JESSE ROSS

Trophy Loom
TABLE OF CONTENTS

map the borderlands

The Western Kalduhr & Surrounds ep Borderland Settlements 82
introduction Levasti 83
The Crown’s Bold Expedition 1 Location: Hisham’s Fountain 91
How to Use This Book 3 Deverain 95
the city Faction: The Piper’s Band 100
Ambaret 5 Fort Duhrin 105
Rose District 6 Kormoran’s Wheel 110
Salt District 11 Beliefs in the Borderlands
Charcoal District 16 Local Gods 116
Paper District 19 Blasphemous Cults 124
Sail District 23 Faction: Cult of the Serpent Queen 130
Notable Locations the forest
Barsul Prison 29 The Kalduhr 135
The Azure Archives 34 The Deep Kalduhr 136
People of the Crown 40 Waystations 141
Folk 40 Elixirs, Remedies & Poisons 147
Beastbitten 42 Monsters of the Wood 152
Faeborn 44 The Hive 158
Manikins 46 Giants 160
Notable Figures The Fae 162
Bright-Teeth Assyrio 48 Spirits 164
Ajino the Debauched Painter 54 Monster: The Witch of Nevask 166
Religion & Myth Beliefs in the Forest
The Sisters 60 Altars 172
Notable Sisters The Old One of the Forest 175
Saint Ara the Torchbearer 67 beyond the forest
Saint Exodias of the Leviathan 72 The Sea of Bone 180
Legendary Heroes & Artifacts 77 treasure tables 189
 a publication of in association with

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created by
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editor
Lauren McManamon

publishers
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art & layout additional art cartography

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special thanks
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isbn 978-1-952774-02-7 — Printed in Lithuania — First Printing

The Crown’s Bold Expedition

INTRODUCTION
 we,lcome ,erang ts !lcome w Come in om fr the ain r and ts er ryou .etf i wil se if
ethr is any eagtpo ftle over om fr diner while you marw ryou s oneb and gather
INTRODUCTION

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i se you admirng the ryts ape oveab the arth.e My therandmo g dcale it “Saint
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in the ts fir ,ayds al asw .s haoc The Old Ons— e fuleacp ermblus eb upon them—
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but tonigh ew wil akspe only fo .one
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dlembju mas on the .flor
She degathr the s adethr fo ,s haoc ingaz or them by lorc and by y,itqual and
ganeb aving.ew She ovew the xo and the en,rw the ainstmou and the ,s ert the ase
and the .s arts She gave s dieob o t her Si.s erts She ovew evn rou lembhu .s dieob She
ko t se tho dmeornfu s wild and damet them o int .hapes
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by Suay’r s fted .s hand pls eac ewhr they could inuecot their wild ,aysw givn
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you antw o t eb ikel my dlove b Suay r and nrut tha s haoc o int omethings ew wil no
erlong ar? ef Something ew can give name o t and finaly d? ts erndu
To tha i hwis you dog k.luc you wil dne ,it orf ,you ared ,erang ts ear no .aints

2 · The Crown’s Bold Expedition

How to Use This Book
Trophy Loom is a system-agnostic setting book for dark medieval fantasy roleplaying games,
especially the games under the Trophy banner.

INTRODUCTION
Unlike other rpg setting books you may be familiar with, you will not find detailed historical
timelines or accurate city populations in Trophy Loom. Rather, this book consists mostly of
random tables you can use to inspire you before or during a game session. These tables contain
threads of detail that can be woven into an entire adventure, or can be stitched in to fill a gap
when you need a name, monster, or location on short notice. To make it easier to pull relevant
information, the book is divided into three regions: the City, the Borderlands, and the Forest.

The City defines a single, large city—Ambaret, seat of the largest monarchy in the region—and
the various districts and idiosyncratic characters that can be found within. The religion, myths,
and legends that serve as the foundation of the kingdom are also shared in this section.

The Borderlands provides information on four different types of settlements outside the city.
Levasti is the wealthy countryside just outside the safety of the city’s walls, where the minor
nobility lord over the serfs who work their land. Deverain is a semi-independent duchy with
larger ambitions, but its own host of problems due to its proximity to the forest. Fort Duhrin
is a royal outpost on the edge of the dreaded forest, and the ideal launching point for many
adventures. Kormoran’s Wheel is a recently-established but unsanctioned tent city within the
borders of the forest itself. The further one gets from the city, the stranger the beliefs; the cults
of the borderlands—and their gods and customs—are outlined in this section as well.

The Forest covers the magical and monstrous things found within the wilds of the great and
terrible Kalduhr Forest. Within you will find random tables for strange encounters to be had
here, potions crafted from the forest’s flora, and treasures buried in the ruins hidden deep in
the wood. This section also provides a variety of monsters unique to this setting, and rumors
and tales associated with some of the broad categories of creatures.

Feel free to use what you find in this book however you see fit in your own games. Change
names to better match your setting, and drop whole sections if they don’t make sense. Nothing
in this book is sacred or canonical, even if you’re playing Trophy.

Your game’s setting isn’t what is in this book. Your game’s setting emerges from what happens
at the table as you play. So go play, and weave your own world from the threads of Trophy Loom.

USING THE TABLES

To randomly select an item from a table in this book, simply roll two six-sided dice
(preferably of two different colors) and consult the entry that matches your roll.

How to Use This Book • 3

 The City

4 · The City
Ambaret
The Golden City. The Capital of the World. The Jeweled Crown. If it comes with a price, it can
be found somewhere in one of the many colorful districts of Ambaret.

ROSE DISTRICT
The seat of wealth and luxury, where virtually every treasure-hunter seeks to retire—or at least
indulge for a good long while. The streets of this district are lined with fragrant flowers and
filled with beautiful people.

SALT DISTRICT

THE CITY
The home of the Ambaret Salt Mines, a source of great income for the Crown and one of the
primary reasons the city was founded here. Populated mostly by the miners, their families, and
the businesses that revolve around the salt trade, the district is known to be unwelcoming to
outsiders who don’t quickly absorb its idiosyncratic ways.

CHARCOAL DISTRICT
The poorest district, this—both literally and figuratively—dark part of the city is frequently
neglected by the Crown. Absent a royal presence, the various guilds of the district have taken
the reins.

PAPER DISTRICT
The home of the capital’s intellectuals and academics, some say the Paper District is filled with
more stories, news, and gossip than even the Rose District. If you’re looking for a rare book—
or obscure knowledge worthy of a rare book—this is the neighborhood to visit.

SAIL DISTRICT
Ambaret’s ports are extensive, given the city’s strategic location in the Blossoming Sea. Outside
of Fort Duhrin, you can find no more adventurous individuals than those of the Sail District.
Sailors, fishers, smugglers, and pirates all make their beds here when they’re away from the sea.

BARSUL PRISON
Virtually a district unto itself, the prison of Ambaret is a massive complex filled with only the
most hardened criminals. The Crown doesn’t take the breaking of its laws lightly, as few who
find their way here are heard from again.

THE AZURE ARCHIVES

Some say the city has more districts than even the royal surveyors are aware of. Hidden some-
where in Ambaret is an entrance to the Azure Archives, a place of hidden knowledge and lost
artifacts. If even the Paper District doesn’t have what you need, best find yourself a sorcerer.

The City • 5
 Rose District
THE GAUNTLET
THE CITY

Nestled in the great capital city of Ambaret is the jewel of civilization, the fabulous Rose Dis-
trict. Many a treasure-hunter desires nothing more than to be able to afford a lavish retirement
there. But what makes the Rose District so special? What pleasures and delights await those
who manage to survive their careers in the dark places of the world?

6 · Rose District
What Indulgences Are There to Be Had in the District?
1 1 THE HEDGE MAZE 1 6 THE SNAIL VENDOR
The Rose District gets its name from the Kali Ventrice is the foremost snail vendor in
hedge maze rose garden at the heart of the the district. Her purple-hued gastropods—
neighborhood. On feast days, the maze is which she sources from the Gloaming Mire—
filled with performers and artisans—some- are famous for both their delectable flavor
thing new to see around every twist and turn. and aphrodisiac-like qualities.

1 2 MARKERS OF WEALTH 2 1 THE HERALDS’ GUILD

The wealthier denizens of the district hold The Heralds’ Guild is a body that regulates
the softness of one’s feet to be among the the use of arms, sigils, emblems, and crests.

THE CITY
greatest of status symbols. It is common to The learned who make up the guild have
see nobility being carried through the streets become fabulously wealthy, and only un-
on covered palanquins. charitable observers would say it’s because
elite families are constantly bribing them to
1 3 ROSE MEAD exaggerate their honors or downgrade those
Mead is enjoyed at many taverns, but while of their rivals.
blackberry and honey mead are frequently
imbibed, rose mead is costly and the after- 2 2 THE BATHS
taste has been known to leave one with a The steam never escapes the great baths of
desire to drink nothing else. The exact recipe the Rose District, but the surrounding area
for rose mead is a closely guarded secret. always carries a particularly pleasing, floral
aroma. The baths also employ the best mas-
1 4 THE DANMAQUE seurs in the region. They are a wonderful
You can’t go far without running into a mem- place to relax, detoxify the body, or catch
ber of the danmaque, who study the passing up on the juiciest gossip—if you can afford
fads of the nobility, and train others in their them, of course.
ways. Dancing, poetry, dueling… whatever
the elite fancy, they are prepared to do, but 2 3 THE SPINNERS OF AMBARET
they work for anyone who hires them. Some The weavers of Ambaret are renowned for
patrons have exclusive danmaque, of course. producing silks of peerless quality—softer,
Often they retire when the noble fancies a yet stronger, than any other fabric, in shim-
new one, and then go on to set up schools to mering hues which shift under moonlight.
train new performers. Less known are their methods, involving
the breeding of large and highly venomous
1 5 THE ROSE CRIERS spiders which must be attached to looms and
“You never heard such as the Rose Criers. fed constantly to keep them producing silk.
Sure as at a town or some far place as Fort
Duhrin you have readers and criers hawking 2 4 THE SUMMERWINE WOMAN
the King’s Word or such. But did you ever hear In the park off Summerwine Street there is
them call out the latest rumours ‘bout the a pool, and in this pool it is said a woman is
Queen’s choice of undergarment? Or share sometimes glimpsed. There are tales that she
word of a distant prince who would marry can grant wishes. But none dare to throw her
thee if only he were sent a golden pouch? ‘Tis their pocket change, for such may be seen as
fantastic what they call news today!” an insult. She demands more costly sacrifices.

Rose District • 7
 2 5 THE ROSE 3 4 THE HOUSE OF THORNS
There grow roses, yes. But the rose outshines Much to the chagrin of the district guards,
them all. Some believe it to be but a metaphor the House of Thorns is one of the capital’s
for a perfectly beautiful courtesan or cheva- most exclusive pleasure houses. It is staffed
lier. Others tell that it is an actual flower, and by elegant gentlemen who ply the patrons
that its pollen is a most powerful aphrodi- with the finest food and drink, surrounded
siac. However, all stories agree that it is the by exquisite art and sublime music. And of
embodiment of beauty. And bliss. course, as the name suggests, you can expect
a prick or two.
2 6 PENELOPE DAWN
The ghost of Penelope Dawn is believed to 3 5 THE COBBLER’S ASSISTANT
haunt the hedge maze. An illusionist of her Everet Steyn works for a cobbler in the Rose
time, her shows were something of legend, District, shoeing the wealthy and fashion-
THE CITY

and now so is her spirit. able. His designs are works of art, and every
piece is custom-made. They say he ventured
3 1 THE HOLLOWED HALLS into the forest as a young man, though, and
The Hollowed Halls (not Hallowed Halls, every now and then, he creates a work that
as some fools think) are a series of winding can never see the light of day.
caves beneath the streets. The rumble of
footfall and wagon wheels from the surface 3 6 THE POPPYWALKERS
above make this place reverberate with a A favoured pastime in the district is to smoke
constant, low noise that slowly focuses into a a little poppy—not too much, just enough to
deep, resonant tone. You can hear your inner begin to float—and walk along the garlanded
self speak to you here, with no distractions. catwalks of the multi-tiered trellises along
the boulevards. Here one can find small, im-
3 2 FASHION IN THE DISTRICT promptu gatherings of folk sitting among the
It has become popular among the district’s flowers, watching the passersby below.
fashionistas to carry—as pets—dazzlingly-
colored salamanders. Intrepid trappers comb 4 1 “DROPPED PETALS”
the Kalduhr for the various vivid species “Another dropped petal today. It’s an awful
that dwell within. Those who make it back tradition, but every year around this time
out can earn quite the fortune. Amphibian young people take their own lives by leaping
aficionados, as a way to outdo one another, from towers while dressed in all red. Some
roam the Rose District toting elaborate con- years it’s only a couple. Some years it’s more.”
traptions designed to simulate the cool misty
rains of their chromatic caudata’s natural 4 2 CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
habitat—by happenstance, of course, keep- The lush gardens of the Rose District attract
ing the affluent cool and comfortable in the all manner of buzzing insects which pol-
heat of Ambaret. linate the flowers—naturally, some plants
consume these insects in turn. They say
3 3 ILYANA’S that if you write your secrets on tiny scrolls
If you’re going to spend any real time in the and feed them to a tooth fern, bladed tulip
Rose District you’ll need to get the right or witch’s claw, no one will be able to speak
clothing. Before your first night, or your first them aloud. Take care that the plants do not
visit to a noble, make sure to stop by Ilyana’s taste even a drop of your blood, however, or
clothing shop. She’ll get you outfitted just soon the entire garden will know your secrets
right, and for a reasonable price, too. and whisper them to passersby.

8 · Rose District
4 3 PETAL KISS 5 2 THE GOLDEN MIMES
There’s a fine and sweet liquor called “petal The Golden Mimes are renowned through-
kiss,” made from rose nectar regurgitated by out Ambaret for their flawless performances
a hummingbird. It is very rare and fabulously and complete dedication to their craft. Such
expensive. is their skill that only the trained eye can spot
them among the other bronze statues in the
4 4 THE LAUGHING BOY gardens and gateways of the Rose District’s
Tucked into one of the many gardens of elite. Look upon them but be warned that no
Ambaret is the statue of the laughing boy, one has ever insulted a mime twice. They will
his marble face twisted with mirth. Some watch and wait as long as they need until the
who refuge there are keen or lucky enough moment comes to silence your mockery for
to catch his face illuminated by a waxing good. It comes as no surprise that the Golden
quarter moon. It is only under the light of are also rumored to be the most costly and

THE CITY
this moon that the boy’s facade falters and he highly sought-after assassins in the land…
weeps, a single tear of marble dropping into
the fountain beneath him. 5 3 A KIND OF IMMORTALITY
“You can’t take it with you,” lesser minds
45 THE MASKED SCHOLARS have said of great fortunes. But in the Rose
The coffee houses of the Rose District are District, adventurers lacking family to be-
home to the devotees of a scholarly intellec- queath their fortune to have been known to
tual society. After debate and coffee, they hire a dualist, an actor who becomes their
meet in the vaulted cellars below the coffee exact double, learning their tastes and tics,
houses, whispering and plotting in patch- to carry on spending their fortune in their
work masks made from the stretched vellum place, as them, once the grave renders them
of heretical treatises. With time, immersion unable to do so themselves.
in their secret ways leads to tears of ink and
saliva of crimson and cerulean oozing from 5 4 THE LILAC ROSE
cracked tongues. The secretions are much There’s a rare lilac rose of Ambaret that’s hard
valued by the learned. to come by, but if you do, you’re in for a treat.
With just a single thorn clinging to its stem it
4 6 OLFACTORY ADVICE can produce wonderful images only you can
“The scent of the Rose District can be over- see: pinch your index finger and let yourself
powering for new visitors on account of the wander in illusions of your choosing. You can
enormous quantities of roses and other flow- go wherever you want and become whoever
ers that grow there. I recommend picking you wish to be. This journey is brief but pow-
up a fashionable mask to breathe through. erful. Just be sure you don’t confuse it with
It may mark you as a newcomer, but it’s a lot the plum rose, which is lethal.
better than fainting in the street!”
5 5 “PYX” THE BAKER
5 1 THE PALE PARADE Amaranth, lilyseed, perilla, and sweet pars-
Hundreds of rare albino bulls are parad- ley, is what the old baker says he puts in his
ed through the streets of the Rose District cakes. He stays up all night baking, and he’s
during summer festivals. Spectators will always sold out by noon. Strange how nobody
shower them with crimson rose petals as the remembers the old man’s name, but a simple
bulls stride triumphantly to their destina- old sign above his shop’s door reads “Pyx,”
tion: the slaughterhouse. and most call him that.

Rose District • 9
 5 6 CLUB KURAMET 6 4 THE COLLAR
“The fancy residents of the Rose District The servants of the wealthiest residents of
would have you think that all the fighting the district wear heavy iron collars that serve
pits are in the bottoms. Heh. What they don’t two purposes: to ensure they are always bent
want you to know is the rich folks love a good over their work, and to prevent them from
fight just as much as us commoners. Look for ever looking directly in the eyes of their
a black door with a carved lion’s head above masters. To serve in such a capacity is a great
it just west of the maze garden. Give ‘em the honor, and the bent spine that results from
password and go down to see the best fights years of wearing the collar is a sort of status
this city can offer.” symbol among the lower classes.

6 1 THE OTHER SNAIL VENDOR 6 5 THE PRINCE OF ROSES

“We all know about Kali Ventrice and her Every year, a new young noble is chosen to be
THE CITY

excellent lavender snails. What most folks the “prince” of the Rose District at a special
forget, however, is that it takes a master chef cotillion held for the purpose. This beautiful
to properly extract the snail’s flavor. From lordling is feted all year, and all households
Kali’s place, head six doors down to Spiral. If must furnish him with whatever accom-
you can get a table, order the preserved snail modations he might require. Thousands of
terrine with brown bread and prepare to be white roses are picked and plucked each day
astounded.” so the petals may be thrown at his feet wher-
ever he walks.
6 2 VERNICE THE ENCLOSED
A holy woman living on the eastern end of
the district, Vernice is an anchoress who, it is
said, was walled into her small, stone cell long
before any living memory (though, from her
appearance, she cannot be older than thirty).
She will, for a small offering, share a proph-
ecy drawn from one of the many old tomes
that line her rough-hewn shelves—only, the
words she reads are in no known language.
It is commonly believed that to hear this
supernal speech is to hear the voice of long
forgotten gods, and there are those who have
devoted themselves to the decipherment of
Vernice’s cryptic locutions, spending great
fortunes in hopes of understanding.

6 3 A LURID HISTORY 6 6 MORT’S

In older times, before the district officially Have you spent so much time in the Rose
took its name, they made a fine and acrid District that you’re exhausted by the roses?
paste from virgin rosehips. Folk would place Mort’s coffee shop and brewery is just what
the paste between the slips of sensitive skin you need. There’s dark wood paneling, plenty
and enjoy the subtle keen of its itch as much to drink, and not a rose in sight. None of the
as the delicate daubing of the tongue that food will even remind you of a flower. Come
took it away. in for the daily lunch special.

10 · Rose District
 Salt District
MADELEINE EMBER

THE CITY
Ambaret, the thriving capital of kaleidoscopic faces, has lived and died a thousand deaths. No
matter its current dressing, the city has always pivoted about a Salt District. The people who
cultivated the earth above early discovered ways to reach their hands below, scoring deeply
—deeper than any one person can remember or fathom. There, they found salt, an essential
mineral prized by kings and paupers alike. The Ambaret mine is an exposed bone that the flesh
of the city knits itself to, builds upon, and rots off of, only to be reborn from again. It is the
city’s oldest center of trade. The district remembers some of its past, but most of it—for better
or worse—has been forgotten.

When you arrive, the district is... because…

1 in an uproar… 1 the death of an important person is being marked.
2 bright, with a candle in every window… 2 a major trade day has brought unfamiliar vendors.
3 desolate... 3 a celebration has been interrupted by an outsider.
4 grim, each person silent in their task… 4 a new building is opening its doors today.
5 thronging with uneasy locals… 5 rumors abound—something has been freed.
6 awash in music and merriment… 6 a treasure has been recovered, but at terrible cost.

Salt District • 11
 Still Your Tongue and Take in the Tales of the Salt District
1 1 WHAT THE MINERS LOSE 1 6 THE TRANSPORTED
The miners who emerge from the central Every few years, someone will come up from
shaft each morning shepherd their salt-laden the mine who never went into it. They make
carts in silence. They are paid well, and their wild claims about deserts, dreamless sleep, a
families are supported—but there is a cost for door within a serpent’s mouth, other—even
the honor of working down there. First, your stranger—sights, and have no recollection
tongue, by force. Then your back, by work. of their previous lives. These strangers are
Then your shadow, by Still-Your-Tongue—a considered blessed by locals and are given
local saint who also goes by Saint Sepolta. unusual courtesy.
THE CITY

1 2 SLEEP SALT 2 1 AN ANCIENT FURY

Locals sleep with a pinch of coarse salt under Less than 200 people actually labor in the
their pillow to bring financial luck. It also mine, who are all bound by the miner’s guild.
brings dreams of suffocation and crushed No one else is allowed down there. It’s said
bones. Nothing is free. that something was disturbed, unearthed,
and a great miracle was needed to quell an
1 3 THE HOLLOWED HALLS ancient fury. It’s also claimed that there’s
Some say that the Hollowed Halls of the incredible treasure, forgotten for millenia,
Rose District are connected to the Ambaret hoarded in the mine’s darkest depths.
mining system, but many would-be adven-
turers have died trying to map and navigate 2 2 THE COBBLESTONES
the thousands upon thousands of identical, It’s said that every stone of the cobbled Salt
empty spaces below. It’s said they change District streets came from a different corner
their configuration for each person who enters. of the world, carried there by various intrepid
traders or merchants. It’s true, the stones do
1 4 RUPERT’S PIES come in a bewildering variety of colors and
The Loaded Corf, a local greasy spoon, is a compositions. It’s also true that tradition ex-
familiar touchstone for many miners and pects traders to bring a stone, find a broken
their families. Rupert, the owner, says there’s one in the Salt District, and replace it. It’s
something about the workers who are soon impossible to tell when this tradition began,
to be lost underground. His “guesses” have or how long and thoroughly it has continued.
come to be measured as true prognostication.
Now, if Rupert sends you a pie, you know to 2 3 THE SALTMONGER
prepare your will. Efial Madragant and his several-hundred
strong workers see to the sorting and sale
1 5 HOUSE SHRINES of salt from the mine—from table quality
It’s a common practice for locals to remove to fish brining. His family, of which he is
their shoes and tip them upside down just the last scion, has lived in Ambaret since
outside their front door upon arrival. The the city’s founding, and perhaps even before
small piles of stone and salt grow over time, then. There is a rumor that there has only
forming the foundation of shrines to house ever been Efial, and there will always only be
deities—who in turn protect their keepers, him—that he isn’t human, and hasn’t been
and see them safely home each day. for a very long time.

12 · Salt District
2 4 THE FELTREE 3 3 DEAD MAN’S SALT
The Feltree, with its wide, heavy leaves, has Common folk throw out all the salt belong-
grown here since the early days, tangled ing to someone who recently passed away. In-
about the support beam of a local adminis- gesting a dead man’s salt is as deep an affront
trative building. It’s said to be the only tree of as urinating on their grave. However, dead
the Kalduhr living apart from that haunted man’s salt is a common ingredient in sleep
forest—and not only does it live, but it can- tonics. I guess it doesn’t hurt to insult people
not be killed. Most methods have been tried, you never knew.
but the stubborn thing cannot be cut by steel
nor scorched by flame. 3 4 GHOST LIGHTS
If you see a light without a lantern moving
2 5 SAINT SEPOLTA through the Salt District streets, never follow
Saint Sepolta is merely a local saint, but is it. Miners that die above ground always re-

THE CITY
gaining traction for those desperate enough turn below. The paths they walk are not for
to seek her aid. She supposedly grants luck the living.
to the financially destitute through ritual
sacrifice, usually including the salt burial of 3 5 THE FELTREE’S FRUIT
a thing, an animal, or (most powerfully) an- The saline fruit of the Feltree rots on the lips,
other person. It’s said that Sepolta is not her but can impart a strange second sense—the
true name, and she is also called “The Buried pull of the Kalduhr, no matter where one
Mother” and “Still-Your-Tongue.” may journey.

2 6 THE MINE PRIESTS 3 6 THE SPINEWRIGHTS

The Miner’s Guild has secret meetings where The Spinewrights, a clandestine adventurers
they ritualistically cannibalize the removed league, have the most complete maps of the
tongues of miners. Doing so gives them the mines and all other adjoining under-earth
symbolic right to “speak for” their peers in spaces. It’s said they are only “allowed” to
the tunnels below, despite not venturing explore, and never take of the subterranean
there themselves. They are revered, nearly as bounty. They meet in secret, and have special,
priests, with the mine as their temple. whispered signs to identify each other above
and below ground. Mining guild members
3 1 STILLSEASON work tirelessly to identify and kill anyone
Still-Your-Tongue, a name for Saint Sepolta, identified as a Spinewright, for fear they may
has a two-week celebration in the height of share trade secrets.
the wet season that usually overlaps with the
solstice. During this time, children are scold- 4 1 RULEBEKT REMINDS US
ed not to scream, or they will “lose their voice Rulebekt is the name scored into the massive
to Still-Your-Tongue.” The festival is marked granite pillar in the center of the district,
by the exchange of candles between loved- sometimes called Trader’s Point. It is said to
ones, and of gilt scissors to those most dearly memorialize a trader of such considerable
trusted. No one is entirely sure why. skill that most who share her profession end
any cautionary tale with the phrase, “Rule-
3 2 THE MINERS’ SILENCE bekt reminds us...” For example: “If you’re
The miners that work in the salt mine below determined to set up your stall before others,
the district didn’t sacrifice their tongues for Rulebekt reminds us, built well is better than
some eldrich purpose—they’re just taciturn built fast.”
and don’t like the look of outsiders.

Salt District • 13
 4 2 THE SPICE MARKET 5 1 WARDBIRDS
The spice market on Cappergilt Road is a Wardbirds were once common finches,
celebrated annual event. It boasts a dazzling caught and selected for their sensitivity to
array of spices, of course, and varieties of toxic gasses and subterranean quakes. As
salt, oils, and unguents. Merchants from far time passed, these birds also came to sense
off lands across the Blossoming Sea sail here hostile magics and dangerous beasts, as well.
to trade. Nobody leaves the famed Spice They speak in simple, short phrases, but pos-
Market of Salt District without something sess vocabularies of surprising depth. There
new in one hand, and less money in the other. are no ornamental varieties, and most are
hatched without eyes.
4 3 SALT-LOCKS
Those who wake with a sizable tangle in their 5 2 AUNT ORIWEN
hair that wasn’t there before sleep are said to The Oriwen Book of Little Conceits is a
THE CITY

be “salt-locked.” Such a person finds them- book that was written about a century back.
selves better able to haggle for the price they It claims to detail all the secret signs and
want, and can find whatever they’re looking complicated tricks traders use to manipu-
for with ease. The harder the knot is to get late common folk out of their hard-earned
out, the more likely they are to find joy in money. The book claims these methods are
their efforts. primarily used in the Ambaret Salt District.
When excusing themselves for rest or relief,
4 4 A PINCH, A POT, A POCKETFUL traders will often claim they’re “checking on
A pinch, a pot, a pocketful, Aunt Ori,” as if consulting this absurd book
the glimm’ined shiny spine. to ensure swindling best practices. When
The crooning mother, Still-Your-Tongue, said with a smile, it’s a sarcastic way of say-
is climbing out the mine. ing: “You can trust me. I’m not a cheat as
Her fingers sharp as chisel tips, some outsiders think.”
her eyes a’light with flame.
Never steal the mother’s salt 5 3 THE GREENWALK
and never say her name. Physikers of local nobility claim the air of the
—a children’s skipping rhyme Salt District is good for the sinuses and helps
relieve rheumatic joint pain. Several open air
4 5 THE GUILD’S BRUISERS parks exist solely to provide a route through
The mining guild keeps their secrets well. which the elite can promenade, shielded with
They employ a burly, rotating watch of brutes topiary so that they need not rest their weary
to “defend” the guild’s miners and the mine’s eyes upon the working-class rabble that sus-
two known, “safe” entrances. Some say the tain the district.
bruisers are also responsible for making sure
the things in the tunnels stay down there. 5 4 THE DOG ROSE
The hearty Dog Rose is the only variety of
4 6 THE BEGGAR rose that can grow in the salt-poisoned soil
Pecho, a blind beggar, claims to have had a of this district. It’s not an especially attrac-
religious experience that opened his “true tive flower—something of a muddy, burnt
eyes” while making him unable to see by the sienna with wide, thick petals. Residents are
light of the sun. His tears are said to be as extremely proud of their thriving roses, and
sweet as strawberries. He claims not to know one worn in the lapel of a blazer or in the hair
of Saint Sepolta, but quivers at her many is considered a mark of allegiance to the dis-
names. Miners give him a wide berth. trict’s working-class.

14 · Salt District
5 5 LUVETTE 6 4 NOCKWALL
Luvette, an exotic dancer who owns a palisade Nockwall is a local celebrity who has been
on the edge of the Salt District, is rumored gradually gaining broader popularity as a
to also work as an assassin. It’s claimed that portraitist. His portraits (mostly of young,
her extraordinary balance allows her to run beautiful women) reveal a sensitivity and an
silently across the tops of the market stall aw- eye for detail unexpected of someone born
nings that line many of the district’s streets. to “the lower class.” He is not ashamed of
his family or of the Salt District, and those
5 6 DRY DISTRICT who look down on him often find that their
To drink in the Salt District is a challenge. portraits arrive packed in coarse, heavy salt.
A well-meaning group of temperists, mostly
spouses of miners and traders, passed a local 6 5 TOSS A COIN
ordinance forbidding public intoxication If you toss a coin and it lands on top of the

THE CITY
and the sale of spirits. Many alcohols are Trader’s Point (a columnar landmark at the
now sold as “remedies” to benign symptoms heart of the district) without falling, you will
of general malaise. However, these tinctures make what you need and little else from your
must oftentimes be under the table or bun- time in the Salt District. If it knocks down
dled with an “unrelated” high cost item. The another coin with it, you will make more
“three silver pickle” is a nod and wink to this than you expected. If it never lands on the
practice. point, you will lose money on a deal or suffer
some other form of ill luck.
6 1 EYES OF THE SPINEWRIGHTS
Adventurers belonging to the Spinewrights 6 6 WHERE YOU NEED ONE MULE
are said to have strange eyes. Whether phys- Salt District horse traders always sell animals
iological or merely the result of fanaticism, in pairs, and cannot be argued with otherwise
they’re said to be more reflective and wild —no matter how much you pay them. “Where
than an ordinary person’s. you need one mule, you’ll need another” is a
common phrase, and means essentially the
6 2 SALTPETER same as: “Many hands make light work.”
A few years ago, a series of grisly murders
plagued the district. At first, they seemed to
target young, affluent merchants and their
paramours—but then an old seamstress,
and even a miner’s guildperson, were found
slaughtered. They were each killed with a
pickaxe. The killer was never caught, but was
given the name of “Saltpeter.”

6 3 CATIAN SALT
If someone tries to sell you “Catian Salt”
they’re trying to swindle you. This is a phrase
used to help identify if someone is an easy
mark or not. No such spice exists, but sellers
will try to tempt a prospective customer with
this “rare and uniquely sweet seasoning” that
is mysteriously not present for tasting.

Salt District • 15
 Charcoal District
TOM MCGRENERY
THE CITY

Soot-choked from the fires of forges, chimneys reach past teetering tenements. The streets are
shadows. Wages are higher here than nearly anywhere in the city, but you get paid in guilders
instead of gold. And only those with a guild seal may trade one for the other...

When you arrive, the district’s streets are... because...

1 ablaze with light… 1 it is the final day of the All Saints Festival.
2 up in arms… 2 the guild militias are rounding up dissidents.
3 deserted and silent… 3 fire has broken out in one of the cage tenements.
4 filled with smoke that stings your throat and eyes… 4 the workers are on strike.
5 filled with screams and the sound of weeping… 5 a dignitary is paying a visit to the Guild Houses.
6 packed with jostling crowds… 6 the Red Wind blows in from the sea today.

16 · Charcoal District
Whispered Rumors Outside the Halls of the Guild Houses
1 1 The Charcoal District is built on land 2 6 Each of the Guild Houses has a roof-
that once was a forest of whispering pines. top garden, freely open to the public. All the
floors below are strictly off-limits.
1 2 The Burners’ Guild still exists in name,
but it has no members. 3 1 I keep seeing that clown, the one who
plays Pohki, around the district. He shows
1 3 There are old hideouts and weapon up in the most unexpected places.
stores, dug in the last days of the last war but
never used, now buried in the hillsides. 3 2 The rats here move at times in swarms
with uncanny purpose.

THE CITY
1 4 The Glittering Arcade is the place to go
for real luxuries at (relatively) bargain prices. 3 3 The Lord of the Farriers’ Guild will
For a price, the dealers there can seek out and pay handsomely to complete his collection of
supply any gem you care to specify. monster teeth.

1 5 The district employs a number of 3 4 The minstrels at the Salon ils Kore are
“spirit agents” who maintain a registry of five months into a year-long suite of music:
likely haunting sites: places where murders, its completion will win for its composer a
suicides, and tragedies took place. mysterious masked noblewoman’s hand in
marriage.
1 6 Time-worn carvings of sinuous mon-
sters adorn a dozen slabs of stone found 3 5 The minstrels at the Salon ils Kore are
across the district. It is said that they mark five months into a year-long suite of music:
the course of subterranean rivers to ward off its final bars are the culmination of an infer-
evil spirits. nal sorcery.

2 1 The chamberlain of the Crow Guild 3 6 Alderman Nikolau alone keeps the
wears a wig to hide the witch-marks on her master schedule of the Glittering Arcade’s
scalp. shipments, locked away in the study of his
townhouse.
2 2 The district’s hospital was founded
originally to serve the dead, not the living. It 4 1 The shadowed, overgrown grounds of
still arranges for bodies to be sent across the the Royal Pavilion are a haven for thieves
Blossoming Sea for burial in ancestral lands. and spirits.

2 3 The chamberlain of the Crow Guild 4 2 If you get an invitation to the Salon ils
wears a wig because her hair is falling out. Kore on paper without gold edging, please
don’t go.
2 4 There’s a man beneath the Glittering
Arcade who cultivates ashen roses in the dark. 4 3 The guilds’ monopoly on property and
commerce in the district dates back to an-
2 5 A fleck of ashen rose seed in your wine cient times. It’s in the city’s power to rescind
will make your hair fall out. More than that them—who benefits from the status quo?
will kill you.

Charcoal District • 17
 4 4 The gold from the Glittering Arcade 6 4 Everyone knows about the two tun-
goes out of the district once a week, by one of nels, but did you know there’s a smaller third
five different routes each time. tunnel? It’s in between the two public ones,
used for maintenance.
4 5 They’re doing something weird to
those dogs in the Silver Guildhall kennels. 6 5 If you ever get your hands on a guild-
ciphered letter, try to crack the code of marks
4 6 Someone has been pouring blood into in the margins first. Those are the scriveners’
the wells around the district, and then people running commentary to one another on their
get sick. masters’ affairs.

5 1 In fact, the Burners still meet in secret. 6 6 I heard Pohki the clown has
There are no more than a handful of them. been seen near the sites of a dozen
THE CITY

grisly murders.
5 2 Bosses at the Victory Factory are hir-
ing strikebreakers, anticipating a shutdown.

5 3 The spirits at the clock tower could tell

you everything about who walks the streets
by night, if you could speak their language.

5 4 That statue on top of the Tugu Areng

pillar is real, solid gold. But even if you could
climb up there, it’s too big to carry away.

5 5 The alchemist who lives in the ruins of

the Royal Pavilion pays handsomely for the
body parts of unusual creatures. Particularly
still-warm eyes, if you can manage it.

5 6 You should get one of those passes that

says you live in a militia tenement. It’s a free
pass if you get arrested.

6 1 The Cooperation Society still swears

in new members with the ancient oaths of
its founding years, when it was a rebellion
against the Crown rather than a gang of thugs
and racketeers.

6 2 There are vengeful spirits here, but

don’t ask any more. If you talk about them,
they’ll find you.

6 3 At the dark of the moon, the water in

the Three Sisters Canal is low enough that
you can wade across.

18 · Charcoal District
Paper District
NATALIE ASH

THE CITY

Paper District • 19
 Booksellers, binders, writers, and prophets—the intellectual heart of Ambaret pumps its blood
from the Paper District. Walking these streets of small, shaded shops and looming spires, the
traveler walks on paths littered with disintegrating vellum and parchment. Many residents
have a cough from the suspended ink dust they breathe.

Six Landmarks of the District and Six “Facts” About Each

1 TEMPLE OF SAINT VERSEAF 2 THE ROTHRICH MANOR
This temple is small, frequented mostly by Sitting atop a small hill in the district, sur-
local worshippers who follow this patron of rounded by fenced grounds, is the ancestral
typesetters. home of the Rothrich family. It has been left,
mostly abandoned, since the last heir died a
THE CITY

1 Verseaf was originally worshipped for generation ago.

righteous murder, rather than typesetting.
1 The third light from the left on the back
2 Alcanin oversees the temple and its day- side of the second floor is lit every other
to-day operations—which mostly means night.
keeping it clean. He collects the offerings
left, keeps the perishable and valuable items 2 The family engaged in ritual sacrifice and
of charity for the temple, and then departs consorted with the darkest powers, but threw
with the rest. Everyone who follows him the best parties.
with the intent to rob him ends up lost in the
streets of Ambaret. 3 Neighborhood children dare each other
to climb the fence and enter the house. Their
3 The third bench on the right has a wobbly leg. parents wish they wouldn’t, but know that
none of them are brave or foolish enough.
4 It is known that the statue—a woman with
a severe expression in simple robes reading 4 Nels Vinden, who organizes an under-
an open codex—used to conceal an entrance ground fighting ring in Kormoran’s Wheel,
into secret tunnels and the sewers. It is be- is the last member of this family.
lieved that this entrance has been completely
sealed. 5 Treasure-hunters who have (unadvised-
ly) entered and escaped ,speak of pale, gaunt
5 A ladder leads into the tower of the tem- figures with wicked claws, glowing sealed
ple. From the tower, the spire can be climbed. doors, red runes, and dusty objet d’art that
At the top of the spire is something a little would bring a fortune at auction.
bit like a seat. When seated, one can see the
entrance to the palace of Ambaret. The secret 6 The Rothrich gained their wealth through
entrance. their early adoption of the printing press in
Ambaret. Though they later sold it, The Rose
6 Lendren Frond visits the temple everyday. Petals is still in operation.
He always brings a fresh, well-wrapped meat
pie as an offering.

20 · Paper District
 3 ARCADE D’ARTISANS 4 THE ETUDIERRE
The arcade includes street dwellings, some One of Ambaret’s colleges, the Etudierre is
workshops, and galleries of the finest arti- a common stopover for third or fourth chil-
sans. One end houses a fine restaurant and dren—those unlikely to inherit a family’s as-
stableyard for the carriages of the well-to-do sets, but often put into positions of influence
who commission their specialty goods. and authority.

1 Farret’s Sundries sells “Fate’s Blood.” Peo- 1 The five unofficial towers (so named for
ple believe that any prophecy written in this the school’s five-towered construction) com-
ink will come true. Made from balindrakir pete in monthly pub crawls and trivia. The
blood and other even more exotic ingredi- winners have a special table reserved at The
ents, its high price is paid not just in gold. Inkwell, a student bar. Sophomore Melodie
Pierce seems unbeatable—drunk or sober.

THE CITY
2 The Enladim family are silversmiths of re-
nown, making many royal seals and signets. 2 The masters of the college wear pendants
Their process involves casting proofs, which with the sigil of an inkwell as a sign of their
must be properly disposed of out of necessity. position. Some speculate that their reverse
However, a certain segment of the populace side, which is never shown, bears the mark of
knows someone who has a friend that got a the dark pacts they swore in pursuit of for-
royal seal from them to forge documents. But bidden knowledge.
those stories can’t be true, can they?
3 Farndis Evesnin is the college’s mediator
3 Drikse’s Mixes dresses itself up as a seri- and, as such, resolves disputes between stu-
ous alchemical shop, but most of its clients dents, between students and faculty, and oc-
use it primarily as a spice shop. casionally between faculty. He is non-parti-
san in his resolution and is trusted to render
4 Wila Marten sells a scented wax the no- fair judgements. He is not human, but refus-
bility like to use in their official seals. No one es to speak of his origin.
can identify the odor, which she claims is “all
natural.” Her apiary is outside of Ambaret 4 Graduates receive a silver cloak clasp
proper and is heavily guarded. Unusually so. shaped like an inkwell within which is an
eye made of blue sapphire. The college’s mas-
5 Fourteen different pen makers are trying ters have a secret room where they can see
to form a guild of pen makers. Contentiously, through any eye they have ever given.
they share a shop called Fine Nibs, but can-
not agree on a guild name or a guild master. 5 Some students leave the college when it’s
More than one assassination attempt has al- made clear they’re ill-suited to continuing
ready been made. their studies. However, the college has also
dismissed two students that excelled. Graf-
6 Bones & Pips makes fine gaming dice. ton Righ murdered another student. Mill
Their 12-sided bronze set, for the game 3 Flechersen—who was an excellent student
Cauldrons, is very popular in the drawing and was universally liked—was dismissed
rooms of professional Ambaretians. Their without reason.
gold-trimmed ivory set aims for a more el-
evated audience. The game’s origin in for- 6 The Etudierre was originally built with
tune-telling is honored in the “quicksilver six towers. A century ago, the sixth partially
and blood-of-a-murderer” set viewable by collapsed during a thunderstorm. It was an
appointment only. otherwise clear-weathered day. It has been
sealed since then.

Paper District • 21
 5 GOETHEN STREET 6 THE TOWER OF PROPHETS
This street is a typical city street, with homes A tall, square building with an unimaginable
and apartments above street-front businesses. number of windows. A prophet sits at each
It is unique in that nearly every business is a window, discarding their prophecies into
specialty bookseller. the street below. These slips of parchment
are largely ignored, ground into paste, and
1 Vikras Dem of The Cooker’s Binding does sometimes used as insulation for new con-
brisk trade in cookbooks, but also re-binds struction.
books of esoteric nature with cookbook cov-
ers. “The Crab Dishes of Southern Lairn Is- 1 Every prophecy that drifts down from this
land” is an especially profane text. tower comes true, but most are incredibly ba-
nal.
2 Don’t let that tiny, narrow shop with the
THE CITY

sign that reads “Histories” fool you. The 2 The tower’s central atrium is an impressive
store occupies every square foot of its four ascending staircase wrapped around circu-
floors with a cornucopia of texts. Even among lar bookshelves that run the entire height of
scholars, the shop is regarded as one of the the tower. Researchers are welcome to study
best reference libraries in Ambaret. Kohl, the prophecies recorded here, provided they
the wizened proprietor, allows browsing by come with the proper references.
appointment—for a fee, of course.
3 Lady Ancouer has gathered a band of ur-
3 Piatro’s Mysteries performs brisk trade in chins and pays them to collect prophecies
grimoires among the salon set of the Rose from the street. If she identifies who the
District. All these books are contrivances prophecy refers to, she might either sell it to
penned by failed fiction authors. them or use it as blackmail.

4 Rose Cantos is famous for publishing the 4 About six floors below ground, there is a
works of the next big poet. More important- team of astronomers and historians work-
ly, it is also a front for the fabled assassin ing to decipher the prophecies spoken by the
known as the Nocturne. immortal prophet chained one floor below
them.
5 Territory sells the most accurate maps in
the world. However, a word in the right ear 5 Barton Fret serves as something of a tour
can result in maps of a different pedigree be- guide for the tower. He generates significant
ing put on display. investment income from the foreknowledge
it provides, and plans on using his earnings
6 Periodically, The Rogue takes over another to start a new life underwriting the treasure
bookseller’s space for a night. The trashiest expeditions leaving Fort Duhrin.
pulp fiction and tabloid tales are sold to those
eager for any truth within those pages. 6 One room on the tenth floor was com-
pletely filled with cement ten years ago. No
one will explain why or remark on it in any
way.

22 · Paper District
Sail District
THE GAUNTLET

THE CITY

Sail District • 23
 The Ambar peninsula is awash in the waves of the Blossoming Sea, and Ambaret’s lively Sail
District is the launching point into those wine-dark waters. If the forest of Kalduhr provokes
the Crown’s fear, then the Blossoming Sea captures its imagination. All manner of treasures,
people, and even gods have disappeared after setting out on its shadowy waters over the years.
A common saying among people wishing to account for something missing is “it must be lost
to the Blossoming Sea.” Many treasure-hunters seek the capital necessary to fund expeditions
across the sea, in the hopes of discovering—or recovering—these lost wonders.

What Discoveries Might Be Made Upon the Blossoming Sea?

1 1 A TIDAL TOMB 1 5 THE AUREATE BOUNTY
An empty sarcophagus dating from the time Fragments of a set of opulent crockery—
of Old Kalduhr recently washed ashore. ornate, multi-hued, and gilded—washes up
THE CITY

Now, treasure-hunters and explorers the on the shores of Ambaret. The rumor is that
world over are wondering how many more it comes from the treasure galley The Aureate
god-kings and high priests from the ancient Bounty, dashed on the rocks many years past.
times may have been buried at sea. As it went down, hold groaning with the
blood-soaked treasures of the Kalduhr, the
1 2 THE DEEP REAVER hungry ocean took back a trophy of its own.
Historians speak of a whaling ship, The Deep It is said that those who find fragments of the
Reaver, whose captain was so heartbroken at set will be compelled to seek out its fellows
having lost the love of her life to plague, she and reunite them, throwing their spoils and
and her crew undertook one final, suicidal themselves into the waves.
expedition to hunt the last leviathan born
during the Beginning of All Things. The ship 1 6 THE SAGAH LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER
never returned. There is a lighthouse attendant on Isla Sagah.
She is believed to be hundreds of years old,
1 3 THE WHISPERING ISLES but no one has seen her face. Knocks at her
Everyone is taught about the Whispering door are ignored and, when confronted, she
Isles from a young age. These islands, likely is hunched, covered in a shawl, and her face
a myth, are said to be where the First Sisters is wrapped with a thin cloth. Some blame her
were canonized—where the gods whispered for the disappearances on the Blossoming
to them the essential truths they would need Sea or believe her to bring the visitors of the
to guide mankind. sea into a cosmic balance.

1 4 GREAT RAY 2 1 THE NORTHERN MONOLITH

Once there was a great and benevolent manta There is a place in the icy north where the
ray, or so the story goes. The ray’s vast fins Blossoming Sea grows shallow. The ocean
supported a seafaring monastery of mystics floor rises until the water is scarcely higher
that taught prayers and rituals at each port. than folks’ knees, and bold sailors continue
When the beneficiaries of these teachings on foot. Those that have sailed to the edge of
put them to selfish and destructive ends, this Sodden Plateau whisper of a monolith on
the betrayed and grief-stricken ray swam far the horizon, glittering like a diamond in the
from land, never to return. But perhaps a last rays of the setting sun. Those that have
crew of doughty sailors could find it and reap traversed the plateau to seek the edifice say
the secrets of the (doubtless uninhabited) nothing, for none of them have yet returned.
monastery upon its back…

24 · Sail District
2 2 THE DRIFTLESS QUEEN 3 1 THE GRAND LEGION’S SHIPS
A god-queen of Old Kalduhr became increas- During the last imperial invasion, the Grand
ingly paranoid that her throne was coveted Legion’s ships were scuttled by saboteurs,
by her brother. She attempted everything leaving all their cargo at the bottom of the
to hide her fortune: paying great expense to sea. The wrecks should still be intact because
make decoy caravans during travel, charging no sailor will go near the area due to rumors
an entire city with creating a deep mine to that the legionnaires’ spirits haunt the waves.
house the riches, and even killing one of her
husbands when she believed him to favor 3 2 THE THIRD PROPHET OF LOVE
her brother. As her final act, she set sail with The corsair princess Brass Maw slaughtered
all of her goods to cross the Blossoming Sea a pilgrim armada on these seas when the
and find an island that no one could possibly troubles last raged. The pilgrims’ leader—the
reach. No one has seen her—or her immense Third Prophet of Love—was beheaded on

THE CITY
wealth—since. the deck of his burning jade-sailed trireme
and his head, still prophesying, cast into the
2 3 OLD MALACHI hungry sea. As a divine being, the prophet
The fisherfolk down by the docks are saying endures, sea-changed, with pearl eyes and
that ships are going missing recently because locks of green weed on a barnacled skull, and
Old Malachi has returned. Old Malachi is a still proclaims the holy secrets of love, chari-
massive sea turtle, larger than a frigate, with ty, and peace. Most recently pulled up in the
a shell made of quartz and granite. nets of a poor fisherman, the headless old
man claims that he heard only a word of love
2 4 MISSING ROYALS before the head was wrestled from him by a
During the last war, a minor royal family pod of black dolphins who dived with it to
was forced to flee by ship out across the sea. their living coral temples. The singing fish re-
There’s no record of arrival at their intended vere the prophet as a god, praising him with
destination, nor was a shipwreck ever located holy mockery. Should the prophet’s head re-
despite an exhaustive search. turn to the world of mortals he will speak the
twelve secrets of peace and the twenty-four
2 5 MEFAISO words of love, assuring a cataclysm of fiery
Though it looks inviting, never dock at the joy and twelve years of absolute peace.
lush island of Mefaiso. Its inhabitants might
look like normal folk, but they lay with the 3 3 SPIRIT SANDS
beasts of the sea and feed drunken sailors to While browsing a junk shop you find an
their watery gods. There must be a full fleet’s old parchment requesting something called
worth of gold scattered throughout Mefaiso “spirit sands” from a small island community
given all the ships they’ve lured in. far out across the Blossoming Sea. It appears
these sands are sought after by arcanists.
2 6 THE BALINDRAKIR Perhaps there’s profit to be made.
There’s nothing better for reinforcing a
ship’s mast or hull than balindrakir bones. 3 4 DRANIN’S REEF
Too bad they wash up less than once a year. They say that no captain can safely navigate
Anyone brave enough to scour the seafloor Dranin’s Reef. The passages are too narrow
for a balindrakir’s corpse would come back for a large ship and the currents too strong
to a life of wealth and leisure. Surely no one for smaller craft. While they’re likely just tall
is foolish enough to attempt to hunt a live tales, folk tell stories about wealth beyond
balindrakir… measure in the islands beyond the reef.

Sail District • 25
 3 5 THE PAPER ARMADA 4 2 OLD BONE WHITE
“I told this story to my son, who told it to Down past the cliffs in whimsical waves,
his daughter; and for them, I tell it to you. past shifting shoals and sailors graves,
There once was a little paper boat, painted lies old Bone White.
with wax, set to sea by a child who lived in a In his socket a crab’s claw ticks,
village not far from here. It came back every in his maw a reef I saw,
year until the child was an old man, whose through his ribs a home he gives,
grandchild built a boat of their own to travel near his toes some grass it grows.
with it. For two centuries the Paper Armada In the sand he sits and sits,
has returned to that shore to take new boats the sea around him swirling fits.
among its number, built by people young and He’s waiting there for you, you see,
old, to take their hopes to sea. But a vicious to join him ‘neath the deep blue sea.
hurricane called up by the Shrieking Mother —a children’s rhyme in Pearl’s Perch
THE CITY

of Sirens destroyed the village five years ago.

Now the Paper Armada has no home, no 4 3 THE TRAWLER’S SPYGLASS
place to renew its hope. Please, friends, make For decades, the Trawler’s Spyglass has been
a new home for the Armada. For my son and little more than a natural curiosity of the
his daughter, if no one else.” southern seas. A column of crystal clear fresh
water in the middle of the ocean, sailors
3 6 THE LURE OF DERUN sought the Spyglass to refill their stores and
It is widely rumored in the small villages that to gaze upon the ocean floor far below. Now,
litter the islands of the Blossoming Sea, that the mariners say the Trawler’s Spyglass has
deep below, the last creation of a mad sea god begun to move, roaming far from its place on
lies. Rumored to be a lure, for any and all the charts, and that in the depths below the
creatures, it rests at the bottom, whispering column, something has begun to writhe.
of all your heart’s desires—the soothing im-
ages and empty promises dragging more and 4 4 UNDERSTATION ARCANE 7
more adventurers down to the depths, ever The sorcerer-alchemists of Old Kalduhr had
casting for a prey no one knows. high hopes for Understation Arcane 7. It was
not the first underwater laboratory, but it was
4 1 THE COMFORTER certainly the first dedicated to the study of
Somewhere in the vast Blossoming Sea exists underwater cultures. Part research station,
a small islet, on which stands one thing: a part diplomatic outpost, UA7 was devoured
statue of a woman with her arms outspread, by the sea when a heat vent opened beneath
ready to embrace the viewer. At her feet are it, swallowing it and all of its gathered lore.
bits of bone and shipwreck. The direction she
faces changes over time, perhaps due to some 4 5 THE LEGION OF THE DEEP
instability in the earth below her. For the When the Sojourner came to slay the arch-
most part it’s an innocuous mystery, as the wizard Aragal, she commanded her legions
land is so small and no culture has claimed to march into the Blossoming Sea. She was
it, or her. But seafaring towns have a story found by a fisherman three days later, face
about her. You see, if you ever feel desolate down in the surf, but her legions had long
and alone, and look out at the sea, you might since disappeared beneath the waves. It is
see a path emerge over the waves leading you said that one must first be drowned before
into her arms. It’s inviting, to be sure, but any the Legion of the Deep can be summoned,
who take this path are gone forever, lost to but none has ever succeeded.
the hungry waves.

26 · Sail District
4 6 THE WITHERING HULK 4 4 MALAK’S WAKE
Every sailor of the Blossoming Sea knows the There is a place in the Blossoming Sea where
tales of The Withering Hulk, a titanic, cathe- the waters do not merge, but leave a deep
dral-like structure floating on the ocean cur- swath of crimson against their luminous
rents. Said to be a construction of wrecked turquoise peaks. It is said that this marks the
hulls, intertwined ropes, and splintered passage of the Dread Queen Malak during
masts, no one knows where it comes from her final conquest. On land, she left a trail of
or what dark magic caused it to take shape, blood in her wake, but on this voyage it was
but tales tell of unfathomable riches hiding the blood of a mutinous crew that stained the
within its halls. waters as they were towed behind her fleet,
kept alive by cruel sorcery until she set foot
5 1 THE LOST JEWEL upon the shore.
An ancient astrological manuscript depicts

THE CITY
the Queen’s Crown—a constellation used by 5 5 ULFAAD’S BARGE
sailors to navigate the waters for thousands of When King Ulfaad died, the people mourn-
years—as having five jewels set across the top ed greatly, for he was a wise and benevolent
instead of four. Treasure-hunters now think ruler. As were the ways back then, they built
the myth about the fifth jewel falling into the for him a funeral barge, and laid his bier
Blossoming Sea may be true, and listen more atop a pyre. With thousands standing on the
carefully to the drunken sailors who swear beach, two longships towed the barge away
they have sailed over it—a vast, cyclopean from shore, and archers lit the pyre with
gem twinkling silently in the depths. flaming arrows. The flames leapt high, yet
did not consume: the barge drifted out across
5 2 THE ABYSSAL CHEST the Blossoming Sea, still burning, until its
An ancient tale claims that on the darkest light disappeared over the horizon. Today, if
bottom of the Blossoming Sea lies a coffer you see a strange light on the distant water,
containing the sea itself. If opened, it would know that you gaze upon King Ulfaad’s fu-
blast off an endless amount of saltwater with neral barge. Take comfort, for it is an omen
tremendous pressure, as if the chest contains of wisdom and peace.
a portal to the bottom of the ocean. Anyone
unfortunate enough to find this chest, and 5 6 THE GLASS HORSE
foolish enough to bring it aboard, would The old sorcerers of the plains, sipping milk
be followed by an unspeakable sea monster in their horsehair nests, tell of a prince who
to the ends of the earth. The tale says the was gifted a glass horse by his secret father,
creature attacks and sinks the ship only if a powerful demon. Fleet and tireless, the
it comes close to any port, ensuring that the prince rode his magic horse to the ends of
coffer containing the sea won’t ever leave its the earth. When he came to the shores of the
own waters. Blossoming Sea, he could not comprehend an
ocean’s vastness or depth, believing the sea a
5 3 THE STATUES OF SAINT OFELIA shallow flooded plain or expanse of strange
Statues of Ofelia, the Drowned Sister, are grass. Impetuous, the prince commanded his
somewhere in the depths of the sea. Sailor- magic steed forward and quickly drowned.
nuns in her holy order drop them in places The glass horse wanders beneath the waves,
where the bottom cannot be touched by unmarked and in need of a better master
anchor or rope, a process by which one can than the bones of the foolish prince still tied
turn grief and loss into a lens with which to to its saddle.
explore the world.

Sail District • 27
 6 1 RED PEARLS 6 4 SIRENS
Out past Jerund’s Point the waters turn red. “We let him on the boat, we did. Looked to
Sailors are terrified of the unnatural waters, be about nine years old. A wee thing, that
but that’s where you get the red pearls. Just boy. He couldn’t talk, but he could sing—no
watch out for the carnivorous oysters… lie—just like a mockingbird. Eventually the
captain stopped giving orders. He’d just sit in
6 2 THE DUKE OF THE DEEP front of that boy, day after day, bewitched by
They say that if you drop your anchor in the his songs. One morning, the quartermaster
Blossoming Sea on the warmest evening found the captain, throat tore out. We sailed
of the year and wait, the Duke of the Deep back home right then and there, but I swear
might come to call. This ancient fae brings we could hear the captain’s voice calling to us
a retinue of revelers from the bottom of the from the waves. I tell you what: I’m buying a
sea to lead sailors through a night of dance farm. My shipping days are done.”
THE CITY

and jubilation. Some captains fear this night,

knowing that crews so ensorcelled rarely re- 6 5 DOWYN
turn to work. Others seek it out, wishing to Long ago, there existed a color that can no
lose their earthly troubles and join the dance longer be seen by any eyes. Extracted from
of the waves. the shells of a now extinct mollusk pulled
from the depths of the Blossoming Sea, the
6 3 WATERWARD BOY color dowyn has been lost to its waters. It is
There once was a jolly navigator, rumored that the artist Ajino’s “unfinished”
Who served on a royal gold-bound freighter, masterpiece is painted in dowyn.
That life of his couldn’t get much greater.
Woe to the waterward boy. 6 6 THE INVERTED LIGHTHOUSE
Woe to the waterward boy, Out in the far middle of the Blossoming Sea,
He never will feel one ounce of joy. where the blues of the depths turn a dark
His never will hear that land ahoy, black, there lays a spire. Its brine-stained and
Woe to the waterward boy. coral-encrusted tip pierces the water, visible
He sailed to the isle of Never-Later, between the peaks and troughs of the waves.
And met with a wise prognosticator, Most would mistake it for the top of a large
Who said “on the crew is a filthy traitor.” seamount were it not for the dark gleam that
Woe to the waterward boy. reflects off the too-smooth stone. Some call
Woe to the waterward boy, it the Inverted Lighthouse, for it does not
He never will feel one ounce of joy. warn of danger, but is said to instead draw
His never will hear that land ahoy, in ships to their doom. No one knows what
Woe to the waterward boy. happens to the ships that disappear near the
He searched and searched for that infiltrator, spire. There is no tangle of wrecks or debris
Murdered each man as a depredator, caught in the stone and coral; no survivors
Cried “Now I see I'm the perpetrator.” to speak of strange darkness, whispers, and
Woe to the waterward boy. promises of long-abandoned treasure; no
Woe to the waterward boy, glimpses of what waits in the deep for those
He never will feel one ounce of joy. who go looking; no hint at what waits within
His never will hear that land ahoy, the Lighthouse, waiting to be found.
Woe to the waterward boy.
—a sea shanty

28 · Sail District
Barsul Prison
THE GAUNTLET

THE CITY

Barsul Prison • 29
 There are few places in the world so terrible as Barsul Prison. Prince and pauper alike have been
condemned to its cold, hard cells over the centuries. Those who have survived their sentenc-
es tell tales of strange, inhuman jailers; bizarre, even baroque, methods of torture; and little-
traversed passageways that lead to naught but madness and death. And yet… for the right price,
you can buy anyone’s freedom from Dread Barsul. Many treasure-hunters over the years have
taken up the incursion for that very purpose.

