CREDITS

Lead Game Designer Ferruccio Argento

& Creative Director

Writers Ferruccio Argento, Dirk Vandereyken

Additional Writing Darren Watts, Steven S. Long, Jason Durall, Dirk Vandereyken, Jason Walters,
& Game Design Michael Surbrook
Editing & Proofreading Ferruccio Argento, Dirk Vandereyken
Cover Artist Mark Graham
Graphic Design & Layout Rudo de Goede, Anna Urbanek
Art Director Ferruccio Argento
Artists Mark Graham, Nele Diel, Athavan Ananthakanesamoorthy,
Marco Gonzalez, Lucy Parkhomenko, Juan Bisceglia, Joe Aderes, Manthos Lappas,
Jennifer S. Lange, Andrew Clark
Cartographers Hugo Solis, Robert Altbauer
Dungeon Maps Jose Esteras
Character Sheets Runehammer
Symbols & Icons Oray Studios, Annelot van der Staak
Additional Contributors Marco van Stiphout, Sandra Catharin, Cheyenne Kuijs, Jeroen de Jonghe, Katrina
Waldman
Playtesting & Consulting Daniel Tol, Sennen Thus, Marco van Stiphout, Wiebe Haksel, Kees Kok, Giovanni
van der Wielen, Dirk Vandereyken, Niels van den Kieboom, Goran Deckers,
Wouter Koot, Sandra Catharin, Allard van der Willik, Bob Quicken, Rik Veerman,
Jason Bak, Roald Smet, Ajay Sharma, Tom Schuijt, Jeremy Dudok.

Special Thanks
All the great people and communities who supported this Blood and Doom © Dicetale Games 2023. Artwork © Dicetale
project from an early stage on. Friends and early playtesters Games 2023. Distributed by Modiphius Entertainment.
who helped the project sail the right course. The amazing Printing Edition: 2023-01.
Darren Watts (who passed away recently and who will be
The Blood and Doom ruleset and names, logos, characters,
sorely missed) for his wisdom and for helping to refine the
likenesses, characteristics, and all related elements included in
game’s concept. My dear friend Fadil el Ghoul for believing
this work are copyright Dicetale Games 2023. Unauthorized
in me throughout development. Dirk Vandereyken, for
use of copyrighted material is prohibited. This is a work of
being available day and night to get this project finished.
fiction. Any similarity with actual people and events, past or
Mark Graham, the first artist to join and help shape the
present, is coincidental and unintentional. All Rights Reserved.
project visually.
A Blood and Doom Open Game License will be made
Also Thanking
available upon the final release of the game. This BaD-OGL
Runehammer, Dungeon Craft, Seth Skorkowsky, Questing
will allow creators to use any and all content presented in the
Beast, and Web DM for providing endless inspiration on game
Blood and Doom Open Game Content, made available at the
design and principles through their online platforms.
same time.
Influences
Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu RPG, Index Card
RPG, Five Torches Deep, 5e Hardcore Mode, Powered by
the Apocalypse, Conan – Adventures in an Age Undreamed
Of, Grim World, Exalted, Deathbringer, Numenera, Fate
Core, Old School Essentials, Forbidden Lands, Ironsworn,
Lamentations of the Flame Princess, Torchbearer, Low Fantasy
Gaming, Mouse Guard, Pathfinder, Changeling the Lost, 13th
Age, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, HERO System.

2
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ....................... 4
ABOUT THIS PRIMER BOOK .............. 4
INSPIRATION & INFLUENCE .............. 5
CHAPTER 2:
ISHTA .......................................... 74
TORRA NYEGA ................................. 80
Huexolta. . ....................................... 95

GUIDE TO ATHYR ................... 6 Nakbu ........................................... 104

THE AYARI ......................................... 6 JUNGLES OF MARAROKA ............... 110

ANCIENT ATHYR ................................ 7 Kintaba ......................................... 124

THE ARRIVAL OF THE AYAARI ............ 8 GLOSSARY: ISHTA ........................... 130

THE RISE OF THE CULTS .................... 9

CHAPTER 3:
CHAPTER 1: ISLANDS OF ROSHAN . . .... 132
ETHENNIA ................................ 10
VALGAR PLAINS ............................... 14
CHAPTER 4:
Tamon ............................................ 25 SUNDERED WASTES . . ....... 137
Samorra. . ......................................... 31

OVA DYR .......................................... 38

CHAPTER 5:
EVANDYR ............................... 142
Lamaris .......................................... 53

Messani. . ........................................ 60

Nadir.. ............................................ 66

GLOSSARY: ETHENNIA ..................... 72

3
INTRODUCTION
A BOUT THIS
PRIMER BOOK
Welcome to the Doomsayer’s Codex Primer: Guide
to Athyr ! This book is an extensive excerpt of the full
Guide to Athyr, one of the three core books of the
dark fantasy tabletop roleplaying game Blood and
Doom that you will be able to back on Kickstarter. To
get even more great Blood and Doom material, simply
join us on the 4th of April 2023 to back the game and
potentially also get our Doomsayer’s Screen , custom
dice, card sets, miniatures, soundtrack, adventures, and
much more!
Although all five of the best-known regions on Athyr
also have an overview included in the Blood and Doom
Core Rulebook , the text in that tome only offers an
outline meant for Players, whereas the Guide to Athyr
covers those areas of the world in much greater detail.
Find out more about the arid deserts of Ethennia,
the many Islands of Roshan, the scarred lands of the
Sundered Wastes, the feudal kingdoms of Evandyr, and
the humid jungles of Ishta in the complete version of
this book.
Inside of this Primer, you’ll find out about two of the
five known regions of Athyr: Ethennia and Ishta. Each
of these has several unique subregions and we’ll be
4
focusing on two of those areas: The Valgar Plains and
Ova Dyr in Ethennia, and Torra Nyega as well as The
Jungles of Mararoka in Ishta.
The final book will also include all other subregions, so if
you’d like to delve further into any of these great nations,
backing our Kickstarter will get you all of them! Each
subregion comes with comprehensive and evocative
information on its local history, people and culture,
points of interest, secrets and rumors, and possible travel
encounters (known as Acts, and which can be used in
conjunction with the travel rules described in the Core
Rulebook).
Every subregion also includes full information on one
or more of its cities. This means you’ll be getting sizable
information on the town or city itself, its population,
key locations, several NPCs, quest hooks, and even its
possible doom: the dark, foreboding things lurking in
its shadows, capable of destroying the entire city and
maybe even more should certain events come to pass.
Note that this is version 1.0 of the Primer book, which
means it is mainly designed to promote our Kickstarter
campaign and it still needs some editing. We promise
that the final version will have been fully checked
for grammatical or spelling errors. It will also include
more illustrations and Stat Blocks for all the Monsters
mentioned in the texts. Yes, that’s right: all of them.
 Introduction

Also note that, even though there are quite a lot of ▪ Each Subregion and Location’s History, Peoples
cities and points of interest indicated on the Athyr map, and Cultures and Politics.
this in no way means those are all of the places your
Characters can visit. There are many settlements and
▪ Over 80 unique Monsters and NPCs not included
in the Core Rulebook.
locations rife with danger, treasure, and adventure in-
between! ▪ Cult activity for each Location, to easily link
the cults described in the Doomsayer’s Codex:
Of course, in order to get everything out of the
immersive setting presented in this book, you will also Twelve Pillars or Doom to any place in Athyr.
need the aforementioned Blood and Doom Core ▪ Dozens more full-color illustrations.
Rulebook (or the Core Rulebook Primer.) Additionally, ▪ Totaling around 375 pages.
The Doomsayer Codex: The Twelve Pillars of Doom
adds the horror to this setting by presenting the 12 vile
cults that worship the Heralds of Doom, the depraved
extradimensional beings whose presence in this reality is
threatening not just the world of Athyr, but the entire INSPIRATION &
universe.
We hope that you will enjoy this book and the world of
INFLUENCE
Athyr as much as we do! Please do join us on our social ▪ Conan The Barbarian (1982),
media @dicetalegames and back our game through ▪ Conan The Destroyer (1984),
this link:
▪ Berserk (1997),
WWW.KICKSTARTER.COM/PROJECTS/ ▪ The Golden Voyage Of Sinbad (1973),
DICETALEGAMES/BLOOD-AND-DOOM
▪ The Witcher (2019),
THE BLOOD AND DOOM TEAM ▪ Red Sonja (1985),
▪ The Beastmaster (1982),
▪ Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984),
SUMMARY OF A DDED ▪ Hellraiser (1987),
▪ The Dark Crystal (1982),
K ICKSTARTER CONTENT ▪ The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance (2019),
For a full overview of all 3 books’ added content and all
▪ Dagon (1917),
Kickstarter Rewards and Stretch Goals, please check out
the Introduction Chapter of the Core Rulebook Primer. ▪ Beyond the Wall of Sleep (1919),
▪ Nyarlathotep (1920),
▪ The Nameless City (1921),
DOOMSAYER’S CODEX: ▪ The Other Gods (1921),
GUIDE TO ATHYR ▪ Azathoth (1922),
▪ Covering all Subregions of Ethennia and Ishta, ▪ The Call of Cthulhu (1926),
including the currently missing Beshaar Desert,
▪ At the Mountains of Madness (1931),
Plains of Nihar Din, The Dying Lands, Badawo
▪ The Shadow over Innsmouth (1931),
Wilds, Akani and Charr Dhan.
▪ The Croning (2012),
▪ Complete Chapters on the Islands of Roshan, the ▪ The Burrowers Beneath (1974),
Sundered Wastes and Evandyr, also including all
▪ Baour: Strands of Death (2009),
their Subregions (over 16 more in total) described
▪ The Bleak Shore (1940),
in detail.
▪ Elric of Melniboné (1972),
▪ All Subregions will have (as they do for Ethennia ▪ The Thing (1982),
and Ishta in the Primer book) countless Locations,
▪ The Fly (1986),
NPCs, Local Specialties, Goings-On, Quest Hooks,
▪ Prince of Darkness (1987),
Secrets & Rumors, Points of Interest, Travel Acts,
▪ Children of the Corn (1977),
Hex Maps and more.
▪ The Omen (1976)

5
 GUIDE TO ATHYR
THE AYAARI
4797 years ago, in a removed corner of reality, an alien
race known as the Ayaari was on the brink of achieving
its dreams to travel through space and explore new
worlds. Pushed by their leaders as well as their peers
and impatient for their experiments to work, the
Ayaari scientists decided to create a hybrid engine that
would infuse arcane energy into their technologically
advanced but faulty warp drives. In their hubris and
restlessness, they tore the fabric of time and space,
opening up a rift to another plane of existence,
where its residents – unfathomable extradimensional
monstrosities that had lain waste to their own universe
in ages untold – stirred once again.
At first, the fissures were infinitesimal and went
unnoticed, but soon, they tore open like wounds, and
much of the Ayaari system was mercilessly sucked into
the gaping extraplanar hole.
As the entire species was rallying, they appeared.
Inhuman and utterly incomprehensible, the insanity-
inducing foul beings that scholars would later refer
to as the Outer Gods or Elder Daemons squeezed
themselves through the cracks of space, their ethereal
essences molding into unnatural forms as they
gained substance. Though caught by surprise, the
6
Ayaari astronomers were able to count their number
and create new sigils representing each of the foul
creatures to record their coming before the scientists
would perish: Twelve they were, the Heralds of Doom,
and Twelve they remain.
Many of those who had survived the first cataclysmic
changes brought forth by the celestial realignment
caused by the multidimensional rift went mad after
looking at the skies, while others were mutilated and
torn apart, absorbed, or subjugated by the Heralds,
their immortal souls decaying or blinking out of
existence as they were denied the solace of an afterlife.
In a last-ditch effort to preserve their creed, the
few remaining Ayaari retrofitted their seven largest
spacecraft into colony ships and launched them
into the void of space without being able to input
the coordinates of a clear destination. One of these
Arks was destroyed by the Elder Daemons before it
could travel beyond the Ayaari solar system, another
was caught unaware years later and the complete
complement of a third succumbed to mutiny and
infighting. Three more went missing.
The seventh Ark would later crash on a world called
Athyr by its (then) primitive population, after having
navigated the cold vastness of space for 459 years.

A NCIENT ATHYR
Long before the space faring endeavors of the Ayaari
and the coming of the Heralds of Doom, many stars
separated the Ayaari homeworld from Athyr, an
opulent world lit by two sister suns, their light often
also reflected in the five moons that circle the world.
Humans sprang into being in what is now known as the
Sundered Wastes, at that time an abundant and thriving
land, marked by gentle rolling hills, opulent forests, and
water so clear that it would reflect the two suns even
at dusk.
One hundred thousand years ago, mankind developed
language. With this ‘Proto Athyrian’ came culture and
the transference of knowledge, but violence came, too.
As people became more adapt in communicating with
each other, they also started to connive, covet, steal,
and even murder, often as a direct consequence of
being able to talk to each other. What were once small
conflicts became skirmishes, and skirmishes became
battles in which hundreds were maimed and almost
just as many were murdered. Some societies decided
to flee or migrate, others stayed to vie for power, most
fractured, with each group choosing a different new
home. Many were devoured by the local beasts, but
even the monsters that prowled the night didn’t deter
these first colonists from spreading out over the world,
no matter how brutal it was to them.
Maybe it was the demise of the Eldra Gavan, an ancient
race that had learned how to master the arcane energy
of Athyr itself, and the coinciding surge of devastating
mystical power responsible for razing the Sundered
Wastes that prompted these movements of entire
peoples, maybe it was simply curiosity or the necessity
to find more space or resources, but with migration
came diversification and more localized customs,
ideologies and beliefs. As Proto Athyrian became Old
Evandyrian in the west, Old Athraki in the north, Ancient
Athyrian in the south, and Old Valdyrian in the east,
kings, queens, and emperors arose, dynasties emerged,
and tribes slowly started to take on their current forms.
Busy with their own practices and peoples, most
communities started to abandon the Ancient Gods, or
forget about them entirely, whilst almost simultaneously,
new gods appeared, their appearances and demeanors
closer matching those of humanity, their motives more
recognizable (and sometimes also more deplorable or
insidious). More and more people took to worshipping
these new beings, often identifying them with more
specific domains than the abstract concepts the Ancient
Gods stood for.
7
Introduction
Unsurprisingly, the Ancient Gods did not take kindly
on their rivals. Above Ova Dyr, they struck, their rage
shaking the world underneath them. The celestial battle
was fierce and ruthless, and neither side seemed to
cave, until, suddenly and completely unexpectedly, the
Ancient Gods withdrew. Maybe they ended the Battle
of the Gods because they were too few in number, or
maybe they were losing more of their kind than what
is commonly believed. Perhaps they realized that the
people of Athyr had already decided to embrace the
new contenders, or they were able to foretell the gloomy
future of the world and simply wanted to escape before
the Heralds of Doom would arrive. Whatever the case
the Ancient Gods retreated, allowing for a realignment
amongst the religions of Athyr.
With this transition in faiths came great calamity. As
if to make a statement, the event now known as the
Divine Heat (‘Al’Harayad’) struck a large portion of
Ethennia, and in the center of Athyr, the earth itself
shook as what seems to have been one final celestial
retribution, burying ancient tombs underneath the
sands and covering unimaginable secrets with entire
layers of earth and rock. It took some parts of Ethennia
a thousand years to recover. Others never did.
By the end of the cataclysmic series of events that hit
Athyr, the Ancient Gods had abandoned the world,
although many claim that the twin sister suns, Aureya
and Issira, purposefully stayed, unwilling to abandon
their former flock, and still revered by enough peoples
to refuse leaving them. Whatever the case may be,
humanity went on, but the recent times of great
distress had left their mark, leaving academics and
other learned men and women to wonder what had
happened.
In Evandyr, these scholars started to study the fabric
of reality itself, but their quest and thirst for hidden
knowledge led them to a darker, much more ominous
place. Still, many of these researchers dismissed the
dangers their research posed and repudiated those
authorities who had not sanctioned their studies. In
other places, the same endeavors were embraced by
the local rulers. No matter how much or how little
it was supported, hermetic and sorcerous magic
was developed all over Athyr and its advance was
unstoppable.
The ability to wield arcane power changed society upon
society and became an integral part of many cultures. In
some, the druid and shamans of old withdrew, in others,
they reaffirmed their connection to nature and the
spirits that dwell there, while more showed themselves
willing to live alongside the emerging spellcasters.
Nevertheless, even the promise magic holds ended
up having only a minor impact on the technological
development of the world in many places, mostly
because studying it is a difficult and arduous process,
and that the arcane sometimes causes collateral
damage far more unpredictable than any kind of
man-crafted item does. In those places where magic
had a more profound impact, like in Quan, where
the Red Wizards started to use it to graft impossible
contraptions to their own body, many people turned
their backs from its practitioners, as their ways were
considered to outlandish or grotesque to be fully
adopted by the public.
THE A RRIVAL
OF THE AYAARI
Thousands of years after the Battle of the Gods, a single
star dropped from the sky to the domains of Athyr.
The crew of the Ayaari Ark had finally come across
an inhabitable world, but the many centuries of space
travel had ruined much of its atmospheric capability.
The vessel probably razed entire mountain tops and
set fire to entire swaths of land, scattering some of its
hull and equipment before finally crashing at a location
that, today, can only be speculated about.
8
The Ayaari who crash-landed on Athyr were generations
removed from their massacred forebears, descendants
of a species whose lot could only be remembered
through vague records and incomplete images. Still,
whatever did remain was terrifying, a reminder of
not just nearly-complete genocide, but also of the
immense cosmic power the Heralds of Doom wielded.
Thus, when the new generation of Ayaari scientists
discovered that many stars in the nights sky must have
perished between the launch of the Arks and their
arrival on Athyr, the colonists decided to reach out to
the native populace with dire warnings.
Too used to warfare and inhuman monsters, too
paranoid to allow for friendly introductions or
dialogue, too unaccustomed to other sentient species,
and too primitive to learn how to understand an alien
language quickly enough, the Athyrian natives struck
at the Ayaari, who were taken completely by surprise.
Overwhelmed by their much bigger numbers, the
refugees started to suffer huge losses after setting
foot outside of their damaged Ark. Mere months later,
diseases caused by bacteria and viruses the colonists
weren’t resistant to started to take hold, further
decimating the colonists. The few who survived were
eaten or otherwise destroyed by the many kinds of
monsters that roam Athyr. And so, the Ayaari species
was wiped off the face of Athyr within a decade after
arriving on Athyr.

THE R ISE
OF THE CULTS
The Ayaari may have disappeared, but some of their
weapons and equipment persisted. Most of them were
buried by time or taken far from the Ark by people
who had no chance of figuring out their true purpose,
use them at their full capacity, or recharge their
batteries. Some of these artifacts are still in the hands
of merchants, collectors, traders, heroes, or sovereigns.
They are often referred to as ‘mythical’ and their
origins have usually been lost to history.
Even more influential are the Ayaari records, many of
which survived, but none of which have been translated
entirely successfully, as the language of the aliens is
entirely different from any found on Athyr, whether
it be written or spoken, and even the audiovisual
recordings that have been unlocked come with Ayaari
subtitles or phonic overlays that, up until now, have
been impossible to decipher correctly. Unfortunately,
this also means that, in the hands of the wrong people,
they can be mishandled or abused, either purposefully
so or completely accidentally.
Meant to remember the coming of the Heralds of
Doom and the passing of civilization, and designed
to be a warning to their descendants, many of the
uncovered Ayaari recordings haven’t been identified
as such, are in the hands of private collectors, or
have been locked away by local rulers or temples to
prevent their knowledge from become widely known
or to be studied by carefully-watched academics,
seers, scholars, or philosophers. However, some of
them have been partially unraveled by self-serving
sycophants, insane prophets, power-hungry sovereigns,
and vengeful military commanders. Sometimes, the
interpreters have been led astray and truly believe
that the Outer Gods can bring peace or prosperity.
Sometimes, they are deliberately misrepresenting the
information left by the aliens to further their own dark
goals and depraved desires. Just as often, the Heralds
of Doom have been able to latch onto whoever was
articulating the records, corrupting them from within.
In many cases, this has given rise to the cults, perverted
and secretive organizations that are all willing to call
on a specific Herald of Doom to further its debauched
agenda as well as their own twisted ambitions.
9
Introduction
Since the coming of the Ayaari, two Heralds of Doom
have been stopped by the gods. Lanesh was imprisoned
somewhere on Athyr, and Arrok was encapsulated in
the moon of the same name, but both are whispering
to their followers, ready to escape and bring doom to
all. Ten more Heralds of Doom are out there, floating
through space, eagerly anticipating the completion of
certain rituals from within their own pocket dimensions,
or too busy enslaving other peoples or destroying
entire solar systems to already turn their attention to
their supplicants on Athyr.
The year is now 3765, exactly 3 years before the 48-year
orbital cycle of Athyr’s two suns cosmically aligns to
thin the veil between realities and known to be a time
of ill omen. By then, it will be 4800 years since the
Heralds of Doom first appeared in this reality, exactly
100 orbital cycles ago, lauding in a particularly dark
era this cycle. Everywhere on Athyr, diviners are seeing
portents of some momentous or calamitous event and
clairvoyants are gauging out their eyes after receiving
visions of what is to come. Soothsayers are recasting
their divining tools over and over in the vein hope of
seeing another, more promising future. Palm readers
are cutting off their own hands, just so they will not
be confronted with the awful truth of what is to come.
Channelers are speaking in tongues that don’t seem
like they belong to this plane of existence. Mediums
are killing themselves after inviting in one spirit too
many. Crystal ball gazers are shattering their arcane
orbs, and oracles retreat into their own homes,
refusing to be consulted again. The few fortunetellers
who are still active without going insane are heroes at
best, charlatans at worst. Still, much of the populace
is totally unaware of these omens and while the cults
have infested societies everywhere, most are not aware
of them or their nefarious machinations.
During these dire times, heroes are needed, brave
adventurers who are willing to rise and stand up against
the cults and their Heralds of Doom. Champions who
are ready to defy the odds and fight to save Athyr
and all of humanity from its impending downfall.
Audacious martyrs who will deny death and cling on
to their souls, even as the Munagi come to reap them
from their dead bodies. They and no-one else are the
last vestiges of hope – not just for all humanity, but for
all living beings in existence.
Welcome to Athyr.
Welcome to a world of Blood and Doom.
 CHAPTER 1:
ETHENNIA
THE R EGION
Ethennia is by far the largest region in Athyr, spanning the
breadth from Valgar Plains in the east to the Sundered
Wastes in the west, where the Middle Sea allows passage
to Evandyr. North, one only needs to traverse the Sea
of Jewels to get to the Islands of Roshan, while south,
only the Moon Skull Bay separates the region from
mysterious Taliath. With also land connections to both
Keldor and Ishta, Ethennia is – in every sense of the word
– the center of the world and it is almost a wonder that
Ethennians aren’t a more prideful people, as many of
them are welcoming to strangers, maybe discounting
some of the fiercest and solitary nomadic tribes and
nomads that roam the arid Beshaar Desert or the
diverse Valgar Plains.
Split through the middle by The Great Artery, Ethennia
is largely made up of extensive deserts and grasslands,
interspersed with more fertile regions, such as date
palm, carob tree, and almond tree forests; rolling hills
that are difficult to navigate by anything other than
the indigenous flightless birds known as the Hiriku;
10
much sought-after oases; and foreboding mountain
ridges, some of which hide ancient enemies, such as
the fearsome Mountain Giant tribes, and unhallowed
monstrosities, like the semi-intelligent and cunning
Desert Hydras.
Although its vast areas of sand, stone, and grass
would suggest otherwise, Ethennia holds just as many
wonders and just as much treasure as disparate regions.
Nowhere else can civilization be traced as far back
as here, and no other place on Athyr holds as many
secrets underneath its surface layers. This is not a land
of ancient tombs, inhabited caves, or strange creatures,
but of buried megapolises, sprawling tunnel complexes,
and entire species that have adapted to the arid wastes
so completely that they seem to have been made out
of the very material that constitute it. Here, there are
untold antediluvian secrets to be unearthed, and this
is the reason why so many adventurers demonstrate
themselves willing to traverse the immense stretches of
sandy nothingness and brave the arcane dangers lurking
above and below the surface to find fame, fortune,
redemption, or revenge.
 Ethennia

ABOUT ETHENNIA usually charge taxes. Connecting them are the Grand
Amrin, who are elected to oversee royal activity in order
There are many reasons for visiting Ethennia: the delicate to ensure no local discontent will ever bring another
silk robes made from the carapaces of domesticated kingdom to war.
silkbeetles, the intricate tapestries crafted by master
Across the lands in-between the cities, the Rhogoon
artisans who spent decades honing their craft in
rage; sandstorms that obscure anything they touch from
specialized schools before being allowed to weave their
view within seconds. It is no wonder, then, that scholars
first drapery, or a visit to one of the vast Ethennian
have so far noted no less than two-hundred thirty-three
libraries, where more knowledge is concentrated than
different Ethennian names for sandstorms, and three-
in any temple in Ishta or Evandyr. To many, the biggest
hundred fifty-six different names for sand. Khamsheen is
attraction is the local gastronomy, with a prominent role
the most-often used name for the former, and nothing
to play for the many exotic spices cultivated and sold
strikes fear in the heart of a weary traveler as much as
here, often drawing entire caravans to the few trade
the Great Khamsheen, the largest storm of its kind on
routes that connect its cities to each other.
Athyr, capable of erasing an entire village if the necessary
In the Ethennian cities, princes and kings known as Amrin precautions aren’t taken.
and queens known as Alika reign over their populace.
Underneath the rock and dunes are buried ancient
Outside of these opulent urban centers of civilization,
treasures and mysterious tombs, and the prospect of
almost the entire population lives a nomadic life and
treasure has attracted a copious amount of adventurers
settlements are usually temporary. Given the means,
to these lands. Many have become rich and there names
cities usually claim large swathes of lands far beyond their
are now sung by minstrels across the world.
city walls, which effectively makes them city-states, even
though the Amrin and Alika who enforce them don’t Many more have perished.

11
SUBREGIONS
Ethennia is largely divided into five subregions, each
a unique land of its own, with people and customs,
and even landscapes, varying greatly from one region
to the next.
BESHAAR
Dry and desolate, the Beshaar Desert is purported not
to have seen rain for over a thousand years. Here, the
Rhogoon rages even more frequently than anywhere
else in Ethennia, leaving only the Daleh – pillars of deep-
brown rock that rise from the sand to an incredible height
– standing. The Ubara and other local barbarian tribes
believe these towering columns to be stepping stones to
reach the afterlife, and many are willing to face impossible
odds to prove themselves in battle, often mistaking
foolhardiness and ignorance for courage and wisdom.
In the north of the Beshaar Desert stands Kitai, one of the
only two Ethennian ports large enough to accommodate
vessels from Roshan, and certainly the one with the
most eccentric and idiosyncratic populace – a folk that
still adheres to old customs and insists on speaking Old
Ethennian, even though almost everyone knows at least 4
or 5 languages. Still, Kitai is almost as important a gateway
to the north as the slightly more popular and accessible
(at least in terms of culture) Lamaris, and the great Beshaar
Academy has retained its status as the largest and most
famous learning center in all of Ethennia.
THE DYING LANDS
Although most of Ethennia consists of desert terrain, The
Dying Lands aren’t a misnomer. Barren and completely
infertile, the entire subregion is one large stretch of
rock and stone, a literally dying patch of waste and
fossils that keep degrading at rates faster than the laws
of nature would dictate, and even the undead here are
fouler and more putrid than anywhere else in the world.
Unsurprisingly, the humans who inhabit this region are
some of the hardiest people on Athyr, having built up (for
the most part) a natural resistance to the land’s degrading
character.
Even more dangerous however, are the Sallutah, a people
native to the Dying Lands who roam around its desolate
landscape ambushing travelers, not for gold or wares, but
to feast on their flesh. Inhabiting underground tunnels and
caverns, these half-humans have caused many caravans
passing through the region never to return, and entire
adventuring parties to be made courses of a meal.
12
OOSAL MOUNTAINS
By far the most contentious kingdom of all Ethennia,
the Oosal Mountains are currently presided over by
two barbarian brothers: King Amlanth of Thoral and his
identical twin, King Hamlikh of Turan. Both were raised
by their harsh but just parents, whose ancestors had to
safeguard the mountains and their coasts against
invasion after invasion by consecutive Roshani dynasties.
The incursions ended only after the court overhauled the
Oosal society, raising the people there from childhood
on to be ferocious warriors. The last step was to overhaul
their fishing boats into swift and highly maneuverable
attack vessels. The many fisher villages just off the coast
of the Oosal Mountains were partly converted into
military barracks and form a highly-effective military
defense line that has done much to discourage further
infringements of the Oosal territory.
Unfortunately, the absence of any major conflict for so
many centuries has not done anything to make the united
barbarian tribes less aggressive, and bloody but sanctioned
conflicts are often staged between the peoples here to
keep the warriors sharp and ready to act should they be
called upon. Many of them have gone on to become some
of the most respected, albeit often somewhat impulsive,
bounty hunters and hirelings of Athyr, and most are never
seen without an animal companion, with Cizarth, a large,
native feline species capable of climbing the highest trees,
as their most sought-after sidekicks.
OVA DYR
Desolate and flattened during the Battle of the Gods
that enfolded above most of Ethennia millennia before
the coming of the Heralds, Aghrapur remains as the only
city in these plains, whilst the local Khalindrim are too
isolationist and kept busy with their own tribal affairs to
care (and sometimes even know) about other cultures
and peoples. This being the case, much of the land is not
in the hands of humans, but rather dominated by the
great telepathic Sandworms that make this subregion
their home. Not even the Urandir have been able to claim
true dominion over the area, even though they have
succeeded in appropriating abandoned tunnel complexes
from their Sandworm enemies.
Still marked by divine conflict even several ages later, Ova
Dyr is well-known for its floating rocks, all of them pointing
downwards as if they were some godly projectiles, and
a rare metal called thelhium, the sturdiest forgeable
substance on Athyr. There are more things here than the
eyes and other natural senses would suggest, though, and
it has long been speculated that a gateway to the world

