The Voidwalkers is a real D&D campaign, recorded at the table by HP GameMasters and rendered by Threadfall into a chronicle you can read like a book. The chapters, cast, and lore below are drawn entirely from how the game was actually played.
The party survived a transformation outbreak at the The Salty Ostrich tavern caused by poisoned ale from marked kegs of unknown origin, discovering the affliction converts people into savage, ooze-dissolving creatures rather than undead. Torvald received a mysterious vision from a deep voice while near death, instructing him to travel south and suggesting divine or external involvement in the outbreak. As screams erupted across Snowglen, the party realized the contamination extended beyond the tavern, with the entire settlement descending into chaos and transformation.
The party found themselves trapped in the The Salty Ostrich tavern as the entire settlement of Snowglen succumbed to the same horrifying transformation that had erupted within its walls moments before.
Kaelor Thane woke from a violent nightmare in which he had wandered a subterranean labyrinth for three days, ultimately confronting a massive serpentine creature that burst from a cracked pink crystal and attempted to devour him [1]. Upon waking in Snowglen, he recorded the dream in his journal and discovered other similarly vivid dreams already documented in his entries. After gathering his belongings, Kaelor headed to the Vissarion Mill to work lumber in the unusually harsh morning cold.
Torvald Veyr spent his morning gathering supplies and assisting with farmwork when a village woman approached him seeking help for her daughter Visaria, who had been ill for ten days with symptoms that matched no common ailment. Torvald prepared herbal remedies—pungent wraps and thick berry-flavored syrup—and examined the child, but determined the illness was unfamiliar to him. He advised the mother to keep Visaria warm and promised to return within days to monitor her condition. As evening approached, both Torvald and Kaelor made their way toward the The Salty Ostrich tavern, observing a late vessel arriving at Gruyeva Pier.
Vaelan Voss and Lucia disembarked at Gruyeva Pier after a treacherous ten-and-a-half day voyage from Arkenhath. An overeager seaman named Rooster attached himself to Vaelan, offering lodging assistance and regaling him with lengthy stories about local history, including an account of a sheep stampede from a decade prior. Lucia declined assistance from a deckhand and headed directly toward the The Salty Ostrich. Vaelan recognized Lucia from the ship but chose not to call out, instead enduring Rooster's continued conversation until they too headed for the tavern.
Inside the The Salty Ostrich, Kaelor and Torvald—locals who knew of each other but maintained a low profile—drank in relative silence at the bar. Dimitri, the bartender, served them as Rooster burst through the door, his arrival drawing little enthusiasm from the locals. Vaelan entered and took a table, politely declining the advances of Dubora, a local woman interested in his arrival from Arkenhath. Lucia approached Dimitri seeking quiet accommodations and reluctantly agreed to pay one gold piece per night for a room upstairs. Rooster loudly ordered multiple pints on his unpaid tab, prompting Dimitri's frustration over an outstanding debt of ten gold.
Vaelan found himself buried under multiple ales delivered by Rooster's relentless enthusiasm, while Lucia joined him at the table before moving to observe a card game. At the gambling table, an orc named Oleg played against a dwarf and others, winning hand after hand with Lucia watching as his lucky charm. Oleg rewarded her with a gold coin and offered to cover her buy-in for future games. Meanwhile, Rooster's drunken behavior escalated until he struck a bench with his fist, prompting Dimitri to demand payment. Torvald objected to Rooster taking what he hadn't paid for, and Kaelor stood to his full height in support, sternly telling Rooster to settle his debt. Rooster laughed off the confrontation, claiming he had an arrangement with Dimitri, and ordered another round on his tab.
As Dimitri returned from tapping a new keg, Rooster downed his drink and declared his love for everyone in the tavern—then collapsed, vomiting a green substance before transforming with inhuman speed into something thin, clawed, and red-eyed [2]. Dimitri stood stunned as the transformed Rooster vaulted the bar and eviscerated him, splashing gore across the shelves behind. Other locals began to turn as well, the transformed creatures attacking with savage ferocity. Lucia shot the Rooster-creature in the shoulder with her shortbow while Kaelor vaulted the bar and swung his greatclub, narrowly missing. Delov, the Dwarven gambler, leapt onto the gaming table to scoop up coins before fleeing toward the door. Local patrons panicked, one woman vaulting through a window to escape.
The Turned tore through the tavern's occupants with lethal efficiency. One creature killed Oleg instantly with a claw strike across the neck and chest, then charged Torvald and mauled him grievously before killing a fleeing woman. Lucia attempted a shot from the corner but missed, her hair briefly glowing a different shade of purple in frustration. Kaelor grappled one of the creatures, smashed its head with his greatclub, and watched it dissolve into foul-smelling green ooze. Vaelan's crossbow bolt struck another creature, which hissed in his direction with claws extending further from its hands. When Vaelan assessed the situation, he determined these were not undead but people who had been mutated or transformed.
Torvald impaled one of the Turned through the chin and head with his spear, the creature dissolving into green sludge as it fell. He repositioned a large table to create a defensive barrier, but two more creatures charged him in rapid succession. The first struck him with its claws, leaving him severely wounded; the second brought him to unconsciousness. As Torvald collapsed, he perceived the looming figures with their elongating claws and glowing red and green eyes before losing consciousness. Lucia, witnessing his fall, ran back toward the hearth in frustration and fired at one of the creatures—but accidentally struck the unconscious Torvald instead, inflicting a near fatal wound upon him [3]. She retreated behind the table, muttering in distress.
Kaelor moved to protect Torvald, striking one of the creatures and using his fire giant heritage to deal additional fire damage that destroyed it entirely. Vaelan climbed onto the bar and attempted a crossbow shot but missed, then descended to drag Torvald's unconscious body away from danger. While unconscious and near death, Torvald experienced a vision in a void where a deep, familiar voice spoke to him, identifying him as being of Snowglen and telling him there was work to be done [4]. The voice instructed him to follow its light and go south, where another would show him the way. Radiant light filled Torvald, and he regained consciousness with renewed vigor, immediately casting Cure Wounds on himself before standing and hurling a tankard at the remaining creature.
Kaelor took a severe wound from the remaining creature, becoming bloodied and vulnerable. Lucia rushed to his aid, channeling Healing Hands in a display of miraculous dexterity—simultaneously healing Kaelor, striking the creature with a tankard, and moving with remarkable grace. Kaelor swung recklessly at the creature, his club shattering a table and suffering damage in the process. Vaelan advanced into combat, his short sword strike parried by the creature's claws, giving him a clear view of its horrifying maw—a chaotic assemblage of human, elf, and canine teeth mixed together. Vaelan shoved the creature backward and a bolt of flame jumped from his hands, charring its chest. Torvald, now with holy power coursing through him, cast Guiding Bolt but narrowly missed, then threw a chair that struck the creature solidly. The creature leapt onto the bar with clear intent to close in on Torvald, but Lucia struck it repeatedly with her dagger until it dissolved into green sludge that splashed across the survivors, exposing them to poison.
After the immediate threat subsided, the party took stock of the carnage. Lucia recovered seventeen gold pieces from Oleg's body while Vaelan discreetly collected approximately ten gold from the tavern floor, an action observed by the others. Kaelor confirmed Dimitri was dead and realized that aside from themselves and one woman who had fled screaming, all the locals in the tavern had been slain. Kaelor gathered the bodies near the fireplace and collected samples of the green sludge into vials using his monster harvesting tools. When questioned by the party, Vaelan recalled a critical detail: Dimitri had opened a new keg, and the drinks served from that keg were consumed by all who subsequently transformed [5]. Kaelor moved behind the bar and disabled the tap on the infected keg.
