by the servants of the Spider Queen
driving them into his skeletal embrace. He also is a
and the Crawling King. But perhaps the Cloaked
patron of undeath, and upon those who lavish him
Serpent is merely biding his time, waiting for the
with their worship, he bestows the keys to creating
proper moment to unleash his hidden armies upon
ever-greater monstrosities.
the world once more.
Depiction. The Whispered One is a picture of
In Tal’Dorei, most of the Cloaked Serpent’s ser-
sepulchral self-mutilation. Those faithful who saw
pentkin followers live in arcane suspension
him at Thar Amphala describe him as an unnaturally
on the mysterious Visa Isle (see page 145).
tall, gaunt humanoid with necrotic skin stretched
Depiction. Many forgotten temples were once built
taut over his bones, wrapped in robes of shadow, and
to worship the Cloaked Serpent, and his image was
adorned with jeweled talismans.
embedded within much of their architecture. He pos-
Divine Domains. Many of the Whispered One’s
sesses a humanoid body with six arms and a fanged,
clerics are granted powers of Arcana, Death, or
serpentine head adorned with a threatening hood.
Knowledge.
Strands of thick, dark hair sprout from his scaled
Enemies. The Whispered One now despises all
body, obscuring his form in layers of swirling shadow.
the gods who stood in his way by anointing members
Divine Domains. Many of the Cloaked Serpent’s
of Vox Machina as their champions. The Dawnfa-
clerics are granted powers of Nature or Trickery.
ther, the Everlight, the Knowing Mentor, and the
Enemies. The Cloaked Serpent loathes the
Matron of Ravens all contributed to his defeat, and
Lawbearer and the Wildmother, for he despises life,
his Remnants are hell-bent on subverting their mor-
order, and love above all things. His surviving wor-
tal followings. He also harbors resentment for the
shipers relish in using poison and fire to consume
Symbol of the
Whispered One
Symbol ofthe
Cloaked Serpent

nature and undermine civilization, hoping to infuri- with clerics of other faiths to loosen the bloody god’s
ate both goddesses and cast Exandria into chaos. grip on their families.
Commandments of the Cloaked Serpent Curse of Ruin

• Keep your acts obfuscated and secret. The night is Countless legends invoke hgar’Gruum, the Curse of
your greatest ally. Ruin. Great orc warriors have been laid low when
• Strike quickly and without reason. Blind the target bloodlust overtook their reason. Mighty mages
with their own confusion. driven by a foolhardy ambition forsook caution and
• Kill slowly. Agonizingly. Or worse, make delved furiously into knowledge no mortal eyes
them enjoy it. should behold. The Curse of Ruin is said to be the
birthright of all orcs—a deadly taint carried in the
Betrayer Curses blood of the Ruiner that forged their people during
The malign powers of some Betrayer Gods linger in the Calamity.
Exandria, both as myth and reality. Truth of Ruin. The truth is that the Curse of
Ruin is a myth. The blood of the Ruiner granted orcs
Curse of Strife physical strength and superhuman endurance, but it
The insidious voice of the Strife Emperor, both dam- imparted none of the Betrayer God’s evil. The power
nable and damning, invades the minds of countless of the myth, however, is more ruinous than any magic.
people across Tal’Dorei who have been afflicted by Consequences of the Myth. Countless super-
the Curse of Strife. The curse is especially prevalent stitious folk across Exandria—including many orcs
in Rifenmist, where the Strife Emperor’s faithful themselves—believe in the Curse of Ruin. This
clerics bestow it upon their soldiery, transforming belief doesn’t make the curse any more real. The
them into perfect weapons of war. The curse acts myth’s existence is a convenient way for any one orc
in unpredictable ways, turning some into chaotic to ignore the real consequences of their mistakes,
berserkers, others into obedient legionnaires, and or of any act of thoughtless harm—the curse takes
others still into selfish, isolationist thieves. Cultists of the blame. Even worse is when this “birthright” is
the Strife Emperor also use their power to covertly leveled at wise, even-tempered orcs who have done
spread the curse throughout hospitable and kind nothing wrong, and their frustrated reactions are
communities across Exandria, aiming to destroy then taken as proof of the curse’s existence.
them from within and make them more susceptible
to conquest. Lesser Idols
Origin of Strife. Such transformations are Though the gods still make their wills known upon
the result of the Strife Emperor’s torment, which the world by granting power to mortal clerics and by
whispers constantly in the victims’ minds. The free delivering edicts through their celestial or fiendish
goblinkin of Tal’Dorei regard those who spread the servitors, the Divine Gate inhibits them from exercis-
curse with special contempt—and those who suffer ing their full powers over the fate of Exandria. The
from it with immense pity. same is not true for the lesser idols, beings of demi-
For centuries, small-minded people in Tal’Dorei godly power that have, in the absence of true gods,
have feared goblins because they are the children of used their splendid and profane forms to amass their
the Strife Emperor. But while the first goblins, hob- own cult followings.
goblins, and bugbears were created in the Calamity Dozens of these powers are worshiped in relative
as soldiers for this fell god, the curse does not linger secret across Exandria. Some are supernatural
in their blood—it spreads via those who pledge their beings like archfey or archfiends that have taken up
souls to the Strife Emperor. Clerics of the Strife near-permanent residence on the Material Plane.
Emperor can use the bestow curse spell to inflict the Others are unknown fragments of the power of
Curse of Strife. primordial Creation, given form. Most are mortal
Curing the Curse. Creatures who experience champions that have gained near-divine power
kindness or suffer near-death experiences can have through magic, the blessings of the gods, or through
epiphanies that allow their true self to tear through mythic effort and training. In all of these cases, the
the bloody shroud of the Strife Emperor’s lies. A worship of mortals elevates these beings to some-
curse-afflicted creature who spends one week being thing greater than they were before, imbuing them
treated with love and compassion instead of hatred with fragments of divine power— and allowing them
and fear can make a DC 20 Wisdom saving throw, to grant scraps of that power back to the mortals in
breaking the curse on a success. The remove curse whom they take an interest.
spell also immediately ends the curse—and many
reformed clerics of the Strife Emperor have united

Lesser Idols
Other Secluded Champions
Deity Alignment Province
A handful of other mortals exist in Tal’Dorei who
Azgrah Lawful neutral Undying have risen to nearly divine power through destiny
Galdric Lawful good Celestial, Undying or sheer will. Much like Azgrah, the vast majority of
these champions live out their lives in seclusion—
Graz’tchar Chaotic evil Fiend, Hexblade and perhaps it is their seclusion that grants them
Khedive Xundi Chaotic neutral Genie the ability to lend their powers to others, while
Lost Beacon Neutral Celestial they await the day that their full strength is at last
needed to defend their people.
The Observer Neutral good Archfey, Celestial All have their own stories, but no matter their
The Sightless Chaotic evil Great Old One tales, whether they are honored or despised by
The Traveler Chaotic neutral Archfey their kinsfolk, they are all mythic iconoclasts. Other
secluded champions of Tal’Dorei that you may wish
Vesh Neutral evil Archfey, Undying to develop into idols of your own include:
• Flavia, Queen of Unending Storms (cloud giant)
Azgrah, Lord of the • Suthine, Eternal Princess of Vulkanon (fire giant)
Deep Dwelling • Valdemar, Draugr-Jarl of Farborg (frost giant)
The underground citadel of Emberhold, along with • Ghaladron, Traitor to the Iron Crown (hobgoblin)
• Tevrosk, Whose Axe Was Wreathed in
the subterranean territories surrounding it, pays
Flowers (orc)
fealty to the Crawling King as master of the under-
• The First Favored Champion (stone giant)
ground. However, for all but the King’s most faithful,
• Typhoe, the Dreaming Shark (storm giant)
the homage they pay to him is a distant second to
their veneration of Azgrah, Lord of the Deep Dwell-
ing. This mighty champion is a duergar warrior who Graz’tchar, the Decadent End
completed six heroic labors in his prime, all of which Centuries ago, Zan Tal’Dorei defeated King Trist
have been frequently enshrined in bardsong, from Drassig in the Battle of Umbra Hills. Drassig died
the wooing of Prince Lhebeno to the Conquest of the wielding a blade called Graz’tchar, gifted to him
Amber Worm—in which he defeated a servant sent by a cunning demon among the ranks of the fiends
by the Crawling King to punish the present Queen of granted to him by the Strife Emperor. Zan let Dras-
the Emberhold for her impiety. sig’s blade lie where it fell, along with his body.
Azgrah has enjoyed an incredibly long life, even This blade contains a sliver of the ego of the
for a duergar, and now lives in isolation in a temple Demon Prince of Indulgence, and enacts his anar-
deep within the Amber Worm’s writhing tunnels. He chic, hedonistic will upon the world. From up to one
is tended to only by his most trusted warlocks, and thousand miles away from its resting place in the
is venerated by all as the Lord of the Deep Dwelling, Umbra Hills, the voice of Graz’tchar can be heard
and as the dwarf who will emerge in the Emberhold’s faintly in the minds of those it reaches out to—and,
hour of greatest need. so it is said, only one who has heard the voice of the
blade can find it amidst the blackened crags of that
Galdric, the Moonlit Wolf accursed battlefield.
Given purpose and power as the companion to Pur- The Decadent End is willing to grant power to
van Suul, champion of the Matron of Ravens during those who accept it, even from afar. It prefers to
the Calamity, the black wolf Galdric was sealed test those who hear its call before leading them to
within a raven’s slumber (see page 197), one of find it. When the time comes that someone does
several such relics made in the Matron’s honor, and wield Graz’tchar once more, its game statistics are
interred with his master in a tomb under the Mar- on page 195.
rowglade Loch in the distant land of Othanzia.
Over twenty years ago, Vaxil'dan of Vox Machina
Khedive Xundi, Lord of Silver Silt
was named champion in Purvan’s stead, and Gal- Only about a year ago, a genie of elemental water
dric was released from his slumber and bestowed was freed from captivity beneath Nicodranas—a city
with the charge of guarding the Parchwood sur- in Wildemount, on the other side of the Lucidian
rounding Whitestone. This large and cunning wolf Ocean. This marid, named Kedive Xundi, has now
now stalks the woods as the city’s silent protector, returned to his Palace of Silver Silt on the Elemental
with the people crafting new legends about their Plane of Water, and is happy to remain there—but he
bestial sentinel. On moonlit nights, some say you can is itching for payback.
see Galdric wander through the Greyfield, headed to But that’s a continent away, and Xundi has time for
the Matron of Ravens’s shrine for communion. both payback and entertainment. While he manipu-
lates mortals on Wildemount’s Menagerie Coast, he

also has deposited a beautiful clay amphora in the indeed, all of Gwessar—had ever seen. In its peace
port city of Stilben. Through this item, he watches and magical might, it exceeded even the grasp of the
passersby, occasionally enticing foolish mortals to nearby elven domain of Syngorn. Magic, entirely sep-
pick it up and give it a rub. From there, Xundi offers arate from the arcane rituals practiced by arcanists
them power, with no strings attached—save for a of the era, fueled their city’s rise to splendor, and the
request for them to go on the most thrilling adven- being that came to them looked on in fascination.
tures a little mortal can. And maybe, if they survive It appeared before them in a form that at once
long enough and become powerful enough, the marid seemed familiar and majestic. It had a body like one
will invite that mortal and their friends to his Palace of of the catfolk—a wiry humanoid frame with a feline
Silver Silt for a grand banquet, all the pleasures they face, covered in tawny fur and possessed of a tail and
can imagine, and then a request for them to engage limbs that ended in large paws. Beyond this familiar
in the most thrilling adventure he can think of—and appearance, four broad, avian wings burst from
Xundi has had the length of a most interminable this ten-foot-tall avatar’s back. It was surrounded
imprisonment to think of incredible adventures. by a golden light that seemed not to illuminate and
saturate the world around it, but make it dimmer,
The Lost Beacon of ashy, and washed-out. Yet in this pallid light came a
Unknown Light sharpness of perception, as if it were more real than
In a time before time, when Exandria was naught but the material world around it. The being appeared in
darkness in the chaos before even the Founding, a the center of the Qoniira civilization, at the heart of
luminous being called the Luxon sought answers about the city of Niirdal-Poc, and it spoke a single phrase:
their existence. They lit the first fires within Exandria “I am the Observer, and I give unto you the Gift.”
with their unquenchable light, and then began to wait. Then, it vanished from sight.
Gods came. They created beings that spread across the All at once, the gray-gold light of the Observer
planet. Those creatures died and procreated and died surged throughout Qoniira. Though the citizens
in an endless cycle, of which the Luxon grew curious. didn’t notice a difference at first, as time went by,
Surely, by watching these short-lived beings, they could many people began to manifest new forms of magic.
learn the answers they sought. This magic was not the controlled, scientific power
So the Luxon divided their own light into beacons, of far-off arcanists in their flying cities, but chaotic,
dodecahedral crystals of eternal radiance. They cast unpredictable, and miraculous.
them across the world and fell into a deep slumber, The once-sprawling civilization of Qoniira has
during which they hoped people would find the bea- shrunk over the centuries, but its people still draw
cons and bond to them, allowing the mortals’ souls upon the miracles of the Gift, and they are still
to be reborn again and again so they could learn watched from afar by the unseen Observer. This
everything there is to learn about existence. entity does not reign like a god, but watches impas-
Many such beacons have been found across the sively those whom it gave its unpredictable Gift. As
world, mostly by a people who have learned the ways those born in Niirdal-Poc under the auspices of the
of the Luxon in a far-off land. However, many of the Observer travel north into the Republic of Tal’Dorei,
beacons remain unaccounted for. One such beacon or south into the oppressive realm of the Iron Author-
was unearthed about ten years ago by Tal’Dorei ity, the gaze of the Observer is moved even farther
settlers in the Cliffkeep Mountains, far from any afield—adding ever more variables to its mysterious
civilization. The people of this settlement, Reaching experiment.
Bluff, call it the Beacon of Unknown Light, and treat
it as a mystical oracle that will guide their young
The Sightless
settlement to prosperity. In the Age of Arcanum, an archmage named Clem-
Despite the settlers’ best efforts, word of their dis- ain Astural was the first to make contact with an
covery has escaped Reaching Bluff. As adventurers otherworldly power of the Realms Beyond that called
and treasure-seekers begin to trickle in, the settlers itself the Sightless. His legendary writings, the well-
protect their newfound oracle with cultish devo- guarded Astural Scrolls (see page 112), say that the
tion—despite the fact that it has never once spoken to entity’s words of greeting to him were:
them, as they have beseeched it to countless times. “I am the Sightless. Will you not lend me your eyes?”
The Astural Scrolls are vague about the powers of
The Observer the Sightless—also sometimes called the Sightless
Amidst the Age of Arcanum, the people of the great One, the Borrower of Eyes, and the Lurker Behind
Tetrarchy of Qoniira were visited by a being of One Thousand Eyes—but they are specific about
sheltering power and comforting light. The people of several things. First, Astural willingly relinquished his
Qoniira were on the path to creating the most pros- own sight to the Sightless in exchange for his patron’s
perous civilization that the Rifenmist Jungle—and magical powers. He gained all the power he ever

wanted, but Exandria was as alien to the Sightless Traveler’s devoted have only grown in number and
as the Sightless was to Exandria. Forced to rely gleeful impishness. The current story is remarkably
upon this entity’s horrific interpretations of the world close to the truth: that the Traveler is a mighty lord
around it, Astural quickly lost his grip on reality. of the fey. This archfey, known as Artagan to a select
In time, Astural’s unchecked devastation was few, despises the relentless pressure of celebrity
stopped by great heroes of the time, and his scrolls godhood, and just wants to bring joy and freedom
were confiscated. They exist in the Westhall Acad- from responsibility to all. He still has plenty to learn
emy in Westruun (see page 91), and the second about mortals, and about when a bit of good, harm-
scroll, though secured in a deep vault, still holds less fun becomes not-so-harmless after all.
the secrets of the ritual Astural used to contact the
Sightless all those years ago. Vesh, the Bloody Siren
Blood and pleasure follow in the wake of the siren
The Traveler Vesh. Long has she stalked the shadows of far-off
Over the past few years, rumors of a green-cloaked Issylra, amassing secretive orgies of people of all
deity with a wiry frame and fiery red hair have genders and ancestries. These grand events have
spread across Tal’Dorei and the neighboring conti- a membership that numbers in the hundreds, all of
nent of Wildemount. This fey trickster, though not whom are bound to utmost secrecy, and are thrown
a god, has certainly enjoyed pretending to be one to in obscure retreats that are hidden in cities and
spread mirthful chaos across the world. towns across the continent. Little do the foolish
Hundreds of isolated individuals across Tal’Dorei pleasure-seekers in attendance know that the siren’s
have heard the voice of the Traveler—or they’ve at great fetes of debauchery can end with only two left
least experienced one of his wily pranks. Within the alive: Vesh and her new mate, who will go on to form
past year, a convention of the Traveler’s devotees a mystical blood-bond.
congregated on the tiny island of Rumblecusp in the “Beware the Bloody Siren,” sob those few who
Lucidian Ocean to exult his name and deeds. have escaped her orgy of blood, but their warnings
And then, suddenly, he vanished. The tales of a have only fueled her legend. In Tal’Dorei, where
trickster deity that washed across Tal’Dorei trickled Vesh’s presence is known only as a legend of a for-
to a halt, and a few of his once-devoted worshipers eign land, her name is most often invoked by youths
hung up their cloaks in disappointment. Something who want to impress their peers.
happened on Rumblecusp that shook the faith But who can say what would happen if an attrac-
of dozens of Traveler-worshipers. Some did not tive and foolish mortal called too fervently or too
return at all. frequently to the Bloody Siren? Perhaps she would
But amazingly, even though the divine narrative appear, baring her subtly radiant gray skin, stroking
of the Traveler has been abandoned by all, the her flowing violet hair, and gazing invitingly at the
fool with her blank white eyes.
Factions and Societies

While the dominant cultures of the continent have
molded structure and law from the rough clay left
beyond the Divergence, these very cultures are
comprised of a number of smaller factions that
together create the whole. Whether they be a union
of opportunists, ever-vigilant to reap the benefits of
an exploitable populace, or bands of like-minded pol-
iticians, striving to maintain control in a land beset
by chaos and danger, each faction seeks to drive
and manipulate the social and political direction
of Tal’Dorei. The alliances and tensions that can
arise between the following societies can guide your
adventurers’ destiny across the spectrum of heroism
and villainy.
Tal’Dorei Council
When the new reign of Tal’Dorei was established
three centuries ago, Zan Tal’Dorei deposed a brutal
tyrant. Though she was beloved by the people, she
did not wish to be given unchecked or uncounseled

rule over the realm. Nevertheless, her inner circle In the generation since the fall of Emon, the
obeyed the will of the people and crowned her council has risen to the challenge of rebuilding and
Sovereign of Tal’Dorei. She took to her new role governing their new republic. This state’s power is
well and swiftly expanded her council by appointing highly decentralized; each individual city-state in
some of her trusted allies—and even some dissenting Tal’Dorei largely acts according to its own interests,
voices—to form an assembly of scholars, generals, with the council in place to ensure that pursuing
and philosophers to govern at her side. This Council those interests benefits the common good. Some
of Tal’Dorei worked alongside their sovereign to critics of the republic say that the Tal’Dorei Council
rebuild the realm following the end of Drassig’s line, is little more than a glorified city council for Emon,
and were instrumental in the following prosperity of though it is just as often praised for governing lightly
the nascent Tal’Dorei Empire. as a rule, and for using the spy network helmed by
Twenty-six years ago, Sovereign Uriel Tal’Dorei the council’s Master of Law to root out corruption
II, the latest and last of the Tal’Dorei line, publicly as needed.
ended the monarchy and passed power over to the In addition to the historical Six Masters whose
council, formally divesting his line of power. Tragi- positions have existed on the Tal’Dorei Council
cally, this ceremony was interrupted by the arrival of since Zan’s time, a variable number of delegates
the four ancient dragons known as the Chroma Con- also cast votes in matters of state. Each settlement
clave. The dragons destroyed the city of Emon, and in Tal’Dorei whose population numbers at least five
the man who had until moments ago been sovereign thousand is offered the option to elect delegates to
was one of the first casualties. Uriel Tal’Dorei is sur- the council if they wish to engage in national politics.
vived by his wife Salda, and three children—Odessa, The settlement is permitted one delegate per five
Illiya, and Gren—who have used their family's still thousand people, and the means of their election is
considerable wealth and power to become well- left to the settlement’s local government. Addition-
known public figures in Emon. Odessa herself won a ally, any settlement with a population of over twenty
seat on the council in a landslide victory. thousand can appoint an ambassador to Emon; these
ambassadors also sit on the council and have voting

power. Once in Emon, each township’s delegation Master: the Master of War, who is appointed to the
is expected to negotiate with one another and find council by a vote of all sitting masters, ambassadors,
agreement. If an accord can’t be reached, they must and delegates. The council members are responsible
go through the slow process of drafting proposals to for these domains throughout the city of Emon and
be voted on by seated members of the council. work closely with community leaders in other cities
Though Kraghammer and Syngorn remain sover- to maintain order.
eign city-states, the invasion of the Chroma Conclave The Master of Development works with the
convinced lawmakers that even tighter alliances masonry and carpentry guilds to oversee all
between the peoples of Tal’Dorei were necessary. major infrastructure projects within Emon, as
One ambassador each from both Kraghammer and well as allocating resources to projects needed in
Syngorn now also holds a seat with voting power on settlements that have a delegation in the council.
the council. Each city-state has likewise sent a dele- In the past two decades, the current Master of
gation to Emon to vouch for their interests. Development has added an unprecedented eight
Lieutenant Masters of Development to his staff to
Goals serve the reconstruction needs of each city in the
Following Zan Tal’Dorei’s coronation, the Tal’Dorei republic.
Council existed to aid and inform the sovereign on The Master of Arcana keeps vigil over the lawful
how best to execute their duties. The council has use of magics within Tal’Dorei, informs the
evolved to manage the affairs of the city of Emon and council on matters beyond the mundane, and
provide a private forum for delegates from across the occasionally works with the Alabaster Lyceum’s
land to shape the future of Tal’Dorei. The council is Headmaster. This councilmember is currently
made up of six masters, whose roles have existed embroiled in debates over the danger that the
since the time of Zan Tal’Dorei, and a variable num- League of Miracles poses to organizations like the
ber of ambassadors from all city-states across the Arcana Pansophical.
continent who wish to participate in the coalition of The Master of Law enforces all of Tal’Dorei’s
power that is the Republic of Tal’Dorei. written laws from within the Watchful Hall, and
The Six Masters are elected by a popular vote serves as high judge on legal matters that affect
of all city-states who have sent an ambassador to the fate of the entire republic. All lesser courts
the council. These masters are each beholden to a answer to their authority.
domain of responsibility, and they either inherit the The Master of Commerce works with all major mer-
existing infrastructure of civil servants, or restruc- chant guilds and trading networks within Emon
ture with the approval of the rest of the council. The and beyond. They are to maintain healthy trade at
domains are divided as such: Development, Arcana, home and abroad, especially between squab-
Law, Commerce, Information, and Defense. Addition- bling delegates, and establish the government’s
ally, the first business of the council upon delivering annual budget.
or receiving a declaration of war is to elect a Seventh The Master of Information manages foreign diplo-
macy, and also serves as the head of a network
of spies that, these days, is supplemented by the
skilled eyes of the Clasp. Their work as spymaster
and chief diplomat seeks to root out threats to the
republic from within and without.
The Master of Defense is head of the Emon Guard,
High Commander of Fort Daxio, and manages
the allocation of federal resources to city guard
groups throughout Tal’Dorei. They work closely
with the Master of Law to mobilize armed troops
throughout the country if supernatural or nonmili-
tary threats arise during peacetime.
The Master of War is a temporary position only
instated during times of open or impending war-
fare. As Tal’Dorei has only a small standing army,
this newly appointed master then assembles a mil-
itary from city guards and town militias across the
nation, mobilizing the elite warriors of Fort Daxio
as needed. When peace is declared, the position is
dissolved until it is called for again.
Heraldry of the Tal’Dorei Council

Relationships city of Ank’Harel has been friendly and open when
it comes to trade and commerce, but has shown no
The council maintains free travel, free trade, and free
interest in any political relationships beyond that.
communication between its constituent settlements,
and between the republic and its allies—both on Figures of Interest
Tal’Dorei and abroad. The incursion of the Chroma
These figures are major members of the Tal’Dorei
Conclave has united the oft-feuding city-states of
Council that you can use as NPCs in your game. You
Syngorn and Kraghammer like never before, and all
should also take inspiration from these figures to
of Tal’Dorei now enjoys free trade and open borders
make up new NPCs for your own campaign.
between even its most remote enclaves. Thanks to
the actions of Vox Machina, the previously solitary Guardian Tofor Brotoras
city-state of Whitestone has joined the republic, to Dragonblood Master of Defense
the benefit of both.
The Clasp was once considered a serious threat Stern, honorable, and quick to anger, Tofor is proud
to the council’s rule, but times have changed. These to serve on the council. After losing many friends
days, Clasp Spirelings in Emon frequently make (and one of her own arms) in the struggles against
public appearances before the council on behalf of the Chroma Conclave, she took the vulnerability
their own organization and their often unscrupu- of the city to heart, swearing never to allow such a
lous business partners. This is to say nothing of the thing to happen again. She is a beloved hero of the
Clasp’s deep involvement in the Master of Informa- war against the Chroma Conclave and has served on
tion’s spy ring. the council since before the death of the Last Sover-
The Tal’Dorei Council has comfortable trade eign. Most folk in Emon suspect she’ll win reelection
and diplomatic agreements between the realm of until the day she dies.
Othanzia in Issylra and the loosely federated cities Seeker Odessa Tal’Dorei
of the Clovis Concord in Wildemount. The recent Human Master of Information
conclusion of a bloody war between the Dwendalian
Empire and the Kryn Dynasty in Wildemount has When the eldest daughter of the Last Sovereign
given the Tal’Dorei Council cause to send ambassa- campaigned for the Master of Information’s seat, its
dors to both nations to establish embassies, in hopes current holder was Seeker Assum Emring, a loyal
of creating an historic arrangement with all of the servant of her father’s. He bowed out of the race, and
sovereign nations of that oft-maligned continent. On his blithe quote made headlines in Emon: “I taught
the continent of Marquet to the southwest, the great her everything she knows.” She won in a landslide.
Odessa wields the dual blades of Assum’s spy net-
work and the mercenary agents of the Clasp with
practiced finesse. Nevertheless, her name and the
legacy of her father's martyrdom weigh heavily upon
her. As Seeker, Odessa is calm, methodical, and
laconic, but she carries a dignified sorrow.
Arcanist Allura Vysoren

Human Master of Arcana
Allura Vysoren has held the position of Master of
Arcana since before the Chroma Conclave’s attack,
and is held in the esteem of Tal’Dorei’s people—
mages and common folk alike. As a member of the
Arcana Pansophical, she is also increasingly worried
Arcanist as more and more of Tal’Dorei’s politicians fall in
debt to the League of Miracles. After decades of
Allura Vysoren investigating supernatural abnormalities herself,
age has finally forced her to limit her adventuresome
excursions. She now is one of the council’s foremost
employers of adventurers.
Arbiter Brom Goldhand

Human Master of Law
A stone-faced, gray-haired, flame-scarred cleric of the
Knowing Mentor, Brom is as mysterious as he is pro-
ficient with law. One thing is clear: he is dedicated to

keeping the realm just and orderly, and there are few Ambassador Keyleth of the Ashari
who would dare challenge his judgement. Half-elf ambassador from Zephrah
Hearthmaker Edelbern Cleareyes A legendary archdruid and member of Vox Machina,
Goliath Master of Development Keyleth is both leader of the Air Ashari and ambas-
sador for all Tal’Dorei’s Ashari peoples. She despises
As a goliath of the Rivermaw nomads, no one
politics, and is focused entirely on improving the
expected Edelbern to have an interest in civic archi-
wellbeing of as many people as possible—as well
tecture. Yet, after growing up in Westruun while it
as involving the Ashari on the national stage. She
was occupied by the Herd of Storms some twenty
spends most of her time in Zephrah, with her
years ago, he found that he preferred the beauty of
people—including her father, Korrin, and her newly
stone towers to towering pines. He also possessed
returned mother, Vilya—but she can and will arrive
a remarkable gift of mathematical acuity, and used
in Emon at the drop of a hat, if Vex asks it of her.
his skills to set Westruun—and eventually all of
Tal’Dorei—on the path of reconstruction. Edelbern is Delegate Kel’jaia Uloeh
also idealistic to a fault, and has, in his dedication to Gnome delegate from Syngorn
restoration, been manipulated into handing numer-
Kel’jaia is a confident gnome with incredible strength
ous lucrative contracts to the League of Miracles,
and resilience—both physical and emotional. She
allowing them to amass greater and greater power.
is thought by all to be the council’s first choice for
Coinmistress Vex’ahlia de Rolo Master of War, should the time ever call for it. She
Half-elf Master of Commerce was born in the Rifenmist Jungle and grew up amidst
mercenaries who fought against the Iron Author-
As a member of Vox Machina and hero of the realm,
ity. After her commander was killed in battle, she
Vex’ahlia could help Tal’Dorei in any number of
traveled north to Syngorn to seek aid in her fight.
ways. She already held a ceremonial title in Whites-
She dreams of forging bonds of unity between her
tone as Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt. Yet when
homeland and Tal’Dorei.
she and her husband pushed for Whitestone to be
formally recognized as a constituent city of the
Republic of Tal’Dorei, all who knew her name (and Arcana Pansophical
her legendary financial savvy) clamored for her to be All of Tal’Dorei’s greatest mages fought at the Battle
elected to the council as Coinmistress. She took to of the Umbra Hills. They saw the incursion of
the duty with aplomb, and fights hard to ensure that demons and devils firsthand, and were rightly
Emon never gets the bad end of a deal when gold terrified that the spawn of the Betrayer Gods could
is involved. ever return to the world. It was clear that the
Divergence had not wholly prevented supernatural
Ambassador Syldor Vessar evil from infringing upon the world, and that the
Elf ambassador from Syngorn mages of Exandria must prevent future “surprises”
Vex’ahlia’s elven father has served as his city’s of this nature. The mistakes of the Age of Arcanum
ambassador to Emon for well over a century, and
requested to be appointed a seated ambassador as
soon as the office was created. Though he is other-
wise a staunch traditionalist, Syldor was inspired
by his brave children to move past his old racial
prejudices and drive his homeland to be less bigoted
and xenophobic—learning from his own mistakes as
a father to two half-elven children. His relationship
with his elder daughter is still strained, and it is a
newsworthy occasion when they vote in accord.
Ambassador Deirdrik Greyspine

Dwarf ambassador from Kraghammer
The youngest son of the ruling House Greyspine
of Kraghammer, Deirdrik has little hope of being
elected Ironkeeper. Instead, this ambitious young
dwarf—a scant seventy years old—left his home to
win political renown in the national arena. He is a
romantic idealist at heart and always votes for bold
new policies, but doesn’t always think through the
consequences of his actions. Crest of the Arcana Pansophical

must never be repeated. In light of this, Yurek Relationships
Windkeeper, high enchanter of Syngorn and a The Arcana Pansophical is respected, if some-
well-respected arcanist, reached out to the realm’s what feared, throughout the Republic of Tal’Dorei.
most trusted and capable mages, and together they Syngorn and other elf-founded settlements see the
formed a private society called the Arcana Pansophical as allies, as the roots of the society
Pansophical. began within Syngorn itself. The people of Kragham-
mer are suspicious of the Pansophical’s legalistic
Goals Truth of Magic, and they fear that its members
The chief priority of this fellowship of powerful hold more loyalty to the Pansophical than to their
arcane specialists is to maintain the Truth of Magic, homeland.
a strict code enacted to never again allow the ram- Recently, a group of profit-driven arcanists
pant misuse of magic seen in the Age of Arcanum. splintered from the Arcana Pansophical to form the
General members are referred to as Guides, while self-styled League of Miracles. Their involvement in
the higher circle of members who deal in judgment the for-profit reconstruction of Tal’Dorei has made
and oversight are called Makers. At least one mem- them popular among mages who see the Pansophi-
ber is established at each place of arcane learning. cal as a stodgy, elitist institution. The Pansophical,
Membership is largely kept secret unless out however, sees the League of Miracles as a distasteful
of necessity, though the existence of the order is upstart that will soon buckle under its own ambition.
relatively common knowledge. Anyone found to be
practicing magic is logged and routinely checked up Figures of Interest
on, as misuse of magic is grounds for arrest, judg- These figures are major members of the Arcana
ment by the Makers, and punishment outside of the Pansophical that you can use as NPCs in your game.
local law. Even so, the reach and sight of the Arcana You should also take inspiration from these figures
Pansophical are not without limits, and many dark to make up your own NPCs.
and terrible dealings manage to escape their notice.
Enchanter Yurek Windkeeper
The Truth of Magic Elf wizard (enchanter) and Maker
The Pansophical’s myriad rules on the use and mis- Founder of the Arcana Pansophical, the ancient
use of magic are innumerable — detailed at length archmage Yurek generally stays within Syngorn,
in centuries of amendments made to the full text of acting as the nexus of the order and a consultant to
the Truth of Magic. Though the Truth’s bizarre intri- the Wardens of Syngorn.
cacies are left up to the GM, the Truth’s preamble
establishes three unbreakable edicts: Alchemist Oz Gruude
“In the Eternal interest of the Preservation of Har-
Halfling alchemist and Maker
mony within the realm of Exandria, we the Arcana Gruude is an ornery old halfling who is more
Pansophical establish the Truth of Magic, and three interested in traveling the world to study plants and
Edicts from which none shall stray. Those Arcanists minerals with latent magical properties than doing
found in gross violation of the Truth will be pun- alchemical lab work. He is rarely seen in the halls of
ished by the full extent of this Order—outside of the Pansophical.
any local law.
Though the school of Necromancy shall be Seer Gloria Ios
restricted to none, in the interest of magical study Human wizard (diviner) and Maker
and Understanding, the animation of the dead is a Gloria is one of the great diviners of the age, and her
Violation of the Truth. duties have sent her to Vasselheim, where she acts as
The Arcane is a tool to be wielded for the good a foreign outreach for the Pansophical.
of the People. To use its Power in the pursuit of
wanton Destruction or unjust Murder is a Violation Magus Seanor Wiles
of the Truth. Human wizard (enchanter), Maker, and tutor
In addition, though the Jurisdiction of the Pan-
sophical supersedes the power of local laws, a
A humble-looking traveler, Wiles delights in finding
mage who willfully breaks the laws of the land is in fresh and emerging talent and helping his new stu-
Violation of the Truth.” dents refine their arcane gifts.
Planerider Ryn
Tiefling wizard (conjurer), Maker, and planar studies
specialist
This former pupil of Yurek Windseeker has grown
into a master of planar travel. She likewise has

taken an interest in the flow of magic across the and form four separate orders to seal and watch over
world by means of ley lines. She’s constantly on the the sources of these unleashed energies. Most of
move, traveling from plane to plane to conduct her the lesser rifts that opened in that time have been
research. healed, but one rift to each of the four Elemental
Planes remains in Exandria. The four orders of the
Tinkerer Quash Dentdruggle Ashari settled near these rifts, watching over them
Gnome construct specialist and Guide and soothing them when they grow volatile. Of these
Obsessed with the development of autonomous and orders, two are in Tal’Dorei, where they watch over
living arcane constructs, Quash is usually holed up the rift of earth and the rift of air. A dozen gener-
in his laboratory within Kraghammer. ations later, the Ashari still hold watch over these
tumultuous locations.
Arcanist Allura Vysoren
Human wizard (abjurer) and Guide Ashari Culture
As a member of the Tal’Dorei Council and a retired Though the Ashari began as a single group of
adventurer, Allura has helped maintain the political elementalists, their individual orders have each
significance of the Arcana Pansophical within Emon. developed their own ways of living over the
Even among her colleagues in the Pansophical, her centuries.
unpretentious strength commands great respect. The people of Pyrah value reactivity and coolness
under pressure, for panic is death during an erup-
Elementalist Drake Thunderbrand tion. The Ashari of Vesrah have a close relationship
Dwarf wizard (evoker) and Guide with the marine life that surrounds their rift, and
Driven to bind the physical elements of the chaotic their actions always prioritize the health of Exan-
planes to his will, Drake is a prodigy of new incanta- dria’s waters. Zephrah’s culture values the freedom
tions in the field. He and Allura Vysoren are lifelong of the open sky, and balances their sense of duty with
friends, and together they’re renowned for achieving a free-spirited sense of play. Finally, the society of
the impossible. Terrah is rooted in planning for the future, and fixing
what is broken with patience and humility.
Realmseer Eskil Ryndarien
Human archmage and Maker emeritus Goals
Though he was a Maker for most of his life, Realm- Each Ashari order guards their respective rift
seer Ryndarien grew frustrated with the politics and between one of the elemental planes and Exandria.
limitations of the Pansophical, eventually retiring to Here, they strive to understand, master, and ulti-
Westruun to pursue his own interests. These days, mately subdue the ever-escaping elemental forces.
he has found a way to rejuvenate his aged body and They attempt to bring balance to the surrounding
is now renowned as a handsome and aloof man lands and heal the rift over time, though recurring
about town—much to the annoyance of all who for- cosmic events tend to reopen these wounds.
merly knew him. The Ashari of Pyrah oversee the Fire Elemental
Rift in the valley caldera of the Sunderpeak Mountain
The Ashari range in Othanzia, upon the continent of Issylra. The
Ashari of Vesrah watch over the Water Elemental
The Material Plane is surrounded on all sides by
the churning chaos of the elements. This elemen-
tal power is invisible to most, but in some places,
the veil between this world and the Elemental
Planes grows thin—and sometimes is torn entirely
asunder. These places where the Elemental Planes
bleed into the world are called rifts, and they first
appeared on a long-ago Celestial Solstice when the
planes aligned. That day, elemental rifts of untold
proportions burst open across Exandria. Wildfires, Symbol of
tsunamis, hurricanes, and earthquakes ravaged the Ashari
the lands, and the people of the world struggled to
combat the elemental beings that poured forth from
the rifts. The tide of rampaging elementals was
eventually stemmed, but the world was gripped by
fear—what would happen on the next solstice?
In the wake of the planar disturbance, a society of
druids called the Ashari made a covenant to divide

Rift on the Islands of Anamn, within the Ozmit Sea. Figures of Interest
On the southwest edge of the Cliffkeep Mountains, These figures are major members of the Ashari that
the Ashari of Terrah stand vigilant over the Earth Ele- you can use as NPCs in your game. You should also
mental Rift, while high atop the windy mountaintops take inspiration from these figures to make up new
of the Summit Peaks, the Ashari of Zephrah keep NPCs for your own campaign.
the Air Elemental Rift. The Air Ashari also watch over
the Frostweald, where a being of elemental ice once Pa’tice, Heart of the Mountain
broke through to cause untold destruction. Human leader of Terrah
Due to their isolation, the Ashari go to great
Elderly leader of the Earth Ashari, Pa’tice still
lengths to maintain contact with their kin. Each
shows vigor and strength to resist his age, having
order is led by a single elemental master, a title that
led his people through many very tough challenges.
is passed on by blood or honor for generations. In
His stubbornness is legendary, and it's said even
every new generation that comes of age, the young
death has been forced to wait until Pa’tice sees it his
leader-to-be must embark upon an Aramente. This
proper time. Many believe that his druidic training
“noble odyssey” sends them across the world to meet
will keep him alive until he himself chooses to let go
with the other Ashari leaders and train until they
of this mortal coil.
have earned both the respect and an understanding
of their hosts. Korrin of Zephrah
Upon returning, they ascend to the head of their Half-elf elder of Zephrah
order, while the elder retires. This journey often
His wife Vilya was lost while she undertook the
takes years, and should one such Ashari not return
Aramente, and when the previous Voice of the Tem-
within a reasonable period of time, a next-of-kin
pest died of illness, Korrin was called upon to act
or a suitable elemental adept is chosen to take up
as Voice until his daughter Keyleth came of age and
the Aramente.
completed her Aramente. Korrin was shocked when
Relationships Vilya suddenly returned, and now spends his days in
disbelieving bliss, reunited with his long-lost wife. He
The Ashari maintain peaceful, if sometimes strained,
is gentle with those who show honor, and merciless
relationships between the orders, though inner
to those who threaten his people.
conflict occasionally arises within them. Beyond
this, much of life within the Ashari is hidden from Vilya, Who Escaped Death
outsiders’ prying eyes. In recent years, however, Half-elf elder of Zephrah
Keyleth of the Zephrah has taken steps to unite the
Vilya disappeared on her Aramente nearly thirty
Ashari with the rest of the people of Tal’Dorei. She
years ago, and was presumed dead. Her daughter,
has gone so far as to become an ambassador for the
Keyleth, took up her own Aramente ten years after
Ashari people on the Tal’Dorei Council. Part of this
Vilya left, and discovered from the Water Ashari of
work has been expanding the crisis orbs system,
Vesrah that Vilya was killed by a kraken, and only
which the Ashari used to contact their distant kin in
her leg was able to be recovered. Less than a year
times of peril, to connect cities across Tal’Dorei in
ago, Vilya suddenly strode out of a tree in Zeph-
the event of another crisis on the level of the Chroma
rah, her leg replaced with a druidic prosthetic of
Conclave.
her own creation, shocking all—though none were
The Ashari of Terrah nurture a seed of disre-
more overwhelmed with emotion than her daughter
spect and mistrust for Kraghammer, whose miners
and husband. Though Vilya never earned the title
constantly disregard their warnings against reckless
of Voice of the Tempest, she now aids her daughter
mining. This arrogance caused countless deaths in
in leading her people without the faintest trace of
the most recent eruption of the Terrah Rift—and led
jealousy.
to the collapse of an entire mountain.
Each Ashari culture has its own favored deities. Keyleth, Voice of the Tempest
Many Ashari of Pyrah venerate the Dawnfather, Half-elf leader of Zephrah
for his flames give life to Exandria. Many in Vesrah
worship the Moonweaver, for her work controls the Hero of Tal’Dorei and member of Vox Machina,
tides. In Zephrah, the faith of the Wildmother is Keyleth completed her Aramente and took leadership
predominant, for her freedom is like that of the wind. among her people following the destruction of the
And the people of Terrah hold the All-Hammer in Chroma Conclave. She seems to have not aged a
great respect for his association with creation and day since Vox Machina’s victory over the Whispered
the earth. There are many Ashari, as well, who pre- One. Since her beloved’s death, she has kept busy to
fer to revere the elements themselves, forgoing the fill the void in her heart. From expanding the crisis
worship of gods. orb network across the realm and building beautiful
windmills in the Summit Peaks with Percy’s aid to

training Air Ashari heroes at home, she has never Relationships
allowed herself a free moment. She has rarely left The Brawler’s League is extremely illegal in all
Zephrah in the months since her mother’s emo- major cities across Tal’Dorei. Should lawkeepers of
tional return. any nation discover the location of the semiannual
event, the venue would find itself swiftly strangled by
Brawler’s League the long arm of the law. As such, magical protections
The brutal blood sports of the Brawler’s League and sentinels are placed throughout the event to pre-
began, unsurprisingly, during the vicious Drassig vent any unapproved entry, or to wipe the memory of
Dynasty. In that cruel era, many of Emon’s affluent those that do infiltrate.
and indolent social elite used their wealth to engage A common rumor states that numerous political
in entertainment of a more “visceral” variety. The figures who publicly decry the event secretly partake
kingdom’s poor were already fighting each other for in the gambling, and that the location of the event is
scraps; why not pay them to literally fight to the death concealed not only by magic, but also impenetrable
for their amusement? layers of bureaucracy. Kraghammer has hosted the
Some strong, charismatic ruffians used this oppor- event a number of times, with most local guards and
tunity to gain social power for themselves, and chief great houses turning a blind eye.
among them was a rough-and-tumble entrepreneur The Brawler’s League frequently hires local
from Kraghammer named Bruel Sunderchin. Reach- Clasp agents (or Myriad operatives, in a pinch) to
ing out to his network of lowlifes and cutthroats, spread word of their next event through the criminal
Sunderchin became ringleader of an annual gladia- underground. If all goes well, they get hired at the
torial tournament that caters expressly to Exandria’s event itself to provide protection, run interference,
wealthiest elite. and make money on the side by providing loans and
Those who have become invested members of the taking bets.
league’s events are anonymously delivered a golden
coin bearing their symbol in the weeks leading up Figures of Interest
to an event. These coins are required for entry into These figures are major members of the Brawler’s
the events, and those who wish to join, whether as a League that you can use as NPCs in your game. You
patron or participant, require a coin of their own. should also take inspiration from these figures to
Goals
The Brawler’s League is always in search of hidden Oben “Broadstaff” Sunderchin
and well-guarded locations around Tal’Dorei (and Dwarf organizer and head of Brawler’s League
sometimes other realms) to establish their semi- Descendant of Bruel and inheritor of the league’s top
annual event. A combatant or team is required to position, Oben secretly goes by the name Broadstaff
have a known and cleared sponsor or manager to and doesn’t directly appear at events, as he avoids
enter the event. There are two tiers of bouts; one public connection with the league.
tier has teams of six battling via single elimination
until a victor is declared. The other features single Kradin Grimthorne
combatants fighting one-on-one, single-elimination, Dwarf fight manager
until a victor is declared. Killing your opponents isn’t A previously disgraced dwarf, exiled from Kragham-
encouraged, but isn’t explicitly discouraged, either. mer for murder, Grimthorne is the foremost brawler
Bets are placed in person at the event, or remotely talent scout in Tal’Dorei.
(via arcane messages and sending stones) from all
around Exandria. Chamber of Whitestone
Generations ago, a team of intrepid explorers
and fortune-seekers sailed from Port Damali in
Wildemount to northeastern Tal’Dorei through the
Shearing Channel, but wrecked upon the Alabaster
Sierras’ rocky cliffs. The expedition was led by the
de Rolo family, and these brave humans led the sur-
vivors to safety after the wreck. They took refuge in
a valley within the Alabaster Sierras, and there they
discovered the holy Sun Tree, a radiant tree blessed
by the Dawnfather. A community grew around the
Sun Tree, and the respected and beloved de Rolos
Crest of the were asked by their shipwrecked allies to be the
Brawler's League

leaders of this new settlement. Pressed against The Guardian of Woven Stone is the title given to
the chalky cliffs of the Alabaster Sierras, their new the central figure on the council, responsible for
homeland was dubbed Whitestone. higher civil justice, community unification, and
The sovereign city-state of Whitestone enjoyed oversight of internal government.
peace for many generations, secluded from the rest The Steward of Sunblessed Gifts is responsible for
of Tal’Dorei and Wildemount. This serenity was local farming and goods, overseeing distribution
destroyed when Lord Sylas and Lady Delilah Bri- between citizens and exportation.
arwood arrived in Whitestone and murdered most The Curator of Fortune’s Bounty is responsible for
of the de Rolo family. Lady Delilah, a necromancer all major commerce and economic business, both
of the Whispered One and a disgraced member of locally and with allied and foreign entities.
the Cerberus Assembly in Wildemount, and her The Keeper of Divine Virtue is responsible for
husband, a power-hungry vampire, transformed the religious organization and spiritual guidance
quiet city-state into a realm of death. They attempted regarding multiple faiths within the region, both
to take control of all of Tal’Dorei by puppeteering the as a religious leader and a protector of practices.
Last Sovereign, Uriel Tal’Dorei II, but were thwarted The Commissioner of Wardship is responsible for
by Vox Machina. the enforcement of local law, the organization of
Thirty years after Whitestone’s fall, the Briar- the Paleguard, acting as judge on smaller matters
woods and their sepulchral master are defeated, and of civil justice, and defense of the city during
Whitestone has returned to the blessed peace of its times of war.
past. Nevertheless, much has changed. The surviving The Architect of Enlightened Progress is responsi-
de Rolo siblings, Percival and Cassandra, reclaimed ble for the construction and infrastructure of the
the city with the aid of Vox Machina. With the tyrants city and castle.
dethroned, Percival established a council titled The Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt is respon-
the Chamber of Whitestone to rule in his frequent sible for diplomatic relations and for rooting out
absence, and the city now sends a delegation to the dangers beyond the city’s walls.
Tal’Dorei Council to help safeguard the republic
against evil. Relationships
Despite its benefits, Whitestone’s previous solitary
Goals existence left it without allies in its time of need. The
Under the watch of Lady Cassandra de Rolo, the Chamber of Whitestone has sent a delegation to the
chamber handles and surveys all aspects of political Tal’Dorei Council for the betterment of both. These
life in Whitestone. Its members are appointed by the days, trade caravans are a common sight along the
head of the chamber, who is likely to be a scion of the Silvercut Roadway, transporting goods from Whites-
de Rolo family for generations to come. The head can tone to Westruun, Kymal, and ultimately Emon. The
also add or remove members from the council. This most expensive goods travel via skyships, which land
system is new and untested by a ruler less noble than at Whitestone’s brand-new skyport.
Percival or Cassandra. In many ways, this system
of government is another one of Percy’s tinkering Figures of Interest
projects. These figures are major members of the Chamber of
Members of the Chamber are granted distinct Whitestone that you can use as NPCs in your game.
areas of responsibility to the realm. You should also take inspiration from these figures
to make up new NPCs for your own campaign.
Lady Cassandra Johanna de Rolo,

Guardian of Woven Stone
Human head of the Chamber of Whitestone
Cassandra is Percival’s younger sister, thought
dead until he discovered her in the thrall of the
Briarwoods. She now manages Whitestone’s most
pressing matters, with daily briefings from other
members of the chamber. She is beloved throughout
the city for her resilience and her decisive leadership.
Heraldry of the Chamber of Whitestone

Lord Percival Fredrickstein von As blood flows through and invigorates the body,
Musel Klossowski de Rolo III, so faith flows through and invigorates the soul.
Architect of Enlightened Progress Ever remember this: your blood and your faith are
Human member of the Chamber of Whitestone one and the same. Spill not your blood nor that of
Percival is Cassandra’s older brother, thought dead another heedlessly, but do not hesitate to spill either
until Vox Machina discovered him in a prison cell. when the cause is just.
His life was filled with countless joys and regrets. He —From The Crimson Canon,
has taken well to retirement from adventuring, and is
a holy text of the Claret Orders
renowned across Tal’Dorei for his creations.
Lady Vex’ahlia de Rolo, Baroness of
the Third House of Whitestone and Despite the Claret Orders’ best attempts at
Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt secrecy, the esoteric art of blood magic has escaped
Half-Elf Member of the Chamber of Whitestone their clutches. Though rare, rogue blood mages and
Vex’ahlia is the Grand Mistress of the Grey Hunt, a blood hunters have spread across both Wildemount
title she has held since before she married Percival. and Tal’Dorei, unbound by the tenets and strictures
Over the past twenty-four years, she has become a of the Claret Orders.
talented and respected leader of the Grey Hunters.
And though the hunters use guns inspired by her
Goals
husband’s own designs, she still prefers to wield her The Creed of the Claret Orders asks that its follow-
trusty bow. ers commit their lives to the hunt of entities and
creatures that threaten the sanctity of life and joy.
Grog Strongjaw, Grand Poobah de While the sacrifice is great, the reward is the contin-
Doink, In Charge of All This-and-That ued existence of purity and good in the world. The
Goliath friend Orders strive to protect those who cannot protect
themselves from the shadows, taking no credit for
The noble, if simple, warrior of Vox Machina, no one
their services beyond the means to live and travel.
really knows if Grog’s title is a real title at all, or if
Some have strayed, focusing on building a fortune
Percy was just joking when he gave it to him. Grog
for themselves, but should word of such intent make
likes it, and that’s good enough for most people.
it back to the heads of the Orders, and their actions
begin to threaten the innocents they’ve sworn to pro-
Claret Orders tect, they may find themselves among the hunted.
Hundreds of years ago, a fell power exerted its
dark will over Wildemount, corrupting its outlying Relationships
townships and spreading chaos among its people. The Claret Orders have no alliance with nor alle-
Undeath washed over gravesites like a plague, giance to any standing government or group. Solitary
shadowed beasts stalked the midnight woods, and in action and discreet in display, they’ve not drawn
the influence of fiends befouled even Wildemount’s the attention of many factions in Tal’Dorei as of yet.
purest souls. However, it is only a matter of time before curious
In the eleventh hour, a priest of the Matron of eyes begin to seek answers to questions about these
Ravens named Trence Orman prayed for a way to dark guardians and their true nature.
protect his flock. The Matron’s inspiration came in
the form of long-hidden knowledge: the secrets to
blood magic. Taking his gifts, Trence trained his
most trusted warriors in these techniques, giving a
portion of their humanity in exchange for the power
to defend their people. This marked the origin of
the Claret Orders, and the first Blood Clerics, Blood
Mages, and Blood Hunters.
The Claret Orders work in relative secrecy, as the
nature of their abilities is largely misunderstood,
which often leads to persecution. Their numbers
are small, as the price is great and the Orders only
accept those who are strong of heart and have little
to lose. Small sects of the Orders have begun work
far enough West to wander the lands of Tal’Dorei
in recent years, keeping out of the public eye and
Symbol of the
remaining vigilant to the signs of familiar darkness Claret Orders
undermining the region.

Figures of Interest in Westruun, Stilben, and Kymal. Members are
branded with the guild’s symbol on their mid-back,
These figures are major members of the Claret
signifying allegiance and commitment. The Clasp
Orders that you can use as NPCs in your game. You
operates like a business-minded family or mafia,
should also take inspiration from these figures to
celebrating loyalty and an ability to keep one’s word.
A member pays their debts, keeps their promises,
Claret Director Alasterre de Vitrevos and always seeks opportunity for the betterment of
Human Blood Domain cleric of Ravens the Clasp.
Leaders of a Clasp sect bear the title of Spireling,
Calm and sanguine to a fault, Alasterre de Vitrevos
and they oversee assigned elements of the organiza-
is the youngest-ever director of Tal’Dorei’s Claret
tion’s functions. Spirelings hold equal power within
Order. He sees his position as one he deserves
a sect, and there is always an odd number acting
without question, and is willing to use his command
within that location to break any disagreements over
more boldly than his mentor, director emeritus
business ventures and actions.
Teresa Dulamar. He is frequently seen in the field,
working with various adventuring parties and his Goals
own blood hunters to wipe out monsters wher-
While most common folk assume that the Clasp is
ever they emerge. The combination of his relaxed
merely interested in profit at any cost (and that is a
personality and his aggressive strategy may seem a
merit of the Clasp), they also wish to preserve the
contradiction at first glance, but those who know him
function and prosperity of civilization. It is com-
see the truth of the immense self-assurance that lets
monly held that a thriving city is a profitable one, and
him make hard decisions without hesitation. This
an enemy of civilization is a foe of the Clasp. They
quality is a strength when coolheaded leadership
largely consider themselves a necessary dark under-
is needed in the thick of battle, but it can make him
belly, willing to do the under-the-table deeds that
challenging to work with as an equal.
more wealthy and powerful citizens cannot commit
Director Emeritus Teresa Dulamar with their own hands. On the other hand, less scru-
Dwarf Blood Domain cleric of Ravens pulous Spirelings also understand that discontent
breeds profit, and have occasionally kindled the
The former head of Tal’Dorei’s Claret Orders retired
flames of unrest to keep things tense and profitable.
ten years ago after suffering a traumatic death in
Were it not for the branch of the Clasp in Emon,
combat. Her soul accepted resurrection, but she
the Chroma Conclave’s attack would likely have
took her defeat as a sign to let younger, fresher
destroyed the city’s culture entirely. However, thanks
blood take her place. She remains a part of the
to the Clasp’s role as a “shadow civilization,” the
Claret Orders to advise the current director on
people of Emon were able to maintain their foothold
matters he is too young to have experienced himself.
at home, even under the watchful eye of Thordak the
Though she displays a chilly demeanor, she simply
Cinder King.
keeps her compassionate side hidden from the
untrusted riffraff.
Hunter Jorick LaMensh

Human blood hunter
Once among the greatest of all blood hunters, Jorick
is now Director Emeritus Teresa Dulamar’s personal
bodyguard. He is still a capable member of the Order
of the Profane Soul, and urges immediate, decisive
action to destroy demons and devils whenever their
occult activity is discovered.
The Clasp
The Clasp is a well-established secret organization
consisting of spies, thieves, fences, assassins, sabo-
teurs, and smugglers. It was built upon the ruins of
the Winksman Thieves’ Guild, an organization that
flourished during the reign of Drassig, but crum-
bled under the rule of Zan Tal’Dorei. Based largely
in Emon—and under it, via a network of subterra-
nean tunnels—the Clasp also runs smaller outfits
Symbol of the Clasp

Relationships a dangerous game by enjoying folk-hero status
as the public liaison between the Clasp and the
A generation ago, the Clasp was considered by
Tal’Dorei Council.
most to be an uncouth cesspool of cutthroats and
criminals. These days, thousands of people know Spireling Gholesh
the Clasp as the roguish heroes who saved their Human Spireling of Shadows (Westruun)
lives, or the lives of their parents, from the Chroma
Conclave. Nowhere is this truer than in Emon, where A crass and ambitious man, Gholesh's appearance
its Spirelings make public appearances and even, is a mystery as his face is always hidden behind a
on occasion, deal openly with the Tal’Dorei Council. leather mask that resembles an ogre. He has secretly
Nevertheless, Clasp agents outside of Emon keep thrown in his lot with the League of Miracles and,
their wits about them, for most local governments with their backing, he aspires to take over the Clasp
still view them as underhanded scoundrels—and and enjoy all its wealth and prestige.
not without reason. Most guards and town militias Spireling Melchior
will arrest known Clasp members on sight; however, Tiefling Spireling of Blades (Westruun)
most Clasp members know well enough to have a
friend on the force that will help them escape. This clean-faced, curly-haired tiefling with pale blue
The Clasp frowns upon dogmatic religion or skin and stubby horns may have a soft, babyish
cultish behavior, as it has conflicted with the visage, but it belies their powerful physique. They are
organization’s business in the past, and always equally skilled with a sword, axe, or bow, and made
ended messily. their name in underground brawling rings before
Since the arrival of the Myriad within Tal’Dorei joining the Clasp.
from Wildemount, the Clasp has been on extremely Spireling Fetch
high alert, seeking information on them and any
Halfling Spireling of Secrets (Westruun)
means of banishing this new competition. Gang war-
fare has broken out sporadically between the Clasp Creepy and unkempt in appearance, Fetch’s gaunt
and the Myriad in cities from Stilben to Emon over the face only distracts from his cunning and skills of
past twenty years, and though the rival organizations keen manipulation.
are currently at peace, everyone knows the whole
thing is just one poached client away from reigniting. Golden Grin
In dark times, entertainment and good cheer are just
Figures of Interest as vital as resistance. During the despotic rule of
These figures are major members of the Clasp that King Warren Drassig and his sons, a group of bards,
you can use as NPCs in your game. You should also dancers, and storytellers united to subvert his rule
take inspiration from these figures to make up new and inspire the people to rise against him. This band
NPCs for your own campaign. took the name “the Golden Grin” and traveled across
the realm to offer escapism and entertainment, all
Spireling Shenn
while planting the seeds of discontent, rebellion,
Human Spireling of Secrets (Emon)
and heroism.
A powerful illusionist, Shenn runs a far-reaching net- Since the fall of Drassig, the Golden Grin has been
work of spies and informants. In his younger days, ever-present, using song, comedy, and theatrics to
he was a canny negotiator who sought to spread the inspire the people of Tal’Dorei to endure hardship
Clasp beyond Tal’Dorei. The arrival of the Myriad
forced the Clasp onto the defensive, and he will never
forgive them for souring his ambitions.
Spireling Warren
Half-orc Spireling of Blades (Emon)
Deadly duelist turned master assassin of the Clasp,
Warren handles all contracts that involve kidnap-
ping, assassination, and intimidation. He hates
public appearances.
Spireling Zilloa
Half-elf Spireling of Shadows (Emon)
An accomplished burglar, Zilloa has risen to the
head of all thieving, smuggling, and black-mar-
ket dealings within the Clasp of Emon. She plays Crest of the Golden Grin

and fight back against evil. These “Grinners” include
among their ranks spiritual leaders, artists, musi-
Houses of Kraghammer
cians, innkeepers, and dozens of retired adventurers The fortified, subterranean city-state of Kraghammer
who still want to do good outside the public eye. was carved out of the bedrock of the Cliffkeep Moun-
Little is publicly known about the Golden Grin, other tains in the years following the Divergence. It is the
than myths and rumors, and the Grinners gladly ancestral home of the native dwarves of Tal’Dorei,
perpetuate these tall tales. and the five major bloodlines that founded the city in
ages past still rule to this day. The ruling families are
Goals Houses Greyspine, Zuurthom, Bronzegrip, Thunder-
The Golden Grin (or simply “the Grin”) exists to brand, and Glorendar. These Great Houses elect an
enlighten and inspire, keeping ears and eyes out for official to the office of Ironkeeper every ten years to
the murmurs of tyranny and cruelty. The Grin’s core keep the alliances between houses just and healthy.
philosophy is that each and every person is capable Though the culture of Kraghammer is highly
of great things alone, and even greater things traditional and as stoic as the stone it was carved
together. Rather than taking direct action them- from, it is not without unrest. It seems every dwarven
selves, most Grinners use songs and tales of great generation has its own great social movement where
heroes to galvanize people to action. disenfranchised workers or greedy, lesser noble
houses attempt to unseat the ruling five. Yet for good
Relationships or for ill, the Great Houses have time and time again
The Golden Grin claims no formal allies, nor do shown that they can put aside their differences to
members reveal their secret affiliation to outsiders preserve their mutual rulership.
unless circumstances are dire indeed. They use their
covert, grassroots power to empower local freedom Goals
fighters and activists. Some Grinners do occasion- Each ruling house has a specialty and holds
ally find their way into government, granting them a responsibility over that domain within Kragham-
higher vantage point and platform to disseminate the mer. House Greyspine maintains the largest mine
ideals behind their cause—but even these members under Kraghammer, as well as the Pools of Solace.
of the Grin take a dim view of the slowly turning House Zuurthom trains the chief architects of the
gears of bureaucracy. city, and most masonry and building is organized
Enemies of the Golden Grin are those that oppress through them. House Bronzegrip funds the smithing
and abuse freedom of expression and living. The guilds and maintains the Bronzegrip Metalworks,
Grin likewise mistrusts people and institutions that Kraghammer’s largest blast furnace and ore refin-
control or regulate the populace too heavily, even if ery. House Thunderbrand prides itself on training
they seem to have the best of intentions. Kraghammer’s foremost scholars and premiere
arcanists. House Glorendar maintains the law and
Figures of Interest delivers punishment.
These figures are major members of the Golden Grin
that you can use as NPCs in your game. You should Relationships
also take inspiration from these figures to make up Almost every dwarf living in Kraghammer can
new NPCs for your own campaign. remember a time when, “Kraghammer for the
dwarves!” was a common cheer at the pubs. And
Theona Balmhand when they said, “for the dwarves,” they meant just
Gnome cleric of the Lawbearer
A wandering healer hailing from Kymal, Theona
lives by donation and perpetually travels from place
to place, seeking to aid who she can and to learn
whatever the people whisper.
Doctor Dranzel
Half-orc traveling bard
A jovial and lackadaisical violinist and frontman for
Doctor Dranzel’s Traveling Troupe, the renowned
Doctor Dranzel exaggerates his stage persona for a
number of reasons, not the least of which is to make
him seem like a preening fool—the perfect cover for
a master spy of the Grin.
Heraldry of the Houses of Kraghammer

Five the fingers that grasp hammer or blade, Lord Nostoc Greyspine
Five Houses of Kraghammer rightly made: Dwarf overseer of House Greyspine
Greyspine delves ’neath dwarven halls, The dour executive of dozens of quarries across
Zuurthom raises stony walls, the Cliffkeep Mountains, Nostoc makes up for
Bronzegrip masters of metal wrought, his unpleasant personality by being a formidable
Thunderbrand uncovers secrets sought. businessman. In recent years, he has become fabu-
And Glorenthal to judgments hear— lously wealthy as the reconstruction of cities across
In Kraghammer, dwarf-folk need never fear. Tal’Dorei devoured thousands of tons of stone.
—A child’s learning rhyme from House Thunderbrand and the League of Miracles
made it possible to transport it all with teleporta-
Kraghammer
tion spells.
Elementalist Drake Thunderbrand
the dwarves born in Kraghammer. Times have Dwarf evoker of House Thunderbrand
changed. The prevailing opinion is that a unified One of the eldest of his House, Drake is known
Tal’Dorei is best for all. Those dwarves whose tra- for his surprising empathy and fierce temper. He
ditionalism is just a veil for bigotry have found that is also a member of the Arcana Pansophical. His
they aren’t welcome in Kraghammer—they’ve subse- friendship with Allura Vysoren made him a popular
quently retreated to make their own isolated enclaves choice for Kraghammer’s ambassador to the council,
in the Cliffkeeps. but he politely refused, claiming it was a younger
The Houses of Kraghammer facilitate a healthy dwarf’s duty.
trade of metals, weapons, and armor with Emon
and Westruun. These bonds of commerce and League of Miracles
communication have only grown stronger since an
“Magic isn’t cheap, but miracles are priceless.” Such
ambassador from Kraghammer has taken a seat on
is the credo of the Wonderworker, the mysterious
the Tal’Dorei Council.
thaumaturge whose words inspire and guide the
Many members of House Thunderbrand also have
League of Miracles. This company of mercenary
ties to the Arcana Pansophical. However, lesser
magi is the reason why Tal’Dorei has recovered so
clans with aspirations of supplanting the renowned
rapidly from the near-apocalyptic destruction of the
Thunderbrands have thrown their lot in with the
Chroma Conclave. Westruun and Emon rose from
League of Miracles, hoping to become the new
rubble to the height of their former glory in a matter
masters of the arcane. They have been wooed by to
of months.
this upstart faction with promises of disrupting the
The people of Tal’Dorei adore the league. Their
old ways of commerce and prestige, establishing
mighty spellwrought adranachs (a new creature
something new.
described on page 223) can be seen lifting thou-
Figures of Interest sand-pound bricks of limestone high into the sky to
rebuild walls, towers, and even castles in a matter of
These figures are major members of the Houses
days. Many of the league’s spellwrights have become
of Kraghammer that you can use as NPCs in
folk heroes and celebrities for their miraculous acts,
your game. You should also take inspiration from
which range from healing those maimed in the Con-
these figures to make up new NPCs for your
clave’s attack to transmuting raw timber, mud, and
own campaign.
straw into full-fledged houses in minutes.
Ironkeeper Palluda Zuurthom For most of Tal’Dorei’s elite, the League of Mir-
Dwarf Ironkeeper of House Greyspine acles is likewise a great ally. Trade and travel have
resumed stronger than before, for the league has
Even after weathering the Chroma Conclave, uniting
eagerly subcontracted their talented mages out as
Kraghammer’s squabbling houses in support of the
guards for caravans and persons of interest.
Tal’Dorei Council was no mean feat. Ironkeeper
Yet, not everyone sees the league as an ally. In
Palluda of House Zuurthom proved up to the task.
the early aftermath of Thordak’s defeat, the new
They made a name for themself by taking control of
and untested Tal’Dorei Council put out thousands
a trade deal that ultimately sold tens of thousands of
of bounties on reconstruction projects to get their
gold pieces’ worth of quarried stone to the League
towns and cities back on their feet, and local mayors
of Miracles, which began the reconstruction of
and margraves across the nation agreed to these
Tal’Dorei in earnest. Palluda became a hero of the
subsidies to reduce the cost of reconstruction for
working dwarf within Kraghammer. They are a mas-
their already devastated populace. They expected
ter at getting all sides to agree to a compromise, and
Tal’Dorei’s rebirth to be a multigenerational under-
do so with an iron-edged smile.
taking—yet the League of Miracles snapped up these

bounties like candy, and the league does not work hunter-destroyers of the league’s enemies. These
their miracles cheaply. Bills for hundreds of thou- spellwrights sign a blood pact that connects their
sands of gold pieces’ worth of bounties found their minds to the mysterious communications of the
way to the desks of local leaders and to the Tal’Dorei Wonderworker, which all spellwrights are blood-
Council by the end of the year. Such vast wealth for bound to interpret and enact.
thirty years’ worth of rebuilding in three years’ time Grand Thaumaturge. The official title of the
simply did not exist. league’s shadowy master is the Grand Thauma-
But this was all part of the Wonderworker’s plan, turge, though most colloquially refer to them
and their spellwrights executed it flawlessly. The as the Wonderworker. None know their true
league needs money to purchase their expensive identity, or their ultimate goal. The spellwrights
spell components and to pay their talented merce- understand that the Grand Thaumaturge has a
nary membership, of course, but their true goal is the master plan that must be followed. Only these
priceless currency of power, in the form of political spellwrights have the privilege of hearing their
favors from leaders ranging from small-town mayors, master's psychic messages. Over the years, they
to city-ruling margraves, and even delegates to the have interpreted them to mean that the League of
Tal’Dorei Council. Rumors even swirl that one or Miracles must become the secret puppet-masters
more of the members of the council itself are in the of all Tal'Dorei.
league’s pocket.
The league’s members are delineated into a simple Goals
hierarchy. The League of Miracles is comprised mostly of
Mercenary Mage. Spellcasters drawn from across mercenary magi pulled from all corners of Tal’Dorei,
Tal’Dorei form the backbone of the League of with some even coming from abroad as news of the
Miracles. The league works as an agency, handing league’s reputation spreads across Exandria. For
mercenaries lucrative jobs, collecting the payment most of these arcanists, their goal is simple: to make
themselves, and paying out in a timely fashion— money. The goals of the league’s spellwrights are
minus twenty percent. These mercenaries come more elaborate. They listen for the cryptic words of
from all walks of life. Some are aspiring adventur- the mysterious Grand Thaumaturge and dedicate
ers seeking a less life-threatening first gig, while themselves to deciphering and enacting their grand
others are skilled arcanists with shady pasts, design. The spellwrights’ current aim is one of total
including Remnant cultists and double-dipping control—once all of Tal’Dorei’s social and political
Myriad agents with a talent for magic. elite are in their pockets, they can shape the land as
Spellwright. The most talented (or best-connected) they see fit, all to the cheering adoration of the fawn-
members of the league are awarded the title of ing people of Tal’Dorei.
spellwright. Only two dozen such masters of the
arcane exist across Tal’Dorei. These spellwrights Relationships
know the secrets of how to create adranachs, The League of Miracles tries to keep cordial, if
mighty constructs of magical energy that were distant, relationships with every major power on
used publicly to rebuild Tal’Dorei’s ravaged Tal’Dorei. Their public image is shiny and unim-
infrastructure—and are also used in secret as peachable. Many members of the Tal’Dorei Council
are already in their pocket and cast votes that further
the league’s self-interest. The Arcana Pansophi-
cal—especially Allura Vysoren, who also sits on the
council—are deeply distrustful of this unregulated,
uncommonly powerful organization.
The League of Miracles has a tense relationship
with the Chamber of Whitestone, as they have long
sought access to the residuum unique to that ter-
ritory. The spellwrights fear outright hostility with
the legendary heroes of Vox Machina, and have sup-
posedly abandoned their quest to mine Whitestone’s
naturally occurring residuum.
As “no questions asked” employers of mages, the
league is in the good graces of many less scru-
pulous arcane factions, including the Remnants.
Necromancers, blood mages, Ruidus cultists, and
other unsavory magi now exist under the league’s
protection.
Symbol of the League of Miracles

Figures of Interest Library of the Cobalt Soul
These figures are major members of the League of The Cobalt Reserve in Westruun is home to a monas-
Miracles that you can use as NPCs in your game. tic order so old, enduring, and tirelessly dedicated
You should also take inspiration from these figures to the preservation of knowledge that most people
to make up new NPCs for your own campaign. in Tal’Dorei simply take it for granted. Just as birds
The Wonderworker have always flown and grass has always grown, the
Mysterious enactor of true miracles Library of the Cobalt Soul has always sent its agents
across the world, taking minutes at public trials,
All spellwrights hear the authoritative—yet enigmat- archiving broadsheets, exploring ancient ruins, and
ically distorted—voice of the Wonderworker. The copying scrolls. To all but the most dedicated schol-
Wonderworker has supposedly appeared in the flesh ars, the work of the Cobalt Soul seems like dreary,
only three times throughout the league’s twenty- banal stuff.
four-year history, as a humanoid draped in robes Nothing could be further from the truth. Beneath
of starlight and wearing a mithral mask. In those the veneer of being a dopey order of bookish monks,
moments, they have produced true miracles—raising the Cobalt Soul is one of the most dogged espionage
a castle from the ground in a matter of seconds, halt- organizations in the world. The secret agents of the
ing the rampaging silver dragon Saldarthoryn in her Cobalt Soul, its expositors, are spies who wield the
tracks and healing her twisted mind, and stopping truth as a weapon more potent than any blade. The
the Center Slab of Kraghammer from collapsing into Cobalt Soul was born in Wildemount, just after the
the Pits in a catastrophic mining accident that would end of the Calamity, when the Knowing Mentor was
have cost countless lives. These legendary acts maimed by an evil god. Her most loyal followers
inspired utmost awe and faith in all who witnessed went into hiding and vowed to continue her divine
them, leading the spellwrights to create adranachs work in knowing all there is to be known—and
in the Wonderworker’s image and enact their most importantly, to use the truth as a holy weapon
cryptic will. against lies and propaganda.
Blaine Kraverrogg Each archive of the Cobalt Soul has a common
hierarchy, and higher-ranking members of the Cobalt
Half-halfling mercenary necromancer
Soul can command their lower-ranking comrades
Short and brimming with a malign lust for power, from another archive.
Blaine appears to be a short, skeletally skinny
Monk. The monks of the Cobalt Soul are their most
human who hides his lack of stature in billow-
visible members, for they travel the land in search
ing black-and-gold robes. He is a member of the
of knowledge both modern and archaic. Not all
Remnants, but pays his bills by doing undercover
monks are engaged in fieldwork, especially new
grave-robbing for the league. He longs to reach the
recruits. Those who work entirely within an
bottom of Shadebarrow, a mysterious crypt some-
archive aid in the organization and preservation
where on the Dividing Plains. His obsession with
of information. Few know that these monks are
Shadebarrow stems from a hunger for the power of
the Demon Prince of Undeath.
Honor Kinnabari
Tiefling blood mage and novice spellwright
As the newest spellwright in the League of Miracles,
Honor Kinnabari has a lot to prove. She was granted
a chance to prove her quality in the eyes of the
Wonderworker when the league was contracted to
rebuild the Market Ward of Westruun after it was
devastated by a herd of magma landsharks that
descended from the Cliffkeep Mountains. Her red
eyes and sheet-white skin and horns complement a
traditional red-and-white mage’s robe from the reclu-
sive dwarven clans of the Alabaster Sierras. She is
fully dedicated to the league, but she is as honorable
as her name implies; her fellow spellwrights fear that
she could turn traitor, should the unsavory truth of
the league be laid plain before her.
Sigil of the Cobalt Soul

dedicated to the Knowing Mentor; the common order entirely. Typically, deserters of the Cobalt Soul
opinion in Tal’Dorei is that they are ascetics, are expositors, who see the ugliest side of the world
obsessively dedicated to the chronicling of knowl- firsthand again and again.
edge, not devotees of an obscure god.
Expositor. Trained in the art of espionage, the Relationships
expositors of the Cobalt Soul use their infiltration The Cobalt Soul is an international organization
expertise to uncover the secrets of governments, with archives in the Dwendalian Empire and Clovis
world leaders, and obscure cults. In times of great Concord of Wildemount, the Republic of Tal’Dorei,
crisis, undercover expositors have even incited the Dawn City of Vasselheim on Issylra, and the
revolutions by sharing the knowledge they discov- great city of Ank’Harel on Marquet. Each of these
ered with people toiling under evil regimes. This archives acts independently under the orders of their
true mission of the expositors is a secret even to commanding High Curator, though they must ulti-
low-ranking monks, who see them simply as well- mately answer to the joint leadership of the Cobalt
trained field agents. Soul: the High Curators of the Rexxentrum and
Archivist. Though they are not involved in field Vasselheim archives.
work, archivists play the vital role of organizing Though Tal’Dorei is a freer society than the Dwen-
the overwhelming flow of information that the dalian Empire, the Cobalt Soul knows better than to
monks and expositors return to their archive. think that means it is free of corruption. From the Cobalt
They also train new monks and perform admin- Reserve, their archive in the city of Westruun, the Cobalt
istrative tasks, like negotiating with sellers of Soul keeps close tabs on members of the Tal’Dorei
artifacts and with government officials to ensure Council, the leaders of Syngorn and Kraghammer, and
the stability of their archive. other powerful individuals across the land.
Curator. A small group of three to five curators man- The Cobalt Soul actively opposes the Remnants—
age the top-level operations of each archive. One followers of the Whispered One, a tyrannical god of
of their number is given the special designation of secrets who is diametrically opposed to the goals of
High Curator, to whom all other members of their the Knowing Mentor. They are also concerned by
archive must ultimately answer. the meteoric rise of a guild of arcanists called the
League of Miracles, whose political maneuverings
Goals have made puppets of dozens of delegates to the
The public mission statement of the Cobalt Soul is to Tal’Dorei Council and political leaders across the
archive knowledge for the betterment of all peoples land. This worry has only deepened as rumors reach
of Exandria. The secret mission of the Cobalt Soul them of the league filling their ranks with Remnant
is to use their accumulated knowledge to root out cultists who seek to dominate Tal’Dorei.
tyranny and ensure the freedom of all people.
As instructed by their reclusive god, the Knowing Figures of Interest
Mentor, the Cobalt Soul in Tal’Dorei makes their These figures are major members of the Library
archives available to everyone, so that knowledge of the Cobalt Soul that you can use as NPCs in
can be used to improve and enrich the lives of all. your game. You should also take inspiration from
Despite this, the curators of the Cobalt Reserve these figures to make up new NPCs for your
privately determine what knowledge is too volatile own campaign.
to be freely disseminated. Typically, this privileged High Curator Greisalda Cassios
information is magical in nature, but it also includes
Half-dragonblood leader of the Cobalt Reserve
secrets recovered by expositors that must be strate-
gically employed as a weapon against unjust leaders, The High Curator of the Westruun archive of the
cults, and power-hungry factions. Cobalt Soul is a high-cheekboned, bald woman
The Cobalt Soul itself is not immune to corrup- who would appear fully human if not for her slitted,
tion and complacency. Nowhere is this truer than in silver eyes and the silver scales that run across her
the Cobalt Soul’s birthplace of Wildemount, where head, neck, and upper arms. She is regarded as one
it must work hand-in-hand with the authoritarian of the fastest minds in Tal’Dorei, for she has the
Dwendalian Empire. Its highest officials say that the rare gift of perfect recall. Monks tremble when her
Cobalt Soul has outlasted every tyrant on Exandria, clear, unpretentious voice rings through an archive
and that they must be content with small acts of chamber, for Greisalda remembers acts of justice
insurrection—subtly subverting propaganda and and personal slights with equal intensity, making
sharing the truth with any who will listen—while her a powerful ally and a furious enemy. She is con-
waiting for the right moment to strike a fatal blow. cerned that corruption is spreading throughout the
Nevertheless, this mantra of patience has caused Tal’Dorei Council.
some of its more radical members to abandon the

Cressida Holt The Myriad operates as a loose network of gangs
Orc expositor of the Cobalt Reserve whose bosses run their own localized sects, without
direct oversight from the mysterious heads of the
The name Cressida Holt is synonymous with style
society. Tithes and information are expected to be
and effortless charisma—and also a blunt, merciless
delivered to the leadership at a steady rate from
coldness. Cressida is nonbinary, and uses both she
each satellite of the organization, and should the
and they pronouns interchangeably. Though she's
success slow, threats of enslavement or destruction
fresh blood to the expositors of the Cobalt Reserve,
soon follow.
she has already taken advantage of her license to
kill on her espionage missions. They are slim for Goals
an orc, but still more muscular than many of their
The Myriad seeks wealth in hideous excess. The
human colleagues. Their assignments take them
means are unimportant, as long as they’re lucra-
across Tal’Dorei in search of political corruption.
tive. No trade is too abhorrent, from bloody theft to
She is currently stationed in Emon to observe a per-
kidnapping and slavery. And though they lack the
son of interest on the Tal’Dorei Council, where she
political capital to bribe and puppeteer politicians
alternates between lurking on rooftops and striding
the way they did in Wildemount, the Myriad are
through ballrooms in fine suits.
confident that they can get even the supposedly noble
Archivist Salomane Rothtree Tal’Dorei Council in their pocket.
Half-elf archivist of the Cobalt Reserve Most fronts for the Myriad are businesses that
publicly deal in antiquities and exotic textiles.
A haggard, overworked administrator, Archivist
Behind these masks is a ruthlessly efficient black
Rothtree is known throughout the Cobalt Reserve
market of slaves, magical beasts, weapons, and illicit
as someone who tries too hard to prove himself and
substances. Overt violence tends to draw unwanted
constantly bites off more than he can chew. Half-orc
attention, and the Myriad avoid it when possible, pre-
and half-elf, he has said that he hopes to accomplish
ferring to discredit, blackmail, or frame those who
as much in his lifetime as an elf could in theirs. He
cross them. Should that fail, however, kidnapping
often is tasked with helping adventurers find infor-
or assassination can be a quick and traceless final
mation. Though he resents the task, he may slowly
alternative.
open up to heroes who treat him well.
Relationships
The Myriad Though they are relative newcomers to the criminal
Wildemount’s greatest organized crime ring is now underworld of Tal’Dorei, the Myriad is well-versed
becoming known throughout Tal’Dorei, but it came in the covert art of making money by any means nec-
from humble beginnings. The Myriad began in essary. The Clasp is well aware of their presence in
the Dwendalian city of Yrrosa, as a small shipping the broadest sense, and the two thieves’ guilds have
company specializing in exotic goods and services, spilled blood in the streets of every city in Tal’Dorei
exploiting and selling curiosities from the distant at some point in the past twenty years. These days,
continents of Othanzia and Ank’Harel. Over time,
as legal trading became more difficult, the Myriad’s
illegal occupations became their best business.
Through years establishing underworld contacts
and tactical blackmail, the Myriad evolved into a
powerful, well-veiled criminal faction. Over the
past two decades, the Myriad’s aspirations have
spread beyond Wildemount, and they are now deeply
entrenched in Tal’Dorei’s criminal underworld.
Known for displays of opulence and social grace,
this misdirection enables the Myriad to seduce and
control the lives and wills of whomever is deemed
valuable to their plans. Dozens of truly amoral cut-
throats and thieves noticed when the Clasp began to
work hand-in-hand with the Tal’Dorei Council. They
felt the dagger of accountability pressed against their
backs, and broke with their former guild. Now, the
Myriad has filled the vacuum of truly lawless crimi-
nality that the Clasp left in its wake.
Sigil of the Myriad

the bloodshed has subsided into a cold war of espi-
onage and counterespionage, as each organization
The Remnants
tries to sabotage the other. In a time long past, an archmage of unparalleled
The Myriad has only been routed from cities a power known as the Whispered One attempted
number of times—they no longer have any presence to ascend to godhood by conducting the Ritual of
in Whitestone or Syngorn—and each time, it has Seeding from high atop the citadel of Thar Ampala
been by a concentrated citizens’ uprising. In both within the Plane of Shadow. The Whispered One
instances, when they sought the source, Myriad surrounded himself with a cult of fanatical mages
leaders were furious to discover an empty safe house and empowered murderers to protect him during his
containing only a single gold coin, marked by a grin- apotheosis. Despite these protections, he failed. His
ning face: the calling card of the Golden Grin. Even cult, however, survived, and helped him return to
across the Lucidian Ocean, the old enmity between power centuries later, after the defeat of the Chroma
the Myriad and the Golden Grin remains today. Conclave. He succeeded in his bid for godhood, but
was kept from utterly dominating the Material Plane
Figures of Interest at the last second by Vox Machina, who banished
These figures are major members of the Myriad that him beyond the Divine Gate, where he was shackled
you can use as NPCs in your game. You should also by all the same limitations as the other gods.
take inspiration from these figures to make up new His cult, the Remnants, went into hiding once
NPCs for your own campaign. again. Their fanatical ranks, bolstered by his true
apotheosis, now seethe in secret, convinced that
Lustran “the Backstabber” Zeth there is a way to grant their god the ultimate power
Human boss of Stilben he sought. Many of them have wormed their way into
Lustran was one of the first Clasp members to positions of power within Tal’Dorei’s political institu-
turn double agent. By the time anyone realized his tions, churches, arcane organizations, and criminal
betrayal, he had granted the Myriad their foothold outfits. Many more have joined up with the dubiously
in Tal’Dorei in the swampy port city of Stilben. His moral, profit-driven arcanists of the League of Mira-
lean, hungry face and graying hair give him a hand- cles. They exist in shadows, lurking, waiting, longing
some, intimidating appearance. All Myriad agents in for a new dark prophet to lead them to glory.
Tal’Dorei respect him, and all members of the Clasp
hate him. He revels in his bad reputation as the
renowned Backstabber of Stilben.
Tully “the Conclave of One” Dezzeram

Gold dragonblood boss of Emon
Tully’s distasteful nickname delights her inner circle
in Emon’s underground. The Myriad boss of Emon is
a position that usually changes hands by the season,
thanks to the diligent efforts of the Clasp, but Tully
has evaded capture for three years, and grown rich
and powerful in her reign of smuggling, trafficking,
and grand burglary.
Sylker “the Millionaire” Uttolot

Half-elf boss of Kymal
This gold-eyed half-elf, a former underling of the
crime families of Shady Creek Run in Wildemount,
joined the Myriad and became the first individual on
that continent to hoard one million gold pieces. He Crest of the Remnants
has a masterful mind for money, and spearheaded
the Myriad’s infiltration of Kymal. “Gold is a dis-
ease,” he often says, “and I’m bloody sick.”

Goals Ixrattu Khar
The Whispered One achieved an incomplete victory Tiefling vampire, Master of the Devouring Blood
over twenty years ago, and now his cult is building This escapee from the Black Bastille prison in Emon
a new generation of faithful to make his megalo- is Tal’Dorei’s most infamous mass murderer, who
maniacal dreams a reality. The cult’s leadership once slaughtered and consumed hundreds of inno-
believes that reuniting these malign artifacts will cents on a deadly killing spree from Kymal to Emon.
give them greater power to commune with their god During her imprisonment, Ixrattu was plagued by
and let them begin their quest in earnest to reach shadowy visions of a woman beckoning to her from
him through the Divine Gate. This leadership is beyond the bars. The visions pointed her towards
known as the Circle of the Dismembered. Each cult weaknesses within the Black Bastille's guard, and
leader in the circle commands a branch of the cult, helped her achieve the unthinkable: escape. Once
named for a part of the Whispered One’s body. These free, she vanished for a year as she scoured the
factions are: countryside, puzzling over the cryptic whispers of
The Unveiled Sight. Members of this cult are tasked her continuing visions.
with scouring the planes for arcane lore that could At the end of her quest was a fateful discovery:
restore their master to the Material Plane. within a lightless underground passage, she found
The Mordant Voice. Members of this cult serve the venomous crossbow Condemner, a Vestige
their master by infiltrating other factions across of Divergence (see page 204). Now she lurks in
Tal’Dorei and subverting their purposes with Kraghammer, where she trains a network of elite
subtle propaganda. assassins who gleefully dispatch anyone the Unveiled
The Devouring Blood. Members of this cult special- Sight identifies as an enemy of the Remnants.
ize in the art of silent death. They train in stealth and
necromancy to become truly horrific assassins.
The Unseen Touch. Members of this cult are trained
in magic that corrupts the mind and perverts the
will, making them vile puppet-masters that pre- Ixrattu Khar
pare the world for their god’s return.
The Insatiable Heart. Members of this cult do the
vital ground-level work of seeking out new blood.
They are trained to exploit the emotional weak-
nesses of their targets to convert them to the cult,
without the need of magic.
Relationships
The Remnants remain largely unknown, even after
their master’s grand ascension, and wish to keep it
that way. Those who are aware of their presence are
either cult members or people who have uncovered
their insidious existence and wish to stamp it out
wherever it may appear. Thus, there are rarely any
alliances made by or with the Remnants.
Figures of Interest
These figures are major members of the Remnants
that you can use as NPCs in your game. You should
also take inspiration from these figures to make up
new NPCs for your own campaign.
Quinton Puck
Human jeweler, Master of the Unveiled Sight
While he runs a middling jewelry business within
Emon, Quinton is secretly the leader of the Unveiled
Sight. He is a master of creating and piercing illu-
sions, deciphering ancient script, and all things to do
with the magical arts of obscurement and unveiling.
He can be recognized by his blood-red spectacles.