of the Djinn can be found here. Whoever truly finds this
portal might learn to wield more power than any of the
Ethennian rulers… or die in the arcane onslaught brought
about by these unpredictable creatures.
THE PLAINS OF NIHAR DIN
This beacon of civilization was abandoned a long time
ago, leaving only a few settlements within the heartlands
and a few major cities along its perimeter. The peoples
of Nihar Din are hardy but welcoming, but many of them
don’t believe in the omnipotence of the divine, instead
living according to a very peculiar set of rules that has
caused many to shun them for fear of blasphemy. This
has kept the region rather poor, despite the affluence
of fish and crustaceans in Lake Virosi and its rather
advantageous location, as the Alakh Mountains have
kept Taliathi pirates from raiding the plains in any large
numbers for centuries now (although the scarcity of coin
and treasure may also have something to do with it).
Because of the near-absence of temples and other places
of worship, many of the peoples here have turned to
magic and science, and arcane innovation marks even
the smallest of settlements. Many spells are invented here
first, and many inventions originate in the Plains, despite
the absence of libraries or other centers of accumulated
knowledge. This had led many other civilizations to
speculate (correctly) that something bizarre is going on
in this subregion, and seers have been receiving visions of
some kind of supernatural presence that is guiding most
GODS OF
ETHENNIA
An overview of the Ethennian Pantheon is presented
here. Each deity will be described in more detail in the
final release of the Guide to Athyr.
Kalliope: Flower of Passion Aghab: The Conqueror
Bhaidiri: The Enlightened Dharnan: Djinn of Chaos
Aurelia: Queen of Stars Wadahe: Shepherd of
Nature
Sareha: Peaceful Jewel
Quisani: Eternal Guardian
Esmet: The Dreamer
Alahad: Watcher of the Seas
Jutow: Lurker in Shadows
Menef iri: Daughter of
Eothep: The Formless
Creation
Whisperer
Baimon: The Dark Omen
Vastor: The Sand Dragon
Khamenos: The Just
13
Ethennia
if not all of Nihar Din’s rulers. If their premonitions prove
to be true, this might mean there is another influential
otherworldly power at play on Athyr other than the
Heralds of Doom, their cults, and the gods.
THE VALGAR PLAINS
Marked by the Al’Harayad – ‘the Divine Heat’ – that
evaporated the riverbeds and flattened the land millennia
ago, the Valgar Plains are thought to have suffered the
direct wrath of the Ancient Gods for abandoning them
more than any other place on Athyr. In these modern
days, the Valgar Plains comprise a vast stretch of
flatland that hosts some of the greatest, most important
Ethennian cities and centers of culture, such as Tamon
and Samorra, as well as many nomadic tribes and the
enigmatic paganistic Order of the First Elements.
Although the Valgar Plains are easily navigable because
of the absence of steep elevations and low grass, the
local Mendrihm will tell any traveler that most dangers
lurk underneath or inside of the grass canopy, including
the acid-breathing Azure Worms and the poisonous Ai
Xiu Shrubbery, but the entertainment found in Tamon,
the eclectic giant harbor of Samorra, the specialized
equipment found in Adesh, and mountain city Azul
jointly attract thousands of visitors every month, while
the twisted Mel’Daharad rock formations, the half-buried
Ten Statues, and other landmarks are enough to draw in
droves of curious adventurers.
LANGUAGE
OVERVIEW
MOSTLY
LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN
Most towns and cities across
Ethennian
Ethennia
Adiri Beshaar
Aldaran Plains of Nihar Din
Ethyri Ova Dyr
Ethemi Valgar Plains
Valdyrian The Dying Lands
 VALGAR PLAINS
HISTORY
Millennia ago, the Valgar Plains had a very complex and
rich ecosystem, with fertile grasslands and dense forests
ruled by hulking monsters surrounding the Auronian Sea.
However, during the century-long drought still referred
to today as the Al’Harayad (‘the Divine Heat’), the entire
region got turned into the dry and barren savanna it
is made up of today, and the Auronian Sea reduced to
a sizable lake, now known as Lake Auron.
Some say the Al’Harayad was the Ancient Gods’
punishment for the people of Ethennia losing their
faith in them, an epic punishment for forgetting about
them or even denouncing their names as the human
population of the region started to turn to other gods,
who don’t represent abstract concepts and primal
creatures, but rather have achieved ultimate mastery
over specific, more mundane things, and whose motives
are easier to understand.
It seems sure that the Ancient Gods unleashed the
epic drought, parching the hills and turning the crops
to ash. The entire landscape turned rusty brown, like
the skin of fruit that has been exposed to the heat
too long. The suns Aureya and Issira – both often
considered to be Ancient Gods themselves – beat
down on the land mercilessly, their rays of searing heat
causing the land to crack. The water in the riverbeds
evaporated, leaving the dry beds filled with hardened
sand, and millions of creatures died. Now a wasteland,
the land laid cracked open like a skull on its side, the
grass decayed, leaving only sand in the wind.
14
It took more than a thousand years for the region
to recover and become what it is known like today.
Most humans only migrated to these lands in groups
large enough to speak of entire societies after the
Al’Harayad ended, and when monsters such as the
legendary Haran Hu’hk (a treelike carnivore with six
bony tentacles that is only known through fossils) that
once thrived here had gone extinct (or at least so does
almost everyone believe).
As humans from surrounding lands settled across
the Valgar Plains in numbers far beyond the small
camps that used to decorate its landscape before
the Al’Harayad, only a people known as Mendrihm
can claim to be true descendants of this region’s
original inhabitants. Mendrihm still roam these
plains in great numbers today, shunning city-life and
forming what many consider to be the true beating
heart of Valgar.
OVERVIEW
There are many reasons to travel across the Valgar
Plains, as today some of the greatest Ethennian cities
can be found there, each of them a unique center of
civilization. Most notably Tamon, Adesh and Samorra.
Even though most Valgar Plains communities are found
in its cities, its endless golden-yellow savannas certainly
aren’t empty.
Still, many dangers lurk in and under the grass canopy
that covers most of Valgar’s flat surface, where the

few shadows are as thick and dark as nightfall itself.
Legends speak of bloodthirsty beasts that come
out at night, roving in packs while they hunt their
prey - living flesh too tasty to pass up… but these
are far from the only dangers that one can stumble
upon when wandering the Valgar Plains; even during
daylight hours there are perils both unique and sinister
awaiting any traveler foolish enough to wander off
course. Here, serpents are said to be deadlier than
any snake found in the vast jungles of Ishta, and more
insidious as well, whilst many creatures have evolved to
have short legs and carapaces sturdier than all but the
best-crafted plate armor.
Though one could spend an eternity wandering through
Valgar Plains without encountering all its secrets, it
is certain that any brave soul willing to traverse this
land and truly seek out what would otherwise remain
unseen will never again know peace or rest easy in
their beds. Luckily, adapt survivalists know how to read
the land and travelers usually find the benefits far
outweigh these perils. Whether it be the magnificent
Ten Statues, the prehistoric Mel’Daharad rocks or
Nuldor Ahm, there is plenty to discover and investigate
for adventure-seekers among these lands.
15
Ethennia
Outside of the cities’ stone walls, the Order of the First
Elements and other paganistic druids who live off the
plants and wild animals have great knowledge to share
about not just the local flora and fauna, but also about
ancient history and all kinds of natural phenomena.
Both the druids and Mendrihm offer their services at
key locations, serving as guides if a good barter deal
can be struck.
EXPLORATION
There aren’t that many well-delineated roads and
paths crisscrossing the Valgar Plains, but this has
entirely to do with the fact that the lands themselves
are extremely flat and the grass that grows here rarely
reaches knee height. Because there also hasn’t been
much open military conflict over the last few centuries,
the need to spend time and resources to build roads
has never been very acute.
Still, a single broad path leads along the river from
Samorra to Tamon, forking in the middle and leading
over a bridge to its rival city of Adesh. Known as the
Forked Tongue, it is second only to the Coil, a route
that zigzags from the harbor city along a ridge of hills
to the mountains, where Azul remains safely tucked
away from the dangers of the Great Eastern Sea.
There are also connections with the trading outpost
Ashar and the lamp city of Aghrapur In Ova Dyr.
Because this network of trails would look more or less
like a leafless tree if seen from the air, natives call it
‘The Bare Tree Spoor’, and leaving it is considered to
be a bad omen and cause ill luck.
Most commonly, Malin and Hiriku are used to navigate
the grasslands, but horses may be used as well. Carts
and wagons ply the few routes, and because of the
shortage of other roads, it usually doesn’t take long
before one stumbles on a caravan or trade guild
traveling from one location to the next.
One of the horrors to be found on this vast
expanse of sand and grass would undoubtedly
be the Minotaur mercenary band known as the
Jackal Horde. Supposedly led by an insane Sorcerer
believed to be colluding with some otherworldly
force, these monstrous half-bull, half-men patrol the
open country relentlessly, looking for unsuspecting
victims to bring back to their warlord’s towers so
they can be used in his ghastly experiments.
There are other, more bizarre creatures hidden in
the tall grasses of Valgar Plains as well, including the
Azure Worms: horned giant snails that slither along
the ground until they release an acidic breath which
corrodes everything around them. There are tales of
mythical creatures that hide amidst the sparse foliage,
accounts of nomadic tribes that keep their members
in a constant state of frenzy by feeding them a foul
mixture of herbs only found in the area, and anecdotes
relating unexplainable disturbances in the earth
underneath the flatlands themselves – strange tremors
rumbling at distances of dozens of miles.
Even though only one major river runs through the
Valgar Plains, there are enough smaller streams,
creeks and ponds to find drinking water and edible
fish (like eels, lampreys, and breams) within a few
days’ travel or so, whatever direction one decides
to take. This has led some to wonder why not more
permanent settlements have been erected here, but
the answer is simple: both the Mendrihm and other
nomadic tribes that live here are fiercely protective
of ‘their’ land and do not take kindly to strangers
who would take it from them.
 Ethennia

POINTS OF INTEREST
M EL’DAHARAD The phenomenon has
Spread out through most of the Valgar Plains are also attracted several
prehistoric and alien-like rock formations known as cults to the area,
Mel’Daharad. Each of them is contorted and twisted and less scrupulous
more like a tree than a naturally occurring stone academics have
shape. Where they appear, the rocks form perfectly found themselves
concentric semi-circles, which has led some to working together
believe they were constructed rather than having with cultists to
been formed naturally. One particularly well-visited decipher what the
site hosting Mel’Daharad is located a day’s travel off Mel’Daharad are
the path between Azul and Turan. trying to say. So far,
When one approaches the Mel’Daharad, they they believe the
can be heard quietly whispering in the wind, as if words are warnings and omens, but it is still unclear
communicating with each other – or, at the very as to whether they are referring to some great
least, with whoever approaches them. Scholars and future cataclysm or more current, pressing matters,
archeologists alike have been unable to identify the such as the increased presence of deadly monsters
origins of these whispers, though a leading theory links or the coming of storms and other apocalyptic
them to the presence of the Ayaari on Athyr ages ago. weather phenomena.

SECRETS & RUMORS

• The Mel’Daharad aren’t referring to a future event, but rather to the
past. Whoever is able to unlock their secrets will be able to travel
through history – if not physically, then at least in thoughts. Even
though these insights may be fuzzy and hard to decipher, certain
realizations may affect one’s sanity.

• The material the Mel’Daharad rocks is made of is extraordinarily

resilient – so much so that no-one has succeeded in hewing off parts of
the formations, and even magic does’t seem to be able to carve into
them. However, it is possible to scrape off some looser particles from
the surface and some of the nomadic tribes in the area have begun to
trade with it, calling it Daharad Dust.

• A wizened old crone named Thylena makes her home here. She claims
to have been abandoned among the rocks as a baby and says she
can understand what the Mel’Daharad are trying to communicate.
According to her, the rocks are predicting Athyr’s doom, but they
have also told her how to escape or even avert the world’s eventual
destruction and she is willing to share that information for a price,
namely accepting one quest without knowing the details first.

17
NULDOR A HM on at Nuldor Ahm. She has
Nuldor Ahm is a seemingly bottomless pit found set up a permanent camp
several days of travel south-east from Tamon. Many approximately two miles from
have tried to gauge its depths and some extremely the Nuldor Dah’n and actively
foolish adventurers have even put in an effort to encourages adventurers to
scale it, but none have ever succeeded. What is at come over and stay there,
the bottom is cause for much debate, as people who providing them with large
put up camp nearby or spend a lot of time in its residential tents, food,
surroundings often start to hear rumbling, roaring drinks, company, and even
sounds echoing from down below, and those who climbing equipment in order
decide to spend more than an evening or two to explore the Nuldor Dah’n,
nearby are never heard of again. charging a hefty fee for the
The Kalihn, a semi-nomadic tribe living in the area, entire experience.
have chosen to include the Nuldor Dah’n in their rite This adventuring ‘tourism’ has
of passage. Youngsters who are ready to ascend to caught on and is attracting
adulthood at age 14 are required to spend an entire scores of foolhardy would-
night alone at the outskirts of the pit with only the be heroes, not despite of,
clothes on their backs. If they run or disappear, they but because of the fact that
are exiled from the tribe, left to wander the plains by
none have returned so far, as
themselves or perhaps find a life in one of the cities.
the prospects of eternal fame
Melindra, a former Kalihn who was exiled over a decade have proven too alluring to
ago, has found a way to capitalize on the eerie goings- withstand.

SECRETS & RUMORS

• There are those who claim the pit is an entrance to the Shangha-Laay, a mythical
realm that is said to be the birthplace of creatures who are only named in Ethemi
(the language spoken by, amongst others, the Mendrihm), as no other culture
seems to acknowledge their existence: the Oorgal, gigantic and perspicacious
creatures who, according to the nomads, withdrew to Shangha-Laay after other,
less inventive and ingenious beings failed to satiate their overwhelming lust for
new knowledge and ideas.

• The pit only extends into the ground for 120 feet. The rest is an illusion created
by the Kalihn Shamans to hide the deranged spirits of their forebearers, fearing
ignorant strangers would rather destroy them than let them live out their
afterlife in both boundless wisdom and enraged frenzy.

• The pit might really be the home of Kahruna, one of the ancient gods and
mother of all Sandworms, a gigantic being that is coiled around the center of
Athyr and that keeps the planet rotating by moving its massive body along the
world’s core. If ever her movement would change direction, Athyr’s climate
would change drastically for the worse, and the planet could even be thrown out
of its current orbit – which is exactly why the new gods let her live – or so it is
believed.

18

TEN STATUES
Half-buried beneath the sandy dunes
south of Azul stands a circle of ten
weathered stone statues, estimated
to be as high as a castle tower top to
bottom. This is more of a guess than an
educated assessment, though, as there
are no records of what they looked
like before being covered by the sands.
They depict crude human-like faces
that bear no typical male or female
features and that therefore could be
considered either, both, or none.
What is visible above ground was
carved in amazing detail and most
scholars think these statues predate
the Al’Harayad and depict the
ancient gods who were worshipped
here in times forgotten. The Order
of the First Elements and other pagan
druids still travel here on pilgrimages,
but it is very unlikely that even they
know who is represented by these
effigies, and most druids come here
to worship nature and the elements
themselves, not gods of old.
A I X IU SHRUBBERY
Brought to Ethennia by the Roshani
monarch Mai Leying two hundred
years ago as a ‘gift’ to the Mendrihm,
who helped her cross the Valgar
Plains during a previous visit after her
royal galleon got shipwrecked while
approaching Samorra, Ai Xiu plants
are beautiful, resilient small trees
with leaves that vary from baby pink
to cardinal red, sapphire blue, and
psychedelic purple.
Unfortunately, the Ai Xiu shrubs
have rooted unnaturally easily on
the Valgar Plains, where they seem
to thrive and grow even faster,
endangering the native grass and
other flora. Worse, the plants
seem to have taken on dangerous
properties, exuding a bark juice that
is quite toxic to living beings.
Ethennia
SECRETS & R UMORS
• Travelers who have been passing by the Ten Statues and many of
the nomads feel like the facial expressions of some of the statues
are changing in subtle ways over time. Many have come to suspect
this isn’t a visual illusion at all: maybe they are living beings who
are too slow to communicate fast enough to be comprehended
easily? If anyone can decipher their message, they might find out
these stone creatures have amazing – or dark – secrets to share.
• Some claim the statues are actually tombs, each of them containing
the mummified remains of a sorcerer-king who belonged to an
ancient dynasty that once ruled over the area. Their existence is still
mentioned in the legends shared by many of the Valgar Plains nomads
and is hinted at in myths from other parts of Ethennia as well. It may
even be that the magic that was once coursing through the bodies
of these rulers is still leaking to the surface of Athyr, infusing the Ten
Statues with some kind of power. Whatever the case, the entrances to
these tombs should still be accessible, if only someone is able to dig
deep enough.
• Legend says that, should a handsome young adult man stay here for
the night, he will probably be visited by Aamuhl – a Banshee spoken
about in legends. Once nicknamed The Seductress in her own tongue,
she will try to beguile her would-be suitor, then possess him to cut
up his own body, reveling in the racking pain caused by her savagery
before leaving him again. (Characters may be called upon to find out
what happened to someone who seems to have committed suicide
here, even though he was happy and recently betrothed to the love of
his life, possibly encountering Aamuhl).
S ECRETS & R UMORS
• Those who succeed in extracting the sap from an Ai Xiu plant can cook
it to unleash its toxin in its purest, sludgy form and use it as a deadly
contact toxin that causes severe rash if it doesn’t penetrate the skin,
while contaminating blood within seconds if it does. If diluted, it can
also serve as an ingestible poison that can be mixed with other fluid,
causing whoever imbibes it to lapse into a coma after several hours. If
enough is drunk, it is sure to kill before a day passes.
• Travelers have been finding human corpses covered with Ai Xiu
shrubbery without any signs of battle. This had led many to
speculate that they were killed by the plants themselves. In fact,
the roots of the shrubbery are able to penetrate far deeper into
the desert sands than they are able to in their native lands, and
they are connecting to an ancient intelligence buried there. It is
slowly making them sentient, but unfortunately, whatever is hiding
underneath the surface is either horribly malevolent, or totally
ignorant, imparting its evil intentions or twisted knowledge
of life above to the Ai Xiu shrubs.
19
 PEOPLES & CULTURE
M ENDRIHM
By far the largest nomadic group in the Valgar Plains,
the Mendrihm seem to have been around for ages.
They are taller than most Ethennians and efforts to
count the number of tribes that trace their lineages
to the Mendrihm forefathers have all but failed. This
has led to the saying ‘The only common thing about
a Mendrihm is their name’, and although this is
a gross exaggeration, the aphorism does hold some
truth, although almost all Mendrihm tribes do set
up camp for a year or so, leaving as soon as their
livestock has depleted the grass and often returning
after a decade or more has passed.
The only Valgar Plains nomads to live mostly off
raising cattle, Mendrihm are quite protective of their
lifestyle, realizing it would put rivaling peripatetic
tribes at an advantage if they were to learn the same
animal-rearing techniques as the Mendrihm have
mastered over the centuries that they have been
ruling the plains.
Most Mendrihm regard Ethennian as a language
that has nothing to do with their culture and
either pretend not to know it, or never learn
how to speak and write it. They instead stick to
a multitude of different Ethemi dialects and regard
that language as superior, especially since it has
a far bigger vocabulary to describe types of sand,
weather phenomena, and desert creatures. Having
at least a basic understanding of Ethemi helps both
in understanding the Mendrihm and in gaining
their respect, although each dialect has its own
idiosyncrasies and takes a while to get used to.
THE MENDRIH’TAHL: Wanderers whose lineage may
be the oldest of any of the Mendrihm. Mendrih’tahl
are rare, but when they do appear, the sight is
a mysterious one, with hooded figures garbed in
loincloths and primitive armor, atop Hiriku that seem
to move as if they were almost a part of the wind.
The Mendrihtal have learnt how to withstand the
heat with little clothes on and pride themselves on
their sunburns and heat-seared, sandy hairs. They
speak in a strange, harsh dialect and are said to
possess distinctly unique magicks and to use arcane
techniques that have long been lost in antiquity,
although this might be a rumor they have spread
themselves in order to be left alone and less open
20
to attack. They are led by Anluhk, a great defender
of his people, but cruel and haughty. As ferocious as
he is facetious, Anluhk always wears a half-smile on
his thin lips, as if he were constantly amused by some
private inside joke only he knows the punchline of.
THE MENDRIH’KOHN: A nomadic tribe of warriors
who live and die by the sword. They are a hardy
people, not easily cowed by the dangers of the
wild. Their fierce reputation precedes them and
many a hapless traveler has shied away from their
path. Mendrih’kohn live in fierce, bold groups,
beholden to nothing but their own honor. Though
they wander the land, they are always welcomed
with open arms in the cities of the Valgar Plains,
for they are a proud people who bring news and
share stories of their travels with all they meet.
They are loyal friends, but their enemies fear them
all the same, for the Mendrih’kohn know no mercy
in the heat of battle.
The Mendrih’kohn’s chieftain is Kaylan, whose name
is said to be an omen of death and destruction. Of
late, he has also been dabbling in the dark arts, all in
an effort to protect his people from the wild beasts
of the Valgar Plains, and this forays into the occult
may have left him vulnerable to the manipulations
of various cults.
THE MENDRIH’LAHN: Known as a hardy people,
unafraid of the long, cold nights and dangers of
the open plains, Mendrih’lahn carry nothing with
them save the few possessions they can carry on
their backs. In fact, Mendrih’lahn who are found to
have too many possessions are quickly ostracized
and often even banished from the tribe. Members
are fiercely loyal to their family and tribe. They are
a superstitious people, believing in the power of
omens, signs, and the importance of Malin, which
they deem to be sacred animals.
The Mendrih’lahn’s leader, Medhina, was born
blind, but with the gift of truesight. A fair and just
ruler, most of her premonitions have turned out
to be correct, although they are initially often too
enigmatic and oracular to be of great use.
MENDRIH’LIHK: The Mendrih’lihk are a stubborn and
fierce people, living off the land, and never relying
on outsiders for help. They travel the plains in their
great wagons, pulled by Mahlomuts – massive beasts

of burden unique to the tribe, that has succeeded
in domesticating these animals before they went
extinct elsewhere. Mendrih’lihk fight with sword and
spear, and their warriors are said to be unrivaled
in skill. They are a people of few words, but many
tales of their deeds echo through the Valgar Plains.
Interestingly, they are well aware of this reputation
and often use it to their advantage, even going so far
as to make sure visitors – who are welcomed as long
as they seem to have good intentions – ‘happen to
pass by’ groups of Mendrih’lihk honing their combat
abilities.
The chieftain of the Mendrih’lihk, Ahlykha, is small
and plump, with a round face and eyes as dark as
night. Ahlykha has been soaking her tribe’s recent
history in the blood of her perceived enemies, but
is facing opposition from within her own ranks, who
are afraid she will soon launch one unjustified strike
too many.
ORDER OF THE
FIRST ELEMENTS
While most pagan druids who visit the Valgar Plains
are solitary individuals or members of small fringe
groups that exert little influence, the Order of the
First Elements is comprised of dozens, if not hundreds,
of fanatical druids, and most are completely devoted
to their leader, Jazer Windrover, who preaches
fidelity to the ancient gods.
According to Windrover, these powerful beings
were only vaguely humanoid in shape, as their
entire essence was far more related to the ‘First
Elements’ of nature: heat, cold, soil, plants, water,
air, and minerals. As such, these gods were very
much focused on preserving these elements, which
in no way means they were neutral in disposition. To
the contrary, even: according to the Order of the
First Elements, the integrity of the elements should
always be preserved. Chemical processes, such as
cooking, are frowned upon, as is reshaping nature in
any shape or form.
Crafts like woodworking, (black)smithing, and
sculpting are off-limits, but the magic these druids
wield is unique. It allows them to blend with the
elements, becoming resistant or even immune to the
discomfort or damage they can inflict. Members of
the Order only eat berries and other fruits or plants
they can pluck by hand, and killing any living being
is deemed to be a transgression against the old ways.
21
Ethennia
Despite their seemingly extreme way of living, Order
of the First Elements druids are very pragmatic. They
will talk and provide help to anyone who displays
sympathy for their ways, and even though they might
actively try to convert non-believers, they never try to
push their faith on anyone. This and their willingness to
learn (and communicate in) many different languages
other than Ethemi and Ethyri, including Valdyrian and
Ethennian, has made the Order of the First Elements
quite popular, and the willingness of these druids to
trade raw food and materials (like driftwood) as well
as crafted items they found or scavenged is lauded
throughout the region.
A HLDUR
A fringe nomadic tribe, the Ahldur have committed
their lives to the spirits. Always clad expressively
in short, colorful, evocative robes and wearing
intricate sandals inlaid with small bells to scare
away malevolent spirits, these nomads are mostly
shamans and ghost whisperers. Uniquely, they do not
have a chieftain, preferring to listen to the advice
breathed in their ears by the spirits. This has made
the Ahldur extremely unpredictable and fickle, and
most of the other denizens of the Valgar Plains tread
carefully when around them.
The Ahldur are led by Tahkilu, a shaman of great
power who claims he is able to confer with the spirit
of Athyr itself, and who is regarded with an almost
religious reverence by those who believe him.
OTHER NOMADIC TRIBES
The nomadic tribes here live in smaller communities
and generally keep to their own, but also form camps
that serve as centers of trade with the Mendrihm and
foreign travelers. They are mostly hunter-gatherers,
with little knowledge of farming or raising cattle,
but this is mostly by choice, although the Mendrihm
actively discourage those practices, preferring to
keep a monopoly on them in the region they like to
call their own.
Even though there are many small nomadic groups
living on the Valgar Plains, their numbers in no
way approach those of the tribes in the Beshaar
Desert, and they hold little power or influence over
the region, as the Mendrihm could easily establish
dominion over them with little effort, should they
wish to do so.
 TRAVEL ACTS
1. OBSTACLES
Cracked Earth
1
As far as the eye can see, the earth in front of the travelers has cracked, revealing deep
crevices. Some are small and easy to cross, while others are wider and stretch out across
several miles.

Field of Traps
2
Nomadic hunters have littered the entire area ahead with animal traps, many of them capable
of severing feet or shattering ankles. Most devices seem to be visible, but others might
be camouflaged.

The Arroyo
An arroyo (a dried riverbed) seems to almost run up to the horizon at both ends and getting
3 around it would take days. It’ll take time and skill to climb down and walk back up the gentle
slopes on the other side. Nearby, a herd of Malin looking for drinking water is looking over its
surroundings, utterly disappointed.

Raging Fire
4 A large field of dry grassland up ahead is ablaze with fire, leaving immense bellowing clouds of
smoke adrift on the wind. The fire stretches as far as the eye can see.

2. EVENTS
Arcane Storm
An arcane storm approaches at incredible speed. Dark, purplish clouds seem to struggle for
1 control with each other while lightning scours through them. Drops of what seems like rain
shoot out from the sky, starting several miles ahead of the storm’s periphery. Closer inspection
reveals the drops to be razor-sharp electrically charges spikes of ice.

The Earth Below

A wide area of dried, cracked ground. Whenever someone sets foot on it, the earth starts
2 to crumble and anyone who tries to traverse the land is in danger of falling down, revealing
a hollowed-out cavern system. The subterranean system was probably once filled with water
that has long since dried up, but may have been caused by altogether less mundane means.

Tornado
3
A tornado rages over the territory ahead. It is strong enough to knock a horse off its feet
and doesn’t show any signs of calming down. Several smaller tornadoes seem to be forming in
other directions as well.

Mahlomut Panic
4
A Mahlomut herd of several thousand seems to have panicked and races across the plains
destroying everything in its path. All of these massive beasts of burden are thought to be
domesticated, but it seems that at least one herd is still roaming free.

22
 Ethennia

3. CONFLICTS
Death Dog Carnage
1
The remains of a nomadic tribe are scattered across the grassy floor of the plains, all horribly
torn apart and mutilated. Nearby, the chilling howling and barking of a pack of Death Dogs
can be heard, making obvious what must have happened… and what may happen again.

Plain Beast
2
A Plain Beast watches from afar, looking for prey. Plain Beasts never sleep and are known to be
patient and stealthy unless they are starving, so it is unclear how much time there may be left
before it decides to attack.

Mendrih’lihk Revenge
A group of three young Mendrih’lihk warriors looking for revenge. This morning, the eldest
3 child of one of their tribe members has been found dead just outside of their camp. They are
quick to blame outsiders and will be short on conversation, preferring to act instead of asking
questions.

The Outcast
4
Ahndla Ihm, a Mendrih’tahl young woman who was cast out by her leader, Anluhk, after
refusing to marry him, is desperate to prove herself to her tribe. She will awkwardly attempt
to challenge anyone she meets to beat her in a display of martial prowess.

4. INTERACTIONS
Kalihn Barter
1 A small group of Kalihn nomads is looking for live animals to hunt. They don’t care much
about strangers but may be interested in bartering if approached in a friendly manner.

Pagan Druids
A class of pagan druids on their way to The Ten Statues. They seem friendly, but become
2 hostile if religion is brought up (or if they happen to start such a conversation themselves),
as they believe in a very specific visual representation of the ancient gods and carry an all-
consuming hatred for the current pantheon.

City Dweller
3 Go to the description of the nearest city and find one NPC. This person will be met while
travelling back after visiting a family member or friend living outside the city.

Barukh
A Minotaur is found hanging on a sturdy tree branch, upside down. If given the chance,
4 Baruhk explains he has been cast out of The Jackal Horde after refusing to kidnap a baby and
take it to the tower of the sorcerer his mercenary band works for. If freed, he will be grateful,
and may even divulge the sorcerer’s wicked plans.

23
 5. FLORA & FAUNA
Giant Centipedes
The area is crossed by Giant Centipedes. These menacing-looking creatures will eagerly
1 approach anyone who gets close, but will prove to be quite intelligent and interested
in humans if not attacked. If befriended, they can even make unusual steeds and
animal companions.

Ai Xiu Shrubbery
2
A vast stretched out field of Ai Xiu Shrubbery lies up ahead. It is a beautiful sight, with colors
varying from baby pink to cardinal red, sapphire blue, and psychedelic purple. Unfortunately,
the plants can also be extremely dangerous. (See Ai Xiu Shrubbery on p. page 19).

Wild Hiriku Herd

3 A wild Hiriku Herd can be seen in the far distance, grazing near a small creek rife with lichens
and banyan trees. The animals are easily scared and should be approached with caution.

Azure Worms
4
Dozens of Azure Worms can be seen slithering across the ground, leaving behind trails of
glistening blue slime. These horned giant snails are known to possess acidic breath which
corrodes everything around them.

6. LANDMARKS
The Watchtower
Just within eyesight, the surrounding flatlands elevate, resulting in a rare plateau. Some
1 Mendrihm have built a watchtower on top of it, but it’s currently deserted. Upon closer
inspection, a ladder at the bottom of the watchtower can be found. It leads down into a hole
in the plateau’s surface.