Kaelor examined the bar's interior and discovered the tainted keg bore an unfamiliar symbol—a symbol that also appeared on several other kegs in the back room. Investigation of the bar's documentation revealed a recent delivery docket, yet these particular marked kegs suggested tampering by an unknown party. Dimitri appeared uninvolved in the substitution. Kaelor proposed quarantining the kegs in the cellar. Kaelor, feeling the call to his past rising to meet him in this moment, moved to Lucia and placed his hands upon her shoulder, manifesting a glowing light that cured her of the poison afflicting her from the green sludge. A moment of respite followed as Vaelen joked about being surrounded by healers—then blood-curdling screams erupted from outside the The Salty Ostrich [6]. More screams followed, accompanied by shouting and a low guttural growl, as the sounds of slashing and tearing echoed through the town as the entirety of Snowglen descended into chaos.
The party discovered Torvald's mother dead in their family home and his father missing, while a mysterious voice continued to compel both Kaelor and Torvald toward the south with promises of power and reunion. After fighting through transformed townsfolk and nearly dying in combat against the Turned, the survivors barricaded themselves in a barn with Dyrbov Michalovich, a local survivor who warned them they were running out of time before transformation claimed them all. Kaelor retrieved weapons, armor, and a treasured doll from his ransacked home, whispering an apology to someone named Elira, revealing hidden depths to his past he refused to discuss.
The party barricaded themselves in The Salty Ostrich as night fell, then fought their way through transformed townsfolk to reach Kaelor's ransacked home and Torvald's family farm—where Torvald discovered his mother's corpse and his father missing. A lone survivor, Dyrbov Michalovich, pulled them into a barn and warned them they were running out of time.
Kaelor revealed to the party that he had never possessed healing magic before curing Torvald of poison in the tavern—he described hearing an urge or voice compelling him to act [1]. Torvald recounted a vision from the earlier battle when he nearly died: a whisper in his mind urging him to find "her" and head south, following the light. Lucia redirected the conversation and asked about Kaelor's home and their next move. Kaelor explained his dwelling lay roughly a mile away and that he needed to retrieve supplies and better weapons than his broken club. As dusk approached, Lucia kept watch at the shattered windows while the others searched the tavern. Through the glass, she spotted a lone survivor—a young man in his mid-twenties—making his way northwest toward the pier. As he rounded a building corner, a Turned creature dropped from the rooftop, landed on him, and repeatedly slammed his head into the ground until he was dead. Lucia warned the party that the creatures were hunting from the roofs.
Vaelan and Kaelor searched the tavern's storage room and discovered the marked kegs, non-perishable foodstuffs suitable for rations, and a trapdoor leading to a dusty wine cellar. Torvald investigated an upper bedroom containing a writing bureau, bed with footlocker, and bookshelf—all empty of useful gear. Kaelor proposed sheltering in the cellar until nightfall to travel under cover of darkness, but Vaelan expressed discomfort at being confined with strangers he had only just met. The party debated whether they could see in the dark; not all of them had darkvision, and Lucia cast Alarm near the bar, establishing a thirty-foot detection radius that required her to remain conscious. The party doused the fireplace to conceal their light, barricaded the doors and windows with tables and chairs, and placed a keg atop the cellar trapdoor. As they fell silent for the first time since the outbreak began, the wind howled outside, interspersed with muted screams, tearing flesh, muffled growls, scratching, and a gleeful, terrifying laugh as something ripped a head off. The sounds continued sporadically for twenty to twenty-five minutes before beginning to ease. Lucia stood first watch while Kaelor, Vaelan, and Torvald attempted to rest on the cold wooden floorboards.
After roughly an hour of rest, the party prepared to depart as night fell. Torvald spotted blood spattered across the roadway to the southwest. The party exited through a bedroom window, leaving it open in case retreat became necessary, and gathered beneath a nearby tree. Vaelan argued against splitting the party when Kaelor suggested Lucia scout ahead, noting she would have no safe way to relay information. The party agreed to move together as one unit and crossed the street into the forest to the east, heading toward Kaelor's home. As they broke into the treeline, a shrill scream echoed from the northwest—another victim claimed. The party continued through the forest at a moderate pace, staying alert and avoiding areas of heavy human population. Kaelor carried Torvald through the deep snow to help him move faster. Lucia heard a sharp snap of a twig about thirty feet away and readied her bow, but perceived nothing. A snowman, build by locals, stood in a clearing to the northeast, and an abandoned building loomed ahead. Movement near the building resolved into a small white fox that stopped within five feet of Torvald before scurrying south into the foothills.
The party approached Kaelor's home and discovered the front door had been damaged, the lock mechanism broken from the outside. Kaelor signaled the others to approach cautiously. On a three-two-one countdown, the party entered and found the interior ransacked with no one present—Kaelor's bed was torn and bore claw marks, his belongings scattered throughout the violated space [2]. Kaelor frantically searched and discovered a hidden lockbox beneath floorboards under his bed, forcing it open to retrieve a small book, a large hefty hammer, a greatsword, a pendant he donned straight away around his neck, and a suit of chainmail bearing a blue shield crest symbol of a maul crossed with a spear, set against mountains. The weapons and armor felt heavier than their physical weight suggested, and handling them brought back memories that troubled him—he whispered an apology to someone named Elira and bowed his head. Vaelan investigated the state of the home and determined through careful examination that the break-in and destruction appeared staged: the claw marks and savagery did not quite match what he would expect, suggesting someone had searched the premises deliberately rather than attacking randomly. Lucia offered Kaelor warm clothing and attempted to calm him, but when he did not respond, she tried to restrain him by grabbing him around the waist—he pushed her away and continued searching. Lucia discovered a small handmade doll, only a few inches tall, with matted hair partially torn away, a loose eye, and a tattered dress—clearly a treasured item years old and damaged. The moment Kaelor saw it, he stopped entirely, trembling with intensity, retrieved it from Lucia with expressions of gratitude, and tucked it beneath his chainmail armor against his chest.
Torvald revealed he had family in Snowglen and expressed urgency to check on them. The party learned that Torvald's home lay in the farmlands near Engelhardt Farm, on the opposite end of town. Kaelor declined to share details about his possessions or background, citing more pressing matters. Kaelor handed his flail to Torvald for use. The party chose to travel through the treeline rather than along the streets, moving north toward the forest and the Vissarion Mill. As they made their way around the buildings and reached the logging grounds where trees had been cleared, Kaelor spotted movement in the streets toward the mill and in other areas of town. The party chose to sneak through the logging grounds rather than move openly. While moving through the terrain, Vaelan stepped into a hidden hollow created by tree roots beneath fresh snow, falling about two feet and creating a loud crack of wood—the disturbance caused snow to fly up and attracted the attention of creatures approximately thirty to forty feet away, whose approach could be heard as a low growl followed by heavy, rhythmic footfalls. Torvald devised a plan to distract the approaching creatures by having Lucia fire an arrow with a Light spell cast upon it in the opposite direction as a decoy. Lucia attempted to fire the glowing arrow toward Kaelor's house to serve as a distraction. Lucia's shot went awry—she tumbled backward and fired the arrow straight up into the air instead of toward the intended target [3]. The arrow arced approximately one hundred twenty to two hundred feet into the air like a firework before descending and landing near the party. Combat began.