Wardens of Syngorn level of responsibility amongst the Wardens—to
maintain law, guide society, and preside over all
The elven city-state of Syngorn was established in other Wardens.
the Verdant Expanse by the sorceress Yenlara, the
wood elves’ first leader after the Divergence. Today, Verdant Lord Celindar
the physical and cultural wellbeing of Syngorn is Elf Warden of Syngorn
safeguarded by the three offices of elders called Head of the Verdant Guard of Syngorn, and an
Wardens, united by the High Warden. Their primary accomplished warrior in their own right, Celin-
duty is to protect the city and the surrounding lands dar handles all military strategy and instruction
from intrusion. within the forest’s bounds. They only return to
Syngorn when called by their fellow wardens, and
Goals can otherwise constantly be found prowling the
The Wardens believe that preserving the ancient Verdant Expanse. They use any pronouns, and have
culture of Syngorn is of utmost importance. Even relinquished any sort of gender presentation after
as their fate grows ever more closely tied to the fate receiving a vision from the Arch Heart.
of all Tal’Dorei, the traditions that make Syngorn
unique must be conserved. The three offices of the Ouestra, the Voice of Memory
Wardens are the Verdant Lord, the Voice of Memory, Elf Warden of Syngorn
and the Guildrunner. The office of Verdant Lord A renowned historian and a beloved vocalist, Oues-
commands Syngorn’s formidable military, which is tra is charged with the preservation of Syngorn’s
maintained and scattered throughout the Verdant history and culture. It’s said her most magical songs
Expanse, ready to be called to Syngorn’s defense at a can control moonlight and bring light even to the
moment’s notice. Abyss itself. These days, she has grown somewhat
As preservers of culture, the Wardens also encour- unpopular by also singing songs of Syngorn’s darker
age public respect for the arts, including the art of days, for she says true greatness can only be inspired
magic. It’s not uncommon for a Syngornian to rise in by learning from failure.
social status after being publicly praised by a warden
for a masterful artistic creation or performance. Guildrunner Rawndel
Elf Warden of Syngorn
Relationships One of the oldest living elves within Syngorn,
Syngorn has long been an isolationist society. As a Rawndel is more cunning and insightful than most,
mostly elven enclave, they have often been criticized allowing him to be a very effective head of com-
as xenophobic, or even racist, toward outsiders. merce, business, and the treasury.
There is truth to these claims. Nevertheless, the rise
and fall of the Chroma Conclave has goaded even
some of Syngorn’s most conservative voices into
strengthening the bonds of trade, travel, and kin-
ship with the other free peoples of Tal’Dorei. Even
the people of Kraghammer, who many elves still
remember siding with the tyrant Drassig in centuries
past, have been welcomed as friends and allies for
the loyalty and courage they displayed in the battle
against Thordak.
Figures of Interest
These figures are major members of the Wardens
of Syngorn that you can use as NPCs in your game.
You should also take inspiration from these figures
to make up new NPCs for your own campaign.
High Warden Tirelda

Elf Warden of Syngorn
Though she is in her twilight years, even by elven
standards, High Warden Tirelda is a trusted
descendent of Yenlara, founder of Syngorn. She is
skilled with magic and blessed with calm wis-
dom. Thus, she was entrusted with the highest Heraldry of the Wardens of Syngorn

Chapter 3
Tal’Dorei Gazetteer
I’ve wandered over many a shore and plain in Additionally, cities and large towns often have a
my journeys, and my mind still finds itself drawn number of small rural communities outside their
back to Tal’Dorei. Ain’t no place in this world more fortified walls and population center. The popula-
vibrant; the land feels young. Unscarred. Mind you, tion numbers of these larger settlements include
the people in the outlying areas. On the other hand,
that sort of calm causes my old bones to itch, too.
the official populations of a village or other small
Folk in that land are kind and honest, and its vistas
settlement just includes the people living in the
are second to none, yet…well, I’ll just say that cities
village itself.
are cities, and the wilds are the wilds. Tal’Dorei’s In fact, though there are a few villages and small
got plenty of both. Keep a sword or a wand with settlements listed in this gazetteer, Tal’Dorei is home
you wherever you go, adventurer. to hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny settlements
—Norad Firth, Captain of the too small to detail or place on the map. The Game
Brazen Beast Master can make up any number of villages or
other communities wherever they wish in Tal’Dorei
This chapter contains a wealth of information about without changing any of the lore presented in this
the lands of Tal’Dorei, the adventures to be found gazetteer. And of course, the GM can also cre-
therein, and the many centers of civilization to be ate large settlements unique to their version of
found across its vast wilds. Consider this chapter Tal’Dorei—the only difference is that they should
a compilation of a wide variety of assorted notes, be prepared to think about how their version of
research, and scattered publications of historians Tal’Dorei is different, now that they’ve added another
of the Library of the Cobalt Soul and the Alabas- hub of population, trade, politics, and culture.
ter Lyceum.
Boundless possibilities await eager adventurers Story Hooks
of all kinds who explore Tal’Dorei, from the vast
This chapter contains a variety of story hooks that
fields of the Dividing Plains to the treacherous
you can use as a starting point for Tal’Dorei adven-
crags of Tal’Dorei’s many mountains, from the
tures of your own creation. Chapter 5 of this book
storm-wracked Lucidian Coast to the immemorial
contains advice for expanding these hooks into full
depths of the Rifenmist Jungle. Countless nomadic
adventures, and even more advice for creating RPG
civilizations exist within these realms of magic and
stories can be found in the fifth edition core rules.
monsters, as do dozens of tiny villages, thriving
These plot hooks are tied to specific locations, and
towns, and bustling cities. The people of Tal’Dorei
all have a level range. These level recommendations
do what they can to survive, and share the tales of
aren’t strictly mandated, but have generally been cho-
treasures and adventure with any who will listen.
sen either because of the monsters involved, because
Consider this gazetteer a compilation of tales and
of the narrative weight of the location or characters
fragmented histories, passed down from bards and
involved, or to indicate how epic and world-affecting
scholars. Your campaign can follow its descriptions
the adventure should be.
to the letter, or diverge as wildly as you see fit.
• For low-level characters: 1st to 4th level
Settlements •
•
For mid-level characters: 5th to 10th level
For high-level characters: 11th to 16th level
Every permanent settlement in Tal’Dorei has a few • For epic-level characters: 17th to 20th level
basic statistics that impart a top-level impression of
Additionally, some plot hooks are marked as “any
that place. This includes what type of settlement it
level.” These hooks present stories broad enough
is—typically a village, town, or city—its population,
to suit characters of any level, anywhere in their
and its rough demographics. Don’t feel restricted by
party’s story. These hooks generally don’t suggest
these demographics if you want your character to
specific monsters to use as villains. When creating
come from a specific location but you don’t see their
adventures based off of these hooks, use the encoun-
race listed there. People of all races can be found in
ter-building advice in the fifth edition core rules to
just about every community in Tal’Dorei, and your
choose appropriate foes for your players.
character can come from anywhere.
Chapter 3: Tal’Dorei Gazetteer 65

Majority Faiths: Changebringer,
Wildmother, Stormlord
Minority Faiths: Lawbearer, Strife Emperor,
Scaled Tyrant
Imports: Livestock, lumber
Exports: Fish, ships, grain, iron, silver, gold, trade
goods from Wildemount
of their own on the council. However, the recent

surge in prospectors has increased their population
enough for a member of the Lodge to attend council
sessions, and the Lodge is doing everything it can to
make sure the boom lasts as long as possible before
it falls into bust.
Boomtown
Drynna has a small militia to protect the town from
wild beasts and roving monsters, and to capture
horse thieves and other petty criminals. This militia
is presently overwhelmed by hundreds of prospec-
tors who have swept into town over the past three
years after hearing rumors that chunks of whitestone
have been found in Mooren Lake, washed down the
river from the Alabaster Sierras.
Given the high price of residuum (see page
Lucidian Coast 75), this new occurrence has made Drynna into
something of a boomtown. Thousands of small
The stormy Lucidian Ocean crashes furiously homesteads now surround the town center, and bur-
against the rocky coasts of eastern Tal’Dorei, chew- glary and banditry are both on the rise.
ing inlets into the coastline and spurring vast banks
of impenetrable fog across the waters. Most ships Drynna Adventures
rightly avoid the volatile northern waters, instead Game Masters who set their adventure in Drynna
docking at southern ports like Stilben. Adventurous can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
folk leave their seafaring vessels behind and brave Unfriendly Waters (mid-level). Recently, Drynna
the Mooren River Run to Drynna. Yet even there, the has suffered a number of losses, with prospectors
Lucidian Coast is not without its dangers; vicious and fisherfolk being attacked. Worse still, the supply
wildlife stalks the wilderness, and flocks of harpies of fish itself seems to be declining rapidly; with-
have harried the shores since time immemorial, out this local food staple, villages across eastern
drawing lost sailors to their doom upon the rocks. Tal’Dorei will certainly starve. The party hears the
call for mercenaries reaching as far as Westruun
Drynna and Stilben. The culprit is a hydra within the lake
Town: Population 2,765 (75% humans, 8% gnomes, that has gained intelligence by living for so long in
8% halflings, 4% elves, 5% other races) the residuum-infused waters. It has an Intelligence
score of 12 (+1), can speak Common, and commands
Along the shore of Mooren Lake rests the sleepy
a tribe of lizardfolk.
town of Drynna. The community thrives on the
Bleak Inheritance (any level). Last year, Hareth
bountiful wildlife around the lake, and the Drynna
Val Bardo, a younger member of the Sunrise Lodge,
fisherfolk are responsible for most of eastern
made a pact with the Moon Mistress (see “Mooren
Tal’Dorei’s freshwater fish supply. The social guid-
Lake,” below). Hareth’s elder brother, Pauvren, died
ance of the city revolves around the Sunrise Lodge
in his sleep shortly thereafter, leaving the entire Val
(or simply “the Lodge”), a membership of community
Bardo family fortune to Hareth, the only surviving
leaders who meet to discuss and vote on important
heir. However, nightmares now haunt Hareth every
social and legal matters. The Lodge has also sent
night, and violent urges surge through his mind. The
a variety of increasingly frustrated petitions to the
Lodge, having noticed Hareth’s paranoid eyes and
Tal’Dorei Council, since their community’s small
twitchy hands, calls upon outsiders to investigate.
size means they have traditionally lacked a delegate

K’Tawl Swamp of raw magical energy, beginning to gain sentience.
The twin islands in the center of the lake are blan-
The sprawling swamplands of K’Tawl cover much keted by an ever-present mist, and folk tales tell
of the southern Lucidian Coast, enveloping Stilben of a beautiful, ageless woman, known only as the
and the K’Tawl Bay. The saltwater swamp is thick Moon Mistress, who watches over the island shores.
with cypress and tupelo trees reaching up from It’s said that any mortal who seeks an audience is
muddy waters that range, in places, from one to ten judged by her, and is either granted a favor, a boon of
feet deep—or more. The hot, muggy air and thick, unveiled knowledge, or a swift and terrible end.
sludge-covered landscape host all manner of terri-
ble beasts, including venomous flying snakes and Mooren Lake Adventures
man-eating giant frogs. Game Masters who set their adventure in Mooren
Bands of frog-headed humanoids harry the Lake can use this plot hook for inspiration.
edges of Stilben from their deep-marsh encamp- Renew the Mists (mid-level). The Moon Mistress,
ments, while a vicious school of sahuagin called the a night hag who takes the guise of a water nymph,
Ghormauth command the shoreline of K’Tawl. The uses the fading mists to shroud her location from a
bloodthirsty Ravagers use the forested edges of the blood hunter named Perron Brill, a woman dedicated
swamp to ambush prey—as do countless bandits and to hunting the Mistress down out of vengeance. The
petty thieves. As such, caravans and messengers mists require a blasphemous mortal sacrifice to
must remain on constant alert for the possibility renew, and the Mistress is willing to reward those
of an ambush. With such dangers lurking in the who would aid her in retrieving a victim—willing or
swamp, travel to and from Stilben is rarely made otherwise. Perron Brill resides in nearby Drynna,
without an armed escort. and though she is no saint herself, more honorable
characters may think it best to help the hunter find
K'Tawl Swamp Adventures her prey in Rootgarden Marsh.
Game Masters who set their adventure in K’Tawl
Swamp can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
They Shamble (mid-level). People have been
Rootgarden Marsh
disappearing from the isolated swamp-burghs within The shallows of Mooren Lake leak into the tender
the K’Tawl. The characters, perhaps en route to Stil- soil of the lakebed and spread eastward, creating
ben, spend the night in the village of Dunghill. After the cold and desolate Rootgarden Marsh. Tall, thin
hearing tales of the disappearances, the characters trees lift five or more feet above the muck upon stilt-
awaken the next morning to screams—as a terrified like roots, like freshwater mangroves. Their sparse
human is carried off within the rotting orifice of a placement gives them the appearance of a village
shambling mound of swamp vegetation. of scattered huts. The fresh water mingles with salt
Monolith of the Hells (high-level). Why have here, leaving only adapted vegetation. The smell of
members of the Torchraiser herd been found dead, moss and rot fills the air, while strange, feral crea-
their hearts exploded and their teeth plucked from tures leap from tree to tree, or patiently wait from
their mouths? Why have the stagnant K’Tawl waters within their dome-like tree-root dens to snatch wary
suddenly begun to flow toward the dismal center travelers. An organized group of gnoll marauders
of the swamp? A divine messenger of the Everlight called the Moonsteeth keep their cavern hideout
visits the characters, its celestial form torn and here, striking out at easy targets outside of Drynna
wavering, and dies before it can impart its request. and Mooren Lake.
On the angel’s lips is a single dying phrase: “Destroy Since the region is populated almost entirely
K’Tawl’s Heart.” by monsters, most humanoids avoid it whenever
possible. Those few who explore the deadly marsh
Mooren Lake do so only out of necessity, either because they need
to unlock Rootgarden’s many secrets, or because
North of the Summit Peaks is a shimmering lake “civilization” is even more dangerous to them than
fed by the snowmelt from the Alabaster Sierras by the primal dangers found within.
the Mooren River Run. Mooren Lake is surrounded
both by bountiful wildlife and the frightful creatures Rootgarden Marsh Adventures
attracted to such a thriving ecosystem, including rov- Game Masters who set their adventure in Root-
ing lizardfolk, flocks of harpies, and several hydras garden Marsh can use these plot hooks for
that lurk in the lake’s depths. inspiration.
Centuries of whitestone runoff from the Alabas- The Ley-Knot (mid-level). Without warn-
ter Sierras have allowed deposits of residuum (see ing, arcane magic stops functioning within a
page 75) to collect at the bottom of the lake—and hundred-mile radius of Rootgarden Marsh. As
the residuum has formed into a thrumming organ panic spreads across northeastern Tal’Dorei, the

characters or a patron of theirs discover that a major Stilben all the way to Emon, and its robust trade of
ley line, the source of arcane power in this part of rare goods, textiles, and spices has given rise to a
the world, has been twisted and tied into a knot at formidable merchant ruling class. Though the aging
the center of the marsh. This knot has been tied by Margrave Wendle Truss is Stilben’s ruler in name, it
High Moonspeaker Luneskon of the Moonsteeth is the guilds that hold true power. Their vast wealth
gnolls. Her ambitions are small, but whatever and sizeable “protection” force have impelled the
method she used to tangle the ley lines must be bombastic-yet-ineffectual margrave to acquiesce to
erased from history—knowledge of its existence the guilds’ will in order to maintain peace, as well as
could bring disaster to all of Tal’Dorei. to preserve his own station within the city.
Death’s Garden (any level). Rootgarden’s strange Order is kept by the Waterwatch, Stilben’s official
ecology has produced many distinctive and powerful constabulary, but corruption is common within their
forms of plant life. During the course of a campaign, ranks. The past few decades have been hard for the
a group of adventurers may need to create a unique Clasp in Stilben. Though the local Spireling has
potion requiring the essence of manawort, a sen- kept a tight grip on the margrave and the Water-
tient mushroom found only within Rootgarden. The watch, the Myriad has used bribes, intimidation,
manawort mushroom is fearful of being harvested, and every dirty trick in the book to winnow away
and has made close friends with a black dragon the Clasp’s power. Now, Stilben is little more than
named Thardraxxus, who keeps the mushroom and a crucible for the power struggle between the two
its sporelings safe. This dragon can be of any age, criminal organizations.
depending on what level the characters are.
Origins of Vox Machina
Stilben The citizens of Stilben do not know that some
Large Town: Population 10,660 (67% humans, of Exandria’s greatest heroes, Vox Machina, first
11% elves, 11% halflings, 5% half-elves, 6% met in their humble city and went on their first
other races) adventure in the muck of the K’Tawl Swamp. Back
Stilben stinks to high heaven. Most sailors who then, even the exalted Vox Machina were just
two-copper adventurers, quickly forgotten by
pass through it—be they honest traders of the Clovis
Stilben’s haughty elite. One dwarf named Heinrich
Concord in Wildemount or pirates seeking their
Runescribe, a junior member of the Alabaster
next conquest—call this dismal burgh the Rotted
Lyceum’s revered Lorekeeper Society, practically
Lot. The stink and the crime that run through this
worships the heroes that defeated the Chroma
town make the name an apt one, but things aren’t Conclave, and has made it his mission to record all
all bad in Stilben. The largest port on this coast of of their travels. He has found a wealth of evidence
Tal’Dorei, Stilben is the focal point of international that the heroes of Vox Machina first gathered in
trade with Wildemount. Even though Stilben’s Stilben under inauspicious circumstances and
permanent population is a scant ten thousand, its were dragged into an unexpected battle against
more transient population of sailors who stay for the Myriad.
a few days or weeks at a time is just as large, and
fully triples Stilben’s total population in the sum-
mer months. Stilben Adventures
Predictably, the vast majority of Stilben’s business Game Masters who set their adventure in Stilben
caters to folk who won’t stay for long. There are can use these plot hooks for inspiration
brothels aplenty, at least one inn and one tavern Lost Below (low-level). A Stilben guild known
each on every street, and countless other com- as the Relic Seekers partnered with the Clasp to
forts for the weary traveler. The town is nestled smuggle a hoard of stolen Syngornian artifacts
in the sticky depths of the K’Tawl Swamp, and its through the heart of the K’Tawl Swamp to the port
putrescent stink mingles with the humidity and the of Stilben. The smugglers were last seen by a Clasp
ever-present buzz of insects to produce an air of agent watching a bridge in the western swamp, but
misery around Stilben’s outer districts. Pushed out two weeks have passed since their last contact.
of Stilben’s cozy, cosmopolitan heart, its poor and They should have arrived by now. The characters
disenfranchised citizens—derisively called muck- are approached by one of several groups: an agent of
dwellers by the town’s bigshots—struggle to eke out the Relic Seekers in search of the relics, one of the
a living in the K’Tawl’s murky waters. Clasp seeking to find their smugglers, or a Myriad
Central Stilben houses most of its businesses, taskmaster who seeks to undermine the Clasp.
residences, and attractions. Those living in Stilben’s Their first contact: the bridge guard, a hulking
heart like to present a clean, “civilized” view of their tiefling Clasp enforcer (see page 232) named
town, maintaining it as a thriving commercial hub. L’Arkhelle.
The cross-continental Silvercut Roadway leads from

Ashari Agitator (mid-level). Gang warfare
between the Clasp and the Myriad has been a daily
Summit Peaks
affair in Stilben for the past thirty years, but some- The Summit Peaks loom over the southeastern
thing is changing. A cruel Ashari waverider (see plains of Tal’Dorei, like great spires of rock reaching
page 228) named Galessi has joined the Myriad for the sky. The tall, thin mountains burst so aggres-
and is using her elemental magic to turn the tide of sively from the surrounding fields and swampland
this gang war. The Clasp, the Waterwatch, and even that even travelers from distant lands recognize
the Air Ashari of Zephrah want to see Galessi laid them as a landmark of eastern Tal’Dorei. They are a
low, but she has a secret base within the swamp, welcome sight for any ship’s crew making their way
protected by a charmed giant crocodile and putrid to shore. The mountain valleys recess into marshy
water elementals. gorges that house all manner of creatures migrat-
Demonblood Vengeance (high-level). A marilith ing from the K’Tawl. Reclusive hill giants and stone
demon using the guise of a blonde human named giants also make their homes in the marshy valleys.
Iselda has been lurking on the outskirts of Stil- As the mountains rise higher, strong winds blow
ben since her defeat at the hands of Vox Machina across the battered rock, leaving strangely smooth
decades ago. Her demonic ichor has spawned a peaks that harbor griffon lairs, harpy dens, and con-
brood of demonfeed spiders (see page 236) that vocations of giant eagles hunting the lower lands.
now view her as their mother. Iselda, sensing an
opportunity, dedicated herself to the Spider Queen Zephrah
and attracted a small legion of dark elf fanatics to Small Town: Population 1,310 (62% half-elves, 12%
her side. Aided by all these evil creatures, she plans elemental ancestry, 10% humans, 9% halflings,
on conquering Stilben, not for the Myriad, but for 5% tieflings, 2% other races)
herself and her evil god.
High atop a mountain aerie within the Summit
Peaks sits Zephrah, the tribal home of the Air Ashari

people, keeping vigil over a gate into the Elemental Defense
Plane of Air. The Ashari people worship and live by Zephrah has never maintained a formal army,
the balance of the natural world, and the people of though past Voices of the Tempest have trained mar-
Zephrah have adapted to life among the clouds. Most tial forces and druidic warriors to defend their home
of the tribe consists of skilled hunters and climbers against the monsters of the Summit Peaks. As Key-
who hunt mountain goats, large birds, and other leth attempts to build bonds between her people and
cliff-dwelling creatures, along with subsisting on the rest of Tal’Dorei, she has expanded the training
high-elevation vegetation. Utilizing the proximity of of new skydancers and created a unit of druidic war-
powerful elemental magic, the druidic masters of the riors capable of responding to any emergency across
Air Ashari craft skysails (see page 199) to ride the Tal’Dorei. If a threat like the Chroma Conclave were
ever-present winds, allowing their people to traverse to rise again in Tal’Dorei, the skydancers of Zephrah
the sheer cliffs of the mountains. The leader of Zeph- would be there to help save the nation’s people.
rah is called the Voice of the Tempest; they oversee Thanks to Zephrah’s mountainous terrain, the
all travel through the rift, all major druidic rituals, Ashari enclave has never fallen under siege. Because
and any visiting outsiders. of the dangerous beasts that lurk in the mountains,
Though it’s still a small settlement, Zephrah has most Zephran adults have learned how to wield a
grown greatly in the past several years. Many people spear or a staff to defend themselves. Roughly one
with an innate connection to the element of air have in ten people have undergone a small amount of ele-
petitioned the current Voice of the Tempest for her mental training—enough to be able to cast the gust of
permission to live here among the Ashari. Likewise, wind spell a number of times per day equal to their
a number of druids and other spellcasters who wish Wisdom modifier (minimum of once).
to learn the ways of the Air Ashari have come to live Were Zephrah to fall under attack, the skydancers
in relative isolation here—after they have proven would defend the town and its elemental rift for as
their good intentions and respect for the sanctity of long as possible while the rest of its people evactu-
the skies. ated to hidden retreats in the mountain caves.
Diplomacy and Developments Zephrah Adventures
Zephrah has grown in more than just population. Game Masters who set their adventure in Zephrah
The close friendship shared between Keyleth, Voice can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
of the Tempest, and the genius inventor Percival de Poached Eggs (low-level). The local Ashari have
Rolo of Whitestone has led to a number of modern noticed a terrible trend of poachers climbing the
technologies being adopted in Zephrah. Windmills peaks to steal entire griffon nests full of eggs, leav-
now dot the cliffsides, milling grain purchased from ing the parents slain. The efficiency, brutality, and
farms on the Dividing Plains. Keyleth continues to growing rate of these attacks suggest the hunters are
work with Percival to improve the lives of her people dangerous professionals, and the Ashari are seeking
through technology and innovation. The operation of aid in finding and punishing those responsible
two of these mills is also kept private from the rest of before the locally endangered creatures are all dead
Zephrah, and they’re used to refine whitestone into or taken. The culprits, human poachers (use scout
residuum for the construction of magic items to arm statistics) led by a quasit demon named Ryzzix, are
the Ashari skydancers (see page 228). fencing the stolen eggs on the Stilben black market.
Keyleth’s confident leadership has also guided her A Welcome Overstayed (mid-level). Shaktia, an
to make further diplomatic ties between her people overbearing djinni soldier from the Plane of Air, has
and the rest of Tal’Dorei. These attempts at breaking recently discovered and come through the elemen-
down the traditional isolationism of the Ashari have tal rift into Zephrah. However, the djinni refuses to
been met with skepticism from within, slowing the leave, instead choosing to bother the people with
process to a crawl. Allowing any outsiders into Zeph- pranks, debates, and invitations to become his well-
rah at all has been seen as a huge step. Beyond this, paid servants. The Voice of the Tempest, at the end
Keyleth has pushed for greater economic and politi- of her patience, seeks adventurers to capture Shaktia
cal involvement, so that the needs of Zephrah can be and return him through the rift to the Elemental
heard in the Tal’Dorei Council. Resistance toward Plane of Air. However, when the adventurers learn
political integration has mostly been internal within what caused the djinni to leave his home plane in the
the Ashari, but Keyleth considers any progress at all first place, they may find it hard to force him to leave.
a good start.

Majority Faiths: Dawnfather
Alabaster Sierras Minority Faiths: Wildmother, Matron of Ravens,
Chained Oblivion
In the northeastern reaches of the continent, where Imports: Industrial and precious metals, cloth,
the waters of the Lucidian Ocean break between livestock, grain
the rocky shores of Tal’Dorei, a lush treeline fills Exports: Granite, limestone, whitestone
the valleys between the chalk-white bluffs of the
Alabaster Sierras. This gelid northern territory has
for decades been beyond the reach of the Tal’Dorei
Council, and fallen under the rule of the Chamber
of Whitestone. However, over twenty years ago, pine forest known as the Parchwood. This dense,
thousands of Emonian refugees fled to Whitestone temperate rainforest is beautiful and lush, but many
to ride out the devastation of the Chroma Conclave. shadowed threats loom in the dark of the wood.
These refugees included the bereaved family of the The northern center of the valley marks a single
Last Sovereign. Since those dark days, the Chamber clearing, where the humble city of Whitestone stands
of Whitestone has enjoyed a close relationship with as the source of rule and law in this land. The people
the Tal’Dorei Council. Lady Vex’ahlia de Rolo, a here have been hardened through strife and exalted
member of the Chamber of Whitestone, also sits on through freedom, enough to know honor and appre-
the Tal’Dorei Council itself, further strengthening ciate loyalty like few other civilizations do.
the bonds of unity between this once-isolated land
and the rest of the realm. Mooren River Run
Beyond Whitestone, the region’s vibrant-yet-gothic While many smaller streams and rivers run through
urban center, the Alabaster Sierras are framed by the Parchwood Timberland, gathering rain and
dangerously windy shoreside cliffs and dry, desolate snow runoff from the nearby mountains, they nearly
mountains swarming with harpies, cold-adapted all empty into the massive Mooren River Run. A
wyverns, and other hungry monstrosities. Beneath powerful river that tears through the heavy forests
the peaks, the valley opens into the thickly wooded

of the Alabaster Sierras, the Mooren River Run wood. A handful of nearby farmers swear they’ve
flows fiercely southward, out of the woods and into encountered a community of territorial centaurs in
Mooren Lake, near the Lucidian Coast. Freshwater the southern region of the Parchwood, though such
fish are in ready supply along the river’s path, and tales are largely met with derision. It’s common
Whitestone maintains a well-guarded dock for their knowledge that if you intend to travel through the
fishermen to feed their people. thick fog of the Parchwood Timberlands, you stick
The small town surrounding the dock is simply to the roads, you bring some muscle, and you pray to
called Mooren, and seasonally is home to some five whatever gods bring you comfort.
thousand people of various ancestries in the spring
and summer. When conditions grow too cold, mages Parchwood Timberlands
from Whitestone are called to place arcane locks Adventures
upon all establishments and to place the empty town Game Masters who set their adventure in the Parch-
in lockdown until next season. wood Timberlands can use these plot hooks for
Due to the plentiful nature of the river, many den- inspiration.
izens of the Parchwood wander its banks to reap its Headless Horse-Man (mid-level). The centaurs
bounty, or to seek bounty from those who frequent it. of the Parchwood are no myth, and many are suc-
cumbing to a curse of undeath. One among them, a
Mooren River Run Adventures headless stallion-lord named Ichabarr, now leads the
Game Masters who set their adventure in Mooren Herd of the Damned across the valleys of the Parch-
River Run can use these plot hooks for inspiration. wood. Several small settlements outside Whitestone
Bear of the White River (low-level). While have told the Chamber that these skeletal monsters
traveling near Whitestone or through the Parch- have been spiriting away eligible young bachelors,
wood Timberland, the characters find the corpse and soon no men will be left in the Timberlands.
of half-orc forester; a successful DC 10 Intelligence These marauders are centaur skeletons (see
(Nature) check reveals that he was savaged by a page 255). Their leader Ichabarr uses the same
large bear. This half-orc’s forester clothing marks statistics, and can also use the optional Ethereal
her as a cleric of the Stormlord and a member of the Stride feature.
Rivermaw herd, a long way from the Dividing Plains. They Seek Only Rest (high-level). Those who
Investigating the scene shows that bear tracks in the travel the Parchwood sometimes hear thunder roll
mud lead westward, toward the Mooren River Run. through the valley, accompanied by the cracking of
These tracks, when followed, soon fade into the bare timbers, but no storm follows. Over twenty years
footprints of a humanoid—the killer was a werebear, ago, the Briarwoods slaughtered and reanimated an
but who could it be? entire clan of giants native to the Parchwood. Some
Off-Season Suspicion (mid-level). The cold of these zombie giants survived the fall of the Briar-
nights of autumn and winter force even the most woods. Most of these giants have been destroyed by
stalwart fisherfolk away from Mooren. Some Mooren the Grey Hunters, but a few still remain. However,
residents who have returned to Whitestone for the their mindless actions are not without purpose: each
off-season have seen lights in the abandoned town, giant is tormented by being denied the halls of their
and are spreading rumors that some of the mages ancestors, and quietly weeps for their lost afterlife as
contracted to “lock up” after everyone has left town they roam.
are actually agents of the Myriad. The truth is that Zombie giants can be represented by changing any
these mages are mercenaries hired by the League giant’s type to undead, decreasing its AC to 8, giving
of Miracles to secretly conduct experiments on cold it resistance to bludgeoning damage from nonmagi-
snap spirits (see page 234) to transform them into cal attacks, and giving it immunity to poison damage
loyal elemental warriors. and the poisoned condition. This does not affect its
challenge rating.
Parchwood Timberlands
Dark, dense, and often assailed by snow and cold Salted Bluffs
winds, the Parchwood Timberlands consume most The tumultuous waters of the Lucidian Ocean that
of the valleys within the Alabaster Sierras with pine encompass the northeast edge of Tal’Dorei end at
trees and heavily overgrown pathways. The grim the towering seaside cliffs called the Salted Bluffs.
and forbidding interior of the Parchwood is home to These cliffs mark the coastal boundary of the Ala-
many grim inhabitants, from the spectral remains of baster Sierras and are home to seemingly infinite
unlucky travelers past to wandering blights spawned cliffside caverns that overlook the ocean, sometimes
by corrupt trees that consume the life around them. hundreds of feet up. The waters along the base are
Howls can be heard in the darkest of nights, giving rocky and dangerous to traverse by boat, and only
rumor to werewolf hunting parties that stalk the the most skilled of captains even consider sailing

through these treacherous waters. These factors
make the Salted Bluffs an ideal hideaway for pirates,
who have taken to these bluffs to hide away their
riches or build a base of operations.
However, these outlaws must also deal with the
colonies of harpies native to the region. They can
never be too sure if a cave they’re holing up in for
the evening is abandoned—or if it’s home to a beast
of alluring song and shredding talons. Even empty
caves house the remains of these harpies’ brutal
kills, for they sweep up unsuspecting creatures and
dash them against the cliffs and rocks, recovering
the broken corpses to feed upon safely.
Salted Bluffs Adventures

Game Masters who set their adventure on the Salted
Bluffs can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
Crow’s Nest (low-level). The Ashwing harpy tribe
that roost among the Salted Bluffs have recently
commandeered the galley owned by the group of
penitent corsairs and started raiding coastal villages.
They are led by Captain Silvercomb, an arrogant,
dashing, and well-spoken harpy grandmother. The
other harpies are just pillaging for fun, but Silver-
comb seems to be searching for something, and she
always wears a pendant with a black feather around
her neck. What could it be?
Start Believing in Ghost Stories (low-level).
Pirates are one thing. Undead pirates are another.
A group of swashbucklers have willingly turned
themselves in to the Chamber of Whitestone, beg- beneath the waters. It’s said that no honest sailor
ging for absolution from the Dawnfather for their knows a safe passage through the channel, but
crimes. They refuse to return to the cove where they rumors abound of hidden coves and unknown routes
kept their stolen treasure since it’s guarded by the that the Revelry pirates of Wildemount’s Menagerie
zombies and skeletons of their risen comrades—as Coast use to safely traverse these deadly waters.
well as the wight that killed them. Perhaps a group
of adventurers can save the day? Shearing Channel Adventures
Game Masters who set their adventure in the
Shearing Channel Shearing Channel can use this plot hook for
inspiration.
Long ago, a land bridge once connected the land- Scion of Oblivion (epic-level). The Chained Obliv-
masses of Tal’Dorei and Wildemount. However, the ion has no physical form, but some residue of its
catastrophic forces of the Calamity blasted it apart, power was cast into the ocean when the Dawnfather
leaving in its place a deathly strait of jagged rock and pursued it from the Alabaster Sierras to Gatshadow.
gale-force winds. Numerous ships have been ruined This seed of evil has had eons to gestate undisturbed
against the tides of the channel, and sea creatures in the tempestuous channel—and now it rises. A
that thrive on wreckage have taken up residence kraken, mutated by the Oblivion’s aberrant power,
explodes from the water. Its mere presence causes
the flesh and minds of sailors to fuse to their ships,
sea creatures to hideously mutate into humanoid
Amidst fluted white bones, serenaded by siren’s call. abominations, and the clouds above to rain thick,
‘Twas there did I bury my treasures, one and all. ichorous black droplets. A storm now lingers perma-
But deaf and blind must the finder be, nently over the Shearing Channel, and forces from
Lest a briny death be that which ye truly seek. Whitestone and the Menagerie Coast of western
Wildemount relay frantic messages, seeking to some-
—From a fragment of a treasure map how halt this evil. It seems to be building an army
here for some larger attack. What is it planning?

Whitestone turned to necromancy and vampirism themselves,
and have fled into the Alabaster Sierras to learn
Small City: Population 17,710 (78% humans, 7% hal- the secrets of the Briarwoods’ foul magic—and to
flings, 6% dwarves, 4% tieflings, 5% other races) emulate their takeover of Whitestone. The enigmatic
Over two hundred years ago, the de Rolo family Grey Hunters, the secretive elite warriors of the
helmed an expedition from Wildemount to the shores Chamber of Whitestone, have worked tirelessly to
of Tal’Dorei. When their vessel wrecked upon the pull out the Remnants by their roots, but perma-
stones of the Shearing Channel, the de Rolos and nently eliminating them seems an impossible task.
their remaining crew survived for weeks in the Ala-
baster Sierras, despite the tempestuous weather and An Enchanting Export
slavering beasts. After a time, the survivors found One of the climactic battles of the Calamity was
a clearing containing a single tree that glowed with a clash between the stalwart Dawnfather and
the radiance of the sun itself. They called it the Sun the engine of callous destruction known as the
Tree—a literal blessing of the Dawnfather himself— Chained Oblivion. This battle came to a dramatic
and built their home around it. and explosive conclusion in the Alabaster Sierras.
Since then, the de Rolos’ pioneering settlement The unstable arcane forces unleashed in their battle
has grown into a robust, if isolated, city. The sights created the valley that now houses the Parchwood,
of the city range from the gothic majesty of Castle thrusting the surrounding mountains upward and
Whitestone to the radiant glory of the Sun Tree, infusing them with incredible amounts of residuum—
and from the quaint townhouses of the city center the physical residue of arcane energy.
to the humble homesteads of its outlying townships. The sheer amount of leftover arcane power within
Because Whitestone is limited in fertile farmland, the whitestone of the mountains is incredibly recep-
locally grown produce is scarce, leading to the neces- tive to enchantment. Magic items that incorporate
sity to develop a good trade relationship with the at least an ounce of whitestone into their construc-
rural communities of the Turst Fields. tion require only one-quarter the creation time of
Though the region’s scarcity of vital resources other magic items. Some alchemists in Emon have
made for a harrowing first few years, the de Rolo discovered that dissolving whitestone with specific
family stumbled upon a miraculous mineral they acids can leave behind pure residuum, which can
called whitestone. This geological marvel both gave substitute for expensive spell components when such
their city its name and quickly became its most materials are not readily available.
important and most sought-after export. Before long, If a spell has a component cost that consumes the
the de Rolos’ sale of whitestone allowed them to component, its caster can substitute the required
quickly amass a significant fortune and construct a component for an amount of residuum of an equal
princely keep within their city. value. One pound of pure residuum is worth approx-
The city is constantly improved (and unsettled) imately 500 gp in most markets, though it becomes
by the brilliant tinkering of Percival de Rolo. His extremely expensive and difficult to find outside of
greatest creation, the Heart of Whitestone, overlooks Emon or the city of Whitestone itself.
the city. Most prominent these days, however, is a Residuum can also be heated and blown into glass,
rudimentary electric light grid. Using acid pits in the forming a shimmering, greenish surface. Residuum
relatively unexplored caverns beneath the city as a slates or orbs can be used in stationary enchant-
sort of battery, six dozen electric lamps throughout ing tables. Archmages willing to pay exorbitant
the city are given just enough power to gently illumi- rates—easily 20,000 gp or more—may acquire an
nate the streets, the watch posts on the castle, and enchanting slate that can be used to expedite the
the city walls with a soft, greenish glow all through creation of all magic items. Using such a table allows
the night. anyone crafting a magic item to do so in one-quarter
of the usual time.
Scars of the Briarwoods
Lady Delilah and Lord Sylas Briarwood, former cult Government
leaders of the Whispered One, were ousted from For many years, the de Rolo family ruled Whitestone
Whitestone over twenty years ago. Though they are with dignity and justice. Their noble rule was broken
no more, the evil they committed still lingers. The by Delilah Briarwood, an exiled necromancer of
nearly six years they ruled Whitestone sapped life the Cerberus Assembly from Wildemount, and her
and hope from its people. Though homes have been vampire husband, Sylas. Together, they slaughtered
rebuilt and the Briarwoods’ undead monstrosities the family, took over Whitestone, and plunged the
have been eradicated, the trauma of the vampires’ city into despair.
reign of terror will linger for generations. Some peo- Nearly six years later, Vox Machina returned
ple of Whitestone were so deeply affected that they with Percival, the only known de Rolo heir, and

discovered that his sister Cassandra also still lived. Grey Hunters. An elite force called the Grey
The heroes defeated the Briarwoods and expunged Hunters makes up the most secret of Whitestone’s
their evil from Whitestone, and the de Rolo siblings defenses. Trained in the arts of hand-to-hand
founded a new system of governance: the Chamber combat, marksmanship, espionage, and etiquette,
of Whitestone. the Hunters have a reach that extends across all
This council consists of members appointed by Tal’Dorei, but they exist only as a rumor in the eyes
the Guardian of Woven Stone, who is to remain a of the public—and they answer only to the Grand
member of the de Rolo bloodline as long as it exists, Mistress of the Grey Hunt.
or until the rest of the Chamber unanimously agrees The firearms wielded by members of the Grey
there are no suitable de Rolos to accept the position. Hunters are custom-made and named by their owner.
Their rifles’ stocks are made of Parchwood inlaid
Defense with whitestone and enchanted against wear with
Whitestone’s first line of defense is made up of the residuum. The lock mechanism bears the White-
obelisk wards. Hastily constructed during the time stone crest. Hunters are trained to meticulously
of the Chroma Conclave to avoid detection by their care for their weapons, and many learn enough
roving wyvern armies, five whitestone obelisks mark to make personal modifications, or even build
the perimeter of the city and castle grounds. These one from scratch. A Hunter must never lose their
obelisks form a dome of illusory magic when pow- weapon. If they cannot prove it was destroyed, they
ered by an arcane spellcaster, hiding the city under aren’t permitted to return to Whitestone until it is
the guise of continued, undeveloped Parchwood, and recovered—although they may request help from
shielding everything within from arcane detection. other Hunters in retrieving it. If they come across a
The obelisks haven’t been used since the attack of weapon of Whitestone in the wrong hands, they are
the Chroma Conclave and are beginning to be cov- honor-bound to return it to the city.
ered by graffiti and overgrowth. This covert organization is headquartered in the
For each spell slot that is syphoned into an ruins of a failed city expansion deep beneath the
obelisk, two hours of illusion is powered per spell eastern Parchwood. This base is used for training,
level sacrificed, and the cover of the illusion barrier for weapon storage, and as a repository for their mis-
is incomplete unless all five obelisks are powered sion logs, so that a complete record of every Hunter
simultaneously. This siphoning is a taxing expe- and their weapons can forever be kept. As with many
rience, and for every 30 spell levels sacrificed of his inventions, Percival de Rolo fears that the
within a 24-hour period, the caster gains 1 level of Hunters are a powerful—and even necessary—tool
exhaustion. in the hands of the righteous, but a terrible weapon,
In addition to this rarely used magical ward, three should they be perverted to suit evil.
groups of defensive personnel protect Whitestone
from both within and without. Crime
Pale Guard. The people of Whitestone rely upon The community of Whitestone has endured much
the Pale Guard to resolve any (admittedly rare) hardship, from its shipwrecked beginnings to the
crimes and disturbances of the peace. The Pale bloody reign of the Briarwoods. Its hardy people
Guard are a force of sentinels who answer to the are generally more concerned with personal duty,
Pale Lord of Wardship. Since criminal activity is small comforts, and the creation of new art and
fairly low these days, most of the Pale Guard are technologies than with the pursuit of easy profit. The
given other civic tasks to help Whitestone’s people. Myriad has tried several times to gain a foothold in
These tasks range from helping newcomers navi- Whitestone, but they’ve been foiled time and again by
gate the city streets to escorting visiting dignitaries the consistent counterespionage efforts of the Grey
to diplomatic functions. While performing a duty that Hunters. Nevertheless, they continue to try, and their
requires it, members of the Pale Guard are permitted presence has inspired petty theft throughout the city.
to carry simple, three-barrel pepperbox revolvers. The altruistic Lord Percival and Lady Vex’ah-
Whitestone Rifle Corps. The defense of the city lia of Whitestone prefer to address crime at the
from outside invaders and threats from the darkened source—poverty and suffering—rather than punish-
boughs of the Parchwood Timberlands is attended ing criminals. Likewise, most petty criminals are
to by the Whitestone Rifle Corps, who are trained in seen in Whitestone as worthy of rehabilitation, not
the deadly long-range rifles created by Percival de punishment.
Rolo. They are only permitted to wield the weapons
while patrolling the city walls or castle battlements— Geography
except in times of emergency, or when granted Whitestone was originally constructed around the
special permission by the Chamber of Whitestone. newly discovered Sun Tree, and has slowly expanded
outward ever since. Castle Whitestone was built atop

a small hill overlooking the city to the north. Over it with the Chamber of Whitestone—on which they
the years, farmers and homesteaders have cleared each hold a seat.
more and more of the Parchwood to the south of The castle’s interior has a certain stark regality
the city. Even today, as Whitestone’s population has to it. While the hunting trophies and tapestries that
swelled, the Parchwood remains defiant, dark, and decorate its walls are clear signs of the de Rolos’
threatening. It is in little danger of being overrun by ancestral wealth, there is a solemn, beautiful hol-
mortals, and its eerie creatures strike back whenever lowness to its corridors. Cassandra de Rolo says
the people of Whitestone press against it too greed- that something of her brother’s melancholy seeped
ily. The Grey Hunt was formed to keep the deadly into its whitestone walls, and the castle will always
denizens of the woods at bay, though now their pur- carry the weight of his sorrow—and of the Briar-
view reaches farther than just the Parchwood. woods’ evil.
Dawnfather Square is the central district of The castle itself is generally off-limits to the public,
Whitestone. The square surrounds a small hill, but its grounds are more accessible. The Whitestone
and the golden glow of the revered Sun Tree that Rifle Corps train in a firing yard behind the castle,
sits atop it can be seen throughout the city. Many of and many people of the town flock to watch—only
Whitestone’s original settlers already worshiped the to be politely rebuffed by the Pale Guard. Open to
Dawnfather, and the discovery of the Sun Tree was all, however, are the gardens—except for Percival
seen as a sign. Today, Dawnfather Square is filled de Rolo’s latest project, the Widow’s Garden. This
with quaint, bustling shops and small townhomes. walled garden was named for Lady Melanie de Rolo,
who originally cultivated its deadly blooms to slowly
Points of Interest murder her husband. The Widow’s Garden used to
The City of Whitestone has a number of famous land- be a macabre menagerie of poisonous plants from
marks. They are keyed to the map of Whitestone. across Wildemount. It fell fallow during the reign of
1. Castle Whitestone. This gothic fortress was the Briarwoods, but Percival has resurrected it with
erected not long after the city’s founding, and has Keyleth’s horticultural aid.
long been the seat of power for the sovereign de Rolo 2. The Sun Tree. After the Chained Oblivion
family. Percival and Cassandra de Rolo have opted nearly consumed the Knowing Mistress during the
to end their absolute power over the city by sharing Calamity, a furious and vengeful Dawnfather pur-
sued the fleeing Oblivion across the mountaintops

and over the sea, to the peak of Gatshadow, where though small clubs of scholars and esotericists take
the mad god was eventually defeated and impris- great joy in unraveling its mysteries. Further, it has
oned once again. The land wept with pain as the two long been rumored that Percival secreted a vault
wrathful gods laid waste to Tal’Dorei. within the tower’s innards to safeguard his most dan-
After his victory, the Dawnfather returned to gerous inventions.
Whitestone and placed a single seed into the ground 5. Snowdrop Memorial Trail. In the east of the
where the Knowing Mentor was nearly destroyed. city, winding between the Grey Hunt Estate and the
The god wept, and from the seed grew a symbol of temple to the Matron of Ravens, is a private trail
protection—a tree with radiant orange foliage and a through the woods. Only locals know of this trail,
golden glow that surrounds it when in bloom. The and even among them, few know that the path was
Sun Tree became a beacon of light within the dark made by Keyleth of Zephrah on one of her many
forest that enclosed it. While the extent of the tree’s visits to the city. Countless snowdrop flowers line
divine power remains a mystery, it stands as an this secluded track, and they are tended to by Lady
emblem of unity and hope, both within the city of Vex’ahlia when she has time away from her duties to
Whitestone, and upon its official crest. both the Chamber of Whitestone and the Tal’Dorei
3. Temples and the Greyfield. A patch of land Council. The significance of this memorial garden
outside the eastern wall of the city sees generations isn’t listed on any plaque, but most in Whitestone
of Whitestone's dead interred within a graveyard have an inkling that it’s dedicated to a beloved cham-
known as the Greyfield. Custody of this cemetery is pion of the god of death.
shared by the Temple of the Dawn and the Altar of 6. Grey Hunt Manor. The estate of the Grand Mis-
the Raven, sanctuaries maintained by the clergy of tress of the Grey Hunt is rarely used by the current
the Dawnfather and the Matron of Ravens, respec- holder of that title these days, as all her nights not
tively. Since most people in Whitestone consider spent away on Tal’Dorei Council business are passed
the Dawnfather their patron deity, the Temple of the with her family in Castle Whitestone. Members of
Dawn is the largest of these shrines. The smaller the Grey Hunt still use it as a formal meeting place—
Altar of the Raven is right next door, and most well- though meetings of true import take place in their
to-do devotees of the Dawnfather look upon the dour, secret lair in the eastern ruins (area 11).
dark-robed clerics of the Matron of Ravens with a 7. House of the Lawbearer. This temple is both
mixture of awe and unease. a place of worship and a stately courthouse. All who
The temples’ grounds also house a number of enter are sworn to tell the truth by the vigilant clerics
mausoleums containing the remains of long-forgot- of the Lawbearer—for the entire building is under
ten noble families, though the last generation of lost the protection of a vast, permanent zone of truth
de Rolos were not recovered following the rule of spell. This protection is fallible, but it sends a clear
the Briarwoods. Traces of the Briarwoods’ defiling message to all who enter.
magic still linger within the Greyfield, and the Pale 8. Slayer’s Cake Bakery. Founded by members of
Guard are posted here at night to quell the restless Vox Machina, the Slayer’s Cake has quickly become
dead that occasionally claw their way to the surface. one of the most beloved bakeries in Tal’Dorei, and it
4. The Heart of Whitestone. A majestic clock has a satellite shop in Emon. It ships bread and pas-
tower called the Heart of Whitestone stands proud tries to Nicodranas in Wildemount via teleportation
and tall over the city. It is Percival de Rolo’s favorite circle weekly, and the bakery’s owners are thinking
invention, one he dedicated much of the past two of expanding.
decades to constructing to honor his loyal friends, 9. Lord Trinket’s Public Park. A section of the
their sacrifices, and the trials they endured together. Parchwood to the west of the city was cleared in
The area around it is known as Forlington Square, the aftermath of the Whispered One’s defeat in
named for one of the first families to settle in anticipation of a major expansion. However, more of
Whitestone. This bustling courtyard is lined with the Emonian refugees left the city than anticipated,
shops and street performers that attract locals and leaving these plans untenable, but the forest already
tourists alike. cleared. At the request of Vex’ahlia, Grand Mistress
The clock tower’s construction was completed five of the Grey Hunt, the space was transformed into a
years ago, but Percival continues to tinker with it, public park that she uses to play with her now-ven-
adding both functionality and self-indulgent embel- erable brown bear, Trinket—and a lifelike marble
lishments. The tower has individual movements statue of that same bear, clad in magnificent armor,
for most major holidays (see page 9), including stands in its center.
depictions of famous moments and persons from Portions of this city expansion did eventually
Whitestone history. The clock tracks the movements come to pass, and now several manor houses have
of the moons, stars, and spheres. The mechanics of been built near the edge of the park to house visiting
the clock are only truly understood by Percy himself, dignitaries.

10. Galdric’s Gate. The new, northwestern gate of
Whitestone opens onto the Timberland Trail, which Dividing Plains
grants hunters easy access to the city when they Tal’Dorei’s vast heartland, framed by the Stormcrest
return from expeditions into the Parchwood. Mountains in the southwest, the Cliffkeeps in the
11. Eastern Ruins. Whitestone’s first expansion north, and the Summit Peaks in the south, contains
in recent times happened just after the fall of the miles and miles of rolling hills, tallgrass prairies,
Whispered One, to accommodate the city’s large sky-blue rivers, and fertile farmlands. Within these
refugee population. However, a mix of social unrest plains, the hardworking people of the realm tend
and monstrous incursions from the Parchwood to their fields and businesses while adventurers
stymied the project, and the bones of the expansion and village militias battle back the wild beasts and
were left to fall into ruin. No attempt has been made wandering bandits of the region. The safest way
to reclaim the ruins, but the Grey Hunt have made a to avoid being beset by monsters is to travel the
secret base of operations in the basement of a mag- Silvercut Roadway, which slices through the endless
nificent temple not yet dedicated to any god. plains, connects the coasts, and shepherds caravans
12. Hearth of the Everlight. Established by between them. Of course, the roads are coursing
Pike Trickfoot in the years following Vox Machina’s with highwaymen and bandits, so which route is
victory over the Whispered One, this humble temple safer is entirely up to the traveler to decide.
stands as a bastion of welcoming light and shelter Cults of the Betrayer Gods also prey upon the
to those seeking solace and direction. Within its people of the plains. The most fearsome of these
stone walls, the faithful of the Everlight study her death cults are the Ravagers, a bloody band of war-
philosophy of compassion and fierce protection. Still, riors exiled from cities and nomadic clans alike. All
the temple is far from tranquil—the congregation people of the plains fear the Ravagers, and even the
also hosts monthly fêtes and revels as a part of their smallest villages train people old enough to hold a
worship in the image of their exuberant founder. spear how to defend their homes. Beyond the grassy
plains, owlbears and other monstrosities stalk the
Whitestone Adventures forests and foothills that dot the plains and border it
Game Masters who set their adventure in Whites- on many sides. Packs of centaurs also gallop across
tone can use these plot hooks for inspiration. the open plains, delivering the Arch Heart’s justice
Dad Scientist (any level). Percival de Rolo doesn’t as they see fit.
usually involve outsiders in his creative process.
However, when his youngest daughter Gwendolyn The Bramblewood
takes one of his latest creations and disappears into Surrounding the base of the southernmost stretch
the dungeons of Castle Whitestone, he has no choice of the Cliffkeep Mountains is the Bramblewood, a
but to rally all adventurers in Whitestone to join him, dark and tangled forest named for its jagged, thorny-
Vex’ahlia, and the city’s elite warriors in scouring the barked trees. The Bramblewood’s impenetrable
dungeons for his missing girl. canopy and thick, gnarled roots give it an ominous
Matter of Some Importance (low-level). The appearance, but its eerie boughs are populated with
Castle Whitestone library recently acquired a new countless deadly beasts. It’s a grim warning to all
book containing unprecedented knowledge about who would dare approach Gatshadow, the mountain
the Outer Planes, but opening the tome also opens of despair: come no closer if you value your life.
an infernal portal that summons a steady stream of Yet despite this, without the abundant game and
imps. The characters are hired by Head Librarian JB plentiful timber of the Bramblewood, the nearby city
Trickfoot to keep the imps out of her hair—and out of Westruun would likely not exist. A trade city with
of the library, please—while she scours the tome for nothing to trade rarely lasts long, and the Bramble-
information. wood ensures that local carpenters, artisans, and
Grey Hunt (high-level). The characters have been tradesfolk always have plentiful resources. For those
recommended to the Grand Mistress of the Grey brave enough to venture into the Bramblewood, a
Hunt as formidable adventurers by an unknown
pair of well-tread paths have resisted its overgrowth;
ally—or adversary. Vex’ahlia de Rolo considers them
one leads to the iron-rich Murdoon Mines at the base
cautiously, but offers them the chance to prove them-
of the Cliffkeeps, while the other winds upward to
selves worthy of the title of Grey Hunter. She sets
Gatshadow’s storm-wreathed peak.
them a task to be completed within the next three
months: track down a legendary ember roc (see page Bramblewood Adventures
238) in the Cliffkeep Mountains and claim its head
Game Masters who set their adventure in the Bram-
as a trophy. Of course, she knows that this quest blewood can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
is more than just a hunt; the question is, will the Haunted Road (mid-level). Local folklore speaks
characters realize it takes more than just skill to join of a spectral young woman sometimes appearing
the hunters?

Majority Faiths: Wildmother, Lawbearer,
Platinum Dragon
Minority Faiths: Stormlord, Everlight, Ruiner,
along the road through the forest, sobbing and Strife Emperor, Chained Oblivion
leading men deeper into the Bramblewood to never Imports: Fish, gold, diamonds, spell components
be seen again. While these tales are generally con- Exports: Lumber, grain, produce, cobalt, iron,
sidered childish ghost stories, a mining crew was silver, livestock
recently found dead near the fabled spot, unwounded
and with looks of terror stretched across their life-
less faces. A banshee, aided by the specters of those
she has slain, hungers for the sweet taste of another
adventurer’s dying breaths. Foramere Basin
Blood of the Ruiner (high-level). The Shields, This great lake was once the ice fortress of Errevon
Westruun’s beleaguered soldiery, have tracked a cell the Rimelord, the elemental behemoth that nearly
of Ravagers to a base in the Bramblewood. They toppled the fledgling realm of Tal’Dorei just two
have conducted a foul ritual to the Ruiner to turn years after its founding. It was here that the com-
their cult master, an elf named Kalydria Darkeye, bined forces of Kraghammer, Syngorn, Tal’Dorei,
into a Ravager slaughter lord (see page 249). They and the Ashari hurled the Rimelord back into the
have also transformed a number of the giant spiders Elemental Plane of Ice and brought an end to the
endemic to the Bramblewood into hideous demon- Icelost Years. The massive lake left behind by Errev-
feed spiders (see page 236) through the same on’s melted citadel is now the largest source of fresh
bloody ritual. The Ravagers have created a makeshift water in central Tal’Dorei.
fortification, and the Shields need to know what their Foramere Basin’s shores are peppered with tiny
next move is—an infiltration mission only powerful huts and fishing communities that trade with Kymal
adventurers are capable of completing. and Westruun. The great lake is fed by three rivers
that give life to the Dividing Plains: the Byhills, the
Tundrun, and the Wildpath. After especially hard
winters, these rivers run hard and fast, and the

overflows spill into the Foramere Waterway, which From a distance, Ironseat Ridge does resemble a
flows into Owlset Bay, near Stilben. crooked chair. Whether or not this legend is true
Some of these fishing villages are home to the hardly matters; the tales of Ironseat Ridge permeate
descendants of the fighters that warred against the the folklore of the plains.
Rimelord’s tyranny. Even in times when Syngorn The mountains surrounding Ironseat itself have
and Kraghammer were bitter rivals, the elves been hollowed out over the centuries, and other
and dwarves here took no part in their home- legends say that the ruins of an abandoned dwarven
lands’ hatred. redoubt called Inverspire can be found by explorers
savvy enough to navigate the labyrinthine tun-
Foramere Basin Adventures nels—and that it’s surely filled with monsters and
Game Masters who set their adventure in Foramere vast riches. Legends aside, countless abandoned
Basin can use this plot hook for inspiration. mineshafts do snake through the stone like the veins
Nightmare Before Winter’s Crest (mid-level). of a dead titan. When the winds grow strong, you
The festival of Winter’s Crest celebrates the anniver- can sometimes hear a terrible, growling moan from
sary of the Rimelord’s defeat and the fall of Foramere the air pressing through the empty channels. People
Citadel. The characters, far from home on the holi- from Kymal rarely venture close enough to the moun-
day, are not only witness to the fishing communities tains to hear the noise, but sometimes on clear, silent
on the banks of the basin gathering to celebrate Win- nights, the monstrous sound echoes through Kymal’s
ter’s Crest, but to the grim sight of Foramere’s waters brightly lit streets.
surging upward from the basin. The water has begun
to freeze into towers of ice—someone or something Ironseat Ridge Adventures
is recreating the domain of Errevon the Rimelord Game Masters who set their adventure in Ironseat
and will not stop until all of Tal’Dorei is buried in ice. Ridge can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
The Beast Below (any level). It’s one of those still
Ironseat Ridge nights where the howls of the Ironseat echo across
the plains. The next time the characters spend a
The gnolls and hillsfolk of the Dividing Plains say
night in town, whether in Kymal or any small village
the crooked, angular mountain that juts out of the
of the plains, they learn of disappearances—explor-
plains and foothills was once the throne of a titan.
ers that went into the caves, never to return—and of

the hefty reward their grieving families are offering booming city. Gold and minerals came out of Kymal,
for their return. What could be making that awful and all the pleasures of home followed. Music, the-
wailing in the caves? Werewolves? Kidnappers using ater, sex, food, liquor, drugs, trinkets—if you could
the echoing caverns? want it, you could find it in Kymal. Anything you
Dead Fires of Inverspire (epic-level). The mythic could spend money on was there, and people spent
redoubt of Inverspire contains a legendary creation money like the world was ending. The rich binged
of the All-Hammer: a forge guardian (see page anything they could get their hands on to pretend
239). It was placed here by the All-Hammer during they were important, and poor folk indulged in what-
the Calamity to watch over a forge with the power ever comfort they could find from their wretched
to create arms and armor fit only for a war between existence in a town where money meant everything.
gods and mortals. Over twenty years ago, the ele- In time, of course, the veins ran dry. Ten years
mental power of the Cinder King somehow ignited after Kymal boomed into being, it went bust. The
this divine creation’s ashen heart and filled it with miners packed up and left. Not many of them had
elemental life. It has turned to the forge it was made struck it rich; in fact, most folk were worse off than
to guard, and has begun creating beings of steel and they had been before. In the intervening centuries,
flame that will tear Tal’Dorei apart stone by stone in Kymal has gone through too many cycles of boom
order to find its missing father, the All-Hammer. Only and bust to count. New veins of gold or mithral or
definitive proof of the All-Hammer’s imprisonment adamantine have been found in the mountains, and
beyond the Divine Gate can quench the guardian’s people rush in to claim it. Or a cunning entrepreneur
anguished flames. comes up with a scheme to put Kymal on the map—
and it works, for a few years, before the con runs
Ivyheart Thicket its course and people are right back to where they
were before.
Clustered at the western side of the Ironseat Ridge,
Most folk here make a modest living in rural
this thicket contains the ruins of an ancient civili-
villages surrounding Kymal’s city center, or trawling
zation that remains under study by the Alabaster
the nearby Foramere Basin for fish, and are trying to
Lyceum. Among scattered relics and the rubble of
build interest as a trade center like Westruun, though
forgotten villages lie references to the Founding: the
without much luck. Kymal’s most recent change of
first age of the world. The excavation pushes onward
fortune, however, has yet to run dry. Some seventy
under the watch of the Lyceum, with the promise of
years ago, an entrepreneur from Ank’Harel named
discovery looming, but very little understanding of
Calis Krishtan opened a small casino called “The
what may be found beneath.
Maiden’s Wish.” It started something of a gold rush
The western edges of these ruins are the most dan-
of its own, one that continues to this day.
gerous—and the most alluring—part of the Ivyheart
The city has grown over the past seventy years,
Thicket. A vast, well decorated with ivy-crept marble
becoming a hub of entertainment and games of
pillars, burns with eternal fire. Explorers in the
chance in Tal’Dorei. So great was Calis’s revival of
employ of the Alabaster Lyceum say that this place
Kymal that the Tal’Dorei Council appointed his son
has become a hotbed of activity. Azer have flocked to
(and heir to the Maiden’s Wish), Jaktur Krishtan, the
it from the Elemental Plane of Fire, and have made it
Margrave of Kymal.
their home, forging beautiful bronze weapons, armor,
and objets d’art. The Lyceum reports that elemental Government
activity within the nearby redoubt of Inverspire is
Now entering old age, Margrave Jaktur Krishtan
somehow related to this elemental incursion—and
is desperately trying to maintain the boom that his
that it may be connected to the mythic fire giant
father created, while grooming his son to take over
stronghold of Vulkanon (see page 220).
his gambling empire. Krishtan has recently made
headlines across Tal’Dorei by relinquishing his
Kymal position as margrave. It’s an open secret that Jaktur
Small City: Population 29,440 (63% humans, 24% Krishtan has never had a head for governance, sim-
dwarves, 13% other races) ply enjoying the lavish, gold-plated life his casinos’
Glitzy. Gilded. Grimy. The city of Kymal stands as profits bring him. He could easily have allowed his
the grumbling ghost of a gold-rush boomtown. These advisors to continue running Kymal for him while he
days, it’s a haven for gamblers and criminals: a city of continued to throw magnificent galas, make nightly
gold built atop a mountain of mud. appearances at the Maiden’s Wish, and put his
Over two centuries before, the discovery of rich stamp of approval on glitzy parades down the city’s
gold veins within the Ironseat Ridge sent a rush of main street.
eager folk to its base. Kymal began life as their base Investigators have flocked to Kymal to uncover
camp, and over the next century it grew into a lively, the truth of Margrave Krishtan’s sudden change of

heart. All suspect that the truth is a salacious secret,
one which would shake Kymal to its foundations.
Ruins of Torthil
Krishtan himself seems unperturbed. He continues While traveling south of Kymal along the Wildwood
to live large as he always has, his detractors don’t Byway, just outside of the Ivyheart Thicket, travelers
disparage him any more than usual, and the public can spot a mile-wide cluster of broken stone, salted
that loves him hasn’t changed their tune. earth, and a single obsidian monument to the death
Jaktur’s former majordomo, an austere tiefling of Warren Drassig, one of the most infamous and
woman named Khavasta “Prudence” Almiji, has terrible figures in Tal’Dorei history. This scarred
taken up the mantle of Acting Margrave with quiet patch of land marks the ruins of the village of Torthil,
satisfaction. It is, after all, the title that she should which was the site of a pivotal battle of the Scat-
have had for the past thirty years, and she hopes tered War—one in which King Warren Drassig was
that the Tal’Dorei Council will see fit to appoint her ambushed and slain by a rebel army.
margrave permanently in very short order. The city was destroyed in an act of vengeance by
Warren’s eldest son Neminar over two centuries
Defense ago. Now, its ruins harbor only memories—and
The acting margrave commands a force of about one occasionally outlaws and cultists who use the ghost
thousand armed guards called the Public Defense. stories that surround it to avoid suspicion. The now
Despite the name, they are most often seen stationed long-weathered wreckage and broken foundations of
around the casinos owned by ex-Margrave Krishtan, the town harbor only ghosts and unsavory creatures
or working as bodyguards for Kymal’s politicians drawn to places of such dark history.
and wealthy cardsharps. Gold can buy anything in
Kymal, even the personal protection of the Pub-
Ruins of Torthil Adventures
lic Defense. Game Masters who set their adventure in the Ruins
of Torthil can use this plot hook for inspiration.
Crime Forgotten War Machine (high-level). The Ruins
Kymal is no longer the den of crime it once was, but of Torthil hold one lost secret. Buried beneath a land-
there is still scum beneath its glitzy and imperfect slide in one of the nearby hills is a platinum golem
façade. Small-time cutpurses lurk in the shadows, (see page 239). Any crests that may have indicated
waiting to make off with the small fortunes won by who it fought for— Tal’Dorei’s rebels, the elves of
the casinos’ luckiest patrons. The war between the Syngorn, or Drassig’s legions—have been scoured
Clasp and the Myriad smolders within Kymal as well, away by time. The characters are drawn to Torthil
but Acting Margrave Almiji has played her cards when exiles and criminals living in the ruins flood
carefully and intelligently. Through an intricate web into Kymal, saying that a greedy treasure hunter
of bribes, promises, and threats, she has managed awakened a metallic monster that laid waste to the
to suppress even the faintest trace of gang violence already ruined town—and is now making its way
within her city. steadily toward Kymal!
Of course, crime still occurs in Kymal. It’s just
not public and bloody. The Clasp and Myriad both Shadebarrow
own casinos in town—named the Wishing Well and No one who has visited the Shadebarrow has ever
the Dragon’s Hoard, respectively. Not many know of returned alive—but neither do they come back
these casinos’ less-than-savory proprietorship. Even entirely dead. The Shadebarrow was once a mono-
those who do fail to realize just how deeply rigged its lithic henge used as a ritual site for sun-worshiping
tables are—or how many pickpockets and swindlers druids known as the Dawn Circle, but their shrine
hide in plain sight in their gilded halls. became their tomb after Trist Drassig slew them
Moreover, the Clasp and Myriad alike have for aiding Zan Tal’Dorei in the Scattered War, cen-
immense illicit drug operations within Kymal. The turies ago.
Public Defense is technically bound to arrest anyone After Trist Drassig’s death, the trade guilds of
caught selling or possessing these substances, but Westruun laid claim to the unowned land, and from
the bulk of these arrests fall on small-time crooks there, the Dawn Circle’s abandoned and treasureless
working for these criminal organizations, almost burial tunnels were purchased from the unions at
never the high-ranking members. great cost by an eccentric Westruunian baron named
Sevil Howthess. His obsession with its history led
Geography him to be interred there upon his passing, the tomb
Kymal is built on the rocky foothills of the Ironseat outfitted with protections and, supposedly, the rem-
Ridge. Exploring beyond the glamorous city leads nants of his fortune.
one to nothing but a desolate expanse of boulders The exact location of the Shadebarrow has
and scrub-brush. been forgotten by all but the Baron Howthess’s

Illegal Drugs warriors stay well away from zeal, due both to its
If you want to include drugs in your RPG campaign, addictive nature and to the mental and physical
consider discussing with your group in a session degeneration it can cause over long periods of time.
zero (see page 149) to make sure everyone is okay When prepared properly, zeal is a purple, ashy-tast-
to encounter them in-game. If any player says no ing gel that typically costs 150 gp per dose.
or doesn’t enthusiastically buy-in, err on the side of After slathering zeal across your exposed skin
caution and leave the drugs out. It’s also important to as an action, you must make a DC 12 Constitution
check in with your group whenever drug use comes saving throw. On a failure, you become paralyzed for
into play, just to make sure everyone is still having 1d4 rounds as your muscles lock up. On a success,
fun. Additionally, while use of drugs might be fine your weapon attacks deal an additional 1d6 damage
with everyone, also make sure you know how com- for the next minute. After this effect ends, you gain
fortable your players are with explicit descriptions one level of exhaustion.
of needles, issues of addiction, and any other topics Suude. Exandria’s most infamous drug, suude is
related to drug use. a glittering powder made from residuum (see page
The Clasp and the Myriad deal in a variety of ille- 75). It was first developed by power-hungry arch-
gal, mind-altering drugs, and Kymal is the epicenter mages in the Age of Arcanum as an incense burned
of both organizations’ clientele. Though the creation to enhance focus during ritual spellcasting. The
and possession of these drugs is strictly prohibited in secret to its refinement has been lost and rediscov-
most of Tal’Dorei, they have found popularity within ered a variety of times since the Calamity, and many
all levels of society, particularly in Kymal, where the different types of suude have been developed by
Public Defense frequently looks the other way for a arcanists in search of ever-greater power. It has ter-
small bribe. rible addictive and mentally degenerative properties,
Oloore Root. This root is typically sold in teabags even when used sparingly.
for 100 gp per dose. It was originally a ritualistic tool After burning suude within a vessel and inhaling
used by the followers of many gods, but now sees its fumes as an action, you take 22 (4d10) psychic
more recreational use. Oracles used it to enhance damage and must make a DC 10 Constitution saving
their divinations, for it helped them leave their phys- throw. On a failure, you become poisoned for 1 hour
ical bodies behind and become closer to gods and and fall unconscious for 1 minute, or until you are
spirits. Drinking tea brewed from the root causes shaken awake as an action. During this time, the
intense hallucinations, which feel like they have world seems to move in slow motion, and your vision
granted perfect clarity of mind to the imbiber. is twisted in kaleidoscopic colors—yet your focus is
After drinking oloore tea as an action, you must never distorted. If one dose of suude, or more, is used
succeed on a DC 19 Constitution saving throw or within 1 hour of another, the DC of the Constitution
experience vivid hallucinations for 1d4 hours. During saving throw is increased by 5 per additional dose. If
this time, you have disadvantage on attack rolls and you fail this save by 10 or more, you instantly drop to
ability checks. If you fail the saving throw by 10 or 0 hit points.
more, your hallucinations become horrific visions On a success, you gain the ability to use one of the
and you gain a level of exhaustion. On a success, you following Metamagic options as a sorcerer for the
gain preternatural clarity, allowing you to cast the next minute, requiring no sorcery points. The type of
scrying spell once within the next 1d4 hours. Metamagic you gain access to depends on the type
Zeal. Distilled from the ichor of demons, zeal of suude, and once you use it, you can’t use it again
was originally used by Tal’Dorei’s ancient berserk- until you inhale suude again.
ers to grant them incredible strength and courage Brown suude allows you to use the Extended Spell
before battles. These days, it’s most commonly used Metamagic option, blue suude allows you to use
by criminal bruisers before a brawl. Most modern Twinned Spell, and red suude grants Distant Spell.
few surviving grandchildren, and they deny any occasionally find—the infamous crypt. If they ever
involvement with the forgotten crypt. The surviving return to civilization, it is as a wailing spirit, cursed
descendants of Sevil Howthess, Camilla Tenver and to eternally torment whoever they thought of in their
Buddleia Austan, live in Westruun, but have changed final moments, or as a shambling corpse focused
their names through marriage. Only searching only on murdering their loved ones.
through the public records in Westruun’s Hall of
Reason or seeking lore about the Shadebarrow in Shadebarrow Adventures
the Cobalt Reserve will turn up their names. The Shadebarrow is a crypt that you can turn into a
Despite the barrow’s location being lost to time, dungeon of any size in your campaign. It may have
treasure hunters and historians still seek out—and only a single layer filled with ghosts, and perhaps

a plot-important item. Or it could be a multi-level Abyss and a mighty servant of the Betrayer Gods.
dungeon with interconnected passages and a mighty The cruelty shown at the Dawn Circle so long ago
reward at the bottom, like a Vestige of Divergence drew his loathsome gaze, and for centuries he
(see page 200) guarded by a terrible monster. has bided his time, waiting for a mortal to disturb
Game Masters who set their adventure in the this nest of hate and undeath. Ever since Baron
Shadebarrow can also use these plot hooks for Howthess disturbed the Shadebarrow’s seal, this
inspiration. prince of evil has rallied an army of undeath in the
Forsaken Monolith (low-level). While traveling accursed depths of this crypt. Now, the time has
across the Dividing Plains, the characters stumble come for him to spill his plague of undeath across
upon the Shadebarrow. The ancient druidic henges the Dividing Plains. The undead are spreading to all
stand regally atop the grassy hill, and all seems corners of Tal’Dorei, and the characters must find
peaceful—until the specters of dead explorers rise the Shadebarrow and reach its deepest sanctum to
from the ground. They wail an incessant curse as halt their spread for good.
they try to kill or scare intruders away: “Defiler!
Howthess!” Silvercut Roadway
Undeath Unbound (epic-level). The Demon
Named for the shimmer of endless fields of
Prince of Undeath is one of the foul princes of the
windswept, sunlit grasses that accompany the
way, the Silvercut Roadway connects the heart
of Tal’Dorei—Emon—to its distant extremities,
affording traders and travelers some measure of
safety against the wilds. Parts of this ancient road
predate the Tal’Dorei Council, and it now runs from
the Bladeshimmer Shoreline to the Lucidian Coast,
connecting most major hubs of civilization across
the country.
Silvercut Crossroads
The Silvercut Roadway and the Wildwood Byway
meet in the shadow of the Ironseat Ridge. During
the rule of Drassig, many innocents and war heroes
were executed by hanging at a massive gallows that
once stood at the crossroads, with bodies hung from
signs as a warning to dissenters. The gallows were
destroyed by Zan Tal’Dorei’s rebel army, and the
rebels created a stone monument with an inscription
to commemorate all who lost their lives to tyranny:
The standard-bearers of revolution honor the inno-

cent dead. Vengeance will not restore the lives of the
lost, nor will it appease their spirits. We vow you will
receive justice, for justice will ensure that no more
guiltless blood shall be shed.
Most travelers choose not to camp too closely to

the site, for there are countless urban legends about
hauntings that surround this grim monument.
Silvercut Roadway Adventures

Game Masters who set their adventure on the Silver-
cut Roadway can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
The Road Warriors (low-level). While traveling
across the Silvercut, the characters come across
the smoking wreckage of a massive wagon train,
and investigation shows that it has been ransacked
after a fierce battle. A team of mercenaries called the
Road Warriors spring upon the characters, blaming
them for the attack. Investigating the wreckage turns

up unholy symbols of the Ruiner, suggesting that the centaurs have all returned to the Throne of the Arch
Ravagers were responsible for the massacre, allow- Heart once per decade to gather in a Herdsmeet to
ing the characters to easily clear their names. discuss the state of the herds, and to pay homage to
But is it really that simple? Further investigation their deity on the very hill where the first centaurs
reveals that this convoy had a number of mercenary were created. This event causes great chaos in the
mages in their midst, and many of them had con- eastern plains; the massive migration of the centaur
tracts from the League of Miracles. herds disrupts trade and stirs the Ravagers to acts of
Shard of the Shadebarrow (mid-level). A wraith terrible vengeance against the creations of the Arch
calling herself the spirit of Archdruid Avandros has Heart—the Ruiner’s divine nemesis.
animated an army of ghouls and ghasts from the
graveyard. The undead have taken over the Silvercut Throne of the Arch
Crossroads, and they must be dealt with before a Heart Adventures
national trade crisis emerges. But what is the spirit Game Masters who set their adventure in the
of an archdruid of the Dawn Circle doing in this Throne of the Arch Heart can use this plot hook for
mass grave? Sneaking into the graveyard reveals a inspiration.
human skull with sinister amethyst growths protrud- Fist of the Ruiner (mid-level). Many orcs call this
ing from the bone, and Avandros’s spirit is desperate rise the Fist of the Ruiner, for they too were created
to protect it. here in the image of their god. Legend tells that orcs
and centaurs were both created at this rise in the
Throne of the Arch Heart aftermath of a battle between the Arch Heart and
In the foothills of the Ironseat Ridge is a small rise the Ruiner. Orcs with a deep appreciation for ancient
known as the Throne of the Arch Heart: a gather- myths from across Tal’Dorei make a pilgrimage
ing place for the many nomadic centaurs who ride at the time of the Herdsmeet. Some are long-time
across the Dividing Plains. The centaurs were first friends of the centaurs, and they pay homage to the
born when the Arch Heart showed mercy to a tribe Arch Heart together in thanks for spilling the blood
of elven horse riders who gave their lives serving that created them. Other orcs join with the Ravagers
their god during the Calamity. For centuries, the to lay siege to the Herdsmeet—and the Ravagers’

bloodthirsty power is so great that orcs and centaurs here to keep the peace and prevent unlawful activity.
alike have begun hiring humanoid mercenaries to Nearly as common as the arrival of a trader’s wagon
defend the herds and pilgrims as they attempt to is an armored carriage transporting brigands, grift-
worship the Arch Heart in peace. ers, and horse thieves back to Westruun for trial.
Torian Forest Gnoll Mercy

Turst Fields has a significant gnoll population. As
Cradling the southwestern edge of the Cliffkeep
mutant beings created by demonic rituals, gnolls are
Mountain range, the Torian Forest supplies much of
shunned as monsters in most humanoid settlements
Emon’s timber, as well as Kraghammer’s firewood.
on the Dividing Plains. Nevertheless, without the
Though its locals proudly proclaim the Torian to
Dustpaw gnolls, Turst would not have survived
be the “most welcoming” and “least haunted” of
its first summer. When the village was founded,
Tal’Dorei’s forests, this is more of a myth than peo-
it was easy prey for the Ravagers. Their leader
ple realize. The forest is welcoming and bright at its
sought blood tribute from the people of Turst, but
edges, with a beautiful wetland at its northern end,
the villagers refused to offer a sacrifice. This cell of
but within its deep and unexplored heart are spirits
Ravagers had recently sought the favor of the Demon
not understood since the Age of Arcanum— and a
Lord of Slaughter, transforming a number of the
cruel and hungry wraithroot tree guarding a magical
plains-dwelling hyenas into gnolls in that pursuit.
artifact likewise not seen since time immemorial.
When the villagers of Turst refused to give up
Rivermaw Herd their own, the Ravagers unleashed the gnolls upon
them. But something unusual happened. After the
Born from the wild peoples of the Dividing Plains,
gnolls first drew blood, one of them began to weep.
free folk who shunned the constraints of society,
Then another, until all of the gnolls were howling in
the Rivermaw is the greatest of the Dividing Plains’
sorrow and fury. These beings, though infused with
herds. It now boasts a membership of nearly ten
demon ichor, turned against their creators to defend
thousand, along with a number of satellite herds that
their helpless prey.
owe their allegiance to the Rivermaw.
To this day, the Dustpaw gnolls have lingered in
Though the Rivermaw is now a mighty force for
Turst, slowly becoming trusted members of their
good on the Dividing Plains, they had humble begin-
community. Their unsettling fangs and canine faces
nings. Just two generations ago, they numbered little
upset many who travel to this village, but any who
more than three hundred half-giants, orcs, gnolls,
deride the gnolls do so at their own risk. Not at the
humans, and nomads of other races that made their
risk of mauling from a gnoll—though any humanoid
home in the Torian Forest.
being will fight back if pushed too far—but because
It wasn’t until they were conquered by the Herd of
hateful agitators will soon find themselves sur-
Storms, helmed by the tyrannical goliath Kevdak,
rounded by the spears of the Turst militia.
that a more violent way of life was forced upon them
for a number of years. Once Kevdak was slain, the Turst Fields Adventures
remaining members of both the Rivermaw and the
Game Masters who set their adventure in Turst
Herd of Storms recanted his brutal ways and become
Fields can use this plot hook for inspiration.
the Rivermaw Herd known across Tal’Dorei today.
Herd Mentality (mid-level). A half-elf, half-drag-
It is led by two goliaths: Zanroar, son of Kevdak, and
onblood Ravager slaughter lord (see page 249)
Skyhaal, daughter of Zanroar.
calling herself Grud the Great has taken control of
an arm of the Ravagers. Her highly organized regi-
Turst Fields ment worships the Strife Emperor. Now, they march
Village: Population 2,420 (40% humans, 38% on Turst to take an easy foothold in the northern
halflings, 15% gnolls, 8% other races) plains. The army is too large to be stopped by just
To the northwest of Drynna, not far from the Dawn- the characters, but a Dustpaw gnoll warrior named
mist Pines, the farming community of Turst Fields Akaksa knows of a number of nomadic groups
toils over extremely fertile land fed by the Mooren wandering nearby that could help defend the town,
River Run. Providing much of Tal’Dorei and Whites- if properly persuaded. The characters can seek out
tone’s grown food and produce, the community must the Dawnmist Herd, led by a goliath Rivermaw
import most all other commodities outside of wood, stormborn (see page 253) named Gardessk, and
making it a lucrative stop for trade caravans traveling convince him to aid the people of Turst.
along the Parchwood Way to Drynna—and an easy
target for swindlers. As such, nearly two hundred
Shields from Westruun are permanently stationed

Westruun power over the city’s defenses, along with the ability
to dissolve any business or guild, and to exile any
City: Population 51,980 (61% humans, 10% gnomes, person or group of up to ten people from the city at
7% tieflings, 5% orcs, 4% half-giants, 1% gnolls, her discretion. She rules Westruun with the aid of a
12% other races) council of ten advisors.
The city of Westruun is the center of Tal’Dorei, a
crossroads of culture along the Silvercut Roadway Defense
that welcomes adventurers, traders, and vagabonds The lord mayor commands a city guard of about
of all kinds. Despite its name, Westruun is more 1,200 trained soldiers known as the Shields of the
east than west, and was in fact named after Palest Plain, though most folk just call them the Shields.
Westruun, the trader and philosopher who founded Westruun’s soldiery is spread thin across the walls
the city. Westruun suffered under the rule of the of the city itself, stationed at the gates of the dozens
goliath tyrant Kevdak’s Herd of Storms. Worse, of outlying settlements and conducting raids against
its outlying towns and great stone buildings were small cells of Ravagers across the plains.
ravaged by the acidic breath of Umbrasyl the Hope Many people in town would like to gather their
Devourer, an ancient black dragon of the Chroma forces and put an end to the Ravagers’ death cult
Conclave who exacted tribute from her lair in the eerie once and for all, but the Shields are spread too
mountain of Gatshadow. Despite the damage inflicted thin to mount an effective offensive. Even in their
by its evil rulers, Westruun was one of the first cities current state, dozens— if not hundreds—of mer-
in Tal’Dorei to recover from the Conclave. Though cenaries, bounty hunters, and adventurers pass
its government is deeply in debt to both the League through Westruun every year in search of bloody
of Miracles and a number of adventuring parties, the work that the Shields are too beleaguered to handle
city has long since reclaimed its place of importance themselves.
as an economic, academic, and political power within
Tal’Dorei. Debt
Before he was ousted, Margrave Brandon Zimmerset
Government authorized hundreds of reconstruction bounties—
Westruun underwent a political revolution in the offers of gold to anyone who could rebuild the
wake of the Chroma Conclave’s defeat. The former immense damage the city suffered during Umbra-
margrave, Brandon Zimmerset, was a tyrant who syl’s attack and the Herd of Storms’ occupation of the
claimed absolute power for himself following Kev- city. Bounties were placed on the city’s siege-break-
dak's defeat at the hands of Vox Machina. The title of ing stone walls, majestic towers and parapets, and
margrave is a holdover from the authoritarian rule of even its iconic post-and-beam houses, many of which
Warren Drassig centuries ago, and those who hold were razed completely during the attack.
that office are appointed for life by the council. A The margrave expected these bounties to be slowly
group of local idealists called the Retrievers banded completed over decades, but they were all snapped
with adventurers and mercenaries to overthrow Zim- up and completed in a few short years by mercenary
merset a decade after he took power, and instated mages serving a group called the League of Miracles
their leader as the lord mayor instead. Elections (see page 56). The margrave was saddled with a
for the position of Lord Mayor of Westruun are crushing debt, one that he was both unwilling and
held every five years, with no term limits. All adult unable to pay before being ousted by the Retriev-
citizens of the city who have lived there for at least ers. As his successor, Lord Mayor Lysandra Kallos
five years have a vote, though only a fraction of the inherited Zimmerset’s immense debt to the league,
people actually use it. and is constantly seeking to find ways to alleviate
The Retrievers continue to be a political force in their pressure—especially as the league continues to
Westruun, and several of Westruun’s delegates to the use the debt as leverage to buy the allegiance of her
Tal’Dorei Council are members of this faction. They advisory council.
are campaigning to abolish the office of margrave
from all settlements in Tal’Dorei. Though they have Crime
broad support in the council, the council doesn’t have The Clasp has become a major and public force in
the authority to unilaterally demand its constituent Westruun since the criminal organization’s dubiously
city-states to change their system of government. The virtuous makeover following the Cinder King’s defeat
revolution-minded Retrievers are somewhat stifled in Emon. Many Clasp agents enjoy the reputation
by the need to compromise with other cities. of folk heroes across the Dividing Plains, and make
Lord Mayor Lysandra Kallos is a middle-aged public appearances in taverns and town squares
goliath and former leader of the Retrievers. She has throughout Westruun.
never lost a vote for reelection, and holds executive

Nevertheless, the fact remains that the Clasp is This ward is rife with crime. Westruun’s poorest
still a criminal organization. They have controlled citizens are pressed together in tight quarters, some-
and efficiently run their shadowy trades for decades times as little as a single city block away from the
right under the Shields’ noses. Their network of city’s wealthiest manor houses. The Clasp and the
fences runs from coast to coast, Stilben to Emon. Myriad prey upon the poor and affluent alike, often
Their hideout changes every few years, when the stoking the tensions affecting the city’s downtrodden
Shields manage to track them down. Their current to create chaos that masks their crimes. The Shields
hideout is secreted away behind the storefront of are stretched too thin to properly deal with these agi-
the Saddled Plainscow, a popular tavern owned and tators. Unlike in the Temple Ward, free expression of
operated by Clasp agents. religion is not a guaranteed right here, even within
Folk in search of real folk heroes often seek the the privacy of one’s own home. Though the Law-
covert agents of the Golden Grin (see page 54), bearer, the Wildmother, and the Platinum Dragon
who tend to wait and watch in local taverns. The are all benevolent deities, many of their Westruunian
Grin sometimes gets a bad reputation in Westruun, followers are not particularly tolerant of other faiths.
since people need help every day, but the Grinners Market Ward. Westruun’s southwestern ward
prefer to wait for just the right moment to reveal contains the majority of its businesses, trade stands,
themselves and strike against evil. and production warehouses. Some of these busi-
nesses are historic fixtures of the city, rebuilt by
Geography the League of Miracles in years past, but many sell
Miles of farmland and fields surround Westruun’s overpriced wares to cater to tourists, adventurers,
towering stone walls—except to the west, where the and the city’s wealthy elite.
city is bordered by the Bramblewood and dwarfed by It’s currently in fashion for store owners to live in
the mist-shrouded peak of Gatshadow. Nearly two a second story above their shops, though less scru-
dozen villages and towns surround the city’s walls. pulous businesspeople have turned their residences
The city’s interior is divided into six wards: into gambling dens, black markets, and illegal broth-
Scholar Ward. Westruun’s northwestern ward els. The most significant building in this ward is the
is home to the Cobalt Reserve, Tal’Dorei’s largest Exandrian Exchange, a marble-walled auction house
public library and private archive. It’s also home to where hundreds of vendors hawk rare and unusual
a number of other erudite institutions that instruct items from across Tal’Dorei. A satellite location of
knowledge-seekers from across the Dividing Plains. Gilmore’s Glorious Goods, a famed magic item shop
Westhall Academy is the most renowned of them all, in Emon, is a beloved attraction of this district.
but in the shadow of these revered institutions is the Underwalk Ward. The city’s newest ward is
College of the Savvy, a school for the arts founded by underground. It’s an extension of the residential
the storied bard and champion of intuition referred sprawl built from repurposed sections of the sewers,
to only as the White Duke. underground military bunkers, and the wine cellars
Temple Ward. The city’s small southern ward of mansions annihilated by Umbrasyl and the Herd
is replete with major temples to the Prime Deities of Storms.
and homes for their clergy. The most important The Underwalk was frantically excavated during
gods of the Dividing Plains are the Lawbearer, the the invasion of the Chroma Conclave in hopes of
Wildmother, and the Platinum Dragon, and it’s made keeping the populace hidden. It has been largely
obvious by their huge, resplendent sanctuaries in abandoned for the past twenty-four years, save for
the Temple Ward. The greatest temples here are those too poor to return even to the Residential
the First Bastion, the Wild Arbor, and the Platinum Ward, but an effort has been made in the past two
Dragon’s Rest. years to create a unique and vibrant ecosystem in
Opal Ward. Westruun’s central district is also its the Underwalk. The optimistic entrepreneurs trying
municipal heart. The ward has no residential hous- to popularize Underwalk housing hire adventurers
ing, but is home to the Lord Mayor’s Residence, the in great quantities, for every day, new and unsettling
Hall of Reason, and the public square. rumors of many-headed monstrosities prowling the
Residential Ward. The northeastern section Underwalk’s shadowed roads spread to the surface.
of Westruun is the city’s most densely populated The best-known entrance to this tangle of tunnels
ward, housing over two-thirds of its population. is the Underwalk Gates, a forty-foot-wide staircase
There are no major landmarks in this ward, though in the Residential Ward that descends into a gaping
every neighborhood in the ward has its own unique opening lit only by torchlight. Another entrance
culture. Even though tourists might not visit the known mostly to the Clasp is a single unassuming
landmarks here, there are countless local bakeries, manhole in the Opal Ward, topped with a metal
shops, and pubs beloved by its residents. cover emblazoned with the crest of Westruun.