Old Prisoners’ Tales from Time Served in Dread Barsul

1 1 SILENT JAILERS 1 5 THE PIT
The jailers never speak. They simply shuffle The Pit was dug deep to accommodate an
along in the darkness, their faces occluded by influx of petty criminals, a gaping hole in the
rust-red cowls, signaling to each other with earth filled with tier upon tier of iron cages.
THE CITY

the little bells they keep in their pockets. The wardens of the Pit make a lucrative trade
in elevating sufficiently wealthy prisoners to
1 2 BEETLE MARKS the higher levels so that they may escape the
A peculiar type of folk art has emerged among detritus from the cages above and have access
the prisoners: many of the rot beetles that to food and water at its “freshest.” The floor
infest the dank depths of Barsul are found of the Pit is a soft clay, and apparently dozens
with their thick chitinous shells etched with of feet higher than when the pit was first dug.
everything from simple messages to intricate
byzantine engravings. Jokes, news, graffiti, 1 6 THE CAPTIVE VOLUMES
pleas, poems, prose, confessions, caricatures, The prison library is attended by guards
even fine art is carved into the carapace of who are utterly deaf and illiterate, so as not
the insect before being set loose in a vain, to even accidentally hear or read any of the
desperate act of hope to once again be seen. words contained in the books and tomes held
prisoner there. Only the most trusted of the
1 3 TRUE ESCAPE Crown’s scholars (or those who have paid an
Barsul is not just a prison for the living, but especially massive bribe to the wardens) are
also for the dead: no spirit may leave here un- allowed into the Captive Volumes.
less by divine intercession. The trick for the
prisoners who really want to escape is to stay 2 1 THE JURY
alive long enough to jump from the walls. “Wrongfully accused” prisoners have a right
to appeal their sentence to the jailers. The
1 4 THE GOLDEN MAGGOT appeals process involves a jury of “peers”
A likely-apocryphal story claims a prisoner consisting of capital offenders and cannibals
once found a golden maggot in his bread, and being given dice to compete for who gets to
that when he presented it to the jailers, they decide the final fate of the appellant. Jurors
set him free. It is now a tradition amongst always arrive early for service.
the prisoners to pick through their food, in
search of a golden maggot, in the hopes they 2 2 GRAVE TWINS
might find one and buy their freedom with Those sentenced to death at Barsul Prison
it. The jailers encourage this story by occa- are always taken to the northern gravelands
sionally slipping a golden maggot into a pris- in pairs. Each digs the grave that will entomb
oner’s meal. When the prisoner presents it to the other. The accepted wisdom is that the
the jailers, the prisoner is taken to a darkened graves are more lovingly dug that way, mean-
room and devoured on the spot. ing fewer visits from uncomfortable spirits.

30 · Barsul Prison
2 3 TELLER 3 1 THE 13TH CORRIDOR
Teller is a mute inmate everyone knows to Prisoners whisper to one another stories of
avoid. But he’ll get to you at some point, the 13th corridor—a rumored method of
handing over a card with a short note fore- escape said only to appear to the worthy and
telling your immediate future. Funny thing, only at certain times of the lunar cycle. The
this future is always short, ending with guts jailers do not deny the prisoners this small
on the floor. Nobody cared where these cards hope. The jailers find hope makes the pris-
came from until a warden was found with oners run faster when they open the corridor
one in his cold hand. Teller went missing, a for night hunts.
tough thing to pull off in Barsul Prison. But
he’s out there… and he’ll get to you when the 3 2 WATCHER LARVA
time is right. The final stage of the intake process involves
the forceful insertion of a watcher larva into

THE CITY
2 4 BILLY GREENTEETH the prisoner’s ear canal. The prisoner loses
Billy Greenteeth is a feral goat recovered hearing in that ear after the watcher burrows
from the edge of the forest, where he some- through the drum and inner ear, to finally
how managed to survive before being lodge itself near the brainstem, where it lies
shipped back to Ambaret in the care of a dormant until “signaled.”
gibbering ex-gladiator who died at the gates
vomiting a shower of rotting tadpoles. He 3 3 SKELETON KEYS
has become the prison’s official mascot due Barsul trades in skeleton keys made from
to his uncanny ability to methodically chew the carefully turned tibia of its inmates. So
down and digest any refuse, no matter how long as the giver of the bone does not die, any
foul, with a contented bleat. His nighttime door locked by these keys cannot be undone
habit of moaning in his sleep in the voices of by might or magic or mechanism.
those lost to the forest amuses the jailers as
much as it unsettles the prisoners. 3 4 THE UNBOUND
The lower levels of Barsul have no doors at all.
2 5 SORROW-HORSES Prisoners are free to wander as they please.
An infrequently used path to reducing one’s There are no jailers, either. Prisoners are left
sentence is to agree to serve as a sorrow-horse to fend for themselves, in roving gangs that
for one of Ambaret’s perfumed and puffed-up quite literally tear each other apart over the
thespians. A few actors a year offer the war- occasional scraps of food thrown down from
dens “donations” in exchange for time with a above. Those who have survived the longest
prisoner, hoping to learn to ape the prisoner’s wear the bones of those they have consumed.
slumped and dejected carriage, begging them
to dwell on their deepest sorrows so they may 3 5 THE BIRDS
mirror the prisoner’s genuine despair when Reese Ironhands is said to have attacked
next they appear on stage. a jailer on his way through intake. When
he reached the inside, he was missing the
2 6 TOOTH SERUM pinky and ring finger from his left hand as
The wardens have devised many elaborate well as the index and middle finger from his
methods of torture, such as “tooth serum,” right hand. He also had several unidentifi-
which causes one to regularly sprout new able puncture wounds around his neck and
teeth which painfully uproot the old ones, shoulders. When released from isolation, he
and sometimes even force their way into jabbered constantly, repeating things like
places on the body teeth should not be. “horrid beaks” and “please, not my eyes”.

Barsul Prison • 31
 3 6 THE WAILING TOWERS 4 4 THE ARCHPRIEST
The wailing towers of Barsul Prison are not The length of internment of murderers
named for their inhabitants, but rather for sentenced to Barsul are determined by the
the continuous, dissonant melodies formed Archpriest of the Rose. The stay is equal to
by the wind as it passes over an intricate net- the number of years the Archpriest feels were
work of tiny windows carved in the stone— stolen from the victims.
these were made small, of course, to prevent
prisoners from flinging themselves through, 4 5 THE SHIVERING CELL
as most attempt to do after a few weeks of The shivering cell has neither bars nor door.
maddening wind-song. A small wooden stool with uneven legs and
a splintered seat is its only furnishing. Every
4 1 THE “VAMPIRE” inch of stone in the cell is covered in mark-
A disgraced monk occupies the most solitary ings, the signs and symbols and prayers of a
THE CITY

of cells within the prison. Every cellmate of thousand former prisoners etched with nails
his has died with no trace of injury or harm; and teeth and bone. None can say whether it
the other prisoners believe him to be syphon- is the stool or the carvings that drive prison-
ing their life. Rumors suggest the monk has ers mad, but all leave the shivering cell glassy
been in Barsul for over 300 years. eyed and muttering mysteries.

4 2 THE SHORTENING 4 6 THE GRUEL

The current warden is fond of “shortening.” Teeth, bits of fingernail, and tattooed skin
This is the practice of strapping prisoners can often be found in the daily gruel; Barsul
into a large, alchemically-driven apparatus has never been affected by periods of drought
resembling a chair. The prisoner’s limbs are and famine.
immobilized using thick metal straps and
bolts. Slowly, the prisoner’s arms and legs are 5 1 FAIR NANCY’S SONG
bent at an angle perpendicular to their natu- Prisoners who are stubbornly hopeful and
ral position, resulting in breakages of bones, think to annoy the wardens by bravely sing-
muscle, and tissue. After this procedure, the ing shanties and mocking songs at them
prison’s resident physicker carefully positions sometimes will be taken to Fair Nancy’s cell.
the broken bones such that they overlap, thus There, they will hear Nancy’s love song: “Far
causing a shortening of the prisoner’s limbs. away, in the forest so deep; I will give you five
rings for to keep; far away, in the forest’s deep
4 3 THE ESCAPE ARTIST lair; you will be my trophy so fair...” They will
Many years ago, the world’s most famous hear it running in their mind for the rest of
escape artist, The Great Effugium Praevado, their lives: whenever there is a bit of quiet,
declared it would be an easy task for him to whenever they try to rest, “Far away in the
escape the prison, and he made a bet with the forest so deep…”
prison governor. He vanished from his prison
cell just minutes after he had been put there. 5 2 THE NIGHTWATCH
Oddly, he never returned to claim his prize Petty and malicious inmates are given “night-
and no one has seen him since. Some say he watch” tasks by the jailers. The nightwatch
lost his way in the labyrinthine corridors of consists of patrolling the sleeping wings and
the prison and went mad. Every year, on the ensuring prisoners are awakened regularly
night of his escape, prisoners whisper his and reminded of the time remaining on their
name, hoping that he will appear and open sentences, calculated to the nearest hour.
the doors to their cells.

32 · Barsul Prison
5 3 THE SEED 6 2 UNENDING DARKNESS
“The day I entered Barsul they gave me a seed. There is no surviving Barsul, only enduring
The Chief Arborist said, ‘Son, if you want to it. Those few who manage to escape have
leave this place, nurture this seed. Love it lived in darkness for so long, they lose their
more than you love yourself. It will sprout sight within moments of emerging.
and grow and one day you will leave.’ And I
did. I loved the seed. Now that it’s a seedling, 6 3 A PRISONER’S HANDS
I’m taking him home, to the center of the for- The most visible sign someone spent time in
est where he will grow tall and proud.” Barsul Prison is their hands: twisted things,
like the roots of a sickly tree desperately
5 4 THE BELLS searching for water.
The Black Rose is struck three times on the
night of a full moon. This large, black bell 6 4 THE HELL-DIVE

THE CITY
rings out a sonorous, melancholy tone the A dive in the steam-baths is a necessary
entire prison can hear and feel. On the third part of intake into the prison. The scalding
strike, all inhabitants alike stop and turn to- hot springs near deep underground magma
ward the source of the tones. The red-cowled fissures ensure that incoming prisoners have
guards, in unison, ring their bells three times no unauthorized parasites or pests on their
in answer. Blood-curdling screams are then persons. Jailers are nothing if not meticulous
heard coming from the depths of the prison. in checking for organisms that may interfere
with the prison’s naturally-tormenting flora
5 5 THE CRIES OF THE DEAD and fauna.
Every prisoner at Barsul knows the con-
demned never escape, even after death. Their 6 5 THE FORGIVEN
howls and wails float through the halls when Some crimes are said to be unforgivable, yet
night falls, seeking out those who do not yet the ingenuitive surgeon-priests of Barsul find
fear enough. a way. An object representing the crime is
ritually implanted and fused with the body
5 6 PARALYSIS POWDER of the prisoner, in a manner most befitting
Members of the nightwatch are authorized the crime—every cut and stitch forming the
to spread paralysis powder over inmates litany of confession and forgiveness. Those
with night terrors that become disruptive to who survive are set free to wander as the
others. The powder keeps the inmates from Forgiven, wretched beggars that serve as a
moving or making noise for approximately warning to would-be sinners.
twelve hours but does not wake them or end
the dream cycles. Some complain the powder 6 6 THE GIBBETS
causes the current dream to loop, but jailers Originally designed as a form of torment,
disregard such rumors as old-prisoners’ tales. the iron gibbets that adorn the outside of the
walls are now generally thought of as the best
6 1 PENANCE HALL way to reward good behavior. The fresh air,
The followers of Saint Anamartia built a “pen- bright sun, and limited views of wildlife are
ance hall” in Barsul—a soundproof room that certainly a relief and worth the discomfort of
allows prisoners to sit in total silence, with the gibbet itself.
nothing but thoughts of their wrongdoing to
keep them company. In recent years, the jail-
ers have begun using the chamber for more...
direct methods of redemption.

Barsul Prison • 33
 The Azure Archives
GABRIEL RO
ROBINS
BINSO
ON
THE CITY

A fabled vault of arcane lore and cultural artifacts from ancient Kalduhr, the Archives are said
to contain all answers to seekers who look deeply enough. Those with a mind for tomes and
histories know that such items are more valuable than any gold or gems. The right artifact or
piece of lore, opened to the right mind, may forever alter the shape of the world. Such things
were not created merely to be displayed and gloated over, but used with great purpose—and all
are dangerous if wielded carelessly. So they were locked away, accessible only to those inducted
into the Azure Order of Lorekeepers, or to those able to afford entrance with a rare or valuable
donation to the Archives.

To cross the Archives’ threshold, you must... in order to…

1 reveal a terrible secret… 1 pay for the services of a manikin guide.
2 donate a valuable tome to the archive... 2 pass unseen among the Archives’ inhabitants.
3 give away a precious memory… 3 shield your mind from dangerous writings within.
4 present findings from a forgotten place… 4 attune your map to constantly shifting corridors.
5 open your mind willingly to store a piece of lore… 5 pick up the thread of one who searched here before.
6 win the smile or tear of an expressionless guardian... 6 secretly deface a tome, and thus change the past.

34 · The Azure Archives

What Are the Archives and What Do They Hold?
1 1 THE MANY ARCHIVES 1 5 BOOK SENTIENCE
There are, in fact, multiple Archives, all Some books have been stored here for so long
based in obscured, hard to reach, or danger- in the company of unstable and powerful
ous locations. Scholars debate the number relics that they have developed a degree of
of Archives and their exact locus, and the self-awareness, seeking out answers to the
specific details of each are guarded fiercely questions left on their own pages. Some of
among those pursuing an entrance. them in turn awaken others with profound
quandaries about the nature of their exis-
1 2 LOREKEEPERS tence. Others, if opened and read, trap the
The Lorekeepers of the Archives are all man- reader with an onslaught of desperate queries

THE CITY
ikins—or at least are no longer bound by the that only lead to other books...
limitations of creatures with living flesh.
Some were formed from inanimate materials 1 6 BOOK GOLEMS
with the purpose of serving the Archives, Many books on the Archive’s shelves have
others were people who altered their bodies shifted radically from their original form
over time through extensive ritual and dis- and purpose. Some have bound themselves
cipline until they no longer required food, together, rewritten themselves, or shed pag-
drink, or sleep. Most have experimented ex- es that have lost their meaning over time.
tensively with such processes, incorporating These shambling monstrosities desire only
rituals to the Gossamer Queen to grant them knowledge and attention, pressing their pag-
extra limbs, eyes, and root-like appendages es against you to whisper their best passages,
that can spin silk. These gifts allow them to while hungry spines seek to open your cover
better climb the towering shelves unaided, and read the truths of your heart...
work in total darkness, and read and sort en-
tire sections with relentless efficiency. 2 1 HIVE OF THE ARCHIVES
A splinter of the Sun-Stripe Clade has infil-
1 3 THE SINGLE ARCHIVE trated one of the Archives below the forest of
There is only one Archive: a living, ancient Kalduhr, smuggling specially prepared bee
entity that feeds on secrets and the desires of larvae into the paper tunnels of bookwyrms.
those who seek them. It exists on the edges of In time, a hive will be born and a new Queen
reality, inhabiting a physical location—with will be installed—one vibrating with knowl-
constantly expanding shelves and tunnels edge absorbed from her surroundings, ready
formed of parchment, feather quills, and to share with her brethren in the forest above.
leather tomes—and the fathomless void
where it hoards collective memories. 2 2 WINDOWS
The few Archive windows look out upon
1 4 THE ARCHIVE’S INSECTS strange and distant places—such as a smol-
The Archives are home to all manner of in- dering bridge high upon basalt pillars, float-
sects—paper moths, book wyrms, and scroll ing sky temples woven from vines and hol-
weavers—that constantly repair the fragile low bones, and an undersea cave lined with
paper and leather tomes, adding to the fi- glowing coral. Others are portals to royal
bers of the central record parchment. Where libraries, ritual chambers belonging to pow-
do they find the raw materials to digest and erful sorcerers, or hellish interdimensional
weave new silk and fibrous nests? prisons. Open them with great care...

The Azure Archives • 35

 2 3 ARCHIVAL INK 3 1 SILVER CHOIR PRAYER BOOKS
The Azure Archives are so named for their The prayer books of the Silver Choir began
central records, inscribed in a rare cobalt ink as chanted hymns, recited over a germinating
upon a vast, singular scroll at the very heart seed that would eventually become the tree
of its libraries—tall as a person, ever unfurl- from which their paper was made. By the
ing. It is said that any name or phrase record- time their pages are ready for ink, the hymns
ed there will never be forgotten. practically write themselves.

2 4 GHOST-LANTERNS 3 2 THE NATURE OF THE ARCHIVES

To locate items that disguise themselves Shelves and scrolls, and desks full of quills
or exist as echoes of their former shape, re- and ink... these are the Archives’ crudest
searchers must use ghost-lanterns to illumi- forms. Those who have achieved a deeper lev-
nate the liminal spaces where such things are el of understanding perceive them as stored
THE CITY

found. To avoid undue attention, they do not memories—beyond that, they hold secrets
emit visible light. An open flame in the Ar- of time itself, which only the ancient sages
chive would be unforgivable. In such a rare understood.
event, the inky, winged sun-eaters hanging
from the rafters swoop down to extinguish 3 3 STORAGE I
the source of such a threat. The Archives store their records in many
forms beyond mere books or scrolls: messag-
2 5 DERAWAN TATTOOS es carved on small stones and carried in the
Prophecies regarding the time and place in bellies of fish, knotted cords and woven as-
which entrances to the Archive appear were semblages, cross sections of fossilized trees,
recorded by a dreamwalker of the Cult of oracular bird nests, scrimshaw runes, and
Derawan and tattooed upon the members memory chimes.
of its innermost circle. Each members’ inked
skin bore a single line of text, requiring the 3 4 THE JEWELLED VAULT
presence of all for entry. The group vanished Keepers of the Jewelled Vault within the
after completing their final ritual to summon Archives are said to trade in information on
a portal. However, another theory holds that the whereabouts of lost treasures. They deny
the group splintered after disagreements this in person, of course, but will accept cer-
regarding the one true prophecy, with some tain treasures for “safekeeping.” Depositors
members pursuing the others to this day. If a are given a well-rehearsed speech about the
certain piece of skin is genuine—a piece that preservation of historical and culturally sig-
is carefully preserved in a jar upon the shelf nificant artifacts, while the standard parch-
of Unverified Items—this would appear to ment is inscribed, stamped, and duplicated.
be the case. Of course, anyone can tattoo and The copy that is handed back coincidentally
preserve skin... includes a contact, a map orientation, and
any other leads, along with mention of other
2 6 MEPHIRA’S PRAYERS “artifacts of interest.” A blank slip for “es-
Smelling faintly of burnt honey, a tanned sential gear and provisions” is included, with
leather book sits alone on a plinth. It is made directions to the “Returns and Exchanges”
from the skin of human hands, with prayers section, where any items required for the pre-
to Sister Mephira seared into its pages. These sumed future expedition may be acquired.
were originally inscribed in smoldering metal Shrewd treasure-hunters may notice that the
braziers, held aloft by her devout followers items described are always more valuable
during acts of religious mortification. than those received.

36 · The Azure Archives

3 5 ITEMS ON A ‘RETURNS’ SHELF 4 3 WITNESSES OF DECLINE
A quill that draws on the blood of the writer, a A parasitic cult known as the Witnesses of
book containing lies about the one who reads Decline have occupied the ruins of a once-
it, a map that always leads to danger, a small famed library, claiming it to be one of the
lantern that only reveals unwelcome truths, a Azure Archives. Believing that the highest
small book of accurate, mundane prophecies, form of knowledge is the realization of im-
a scripture of precious insight that is impos- permanence, they practice a radical form of
sible to recall, and the true name of a Sister death contemplation, forbidding any efforts
that cannot be forgotten once read—nor will to preserve objects of the past or to cure dis-
she forget yours. eases of the body. The cult is said to take up
residence in places of historical significance,
3 6 ITEMS ON AN ‘EXCHANGES’ SHELF actively encouraging their ruin through ritu-
First, an animated, severed hand, grasping a als of mold and rot. Some members are so de-

THE CITY
quill that laboriously copies page after page voted to their attainments that they seek out
of a crumbling songbook. Second, an oval new afflictions of their own flesh, reveling in
jewelry box, painted with scenes of a garden its slow decay as the world crumbles around
humming with bees, labeled “Never to Be them. Eventually, these “exalted” elders are
Opened.” Third, a preserved ear, mounted interred in seats of honor to witness the fi-
on a stand, twitching and inclined towards nal stages of dissolution, while the surviving
a nearby book. Fourth, a pale, clouded eye, members of the cult move on to a new host to
floating in a bottle of emerald liquid, appar- repeat the cycle.
ently scanning an empty page over and over.
4 4 SISTERS OF SILK
4 1 MERCIFUL PRESERVATION The Sisters of Silk have woven their tapestry
The Vault of Merciful Preservation is stacked for years while they hang, inverted in a space
high with sentient books that were awakened that is above the shelves and out of time. Gift-
illegally or mistakenly through improper rit- ed with prophetic abilities as children, they
uals. They are unsafe to read, but destroying became followers of the Gossamer Queen,
them would be seen as a cruel act by the Ar- earning Her blessings—blessings that allow
chivists. They slumber here instead, soothed them to manifest their visions in this way:
by the sounds of running water as under- the many-eyed Seer rests motionless, holding
ground streams flow around their chamber, hands with the Vessel, who then whispers
maintaining a tentative barrier for any magic directions to the Weaver. Their tapestry un-
that enters or leaves the vault. furls without end: fates revealed, destinies
recorded, loose threads woven back into the
4 2 LEDGER OF SOULS Loom of which all things are a part.
The most heavily bound and sealed items
of the Archives are a series of unassuming 4 5 BLUE LOTUSES
ledgers. Their cost in gold and blood is incal- Brilliant blue lotuses grow in a still lake sur-
culable, for they contain the secrets of those rounding the Archives. Practiced oracles can
in the most elevated positions of power. The trace the delicate veins upon their petals to
ritual for extracting or eliminating all living reveal a moment of lost time. The pigment of
memory of such secrets is unspeakable, and these flowers is a key ingredient in the azure
only a few sorcerers who share ancestry with inks of the archival records. Consuming
practitioners from ancient Kalduhr know the the lotus itself is a path to forgetfulness and
method of distilling souls into the purple ink peaceful dreams.
in which they are written.

The Azure Archives • 37

 4 6 THE INSCRIBED 5 3 SERVING THE ARCHIVES
Human libraries are rarely spoken of, being To willingly serve the Archives is a rare step
barbaric relics of a past age, yet evidence of taken by only the most dedicated truth-seek-
their continued practice can be found within ers. Offering your mind as an empty vessel
the Archives. Students of common birth who is the first step. Shedding the layers of your
demonstrated an aptitude for words (and a body is another, as its materials can be used
robust constitution) were apprenticed to the to form new volumes. Expanding your con-
royal scribes of Naganeh. Those who survived sciousness to inhabit and enliven the words
their training and its attendant alchemical contained therein is the true calling—unfet-
transformation brought great honor to their tered and without end.
families as permanent fixtures of the royal
household. These “Inscribed” achieved a 5 4 THE DEVOURER’S WYRM
complete memorization of important texts, A spiralling mural of inlaid glass and iri-
THE CITY

and can recite passages word-for-word on descent scales tells a certain story: how the
command. This “living embodiment” of key first bookwyrm was brought to life by Queen
information went deeper, however. At their Sehtet ils Noh herself, transforming the last
royally appointed time of death, the flesh of surviving text of a secret doctrine into a liv-
those Inscribed contained the writings they ing creature that fed on the pages of lesser
had memorized over a lifetime, revealed as books. As her mastery over the beast grew,
they were shed like serpents outgrowing their she sought to destroy all writings that spoke
skin. The remains of one such long-retired ill of her line or exposed unwelcome truths.
servant hang displayed in the Ancient His- The pages it shed told a better story, but these
tory wing of the Archives, spread along the too began to grow and hunger for more.
walls in an array of unfurled scrolls. While Her closest followers raised these wyrms to
the methods of inscription and preservation guard the archives from their nests of dusty
have long been forgotten, their exquisite de- parchment—ensuring the offspring of The
tail is undeniable. Devourer would long be sustained.

5 1 THE LISTENER 5 5 ARBITERS OF MINOR DIVINITIES

The Listener is carved of pure green marble, The Arbiters of Minor Divinities sit behind
with deep wells for eyes. They will hear your simple writing desks in cramped alcoves.
story, your confessions, and all the words you Ornaments, symbols, and idols pertaining
could not speak to anyone else. They alone to their patrons fill every inch of available
hear you without judgement. Sit with them space. Statues, manikins, or spirits are
for as long as you need, before passing over bound in service—the distinction between
the threshold to the Silent Room. Speak no them means little here. Visitors uncertain
more in that place, however, for the things of their standing with a particular god may
kept there will not be so understanding when have their oaths recorded, receive prescribed
roused from slumber. blessings, and make offerings in the appro-
priate donation box. Notably, some Arbiters
5 2 READING EYES will gladly retrieve books from tiny shelves
A sealed jar contains the eyes of a follower of to read passages aloud, while others shun
Saint Antonia, preserved in a luminous holy written words entirely. One alcove appears
liquid. They gaze upon a massive, open tome, empty, inhabited only by cobwebs and dusty
reading constantly in remembrance of the bones—who can say for certain if a god is
martyrs listed on the page, weeping endlessly represented here, or if this is the inevitable
for their noble sacrifices. destiny of such minor powers?

38 · The Azure Archives

5 6 THE HERALD 6 4 SHELF IMPS
The prayer wheels of the Herald spin con- Shelf imps come in many forms: blooming
stantly, intoning minor blessings for those anemones, drifting jellyfish, phosphorescent
unable to read them any longer. Hour by centipedes, translucent frogs. All blink in
hour, it recites hymns and scriptures in dead and out of this tangible plane, sometimes
tongues, its own voice resonating from a taking objects with them when their usual
hollow mask. The craft of assembling and meals of dust and mildew are scarce.
animating such automatons is a lost art, but
the Herald has never stopped running. An
inscription lists the faiths and deities repre-
sented. If coins are dropped through the slot
of a massive onyx box at its feet, a prayer will
be added to the cycle on the donor’s behalf.

THE CITY
6 1 STORAGE II
Certain texts require highly specialized
means of storage to maintain the stability
of their form (and the permanence of their 6 5 RETIRED EXPOSITORS
surroundings). The Archive contains: scrolls When no single volume holds the answers
submerged in vials of salt water, oil, or blood, you seek, consult the resident experts on
texts kept in braziers of smoldering embers, the subject. While the room of Honorably
and inscribed chunks of marble, bone, or Retired Expositors is surprisingly small, you
gemstone that remain locked in darkness— may speak with the living embodiment of
or surrounded by light—to avoid too many nearly any field of study—or rather, you may
shadows. speak with their polished skull that holds a
lifetime of finely honed knowledge preserved
6 2 THE KALDUHR ENTRANCE without the muddling influence of aging
There is an Archive entrance hidden deep flesh. Take care to address the one you seek
in the forest of Kalduhr, through a narrow directly, as their peers are prone to interject
gap in a densely grown cluster of yew trees. and challenge any facts presented.
Inside, the walls are formed of living trunks
and roots. The outermost layers of bark are 6 6 WONDROUS EMERGENCE
carefully harvested each year by archival Every culture has its monsters. Tales of
attendants, polished to reveal the messages half-seen, misshapen terrors that lurk in the
grown inside. darkness and take their own form as they
outgrow the imaginations of the small minds
6 3 ARCHIVE GUARDIANS that drew them to the light. The Stewards of
Most Archive guardians have outgrown their Wondrous Emergence cherish them, seeking
original purpose, as time passes immeasur- to preserve all forms of life no matter how
ably and visitors have become rare. Some fearsome or dangerous. Their sanctuary is
still wander the stacks and study chambers a branch of one of the earliest Kalduhri ar-
instinctively, though many have settled into chives, sculpted from deep roots beneath the
long periods of hibernation. Beware those gaze of the Old One. Here, they actively nur-
prone to rearranging their surroundings, in- ture these blooming horrors, setting most
evitably creating rifts in the fabric of reality, free to roam as new guardians of the forest.
awakening other objects, and stirring things Others are nurtured longer, giving birth to
best left asleep. ever more glorious forms of life to behold.

The Azure Archives • 39

 People of the Crown
JESSE ROSS & GABRIEL ROBINSON
THE CITY

Humans of all ranks and walks of life exist under the protection of the Crown. Other, stranger
beings are also counted among the citizenry, provided they stay out of trouble and promptly
pay the royal tax collector.

Folk
Regular humans like you and I. Some have trained in the sorcerous arts or been changed by
their time in the forest, but otherwise they’re just like us.

40 · People of the Crown

 PERSONS OF INTEREST — Roll once and use a single row, or roll three times (once for each column)
name appearance manner

1 1 Adia Stooped, tremulous gestures, fine robes Flowery and effusive praise

1 2 Alis Lithe, balanced stance, leather-clad Monosyllabic with a curt nod

1 3 Anu Moustached, stocky frame, dusty apron Disarming smile and a firm handshake

1 4 Baldrik Grizzled, sunburned, loose chainmail Honorable and gravelly

1 5 Brom Haggard, shuffling, rain-soaked cloak Resigned and philosophical

1 6 Eduin Haunted expression, hollow-eyed, wild hair Rambling prophecies

2 1 Elin Fearless eyes, feral grin, muscular frame Undirected aggression

2 2 Endolin Imposing, broad-shouldered, fine silk shirt Feigned ignorance and leading questions

2 3 Florian

THE CITY
Vibrant features, clear voice, spotless clothing Obsessively repetitive

2 4 Gabor Staggering, greasy hair, wine stains Conspiratorial with knowing glances

2 5 Helena Delicate frame, careful steps, veiled face Silently withdrawn

2 6 Hild Smile creases, grey braids, homespun wool Jolly and rhyming

3 1 Iman Balding, kind eyes, patched clothing Stuttering observational humor

3 2 Isabel Poised, graceful movements, flowing dress Reserved and formal

3 3 Kadija Strong arms, voluptuous, confident walk Brooding whispers

3 4 Karin Sickly, dull-eyed, unkempt hair Impatient and twitchy

3 5 Katlin Shifty posture, restless, hooded face Fearful and defensive

3 6 Lief Ferocious grin, dancing feet, stolen uniform Fast-talking and self-assured

4 1 Lorin Wiry frame, scuttling, mud spattered Energetic and eager

4 2 Luanda Weathered features, rusty armor, missing hand Courteous and stiff

4 3 Mansur Deep smile, dreadlocks, feathered cap Booming laugh and a stream of curses

4 4 Marek Leaning on a cane, heavy pack, whistling a tune Mischievous and distractible

4 5 Matild Stout build, glaring up, well-made leather armor Surly pouting

4 6 Mikel Barrel-chested, shaved head, gurgling voice Stubborn and contrarian

5 1 Nakula Luxurious beard, flower tattoos, festive dress Amorous and sing-songy

5 2 Niara Plain dress, fluid movements, mask-like face Innocent curiosity

5 3 Ningal Bright eyed, melodious speech, simple jewelry High-strung suspicion

5 4 Oona Springing step, striped hosiery, dramatic gestures Eccentric and forgetful

5 5 Raji Billowing robes, gleaming boots, flashing smile Quick to agree and keep the peace

5 6 Ria Bloodied, heavily armed, defiant expression Brutally honest

6 1 Rowan Lanky build, toothy grin, muddy clothing Crude jokes and belching

6 2 Sedrik Polished armor, swaggering step, callous face Self-righteous and brittle

6 3 Seti Stunning beauty, costly attire, haughty posture Unnerving gaze and cryptic speech

6 4 Sindu Hobbling, bearing an empty bowl, pleading eyes Shifty with an obviously fake accent

6 5 Varda Bent back, careful hands, colorful scarf Bitter and sharp-tongued

6 6 Wilem Slouching, spindly arms, dusty overalls Gleefully evasive

People of the Crown • 41

 Beastbitten
Woe to the human who returns from forest
or field marked by the bite of a ravenous
beast. If not urgently treated, such wounds
can fester and provoke transformation into
something called a beastbitten
beastbitten.. On moonlit
nights, their bodies stretch and break, grow-
ing features resembling their attacker: claws,
hooves, fangs, fur, antlers. Feral beastbitten
are considered criminals under Our Majesty’s
Laws, and subject to imprisonment or worse.
Very rarely, a beastbitten who is subjected to
THE CITY

unconventional treatments can be “cured”

and reintegrated into society. Though they
still transform, they remain in possession of
their faculties, and can even trigger a partial
change at will. Notable scholars suggest that
such a treatment doesn’t actually cure the
disease, but merely delays the poor victim’s
inevitable descent into a bestial form.

42 · People of the Crown

 AWFUL TRANSFORMATIONS OF THE BEASTBITTEN
effect

1 1 Puckering suction cups sprout in stripes along their limbs.

1 2 Their fingernails and toenails harden and curve into large talons.
1 3 They begin sweating a slippery and viscous grease-like substance.
1 4 Their feet elongate and they begin walking on their toes.
1 5 Hollow pockets balloon in their chest, a breeding ground for vermin.
1 6 A thrashing tail erupts from the base of their spine.
2 1 A rugged, plated shell forms as the skin on their back calcifies.
2 2 Their skull distends into a wolf-like muzzle.
2 3 They secrete a strong and sticky spider silk.

THE CITY
2 4 They are cloaked in large black feathers.
2 5 Tiny hairs cover their fingers and toes, allowing them to climb with ease.
2 6 Their muscle mass doubles, as does their strength.
3 1 A bloody set of fresh antlers tears out of their skull.
3 2 Their skin bloats and cracks into drab, reptilian scales.
3 3 All of their teeth stretch and sharpen to a fine point.
3 4 Their pupils dilate until their eyes look like pools of ink.
3 5 The color and texture of their skin fluctuates to mimic their surroundings.
3 6 Their toes merge into sturdy cloven hooves.
4 1 Spear-like tusks extend from their widened mouth.
4 2 Webbing grows between their fingers and arm, stretching into bat wings.
4 3 Their bite injects a paralytic venom.
4 4 Their ears rise to a conical point.
4 5 Their body grows multiple layers of a coarse, dark fur.
4 6 Two additional rows of teeth break out of their gums.
5 1 Dagger-length barbed quills pierce through their back and shoulders.
5 2 Six eyes of various sizes burst from their head in perfectly round orbs.
5 3 Bands of dark camouflaging stripes paint their body.
5 4 They grow two additional sets of spindly, fully functional arms.
5 5 Their fingers merge and harden into serrated, grasping pincers.
5 6 They begin releasing a sickly sweet musk that draws protective flies.
6 1 The lower half of their body fuses into a single, serpentine coil.
6 2 A quartet of translucent insect wings wrap around their body like a cloak.
6 3 A bulbous sac capable of producing a booming roar hangs from their jaw.
6 4 Their body can disassemble into hundreds of carnivorous moths.
6 5 Their tongue multiplies in length and can lash out like a whip.
6 6 New glands grow which can release clouds of hallucinogenic spores.
People of the Crown • 43
 Faeborn
The Fae are creatures—elves, trolls, and their
kin—which live in the heart of the forest and
across the veil in their own mysterious world.
For some inscrutable reason, they secret
themselves into the mortal world to abduct
newborn babes and leave behind faebornfaeborn::
mimics who wear masks to make themselves
look just like the replaced children.
The masks the faeborn wear contain many
powerful illusory charms, allowing them to
appear as average mortal folk. Oftentimes,
THE CITY

a faeborn doesn’t even know they wear the

mask until they reach adulthood and the
magic binding them to their mask weakens.
Only when they are fully unmasked and the
glamour unraveled is their true fae heritage
revealed. Some continue to wear the mask
and try to live the life they thought was
theirs; others accept their new identity and
enter the forest in search of answers.
Each faeborn mask is unique, as is the stamp
of the faeborn’s otherworldly ancestry which
the mask conceals.

44 · People of the Crown

 HIDDEN BEHIND THE MASK OF THE FAEBORN
appearance

1 1 The featureless bark of a dry old oak

1 2 A writhing mass of plump silkworms
1 3 Orb-like owl’s eyes
1 4 A delicate and angular sky-hued face
1 5 Hard stone, which grinds when it moves
1 6 Wispy orange fox fur and whiskers
2 1 Iridescent fish scales, slick with moisture
2 2 Weeping sap from a wounded maple
2 3 Snow-white goose feathers

THE CITY
2 4 Jagged arcs of crackling lightning
2 5 Soot black hair of billowing smoke
2 6 Wooly green moss, crawling with beetles
3 1 The nubby antlers of a growing fawn
3 2 Thorny brambles with odd dark berries
3 3 The rough and puckered flesh of a sea star
3 4 A glistening red toadstool’s cap
3 5 Hundreds of tiny rodent teeth
3 6 Wave-worn mother of pearl
4 1 The snout and bristles of a wild boar
4 2 Hundreds of fluttering butterfly wings
4 3 Loamy soil rich with meandering roots
4 4 Hair of jade-green serpents
4 5 A haphazard bird’s nest of twigs and grasses
4 6 Sucker-lined squid tentacles
5 1 Two sharp and sweeping spiraled horns
5 2 The bloated face and bulbous eyes of a frog
5 3 A wide jawline with protruding ivory tusks
5 4 An inky void pierced by specks of starlight
5 5 A thick and jagged layer of rough rock salt
5 6 Fine gold lines filling in cracks and wrinkles
6 1 A shocking contradiction of colorful feathers
6 2 Tough and fibrous scale-like leaves
6 3 Pointed ears and teeth
6 4 Shifting spots, like sunlight through leaves
6 5 A gossamer film that blurs features
6 6 A hooked falcon’s beak
People of the Crown • 45
 Manikins
Far away from the prying eyes of the public,
unusally powerful and untrusting sorcerers
craft themselves companions from planks of
wood, scraps of cloth, and handfuls of straw.
These constructed beings, called manikins
manikins,,
are imbued with life to perform simple tasks
on behalf of their creators.
Occasionally, the crafter of a manikin desires
for their creation to be made real, with soft
flesh, warm breath, and a beating heart. Such
manikins are said to be enlivened.
THE CITY

Especially talented sorcerers can even craft

an enlivened manikin in the likeness of a
specific person. These hidden manikins are
the cause for much royal paranoia—many
court physickers and cunning hermits have
offered up means of detecting such beings.

46 · People of the Crown

 RUMORED METHODS FOR DETECTING HIDDEN MANIKINS
technique

1 1 The pinprick of a golden sewing needle draws no blood.

1 2 Being originally made of wood and burlap, they refuse to sit near open flame.
1 3 They have a birthmark over their heart in the shape of an arcane sigil.
1 4 Their reflection’s reflection reveals the original materials of their construction.
1 5 Hearing a particular phrase—like “summer’s setting sun” or “flowers full and fair”—puts them to sleep.
1 6 No amount of food will sate their hunger.
2 1 If they ever tell a lie, a portion of their body reverts to its inanimate material, though it still functions.
2 2 An animal milked in their presence will produce black bile instead of milk.
2 3 Though they have real skin, it is always cold to the touch.

THE CITY
2 4 They briefly get confused when confronted with a child’s doll or other human-shaped toy.
2 5 They sometimes whisper calming words to chairs, brooms, and other inanimate objects.
2 6 They pray not to the Sisters, or even to idols like in superstitious villages, but to their own sorcerous maker.
3 1 If wounded with a blade blessed in the purifying fires of St. Fatimah, the injury will never heal.
3 2 The scent of pine lingers behind them wherever they pass.
3 3 They have no freckles or blemishes on their body, and their facial features are perfectly symmetrical.
3 4 They are deathly afraid of being near running water, and will always avoid crossing it.
3 5 They can tie any knot requested of them, or extract themselves from any rope in which they’re bound.
3 6 Because of the artisan glass used in their construction, their eyesight is particularly keen.
4 1 Pollen—whether drifting through the air, or hidden in their meal—is a powerful aphrodisiac to them.
4 2 They occasionally forget names, or stutter when they find themselves saying the name of their creator.
4 3 Being touched with a hot branding iron leaves not a red welt, but a black wood burn.
4 4 Any baby they hold will begin crying and will not stop until out of their presence.
4 5 They are obsessed with a certain color, often blue, like the arcane light which enlivened them.
4 6 Their homes are prone to infestations of insects, rodents, or birds.
5 1 While they sleep, they mumble the name of their creator once every hour.
5 2 They feign eating, sleeping, and other base necessities.
5 3 Any children they sire are forever drawn to the heart of the nearest forest.
5 4 Any hair cut from their head will transform into leaves by the next sunrise.
5 5 They still crackle with animating magic, which can hop to mundane objects such as teacups or candelabras.
5 6 To sustain their artificial life they must conduct a small sacrifice under the light of every full moon.
6 1 If they ever consume a seed it will embed itself in their wooden stomach, take root, and begin growing.
6 2 If they ever harm a creature of the forest, the creature’s spirit will haunt their home and all its residents.
6 3 They are obsessed with crafting manikins of their own, and keep a private workshop hidden away nearby.
6 4 If a goat is fed raw materials used in making the manikin, a sympathetic bond is created between the two.
6 5 A manikin draws magical sustenance from those they live with, leaving them prone to illness and injury.
6 6 Because they are not truly human, manikins do not feel pain and their tears are sticky like tree sap.
People of the Crown • 47
 Bright-Teeth Assyrio
MICHAEL VAN VLEET
THE CITY

One can spend a lifetime saving money to lease space in the crowded, flower-scented Rose Dis-
trict of Ambaret, but getting there is not like crossing a finish line. In fact, it doesn’t take long
for the costs of lifestyle maintenance to soon seem overwhelming. And that’s where Bright-
Teeth Assyrio enters. She’s a friendly face matched with a generous nature, eager to float you
"whatever you need" until you find your financial footing. You’re good for it, right? Of course
you are. You think you are.

The marker that Bright-Teeth Assyrio demands you carry as a symbol of your debt:
1 Adangles
human skull, dipped in bronze, on a necklace. The skull has a leather tongue stitched into its mouth that
down your chest like a tie as a reminder that “talking is not doing.”

2 Aback
small child that answers to “Lucky.” Assyrio says that she’s related to the child, and that she expects the child
unharmed and well fed. Lucky only eats meat.

3 An earring, locked in place, composed of a toothed ring and a dangling obsidian rock that gives a tug every
twenty minutes back towards Bright-Teeth. “You remember, that’s me tugging your ear. Reminding you to
come back. If you’re not back in a week, I’m adding another ring when I find you. Somewhere else.”

4 An oilskin bag containing a tentacled inkpuppy and enough saltwater to keep it alive for two weeks—if you
keep the bag sealed.

5 Awith
clever chain-and-clockwork mechanism called the chronophage. A chain is wrapped around your middle
the chronophage device attached to your back. Every day, the chronophage “eats” a link in the chain,
tightening it around your middle. You’ll want to stop back with payment before the squeezing chain constricts
your breathing—and certainly before you’re halved, slowly.

6 Two new shining, reflective teeth to replace two of your original set (with which you had been on good terms).
The new pair ache.

48 · Bright-Teeth Assyrio
What Do We Really Know About Bright-Teeth Assyrio?
1 1 BRIGHT-TEETH’S DEMON 1 5 THE CHAIN BREAKERS
Bright-Teeth is easy to identify in a crowd, Debtors seeking relief may hear rumors of
despite her stout stature. She wears expensive an informal organization called the “Chain
silk robes designed by the same tailors who Breakers,” composed of those previously
serve nobility, but her habit of gnawing on a victimized by Assyrio’s usury. They’ll deliver
dogwood datun with a gnarly sneer under- you out of your debt in exchange for joining
cuts her aristocratic image. The back of her the Chain Breakers, tithing from all future
head is carefully shaved to reveal the horri- earnings to help rescue those who suffer af-
fying visage of a four-eyed demon with silver ter you. Some say Bright-Teeth invented this
shining teeth, where her own hair supplies a fiction as a way to let debtors think they got

THE CITY
drooping mustache and pointed beard. away while still earning the benefit of their
freely-given donations to the cause.
1 2 PLEASE & DON’T
The kingsguard are aware of Assyrio’s activi- 1 6 THE PAIN OF HER TEETH
ties, but claim she’s too cautious to implicate Assyrio’s teeth are a source of great pain, and
herself directly in any illegal enforcement if one could acquire a permanent replacement
of debt. For example, while she’s kept many set, one would be handsomely rewarded. Per-
hulking brutes in her employ over the years, haps the long-lost Mother’s Grin, or a shining
she tends to pamper and rename the two new Pearly Wonder from the Pennant Street
most loyal as a sign of her favor. She requires artisans who fashion sets using dental scrap
them to answer to the names “Please” and from Barsul prisoners.
“Don’t,” as this allows some deniability about
intent—should she say, as a hypothetical ex- 2 1 TEETH FROM THE SEA OF BONE
ample, “Please... Don’t... break his legs.” The pink, sharp, crystalline teeth that Bright-
Teeth Assyrio wears were imported from
1 3 BRIGHT-TEETH THE DEMON the Sea of Bone where they were discovered
“The lady with the mouth-stick and the thugs? in the Tomb of Reversed Ladders. Out of
That’s not Bright-Teeth Assyrio. Look at the a party of four treasure-hunters, only one
back of her head. That’s Bright-Teeth Assyrio. survived to bring this treasure back. Assyrio
She just works for Bright-Teeth. Bright-Teeth claims that their survival can be attributed to
is actually a demon, and if she doesn’t keep the knowledge that even death would not let
bringing in souls, it’s going to open its shin- them escape their (now discharged) debt.
ing mouth and eat her whole. I heard from an
incensemonger who said they knew a demo- 2 2 CO’ASSYRIO
nologist who swears they saw Bright-Tooth The coastal town of Co’Assyrio did not adopt
listed in a lore book in the Azure Archives.” that name as a way of paying on an overdue
loan to Bright-Teeth. Documents kept in trust
1 4 BRIGHT-TEETH THE MANIKIN by a former mayor demonstrate that the name
Bright-Teeth is a malformed manikin, and can be traced back centuries, but that doesn’t
whoever made them didn’t get the teeth right. stop wags from drawing the connection. For
Their teeth just keep growing and growing. the record, Bright-Teeth has never visited the
They have to constantly gnaw to halt the coast, and Mayor Eightchurch’s fall from the
growth, or their teeth will pierce their brain, Oxtail Cathedral’s bell tower was declared a
and they’ll die. suicide before their body was even cold.

Bright-Teeth Assyrio • 49
 2 3 NEGOTIATING WITH ASSYRIO 3 1 THE FINAL DEBT
Negotiations with Bright-Teeth Assyrio can Bright-Teeth Assyrio must always maintain
prove difficult, as she’ll often claim that cer- at least one outstanding loan. If she does
tain decisions are “not up to me.” But when reclaim payment from her final debtor, a
she’s badgered and haggled to a breaking demon prince will spirit her away to a frost-
point, she’ll offer to “pass your request along” rimed castle beyond thorned barriers of
before turning her back, lowering her voice, ice-tipped daggerweed. Assyrio guards this
and speaking as the demon on the back of secret closely, but should anyone discover it,
her head. The demon is a tough negotiator, it would be quite the loophole and defensive
and has few compunctions about exploring maneuver.
violent outcomes to intractable problems.
3 2 THE SKELETAL LANDMARK
2 4 HER SPOON Bright-Teeth Assyrio is actually the name of a
THE CITY

In a pocket on her right arm within a custom skeleton that rests along a well-traveled route
armband, Bright-Teeth wears a spoon. It’s through the Sea of Bone. The gem-carved
for gouging eyes. No, it’s for threatening to teeth that sparkle in the corpse’s mouth
gouge eyes. It’s what she used to dig her way helped transform this memorable sight into
out of Barsul Prison. It’s what she used to dig both a navigational landmark and an object
her way into Barsul Prison to collect a debt lesson in straying from well-traveled routes.
from a condemned man. It was a gift from a Anyone adopting this name for their own use
fae she nursed back to health, and it makes likely is—or was—a traveler themselves, or
any meal delicious. It detects poison in food. means to communicate that if you’ve become
It’s made of a special metal that can kill fae. entwined with them, you’ve strayed from the
It’s a distraction from the knife she wields safe path.
with her left hand.
3 3 THE CULT OF SPIRITUAL RICHES
2 5 COLLATERAL The ruins of Old Kalduhr wore ancient
Surgical colleges are prohibited from using murals featuring a heretical sect dedicated
bodies recovered from the forests of Kalduhr to mortification of the flesh. Flaking and
as specimens for anatomical study. Though faded scenes depicted the voluntary remov-
the wise agree that doctors require detailed al of fingers (replaced with unfeeling stone)
knowledge of anatomy to be effective, too and teeth (replaced with glittering treasure,
many of the bodies thus obtained were, in coins, gems, and necklaces that hung freely
hindsight, warped and non-representative. from the mouth). The murals were destroyed
Were they used as models, living citizens to prevent any resurgence of these well-for-
may be harmed by the misinformed doctors gotten practices.
who were trained on them. As such, loans
from Assyrio must be backed with a more 3 4 THE COCKTAIL
sufficient collateral than one’s own flesh. At the Gilded Donkey, there’s a signature
cocktail made from fermented mushroom
2 6 HER MOTHER (for effervescence), a clear alcohol derived
Bright-Teeth Assyrio’s mother lives in luxury from a local tuber (Midwife’s Ankle), and
on the ground floor of a six-story tenement. honey from the Humming Woods (within
The floors above are populated with artists, which is suspended a human ear). The cock-
exotic animals, and the visiting Marquess of tail is called either a “Listen Here, Now” or a
Richter—who swears they’ll never go home. “Bright-Teeth.” No one will say why.
Assyrio’s father is presumed dead.

50 · Bright-Teeth Assyrio
3 5 BRIGHT-TEETH IN LITERATURE 4 3 ABSOLVING DEMONIC DEBTS
Works of fiction that include thinly veiled There are two nights each year when demons
fictional versions of Bright-Teeth Assyrio in- may absolve you of your debts, so long as you
clude the long-running penny-fiction Every speak the correct words to them—the sixth
Star, A Coin Owed, the musical stage perfor- day of the new harvest, and the last day of
mance Blood on the Cobbles Tonight, the po- the masked festival (celebrated in parts of
esy cycle My Father Is Gone Away, Away-O, Levasti, but increasingly seen further afield
and the marching song We Can’t Go Home in cities where a love of mummery and a
(Unless Our Packs Are Laden). supply of silver-tongued mask crafters are
found). However, it can be difficult to verify
3 6 THIEVES CANT whether or not the being you’re indebted to is
From among the quick-fingered coin-snatch- a demon, as they are under no obligation to
ers, a piece of thieves cant: To be “Bright- identify themselves.

THE CITY
Toothed” is to have a hunger that can not be
sated, such that one’s mouth is never closed, 4 4 BRIGHT-TEETH’S MONOPOLY
with teeth visible, in standing readiness for Loan sharks have found it impossible to com-
the opportunity at any morsel. pete for the same client base already claimed
by Assyrio for multiple reasons, including:
4 1 ASSYRIO THE LACK Assyrio has social connections they do not,
Fox Ears, the master thief, claims that in allowing for a better class of clientele; Bright-
their youth, Bright-Teeth was a traveling Teeth spends a considerable portion of her
companion of theirs. But at the time, “Bright- usurious earnings as well-placed gifts, bribes,
Teeth” was known as “Assyrio the Lack” for programs for orphans, widows, and public
their habit of hiding their lack of a critical art works; and finally, so many loan sharks
supply or item until the circumstances most have been extracted from the public well in
required it. You’d find yourself without flint Pillow Square that the neighborhood, citing
as a snowstorm blew in, or without rations concerns over the need to guarantee purity,
when everyone else was already traveling light. now imports all the water it needs, having
surrendered the well to its new purpose of
4 2 A DRINKING SONG “rival storage.”
What is the weight of a noble’s soul?
Heavy, oh so heavy 4 5 STARS-SO-BRIGHT
What is the weight of an urchin’s soul? In the Rose District, one can find Stars-So-
Light as a song, Oh Way Oh Bright—a singer and performer known for
How are the keys to the doors of death? writing songs with counter-cultural themes
Heavy, oh so heavy and a fluid approach to gender expression.
How is the journ’ with my love ‘long side? Some say that Stars-So-Bright is a sibling
Light as a song, Oh Way Oh of Bright-Teeth Assyrio, while others claim
Pay your debts ’cause they slow you down they’re a former romantic partner. Bright-
Heavy, oh so heavy Teeth has been seen at many Stars-So-Bright
Bright are the teeth that’ll strip your crown performances, enraptured as she watches
of light and of song, oh! from the wings. Could Assyrio’s patronage
—a drinking song of unknown title or be the reason why songs such as Fields of
provenance, transcribed by Blackish Hem Widow’s Tears and Yesteryear Storms have not
and published in songs for scoundrels, been suppressed, when artists such as Elkkin
poems for fools vol. ii. and Sen Bondish have seen their instruments
shattered and studio spaces put to the torch?

Bright-Teeth Assyrio • 51
 4 6 BUCKETS & COUGHERS 5 4 PELLECK THE COIN BEARER
New loan sharks are sometimes referred to as The only person known to carry a debt to
“buckets,” as they tend to end their careers at Bright-Teeth and still roam the market un-
the bottom of wells if they compete with As- disturbed is Pelleck the Coin Bearer. Nobody
syrio for clientele or, at a minimum, refuse to will accept Pelleck’s coin, or even risk having
share a cut of their profit with her. Those who it come into their possession, lest the curse
survive long enough to carve out their own be transferred.
markets graduate (in the argot of criminals)
to “coughers”—both a pun on “coffers” and 5 5 A FAERIE OFFERING
because they are “un-well.” Want to secure the love of another? An easy
fortune? A cough’s cure or smoother blood?
5 1 SEIZED GOODS An offering to the Bright-Teeth fae when the
• A boar statue, carved from heartswood, night winds are most “slippery” can ensure
THE CITY

one and one-half times life size. a visit and a blessing by these creatures of
• Reliquary containing a lump of flesh shadow, their teeth their most visible feature.
swaddled in a golden nest.
• Transcription of the last words of the poet 5 6 PRISON GRAFFITI
Ikov Aginos, bound in leather, warded Among the graffito known to circulate
with curses, untranslated. among prisoners in Barsul are familiar japes
• Three spoons and a serving fork bearing scratched into the walls: “Fine Dining: To-
decorative details of forked tongues and morrow” (as tomorrow never comes) and
eggs, possibly Naganeh origin. “Bright-Teeth stayed here,” usually accompa-
—list of goods seized for tax avoidance, nied by a series of sharp triangles that sym-
bound for Bright-Teeth Assyrio (disputed). bolize Assyrio’s teeth, implying that she had
taken a bite from the unyielding walls.
5 2 BRIGHT-TEETH’S RUNNERS
Underneath Assyrio’s robes are shoes with 6 1 BRIGHT-TEETH’S HOBBY
thick soles. She’s shorter than you might “Did you know that Bright-Teeth Assyrio
think and unable to run while wearing them. collects figurines? Little painted clay-fired
Unfortunately, she has employed people who figurines of the Sisters, no two alike. If you
can run on her behalf and by the time they want to get on her good side, consider bring-
catch you, you’ll be out of earshot of Assyrio, ing one as a gift. I heard this from Melek, the
who’ll then be in no position to respond to toy maker. You know, the one whose shop
any pleas for mercy. burned down last month?”

5 3 A CHILDREN’S SONG 6 2 AN INFAMOUS NAMESAKE

Fruit from trees and leafy greens, Scourge of the Glass Sea is the Bright-Teeth
Bright-Teeth, Bright-Teeth. Assyrio, a pirate ship with a run of successful
First she bites, and then she leaves, raids to its credit. Sailors say that the ship
Bright-Teeth Assyrio. can summon a protective fog when need-
Stew on boil and honey hives, ed, or command the winds to reverse. Of
Bright-Teeth, Bright-Teeth. course, a ship can’t do anything of the sort...
Give me yours, and now it’s mine, such powers are more likely seated within
Bright-Teeth Assyrio! the ship’s captain, Fairfeather Mithrudk.
—published as A Children’s Song in the “There’s no name like it, to strike fear: Assyr-
satirical broadside dunny’s guff (defunct). io,” says Mithrudk.

52 · Bright-Teeth Assyrio
6 3 THE ASSYRIO LEGION WHY DID YOU TAKE OUT A LOAN
The singular form is “Assyr,” and it refers to a with bright-teeth assyrio?
member of the nomadic Assyrio legion, iden-
tified by their ornate dental jewelry and the
1 1 Realized far too late you are bad at counting cards
heraldic rampant lizards that decorate their 1 2 Purchased counterfeited antiquity
banners and shields when they go to war. 1 3 Many costly visits to the physicker
1 4 Addicted to love potions—and mirrors
6 4 THE COLORS OF BRIGHT-TEETH 1 5 Borrowed shares on a ship lost at sea
Those in the market who make a study of
such things say that you can map Assyrio’s 1 6 Entrance fee to the Etudierre
mood to the color she’s wearing on any given 2 1 Successful exorcism
day. Reds and oranges? Her mood is sour, 2 2 Started an unwise business venture
and she’ll be unyielding and cruel when it 2 3 Inherited your parents’ debt after they died

THE CITY
comes to debt recovery. Blues or greens? A
more pacific mood can be expected, as well 2 4 Failed Kalduhri treasure-hunt
as an unyielding and cruel attitude regarding 2 5 Poor bookkeeping at your family’s manor house
debts and such. 2 6 Too many dalliances with your “muse”
3 1 Expensive tithes to your patron saint’s temple
6 5 AVOID DEBT 3 2 Restitution for release from Barsul Prison
The land we walk on is deep—the soil is built
up over generations of our fallen ancestors, 3 3 Two back-to-back seasons of failed crops
as they fall, dream, and become the loam in 3 4 Acquired a “painting” from Guille of Ordoe
which we grow our crops, fields, and cities. 3 5 Funeral costs for your beloved father
Our ancestors had treasures, and not all of
them were passed along. Some were lost. For
3 6 Arsonists set your shop ablaze
those who seek, there are fortunes enough. 4 1 New mule refused to work and you were hungry
You don’t have to borrow. Don’t trust anyone 4 2 Bought a false lead-to-gold alchemical formula
who says you do. 4 3 To buy back your voice after that witch took it
6 6 THE LUCKY DAGGER 4 4 Injured after serving in the kingsguard
If Bright-Teeth likes you, she’ll loan you 4 5 Hired a historian to translate a meaningless map
her lucky dagger. “Saved my life a few 4 6 Entire flock of sheep taken by wolves
times. Killed a four-eyed hound that roared 5 1 Tossed out by your family with no useful skills
through my tent like a bridegroom through
a tavern afore the wedding. But I trust you.
5 2 Paid a sorcerer to teach you a bit of magic
You’ll bring it back to me when you’re in fin- 5 3 Death payments to your torchbearer’s mother
er fortune.” She has dozens of these daggers. 5 4 Unnatural hunger for ever more exotic foods
They’re of decent quality, but it’s unlikely 5 5 Needed fine clothes to attend the Duke’s ball
that every one of them is lucky.
5 6 Silvered all your weapons to ward off beastbitten
6 1 Bought a lot of—very necessary—spirit charms
6 2 Paid an “assassin” up front
6 3 Threw an extravagant party to show off
6 4 Ran out of money building yourself a house
6 5 Sacrificed your wealth as part of a revenge ritual
6 6 To placate Assyrio’s demon after you insulted it
Bright-Teeth Assyrio • 53
 Ajino the Debauched Painter
THE GAUNTLET
THE CITY

Ajino has been dead for centuries, but his paintings live on. Priceless and profane, majestic
and mysterious, divine and detestable—the works of Ajino are the focus of intense academic
inquiry, the subject of countless theological debates, the locus of occult activity, and the life’s
quarry of the perversely wealthy. In the halls of The Temple of All Saints, most of Ajino’s works
are considered heresies, and the artist has earned the sobriquet “The Debauched Painter.” A
treasure-hunter can earn a fine retirement indeed by locating an original Ajino and putting it
in the clawing hands of the obsessed.

This is clearly an original Ajino because of... and, of course, because...