Kaelor hurled a javelin at one of the Turned, striking it critically and reducing its speed. Lucia engaged another Turned in close combat after it charged toward her and fell prone in the snow, firing her shortbow at point-blank range. She attempted to disengage and move toward a fence line, provoking an attack of opportunity that missed. Torvald moved to flank the prone Turned and struck it with his newly acquired flail, crushing the creature's head as it lay on the ground—the Turned dissolved into green sludge. Torvald was exposed to poison as the creature dissolved into green muck, contracting the poison condition for one hour with reduced damage. Vaelan activated Innate Sorcery and cast Fire Bolt against the first Turned, dealing a glancing blow as the creature attempted to charge the party. Multiple additional Turned creatures charged forward from the darkness. One of them charged directly at Lucia, slashing across her stomach with its claws and dealing a severe wound. Kaelor attempted to strike at one of the Turned with his maul but missed. Lucia used her bonus action to mark one of the Turned with Hunter's Mark, sensing its nature as pure killing instinct built from primal savagery—she learned the creature was immune to poison. She struck the marked Turned with her dagger, and the creature's flesh bubbled and degraded into green viscera as it dissolved into a pile. Torvald attempted to swing at one of the Turned with disadvantage due to being poisoned and missed. A Turned creature struck Kaelor, but his chainmail protected him—however, Torvald, arriving with his flail in a wide swing, accidentally struck Kaelor in the chest with his own weapon, dealing severe bludgeoning damage. A fourth Turned creature emerged from the treeline. The Turned attacking Kaelor, sensing his blood, pressed its assault and pierced through his chainmail with its claws, dealing a grave wound through his chest. Kaelor fell unconscious. As he lost consciousness, he heard a voice calling to him from beyond—a small, scared figure asking for "Papa?" in the void [4]. Kaelor desperately fighting the urge to answer the call from the girl, instead turned away, regaining consciousness against the cold snow. He stood despite his critical wounds, inspired by the vision, and swung his maul at the Turned that nearly killed him, landing a decisive blow that crushed the creature and caused it to dissolve into gore and bone fragments.
The Turned creature pursuing the party dissolved into green goo after taking sustained damage. Lucia moved to position herself and applied Hunter's Mark to another Turned approaching across the snow. The second Turned charged but was damaged and partially melted by Lucia's arrows and Vaelan's Fire Bolt, yet remained standing. Torvald was severely wounded by the second Turned, which clawed him and drove a hand through his chest before throwing him aside. Lucia, seeing Torvald fall, killed the second Turned with a dagger strike to the throat, twisting the blade as she withdrew it and watching the creature collapse into goo. A third Turned fled into a nearby building, where the party could see candlelight and violent movement through the windows as it thrashed deeper into the structure. Vaelan stabilized the unconscious Torvald using a medicine check, preventing further death saves but leaving him unconscious and in need of healing. Kaelor, recognizing the danger of remaining in place, picked up Torvald and ordered the party to retreat toward the treeline and forest edge for cover. Lucia cast Goodberry and fed one of the berries to the unconscious Torvald to revive him. The party began retreating toward the forest edge as the Turned continued moving violently through the building interior. While being revived, Torvald heard a voice from the void—the same entity that had granted him power—which told him his family was now "with" the voice and suggested he seek knowledge in the south, though it acknowledged there was still more for him to learn in the village [5]. Torvald regained consciousness with 1 hit point and asked Kaelor to put him down so he could walk.
The party gathered themselves and began moving away from the site of destruction, making their way back toward the treeline and Snowglen proper. As they withdrew, they heard distant sounds of chaos—timbers crashing, a shriek, and a wail—suggesting another victim had been taken, then silence. Torvald expressed that he needed to reach the farm to confirm what the voice had told him about his family, driven by a need for closure and the fear of abandoning them. Vaelan took point as the most able-bodied party member, conjuring flame in his hand for warmth and readiness. The party moved cautiously through the treeline toward Engelhardt Farm and Torvald's home, with Lucia providing rear overwatch. As they moved between buildings near Snowglen, Torvald spotted a small figure moving through a house window and recognized it as Visaria, a child he had helped that morning when she was ill with a fever. Visaria emerged from a doorway, moving erratically toward the street—she had transformed, her eyes a strange red color, her hands bearing claws extended three to four inches, her teeth become fangs, and her skin pulled tight against her face. Inside the open doorway of Visaria's house, the party saw Visaria's mother with her throat ripped out. Torvald whispered Visaria's name in shock and expressed remorse as he watched her shuffle southward toward the mill and the Salty Ostrich. Kaelor suggested they scout a nearby building for shelter, but hesitated when he realized it was Torvald's own home. Torvald explained that the same voice that had spoken to him in near-death had told him his family had joined with the voice, but he felt compelled to see the truth with his own eyes. Kaelor argued they needed to find shelter immediately or they would all perish in the cold and weather. Torvald mentioned there were barns across the way that could provide some comfort. Vaelan noted that one of the barn doors was ajar and moving gently in the wind. Torvald attempted to move stealthily toward a window of his house to look inside but failed the stealth check, stumbling and slamming loudly against the side of the building—he heard no movement from within in response. Despite Kaelor's attempt to stop him, Torvald ran to his home and thrust open the door with abandon, crossing the threshold to find his family.
Torvald ventured into his family home and discovered his mother slumped against a cupboard in the dining room, mortally wounded with severe abdominal trauma and a look of confusion frozen on her face [6]. A marked keg and his father's tankard sat on the table nearby, along with a green bubbling puddle. Kaelor followed Torvald into the home and witnessed the scene; Vaelan and Lucia entered behind them. Torvald realized his father was not present in the house, adding to his distress. Kaelor attempted to break Torvald from shock, urging the party to prioritize survival and regrouping over immediate mourning, noting he too had lost people. Torvald cut a lock of his mother's red hair, wrapped it, and placed it in his coat as a memento, speaking a farewell in Dwarfish. Vaelan reported spotting a barn across the farmyard that appeared open and empty. Torvald made his way upstairs to his parents' bedroom and located a set of armor plating that his father kept, also gathering basic food supplies that remained uncontaminated. The party exited the home, and Torvald paused at the doorway to look back at his mother's body one final time before departing. As the party moved toward the barn, Vaelan spotted candlelight flickering violently inside and a figure moving within. A figure emerged from the barn with hands raised, warning the party to get out of the way and telling them "they're coming" and will return. Kaelor and Torvald recognized the figure as Dyrbov Michalovich, a gentleman they knew but had not spoken with much, whom they regarded as somewhat of a bookworm. Dyrbov ushered the party into the barn and secured the doors by pulling a massive beam across, with Kaelor assisting. The barn contained hay bales, candles for light, and food supplies. Dyrbov expressed shock and disbelief at encountering survivors who were not dead or turned. Torvald darkly noted to Dyrbov that they were "not yet" turned, and Dyrbov warned that they were close to that fate.
Goddess of Knowledge & Wisdom.
A ritual spell cast by Lucia with a 30-foot radius that alerts the caster when creatures enter the warded area, requiring the caster to be conscious to receive the alert.