Points of Interest
The City of Westruun has a number of noteworthy
landmarks. They are keyed to the map of Westruun.
1. Cobalt Reserve. This vast repository looks
more like a house of worship than a library. Nev-
ertheless, this landmark of the Scholar Ward is
Tal’Dorei’s largest house of knowledge, and it is
maintained and fiercely defended by the monks of
the Library of the Cobalt Soul (see page 58).
A character who spends 1 hour in the public
section of the Cobalt Reserve can make a DC 15
Intelligence (History) check, discovering any piece of
common knowledge in Tal’Dorei. On a failure, this
check can be repeated after another hour of study.
The GM can decide that the knowledge the character
seeks can only be found in the restricted archives,
which only members of the Cobalt Soul, or charac-
ters in the Cobalt Soul’s good graces, can access.
2. Westhall Academy. No university in Tal’Dorei
can hope to compete with the prestige of Emon’s Ala-
baster Lyceum, but the Westhall Academy does its
best. Its sand-colored stone walls and copper-patina
dome are an unmistakable landmark of the Scholar
Ward. They imply a stately and refined institution
with an unpretentious, workaday attitude. Most of
the Westhall Academy’s students come from humble
backgrounds, and the lord mayor does her level best
to ensure that the academy is funded enough to let
anyone from the plains who shows great promise
attend, free of cost. Mages, architects, poets, artists,
agriculturalists, and people of all disciplines can find
an education at Westhall.
3. Yuminor Observatory. Westruun is a fairly
flat city, and one tower on the edge of the Scholar
Ward looms high above the nearby Westhall Acad-
emy. It looks forever skyward, the arcanists inside
constantly charting the movements of the heavens.
A quasi-religious order of diviners and astromancers
named the Scions of Yuminor study here, supported
by the academy’s headmistress, Estella Ladimar,
who is herself a blood descendant of the heroic
wizard Atz Yuminor. The observatory is open to all,
and the diviners here will gladly give a star reading
for 10 gp, once per day. Receiving this reading allows
you to roll 1d20. Note the result—you can exchange it
for any d20 roll made by a creature you can see. This
divination fades after 24 hours. Despite the Scions
of Yuminor’s affability, something seems odd about
them, like they have stared into the stars just a bit too
long and seen something they wish they could forget.
4. First Bastion. The most magnificent of the
temples within Westruun’s Temple Ward is the First
Bastion. Dedicated to the Lawbearer, this opulent
sanctuary is a common attraction for visiting folk
of all faiths. Its magnificent, even decadent, gold-
and-marble exterior is a sight most people can’t
imagine exists upon the Material Plane—it seems
Chapter 3: Tal’Dorei Gazetteer

like nothing less than a building from the realm of all strength of spirit when chaos next threatens our
the gods themselves. The First Bastion was a secret peaceful civilization. When that time comes, may the
home for refugees during Kevdak’s occupation, and Black King unsheathe his sword to rally our people
many Westruun survivors have turned to the faith of and lead Westruun to victory.”
the Lawbearer after being protected by her grace. When the safety of all of Westruun is threatened,
5. Lord Mayor’s Residence. The Lord Mayor’s the Black King will animate and defend its people,
Residence is a squat manor in the Opal Ward. It was becoming a stone golem with a speed of 60 feet,
originally named the Margrave’s Keep, and as such, Charisma and Intelligence scores of 18 (+4), and the
it is a defensible and highly fortified compound but- ability to speak Common. Its personality is dour but
tressed against military barracks. The interior has determined—regal and single-minded in its desire to
been livened up significantly by the lord mayor, but protect its city and its people.
the exterior is still a spare, military edifice. 8. Survivors’ Legacy. The names of all those in
6. Hall of Reason. This beautiful courthouse in Westruun who survived the reign of Kevdak and
the Opal Ward is constructed in sweeping Lyren- Umbrasyl are carved on a wall in the first chamber
gornian style and bears a marble statue of the of the Underwalk. Legend has it that the memorial
Platinum Dragon above its steps. The square before was created by Percival de Rolo when the people
the courtroom steps is a forum for public gatherings of Westruun first hid here from the wrath of the
and bears a fountain depicting Palest Westruun, the Chroma Conclave after Umbrasyl’s death, but it has
founder of the city, atop an onyx horse. been expanded in the years since, now including the
7. The Black King. Palest Westruun was not a names of all who perished in the struggle as well.
king, but his new statue in the Opal Ward is often The Survivors’ Legacy is a symbol of hope,
called the Black King, a subtle jab at the city’s previ- warding away the sorrow and evil of the Underwalk
ous “Black King,” the tyrannical dragon Umbrasyl. beneath, and to this day common, folk make trips
The high priest of the First Bastion blessed both here to honor their lost loved ones. Some of the
the Black King and Westruun itself when the statue more generous folk give aid to the homeless living
was unveiled on the anniversary of Westruun’s here as well, and some more adventurous travelers
reclamation, saying, “May the Lawbearer grant us make prayers to the Dawnfather and the Matron of

Ravens here before delving into the Underwalk’s below—the terror only grows as the light from
deeper reaches. above fades.
Once per week, a character related to one of the
people named on the Survivors’ Legacy can pray Wildwood Byway
there and gain advantage on death saving throws for
Known as the oldest road in Tal’Dorei, this path
the next 24 hours.
linked the adolescent cities of Kraghammer and
Westruun Adventures Syngorn before the landfall of humankind. During the
reign of Drassig, the Silvercut Roadway intersected
Game Masters who set their adventure in Westruun
with this ancient road. Warren Drassig built countless
can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
fortifications along this road to defend his holdings
They Can’t Have Flown Away (low-level). Over
against Syngorn, a move that made him many allies
the past week, over four dozen plainscows (see page
within Kraghammer.
248), exceptional livestock and beasts of burden,
While traveling the Wildwood in broad daylight isn’t
have disappeared from Westruun’s outlying villages.
any more dangerous than riding along the Silvercut,
Left in their place were nothing but a series of five-
it’s common knowledge that the forest at the northern
foot holes in the ground and traces of acid scarring.
end of this road is fraught with danger. Wild beasts,
Farmers and caravanners alike are frightened and
cultists, and bandits make the Wildwood their home.
confused; these recurring attacks threaten to destroy
Westruun’s agriculture and disrupt commerce. Jere-
miah Sook, head of the regional Rancher’s Guild, is Cliffkeep Mountains
willing to pay a hefty bounty for the culprits. Spanning the northern reaches of Tal’Dorei, the
An Assistant’s Plight (mid-level). Just outside Cliffkeep Mountains are an impenetrable barrier
Westruun is Slaterock Tower, the abode of renowned between the Republic of Tal’Dorei and the frozen
archmage Realmseer Eskil Ryndarien (see page Neverfields. The southern foothills are dotted with
48). Normally, none are invited to the tower, but forests and pockets of civilization, standing resolute
the characters, wherever they may be, receive a mis- against the unwelcoming topography. Deep within
sive from the Realmseer’s assistant, Jekt. The letter the earth itself, the dwarven stronghold of Kragham-
claims the Realmseer has gone missing within the mer flourishes and expands, just a few scant leagues
tower, and the building itself now bars Jekt’s entry— above ancient caverns that plunge into a domain of
and apparently, the Realmseer’s exit. Upon arrival, unknowable horrors.
and confirmation of Jekt’s request, the tower seems The Cliffkeeps are the largest mountain range in all
to constantly shift its interior structure, almost of Tal’Dorei, and innumerable types of beings make
acting like a sentient entity. Challenge after deadly their homes upon the crags, in mountainside caves,
challenge is thrown at the party as they traverse the and in the miles upon miles of tunnels that descend
labyrinthine paths of the tower, only to find that the into the earth below them. Dwarves, half-giants,
Realmseer himself is actually trying to keep some- goblins, and kobolds are the best-known peoples of
thing far more dangerous imprisoned within. the Cliffkeeps, but the mountains are also home to
The Stuff of Nightmares (mid-level). Reports of the fire giants of Vulkanon, wandering ettins and hill
missing children rise once again within Westruun, giants, hungry cyclopes, frost giant marauders from
with a seemingly unrelated scourge of nightmares the Neverfields, and cave-dwelling trolls.
plaguing people old and young alike. Mystic exper- Near the earth elemental rift and the Ashari village
tise is sought to acquire information regarding either of Terrah, the mountains themselves seem to rise up
issue, but the sadistic oni, secretly responsible for in defense as earth elementals spring from the living
both, is deft at erasing its tracks. Nyx and Vryll, twin stones. Northward, peaks reach higher and winds
tiefling mages with only a single horn each, have grow colder as snow and ice take the lands to become
also recently opened a dream-reading stall, and their the frozen waste of the Neverfields. These challenges
business is booming. Are they responsible, or is their keep the common folk at bay, the secrets and spoils
exploitative business just a red herring? held within these crags calling to the brave, the clever,
Down Below (high-level). A massive sinkhole has and the foolhardy.
emerged beneath the First Bastion, taking a portion
of the temple into the darkness of the Underwalk
Ward. With the depth seemingly bottomless, and
Fort Daxio
initial investigators going missing, high priest Nestled within the Othendin Pass, north of Emon,
Umentu Helmdoff seeks the assistance of brave and Fort Daxio is a massive stronghold and series of mili-
able-bodied adventurers to find answers and save the tary structures that, under the rule of the Tal’Dorei
people still in the temple when it vanished. Only one Council, trains Tal’Dorei’s most elite warriors. The
thing is certain when descending into the unknown fortress was constructed following the Scattered
War as a strategic bulwark against opportunistic

Majority Faiths: All-Hammer, Stormlord,
Daxio, for nearly thirty-five years before he was
Dawnfather
killed at the hands of a vampire hoping to throw
Minority Faiths: Platinum Dragon, Moonweaver,
the fort into chaos. Daxio was resurrected, but is
Lord of the Hells, Scaled Tyrant
enjoying an extended holiday in Syngorn rather than
Imports: Lumber, spices, fish, grain, livestock
returning to arms.
Exports: Precious gems, industrial metals, quartz,
The Daxio Outriders are divided into four different
granite, gold, silver, platinum, mithral, cobalt,
regiments: The Dusk Regiment, the Gale Regiment,
jewelry, fungal produce, weapons, armor
the Aegis Regiment, and the Tide Regiment. Each
regiment is led by their own assigned general, all
answering directly to General Gorgofon (who in turn
humanoid and giant bandit forces in the Cliffkeep answers to the Master of War on the Tal’Dorei Coun-
Mountains, and as a hidden reserve of military might cil in times of conflict).
in the event that Emon was ever threatened. The Dusk Regiment is responsible for covert oper-
Though Tal’Dorei doesn’t maintain a standing ations across the country and is led by General Fei
army—rather, it assembles one in times of strife from Yujian, a cheerful, affable man. The Gale Regiment is
mercenaries, adventurers, and local militias—the trained in skyborne combat in addition to horserid-
forces of Fort Daxio are an exception. The legendary ing; after the Chroma Conclave was defeated, Fort
Daxio Outriders are a corps of cavaliers some four Daxio trained a variety of griffons, hippogrifs, and
thousand strong. Half their forces remain stationed wyverns to ward against airborne threats. It is led by
in Fort Daxio and its surroundings at any given time, General Jillian Sylph, a calm, tactical human with air
serving as a historic barrier between Emon and the elemental ancestry. The Aegis Regiment is charged
bandits and creatures of the Cliffkeep Mountains. with remaining in Fort Daxio to protect Emon, and
The other two thousand Outriders are spread across is led by General Elle Gorgofon herself. The Tide
the continent, typically in battalions of up to one Regiment is trained in spellcasting and ship-to-ship
hundred riders, safeguarding villages, patrolling the combat, in case Emon is ever threatened from the
Silvercut Roadway, putting pressure on the Ravag- western seas. This final regiment is led by General
ers of the Dividing Plains, or protecting traveling Kay Clearsight, a half-elf trained in the arcane arts at
diplomats. the renowned Soltryce Academy in the Dwendalian
Fort Daxio itself is led by General Elle Gorgofon, Empire of Wildemount.
a dour but diplomatic tactician. She served faithfully
under the fort’s previous leader, Warmaster Mikael

Fort Daxio Adventures with his master’s essence that the god’s banishment
Game Masters who set their adventure in Fort Daxio tore his body asunder. Today, only the empty maze
can use this plot hook for inspiration. of deadly chambers and traps remain beneath the
Vampire Hunters (high-level). Years ago, War- mountain, forgotten and awaiting discovery.
master Mikael Daxio was killed by a vampire named The high bluffs of Gatshadow have in recent years
Vrylaska Fellbranch. She disappeared without a been the home of many a villain, most recently
trace, and the Daxio Outriders have been searching Umbrasyl the Hope Devourer, the black dragon of
fruitlessly for her for years. While the characters the Chroma Conclave. Legend says that Gatshadow’s
are in Fort Daxio, a scout returns with breathless interior tunnels spiral infinitely downwards, into a
news of vampire attacks in remote settlements in the void of utter darkness. Immortal, white-eyed devo-
Cliffkeep Mountains. General Elle Gorgofon suspects tees of the Oblivion pace endlessly into Gatshadow’s
a trap, but has no choice but to mobilize the Aegis tunnels, carrying lightless torches, whispering that
Regiment—and the characters, if they accept her the secret to freeing their god from the Divine Gate is
offer of 5,000 gp—to hunt the monster down. sealed in the depths below. The stone doors that bar
Little do they know that, while the Aegis Regiment entrance to Gatshadow’s lowest reaches are sealed
is away, the vampire’s minions hidden in Fort Daxio by magic so great, even the most inquisitive of the
will come out to play. Arcana Pansophical can’t breach them—and it is well
that they cannot, for who knows what terror would
be unleashed if they were opened.
Gatshadow
The mighty mountain known as Gatshadow is a Gatshadow Adventures
spire of death that looms over the Dividing Plains. Game Masters who set their adventure in Gatshadow
Westruun sees it always upon the horizon, and the can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
most vicious monsters of the Bramblewood grow Blood of the Dragon (high-level). The body of the
cruel in its fell shadow. Folkloric tales about the evil ancient black dragon Umbrasyl was never recov-
powers within Gatshadow are told in all cultures of ered. Some think that’s a waste of a perfectly good
the Dividing Plains: stories of giant spiders in the business opportunity—after all, a black dragon’s
forest, of beings of pure shadow that dwell within the bones are a potent alchemical reagent, and its scales
mountain’s tunnels, and of the tunnels themselves, stronger than any steel.
which are so labyrinthine and shifting that no one However, there’s a reason no one has dared to
who enters will ever escape. These days, most of recover the Hope Devourer’s corpse. When Umbra-
these stories are told to keep children from wander- syl died, the caustic acid and magical blood within
ing into the forest alone—but they are far from simply his body seeped through the caverns of Upper
children’s tales. Gatshadow, devouring stone and transforming the
Gatshadow was transformed into a place of evil mountain’s upper levels into a vitriolic maze teeming
in the Age of Arcanum. Acek Orattim, a priest of with oozes, half-black dragon warriors, and the rest-
the Betrayer God known as the Chained Oblivion, less spirits of goliaths from the Herd of Storms that
made the mountain his seat of power. The Oblivion’s failed to kill the dragon.
inexorable might corrupted the mountain, stretching No Lights in the Darkness (epic-level). The
its stone-like putty until it was a jagged needle that Betrayer Gods were banished to their planes of eter-
towered over all other mountains, and etching a nal imprisonment, but something has upset the laws
mind-bending labyrinth of twisting passages into the of the planes. A being called the Nameless—suppos-
mountain’s heart. edly a cultist of the Whispered One—has stolen her
Acek spread the Oblivion’s nihilistic despair across master’s secret knowledge and fled to Gatshadow in
the Cliffkeep Mountains and the Dividing Plains search of the tortured spirit of Acek Orattim. Agents
below. All bowed before their influence their minds of the Arcana Pansophical have sensed that the
lost to unfathomable contemplation of the end of all lower gates of Gatshadow have been breached, and
things. Untold thousands died at the hands of Acek frantically call for Tal’Dorei’s greatest heroes to rush
and his god, willingly entering Gatshadow—which to the evil mountain. As the characters hurry to the
then became their tomb. bottom of the mind-sundering labyrinth within, they
The bitter cold of oblivion threatened to consume discover that they race against not only the new Her-
the land, but it was repulsed by the Dawnfather and ald of Oblivion, but also the Remnants she betrayed.
his warriors of light. The Dawnfather struck a telling
blow against the Oblivion, and doggedly pursued as
it retreated to Gathsadow. He shackled and banished
the god of the end within Gatshadow’s depths. It was
said that Acek’s mind and spirit were so saturated

Jorenn Village sacrifices if she’s to open the gates of Gatshadow, a
feat she can accomplish by teleporting up to twelve
Large Village: Population 2,480 (64% humans, creatures into the depths of the mountain with her
9% dwarves, 7% halflings, 7% gnomes, 13% whispering quartz orb.
other races)
For many years, Jorenn Village was just a tiny pio- Kraghammer
neer town trying to profit from the shadegrass of the
City: Population 73,550 (73% dwarves, 8% gnomes,
Umbra Hills. Over the past century, the village has
5% humans, 14% other races)
exploded in size and population, after plentiful silver
veins were discovered within the nearby rocky hills. Dozens of dwarven redoubts rose and fell in the
Hardworking common folk and opportunistic pros- tunnels beneath the Cliffkeep Mountains during the
pectors alike flocked to Jorenn, despite its unsettling Calamity, and in the uncertain years that followed it.
proximity to the Umbra Hills. Jorenn is far enough Legend holds that a great civilization called Uthtor
away from Emon that the influence of the Tal’Dorei once reigned supreme in the Cliffkeeps, and that all
Council rarely touches it, giving opportunists and of the deep settlements are fragments of Uthtor’s
outlaws freedom to subvert and control both the glory, fractured by the Calamity. Over the centu-
village government and the local economy. Thirty ries, these fragments divided and coalesced dozens
years ago, a small circle of vigilantes and mercenar- of times until, finally, those who remained came
ies declared themselves protectors of Jorenn, and together to create Kraghammer.
took the name Shadewatch, hunting and slaying Clan Jaggenstrike united thousands of dwarves,
creeping dangers in the night and returning to great gnomes, and other dwellers of the deep halls in
fanfare. Over the past three decades, others seeking the creation of Kraghammer. Having quietly died
fame and glory joined the ranks of the Shadewatch, out centuries ago, the clan now holds a position of
and the group ballooned into the unofficial town law mythic reverence within the city. Kraghammer’s
enforcement. founding was dedicated to the All-Hammer, divine
The Shadewatch is deeply corrupt, and it has been creator of the dwarves and patron of creation and
almost since its first year. The vigilantes personally ingenuity. This god’s industrious spirit filled the
stoke the fires of fear, all while demanding increas- people of Kraghammer and blessed them with rich
ingly galling tribute for their services—and breaking veins of platinum, mithral, adamantine, and other
kneecaps if they don’t get it. Today, the people of precious metals that have sustained them since the
Jorenn are just as afraid of the Shadewatch as they city’s founding.
are of the creatures the watch keeps at bay. An ominous walk of a thousand stairs climbs the
The Shadewatch is a minor organization in the side of the mountain to the gates of the city— carved
grand scheme of things, but Shademaster Arhanna from the mountain itself, just wide enough for two
Lewyn has grand ambitions. She has sent messages dwarves to walk abreast. With the path too steep
to every faction in Tal’Dorei, from the Myriad to the and treacherous for carts or common beasts of
League of Miracles, with an interest in cruel subter- burden to traverse, traders and trappers use giant
fuge. It’s clear that she’s planning something: every goats to transport their goods to and from market,
night, she consults a ball of polished white quartz, while wealthy dwarven merchant lords employ serfs
and every week she sends a trio of her agents to the and laborers to carry their goods. Kraghammer’s
Umbra Hills—or to the base of Gatshadow. impenetrable adamantine gates stand at the end of
a perilous bridge overlooking a hundred-foot chasm,
Jorenn Village Adventures guarded by three watchtowers carved directly into
Game Masters who set their adventure in Jorenn the mountain.
Village can use this plot hook for inspiration. Within those gates, the massive stronghold is
An Offer You Can’t Refuse (low-level). The made up of three cylindrical levels called “slabs” that
characters are attacked by a group of worgs, and descend deep beneath the mountains. Kragham-
more just keep coming. Just as they’re about to be mer’s granite walls are lit by roaring fires, enchanted
completely overwhelmed, they’re saved by a sudden torches, and shimmering candlerock, which glows
volley of black-feathered bolts! Six thugs join the with internal fire. Even when the evening fires are
battle and “rescue” the characters by driving off extinguished, the amber light of the Bronzegrip Met-
the remaining worgs. These Shadewatch “officers” alworks at the base of the city bathes Kraghammer
ask for the characters’ names first, then brusquely in its warm glow.
declare that they like their moxie. They offer the
characters a position in their force back in Jorenn, Government
with unbelievable pay: 50 gp a day each. Kraghammer law is written by a consortium of
If this deal sounds too good to be true, that’s the five most powerful houses within the city, each
because it is: the Shademaster needs strong-willed appointing a delegate to serve on their behalf. That

tenuous union of houses is kept by the city’s execu-
tive officer, the Ironkeeper. The Ironkeeper is elected
by the houses and carries a term of ten years, with
no term limit, though most Ironkeepers contain their
rule to three to five terms.
The current sitting Ironkeeper is Palluda of House
Zuurthom. She rose to prominence advocating for
the rights of workers in the wake of the Chroma
Conclave, and is a strong advocate for uniting with
the Republic of Tal’Dorei to strengthen their might
against future supernatural threats. She is sitting
comfortably in the midst of her second term and
enjoys strong support from members of Kragham-
mer’s working class—and staunch opposition from
traditionalists, who cling to the city’s fading culture
of isolationism.
The laws of the city are enforced by a military
class of elite warriors called Carvers that act as
guards, soldiers, and jailers under the guidance of
the Ironkeeper. Becoming a Carver is a lengthy,
rigorous, and taxing pursuit, and many who choose
to join fail to complete their training.
Most who join the Carvers are dwarves from
families with centuries of history within the Carvers.
This isn’t just because of the pressure to uphold their
family’s honor. Most hopefuls are also those who
value Kraghammer’s ancient traditions and rigid
social order—a set of beliefs largely held by dwarven
clans with long family histories. Once officially
named, a Carver is given a homestead built into the
center slab of the city, a set of immaculate armor and
weapons, and a steady income.
In the years following the defeat of the Chroma
Conclave, the famously isolationist and xenophobic
houses conceded to formally make an alliance with
the Republic of Tal’Dorei. An ambassador from
Kraghammer now sits on the Tal’Dorei Council, and
rumors are beginning to circulate within the city that
the heads of the Great Houses of Kraghammer are in
talks with the Tal’Dorei Council to make Kragham-
mer an official constituent city-state of the republic.
Isolation of Kraghammer
It’s not easy being an outsider. Kraghammer has
long been a city of dwarves, for dwarves, and anyone
else within the city is an interloper. Some tradition-
alists within the city still think that surface-born
folk should spend as little time in Kraghammer as
possible, so as not to dilute the ancient splendor of
their culture.
Yet times are changing. A coalition of people,
ranging from dwarves to gnomes to traditionally sur-
face-dwelling people who have made Kraghammer
their home, have demanded that the Great Houses
amend the city’s most xenophobic laws. Despite
the angry protestations of the city’s most bigoted
dwarves, the Great Houses have acquiesced to the

requests of their people. This is due in no small part Top Slab. Also called the Arch, this uppermost
to these protestors having the support of the current tier is the entry level of the city, built on a massive
Ironkeeper—Palluda Zuurthrom has long been a ring. Like a hub with many spokes, countless neigh-
proponent of Kraghammer entering the Republic borhoods and tunnels spread out from the Top Slab.
of Tal’Dorei and ending their centuries of relative A fine layer of soot tends to coat much of this slab,
isolation. due to imperfect ventilation from the industrious
No non-dwarf has ever served as a delegate of the center slab; despite this, this level is where most peo-
houses, let alone the Ironkeeper. Progress is slow, ple make their homes, with thousands of stone-built
especially in Kraghammer, but it is happening. The abodes dotting the walls, while popular taverns like
most despicable of the city’s xenophobes have left of the trendy Firebrook Inn and the historic but austere
their own volition, creating other dwarven settle- Ironhearth Tavern fill alcoves pushed into the rock.
ments throughout the Cliffkeeps where they can keep For hundreds of years, most non-dwarves within
to themselves and “their own kind” in peace. Kraghammer were relegated to living in a Top Slab
neighborhood called the “Otherwalk.” These days,
Crime non-dwarves live all over the city, and the Otherwalk
Citizens of Emon who visit Kraghammer often has been renamed the Cavernwalk. It’s still mostly
marvel at how lawful and organized the dwarven inhabited by non-dwarves, and it has a vibrant cul-
enclave is. Crime is ostensibly low within Kragham- ture all its own.
mer thanks to the Carvers’ protection, but this peace As members of the Kraghammer working class,
comes at a cost. Crime is low because the courts of “Topslabbers” either make the long commute to
Kraghammer almost always reach a guilty verdict. labor in the Bottom Slab or work in the Toppers’
As a long-lived and durable people, most dwarves, farms above the mountain. Others are indentured
particularly those with a family reputation to uphold, servants to wealthy dwarves in the Middle Slab, and
would rather plead guilty and endure years, even only return to their families on the Top Slab on their
decades, of hard labor than disturb the fabric of their monthly day of rest.
society by fighting conviction. Center Slab. Also referred to as the Heart, this
Beyond this, corruption is rife within the Carvers, middle tier is the widest and most varied rung on
and they are able to brutalize even innocent people the journey through Kraghammer. It is stratified
with relative impunity. This corruption is shielded between the residences of Kraghammer’s old money
from public scrutiny by the vast wealth and political (its long-established noble houses), and the new (the
influence of House Glorendar, their patron house. wealthy merchant class). At the exact center of the
Because of Glorendar's close ties with the Carvers slab is the Pyrethrone, seat of the Ironkeeper. The
(and the mutual benefits thereof), corruption has geometric symbolism of the Pyrethrone being at the
been hard to uncover within either organization. dead center of the city is a fact most visitors to Kra-
Over twenty years ago, however, a gnomish jour- ghammer hear ad nauseum. Radiating out from the
nalist named Ida Mudrake uncovered something Pyrethrone are the various fortress-manors of the
damning within the vaults of House Glorendar, dwarven noble houses, with several Carver barracks
bringing some hope that change may yet move in easy reach.
steadily forward. She has been forced to flee the city Below, the outer rings of the Center Slab are occu-
and now lives with a security detail in Emon, but she pied by most of the city’s non-mining businesses,
works tirelessly to bring the crimes of House Glo- from smithies, breweries, and jewelers, to tailors,
rendar to light. Many in Kraghammer hope that this butchers, and tinkerers like the Cracksackle Union.
evidence, whatever it is, will shake both Glorendar The Hunter’s Club is also well known as the chief
and the Carvers to their foundations. Many more provider for non-imported meats to the city, sending
fear that even true justice is not worth the chaos that parties into the mountains or the nearby Torian
bringing Glorendar’s misdeeds to light will cause. Forest for wild game. The extravagant marble temple
known as All-Hammer’s Will stands on the center
Geography and Climate slab of the city, the grandest of all shrines to the most
Though the Cliffkeep Mountains themselves are worshipped deity under the mountain. Enormous
blanketed in thick snow, the bone-piercing chill does in size and impeccable in both detail and architec-
not extend into Kraghammer itself. Heat from the tural design, this hall calls to artisans and crafters
Bronzegrip Metalworks and the other blast furnaces throughout the city for inspiration.
in the Bottom Slab rises and permeates the entire Of the five noble houses, only two conduct their
city, though the Top Slab still grows cold in the affairs entirely in the Center Slab. The magically
winter. The city itself is carved out of the granite core talented Lord Steddos Thunderbrand and his family
of Mount Kraghammer; though the dwarves rarely are known to rarely leave their mansion, except on
see the night sky, the inner walls still sparkle like business with the Ironkeeper. Wallera Glorendar
starlight in the amber glow of the furnaces. used to oversee the combat training of all Carvers

within Kraghammer, but hasn’t been seen in public
for twenty years. Her daughter, Kazya, runs all her
affairs within the public eye.
Bottom Slab. Best known as the Pit, this tier is
the industrious powerhouse of Kraghammer, boast-
ing the most forges per square mile of any location
in Tal’Dorei, courtesy of the Bronzegrip Metal-
works and their competitors. Most of these forges
are potent, highly industrialized, and mechanized
blast furnaces. The expansive Keenstone Quarry is
chief among the numerous mining operations that
have tunneled through the depths of the moun-
tains—depths whose true dangers are obscured
by centuries of legend, and therefore not fully
understood.
A network of fungus-farming paths called the
Glowgrove works its way around this level, passing
through all sorts of caverns. The mushrooms are
harvested by the Toppers, the dwarven agricultural
league that got their name from the small topside
farms they tend above the city.
Three of the five dwarven houses have business
interests in the Bottom Slab, though they direct its
operations from the next tier up. Nostoc Greyspine
is the grim overseer of Keenstone Quarry. Haddi
Bronzegrip is the foredwarf of the Bronzegrip
Metalworks; she claims to be the wealthiest dwarf
in the North, a claim no one has ever been able
to successfully dispute. Blenton Zuurthom is an
architectural savant, and one of the older and kinder
nobledwarves; he tries his best to oversee every
major construction project in the Bottom Slab.
Points of Interest
Kraghammer has a number of famous landmarks,
as well as a few mythic locations said to exist in the
caverns beneath the city, as depicted on its map.
The Starshrine (Top Slab). Most dwarves
worship the All-Hammer, and his teachings of
community and ancestral piety have been all but
completely subsumed into Kraghammer’s cul-
ture at large. For outlanders with different faiths,
however, the monolithic religious culture can feel
inescapable. Shrines to all the Prime Deities have
spread throughout Kraghammer since the fall of the
Chroma Conclave, but the Starshrine was the first.
When the world trembled at the might of Thordak
the Cinder King, tremors rocked the upper layers of
Kraghammer, causing certain caverns to collapse—
and in some cases, to reveal places of great beauty.
The Starshrine is a vast grotto whose granite walls
mysteriously sparkle with a perfect replica of the
stars in the night sky. It can be found within the Top
Slab’s culturally diverse Cavernwalk district. Once
per year, when a character prays to one of the Prime
Deities here, there is a 1% chance per character level
that their prayer is answered, as the cleric’s Divine
Intervention class feature.

Cracksackle Guildhall (Middle Slab). The Keenstone Quarry (Bottom Slab). Despite all of
headquarters of the Cracksackle Union looks unlike Kraghammer’s wondrous crafts and goods, its most
anything in Kraghammer. It's made of a dozen significant export is raw stone—most of which is
glistening steel domes, like sleek, metal igloos, and excavated from Keenstone Quarry, making the quar-
the light of unusual experiments flicker through its ry’s overseer, Nostoc Greyspine, a very rich dwarf
slitted windows at all hours of the night. Most within indeed. As the legend of Vox Machina spread across
Kraghammer consider the building an eyesore, but Tal’Dorei, Overseer Greyspine got an idea: open
all interested in technological tinkering and ingenu- the quarry to adventurers. Vox Machina famously
ity love it for its uniqueness. If nothing else, it plainly entered the vast network of dangerous tunnels
displays the oft-baffling ingenuity of its tinkerers. beneath Kraghammer from a fissure at the depths of
The Cracksackle Union was founded by gnomish the quarry, and countless imitators have tried to fol-
refugees from Wittebak nearly four hundred years low in their footsteps—some emerging with fabulous
ago. While intrinsically tied to the Bronzegrip Metal- treasure, but most never returning at all.
works for resources, contacts, and distribution, the To take advantage of this opportunity, Greyspine
Cracksacklers have made themselves indispensable has advertised the quarry far and wide as the “Gate-
to the dwarven elite with their inventive contribu- way to the Depths,” and posted an entrance fee of 25
tions to mining and masonry technology. gp per adventurer. Of course, neither Greyspine nor
On any working day, a dozen tinkerers, many of the staff of the quarry bears any liability for death,
them gnomes, will set up shop in the courtyard, dismemberment, or emotional trauma sustained
selling strange and untested devices they have made with the depths.
in their workshops. The GM determines which Hall of Burning Mushrooms. The Bronzegrip
non-magical curiosities can be purchased here, but Metalworks just carved deeper into the mountain
some include: to expand their furnaces, only to discover the most
magnificent cavern: a mile-wide cave filled with
Cracksackle Wares
bioluminescent purple mushrooms. Industry had
Item Cost Description to move in, and the Bronzegrips hired Wyrmhide
Dynamite 100 gp This bundle of explosives can Thunderbrand and his pyromancer brigade to torch
be lit and thrown up to 30 feet the cavern. The mushrooms never stopped burning,
as an action. It explodes at the and the myconoids that lived in the fungal forest
start of your next turn. Creatures never stopped fighting. Characters known within
and objects within 20 feet of it Kraghammer may be requested by House Bronze-
must make a DC 12 Dexterity grip or Thunderbrand to cut through the inferno and
saving throw, taking 6d6 fire destroy the myconoid monarch.
damage on a failed save, or
half as much damage on a suc-
cessful one.
Emberhold
City: Population 21,180 (73% dwarves, 15% elves,
Gluebomb 50 gp This unique explosive can be
12% other races)
primed and thrown up to 30
feet as an action. It explodes on A passage from the Keenstone Quarry in Kragham-
impact. Creatures within 20 feet mer leads below the earth. Deep. Deeper. Until
of it must make a DC 12 Dexter- the light of day is entirely gone, and then deeper
ity saving throw or be restrained still. Across chasms miles-deep and full of magma,
for 1 minute. A restrained crea- beneath great hanging gardens of glowing mala-
ture can make a DC 12 Strength chite, lies the Emberhold. It stares imperiously over
check as an action, escaping on an underground kingdom of the duergar, dwarves
a success. who long ago broke away from the rule of the Great
Stink bomb 25 gp This smelly explosive can be Houses of Kraghammer.
primed and thrown up to 30 feet Millennia of fear and superstition have turned the
as an action. It explodes at the dwarves of Kraghammer into bitter, fearful enemies
start of your next turn. Creatures of their estranged kin. Untold dozens of duergar vil-
within 20 feet of it must make a lages span the glassy lava-plains that the Emberhold
DC 12 Constitution saving throw is built upon, with mighty armies constantly coming
or be poisoned for 1 minute. A and going, sometimes returning with just a few
creature can repeat this save bloody survivors, other times returning with captives
at the end of each of its turns, in chains—and other times returning not at all.
ending the effect on itself on The dwarves of the Emberhold rarely rise to the
a success. surface; they have lived so long in the darkest depths
of the earth that the light of the sun sears their eyes

and prickles their skin. Few ever arise even to Kra-
ghammer, for they are taught that only death awaits
Yug’Voril
them there. Nevertheless, many duergar doubt the Where the dwarves of Kraghammer whisper fearful
narrative that has been fed to them since birth, and words of the duergar, so too do the duergar whisper
make attempts to escape to the surface. Those duer- of Yug’Voril. Beneath the deep dwarves’ fiery king-
gar that have left the ways of the Emberhold behind dom, ever deeper into the heart of Exandria, there is
and learned of the outside world have remarked how a miles-wide grotto coated in glowing crystal. A lake
unbelievable it is that their people were so misled by fills the grotto, its surface so smooth and placid it
lies about the barbaric cruelty of surface-dwellers. seems like a jade mirror, perfectly reflecting the light
of the crystals around it. In the middle of the lake is
Government an island, atop which loom the grand, austere towers
The Emberhold and the towns that serve as its vas- of Yug’Voril.
sals are ruled by an absolute monarch. The current The clean lines and beautiful facade of the city
King of Embers is the wrathful King Thangrul II. belie its current, abominable denizens.
He rules through fear and conquest, spreading his Thousands of years old, the builders and previous
armies to the farthest corners of Tal’Dorei’s under- occupants have long vanished, leaving the unspoiled
ground caverns in the name of the Crawling King. ruins to become home to a host of psychic, mind-eat-
Thangrul’s rule is supported by a contingent of ing creatures from a plane beyond the boundaries
dark elves from their decadent, alien domain of of reality. The tyrannical society of these alien crea-
Ruhn-Shak. Most in Thangrul’s court know well tures flourishes here, far from their cosmic pursuers,
enough to mistrust these ambassadors of the far- giving them the freedom to build a legion of thralls:
flung caverns, for their minds have been twisted by mind-slaves whose delicious brains are allowed to
the influence of not just the Spider Queen, but also remain in their bodies…until those bodies fall apart
the aberrations with whom they have made strange from toil.
alliances in order to sustain their power. Thangrul Yug’Voril and its inhabitants fell recently under the
himself cares little for his advisors’ mistrust of his control of the extraplanar aberration called K’Varn,
elven allies and openly declares that he will make before he was slain by Vox Machina. Now that the
use of them as long as they are useful. alien mind-eaters have been freed from K’Varn’s
Vox Machina’s assault of the Emberhold over tyranny, they have reclaimed Yug’Voril as their own
twenty years ago cost the duergar their king and and have continued work on their strange and ter-
queen, but rumors of a lost princess of Ember rible plots.
have begun to circulate through the realm, and the
survivors of Vox Machina’s raid have rebuilt their
Yug’Voril Adventures
hierarchy and continued their endless war of con- Game Masters who set their adventure in Yug’Voril
quest throughout the depths. can use this plot hook for inspiration.
A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste (high-level).
Geography Four of the foremost minds at Emon’s Alabaster
The Emberhold itself is a fortress built of black Lyceum have disappeared without a trace. All
stone and obsidian, framed by rivers of molten rock vanished on the same night, and there have been no
and surrounded by a massive city of ramshackle confirmed sightings since. Investigations have been
dwellings and towers that mark the boundaries of its underway for several months, and some dwarves of
peoples’ domain. Kraghammer have recently reported seeing four fig-
ures that could be the missing scholars entering the
Emberhold Adventures lower passages of the Keenstone Mine under cover
Game Masters who set their adventure in the Ember- of night.
hold can use this plot hook for inspiration. Something has mentally dominated these schol-
The Lost Heir (mid-level). King Murghol of ars. The alien inhabitants of Yug’Voril hunger for a
the Emberhold was killed in combat by Scanlan specific morsel of powerful knowledge within their
Shorthalt, gnome bard of Vox Machina, and his brilliant minds.
wife, Queen Ulara, was slain by the aberrant tyrant
K’Varn. All of the Emberhold knows that the King Lyrengorn, the
and Queen had a young daughter—only six years old
at the time of their death—but none seem interested
Elvenpeaks
in seeking Emberhold’s missing heir. The new king, Town: Population 5,430 (93% elves, 3% dwarves,
Thangrul II, grows particularly fiery whenever any- 2% humans, 2% other races)
one mentions her name in his presence. Every year, dozens of travelers from across Tal’Dorei
travel past the far northern reaches of the Cliffkeep
Mountains to see the Moonweaver’s Ribbons twist

around the Elvenpeaks, pulled through the sky by Today, few of the lyren’alfen are actually warriors,
those mysterious figures on wyvernback. The Elven- though many among them are hunters. In the inter-
peaks are a single mountain split perfectly in the vening centuries, wyvern riding has transformed
center, with ice-sheeted forests topping both peaks. from a martial art into a ceremonial one; great
While the exterior of these forest canopies appears athletes called skyswimmers train year-round for
frozen and without life, the interior is instead a warm the annual coming of the Moonweaver’s Ribbons,
and humid wood, blooming with flowers of all colors great streaks of mutlicolored light that illuminate the
and roamed by living plants and wild game. In the northern sky on the winter solstice. The skyswim-
boughs of these thick tropical trees also lives a soci- mers and their wyvern mounts seize the strands of
ety of wood elves, some of those wild folk who broke light on their spears and paint radiant, esoteric por-
away from Yenlara’s pact and the city of Syngorn. traits in the wintry sky, drawing intrepid outsiders
Their city of Lyrengorn—lyren’gorn literally meaning from across Tal’Dorei to camp on remote mountains
“mountain city” in Elvish — is the last bastion of and marvel at their visual poetry.
safety before crossing into the endless ice of the Beyond the ceremony’s artistic merit, it’s also a rit-
Neverfields to the north. ual to the goddess known as the Moonweaver, chief
These lyren’alfen—“high elves”—call themselves deity of these elves. The high priestess of the moon
friends of none and enemies of fewer; they welcome claims that the annual rite purifies Lyrengorn and
all who manage to make it to their home, provided gives the wild elves long life.
they come in peace, and take no sides in any conflict.
In ages past, they were highly sought-after as merce- Lyrengorn Adventures
naries because their warriors had learned the rare Game Masters who set their adventure in Lyrengorn
art of wyvern riding. When Warren Drassig’s legions can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
marched to conquer Tal’Dorei, the elves of Lyren- The Impossible Art (low-level). While traveling
gorn refused to die for anyone else’s war, retreating through the Cliffkeep Mountains, the cold becomes
instead to their mountaintops and lush forests. too much for the characters to bear, and they pass
out in the snow. When they awaken, they find

themselves being tended to by a trio of Lyrengorn the elvenguard. Celindar beseeches the characters
wyvern riders, but their roles are suddenly reversed to meet with his counterpart in Lyrengorn, Skyblade
when a massive band of raiders, most of them Hali Instralidar, who has been surveying the ice
goblins and human thugs, pincushions the riders in fields of the north for centuries. Why? Because elven
mid-flight. When the characters crash in the snow- legend speaks of the Seed of Life, the last bloom of
fields, they find their saviors dead, and must try to an ancient treant named Cedargaunt, which may
learn the impossible art of wyvern riding before they restore the withered treants’ senses. The Seed of
are claimed by the blizzard. Life is worn on the neck of a frost giant jarl’s pet
The Incorruptible Light (high-level). While the remorhaz within the Neverfields.
characters are in Lyrengorn, they discover a small
community of dark elf refugees. They fled here from Othendin Pass
a monstrous, nameless source of aberrant corruption
This massive valley carved into the southwest sec-
that has been devouring their society for centuries.
tion of the Cliffkeep Mountains was, in ancient times,
The dark elves hope that the skyswimmers’ cere-
the territory of stone giant clans that warred with the
mony will cleanse them of the corruption and fits of
dwarves of Kraghammer. After the arrival of human-
sadistic cruelty that still plague them from their days
ity on Tal’Dorei’s shores, the people of Kraghammer
under the abberrations’ terrible thrall.
and the new settlers of O’Noa banded together and
Strange accidents conspire to kill the skyswim-
pushed deep into the mineral-rich valley.
mers and the priestesses, and on the day of the
The stone giants fought back, but they were over-
solstice, a pair of many-eyed aberrations rise from
whelmed by the might of their combined foe. They
the depths of the earth and try to bend the Moon-
retreated to their caves higher into the mountains to
weaver’s Ribbons to their evil purposes.
the northeast, and have rarely been seen by human-
oids in the centuries since. This allowed the forces
The Neverfields of Emon to claim the resources and land of the
The farther north one goes into the Cliffkeep Moun- Othendin Pass for its people, establishing Fort Daxio
tains, the taller the peaks grow and the colder the to defend it.
weather becomes, until the snowstorms are so thick However, the population of deadly landsharks—
that no human unprepared for their chill can survive. creatures called bulettes—native to the region has
The spiky peaks grow shallow, trading treacher- been on the rise. Some say it’s because the giants
ous rock for glacial ice and the untempered fury of who hunted them were driven away, but since the
endless blizzards. No bastions of living society exist giants have been gone for a century, few can under-
this far north, though some brave, foolish warriors stand why the landsharks are only taking over now.
endure the elements here to hunt rare and powerful The miners, gatherers, and passing travelers do their
game or to seek lost relics from before the Calamity. best to cull the bulette population both on their own
Legends tell of a time when this region was green and with the help of hired adventurers, but they can
and temperate, when trees and joyous elven enclaves only ever hope to keep the deadly monsters at bay.
covered the land. Moreover, these tales say that
relics of this elysian era are still buried deep beneath Othendin Pass Adventures
the icy wastes. Many that go seeking answers to Game Masters who set their adventure in Othendin
these rumors never return. The few that do, however, Pass can use this plot hook for inspiration.
occasionally emerge with artifacts of intense power Bite the Bulette (mid-level). A druidic order
and mystery, reigniting interest in the region and called the Stoneherders, made up mostly of stone
sending further generations to their doom among the giants and goliaths, have taken up residence in an
ancient, ice-rimed ruins and plains of endless glacial important choke point of the Othendin Pass. They
wasteland. claim that they are the Stoneherders, a great druidic
order that keeps the balance between civilization
Neverfields Adventures and nature in the north. Fort Daxio’s military
Game Masters who set their adventure in the Never- presence in the pass has kept them away for several
fields can use this plot hook for inspiration. generations, but an unusual rise in the bulette popu-
Seed of Life (mid-level). Heroes of Tal’Dorei lation has forced them to return.
who have made themselves known to Syngorn may The Stoneherders’ plan to thin the bulette herd
suddenly find themselves contacted by Verdant Lord requires the characters’ aid in rounding up the
Celindar, leader of Syngorn’s armies. His report is deadly creatures; once they have been assembled,
grim: the warding trees of the Verdant Expanse no the Stoneherders will tame as many as they can
longer protect the city; in fact, some have turned and move them elsewhere in the Cliffkeep Moun-
against it. The treants that once defended the elves tains. Those that can’t be tamed will be relocated
have grown pale and sickly, and are now attacking to other parts of the mountains, where they can be
hunted again.

Palace of Wonder spellwright escort are viewed by the living plants as
a tasty snack.
In the desolate and uninhabited northwestern This wing of the palace also includes a three-tiered
reaches of the Cliffkeep Mountains stands a ruined conference chamber where all twenty-four spell-
citadel. All that remains of it are crumbling walls, wrights can gather to discuss matters of import. In
half-beaten to dust by the unrelenting winds of the center of the chamber is a pedestal, upon which
the mountains, and one forlorn tower, its turret sits a humanoid mask of gleaming mithral. When
torn asunder to reveal the mildewed, rain-fattened the Wonderworker, the league’s mysterious leader,
wooden beams within. This ruin, a relic of the early wishes to deliver a proclamation to the spellwrights,
days of Issylran settlement and a panoply of forgotten their voice emanates from this mask.
wars, is all but forgotten by the people of Tal’Dorei. Towers of Farsight. The pinnacle of the palace
Few explorers travel these wind-scarred peaks, or is made up of four sky-scraping towers that gaze out
the storm-beaten northwestern coast of Tal’Dorei. over the Cliffkeep Mountains—and all of Exandria.
The citadel itself is wracked by the elements, while These private studies are the personal quarters of
the shoreline and the mountains beyond it are four of the league’s chief spellwrights, and they are
prowled by territorial elementals that brook no equipped with all manner of scrying crystals and
intrusions. tools of clairvoyance, clairaudience, and far-speech.
Dungeons of Despair. Woe betide the prison-
Secrets of the Citadel ers of the League of Miracles, who are left to rot in
The ruined citadel that overlooks this treacherous the cells beneath their palace. The warden of this
landscape is far more than meets the eye. In truth, dungeon is an infallible mage hunter golem (see page
it is the headquarters of the League of Miracles (see 239), and each cell is equipped with shackles that
page 56). The power-hungry spellwrights who inhibit the spellcasting capabilities of anyone in their
make up the league’s upper echelons call this castle grasp. Instruments of unspeakable arcane torture
the Palace of Wonder. A crumbling but entirely litter these dungeons, capable of instilling endless
illusory edifice has replaced the derelict fortress, pain, and even extracting the very soul from one’s
maintained by the league to deter curiosity and body. The shackled spirits of those who have died by
avoid notice. this last vile torment serve eternally as the guardians
Beneath this arcane façade, the Palace of Wonder of the palace dungeons.
truly lives up to its name. The palace is made up of Cradle of the Adranach. Winding about the
five wings, each of which has a dedicated teleporta- palace dungeons are a network of twisting passages
tion circle: illuminated by glaring, magical lights. These forking
Halls of Splendor. The League of Miracles is tunnels shift daily, and the secret to navigating
in the business of good first impressions. Though them is a mark visible only under the power of
the Palace of Wonder is a secret to the people of a true seeing spell. Within these passages are a
Tal’Dorei, the spellwrights occasionally teleport par- dozen laboratories stocked with the tools needed
ticularly powerful mercenary mages to their home for the spellwrights to dream up new potions and
base in order to dazzle them with the castle’s splen- spells. Some they sell at extravagant cost to the
dors. The palace’s ground floor is made of a number governments and militias of towns and cities across
of interconnected grand halls, awash in a tide of Tal’Dorei—but the best they keep for themselves, to
splendid, vibrant colors—bordering on garish—that wield against the factions they manipulate from the
crashes over all who enter. shadows, should they ever grow unruly.
These many grand dining, entertaining, and At the deepest point of the tunnels is the Cradle
performance halls are gleaming spectacles of white of the Adranach, a unique arcane laboratory where
marble, decorated by sparkling globes of magical all spellwrights are initiated. Here, they craft an
light, and festooned with self-indulgent tapestries of adranach (see page 223), a construct of mithral and
the spellwrights’ many dubious achievements. Any astral energy that serves as a loyal servant—and that
intruders here without the express permission of unmistakably marks its creator as a spellwright of
at least one spellwright will find themselves beset the League of Miracles.
by a small army of animated armors and other con-
structs—including a platinum golem (see page 239) Gathering the Spellwrights
that watches over the front entrance. The Palace of Wonder is almost never empty, for at
Bowers of Recovery. The second floor of the least one of its twenty-four spellwrights must always
palace is a verdant paradise, with vibrant plants remain within its walls to protect it. Many more
curling around the castle’s stately stone architecture. spellwrights frequently return by means of the pal-
Most spellwrights have their quarters in this wing, ace’s teleportation circles, or upon the back of their
which is protected by powerful enchantments that
give life to the plants. All who enter here without a

personal adranachs, to take advantage of its magical to their Constitution modifier, and take 3 (1d6)
equipment and nigh-impenetrable defenses. poison damage each minute after that time. The
At times, all spellwrights are requested to return hill giants that live within have adapted to the gas
to the palace at the behest of one of the four chief and do not fear it.
spellwrights, but unless one’s presence is demanded Homesteads. The air in the middle level is heavy
by name, these summons are not mandatory. The with gas, and the quaint gnomish homes on this
one summon which cannot be refused, however, level are filled with the decomposed remains of
is the annual calling of the Wonderworker. The those too slow to escape. The entire area is lightly
nameless, faceless leader of the League of Miracles obscured with clouds of gas, and tiny streams of
holds a near-prophetic sway over the spellwrights hot water leak from the walls, tumbling into the
that cannot be understated. When all twenty-four level below.
spellwrights are gathered within the conference Engine Core. The bottommost tier is a mechanical
chamber, the Wonderworker intones a slew of cryptic marvel, a titanic wheel of rusted iron and shining
yet unquestionable commandments that all of their steel with no known purpose. This level is com-
followers must interpret and obey to the best of pletely flooded and filled with merrow. It is also
their ability. the lair of a sea hag named Mauvlettir.
Pools of Wittebak Pools of Wittebak Adventures

Wittebak was once a peaceful city of three thousand Game Masters who set their adventure in Wittebak
or more rock gnomes, a safe haven for the small ones can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
that was built into the mountain rock and heated by Getting into Gundergrunch (mid-level). Just
a series of geothermal pools. The Wittebak gnomes getting into Wittebak is an adventure unto itself.
weathered great wars by not getting involved, invest- It’s nearly impossible to fight through the hundreds
ing in contraptions and laughter rather than wars of hill giants in the hot springs and the Tinkerer’s
and empires. They found joy in inventing compli- Tier—and even if it weren’t, such a fight would be
cated ways to simplify their daily lives. Yet, for all a callous slaughter of countless innocents. Stealth
their efforts, trouble eventually came to them. is an option, for the giants take little heed of folk
Around four hundred years ago, a displaced band smaller than them. Diplomacy is another option;
of hill giants found and luxuriated within Wittebak’s Gondalorr, prince of the giants, has a tender heart
hot springs and made a homestead on their banks. and loves the idea of repatriating Wittebak’s gnomes.
It is said that Wittebak was founded underneath the His sister Gondabrau, on the other hand, is cruel,
full light of Ruidus, for by pure misfortune, a flaw in and would like nothing more than to pop wriggling
the stonework of the gnomish city cracked under the gnomes into her mouth as a snack. Cunning adven-
force of the giants frolicking within the pools. Worse turers could sneak in with Gondalorr’s aid, or even
still, the cave-in did more than simply crush a few cause chaos in the giant town by playing the siblings
buildings beneath. The seismic force of thousands against each other.
of tons of rock collapsed into the caverns, cracking The Truth of the Disaster (mid-level). Was it
open buried pockets of volcanic gas. truly just by chance that Wittebak was destroyed?
Over a thousand gnomes suffocated that night, Perhaps there is truth to the rumors that Ruidus, the
or were incinerated in isolated gas explosions. The Moon of Ill Omen, shone brightly above Wittebak
survivors fled into the mountains, assailed by hungry on the night of its founding. The merrow that lurk
giants as they ran. The gnomes have found unlikely in the Engine Core know nothing, but the sea hag
refuge in Kraghammer, but Wittebak has been aban- who lairs there has an inkling. Delve deeper, and the
doned entirely, choked by caustic gas and locked in a aboleth and its aberrant servitors know more still—a
terrible moment in time. The ten-times great-grand- secret that dates back to the Founding itself.
children of the giants that caused the gnomes to flee
now call the hot springs their ancestral home. To Reaching Bluff
them, it is named Gundergrunch, and they flourish Village: Population 324 (53% humans, 27%
within their unchallenged territory. dwarves, 3% dark elves, 3% earth elemental
Beneath them, the ruins of Wittebak are stratified ancestry, 14% other races)
into three distinct tiers of death and despair.
In a small, fertile valley in the northwest of the
Tinkerer’s Tier. This level is relatively unharmed, Cliffkeep Mountains is a small village founded by
and the full glory of Wittebak’s tinkering shops Tal’Dorei homesteaders just ten years ago. This sim-
can be seen here; some even include marvels of ple settlement is inhabited by hardy folk seeking new
technology unseen for centuries. Creatures that places to mine gold and iron from the earth. Many
need to breathe can survive the gases in the wid- unpleasant exiles from Kraghammer have joined
est, uppermost level for a number of hours equal

them, so while this village has a charming, rustic Hot-Headed Wanderers (high-level). The Cinder
atmosphere, few travelers stay for long. The hostility King’s incursion into Tal’Dorei attracted elementally
toward outsiders is palpable to all. infused monsters from deep beneath the Cliffkeep
This insular attitude has only grown more hostile Mountains to the surface. Magma landsharks (see
following the discovery of a gleaming dodecahedron page 247) and their young are the worst of these
about the size of a human head. One of the miners monsters, and even decades after the Cinder King’s
who unearthed it found that her pickaxe barely defeat, they continue to prowl the mountains from
scratched its surface—and when struck, it began their nests beneath Serpent’s Head, devouring entire
emanating a radiant, internal golden glow. This villages unless brave adventurers stand in their way.
mystical object was returned to the village foredwarf,
and before the day was out, all the villagers had Terrah
learned of it. The people of Reaching Bluff call it the
Village: Population 838 (61% humans, 19% dwarves,
Lost Beacon of Unknown Light (see page 41), and
5% gnomes, 15% other races)
worship it as a god.
The settlers protect their mysterious beacon Sheltered within a cauldron-like valley, miles deep
with cultish fervor, and Foredwarf Daz, a deceitful into the northern mountain range, lies the home of
dwarf veteran with earth elemental ancestry, is the Earth Ashari. The people of Terrah have long
willing to murder anyone who tries to probe into stood watch over the exposed rift to the Elemental
their business. Plane of Earth, protecting the ever-quaking ground
of this crumbling valley. Those without druidic
Serpent’s Head power dig long trenches around their village to
protect their people against rockslides that roll off
Thordak only flew to the Cliffkeep Mountains once the mountains, while a handful of mighty druids use
during his occupation of Emon. No one living knows their magic to reshape the valley and rebuild dam-
why the nearly invincible Cinder King left his prized aged structures.
city to attack a single, isolated mountaintop village, Living off hunted game and scavenged fungi, the
but the ruins of Serpent’s Head prove that he did. Terrah people are stocky warriors of stubborn mind
Serpent’s Head is a squat mountain in the south- and immense pride and loyalty. Jewelry made of
ern reaches of the Cliffkeep Mountains. Its people precious gemstones is regarded as a sign of station
were mostly dwarves and humans, miners and and respect. The Earth Ashari supply Emon with
farmers. They had no militia to speak of, and most precious and semi-precious stones from the rift in
had already evacuated to Kraghammer when news of exchange for essential goods and, occasionally, pro-
Emon’s fall reached them—but not everyone. tection from the creatures of the mountains.
The village that surrounds Serpent’s Head Moun- The peaks that surround the rift frequently seem
tain is an ashen ruin. The immolated corpses of its to shake with rage, and from their angry slopes rise
people still lay buried beneath a thick layer of ash, creatures of living stone, imbued with life by elemen-
and the mountain itself was transformed into a small tal spirits from the rift. The people of Terrah sleep
volcano by Thordak’s magic. in shifts to keep watch for any sudden changes in
seismic activity, lest the fury of the mountains undo
Serpent’s Head Adventures all that the Ashari have created.
Game Masters who set their adventure in Serpent’s
Head can use this plot hook for inspiration. Government
Factions of Flame (any level). Characters who Terrah is governed by an Ashari archdruid given
wish to plumb the depths of Serpent’s Head for the honored title of Heart of the Mountain. This
treasure—or perhaps to find an item or character archdruid has completed their Aramente (see page
connected to the greater story of your campaign— 49) and earned the respect of the four elemental
must contend with the creatures that have made enclaves of the Ashari. Pa’tice, the current Heart of
it their home. Mindless cinderslag elementals the Mountain, is a human man well over one hun-
(see page 231) prowl the shattered battlements dred years old. Though tenacious and ornery, he is a
of the fortress that once stood atop the mountain. venerable warrior with boundless appreciation and
Earth tremors have cracked the keep’s foundation, support for those who prove themselves honorable
revealing deep magma caverns filled with dia- and self-reliant. Rumor has it that Pa’tice is seeking
monds—precious and infused with chaotic magic. a worthy druid who can undertake the Aramente and
Occasionally, tiny rifts to the Elemental Plane of Fire succeed him as Heart of the Mountain.
flash open within the depths, allowing groups of azer
and salamanders to wriggle through. The two fac-
tions have made camp in the lower caverns, and both
struggle for a foothold in the Material Plane.

Terrah Adventures Umbra Hills Adventures
Game Masters who set their adventure in Terrah can Game Masters who set their adventure in the Umbra
use these plot hooks for inspiration. Hills can use this plot hook for inspiration.
Pestering Pa’tice (any level). Rumor has spread Sword of the Demon Prince (high-level). In a
throughout the Cliffkeeps that the Earth Ashari are dream, a skilled warrior within the party continually
seeking a new Heart of the Mountain. In response, sees visions of a noble, kingly sword embedded in
dozens of upstart druids with delusions of gran- the ground, surrounded by shadows and demons.
deur have flocked to Terrah, seeking to impress the “Free me,” it whispers. “I need your help…I am in the
current leader of the Earth Ashari. Pa’tice can’t be Umbra Hills.” The sword is not as it appears; though
bothered with this pageantry, and quietly hires a the Demon Prince of Indulgence was defeated at
group of adventurers—the characters—to disperse the Battle of the Umbra Hills and banished to the
these druids. If there is a druid in the party, perhaps Abyss, his accursed greatsword still lingers. The last
their actions will impress the Heart of the Mountain shard of his malevolence in this world, Graz’tchar,
and set them on the path of the Aramente. the Decadent End rests in the center of the valley,
Dependable as Stone (high-level). The Terrah its tip embedded in the earth (see page 195 for its
people are insular and dutiful, and rarely take sides game statistics). The alluring, androgynous marilith
in any conflict. However, sometimes times of great demons that guard it pretend to be the ghosts of
peril require that even the Ashari go to war. What- great knights, protecting the blade of a lost Sover-
ever the conflict, the characters must convince the eign of Tal’Dorei.
Terrah to join their cause. Pa’tice meets with them
and grimly states that the Terrah cannot aid them Grey Valley
because a terrible new threat has come through
North of the Umbra Hills lies a wide valley of ill
the portal. The Stonesight Council, four medusas
omen and dark history, named for the forest of
aided by two gorgons, now command the earth
petrified trees that fill the majority of the valley’s
elementals descending from the peaks around
forest floor. During the Scattered War, Trist Drassig
Terrah. Pa’tice is a practical leader—he cannot lead
his people to fight a threat to the outside world while
danger lurks on their doorstep. “Eliminate this threat
to Terrah,” Pa’tice says, “and perhaps we can join
your cause.”
Umbra Hills
The Battle of the Umbra Hills, the climactic battle of
the Scattered War and the death knell of the King-
dom of Drassig, transformed the floral, sun-dappled
Emerald Highlands into a blasted wasteland. A
tide of demonic blood spilled across the highlands
like fire, cursing the land forever. Generations have
passed, but the heather that once grew on these hills
is as black and burnt as the day of the battle. No ani-
mals live here, and the only plant that grows in the
Umbra Hills now is shadegrass. Its ash-gray stalks
are dry and unfilling, but its unique, acrid flavor has
drawn the interest of spice traders worldwide, pro-
pelling wealthy merchants to hire armed escorts for
their spice-pickers.
Though no animals live here, danger still lurks
within the Umbra Hills. Undead soldiers rise from
the grass when the silvery moon Catha is high, and
the ruins of ancient Drassig war camps seem to
draw demons of all types, still bound by the contract
between Trist Drassig and the Demon Prince of
Indulgence. Pathetic dretches gambol about in the
ruins’ long shadows, and rumors say that, on nights
when the moon Ruidus is full, even mighty balor
demons prowl the hills in search of mighty souls
to corrupt.

obsessed over the possibility of losing and pledged few dare make these treacherous mountains their
his service to the Demon Prince of Indulgence in home. The few who do live amidst the Stormcrests
exchange for power to smite his foes. are ferocious monstrosities and the giantkin strong
The bargain accepted, the demon prince sent his enough to defeat them—and those few peoples
forces to this valley to aid Trist in the Battle of the cunning enough to evade storm, monster, and giant
Umbra Hills, but ultimately both fell to the incredi- alike. The only friendly towns anywhere near these
ble strength of the rebelling forces. The release of forsaken peaks lie in the Mornset Countryside
terrible energies exploded across the battlefield. Now pushing along the Stormpoint range, far beyond the
left cursed and lifeless, the valley remains a warning influence of the Tal’Dorei Council. These rugged folk
against dealing with demons—and a dangerous locus are used to fending for themselves and scoff at the
of darker entities that are drawn to the ruined place. thought of returning to so-called “civilization,” prefer-
ring life among the swamps and shadowed forests of
Grey Valley Adventures their homeland.
Game Masters who set their adventure in the Grey
Valley can use this plot hook for inspiration. Ashen Gorge
Heart of the Wraithroot (high-level). At the dead
One mountain stands out among the Stormcrests.
center of the Grey Valley is a petrified tree unlike
Its twin peaks rumble with fury, breathing fire and
any other. Knots in its stony bark gaze like eyes at
smoke into the sky to mingle with the storm clouds
its withered domain. This wraithroot tree (see page
that surround the mountains. Lightning tears
259) is the eternal guardian of a dark treasure.
through the ashen clouds with giddy excitement,
Rumors abound about what could be secreted away
making it clear to all who behold it that this is a place
behind this vile guardian—a relic of a demon prince,
of supernatural power. Cartographers in Emon call
the crown of Drassig, or an artifact of the Betrayer
this crater the Ashen Gorge, but the people of the
Gods unknown to mortal minds? The true nature of
low valleys call it the Dragon’s Throne, for they know
this artifact is up to the Game Master, but whatever
what creature once lived atop the mountain. They
it is, rumors of its existence have lured countless
remember when they too were under the dominion of
adventurers to their deaths.
Thordak the Cinder King.
Today, several tenuous alliances of lizardfolk,
Stormcrest dragonblood, kobolds, and even a few young dragons
Mountains trying to expand their treasure hoards battle for
dominion over this ruined vale. When the moun-
Spanning Tal’Dorei’s southern reaches, buttressed tain was the lair of the Cinder King during his first
against the Verdant Expanse, stand the massive incursion into Tal’Dorei, the lizardfolk and kobolds
Stormcrest Mountains. The winds of the Lucidian flocked to his side, worshiping his might and cruelty.
Ocean wail through the storm-battered peaks, and Though Thordak is slain, his influence yet lingers,
Majority Faiths: Arch Heart, Dawnfather,

Wildmother
Minority Faiths: Moonweaver, Stormlord,
Ruiner, Scaled Tyrant, Spider Queen
Imports: Livestock, lumber, grain, silver,
spell components
Exports: Lumber, gold, grain, granite,
quartz, iron
and his legend draws treasure hunters and would-be makes him vulnerable to attack—and the other
tyrants to this place. Gold, jewels, and magic items tribes know it.
from all ages of the world lie in wait within the dozen Tinysoot. Every ten years brings a new generation
or more secret vaults of the Cinder King’s lair. When of kobolds, and while the Tinysoot tribe’s war-
the king of dragons still held dominion here, he had riors are not the mightiest, their overwhelming
thousands of loyal scaled minions at his beck and numbers have allowed them to overwhelm even
call, moving invaluable treasures into deeper and the greatest of the Flame Scions’ champions. The
deeper holds. Beyond the main cavern of the lair, Tinysoots’ leader, a stubborn young Queen of Soot
even the Cinder King himself had to magically take named Yabber Tinysoot XIX, wears around her
humanoid form to traverse the winding tunnels his neck the key to Everflame Crevasse, Thordak’s
servants carved through the rock. deepest treasure vault.
The descendants of Thordak’s servitors now Black Snow. When Thordak’s ally, Umbrasyl, was
fight an endless war over his treasure. Every year, slain atop Gatshadow, his caustic blood seeped
it seems a petty new “Cinder King” rises to power into the corpses of a dozen goliath scouts from
within the Ashen Gorge, but they are always the Herd of Storms. The black dragons’ magic,
dethroned before their minions can enter the combined with the foul power of Gatshadow
ancient vaults, still locked after all this time. To steal itself, transformed the goliaths into a squadron
Thordak’s greatest treasures, an adventuring party of undead black dragonblood warriors. Skeletal
would have to either broker a peace between the wings sprouted from their backs, and the Black
warring clans or somehow sneak into the mountain Snow tribe flew instinctively to the Ashen Gorge.
undetected. They were drawn to the Ruby of Oblivion, a
The following major factions fight for control pitch-black ruby of immense unholy power—now
over the Ashen Gorge. They make and break their stored in the Obsidian Geode, a treasure vault
alliances with one faction or another, and then guarded by a legion of golems and elementals.
break their new alliances just as readily. You can This squadron of hateful revenants is small, but
use these factions to inspire adventures set in the each one of them wields the strength of twenty
Ashen Gorge. lesser warriors.
Scions of Flame. This cult of black-scaled lizard- Tatterwing Kin. Toxoshuul, Chloroxodon, and
folk claim to have been Thordak’s elite guard in Snagglefang, a trio of young green dragons,
ancient times, and are the current rulers of the long to plunder Thordak’s lost vaults for their
gorge. They’re led by a five-hundred-year-old druid own hoards, and demand tribute from the other
named Burning Oak, and while his awesome factions of the Ashen Gorge in exchange for
magic keeps the other tribes at bay, his frailty their aid in battle. All three are the children of
Tatterwing, a feared dragon of the Kirmont Valley,
and even if they find themselves on opposite sides
Bronbog
of a skirmish, they never fight one another, only Village: Population 683 (53% humans, 18%
annihilating the pathetic humanoids beneath them half-elves, 11% goblinkin, 9% halflings, 9%
with their toxic breath and razor-sharp talons. other races)
If there ever was a civilization that called the
Dreamseep Marshlands Dreamseep home, Bronbog is all that remains of it.
Its buildings are made from planks of waterlogged
East of the Stormcrest Range, within the Kirmont bogwood, and the only sign of its previous greatness
Valley, is the sprawling, fetid Dreamseep Marsh. The is the ring of stone pillars that once supported the
perpetual rain rolling off the Stormcrests’ enchanted Temple of the Dawnfather. Even though the temple
slopes has transformed this once-lush forest into to their patron god has crumbled, the people of
a morass of rotting vegetation, sulfurous mud, and Bronbog keep the faith; their belief in the sun god’s
gnarled, weeping trees. So many cruel murders have afterlife is their greatest comfort against their mea-
been committed within the Dreamseep that the very ger lives. Yet, for all the gloom that surrounds the
land is cursed, forsaken by the gods. Negative energy Dreamseep Marshlands, the Bronboggi maintain a
pools there like water, and the dead drink deep of determinedly optimistic disposition. There’s a saying
it. The marsh is populated by more than just the in the village: “If you don’t feel the storm, you can’t
walking zombies of killers and their victims—awful know there ain’t sun.”
amalgamations of dozens of bodies, both humanoid The only reason anyone north of the Stormcrest
and bestial, are birthed within the Dreamseep’s Mountains knows of Bronbog is because of queen-
putrid womb. scap, a rare swamp fungus that serves as a reagent
Somewhere in the middle of this accursed realm in creating potent potions of superior healing. It’s
is a sinkhole that plunges deep beneath the earth. been harvested almost to extinction in the more
At its deepest point is the Tomb of Udah, a fabled accessible K’Tawl Swamp, and Tal’Dorei’s alche-
necropolis of countless chambers, littered with mists will pay good money for a shipment.
traps and treasures that have claimed the lives and The biggest building in Bronbog is its tavern, the
imaginations of untold hundreds. Every death within Queen’s Knight, which has about six beds in drafty
Udah’s accursed walls only adds to the legions at its rooms to accommodate the town’s very few visitors.
dread master’s command; characters who explore its
tunnels face not only undead warriors in armor from Bronbog Adventures
a bygone millennium, but steely warriors in armor Game Masters who set their adventure in Bronbog
from every epoch in Tal’Dorei history. can use this plot hook for inspiration.
The small community of Bronbog holds the only Morning Glory (mid-level). On a queenscap-gath-
lights of civilization within the shadows here, and ering expedition to Bronbog, an unusual storm
those that continue to thrive against the oppressive forces the characters to stay the night. As they spend
swamp are hearty and stubborn folk.. time in the swamp town, vine-choked stone obelisks
slowly emerge from the murky waters, emanating
Dreamseep Marshlands an unearthly light. Some villagers immediately fall
Adventures under the obelisks’ sway, claiming they are “heralds
Game Masters who set their adventure in the of the Dawnfather, the rising sun,” but all others are
Dreamseep Marshlands can use this plot hook for disturbed by their neighbors’ feverish worship of
inspiration. the stones.
Skull of Udah (epic-level). Two rumors persist The true power behind these obelisks is a mis-
of the Tomb of Udah. First, it is said that within the guided deva that calls himself Eclipse. He seeks to
tomb's deepest sanctum is a three-eyed golden skull, create a brainwashed, perfectly loyal Army of the
and that in each socket is inlaid a ruby that can grant Dawn to fight against the Dawnfather’s enemies.
any wish. Second, the locals say that, unlike the He is posing as Father Larkylai, the town’s affable
mindless undead of the Dreamseep above, the abom- priest of the Dawnfather, and conducts services from
inations in the necropolis below are commanded by within the town’s tavern.
a hideous master. Little do these rumor-spreaders
know that the skull and the master are one and the The Frostweald
same. Udah the Undying is a lich of tremendous Along the northern base of the Stormcrests is a
power, devouring the souls of all who die within the forest locked in perpetual winter, cursed to eternal
Dreamseep. His disembodied spirit controls the dun- cold by the invasion of Errevon the Rimelord during
geon itself, and only retreats into the skull—the last the Icelost Years. Within the forest, ponds magically
remnant of his physical form—when it is in danger. freeze into perfect mirrors, reflecting the snowy sky

above, and the snow-draped trees shelter families
of fey hiding from enemies in the Fey Realm. At The Silver Tablet
first, the Frostweald seems a wonderland of crisp
Ye who seek my boundless wisdom,
snow and aromatic pines and firs, yet the serene
Pass into the white trees’ kingdom.
landscape belies sinister danger. Herds of basi- Return to the shrine Mentor’s eyes,
lisks roam the woods, and travelers who encounter And follow the light in the skies.
mysterious snow-covered statuaries or copses of I am the Beast of the Heavens;
petrified trees must think fast or join this grisly Thou shalt kneel before my presence,
statuary—permanently. Lest the wisdom thou seekest
Be lost to the cowardice of your weakest.
Frostweald Inhabitants This poem was discovered by Jorlund Vohr on his
The only humanoid peoples who live within the first expedition to the Frostweald, on a silver tablet
Frostweald are hunter-gatherers called the Shiver- written in flowing Celestial script. Upon examina-
gut. Many of their people are orcs who have lived tion, scholars at the Alabaster Lyceum discovered
within the Frostweald for generations, but their the language of the heavens is so sublime that its
ranks also include humans, elves, and dwarves who poetry rhymes even when translated into any lan-
adopted their ways centuries ago during the Icelost guage. The tablet was stolen later that week, along
Years. Most are helpful to travelers, if reserved. with the rest of Vohr’s findings, but Jorlund keeps
Others, however, are dour, selfish isolationists who a parchment-and-charcoal copy of the tablet in a
have been apart from other folk for so long that they chest beneath his bed in Emon’s Erudite Quarter.
care more for the thrill of bloodshed than a warm
conversation over a crackling fire.
The Frostweald is also home to a host of benev-
olent fey, most of them pixies or dryads, using the Cavern of Axiom
forest as a safe haven away from the Fey Realm. If The Cavern of Axiom is a lost shrine to the Know-
pressed for answers on why they left the Fey Realm, ing Mentor, spoken of only in riddles. Hidden by
their answers are cryptic and dissatisfactory, but ever-shifting illusions, the entrance to this cavern
always ominously suggest a “Great Shadow” has opens only to those who are expected by fate. Its
descended upon their lands—perhaps even a host entrance looks different to every group that finds it,
of warriors from the Plane of Shadow? A nymph from the imperious to the humble, but it appears sim-
named Arethusa watches over a cluster of three ply as a heavy snowdrift to those not fated to open
mirror-like pools that form a pathway into the Fey its doors. Within its shifting facade are dangerous
Realm, each to a different Archfey’s forest. She is trials designed to test the will and mettle of those
suspicious of all mortals, and both her trust and a who seek the infinite knowledge of the Knowing
favor are required to gain passage. Mentor. The chambers plunge deeper into the rock
beneath the mountain, while half-eroded murals and
Ruins of the Frostweald strange puzzles evaluate any wanderer who seeks an
Many forgotten obelisks of the Knowing Mentor audience with the keeper of the cavern, an ageless
rest secretly beneath the ice and snow. These lost androsphinx named Kamaljiori. The final challenges
beacons were created to guide the faithful of the presented by the sphinx alter from subject to subject,
Knowing Mentor to the Cavern of Axiom, a sacred and failure banishes the petitioners from the cavern,
place guarded since time immemorial by a sphinx barred from ever returning.
dedicated to the Mentor. If any living creature knows
why these ancient monoliths reside here when no Ruhn-Shak
other ruins of the Knowing Mentor have been discov-
Small City: Population 6,670 (80% elves, 12%
ered, they have kept the knowledge secret from the
dwarves, 5% gnomes, 3% other races)
other scholars of the world. Over thirty years ago,
the half-orc Emonian archaeologist Jorlund Vohr If you find carved arches and steel gates in the
discovered a cache of Ioun stones buried here and mountain slopes, do not rest there, no matter the
brought them to the Alabaster Lyceum of Emon, but cold. There are no grand dwarf-halls among these
his research and findings were stolen the week after forsaken peaks.
he returned. Vohr has since stated he “got over it,” Deep below the surface world, countless caverns
and is back to work on new research on Visa Isle. and tunnels wind into regions where light finds
no purchase. It is here, beneath the Stormcrest
Mountains, that the largest subterranean society of
the Spider Queen’s devotees maintains its tyranny.
Hidden entrances and tunnels riddle not just the
mountain range, but the edges of the Dreamseep,

as well as darker regions of the Verdant Expanse, was exiled into the tunnels, where he will surely be
granting raiding parties quick and easy access to the devoured by driders unless the characters save him.
surface under cover of night—slaughtering many,
capturing the rest, and taking the spoils as gifts to Wrettis
the Spider Queen.
A relic of the Age of Arcanum, Wrettis is the ruined
These tunnels, in their twisted network, are easily
tower of a powerful mage, one who was driven mad
collapsed and reopened through the use of “Pit
by the seductive whispers of beings from the beyond.
Witches,” druids who master the art of rock and
What few legends survive of the mage of Wrettis
dirt manipulation, making it near impossible to give
say he was known as Clemain Astural, the Sight
chase. The Wardens of Syngorn are ever seeking
Shephard, and that he was a powerful arcanist who
a way to find and destroy this heart of the Spider
peered into a realm beyond the planes in search
Queen’s power in Tal’Dorei, but the sly and cunning
of power to end the war that ravaged his world. He
elves of Ruhn-Shak have yet to meet their match.
found it, and thought it would serve him.
Ruhn-Shak Adventures He was wrong. Astural’s sanity crumbled, but his
power only grew, fueled by an entity he called the
Game Masters who set their adventure in Ruhn-
Sightless One (see page 41). As devastation crept
Shak can use these plot hooks for inspiration.
across southeastern Tal’Dorei, heroes of the land
Dynastic Intervention (any level). While in
rode to Wrettis to end Astural’s chaotic reign, destroy
Syngorn, the characters are called by Ouestra,
his tower, and bury his corpse in the rubble. Wrettis
Voice of Memory (see page 63), to meet with
is now a moss-coated ruin, but some chambers
guests from Wildemount. They are emissaries of
within and below the tower still hold secrets of the
the Kryn Dynasty, a society founded by dark elves
mad mage, as well as some of his creations.
who fled the Spider Queen’s grip and now live on the
surface. These Kryn envoys seek to undertake an
expedition into Ruhn-Shak, to try to use the radiant Rifenmist Peninsula
power of their mysterious god, the Luxon, to free South of the Stormcrest Mountains and the Verdant
their kin from the Spider Queen’s evil influence. The Expanse are a number of autonomous communities
characters are offered a fine reward by the War- that live outside the influence of the Republic of
dens of Syngorn to protect these Kryn priests on Tal’Dorei and its constituent city-states. A number
their mission. of plans to expand into Rifenmist have been brought
A Plea from the Dark (mid-level). The charac- to the Tal’Dorei Council, but strong opposition from
ters are drawn into the underground tunnels around the Syngornian delegation and the Master of Defense
Ruhn-Shak by a psychic message: “I have displeased have consistently buried these plans before they can
the Spider Queen; there is nothing I can do but beg come to fruition.
for salvation—can anyone hear me?” The message A number of communities exist on the Rifenmist
comes from Ry’denyan, a drow of Ruhn-Shak Peninsula. Some are lost remnants of the Scattered
granted telepathic powers by an unknown aberra- War that chose to flee Drassig’s rule to the isolated
tion. This unexpected gift allowed him to break free and unpopulated Mornset Countryside rather than
of his society’s brainwashing. He tried to escape, and fight against his tyranny. These are the communities
The Astural Scrolls

Clemain Astural covered thousands of pages of
parchment with his writings, ranging from alchem-
ical formulas to powerful spells to esoteric star
charts…but his later notes descend into paranoid,
half-crazed ramblings. One of the heroes that killed
Astural, a wizard named Atz Yuminor, took as many
of the scrolls as he could find and brought them
back to his house in the Dividing Plains. Yuminor’s
bloodline continues in Estella Ladimar, headmis-
tress of the Westhall Academy in Westruun, and
many of the Astural Scrolls are kept secretly by the
Scions of Yuminor in the academy’s observatory.

Majority Faiths: Changebringer,
Lawbearer, Strife Emperor
Minority Faiths: Wildmother, Moonweaver,
Cloaked Serpent, Lord of the Hells
Imports: Arms, armor, stone,
masonry, spell components
Exports: Spell components, produce,
rare metals
that some Emonian merchants wish to bring into the cracked, volcanic landscape, its basalt fields inter-
fold of Tal’Dorei proper. Farther to the south (and rupted only by towering structures of black iron. This
occasionally roaming north into Mornset) are the hellish place is the home of the Iron Authority, and
Orroyen elves, a collection of nomadic tribes. The one of the last battlegrounds of the Calamity.
Orroyen and the elves of Syngorn see one another It is here that the Betrayer God known as the
as family, and the Syngornian delegation refuses Strife Emperor, aided by his legions of brainwashed
to allow the council to interfere with their cousins’ goblinkin, clashed with the Wildmother and her Free
way of life. Children. Though the Wildmother was victorious
Beyond the Mornset people and the Orroyen are and the goblinkin were freed, the site of the Strife
a number of other small, individualistic settlements Emperor’s defeat was reduced to rock and ash, a
that live in fear of the imperial power that commands place where plants would never again grow.
Rifenmist: the Iron Authority. Tal’Dorei’s Master of Most of the goblinkin who survived the battle van-
Defense warns the council of provoking this slum- ished into the jungle and traveled north into the rest
bering empire, for they are preoccupied with their of Tal’Dorei, leaving the shame of their connection to
unholy conquest of the Rifenmist Jungle in the name the Strife Emperor behind. Centuries later, however,
of their patron deity, the Strife Emperor. A number of a number of goblinkin still remained among the
Orroyen elves and other people of Rifenmist long for towering iron of the Strife Emperor’s fallen armor.
Emon’s aid in breaking the grip of the Iron Authority, One platoon of hobgoblins, the Iron Regiment,
but fear that allowing the Republic of Tal’Dorei to devoted themselves wholly to the Strife Emperor,
gain a military foothold in Rifenmist would simply be and pledged to revive his glorious legacy of conquest.
trading one imperial master for another. They press-ganged as many of their kin as they could
Beyond the political struggles of this realm are ter- into armies and created the seed of an empire—one
rors only true heroes can survive. Enormous, ancient which they watered with blood.
beasts stalk the vine-twisted paths of the jungle that When the Iron Regiment brought all of the
consumes the majority of the peninsula’s coastline. Beyensfal Plateau under their rule and transformed
An expanding morass of fungus spreads from a mys- themselves into the Iron Authority, their empire
terious, corrupt source along the eastern depths of only continued to grow. The Iron Tide never broke,
the underbrush, while a secret society of naga-wor- and within a decade, it had engulfed all the other
shippers bring bloody offerings to their snake-queen. kingdoms along Rifenmist’s southern coast. They
were united under the cruel banner of Tz’Jarr, the
Beynsfal Plateau Iron Emperor.
While the entirety of Beynsfal is firmly controlled
Where below there is life and freedom, above there is
by the Iron Authority, the empire is still reaching,
naught but death and tyranny. In the high, southern
now locked in a decades-long war to subjugate the
plateaus of Rifenmist, verdant jungle gives way to a
native inhabitants of the jungles below: the Orroyen.

Five major city-states comprise the core of the Bound by the necessity of survival, the people of
Iron Authority, though all swear fealty to the Iron this land share a common code of honor called the
Emperor in its capital of Tz’Arrm, the southern- Fundaments. This code holds all to a baseline of
most city of the plateau. From south to north, the respect for all travelers and outcasts, and codifies
other imperial city-states are Rybad-Kol, city of the ancient principles of hospitality. Each denizen of
Forge Lords; Hdar-Fye, the necropolis of Prince the countryside looks out for their neighbor, and if
Hdar; Ezordam-Haar, eyrie of the red pegasi; and a person in need arrives upon one’s doorstep, the
Ortem-Vellak, the petrified elventree. hospitality of food and shelter must be provided.
It is understood that the Fundaments may be taken
Beynsfal Plateau Adventures advantage of by ruffians and power-hungry upstarts.
Game Masters who set their adventure on the Beyns- Nevertheless, this code of honor has served the Free
fal Plateau and the surrounding mountains can use Folk well for centuries, and anyone who scorns it is
this plot hook for inspiration. looked upon with disdain and mistrust. Most of the
The Wayward Bloodline (mid-level). Tz’Jarr Mornset Free Folk are humanoids, but many free
has a single heir to his throne: his hobgoblin child settlements have alliances with the local hill giants,
Zuun’dak, nearly of age and currently being groomed cyclopes, and ogres that help protect them against
to become a great general. However, Zuun’dak has the Iron Authority to the south.
grown up with trepidation regarding the brutality
of his society, and after being briefly captured by an Mornset Adventures
outlying Orroyen scouting party and learning of the Game Masters who set their adventure in Mornset
gentler world abroad, he’s begun to long for escape can use this plot hook for inspiration.
and reformation. When the party stumbles upon a Anger Everburning (low-level). A number of
disguised and fleeing Zuun’dak, they must decide residents of the uncharted village of Heldenfaire
whether to turn over such a valuable bargaining tool have been unexpectedly—and suddenly—flying into
to the Orroyen, or aid and groom the defecting heir a rage both mindless and destructive. Many within
as a rebellious force against his father. the village are confused, fearing a plague of violent
madness, and they seek adventurers (especially
Mornset Countryside parties with clerics or skilled healers) to save
them. Investigation by the party reveals that each
After a long journey south from Syngorn, or north
individual driven to these fits is connected to the
from the Rifenmist Jungle, thick foliage gives way
town alchemist’s dark past and a failed herbalism
to rolling hills and winding rivers. No great cities
experiment from ten years ago, when she lived in
are to be seen here, only an untouched wilderness
Kymal. If the characters wish to find an antidote,
pockmarked by fortified towns. The Mornset Coun-
they must explore the alchemist’s sinister laboratory
tryside is home to many people whose ancestors
in the hills.
fled the rule of Drassig. Most of these people value
their privacy—especially from Emonian landscape
painters who enrich themselves by romanticizing Byroden
and exoticizing their idyllic way of life. Town: Population 8,050 (45% humans, 21% half-
The Free Folk of Mornset, as they call themselves, elves, 12% goblinkin, 8% halflings, 8% gnomes,
include a wide variety of people who have spurned 6% other races)
the ways of their forebears. The bulk of these people The northernmost and largest town in the Mornset
are the descendants of refugees from a long-ago war, Countryside, Byroden borders the Gladepools and
but a number of Tal’Dorei people who long for free- marks the first stop for any traveler on their way to
dom from the pressure of modern life have uprooted the Rifenmist Peninsula. It’s also a hub of trade for
their lives and journeyed to Mornset to start anew. the entire Mornset Countryside, and even some trap-
Likewise, some Orroyen elves who dislike the pers and artisans of the Verdant Expanse. The town
nomadic lifestyle find homes in the small communi- has a dense town center surrounded by palisades
ties of Mornset. and tall wooden walls, but most of the community
Beyond those who follow their hearts to this realm, lives in homesteads and farmhouses spread across
Mornset is also home to a number of criminals the surrounding fields. Byroden is mostly self-suffi-
fleeing persecution. Most Free Folk don’t ask ques- cient, and has a wealth of farmers, fishers, artisans,
tions about newcomers’ pasts, and welcome them and miners, giving them everything they need to
regardless. However, if these particular outlanders survive. Trade provides the opportunity for some
don’t leave their past behind and continue to harm luxuries, with raw materials serving as their primary
others, or bring bounty hunters (or worse) in their currency.
wake, every village in Mornset has a well-trained While pleasant and welcoming on the outside, this
militia that will eagerly remove dangerous folk from lifestyle is protected by a fierce and intense drive
their midst.

to defend the community's way of life at the first including the characters. As the town militia is
sign of threat or danger. Most citizens are armed at armed for battle, the characters overhear that goblin
all times, trained to rise as a communal militia at and hobgoblin scouts of the Iron Authority have
a moment's notice from the war ringer, a sentinel been spotted twenty miles south of town—closer
charged with the town’s protection. than they’ve been seen in nearly two decades.
Despite (or perhaps because of) the ever-pres- Worried that this scouting party is an omen of
ent dangers that threaten Byroden, the town holds invasion, the town’s war ringer deputizes the char-
frequent festivals, feasts, and fairs, including the acters and offers them a handsome sum of money to
highly anticipated Gem of Byroden pageant and the investigate the scouting camp. Their goal is simple:
midsummer Peachiest Pie bake-off. On festival days, learn the interlopers’ mission, either by interrogating
small children roam freely within the protective town their commander or by finding a written command
walls as their parents enjoy the chance to let loose note. And, if the characters can capture or eliminate
and celebrate life in all its ephemeral glory. the scouts before the town’s upcoming festival, the
locals will celebrate their success with all the free
Hillmaw Chasm food and drink they can stomach.
A few miles north of the center of Byroden is a gap- The Dreamgate (mid-level). After a mining expe-
ing chasm. An earthquake thirty years ago split open dition goes missing deep within the Hillmaw Chasm,
Deercrest Hill. The chasm is referred to officially as locals begin to report vivid, communal dreams
Deercrest Ravine, but is known to most superstitious involving members of the missing party pleading for
folk in town as Hillmaw Chasm. After the earth- help. A half dozen mercenaries have been hired to
quake, locals stayed as far away from the chasm investigate—only for them to disappear as well. Just
as they could—until four years later, when a group a day before the characters are asked for help, the
of adventurers found vast veins of precious gold townsfolk of Byroden discovered with horror that the
and sturdy iron within. Soon, all people of Byroden vanished mercenaries have also appeared in their
strong enough to swing a pick or lift a shovel made dreams. The adventurers are asked to delve into this
their way into the chasm. unearthed pathway and to find both answers and the
Most miners hire an armed escort because the missing people.
chasm is known to be home to grumpy earth ele-
mentals, as well as unpleasant, slimy creatures of Niirdal-Poc
the dark. Most serious beliefs about the chasm being
City: Population 15,442 (18% humans, 17%
haunted have dissipated over the past thirty years.
goblinkin, 12% elves, 12% elephantines, 10% half-
Still, rumors persist, and as folklore becomes myth,
elves, 7% elemental ancestry, 24% other races)
some say that myth can become reality.
Long before the Calamity, a great civilization called
Advent of the Cinder King the Qoniira made Rifenmist their home. During the
About forty years ago, Byroden was brought to its Age of Arcanum, the Qoniira Tetrarchy grew from
knees by Thordak the Cinder King. This incursion a loose coalition of towns led by arcanists, clerics
was about two decades before the Cinder King’s of the Wildmother, and druids who spoke with the
destruction of Emon, and it was stopped by an adven- jungle around them. These towns were inhabited by
turing party led by Allura Vysoren, now a senior humans and the animal-bodied humanoids of the
member of the Tal’Dorei Council. Many in Byroden jungle. The first stones of the Qoniiran heart-city
still see Allura, Lady Kima of Vord, and Drake Thun- Niirdal-Poc were laid by the broad, towering elephan-
derbrand as heroes. The graves of the companions tine people, and places for new settlements were
they lost in that fight, Sirus Kaldrem, Dohla Lorian, scouted out by catfolk seers whose eyes glistened
and Ghenn Talevesh, hold places of honor in the with starlight.
town cemetery.
While Byroden has long-since been built anew, Surviving the Calamity
the terror of that day still lives on in its elders and In time, the Qoniira civilization grew into a
adults. All but the youngest generation of Byroden Tetrarchy, with four great satellite cities and the
takes great caution against another such monstrous central heart-city of Niirdal-Poc. The tetrarchs
attack—as well as against any attack by the Iron established their cities with mathematical precision.
Authority to the south. A constellation of the night sky guided them—
Surrac's Shield, a four-starred diamond with a fifth
Byroden Adventures star in its center. The constellation still shines over
Game Masters who set their adventure in Byroden Rifenmist and southern Exandria today. The four
can use these plot hooks for inspiration. outer cities of Qoniira match the points of Surrac’s
Ironbound Scouts (low-level). All are awoken shield precisely, and Niirdal-Poc is aligned with its
in Byroden by the ringing of the town’s alarm bell, center star.

The Calamity struck at the peak of Qoniiran civili- The Rifenmist Jungle sunk Niirdal-Poc into a deep
zation, yet rather than take up arms against gods and basin, and its thick canopies shield it from above,
mortals, the tetrarchs opted to remove themselves while its intertwining boughs hold the heart-city
from the world—not unlike the elves of Syngorn to tightly in its embrace. Few are permitted by the pro-
the north. Something happened in Niirdal-Poc, some tective, ancient magic of the Qoniirans to enter the
sort of magic that even the Qoniirans of today do not city. Its people live contentedly within Niirdal-Poc,
understand. only occasionally traveling outside their basin to
trade with Orroyen nomads or, in mythically rare
Geography instances, with the town of Byroden.
Today, only the heart-city of Niirdal-Poc survives. The four ruins which surround Niirdal-Poc are:
Its satellites are little more than crumbling ruins. Niirdal-Gan. This outer city to the north of Niird-
Something shifted in the magic of the jungle when al-Poc was the agricultural hub of Qoniira. Some
the Qoniirans chose not to fight in the Calamity. The farmers have opted to live outside the basin and
Rifenmist Jungle closed its boughs against the world, tend to these still-fertile lands. They are few, for
shielding the city. When the Strife Emperor died magic is able to supply food for most people of
on the Beynsfal Plateau to the south, the Qoniirans Niirdal-Poc.
knew nothing of it. All the tumult of the world Niirdal-Teek. This outer city, east of Niirdal-Poc,
passed them by. was an academic center of the Qoniiran
civilization. Most of the city is one vast university Storms bring death, but rain brings life. Storms are
that once was populated by over 30,000 people. power, the power of the distant gods, on display
Some explorers venture into these ruins to find for all to see. Climb into the Stormpoints, young
lost knowledge. one, and shout your fury into the relentless wind
Niirdal-Sarqet. Located south of Niirdal-Poc, this and booming thunder. Your prayers may not be
outer city was a center of faith for the Qoniirans. answered by the gods, but you will feel them echo in
All that remains of the sacred city is a vast, float-
your heart.
ing cube called the Hexahedron of Sarqet. It is
adorned with statues of the Prime Deities and the —Cloudwriter Ix Eghruy of the Orroyen
Betrayer Gods alike, and none living know what is
inside its unbreachable walls. Even today, modern
Qoniiran priests teach that balance is the true
way of the world, telling their people to invoke the
names of the Prime Deities for blessings, and of
Magic Beyond Reckoning
the Betrayer Gods for curses. Magic suffuses the city of Niirdal-Poc. Its magic is
Niirdal-Hup. Precious little remains of this for- something older than the gods, or the Calamity, or
tress-city, the heart of the Qoniiran military. A anything wielded by mortals today. However, the
common parable reminds those who hear it to not mortal mages of Niirdal-Poc wield the same arcane
fight fate—for of all the ruined cities, only the city force gifted by the gods, and its druids and clerics
of warriors was reduced to dust. touch upon the power of the gods behind the Divine
Gate, just as Exandria’s other mortal peoples do.
All of these ruins are filled with statues from the
Both ancient and modern magic mingle in
height of the Qoniiran Tetrarchy. Some statues have
Niirdal-Poc, for the patterns of the ancient powers
been known to move under the light of the stars,
are mysterious, and its methods are unknowable.
illuminating hidden runes upon their bodies as they
Some call it the Light of Fate, others the Blessing of
patrol like sentinels of antiquity.
the Stars. The most common name is simply “the
Government Gift.” It was the Gift that protected Niirdal-Poc in
the Calamity. It is the Gift that causes miracles to
The Tetrarchy of Qoniira, in ages past, was ruled
occur, like a person surviving a fall from the heights
by four tetrarchs, each of whom ruled one of the
of Vedrim’s Pinnacle to the streets of the city. It is
civilization’s four outer cities. In times where the fate
the Gift that causes the Hexahedron of Sarqet to
of Qoniira was at a crossroads, they gathered within
hover mysteriously; it is the Gift that surrounds the
the heart-city to guide the course of their civiliza-
Statue of the Observer, a four-winged feline human-
tion together.
oid figure in the city’s center, with a broken halo of
The relative autonomy of the four outer cities and
ashen-gold light—and that causes that same light to
the looseness of the coalition that bound them seems
flicker within the lamps of the city.
at odds with the perfect precision with which the cit-
ies were built, so precisely matching the stars in the
sky. The Qoniirans have always been an easygoing Orroyen Tribes
people who typically follow the flow of fate, rather Nomadic Tribes: Population 11,850 (64% elves, 12%
than fight against it. half-elves, 10% humans, 14% other races)
Today, the tetrarchy survives, even though the Born from a wandering colony fleeing the Calamity,
four outer cities are in ruins. They gather daily in these wood elves have not just survived within the
the Hakredic Dome, an architecturally magnifi- jungles of Rifenmist—they have flourished. Learning
cent granite rotunda adorned with an outer layer of the dangers of the surrounding lands, refining their
grayish-purple porphyry stone and lifelike, reddish hunting techniques, and maintaining a healthy arms-
porphyry statues. There, the tetrarchs and their length relationship with outsiders, the Orroyen call
advisors work to keep life simple and content for the jungle their domain and protect it furiously.
their people. The Orroyen tribes have no central government,
The tetrarchy is a hereditary office, but city- and their membership shifts as different clans move
wide elections are held between eligible heirs to through the region and encounter other tribes,
determine which heir should take up their parent’s sometimes trading members as they go. Elders
mantle. Elections are also held when a tetrarch’s line are given the most oversight and respect among a
ends without heirs—often giving advisors a chance to traveling tribe, the eldest given the title of dura, and
gain power by virtue of their service to the city. the duty of leading their tribe. Each nomadic group
maintains a population of anywhere between a hun-
dred and a thousand people. Temporary lodging is
constructed at each resting point, called a tomenda.

Most Orroyen groups remain at a tomenda they’ve from Syngorn or beyond and share stories of their
constructed for about two years, before depletion of lands. Love can bloom in these meetings of separate
resources or the arrival of dangerous creatures or worlds, and sometime results in an orfinde being
soldiers forces them to move on. Countless aban- brought into an Orroyen clan. And sometimes curi-
doned tomenda can be found throughout the jungle, ous Orroyen leave simply to see the world beyond
and Orroyen clans will frequently make camp in old the jungle.
tomenda made by a different tribe—it is considered a
gift from the jungle. Rifenmist Jungle
To come into prominence within the tribe, or
The jungles that cover Tal’Dorei’s southern expanses
request admittance into the tribes as an ally or
are a vast wilderness. Many elves call this lush land-
member, a hopeful entrant must complete a series
scape their home, particularly those of the nomadic
of ceremonial trials. These trials change from dura
Orroyen Tribes. There is no doubt that this jungle is
to dura, but are designed to test strength of body
as magical and mysterious as Tal’Dorei’s temperate
and mind. It is not uncommon for those who attempt
forests, for the jungle’s greenery is home to countless
these trials to return maimed, or to not return at all,
mystical spirits, ferocious monsters, and arcane
and many elders bear the marks and scars of their
mysteries. The vine-strangled floors of the jungle are
trials long past. Few outlanders from the north,
clustered with swollen trunks, spine-laden ferns, and
known as orfindes to the Orroyen, have been allowed
carnivorous plant life that waits for the unknowing
into any of the dozens of Orroyen tribes, and the
wanderer to make an incorrect step.
elders have little intention of changing this, for they
The sweltering heat of the sun-baked peninsula
have heard distant tales of the ancient tyranny of
grows even more oppressive beneath the jungle’s
Drassig and the supernatural horrors the people of
humid canopy. Clusters of venomous insects buzz
northern Gwessar invite upon themselves.
through the mist-shrouded trees, alongside large
Nevertheless, the Orroyen are practical, not pride-
lizards, and wild beasts in search of carrion. Sunken
ful. They trade often with the Free Folk of Mornset,
valleys lead to pockets of marshland or quicksand
and sometimes even travel as far north as Byroden to
pit traps, while others are wrought with a dire,
trade rare goods. There, some Orroyen meet people
spreading fungus. Those who have lived all their
lives in this environment know its dangers well and
have hundreds of years of precautions to take against
them. On the other hand, those who venture into
the jungle from northern Tal’Dorei rarely return,
and those that do warn others to never make the
same mistake.
The farther south one travels into Rifenmist, the
denser the jungle grows. Though some elves and
humans of northern Tal’Dorei have attempted to col-
onize the jungles for their vast resources in decades
past, they were quickly rebuffed by the Orroyen
elves of the jungle. Their message is clear: no cities
are to be built south of the jungle’s edge—and if the
northern jungles are cleared or burned, the trees’
vengeance will be swift and just. The Tal’Dorei
Council reacted quickly as well—the elves of the
jungle are to be heeded. The few settlers who have
joined the Free Folk of the Mornset Countryside are
deeply superstitious about the southern jungles, and
rarely travel deeper than they need to in order to
parley with their Orroyen allies.
Even the Iron Authority, who has been at war with
the trees of the jungle itself for decades, has not man-
aged to destroy their foe. The Orroyen nomads fear
the conquerors of Beynsfal Plateau and the massive
armies supplied to them by their authoritarian lead-
ers. Their raids ebb and flow as imperial leaders rise
and fall. Each new era begins with a bold and cruel
warlord rallying their people against their age-old
enemy. War is waged, and countless innocents and

Authority soldiers perish in a senseless fight. And Stormpoint Mountains
then resources run low, morale dips, and the legions
return to the Beynsfal Plateau to lick their wounds.
Adventures
Legend holds that the jungle will never die, so long Game Masters who set their adventure in the
as even one of the Orroyen lives within it. So far, his- Stormpoint Mountains can use this plot hook for
tory has only proved the jungle’s enduring strength. inspiration.
Allies of the Storm (high-level). The people of
Rifenmist Jungle Adventures the Mornset Countryside and the free people of the
Game Masters who set their adventure in the Rifenmist Jungle long for an end to the tyranny of the
Rifenmist Jungle can use these plot hooks for Iron Authority. A group of freedom fighters who have
inspiration. heard of the characters’ legendary feats of heroism
The Insatiable Sanctuary (mid-level). Long have contact them with a request: help. They lack the
rumors stirred regarding a vine-obscured temple funds to request the characters fight the Authority
from an epoch long past, but reports have mapped it themselves, but they wish for the characters
at many different locations, with returning expedi- to recruit a clan of cyclopes that live in the
tions finding it missing. This temple has seemed Stormpoint Mountains, including the mighty cyclops
to reveal itself once more in the northern region of stormcallers (see page 235) that lead their people.
the Rifenmist, its shadowed passages and secret Once there, the characters learn that their clan is
bounties ripe for the plucking. It isn’t until a ventur- beset by demons who have possessed their storm-
ing band delves deeper into the structure that signs callers and are using their mighty powers to conjure
begin to reveal the shrine itself to be a living entity, a deadly storm to keep the rest of the cyclopes in
and the treasure a lure to draw in prey. submission. Only exorcising the demons and saving
Seed of Immolation (high-level). Deep beneath the stormcallers will earn the characters their aid.
the twisted floors of the jungle lies a long-slumbering
relic from before the Founding: an unborn primor-
dial titan seed, its energy responsible for the fertile
Content Warning: Slavery
landscape and extreme overgrowth of the jungle. The Iron Authority is a despicable society that
embodies all the evils of ruthless authoritarianism.
The Iron Authority and their power-hungry clerics of
This includes the subjugation of innocents, racial
the Strife Emperor have tampered with the seed and
supremacy, poverty, and slavery. People at your
unleashed powers beyond their control. The titan has
gaming table may be more sensitive to this type of
begun to develop and wake from its eons-long slum- realistic evil than villains who simply wish to destroy
ber. If the process isn’t halted, it will fully awaken the world. It’s worth discussing with your players in
and terrorize the continent. However, if the seed is a session zero (see page 149) if everyone will still
destroyed, vast swathes of jungle may wither and die have fun (and be comfortable) if the game contains
without its magical essence. this type of evil before introducing the Iron Author-
ity as a villain in your campaign.
Stormpoint Mountains If you and your players want to use the Iron
The southern offshoot of the Stormcrest Mountains, Authority in your game, but don’t feel comfortable
with the depth of its evil, you can strip out these
the Stormpoint Mountains push deep into Rifenmist
elements. What remains is a classic “evil empire”
Jungle itself. These steep peaks are shrouded in
that wants to conquer Tal’Dorei. Its conquest can
low-sitting clouds and fog for most of the year, their
serve as a backdrop to the other adventures that
rocky surface hidden from view by lush overgrowth
your players want to go on.
that’s fed by the near-perpetual rain.
This region is beautiful, and in spring, thousands
of waterfalls spray mist and cast gorgeous rainbows
across the crags. However, due to its distance from Tz’Arrm, Helm of
most of Tal’Dorei’s population centers, few but the Emperor
adventurers and treasure hunters come here—seek-
City: Population 47,400 (70% hobgoblins, 10% gob-
ing wealth, not beauty. Some Free Folk from the
lins, 20% other races)
Mornset Countryside and pilgrims of the Wild-
mother do take great pains to travel here and revel in When the Strife Emperor fought the Wildmother, he
the Stormpoint Mountains’ natural splendor. took the form of a giant of unimaginable size, clad
from head to toe in armor of pitted iron. When he
was defeated and cast back into his planar prison,
his immense, divine armor remained and crashed
to the ground. Centuries have passed, and the
thirty-foot tall Helm of Strife is now the palace of

the Iron Emperor. The rest of their imprisoned god’s Slavery
armor fuels the unstoppable war machine of the Iron The armies of the Iron Authority have captured tens
Authority, melted down to create walls, weapons, of thousands of slaves during their wars of conquest
and worse. across Rifenmist. The slaves of Tz’Arrm are mostly
used as laborers, sent to chisel iron scraps from the
Government Strife Emperor’s fallen armor, or to venture back
The armies of the Iron Authority are strictly into the lower jungles to forage for food. The elite of
regimented, and its society is no less ruthlessly struc- the Iron Authority sometimes play at benevolence by
tured. Every goblin, hobgoblin, and bugbear knows granting comfortable jobs indoors to slaves skilled
their place within the imperial hierarchy. And every in the arts—such as personal portrait-painters, musi-
being of other races, including a number of elves who cians, or sculptors. Such kindnesses are rarely a
have betrayed the Orroyen in hopes of gaining power sign of true mercy; they are more likely a simple (and
within the Authority, know their place beneath the meager) expression of guilt.
goblinkin. Iron Emperor Tz’Jarr is the supreme mili- Groups of slaves that pass in and out of the city to
tary commander of the empire, loyally served by the labor in the armor yards or furnaces are escorted
four royal generals that rule the empire’s individual by a military detachment whose primary purpose
city-states. Tz’Jarr is unimaginably old, and it is said is to discourage escape. The powerful people of
that his clerics have used blood magic granted to the city prize their elven slaves above all others,
them by their god to sustain him beyond his years. passing them down like heirlooms from generation
The military government of the Iron Authority is to generation. Elves are treasured possessions by the
headquartered in Tz’Arrm. Its cultish generals are Authority’s despicable elite, not just because of their
doggedly focused on maintaining the Authority’s war beauty and long life, but because of how difficult it
machine—and their own personal power. Beneath is to procure slaves from the sheltering boughs of
these generals are innumerable propagandists, the jungle.
military officials, slave-owning nobles, and their
cronies, all of whom ravenously seek a way to climb Geography and Climate
the ladder of power. No elections are held; positions Tz’Arrm is hellishly hot. The black stone of the
are only vacated in the event of death or promotion, Beynsfal Plateau and the iron walls of the city
and all leaders are appointed by the emperor or an trap the heat of the relentless Rifenmist sun. The
immediate superior. imperial elite enjoy spells that cool their homes and
shelter them from the sun, but those who toil under
Society the sun pay a heavy price. The Authority’s hobgoblin
As the capital of an empire with an insatiable appe- elite are well suited to such a climate, but their goblin
tite for expansion and conquest, Tz’Arrm is awash and bugbear slaves suffer as they toil—as do the
with propaganda and crawling with secret police. In Orroyen elves, whose life in the shady, humid boughs
addition to being the headquarters of the military, of the Rifenmist Jungle has left them unprepared for
Tz’Arrm is also the center of operations for the the blistering heat of the plateau.
Gauntlet, the empire’s intelligence and espionage
division. As the children of the Strife Emperor, loyal
goblinkin are seen as the supreme citizens of the Verdant Expanse
empire. The upper echelons of the Iron Authority are East of the Stormcrest Mountains, hundreds of miles
filled almost exclusively by hobgoblins, for the Iron of massive, unbridled forest shroud the landscape in
Emperor has declared them the strongest and most mystery and shadow. This dense greenwood was for
worthy children of their god. By the same token, centuries traversed by few but the elves of Tal’Dorei,
goblinkin who betray the empire are seen as the ulti- for it was known to be their domain, and theirs alone.
mate traitors, and suffer a fate worse than death. Even in the time of Zan Tal’Dorei, when her rebels
Those with wealth and status within the empire and their elven allies saved the realm from tyranny,
are constantly paranoid about falling out of favor. it was understood that the coasts were humanity’s
Even great generals see all those around them as domain, and the woods were that of elvenkind.
hungry wolves waiting to gobble them up. At the Times have changed, however. The alliances formed
bottom rungs of society are the serving class, who to oppose Thordak the Cinder King united virtually
eke out a meager existence as indentured servants all of Tal’Dorei’s disparate peoples, and many more
for the elite, or as merchants who are bound to what- than simply elves now walk the shaded paths of the
ever master owns their shop. Beneath even them are Verdant Expanse. Even so, much of the Expanse
slaves, most of whom are prisoners of war. is protected by the watchful eyes of the Wardens of
Syngorn, as it has been for hundreds of years.