Tunnel Complex
2
Across a diameter of about a mile, some kind of creature has created hundreds of mole hills.
There is danger of falling through the ground and into the tunnel complex, which was created
by a nest of hungry Arbabhi, omnivorous burrowing animals the size of a pig.

Mysterious Bones
A recent Rhogoon has moved a large part of sand and dust, revealing treelike fossils, each of
3 which seems to have several tentacles. Could this be the remnants of one of the legendary
Haran Hu’hk? Specimen like these are rare and could fetch some decent gold. Perhaps there
are other prehistoric fossils to be found here as well.

Mango Tree Oasis

4 A small grove of mango trees with low-hanging fruit, circling a modest oasis. A lot of the
animals in the vicinity seem to have caught on as well.

24
 Ethennia

TAMON
—THE GOLDEN CITY—

A PROSPEROUS AND OPULENT CITY

KNOWN FOR ITS ENTERTAINMENT
AND GASTRONOMY

Tamon’s towers and minarets can be seen

POPULATION 18.691
GOVERNMENT City state, with Prince
Salamon of Tamon, son of Tahmid, Eye of
the Desert, as its sole ruler.
DEFENSE Infantry armed with swords
(380), spearmen (380), bowmen (220),
Mazhrabarahn champions (120), U’Mulahd
royal guard (180), infantry on Ethennian
leather armored horses armed with light
lances, javelins and swords (200), Hiriku
riders armed with bows and swords (120).
SERVICES Adventuring supplies, armorer/
blacksmith, art, boat fares, companionship,
curio, bank, dancers, general supplies,
gladiatorial combat, guide, healing,
housing, jeweler, leatherworker, library,
lodgings, meals, mounts, music, repairs,
taxis, tailor, tapestries, temple, translator
hugging the south banks of Lake Auron from
great distance. When the suns are high in the
sky its golden rooftops shimmer like a beacon
for travelers and merchants making their way
through the city gates.
Royal guards clad in beautiful flexible plate
mail consisting of bronze and steel plates
woven and riveted into the armor stand guard
and register anyone who enters. Once inside
the city walls, the paved roads are as colorful
as the buildings themselves, creating an
urban tapestry of bright but complementary
hues every bit compelling as the perfumed
scents that permeate every inch of the
urban landscape.
OVERVIEW
Tamon is famously known as ‘The Golden City’, a nickname
reflecting both the city’s wealth and its many buildings and
towers decorated with glittering, gold-plated rooftops.
The rich are very rich in Tamon, and even the poor don’t
have much to complain about. The city’s exuberant
architecture goes hand in hand with its denizens’ love for
luxury, excessive feasting and decadence.
Prince Salamon, whose reddish skin hints at a mixed
descent with at least one Mendrih’tahl forebearer, is
favored by the people and his rule is mostly fair and just.
He funds many of the festivities inside of the city walls,
such as gladiatorial fights and hiriku races. The city’s
riches are the result of both centuries of prospecting
gold on the banks of Lake Auron and Tamon’s central
location in Ethennia, making it a hub of commerce and
merchant activity.
Aside from the main festivities, Tamon is just as famous
for its fine food, almost always paired with great
imported wines, local spirits and signature mixed
drinks. Even more entertainment is provided by some
of Athyr’s best bardic troupes, exotic dancers and
famous artists, who are often invited by Prince Salamon
himself to perform in his city.
Tamon’s denizens are a colorful, cultural mix with
origins from all over Ethennia and outsiders won’t
easily stand out. People tend to sit outside, enjoy ‘hija’
(honeyed wine) and spicy food, and smoke ‘nargile’ (a
standing metal and glass pipe with flavored tobacco
that is often shared) on the city’s many garden terraces,
rich with flowers, brushes and ponds.
HISTORY
Tamon is located on the south banks of Lake Auron,
the second largest body of water in Ethennia and by
far the largest in the Valgar Plains. Gold prospecting
opportunities drew people to this location many
centuries ago and what once was a collection of
small camps of mixed lineages, including Mendrihm
and Ahldur, grew into the beginnings of a small town
not long after. The camps were called ‘Tamonish’
(meaning ‘Fortune’) in Ancient Ethennian and the name
stuck through the ages as the town grew into one of
Etnennia’s largest cities, even though only learned
scholars still know what the word ‘Tamon’ refers to.
The current prince, Salamon, can trace his heritage
back to the legendary Ethennian King Baduhlan
of Keshan, Son of Abdal, the Uniter. Educated and
knowledgeable beyond belief, Baduhlan saw the
opportunities offered by the mineral deposits nearby
26
and succeeded in making lucrative business deals with
the best craftsmen, artisans and traders of the region
before having the first stone building erected.
Even during the decades it took to build the inner city
of Tamon, people flocked to the building site as if the
construction process was a spectacle in and of itself. This
contributed to the later wealth of the city, which has
been wisely ruled by the Prince Salamon ever since his
father died from an unexpectedly-developed allergy.
LAYOUT
Tamon’s outer wall is robust, but only surrounds the
city to the west and south, as it depends on the natural
barriers of Lake Auron and the Namedian River for further
protection. Its only set of outer gates is flanked by semi-
circular watch towers. The Tamon docks on Lake Auron
are every bit as beautiful as the city itself and much care
has been given to embellishing the wooden structures.
Many of Tamon’s sandstone buildings are painted
and even more are covered in the same gold mined
from the quartz veins nearby. The architecture is fairly
consistent everywhere, with pointed arched gates and
windowpanes, geometric motifs, intricate patterns
and symmetrical silhouettes. Residential buildings
rarely exceed two floors, but the Tamon Biblioteca,
the Tamon Art Academy and its temples all tower far
above them. Most public and religious buildings also
have minarets, some of them over 30 meters in height.
The city’s preternatural architecture elements become
much more apparent in the inner city, which is
surrounded by its own wall, accessible through arched
gates over its entire perimeter. Here, the buildings of the
royal court can be found, as well as the military barracks,
the temple of the Morning Star, and some of the best,
most luxurious public eateries in all of Ethennia.
ECONOMY
Instead of levying taxes, Salamon has his own artisans,
craftsmen and specialists selling their services and
wares all over the city. All of the products they
produce are recognizable by his Royal Seal and
counterfeiters are banished from the city permanently
after being branded with the very same seal they tried
to misappropriate.
Salamon provides these royal tradesmen (called
‘Almalahn’) with the raw materials they need, as well
as lodging and food inside of the inner city. In return,
he takes a share of the profit as part-owner of their
businesses. Being an Almalahn is considered a great

honor and validation of excellent craftsmanship, and
applications from newcomers can take years to process
due to high demand.
The wealth accumulated through Salamon this way is
shared evenly with all citizens of Tamon – no matter what
their current status or wealth. This provides everyone
who is registered as a permanent denizen of the city with
a basic income and the buying power necessary to keep
up the image the prince has so purposefully refined.
CUSTOMS
The people of Tamon tend to wear an exorbitant
amount of gold and jewelry, but it is considered bad
form to wear anything that doesn’t have a story or that
doesn’t represent something more personal. Asking
about the jewelry someone is wearing and showing
a genuine interest in who made it and how much it
costs is not only appreciated but expected.
During conversations and business meetings, citizens
tap their chest twice to show they agree with someone,
or only once if they disagree. When this is done as part
of a trade, tapping is the only way to conclusively seal
a deal and is considered binding. Being asked to sign
a contract in any way is seen as a sign of bad faith and
often met by disbelief.
R ELIGION
At noon and at midnight each day, some of the city’s
Kaa’hen climb the stairs to the top of the minarets in
order to chant their prayers – usually monophonic
parables with a lot of ornamentation, sung in a wide
variety of scales and intervals of three quartertones.
This lasts exactly half an hour and also serves as
a reminder of what time of the day it is.
During these services, everyone is expected to stop
whatever they are doing and be quiet. True worshippers
put on a silk, ceremonial garb and kneel on the ground
while repeating the Kaa’hen’s prayer. Devout persons
almost always carry an idle of their preferred deity and
end their hymns and mantras by kissing it three times.
Interestingly, the Kaa’hen are allowed to sing and talk
about any deity within the Ethennian pantheon during
these intercessions and worshippers of other gods are
encouraged to participate, but quietly substitute the
godhead being called upon with their own divinity’s
name. Despite this openness of religion, the shrines and
temples of Tamon are dedicated to specific gods, most
of them tied to themes like the desert, fertility, music,
pleasure, sand, travel, trade, and wealth.
27
Ethennia
GOINGS-ON
1. An Ethennian poet from Ova Dyr by the name of
Sildor has drawn in a crowd doing a spoken-word
performance on a street corner, talking about his
travels around Ishta.
2. People are hanging out of the windows of the
Blue Lotus bathing house because a troupe
of famous foreign minstrels is making quite
an impression.
3. Streets are blocked of for a Hiriku race that will
run straight through the city. Brokers are taking
bets and minstrels are livening up the event with
cheerful music.
4. A Kaa’hen is chanting his prayers on top of
a nearby minaret at the wrong time of day,
surprising passersby. People downstairs are
wondering what’s up.
5. A whiff of sweet nargile smoke catches the
heroes. Several groups of people are trying out
a new blend that seems to be putting them in
some kind of trance. The salesman is charging
quite a lot of gold for the experience. (In truth,
the tobacco has been spiked with Bimbu Ipan,
also known as Dream Spice, hailing from the city
of Nadir.)
6. A royal herald is announcing a gladiatorial fight
that is scheduled to start in the nearby coliseum
in an hour. He claims the gladiators will be
fighting ‘monstrous abominations from across the
desert’, which is a highly unusual thing to happen.
7. A crew of city builders arrives with fresh pots of
paint to retouch part of the road, blocking the
corner until they are done.
8. Several kids have set up a make-shift sales stand.
They’re trying to sell adventuring gear that looks
like it’s been used recently, some blood stains still
remaining.
9. A philosopher is teaching a group of people in
a garden. He’s whispering instead of talking out
loud, but his listeners are enthralled by what
he’s saying.
10. There’s a huge wine tasting on the market.
Prince Salamon has provided barrels as large
as doorframes. His entertainers are promoting
a new regional grape.
LOCAL SPECIALTIES
‘Aaljah’, a scented, bitter-sweet coffee-like brew made
of fermented palm leaves. Considered to be a delicacy.
‘Darha’, spicy snapper tajine with brown rice, orange
lemon and purple olives. The locally-caught snapper
has a very meaty bite, almost like chicken.
K EY LOCATIONS
GRAND BAZAAR: Beating heart of the city, located just
outside the inner walls. It consists of an interconnected
network of streets and plazas, all featuring a wide
variety of colorful market stands and small shops.
COLISEUM: Large, circular stone arena with ascending
seats and food stalls where gladiatorial games, circus
acts and other spectacular events are held. Bairam the
Destroyer is its undefeated champion.
JEWEL MARKET (‘JIFAR’): A luxury roofed market in
an opulent building with beautiful tapestry. The most
valued jewels sold here are corondum, diamonds,
emeralds and pearls, while less expensive stones are
elevated by being set into intricate gold jewelry.
GOLDEN PALACE: Salamon’s palace and home, and by
far the largest building complex in the city, boasting
a separate temple, high minarets with multiple spires
and rooftops made of gold. Its botanical gardens are
open to the public at daytime and feature exotic plants,
giant flowers and fountains carved by the most famous
of sculptors. Inside, silk drapes and tapestry from
all over Ethennia adorn its major chambers. Oil laps
and bowls of fresh fruit are found in every room and
a strong perfumed scent concocted to make people
feel more agreeable permeates the entire palace.
TEMPLE OF THE MORNING STAR (‘AYA HADIA’):
Tamon’s largest and most influential temple, featuring
three towers. The biggest, middle one, represents
Sareha, the one to the left represents the entire
Ethennian pantheon and the right tower – a more
recent addition made after Salamon took over the
throne – honors foreign deities as well as rare gods
only worshipped by some nomadic tribes.
AL AHMAR THEATER: An open theater demarcated
by huge wind-catchers and a reception area. It boasts
a mechanical stage that uses cogwheels and pulleys to
full effect, as well as a huge customizable backdrop.
28
‘Hija’, a sweet, locally-brewed honeyed wine made from
white grapes. Cinnamon is added to give it a golden
color. Also known as ‘liquid gold’.
‘Qorma’, steamed Hiriku meat braised with a scented
yoghurt-garlic sauce and grilled vegetables.
THE OASIS (‘KALEN MAREK’): A bathing inn run by Al
Wada, named after its large terrace full of palm trees
and large basin of water with exotic fish. The Oasis
prides itself in offering the best and sweetest pastries
found in Tamon, prepared in their own bakery. They
also have a large range of nargile tobacco flavors on
offer, including ‘besha’ a local favorite that tastes like
spicy goji berries.
SWORD & CREST: The Sword & Crest is the only tavern
in Tamon not styled after a bathing inn or caravanserai.
Run by Sir Oled Menor, an aging knight from Orthoss, it
might as well be found in any of the major cities in that
region. It features stables for steeds and pack animals,
quarters for Oled Menor and his family, a large kitchen,
a common area, and 12 rooms with 1 to 3 beds each.
Serving only food and drinks that would be considered
regional specialties in Orthoss, such as fairly weak ale,
hoppy beers, sweet meads, milk, cheese, wine, whey pies,
roasted swan, and grilled mutton, the Sword & Crest is
visited by both Evandyrians who prefer sticking to what
they know and Ethennians who like the novelty value.
THE BLUE LOTUS (‘HARAN HIJAB’): A bathhouse
including a shop that sells the same bathing oils used
in its three main public baths. Flowers and herbs are
added to a mixture of coconut and palm oil to make
the water foam, with new mélanges being introduced
every month. Massages, scrubbings and other services
are available for some extra coin. All use heated
stone tables that are occasionally cooled with iced
rose water.
LAKE AURON DOCKS: Said to be the most beautiful
docks of Ethennia. Lined with market stalls and shops,
the docks are almost as much a center of entertainment
and business as the Grand Bazaar. Gondoliers entertain
visitors and couples with percussion using their double
oars; medium-sized longboats are used for transport
across the lake; and larger ships provide longer
passages, all for increasingly higher fees.
 Ethennia

K EY NPC S
SALAMON OF TAMON: Said to be broad-shouldered and
tall, Salamon is neither – but no-one ever seems to notice,
as the prince exudes charisma. He smiles, but never smirks;
sometimes disagrees, but never scathingly so; and empathizes,
but never up to the point of melodrama. Salamon lost his
father a decade ago and his wife passed away only months
later, but he never remarried. In fact, he seems so much the
cultivated and gentle noble that foreigners who haven’t met
him in person sometimes have a hard time to believe he isn’t
hiding a terrible secret or two. Salamon has one daughter,
Naziha, whose beauty is often compared to that of Lake
Auron at suns-set on a warm summer’s eve.
KHATIJA OF RHA JADDAH: Advisor to Salamon and
fortune-teller. She has become old and wrinkly and doesn’t
appear in public anymore, but it is said that her gift has
only grown. Interestingly, no-one knows what or where
Rhadjadah (Khatija’s stated city of birth) is, which, together
with the minty scent that always accompanies her, has led
many to speculate she is not of this world.
AL WADA: The proprietor of the Oasis, Al Wada is every
bit as friendly as he is tough. A mixture of contradictions,
this Mendrih’lihk wears a multitude of piercings and heavy
black eyeliner, and is rarely seen without a battle-damaged
leather vest over expensive, fashionable clothing. Regulars
at the Kalen Marek are very much aware of the fact that
his amiable veneer hides a more explosive, aggressive
personality that detonates whenever someone causes
a ruckus at his much-beloved bathing inn.
ZIDANA OF TAMON: Prince Salamon’s mischievous niece.
Strangely, Zidana has naturally red hair – which is virtually
unheard of in Ethennia. She has often been caught
stealing, to the point that some of Salamon’s advisors tried
to prove they can’t be related. Regardless, Salamon treats
her like a daughter, and Zidana keeps getting away with
her antics while he continues to pay good gold to alleviate
her transgressions.
BELAL OF EKALOS: A hugely overweight banker of some
notoriety, always accompanied by his three constantly-
arguing advisors. He may possess more wealth than even
Prince Salamon, but lacks the same kindness and manners.
FADRISI OF MESSANI: A jovial minstrel who lost the tips
of his left-hand fingers during an unfortunate encounter
with over a dozen Beastmen (at least according to him…).
He got them replaced with silver thimbles and now plays
the ‘heaviest’ oud songs known in Ethennia due to his
staccato style and palm muting. He performs weekly at
the Oasis.

29
 QUEST HOOKS
i ii i ii
NAZIHA KIDNAPPED ZIDANA’S ROBBERY

Prince Salamon’s daughter, Naziha, has been kidnapped
by Beastmen. She was on the road back to Tamon after
having visited Samorra for a few weeks when the attack
occurred and is in bad shape according to one of her
guards who survived the incident. Unbeknownst to most,
the crime was actually orchestrated by Belal of Ekalos,
offended after Salamon refused him his daughter’s hand
in marriage.
Reward: Should the Characters bring Naziha back to
her father, he will reward them with brightly-colored
jewels and a patch of land large enough to build a fair-
sized house on. They will also have to start paying
taxes. Salamon won’t mind keeping the Characters
around and may consider giving them an official rank
that grants some minor privileges in inside the city.
Rialto of Oded has been robbed, again. Both previous
times the culprit was identified as Prince Salamon’s niece
Zidana, but this time a necklace worth half a castle has
been stolen and the royal court is denying Zidana’s
involvement. This means Rialto won’t get compensated
for the theft. He is furious and is looking for proof of her
wrongdoing, or, alternatively if it turns out she is not to
blame, he wants to find out who really is responsible.
Reward: Not the generous kind, Rialto will award
whoever solves the crime with a single jewel worth about
one-thousandth of what the necklace would sell for. If
pressed, he will grudgingly add a few rubies to the reward.
i ii
GOLDEN VEINS

Three times now, Faisehl and his group of prospectors have

i ii
ESCAPED SCRILLYM
Recently, a horribly mutated Scrillym was caught feasting
on an entire farmer family just outside of the city. The
beetle was deemed far too dangerous to let it roam free,
but the academics of Tamon wanted to study its true
nature. It was being held captive at the coliseum, but has
now escaped!
It seems like someone broke the degenerated animal
free, but the coliseum staff is puzzled and the guards
believe magic may be involved. People are waiting for
Prince Salamon for guidance and are expecting to be
told to stay at home for a while, but the royal court is
remaining silent.
Reward: Friends of the savaged family will offer the
Characters livestock and the adventurers will always
have a place to stay when they visit Tamon. The
coliseum staff itself will let the Characters choose one
animal from its collection to take home.
been robbed at night while on their way back to Tamon.
They upped security, started taking shifts standing watch
and last time even ordered a small band of mercenaries
to guard their gold, but to no avail. There is no indication
as to how everything can keep disappearing, but it’s clear
something extremely mysterious is going on.
In truth, the prospectors themselves are stashing away
the gold and pretending it gets stolen in order to seek
compensation from Prince Salamon whilst still being able
to sell their loot outside of the city state at a later date.
They will hire the PCs to keep up appearances but will
only pay them if the ‘mission is a success’. Everything
comes to a head when an entirely new band of robbers
shows up, intent on actually stealing the gold.
Reward: If Faisehl and his men aren’t found out but the new
robbers are stopped, Faisehl will promise to spread the news
of the adventurers’ skill and ability throughout the city. That
changes if the Characters discover what he has been up to.
In that case, he will offer part of the gold to pay for their
silence. If they are caught and brought to Prince Salamon,
the ruler will be far more generous in his reward.

THREATS & DOOM: FROM BELOW

Years ago, Prince Salamon discovered that one of his advisors, the warlock Garon, was plotting to
overthrow him and install a reign of terror in Tamon. Salamon had him thrown into a Sandworm pit miles
outside of the city, but miraculously, Garon survived. Paranoid, he stayed in hiding for years, and has
since succeeded in finding the single largest Sandworm in the Valgar Plains, which he calls Umlin Raah.
He somehow managed to bring the creature under his dominion and Garon is planning on having it crawl
below Tamon’s city gates and topple them from underneath before letting it feast on the city’s population.

30

SAMORRA
—CITY OF GUILDS—
A GIGANTIC, THRIVING HARBOR CITY RULED
BY TWO MINOR ANLIKA (ETHENNIAN QUEENS)
WHICH PRIDES ITSELF IN BEING THE ‘GUILD
CAPITAL OF ATHYR’
POPULATION 80,894
GOVERNMENT Queendom ruled by two Anliki.
DEFENSE Bowmen (1200), crossbowmen (1200),
infantry with swords and halberds (1200), navy of 32
galleons with a full crew.
SERVICES Adventuring supplies, armorer/blacksmith,
art, assassins boat fares, companionship, curio, bank,
general supplies, gladiatorial combat, guide, healing,
housing, inventing, jeweler, leatherworker, library,
lodgings, meals, mounts, repairs, ships, taxis, tailor,
temple, translator
Ethennia
LOCATION
Samorra is a large harbor city on the east coast of
Athyr. It is located on the edge of the Valgar Plains
alongside the Black Pearl Sea, in a gulf that is well-
known for its rough waters. Most of the coastal line is
inaccessible and ships perish here all the time, but near
Samorra, the gulf narrows into a surprisingly calm and
easily navigable cove. This sole approach has made
Samorra one of the largest harbors in all of Athyr and
an almost mandatory stop for most ships that have to
pass the otherwise perilous Black Pearl Coast.
A CITY OF CONTRASTS
Despite being part of Ethennia, Samorra is the most
diverse city in the realm outside of Tamon, which is
immediately apparent in its architecture. The harbor
is a hodgepodge of architectural styles, eclectic
decoration and unusual layouts. There is no real
pattern readily discernible in how the city is planned,
with broad avenues intersecting smaller streets and
narrow alleys. Towers stand next to villas and three-
story buildings, shops next to residential houses, and
military barracks around the corner of commoners’
neighborhoods.
Many houses are made of malleable materials like wattle
and daub, cob or wood, but stone and lime are used as
well. There are buildings with cellars, while others have
their own dungeons or have no underground rooms
at all. Strangers often get lost here until they learn to
navigate by focusing on the unusual, which is not hard
to do at all once one gets used to it.
A CITY OF FREEMEN
AND GUILDS
Soon after Samorra was founded centuries ago, it
started to get frequented by civilizations from all
over Athyr, many of whom know slavery. However,
the ruling monarchy observed that most of the slaves
got treated extremely badly. The Samorran potentates
wanted to expand their territory but were too few in
number and too far removed from the rest of Ethennia
to attract cheap labor easily, so they started buying
slaves in large numbers. Soon, other cities and nations
caught on. Evermore slaves got shipped to Samorra to
sell them on the slave markets.
Centuries later, in an unprecedented move, the then-Amrin
Himambarad started to grant slaves far more privileges
than they had been used to and promised them upwards
mobility. This led to an uprising amongst some of the most
unscrupulous former slave owners, but the attempted
insurrection was soon quelled by Himambarad’s royal
guard and allowed the Amrin to clean up house by issuing
the Freemen Edict, which was supported by Ka’heen all
over the city, whose scattered shrines saw worship rise. In
front of a crowd of thousands gathered before the palace
and flanked by his guild masters (some of which had just
replaced the ones who had tried to overthrow him) as
well as the high priests from most Ethennian gods, Arim
Himambarad announced that no human would ever be
a slave in Samorra again, instead installing a flexible system
denoting occupation – the only of its kind in Ethennia. This
was a concession to the guilds, who had seen too many
charlatans claim they were members of their organizations.
Guild members got given a metal bracelet with an
intricate lock that can only be opened with a key that
looks like a puzzle piece. The type of metal denotes the
guild member’s rank, with iron denoting novices and
brass being the next tier up (initiates), followed by copper
(apprentices), silver (assistants) and gold with one or
more platinum bands (which indicates associates, fellows,
masters, grand masters, and guild masters).
32
Only masters, grand masters, and guild masters can unlock
bracelets and grant someone an upgraded version, whilst
each bracelet also has an engraved symbol denoting the
attached guild: housekeeping & cleaning, companionship
& other personal services, and various kinds of
craftsmanship. Craft guilds include farriers, locksmiths,
executioners, cobblers & cordwainers, embroiderers
& upholders, bowyers & fletchers, chandlers, painters
& dyers, masons & woodworkers, bakers & cooks,
leatherworkers, skinners & fishers, and armorers.
Scriveners, philosophers, academics, and priests follow
higher education or some sort of temple career and
are expected to either be completely free of affiliation
or follow the path laid out before them by their patron
deity. Entertainers are allowed full individual expression
in theory, but are punished just as severely as other
offenders should they break Samorra’s laws or promote
wrongdoing. Other than that, they are encouraged to
never join any guild or organization other than small
bands of other performers.
The inherent upward mobility of almost all careers has
kept anyone from revolting or even leaving the city,
and natives who try to own slaves or criminals who
mess with the guild bracelets are executed without
any form of trial.
THE TWO QUEENS
Samorra is ruled by Anlika Nulayi of Samorra, daughter of
Muh’Ahmud, Sister of Nails, and her wife, Anlika Lauralai
Hearthborn of the Evandyrian kingdom Vahlia. They met
five years ago shortly after Nulayi ascended to the throne
of Samorra following the tragic death of her parents in
a storm. Lauralai soon grew enchanted with Nulayi’s
treatment of the local guilds and tried to introduce a lot
of the same ideas in her home country of Vahlia, but
the locks and other tools to denote ranks and affiliation
never had any success overseas. These contraptions did
earn the city a lot of revenue and together, the Two
Queens perfected the hierarchical structure that had
already been in place for centuries, doing a far better
job in promoting it than their predecessors. Within years,
Samorra’s reputation as ‘guild capital of the world’ was
cemented.
Both queens are well-liked by the local populace
and are considered harsh, but just rulers who have
succeeded in giving their city a new direction and
vision. Their marriage was a drawn-out five-day long
feast that culminated with the imaginative execution
of thirteen criminals (with amongst them quite possibly
several cultists). It garnered quite the support and
admiration of the local populace.

THE PEOPLE OF SAMORRA
Counter-intuitively, Samorrans are extremely easy
to get along with. They originally hail from an old
island group that was overcome by a flood millennia
ago and are a hardy, if superstitious lot – one of
the few things they have in common with many of
the nomadic tribes that roam the plains outside of
the city. They usually speak multiple languages and
almost all are fluent in Ethennian and the more local
Ethemi, although most also understand both Ethyri
and Ancient Ethennian.
Samorrans have a well-developed, cynical sense of
(black) humor and rarely take slight in anything.
However, crimes are seen as counter to the gods’ will
and punishment is meted out slowly and painfully. The
people of Samorra are also very much aware of the
fact that their region has changed for the worse over
the last decade and have no patience with criminality
or cults. Members aren’t accorded any mercy and
always executed publicly.
TRADE
Samorrans have taken pride in creating the most
intricate locks, nigh-unbreakable chains, best wheel
locks, and hard to replicate keys in Athyr. Their
locksmiths, armorers, executioners and inventors are
legendary throughout the world and almost all are
willing to build on that reputation. In their tales, their
locks are even more complex, their chainmail shirts
more impenetrable, their execution devices infallible
and their cages impossible to escape out of.
This tendency to overstate things even extends to the
other main commerce in Samorra: fish. Nowhere else
in Ethennia can so many different fish, crustaceans and
other seafood be found, and fishers use all kinds of
different methods to catch them: simple hand lining,
long-lining, weir baskets, woven nets and harpoons. A
lot of fish get snatched by the currents and caught
in sophisticated net structures before they can wash
ashore. The fishers and skinners are said to be some
of the world’s best – a reputation that was created by
their own guild, of course.
CUSTOMS
Male Samorrans greet each other by clenching their
fists together. All other genders greet by kissing
the cheek. Most people here are also extremely
superstitious: they will insist on the proper greeting,
33
Ethennia
the proper way of handling things and even the proper
way to seal a deal. Many of these things are slightly
ritualized and often involve handshakes or kisses.
R ELIGION
Samorra doesn’t have temples but is riddled with
unattended shrines. There are always Ka’heen who
worship the entire Ethennian pantheon wandering
through the streets instead of serving a specific patron
deity. Ka’heen here don’t just act as ritualists, but also
as guides and counselors, particularly in private and
marital matters.
Almost all Samorrans carry small mats with them. They
don’t pray on set occasions but will take time out to
get down on both knees and worship whenever they
think an action might have offended one of the gods –
any of the gods – or when they feel danger is nearby,
but not immediate. Locals are responsible for keeping
the shrines clean and doing so is considered to be
a public service, not a job for any of the guilds.
ORGANIZATIONS
Even though guilds are important throughout almost
all of Ethennia, there are little to no guilds that focus
on educating the people about local custom and
history… except, of course, in Samorra. The Teachings
of a Thousand Ways (‘Telihm’Alw Turaqua’) is not just
functional, but also social and educative in nature. Its
members educate children about the proper way to act,
the edicts of the gods, marital loyalty, and much more.
They also teach their kids that crimes against these
important pillars of decency should be punished harshly
and often demonstrate the sentences on criminals or
would-be slave traders (often the same thing).
The Teaching of a Thousand Ways also trains some of
Ethennia’s best assassins, hiring out their services to
anyone who does not only have enough gold to spend,
but also seems just and righteous.
There is a significant presence of secretive occult
groups in Samorra, but most don’t manage to stay
hidden for long. They are eagerly weeded out and
their execution is cause for great festivities, including
songs with unusual time signatures, wild dances
and even avant-garde performance art or poetry
readings, all organized around the central squares
where transgressors are killed before enthusiastic and
appreciative audiences.
GOINGS-ON
1. An audience is gathering for the execution of
four cultists who were caught red-handed while
trying to convert some disgruntled merchants.
The occasion is preceded by a band of minstrels
playing above the platform of poisonous plants
where the death penalty will be carried out.
2. An envoy from Oman is trying to find the
manufacturer of a particularly complex lock
in an effort to buy the technology and take it
back home.
3. A pagan druid of the Order Of The First
Elements is being harassed by a few drunken
Samorrans who are accusing him of angering the
Ethennian gods.
4. A few convicts are hauled through the streets
with their pinkie fingers tied together with locked
chain cuffs, screaming that they are innocent.
Of course, passersby stop and take the time to
elaborately scold them.
5. The Queens take a rare time out to traverse the
city with their guards, listening to what their
people have to say. They are open to any and all
suggestions, especially those that offer new ways
of promoting their trade, treating guild members
or expanding on Samorra’s reputation.
6. A Ka’heen is counseling a couple on the steps of
a bathing inn, but both husband and wife seem
afraid to tell him what really happened. It might,
after all, constitute a crime.
7. A minstrel is entertaining the crowd inside
a bathing inn with a performance mixing dance
with song and comedic anecdotes.
8. Members of the housekeeping & cleaning guild
are cleaning up the blood and gore on one of
the execution plazas.
9. An Ishtan crew from Torra Nyega has just arrived.
Their ship got blown off-course and it’s pretty
clear none of the crewmembers knew about
Samorra. They all seem quite surprised and
uneasy with how much better the freemen are
treated here than the complement of personal
‘assistants’ they have brought with them.
10. A housekeeping & cleaning guild member
wearing an iron bracelet walks up to the heroes
and ask whether he would be allowed to serve
them. He actually seems very excited about
the prospect.
LOCAL SPECIALTIES
‘Lamuhn’al nichtar’, a honey liquor mixed with
a fortified wine made of grapes exclusively grown on
the Islands of Roshan.
‘Samak muqashir’, a fish pastry flambéed in a spicy
mixture of spirits and always accompanied by a glass
of crispy mineral orange wine.
‘Samak amalun’, a popular dish among the locals made
with fresh caught fish, spices, and herbs. The fish is
coated in a batter made of flour, egg, and milk, fried
until it is golden brown and served with a side of rice
or bread and a dipping sauce.
‘Samak imdarin’ begins with fresh catch from the
seaside markets, cut into thick morsels and seared to
perfection in aromatic oils and seasoned with a blend
of onions, peppers, garlic, cilantro, tomatoes, and
pistachos. This is simmered slowly, thickened nicely
with sour cream or yogurt and topped with a generous
helping of freshly grated cheese.