Anakros is an infernal realm that now resides upon the material plane following The Great Affliction.
The Argent Compact is a government or organizational body that maintains regional offices throughout its territory. It employs agents known as Silencers tasked with tracking and neutralizing unlicensed magic users.
The civilized main continent ruled by the High Council from the Realm's Capitol. It is the most civilized and varied in population and species, containing the Capitol and major settlements. The southern regions of Arkenhath remain largely untouched and quiet, in contrast to areas that serve as places of commerce and troubles. Arkenhath serves as the mainland origin point for sea voyages to the Reach; the journey across the Misty Strait typically takes ten-and-a-half days and is treacherous due to ocean storms and swells. The shortest route across the Misty Strait cannot be safely traveled due to multitude of reefs and rocky outcroppings; ships must hang south and bend around. Rooster, an able-bodied seaman, maintains a small home in Arkenhath. Lucia fled Arkenhath and traveled from Gruyeva Pier to Cape Whalebrooke before boarding a vessel to Snowglen.
A set of plate mail, chain shirt, chainmail, or scale mail armor kept in Torvald's father's closet as a memento from his past.
Averred is the Dark Mother of the pantheon.
A person referenced by Rooster and earlier in conversation, whose identity or location is sought.
Black Sand Bay is the most notable settlement in Famktoush, home to a thriving populace of thieves, connivers, pirates, and some civilised denizens attempting honest living.
High Chieftain of House Thane and father of Kaelor. Ruled the Skybreaker Clans according to a philosophy of restraint, honor, and duty.
Goddess of Trickery & Jest.
Bymreus is the god of the afterlife.
A location on the mainland where Vaelan Voss found passage to board a ship across to Snowglen.
A 1st level spell cast by Torvald Veyr upon himself.
A deity aligned with the opposing faction of the realm's pantheon. Worship of the Dark Mother Averred is associated with dark ceremonies performed in ancient stone structures predating the Second Age, some of which are located within the Darkwild forest of Van Roost.
The dangerous northern region of Van Roost. The Darkwild houses a vast and dense forest, with a canopy so thick that most of the forest floor is covered in shadow. It is a place that has very much been reclaimed by nature, and those that venture forth into the Wilds in search of lost treasures very rarely come back out. Rumoured to hold secrets and knowledge of the Ages before recorded history, most scholars speculate of their secrets, while a nomadic tribe, made up of Gnolls, Furbolgs, Goblins and even a stray Bugbear, have managed to call the region home. The Hoodah Tribe scavenges what they can, and ask very little from their southern neighbours. They keep to themselves and live using the old ways - and are quite formidable for such a primitive group. There is also reports about a large network of interconnected tunnels, chambers and catacombs beneath the forest floor. Ancient stone structures predating the Second Age have been discovered within the Darkwild, containing ritual chambers and passages that show signs of regular use. Evidence suggests these underground complexes have been sites of dark magical activity, including rituals associated with worship of the Dark Mother Averred.
Dax was a partner and friend of Vaelan at the Argent Compact. The two shared a running bet about retirement. Dax was killed in a wild magic surge caused by Mira Ashveil.
A dwarf patron who gambles opposite Oleg, and who attempted to grab coins and flee the tavern during the transformation chaos. They unfortunately met their end because of this decision.
Dhogresus is the God of the Dawn.
The proprietor of the The Salty Ostrich establishment in Snowglen, known for brewing strong beverages. He was killed by Rooster after Rooster vaulted the bar in his transformed primal form. Rooster was the first to suffer the transformation effects in The Salty Ostrich before killing Dimitri. Kaelor noted that Dimitri had an under-the-table deal with Rooster, maintaining a tab and appearing to work with Rooster on shipments of marked kegs.
Director Sable served as Vaelan's supervisor at the Argent Compact, acting as his mentor. Following Vaelan's transformation, Sable personally took command of the retrieval order issued against him.
A structure at the docks of Snowglen built fifteen years prior to the current time.
Donalensk is an outlying village on Snowreach that supports the local fisheries. The village is run by an elected Chancellor.
Druleena is the Goddess of Purity.
A local of Snowglen that propositioned both Vaelen and Lucia to see if they wanted to share a bed for the night. Succumbed to the transformation effects of a mysterious substance added to the kegs in The The Salty Ostrich.
A local historian of Snowglen, and considered wise beyond his years. Aged in his early fifties, Dyrbov has a modest but helpful collection of tomes, maps and research materials, along with the occasional novel, which he uses to help the people with any research they might need assistance with. During the outbreak in Snowglen, Dyrbov survived and found shelter in a barn on Engelhardt Farm near Torvald's family home. He wears spectacles and a long coat, has graying hair, and possesses a nerdy disposition. Kaelor and Torvald recognize him as an acquaintance, though they have not spoken much and regard him somewhat as a bookworm. When the party encountered him, he emerged from the barn with hands raised in a desperate plea, warning them that "they're coming" and urging them to get out of the way and seek safety. He secured the barn by pulling a massive beam across the doors, with Kaelor's assistance. The barn contained hay bales, candles for light, and food supplies that Dyrbov had gathered. He expressed shock and disbelief at encountering survivors who had not been killed or transformed, warning the party that they were close to that fate themselves.
A human diplomat from the southern kingdoms, Elira Vael was the wife of Kaelor and mother to their daughter. She was known for her wit and compassion. Elira was slain during the Night of Ash while defending her daughter. She was notable among humans as a diplomat and inhabited the regions of Snowglen and Snowreach.
Emraura is a goddess of peace and loyalty.
A farmstead southeast of Snowglen village that occasionally provides shelter in its barns.
Distant mountains from which icy winds roll down toward the Veyr family farm. The winds coming off the Evdokiya Mountains were noted to be unusually chilly and strange in their intensity during the morning of the transformation event in Snowglen.
A desolate wasteland in the lower east of the realm, comprising desert dunes and small settlements. Famktoush is home to bloodsport arenas and the nomadic Scattered Bones. Famktoush is rumoured to contain tombs of ancient civilisations and remnants of relics from the First Age, buried within its sands and swallowed up during The Great Affliction. Ancient stone structures and architectural remnants predating the Second Age bearing markings suggesting ties to the time before The Great Affliction are found throughout the region.
A cantrip cast by Vaelan Voss as a bonus action after gaining a level, dealing fire damage and charring a target. During the battle at the logging grounds near Engelhardt Farm, Vaelan cast Fire Bolt twice while benefiting from Innate Sorcery, which granted him advantage on the spell attack rolls. The first casting dealt a glancing blow as a Turned creature attempted to flee. The second casting targeted another Turned creature and dealt damage that contributed to its eventual defeat, though the creature remained standing after the initial strike.
Fryavat is an outlying village on Snowreach that supports the local fisheries. The village is governed through a collective council rather than a single leader or hierarchy.
God of Wealth & Greed.
A spell cast by Lucia that produces berries capable of restoring hit points when consumed; each berry restores 1 hit point and must be administered one at a time.