1 the almost supernatural use of chiaroscuro… 1 who else would dare paint with human excrement?
2 the gentle draftsmanship used on the figure’s hands… 2 I’ve seen this scene in my unspoken nightmares.
3 its bold use of blues indicative of his Azure Period… 3 this pigment is clearly mixed with pulverized bone.
4 how agitated the brushwork is around the mouth… 4 this “canvas” is the hide of no beast I’ve ever seen.
5 the richness and depth of the cast shadows… 5 that figure’s eyes are undeniably following me.
6 the unsettled transition from subject to background… 6 it is whispering. Can’t you hear it?

54 · Ajino the Debauched Painter

The Masterpieces of Ajino and the Theories Behind Them
1 1 THE WHITE CANVAS 1 6 THE GRAY LADY
There is an apocalyptic cult in Ambaret While several paintings by Ajino have been
called the White Canvas that wishes to bring declared cursed at one time or another, The
Ajino’s Memory Cycle collection together in Gray Lady is among the most notorious. Said
one place. They believe doing so will trigger to have been painted after the loss of his own
the events that lead to the end of the world. mother, Ajino poured his grief and rage onto
the canvas in ragged streaks of gray mixed
1 2 PORTRAIT OF LOVE with his mother’s ashes. According to legend,
Ajino’s first well-paying commission was said each owner of The Gray Lady came to a tragic
to be the portrait of his lord’s son. The child end following their acquisition of the piece,

THE CITY
died while the piece was being finished and often after a series of bizarre and inexplicable
it is said that Ajino painted the child’s soul misfortunes. This has not dissuaded some
into it. Anyone who looks upon the painting from seeking the painting out, perhaps with
weeps uncontrollably. more sinister motives. There has been at least
one recorded assassination attempt when The
1 3 ON SEEING AN AJINO ORIGINAL Gray Lady was “gifted” to a Levasti noble.
“I’ve only seen one Ajino painting myself and Fortunately for him, his butler opened the
no thank you. I didn’t understand it all, a package and gazed upon the painting first.
single impossibly thin black line in a field of
grays. I’m not sure what was on t’other side 2 1 GODLY PIGMENT
of that line, but I’m sure glad Ajino painted Some say the paint Ajino used to create his
it shut.” works is literally divine—that the minerals
mixed with the pigments come from the
1 4 ON AJINO AND NATURE bones of a god that fell to earth.
“Late Ajino left behind the realm of represen-
tational art. His art did not imitate nature, 2 2 THE DIVINE HAND
it dictated to nature what it had to be—and The Temple of All Saints is rumored to have
nature obeyed the stroke of his brush. Do half of The Divine Hand, using it in secret as a
I, an old art historian with failing eyesight, sacred piece of cloth in their ceremonies. It is
really need to tell you what that means? The unknown to them that the other half shows
immense riches that he painted are only the a golden-domed palace being crushed by the
tip of the iceberg…” hand. A rebellious group of a foreign religion
is trying to steal the fragment, as it was spo-
1 5 CYCLE OF ETERNITY ken in their dreams that the union of the two
The so-called Cycle of Eternity paintings have halves would bring an end to their foes.
no obvious connection, some even being sim-
ple patterns, but Ajino is said to have insisted 2 3 DEPICTIONS OF TREES
that not only were they linked, but that they A little known fact is that Ajino lived for a
were all the same painting, seeing no distinc- time in the Kalduhr Forest. Some would find
tion between the works on each canvas. Some it odd, then, that his paintings rarely feature
are covered in arcane symbols, some are de- trees, but those which do are said to have a
pictions of queens and kings of the past, and mesmerizing effect on the viewer, invoking
some bear uncanny resemblance to heretics an insatiable desire to travel and see the for-
and scholars of the present day. est for themselves.

Ajino the Debauched Painter • 55

 2 4 AN UNKNOWN SITTER 3 1 OUROBOROS
There are competing theories as to the mean- Ajino journeyed to the tropics, and became
ing behind the painting usually referred to enraptured with the many tales of serpents
as Portrait of an Unknown Sitter. Perhaps from local lore. Staying there for six weeks,
it reflects the absence of self suffered by Ajino painted a series of images that show
the wealthy, who have replaced their own people and serpents—fighting, conversing,
humanity with a collection of fine objects. and merging. Displayed in the correct order
Some critics, in looking carefully at the de- they tell a greater story of rebirth, constant
piction of an unoccupied room, believe it is reinvention, and its all-consuming cost.
the artist’s only known self portrait. They
point to the writhing pattern on the carpet, 3 2 CIRCUS OF ECSTASY
the semi-human forms in the collection of There are rumors of a twin set of paintings
meteoric rocks displayed on the inlaid wood generated during twisted interactions of
THE CITY

table, the lush curtain of ivy that covers the multiple participants using fingers and other
window and casts shadows which show the body parts to paint the very scene they were
sun to be in eclipse. Ajino’s grandchildren undertaking. Since the paintings’ creation,
sold the painting with the stipulation that other painters trying to spread their own
it would be turned to face the wall every full legend have attempted to match or best the
moon, but that was years ago and many col- quality and utter bizarreness of the scenes.
lectors have come and gone since. So far, all have failed.

2 5 THE SACRED MASK 3 3 THE AUSTERE LADY

Scholars who have studied Ajino still specu- The Archduke of Naganeh is rumored to be
late on whether his most legendary and infa- so obsessed with Ajino’s The Austere Lady,
mous work actually existed or if it was just a which he managed to get his hands on after
horrifying rumor. Some believe he abducted decades of searching, he has secretly married
treasure-hunters bound for the Kalduhr, it and intends to leave his entire estate to the
slipping a sedative into their drinks, because painting when he dies.
who would miss them? That set of scholars
still debates whether the adventurers were 3 4 CHRYSALIS
alive or dead when Ajino sliced open their Ajino’s Chrysalis depicts either the rise of
abdomens and used their entrails to paint demons, the descent of angels, or the birth of
The Sacred Mask, a painting that, so far, has the first saint to walk the earth—depending
only ever been documented in stray notes on which angle you view the painting from.
found after Ajino’s death.
3 5 AJINO’S IMITATORS
2 6 DEPICTIONS OF ANGELS With verified Ajinos either hard to procure,
Ajino’s pieces depicting angels and other or already in the hands of those wealthy
spiritual guardians invoke such a powerful enough to maintain the security of their
presence that they have inspired a handful of property, a secondary market of post-Ajino
minor cults, each making a more grandiose artwork has sprung up to fill the need. Art
claim of the miracles their painting grants. students, likely under the influence of the
Those who attend the cults’ rituals say the mother’s palm fungus, “channel” Ajino and
effect is amplified as more viewers pray to create works such as Digestion—all black
the beings depicted, exquisitely detailed in canvas meant to be experienced tactilely: it
strokes of golden light. is somehow warm, always moist, and burns.

56 · Ajino the Debauched Painter

3 6 “REVEALING” AJINOS 4 4 ON AJINO AND ALCHEMY
The art merchant Guille of Ordoe has made a “Much has been written on Ajino, even more
cottage industry of selling unheard-of Ajinos on his works, slightly less regarding the
to lower-born nobles across the region, and mysterious happenings and obsessions sur-
yet he remains largely unknown to the upper rounding his paintings. It has been forgotten
crust. The secret to both his success and his by most that before his career as a painter,
obscurity lies in his apparently blank can- Ajino was a failed alchemist. It is these skills
vases that “reveal themselves” to the viewer he drew on in creating the vivid, otherworld-
discerning enough to appreciate their scope ly colors of his paints. It is the view of this
and refined elegance. The purchase of one of author that the paints themselves are the
these pieces is almost certainly accompanied source of the narcotic fervor surrounding
by a radical change in social standing, en- his paintings. Be it pharmacological, theo-
suring that Guille’s departure comes quickly logical, parapsychological, or something else

THE CITY
thereafter. entirely, is not clear. What is clear, however,
is that Ajino was not the failed alchemist he
4 1 EMPTY BASKETS is believed to be.”
Empty Baskets, a lesser known Ajino work,
is said to be hidden not in the tomb of a 4 5 AJINO’S SCULPTURES
wealthy merchant but in the grave of an While best known for his paintings, Ajino
anonymous pauper, as no monied interest also made a collection of animal and beast
would dare be caught dead with it. Deemed sculptures. His animals are particularly ter-
egregious, even by the stark standards of the rifying because he exaggerated and stretched
Age of Partition, not for the artist’s typically their proportions to lengthen limbs, ears,
blasphemous themes but rather for its almost fangs, and claws.
violent depiction of an upended societal or-
der. Its last public showing led to a three day 4 6 ON AJINO AND BARSUL PRISON
riot reaching across social classes and threat- Ajino spent a number of years in Barsul. He
ening the very existence of Ambaret. painted a vast and intricate fresco above the
mess hall during his time there. Ever since,
4 2 THE SINISTER PERIOD inmates are advised to never look up while
It is said that after the rather strange incident dining, and if they do, they should not speak
with his right hand, Ajino’s paintings took about what they see. Over the years, a few
on a certain prophetic quality. Everyone who prisoners disregarded this advice and spent
looks at a piece from his Sinister Period sees hours gazing upon the fresco; all requested
themself somewhere in the painting, and to be buried face down upon their deaths.
never in a good way. And then sooner or later,
most find themselves in situations morbidly 5 1 AJINO’S APPRENTICES
similar in real life. That all ended after his Ajino’s own journals document all six of his
hand was reattached. apprentices, covering a span of nearly forty
years. Two of the names are drawn from
4 3 AJINO’S ABSTRACTS well-known jokes and are assumed not to
Ajino’s abstract work was underrated and exist, (despite the extensive daily records
far ahead of its time. Unfortunately, much Ajino must have fabricated to further the
of it was destroyed or lost to the ages. The joke), one is an alias for a noble priestess
few pieces that remain are so evocative they from Naganeh, and the other three—Marha
incite furious debates among critics, artists, Fen, Nim ils Oleh, and Rorek Hulda—are all
historians, and even the occasional priest. famously blind.

Ajino the Debauched Painter • 57

 5 2 BLACK SUN
Ajino’s Black Sun was painted during a solar
eclipse, and is a markedly restrained exam-
ple of the debauched painter’s late period.
A black circle on cream-coloured canvas, it
is said that if one looks at the middle of the
circle and allows their eyes to lose focus, the
unmarked surround of the ecliptic centre
will begin to teem and writhe with a myriad
strange wonders.
THE CITY

58 · Ajino the Debauched Painter

5 3 ON AJINO AND AUTHORSHIP 6 2 STILL LIFES
“Contrary to what you’ve heard, Ajino did Ajino’s Still Lifes will make even the most
not paint any of the works for which he is grizzled veteran’s stomach turn. Taking
credited. According to his own purposefully the form a bit too literally, Ajino painted a
obscured notes which I have meticulously series of corpses in various states of decay
translated, he would find them in a circle of and dismemberment. The pieces are said to
rune stones during every new moon.” have been destroyed by religious authorities
for obscenity, but a lost original would make
5 4 THE ECHOES OF THE FOREST a fine prize for the savvy collector.
The Echoes of the Forest is a mysterious and
extremely elusive painting. It’s safely guard- 6 3 THE COLLECTION IN TIROLLIS
ed in a room inside a mansion that belongs The Basalt King of Tirollis has a few original
to a wealthy lady. Nobles and merchant lords Ajinos in his gallery, but he has them hung

THE CITY
bring gifts to the woman’s exclusive recep- so the painting faces the wall. Perhaps that is
tions with hopes that she will be satisfied the fashion in notably backwards Tirollis, or
by the offerings and thus invite them to the perhaps the pieces are simply too obscene to
exhibit room. The cost is exorbitant, but the show to guests.
effects of gazing upon the painting are worth
every coin. 6 4 ON AJINO’S HOUNDS
Ajino stopped painting the nobility’s prized
5 5 SONG OF THE VOID hunting dogs once the third one disappeared,
“A retired jailer from Barsul Prison once told shortly after the commission was delivered.
me that, of all the unspeakable things he wit- Legend has it that Ajino was tormented by
nessed there, what still gives him nightmares the missing dogs for the rest of his life, and
is the chamber where the most difficult pris- the mournful baying he imagined was what
oners were sent: all it contained was Ajino’s drove him to his increasingly risky behavior
monolithic painting Song of the Void.” and increasingly haunting and political art.

5 6 DEPICTIONS OF SIN 6 5 PORTRAIT OF THE VIEWER, FINAL

Theologians insist that the later works of The dealer insists that this is indeed a genu-
Ajino represent a series of warnings against ine Ajino, but cautions against pulling back
a sinful life as the artist descended into mad- the cloth hanging over it. This is Ajino’s
ness. The street mystics of Ambaret will smile last and most perfect portrait: Portrait of
and tell you that they are instead signposts the Viewer, Final. Using a strange reflective
showing the wild path to the Divine. pigment, Ajino painted a mirror, a portrait
that always reflects the viewer as they wish
6 1 GOLDEN FALL to be seen. The reflections are beautiful and
The painting Golden Fall is, at first glance, perfect, but piercing, hyperreal, and hungry.
an unassuming landscape of an autumn day
in the Rose District of Ambaret—honestly 6 6 ON AJINO’S TOOLS
quite pedestrian for the famously masterful “So this man came in screaming about how
Ajino. Viewers who have observed the piece he’s going to prime us all out of the picture if
on Accession Day, however, have noticed it we don’t quiet down so he can get some sleep.
undergo a surprising shift: the falling leaves He’s waving this little wand and everyone
appear as flames, and the golden dome of the starts to laugh. Then he shouts, ‘No, it’s not
Royal Palace looks as though it is caving in. a wand, you fuckers! This is Ajino’s filbert!’”

Ajino the Debauched Painter • 59

 The Sisters
THE GAUNTLET
THE CITY

We revere the Sisters, women from the near-mythical Age of Saints whose works are lodestars
of goodness and virtue. The Sisters order our lives: we erect temples to honor them, we hold
feast days in their name, and we seek their blessings for hearth and home. But how much do we
truly know about them, about the women behind the saintly shrouds? There are some histori-
ans who suggest the stories we tell of the Sisters are little better than fairy tales, that many of
these saints have a dark and complicated history that has been whitewashed over the centuries.
A few scholars suggest these women never existed at all, that the entities we venerate as saints
are, in fact, demons who use the trappings of religion to control us. No matter the truth, we
must at least acknowledge that light cannot exist without dark.

60 · The Sisters
To Which Sister Do You Pledge Yourself?
1 1 SAINT EVELYN 1 4 SAINT ERLEA
Evelyn the White, patron saint of doctors Erlea the Amber, patron saint of florists,
and nurses, is routinely honored by the wear- gardening, and beekeepers, gathered many
ing of pristine, white garments. While she is obedient followers. Whispers persist that she
today associated with saving lives, during her once tested disobedient students by leading
time, which was the bleak Era of Occlusion, them through the hedge maze to be stung by
she was known for the exact opposite: mercy hornets and wasps. Those practising her ways
killings to those left desperate by the apoca- have honey once per day and grow flowers in
lyptic wars that defined those years. six locations around their homes.

THE CITY
1 2 SAINT HAYMA 1 5 SAINT FYONNE
Saint Hayma is the revered patron not of The woodsmen who venerate Saint Fyonne
lumberjacks, but of the “brushboys” who hold a feast in her name before felling a partic-
scurry between them gathering kindling, ularly old tree. This rite is significantly tamed
bark, and sawdust to sell for pennies a bun- from Fyonne’s time, when she required that
dle on the outskirts of Ambaret. They each any tree taken from the forest must be bal-
learn to draw her symbol so they can use a anced with the sacrifice of an old person who
cast-off branch or chip of bark to scrawl it in was given over to be feasted upon by beasts.
a bit of sawdust for each tree that’s felled to
ensure that it’s free of rot or boring beetles. 1 6 SAINT CLARITHE
Lost to antiquity is Hayma’s habit of forcing Clarithe, patron saint of glassblowers, is wor-
the children of poachers caught in her forest shipped in only one place: the Cathedral of
to sign for their parent’s remains in the blood Light, in Ambaret, an artistic marvel of del-
of the offenders she personally sawed to bits. icate glass sculptures. But few know the true
story: long ago, a wealthy man was so dis-
1 3 SAINT FATIMAH traught by the death of his wife, Clarissa, he
Saint Fatimah, the patron of charcoal-burn- had artisans build a glass replica of her body,
ers, whose temples and churches are made of inside of which were arranged her bones and
savory-scented, fire-cracked wood is given internal organs, a grotesque that was then
praise by taking hearth ash before starting displayed for any and all to see. Over the
one’s journey and smearing it over one’s centuries, this tale became warped, until the
eyelids and lips. Fires will burn hotter and glass “Clarissa” became the saint “Clarithe,”
longer, and use less fuel, so long as this ash who so admired the glassblowers, she com-
remains. Fatimah is known as a traveler who missioned them to create a reliquary for her
moved throughout the land from the south. parts after she died.
It is said that she traveled with a cart that
held a neverending collection of firewood, 2 1 SAINT NIA
and she would travel to outlying communi- A traveler from a land far off hunches into
ties during the winter to provide them with Milnen’s Tap in Fort Duhrin. For a drink
fuel for their hearths for free. The wood that they’ll tell you of a far off Sister of the stars
Fatimah gave those villages was actually a who watches over the darkness in all of us.
signal to foul spirits: burning the wood upon Before you go, they hand you a copper cres-
a hearth would result in a visit from the True cent and mutter, “Nia, drink this kindness in
Folk and their otherworldly flaying knives. and have satisfaction.”

The Sisters • 61
 2 2 SAINT SOLACRUSE 2 5 SAINT MEORITA
Saint Solacruse is the patron of cobblers and To ensure success and a fast recovery, the
shoemakers. After a funeral it is customary bloodletters of Ambaret must mark their
for a loved one (usually a spouse or parent) own flesh with the sigil of Saint Meorita and
to leave a pair of the departed’s shoes with offer the first drops of their patient’s product
a cobbler or devotee of Saint Solacruse. The to the flame in honor of her, earning them the
devotee will then wait until nightfall to rit- unsavory nickname “bloodburners.” Those
ualistically disassemble the footwear and that publicly curse the practice of draining
burn it piece by piece, ensuring, legends say, life essence to heal whisper Meorita’s other
the departed’s ghost won’t have to walk far to alleged name, Obedmeah the Devourer, and
the afterlife. This is a common practice, but steel themselves for the day when she re-
few know it derives from an ancient queen ceives enough sustenance from the unwitting
(likely the original Solacruse) who would bloodburners to fill her veins and rise once
THE CITY

have the soles of her prisoners’ feet flayed off more…

when they were sentenced to her dungeon.
Perhaps as some sick joke or cruel deterrent, 2 6 SAINT LONETTA
the queen would have the bloody scraps pub- Many have asked why such a subjective pro-
licly delivered to a cobbler after the inevita- fession as jewelry appraisal requires a patron
ble execution. saint, much less one as demanding as Saint
Lonetta. One would assume that without
2 3 THE NAMELESS SAINT her guidance the shine and luster of gems
We all know the low things that follow and metals would surely be as marvellous.
death: the maggots and the carrion beetles But the ceremonial polishing rituals of the
and the vultures. If observed, it’s apparent Katawolk Appraiser’s Guild in the nearly si-
that they have complicated rituals and proce- lent upper towers of Ambaret’s northwestern
dures for dissecting a corpse, unknown to us. wall show otherwise, with each pass of their
These rituals venerate a Sister with a name secret polishing agents bringing more light
unknowable to people, whose existence is and life to their work while transferring the
known only because some farmers follow- precious same from the workers themselves
ing lost livestock have seen a bald woman to their beloved Lonetta’s afterlife.
watching them, clothed in a drab gray robe
that crawls over her form like maggots over a 3 1 SAINT CHARA
three-day-old corpse. Saint Chara is the patron of birth and mid-
wives. She is often depicted with a barren
2 4 SAINT THRALLASIA branch that holds one young leaf. Her follow-
Saint Thrallasia blesses the kite-makers ers are known to give the pregnant seedlings
of the city’s parks. On the day that the sun to grow alongside the child in the belly. To
hangs highest in the sky, they cut the braids those desiring children, they bring naked
they have grown for the last year and tie branches and offshoots, to plant them and
them to the tails of the tiny kites of delicate see if something will grow—and if it does,
papyrus and balsa, and release them to fly so does a baby grow in the womb. Few know
away. Thralassa will receive them in the sky that Chara was a witch who would implant
and her laughter will gust until the rains of manikins into barren wombs so that these
the winter. None of the scalps flayed from the manufactured golems might grow strong and
skulls of rivals that she hurled into the sky wise there. Even fewer know that the highest
with a blood-curdling cackle have survived ranking initiates of Saint Chara still use this
the centuries since she was a feared warlord. technique on rare occasions.

62 · The Sisters
3 2 SAINT SUFGONYOT 3 5 SAINT ISTAAVA
Bakers leave a drop of oil in every corner With the blessing of Istaava, the roaster’s
of their kitchen to ensure Saint Sufgonyot beans exude a flavor celebrated by both cof-
imbues their fried dough with bouquets of fee novices and aficionados alike. Even years
sumptuous flavor. Some bakers do this daily, after learning the delicate art of preparing
but all bakers do it when they have a major the seeds of the quoquo tree, bean roasters
undertaking like a wedding or coronation struggle to earn her favor. She may be hon-
cake, even though it is common knowledge ored by roasting beans in small batches in a
Sufgonyot prefers fried treats. In fact, in an- solid gold pan. In truth, she will only give her
cient times, she was the patron of oil expeller blessing if the roaster burns their own flesh
pressers, not bakers. The tradition started as on the hot pan before filling it with beans.
a memorial to the first army to lay siege to
Old Fort Duhrin, which fell when the de- 3 6 SAINT OTA

THE CITY
fenders poured boiling oil down on them. With most statues of Ota, the clockmak-
er’s saint, she stands with one finger raised,
3 3 SAINT HELISSEN perhaps to punctuate the time or point to
Helissen the Subtle empowers those with the sun. Horologists honor Ota by putting a
no means to protect themselves. While no small gear over the finger, like a ring. They’ll
formal school of hers exists, her nuns have keep this gear polished to a shine, fearing
honed their graceful unarmed techniques on that an unhappy Sister will spoil their mech-
the street as they defend the innocent and anisms. According to the myth, she emerged
vulnerable. According to her teachings, each from the desert in the Ruhlota Wastes, gift-
time a nun intervenes they must also teach ing the nomads there the very first gear and
the survivor a technique—how to break an spring mechanism. The truth is the nomads
assailant’s grip, simple ways to trip or throw invented the clock mechanism themselves,
them to the ground, and the art of applying to determine the pattern of Ota’s visits when
chokeholds using their own garments. In she would capture and feast on someone’s
this way, they honor the courage of Helissen soul. This process kept her young while aging
and ensure her wisdom is passed to those the victim.
who need it most. They do not speak of her
methods which can kill silently and swiftly, 4 1 SAINT MEPHERA
nor of the process by which certain notable The Humming Woods know only one Queen,
persons may be “vanished” by those making but they’ve seen Sisters come and go. Sister
a suitably large donation to the coffers. Anpeth of Sweet Words. Sister Dunyajk of
Easy Birth. Sister Ellyellun the Paper Thin.
3 4 SAINT VESTRA Most of these names have been forgotten.
Saint Vestra is the patron of fishermen, sail- Only the Sun-Striped Clade, beloved devo-
ors, and all whose livelihood is bound to the tees of Sister Mephera, walk the woods now,
ocean. Many sing to her for protection from wreathed in soporific smoke and traveling
storms or to call the fish to their nets. Some in bumbling paths, incense tracing strange
coastal settlements honor her during the patterns in the air in their wake. Members
festival of Greentide with elaborate offerings of the Clade may be identified to outsiders
bound in woven effigies. Few folks question by their blackened hands, scarred and dense
why some ships are spared while others seem from holding the burning braziers without
to run aground upon the very shores of those protection. Mephera offers all the protection
who worship her. After all, they say, the sea they truly need.
must have its due.

The Sisters • 63
 4 2 SAINT SINESTRA 4 5 SAINT AGNITTI
To venerate Saint Sinestra is illegal in most Agnitti, the patron saint of lost children, is
cities, as her followers are famous for being mainly worshipped by the close knit commu-
pickpockets and cat burglars. Some cities try nities near the Kalduhr. In these homes and
a different approach, giving orphanages extra villages by the dark woods, they celebrate
coin for each child they take in, to avoid any the Feast Day of Agnitti by wrapping ribbons
falling to the streets and to her temple. Still, around the trunks of old trees that will lead
her temple hardly struggles for recruitment, the lost home. Lost children who’ve returned
though they never take adults. In the temple, home will often talk of ribbon trails that lead
there’s a rumor that you “ascend” when you deeper into the forest, and the dim lights of
reach majority, which mostly seems to mean distant torches following the paths.
having a dream, gathering your most prized
takes, and giving everyone the slip to walk 4 6 SAINT CAITE
THE CITY

into the woods alone. Saint Caite, patron of wet nurses and milk
siblings, is honored by new parents collecting
4 3 SAINT AMSER milk and offering it to a neighbour’s child.
The patron of wayfarers, Saint Amser is said While today Caite is called upon to help par-
to meet the lonely and weary in their times ents and babies in need, less is known about
of greatest need, sharing with them her fire how she kidnapped the children of struggling
and food and a little mulled wine. Devotees parents to raise as her own.
of the Wandering Sister take great care in
their preparations for the road so that they 5 1 SAINT YADYCK
might not out of foolishness deprive anoth- No one speaks the name Yadyck anymore—
er of Amser’s comfort. Amser’s faithful are Saint Yadyck of the Loam. Her followers’ rich
known by their black, waxen cloaks, funereal mulch is sprinkled across their fecund fields,
attire that wards both the elements and the but none will share in their silent harvest.
loss of beloved companions, so that no more
will be lost to the forest—as was the saint’s 5 2 SAINT SURAYA
sister so many years ago. Suraya, commonly known as the Weaver, is
revered by artisans and those who mend bro-
4 4 THE FOUR SISTERS ken things. From weavers of fine baskets and
The four chosen Sisters stand, apparently tapestries to carpenters or smiths seeking to
sculpted by water from the red sandstone repair a delicate joining, many sing to invoke
walls of an arroyo deep in the southern des- her blessing at the most trying moments of
ert. Among the smooth curves protruding their craft. It is customary to honor her by
from the dry walls you can just make out the hanging a broken or unfinished piece of work
forms of four hooded women, their heads inside one’s place of business. This signifies
bowed together in prayer. When the walls are that nothing is made perfect, but may be im-
wet with rain, their faces glow red, and their proved with her aid. Only the surgeon-priests
tear tracks are the last to dry in any drought. of Barsul Prison remember her origins as the
No humans venerate them, but red marrow patron of early leeches and physikers, who
of fresh cracked bones is almost always pres- prayed to her for forgiveness when their ex-
ent at their feet, left as offerings by the scav- periments failed. They claim to be her only
enger canids of the area. The arroyo itself is true followers, dedicating their surgical al-
home to ancient foxes and coyotes, fed by the teration of “broken” prisoners to her and de-
elk who wander down in search of water in claring the survivors “miracles” in her name.
dry months.

64 · The Sisters
5 3 SAINT ACEROE 5 6 SAINT VALENCIA
Saint Aceroe, commonly called Sister Stink- Saint Valencia, also known as the Lady of
horn, is the patron saint of mushrooms, dung Repose, is the patron of philosophy, schol-
sweepers, and pawnbrokers. It is said, in life, ars, and thoughtful contemplation. Though
she was a dyer, known for fabrics the colors wise and knowledgeable, she was not given
of which were so vibrant they evoked ecsta- to answering questions; however, she was
sy in any who gazed upon them. The final, known to spend her days listening to sup-
lost color Aceroe created was so powerful, a plicants presenting their theories to her and
local constable murdered her to possess the then asking a single question that would en-
fabric. On Sister Stinkhorn’s feast day, de- lighten the supplicant and cause them to tear
vout followers eat a small bit of psychoactive their treatises in twain and start anew. In
mushroom and try to recreate the lost color more modern times, it is a rite for all serious
of Aceroe. Darker legends have it that Aceroe scholars to burn a copy of their most recent

THE CITY
discovered a shade of amber that could take work before starting a new one. Scholars
over minds, and that her earliest followers whisper in hushed tones about who among
were a cult of zombies created by a monk them she will find unworthy and condemn to
wearing robes of that very color. backbreaking menial labour rather than the
career in the arts they each see as their due.
5 4 SAINT TECCLA
It is a great cause of sorrow in the formerly 6 1 SAINT BIER
prosperous market town of Avayyal that their Saint Bier, patron of lost causes, draftees, and
beloved Teccla was adopted by the Guild of bastards, is not well respected. She came to
Torturers as the sisterly object of their vener- holiness during the 100 days of rule by the
ation. Throughout Kalduhr very few shrines Profane Pretender, when the bastard son of
dedicated to her have not been desecrated by, the dying king bullied his way to brief power
most people assume, resentful members of with the acquiescence of religious radicals
the populace, possibly from among those un- and the support of the town bands. Bier
fortunate enough to have been subject to the (whose true name is unknown) was a young
attentions of the guild. But there are some woman who the Pretender claimed as a holy
who whisper that it is, in fact, the Torturers muse. Struck with an assassin’s arrow, she
who deface the effigies of their patron, as one lingered, carried on a bier of sticks by the
of the secret rites performed during their Pretender’s ragged army, dying. In her last
rare conclaves. days, her fevered touch cured wounds and
eased the pain of the commoners who flocked
5 5 SAINT VITTA to the Pretender’s banner before his eventual
Vitta—the Sister of Agony—is the patron defeat and quartering at the hands of the
saint of those who try to heal, whether they’re nobility. An apostate saint, Bier is honored
successful or not. Those who follow her find in woodland shrines of mud and sticks, and
beauty in her glistening, bloodsoaked visage, on crude pewter medals around the necks
and pay tribute to her by taking the impos- of conscripts. She is said to intercede often,
sibly sharp knife found at her shrines and but her gifts are weak: easing suffering but
cutting themselves with it, leaving their fresh never averting death. Her worship is secretly
blood for her in case she needs more. Saint fervent among the guildhall bands—the rich
Vitta teaches her adherents there is no heal- burghers disguising it as that of less hereti-
ing without pain… and she ensures there is cal saints—noting Bier only by arrow and
plenty of suffering for all. branch designs on altars and icons.

The Sisters • 65
 6 2 SAINT URSHULA 6 5 SAINT SLETSA
By day, Urshula the Unrivalled, saint of hunt- Saint Sletsa is for those who fall in battle.
ing and wrestling, could be found wandering She is often invoked as a warning: “Stay in
the woods for berries or deer, and by night formation lest you meet Saint Sletsa!” Sea-
she would wrestle down at the tavern, raising soned troops and garrison guards talk of her
funds for the poor. Devotees of Urshula wear as a companion who is always nearby but
animal fur and wrestle before sharing a large for unforeseen and often haphazard reasons
meal of meat. Urshula never lost a wrestling they have not yet encountered. Soldiers often
match and some swear she grew taller and leave notes for her thanking her for her tire-
growled during the longer matches. less efforts and recommending particularly
disliked officers and nobles as people she may
6 3 SAINT AGNITH like to meet in the near future. A genuine
Agnith the Tall is the only giantess known concern has emerged, especially in the upper
THE CITY

to be venerated as a saint. She was one of classes, that her followers are transforming
the last of her people, and is believed to have into a murderous cult.
preached to them from atop a great stone
about the death of their titanic forebears, the 6 6 SAINT DAPHINE
depravity of Old Kalduhr, and the coming Saint Daphine is for the ditch
of the Age of Occlusion. She convinced the diggers and trough scrapers.
giants to lay down their arms against the They say she cast the moon in
scattered human tribes and seek serenity in the sky so one knows when to
solitude—a quiet, peaceful end for a people take up the shovel. Others say
that once strode proudly over the mountains she was a kindly widow who
and made war with gods and madmen. sprinkled silver sovereigns
wherever the earth begged
6 4 SAINT ANAMARTIA to be turned and especially
Saint Anamartia is the patron of redemp- far from where her many
tion and penance. Her ardent followers are husbands and lovers went
marked by their burgundy robes, and the missing. Either way, ditch
black masks that prove they bear no witness diggers and trough
to sins past or present, pursuing their tenet to scrapers pound a silver
guide sinners to an ever more righteous path. sovereign into their
In chapels devoted to her, it is common prac- tools and all work
tice for the congregation to wash their hands stops if even the
in blood, an act meant to symbolically hide smallest bone is
their sins. Usually sheep’s blood is used, but uncovered.
her priests are known to bleed any animal
that is available to perform the right. She has
been known as the Mother of Sinners going
back to the very first texts due to her pop-
ularity with criminals and other unsavory
folk. Scholars are uncertain if there is any
connection between mentions of Sister Ana-
martia as the Mother of Sinners and another
more shrouded figure known as the Mother
of Sin.

66 · The Sisters
 Saint Ara the Torchbearer
Torchbea
AARO
AARON BURKETT

THE CITY
Saint Ara the Torchbearer is the Sister associated with dawn, charity, courage, resolve, and
hope. Most of her supplicants are drawn from miners, battlefield scavengers, treasure-hunters,
and the cursed and the disease-stricken—all those venturing into the night above or below,
literal or metaphorical, desiring rescue or a light to guide the way.
Scholars have confirmed that Ara was indeed a real person, born to a noble family in the Age
of Saints. Renowned for sneaking out of her family manor late at night and running the streets
with a notorious gang of thieves, she showed disdain for others. However, this aloofness was
quickly shed after her infant brother contracted a rare disease. Betrayed by his body and be-
yond the help of the physickers at the time, Ara despaired and sought a means to preserve him.
With cunning thievery, she gained access to forbidden libraries and outlawed rituals. With
such knowledge, she saved her brother—but at a terrible price.
Her crimes were discovered, and as penance she was locked in a high tower. Six weeks into
her imprisonment, a fire broke out in her chamber. The flames were so severe that the tower
shone like a lighthouse for four days, drawing all attention toward her plight. Once the fire
subsided, the tower was examined. Nothing was burnt, and no body was ever discovered.

You pick up a handcrafted saint medal of Saint Ara. On one side shows...
1 a tower, struck by lightning, burning high into the sky as stones topple.
2 two footprints—one slightly larger than the other—below a sun rising over the horizon.
3 stars marking a constellation—the Eye of Ara.
4 a woman’s face crudely sculpted in profile.
5 a lit torch—its flames spill over, wreathing the medal’s edge.
6 a woman clutching a torch to her breast.
Gazing at it makes you feel...
1 your limbs, muscles, and breath slow as seconds slide and turn syrupy. You’re stuck.
2 thoughts bubble up unbidden as your mind stretches up forever and something else acts through you.
3 weightless as your body crumples to the ground.
4 vertiginous—as if you’re in two places at once, looking at yourself through someone else’s face. And your own.
5 the hairs prick on the back of your neck—as if many dozens of eyes gaze through you.
6 like iron filings to a magnet. You don’t know where you’re going, but you have a destination.
Saint Ara the Torchbearer • 67
 Ara's Shrines, Miracles, and Flame-Touched History
1 1 SHRINE OF HOPE EVERBURNING 2 1 SHRINE CANDLES
The Shrine of Hope Everburning outside Every shrine, major or minor, is lit by a single
Fort Duhrin is remarkable. Its central effigies burning candle or torch unallowed to go out
are carved from a lustrous coal that cannot or be replaced by an oil lamp. The ashes and
be found elsewhere. Under the dark of the cooled wax from these sacred implements are
new moon, ecstatic shrieks emanate from a often compressed or housed in medallions
different throat. bearing her likeness.

1 2 THE FATE OF ARA’S BROTHER 2 2 MINING RITES

A single regional record states that after re- In mining camps, it’s common practice after
THE CITY

ceiving her ministration, Ara’s brother never a cave-in or any death under the earth to hold
grew and his wounds wouldn’t heal. After a a torchlit procession down into the tunnels to
particularly egregious riding accident, his lead the spirits of the dead up into the night
slight skeleton simply shed his skin and flesh sky. Spirits trapped beneath grow corrupt
like a husk. and cause more cave-ins.

1 3 THE MIRACLE OF LEVASTI 2 3 TALLOWFLESH

In the outskirts of Levasti, there’s a story While Saint Ara is held in reverence by all
about a little girl who was out playing in the suffering from disease, those struck with tal-
fields when the ground collapsed underfoot. lowflesh are the most fervent. It’s a common
When she prayed for salvation, a warmth sight to see one such firebrand with burning
came over her and a mote of light blossomed stakes protruding from insensate flesh that
in thin air. She followed these signs to safety. drips down into puddles of cooling skin at
their feet. The slow self-immolation is an act
1 4 BLESSED CHARCOAL of public contrition for private sins.
If you purchase a piece of blessed charcoal
and keep it by your heart, then a torch in 2 4 THE CONFESSION TREE
hand will burn brighter and push the dark- There is a tree deep in the Kahldhur that
ness further back. Superstitious folks say bears no fruit but plenty of secrets—secrets
it may keep malicious and shadowy things too terrible for Ara to take with her to the
from approaching you as well. grave. She retreated deep into the forest and
whispered them to the soil. The tree standing
1 5 GUIDING STARS there now bears her bad news.
The faithful say every star is a torch lit by
Saint Ara to guide the trapped, despairing, 2 5 THE SARSEN
and dying into the afterlife. Some sects also The Sarsen was sacred to an old, long-forgot-
revere constellations as proxies for the Sister. ten god. It has since become associated with
the Torchbearer due its uncanny relationship
1 6 TWO COINS with the surrounding moors. Barring the
There are two indestructible silver coins mountains on the horizon, the Sarsen acts
housed in separate temples. Rumors say they as a fixed point where you can orient your-
house the entirety of Saint Ara’s knowledge self while travelling. Leaving an offering at
—including cures for myriad plagues, the the Sarsen may result in hearing the terrible
binding of spirits, and summoning demons. secrets of your enemies.

68 · Saint Ara the Torchbearer

2 6 REVERSE DINNER 3 5 THE CHARCOAL DISTRICT SHRINE
On the eve of Saint Ara’s feast day, it’s cus- In the Charcoal District, Saint Ara’s shrine
tomary for lonely unmarried folk to gather consists of a simple clay bowl and a snake’s
in an abandoned house and prepare dinner nest of metal pipes that culminate in a single
in reverse. The table is set in reverse and plume of blue-green flame. No one knows
dessert served first in complete silence. If where it protrudes from or who dedicated it
everything is performed correctly then their to her.
future spouse will arrive at midnight. If any
part of the process goes awry, the ritual may 3 6 ON HOPE
summon a coffin or the Torchbearer herself. While often called the Herald of Hope, there
are several occurrences after her sanctifica-
3 1 ARA’S ESCAPES tion where her invocation stole hope from
With her great sorcerous knowledge, Saint hearts and sowed despair.

THE CITY
Ara did not go into captivity peacefully. She
escaped the tower twice before immolating. 4 1 THE INNKEEPER’S SON
Stories persist about her escapes, treasures Scratching can be heard from the local inn-
she buried, and the lives she changed in her keeper’s cellar door, and her son hasn’t been
last few days of freedom. seen for two weeks or more. She says he’s out
visiting an aunt in Imbrares, but that town
3 2 ARA AND THE LIBRARIES was wiped out by plague. The innkeeper is
Before you can enter any of the great royal buying up treasures and making extravagant
libraries, you are patted down in search of sacrifices to Saint Ara.
any Saint Ara-related paraphernalia. Though
it happened in times immemorial, her thefts 4 2 AN OLD ONE
left such lasting scars that librarians still bar Despite what the academics say, Saint Ara
her from symbolically entering. Those stolen was never real. She is simply the littlest fin-
tomes surely persist somewhere in private gerbone of an Old One echoing forward in
collections or hidden caches. time from when the skies burned and the old
empire retreated underground. The torch in
3 3 ARA’S CHILDREN her hand represents forbidden wisdom and
Like many Sisters, Saint Ara has children— draws sorcerers like moths.
though hers are more literal than others.
Sometimes, the terminally ill sleep at the foot 4 3 ON CONGREGATIONS
of her shrine, offering themselves as a vehicle The Crown strictly enforces a size limit on
for Ara’s designs. Often, their prayers are un- Saint Ara’s congregations through a series of
aswered and the ill simply expire in silence. benchmarks. Crowds must be larger than 3,
Others, however, combust from within. A 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, etc. when performing the rit-
newborn child will be found in the ashes. uals of beseechment. Failure to abide by the
royal decree can have catastrophic results.
3 4 FAITHLESS WOODCUTTERS
Woodcutters also pay their respects to the 4 4 ARA IN KURAMET
Torchbearer, yet everyone knows a story When Ara’s Eye ascends to the House of
about a distant cousin who didn’t. When Saint Kuramet of the Lions, it is important
such folk were pinned beneath a tree, calling to openly wear talismans of protection to im-
for help, the rescue parties walked right past prove their efficacy against the baleful light
them—blinded to their presence until it was that penetrates stone, wood, and bone, lest it
too late. twist the flesh to serve.

Saint Ara the Torchbearer • 69

 4 5 THE MIRACLE OF DEVERAIN 5 3 MYSTERY CULTS
Six years ago, the plague swept through Inquisitors are especially critical of wor-
Deverain. When all hope seemed lost and shippers begging at Saint Ara’s hem because
no medicine seemed to work, the faithful history and its attendant folklore is prone
gathered together and wept before the stat- to spawning mystery cults. This has become
ue of Saint Ara. With sweat and blood, they increasingly common in the countryside,
shifted her statue onto a cart and paraded her where pilgrims walk a circuit. They visit
around the city to show the spirits of disease each shrine to Ara they encounter, all while
that they had no fear. The Sister heard their flagellating themselves and bearing the
pleas, and the epidemic ceased. Those too far first plague-stricken child they can lay their
gone still died, but the plague did not spread hands on. The child is their living effigy of
any further. Saint Ara and the icon of their worship.
THE CITY

4 6 THE BANDIT LEADER’S BARGAIN 5 4 ON SORCEROUS TOMES

Last autumn, a company of bandits occupied It’s common among grimoires of a certain
a Levasti summer manor and its surround- provenance to include a dedication to Saint
ing vineyards. The bandits’ leader became so Ara. Without her divine intercession, they
drunk, she fell and struck her head. In her might have continued a life of blind igno-
half-conscious stupor, Saint Ara visited her rance and abided by society’s order.
and promised to restore the leader’s name
and title if the occupied land was respected. 5 5 THE TOWER SHRINE
The leader agreed, and Saint Ara led her by One of Saint Ara’s most popular pilgrimage
torchlight back to the land of the waking. sites lies in the Levasti countryside. The unas-
While she was unconscious, her crew had set suming foundations that belonged to a tower
the vineyards ablaze. The leader’s bargain —supposedly the one where she was once
was broken before she could keep it, and so captive—are now bordered by a low wall and
she hid in the Shrine of Saint Ara. When the beautiful chapel. The stones themselves re-
kingsguard put the bandits to the sword, the member the terrible night when Ara plucked
leader was missed and able to slip away. the haze from a star and burned away. People
suffering from night terrors come to sleep on
5 1 BEGGAR’S YARDS them, hoping she might burn away the de-
Newer shrines of Saint Ara feature a beggar’s mons that hound their slumber.
yard—a fenced-in ward for those touched by
the plague. Initiates tend to the sick, captur- 5 6 THE LAMB OF ARA
ing their words as they do. It’s said that the The accustomed sacrifice for the Torchbear-
Sister has been known to dictate new gospel er is a lamb—with or without blemish, she
from their prophetic mouths. There’s a thriv- is not picky. The animal is then subjected to
ing trade for disseminating the ramblings. the normal rites, and its carcass is roasted on
a pyre of sanctified wood. The remnants are
5 2 THE RELIQUARY then left for four days, the same number of
The most sacred relic in all of Saint Ara’s days her tower burned. Sometimes the priests
catechism is a golden reliquary held in a are free to consume the sacred barbecue.
deep vault in the Temple of the Peerless Star. Sometimes Saint Ara returns the spark of life
Though her body was never found, scholars to the lamb, and it speaks of death rising up
say the box contains Ara’s skull. Her most from the sod. The Governor of Fort Duhrin
faithful, however, say it actually holds the keeps such an animal in his court to witness
spark that started the tower inferno. his fair judgement.

70 · Saint Ara the Torchbearer

6 1 THE TORCHINGS 6 2 INHABIT
In Ambaret, on the feast day of Saint Ara, Sorcerers owe much to the Torchbearer
all the children in the city light candles and considering she developed the ritual of pos-
keep them lit until midnight. At that time, session known as Inhabit. Its earliest forms
they descend en masse to the port and make center on the following invocation: “By my
a wish as they set the lights adrift atop small will, I send my reason into the night. Like a
boats or wooden planks. Before dawn, the spark, it will catch fire, consume their spirit,
two wickedest people in the city burn alive. and they will be me. By my will, I send my
Is it any wonder why the Crown always takes reason into the night.”
to the countryside during the holiday?
6 3 THE TORCH’S CLEMENCY
After Saint Ara’s second escape, her captors
attempted to put the torch to her, but every

THE CITY
flame quenched before it touched her skin. In
memory of this miracle, those sentenced to
death by burning are declared innocent and
released if the fires refuse to light.

6 4 RELICS
With nothing surviving the conflagration,
there’s a seller’s market of peasantry looking
for the faintest scrap of Ara’s legacy. Hawkers
claim to have relics of hers: a shroud or favored
cloak, one of her teeth, strands of hair. Many
of these are bought from treasure-hunters
under crushing debt, desperately hoping for
one big score.

6 5 THE CAVE SHRINES

Older shrines to Saint Ara are fully enclosed
and cavern-like, lit within by burning brands
that fill the air with smells both rich and
pungent. Petitioners are instructed to kneel
within the shadowed alcoves and pray until
a torchbearer comes to retrieve them. Some
petitioners never return to the outside world.

6 6 HERESY
A passage from a rogue gospel of Saint Ara:
“The Sisters exist in a state between life and
death, neither mortal nor divine. Their spirits
are bound into the air so long as folk breathe.
They crave sensation and will always drive
their worshippers to violence and bloodshed.
The very act of worship and prayer fuels this
appetite. Please, I’m begging you: turn away.”

Saint Ara the Torchbearer • 71

 Saint Exodias of the Leviathan
AARO
AARON BURKETT
THE CITY

Vast, capricious, and cruel, Saint Exodias of the Leviathan is the terror of little people clinging
to boats bobbing on the waves thrashing in her wake. Not content to simply patronize working
folk, Exodias is the sea, the storm, the vast, the powerful, and the disdain the great hold for the
meek and the small. The sailors, fisherfolk, whalers, and others plying any body of water, fresh
or salt, bribe her with steel mirrors and bits of polished metal. Anything to divert her attention
away from them while still paying their dues to her.
Coastal regions prone to hurricanes honor her with feast days and carnivals during the warm-
est parts of the year in hopes of endearing themselves to her and spare her wrath. They are
meticulous in recreating the festivals previous; the priests say she has a long memory and loves
nursing grudges. Towns and villages further inland, desperate for rainfall, hope she blesses
them with thunderheads and monsoon rains for their crops. The occasional beast gobbling
children on the periphery is an acceptable price.

You spy a great beast:

1 an enormous whale walking on an uncountable parade of spindly legs.
2 scraping a trough through the ground, this river of flesh sucks in anything it touches.
3 a horse-sized snapping turtle bearing a shelf of soil and greenery on its shell.
4 crayfish the size of large dogs singing in a choir of harplike voices.
5 a walking pillar of snakelike ribbons extending into the sky.
6 it is being swarmed by a hunting pack of smaller predators.
The beast bears a mark of Saint Exodias:
1 five eyes, the Sister’s sacred number.
2 a bouquet of human faces pepper its neck and flanks.
3 a statue of the Sister embedded in its spine.
4 saltwater spills from the corners of its mouth and wounds.
5 its excrement contains small statues bearing her likeness
6 long, looping chains festooned with her sacred bells which once bound it.
72 · Saint Exodias of the Leviathan
Sailors' Tales of the Sister of the Sea
1 1 THE QUEEN OF TIDES 1 6 ON OTHER SAINTS
Exodias is commonly conflated with the Do not offer prayers to the myriad minor
Queen of Tides, but they are not the same. saints of sailcraft and fishing in the same
Seesawing between rivals and contentious breath you beseech Saint Exodias. Best to
lovers, their relationship shifts and turns like wait an hour between prayers, otherwise she
a stormborn wave. It is best to give identical will track them down and eat them. No one
offerings to both, about a mile apart. prays to Sisters Vestra or Alicar anymore for
a reason.
1 2 THE SALT SHRINE
Her most sacred shrine inland was once a salt 2 1 THE LEVIATHAN’S PROCESSION

THE CITY
mine carved into a shrine venerating Saint The Leviathan’s Procession is a regular oc-
Hester of the Long Table. Upon its blessing, currence before her festivals come into full
the priest claimed all salt’s presence was due swing. It revolves around public display and
to her blessings. Saint Exodias flooded the celebration of her life’s flotsam: a comb of
chambers while it was full of people and it baleen, a clam shell polished to mirror shine,
remains submerged still. The local leviathan a lock of salt-encrusted hair, etc.
bears her face.
2 2 THE PRIM SUPPER
1 3 THUNDERBOLT When a ship is becalmed, a desperate crew
Some heterodox scholars argue that Saint may attempt to show good manners and
Exodias never existed and her intervention perform the Prim Supper. This grim ritual
at the Siege of Five Walls instead bears the involves each crewman taking a bite from the
fingerprints of Pabakhar the Thunderbolt, first person who died from exposure before
an old deity of vengeance, considering the offering the body to the sea.
entire affair was caused by a broken oath.
2 3 DURING WINTER
1 4 THE SACRED STRAITS Her form is so monstrous during the year’s
An invading army made camp before cross- coldest months, she descends into the light-
ing her Sacred Straits. The heathens cast less depths to embrace the beasts found there.
down her idols and erected a new shrine to Their clammy touch is the only satisfaction
their Old God. A mountain of quivering she will know.
flesh heaved itself from the shallow waters
and buried everyone under its bulk, dying in 2 4 EXODIAS THE ETERNAL
the night air. You can still smell its last breath Thought slain in the distant past, sailors
if you go on a pilgrimage to the site. say Saint Exodias can still be found wading
through the world’s periphery dragging an
1 5 GRASPING-HANDS enormous trawling net behind her.
Recent scholarship has uncovered worship of
Exodias may just be a new face on a much, 2 5 IMPROMPTU SHRINES
much older deity. Though her proper name is Unlike many Sisters, Exodias’ flagellants
lost, she was often called Grasping-Hands or and pilgrims regularly construct unofficial
Drags-Us-Down-Forever, and it was from her shrines. Cobbling together ossuaries of whale
unlit depths that the giants of old walked to bones, driftwood, and their blood wherever
the surface world. they find the materials.

Saint Exodias of the Leviathan • 73

 2 6 ANCHOR OR HOOK 3 6 THE MARRIAGE
Exodias is depicted in artwork and statues After slaying a bull whale and butchering the
wielding an anchor or enormous fishing corpse, it is traditional for the captain to don
hook. The reasons diverge on whether she’s the beast’s foreskin around their shoulders
brought wealth or woe in local histories. An- like a cape and marry themselves to Saint Ex-
chor? A storm sank the fishing fleet. Hook? odias as compensation for her loss. Confin-
Entire schools of fish threw themselves onto ing themselves to their quarters for five days,
the deck. sometimes she appears on the last night of
the honeymoon.
3 1 THE LIFTED SHRINE
The cult of Saint Exodias wished to construct 4 1 ON HORSES
a shrine on a particularly high plot of land She was deathly afraid of horses in her mor-
but the noble owner refused to sell the plot. tal life. Any ship wishing to transport them
THE CITY

Five winters later a hurricane struck and the across the sea needs to offer twice as much.
shrine was carried, foundation and all, by the It’s also best if the crew appreciates the sub-
surging waters to the originally desired spot tleties of horse meat. Throwing the bodies
where it still stands today. overboard should they expire will surely en-
gender bad feelings.
3 2 THE DROWNED PRIESTS
Priests charged with caring for her shrines 4 2 LEVIATHAN OFFAL
are required to breathe deeply of her waters: The cast-off bits and pieces of the great beasts
they are drowned in a shallow pool of saltwa- of the sea are in high demand by pig farmers
ter before being revived. Many have ecstatic everywhere. They hope feeding such offal to
visions while growing cold and lifeless, their their own animals will result in recognition
revelations added to her living scriptures. and prizes at the annual fairs. If the hogs
should grow too monstrous they are donated
3 3 THE ALBATROSS to the nearest shrine dedicated to Exodias.
It’s bad luck to harm the albatross, her favor-
ite and most beautiful creation. Seagulls are 4 3 SAWTOOTH SHRINES
fine though. Everyone hates them. Her shrines are frequently decorated in blue
and turquoise. On rare occasions, one might
3 4 A RITUAL find a shrine of coral pink and blood red.
Occultists frequently argue over the nature of These shrines are maintained by Her Saw-
the Sisters and the divine. Some argue Exodias toothed Sons, a mystery cult who see Saint
was not a real person or a discrete “Saint of Exodias as an aspect of the Devourer and are
Leviathans”. They instead argue “Exodias” is dedicated to shedding their clumsy human
symbolic shorthand for a rare ritual allowing forms in favor of those of sleek sharks.
one to call beasts up from the deep, like the
kulning techniques used in the north. 4 4 EXODIAS’S KISS
Spend enough time down on the coast and
3 5 PLACATING EXODIAS you’ll see former fisherfolk and sailors with
Saint Exodias is vain and craves flattery. near identical scars around their limbs—a
Sea shanties and jigs often compliment her ring of smooth, craterlike divots in their
glistening hair, generous proportions, many flesh. Called Exodias’s Kiss, anyone bearing
sharp teeth, and other platitudes. Becalmed this “blessing” is barred from returning to
ships have lost her attention or were rude in sea out of fear she will topple the ship and
some way. reclaim her lost love.

74 · Saint Exodias of the Leviathan

4 5 EXODIAS’S REVENGE 5 3 REDTIDE
In the Age of Saints’ twilight, Exodias was In a blasphemous mirror of Greentide, some
hunted and captured. Her entire crew was villages practice a festival known as Redtide,
slain and her ship was sent to the ocean’s consisting of driving herds of sheep or cattle
floor. Exodias’s captor had her torn apart over a cliff into the surf ’s stony teeth.
limb from limb by teams of horses. The
wounds bled and bled, drowning the entire 5 4 A DESPERATE HUNGER
city in blood and saltwater. Exodias was not an actual giant or titan or
leviathan or sapient storm, she was just a girl
4 6 THE OFFER who shared their callous disregard for people
If you go to the Three-Headed Dog tavern in and a bottomless appetite for life. When she
the Fort Duhrin you can find a beggar miss- was a young girl, during a particularly harsh
ing both legs and her left arm. For 10 coppers winter, she ate her siblings and parents, then

THE CITY
she’ll tell you her tale. She’d set sail under moved on to other villages to stock her larder.
the command of a pirate named Cid Barrett, One by one. Bones and all. Whatever it took
hoping to encounter merchant ships with no for her to survive.
means of defense. Of course, things did not
go as Mr. Barrett had promised. The beggar 4 4 RED SKY SACRIFICE
found herself adrift for many days atop a When sunrise blazes through a red sky, ships
feeble raft. Under each full moon she claims at sea know it is then time to make an im-
Saint Exodias arose from beneath the surface promptu sacrifice. Every captain has a dif-
and offered to push her to shore in exchange ferent way to determine what, or who, gets
for a limb. Considering she lost three limbs, thrown overboard to avert her attention.
either she was very far out, or the Leviathan
was pushing her around in circles before she 4 6 SCRIMSHAW
finally honored the deal. When hiking through the hinter country,
scrimshaw in honor of Saint Exodias are
5 1 FISH TALES commonly seen carved into the surface of
Many festivals to the Leviathan saint only giants’ bones.
end after everyone has gone to sleep and
the only ones keeping vigil are the old sea 6 1 THE COLOSSUS
dogs. Passing around a bottle of liquor, they Exodias’ Colossus stands in Ambaret harbor
exchange anecdotes from their times at sea, warding off seaborn attacks. Many winters
alternating between big fish tales and bawdy ago, a sorcerer animated the statue and com-
stories of sirens’ seduction. Of course, Saint manded it to attack the city. Fortunately for
Exodius features in all of them as either the the capital, Exodias doesn’t take kindly to
one who got away or the one siren who stole orders. The sorcerer’s corpse is still clenched
the storyteller’s heart. in her fist.

5 2 THE GREAT MAWS 6 2 THE COLOSSAL TOOTH

In Muckling, there is a great pair of jawbones Beyond Fort Duhrin stands the Colossal
constantly growing myriad teeth so long as it Tooth: a huge boulder standing on a thin
remains painted with blood. The largest are column of stone, and a locus for malevolent
freed with hammer and chisel and sent to the magics. Should someone weather the ele-
various shrines of Saint Exodias to adorn her ments atop the stone for five consecutive
mandorlas. The oldest ones bear spectacular nights, they will attract the Sister’s attention,
dental halos as signs of their provenance. for good or ill.

Saint Exodias of the Leviathan • 75

 6 3 FEEDING THE LEVIATHAN OFFERINGS RUMORED TO BE ACCEPTABLE
When someone bearing Exodias’s Kiss dies, to saint exodias or another sea queen
it is custom to cut their bodies into pieces,
cook the meat, and cast them into the sea.
1 1 Coins which sat over the eyes of a dead man
No one may say their name or acknowledge 1 2 A song, which you will soon struggle to recall
they’ve died for a week. 1 3 A tapestry crafted over 10,000 hours
1 4 A slumbering beehive
6 4 EXODIAS’S CHARMS 1 5 Your finest harvest of the season
You can buy pieces of blessed coral and
driftwood from most shrines. Their prom- 1 6 A foal without blemish
ised properties range from keeping preda- 2 1 Your right eye
tors away from your catch to speeding your 2 2 A bottled spirit from the Kalduhr
drowning.
THE CITY

2 3 The tears of one heavy with child

2 4 The tails of every fish you catch
2 5 A boisterous prayer with drums and dance
2 6 The first ship to sail each spring
3 1 The foundation stones of another Sister’s altar
3 2 The heart of a terrible lake monster
3 3 A meal meant for a stranger
3 4 The furniture of a room where a death occurred
3 5 A locket with the image of a lost love
3 6 Any treasure recovered from the sea
4 1 A paper boat crafted by a child’s hands
4 2 A stone statue of Saint Exodias herself
4 3 Seventeen otter pelts
6 5 A RANSOM 4 4 A newly woven fishing net
When fishermen pull a shark from the sea, 4 5 A cold-forged blade which has taken a life
they customarily roll the great beast over and 4 6 An heirloom inlaid with mother-of-pearl
make a cut near the liver. The crew then mas- 5 1 Timbers from a shipwreck washed ashore
sages the organ free before depositing the
wounded and dying animal back into the sea.
5 2 A cup’s worth of human blood, willingly given
The liver is then held as ransom until the ship 5 3 Waterlogged boots
makes it back to port where it is then flung 5 4 A random assortment of teeth
back into the sea. Similar rites exist inland 5 5 The finest tool of your trade
where hunters’ traps capture predators.
5 6 The future of your most gifted child
6 6 THE SHIP GRAVEYARD 6 1 Meat from a beast killed by drowning
There’s a place where ships go to die. A knot 6 2 A vial of saltwater and a vial of freshwater, mixed
of wicked sargasso serves as home for sailors 6 3 Three bowls of salt from the Ambaret mines
whose vessels are caught in its stranglehold.
They reside in the decaying vessels which fer-
6 4 Musical instruments, smashed with rocks
ried them here. Tales say Exodias’ tomb lies 6 5 A book written entirely in squid ink
at the heart of the quagmire. 6 6 A pledge to walk into the sea when she calls you
76 · Saint Exodias of the Leviathan
 Legendary Heroes & Artifacts
JAMES HO
HOLL
LLO
OWAY

THE CITY
Many civilizations have risen and fallen in and around Ambaret and the Kalduhr, leaving tales
of legend and myth in their wake. Now a new generation of explorers and treasure-hunters
add their names to the long record of great deeds. Whether the great figures of past ages really
existed or not, their tales are popular in both the city and the settlements that fringe the forest,
serving to either inspire new generations of heroes or warn off the foolhardy.

