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.
Goddess of Knowledge & Wisdom.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
## 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. ## 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. As the contamination spread beyond the tavern, the entire settlement descended into chaos and transformation. The party managed to endure the catastrophe, though the full scope of what occurred—and what caused it—remains unclear. ## Into the Labyrinth Kaelor had a vivid dream in which he found himself walking through an unsettling and dark place—a labyrinth underground where he has been alone for three days, searching for a way to the surface. He moves through corridors filled with dripping water, a lit torch in one hand and a blade drawn, driven by a sense of dread and desperation. His companions are long since destroyed. The only way out seemed to be a portal that revealed a beast inside a giant crystal, that burst forth and made to devour him before he woke in a pool of sweat.
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.
## Flight to Snowglen Lucia arrived at the docks of Gruyeva Pier after fleeing Arkenhath. She made her way to Cape Whalebrooke and boarded a vessel bound for the coastal settlement of Snowglen, carrying minimal worldly possessions—little more than what she could gather in the chaos. Upon landing, a deckhand offered assistance as she disembarked at the pier. ## Who She Is Lucia is a young-looking human woman standing five feet tall, slightly below average height. She bears long white hair streaked with purple strands and carries a bow with a quiver across her back. She typically wears a hood and presents a skittish demeanor, 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. ## First Steps in Snowglen Upon arriving at the docks, Lucia moved quickly past her fellow passengers—including Vaelan Voss, whom she had shared passage with aboard ship but exchanged little conversation with—toward the direction of the settlement's tavern. As she made her way off the pier, she caught up with Vaelan and a talkative local named Rooster, who was regaling Vaelan with stories of the dockhouse and local history, including an account of a great sheep stampede that occurred roughly ten years prior. Lucia pressed onward at speed toward the tavern, her urgent purpose drawing her away from the casual introductions taking place at the dockworks. While in Snowglen, a local named Dubora propositioned her to share a bed for the night.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 Outbreak at The Salty Ostrich Torvald entered the campaign during a transformation outbreak at the The Salty Ostrich tavern in Snowglen. Poisoned ale from marked kegs of unknown origin triggered a mass affliction that converted people into savage, ooze-dissolving creatures—not undead. During the chaos, as the entire settlement descended into transformation and screams, Torvald was brought near death. In that extremity, he received a mysterious vision from a deep voice instructing him to travel south, suggesting divine or external involvement in the outbreak. He survived the encounter alongside his companion Kaelor Thane. ## Appearance and Heritage Torvald is a stout dwarf standing between 4 and 4.5 feet tall, with fiery orange hair and a braided, clasped beard in the style of dwarves who value such grooming. His skin and hands appear harsh and weathered, bearing the marks of someone who works extensively with his hands. He dresses for the harsh climate of Snowglen in furs and pelts, but beneath these practical layers wears an embroidered garment bearing small distinguishing symbols. Despite his hardened appearance, his eyes convey kindness. He is the third son of a root-farming family from Snowglen. During a winter plague, he was touched by divine grace and awakened to clerical powers, leading him to seek understanding of his divine calling and the purpose of the grace that found him. ## Present Circumstances Torvald currently resides in or near Snowglen, with responsibilities including fieldwork. He carries unresolved questions about the mysterious voice that spoke to him during the outbreak, the instruction to travel south, and the nature of his divine calling. His clerical powers remain active and central to his identity, though their true origin and purpose remain unclear to him.
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 demeanor matches his appearance: not unfriendly, but visibly reclused. 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 Reckoning 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 this 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, and Vaelan witnessed firsthand the Compact's potential scope of operations—whether this outbreak was connected to his fugitive status or to broader designs remains unclear. ## Marks of Old Magic Vaelan's iridescent markings under his skin represent the visible scar of his transformation. 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. Whether these marks are a curse, a binding, a gift, or a warning remains undefined. 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. ## Two Years Running Vaelan's fugitive status is not new to this campaign but foundational. 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. ## Current Bearing Vaelan stands at the threshold of the frozen north, aboard a vessel with companions whose histories and allegiances he has not yet fully tested. The outbreak at Snowglen suggests that his mission to warn wild mages may have immediate urgency—whether the contamination was orchestrated by the Compact, by another hostile force, or by a consequence of the magical destabilization he fears remains unknown. His presence among the party and his willingness to travel with them indicate either tactical necessity or a tentative step toward trusting others with his burden. The white streak in his hair, the scar on his jaw, the faint marks beneath his skin, and the long coat all tell a story of survival through danger—yet his decision to remain with this group suggests he has not given up on human connection or the possibility of meaningful alliance.
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.
A woman living in Snowglen who sought Torvald's assistance when her daughter Visaria fell ill.
A mill in Snowglen where Kaelor works chopping wood.
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.
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.