Majority Faiths: Arch Heart,
Wildmother, Moonweaver
Minority Faiths: Matron of Ravens,
Knowing Mentor, Stormlord,
Cloaked Serpent, Spider Queen
Imports: Precious gems, grain, gold
Exports: Lumber, elvish goods, weapons,
jewelry, meat and vegetables, enchantments
Merchants travel from Emon to Syngorn along to grant sufficiently reverent supplicants a cryptic
roads sanctioned for trade, hunters both human and prophecy.
elven alike seek glory in tracking the wild beasts that
roam the untamed wilderness, and bands of dark elf Gladepools Adventures
raiders from Ruhn-Shak prowl the forest under cover Game Masters who set their adventure in the Glade-
of night. This enchanted wood holds the decay of the pools can use this plot hook for inspiration.
seasons at bay, and its trees are green year-round. No Basis for a System of Government (any
The Verdant Expanse is sustained by a massive level). While traveling along the edge of the Glade-
confluence of ley lines—rivers of magical power pools, an elf character, or a character with elven
that flow through the earth—after the devastation ancestry, notices a gleaming longsword embedded
of the Calamity shifted the flow of magic across the in the bank of the lake. No one but that character can
world. The region is saturated with magic. Magical see it until they draw it from the mud. Flowing elven
creatures flock to the forest’s supernaturally vibrant script upon the blade reads, “Whosoever draws this
boughs, including wayward fey, unicorns, unusual blade bears the mantle of the true scion of Yenlara.”
arcane monstrosities like owlbears, and displaced Attempts to appraise the sword and discover if
aberrations that call the darker groves their home. it’s a true ancient Syngornian artifact plunge the
characters into a dark conspiracy that lurks at the
The Gladepools heart of Syngorn: The High Warden may be wise and
just, but she is not the rightful ruler—at least, she is
Surrounding the southern edges of the Expanse
not Yenlara’s heir. Centuries ago, someone strove to
lies a cluster of broken ponds and lakes that ever
subvert Yenlara’s bloodline. Why? And, if the High
draw fresh water from the Stormcrest Mountains to
Warden is truly a good ruler, does the bloodline
the east, along with saltwater from the Ozmit Sea
deserve to be restored?
to the west. The strange mix of habitats across this
somewhat marshy grassland has led to unusual eco-
systems and odd, dangerous denizens, which in turn The Mirescar
has drawn the attention of many fishermen from the Deep within the western reaches of the Verdant
Rifenmist region, and of Syngornian hunters from Expanse is a region where the trees grow so close
within the Verdant Expanse. together that sunlight is barely permitted to pass
The clay and silt gathered along the shores of the through their boughs. These ancient trees clus-
saltwater lakes can be refined into fine ceramics and ter and twist into a labyrinth of knotted roots and
simple constructs that fetch fair prices in northern branches, while a tangled canopy of drooping foliage
Tal’Dorei. Syngornian tradition tells of an oracle’s and gray moss blocks the sky from view. Strange
spirit that is bound to the lakes, and when given powers dwell within the Mirescar, and beasts and
sufficient offering and respect, the oracle will emerge travelers that wander into its depths often emerge
with their hearts and flesh touched by a deep and

corrupting evil—if they emerge at all. The woodlands characters are hired to delve into its boughs and find
surrounding the Mirescar are rife with dire beasts, a cure, or to at least stem the flow of disease.
cruel fey, and many-eyed aberrations. In ancient times, the Mirescar was called the
The Mirescar is the subject of countless Syngor- Heartwood. It was the domain of a wise and kindly
nian folk tales, many of which purport to tell the true guardian naga named Sagacitous Erusaire, who
story of how it was formed. Some say it contains welcomed all with good hearts to share their bounty
the bones of a titan. Others say that a meteor from or receive alms. However, this naga has been cor-
Ruidus itself landed in the forest. Another, that the rupted into a cruel shadow of his former self. He and
Spider Queen cursed it during the Calamity. Any his grick minions have been twisted into hideous,
one of the tales may be true—or none of them. Only pus-oozing spreaders of disease—and spreading it is
adventurers of great courage and skill have the now the only thought in their minds. The naga can
power to penetrate deep enough into the Mirescar to cast contagion at will, and his grick minions can do
learn the truth and retain their humanity. so once per day. Is it possible to save the mind of this
More often than not, these tales serve to frighten corrupted guardian?
the people of Syngorn and Byroden away from the Tree of Scarred Knowledge (high-level). A
region altogether. wraithroot tree (see page 259) dwells at the heart
of the Mirescar. It is covered with deep gouges, all
Mirescar Adventures of which open and close like eyes and mouths as it
Game Masters who set their adventure in the Mires- watches and, on occasion, speaks in a hissing voice
car can use these plot hooks for inspiration. to its surroundings. It stands atop a fell artifact—
A Sickness Spreads (mid-level). A plague has the very thing that turned the Mirescar to evil in
begun to spread from the Mirescar. People living in ancient times—and has drunk deep of this artifact’s
the woods around this evil realm are suffering as forbidden knowledge and its cruelty.
they fall blind, with milky-white eyes; or their bodies The tree is excited to bargain with any creature
are wracked by fevers; or they are struck by a num- that meets it, trading secrets of unknowable origin
ber of other mysterious symptoms. All are aware that for the memories held most dear. It fears no attack,
the vile Mirescar is the source of the contagion. The for it is protected by a small legion of invisible
stalkers that enact its will throughout the Mirescar.

The Shifting Keep All here will say to you that Syngorn is a city
without equal on Exandria. Its towers and bowers
The Verdant Guard has a secondary base of oper- are impeccable, yes. Its cloisters and arches so
ations, beyond Syngorn’s walls, called the Shifting
graceful and fine they make your heart ache, yes,
Keep. It is built within and around a cluster of mas-
it has been said. But our dreams and memories are
sive, living trees that form the heart of the Verdant
Expanse, and enchanted with the most powerful the most precious treasure here. They flicker like
illusion magic that could be mustered by Syngorn’s fireflies through the night, and they are heard in
military arcanists and their guild of Spellbenders. the laughter of the youngest elven child, and in the
Enchantments woven into the keep’s foundations reminiscing groans of the eldest of our kind.
allow it to cloak its presence, seemingly vanishing —Ouestra, the Voice of Memory
and reappearing elsewhere within the forest at will.
The Shifting Keep can’t teleport, but it can turn
invisible and project an illusion of itself to any point
within a mile of its true location. This remarkable where Syngorn’s founders once recovered, allowing
enchantment has made it almost impossible for the city itself to vanish tracelessly into the Fey Realm
invaders to besiege the keep, and it played a major as a final act of preservation.
role in Syngorn’s victory against Neminar Drassig in
the Scattered War—tales of the unassailable Shifting
Government
Keep are told in Syngorn to this day. Nearly a thou- The city has been governed since its inception by the
sand trained elven warriors, hunters, and spies call High Warden (see page 63), a hereditary monarch
the Shifting Keep their home, though many spend who appoints proven individuals to three other
their time patrolling and exploring the Verdant offices alongside them as the Wardens of Syngorn.
Expanse. These rangers are vigilant, seeking signs Each Warden carries a title and bears a responsibil-
of whatever foolish invaders would dare trifle with ity to guide the city toward safety and prosperity. The
the might of Syngorn. Verdant Lord is the head of the city guard, though
they delegate this responsibility to a Vice Protector
Syngorn when leading the armies of Syngorn to war abroad.
The Guildrunner manages the city’s treasury and
City: Population 38,540 (85% elves, 9% humans, 3% oversees commerce within Syngorn’s borders. The
halflings, 3% other races) Voice of Memory is a heralded keeper of history and
Founded by the sorceress Yenlara in the wake of culture, and is often seen interacting with the elven
the Divergence, Syngorn became the heart of elven people, gathering new memories for the archives.
civilization on Tal’Dorei following its calamitous The High Warden has always been of Yenlara’s
destruction. The remnants of the fallen Court of bloodline, and is responsible for keeping order
Ullusa fled to the Fey Realm for a generation follow- within Syngorn and its territories, as well as within
ing the end of the Age of Arcanum, returning only the Wardens themselves.
when Yenlara found the realm safe to return. These
four hundred survivors built a new home, taking Society
inspiration from their temporary home among the Syngorn is steeped in elven tradition that dates back
fey, and formed the foundations of Syngorn. Though to before the Divergence. The arts are lauded and
elves have spread all across Tal’Dorei, even as far as revered, the pursuit of knowledge is respected and
the frigid Neverfields, there was once a time where encouraged, and some training in refined martial
nearly all of them resided in Syngorn. techniques is culturally expected. The idea of trade
This beautiful city of curving stone is built in har- between other cities and nations is understood to be
mony with the trees of the Expanse and sits against both healthy and beneficial, but most foreign trade
the western base of the Stormcrest Mountains. It is and travel is relegated to outer areas of the city.
all but impervious to external assault—not simply There was a time that few foreigners ever saw Syn-
because of its 40-foot-high walls of ivy-covered gorn’s innermost reaches, but that time has passed.
jade, and not only because it’s also surrounded by Syngorn’s gates are open to travelers from across
living trees of the Verdant Expanse and beacons Tal’Dorei—though all who visit the city are bound by
of detection that keep constant vigil for intruders. Syngorn’s strict cultural laws to respect their mil-
No, Syngorn is virtually unassailable because every lennia-old traditions. Any who disrespect the ways
entrance to the city is warded by a series of threshold of Syngorn are warned but once, and are thrown
crests: massive emblems of a crescent moon, flanked out of the city thereafter. Delicate crafts by Syngor-
by two trees, over a deep cerulean stone. These nian hands are sought after by collectors around the
enchanted stones act as an anchor to the Fey Realm, world, so many Syngornians take up the trade for
both profit and honor.

In a populace made up of people who are extraor- Syngorn receive this rite, and a vast number of elves
dinarily long-lived, having children is a rare and who live elsewhere write into their wills that they
highly-regulated process. Prospective parents must must be subject to the rite after their death.
gain approval from the office of the Voice of Memory Wisps of violet light flit about the sequoia’s ancient
to procreate, and any unapproved children are sent boughs, and those who look closely into their centers
out of the city to be raised in outposts or foreign cit- have been known to catch glimpses of eras past,
ies. All elves call such an occasion “regrettable,” and troubles present, and things that yet may be. The
truly do treat it with sorrow—but the laws of Syngorn great redwood and its spirits are watched and tended
are clear on this point, and few elves are willing to to by the Dreamweavers, elves who have dedicated
speak out against rulings which have stood for a their waking and sleeping lives to the protection of
thousand years. their heritage. About five hundred Dreamweavers
and five thousand scholars, merchants, and other
Crime elves call this district their home.
If Syngorn appears free of crime, it’s because elven The elves are a culture obsessed with tradition and
criminals have hundreds of years of experience the past. As such, the Dreamweavers are among the
at lurking in the shadows. A thriving market for most well-respected factions within Syngorn. Their
illegal goods runs invisibly through the city’s guilds. leader, Ouestra, the Voice of Memory, is likewise the
Though time often seems to stand still in Syngorn, most revered and socially powerful of the Wardens.
crime moves with the same celerity as it does in Beryl Keep. This fortress-district houses the
other cities—it must, if the criminal underbelly wants martial might of Syngorn. Situated on a hill in the
to stay one step ahead of the Wardens of Syngorn. northwest of the city, thick walls of leaf-green beryl
The most common contraband to pass through separate the district from the rest of the city. Within
Syngorn are shipments of suude, stolen goods, these walls are rows of barracks, archery ranges,
and dwarven trinkets. Many come to Syngorn to trance chambers, forges, mess halls, and all the
purchase these goods for a low price on the black other necessities to train an army of long-lived elves.
market, but those unwilling to make a journey and At the far northwest of the district is the Beryl Keep
risk being stopped by the Verdant Guard can wait for itself. The near-unassailable fortress proves the
these goods to make their way up to Kymal, where saying that even the most utilitarian of elven things
they can be purchased at an outrageous markup of are beautiful to mortal eyes. Six eucalyptus trees of
five times their cost in Syngorn. unknown age mark the boundaries of the keep, and
Most people in Syngorn have their basic needs between them grows a thick curtain of ironbark.
taken care of by the city’s government, to ensure the A dense canopy of impenetrable steelfern forms
wellbeing of their people. Nevertheless, some people its roof. Legend says that when Syngorn’s need is
still fall into poverty, and these destitute individuals greatest, the six ancient eucalyptus trees that guard
are often preyed upon by pickpockets, swindlers, the keep will uproot and march as mighty treants to
and smugglers who seek to use them as patsies for a defend the city.
paltry sum of gold. The Beryl Keep is commanded by Verdant Lord
Celindar, Syngorn’s master strategist. He possesses
Geography and Climate a crystal ball of true seeing within his war room,
The perpetual shade of the thick, green canopy of the which he can use to scry upon any part of the Ver-
forest maintains cooler weather throughout the sum- dant Expanse and to pierce any illusion. From this
mer months, while this far south, the ice and snow of vantage point, he commands his forces like a chess
winter is present, but minimal. master, always one step ahead of the threats within
Syngorn is broken up into six main districts and the enchanted forest. So far, Syngorn remains safe
has a variety of neighborhoods: because its enemies are wild and disorganized. Were
Memory Ward. The mind of Syngorn is contained they to unify, the might of the Verdant Guard would
within a ring of marble walls in Syngorn’s north- truly be put to the test.
east reaches. A winding stair, the One Thousand The armies of Syngorn are about five thousand
Steps, leads up to its lofty gate. Standing in the elves strong, though only about three thousand are
center of its grand court is the mystical Sequoia of within this district at any time. The rest are stationed
Remembrance, a three-hundred-foot-tall redwood at outposts within the Verdant Expanse and the
within which are stored the lives and memories of Fey Realm.
every elf in Tal’Dorei. At least, those whose bodies Tarn Ward. Syngorn’s central ward is a peaceful
are brought before the sequoia and are granted the commerce district surrounding Lake Ywynnlas and
Rite of Remembrance, as performed by the Voice of split by the channels that feed it. From sunrise to
Memory and her disciples, have their memories pre- sunset, no business is conducted here, save for food
served and added to the collective. Nearly all elves in service at public houses and beds at inns. During the

daylight hours, elves socialize, play, sing songs, write main entrance, rejecting any commoner who does
poetry, paint great works of art, and meditate here. not have an invitation to the palace marked with the
Elves are long-lived, and if half the day is not spent High Warden’s seal. High Warden Tirelda’s mono-
in peace and self-improvement, it is thought that the cled majordomo, a silver-haired elf named Ibbimas,
day was truly wasted, no matter how productive one screens all of the High Warden’s supplicants.
might have been in matters of business. The palace’s high, vaulted ceilings are supported
At nightfall, however, the Tarn Ward changes. The by pillars of gleaming marble carved in the image of
Tarn Thoroughfare opens at moonrise, lit only by tall elm trees, such that the ceilings are a canopy of
the heavens and by magical, floating lanterns. The polished stone. Beautiful portraits and busts of past
streets are silent but for the ethereal elvensong that Wardens line the walls, along with opulent tapestries
guides those who know how to listen through the of Yenlara and the creation of Syngorn. The citadel
streets. Elves and half-elves raised in Syngorn know is made up of four main levels. The basement levels
this musical language, but those unfamiliar with it hold the castle dungeons, as well as grand vaults
must use a comprehend languages spell to follow the containing fabulous treasure, historical artifacts, and
melody. When the river of sound guides a customer overwrought gifts— the latter given by emissaries
to a vendor, they speak in hushed Elvish, like an audi- uncertain of how to present a gift fine enough for an
ence whispering at the theatre. elven monarch. The first floor holds lush quarters for
Most shops along the Tarn Thoroughfare are ambassadors and visiting dignitaries. The second
affiliated with one of three guilds—the Spellbenders’ floor’s chambers are dedicated to business of state,
Guild, the Elvencraft Alliance, or the Mithral Fellow- including the High Warden’s throne room. The tow-
ship—and the sly Guildrunner Rawndel sits at the ers above the citadel contain studies and quarters for
head of all three. The Warden of this district, Rawn- the High Warden and her family.
del lives in a permanent magnificent mansion with a Feygrove. A once-splendid manor house in south-
façade adorned with splendid fey grotesques, and is ern Syngorn is now completely overgrown with plant
respected by elven merchants and nobles alike. The life. Massive mulberry trees sprout at odd angles
elves don’t seem to mind his monopoly on Thorough- out of windows and through gables, and fairy lights
fare trade, as their lives haven’t been affected much,
but High Warden Tirelda worries of the long-term
consequences of Rawndel’s power-hungry behavior.
Syngornian Goods
Any basic goods can be purchased in Syngorn at
twice their usual cost. These goods, however, are
of fine elven make. Weapons have a +1 bonus to
damage rolls, horses and other mounts increase
their movement speed by 10 feet, and other items
are possessed of unearthly beauty and preternatu-
ral durability. All common magic items can be easily
found here, and any uncommon magic item has
a 50% chance of being found here in the ward’s
many market stalls. Finding magic items of greater
rarity requires a character to make a DC 21 Cha-
risma (Investigation) check to find a rare item, or a
DC 25 (Investigation) check to find a very rare item.
These items are rarely for sale, and can only be
bartered for—typically by completing a dangerous
quest for the person who possesses them.
Emerald Citadel. The great palace of Syngorn

looms high over the north of the city—a mighty castle
of faded white marble, now covered with climbing
ivy and sprouting plants. As the highest point in the
gradually sloping city, its emerald-tipped spires can
be seen from anywhere below. Visitors to the citadel
first climb a grand set of stairs, curved like a flowing
river of marble, before reaching its brass gates. The
Verdant Guard aggressively protects the castle’s

dance around the house at all hours of the day. When Since the Feygrove was first “founded” over
Syngorn returned from the Fey Realm after the twenty years ago, the fey have spilled out of Il’shavfa
Conclave’s defeat, the elves unintentionally brought Manor and made an entire district of the city into
a little of the Fey Realm with them. A number of their home. By this point, only the most stubborn
fey creatures slipped through a gate from the Fey of elven nobility still gripe about “the fey menace”
Realm to Exandria, then wriggled through Syngorn’s within their midst. Most of Syngorn’s residents are
defenses and made their home in the mansion of delighted to have a district filled with the fey, even
an elven noblewoman named Lady Ladri Il’shavfa. if it causes the southern end of the city to be a little
She has tried for years to reclaim her home, but more chaotic than usual. The fey here seem to have
even the patience of elves wears thin; the fey are kind hearts, and their chaos rarely crosses the line
simply too numerous and too tenacious to be kicked from churlish pranks into cruelty.
out for good. Reverie Walks. The artistic and spiritual center
The fey interlopers, however, are having the time of Syngorn is a winding labyrinth of living trees and
of their lives. Far from merely throwing nightly stones. Elves who seek a day-long (or days-long) jour-
parties—though they do that, too—they have made ney of meditation may wander the Reverie Walks,
Il’shavfa Manor a place for them to experiment with entering a trance-like state as they do so. Those who
wild new magic. Their leader, a pixie prince named seek true enlightenment may dedicate years of their
Windybranch, has found great pleasure in planting near-immortal lives to wandering the ever-shifting
strange fey plants in the house and watching as labyrinth, finding peace in isolation or in search of
they integrate with the mansion. The house is now the Stone of the Arch Heart in the labyrinth’s center.
a living, breathing, thinking thing—a new friend An elven monk named Lyssev Sorveline has walked
for the fey! It keeps the elves out and it’s a great the labyrinth for five hundred years, seeking answers
conversationalist! To the fey, this arrangement has to questions even the gods do not know. Some
no downsides! The fairies have named this manor elves leave gifts of food for the Wanderer within the
after the Archfey who first allowed them into the city. labyrinth, allowing them to continue their eternal
To them, their new home is Artagan’s Lodge (and meditation in peace.
it’s said that the Archfey Artagan occasionally stays No Warden holds sway over the Reverie Walks.
within its walls when he visits Tal’Dorei). Legend holds that the living stones and trees that

shift the labyrinth are devotees of the Arch Heart DC 20 Intelligence (History) check. They can even
that swore to be their god’s eternal wardens. uncover hints toward long-lost secrets by completing
a day’s study and then succeeding on a DC 25 Intel-
Points of Interest ligence (History) check. New spells are constantly
Syngorn has a number of famous landmarks. They being invented here, and countless tomes filled with
are keyed to the map of Syngorn. ancient spells can be found within the libraries.
1. Elvencraft Alliance Guildhall. The Elvencraft 6. Tower of Moonlight. Most visitors to Syngorn
Alliance is supposedly the oldest guild in Syngorn. doubt that Ouestra, the Voice of Memory, truly dwells
They are entrusted with creating works of art that in a tower of moonlight. It is the truth. Her tower
spread the culture of Syngorn far and wide across does not exist under the light of the sun, and then
Tal’Dorei. The front rooms of their guildhall are appears as a semi-solid pillar of Catha’s silvery glow,
a museum of fine elven crafts from ages past, and occasionally veined by lines of Ruidus’s ruddy light
they’re open to all who wish to appreciate Syngorn’s when the smaller moon is full. Its inside has suppos-
cultural heritage. edly never been seen by any but the other Wardens of
2. Guildrunner’s Mansion. Guildrunner Rawn- Syngorn, and a thousand rumors circulate through-
del, Warden of the Tarn Ward, makes his home out the realm of the magical and divine marvels that
within a permanent magnificent mansion. Its exterior must be contained within.
is a magnificent façade of stone and leering fey 7. Spellbenders’ Guildhall. The Verdant Expanse
statues, yet if one were to look inside, they would find is saturated with magic. The ley energies that suffuse
it completely empty. The door, which is constantly the greenwood make it easy for arcanists to create
locked to all but the Guildrunner and his guests, is works of spellcraft by themselves, when it might
actually a portal to an extradimensional space con- take a half-dozen mages working in concert in other
taining a manor of supernatural beauty and luxury. lands. Many of Syngorn’s most trustworthy magi are
3. Mithral Fellowship Guildhall. The master members of the Spellbenders, a guild dedicated to
metallurgists and smiths of the Mithral Fellowship creating new spells and using them to create works
are tasked with arming the Verdant Guard and the of art, defend their homeland, and improve their
armies of Syngorn. In peacetime, they turn their peoples’ lives. Their guildhall is only accessible to
talents to creating things of beauty from metal and those with the express permission of Guildrunner
jewels, sometimes in tandem with the artists of the Rawndel.
Elvencraft Alliance. Due to their military involve- 8. Stone of the Arch Heart. In the heart of
ment, none but authorized members of the fellowship the Reverie Walks is a column of pure diamond,
are allowed within their guildhall. carved in the radiant likeness of an androgynous
4. One Thousand Steps. This winding stair is the elf. Though the Arch Heart is worshiped throughout
only way in or out of the Memory Ward. Each step Tal’Dorei as a god of magic and art, they are some-
is inscribed with an ancient elven idiom, aphorism, thing more to the elves of Syngorn: a progenitor of
or impossible philosophical question. Anyone who their people, a deity of fatherhood and motherhood,
enters the Memory Ward is told to read the aphorism yet also of neither—a liminal god that by their very
upon the first step and ponder it the entire time they nature both embraces and destroys binaries. Elves
are climbing the stairway. If they find peace in their that are “born of the Arch Heart” are honored within
answer, they are to read the inscription of the second Syngorn, and many who seek that honor wander
step on their next journey, and so on. There are the Reverie Ward in search of the Stone, longing
few, even among the elves, who have pondered the for physical transformation, social power, or arcane
inscriptions of all of the steps to their satisfaction. might. Some search for centuries and never find it,
5. Spires of Yurek. Roads lined with dormitories but in times of peril, the Arch Heart always makes
and vendors radiate out from the branches of the their wisdom known to those who truly need it.
Sequoia of Remembrance to the walls of the Memory
Ward, providing essentials for not only the Dream- Syngorn Adventures
weavers, but the elven scholars who teach, study, and Game Masters who set their adventure in Syngorn
experiment with magic within the Spires of Yurek. can use this plot hook for inspiration.
This academy was named for Yurek Windkeeper, The River Does Not Run Through It (low-level).
founder of the Arcana Pansophical and personal Word arrives from Verdant Scouts that the Feshun
counselor to the Voice of Memory herself. The school River has stopped emptying into the Ozmit Sea
is small compared to Emon’s magnificent Alabaster without warning. The powerful flow from the Tormor
Lyceum, but its seven marble towers are no less Falls shows no signs of dwindling river flow, so the
awe-inspiring. Characters who visit the Spires of party is sent to investigate, only to find a sudden
Yurek can learn any historical fact by studying its sinkhole that has consumed a small section of the
tomes for one hour and then making a successful Expanse, causing the river to pour into this massive,

underground cavern. The rock and earth below
appears to be crumbling at an accelerated pace,
Vues’dal Waters
and the air below smells of decay. What could be Scattered Villages: Population 2,420 (52% elves,
the source of this rapid destruction, and how can it 28% goblinkin, 12% lizardfolk, 5% humans, 3%
be remedied? other races)
The volcano known as Mt. Vues’dal erupted for the
Tormor Falls last time in the early days of the Age of Arcanum.
Its explosion shook the earth so terribly that the
Feeding the mouth of the rushing Feshun River that
mountain itself was swallowed, creating the Vues’dal
carves through the body of the Expanse, Tormor
Basin at the edge of the Stormcrest Mountains.
Falls is an incredible multi-level series of waterfalls
Today, the basin has been completely filled by the
that cascade down the eastern side of Orencleft
Feshun River, and the land around the Vues’dal
Mountain for hundreds of feet. Swelling with every
Basin is among the most fertile farmland in southern
major rainfall, and beautiful to behold at all times
Tal’Dorei. The villages of the Vues’dal Waters are
of the year, Tormor Falls is also host to a number
known for their prize produce, exporting tomatoes,
of caves that hide beneath the mist and spray,
cherries, pumpkins, lentils, sweet potatoes, and
leading beyond the forest and under the Stormcrest
dozens of other foods, both staples and luxuries, to
Mountains.
Syngorn—and from there, to the rest of Tal’Dorei.
A squad of Verdant Guard patrols the base of the
The people of the Vues’dal Waters are mostly
falls, and many have explored the caverns in the
elves, but over the years they’ve been joined by some
past. Some return with nothing; others discover
of the local lizardfolk that have dwelt in the marshes,
old relics and trinkets from the earliest days of
as well as goblinkin fleeing the Iron Authority to
Tal’Dorei, or even from the time of the Calamity. It’s
the south. All of these various people have banded
rare for a patrol to fail to return, but when they do, no
together to create something beautiful around the
search party has ever been able to make contact with
caldera of this long-dead volcano—and to repel
survivors, or to reclaim their remains. The guard
bandits and monsters from the nearby marshes. The
has begun to whisper that the cave entrances move,
lizardfolk hate fighting their kin, but human and
shifting with each rising sun. The superstitions sur-
lizardfolk bandits alike have made the wetlands their
rounding the caves around Tormor Falls have grown
home, and prey upon these honest farmers from
so great that expeditions which fail to return are no
encampments that shift from week to week.
longer searched for at all, and no patrols go inside
the caves without a critically important reason. Vues'dal Adventures
Tormor Falls Adventures Game Masters who set their adventure in the
Vues’dal Waters can use this plot hook for
Game Masters who set their adventure in the Tormor
inspiration.
Falls can use this plot hook for inspiration.
Legions of the Reptile God (mid-level). The
This Cave Was Made for Me! (mid-level). Charac-
people of Vues’dal have unwittingly been skirmish-
ters that travel the edge of the Verdant Expanse hear
ing with the vanguard of a force that wishes to bring
distressing news that people from small villages, and
Syngorn to its knees. The spirit naga Maledicta
even from Syngorn, have disappeared in the night—
Hexos has come from below the Stormcrest Moun-
and now, a friend of the party has joined the ranks
tains to rally the lizardfolk tribe in the name of the
of the missing. What they don’t know is that these
Cloaked Serpent. Vues’dal will soon be overrun, and
people are leaving the village themselves, hypnoti-
the Verdant Guard has called for Emon’s aid in driv-
cally drawn to the caves behind Tormor Falls by an
ing back the legions of this monster with delusions
aboleth living within a pool deep inside the cave sys-
of godhood.
tem. The beings that emerge from those caves are no
Maledicta’s armies contain not just countless
longer humanoid, but nightmarish mockeries of life.
lizardfolk, but also several hydras, and a night hag
that serves as her lieutenant. Maledicta is also in
possession of one of the Astural Scrolls, an artifact
looted from Wrettis (see page 112) that grants her
uncanny cosmic powers.

Bladeshimmer Majority Faiths: Lawbearer, Wildmother,
Platinum Dragon
Shoreline Minority Faiths: Moonweaver, Matron of Ravens,
Dawnfather, Lord of the Hells, Scaled Tyrant
The Bladeshimmer Shoreline, named for the distant
Imports: Precious and industrial metals, lumber
glimmering of sun across the Ozmit Sea, stretches
Exports: Stone, lumber, ships, fish, grain, produce,
across the central western coast of Tal’Dorei. This
cobalt, gold, livestock
coast is where humans, halflings, and gnomes first
set foot on the continent of Tal’Dorei, and it bears the
marks of their first steps on this land. It’s also home
to the present heart of the Republic of Tal’Dorei.
The shoreline is a hub of international trade,
for the western coast of Tal’Dorei is closest to the
continents of Issylra and Marquet. Dozens of tall-
masted trading ships set sail to and from its calm
shores each day—as well as the majestic skyships
that daily soar in and out of the resplendent capital
city of Emon.
Inland Bladeshimmer is mostly temperate grass-
land, intercut by cool, winding rivers. The bulk of
western Tal’Dorei’s produce comes from farms here,
blessed with clean water and non-salinated soil,
despite the ocean’s proximity. Emon’s presence lends
the region stability. Nevertheless, the yeomen living
beyond the city’s walls struggle to defend their small
plots from burrowing ankhegs, corrupting fiends,
and the various folkloric spirits and monsters that
lurk in the shadows of their minds.
Daggerbay
Daggerbay, so named for the jagged Slumber Reef
that flanks the bay, was where the first human
colonists of Tal’Dorei made landfall. In that bygone
time, it was a bustling port for the human city of Port
O’Noa. It has since fallen into disuse after the Scat-
tered War and the destruction of O’Noa. Centuries
later, the bay is now naught but a haunting reminder
of darker days. It is home to hundreds of sunken
ships and the bodies of their lost crew, deep below
the depths of the reef. Those who know of their his-
tory say that the waters are cursed, and the nearby
settlers spread rumors of ghost ships and sirens
calling looters to their grave should they wander too
close to the ominous waves.
Daggerbay Adventures
Game Masters who set their adventure in Daggerbay
can use this plot hook for inspiration.
Stormbringers (mid-level). A society of banished
merfolk have claimed Daggerbay as their domain.
They harass any treasure hunters that seek to loot
the wreckage at the bottom of the bay. While the
characters are traveling nearby, a terrible storm
forces them to take shelter in the ruins of Daggerbay.
In truth, the storm was caused by the renegade
merfolk. Some weeks ago, they discovered a relic of
the Stormlord with the power to summon and direct
storms. The coast is now shrouded in an endless

maelstrom. That night, when the characters take A Metal of Memory (high-level). The ancient
shelter in the ruins, they’re assailed by the mer- molten beast that was sundered beneath these rocky
folks’ land-dwelling humanoid thugs. These brutes peaks left behind pockets, located far below the
attempt to capture the characters and deliver them to surface, of an incredibly rare metal with mysterious
their leaders. properties, called orichalcum. The sudden discovery
has sent local entrepreneurs into a frenzy, and the
Daggerbay Mountains ensuing rush has already sparked violence among
the bands of treasure hunters. As the adventuring
The pages of history do not remember the Molten
parties dig deeper, they discover that some essence
Titan, or when this fierce entity of liquid metal was
of the ancient creature still lives, and it is seeking
felled by primordial elves at the end of the Founding.
vengeance.
The entity was sealed within and consumed by the
earth, giving birth to a range of mountains that has
stood for the ages since. Jutting upward against the Emerald Outpost
northwestern border of the Verdant Expanse and Town: Population 1,470 (76% elves, 19% humans,
stretching to the Ozmit Sea, these stormy peaks 3% halflings, 2% other races)
functioned as the first boundary between the long-es- Originally established by the elves of Syngorn as a
tablished elves of Syngorn and the burgeoning hidden outpost to protect their homeland from the
human colonies on Tal’Dorei during their arrival. growing empire of Drassig, the Emerald Outpost
For most of history, the Daggerbay Mountains, or fell out of use after the Scattered War. This former
the lyren’alsi in Elvish, were known to be desolate military outpost is now an intermediary trading post
and devoid of material worth. Prospectors from and a place for merchants traveling between Emon
O’Noa came home empty-handed, if they came back and Syngorn to rest. The Emerald Chambers, once
at all. The survivors returned with tales of bands of used as a war room, and more recently used as a dip-
bloodthirsty, one-eyed giants that roamed the peaks: lomatic chamber for the allied governments of Emon
cyclopes. Issylran settlers and Syngornian elves both and Syngorn, have these days been converted into
learned to leave the lyren’alsi well enough alone. a stylish bazaar, in which Emonian and Syngornian
Decades later, the Emerald Outpost was estab- traders can sell their wares without making the full
lished as a major trading post for the people of journey to either city.
Emon and Syngorn. With such a valuable settle-
ment nearby, the Daggerbays’ hazardous peaks
suddenly garnered the interest of adventurers and
Emon, the City of
fortune-seekers. Small hunts for undiscovered riches Fellowship
grew into vast expeditions. These incursions into Metropolis: Population 365,026 (63% humans, 8%
the mountains aggravated the mountains’ territorial dwarves, 7% elves, 22% other races)
inhabitants; elven scouts reported cyclops raiders
Emon stands defiantly against all who would
and cyclops stormcallers conducting strange rituals
threaten Tal’Dorei and its people. It is the cultural
within the eyes of thunderstorms at night, and hun- and political heart of the Republic of Tal’Dorei, as
gry bulettes hunting beyond their normal domain, as well as a nexus of commerce, entertainment, travel,
if guided by some unknown intelligence. education, and adventure.
Emon is accessible only through its heavily
Daggerbay Mountains patrolled gates and by skyship. The denizens of the
Adventures city are generally well protected from outside attack-
Game Masters who set their adventure in the ers and sieges.
Daggerbay Mountains can use these plot hooks for
inspiration. Government
Eye of the Storm (mid-level). Groups of hill Emon is the seat of the Tal'Dorei Council, the
giants are migrating into the mountains, leaving nation’s highest governing body. Though the council
their foothill settlements empty of warriors, civilians, originally served under the Sovereign of Tal’Dorei,
and the infirm alike. A half-elf scout named Thun- the nation’s final sovereign was killed when the
derchaser has caused a stir in the Emerald Outpost Chroma Conclave attacked Emon. Following the
by bringing back the lightning-charred corpse of a death of Thordak the Cinder King and the rest of
hill giant with one eye ritually gouged out. What are the Conclave, Emon was rebuilt and the council
the cyclops stormcallers (see page 235) planning reformed as the backbone of the new Republic
beneath the concealing stormclouds of the Dagger- of Tal’Dorei. The council and its members are
bay Mountains? described in detail starting on page 42.

One unintended consequence of relying on from all over Tal’Dorei, and all over the world. Its
magic to rapidly rebuild Emon is that the mages of citizens include people of nearly all known races
Tal’Dorei now hold incredible influence over the from Exandria’s many nations, thriving on the new
fledgling council. Some fear that without a sovereign, innovations and ideas of its citizenry. It has been this
the council will be unable to keep the arcanists in way since the sovereignty of Zan Tal’Dorei, when
line, and Tal’Dorei will dissolve into magocracy. the alliances she formed invited dozens of displaced
elves, dwarves, orcs, and goliaths into her city. Since
Current Events then, Emon has developed into a city whose people
The Tal’Dorei Council is best known for their valued innovation and collaboration, especially in
policies that affect the whole of Tal’Dorei. It is often small, cohesive groups—virtues that some historians
ignored that the council also governs Emon and within the Alabaster Lyceum believe have given rise
resolves the day-to-day issues of the city. These are to the prominence of the modern adventuring party.
some current events both great and small affect- While Emon is becoming more commercial and
ing Emon today; these topics can add flavor to the the use of gold as currency has been ubiquitous
discussions and rumors the characters hear around throughout Tal’Dorei’s history, many communities
town, and could even inspire new adventures for within the city are still close-knit enough to use
them to take on. the barter system. During the reign of Drassig, the
Elemental Disturbances. Over twenty years have humans of Emon adopted a dwarven oath called
passed since Thordak the Cinder King was killed rudraz, an intimate promise between two people to
in the caverns beneath Emon. His wreckage in the repay a deed or trade. Though the rudraz is not a
Cloudtop District, as well as the Scar of the Cinder contract, the dwarves believed that an oathbreaker
King, a swath of elemental destruction outside the would be forever barred from passing beyond the
city walls, have been tended to by members of the Brightguard Gates of Hilmaire, the gates that allow
Fire Ashari, gradually healing the stubborn wounds dwarves to pass to the afterlife. Humans in Emon
of his influence. Yet the primordial fires that seeped treat the rudraz more lightly, often using it to seal
from his body continue to linger in the caverns matters of business or politics rather than personal
beneath the city where he died. Every year or two, an promises, but breaking this oath still carries massive
incursion of wild fire and hateful cinderslag elemen- social repercussions. Few look kindly upon a person
tals (see page 231) burst through the city streets, with the epithet “Oathbreaker.”
causing mass chaos, expensive damages, and life-or-
death battles for the city guard. Rebirth
Mercenary Mages. A generation ago, the fledgling Emon has mostly recovered from its destruction at
League of Miracles hired hundreds, if not thousands, the talons of the Chroma Conclave and Thordak’s
of mercenary mages to aid in the reconstruction of subsequent occupation. A number of Tal’Dorei’s most
Emon and other cities across Tal’Dorei. These days, significant factions played a role in Emon’s rebirth,
Tal’Dorei is rebuilt, and the few infrastructure prob- and their members enjoy positions of prominence
lems aren’t enough to employ all the mercenaries left throughout the city. Emon was rapidly rebuilt to
behind by the league. These out-of-work mercenaries its former glory, due to the expensive but effective
now linger around dismal dive bars and make trou- intervention of mercenary mages serving the League
ble for the locals. Most people would rather see them of Miracles. Thanks also to the Clasp’s underground
gone, but it’s hard not to feel sorry for their situation. networks and established hierarchies, Emonian soci-
Walls and Slums. The city’s outer walls have ety and culture was able to bounce back more swiftly
fallen under heavy criticism from politicians and than any other major settlement in Tal’Dorei.
civilians alike in recent years. Many people are And the Tal’Dorei Council, formerly an advisory
concerned that the walls’ true purpose these days council to the sovereign, is now the ruling council
is to separate the slums outside the walls from the of the land. Folk heroes and career politicians alike
“respectable” districts within them. Popular opinion sit on the council. Over the past two decades, the
is now that the great City of Fellowship should do council has, with many missteps, enacted the will
more to help its less fortunate, but council politicians of the people—allowing Tal’Dorei to transition from
continue to stall. In private, Master of Commerce a monarchical power to a republic without war or
Vex’ahlia de Rolo fumes that she wants to help, but insurrection.
can’t cut through political red tape with her legend- However, the swiftness of Emon’s rebirth has
ary bow and arrow. put the Tal’Dorei Council in a precarious position.
Not only are they socially indebted to a criminal
Society faction—one whose members now command
While in antiquity Emon was the heart of a human immense celebrity among the common folk—the
empire, the city has grown to encompass people council now owes vast amounts of gold to mages of

the League of Miracles. League conjurers created Crime
thousands of tons of stone and steel, and each one Hundreds of miles of tunnels of varied provenance
of their transmuters rebuilt everything from taverns run beneath Emon. Most are the forgotten remnants
to townhouses and sewers to stately manors as of paved-over neighborhoods and secret passage-
quickly as a hundred laborers. Thordak’s hoard of ways made by thieves’ guilds during the reign of
plundered wealth has dwindled to nothing, repaying Drassig. Others are the lairs of tunneling monsters.
the league, and they have done the same in cities The origins of others still are lost forever, for they
across the land. Some members of the council have have already long since been turned into sewer pas-
already caved to pressure from factions within the sages to whisk away the refuse of Emon’s citizens.
Clasp and the League of Miracles, and subsequently The vast majority of the tunnels closer to the
turn a blind eye to the crime and magical abuse that surface are known to the Clasp and used to rapidly
run rampant throughout the city. Barely a single move about the city unseen. Somewhere deep
human generation old, the young republic is already in this network of unlabeled roads is the Clasp’s
struggling under the weight of ruling in a just and secret headquarters, where all manner of thieves,
noble manner. cutthroats, fences, and spies gather beneath their
banner. Though the Clasp operates in major cities
Defenses across Tal’Dorei, Emon has always been their home,
The Republic of Tal’Dorei has no standing army, and and saving their neighbors from Thordak’s reign of
doesn’t elect a Master of War—a military command- terror gave the Clasp the dubious benefit of a heroic
er-in-chief—to its council outside of wartime. In reputation.
peacetime, the Master of Defense is responsible for However, the Myriad crime syndicate from
the acquisition of mercenaries and adventurers for Wildemount has spent over two decades relentlessly
tasks which require the use of force. They also have clawing their way into the Clasp’s territory across
the ability to conscript existing militias and town Tal’Dorei—dismantling their networks, poaching
guards into military service and call them to Emon’s their clients, and assassinating their informants.
defense at any time, though typically only while the The Myriad hasn’t managed to completely eliminate
Master of War is being elected. the Clasp’s hold in any of the cities they’ve targeted,
The only standing forces pledged exclusively but that hasn’t stopped them from bringing the
to the defense of the realm are the elite forces of ongoing power struggle to the Clasp’s doorstep.
Fort Daxio. Mobilizing the armies of Fort Daxio to Myriad agents bargain in shadowed alleys, gamble in
Emon’s aid generally requires the city to withstand a upscale taverns, and lurk in the very tunnels that the
week-long siege. However, in case of internal strife, Clasp relies on, waiting for their chance to unseat the
there are stables positioned every fifteen miles along Clasp once and for all.
the Othen Trail, allowing Daxio’s legendary outriders
to arrive at Emon in a mere two days’ time by switch- Geography and Climate
ing out their exhausted steeds. Emon is not a tourist destination for its climate—the
Emon is encircled by 60-foot-high stone walls that city is known for sudden, pounding rainstorms just
stretch from the eastern fields to the western shore— as much as for its beautiful, sunny days. The city
though a number of discussions in the Tal’Dorei is blessed with cool summers and warm winters,
Council have revolved around the strategic irrele- thanks to its proximity to the cool Ozmit Sea.
vance of great stone walls. They didn’t protect Emon Though snow rarely falls on the city itself, it relies on
against the Chroma Conclave over twenty years springtime snowmelt from the Cliffkeep Mountains
ago, and they wouldn’t have done much against an to fill its reservoirs throughout the year.
army of cultists and winged gloomstalkers had the Emon is made up of the following districts:
Whispered One led an army against Tal’Dorei. As Abdar’s Promenade. The Promenade is an
skyships grow more popular and affordable around open marketplace district and massive bazaar that
the world, even the council’s Master of Defense is dominates eastern Emon, named for the legendary
considering demolishing the city’s walls—making the spicemonger from Marquet who helped fund the
strange case that such fortifications are prized more construction of Emon. To this day, the name of Abdar
for their historic and cultural value than for their is synonymous with both generosity and business
strategic importance. savvy. Nearly everything a person could want can be
These walls are patrolled by lightly armed and found within the tents, carts, warehouses, and shops
armored members of the Arms of Emon, the city’s of the promenade. Its intertwining roads stretch for
official watch and constabulary. They are divided miles, and it has dozens of tiny neighborhoods, each
unofficially into the Arms upon the Wall and the with their own distinct cultures and identities. The
Arms on the Streets, the latter of which are assigned promenade is heavily patrolled by the Arms of Emon,
to patrol the city streets to dissuade petty criminals for its sunny reputation is shrouded by an equally
and respond to violent crime.

significant reputation for literal back-alley crimi- much the same, the Cloudtop District was once again
nal deals. a nest of luxury and the throne of the social elite. The
Central District. This is the largest residential latest additions in that era were skyship platforms, so
district within Emon’s walls. It houses most of the that the wealthiest and most connected in Tal’Dorei
city’s merchant class, including traveling traders, could travel in exclusive luxury—soaring through the
ship captains, and guild journeymen. The Central skies rather than enduring arduous journeys over
District is a patchwork of thousands of personal land or sea.
homes, tenements, and guildhalls of all shapes and All of that was reduced to slag by the advent of the
sizes, peppered with small taverns and inns on Cinder King. Thordak made the Cloudtop District
nearly every street corner. his home, and the palace itself his throne. His very
These neighborhoods lay clustered together presence caused magma to surge from the caverns
among tightly set streets, occasionally broken up beneath Emon, where previously no fires burned.
by park grasses or the Ozmit Waterways that snake Thordak ruled there for only a matter of months,
through the region between the promenade and the but those few months were enough to annihilate
port. Visitors to the Central District are advised not unknown millions of gold pieces’ worth of art and
to go out at night; the wide disparity of wealth from creations of untold value—though the greedy dragon
home to home here has seen a recent rise in crime, took care to command his minions to save the most
and the city watch seems reluctant to find a construc- beautiful works for his treasure hoard.
tive solution. Residents who know the lay of the land Today, the Cloudtop District is rebuilt, though the
have an easier time at night and can help visitors most stubborn elemental influences of the Cinder
avoid the most dangerous streets. King linger in Thordak’s Crater. A new castle called
Cloudtop District. Out of all of Emon’s districts, Cloudwatch Palace has been built atop the city of
the Cloudtop has, in some ways, changed the most Emon, and it contains the chambers of the Tal’Dorei
over the decades. In Drassig’s time, a monstrous Council, as well as grand dining halls and guest
fortress loomed over the manors of his sycophants. quarters for visiting dignitaries. Much of the castle is
In the age of Zan Tal’Dorei’s descendants, countless a museum, displaying what regalia and objets d’art
mages transfigured that decadent citadel into a sleek, survived the wrath of the Cinder King. The private
elegant palace. By the time the Chroma Conclave chambers of the palace also contain a number of tele-
came, decadence had once more crept up on Emon, portation circles that leading councilmembers can
and though the Palace of the Sovereign remained

use to return to their homes at night—particularly if Beautiful towers in ancient Syngornian style
they live in far-off cities such as Whitestone. stretch to the sky across a cityscape of centuries-old
Temple District. Some say that this northern halls of learning and student boardinghouses. Here,
district contains more temples than in the rest of the finest schools and colleges draw the wealthy, the
Tal’Dorei’s cities combined. This is a flagrant exag- gifted, and the brilliant—and none more so than the
geration, but at first glance, most people believe it. Alabaster Lyceum, often lauded as the largest and
Emon is a city of many people, from many different most accomplished institute of arcane study on the
places, with many different faiths. Even folk who continent. Though the district’s walls were shattered
worship the same gods worship them differently, and its libraries crushed during the invasion of the
and have built their own temples. Legend has it Chroma Conclave, the Erudite Quarter has thank-
that shrines and temples used to be built all across fully been mostly reconstructed, thanks to the efforts
Emon (and there are still some small sanctuaries of the Lyceum’s staff and students.
elsewhere in the city), but a cleric of the Dawnfather Members of the Lyceum, under the direction of
declared her temple the greatest in all Emon. Her Headmaster Thurmond Adlam, performed the recon-
boast was met with scorn from a nearby church of struction themselves not simply because they sought
the Stormlord. Their clerics, always eager to rise to to project an image of good work ethic and self-suf-
a challenge, built an even greater temple across the ficiency, but because the heads of their colleges
street, and soon, people of all faiths were building distrust the League of Miracles. Their motives and
the most magnificent structures they could, all in one sources of funding are, in the eyes of the Lyceum, too
tiny corner of Emon. opaque to be trusted. Their suspicion has often been
Today, cathedrals to the Lawbearer and the Plati- derided either as elitism over the diverse array of
num Dragon stand at apex among smaller temples to mercenary mages the league hires, or as sour grapes
the Dawnfather, the Stormlord, the Wildmother, and over losing out on countless lucrative reconstruction
the Matron of Ravens. All Prime Deities have at least contracts.
a moderately sized house of worship here, and even Military District. Since Emon has no standing
some of the Betrayer Gods are worshiped in secrecy. army, the Military District is one of the city’s small-
Anyone who seeks shelter here, be they rich or est wards. Nevertheless, it has the capacity to house
poor, can find sanctuary in the Temple District. and train a vast number of soldiers if an army needs
Even the faithful of gods of strength, such as the to be levied from the people of Tal’Dorei. The Mili-
Stormlord and the Platinum Dragon, have mercy for tary District is mostly filled with several prisons and
those who need the aid of others to help them stand jails, including the infamous Black Bastille, as well
on their own. as tightly locked barracks and instructional facilities
Travelers and sailors come to leave tokens and for the Arms of Emon.
gifts at shrines to bless their journeys, while people Cemetery District. This smaller section of the
of all walks of life seek the graces of the Change- city is filled with graveyards and small religious
bringer before undertaking risky endeavors. The sanctuaries so that people with means to purchase
meek search for wisdom in the great halls of the a gravesite or a mausoleum can bury their dead in
Knowing Mentor, as the artists and wistful folk give whatever luxury they can afford. Countless grave-
praise to the Arch Heart. However, not all folk are stones line the rolling hills of the district. They are
drawn toward religion, nor trusting of it, and temples sectioned off from the roads by tall iron fences, with
past have been exposed as frauds—or worse, cults mausoleums of more affluent families dotting the
who venerate power. grassy hillsides. As surface space grew limited in
Recently, an off-kilter faith to a lesser idol called centuries past, the city excavated a network of cata-
the Traveler has found purchase in the Temple combs called the Undervaults. Upkeep, expansion,
Ward—primarily in the form of puerile graffiti in and general safeguarding of the sites are all over-
back alleys. Other quasi-religious spiritual entities seen by the Gravewatchers, a guild of gravekeepers
have small cult followings in the Temple Ward. They that have held political and social hegemony over the
are generally allowed to flourish to whatever degree district for generations.
they can, so long as their beliefs don’t advocate for Their attempts to expand the Undervaults have
any behavior that would break the laws of Emon. had mixed results over the centuries. Most new
Erudite Quarter. This district is home to mem- excavations meet without incident (likely because
bers of the educated upper-middle class and destitute the Clasp has learned to keep their tunnels far from
academics alike. Several institutions of higher this district). However, excavations in recent decades
learning have their stately campuses here, ranging have broken into the Crystalfen Caverns, an eerie
from well-to-do boarding schools to Tal’Dorei’s most cave system filled with mind-bending inscriptions
premiere academic and arcane institutions. and horrific beings. The breach was promptly
sealed off.

Yet the sealing of the caverns did not stop some These days, Outwall is becoming a trendy place to
members of the Gravewatchers from seeing an live, thanks to its vibrant culture and relatively inex-
opportunity to gain fame and glory. Most who ven- pensive housing. Its locals are fighting hard to keep
tured into the caverns were never seen again, and young people with money to burn from the Central
those who have returned shudder unspeakably of District from gentrifying their home. It hasn’t come
the horrors they escaped. Still, passage is occasion- to violence yet, but the angrier members of the Out-
ally granted to the Clasp or adventurers willing to wall community clandestinely meet with adventurers
pay the Gravewatchers for entry to the dangerous to burn down the stylish houses and mansions that
realm below. are driving out local residents and businesses.
Port of Emon. Emon is bordered on the west by Southgate Farms. Inspired by the civic action
the Ozmit Sea and is generally sheltered from the of the people of Outwall, the farmers of Southgate
worst of its storms. The vast Port of Emon allows were able to break from the ugly name of “slum” in
hundreds of thousands of gold pieces’ worth of goods the past decade. This community of farmers and
to flow through the city every single day. Well over ranchers, formerly known as the Lower Slum, exists
a hundred ships fill this port at any given time, and outside Emon’s southern gates. It first formed when
the dock crews are ever working, carrying crates a large refugee band from Othanzia was barred
and goods away to Abdar’s Promenade, or to empty entry into the city in the midst of the Scattered War.
vessels for exportation. The northern sector of the Instead of dispersing, they decided to lay down roots
Port is mostly allocated to the Everline, a powerful while Drassig’s armies were out fighting a losing bat-
fisherfolk’s guild. They frequently feud with the Onyx tle against Zan Tal’Dorei. These squatters eventually
Banner, Emon’s most powerful shipping guild, over formed a community of farmers who petitioned Zan
which docks they are permitted to use. Both guilds Tal’Dorei for land in exchange for providing produce
keep their hands clean, but it’s an open secret that and grown goods to the people of the city.
both hire adventurers and mercenaries to trash the Thanks to the aid of the First Sovereign, the
other’s ships and warehouses to intimidate them. descendants of those Othanzian refugees have
Adventurers in need of fast cash who don’t mind become one of the most significant sources of fresh
dodging the Arms of Emon can find good work as food for the people of Emon. Frustrated by being
muscle for either of these two guilds. saddled with the name of “slum,” and inspired by
Outwall. During the reign of Drassig, a massive the Outer Wall Debates, the leading families of the
city of tents and hovels grew outside of Emon, filled Lower Slums demanded recognition by the Tal’Dorei
with those too poor to pay Drassig’s extortative Council as well. They were met with little debate,
taxes. By the end of the Scattered War, the slum had and these humble farmers are now a respectable
grown to a third of the city’s size, and nearly half its part of Emonian society—even if they live outside the
population. Even during the reign of Zan Tal’Dorei, city’s defensive walls.
these slums continued to grow, as refugees of the This southern region of the city is also home to a
Scattered War tried to earn enough money to find famous site of modern history: Greyskull Keep, the
stability within Emon’s walls. former base of operations for Vox Machina in Emon.
Though their conditions were still meager when This fortress was gifted to them by the Last Sover-
the magnanimous Zan Tal’Dorei ended Drassig’s eign as thanks for saving his life. The various heroes
iron rule, the city’s denizens chose to remain, having of Vox Machina have moved on to other homes (and
created a community with its own culture of inex- now typically gather in Whitestone for holidays), and
pensive living and brotherhood in poverty, away from they allowed the keep to be turned into a museum of
the bustle of the city’s inner streets. A microcosm their heroic exploits.
of Emonian society now exists within the city of Shoreline Farms. Less respectable than the
Outwall, including its own trade square, shrines for Southgate Farms are the communities along a
worship, and makeshift farms on the outskirts. stretch of murky shore north of Emon. These people
As early as two decades ago, Outwall was called of Outwall have tried for decades to turn terrible,
the Upper Slums—a derogatory name given to it by salty land into effective farmland, to mixed results.
Emon’s Cloudtop elite. People within Outwall tried They have successfully cultivated the few vegeta-
to transform the term “Upper Slums” into a symbol bles that grow in saltwater-soaked soil, leading to
of civic pride, but it never stuck. The name Out- bountiful harvests of savory quattet gourds and
wall eventually emerged after community leaders the hard-to-grow brineroot. However, the farms’
demanded an audience with the Tal’Dorei Council distance from the city gives them little protection
in an event that came to be called the Outer Wall from dangers that city folk think little of. Adventurers
Debates—for they demanded the council convene in are always wanted to protect the farms from petty
the slums’ own town square. criminals and wandering monsters, but the farmers
have little to pay. Generally, only utterly novice

adventurers find their start in a place like the Shore- Abdar’s Promenade. Decades ago, a restless crafts-
line Farms—but all heroes have to start somewhere. man from Kraghammer of the name Grahf Tiltkettle
The Grotto. This sprawling series of underground grew weary of solitary pursuits and worried that
chambers composes the Clasp’s headquarters interest in blacksmithing would give way to the
beneath the city of Emon. It’s rumored that over a emerging trend of mass-production. Tiltkettle retired
dozen entrances to the Grotto are concealed amidst in Emon and dedicated his respectable fortune to
the labyrinthine tunnels, which are both natu- ignite the spark of inspiration in those who wished
rally occurring and a part of Emon’s sewers. That to learn the ways of the hammer and anvil, hoping to
doesn’t even begin to get into the hundreds of other instill the joy of the All-Hammer in a new genera-
entrances and access shafts abandoned and filled in tion. He funded the creation of Anvilgate, a massive,
for fear of discovery. The very nature of the Clasp’s public blacksmithy where any folk who wished to
business is to keep shifting out of sight, and as such, try their hand at the smithing of metals could do so
the actual core of the organization moves from base under the All-Hammer’s guidance.
to base between multiple subterranean structures, Cheaper ores and materials were often donated by
ever building further underground, or repurposing a friends of Tiltkettle to aid the volunteer mentors in
long-abandoned hideout whenever necessary. teaching their craft to the less fortunate, while folks
who wished to bring their own ingots were welcome
Points of Interest to do so. The location has become popular enough
A number of both popular and historically significant to begin expanding its facility to include kilns for
landmarks can be found in Emon. They are keyed to ceramics and looms for weaving. While the tools
the map of Emon. are open for anyone to use on the premises, all are
1. Laughing Lamia Inn. While the city is home warned of the curse that will beset any wanton thief
to countless taverns and inns for the weary traveler who steals from under the All-Hammer’s gaze.
or practiced performer, few are as grand and well 4. Traverse Junction. The most magically active
known as the Laughing Lamia. Almost as old as the structure in Tal’Dorei shines like a pyramid of pure
city itself, this fine establishment has traded hands sapphire in the bustling center of the Erudite Quar-
numerous times over the years, and has expanded ter, its walls thrumming with arcane energy. It is
with each transition, leaving the massive, four-story the Traverse Junction, and all visitors to the Erudite
institution a hodgepodge mass of odd rooms and Quarter stop to see it when they visit.
themes, all centered around a raucous central tavern In nearly every major Exandrian city, there are
room filled with dozens of tables. Currently under teleportation circles that link mages to other such
the ownership of a brash and cheerful lass called circles around the world. Each and every one of these
Luthania Wells, this hot spot for traveling traders major circles has a twin in the Traverse Junction, a
and adventurers alike rarely sees an hour in the day travel nexus for approved mages and world leaders.
(or night) where there isn’t something interesting Any characters renowned in Emon or honored by the
going on within. Alabaster Lyceum may make use of the Junction (for
2. Azalea Street Park. Azalea Street, within 50 gp, if they can’t cast teleportation circle), allowing
Abdar’s Promenade, is one of Emon’s oldest them to travel to major cities such as Westruun,
neighborhoods, and is full to bursting with small Syngorn, Kraghammer, and Whitestone in Tal’Dorei;
businesses, quaint homes, and hole-in-the-wall Port Damali and Rexxentrum in Wildemount;
restaurants, such as the Laughing Lamia. Amidst Ank’Harel in Marquet; and Vasselheim in Issylra.
the chaos of daily life, Azalea Street is also home The telemagi who curate the circles are always in
to a peaceful park overlooking the Ozmit Water- search of new teleportation sigils to different lands;
ways. When the stress of constant battles becomes they are willing to pay a handsome sum for the ser-
too much to bear, adventurers in the know take a vices of powerful and magically skilled adventurers
moment to visit the Azalea Street Park and recover, willing to seek out and catalog new circle sigils for
maybe even swapping stories with other relaxing their records.
heroes. Legend has it that heroes who meditate 5. Alabaster Lyceum. The gleaming white halls
among the flowers and drink in the sea air return and elaborate gardens of the Alabaster Lyceum
invigorated by the spirit of the Wildmother. A statue signal to all who see them that they gaze upon the
of the Wildmother and Lawbearer dancing together greatest institute of higher learning in Tal’Dorei—
graces a fountain in the center of the park. Once per though numerous scholars in Kraghammer and
week, a character can gain inspiration (as described Syngorn would heatedly dispute that claim. Regard-
in the fifth edition rules) by taking a short rest in less, this place is the heart of homegrown academia
Azalea Street Park. in the Republic of Tal’Dorei, boldly striving to make
3. Anvilgate. Made of stark black stone and a name for itself alongside the ancient scholarly
adorned with intricate brass metalwork, this grand traditions of Issylra, Marquet, and Wildemount. The
blacksmithy is one of the most striking buildings in

Skyships
Within the Cloudtop District lies the Skyport,
a series of landing pads and observation
towers that form a raised harbor for docking
skyships. These beautiful vessels come in a
wide variety of sizes, but generally are built
to a similar scale as a coaster merchant ship.
Skyships are held aloft and guided via the
levitating power of three or more enchanted
crystals, called brumestones, installed along
the hull or topside of the ship. The enchant-
ments required to produce and maintain
these brumestones is a closely guarded secret
by the Alsfarin Union within the Marquesian
city of Ank’Harel, and while the Alsfarin
Union does occasionally sell skyships to
foreign businesses, they retain absolute con-
trol over their maintenance—and of the total
number of skyships in operation.
Skyships are generally reserved for goods
and individuals who require expedient travel
without the hassles of sea-faring dangers, but
the cost to utilize a skyship is prohibitively
expensive for anyone but wildly wealthy
merchants and landed nobility, fomenting a
sense of elitism in those who often make use
of their services. Due to the exclusivity of
skyports within major metropolises, few sky-
ships in service will deviate from dedicated
shipping routes between major cities.
Purchasing a skyship costs 100,000 gp,
and requires a personal connection with
the Alsfarin Union in Ank’Harel. A skyship
travels at a top speed of 10 miles per hour,
can carry total cargo of 10 tons, and requires
a crew of six to ten humanoids to operate at
peak performance. Most skyships have maxi- to a destination off the standard sky routes costs 15
mum accommodations for up to 30 passengers. Most gp per mile, if the captain is available and willing to
skyships only travel between existing skyports (see undertake the journey. Shipping cargo costs 1 gp
“Emon Skyport,” below), and charge a fee of 2 gp per mile per 100 pounds of cargo along normal sky
per mile for a passenger ticket. Chartering a skyship routes, and twice that to other destinations.
Lyceum (for those who can afford the impressive tui- help house the Tal’Dorei Council and be a symbolic
tion) is an unparalleled center for study and research center for all major political affairs within the region.
of history, economics, alchemy, art, and—most of The Cloudwatch Palace now sits atop the once-smol-
all—magic and the arcane. Many of Tal’Dorei’s great- dering hill where Thordak once claimed his roost, a
est scholars and bards paid their dues in these halls, symbol of Emon’s enduring will and optimistic hope
and the history of the Lyceum and its graduates are for the future. Within these high-arched halls, count-
featured in all manner of superstitions and folktales. less chambers hold space for diplomats, meetings,
6. Cloudwatch Palace. In the wake of the Chroma and in the case of holidays, grandiose celebrations
Conclave's destruction of Emon, the towering palace that draw the attention of powerful figures all
that stood as home to the sovereign and the center across Exandria.
of governance within the city fell to fire and ruin. In 7. Thordak’s Crater. One last unsettling element
the decades since, construction began with the aid of of the Cloudtop District is the elementally scarred
the League of Miracles to construct a new palace to remains of Thordak’s Crater. Even after two decades

of healing from the Ashari of Pyrah, Thordak’s fires those whose hearts outweighed their purses gave
still burn beneath the Cloudtop. The smoldering more personal tribute.
entrance to the caverns remains cordoned off from Over twenty years ago, the Gravewatchers closed
the public because of its unsightly appearance and the tomb to all, supposedly to prevent vandalism, but
sulfurous stench, and because fiery creatures occa- have not reopened it after more than two decades.
sionally try to claw their way out into the fresh air. The Last Sovereign’s eldest daughter, Odessa
The crater is often forgotten, but every few months Tal’Dorei, is furious. Despite her position of power
an adventuring party makes their way inside to seek on the Tal’Dorei Council, she is unable to dispute the
treasure or glory within the volatile caverns—and act because of the power the Gravewatchers have as
such expeditions are a favorite topic of conversation keepers of the dead. It has come to the point where
(and clandestine betting) among the politicians, she seeks to secretly employ adventurers to uncover
political aides, remaining city nobility, and nouveau the Gravewatchers’ true intentions—which involve
riche of Emon. the psychic influence of an aberrant creature of the
Why Thordak’s magic lingers enough to create Crystalfen Caverns.
these mindless cinderslag elementals (see page 10. Godsbrawl Ring. Though the Temple of the
231) is a mystery; but it seems to be limited to the Stormlord always has a fighting ring in its center,
crater, as the elementals cannot go beyond it without the annual Godsbrawl transforms the earthen, torch-
collapsing into inert slurry. lit sanctum into one of Tal’Dorei’s most unusual
8. Emon Skyport. This elevated port is complete tournament grounds. On the Day of Challenging,
with docking platforms solely for the use of skyfaring the god of athleticism’s holy day, the brawny priests
vessels. The original Emon Skyport was the first of of the Stormlord invite warriors and worshipers of
its kind in Tal’Dorei, and its successor is every bit as the entire pantheon to the Godsbrawl, asking that
revolutionary as the original. each temple offer forth their greatest warrior to act
The Emon Skyport was destroyed when the Cin- as their god’s proxy in the tournament. The clergy
der King claimed the Cloudtop District as his fiery of the Dawnfather and the Lawbearer send their
throne, but like so much of Emon, it has since been champions, but rarely take it seriously, for they scorn
rebuilt. Unlike other parts of Emon, this recon- the storm-priests’ notion of “might makes right.”
struction was a joint venture between the Arcana Conversely, the champions of the Stormlord and the
Pansophical and the Alsfarin Union, a Marquesian Platinum Dragon have a fierce—though friendly—
guild responsible for the engineering and distribu- rivalry, trading the title of Supreme Champion back
tion of all skyships in Exandria. and forth each year after a bloody (but rarely fatal)
Booking passage on a skyship isn’t cheap (see the final round.
“Skyships” sidebar), but the privilege is available to 11. The Black Bastille. Named for its ash-black-
everyone that can pay. Generally, one passenger sky- ened walls, the ominous Black Bastille is a
ship leaves Emon per week to each of the following single-story prison within the Military District that
locations: holds Tal’Dorei’s most dangerous and irredeemable
• Vasselheim, Issylra (passenger ticket criminals. The compound has no windows, no open
costs 2,500 gp) courtyards, and only one entrance: two imposing
• Whitestone, Tal’Dorei (passenger ticket steel doors, flanked by watchtowers. During the
costs 900 gp) reign of the Chroma Conclave, the prison was
• Port Damali, Wildemount (layover in Whitestone; one of the first buildings attacked, setting hun-
passenger ticket costs 2,000 gp) dreds of Tal’Dorei’s worst criminals loose to sow
• Ank’Harel, Marquet (passenger ticket chaos across Emon. The Black Bastille has since
costs 2,500 gp) been rebuilt, but dozens of its most deplorable
Members of the Tal’Dorei Council can also usually inmates still run free, and the Arms of Emon are
pull strings to grant adventurers they hire free pas- eager to recover them. Some include the human
sage when on vital business. demon-summoner Felrinn Derevar, betrayer of
9. Tomb of the Last Sovereign. Uriel Tal’Dorei II, the Arcana Pansophical; the half-elf pyromancer
the Last Sovereign, was slain by the noxious breath Illaman Falconsong, exile of the Fire Ashari; and the
of the green dragon Raishan during the attack of the vampiric tiefling Ixrattu Khar, cultist of the Whis-
Chroma Conclave. Uriel’s wife, Salda, survived him pered One and Tal’Dorei’s foulest mass murderer
and petitioned the reformed Council of Tal’Dorei (see page 62).
to build their last sovereign a tomb befitting his 12. Walls of Tribute. Anyone who wishes to
benevolence and magnanimity. They complied, and uphold justice and keep the peace can apply to join
the monumental Tomb of the Last Sovereign is now the Arms of Emon. But before a recruit is given
home to not just Uriel’s ashes, but to tribute from all their armor and takes a vow to protect the city and
who loved him. Those with wealth gave gold, while its people, they must endure a grueling training

regimen within the tall, featureless stone barricades interior. Within, the air is thick with a dozen compet-
of the Walls of Tribute, referred to wryly by recruits ing perfumes, each more pungent than the last. The
as the Quarry. There, they are trained in the physical interior is impossibly large—certainly larger than
aspects of peacekeeping, instructed on the habits of its exterior walls would have you believe—and filled
the city’s criminal underbelly, and drilled in the laws with seemingly endless rows of arcane curiosities
and ideals of Emon. and artifacts, many of whose cryptic functions have
13. House of Discipline. Emon does not have a been lost to time. Everburning candles in an array of
standing army of its own. The skills imparted to the unnatural colors light the shop, casting tantalizing
Arms of Emon are sufficient to maintain a rowdy shadows over every bubbling phial and mystical orb.
populace, but they are carefully trained to use nonle- Those who enter the shop are first met by Gilm-
thal force to restrain, rather than kill, all those whom ore’s long-time assistant Sherri, a half-elf draped in
they apprehend. Thus, when war comes to Tal’Dorei, deep purple robes. If they are lucky, or particularly
the council appoints a Master of War and levies an convincing, they may even meet the hero Gilm-
army from the Arms of Emon, as well as the militias ore himself.
of its constituent settlements. They must report to Even rarer a sight than Sherri or Gilmore is the
the House of Discipline, where they are taught mar- latter’s husband, a handsome elf named Darius. He
tial combat alongside the harsh realities of warfare. is shy in public, a perfect counterbalance to Gilm-
Those who endure their time in the House of Disci- ore’s bombast, but is said to have a singing voice and
pline are forged into an army ready to protect Emon skill with the lyre that can make any mortal weep.
and the rest of Tal’Dorei from the greater dangers Whether or not his husband is present, Gilmore
of Exandria. is ever eager to recount his part in the fall of the
14. Gilmore’s Glorious Goods. The broad, Chroma Conclave, often winkingly embellishing his
single-story façade of Shaun Gilmore’s wondrous role in the final battle with Thordak himself.
magical emporium belies the extravagance of its

Gilmore’s Glorious Goods sells all manner of
magic items. Its stock varies, but typically includes The Sisters Grast
magic items of very rare rarity and lower for the Mythic tales of a pair of ancient hags swirl through
price range listed in the fifth edition core rules. learned circles within Emon, typically to frighten
Additionally, there are always unidentified items in Lyceum students off of wandering forbidden vaults
Gilmore’s vast back-room storage that he says he’ll at night. Some folk, however, take these whispers
“get to eventually;” these may include one or two seriously. A number of explorers and treasure seek-
long-lost legendary items. Artifact-quality items are ers wandering the subterranean ruins of Crystalfen
beyond even Shaun Gilmore’s usual fare, but he have encountered one, or both, of these wretched
might know clues to a specific artifact’s location, witches, returning with tales of fright, dark dealings,
whether through his own extensive knowledge or his and unholy pacts.
rumored relationship with the Tal’Dorei Council as In reality, these creatures are elven scholars who
an expert consultant on matters of arcane objects. stumbled upon the Ruins of Salar long, long ago.
Magic items are expensive, and those strapped for Their discovery and research of the profoundly
cash may inquire about sponsorships and quests magical location twisted their minds and bodies,
done in Gilmore’s service. infused them with power, extended their lives,
and granted a glimmer of knowledge of some
Emon Adventures immense, unknowable purpose to the lost city.
Every district, point of interest, and scrap of current They’ve become obsessed with the mysteries
of the ruins. The elder, Trysta, remains below to
events described earlier in this section could be a
continue to excavate and study, while her sister
plot seed you can turn into an adventure. In addition
Forscythia travels back and forth from Emon under
to those, you can use these adventure hooks to
the veil of a half-dozen illusions to acquire goods
involve your players in an Emonian adventure.
and gold in exchange for her unsettlingly insightful
Primordial Children (any level). Rumors of ter- fortune-telling. Anyone who seeks the sisters with
rible creatures of fire and teeth stalking the sewers ill intent is rarely seen again, but those who stum-
spread throughout Emon’s taverns. Such mutterings ble upon them often find themselves temporarily
have gone largely ignored; however, an investigator in service to them, a pact made out of fear and
has recovered what looks to be the broken remains self-preservation.
of a large, leathery red egg, not far from a collapsed
tunnel beneath the Cloudtop. It seems one of Thor-
dak’s primordial dragon spawn survived its father’s
demise and is lurking in the city’s tunnels. Crystalfen Caverns
Council Business (any level). The Tal’Dorei Deep beneath the Bladeshimmer Coast is a sprawl-
Council—particularly Tofor Brotoras, Master of ing network of natural caverns and rivers that
Defense, and Allura Vysoren, Master of Arcana—fre- predate the Age of Arcanum. These tunnels reach
quently hire adventurers to undertake dangerous even below the ocean, and have roots in early coloni-
quests for the benefit of the realm. Once the char- zation by denizens of the Realms Beyond.
acters do a deed great enough to catch the council’s An ancient society of psychically powerful abo-
attention, they are contacted the next time they’re in leths and other aberrations sprung up from a door
Emon to undertake a quest; choose from any of the between worlds and conquered this subterranean
other story hooks in this book or make a new one of web, drove their slaves to construct Salar, the
your own. The council offers a reward equal to 1,000 Unseeable City, and slowly pressed upward toward
gp × the average character level of the party. the surface. Their plot was unintentionally ended
Miraculous Escape (high-level). Master of when the final battle of the Calamity sent powerful
Arcana Allura Vysoren covertly contacts the char- waves of magical force throughout Exandria, caus-
acters with a worrisome claim. In the middle of the ing much of the underground caverns to collapse
night, a former Remnant cultist named Hammond and the aboleth civilization to fall under rock and
Kraith escaped the Black Bastille, apparently with rubble. Fragments of the City Which Eyes Cannot
the aid of an invisible monster. She provides the See still remain, however, with surviving terrors
party with the magic-inhibiting manacles he wore slowly rebuilding from the dust within their once-
within the prison, in hopes that they can use them great capital.
to follow his trail. What she doesn’t know is that the The ruins of this sprawling city are now known
League of Miracles broke Kraith out of prison using as the Crystalfen Caverns. These caves are home to
an invisible master adranach (see page 225). He is scattered veins of azuremite, a gorgeous blue crystal
hiding out on an island in the Lucidian Ocean, aided that formed from millennia of psychic energies
by a number of Myriad mercenaries and a captured existing near element deposits. Curious explorers
mage hunter golem (see page 239) he has repro- who discovered the veins found that, when mined
grammed to serve him. and refined into a fine dust, the azuremite powder is

a strong mind-altering agent and induces temporary of exhaustion that has wandered too far from its
visions and other psychic phenomena. ruined domain.
While a number of small, isolated entrances to this The aboleth doesn’t seek to kill them—yet. Its only
labyrinth of tunnels have been discovered and adven- priority is self-preservation, and it needs help fend-
turing parties have attempted to chart the mines, the ing off the kobolds that have made the mine their
caverns are so vast and deep that either they gave up home in order to reach a subterranean lake where
for fear of becoming lost, or they were assailed by it can recover. Do the characters kill it or save it? If
the terrible denizens of the caverns, never to return. it reaches the lake, or dies, they are rewarded with
Most who now brave the caverns are foolish treasure a haunting premonition of the Ruins of Salar, and a
hunters or criminals seeking to mine more azure- murky vision revealing the depths and expanse of the
mite to sell on the black market. Crystalfen Caverns.
Crystalfen Caverns Adventures Ruins of Salar

Game Masters who set their adventure in the
In the lightless nadir of the Crystalfen Caverns,
Crystalfen Caverns can use this plot hook for
directly beneath the splendid Port of Emon, rest the
inspiration.
eternally slumbering ruins of Salar. No mortal has
Mining The Past (any level). When the characters
beheld these ruins— once the capital of a mighty
finish a short rest in the Crystalfen Caverns, they
aboleth dominion—and returned to the surface with
must each make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw. On
wits to tell the tale. Salar is known only in myth
a failure, a woman’s voice fills their minds, saying,
and legend as the Unseeable City, because mortal
“I sense someone…are you truly here, too? Please…I
eyes cannot look upon its alien architecture without
am lost, and alone in the dark.” The voice guides
destroying their fragile minds. Salar is treated as
them down the twisting caves to a 120-foot-deep
an urban legend by Emon’s scholars and archeolo-
mine shaft. The stones at the bottom shimmer
gists. Nevertheless, many believe in its existence, for
with faint azure light. Should they descend into the
numerous scholars have returned from expeditions
azuremite mine, they travel through an uncharted
into the deep caverns with their minds shattered by
tunnel and find a lone, dying aboleth with five levels
otherworldly power.

Those who have returned from Salar brought back Journal. He shares his research with the characters
journals filled with increasingly crazed notes. The and hires them to accompany him into the ruins,
most intelligible of their writings indicate that all promising that he will guard their minds from any
that survives of the ruined city are emerald marble alien influence. But in truth, though Jomen was
structures of unfathomable design, seeming to shift once a member of the Pansophical, he has recently
and shimmer as the eye tries to comprehend, moving aligned his interests with the mysterious goals of
through time as they remain static in space. the League of Miracles. Is he leading the characters
The once-renowned archaeologist Karaline von into danger with only counterfeit scrawlings to guide
Ethro claimed to have visions of Salar, describing a them, or does he actually hold part of Karaline von
subterranean city with twisting pillars that stretched Ethro’s description of Salar and its dangers?
higher than any tower, kissing the seat of the surface
world from the bedrock of the earth. At the peak Scar of the Cinder King
of the central pillar floats a giant pearlescent disc.
It was thought that the lands surrounding Emon
This so-called Moon Disc bathes the entire city in
would never fully recover from Thordak’s over-
unsettling, milky light that refracts eerily through the
whelming elemental power. His presence not only
emerald spires.
incinerated his enemies—it wounded the land itself.
Karaline von Ethro is long since dead, and her
After the Cinder King’s defeat, the Tal’Dorei Council
journal—by far the most coherent record of the
beseeched the Fire Ashari to travel from the distant
Unseeable City—is an apocryphal artifact. The
lands of Issylra to Emon and lend their wisdom.
Arcana Pansophical kept it in a closely guarded
The frightful Scar of the Cinder King and Thordak’s
vault, which only added to its mystique. However, the
Crater, both twisted by the red dragon’s cancerous,
journal was stolen long ago, and since then, dozens
fiery magic, were healed by the druids of the Fire
of manuscripts said to be the Von Ethro Journal have
Ashari over the course of about fifteen years—an act
been sold in black markets across Tal’Dorei. Anyone
that the brightest minds of the Arcana Pansophical
lucky—or unlucky—enough to find the genuine
thought would take an epoch to achieve. Clouds of
journal would learn a terrible secret that the Panso-
white ash still occasionally blow across the fields
phical has held onto in silence for decades: dozens,
surrounding Emon, but the last lingering reminders of
perhaps hundreds, of aboleths survive within Salar.
the Cinder King’s terror are beginning to vanish.
Their master, Durrom of the Emerald Eyes, lives on
Nevertheless, the Fire Ashari left behind a group
in secrecy while expanding its army of thralls and
of four druids, led by a female half-orc named Lor-
learning all it can about the ignorant surface dwell-
kathar. They dwell in a small stone fortress known
ers. Durrom’s ultimate goal is to shatter the forgotten
as Flamereach Outpost—a defensive fortification
Pillars of the Earth beneath Emon and cause the city
used when the scar was still spawning beings of
to collapse into its subterranean domain.
flame and hatred. They vehemently warn all who
enter to avoid using elemental magic of any sort—
Karaline von Ethro especially fire magic—as these evocations could
Archeologist, anthropologist, and explorer extraor- cause the still tender division between the Material
dinaire; Karaline von Ethro was a human adventurer Plane and the Elemental Plane of Fire to reso-
and inventor. It was her designs that created the nate and tear.
Sunbeam Compass, a device that always directs
the user to the sun by emitting a small light at the Scar of the Cinder
tip of the needle in a glass orb, allowing it to rotate King Adventures
in all directions—a very useful tool when exploring
subterranean territory. However, despite her dis- Game Masters who set their adventure in the
coveries and inventions, she is most remembered Scar of the Cinder King can use this plot hook for
for going mad after allegedly having visions of the inspiration.
Ruins of Salar. Karaline’s madness eventually led to Reopening Wounds (any level). The Ashari of
her tragic demise at the young age of 37. Pyrah have claimed that the Scar of the Cinder King
is healed—yet rumors have spread through Emon’s
Erudite Quarter that a representative of Pyrah has
Ruins of Salar Adventures been seeking counsel with the Arcana Pansophi-
Game Masters who set their adventure in the Ruins cal regarding the scar. While the characters travel
of Salar can use this plot hook for inspiration. through the once-scarred lands east of Emon to find
Secrets Within Secrets (mid-level). The char- their next adventure, they are shocked by a sudden
acters are approached by Jomen Tash, an earnest earthquake, as the ground erupts with a serpentine,
half-elf mage of the Arcana Pansophical, who claims fiery crack. Magma and cinderslag elementals (see
to have obtained pages from the lost Von Ethro page 231) slowly seep from the crevasse, turning
all they touch to ash.

Ruins of O’Noa (New O’Noa) if the silver-skinned man were still alive and able to
magically walk away? And what of the cultist who
Village: Population: 310 (83% humans, 17% transformed him?
other races)
The first human colonizers of Tal’Dorei journeyed Seashale Mountains
across the Ozmit Sea, weathering terrible storms
A curious range of mountains runs along the
and deadly waves, and made landfall in Daggerbay.
Bladeshimmer Shoreline north of Emon. The Sea-
From there, they founded the port city of O’Noa, and
shale Mountains are named for their unique shape,
though the city quickly grew in wealth and influence,
akin to a tidal wave about to crash on the inland
the early settlers were greeted with mistrust by the
territories, frozen in dynamic stone.
elves of Syngorn. When King Warren Drassig took
Crashing waves and salty sea breezes have carved
the throne of Emon, no city suffered greater devas-
miles of twisted valleys between these jagged peaks,
tation than the contested region of O’Noa. It was the
creating an unusual home for the creatures lurking
site of one of the Scattered War’s bloodiest battles,
within the cavernous rock, shoreside pools, and
and the arcane energies unleashed reduced the city
towering bluffs. High tide leads the briny waters into
to ruins and permanently scarred the land. Built
the Nightwash, a miles-long lagoon that wends its
within a cursed bay, and deprived of fertile land, it
way through the base of the bluffs, carrying hosts
was agreed after the war that neither the new nation
of dangerous ocean life with each pass. Conversely,
of Tal’Dorei nor Syngorn would attempt to rebuild
the tidal phenomenon also brings a valuable bevy
the city, instead letting it stand as a reminder of the
of deep-sea fish on occasion, which gave birth
horrors of the Scattered War.
to the fishing community of the Shalesteps. The
Over centuries of dereliction, the ruins became a
mountains’ strange peaks are decorated by copses
haven for outlaws and exiles, who named their ref-
of scraggly trees, stunted by the gravelly soil and
uge New O’Noa. They took this place of destitution
stripped nearly bare by salty ocean breezes.
and dust and made it into a refuge for all rejected by
society. Though some of New O’Noa’s people were
exiled from their homes due to fear and prejudice— The Shalesteps
like people of ill fate born under the full light of Village: Population 770 (40% humans, 35% hal-
Ruidus (see page 9)—most are thieves and delin- flings, 32% dwarves, 3% other races)
quents. New O’Noa is ruled by a charismatic tiefling The Shalesteps are a series of small, allied villages
called Waken, who rose to prominence through whose inhabitants chose to live a more simple life
honeyed words and selective murders. outside of the bustle of the capital city, but close
New O’Noa still appears abandoned to the eyes enough to enjoy imports and protection should the
of outsiders. Its inhabitants live and hide away from need arise. Most of their food is sourced from the
prying eyes, amidst ancient stone ruins and their cat- ocean and the Nightwash tide, while a small hunting
acombs. Those who venture too deeply into the ruins community wanders the peaks for avian quarry
are rarely seen or heard from again—unless their and other sources of meat and natural resources.
loved ones can offer up a princely ransom. Those who live here are sturdy and ready to defend
themselves against the dangerous wilds surrounding
Ruins of O’Noa Adventures them—and against the occasional monstrosity that
Game Masters who set their adventure in the Ruins washes in with the tide.
of O’Noa can use this plot hook for inspiration.
This Too Solid Flesh (mid-level). New O’Noa is a Shalesteps Adventures
seedy town filled with strange magic. A suude dealer Game Masters who set their adventure in the Shale-
named Shef Silverleaf is in major debt to Waken, the steps can use this plot hook for inspiration.
leader of the outlaw village. The characters enter the From Hell’s Heart (low-level). The Shale-
picture when Waken surreptitiously hires them to step village of Puddlefoot has never had anything
collect on his debt—perhaps under false pretenses to remarkable happen to it. People there are quiet and
hide his illegal operation. simple, with no interest in tales of grand heroics.
When the party tracks down Shef, they find more No great adventures have ever come to their rocky
than they bargained for: his body has been turned shore—until the whale. The dead whale, bloated with
to solid silver. A Remnant cultist (see page 252) corruption, its white hide covered in oozing green
lurks in the shadows of New O’Noa, and has been lesions, is a source of fear for the nearby townsfolk.
purchasing suude from Shef for nearly three months. What happened to this behemoth? And why is Rill
Shef uncovered his secret identity and confronted the Hermit ranting about seeing tall shadows spying
him—but the mage’s magic, made chaotic by the on Puddlefoot from the mountain peaks?
suude, transformed Shef into solid silver. Waken will
take Shef’s solid silver corpse as payment—but what

Visa Isle just the lands between the Lucidian Coast and the
Bladeshimmer Shoreline. Many of the people who
Forty miles off the coast of the Bladeshimmer Shore- live here either descend from or are immigrants to
line, west of the Verdant Expanse, two islands belch this realm.
clouds of black smoke into the open sky. Visa Isle Some of these other lands have been explored by
and its smaller sister island have been surrounded Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein in Critical Role,
by rumors and sailors’ legends since the dawn of civ- but are beyond the scope of this book. You can pop-
ilization. Some say that every night, the island burns ulate these lands with dungeons, cities, characters,
to ash—giving it a distinctive orange glow—and that and stories of your own creation—or be inspired by
every day new trees grow to maturity by sundown. It the history of Exandria in chapter 1 of this book,
is an island of fire and death. and the stories in the campaigns of Critical Role, to
Those who have explored its dense jungles and create a version of Exandria entirely your own.
returned claim only to have found common wild pigs
and—at worst—unusually large fire beetles and man-
tises. They were the lucky ones. They didn’t wander
Issylra
unprepared into the Ruins of Vos’sykriss, and did not Northwest of Tal’Dorei, across the freezing waters
encounter the serpentine spirits that haunt its elder of the Ozmit Sea, lies Issylra, home to Vasselheim,
halls. The only expedition to have ventured into the commonly called the oldest surviving city on Exan-
Ruins of Vos’sykriss and lived to speak of it returned dria. Issylra is considered by most to be the land
to Emon just as the Chroma Conclave descended where all civilization emerged and spread in the
upon the city. Their leader, a half-orc archaeologist time of the Founding, making it the religious core
and spiritspeaker named Jorlund Vohr, survived for many, and the focal point of historical study for
the destruction of Emon, but all his notes and the others. It was also where most of the flying cities of
artifacts he recovered were stolen. Decades later, the the Age of Arcanum first rose from the ground. Its
aging professor is still hard at work creating endless people rose high—and fell hard from those dizzying
proposals for expeditions to Visa Isle. heights, and to this day, many there still hate and
fear the power of arcane magic.
Visa Isle Adventures The territory known as Othanzia encompasses a
Game Masters who set their adventure in Visa Isle majority of the continent’s developed regions, keep-
can use this plot hook for inspiration. ing most domains protected and governed by the
Awakening the Sleepers (mid-level). In ancient might of the theocracy of Vasselheim. Nestled among
times, Vos’sykriss was the seat of a serpentfolk eastern taiga forests of the Vesper Timberland, the
empire that dominated southern Tal’Dorei. Before city of Vasselheim stands as the oldest known seed
the Calamity, their seers had visions of the coming of civilization and religion, and the only city to with-
destruction and desperately sought a way to survive stand every catastrophe that has rocked Exandria
it. The serpents constructed a magical stasis field since the gods brought life to it. As the spiritual
beneath their city and chose their strongest and most center of most of the world, Vasselheim is ruled by a
powerful to slumber and rebuild the empire when coalition of high priests of the many Prime Deities.
the danger had passed. These hierophants are viewed by their people as
They are now awoken. The Vos’sykriss serpent- the defenders of their virtuous society, and of all of
folk (see page 257) now prowl the island, being Othanzian culture.
prepared by the lingering Vos’skyriss serpentfolk Beyond Vasselheim’s ancient walls are frigid,
ghosts (see page 258) to claim the world for their untamed wilds, some of which are untouched since
own. When Jorlund Vohr’s expedition delved into the Founding itself. These lands are populated by
Vos’sykriss’s deepest sanctum, they unwittingly ancient monsters and dire beasts. Smaller camps,
ended the serpents’ ancient spell and awakened the communities, and townships are scattered across the
Sleepers. Soon, a people long thought extinct will surrounding snowy plains, and those who call Oth-
return to claim the world as their own. anzia home have become hardy and self-sufficient.
Elsewhere in Othanzia, the lands of Issylra are
Other Lands of sparsely populated by scattered republics of varying
morality. Traveling between these city-states is diffi-
Exandria cult, due to the lingering beasts of the Calamity that
stalk the lands beyond Vasselheim.
The land of Gwessar, now known far and wide as
the young nation of Tal’Dorei, is a sprawling, curious
land full of adventure, danger, and glory. Though Marquet
Tal’Dorei is a land rife with grand tales, the world Following the winds and waves to the southwest of
of Exandria is far larger and more ancient than Tal’Dorei across the Ozmit Sea eventually leads one

to the chain of islands called the Hespet Archipelago paradise compared to the monster-infested sands
and to the shores of the continent of Marquet. The that surround it.
pebble beaches of the Bay of Gifts greet travelers The Hands of Ord, the city’s guards, also protect
with the charming sights of untouched nature, and nearby villages and townships within the desert, but
the port city of Shamal invites all to engage in the they can only reach so far. Further south, beyond
pleasures of civilization, with beautiful ballrooms the reach of Ank’Harel and the Hands of Ord, the
and gilded gambling halls. sands give way to scrubland and marshes tan-
Beyond the port of Shamal lies the rocky edge of gled with the volatile mountains surrounding the
the Aggrad Mountains, whose canyons and caverns smoking Suuthan Volcano and the dangerous clans
house untold numbers of predatory creatures, before that worship it. Westward, beyond the arid desert,
giving way to the immense Marquesian Desert. lies a vibrant landscape of verdant jungles, craggy
This sandy wasteland is rumored to have once been mountains, and magical mysteries that the people
verdant jungle brought to ruin by the spear of the of Marquet have spent eons unraveling. Within the
Ruiner in the Calamity. Some stories tell of a great jungles of Marquet are dozens of cultures, some
hero that sacrificed himself to save Marquet from nomadic, some seafaring, and some with great
utter annihilation, but only scattered fragments of cities of their own. One such city, founded by orcish
this tale endure. survivors of the Ruiner’s wrath during the Calamity,
Near the center of this intense desert, surrounded is known across Exandria for its mathematically
by a sprawling network of small villages, is the grand immaculate architecture. This realm welcomes
city of Ank’Harel, known as the Jewel of Hope. This scholars and travelers from across Exandria, who
city, built atop the Drowned City of Cael Morrow, are eager to learn from the minds of some of the
is the center of culture, history, and power for all of greatest architects the world has ever seen.
Marquet. Ruled by the mysteriously undying J'mon
Sa Ord, Ank’Harel is a magnificent haven of music The Shattered Teeth
and culture. It’s not without its dangers, but it is a
Few sail into the dangerous waters southeast of
Tal’Dorei, past the ever-present fog bank called the
Fool’s Curtain, and into the Shattered Teeth. This
cluster of broken lands is made up of forty-three
islands, varying in size from small, mile-wide
reef-toppers to the large, city-holding isles like
Ruukva. Two societies dwell within the Shattered
Teeth. The first is the Ossended Host, a vast fishing
culture that values their independence—even to
the point of isolationism—and self-empowerment
through the worship of the power of dreams and
nightmares. The second is the Wanderman Assem-
bly, a centuries-old trade company that, upon being
stranded across the Shattered Teeth after losing
their way in a typhoon, grew into a brutal, ruthless
society dedicated to gaining profit at all costs. It
masquerades poorly under the banner of honor and
brotherhood.
This tension has led to bloodshed in recent years,
and each group is paranoid that the other is bent on
destroying their way of life. What brims beneath the
surface of this conflict is the nature and source of the
dreams the Ossended Host have been harnessing for
generations, and what that answer may mean for the
struggles of the people of the Shattered Teeth.
Wildemount
Due east of Tal’Dorei, the lands of Wildemount
are highly geologically varied, from the tropical
Menagerie Coast, to the dour and rainy valleys of
Western Wynandir, to the blasted wastes of Eastern
Wynandir—better known as Xhorhas. The people of

Tal’Dorei trade frequently with Wildemount, though
the waters of the Lucidian Ocean are prowled by
pirates, sea monsters, and forgotten aquatic demi-
gods. Such a journey leads to the Clovis Concord, a
federation of city-states that govern the Menagerie
Coast, where a lively culture of trade, entertainment,
and the arts flourishes amidst the illicit activities
of local smugglers and the ever-present Myriad
syndicate.
The Dwendalian Empire, an authoritarian power
that seeks to expand its reach across all of Wilde-
mount, reigns over the center of the continent. The
empire is ruled by King Bertrand Dwendal, but
tensions boil between the Crown and the Cerberus
Assembly, the empire’s league of arcanists and
covert operatives. Though the assembly’s power
waxes and wanes, they are constantly maneuver-
ing to become the true, shadowy power behind the
Dwendalian Crown.
The empire's control over the resource-rich val-
leys in the center of Wildemount has helped make
it a military superpower. Likewise, the natural
defenses of the surrounding mountains make their
lands easily defensible. For centuries, the idea that
the empire is invincible has fueled recruitment
propaganda for its military, the sanctimoniously
titled Righteous Brand. King Dwendal’s edicts
have created a highly nationalistic society—one
which permits only the worship of Crown-approved
deities, submits to mandatory military service, and
jingoistically endures immense taxes to support the
Crown’s wars.
Across the mountains east of the Dwendalian
Empire are the wastes of Xhorhas, ruled by the
Kryn Dynasty. This society was founded by dark
elves who escaped the grasp of the Spider Queen
through the grace of a supernatural being of light
called the Luxon that granted them the ability to
reincarnate into new bodies, life after life. Those
who are reincarnated seek to broaden the knowl-
edge of the Luxon by living bold lives and gaining
new experiences. Today, the Kryn Dynasty is filled
with not just dark elves, but goblinkin, orcs, ogres,
kobolds, and all manner of other peoples considered
to be “monsters” by the Dwendalian Empire.
Beyond the Kryn Dynasty and the Dwendalian
Empire, and the tensions that burn between them,
are the lands of the Miskath Strand and the islands
of Eiselcross. Both are realms twisted by forbid-
den magic, and inhabited by eldritch abominations
and other creatures that are anthema to mortal
life. Yet, despite the danger, the most courageous
adventurers of Wildemount—and indeed, all of
Exandria—see exploration as the pinnacle of
heroism. At the fringes of the known world, where
monsters from the edge of reality lurk…this is where
true adventure begins.