The tale is... told...

1 a romance of an earlier age… 1 secretly among the poor and the downtrodden.
2 a half-remembered fragment of cryptic allusions... 2 after dinner in the wealthy homes of the nobility.
3 a raucous, bawdy story humiliating the pompous... 3 among scholars of ancient and obscure history.
4 a serious attempt to uncover historical truth... 4 as a fairy tale to quiet children.
5 a modern retelling of a traditional folk story… 5 to impress visitors.
6 a simple rhyme embedded with a deeper meaning… 6 in one particular village and nowhere else.

Legendary Heroes & Artifacts • 77

 Who or What Is This Legend About?
HEROES

1 1 RONAT THE SURVIVOR 2 2 BACHA WHITE-HAIR

Who killed seven men once and one man Who led an expedition to search for the
twice. Ronat’s tale is a cautionary one: she secret of immortality and never returned.
was invincible in battle but received no joy Many take this as proof of success—if you
from it, and when she killed the same man had an eternal life, why would you want to
twice, she attracted the Sisters’ attention— spend it here?
an undesirable thing.
2 3 CHARAT THE TALL
1 2 OGUN THE EXILED KING Who wished to follow the path of a sorcerer,
THE CITY

Who lived as a common sailor until the mark until duty forced her to rule. She hid her staff
of destiny was found upon him. Many kings and her books of lore, promising to return
claim descent from this hero, who combines once her work was done—but it never was.
destined rulership and the common touch.
Some may even be telling the truth. 2 4 DONALL & KONALL
Who were two brothers in love with the same
1 3 AARYA THE GOLDEN BOAR fae maid. The lords who claim descent from
Who unhorsed a knight of Faerie and took them are said to have something elfish about
his lance for a javelin. Soldiers sport boar the eyes.
tattoos or wear boar-crested helms as a sign
of their devotion to her bravery and strength. 2 5 THE POSTHUMOUS PRINCE
Who was conceived when the spirit of his
14 NIALL THE MOURNFUL father visited his mother moments after his
Who fought thirteen battles and won twelve. death on the battlefield. Even generations
Some say that this legendary ruler’s treasure later, the ducal family takes quiet pleasure
was lost at the site of that tragic thirteenth in the wary respect earned by their uncanny
battle, yet Niall’s crown remains a symbol of ancestry.
great authority.
2 6 SYLA ONE-EYE
1 5 CARA THE WISE Who had their lover replaced by an effigy of
Who judged the case of the Sebsek Murders wax, and embarked on the road of vengeance
so fairly that the killer praised her learning upon discovering the imposture. Villages
on the gallows. under siege from the swarm put their faith in
her and the hiveburners she inspired.
1 6 OLVIR ASH-TREE
Who climbed to the king’s seat on a ladder 3 1 THE THREE LION BRIDEGROOMS
made of his brothers’ corpses. Though he Who were peasant brothers, wedded to three
ruled wisely and well, some say his guilty beautiful women who were secretly lion god-
spirit can never rest. desses. One brother, through the support
of his fierce and cunning wife, rose to be a
2 1 UTOKHI powerful noble. His line is long extinct, al-
Who, as a human by day and a beast by night, though their lion badge can still be seen on
fought against the animal within as much as ancient monuments. Of the fate of the other
they did the beasts of the forest. two brothers, nothing is known.

78 · Legendary Heroes & Artifacts

3 2 PREL THE STONE-LEAPER 3 5 GARVOTH
Who was known for leaping across the Naveh Who had strength matched only by his gen-
River and slewing three times three foes to tleness. When an evil king killed his lover,
avenge her father’s death, though they were he grew ten times stronger in his wrath and
no living men. crushed the tyrant under the weight of his
stolen throne.
3 3 ARAM THE RIGHTEOUS
Who no blade nor poison could harm, and 3 6 VALGARD
yet they died of hunger in the midst of plenty. Who went into the ruins and came back with
great treasures and greater fears. His crown
3 4 PALGUS THE CLEVER and staff still hang on the walls of his great
Who taught people how to tie fishing nets, hall, but folk say the Old One of the Forest
hunt with snares, and brew beer. It is said wants them back.

THE CITY
that every one of Palgus’s teachings brings
with it two blessings and one curse.

ARTIFACTS

4 1 THE AMPHISBAENA BELT 4 5 BLACK PEARLS

Buried with an ancient king and retrieved by Produced by a now-extinct species of shell-
an enterprising thief, this belt protects the fish, these absorb harmful energies. Worn on
wearer from serpent bites as well as poisons a body piercing, kept under the tongue, or
of all kinds. even stitched into the skin, they render the
owner immune to all disease. Ancient kings
4 2 THE GOWN OF 1,000 PATTERNS were buried with them to protect them from
The enchanter who wove this gown is said plague spirits in the underworld.
to have been driven mad either by its effects
or by the intricacy of the weaving. Its wearer 4 6 THE DRYAD’S GIFT
can see invisible beings and objects, but will An irregular fragment of glass set into a gold-
stand out in any crowd thanks to its bizarre en pendant. Believed to be the solidified tear
and incongruous designs. shed by a forest spirit separated from a mor-
tal lover, it grants the wearer power to control
4 3 KENDRE’S COLLAR the rain and wind.
This bronze torc is set with two ordinary-
looking green stones. One of the stones will 5 1 THE VEIL OF NIGHT
begin to glow when the wearer is the target of Woven from a mesh of unearthly metal that
hostile magic. The other glows sometimes as sparkles with a dark luster. Its glamour hides
well, although no one is sure why. the wearer’s appearance, making them slip
from the memory of any who sees them. Any-
4 4 HEARTSEEKER, HEADTAKER & one who wants to see the veil must undergo
SKULLCRUSHER a series of complex ritual preparations, even
A spear, a sword, and a mace, said to be phys- when no one is wearing it.
ical incarnations of an ancient war god. They
can pierce any armour and shatter any shield, 5 2 THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE
but anyone who wields them pledges their Given to a deserving youth by an anonymous
own life as a sacrifice to the war god—they smith at the roadside, this horseshoe conjures
will die by the same type of weapon. up an entire horse when cast on the road.

Legendary Heroes & Artifacts • 79

 5 3 MOACIR’S ARROWS 6 2 THE CHANCELLOR’S RING
Made from the wood of ancient trees and The Chancellor advised a string of powerful
fletched with raven feathers, these arrows monarchs, aided by this magical ring. Secrets
once belonged to Kalduhr’s greatest hunter. whispered to the ring escape the speaker’s
An archer who learns his target’s true name mind and flee to the ring. Someone can force
can speak it while anointing the razor-sharp secrets from the ring if they speak the correct
broadhead with a drop of blood—no shot esoteric formula to it.
with that arrow can miss the chosen mark.
6 3 THE HARLEQUIN STANDARD
54 MOONLIGHT This banner was carried before the Laughing
Ogre smiths sweated over their anvils to General, an eccentric warlord who enriched
forge this blade, while fae maidens crafted its himself through conquest, but came to an
jewel-bedecked scabbard, before hanging it ironic end. When unfurled, the cruel face on
THE CITY

at the side of an elven prince. A fitting royal it presages the outcome of battle—a wicked
weapon, the sabre drank a legion of warriors, smile signifies victory, while a scowl foretells
gaining power with each soul it consumed. defeat. The Crown’s generals would kill to see
The prince, however, soon bored of this play- the Harlequin Standard fly over their armies.
thing and gave it to some lackey for disposal.
6 4 BYRIK’S SUMMA
5 5 THE RHISGAN ORB Byrik the sage appeared to spend his long
Looking into this orb is like staring into a career in pursuit of dusty minutiae. It wasn’t
coal-black pool on a moonless night. The until generations after his death that his true
ebbs and flows of fate are visible in its depths, life’s work was revealed—a codex of magical
moon-bright threads in an infinite darkness. theory so advanced it would transform any
Seers and sorcerers covet it for its power to who studied it. The disaster that swept away
foresee the future. But over a long period of Byrik’s college was probably a coincidence,
regular use, it becomes one with its user until but the authorities destroyed every copy of
the brilliant strands cannot be unseen. the Summa they could find regardless. Still,
scholars believe that Byrik’s notes—or even
5 6 THE BRASS HARNESS OF ARDULF the whole Summa—exist in ruined libraries.
This suit of heavy armor was made to fit a
great warrior king. The helm is made in the 6 5 KOVAH’S FLUTE
shape of a snarling boar—a wound made by Kovah the Piper was an itinerant minstrel
its razor tusks will bleed incessantly. Only who played a simple flute, earning a few
magic can stop it. coins by performing at weddings or festivals.
When she wanted, Kovah’s flute could play
6 1 ORA’S BLADE so sweetly that even the dead would rise up
When King Argiol Seo was murdered, his and dance.
daughter, Ora ils Ar, thrust her hand into
his funeral pyre and drew his red-hot sword 6 6 EXALTED HYDROMEL
from the flames, vowing to avenge his death. Funerary priests interred jars of this strange
While the conspirators lived, the blade con- mead along with initiates of the Mother’s
tinued to glow and burn. When her bloody ecstatic teachings; even centuries later, the
reckoning was complete, Ora hid the sword magical liquid remains a powerful intoxicant
away, its blade now a dull black. The tales say that can open a drinker’s eyes to unnatural
that one sworn to vengeance can relight the forces. It also protects any organic matter
sword and turn its flame against the guilty. dropped into it from the effects of decay.

80 · Legendary Heroes & Artifacts

The Borderlands
 Borderland Settlements
Between the cosmopolitan excesses of Ambaret and the rugged wilds of the Kalduhr sit the
borderlands: settlements defined by the balance they strike on the spectrum from law to chaos.

THE DUCHY OF LEVASTI law chaos

The very definition of bucolic, Levasti has long been populated by nobility who wish to “escape
it all” and live a simpler lifestyle beyond the demands and gossip of the capital. Dotted with
summer manors surrounded by farmland and managed forests, Levasti is the tamest, most
orderly version of nature allowable by the ruling class. Even the common folk of the duchy are
kept relatively fat and happy through a variety of localized holidays.
tone: traditional, languorous, structured, festive

THE DUCHY OF DEVERAIN law chaos

In Deverain, the perceived threat of the forest and the perceived distance of the capital are
enough to embolden tyrants and highwaymen alike. Though the forest has its hold here, the
THE BORDERLANDS

forces of chaos and rebellion often take a more human form: cults, brigands, and rabble-rousers
of all stripes ply their trade in Deverain. Even the authorities of the duchy are tinged with
lawlessness, as the Duke seeks to crown himself king of his own kingdom against the laws of
patrons in Ambaret.
tone: ambitious, daring, rebellious, fractious

FORT DUHRIN law chaos

Duhrin thinks of itself as the torch of civilization pressing into the untamed darkness. And
yet, the spark that lights that torch is chaos itself, fueled by the hunger and passions—and
debts—of the brave and foolhardy treasure-hunters who make their home here. The fort itself
is an imposing figure of stone, surrounded by a mix of struggling farms and wild woods. The
Kalduhr isn’t far away, and the battle to push it even further is often a losing one.
tone: adventurous, desperate, individualistic, hopeful

KORMORAN'S WHEEL law chaos

The residents of Kormoran’s Wheel don’t even consider themselves to be royal subjects, so
independently-minded is this settlement. A mix of outcasts, criminals, and honest folks who
just refuse to be under the Crown’s thumb, the Wheelers have made their home just inside the
edge of the great Kalduhr. The folks of the Wheel tempt fate every day they live here, but the
threat of facing the forest’s terrors keeps the kingsguard away, thus providing some measure of
protection and true self-governance for the settlement.
tone: unruly, bold, opportunistic, patchwork

82 · The Borderlands
 Levasti
THE GAUNTLET

THE BORDERLANDS

Bucolic. Pastoral. Steeped in tradition. The Levasti countryside is one of the most peaceful and
beautiful places in Kalduhr. It’s a land free of the stench of Ambaret and the terrors of Fort
Duhrin, a place where you can live in harmony with the land, raise children, and grow old.
But the people of the Levasti countryside are no fools—they understand that what they have
is special, and that Kalduhr has a long and terrible history which must always be remembered.
They choose to remember this history through the tradition of the “estate festival,” in which
the great landowners of the Levasti countryside throw feasts and fetes designed to honor a
specific event from the past.

Levasti • 83
 During Which Festival Have You Arrived?
1 1 FEAST OF THE SERPENT’S FALL 1 4 TWELVE TRIALS OF SAINT HILDER
This festival celebrates an ancient uprising in This beer festival honors the stoutest Sister
the Kingdom of Naganeh, when the common that ever roamed the Kalduhr: Hilder, Saint
people overthrew the snake-men kings who of Brewers. Legends suggest that Hilder was
ruled them. The feast is held in the great hall traveling through rough territory, sampling
of a Levasti manor house, and the guests are and documenting the various local brews,
invited to wander the house as they wish in when she encountered a giant who challenged
an attempt to find thirteen poisonous adders her to a drinking contest. Hilder agreed,
that have been hidden throughout. Those having drunk many a man and beast under
who find a snake are entitled to an expensive the table, but realized she may have made a
prize sponsored by the estate holder. At the mistake when she saw the giant-sized flagons
end of the feast, the thirteen adders are be- set before her. Nevertheless, she persisted,
headed and buried near the estate’s border. and drank twelve full flagons, outlasting the
giant, who passed out at her feet. During the
1 2 BETRAYAL OF TWO festival, celebrants are rewarded with song
This festival recalls a bit of history the powers- and coin if they can drink twelve large mugs
THE BORDERLANDS

that-be in Ambaret would rather forget: of the estate holder’s brew without passing out.
that the kingdom was always meant to be
ruled by two sovereigns, and that a proper 1 5 EVE OF BROKEN LOOMS
line of succession included pairs of siblings. Many of the smaller towns in Levasti have a
This short-lived custom ended when Jakehr similar tale: a day when the village awoke to
Ambari murdered his brother Jakehl before the sound of the warps of every loom in town
they could take the throne. In order to avoid snapping at once. Most people write this off
a succession crisis, the rules were changed so as silly superstition, but every village has one
Jakehr could rule alone. This pivotal moment person, exactly one, who claims to remember
in history is memorialized during the festival the sound of the looms breaking. Old Egortha
when a pair of crowns are presented before a in one village, Archibold Miller in another.
bonfire; one is tossed to the flames while the They all remember that sad morning when
other is placed on the head of a Jakehr effigy all the looms broke. They each say it sounded
that is then paraded through the countryside. a little different, or say it angered a different
Sister. While the details may change, one
1 3 HARVEST OF THE SAI thing remains the same in all the versions
The people of the Singing Valle of Sai are of the tale: for a full seven years after the
silent during the summer harvest festival warps were fixed, any yarn woven in those
to memorialize the eradication of the local looms turned blood red. That red hat Archi-
cicada, whose screams for sustenance still bold Miller wears to this day was woven in
echo around the Valle. The village rests in a the fifth year of the curse. Every year, on the
cavernous basin blessed with grottos where morning of the Eve of Broken Looms, the
the golden gooseberry grows. In a bid to in- village sacrifices some small beast and dyes
crease yields, the villagers ringed their crops skeins of yarn with the animal’s blood. Each
in oil so the cicadas could not go to ground. weaver in the village then cuts a single warp
In turn, the cicadas feasted upon the branch- on their loom and creates some small token
es and, when all was barren, both the cicada to be left at the altar of one of the Sisters.
and the villagers starved.

84 · Levasti
1 6 GRIMHALD’S MOOT 2 2 CARNIVAL OF ADVENTURERS
First called by a mysterious figure known This festival was created by the tradesfolk of
only as Grimhald the Cured, this festival the Levasti countryside to discourage their
is held every seven years, drawing residents young people from wandering off in search
from every dale and copse and barrow of the of adventure after several beloved locals died
Levasti countryside. Each household draws in a mysterious, far away forest. The carnival
lots to determine who among them will stand features games, rides, and plays. This event
as their representative at the moot. Young or ends with the play Death by Monster. The
old, frail or mighty, cunning or meek—none play concludes with the actor who portrays
are excluded from the calling. The chosen the Monster lighting effigies of a rogue, a
form a line at the edge of the old forest, their sorcerer, and a warrior on fire.
peaceful lands to their backs, and there they
remain in silent attention from dusk until 2 3 PARADE OF THE FIRST SNOW
dawn, staring into the black. At first light, Legend has it that the ancestors of the north-
they return to their homes without uttering a ern Levasti were starving hunter-gatherers
sound, their duties fulfilled. Those who stand when fortune shone upon them and showed
at Grimhald’s Moot are forever changed. To large animal prints in the fresh snow. These
be called is both a blessing and a curse. prints led to a herd of grazing animals which
they gorged upon. After this successful hunt,

THE BORDERLANDS
2 1 SETTING OF THE WATCH the tribe settled here. The villagers now show
The Setting of the Watch in the tiny village of their respect to their ancestors by awaking at
Ripon is more a ritual than a festival: it takes daybreak and marching in pairs through the
place every evening, as it has done in the fresh snow in large boots shaped like hooves.
many years since a band of raiders ravaged
the area. Then, the sounding of an ox-horn 2 4 HUNTING OF TORBOLD
at sunset called every able bodied villager A mythic swine of prodigious intellect and
to stand watch lest the raiders catch them size, Torbold escaped his master on the road
by surprise. Now, it has taken on an almost to market and to slaughter, dashing into the
religious significance. Everyone believes that woods never to be found. Torbold is blamed
if the watch is not set then the villagers who for lost children, missing dogs, and uprooted
died protecting Ripon will rise from their crops. He is said to have fathered generations
graves to chastise all of their descendants. As of enormous, cunning boars who remember
the sun sets, the “Horn Blower,” appointed to humanity’s betrayal of their ancestor. Every
a lifetime term by the village elders, marches fall, young swineherds go into the woods to
to the center of the market square and blows a “hunt.” They never catch anything, indeed,
single note at each corner: north, east, south, they must not. Instead they drink and wander
and finally west. The Horn Blower then goes between the trunks while older swineherds,
to the eldest of the village elders to blow the butchers, and village worthies wearing pig
final note, signalling that “the watch has masks taunt, trick and frighten the drunken
been set.” Ripon’s inn has enjoyed modest youth in Torbold’s name. The young swine-
prosperity from the curious who travel to herds who make it through the night are
watch the anachronistic ceremony. The cur- brought to a dawn bonfire and the sacrifice
rent Horn Blower is a garrulous man in his of a superannuated hunting dog that is said
fifties who takes great pleasure in recounting to appease Torbold and assure he will not
tales handed down from the almost-mythical recruit pigs from the village herd or savage
original holder of his office, known today swineherds when the village pigs are turned
only as “Gramma Old Blow.” loose to forage acorns in Torbold’s woods.

Levasti • 85
 2 5 POTTERY PLANT FAIR 3 2 MORTUNT
Every harvest season, denizens of a particular Mortunt is an evening affair celebrated in
estate celebrate the nuppik fruit, sometimes rural communities where brewing and gam-
called pottery plant for its unique properties. bling are primary pastimes. Now, it’s mostly
Though inedible, pottery plants become ex- a night where revelers gather around massive
tremely pliable at a certain stage just before bonfires, drinking and making merry before
harvest. Farm folk dig up the plant and treat going off in groups of two or three to “kill
it like clay, forming anything from pots and Death” (or, really, do whatever small groups
plates to sculptures and statues. The creations of young people might do during a night of
then harden in the exposed air and sunlight. debauchery). What’s mostly forgotten is the
While the creations will soon rot, the farm origin of the holiday: a tale of three broth-
folk will hold the Pottery Plant Fair to show ers who, in a state of drunken paranoia, set
off and judge everyone’s creations. Few if any a bounty on Death herself. The group was
remember that a manikin taught the farm found dead in a ditch the next morning. Their
folk how to cultivate nuppik; no one but that friends tried to “avenge” their deaths in each
manikin knows they taught the farm folk of the following years by hunting after Death
about the useless crop to keep the farm folk herself. Rumor is that no one’s collected that
from growing more useful crops and limit bounty yet, and so the festival continues.
human population in the area.
THE BORDERLANDS

3 3 ADMIRATION OF THE LAST LEAVES

2 6 PARADE OF THE STRANGER This festival occurs in autumn when only the
Members from rural estates march about last few leaves remain on the rare wych elm
during this parade in strange garb that they tree. This solemn event is held to remember
imagine a foreigner might wear. Participants all of the family members that have passed
of the parade take the chance to harass their recently. The event allows the village elders a
neighbors, even going so far as to steal kisses chance to impart their wisdom on the young
and trinkets from willing “victims.” Those in case the elders do not last another winter.
watching the parade do not blame the parade The elders sit with their backs against the
participants, but instead throw food at them. tree between the roots after a small lunch and
The whole affair strengthens what everyone take turns telling the young circled around
in these rural estates knows: you can’t trust the tree all of the knowledge and wisdom
outsiders. Occasionally, the estate holders they can impart before the sun sets. After-
will take the opportunity to dismiss foreign wards, they have a tremendous banquet.
help or drive off unwanted new neighbors
who “aren’t from around here.” 3 4 DUNSPHERE RAINDAY
In the hamlet of Dunsphere, everyone knows
3 1 SANDYWINE FESTIVAL rainy days are surprise holidays leading to
At first glance, this appears to be a standard impromptu festivals in the meeting hall. This
harvest festival with all the stops pulled is because the last one to try and farm during
out—literally. Wine flows freely for all to a rain storm was old Duns Pier himself, and
partake as much as they like. However, what he was struck by lightning as he raised his hoe
outsiders may not realize until they take their while everyone else enjoyed frivolity indoors.
first sip is that earth is added into each cask. The last one to be “Duns” of the festival picks
The festival memorializes a dusty-famine era the new Duns who must carry a hoe around
before Saint Hester taught the locals the art and do all the work of preparing a meal and
of crop rotation. The festival only ends when filling drinks, because only a Duns would
the casks are empty. work in the rain.

86 · Levasti
3 5 MALPHUN’S END 4 2 GOLDEN RIBBON DAWN
The Talduhrim clan claims the mythical This early spring festival sees local laborers,
wanderer Talduhr as their ancestor and farmworkers, and craftspeople festoon their
namesake. According to legend, Talduhr hair with yellow ribbons as a symbol of their
scaled and slew Malphun, the last of the spiritual liberation. Though they may live a
giants, thereby securing the future of man- life of hardship under callous masters, their
kind. The Talduhrim commemorate this ribbons remind them—and the estate owners
event every year with Malphun’s End, a fes- on whose land they work—that their eternal
tival during which children climb an enor- souls belong to no one but themselves. Of
mous tree in order to be the first to “slay” the course, the yellow ribbon is also a symbol of
giant by retrieving a sack of seed hidden in more than one subversive cult, so who can say
its upper boughs. The tree is then chopped what the peasants are actually signifying?
down and its wood used to build a home for
local vagrants and drifters. The seed is given 4 3 MIRACLE OF NINE GOATS
to the recipients of the home so they can be- In Haskell Abattoir, the ancestral butcher
gin planting crops. family of Haskell hosts the Miracle of Nine
Goats celebration every year. The celebration
3 6 WIND DANCE BALL revolves around the tale that, many years ago,
This fall festival is quaint and modest in before the Southbend became an Abattoir,

THE BORDERLANDS
its attempts at elegance. Simple folk put on the original Haskell family had a hard winter
their best attire and go out to dance among where the crop failed. The only thing they
the orchard trees as the leaves drop. Unlike could rely on was their single pregnant nanny
other occasions, everyone seems to dance by goat. Amazingly, this goat birthed nine kids.
themselves for the first and last song of the The meat from the goats sustained the entire
ball. However, this is merely the farmers’ way family through the winter, spring, and sum-
of keeping up good relations with the wind mer before a new harvest could be had. From
in the leaves to avoid gales and tornadoes for then on, the Haskell family became ranchers
another year. and butchers rather than farmers. During
the festival, the nine most recently birthed
4 1 FIRE WALTZ FESTIVAL kid goats are released into the countryside
Anytime there is drought or dry crop condi- and marked to keep them safe. Anyone who
tions, some households hold these festivals would capture or harm one of these goats is
to remind everyone—children, adults, and treated as having done the same to a member
the fire itself—to be courteous and keep a of the Haskell family.
respectable distance. Two fires are built near
one another and everyone couples off to per- 4 4 PHOENIX FESTIVAL
form the dance. Unlike a traditional waltz, a Legends say that many years ago in the town
Fire Waltz is danced from an open position of Burnhamwood a bird all of flame flew into
with both participants keeping their hands old Donoso’s barn, burning it to the ground.
behind their own backs. This is to remind In a noteworthy display of charity, the estate
everyone to draw near, but not be too close owner authorized villagers to harvest wood
to the flames, and remind the flames not to and raise a new barn for the Donosos. Now
be too close to the flamble crops. Children the estate holder keeps the tradition every
born with red hair are believed to have been ten years by allowing the villagers to burn
conceived during the previous Fire Walz Fes- the oldest barn down and build a new one in
tival; parents of such children are not well its place. The tradition has created a bizarre
regarded and blamed when fires break out. local economy around the value of old barns.

Levasti • 87
 4 5 LETTERS FESTIVAL 5 1 BARROW’S WAKE
In the surprisingly-educated town of Loria’s This festival is observed during the last wheat
End, townsfolk celebrate Saint Loria the harvest of the season, when the pathways of
Literate every year by teaching the town shifting stones of the field are made visible
children how to read and write. However, for a time. These ancient burial markers,
when Saint Loria first came and taught the once disturbed by foolish settlers, have never
townsfolk herself, they did not know all their stayed in the same place since. Some say they
letters and worked with a simplified alpha- are the restless bones of giants, the prisons of
bet. Because of the business of the field work, hungry spirits, or altars to a long-forgotten
she was only able to teach a few letters every saint of the harvest. As the stalks are cut low,
winter with much success. She was patient, the old paths in the soil are revealed, and the
and taught all in the end. However, after she new resting place of the stones noted. Local
passed, the villagers kept up the tradition, in- geomancers record the stones’ new locations
venting new letters every winter. Now, after and speak the wisdom of their winding paths
many years and many letters, on the longest for the coming year.
day of the year, the villagers hold the Letters
Festival where they invent new letters to rep- 5 2 PORCUPINE FESTIVAL
resent the same old sounds and retire older The promise of gold at this festival attracts
letters. It is considered the height of fashion aspiring archers from tenancies all around
THE BORDERLANDS

to use the newest letters rather than outdat- the estate. Each archer brings with them their
ed letters. No passerby can discern meaning own bow and their three best arrows which
from Loria’s End written texts. they decorate so they can identify them later.
The festival ostensibly is so-named for the
4 6 GREENING TITHE way the target looks after all the arrows have
Greening Tithe, thought to be an inland been loosed. The archer who hits nearest the
variation of Greentide, celebrates the life- mark is crowned Quill Champion and they
sustaining connection of land and sea and receive a prize and a place of honor at the
centers on the upriver migration of eels porcupine feast. Little do the tenants know
from the Levasti delta. As the legend goes, that by this festival, the land owners keep
there was once a priest whose boat was lost tabs on all skilled tenant archers in order to
adrift at sea during the new moon. As he avoid a repeat of the “Porcupine” Rebellion.
prayed to the Sisters, the moon swelled and
so did his form, turning him to a giant eel. 5 3 MIDWINTER’S HUNGER
By the time of the full moon, he had swam A private affair for each family, the celebra-
upstream where the village feasted on his tion of Midwinter’s Hunger is often enjoyed
soft silver flesh—saving them from famine. more by the young than the old. Meant to
To make the Greening Tithe, leftover scraps memorialize winters of ages past where food
from springtime feasts are cast into the river was scarce, the festivities begin after dinner
every sunset for a fortnight, to lure hungry when the oldest member of the family fasts
eels upstream. It is strictly forbidden to catch as others eat. Then, as the fire dies, they take
or eat eels until the full moon, however. Oth- their place in front of the hearth and a crude
er versions of the myth tell how Old Green obituary is read by the youngest. The family
Teeth, a marsh troll, made his way upstream then holds a mock funeral parade and lays
when selfish villagers stopped sending him valued objects from the year past in on the
baskets of food, snatching up their children supine elder. All sit in silence until the em-
as offerings instead. bers fade from the fire.

88 · Levasti
5 4 WOLF-AWAY 6 1 AMBORETH’S CATS
The serfs who work the land of the Gahldren The people of Topper’s Mill remember well
estate hold this festival on the first full moon the reign of Prince Amboreth. Amboreth was
after the last harvest of the year, meant to famously carnal, and took many male lovers,
remember the banishment of the youngest each of which he transformed into a cat after
son of the estate’s founding family. This son they were no longer appealing to him. They
was unruly and disrespectful, going again say these tomcats are immortal and still wan-
and again into the dark forest against his der the land, meowing and pawing at doors
parents’s wishes. One day he returned home in the hopes of being let in so they might
after having been bitten by a strange beast, again enjoy the pampered life they grew ac-
and ever after his wild behavior bordered on customed to in the prince’s service. While
the violent. In a mockery of the son being sent Topper’s Mill doesn’t hold a specific feast day
away, the local farmers dress their youngest to remember this history, the local lord has
children up as wolves and send them door to declared that any tomcat seeking entrance
door to collect fruits and other treats from to a home must not only be allowed in, but
their neighbors. The children always end the pampered excessively lest Amboreth’s spirit
night at Galhdren Manor, where they must curse the land.
toss their wolf costumes into the bonfire
burning there before they are to return home. 6 2 FIRST APPLE FESTIVAL

THE BORDERLANDS
This festival began as an attempt by an estate
5 5 FEAST OF ALL SAINTS owner to incentivize good orchard habits,
The various traditions of Ambaret are often but has grown to be a fierce competition.
celebrated in Levasti, as is the case with the Every year, farmers watch their orchard and
universally-recognized Feast of All Saints. prune meticulously to spot and nurture the
Whereas this festival is an introspective and first apple of the season. When it is spotted,
somber affair in the capital, families in the the farmer’s family will guard the apple
countryside celebrate with joy. Perhaps away while the fastest member of the family runs
from the heavy hand of the Crown the people to tell the estate owner. The estate owner
feel more free to enjoy themselves, or perhaps comes down and must see the apple actually
there is just less concern about offending the growing on the tree. A spontaneous festival
celebrants of some lesser-known Sister by not is thrown by the estate and the winner does
including her in the communal prayers. not give any of their harvest to the estate that
year. The practice has made the estate one of
5 6 MOONLIGHT MASQUERADE the most prosperous apple lands in the region
This festival happens under every full moon because of the health of the trees, but it has
out in the fields during the summer season. necessitated severe consequences for even
Originally intended to memorialize a clash casually strolling through someone else’s
between the local wildlife, attendees take the orchard without an invitation.
opportunity to wear ornate animal masks.
All masks are made of precious metals, and
many are encrusted with fine stones. No one
remembers where the masks came from as
they are passed down from one generation
to the next, but the best genealogical record
reflects a distant relative first acquired their
mask through unknown means.

Levasti • 89
 6 3 FLIGHT OF THE STAR-EATER 6 5 LIGHT-BRINGER FESTIVALS
This festival is celebrated during the night of These festivals are of recent vintage in the
the brightest moon by the goblins who work once-populus township of Wellspring; in
the Levasti vineyards. Hundreds of paper fact, the township has been reduced to a ham-
lanterns crafted in the shape of whales are lit let in just one generation. The Light-Bringer
and set to drift over the countryside. As the Festivals began when a solar eclipse blocked
story goes, a great leviathan once swallowed out the sun for a full day. The oldest villager
a fallen star, drawn to its heavenly glow. In happened to expire just as the sun returned.
time, the powerful energies of the star-metal Now, villagers believe that when either the
lifted it into the sky where its bones still float, sun or moon goes away, the oldest villager
housing a monastery where goblin scribes must as well to bring it back. The village
protect the records of their civilization from puts on a festival to celebrate the life of the
the times of ancient Kalduhr. At festival “light-bringer” and the sacrifice they are
time, the lanterns are inscribed with prayers, about to make, giving them anything they
remembrances, and poems of revolution. would like before their voluntary end. The
It is these that make wealthy estate owners few remaining villagers now invite older
uneasy, even more than the vineyard fires relatives to come visit near the end of moon
caused by stray lanterns which seem to fall cycles; the middle-aged innkeeper offers free
closer to their gates each year. room and board to any passerby who is older
THE BORDERLANDS

than they are. Surrounding villages now re-

6 4 FAST OF FOUR STONES fer to the hamlet as Wails-Spring.
This solemn event is undertaken in the plant-
ing season to ward off pestilence, blight, and 6 6 BRAMBLECHILD’S BALL
famine. It commemorates the Salt Years, a This festival comes at the peak of summer,
string of poor harvests brought on by a cor- when fallen branches and drying vines bring
ruption that rendered the soil dry, white, and the risk of wildfires. Local children gather all
infertile. The corruption is said to have ended the loose branches they can find, bundling
when a set of enchanted stones, recovered at them together and rolling them in a huge
great risk by four heroes, were buried in the ball towards the edge of the forest where
Levasti countryside. The fast begins at sunup it is set alight at dusk in a glorious bonfire.
on the first day of planting. At sundown, the Traditional rhymes and games center around
estate holder buries four white stones in a the mischievous Child of the Bramblewood,
fallow field. The estate holder then provides a reckless spirit said to start fires out of bore-
a nighttime feast to represent the end of the dom. Children are encouraged to play at all
famine. The food at the feast is simple but sorts of mischief on this night, in hopes of
abundant. Some scholars argue that the orig- appeasing the spirit and safeguarding against
inal name of the festival was in fact the Feast its more destructive manifestations. It is
of the Four Skulls, and note with curiosity understood among elders that every few sea-
that the fates of the four heroes of the story sons, a child sometimes goes missing during
have evidently been lost to time. the Ball—but such things can’t be helped.

90 · Levasti
 Hisham’s Fountain
MADELEINE EMBER

THE BORDERLANDS
Hisham’s Fountain was designed and funded by Lord Veirwick Hisham, the only scion and in-
heritor of the Hisham family estate in Levasti. Having been raised by nursemaids and shuttled
off to boarding school as soon as legally possible, Vierwick had no relationship with his parents
and therefore little to mourn when they died suddenly in a terrible fire. The fire consumed the
entirety of their summer estate down to the foundations. Suddenly flush and with little else to
occupy his time, the young Lord Hisham commissioned a monumental fountain and expanded
the existing decorative garden complex on the land the estate once occupied. He added to this
complex until his death.
The complex now sits untended and neglected, yet mysteriously functional.

The fountain... and the water is...

1 spurts inconsistently... 1 cloudy and thick, like maple syrup.
2 flows sweetly... 2 clear, revealing beautiful tile mosaics.
3 dribbles pathetically... 3 murky, smelling of mildew and charred wood.
4 contains still, stagnant water... 4 filled with reeds, lilly pads, and rushes.
5 overflows... 5 a home to little blue tadpoles.
6 burbles exuberantly... 6 a strange, artificial, vibrant shade of blue.

Hisham’s Fountain • 91
 The Many Histories and Details of Hisham's Fountain
1 1 THE NOBILITY 1 6 THE SCULPTURES’ MOVEMENTS
Some of the sculptures were carved from live The sculptures move silently at night, creat-
sittings of local nobility. These recognizable ing new configurations of gathered figures,
stone figures originally engaged in dignified battles, celebrations, and coital trysts. These
activities—painting, hunting, attending a movements are never visible to bystanders,
masquerade. Yet not long after being placed as they only move when unobserved. If con-
on the fountain, these sculptures started tinuously watched, the figures remain static.
engaging in the worst excesses of their class. However, at no point can one person view
all figures simultaneously, as the fountain is
1 2 THE STONE built in the round.
The stone used to build the fountain and its
sculptures is of unusual density and polish 2 1 REMOVING A SCULPTURE
—a travertine that is certainly not local. No If a sculpture is removed from the fountain,
one is entirely sure where it was mined, or several days later it crumbles to rubble which
why a local variety was not used instead. smells strongly of smoke and wood rot. The
figure reappears in a fountain tableau within
THE BORDERLANDS

1 3 THE VICTIMS a fortnight.

In addition to Lord Eurstac Hisham and Lady
Berta Hisham, over thirty house servants 2 2 THE VICTIMS’ MEMORIES
and several young Hisham relatives died in Each and every person who lost their life in
the terrible fire. The youngest child, a second the Hisham estate fire is “memorialized” as a
cousin to Lord Veirwick Hisham, was only sculpture on the fountain.
five years old.
2 3 THE INNER WORKINGS
1 4 THE FLORA A small, crowned door built into the base of
The fountain gardens grow many cultivars the fountain leads to its complicated siphon,
that are found nowhere else. Some say the pump, and bellows. Unlike most fountains,
plants are cursed, having sapped the blood of this wonder doesn’t use a cistern to pressurize
the Hisham family from the charred earth. and pump the water. The machines in this
place appear to be self-sustaining, but their
1 5 THE SCULPTOR design is fundamentally incomprehensible.
The sculptor, Bastienne Roth, was a nobody Rumor says that many have gone mad trying
before being selected for this commission. to understand its technical diagrams.
She continuously produced and placed the
fountain’s sculptures for thirty years with the 2 4 THE COINS
help and finances of Lord Hisham, and then It’s well known that anyone who throws a
an additional twenty years after his death. coin in the fountain will receive unexpect-
She claimed that she never knew what or who ed news the same day—most often positive.
she would be sculpting until she walked into Coins thrown into the uppermost tiers
her studio, where a note with detailed in- deliver the best news. Any who take a coin
structions awaited her. That these notes con- from the fountain will lose their life or that
tinued to be sent after Lord Hisham’s death of a loved one within the week, due to either
failed to surprise her. She claimed that at this drowning or fire.
point the fountain was “making itself.”

92 · Hisham’s Fountain
2 5 HISHAM’S FATE 3 6 THE LION
Lord Hisham, penniless from decades of The lion of Hisham’s Fountain roars several
construction and left alone without family or times a day. This effect is achieved mechan-
friends, drowned in the bottom-most tier of ically, but rumors claim the sound actually
his creation. resembles the roar of an immense blaze, or
many hoarse and desperate voices crying out
2 6 THE GEARS at once.
The gears within the fountain’s mechanisms
were all toothed by hand. The clockmaker, 4 1 THE HIDDEN COINS
Mr. Procher Kholl, went blind in the process. The rumours swear that if a fountain sculp-
ture is broken, one will find coins inside—all
3 1 THE FAUNA the coins ever thrown into the fountain, cov-
When the fountain is full, it sometimes con- ered in black soot.
tains a variety of improbable aquatic life,
including rare ornamental fish, corals, large 4 2 THE GARDENS
sea crates, and even piranha. The gardens surrounding the Hisham Foun-
tain represent a variety of designs and tech-
3 2 THE SCULPTURE’S EYES niques. Cleverly planned by a skilled master
Each sculpture’s eyes were carved in such a gardener, there is always something in bloom

THE BORDERLANDS
way that they seem to always follow the view- year round.
er. How this effect was achieved is unknown.
4 3 HISHAM’S BODY
33 THE POTBREAKERS Lord Hisham was never buried. He had his
It’s said that anyone who breaks open a pot corpse covered in gold—another sculpture
in the fountain gardens will later be found in for the fountain he dedicated so much of his
one themselves, their scorched bones bound life to.
in a muslin sack.
4 4 THE OLD LORD’S ABUSES
3 4 THE FACELESS There were many stories of old Lord Eustac
A faceless sculpture can often be spotted in a Hisham’s abuse towards those who served
lower-tier tableau. This form supposedly rep- him—favoring punishments that involved
resents the sculptor herself, Bastienne Roth, burning, such as candles, hot irons, or red hot
and is often in a pose of weeping. This figure coals. Nobody regrets his agonizing death.
never interacts with the other figures, who
are always turned away from her. 4 5 THE NEARBY TOWN
The proximity of Hisham’s Fountain to the
3 5 THE PROPOSAL small town of Banorsmere means that many
Young Lord Hisham fell in love with a treasure-hunters stay at the local inn or
beautiful young peasant from Banorsmere, with townsfolk. Although some residents of
named Emelia. This woman fell desperately Banorsmere will express curiosity about the
ill after Hisham proposed marriage. She lay fountain’s strange properties, none will claim
abed for three weeks, wracked with pain and to have ever seen it.
consumed with fever, covered in weeping
blisters. The young lord, feeling responsible 4 6 THE TOPIARY
for her illness, avowed his proposal. Emelia The animal topiary in the fountain gardens
recovered miraculously, with no memory of leave their pots at night and hunt unwary
her courtship or Lord Hisham at all. treasure-hunters.

Hisham’s Fountain • 93
 5 1 THE WATER’S PROPERTIES 6 1 THE TREASURE-HUNTERS
If you drink from the fountain, it’s said you’ll Occasionally, treasure-hunters go missing in
learn the hour and means of your death. the gardens or near the fountain. They are
later seen depicted in gilted tableaus on the
5 2 THE CANDLES fountain—often being mauled by dangerous
At night, Hisham’s Fountain burns with beasts or stabbed by other human figures.
over 100 candles that are cleverly inset into Several days later, their bodies are found
the sculptures. They are lit using a miniature floating in the bottommost tier.
fire-starting apparatus that is mechanically
integrated into the stonework. Such a won- 6 2 THE SKELETON
der appears as magic to many. These candles The skeleton on top of the fountain is a real
never seem to grow low and only go out when skeleton, but nobody knows whose. Some say
daylight touches them. They can be removed it is Lord Hisham, while others say that every
from the sculptures, but they behave as nor- bone belongs to a different person who died
mal candles when not on the fountain. in the fire that claimed the manor.

5 3 THE MANOR’S LOCATION 6 3 THE SWORD

The Hishams’ summer manor was built on The sword wielded by the skeleton at the top
an ancient fae site, marked with magic older of the fountain is real and extremely sharp.
THE BORDERLANDS

and stronger than any human could imagine. Anyone who attempts to remove it will bleed
to death from whatever small cut it gives them.
5 4 THE THREE WISHES
Sigfried Lengeurmein, now a magistrate in 6 4 HISHAM’S TRUE LOVE
Anberlin, was born in Banorsmere. His aunt Lord Hisham was a perennial bachelor—it’s
tragically died in the fire, but he returned to said he was married to his fountain, as no
the fountain on three occasions to throw in mortal could be as faithful as stone, nor as
a penny. Once, before he was deeded a sig- joyful as bubbling water.
nificant sum of money that allowed him to
move away from his provincial town. Again, 6 5 THE PLAQUE
before meeting his wife. And a final time, A brass plaque is attached to the bottom
shortly before being named a magistrate. Ev- basin of the fountain. It reads: “To cool a
ery spring, he faithfully sends an entire bag parched throat, to soothe the touch of flame,
of gold coins to be thrown in the fountain, to to drown the past. With all I can give—Lord
repay the good luck it sent him. Veirwick Hisham.”

5 5 THE HIDDEN TREASURES 6 6 THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE

Hidden in the pots containing topiary ani- The cause of the fire that burned down the
mals are sacks full of silver serviceware, jew- manor is unknown, but some say a servant set
elry, and beautiful trinkets. The gardens ex- the fire after being left holding hot coals—a
isted when the manor was still standing, and punishment for spilling the lord’s bathwater.
it’s said that these pilfered goods were raided
from the burning building, then hidden.

5 6 THE TEARS
Each year, on the day the manor burned, the
fountain sculptures’ eyes turn black from
edge to edge, and they weep a black sludge.

94 · Hisham’s Fountain
 Deverain
JESSE ROSS

THE BORDERLANDS
East of Ambaret lies the duchy of Deverain. Before becoming territory of the Crown, this land
was forest. It was cleared for farmland, though the old flora and fauna continue to find their
way back and attempt to take root. The Duke’s Road leads out of Deverain to the southeast,
heading directly to Fort Duhrin. However, the continual growth of the forest means that the
road passes through a sliver of the Kalduhr, making it dangerous for those carrying supplies to
the fort or bringing newly unearthed artifacts to Deverain.

You are interrupted on the road by... while just inside the forest’s edge lurks...
1 an overturned and burning merchant’s wagon… 1 a half-drunk band of brigands.
2 a disrobed and embarassed nobleman… 2 a wild-eyed woodsman making animal calls.
3 an arrow-ridden forest troll moaning in agony… 3 a pair of poachers, wounded and panting.
4 a kingsguard blockade and checkpoint… 4 a hedge witch in the throes of a possession.
5 a writhing mass of roots and foliage… 5 a cutpurse, tiptoeing so as not to jostle their prize.
6 a pack of recently-feralized hunting dogs… 6 a panic-stricken noblewoman clutching a dagger.

Deverain • 95
 The Actors and Activities of the Duchy of Deverain
1 1 THE DUKE 1 6 THE WITCH OF THE WOOD
Ebbart the First, Duke of Deverain, has de- There’s a witch who lives in the woods, they
veloped a reputation among the nobility of say. Those who have met her call her Goody
the kingdom as quite the libertine. He regu- Mary or the Witch of Nevask, and say she has
larly hosts parties to indulge in his lusts and a fondness for copper bells, lost children, and
other vices, and to show off his collection of little else. She will concoct you a love potion,
Kalduhri curiosities. though, as long as you offer an honest barter
and don’t bother her with stupid questions.
1 2 PROTECTING THE GATES
The city wall has two gates: the larger Sun 2 1 THE RAT MEN
gate, and the less-trafficked Moon gate. Bandits lurk along the Duke’s Road, ready to
Hanging above both gates are a variety of lighten the loads of unprepared passengers.
baubles said to be “ghost charms” to protect Though most of the bandits are normal—if
the city from forest spirits and ritual magic. desperate—folk, some unlucky travelers
Whether they work or not is a source of much have been stopped by men with the faces of
debate among the populace. rats, or at least very life-like masks.
THE BORDERLANDS

1 3 THE SHERIFF 2 2 WINE SABOTAGE

Both of the gates in the city wall are patrolled Deverain is surrounded by vineyards, and
by members of the kingsguard under com- the Duke has done much to nurture the win-
mand of the Sheriff, a cruel but cowardly eries of his duchy, hoping that one day they’ll
man named Kester. The Sheriff uses his broad rival the sought-after vintages of Levasti. The
powers and armed enforcers to levy “taxes” Duchess of Levasti is apparently concerned
on the residents of Deverain for anything with the Duke’s investment, as rumor has
that strikes his fancy. The latest tax is on it she’ll offer good money to saboteurs with
wandering musicians and their instruments, access to the Deverain wine cellars.
of all things.
2 3 THE CULTS OF DEVERAIN
1 4 BANDIT CAMPS Like the other regions of the kingdom, res-
Life is hard under the Duke and his Sheriff, idents of Deverain follow the teachings of
and those who can't take any more of their the various Sisters. However, a few criminals
abuses leave the duchy behind. Some look captured by the kingsguard have been found
for an easier life in Ambaret, but a few hardy to be carrying relics of strange and blasphe-
folk set up hidden camps within the forest it- mous gods, like the gold ribbons of the Piper,
self, poaching off the royal land and seeking or the swine tusk necklaces of Gul Sorgul.
communion with the local spirits.
2 4 THE WELL
1 5 THE TWINS’ BAR The Duchy of Deverain was established so
The best tavern in Deverain is the Weary close to the forest due to one peculiar feature
Ploughman, run by twin brother and sister, of its landscape: a crystalline well which—
Balor and Brita. The twins are a welcoming some say—is a direct link to the land of the
pair, but waste no time making an example fae. There’s no indication of this well in the
of anyone who looks to bring trouble into settlement, though if it did exist, surely the
their establishment. ducal palace would have been built around it.

96 · Deverain
2 5 AN HONEST WAGE 3 4 GAMES OF SKILL
The Duke has imposed high taxes on the res- For all the difficulties of living under the
idents of Deverain, which are used to fund Duke and the Sheriff, Deverain is host to
three major ventures: producing the best many joyous festivals. The most famous of
wine in the kingdoms, expanding the duchy these is Saint Aradia’s Games, a week-long
in all directions, and sending expeditions festival featuring tests of athletic skill, such
into the Kalduhr in search of unique arti- as archery and pedestal jousting.
facts. If you’re willing to work the vineyards,
clear cut the forest, or raid crumbling tombs, 3 5 A RARE BESTIARY
perhaps some of the coin that’s been collect- The Brothers Ig are tanners and leather
ed can fall into your purse. workers, but the real reason to visit them is
to catch a glimpse of the record book they are
2 6 LIQUID COURAGE compiling. They've made a hobby of inter-
Guests of the Duke’s frequent banquets are viewing hunters returning from the Kalduhr,
served a variety of wines unique to the region. and documenting the strange beasts they've
Chief among these is ironwine, a heady blue encountered. They pay one coin for a good
vintage claimed to be made from a rare plum tale, but more for something with a hide.
discovered deep within the Kalduhr. Drink-
ing it removes all fear, and leads directly to 3 6 NANA’S DEAL

THE BORDERLANDS
the debauched extravagances and games of If you need a place to stay in Deverain, check
chance which conclude each banquet. in with Nana at the Golden Banner. Her
house—the one flying the yellow flags, of
3 1 DEAD OR ALIVE course—accepts guests on barter. The things
The Duke is offering a sizable reward for the she requests might be a little unorthodox, but
head of the famed brigand Arkon Four-Lives. a warm bed for a few nights is surely worth a
Curiously, Arkon’s crimes are only ever listed bit of manual labor and a prayer on Nana’s
as “offenses against the Crown,” but many behalf to the patron saint of lost sailors.
believe Arkon’s true crime is that he seduced
the Duke’s bride-to-be away from him. 4 1 HEADLESS ED
Ask any brigand who has slept a week in
32 PATRICIDE the woods outside Deverain and they’ll tell
Sheriff Kester has a secret: he murdered his you a ghost story like you’ve never heard. It
own father. Sure, he claims it was a monster starts with a knocking on the trees. Then the
in the woods that did it, but anyone who night creatures go silent. Then you see him,
looks deep into Kester’s eyes can see the wandering alone: the man with no head. You
self-loathing and violence. Why he did it, assume he’s looking for that head, but since
however, is still an open question. that’s where his eyes are, he doesn’t know
where he’s been or where he’s going.
3 3 A FAERIE TALE
If you find yourself on the wrong side of the 4 2 BLACK MARKET
law in Deverain, Sheriff Kester and his men Because of its proximity to the Kalduhr For-
will happily find you quarters in the local jail. est, Deverain has an underground antiqui-
In addition to the drunkards and paupers, ties market to rival that of Fort Duhrin. The
the jail often holds “Lady” Asha, a troubled market is dominated by two dealers—Black
washerwoman who claims to have a castle in Ferdinand and Gargar—though both men
a far-off land and can purportedly communi- are thought to ultimately buy on behalf of
cate with her fae relatives via birdsong. the Duke.

Deverain • 97
 4 3 THE SHERIFF’S TEMPER 5 2 TROUBLED WATERS
Sheriff Kester has an awful temper and just The Nevask River makes up Deverain’s north-
cannot take a joke. Some rascally children ern border. Across the river is the village of
stole a donkey, riding it through the streets Nevask itself, known for producing sturdy
and calling it “Sheriff Keister” all the way. cordage and hearty herbs. Members of the
The Sheriff spent the next week yelling at no Nevask village council have pleaded with the
one in particular about how he was no ass. Duke of Deverain and the Royal Architect in
Ambaret to encourage the construction of a
4 4 POOR EVARD bridge crossing the river to connect Nevask
While in Deverain, you must visit the home and Deverain. The Duke is, apparently, en-
of Poor Evard. A simple look at their lavish thusiastically opposed.
living quarters would tell you they are not
actually destitute, but they’ve developed a 5 3 BATTLE OF THE BANDS
reputation as something of an ascetic after a The Sheriff has his hands full because there’s
recent “spiritual awaking.” If you are willing not just one band of outlaws lurking in the
to suffer some light proselytizing, Poor Evard woods, but three or more. Deverain has
might just offer you the clothes off their back. become the battleground for a gang war of
sorts, as each band fights to expand their turf
4 5 A FOURTH KINGDOM and reduce the numbers of their opposition.
THE BORDERLANDS

The Duke’s outward obsession with banquets

and winemaking are merely a cover for his 5 4 A SWORD FIT FOR THE DEVIL
true ambition: a kingdom of his own. If he The market stalls of Deverain are not as well
can secure the loyalties of the monarchs in stocked as those of Fort Duhrin, but there is
Naganeh and Tirollis, he’ll have the backing at least one vendor to visit should you want to
he needs to declare himself king and remove make an expedition into the forest. Samara
himself from under the thumb of Ambaret. the Smith is the best armorer in three king-
He may even grant significant land rights to doms, well worth her high prices and bad
those willing to declare their allegiance now. attitude. Her champions and her detractors
alike say she must have sold her soul to some
4 6 THE VINTNER’S PAST demon to be gifted with such talent.
Deverain’s two major exports are ironwine
and ancient artifacts. Supposedly ironwine 5 5 FLORIEH LULL
is crafted from rare plums harvested from Spirits can’t come into Deverain, but if you’re
deep within the forest, but the chief vintner going to spend any time out in the woods,
started their service to the Duke as his court you should probably carry around a ghost
sorcerer. Now isn’t that a strange career path? ward or two. You can buy the charms from
Florieh Lull down by the jail. She won’t say
5 1 A KINDLY MONSTER it very loudly, but she likes to let folks know
Lurking in the woods, dangerously close to that Sheriff Kester is a regular customer.
Deverain proper, is a massive and impossibly
ancient beast with matted, moss-slick fur. It 5 6 THE BANSHEE
remembers the days before Ambaret, before That mournful song in the woods? That’s
even the kings and queens of Old Kalduhr. the banshee. She always sings when someone
If you seek it with an honorable heart and leaves here. Some leave just because they have
freshly-brewed black nettle tea, it will tell somewhere better to be—like Ambaret or
you tales of young forests and silent giants the Blossoming Sea—but some leave to leave
and the true treasures of the wood. this world forever.

98 · Deverain
6 1 THE PIPER AN INVENTORY OF VALUABLES & ODDITIES
That joyful song in the woods? That’s the in the possession of duke ebbart
Piper! They play their flute to call us to join
the revolution! We will throw off our chains
1 1 Amser’s Faithful Steed, a prized race horse
as we dance! Let us set Deverain ablaze and 1 2 A blue lacquered mask, sized for a hunting dog
birth a better world from its ashes! 1 3 A silvered rapier engraved with grape vines
1 4 A goblet with bas-relief imagery of the Duke
6 2 PESTS 1 5 Ironfruit seeds encased in hardened resin
On the whole, Deverain is a beautiful city,
with charming architecture and lush scenery. 1 6 A glass terrarium of well-nurtured witchmoss
Just be careful with how you store your food 2 1 A vase from the earliest days of House Deverain
and important documents, as it is prone to 2 2 A tiny bloodbush, straining for sustenance
the odd infestation, especially of rats. 2 3 Golden meat skewers with sculptures of trolls
6 3 AN INVITATION 2 4 A simple music box that plays “Ara’s Lullaby”
“This is an invite to the Duke’s next feast. I 2 5 An ermine cloak, dyed a deep indigo
would go myself, but he already knows my 2 6 A crude iron statue of a six-legged horse
face. It’s yours for the taking. Fill your belly 3 1 An antique pair of golden wedding rings
with all the meat and wine that will fit, just

THE BORDERLANDS
save room in your purse for a bottle of his 3 2 A painting of the Duke riding a blue stallion
precious ironwine for me to examine.” 3 3 Bars of silver stamped with the Ambaret seal
3 4 Returned love letters to an unnamed princess
6 4 PEARL THE POTTER’S GIRL 3 5 A stone that glows with a greenish light
Arkon Four-Lives leads a band of merry out-
laws which includes the young swordmaiden
3 6 An Old One of the Forest coin, kept in his pocket
called Pearl the Potter’s Girl. Pearl’s father, 4 1 A collection of forgeries of the ducal seal
Ormund the Potter, showed sympathy for 4 2 Delicate silk dancing slippers
the outlaws and was made an example of. The 4 3 A small vial of paralytic faebride venom
kingsguard beheaded him in broad daylight,
and Pearl joined Arkon’s crew that very day.
4 4 A silver filigree pendant of a spider and web
4 5 A marble bust of the Duchess of Levasti
6 5 SECRET DOORS 4 6 Royal pardon for a sorcerer named Filor ib Ader
If the Sheriff locks you up, don’t worry. The 5 1 A lock of auburn hair... or fur?
jail was built on top of fae tunnels. Just look
for the cat with nine tails, and it will lead you
5 2 A first-place medallion for Deverain red wine
to a hidden door. You might have to spend 5 3 A clear crystal orb kept in a black velvet box
some time in Faerie, but it can’t be worse 5 4 Terroir, a sleek, honey-colored hunting dog
than jail. 5 5 A longbow, which belonged to Ebbart’s father
6 6 LIVING SPIRITS 5 6 A wide range of perfumes in pink glass bottles
The ghost charms protecting the city gates 6 1 A pair of iron manacles kept near the wardrobe
work well enough against the spirits of the 6 2 A decorative shield with the Deverain crest
dead, but they don’t stop the spirits of the 6 3 An especially flattering portrait of the Duke
living. And the forest surrounding Deverain
is very much alive, and it’s coming in through
6 4 An earthenware dreamtea set from Old Kalduhr
every crack in every wall, root by root, vine 6 5 Four granite guardian statues of winged bulls
by vine. 6 6 A necklace of ghost charms, always hidden
Deverain • 99
 The Piper’s Band
GABRIEL ROBINSON
THE BORDERLANDS

In this cruel and peril-fraught world, few escape injury or affliction—yet fewer can afford the
services of a trained leech or alchemist. So most folk turn to the hedge magicians and village
healers who work for trade. As they share stories of survival and troubles with the law, sooner or
later someone mentions a figure known as the Piper. The Piper heeds their grievances and gives
those down on their luck the means to help themselves—have they heard the Piper’s song?
These haunting melodies can be heard from the forest’s edge—luring nobles from the path to
relieve them of their heavy coin, invoking forgotten magics of field and hearth, and calling
the lost or downtrodden to join the merry congregation. Those who follow the Piper work to
set things right—a broken bone, a servant mistreated, riches kept on the wrong side of a wall
where they do no one any good. Rumors regarding the true identity of the Piper or the inten-
tions of their followers are as mismatched as the motley garb they wear. One thing is certain—
the number of those who heed the Piper’s call is growing.

100 · The Piper’s Band

When you first encounter the Piper’s followers, they are...
1 laying flowers upon a fresh grave...
2 distributing the finery of a nobleman, who is stripped bare and bound to his horse...
3 serving a line of weary beggars from a simmering stewpot...
4 raiding an estate garden for medicinal herbs...
5 bearing an injured laborer on an improvised stretcher...
6 instructing villagers in methods of unarmed defense...
all the while...
1 singing an old song about fallen kings.
2 preparing new bandages, salves, and remedies.
3 passing out revolutionary pamphlets.
4 pausing, neck craning to hear a far-off melody.
5 leaving offerings for the Old One of the Forest.
6 playing a raucous tune on a strange assortment of instruments.

THE BORDERLANDS
What Do We Know of the Piper and Their Band?
1 1 INSTRUMENTS 1 4 THE GUARD
Every follower carries an instrument of some Among the Piper’s Band are former members
kind for sending signals, raising spirits when of the kingsguard—traitors and runaways,
times are tough, driving away spirits that according to the Crown. More careful ob-
linger too long, or busking on city streets for servations reveal how the horrors of war and
food or coin—and for when a whirling ca- their raids on now-ruined places took a heavy
cophony can provide cover for activities best toll on their bodies and minds, robbing them
not noticed by the wrong people. of true rest. Here, they have a place to share
their knowledge of arms and armor among
1 2 SORCERERS those untrained and unseasoned.
The Piper’s followers are a group of heretical
sorcerers who weave diabolical hymns into 1 5 IS THE PIPER A SISTER?
well-known folk songs, thus entrancing their Some say the Piper is one of the Sisters,
followers to commit acts of sabotage against but disagree on which one. One theologian
an otherwise well-functioning society. claims the Piper is actually Saint Borafel of
the Clean Hands—drawing power from the
1 3 EPITHETS fear of disease just as she spreads its insidious
Followers of the Piper use many names: terror through the manifestation of vermin.
The Gutter Troupe, The Verminous Choir, Thus, even the most casual worshippers pay
Heralds of the Dusk, The Hedge Chanters, her respects daily.
Our Noble House, Those Who Listen, The
Usurper’s Chorus, The Lost Congregation, 1 6 SONGS FOR HEALING WOUNDS
The Ragged Conclave, Us Fine and Proper Upon the Green, O Come Sisters, The Banks
Folk, among others. Many have repurposed of the Naveh, Beyond the Hedge, Weep Not for
the insults placed upon them, proudly calling Them, The Weaver’s Hymnal, Deep the Roots,
themselves Rats, Mudpies, Filth, and so on. Lanterns Bright, Hunter’s Repose.