K EY LOCATIONS
THE GILL-LESS FISH (‘SAMIT UKURI’): The Samit
Ukuri is an avant-garde eatery and bathing inn that
features celebrity owner and chef Mulmakan and a full
kitchen staff of 12 to 20 skilled skinners, sauce makers,
brewers and cooks. There are no servers per se, as the
kitchen personnel also serve the same colorful and
tasty dishes that they create themselves.
THE CHAINS OF ONE-HUNDRED LOCKS (‘TAY’DHAB
ALMIYI’): The most frequented city public prison,
a plaza, where only the highest-profile criminals
(usually people dabbling in the dark arts, murderers
and wife beaters) are publicly showcased. It features
a roof that can be lowered with a number of manacles
and other devices featuring state-of-the-art lock
mechanisms hanging from it. Crowds are asked what
they would like to see being used and are often
regaled by the introduction of revolutionary devices
or surprise combos.
THE FELLOWSHIP OF ETERNAL SERVITUDE
(‘MADRASITH ALI BU’DIATH’): One of the most
recognizable guild schools in Samorra, a beautiful and
well-decorated building complex of multiple adjoining
houses. Here, the best servants of Athyr are groomed,
often from an early age on. Even before their six-year
course is completed, members find well-paid work
with wealthy traders, sorcerers and aristocrats, all of
whom are well-aware of the members’ legendary good
manners, eloquent speech and perfect serving styles.
THE GUILD DOCKS (‘IMRIT KURIMI’): An eye-catching
tent complex built on Samorra’s docks where each guild
promotes its incentives, services, and members. Most
guilds also sell a small selection of wares or services in
their pavilions, but the focus is on self-promotion, not
on sales.
THE SHRINE OF THE IDOL: Although there are many
shrines in Samorra, there is one that no-one touches.
It is never named and although it is located near the
palace, Ethennians just pass by small chapel without
even looking at it so obviously that even foreigners
who have never been to Samorra quickly take notice.
It seems to have appeared out of nowhere a few years
ago and in it is a black basalt idol resembling a gargoyle.
The city guards and the Masons & Woodworking Guild
tried to demolish the shrine on several occasions, but
every time they tried to do so, everyone who was
working on the project either got sick or fell victim
to a bizarre accident. Now, there is a silent agreement
amongst citizens to completely ignore the shrine as
if it didn’t exist until someone can figure out what
strange magic is exuding from it.
35
Ethennia
K EY NPC S
LYNDKIRST HELLUNDIR: Lyndkirst is a soft-spoken
and well-mannered sorcerer from Lhandor (Evandyr)
who has been hiring evermore members of the Masons
& Woodworking Guild to construct one of the largest
buildings in Samorra. Lyndkirst makes money by selling
his services and is generally liked, but many locals are
torn on what to think of him: should they be proud
that their city will soon feature the largest building in
Ethennia outside of the temples and palaces, or should
they be wary of Lyndkirst’s intentions and growing
influence?
TAYINNI: Tayinni is a former servant from Ishta who
got taken in by the Madrasith Ali Bu’Diath after her
employers mysteriously disappeared during a nightly
stroll through the Samorran alleyways. She has
mastered the arts of serving tea, mixing alcoholic
beverages, and styling her patrons, as well as regaling
people with her fairy tales, myths and fables. However,
this unique combination of skills has made her services
expensive, and the school board has told Tayinni that
they are having difficulty finding new clients, which has
made her suspicious of their motives.
UHMID OF SAMORRA: Uhmid is a skilled public prison
guard with a very well-developed sense of humor.
He often quips and tells jokes, and even hardened
criminals have been known to laugh with his banter
and puns. Uhmid being a Samorra native has made him
extra-popular with young women, but so far, he has
only shown an interest in other men.
ALHUANA OF SAMORRA: Alhuana is a dancing
poet who overestimates her own abilities, but her
attempts at performance art are so horribly bad that
she has attracted a large following. This has made her
an effective activist for peasant rights who has been
advocating for lower city taxes.
INDRA OF LAMARIS: An orphan who was forced to
be creative just so she would be able to survive from
an early age on, Indra found happiness in Samorra after
meeting her current life partner, Alhuana. Indra has
worked her way up to become captain of the Samorran
fleet, but her merciless pre-emptive strikes at pirates
and criminals have put a price on her head.
 QUEST HOOKS
i ii
A DANGEROUS STORM
Panic! Even though the skies are clear, lightning is
striking Lyndkirst’s building every few seconds. The
entire structure is engulfed in crackling blue electricity
and thunderous noises are heard inside. The sorcerer
himself is known to be abroad on a trip to Tamon and
people are unsure what to do.
What happened is that two of the Masons &
Woodworking Guildmembers Lyndkirst employs got
bored and decided to play with two ancient Ayaari
wands lying around in the laboratory they had been
cleaning. They pretended to be swordfighters, but the
wands weren’t supposed to be crossed and created
a field of electricity that is set to expand throughout the
entire city if the two hapless (and now dead) apprentices
aren’t pulled out of their paralyzed joint state.
Reward: Always the gentleman, Lyndkirst will graciously
offer to cast a single spell for the Characters should
they be able to help him. He will also write a letter of
recommendation and should it be clear that they’ve
just saved the entire city, he will arrange a dinner at
royal court two tables away from where the queens
are sitting.
i ii
CRIMINAL INTERFERENCE
A group of dangerous lawbreakers fled its confinement
and is causing quite a consternation in the city. The
criminals are waging guerilla warfare and are –
36
seemingly randomly – freeing convicted criminals out
of their prisons. If this is allowed to continue, there
will soon be too many escaped culprits at large for
Samorra’s small army to deal with.
Reward: If the Characters are able to stop the villains,
the city is sure to offer them a permanent position as
guards. This will also include their own quarters in the
city ‘s barracks. If they refuse (and they probably will),
they will be offered a small patch of land, a discount at
the Masons & Woodworkers Guild, and some amount
of city-printed gold.
i ii
WASHED ASHORE
After he got shipwrecked just off the Black Pearl Coast,
a man claiming to be an Isthan jeweler from Charr
Dhan washes ashore, clenching a small chest with
expensive gemstones in it. There are engravings on the
chest, but no-one is able to make sense of them – not
even other Ishtans who may investigate the etchings.
Before long, the man, who says he is simply called
‘Bar’, is targeted by a group of assassins. The first few
murder attempts inexplicably fail but Bar is willing to
hire armed protectors to keep him safe.
Reward: The reward for the PCs depends on whether
Bar is a criminal or a victim who just happens to
have something of worth to an illegal organization.
Whatever the case, it is sure to involve part of the
jewels – which may, unfortunately, be cursed.
 Ethennia

THREATS & DOOM:

THE DECEIT
Marahk al Manual, the prominent Master of
the Guild of Armorers and official Armorer of
the Royal Court, was recently caught having an
affair by a spy of the Umilon Hai, the massive
organized crime ring operating out of Aghrapur.
He is being blackmailed to divulge all information
he has on the Royal Guard to the syndicate,
including very personal information about his
friends and colleagues, schedules, and even
molds of the keys needed to open the barracks
and arsenal rooms. The syndicate is intent on
taking over the entire city and has started to
insert spies in key positions. If they succeed, the
transition will be so fast and smooth no-one will
be able to do anything about it except if willing
to lay siege to Samorra. Worse, the Umilon Hai
is intent on enslaving much of the population,
repurposing the metal guild bracelets to a means
to designate slaves.

THE SINKHOLE
Unbeknownst to anyone, there is an immense
sinkhole underneath the city. It is caused by
a gigantic cave complex that runs from the bay
of the Great Eastern Sea to the mountains to
the north of Adesh. Over the course of the last
few centuries, huge amounts of water have
been seeping through the cracks, expanding
the caverns and allowing in all matter of sea
creatures. If the sinkhole opens up further, entire
Samorran neighborhoods will collapse and many
of the monsters will be able to either escape or
wait inside of the water for human prey.

37
 OVA DYR
HISTORY
Just like most of Ethennia, Ova Dyr used to be a fertile land
until those Ancient Gods who refused – or were otherwise
unwilling – to leave Athyr and leave the world to their
successors did battle here. Now, the entire region is mostly
a vast stretch of flat land covered in layers of sand.
There were once many centers of civilizations here, but
most got utterly razed, destroyed by the cataclysmic
struggle that enfolded above Ethennia, disintegrated in
such a complete way that even finding tombs or lost
treasure that refers to the ancient people who originally
settled the land is extremely rare. Still, a single city
withstood the onslaught and it still stands, a lone beacon
of culture in an otherwise desolate flatland of sandy
dunes: Aghrapur, arguably the oldest city of all Ethennia,
Ova Dyr’s only trade node and home to the fabled
Amalud’Lahn, the largest and most complete biblioteca
in the world.
One would be tempted to assume that the Battle of the
Gods marked Aghrapur and the people living there more
than anything else in history, but one would be mistaken.
Rather, another, slightly more recent event seems to
dominate the folklore and myths of not only the citizens
of this venerable city, but also the few men and women
living in the few small settlements that arose since the
land was smoothed by divine combat: a ‘falling star’ that
scoured the skies more than four millennia ago. Bright and
38
fiery, the appearance of this meteor is well-documented
and collaborated by thousands of eyewitnesses.
Since it appeared, things have never been the same.
After what the people of Ova Dyr refer to as ‘The Passing
of the Star’, travelling this barren land has become very
different. Where once there was only unusually pure,
descending air, there are now frequent fata morganas.
Where once the sands held nothing, there is now thelium,
a metal stronger than steel that is found in those areas
where the heat is strongest, and where once there were
almost no supernatural occurrences now a portal stands,
purported to give access to a different world entirely.
The existence of these bizarre phenomena has been
the subject of many academic dissertations and quite
some philosophical conjecture. Some believe the timing
of the events must indicate that the alien civilization
that came from the stars must have landed in Ova
Dyr, others think the Ayaari migrated here because
there was so much empty space. Whatever the case,
if the extra-terrestrials really came to Ova Dyr, their
disappearance is most probably due to the Sandworms,
the true rulers of this region.
Virtually unstoppable, these immense beings have
multiplied over the last centuries, as they do not seem to
have any natural enemies and thrive in the loose sands that
cover the entire area. Their tunnels have become more
extensive and labyrinthine, and travelling this region has
become more perilous than ever. Still, humans here have
 Ethennia

39
proven themselves to be resourceful, and the abundance
of subterranean Sandworm pathways has given rise to an
entirely new tribe: the Urandir, a brave people that has
risen over the last millennia, claiming abandoned tunnels
as their own and evolving a completely new – and, to
many, altogether outlandish – culture.
As a result of the scarcity of life aboveground, Ova Dyr has
stagnated somewhat, its history more marked by events
that happened many thousand years ago than by any
innovation or advancement, as most people who travel
here only stay for a while, drawn by the many mysteries
that the land holds, unless they come to study the books
of the biblioteca in Aghrapur.
OVERVIEW
With the exception of The Dying Lands and maybe the
north of Keldor, Ova Dyr may be the most desolate
large area in Athyr. While there is much life across
the western border and along the banks of The Great
Artery, the landscape becomes completely desolate
once one travels eastwards. There, an endless sea of
sand awaits, with only one city standing before arriving
at the kingdom of the Oosal Mountains or crossing the
outskirts of the Valgar Plains: the stately Aghrapur.
Outside of its only center of civilization, Ova Dyr is
home to the Khalindrim, who seem to be the last
descendants of the original inhabitants of the region.
Isolated and with communities living far from any
known trade route, the Khalindrim have virtually
no contact with the outside world and still worship
two of the ancient gods: the sister suns Aureya and
Issira. Their language is a form of Old Ethennian, but
with a dialect so heavy that almost no-one is able to
understand even its most basic grammar.
Less isolated and more in touch with the world above
them are the Urandir, a fairly new tribe that has been
using the tunnel complexes formed by the Sandworms
who are so plentiful in this region as their homes. It is
this enormous species that holds dominion over Ova
Dyr, as these telepathic parasites burrow beneath the
surface unchallenged. Telepathic parasites that latch
themselves mentally onto other living beings to feed
upon their emotions, Sandworms are immensely strong
and are easily able to crush entire towns underneath
their flexible bodies, or even reel in complete buildings
with the barbed tentacles sprouting from their maws.
It remains to be seen whether the Urandir will pose
40
a threat to these giants should they decide to claim
back their tunnel complexes.
Scattered across the desert are flying rocks or ‘Andrir’,
their sharp bottom ends pointing downwards, as if
ready to pierce the earth and puncture the world.
Remnants of the devastating battle between the
Ancient Gods and the new Ethennian pantheon, they
float there in silence, covered in a hallucinogenic
moss referred to as ‘andrir-lan’. Eating the substance is
said to ‘open the eyes’ of whoever consumes it to the
complete truth of reality, and many claim to have seen
another, far more peaceful world, where chariots fly
through the sky and everyone wields magic. Despite of
these assertions, only a rare few are willing to use the
moss, as many others have collapsed into insanity after
digesting it, their thoughts now forever haunted by
visions too horrible to articulate.
Yet another strange occurrence or the fata morganas
that often appear to travelers who manage to cross
the sands of Ova Dyr. Peculiarly, these mirrors in the
sky always depict the same location, albeit it from
different angles. Once the thirst hits, anyone who
crosses the desert becomes susceptible to seeing what
must be the reflection of a city unlike anything on Athyr
– a metropolis that holds many similarities to what is
experienced while hallucinating after eating andrir-lan.
Towering and majestic, and inhabited by a humanoid
species that may be the Ayaari, the cosmopolis looms
nearby, as if it can almost be touched, but without the
smells and sounds that should accompany it. Many
have tried to reach it, but as soon as they are close
enough to make tactile contact, it disappears entirely,
as if it were never there.
Apart from Aghrapur and its library, its hallucinogenic
moss, and its many mysteries, there is another reason
for adventurers to visit Ova Dyr: its deposits of
thelium, a naturally-occuring compound that is found
above the sands, where the heat is strongest. Because
thelium cannot be mined but is rather cut like sheets
of ice, many desert inhabitants of Ova Dyr know at
which locations it can be found, and the sediment is
always actively protected by whichever community or
intelligent monster is nearest.
Lastly, no region in Athyr has had as many Djinn
sightings as Ova Dyr. These enigmatic creatures are
as sought after as they are feared and seem to have
a strong connection with these arid flatlands. Some
adventurers have even claimed they found a portal
to the plane of the Djinn somewhere in the north of
Aghrapur, where the lowlands rise to become hills and

mountains, but all expeditions that have been mounted
to find it again have met with failure.
If true, the existence of a gateway to another
dimension would be disconcerting if not for the
legendary reputation of Djinns as bringers of fortune
and wishmasters, and the tales about the supernatural
entryway have spawned an entire tradition of
charlatans who claim that they are able to bind or
subjugate Djinn to make them to do as their employers
wish. The fault in their logic – if it were so, these ‘Djinn
charmers’ wouldn’t need to a job, as they could simply
ask for whatever they wanted – may seem obvious but
has escaped numerous people.
EXPLORATION
Even though the western border of Ova Dyr is easily
navigable thanks to The Great Artery that runs from
Moon Skull Bay to the south along the Plains of Nihar
Din and Beshaar to the west to Lamaris and the Sea
of Jewels to the north, major problems soon arise
when one needs to traverse the Ethennian subregion
through its core. In fact, crossing the hills to the north
of Oman or scaling the Oosal Mountain Paths is – in
Ethennia
many ways – far less dangerous than trying to journey
through the desert plains of Ova Dyr. This is mainly due
to three reasons: the absence of any settlements of
note where travelers can recuperate or find resources,
the loose sand that covers almost the entire surface of
the subregion, and the underground worm complexes
that make every step more perilous than it appears to
be at first glance… and that’s without taking the other
life on Ova Dyr into account.
It can’t be stressed enough that any remnants of
towns or cities have long disappeared, leaving only
tent camps the size of hamlets and small tribal villages
outside of ancient Aghrapur – think hundreds of miles
of a single flat, sandy landscape with no routes at all,
except for the ones at the borders and a single trade
triangle running Aghrapur, Turan, and Thoral together.
It should come as no surprise, then, that there is much
cultural exchange between the mountain citadels and
the single Ova Dyrian city still standing. Traders and
caravans from any other part of Ethennia – including
Lamaris – prefer to travel in lines that are drawn as
straight as possible in order to avoid having to cross
the desert lands as much as possible, but because
of the Rhogoon and because of cave-ins caused by
the Sandworms, those makeshift routes need to be
replanned every few weeks in order to avoid new
obstacles. Any effort to make paths through Ova Dyr
would soon fail because they would be covered by
sand or destroyed by the ground collapsing into itself.
Worse, the indigenous Khalindrim are totally isolated.
Many don’t even know about the existence of other
cultures or regions and those who do generally don’t
care. Their communities don’t trade with outsiders,
their villages don’t have bathing inns or taverns, and
there are no shops of any kind to speak of. The Urandir,
on the other hand, are much more aware of the rest
of Athyr, but since they live mostly underground, they
don’t establish caravanserai or trade towns. Marauders
and isolated barbarian tribes have free reign, but
because of the shifting trade routes, they are more
concentrated in the north-east, whereas they pose far
less of a danger in the rest of Ova Dyr, where less loot
is to be found.
Because of the loose sand, travelers tend to sink away
inside of the surface, making travel extremely slow
without ralieh, custom sandshoes that look somewhat
like vertical tennis racquets, or without specialized
riding mounts like Hiriku. Even so, Sandworms often
come looking out, intent on bathing in the sunlight or
find food. These giant invertebrates only eat live prey
and will eat anything bigger than mice and smaller than
an elephant. However, direct attacks by Sandworms are
less common than falling into their tunnel complexes,
where they reign supreme. They can sense any such
incursion from fifty miles away and will telepathically
alert one another of any intruders. This is one of the
reasons why Urandir use abandoned complexes only,
as the vibrations made there are undetectable.
42
With no bodies of water keeping thirsty travelers from
dehydration, no edible plants to speak of, the searing
heat of the suns, the presence of dangerous marauders,
and the deadly creatures who make Ova Dyr their
home, one would be tempted to think almost no-one
is willing to travel here, but that would be false. The
presence of thelium, the mysteries of the Andrir, the
possible existence of a portal to the world of the Djinn,
the hallucinogenic properties of andrir-lan, and the
fabled biblioteca of Aghrapur are more than enough
of an attraction to many adventurers, academics,
rovers, spellcasters, and cultists.
Tent camps usually rise up around thelium deposits and
are moved when all thelium has been scraped off the
surface (which usually takes about a month for a typical
120 square feet thelium layer – enough to make four
complete sets of plate armor), when the area caves
in, or when it becomes too dangerous to stay there.
Despite of this flexible lifestyle, the communities thus
formed have more of a merchant mentality than they
resemble nomadic tribes, and tent campers who strike
it rich almost always return to the cities to live there as
respected (and, often, retired), wealthy armorers and
blacksmiths. Before they settle permanently, many of
them sell indirectly to the guilds, others set up a stall
in a marketplace until most of their goods have been
sold or until they leave again after their scouts come in
with news of newly formed thelium deposits.
And so, Ova Dyr keeps drawing in the more adventurous,
courageous, or foolhardy, whether they are questing
in the name of knowledge or looking for wealth that
is literally reflecting the suns from the surface floor
instead of needing to be uncovered in the perilous
depths of the ocean or in sunken and difficult to reach
underground tombs.
 Ethennia

POINTS OF INTEREST
THE NEST sport amongst youngsters
The largest known Sandworm complex lies in Aghrapur, where entire
somewhere in the middle of Messani and Aghrapur. bragging clubs have been
Many travelers have almost lost their lives here, others established, each numbering
have perished altogether while trying to traverse the just a few to a few dozen
distance between both cities. Those who survived members. Kids as young as
falling into the immense tunnel complex below claim 10 brag about how long they
it comprises many levels, the tunnels crisscrossing in will be able to stay inside of
all directions and interconnected at many intervals. the Nest before asking to be
Trying to navigate this maze for more than a few pulled back up. The champion,
minutes is almost impossible without some kind of 14-year-old Mul’Hil, currently
way to know which direction one is heading into. holds the title with a record
Horrifyingly, the fact that so many people know about 121 minutes, and is planning
The Nest’s whereabouts has spawned an underground on returning.

SECRETS & RUMORS

• There is a community of Urandir living in a pocket of The Nest. The people there are rumored
to have learnt how to avoid the attention of the Sandworms, but no-one has actually talked
to them and if they do exist and are willing to divulge their secret, that might change the
way of life in entire Ova Dyr. Because of this, the current ruling body of Aghrapur is preparing
several expeditions to go in and look for the Urandir.

• Some academics think The Nest is too intricate to have been made by Sandworms only, or at
least if the current understanding of their intelligence is accurate. Either these beings are even
smarter than they are already thought to be, or another entity created the tunnel layout, or
something (or someone) else is controlling or directing the creatures. This would also mean
their true motives are, as of yet, unknown, which is extremely alarming.

• A few of the survivors who entered The Nest report having seen glowing larvae the size
of Hiriku in one of the chambers they stumbled into. No-one has ever seen Sandworms in
this stage, but this might mean that their origin is more magical than assumed, which in
turn has some spellcasters attracted to The Nest to find out whether there is some arcane
benefit to reap there.

• Alarmingly, many sages believe that The Nest is even larger than assumed and stretches
all the way up to the Sea of Jewel coasts and Tamon. This has some people pretty upset
and academics have been expressly asked to stop spreading this theory by the Aghrapurian
ruling body.

43
MONDUL H AHN
The biggest known Urandir city, Mondul Hahn isn’t
nearly as large as The Nest, but it is still impressive, as who used to dwell here, the
the tribe has adapted the entire abandoned complex Urandir have carved out
to their needs. . Located along a rock formation additional living quarters
that stretches out northeast from Oman for almost and even temples. Much of
400 miles, the city can be entered through multiple their art involves pottery,
guarded openings in the ground and is lit by fireflies wall drawings, and wall
and fluorescent lichen cultivated by the Urandir. designs, including patterns,
Access to lower levels is by an intricate system of shapes, and carvings. Urandir
pulleys and wooden platforms, but there are also sculptors tend to prefer
several chutes with ropes and gradually descending natural, somewhat abstract
tunnels where one can walk that connect the shapes without sharp corners and almost without
different sections with each other. Aside from the straight lines, and some of it fetches high prices at
tunnels that were naturally shaped by the Sandworms markets outside of Ethennia.

S ECRETS & RUMORS

• Of late, Mondul Hahn has fallen victim to frequent Rhogil – localized sand blasts that storm
through the tunnels, leaving everything covered in sand. Some Urandir believe that these Rhogil
aren’t natural but are caused by the arcane experiments of Amendril Ahn, a legendary alchemist
and mystic who disappeared hundreds of years ago, soon after the city was formed. Amendril had
been experimenting with magic that would graft sand to his body in an effort to achieve near-
immortality and is often used as somewhat of a bogeyman in children’s tales.

• The guards of Urandir have been suffering losses at the hands of the Gendarim – a much-
reviled rebel sect that is intent on changing the Urandir culture from within. According to some
‘deprogrammed’ members, the Gendarim want to change the city’s meritocracy to a society
in which everyone is considered equal. This is unacceptable to most Urandir, but amongst the
younger city dwellers, their ideas are gaining ground and support is growing, up to the point that
some youngsters are ready to take up arms against their elders.

• The many secrets the Urandir here seem to hold have led several kings, as well as the ruling body
of Aghrapur, to send in spies and adventurers to find out what is really going on, but none of them
have returned. The Urandir are feigning ignorance but have tightened the security in unlikely areas
of the complex. Could there be hidden passageways even most denizens do not know about?

IHR-A LADA
Also known as Center Point due to its location before having to pack up
exactly in the middle of Ova Dyr, Irh-Alada is and leave. Because of these
completely barren and without any notable features. short-lived congregations,
Nothing can survive in this stretch of land spanning Ihr-Alada has become
a diameter of about 20 miles – not even insects or a place where new ideas
native creatures like Sand Crawlers or Sandworms. and hypotheses about the
Despite that fact, Ihr-Alada has become an almost cosmos and fortunetelling
mythical place, as the stars whose light is still able are developed, and
to reach Athyr are clearer here than anywhere else. some groups hold annual
This has drawn astrologers, diviners, and academics conventions here in order
from all over Ethennia to Ihr-Alada, where they small to share observations and
pockets of them stay here for stretches of a few days opinions.

44
 Ethennia

SECRETS & RUMORS

• There is a massive cult presence at the yearly meetings here, as the constellations and celestial
signs are even more important to some of the cults than to most traditional seers or priests.

• At certain times of the year, Ihr-Alada offers a clear view of the universe as it once was, long
before the Heralds of Doom arrived. This glimpse into the reality of the past usually comes with
the horrible realization that much of the cosmos has since been consumed or destroyed. During
particular celestial events, the view shifts to a dark, blackened nothingness above, which
many fortunetellers believe is a look into the future. At these moments, onlookers under the
influence of andrir-lan also see a series of occurrences that might be the causes of this dark end
of the universe: explosions, falling stars, and the sudden creation of gigantic black hole. This
scene always ends with whoever saw it disoriented and often even driven to insanity.

• Amongst some of the Khalindrim who are somewhat in touch with the outside world, there is
a rumor that meditating in the middle of Ihr-Aladas puts someone in touch with the ancient
arcane energies of Athyr itself, thereby gaining true understanding of magick. It is unknown
whether anyone has already survived the process, but if they have and the Khalindrim are
right, they might have acquired an innate ability to cast spells unheard of anywhere else
on Athyr.

S ECRETS & R UMORS

A NDRIR SUL
Several days of travel east from Nadir
lies a place that is colloquially known
as Andrir Sul, the largest concentration
of Andrir in Ova Dyr. There are exactly
144 floating stones forming distinct,
interconnected circular patterns.
Ominously pointing downwards, the
Andrir here are obviously positioned
this way for a reason, but they have
been excruciatingly difficult to study
because of the concentrated presence
of flying predators. In fact, the site has
been the focus of many aerial battles
between these beings, and there have
been several Dragon sightings here.
• The flying creatures here are said to instinctively be drawn
to Andrir Sul because they sense that it is a magical nexus.
Others think they innately know it will be the site of some
great occurrence that is soon to unfold, while some claim these
monsters are simply highly territorial and simply stay here
because the many Andrir offer them a great variety of resting
and breeding places. Lastly, there is a rumor that the beasts all
consume andrir-lan and are quite protective of their source of
nourishment or hallucinated existence.
• Some spellcasters see a magical formula into the way the Andrir
here float. Andrir Sul might be the encryption of a series of
gestures, an incantation, or both. If this is true, it might allow
whoever is able to unlock its secrets to summon the Ancient
Gods, find and open the fabled portal to the realm of the
Djinns, or otherwise grant immense power.
• A community of Khalindrim has been spotted here. The tribe
members seem to be able to wander the area surrounding
Andrir Sul without getting attacked or even being disturbed.
Whenever someone tries to talk to them, they scatter and
flee, and it is thought they might have access to underground
escapeways or magical transportation.

45
THE RUINED TOWER
OF A NIR M ALEHN The tower fell in disrepair,
Hundreds of years ago, Anir Malehn, aa senior advisor to but it still stands, a sleek black
the ruling body of Aghrapur, petitioned to have a tour edifice with a stone toothed
made far outside of the official territory covered by roof that seems to claw its
the city. Claiming the tower would be far better suited way upwards towards the sky
to his research in astrology than any building inside in the middle of the desolate
of the walls, Anir finally got an approval after 7 years landscape between Aghrapur
of waiting. The donation Anir received was enough to and Ashar. Somehow, no-
pay for the architect, carpenters, and stoneworkers one has claimed it – not
needed to construct the tower and after another 6 even raiders – and the city’s
years, the building was finally finished. Unfortunately, leaders have ordained that
by this time Anir had been taken severely ill and the the tower must be left alone after a series of freak
seer died while inscribing the inner walls of his tower accidents that left everyone who visited the tower
with arcane glyphs. dead.

S ECRETS & RUMORS

• Some think Anir Malehn was a cultist who wanted to use the tower as a means to summon
some sort of dark entity. Luckily, the dark energies he was trying to unleash got the better of
him and he died, but his building should definitely be left alone.

• The freak accidents seem to have a common denominator: they all look like an almost
unnatural stroke of bad luck. This has prompted many to state that Anir must have been cursed
and the seer has become a folkloristic symbol of hubris used in children’s tales to warn about
the arrogance of man.

• One woman is said to have visited the Tower of Anir Malehn and survived; two years ago, the
Evandyran cleric Emilia Forrether decided to travel to the ruins to sanctify them and remove all
evil influence from the place. She returned without the ability to speak and is now taken care of
in a temple inside of the city, her face stuck in an everlasting expression of utter panic.