Chapter 4
Character Options
The sprawling lands and endless challenges of • Barbarian: Path of the Juggernaut
Exandria forge heroes and villains of curious voca- • Bard: College of Tragedy
tions and abilities. The dangers of the chaotic world • Cleric: Blood Domain and Moon Domain
urge stalwart heroes to defend innocents in need of • Druid: Circle of the Blighted
protection, while uncovered fragments of forgotten • Monk: Way of the Cobalt Soul
powers inspire power-hungry villains to seek new • Paladin: Oath of the Open Sea
ways to bend reality to their will. The material in this • Sorcerer: Runechild sorcerous origin
chapter offers a number of new options for charac- • Wizard: Blood Magic arcane tradition
ters to define who they are and what they wish to
become in a Tal’Dorei campaign. Backgrounds
The backgrounds found in the fifth edition core rules
Playing in a Tal’Dorei are all well suited to life in Tal’Dorei. This fantasy
Campaign realm is teeming with soldiers, guild artisans, sail-

ors, and nobles, all of whom might make interesting
This section is for players creating characters for a adventurers. This book also presents six new back-
Tal’Dorei campaign that another player is running as grounds, detailed later in this chapter:
the Game Master. It suggests a number of tips and • Ashari
tricks for how to create a character, and how to make • Clasp Member (and the variant Myriad Operative)
that character’s story fit smoothly into the world • Lyceum Scholar
of Exandria. • Reformed Cultist
• Whitestone Rifle Corps
Standard Procedure
Start by creating a character as you normally would Session Zero
for any fifth edition RPG campaign. This process The cast of Critical Role creates great stories by
typically involves choosing your character’s race, communicating openly with their Game Master
lineage, or ancestry; selecting your class, back- before the campaign begins, and maintaining that
ground, starting equipment, and spells (if applicable); communication between game sessions. Doing so
and giving the character a name and backstory. If ensures that everyone’s stories are being told in a
your Game Master has any house rules or spe- fun way, and that everyone is having fun at the table.
cial requests that change this process, they’ll let To get that same experience, be sure to talk with
you know. your Game Master about what’s important to you
while you build your character and flesh out their
Ancestries backstory. That way, your GM will be able to build a
All of the fantasy peoples commonly found in Tal’Dorei, story that centers you and your allies as main char-
including humans, elves, dwarves, goblins, tieflings, acters, rather than just bystanders.
and dragonblood, are described in this chapter. Session zero is a catchall term for a pregame
These descriptions don’t include game statistics, meetup between the players (including the GM),
which can be found in the fifth edition rules, but where everyone can lay out expectations and bound-
rather detail the lore of each of these ancestries and aries for the campaign. Lots of guides designed to
how characters of those ancestries fit into the tapes- give your campaign a strong start with session zero
try of Exandrian life. can be found on the Internet and in other fifth edi-
tion books. Session zero often includes discussions
Classes of the following:
All the classes in the fifth edition core rules are • What each player and the GM like about fifth
fair game in Tal’Dorei, and classes and subclasses edition campaigns, and what they’re hoping for in
found in other supplements might be available with this campaign.
your Game Master’s permission. This book also • Likewise, what aspects of play people dislike or
contains the following new subclasses, all detailed in are uncomfortable with, or simply want to avoid in
this chapter: this campaign for any reason.
• If this campaign were a movie, what would its
rating be? PG? PG-13? R?
Chapter 4: Character Options 149

• Which topics are fun to explore in game, which
are absolutely off-limits due to personal discom- Races and Cultures
fort, and which are okay in moderation? Everyone Tal’Dorei is home to manifold humanoid peoples,
should clearly agree to playing a game that from the elves who emerged from the Fey Realm into
includes topics like extreme violence; romantic or the untouched lands of Gwessar in the wake of the
sexual situations; any gender-, race-, disability-, or Calamity, to the humans who first came to Tal’Dorei
age-based discrimination or violence; or themes on stout ships from the distant shores of Issylra. The
that involve real-life politics or religion. familiar fantasy races of elves, dwarves, humans,
• What amount of combat, exploration, and social and halflings are the most populous beings on
encounters the players want to experience. Tal’Dorei, but they are far from the only peoples to
• What kind of character each player wants to cre- make their mark in city and wilderness alike.
ate, and how the characters might fit together into Over the past thousand years of history, the peo-
a cohesive party. ples described in this chapter have left an indelible
• What type of story everyone wants to experience mark on the world. And though many of these races
together, whether that’s a meandering episodic appear monolithic at first glance, all are incredibly
tale or a lengthy epic, and whether the story will be varied. A first-time visitor to Tal’Dorei might initially
driven by player actions and their consequences or perceive all elves as haughty and fascinated with
by GM-directed plot events. heritage, because that’s the dominant culture in Syn-
gorn, the largest elf-majority city on the continent.
Additionally, after each game, many people find it
However, the elves living in villages and cities across
helpful to check in with each other and discuss what
the land are often exceptions to that apparent rule,
everyone enjoyed, wants less of, or wants more of,
and it’s dangerous—not to mention rude—for travel-
so the GM and players can prepare to bring more
ers to assume that any of Tal’Dorei’s varied peoples
of what worked to the next session, and less of
fit into simple boxes.
what didn’t.
This section is a resource for you to use to inspire
your character’s backstory—or to inspire your NPCs
Flavorful Details if you’re a Game Master. Whether you enjoy leaning
In addition to discussing your character’s backstory into fantasy archetypes, intentionally breaking them,
with your GM and the other players in your group, or ignoring them entirely, this section has something
you can think about other flavorful details to help for you. The game statistics of each of the races of
ground your character in the world of Exandria. Tal’Dorei are identical to those in the fifth edi-
tion rules.
Gods
A vast pantheon of deities created Exandria in prime- People and Monsters
val times. Which of these deities does your character
For generations of roleplaying gamers in many dif-
worship, if any? Do they worship an obscure god, or
ferent RPG campaign settings, certain of the fantasy
one commonly venerated throughout Tal’Dorei? How
peoples in the world of Exandria have long been
devout are they in their faith?
considered “monsters” or “evil races.” Goblins, orcs,
The gods of Exandria are described in more detail
and bugbears are examples of peoples whose very
in chapter 2, though your GM might want to keep
nature was supposedly tainted by inherent evil, and
some of the details of those gods secret.
were thus morally unambiguous targets for adven-
Factions turers to kill and loot. This mindset treats these
people as no different from monsters like basilisks or
The politics of Tal’Dorei are influenced by a number
giant spiders.
of factions. Not all are actively hostile toward each
The humanoid people of Tal’Dorei aren’t set up
other, and many are actually allies.
that way. Any creature with the humanoid type is a
But all jockey constantly for power—and frequently
thinking, feeling person. Creatures with the dragon,
come into conflict as a result. Do you belong to one of
giant, or fey type are also unambiguously sapient,
these factions? Are you a card-carrying member? Do
and thus can have any alignment. It’s just as likely
you simply sympathize with their cause, or perhaps
for a human to be a neutral evil bandit as it is for
have friends or family who are part of the faction?
an orc to be a chaotic good swashbuckler, or for a
Are there factions you actively despise, perhaps
hobgoblin to be a lawful good knight. And if you like,
because of some slight they committed against you
you can take this even further in your games and say
or those close to you in the past?
that any fantasy creature with an Intelligence score
Tal’Dorei’s factions are described in more detail in
of 6 or higher is capable of free thought, and should
chapter 2, though your GM might want to keep some
have just as wide a range of alignments as other
of the details of those factions secret.
sapient beings.

The stories in Critical Role are filled with shades
of moral gray, but Tal'Dorei still has plenty of unam-
Dragonblood
biguously evil creatures. Most demons, devils, and The dragonblood of Exandria are a people of
undead are suffused with cosmic evil, and always unknown origin, and countless myths surround their
try to subvert righteousness. Likewise, unthinking ancestral creation. One particularly pervasive tale
creatures such as oozes and constructs, and crea- states that dragonblood were created by the Scaled
tures of instinctual intelligence such as beasts, many Tyrant and the Platinum Dragon during the
monstrosities, and plant creatures, all make morally Calamity, serving as loyal soldiers who eventually
unambiguous foes. earned their freedom. Regardless of how they came
Likewise, there are plenty of evil humanoids in the into being, though, the dragonblood lived for many
world. Cultists of evil gods, including the Remnants centuries in relative isolation in the southern wastes
who worship the Whispered One, and merciless, of Xhorhas, on the continent of Wildemount.
blood-soaked bandits such as the Ravagers are Today, dragonblood live all over Exandria, though
clear and immediate threats to both the safety of the they remain a scarcer sight in Tal’Dorei than in
player characters and all free peoples of Tal’Dorei. Wildemount. Their spread across the world was
Depending on the tone of your story, the characters hastened by the assault against the free peoples of
might cut such foes down without mercy—or they Exandria by the Chroma Conclave. During that con-
might try to rehabilitate them. The difference is that flict, the ancient white dragon known as Vorugal the
these villains’ choices, not their ancestries, deter- Frigid Doom destroyed the magical city-state of Dra-
mine whether or not they are evil. conia, the ancestral homeland of most dragonblood.
The destruction of Draconia and the loss of many
Cultures across Tal’Dorei of its people was a tragedy. But to roughly half the
dragonblood of Exandria, it also marked the end of
The various peoples of Tal’Dorei don’t have racial an oppressive regime. Dragonblood of Exandria can
cultures. Rather, someone’s culture is based on the either be born with a tail or without. In Draconia,
cities and regions in which they spend their forma- those with tails were called draconians or dracon-
tive years. For most of Tal’Dorei’s history, members bloods, for they were seen as closer in form and
of the different fantasy races lived in largely mono- power to true dragons. Those without tails were
lithic enclaves. However, the more recent past has given the name of ravenites and enslaved. Their
instilled in people the need to break down old barri-
ers, work together, and live together.
All cities and large towns have a majority popula- Dragonblood
tion of certain races, typically based on the peoples
who founded those settlements. This includes such
notable sites as the elf-majority city-state of Syngorn
and the dwarf-majority city-state of Kraghammer.
Some people in Tal’Dorei might assume that certain
races have common cultural traits that unite them,
but many others know that this isn’t the whole truth.
A dwarf raised in Kraghammer and a dwarf raised
in Stilben are likely to have very different attitudes
about family, food, faith, and all the other factors that
make up a culture.
Even when people of the same race gather in
neighborhoods within a city, those people don’t neces-
sarily share the common culture of their best-known
homelands. In many neighborhoods in the great city of
Emon, for example, elves and half-elves are a majority.
But since not all those elf-kin come from Syngorn, they
don’t all share a monolithic Syngornian “elf culture.”
That said, beings with distinctly magical traits
often form cultures that include their unique abilities.
This includes folk such as dragonblood, with their
ability to channel elemental power. And because
goliaths are known for their powerful, muscular
bodies, goliath-majority societies often worship the
Stormlord, god of strength, and engage in festivals
that center around feats of athleticism.
Chapter 4: Character Options

blood and toil built the mighty towers of Draconia, gathered into a single, steadfast redoubt: Kragham-
yet the ravenites enjoyed none of their city’s splendor. mer. In one way or another, just about every dwarf
The ruin of Draconia thus marked the start of an in Tal’Dorei can trace their family back to that great
era of freedom and self-determination for the rave- city-state.
nites. In Tal’Dorei, it’s apparent that any differences The mountainous stronghold still stands as the
between the ravenites and the draconians have noth- heart of settlement in the Cliffkeep Mountains, and
ing to do with bloodline or draconic power. Those many dwarves consider it a place all their folk should
differences are cultural, and rooted in a past whose visit at least once a decade. Kraghammer’s legendary
conflicts still haven’t been resolved. The oppression status gives it a highly conservative, unchanging
that existed in Draconia remains largely unknown culture, but even so, the dwarf people are far from
within Tal’Dorei to this day, and outside of major monolithic.
cities such as Emon, dragonblood can go for months, Some dwarves like to distinguish themselves
even years, without seeing another of their kind. as hill or mountain dwarves, based on whether or
not they grew up outside or inside of Kraghammer.
Draconians Gurdhe, a Dwarvish word translated into Common
The tail-bearing draconians who survived the as “hill,” colloquially means “beyond the mountains”
destruction of Draconia have been scattered across in most Dwarvish dialects. And many dwarves, even
the world. In the time that’s passed since the fall of the so-called mountain-dwellers renowned for living
the dragonblood city-state, a generation of dracon- their entire lives underground, make journeys out
bloods have grown up in Tal’Dorei’s towns and cities, into the “hills” of Tal’Dorei to trade, gain artistic
disconnected from their parents’ privileged upbring- inspiration, or visit the children of long-dead friends
ing. Only a scant few draconians—typically ones able they bonded with decades or centuries prior.
to teleport away from Vorugal’s attack—escaped with
any sort of wealth. Most other refugees were lucky Kraghammer Dwarves
simply to escape with their lives. The culture of Kraghammer is one of isolationism
Clinging to the Past. A social divide continues and tradition—even to the point of xenophobia. As a
to grow between draconians who have wealth and common saying goes: “Those who live beneath the
those who don’t. Many of those with wealth greedily mountain are as unmoving as the mountain itself.”
cling to the shadows of their former tyrannical glory, Whether they're dwarves, gnomes, or folk of other
but other draconians seek instead to bury the past ancestries, the people who dwell in Kraghammer
and create their own destiny, on their own merits. typically embody this stubborn, dogmatic stoicism.
Tradition. Kraghammer society is steeped in a
Ravenites culture of dwarves protecting their own, and those
Following the end of the Draconian order, the rave- dwarves’ traditions of meticulous chronicling, geo-
nites ventured into the world eager to make the most metrically precise artistry, dynastic great houses,
of their newfound freedom. In the generation since, and resilience against even the greatest of threats
many have formed a new homeland in Xhorhas has proved itself a central pillar of their society.
known as Xarzith Kitril, content to reclaim the lands For long centuries, new peoples and new ideas in
of their birth. Those ravenites who departed Wilde- Kraghammer meant potential danger, threatening
mount have found a new home in the cities and the the death of monarchs and incursion by nefarious
icy north of Tal’Dorei, where they enjoy the freedom subterranean infiltrators. The first time that Kra-
and privileges of equality that this land provides. ghammer proudly opened its gates to a new people,
Rebuilding from Scratch. Most ravenite children the oligarch Warren Drassig led all of Tal’Dorei into
grew up poor, either in slum towns at the edges of the greatest war since the Age of Arcanum. The
cities like Emon and Westruun, or helping their par- city’s relative safety during the assault of the Chroma
ents laboriously carve out rural lives in the Dividing Conclave only cemented its people’s belief that isola-
Plains or Cliffkeep Mountains. tion is strength.
Change. In the present day, many of Kragham-
Dwarves mer’s residents feel stifled by its dominant culture,
which continues to be insular and suspicious of
When the world was nearly rent asunder by the
outsiders and new ideas. In the past few decades, a
Calamity, the dwarves of Tal’Dorei disappeared
tide of refugees fleeing crises such as the Wittebak
underground to wait out the worst of the conflict.
disaster and the Cinder King’s attack on Emon have
Many dwarven citadels once dotted the subterranean
brought new voices and perspectives to the formerly
world, but over the centuries, they dwindled, either
unyielding halls of Kraghammer. These people
merging together or falling into decadence and ruin.
now call the dwarves’ ancestral realm their home,
In the centuries following the Calamity, these dwarf
and many of Kraghammer’s dwarves have seen the
clans, isolated beneath the surface of Exandria,

innovation and transformation that new residents Duergar of Emberhold
can bring. Change comes slowly in Kraghammer, but Deep beneath Tal’Dorei is an underground realm
it does come in time. lit only by magelight, magma flows, luminescent
creatures and fungi, and the roaring fires of duergar
Hill Travelers forges. It is thought that a group of dwarves delved
Dwarves might leave their underground realm for far into the depths of Exandria countless centuries
myriad reasons, with many making homesteads in ago, predating even the chronicles of Kraghammer.
the foothills of the Cliffkeep Mountains or ventur- Whether by choice or by necessity, they made a home
ing even farther afield. Hill dwarves who left the in the caverns they explored there. Something about
mountain themselves, or who had parents or more the magic that suffuses their eerie realm changed
distant ancestors who did so, have a certain shared the deep dwarves—who are called the duergar now.
camaraderie in their connection to the open sky That name was originally an epithet, bestowed by
above, the sun and wind around them, and the soft the mountain dwarves who rediscovered and battled
loam beneath their feet. those deep dwarves, but the duergar now wear it
Exploration. It’s common for dwarves who live with pride.
upon the hills and fields of Tal’Dorei to wander Survival. The deep caverns of Tal’Dorei are an
throughout their lives, never putting down roots inhospitable place, filled with creatures whose aber-
for more than a decade or two at a time out of their rant forms defy imagination and whose alien minds
centuries-long lives. Dwarves with tanned skin and reject mortal morality. The duergar became hard-
sun-bleached hair are so common a sight in taverns ened by their struggle for survival, and their rejection
across the Dividing Plains that the Dwarvish word at the hands of the Kraghammer dwarves hardened
gurdheledr, translated as “hill travelers,” has come to their hearts forever. The smiths of the Emberhold do
mean “mercenary” or “bounty hunter” as commonly not forge art or works of beauty—only weapons and
as it refers to simple wanderers. armor to turn back the onslaught of those who wish
Community. Dwarves are a common sight in to see them dead.
cities such as Emon and Westruun, and even in Alliance. The duergar have suffered alone for so
smaller towns across central Tal’Dorei. Not unlike long, hating all and hated by all. Nevertheless, in the
mountain-dwelling dwarves, these city dwellers are undercurrents of the Emberhold, the idea spreads
often as unmoving as a granite boulder on a rock that there must be more to life than fire and death.
shelf—unable to be budged unless given a tremen- Many duergar nurture a secret hope of finding some
dous push. Dwarves typically adopt the culture of way to ally with their other dwarf kin—if only some-
wherever they live, though their long lives sometimes one were brave enough to reach out a hand without
make them more resistant to social change than fear of it being cut off.
shorter-lived peoples.
Duergar of
Emberhold
Kraghammer
Dwarf
Hill
Traveler

Elemental Ancestry prejudices inherent to their culture. For many such
people, the traits that make them unique also make
Exandria’s lands are rife with elemental power. Pri- them a pillar of their community—for example, a
mordial energy constantly flows into the world from baker who instinctually understands the will of her
elemental rifts, and such primal power inevitably oven’s fire. Within superstitious lands and cultures,
alters its surroundings. This is also true of peoples however, a person’s elemental powers might make
who spend long years in proximity to such sources them the target of scrutiny, fearmongering, or jeal-
of power, and of those who travel the planes long ousy, eventually driving them to strike out into the
enough to find the seed of elemental power take root world to seek a place where they truly belong.
within their blood. Such folk are the beginning of an Called to the Ashari. Those elemental-touched
elemental ancestry, harboring the potential to give people who leave their communities often seek
birth to children who are suffused with latent magic. out the Ashari, the isolated keepers of rifts to the
Children of an elemental ancestry bear the Elemental Planes. Elementally attuned children
features of their parents’ ancestry, but have clearly are born with great frequency to the Ashari, who
become something new. Their appearance is altered understand the utmost importance of giving those
by their power, granting them skin that shines like children the education and training that will let them
the sun on the surface of the sea, hair that crackles understand their gifts.
like flame, or eyes that glitter like gemstones. Then All people of elemental ancestry are welcome
comes the manifestation of elemental powers, which among the Ashari, including the Air Ashari and
can make a child the envy of their peers—or some- Earth Ashari found in Tal’Dorei. However, even
one to be feared. those whose elemental ancestry connects them to
While people of elemental ancestry are rare in water or fire can seek out Tal’Dorei’s Ashari peoples
Tal’Dorei, they are most common among the Ashari to help them on their journeys of discovery. In time,
due to the elemental affinity of that folk. Some pos- such a journey might lead them to the Fire Ashari on
sessed of elemental power enjoy the attention their the continent of Issylra, to the Water Ashari on the
uniqueness garners them. But for others, even the Islands of Anamn in the Ozmit Sea, or to Ashari who
most benign interest draws painful attention to their have journeyed from those lands to Tal’Dorei.
otherness. Elementally attuned folk who don’t seek or can’t
Belonging. People with an elemental bloodline find the Ashari might instead find their way to the
are often raised by parents in a regular commu- reclusive giants of Tal’Dorei. Though the giants do
nity, and so grow up with all the aspirations and their best to keep their distance from the lives and
problems of humanoids, they have been known to
take a shine to people whose shared elemental affini-
ties give them common ground.
Elves
When the Calamity threatened to annihilate all life
on Tal’Dorei, the elves of this land gathered in their
last remaining city, Syngorn, and used long-for-
gotten magic to transport themselves into the Fey
Realm. Time runs strangely in that realm, and for
an unknown stretch of history, the elves of Syngorn
lived with their fey kindred in peace. When they
eventually returned to Exandria, they found a land
devoid of all but animals and the grandeur of nature.
The rotten majesty of the Age of Arcanum, burned
away by the wrath of the gods, had given way to
new growth.
To the elves, the lands of Tal’Dorei are still called
Gwessar, and elves who dwell here are called the
gwes’alfen—the elves of the Fields of Joy. For centu-
ries, this folk watched with delight as other peoples
Elemental populated Gwessar, beginning with dwarves, then
humans from across the sea, and so on. Then they
Ancestry looked on in horror as mortal ambition was per-
verted into greed, and war followed in its wake.

Syngorn and the Verdant Expanse that surrounds Lyrengorn Elves
it are the ancestral homeland of Tal’Dorei’s elves, The lyren’alfen, known alternately as Lyrengorn
many of whom never venture beyond that homeland. elves or high elves, are a people who broke off from
Young elves are most likely to journey afield to see Syngorn long ago, and who journeyed from southern
what else the world has to offer, and while most of Tal’Dorei to settle in the frigid Neverfields, north of
them return to Syngorn, some make new homes the Cliffkeep Mountains. The city of Lyrengorn that
in the many towns and cities of Tal’Dorei—or they they founded is every bit as majestic as Syngorn in
become hermits, their status as mystical beings with the south, but for better or worse, Lyrengorn lacks
a thousand-year life span commanding an almost its sister city’s millennia of culture—and its cul-
mythic reverence from other folk. tural baggage.
The elves’ tendency to focus on the past has given Art and Expression. Lyrengorn is nestled in the
rise to many stereotypes of those folk being haughty, spires of the Elvenpeaks, spreading under the mys-
aloof, and unconcerned with the day-to-day joys and terious northern lights known as the Moonweaver’s
sorrows of the shorter-lived races. But though this is Ribbons. The city is always aglow with magical light,
certainly true for some elves, it’s hard for other folk and its people are taught spellcraft from a young age,
to consider the perspective of an elf who has person- for magic is the foundation upon which Lyrengorn
ally witnessed whole cultures and civilizations rise was built. The spells of heat and comfort woven into
and fall. Most elves are born with the same passion its residents' clothing and architecture are essential
for life as any other being. But as centuries pass, life to living comfortably in such relentlessly cold lands.
becomes a stream of historic events to be witnessed The elves who make their home within the pines
and contemplated, and not to be interfered with of the Elvenpeaks are best known for riding through
unless absolutely necessary. the wintry skies on wyverns. Every year, people from
across Tal’Dorei travel to the Elvenpeaks to watch
Syngorn Elves skyswimmers, elite wyvern riders who shape the
The syn’alfen, as the elves of the Verdant Expanse glow of the Moonweaver’s Ribbons from the air.
call themselves, almost universally revere the Magic and Transformation. High elf culture
ancient history of Syngorn, and the story of how its values magical prowess above almost all else, but
escape to the Fey Realm saved their culture from
extinction. No elf who lives in Syngorn can forget
this past, and Syngornian culture can sometimes Dark
feel overbearing to those who see it only from the Lyrengorn Elf
outside. More than a few woodland elves also feel
stifled by their homeland’s unrelenting focus on Elf
history, magic, the fey, and the preservation of elven-
kind. Such elves are most likely to leave Syngorn and
make their homes in other parts of Tal’Dorei.
Departure. Many elves who leave Syngorn (or
who had parents who left) still consider themselves
syn’alfen, whether they live in Emon or other cities,
or even the ancestral homes of other folk, such as
Kraghammer. The cultural imprint of Syngorn is
hard to escape, and most of these expatriate wood
elves hold a certain amount of love for their home
even as part of a complicated relationship.
Reunited Family. South of the Stormcrest Moun-
tains lies the massive jungle of Rifenmist, home to
the nomadic elf Orroyen tribes. The Orroyen believe
that they split off from the Syngorn elves centuries
ago, with both peoples meeting each other again only
within the past century. Though initially suspicious,
both elf lines soon came to see one another as long-
lost family.
The onslaught of the Chroma Conclave disrupted
communication with the Orroyen elves, and news
from the south has grown more dire since. Orroyen
refugees continue to flow into Syngorn, fleeing the
tyrannical Iron Authority that rules Rifenmist.
Syngorn
Elf
the high elves lack the dogma of many of their turning deathly pale as they become little more than
Syngornian cousins. Their society encourages puppets for their tormenting goddess. Others will-
experimentation, both in terms of magic and ingly offer themselves to the aberrations to end their
self-expression. Likewise, lyren’alfen who become suffering, and are transformed into shapeshifting
adventurers often do so in pursuit of inspiration doppelgangers. And the most power-hungry drow
or self-discovery. High elf societies are filled with nobles often succumb entirely to their devotion to the
elf magi who use magic to transform their bodies, Spider Queen, willingly drinking her abyssal blood
exploring different gender expressions and social to become driders in her service.
roles—and they encourage all who visit Lyrengorn New Light for the Shadow. The people of
to join them in discovering all the different facets of Tal’Dorei have recently received emissaries from
one’s self. dark elves who live in the eastern reaches of Wilde-
Many high elves become religious sorcerers, mount, in a nation called the Kryn Dynasty. Their
exploring their latent powers through their faith. Oth- Bright Queen, Leylas Kryn, broke free of the Spider
ers develop their arcane skill by seeking admission Queen’s corrupting influence and led her people to
to the Alabaster Lyceum in Emon, where they study glory and self-determination in the distant lands of
the theory of magic with the best minds from across Xhorhas. This rebellion was inspired by the discov-
Tal’Dorei. ery of the Luxon, a mysterious being of light and
rebirth that the Kryn drow worship as a god.
Dark Elves Though the dark elves of the Kryn Dynasty have
The myrk’alfen, also known as drow or dark elves, problems enough of their own, some of the Kryn
have a complicated relationship with the other elven seek the aid of Syngorn and Lyrengorn on expe-
societies of Tal’Dorei. Though the elves are one ditions into the depths beneath Tal’Dorei. Their
people by heritage, the dark elves refused to join with goals are noble, but none can deny that these are
the elves of Syngorn during the Calamity, instead missionary expeditions in search of new followers—
escaping into the trackless caverns that stretched and in search of new Luxon beacons, the scattered
beneath Tal’Dorei. There, they became the unwit- fragments of that new drow god.
ting prey of the Spider Queen, a Betrayer God of Many adventuring drow harbor a violent hatred of
immense cruelty. aberrations, and have abandoned the Spider Queen’s
Betrayed by the Gods. In times long past, the faith to become paladins in service of the Dawnfa-
drow were a wise, beautiful folk with long, silvery ther or the Luxon, setting aside their affinity for the
hair and radiant ashen or violet skin. But their under- shadow to search for hope in the light of the sun.
ground enclaves grew decadent and cruel, and their
leaders fell to the alluring whispers of the Spider Firbolgs
Queen. The myrk’alfen allied with their venomous
Fur-covered folk with floppy ears, flat noses, and
goddess against the Arch Heart and their elves in
long faces, firbolgs are a humanoid people with a
the Calamity. When the Spider Queen was defeated,
unique, somewhat bovine appearance. They aren’t
the myrk’alfen of Tal’Dorei were exiled permanently
insular by nature, but they feel most at ease when
from the surface world, confined to their imperious
surrounded by the natural world, leading the vast
realm within the earth.
majority of firbolgs to never leave their forest homes
Struggle to Survive. More evil powers than
except under circumstances beyond their control.
just the Spider Queen lurk beneath the surface of
As a result, many folk in Tal’Dorei don’t even know
the world. With the drow in exile, the whispers of
that firbolgs exist. Those firbolgs who do live in the
the Crawling King and the Chained Oblivion first
realm’s cosmopolitan cities either grow annoyed or
reached the ears of their nobility as the dark elves
accepting of people constantly questioning who—or
struggled to stave away the aberrations that encircled
what—they are.
their cities. Now, generations later, the dark elves
are a people seemingly on the brink of annihilation. Dwellers of Cold Forests
Neighbors slaughter one another in the streets as
Firbolgs’ fuzzy bodies are acclimated to cold
they succumb to paranoia. For when aberrations can
weather, and they often overheat in warm climes.
take or shape any form, who can be trusted? Unable
They are most commonly seen in Kraghammer,
to stop their citizens from rioting, the drow elite have
Zephrah, Whitestone, and Stilben, both as residents
grown ever more authoritarian, commanding their
and as traveling bards and merchants. But they are
royal guards to keep order by violently suppressing
otherwise a rare sight south of the Cliffkeep Moun-
their people.
tains, though some firbolgs enjoy a comfortable life
Against this ongoing chaos, some dark elves who
in Emon after learning a few handy spells to keep
fall deep into the abominable thrall of the Spider
cool in the summer.
Queen become truly monstrous, their skin and eyes

The largest and densest population of firbolgs in focus on tinkering and an understanding of natural
Tal’Dorei is found in the eternally winter-bound for- phenomena.
est of the Frostweald. These firbolgs have a friendly Dizzying Heights. By the end of the Calamity,
but cautious relationship with the capricious fey who the city of Wittebak was the most technologically
also dwell there. advanced place in all of Tal’Dorei, even as the elves
and dwarves were emerging from their isolation.
Gnomes However, such greatness could not last. The rock
gnomes boasted of their superiority to the “ignorant”
Gnomes and gnomish culture are relatively uncom-
stone giants who also called the mountains home,
mon in Tal’Dorei, for although humans and rock
and incurred their elemental wrath. In the earth-
gnomes both hail from Issylra, relatively few gnomes
quakes that followed, Wittebak and most of its people
have the chance or the desire to leave their home-
were destroyed.
land. Moreover, their short stature has often proved a
Eyes Ahead. Most of those who survived the
social hindrance in the lands of taller folk. But where
Wittebak disaster made their way to Kraghammer,
they have settled, gnomes easily prove their mettle
relying upon the generosity of the dwarves to sur-
through deed and humor, becoming welcome mem-
vive. A few others traveled to Emon and Kymal, and
bers of the settlements where they choose to make
helped build those cities in their earliest days. To this
their homes.
day, most gnomes with any connection to the heady
Rock Gnomes era of Wittebak still call themselves rock gnomes
in its honor. These gnomes carry a certain cultural
The first gnomes to enter Tal’Dorei migrated from
memory of their city’s fall from grace, which drives
Issylra during the Age of Arcanum, and endured the
many of them to strive constantly toward greatness.
Calamity within the deep caverns of the Cliffkeep
Eyes Behind. A fair few rock gnomes dwelling in
Mountains. These folk called themselves rock
Kraghammer—elders in particular—take a different
gnomes, and founded a marvelous settlement called
view of their people’s fall from grace and glory.
Wittebak. Their society prized cleverness above
These gnomes work bitterly and tirelessly, fueled by
all other things, eschewing the arts of magic for a
spite and pride, with the intention of either reclaim-
ing Wittebak or proving that the city’s lost technology
is superior to any magic or other force on Exandria.
Forest Gnomes
Forest gnomes are not native to Tal’Dorei, but unlike
rock gnomes, they are believed to hail from the Fey
Realm, much like the elves. A half dozen small forest
gnome communities can be found in the Verdant
Expanse, hidden from the prying eyes of elves and
human explorers alike. But how gnomes ended up in
the Fey Realm to begin with is a mystery that even
they can’t begin to answer.
Forest Gnome Rock Gnome
Firbolg

Magic, Not Tech. The biggest difference between goblin children playing catch in the street, hobgoblin
the gnomes of the forest and their rock gnome mercenaries hanging around job boards, and bug-
cousins are their philosophies toward magic and bear apothecaries running shops in the hills.
technology. After spending untold centuries in the The origin of the goblinkin is shrouded in myth
Fey Realm, forest gnomes have a great respect for and legend, but it’s generally accepted that these
magic, especially capricious, unpredictable magic peoples were created by the Strife Emperor during
like that of the fey. Forest gnome culture sees the Calamity to be his perfect soldiers. The few
technology as predictable and boring, even if its use- records of that time hint that the goblinkin were
fulness must be conceded from time to time. once a single folk called the dranassar, a humanoid
Forest gnomes respect the rock gnomes’ dedica- people of golden skin and green, violet, or yellow
tion to science, and are more than happy to help their eyes who lived in eastern Wildemount. They dwelled
kin in their search to understand how nature works in great numbers in the city of Ghor Dranas, which
and how to manipulate it. But in the end, knowledge came to be the seat of the Betrayer Gods’ power in
is not as important as canniness in forest gnome the Calamity.
enclaves. For centuries, goblinkin were viewed as monsters
Worldly Explorers. Not all forest gnomes are as by most other people of Tal’Dorei—particularly
close to their fey identity as the gnomes of the Ver- explorers and adventurers who regularly invaded
dant Expanse, and a number of more worldly clans and destroyed goblinkin settlements. But this ugly
have spread to other forests across Tal’Dorei. Most sentiment has undergone a radical shift in the past
notably, a number of familiesfamilies, including the generation, during which countless goblins, hobgob-
Trickfoot clan, have made the Bramblewood outside lins, and bugbears have fought alongside the other
of Westruun their home for generations. These clans folk of Tal’Dorei in defense of their homeland against
are more practical than their fey kin and less uptight the Chroma Conclave and other threats. Today, gob-
than their distant rock gnome cousins, giving these linkin are a welcome sight in Tal’Dorei’s cities, and
gnomes a curious personality perfect for the life of a those folk who nurture old hostilities are invariably
traveling adventurer. taken to task by the people around them.
Goblinkin Goblins
Goblins are a green-skinned people, short of stature
Goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears are three distinct
and typically having thin, dexterous fingers and
races with a united past. They live across Tal’Dorei,
strong, nimble legs. They fit easily into settlements
most often in isolated communities, though many
with significant gnome or halfling populations,
people in the realm have become used to the sight of
whose residences and furniture are already
Hobgoblin
Bugbear
Goblin

appropriately sized. With long traditions of living in often colloquially known as stoneborn or goliaths.
isolated family units in forests and mountain caves, Descended from stone giants, these folk have long
many city-dwelling goblins dwell in large houses been viewed as exemplars of rugged endurance and
holding at least three generations of family and many individualism. They are found in settlements across
different branches of their family tree. Tal’Dorei, where they are known for their innate
strength and their commonly held belief—passed
Hobgoblins down from the giants of old—that all must take fate
Most hobgoblins are alike in stature to humans and into their own hands.
have similar variations in build, ranging from thin In ancient times, goliaths and orcs lived off the
and scrawny to broad shouldered and muscular. same land, and their nomadic clans frequently
Their large ears, gleaming yellow eyes, and powerful warred and intermingled in equal measure. As such,
incisors give them a vaguely feline appearance. it is common for orcs and goliaths of Tal’Dorei to
Hobgoblins are often stereotyped as having a discover common ancestors somewhere in their
warlike, martial nature—a sentiment that arose from family trees.
rumors surrounding the Iron Authority in the Rifen-
mist Jungle. That empire is majority hobgoblin, and Nomadic Herds
its cruel leaders have press-ganged the land’s entire Stone giants believe that physical perfection is the
population into compulsory military service. In ages world’s greatest virtue, and this belief has been
past, most hobgoblins that became known to the passed down culturally to the goliaths who live in
other peoples of Tal’Dorei were scouts or captured the mountains and upon the Dividing Plains. These
legionnaires of the Iron Authority. Today, though, plains-dwelling half-giants call their clans “herds,”
many escapees from the authority’s influence live and unite behind the stone giants’ philosophy of
in cities such as Emon, Kymal, or Byroden. Most “might makes right.” Though at one time these
of these free hobgoblins know only their parents’ herds were mostly made up of stoneborn almost
stories of that distant empire, and are able to live exclusively, recent generations have come to include
happily free of its influence. humans, orcs, dwarves, and even physically diminu-
tive people such as halflings—as long as they agree
Bugbears with the philosophy of strength above all.
Bugbears are tall humanoids covered with brown,
black, or blue-gray fur, which combines with large
ears and yellow eyes to give them an even more
feline appearance than their hobgoblin cousins.
Though bugbears are tall, their posture is gener- Half-Giant
ally stooped, so that their heads are still roughly at
human height.
Many bugbears are solitary folk, living in forests
and mountains where their thick fur protects them
against the cold. They typically gather in large
groups one to three times a year to socialize and
play games with friends, reunite with family, and find
love—a tradition that has been reworked by those
who live in permanent communities. Such bugbears
often live with a number of romantic partners under
the same roof, or “adopt” goblin families and dwell in
their loving, chaotic, multigenerational households.
Half-Giants
Four peoples were known to exist on Tal’Dorei when
the world was reborn out of the ashes of the Calam-
ity. The elves, who emerged from the Fey Realm. The
dwarves, who emerged from the earth. The orcs,
who endured the Calamity through strength and
determination. And the half-giants, who safely rode
out that war in mountaintop retreats before eventu-
ally descending to the windswept plains below.
Averaging seven feet tall, with hairless, craggy
bodies and skin tough as stone, half-giants are

Rivermaw. The greatest of the half-giant herds is fits with the place they’ve found for themselves in
the Rivermaw, whose members use their strength of Tal’Dorei.
arms and political cunning to protect their ancestral The historical records of the Cobalt Soul assert
lands from incursion. The Rivermaw herd includes that halflings journeyed across the Ozmit Sea from
many goliaths from the now-broken Herd of Storms, Issylra with Tal’Dorei’s first humans, with both peo-
whose folk suffered at the hands of the tyrant Kevdak ples coexisting in peaceful harmony in this realm’s
many years ago, and who now seek to protect others earliest cities and idyllic agrarian towns. Humans
from ever suffering as they did. and halflings likewise fought together—and against
Ravagers. Opposing the Rivermaw are the Rav- each other—when the Iron Rule of Drassig swept
agers—a group that the Rivermaw have stripped of across the land.
the title of “herd” in disgust. The Ravagers are more The Scattered War divided halflings across the
a death cult dedicated to the Betrayer God called the continent in two ways. Thousands of humans and
Ruiner than a true clan. Just like the contemporary halflings were impressed by Drassig’s strength and
Rivermaw, the ranks of the Ravagers are filled with joined his armies, even as many of those who refused
people of many different ancestries, from goliaths to join turned away from their old allegiances. One
to humans to bloody-minded firbolgs—all of them group of halflings decided that humans had betrayed
rejecting order to embrace slaughter and cruelty. them and that Warren Drassig was emblematic of
all humanity’s evils, and formed the Stoutheart Clan
Towers of Stone in response. They stockpiled weapons and began
Tal’Dorei’s most famous goliath, the legendary hero a campaign of guerilla warfare against Drassig’s
Grog Strongjaw, is renowned for being a warrior armies—even battalions that held former friends and
first and a thinker second. But goliaths are no less family among their ranks.
intelligent or canny than Tal’Dorei’s other peoples. Another clan, the Lightfoots, asserted that all
Despite being known as nomadic folk, many half-gi- humans couldn’t be condemned for the evil actions
ants understand that stone is sturdiest when formed of one king, and pointed to the thousands of halflings
into towers, walls, and bridges, and cities such as and other non-humans who had allied themselves
Kraghammer and Emon have long been filled with with Drassig’s evil regime as proof. The Lightfoots
the works of goliath masons and architects not given advocated protecting as many people as possible
the historical recognition they deserved. while waiting the war out. In the end, it became
Great advances in mathematics and civil engineer- clear to both halfling clans that in a conflict against a
ing have been made by other city-dwelling stoneborn, tyrant such as Drassig, neutrality was not an option.
and scholars of the Cobalt Soul are working to They banded together behind Zan Tal’Dorei’s banner
confirm which of the beloved Emonian and Westru- of rebellion.
unian structures that survived the Chroma Conclave These two clans dissolved after the Scattered
are actually the result of pioneering goliath minds. War, but many contemporary halfling families can
Westruun has long been home to vast numbers of
half-giants dwelling there to be close to their former
herds, but many others have set down more recent Lightfoot
roots after the Battle of Westruun, helping rebuild in
the wake of the destruction wrought by the dragon Halfling
Umbrasyl and the Herd of Storms.
Stoutheart
Halflings Halfling
No one really knows how halflings appeared on
Exandria, nor is it known how they first arrived in
Tal’Dorei. Some halfling scholars are eager to trace
the origin of their people, but many of those who live
out in the countryside are more keen on inventing
increasingly tall tales regarding the roots of their
ancestry. One popular creation myth is that when
the All-Hammer made the dwarves, a little bit of left-
over clay slipped from his hands and landed on the
rolling fields beyond the dwarves’ mountains, where
it became the first halflings. Though most people
dismiss this story as nothing more than folklore,
a sense of the halflings having humble beginnings

trace their genealogies back to one or the other, come to be called Tal’Dorei, and were shocked to
and proudly proclaim that their great-grandparents find elves, dwarves, orcs, and half-giants already
were there when history was being made. Most living there—shattering their belief that the Calamity
halflings treat this sense of history only as idle fun, had washed away all mortal life except the people of
though, and few feel any real animosity over old ills Vasselheim.
and grudges. Over the years, humans and their ambition
have been responsible for bloody wars, weapons
Lightfoot Clan of unimaginable devastation, and spells that have
The Lightfoot Clan dissolved into its many compo- reduced entire cultures to ruin. Yet humans have
nent families after the war, but the spirit that created also driven great advances in art, music, poetry, and
the clan still survives. Those halflings who strongly theater, and have shown love and compassion to
identify with their Lightfoot identity look out for the other mortal peoples of the world. The course
number one first, and are more likely to try to evade of human history is never straight, and can turn
conflict than to meet an oncoming storm head-on. at any time. After all, humans’ lives are short and
Yet a contradiction lingers within the Lightfoot spirit, their minds are chaotic—a fact that troubles many of
for despite all their love of the comforts of home, the long-lived elves and dwarves of Tal’Dorei. Still,
many Lightfoot halflings feel a certain unquenchable despite these weaknesses—or perhaps because of
hunger to explore. Many adventuring halflings are them—humans have produced some of the most
Lightfoots who have given in to this compulsion. innovative and forward-thinking figures Tal’Dorei
has ever known.
Stoutheart Clan
The Stoutheart Clan also dissolved in the wake of A Far-Reaching People
the Scattered War, but its ideals and identity still Humans can hail from anywhere in Tal’Dorei, for
endure. Brashness and courage even in the face of although their presence on the continent began as
absurd odds embodies the Stoutheart spirit. Recall- a small colony in the west, that presence quickly
ing the guerilla army that stood against the legions
of Drassig, any halfling with the fortitude to stand
up to a warrior three times their size has more than
earned the honor of calling themself a Stoutheart—
even if their family tree doesn’t have true roots in Humans
that historic clan.
Stouthearts often surprise other people who know
of halflings only from experiences with more laid-
back Lightfoot folk—and many use this surprise to
their advantage to become truly cunning diplomats.
The proud Stoutheart named Assum Emring, a
former member of the Tal'Dorei Council, once bois-
terously claimed that he was so rude, so brash and
so defiant in his first meeting with the late Sovereign
Uriel Tal'Dorei II, that he was very nearly arrested—
before being offered a position on the sovereign's
staff the very next day!
Humans
Humans are the most populous race in Tal’Dorei
today, though at one point in this land’s history, all of
humankind’s holdings were naught but a speck on
the western coastline.
If humans ever lived upon Tal’Dorei in the Age of
Arcanum, they were wiped out entirely by the end
of the Calamity. But after the world had begun to
recover from the devastation wrought by that war of
gods and mortals, an expedition of human explorers
departed from Vasselheim in Issylra, thought to be
the only bastion of humanoid culture on the surface
of Exandria to survive the Calamity. Sailing east-
ward, they reached the land that would eventually

spread. Humans were eager to trade, to forge alli- fought endless bloody battles on the Dividing Plains
ances, and to find love with the elves, dwarves, orcs, as the gods and their loyal minions clashed, wielding
and goliaths of Tal’Dorei. Their lands quickly grew magic sufficient to rip the world asunder. And the
in size and power. But then a human despot by the orcs endured—perhaps in part because of the divine
name of Warren Drassig broke the peace of trade power behind that people’s creation.
and coalition in favor of conquest. The myth surrounding the orcs’ origin is a grim
Drassig’s betrayal nearly condemned humankind one. It is said that they were created by accident
to an eternal reputation for villainy. However, one when the Arch Heart, god of the elves, shot out the
human rebel named Zan Tal’Dorei forged alliances eye of the war god known as the Ruiner. The Ruin-
of renewed trust between her rebellious faction and er’s blood poured from his wound and rained upon
the other beleaguered peoples of Drassig’s kingdom. the armies of elves who served the Arch Heart—and
Her forthright idealism and steadfast determination those unsuspecting mortals were transformed. Their
won the Scattered War, and laid the foundations for a muscles bulged, tusks grew from their jaws, and
new society that enshrined the alliances she created. their minds burned with a thirst for blood.
Though human adventurers can hail from any- Yet after that battle’s end, the fury within these
where in Tal’Dorei, humans are most commonly new humanoids burned away, and the orcs survived
found in the lands connected by the Silvercut Road- as a hardy, physically powerful people. In the early
way: the Bladeshimmer Shoreline in the west, the days of Gwessar, orc clans warred with anyone who
Lucidian Coast in the east, and the Dividing Plains invaded their territory, especially the goliaths who
that separate them. A number of humans from Wilde- descended from the mountains to the plains, and
mount also sailed across the Shearing Channel long who rivaled the orcs in both strength and stature.
ago and settled in the Alabaster Sierras, where they But once more, fury cooled in time, and reasonable
founded the city-state of Whitestone. voices won out over those of even the most passion-
Humans living along the Silvercut provide the ate warmongers.
infrastructure for trade across the continent, and Today, orcs and other folk with orcish heritage
as such are often involved in some form of craft, can be found all across Tal’Dorei. Many orcs find
business, or production. Human-dominated cities in their natural athleticism an asset in specific trades,
Tal’Dorei are typically highly diverse, because they
were founded with the aid of many allies of other
ancestries. Today, members of all Exandria’s other
peoples come together in great cities such as Emon, Orc
even as humans from the distant continents of
Issylra, Marquet, and Wildemount travel to exchange
goods and ideas with the vast and bountiful lands
of Tal’Dorei. Beyond the cities, dozens of human-
founded outposts spread along the fringes of lands
better known by Tal’Dorei’s older ancestries—the
elves, dwarves, orcs, goliaths, and even the reclusive
giants. Outlanders, explorers, and hermits take
refuge here from the hectic pace of city life, but still
find danger enough in the wilderness to keep them
on their toes.
Many humans likewise live in settlements founded
by non-humans, ranging in size from tiny gnome-ma-
jority villages in Torian Forest to the ancient and
stately cities of Syngorn and Kraghammer. These
humans absorb the cultures of their homes, just
as people of other ancestries raised in cities such
as Emon can grow up with a distinctly human out-
look on life.
Orcs
Orcs survived on Tal’Dorei during the Calamity
through sheer determination and strength. Unlike
the elves and dwarves who hid in their secret
retreats, and the goliaths who watched the destruc-
tion from their mountaintops, great clans of orcs

but they can be found in every guild and profession. Scholars have scoured thousands of years of Issyl-
Though orcs and humans have an ancient legacy of ran history in search of the origin of tieflings, to little
conflict that lives on in a prejudiced few, the realm is avail. The most complete extant records suggest that
filled with people who denounce and ostracize any during the Age of Arcanum, a cabal of power-hun-
who discriminate against their orc neighbors. gry Issylran warlocks consorted with extraplanar
entities, and that many of these unions resulted in
From Near and Far children who shared the qualities of human and
Though many of Tal’Dorei’s orcs are related to clans fiend. These progeny of the Lower Planes eventually
that have lived nomadically on the continent since came to break away from that origin to become a
time immemorial, the major cities of the land are people unto themselves.
also home to orcs who’ve traveled to Tal’Dorei from The first tieflings to walk on Tal’Dorei sailed from
across the sea. Many of those orcs originated in the Issylra during the Age of Arcanum, fleeing religious
lands of Xhorhas, in Wildemount, and the continent zealots who believed their very existence was an
of Marquet—places where orcs have never been abomination. Many tieflings in Tal’Dorei refused
denied the opportunity to become great scholars to fight during the Calamity, embracing a nihilism
or leaders. which said that if the world could reject their kind,
perhaps it was better to just let it burn. Yet the world
Tieflings and the tieflings survived.
In the centuries after the Divergence, tieflings who
Though Tal’Dorei was once awash with fell legends
had grown weary of gods and demons rejoiced, feel-
claiming to detail the evil origin of tieflings, the
ing that the gods’ imprisonment had effectively freed
more progressive parts of the realm have long since
them from their cursed past. As such, when Warren
stomped out such ugly myths. Still, many folk can’t
Drassig and his sons conquered the elven lands of
help but show surprise the first time they see a
Gwessar, countless tieflings rose in rebellion against
person with horns curling from their brow, gleaming
the tyrant. They had seen his kind before, they knew
eyes of a single solid color, and lustrous, brightly
his methods, and they knew others would suffer as
hued skin of red, purple, or blue.
they once had.
Tiefling Children
Tieflings who form a union always have tiefling chil-
Tiefling dren, and most tieflings belong firmly to that ancient
ancestry. Yet to this day, any humanoid—whether
famous hero or common farmer—who makes a deal
with fiends might give rise to children, grandchil-
dren, or even more distant descendants born with
the horns, eyes, and colorful skin of a tiefling.
Perhaps the most famous tiefling born in the
past generation is Gwendolyn de Rolo, the young-
est daughter of the renowned heroes Percival and
Vex’ahlia de Rolo of Whitestone. It is an open secret
in the city-state that Percival had dealings with fiends
as a young man. Yet though none of the rumors have
precisely pinpointed the nature of Percival’s super-
natural bargain, all who know Gwendolyn agree that
she is the sweetest and most innocent de Rolo to
roam the halls of Castle Whitestone in many years.
Mixed Ancestry
Even the oldest records of the Cobalt Soul are
unclear as to whether the ancestries of elves,
dwarves, orcs, and goliaths routinely mixed before
the arrival of humankind on Tal’Dorei’s shores. But
it’s easy to assume that explorers and ambassadors
would inevitably find love or companionship among
the folk of unfamiliar lands—and it is well known
that the arrival of humans changed Tal’Dorei forever.

From the earliest days of human exploration on these racial traits as is, or create your own mixed
the continent, love and passion began to blossom ancestry from any two races by choosing one or two
between all of Tal’Dorei’s people. The children that racial traits from one parent’s race and exchanging
spring from the unions of folk of different heritage them for the same number of traits from another
bear the traits of each of their parents, so that a parent’s race.
human child might gain patches of scales and rep- When you build a character of mixed ances-
tilian eyes from a dragonblood parent, or an orc and try, keep in mind that some racial traits are more
a dwarf might raise a child of squat, stout stature mechanically powerful than others, while some are
and olive-green skin, and bearing wisps of a coppery largely flavorful or narrative focused. As such, focus
beard even as an infant. on swapping a narrative trait for another narrative
In the modern age, love unites all folk. People of trait, or a combat-focused trait for another combat-fo-
mixed ancestry can be found all across Tal’Dorei, cused trait. Additionally, you must have your Game
though they are most common in the realm’s cos- Master’s permission to use your replacement traits.
mopolitan cities. Some ancestries are biologically As with any house rule, you and your Game Master
improbable (such as a goliath and a gnome having might want to revisit your unique combination of
a child), but sufficient application of magic makes traits later in the campaign if they feel overpowered
even those unions possible. However, money can be or underpowered.
a limiting factor in such things, as having a skilled
mage on hand during conception and childbirth is an Other Races
expensive process.
In addition to humanoids, countless other sapient
Non-humanoid creatures with the magical ability
beings walk the lands of Tal’Dorei. Many of these are
to assume humanoid size and form, such as drag-
rare creatures, never building communities of folk
ons, can also sire or give birth to mixed-ancestry
who share their appearance and abilities. Some are
children.
wholly unique creations of unpredictable magical
Mixed Ancestry Statistics effects. Others are mighty beings such as dragons
and giants, who can take on the role of hero or vil-
Only certain combinations of ancestries, such as
lain with equal ease but who intentionally separate
half-elves and half-orcs, already have racial traits
themselves from the affairs of Tal’Dorei’s other
described in the fifth edition core rules. You can use
mortal peoples.
Elf-Dragonblood
Orc-Dwarf

Hemocraft blood or magical ichor, as well as some elementals.
However, constructs and undead don’t have blood,
Two of the subclasses in this book, the cleric’s Blood and are unaffected by hemocraft.
Domain and the wizard's Blood Magic arcane tradi- Most aberrations, monstrosities, and plants also
tion, use the magical art of hemocraft. This involves need blood or some type of vital sap or ichor to sur-
using your own blood and the blood of other crea- vive. It’s recommended that the Game Master rule in
tures to heal, hex, and even bend bodies to your will. the players’ favor in cases like these. That said, one
way to show that hemocraft is more difficult to use
Blood and Session Zero against such creatures is to give them advantage on
any saving throw against the feature the character is
Self-harm and the removal of agency can be an
trying to use.
incredibly sensitive topic, regardless of whether it’s
happening to someone’s own character, to another
player character, or to an NPC. Additionally, many Subclasses
people have blood phobias that they may not want This section features new subclass options for some
to disclose. Because of this, if any player or the GM of the familiar fifth edition character classes. These
wants to use one of these options, it’s important that subclasses grant you new options not available to all
you bring it up in a pregame session zero (discussed members of your class. Information on your full class
at the start of this chapter) and get everyone’s affir- features, as well as other subclasses, can be found in
mative and enthusiastic buy-in. These options are the fifth edition rules.
exciting and flavorful, but the comfort of your group
is essential to making the game fun for everyone.
Barbarian
Blood and Spellcasting You are a wild warrior whose emotions and instincts
guide you in combat far more than logic or tactics.
If everyone in your group is okay with using blood When your barbarian character chooses a primal
magic in your game, consider how you can describe path at 3rd level, the Path of the Juggernaut is a new
your spellcasting in fun and eerie ways. When cast- option for use in a Tal’Dorei campaign.
ing divine spells as a Blood Domain cleric, you can
flavor your descriptions to tailor the magic’s effect
on an opponent’s blood and vitality. The hold person Path of the Juggernaut
spell might involve locking a target’s body into place Barbarians who follow the Path of the Juggernaut
from the circulatory system out. Cure wounds might stand so resolutely that none can deter them, and
feature lines of blood knitting lacerations together they swing their weapons with such force that all
like a needle and thread. As a Blood Magic wizard, who stand against them are flung aside. In might
your find familiar spell could conjure a horrific crim- and in spirit, juggernauts are immovable object and
son spirit of congealed ichor and pulsing veins. Have unstoppable force all at once.
fun with the theme! Juggernaut barbarians can be found all over
Tal’Dorei, and are common among the goliath
I Don’t Have Blood! warriors of the Rivermaw herd that wanders the
Dividing Plains. Some dwarves and humanoid
Some characters don’t have blood. It might be survivalists of the Cliffkeep Mountains adopt this
because they’re a living construct, or have become fighting style as an extension of their rugged deter-
undead through some macabre magic. If you want minism. And a number of stalwart juggernauts hail
to play a blood mage but don’t have blood yourself, from the jungles of the Rifenmist Peninsula, having
consider your hemocraft to be a unique variant that cast off the oppressive yoke of the Iron Authority.
channels the power of your life force, the necroman-
tic energy that animates you, or even the oil that Thunderous Blows
pumps through your artificial form. This is a purely Starting when you choose this path at 3rd level,
flavorful change, and doesn’t affect any of your sub- your rage instills you with the strength to shove
class features. and smash your way through your foes, making any
battlefield your domain. When you hit a creature with
They Don’t Have Blood! a melee attack while you’re raging, you can push that
On the other hand, some hemocraft features require creature up to 5 feet away from you in a direction of
the targets of your magic to have blood themselves. your choice. A creature that is Huge or larger makes
It’s generally up to the Game Master to decide what a Strength saving throw with a DC equal to 8 + your
does and doesn’t have blood, but for the most part, proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier. On a
all beasts, dragons, giants, and humanoids need success, the creature is not pushed.
blood to live. Most celestials, fey, and fiends have

Starting at 10th level, you can push a creature up Resolute Stance
to 10 feet when you hit it with a melee attack while Also at 6th level, you can temporarily refocus your
you’re raging. combat ability to make yourself a bulwark of defense.
At the start of your turn (no action required), you can
Spirit of the Mountain assume a defensive stance that lasts until the start
At 3rd level, you harness your fury to anchor your of your next turn. While in this stance, you can’t
feet to the ground, becoming a bulwark of strength. be grappled, attack rolls against you have disad-
While you are raging, you can’t be knocked prone or vantage, and your weapon attacks are made with
moved along the ground against your will. disadvantage.
Demolishing Might Hurricane Strike
Starting at 6th level, your melee weapon attacks deal
Starting at 10th level, your blows can hurl foes
an extra 1d8 damage to constructs, and deal double
through the air and into the attacks of your allies. As
damage to objects and structures.
a reaction when you push a creature at least 5 feet,
you can then leap into an unoccupied space next to
the creature. If you do so, the creature must succeed
Rules Tip: Forced Movement
on a Strength saving throw with a DC equal to 8 +
Usually when one creature moves out of a hostile
your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier or
creature’s reach, the hostile creature can use its
be knocked prone. This leap costs no movement and
reaction to make an opportunity attack. However,
forced movement—such as being pushed by a Path does not provoke opportunity attacks.
of the Juggernaut barbarian’s Thunderous Blows Additionally, whenever you push a creature into
feature—doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks. a space within 5 feet of one of your allies, the ally
Likewise, a juggernaut barbarian’s Hurricane can use its reaction to make a melee weapon attack
Strike feature allows an ally to make a melee against that creature.
weapon attack as a reaction only if the foe ends its
forced movement within 5 feet of the ally. If a foe is Unstoppable
pushed through other spaces within 5 feet of your At 14th level, your fury in battle makes you unstop-
allies, those allies can’t make normal opportunity pable. While you’re raging, your speed cannot be
attacks against the foe. reduced, and you are immune to the frightened,
paralyzed, prone, and stunned conditions.
If you are frightened, paralyzed, or stunned, you
can still use a bonus action to enter a rage (even if
you can’t otherwise take actions). You aren’t affected
by any of these conditions while you’re raging.
Kel’jaia Uloeh
Female gnome Path of the Juggernaut barbarian
When Kel’jaia sets her eyes on something, nothing
can stop her from achieving it. Her small size has
no bearing on her unbelievable strength, which
can overpower creatures many times her size. She
came to Tal’Dorei after the village on the Rifenmist
Peninsula she was defending was razed by the
Iron Authority. She first arrived in Syngorn, and
through the connections and friendships she made
there, was chosen to be a Syngornian delegate to
the Tal’Dorei Council. She strongly believes that
Tal’Dorei should take a stand against the cruelty
Kel’jaia Uloeh of the Authority. Should strife come to Tal’Dorei,
Kel’jaia is thought by all to be the council’s first
choice for the Master of War, due to her valor, tacti-
cal cunning, and battle prowess.

Bard time and can speak, they are magically compelled to
utter darkly poetic final words before succumbing to
You are a charming performer whose wit and their injuries.
words can inspire heroism in your allies and a Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again
rising sense of dread in your foes. When your bard until you finish a short or long rest.
character chooses a bard college at 3rd level, the
College of Tragedy is a new option available in a Tale of Hubris
Tal’Dorei campaign. At 6th level, you learn to weave a magical narrative
that draws out the fatal arrogance of your foes. When
College of Tragedy a creature scores a critical hit against you or an ally
within 60 feet of you that you can see, you can use
Not all grand stories conclude in triumphant victory.
your reaction and expend one use of your Bardic
Many tales end with death and despair, and bards of
Inspiration to target the attacking creature and evoke
the College of Tragedy know that sorrow and pathos
the story of their downfall. For 1 minute or until the
are emotions just as potent as joy and delight. These
target suffers a critical hit, any weapon attack against
bards specialize in the power of tragic storytelling,
the target scores a critical hit on a roll of 18–20.
weaving words and spells together to dramatic and
At 14th level, the critical hit range of this feature
devastating effect.
increases to 17–20.
Poetry in Misery Impending Misfortune
When you join the College of Tragedy at 3rd level,
Also at 6th level, your words can twist the power
you learn to harness the beauty in failure, finding
of fate to create triumph from the promise of future
inspiration in even the direst twists of fate. Whenever
despair. When you make an attack roll or a saving
you or an ally within 30 feet of you rolls a 1 on the
throw, you can gain a +10 bonus to the roll, but the
d20 for an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving
next attack roll or saving throw you make takes a −10
throw, you can use your reaction to soliloquize and
penalty. If not used, this penalty disappears when
regain one expended use of your Bardic Inspira-
you finish a short or long rest.
tion feature.
You can’t use this feature again until you finish
Sorrowful Fate a short or long rest, or until you are reduced to 0
hit points.
Starting at 3rd level, you exploit a foe’s peril to
instill deep feelings of sorrow and doom. When you Balthasar
or an ally you can see forces a creature to make a
saving throw, you can expend one use of your Bardic Bleakskull
Inspiration to change the type of saving throw to a
Charisma save instead.
If the target fails this save, roll a Bardic Inspira-
tion die. The target takes psychic damage equal to
the result, and is plagued with regret for 1 minute.
If the target is reduced to 0 hit points during this
Balthasar Bleakskull
Male half-giant College of Tragedy bard
Born in Westruun and raised by two loving goliath
parents—a towering warrior and an equally massive
astronomer of the Yuminor Observatory—Balthasar
Bleakskull was exposed to the adventuring lifestyle
and academia from an early age. He tumbled into
the art of theater when he was but a child, and fol-
lowed his passion for drama into adulthood—when
he was entangled in a bloodcurdling academic con-
spiracy that left eight dead, including his dramatic
mentor and his lover. Since then, he has devoted
his dramatic skill to the art of tragedy, to grant his
audiences the catharsis that he one day hopes to
give himself.

Nimbus of Pathos
Upon reaching 14th level, you can touch a willing
Cleric
You are a wise disciple of one or more of Exandria’s
creature as an action and empower it with tragic
gods, whose divine hands can no longer shape the
heroism. For 1 minute, the creature is surrounded by
world on their own. When your cleric character
mournful music and ghostly singing, granting it the
chooses a divine domain at 1st level, you can consult
following benefits and drawbacks:
your god’s entry in chapter 2 for suggestions on
• The creature has a +4 bonus to AC. which domains they might grant. The Blood Domain
• It has advantage on attack rolls and saving throws. and Moon Domain are new options available in a
• When the creature hits a target with a weapon Tal’Dorei campaign.
attack or spell attack, that target takes an extra
1d10 radiant damage.
• Any weapon attack against the creature scores a
Blood Domain
critical hit on a roll of 18–20. Developed in Wildemount by the Claret Orders, the
Blood Domain centers around the understanding of
When this effect ends, the creature immediately
the natural life force as it exists within the body, and
drops to 0 hit points and is dying. Once you use
the divine conduit it can become. Those who take up
this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a
this domain understand that the power of blood is
long rest.
the power of sacrifice, the balance of life and death,
and the spirit’s anchor within the mortal shell.
Gods who grant the power of the Blood Domain,
including the Ruiner and the Matron of Ravens,
direct their followers to tap into the connection
between body and soul, exploit the hidden reserves
of will within one’s own vitality, and corrupt the
bodies of others through the secret rites of hemo-
craft. Clerics of good gods use hemocraft to fill their
self-sacrifice with purpose and power, while clerics
with fewer morals use the blood of others to achieve
their own malevolent ends.
Domain Spells
You gain domain spells at the cleric levels listed in
the Blood Domain Spells table.
Alasterre de Blood Domain Spells
Vitrevos Cleric Level Spells
1st false life, sleep
3rd hold person, ray of enfeeblement
5th haste, slow
7th blight, stoneskin
9th dominate person, hold monster
Alasterre de Vitrevos
Male human Blood Domain cleric
The director of Tal’Dorei’s Claret Order is a metic-
ulous, orderly man. He believes that he deserves
all the good that comes to him in the world—and,
in fairness, all the bad as well. He wields the unset-
tling magic of hemocraft created by his order in
service of both his organization’s interests, and the
divine interests of the Matron of Ravens. His goals
are simple: purge the world of undead, particularly
vampires, and make his name one sung across
Exandria in the process.

Bonus Proficiencies An animated corpse or an unconscious creature
When you choose this domain at 1st level, you gain takes its turn immediately after yours, but can’t move
proficiency with martial weapons. or take actions unless you command it to do so. Its sta-
tistics are the same as when it was alive or conscious.
Bloodletting Focus An affected living creature makes a new saving
Starting at 1st level, your divine magic draws the throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect
blood from magically inflicted wounds, wors- on itself on a success. For any target, your control
ening the agony of your foes. When you cast a lasts for 1 minute or until your concentration is bro-
damage-dealing spell of 1st level or higher whose ken (as if concentrating on a spell).
duration is instantaneous, any creature with blood At 17th level, you can use this feature to target a
that takes damage from the spell takes extra necrotic Huge or smaller creature or corpse.
damage equal to 2 + the spell’s level.
Sanguine Recall
Channel Divinity: Crimson Bond At 6th level, you can sacrifice a portion of your own
Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel vitality to recover expended spell slots as an action.
Divinity to form a supernatural bond with a creature The spell slots can have a combined level equal to or
you can see, or with a creature for which you possess less than half your cleric level (rounded up), and none
a blood sample. This bond lasts for 1 hour or until of the slots can be 6th level or higher. You take 1d8
your concentration is broken (as if concentrating necrotic damage for each spell slot level recovered,
on a spell). which can’t be reduced in any way. You can’t use this
While the bond is in effect, you can use an action feature again until you finish a long rest.
to learn the target’s approximate distance and For example, if you’re an 8th-level cleric, you
direction from you, as well as its current hit points can recover up to four levels of spell slots—a single
and any conditions affecting it, as long as the target 4th-level slot, two 2nd-level slots, a 3rd-level slot and
is within 10 miles of you. Alternatively, you can use a 1st-level slot, or four 1st-level slots. You then take
your action to attempt to connect with the target’s 4d8 necrotic damage.
senses. You take 2d6 necrotic damage and the target
makes a Constitution saving throw against your spell
Divine Strike
save DC. On a successful save, the bond ends. On a At 8th level, you gain the ability to cause the physical
failure, you can choose to either see or hear through wounds you deal out to bleed profusely. Once on each
the target’s senses for a number of minutes equal to of your turns when you hit a creature with a weapon
your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1 minute). During attack, you can cause the attack to deal an extra 1d8
this time, you are blinded or deafened (respectively) necrotic damage to the target. When you reach 14th
with regard to your own senses. When the connec- level, the extra damage increases to 2d8.
tion ends, the bond is lost.
Regardless of the outcome, the target feels a wave
Vascular Corruption Aura
of unease pass over it when it makes this save. At 17th level, you can use your action to emit a
deathly aura of necrotic energy that causes the veins
Channel Divinity: Blood Puppet of nearby foes to burst and bleed. For 1 minute, any
Starting at 6th level, you can use your Channel hostile creature with blood that moves within 30 feet
Divinity to briefly control a creature’s actions— of you for the first time on a turn or starts its turn
whether that creature is living or dead. As an action, there takes 3d6 necrotic damage. If a hostile crea-
you target a Large or smaller creature or corpse ture with blood regains hit points while in the aura, it
within 60 feet of you that has blood. A creature you regains only half as many hit points as expected.
target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again
against your spell save DC or become charmed by until you finish a long rest.
you. An unconscious creature automatically fails its
saving throw, and isn’t incapacitated while you con- Moon Domain
trol its actions. A corpse targeted by this effect gains Since the Founding, all mortal creatures have looked
a semblance of life that you control. to the skies and sensed the power and mystery
On the affected creature or animated corpse’s carried by Catha and Ruidus, the two moons of
turn, you can command it (no action required) to Exandria. The Moonweaver herself is said to guide
move up to half its speed and use its action to do one her worshipers from within the pale glow of Catha,
of the following: revealing hidden paths and granting inspired dreams
• Interact with an object to those who pray to that moon. Distant, dark Ruidus
• Make a single attack is often regarded with awe and apprehension, consid-
• Do nothing ered a portent for fell deeds and bad luck.

Clerics of the Moon Domain draw on their divine Channel Divinity: Blessing
connection to the moons to wield light and shadow,
invoke good fortune and ill favor, and reveal or of the Full Moon
conceal as they see fit. Most Moon clerics worship Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel
the Moonweaver herself, but her followers are as Divinity to infuse your allies with bestial power. As
varied as the stars in the sky. Some seek to protect an action, you instill a willing creature of your choice
the vulnerable and do good in the world, while others within 30 feet of you that you can see with one of the
meddle with impunity and distort the truth for selfish following blessings of your choice:
gain. Other Moon clerics worship not the gods but Blessing of the Watchful Moon. For 1 hour, the
the moons themselves, especially those with an blessed creature’s speed increases by 10 feet, and it
innate connection to the lunar cycles through has advantage on Wisdom (Perception or Survival)
lycanthropy. checks involving smell or made to track a creature.
Blessing of the Blood-Drenched Moon. For
Domain Spells 10 minutes, the blessed creature has advantage
You gain domain spells at the cleric levels listed in on attack rolls against a target if at least one of the
the Moon Domain Spells table. blessed creature’s allies is within 5 feet of the target
and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Moon Domain Spells
Cleric Level Spells Channel Divinity: Mind
1st faerie fire, silent image of Two Moons
3rd invisibility, moonbeam Starting at 6th level, you can use your Channel
Divinity to invoke the twofold arcana of Exandria’s
5th hypnotic pattern, major image
moons. By expending one use of Channel Divinity,
7th greater invisibility, you can cast a second concentration spell while
hallucinatory terrain already concentrating on a first spell, as long as both
9th dream, passwall spells are on your list of Moon Domain spells. If you
Clarity of Catha
When you choose this domain at 1st level, you learn
to shine light upon the mind’s most dire moments,
shielding those you protect. When a creature within
30 feet of you that you can see makes a Wisdom Nalys Ildareth
saving throw, you can use your reaction to grant that
creature advantage on the save.
You can use this feature a number of times equal
to your proficiency bonus, regaining all expended
uses when you finish a long rest.
Nalys Ildareth
Nonbinary (they/them) elf Moon Domain cleric
The moons of Exandria show their faces for all to
see, yet hide a secret face from the world. Nalys
Ildareth, leader of an obscure Syngornian sect
of the Moonweaver, believes that true reverence
requires all faithful to have a face they show to
the world—represented by a mask of silver they
never remove—and one they keep to themselves,
beneath the mask. Nalys believes that it is their
duty to enact the Moonweaver’s will upon Exan-
dria, and keep the world safe within the balance
of Catha’s calm order and the ill-fated chaos of
Ruidus. They are thoughtful and calculating, seem-
ing an impassive observer while they wait for the
proper moment to strike, but then transforming into
a furious avenger when that moment arrives.

need to make a Constitution saving throw to main- Additionally, once per turn when you deal radiant
tain your concentration on both spells, you make damage to any creatures in this area of dim light,
the save with disadvantage. On a failure, you lose you can curse one of those creatures until the eclipse
concentration on both spells. ends (no action required). A creature cursed in this
way has its speed halved and can’t regain hit points.
Empowered Cantrips Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again
Starting at 8th level, your cleric cantrips deal extra until you finish a long rest.
damage equal to your Wisdom modifier (min-
imum of 1). Druid
Eclipse of Ill Omen As a druid, you are a keeper of the old ways, attuned
At 17th level, you can call upon the vermillion moon to nature and channeling power that grants you
Ruidus to flare in the sky above you, eclipsing all spells and allows you to transform your body. When
other light. Its power surrounds you even where the your druid character chooses a druid circle at 2nd
sky can’t be seen, and even on other planes. As a level, the Circle of the Blighted is a new option avail-
bonus action, you can manifest an area of reddish, able in a Tal’Dorei campaign.
dim light in a 60-foot radius around you. In addition
to the normal effects of dim light, creatures in the Circle of the Blighted
area make saving throws with disadvantage. When Those who channel the magic of life and nature
you create this eclipse, you can choose any number often find themselves drawn to a particular shrine
of creatures that are unaffected by it. or natural site, binding their body and spirit to these
This eclipse lasts while you concentrate (as if places of power. Such druids draw vitality from their
concentrating on a spell) for up to 1 minute. Concen- chosen location, protecting it with their lives—but not
trating on this feature counts as concentrating on a all succeed in defending these sacred realms.
Moon Domain spell for the purpose of your Mind of Whether through the subtle corruption of vile
Two Moons feature. magics, the tainted presence of an ancient terror, or
a terrible mistake unleashed by druids themselves, a
land can become cursed with magic that warps any
druid bound to that land. Twisted by their connection
to an unhallowed territory, these guardians come to
embody the defiled nature they serve, exalting the
natural process of decay and using it to further their
goals—or sometimes to seek a means to end the
curse that plagues them.
Camellia Springshower
Female firbolg Circle of the Blighted druid
Life was beautiful under the light of the sun for
Camellia Springshower. The sun caused her
Camellia flowers to flourish, and the rains nourished them
so they could grow when next the sun arose.
Springshower One day, however, she wandered too far from her
family while they traveled the Dividing Plains, and
tumbled into the bleak depths of Shadebarrow, a
forgotten, accursed tomb. She ran for the light, but
a specter reached out from the walls and touched
a ghastly finger to her chest. She felt her blood
run cold, and the flowers within her basket wither
away. Though she escaped the Shadebarrow, she
was never able to find her family again, and she
now wanders the Dividing Plains like an unteth-
ered shadow—hoping to use the blighted powers
granted to her by the shade to do some semblance
of good in the world, even if all life seems to wither
beneath her touch.

Defile Ground Blighted Sapling
Starting at 2nd level when you choose this circle, Medium plant
you can use a bonus action to corrupt a patch of land
or an area of water in a 10-foot radius centered on a Armor Class 10 + PB (natural armor)
point within 60 feet of you. This corruption lasts for Hit Points twice your druid level
1 minute. The corrupted area is difficult terrain for Speed 30 ft.
creatures that are hostile to you. Additionally, when a
creature in the area takes damage from an attack or
spell for the first time on a turn, it takes an extra 1d4 STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
necrotic damage. You can move this patch of corrup- 8 (−1) 13 (+1) 12 (+1) 4 (−3) 8 (−1) 3 (−4)
tion up to 30 feet as a bonus action. Flying creatures
are unaffected by the corruption. Damage Vulnerabilities fire
Starting at 10th level, the area of your defiled Damage Resistances necrotic, poison
Condition Immunities blinded, deafened, poisoned
ground increases to a 20-foot radius. Additionally,
Senses blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius),
the extra damage dealt by your defiled ground
passive Perception 9
increases to 1d6 when you reach 10th level in this
Languages understands the languages you speak
class, and 1d8 at 14th level.
Challenge — Proficiency Bonus (PB) equals your bonus
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again
until you finish a short or long rest. ACTIONS —
Blighted Shape Multiattack. When you reach 14th level in this class,
the blighted sapling makes two claw attacks.
Also at 2nd level, your physical form begins to show
effects of the corruption you wield, tracing blackened Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: your spell attack
veins across your skin, producing gnarled, bony modifier to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 2d4 + PB
protrusions, or other eerie phenomena. You gain piercing damage.
proficiency in the Charisma (Intimidation) skill.
Additionally, while you are transformed by you
Wild Shape feature, you gain a +2 bonus to AC as
Foul Conjuration
gnarled spines protrude from your body. Your beast Starting at 10th level, the creatures you conjure are
form also gains darkvision with a radius of 60 feet, malformed and bloated with toxins. Any beast, fey,
or an additional 60 feet of darkvision if it already has or plant (including your blighted sapling) summoned
that sense. or created by your spells or class features gains the
following traits:
Call of the Shadowseeds Blighted Resilience. The creature has immunity
At 6th level, you learn to summon the feral children to necrotic and poison damage and to the poisoned
of the forest from the life force of your enemies. condition.
When a creature that is not undead or a construct Toxic Demise. When the creature is reduced
takes damage within the area of your Defile Ground to 0 hit points, it explodes in a burst of toxic mulch
feature, you can use your reaction to summon a or fetid viscera. Each creature within 5 feet of the
blighted sapling in an unoccupied space within 5 feet exploding creature must succeed on a Constitution
of the creature. You can direct the sapling to make saving throw against your spell save DC or take
an attack against any creature within 5 feet of it as necrotic damage based on the creature’s challenge
a part of this reaction. The sapling then acts on your rating (see the table below). As an action, you can
initiative, obeying your verbal commands. also cause a summoned creature to explode, immedi-
The blighted sapling remains in your service until ately killing it.
it’s reduced to 0 hit points, until the end of your next Toxic Demise Damage
long rest, or until you summon another sapling, at
Creature CR Damage
which point it crumbles into foul-smelling mulch. You
can use this feature a number of times equal to your 1/4 or lower 1d4 necrotic damage
proficiency bonus, regaining all expended uses when 1/2 1d6 necrotic damage
you finish a long rest. 1 or higher A number of d8s of necrotic
The sapling uses the statistics below. Its features damage equal to the creature’s chal-
scale based on your level and proficiency bonus (PB). lenge rating
No challenge A number of d6s of necrotic damage
rating equal to your proficiency bonus

Incarnation of Corruption Way of the Cobalt Soul
At 14th level, your physical form begins to take on Driven by the pursuit of knowledge and its scholars’
the tainted traits of the land you are bonded to. Your worship of the Knowing Mentor, the Library of the
skin grows ashen, and your eyes darken or turn Cobalt Soul is one of the best-respected and most
completely white. Spines and jagged spurs emerge heavily guarded repositories of tomes, history, and
from your body, granting you resistance to necrotic information in all Exandria. People from all lands
damage and a +2 bonus to AC. come to the library to seek knowledge, and those
Additionally, whenever you start your turn within particularly dedicated to the virtues of truth often
the radius of the corruption created by your Defile pledge their minds and bodies to the Cobalt Soul’s
Ground feature, you can use a bonus action to gain cause. To become a member of the Cobalt Soul is
temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus. to give oneself over to a quest dedicated to unveil-
ing life’s mysteries, bringing light to the secrets of
Monk concealed evil, and guarding the most powerful and
You are a canny martial artist whose connection to dangerous of truths from those whose unwholesome
the unseen energy of life grants you supernatural thirst for knowledge might bring death and suffering
insights and the ability to manipulate your foes. to others.
When your monk character chooses a monastic The monks of the Cobalt Soul are the embodi-
tradition at 3rd level, the Way of the Cobalt Soul is a ment of the maxim: “Know your enemy.” Through
new option available in a Tal’Dorei campaign. tireless research, they steel themselves against the
unrelenting tides of evil. Through rigorous training,
they learn to break through their foes’ mental and
physical defenses. Then, once the fight is done,
they record their findings for future generations of
monks to study.
Cressida Holt
Nonbinary (she/they) orc Way of the Cobalt
Soul monk
A freshly titled expositor of the Cobalt Soul, Cres-
sida Holt has already made a name for themself
as a suave, stylish secret agent. Their assign-
ments as an expositor take them across Tal’Dorei,
though they are most often seen in Emon, Kymal,
and Westruun, where they infiltrate political galas,
high-stakes games of two-card, and other dens of
high-society corruption.
Though most Cobalt Soul expositors are
expected to keep a low profile and gather intelli-
gence, Cressida has found success with a flashier
method. She strides into a room in a fine cobalt-
blue suit, makes sensual eye contact with the most
beautiful person in the room, and casually makes
herself someone from whom no one can keep
a secret.
Extract Aspects
Starting at 3rd level, you can strike pressure points
to intuit crucial information about a foe. When you
hit a creature with one of the attacks granted by your
Flurry of Blows, you can analyze it. Whenever an
Cressida Holt analyzed creature misses you with an attack, you can
immediately use your reaction to make an unarmed
strike against that creature if it’s within your reach.
This benefit lasts until you finish a short or long rest.

Additionally, when you analyze a creature, you minute, rather than gaining vulnerability. A creature
learn all of its damage vulnerabilities, damage that is immune to the damage type you choose is
resistances, damage immunities, and condition unaffected. A creature who is affected by this feature
immunities. cannot be affected by it again for 24 hours.
Extort Truth Paladin

Starting at 6th level, you can precisely strike a
hidden cluster of nerves on a creature, temporarily You are an honorable warrior whose devotion to a
preventing it from masking its true thoughts and cause or ideal empowers you with righteous magic.
intent. When you hit a creature with an unarmed When your paladin character chooses a sacred oath
strike, you can spend 1 ki point to force it to make at 3rd level, the Oath of the Open Sea is a new option
a Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, the available in a Tal’Dorei campaign.
creature is unable to speak a deliberate lie, and all
Charisma checks directed at the creature are made Oath of the Open Sea
with advantage for up to 10 minutes. You know if it The Oath of the Open Sea calls to seafaring war-
succeeded or failed on its saving throw. riors, swashbuckling sailors, and traveling guardians
An affected creature is aware of the effect and can who seek the thrill of a limitless horizon. Driven
thus avoid answering questions to which it would to search for adventure and mystery across and
normally respond with a lie. Such a creature can be beneath every endless oceanic expanse, paladins
evasive in its answers as long as the effect lasts. who swear this oath stand against those who would
If you wish to impose this effect on a creature with- deny liberty to likeminded travelers, rooting out tyr-
out injuring it, you can attack the creature to simply anny and corruption wherever it is found.
touch it, dealing no damage on a hit. Such guardians believe in the natural beauty of the
sea, often making offerings and prayers to entities
Mystical Erudition or deities such as the Wildmother or the Stormlord
Also by 6th level, you have extensively studied the who influence safe passage. At the same time, they
history and lore within the archives of the Cobalt answer the call to hunt the monstrous creatures that
Soul. You learn one language of your choice, and you too often bloody the waters with wanton violence
gain proficiency with one of the following skills of and ill intent, and which terrorize the folk of the sea
your choice: Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, and shore.
or Religion. If you already have proficiency in one
of the listed skills, you can instead choose to double
your proficiency bonus for any ability check you make Shirkuh Marín
that uses the chosen proficiency. Male human Oath of the Open Sea paladin
You gain an additional language and an additional Though he is only in his early 30s, famed sailor
skill proficiency from the above list (or you can dou- Shirkuh Marín is well on the way to having his
ble the bonus of an existing proficiency from the list) life become an epic sung in taverns all over the
at 11th and 17th level. Lucidean Ocean. Born a girl to Marquesian immi-
grant parents in Nicodranas on Wildemount’s
Mind of Mercury Menagerie Coast, Shirkuh took his present name
Starting at 11th level, you’ve honed your awareness from his great-granduncle, an infamous Marquesian
and reflexes through mental aptitude and pattern pirate. He swore to wear that name with pride, and
recognition. Once per turn, if you’ve already taken has followed his own code of honor and ethics ever
your reaction, you may spend 1 ki point to take an since. He has worked hand-in-hand with both hon-
additional reaction. You can use only one reaction est sailors and pirates of the Revelry—and clashed
per triggering effect. swords with both, too.
Of the many tales that surround Shirkuh, it’s
Debilitating Barrage unclear which are true—if he truly outran a juve-
nile kraken in the Shearing Channel, if he indeed
Upon reaching 17th level, you’ve gained the knowl-
cheated the Plank King in a game of two-card and
edge to manipulate a creature’s ki to undermine
lived to tell the tale, and if he actually managed to
their fortitude. When you hit a creature with an
steal the heart of a Clasp Spireling in Kymal. But
unarmed strike, you can spend 3 ki points to cause most agree that even if the stories are made up, he
the creature to gain vulnerability to one damage type possesses both the talent and the recklessness to
of your choice for 1 minute, or until the end of a turn have accomplished them if he set his mind to it.
in which it has taken damage of that type.
If a creature has resistance to the damage type
you choose, this resistance is suppressed for 1

Tenets of the Open Sea can choose to push the target 10 feet away from
Freedom can be a selfless virtue or a selfish want. you. If pushed into an obstacle or another creature,
For paladins who swear the Oath of the Open Sea, the target takes bludgeoning damage equal to your
freedom is the highest calling, and a gift to be Charisma modifier.
granted to all.
No Greater Life than a Life Lived Free. One Rules Tip: Visibility
should be free to chart their own path without Fog and other effects can obscure vision for you,
oppression. Those who would exert their power to your enemies, and your allies. When you heavily
dominate others shall be smote. obscure an area using your Marine Layer Channel
Trust the Skies. The guidance of a strong breeze. Divinity option, all creatures within the area have
The rumbling warnings of a coming storm. Nature their vision completely blocked, and creatures out-
is a source of portent and council that should side the area can’t see in. Creatures that can’t see
be heeded. automatically fail ability checks that require sight.
Adapt Like the Water. The waters of the ocean Also, attack rolls against creatures that can’t see
can shift around any obstacle—or become the most have advantage, and their own attack rolls have
impassable obstacle of all. They carve away the land disadvantage.
to reveal the secrets of the past, or swallow the truth Creatures in a lightly obscured area have dis-
and hide it forever. To embrace this fluidity is to be advantage only on Wisdom (Perception) checks
ready for any challenge. that rely on sight. The rules for when your vision
is obscured are described completely in the fifth
Explore the Uncharted. The world is filled with
edition core rules.
mystery. Through the pursuit of enigmatic ends, one
can uncover those who hide their foul deeds, and
find the path to becoming something great.
Oath Spells
You gain oath spells at the paladin levels listed in
the Oath of the Open Sea Spells Spells marked with
an asterisk are new spells described at the end of
this section.
Oath of the Open Sea Spells Shirkuh Marín
Paladin Level Spells
3rd create or destroy water,
expeditious retreat
5th augury, misty step
9th call lightning, freedom of the waves*
13th control water, freedom of movement
17th commune with nature, freedom of
the winds*
Channel Divinity
When you take this oath at 3rd level, you gain the
following two Channel Divinity options.
Marine Layer. As an action, you channel the sea
to create a thick cloud of fog that surrounds you for
20 feet in all directions. The fog moves with you,
remaining centered on you and making its area heav-
ily obscured. You and each creature within 5 feet of
you instead treat the area as lightly obscured. This
fog lasts for 10 minutes, spreads around corners, and
cannot be dispersed unless you choose to end this
effect (no action required).
Fury of the Tides. As a bonus action, you channel
the powerful might of the waves to bolster your
attacks for 1 minute. Once per turn for the duration,
when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you
Chapter 4: Character Options

Aura of Liberation range. This water takes the form of a tidal wave,
Starting at 7th level, you fill nearby creatures with a whirlpool, a waterspout, or another form of your
the energy of movement. While you’re not inca- choice. Each creature in the area must succeed on
pacitated, you and creatures of your choice within a Strength saving throw against your spell save DC
10 feet of you cannot be grappled or restrained, or take 2d8 bludgeoning damage and fall prone.
and ignore penalties on movement and attacks You can choose a number of creatures equal to your
while underwater. Creatures that are already grap- spellcasting modifier (minimum of 1) to automati-
pled or restrained when they enter the aura can cally succeed on this saving throw.
spend 5 feet of movement to automatically escape If you are within the spell’s area, as part of the
unless they are bound by magic restraints. action you use to cast the spell, you can vanish into
When you reach 18th level in this class, the aura the deluge and teleport to an unoccupied space that
affects creatures within 30 feet of you. you can see within the spell’s area.
Stormy Waters Freedom of the Winds

5th-level abjuration
At 15th level, you can call on the force of crashing
waters as a reaction whenever a creature moves into Casting Time: 1 action
or out of your reach. The creature takes 1d12 blud- Range: Self
geoning damage and must succeed on a Strength Components: V, S, M (a scrap of sailcloth)
saving throw against your spell save DC or be Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes
knocked prone. Wind wraps around your body, tugging at your hair
and clothing as your feet lift off the ground. You
Mythic Swashbuckler gain a flying speed of 60 feet. Additionally, you have
At 20th level, you learn to channel the spirits of advantage on ability checks to avoid being grappled,
historic sea captains to briefly become a paragon of and on saving throws against being restrained or
heroic adventure. As an action, you embrace these paralyzed.
spirits of the sea to gain the following benefits for When you are targeted by a spell or attack while
1 minute: this spell is in effect, you can use a reaction to tele-
• You have advantage on Strength (Athletics) checks port up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space you can
and you gain a climbing speed equal to your walk- see. If this movement takes you out of range of the
ing speed. If you already have a climbing speed, it triggering spell or attack, you are unaffected by it.
is doubled. This spell then ends when you reappear.
• If you are within 5 feet of a creature and no other
creatures are within 5 feet of you, you have advan- Sorcerer
tage on attack rolls against that creature. You are a spellcaster to whom magic comes as nat-
• You can take the Dash or Disengage action as a urally as breathing, possessing an instinctive grasp
bonus action. of its power—for that power flows through your very
• You have advantage on Dexterity checks and Dex- veins. When your sorcerer character chooses a sor-
terity saving throws against effects you can see. cerous origin at 1st level, the Runechild origin is a
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again new option available in a Tal’Dorei campaign.
until you finish a long rest.
Runechild
Oath of the Open Sea Spells The mysterious weave and flow of magic is feared by
Paladins of the Oath of the Open Sea automati- many folk across Exandria. But while some spellcast-
cally gain two new spells through their Oath Spells ers must study the essence and nature of magic in the
feature. These spells can also be learned by druids, hope of learning to harness it, sorcerers possess an
rangers, and sorcerers of the appropriate level, at the innate talent to sculpt and wield the errant strands
GM’s discretion. of power that shape the world. For some sorcerers,
the body becomes a conduit for this power, which is
Freedom of the Waves collected and stored in the form of natural runes—and
3rd-level conjuration which sees a sorcerer named as a Runechild.
Casting Time: 1 action The talents of a Runechild are rare, and sorcerers
Range: 120 feet with this origin are sought after for study by mages
Components: V, S, M (a strand of wet hair) and scholars alike, driven by a prevalent belief
Duration: Instantaneous that the secrets of their runes can help understand
You conjure a deluge of seawater in a 15-foot-ra- the mysteries of magic. Others sometimes seek to
dius, 10-foot-tall cylinder centered on a point within enslave Runechild sorcerers, using their bodies

as tortured spell batteries for diabolic pursuits. Essence Runes
Runechild sorcerers were subjugated throughout At 1st level, your body begins to express your innate
the Age of Arcanum, and many of their contempo- magic as runes traced out across your skin. You start
raries now search for ways to hide their essence—a with 1 essence rune, and gain an additional rune
task that isn’t easy given the revealing nature of whenever you gain a level in this class. These runes
their gifts. can manifest anywhere on your body, though the
first usually manifests on the forehead. Your essence
Karzadrawn “Karzy” Sunscale runes remain invisible when inert.
Male brass dragonblood Runechild sorcerer At the end of a turn during which you spent one or
more sorcery points, a number of your essence runes
When you’re a model in a city as big as Emon,
equal to the number of sorcery points you spent
you’ve got to find a way to stand out. Being a
begin to glow with stored energy, becoming charged
broad-shouldered, heavyset dragonblood with
runes. You use these charged runes to power your
brass scales that twinkle in the sun is a good start,
but Karzy Sunscale has another ace up his sleeve: Runechild subclass features. Also, as a bonus
he’s a runechild. Ever since he was an infant, he action, you may spend a sorcery point to convert two
has manifested strange magical abilities, and when essence runes into two charged runes.
he expresses intense emotions through his magic, If you have 5 or more charged runes, you emit
mysterious runes flare to life upon his scales. All of bright light in a 5-foot radius and dim light for an
these traits have always made Karzy the center of additional 5 feet.
attention, and he basks in other peoples’ interest If you expend a charged rune to use one of your
like a lizard in the sun. He goes out of his way to Runechild features, it returns to being an inert
dress in outrageous fashions and emote as vividly essence rune. Any charged runes also revert to inert
as he can. He works as a fashion model in Emon, essence runes after you finish a long rest.
but the idea has worked its way into his head that
he could make an even bigger splash if he were to Runic Magic
also become a celebrity adventurer by completing Beginning at 1st level, you learn additional spells
a truly monumental quest. when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown
on the Runic Spells table. Each of these spells
counts as a sorcerer spell for you, but it doesn’t count
against the number of sorcerer spells you know.
When you gain a level in this class, you can replace
one spell you gained from this feature with another
Karzadrawn “Karzy” spell of the same level. The new spell must be an
abjuration or transmutation spell from the sorcerer,
Sunscale warlock, or wizard spell list.
Runic Spells
Sorcerer Level Spells
1st longstrider, protection from
evil and good
3rd lesser restoration, protection
from poison
5th glyph of warding, magic circle
7th death ward, freedom of movement
9th greater restoration, telekinesis
Glyph of Aegis
Starting at 1st level, you can release the stored
arcane power within your runes to absorb or deflect
threatening attacks. Whenever you take damage,
you can expend any number of charged runes as a
reaction. Roll a number of d6s equal to the number
of runes you expended, and reduce the damage by
the total.
When you reach 6th level, you can touch a creature
as an action and expend up to 3 charged runes to

transfer your protective power to it for up to 1 hour. • You have resistance to damage dealt by spells.
The next time that creature takes damage within the • Whenever you cast a spell of 1st level or higher,
next hour, it rolls 1d6 per charged rune spent and you regain hit points equal to the spell’s level.
reduces the damage by the total. You can’t transfer Your exemplar form lasts until the end of your
this power to a creature already under the effect of turn. However, you can expend a charged rune at the
Glyph of Aegis. end of your turn (no action required) to extend the
Your Glyph of Aegis die becomes a d8 at 14th level. duration until the end of your next turn. When your
exemplar form ends, you are stunned until the end of
Sigilic Augmentation your next turn.
At 6th level, you can channel your runes to temporar- Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again
ily bolster your physical capabilities. When you make until you complete a long rest.
a Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution ability check,
you can expend a charged rune as a reaction to gain
advantage on the roll. Wizard
In addition, when you are forced to make a You are a studious spellcaster who has earned
Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution saving throw, your influence over arcane power through long
you can use your reaction and expend a charged hours of rigorous learning. When your wizard
rune to gain advantage on the saving throw. Once character chooses an arcane tradition at 2nd
you use this feature in this way, you can't use it in level, Blood Magic is a new option available in a
this way again until you complete a long rest. Tal’Dorei campaign.
Manifest Inscriptions Blood Magic

Also at 6th level, you can reveal hidden glyphs and Considered taboo by many societies and magic
enchantments that surround you. As an action, practitioners, the use of blood magic—also known
you expend one charged rune to reveal hidden or as hemocraft—is a rare art that harnesses the latent
invisible arcane traps, marks, runes, wards, sensors, powers of a creature’s vitality to fuel and amplify
or glyphs within 60 feet of you. They glow with dim the caster’s own capabilities, while manipulating
light in a 5-foot radius for 1 minute. and weakening the bodies of enemies from the
You have advantage on Intelligence (Arcana) inside. Some of the more macabre mages seeking
checks to discern the nature of any magic revealed to empower their arcane pursuits turn to hemocraft
in this way for the duration. If the glyphs you reveal as a means of bolstering their spells, giving their
mean something in a language you can’t read, you own life’s blood to reach new heights of frightening
can understand them while they are glowing as if magical prowess.
you knew that language. The secrets of hemocraft and other forms of blood
magic were once the sole purview of the mysteri-
Runic Torrent ous Claret Orders. In recent years, however, these
Upon reaching 14th level, you can channel runic secrets have begun to spread beyond the order’s
energy to overpower even the staunchest defenses. members and into the hands of less scrupulous
When you cast a spell, you can expend 2 charged mages. Blood magic has a bad reputation in
runes to cause the spell to deal force damage instead Tal’Dorei, even though its powers can be used for
of its usual damage types. Additionally, all crea- much more than evil.
tures targeted by the spell or within the spell’s area
must succeed on a Strength saving throw against Blood Channeling
your spell save DC or be knocked prone or pushed When you choose this arcane tradition at 2nd level,
up to 15 feet away from the spell's point of origin you are able to use your own depleted life essence
(your choice). to channel your magical abilities. Whenever your
Once you use this feature, you can't do so again current hit points are below your hit point maximum,
until you complete a short or long rest. you can use your own body as an arcane focus.
In addition, when casting a wizard spell that
Arcane Exemplar requires a costly material component, you can forego
Starting at 18th level, you can use a bonus action the component by taking 1d10 necrotic damage per
and expend a charged rune to become a being of 50 gp of the cost of the component (minimum 1d10).
pure magical energy. While in your exemplar form, This damage can’t be reduced in any way. If this
you gain the following benefits: damage reduces you to 0 hit points, the spell fails but
• You have a flying speed of 60 feet. the spell slot is not expended.
• Creatures have disadvantage on saving throws
against your sorcerer spells.