The Piper’s Band • 101

 2 1 A COMMON PHRASE 2 6 SONGS OF GOOD CHEER
To “rat someone out” is to make public their Our Noble Lord’s Cellar, Quickly Rolls the
secrets—an expression going back to the Barrel, Join the Chorus, Clever Goblins All,
time a merchant of Ambaret’s Paper District Beneath the Floorboards, The Merry Lads of
was ousted by beastbitten followers of the Muckling, Grease the Hinges, Down to Old
Piper, chased from his home by a swarm of Kalduhr, The Streets of Ambaret, Join Our
giant “rats,” leaving a trail of scandalous let- Revelry, Kissed by a Faeborn.
ters and falsified business ledgers scattered to
the wind. 3 1 SHRINE OFFERINGS
Shrines to Saint Hester and the other Sisters
2 2 STREET PERFORMERS are frequently replenished with small offer-
Most street performers belong to the Band— ings by the Piper’s folk, as they know what
usually those who can’t afford a Crown it means to go hungry. As such, they never
license to busk in the wealthier districts of chase away rodents or birds seeking to share
Ambaret. If you offer them fair manners and in the feast.
good coin, they might tell you how the Pip-
er gave them their spark. If you share other 3 2 NOURISHMENT FOR ALL
things, they might keep an ear to the ground A platter of vegetables from the lord’s gardens,
for you or reveal what they’ve seen on the an ale cask that won’t be missed, venison
THE BORDERLANDS

streets at night. from the royal woods, meat scraps heavily

spiced to cover the taste, vine fruit gathered
2 3 SYMBOLS by the swift and small, a merchant’s wheel of
Followers of the Piper don subtle raiments to cheese with rich blue veins, fragrant broth
signal kinship: a scrap of cloth in rusty gold, made from chopped bones and herbs.
a ribbon of spring green, a simple whistle
worn about the neck, a silent bell with a miss- 3 3 TASKS FOR THE BOLD
ing clapper, jewelry made from broken chain Weaken the bridge. Pour the oil. Ready the
links, locks of hair bound in moongrass, a snare. Sharpen the blades. Follow the tracks.
dried bloodfruit pierced by a black thorn. Bar the door. Drop the torch. Dose the wine.
Open the stables. Forge the missive. Scatter
2 4 THE OLD the ashes. Complete the ritual. Stage the attack.
The Piper’s band embraces the elderly and
frail—they have much to share, so rich with 3 4 THE YOUNG
memories of erased histories and homemade Children flock to the Piper—street urchins
remedies. Some have opened their homes to and merchant apprentices alike—each re-
serve as unassuming fronts for those who turning with their own tales of the Piper and
need to shelter from vengeful kingsguard, the song played just for them. No one else
cruel inquisitors, or debt collectors. listens the way the Piper does. No one shares
such good treats or stories, when they’ve
2 5 IS THE PIPER A FAE? done the little errands the Piper asks.
The Piper is an ancient fae who delights in
trickery and subversion. It amuses them 3 5 IS THE PIPER NOBILITY?
greatly to watch kingdoms topple while the The Piper is nothing but a disgraced noble
downtrodden folk dance and sing in the who turned to robbery and petty acts of re-
streets and the green forest spreads over bellion to spite his enemies, manipulating
crumbling stones. Who can say what they are the common folk to aid his poorly-wrought
planning next? schemes of revenge.

102 · The Piper’s Band

3 6 SONGS TO STIR THE BLOOD 4 5 IS THE PIPER A DEMON?
Honorable Thieves, To Make My Enemy Bold, Some describe the Piper as a hideous, bloated
Soon Shall They Fall, Blood and Silk, Carve the rat demon, languishing in excess below the
Bones, Stand Not Over My Grave, How Bright royal palace while her thousands of children
They Burn, Seven Arrows, Call the Hounds, roam above to steal trinkets for her hoard,
Black Skulls (To Every Vulture Her Share). scavenge what food they can, and serve as
her eyes and ears to keep watch on those who
4 1 STRINGED INSTRUMENTS interest her.
A collection of stringed instruments played
by the Chorus: gut-stringed lutes, zithers 4 6 SONGS OF WARNING
made from salvaged cabinets, a broken-horn Heed the Waves, Into the Forest (Away We
lyre with several missing strings, a single- Must Go), The Butcher of Barsul, Ye Sad Cave
stringed ektar (played by one-fingered Orel), Dwellers, All Paths Lead to Ruin, Lords of
an antique fiddle (played frightfully well by Clay, Lord Gahldren’s Table, Lost to the Fen,
Suro, a wizened goblin), jewelry-box banjos, ’Twas Best Left Buried, The Smoldering Moor,
a wailing horsehead fiddle. That Cruel and Twisted Mantle.

4 2 AN IMPORTANT LESSON 5 1 THE FIRST SONG

Once, during the Thief ’s Moon when the All who know the Piper first heard a song

THE BORDERLANDS
final stones of Fort Duhrin were being laid, when no one was around to sing it. An old
every child in the settlement ignored the tune, long forgotten. A familiar tune, the
warnings to stay away from the woods. They words quite changed. A tune so beautiful it
all slipped away, following a distant tune brings tears at the very memory of it—while
that invited them to frolic by moonlight. being impossible to remember. The Piper
They crept back unseen that night, and so it plays it just for you, when you most need to
was that the Piper taught them they could go hear it. How could you ignore such music?
where they pleased.
5 2 A TASK FOR THE SUBTLE
4 3 THE CURE Wait for a chance to perform at the Festival
One zealous sect of the Piper’s followers have of Roses. Win a lord’s favor. Learn his favor-
been developing “the Cure” for years in a ite songs, playing them often with a special
network of cellars. Once a treatment for ail- swan-bone flute gifted by the Piper. When
ing beastbitten, this new formula supposedly he falls under a trance, whisper to him the
causes a permanent shift to reflect one’s bes- names of prisoners he should release, of those
tial nature. Many cooks and housekeepers brutal guards he should punish, of a letter
wait for the day a certain batch of “medicine” he should burn, or a camp in the woods he
arrives, ready to flavor a dish or drink that should forget about.
reveals their masters as they truly are—vile
rodents, roaches, and swine. 5 3 WIND INSTRUMENTS
The Choir’s wind instruments: shrill whistles
4 4 THE GOBLINS carved from green shoots, Hamsa’s bellowing
The Piper attracts many so-called goblins to cinderwood pipes, harsh squawking reeds
the Chorus, where they find an easy welcome from the Fen, whispering flutes carved from
among its throngs of mummers, scavengers, warped bones of unknown creatures, crude
and ingenious survivors who do not judge a yet melodious ocarinas of rich Velanti clay,
person by their shape or ways of thinking. heavy droning shawms, Nili’s conch trumpet,
blaring bugle horns from stolen cattle.

The Piper’s Band • 103

 5 4 THE BEASTBITTEN 6 3 THE PIPES
Scarred, silent, watchful—those beastbitten Everyone knows that the Piper plays twin
among the band earned their abilities in- pipes made of bonewood from the deep
tentionally and seek no lasting treatment, Kalduhr—or maybe it’s a single, rune-in-
but relish their newfound strength and keen scribed bone from the arm of a witch that
senses. Ironic, considering that the Piper’s tried to curse her, ending in a preserved rat’s
followers are disparagingly called Rats, as claw. However, Old Gam insists it’s two pipes
many do shift to rodent forms—and many made from the bones of the Piper’s own two
things far more dangerous. legs after a giant plucked them off. They grew
back overnight and made her swifter than
5 5 IS THE PIPER A PERFORMER? ever, impossible to catch up with unless she
The Piper was once a court performer who wishes you to.
angered the royal family with a satirical per-
formance that cut too close. As punishment, 6 4 PERCUSSIVE INSTRUMENTS
he was cut open in turn, exposing bone and Percussive instruments of the Congregation:
flesh for the world to see the emptiness of his devil-gourd rattles, chimes from broken
lies. They say the Piper’s tune comes from his blades and armor fragments, antler-beaten
body now—the wind howls across his pierced frame drums of deerskin and lesser-known
and hollow husk as he drifts above lonely beasts, a great broken barrel bass drum,
THE BORDERLANDS

woodland paths by night. calimbas of salvaged wood and metal scraps

(crafted by the Twins), rattles of teeth,
5 6 SONGS OF TRAGEDY hooves, and loose bones, Grishka’s cymbals
Scavenger’s Lament, To Blame the Fool, Forev- of tarnished copper plates.
er She Dwells, The Roses Fair, My Cup is Dry,
A Cold Hearth, Orphan’s Watch, By Lantern 6 5 IS THE PIPER... NOTHING?
Light, The Tarnished Mirror, Apples on His Those with any sense know that the Piper
Grave, Black Ribbons (Ghosts of Duhrin), does not exist. The so-called Choir are noth-
What Left the Blood on Your Fine Cloak? ing more than a ragtag cult that perpetuates
these myths to ensnare new recruits and stir
6 1 USEFUL ITEMS FOR CHARMS common criminals to more heinous acts.
A master’s glove, to prevent him striking you.
A noble’s monocle, to remain hidden from 6 6 SONGS WITH SECRET INVOCATIONS
their sight. Your mistress’s favorite candy, so Our Queen Below, Heed the Call, Rising
she may only utter sweet words about you. Flames, Grandmother Whisperwind, Seeds
A brick from your lord’s manor, to keep you Shall Grow, The Bones Remember, His Ver-
safe when inside its walls. A gnawed bone, to dant Brow, A Land Without Walls, Mother of
evade pursuit by the royal hounds. Moonlight, All Things Return.

6 2 TASKS FOR THE GLEEFUL

Replace the keep’s banner with the Pipers col-
ors—a patchwork of gold and green. Paint a
grinning smile upon the solemn royal statue.
Spread the wildest rumors before the festival
begins. Deliver the sordid love-note in that
priest’s name. Set free the swine to join their
brethren in the forest, to taste wild truffles
and acorns for the first time.

104 · The Piper’s Band

 Fort Duhrin
THE GAUNTLET

THE BORDERLANDS
When the Crown first began its bold expedition to the east, it marked its trail with a chain
of small forts and settlements. Duhrin—the fort built a half day’s journey from the dreaded
Kalduhr Forest—was meant to serve as the Crown’s first line of defense against the forest’s
dangers. However, once small bands of explorers returned from the depths of Kalduhr with
golden idols and peculiar artifacts, the fort quickly developed a second purpose as the ideal
launch point for all new expeditions into the wood.

When you arrive, the fort is... because...

1 buzzing in preparation… 1 today is a festival day.
2 uncharacteristically empty… 2 a famed treasure-hunter is expected to arrive.
3 solemnly decorated with black ribbons… 3 there was an attack last night.
4 awash in conspiratorial whispers… 4 the Governor has authorized a hunting party.
5 flooded with haggard outsiders… 5 a new excavation site has been discovered.
6 under curfew… 6 a strange beast has been captured.

Fort Duhrin • 105

 The Strange Figures and Stranger Mysteries of Duhrin
1 1 THE GOVERNOR’S DEBT 1 6 THE UNSEEN JESTER
Rumors abound that the Governor himself Drollo, called the Unseen Jester, is a hazard
is a former treasure-hunter, and that he built to avoid. No on is certain whether Drollo is
Fort Duhrin not in service to the king, but at always the same person or a group of people.
the behest of something that lies in the heart He loves to play practical—and dangerous—
of the malignant woods. jokes which no one sees coming until it’s too
late. Recently, serious criminal activity has
1 2 THE GATES been attributed to Drollo.
The esoteric nicknames given to the gates of
the fort—Blindgate (north), Soulsgate (west), 2 1 THE SONGSMITHS
Beastgate (south), and Vinegate (east)—are A cottage industry of heroic, mournful songs
said to predict the fate of adventurers who about the Kalduhr—and those who seek to
leave by them. Competing oracles and fortune conquer it—has sprung-up in Fort Duhrin.
tellers advise treasure-hunters using different For a few silver, you can make sure your own
interpretations of the gates’ meanings. bravery is immortalized with a verse.
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1 3 THE PROFITEER 2 2 THE KINGSGUARD’S ARMS

Old Meg has been widowed several times, yet Observant treasure-hunters will notice and
lives a comfortable life thanks to generous note that the kingsguard do not use any piece
inheritances and her keen eye for business. of wood in their armament—not a haft of a
She turns a steady profit safeguarding the spear, the handle of a hatchet, nor any arrow
possessions of those who enter the forest. shaft. Their arms and shields are leather or
Her secondhand shop is even more lucrative, metal exclusively.
selling items left by those who never return.
2 3 LAUNDRY ADVICE
1 4 THE KINGSGUARD RECRUITER When you need to launder your clothes, you
Delinia Alger is the hard-nose recruiting must go to Terabet the washerwoman near
agent for the kingsguard. Brash, tough and Blindgate. Not only will she clean and patch
brutally honest, she holds nothing back when up your forest-stained tunics, she doesn’t
denying one entry into their ranks. She seems spout nonsense like Effa, the washerwoman
to revel in telling treasure-hunters that their near Vinegate. Unless you like hearing tales
inevitable deaths await them in the forest. of snake people living in closets, avoid Effa
and stick with Terabet.
1 5 FORBIDDEN FRUIT
The othagos fruit is readily available at the 2 4 THE GROUNDSKEEPERS
fort. The outside resembles a pale green pear The Scrubbers perform a vital service at Fort
while the inside is bright pink and produces Duhrin, working tirelessly to remove the
a sweet and succulent treat. Most may enjoy constant growth of moss and plants from
this wonderful bounty of the forest, but for the encroaching forest, which continuously
those that are allergic, the fruit will cause the attempts to reclaim the land annexed by the
breakout of painful boils once ingested, and fort. Grumley leads the Scrubbers with a
possibly even death. Despite the risk, othagos near military level of discipline. He knows
fetches a premium from traveling traders. the importance of his team’s work, even if no
one else does.

106 · Fort Duhrin

2 5 HERBAL EXPERIMENTATION 3 4 THE ORACLE OF DAKALOR
Fort Duhrin has quietly become a center of The one-eyed Oracle of Dakalor sits hunched,
research for herbalists and alchemists of all ogre-like, on a pile of bones blooming with
stripes. For those who know where to look, flowers and fungi. They wait for travelers to
new species of flora and fungi are discovered make an offering to the pile before naming
every day. Each discovery is rumored to have three prophetic colors as guidance for the
a unique potency due to its proximity to the road ahead. Occasionally the Oracle will
forest. This has fueled a robust underground name other things as well—Hunger, Sadness,
market of experimental potions, poultices, Blood, Roots, Mold, Treasure, Revelation,
and tinctures, promising protection from Betrayal, and so on.
every danger imaginable—though verifying
such claims can prove difficult, given how 3 5 THE MADAM
infrequently treasure-hunters return. Missus Jarazel oversees The House of Fecund
Delights, a brothel that caters exclusively to
2 6 THE FENCE those who have ventured into the forest and
Jakol Pyree is the best fence in the kingdoms. returned alive. Their desires fall outside the
When something unsavory is dislodged from realm of pedestrian perversion, and they will
the Kalduhr, he’ll not only find a buyer for it, pay substantially to have them satiated. Her
but he will get it safely past the kingsguard— own trip into the forest as a girl was brief,

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and all for an entirely reasonable fifty percent but made a lasting impression upon her spirit
cut of the proceeds. and body. Don’t ask. You can’t afford her.

3 1 THE NIGHTMARE MERCHANT 3 6 THE BRIDGE OF ROSES

Marsella of the North Quarter buys and sells People wonder if trellises were once required
nightmares. The nightmares she sells might to support the flowers that cover the once-
offer a hint to the ways of the forest or the stone Bridge of Roses. Whatever the case is,
knowledge needed to perform a particular today none can be found, nor stones, rocks,
ritual. Those she buys nightmares from never or refined wood. Only flowers, vines, and
dream again. thorns are discernable components of the
two-cart-wide thoroughfare.
3 2 THE BLACKSMITH’S MENAGERIE
The orphans of Fort Duhrin say Argus Smith 4 1 TABOO TIMBER
has a fondness for snakes, and keeps a vast Visitors to Fort Duhrin often ponder why
collection in sturdy iron cages in the cellar so little construction within its outer wall is
beneath his shop. If you bring him a rare made of wood: imported brick and stone are
specimen, he might even craft something expensive, and there is so much forest nearby.
special for you. But locals whisper of what can befall those
who sleep within a structure built of planks
3 3 THE STRANGE LORD hewn from the trees of the Kalduhr.
One of the young nobles of Duhrin went into
the forest—just for fun, just for a lark—but 4 2 THE CURSE OF THE GUARD
he returned strange and different. His family Rumor has it that the kingsguard are barely
kept him close and hidden, until his older holding onto their humanity. The Kalduhr
sister died. They say a bride was found for has slowly siphoned away their souls, and one
him, but he drove her to her death with his day there will be nothing left but monstrous
singing. Now a new bride must be found. husks. A more outlandish rumor states that
the Governor has already suffered this fate.

Fort Duhrin • 107

 4 3 THE JAR IN KORMORAN’S WHEEL 5 1 THE MYSTERY OF THE STONES
The merchants of Fort Duhrin hate being Some say the stones of Fort Durhin were
undercut by the craftspeople of Kormoran’s pulled from a quarry hundreds of miles away
Wheel and have pressured the Governor to by the Governor’s orders. Others say the fort
dismantle the village. He won’t do it, though was found, not built, and has been occupied
some say it’s less a matter of won’t than can’t. by every doomed empire known. Everyone
Apparently a clever old witch in Kormoran’s agrees the stones are not from here.
Wheel trapped the Governor’s spirit in a clay
jar, and torments it whenever the fort’s forces 5 2 ALLEY OF THE LOST
draw close. At the back of a dead-end alley in the corner
of Fort Duhrin closest to the forest, ancient
4 4 THE MASKED WIDOW roots emerge from beneath the crumbled
Patience Davies is currently observing a due city wall. The roots look sickly, but never
period of mourning for her husband after die. When the full moon’s light shines upon
his disappearance during an expedition into them, you can see the faces of adventurers
the forest. A gaggle of suitors orbit her, and lost to the woods etched in the grain.
she does not seem averse to picking one of
them once propriety allows. Her mystique is 5 3 THE MOUND BUILDER
enhanced by the traveling mask she always By the main entrance to Fort Duhrin, just a
THE BORDERLANDS

wears out of doors, and reports of her beauty bit to the west, lives Hawthorne Wavery, the
have only grown in the time since anyone has grave digger. Rumor has it that this crooked
seen her face. old man knows whenever someone is lost to
the forest, and that’s when he begins to dig.
4 5 THE BAD PENNY Some folks see him get up in the night to
Residents of the fort know what visiting start digging. Whether the rumors are true
adventurers do not—no transactions occur or not, Wavery’s graveyard seems to always
with any coin less than silver in the Terraced have just enough graves dug.
Bazaar. Locals know the bazaar is the last
known transaction point of the Bad Penny— 5 4 THE ORPHANS’ PLAYS
a nondescript coin save for a few casual scuffs Duhrin Orphanage is run by headmistress
and scratches distinct to locals. What started Jonel. She frequently has the children put
as a cruel game of passing bad luck among on impromptu plays to keep them busy and
the denizens has evolved into a desperate out of the seedier parts of the fort. Although
attempt to be rid of the object at any cost. the scripts are always of a whimsical nature,
Increasing misfortune seems to follow the many attendees say the events on stage echo
bearer of the penny until another willingly their own expeditions into the forest.
takes the cursed coin.
5 5 THE SOUTHEASTERLY SAP
46 OLD GAR’S HOUSE There is a gnarled old tree rooted in the
Folks speculate about why the forest wanted southeastern corner of Fort Duhrin that,
Old Gar dead. Once he died, it didn’t take when lashed with a whip, offers marvelous,
long for the forest to reclaim his house, thick restorative sap from the great gouges that
roots bursting through the earthen basement form in its timber. Some say, however, that
and climbing ever higher. Today, branches it is when the tree weeps of its own accord
jut out of broken windows in the upper floors that the sap is most potent and pure. But
and the cobblestones in the street have begun what restless treasure-hunter can wait for the
to shift. proof of such a tale?

108 · Fort Duhrin

5 6 THE TRAINING GROUNDS 6 4 FACTIONS
A few blocks of the fort are deliberately left Two small-but-growing political movements
to run wild, so as to provide training grounds have formed among the people who live in
for aspiring treasure-hunters. Half obstacle the fort. Razers seek to burn the Kalduhr to
course, half nature preserve, this bit of urban the dirt and salt the roots, insisting it’s the
wilderness has bolstered the hopes of some only way to be safe from the forest. Preser-
would-be treasure-hunters and claimed the vationists believe the Kalduhr must remain
lives of a handful who were clearly not cut pristine and untouched, for the same reason.
out for the real thing.
6 5 THE MAP AT THE GOLDEN GOAT
6 1 THE NUMB QUARTER Not the best alehouse in Fort Duhrin (that
The North Quarter is where gods come to would be The Last Stop), The Golden Goat
die. The shrines are small and dejected, the boasts the largest, most accurate map of the
last of the faithful sickened and hungry, and Kalduhr. Anyone who makes it back from
an aura of fading hope permeates everything. the forest gets free drinks for the night if they
Those who go into the forest rarely pass by, add to the massive map on the wall—before
but those who manage to survive usually end they start drinking, of course.
up here, because even nightmares are more
faded in the North Quarter. 6 6 ORFIA & EURID

THE BORDERLANDS
Of all the treasure-hunters who have made
6 2 THE INQUISITORS it out of the forest alive, it is Orfia ils Noril
Though the kingsguard is the fort’s official whose song the fort’s bards can’t help but sing.
force of law and order, the Governor employs She’s ventured into the Kalduhr’s depths no
a small band of so-called “inquisitors” to fewer than seventeen times. She refuses a cut
investigate crimes he doesn’t trust the kings- of any bounty, but everyone knows that Orfia
guard to pursue. Never mind that most of is in search of a bigger prize: the thing that
their targets seem to be the Governor’s own walks the forest wearing the skin of her wife,
political adversaries, who he brands as secret Eurid. Only once not-Eurid is put to rest will
members of a dangerous, snake-worshipping Orfia finally be able to rest herself.
death cult.

6 3 THE WISHING WELL

Near the Vinegate is a dry well. Hunting
parties throw copper coins in for luck, but it
has a decidedly unlucky reputation among
the local kingsguard. Every few months, a
beggar will descend the well in search of easy
money, and then need to be fished out by the
guards when they can’t find a way back up.
To a one, each beggar claims that, living at
the bottom of the well, is a peculiar boy who
eats all the coins thrown to him. The boy says
that one day he’ll find a way out of the well
and finally eat the biggest, brightest coin he
can find. The kingsguard refuse to verify the
beggars’ stories.

Fort Duhrin • 109

 Kormoran’s Wheel
THE GAUNTLET
THE BORDERLANDS

The ramshackle village of Kormoran’s Wheel sits between Fort Duhrin and the heart of the
Kalduhr, just inside the edge of the forest. The residents of the Wheel make a healthy profit
on the poor planning of the many treasure-hunters that pass through. It’s said that nearly
anything can be acquired here, though those purchases are often of questionable quality or
otherwise… strange.

110 · Kormoran’s Wheel

The Vendors, Stalls, and Wares of the Wheel
1 1 EBOJ THE CORDAGE-MAKER 1 5 MENOV THE SWARMMONGER
Eboj the cordage-maker can supply you with Menov has an array of jars of different sizes
as much rope as you need, and his rope is the and colors on his table. He never strays far
cheapest available in the Wheel. However, from them and he speaks to the inhabitants
it’s interwoven with a very particular ochre as though there is a group conversation.
thread that comes from vines found deep in Within each jar are between one and six of
the woods. This thread only serves two mas- his beauties: hornets, scorpions, centipedes,
ters: Eboj and the Kalduhr. wasps, spiders, and bees. He may offer to sell
one as a cure for an ailment, solution to a
1 2 THE FAIR LADY vexing person, or just a lively companion.
The Fair Lady offers various tinctures and
herbal compresses for dealing with injuries 1 6 JEHAORA OF THE SPIRIT-GOLD
that occur far from the healing hands of a Jehaora the sailor sells shells and cockles
physicker. Her remedies are harvested not from the Sea of Martyred Souls, and also—if
from her gardens, or even from the forest, but asked—gold coins to the foolish or the des-
from the oozing, otherworldly fungi growing perate. Gold floats on the Sea of Martyred

THE BORDERLANDS
on the five faeborn she keeps drugged and Souls, each piece buoyed and infested with
caged in the root cellar under her cottage. one of the ghosts who were drowned there
long ago. If you buy the gold, you buy the
1 3 FERG THE DONKEY VENDOR unquiet soul as well, and it will inveigle itself
Ferg One-Ear can talk for hours on the virtues into your dreams, into the lost thoughts be-
of donkeys—and little else, it seems. What tween purpose and memory, into the frisson
better companion for your journey into the of deja vu.
Kalduhr than one of his noble beasts, to bear
your supplies calmly and without complaint? 2 1 THE SISTERS’ BROTHER
Donkeys will never let you down and always Though very few return from the forest,
find their way back, dutifully bearing the stories of those who do tell of the small idols
treasures you’re sure to find. Ferg can’t say they have carried with them through their
the same for all treasure-hunters, but that’s journey. These pocket gods come from only
humans for you. one place: The Sisters’ Brother, a temple and
clayworks. The proprietor—a goblin simply
1 4 GONSAROD OF THE EARS called “Brother”—is a true artist, and will
The impossibly old Gonsarod is perhaps the offer to whisper a special blessing from your
least assuming vendor in Kormoran’s Wheel, god just for you into a pocket-sized, hollow
making maybe one sale a month from his tat- clay doll. It will not come without a sizable
tered rug on the dirt path as you exit the vil- donation to his “temple.”
lage. His selection is narrow: stone and clay
ears of various levels of quality, all weathered 2 2 GOHRAJ OF BARSUL
and chipped hinting at ages beyond his own. Gohraj is a spindly woman with bulging eyes,
If you can get him talking, he will softly and sinew and skin so leathery it’s hard to
mumble about all the forgotten gods he has tell where she ends and her tent begins. She
left nearly deaf in his time and how their des- makes a steady sale of outdated blueprints of
peration leaves them receptive to a stranger’s Barsul Prison. The medical wing is a favour-
whispered prayers. ite—it’s currently out of stock.

Kormoran’s Wheel • 111

 2 3 THE BOWL 3 1 NURA THE LANTERN VENDOR
A strange stall is left unattended. It consists Grandmother Nura never sleeps, but hangs
of nothing more than a sign, a bowl with a gracefully in her glowing silk tent and sells
few scant coins, and a stone tile upon which lanterns to those who would venture into
rests a massive mixed pile of artifacts deco- the dark forest. Soft lights to bring comfort,
rated with the trappings of opulent wealth radiant lights for guidance, and cold lights
and bristling with occult energies. The sign which reveal things otherwise obscured.
reads simply, “Take a treasure, leave a trea- How do her lanterns maintain their light?
sure. Tips appreciated. Beware thy greed.” Why do they seem to glow brighter when car-
Fresh blood pools upon the tile. ried down certain paths? Each lantern comes
with a simple warning: do not ever open it.
2 4 ORDO THE BLIND
Ordo the Blind runs an unassuming food 3 2 THE BEGGAR’S BAUBLE
cart that serves morsels battered and fried As you wander the stalls, a paltry trinket
on long skewers. At first glance there is no catches your eye. You dismiss it as uninter-
sign of affliction to suggest his moniker, but esting and quickly forget it. But then you see
if one is patient they will see him cackle glee- it again at another stall. By the third sight-
fully, plunge a skewer into each eye, levering ing, you are suspicious. By the seventh you
the eyeballs from their sockets in turn, then are certain the trinket is following you, call-
THE BORDERLANDS

proceed to batter and fry them to place them ing ever stronger to your coin purse for sweet
among the other morsels. release. Can you resist the call of the beggar’s
bauble long enough to escape the market?
2 5 RUNIK’S FLUTES
Do you hear that sound? It is Runik, playing 3 3 ZIDAJ IRON ORCHARDS
their flutes for the spirits of this place. Some Well-respected among goblins, the Zidaj
songs put the spirits at ease, others stir them family maintains an ironfruit grove just at
to dance or drive them away. You will find the edge of the Wheel. The squat trees thrive
many kinds of flutes for sale in the hollow in shade, protected from scavengers by a
tree where Runik lives. They have hollow woven canopy of thorny briars. The fruits
orbs of clay with finger holes arranged just themselves are deep blue in color and have a
so, delicate flutes of fragrant wood, polished faint metallic taste. A bite of ironfruit dulls
goat horns with a soothing timbre, and slen- the sense of fear, while consuming a whole
der whistles of bone which seem to fit your fruit makes one numb and utterly heedless
hands perfectly, as if they want you to play of danger. Wine of the fruit, if the rumors
them. Where does Runik find clay of that are true, inspires such a madness that those
strange hue, and where do all the bones come who taste it wander towards their doom with
from? If you are careful to observe the proper open arms, singing joyfully.
courtesies, perhaps Runik will tell you.
3 4 SANTINA’S SINGING FROGS
2 6 FLIMHOCK’S WELL Kormoran’s newest vendor seems out of
Flimhock Dill, the diminutive owner of Nad- place in the mud and the filth all around. But
diramiarach, boasts how his is the only store beaming from behind fine translucent silk,
at the bottom of the well. When you gaze at Santina is happy to sell anyone interested a
the bottom of the well, he shines a light on tiny chirping frog. Why anyone would want
his wares for you to examine them. Toss a one has baffled the town and yet there Santi-
coin and make a selection—the bucket will na sits as chipper as ever with frogs singing
bring you your prize. and chirping away.

112 · Kormoran’s Wheel

3 5 OLINFEHR’S CURIOSITIES 4 3 MEYER’S FURS
The ever-eager Olinfehr excitedly rushes Meyer’s Furs & Hides, the largest stall at
to greet anyone who gives a passing glance this end of the Wheel, bustles with activi-
at his table, grandly gesturing over the bro- ty. Cured skins strewn about on make-shift
ken equipment he has lovingly arranged on tables, the locals eagerly ferreting through
the finest cloth he can afford. If a customer them. Toward the back, Meyer himself does
shows the slightest interest in any item, he the tanning, humming joylessly in his work.
will breathlessly recite its entire history, com- Anyone spending even a moment perusing
plete with previous owners and memorable will see one of Meyer’s goons arrive, a dead
moments of use. Where he gets his informa- treasure-hunter from the forest slung over
tion, no one knows. their shoulder. They throw it down on the
pile next to Meyer, the buzzing flies momen-
3 6 THE RUNESMITH tarily dispersing from the stack of corpses.
Just outside Kormoran’s Wheel lives a rune-
smith in a dingy tent. For a price, he will 4 4 LOANNES’S JOURNALS
imprint an arcane mark upon your weap- Loannes, the bookbinder, will bind you a
on—but to what end? Sometimes, a weapon unique book all your own at no cost: a Jour-
will sprout roots and burrow its way into nal of the Journey. He asks only that you fill
your arm. Sometimes, a weapon will send its empty pages with each and every triumph

THE BORDERLANDS
you into a deep and terrible slumber at the and tribulation encountered in the Kalduhr.
slightest touch of its hilt. And sometimes a What Loannes doesn’t say is every day, his
weapon will be imbued with searing flame, copy of your book will have a page filled as
and you will burn a furious swathe into the you write in yours, until the final day of your
black heart of the forest, the righteous hand journey. The end of a tale is not always sat-
of vengeance and ruin. Don’t have the money isfying, but very final nonetheless. Loannes
to pay the runesmith for his handiwork? Try has a large collection of beaten leather tomes
one of the many discarded weapons that lie from a multitude of authors.
in the brush and mud around his shelter.
4 5 FELLIGUS THE DYER
4 1 THE RAT CATCH Even those with both eyes removed can’t miss
No rat catch is as good as a Kormoran rat the stall of Felligus the dye merchant. You
catch! Place the circular trap out overnight can smell the vinegar from twenty paces. He
in the forest, and small game of some vari- sells exotic pigments and stains from across
ety will find its way inside before morning. all Kalduhr. “Look! A merry crimson, a regal
Never you worry about filling it with bait of beige, a foxy, prismatic yellow,” he says with
any variety—just be sure never to scratch the a grin as he shoves skein after skein of thread
runes there on the side. into your hands. “One must not die looking
a pauper!” The rain washes a iridescent slick
4 2 BRIGHTSTEEL ALLEY into the gutter.
Brightsteel Alley is a must-see shop on any
adventurer’s trek through the Wheel. Mr. 4 6 THE PACK RATS
Brightsteel, as he insists on being called, has For a small fee, Kormoran children will agree
arranged all manner of weapons in his alley to carry your pack to the next village deeper
by stabbing the blades and pointy ends into in the forest. These children seem a might
nearby structures and posts. All merchan- too eager, their smiles a might too large, and
dise only slightly used, slightly dropped, or the greed and hunger in their eyes a might
slightly blood-stained! too insistent to be trusted.

Kormoran’s Wheel • 113

 5 1 VEGREET THE LICH 5 5 SOLOMAH AND HIS TROLL
The crunch of beetles, centipedes, and roach- Solomah managed to return from the forest
es can be felt beneath your boots as you make with a captured troll. For a few coppers,
your way into the den of of the “lich” who he’ll let you see it. For a few silvers,
calls herself Vegreet the Bug Collector, and he’ll let you fight it. For a few
who is in no way just a mummified skeleton gold, he’ll sell you
being operated like a puppet by someone its blood as a
hiding beneath her “magic robes,” and whose cure-all.
eye sockets are definitely glowing with
“warelight,” not just a couple of small candles
stuck there. Vegreet never sells the specimens
from her collection, but she will pay a very
high price indeed for a certain golden beetle
found among the ruins at the heart of the
Kalduhr.

5 2 THE SCENT-SELLERS
Do not venture further into the forest without
first visiting the scent-sellers of Kormoran’s
THE BORDERLANDS

Eastern Spoke. They know what creatures 5 6 PATE THE TORCHBEARER

lurk in each season of the year. For a fee, they Pate the Torchbearer comes from a long line
can cover your scent with unmentionable of torchbearers: his father was a torchbear-
leavings of creatures more dangerous than er, his grandfather was a torchbearer, his
the prey that might otherwise stalk you. great-grandfather was a torchbearer, and so
on several more generations back. He wears
5 3 THE TWIN HEAVENS a two-sided medal of Saint Ara. If there’s a
The Twin Heavens, a pair of brothers more torch that needs bearin’, he’s your man.
lithesome and beautiful than any courtesan
in Ambaret, operate a spa and brothel for 6 1 TREASURE FLIES
treasure-hunters passing through the Wheel. Treasure flies are a specialized commodity of
In truth, they are followers of Saint Evelyn the Wheel. Are they just a big jar of flies? Sure,
the White, the Sister who soothed the dying but break them on the ground in the forest,
(or soon to be dying) during the calamitous and if you are quick enough to keep up, they
Age of Occlusion. will lead you to some unlucky treasure-hunter
who is no longer in need of their equipment.
5 4 MAGS’S BONES
The locals avoid Old Mags’s bone stall, but 6 2 HAMMOCK HAROLD
treasure-hunters may still find her wares use- Hammock Harold, or Bartholomew Ox-
ful. “Lazy bones,” which are little more than enborr as his friends know him, will insist
long strings of bones, can be strewn around that one of his hammocks is the safest place
a campsite as a bit of a trip wire system for to sleep out in the forest. He denies the exis-
enemies, and as a distraction that smaller tence of the large, eight-limbed tree-dwellers,
predators will merely nibble on in the night. despite recent reports of sightings, and one
Where do the bones come from? If you ask, rambling adventurer who returned claiming
Old Mags will simply wink and say she to have been caught in a hammock like a net
doesn’t believe in any part of a beast—ani- by such a creature. Business is good for Bed-
mal or treasure-hunter—to go to waste. roll Beatrice since the news.

114 · Kormoran’s Wheel

6 3 PENELOPE’S BAKERY UNCONVENTIONAL & OMINOUS ITEMS
Penelope’s stall is easy to find: just follow found in the markets of the wheel
your nose to the smell of freshly-baked bread.
She took over the business after her mother
1 1 Flint and steel used for warming the soul
disappeared leading some treasure-hunters 1 2 A mallot and pitons inlaid with silver
into the wood, but Penelope won’t make the 1 3 A pet crow that can squawk out a few riddles
same mistake. She refuses to go any deeper 1 4 Cold iron-forged skinning knives
into the forest herself, but has promised a 1 5 A bundle of herbs to use against “that swine”
massive reward to anyone who can bring
back information about her mother. 1 6 A cloak that the seller swears will ward off fae
2 1 A bag of bird bones, for telling the future
6 4 THE BEARLEADER 2 2 A vial of deep brown liquid “for courage”
Did you catch a strange forest beast and now 2 3 Fishing gear, but the line is spun copper
you aren’t sure what to do with it? Bring it to
the Bearleader. She’ll do her damnedest to 2 4 A jar of glowworm eggs, should hatch in a week
break it, train it, and put it to work. Some say 2 5 A sparrow that sings when near hungry ghosts
she’s a witch and has magic that lets her get 2 6 Torches that will never get wet
in the beast’s head, but however she does it, 3 1 A quick sketch of yourself “as a reminder”
she’s got a nearly 40% success rate. The ones

THE BORDERLANDS
she can’t break end up at Ordo’s food cart. 3 2 Bread made from the ashes of a captured beast
3 3 Honeyed stag heart: King Ibra’s famous last meal
6 5 BARREL’S ARTIFACTS 3 4 A set of polished stone dice to pass the time
Most folks wait until they get to Fort Duhrin 3 5 Wooden spoons branded with the Old One’s face
to unload any artifacts they’ve recovered.
But for the impatient—and gravely injured—
3 6 A good luck seed to tuck in your boot
there’s always Barrel’s. Barrel (a giant of a 4 1 A fern soup which smells of mustard and fish
man) and his sons (equally large) pay a lower 4 2 A dreamcatcher, for keeping away nightmares
rate than found in the royal strongholds, but 4 3 A scaled leather pouch filled with baby teeth
they’ll take most anything. And if you find
anything marked with the royal brand of the
4 4 Two swigs of the “Lost Hand Libation”
Noh dynasty, they’ll even let you name the 4 5 A green forest nut to chew on “for focus”
starting offer (though they’ll still probably 4 6 Clothes made with a thread that keeps bugs away
talk you down from there). 5 1 Single-person tents with uncuttable fabric
6 6 VORRYS THE RANGER 5 2 Arrowheads dipped in silver and blessed oils
The ranger Vorrys will guide you deep into 5 3 Your own personal Sister, contained in a rock
the Kalduhr if the price is right. During your 5 4 A single lethal dose of white widow poison
journey, he will explain that he is actually the 5 5 A second-hand set of prayer beads
son of a great noble house, that his family’s
estate used to be the seclusium of a powerful
5 6 Gravemusk, to make you smell like the dead
wizard, that he once saw a woman give birth 6 1 A spare set of boots, flecked with blood
to thousands of tiny spiders, that he has sin- 6 2 A ragdoll modeled after a fellow treasure-hunter
gle-handedly bested a balindrakir, and that 6 3 A pocket guide to toxic and edible plants
he can communicate with the bit of slime he
keeps in his pocket via telepathy. You may
6 4 A whistle to be used only as a “last resort”
come to regret hiring him. 6 5 Self-amputation kits
6 6 Enough salt to draw a circle around yourself
Kormoran’s Wheel • 115
 Local Gods
JAMES HOLLOWAY
THE BORDERLANDS

There are many gods within the lands ruled by the Crown, and very few who carry consistency
about their definition. What one town calls a “god” might be considered a “spirit” in the next
village over, while another community might consider the god’s rites no more than a municipal
celebration with no religious aspect at all. The Crown’s approach to religion means that these
cults do not find themselves in conflict—most people recognize that the gods worshipped by
their neighbors exist, but do not agree that they are the gods most worthy of celebration. Reli-
gious conflict is rare, but when it arises, it’s typically suppressed by the Crown.
In general, the Crown’s subjects do not believe in direct contact with the divine; the Sisters
mediate between mortals and the eternal. As a result, most settlements that worship a god tend
to worship only one, with which they believe themselves to have some kind of special connec-
tion—whether geographic or historical.

116 · Local Gods

The locals treat their god as…
1 a local custom, which is as much community-bonding tradition as it is faith…
2 a defiant mark of their unique identity…
3 obviously compatible with the faith of the Sisters—why would anyone think otherwise?…
4 a guilty secret, in whose worship they indulge mostly when outsiders aren’t looking…
5 an aspect of the primal divine…
6 a quaint superstition, in whom only a handful of eccentrics believe…
when in fact it is…
1 a spirit once worshipped in an earlier age, awakened by their prayers.
2 one of the many faces of the Old One of the Forest.
3 a fae creature or a wise beast—powerful, but not truly divine.
4 a new being, brought into existence by the intensity of their belief and the magic of the Kalduhr.
5 a demon, summoned from an unknown underworld to prey on their credulity.
6 a genuine god.

Which Obscure God Is Worshipped in This Village?

THE BORDERLANDS
1 1 THE OLD SERPENT 1 3 KOROS, SON OF THE SKY
Most villages fear the wisdom and cruelty of Born in the heavens, Koros came to earth for
serpents, but a few venerate the Old Serpent. the love of a mortal. He taught people how to
Those who revere her respectfully address foretell times using the stars, as well as other
her as “grandmother” and leave offerings in esoteric teachings. Paper banners festoon the
the places where her children den. Villagers village, bearing prayers to Koros in codes
who have survived a snakebite are said to legible only to ever-higher grades of initia-
have her blessing: they can speak the lan- tion. The god disappeared in the forest, but
guage of serpents and see through their eyes. may return once the final secret of his rites
Such favored ones have the power to cure all has been unlocked. His priests constantly
poisons and venoms, but may charge what test youngsters to see which of them has the
price they see fit. Some scholars see in this aptitude to solve this ancient riddle.
belief a distorted version of the serpent faith
of the kingdom of Naganeh. 1 4 HASHAR, THE EAST WIND
Associated with rumour, trade, and travel,
1 2 CWLTH this shape-changing wind deity watches—
Stag-horned, skull-faced, green-clad, this not “watches over”—those who wander the
god of virility and prophecy can appear as roads of Kalduhr. Each year it is propitiated
a robed figure or a giant stag bedecked with during the Clear Wind Festival—a three-day
green ribbons. Every year, villagers parade rite where villagers place sacrifices of food,
a wicker effigy into the town square and fill drink, and valuables on high, rickety plat-
it with offerings of food and drink before forms to let the wind take them away. The
finally burning it. Those who plan to do great highest platform is a sign of the deity’s favor,
deeds in the coming year anoint their faces and families compete to build the loftiest.
with the ashes in public testimony of their The arrival of a traveller during the festival is
ambition. a great portent.

Local Gods • 117

 1 5 EDRAWN, THE WHISPERING LORD 2 3 FORTUNATE EYRA
Faceless but many-bodied, this cryptic figure The folk of this village offer hard-earned
offers to teach his devotees how to win love, coins and shiny trinkets to this goddess, said
find buried treasure, and even turn invisible. to bestow good and ill fortune. Truly zealous
No shrines are ever built in his honor, but believers consider luck to be contagious. They
travellers may find boulders chalked with shun the unfortunate—harassing and hazing
strange glyphs or see small offerings left at them until they leave town—and constantly
cave mouths. To steal one of these offerings hang around those who appear blessed with
is to invite his curiosity. luck’s smile.

1 6 GOLDEN SHUN 2 4 SQUIRREL

This wise minister brings prosperity. Shun This nimble-witted forest creature appears in
was once part of a complex divine pantheon, many myths as a trickster figure. Depending
but this is now lost and only Shun remains as on the interpretation, he’s a rogue element
a relic of a more civilized age. Merchants and eventually tamed by the generosity and pa-
bankers pray to Shun, proudly displaying tience of the Sisters, or he’s a wild creature
golden icons of the god as a sign of prosperity. whose hilarious pranks let some of the air
But even the poorest house may have a gaudy out of the upright, pious saints. Few worship
statue of the wealth-god, shined to brilliance Squirrel directly—those who do claim that
THE BORDERLANDS

by the devotion of desperate hands. Shun the rodent’s hijinks are actually evidence of
hates thieves, but thieves love Shun. a more enlightened viewpoint than ordinary
mortals can comprehend.
2 1 HE WHO WALKS AMONG STONES
This god has two aspects—a smiling youth 2 5 AKHILA, HERO OF HEROES
with honey-colored skin, and a grim spectre When humanity’s hubris released the Great
armed with a blood-spattered maul. Pecu- Devourer upon the world, this cosmic hero
liarly, it is the beautiful youth whose rites undertook a great quest to bind the evil of
are celebrated with the shedding of innocent the hungry goddess. The brave deeds of this
blood, while the crypt god’s ceremonies are quest form the basis of a holy pilgrimage—
dignified and austere. Standing stones and an aspiring hero who completes all stages of
graveyards are sacred to him. the pilgrimage can gain the blessing of this
divine warrior.
2 2 LAKHIL, IMMORTAL OF WINE
Although the mortal shell of this god died 2 6 HAFNI, THE HUNTER
centuries ago, their legacy persists in their The great hunter prowls the shadowed paths
believers, who fermented their decomposing of the Kalduhr Forest. The worship of Hafni
corpse and drank the resulting liquor. Now, recognizes the inherent tension in venerating
when one of the god’s followers dies, their the wood while also surviving by preying
body is placed in a sealed jar to ferment. The upon its creatures. Through prayer, Hafni’s
faithful distill the resulting liquid to produce worshippers accept the spirits of the forest’s
a powerful intoxicant consumed during their animals into themselves; these hybrid souls’
initiation ceremonies. In this manner, the killings are part of the cycle of predation. But
god’s divine presence stays within the bodies some say they are changed by the experience,
of their devotees. Drinking the brew is said and now bear an eerie resemblance to the
to grant believers visions and supernatural cursed beastbitten.
powers. To the unbeliever, however, the wine
brings only death.

118 · Local Gods

 THE BORDERLANDS
3 1 GUL SORGUL, THE GREAT BOAR
This massive, brutal creature prowls the
fringes of the forest around this village. No
one ever sees it, but villagers find the marks
of its tusks on trees, the deep tracks of its
trotters in the leaf litter, and the plumes
of steam that give away its mighty breath.
Its devotees strive to emulate its virtues of
raw strength and stubborn determination.
Priests of the boar know the rites that allow
them to slaughter swine without incurring
its wrath; they offer blood and the fruits of
the forest to it in seasonal rites. Gul Sorgul
cares nothing for their worship.

Local Gods • 119

 3 2 GOLD MOTHER & GREEN MAIDEN 3 3 THREE SWORD SISTERS
Some villages believe that these traditional Although these goddesses are sisters, they are
goddesses of vegetation and the harvest are not Sisters—a distinction the villagers are
close kin to the Old One of the Forest; others tired of explaining to visitors. About twenty
say they are deadly enemies, since Mother minutes’ hike from here, three massive mon-
and Maiden are civilized and generous to umental swords jut, hilts upward, from the
humankind. Some claim these two deities forest floor, plunged there in distant antiqui-
are aspects of the Mother of Millions, bound ty by the goddesses. Each goddess, and thus
and tamed by the rites of their priests. Others each sword, is sacred to one of the village’s
say they’re the point of the Mother’s spear, secretive initiatory warrior lodges.
bound never to rest until the wild wood be-
comes tame farmland. 3 4 THE VERDANT SAGE
This enigmatic figure is the source of hun-
dreds of sayings, both commonplace and
cryptic. Some are familiar: “As the Verdant
Sage once said,” a villager might remark,
“three’s a crowd.” Others are baffling: “In
the immortal words of the Verdant Sage, the
mother bird never sits on the snake’s eggs.”
THE BORDERLANDS

Some believe that mastering the hidden

truths of these gnomic utterances will result
in enlightenment. Others claim that they’re
a complex puzzle that spells the way to an
ancient treasure. Some think it’s a scam, but
since the Sage has no priesthood, it’s hard to
see who would benefit.

3 5 HIGH JUSTICE
For many subjects of the Crown, the phrase
“high justice” is merely a proverb used to
wish divine justice on a dishonest person. In
this village, however, the legalistic orthodoxy
of High Justice flourishes. Here contracts are
sacred, legal language is baffling, and out-
siders may find themselves in breach of laws
they never even knew existed.

3 6 DAUGHTER OF HEAVEN
Known by many names—Bala, Bairen, Filar,
Pelam, Parai, and Vaialen, to name a few—
this beloved goddess descended into the
underworld to retrieve lost secrets known by
ancient empires, including fortune-telling,
medicine, and navigation. Her followers seek
to commune with her through meditation,
fasting, and ecstatic dancing.

120 · Local Gods

4 1 BAKANATH, THE ONCE-DEMON 4 5 ORMANTI, THE RED ONE
This god was once a vile demon until seven Many-limbed and many-weaponed, Ormanti
Sisters, singly and then all together, prayed is the goddess of war. Soldiers hailing from
for him and taught him their doctrines. He this village and its surrounds propitiate her
experienced enlightenment and immediately rather than worship her, making offerings to
ascended to godhood. He is now patron of turn the dread goddess’s bloody gaze away
those who forsake evil to follow the path of from them. Only the mad pray for war.
righteousness. In another aspect, he is patron
of all those who do evil deeds for the sake of 4 6 DERUN, THE LAST KING
a greater good. His scriptures are a syncretic The Last King is a fearsome and jealous god,
mess—no one cares. and the villagers here say his wrath destroyed
the bygone empires of Kalduhr because they
4 2 OUR EIGHT-LEGGED LADY dared to compete with his magnificence.
The clever spider-goddess is the patron of Derun’s worshippers refuse to acknowledge
healers, weavers, builders, poets, and other any form of mortal authority, lest they tempt
practitioners of complex arts. Her devotees their god’s fury. Of course, their society is
wear clothing with intricate web patterns just as hierarchical as any other, but without
cunningly worked into the designs. Only titles or formal ranks.
those chosen by the faith’s secretive inner

THE BORDERLANDS
council may become full initiates. Those who 5 1 PABAKHAR, THE THUNDERBOLT
do learn the secret of the goddess’s plan to This goddess delivers vengeance on all those
save the world from destruction by wrapping who break their oaths or deals unjustly.
it in a preserving web. When she weeps for the evils of humanity,
rain falls; when she rages at it, thunder-
4 3 DUSEH, GOD OF THE FORGE storms appear. Her worshippers embrace, or
The god-smith hammers out the destinies of at least accept, a rigid code of honesty and
mortals on a heavenly anvil. His worshippers social conduct. Their ceremonies are severe,
pray to him for strength, and for the skill to fearful, traditional, and joyless.
shape their own fates. His cult is predictably
popular among smiths and other artisans. 5 2 ANGEL OF CHAINS
The higher grades of initiation involve the The golden chains that make up this divine
creation of more and more complex artifacts, figure’s wings symbolize the chains of civic
often requiring esoteric techniques and rare harmony—the ties that bind neighbors to
materials from bygone ages. neighbors and rulers to the ruled. The village’s
worthies wear golden chains to signify these
4 4 PRINCE OF HELL bonds, but some believers wear chains of iron
Known by many names, the Prince is a to show how heavily they weigh.
lonely wanderer who left the sterile glories
of hell for the delights of the mortal world. 5 3 NUVI, THE CLOUD MAIDEN
Caught by his fearsome parents, the Prince This goddess’s worship originates in the folk
was forced to return to the underworld, but belief that all clouds are herded by a celestial
satisfies his longing for the upper world by shepherdess—farmers offer sweets, toys, and
serving as a psychopomp, guiding dead souls trinkets to tempt the young girl to their fields
to their fate. In settlements where the Prince with her rain-bringing flock. More recent
is revered, art depicting his final rendezvous tales tell of the cloud maiden’s adventures as
with the deceased is often curiously tender she defeats monsters and plays tricks on the
and romantic. older gods.

Local Gods • 121

 5 4 UNITY 6 2 YILOS, THE BLACK MOON
This deity… or tutelary spirit, or bogeyman, This celestial deity represents the dark disc
or whatever it is… is not a single individual, that obscures the moon’s light and, by ex-
but rather the sum of every person whose tension, the dark side of all luminous things.
death was marked by this town’s unique Worshippers offer up their sinful thoughts to
funerary rites. Each new believer adds their the bright spirit’s dark counterpart, purging
knowledge, their personality, and their am- themselves of them. Rumors exist of a secret
bitions to the composite mind of Unity. It society within the priesthood of Yilos that
speaks in the sighing of the wind among the collects and stores the knowledge of these
tombstones. Its will is never the same twice. forbidden impulses.
It has ten thousand memories, ten thousand
dreams, and ten thousand unsettled grudges. 6 3 GATHAL, THE CLAY SPIRIT
This genius loci inhabits a stratum of clay
5 5 TIR, THE ILLUMINATED ONE located nearby. The villagers dig out the clay
This radiant deity appears as a lion-bodied, to make pots, whistles, dice, and other items
ram-headed, eagle-winged beast of legend. of unearthly luster. Only the initiated have
Only those who spent worthy lives in prayer the right to dig this clay, and only at certain
and self-denial can receive the undying fire auspicious times, which makes items formed
of its mystical doctrines. from Gathal Clay very expensive. Worship-
THE BORDERLANDS

pers believe that such items protect their

5 6 SATHAS, LADY OF TOMES owners from harmful magic. Once the clay
This goddess taught humanity the arts of deposit runs out, the faithful will have used
literacy. Her followers revere all documents up their god.
and will never destroy them, no matter how
illegible or irrelevant. The blue shrines of 6 4 LORVO, GOD OF TOIL
Sathas are crammed with chests, pigeon- The patron of all who labor and suffer, Lorvo
holes, and untidy heaps of books, scrolls, is the worker of the gods, who toils excavating
letters, and random scraps of paper. Great rivers and raising hills according to the plans
wisdom may be contained in them, but the of his divine masters. To most worshippers,
ossified priesthood of this cult regards only Lorvo offers little beyond patient solidarity,
writing—not the knowledge it represents— but the high priests of this faith can petition
as sacred, and little is catalogued. In some the god for an under-the-table favor, such
places, she is worshipped in the guise of a as redirecting the flow of a river for a little
Sister, with almost identical rites. while—just until the boss notices, of course.

6 1 FILAKH, BRINGER OF PLENTY 6 5 MUMIL

This figure, depicted in village murals with The patron of music appears in many forms,
a fat-bellied cauldron, is the patron deity of always depicted holding an instrument, but
abundance and the symbol of the bountiful never in the act of performing. The music of
earth. Gaining Filakh’s blessing is not easy; Mumil is said to be the expression of cosmic
before the deity will bless a plot of land, it harmony, produced by the endlessly complex
must be purged of competing supernatural interplay of creation and destruction. Those
forces. Thus, the faithful are particularly who master her inner, esoteric teachings can
interested in rooting out ancient ruins and hear these notes, allowing them to predict the
other spiritually dangerous sites, which they future and detect the relationships between
believe prevent communion with Filakh. seemingly unrelated things.

122 · Local Gods

 THE BORDERLANDS

6 6 DAUGHTER WOLF
A child of the Old One, or of some older, long
forgotten power, Daughter Wolf is the bloody
huntress of the forest, pitiless and untamed.
The villagers here offer her a portion of what
they hunt to keep her from preying on them.
A handful pursue the deeper mysteries—an
older form of the faith where devotees seek
to become perfect, inhuman killers like their
grey-coated goddess.

Local Gods • 123

 Blasphemous Cults
JAMES HO
HOLL
LLO
OWAY
THE BORDERLANDS

While the Crown’s religious policies are relatively lax, there are some beliefs that violate the
Sisters’ teachings to a point where they must operate in secret. Some of these cults are merely
deluded—others have access to forbidden magic.

This cult is... and...

1 secretive and selective, with ritual initiation codes... 1 seeks to expand its influence into new areas.
2 loud and spoiling for a fight with the authorities... 2 has been infiltrated by agents of the Crown.
3 outwardly a heterodox sect devoted to the Sisters... 3 its leader has an agenda in opposition to the cult’s.
4 a handful of devotees of a charismatic preacher... 4 will soon cause disaster via a power out of its control.
5 drawn together by shared dreams and visions... 5 has unwittingly discovered a valuable artifact.
6 handed down within a tight-knit set of families... 6 is infected by a demon of contagion it summoned.

124 · Blasphemous Cults

Which Cult Is This?
1 1 KILLERS OF THE DEAD 1 5 CULT OF ANTHEA
Many have heard of the Killers of the Dead, Followers of the warrior sage Anthea pride
a secret society devoted to hunting and themselves on attaining a state of physical
killing undead creatures. While many gods perfection. Even battle, for them, is simply
disapprove of the living dead, these hunt- a tool to hone their bodies. Some claim that
ers are devoted to the Devourer—one who Anthea's secret teachings include the cre-
condemns any attempt to avoid the natural ation of supernatural elixirs of strength and
process of death, rot, and decay. vitality.

1 2 OMNIPHAGOUS BROTHERHOOD 1 6 CULT OF THE OLD ONE

The Omniphagous Brotherhood are ritual Communities on the fringe of the Forest of
gluttons who believe that consuming pre- Kalduhr revere the Old One dwelling with-
cious and magically powerful objects and in. They believe the treasure that is excavated
creatures will bring them closer and closer to from its depths is a gift from the Old One,
godhead. The most ambitious priests of this and that this gift must be reciprocated. They
sect offer great rewards for such meals. practice human sacrifice within the wood,

THE BORDERLANDS
binding their victims to tree trunks so that
1 3 NULL CATECHISM the Old One will accept the departing spirit
Followers of the Null Catechism cultivate as an offering.
detachment—only once they have freed
themselves from the fetters of family, com- 2 1 MECHANIST SOCIETY
munity, and attachment can they perceive The Mechanist Society’s beliefs are inspired
the infinite. Most are harmless anchorites, by the technological marvels of the old em-
resentful of the people who feed them out of pire. They believe that the whole universe is
respect for their misunderstood piety. But a just such a device, and cultivate a calm fatal-
small fraction of Nullites believe that their ism. Some collect complex devices from the
mission is to evangelize nothingness, sever- imperial period, while others look for ways to
ing others from their worldly ties so that they take control of the world-mechanism.
might be enlightened—forcibly if need be.
2 2 CULT OF THE CLEAR MIND
14 IRON SODALITY This cult committed themselves to labori-
The Iron Sodality worship a spirit of grim ously memorizing their sacred texts after
discipline who teaches them to mortify agents of the Crown and priests of the Sis-
their flesh. By mastery of these exertions, ters prohibited their beliefs. Their doctrines
they believe they can make their bodies have been passed down in this manner for
proof against all harm, even extending to centuries, perfectly recalled even if they are
immortality. For obvious reasons, the faith imperfectly understood. But now that new
appeals to soldiers, who often secretly wear efforts are underway to settle and explore the
protective iron charms under their uniforms. Forest of Kalduhr, some cryptic passages in
However, the cult's beliefs are more than just the painstakingly-memorized texts are be-
harmless superstition. Their patron demands ginning to become clear. And some incanta-
that weak flesh be subjugated to its unfeeling tions, harmless when recited elsewhere, may
iron law—or be destroyed. awaken spirits when chanted beneath the
forest canopy.