A world-altering event that flattened the layers of the realm together, merging celestial and infernal domains with the material plane, ending the First Age and erasing recorded history. The Great Affliction occurred at the end of the First Age, when an event stopped recorded history from happening and effectively 'paused' time. The years between the First and Second Ages became known as The Great Affliction. Much about the First Age and what caused the Great Affliction remains unknown. Ancient stone structures and architectural remnants predating the Second Age bear markings suggesting ties to the time before the Great Affliction, and tombs of ancient civilisations and remnants of relics from the First Age are rumoured to be buried within the sands of Famktoush, swallowed up during The Great Affliction. Following the Great Affliction, nomadic tribes formed and subsequently settled in the southern regions of Van Roost.
A dock in the southern part of Snowglen where a vessel arrives carrying passengers including Vaelan Voss and Lucia. Lucia arrived at Gruyeva Pier after fleeing Arkenhath before traveling to Cape Whalebrooke to board a vessel bound for Snowglen.
A cantrip cast by Torvald Veyr.
A level 1 spell cast by Torvald Veyr requiring a spell attack roll with +4 modifier.
A small treasured possession, 4–5 inches tall and 1.5–2 inches wide, with matted and partially torn hair, a loose eye, and a tattered dress; found in the rubble of Kaelor's home and hidden under his chainmail.
Hazelwater is an Elven settlement located on the eastern side of Arkenhath, within the realm of Michenebor. It is regarded by some as the true center of culture or power in Michenebor.
A 1st level spell with range cast by Torvald Veyr. Torvald considered casting Healing Word on himself while at 1 hit point during the tavern combat but ultimately chose to cast Cure Wounds instead. The GM indicated Healing Word has range, in contrast to Cure Wounds. During the same tavern encounter, Kaelor cast Healing Word on Torvald, who was at 1 hit point and poisoned, restoring him to full health (11 hit points). Kaelor had never possessed healing magic before this moment and described hearing an urge or voice compelling him to cast the spell, with no prior knowledge of how to do so.
The ruling body of Michenebor, composed of three officials from across the realm. They are each known as The Voice, The Ear, and The Eye. The Council governs with a just and fair hand and watches over the peoples of the realm.
A deity aligned with one faction of the realm's pantheon.
Holmfirth is one of two dominant larger settlements in the southern civilised regions of Van Roost.
This holy symbol is carved from weathered wood salvaged from the beams of Torvald's family barn. It is carried by Torvald as he journeys beyond Snowreach. Torvald wears it around his neck. He grabbed it during combat in the The Salty Ostrich tavern before casting Cure Wounds on himself. He also grabbed it and uttered a small phrase in Dwarvish before casting Guiding Bolt at a Turned creature, with the holy symbol serving as a spellcasting focus for the spell.
The Hoodah Tribe is a nomadic group inhabiting the Darkwild, composed of Gnolls, Furbolgs, Goblins, and a stray Bugbear. They live by the old ways and keep to themselves, maintaining distance from outsiders.
House Thane is a respected goliath noble bloodline whose philosophy emphasizes restraint, honor, and duty over conquest. Their banners united feuding tribes generations before Kaelor's birth.
Hualdir is the God of Dusk.
An ability activated by Lucia during combat that grants additional damage (1d6) and reveals weak points on creatures. Requires a bonus action to cast. Lucia can maintain concentration on Hunter's Mark, allowing her to reassign it to another target on subsequent turns as a bonus action. When applied to a creature, Hunter's Mark reveals information about that creature's vulnerabilities and nature—for example, when marked against a Turned creature, it revealed the creature was built as pure killing instinct incarnate and could not be poisoned or harmed by poison damage.
## Oath Sworn in Ashes Kaelor Thane is a goliath paladin driven by vengeance. Once the honored eldest son of High Chieftain Boruun Thane, he lost his wife Elira and daughter Lyanna in a massacre at Skybreaker Hold. He has sworn an oath to hunt down their killers, and this sacred duty has become the compass by which he navigates his existence. His past remains largely closed to his companions; when retrieving treasured possessions from his ransacked home during the outbreak in Snowglen, he whispered an apology to Elira, revealing the depth of grief he carries but refusing to elaborate further. ## Three Days in the Dark Kaelor survived a transformation outbreak at the The Salty Ostrich tavern in Snowglen caused by poisoned ale from marked kegs of unknown origin. The affliction converted people into savage, ooze-dissolving creatures rather than undead. As contamination spread beyond the tavern, the entire settlement descended into chaos and transformation. During the outbreak's chaos, Kaelor and his companion Torvald were both compelled by a mysterious voice toward the south with promises of power and reunion. After fighting through transformed townsfolk and nearly dying in combat against the Turned, the survivors barricaded themselves in a barn with Dyrbov Michalovich, a local who warned them time was running out before transformation claimed them all. ## The Labyrinth Below Kaelor experienced a vivid and terrifying dream in which he found himself alone in an unsettling underground labyrinth for three days, moving through corridors filled with dripping water with a lit torch in one hand and blade drawn. Consumed by a sense of dread and desperation, he searched for a way to the surface, believing his companions long destroyed. His only perceived escape was a portal that revealed a beast trapped inside a giant crystal—which burst forth and lunged to devour him before he woke in a pool of sweat. ## Suspicions at the Ostrich In the immediate aftermath of the outbreak at the tavern, Kaelor pieced together details from the chaos: the marked kegs from which Rooster had been served seemed central to the affliction. He noted that Rooster maintained a suspicious under-the-table arrangement with Dimitri the bartender, conducting himself as though he owned the place and was untouchable. Kaelor suspected the poisoned ale and the kegs themselves were tied to Rooster's involvement, though whether they originated from a recent shipment or elsewhere remained unclear. His attention to these details suggests strategic thinking beneath his warrior's bearing. A small book hidden in his home was rediscovered after the fall of the Salty Ostrich, and he appears to covet it.
Kaelor's home is located roughly a mile from the Salty Ostrich, accessible via a approximately 25-foot open break across ground from a nearby building. The front door had been damaged, with the lock mechanism broken from the outside. The interior was found ransacked with no one present. Kaelor's bed was torn and bore claw marks, with his belongings scattered throughout the violated space. Vaelan determined through careful examination that the break-in and destruction appeared staged: the claw marks and savagery did not quite match what would be expected from a random attack, suggesting someone had searched the premises deliberately. A hidden lockbox was discovered beneath floorboards under Kaelor's bed, containing a small book, a large hefty hammer, a greatsword, a pendant, and a suit of chainmail bearing a blue shield crest symbol. The weapons and armor felt heavier than their physical weight suggested. Kaelor discovered a small handmade doll, only a few inches tall, with matted hair partially torn away, a loose eye, and a tattered dress—clearly a treasured item years old and damaged.
Large slabs of ice that float slowly and silently to the continent's northwest of Snowreach.
Kelna is one of two dominant larger settlements in the southern civilised regions of Van Roost.
Goddess of Creation.
A cantrip available to Torvald Veyr. During the party's retreat through the logging grounds near Snowglen, Torvald cast Light on an arrow provided by Lucia as part of a plan to create a distraction by firing the glowing arrow toward Kaelor's house. Lucia's shot went awry and she tumbled backward, firing the arrow straight up into the air instead of toward the intended target, causing it to arc approximately one hundred twenty to two hundred feet into the air like a firework before descending and landing near the party.