46
 Ethennia

THE IMLIM-R HAAN

The Imlim-Rhaan is an enormous canyon running mountain goats, and lizards
hundreds of miles from the southeast of Ekalos to the reign supreme.
southeast of Keshan. It is thirty-four miles wide at its It is no coincidence that
broadest point and is the largest such ravine outside of the Old Ethennian name of
the Sundered Wastes, reaching depths of 9,750 feet. ‘Imlim-Rhaan ’ translates as
Millennia of arid-land erosion have created a sub- ‘The Whispering Crevice’,
ecosystem within Ova Dyr, rife with vegetation, animals as a constant wind howls
and creatures that are completely unique to the Imlim- throughout the gap,
Rhaan. Rocky and copper-colored instead of sandy whispering with a ghostly
and yellowish, the canyon is littered with ledges and hiss, and the thermodynamics
caverns instead of tunnel complexes and may be the here are very conducive to
only place in Ova Dyr that is inaccessible to Sandworms. the many kinds of gliding
Here, Sandcrawlers and especially hardy species of bats, creatures with leathery wings.

SECRETS & RUMORS

• Some academics, hunters and adventurers who study beasts and monsters have come to believe
that Dragons didn’t evolve out of the mountains, but out of the Imlim-Rhaan . A less nimble
gliding creature every bit as large as a Dragon often referred to as a Drake nests here and it might
very well be that it is a predecessor of the true Dragons, which have grown stronger muscles and
more agile wings.

• The canyon caverns may not only be home to a host of creatures, but also to a human tribe
similar to the Urandir. Some claim to have seen these mysterious people, but they are said
to be entirely obsidian black, hairless, and pupilless, which puts their human heritage into
question altogether.

• At the very bottom of the Imlim-Rhaan is a micro-climate and ecosystem where Dinosaurs roam
free and vegetation abounds, which leaves those few who have been there to wonder whether
one does not pass some dimensional portal to another place entirely.

47
 PEOPLES & CULTURE
URANDIR
One of the most recent additions to the tribes of
Ethennia, the Urandir evolved less than a millennium
ago after Omlek Urandir, a great Ethennian chieftain
who had spent most of his childhood venturing into
the tunnel complexes forged by Sandworms, grew
tired of the struggles aboveground and convinced
most of his family to retreat underground to build
their own society. Unhampered by allegiances or the
need to fight the heat aboveground during daytime,
the Urandir soon developed their own meritocracy
purely based on skill and accomplishment. This has
led some particularly harsh Urandir to leave their
babies out in the searing suns of the desert, while
others deliver them to the city gates of Aghrapur,
Turan, Thoral, or even Oman under the cover of
night in the hopes that they will get adopted by
people who can stomach raising them.
The tribe has been allowed to evolve inside of
abandoned Sandworm complexes for many centuries
now and much of their technology is focused
on underground survival. Their engineers are
unparalleled miners and excavators, able to design
intricate pulley systems and mechanisms matched
only by the locksmiths of Samorra. They also know
more about the flora and fauna underground than
any other Ethennian tribe or civilization, but their
unwillingness to share their knowledge has made
them unpopular amongst many academics on the
surface world.
Although they do not trade with the outside world,
Urandir do venture outside and sometimes visit
Aghrapur or other aboveground cities, so they are
fairly knowledgeable and aware of what is going on
in the world. Uniquely and despite their subterranean
existence, Urandir have demonstrated a knack for
linguistics and most tribe members know at least
seven or eight languages. This has developed into
an amalgamated jargon they only use amongst each
other, as they usually refrain from using it in front of
others – maybe out of politeness, maybe because of
different reasons.
48
K HALINDRIM
Standing slightly smaller than most Ethennians,
the stocky Khalindrim are seldomly seen and not
much is known about their culture. They seem to
be entirely focused on tribalism and are rumored
to sacrifice their own to appease the twin sisters,
Aureya and Issira. This sun worship might actually
work, as the Khalindrim are unusually resistant to
heat and dehydration, while also possessed with
almost inhuman endurance and resilience.
Despite their obvious potential, the Khalindrim
reject metal tools and have stuck to more primitive
weapons and armor throughout the ages. Why this is,
remains unclear, but not a single exception is known
and even the few altercations there have been with
people from outside of their tribe hasn’t resulted in
the Khalindrim stealing or using the armament of the
scoundrels who tried to fight them. Tribe members
only speak a peculiar accent of Old Ethennian and
are inordinately difficult to understand, which makes
any communication with these solitary humans even
more difficult.
R AIDERS
As noted, Ova Dyr is also often visited by raiders
from all kinds of different cultures. These groups
are usually temporary alliances, bands of rovers, or
criminals who are attracted to the subregion because
of its many mysteries or resources – especially
andrir’lan and thelium. So far, none of these parties
have formed greater coalitions, which has been both
a blessing and a curse to the peoples of Ova Dyr.
On the one hand, it keeps them from growing more
powerful and influential (and, thus, dangerous), on
the other hand, it makes most of these parties and
the way they operate extremely unpredictable.
Ethennia
 TRAVEL ACTS
1. OBSTACLES
Great Dune
1
A recent storm has erected a dune nearly the size of a mountain. It stretches on for as far as
the eye can see. Scaling it will be an arduous and dangerous affair, including slipping on loose
sand and the risk of being buried halfway to the top.

Raging Heat
2
A particularly vicious heat sets in, lasting for hours on end. If no shelter or underground
passage is found anyone marching on in the open sun risks serious exhaustion, dehydration,
and even long-lasting mental illness.

Thelium Sheet
3
A large sheet of thelium covering several miles has formed on the surface. The reflective metal
deposit is still new and not fully formed, but the entire area has become extremely slippery
and even more difficult to navigate than ice.

Collapsed Tunnel
4
A Sandworm tunnel has caved in, leaving a long crevice in the desert. The tunnel’s edges
might crumble if stepped on, but there is a way across. A single, narrow, bridge of earth and
stone that arcs across. But is it as rigid as it looks?

2. EVENTS
Caught in a Storm
1
All around, a series of small whirlwinds is forming, kicking up sand and spinning across the
sand dunes. The vortices gather momentum with every passing second and seem destined to
develop into a full-fledged Rhogoon within minutes.

Quicksand
2 Treacherous patches of quicksand are scattered throughout the area. Getting caught in one
of these pools of sand may result in a quick but horrible and painful death.

Tunnel Complex
The desert’s surface suddenly shifts down into the earth and everyone is swept away along
3 the resulting avalanche of sand. Anyone caught in this landslide ends up in a tunnel complex
below ground. Sands keeps pouring inside the tunnels, though there are several escape routes
that lead deeper into the underground complex.

Deadly Tumbleweed
4
A steady wind is blowing a swarm of flaming tumbleweeds across the sandy wastes, having
caught fire in the blazing hot sun. These blazing hot balls bounce and roll, occasionally pilling
up into great mounds of fire, and rage across an area as far as the eye can see.

50
 Ethennia

3. CONFLICTS
Sandcrawlers
1 Sandcrawlers burst up from the sand, ready to attack. They move at great speed and will
attempt to kill and drag down their prey to feast on them underground.

Raiders!
A group of raiders is closing in on the travelers. They are easy to spot as their Hiriku mounts
2 leave a trail of sand behind them, but they’re also likely too fast to flee from. The raiders don’t
necessarily want bloodshed, but will murder anyone who isn’t willing to part with enough
gold, resources, and other belongings.

Sandworm
3
A Sandworm bursts up from the earth and raises its gargantuan body. The entire area starts to
sink into the hole it dug all the while it is ready to devour whatever crosses its path (which is
immensely large!).

Djinn
A lone hut stands in the middle of nowhere. Soon after it is spotted, a muscular. bald man with
4
a face exuding ancient wisdom and wearing a beautifully embroidered loincloth steps outside
and waves over any passersby. He is curious to hear any stories they’re willing to share, most
notably tales of adventure. The man is in fact, a Djinn, and even though unsuspecting travelers
might not realize it, the Djinn will do as he pleases, and they are quite literally at his mercy.

4. INTERACTIONS
Khalindrim Contact
1
A few miles away, a dozen Khalindrim are observing the travelers as they cross the sandy
flatlands. As soon as they realize they’ve been spotted, they dart away and jump behind the
dunes to take cover.

Conglomerate of Bhulaahn
The Conglomerate of Bhulahn is a famous adventuring troupe currently consisting of the
overly-enthusiastic Evandyrian Stargazer Leonardo Darihn, the soft-spoken Ishtan Slayer
2 Ghuruk Amlik, the dissident Roshan Sorcerer Kimlik Hi-Wook, the boisterous Evandyrian
Vanguard Sir Caspin Roughwater, and, of course, their pirate-Hunter leader Bhulaahn. They
are encountered while on a similar quest as the Characters and might either become great
allies or (more plausibly) lifelong rivals.

Vultures
Five vultures are circling above some dunes nearby. They have spotted a camp that has been
3 raided and are getting ready to feast on the corpses of the hapless travelers who got killed
during the attack. Perhaps those responsible are still in the area, and one or two people may
have survived, wounded among their slain allies.

Urandir Family
4
The Characters meet an Urandir family that is headed towards the same destination. They
are friendly and the two eleven-year old twins, Imya and Yinya, are excited and very curious
about the foreigners, but their mother, Thalyii, keeps eying the Characters suspiciously.

51
 5. FLORA & FAUNA
Crystal Sand
1 Several small patches of shimmering, purple sand are found up ahead. This crystalline dust is
known as Kormir and is worth its weight in gold if collected and sold.

Patch of Harodja
Up ahead is a rare patch of desert plants known as Harodja, tucked away among wildflowers
2 and colorful cactuses. The place seems to be a favorite sunbathing area for some large, pink,
and hugely territorial lizards, but Harodja can be dried and made into a powder that has
a similar (but more potent) effect as Gadja Herbs.

Abandoned Camels
3 A group of four camels are standing around, without doing much. They are saddled and they
have leather bags attached to their pillions, but their riders are nowhere to be seen.

Torbaji
A group of Torbaji, small scorpion-like (but harmless) and inventive creatures can be seen
4 dragging around small rocks to build some kind of structure. As soon as they notice they have
been spotted the Torbaji crawl away under the sand but will curiously look up to see if the
area is safe to continue their work.

6. LANDMARKS
Mysterious Crater
1
A ridge of stone curves across the desert. Crossing the ridge reveals as vast crater. The bottom
of the crater is glassy smooth, covered with drifts of sand and clusters of bones. In the center
of the crater is a cluster of small buildings made from blocks of sandstone.

Abandoned Observatory
A single makeshift observatory that seems to be abandoned, thrust in the middle of the flat
2
desert land. The hut seems to be made of the parts of four or five wagons and is sparsely
decorated whatever was left over, such as wheels and ropes. Strangely, the sole room was
clearly not meant to live or sleep in, but rather features a single telescope with a broken lens
pointed up towards the sky, through a hole in the roof.

Lone Andrir
3 A lone but particularly large Andrir is floating above the ground. There definitely is activity on
its top – maybe even a Dragon?

Fata Morgana
4
A city can be seen in the distance. It appears to be massive metropolis, consisting of shining
towers inhabited by strange humanoids. The city appears green and well-watered, and looks
to be close by. If the travelers make a detour of a few miles, they should reach it.

52

LAMARIS
—LADY OF THE SEA—
ETHENNIA’S MOST IMPORTANT
HARBOR CITY, KNOWN FOR ITS
FELUCCA AND SHIPBUILDING, AS
WELL FOR THE LEGENDARY BEAUTY
OF ITS PRINCESS
POPULATION 19,529
GOVERNMENT City-state, ruled by
Princess Alhantra of Lamaris, daughter of
Abd’Hal, Jewel of the Sea
DEFENSE Bowmen (360), crossbowmen
(240), infantry with swords (360), infantry
with spears (180), cavalry on horses with
lances and swords (120), navy (16 galleons,
14 sloops and 14 brigands, each with a full
complement of crew)
SERVICES Adventuring supplies, armorer/
blacksmith, black market, boat fares,
companionship, curio, bank, fletcher/
bowyer, general supplies, guide, healing,
hirelings, housing, jeweler, leatherworker,
library, lodgings, meals, mounts, repairs,
shipbuilding, ships, storage, tailor, temple,
translator, woodworker
Ethennia
B Y LAND
As the broad dirt road that cuts through the Valley of
Kendara widens and becomes paved with cobblestone,
the lush forest that hides the Great Artery, riverside
fisher settlements and the low, rolling Kendaran Hills
give way to reveal the great harbor city of Lamaris. In
the distance, beyond what must be at least a dozen
hamlets, watchtowers as high as its tallest blue-colored
building blocks intercut the city’s already imposing
walls, all lined with rows of torches ready to light up
the sky with a warm, inviting radiance. Its largest wall
tower sports a single grand entrance gate made from
exotic wood and ivory, and above it are sculpted three
different but equally impressive-looking ships.
As one descends into the valley, its sprawling harbor
and a multitude of tall ships laden with wares from all
over Athyr come into view. The loud crash of waves
along with wooden ships rocking in sync can be heard
from miles away.
53
GEOGRAPHY
Lamaris is situated in a valley at the north coast of
Ethennia, at the Sea of Jewels, several miles away from
The Great Artery (‘Al’Chirem Ileazum’), the river that
cuts through the middle of Ethennia and connects
many of its major cities. A few ruins of an earlier
attempt to build Lamaris at the river delta still remain,
but the excessive floods and shifting marshes made
the original settlers move further up east. Six- to ten-
person basket boats with single lateen sails still provide
transportation back and forth from the city through
the marshes to The Great Artery.
THE SEA GATE
AND THE NATALIHB
Upon approaching Lamaris by sea, the first thing
one would notice would be its immense walls, which
extend into the water, surrounding the entire port.
Its huge twin sea gate is considered to be one of the
architectural marvels of Athyr. Looming forebodingly
against the sky like two giant stone sentinels, the gates
tower over the harbor like silent guardians. Massive
and foreboding, the carvings in their brass and steel
edges have weathered centuries of storms and raids,
but their original intricate details remain impressively
intact, the left gate depicting the legendary First King
of Lamaris, Mandarud, the mythical Scepter of Equity
in hand, whilst the right gate was recently remodeled
to reflect Princess Alhantra herself, although all who
ever laid eyes upon her agree no human structure
could ever truly capture her true pulchritude and
alluring aura.
Both gates can only be opened by the natalihb, a close
group of harbor supervisors who coordinate travel in
and out of the port from the lighthouse that stands
on the edge of the harbor proper. It can, however,
be overridden by a second mechanism that can only
be controlled by a second group of extremely loyal
natalihb from inside of Princess Alhantra’s palace.
The natalihb are all seasoned captains or navigators
who have spent years under the tutelage of senior
members after retiring from active seafaring duties.
Entrance is by invitation only and must be approved
by the guild masters. During the final interview, the
natalihb are joined by a Kaa’hen who is left with the
difficult task to ascertain whether the candidate is lying
or not. If deceit is suspected, the interviewee is not
only thrown out of the guild quarters, but also given
only 8 full hours to leave Lamaris and never return.
This banishment can never be revoked, no matter what
the circumstances.
BY SEA
Once the always-persistent fog that protects
Lamaris so well from foreign invasion lifts,
its monumental walls appear out of the
lasts whisps of mist, the immense twin sea
gate flanked by two colossal statues, one
depicting a robed man wearing an intricate
crown and holding a gigantic scepter,
the other one a beautiful young woman
wearing a similar, but more elegant and
slenderer crown, the last remnants of recent
scaffolding still visible around her lower legs.
Waves crash against the barrier, but they are
inviting instead of threatening, low enough
to easily navigate and strong enough to
easily carry even the largest ships into the
sprawling docks. Sculptures and engravings
of sleek seafaring vessels are everywhere,
even more plentiful than the many ships
waiting to enter the steel- and brass-edges
gates, or just leaving the great harbor city.
Behind the walls, flat roofs top blue-colored
buildings that almost look like blocks stapled
upon each, serving as a splendid herald of the
architectural inventiveness to be found inside
of the city proper.
THE LAND GATE
AND THE MUTALIHB
Interestingly, the southern land gate is not controlled
by guards, but by a second group called the mutalihb,
market superintendents who command access to the
city. This allows their assistants to keep records of
everyone who enters and leaves through land. A tight
coordination with the natalihb allows them to keep tabs
on the demographics of everyone inside of the city.
The mutalihb guild structure shares many similarities
with the natalihb, but only allows for experienced
traders who used to work in the markets of Lamaris
for at least 5 consecutive years. In order to prevent
malfeasance as much as possible, they aren’t allowed
to practice their old profession anymore and are even
prevented from having others sell their old goods or
services. In return, they are awarded a monthly stipend

54

by the Lamarian government, but the importance of
their new status far outweighs any motivation that
might be gleaned from getting a fixed fee.
AURELIA’S SHIPBUILDING
WHARF & ROYAL
SHIPBUILDERS
Out in the waters, within the city walls, is Aurelia’s
Shipbuilding Wharf. The reference to Ethennia’s
goddess of the stars is not meant literally, but rather
as a way to make clear how wondrous this monolithic
rectangular stone building really is. It is controlled by
the Royal Shipbuilders or ‘Binaht fi Alhantra’, a group
of expert craftsmen and specialists who use advanced
techniques to warp wood into shape, strengthen the
fittings and even temporarily hoist ships into the air
with an intricate system of chains and pulleys without
a need for elaborate scaffolding. This has allowed for
major technical advances that have made the small to
medium-sized ships built here the fastest in the world.
However, it also keeps Lamaris from manufacturing
bigger seafaring vessels, as the mechanisms used aren’t
able to handle those kinds of weights.
Becoming a member of the Royal Shipbuilders Guild
is very different than enrolling in the natalihb or
mutalihb guilds: even though it does require an
impeccable track record, acceptance is entirely
based on a series of timed skill tests that feature rope
knotting, woodworking, drawing blueprints and more.
LAMARIAN SHIPS
Most ships in Athyr are built frame-first, with planking
added later, but Lamarian ships are generally carvel-
built. The planks don’t overlap and are fixed edge-to-
edge with wooden pegs called treenails. The largest
vessels have three masts, with square sails on two of
those and a triangular sail on the back mast.
Even though the sleek Lamarian builds are impressive
enough on their own, one of the most astounding
things the Royal Shipbuilders have developed is the
compass, which is integrated into the wood next to
where the helmsman sits. Another invention is the
inclusion of raised wooden chairs and protective
transparent wind shielding for key crewmembers. The
chairs even have a form of seating belts, with locks that
use Samorran technology.
Aurelia’s Shipbuilding Wharf produces three kinds of
iconic ships that have become emblematic for the city:
55
Ethennia
beautifully ornamented galleons with large weapon
emplacements, fast sloops that seem to cleave through
the ocean as a Dragon does through the air, and
sturdy brigands fortified with steel plates and fittings.
All three are easily recognizable and their appearance
often makes pirates rout within minutes.
LAYOUT & A RCHITECTURE
No city is as flexible and customizable as Lamaris and
it shows in its architecture, most of which is extremely
functional. Building blocks can be shifted around
within hours, market stalls fold together and can be
moved, pieces of decoration can be swapped with
other ornaments, wall slots hold multiple canopies and
breweries all store multiple grains and yeasts.
This has all made Lamaris a very enigmatic city, as
accounts about the harbor vary and the widely
different tales told by travelers make many wonder
whether they are even telling the truth. The one thing
that is a constant, is the abundance of shipbuilding
references. Embroidery, sculptures and paintings
invariably refer to ships and life at sea. Foreign traders
would do well to bring goods that are tied to the same
themes if they want to sell their wares to the citizens
of Lamaris.
THE PEOPLE OF LAMARIS
Even though the permanent population of Lamaris is
nearing 20,000, there are, at any time, at least as
many temporary visitors staying inside of its city walls.
To the people living here, trade is everything. They
adapt easily and quickly appropriate new techniques
from foreigners, making Lamaris as much a hub of
innovation as a major trading port.
Shipbuilding and seafaring is so much an integral part
of the Lamarian way of life that you would be hard
pressed to find a native citizen who is jealous of the
three guilds in power, as everyone is taught from an
early age on that ships only get built because of the
combined efforts of many people working together,
often at disparate times and at separate steps of the
construction process. This lack of bitterness, rancor or
resentment is ingrained throughout the entire society
and helps the people here come together during times
of need or danger.
Travelers would be hard-pressed to find a more
accommodating, friendly place, but there is a limit:
the people here are accustomed to a give-and-take
philosophy, and kindness is always expected to be
repaid – either by coin, or by something of similar
value. Failure to do so will results in animosity first and
even hatred if allowed to continue.
TRADE
Curiously, even though Lamarians will make almost
anything and offer any kind of service if they think
people will purchase it, the passion for seacraft is so
ingrained in their mindset that not many of them are
interested in anything that doesn’t refer to shipbuilding
and the sea.
There is a catch, as building a single galleon requires
about 2.000 trees and there aren’t nearly enough oak
forests near Lamaris that can provide wood suitable
for shipbuilding. Thus, Lamaris is largely dependent
on trade with the Islands of Roshan and problems
between the Lamarians and the Roshani sometimes
lead to partial trade embargoes, export tax raises and
other incentives meant to make the other side comply
with demands. So far, this has never resulted in war as
both the Ethennian city state and the Roshani Emperor
realize stopping trade entirely would most likely lead
to the mutually assured destruction of their respective
economies.
The one exception to the commercial focus on
shipbuilding is the trade in products and services that
honor the Lamarian princess, Alhantra, who is considered
the most beautiful young woman in all of Ethennia.
PRINCESS A LHANTRA
Princess Alhantra has ruled over Lamaris since her father,
King Imrid, died when she was only 14 years old. Now,
29 years on, she doesn’t seem to have aged past 19 or so
and has never faltered to beguile anyone who lays eyes
upon her. This has led to some speculation, with rumors
ranging from the suspicion that her youth is being
assured through magical means to the presumption
that she has a personal Djinn at her command who will
rejuvenate her upon the rise of Issira each morning and
the more mundane idea that she uses a set of man-
made elixirs with an unheard-of efficacy. Interestingly,
none of the chitchat is negative or involves dark cults
and evil magic, and most citizens even consider it bad
form to doubt Alhantra’s natural beauty.
Alhantra has become quite the style icon and always
appears in a different outfit, wawing her subjects with
her refined taste and fashion sense. Dolls, dresses and
statues that refer to the princess are always in high
demand by children and adults alike. Whenever she
56
graces the streets with her entourage and personal
servant/guards, it is a momentous occasion marked
by the scattering of rope figures shaped like anchors
or ships, dancing, and singing contests. Lamarians and
outsiders alike have been known to feint or even die
from the excitement while watching the parade, but
never has the princess fallen out of her role as humble
and gentle ruler – at least not as far as anyone knows.
CUSTOMS
Everyone – family, friends and even mere acquaintances
and foreigners – are greeted in exactly the same way: by
a hug, accompanied with two taps on the shoulder. This
also serves to gage the disposition of people Lamarians
meet for the first time. An awkward greeting, trying
to make space or stepping back will make coming to
any kind of trade agreement afterwards much more
expensive, if not impossible.
R ELIGION
There are shrines to Alahad and Aurelia everywhere
around Lamaris, as well as three temples specifically
dedicated to Alahad, each one accenting a different
aspect of the sea god, which has as much to do with
the fact that half of the people staying here at any
time are from outside of the city (and often outside of
Ethennia), as with the Lamarian philosophy of being as
accommodating as possible (mostly to optimize trade
opportunities).
ORGANIZATIONS
Other than the natalihb, the mutalihb and the Royal
Shipbuilders, Lamaris also holds an extremely adapt
navy and fearsome standing infantry. Due to its location
and relatively flat area to the South, it only maintains
a small cavalry on horses.
There is a dark side to the international nature of
Lamaris. Its accessibility and proximity to the Sea of
Jewels has attracted a sizable number of pirates and
privateers, most of whom are wise enough to refrain
from raiding the waters surrounding Lamaris, instead
preferring to work under the cover of criminal
organizations active within the city walls itself. There,
they deal in illicit goods, offer contract killings, sell
their services as navigators (only to slit the throat
of whoever owns the ship, and steal the loot while
out in the open ocean), and establish other kinds of
shady businesses.

GOINGS-ON
1. The streets are being cleared, people are flocking
in front of their windows and children are
throwing miniature rope anchors to the ground.
This can only mean one thing: Princess Alhantra
will soon be coming through with her entourage,
throwing kisses to the crowd from inside of her
horse-drawn royal wagon!
2. A curioso shop is changing its façade, swapping
lighthouse miniatures with small pyramids. Might
there be a large delegation from Ishta inside of
the city walls?
3. An argument has developed between a Beshaar
barbarian from the much-scorned Belkoroman
tribe and two Lamarian salesmen. Apparently,
the barbarian drank some hot mint tea he was
offered and is now refusing to give anything in
return.
4. A recently arrived ship crew is talking to some
locals about the strange weather that threatened
them in the north-east of the Sea of Jewels. The
thunder and lightning had some supernatural
elements to it.
5. A guard patrol passes by. The captain walks up
to the PCs, desperate for some friendly small-
talk after a hard but boring day catching minor
culprits and juvenile delinquents.
6. A group of Roshani pirates passes through with
the smell of liquor on their breath. They all seem
quite content and ready to hug anyone nearby.
Anyone.
7. A guide is offering a tour through the
Shipbuilding Wharf, claiming that visitors will get
to ‘learn everything about the secret techniques
used by the natalihb’.
8. There’s music being played in the Indar
Undarin bathing house. The song seems to be
a cautionary tale about sea travel to the
north-east.
9. A translator is offering her services on a street
corner, claiming to know every language on
Athyr and every possible Ethennian dialect (the
first claim being untrue).
10. People on the street stop and pause, trying to
make sense of the smell coming from Manoohk’s
Beard, which is hosting some of the best chefs in
Ethennia to show off its owners superior cooking
skills.
57
Ethennia
LOCAL SPECIALTIES
‘Su’muhk’, a very meaty sea bass only found in the Sea
of Jewels.
‘Sadduht alkuhal’, a fermented drink that is supposed
to cure hangovers.
‘Lombal malan’, an exceedingly spicy fish stew that is
graded in levels of heat and is used in dozens of eating
competitions organized throughout the city.
K EY LOCATIONS
THE SEA DRAKE (‘DIREHK ALAHBAN’): One of the
most iconic bathing inns in Lamaris, owned by Captain
Menahr Muhl, an Evandyrian knight who decided to
stay in the city after he visited for the first time about
a decade ago. Some patrons believe Muhl was actually
exiled for some unknown reason, but as long as he
keeps brewing the best ale in all of Lamaris, no-one
really seems to care.
INNER KEEP: This is the palace of the princess. It is
a walled, large, single-building affair, with concealed
fortifications. Princess Alanthra’s entire staff, military
and entourage lives inside. Despite her main resident’s
reputation for beauty, the keep is largely undecorated
and functional, which only serves to keep the focus on
the princess herself.
THE ROYAL SHIPBUILDING WHARF (‘RAHSEF
ALAHAD AL’SALAF’): The Royal Shipbuilding Wharf
consists of a huge, enclosed stone building inside of
the water with enormous gates and smaller doors at
deck-level. It is adorned with giant statues depicting
various sea gods and monsters.
SEA GATES: The huge twin sea gates to the harbor,
made of stone. The gates have ramparts that connect
to the rest of the wall and are controlled by an
underground mechanism.
SOUTHERN GATES: Smaller and less impressive than
the sea gates, the iron-fortified wooden Southern
gates are still sturdy and flanked by watch towers.
MANOOHK’S BEARD: Manoohk’s Beard is one of the
most innovative eatery in all of Ethennia. Here, meals
feature 22 to 42 courses, each of them dedicated to
a different minor god from the Ethennian pantheon,
and each of them presented in an innovative, surprising
matter. Its owner seems to have a knack to pull out the
names and backstories of gods who are worshipped
by only a very small group of people, often sects that
hold no influence whatsoever, to imbed his succulent
but extremely expensive meals in stories that manage
to captivate just as much as the tastes and textures of
his dishes do.
THE INDAR UNDARIN: A bathing house without guest
rooms or dining facilities, the Indar Undarin offers rare
segregated bathing areas as well as mixed-gender
facilities. Famed throughout Lamaris for its specialized
massages from all over Athyr (even a supposedly
‘typically Keldorian deep-tissue treatment’), saltwater
baths, bubble pools, steam inhalation rooms, spa
treatments, and seasonal herbal teas, the Indar Undarin
attracts a very diverse and wide audience.
THE SU’MUHK MALAI: A series of small fisher villages
held together by ropeways and cables along the Great
Artery near Lamaris that ends in the Su’muhk Talihn,
a fishers’ quarter inside of the city walls, as if it were
an extension of the village conglomerate. All villages
are governed by the Fisher Guild of Lamaris and each
of them focuses on specific kinds of bass found in the
river and in the Sea of Jewels, supplemented with other
seafood.
THE DUSK ALLEY CLUB: A small venue tucked away
in one of Lamaris’ alleys where people who dabble in
the esoteric, arcane, and occult arts come together
to debate and talk about magic. Membership is by
invitation only and is open to all who show themselves
knowledgeable and wiling to pay the steep monthly
membership fee – either in coin or in magical artifacts.
Although it doesn’t really have a name, it is sometimes
referred to as the ‘Dusk Alley Club’ by people in the
know, although some just call it ‘A zela’s Hole’, referring
to the wizened old woman who pulls back the curtain
behind the door to reveal the club entrance when
someone knocks five times on the glass of the low-
hanging lantern above the outside porch.
K EY NPC S
ROGAN OF LAMARIS: Rogan is one of the few Lamaris-
born champions. He isn’t tied to the military, but is
often consulted by would-be adventurers, even though
he’s not active anymore. Rogan once accidentally
discovered a secret dungeon underneath a bathing
inn that was run by one of the cults. He was caught
unprepared but managed to kill all the cult members
with a kitchen knife, earning him the nickname ‘Little
Knifeman’ – which, to his great annoyance, stuck.
TAHLINA OF TAMON: A fairly young but experienced
member of the Binaht fi Alhantra. A sorcerer-engineer
of some repute, she her magic to bend and warp wood
in the desired shape during the shipbuilding process.
She is passionate, but she is ready for more and would
love to go on an adventure – preferably on one of the
ships she helped build.
MANOOHK OF LAMARIS: Manoohk isn’t your typical
chef. He didn’t get interested in cuisine by watching
his mother or grandmother cook, but rather by
participating in a number of raids beyond the Ethennian
borders as a mercenary. Weary of killing other people,
Manoohk travelled through Athyr for more than 2
decades to learn about local ingredients and cooking.
He eventually returned to his home city, where he
started Manoohk’s Beard, named after his very first dish:
a stringy salad topped with fried hairs from his own beard.
Always innovative and looking for new presentations
and techniques, Manoohk now is on a mission to spread
his particular kind of cuisine throughout Ethennia and
maybe even the entirety of Athyr.
SARAH WHITEWATER: Scourge of the Cults, Bearer of
the Sword of Naldur, Avenger of the Enslaved, Sarah has
made quite the name for herself during her campaigns
as a noble knight of Lhandor. In fact, the only thing
she is even better known for than her adventures and
martial accomplishments is her beauty. Vein and at
least somewhat pretentious, Sarah has decided to stay
in Lamaris because she has grown jealous of Princess
Alhantra, who is supposed to be even more beautiful
than Sarah is.