Blasphemous Cults • 125

 2 3 CULT OF THE FAE 3 1 CULT OF THE MOTHER
Unlike most people of the Crown, believers All forms of life are sacred to the Mother.
of this sect regard the fae with fascination Fungus is life, vermin are life, parasites are
and awe. They leave offerings for them in life. Disease is life. Accepting this funda-
certain unfrequented glades, and know man- mental truth lets an initiate progress along
gled yet understandable incantations in the the path from ordinary person to the host of
fae tongue. Their leaders may even carry the armies of bacteria and parasites. Although
taint of fae blood. They are ripe for manipu- these worshippers are not pleasant to look at,
lation by an opportunistic fae. their commitment to life does make them ef-
fectively immortal, and they have profound
2 4 CULT OF THE HIVE healing powers—although the surgeries they
Survivors of a settlement destroyed by the perform are not for the squeamish.
swarm usually learn to fear and hate bees.
However, a handful, perhaps driven mad by 3 2 SPIRIT WHISPERERS
their ordeal, developed the opposite reac- The cult practices necromantic rites that di-
tion. They devoted themselves to the worship vine the future using the remains of the dead,
of the Mother of Millions and her children, storing these oracular skulls in their secret
building images of her in hidden temples. ossuary. Despite performing this in secrecy,
Now some of the cult numbers include wax the local community is starting to suspect
THE BORDERLANDS

men, although no one is sure whether they that something is going on in the cemetery.
started that way. They act as spies and infil- The cult now turns its attention toward more
trators, paving the way for swarm attacks. distant, dangerous sites in the forest.
They no longer care whether they will be
spared—they won't. 3 3 UNSEEING VIGIL
The old temple of Unseeing Vigil has been
25 CHRONOLATROUS MYSTERY thoroughly mined by treasure-hunters. How-
Members of the Chronolatrous Mystery be- ever, this cult still meets in secret at the an-
lieve that time itself is a sentient thing—a cient shrine, leaving offerings to the hunched
force with intellect and memory, although and hateful effigy that glowers over the ruin.
not necessarily will. They spy on anyone they It has no name, but it might gain one from
feel has a connection to the distant past or their fervent, if ignorant, prayers. Locals
future, from lorekeepers to treasure-hunters, have seen the lights that burn in the temple
hoping to learn more about the workings of at night, and many believe it to be haunted.
their capricious deity. If they choose the right
subject, they may scry along the individual’s 3 4 NEW DAWN
timeline to predict the future or learn more The Church of the New Dawn believes that
about the mysteries of the past. the old order will give way to a utopian fu-
ture once the conditions of their cryptic
2 6 POSSESSORS prophecies are fulfilled. The cult is divided
The most dangerous of cults, like this one, between radicals who seek to hasten this
can invite spirits to possess a human body. fulfilment, and traditionalists who believe
Victims must pass through a series of ritual that meddling in the prophecy is blasphe-
preparations and challenges to sanctify them mous arrogance. Treasure-hunters hired to
as the new host of the spirit. Itinerants, such retrieve an item for a radical faction may find
as treasure-hunters, make ideal victims; they themselves under attack from traditionalists
often have few local connections. seeking to thwart their own cult’s prophecy.

126 · Blasphemous Cults

3 5 ENLIGHTENED TRANSFERENCE 4 3 BLIND SOCIETY
The Sages of Enlightened Transference have The Blind Society is a traditionalist group
mastered a magical secret that gains them that believes their prayers and sacrifices en-
power—not by selling their souls to devils, sure plenty for the community. They secretly
but by selling the souls of others. In their meet in certain clearings of the deep woods,
hideout, generations of contracts and led- where members are blindfolded to preserve
gers reveal the names of souls that are either their anonymity during the rites. Rumours
claimed by or owed to these beings, as well say that some attendants are beyond human;
as lists of the magical favors still owed to the fae and other creatures of the woods some-
cult. times share in the worship.

3 6 GREEN MISSIONARIES 4 4 ELDER WAY

The Green Missionaries seek refuge from Members of the Elder Way believe that hu-
the outside world under Kalduhr’s sacred mans and animals were once one kindred,
branches. To extend the Old One’s protec- and that the world will not be saved until
tion to new areas, they gather seeds from they are reunited. They can understand the
the wood’s trees, plant them in settlements speech of beasts, and members are highly
beyond the forest’s limits, and nurture them valued in farming communities for their
with offerings. Their plan will take gener- skills with animals. They are among the

THE BORDERLANDS
ations to reach fulfilment, but they persist. only humans who tolerate beastfolk, and
They pay high prices for cuttings from the sometimes serve—unofficially, of course—as
forest’s rarest trees. intermediaries between human communities
and these strange creatures.
4 1 BARRED FELLOWSHIP
The Barred Fellowship originated in the 4 5 CULT OF THE LOST SISTER
Crown’s dungeons, among the most wretched The cult follows the teachings of a Sister cast
of prisoners. Its members worship a chained out of the sacred fellowship. They believe
god, the world’s true liberator, shackled by that the Sisters’ teachings are a lie created by
the unjust authorities of heaven. Though the divine tyrants to keep humanity docile and
cult’s membership now extends beyond pris- vulnerable. By increasing their own magical
oners, the Fellowship maintains its teachings power, they aim to unseat the Sisters from
of secrecy and mistrust, viewing the estab- heaven’s thrones and lead a newly-freed hu-
lished faith as little more than mortal lackeys manity into a new age of self-fulfillment.
of heavenly jailers.
46—
4 2 LAST SURVIVORS This nameless group embraces a primitivist
The Last Survivors believe that the Crown worldview, believing that the gods will re-
will fall and the world of humanity will end. turn and live in harmony with humankind
When that happens, only their sacred rites only when humans abandon their arrogant
will preserve human life through the apoca- pretence of civilization. Even if they live civ-
lypse and into the new world that is to come. ilized lives, they meet for secret hunts in the
They seek to determine who is fated to join forest, pursuing game with only stone-tipped
them in this tiny group of elect. Everyone spears. The expansion of the Crown’s lands is
else is expendable—after all, they’re going to a source of deep concern—humans need to
die anyway. abandon cities, not build more.

Blasphemous Cults • 127

 5 1 AZURE COLLEGE 5 5 SHRINE GUARDIANS
The alchemical teachings of the Azure Col- The Shrine Guardians preserve the memory
lege embody layers of meaning. Outwardly, of a long-lost hero, maintaining a collection
they are known as peddlers of vision-grant- of artifacts, art, and lore that speaks of their
ing intoxicants. Those who have reached the great deeds. By studying and reenacting these
deeper layers of understanding know that the legends, they hope to gain an aspect of their
true meaning of alchemy is the transfigura- hero’s superhuman powers. The Guardians
tion not of base matter, but of the soul. Those are always interested in getting their hands
who press beyond this teaching learn that on more of their hero’s relics—or suppressing
they really do make magic potions, including those of any potential rival for fame.
one that can supposedly raise the dead.
5 6 MOSAIC
5 2 ETERNAL PRIESTHOOD Unlike most people of the Crown, adherents
The Eternal Priesthood maintains the rites of the Mosaic sect believe that all sentient life
of an ancient, ruined temple. They light the is essentially human. Therefore, to kill a fae
lamps, sweep the floors, chant prayers, and or even a bee is murder tantamount to killing
offer incense to the long-forgotten deities a human. Because of this belief, they work se-
that once presided there. They know nothing cretly or openly to prevent conflict between
of the gods or beliefs of their distant prede- species, even going so far as to help faeborn
THE BORDERLANDS

cessors, but they know that their devotion is or homunculi escape human settlements if
the only thing that stands between this world they are in danger.
and ruin.
6 1 BLOODY COMMUNION
5 3 ORDER OF RENEWAL The Bloody Communion has an intimidat-
The Order of Renewal believes that the world ing name, but its members are mystics who
is flawed, fallen from the majesty of divine seek to connect with the divine through al-
creation. Renewers try to remake whatever tered states of consciousness. They practice
they can in the image of their god’s original self-denial, flagellation, and self-mutilation
plan, even going so far as to change their to achieve this goal. Their rites are not for the
own appearance into more divine forms. faint of heart, but they do appear to work—
Traditionalist members of the sect strive to those who endure transcendent suffering
understand more about the world’s early his- seem to have uncanny visions and intuition.
tory. Radicals believe that they are divinely
guided, and seek to forcibly change the 6 2 DOG DANCERS
world—even down to changing other people. Dog Dancers worship through ecstatic dance.
In the dance, they lose their humanity—they
5 4 CULT OF THE ELFCUP snap, bark, and sport on all fours. Wild dogs
This cult tends an area of the forest where a run with them. Some see them as harmless
rare species of fungus grows. Properly pre- eccentrics, while others see them as a dan-
pared, it induces a gentle trance. They believe gerous threat to social order. Some members
that when they enter this trance in the forest, join the cult without knowing why—they
they can commune with the spirit of Kalduhr simply see the dance go by and feel a sudden
itself to receive visions. Much of what they urge to join the chaotic abandon.
say seems nonsensical, but some parts are
eerily prescient.

128 · Blasphemous Cults

6 3 BEAST KNIGHTS SECRET PLACES TO GATHER & WORSHIP
The faith of the Beast Knights mainly used by blasphemous cults
flourishes among soldiers and ex-soldiers.
Its members venerate legendary warriors,
1 1 The horse stables, sounds muffled by hay bales
half-human and half-animal, whose pow- 1 2 The back room of the blacksmith’s shop
ers they call upon for protection in battle. 1 3 A noble’s greenhouse, for growing toxic plants
Within the military, lodges of Beast Knight 1 4 A cave which the locals tell ghost stories about
worshippers form a secretive social club that 1 5 A forest clearing, the site of a grisly murder
transcends regiment and rank, including
members of enemy armies. 1 6 The private library of a supportive local lord
2 1 A falconer’s aviary
6 4 PAUPERS 2 2 A shared dreamspace visited via a rare elixir
This mendicant cult rejects worldly posses- 2 3 The washerman’s, to clean up after messy rites
sions, believing that pure asceticism is the
key to holiness. Villagers love them because 2 4 A temple superficially dedicated to a lesser Sister
of their generosity, which they compare to 2 5 The site of a barely-remembered battle
the Crown’s wealthy and worldly religious 2 6 The mausoleum of a family cemetery
authorities. Inwardly, the cult looks down 3 1 A hidden chamber underneath a chicken coop
on those who receive its kindness, as they

THE BORDERLANDS
regard them as doomed due to their reliance 3 2 Around the roaring furnace of the glassblower
on these material things. 3 3 In the hushed studio of a bookbinder
3 4 The art gallery of a distractable noble bachelor
6 5 SOLAR CIRCLE 3 5 An unaware farmer’s root cellar
The Solar Circle venerates a traditional solar
deity that is life-giving, all-seeing, and im-
3 6 An old shrine dedicated to an even older god
partial. They preach a doctrine of generosity 4 1 Around the table of a respected knight
and giving to others equally, just as the sun 4 2 The studio of a royally-patronized musician
shines on all. They also embrace vigilantism, 4 3 The galley of a permanently-docked ship
punishing even minor transgressions fierce-
ly. What is done in the dark must be brought
4 4 The anatomical theater at a secretive college
to the light. 4 5 By the river, sounds masked by rushing water
4 6 In a particular steamroom at the bathhouse
6 6 FATED GUARD 5 1 A fairy ring under the light of a crescent moon
The Fated Guard follow a misunderstood,
fragmentary version of the faith of an an-
5 2 In the kitchen at the local inn
cient imperial military cult. Devoted to the 5 3 Inside a covered wagon, just outside of town
regiment’s minor patron deity, they practice 5 4 A granary attached to an abandoned mill
martial arts and maintain an armoury of an- 5 5 The cartographers’ guild house
tiquated and bizarre weapons, while awaiting
divine orders that may never come.
5 6 An emptied burial mound
6 1 Among the hives of an apiarist
6 2 A permanently vacant cell at the local jail
6 3 The tannery, to better mask the ritual odors
6 4 The hushed bedroom of a wetnurse’s charge
6 5 The grazing grounds of a goatherd
6 6 Beneath the stage of a subversive theater troupe
Blasphemous Cults • 129
 Cult of the Serpent Queen
JAMES HO
HOLL
LLO
OWAY
THE BORDERLANDS

130 · Cult of the Serpent Queen

Centuries ago, the world cowered at the name of Sehtet ils Noh, the Devourer. Ambitious and
resolute, this conquering queen spread her empire across the world. Even today, statues of the
Serpent Queen tower over the lands she once subjugated. Rulers and pretenders alike claim her
as an ancestor, seeking to emulate her victories. Some view the Serpent Queen as a bringer of
order, whose conquests brought peace and prosperity—others remember her as a tyrant.
Central to the reign of Sehtet ils Noh was her embrace of the serpent cult and its secret rites.
The queen cultivated the priesthood of the serpent and was initiated into their mysteries. The
devotees of the snake cult became her closest advisors, and their mystical beliefs are said to
have inspired both her courage and her cunning.
Legends vary when they speak of Sehtet ils Noh’s death. Some say it was a Sister who drove a
holy blade into the Serpent Queen’s heart, while others say she took her own life as her armies
fled from an alliance of rival nations. Still others say she was cut down by an assassin within the
ranks of the serpent cult itself. In Naganeh, the priestesses of the Devourer teach that Sehtet ils
Noh did not truly die at all. Instead, she transcended her own mortality and ascended to god-
hood, shedding her physical form as a snake sheds its skin. The faithful pray to her for wisdom,
for strength of character, and for deliverance from the cruelties of the world.

The Actions of–and Accusations Against–the Serpent Priests

THE BORDERLANDS
1 1 Seeking the last of a rare type of snake 2 1 Investigating young women born on a
whose venom is said to endow its victims certain date in hopes that one of them is the
with oracular visions before it kills them. reincarnation of Queen Sehtet ils Noh.

1 2 Scheming to replace the garrison com- 2 2 Compiling lists of one another’s pec-
mander of a local fort with an officer who has cadilloes in order to win favor in the eyes of
been secretly initiated into their teachings. a cult superior who will soon be making an
inspection visit.
1 3 Conducting public displays of fasting,
poison resistance, and other remarkable 2 3 Looking for guides into the forest in
powers in order to impress non-believers order to excavate an ancient ruin which may
with the efficacy of their esoteric disciplines. contain artifacts sacred to their order.

1 4 Recruiting hired swords to escort a 2 4 Working in their alchemy laboratories

valuable relic of their religion to a shrine. to synthesize ever more potent potions.

1 5 Seducing repressed followers of the 2 5 Offering good prices for the venom
Sisters into ever-increasing sin. They believe glands of the most dangerous creatures in
doing so will increase the level of corruption the forest, from the dread basilisk to the
in the world, thus hastening its consumption small, deadly three-minute viper.
by the Devourer.
2 6 Protecting an exiled member of the
1 6 Stimulating their senses with rich Naganeh royal family against assassins sent
foods, narcotic vapors, and exotic liquors by their vengeful cousins. Such abandoned
to achieve a transcendent state of excess in offshoots of the ruling clan could be useful if
which they will briefly become one with the the kingdom were ever to undergo a succes-
all-seeing Devourer. sion crisis.

Cult of the Serpent Queen • 131

 3 1 Buying the bodies of the recently dead 4 5 Meditating, detached from the daily
for use in experiments aimed at mastering events of the world around them. They await
the secret formula of resurrection. the final eruption of the Devourer and the
inevitable annihilation of the cosmos.
3 2 Spreading tales of the dangers and
evils of the Kalduhr in the hopes of turning 4 6 Engaging in charity and good works—
the Crown against the force of generation not to recruit more followers, but to alleviate
that opposes their force of consumption. as much suffering as possible before the end
of the world.
3 3 Publicly debating pious followers of
the Sisters in order to point out the numerous 5 1 Escalating recondite theological de-
inconsistencies in their sacred stories, thus bates to violent confrontations between
opening the minds of the watching populace. groups of their followers.

3 4 Learning the cryptic language of the 5 2 Practicing physical exertions and mar-
serpents, and transcribing their whispered tial arts in order to wake the eternal serpent
secrets on long scrolls. that lies within the human body.

3 5 Taking shelter from a mob of angry 5 3 Granting life to monstrous serpent-

THE BORDERLANDS

villagers who are more motivated by reli- man hybrids as a result of failed experiments
gious intolerance and anti-Nagani bigotry intended to give humans regenerative powers.
than anything the serpent priests have actu-
ally done. 5 4 Achieving reptile consciousness in the
hopes of identifying and interpreting ancient
3 6 Constructing a labyrinth and stocking scriptures through cryptic visions.
it with venomous creatures as a test for those
who wish to expand their knowledge of the 5 5 Attaching themselves to local rulers
cult’s mysteries. as soothsayers and spiritual advisors, then
counselling them to emulate the example of
4 1 Smuggling poisons and mind-altering Queen Sehtet ils Noh, for good and ill.
potions past the Crown’s customs inspectors,
who are beginning to suspect them—soon 5 6 Sowing discord among the officers of
they’ll need to find someone a little less con- the Crown to reduce the nation’s potential
spicuous to do the job for them. military and political threat to Naganeh.

4 2 Racing to see which of them can first 6 1 Answering esoteric questions from
locate the tomb of a long-dead hierophant ruffians and fortune-hunters who would be
who was said to have mastered the secret of dismissed by the more traditional priesthood
reincarnation. of the Sisters.

4 3 Raising funds by using their alchemi- 6 2 Battling the wicked spirits that seek
cal skills to manufacture fast-acting poisons to drown the world in a tide of unending,
for a local gang of criminals. cancerous creation.

4 4 Evoking the spirits of the venomous 6 3 Warning against the machinations of

angels that advised Sehtet ils Noh to improve evil spirits that seek to freeze the world in a
their communion with the Devourer. meaningless, unproductive stasis.

132 · Cult of the Serpent Queen

6 4 Offending local sensibilities by initiat-
ing the children of respectable, Sister-fearing
families into their “decadent” mysteries.

6 5 Rooting out heretics who believe they

can accelerate the coming of the Devourer,
rather than acknowledging their own insig-
nificance and allowing the all-consuming
Serpent to arrive in its own good time.

6 6 Dispatching teams of explorers to the THE WORLD SERPENT

ruins of the Kalduhr to search for the ancient
weapon that will bring about the return of The World Serpent, the Unending
the Devourer and usher in the apocalypse. Coil, the Devourer—many nations
have worshipped this entity in their
own ways. All share the belief that this
great serpent will arise to consume the
world. Some believe that they can hasten
the Devourer’s coming through certain

THE BORDERLANDS
esoteric rites, while others
hold that insignificant humanity
cannot influence the divine beast
and instead concentrate on preparing
themselves spiritually for the end.

Sages of the Crown hold that the

Devourer is a god of consumption—
an antithesis to the relentless creative
energies of the Old One and the
Mother of Millions. Always starving,
never sated, it is lust, death, greed—
the emotionless hunger of the cosmos.

Serpent cults have a variety of teachings.

Some believe that the impending
destruction of the world will purify a
sinful planet, making room for a new
creation. Others focus on cultivating
serenity in the face of annihilation.
Then there are the ecstatic hedonists, who
believe that when extinction approaches,
the only rational response is to enjoy
yourself. And, of course, not all priests
of the Devourer are true believers,
especially in Naganeh where advancement
through the cult’s ranks can open the
door to wealth and political influence.

Cult of the Serpent Queen • 133

The Forest
The Kalduhr
The dreaded Kalduhr Forest looms large in the minds of the residents of the three kingdoms.
Millennia ago, it was the home to a vast and powerful civilization, as is evidenced by the won-
drous treasures and temples still hidden within. And yet, that culture is now lost. Little is
known about why it disappeared—or how. Sure, moralizing tales exist about the decadence
and hubris which surely lead to Old Kalduhr's fall, but only the old gods and monsters of the
forest now know for sure.

MAPPING THE FOREST

The forest itself is poorly mapped, though those royal surveyers, intrepid explorers, and fool-
hardy treasure-hunters who make it out of the forest alive are improving the collective knowl-
edge everyday. Some cartographers have become convinced that the forest itself changes its
shape, destroying the accuracy of each map as soon as ink touches paper. The impossibility of
following either the Naveh or the Nevask Rivers, and the rapidity with which the local flora
reclaims any constructed pathways both point to some truth to that hypothesis.
There are, however, some ancient trails which remain. At one point, the Kalduhr was heavily
traveled. Littered throughout the wood are ancient waystations, each a point for merchants,
pilgrims, and other travelers to find rest and safety under the watchful eye of a group of rangers.

MONSTROSITIES
Though the rangers of old are gone, the reason for their existence remains. The forest contains
many dangers, not least of which are the horrid beasts which call the place their home. From
individual and regional monsters, like Lonely Meg and the Droppler, to the more ubiquitous
terrors, like elves and the unquiet dead, there is much to fear. Fact and fiction, however, are a

THE FOREST
blurry mess—many a raving “treasure-hunter” has spread tales of moss-furred, toothy-mawed
nightmares, only to see an unflappable local drag back nothing more than a bear or boar. And
yet, even a hardened naturalist can be found wearing a spirit charm around their neck or a
lucky “Old One” penny in their pocket. Even they know it’s better to be safe than to be sorry.

THE OLD ONE OF THE FOREST

No matter which Sister hears your prayers, the Old One of the Forest is always listening, too.
Like many of the elder gods worshipped in days of yore, no one seems to remember the Old
One’s original name, or how long ago they were displaced by the faith of All Saints. Though,
perhaps the better question is whether the Old One was displaced at all—that smirking,
leaf-shrouded face is stamped on coins, lumber, clothing, buildings, livestock, and anything
else someone might want to shield from the ire of the forest and its guardians. The Old One
might have very few who sing their praises, but those who know better show respect and give
a wide berth.

The Forest • 135

 The Deep Kalduhr
PAUL BALDO
BALDOWSKI

Twisted forests are ubiquitous throughout the realm’s history and within the stories of buoy-
ant balladeers beside crackling hearths. While the moral tales and mawkish songs set such
darkened wealds as traps for the obstinate and foolhardy, suggesting that one will always find
the right path upon losing their way, not all journeys end with inspiration. Manifold, virtu-
ous fables aside, the most terrifying thickets lie heavy with the skulls of the fallen and telltale
tragedies of innocents lost. Worse yet, the snares and tangles of the grimmest depths share a
common source in the deep Kalduhr—the roots and branches of that tenebrous thicket reach
THE FOREST

deep and distant, as if unbound by natural law.

You realize that you’ve traversed into the deep Kalduhr when you notice…
1 the hum of insects gathered in a storm-like cloud above your head, hovering in anticipation of an easy meal.
2 a sense of cloying despair as the light suddenly fades beneath a grasping canopy of disease-mottled leaves.
3 the unsettling awareness of being watched by things too close at hand, yet utterly invisible in the thicket.
4 a fetid, stagnant haze that swirls about as if possessed of some malign intent.
5 the mellifluous melody of unfamiliar birdsong that lulls the senses like a strong sleeping draught.
6 the landscape littered with the twigs of forgotten seasons and the shells and skeletons of unfortunate animals.
The ground underfoot sounds like...
1 the crackle of a thousand tiny bones snapping and splintering.
2 the agonizing gulps of a punctured lung.
3 the hushed whispers of a dissenting mob plotting sequestration.
4 the pulse of a fading heartbeat.
5 a restless titan grinding its teeth.
6 the susurration of an insect swarm swirling in charged fury.
136 · The Deep Kalduhr
What Do You Encounter While Traversing the Forest?
1 1 A BIRDCATCHER 1 6 A LOST GUARD
A gnarled, ancient thorn of prodigious size An emaciated kingsguard dressed in tattered
rises above the brush. Desiccated flyers of greens hangs limply over the top of a branch
varied species and size hang skewered from partway up a tree, limbs dangling. He insists
the narrow, barbed tips that sparkle with a he needs no help, cocky in his certainty of
noxious dew—broken wings flutter as they handling the situation alone, yet he looks
cling to life. half-starved and wide-eyed with delirium.

1 2 A WRECKED SHIP 2 1 A TOME OF LOST KNOWLEDGE

An inexplicable wreck—the Seventh Sister, a The torn and tattered pages of an esoteric
sorcerous schooner—sits beached amidst a work nestle amidst the scrubby undergrowth
bed of vicious spines that glisten with golden or flit upon the breeze like great, cadaverous
flowers. A dozen or so iron-ringed barrels sit butterflies. They follow unpredictable paths,
amidst the moldering remains of the vessel’s carried by currents of air that are sensed
supplies, untouched by age or rust. rather than felt, like the last lingering breath
of the recently deceased.
1 3 AN ABANDONED PICNIC
A clearing in the brier echoes with the sound 2 2 AN IRON FENCE
of mellifluous birdsong. In its center sits The twisted, blistered remains of a cast
the debris of a forgotten picnic littered with iron fence rise over the fluctuating wild
gnawed bones. Streamers of snagged red growth like the vertebrae of some monstrous
fabric lie in the prickly bush that surrounds gaunt. Globules of solidified metal spatter
the spot, occasionally catching the breeze the blackened ground, charring the under-
like warning flags. growth. Metallic clinks echo like a lingering

THE FOREST
death-rattle.
1 4 A STRANGE MUD
Several ruined carriages and carts poke 2 3 A GREEDY GROUND
at odd angles from a patch of dried earth. Soft ground coddles limpid pools from with-
Their level of submersion means extracting in which translucent, broad-finned fish peer
the wrecks is impossible without tools and inquisitively. The ground squeaks and snags
considerable effort. However, every four each footfall, as if pleading for travelers to
hours, a very singular and localized deluge stay awhile. The puckering drag forcibly tugs
floods the area; the dirt turns into a boot- upon every passing foot—indeed, the area
sucking slurry, which dries up again in less stands as a silent memorial to countless pieces
than an hour. of lost footwear.

1 5 AN IMPRISONED FAE 2 4 A BLACK POOL

A cage of dull green metal displays the In the center of a clearing, an obsidian pool
contorted skeleton of a fairy-like creature supports a shoal of exquisitely-carved crystal
wearing an elaborate crown trimmed with fish. Some incomplete statues depict curious
fur. The cage dangles high above the ground flounder bobbing near the surface, while
from a vicious-looking barb—abandoned more elaborate sculptures appear to hang,
sticks, hooks, rope, and polearms scatter the without support, mid-leap above the lagoon.
floor beneath.

The Deep Kalduhr • 137

 2 5 A STEPPING-STONE PATH 3 5 AN ASTROLOGICAL TOPIARY
A path of cracked and mottled stepping An elaborate topiary dominates the center of
stones meander across the breadth of a a scorched, barren space. The commodious
stagnant stream, bounded by massive fallen shrubbery bears the look of a complex orrery,
trunks. Each stone appears hand-crafted, like complete with tight-leafed orbs, sprouting
the domed skulls of drowned effigies. Biting satellites, and celestial bodies bobbing on
insects bloom in iridescent clouds above the drifting vines.
standing pool.
3 6 A STONE DEMON
26 A WALL OF WHISPERING VINES A sickly hued lake of bubbling liquid gathers
A curtain of flourishing vines grows down at the foot of a demonic statue. A hundred
from the canopy, curling into an uneven and ravens cluster on the left side, while the
flocculent carpet of pale green. The pulpy right hand clutches an elaborate brazier that
vines squeal and convulse under pressure, steams with a purple haze.
quaking as if with tortured rapture, filling
the air with a brackish tang. 4 1 A MACABRE BRIDGE
A narrow bridge traverses the expanse of a
31 A BLEEDING WOUND fast-flowing stream. Instead of plain blocks,
A shaft of bright light illuminates a hole in countless moss-riddled gravestones make
the ground like a massive puncture wound, up the entirety of the dismal span. All but a
steep-sided and shallow. Glistening ruby sap few of the markers bear a name and a date—
leaks from the torn and ragged roots that some are peculiarly new, while others have
pepper the surface of the rupture. only partial inscriptions, as if charting the
passage of hours and days.
3 2 A CURIOUS COVERED PATH
An arch of tightly intertwined saplings rises 4 2 A GHOSTLY HUNT
obliquely from gutters filled with odd colored A dozen animated animal pelts hunt and
THE FOREST

stones. Beyond the first dozen steps from hide amidst the overrun of greenery cloaking
entry, the passage diverges, curves, and then a crumbling pavilion. The wisps of spectral
seems to twist back upon itself—yet appears runes hang like smoke in the air, visible only
to cover only a short distance to all outside of when shafts of sunlight pierce the verdure.
the construction.
4 3 A MUSHROOM GRAVEYARD
33 A POND OF TEETH A gossamer net drifts like a morning mist
An ornamental pool with a shallow lip, filled across an uneven clearing strewn with scores
with crystal-clear water. Hundreds, perhaps of cyclopean fungi. The mushrooms reach
thousands, of teeth litter the stone basin upturned from the ground; the splayed caps
beneath the gently rippling surface. A stone wrap about countless desiccated corpses in
column at the center abides the presence of a their fleshy blankets, stalks poking skyward
dozen gaping edentate mouths. like grave markers.

3 4 A SKELETAL FOG 4 4 A WASP’S NEST

A patch of noxious mire roils and seethes The tumor of a prodigious wasp’s nest swol-
amidst the soaring spines. Sunlight cutting len out of all proportion dominates the path.
through the swamp haze creates surreal, The opacity of its whorled parchment surface
mirage-like patterns resembling cackling, offers glimpses of discolored, writhing flesh.
toothless skulls.

138 · The Deep Kalduhr

4 5 A REACTIVE WOOD 5 4 A GOLDEN HOUND
Slender rose-barked trees bestrew the spongy A dog with pale, golden fur watches inquis-
turf of a sodden, ambrosial mire, teeming itively from a distance, bright-eyed and per-
with buzzing insects. Passage through the fectly still. Any approach sparks an immedi-
blanket of floating roots causes the forest ate reaction, sending the hound racing in the
to bob and skew, slinging dark, barbed opposite direction, only to reappear later in
fruit forcefully from the canopy toward the the same attentive posture. It doesn’t bother
ground below. anybody, and never makes a sound.

4 6 A DANGEROUS ASCENT 5 5 A LEASHED PRAYER

A steep, bramble-covered promontory ap- A rude kite of bound twigs and sackcloth,
pears to offer a view above the canopy of the bearing the sigil of a half-forgotten deity,
surrounding wildwood. On completing the levitates in a steady breath of air, secured to
arduous ascent through the grappling brush the ground by a braided twine and peg. The
and bloodthirsty brier, two things become ease and strain on the twisted string creates
clear—the rise is not quite high enough, and a curious plucked melody, but also seems to
the hill itself is a dormant leviathan of un- stress the steadfastness of the pin.
known temperament.
5 6 AN ARROW GARDEN
5 1 A TEMPTING LAKE A meadow of swaying grass and colorful
An expanse of open water dominates an area plants bloom in the shade of tall trees. Bright
that is fringed with trees and encircled by a yellow flowers sprout from the splintered
neat, well-maintained path. Several coracles, nocks of a thousand stranded arrows that
fashioned from green wood, float idly around pepper the loam. Ragged scraps of unrecog-
the pond, either anchored from beneath the nizable banners lie scattered amidst the re-
surface or secured to another boat with a mains.
length of rope. Near the center of the pool, a

THE FOREST
single craft sits with a small chest resting on 6 1 A FOREST SENTINEL
the seat. A confluence of ancient trees resembles the
stoic figure of an immovable guardian, vig-
5 2 A MARKED PATH ilant and unwavering. A tangle of bristling
Crooked and twisted iron staves gird the creepers dangles from above, coiling and
torturous progress of a path amidst steam- confining the growth of the timber effigy.
ing, pus-colored pools. A sweet, pungent Streams of treacle-thick sap leak from the
scent permeates, like the air after a storm. A scarred bark, while several sluggish vines
careless step along the route causes a strange quest to secure a grip about the idol’s neck.
tingling sensation, and a grumble of thunder
from the cloudless sky above. 6 2 AN ICY SHRINE
A magnificent shrine composed entirely of
5 3 A FLORAL GRAVEYARD ice perspires in the relentless rays of a sus-
A plumb stretch of uneven road pays lip ser- pect sun. The sacred place leans precariously,
vice as an impromptu ossuary, fringed with sweating blocks that liquefy into shallow
a mop of bright and fragrant flowers. Lumi- puddles. Frozen furnishings and a grand
nous sprays of funereal vapors drift and whirl altar adorn the interior, visible through the
in a mesmerizing dance above the track, pair- arched vestibule, hinting at the possibility of
ing and separating in time to a silent waltz. relics within.

The Deep Kalduhr • 139

 6 3 A MOCK BATTLE
A pair of silver statues, cast in the semblance
of entertainers wearing oddly shaped hats,
animate in an endless quarrel at the heart of
a clearing. Each manikin aggressively swings
a dull-bladed ax—its strike sounds like a bell
and does more damage to the weapon itself
than the target.

6 4 A MYSTERIOUS CAVE
A lichen-veiled barricade obstructs the en-
trance to a cave. A low moaning emanates
from beyond the barrier, interspersed with
muttered curses. Narrow fissures in the
makeshift wall reveal weird flashes of pale
blue light.

6 5 A RITUAL CRATER
Twenty standing stones rise in two concen-
tric rings, centered upon an abyssal crater
rimed with blood-flecked ice. Within the in-
ner stones, a steady, stifled throb causes the
soil to convulse, setting the sward to swaying.

6 6 A GIANT’S HEAD
The decay-bloated head of a gargantuan
carcass blocks the path, which terminates in
THE FOREST

russet-colored turf beside its face. A bulging,

milky eye stares sightlessly from the loose
grasp of the skull, while the other socket is
empty and encrusted with flaking gore.

140 · The Deep Kalduhr

 Waystations
JUDD KARLMAN

THE FOREST
Old Kalduhri waystations were once a way for the empire to safeguard travel and the economy.
But as the monarchs grew more decadent and out of touch with humanity, the waystations by
the old road grew strange. All waystations were built around a public house, a ranger fort, food
stores, and a tower.
Along the ruins of one of the old road, you find a waystation from the days of Old Kalduhr.

Now the waystation is... and as you get closer you can see...
1 a rotted shell… 1 freeriders rounding up their herd.
2 perfectly preserved from the time of the god-kings… 2 an army of mercenaries breaking camp.
3 fortified by locals hoping history lends legitimacy… 3 witches dancing around a bonfire.
4 covered in blue fungus growing in fractal patterns… 4 refugees looking for something to eat.
5 a mess—knocked over and covered in claw marks… 5 treasure-hunters digging out a respectable find.
6 a cyclopean crater… 6 a giant beast—a pet of the Kalduhri god-kings.

Waystations • 141
 What Stories Have You Heard About the Waystations?
1 1 THE GUARDIAN 1 5 CURSED STORYTELLERS
Watt protects the waystation nearest to Fort Travelers are gathered, telling stories of
Duhrin. He claims he is descended from the where they’re from. The passion with which
ancient rangers who once safeguarded the they tell their tales seems a bit intense. They
old roads, and it is his duty to carry on their have been caught in an old, deteriorating
legacy. He’ll gladly welcome you in and be a ritual meant to promote communication
good host. If he finds out that you’re treasure- and peace, but which now forces strangers to
hunters, his demeanor will turn cold. He will compete—only those who tell the finest sto-
call you scavengers, tax-dodgers, and worse, ry are allowed to leave. The others are rooted
and will promptly eject you from his home. in place, unable to leave or die until their tale
is the declared best.
1 2 AN OVERFLOWING ALTAR
Waystations always had an area outside of 1 6 THE LOST WAYSTATION
the tower where holy icons could be placed The lost waystation was home to a statue
upon altars where folk could worship. For celebrating the military accomplishments of
whatever reason, this altar never lost any a once-famous general whose name is lost to
gods. Now the area is choked with them as time. The general’s claim to fame was that he
the altar groans with various tributes. All cleared large sections of the Kalduhr Forest
who pray here have strange dreams, but the so the empire could be founded upon the
gods who answer them might be ancient and land. Whatever survived being driven out of
unable to understand the world as it exists. the forest returned and destroyed the station,
killing everyone who lived and worked there.
1 3 THE WALKING RANGER Legend has it that if you find the general’s
The Walking Ranger is an old legend—an name, you can find the waystation. If you do,
THE FOREST

Old Kalduhri ranger who never put down you’ll learn that its tower sits upon a cache of
their cloak. They travel from waystation to powerful weapons from the general’s armory.
waystation, fixing one little thing before
moving on. Sometimes, that little thing is a 2 1 DREAM SCARABS
leaky roof, other times the little fix means a If you are lucky, you might find a storehouse
gang of bandits is littered with arrows. filled with scarabs, the kind put on the tombs
of kings and queens. They are harmless,
1 4 THE RELUCTANT WEAPON and will eat the dead, leaving only perfectly
Atop the tower is a winged, worn statue that cleaned bones. They are also delicious. If you
looks upon the sky. Close examination shows eat them after they have eaten a body, they
it is not a statue, but a kind of constructed, will offer you something of the life they de-
sorcerous, living weapon meant to launch. voured:
When Old Kalduhr broke the sky, these
constructed beings were the weapons that
1 Dreams of their death.
did the breaking. This particular being—this 2 Dreams of their greatest pleasure.
weapon—somehow grew empathy, and has 3 Dreams of their greatest pain.
spent centuries looking at the sky where its 4 Surreal, partially-digested dreams of their life.
siblings did the work they were born to do
and then perish—unable to join them, un-
5 For an hour, you burp up things they once said.
able to kill. 6 Can
You are trapped in a dream of their life.
you find a way to escape?

142 · Waystations
2 2 VILLAGE NAMES 2 6 RANGER SUPERSTITIONS
For a time, it was a wise move to found a Old Road Rangers were notoriously supersti-
settlement near a waystation. Some villages tious, and some of those beliefs have stayed
founded in this manner have names that in the world—even if there are no legitimate
make it easier to mark that a waystation ruin rangers left to walk it. Every time you are the
is nearby—names like Meerway, Wayfule, first person to draw a blade in a battle, the
and Waymere. Other stations make it more enemy who will one day kill you receives a
difficult, demanding that any who wish to silver coin. Every time you are the last person
pillage a waystation ruin know the name of to draw a blade in battle, the enemy who will
the sorcerer who was said to have served in one day kill you receives a blessing from the
a waystation’s tower, as the villages are often Sisters. Finding a crown-up coin on the road
named after these users of magic. means someone powerful is plotting against
you, while finding a boot-up coin on the road
2 3 THE SCHOLAR means someone who takes orders from you is
Karas Limt is a traveler, librarian, architect, about to betray you.
artist, and historian who has made study-
ing the waystation their life’s work. Getting 3 1 MISSING DEAD
old now, Karas will pay treasure-hunters to The dead were never interred in or near any
venture into more dangerous ruins—as long of the waystations. Some say that remnants
as they take oaths on the altars of the most of Old Kalduhri sorcery had fell effects on
vengeful Sisters not to destroy any of the the dead. Others say the rangers of the old
buildings. “Those who come after us should road were cannibals. Scholars insist that tales
be allowed to study their mistakes too,” of ranger cannibalism are entirely metaphor-
Karas is known to say. ical, depicting their corrupt bribery.

2 4 THE SWORD-MOTHER 3 2 THE TWEEN PATHS

The waystations had a sovereign Sister, the All of the public houses, ranger forts, store-

THE FOREST
Sword-Mother. Those who were visited by houses, and towers are connected through
her met a young mother with a content child some lost arcane linking that is fading.
on her left hip and a well-used but still-sharp Trying to walk from one to another can be
pitted longsword on the other. She was said to a fast way to traverse tremendous distances,
arrive in two incarnations—mother or com- but you must take terrible chances walking
rade. Her mother aspect offers advice during the Tween Paths. The ecology of the Tween is
the quiet of dawn. Her comrade aspect offers alien, cold, and terrible. At first, it just seems
stern warnings outside of loud gatherings at cold and sterile. But once you spend enough
dusk. Her name has been lost to history. time there and your soul adjusts, you begin
to see the cracks. Some say there is a monarch
2 5 WILD DOGS of Old Kalduhr in there somewhere. But if
Kalduhr Mastiffs were bred for their size and so, they must be quite broken by now after so
obedience, with huge heads and powerful long in that kind of mind-eroding landscape.
jaws. Some waystations kept them as guard
dogs, and when the station was abandoned, 3 3 THORN STATION
so were the dogs. Now the dogs are feral, and Is the Thorn Station a holy site dedicated
regularly bring down big game in the area. to Saint Kore, the Sister of Roses? Or did it
Some say they are unusually intelligent, and anger her, causing it to be engulfed by roses
if you pay them in food, you can stay safely with the most uncommon, metal-rending
in the public house their ancestors protected. petals and thorns?

Waystations • 143
 4 4 THE WAY 4 2 THE WAYSTATION KILLER
Lunetta is an elderly lady who has run a Jack-a-Way was a killer who ventured from
waystation public house as a comfy inn for waystation to waystation, killing folk from
as long as anyone in the area can remember. vulnerable populations. These serial murders
She has a keen eye for scavenging, having took Ambaret by storm, calling into question
used parts of the other nearby buildings over the Crown’s ability to keep its subjects safe.
the years to make repairs and patch bits that Eventually, Jack was caught and hanged by
need fixing. The faded sign outside only has rangers of the kingsguard working hand-in-
the W, A, and Y left, so people call her inn hand with scholars who study the mysteries
“The Way.” If you stay too long, she’ll put you of the mind. Despite royal warnings, bards
to work, ripping pieces out of nearby ruined delight in telling their most grisly Jack-a-Way
buildings to patch the roof or build a new tales to try to scare the crowds away from
chicken coop. bedrolls and towards their busking hats.

3 5 LASTATION 4 3 TEMPORARY BASECAMPS

Last Station was on the edge of known civ- Every so often, a waystation is set up as a
ilization. According to the Old Kalduhri short-term base of operations when treasure-
texts, beyond this final stop was nothing but hunters need to delve far from any village
pundits who ate their own waste, spiteful or city. For a while, the station bustles with
screamers with dangerous fungal infections, activity, where some groups even rig up the
and narcissist art-hermits who kept obsessive storehouse with armed guards as a kind of
lists of their enemy’s every movement. Now makeshift vault for treasures. Others hire
it is a village called Lastation, a trading post local villages as cooks or tutors. Sometimes
where folk can purchase exotic spices and the station is left better than it was found,
strange pets. and profit is spread around the area. Other
times, a monster finds its way back, and the
3 6 THE CHILDREN OF NOH endeavor ends in blood, fire, and tears.
THE FOREST

Several waystations have become fortified

settlements for an ancestor-worshipping cult 4 4 WAYSTATION LABORERS
called the Children of Noh, who are driven During the empire’s peak of power, when a
by a desire to reestablish the empire and its citizen died on the grounds of a waystation,
worst excesses. The Children can be found their body became the property of the state.
in delving sites where treasure-hunters seek This transition caused them to become civic-
the valuable artifacts of Old Kalduhr. If the minded undead, where they paved the roads
Children see such an artifact in the hands of or joined military efforts. Surely the energy
outsiders, they will offer an insulting price that fueled those rituals is long since spent.
before attempting to take it by force.
4 5 THE RIVALRY
41 THE FIRST RUINS The rivalry between the kingsguard and the
Some stations were built directly over ruins rangers is legendary. When the kingsguard
older even than Old Kalduhr. At those sites, claim a waystation for the Crown, they burn
it is not uncommon to find incomprehensible down the old ranger fort and leave a graffiti
machinery fueled by unfamiliar chemicals warning for the rangers of today: they say the
and lost magic. Sometimes an old waystation empire fell because the Old Road Rangers
thought to be thoroughly picked to the bone became too soft and weak when dealing with
by all manner of scavengers has a secret door the creatures of the wood.
to ruins more ancient and far more dangerous.

144 · Waystations
4 6 PAINTED STATION 5 5 BROKEN STATION
The Painted Station was settled by a traveling Unkindness is the name of a tarot reader
circus, a caravan of oral history, and singers who has aged into a scarecrow-like creature
stranded far from their home—verdant and of sinew and bone, the only person who lives
decadent Naganeh. Visitors to the station are in the Broken Station. The tower was built
welcomed as a new audience and treated to too high, and when it fell, it crushed all of
the tales and talents of the Green Kingdom. the other buildings and—legend has it—
every other station inhabitant. If you want
5 1 MARSELLA STATION a reading from Unkindness, you must first
Marsella Station was the home of a lost work with them to create your tarot deck.
Dream Saint. Above the gate in the runes
of Old Kalduhr, it reads: “Dreams will set 5 6 DRAGONROADS
you free. Nightmares will teach you well.” The dragonroads have rails for specialized
If treasure-hunters go to sleep there without carriages built by Old Kalduhr to move
setting an intention for their dreams, their goods and troops. The dragonroads often
dreams mash together like waves in a storm. venture deep into the earth. Some say they
If they’re not careful, they could also end up got their names from the sound the carriages
walking into each other’s nightmares. It will made, but others say it is because serpents of
be a long, strange night. all kinds gravitate towards those roads when
the carriages venture underground.
5 2 GLIV STATION
The waystation closest to the Deverain was 6 1 RECLAIMED BRICKS
taken over by its ranger fort—a structure It was the Old Road that connected the way-
that was destroyed, rebuilt, and expanded stations and warded the empire’s travelers
and expanded upon until all other buildings from beasts. Few stretches of the road are
were in the shadows of its walls. This was the left. The bricks that paved it were too valu-
home of the Ranger-General, whose opulent able. Most villages have a road house made of

THE FOREST
shrine to Saint Gliv is a holy pilgrimage to warded road brick.
those who navigate by the stars.
6 2 ROAD SONGS
53 NEMRAC THE LIBRARIAN Road songs have a long history among the
Nemrac is an adventuring librarian with region’s travelers. They would compare their
rare books and pamphlets from almost every songs to learn where the other came from—
waystation. They are backed by a wealthy even if their shared words were few—by in-
patron and will purchase waystation-related terpreting the harmonies of different areas.
artifacts for double the going rate. A smart It is said that demons cannot sing.
treasure-hunter will take the market value
for their finds and trade the rest in lore. 6 3 SKY STATION
Sky Station is said to be linked to no road,
5 4 LION STATION located on the top of the highest mountain.
Lion Station overlooks the beautiful green There, the air is barely breathable and so
savannah known as the Emerald Bridge. It cold that a gust of wind will take the skin off
was here that Kuramet lived until he became your bones. The only mention of it is in the
canonized after his death. Was he a ranger, proclamations of a cruel Old Kalduhri king
a wizard, a public house manager, or did he who exiled a dozen political artists to Sky
guard the storehouse? Was he eaten by lions, Station so that they might depict the world
or saved by them? None agree on the answers. with their talent.

Waystations • 145
 6 4 WAYSTATION OUT OF TIME
If you believe in legends like chronomancers,
then you’ll enjoy the tales of the Waystation
Out of Time. The tales say you can meet folk
from the past and the future there, as well
as different versions of yourself from other
worlds where you can learn the burdens you
bear, the treasure you secured in different
proportions, and how the Sisters doled out
your ruin.

6 5 THE TAROT
Some say the parts of the waystations that
still exist—the public house, the ranger fort,
the stores, and the tower—are less about
the things needed for a waystation, but are
connected to the powerful symbology of the
standard tarot cards still in use throughout
the realm. If you get close to a waystation,
you will find that the cards of Saint Orfilios
(representing the public house), Saint Gliv
(the ranger fort), Saint Hester (the food
stores), and Saint Barthus (the tower) will
come up in readings more and more often.

6 6 THE WYCH SIBLINGS

The Wyches are a pair of siblings with an
THE FOREST

unbreakable bond of trust and fellowship,

and an uncanny ability to find nearby way-
stations. Treasure-hunters who want to hunt
for waystations often hire them, despite the
fact they will demand the first choice of the
treasures, and hiring both together is a must.

146 · Waystations
 Elixirs, Remedies & Poisons
THE GAUNTLET

The forest of Kalduhr holds many treasures. Some of the most important ones are not made of
delicate gold or carved marble. Rather, they are harvested, ground, mixed with various other
herbs, and used as potions, poultices, or poisons.

1 1 WHISPERBUSH 1 4 SPIRACEAVIT
Praised by innkeepers and hated by musi- Spiraceavit, harvested by collecting the frost
cians, this plant’s deep violet berries cause that kills wild rye, is a powerful alkahest. It

THE FOREST
temporary deafness when ingested. produces especially strong spirits when fer-
mented with other grains. Pure spiraceavit
1 2 SUNBURST MUSHROOM alcohol is rumored to give the imbiber the
Found growing along just one rocky stretch ability to see into the next world, despite in-
of the Naveh River, this tendril-covered ducing permanent blindness to this one.
mushroom must be harvested using metal
gauntlets. Failing to do so is a painful mis- 1 5 MURKWINE
take, as the fungus voraciously consumes This wine is brewed only by a collective of
virtually any organic matter it is put into hirsute monks living in dens at the edge of
contact with. the forest. No one outside of their collective
has been able to divine the recipe, although
1 3 DUCHESS’S DELIGHT its earthy taste suggests that fungus is the
This pale green stonefruit was the first fruit- primary ingredient. Ingestion of even a small
ing plant from the Kalduhr to find a home in amount will induce a pleasant, long-lasting
the fine gardens of Ambaret. Not only did it intoxication; as such, it can be found for sale
thrive as a cultivated crop, its soft, sweet flesh at most festivals. Lesser known is its com-
began providing an additional benefit: when bustive effect: it forms a large and oppressive
fermented and distilled, the delight embold- cloud of smoke when burned, which can
ens the drinker, reducing fear, anxiety, and provide excellent cover for the enterprising
inhibition. criminal.

Elixirs, Remedies & Poisons • 147

 1 6 VALDUN’S MOTHS 2 5 DRAKUHL CARROTS
No adult believes the stories Valdun Dir This vibrant orange tuber grows plentifully
tells about the tiny moths that can be found near crossroads, often identified by the sim-
among the blackberry bushes. He claims ilarly colored flowers that bloom from the
each one has a single diminutive mushroom stems. It is sweet and nutty—delicious pre-
growing on their thorax that, when ingested, pared most any way. Much like the common
will show you the path forward—or out. carrot, consuming too much of it causes your
skin to take on an orange tint. This pigment
2 1 FARFLUNG ELIXIR is uniquely photosensitive, however, and
There were tales of a village on the far side becomes toxic when exposed to direct sun-
of the forest that had distilled an elixir that light. As such, drakuhl carrots should only
could soothe all wily and elusive ailments be consumed if you plan to travel exclusively
without clouding the mind. When intrepid at night.
merchants reached the town of Flung, how-
ever, they found nobody left, only a clutch of 2 6 APRICOT SUNRISE
rabbits hopping about the town square. This gnarly orange root is found under the
oldest fruit trees in the Kalduhr. If the root
2 2 DARKSKY ROOT is ground down and boiled with beetroot
The tincture is pungent and sweet to the nose, and onion, it is said two drinkers can share
an acerbic flavor to the tongue, clear and blue dreams, visiting each other's minds. Those
to the eye. Its effects, unpleasant but occa- who drink the soup too often may find them-
sionally useful, change with each new moon, selves taking on the fears or dreams of those
growing more volatile the more cycles it’s seen. they share with.
—from “Mog’s Guide to Fluids”
3 1 GLEAMING POWDER
23 CORPSE FUNGUS Crafted in secret by black market alchemists
This putrescent purple mushroom carries and desired by thieves and savvy merchants
THE FOREST

a notable stench, and can often be found alike, a quick snuff of this powder causes one
growing near rotted remains. Common wis- to temporarily smell gold. Its precise formu-
dom is that the fungus can be used to form a la and quality varies widely, however, and
poultice after being masticated into a paste. side effects are common. Many are the tales
When applied to a bloody wound, the poul- of gleam users who vanished into the dark
tice will block pain completely. It is a reme- places of the world, hoping to quench their
dy only used in dire circumstances—if the relentless thirst for riches.
poultice is left in place for more than a few
minutes, the wound will fruit with similarly 3 2 YELLOW MORPH
colored mushrooms. Dragonflies flit throughout many parts of
the woods, their emerald bodies having some
2 4 BLUE PHOENIX value in pigments and as decoration. Occa-
This bird roosts at the apex of conifers that sionally, however, you will find a virulent
have been stripped of their needles. Its meat yellow morph. These blond dragonflies are
is gamy, stringy, and generally unpleasant. more vicious than their green cousins, and
Its feathers, however, can be pulverized and the famous lepidopterist Augusta ils Eren
mixed with sweat to produce an iridescent has proven that they can subsist entirely on
pigment. Applying this directly to skin caus- blood. What is only rumored is that eating
es the painted area to become invisible for a these dragonflies can give you the ability to
few minutes. digest raw meat and smell blood yourself.

148 · Elixirs, Remedies & Poisons

3 3 HOUNDMAKER 4 2 WITCHMOSS
“Beware the hospitality of hunters when This moss grows only in the shade of rowan
traps are empty,” travelers say. One of their trees which have been struck by lightning.
cautionary tales is of folk lured in by a warm Delightfully soft, it emits colorful sparks
fire and generous company, ingesting food or when gently stroked. It tastes foul,but when
drink dosed with this tincture. Its effects in- ingested raw it acts as a powerful hallucino-
clude drooling, paralysis of the upper limbs, gen, and is reputed to be the base ingredient
a sensitivity to scents, and a savage hunger. for many spirit journeys.
Those so dosed are then pressed into service
by the hunters to chase wildlife for as long as 4 3 SILVER BEGIN-AGAIN
the effect lasts or until something living is Only young children from affluent families
laid low. waste their time with this narrow-leafed de-
ciduous plant. When its bark is brewed and
3 4 GLISTENING HARMONY ingested as a tea, it gives one the immediate
A vial of this concoction cures a lack of de- impression that one had just moments before
sire, be it apathy for work, verbal interaction, finished ingesting the tea. And yet the cup is
or bedroom endeavours. The mix consists of full. Botanists say the temporal distortion is
mint leaves, silver powder, ripe blueberries, wholly chemical and passes quickly, but it’s
chalk, and honey from a hive over six years a rite of passage for some (apparently) to sit
old. The correct recipe is one of the most and giggle at tea cups at least once on the
sought after items in Naganeh. path to adulthood.

3 5 GLOW NOG 4 4 BECOMER FLOWER

The eggs of giant forest birds which stalk the This flower’s exquisite violet petals, when
undergrowth of the Kalduhr are prized for properly rinsed, are highly sought out
their rich yolk, used in the brewing of this throughout the three kingdoms. Carelessly
drink. Spiced and sweetened, one sip grants plucking and carrying whole flowers, though,

THE FOREST
renewed fortitude and bright eyes to travelers is a dreaded act. Sages say that becomer pol-
of dark paths. Take care to drink it sparingly, len grains breathed in by two or more indi-
lest your glowing vitality become a beacon to viduals pit them into a vicious competition;
the hungry spirits of the forest. the creature that serves the ways of the for-
est the best will survive, while the loser will
3 6 BOLA ROKA slowly turn into a replica of the winner. It is
Balm from this bell-shaped root has long said that the bees of the forest were all dif-
been used as a cure for all sorts of skin prob- ferent creatures before getting into contact
lems (acne, warts—you name it). What’s not with the Becomer Mother, a tree-sized flower
often shared is that it only makes skin appear breathing and expanding in the heart of the
to be healthy, with effects fading in a matter forest.
of hours and the root cause exacerbated with
each application of the balm. But sometimes 4 5 HOMER’S TOBACCO
this is exactly what you need. The broad purplish leaves of this plant give
off a sticky resin when bruised or broken. It
4 1 CINNAMON ROSE is pleasant when smoked, and dilates the per-
This brown, desert-growing flower is little ception of space and time, making miles pass
more than a legend, but the legend is per- like yards, and hours pass like seconds. It is
sistent. Sages say that its pollen can help a therefore popular among nomads, especially
traveler go for days without needing water. those driving caravans cross country.

Elixirs, Remedies & Poisons • 149

 4 6 IMP’S SCALE 5 4 SLIPBERRIES
You know you’re close to a patch of this fern These berries are nearly indistinguishable
when the bottoms of your feet begin to tick- from blueberries until they are struck by
le and pop. The more experienced traveler moonlight, when they glitter like sapphires.
knows the protrusions sprouting from their If a skilled alchemist concentrates the pig-
arms and legs are painful but will eventually ments in the berry’s skins, and boils those
fall off harmlessly. Only a true expert could pigments with a sufficiently strong whiskey,
brew the leaves into a hard and bitter drink they can create an elixir that grants tempo-
to mutate flesh and expand bone. rary invisibility.

5 1 LADYSLIPPER MOTHS 5 5 SILVERSAP PEAR

These moths pollinate the giant ladyslipper The fruit of this tree is a sight to behold. The
flowers, which bloom once a year in a stun- pear itself is a bland brown, but when sliced
ning display of vibrant fuchsia petals. While open, the juice runs out like quicksilver and
many think that the name “lady-slipper” the seeds glitter like diamonds. Silversap pear
comes from the color and shape of the flow- seeds are a good replacement for diamonds
ers, some know that the moths themselves and the juice can be distilled into a very fine
actually make excellent slippers, allowing brandy rumored to bring all manner of luck.
the wearer to move silently with ease as their
footfalls are cushioned by the iridescent 5 6 FATEWEAVER LICHEN
dust of the moths’ wings. However, this only This lichen is a remarkably hearty thing.
works with freshly harvested moths, which While difficult to find, it has been seen in
means sliding your naked feet directly into nearly every climate save the hottest deserts.
the insect digestive juices. A few fabled bur- When dried and powdered, the substance
glars have ended their career by wearing said can be smoked. If a user smokes just the right
slippers a little too long while hiding from amount, it is said that they gain accurate
unanticipated attention. visions of their future. Proper dosage can be
THE FOREST

difficult to calibrate and an overdose can be

5 2 MAIDEN’S YOUTH deadly.
This thick, putrid sludge is rumored to give
everlasting youth to those with a strong 6 1 BLACKVEIN
enough stomach to consume it daily. No one This cordyceps fungus infects and grows
has a credible account of having experiment- inside blood-drinking insects. When it
ed with the dosage, however, as it’s brewed matures, the fruiting bodies spring dense
from the highly illegal hag’s foot fungus, a and tangled from the body of the insect—a
green foot-shaped tree ear which is both a rich, dark, blood-pudding black. A skilled
potent narcotic and powerful hallucinogen. herbalist or apothecary can prepare a vis-
The magistrate who pushed the legislation cous liquid by filtering and denaturing the
outlawing the fungus later retired amidst a mycelia, removing enough of the toxins and
foul scandal, when his wife disappeared and spores to render it safe to imbibe. The liquid
he sent his very young daughter to an asylum. grants strength and endurance allowing one
to push their body past its breaking point.
5 3 ALBINO PINE But if not prepared properly, the same black
The benzoin gum of this rare pine is so sticky fungal strains that grow within the body to
that explorers apply it to leather gloves in or- grant that strength begin to warp the mind,
der to free climb cliff faces and explore the driving the user to consume blood and flesh.
caves of the forgotten peoples.

150 · Elixirs, Remedies & Poisons

6 2 SIVAN’S ICHOR 6 5 GOLDEN IVY
One pulverized rosehip, one vial of milk- What devil spawn dosed those travelers with
wood sap, one spoonful of saliva, and three the tincture of golden ivy! Now they speak
drops of scholar’s ink, mixed together in the evil infernal tongue!
water boiled over a fire. Those who imbibe
this decoction will discover they can read 6 6 CROOKED APPLE
any writing placed before them–at the cost This fruit is indistinguishable from any
of whatever language they spoke prior to its other common apple. If anything, it looks
consumption. like a particularly tasty-looking one. In the
first few bites, it tastes incredibly delicious.
6 3 YELLOW KING’S CROWN After a couple of minutes, however, the eat-
This elixir can be refined from the rare mu- er’s mouth is engulfed in the most vile and
tated golden poppies that hide among their foul taste ever experienced, which persists
pastel cousins in the deeply isolated, hol- for weeks. This awful taste is described as a
lowed glades of the Kalduhr. It is thought thousand rotten carcasses left under the sun
to increase one’s creativity and is coveted by for months, the Barsul sewers, or even the
less talented artists or those seeking a way to smell of hell itself. It grows among normal
wrestle free of a creative slump. apples, and only in the Kalduhr.

6 4 FLAMELEAF FERN
Young shoots of this plant are highly prized
for their incendiary qualities. If their oils
are extracted at just the right temperature,
the extraction can be ignited to devastat-
ing effect. Unfortunately, it requires a great
quantity of these shoots that can only be har-
vested in the early spring.

THE FOREST

VENOM VARIETIES

What dangers are revealed by sucking on a fresh puncture wound?