Sanguine Burst
Also at 2nd level, you learn how to weave your life Honor Kinnabari
force into a spell you cast, boosting its intensity at
the cost of your vitality. Whenever you roll damage
for a spell you’ve cast of 1st level or higher, you can
choose to take necrotic damage equal to the spell’s
level to reroll a number of the damage dice up to your
Intelligence modifier (minimum one). This damage
can’t be reduced in any way, and you must use the
new rolls.
Bond of Mutual Suffering

At 6th level, when a creature you can see hits you
with an attack, you can use your reaction to bind
your vitality to the attacker and force them to share
your pain. The attacker takes damage equal to the
damage you took.
This feature cannot be used against constructs
or undead. You can use this feature once. You must
finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.
At 14th level, you can use this feature twice
between rests.
Glyph of Hemorrhaging
Starting at 10th level, when you damage a creature
with a spell, you can choose to curse that creature
for 1 minute. While cursed in this way, whenever
the creature is hit by an attack, it takes an extra 1d6
necrotic damage. At the end of each of the creature’s
turns, it can make a Constitution saving throw
against your spell save DC, ending the curse on
a success.
This feature cannot be used against creatures
that are undead or constructs. Once you use this
feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short
or long rest.
Honor Kinnabari
Thicker than Water Female tiefling Blood Magic wizard
Upon reaching 14th level, the blood that flows It’s not easy being the youngest spellwright in the
through your veins is empowered with arcane vigor League of Miracles, especially when you’ve got a
that mends wounds and helps preserve your life. conscience. Honor Kinnabari was enamored with
Whenever a spell or magical effect causes you to the league since she was a child in Westruun, when
regain hit points, you regain an additional number of she saw the spellwrights and their adranach con-
hit points equal to your proficiency bonus. structs rebuild the entire Market Ward in a matter
In addition, while you are concentrating on a spell, of days after it was reduced to a slag pit by a hoard
you have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and of magma landsharks. She was raised by dwarf
slashing damage from nonmagical attacks. parents from the Alabaster Sierras, and wears
wizardly robes in the style of their clan in honor of
them. Honor has just constructed an adranach of
her own, and has begun leading small-scale opera-
tions for the league, but she's starting to worry that
something cultish and sinister lurks beneath her
compatriots’ practiced smiles.

Backgrounds Cliffkeep Mountains on their earthboards (see page
198 for these magic items’ game statistics).
Every player character in a fifth edition fantasy Skill Proficiencies: Nature, plus your choice of
roleplaying game has a background. While your Arcana or Survival
class represents your role in an adventuring party, Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism kit
your background represents who you were and Languages: Primordial (Aquan, Auran, Ignan, or
what you learned before you began your adventur- Terran, depending on the elemental affinity of
ing career. Your background doesn’t necessarily your tribe)
have to be confined to the past, though, as the way it Equipment: A set of traveler’s clothes, a staff carved
marks your connections to the world might involve with symbols of your tribe, an herbalism kit, and a
ongoing commitments to an organization or even an belt pouch containing 10 gp
entire people.
The new backgrounds in this section each grant Feature: Elemental Harmony
your character new proficiencies, languages, and
Growing up surrounded by wild elemental magics
equipment, as well as a unique background feature.
has attuned your senses to those chaotic forces,
Tables of characteristics can also help you quickly
enabling you to subtly bend them to your will. As
generate personality traits, ideals, character flaws,
an action, you channel minor magic involving the
and bonds to tie your character to the people, places,
element of your chosen Ashari order, giving you one
and causes of a Tal’Dorei campaign.
of the following abilities:
Pyrah. You instantaneously create and control a
Ashari burst of flame small enough to light a candle, a torch,
Isolated from the political struggles of urban or a small campfire. Alternatively, you snuff out a
Tal’Dorei, you are a member of the Ashari people—a flame of the same size.
society bound to an ancient covenant protecting the Terrah. You instantaneously create a small rock
Material Plane from the chaos of the primordial no larger than a gold coin. The rock appears in your
elements. You’ve been raised to revere and protect hand, then turns to dust after 1 minute.
the natural world, and to shepherd the tumultuous Vesrah. You instantaneously create enough hot or
elemental forces that give it life. When the elements cold water to fill a small drinking vessel.
threaten to overwhelm the delicate balance of nature, Zephrah. You create an instantaneous puff of
it is the role of the Ashari to restore harmony. wind strong enough to blow papers off a desk or
You grew up in a tight-knit society, bound to a mess up someone’s hair.
leader who successfully returned from the tradi-
tional journey to the Elemental Planes known as an Suggested Characteristics
Aramante. By contrast, you might well have never The Ashari hold themselves removed from the rest
traveled more than a few days from your home, and of Tal’Dorei by their own choice. This makes many
thus have closer bonds with your family and neigh- Ashari naive to the ways of the world beyond their
bors than many people of Tal’Dorei. homes—but it can also make them determined,
In your early life, you likely took up one of the steadfast, and tightly focused on their goals. Ever
many roles that make up your society, whether home- since Keyleth, Voice of the Tempest and leader
maker, hunter, explorer, or protector. If you have the of the Zephrah, became a world-renowned hero,
ability to use elemental magic, you might have had the Air Ashari at least have become more familiar
one of the most important duties of all: protecting to Tal’Dorei’s other peoples. They are known to
and soothing the elemental rift at the heart of your welcome outsiders to their mountaintop enclave,
home. And even as an adventurer now traveling far and to take on quests that force them to leave their
beyond that home, your loyalties still lie with the isolated home.
continued safety of your order. Whatever else you do To learn more about your character’s Ashari order,
as you learn about the new world around you, you’re see “The Ashari” on page 48.
conscious of the need to gather allies to your cause.
Each Ashari is tethered to one of the four ele- Ashari Personality Traits
mental orders and their settlements. You must d8 Personality Trait
select Pyrah (fire), Vesrah (water), Terrah (earth), or 1 I like to keep my hands busy, no matter
Zephrah (wind). The rifts of earth and air are both where I am.
in Tal’Dorei. If you live or lived among your people,
2 I love to explore new places and meet
then you are familiar with the remarkable sights of new people.
Air Ashari on skysails above the Summit Peaks, or
Earth Ashari erupting from the solid stone of the 3 I meditate at dawn each day—and I can’t
stand it when my routine is interrupted.

d8 Personality Trait Ashari Flaws
4 I like noticing patterns in the world around me, d6 Flaw
whether or not they mean anything. 1 Big cities are overwhelming. I get nervous
5 I don’t let anything—or anyone—stand in the when surrounded by people I don’t know.
way of my mission. 2 I know all too well that elemental power is
6 I’m a plain talker, even with people who dangerous—but I like playing around with
outrank me. it anyway.
7 I’ve always got some of my native element 3 I get surly if I go too long without being in
with me in some form. (This might be contact with my native element.
modeling clay, pure water, special burning 4 I think the mission of my people is a fool’s
incense, or a bottled cloud.) errand. They should abandon isolation, let
8 I talk with everyone like I’ve known them all the elements be, and enjoy the pleasures of
my life. Because most people I know, I have the world!
known all my life! 5 I can’t stand it when people say one thing and
mean another! Just say what you mean!
Ashari Ideals 6 Ugh, I know it’s not right, but I can’t help but
d6 Ideal look down on people who can’t manipulate
1 Destiny. I believe that everyone has a role to the elements. It’s not like it’s hard!
play. Now I just have to find mine. (Neutral)
2 Community. It’s important to surround Clasp Member
yourself with people you can count on, and Whether you grew up in the mean streets of Kymal
who will support you. (Good) bamboozling foolish gamblers, or spent your youth
3 Knowledge. I want to learn everything I can pilfering loose coin from the pockets of Emon’s many
about the Elemental Planes—and maybe even tourists, your lifestyle of deceiving-to-survive eventu-
visit them myself. (Neutral) ally drew the attention of the Clasp: a storied crime
syndicate that has hideouts in every city in Tal’Dorei.
4 Freedom. I don’t care what anyone says. Even
if it causes problems, the elements must be In exchange for protection, a modicum of kinship,
free. And so should I. (Chaotic) and a number of useful resources to further develop
your craft as a criminal, you agreed to receive the
5 Structure. The elements are in harmony when brand of the Clasp and join their ranks.
they are free to act as they will, within the
You might have spent time working the guild’s
safe boundaries set by the Ashari. People are
most menial assignments, wandering the alleys as a
much the same. (Lawful)
simple cutpurse and filling your pockets with silver
6 Virtuous Cycle. If I see someone who needs while you waited to climb the professional ladder. Or
help, I feel compelled to assist them. Surely you might be a clever actor and liar, whose skill at
they’ll return the favor someday! (Good) blending in with all facets of society has made you
an indispensable spy. Perhaps your swift technique
Ashari Bonds with a blade led you to become a feared assassin for
d6 Bond the Spireling leader of a local Clasp sect. Regard-
1 I have a cousin in another Ashari tribe whom less, though the threat of the law is ever looming,
I’ve never met, but someday I want to visit my the advantages to having a connection to such a
extended family. powerful cartel greatly outweighs your paranoia.
2 The leader of my tribe thinks I could be Most of the time.
their successor, but I worry that I don’t have Since the Clasp is an organization, its members
enough experience to lead my people. can rise in rank by proving their worth, by making
the right friends in high places, or even through
3 A mysterious person killed a member of my
blackmail and bribery. You and the Game Master can
family. I’ve left home to discover who the killer
decide together how your actions affect your rank in
was—and to seek vengeance.
the Clasp, and what benefits that rank grants you.
4 My older sibling set out on their Aramante a
Skill Proficiencies: Deception, plus your choice of
year ago, and I haven’t seen them since.
Sleight of Hand or Stealth
5 When I was a baby, a giant eagle brought Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, forgery kit, or
me to Zephrah. I love my family, but I often thieves’ tools (one of your choice)
wonder who my birth parents are. Languages: Thieves’ Cant
6 I trust my animal friends more than any Equipment: A set of inconspicuous common clothes,
humanoid ally. a set of tools with which you’re proficient, and a
belt pouch containing 10 gp
Feature: A Favor in Turn called on to commit a specific burglary, or to pres-
You have gained enough clout in the Clasp that you sure an Emonian dignitary to reveal a secret at an
can call in a favor from your contacts whenever upcoming ball. The Clasp might even demand that
you’re close enough to a center of syndicate activity. you assassinate a specific person, with no questions
A request for a favor can be no longer than 20 words, asked or answered. It’s the GM’s prerogative to
and is passed up the chain to an undisclosed Spire- ensure that the syndicate’s request is proportionate
ling for approval. This favor can take on any form to the favor they bestowed—or that they compensate
subject to the approval of the GM, who decides how you in other ways for a service that goes beyond the
it is fulfilled. If muscle is requested, an NPC member scope of repaying the initial favor.
of the Clasp (using statistics found in chapter 6) can
temporarily aid your party. If money is needed, a
Variant: Myriad Operative
small loan can be provided. If you’ve been impris- Your skill set might be similar to that of many
oned, Clasp operatives can look into breaking you members of the Clasp, but you work for a criminal
out or paying off the jailer. organization that is far more sophisticated—and even
At some point, the favor will be called in for repay- less scrupulous. As a Myriad operative in Tal’Dorei,
ment, often without warning. Refusing the call will you might have been given a specific task that
result in your termination—literally. You might be furthers that syndicate’s hunger to expand beyond
Wildemount, or which gives them an edge in their
rivalry with the Clasp. Moreover, you understand the
wisdom of keeping your activities secret from fellow
criminals as well as law enforcement, since the
agents of the Clasp will show you no mercy if your
true identity is ever revealed.
Suggested Characteristics
The Clasp enjoys a strange status in Tal’Dorei. The
syndicate is a feared group of thieves and killers,
whose name is often invoked only in whispers. But at
the same time, the organization has a reputation for
guerilla heroism, in response to its members having
saved countless lives when the Chroma Conclave
attacked Emon. And so like every Clasp member,
your own reputation often swings between these
two poles.
Your bond is likely associated with your fellow
Clasp members or the individual who introduced
you to the syndicate. Your ideal probably involves
establishing your importance and indispensability to
the Clasp.
Clasp Member Personality Traits
d8 Personality Trait
1 What’s life without risk? I’m always willing to
take a risk if the reward seems worth it.
2 I only show my emotions around people I
really trust.
3 I don’t need friends; I need allies. When I do
make “friends,” I only consider what they can
do for me.
4 I look for simple solutions. The world’s full of
tough problems, but a well-placed knife is a
one-size-fits-all answer.
5 Money talks. I don’t. We’ve got an efficient
relationship.

d8 Personality Trait Clasp Member Flaws
6 I used to have one rule—don’t get involved in d6 Flaw
other people’s problems. Why are things so 1 I’m hopeless at organizing my belongings,
complicated now? and I’m always losing things.
7 Crime is a game, and I play to win. I have no 2 I get bored whenever a plan is going too
sympathy for players who don’t get that. smoothly. A win is always more fun when it’s
8 This organization has a lot of folks who cling by the skin of my teeth!
to ugly, brutal practices. I’m not like that. 3 I’ve seen Spirelings walk out among cheering
I’m a professional, and professionals have crowds of thousands. Gods, I wish that were
standards. me. I need that to be me.
4 I’m rubbish with money, and never seem to
Clasp Member Ideals leave town with a full purse. Keeps me coming
d6 Ideal back to the life, I suppose.
1 By Any Means. I complete jobs. Collateral 5 I can’t work with shoddy, makeshift thieves’
damage isn’t my problem. (Chaotic) tools. I need everything involving my work to
2 Ambition. I will climb to the top of the ladder. be perfect.
Everything I do is a stepping-stone to a 6 Any slight against me, no matter how small, is
Spireling’s position. (Neutral) cause for revenge.
3 Decisiveness. It’s important to make up
your mind so you can act swiftly and without Lyceum Scholar
delay. (Neutral) You most likely came up through money or hailed
4 Honor. There’s room in the Clasp for both from a family with social prestige if you were able
good and evil. Every day, I awake and choose to afford tuition at the Alabaster Lyceum in Emon.
to do what’s right. (Good) But whatever your origin, your interests and pursuits
5 Family. The Clasp is family. Anything that’s brought you to the hallowed halls of Tal’Dorei’s
good for the family is good for me. (Lawful) highest place of learning, where you soaked in every
6 Self-Interest. There are too many bleeding lesson you could, hoping to better make your mark
hearts in the Clasp these days. Doing the right on the world. (Or at least you pretended to. Even at
thing means doing the thing that makes my the Lyceum, every class has its slackers.) Eventually,
life better. (Evil) though, the call to adventure pulled you from your
studies, and you now face the challenge of keeping
Clasp Member Bonds up with your education even as the tides of destiny
d6 Bond threaten to sweep you away.
You might have come to the Lyceum to better
1 I’d do anything—anything—to protect research and understand the history and lore of
my comrades. Exandria and the lands you call home. Perhaps you
2 I’ll always be grateful to the Spireling who sought a future here as a professor—or you might
took me in when I was an orphaned kid. hope to do so still. You could also have been drawn
3 I was inspired to join the Clasp by the stories by the promise of prosperity in politics, learning
my parents told of being saved from the the inner workings of government and alliances to
Chroma Conclave’s attack on Emon. I can look better position yourself as a future writer of history.
past the organization’s flaws. Or perhaps your knack for the arcane inspired you to
4 I was nearly killed by the Myriad. If the Clasp attend the Lyceum to refine your spellcraft, following
is the enemy of those villains, then the Clasp in the footsteps of some of the finest wizards to ever
is my friend. practice the arts of magic.
When you choose this background, you could be
5 I’ve got family back in the old town who are
either an active student seeking adventures for your
counting on me for money. They don’t know
own research, or a graduated alumnus. With a little
how I get it, but they don’t need to know.
modification, you could easily be a professor as well.
6 I joined the Clasp to become rich, powerful,
Skill Proficiencies: Your choice of two of the follow-
and beloved. That’s all there is to it.
ing: Arcana, History, or Persuasion
Languages: Two of your choice
Equipment: A set of fine clothes, a student uniform,
a writing kit (small pouch with a quill, ink, folded
parchment, and a penknife), and a belt pouch
containing 10 gp

Feature: Academic Requisition
You’ve cleared enough lessons—and have gained
an ally or two among the staff—to enable access to
certain private areas within the Lyceum and other
allied universities. Whenever you’re on Lyceum
grounds or at another major academic institution,
you can requisition any set of tools found in the fifth
edition rules. Each set of tools is magically marked
to sound an alarm if they are removed from the
university’s grounds.
When you seek services such as spellcasting from
an NPC at the Alabaster Lyceum or a related insti-
tution, you can use those services at a 25 percent
discount, at the GM’s discretion.
Suggested Characteristics
The Alabaster Lyceum accepts students of all major
trades, the fine arts, and the magical arts. Pupils
talented and privileged enough to be accepted
travel to Emon from all over Tal’Dorei, seeking to
study among some of the greatest minds and most
talented arcanists in the land. If you came from a
smaller city, a rural area, or Tal’Dorei’s relatively
uncharted wilderness, studying at the Lyceum
might have left you with a sense of culture shock, for
good or for ill.
Your bond is likely associated with your goals as
a student or graduate. Your ideal probably involves
your hopes in using the knowledge you’ve gained at
the Lyceum, and your travels as an adventurer, to
tailor the world to your liking.
Lyceum Scholar Personality Traits
1 I can’t believe I’m here! At the Alabaster
Lyceum. Oh, gods, I’ve dreamed of this my
whole life, and now I’m here!
2 I can’t believe I squandered all the
opportunities I had at school. I was supposed
to be learning good stuff, but I wasted it all
daydreaming about fighting monsters.
3 Every night at school, I’d knock back a couple
of meads and read with my pals! Just a bunch
of nerds having fun, and I loved it.
4 Everyone at school was such a stick in the
mud. Dressing the same, listening to the same
bards…ugh, it’s sad. Just be yourself.
5 I’m happiest when I’ve got my little party with
me. At school, it was like we were a squad of
heroes, slaying projects like monsters.
6 I’d really rather you didn’t bother me. Can’t
you see I’m studying here?

d8 Personality Trait Lyceum Scholar Flaws
7 I don’t care. I just don’t care about it all. d6 Flaw
The dates I had to memorize, the formulae I 1 The Lyceum taught me to never want to leave
learned…I just want to run away and live! my room. The campus was so huge, and the
8 I’m just…tired. All the time. Oh, adventuring, crowds were so horrible.
sure, that’s fine, as long as I can find time to… 2 You think you’re so great just because you’ve
nap…goodnight. got muscles, and endurance, and…shut up!
Read a book sometime!
Lyceum Scholar Ideals 3 Huh? What? Sorry, I was thinking about a test I
d6 Ideal need to retake when I get back to school….
1 Preparedness. I can’t go out into the world 4 I spent too much time studying. Now I don’t
unless I know what I’m up against. Study first, have any friends.
act later. (Neutral)
5 If you don’t match my aesthetic, I’m not
2 Stardom. Having a team is good and all, but interested in you. We can work together, but
you can’t win a game of ball without the star we won’t be friends. Got it?
charger, and you know that’s me. (Evil)
6 I’m always striving for perfection. I got top of
3 Individuality. The world keeps us down by my class, sure, but only with a 98 average.
trying to put us all into little boxes. I’m tired And that’s. Not. Perfect.
of living in my box, and I don’t care what you
4
think about it. (Chaotic)
Purpose. I study because there are things I
Reformed Cultist
need to know. I’ll find my place in the world, Two pantheons have battled over the fate of Exandria
and I’ll make the world better. (Good) since the world’s founding—the Prime Deities and
the Betrayer Gods. During the Calamity, the Prime
5 Code of Conduct. The student code is there
Deities allied themselves with the mortal races of
to benefit all students, you know. It’s the same
Exandria, their original creations, to protect their
for laws! (Lawful)
flawed world and its multifarious forms of life. The
6 Recreation. All this studying crap wasn’t Betrayers sought to wipe the slate clean.
worth anything if you weren’t partying when At the end of that devastating war, the Prime Dei-
you were done. Meet me down at the tavern, ties established a Divine Gate that would prevent all
okay? (Chaotic)
gods, good or evil, from directly affecting the world,
but which would leave the gods’ mortal followers and
Lyceum Scholar Bonds
supernal servants to enact their will. And so the cor-
d6 Bond rupting whispers of the Betrayer Gods have ensnared
1 I came to the Lyceum with no one, but I fell in the minds of power-hungry mortals for centuries,
love with the city of Emon. I’ve finally found a promising them a sliver of the gods’ great power in
place that feels like home! exchange for dedicating their souls to occult lore.
2 Most of my professors drove me to frustration, You once belonged to such a cult of the Betrayer
but there’s one who was kind and wise. I Gods. Perhaps this faith only briefly tempted your rebel-
know they’ll always have my back. lious, youthful spirit. Perhaps the cult gave you love and
family when you had none, asking only your adher-
3 My family saved every copper piece to give
me the opportunities I have now. I can’t let ence to their prophet in exchange. Or maybe you were
them down. raised from birth to pay homage to gods of selfish
cruelty—until one fateful day the veil was lifted, so that
4 I came to the Lyceum with a childhood friend, nothing stood between you and the horrifying truth.
but we’ve long been drifting apart.
However it happened, you were freed from the
5 Discovery is the only thing that matters to shackles of this poisonous sect. Yet you know that
me. The topic doesn’t matter. Books keep me this group does not forgive betrayers. As long as you
company on my loneliest days. live, you will be hunted—and if the members of the
6 The Lyceum is my life. I’d give up anything— cult think you dead, their hunt will begin again the
everything—to protect it from harm. second they learn they’re wrong.
Skill Proficiencies: Deception and Religion
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: Vestments and a holy symbol of your
previous cult, a set of common clothes, a belt
pouch containing 15 gp

Feature: Fell Teachings Reformed Cultist Ideals
You were inundated with knowledge about one of d6 Ideal
the Betrayer Gods, and know by heart everything 1 Life. I’ve spent too long shackled to an evil
from their basic commandments to some of their master. No matter what happened before, I
most esoteric secrets. Choose one of the Betrayer deserve my freedom now. (Chaotic)
Gods described in chapter 2. You have advantage on
2 Redemption. People can change, but
Intelligence (Religion) checks to know information redemption must be something they choose
about their faith, including obscure secrets unknown for themselves. If they do, it is my duty to help
to most worshipers. them along that path. (Good)
Additionally, you can work with your GM to create
3 Power. When I abandoned the cult, it
a secret that you learned during your time in the cult.
wasn’t out of some misguided sense of
This secret might be the seed of a conspiracy, a myth
righteousness. That pathetic organization was
of a legendary hero whose true meaning has mutated
merely a shackle on my potential. (Evil)
over the years, or even the location of a fabled arti-
fact of the gods. 4 Vengeance. The cult has poisoned my life. I
will see all its followers suffer. (Any)
Suggested Characteristics 5 Hierarchy. The cult was vile, but its strength
The life of every former cultist is defined to some was in stability and organization. As long
degree by the process of fleeing the past, and of try- as good folk lack unity, evil will always
ing to make a future away from the beliefs that once triumph. (Lawful)
claimed them. Your bond is likely associated with 6 Reparations. As a cultist, I harmed people
those who gave you the insight and strength to flee whose names I’ll never know. I feel obligated
your old ways. Your ideal might involve your desire to repay my debt by aiding others. (Good)
to take down and destroy those who promote the
evil you escaped, and perhaps finding new faith in a Reformed Cultist Bonds
forgiving god. d6 Bond
Reformed Cultist Personality Traits 1 My cousin escaped the cult with me. I lost
d8 Personality Trait track of them when we fled, but I know they’re
alive. I can feel it.
1 I need a dagger close at hand at all times.
Just in case they find me. 2 I was saved from the cult by a priest of one of
the Prime Deities. If not for that sign of faith, I
2 I can’t believe I’m out here fighting monsters. would surely be lost.
After everything I’ve been through, why can’t I
find a normal life? 3 I was told by the person who saved me
that a sage once said: “Life needs things to
3 I need a stiff drink before I do anything live.” I don’t know what that means, but I’ve
stressful these days. I know it’s a problem. dedicated my existence to finding out.
Just…let me have this.
4 One of my cultist parents had a change of
4 Murder is okay when it’s for a good cause! I heart when I was a teenager, and we fled
didn’t tear my past out by the roots so I could together in the dark of night. I didn’t want to
let evil people cause more harm. leave, but I understand now that their courage
5 My past is filled with stories like you wouldn’t saved my life.
believe. Ones that’ll really make your skin 5 I was bested by a warrior when I fumbled a
crawl. Do you want to hear…? cult-ordered assassination. I don’t know why
6 Yeah, I’m crying. I do that. Get over yourself. that person took pity on me, but they gave me
7 I know you’ve told me your name twice purpose when I was lost.
already, but that’s not good enough. How can 6 Now that I’ve saved myself, the only
I be sure you are who you say you are? person important to me is my former cult
8 My mind is always racing. I can’t…I just need leader—because I’ve sworn that they’ll die
to…you have to give me a second—or else I by my hand.
can’t…organize my thoughts.

Reformed Cultist Flaws Skill Proficiencies: Your choice of two of the follow-
d6 Flaw ing: Athletics, Perception, or Survival
1 I’m haunted by what I saw in those ritual Weapon Proficiencies: Firearms
chambers. Every time I see blood, I…oh, gods, Languages: One of your choice
I can’t bear to even think about it. Equipment: Your choice of a musket or a pistol, a set
2 I ran from the cult long ago. But deep down, of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp
there’s a part of me that still thinks they were
right about certain things. Feature: Legacy of Secrecy
3 I can’t help but feel a rush whenever I see a You have been entrusted with the use and care of a
life snuffed out before me. Just one more kill… weapon both powerful and terrifying. The rifle you
just one more. wield might transform the face of warfare and life in
4 Organized religion terrifies me. Betrayer Gods Tal’Dorei. It is a weapon that haunts the mind of its
or Prime Deities…it doesn’t matter. The sight creator, Percival de Rolo, manifesting as a pain that
of the faithful freezes my blood cold. lives always behind his kind eyes.
You were granted a musket or a pistol (as
5 Oh, I always tell the truth. Always. I’ve never
had to keep a secret from anyone, so of
described in the fifth edition core rules) by your com-
course I’ll be open with you. mander in the Whitestone Rifle Corps. This weapon
is a symbol of your status, and when you display
6 I don’t trust easily. If you grew up being lied it, other folk around you—particularly adventur-
to about every little thing? The fundamental ers, mercenaries, guards, engineers, and weapons
nature of the world? You wouldn’t, either.
enthusiasts—treat you differently. You might be seen
as a noble defender of the people, a selfish hoarder
Whitestone Rifle Corps of power, or anything in between, at the GM’s
You trained with the elite forces charged with the discretion.
defense and protection of the isolated city-state of
Whitestone, with much of that training focused on
Feature: Rifle Corps
how to care for, protect, and safeguard the firearms Relationship
that are the weapons of the Whitestone Rifle Corps. You are—or were—a member of an elite and trusted
You are also entrusted with a solemn duty—to never band of Whitestone’s staunchest defenders. Work
let the secrets of your liege-lord’s deadly creations with your GM to determine your current relation-
fall into the wrong hands. ship with the Rifle Corps. If your campaign starts in
You might have come to Whitestone to prove Whitestone, you might be an active member of that
yourself worthy of wielding the secretive and unit. Otherwise, you can use the Rifle Corps Rela-
highly coveted firearms created there, and to seek tionships table for suggestions.
instruction from warriors who have mastered those
Rifle Corps Relationships
weapons. Or you might have grown up in Whites-
tone, perhaps even remembering the brutal days d6 Current Relationship
when Lord and Lady Briarwood ruled your home- 1 I retired honorably from the Rifle Corps—
land—a reign that began some thirty years ago and and now it’s time for me to pursue my own
lasted for six harrowing years. adventures.
Alternatively, you or your parents might have come 2 I’m on an important mission to protect
to Whitestone as refugees fleeing the destruction Whitestone or guard one of our allies.
of the Chroma Conclave’s attack on Tal’Dorei. If
3 Whitestone is in trouble, and I was sent away
so, your life in the city-state might have been a rela-
to seek help.
tively peaceful one, dwelling among the engineers,
artisans, and merchants seeking to capitalize upon 4 I don’t think firearms technology should be
Whitestone’s reputation as an up-and-coming center kept secret, so I escaped from the Rifle Corps
of trade, culture, and invention. with my weapon and am on the run.
When you choose this background, decide whether 5 I was on a mission with my company when I
you were a member of the Rifle Corps, the Pale got separated from them. Now I need to find
Guard, or the Whitestone Hunters. The “Whitestone” my way back home.
section in chapter 3 has more information about the 6 My weapon was stolen. I built a new one, but
Pale Guard, as well as the armaments and militia in I can’t return home until I’ve tracked down the
the city-state. See below for more information on the thief and recovered the original. (Whitestone
Whitestone Hunters. Hunter variant only)

Suggested Characteristics d8 Personality Trait
Those who join the Whitestone Rifle Corps become 5 I like coming up with solutions to problems
members of an elite and trusted band known as the using my esoteric knowledge of natural
city-state’s staunchest defenders. But this means philosophy.
working with your GM to determine why you’re not
6 Everyone around me takes things so
at home protecting Whitestone. Perhaps you took on
seriously. Sometimes I just want to let loose
a mission to guard someone on behalf of the de Rolo and have fun!
family, or you might have been separated from your
company while on an assignment. Either way, you 7 Knowing things that other people don’t know
find yourself embroiled now in a series of new adven- makes me feel special and important.
tures as you try to make your way back home. 8 I’m most at home in woods and mountains,
Your bond is likely associated with your comrades- where everything feels at once familiar,
in-arms or with Whitestone itself. Your ideal could always growing and changing.
be tied to justice or protection, but could also be a
secretive, selfish perversion of those virtues. Rifle Corps Ideals
d6 Ideal
Rifle Corps Personality Traits
1 Responsibility. I have a duty to protect the
people of Whitestone and to uphold the trust
1 I want to make a good impression at all times. placed in me by the de Rolos. (Lawful)
That means keeping my clothes and gear
2 Militarization. Everyone should have access
clean and in top condition.
to the most powerful weapons available, so
2 I don’t like being the center of attention. I’d they can defend themselves effectively. (Evil)
rather let someone else do the talking while I
3 Cooperation. Any problem can be solved
watch their back.
as long as people are willing to work
3 I feel safe only if I’m carrying my trusty rifle. together. (Good)
And my dagger. And my concealed pistol. Oh,
4 Camaraderie. It’s important to have people
and of course my….
you can trust to help out in a fight—and to
4 I don’t trust people with my secrets easily, uncork a bottle together afterward. (Any)
so it feels like a big deal when someone else
shares a secret with me.

d6 Ideal soldiers and survivalists is drawn secretly from the
Rifle Corps ranks. Called the Whitestone Hunters,
5 Context. There are no universal rights or these soldiers are special operatives of the de Rolo
wrongs. Every choice depends on the details family, and loyally serve as spies, bodyguards, and
of the situation. (Chaotic)
even assassins when the job requires it. Though few
6 Secrecy. Information is valuable, but it can officially know of them, rumors of the Whitestone
also be dangerous. I’ll keep my mouth shut Hunters’ existence swirl constantly throughout the
and gather as much intel as I can. (Neutral) city-state, often in response to their activities after
having been loaned out to protect Whitestone’s allies.
Rifle Corps Bonds You are one of these Whitestone Hunters, even
d6 Bond if just a trainee (if you’re starting your campaign at
1 I never knew what to do with myself until I low levels). You have the ear of the lord and lady of
joined the Rifle Corps. Now I have a purpose Whitestone, though you must exercise this privilege
and comrades to give me direction. graciously lest you lose it.
2 One of my fellow Rifle Corps soldiers saved
my life—and then I saved theirs. That kind of Supernatural
3
bond lasts forever.
Whitestone is the best city in all of Tal’Dorei.
Blessing: Fate-Touched
Nowhere else has been blessed by the Most lives and souls find their ways easily along the
Dawnfather and has a clock that tracks the paths of fate and destiny, oblivious and eager to be a
movement of the stars! part of the history meant for them. Some souls, how-
ever, carry themselves with mysterious influence, the
4 My quick thinking saved a noble from
golden threads of their fate subtly guiding history as
assassination, and she showed me great
they pass. Events both magnificent and catastrophic
kindness in return. I daren’t say it, but I’m
often follow such souls, which take the form of great
more loyal to her than I am to the de Rolos.
rulers and terrible tyrants, powerful mages, reli-
5 My weapon is my life. I clean it, repair it, and gious leaders, and legendary heroes. These are the
care for it—and it serves me loyally in return. fate-touched.
6 The people of Whitestone cared for my family Few fate-touched ever become aware of their
when we had nothing. I promise to repay their prominent nature. Without the confirmation of the
compassion with my service. gods themselves, few can know for certain that they
bear this blessing. And this is as it should be, for
Rifle Corps Flaws people of renown and power grow easily jealous of
d6 Flaw those whose gifts outstrip their own. The surviving
1 Who cares about keeping this gun safe? chronicles of the Age of Arcanum are filled with tales
“Don’t let it fall into the wrong hands!” Ha! It’s of magical hierarchs who enslaved those they took
only a matter of time before someone slips up for fate-touched—or worse, attempted to extract the
and these weapons are everywhere. essence of fate from them by the most horrid means.
Being touched by fate can be a blessing or a curse. It
2 I think being part of the Rifle Corps is so cool.
is most often those who bear the blessings of fortune
I love telling people about my position so I
can impress them. who are remembered by history, while those cursed
by fate are forgotten. Most cultures of Exandria have
3 My weapon was stolen. I built a new one, but legends of those marked by ill fate simply by being
I can’t return home until I’ve tracked down the born under the full light of Ruidus, the vermilion
thief and recovered the original.
moon around which countless fell legends swirl.
4 I’m tired of protecting spoiled people who Player characters and NPCs gain this blessing by
don’t know how to protect themselves. having the GM grant it to them, gaining the Fortune’s
5 I shoot first and ask questions later. Grace feature as a result. A character might receive
the blessing as a gift from the gods, or as a tempo-
6 The first and only time I killed someone, it
changed my life. I still dream about it, and I’ll rary and surprising phenomenon when the campaign
never be the carefree person I was before. shifts into a story arc focused on that character.
An NPC ally might bear this blessing to help them
survive as the characters protect them from a terrible
Variant: Whitestone Hunter threat. A previously benign NPC might even become
As elite as they are, the members of the Whitestone a power-hungry villain as they test the limits of their
Rifle Corps do not represent the apex of firearms fate-touched gift.
skill in Whitestone. A clandestine group of elite

Fortune’s Grace Rules Tip: Prepared Spells
The Flash Recall feat requires you to be a spell-
Your fate-touched essence can cause events to shift caster who prepares spells. This includes classes
in your favor. When you make an attack roll, an abil- such as clerics, druids, and paladins, who prepare
ity check, or a saving throw, you can choose to reroll spells each day from their class list, and wizards,
the d20. You must reroll the die before the outcome who prepare spells from a spellbook. Classes such
of the initial roll is determined. as bards and sorcerers, who inherently know their
Alternatively, when a creature you can see makes spells rather than preparing them, can’t benefit
an attack against you or makes a saving throw from this feat.
against one of your spells or features, you can force
that creature to reroll the attack roll or saving throw.
If the roll that triggers the reroll is made with
advantage or disadvantage, both d20s are rerolled.
Mystic Conflux
Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until You possess an intuitive understanding of the way
you finish a long rest. magic ebbs and flows within enchanted items. Such
items attune easily to you, and you are able to sound
New Feats out their secrets. You gain the following benefits:
• You can attune to up to four magic items at once.
The following feats are appropriate for a • You can cast the identify spell without expending a
Tal’Dorei campaign. spell slot or material components. You must finish
a long rest before you can do so again.
Cruel
The challenges and struggles you’ve faced through- Remarkable Recovery
out your life have led you to delight in inflicting pain Your body has the ability to recover quickly from
and anguish upon others. You gain a number of terrible injuries, and is unusually receptive to healing
cruelty dice equal to your proficiency bonus. Your magic. You gain the following benefits:
cruelty dice are d6s. You can roll only one cruelty die
per turn, and a cruelty die is spent when you roll it. • Increase your Constitution score by 1, to a max-
You can roll a cruelty die under any of the follow- imum of 20.
ing circumstances, with the indicated result: • When you are successfully stabilized while dying,
you regain hit points equal to your Constitution
• When you deal damage to a creature, spend one modifier (minimum of 1).
cruelty die to deal extra damage to the creature • Whenever you regain hit points as a result of a
equal to the roll. spell, potion, or class feature (but not this feat), you
• When you score a critical hit, spend one cruelty die regain additional hit points equal to your Constitu-
to gain temporary hit points equal to the roll. tion modifier (minimum of 1).
• When you make a Charisma (Intimidation)
check, spend one cruelty die and add the roll to
your check.
Spelldriver
You regain all spent cruelty dice when you finish a Prerequisites: Character level 11 or higher; Spellcast-
long rest. ing or Pact Magic feature
Through intense focus, training, and dedication,
Flash Recall you’ve harnessed the techniques of rapid spellcast-
ing. When you use your bonus action to cast a spell
Prerequisite: Spellcasting feature from a class that of 1st level or higher, you can also use your action to
prepares spells cast another spell of 1st level or higher. However, if
You’ve developed the ability to instantly recall an you cast two or more spells in a single turn, only one
unprepared spell in moments of sudden necessity. of them can be 3rd level or higher.
As a bonus action, you prepare a spell of 1st level
or higher from your spellbook (if you’re a wizard) or
from your class spell list (if you’re not a wizard). This
Rules Tip: Casting Multiple Spells
Normally, when you cast a spell as a bonus action,
spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots,
you can’t use your action to also cast a spell that
and it replaces another spell of an equal or higher
turn unless that spell is a cantrip. The Spelldriver
level that you had previously prepared.
feat removes that restriction, but the focus neces-
Once you use this feat to recall a spell, you can’t do
sary to channel multiple spells in the same round
so again until you complete a short or long rest. still limits the overall power of those spells.

Thrown Arms Master Vital Sacrifice
You’ve honed your ability to lob weaponry into the You've learned secrets of hemocraft that grant you
fray, including weapons not meant for ranged com- esoteric power at the price of your own life force. As
bat. You gain the following benefits: a bonus action, you can choose to take 1d6 necrotic
• Increase your Strength or Dexterity score by 1, to damage to gain a blood boon. Your blood boon lasts
a maximum of 20. for 1 hour or until expended.
• Simple and martial melee weapons without the You can expend this blood boon to gain one of the
thrown property have the thrown property for you. following benefits:
One-handed weapons have a normal range of 20 • When you make an attack roll, you roll 1d6 and
feet and a long range of 60 feet, while two-handed add it to the total.
weapons have a normal range of 15 feet and a long • When you hit with an attack or spell, you deal an
range of 30 feet. additional 2d6 necrotic damage.
• Weapons that already have the thrown property • When you cause a creature to make a Strength,
increase their short range by 20 feet and their long Dexterity, or Constitution saving throw, roll a d4
range by 40 feet for you. and reduce their save by the amount rolled.
• When you miss with a thrown weapon attack using
The damage you take to gain a blood boon can’t be
a light weapon, the weapon returns to your grasp
reduced in any way.
like a boomerang at the end of your turn, unless
something prevents it from returning. You can
catch and stow as many weapons as you threw
in this way.

Chapter 5
Game Master’s Toolkit
Game Masters can make use of many different tools create a “fill-in-the-blanks” outline of your narrative.
to run enjoyable games. A GM is the starting point of Start by dividing a page of your GM journal (whether
the storytelling process, coming up with narratively it’s a physical page or a digital one) into three sec-
compelling adventure frameworks that they and the tions labeled “Beginning,” “Middle,” and “End.” Then
players then turn into a campaign. To do so, a GM think about what happens in each of those parts of
works up locations and scenarios that their players your adventure as a means of opening up your cre-
will have fun with. They stock adventures with ative process.
loot and magic items to reward daring characters,
villains and monsters to defend those valuable trea- Beginning an Adventure
sures, and NPCs of all kinds who can give clues, help
The beginning of most adventures comes when the
as allies, or oppose the characters in their goals.
characters receive a quest or are plunged headfirst
This chapter contains storytelling advice for GMs
into an unexpected scenario. In the Beginning
running campaigns in Tal’Dorei. It also contains a
section of your GM journal, write one sentence
number of new magic items, including the legendary
about how you want the characters to learn of the
Vestiges of Divergence, plus optional rules that GMs
adventure. For example: “A member of the Tal’Dorei
can use to fine-tune the tone of a Tal’Dorei cam-
Council posts an urgent notice about a dangerous
paign. (Chapter 6 of this book presents monsters and
creature in every tavern in Emon, promising a 1,000
NPCs unique to the world of Exandria, which can
gp reward.” Then write down little notes about other
likewise help give a campaign a distinctly Critical
things you want in the beginning scene. Where is
Role feeling.)
this opening scene set? What other NPCs are there?
Are there environmental notes or clues you want to
Creating Adventures communicate to the players?
Before reading this section, you should familiarize
yourself with “Running a Tal’Dorei Campaign” Creating Conflict
in chapter 1, which provides information about
Tal’Dorei’s lore and conflicts that are for the Game
in the Middle
Master’s eyes only. Chapter 3 of this book also con- The middle of an adventure is filled with conflict,
tains dozens of specific story hooks, many of which whether episodic events during travel, a dungeon
tie into the big-picture secrets introduced in chapter exploration filled with deadly traps and territorial
1. Some hooks are simple, giving you just enough monsters, or intense diplomatic negotiations. In the
to inspire your next game session. Some are more Middle section, write down notes about what sort
complex, and can cascade into an entire campaign’s of conflict you want your adventure to have. Most
worth of story. story hooks in this book contain a clear antagonist
You’ll notice that these story hooks present a or threat—so start by writing down that antagonist
beginning, and sometimes a hint of a middle, but and then brainstorming secondary threats that will
never a conclusion. That’s because they’re designed challenge the characters on their way to facing their
to spark your imagination, but in a way that still main foe. In addition to the monsters in chapter 6 of
leaves you to fill out the rest of the story framework this book, the fifth edition rules are filled with useful
in your own way. The goal of this book is to provide monsters that are perfectly at home in Exandria.
the building blocks with which you can create your
own Tal’Dorei, and these open-ended plot seeds will End with a Reward
help you set up adventures that feel right at home The end of an adventure is where the characters gain
in the world of Critical Role—whether you’re a long- their reward and return to safety. In the Ending sec-
time fan of the show or are brand-new to Tal’Dorei. tion of your journal, write down ideas for treasure or
If you’re an experienced GM, you might already other rewards that you want to give the characters.
have your own approach to creating adventures from You can make use of the new treasures featured in
story hooks. But especially if you’re a beginning GM, this book, as well as the varied rewards described in
this section presents a straightforward approach you the fifth edition rules.
can try out for expanding hooks into full adventures. Remember that treasure doesn’t have to be gold
And even as an experienced GM, if you ever feel or magic items, and it doesn’t have to be found in
stuck while planning an adventure, it can help to
Chapter 5: Game Master’s Toolkit 193

a dungeon. When the characters return to town this property is used, it can’t be used again until the
carrying the head of the monster they’ve slain, their next dawn.
quest-giver might grant them an audience with the
Tal’Dorei Council, give them special use of the Tra- Cataclysm Bolts
verse Junction or some other magical marvel of the Ammunition, very rare
Alabaster Lyceum, or bestow any number of other These steel crossbow bolts were first created by the
immaterial rewards. Jaggenstrike Clan during the Scattered War, and the
secret to crafting them remains well guarded by the
Going with the Flow Houses of Kraghammer. Cataclysm bolts are usually
Don't worry if your plans go awry—they will. No kept in sets of ten, though anyone who holds even
RPG session ever goes totally as planned. The most one can feel it thrumming with magical power. When
important skill for any GM is the ability to impro- you hit with an attack using a cataclysm bolt, the
vise, because you can never predict everything your attack deals normal damage. Then roll a d6 on the
players will do. Make your plans loose and variable, following table to determine its additional effect.
and be willing to have fun and change course. Your Cataclysm Bolt Effects
players are surprised by every challenge you throw
at them—so give yourself a chance for the same d6 Effect
experience! It can be fun to be surprised, especially 1-2 The bolt explodes in a blast of fire, dealing
when you’re the GM who supposedly holds all the 3d8 fire damage to the target and each
important story cards. creature within 5 feet of it.
3-4 The bolt freezes the air around the target
Tal’Dorei Treasures into jagged ice. The target and each
This section presents magic items for use in your creature within 5 feet of it must succeed
Tal’Dorei campaign, including specific items used on a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw or take
by the Ashari people of Exandria, and the legendary 1d10 cold damage and be restrained until
Vestiges of Divergence. the end of your next turn.
5 The bolt releases a pulse of necrotic energy.
Magic Items The target takes 2d6 necrotic damage and
must succeed on a DC 16 Strength saving
Tal’Dorei is a land awash with magic. Numerous throw or be stunned until the end of your
magical organizations, both stately and shadowy, next turn.
create enchanted items to aid their members in
mysterious quests. Shops in major cities, including 6 The bolt shatters to unleash a burst of
Gilmore’s Glorious Goods in Emon, openly sell shrapnel. Make six additional ranged
magic items to anyone with the gold to pay their attacks against the target, each of which
extravagant (some might say exorbitant) fees. has a +7 attack bonus and deals 1d6
GMs can use the magic items in this section— piercing damage on a hit.
some of which have appeared in Critical Role before;
Once the bolt hits, the enchantment ends and it
some of which are all new—as treasure to reward
becomes a normal piece of ammunition.
the characters during their adventures. Unless oth-
erwise stated, these items abide by the magic item Coat of the Crest
rules laid down in the fifth edition core rules.
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement)
Boots of Haste This exquisite brocade coat is cut in a long, high-
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement) collared style popular among nobles of the Clovis
Concord—a nation on the west coast of Wildemount
While you wear these boots, you can click your heels
whose stylish fashion is often mimicked in Tal’Dorei.
together to cast the haste spell on yourself as a bonus
Its shimmering lining hints at its magical properties.
action. You don’t suffer from lethargy when the spell
You gain a +1 bonus to AC while wearing this coat,
ends when cast using these boots. Once this prop-
which can be worn over light armor.
erty is used, it can’t be used again until next dawn.
Additionally, the coat has 3 charges and regains
Boots of the Vigilant 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn. When you are
the target of an attack while wearing this coat, you
Wondrous item, uncommon
can spend 1 charge as a reaction to gain resistance
While you wear these boots, you can sense impend- to one type of damage from the triggering attack.
ing danger. After you roll initiative, you can choose This resistance is effective against the triggering
to roll a d8 and add it to your initiative roll. Once attack and lasts until the start of your next turn.

Corecut Dagger unconscious. Instead, you are incapacitated and your
Dagger, very rare (requires attunement) speed becomes 0, but you can speak and communi-
cate. You make death saving throws as normal, but if
This dark metal blade bends in a wicked, hooked you roll a 1 on the d20, you swoon with a loud gasp
curve. You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage and die instantly.
rolls made with this magic weapon. When you hit
with an attack using this weapon, you can spend 1 Echo Stone
Hit Die to deal an extra 3d6 necrotic damage. Wondrous item, uncommon
Curse. This weapon is cursed, a fact that is
revealed only when an identify spell is cast on the This dull-blue river stone is soft to the touch, and
weapon or you attune to it. Attuning to the dagger makes remarkably little sound if dropped. When an
curses you until you are targeted by the remove echo stone is squeezed as an action, it glows faintly
curse spell or similar magic; disposing of the dagger for 1 minute. The stone records all sound made
fails to end the curse. While cursed, whenever you within 15 feet of it while glowing, then repeats that
receive magical healing, you must spend 1 Hit Die to recorded sound at an equal volume once every 5
regain any hit points. If you spend all your Hit Dice at minutes. This cycle of repetition continues until the
any point, you die. stone is squeezed again as an action, which silences
it. Squeezing the stone twice in quick succession
Dagger of Denial as an action causes it to play the sounds it has most
Weapon (dagger), rare (requires attunement) recently recorded, rather than recording new sounds.
This silver stiletto blade bears intricate grooves that Graz’tchar, the Decadent End
spiral from its tip to its ivory hilt and handle. You Weapon (greatsword), legendary (requires
gain a +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls made attunement)
with this magic weapon.
As an action, you can place the point of the blade This blade appears to be a beautiful cruciform sword
into any keyhole and seal it shut. A keyhole sealed in of shining silver, inlaid with sparkling rubies. You
this way can’t be unlocked until this dagger is placed gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made
into that keyhole once more (though a sealed door with this magic weapon, which has the following
or container can still be broken, bypassing the lock). properties.
Sealing a keyhole unseals any keyholes previously Corrosive Submission. When you hit a creature
sealed with this weapon. that has an Intelligence score of 4 or higher with an
attack using this sword, the target takes an extra 3d6
Doublet of Dramatic Demise acid damage and must succeed on a DC 17 Charisma
Wondrous item, common saving throw or be charmed by you for 1 hour. If you
attack the creature again while it is charmed in this
This striking satin jacket allows you to make the way, the extra acid damage increases to 10d6 and
most of your dying moments. When you drop to 0 the charmed condition ends. If the target succeeds
hit points while wearing this doublet, you do not fall
Graz’tchar,
the Decadent End
Dagger of
Denial

on its saving throw or the charm ends for it, it can’t check as an action. The DC of this check equals 8 +
be charmed again in this way for 24 hours. your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier.
Hidden Nature. The acid damage dealt by this
greatsword appears to be radiant damage to all Magician’s Judge
who perceive it. A true seeing spell or similar magic Weapon (greatsword), rare
reveals that the sword is actually a rusted, pitted An executioner’s blade from the Age of Arcanum,
blade dripping with acid. this magic greatsword is one of many similar weap-
Sentience. Graz’tchar is a sentient neutral evil ons once used to execute magic-wielding criminals.
weapon with an Intelligence of 14, a Wisdom of 12, Though most commonly found in the lands now
and a Charisma of 18. It has hearing and darkvision known as Wildemount and Issylra, a few such blades
out to a range of 120 feet. have found their way to Tal’Dorei.
The sword can speak, read, and understand If you hit a creature with an attack using this
Common, and can communicate with its wielder weapon, you can cast the dispel magic spell from the
telepathically. Anyone who holds it hears the wise sword against the target as part of the attack. Alter-
voice of a sorrowful king, beckoning the user to seize natively, you can use an action to cast dispel magic
their destiny. A creature that succeeds on a DC 26 from the sword against a target of your choice. If you
Wisdom (Insight) check while listening to the blade’s need to make a check with your spellcasting ability
voice hears a sliver of malice that suggests the truth: modifier as part of casting the spell, you make this
the voice is a corrupting trick of the Demon Prince of check with a +3 modifier or your own spellcasting
Indulgence. ability modifier, whichever is higher.
Personality. Graz’tchar slowly attempts to sway Once you cast dispel magic using this weapon, you
its wielder to sow chaos in Exandria, telling lies and can’t do so again until the next dawn.
spreading malign truths about great leaders, and
claiming that the members of the Tal’Dorei Council Mirror of Infinite
are corrupt and must be overthrown. The voice of
this blade is actually the Demon Prince of Indul-
Transpondence
gence, speaking from his Abyssal prison. Wondrous item, very rare
If the sword’s attuned wielder disobeys the urges These silver hand mirrors always come in pairs.
of the weapon for an extended period of time, When activated as an action, a mirror establishes a
Graz’tchar can attempt to control the wielder, who visual link with its paired mirror for 10 minutes, with
must succeed on a DC 17 Charisma saving throw or the two mirrors acting as opposite sides of the same
become charmed by the sword for 24 hours. While open window. The mirrors create this connection
the wielder is charmed in this way, the sword can even if both are on different planes.
compel them to take an action of the sword’s choice When a single mirror of infinite transpondence is
once per hour, though the wielder believes this found, the GM decides where its paired mirror is and
action is taken of their own free will. If the chosen who possesses it. A random possessor and location
action leads to the harm of someone the wielder con- can be determined by rolling on the table below.
siders a trusted friend or ally, the charmed condition Named bearers are described in chapter 2.
immediately ends. On a successful saving throw or if
the charmed condition ends for the wielder, they are
Mirror Locations
immune to this property of the sword for 24 hours. d8 Location Possessor
1 Emon Seeker Odessa Tal’Dorei
Inescapable Lash
2 Whitestone None; the mirror is in an
Weapon (whip), rare (requires attunement)
empty dungeon
This braided cord is dull bronze in color, ends in a 3 Kymal Sylker “The Million-
splayed set of three barbs, and gleams like metal aire” Uttolot
under any light. You gain a +1 bonus to attack and
4 Westruun Realmseer Eskil Ryndarien
damage rolls made with this magic weapon, which
has a reach of 20 feet. When you hit a creature or 5 Syngorn Ouestra, the
object using this whip, you can attempt to grapple the Voice of Memory
target as a bonus action. 6 The Elemental Khedive Xundi, Lord of
While you have a creature grappled using this whip, Plane of Water Silver Silt
you can use your action to either pull the creature 7 The Plane A Remnant chosen
up to 20 feet toward you, or cause the creature to be of Shadow (see page 251)
restrained until you let go of the whip. A creature
restrained in this way can escape by making a suc- 8 An untraceable The Wonderworker
location
cessful Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics)

Once the connection between the two mirrors has ordinary weapon of that type. When in the form of a
been activated three times from either end, it can’t be ranged weapon, this rod magically creates its own
activated again until the next dawn. ammunition, which disappears after a ranged attack
hits or misses.
Raven’s Slumber
Wondrous item, very rare Stormrider Boots
This black crystal pendant is a magical gateway to Wondrous item, rare
a small pocket dimension. You can use the pendant These dark leather boots look to be of common
as an improvised weapon to make a melee or ranged make, but a subtle pattern of swirling storm clouds
weapon attack against a Large or smaller creature. upon their soles suggests the potency of their
On a hit, the target must succeed on a DC 10 Wis- enchantment. You can activate these boots as part of
dom saving throw or be trapped within the crystal. your movement, gaining the following benefits until
A creature that wants to be trapped can intentionally the end of your turn:
fail this saving throw. • You have a flying speed of 90 feet.
Only one creature at a time can be held in a raven’s • Opportunity attacks against you are made with
slumber. That creature is aware of the passage of disadvantage.
time and can see the world outside of this talisman • Whenever you move within 5 feet of a hostile
as if through a window. You can release a held crea- creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity
ture to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of you as a saving throw or take 3d8 lightning damage. A
bonus action. creature can’t be damaged in this way more than
If a companion creature granted to you by a class once per turn.
feature, or a beast that you’ve tamed as a compan-
Once this property is used, it can’t be used again
ion, is reduced to 0 hit points while within 100 feet
until the next dawn.
of you, it is immediately drawn into the pendant and
stabilized. If the pendant already holds a creature, Summer’s Dance
this effect fails.
Weapon (scimitar), rare (requires attunement)
Rod of Mercurial Form This beautiful golden blade appears to bend and
Wondrous item, uncommon flex like a reed with your movements. You gain a +1
bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this
This humble steel rod is engraved with tiny symbols
magic weapon.
representing different weapons, as well as the mono-
Additionally, the scimitar has 3 charges and
gram “T.D.” A creature holding this rod can speak
regains 1 expended charge daily at dawn. While
the name of any simple or martial weapon aloud as
wielding this scimitar, you can expend 1 charge as a
a bonus action, causing the rod to transform into an
bonus action to cast the misty step spell.
Tinkertop Boltblaster 1000

Weapon (hand crossbow), very rare (requires
attunement)
This strange contraption of gears, wires, and lac-
quered wood has a handle with a metal grip and
crank. Its stock bears a flamboyant maker’s mark
that reads: “Made in Hupperdook,” a city in Wilde-
mount. You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage
rolls made with this magic weapon.
When you roll a 20 on an attack roll made with
this weapon, you can immediately make another
attack with this weapon after resolving the critical
hit. When you roll a 1 on an attack roll made with
this weapon, you must succeed on a DC 14 Dexterity
saving throw or take 1d6 piercing damage as some
of its gears and wires spring loose.
Mirror of Infinite
Transpondence

Tools of the Ashari succeed on a DC 10 Charisma check to bond with
the spirit inside the lantern.
The Ashari people have long used their connection Light and Flame. While attuned to the lantern,
and attunement to elemental power to create unique you can verbally ask the elemental to glow (no action
magic items, helping them in their quest to further required), causing the lantern to cast bright light in
understand and control the elements. These items a radius of your choice up to 60 feet and dim light
are kept secret by their creators and are rarely given for the same distance beyond that. You can also cast
to people not of the Ashari. As such, they can be the produce flame cantrip from the lantern at will.
acquired only as a gift from an Ashari for render- Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for this spell.
ing their people a great service, from the body of a Elemental Essence. The fire elemental spirit
dead Ashari explorer, or for an exorbitant price from in the lantern can grant you a small fragment of its
someone who has acquired the item through dubi- power. As an action, you gain one of the following
ous means. benefits of your choice for 1 hour:
At the GM’s discretion, the unique nature of these
• You have resistance to fire damage.
items might mean that a character not of the Ashari
• Whenever a creature hits you with a melee attack,
and unfamiliar with elemental magic can’t automat-
that creature takes fire damage equal to your profi-
ically attune to them. Such characters can attune to
ciency bonus.
one of the tools of the Ashari with 24 hours worth
• You can cast the burning hands spell (spell save
of special training from an Ashari familiar with the
DC 15) from the lantern at 3rd level. Once you cast
item’s use.
the spell, you can’t do so again until the next time
Earthboard you use this property of the lantern.
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement) Once the elemental has shared its power with you
An earthboard is a slab of granite about three inches in this way, it can’t do so again until the next dawn.
thick, nine feet long, and two feet wide, with smooth, Willful Attunement. Your attunement to the
tapered ends. However, its mundane appearance lantern lasts until you choose to end it, or until you
belies its unique elemental power, which reduces its anger the elemental (by dousing the lantern in water,
weight to 40 pounds while a creature is attuned to it. attacking another nonhostile elemental being, and so
The Earth Ashari of Terrah can often be seen with forth). You can attempt to attune to the lantern again
these stone boards upon their backs as they trek into and repeat the check to bond with the elemental
the crags of the Cliffkeep Mountains. during a short or long rest, but you make this check
While standing on an earthboard, you gain the with disadvantage until you have made amends to
following benefits: the spirit, as the GM determines.
• Your speed increases to 60 feet as the board skims
across solid ground (but not liquid surfaces). He was given to me by your father, little one. He kept
• If you ramp off a surface of solid earth, you can us warm while your father and I trekked through
long jump up to 60 feet. When you end this jump, the Dreemoth Ravine and the ruins of Draconia
you can choose to slam into the ground, creating a twenty years ago. Such vicious blizzards, the likes
shockwave. Each creature standing on the ground of which are only topped by the Neverfields—or
within 20 feet of you must succeed on a DC 14 Eiselcross, so I’ve heard. You should have seen
Strength saving throw or fall prone. us, marching through the snow, dozens of Ashari
• You have a burrowing speed of 20 feet that allows cloaked in flame, melting trenches in the rime as
you to tunnel through earth or solid rock, leaving a they advanced, and me, my furs pulled around my
5-foot-diameter tunnel in your wake. As an action,
nose, blinking through the snow, holding tight to
you can increase this burrowing speed to 60 feet
this little one.
until the start of your next turn.
• The earthboard always moves with you until you When your father returned to Pyrah, I feared I’d
decide to dismount it (no action required). never see our little flamefriend again, but…. Here,
hold him, hear his little elemental heart fluttering.
These benefits last until you end your turn not
standing on the earthboard. Think of your father when you feel that warmth,
protecting you, watching over you. No matter where
Flamefriend Lantern in the world you are, whether you’re near Pyrah or
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement) far, he’ll be a bit of family, and a bit of home.
This wrought-iron lantern holds a small fire ele- —Talus Naj, to his goddaughter, Ev of Pyrah
mental spirit. To attune to this item, you must also

Oceanic Weapon flying speed of 60 feet, but you must descend at least
Weapon (any ranged or thrown), rare (requires 10 feet by the end of each of your turns and you can’t
attunement) gain altitude.
Additionally, while in contact with the skysail, you
This elegant weapon is adorned with engravings can use an action to cast the fly spell on yourself,
depicting leaping dolphins and drifting jellyfish. You with a duration of 1 minute and requiring no concen-
gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made tration. The spell ends if you lose physical contact
with this magic weapon, and you ignore the normal with the skysail. Once this property is used, it can’t
penalties on ranged weapon attacks while using this be used again until the next dawn, or unless the sky-
weapon underwater. While holding the weapon in sail is immersed in powerful magic of elemental air.
front of you with both hands, you have a swimming (This includes magic such as that found at the top of
speed of 30 feet. the Summit Peaks near the rift of air in Zephrah, or
Additionally, while you hold the weapon, you can on the Elemental Plane of Air).
use an action to cast the water breathing spell. Once When the skysail is not in use, its wings can be
this property is used, it can’t be used again until the retracted, and its pole can be used as a quarterstaff.
next dawn.
Skysail Oh! Oh gods, are you seriously asking me to

Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement) explain it? Geez, sure, I’ll try, but you really gotta
These bat-like wings were first used by the Air feel it, you know? The sensation of the wind
Ashari to soar through the sky. They are constructed whipping past you as you shoot up into the sky,
of either leather and bone, or cloth and wood, and then—whoa!—your stomach just drops out from
are set onto a sturdy wooden pole that helps their you, and it’s like you left your heart behind as you
user remain stable during flight.
start to fall. It’s like nothing’s holding onto you,
While these wings are open and you are riding
then—whoosh!—the wind catches you, and swings
the skysail, you can glide through the air. You have a
you back into the sky.
—Air Ashari druid initiate Kelthai, on
skysailing

Vestiges of Divergence them. The base state of a Vestige of Divergence is
its dormant state, which the item returns to if sealed
During the wars of the Calamity, destruction rained away or otherwise kept from being attuned by a wor-
across the world. Fragmented chronicles of this time thy individual for a long period of time. A dormant
recount battles between gods that leveled mountains state still imbues a modicum of power to an attuned
and sank whole civilizations beneath the waves. wielder. But with time, perseverance, and personal
Chosen heroes rose up to accept weapons, armor, growth, the Vestige of Divergence can regain access
and other magic items blessed by their patron gods to some of its lost power in its awakened state. Even-
to staunch the inexorable tide of death. Powerful tually, if its bearer overcomes personal hardship and
archmages wove the overflowing arcane powers of transforms their own soul, a Vestige of Divergence
the war into legendary magic items that could both reaches its full potential in its exalted state. This
thwart death and mete it out in equal measure. shows the true power of the item, as it was when first
These relics of the Age of Arcanum armed mortals utilized in the Calamity against gods armed for war.
with god-like powers, and escalated the Calamity to The point at which a character finds a Vestige of
a fever pitch. Soon after, the war climaxed in a wave Divergence, as well as the point at which that item
of total destruction that left much of Exandria in starts to unlock its full power, is entirely in the hands
ruins. Thousands of years of history were reduced of the Game Master—though it is a topic that players
to ash—and in that ash were buried many of these and GMs can discuss and mutually scheme over
selfsame relics. Some of those not lost were passed between game sessions. The acquisition of such
down through bloodlines for generations, becoming an item—or the discovery of its true identity—has
potent symbols of authority and rulership. Others the potential to be a scene of momentous narrative
were sealed away by those who feared their power. weight. Those who bear a Vestige of Divergence are
These mighty echoes of the war that nearly shattered respected and feared by those who understand these
Exandria and the divine banishment that followed items’ true power. But such an honor can also paint
are known as the Vestiges of Divergence. a target on the bearer’s back, for many covet such
The Vestiges of Divergence are unique even among power, and would do anything to obtain it.
legendary magic items, for each one touches the defi- Many of the Vestiges of Divergence detailed in this
ant soul of its wielder and grows in power alongside section can currently be found in Tal’Dorei, while

others are scattered elsewhere throughout Exandria. time after that. Even using these level ranges as a
Some of these relics remain lost to time, waiting for rule of thumb, you shouldn’t rely too heavily on those
someone to find them among the dust and rubble. mechanical benchmarks. A Vestige of Divergence’s
Others might be in use by powerful heroes ready to advancement is triggered by character development,
pass the item’s power onto a worthy successor who not simply by leveling up.
fights for the proper cause. Still others might be in
the hands of twisted souls using them to terrorize To Suit the Wielder
the weak and defenseless. The Vestiges of Diver- The Vestiges of Divergence were all created by
gence are both magic items and narrative devices, humanoids or gifted by the gods to their humanoid
and it’s the GM’s choice as to where any one of them champions. As such, all of these legendary magic
might be found or earned. items are sized to suit Medium creatures. However,
the mighty magic that thrums within each item
Advancement of a Vestige allows it to grow or shrink in size to suit the creature
of Divergence attuned to it.
The conditions by which a Vestige of Divergence pro- The game statistics of a Vestige of Divergence
gresses to its next level of power can vary, and often don’t change when it resizes unless the item is a
revolve around the nature of the specific item and its weapon. When a Large or larger creature makes
magic. An attuned bearer of a Vestige of Divergence an attack with such a weapon, the weapon deals
must often symbolically progress to a new state of one additional damage die for each size category
self-discovery or accomplishment. Alternatively, a its wielder is larger than Medium. For example, if
Vestige of Divergence might bequeath new power to Fenthras is used by a Large fey, attacks made using
a character in a state of extreme personal duress or the longbow deal 2d8 piercing damage. If Pyremaul
desperation. is used by a Huge giant, attacks made using the maul
Such triggering moments are entirely up to the deal 4d6 bludgeoning damage.
Game Master to identify and unveil, and as such, will
likely manifest in unexpected ways. Players should
allow the organic narrative moments that they feel When the god-war spread across Exandria, no
might exemplify such an advancement to occur, and creature was safe, no matter how small and insig-
GMs should tailor the triggering moment accordingly nificant, no matter how mighty and powerful. For
to be important, impactful, and memorable. the battles between gods, would-be gods, and their
Examples of the kinds of moments that can trigger divine monstrosities took place on such a scale that
the advancement of a Vestige of Divergence include mountains were sundered and whole cities per-
the following: ished. How could any mortal hope to sway the fate
• A character finally surmounts one of their greatest of their own world?
fears, bravely overcoming a traumatic event to save The answer—perhaps ironically, given how the
a party member. arcane arts and a hunger for godhood brought
• A character is mercilessly defeated by a long-hated about the Calamity—lay in magic of both arcane
foe, and in the face of such defeat, they feel a deep, and divine provenance. Not paltry charms or
dormant strength grow from within. trinkets, but the kind of magic that suffuses the ley
• A character loses a close ally in battle, and the
lines of this world and plucks at the very fabric of
anguish and fury stirs the power within their Ves-
reality. True, a mortal army may be naught but a
tige of Divergence.
• A character discovers a facet of their destiny that cloud of gnats to the gods, but a singular hero—or
calls their actions toward a dangerous cause—and villain—wielding an artifact imbued with magic
against their own fear, they accept their fate and beyond reckoning...such a champion could bring
responsibility. their strength and cunning to bear amidst the dev-
• A character claims vengeance against a rival who astation of the god-war.
has tormented them for ages. Thus, the gods and even the greatest mortal
• A character known for restraint gives in to the mages wrought relics of a might never seen before,
amoral violence that the relic they bear was nor, I think, since. Moreover, the full potential of
dedicated to. these items could only used by those with souls
If you want to keep the Vestiges “balanced,” worthy of wielding such legendary power….
in addition to being narratively significant, then —Monograph on the Vestiges of Divergence
characters may find a dormant Vestige before 11th
from the Cobalt Reserve archives circa
level—perhaps unaware that it’s even a Vestige!
547 P.D., attrib. High Curator Jorum Irrelios
That dormant Vestige is awakened somewhere
between 11th and 17th level, and is exalted at any

Agony • When you score a critical hit with this weapon, the
Weapon (flail), legendary (requires attunement by a target must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving
creature of non-good alignment) throw or become frightened of you for 1 minute.
On a success, the target is immune to this effect
Utilized in countless tortures and slow executions, for 24 hours.
the hooked chains of this brutal weapon constantly
show dried blood and rot. Legend says that Agony Armor of the Valiant Soul
was wielded in the Calamity by the gnoll scion of a
Armor (scale), legendary (requires attunement)
flesh-eating Demon Lord.
This antique armor forged from jade and black-
Dormant dragon scales was once worn by J’mon Sa Ord of
While Agony is in a dormant state, you gain a +2 Ank’Harel.
bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this
magic weapon. Whenever you damage a creature Dormant
with Agony, that creature is marked for 10 minutes While the Armor of the Valiant Soul is in a dormant
or until you damage a different creature. When you state, you gain a +1 bonus to AC while wearing it.
hit a creature marked in this way with this weapon, You can also cast the command spell (save DC
the target takes an extra 1d6 piercing damage. 14) while attuned to this armor. Once this property
is used, it can’t be used again until you finish a
Awakened long rest.
When Agony reaches an awakened state, you gain
the following benefits: Awakened
• The extra damage when you hit a marked creature When the Armor of the Valiant Soul reaches an
increases to 1d8. awakened state, you gain the following benefits:
• A marked creature has disadvantage on Constitu- • The AC bonus of the armor increases to +2.
tion checks and Constitution saving throws. • You have resistance to acid damage while wearing
• When you reduce a creature to 0 hit points with this armor.
an attack using Agony, you can immediately make • You are immune to the frightened condition while
an additional melee attack with this weapon as a wearing this armor.
bonus action. • The spell save DC for the armor’s command spell
increases to 16, and the spell can target up to three
Exalted creatures.
When Agony reaches an exalted state, you gain the
following benefits: Exalted
• The weapon’s bonus to attack and damage rolls When the Armor of the Valiant Soul reaches an
increases to +3. exalted state, you gain the following benefits:
• The extra damage when you hit a marked creature • The AC bonus of the armor increases to +3.
increases to 2d8.
Agony
Armor of the
Valiant Soul

• You are immune to acid damage while wearing Awakened
this armor. When Cabal’s Ruin reaches an awakened state, you
• All friendly creatures within 15 feet of you are gain the following benefits:
immune to the frightened condition as long as you
• You have advantage on saving throws against
are conscious.
spells and other magical effects while wearing
• The spell save DC of the armor’s command spell
this cloak.
increases to 18, and the spell can target up to five
• The cloak has 6 charges and it regains 1d4 + 2
creatures.
expended charges daily at dawn.
• When you use the cloak to absorb a spell, you gain
Cabal’s Ruin resistance to one type of damage dealt by the spell
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement) (your choice). This resistance then lasts until the
This cloak is made of heavy dark cloth trimmed with end of your next turn.
golden patterns, and occasionally shimmers with
sparks of arcane energy. It was once worn by the Exalted
famed gunslinger Percival Fredrickstein von Musel When Cabal’s Ruin reaches an exalted state, you
Klossowski de Rolo III of Whitestone. gain the following benefit:
• The cloak has 10 charges and it regains 1d6 + 4
Dormant
While Cabal’s Ruin is in a dormant state, the cloak
has 4 charges and it regains 1d4 expended charges Circlet of Barbed Vision
daily at dawn. When you hit with an attack, you can
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement by a
expend any number of charges from the cloak, with
creature of non-good alignment)
the attack dealing an extra 1d6 lightning damage
per charge expended. If your attack strikes multi- When you don this circlet of gnarled onyx, black
ple targets, you choose one target that takes this barbs dig into your head, imparting power to you
extra damage. as the circlet twists your appearance to amuse the
When you are targeted by an enemy’s spell, you Spider Queen. The current resting place of the
can use your reaction to absorb a portion of the Circlet of Barbed Vision is unknown, but rumor has
spell’s energy into the cloak. The spell affects you it that a spectral assassin known as the Inevitable
normally, but the cloak regains a number of charges End seeks this relic.
equal to the level of the spell. This property can’t be
used again until you finish a short or long rest. Dormant
While the Circlet of Barbed Vision is in a dormant
state, you have advantage on initiative rolls while
you wear it, but your Charisma score decreases by
2. Your Charisma score returns to normal if you
remove the circlet, but you take 4d6 psychic damage
when you do so.
Circlet of
Barbed Vision
Cabal's Ruin

Additionally, when you make an attack roll, you Additionally, if you hit with an attack using this
can use your reaction to gain a +5 bonus to the weapon, you can activate one of the following effects
roll. You make this choice after you see the roll, instead of dealing damage:
but before the GM says whether the attack hits or • You cast fog cloud centered on the target’s space.
misses. You can’t use this property again until you • You cast silence centered on the target’s space.
finish a short or long rest.
When an effect is used, it can’t be used again until
Awakened you finish a short or long rest.
When the Circlet of Barbed Vision reaches an awak- Awakened
ened state, you gain the following benefits:
When Condemner reaches an awakened state, you
• You have resistance to poison damage, and you are gain the following benefits:
immune to the poisoned condition.
• The weapon’s bonus to attack and damage rolls
• Your ability to gain a bonus to an attack roll can be
increases to +2.
used twice between rests.
• The extra poison damage dealt by the weapon
increases to 1d6.
Exalted
• You gain an additional effect that can be triggered
When the Circlet of Barbed Vision reaches an in place of dealing damage when you hit with an
exalted state, you gain the following benefits: attack: You cast hold person on the target (save DC
• You are immune to poison damage. 15). This effect can’t be used again until you finish
• You have truesight out to a range of 60 feet. a short or long rest.
• Your ability to gain a bonus to an attack roll can be
used three times between rests. Exalted
When Condemner reaches an exalted state, you gain
Condemner the following benefits:
Weapon (heavy crossbow), legendary (requires • The weapon’s bonus to attack and damage rolls
attunement) increases to +3.
This shadow-touched hand crossbow once served • The extra poison damage dealt by the weapon
as the weapon of choice for the legendary assassin increases to 1d8.
Todora. Though few know this, Condemner is now • The save DC for the weapon’s hold person spell
in the possession of an equally infamous assassin increases to 17.
named Ixrattu Khar (see her statistics in chapter 6). • You gain an additional effect that can be triggered
in place of damage when you hit with an attack:
Dormant You cast the blight spell on the target (save DC 17).
When Condemner is in a dormant state, you gain a This effect can’t be used again until you finish a
+1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this short or long rest.
magic weapon. When you hit with an attack using
this weapon, the target takes an extra 1d4 poi- Deathwalker’s Ward
son damage. Armor (studded leather), legendary (requires
attunement)
This beautiful black leather armor is covered in intri-
cate scrollwork, and has a mantle bearing the black
feathers of the Matron of Ravens. Legends say that it
has been worn by a number of that deity’s champi-
ons over the centuries—most recently, Vax’ildan of
Vox Machina.
Dormant
When the Deathwalker’s Ward is in a dormant state,
you gain a +1 bonus to AC and you have advantage on
death saving throws while wearing the armor.
Condemner

Awakened for 10 minutes. Once this property is used, it can’t be
When the Deathwalker’s Ward reaches an awakened used again until you finish a short or long rest.
state, you gain the following benefits: Additionally, when a creature is killed by an attack
using this weapon, a six-foot-tall tree rapidly grows
• The AC bonus of the armor increases to +2.
out of the corpse over the next minute. The tree is
• While wearing the armor, you have resistance to
rooted in the ground to make the body difficult to
one of the following damage types of your choice:
move, but does not permanently damage the corpse
acid, cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, or poison. You
or its organs.
can change the damage type when you finish a
short rest. Awakened
When Fenthras reaches an awakened state, you gain
Exalted the following benefits:
When the Deathwalker’s Ward reaches an exalted
state, you gain the following benefits:
increases to +2. Additionally, when you hit with an
• The AC bonus of the armor increases to +3. attack using this weapon, the target takes an extra
• As a bonus action, you grow large black raven 1d4 lightning damage.
wings that grant you a flying speed of 60 feet and • When you hit with an attack using this weapon,
last for 1 hour. Once this property is used, it can’t you can declare it a bramble shot. The attack deals
be used again until you finish a long rest. an extra 3d8 piercing damage, and the target must
succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or
Fenthras become restrained by steely brambles that burst
Weapon (longbow), legendary (requires attunement) from the arrow. A restrained target can repeat the
This gorgeous longbow made of everbark from the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending
Fey Realm flexes and shifts like a living entity. It is the effect on itself on a success. Once this property
said to have been wielded by the legendary ranger is used, it can’t be used again until you finish a
Vex’ahlia against great evils. short or long rest.
Dormant Exalted
While Fenthras is in a dormant state, you gain a +1 When Fenthras reaches an exalted state, you gain
bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this the following benefits:
magic weapon. • The weapon’s bonus to attack and damage rolls
When you make an attack with Fenthras, you can increases to +3.
declare it an oracle shot, allowing you to experience • The extra lightning damage dealt by attacks using
the area around the arrow using your normal senses the bow increases to 1d6.
• You can declare a bramble shot twice between
rests, and the saving throw DC increases to 17.
Deathwalker's Ward
Fenthras

Honor’s Last Stand Rules Tip: Pushing and Shoving
Armor (shield), legendary (requires attunement by a Certain character options, such as the Path of the
creature of non-evil alignment) Juggernaut barbarian in chapter 4, grant the ability
to push other creatures around the battlefield with
This massive silvered shield bears the crest of the
your attacks. But this is just one way to push a crea-
Platinum Dragon and never tarnishes. Its metal is
ture. If you want to move a creature without hurting
always warm to the touch.
it, there’s a special shove attack available to all
Dormant characters. The Vestige of Divergence Honor’s Last
Stand encourages you to shove your foes away
While Honor’s Last Stand is in a dormant state, you
while you valiantly stand your ground.
gain a +1 bonus to AC while holding the shield. This
Shoving a Creature. Using the Attack action,
bonus is in addition to the shield’s normal bonus to
you can make a special melee attack to shove a
AC. You also can’t be knocked prone while bearing creature, either to knock it prone or push it away
this shield. from you. If you’re able to make multiple attacks
Awakened with the Attack action, this attack replaces one of
them. The target must be no more than one size
When Honor’s Last Stand reaches an awakened larger than you and must be within your reach.
state, you gain the following benefits: Instead of making an attack roll, you make a
• The shield’s bonus to AC increases to +2. Strength (Athletics) check contested by the target’s
• If you successfully shove a creature while holding Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check
this shield, that creature takes 2d6 force damage. (the target chooses the ability to use). If you win the
• When a creature within 5 feet of you misses you contest, you either knock the target prone or push
with an attack, you can attempt to shove that crea- it 5 feet away from you.
ture as a reaction.
Kiss of the Changebringer
Exalted
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)
When Honor’s Last Stand reaches an exalted state,
you gain the following benefits: A beautiful, glittering emerald is set within this silver
chain, humming with power and possibility. It is
• The shield’s bonus to AC increases to +3.
said that this amulet was stolen from the neck of the
• When you successfully shove a creature while
Changebringer herself by the Lord of the Hells, and
holding this shield, you can move it up to 15 feet
locked within the vaults of Bazzoxan in Wildemount.
away from you.
It was later claimed there by a group of Aurora
• As a bonus action, you can protect an ally within
Watch soldiers during an expedition into that grim
5 feet of you, granting that ally a +3 bonus to AC
fortress’s abandoned temples.
until the start of your next turn or until they are no
longer within 5 feet of you. Dormant
While the Kiss of the Changebringer is in a dormant
state, you have a +1 bonus to saving throws and are
immune to the grappled condition while wearing it.
Honor's Awakened
Last Stand When the Kiss of the Changebringer reaches an
awakened state, you gain the following benefits:
• The bonus to saving throws increases to +2.
• You are immune to the restrained condition.
• You can use an action to cast the blink spell on
yourself. This property of the amulet can’t be used
again until you finish a long rest.
Exalted
When the Kiss of the Changebringer reaches an
exalted state, you gain the following benefits:
• The bonus to saving throws increases to +3.
• You are immune to the paralyzed and petrified
conditions.