THREATS & DOOM: THE SPY FROM WITHIN

Darkan, a spy from Taliath, infiltrated the Royal Shipbuilders Guild 21 years ago. He has worked his way up
to overseer status and has been adding a structural weakness to each and every ship that is being made
in Lamaris. It allows for good swimmers who can get underneath the boats to literally open up the hull
with contraptions specifically made for that purpose. He has been reporting to a fierce fleet under the
command of the infamous Captain Melindra, who is ready to set sail and attack Lamaris as soon as Darkan
sends her a message by raven to do so.

58
 Ethennia

QUEST HOOKS
i ii facing each other on it. No one in the city recognizes
THE MISSING GALLEON the banner and there doesn’t seem to be any crew
on board, as the deck has remained empty for days
Merchants are aghast with the news that some kind of
now, the oars aren’t moving, and there is no other sign
sea serpent has swallowed an Evandyrian galleon whole…
of life. Every adventuring group that tries to get to it
inside of the city walls! Within hours, the entire city is
either is inexplicably drifts off-course or gets lost in the
bustling with rumors. What is going on?
fog and needs to turn around. There must be a way to
Reward: If the Characters find out what happened and board the ship and find out what is going on.
come up with a solution, they will be invited by the
Reward: Whatever is going on, the Characters will be
Royal Shipbuilders Guild to explain in-length what their
royally rewarded by both the natalihb, the royal court,
methods of deduction or induction were, and how
and any government that may hold rightful dominion
they went about solving the problem. If their accounts
over the ship, should they be able to discover its true
sound plausible or can be collaborated, they will be
origins and get it to the Lamaris harbor as a gift to the
granted a small sloop, ready to set sail whenever they
city. If particularly successful, or if it seems like the ship
please, or will be offered customizations to a boat the
might be haunted or otherwise compromised, it will be
Characters already own.
offered to the PCs, as long as they promise to hire crew
staying in Lamaris.
i ii
THE IMPOSTER PRINCESS

After not being seen for a month – which is highly

unusual – Princess Alhantra has reappeared. However,
almost everyone who saw her during the first parade
since her return noticed something off: the person
inside of the wagon was wearing mismatched jewelry.
Surely this can’t be the Jewel of the Sea! Who is this
imposter – and are criminals or even a secret cabal of
sorcerers to blame?
Reward: The recompense here depends entirely on
what is really going on, but is almost certain to involve
the royal court or even Princess Alhantra herself.
i ii
THE ENIGMA
Consternation in the harbor. A huge black warship has
appeared in the fog. It is more than 120 feet long and
is sailing under a black flag with two coiled serpents
i ii
INFILTRATED!
According to a rumor, one of the mutalihb was caught
in the robes of a member of a splinter religious sect,
a cult, or some kind of other criminal organization. This
is cause for great concern, but the man keeps denying,
claiming that any similarities are purely coincidence. The
incident has alerted the Princess, who is ready to take on
a discrete group of investigators to find out the truth.
Reward: If the Characters manage to solve the case
expeditiously, Princess Alhantra will offer them to flank
her during one of her parades – a rare honor indeed!
The amount of renown and recognition involved will
easily eclipse whatever monetary award they would
otherwise have gotten, but if the Characters decline
or seem disappointed, she will send them off with
a treasure chest full of gold pieces… and never call on
them again.

THREATS & DOOM: THE FORBIDDEN GATE

Unbeknownst to anyone, Princess Alhantra has inherited a terrible secret from her father: underneath
the city’s waters is an extradimensional gate that accesses an alien dimension where terrible monsters
reign supreme. Her family has been sacrificing all manner of sea creatures for generations now but, of
late, the gate has grown larger and the arcane energy inside of it has been swirling ever faster. Alhantra is
afraid that soon, whatever is on the other side will either require a significantly larger animal… or demand
human offerings.

59
 M ESSANI
—THE MOUNTAIN CITADEL—
A CITY-STATE BUILT PARTIALLY ON
A MOUNTAIN BASE, SURROUNDED BY
A HUGE GATELESS WALL DEDICATED TO
THE GODDESS QUISANI AND PROTECTED
BY HER SWORN GUARDIANS.
POPULATION 9,423 (inner city) to 97,491
(including the villages)
GOVERNMENT City-state kingdom, ruled by
Queen Aarif Lagheri
DEFENSE Hundreds of Watchers of the Wall
(no-one knows for sure how many, given the
length of the wall itself), 330 royal guardsmen
armed with various weapons, 540 city
constables/peacekeepers armed with swords
and knives
SERVICES Architects, armorer/blacksmith,
art, carpenters, curio, general supplies, guide,
ironmongers, jeweler, leatherworker, library,
lodgings, masons, meals, repairs, tailor, temple.
WALL OF THE GODDESS
The first thing one sees upon approaching Messani is not
the city itself, but its immense moated wall. The trench
is filled with a mesmerizing purplish water that gets its
color from the translucent mineral deposits and crystals
in the Ayurpaya Mountains and that is said to be deadly
to the enemies of Messani, while sparing its citizens –
a gift from the city’s main goddess Quisani. The wall
itself, which is called the ‘Tempahk Pesaar’, is legendary
all over Athyr. It stands 100 feet high, with a thickness of
20 feet, and, quite impossibly, seems to be built of solid
undecorated stone.
Messani is constructed on a man-made artificial mound,
entirely surrounded by the aforementioned moat with
glacis, and protected by a funnel-shaped wall. Uniquely,
the Tempahk Pesaar extends to the mountain range
Messani was built against and partially covers the base
of one of the mountains. This is also where the palaces
can be found and many of them are carved out of rock.

THE WATCHERS
OF THE WALL
There are no visible gates whatsoever. Instead, each of
the wall guards is a royal guardian who pledges his life
to defending both the kingdom and its protector deity,
Quisani. Upon death, Quisani bargains with the Munagi
who come to fetch the guardian’s soul and if deemed
worthy, that person’s very essence is connected to the
Tempahk Pesaar forever. The guardian remains there,
on the wall, slowly losing his sense of self and unable
to leave the ramparts, becoming a living, ageless
extension of the stone border. After that, only injury
can bring final death.
The Watchers of the Wall have the ability to create
temporary openings in the stone underneath them,
allowing entire wagons to pass until there is no need
anymore for a gate. This unique defense has helped the
city state stand sovereign even when the surrounding
area was being invaded.
THE CITY PROPER
Inside of the walls lie green pastures, orchards,
farmlands, grain silos, and grazing grounds. There is
a road alongside the inner perimeter of the Tempahk
Pesaar, with smaller roads extending inwards at
seemingly random intervals, all of them leading to
the city proper. Despite the wall’s drab and dreary
appearance, Messani’s center is fairly beautiful. There
are many narrow curvilinear streets, cul-de-sacs with
public areas, cross-axial four-part gardens, temples
with hammams, animal sheds, stables, residential
houses and assembly halls. The actual palaces, council
chambers and royal houses are carved out of the
Ayurpaya Mountains and loom over the rest of the
urban landscape. Bathing inns are unheard of here and
all bathing is done in the hammams, where much of
the social life is focused.
The entire city proper is heated by a hypocaust system
of underfloor heating and hot-air circulation. Most
buildings feature squat toilets with raised edges, timber
ceilings with paintings, and colorfully-painted columns
of oiled wood.
THE PEOPLE OF M ESSANI
With almost everything needed for a civilization to be
self-sustained and with the Tempahk Pesaar providing
a nigh-impenetrable defense, Messani denizens,
despite being free to leave their city whenever they
want to, have adopted a slightly xenophobic view of
outsiders. Even amongst themselves, they adhere to
61
Ethennia
Even though the many stone buildings lining
the sides of the path leading up to Messani
grow more plentiful, it is not the presence
of more villages surrounding the citadel
that indicates a traveler is nearing the city
proper, but rather the sight of the Ayurpaya
Mountains, their peaks hugging the clouds.
Once the valley gives way to a larger clearing
that gently rises to form the mound on which
the city stands, the full grandeur of Messani
is revealed. Before the city itself soars the
immense, mighty Tempahk Pesaar. This
legendary wall of solid undecorated stone
stands at a majestic height of 100 feet and is
made of solid undecorated stone, significantly
darker than the luminescent purple waters
that seem to coil around it, the moat
glimmering like a hidden river gem.
Arrayed atop the wall along its entire length
until it connects to the mountains itself are
the formidable watcher statues, resplendent
in their indifferent stoicism. Eerily, while no
two of these gloomy sentinels of Messani’s
fortifications are exactly alike, they share
similar facial features and imposing physical
built, as if to represent warriors made
from the same stock. Even though made
of stone, their eyes seem to follow anyone
who approaches.
While the pathway does lead to the Tempahk
Pesaar, there are no gates to be seen. Finally,
slits start to appear, and it almost seems as
if the wall draws lines into itself until, after
what must be a few minutes, an entire city
gate has formed, the palaces and minarets
reining above the cobblestone streets that
could tell grand tales of their own.
a strict caste system, with each caste living in its own
partially segregated section of the city. Because of
this, and because the mountain base location of the
royal buildings makes it hard to deploy troops fast, the
military barracks are found inside of the city and not
inside of its royal citadels.
The people of Messani do realize travelers need a place
to stay and foreigners are welcome here, but upon
entering through the wall, they all receive a stamp on
the back of the hand that indicates the day of entry.
Visitors are only able to stay for an entire week –
anything longer than that needs to be approved by
Queen Lagheri’s advisors.
THE UNDERGROUND
QUARRIES
Although the city itself seems impervious to attacks, the
quarries where its people used to collect their stones
and minerals lie outside of the wall, which left them
vulnerable to the Mountain Giant tribes that live in the
mountains. Mountain Giants are well-known for hating
humans and particularly workers who cut through the
stone that they believe once had the essence of their
godly ancestors running through their arteries.
After losing too many good people to the wrathful
giants, the Messani government held a competition
that was announced throughout all Ethennia in
order to find an architect who would come up with
a solution to the problem. After a full year of reviewing
and dismissing plans, the former king settled on
Imelda Laaialyn, an unknown but brilliant academic
who claimed to have been living in Messani all her
life. She came up with an elaborate series of tunnels
that allowed stone to be extracted from underneath
the city grounds. The project proved to be successful,
and the mining complex has grown to be increasingly
layered, as workers are delving ever deeper to find the
resources they need.
This underground labyrinth is the subject of many
urban folkloristic tales and some even whisper that
Imelda Laaialyn was actually Quisani in disguise.
62
THE DULAH’DUR
Even though most of the city’s important stone
resources can be found underground, the quarries there
rarely yield expensive gems or rare minerals – those
can still only be found in the Ayurpaya Mountains. This
has given rise to a very specific organization unique
to Ethennia: the Dulah’Dur, adventurer excavators and
miners specifically trained to combat Mountain Giants.
These guerilla workers are experts at going in, finding
what they need as fast as possible, withdrawing small
amounts of uncommon resources and getting them
back to the city. They pack light and avoid the kind
of open spaces where Mountain Giants are at their
most dangerous, but still often don’t return home
alive, which has made them heroes or fools to other
Messani, depending on how a specific individual looks
at risky endeavors.
TRADE
Despite the proximity of the Great Artery, there is little
to no trade with Lamaris or any other city. Even the
gems so sought after by the Dulah’Dur tend to be sold
and bought in the markets of Messani itself… which
has made exported Messani jewels extraordinarily
expensive.
The notable exception is wine, as there are no
grapes growing anywhere in Messani. Efforts to grow
grapevines have all failed, which is a cause of frustration
to many of Messani’s people, some of whom whisper
this is due to an ancient dispute between Quisani and
Wadahe, the Shepherd of Life.
CUSTOMS & R ELIGION
Denizens of Messani end almost all weighty discussions
with ‘if Quisani pleases’, then wait a few moments for
a sign from the goddess. Outsiders have observed this
supposed portent can be almost anything and seriously
doubt whether whatever follows truly is a sign from
Quisani, a decision born out of cognitive dissonance, or
an excuse for whatever course of action the Messani in
question wants to take.
Although the entire Ethennian pantheon is recognized
here, all temples in Messani cater to Quisani exclusively,
with worship of the other gods being relegated to
small shrines.

ORGANIZATIONS
The almost-singular focus on a lone goddess has
allowed cultists to infiltrate multiple Messani temples
after killing off the Kaa’hen who used to serve there.
Cultists from all over Ethennia believe Quisani is secretly
residing somewhere inside of the Tempahk Pesaar and
are intent on murdering her.
GOINGS-ON
1. A caravan of wine salesmen arrives at the wall
unannounced. The Watchers there don’t seem to
know whether to let them in or not and an envoy
is dispatched to the Queen.
2. People are clearing the area around the house
of a guard. He is on his death bed and wishes to
become a Watcher. A host of Munagi is expected
to visit him soon.
3. Traders from outside of the city who want to buy
some local products are arguing with a market
vendor. They feel they should be able to pay the
same (i.e., lower) amount of money as Messani,
but no-one else seems to agree.
4. A local Kaa’hen is being beaten because he was
trying to explain to his flock that the other
Ethennian gods are just as important as Quisani
herself. A new priest will soon be needed.
5. A bunch of kids stop playing with their marbles
and look at the Characters as if they shouldn’t
be there.
6. A mother is hauling her artisan son away by the
arm because he tried to make out with a soldier
woman from another caste. She’s quite upset –
and her son is as well.
7. An old man is standing outside of his home,
looking at the sky. He’s been there for a full day
waiting for a sign from Quisani after praying
for guidance.
8. A smart young beggar starts talking to the PCs
about the lack of upwards mobility in Messani.
9. A group of young adults is running up the
mountain side with telescopes. The youngsters
have heard that a band of marauders is standing
outside the walls, enthralled by the purple water.
10. A passing denizen spits at the PCs and screams for
them to get ‘back to their own country’.
63
Ethennia
LOCAL SPECIALTIES
‘Bibik mei’, a thick, spicy vegetable chowder with a goat
yoghurt base.
‘Maza-el-Messani’, a unique blend of cooked meats,
spices and exotic diced fruits. This culinary delight
is especially popular among travelers and visitors to
the city, as its savory and sweet flavors gave an ever-
changing and exotic experience, but it is difficult to
find, as it is only sold in the night markets, which are
far more treacherous than their daytime equivalents.
‘Feykin’, a savory stew crafted from the finest meats,
herbs, spices, and produce which can be found in the
local markets. Only the most knowledgeable of cooks
are able to prepare it properly and the flavors of the
meat and spices are whimsical, each bite bringing with
it a new surprise. Some say that the Fey-kin was is so
delicious that it is worth risking one’s life to find a chef
who has mastered it.
K EY LOCATIONS
THE CORNER OF ETERNAL LUCK: Located on the
east side of the Tempahk Pesaar, near where the wall
flows into the mountains, is an inscription said to have
been made by Quisani herself, but more likely added
by a local Kaa’hen centuries ago. It reads ‘Let all who
stand here be safe under Quisani’s hand’. So far, the
engraving has lived up to its name: no robbery, fight or
murder has ever happened here, although this might
obviously also have to do with superstition. During bad
times, people sometimes gather at the Corner and
even put-up tents until led away by the city guard, all
in the hope for better times.
THE SARING BODOAH: The only true tavern in town.
It is located in the poorest district, where only lowly
craftsmen live, but it is still quite nice and offers no less
than four 8-person bedrooms. Foreigners who don’t
already know are never told, but the name translates
to ‘Fool’s Den’.
THE UNDERGROUND QUARRIES: Accessible through
any of the four well-guarded guild houses (in Messani,
architects and miners share the same guild), the
underground quarries are a marvel of technology,
with layer upon layer of tunnels, interconnected with
pulley lifts and sturdy staircases. They run hundreds of
meters deep and are lit by naturally occurring crystal
deposits. The air, although thin, is provided by small
shafts that pierce through the ground up to fields
outside of the city center quite simply known as ‘Air
Pastures’. Mine cart tracks cover a large part of the
tunnel complex, which doesn’t extend beyond where
the wall is outside. Much happens here, but most of
what does never reaches the world above.
SHRINE OF LOYALTIES PAST AND PRESENT (EL
DORIDI MELAIN): This shrine was erected by locals
whose heroic family members became Watchers of the
Wall. It is almost like a museum, a two-story affair that
houses a permanent exposition showcasing poems and
written tales about the exploits of heroes before they
became Watchers, as well as clothes, favored weapons,
and other personal items that used to belong to them.
THE BALLISTA OF IMLIHN: Nestled in the heart of the
city is a grand and spacious courtyard, where a single
ballista stands vigilantly. So prominent is this intricate
projectile weapon that when the morning sun rises and
shades of brilliant oranges, yellows and reds reflect off
its steel, it illuminates the entire city like a beacon of
hope. It was used by the ancient hero Imlihn to defend
the city from an invasion by local marauders while
the city walls were still being erected. It is here where
many stories have been told and lessons shared about
a bygone age, with tall tales of daring feats, heroic last
stands and legendary heroes.
THE NIGHT MARKET: On the outskirts of the city,
nestled in its moated embrace, the Night Market
emerged from the shadows with a mystical beauty.
This grand bazaar, lit by torches and the flickering
echoes of forgotten voices, is unlike anything seen in
the surrounding kingdom. Soon after dusk, the market
gets filled with exotic fragrances, beckoning visitors to
explore the goods and wares that were being traded.
Tables and stalls, each with a plot more tantalizing
than the last, offered food and wares from all over
the land. Merchants, singers, storytellers, magicians
and all manner of adventurers wander through the
mazes of trinkets and treasures. Here, adventurers can
find spells, cures for the mysterious ailments of their
days, or potions, some of which are said to be powerful
enough to alter fate itself.
64
K EY NPC S
PAVAAN BALAKRISHAH: A gentle Kaa’hen who
believes his city should be more open to strangers.
Pavaan is somewhat of an activist and has been
appealing for an audience with Queen Lagheri for 3
years now. He feels the caste system is keeping people
from achieving their full potential and would like to
see some changes. He would probably already have
been excommunicated if not for the miracles ascribed
to him as a priest of Quisani.
MAHNAR BAHNARJEE: One of the city’s most famous
Dulah’Dur. Mahnar is the only known living example of
upwards mobility, as Queen Aarif Lagheri has granted
him access to a higher caste not once, but twice. This
has caused many of the downtrodden to view Mahnar
as a hero, while many born in higher castes hate him –
both of which Mahnar dislikes
MEERAH CHUKRABAHTI: Meerah is the wife of one
of the city’s Watchers of the Wall. She lost her husband,
Rhamish, after he was mortally wounded defending
her honor in a bar. Rhamish had always been a devout
servant of the city and was rescued from the Munagi.
He is now living eternally on a rampart near the main
gate. Meerah still visits her husband every day, bringing
him food and drinks, and doesn’t want to listen to
those who say he doesn’t recognize her anymore.
DICTAH: Dictah is a lowborn from Akani who left Ishta
to find a better fortune for her in Ethennia. So far,
things haven’t been working out for her, but the young
woman has become a devout follower of Quisani and
is hoping to improve her lot by becoming a cleric. She
has learnt Ethennian and is highly motivated, but is
barred from priesthood because of the inflexible caste
system. She is now considering revolting in the hopes
to raise a movement that will force the royal court to
change the system.
MELENDRIS OF BESHAAR: Melendris is an
aged shaman who has been insisting that he can
communicate with the spirits of the Watchers of the
Wall. According to him, they are very much aware
of everything that happens around them and have
retained their personalities, even though they are
unable to communicate as they used to.
 Ethennia

QUEST HOOKS THREATS & DOOM:

i ii
A FALSE PROPHET

Queen Lagheri’s advisors wish to hire the PCs’ services.

They’ve discovered that the existence of Kaa’hen
Balakrishah’s miracles may be exaggerated at best or THE LIVING MOUNTAIN
false at worst but want proof before taking action. This
might confront Characters with their own sets of morals Unfortunately for the citizens of Messani, their
and decide what to do before handing Pavaan over to days are numbered. One of the reasons why there
the city guard. have been less incursions by Mountain Giants isn’t
that the Dulah’Dur are so effective – it’s that the
Reward: If the Characters turn in Pavaan, the court
will award them with a pouch full of jewels from original inhabitants of the region are partly right.
the Ayurpaya Mountains. If they decide to save the The mountains may not be the gods personified,
Kaa’hen, he will be eternally grateful and the Characters but the petrified remains of a creature from their
will have made an ally for life who may even perform myths: Umlau-Raah, a legendary stone titan
a miracle for them when it is needed most. the size of a mountain that sleeps under the
surface of the mountain. Lately, the giants have
i ii heard one of the mountains stir and rumble –
SOMETHING WICKED YOUR WAY COMES something that hasn’t happened in generations
Messani is abuzz with some bad news: several Dulah’Dur
– and they are beginning to suspect that Umlau-
have seen a Dragon circle over the Ayurpaya Mountains. Raah is starting to awaken.
An attack from above might be one of the only things
that could threaten the city and the Queen is looking
to strengthen her air defenses. In truth, the Dulah’Dur
in question are in league with a criminal group of siege
engineers who are seeking to sell a lot more of their
trademark ballistae, counterweight trebuchets and
catapults than they’ve been able to so far. They’ve THE FANATIC
concocted the Dragon story in order to do just that.
One of the greatest threats to Messani comes
Reward: If the Characters can discover what is going
from one of its most devout citizens: Uarkhwan,
on and inform the court, the Queen will offer to make
a former priest of Quisani, was excommunicated
them Messani citizens and grant them a house with
after mistreating followers of other gods or spirits
a small complement of servants, but this will also mean
they will now belong to a fitting caste out of which on numerous occasions. A religious fanatic who
they won’t be able to escape easily. allows no room for any other deity, Uarkhwan has
had time to tap into the mental realm through
magical means. His plan is as brilliant as it is
i ii terrifying: he wants to invade the thoughts of the
WHAT LURKS BENEATH
Watchers of the Wall and control them to leave
One of the mining crews hasn’t come back from the their station to attack the palace, overthrow the
underground quarries. Most of the guards aren’t Queen, and usurp the entire city-state. Wily,
trained in tunnel combat and the heroes are hired stealthy, and extremely discrete, Uarkhwan has
to go inside and find out what’s happening. Once in, been able to keep his machinations so well hidden
they’ll eventually stumble on a cult that has set up
that he may succeed without even needing to lift
camp inside of a rarely used section of the complex.
a finger.
Reward: If the Characters manage to clear out the
tunnel complex, the Guild of Miners & Architects will
allow them to keep whatever they salvaged from the
cult’s lair. They will also each receive a small pouch with
crystals mined in the mountains.

65
 NADIR
—THE QUIET VALLEY—
A PEACEFUL CITY VALLEY FAMOUS FOR
ITS PACIFYING CONDIMENT, DREAM SPICE.
POPULATION 7,981
GOVERNMENT Kingdom, ruled by the Twin
Amrins, Bakshi Ramon and Chuwdhuri Mittahl
DEFENSE None. Zero. Zilch. There’s absolutely
no-one defending Nadir other than a militia
mostly made up of Dream Spice traders.
SERVICES Architects, artists, carpenters,
companionship, eateries, game designers,
healers, herbalists, ironmongers, lodging,
masons, meals, shipbuilders, winemakers
LOCATION
Nadir is a city that stretches from the Great
Artery in the south to the fluorescent blue-
green Emerald Lake in the north and the
Emerald Mountains to the east.
OASIS OF PEACE
Nadir is always sensed before seen. Whatever
approach one takes to enter the city state,
a gentle wave of calm and peacefulness tends
to veil most violent thoughts, the last vestiges
of internal rage leaving the body with the first
breath taken upon setting foot in the valley
that makes up its territory.
Two miles outside of the city proper, travelers have to
pass by posts where city officials known as the Mandor
Haladin register anyone who passes and confiscate all
weapons and shields until they are picked up again
upon leaving Nadir. The sentries are also responsible
for controlling the trade route nodes and checking
whether anyone but the city’s Royal Merchant Guild
tries to get Dream Spice outside of the city.
However, this does not mean that there is no criminality
in the city – rather the opposite. Dream Spice smuggling
rings are commonplace, as is illicit trade, and criminals
tend to come up with inventive ways to ply their trade,
including cajoling, seducing, extorting, and otherwise
misdirecting their marks.
66
Upon entering The Quiet Valley from the south, the
sandy dunes in the south give way to a lush green
flatland, imbedded in the protective embrace of
sedimentary rocks and hoodoos. In the west, the
sounds of the immense river known as the Great
Artery can clearly be heard: merciful rapids and
gurgling water, gently crashing against the rocks
and kneading the earth until the water slowly
takes on a deep-green hue and spreads out into the
sparkling Emerald Lake. In the east, rows of trees
stretch out until the very end of the basin, flanked
by the Emerald Boulders separating Nadir from the
rest of the surrounding region.
Below the smoothly rolling landscape can be seen
the city of Nadir itself, as if it were a gemstone
encrusted in a piece of beryl jewelry, the farms
along the way, grazing animals, and wispy columns
of smoke indicating the presence of civilized life as
much as the simple but beautiful houses and their
oriel windows projecting out of the walls, enclosed
with carved wood latticework, the stained glass
reflecting Aureya’s and Issira’s sunlight.
LAYOUT & A RCHITECTURE
Nadir has a nice, placid harbor that accommodates
small to medium-sized ships and the wooden buildings
here have been put down in a grid-like pattern, which
makes navigating here easier than anywhere else in
Ethennia. It has natural borders on each side, all of
which have waypoints where travelers have to check in
their weapons and shields.
Everything is always carefully tagged and left there until
travelers move on, which would make them effective
arsenals if ever weapons were needed in battle (they
aren’t). There are no keeps, castles, citadels, garrisons
or any other fortified buildings (although the city does

keep a 120-head strong militia of men and women
to maintain order and catch criminals). Rather, Kings
Bakshi Ramon and Chuwduri Mittahl reside in a luxury
palace with beautiful gardens and orchards which
is accessible to anyone. Royal servants and visitors
mix and enjoy their time together with almost no
restrictions.
There is one notable exception, though: a single
winding staircase in the center of the throne room
which descends into the bowels of the palace, where
Dream Spice is produced. This entrance is carefully
guarded – not by armed warriors, but rather by well-
dressed and extremely polite pages, who seem to be
immune to any kind of coercion or manipulation and
gently but firmly escort unwanted guests outside –
since no-one can use violence in Nadir, this is enough
to safeguard the entire production process, although it
does nothing to stop illicit trade from happening after
Dream Spice leaves the palace.
DREAM SPICE
Much of the Nadirian culture revolves around Dream
spice (or ‘Bimbu Ipan’), a savory white powder that can
be put on the tongue or used to flavor food. Even small
quantities seem to wash away any violent thoughts and
urges. The sensation of this happening is almost physical,
as if any aggressiveness that may be present in the
body streams away through the mouth and nose. The
feeling is unmistakable, which also makes it impossible
to drug someone with Dream Spice without that
person noticing. Within a matter of seconds, whoever
is using Dream Spice will feel calm and relaxed, whilst
still very much aware of the surroundings.
This changes when large quantities of Dream Spice are
used. Human adults of average size only need a full cup
of Dream Spice to enter a dreamlike state which keeps
them inside of their reverie for a full day before waking
up. During their dream, they have full control over
what is happening and are able to shape and reshape
the world or even their surroundings as they see fit.
Most believe these dreams to be only fantasy, but some
of the academics and philosophers who have studied
the phenomenon speculate that Dream Spice users
actually create a very real pocket dimension within the
ethereal plane that only exists until the drug’s effects
run out. This seems to be supported by the fact that
people who know each other well and hold hands while
using Dream Spice can enter the dream together and
share experiences – a practice which has been adopted
67
Ethennia
by several religious orders and cults to heighten their
sense of belonging and strengthen their piety.
Some even claim that pure Dream Spice, if ingested
in large enough quantities, is able to enhance the use
of magic, making it a well sought-after powder for
sorcerers and mages across Athyr.
The Twin Kings of Nadir produce the drug from inside
of the bowels of their palace and distribute it uncut
through the six Bimbu-lah in the city – dissemination
centers where every family that has a registered
residence in Nadir can get enough Dream Spice to
enter its dreams several times a month. Whatever is
left, is sold or mixed with herbs and spices to prepare
it for export, as the condiment is supposed to never
leave Nadir in its purest form.
The exact recipe to make Dream Spice is a well-
guarded secret, known only by Nadir’s most important
guild, the Radin Haladin, which roughly translates
to ‘Royal Blenders’ in Old Ethennian. The mystery
shrouding Bimbu Ipan even extends to the name of
the plant used as its main constituent, which is never
uttered to anyone, and many believe that even the
Radin Haladin don’t refer to the component by its
name to each other, which, of course, only serves to
cement its near-mythical status.
THE JOINING
The Joining is a yearly event in which Kaa’hen from
Kaliope, Bhaidiri, and Sahera, as well as devout
believers who wish to participate come together in
the palace gardens and join hands. Royal servants
bring each of them a golden cup of Dream Spice
and the kings appear on the palace balcony to lead
a countdown, accompanied by a full orchestra. At the
end of the performance, everyone takes Dream Spice
together and shares a beautiful dream that serves to
strengthen their bonds and community even beyond
what is already there. Even though not everyone can
join in, the event is very much public and local Kaa’hen
provide free drinks and appetizers at their respective
temples, as it is a major conversion moment and helps
to increase their flocks.
THE PEOPLE OF NADIR
Unsurprisingly, most the people of Nadir are an
extremely friendly, peaceful lot. They love to sit or
lay back (literally), enjoy the sun, play board games,
drink wine and dine together. Even though they are
extremely easy to get along with, visitors from outside
of Nadir often get a little spooked because they
feel so different and most decide to continue their
travels after a short stay and rest. However, beneath
that peaceful veneer are some of the most scheming,
conniving, and manipulative criminals of all Ethennia;
scammers, smugglers, and dealers who profit from the
illegal export of uncut Dream Spice.
WINE & GAMING
Nadir features some of the best vineyards in Ethennia.
A lot of grape varieties grow here, and wine is one of the
two most important export items of the city, the other
one being board games. The city state is famous for
its progressive game designers and has taken a leading
position in that field. Almost any peaceful profession
can be found here, but there are no weaponsmiths of
any kind to be found.
R ELIGION
All Ethennian gods are worshipped here, and all
temples include sprawling hammams and extensive
hospitals where experts provide free healing. However,
the most popular gods by far are Kalliope, Flower of
Passion; Bhaidiri, the Enlightened; and Sareha, Peaceful
Jewel. All three have major temples here and their
priests are held in high regard. Those who believe gods
to be responsible for the production of Dream Spice or
at the very least for the peaceful aura around the city
often point at this trio of gods, whom they suspect to
reside within the palace itself.
ORGANIZATIONS
The most important organization in Nadir, the Radin
Haladin only share the procedure they use to create
Dream Spice with the royal court, and the relationship
between parties has always been inexorably linked
and intimate, both bodies acting as one in most
Dream Spice-related instances. What is certain, is
that the main ingredient is extracted from a plant
that exclusively grows underneath the valley itself, in
a subterranean complex that seems solely connected
to the palace. Radin Haladin cooks aren’t only
68
distinguishable by their jade green baggy trousers and
blue head cloths, but also by their pale, earth-stained
skin, as their guild house is the only one in Ethennia
that is completely subterrestrial and most of their lives
is spent underground.
Dream Spice trade is regulated by the Mandor Haladin,
which roughly translates as the ‘Royal Inspectors’. Clad
in the same green and blue colors as the Radin Haladin,
but wearing tunics and tight-fitting leather armor,
inspectors are posted at every trade route node, where
travelers are required to have any goods they have
with them be inspected. Only Royal Merchant Guild
members are allowed to transport any Dream Spice at
all, and even so a sample is always taken and sifted to
make sure it isn’t pure Bimbu Ipan.
The second most influential organization is the Farmasi
ying Hibit, a guild that provides medicines, potions,
salves and other ointments to its citizens. Healthcare is
free for citizens and travelers alike and paid for with city
taxes. The guild is not responsible for the production
of Dream Spice, even though their highest-ranking
members tend to be called to the palace to serve there
once there is no way to ascend even further in their
rank. Once there, they must swear an oath of fealty and
secrecy which none of them have ever broken, keeping
the mystery of even the small knowledge they manage
to glean about Bimbu Ipan intact.
Finally, the Gemdor ying Haladin, or ‘Royal Merchant
Guild’ is responsible for the actual transportation and
trade of Dream Spice, which is always cut with other
substances before being allowed to leave Nadir. It is
also the only guild whose members are armed and
armored, although even Gemdor ying Haladin are
only allowed to pick up their weapons upon leaving
the city-state. All are expert drivers and riders, and all
are trained outside of Nadir in farms that act much like
military barracks.
As can be expected, there are quite a lot of smuggling
rings active in the city, and dealers are always playing
a cat and mouse game with the local militia. with
neither side gaining the upper hand. This is cause
for some concern and foreign traders have asked
for stricter measures, but so far the kings don’t seem
inclined to change their policies in any significant way.