You taste... which can only mean the venom is…

1 notes of citrus and warm copper… 1 an anticoagulant.
2 bitter nut and lingering fungal notes… 2 going to cause the Black Rot.
3 clean mint and cold... 3 a neurotoxin.
4 dried herbs and old rope… 4 a paralytic.
5 salt and soap… 5 likely to lead to the Dead Dancer malady.
6 cinnamon and crushed ants… 6 a sure sign the Red Rage is coming.

Elixirs, Remedies & Poisons • 151

 Monsters of the Wood
JAMES HO
HOLL
LLO
OWAY & MICHAEL VAN VLEET
THE FOREST

Man-eating beasts, fae creatures, and worse things all inhabit the forest of Kalduhr. Nonethe-
less, the folk of the forest tell tales of many other strange creatures. Some may be completely
fictitious, some may be misinterpretations of other wildlife, and some may be entirely real.

This monster is... and is blamed for...

1 spoken of in ancient texts… 1 a spate of recent disappearances.
2 known to children even though adults won’t listen… 2 every little thing that goes wrong.
3 the pet theory of a local drunk… 3 a recent, high-profile disaster.
4 a beloved mascot of the community… 4 the general malaise of the settlement.
5 a closely-guarded secret… 5 blights and bad crops.
6 regarded with panic and suspicion… 6 the villagers’ fear of the deep woods.

152 · Monsters of the Wood

What Monster Do the Locals Say Lives Around Here?
1 1 UNCLE WEBS 1 6 SNOODLEBOOT
Uncle Webs is an old man in a long robe—his The hairy, man-like Snoodleboot gives off
voice is soft like the rushing of wind in the a powerful stench. Lone travellers claim to
leaves. He is not a man at all, but a colony have seen it lurking by the path, a stout tree
of superintelligent spiders wearing a lifelike branch in hand. Sometimes it leaves little
mask cunningly woven from silk. bundles of colorful leaves and flowers on
certain old stones.
1 2 THE GREEN CAT
The Green Cat is a large wildcat that prowls 2 1 LONELY MEG
the edges of the wood. Some believe it is Walk in the wood long enough, especially in
merely a wildcat with unusual coloration— the cool of twilight, and you’ll hear a quiet
moss growing on its fur, perhaps?—while weeping. Follow it and you’ll see Lonely Meg,
others think its appearance is an evil omen. sat in the shade of a willow tree, crying for
her lost love, her lovely hair shrouding her
1 3 THE JOLLY LADS face. Persuade her that you will love her in-
Deep in the woods lies an abandoned cabin, stead, and she may bestow a boon on you.
its door hanging loose and its roof sagging. It Fail, and join her in the cold.
was once the home of an old sorcerer, and his
creations still live there generations after his 2 2 THE BEETLE KNIGHT
death. These are the Jolly Lads, the manikin They say the Beetle Knight was a noble knight
children he created for himself from bone who loved a peasant lass. When his proud fa-
and sinew and leather. They love pranks and ther had the girl’s family evicted, he went mad
japes—they collect hooks, snares, and shivs. and fled to the wood. That was centuries ago,
They are cruel to the weak. but somehow he still lives. His eyes are glossy

THE FOREST
black and his armour is an insect’s chitin, but
1 4 THE OLD HOG some flicker of chivalry still remains and he
The Old Hog is a massive brute—not a boar, cannot resist a challenge to joust.
but a fat, narrow-eyed beast of a barnyard pig.
Folk say it is the prized pig of an ill-tempered 2 3 RAZORBATS
old fae woman, grown fat crunching up the Most bats are harmless—people squeal and
bones of the bad little children she feeds it. run, but it’s just a reflex. When it’s a flock of
razorbats, though, get to cover as fast as you
1 5 KETHONI can. You can always tell when they’re coming
Caves and ruins are common shelters of last by the whistling of their dagger-sharp wings.
resort for outlaws, beggars, and those with An iron collar or hat might keep you safe.
nowhere else to go. The respectable folk of
the villages shun these poor souls, but they 2 4 THE BELLRINGER
are mostly harmless. Some, however, have A tall, bony figure in an elaborate but dirty
grown to like their new subterranean homes. gown, the Bellringer walks the shady paths
These kethoni emerge at night to pillage of the wood, bearing a long staff from which
and maraud, stealing babies to raise in their dangles a verdigrised bell. To hear the bell
lightless world. Some say that the various ring once warns of a change to come. Twice
caves and shelters are linked by underground signifies a death. No one knows what hap-
tunnels and ruled by a terrible witch-queen. pens after three chimes.

Monsters of the Wood • 153

 2 5 NAUGHTY EBBART 3 3 THE SKULL CHORUS
If you’re walking through the woods and you Certain ruins or lonely rock outcrops with-
see a lost hobby-horse, toy soldier, or ball ly- in the wood contain the sets of niches that
ing by the side of the path, Naughty Ebbart house a skull chorus. These yellowing relics
may be nearby. He doesn’t like it when other mutter and grumble—living things fear the
people play with his toys. He doesn’t like it eerie sound and stay well clear. Feeding the
when other people don’t bring him his lost skulls with fresh human blood makes their
toys. He’s an awful little boy with an awful incoherent grumbling clear. It doesn’t have
big mouth full of awful sharp teeth. to be your own blood, a fact known to scum
throughout the kingdoms.
2 6 DROPPLER
A few leaves dislodged from a branch or the 3 4 PIXIE KNIGHTS
rustle of frightened birds might be all that Forest sprites love to imitate what they see,
betrays the presence of the Droppler. This ar- but their childish natures interpret it in the
boreal menace descends from the branches, cruellest and most absurd way possible. As
swinging on its long, prehensile tail. Its cir- the Crown’s military forces push into the
cular maw is ringed with two sets of curved, Kalduhr, a new breed of pixie knights has
razor-sharp teeth, and is just large enough to arisen. These haughty cavaliers, mounted on
fit neatly over a man’s head. With one quick badgers or foxes, arm themselves in scraps
snap, it relieves its victim of their cranium of junk and battered armor adorned with
and springs back into the tree to enjoy its plumes and ribbons. They may look ridicu-
meal. Wise travellers wear hats adorned with lous, but their lances are very sharp.
leaves to deceive the Droppler.
3 5 SALLY WHISKERS
3 1 THE TOMB WATCH They say a witch used to live in this part of
Alone or in pairs, the Tomb Watch maintain the woods. Like all witches, she had a cat.
ancient patrol routes around the ruins of People think that cats help witches cast their
THE FOREST

Kalduhr. They wear dull, dun-coloured ar- evil spells, but the truth is otherwise: witches
mor—in fact, some say they are men of clay. keep cat demons restrained. Sally Whiskers is
Others claim they are the preserved skeletons a big fluffy cat who loves ear scratches, makes
of long-dead soldiers or waystation rangers, using magic easier, and would like to have a
carrying out their duties even in undeath. new human friend to make a pact with.
Don’t enter any restricted areas and they’ll
do you no harm with their rusted partizans 3 6 SPRING DOLLS
or verdigrised maces. Of course, it’s hard to Spring dolls are a common offering in many
tell what they consider restricted. small villages. Village children craft these lit-
tle effigies out of sticks and flowers and hang
3 2 SHED CRABS them from trees. Some say they’re intended
When the massive shed crab outgrows its to represent the Sisters, but this is probably
original shell, it moves into something suit- a vestige of older traditions dedicated to the
ably-sized, often a shack, shed, or small out- forest spirits. Because the bodies are made
building. When it gets larger, it seeks a more from the forest’s products, they have a sympa-
robust new carapace, like a cottage. Barn thetic connection to the spirits. Sometimes, a
crabs can terrorize entire villages, and there forest spirit will enter one of these little dolls
are stories of mighty tower crabs rampaging and use the body to carry out its tasks. The
across the landscape, their shells protected chores of forest spirits are incomprehensible
by the stony walls of their new homes. to humans.

154 · Monsters of the Wood

4 1 MONCATS 4 5 HOUSEGARS
Dancing lights in the wood lead passers-by Housegars dwell in the eaves and cesspits
off the narrow trails. These are tiny lanterns of houses. They feed on scraps of food and
held in the claws of moncats, intelligent mar- crumbs of bread, and use mean-spirited
supials who love to lead humans astray so that pranks to punish anyone who keeps their
they can beat, rob, and humiliate them. Iron- home too clean. Some say housegars are de-
ically, moncats often nest in underground scended from servant-creatures of a bygone
areas such as ruins, meaning that their plans empire—no noble would be seen without a
to mislead treasure-hunters sometimes lead housegar as majordomo. Now they eat gar-
them right where they wanted to be. bage by peasant hearths.

4 2 ROOT RUNTS 4 6 THE GULLIFAX

Root runts scuttle about the forest floor. They The Gullifax is a shining animal, something
steal food and shiny objects from packs, prey like a deer and something like a horse. It will
on small animals, and generally make a nui- bestow a blessing on anyone who crosses its
sance of themselves. If they can find a lone path, makes the appropriate offering, and
human sleeping or incapacitated, they may bears no sin. The Gullifax has its own defi-
try to take its soft, juicy eyes or delicious, fill- nition of sin, however: it spares the honest
ing blood. Being living wood, they have no thief and the highwayman, but any who
use for the jewellery, knives, potions, books, blaspheme against the Sisters are crushed
or shoes they steal, so they hide them in the beneath its hooves.
boles of hollow trees.
5 1 ASTERITES
4 3 OLD LADY PICKLES Tiny creatures, glowing bright, flit about the
Old Lady Pickles moves around the forest in wood. These are called asterites—tiny frag-
her caravan. Its door is bright red and its walls ments of a star that crashed to earth deep
are homely green. Warm yellow light glows out in the Kalduhr. Their parent, the star itself,

THE FOREST
of the windows at night. Old Lady Pickles is a is hurt, and they have scattered throughout
very nice lady, a little confused. She loves to the wood to find magic which they can use to
pickle things; her caravan smells like vinegar. replenish its supplies. Magic items, the souls
Be polite to her and compliment her pickled of magical beings, sacred objects: anything
eggs and she might share her wood-lore with will do. They seize these things with invisible
you, but she doesn’t like rude people. Rude hands and float them back to the crater for
people end up in the pickling pot. sacrifice. Once they have enough magic, they
will rejoin the star and return to the dance of
4 4 PATCHWORK GHOSTS the heavens.
When a human being dies, funerary rites
send their spirit safely on to the afterlife. But 5 2 THE TREE FISHER
when a body is cut to pieces or devoured by The Tree Fisher is a brawny goblin-like crea-
beasts, the spirit is likewise torn apart unless ture that dwells in the forest’s upper canopy.
special ceremonies are performed. Some- Its arms are massive from brachiating around
times, these fragments of spirit combine to all day, while its legs are bowed and tiny. It
form patchwork ghosts, ragged things made fishes on the forest floor, casting down a rope
furious by their clashing, conflicting memo- with a hook to drag something up into the
ries. They haunt the outskirts of their former canopy for its supper. Ever turned around to
homes, desperate to be reunited, to say fare- see that your companion was no longer be-
well, or to take vengeance… but on whom? hind you? The Tree Fisher probably got ‘em.

Monsters of the Wood • 155

 5 3 BRASS EELS 6 2 THE NIPPET
Brass eels flash and glimmer in pools and The Nippet is a humanoid, lizardlike creature
streams, their dully gleaming bodies visible that prowls out of the forest on cool nights.
in the clouds of mud and silt. Set foot too Often, it simply scavenges, stealing chickens
near their holes, and they’ll be on you, scis- from henhouses or hams from smoke sheds.
sor jaws slashing. Are they ancient clockwork But on certain nights, its deep baying can
automatons, built for some unfathomable be heard echoing across the wood, and the
purpose, or perhaps suffering ghosts, the sound of intricate rhythms being banged
spirits of criminals bound into metal prisons? out on hollow logs keeps villagers awake. On
those nights, someone disappears, and so
5 4 THE BRACKEN BOAR does the Nippet. But it always returns—or
The Bracken Boar isn’t a boar at all—it’s a perhaps a new one appears.
monstrous great hedgehog, gifted with size
and wisdom by fae monarchs. Bring it a tasty 6 3 SILVER SEM
treat and you’ll have forest-luck, but anger it Travellers through the forest at night may
and you’re in for a spiking. see moonlight glinting off the shining form
of a metal-coated humanoid. Silver Sem, as
5 5 THE CRIMSON CLOUD the locals call him, seems to be some kind
On certain autumn nights, the mist that ris- of manikin. He spies on settlements, seem-
es from the ground in the forest has a deep ingly gathering information, not attacking
crimson color. Folks say it rises from all the with the scalpel-like blades that slide into his
blood shed over the years upon the forest forearms unless he’s provoked. Of course, he
floor. Most of the time it’s just eerie, brushing seems to be made from silver so he’s frequent-
softly and wetly against the skin of any who ly provoked by acquisitive treasure-hunters.
walk through it. Sometimes, though, people
vanish into the fog and never return. Perhaps 6 4 CHUCKLING LEECHES
the Crimson Cloud gets its blood from a Wade through one of the Kalduhr’s many
THE FOREST

source more recent than ancient slayings. streams, and you might hear a soft sound like
laughter. Most people dismiss it as the water
5 6 THE RUCTIFER gurgling over the rocks, and sometimes it is.
The Ructifer is a massive brute with power- But sometimes it’s a chuckling leech. These
ful limbs, sharp antlers, slashing claws, and brightly-spotted invertebrates attach them-
a cavernous maw full of teeth like butcher selves to a human to feed on it. Unlike a regu-
knives. Its matted hide bristles with arrows lar leech, these creatures drink not blood but
and the splintered shafts of javelins and har- laughter. Eventually, the leech completely
poons. Once a god, it has shrunk to the scale consumes the victim’s sense of humor.
of a beast. It is dimly conscious of the fact,
and hates it. It longs to die in a fashion wor- 6 5 SHRIEKMAW
thy of its former stature. Bat-headed, goat-legged, whip-tailed, and
hairy, the shriekmaw stuns its prey with
6 1 THE WHITE LARK high-pitched sound waves, then devours it
The White Lark, unlike its normal kin, sings before it can recover. Shriekmaws love hu-
at night. Its cold eyes look down on all who man music and sometimes skulk around
pass beneath it. Its beak is diamond-sharp, campsites listening to travellers play their
and if you don’t leave it a treat when you walk flutes and fiddles. Problems develop when
beneath its tree it will peck one out of you. they try to sing along.

156 · Monsters of the Wood

6 6 THE GREEN BATTALION
The Green Battalion are soldiers who lost
their way in the wood and cannot seem to
leave it. It has started to extend its shoots
into them; ivy crowns their rusted helms and
little mushrooms grow from the soft and rot-
ted hafts of their bills and halberds. They live
in a fever dream of war, and may see anyone
they meet as comrade or enemy. Their fami-
lies in the villages miss them.

Monstrous Signs, Wards & Calls

LAIRS & SIGNS OF HABITATION

1 Small purses of meat dangling from hair-woven rope. 4 Skulls or bones arranged symmetrically.
2 Talons stuck in wood near deep scoring marks. 5 A nest of dried vomit, shredded books.
3 Dirt shaped into a berm. 6 Scorched patches, drifting ash.

THE FOREST
SIMPLE WARDS OF PROTECTION REQUIRING ONLY COMMON ITEMS READY AT HAND

1 Draw the cardinal directions in animal blood above one's eyes.

2 Dip fingers in waters from home, flick drops homeward.
3 Crush dewdrop pods, rub oil over hands and mouth.
4 When a blade is first drawn, move the point in a grand circle.
5 Place a true volcanic stone in one's mouth, and do not speak.
6 Step twice with every step, a rhythm pleasing to both fortune and caution.
UNFAMILIAR CALLS AND SOUNDS

1 2 3
or or
4 5 6
or or

1 A staccato hoot, then a long moan. 1 The low hum of thousands of wings.
2 A yipping bark, then answering yips. 2 An electrical crackle.
3 An airy whoof from an enormous set of lungs. 3 A descending yowl, ending with a spitting growl.
4 A clicking chorus, rising and fading. 4 An in-sucking wet sound.
5 A melody sung with a full throat, ending in a whine. 5 Popping sounds, air bubbling through thick liquid.
6 Cracking like of branches or dry bones. 6 Creaking like a cellar door or old tree under pressure.
Monsters of the Wood • 157
 The Hive
Unique among beasts is one group: the bees. Intelligent and organized, their population ranges
from common bees, to massive warriors larger than humans, to magic-wielding sorcerers. They
make raids against human villages, manufacture artificial humans as waxen spies, and hum the
praises of their singular queen, a—possibly mythical—figure known as the Mother of Millions.

THE SECRETS OF THE BEES

As reported by Zizzeks, a woman who claims to have lived in a hive for three years.

1 1 Bees communicate by scent, applying 2 3 There’s no such thing as fae. Every

it with their tarsal claws—their divine feet. creature so named was a failed experiment
To be trod upon is to become a text, perhaps by bees to create something like us.
a love letter.
2 4 Every creature has a spirit inside it, and
1 2 Bees communicate by dance, and so can these spirits extend into the world, invisibly.
you. With a pure heart and smoothly swivel- The denser we pack ourselves, the more our
ling hips, you can tell a bee anything at all. spirits interact, the more power we create.
Hives hum with this power, as do cities.
1 3 Bees have no prisons. Should you find
a person encased in a wax cell, they’re either 2 5 Honey, as a food source, is overrated—
being stored as food or they’re in the process unless one is a child or without teeth.
of being transformed.
2 6 The Mother of Millions loves the world,
1 4 Different hives have different pitches but doesn’t necessarily love life. Does that
of hums. Each speaks to the nature of the make sense? It’s too cheap to love.
THE FOREST

queen within. I will not elaborate.

3 1 The easiest way to enter a hive is to be
1 5 Bees are not violent by nature. They pollen. The second easiest way is to follow a
are only violent in response to provocation, great elk, whose mighty antlers can breach
such as “presence in an area they control” or any wall.
“competing for resources.”
3 2 Bees dwell everywhere—even below
1 6 It is impossible to lie to a bee. They can the waves. You can hear them at low tide,
smell your intentions. Some of them have a building wax cities on the seafloor.
special organ that can be placed just inside
your nose to solicit the truth. 3 3 Bees don’t understand human lan-
guages, so they build creatures to learn it for
2 1 In the language of bees, humans are them. They look like people and think like
the Always-Hungry. That’s why they won’t bees. A humming in their heads.
cede territory to humans... it would never be
enough anyway. 3 4 There is a fungus that every hive fears.
They call it [unable to transcribe]. A grey
2 2 Bees can see and interact with spirits. mold spreads over everything, giving off a
My own father appeared as a shadowed stag. milky rot. Bees turn on bees, tearing each
They stung it to death, and I was set free. other apart. Hives don’t recover.

158 · Monsters of the Wood

3 5 If you have neighbor bees, keep them 5 4 Hive horticulture is real. There’s a grey
happy. Grow flowers, leave the flowers alone, fungus they cultivate in special chambers be-
move further away. cause it’s an intoxicant.

3 6 A dream about bees may be prophet- 5 5 Bright-Teeth Assyrio bankrolls a mer-

ic. Did you lock eyes with a bee? How many chant who sells fake honey. It’s gold and
limbs did you have in the dream? Did your sweet, but is produced by milking a seacow
tongue taste of wax when you woke up? stolen from the Gasping Ones.

4 1 Bees know bees. Want to safely move 5 6 If a bee’s sting closes your throat or
among bees? Be a bee. Cover yourself in bees empties your stomach, be glad. The venom is
and bee-things. removing impurities in your blood.

4 2 The venom from a bee sting transforms 6 1 Bee stings alleviate hunger pangs,
some people into monsters—especially peo- strengthen eyes, cure blood thickness/sand-
ple who live underground. iness, insufficient piety, unnatural think-
ing, and any confusion linked to being “fae-
4 3 In the north, there’s a hive built around touched.”
the body of a giant, but the giant is only sleep-
ing. Bee conversation fills its dreams, fed by 6 2 To kill a bee is to fall into a trap. Un-
honey that drips down its cavernous throat. counted others will wait until victory has dis-
tracted you, then fall upon you in a wave.
4 4 Spread honey in a circle around your
bed to trap spirits that would disturb your 6 3 Smoke “calms” bees because it blocks
dreams. the smells they use to communicate. Walk-
ing while wreathed in smoke is a duplicitous
4 5 Chew on wax / all day long / while you act. What are you trying to hide?

THE FOREST
sing this honey’d song / Chew on wax / into
night / you’ll find fortune and delight. 6 4 Bees know magic. They can use it to
make you say things—secrets—or journey
4 6 The Azure Archives house a queen on their behalf.
within their library of apian knowledge.
She will be rescued. Unfortunately, many 6 5 There is a god at the heart of every hive.
will suffer.
6 6 This world was theirs once. Every inch
5 1 A tea made by steeping pieces of bee of it hummed. This time will come again.
carapace with lavender can cure cowardice.

5 2 The bees walked this world before it

had a name. During the age of giants, all of
Tirollis was one great hive.

5 3 To approach a bee safely, move slowly.

Once it touches you, be still. If you’re stung,
pray silently until the suffering passes. That
said, prayers do reach the Sisters faster if
you’re running.

Monsters of the Wood • 159

 Giants
In ancient days, giants walked the earth. Their massive bones may still be found in remote lo-
cations, and occasionally news spreads of an actual giant having been sighted, especially in the
forest, and specifically around the forest village of Kormoran’s Wheel.

IT’S NEVER A GIANT

Signs, disturbances, and bits of folklore associated with—or blamed on—giants.

1 1 A stretch of treetops withered by giant 2 5 Little Eye, the mayor of Yellow Trees,
breath, which is notoriously foul. used to be a giant.

1 2 Sinkholes appearing in the grazing 2 6 Giants deforested the disputed lands

lands of livestock. between Ambaret and Tirollis. (If true, it’s
strange that it wasn’t giants who sold that
1 3 A staved in roof where a giant leaned timber in the Shrine Bay market, but men.)
for a moment.
3 1 Storm clouds are arguments between
1 4 A path along the mountain that “feels giants. Clouds are like letters made of giant
colder.” breath, circulated and kept private by their
altitude.
1 5 The disappearance of every settler in
North Field, with their homes intact. 3 2 It’s possible to walk through a giant
and not realize it’s there. Some giants can
1 6 If everyone you see in a village is ugly, only be perceived from a distance. Their bod-
it’s because a giant bathed in their lake. ies are lightly held together, like a mist.
THE FOREST

2 1 A swarm of insects could be a “swarm 3 3 This valley was formed in the days of
giant,” temporarily dispersed into its compo- Old Kalduhr when a giant leapt up. One day,
nent bodies. it will come back down and smash all who
live here.
2 2 Youths who flee unsafe homes are
sometimes claimed to be “giant-snatched” as 3 4 An entire forest, every tree, coated
a face-saving measure. to its towering top in wax. What else could
reach so high?
2 3 A giant is entombed in Twelve Moun-
tain. The steam that gushes from its many 3 5 A fire underground that never goes
caves is its breath. out: a giant’s furnace, in the workshop where
it forges the world.
2 4 When heat rises between Fort Noril
and the Aurum Mountains, the mountain 3 6 Attercaps offer to use fae magic to
called the “Hunched Mother” can be seen to make anyone a giant in exchange for a key...
waver and sometimes disappear. The Mother any key: to a door, to a bank’s vault, or to
is actually a giant who leaves when it can no a chest of dusty laundry. Doesn’t matter.
longer stand the heat. They’re fascinated by human locks.

160 · Monsters of the Wood

4 1 A village set to domestic squabbling, 5 5 Bright-Teeth Assyrio was raised by gi-
proof a giant’s shadow passed over it. ants, which is why she seems so mountainous
and intimidating in person.
4 2 A rippling black sheet flapping in the
wind, pinned by a thorn hedge: a giant’s dis- 5 6 Members of the Chronolatrous Mys-
carded handkerchief (or the lost sail of a fae tery cult claim to have written proof that gi-
wind vessel). ants walked the land, but access is limited to
members only.
4 3 A lake’s water level lowered overnight
by a thirsty giant, revealing long-submerged 6 1 The boat people who travel the Visa
structures with enormous doors. River used to practice ritual drowning as
both a religious and judicial practice, until a
4 4 A clever giant appeared in the town river giant started interfering. It scooped up
of Olviret and remained for a week, sharing each gasping and bound celebrant from the
wisdom. “I am only partially in this world river, before depositing them safely on the
and am actually much larger,” it said. “As are river’s bank. These days, all drownings are
you.” A week of stilt-walking celebration oc- done in tubs.
curs there annually.
6 2 Stars are actually holes torn in the
4 5 Have you dreamed of rooftops? Of night’s veil by a giant’s trident when he fished
striding over mountains? Do you wake the night sky for cosmic prey—hooped fish,
thirsty? A giant’s urine has polluted your well lapping disc crabs, and whispering eels.
and drinking water.
6 3 No mere insect could be the fabled
4 6 Skytop Abbey was carved from the Mother of Millions who elevated the world’s
skull of a giant. The giant’s shrunken brain bees to a near-human level of cunning. The
(pure gold!) rests in an attic space above the Mother is actually a giant older than the cur-

THE FOREST
altar, too large to roll out of any exit. rent age, covered in honey and wax. Its un-
dying skin spontaneously generates new bees
5 1 Never speak of a giant. A giant grows a with strange magic.
full foot every time you mention their name.
6 4 The last living giant works at the Azure
5 2 Half of the town of Sepolta left some Archive. It oversees a collection of immense
years ago, following a giant. Some say the gi- volumes, each of which is the height of a barn.
ant lured them away with lies, but the towns-
folk left behind say nothing. 6 5 Giants are rare. The only known breed-
ing pair in captivity can be seen for the price
5 3 You can tell the children of giants by of a ticket to Gentle Mayflower’s Meander-
their height and their feet. If their second toes ing Circus.
stretch past their first, they’re giant-spawn.
6 6 If one is struck in error, or trips, or is
5 4 The tides flow in and out because bumped, one can swear “To the giant!” Do-
of the Drowned Giant, its lungs pumping ing so wishes the pain away to the nearest
water from the sea’s depths. Its huge arms giant, whose immense body is presumably
sometimes grab hold of passing ships in an better able to weather the misfortune of your
attempt to pull itself from the water, only to bruises and cuts.
sink the vessels beneath the waves.

Monsters of the Wood • 161

 The Fae
The collective name for a variety of unrelated beings who live within the forest and are said to
come from the land of Faerie: trolls, sprites, fauns, elves, ogres, and the like. Despite having
a wide range of intelligences, societies, habits, and goals, humans treat them as a monolithic
culture bent on destroying humanity. That some fae do have that goal only confuses matters.

MADAME MANNERS’S GUIDE TO NAVIGATING UNFAMILIAR FAE ETIQUETTE

Excerpts from a longer work discovered in a circle of blue dream cap mushrooms, wrapped
inside a delicate spider-lace scarf, clutched by a skeletal five-fingered hand (presumed human).

1 1 Beware a hand offered for shaking. 2 3 The fae do not “kidnap,” they protect.
Some hunting fae have barbed palms. The fae do not “mutilate,” they improve.

1 2 Every trade you make to a fae is at a 2 4 Ears & Eyes: a secret society of fae who
loss. If you think you’ve profited, you have in specialize in political infiltration.
fact incurred a dangerous debt.
2 5 Wisps (or the Kindly Wisps): Born as
1 3 Coloration of fae head caps are purely humans, these self-imposed outcasts trade
aesthetic and do not denote rank. Ignore— for glass jars to make glowworm lanterns.
politely—red caps who tell you otherwise. Most work as escorts. In-group membership
is shown by having several facial piercings.
1 4 Make note of all titles given. When
repeating them, accuracy and order are im- 2 6 Not all fae move through the world as
portant. When in doubt, remain silent. we do. To some, time is like water. To under-
stand them, you must drown.
THE FOREST

1 5 The Court of Sweet Daggers prefers to

seal negotiations with violence inflicted on 3 1 For fae-gifting this season, lanterns
an uninvolved third party, so you share cul- are treasured and considered hilarious. But
pability with them. tastes change like weather. If I write that you
must carry an umbrella today, by the time
1 6 Yagga Kin are parasitic and change you read my advice you’ll be months or years
hosts frequently. You’ll know them by their past the storm of which I warned.
eyes and tongue, which travel with them.
They will break contracts, claiming any debts 3 2 Answer questions with questions to es-
belonged to abandoned host bodies. tablish your credibility through play.

2 1 You may never know why a fae offers 3 3 Water fae. Dripping fae. The Gasping
you a gift. Sometimes—as when you toss Ones. Their numbers are the greatest. They
crumbs to birds—they give merely for the are fierce foes. If they offer to breathe for you,
pleasure of watching you stoop to pick up. let them. It’s a generous and sincere offer.

2 2 There are as many varieties of fae as 3 4 Should you find yourself on trial, do
fish in the sea. To be fluent in all their lan- not take it personally. This is how the fae
guages—spoken, gestural, decorative, behav- educate and improve the non-fae. It’s a sign
ioral—is a lifetime’s task. of—occasionally lethal—respect.

162 · Monsters of the Wood

3 5 A metaphor: Take your hand and slap 5 4 Every circle is a door. Look for them.
a river’s surface. A bubble forms then pops. Mark their presence.
That is your life. The hand represents the fae,
eternal (relative to that bubble). Poor bubble. 5 5 As a requirement for a contract, you
may be given a living thing to protect “as a
3 6 Blue coats. A scent of jam. Do not call show of good faith.” Perhaps to see if you can
them “blueberries.” They prefer “Dear Friends.” keep it alive, perhaps so the thing can spy on
you. If the proffered “thing” resembles you,
4 1 A crying like the world is ending. A you must decline, even if the contract is lost.
lone figure far from home. Share a jacket and
just sit there, quietly. Patience is the best ap- 5 6 “Should you meet one robed with night /
proach for a Wander Jack. you are going to have to fight / Should you meet
one wrapped in day / run away, run away”
4 2 If an attercap bows to you, bow more —children’s rhyme, village of Otai
deeply in return. If a tink bows, remain still.
6 1 They do not care for written contracts.
4 3 If asked for a password or phrase, do “All law sprouts from the living.” So long
not answer. Listen. The question itself is the as both parties are alive, a contract is valid.
shibboleth, your non-response the answer. (This leaves an obvious loophole.)
Passwords are human folly.
6 2 Giving a key is a deadly insult, as it im-
4 4 Many “bridge trolls” are merely the plies a space beyond the reach of the gift re-
underemployed, inventing fae excuses to jus- cipient. If a fae asks you for a key, what they
tify demands for payment. actually want is incitement.

4 5 Proper gifts for any fae who have ab- 6 3 There are fae near the Sea of Bone who
sconded with a human child: musk lilies, practice scarification, where chaotic patterns

THE FOREST
stone fruit in a stone bowl, or three secrets dance across their skin. They say the scars
whispered into a sealed jar. form a living document, but it’s actually how
they unravel.
4 6 You have never met a fae. Not truly.
They cannot fit through the doors to this 6 4 The fae beyond this world make mis-
world. All you’ve ever met are cradle-snatched takes, as all creatures do. In Hemenia off the
humans, raised to be the fae’s emissaries. coast of Levasti, there’s a boneyard where
once a flood of identical, fair-haired chil-
5 1 No verbal promise has value unless dren appeared at irregular intervals through
it has been spoken into a contract jar and a tree gate, only to die, unable to breathe
sealed with giant-wax. As these components here. The fae sent copies of this flawed crea-
are rare, written contracts are easier. ture through over a period of months before
abandoning the project.
5 2 An orruck is a habitual user of dream-
paste, which tints one’s skin green over time 6 5 “Fae” is a word used to divide “us” from
and causes increasingly intense plant-dreams. “them,” so they can be persecuted for being
different. They’re human, too. The rest is myth.
5 3 It’s not the gift, it’s the gratitude. This
is why you’ll sometimes be handed broken 6 6 The safest and most polite option when
items with solemn intensity. dealing with fae is to listen.

Monsters of the Wood • 163

 Spirits
Everything has a spirit—people, fae, animals, trees, water, rocks, fire—and that spirit can be
separated from its host and bound to other objects or forced to do the bidding of sorcerers. The
active spirits of people, fae, and fire are the most pliable, but the right magics can wrangle even
the spirit of granite and bind it to a service as permanent as stone itself. Things that die within
the forest are claimed by the forest and work on its behalf, often in a spectral form.

EXCERPTS FROM WHISPERED WISDOM

Compiled by Scry Oslo of the Milksweet Research Library.

1 1 An armored warrior holding aloft a 2 3 Every rock and tree contains spirit...
banner from a forgotten age barred our path. unless it’s been siphoned off for a magical
Its sunken eyes appeared to devour light. purpose. No animals around? Taste of a
smooth riverstone on your tongue? Smell like
1 2 I felt cold hands inside my own pockets. an icy lake? You can sense a spiritless place.
They held fast as they entwined with mine.
2 4 Many spirits are actually fae pretend-
1 3 A winged creature of cloud and light- ing to be dead. They’ll avoid touch to main-
ning plucked a full draft horse into the air, tain the illusion.
only to hurl it down onto jagged rocks.
2 5 Eaters of dreampaste claim they can
1 4 My own father, who died when I was see the spirit webbing that holds the world
a child, appeared in my path to silently beg together. However, they also say they dream
something of me. I know not what. I was un- of futures, so skepticism is warranted.
able to interpret his spectral tears.
THE FOREST

2 6 When a leviathan sinks to the sea’s

1 5 There’s no such thing as a spirit who bottom, crabs and creatures take them apart.
survives death. If you see someone you know, An invisible world of scavengers surrounds
it’s a borrowed face for a trap, or it’s someone us, waiting to flense our spirits after death.
out of time—either spying on the future or
issuing a warning to the past. 3 1 For any who use magic, a spirit’s iden-
tity is unimportant. Who they were is less
1 6 Shimmering figures surrounded us. relevant than what they can do for you.
They had our breath half out of our body
before they were torn apart by a force we 3 2 The creation of manikins and other
couldn’t see—sphere-ish and crackling, scat- elemental creatures requires shifting a spirit
tering spirits like a seabreeze dispersing fog. from some materials to others, leaving spir-
itless matter behind as a byproduct. This
2 1 Before crossing a body of water, sprin- spiritless material makes for good weapons
kle tobacco on its surface so the spirits below against spirits.
will hold you up.
3 3 True names are true power, say the fae
2 2 Giants are nothing but spirit batteries. behind their masks. To name a spirit is to
They sucked up too much spirit and had to isolate it from the spirit world, weakening its
grow to contain it all. powers and strengthening your resolve.

164 · Monsters of the Wood

3 4 Your sinew and bones are propelled 5 3 A silver stake driven with a silver ham-
by a spirit that shares your name. And it will mer can pin a spirit in place.
outlive you.
5 4 A spirit in stone is the hardest to quick-
3 5 If you meet a spirit, keep your mind en into a form that you can manipulate. It
blank. Spirits can sense what you want to see runs deep and slow. Rituals that use stone
and shape themselves accordingly. magic last longer than other magics.

3 6 A particularly violent act can be a peb- 5 5 A gift left on an altar—even an unfa-

ble dropped in a puddle of time. At set inter- miliar one—shows respect to the local spir-
vals, spirits appear to re-enact violence on a its. Of course, one can’t afford a gift on every
schedule as fixed as the paths of stars. altar...

4 1 “All spirits greet those with light feet.” 5 6 Magic that draws on plants weaves
—Maxim for the common traveler. Maintain spirit easily. So long as there’s sunshine and
a low profile. water, the spirit should replenish quickly.
It takes monstrous magic to wither plants
4 2 A ring drawn with salt or seeds around down to the root.
one’s sleeping area will keep the Shivering
from crawling into your bed at night. 6 1 Asked about spirit encounters, Jen-
nak the Dour says spirits are unimportant.
4 3 Battlefields, plagues, and other mass “What the meatless have to say is of no con-
losses of life sometimes birth hill giants: cern to me.”
chimera spirits, fused multitudes, muddled
and ethereal with a grief that radiates. 6 2 No one has ever seen a bee’s ghost.
4 4 It used to be easier to talk to our own 6 3 Spiritbane charms work on one of two

THE FOREST
dead. Bowls of milk left out by an open door, principles: repulsion or capture. Be quite sure
a lantern to guide them home. But now the which variety you’ve purchased.
forest lures them all away.
6 4 Bound in string and your own hair, a
4 5 When you dream, your spirit goes spiritless stone can bleed a spirit, capturing
walking. How many spirits are dreamers who and slowing its animating spirit in rock.
won’t remember meeting you?
6 5 Animal herders speak of Canny Legs, a
4 6 Unbound from the limitations of flesh, goat-legged spirit with a knack for separating
a spirit’s appearance can warp and drip, im- unwary beasts from the herd.
personating many people at once.
6 6 Sister’s Tears consistently allow one to
5 1 Do not allow a spirit to pass through see spirits in their true form, if you can ob-
you. If you do, your own spirit risks pollution tain them.
from its ethereal touch.

5 2 Spirits are eternal and as such, difficult

to threaten or drive off. You cannot hurt a
spirit in any way that matters.

Monsters of the Wood • 165

 The Witch of Nevask
MADELEINE EMBER
THE FOREST

The dreaded Forest of Kalduhr holds both horror and wonder for those brave fools who seek
to traverse it. Anyone who frequently travels the roads out of Fort Duhrin, speaks in hushed
tones of The Witch of Nevask. Each traveler has their own set of stories and rumors—how she
is encountered, who she helps, what she can do.

166 · The Witch of Nevask

She can be spotted...
1 in the early morning, traveling along the edge of a field at a hastened pace before she vanishes suddenly.
2 just within the wood, picking plants, checking small game traps, and crooning to herself.
3 high in the branches of the Kalduhr canopy, walking lightly between improbably slim branches.
4 dancing atop drifts of fresh snow under a full moon, casting no shadow and leaving no footprints.
5 within her high stilt house, cackling as she stokes its coughing hearth.
6 casting bones and doing business as a “wise woman.” If accused of being a witch, she bursts into smoke.
People seek her out...
1 for potions against illnesses. The only fee she asks is that the seeker plant a seed of her choice in their garden.
2 to tell the fortunes of the betrothed. It is said that a fright from her readies one for the shock of married life.
3 to learn secret paths through the forest. Sometimes the best advice is to leave and never return.
4 to learn the secrets of her powers. These seekers are, without exception, never seen again.
5 to help find lost people and animals. She will assist—for a price as dear to the seeker as their own heart.
6 to remove odious curses. Such dispellations require great sacrifices.

Rumors Told of the Witch

1 1 THE NAME NEVASK 1 4 ON CHILDREN
The Nevask is one of two rivers that runs The witch has a fondness for children. Some
through the Kalduhr, and is said to have claim she once was a mother who lost her
been named after the witch—not the other children to the forest. Others say she offered
way around. Sprung from somewhere deep her children to the Kalduhr in exchange for
within the forest, it tumbles breakneck over some measure of its dark magics, and seeks

THE FOREST
miles of stones and bones. It’s surprisingly still more children for further deals. What-
deep for its breadth. As is true of the witch, ever her motivation, she never turns away a
many travelers do not appreciate the danger lost child’s earnest plea for assistance.
it poses until it is already too late. The Naveh
River, Nevask’s twin, has stories of its own. 1 5 THE WITCH’S STAFF
She carries a gnarled staff carved from a live
12 THE WITCH’S HUT oak. Every time she sets the staff down, it
The witch lives in a high stilt hut built of tears a little bit of herself away with it. The
woven willow and reeds. It walks through staff is hewn of that cursed wood, connecting
the forest, which bends to allow it passage. her to very old and very dangerous power.
Smoke billows from the generous hearth
within. The hut’s little windows shine as red 1 6 ECHANOR THE WITCH-TOUCHED
as blood against the shrouding fog. Echanor, a soft-spoken priestess trained
under Mother Niavka at Fort Duhrin, will
1 3 THE WITCH’S HEARTH retell her encounter with the witch to those
Sometimes, very late at night when the air is who contribute monetarily to funerary ef-
still and cold, you can hear the distant roar forts and blessings for outgoing expeditions.
of the witch’s hearth, onto which she throws Her right arm bears the burned shape of an
branches hewn from the forest, still laden open hand, where the witch grabbed her and
with bloody sap. pulled her from the jaws of death.

The Witch of Nevask • 167

 2 1 THE BELLS 2 6 GRIMMIK THE LEATHERWORKER
The multitude of small copper bells that hang The witch is missing her left eye—but it is
from the witch’s hut are said to have been not gone. Grimmik of Ambaret, a leather-
cast in cities all across the world, each with worker in their trade district, claimed the
a unique tone and purpose. Some have never eye in exchange for making the saddle of her
been heard to make a sound—and perhaps sway-wing crane. He keeps this treasure in
that’s for the best. an ivory casket, always warmed by the touch
of his skin and bound about his neck with a
2 2 THE WITCH’S CRANE leather cord. Its magical properties are wide-
The witch’s pet sway-wing crane, with it’s ly guessed at. Grimmik, now wizened as a
brilliant red cheeks and legs, is much larger winter apple, does not discuss these matters,
than those that commonly haunt the local and those who attempt to do so find the cost
swamps and wetland tributaries. She raised of their leathers exponentially inflated.
this beast from a chick, feeding it the blood
of rabbits and boars, until it was of a size to 3 1 THE WITCH’S HAIR
carry her on its back. It only comes at her call, Her hair is thick and tightly curled, clouding
and when spotted without her, is considered about and behind her for several feet—yet it
an omen of death. never snags on thorns or catches stray leaves.
It’s said that the witch’s hair cannot be cut
2 3 THE WITCH’S PAST by any man made tool, and that it can only
No two stories of the witch’s fall are the be gathered from her elk-bone comb or by
same, but most agree on several points: that her own hand. These strands are as strong as
the witch was once a mortal woman, that she iron, and are rumored to serve as heavy-draw
once loved a woman who was braver than bowstrings for those who offer her tribute.
she was smart, and that the witch traded her
love’s life for her own, giving herself over to 3 2 STILL MARY
the forest. She now serves some combination The witch’s true name and history have been
THE FOREST

of its will and her own. lost to time, but there is a child’s skipping
rhyme that gives her pause when little else
2 4 A FOLK ETYMOLOGY turns her gaze:
One admittedly prosaic source for the title
“Nevask” is a drifted and contracted version Out to find a treasure of gold,
of the phrase “never ask”—for to ask the I dug up stones in the bitter cold.
witch’s true name could only doom one to a Still Mary held me in my sleep.
swift, terrible death. I’ve naught to keep, I’ve naught to keep.
Out to find our grub and brew,
2 5 ON CHILD-REARING I gathered moss and morning dew.
The witch has long been used as a bogey for Still Mary laughed and kissed my brow.
local children. It seems all parents know the I’ve nothing now, I’ve nothing now.
witch “personally,” and spend some portion Out to find a wedding ring,
of their social life regaling the witch with I promised summer but died in spring.
stories of their children’s failings to eat their Still Mary cried and broke her heart.
vegetables, clean their rooms, or do their So sad we part, so sad we part.
chores. Such children are offered an oppor- Out to find the weight of hope,
tunity to be taken away by the witch, where I’d hung my head in a circle’d rope.
she shoves them in her hut, never to see the Still Mary loved me, true and good,
sun again, with only bugs and grubs to eat. well as she could, long as she could.

168 · The Witch of Nevask

3 3 AN ARCHAIC ETYMOLOGY 4 3 A RARE ORCHID
An additional source for the title “Nevask” Witches Tears, a variety of orchid found in
derives from the old Kalduhri word for a the deepest parts of Kalduhr, is said to sprout
lightning-hollowed tree, a nevsk. Such trees from where her tears touch the cursed earth.
stand out, their bark blackened, bearing These lovely white flowers, that are increas-
neither leaf nor fruit. They are said to be the ingly rare, can cure blindness and consider-
favored haunts of fae horrors. ably ease rheumatic joints.

3 4 ON PEPPERMINT 4 4 ON WEAVING
The witch always carries a small sachel of She is said to be a prodigiously talented
peppermint leaves with her. Rumored to only weaver. Her robes are woven from the fab-
grow in her enchanted garden hidden within ric of night, from the feathery down of the
the forest, the leaves have a powerful quick- wool-bearing bat, from the cocoons of moths
ening effect on mental acuity. that live their short lives in worship of their
mother, the moon.
3 5 ON CHILDBIRTH
More than childbirth has been initiated by 4 5 THE WITCH’S PATH
the witch’s startling laughter. It has become The Witch’s Path, a subtle and narrow trail
a fashionable habit to walk the border of the marked with smooth, flat stones, crosses
forest when one is heavily pregnant in the through the forest. It’s said to be the only
hopes that the witch will do what time has fixed and safe route from the eastern edge to
hardly hurried. the western edge. However, this path is easily
obscured by fallen leaves, snow, and spring
3 6 ON BEANS undergrowth. It may be that no such path ex-
If a traveler throws a handful of beans at the ists, except in the minds of hopeful travelers.
witch before running away, she will be com-
pelled to gather them and count them one 4 6 THE WITCH’S BEAUTY

THE FOREST
by one. This sounds like a ridiculous bit of The Witch of Nevask is so beautiful that
folklore, but it’s still common for travelers to mortals shiver at the sight of her and throw
keep a handful of beans in their pocket at all themselves at her feet. When she was young,
times. Better safe than sorry. she was blessed with a connection to the
divine that could have led her to sainthood.
4 1 THE WITCH’S MANY FORMS However, this taste of power awoke in her a
The witch can wear a number of animal guis- terrible desire, and she dedicated her life to
es as she travels the forest—as a black forest learning the secrets of the natural world and
cat, as a fleet black rabbit, and as a large black how to control them. These efforts did noth-
crow—all with bright green eyes. ing to dim her beauty, and her thronging ad-
mirers forced her to a life as a hermit.
4 2 ON A MULTIPLICITY OF WITCHES
Some claim there is not one witch, but sever- 5 1 ON UNATTENDED FIRES
al bearing the name “the Witch of Nevask.” If a fire is left unattended in the woods while
Together, this coven does tidy business all who should watch it sleep instead, the next
gathering the fallen treasures from deceased to wake will find a beautiful young woman
treasure-hunters and mixing “potions” for stirring the coals with her bare hands. They
the easily duped. Although no one has seen light and lick her skin with green flames. The
two witches in the same place, absence of ev- witch laughs at whoever has woken and turns
idence is not evidence of absence. into a blackbird before flying away.

The Witch of Nevask • 169

 5 2 ON CHILDREN’S TOYS
A child’s doll left too close to the woods will
often gain the ability to say a word or two.
One of these words is often “Nevask.” Such
dolls must be burned before they can move
on their own. It’s said that the witch can see
through the eyes of these dolls, and can bid
them do her will.
THE FOREST

170 · The Witch of Nevask

5 3 THE WITCH’S HAT 6 2 ON WITCH-MARKED HORSES
The witch wears a plain, black, wide- A horse with a shock of black hair in a brown,
brimmed hat with a low crown—called a white, or other-colored mane is said to be
cartwheel hat—that was once considered “witch-marked” and favored for speed, but
very fashionable by the aristocracy. Such doomed to die young.
hats are now deemed “witchy” or “bad luck”
and it is socially acceptable to only wear such 6 3 SWEET WITCH ROLLS
a hat in gaudy colors and heaped with fake During the autumn equinox celebration of
jewels or embroidered flowers. Wolf-Away, rolls flavored with Nevask pearls
and filled with sweet cream are shared among
5 4 THE NEVASK PEARL friends and given to passing strangers. They
A local spice, called the Nevask pearl, is a are called by different names depending
kind of black, miniature pea (and pod) with on the town, including Sweet Witch Rolls,
a sharp anise taste. It’s often used in place Witch Buns, Nevask Rolls, Witch’s Martyrs,
of ground pepper. The pods are dried with Martyrs, or Sweet Mary’s.
the peas and ground up fine, or the peas are
sometimes used whole in rubs. Unfortunate- 6 4 THE WITCH’S BATH
ly, the plants do not cultivate well outside of There is a large wooden tub that farmers east
the Kalduhr. of Fort Duhrin use to water their pasture
grazers. Some mornings, this tub is filled to
5 5 THE WITCH’S WATER the brim with still-warm blood. It’s said that
The witch is said to be strengthened by the the witch bathes there in the blood of inno-
water from the Nevask, and that a sip puts cents twice a year to retain her youth and
steel in any drinker’s bones. This has been beauty. Despite the tub always smelling of
a rumor with deadly consequences—for the old blood, beasts do not fear it.
river banks are often steep and slick, and the
water dark and deep. 6 5 GORA THE ADVENTURER

THE FOREST
Gora, known adventurer and pioneer, has
5 6 ON SOOTHING BEASTS claimed to explore some portions of the for-
No matter the animal, it’s said that the witch est while learning forbidden arts from the
can calm it with a word if it was born outside Witch of Nevask. Most dismiss her claims
of the forest. For those within, she has only as exaggerations at best and outright lies
limited effect upon, but even that is a marvel. at worst. Those who have been within that
terrible place, though, say that much of the
6 1 THE WITCH’S COINS details and described locations mentioned
When the witch travels abroad, she exclu- are true to life.
sively uses copper coins for currency. These
coins were minted several thousand years 6 6 THE WITCH’S FOLLOWERS
ago, bearing an image of a crane in flight over There is a small but fervent group of people
a large tree. They appear passingly similar to who consider themselves “adherents” of the
early bronze currency, which is still in com- witch, as though she were a saint. These be-
mon circulation. Any one of these distinctive lievers, calling themselves Nevaski or the
coins carry a worth equal or equivalent to Faithful of the Witch, do her homage with
gold recently minted by the Crown—there- prayer and offerings, and are said to possess
by providing a significant profit to anyone some small measure of true power. What is
accepting the coins as “bronzes” in their es- done in the witch’s name, though, is not nec-
tablishment. essarily of her design.

The Witch of Nevask • 171

 Altars
GABRIEL RO
ROBINS
BINSO
ON

Hidden amongst the ruins of Kalduhr are places of power dedicated to the various gods, saints,
spirits, demons, and monsters that lurk between the trees. These altars take a multitude of
forms and offer countless blessings... for the right price, offered in the correct manner.
Use the following tables to construct any number of strange altars your party might encounter
in the dread woods.
THE FOREST

ALTAR FORMS
Where has this altar been arranged?

1 or 2 or 3
1 The blackened hollow of a lightning-struck tree.
2 A dancing fountain within an overgrown secret garden.
3 A wall of cave drawings depicting bizarre transformations.
4 A sacred forge, kept constantly aglow by devoted smiths.
5 A towering stone monolith in an empty clearing.
6 An ancient tree as wide as a tower, circled in prayer flags and tiny idols.
4 or 5 or 6
1 The lap of a colossal dead god, long ago turned to stone.
2 A secret shelf concealed by a tapestry.
3 A simple pile of offerings left at a crossroads sign.
4 A stone circle overlooking a mountain valley, open to the sky.
5 An intricate sculpture of bones and woven branches on the forest floor.
6 A glowing pool, deep within an icy mountain crevasse.
172 · Altars
 ALTAR FEATURES
What do you notice about the altar as you approach it?

1 or 2 or 3
1 It is sheltering the bones of a beloved hero or saint.
2 It is glowing with promises of redemption.
3 It is bearing many small idols and images of deities, variations of the same power.
4 It is honoring one entity but secretly dedicated to another.
5 It is covered in melted candles and offerings of hopeful pilgrims.
6 It is long-abandoned and mostly reclaimed by the surrounding wild.
4 or 5 or 6
1 It is crackling with barely-contained energies.
2 It is being prepared by worshippers for an elaborate ritual.
3 It is littered with remnants of a recent sacrifice.
4 It is watched by a terrifying but impassive guardian.
5 It is surrounded by crying spirits of the recently departed.
6 It is desecrated, rearranged for a different purpose than intended.

ALTAR PURPOSES
What is the intention of this altar?

1 or 2 or 3
1 A traveler’s shrine to invoke one of the Sisters.
2 A place of merriment and bravery to inspire new followers of the Piper.

THE FOREST
3 An ancient, wild place dedicated to the Old One of the Forest.
4 A sanctuary for the downtrodden, a place of solace for the desperate.
5 A corrupted place which was once sacred, now channeling the power of rituals for a dangerous new purpose.
6 A neutral space honored by human and fae folk, where peace offerings are made.
4 or 5 or 6
1 A place of power to call upon the elements for protection.
2 An archive of ancestral memories, to honor the stories of those who came before.
3 A gateway to the wild, used by generations of local hunters.
4 A brazen declaration of a new power supplanting the old gods and traditions.
5 A waypoint along the glowing paths that guides lost souls to the afterlife.
6 A beacon of hope to travelers in dangerous places.

Altars • 173
 ALTAR INVOCATIONS
What tangible actions are required to activate the power of this altar?

1 or 2 or 3
1 Perform a heartfelt song or incantation.
2 Offer a prize of the hunt, traditionally the parts of a dangerous beast.
3 Share food, drink, or secrets with a stranger.
4 Redeem yourself through a noble deed, act to aid a nearby community.
5 Sacrifice a token of a rival power or corrupt authority.
6 Incite rebellious schemes, carry them out through cunning or trickery, and return.
4 or 5 or 6
1 Receive a mark of the altar’s dedicated power.
2 Call on mighty powers to witness your sacred oath.
3 Stand a night-long vigil in silent prayer.
4 Repair something broken, heal an injury, or make right an act of wrongdoing.
5 Perform the ritual which connects you to your ancestors.
6 Vow to harm no innocent folk or natural creatures of the surrounding land.

ALTAR BLESSINGS
Should your offerings or rituals be accepted, what blessing does this altar grant?

1 or 2 or 3
1 Summon a mist, fog, or shadow to obscure your passage from dangerous foes.
2 Find a secret entrance or hidden path to follow—but something else will notice and follow you.
THE FOREST

3 Ask questions of a spirit whose memory lives here to learn a useful fact about something nearby.
4 Gain the gift of a silver tongue to inspire folk with the beauty of your words. If you tell a lie, the gift fades.
5 Gain a single use of a magical ritual or spell associated with this altar.
6 Learn all weaknesses of a single local monster—but it becomes aware of your presence and begins hunting you.
4 or 5 or 6
1 Sacrifice something from each member of the party to bring a companion back from the brink of death.
2 Find inspiration to press on.
3 Sacrifice a treasure to magically repair or strengthen a weapon or piece of armor.
4 Rest here and connect to the restorative healing powers of this place.
5 Draw a veil of illusion over the party, granting a temporary disguise or alteration in physical appearance.
6 Ask for a blessing, miracle, or simple good luck.

174 · Altars
 The Old One of the Forest
JAMES HO
HOLL
LLO
OWAY

THE FOREST
The Old One of the Forest is the personification of the Kalduhr itself. Ever-growing, endlessly
intertwining, it is a powerful force of life. The Old One’s spirit is present in the mushrooms
that grow in the leaf litter and the creatures that hunt in the undergrowth, but most of all in the
ancient trees of the forest.
New arrivals to the Kalduhr will be struck by the ubiquity of the Old One’s symbol. This mark
depicts an ancient, impassive face peering through a screen of leaves—or perhaps the leaves are
growing from the face? Either way, those who live near the Old One’s boughs mark everything
from clothing to currency with the sign; some even wear it as a tattoo, or brand it onto their
livestock. Many believe that displaying the mark helps protect them from the fae and other
monsters of the wood—and they might be right.
Few directly worship the Old One, but those that do venerate it as a force of life, endlessly
breeding new creations. Devotees can learn the Old One’s magic as long as they follow its
teachings, which include respect for all life—the Old One does not favor the life of a human
being over that of a boar, a bear, or a bee. Life is life.

The Old One of the Forest • 175

 Signs That the Eye of the Old One Is Upon You
1 1 A CONTRARY MOVEMENT 2 2 A DOPPELGANGER
The tree branches wave gently, even though Two paths cross in a clearing; as you arrive,
there is no wind. In a high breeze, they hold another traveler is just setting out. It takes
the rigid stoicism of stone. your conscious mind a moment to understand
why your subconscious mind is screaming an
1 2 LIFE FROM DEATH alarm—they have your pack, your cloak. In a
Dead objects show new life. The handle of moment, this other you has passed out of the
an axe puts forth tender green shoots, while clearing and is gone.
leather boots squelch with blood.
2 3 A BOLD PREDATOR
1 3 A MEETING WITH A HERALD Foxes and wildcats often prowl the edge of
One of the Old One’s heralds crosses your your camp’s circle of firelight. They’re harm-
path. It might be an ancient boar, its stiff coat less for the most part, merely looking for
caked in mud, the ridge of its back crowned scraps as they give humans a wide berth. To-
with delicate flowers. It could be a marten night is different—this time, one walks con-
that, instead of scampering out of your path, fidently into the center of the camp and sits
looks at you with calm, almost human eyes. with your party, crossing its paws delicately.
Be warned: to spill the blood of a herald is to
invite an awful retribution. 2 4 THE VERDANT KNIGHTS
Many are the spirits of the forest, and many
14 A PATH EMERGES are the ways in which they serve the Old One.
Obstacles clear from your path—pools dry, Certain sites within the Kalduhr are guarded
briars retreat, and shafts of sunlight pierce by the Old One’s knights—enigmatic figures
the canopy to illuminate spots of danger. in armor of knotted bark, their lances
Wherever you’re going, the Old One seems to crowned with wreaths of green. Intruders in
THE FOREST

think you ought to get there safely. the forest may find themselves observed by
one of these silent sentinels, whose presence
1 5 AN UNCOMMON BLOOM is said to prove that lost treasures are nearby.
Flowers bloom on nearby plants, regardless
of the season or weather. At the center of 2 5 A STEADY BREATH
each blossom is an eye—golden like a wolf ’s, A cold stream trickles into a shallow dell,
as expressionless as a stag’s. forming a small pool in the hollow. Moss-cov-
ered boulders surround the pond. The valley
1 6 THE SPEAKING WIND is quiet except for a gentle, rhythmic sound,
The wind’s sighing within the canopy quiets like breathing. After a moment, you notice
for a moment. When it starts again, it has a that the boulders are rising and falling slowly.
new rhythm, almost voicelike. It whispers
promises just on the edge of understanding. 2 6 A HERMIT’S BOWL
The crude hut of a hermit sits by the side of
21 A FAERIE RING the trail ahead of you. These holy folk have
Waking in the dewy morning, you discover learned to commune with the Old One—or
that you have slept at the center of a ring of at least, that is what many believe. Leave a
fungi rising from the leaf litter. You’re certain coin or a crust of bread in the hermit’s beg-
they weren’t there the night before. A faint ging bowl, and receive a cryptic prophecy or
tickle in the back of your throat troubles you. double-edged blessing.

176 · The Old One of the Forest

3 1 A NOCTURAL OMEN 4 1 A BOUNTIFUL VISION
Those who sleep within the forest sometimes Before your eyes, fruit ripens on nearby trees.
see the Old One in dreams—calm, ancient, Look at a bud and it becomes a flower. Wher-
and patiently watching. The wise folk of the ever your gaze falls, new life grows—tender
Kalduhr interpret these dreams as marks of shoots of grass, newborn lambs, wriggling
favor, promising abundance, or as warnings heaps of maggots.
to respect the forest and its inhabitants.
4 2 A BARRIER, BROKEN
3 2 AN UNEXPECTED BLADE Mold and fungus spread across an obstacle in
A gnarled tree holds an unexpected burden your path in moments, coating it in a gentle
—a sword, its bronze blade strangely free fuzz of corruption. As you watch, it softens
from corruption, enfolded by the gnarled and collapses, solid wood turning into sponge
bark. It wasn’t thrust into the tree, but sits as the Kalduhr consumes its nutrients.
incongruously, as if it grew there.
4 3 A PLACE OF SAFETY
3 3 SHIFTING TASTES A chance arrangement of fallen trees, boul-
You pause to refill your canteens from one ders, and vegetation take on the aspect of a
of the many streams that trickles between cozy little cottage. Around you in the under-
mossy banks through the dark wood. The growth, something prowls.
water is cold and sweet, infinitely welcome af-
ter a day hacking through the undergrowth. 4 4 A COINCIDENTAL PRAYER
When next you taste wine, it is foul to you. On the fringes of the wood, in the safer areas,
villagers hang lanterns with colored glass
3 4 A FOREST FOLLOWING panes. The lights guide the return of friends
After leaving the forest, new growth sprouts and loved ones lost in the Kalduhr. Some
in your footsteps wherever you go. The folk have been hanging there for decades. Each
of the Kalduhr see this as a sign of the Old lantern bears parchment strips displaying

THE FOREST
One’s blessing, but more civilized people fear the names of lost souls and prayers for their
the encroachment of the forest on their vil- safe return. As you enter the wood, you see
lages of stone and brick. your own name on one of these scrolls. When
you look again, it’s another, similar name—
3 5 FERAL FEATURES an easy mistake to make.
The wolf, the owl, the stag, the boar, the
squirrel, the woodpecker—many are the 4 5 A SWEET GIFT
beasts of the forest said to be the eyes of the Though the air is still, a single apple detach-
Old One. Those who fall under the Old One’s es itself from a branch above you and drops
gaze may begin to develop the characteristics softly to the forest floor. It looks sweet and
of his pets, such as long, sharp teeth, wide plump, full of juice and life.
golden eyes, or a shock of brilliant feathers.
4 6 A WILD MARCH
3 6 A NEW HOBBY Alerted by a noise in the night, you see the
You take up whittling. You’re not sure how forest alive with movement. A procession of
you got into the habit, but now it seems that animals moves silently through the wood.
you do it all the time. Clumsily at first and A wildcat turns its shining eyes toward you,
then with increasing skill, you carve out little then returns to its journey. At the tail of the
figurines of animals. You’re never quite sure procession, a figure in moss-hued robes walks
where you left them, though. alongside a stag in hushed companionship.