## Flight from Arkenhath Lucia arrived at Gruyeva Pier after fleeing Arkenhath, carrying minimal possessions gathered in chaos. She boarded a vessel bound for Snowglen, where she shared passage with Vaelan Voss—a fellow traveler with whom she exchanged little conversation. Upon disembarking, a deckhand offered assistance as she stepped off the ship. ## The Docks and First Encounters As Lucia made her way off the pier toward Snowglen's tavern, she caught up with Vaelan and a local named Rooster, who was recounting stories of the dockhouse and local history, including an account of a great sheep stampede from roughly ten years prior. Lucia pressed onward at speed, her urgent purpose drawing her away from casual introductions. When the party later investigated the source of the poisoned kegs at the Salty Ostrich, Lucia asked whether they had seen any markings or symbols on the boat that might suggest the contamination's origin. A history check revealed that while crates had been offloaded at the docks, they were sealed, and she could recall no markings or symbols on any of them at the time of unloading. ## Weight and Weariness Lucia is a young-looking human woman standing five feet tall, slightly below average height, with long white hair streaked with purple strands. She carries a bow with a quiver across her back and typically wears a hood. Her demeanor is skittish, particularly uncomfortable with cold. Despite her youthful appearance, she carries the weight of someone who has endured much and been around hardship for some time. During her first night in Snowglen, a local named Dubora propositioned her to share a bed; the outcome of this exchange is not recorded. ## Into the Outbreak Lucia was present at the Salty Ostrich when the transformation outbreak began, caused by poisoned ale from marked kegs of unknown origin. The affliction converts people into savage, ooze-dissolving creatures rather than undead. As screams erupted across Snowglen and the entire settlement descended into chaos, Lucia survived alongside the rest of the party, fighting through transformed townsfolk and barricading themselves in a barn with Dyrbov Michalovich, a local survivor who warned them time was running out before transformation claimed them all.
God of Luck & Fortune.
Lyanna is the daughter of Kaelor and Elira, born during the first snowfall of winter. She was murdered and abandoned in the snow beyond the eastern cliffs during the Night of Ash.
Mekphin is the god of madness and misery.
A realm in the Second Age, year 1174 Post Affliction, comprising four major regions: Snowreach, Arkenhath, Famktoush, and Van Roost. Michenebor is located to the southeast of Snowreach. Hazelwater is located within Michenebor and is considered by some to be the true center of culture or power in the realm. Michenebor is steeped in magic and lore, with mystery woven throughout. The realm experienced upheaval of immense magnitude some 1,000 years or more prior, leaving the world in ruin; it is only now beginning to rebuild and find peace after the chaos that was wrought. In the far northwest of the realm lies a small island coated in ice and sleet, which holds the beginning of an adventure that will shape the very future of the realm and all those that dwell upon it. The realm has settled into a quiet calm prior to recent events in the settlement of Snowglen.
Mira Ashveil is a sixteen-year-old orphaned wild mage whose uncontrolled magical surges have caused catastrophic destruction. Her magic detonations devastated three villages and killed Dax and two junior operatives. Her magical incident awakened Vaelan's dormant magical potential.
A body of water between the mainland and Snowreach covered in fog with treacherous reefs and rocky outcroppings that cannot be safely navigated without magical means to remove the mist.
Goddess of Destruction.
A catastrophic attack on Skybreaker Hold in which Kaelor's family was killed. The gates were opened from within, indicating the assault was orchestrated by someone with internal access and sufficient power to breach the hold's defenses.
A one-use magical device designed to permanently sever a mage's connection to the Weave.
God of Beauty & Nature.
An orcish or half-orcish gambler who plays a card game involving reaching 21 without going over, and offers to spot Lucia gold if she brings him luck again. Killed during the transformation event in The The Salty Ostrich. He gambled opposite a dwarf patron named Delov.
Phera is a goddess of contentment and generosity.
God of War & Battle.
Goddess of Fertility.
A heavyset, stout, portly seaman from Arkenhath who befriends Vaelan Voss aboard the ship to Snowglen and enthusiastically shows him around the village, known for talking extensively and lacking social finesse. Rooster was the first to suffer the transformation effects in The Salty Ostrich and killed Dimitri after vaulting the bar in his new primal form. He was killed by the party during that conflict.
Goddess of Chance & Risk.
A cantrip cast by Torvald Veyr.
A nomadic group inhabiting Famktoush. The Scattered Bones are desert nomads who search endlessly for ancient artefacts and relics buried in the dunes. Scholars suggest they have already discovered significant wealth and power, moving from place to place to keep their secrets hidden.
A celestial plane that now exists within the material realm, having collided with each other during The Great Affliction.
Shatterclaw Clan is a prominent Orc settlement located to the south of Arkenhath, considered by some to be the most prominent in the realm.
Field operatives of the Argent Compact who track and capture unlicensed magic users. The bureau prefers candidates with no innate magical resonance.
A confederation of goliath tribes united generations before by House Thane's banners. The clans valued strength and were historically ruled according to principles of hospitality, justice, and mercy.
Skybreaker Hold is the seat of House Thane, located in the frost-veiled peaks of the northern ranges. The hold was destroyed during the Night of Ash, when its gates were shattered from within.
A small book that Kaelor seems to covet. It was hidden in his home and rediscovered after the fall of the Salty Ostrich.
Snowglen is the only village with a port on Snowreach and serves as the continent's pseudo-capital, situated at the edge of the world. The town features ice-crusted docks and serves as a haven for weary sailors, smugglers, and forgotten souls. It is inhabited mostly by halflings, humans, and dwarves. Halflings are among the ancestral peoples whose origin contributes to the culture of southern Van Roost settlements, with a modest population. It is known as the place where Kaelor settled in exile. Snowglen is the birthplace of Torvald. The town maintains trade connections through its docks, which serve as a port for merchant vessels. The settlement has a cove and expansive fields. Snowglen experiences unusually harsh winter conditions. The northern part of the village contains a logging area. A location called Gruyeva Pier serves as the port for arriving vessels. The The Salty Ostrich is a tavern within the settlement. During the session's events, the entire settlement of Snowglen succumbed to a horrifying transformation that spread from the The Salty Ostrich, with inhabitants converting into primal, clawed creatures with red and green glowing eyes before being destroyed, reducing the town's population significantly and leaving the settlement in chaos. Dubora was a local of Snowglen. Lucia arrived at Snowglen by vessel after fleeing Arkenhath, traveling from Cape Whalebrooke with minimal possessions. Torvald's mother was mutilated and his father's body went missing, presumed turned into green mush, during the transformation incident in Snowglen.
A small island northwest of Michenebor, known for being cozy yet treacherous. Covered in snow drifts, scrub forests, and dominated by the Evdokiya mountain range in the north. It is governed by village councils and known for fisheries. It is a refuge for those fleeing their former lives, as evidenced by Kaelor's arrival after abandoning his titles and family name. The Veyr family maintains a farm in this region, enduring the brutal winters and harsh growing conditions characteristic of Snowreach. Snowreach is home to dwarven farming families who maintain traditional clan customs, and halflings from both lightfoot and stout lineages are among its inhabitants. Both dwarves and halflings are counted among the ancestral peoples whose cultural origin contributes to the character of Snowreach and southern Van Roost settlements. During an unseasonably harsh winter, the settlement of Snowglen in Snowreach fell victim to a widespread transformation plague when poisoned ale from a tampered keg was distributed at the The Salty Ostrich tavern, causing patrons to transform into primal, monstrous creatures with clawed hands, red and green glowing eyes, and mixed human, elf, and canine dentition. The transformation spread rapidly through the town, resulting in the deaths of most local inhabitants and plunging Snowglen into chaos.