GOINGS-ON
1. Two members of the Gemdor ying Haladin
are talking animatedly at a nearby corner,
complaining about how a recent trade mission
almost went awry after getting ambushed by
a bunch of bandits looking to steal Dream Spice.
2. The Characters come across a minstrel who is
singing about a great hero while accompanying
himself on a lute, but the tale sounds more
mellow than it should and is lacking the oomph it
needs to really make an impression.
3. A few locals are playing an intricate multi-level
board game with playing pieces representing
the gods in a nearby garden. Some of them are
smoking, but all of them are drinking wine.
4. The Characters see a young boy cutting an old
woman’s pouch without her noticing. They’ll have
to be pretty fast if they want to catch him. If she
notices, the woman will sigh, but won’t curse or
shout.
5. A young couple that seems it already had
enough Dream Spice offers some leftovers to
the Characters – enough for two of them to
experience the drug.
6. While passing by a bathing inn, the Characters
see how a rugged-looking, drunken man is gently
pushed out the door. He stammers and objects,
but doesn’t otherwise resist.
7. A few Radin Haladin are returning home,
covered in sediment and looking very tired. They
are treated with the utmost respect by other
citizens, who step aside almost reflexively to let
them through;
8. A rucckus in the distance, close to the city gates.
They inspectors probably just discovered some
uncut Dream Spice on a smuggler who was trying
to leave the city.
9. Two Kaa’hen of Baidiri are conducting a survey
in the street about what kind of appetizers
the people in the city would like to be served
during the next Joining – a rather obvious way to
promote initiation into their faith.
10. A band of barbarians is drinking mead in a local
bathing inn. Some of them are talking to each
other fairly animatedly, while a few others are
almost asleep, the remnants of the Dream Spice
they just used on a plate in front of them.
69
Ethennia
K EY LOCATIONS
THE EMERALD GARDENS: A huge herb garden
with lots of beautiful trees and shrubbery along the
bank of the Great Artery. It connects to the harbor
and features paved roads, lots of banks, Dream Spice
booths and food stalls, as well as several bathing inns.
THE NADIR CONCERT HALL: A huge seated indoor
theater that can accommodate up to 800 people.
The circular center stage has arms stretching out in
eight directions so that performers can almost wade
into the public, entertaining them from all sides. The
hall also has dressing rooms for the musicians, as well as
stockage for a full orchestra consisting of sitars, sarods,
sahnai, sarangi, tabla, fiddles, vina, kanjira and violins.
THE PALACE THRONE ROOM: Tastefully but
minimally decorated, the throne room of the palace
is never empty, as it is open to the public. Under the
marbled arches sit two thrones joined together and
infused on a pedestal, but the most interesting thing
about the room is the open staircase winding down
into the depths of the castle below, where Dream Spice
is reported to be made.
NISWILLA’S WINERY & BATHING INN: Unique
in Ethennia and named after the famed, universally
revered winemaker Niswilla, who passed away a decade
ago, this is a vineyard of about 39 acres where no less
than 5 different grape varieties are grown. Using a host
of innovative methods to ferment and process the
grapes, Niswilla’s Winery offers more then 14 different
wines, each of them either a monocepage or a refined
blend. There is a large but cozy bathing inn attached
to the vineyard where the patrons don’t use water,
but wine to wash themselves with. Unsurprisingly,
attendance is quite expensive.
THE CENTER HARBOR DISTRIBUTION CENTER:
A fairly large, wooden building with three floors and an
above-the-ground rail track with carts leading directly
to the palace where Dream Spice is distributed, the
Center Harbor Distribution Center also includes a bar,
a Dream Spice tasting room, and a huge storage space
guarded full-time by the business owners and their
employees. As the Bimbu-lah closest to the docks, it
seems more vulnerable to theft than any of the other
distribution centers. Interestingly, because everyone
knows it is, thieves often prefer to steal their Dream
Spice somewhere else, as they realize more eyes are on
the Center Harbor Distribution Center than on any of
the five other ones.
K EY NPC S
GOHLEHK ISHLAYIN: A reformed cultist, Gohlehk
has scars everywhere and some of his flesh has been
replaced with shiny metal plates. He talks about
slaughtering people as if he’s fondly reminiscing about
a book he once read, but his memories are very real.
Gohlehk has an interesting theory to share about
Nadir: he believes its supernatural calmness is created
by both Kings, whom he suspects to be Bhaidiri and
another, more obscure god.
SAANVI LAKASHIVI: Saanvi is somewhat of a celebrity
in Nadir, a resident bard who has created her own
singing style, using not only her full five-octave singing
range, but also a host of voice effects she uses to
embellish her singing and tell different kinds of stories.
However, she is extremely obese and needs to be
carried around by her band of musicians, which has
kept them from performing anywhere other than in
their own city state.
MOLAN OF TAMON: Molan is a wanderer, weary and
haggard from too many nights lost in the embrace of
Dream Spice, he loves to walk around the city and is
always up to date with the latest gossip and rumors. Of
late, his addiction has been getting the better of him
and he’s been paddling information in exchange for
more Dream Spice than he’s able to handle.
IVANYA URANI: A jovial, heavy-set woman from
Karchova who takes great pride in the many colorful
self-made wigs she wears, Karchova deals in fake hair
strands, toupees, weaves, and extensions… so much so
that a lot of people suspect she is up to no good. She
isn’t, as she’s been helping smugglers and other culprits
disguise themselves in return for a cut of their profits.
TALEK RYALAHUN: A genius Ishtan spy who was sent
here by his king to uncover the secrets of Dream Spice
production. Talek is hardly someone who blends in, as
he wears large circular earrings that pull his lobes far
down, dozens of engraved bracelets (he claims they
are magical but he can’t say what they really do) and
several pearl necklaces all the time. Talek is posing as
a trader from Ishta who has decided to stay in Nadir
after becoming enamored with its laidback atmosphere,
but he has made great progress in befriending some of
the Nadirian guards, in the hopes that they will be able
to lift the veil on what is really happening inside of
the palace.
SALEK DHUM: A battle-hardened warrior covered in
scars who is somewhat of an enigma. Although most
assume Salek must be from Taliath, he doesn’t speak
any of the languages thrown at him and expresses
himself in crude sign language. Salek wandered into
Nadir years ago and simply stuck around. He started
to help carpenters and masons build houses and other
architectural works without asking for recompense,
which gained Salek a lot of goodwill and recognition,
despite the claim floating around that he is only
pretending not to understand what other people say
and clearly has some dark and secret agenda in mind.

THREATS & DOOM: THE TIME BOMB

Unbeknownst to anyone, the plant Bimbu Ipan is made up of are addictive, succulent food for Sandworms.
Up until now, none of the creatures has ever come across the condiment, but, in truth, the caverns
underneath the palace where the vines grow are a ticking time bomb. If any Sandworm would break
through the underground walls, it would soon attract more of its kind and the entire supply of plants
would be devoured before anyone is likely to act. The worms themselves are a danger to the city as well,
and once inside the walls there is no telling what might happen.

THREATS & DOOM: M ENOR’S COMPANY

Menor’s Company is a small group of corrupt Gemdor ying Haladin. Menor and his lieutenants have been
smuggling out Dream Spice for years now, but the process is so precarious that they haven’t been able
to make much of a profit. Recently, Menor has managed to cultivate a mould that is able to take hold on
Bimbu Ipan and wither it within minutes. Menor is planning on blackmailing the royal court with it, but
the blight is so unstable that it might get out of hand fast, devastating the city commercially, socially, and
culturally, or worse, cause rampant disease as contaminated Bimbu Ipan might get into the hands of the
people without them realizing.

70

QUEST HOOKS
i ii
CULT SPIES
One of the cults or fringe religious sects has sent in
a few spies posing as priests of Aurelia, thinking they will
have an easy time to convert a host of citizens to their
faith underneath the prying eye of both kings. However,
Nadir’s calming influence has made some of them less
careful about keeping their secrets to themselves and
people are talking.
Reward: Should the Characters unmask the cultists,
being cast out by Amrins Bakshi Ramon and Chuwdhuri
Mittahl will be the least of their worries, as the Temple
of Aurelia will send in clerics who will exact a far graver
punishment. The Characters will receive their fair share
of gold from both kings, but the priests will be even
more generous, offering them guaranteed sanctuary
in all of Ethennia should they ever need it.
i ii
THE GAME
A group of Nadirian game designers has come up
with The Game: a series of interlocked mazes with
mechanical moving parts that is meant to simulate
a dangerous dungeon experience. It is populated with
actors and features several harmless traps, and winners
each get a miniature board game version of the first
maze. However, while playing, something goes horribly
wrong and the traps turn out to be a lot deadlier than
was the intention…
Reward: If the Characters help the game designers get
out of (or beat) their own game, the Nadirians will be
profusely grateful, asking them whether they can come
up with an innovative idea for a single mechanical
contraption. If feasible, they will then design and
build the mechanism and offer it to the Characters.
Of course, after the Characters leave, they will try to
capitalize on the idea and make many more to sell to
the general public.
71
Ethennia
i ii
IT AIN’T OVER ‘TILL…
Nightingale singer Saanvi Lakashivi is in trouble! While
she was sleeping, her entire band, except for fiddle
player Tuomas, decided to take Dream Spice together,
but the musicians got the dosage wrong and are now
soundly asleep, enjoying their joint dream while holding
hands. Saanvi has never been late for a performance
before and needs to be in the Nadir Concert Hall in an
hour from now. Tuomas finds the heroes and tries to
enlist their help. They’ll have to get Saanvi to the gig
as well as enter the musicians’ communal dream and
convince them to snap out of it.
Reward: If successful, Saanvi and her band will ask the
Characters about previous acts of heroism and bravery.
They won’t try to find out whether whatever the
Characters tell them is real, instead embellishing their
tales even more and regaling audiences throughout
Ethennia with the Characters’ stories. The adventurers
may soon find that jealous, rival groups of adventurers
will start showing up wherever they go, hellbent on
beating them in whatever they are good at to gain
name and glory.
i ii
MAGISTRATE KIM-LU
Although he was forced to humbly quit his job years
ago after the dynasty he answered to discovered he
was taking bribes, this adapt sorcerer still insists on
being called ‘Magistrate Kim-Lu’. Of venerable age and
sporting an impressive, well-groomed 5 feet-long white
beard, this Roshani native has made it a personal quest
to discover how Dream Spice is made but, feeling the
weight of his age, he asks the heroes to infiltrate the
Nadirian palace.
Reward: If the mission is a success, Kim-Lu will give
the Characters a beautiful robe inscribed with arcane
runes, as well as an entire chest of gold.
 GLOSSARY: ETHENNIA
A small nomadic tribe native
AHLDUR to the Valgar Plains comprised
mostly of shamans.
Also referred to as the ‘Divine
Heat’, the Al’Harayad was
a century-long drought that
turned the Valgar Plains into
AL’HARAYAD
dry and barren savannah.
It is thought to be an epic
punishment by the Ancient Gods
for abandoning them.
World-renowned academies,
ALJ’MAYA each of them specialized in very
specific subjects.
A title given to Ethennian
aristocrats or high-ranking
military commanders that
also indicates they are leading
AMIR a group of other people. Nobles
who aren’t in a position of
worldly power are never referred
to as Amirs, even if they are
princes or princesses.
An Ethennian prince or king
AMRIN whose position is determined by
heritage and bloodline.
Mysterious loating stones found
ANDRIR
only in Ova Dyr.
An Ethennian princess or queen
ANLIKA whose position is determined by
heritage and bloodline.
Horned giant snails with
AZURE WORMS
acidic breath.
Most Ethennian inns include
a mixed-gender bathing house
BATHING INN next to the tap room, with the
guestrooms on higher floors and
the stables in a separate building.
72
BIBLIOTECA Ethennian libraries.
A place where travelers can rest
CARAVANSERAI
and buy goods.
Many cities claim large swathes
of lands far beyond their city
walls, which effectively makes
CITY-STATE
them city-states, even though
the princes and princesses who
enforce them don’t usually
charge taxes.
Full Ethennian names consist
of a first name followed by
birthplace and name of the most
ETHENNIAN
significant parent (usually the one
NAMES
with the highest status). Usually
though, only a first name and
birthplace is used.
An Amrin who has been elected
to coordinate an entire region
GRAND AMRIN
and act as a liaison between the
local Amrin and Anlika.
A large, flightless bird that is
able to travel over the desert
sand far faster than any other
HIRIKU
animal. It can easily be trained
and is used almost exclusively as
riding animal.
A type of academic priest
trained both in the rituals of the
KAA’HEN
Ethennian pantheon and in the
efficient use of the biblioteca.
A semi-nomadic tribe that roams
KALIHN
the Valgar Plains.
Probably the last descendants
of the original inhabitants of
KHALINDRIM Ova Dyr. A solitary people who
have almost no contact with the
outside world.
 Ethennia

One of many words used to refer Gigantic, telepathic worms

KHAMSHEEN
to a sandstorm. SANDWORM that burrow in tunnels beneath
the desert.
Ethennians prefer to put a ‘k’
after the ‘c’ in magic to reflect A mixture of 12 different spices
MAGICK SAR’AL’EFRAN
their harsher pronunciation of often used in Ethennian cuisine.
the word.
A type of beetle found exclusively
Immense beasts of burden used in Ethennia with carapaces
MAHLOMUT SILKBEETLE
exclusively by the Mendrih’lihk. made out of thick but ultra-soft
silk fibers.
A large pack animal native
MALIN
to Ethennia. A naturally occurring metal found
in thin sheets on the surface of
The largest nomadic group found
MENDRIHM Ova Dyr after periods of intense
on the Valgar Plains. THELIUM
heat. It is stronger than any
Pagan druids who are still other known alloy and thus much
ORDER OF THE devoted to the Ancient Gods in demand.
FIRST ELEMENTS and who mostly live in the
A fairly recent tribe that makes
Valgar Plains.
its home in underground tunnel
URANDIR
A falling star that scoured the complexes abandoned by the
PASSING OF THE
skies above Ova Dyr more than Sandworms that made them.
STAR
4,000 years ago.
A term used to denote non-adult
YOUNGLING
One of many words used to refer members of a nomadic tribe.
RHOGOON
to a sandstorm.

73
 CHAPTER 2:
ISHTA
THE R EGION
Ishta is a hot and humid jungle region bordering the
dry plains and deserts of Ethennia in the north and the
lukewarm Sea Of Blood in the south. It is a naturally
occurring lowland, with the Alakh Mountains to the
northwest and the Iron Peaks of Dorganthur to the
northeast delineating its outer perimeters. These
natural barriers have long kept the nobles of Ishta’s
numerous tropical city states from having too much
contact with the nomadic tribes and traders from
southern Ethennia.
However, stouthearted merchants still brave the
treacherous passes from time to time, despite their
gorges and saddlebacks containing an unknown but
significant number of dangerous creatures like the
degenerate, semi-human Troglodytes that claim the
heights as their own. Prone to feasting upon the flesh of
the unwary, these quick-witted bipedal predators have
an understanding of the territory that far surpasses
that of almost any human, allowing them to wage
a constant guerilla war on unsuspecting or ill-prepared
travelers.
74
Far below the ornate Troglodyte caverns and extensive
cliff dwellings, dinosaurs vie with humans for living space
and dominance. The only place where these lizard-
like creatures are known to be found in significant
numbers, Ishta is home to the hulking Tyrannosaurus
Rex as well as smaller predators like the Velociraptor
and many other Dinosaurs.
The mountain ranges, the peaks of which can reach as
high as 1,000 rods, are snow-locked during the winter
months, allowing for a prodigious melt in the spring
which feeds the many rivers that crisscross Ishta in the
south-flowing direction, giving life to the great lakes
Odazi and Kahija, as well as countless smaller bodies
of water. These empty into the tepid Sea of Blood, so
named because of its reputation as the southernmost
hunting ground of the much-feared pirates of Taliath,
the boldest of which have been known to take smaller
vessels upstream to attack cities in audacious, tactically
ingenious raids, with the wealthy centers of civilization
located on either rivers or lakes as prime targets for
obvious commercial reasons.

ABOUT ISHTA
Ishta is often said to be the most savage and deadly
known region of Athyr, much of which can be
attributed to the abundance of predatory wildlife and
the high number of warring indigenous tribes that
inhabit its jungles. Of course, this assumption could
very well be a misconception, as almost all lands of
Athyr can be quite pernicious, while both Keldor and
Taliath are sure to hide dark mysteries people from
other regions don’t know about.
In a sense, Ishta could be considered an ocean
of dangerous wilderness dotted by tiny islands of
civilization… or an unspoiled paradise of wondrous
beauty marred by scattered pockmarks of development.
It all depends on how one feels about the opposing
natures of both angles.
Though much of Ishta’s population resides in small
reed and clay hut villages scattered throughout the
various jungles and along their rivers and lakes, there
are several large city states which maintain a more
sophisticated, governed, and decadent existence. The
most prominent of these are Qualat and Huexolta,
ruled by powerful juntas of priests, nobles, and sages,
75
Ishta
who are just as much revered as they are feared by
their own people. Though each of Ishta’s tiny nations
varies somewhat in the nature of their governance and
structure, they follow the same basic societal outline,
and a traveler can rest secure knowing the basics of
what-is-what as they travel from one to another.
Ishta is very old, and many civilizations have come and
gone over the ages, leaving behind traces in the form of
buried and forgotten ruins in the jungle so old that no
living person knows even their names. Some say these
are filled with jewels and gold, bus also harbor ancient
evil. Though the downfall of these civilizations largely
went undocumented, certain carvings left by the
peoples who once made Ishta their home give reason
to believe that the devastating eruptions of the great
Mount Obetu, The Parching Pinnacle, played a role in
their fall. Certainly, that ancient volcano lies restless and
violent to this day, its turbulent seismological roaring
watched carefully by priest-astronomers of Qualat and
Akshan for signs of another devestating eruption.
Beneath the surface of everything in Ishta, whether
natural or man-made, lies conflict, struggle, and
instability. The ground rumbles unpredictably.
Beautiful, multi-colored feathered serpents called
Hisilta fly on currents of magic but are poisonous to
the touch. Tentacled Jungle Arachnids sink their razor-
sharp claws deep inside of their victims to feast not on
their blood, but on their brain fluid, only to get liquified
underneath the rubbery laps of skin of Girkyin, which in
turn are crushed to death between the mauling teeth
of the great Dinosaurs.
Even underneath the veneer of the cities’ magnificent
pyramids and palatial temples lies a far darker,
grimmer reality, as many of Ishta’s majestic edifices are
built upon millennia of subjugation, dark magic and
human sacrifice. In some cities, a captive underclass
toils ceaselessly and restlessly everywhere one goes,
waiting for a chance to break free from its subjugation
and flee into the jungle or, worse, strike back at their
oppressors, leaving nothing but corpses in the wake of
their righteous wrath.
Ongoing conflicts between city states are perennial and
go back generations into the mists of recorded history,
only pausing when they join together in leagues and
formations to wage war with other city states that have,
76
in turn, also banded together in temporary leagues and
formations, and that may or may not have been allies
only the year before. The conflict is compounded by
the fact that no less than 20 languages are spoken in
Ishta, making mutual understanding even more difficult,
despite the fact that most people are fluent in more
than one tongue.
Despite their differences, the people from Ishta share
one common ground: their belief in spirits as nearly-
omnipotent beings, each of them either representing
a particular aspect of nature or a broad abstract concept.
Dozens of these powerful spirit-deities are worshipped
and, contrary to what is usual in regions like Ethennia or
Evandyr, the faithful don’t mostly flock to a single divinity
within their pantheon, but rather tend to call on multiple
spirits at once, depending on their needs and desires.
Also, in stark contrast with the gods of other pantheons,
these spirits do not seem to have left Athyr entirely, and
in exceedingly rare cases, their wistful intervention can
still make the difference between an atrocious failure
and a glorious success.

SUBREGIONS
TORRA NYEGA
By far the most pleasant and hospitable subregion of
Ishta, Torra Nyega is continuously patrolled by the
Xerifa. These wandering judge-lawmen have succeeded
in cementing the area’s peaceful reputation, but their
presence overshadows a far more disconcerting truth:
that even though they may be hidden below a facade
of relative welfare and security, there are many dangers
lurking below the proverbial surface of the two city-
states that make up this territory.
More than any anywhere else on Ishta, Torra Nyega’s
secrets are firmly shrouded in ancient history and
the significance of the many reminders of ages past
has long been forgotten. From the colossal statue
greeting travelers on the Orunuro river to the gigantic
monsters that roam the depths of Lake Kahija, not
even the wealth of information contained inside the
tomes of Huexolta’s Pillar of Sagacity or the most
knowledgeable priest-astronomers of Nakbu seems to
hold the answers needed to unveil Torra Nyega’s oldest
mysteries.
77
Ishta
JUNGLES OF M ARAROKA
Devoid of any settlements to speak of except for
harbor city Kintaba in its south-east, the Jungles of
Mararoka are characterized by their dense tropical
forests, river routes, and paths so difficult to spot that
travelers who are unfamiliar with these surroundings
almost always need to call in the help of specialized
captains known as Kiongozi to guide them through
the system of spike-lined trees that makes up the local
network of trails.
Here, there are creatures so large that some of
them easily loom over even the biggest of Dinosaurs,
ravenous beasts that would endanger the entire fauna
of these jungles if so many of the semi-nomadic humans
living here wouldn’t stage ritual hunts for them, both
to keep their families safe and to provide their spouses
and children enough food to sustain them for months.
The most fearsome of these chasers are also their
most iconic warriors: the awe-inspiring Jaida and their
reptile steeds.
In the end, the very dangers that make the Mararoka
so unappealing also provide the resources to make
the tribes that do shelter here so successful in what
they do.
BADAWO WILDS
While the perimeters of the Badawo Wilds are as lush
and green as anywhere else on Ishta, the frequent lava
eruptions that occur at the vents along the fractures
of Athyr’s largest shield volcano, Mount Obetu, form
broad plateaus of up to two miles thick, and the soil
to its north east is cracked and broken. Here, the earth
shakes frequently, but the peoples of the Badawo Wilds
have taken extraordinary measures to prosper here,
while their priest-astronomers constantly confer with
the spirits to forewarn their communities should The
Parching Pinnacle show signs of becoming fully active
once again. It certainly has done so in the past, and
accounts left in the ruins covered in centuries-old ash
and landslide sludge speak of smoke columns of 90 to
120 miles high.
Living both in forest towns and small palisade burgs
built over molten magma, most Badawons – unlike
most Ishtans – do not have to fear reptiles or other
natural creatures, but rather have to contend with
the unnatural monstrosities made out of volcanic glass
known as Shard Beasts, gaseous entities that are referred
to as the Malekorim, and extraplanar elementals that
were drawn to this subregion because of its unusually
hot surface. In fact, there are many sages who believe
that the magma itself is alive, and it certainly seems like
there might be some sentience lurking inside of the
surface layers underneath the walkways, rope bridges,
and huts that make up the Badawon villages. Despite so
much of its land being covered in scorched minerals, the
periphery of the Badawo Wilds is rich with vegetation,
and small settlements provide trade posts to sell the
crystals, iron, and basalt found in the molten landscape
that comprises so much of this subregion, where the
most valuable treasure is not found underneath the
earth, but rather inside of the brittle layers that cover
it. Unfortunately, this has also attracted the largest
concentration of Beastmen anywhere on Athyr, and
these violent creatures have formed large warbands
that threaten the stability of not only the Badawo
Wilds, but also neighboring Akani.
One lone city blooms here: the thriving metropolis of
Akshan, where courageous Osador have developed
ingenious climbing harnesses, rappelling kits, and
pulley systems to explore the cracked wounds left in
the soil in cages that are enhanced to withstand the
heat and steam for up to forty-five minutes, making
any exploration attempt both exciting and extremely
hazardous. Above them are the Magstradamis, an
order of revered mystics and astronomer-priests that
has vowed to keep Akshan safe, but that is timorously
hiding a terrible secret of its own.
A KANI
Part scorched earth, with a south flank scarred by the
the second most violent eruption of Mount Obetu in
the history of mankind, part plains, woods, rivers, lake,
and mineral-rich mountains, Akani is without a doubt
the most varied subregion in all of Athyr, and its
diversity rivals the most multifarious areas in Evandyr.
Although there are many small settlements in this
region, most of Akani’s importance centers around its
small but extremely efficient harbor town Nosso – one
of Ishta’s only two ports of note. Located in the Bay of
Mists, it is naturally protected by a shroud of fog that
many believe is magical in nature, and ships coming
in need guidance from its Yaomin, expert boatmen
who wear spirits like shrouds around their faces to see
through the thick mists, to dock safely. Legend holds
that the same haze carries undead sailormen who
will attack any who would dare approach with bad
intentions in mind, and although it hasn’t been put to
the test for decades, the tale alone seems enough to
deter many invaders from even trying to get close to
the Ishtan shore.
78
With direct river access to the entire western part
of the continent, Nosso is of supreme importance to
Ishta, and the relationship it has with Qualat in Charr
Dhan is complicated. Akani diplomats are constantly
being sent upstream to negotiate treaties and tolls, but
their powerful negotiation position has angered more
than one Qualat official.
CHARR DHAN
Lush and green with enough rivers and veins of open
areas, Charr Dhan would undoubtedly be a contender
for the potentially most prosperous stretch of land in
Ishta if not for its treacherous delta which keeps any
harbor from being established along its western shores.
Rapids and waterfalls, swampland and dangerous rocky
outcroppings prevent large ships from passing here,
and even its lone bay island is too inhospitable to host
anything other than the occasional romantic couple
out to risk life and limb in return for some excitement.
Despite its raging currents, Charr Dhan is more easily
navigable overland than most other subregions on
the continent, and its most northern city, Tixal, has
been able to survive with only small stretches of river
accessible for trade and other purposes.
With direct river access to both the small but efficient
harbor town of Nosso and The Dying Lands, the
metropolis of Qualat stands in the north of beautiful Lake
Odazi as one of Ishta’s only two metropolises (the other
one being Huexolta). A beacon of acculturation and
refinement ruled by a body of wise priest-astronomers
and sages. Qualat boasts its own culture and the people
of this city-state adhere to a set of beliefs that seem
alien to most other societies on Athyr, but that seem to
have led the spirit-deities they worship to favor them
above all others. Although they are unable to prove
that their prosperity depends largely on these ethereal
gods, the rulers of Qualat have staked not only their
own well-being, but also that of future generations
on them, which unfortunately has led their continued
governance shakier than most would suspect.
As erudite as Qualat is, the lands surrounding the
capital are populated by more stealthy predators
and aggressive non-humans than anywhere else on
Ishta, and the Beastmen that live in the Badawo Wilds
present a constant danger, as they are attracted to the
wealth of Charr Dhan like moths to a flame. This has
forced the local chieftains and the Qualat overlords to
spread their forces ever thinner lest their territory falls
to their frequent incursions, making the future of this
halcyon region look quite uncertain indeed.
 Ishta

To the north, where the river forks, trading boats can
easily reach The Dying Lands. Here, intrepid nomads
are more than willing to barter their more in-demand
goods and services. However, this has made Charr
Dhan – and Tixal in particular – a prime target for raids
by Thalian pirates, who often anchor their larger ships
to the west of the Charr Dhanian island to serve as
a base for their smaller boats and rowing vessels. This
has prompted the priests in Tixal to up the number
of sacrifices and call on the omnipresent spirits of the
region more often than even their Akshanian and
Huexoltan peers. Maybe this is why it is so hard to
traverse the country without encountering spirits,
both friendly and malevolent ones, and the presence
of the ethereal is large here.