• When you make an attack roll, ability check, or sav- Awakened
ing throw, you can roll an additional d20. You can When Mythcarver reaches an awakened state, you
choose to do so after you make the attack roll, abil- gain the following benefits:
ity check, or saving throw, but before the outcome
is determined. You choose which of the d20s to use
increases to +2. Additionally, when you hit with an
for your roll. This property of the amulet can’t be
attack using this weapon, the target takes an extra
used again until you finish a short or long rest.
1d6 force damage.
• When you use your Bardic Inspiration to affect an
Mythcarver enemy while wielding this sword, that enemy has
Weapon (longsword), legendary (requires attunement disadvantage on their next saving throw.
by a bard)
This incredible silvered blade once belonged to the Exalted
legendary White Duke, a founding member of the When Mythcarver reaches an exalted state, you gain
Golden Grin, and many other master bards before the following benefits:
him. It resonates with nearby musical tones. In the • The weapon’s bonus to attack and damage rolls
modern era, it is best known as the personal weapon increases to +3.
of famed bard Scanlan Shorthalt. • As an action, you let the spirit of the sword over-
take your body and guide your strikes. You make 4
Dormant
melee attacks with the sword, then gain 1 level of
While Mythcarver is in a dormant state, you gain a exhaustion. Once this property is used, it can’t be
+1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this used again until you finish a long rest.
magic weapon. This longsword’s enchantments and
light construction also grant it the Finesse property,
which allows you to use either your Strength or Dex-
terity modifier for the attack and damage rolls when
making an attack with this weapon.
Additionally, when you target an ally with your
Bardic Inspiration feature, you gain advantage on
attacks with this weapon until the end of your turn. Though the name of the champion who
wielded Mythcarver has been lost, legend
says that the songs she sung in her beautiful
contralto made her friends rejoice and her
enemies weep with fear. Mythcarver was
forged in the flying city of Zemniaz by a
master arcanist and blacksmith along with
the wielder herself, who wove song and spell
into the blade with each fold of the metal.
—High Curator Jorum Irrelios,
circa 547 P.D.
Kiss of the
Changebringer
Mythcarver

Plate of the Dawnmartyr feet. Each enemy within 10 feet of you takes 2d6
fire damage or radiant damage (your choice). This
Armor (plate), legendary (requires attunement)
property of the armor can’t be used again until you
Beautiful silver scrollwork and priceless cut rubies finish a long rest.
adorn this set of brass-and-gold armor. Legend holds
that it was worn by Duana, High Priest of the Dawn- Pyremaul
father, when she was martyred in the Battle of Ghor
Weapon (maul), legendary (requires attunement)
Dranas in the final days of the Calamity. In more
recent times, it was worn by Pike Trickfoot, a legend- Forged from deep red iron, this massive hammer
ary cleric of the Everlight, while fighting against the is set with a brilliant fire opal that shimmers with
Chroma Conclave and the Whispered One. eternal flame. It is rumored to be currently wielded
by Grand Legate Phaestor, the fire giant ruler of Vul-
Dormant kanon, somewhere beneath the Cliffkeep Mountains.
While the Plate of the Dawnmartyr is in a dormant
state, you gain a +1 bonus to AC while wearing it. Dormant
When a creature within 5 feet of you hits you with While Pyremaul is in a dormant state, you gain a +1
a melee attack, you can use your reaction to rebuke bonus to attack rolls made with this magic weapon.
that creature, dealing it 1d6 fire damage. When you hit with an attack using this weapon, the
target takes an extra 1d6 fire damage.
Awakened Additionally, you can choose to have this weapon
When the Plate of the Dawnmartyr reaches an awak- shed bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for
ened state, you gain the following benefits: an additional 30 feet (no action required).
• The armor’s bonus to AC increases to +2. Awakened
• You are immune to the frightened condition.
When Pyremaul reaches an awakened state, you
• You have resistance to fire damage.
gain the following benefits:
• The fire damage you deal when you rebuke an
attacker increases to 2d6. • The weapon’s bonus to attack rolls increases to +2.
• The extra fire damage dealt by the weapon
Exalted increases to 2d6.
When the Plate of the Dawnmartyr reaches an • As an action, you can slam Pyremaul into the
exalted state, you gain the following benefits: ground to cast the burning hands spell at 2nd level
(save DC 15). You can’t use this property again
• The armor’s bonus to AC increases to +3.
until you finish a short or long rest.
• When you rebuke an attacker, you can choose to
• Whenever you score a critical hit with this weapon,
deal either fire damage or radiant damage.
the target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength sav-
• When you are reduced to 0 hit points, you can
ing throw or be knocked prone.
choose to have a blast of healing flame surround
you. You regain 1 hit point and are lifted to your
Pyremaul
Plate of the Dawnmartyr

Exalted Spire of Conflux
When Pyremaul reaches an exalted state, you gain Staff, legendary (requires attunement by a
the following benefits: spellcaster)
• The weapon’s bonus to attack rolls increases to +3. A powerful relic passed down from generation to
• The extra fire damage dealt by the weapon generation of Ashari leaders, the Spire of Conflux
increases to 3d6. was lost over three centuries ago when Joran the
• When you cast burning hands with the Sea-Speaker, a respected leader of the Water Ashari,
weapon, you do so at 3rd level and the save DC was devoured by a demon of the Abyss. It was redis-
increases to 17. covered by the legendary druid Keyleth of Zephrah,
• When you score a critical hit with this weapon, Voice of the Tempest. However, rumors swirl that
the saving throw to avoid being knocked prone she is seeking another hero to wield it—one who
increases to 17. You also roll an extra 3d6 fire can travel the land and do good in small ways as
damage when determining the extra damage for she once did
the critical hit.
• When you kill a creature with an attack using Dormant
this weapon, you can take 10d10 fire damage and While the Spire of Conflux is in a dormant state, the
immolate the creature’s corpse. This damage staff has 8 charges and regains 1d4 + 2 expended
can’t be reduced in any way, and you die if this charges daily at dawn. While holding the staff, you
damage reduces you to 0 hit points. The immolated can expend 1 or more of its charges to cast one of
creature and everything it is wearing and carrying, the following spells from it, using your spell save DC:
except magic items, are reduced to a pile of ash. burning hands (1 charge) or fireball (3 charges).
The creature can be restored to life only by means Additionally, while holding this staff, you have a
of a true resurrection or a wish spell. You can’t +1 bonus to spell attack rolls and your spell save DC
use this property of the maul again until 7 days increases by 1.
have passed.
Awakened
When the Spire of Conflux reaches an awakened
state, you gain the following benefits:
• The staff has 12 charges, and it regains 1d6 + 2
• You can also spend charges to cast the following
spells from the staff: conjure elemental (5 charges)
or ice storm (4 charges).
• When you cast a spell that deals bludgeoning, cold,
fire, lightning, or thunder damage and you roll a 1
on a damage die, you can reroll the die and must
use the new roll.
Records kept by the Birthheart temple
in Vasselheim say that the Spire of Exalted
Conflux was created when the Wild- When the Spire of Conflux reaches an exalted state,
mother breathed on a young beech you gain the following benefits:
tree. The sapling transformed into a • The staff has 20 charges, and it regains 1d6 + 4
curving staff and the Wildmother’s expended charges daily at dawn.
breath crystallized into the glowing • You can also spend charges to cast the following
jewel that hovers in its center. The spells from the staff: chain lightning (6 charges) or
bearer of this mythic staff can com- fire storm (7 charges)
mand the elements as if they were one • The bonus to spell attack rolls and your spell save
with the enduring, yet ever-changing, DC increases to +2.
landscape of Exandria itself….
—High Curator Jorum Irrelios,
circa 547 P.D. Spire of
Conflux

Star Razor Awakened
Weapon (longsword), legendary (requires When Star Razor reaches an awakened state, you
attunement) gain the following benefits:
The thick, grooved blade of this shining silver long- • The weapon’s bonus to attack and damage rolls
sword is lined with etched runes that sparkle blue in increases to +2.
the light. Star Razor—known also as Dwueth’var— • When a creature within 5 feet of you hits you with
was thought to have been destroyed or lost after the a melee attack, you can use your reaction to create
Calamity, but new rumors suggest that it might be a burst of radiance from the sword, dealing 1d8
wielded by a half-orc somewhere in Wildemount. radiant damage to the attacker.
• You can cast the see invisibility spell from the
Dormant sword as an action, and the save DC for spells cast
While Star Razor is in a dormant state, you can using the sword increases to 15.
hold this magic longsword and use a bonus action
to speak the command word Galas-var, causing the Exalted
sword to emit a pale blue glow that sheds bright light When Star Razor reaches an exalted state, you gain
in a 20-foot radius and dim light for an additional 20 the following benefits:
feet. This glow lasts until you use a bonus action to • The weapon’s bonus to attack and damage rolls
speak the command word again, or until you drop or increases to +3.
sheathe the sword. • The burst of radiance you can create as a reaction
• While this longsword is glowing, you gain a +1 when hit with a melee attack deals 1d12 radiant
bonus to attack and damage rolls made with damage, and you can immediately teleport to an
the weapon, and you have resistance to radi- unoccupied space you can see within 15 feet of you
ant damage. as part of the same reaction.
• You can cast the faerie fire spell from the weapon • You can cast the fly spell from the sword as an
as an action, requiring no components (save DC action, and the save DC for spells cast using the
13). Once a spell has been cast using Star Razor, sword increases to 17.
that spell can’t be cast from the sword until the
next dawn.
Many weapons created by mortals during the Age of

Arcanum were designed with hopes to surpass or even
destroy the gods, but not so with Dwueth’var. That shin-
ing sword, bright with the light of the bold full moon and
the enigmatic starlit night, was forged by acolytes of the
Wildmother and the Moonweaver, united in their love of
this fragile world and their determination to protect it.
—High Curator Jorum Irrelios, circa 547 P.D.
Star Razor

Titanstone Knuckles Whisper
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement) Weapon (dagger), legendary (requires attunement)
Carved from the heartstone of a slain earth primor- Forged with a mercurial metal accidentally drawn
dial, these gauntlets bestow immeasurable might to from the Realms Beyond, this dagger shimmers with
their wearer. In recent times, they were wielded by an unsettling sourceless light. It was once wielded
the legendary barbarian Grog Strongjaw, who con- by Vax’ildan, a legendary champion of the Matron of
tinues to use them as he seeks worthy challengers Ravens. Two raven feathers are linked to its pommel
across Tal’Dorei and Exandria. as a memento of its former bearer.
Dormant Dormant
While the Titanstone Knuckles are in a dormant While Whisper is in a dormant state, you gain a +1
state, your Strength score becomes 22 while you bonus to attack and damage rolls made with this
wear these gauntlets. Additionally, your weapon magic weapon.
attacks deal double damage to objects and Additionally, when you score a critical hit with this
structures. dagger, the target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom
saving throw or become frightened of you for 1 min-
Awakened ute. On a success, the target is immune to this effect
When the Titanstone Knuckles reach an awakened for 24 hours.
state, they gain the following properties:
• Your Strength score becomes 24. Awakened
• You can use an action to cast the enlarge/reduce When Whisper reaches an awakened state, you gain
spell from the gauntlets on yourself (enlarge only), the following benefits:
with a duration of 10 minutes. This property of • The weapon’s bonus to attack and damage rolls
the gauntlets can’t be used again until you finish a increases to +2. Additionally, when you hit with an
long rest. attack using this dagger, the target takes an extra
1d6 psychic damage.
Exalted • The DC to resist being frightened from a critical
When the Titanstone Knuckles reach an exalted hit increases to 15.
state, they gain the following properties:
• Your Strength score becomes 26.
• While you are under the effect of the enlarge/
reduce spell cast by the gauntlets, you have resis-
tance to cold, fire, lightning, and thunder damage.
Whisper
Titanstone
Knuckles

Exalted In addition, when you finish a short or long rest,
When Whisper reaches an exalted state, you gain the you gain a number of temporary hit points equal to
following benefits: your total number of ki points.
• The weapon’s bonus to attack and damage rolls Awakened
increases to +3, and the extra psychic damage it When the Wraps of Dyamak reach an awakened
deals increases to 1d8. state, they gain the following properties:
• The DC to resist being frightened from a critical
hit increases to 17. • The bonus to attack and damage rolls with your
• When this dagger is used to make a ranged attack, unarmed strike increases to +2.
you can choose to transform into shadow and • You can cast the misty step spell from the wraps
merge with the blade as part of the action used as a bonus action, vanishing in a cloud of crimson
to attack, teleporting to another location. If the mist. This property of the wraps can’t be used
attack hits, you appear in an unoccupied space of again until you finish a short or long rest, or until
your choice within 5 feet of the target. If the attack you score a critical hit with an unarmed strike
misses, you appear where the GM determines the against a hostile creature.
dagger lands (typically within 1d6 × 5 feet of the
target). In either case, you appear with the dagger
Exalted
in your hand. When the Wraps of Dyamak reach an exalted state,
they gain the following properties:
Wraps of Dyamak • The bonus to attack and damage rolls with your
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement unarmed strike increases to +3.
by a monk) • When you hit with an unarmed strike, you can
choose to make the attack a ravenous strike. The
Created and wielded by the ancient warrior-monk target takes an extra 6d6 necrotic damage, and you
Dyamak, these thick strips of enchanted cloth regain hit points equal to the amount of necrotic
are stained to appear dark crimson with blood of damage dealt. This property of the wraps can’t be
unknown origin. The current resting place of the used again until you finish a long rest, or until you
wraps is unknown. score a critical hit with an unarmed strike against
Dormant a hostile creature.
When the Wraps of Dyamak are in a dormant state,
you gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made Optional Campaign
with your unarmed strike while wearing them. Rules
Every campaign embarks on its heroic tale in its
own way. Simple beginnings for a ragtag lot of
sellswords. Students of the world falling in with the
wrong crowd. Unwitting pawns of destiny thrust into
plots much larger than themselves. However you
wish to formulate your story and world—whether as
player or GM—the rules of the game can help set a
clear vision of how to run a campaign with consis-
tency and intended design.
That being said, sometimes the experienced
group wishes to add some new flavor to the existing
structure of the gaming world. You can bring in new
options for old rules, or adjust to a more advanced
level of difficulty in a mystical world where danger—
and even death—can be easily circumvented. This
section outlines a number of homebrew rules and
guidelines that any campaign can adopt to further
customize the gaming experience, and which can fit
in especially well with a Tal’Dorei campaign.
As with any homebrew or nonstandard rules
and options, any of the options presented here
Wraps of that appeal to the players should be approved and
Dyamak implemented by the Game Master. Likewise, Game
Masters should discuss the possible inclusion of

any of these options with players beforehand, to Harrowing Return
ensure that everyone will have fun with the intended In games that use this house rule, the process of a
changes. Talk these options over and make sure character dying and being pulled back into their body
everyone is aware of and fully understands the becomes a traumatic experience. The magic that
new rules. pulls the spirit from beyond the dark veil of death
takes a toll on that spirit each time, changing a per-
Accelerated Rests son in unexpected and profound ways.
Certain adventures thrive on the adrenaline of This rule is best for campaigns with dark and
the chase or the ever-present fear of ambush. As horrific themes. It adds a dose of grim bleakness
it stands, the need to take a short rest can prove that might not feel at home in epic and heroic stories.
difficult during long dungeon crawls, and this lends Players and GMs who want to make use of this rule
itself to a nice tone of personal stress and risk versus should talk about it beforehand, and if any player
reward. However, sometimes a rest is necessary for says no or doesn’t offer enthusiastic support, it’s best
the party to continue, even if the current rush of the to not use it. It’s also important for GMs to check in
story’s clock won’t allow for the hour that a short rest with the players whenever this rule comes into play,
requires. just to make sure everyone is still having fun with the
One way to make short rests less intrusive is to darker themes.
let characters take one in a reduced amount of time. When a character is brought back to life by any
If the characters have only 10 minutes to spare, let spell other than true resurrection, that character
them take a 10-minute short rest. If they have half must make a Wisdom saving throw with a DC
an hour to spare, let them take a short rest in 30 equal to 22 − the level of the spell used to return
minutes. This fits the game mechanics to the story’s the character to life. On a failure, the character’s
narrative, rather than the other way around. experience of death and the afterlife exacts a heavy
In a campaign that implements this option, a char- toll, determined by rolling on the Harrowing Return
acter must finish a long rest before they can take an table. The consequence lasts until the GM rules that
accelerated short rest again. the character has resolved it. Consequences with no
clear resolution last for 1d10 × 10 days, after which
Arduous Rally the player decides how their character overcame
If fudging game mechanics to support the cam- it. Or, to make a campaign even darker, the players
paign’s narrative doesn’t feel right for your group, and the GM can agree that these consequences last
the characters can potentially make use of the option indefinitely.
to take an arduous rally instead of a short rest. This Alternatively, rather than rolling on the table,
involves one or more characters spending 5 minutes a player and a GM can work together to choose a
to rally their resolve in the face of coming peril, consequence that creates an interesting story for the
letting their adrenaline fuel the need to push on. A character. Such a consequence might tie to the char-
character who undertakes an arduous rally gains the acter’s backstory, the themes of the campaign, or the
benefit of a short rest, but any hit points restored by circumstances under which the character died.
spending Hit Dice are halved. Moreover, the charac- A remove curse spell temporarily suppresses a
ter gains one level of exhaustion. consequence of being brought back from the dead,
but the consequence returns each time the character
Alternative drops to 0 hit points or finishes a long rest, until the
consequence is resolved.
Resurrection Rules
Character death often becomes no more than a O lady of cold winters and the long night of all souls.
minor inconvenience in some campaigns. Once O harbinger of all ends and eternal sentinel of the final
an adventuring party reaches a certain level, the threshold. I entreat you—nay, I beseech you! You bear
spells available to return fallen comrades from the within your grasp the soul of one whose fate has not yet
afterlife—including revivify, raise dead, and resurrec-
reached its end. Bear witness, O queen of night-black
tion—make death no more than a temporary setback,
feathers; turn your divine gaze to the golden bonds that
potentially undermining one of the most significant
elements of danger and threat in the campaign story. tie the living to the departed.
For players and GMs who wish to elevate the gravity The tears of a brother, who weeps without shame.
of character death, the optional rules in this section The blade of a lover, who grieves she did not die while
offer three different approaches. holding it in battle alongside you. A portrait painted by
a mother, of an infant, untouched by the sorrows of the
world. O Matron of Death, I plead to you—hear their
cries! Let not this warrior’s fate end here.
—Valiq, cleric of the Matron of Ravens

Harrowing Return d10 Consequence
d10 Consequence 6 Hunger for Death. Once per day, you or the
1 Call of the Grave. An angel of death is GM must decide that you use the follow-
obsessed with your fleeting spirit, and wants ing reaction: When you see a creature you
you back. When you roll initiative at the start perceive as hostile or potentially hostile and
of combat, make a death saving throw. On a your distance to that creature is equal to or
failed save, the GM chooses an undead crea- less than your speed, you immediately and
ture with a CR equal to your level or lower. aggressively move your speed toward that
It appears at a point 120 feet away from creature, then make one melee attack against
you and joins the combat against you. The it. You have advantage on the attack roll if
creature knows where you are at all times your attack is unexpected.
and pursues you unerringly. It vanishes when 7 Opaque Thoughts. You obsessively recall
reduced to 0 hit points, when you die, or after the sensation of life tearing you from the jaws
10 minutes. of death. These ever-present memories fill
2 Memories from the Beyond. The memory your mind, making you immune to any effect
of death lingers. At the end of each long that would sense your emotions or read your
rest, describe how your character has tried thoughts. Likewise, other creatures have dis-
to forget what dying felt like, then make a advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks made
Wisdom saving throw with a DC set by the to ascertain your intentions.
GM based on your answer. On a failed save, 8 Unearthly Awareness. Your ordeal left a
you gain one level of exhaustion that lasts mark upon your soul, which now shudders in
until you are subject to greater restoration the presence of the undead. You know when-
or similar magic, or until you spend 30 days ever an undead creature is within 30 feet of
in focused downtime to make peace with you, and you don’t have disadvantage on
your memories. attacks against invisible undead within this
3 Obscure Purpose. A greater power allowed range. This constant awareness is distract-
you to come back for a reason. This might ing, however, and you have disadvantage on
be a god such as the Matron of Ravens that Intelligence (Investigation) and Wisdom (Per-
you can now commune with, or an obscure ception) checks while any undead creature is
supernatural being. This consequence might within 30 feet of you.
be an opportunity to become a cleric or 9 Bond of Vengeance. You have returned as
paladin of this god, or to take levels in the a revenant, bearing an unquenchable spark
warlock class. Alternatively, if you choose of hatred for the creature that killed you.
not to swear a covenant with this entity, or if As an action, you can focus on this spark to
you disobey their requests, roll again on this immediately learn the distance and direction
table. You suffer the new consequences until to any creature that has killed you. If that
you adhere to the purpose of this entity or creature is on a different plane, you learn only
find a way to rid yourself of their attention. that information. If a creature that killed you
4 Persistent Wounds. Whenever you fail a dies, you immediately know. If you are within
death saving throw, your hit point maximum is 120 feet of a creature that killed you, you
reduced by 2d10 until you finish a long rest. If have disadvantage on attack rolls against any
your hit point maximum is reduced to 0 in this other creature.
way, you die. 10 Never Again. You don’t fall unconscious
5 Secret Face. You are no longer you, but a when reduced to 0 hit points. Instead, you
chaotic evil shapechanger who has taken remain conscious until you end your turn
your place. You play this duplicate and without having attacked a creature or cast
use your original game statistics until the a spell of 1st level or higher. While you have
duplicate is killed or until this consequence 0 hit points, you have advantage on attack
is otherwise overcome. The GM determines rolls, your attacks deal an extra 1d10 damage
where your soul is actually being held on a hit, and attack rolls made against you
captive—possibly in the afterlife for which have disadvantage. You make death saving
you were intended, or in your double’s throws as normal, including suffering a failure
malign realm. when you take damage. Additionally, when-
ever you take damage while at 0 hit points,
your hit point maximum is reduced by an
amount equal to the damage until you finish a
long rest.

• The DC is increased by 1 for each failed contribu-
Like all of the great rites of passage in life, death tion to the ritual.
changes us. Simply returning to the world of the If the resurrection check is successful, the char-
living does not undo that change, nor is it at all acter’s soul is returned to their body (if the soul is
simple. Those who have passed beyond the veil willing, as usual). If the check fails, the soul does not
are marked by it, even if they manage to find return—and the character is permanently unable to
their way back. be raised from the dead.
True Miracles. If a character is brought back
—From “Unfinished Rites,” by Claret
from the dead by the true resurrection or the wish
Director Ged Narrel spell, or by a god, they instantly return to life without
the need for a resurrection ritual. Additionally, if a
Fading Spirits character has been permanently lost due to a failed
This house rule is used in the Critical Role lives- resurrection ritual, the GM can allow a casting of
tream to increase the emotional stakes of bringing true resurrection or wish to begin a last-chance res-
a beloved friend back from the dead. It also adds the urrection ritual—one that can’t be repeated if failed.
ever-increasing threat of losing a friend permanently Revivify. If a spell with a casting time of 1 action
to the game, even with the aid of miraculous magic. is used to restore life to a creature (including the
If magic is used to bring a character back from the revivify spell), no one but the caster can participate
dead (except for the revivify spell; see below), every- in the resurrection ritual. The caster makes a quick
one present becomes part of a resurrection ritual. Up resurrection check by rolling a d20 and adding their
to three characters present for the ritual—typically spellcasting ability modifier, against a DC equal to
members of the deceased’s adventuring party—can 10 + 1 for every time the character has returned to
contribute to the ritual by attempting to call their life before. On a failure, the character’s soul is not
ally’s spirit back. This could involve delivering a lost, but the resurrection fails and increases the
stirring speech, playing a song from their shared DC of any future resurrection checks by 1. Further
childhood, goading a rival back with a display of attempts to bring the character back to life must
sword skills, confessing undying love for them, or involve a spell with a casting time longer than 1
anything else that the players or the GM consider action (including raise dead or resurrection).
emotionally stirring.
Participating in the Ritual. Each of the partici- Taxing Return
pating characters makes an ability check. A player
In a campaign that uses this house rule, whenever
can tell the GM what kind of check they want to
a character is restored to life, the process corrodes
make, but ultimately the GM decides what check is
a fraction of their vitality, slowly consuming the
appropriate based on the character’s contribution
body until it can no longer sustain life. Each time
to the ritual. The baseline DC of this check is 15,
a character is brought back to life by a spell other
but the GM can raise or lower the DC (typically any-
than true resurrection, that character’s Constitution
where between 10 and 20) if the contribution seems
score is permanently reduced by 1. This loss can’t be
particularly appropriate or particularly insincere.
restored except by use of a wish spell. A character
For example, praying to a fallen paladin’s god for
whose Constitution score is reduced to 0 in this way
mercy might require a participant to make a DC
dies permanently and can’t be returned to life by
10 Intelligence (Religion) check, whereas shouting any means.
at a dead friend’s corpse to get back up and stop
lazing around might require a DC 20 Charisma
(Intimidation) check. If the contribution is roleplayed Rapid Quaffing
in a particularly touching way, the GM can grant This house rule lets characters grab and drink a
advantage on the check—even if the check’s DC potion as a bonus action, enabling them to heal or
remains high. buff up in combat without sacrificing their primary
Resurrection Check. After all the characters’ con- attacks or spellcasting to do so. (This applies to ene-
tributions are completed, the GM rolls a single, final mies and NPCs as well as player characters!)
resurrection check with no modifier. The base DC of Using this house rule, you can use a bonus action
this check is 10, but it is modified in three ways: to drink a potion yourself. It still requires an action
• The DC is increased by 1 for every time the to administer a potion to another creature. You can
character has returned to life before, as the soul’s also choose to only apply this house rule to potions of
connection to this world is slowly eroded by repeat- healing and their variants (potion of greater healing,
edly dying and returning. etc.). In this less powerful version of the house rule,
• The DC is reduced by 3 for each successful contri- you can consume a potion that restores hit points as
bution from the other participants in this ritual. a bonus action, but all other potions still require you
to use your action.

Chapter 6
Allies and Adversaries of Tal’Dorei
The lands of Tal’Dorei are filled with people and minds of humanoid creatures. But even such “lesser
monsters prepared to ambush adventurers, barter minds” can understand that an aboleth’s purpose
with entrepreneurial explorers, and forge alliances is the psychic domination of all life, for the lives of
with charismatic characters—or at least with those other creatures have no value to it.
willing to pay. Aboleths can be found throughout the under-
The first part of this chapter is a discussion of just ground waterways of Tal’Dorei, typically living in
some of the many types of creatures a GM might isolation with only their thralls for company. These
use as NPCs in a Tal’Dorei campaign (including aberrations are loath to work together, for their
creatures of the races presented in chapter 4). The perfect memories never permit them to forget a
second part of the chapter is a bestiary with game grudge. It is fortunate that these arrogant creatures
statistics for new NPCs and monsters unique to are all but incapable of cooperation, for if their
Tal’Dorei and other parts of Exandria. genius-level intellects were united, they might well be
unstoppable.
Nonplayer Creatures During the Age of Arcanum, an aboleth empire
covered the length and breadth of Tal’Dorei’s subter-
Tal’Dorei is filled with non-humanoid beings that ranean world. This dominion’s heart was Salar, the
leave their mark on the world even if they typically Unseeable City (see page 142). Though Salar is
don’t go on adventures in dungeons or journey across naught but a ruin in the Crystalfen Caverns beneath
the world on epic quests. The types of creatures in Emon now, aboleths still journey there in hopes of
this section are those who the player characters can finding some remnant of their lost glory. Salar is
encounter on their adventures as either friends or little more than legend to the world above—but even
foes. Many of these creatures are fully described in though few have seen it and survived, the Unseeable
the fifth edition rules. The lore here simply covers City is no myth. Some arcanists even speculate that
how they function in the world of Exandria. the lingering psychic footprint of the ruined city is
The creatures in this section include many not what drew the first Issylran settlers to the area, and
meant to be used as player characters in a typical what inspired them to build Emon above it.
campaign, including those with non-humanoid physi-
ology (such as centaurs), large size (including giants),
or alien minds (aboleths and the like). But many
Catfolk
other creatures of Exandria are suitable for player The catfolk of Tal’Dorei are as widespread and as
character use even if they don’t have statistics in the variable in shape and color as the cats they resem-
fifth edition core rules. Creatures such as minotaurs, ble. They usually live solitary lives, claiming small
gnolls, and the many humanoids with animal-like territories to call their own, though some catfolk live
traits ranging from eagles to elephants can be used as small family units with little conflict. Moreover,
as player characters if players and Game Masters are their feline instinct for solitude doesn’t get in the
willing to put in the effort to make them work in a way of catfolk interacting with other people around
campaign. The same is technically true for creatures them. Indeed, many catfolk are highly social around
like dragons, fey, and giants, but their size and innate others, safe in the knowledge that they can retreat
powers can make it difficult for them to be members to a solitude promising safety and calm whenever
of a balanced adventuring party. they need to.
No consistent creation myth exists for these
Aboleths people, who can be found living as cave dwellers
in the Cliffkeep Mountains, as city folk with their
Vile, intelligent, and imbued with corrupting psychic own private flats in Emon, as cunning trackers and
abilities, aboleths are three-eyed piscine beings that community builders in the Rifenmist Jungle, and
lurk in watery grottos deep beneath the surface of more. Generally, catfolk believe that their kind were
Exandria. These aberrations are irredeemably evil, all once normal animals, transformed by incredible
and all who attempt diplomacy with an aboleth end magic in the ancient past. This transformation might
up as their food—or worse, their mindless thralls. have been a gift from the gods when magic washed
Most aboleths grandiloquently claim that they have over the world during the Age of Arcanum, or when
no notion of morality, but only an inexorable sense Exandria trembled beneath the divine powers
of purpose that is utterly inscrutable to the lesser unleashed in the Calamity.
Chapter 6: Allies and Adversaries of Tal’Dorei 217

Centaurs mortal people of Exandria survive the turbulence of
the Founding. But since those days, most metallic
During the Calamity, many elves fled into the Fey dragons have vanished from the world, leaving their
Realm to escape that terrible war. One elven tribe kindness and virtue to linger on in myth and legend
that remained on Exandria to fight alongside their rather than the chronicles of history.
gods were known as the Horselords of Laphithas. On clear days, a lucky traveler might look up to
The elves of Laphithas rode alongside the Arch the blue skies of the Dividing Plains and feel their
Heart against the mortal servants of the Ruiner, but heart thump faster at the sight of sun glinting off
the entire tribe was slain in a burst of chaotic magic silvery wings high above the world. For the most
when the Arch Heart stabbed the Ruiner through part, though, those metallic dragons who remain
one eye. The overflowing power of the wounded god in the world use their shapechanging magic to live
merged these elves’ mortal bodies with the bodies of among humanoids, watching quietly from the back-
their steeds even as they died. ground and gently nudging people in the direction of
The Arch Heart rewarded the elves of Laphithas prosperity. After all, the Platinum Dragon’s creations
by reviving them as centaurs, who would ride across still look upon mortals as their charges—but times
the Dividing Plains forever free of war. Centaurs have changed. Mortals are now too numerous for the
have long since diverged from their elven ancestry, scant remaining metallic dragons to guide them as
viewing themselves as a people all their own. Still, they once did. But a watchful observer can see the
some centaurs throw their arms wide to the elves of ills of society and whisper a word of caution into the
Syngorn as long-lost cousins, even as others nurture ear of a mortal who might do something about it.
an ancient grudge against them for fleeing when Lest any forget, the metallic dragons are not all
their people’s need was greatest. Many of the centaur friends to mortalkind. For some of these protectors
herds of the plains are incredibly faithful, worshiping of the small, time has caused them to grow selfish
the Arch Heart with a fervor unknown even among and disillusioned with their creator’s commandment.
the elves. These venal metallic dragons use their silver tongues
Centaurs share an origin with orcs (see page and sterling reputations to manipulate mortals.
162), who were also originally elves before being
changed by the conflict between the Arch Heart and Chromatic Dragons
the Ruiner. Many centaurs and orcs of the Divid- Fire, acid, poison, ice, and lightning rained dev-
ing Plains see one another as kindred, but just as astation upon the world when the Betrayer God
with real family, this bond can engender feelings known as the Scaled Tyrant created the unparalleled
of intense affection or equally intense hatred—or warriors that would serve her whims. The greed and
simply indifference. The circumstances of their lives malice of chromatic dragons are the stuff of count-
determine the way orcs and centaurs feel about one less legends—as are the mountains of gold and other
another, though their kinship brings them into fre- treasures amassed within their lairs.
quent contact either way. Dozens of cruel chromatic dragons lurk in the
darkest depths of the forests, the highest mountain
Dragons peaks, and the most arid, barren wastelands of
Dragons have existed in Tal’Dorei since the Found- Tal’Dorei. Though the devastation of the Chroma
ing, when these mighty beings were created by the Conclave is not yet three decades past, scores of
Platinum Dragon and the Scaled Tyrant to protect adventurers have chosen to forget the horror of
their interests on the Material Plane. All folk of seeing flesh melt from bone beneath Umbrasyl’s
Tal’Dorei know the power of dragons, and many peo- acid breath, or beholding scores choke in Raishan’s
ple have witnessed it firsthand. Even the youngest poison fumes. Those adventurers now seek glory by
humanoid victims of the Chroma Conclave’s attack hunting young and ambitious chromatic dragons,
on Emon are old enough now to be parents, and to and claiming their nascent treasure hoards.
have passed down tales of the terror that filled the At the same time, not all chromatic dragons cling
city’s streets as doom rained down from above. to the ways of their creator. A number of such drag-
ons witnessed the horrors unleashed by the Cinder
Metallic Dragons King and his minions, and recoiled in disgust.
Though countless popular stories tell of heroic war- Tales are told of how Westruun was the beneficiary
riors slaying evil, greedy, and monstrous dragons, of a donation of over fifty thousand gold pieces
the oldest legends of dragonkind speak of their roles from a mysterious young red dragon who suppos-
as benevolent protectors of the weak. In the time of edly admired the Cinder King’s ambition, but was
the world’s beginning, the Platinum Dragon created appalled by his flagrant disregard for life.
beings in his image, with scales of shining metal and
kindly hearts. Those metallic dragons helped the

Driders
The Betrayer God known as the Spider Queen was
one of the first casualties of the Calamity—impaled
by the Stormlord’s thunderspear before her dark elf
soldiers ever saw battle. Her blood, thick and silvery,
seeped into the earth and pooled in the sunless
caverns beneath Exandria. In the centuries that
followed her defeat, these pools of divine blood were
discovered by the Spider Queen’s most loyal dark elf
servants, and they drank deeply.
The blood of the Spider Queen granted these
drow the goddess’s terrible power, and warped their
bodies into forms that are half-spider, half-elf. Called
driders, these beings grew in number as more and
more drow accepted this gift. In time, the pools of
divine blood began to run dry, and the driders found
themselves tormented by its absence. They now
roam the caverns and tunnels beneath Exandria,
desperately searching for hidden pools of the sil-
ver nectar.
Fey
People don’t discover the fey; rather, the fey discover
people. Though enchanted forests are their favored
domain, fey folk can be found wherever the power
of nature is strong—even a flower garden in the
middle of Emon. Of course, Emonian scholars
endlessly debate whether the fey typically come to an
enchanted forest because of its magic, or whether the
magic of such sites blooms because of the fey. The
answers to such mysteries are known to the Archfey,
of course—but they don’t like spilling secrets.
The Fey Realm is a place of intense emotion.
There, happiness becomes elation, anger becomes
fury, and passions become obsessions. The very
shapes of the fey are defined by their innermost
feelings, and even fey siblings can take different
forms based on what they feel most strongly about.
Two daughters of pixie parents are just as likely to be
a sprite and a satyr if one sister is drawn to war and
the other to revelry. And though uncommon, it is not
unheard of for a fey to completely and spontaneously
change form after a life-altering event. Since most
fey live for upward of three centuries, a particularly
unstable fey might take a dozen forms over the
course of their life, wildly changing their physical
form, voice, gender, likes and dislikes, and more.
Though the fey are beings of chaos and change,
one immutable factor of fey life is that all are
beholden to the Archfey. The immortal and impe-
rious rulers of feykind, the Archfey rarely travel to
Exandria, instead spending their time scheming
against each other and plotting elaborate political
intrigues. When mortals enter their realm, the
Archfey take notice and often spy on them in person,
using clever disguises and misdirection to keep

those mortals from disrupting the Archfey’s own ritualistically tear out one eye to emulate their
maneuvering. Vox Machina was once pursued by rulers. Zealous hill giant worshipers of the Ruiner
Lord Artagan of the Morncrown, a jovial Archfey sometimes do the same, with that god granting them
who finds the incursions of mortals more amusing power to survive in exchange for ever-increasing
than distressing. And there are rumors that Artagan sacrifices.
has made his presence known on the Material Plane Cyclopes, ogres, and hill giants who turn to cor-
as well, as a mysterious being known as the Traveler rupting magic to help them survive lives of hunger
(see page 42). and exile sometimes tumble into a cycle of cruelty
The mages of the Arcana Pansophical have con- and devotion to evil powers from which there is no
firmed the identities of three other Archfey, though escape. Their minds and bodies are warped beyond
little else is known about them. They include Lord recognition, turning them into trolls or oni. These
Saundor the Forsaken, the reportedly deceased giants gain tremendous power but lose any sense
Master of the Shademurk; Lady Elmenore the of compassion. Such corrupted giants typically live
Unforgiving, High Warqueen of the Burning Vale and selfishly, and try to transform lowborn enclaves into
Matriarch of the Seelie Court; and Potentate Sam- their own personal armies of conquest.
manar, They-Who-Walk-Unseen, keeper of the Sun’s
Shadow and Master of the Unseelie Court. Addition- Highborn Giants
ally, a spy of the Arcana Pansophical traveling in the The humanoid peoples of Tal’Dorei divide the high-
Fey Realm is said to have uncovered rumors of the born giants into five types: cloud, fire, frost, stone,
existence of an Archfey known as the Keeper of the and storm. These giants are considered one people
Moontides, or simply the Keeper. Since delivering divided into different cultures, having adopted differ-
her first report, however, this spy has not been heard ent magics, fighting styles, and codes of ethics and
from again. law. Highborn giants are proud of their ability to look
their kin in the eye as equals, making it ironic how
Giantkin few of them acknowledge the caste divide between
highborn and lowborn.
Some Issylran myths and legend speak of the giants
The hill giants were once considered highborn,
as the precursors to humanity, calling them the
but were stripped of their nobility and exiled by the
gods’ failed attempts to create what would become
Council of Seven Scepters, and their culture has
humankind. Other tales suggest that the giants are
long since fallen into ruin.
what became of humans who tried to ascend to god-
Cloud Giants. These lofty giants are denizens of
hood, making bargains with fiends and imbibing the
Jovatthon, the Castle of Thunder. This mighty city-
elemental essences of primordial spirits.
state flies invisibly above Tal’Dorei, enshrouded in
Regardless of their connection to humanoids,
thick storm clouds and tracing a clockwise circular
giants have longed dwelled far from humanoid cities
route around the continent that avoids its cloudless,
and settlements. The so-called highborn giantkin
arid heartland. The cloud giants are ruled by two
stay isolated because they believe humanoids to be
wedded monarchs, currently a City-King in charge
warlike, foolish, and untrustworthy. The lowborn
of domestic affairs, and a War-King tasked with
giants who hold a place below the highborn are
the defense of Jovatthon against dragons and other
reclusive because humanoid legends paint them as
highborn giants. The current City-King is a stern,
terrible monsters to be hunted and slain.
fearsome ruler named Ardokles, while the War-King
Giants have a natural life span of about 300 years,
is a much more charismatic and beloved general
though lives of hardship and toil mean that lowborn
named Vasilios.
giants rarely live past 200 years. Highborn giants
Fire Giants. These subterranean giants dwell
in their isolated and idyllic cities usually live full
in the same tunnels as drow and duergar, typically
lives and die of old age more than any other cause—
beneath volcanically active mountain ranges whose
though highborn politics can be cutthroat, and
natural magma fuels their forges. The heart of fire
assassination has ended the long life of many a giant
giant civilization is the city-state of Vulkanon, located
over the centuries.
within the deep magma tubes beneath the Cliffkeep
Lowborn Giants Mountains. Though their citadels are spacious and
vast, many fire giants have a perpetually stooped pos-
Ogres, cyclopes, and hill giants occupy the lowest
ture due to the low clearance of their underground
rungs of giant society. The highborn keep them at
homes. They are masters of the forge, and have
arm’s length, using them as a sort of barrier between
been known to occasionally ally with the duergar of
humanoid and giant civilizations. The lowborn band
the Emberhold to produce some of the finest arms
together, forming tight-knit social groups that must
ever seen in Tal’Dorei. Weapons of Vulkanon steel
fight and forage to survive. Cyclopes typically rule
are prized by mercenaries across the continent, as
lowborn settlements, and some hill giant warriors

much for their value as status symbols as their worth Storm Giants. The most mysterious of all the
in combat. highborn, the storm giants are rarely seen even by
The ruler of Vulkanon, the Grand Legate Phaestor, other giantkin. Their flying city-state of Tempestar
has long dreamed of expanding his empire, and the was destroyed by an unknown force centuries ago,
fire giants’ duergar allies have granted them a strate- and all the glories of their realm were cast into the
gic foothold in Tal’Dorei’s darkest depths. Fire giants Lucidian Ocean, hundreds of miles off the coast.
might prove to be a dangerous enemy to the folk of Storm giants now live solitary lives, calling no other
the surface world—but they might also be a fierce giants their neighbors, and caring only for them-
ally in the fight against the aberrations lurking in the selves and their families.
depths, including the aboleths of Salar. Centuries have passed since Tempestar was last
Frost Giants. Few beings can survive the Nev- the seat of the Council of Seven Scepters, yet the
erfields, the frozen wasteland north of the Cliffkeep otherwise-reclusive storm giant leader, Sea Dreamer
Mountains. But the frost giants, riding on the backs Galadawna, has never missed a meeting of the coun-
of chitinous remorhaz and woolly mammoths, have cil. Though she takes little interest in the day-to-day
risen to be the undisputed rulers of this frigid land. minutiae of highborn society, she ensures that the
Though their people are mostly nomadic reavers other giant leaders never forget about her people—or
led by petty jarls, they all swear fealty to High King the thunderous might of their sorcerers.
Jorskymmar, who rules from the fortress-city of Council of Seven Scepters. The highborn are
Jotunborg. united by a democratic council that convenes annu-
The frost giants of Jotunborg are renowned for ally for one week in the tallest spire of Jovatthon,
their ability to tame the fearsome beasts of the the cloud giant citadel. The ruler of each giant
Neverfields—including the white dragons that haunt civilization—including the two rulers of the cloud
the skies of that land. This skill and their knack for giants—have a seat on the council, though that seat
surviving in an inhospitable realm has made the is sometimes taken by a highly placed ambassador or
giants of Jotunborg a pious people, and most pray representative of the ruler. When the council meets,
to the Wildmother for safety before crossing the ice its members deliberate on how best to maintain
fields. Some giants who have suffered near-death peace and prosperity. For even as they do their best
experiences, whether being trapped beneath an icy to maintain a safe distance from the humanoid peo-
lake or smothered by an avalanche, clandestinely ples of Tal’Dorei, the last thing the highborn giants
join one of the cults of the Chained Oblivion, seeking desire is infighting among themselves.
solace in the inevitability of eternal cold. Two of the seven thrones of the council have
Stone Giants. Few things are more striking than remained empty for generations. Hillqueen
the sight of a stone giant atop a mountain peak, Ovam’mura refused to relinquish her scepter when
silhouetted against the sun. Some mountain climb- her hill giant people were banished from the ranks
ers fortunate enough to see such a sight become of the highborn, and the Scepter of Wodensdottr
convinced that they have gazed upon the Dawnfa- has gathered dust in Jovatthon’s vaults since Woden,
ther himself. Stone giants are happy to encourage demigod of the storm, abandoned the storm giants
such rumors, for it makes their existence seem after the fall of Tempestar. Though the Sea Dreamer
more like myth than fact. These reclusive highborn of Tempestar has never missed a gathering of the
giantkin live in fortresses carved from the peaks of council, she has thus far refused to reclaim her
mountains. Their greatest stronghold is Skyanchor throne or scepter, and the responsibilities that come
Citadel, a city hidden within a peak of the Alabaster with both.
Sierras, its halls winding from the mountain’s deep-
est roots to its highest summit. Gnolls
Stone giant culture holds physical perfection
As their canine appearance suggests, gnolls are
as the greatest of all virtues, and stone giants are
descended from hyenas that once roamed the Divid-
obsessed with physical appearance and feats of
ing Plains. A pack of these creatures was caught in
strength. But unlike the lowborn giantkin who have
the divine eminence of a Demon Prince that did bat-
grown strong and resilient out of struggle, stone
tle in the Calamity. When the nimbus of that demon’s
giants see physical power as an abstract virtue, best
unholy power faded, the beasts were transformed.
used in sporting events. A quadrennial tournament
Today, most gnolls are nomadic groups led by a
of prowess called the Sky Queen’s Favor is held in
matriarch and her mate. Many people of the Dividing
coliseums atop Skyanchor, and highborn giants from
Plains see gnolls as demonic monsters, and are
across Tal’Dorei gather there to compete in tests
driven to acts of cruelty against them by their fear.
of strength, agility, and endurance. Even the stone
Nevertheless, many gnoll clans live side by side with
giants’ humanoid kin, the half-giant goliaths, are
the other humanoid peoples of Tal’Dorei in small
occasionally present at the Sky Queen’s Favor.
towns across the plains, including the Dustpaw
gnolls and the people of Turst Fields (see page 88).

Lizardfolk Sahuagin
The lizardfolk of Tal’Dorei emerged from the K’Tawl Known by sailors as “sea devils,” the shark-like
Swamp in the Age of Arcanum. Mages from an sahuagin are both enemy and ally to humans who
unnamed flying city descended into the swamp and ride the waves, and are rumored to have spawned
conducted intense magical experiments on the local from a bottomless trench in the ocean floor. Pods of
fauna. Some mutated into giant lizards, others into sahuagin have no de facto leader, and usually have
slithering swamp serpents—and others into human- no more than six members. However, several pods
oid beings. The mages took a few of these lizardfolk might band together and collaborate on tasks they
as specimens, and left the other fruits of their experi- could not accomplish alone, forming schools. These
ments behind. schools follow the will of the majority, and disobedi-
In time, these abandoned lizardfolk used their cun- ence is rare.
ning minds and skilled hands to create tools. They The few sea devils who dominate multiple schools
called themselves the Kuul’tevir—noble masters of through personal strength are known as barons, who
the earth and water. These folk advanced rapidly, are as feared as they are revered. Sahuagin schools
and though they never matched the heights of the that fall under the sway of a baron often become
flying cities of the magi who created them, they built known for their piracy and hunger for slaughter, as
magnificent domains filled with towering spires and the members of the school are directed to steal trea-
glimmering magical waterfalls. sure to appease their tyrant’s greed. Other schools
When the decadence of the Age of Arcanum gave might offer their services as mercenaries, aiding
way to the chaos of the Calamity, the Kuul’tevir those humanoids willing to pay for their ferocity.
delved deep into corrupting magic to save their Sahuagin pods sometimes fall under the corrupt-
grandeur. For a time, their people prospered, bol- ing influence of aboleths or other aquatic aberrations,
stered by the magic of demons and evil gods. But in with these aberrations taking on roles as demi-
the end, the desire to survive at any cost turned the gods and the sahuagin who obey them becoming
Kuul’tevir’s rulers against one another. Cabals of cultists. Instead of plundering ships for treasure,
petty warlocks tore the lizardfolk’s magnificent soci- these sahuagin engineer shipwrecks and drag the
eties apart, and the evil magic they wielded began to survivors before their cruel overlord, who adds those
devour even the magic that the ancient mages had humanoids to the ranks of their brainwashed thralls.
used to turn them from simple reptiles into a majes- The most feared of all these unholy figures is one
tic people. that truly is the progeny of one of the Betrayer Gods:
Today, the majesty of the Kuul’tevir is little more Uk’otoa, a many-eyed leviathan spawn of the Cloaked
than distant myth. Most lizardfolk live in small com- Serpent that is supposedly imprisoned deep beneath
munities in swamps, jungles, and fiery mountains the Lucidian Ocean.
across Tal’Dorei. Some live in cities, especially those
with hot, humid climates, but no lizardfolk today
possess the supernatural poise and power that they
New Creatures
did in the Age of Arcanum. Today, the lizardfolk Tal’Dorei is filled with wondrous creatures and
are a people like any other—just trying to survive in characters. Whether they prove to be allies or ene-
modest comfort. But many still cling to the mythic mies to the heroes, these beings’ game statistics are
memory of their ancient civilization and have allied provided here. These creatures are designed to sup-
themselves with terrible tyrants such as Thordak plement the monsters found in the fifth edition core
the Cinder King in an attempt to resurrect their rules, not replace them. Tal’Dorei is also filled with
lost glory. countless classic monsters, and adventures here will
The serpentfolk of Vos’skyriss (see page 257) incorporate both familiar mythic creatures and the
still dwell on Visa Isle, south of Daggerbay. They are unique creatures of Exandria.
more serpentine than lizard-like, but it is suspected
that their origins are similar to that of the lizardfolk. Magic Items in Stat Blocks
Some creatures and NPCs in this section wear or
wield magic items that increase their power, or that
give them unique traits usable in or out of combat.
New magic items are identified as such, and can
be found in chapter 5 of this book. All other magic
items can be found in the fifth edition core rules.

Adranach three feet in diameter, called a dormen. As the bands
are removed and forged into the adranach’s braces
An adranach is a winged feline construct made of and mask, the dormen speaks aloud the instruc-
raw arcane energy, fuchsia in hue and flecked with tions of how to craft an adranach in the magically
stars. It is an iconic servitor of the League of Mira- recorded voice of the Wonderworker.
cles (see page 56), and the exact method of their Mithral Mask. Each adranach has a unique mask
creation is a closely guarded secret known only to crafted by its creator as their signature. This mask is
the Wonderworker who guides that organization and crafted from pure mithral, and is the key to summon-
the spellwrights who serve them. ing and dismissing an adranach to a unique pocket
Perfect Obedience. As constructs, adranachs are dimension where it can rest and repair itself. When
unfailingly loyal servants to the spellwrights who not in use, the mask magically shrinks from its true
created them. To the people of Tal’Dorei, they are size to an easily concealable size fit for a humanoid
best known as the creatures that allowed cities razed face. Most spellwrights keep this mask in a chest
by the Chroma Conclave to be rebuilt in a matter of stored on the Ethereal Plane with the secret chest
weeks, rather than years. But adranachs are also spell, and only produce the mask when it is time to
mighty combatants that serve their masters as hunt- call their adranach forth.
ers, bodyguards, and even assassins. Master Adranach. The secretive master spell-
Astral Body. An adranach’s body is formed from wrights of the League of Miracles are taught how to
the energy of the Astral Plane. Their claws and face, build adranachs of monumental size, with strength
as well as a number of rune-inscribed braces on their to match. These legendary constructs are also inev-
body, are made of mithral and are necessary to keep itably outfitted with unique enhancements of their
their form of pure energy from losing cohesion. The creators’ own devising, from upgraded espionage
methods for creating these mithral foundations and tools to the ability to sublimate their starry form and
for binding astral energy to them are known only to travel through the Astral Plane.
the Wonderworker (the leader of the League of Mira- Arcane Nature. An adranach doesn’t require air,
cles) and the spellwrights who learn from them. food, drink, or sleep.
This secret knowledge is granted to worthy spell-
wrights in the form of an orb of mithral bands, about

Adranach Adranach Customization
Huge construct Adranachs are constructs personalized to their
creators. One of the traits that make a spellwright
candidate attractive to the League of Miracles is an
Armor Class 17 (natural armor) interest in invention, and spellwrights are encour-
Hit Points 170 (20d12 + 40) aged to customize any adranach they create. Below
Speed 40 ft., fly 60 ft. are some optional features with which spellwrights
have outfitted their creations. Most adranachs have
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA one extra feature, and most master adranachs
23 (+6) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 8 (−1) 14 (+2) 11 (+1) have three.
Advanced Tracking (Recharges after a Long
Saving Throws Str +11, Dex +8 Rest). When a creature fails its saving throw
Skills Athletics +11, Perception +7 against the adranach’s Force Bolts, the adranach
Damage Resistances damage from spells can mark that creature for the next 24 hours.
Damage Immunities poison; bludgeoning, piercing, and The adranach knows the direction to a creature’s
slashing from nonmagical attacks location as long as they are on the same plane. If
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, frightened, the creature is moving, the adranach knows the
paralyzed, petrified, poisoned direction of this movement.
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 17 Arcane Bond. The adranach’s creator can
Languages understands the languages spoken by its communicate with it telepathically while both
creator but can’t speak are within 1 mile of each other. As an action, the
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5 creator can see through the adranach’s eyes and
hear what it hears until the start of the creator’s
next turn, gaining the benefits of any special
Arcane Leak. When the adranach is reduced to half
senses the adranach has. During this time, the
its hit point maximum (85 hit points), its mithral mask
creator is deafened and blinded with regard to
cracks and its arcane form begins to waver, creating
their own senses.
a field of unstable magic around it. Any creature that
Astral Form (Master Adranach Only;
starts its turn within 10 feet of the adranach or enters
Recharges after a Long Rest). The master adra-
that area for the first time on a turn takes 10 (3d6)
nach can cast astral projection on itself.
radiant damage. Additionally, if a creature casts a spell
Slipstream. The adranach can cast invisibil-
within this area, it must make a DC 14 ability check
ity on itself at will. While it is invisible, its speed
using its spellcasting ability. On a failure, the spell back-
is doubled.
fires, consuming the spell slot and dealing 3 (1d6) force
Truesight (Master Adranach Only). The adra-
damage to the caster for each level of the spell slot that
nach has truesight out to a range of 30 feet. As an
was consumed.
action, it can increase the range of its truesight to
Immutable Form. The adranach is immune to any spell 120 feet until the end of its next turn.
or effect that would alter its form.
Magic Resistance. The adranach has advantage on
saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The adranach’s weapon attacks
are magical.
Powerful Build. The adranach counts as one size larger
when determining its carrying capacity and the weight
it can push, drag, or lift.
ACTIONS —
Multiattack. The adranach makes two attacks with
its claws.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, one target,
reach 5 ft. Hit: 32 (4d12 + 6) slashing damage.
Force Bolts (Recharge 5–6). The adranach targets up
to four creatures it can see within 60 feet of it. Each
target must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving throw
or take 28 (8d6) force damage.

Master Adranach Magic Weapons. The adranach’s weapon attacks
are magical.
Gargantuan construct
Colossal Build. The adranach’s carrying capacity is
doubled, as is the weight it can push, drag, or lift.
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Slipstream. The adranach can cast invisibility on itself
Hit Points 290 (20d20 + 80)
at will. While it is invisible, its speed is doubled.
Speed 60 ft., fly 120 ft.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the adranach fails a
saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
25 (+7) 16 (+3) 19 (+4) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 11 (+1)) ACTIONS —
Multiattack. The adranach makes three attacks: two
Saving Throws Str +14, Dex +10, Wis +9 with its claws and one with its tail.
Skills Athletics +14, Perception +16 Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, one target,
Damage Resistances damage from spells reach 5 ft. Hit: 33 (4d12 + 7) slashing damage.
Damage Immunities poison; bludgeoning, piercing, Tail. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, one target,
and slashing from nonmagical attacks reach 15 ft. Hit: 20 (2d12 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion,
frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned Force Bolts (Recharge 5–6). The adranach targets up
Senses darkvision 360 ft., passive Perception 26 to six creatures it can see within 120 feet of it. Each
Languages the languages spoken by its creator target must succeed on a DC 22 Dexterity saving
Challenge 21 (33,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +7 throw or take 35 (10d6) force damage.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS —
Arcane Leak. When the adranach is reduced to half The adranach can take 3 legendary actions, choosing
its hit point maximum (145 hit points), its mithral mask from the options below. Only one legendary action
cracks and its arcane form begins to waver, creating option can be used at a time and only at the end of
a field of unstable magic around it. Any creature that another creature’s turn. The adranach regains spent
starts its turn within 20 feet of the adranach or enters legendary actions at the start of its turn.
that area for the first time on a turn takes 21 (6d6) Claw Attack. The adranach makes one claw attack.
radiant damage. Additionally, if a creature casts a spell Vanish (Costs 2 Actions). The adranach casts invisi-
within this area, it must make a DC 18 ability check bility and moves up to its walking or flying speed. (This
using its spellcasting ability. On a failure, the spell movement doesn’t benefit from its Slipstream trait.)
backfires, consuming the spell slot and dealing 7 (2d6) Starry Burst (Costs 3 Actions). A burst of astral
force damage to the caster for each level of the spell energy flares from the adranach’s body. Each creature
slot that was consumed. within 60 feet of it must make a DC 22 Constitution
Immutable Form. The adranach is immune to any saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 27
spell or effect that would alter its form. (5d10) force damage and is blinded until the end of its
Magic Resistance. The adranach has advantage next turn. On a successful save, the creature takes half
on saving throws against spells and other magi- as much damage and is not blinded. The adranach
cal effects. then turns invisible until the start of its next turn or
until it makes an attack.

Ashari
A reclusive society of elementalist druidic
masters, the Ashari symbolize the connection
between civilization and nature in balance as
they govern, heal, and tame Exandria’s primor-
dial threats.
Mysterious Beginnings. No one knows the
Ashari’s true origins, though one popular leg-
end ties directly to the ancient war between the
gods and the primordial titans. As the Prime
Deities scattered the essence of their fallen foes
across Exandria, the titans’ remains birthed
new Elemental Planes. In response, numerous
humanoids—who would eventually become
part of the Ashari—were gifted with a magical
affinity to shape the world and a responsibility
to defend against future primordial threats.
Triumph Divided. A multiracial people, the
Ashari strategically organize into four distinct
communities—the Fire Ashari of Pyrah, the
Air Ashari of Zephrah, the Earth Ashari of
Terrah, and the Water Ashari of Vesrah. Each
community builds homes alongside sources of
elemental power.
Ashari Firetamer 4th level (3 slots): freedom of movement, wall of fire

5th level (1 slot): conjure elemental
Medium humanoid (any)
ACTIONS —
Armor Class 17 (red dragon scale mail) Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Hit Points 92 (16d8 + 20) one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage plus 14
Speed 30 ft. (4d6) fire damage.
Flamecharm (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest).
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA The firetamer can cast the dominate monster spell
8 (−1) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 11 (+0) (save DC 15) on a fire elemental or other elemental
fire creature. If the creature has 150 or more hit points,
Skills Arcana +4, Nature +7 it has advantage on the saving throw.
Damage Resistances fire
BONUS ACTIONS —
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Druidic, Ignan Flameform (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest).
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 The firetamer can transform into a fire elemental. Its
game statistics are replaced by the statistics of the
elemental, but the firetamer retains its alignment,
Spellcasting. The firetamer is a 9th-level spellcaster. personality, and Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma
Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15, scores, and all of its skill and saving throw profi-
+7 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following druid ciencies. While in this form, the firetamer can’t cast
spells prepared: spells. When the firetamer is reduced to 0 hit points,
Cantrips (at will): druidcraft, mending, produce flame falls unconscious, or dies in this form, it reverts to its
(2d8) humanoid form. It can remain in flameform for up to
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, faerie fire, jump 5 hours or until it reverts to its humanoid form as a
2nd level (3 slots): flame blade, heat metal, lesser bonus action.
restoration Druidic Recovery. If the firetamer is in fire elemen-
3rd level (3 slots): daylight, dispel magic, protection tal form using Flameform, it can expend a spell slot
from energy to regain 1d8 hit points per level of the spell slot
expended.

Primordial Guardians. The
walls between the Material Plane
and the Elemental Planes are
thin, and if those boundaries are
tested, they tear asunder and
form rifts. These planar fractures
hemorrhage vast fields of wildfire,
avalanches of crushing stone,
boundless expanses of screeching
hurricanes, and unending oceans
of pounding tsunamis, all seem-
ingly yearning for destruction.
When an elemental rift grows
volatile, the Ashari become a living
dam—subduing, soothing, and
sealing its escaping power. Then,
once a rift calms, the Ashari's
work to heal the surrounding
land begins.
Selfless Respect. Ashari is a
word found in many languages
with a multitude of meanings,
including: sunrise, innate will,
torchbearer, and gardener. Some
Ashari greetings include, “The
Wildmother sees you” and “Your
actions bring forth light.”
Ashari Skydancer the skysail’s wings are extended, the skydancer can
glide through the air at a speed of 60 feet, but must
descend by at least 10 feet at the end of its turn and
can’t gain altitude.
Armor Class 14 Spellcasting. The skydancer is a 3rd-level spellcaster.
Hit Points 63 (14d8) Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 14,
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (with skysail) +6 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following druid
spells prepared:
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Cantrips (at will): guidance, shillelagh
10 (+0) 18 (+4) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 11 (+0) 1st level (4 slots): entangle, fog cloud, jump
2nd level (2 slots): gust of wind, pass without trace
Saving Throws Dex +7
Skills Acrobatics +7, Perception +6 ACTIONS —
Senses passive Perception 16 Multiattack. The skydancer makes two skysail
Languages Auran, Common, Druidic staff attacks.
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
Skysail Staff. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage. If
Evasion. If the skydancer is subjected to an effect that the skydancer makes this attack while flying, the tar-
allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only get must make a DC 14 Dexterity saving throw, taking
half damage, the skydancer instead takes no damage 21 (6d6) lightning damage on a failed save, or half as
if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half dam- much damage on a successful one.
age if it fails. Fly (1/Day). The skydancer uses its skysail to cast fly
Flyby. The skydancer doesn’t provoke an opportunity on itself for up to 1 minute (no concentration required).
attack when it flies out of an enemy’s reach.
REACTIONS —
Skysail. The skydancer flies with a special Ashari
Slow Fall. When the skydancer takes falling damage,
magic item called a skysail (see page 199). While
it can reduce the damage by half.

Ashari Firetamer Ashari Stoneguard
Of all the Ashari tribes, the Fire Ashari of Pyrah The Earth Ashari of Terrah are a stoic people, slow
have suffered the greatest. Their people were all to change and more likely to fight defensive battles
but destroyed when Thordak burst through the Rift and outlast enemies than wage offensive wars. The
of Flame in his cataclysmic return to Exandria. Yet Terrah stoneguard are the perfect embodiment of
despite their immense hardships, the Fire Ashari this ideal, with their druidic training augmented by
have given selflessly to the people of Tal’Dorei. ancient combat techniques that allow them to hold
Firetamers are the elite elementalists of the Pyrah, fast against a tide of enemies. The stoneguard craft
using their attunement to the primordial forces of arms and armor from the granite around them,
the world to not just create fire, not just command and their magical stonecraft rivals even that of the
it, but tame it to their will. A firetamer of Pyrah is dwarves. It is said that when elemental armies
nothing like the manic pyromancers of Tal’Dorei. For poured into Exandria in mythic times, two legend-
while the latter recklessly wields fire as a weapon, ary stoneguard protected all of Terrah against that
firetamers use their talent to protect others from onslaught for ten days and ten nights, each standing
fire’s destructive power—or wield that same power to guard while the other rested.
destroy those who threaten their people. Today, the stoneguards stand vigilant along key
Firetamers are almost always accompanied by defensive points within the Cliffkeep Mountains,
a salamander, a fire elemental, or a small herd of warding the Terrah tribe against the dwarves of
magma or smoke mephits. While home in Pyrah, Kraghammer. If the stoneguard were ever to falter in
Ashari firetamers use their power to control the Rift their vigil, they believe the dwarves would doubt-
of Flame or to control the flames of the volcanic for- lessly enter their ancestral lands and strip its natural
est known as the Cindergrove. And on the outskirts beauty in search of wealth and fuel.
of Emon, a group of firetamers led by a half-orc
Ashari named Lorkathar keeps watch over the vola- Ashari Waverider
tile Scar of the Cinder King.
The waveriders of Vesrah know firsthand the
dangers of the open ocean and dedicate their lives
Ashari Skydancer to protecting seafarers from storms, pirates, and
Zephrah’s location in the Summit Peaks has sea monsters. They are not warriors, however, but
shielded the Ashari who dwell there from countless rather accomplished healers and aquatic empaths,
hardships. Few infringe upon their isolated home, using their powers to seek out and rescue survivors
and this safety has bred a certain recklessness of marine disasters. They sometimes bring critically
among the Air Ashari. Though they guard their ele- wounded survivors to Vesrah, a practice that the
mental rift as closely as do the rest of their kin, their isolationist Water Ashari condemn for fear that such
lack of stoicism and restraint often earns them the outsiders threaten their way of life. The waverid-
scorn of the Earth Ashari of Terrah, the only other ers take their peers’ scorn in stride, for they would
Ashari tribe in Tal’Dorei. rather be righteous than popular.
Air Ashari children learn to fly before they learn to A waverider turns to violence only as a last resort,
walk, accompanying their parents through snow-fat- preferring to fight in their shapechanged fishform
tened clouds on Ashari skysails (see page 199). rather than with harpoon in hand. They use hit-and-
But while all in Zephrah love the sensation of flight, run tactics as a hunter shark or employ their giant
few hone their skills as rigorously as the skydanc- octopus form’s natural camouflage to harry oppo-
ers. These graceful masters of the wind are at once nents. When patrolling the open seas, waveriders
artists, performers, and warriors. They are the skim across the water on personal waveboards with
beloved heroes of their people, both defending them folding sails, similar in function to the skysails of the
in times of danger and bringing them happiness in Zephrah (see page 199).
times of peace.

Ashari Stoneguard Cantrips (at will): druidcraft, resistance
1st level (4 slots): goodberry, speak with animals,
thunderwave
2nd level (2 slots): hold person, spike growth
Armor Class 15 (granite half plate)
Hit Points 152 (16d8 + 80) ACTIONS —
Speed 30 ft. Multiattack. The stoneguard makes three granite
maul attacks.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Granite Maul. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit,
18 (+4) 10 (+0) 20 (+5) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 9 (−1) reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning
damage. If the attack hits, the stoneguard can also
Saving Throws Str +7, Con +8, Wis +5 immediately cast thunderwave as a bonus action. This
Skills Athletics +7, Intimidation +2 casting uses a spell slot but requires no components.
Condition Immunities petrified
REACTIONS —
Senses tremorsense 30 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Common, Druidic, Terran Sentinel. When a creature within 5 feet of the
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 stoneguard attacks a target other than the
stoneguard, the stoneguard can make one attack
against that creature.
Spellcasting. The stoneguard is a 3rd-level spell-
Skin to Stone. When the stoneguard is attacked, it
caster. Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save
gains resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slash-
DC 13, +5 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following
ing damage from nonmagical attacks until the end of
druid spells prepared:
the attacker’s turn.

Ashari Waverider 1st level (4 slots): create or destroy water, cure
wounds, healing word
2nd level (3 slots): animal messenger, lesser
restoration, moonbeam
Armor Class 14 (hide armor of cold resistance) 3rd level (3 slots): conjure animals (aquatic beasts
Hit Points 77 (14d8 + 14) only), water breathing, water walk
Speed 30 ft. 4th level (1 slot): control water
ACTIONS —
15 (+2) 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 13 (+1) Harpoon. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit,
reach 5 ft., range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d10 +
Saving Throws Con +4, Wis +6 2) piercing damage. If the target is a Large or smaller
Skills Athletics +8, Nature +3 creature, it must succeed on a Strength contest
Damage Resistances cold against the waverider or be pulled up to 20 feet
Senses passive Perception 13 toward the waverider. Attacks with this weapon made
Languages Aquan, Common, Druidic while underwater do not have disadvantage.
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 REACTIONS —
Fishform (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest).
Healing Tides. Whenever the waverider casts a spell The waverider can transform into a hunter shark or a
of 1st level or higher that affects a nonhostile creature, giant octopus. Its game statistics are replaced by the
that creature regains 3 hit points (in addition to any statistics of the chosen creature, but the waverider
healing the spell may provide). retains its alignment, personality, and Intelligence,
Marine Empathy. The waverider can speak with and Wisdom, and Charisma scores. It also retains its skill
understand aquatic plants and animals. proficiencies, in addition to gaining those of the crea-
ture it transforms into. When the waverider is reduced
Spellcasting. The waverider is a 7th-level spellcaster.
to 0 hit points, falls unconscious, or dies in this form, it
Its spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 14,
reverts to its humanoid form. It can remain in fishform
+6 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following druid
for up to 3 hours or until it reverts to its humanoid
spells prepared:
form as a bonus action.
Cantrips (at will): druidcraft, poison spray (2d12),
resistance

Cinderslag Elemental
Large elemental

Hit Points 102 (12d10 + 36)
Speed 20 ft., burrow 40 ft.

15 (+2) 12 (+1) 17 (+3) 1 (−5) 10 (+0) 3 (−4)
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and

slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Immunities fire, poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, grappled, paralyzed,
petrified, poisoned, prone, restrained, unconscious
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages —
Searing Presence. Any creature that starts its

turn within 5 feet of the elemental takes 5 (1d10)
fire damage.
Molten Form. The elemental can move through a space
as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. In addition,
the elemental can enter a hostile creature’s space and
stop there. The first time it enters a creature’s space
on a turn, that creature takes 5 (1d10) fire damage and
must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be
restrained. A creature that starts its turn restrained in
Cinderslag Elemental
Cinderslag elementals are pure manifestations of
this way takes 5 (1d10) fire damage. It can repeat the
saving throw at the end of each of its turns, freeing the hatred and furor of the deceased Cinder King,
itself on a success. Thordak. Even after his death, the fires of that great
red dragon continue to ravage Emon, as places
Water Susceptibility. For every 5 feet the elemental
scorched by his corrupting flames are transformed
moves in water, or for every gallon of water splashed on
into vitriolic pits of slag and ash that spawn mindless
it, it takes 1 cold damage.
creatures of elemental destruction. Though Thor-
ACTIONS — dak’s Crater in Emon has mostly been healed by the
Multiattack. The elemental makes two slam attacks. Fire Ashari of Pyrah, the terrible fires still churning
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one beneath the city give rise to cinderslag elementals,
target. Hit: 12 (3d6 + 2) bludgeoning damage plus 5 as do other areas where the Cinder King’s elemental
(1d10) fire damage. If the target is a creature or a flam- devastation has left an indelible mark, including the
mable object, it ignites. Until a creature takes an action ruins of Serpent’s Head in the Cliffkeep Mountains
to douse the fire, the target takes 5 (1d10) fire damage and the Ashen Gorge in the Stormcrest Mountains.
at the start of each of its turns. Gaze of Annihilation. A cinderslag elemental’s
Molten Gaze. Ranged Spell Attack: +8 to hit, range Molten Gaze unleashes incredible power that can
30 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (6d6) fire damage, and the melt steel and stone with a glance. If one of these
target must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving creatures is allowed to focus its gaze for long peri-
throw or have one nonmagical item of the elemental’s ods, or if several elementals work in unison, entire
choice that the target is carrying instantly melt or burn cities can easily be leveled in a tide of molten stone.
to cinders. Fortunately for the people of Emon, Thordak’s ele-
mental spawn are mindless and incapable of unified
action—as long as no one is able to bend these crea-
tures to their will.

When night is come and darkness falls,
Locks help not, nor do stone walls.
Slinking and hiding, like poison asp;
Close tight thy eyes, see not the Clasp.
—Children’s rhyme
Clasp Operatives Clasp Cutthroat

Members of the Clasp—a stealthy organization of
spies, thieves, assassins, and smugglers—are at once
beloved folk heroes worthy of bardsong and bedtime Armor Class 15 (leather)
stories, and sinister scoundrels whose deeds are Hit Points 44 (8d8 + 8)
the stuff of infamous legend. While definitely in the Speed 30 ft.
business of discreetly performing illegal deeds for
the wealthy, Clasp operatives are also known as STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
the roguish heroes who saved countless common 10 (+0) 18 (+4) 12 (+1) 8 (−1) 14 (+2) 9 (−1)
folk of Tal’Dorei during the Cinder King’s tyranny.
They style their brand now as the “clasp” that holds Saving Throws Dex +6
society together—understanding that, after all, an Skills Deception +3, Stealth +8
organized criminal syndicate requires a functioning, Senses passive Perception 12
civilized economy. Languages Common, thieves’ cant
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Clasp Cutthroat
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The cutthroat deals an extra
When the thieves and assassins of the Clasp need to
14 (4d6) damage when it hits a target with a weapon
acquire additional funds or relieve certain people of
attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when
their possessions, the organization’s cutthroats are the target is within 5 feet of an ally of the cutthroat
the first to be called. However, the Clasp didn’t earn that isn’t incapacitated and the cutthroat doesn’t have
an extraordinary customer satisfaction rating by disadvantage on the attack roll.
letting just any scoundrel claim the rank of cutthroat.
An effective cutthroat is patient and precise. Sneak ACTIONS —
in, take cover, wait, strike only with advantage, and Multiattack. The cutthroat makes two shortsword or
fight without honor. If spotted, misdirect by fleeing— dagger attacks.
then regain a strategic position, and attack when they Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5
least expect it. ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit,
Clasp Enforcer reach 5 ft., range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d4 + 4)
The Clasp prefers to operate in the shadows, but piercing damage.
sometimes blackmail targets need convincing. BONUS ACTIONS —
Whenever a scare or a show of force is needed, the Cunning Action. The cutthroat can take the Dash, Dis-
Clasp’s enforcers make quite an impression. An engage, or Hide action.
enforcer values promises and debt repayment nearly
REACTIONS —
as much as profit, so any who break agreements with
the Clasp are sure to earn a visit from one. “Want to Uncanny Dodge. The cutthroat halves the damage that
know exactly what enforcers enforce?” is a popular it takes from an attack that hits it. The cutthroat must be
Clasp one-liner—before the operative delivering the able to see the attacker.
joke switches from telling to showing.
Hard to hit and harder to kill, enforcers enjoy run-
ning up to targets with hammers swinging, inspiring
a healthy dose of intimidation in anyone lacking the
wisdom to pay up or run.

Just because we of the Clasp are heroes these days doesn't
mean we won't slit your throat in a heartbeat if you cross
us. Heroism is good up on the streets of Emon, but it don't
mean much when you're down here in the Grotto.
—Gethrude Lael, Clasp cutthroat
Clasp Enforcer the enforcer until the end of the target’s next turn. The
enforcer and its allies have advantage on attack rolls
against any creature frightened in this way. If a crea-
ture’s saving throw is successful or the effect ends for
Armor Class 16 (half plate) it, the creature is immune to the enforcer’s Intimidating
Hit Points 102 (12d8 + 48) Presence for the next 24 hours.
Speed 30 ft Second Wind (Recharges after a Short or Long
Rest). As a bonus action, the enforcer can regain 12
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA hit points.
16 (+3) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 8 (−1) 11 (+0) 14 (+2)
ACTIONS —
Skills Athletics +6, Intimidation +8 Multiattack. The enforcer makes three warham-
Senses passive Perception 10 mer attacks.
Languages Common, thieves’ cant Warhammer. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
BONUS ACTIONS —
Intimidating Presence. Whenever the enforcer hits a Second Wind (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest).
creature with a melee attack, the target must succeed The enforcer regains 12 hit points.
on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened of

Cold Snap Spirit Cold Snap Spirit
A number of elves and archmagi still live who Medium elemental
remember the Icelost Years—a dark time in
Tal’Dorei’s history, when legions of ice-rimed war-
riors spilled forth from the Elemental Planes, intent Armor Class 18 (natural armor)
Hit Points 78 (12d8 + 24)
on turning the world into a gelid wasteland. Cold
snap spirits are a surviving echo of the vast armies
of the cruel elemental Errevon the Rimelord, who
nearly claimed Tal’Dorei for his own. They linger in
10 (+0) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 2 (−4) 7 (−2) 3 (−4)
the ever-frozen forests of the Frostweald, atop the
snow-capped peaks of the Cliffkeep Mountains, and
Saving Throws Dex +8, Wis +1
amid the arctic plains of the Neverfields.
Skills Perception +1, Stealth +8
Reclusive Spirits. When separated from the Damage Resistances slashing and piercing from
malign command of an elemental warlord, cold snap nonmagical attacks
spirits are little more than animalistic creatures of Damage Immunities cold, poison
instinct. They drift harmlessly about cold regions of Damage Vulnerabilities fire
the Material Plane that mirror the interminable frost Condition Immunities charmed, frightened, poisoned,
of their plane of origin. paralyzed, stunned
Heated Hatred. Normally docile cold snap spirits Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11
are driven into a terrible frenzy by the presence of Languages —
heat. They have an instinctive fear of flame, and even Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3
the warmth of a living creature can be enough to
drive them into a murderous rage. Once the source
Sense Heat. The cold snap spirit can sense heat within
of heat is annihilated, a cold snap spirit rapidly
60 feet of it.
returns to a state of calm ambivalence.
Inchoate Berserkers. Cold snap spirits make Frozen Aura. Any creature that starts its turn within 5
excellent soldiers for elemental beings with ambition feet of a cold snap spirit takes 5 (1d10) cold damage.
and the will to dominate. Their aversion to warm Jealous Spirit. If the spirit attacks a creature that is
climes is quickly overridden by loyalty to their com- within 5 feet of another cold snap spirit, the attack
mander, and the ambient heat of even a temperate deals an extra 10 (3d6) cold damage on a hit.
region is enough to drive them to a state of con- ACTIONS —
stant frenzy. Consume Warmth. Melee Spell Attack: +8 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target. Hit: 21 (6d6) cold damage, and the
target’s speed is halved until the end of the spirit’s
next turn.
Subzero Wave (1/Day). Each creature within 30 feet
of the cold snap spirit must make a DC 15 Constitution
saving throw, taking 18 (4d8) cold damage on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Cyclops Stormcaller
When cyclopes are born beneath a raging storm,
they sometimes grow up different—smaller than the
rest, sickly and weak. Most of these stormborn cyclo-
pes are relentlessly bullied and beaten for their tiny
stature, and many die before adulthood. Those who
survive do so because of the magic the Stormlord
has bestowed upon them—intentionally or otherwise.
As cyclopes are generally unfamiliar with magic, the
power of a stormcaller awes and terrifies them, and
many see stormcallers as nothing short of the mani-
festation of a god.
Storm Worship. Their fellow cyclopes may
assume that the might of a stormcaller is akin to
godliness, but many stormcallers hunger for greater
power. A cabal of stormcallers regularly gathers in
the Daggerbay Mountains at an ancient elven temple
called the Skyneedle (in Elvish, ira’fallai; in Giant,
“Tall Zappo-Zappo”). There, they conduct strange
rituals to commune with an entity they call the Eye of
the Storm—and with every ritual, their power grows.
However, the Eye of the Storm is no avatar of
the Stormlord, but a vengeful storm giant named
Eyvindr, who’s posing as a demigod and intent on
raising an army to exact retribution on the Coun-
cil of Seven Scepters. He’ll have to risk revealing
himself to the stormcallers eventually—but not until
he believes that his control over his cyclops devotees
is absolute.
Cyclops Stormcaller Storm Wings. While outdoors in stormy conditions,

Large giant the cyclops has a flying speed of 60 feet.
Supernatural Focus. The cyclops has advantage on
Armor Class 18 (chain mail, cloak of protection, ring of Constitution saving throws made to maintain con-
protection) centration on spells, and cannot lose concentration
Hit Points 114 (12d10 + 48) because of turbulent weather.
Speed 30 ft., fly 60 ft. (stormy conditions only) Innate Spellcasting. The cyclops’s innate spellcasting
ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit with
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA spell attacks). The cyclops can innately cast the fol-
16 (+3) 10 (+0) 18 (+4) 15 (+2) 8 (−1) 20 (+5) lowing spells, requiring no material components:
At will: ray of frost (3d8), water walk
Saving Throws Str +5, Dex +2, Con +6, Int +4, Wis 3/day each: ice storm, sleet storm, wind wall
+5, Cha +11 1/day each: control weather, storm of vengeance
Skills Arcana +6
Senses passive Perception 9 ACTIONS —
Languages Common, Elvish, Giant Multiattack. The cyclops makes two ice claw attacks.
Ice Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 13 (3d6 + 3) slashing damage plus 3
One-Eyed. The cyclops has disadvantage on any (1d6) cold damage.
attack roll against a target more than 30 feet away.

Demonfeed Spider Endless Hunger. No sustenance is more delecta-
ble to a demonfeed spider than the ichor remaining
These monstrous spiders, the spawn of the divine behind after a demon has been slain on the Material
Spider Queen, lurk in the darkest recesses of the Plane. However, in the absence of such remains,
world. They have gorged themselves on the ichor of they will sate themselves on the fluids of any living
demons since the earliest days of the Calamity, when creature.
demons were slain in such quantity that the subterra- Toxic Blood. The terrible poison of spiders, when
nean depths were awash with their foul blood. mixed with the vile ichor of demons, becomes the
Monstrosities Transformed. Demonfeed spiders demonfeed spider’s most potent weapon. When its
are terrible fiends as a result of having supped upon chitinous hide is pierced and its blood begins to flow,
the remains of demons, but all are descended from the the spider can expel arcing sprays of caustic blood
overlarge spiders that haunt caverns and forests across that seep into the exposed flesh of its attackers.
Tal’Dorei. As such, most are native to the Material Alignment. Chaotic evil.
Plane, so that once killed, they are slain forever—unlike
fiends that are simply banished to their home plane.
“It was poor guidance that left us wandering

through that sulfurous nest of web and ash,
but it was cruel fate that woke the matron
beast and her brood of burning blood. The
only reason I stand before you today is
because I had the wisdom to run.”
—Orac Wioda, renowned relic hunter

Demonfeed Spider target must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw.
On a failed save, the target takes 27 (6d8) poison
Large fiend
damage and is poisoned for 1 minute. On a successful
save, the target takes half as much damage and isn’t
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) poisoned. If this poison damage reduces the target
Hit Points 75 (10d10 + 20) to 0 hit points, the target is stable but poisoned for 1
Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft. hour, even after regaining hit points, and is paralyzed
while poisoned in this way.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Stinger. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
16 (+3) 16 (+4) 15 (+2) 6 (−2) 10 (+0) 6 (−2) one target. Hit: 9 (1d12 + 3) piercing damage, and the
target must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving
Saving Throws Dex +7 throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +7 repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns,
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning ending the effect on itself on a success.
Damage Immunities poison Web Spinner. Ranged Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach
Condition Immunities poisoned 40 ft., one target. Hit: The target is pulled 40 feet
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 13 toward the spider and is grappled (escape DC 14). The
Languages — spider can grapple only one creature at a time in this
Challenge 8 (3,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 way. As an action, the spider can cocoon a creature it
has grappled in webbing, causing it to be restrained
Spider Climb. The spider can climb difficult surfaces, and ending the grappled condition.
including upside down on ceilings, without needing to REACTIONS —
make an ability check.
Arterial Spray. When the spider takes damage while
Web Walker. The spider ignores movement restric- below half its hit point maximum, it can spray poison-
tions caused by webbing. ous blood in a 15-foot cone. Each creature in the area
ACTIONS — must make a DC 14 Constitution saving throw. On a
failed save, a creature takes 13 (3d8) poison damage
Multiattack. The spider makes two melee attacks:
and is poisoned for 1 minute. On a successful save,
one with its bite and one with its stinger; or the spider
the creature takes half as much damage and isn’t
can make one attack with its web spinner followed by
poisoned. If this poison damage reduces a creature to
a melee attack.
0 hit points, the creature is stable but poisoned for 1
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one hour, even after regaining hit points, and is paralyzed
target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage, and the while poisoned in this way.
Demonfeed Spiderling Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 10

Languages —
Medium fiend
Challenge 1 (200 XP) Proficiency
Bonus +2

Spider Climb. The spiderling can climb difficult
surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without
Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
needing to make an ability check.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Web Walker. The spiderling ignores movement
10 (+0) 12 (+1) 12 (+1) 2 (−4) 7 (−2) 3 (−4) restrictions caused by webbing.
ACTIONS —
Saving Throws Dex +3 Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Skills Perception +0, Stealth +5 target. Hit: 5 (1d8 + 1) piercing damage, and the target
Damage Resistances cold, fire, lightning must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw, taking
Damage Immunities poison 10 (3d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as
Condition Immunities poisoned much damage on a successful one.

Ember Roc
Centuries old, birthed by pri-
mordial chaos, and equaling
the oldest dragons in size,
the ember roc is an engine of
ruthless consumption. With
wingspans vast enough to blot
out the sky and auras bright
enough to rival the sun, these
fiery birds of prey hunt only the
deadliest game.
Evolutionary Fire. The Fire Ashari
of Pyrah believe that the mythic rocs that
gave rise to the ember rocs maintain balance
in Tal’Dorei. Rocs avoid humanoid settlements
and hunt the monstrous creatures that would oth-
erwise threaten those settlements. So the Ashari
lure rocs to sites of elemental rifts, enticing them
to devour creatures attempting to escape into
the Material Plane. After years of feeding on fire
elementals, salamanders, fire giants, and more,
a roc is imbued with primordial power, flames
erupting from every feather to transform it into the
ember roc.
Hopeless Ends. An ember roc patiently
observes prey for hours before it strikes, snatching
up elephants, whales, and even young dragons.
It unleashes iron talons to grapple targets, paying
no heed to counterattacks, then soars back to its
nest—often inside an active volcano. If prey proves
too much trouble while in flight, an ember roc
readily drops it from some great height. But those
unable to escape slowly roast in the creature’s
fiery grip.
Ember Roc Searing Presence. Any creature that starts its turn
within 5 feet of the roc takes 7 (2d6) fire damage.
Gargantuan monstrosity
Illumination. The roc sheds bright light in a 40-foot
radius and dim light for an additional 40 feet.
Hit Points 232 (16d20 + 64) ACTIONS —
Speed 20 ft., fly 120 ft. Multiattack. The roc makes two attacks: one with its
beak and one with its talons.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Beak. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
26 (+8) 10 (+0) 18 (+4) 4 (−3) 11 (+0) 9 (−1) one target. Hit: 26 (4d8 + 8) piercing damage and 7
(2d6) fire damage.
Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +9, Wis +5, Cha +4 Talons. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Skills Perception +5 one target. Hit: 22 (4d6 + 8) slashing damage and 7
Damage Immunities fire (2d6) fire damage.
Inferno (Recharge 5–6). The roc beats its wings,
Languages understands Ignan but can’t speak
creating a swirling conflagration. Each creature within
30 feet of the roc must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity
saving throw or take 21 (6d6) fire damage.
Keen Sight. The roc has advantage on Wisdom (Per-
ception) checks that rely on sight.

Golems a single shard from the All-Hammer’s own divine
spark, lovingly kept safe inside a ring of arcane flame
Ageless and unstoppable guardians, golems are and ancient sigils. The All-Hammer’s divinity is akin
expertly crafted to execute their owners’ every to a volcano inside the golem, turning the construct’s
command without question. Vaguely humanoid in blood into lava. Fire no longer harms the construct,
appearance and unfailingly loyal, these powerful but instead heals it.
constructs feel no agony or sympathy, require no Sacred Purpose. Where it looms over a divine
sustenance or sleep, ignore bribes and bargains, and forge, a forge guardian’s appendages end in a
do as they are told without remorse or hesitation. stretched set of hooked forceps and a rune-adorned
Covetous Origins. During the Age of Arcanum, blade. The golem can assist a blacksmith in creating
magic inspired a deep arrogance in many of the new golems, or it can trample, bludgeon, push, and
gods’ children, who assumed arcane gifts were proof knock down any who threaten this sacred process
of inevitable divinity. In response, many mortal folk of creation.
experimented with manufacturing “life” of their own. Forge golems also serve as opponents for any
The dwarves succeeded first, marrying divine gifts wishing to engage in the All-Hammer’s trial of wor-
with technical skill to animate autonomous wardens thiness. A golem’s attacks blind prospective heroes,
as protectors of their ancestral halls. The dwarves’ who must then earn back their vision by risking a
knowledge was quickly stolen and expanded upon by deadly counterattack.
other folk, and creating golems eventually became
less about proving that mortals can shape life as the Mage Hunter Golem
gods do, and more about protecting life, wealth, and
secrets from others. The gods cursed mortals with free will, but also
blessed them with the means to survive the Pri-
mordials’ wrath—the arts of magic. With magic,
Cobalt Golem the people of Exandria fend off droughts, famines,
A unique form of a classic arcane construct, cobalt volcanic flame, slashing ice, and angry earth. But
golems are mighty armored servitors made by knowing that the power of magic might inevitably
arcanists who find iron too mundane a metal. The tear Exandria apart, the gods also created the ulti-
first seeds of these automata fall from the sky, with mate magical failsafe—antimagic.
raw cobalt carefully extracted from meteorites and Hunter of Magic. For many heroes who employ
smelted by way of ferromagnetic alchemy into a hard, magic, the most terrifying nightmare is facing a
lustrous, silver-gray metal. This finished cobalt is hulking creature whose mere presence can strip
then molded and twisted into armored skin shielding away the power of spells and magic relics alike.
clockwork designs that animate rune-encrusted mus- Mage hunter golems are brutally efficient in their
cle-like chains. A central lodestone powers a cobalt tactics, sweeping the battlefield with their disruptive
golem, fueled by magic rituals that spark ionized life antimagic, devouring spells used against them, and
within its inorganic shell. fitting collars to spellcasters that can leave them at
Archivists’ Automata. The Library of the Cobalt the golem’s mercy.
Soul has commissioned a large number of cobalt
golems to guard their most restricted archives, Platinum Golem
taking pleasure in the serendipitous nature of the
This animated construct plated in precious platinum
construct’s name and trusting the threat of these
is the primary choice of prestigious mages and para-
powerful warriors to deter anyone thinking of fleeing
noid dragons to guard their most precious treasures.
with sacred knowledge.
Its clanking footsteps make its approach audible to
all intruders, who should recognize that fleeing is
Forge Guardian the best option: for the golem’s form is nigh-invul-
Just as dwarves created the earliest golems, the nerable, and its mighty fists can obliterate life with a
All-Hammer fashioned forge guardians to guard the single blow.
divine furnaces and hearths that designed the first Devoted Guardians. Their creators fashion plati-
dwarves. Shaped from extravagant marble and fused num golems from the spirits of indomitable warriors
with adamantine, crafted with impeccable detail and who died failing to protect what they loved most.
care, these rare and massive constructs exemplify This final regret fuels the golem’s need to execute its
the highest form of artistry that every Exandrian master’s orders to perfection. Temples of the Plat-
blacksmith, forgemaster, and artisan spends a life- inum Dragon also craft these golems using divine
time hoping to achieve. rituals and imbue them with the unflinching devotion
Divine Spark. A faceless, tireless being of to justice epitomized by their god.
immense strength, a forge golem is gifted life by

Cobalt Golem Immutable Form. The golem is immune to any spell or
Huge construct effect that would alter its form.
Magic Resistance. The golem has advantage on sav-
Armor Class 21 (natural armor) ing throws against spells and other magical effects.
Hit Points 300 (24d12 + 144) Magic Weapons. The golem’s weapon attacks
Speed 40 ft. are magical.
ACTIONS —
28 (+9) 9 (−1) 22 (+6) 3 (−4) 11 (+0) 1 (−5) Multiattack. The golem makes two attacks: one with
its slam and one with its sword, or it uses its Magnetic
Damage Immunities fire, lightning, poison, psychic; Pulse and then its Spinning Cleave.
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
weapons that aren’t adamantine one target. Hit: 25 (3d10 + 9) bludgeoning damage.
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned one target. Hit: 28 (3d12 + 9) slashing damage.
Spinning Cleave. The golem makes a sword attack
Languages understands the languages of its creator
against each creature within 10 feet of it.
but can’t speak
Challenge 18 (18,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +6 Magnetic Pulse (Recharge 6). The golem raises its
arms and unleashes a magnetic pulse. All unattended
metal objects within 30 feet of it are pulled to an unoc-
Conductive Body. Whenever the golem is subjected cupied space within 5 feet of the golem. Each creature
to lightning damage, it takes no damage. Instead, its wearing metal armor or made of metal within 30 feet
weapon attacks deal an extra 11 (2d10) lightning dam- of the golem must succeed on a DC 20 Strength sav-
age until the end of its next turn. Also until the end of ing throw or be pulled to an unoccupied space within
the golem’s next turn, any creature that touches it or 5 feet of the golem, then fall prone.
hits it with a melee attack while within 5 feet of it takes
11 (2d10) lightning damage.

Forge Guardian
Gargantuan construct

Hit Points 420 (24d20 + 168)
Speed 50 ft.

30 (+10) 10 (+1) 24 (+7) 3 (−4) 11 (+0) 1 (−5)
Saving Throws Str +18, Con +15

Damage Immunities fire, poison, psychic;
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical
weapons that aren’t adamantine
frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses truesight 120 ft., passive Perception 10
Languages —
Fire Absorption. Whenever the guardian is subjected

to fire damage, it takes no damage and instead
regains a number of hit points equal to the fire
damage dealt.
Immutable Form. The guardian is immune to any spell
or effect that would alter its form.
Magic Resistance. The guardian has advantage
on saving throws against spells and other magi- LEGENDARY ACTIONS —
cal effects. The guardian can take 3 legendary actions, choosing
Magic Weapons. The guardian’s weapon attacks from the options below. Only one legendary action
are magical. option can be used at a time and only at the end of
ACTIONS — another creature’s turn. The guardian regains spent
legendary actions at the start of its turn.
Multiattack. The guardian makes two melee attacks.
Runeblade. The guardian makes one
Runeblade. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach Runeblade attack.
15 ft., one target. Hit: 36 (4d12 + 10) slashing damage,
Kick. The guardian makes one Kick attack.
and the target must succeed on a DC 23 Constitution
saving throw or be blinded until it deals damage to Trample (Costs 2 Actions). The guardian moves up
the guardian. to 50 feet without triggering opportunity attacks, and
can pass through other creature’s spaces. Each crea-
Kick. Melee Weapon Attack: +18 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
ture whose space the guardian passes through must
one target. Hit: 23 (2d12 + 10) bludgeoning damage,
make a DC 23 Dexterity saving throw. On a failure, the
and the target is pushed up to 15 feet away from the
creature takes 23 (2d12 + 10) bludgeoning damage
guardian and knocked prone.
and is knocked prone. On a success, the creature
Bladestorm (Recharge 5–6). The guardian makes a takes half as much damage and isn’t knocked prone.
Runeblade attack against every creature within 15 Any creature that shares the guardian’s space when
feet of it. On a hit, a target is also pushed up to 15 feet it stops this movement is pushed out of its space into
away from the guardian and knocked prone. the nearest unoccupied space.

Mage Hunter Golem Immutable Form. The golem is immune to any spell or
effect that would alter its form.
Large construct
Magic Absorption. Whenever the golem is subjected
to a damage-dealing spell of 4th level or lower, it
Armor Class 20 (natural armor) takes no damage and instead regains a number of hit
Hit Points 243 (18d10 + 144) points equal to the damage dealt.
ing throws against spells and other magical effects.
24 (+7) 9 (−1) 26 (+8) 3 (−4) 11 (+0) 1 (−5) Magic Weapons. The golem’s weapon attacks
are magical.
Saving Throws Wis +5, Cha +0 ACTIONS —
Skills Perception +5 Multiattack. The golem uses its Antimagic Jolt
Damage Immunities poison, psychic; bludgeoning, and makes two melee attacks, or it makes three
piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons melee attacks.
that aren’t adamantine
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 20 (3d8 + 7) bludgeoning damage.
frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned
Senses darkvision 120 ft., truesight 30 ft., passive Claw (Recharge 5–6). Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to
Perception 15 hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d8 + 7) bludgeon-
Languages understands the languages of its creator ing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 16
but can’t speak Dexterity saving throw or have a magic collar placed
Challenge 15 (13,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5 upon its neck. While the target wears the collar, it is
magically prevented from speaking and cannot cast
any spell. A successful DC 25 Dexterity check using
Antimagic Cone. The golem creates an area of anti- thieves’ tools removes the collar.
magic, as in the antimagic field spell, in a 60-foot cone
Antimagic Jolt. Each creature within the golem’s
originating from it. At the start of each of its turns, the
Antimagic Cone that has the ability to cast a spell of
golem decides which way the cone faces and whether
1st level or higher must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving
the cone is active.
throw, taking 21 (6d6) psychic damage on a failed
save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

Platinum Golem Immutable Form. The golem is immune to any spell or
effect that would alter its form.
Large construct
ing throws against spells and other magical effects.
Magic Weapons. The golem’s weapon attacks
Hit Points 189 (18d10 + 90)
are magical.
Speed 30 ft.
ACTIONS —
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Multiattack. The golem makes two melee attacks.
22 (+6) 10 (+0) 21 (+5) 3 (−4) 12 (+1) 1 (−5) Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) piercing damage.
Damage Immunities acid, cold, fire, poison, psychic;
Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical
attacks that aren’t adamantine
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, Radiant Blast (Recharge 6). The golem emits a burst
frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned of radiant light in a 20-foot radius. Each creature in the
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 11 area must make a DC 18 Constitution saving throw.
Languages understands the languages of its creator On a failed save, a creature takes 18 (4d8) radiant
but can’t speak damage and is blinded until the end of its next turn.
Challenge 16 (15,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5 On a success, the creature takes half as much damage
and is not blinded.
Divine Custodian. When the golem hits a creature REACTIONS —

with an opportunity attack, that creature’s speed Divine Judgment. When a creature within 10 feet of
becomes 0 for the rest of the turn. the golem makes an attack against a target other than
the golem, the golem can make a mace attack against
that creature.