The seat of the High Council's power, where The Three conduct their governance. The Capitol is a multicultural hub of trade, industry, and culture located on Arkenhath, the civilized main continent. It serves as the center of governance for the High Council over the varied settlements and populations across the realm. The city is organized into distinct subregions: a mercantile district, a temple district, a guild district, and a bordello district.
A term used to describe the pantheon of Gods and Goddesses that exist within the realm of Michenebor. It is said that the High Father and Dark Mother cannot exist without one-another, and the lower deities that they govern are all the perfect antithesis of each other. While the High Father weighs heavily upon the Order of all things, the Dark Mother counters with her drive for Chaos.
A gigantic swirling storm localised in the middle of the large open water that make up the Kirtona Seas, both mages and local fisherman are baffled by the constant buffeting winds and lightning storms that pervade the region. Oddly enough, The Maelstrom never moves. It remains in the same place, covering a region of the ocean some two hundred miles wide. Many have speculated about it's purpose, it's meaning... some have even braved to see what lies at the heart of it... but not a single soul who has dared has ever returned.
The Maw is the entrance to a large network of interconnected tunnels, chambers, and catacombs beneath Van Roost. The caverns are home to creatures that prefer darkness and cold environments.
An establishment in Snowglen where Dimitri serves as proprietor and brews strong beverages. A mysterious substance was added to the kegs here, causing transformation effects in patrons including Dubora. Oleg was killed during the transformation event. Rooster was the first to suffer the transformation effects and killed Dimitri after vaulting the bar in his new primal form before being killed by the party. A small book that Kaelor seems to covet was hidden here and rediscovered after the fall of the establishment.
Local civilians who have succumbed to the effects of a spell or poison that has mutated them into primal, beast-like versions of their former selves. Irrational, without mercy and looking to only destroy with primal savagery, The Turned... as far as anyone knows, cannot be saved, and need to be destroyed.
Theldir is the god of endurance, persistence, and honour. Followers revere him for his embodiment of steadfast resolve and unwavering integrity.
Theorem is a cat companion belonging to Vaelan.
## The Voice at Death's Door Torvald entered the campaign during a mass transformation outbreak at the Salty Ostrich tavern in Snowglen. Poisoned ale from marked kegs of unknown origin triggered an affliction that converted people into savage, ooze-dissolving creatures rather than undead. As the entire settlement descended into chaos and screams, Torvald was brought near death. In that extremity, a deep voice spoke to him—instructing him to travel south and suggesting divine or external involvement in the outbreak. He survived alongside his companion Kaelor Thane, but the voice's purpose and origin remain a mystery to him. ## A Family Unmade In the days following the outbreak, Torvald discovered his mother dead in their family home, her throat ripped out clean. His father was missing. The same mysterious voice that called to him during his brush with death—now manifesting as a compulsive pull—promised reunion and power, directing both him and Kaelor southward. Torvald faced transformed townsfolk in combat and was nearly killed by the Turned before the survivors barricaded themselves in a barn with Dyrbov Michalovich, a local who warned them time was running out before transformation claimed them all. When a transformed figure—possibly his sister—stumbled from his family home with red eyes, extended claws, fangs, and sharpened features, Torvald froze at the sight. The voice in his mind told him his family had "joined" it, that they were now "with them." Though he insisted he needed to see with his own eyes and could not abandon what remained of his home, Kaelor's urgency to find shelter eventually pulled the party toward the barns across the way, leaving the house and its horrors behind. ## Unresolved Threads Torvald carries profound unresolved questions: the identity and intent of the voice that spoke to him during his near-death experience, the true nature of his divine calling, and whether the compulsive pull toward the south originates from his clerical powers or something external and potentially hostile. His family has been consumed by the outbreak. The mysterious instruction to travel south—whether a genuine divine mandate or a manipulation—remains unexplained. He has yet to reconcile his awakening to clerical powers during a winter plague with the dark forces now speaking into his mind.
The place that Torvald chose to rest his head along with his mother and father. Torvald discovered his mother mutilated and his father's body missing - presumed turned into green mush - after the transformation incident in Snowglen.
Torvald's mother, found dead in the dining room of Torvald's family home with severe abdominal trauma and a look of confusion frozen on her face; she was slumped against a cupboard. A marked keg and Torvald's father's tankard sat on the table nearby, along with a green bubbling puddle. Torvald cut a lock of his mother's red hair, wrapped it, and placed it in his coat as a memento before departing, speaking a farewell in Dwarfish.
Tovyurt is an outlying village on Snowreach that supports the local fisheries. The settlement is governed through a collective council rather than a single leader or hierarchical authority.
God of Nature & Elements.
## The Lean Stranger Aboard Vaelan entered the campaign as a weathered figure already marked by a shadowed past. A 34-year-old man of deliberate inconspicuousness, he stands 6'1" and lean, built for speed rather than durability. His dark brown hair falls slightly overgrown, broken by a stark white streak running back from his left temple—a mark of something past. A diagonal scar bisects his left jaw, and he maintains perpetual stubble rather than clean grooming. He dresses to disappear: a long charcoal coat with an upturned collar layered over dark clothing, nothing that draws attention or suggests arcane knowledge. A crossbow rides his back and an old short sword hangs unused at his hip. Beneath his skin on arms and hands lie faint iridescent markings that pulse like old tattoos rendered in shady magic—a visible remnant of forces that have marked him. His arrival came aboard a vessel traveling toward the frozen north, where he encountered Rooster, a portly gentleman who sought his acquaintance. At this point in the campaign, Vaelan carries the weight of two years as a fugitive from the Argent Compact, the organization that once employed him as a Silencer operative. Following his exposure to Mira Ashveil's magical surge, he developed wild magic abilities that transformed him from a disciplined agent into something the Compact would view as a liability. This exposure set him on a path of deliberate isolation and mission: to warn other wild mages of the Compact's methods and to interrogate whether the organization's approach to magic users like himself can be justified or must be resisted. ## Snowglen's Transformation During the party's first crisis—the outbreak at the The Salty Ostrich in Snowglen—Vaelan survived alongside his companions as poisoned ale transformed townspeople into savage, ooze-dissolving creatures. The affliction spread beyond the tavern into the settlement itself, reducing Snowglen to chaos and wholesale transformation. Though the dialogue record from the first session does not capture Vaelan's specific actions or choices, he was present for the party's discovery that the contamination was neither undead nor a conventional curse, but something far stranger in its mechanism and origin. The marked kegs and unknown source of the poison remain unresolved threads. Vaelan witnessed Torvald receive a mysterious vision from a deep voice while near death, instructing him to travel south—a compulsion that would later echo in others' minds as well. The outbreak's connection to Vaelan's fugitive status or to broader designs of the Argent Compact remains unclear, but the scale of the disaster suggests forces far larger than a single poisoning incident. ## A Stranger's Counsel on Danger As the party barricaded themselves in a barn following the destruction of Snowglen, Vaelan demonstrated his relationship to the broader group. When Kaelor suddenly manifested a healing ability—Cure Light Wounds cast with no prior experience and compelled by an inexplicable voice—Vaelan questioned him directly: "Where'd you learn to do that?" His skepticism was neither hostile nor dismissive, but pragmatic. Upon