The Old One of the Forest • 177

 5 1 A SIMPLE SHRINE 5 4 TREASURE-LINED TREES
New human-made structures are quite rare Ruined structures aren’t the only legacies
in the truly dense areas of the forest. Among of bygone ages found in the forest. Burial
the few are simple shrines to the Old One, mounds of ancient cultures also dot the
featuring carvings of its mask on boulders or landscape, concealed beneath a carpet of
fragments of ancient ruin. The one you come trees. The roots of the trees reach down into
upon in the deep wood has an offering bowl the crumbling, stone-lined burial chambers
in front of it, its belly dark with old blood. A within the mounds. Looking at one such tree,
simple flint knife rests next to it, its handle you see the treasures of the tomb hanging
toward you. from its branches, gold collars and chains
clinking softly like windchimes in the breeze.
5 2 A FORTUITOUS LIKENESS
After a number of trips into the forest, your 5 5 A MAP IN MINIATURE
hair begins to take on a greenish tinge. Be- Tiny shoots sprouting from the forest floor
fore long it looks more like leaves than hair. resemble trees, with puddles for lakes, trick-
Eventually, it frames your face like the leaves les for streams, and pebbles for cliffs. This
of the Old One’s mask. patch of ground is a map of an area within
the forest, although not the one in which you
5 3 A CARAVAN FROM FAERIE are currently walking.
The jingling of harness bells ahead warns of
a merchant caravan’s approach. These mer- 5 6 A TROPHY OF YOUR OWN
chants, however, are fae creatures—hunched Rustling in the woods alerts you to some-
servants led by a tall figure in a veil and top thing following you. Peering into the dim-
hat. An attendant bears a banner showing the ness, you see a creature you recently slew.
mask of the Old One. The bags and panniers Blooms and leaves protrude from its dead
of their pack animals bulge with the bounty body as it lurches after you. It doesn’t attack
of the Kalduhr. They offer you a plump fruit or threaten you—it just follows. Perhaps it’s
THE FOREST

as they pass. yours now.

178 · The Old One of the Forest

6 1 RAPID GROWTH
In passing, you notice that a little bit more
of your wrist shows at the end of your sleeve.
The same is true of your breeches. It takes a
while for it to dawn on you that you’re slowly
growing taller.

6 2 A SUDDEN WALL
As you make camp at night, a hedge of bram-
bles grows around you. In the morning, it
turns brittle and weak, allowing you to cut THE TREE OF LIFE
your way out easily. Was it keeping you safe
from outside threats, or keeping the wood The Tree of Life is the space where the
safe from you? Old One lives. Alternatively, it might
be another form in which the Old One
6 3 A FUNGAL FACE appears. The Tree of Life connects the
Mushrooms push through the leaf mold in physical world, the spiritual world, and
pallid clumps. Viewed from a certain angle, the enigmatic realm of Faerie. The Old
the growths form faces that turn to watch One is present in all three places, equally
you with blind eyes as you pass. at home—or equally alien—in each.

6 4 A NOSTALGIC SONG Alongside the greenery-bedecked mask

Far off, through the trees, you hear a beautiful of the Old One, some who live in or
voice singing. The song is a familiar one—it’s around the forest wear tokens that show
not one of the tunes the folk of the Kalduhr an abstract image of the Tree, its many
sing, but one you last heard long ago in your branches and roots intertwined. To them,
own homeland. it symbolizes the interconnectedness of

THE FOREST
all life in the forest and represents the
6 5 A DARK HOUND omnipresent nature of the Old One—
Ahead of you, as if waiting, a massive dog, its spirit is in the forest as a whole, not
deep brown or black, lies at the foot of the necessarily in any one tree or patch of
tree. Some call him Shuck, others Grim, ground. Some more philosophical souls
Gytrash, or Old Jack. They say he is the Old interpret this as a broader point about
One’s hunting hound. Those the forest spirit the interconnectedness of all things:
loves, he leads to safety. Others, he leads to Are not you and I both branches on the
their doom. He regards you patiently. Tree of Life? No, reply traditionalists.
Not you and I—just the Old One.
6 6 A COMFORTING SMILE
Did you notice the mask of the Old One Deep within the forest, the corpses of
stamped on the coins in your pouch or em- once-mighty trees collapse in on them-
broidered on a companion’s cloak? You swear selves, leaving wounds in their bark. The
its expression shifts when you aren’t looking. folk of Kalduhr call these “doors to the
Normally, it stares enigmatically forward, Old One’s house” and believe that they
but now it smiles at you warmly from time to are entrances to the Tree itself. Few who
time. It’s a reassuring feeling, seeing the face walk the branches of the Tree return
smile, although you dare not think about to tell the tale—and those that do will
why this is happening. not or cannot speak of what they saw.

The Old One of the Forest • 179

 The Sea of Bone
JIM CROCKER
BEYOND THE FOREST

Far to the south, beyond the Kingdom of Naganeh, there is a vast desert of bone-white sand
said to go on forever. It doesn’t, of course, but it may as well, given the pitiless nature of its
shifting dunes, unpredictable weather, and the hold it has upon any who set foot on its silicate
face. Scholars have long argued whether it possesses a life, a consciousness of its own, similar to
the Forest of Kahldur. Does it lie dreaming, somnolent as any trace of travelers is inevitably
scoured from its face by the wind? Does it hunger, eager to draw the life from the forest as it
once did the sea that filled this great basin? Does it laugh, knowing that it is a harbinger of the
entropy that will eventually consume all of the Kahldur? It matters little. The promise of lost
tombs and hidden oases draws the foolhardy just as with those other ruinous places.

180 · The Sea of Bone

After miles of trackless wastes across the blinding white dunes, the first feature you see is…
1 a battered catamaran sand-slicer.
2 the bleached skeleton of a colossal shark half-buried in the silt.
3 a single stunted, gnarled tree, leafless but stubbornly still alive.
4 a large covered palanquin being carried by four hulking basalt golems.
5 the top twenty feet of a ziggurat of pure rose quartz sticking from the sand, its bulk mostly buried below.
6 a fat seagull, hopping along a dune, its cry suddenly piercing the dull roar of the wind.
But as you move closer...
1 you see it is nothing more than a mirage created by whirling salt-sand and rippling heat.
2 it recognizes you and calls your name.
3 the sand shifts beneath it, sucking it beneath the dunes before you can touch it.
4 it recedes, moving away with every step towards it.
5 it points the way to a small oasis with shade and a bit of water.
6 the crisp shadows it casts offer cryptic clues of a doom you’ll meet before you escape this place.

What Can Be Found Among the Sand in the Sea of Bone?

1 1 THE SALT PIRATES 1 3 FAUNA OF THE SEA
The salt pirates who ply these dunes in Similarly, there are an astonishing variety of
swift-moving catamaran sand-slicers are the insect and arachnid life burrowing through
stuff of legend in the kingdoms. They are gen- the sand, swarming the hot air, and lurking
erally thought to be dashing swashbucklers, in the shade under rocks. Most are venom-
battling each other for the hand of desert ous or poisonous to some extent or anoth-
nobility and raiding the tombs of terrifying er, and each a vexingly unique and vicious
mummy kings. In truth, they are little more nuisance to unprepared travellers. Among
than cannibal brigands, and will happily har- the six most-commonly encountered such
poon any creature they come across to drag vermin one might expect to come across can
away to their camp in a crumbling temple to be counted bonebore ants, squamous gnats,
drink its blood and feed its flesh to the great gritmaggots, velocipedes, suicide locusts,
blind scorpion god they worship. and tomb hornets.
BEYOND THE FOREST

1 2 FLORA OF THE SEA 1 4 TYPES OF SAND

The apparent barrenness of the most infa- Those well-versed in the Sea of Bone can de-
mous trenches of the Sea of Bone belie the tect the subtle differences in smell, viscosity,
rich abundance of life that can be found if and texture between the bone-white sand
one knows where to look, past the rolling bar- that makes up most of the desert, the flows
ren dunes. Of particular interest to herbalists and deposits of pure salt that run through
and dealers in exotic flora are a half-dozen of it like rivers and lakes, and the dunes and
the more unique flowering plants that can be deposits of bone, ground down to powder by
found here: salinous dandelions (and their scouring winds and grit, from the cyclopean
salty, bitter greens), dust poppies, vermillion creatures extinct since this region was a hun-
wafting driftpetals, false hope orchids, rattle- dred fathoms beneath the waves.
roses, and the exceedingly rare pale bonebloom.

The Sea of Bone • 181

 1 5 THE ROSE QUARTZ ZIGGURAT 2 1 ZALALAZ THE SCORPION-GOD
The Rose Quartz Ziggurat of Queen Sessalia Zalalaz is the blind albino scorpion-god of
the Observed is said to lie somewhere close the salt pirates. In times of plenty they serve
to the edge of the Sea, mostly buried, but it the ritually-prepared flesh of travellers they
accessible to those who have learned the rit- have waylaid and exsanguinated. In lean
ual allowing them to remove its interlocking times, they duel with poisoned harpoons for
capstones and gain ingress. The Ziggurat’s the honor of being consumed by the thing.
tinted transparent walls form a labyrinth the Though it cuts an impressive profile, ancient
Queen knows by heart but that newcomers and colossal, its stinger oozing venom that
will find not merely vexing but probably le- can dissolve a man into a steaming puddle of
thal, before they even come into her unblink- pink sludge with a few drops, in truth it is a
ing presence. It is said that there are priceless dissolute and decrepit creature. Its days are
artifacts at the crystalline heart of the place, surely numbered, all of its majestic kin long
not least of which are the Queen’s eyes, but since passed beneath the sand, any instinct
any concrete details of their provenance are it once had for the hunt entirely forgotten.
lost to the ages. It squats atop a miasmic pile of its own shed
carapaces, fed by fanatics, blind, deaf, barely
1 6 THE SEVEN TREES able to move, perhaps in pain, perhaps simply
The Arboreal Armistice is the agreement lost in memory. None have thought to ask.
struck between the seven towering Andan-
sonian trees remaining alive from the days 2 2 WORDS FOR SAND
when the Sea of Bone was a savannah. They Among the various peoples of the Sea of Bone
are an order of magnitude more ancient than there exist some seven score words describ-
any tree still standing in the Kalduhr, de- ing the many iterations of sand. There are
crepit before humans walked upright. They subtle variations in size of grain, viscosity,
have agreed between themselves that their desiccant potential, and even color that are
roots, penetrating deep into the heart of the the subject of wide-ranging conjecture and
world, shall not compete with each other, debate. When greeting a traveler under a flag
shall not wage a silent war beneath the Earth of truce, it is customary to inquire as to the
as in the days of old. They are stubborn—in state of the sand they have traversed and to
practical terms impossible to kill—and have be similarly forthcoming oneself.
seen every terrible thing this world (and sev-
eral beyond) is capable of conjuring and sur- 2 3 BURROW DRAKES
vived through all of it. They have wisdom, to Burrow drakes are gaunt, scabrous lizards 4–5
BEYOND THE FOREST

be sure, but most of it is startlingly mundane, feet in length who swim through the dunes
with tantalizing pieces of ruinous secrets as their aquatic cousins do through water.
scattered carelessly amongst the platitudes of They attack in groups of 3–5, attempting to
weather and the slow passage of eons. Each harass and pick off weak or dying stragglers
will offer shelter for a day and a night atop its of whatever group they track down. They are
trunk in exchange for a tale from the world argumentative and belligerent things, prone
beyond that it has not ever heard. It would to internecine squabbles and fighting over
take a terrible bargain or a promise of incal- prey even among their own groups. They can
culable value to compel any of them to break be easily driven off by competent and alert
the truce, and scholars can only intuit the travelers except during egg season, when the
cataclysm that might shake the foundation males become more aggressive in an effort to
of the Sea of Bone if they were to enter again upstage their rivals for the attention of the
into conflict. single female that dominates each group.

182 · The Sea of Bone

2 4 SAND-SLICERS 2 6 THE CAPSULE OF THE KAHN
The catamaran sand-slicer is the principle The Capsule of the Kahn is a cylinder of
craft for rapid travel across the Sea of Bone. adamant with a glass window set upon its
The swiftest are ancient and ornately carved, face. It is seven feet in height, and big enough
passed through many generations of owners. around to contain a human being within.
At rest they resemble a sledge with rails of When discovered, it is empty, its lid unsealed.
fossilized bone, rock-hard and diamond- Any person placed inside and sealed within
sharp, a central mast also of bone anchored using the ritual embossed upon the inside of
to the frame above the rails. When the sturdy the lid will be perfectly preserved, frozen in
drake-leather sails are unfurled, they will its present state (alive, dead, or on the knife-
gather speed quickly until they are hurtling edge between) until the cylinder is unsealed.
across the dunes at a frightful velocity, twin It is startlingly light given its size and shape.
plumes of sand spewed in their wake. The It has handles on the side and can be car-
fastest of them actually leave thin lines of ried without undue effort by four bearers,
smoked glass behind. They are swift, but two if they move more slowly (and exhaust
unsubtle craft, and though nigh-impossible themselves in due time), and dragged by one
to catch, it’s the work of a child (and not a across the sand if desperation is in order.
bright one) to track one.
3 1 THE SIROCCOS
2 5 ZIRAFIANS A sirocco is a hot wind that blows from the
The zirafians are an ancient species of herd south, pelting travellers with salt (finer and
animal who only survive upon the Sea of lighter than sand, it is carried many miles by
Bone. They travel in herds of 8–12 beasts each, the cyclonic weather fronts). Shelter or fully
walking a great migration route from oasis sealed gear is even more paramount when be-
to oasis, stopping to pay homage to each of sieged by a sirocco than at other times on the
the ancient Andansonian trees spread across Sea; even a single grain of the salt of a sirocco
the Sea and eating of the dark, dry leaves is utterly excruciating when it settles in an
that ring the reaches of their trunks. They eye or upon a fresh wound.
are towering beasts, resembling horses with
comically long legs and necks. The youngest 3 2 THE CALCIFIED BADLANDS
are roughly the height of three men; the most The Calcified Badlands are a series of valleys,
ancient and proud are the height of 7 or 8. buttes, and narrow canyons of bone-white
They are horned and beaked, and capable sandstone carved by scouring winds and the
of frightening speed and astonishing bellig- rare flow of water. Shelter can be had here
BEYOND THE FOREST

erence when provoked, but luckily are typi- from the vicissitudes of the Sea, though its
cally indifferent to smaller creatures so long hospitability to life means the Badlands are
as they are not accosted. The nomads of the home to numerous dangerous creatures and
Calcified Badlands know rituals to bind and the nomads, a mercurial human culture who
ride them, even as they know they will not communicate solely via a complex whistled
survive in captivity for more than a fortnight, language. The canyons and valleys of the
so use them sparingly, and deliver gifts of salt Badlands can change with startling speed
flavored with herbs and dried mushrooms and frequency, as winds carve new routes
harvested from their caves to give thanks for and old ones collapse or heave up. Stories
a beast’s service. If a traveller can identify of travellers who staggered exhausted into
their tracks, it may be possible to trace a path a comfortable cave but awoke to find the
to an oasis or other landmark, assuming it is entrance blocked—a new tunnel beckoning
not the nomads laying an ambush. where once there was solid rock—abound.

The Sea of Bone • 183

 3 3 MIRAGE DRAKES 3 5 EXILE
Mirage drakes are gaunt, indistinct lizards Exile to the Sea of Bone is a common-enough
who lurk in the occluding haze of the ripples sentence for nobles from the broader world
of heat that rise from the sun-baked surface that there exist numerous competing micro-
of the Sea of Bone. They stalk travellers in the fiefdoms populated by expatriate mutineers,
hottest, brightest part of the day when most overzealous heirs, and would-be usurpers.
other creatures are sleeping or languidly Canny travellers familiar with the provinc-
sunning themselves. They tend to be born as es from which they hail may appeal to their
twins, and hunt and stalk with their bonded vanity and homesickness by sharing news
siblings until they encounter a bonded pair of of their places of origin and flattering their
the opposed sex to mate with before rejoin- notions of righteousness, but must be wary of
ing their twins to stalk the Sea again. They lingering too long in the courts of artisocrats
take advantage of their identical partners to whose very presence here indicates a marked
confuse and disorient prey, slipping into and prediliction towards treachery.
out of the heat-haze of rippling air to strike
and retreat to harry their prey to exhaustion 3 6 THE KEEP OF THE DUKE
before joining to tear it limb from limb and Duke Isoldrab’s Folly is a sad monument to
squabble over the choicest bits. the hubris of a ruler whose reach exceeded
their grasp. Squatting incongruously on a
3 4 TUSPESHTA III rocky outcrop overlooking a wide expanse of
Tuspeshta III was the Verdant Exemplar of dune, it is a traditional walled stone keep of
the Trackless Steppe, a region of the savan- exactly the sort one might expect to find in
nah that once occupied this place and fought any of the provinces, obviously modelled af-
off an invasion by Old Kalduhr. Laid to rest ter the mid-Imperial aesthetic of Barsul Pris-
in a simple tomb of heartwood carved from on. Erected at colossal expense in both blood
the fallen limb of a now-extinct original sig- and treasure, it utterly bankrupted Isoldrab’s
natory to the Arboreal Armistice, she did not home province, which has never recovered
fully pass to the spirit realm. The sages who in the centuries since. Isoldrab, his family,
carved her coffin did not realize it would seal and a handful of still-loyal servants fled to
her spirit within, bound in limbo for millen- the place before its interior was entirely com-
nia as the savannah dried and her sepulcher plete, though the walls were sturdy and the
sank beneath a dune of salt. Fortunately— well deep if penurious. To this day, the place
for Tuspeshta at least—the famed Tirolli ex- is inhabited by a duke, inbred and deranged,
plorer Karalof cracked the door to her tomb, descended from the man himself. The family
BEYOND THE FOREST

freeing her and providing a mortal vessel for and staff, intermixed by marriage arranged
her to possess. Young, vigorous, and impos- and otherwise, carry out increasingly ba-
sibly beautiful once more, she now roams the roque and half-remembered rituals of their
Sea of Bone seeking to learn how the world old homeland, patrolling their “lands” on
has changed, how she might restore this wild-eyed, emaciated mounts, “farming”
place, and zealously smiting any who deface cacti and glassberries, gorging on mashed
its beauty. She is thoroughly mercurial and locusts and leathery roasted drake-meat.
prone to alternating fits of melancholy and Visiting the keep is a risky proposition; their
mania, a travelling companion as likely to ways are opaque and mercurial, and they are
lead one to the hungry caltrop-cacti patch prone to fits of furious violence if provoked,
where her favorite berries once grew as to the but they will provide safe passage across their
golden doorstep of a long-dead emperor. lands if appropriately flattered and provided
with tribute.

184 · The Sea of Bone

4 1 KITE DRAKES 4 3 THE BISMUTH MENHIRS
Kite drakes are gaunt, leathery lizards with The Bismuth Menhirs are a circle of seven
voluminous, sail-like wings that allow them standing ‘stones’, each as tall as five men and
to ride the hot blasts of air that sweep across formed of intricate tiered geometric rock
the Sea of Bone. Their elongated heads cut formations in brilliant metallic sheens. They
the air and allow them to scoop up scut- rest at the center of a more-or-less permanent
tling prey as they strafe along just above the vortex of salt and grit: something about their
surface of the sand before climbing precipi- configuration bars inclement weather at the
tously back up, allowing gravity and inertia edge of the circle. Within the menhirs the air
to aid in swallowing their prey whole. The is still, and temperate, regardless of condi-
nomads and hunters of the Sea of Bone chase tions outside, though it has a metallic taste
them to try and bring them down to use the and tinny smell. Ritualists venture to this
great sheets of tough leather in their wings place to study its disparate effects on their
as sails for desert craft including sand-slicers. craft, but most will come to rue the visions
Given that the largest of the kite drakes can this place induces, of three similar structures
easily scoop up and swallow a typical human in distant points across the face of the world,
whole, hunting them properly is a complicat- one surrounded by a howling blizzard, an-
ed and dangerous affair involving harpoons other in a lush jungle grove surrounded by
fired into the sky attached to weighted sand- impenetrable walls of vines and ferns, a third
slicers that tire the drake until it is forced to contained within a bubble deep in the light-
land where it can be set upon by bludgeons so less depths of the sea, the vast bulk of unseen
as not to mar the precious wings. creatures causing ripples in its surface. The
circle itself is nondescript, a perfectly round
4 2 THE DUN NECROPOLIS slab of jet-black marble shot through with
The Dun Necropolis is said to be a vast an- bone-white veins, somehow never covered
cient complex of tombs and sepulchers swal- by even a single grain of the ubiquitous sand
lowed by the Sea of Bone for the hubris of the that surrounds it.
high priest who demanded that the corpse
of every living thing that died within the 4 4 SHIFTING RUINS
bounds of the dunes be delivered to his aco- The constantly-shifting nature of the Sea
lytes for ritual internment. He believed that of Bone means new ruins are regularly
faithfully doing so would appease the spirit unearthed by the howling winds, only to
of the Sea and cause it to grow again. The disappear as swiftly as they arose and with-
Sea eventually replied to his increasingly- out warning. Adventurers who discover a
BEYOND THE FOREST

zealous proselytizing by swallowing the ne- promising site somewhere in the wastes have
cropolis beneath a howling sandstorm that no way of knowing if it will be there a week
lasted for seven days, after which no trace of later when they return with delving gear and
it could be found. Occasionally, a trinket or supplies. Of course, the possibility that the
bit of dun-colored sandstone with a fragment epicenter of a roaring silt vortex or the sud-
of a forgotten hieroglyph will trade hands, den collapse of a salt cavern underfoot may
leading inevitably to rumours that the resting swallow a half-explored ziggurat with the
place of the Dun Necropolis has been uncov- explorers still inside is a platry risk compared
ered. Expeditions will be mounted, informats to the diabolical traps and long-slumbering
found dead in dry gullies, corpses gathered to half-dead who populate such places, espe-
offer to the restless hierophant for safe passage cially when balanced against the rewards a
into the silent, dry passages. None has ever heretofore-undisturbed dig might yield.
returned with the promised rewards.

The Sea of Bone • 185

 4 5 THE CAULDRONS 5 2 BASALT GOLEMS
The Cauldrons are the naturally-occurring Basalt golems are ancient constructs that can
hot springs and geysers located at the heart occasionally be uncovered in forgotten tombs
of the Sea of Bone. The region is a foul, swel- or buried temples. Tall, dark, dour-visaged,
tering, sulphurous maze of toxic steam and they seem to have forgotten their original
scalding blasts of corrosive liquids. Despite purpose. They are always depicted in loin-
this, the place is well-explored because of the cloths and sandals, laborers meant to toil.
unique properties of the steam of particular The correct combination of ritual and ancient
vents and the colorful, swirling effluvia of keywords can activate them, whereupon they
certain pools. will shoulder any burden and trod inexorably
forward bearing it until commanded to halt.
4 6 LEVIATHAN’S REST At least one explorer has reported seeing one
Leviathan’s Rest is an oasis and trading post dragging the blasted remnants of a shattered
that squats somewhere near the middle of sarcophagus, limping towards the wastes on
the most barren and wind-swept expanse a crippled leg.
of the Dry Passage. Contained within the
half-buried arched ribcage of some ancient 5 3 THE SISTER OF SALT
colossal sea creature covered in kite drake Buried somewhere beneath the sand is a
leather, it is home to a rag-tag cadre of trav- sepulchre that contains the dessicated bones
ellers who reached this place and could go no of the Sister of Salt, a now-forgotten saint no
further. Legend says it was founded by such longer revered in the current age. The nature
a traveller who, exhausted and demoralized, of a crime so foul as to cause her Sisters to
decided to die in the shadow of the leviathan cast her out and entomb her beneath the Sea
but became so bored waiting for death that of Bone to be forgotten boggles the mind giv-
she ended up making the place habitable. A en the rumoured transgressions of many of
well dug deeper than any in the kingdoms, those ancient beings. But it’s a sure bet that
zealously guarded and maintained at great her resting place holds the promise of riches
expense, is both the literal and figurative and rituals unseen in many millenia.
center of the place. Travellers can rest, trade,
and—if they have a skill the stewards finds 5 4 CALTROP-CACTI
useful—renounce their boots and stay. Caltrop-cacti are carnivorous plants that
lurk just below the sand. When trod upon,
5 1 GARINALDO’S ELIXIR they press their spines upward through the
Doctor Garinaldo’s Astonishing Elixir Of feet of their prey, with the intent of unbal-
BEYOND THE FOREST

Unguency is a cure-all whose secret formula ancing them so they can impale them more
includes the foul-smelling slime that clings thoroughly and drink their blood as it seeps
to the edges of the Cauldrons. The good down through the sand. As with many plants
Doctor himself makes the trip once a year to of the Sea, a modest meal is sufficient to
replenish his raw materials. How he has sur- nourish a patch for a decade or longer while
vived his annual pilgrimage for nearly half a it lies dormant awaiting prey (in fact, it takes
century is a matter of significant conjecture nearly a month for the spines to reseat and
that he will be only too happy to further allow the plant to attack again). If you en-
obfuscate if you should cross his path. The counter a corpse face-down in the middle of
slime itself will cure a wound to the body or a seemingly-unremarkable expanse of sand,
spirit if liberally applied while still fresh. It flesh scoured away by the wind but still wear-
will lose potency rapidly as it cools, however, ing its armor and gear, it would be best to
becoming utterly inert in a few days. harpoon it and drag it to you.

186 · The Sea of Bone

5 5 THE RESTLESS ANCHOR 6 1 SOLVENT DRAKES
The Restless Anchor is an ancient sea anchor, Solvent drakes are gaunt, acidic lizards that
scoured to a polish by the grit and wind of lazily float in the prismatic pools of potent
the Sea of Bone, that rattles along the ground solvent that dot the landscape of the Caul-
at a modest pace, joined to an apparently- drons. They are surly creatures, jealously
indestructible chain receding out of sight guarding their respective pools from any
into the distant sky. It is easy enough to and all intruders who would venture too
grab hold of, but anyone doing so will be close. They have short legs and slither along
relentlessly carried along by whatever force the ground at a slower pace than any of their
impels it. It occasionally catches onto an other cousins, but their long, whiplike tails
outcropping, beast, or even vehicle, but such can impel them at startling speed through
impediments only slow its progress, never the acrid fluid of their territorial “waters.”
stop it. The sighting of it will compel furious The largest grow to the length of three men,
action from nomads and salt pirates to divert about half of it tail. They do not have teeth,
its course from tearing implacably through a but instead lumpy growths of sulfurous ac-
settlement. More than one intrepid bravo has cretions, coated in a potent acid that makes
attempted to climb the chain to its terminus the need to masticate the flesh of prospective
in the sky, but their smashed bodies are in- prey largely moot. Alchemists, tanners, and
variably found leagues away when they are smiths prize their oral glands for the potent
recovered at all. solvents contained within, but harvesting
them presents obvious dangers.
5 6 THE SALTY QUEEN
Commodore Diamatia is the exception to 6 2 THE ABATTOIR OF TETHERS
the romantic notions of salt pirates that The Abattoir of Tethers is a macabre ritual
proves the rule that they are little more than site maintained by a particularly depraved
desperate cannibal brigands. Where they band of salt pirates. It rests in a natural-
are scabrous, uncouth, and cowardly, she is ly-carved bowl of smooth sandstone. A cy-
polished, refined, and dashing. Where they clopean iron piton rises from its center, its
are desperate and scrabbling, she is louche point piercing through the sandstone to the
and indulgent. Where they scuttle and lurk, bedrock below. None of the pirates can speak
she strides, and swans. From the deck of her accurately to its origin, though the more fan-
topaz-hued sand galleon The Unkindest Cut, ciful will claim it once served as an anchor
she plies the Sea of Bone on sails of drake for sailing ships that could ply the skies.
leather, scoffing at danger, laughing at peril, Regardless, it now serves as a grisly sporting
BEYOND THE FOREST

and generally breaking hearts to irreparable venue. Pirates shackle pairs of prisoners by
shards across the expanse of the region. Tales neck-irons to strong ropes through the top
of her magnanimity and valor resound on the loop of the spike. Deprived of water and
lips of travellers, and her exploits are written food, the prisoners are goaded into battling
of in the penny dreadfuls of the capital half a each other with promises of relief to the vic-
world away, even as nomads and buccaneers tors. Additional participants are added when
of ill repute spit or shiver when her name is the spectators grow bored or the victims re-
mentioned. Many have sighted her ship, and fuse to fight. The floor of the pit is littered
a scattered few exceptionally comely indi- with dusty dried blood, scoured dry bones,
viduals swear to have spent a night in her and gnawed bits of rope.
perfumed cabin. When asked for proof of
their encounters with the Salty Queen, their
claims are invariably rendered dubious.

The Sea of Bone • 187

 6 3 BOILTOADS
Boiltoads are repulsive amphibians who exist
only in the Cauldrons, comfortably at home
in the searing, sulfurous pools of the place.
Their blood is literally boiling, and some
particularly mischievous nomads have been
known to encourage the ignorant to stab one,
taking in with much amusement the startled
howls as a scalding shower of steaming bur-
gundy splatters the unsuspecting mark. The
largest only grow to the size of a modest ca-
nine, but their sulfur-infused ‘scaldbladders’
are highly prized by alchemists (due mostly
to how difficult they are to extract and trans-
port without terrible, disfiguring accidents).

6 4 THE DRY PASSAGE

The Dry Passage is a particularly barren and
vast expanse of the Sea of Bone that is devoid
of anything but trackless pale wastes. It’s
a fickle expanse, its boundaries expanding
and contracting with the mercurial weather
patterns of the region. It will unpredictably
advance a score of miles to the west, swallow-
ing a corner of the Cauldrons, then suddenly
withdraw its northern expanse, revealing a
heretofore undiscovered necropolis. It is an 6 6 ON ICE
aphorism of the Sea of Bone that the only The single most precious commodity that any
certainty of the Dry Passage is that whatever traveller can carry across the Sea is not gold
one seeks is surely on its opposite side. or gems or powerful forgotten artifacts of a
bygone era. It’s ice. Alchemists, engineers,
6 5 SPIN-GRUBS and raving crackpots alike have worked for
Spin-grubs are the larvae of suicide locusts, centuries on the secret of carrying it to the
which—when placed in the ears—induce a far reaches of the Sea of Bone. Occasionally
BEYOND THE FOREST

form of intoxication. Employed principally by a particularly ambitious merchant prince

nomads, the grubs nest in the host’s ears for a will drag a colossal block of it from some dis-
half-dozen hours before becoming gorged on tant glacier to try and reach a settlement of
the wax inside and crawling out. The bloated sufficient size to trade for valuable artifacts
grubs spin a waxy cocoon in which they will before it disappears. The Sea somehow seems
gestate into their mature locust form, but the to view such attempts as an affront to its
nomads sensibly make every effort to locate implacable desiccation, and only a few such
and destroy them before they fully mature. expeditions have ever met anything but utter
The particular form of intoxication is deeply catastrophe. That noted, even a single mod-
unsettling the first few times, but induces est cube, carefully husbanded by wit, ritual,
an increasing degree of giddy consciousness or both, to a place like Leviathan’s Rest or
alteration, followed by nauseating disorien- the deck of The Unkindest Cut, would allow
tation upon withdrawal. its possessor to name their price.

188 · The Sea of Bone

 Treasures
GABRIEL ROBINSON

DISCREET ANTIQUITY COLLECTORS

1 2 3
or or
4 5 6 or or

1 Astrid runs a small tea shop in Fort Duhrin, serving 1 Vashtar, sickly pale with flame-red hair, never leaves
a variety of restorative tonics both with and without his ramshackle hut at the edge of the Kingswood.
added spirits. It is the business of spirits that most He is quite particular about the placement of his
interests her, however. Her eyes gleam when one many idols, and eager to acquire others—especially
presents her with any supposedly haunted object. those bearing the likeness of animals.

2 Fredrik (son of the Duke, third of his name) has a

rampant obsession with adventuring this season,
2 Don’t bother trying to sell the parts of that mon-
strous beast to an alchemist. Take them to Gru-
and has plenty of gold to support it. The more undi. You will know his cabin by the many bones
impressive-looking weapons and armor fetch a fine and hides hanging outside. If you bring Gruundi
price—just don’t question if he knows how to use something especially rare, or fresh and not yet taken
them, unless you want to hear an extensive account to rot, he may invite you in to glimpse his works of
of his recent tournament victories and the legend- art—preserving and combining the parts of beasts
ary man-at-arms hired to train him personally. into wondrous new forms.

3 Yarra collects jewelry, fine furniture, and other

ornamental everyday objects, and she always seems
3 Layla, with eyes like deep forest pools and a voice
like silver chimes, gently chides those trea-
to have the coin to spare for them. Although she sure-hunters who risk their lives for mere objects.
decorates her old master’s tower with them haphaz- She only seems interested in treasures that are dan-
ardly, her golden plates and chalices gather more gerous or possibly cursed. Her intentions are noble,
dust than food and drink. Secretly, she longs to host however, only seeking to protect the townsfolk from
human guests of her own someday. what they do not understand.

4 Samir owns the Lion’s Scars, a pub in Fort Duhrin

frequented by war veterans and mercenaries. He pays
4 Baalbek scarcely blinks an eye at the common-
ly-known rituals. In fact, he never blinks at all. He’s
well for salvaged artifacts of war—shields, banners, always poring through the dusty pages of another
and broken blades—which decorate the walls and tome “rescued” from a shelf where it would never be
ceiling inside. He loves recounting his glory days as put to proper use. Bring him a formula or incanta-
a soldier, and tells anyone within earshot how times tion he hasn’t seen before, and you’ll have first pick
were better when the land was under a strong ruler— from a staggering array of scrolls and ritual imple-
one who knew how to wield their power. ments for almost any purpose you could imagine.

5 The Antiquarian pays handsomely for any salvaged

Kalduhri technology from the city below the forest,
5 Asura has walked the paths into the Kalduhr and
back more times than any mortal has a right to. He
particularly those gemstone tablets and writings. No won’t say what he’s looking for, but will pay well
one knows their name or story, but rumor has it they for any treasures miraculously recovered from the
are something of an ambitious tinkerer—and a ruth- forest’s grasp. There is something sad in his eyes, as
less competitor. Best to do business through a middle- if he’s accepted that this latest object will offer no
man, so they don’t know your name or face either. more answers than the previous one.

6 Tyr knows all the best fighting and drinking songs.

You’ll find her most often at the Weary Ploughman—
6 Drek will take that strange thing off your
hands—quickly, though. They haven’t got all day,
flirting, boasting, inciting revelry, and more than a and you know how the kingsguard look upon
TREASURE TABLES

few brawls. But catch her between merrymaking, and enterprising folks like yourselves. The fewer ques-
you’ll notice a solemn intensity when she speaks of tions asked, the sooner you can leave and forget
the injustices of the kingsguard. She’s a shrewd dealer you ever saw it—or Drek and their trading cart.
in rare or banned artifacts, can be counted on for her
discretion, and seems oddly close with that strange
band of musical outlaws on the edge of town.

Treasures • 189
 USEFUL TREASURES — I OF II
Valuable goods that generally have some practical use as equipment.

1 1 Disassembled manikin servant, carefully wrapped in a fine wool tunic and stored with a silk hat and gloves.
If reassembled and enlivened through a ritual, it remembers many secrets of its former master.

1 2 Map case of scaled blue leather containing a harpy’s quill, a vial of squid ink, and a roll of eel skin
parchment. An incomplete star chart hints at terrible omens on the horizon.

1 3 Ancient oracle bones, ribs, and scapula, heated and cracked in patterns that only a trained diviner
could translate.

1 4 Book of fairytales, full of haunting woodcut illustrations. Contains at least one invocation of the fae
and several supposed charms to protect against them.

1 5 Ornate box of palm leaf cigars that produce pale blue dream-smoke. Prized by magicians and fanciful
noble thrillseekers craving a taste of the occult.

1 6 Soldier’s marching drum, painted with the faded country flags of a shattered alliance.
2 1 Apegs
fine lute of resonant spruce wood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl star patterns and set with ivory tuning
carved like songbirds.

2 2 Manual of unarmed sparring techniques as practiced by followers of Saint Helissen. May be studied to
improve one’s skill at defense.

2 3 Hunting horn inscribed with notation for a call to arms. The tune was outlawed once the kingsguard
discovered the Piper’s band had adopted it as an ambush signal.

2 4 Forgery kit of exceptional quality, with a series of journals filled with incomplete research on an influential
noble family.

2 5 Copper pot decorated with motifs of the autumn harvest. Any food cooked in it reminds the taster
of their childhood.

2 6 Pair of red leather gauntlets, studded with the teeth and pointed scales of a fearsome reptile.
3 1 Velvet-lined case containing silver surgeon’s tools, anatomical drawings, and notes on an unfamiliar
procedure—apparently for the removal of foreign objects or strange growths.

3 2 Ever-shifting map of paths through the deep Kalduhr that appears to change with the seasons or cycles
of the moon. Some are accurate, others are almost certainly traps.

3 3 Calfskin vellum, stitched with the name and birth date of a prince in silver thread. A protection charm
against theft by the fae court.

3 4 Set of polished lotus seed prayer beads strung on saffron thread. Trained practitioners of contemplative
TREASURE TABLES

prayer may use them to heal conditions afflicting the mind.

3 5 Set of seven bells, crafted from salvaged copper, hammered and tuned to resonate in uncanny harmony.
When rang in the correct sequence, plays an old fae tune of kinship which demands safe passage in kind.

3 6 Small children’s songbook bound in royal green leather with a gold ribbon. The lyrics include the exploits
of poachers and highwaymen, maids who murdered cruel husbands, priests who were demons in disguise,
and outcasts and criminals who were raised by beasts of the forest. All are invocations of the Piper.

190 · Treasures
 USEFUL TREASURES — II OF II
Valuable goods that generally have some practical use as equipment.

4 1 Set of silver palace keys decorated with patterns of snowflakes and icicles. Includes a set of lockpicks in
case a key should be lost.

4 2 Hand mirror of polished obsidian, framed in ebony with a jagged knotwork pattern. Sometimes reflects
things not seen by the naked eye.

4 3 Music box of silver and stained glass, which plays an old lullaby. The tune was declared blasphemous by royal
priests, who claimed the verses describe a torrid affair between a lady of the court and her demon lover.

4 4 Scroll containing a ritual forbidden by local religious authorities. May be used to perform the ritual once,
or studied to learn it permanently.

4 5 Sealed orb of blown glass, containing a colony of glow worms and ember moss. Functions as a dim lantern
when shaken gently. If exposed to moonlight and protected from the sun, the colony will sustain itself.

4 6 Set of fortune teller’s cards, each depicting one of the Sisters in rare inks of vibrant hue.
5 1 Mask of terrifying splendor, formed of lacquered birch bark and layered with shedded snakeskin, polished
antlers, tufts of silver fox fur, and dried flowers. Mantle of the Old One of the Forest.

5 2 Ornate lantern of brass and stained glass, patterned in swirling constellations and angelic figures, hung on
a thick silver chain. May be used to summon or repel spirits through ritual means.

5 3 Alchemist’s leather belt lined with vials of glowing potions in gemstone hues—amethyst, emerald,
sapphire, ruby. Their effects are unknown.

5 4 Preserved hand of a sorcerer-queen, sealed in a crystal reliquary. It bears jade rings that are impossible to
remove. The interior is riddled with claw marks.

5 5 Resplendent gown in layers of seafoam green, woven with pearls and peacock feathers. The density of
jewels and fabric is thick enough to function as armor.

5 6 Set of engraved golden seals with curious fractal patterns and traces of sweet-smelling beeswax.
6 1 Traveler’s journal bound in thick, tarnished leather. Contains wondrous rumors and collected stories of
people and lands you have never visited.

6 2 Bronze prosthetic hand with articulated fingers, each one bearing several folding tools and instruments of
ingenious design.

6 3 Black rosewood cosmetics case inlaid with triangular ivory patterns, containing small gemstone jars of
pigments, ointments, and several poisons. A simple silver pendant of an owl’s head rests at the bottom.

6 4 Witch’s ritual bundle, wrapped in a leopard pelt. Contains a sprig from every known type of tree, bear claw
TREASURE TABLES

runes, a flawless quartz point, fish skin pouches of herbs and powders, a wooden spoon, and a glowing egg.

6 5 Loose pages of a cookbook. Among the recipes—most of which require rare ingredients or parts from dan-
gerous creatures—are scrawled comments for useful remedies and foraging guides for rare plants.

6 6 Massive drinking horn from an unknown beast, reinforced with silver bands bearing a pattern of many
hands, each clasping the next. Those who drink together from it find themselves loose of tongue, fi-
ery-hearted, and quick to make promises of undying friendship.

Treasures • 191
 DECORATIVE & ORNAMENTAL TREASURES
Valuable items that generally offer no practical use or are too cumbersome to carry as equipment.

1 1 Serpent figurine with scales of snow white gemstone, coiled around a bloodstone orb.
1 2 Marble gargoyle—face like a little-loved member of the royal family—pried from a temple roof in Ambaret.
1 3 Silver scrying bowl, engraved with golden fish which appear to swim when the bowl is filled.
1 4 Tapestry of crimson and gold, depicting a warrior offering three severed heads to robed figures on thrones.
1 5 Miniature chariot, sized for a child. It might be strapped to a household servant for hours of merriment.
1 6 Coins of bronze, used only in funerary rites to afford passage through the realms of the dead.
2 1 Fine silk jacket embroidered with mesmerizing silver threads woven in delicate, lifelike spider shapes.
2 2 Faceless basalt idol, wearing wild hair and a wilder beard. It holds a scepter shaped like a lightning bolt.
2 3 Coffin of tarnished metal, wrapped in chains and locks. It seems empty and makes no noise when shifted.
2 4 Eagle mask of lacquered heartwood. Worth far more than gold, if returned to ones who know its true purpose.
2 5 Preserved shark head, sealed in a box of green glass, and reinforced with rune-laden iron bands.
2 6 Statue of a weeping angel made entirely from knives. All are still quite sharp.
3 1 Heavy copper urn, shaped like a scaled beast with human hands and face. Its gaping mouth forms the opening.
3 2 Silver brooch crafted in an 11-point star—each point ruby-tipped. The badge of a forgotten—or secret—order.
3 3 Spiralling chandelier of gilded antlers and human bones, ornamented with green glass leaves.
3 4 Crown of smoky black crystals woven in bands of tarnished gold. A relic from the age of sorcerer-queens.
3 5 Silver cage adorned with ornamental flame patterns in red bronze, containing a bird skeleton in a nest of ash.
3 6 Preserved heart, suspended in a jar of viscous, moss-green liquid. Much too large to be human.
4 1 Set of hollow wooden dolls representing three of the Sisters. Each contains a rolled prayer cloth.
4 2 Broken sword of inlaid bronze, depicting scenes of a lion hunt along its fractured blade.
4 3 Silver chalice studded with turquoise eyes, stained a pale crimson, base is a trio of outstretched talons.
4 4 Miniature wooden house of rare hardwoods, filled with tiny replicas of royal furniture and other ornaments.
4 5 Set of false teeth crafted from glittering gemstones and the yellowed incisors of a bear or wolf.
4 6 Gemstone slab, remarkably thin, yet impervious to damage. Etched with diagrams of a complex device.
5 1 Jade lioness figurine, with eyes of jet and teeth of ivory. Her paws cradle a human infant.
5 2 Partial human skeleton clad in ornamental gold armor with celestial motifs. Gold and bone carefully fused.
5 3 Leather boots of mottled green, fashioned to resemble oak leaves, with spiked heels of polished antler.
5 4 Figurine carved from lapis lazuli illustrating a veiled woman with multiple sets of arms that end in hooks.
5 5 Pair of marionettes representing the Hunter and the Beast, detailed with fine silk, leather, fur, and bone.
5 6 Silver bracelet set with gems carved as the phases of the moon. Each glows at the corresponding lunar phase.
6 1 Dried shrub with jagged leaves that returns to life when watered. In a pot decorated in patterns of pointed teeth.
6 2 Large painting of lords and ladies engaged in acts of debauchery with all manner of beasts and fae folk.
TREASURE TABLES

6 3 Leviathan carved from strange petrified wood or bone, swallowing a warship. Tiny figures cling to its back.
6 4 Bronze container molded from a beehive. Unfolds into an intricate game board of hexagons and silver pawns.
6 5 Ornate sea mantle crafted from husks of sea crabs and coral. Impractical on land, but awakens underwater.
6 6 Heavy oaken chest, filled with stone carvings of humans, beasts, plants, celestial bodies, and idols of gods.
192 · Treasures
 FALSE TREASURES

1 2 3
or or

1 “Authentic” giant’s teeth (polished agate chunks).

2 “Proven” remedy to cure one who is beastbitten (don’t ask what’s in it).
3 “One-of-a-kind” bone idol from the Kalduhr (produced in quantity by a family of traveling trinket-carvers).
4 “Newly translated” ritual formula for creating a manikin servant (research in experimental necromancy).
5 “Thrice Blessed” holy oils claiming to ward against the undead (certainly keeps the living away).
6 “Rare” preserved monster head (cunningly stitched together from parts of many different beasts).
4 5 6
or or

1 “Enchanted” reed flute, said to charm wild beasts (common hunter’s call).
2 “Witch-crafted” spirit charm (unclear if it repels or lures spirits).
3 “Genuine” map of ghost sightings in Ambaret (a setup—actually reveals common locations for petty robbery).
4 “Priceless” fist-sized gem (glamoured chunk of granite).
5 “Potion of Vigor” (common herbal tea brewed by Rose District gardeners).
6 “Magic Wand” (hollow branch filled with alchemist’s spark-powder).

UNLIKELY PLACES OF DISCOVERY

Treasure can be found in the unlikeliest of places.

1 1 Partially swallowed by overgrown tree bark. 4 1 In a hidden chamber behind a historical tapestry.
1 2 Buried in a magpie’s shiny hoard. 4 2 Abandoned outside a rat nest.
1 3 Dragged along by a feral hound. 4 3 Hanging from the upper branches of a tall tree.
1 4 Carried humbly in the bowl of a blind beggar. 4 4 Woven into the web of a massive spider.
1 5 Stashed under a roof tile of a neglected cathedral. 4 5 Inside a pocket realm, unlocked by ritual dance.
1 6 Sealed behind the hollow facade of a wall. 4 6 Sewn into a heavy blanket.
2 1 Miraculously preserved in the mud of a lakebed. 5 1 Buried in a shallow—and freshly dug—grave.
2 2 Churning in the stomach of a foul monstrosity. 5 2 “On display” as a part of an art exhibition.
2 3 Discovered by children playing as “adventurers.” 5 3 Covertly placed inside a hollowed-out book.
2 4 Planted in the ribcage of an overgrown skeleton. 5 4 Washed ashore from a lost nautical voyage.
2 5 Concealed blasphemously behind an altar. 5 5 Inside the clasped hands of a praying statue.
2 6 Buried beneath the roots of an apple tree. 5 6 Half-exposed within a crumbling plaster wall.
3 1 Collecting dust on a humble farmer’s shelf. 6 1 Lazily batted about by a bored cat.
3 2 Submerged within a cask of low-grade ale. 6 2 Mixed in amongst the livestock feed.
TREASURE TABLES

3 3 Resting in the bucket at the bottom of a well. 6 3 Recently excavated by royal antiquarians.
3 4 Left behind as an offering at a lonely shrine. 6 4 Worn as decoration by a traveling merchant.
3 5 Preserved inside a wheel of cheese. 6 5 Lodged inside a honey-drenched beehive.
3 6 Part of an inquisitor’s “confessional” equipment. 6 6 Hidden in plain sight—visible only in a mirror.
Treasures • 193
 TREASURE LORE
History, myths, or rumors which might be learned through research or questioning.

1 1 Sought after by at least one local cult.

1 2 Always seems to find its way back to the merchant tents of Kormoran’s Wheel.
1 3 Once owned by Ajino, the Debauched Painter, who threw it away claiming that it offended the angels.
1 4 Looted from the royal palace before the keep burned.
1 5 Family heirloom of a lordling, lost in a night of gambling in the Charcoal District.
1 6 Rejected as a dowry gift for one of the daughters of Seti, the Lightkeeper.
2 1 Missing from Old Grishka’s collection of curious garden ornaments.
2 2 Offered as a bribe to the Duke of Deverain. The reason for the bribe is common gossip around town.
2 3 Claimed as a prize in contests of athletics and beauty during the summer games of the Swirling Court.
2 4 Gift to the most favored courtesan of King Argiol Seo.
2 5 Fallen from Sir Peregrine’s rooftop balcony in Ambaret, strangely undamaged.
2 6 Once used as part of a ritual altar to appease a frenzied forest guardian.
3 1 Stolen by members of the Piper’s Band and resold to its owner in a feat of trickery.
3 2 Offered, and promptly rejected, in early negotiations with the fae.
3 3 Supposedly retrieved from the shelves of the Forbidden Archives.
3 4 Prized by a local goblin enclave, who would eagerly aid the one who returns it.
3 5 Intended as a gift for Patience Davies of Fort Duhrin—her suitor never found the courage to hand it to her.
3 6 Reclaimed from Madame Heathertop’s safe in the Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies.
4 1 Mr. Whiddle let slip that his expedition retrieved a similar item from the belly of a balendrakir.
4 2 While this is the original item, there are several imitations circulating among collectors.
4 3 Viewed by some as an affront to a particular Sister.
4 4 Connected to a prophecy regarding the return of the Cult of Derawan.
4 5 Somehow stolen from the Misty Isle, it haunts its owner with a dream of returning there.
4 6 Quickly draws the attention of occultists and dealers in forbidden research.
5 1 Identifiable as once belonging to a famed diabolist.
5 2 Blessed by the Gossamer Queen, wrapped in invisible threads to unknown purpose.
5 3 A dangerous object stolen from the Azure Archives.
5 4 Once fetched a fine price in the Reclaimed Curiosities auction in Ambaret’s Paper District.
5 5 Has survived passage across the Blossoming Sea and back again.
5 6 Gift of a forest queen, whose name cannot be formed by the minds of mortals.
6 1 Favored trinket of the Lost Giant of the Wastes.
6 2 Granted to a nameless warrior-poet who banished the Dancing Sorrows from the Cloud Spire Temple.
TREASURE TABLES

6 3 Dropped along a smuggling route in the tunnels beneath Fort Duhrin.

6 4 Unearthed in an early expedition to the frozen north, while seeking the Rime Palace.
6 5 Recovered from the sticky trails of the Humming Woods.
6 6 Offered to the Tide Queen during the Greentide festival, but washed ashore untouched.
194 · Treasures
 TREASURE DETAILS TREASURE ATTRIBUTES
Unusual features revealed through closer inspection. Enchantments discoverd via rare circumstances.

1 1 Repainted to cover its original appearance. 1 1 Sings when in the presence of the fae.
1 2 Contains a hidden compartment. 1 2 Smolders in the presence of demons.
1 3 Unnaturally well-preserved. 1 3 Glows when resting on hallowed ground.
1 4 Strangely eroded or altered by magic. 1 4 Shudders when a lie is spoken.
1 5 Inscribed with a single, cryptic word. 1 5 Casts unusual shadows.
1 6 Marked with runes of warding. 1 6 Bleeds when near the site of a murder.
2 1 Surprisingly light or heavy. 2 1 Pale flowers grow near it, their scent calming.
2 2 Bearing faint traces of sorcery. 2 2 Will tell you an omen, if you sing it a song.
2 3 Induces a calming trance when held. 2 3 Protects the owner from a dangerous blow.
2 4 Marked with a secret sigil or invocation. 2 4 An aura of tranquility radiates from it.
2 5 Cracked and repaired with seams of gold. 2 5 Tiny, near-invisible fae will aid the owner.
2 6 Inscribed with a name in elegant, flowing script. 2 6 Is bonded with the spirits of its former owners.
3 1 Bound in excessive measures of protection. 3 1 Reveals a secret when offered royal blood.
3 2 Bearing icons of a sect of one of the Sisters. 3 2 Restless spirits are drawn to it.
3 3 Dusted with pigments from the Blossoming Sea. 3 3 Grants momentary glimpses of prophecy.
3 4 Bound with a note of warning. 3 4 Functions as a dowsing rod for other treasures.
3 5 Smells of lingering decay. 3 5 Bears a face which can change its expression.
3 6 Drilled with tiny holes of unknown purpose. 3 6 Changes hue with the passing of seasons.
4 1 Carved with tiny, inky handprints. 4 1 Attracts wild creatures and frightens tame ones.
4 2 Sheltering a hibernating insect. 4 2 Imbued with a ritual, which its owner may use.
4 3 Rattling with a contained secret. 4 3 Demands the owner fulfill an old prophecy.
4 4 Always damp to the touch. 4 4 Does everything in its power to return its owner.
4 5 Bearing traces of strange, metallic dust. 4 5 Siphons life force from everything around it.
4 6 Stained with ancient blood. 4 6 Heals wounds when held close to the body.
5 1 Defaced in a mockery of its patron deity. 5 1 Indestructible by any conventional means.
5 2 Modified from its intended use. 5 2 Projects a vision of wondrous beauty.
5 3 Adapted for a secret purpose. 5 3 Emits a barely noticeable hum.
5 4 Created using forgotten techniques. 5 4 Bestows an aura of glamour to its owner.
5 5 Ornamented with twisted faces. 5 5 Draws immediate suspicion from the faithful.
5 6 Coated with a strange resin. 5 6 Purifies food and water overnight.
6 1 Sprouting roots and branches. 6 1 Glows faintly underwater.
6 2 Blooming with the scent of flowers and herbs. 6 2 Seems alive: it bleeds, sprouts leaves, exudes heat.
TREASURE TABLES

6 3 Adorned with depictions of wondrous creatures. 6 3 Other valuables erode when kept near it.
6 4 Includes a holy symbol or inscribed blessing. 6 4 Causes strange dreams or frequent accidents.
6 5 Pools with seawater during the full moon. 6 5 Blood and dirt never washes clean.
6 6 Always seems to be covered with new spiderwebs. 6 6 Causes illness if carried for too long.
TREASURES • 195
 WEAPON GENERATOR — Roll once for each trait
form crafted from or decorated with

1 1 Simple shortsword Kalduhri wood or vines.

1 2 Hefty cudgel Masterwork layered steel.

1 3 Notched cutlass Gleaming sea-green leviathan bone.

1 4 Gnarled staff Giant bee stinger, drained of venom.

1 5 Hunting spear Mottled leather of a beast from deep Kalduhr.

1 6 Masterwork longsword Claws, horns, or tusks from a legendary monster.

2 1 Keen dagger A blade or handle of gemstone carved in shapes of celestial creatures.

2 2 Spiked maul Fire-hardened driftwood, studded with shark teeth.

2 3 Twin-bladed battleaxe Shard of stained glass from a ruined cathedral.

2 4 Butcher’s cleaver Rare hardwood with teeth-like thorns.

2 5 Spiked fist weapons Hide and sinew of a huge, leathery beast.

2 6 Knight’s lance Spike from a black iron gate.

3 1 Double-edged glaive Reforged farming tools.

3 2 Heirloom greatsword Broken chains of an escaped prisoner.

3 3 Crushing warhammer Parts of a broken marble idol.

3 4 Heavy crossbow Gleaming reptilian scales.

3 5 Quick short bow Spirals of inlaid bronze.

3 6 Studded mace Amber bead containing a tiny mantis.

4 1 Barbed whip Star-metal blessed by a priest of the forge.

4 2 Whaler’s harpoon Polished platinum, masterfully crafted.

4 3 Throwing hatchet Chitinous, barbed shell of a sea-spider.

4 4 Set of throwing knives Petrified branch from the Sea of Bone.

4 5 Assassin’s blowgun Ritual-infused metal, stolen from the tomb of a sorcerer-king.

4 6 Curved ritual knife Pale green marble which glows in darkness.

5 1 Weighted net Living roots and branches.

5 2 Hooked sickle sword Pact-forged shadowglass.

5 3 Dueling sabre A living, venomous insect or reptile.

5 4 Projectile sling Armor fragments from vanquished foes.

5 5 Gladiator’s trident Layers of blood-soaked silk wrappings.

5 6 Thief catcher’s bolas Bone-white Richterian porcelain.

6 1 Prosthetic hook Jagged bark or fungus, alchemically hardened.

6 2 Guardian’s halberd Mother-of-pearl inlay.

6 3 Spiked morningstar Unbreakable moon glass.

6 4 Agile poleaxe Blessed crystal from a warrior’s shrine.

6 5 Sharpened pitchfork Spiralling opalescent horn with flecks of starlight.

6 6 Jagged sawtooth blade Copper, alchemically forged with brilliant hues.

 MONSTER GENERATOR — Roll once for each trait
appearance form behavior

1 1 dripping stag Picking apart something dead.

1 2 heavy beetle Hiding something valuable.

1 3 towering otter Strange, repeating gestures.

1 4 light-swallowing bat Call-and-response noises.

1 5 frost-rimed crab Birthing young.

1 6 jagged horse Destroying a barrier.

2 1 immaterial gangly humanoid Setting an ambush.

2 2 radiant floating sac Using a tool to procure food.

2 3 putrescent feline Attacking an inanimate object.

2 4 aflame orb Patrolling along a route.

2 5 diseased bear Engaging in play.

2 6 mesmerizing flying insect Suffering another’s attention.

3 1 ridged fish Pinned under a heavy object.

3 2 fur-covered eel Calling out.

3 3 many-eyed goat Fleeing in a panic.

3 4 massive mud or ooze Locating rare foodstuffs.

3 5 swarming electricity Caring for wounds.

3 6 agile wolf Absorbing unnatural powers.

4 1 segmented centipede Hunting, with signs of success.

4 2 armored corpse (roll again) Marking territory.

4 3 spiked or horned squat humanoid Applying a pigment.

4 4 delicate flowers or vines Lazy and content after a meal.

4 5 agile smoke or mist Communing with spirits.

4 6 blinding hybrid (roll twice) Flickering in and out of sight.

5 1 mimic swarm Forming, as if summoned.

5 2 translucent net or rope Sprouting strange new shapes.

5 3 numberless lizard Clashing with rivals.

5 4 familiar serpent Taunting captured prey.

5 5 shattered worm Sharpening a claw or weapon.

5 6 stumbling mundane object Piling tinder for a fire.

6 1 dreamlike bird Still, attention fixed above.

6 2 scaled cursed spirit Expulsion, fluids spewing out.

6 3 barbed fae guardian Arranging items around itself.

6 4 serpentine spider Backing up defensively.

6 5 majestic soldier bee Vanishing before your eyes.

6 6 iridescent treasure-hunter Unresponsive... asleep?

Hundreds of threads rest at
your fingertips, the names and
deeds of both heroes and horrors.
Choose the threads that call to you
to create the unique tapestry of your
own dark and dangerous fantasy world.

What world will you

weave on this loom?

ISBN 978-1-952774-02-7 US$45.00

54500

9 781952 774027
Mature content. Reader discretion is advised.