Jourrael, the Caedogeist
Jourrael is a nightmarish specter and ancient
assassin of many names. The Spider Queen
bestowed upon her the title of Caedogeist,
the specter of silent death, while scholars
describe Jourrael as “the Inevitable End,”
more certain than death. Those who
catch a glimpse of her whisper of a
nightmarish wraith wielding daggers
dripping poison, hair like fire, skin
shielded in shadow, and able to walk
through walls and mountains as if
they were water.
Death Forbidden. Jourrael cannot
die. A contract between the Lord of
the Hells and the Spider Queen forbids
death from claiming the assassin,
though many have tried—often in
increasingly creative ways. At the
Calamity’s end, armies joined together
to separate Jourrael’s body into disparate
parts. The Savalirwood elves took their
head to Veluthil, while their heart was
hidden in the Lotusden Greenwood under
a dread wraithroot tree.
The mysterious fiend Obann falsely
believed that after recovering and reviving
Jourrael, he could control her indefinitely.
Inevitably, Jourrael dealt a killing blow to
Obann, sending him to the death she will
never meet.
Unbound Future. Alive and well, Jourrael
still serves the Spider Queen. Their ghostly form
and unmatchable stealth fuel the attacks of their
spectral blade and void dagger, with few surviving
that onslaught. They shrug off nature’s elements
and mortals’ weapons, won’t be held against their
will, and know no fear. After having spent so long
dismembered and sealed away, Jourrael is eager to
see the world of Exandria—and to kill any creature
they deem worthy of dying on their blades.
Alignment. Chaotic evil.
Jourrael, the Caedogeist spirit for 24 hours. During this time, Jourrael can’t
return to their original form until they return to full hit
Medium fiend (drow)
points. In this form, they are invisible, can’t attack or
interact with corporeal creatures or objects, and can’t
Armor Class 19 (studded leather armor) be targeted by spells. After 24 hours have passed,
Hit Points 152 (16d8 + 80) Jourrael regains 1 hit point and returns to their original
Speed 80 ft., fly 40 ft. form with four levels of exhaustion.
ACTIONS —
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Multiattack. Jourrael makes two melee attacks or two
13 (+1) 24 (+7) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 17 (+3) 15 (+2) ranged attacks.
Spectral Blade. Melee Weapon Attack: +12 to hit,
Saving Throws Dex +12, Con +10, Wis +8 reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d6 + 7) slashing
Skills Acrobatics +12, Perception +13, Stealth +17 damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 14
Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning, cold, Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 hour. If
thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from the saving throw fails by 5 or more, the target is also
nonmagical attacks unconscious while poisoned in this way. The target
Damage Immunities poison wakes up if it takes damage or if another creature
Condition Immunities frightened, grappled, takes an action to shake it awake.
paralyzed, poisoned, prone, restrained
Senses darkvision 120 ft., passive Perception 23 Void Dagger. Ranged Weapon Attack: +12 to
Languages Abyssal, Common, Infernal, Undercommon hit, range 60/120 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d4 + 7)
Challenge 15 (13,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5 piercing damage.
BONUS ACTIONS —
Incorporeal Movement. Jourrael can move through Cunning Action. Jourrael can take the Dash, Disen-
other creatures and objects as if they were difficult gage, or Hide action.
terrain. They take 5 (1d10) force damage if they end Mirrored Form (Recharges after a Short Rest).
their turn inside an object. Jourrael manifests three illusory duplicates that hover
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Jourrael deals an extra 35 in her space. Each time a creature targets Jourrael
(10d6) damage when they hit a target with a weapon with an attack, roll a d20 to see if it hits one of the
attack and have advantage on the attack roll, or when duplicates. If there are three duplicates, a duplicate is
the target is within 5 feet of an ally of Jourrael that targeted on a roll of 6 or higher. With two duplicates,
isn’t incapacitated and Jourrael doesn’t have disad- a duplicate is targeted on a roll of 8 or higher. A
vantage on the attack roll. single duplicate is targeted on a roll of 11 or higher. A
Innate Spellcasting. Jourrael’s spellcasting ability is duplicate’s AC is 17, and it is destroyed if hit. Jourrael
Charisma (spell save DC 15). She can innately cast the can hide the duplicates as a bonus action.
following spells, requiring no material components: REACTIONS —
At will: dancing lights Parry. Jourrael adds 5 to their AC against one melee
1/day each: darkness, faerie fire attack that would hit them. To do so, they must see
Inevitable. If Jourrael is reduced to 0 hit points, they the attacker.
do not fall unconscious but become an incorporeal
“Of the great, terrible legends born in the blood and fire of the
Calamity, few managed to defy mortality and endure the ages as deftly
as the assassin queen Jourrael. Blessed by shadow and death, they
walk between realms, relishing the hunt and stalking their target
tirelessly, unburdened by wall, gate, or door. Whatever poor soul finds
the ire of the Caedogeist can only accept their ‘Inevitable End.’”
—Unnamed scholar of the Cobalt Soul

Kraghammer Goat- Kraghammer
Knight Goat-Knight
The sheer cliff faces and winding mountainside Medium humanoid (dwarf)
roads of the Cliffkeep Mountains are nearly impos-
sible to traverse by normal means with any speed.
Armor Class 20 (plate, shield)
The Peakclimber Knights of Kraghammer—com- Hit Points 52 (8d8 + 16)
monly known as the goat-knights—are the enforcers Speed 25 ft.
of peace and justice across the mountain range.
They trust their giant goat steeds to master the
harsh mountain slopes, and many travelers lost STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
within the Cliffkeep Mountains have been saved by 17 (+3) 8 (−1) 14 (+2) 10 (+0) 11 (+0) 16 (+3)
a goat-knight who led them to safety along the more
traversable mountain paths. Saving Throws Str +5, Dex +1, Con +4, Int +2, Wis
These knights serve the All-Hammer and some- +2, Cha +5
times find themselves at odds while enforcing the Skills Nature +2, Religion +4
Damage Resistances poison
laws of Kraghammer and upholding the edicts of
their god.
Languages Common, Dwarvish
Goat-Knight Steeds
A goat-knight’s steed uses the giant goat stat block Aura of Protection. Whenever the goat-knight or a
with the following modifications: creature friendly to it within 10 feet of it makes a saving
• Its Intelligence score is 6 (−2), and it can under- throw, that creature gains a +2 bonus (included in the
stand Dwarvish. goat-knight’s saving throws above). The goat-knight
• Its creature type is celestial. must be conscious to grant and gain this bonus.
• Any spell the goat-knight casts with a range of self
Divine Health. The goat-knight is immune to disease.
also targets the goat.
When a goat-knight steed drops to 0 hit points, it Dwarven Resilience. The goat-knight has resistance
to poison damage and advantage on saving throws
disappears, leaving behind no physical form. The
against poison.
goat-knight can also dismiss the steed at any time as
an action, causing it to disappear. In either case, the Spellcasting. The goat-knight is a 6th-level spellcaster.
same steed is summoned when the goat-knight casts Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 13,
find steed. +5 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following paladin
spells prepared:
1st level (4 slots): bless, cure wounds, protection from
evil and good, sanctuary, shield of faith
2nd level (2 slots): branding smite, find steed, lesser
restoration, zone of truth
ACTIONS —
Multiattack. The goat-knight makes two warham-
mer attacks.
Warhammer. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning dam-
age, or 8 (1d10 + 3) bludgeoning damage if used with
two hands.

Magma Landshark
Lurking inside volcanoes, subterranean
magma pits, and the endless seas of flame
within the Elemental Plane of Fire, magma
landsharks live only to eat. These crea-
tures are physically similar to bulettes,
the common landshark of the Dividing
Plains, but are filled with churning ele-
mental power.
This fiery, armored predator burrows
and burns through solid rock and can
sense the slightest movement in the
ground around it. When hungry—and
these creatures are always hungry—a
magma landshark erupts from under the
earth, oblivious to any obstruction or danger,
uprooting trees, destroying roads, unleashing
avalanches, and leaving sinkholes behind in its
wake. Its jaws widen as it swallows prey whole,
and even creatures that initially survive the attack
must contend with an aura of intense heat if they
can't escape.
Magma Landshark throw or be swallowed by the landshark. A swallowed

creature is blinded and restrained, it has total cover
Huge elemental
against attacks and other effects outside the land-
shark, and it takes 42 (12d6) fire damage at the start of
Armor Class 18 (natural armor) each of the landshark’s turns.
Hit Points 150 (12d12 + 72) If the landshark takes 30 damage or more on a
Speed 50 ft., burrow 50 ft., swim 50 ft. (lava only) single turn from a creature inside it, the landshark
must succeed on a DC 23 Constitution saving throw
at the end of that turn or regurgitate all swallowed
creatures, which fall prone in a space within 10 feet
22 (+6) 11 (+0) 22 (+6) 2 (−4) 14 (+2) 5 (−3)
of the landshark. If the landshark dies, a swallowed
creature is no longer restrained by it and can escape
Damage Immunities fire from the corpse by using 15 feet of movement,
Skills Perception +7 exiting prone.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 120 ft., passive
Perception 17 Deadly Leap. If the landshark jumps at least 15 feet
Languages — as part of its movement, it can then use this action
Challenge 14 (11,500 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5 to land on its feet in a space that contains one or
more other creatures. Each of those creatures must
succeed on a DC 18 Strength or Dexterity saving
Searing Presence. Any creature that starts its turn throw (target’s choice) or be knocked prone and take
within 10 feet of the landshark takes 11 (2d10) 27 (6d6 + 6) bludgeoning damage plus 21 (6d6) fire
fire damage. damage. On a successful save, the creature takes only
Standing Leap. The landshark’s long jump is up to 40 half the damage, isn’t knocked prone, and is pushed 5
feet and its high jump is up to 20 feet, with or without feet out of the landshark’s space into an unoccupied
a running start. space of the creature’s choice. If no unoccupied space
Illumination. The landshark sheds bright light in a is within range, the creature instead falls prone in the
15-foot radius and dim light for an additional 15 feet. landshark’s space.
Lava Pool (Recharge 6). If the landshark is on solid
ACTIONS —
ground, it melts the area around it, creating a pool of
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 5 ft., one lava in a 10-foot radius. Any creature that starts its
target. Hit: 45 (6d12 + 6) piercing damage, and 14 turn in the area or enters it for the first time on a turn
(4d6) fire damage. If the target is a Large or smaller takes 44 (8d10) fire damage.
creature, it must succeed on a DC 18 Dexterity saving

Young Magma Landshark
Large elemental
Plainscow
The hulking plainscow is an exceptionally sturdy
beast of burden native to the Dividing Plains and
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) used by the people of central Tal’Dorei for centu-
Hit Points 105 (10d10 + 50) ries. Though many wild herds still roam the plains,
Speed 40 ft., burrow 40 ft., swim 40 ft. (lava only) domesticated plainscows are more common, used as
mounts, pack animals, and livestock. Plainscows are
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA unusually empathetic for beasts, and often bond with
20 (+5) 11 (+0) 21 (+5) 2 (−4) 10 (+0) 5 (−3) a rider for life. They stand 6 feet tall, weigh about
two tons, and live for 70 years.
Damage Immunities fire Market Value. Plainscows can be bought in
Skills Perception +4 Westruun for 200 gp. A plainscow has a carrying
Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 120 ft., passive capacity of 1,500 pounds.
Perception 14
Languages —
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP)
Proficiency Bonus +4 Plainscow
Large beast
Searing Presence. Any creature that starts its turn
within 10 feet of the landshark takes 11 (2d10)
fire damage. Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
Standing Leap. The landshark’s long jump is up to 40 Speed 40 ft.
feet and its high jump is up to 20 feet, with or without a
running start.
Illumination. The landshark sheds bright light in a STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15-foot radius and dim light for an additional 15 feet. 18 (+4) 8 (−1) 16 (+3) 2 (−4) 10 (+0) 6 (−2)
ACTIONS — Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one slashing from nonmagical attacks
target. Hit: 31 (4d12 + 5) piercing damage, and 14 (4d6) Skills Insight +2
fire damage. Senses passive Perception 10
Deadly Leap. If the landshark jumps at least 15 feet as Languages —
part of its movement, it can then use this action to land Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
on its feet in a space that contains one or more other Trampling Charge. If the plainscow moves at least 20
creatures. Each of those creatures must succeed on feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a
a DC 16 Strength or Dexterity saving throw (target’s hooves attack on the same turn, that target must suc-
choice) or be knocked prone and take 19 (4d6 + 5) ceed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked
bludgeoning damage plus 14 (4d6) fire damage. On prone. If the target is prone, the plainscow can make
a successful save, the creature takes only half the another attack with its hooves as a bonus action.
damage, isn’t knocked prone, and is pushed 5 feet out
of the landshark’s space into an unoccupied space of ACTIONS —
the creature’s choice. If no unoccupied space is within Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
range, the creature instead falls prone in the land- one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) bludgeoning damage.
shark’s space.

Ravagers Ravager Stabby-Stabber
The Ravagers are a death cult that stampedes across Adventurers and mercenaries most often take up
the Dividing Plains, spilling blood in the name of the arms against the Ravagers after hearing stories
Betrayer God known as the Ruiner. Led by blood- of the hordes terrorizing the free peoples of the
thirsty warlords called Slaughter Lords, the cult’s Dividing Plains. They prepare themselves for brutal
long-term goals are unknown, but its members are combat against even more brutal foes—and are
content in the short term to sow the seeds of chaos thus unprepared for the Ravagers’ most terrifying
across the plains. weapon, the stabby-stabbers. Fresh-faced warriors
Such wanton, chaotic slaughter would certainly from Emon laugh at the name when they first hear
please the Ruiner, and the smaller settlements of the it in Kymal’s taverns, even as veteran mercenaries
plains have learned to fear the sight of Ravagers on close their eyes and hastily bury their faces in their
the horizon. Inside the walls of Westruun, however, tankards.
Lord Mayor Lysandra Kallos and her councilors Nimble Ravager warriors who show exceptional
worry that the Ravagers show better organization skill are brought before their Slaughter Lord and
than their bloodthirsty warlords should be capable forced to drink a terrible brew the Ravagers call
of instilling in the cult. Who—or what—is com- skullfire. This concoction burns away what little
manding the Slaughter Lords from the shadows? reasoning ability those warriors possessed, turning
And toward what end are these depraved warriors them into perfectly obedient, flesh-hungry monsters.
being directed? In battle, stabby-stabbers swarm like rats, eviscerat-
ing enemies and bystanders alike.
Ravager Slaughter Lord Alignment. Chaotic evil.
Some warlords of the Dividing Plains, hungry

for recognition in the single burning eye of their
god, turn to the Ravagers in the name of blood
and glory. Those few whose deeds live up to their
ambitions soon find themselves leading factions
of the cult—and honored by the title of Slaughter
Lord. A Slaughter Lord craves combat and leads
Ravager raids as often as possible. However, they
are frequently forced to remain at their strongholds
because of the strict regimen of alchemical treat-
ments that grant them increased power.
A small army of shamans and alchemists attend
to the Slaughter Lords to artificially enhance their
strength and fury, creating concoctions to grow
their muscular forms to massive size, sharpen their
tactical reasoning, and bestow upon them the divine
protection of the Ruiner. A Slaughter Lord’s unnat-
ural size is their most obvious martial advantage,
enabling them to dual-wield even the largest weap-
ons. But the Ruiner’s blessings also grant them
access to divine magic that can blind or slay
enemies with a word.
It is speculated that four major arms
of the Ravagers are each commanded
by one of these terrors, but the
exact number of Slaughter Lords
remains unknown.
Alignment. Chaotic evil.

Ravager Slaughter Lord ACTIONS —
Large humanoid (any) Multiattack. The Slaughter Lord makes four attacks
with its dual greatswords or three attacks with
its spear.
Armor Class 17 (Unarmored Defense)
Hit Points 157 (15d10 + 75) Dual Greatswords. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit,
Speed 30 ft. reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) piercing dam-
age plus 3 (1d6) fire damage.
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit,
range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d6 + 6) piercing
22 (+6) 14 (+2) 20 (+5) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 16 (+3)
damage plus 3 (1d6) fire damage, or 15 (2d8 + 6)
piercing damage plus 3 (1d6) fire damage if used with
Saving Throws Str +10, Con +9, Wis +7
both hands to make a melee attack.
Skills Intimidation +11, Religion +5
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13 BONUS ACTIONS —
Languages Abyssal, Common, one other language Aggressive. The Slaughter Lord can move up to its
Challenge 9 (5,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +4 speed toward a hostile creature it can see.
Innate Spellcasting. The Slaughter Lord’s innate LEGENDARY ACTIONS —
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 15, +7 to The Slaughter Lord can take 3 legendary actions,
hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following choosing from the options below. Only one legendary
spells, requiring no material components: action option can be used at a time and only at the
At will: thaumaturgy end of another creature’s turn. The Slaughter Lord
3/day each: flame strike, spirit guardians regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
1/day each: control weather, divine word, fire storm Attack. The Slaughter Lord makes a spear or dual
Legendary Resistance (2/Day). If the Slaughter Lord greatswords attack.
fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead. Move. The Slaughter Lord moves up to half its speed.
Unarmored Defense. While the Slaughter Lord is Cast a Spell (Costs 3 Actions). The Slaughter Lord
wearing no armor and not wielding a shield, its AC casts an innate spell.
includes its Constitution modifier.
Ravager Stabby-Stabber Stabby Frenzy. When the stabby-stabber hits with a

melee attack, it can attack again and continue making
Small humanoid (any)
additional attacks until it misses. The stabby-stabber
cannot move between the attacks made with this trait.
Armor Class 15 (studded leather) ACTIONS —
Speed 30 ft. Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage.
Dagger. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit,
reach 5 ft., range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3)
10 (+0) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 8 (−1) 7 (−2) piercing damage.
Saving Throws Wis +1 BONUS ACTIONS —
Condition Immunities charmed Nimble Escape. The stabby-stabber can use the Dis-
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9 engage or Hide action.
Languages Common, one other language

Remnants Remnant Chosen
The Remnants is a foul cult dedicated to seeing their All devotees of the Whispered One are zealous
lich leader, the Whispered One, ascend to godhood. followers, spending hours in silent meditation hoping
Cultists believe that self-mutilation and transitory to hear their long-dead master whisper a command-
failings are requirements to pierce the veil and see ment from beyond. However, only a rare few hear the
the world for the lie it is—including accepting that spectral voice of the Whispered One as it worms its
the true hidden world already belongs to the Whis- way into their minds, emptying out other thought and
pered One. filling their heads with clarity and direction. Much
Bitter Victory. The Remnants have both won of this direction involves the Remnants’ plans to
and failed in their dire goal, as the Whispered One leverage secrets stolen from the Plane of Shadow to
ascended but was banished beyond the Divine Gate. Yet increase the cult’s power in Tal’Dorei.
they name him the Ascendant One, the Banished One,
or—because all others gods are pretenders—simply
the One, and prepare patiently for his final ascension.
Remnant Chosen 2nd level (3 slots): blindness/deafness, detect

thoughts
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fly, hypnotic pattern
4th level (3 slots): greater invisibility
Armor Class 12 (15 with mage armor) 5th level (3 slots): dominate person, seeming
Hit Points 117 (18d8 + 36) 6th level (1 slot): eyebite
Speed 30 ft. 7th level (1 slot): finger of death
8th level (1 slot): power word stun
9th level (1 slot): power word kill
Withering Spells. When the chosen casts a spell of
10 (+0) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 20 (+5)
1st level or higher, the next Withered Hand attack it
makes before the end of its next turn deals extra dam-
Saving Throws Cha +9, Wis +7 age equal to 1d6 per level of the spell cast.
Skills Arcana +10, Deception +9
Damage Resistances damage from spells ACTIONS —
Damage Immunities necrotic Withering Touch. Melee Spell Attack: +9 to hit, reach
Senses truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 13 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (5d6) force damage plus extra
Languages Abyssal, Common, Infernal damage from the Withering Touch trait. If this damage
Challenge 12 (8,400 XP) Proficiency Bonus +4 reduces a creature to 0 hit points, the creature and
everything it is wearing and carrying, except magic
Magic Resistance. The chosen has advantage on sav- items, are reduced to a pile of fine gray dust. The crea-
ing throws against spells and other magical effects. ture can be restored to life only by means of a true
resurrection or a wish spell.
Spellcasting. The chosen is an 18th-level spellcaster.
Its spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 17, BONUS ACTIONS —
+9 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following sor- Inescapable Sight. The Chosen selects a creature or
cerer spells prepared: object under the effect of an illusion spell of 4th level
Cantrips (at will): chill touch (4d8), dancing lights, or lower. One illusion of the Chosen’s choice affecting
mage hand, message, shocking grasp (4d8) the target is dispelled.
1st level (4 slots): charm person, mage armor, shield

Remnant Cultist
All cultists of the Whispered One endure
horrific rites of initiation that force them to
remove one of their own eyes and forever
shackle themselves to the will of the cult’s
leaders. Every cultist can feel the presence
of their foul god just beyond the fabric of the
physical world, and many claim to hear him
speaking to them when all else is silent.
The cultists of the Whispered One
still venerate their wrathful master with
offerings of secrets and unwilling souls to
gain his favor, learning what they can and
keeping hidden that which they know. Cult-
ists believe in cultivating evil in themselves
and recognizing it in others, encouraging
them to express it. They hope to seed the
ruin of all who worship other deities until
only those who kneel before the Whispered
One remain.
Remnant Cultist Unknowable Secrets. Any attempt to form a mental

link with the cultist, cast scry on the cultist, or cast
speak with dead on the cultist automatically fails, and
the creature that initiated the attempt takes 21 (6d6)
Armor Class 13 (16 with mage armor) psychic damage.
Hit Points 60 (11d8 + 11) One-Eyed. The cultist has disadvantage on any attack
Speed 30 ft. roll made against a target more than 30 feet away.
Spellsteal. If the cultist successfully uses counterspell
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA to negate another creature’s spell, it can cast the
10 (+0) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 8 (−1) 8 (−1) countered spell once before the end of its next turn
using one of its spell slots of the same level or higher,
Saving Throws Wis +2 and requiring no material components.
Skills Deception +5, Stealth +6 ACTIONS —
Damage Resistances necrotic, psychic
Senses passive Perception 9 Dagger of Wounding. Melee or Ranged Weapon
Languages Common, Infernal Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., range 20/60 ft., one tar-
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 get. Hit: 5 (1d4 + 3) piercing damage. Hit points lost to
this weapon’s damage can be regained only through a
short or long rest, rather than by regeneration, magic,
Spellcasting. The remnant cultist is an 11th-level or any other means.
spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell Once per turn when the cultist hits a creature with
save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). The cultist has an attack using this weapon, it can wound its target.
the following wizard spells prepared: At the start of each of the wounded creature’s turns,
Cantrips (at will): chill touch (3d8), message, minor it takes 2 (1d4) necrotic damage for each time it’s
illusion, prestidigitation, ray of frost (3d8) been wounded by this weapon. It can then make a
1st level (4 slots): detect magic, hideous laughter, DC 15 Constitution saving throw, ending the effect of
mage armor, shield all such wounds on itself on a success. Alternatively,
2nd level (3 slots): detect thoughts, suggestion the wounded creature, or a creature within 5 feet of it,
3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, fear, vampiric touch can use an action to make a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine)
4th level (3 slots): greater invisibility, phantasmal killer check, ending the effect of such wounds on it on
5th level (2 slot): dream, mislead a success.
6th level (1 slot): circle of death

Rivermaw Warriors The tyrant Kevdak’s fearsome Herd of Storms
was so named because of the many stormborn in its
The Rivermaw Herd is a nomadic society mostly ranks, but that herd was broken at Westruun some
composed of half-giants, also known as goliaths, and two decades ago. Now the Rivermaw Herd is bol-
a mighty force for good on the Dividing Plains. The stered by those who were freed from Kevdak’s rule.
herd was once conquered by a goliath tyrant named The few stormborn remaining from that broken herd
Kevdak, then formed anew after Kevdak was even- are part of the Rivermaw, and more storm-blessed
tually defeated by Vox Machina. Free of Kevdak’s warriors have been born into the Rivermaw since,
martial cruelty, the Rivermaw see it as their duty to ready to forge new legends.
prevent any such tyrant from conquering the Divid-
ing Plains ever again.
Though most members of the Rivermaw Herd are
goliaths, their ranks include people of all races who
wish to live beyond the stone walls of Westruun and
the palisades of plains towns like Turst Fields. Orcs,
humans, halflings, and gnolls make up most of the
rest of the herd’s warriors. Most of those warriors
value strength and endurance over other qualities,
but the brawlers and stormborn of the Rivermaw are
better known for cunning, intelligence, strategy, and
a unique attunement to the mighty thunder of the
Stormlord.
Rivermaw Brawler
Many children in the Rivermaw Herd get into
friendly brawls, but only the truly dedicated learn the
art of fist fighting. Rivermaw brawlers usually lead
the charge on the battlefield, using their exceptional
strength, speed, and cunning to throw an enemy
vanguard into chaos.
Beyond the Dividing Plains, brawlers trained by
the Rivermaw can be found in noble adventuring
parties, working for the Clasp as muscle, in under-
ground fighting rings, and as personal bodyguards.
In Emon, the most famous fist fighters make a name
for themselves within the Brawler’s League or the
Godsbrawl, representing the Stormlord in that
annual holy tournament.
Rivermaw Stormborn
Countless goliath legends tell of heroes born beneath
a raging storm: Kaldon Thunderhead, who slew the
ember roc of the south; Marydra Skysplitter, who
defeated a champion of the Ruiner in single combat;
and Yodrell Rumblechest, who halted a flash flood
with only his voice, to name just a few.
Though the stormborn of legend were all half-gi-
ants, more and more Rivermaw have begun to feel
the Stormlord’s power reverberate within them.
These peerless warriors are blessed with preter-
natural skill with a blade and the uncanny ability
to command lightning. Often destined to become
mythic heroes, stormborn fight with reckless aban-
don—but many can be distressingly prideful and
might need reminding that the songs of defeated or
tyrannical stormborn are rarely sung by the bards.

Rivermaw Brawler damage. If the target is a Large or smaller creature,
the brawler can choose one of the following addi-
tional effects:
• Bruise. The target must succeed on a DC 13
Armor Class 15 (Unarmored Defense) Constitution saving throw. On a failure, its speed is
Hit Points 65 (10d8 + 20) reduced by 5 feet until it receives at least 1 point
Speed 40 ft. of magical healing. A creature can use its action to
make a DC 15 Wisdom (Medicine) check to heal an
affected creature within 5 feet of it (including itself),
restoring any lost speed on a success.
17 (+3) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 8 (−1)
• Disarm. The target must succeed on a DC 13
Strength saving throw or drop one item it is holding.
Saving Throws Str +5, Wis +5 The brawler can choose which item is dropped, and
Skills Acrobatics +4, Athletics +5, Perception +5 can pick it up.
Senses passive Perception 15 • Suplex. The target must succeed on a DC 13
Languages Common, Giant Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
REACTIONS —
Unarmored Defense. While the brawler is wearing Clever Fighter. When the brawler hits with an attack
no armor and wielding no shield, its AC includes its or is targeted by an attack, it can add its Intelligence
Wisdom modifier. modifier (+2) to its damage rolls or AC until the end
of its turn.
ACTIONS —
Endurance (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest).
Multiattack. The brawler makes three When the brawler takes damage, it can reduce the
unarmed strikes. damage by 8 (1d12 + 2).
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit,
reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning
Rivermaw Stormborn during that turn, but attack rolls against it have
advantage until the start of its next turn.
Innate Spellcasting. The stormborn’s innate
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12).
Armor Class 13 (hide armor) The stormborn can innately cast the following spells,
Hit Points 102 (12d8 + 48) requiring no material components:
Speed 30 ft.
3/day: lightning bolt
1/day: call lightning
18 (+4) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 11 (+0) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) ACTIONS —
Multiattack. The stormborn makes two greataxe
Saving Throws Con +7, Cha +4 attacks. If it is concentrating on call lightning, it can
Skills Athletics +7, Intimidation +4 also call down a lightning bolt.
Damage Resistances lightning
Greataxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
one target. Hit: 10 (1d12 + 4) slashing damage plus 3
Languages Common, Giant
(1d6) lightning damage.
REACTIONS —
Reckless. At the start of its turn, the stormborn can Endurance (Recharges after a Short or Long rest).
gain advantage on all melee weapon attack rolls When the stormborn takes damage, it can reduce the
damage by 10 (1d12 + 4).

Skeletons Centaur Skeleton
Skeletons are often the first creatures to be rean- The Alabaster Sierras are bordered by hazardously
imated by aspiring necromancers, imbued with treacherous shore-side cliffs and bleak mountains
a vulgar imitation of life and reassembled into swarming with starving monstrosities. But beneath
an approximation of their living forms. No trace those peaks is a dense, beautiful, and eerie forest
remains of the life that once animated a skeleton, called the Parchwood. During the six-year night-
whose only purpose is loyalty. mare that was the Briarwood’s reign, refugees made
Skeletons follow the orders of their creators until their home here—but so did Lady Delilah and Lord
those orders are completed. Their obedient, tireless Sylas’s experiments. The centaur skeletons of the
nature makes them perfect as disposable battle Parchwood are not centaurs at all; rather, they are
fodder, guards, or distractions—and, in great enough the remnants of the Briarwoods’ fleeting attempts to
numbers, turns them into an overwhelming tide of entertain themselves by refashioning the remains of
bone, tooth, and blade. different species into unique forms.
Undead Nature. A skeleton doesn’t require air,
food, drink, or sleep. Flaming Skeleton
Alignment. Neutral evil. The skeletal remains of many of those who opposed
Thordak the Cinder King are said to be forever
imbued with the primordial power of his fire breath.
“Odd mysteries surround these skeletal nightmares
Areas scarred by the red dragon’s power, including
given renewed, violent purpose as a mockery of
Thordak’s Crater in Emon’s Cloudtop District, the
mortality. Rumors speak of a dark intelligence Ashen Gorge in the Stormcrest Mountains, and Ser-
rooted within, seeking power and using their own pent’s Head in the Cliffkeep Mountains, are rife with
bones, or even the wriggling worms that thrive flaming skeletons. These undead react to the raw
within their corpses, as currency to trade with power of the Elemental Planes, and are filled with an
shadowy merchants.” unquenchable desire to spread flames far and wide
—William Orom, Apothecary until nothing is left untouched by fire.

Centaur Skeleton Flaming Skeleton
Large undead Medium undead
Armor Class 12 Armor Class 12

Hit Points 45 (6d10 + 12) Hit Points 19 (3d8 + 6)
Speed 50 ft. Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
17 (+3) 14 (+2) 14 (+2) 6 (−2) 9 (−1) 5 (−3) 10 (+0) 14 (+2) 15 (+2) 6 (−2) 8 (−1) 5 (−3)
Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning Damage Vulnerabilities bludgeoning

Damage Immunities poison Damage Immunities fire, poison
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9 Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 9
Languages understands Common but can’t speak Languages understands all languages it knew in life but
Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2 can’t speak
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2
Charge. If the centaur moves at least 30 feet straight
toward a target and then hits it with a pike attack on the Heated Weapons. When the skeleton hits with a metal
same turn, the target takes an extra 10 (3d6) pierc- melee weapon, the weapon deals an extra 3 (1d6) fire
ing damage. damage (included in the attack).
ACTIONS — Illumination. The skeleton sheds bright light in a
10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet.
Multiattack. The centaur skeleton makes two attacks:
one with its pike and one with its hooves, or two with ACTIONS —
its longbow. Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5
Pike. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 10 ft., one ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage and 3
target. Hit: 8 (1d10 + 3) piercing damage. (1d6) fire damage.
Hooves. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., Ignite. The skeleton flings itself at a Large or smaller
one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage. creature within 5 feet of it. The target must succeed on
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or be grappled (escape
150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) pierc- DC 12). On a failed save, the target also takes 3 (1d6)
ing damage. fire damage at the start of each of its turns, even after
the grapple ends. If the target or a creature within 5
feet of it uses an action to put out the flames, or if some
other effect douses the flames (such as the target being
Centaur Skeleton Customization submerged in water), the effect ends.
Some centaur skeletons have the following additional
feature at the GM’s discretion.
Spirit Away. The centaur skeleton and up to
three creatures within 5 feet of it magically enter the
Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, or vice versa.
An unwilling creature that succeeds on a DC 13 Cha-
risma saving throw can resist this effect.
Vos’skyriss Vos’skyriss Rising. Several decades ago, Jorlund
Vohr, professor of archaeology at the Alabaster
Serpentfolk Lyceum, led an expedition to the ruins upon Visa
Isle—and found them prowled by the restless spirits
The Vos’skyriss serpentfolk are the people of an
of the serpent empire. Their incursion unleashed
ancient elite empire of humanoid-snake hybrids,
these entombed spirits, and awakened hundreds
who seek the ultimate detachment that comes
of their living kin from magical stasis. Now, living
from destroying all of reality.
and undead serpentfolk plot together to rekindle the
Constricted Origins. Once a realm of
embers of their long-lost empire.
humanoids who worshiped serpents, the ancient
Alignment. Neutral evil.
Vos’skyriss Empire was among the richest in the
world. Its people obsessively imitated snakes—
their flexibility, their emotionless patience,
their willingness to survive at any costs (even
cannibalizing their own kind), and their cold
detachment. With the help of profane magics,
most of the Vos’skyriss shed the useless skin
of their humanity to become like the Betrayer
God known as the Cloaked Serpent. Those who
couldn’t evolve became food for those who did.
Seers of the Vos’skyriss foresaw the Calam-
ity, and the empire created an arcane stasis
field under their capital city of Vos’skyriss to
survive. This site stands off the western coast
of Tal’Dorei and is now known as Visa Isle. Only
the strongest were allowed to seek refuge in the
capital, and decades of carefully tracked tourna-
ments determined who was fit for survival.
Ophidian Society. Serpentfolk occupy remote
temples in jungles, swamps, and deserts. Their
society enforces strict discipline and a hierarchy
that rewards those closest to snakes in mind
and body. Serpentfolk transfigured into massive
snakes with humanoid arms are held in the high-
est esteem.
Despite their god’s moniker, the Vos’skyriss
serpentfolk outlaw hoods so that outsiders in
their realm are easily recognizable.
Narcissistic Worship. Most serpentfolk
have little love for the Cloaked Serpent, though
they pay him homage as the deity of poisons,
assassins, and darkness. For the Vos’skyriss
serpentfolk, worship is a means to an end. Their
legends say that the devout will be granted the
ability to devour nightmares, enabling them to
gorge themselves on dreams of fear and terror
until they grow so large that they can turn on
their god and swallow the Cloaked Serpent
himself. Once begun, this feast is unend-
ing—they will devour the remaining gods
one by one, and finally, the entirety of the
multiverse.

Vos’skyriss Serpentfolk Innate Spellcasting. The serpentfolk’s innate spell-
casting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 12). It can
Large monstrosity
innately cast the following spells, requiring no material
components:
Armor Class 14 (natural armor) At will: animal friendship, speak with animals (snakes
Hit Points 60 (8d10 + 16) only)
Speed 40 ft., swim 40 ft. 2/day each: sleep, suggestion
1/day: pass without trace
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA ACTIONS —
16 (+3) 15 (+2) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 14 (+2)
Multiattack. The serpentfolk makes two scimi-
Skills Perception +2, Stealth +4 tar attacks.
Damage Immunities poison Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Condition Immunities poisoned creature. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6)
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12 poison damage.
Languages Common, Draconic Scimitar. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Challenge 3 (700 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2 one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.
Constrict. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Hold Breath. The serpentfolk can hold its breath for one creature. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) bludgeoning damage,
30 minutes. and the target is grappled (escape DC 13). Until this
grapple ends, the creature is restrained, and the ser-
pentfolk can’t constrict another target.
Vos’skyriss Incorporeal Movement. The ghost can move through

other creatures and objects as if they were difficult
Serpentfolk Ghost terrain. It takes 5 (1d10) force damage if it ends its turn
Large undead inside an object.
ACTIONS —
Armor Class 13 Multiattack. The ghost makes two spear attacks.
Hit Points 55 (10d10)
Spear. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit,
Speed 0 ft., fly 40 ft. (hover)
reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 +
3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) necrotic damage. If
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA the ghost makes a ranged attack, its spear rematerial-
7 (−2) 16 (+3) 10 (+0) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) izes in its hands after the attack is resolved.
Etherealness. The ghost enters the Ethereal Plane
Skills Perception +2, Stealth +7 from the Material Plane, or vice versa. It is visible on
Damage Resistances acid, fire, lightning, thunder; the Material Plane while it is in the Border Ethereal,
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from and vice versa, yet it can’t affect or be affected by
nonmagical attacks anything on the other plane.
Damage Immunities cold, necrotic, poison
Terrifying Hiss. The ghost emits an uncanny, rasping
hiss. Each non-undead creature within 30 feet of
frightened, grappled, paralyzed, poisoned, prone,
the ghost that can hear it must succeed on a DC 13
restrained
Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. A
frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the
Languages Common, Draconic
end of each of its turns, ending the condition on itself
on a success. If a target’s saving throw is successful
or the effect ends for it, the target is immune to this
Ethereal Sight. The ghost can see 60 feet into the ghost’s Terrifying Hiss for the next 24 hours.
Ethereal Plane when it is on the Material Plane, and
vice versa.

Wraithroot Tree
Huge plant
Wraithroot Tree
When ancient or nefarious entities need to safeguard
objects of grave consequence—particularly items
Armor Class 16 (natural armor) intertwined with their immortality—they bury those
Hit Points 270 (20d12 + 140) secrets alongside wraithroot trees, around which the
Speed 30 ft. people of Exandria dare not tread.
Vengeful Restoration. Wraithroot trees are
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA the product of foul necromancy and transmutation
23 (+6) 8 (−1) 24 (+7) 12 (+1) 16 (+3) 12 (+1) rituals that first see a tree awakened, gifting it with
advanced intelligence and imbuing its roots with
Skills Perception +8 mobility. But the awakened tree’s first moments of
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing joyous awareness are tragically cut short as necro-
Damage Vulnerabilities fire mantic energy courses through it, channeling rage
Condition Immunities stunned, frightened, charmed, and evil to transform it into a wraithroot—filled with
paralyzed, poisoned longing to obliterate the life it so fleetingly enjoyed.
Senses passive Perception 18 Wraithroot Sites. In Tal’Dorei, wraithroots can
Languages Common, Druidic, Elvish, Sylvan be found in a number of locations, including the
Challenge 14 (11,500 XP) Proficiency Bonus +5 Parchwood Timberlands below Whitestone, the
Torian Forest along the southwestern edge of the
False Appearance. While the wraithroot tree remains Cliffkeep Mountains, the Grey Valley north of
motionless, it is indistinguishable from a normal tree. Kraghammer, and the Moldered Grove southeast of
the Ashkeeper Peaks.
Wraith Shift. On its turn, the wraithroot tree can move
through other creatures and objects as if they were Alignment. Neutral evil.
difficult terrain. The tree does not provoke opportunity
attacks while moving, and must finish its movement in
a space unoccupied by any Large or larger objects or
creatures. Any Medium or smaller creature in the tree’s
space when it finishes moving is pushed to the nearest
unoccupied space of the creature’s choice. Medium or
smaller objects in the tree’s space are pushed to the
nearest unoccupied spaces of the tree’s choice.
ACTIONS —
Multiattack. The wraithroot tree makes two
slam attacks.
Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, reach 10 ft.,
Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +11 to hit, range 60/180
ft., one target. Hit: 28 (4d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage.
Wraithstorm (Recharge 5–6). The wraithroot tree pulls
life energy from the area around it, leaving creatures
temporarily frail. Each creature that is not a construct or
undead within 30 feet of the tree must succeed on a DC
16 Constitution saving throw or have its speed halved
and gain vulnerability to bludgeoning damage until the
end of the tree’s next turn.
Chapter 6: Allies and Adversaries of Tal’Dorei

Vox Machina
Heroes. Scoundrels. Legends. Dumbasses.
The legacy of the adventuring party Vox
Machina is a complicated one. Over the
course of their adventures, they’ve selflessly
saved the lives of thousands of people in
Tal’Dorei, Wildemount, Issylra, and beyond.
Of course, there are also countless tales
of individuals they’ve bullied, threatened,
insulted, or otherwise needlessly antago-
nized throughout those same adventures.
These legendary figures grew from a band
of dime-a-dozen sellswords in the swamp
burgh of Stilben to gods-blessed warriors
whose actions might have saved all of Exan-
dria from a future of undead tyranny.
The deeds of Vox Machina are sung by
bards across Tal’Dorei, often exaggerating
those already belief-defying tales of gods
and monsters and magic. But though their
legend has grown wild and unruly, the
members of Vox Machina are still people.
More than twenty years have passed since
their last great campaign. Most of them are
still alive, and the lives of these heroes have
changed—in big ways and in smaller, more
subtle ones.
Those among them who age have
softer bodies and lines on their faces.
Those among them who don’t age still show the Grog Strongjaw
weight of the world upon their shoulders. By and Towering, broad, and ready for battle, Grog Strong-
large, the members of Vox Machina have set aside jaw is a paragon of raw strength and unwavering
weapons, armor, and spells in favor of more subtle determination. The son of Stonejaw Strongjaw
ways of helping others. Some lead the lands they joined Vox Machina in their first meeting in Stilben,
were born to lead. Others have been elected to the and went on to defeat his tyrannical uncle Kevdak,
Tal’Dorei Council, shaping the fate of the continent’s bear the mythic Titanstone Knuckles, and save Exan-
people with quiet wisdom rather than blades and dria twice over alongside his companions.
battle cries. Kindhearted Berserker. Grog is a man of simple
Still, each member of this legendary band of pleasures. When he traveled the world with Vox
adventurers would take up arms again in an instant Machina, his great loves in life were famously battle,
if it meant protecting those they care for the most. women, and ale. And though he was renowned for his
And the Vestiges of Divergence, whose power they crass manners, vicious weapons, and relentless battle
unlocked in the battles against the Cinder King and rage, he was just as well known for his love for his
the Whispered One, are still within their grasp. friends. It was never just about saving the world for Grog.
The following stat blocks are here for GMs to use if Rather, it was about overcoming ever-greater challenges,
their players encounter a member of Vox Machina— and doing so side by side with his chosen family.
hopefully as an ally or a "quest giver," for woe betide After the Epilogue. After the Whispered One’s
anyone who encounters these legendary heroes as defeat, Grog Strongjaw retired to Westruun to live
a foe. These statistics don’t represent the full extent with his best friend Pike Trickfoot. Since then,
of the characters’ abilities as 20th-level adventurers, he has dedicated himself to learning to read and
but have been streamlined to make them easier for strengthening his mind. In the course of his study of
the Game Master to run. letters, shapes, colors, and numbers, Grog has orga-
nized a quadrennial event in Whitestone that he calls
the Luncheon of Champions. He personally sends
a handwritten invitation to the greatest warriors of
Exandria to battle in an all-out brawl—and then join
him for lunch and ale.

Grog Strongjaw Toughness. Grog has an additional 40 hit points.
Medium humanoid (half-giant) ACTIONS —
Multiattack. Grog makes two attacks (three when
Armor Class 19 raging) with his Bloodaxe, dwarven thrower, or Titan-
Hit Points 290 (20d12 + 120 + 40) stone Knuckles.
Speed 50 ft. Bloodaxe. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, reach 5
ft., one target. Hit: 20 (1d12 + 14) slashing damage and
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 3 (1d6) necrotic damage. If the target is reduced to 0
26 (+8) 15 (+2) 22 (+6) 8 (−1) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) hit points, Grog gains 10 temporary hit points.
Dwarven Thrower. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack:
Saving Throws Str +14, Con +12 +17 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60, one target. Hit:
Skills Animal Handling +6, Athletics +14, Intimidation 24 (2d8 + 15) bludgeoning damage.
+7, Survival +6
Titanstone Knuckles. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to
hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (1d4 + 12) bludgeon-
Languages speaks Common, Dwarvish, and Giant
ing damage.
with limited reading and writing
Challenge 18 (20,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +6 Enlarge (Recharges after a Long Rest). Grog casts
enlarge/reduce on himself to grow in size for 10 min-
utes. While enlarged in this way, he has resistance to
Brutal Critical. When Grog scores a critical hit, he rolls cold, fire, lightning, and thunder damage.
double weapon damage dice as usual, then rolls 3
additional weapon damage dice. BONUS ACTIONS —
Feral Instinct. Grog has advantage on initiative rolls. Rage (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). Grog
enters a rage that lasts until he falls unconscious or
Melee Master. Grog can take a −5 penalty to
chooses to end it (no action required). While raging,
any melee attack roll to gain a +10 bonus to the
Grog gains the following benefits:
damage roll.
He has advantage on Strength checks and Strength
Reckless. At the start of his turn, Grog can gain advan- saving throws.
tage on all melee weapon attack rolls during that turn,
• He deals an extra 4 damage when he hits a target
but attack rolls against him have advantage until the
with a melee weapon attack (included in attacks)
start of his next turn.
• He has resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and
Relentless Rage. If Grog is reduced to 0 hit points slashing damage
while raging, he drops to 1 hit point instead if he suc- • He can’t be charmed or frightened
ceeds on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw. • He can make an additional melee weapon attack
Special Equipment. Grog wears a belt of dwarven- (included in the Multiattack action)
kind. He wields the Bloodaxe (a +2 magic weapon), When Grog’s rage ends, he gains one level of
a dwarven thrower, and the Titanstone Knuckles exhaustion.
(see page 211).
REACTIONS —
Spellbreaker. When Grog damages a creature that is
concentrating on a spell, that creature has disadvan- Opportunist. When a creature within 5 feet of Grog
tage on the saving throw to maintain its concentration. casts a spell or deals damage to him, Grog can make
In addition, Grog has advantage on saving throws a melee weapon attack against that creature.
against spells cast by creatures within 5 feet of him.

Keyleth, Voice of revealing the same eager, enthusiastic, idealistic
Keyleth that she’s always been—just with a few more
the Tempest sorrows weighing upon her heart. She keeps a hum-
Many painters across Tal’Dorei have depicted the ble home in Whitestone near Grey Hunt Manor, close
stoic, melancholy visage of Keyleth, Voice of the to a hidden forest trail she can walk down in peace,
Tempest, as she stands at the edge of a lofty cliff conjuring snowdrops as she goes.
of Zephrah, gazing into the rosy sunset beside a After the Epilogue. Keyleth buried herself in
pink-blossomed tree. In this image, people see a her duties as Voice of the Tempest after the loss
leader who has lost much—and sacrificed even of Vax’ildan and the Whispered One’s defeat. She
more—for her people, for her world, and for the fam- did everything she could to ally the Air Ashari with
ily she found on her journeys. the rest of Tal’Dorei, and to create a world better
Hidden Heart. Though Keyleth often looks back prepared to unite against threats like the Whispered
on the life she left behind, she does not dwell on One and the Chroma Conclave. Her heroic repu-
the past. She remembers the joy and pain in equal tation, her political will, and her mighty elemental
measure, keeping her eyes on the horizon to seek magic gained her many allies, but the entrenched
the next sunrise, not the sunset. In public, she elite of Tal'Dorei still see her as a potential threat
is a consummate leader, speaking tactfully, with to their stability. She rarely adventures anymore,
calculated words and poise. Yet when she’s with her preferring to hire others to tackle problems she sees
friends from the old days, particularly Pike, Percival, arising across Tal’Dorei. But if the world is ever in
and Vex’ahlia, her practiced public face falls away, need of an archdruid, she will answer the call.

Keyleth, Voice of 4th level (3 slots): blight, control water, grasping vine,
polymorph, stone shape
the Tempest 5th level (3 slots): conjure elemental, greater
Medium humanoid (half-elf) restoration, scrying, wall of stone
6th level (2 slots): heroes’ feast, move earth, transport
via plants
Armor Class 17 (+2 leather armor, +2 ring of
7th level (2 slots): fire storm, plane shift
protection)
8th level (1 slot): control weather
Hit Points 150 (20d8 + 60)
9th level (1 slot): foresight, shapechange
Speed 30 ft.
ACTIONS —
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA Shapechange. Keyleth casts shapechange to
14 (+2) 15 (+2) 16 (+3) 15 (+2) 22 (+6) 15 (+2) transform into a planetar, an adult bronze dragon, or
another creature of CR 20 or lower that is not a con-
struct or undead.
Saving Throws Str +4, Dex +4, Con +5, Int +10, Wis Meteor (Earth Elemental Form Only). When Keyleth
+14, Cha +4 falls at least 20 feet, she lands with meteoric force.
Skills Athletics +8, Insight +12, Intimidation +8, Nature Each creature within 20 feet of her must succeed on a
+12, Perception +12, Persuasion +8, Stealth +8, DC 19 Dexterity saving throw or take 1d6 bludgeon-
Survival +12 ing damage for every 10 feet Keyleth fell. Keyleth still
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 22 takes falling damage while in earth elemental form.
Languages Auran, Common, Druidic, Elvish
Chain Lightning. Keyleth casts chain lightning (spell
save DC 22) from the Spire of Conflux at a creature
she can see within 150 feet of her.
Fey Ancestry. Keyleth has advantage on saving BONUS ACTIONS —
throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put
her to sleep. Wild Shape. Keyleth magically polymorphs into a
beast or elemental of CR 6 or lower. Her game statis-
Focused. Keyleth has advantage on Constitution sav- tics are replaced by the statistics of the new form, but
ing throws made to maintain concentration on spells. she retains her alignment, personality, and Intelli-
Special Equipment. Keyleth wears a circlet of wisdom gence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. She also retains
(which increases her Wisdom score by 2), +2 leather all of her skill and saving throw proficiencies, in addi-
armor, and a ring of protection with a +2 bonus. She tion to gaining those of the new form. She assumes
wields the Spire of Conflux (see page 209). the new form’s hit points and Hit Dice and returns to
Spellcasting. Keyleth is a 20th-level spellcaster. Her the number of hit points she had when she reverts
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 22, +14 to her normal form. Any equipment she is wearing or
to hit with spell attacks). She has the following druid carrying is absorbed or borne by her new form (her
spells prepared: choice). She reverts to her humanoid form as a bonus
Cantrips (at will): druidcraft, guidance, mending action, or when she falls unconscious. Her attacks in
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, faerie fire, fog cloud, Wild Shape form are magical, and she can cast spells
healing word, thunderwave while transformed.
2nd level (3 slots): alter self (at will), flaming sphere, Healing Word (4th Level). Keyleth casts healing word,
gust of wind, pass without trace restoring 16 (4d4 + 6) hit points to herself or another
3rd level (3 slots): call lightning, wind wall creature she can see within 60 feet of her.

Percival de Rolo Vex’ahlia de Rolo
Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Vex’ahlia was one of the first members of Vox
Rolo III has endured much in his life. He was a Machina when those adventurers initially met in
young man plagued by personal demons when Vox Stilben, along with her twin brother, Vax’ildan.
Machina rescued him from a dismal cell in the Today, she is one of the most influential people in
Umbra Hills. In those days, Percival de Rolo was Tal’Dorei. She sits on the Tal’Dorei Council as Mas-
a man driven by vengeance, with only his guns as ter of Commerce and is Whitestone’s Grand Mistress
allies, but he took no joy in that life. He has since of the Grey Hunt, a champion of the Dawnfather,
expressed that the thing he’s most grateful for is that and a hero beloved by all who know the legend of
he didn’t die as the person he was, but lived long Vox Machina. Her charm and skill with a bow are
enough to grow into someone better, together with legendary, and she is equally dedicated to changing
his beloved Vex’ahlia and their five children. the world as she is to raising her five children in
Father and Inventor. Percival is deeply dedicated Whitestone.
to his wife, to his children, and to the enduring Charming and Incorrigible. As an adventurer,
health of Whitestone. The sorrows of his old life Vex’ahlia was known for being resolute and confident
still haunt him, though, particularly the creation of even in the face of unspeakable despair. The stories
firearms. But he has done his best to make peace told of Vex revolve around her cunning, her flirtatious
with his past, resolving to spend the rest of his days charm, and her propensity for haggling—an expres-
creating things that bring joy to the lives of others sion of her impoverished childhood in the wildlands
rather than curtailing those lives. His crowning of Tal'Dorei. The hardships she has endured and
achievement is the Heart of Whitestone, a majestic overcome have not changed her for the worse,
clock tower that looms over his city. though. She is the same Vex’ahlia that is remem-
After the Epilogue. Percival largely retired from bered in the legends, just with a few more gray hairs
public life not long after the fall of the Whispered and somehow even more responsibilities. Even her
One. He now dedicates himself to his duties as a beloved animal companion, the brown bear Trinket,
leader in Whitestone as much as he can, though he is still by her side—though age has slowed him some-
is more interested in creating than governing. Most what. His young cub is now a well-behaved playmate
of his tinkering happens in private, creating novelties for the youngest de Rolo children.
such as intricate watches and streetlamps powered After the Epilogue. Though she’s better known
by volatile reactions with the acid pools beneath his for her archery skill, Vex’ahlia’s capability with coin
city. He has also lent his knowledge to a number of made her an easy choice for election to the Tal’Dorei
feats of civic engineering, including Whitestone’s Council as Master of Commerce. She makes fre-
skyport and Zephrah’s network of windmills. quent use of a teleportation circle to travel between
Castle Whitestone and Traverse Junction in Emon,
making it possible to fulfill her duties to both the
Chamber of Whitestone and the Tal’Dorei Council.
Though she has generally left her adventuring life
behind her, she does occasionally sortie with the
Grey Hunters to eliminate threats to the continued
peace and prosperity of Tal’Dorei.

Percival de Rolo Ranged Master. Percy’s ranged weapon attacks have
a +2 bonus to hit (included in attacks), ignore half cover
Medium humanoid (human)
and three-quarters cover, and have no range penalty.
Additionally, Percy can take a −5 penalty to any ranged
Armor Class 18 (studded leather) attack roll to gain a +10 bonus to the damage roll.
Hit Points 190 (20d10 + 40 + 40) Special Equipment. Percy wears a ring of light-
Speed 30 ft. ning resistance and Cabal’s Ruin (see page 203).
He wields Animus and Bad News, which are both
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA +1 weapons.
12 (+1) 22 (+6) 14 (+2) 20 (+5) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) Quick Draw. Percy adds his proficiency bonus to ini-
tiative rolls, giving him a +12 to initiative rolls.
Saving Throws Str +7, Con +8 Toughness. Percy has an additional 40 hit points.
Skills Acrobatics +12, History +11, Perception +9,
ACTIONS —
Persuasion +8
Damage Resistances lightning Multiattack. Percy makes four ranged attacks with
Senses passive Perception 19 Animus, or two ranged attacks with Bad News. When
Languages Celestial, Common, Elvish Percy hits with an attack with either weapon, he can
Challenge 18 (20,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +6 choose one of the following additional effects:
Deadeye. Percy gains advantage on his next attack
Action Surge (2/Short Rest). Once on his turn, Percy roll this turn made against the same target.
can take one additional action. Disarm. The target must make a DC 20 Strength sav-
Cabal’s Ruin. Cabal’s Ruin grants Percy advantage ing throw. On a failure, the target drops one item it is
on saving throws against spells or magical effects. holding of Percy’s choice.
Additionally, Cabal’s Ruin has 10 charges. When Percy Animus. Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, range
hits with a weapon attack, he can expend up to 10 320 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d10 + 6) piercing damage
charges to have the attack deal 1d6 extra lightning and 3 (1d6) psychic damage.
damage per charge spent. Bad News. Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, range
Indomitable (3/Long Rest). Percy can reroll a failed 800 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (2d12 + 6) piercing damage.
saving throw. REACTIONS —
Misfire. When Percy rolls a 2 or lower on the d20 Absorb Magic (Recharges after a Short or Long
when making an attack with Animus or Bad News, Rest). When Percy is targeted by an enemy’s spell, he
the attack misses and he can’t use the weapon again can absorb a portion of the spell’s energy into Cabal’s
until he spends an action to repair it. On a misfire with Ruin. The spell affects him normally, but the cloak
Animus, he takes 7 (2d6) psychic damage. gains a number of charges equal to the level of the
No Mercy. Percy’s weapon attacks score a critical hit spell. When he does so, he also gains resistance to
on a roll of 19–20. one type of damage dealt by the spell until the end of
his next turn.
Trinket Empowered Attacks. Trinket’s attacks are treated as

magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and
Large beast (brown bear)
immunity to damage from nonmagical attacks.
Keen Smell. Trinket has advantage on Wisdom (Per-
Armor Class 18 (plate) ception) checks that rely on smell.
Hit Points 61 (6d10 + 18 + 10)
Raven’s Slumber. If Trinket is reduced to 0 hit points
Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.
and is within 100 feet of Vex, he is immediately drawn
into the demiplane within Vex’s raven’s slumber and
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA stabilized.
19 (+4) 10 (+0) 16 (+3) 5 (−3) 13 (+1) 7 (−2) ACTIONS —
Skills Perception +10 Multiattack. Trinket makes two attacks: one with his
Senses passive Perception 20 bite and one with his claws.
Languages understands Common but can’t speak it Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft., one
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 target. Hit: 14 (1d8 + 10) piercing damage.
Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, reach 5 ft.,
Chosen Companion. Trinket has an additional 10 hit one target. Hit: 17 (2d6 + 10) slashing damage.
points, and has a +6 bonus to attack and damage rolls
and to Wisdom (Perception) checks.

Vex’ahlia protection with a +2 bonus. She carries a broom of fly-
ing and a raven’s slumber (see page 197), and wields
Medium humanoid (half-elf)
Fenthras (see page 205).
Spellcasting. Vex is a 13th-level spellcaster. Her spell-
Armor Class 21 (+2 studded leather, +2 ring of casting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 17, +9 to hit
protection) with spell attacks). She has the following ranger spells
Hit Points 130 (20d10 + 20) prepared:
Speed 30 ft., fly 50 ft. (with broom of flying)
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, hunter’s mark (see
bonus actions)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 2nd level (3 slots): pass without trace, protection from
7 (−2) 20 (+5) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 17 (+3) poison
3rd level (3 slots): lightning arrow, nondetection
Saving Throws Str +6, Dex +13, Con +3, Int +4, Wis 4th level (1 slot): freedom of movement, grasping vine
+5, Cha +5 Trinket. Trinket moves and acts on Vex’s turn, and Vex
Skills Acrobatics +17, Athletics +4, Deception can use a bonus action to command him to take the
+9, Insight +9, Investigation +8, Perception +15, Dash, Dodge, Disengage, or Attack action. She can
Persuasion +9, Stealth +17, Survival +9 also command him to Attack as part of her Multiattack
Damage Resistances cold action (see below). Trinket can take only one action on
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 25 each of Vex’s turns.
Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Elvish,
ACTIONS —
thieves’ cant, Undercommon
Challenge 18 (20,000 XP) Proficiency Bonus +6 Multiattack. Vex makes two ranged attacks, and can
command Trinket to move up to his speed and use his
Multiattack action.
Assassinate. During her first turn, Vex has advantage
on attack rolls against any creature that hasn’t taken a Fenthras. Ranged Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, range
turn. Any hit Vex scores against a surprised creature is 600 ft., one target. Hit: 22 (1d8 + 18) piercing damage
a critical hit. and 3 (1d6) lightning damage, and Vex can use the
following ability:
Evasion. If Vex is subjected to an effect that allows
her to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only Bramble Shot (2/Short Rest). The attack deals an
half damage, she instead takes no damage if she extra 18 (4d8) piercing damage, and the target must
succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if succeed on a DC 17 Strength saving throw or be
she fails. restrained. The target can repeat the saving throw at
the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself
Fey Ancestry. Vex has advantage on saving on a success.
throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put
her to sleep. BONUS ACTIONS —
Ranged Master. Vex’s ranged weapon attacks have Cunning Action. Vex takes the Dash, Disengage, or
a +2 bonus to hit (included in attacks), and ignore half Hide action.
cover and three-quarters cover, and have no range Hunter’s Mark. Vex casts hunter’s mark to mark a
penalty. Additionally, Vex can take a −5 penalty to creature she can see within 90 feet of her. For 1 hour,
any ranged attack roll to gain a +10 bonus to the Vex’s weapon attacks deal an extra 1d6 damage to
damage roll. the marked creature, and she has advantage on Wis-
Sneak Attack (1/Turn). Vex deals an extra 14 (4d6) dom (Perception) and Wisdom (Survival) checks made
damage when she hits a target with a weapon attack to find it.
and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the REACTIONS —
target is within 5 feet of an ally of Vex that isn’t inca-
pacitated and she doesn’t have disadvantage on the Uncanny Dodge. When an attacker that Vex can see
attack roll. hits her with an attack, she takes half damage from
the attack.
Special Equipment. Vex wears +2 studded white
dragon leather armor of cold resistance and a ring of

Pike Trickfoot Missing her found family, Pike moved to Whites-
tone and built a temple to the Everlight in the city’s
This little gnome from the Bramblewood has been Temple Ward. It’s beautiful, small, and cozy—a true
called many things—dragonslayer, savior of Exan- work of art down to the smallest details. Folk can
dria, champion of the Everlight, Monstah, and, more find her there most days, tending to the gardens
recently, Mom. But Pike doesn’t care much what but always ready to lend a helping hand or a prayer.
people call her, as long as it’s said with love. Her soul Many mornings, Pike swings by the Slayer’s Cake to
befits the mantle of the Everlight well, as she exudes make sure the baked goods remain as tasty as their
warmth, calm, and comfort. But all that cozy kind- reputation demands. She’ll grab some fresh pastries
ness shelters a fiery, rebellious spark that can shock and coffee to go, and maybe drop off a delivery at
strangers and inspire raucous cheers and peals of Kiki’s—that is, Keyleth’s—house.
laughter from her friends. Scanlan usually comes by Whitestone in the
After the Epilogue. Pike ultimately returned summer, his and Pike’s favorite time of year. This is
Scanlan Shorthalt’s romantic interest after the a time for simple pleasures—eating dinners with the
Whispered One was defeated and Exandria saved kids and their Auntie Kiki, Auntie Vex, Uncle Grog,
once more. There was no denying that she loved and Uncle Percy; playing music by the fire; hearing
him, and they settled down in Westruun and had two Wilhand’ildan and young Vax’ildan de Rolo joke in
children within a year of one another, Juniper and private about their names and their weird family;
Wilhand’ildan (Juni and Wax for short). When the and reminiscing about times past. And sometimes,
kids went off to school (one to seminary, the other to Pike and Scanlan even wind up in bed together,
Westhall Academy), Pike and Scanlan decided to call though also, sometimes not. Though Pike’s path has
it quits, with sad smiles and promises to always be the diverged from Scanlan’s in one way, their lives are
best of friends. And they’ve since kept that promise, never truly separated—a thing that could be said of
even as the two of them each sought new paths in life. everyone in Vox Machina.

Pike Trickfoot 3rd level (3 slots): glyph of warding, mass healing
word, protection from energy, revivify, speak with
Small humanoid (gnome)
dead
4th level (3 slots): death ward, freedom of movement,
Armor Class 23 (Plate of the Dawnmartyr, shield) guardian of faith
Hit Points 170 (20d8 + 80) 5th level (3 slots): flame strike, greater restoration,
Speed 25 ft. hallow, mass cure wounds, scrying
6th level (2 slots): heal, heroes’ feast, planar ally
7th level (2 slots): resurrection
8th level (1 slot): holy aura
19 (+4) 12 (+1) 18 (+4) 14 (+2) 20 (+5) 14 (+2)
9th level (1 slot): mass heal
Saving Throws Wis +11, Cha +8 ACTIONS —
Skills Athletics +10, Perception +11, Persuasion +8, Mace of Disruption. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to
Religion +8, Stealth +7 hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 17 (3d8 + 4) bludgeon-
Damage Resistances fire; bludgeoning, piercing, and ing damage, plus an extra 7 (2d6) radiant damage if
slashing from nonmagical attacks the target is a fiend or an undead. If the target has
Condition Immunities frightened 25 hit points or fewer after taking this damage, it
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 21 must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or
Languages Common, Dwarvish, Gnomish, be destroyed. On a successful save, the creature
Undercommon becomes frightened of Pike until the end of her
Challenge 17 (18,000 XP) Proficiency
Bonus +6 next turn.
Guiding Bolt (5th Level). Ranged Spell Attack: +11
Gnome Cunning. Pike has advantage on Intelligence, to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 28 (8d6) radiant
Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic. damage, and the next attack roll made against the tar-
Special Equipment. Pike wields a mace of disruption get before the end of Pike’s next turn has advantage.
and wears gauntlets of ogre power, boots of speed, BONUS ACTIONS —
and the Plate of the Dawnmartyr.
Battle Priest (5/Long Rest). If Pike uses the Attack
Dawnmartyr’s Grace (1/Long Rest). When Pike is action, she can make one weapon attack as a
reduced to 0 hit points while wearing the Plate of bonus action.
the Dawnmartyr, she can choose to have a blast of
healing flame surround her. She regains 1 hit point Healing Word (4th Level). Pike casts healing word,
and is lifted to her feet. Each enemy within 10 feet restoring 16 (4d4 + 6) hit points to herself or another
of her takes 7 (2d6) fire damage or radiant damage creature she can see within 60 feet of her.
(her choice). REACTIONS —
Spellcasting. Pike is a 20th-level spellcaster. Her Dawnmartyr’s Rebuke. When a creature within 5 feet
spellcasting ability is Wisdom (spell save DC 19, +11 of Pike hits her with a melee attack, she can deal 7
to hit with spell attacks). She has the following cleric (2d6) fire or radiant damage to it (her choice).
spells prepared: Everlight’s Guidance (3/Short Rest). When Pike or a
Cantrips (at will): light, sacred flame (4d8), spare the creature she can see within 30 feet of her makes an
dying, thaumaturgy attack roll, she can grant a +10 bonus to the roll. She
1st level (4 slots): command, cure wounds, guiding can grant this bonus after the roll is made but before it
bolt, healing word, sanctuary, shield of faith hits or misses.
2nd level (3 slots): aid, lesser restoration, spiritual
weapon

Scanlan Shorthalt friends—and occasional lovers—but content to follow
their own paths.
Bard extraordinaire, champion of the Knowing Men- Scanlan is approaching a century of life, but as a
tor, and braggadocious hero of all Exandria, Scanlan long-lived gnome, his looks are much as they were in
Shorthalt is the kind of adventurer who will never let his adventuring days except for his slowly receding
you forget his name. He’s personally ensured that the hairline and the slight belly he’s developed. Vanity
bards spreading his legend across the world will sing dies slowly, though, and he hides even this modest
his praises for decades to come. amount of aging with a comb-over, frequent use of
After the Epilogue. Scanlan has always been a his trademark beret, and well-placed illusion magic
self-centered, showboating braggart, but it doesn’t when he needs to look portrait perfect.
mean he doesn’t have a heart. These days, friendship Scanlan likes to sing songs of the Vox Machina
and family mean more to him than anything, even if days to crowded houses in cities across Tal’Dorei. He
he’s still not very good at showing it. spends his winters in Ank’Harel, where he and his
Following the defeat of the Whispered One, daughter Kaylie operate their high-end trading busi-
Scanlan eventually proposed to his long-pursued ness, Meatman Imports & Sexports. It’s a good job
sweetheart, Pike Trickfoot, and they were married that keeps him constantly traveling around Exandria,
in a grand ceremony. The duo had a pair of children, suiting his interest in seeking out new people and
one named Juniper (Juni) and the other named places around the world—and for new performance
Wilhand’ildan (Wax). When the children were grown venues and places to get into trouble.
and in school, Pike and Scanlan amicably divorced Also, he has a mustache now. He thinks it makes
and went their separate ways, remaining good him look distinguished.

Scanlan Shorthalt 3rd level (3 slots): counterspell, lightning bolt, stinking
cloud
Small humanoid (gnome)
4th level (3 slots): dimension door, polymorph, resilient
sphere
Armor Class 16 (+2 studded leather, +2 ring of 5th level (3 slots): arcane hand, dominate person,
protection) modify memory, seeming
Hit Points 190 (20d8 + 60 + 40) 6th level (2 slots): eyebite
Speed 25 ft. 7th level (2 slots): magnificent mansion, reverse
gravity
8th level (1 slot): dominate monster
9th level (1 slot): true polymorph
13 (+1) 11 (+0) 16 (+3) 16 (+3) 7 (−2) 22 (+6)
Toughness. Scanlan has an additional 40 hit points.
Saving Throws Str +3, Dex +7, Con +5, Int +5, Wis ACTIONS —
+0, Cha +13 Mythcarver. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5
Skills Acrobatics +5, Arcana +8, Athletics +6, ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage and 3
Deception +16, Intimidation +11, Investigation +13, (1d6) force damage.
Performance +16, Persuasion +16
Damage Resistances acid BONUS ACTIONS —
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 8 Arcane Fist (8th Level). Melee Spell Attack: +11 to hit,
Languages Common, Gnomish, Marquesian reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 45 (10d8) force damage.
Bonus +5 Scanlan can use this bonus action only while concen-
trating on the arcane hand spell.
Gnome Cunning. Scanlan has advantage on Bardic Inspiration (6/Short Rest). Scanlan grants
Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws a Bardic Inspiration die to one creature other than
against magic. himself within 60 feet of him who can hear him. Once
Focused. Scanlan has advantage on Constitution sav- within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll a d12
ing throws made to maintain concentration on spells. and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack
roll, or saving throw it makes.
Special Equipment. Scanlan wields Mythcarver When Scanlan uses this ability, he gains advan-
(see page 207), wears +2 studded leather armor tage on attack rolls with Mythcarver until the end
of acid resistance and a ring of protection with a +2 of his turn.
bonus, and carries a hat of disguise and a wand of
magic missiles. Healing Word (5th Level). Scanlan casts healing word,
restoring 18 (5d4 + 6) hit points to himself or another
Spellcasting. Scanlan is a 20th-level spellcaster. His creature he can see within 60 feet of him.
spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 19, +11
to hit with spell attacks). He has the following bard REACTIONS —
spells prepared: Cutting Words. When a creature Scanlan can see
Cantrips (at will): mage hand, message, minor illusion, within 60 feet of him makes an attack roll, an ability
vicious mockery check, or a damage roll, he can expend a use of Bar-
1st level (4 slots): healing word, thunderwave dic Inspiration to roll a d12 and subtract the number
2nd level (3 slots): blindness/deafness, hold person, rolled from the creature’s roll. The creature also has
invisibility, suggestion disadvantage on its next saving throw.

Taryon Darrington
Gleaming, resplendent, and overflowing with
indefatigable confidence, Taryon Gary Darrington
is every bit the man he was when he parted ways
with Vox Machina over twenty years ago. These
days, though, all the bravado and good cheer he
had two decades ago is real—not just an act. Tary
doesn’t need to fake it anymore; he’s made it. Even if
responsibility doesn’t come easily to him, he takes it
whenever he has to.
After the Epilogue. After many years running the
Darrington Brigade—his heroic adventuring band—
and publishing several absolutely true accounts
of their exploits, Taryon realized his adventuring
checklist was essentially complete. He left his home
in Deastok, in Wildemount’s Dwendalian Empire,
and began a new chapter of his life. Leaving the
brigade in the capable hands of his sister, Maryanne,
and his confidant Lionel Gayheart, Taryon traveled
around launching several smaller “satellite” bri-
gades in Wildemount’s most dangerous lands.
Then, realizing he had spent his career as a writer
of nonfiction adventure books, he decided to try
his hand at fiction instead. With his trusty scribe
and majordomo Doty X at his side (“Doty Ten,” he
patiently explains to anyone who mispronounces
it), Taryon and his husband Lawrence moved to
the Menagerie Coast, setting up in a small writing
cottage in Port Damali. While Lawrence tutors local
students, Taryon has been dashing off novel after
Doty X Arcane Surge (4/Day). When Doty hits a target, Tary

can channel magical energy to deal an extra 14 (4d6)
Medium construct
force damage to the target as long as Tary is not
incapacitated.
Armor Class 17 (natural armor) Dedicated Servant. Doty has an additional 20 hit
Hit Points 78 (9d8 + 18 + 20) points, and has a +2 modifier to saving throws, ability
Speed 40 ft. checks using skill proficiencies, and attack rolls.
Limited Vocabulary. Doty can say the following words
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA in Common: “Tary,” “Yes,” “Correct,” “Absolutely,”
14 (+2) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 4 (−3) 10 (+0) 6 (−2) “Soon,” and “Handsome.”
Vigilant. Doty can’t be surprised.
Saving Throws Dex +4, Con +5
ACTIONS —
Skills Athletics +7, Perception +8
Damage Immunities poison Empowered Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit,
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, poisoned reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) force damage.
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 18 Repair (3/Day). Doty regains 15 (2d8 + 6) hit points.
Languages understands the languages that
REACTIONS —
Tary speaks
Challenge 6 (2,300 XP) Proficiency Bonus +3 Deflect. If a creature within 5 feet of Doty that he can
see makes an attack against a creature other than
Doty, he can impose disadvantage on the attack roll.
The attacker then takes 6 (1d4 + 4) force damage.

novel. His most successful books are a series called The Automatic Scribe, Doty. Doty X is much like
“The Deastok Mysteries,” which feature a young, past models of Tary's mechanical servant—vaguely
handsome blonde boy who solves crimes around humanoid but not too expressive. The new model
Wildemount with his brilliant intellect and trusty is sleek and stylish, and not built for battle. Doty’s
robot sidekick. vocabulary has grown to six words: “Tary,” “Yes,”
From time to time, Taryon charters a skyship “Correct,” “Absolutely,” “Soon,” and “Handsome.”
to visit his old friends in Whitestone and enjoy the The scribe also features a built-in shelf of Taryon’s
memories of their time together as full-fledged mem- favorite books—that is, his favorite books that he’s
bers of Vox Machina. written himself—in case Taryon needs to make a
sale while he’s on holiday.
Taryon Darrington Spellcasting. Tary is a 15th-level spellcaster. His

spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 16,
Medium humanoid (human)
+8 to hit with spell attacks). He has the following
spells prepared:
Armor Class 15 (+1 breastplate) Cantrips (at will): mending, prestidigitation, ray of frost
Hit Points 127 (15d8 + 30 + 30) (3d8)
Speed 40 ft., fly 50 ft. (with broom of flying) 1st level (4 slots): detect magic, heroism, identify,
shield
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 2nd level (3 slots): alter self, branding smite, see
12 (+1) 11 (+0) 14 (+2) 18 (+4) 8 (−1) 15 (+2) invisibility, warding bond
3rd level (3 slots): dispel magic, fly, haste, magic circle,
Saving Throws Con +7, Int +9 revivify
Skills Arcana +9, History +9, Perception +4, Survival +4 4th level (2 slots): banishment, fabricate, fire shield
Damage Resistances acid, poison Toughness. Tary has an additional 30 hit points.
Condition Immunities poisoned ACTIONS —
Languages Common, Draconic, Gnomish, Sylvan, Multitask. Tary makes two weapon attacks or casts
Undercommon a spell with a casting time of 1 action, and can
Bonus +4 also command Doty to use his Empowered Fist or
Repair action.
Mercurial Longsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to
Alchemical Defense. Tary’s experimental concoctions hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d10 + 1) slash-
have granted him resistance to acid and poison dam- ing damage.
age, and immunity to the poisoned condition.
Bead of Force. Tary throws a bead of force up to 60
Doty. Doty moves and acts on Tary’s turn, and Tary feet. Each creature within a 10-foot radius of where
can use a bonus action to command him to use the the bead landed must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity
Dash, Dodge, Disengage, or Attack action. He can saving throw or take 12 (5d4) force damage. A sphere
also command him to Attack as part of his Multitask of transparent force then encloses the area for 1
action (see below). Doty can take only one action on minute. A creature that fails the save and is completely
each of Tary’s turns. within the area is trapped inside the sphere.
Focused. Tary has advantage on Constitution saving
REACTIONS —
throws made to maintain concentration on spells.
Special Equipment. Tary wears a helm of brilliance, a Brilliant Intellect. When Tary or another creature he
robe of useful items, and a ring of the ram. He carries can see within 30 feet of him makes an ability check
a rod of mercurial form (see page 197), as well as or a saving throw, he can use his reaction to add +4 to
a bag of holding, 1d4 + 4 beads of force, a broom of the roll.
flying, and a chime of opening.

Champion of Ravens Vax’ildan bade farewell to all the people he held
most dear in the wake of the Whispered One’s defeat,
Death comes for all things in their time. It is the will and vanished into the eternal embrace of his god.
of the Matron of Ravens that no being, no matter how In the years since, his returns to the world he once
heroic or how powerful, shall escape their rightful knew have been rare and fleeting. The Champion of
place in the hereafter. Yet when his sister Vex’ahlia Ravens is not Vax’ildan, though Vax resides within
died in a sunken Issylran tomb, Vax’ildan demanded him. He is a loyal arbiter of the ineffable providence
that the goddess of death release her claim on of death itself. He appears at times as a wrathful
Vex’ahlia’s soul—and claim his instead. angel, masked and surrounded by a storm of raven
Inscrutably, the Matron of Ravens acquiesced to feathers, bringing an end to those who would per-
Vax’ildan’s demand. He donned the Deathwalker’s vert the sanctity of oblivion out of greed or fear of
Ward, a Vestige of Divergence imbued with the the unknown.
Matron of Ravens’ power, and the legendary armor All fear the end, in their own way. Some fight
of her previous mortal champion. In time, Vax’ildan it, delving into magic that delays the inevitable by
too came to be called her champion, and returned making a mockery of both life and death. Others
to life from death more than once—even endur- lash out, hurting people around them in smaller
ing utter annihilation by the Whispered One and ways. But those whose fears are greatest are met by
strangulation by an Archfey. All these deaths were the Champion of Ravens, whose kind soul soothes
permissible for the Matron of Ravens’ champion, and shepherds the fearful beyond the veil of the
since the threads of fate that bound Vax’ildan to her mortal world.
service had not yet run their full course. But they
inevitably did.

Champion of Ravens Innate Spellcasting. The Champion’s innate spellcast-
ing ability is Charisma (+10 to hit with spell attacks,
Medium celestial
save DC 18). He can innately cast the following spells,
requiring no material components:
Armor Class 20 (Deathwalker’s Ward) At will: bane, bless, druidcraft
Hit Points 150 (20d10 + 40) 1/day: greater invisibility
Shadow Smite (1/Turn). The Champion deals an extra
49 (14d6) radiant or necrotic damage (his choice)
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA when he hits a target with a weapon attack and he
14 (+2) 20 (+5) 14 (+2) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 17 (+3) doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.
Unerring Sight. The Champion’s ranged weapon
Saving Throws Str +5, Dex +15, Con +5, Int +13, Wis attacks ignore half cover and three-quarters cover
+5, Cha +6 and have no range penalty.
Skills Acrobatics +19, Intimidation +10, Investigation
Special Equipment. The Champion wears boots
+10, Perception +16, Persuasion +10, Sleight of Hand
of haste (see page 194) and the Deathwalk-
+12, Stealth +19
er’s Ward (see page 204), and wields Whisper
Damage Resistances radiant, necrotic, poison;
(see page 211).
bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from
nonmagical attacks ACTIONS —
Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, Multiattack. The Champion makes three attacks
frightened, unconscious with Whisper.
Whisper. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +15 to hit,
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Druidic,
reach 5 ft. or range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (1d4 + 8)
Elvish, thieves’ cant
piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) psychic damage. On a
critical hit, the target must succeed on a DC 18 Wis-
dom saving throw or be frightened of the Champion
Assassinate. During his first turn, the Champion has for 1 minute. On a ranged attack, the Champion can
advantage on attack rolls against any creature that teleport with Whisper, appearing within 5 feet of the
hasn’t taken a turn. Any hit the Champion scores target on a hit, or in a random space within 30 feet of
against a surprised creature is a critical hit. the target on a miss.
Aura of Protection. While the Champion is conscious, Touch of Life and Death (Recharges after a Short or
he and friendly creatures within 10 feet of him have a Long Rest). The Champion touches a creature within
+3 bonus to saving throws (included above). 5 feet of him, and chooses to either heal or harm that
Eternal Champion. When the Champion is reduced to creature, restoring 55 (10d10) hit points or dealing 55
0 hit points or dies, his body is destroyed but his spirit (10d10) necrotic damage. If the creature is an unwilling
returns to the Raven Queen’s side, and he gains a new target, it can avoid either effect with a successful DC
body after 1d4 days. 20 Dexterity saving throw.
Evasion. If the Champion is subjected to an effect that BONUS ACTIONS —
allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take Cunning Action. The Champion takes the Dash, Dis-
only half damage, he instead takes no damage if he engage, or Hide action.
succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage Boots of Haste (1/Day). The Champion clicks his
if he fails. heels together, casting haste on himself. He doesn’t
Fate-Touched (4/Day). When the Champion makes suffer from lethargy when the spell ends.
an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, he can
REACTIONS —
reroll the d20 and use either roll. Alternatively, when
a creature the Champion can see makes an attack roll Uncanny Dodge. The Champion halves the damage
against him, or a saving throw against one of his spells that he takes from an attack that hits him. He must be
or features, he can force that creature to reroll the able to see the attacker.
attack or save and use the new roll.

Index
A Catfolk 41, 115, 217 Dungeons of Despair 104 Grey Hunters 76
Abdar’s Promenade 132– Catha 9–10, 107, 169 Dwarves 152–153 Grey Hunt Manor 78
133, 135, 136 Cavern of Axiom 111 Greyskull Keep 135
Aboleths 105, 128, Cemetery District 134 E Grey Valley 107–108
141–143, 217 Centaurs 87, 218 Eastern Ruins 80 Grog Strongjaw 260–261
Accelerated rests 213 Centaur skeleton 255–256 Elemental ancestry 154 Grotto, the 136
Adranach 104, 141, Center Slab 98 Elephantine 115 Guildrunner’s Mansion 127
179, 223–225 Central District 133 Elvencraft Alliance
Alabaster Sierras 72–80 Chained Oblivion 34, 36 Guildhall 127 H
All-Hammer 13, 27, 31, 49, 94, Chamber of Whitestone 50–52 Elvendawn 9, 29 Half-giant 159–160
96, 136, 160, 239, 246 Champion of Ravens 274–275 Elves 154–156 Halflings 160–161
Allura Vysoren 21, 45, 48, 56, Changebringer 27–28 Emberhold 100–101 Hall of Burning
57, 115, 141 Cinderslag elemental 231 Ember roc 238 Mushrooms 100
Arcana Pansophical 46–48, Circle of the Blighted 171–172 Embertide 9, 28 Hall of Reason 92
56, 57, 127, 138, 143, 220 Civilization’s Dawn 9, 29 Emerald Citadel 125 Halls of Splendor 104
Arch Heart 13, 14, 17, 27, 29, Claret Orders 52–53, 168, 178 Emerald Outpost 130 Harrowing Return 213–215
35, 36, 87, 88, 162, 218 NPCs 53 Emon 130–141 Harvest’s Close 9
Ashari 48–50, 226–230 Clasp Member Skyport 138 Harvest’s Rise 9
Firetamer 226, 228 (background) 181–183 Erudite Quarter 134 Hearth of the Everlight 80
NPCs 48–50 Clasp operatives 232 Eskil Ryndarien 48, 93, 196 Heart of Whitestone 78
Skydancer 227, 228 Cutthroat 232 Everlight 27, 32 Hemocraft 165, 168, 178, 191
Stoneguard 228, 229 Enforcer 232 Highsummer 9, 32
Waverider 228, 230 Clasp, the 53–54 F Hillmaw Chasm 115
Ashari (background) 180–181 Cliffkeep Mountains 93–108 Fate-Touched 189–190 Hobgoblins 159
Ashen Gorge 108, Cloaked Serpent 34, 38, 257 Feats 190–191 House of the Lawbearer 78
109, 231, 255 Cloudtop District 133–134, 137 Fey 219–220 Houses of Kraghammer 55–56
Assum Emring 45, 161 Cobalt Reserve 58, 91 Feygrove 125 NPCs 56
Astural Scrolls 41, 112, 128 Cobalt Soul, the Library of. First Bastion 91–92 Humans 161–162
Azalea Street Park 136 see also Library of the Flamereach Outpost 143
Azgrah 40 Cobalt Soul Flaming skeleton 255 I
Cold snap spirit 234 Flash Recall (feat) 190 Illegal drugs 85
B College of Tragedy 167–168
Cracksackle 100
Foramere Basin 81–82 Ironseat Ridge 82–83
Backgrounds 180 - 189 Forge guardian 83, 239, 241 Issylra 145
Beryl Keep 124 Guildhall 100 Fort Daxio 93–95 Ivyheart Thicket 83
Betrayer Gods 34–39 Cradle of the Adranach 104 Founding, the 13
Beynsfal Plateau 113–120 Crawling King 34, 37 Freedom of the waves J
Black Bastille, the 62, Cruel (feat) 190 (spell) 176 Jorenn Village 96
134, 138, 141 Crystalfen Caverns 11, 134, Freedom of the winds Jourrael, the Caedogeist 244
Black King, the 92 138, 141, 142, 217 (spell) 176
Bladeshimmer Curse of Ruin 35, 39
Curse of Strife 35, 39
Frostweald 110–111 K
Shoreline 129–145 Keenstone Quarry 99, 100
Blood Domain 168–169 Cyclops stormcaller 235 G Keyleth, Voice of the Tempest
Blood Magic 178–179 Galdric 40 49, 71, 180, 262–263
Bottom Slab 98, 99, 100 D Galdric’s Gate 80 Khedive Xundi 40
Bowers of Recovery 104 Daggerbay 129–130 Gatshadow 95 Knowing Mentor 27, 30
Bramblewood 80–81 Daggerbay Mountains 130 Giantkin 220–221 Kraghammer 96–100, 152
Brawler’s League 50, 253 Dawnfather 27, 32 Gilmore’s Glorious Goods See also Houses of
NPCs 50 Dawnfather Square 77 90, 140, 194 Kraghammer
Bronbog 110 Day of Challenging 9, 30, 138 Gladepools 121 Kraghammer goat-knight 246
Bugbears 158, 159 Deep Solace 9, 31 Gnolls 221 K’Tawl Swamp 67–68
Byroden 114–115, 116, Demonfeed Spider 236 Gnomes 157–158 Kymal 83–84
118, 122, 159 Divergence, the 16, 27 Goblinkin 158–159
Dividing Plains 80–93 Goblins 158 L
C Divine Gate 8, 11, 16, 19, 23,
27, 38, 39, 83, 95, 117
Godsbrawl Ring 138 Lake Ywynnlas 124
Calamity, the 15–16, 30, Golden Grin 54–55 Lawbearer 27, 29, 78
32, 34–39, 74, 75, 113, Dragonblood 151–152 NPCs 55 League of Miracles 23, 24, 47,
115, 146, 200, 219. See Dragons 218 Golems 239–243 56–58, 104, 131, 132, 223
also Divergence, the Dreamseep Marshlands 110 Cobalt 239, 240 NPCs 58
Calendar 8–9 Driders 219 Mage hunter 239, 240 Lesser Idols 39–42
Cassandra de Rolo 51, 77 Drynna 66 Platinum 239, 243 Library of the Cobalt Soul 30,
Castle Whitestone 77, 80 Duergar 153 Greyfield 78 58–60, 239

Lizardfolk 222 Percival de Rolo 264 Silvercut 86 V
Lord Mayor’s Residence 92 Plainscow 248 Crossroads 86 Vax’ildan 204, 211, 262,
Lord of the Hells 34 Platinum Dragon 28 Roadway 86 264, 268, 274
Lucidian Coast 66–71 Pools of Wittebak 105 Skyships 137 Verdant Expanse 120–128
Lyceum Scholar Port of Emon 135 Slayer’s Cake 78 Vesrah 180, 228
(background) 183–185 Pyrah 48, 180 Snowdrop Vestiges of
Lyrengorn 101–103, 155 Memorial Trail 78 Divergence 200–212
R Southgate Farms 135 Vex’ahlia de Rolo
M Ravagers 160, 249 Spellbenders’ Guildhall 127 46, 264, 267
Magma landshark 247–248 Slaughter-Lord 249–250 Spelldriver (feat) 190 Visa Isle 145
Market Ward 90 Stabby-Stabber 249–250 Spider Queen 34, 35–36 Vital Sacrifice (feat) 191
Marquet 145–146 Reformed Cultist Spires of Yurek 127 Vos’skyriss
Master adranach 223, 225 (background) 185–187 Starshrine, the 99 Serpentfolk 257–258
Matron of Ravens 32–33 Remarkable Recovery Stilben 68–69 Vox Machina 260
Memory Ward 124, 127 (feat) 190 Stone of the Arch Heart 127 Vues’dal Waters 128
Midsummer 9, 29 Remnant faithful 251–252 Stormcrest
Military District 134, 138 Chosen 251 Mountains 108–112 W
Minotaurs 217 Cultist 252 Stormlord 27, 30 Wardens of Syngorn 63
Mirescar 121–122 Remnants, the 38, Stormpoint Mountains 119 Warren Drassig 18–19
Mithral Fellowship 61–62, 251 Strife Emperor 34–35 Way of the Cobalt
Guildhall 127 NPCs 62 Subclasses 165–179 Soul 173–174
Mixed ancestry 163–164 Republic of Summit Peaks 69 Westhall Academy 91
Moon Domain 169–170 Tal’Dorei 7, 23, 24 Sun Tree 77–78 Westruun 89–93
Moonweaver 27, 33 Residential Ward 90 Survivors’ Legacy 92 Whispered One 34, 38
Mooren Lake 67 Residuum 66, 75, 76, 85 Suude 85, 124, 144 Whitestone 75–80
Mooren River Run 72–73 Resurrection rules, Syngorn 17, 18, 19, 46, 47, Whitestone Rifle Corps
Mornset Countryside 114 alternative 213–215 123–127, 155 (background) 187–189
Myriad, the 60–61, 84, 132 Reverie Walks 126–127 Wildemount 146–147
NPCs 61 Rifenmist 112, 112–114 T Wildmother 27, 31
Mystic Conflux (feat) 190 Jungle 118–119 Tal’Dorei Council Wild’s Grandeur 9
Rivermaw Herd 88 42–46, 131 Wildwood Byway 93
N Rivermaw NPCs 45–46 Wonderworker, the 58, 196
Neverfields 103 Warriors 253–254 Tarn Ward 124–125 Wraithroot Tree 259
New Dawn 9, 28 Brawler 253, 254 Temple District 134 Wrettis 112
Night of Ascension 9, 33 Stormborn 253, 254 Temple Ward 90
Niirdal-Poc 115–117 Rootgarden Marsh 67–68 Terrah 106–107 Y
Ruhn-Shak 111–112 Theona Balmhand 55 Yug’Voril 101
O Ruidus 9–10, 105, 169 Thordak 21, 108, Yuminor Observatory 91
Oath of the Open Ruiner 34, 35, 146 133, 231, 255
Ruins of Salar 142–143 Throne of the Arch
Sea 174–176
Ruins of Torthil 84 Heart 87–88
Z
Odessa Tal’Dorei Zan Tal’Dorei 84,
45, 138, 196 Runechild 176–178 Thrown Arms Master
86, 120, 135
Oloore Root 85 (feat) 191
Zephrah 69–71, 180
One Thousand S Tieflings 163
Steps 124, 127 Sahuagin 222 Tomb of the Last
O’Noa, Ruins of Salar 141, 142 Sovereign 138
144 Salted Bluffs 73–74 Tools of the Ashari 198–199
Opal Ward 90 Scaled Tyrant 34, 37, 218 Torian Forest 88
Optional rules 212–215 Scar of the Cinder King 143 Tormor Falls 128
Orcs 162–163 Scattered War 19, 144, 160, Tower of Moonlight 127
Othendin Pass 103 161 Towers of Farsight 104
Ouestra, the Voice of Scholar Ward 90 Traveler, the 40, 42
Memory 63, 112, 123, Seashale Mountains 144 Traverse Junction 136
124, 127, 196 Serpent’s Head 106 Trist Drassig 40, 84
Outwall 135 Session zero 149, 165 Turst Fields 88
Shadebarrow 84–86
P Shalesteps 144–145 U
Palace of Wonder 104–105 Shattered Teeth 146 Umbra Hills 107
Pale Guard 76 Shearing Channel 74 Underwalk Ward 90
Parchwood Timberlands 73 Shifting Keep, the 123 Uriel Tal’Dorei II 21, 22, 24,
Path of the Shoreline Farms 135 43, 51, 138, 161
Juggernaut 165–166 Sightless, the 40

Index of Artists
PAGE PAGE PAGE
216 Aaron J. Riley 153 Ariana Orner 28–38, Conceptopolis, LLC

aaronjriley.com @ornerine 44, 46, 48, conceptopolis.com
ornerine.tumblr.com 50–55,
17, 25, 86 Adrián Ibarra Lugo 57, 60-61, 63
@Ailustrar 160–161, 163 Azra Wheeler
ailustrar.com @Azraillu 12, 14, 107 Cyarna Trim
artstation.com/azraelion @Cyarna
235, 247 Allie Briggs artstation.com/cyarna
@AllieBriggsArt 87, 252 Biago D'Alessandro
alliebriggs.com artstation.com/blas-t 58, 261 De La Rosa Design, LLC
delarosadesign.com
8, 146, Ameera Sheikh 99, 122, Brian Syme
188, 234 @Mikandii 219, 256 artstation.com/bryansyme 62, 236, Elisa Serio
mikandii.com 238, 249, @ellinainthesky
240, 242–243 Caio Santos 259 elisaserioart.com
5, 142 Andrey Vasilchenko @BlackSalander
artstation.com/artmage artstation.com/caiosantos 272, 274 Elliott Berggren
@planarbindings
66, 69, 72, 74, Andy Law 42, 112, Clara Daly
79, 81, 92, 94, @Hapimeses 116, 195, 197 @EldritchBlep cover, Genel Jumalon
97, 108, 113, artstation.com/andylaw1 tinyraptors.com 3, 224–225 @GenelJumalon
121, 126, 139 artstation.com/geneljumalon
18, 155, Claudia Ianniciello
226–227, Anna Grinenko 184, 199, @ClaudiaSG4 244 Hunter Bonyun
229–230 @tshortik 253 artstation.com/claudiasg @deerlordhunter
annagrin.squarespace.com

PAGE PAGE PAGE
246 Ilich Henriquez 22, 64, 70, Kent Davis 109, 137, Svetoslav Petrov
deviantart.com/ilacha 77, 91, 102, @iDrawBagman 151, 192, artstation.com/svetoslavpetrov
118, 125, 133, artstation.com/idrawbagman 231
140 Isabel Gibney 147, 191, 200
@greyopals 195 Stanislav Dikolenko
isabelgibney.com 166–168, Lauren Walsh artstation.com/stsdklnk
170–171, 173, @LaurenWalshArt
1, Jessica Nguyen 175, 177, 179, laurenwalshart.com 43, 223, Wesley Griffith
202–212 @Jessketchin 242, 278–279 260 @justwesley
jessketchin.com artstation.com/wesleygriffith
6 Lea Bichlmaier
265 Jessica Scates @Jeleynai 26, 157 Zuzanna Wuzyk
@jessmightwork artstation.com/jeleynai @Zuzartii
artstation.com/zuzartii
82, 182, John Anthony di Giovanni 11, 148 Linda Lithén
223, 255 @jadillustrated @LindaLithen
artstation.com/jad lindalithenart.com
262, 268, 270 Jonah Baumann 158, Nguyen Hieu

@GalacticJonah 241, 257 @wth153
galacticjonah.com artstation.com/wthieu153
261 Kennef Riggles 45, 154, 157, Nikki Dawes

@kennefriggles 159, 162, 164 @nikkidawesdraws
nikkidawes.artstation.com

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the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) "Use", "Used" or "Using" Inc.; Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney
means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and oth- Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cord-
erwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) "You" or ell, Chris Sims, and Steve Townshend, based on original material by E.
"Your" means the licensee in terms of this agreement. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that END OF LICENSE
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Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice ADDENDUM TO LICENSE ON BEHALF OF CRITICAL ROLE LLC:
to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn. Copyright © 2021 Darrington
subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. Press LLC. All Rights Reserved. All names, logos, characters, like-
No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content nesses, characteristics and elements related thereto included within
distributed using this License. this work are subject to trademark and copyright protection and are
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Content as defined in paragraph 1(d) of the License above and may not
5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing be used or reproduced in any form without the prior, written, express
original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Con- permission of Critical Role LLC: product and product line names,
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grant the rights conveyed by this License. characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue,
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Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the of Critical Role LLC.
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8 E B 0 8 II

Chapter 1: Welcome to Tal'Dorei 7

Calendar, Time, and

Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 1: Welcome to Tal'Dorei 9

10 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 1: Welcome to Tal'Dorei 13

Chapter 1: Welcome to Tal'Dorei 15

16 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

The Iron Rule of Drassig

Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 1: Welcome to Tal'Dorei 19

20 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 1: Welcome to Tal'Dorei 21

22 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 1: Welcome to Tal'Dorei 23

24 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Pantheon of Exandria Knowing Mentor Neutral Knowledge,

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 27

Symbol ofthe Changebringer

28 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 29

Commandments of the Knowing Mentor Commandments of the Stormlord

Symbol ofthe Knowing Mentor Symbol ofthe Stormlord

30 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 31

Symbol ofthe Dawnfather Symbol of the Everlight

32 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Symbol of the Matron of Ravens Symbol of the Moonweaver

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 33

34 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Symbol of the Strife Emperor Symbol of the Ruiner

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 35

Symbol of the Chained Oblivion

36 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Symbol of the Scaled Tyrant Symbol of the Crawling King

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 37

38 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Commandments of the Cloaked Serpent Curse of Ruin

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 39

40 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 41

Factions and Societies

Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 43

Heraldry of the Tal’Dorei Council

44 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Arcanist Allura Vysoren

Arbiter Brom Goldhand

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 45

Ambassador Deirdrik Greyspine

46 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 47

48 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 49

50 Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting: Reborn

Lady Cassandra Johanna de Rolo,

Heraldry of the Chamber of Whitestone

Chapter 2: Allegiances of Tal'Dorei 51