learning that Kaelor had never possessed such ability before, Vaelan drew on his own extensive experience with magic to offer both warning and measured reassurance: "Well, I've been around magic for long enough to know that it can be really dangerous if you're not able to control it. So let's just hope that you're able to control this. It looks really helpful." This exchange reveals Vaelan's dual nature as a fugitive operative with deep magical knowledge who has learned to trust sparingly but not to remain entirely aloof. He did not accuse Kaelor of dark dealing or threaten him for the sudden manifestation. Instead, he offered hard wisdom born from personal experience—the kind of counsel only someone who has lived with uncontrolled magical forces can deliver. His tone was not paternal but peer-to-peer, acknowledging Kaelor's situation without requiring explanation and flagging the genuine danger ahead without condemning the man for it. This interaction also underscores that Vaelan has not abandoned his broader mission: he recognizes a wild mage when he encounters one, and his instinct is to help stabilize rather than suppress. ## Two Years Running, Still Watching Vaelan's fugitive status remains the foundation of his presence in this campaign. For two years prior to his appearance, he has been on the run from the Argent Compact, the organization that trained him as a Silencer and now likely hunts him as a rogue asset. His mission—to warn other wild mages and to question the Compact's methods—is not passive observation but active resistance. He carries no apparent malice toward the Compact as an institution, but rather a fundamental disagreement about how wild mages should be treated and whether their suppression or integration represents the true measure of safety. The fact that he continues this work despite two years of flight suggests conviction that outweighs personal survival instinct. The iridescent markings beneath his skin represent the visible scar of his transformation through exposure to Mira Ashveil's magical surge. These are not tattoos in any conventional sense, but something made by "some shady magic dealer kind of thing"—a phrasing that hints at coercion, desperation, or circumstances beyond his control. They pulse faintly, suggesting they are not inert but active, perhaps connected to his wild magic abilities or to forces that still pursue him. The markings are barely visible unless one looks closely, a detail that reflects Vaelan's broader philosophy: the most dangerous things about him hide just beneath the surface. ## The Threshold Grows Darker Vaelan stands now in the immediate aftermath of Snowglen's fall, barricaded in a barn with survivors and companions whose full allegiances he has not yet tested. The outbreak suggests that his mission to warn wild mages may have immediate, catastrophic urgency. Multiple members of the party—Kaelor and Torvald both—are hearing voices that compel them toward the south with promises of power, reunion, or salvation. Kaelor in particular has been forced to confront the reality of dormant abilities suddenly awakened by external compulsion, and Vaelan's measured response indicates he recognizes the pattern. Whether the contamination was orchestrated by the Argent Compact, by another hostile force, or by a consequence of the magical destabilization he has long feared remains unknown—but Vaelan's presence among the party and his willingness to travel with them through Snowglen's chaos suggests he has not given up on human connection or the possibility of meaningful alliance, even as the danger deepens. The voices calling others south may represent a threat far larger than the poisoning itself, and Vaelan's two years of isolation and warning suddenly acquire new relevance and new weight.
A small continent in the far northeast, divided into civilised southern regions and the vast Darkwild forest to the north. The Darkwild contains ancient stone structures predating the Second Age with markings suggesting ties to the time before the Great Affliction. At least one such structure has been discovered housing a ritual chamber with evidence of dark ceremonies associated with worship of the Dark Mother Averred. The structure contains multiple levels, with passages leading into deeper underground complexes showing signs of regular use. Van Roost is located within the realm of Michenebor in the Second Age. Ancient tombs and relics from First Age civilisations are rumoured to be buried within the sands of regions affected by the Great Affliction.
Vethara's Crossing is a mid-sized trade city that served as the childhood home of Vaelan. The Argent Compact maintained a regional office within the city.
A 6-year-old blonde-headed child living in Snowglen who has fallen ill with an unfamiliar ailment during the unusually harsh winter. Kaelor treated her that morning, providing remedies for a fever he had not seen before in the region. She has since transformed into one of the Turned: her eyes have become a strange red color, her hands bear claws extended three to four inches, her teeth have become fangs, and her skin is pulled tight against her face. Her mother was found with her throat ripped out in their home. Visaria emerged from her house moving erratically and shuffled southward toward the mill and the Salty Ostrich.
A woman living in Snowglen who sought Torvald's assistance when her daughter Visaria fell ill. She was found dead in her home with her throat ripped out, discovered by the party when they witnessed her transformed daughter Visaria emerging from the doorway and moving erratically toward the street.
A mill in Snowglen where Kaelor works chopping wood. The party spotted movement in the streets toward the mill while moving through the logging grounds near the Vissarion Mill. A transformed child named Visaria shuffled southward toward the mill and the Salty Ostrich after the party encountered her near her home.
Yarograd is an outlying village on Snowreach that supports the local fisheries. The village is governed by an elected Chancellor. It is located approximately 5 days travel north of Snowglen and may house private guard forces.
A property to the south and southeast of Snowglen village that may provide barn shelter, though not always open to travelers.
Farmers who employ farmhands in the region of Snowglen.
Zonir is the High Father of the pantheon in the Realm of Michenebor.
Goddess of Pestilence.
Large, stealthy goblinoids known for ambush tactics. Bugbears are a goblinoid sub-type, kin to goblins and hobgoblins. At least one stray individual has been encountered among the Hoodah Tribe in the Darkwild.
Dwarves are a sentient people whose members include individuals such as Torvald. Dwarven communities maintain traditional clan customs; notably, dwarven farming families inhabit settlements such as Snowreach. Dwarves are counted among the ancestral peoples whose origin contributes to the culture of southern Van Roost settlements.
The elves maintain settlements dotting the eastern side of Arkenhath, and some folk consider the Elven settlement of Hazelwater to be the 'true' capital of the continent. Elves are an ancestral people whose origin contributes to the culture of southern Van Roost settlements.
A component of the Hoodah Tribe inhabiting the Darkwild.
The gnolls comprise a component faction of the Hoodah Tribe, which inhabits the Darkwild. As hyena-headed humanoids, they bear the demonic origin of their kind, created by the demon lord Yeenoghu.
Small, cunning humanoids found throughout the world. A component of the Hoodah Tribe inhabits the Darkwild. Goblins are a goblinoid sub-type, kin to bugbears and hobgoblins.
The Skybreaker Clans represent the traditional goliath societies, historically valuing strength above all else. House Thane emerged within this culture as a notable exception, teaching that true strength derives from restraint and honor rather than raw power alone. Kaelor belongs to this people.
Halflings are a species found among the inhabitants of Snowglen and Snowreach. Halflings are among the ancestral peoples whose origin contributes to the culture of southern Van Roost settlements. As a species, halflings include two main lineages: lightfoot halflings and stout halflings, who share a common halfling heritage.
Humans are a sentient humanoid species. Notable members include Elira Vael, a diplomat from the southern kingdoms. Humans inhabit the regions of Snowglen and Snowreach.
Fierce, tribal humanoids known for strength and aggression. Major settlements exist on Arkenhath, notably the Shatterclaw Clan to the south. An orc named Oleg was present in the The Salty Ostrich tavern in Snowglen, where he played cards and won repeatedly until he was killed by one of the Turned during the transformation outbreak.
One of the ancestral peoples whose origin contributes to the culture of southern Van Roost settlements.