NATURE SPIRITS LANGUAGE

OF ISHTA OVERVIEW
An overview of the most common nature spirits
worshipped in Ishta. Each spirit will be described in more MOSTLY
detail in the final and complete release of this book. LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN
Huwsedo: The Wind Iawande: The Purity Ishtan Several large cities
Spirit Spirit
Ishari
Kta’Vaska: The Leaf Spirit Oyferi: The Healing Spirit
Ashiri
Jamasepta: The Earth Bao-Ar: The Mountain Charr’Dhan
Imen
Spirit Spirit
Kirea
Odo Oya: The Rain Spirit Zo’Xepl: The Warrior
Baadi
Spirit
Xalhuota: The River Spirit
Nuwemi
Ururana: The Divination
Dalnorra: The Night
Spirit Oeresa Jungles of Mararoka
Spirit
Pakse-Muni: The Binding Panto
Kajemba: The Day Spirit
Spirit Suhemi
Nyudai: The Fertility
Howeme: The Shadow Tauli
Spirit
Spirit
Munajé: The Death Spirit Thori Akani
Enu Sutu: The Song Spirit
Zebado: The War Spirit Andume
Balkepi: The Fire Spirit
Budume
Uru’Massari: The Sky
Zanpak-Zeri: The Hunter
Spirit Obima
Spirit Badawo Wilds
Waniga: The Monster Siltoe
Saidori: The Lake Spirit
Spirit
Ewera
Toka’Habi: The Rock
Oseme: The Breath Spirit Wanpuri
Spirit
Ikomeno: The Beast Polesi
Cuatalemo: The Thunder Torra Nyega
Spirit
Spirit Apane
Lapayetta: The Demon
Spirit

79
 TORR A NYEGA
HISTORY
Although humanity sprouted in the Sundered Wastes,
Ishta was the first region outside of its birthplace that
was settled, and outside of the great eruptions of Mount
Obetu, the continent was never hit by a great calamity
that changed its entire face or climate. Protected by
a semi-circle of mountains, Torra Nyega was spared
the outbursts of the shield volcano and geographically
remains pretty much as it was almost 90 millennia ago,
when humans first settled here after making their way to
through the mountain passes and rivers of the Iron Peaks
of Dorganthur.
It seems certain that Ishtans started out as hunter-
gatherers and the abundance of tropical plants and
animals made this lifestyle relatively easy and appealing.
At the time, there were even less open areas than
now. The forest canopy was too thick and the surface
too heavily burdened with leaves and shrubbery to
encourage any other way of living, but that all changed
with the Geradron.
A large six-legged herbivore with razor-sharp antlers, the
Geradron made great prey, and at one point the Ishtan
trappers must have come up with the idea to use the
antlers as weapons, creating the first geradril, a thick
axe capable of slicing through wood if swung hard
enough. Under leadership of the druids of the time, one
of the communities in the north of Torra Nyega started
chopping trees and experimenting with seeds in a valley
underneath the shelter of the Iron Peaks of Dorganthur.
This would later become Nakbu.
80
Humanity is a curious kind and many families decided
to follow the mountain range up east, where they used
their geradril and recently-developed agricultural skills
to found Huexolta. By then, the Proto-Athyrian and Old
Ethennian languages had developed into Ishtan, and that
language is still spoken in both cities.
Although the city-dwellers started to exert their influence
over the region, farming was still difficult and many
people decided to remain in the wilderness and retain
their hunter-gathering lifestyle, even when exposed to
the methods used in Nakbu and Huexolta. However, as
they spread through the region and moved deeper into
the forests, they started to encounter larger and fiercer
predators, and life was often horrendously short. Help
came not from the living, but from the ethereal.
Slowly, the druid leaders, who had been used to the
weather conditions on the Valgar Plains long before that
territory was flattened, were growing accustomed to
their new natural surroundings, and most of them had
started to commune with the spirits more than ever
before in a call for protection and help.
The spirits responded, but they needed to be appeased.
The first to accept the druids’ pleas was Huwsedo, the
Wind Spirit, who took their words and gently carried
them throughout Ishta, where the other spirits couldn’t
help but listen to them. Soon, Xalhuota, the River
Spirit, and Uru’Massari, the Sky Spirit, made themselves
known, offering allegiance and guardianship in return
for sacrifice. More spirits revealed themselves fast and
their worship spread from out of the forest camps to the

cities in the north and from there through Torra Nyega
and, eventually, the entire continent. It would become
the common denominator, the one thing that binds all
Ishtans, despite their differences in outlook, the great
distances between different communities, and the many
languages spoken in the region.
OVERVIEW
The region of northeastern Ishta is known as Torra
Nyega. It’s a large area located between Lake Kahija and
the metal-rich peaks of Dorganthur, and is bordered
on the southeast by the Jungles of Mararoka, where
settlements are few and far between and remain small
until one reaches the harbor of Kintaba. Bisecting the
region are the quick-flowing Orn and the slower Uro,
which flow together to form the Orunuro; one of the
great rivers of Ishta, which flows into Lake Kahija and
later down to the Sea of Blood.
Torra Nyega is a pleasant country of forests, farms, and
small towns, with the triangle shaped region between
the mountains and the joining of the Orn and Uro being
particularly fecund. It is the least tropical region of Ishta,
and its rivers are lined with a string of charming semi-
81
Ishta
autonomous villages and communities that still largely
depend on a hunting-gathering lifestyle. Even though
some of these peoples have started to cultivate small
patches of land, true farms are only found near the
cities, but there is one type of building that is prevalent
throughout not only Torra Nyega, but the entire of
Ishta: ziggurats, and the most ancient of these pyramids
are found in this region, where humans first settled.
Originally erected to appease the spirit gods and
survive without the need of walled cities, there are
ancient pyramids to be found throughout Torra Nyega,
even in desolate places where only small semi-nomadic
tribes dwell. These places of worship are still shared
by Ishtans hunting up to a few dozen miles away, and
further serve to keep them from moving to agriculture
and erecting cities, as their bond with the spirits makes
life more comfortable and, frankly, less work-intensive
than farming. They are also the reason why there
are so many languages spoken throughout Ishta, and
outside of Huexolta and Nakbu, either Wanpuri, Polesi,
and Apane is used, making communication between
Ishtans difficult at times. Most large communities have
interpreters or use spirits to speak with their neighbors,
but conflicts are rare, both because of their common
spirit worship and because there are so many edible
plants and animals that conquering new territory isn’t
just considered superfluous, but dumb.
EXPLORATION
Where the Jungles of Mararoka are almost impossible
The absence of large-scale cultivation and ranching
to traverse without guides and knowledge of how
has played into the hands of both Huexolta and
to read the paths, travel through Torra Nyega is far
Nakbu, both of which have established extensive trade
easier thanks to it long but narrow stretches of open
with the villages of Torra Nyega, and both of which
spaces and grasslands. Near Huexolta, many of these
consider themselves city states that evenly split up the
are man-made and caused by the kind of deliberate
subregion. Most of the tribes found in Torra Nyega
deforestation needed to create routes through
don’t care, although the Obega have actively resisted
a dense jungle, but all others are natural and mainly
such rulership since the cities established the Xerifa,
found along the lush riverbanks.
judge-lawmen who wander the land in groups of three.
Bearing their city’s tattoos on their entire bodies, Outside of the cities, the Orunuro is where the largest
concentration of natives is found. Much of their social
Xerifa carry different ceremonial weapon, with the
life occurs along the riverbanks, and goods are traded
bolo symbolizing capture, the axe justice, and the spear
on rafts made from balsa logs, reed boats, and canoes.
righteousness. They are widely feared (or respected;
None of these are seaworthy, but they are particularly
the Ishtan word for both concepts it basically
well-suited to travel along the streams of Ishta. In Torra
identical), but mainly stick to the north of Torra Nyega
Nyega, it is hard to travel upstream for longer than
unless accompanying heralds, traders, or caravans in
a few hours without seeing children playing, people
order to avoid angering the independent villages and
washing their clothes, fishers waiting patiently for their
settlements and spreading their forces too thin.
bait to work, and Xerifa patrolling the waterfront.
This all has led to a kind of cognitive dissonance
Unfortunately, despite their rather placid appearance,
amongst the citizens of Huexolta and Nakbu, many of
the waters of Torra Nyega are almost as dangerous as
whom believe that their respective home cities tightly
its most densely wooded areas. Locals learn from an
rule over half of the region, while, in truth, it is too vast
early age on to avoid entire river tracts when there are
and forested to make such a thing possible with the
less fish swimming there than usual, as entire schools of
limited forces they have available. This fallacy has also
small predatory animals are constantly on the lookout
created somewhat of a rivalry between both city states
for fresh meat. Drawn by movement, the horned,
– one many of the more inland communities have
piranha-like Birricadi can gnaw their way through an
taken advantage of by changing allegiances quickly
inch of flesh within seconds while sticking themselves
according to the best deals they are able to get.
into whatever they want to feast on with their head
Outside of Huexolta and Nakbu, the village hegemons antlers. Many a visitor has torn apart a tendon or
pride themselves on their hospitality and, along with has ripped open their own muscle tissue by trying
their wives, daughters, courtiers, and musicians, feast to dislodge them. Worse still are Burrower Maggots,
and entertain visitors with feasts of local fish, meats, slimy grub that eats out entire organs by digging itself
fruit, sweet yams, and vegetables. Added to this staple underneath the skin and entering the blood vessels.
is tapioca and a sort of fiery fermented sugarcane
The Strangle Lichen found near many bodies of water
juice the locals called cachaca, which conveys a wicked
in Torra Nyega is thought by some to be sentient, but
hangover the following day (but is quite delicious) and
most only care about the plant’s intuitive ability to
which is brought to the tribal communities by traders
capture anyone who traverses it, pull it down, and push
from the northern cities in return for other goods.
itself into their mouths, suffocating them. Entire areas
All in all, life in Torra Nyega seems pleasant, but even have been known to get littered with corpses, all serving
the spirit gods are unable – or unwilling – to fully as ghastly compost heaps for more Strangle Lichen, and
protect its peoples from the many dangers of these the bog is eradicated wherever it is found out of fear
lands, and at least one tribe seems ready to embrace that it would encroach deeper into the jungle.
agriculture and become a force in its own right that,
There are supernatural dangers, too. The Amalith
if allowed to grow, might pose a serious threat to the
are ethereal beings that feed on spirits. They are the
two nominal city-states: the aforementioned Obega,
natural enemies of the shamans in this subregion but
a clan of guerilla forest warriors and shamans that
are tethered to the waters and can only leave the
worships Munajé, the Death Spirit, and Zebado, the
riverbanks for a few minutes before being drawn back
War Spirit.
in by whatever force is keeping them there.

82

A more common foe found both on land and on water
is the Mandalin, a foul froglike species that worships
only a perverted version of the demon spirit god
Lapayetta, recast in their own image. The Mandalin
have two powerful prehensile tongues that can extend
for up to 12 feet and have been known to use them to
tear an adult human limb from limb – literally. Their
ritual sacrifices involve merging their victims with the
swamp waste they eat from and are said to rival the
rites of the twelve cults in their depravity.
Finally, there is Lake Kahija, a basin so vast that on
the southern shore one can see little of the northern,
save the rounded peaks of the Toquima mountains
poking above the horizon like a row of giant helmets,
all of different shapes and sizes. When traversing its
surface, freight barge crews immediately unpack and
mount an odd sort of enormous drum, whose ‘mouth’
terminates below the waterline. The huge, deep tom
is then rhythmically beaten by a specialized type of
musician called a Monstruo, whose job it is to warn
away the Xioqwetla, gigantic monsters that dwell in
the transparent depths of the Kahija. These creatures
normally feed upon the numerous large species of
freshwater fish which populate the lake but aren’t
adverse to overturning boats to gorge themselves on
the struggling passengers who spill into the water.
The teeth-chattering, bone-vibrating pulse of the
Monstruo’s drum apparently frightens and disturbs
them, but also often scares away visitors and explorers
who have no idea how the bass tones echoing through
the trees of Torra Nyega are produced. With any
luck, while voyaging around the lake passengers will
only catch glimpses of these monsters in the distance:
massive reptiles the size of ships, with a single colossal
sail-like fin upon their backs, hugely powerful back
legs and tiny forearms tipped with wicked claws, both
webbed for speed in the water.
One would almost be tempted to choose ground over
water, but one would be mistaken. The Cazrick, great
felines with muscular hind legs that allow them to
jump from tree to tree, are great climbers and patient,
silent killers, but the most ominous danger comes not
83
Ishta
from beast or monster, but from a human tribe: the
Nazahuil, a tribe of fanatical maneaters whose culture
revolves entirely around death and bones.
Despite all these perils, there are many wonders to
be found in Torra Nyega, although many of these are
shunned by the local populace, mostly because their
origins have been forgotten or because the spirits have
advised its shamans against trespassing and exploring
these edifices of old.
At the mouth of Kahija where the Orunuro meets
vast Lake Kahija and the short mountain range known
as the Toquima runs along its eastern shore, lies the
Umilas Lan, a great series of ruins so long lost to time
that the local inhabitants didn’t know their name; but
only make protective signs before their faces, divert
their eyes, and refuse to discuss them under any
circumstances.
Not all ziggurats dotting the landscape have been
built in the same age, as their differing architecture
clearly indicates, and even their purpose may vary
from structure to structure. Most of the oldest
are overgrown and those that aren’t often arouse
suspicion amongst nearby tribes, as this can indicate
that they have been invaded and maybe even robbed
by outsiders. Many foreigners assume that these
pyramids are hidden in the jungle, but that is only
partly right, as most of the edifices were erected along
natural routes that provide passage without the need
of geradril or other tools designed to cut through the
thick shrubbery that makes traversing the jungles of
Ishta so difficult at places.
Some of these routes have been covered by plants,
but most are still used and Xerifa keep dozens of small
outposts along their lengths, both to ensure no-one
visits the ziggurats that have been designated unsafe
and to keep the peace in the city state. Unfortunately,
these stations become smaller and less plentiful as one
voyages further away from the cities. In the southeast
or southwest of Torra Nyega, travelers are mostly on
their own, surrounded by the indigenous fauna and
flora of the subregion.
 POINTS OF INTEREST
CAMP YMAL Camp Ymal is a boot
and training camp for
Camp Ymal is an extensive outpost on the eastern end aspiring Monstruo.
of Lake Kahija. Surrounded by a wooden palisade and Students take place
located in-between several waterways, it is accessible on the steps of the
by boat or wooden bridges over each of the streams. pyramid to learn about
By far the largest of its kind, it features dozens of small the Xioqwetla, the
wharves that can host anything from canoes to the enormous monsters
large rafts, and a large part of the camp’s income is that prowl the basin,
earned by renting out wharves or even entire parts of and other specifics
the docks on a long-term basis. There is no tavern, but about the lake. Drum
the Monstruo who run the place allow anyone to stay exercises are carried
in their houses for a small fee and gladly share drinks out during every morning and afternoon, and upon
and food for a higher one. graduating, students are allowed to stay or leave for
The buildings are mostly made of wood, but some one of the other eight (smaller) camps along Lake Kahija.
small stone houses are found here as well, all Most fail – not because their teachers don’t allow them
surrounding a beautiful and well-kept ziggurat. to graduate, but because they make a mistake while
Peculiarly, even though there is almost always on the water and are killed during a Xioqwetla attack.
someone working on its outside, removing weeds This has actually become somewhat of a sales argument
and cleaning its walls, its entrance is closed off with to the Monstruo, as it demonstrates how dangerous it
a basalt stone slab, and no-one in the camp is willing is to cross the area without a good monster musician
to talk about the purpose of the ziggurat. operating the boat and keeping the monsters at bay.

S ECRETS & RUMORS

• Some visitors who tried to enter the ziggurat were seen being dragged
away by the elder Monstruo, never to be seen again. There must be
something unspeakable inside, or perhaps great treasure. In the latter
case, maybe the musicians have some kind of secret passageway that
allows them to enter unseen?

• A few of the Monstruo seem to have magical powers. Maybe they are
summoning the Xioqwetla on purpose, or at the very least using them
at times, to avoid becoming obsolete?

• One of stone buildings inside of the camp features dedicated living

quarters for visiting Xerifa. The lawmen maintain a continuous
presence here, but there seem to be far too many of them than should
be necessary to defend an outpost like this, as there is a revolving
complement of at least two dozen Xerifa around at all times. Do
the Xerifa, or the rulers of Huexolta or Nakbu, have some hidden
knowledge about this place?

84
 Ishta

RUINS OF U MILAS LAN By far the most

While traversing the great Orunuro, travelers are bound successful forays
to sail past the ancient ruins of Umilas Lan. This great into Umilas Lan have
primordial city includes not only leagues of stone been made by druids,
pyramids, towers, and temples, but also the legs of what shamans, and nature
must have been a truly colossal statue of a man standing priests, some of
astride the river. If traveling the river at this point, one whom claim to have
can peer over the side of their barge to catch a glimpse contacted spirits who
of an enormous face staring up from the depths below as have told them about
they pass above it. the city’s true origins.
However, bizarrely,
The statue’s expression is saturnine, and of a race
none of them agree
completely unknown to the modern inhabitants of Ishta:
on what information they were given: while one shaman
fearsome, flat featured, with full lips and a scowling
insists that the spirits told them that the ruins were built
visage. This has led many to search not just the visible
by a group of Eldra Gavan that survived the razing of the
part of Umilas Lan, but also dive to the bottom of the
Sundered Wastes thousands of years ago, another asserts
river in search for treasure or answers to the many
that the very same spirts warned them about a primeval
questions that the existence of this mysterious city poses.
evil that brought a servitor race from its own world with
Unfortunately, this part of the Orunuro is infested by
it and had them toil in Umilas Lan until it grew tired with
Birricadi, making any such attempts short-lived and ill-
them, obliterating the entire species before withdrawing
fated indeed. Although the natives know better, some
inside of the walls. So far, no spirit-talker has shared the
foreigners have tried to resolve this issue by constructing
same account, leaving many to wander whether the
crude, plated diver suits, but all such endeavors have
spirits are purposefully lying to them.
failed as the weight got them stuck or too immobile to
react to other underwater dangers.

SECRETS & RUMORS

• The underwater city is not an extension of the ruins along the river, but
a different city, built in different times entirely, as evidenced by the
bizarre stone face jutting out of the waters. It seems to precede Umilas
Lan and, may be older than what is generally assumed to be the origin
of human life on Athyr.

• The ruins sometimes seem to whisper to those who pass through them.
Strangely, they speak in the tongue of whoever listens to them, but the
thoughts they convey are disjointed and impossible to keep track of, as
if a million minds are trying to speak at once.

• Sometimes, when Umilas Lan is reflected in the river, it doesn’t show

a mirror image, but rather, it is as if staring directly at the ruins. Some
claim that it at those times, the city is shown in its former glory, not in
its current demolished state.

85

DEMON’S FORK
The place where the Orunuro splits in two is dark
and foreboding, as if something sinister resides
there. This is why the locals have come to refer to
this area as the ‘Demon’s Fork’, and the territory
between where the fork springs is avoided even by
the bravest of Xerifas. There have been sightings
of all kinds of demons, but no known deaths or
disappearances.
THE WEEPING TREES
Near the Domes of Maradhar in the south of
Torra Nyega stand the Weeping Trees, a grove of
trees inhabited by nature spirits known as Irudinu
who lament the damage caused by Mount
Obetu, across the border. They seem to have
moved here after the last outburst, ages ago,
and want to return to their former birthplace.
Unfortunately, they refuse to accept that their
roots won’t be able to take hold anymore there,
and that much of the land is lain to waste. If told,
the Irudinu will become angry and lash out. If
not told, they will insist on bringing them back
to the Badawo Wilds. Anyone traveling through
this area may hear the sound of soft weeping
coming from trees all around them, especially
at night when there are one or more full moons.
SECRETS & RUMORS
• The demons that are residing here are clearly mostly
intent on avoiding that people would trespass.
Maybe they want to avoid them discovering an
unholy entrance to their dimension, or maybe they
are preparing something far more wicked in utmost
secrecy. Whatever the case, it seems odd that they
haven’t truly attacked anyone.
• The demons are really an illusion created by the
demon spirit Lapayetta, either to hide where he is
residing or to protect a community of Mandalin.
It would certainly explain why there have been so
many Mandalin attacks upriver.
• The sightings aren’t of demons at all, but rather
of some unknown benevolent species that simply
looks somewhat demonic. If contact can be made,
maybe an alliance with the city state of Nakbu might
be possible, but this might shift the power balance
between that city and Huexolta, which many would
find to be an unfavorable development.
SECRETS & RUMORS
• The grove sometimes seems to shift and move,
as if the trees unroot themselves. Could this be
the work of the Irudinu trying to move back to
their birthplace?
• The Irudinu have been around for millennia and hold
information on Ishta and Athyr that no-one else has.
If they are asked the right questions and appeased
in some way, they may be able to solve mysteries
or divulge secrets that would otherwise remain
unsolvable or hidden forever.
• The Irudinu might not be entirely wrong. After all,
large swathes of the Badawo Wilds are still covered
by greenery without having been destroyed by lava,
dust, or smoke. Maybe somewhere amongst the
charred, cracked landscape where they originally
dwelled a small patch of fertile land still remains.
86
 Ishta

EYES OF URU’M ASSARI gemstones of unknown

A series of nine pyramids, the layout of the Eyes Of origin. The jewels form
Uru’Massari mimics the likewise named constellation of mosaics that show
stars. Seemingly made by the first people who settled this astrological charts
region, the pyramids are smoother than the ziggurats and constellations.
found at most other places in Ishta, and the distances They are everywhere
between them uncannily reflect those between the stars in both structures,
down to the inch. They used to be tombs, but five of the spread out amongst
nine eyes have already been plundered and the entrances dozens of sprawling
to two other structures, often referred to as Up Middle antechambers, ritual
and Center Middle, have not yet been found, despite the rooms, corridors,
best efforts of architects and adventurers alike. and alcoves. It is
easy to understand why these montages hold so much
The last two pyramids, simply called Up North and Down
significance to the Muwali, but to most, it is an utter
North by the Muwali, are carefully guarded by the tribe,
mystery why they are so fiercely protective of them, and
as their interior walls are of particular significance to them.
why 30 to 60 warriors from their tribe are stationed
Encrusted within the walls are thousands of glowing blue
here around the clock.

SECRETS & R UMORS

• Some believe that the symbols tattooed on the cheeks of the
Muwali are exact copies of some of the mosaics found in the Eyes of
Uru’Massari, which would mean that the pyramids are even more
important to the entire Muwali culture than most might think.

• The hidden entrances to Up Middle and Central Middle have long been
found, but the secrets stored within are so terrifying that the Muwali
leadership is keeping them from their own tribe members. Maybe the
undead mummies of two necromancer-kings are bound to these places,
or maybe they contain references to extradimensional entities that
would destroy the world if they were summoned.

• None of the pyramids have really been looted. In truth, they are
connected by hidden passages and dozens of Muwali are staying there,
studying the magic glyphs found there. Those who truly believe this
wildly outrageous rumor also think that the Muwali may be on the
brink of discovering an entirely new – but most probably baleful – way
of weaving magic.

87
NORTH POST Xerifas stationed are
The most northern and largest of all Xerifa outposts, stationed here only
North Post is of utmost importance to these lawmen after going through
as it is also the meeting point between the Xerifa from a long and arduous
Huexolta and their peers from Nakbu. Overseen by four training process which
Directors – two from each city-state – who are elected teaches them to hide
bi-yearly by veteran law enforcers, North Post also houses their emotions and
diplomats from both sides and serves as their main remain serene at all
communication channel. Since Nakbu is even further times. Showing any
away from North Post than Huexolta is, that city is signs of a rage or
often at a more disadvantageous position and its priest- willingness to commit
astronomers have been petitioning for a new location violent acts at all is
more to the west of the current one for years now, to reason for being kicked out of law enforcement entirely.
no avail.

S ECRETS & RUMORS

• Spirits worshipped by both sides are making sure no infighting erupts here. These
apparitions react swiftly to anger and other negative emotions, and will attack anyone
who isn’t able to remain calm relentlessly.

• Some of the diplomats here have formed a secret cabal that wants to overthrow the
governments of Huexolta and Nakbu. They may even be in league with one of the cults,
believing they can control its disciples.

88
 Ishta

TALUAN CAVES once made its home

One of the most amazing sites in all of Torra Nyega is here, but nowhere in
without a doubt, the wonder of the Taluan Falls. Mere the multi-level cavern
miles from their spring, a section of the river above can any clue about
crashes downhill at a steep gradient and carries sediment their disappearance be
and small rocks with it. As the rapids gain more speed found.
and the stream flows from soft rock to hard rock, they Alas, the Taluan Caves
eventually form a breathtaking waterfall, featuring aren’t completely
a plunge of almost 3.000 feet. uninhabited. In its
Located deep within the Domes of Maradhar, only the damp, dark corners
Tauluk (the only tribe living in the mountain range) lurk monsters great
who know about the Taluan Caves have dared to climb and small. A group of
from ledge to ledge, and from rocky outcropping to Amalith is known to make its home here now, Birricadi
stone outgrowth to get behind the waterfalls and into swim though the cavern streams, and Strangle Lichen
the immense cave complex. There, once light repels seems to be everywhere. However, none of these dangers
the darkness, astonished adventurers will find an entire are as frightening as the rumored presence of its largest
city, seemingly entirely abandoned and built out of the inhabitant, the four-headed Hixadryl. The only known
naturally occurring grottoes that must have already been specimen of its kind, the 12 foot high Hixadryl usually
here thousands of years ago. Weathered instruments, stands on its four hindlegs and its lack of a skeleton allows
cooking utensils, crudely built rotting furniture and it to squeeze through the smallest of spaces. Worse, it has
decaying clothes refer to some kind of civilization that never developed an appetite for Amalith or fish, and its
solitude has driven it insane.

SECRETS & RUMORS

• There are many secret passages in the Taluan Caves and some lead to
treasure chambers still replete with riches from ages bygone, but these
valuables are guarded by supernatural sentinels with gems set in their
eyes that fracture the soul and bind it into their multicolored facets.

• The entire city is an extensive hallucination created by the Hixadryl,

which lures unsuspecting travelers to illusionary chambers larger than
a citadel, all of them filled with enough valuables to buy a kingdom.
Unfortunately, the treasure is only an image, but the monsters are not.

• This isn’t the home of any lost civilization, but a city of spirits. Here,
many of Ishta’s revered spirits reside or at least spend some leisure
time here, and everything found inside the cave complex is just
a reflection of their otherworldly dwellings, shown to mortals as things
they can relate to.

89
 PEOPLES & CULTURE
THE MUWALI
The Muwali are most commonly found in the north
of Torra Nyega, just outside of the cities, and are the
largest and most cultured of all the semi-nomadic
tribes inhabiting the region. These locals have
a unique tradition of tattooing their cheeks with
pious astrological symbols and cut their hair into short
bowl cuts; fearsome looking on the men, made more
attractive on the women with the addition of a sort of
‘tail’ of hair between the scapulae. Like the other tribes,
they don’t farm on any scale large enough to change
their society, but unlike their peers, they do cultivate
all kinds of fruits.
The Muwali consider themselves to be closer to nature
than either the city dwellers or the other tribes, and
even their huts and tents are set up in layouts that
resemble the constellations in the sky. A tribe of
stargazers and astrologers, this has made the Muwali
aware that some of the stars in the sky are growing
dim, which has fed their superstition even more. As
a result, progress has been slow in recent times as the
tribe has been gripped with fear of the future. As of
late, the portents have turned grimmer and more
foreboding, and some of the Muwali chieftains are
beginning to consider human sacrifice in order to
avert the coming doom.
THE OBEGA
One of the other two tribes in the north of Torra
Nyega is the Obega. This impetuous people values
freedom above all else and has long been maltreated
and scoffed at by other Ishtans, mainly because they
are a fairly recent tribe and because their lineage
can be traced back to the marriage of their first
chieftain, Umla Mak, with a mysterious sage only
known as Emlik Miihn, a name with a meaning which
roughly translates as ‘Harbinger of Fate’. Even back
then, no-one really knew where Emlik came from,
and speculation ran wild. Some believed he was the
last survivor of a species that had come from beyond
the stars, others thought him to be an ancient
necromancer, while some claimed he was a spirit
incarnate.
Whatever the case, the union is said to have spawned
bizarre demonic offspring amongst its many human-
looking children. The malevolent critters were
90
quickly dispatched of (or so it is said), but the entire
tribe was hauled to a different part of Torra Nyega
and left to its own devices. Astonishingly, the tribe
grew to be dominant in Torra Nyega within a few
generations, giving credence to the idea that it was
supported by some kind of malevolent power, by
unknown technology, or by an entire species that
could draw from an enormous body of knowledge.
The current chieftain, Alina Mak, has reimagined
her tribe as guerilla freedom fighters. She knows
her extended family is too few in number to make
a direct difference, but she is hoping that her harsh
precision strikes will give the current city rulership
pause and reconsider the use of Xerifas outside of
the city walls. For now, she is mostly accomplishing
exactly the opposite thing and it might not be long
before Nakbu and Huexolta launch a full-fledged
counterstrike against her entire tribe.
THE NAZAHUIL
Although the Nazahuil don’t actively oppose the
city-states or their rulership, most city dwellers
are entirely disgusted by their way of life. The
tribe members don’t so much worship the more
malevolent and darker spirits, but rather believe that
these dark beings must be constantly placated. Their
shamans are absolutely convinced that the only way
to soothe the angry spirit gods is to provide them
a near-constant supply of human meat, but they
aren’t cannibalistic in the strict sense and so hunt the
other tribes and outsiders instead of sacrificing their
own. They fully realize this has made them an enemy
of the Xerifa and will strike at these law-enforcers as
soon as they lay eyes on them. What is difficult to
understand to both the Xerifa and the other tribes is
that the Nazahuil feel responsible for all other native
Ishtans and act out of a (misguided?) attempt to save
their brethren.
Hunted by the Xerifa, the Nazahuil have retreated
into the darkest depths of the wilderness, but this
also made them more unpredictable, and their
blowpipes make them extremely lethal at range,
as the Gombrilwood thorns they use for projectiles
drip of a naturally paralytic poison and, given the
proper technique, penetrate easily into chainmail
and lesser armor. Ruled a deranged chieftain whose

identity remains a carefully guarded secret, the
Nazahuil make frequent forays into the inhabited
parts of Torra Nyega and all are trained to strike and
disappear in deadly lightning attacks that leave no
room for mercy.
THE TAULUK
When travelers hear about a tribe living in the
Domes of Maradhar to the north of Akshan, most
automatically assume that they are a hardy folk
gifted with great endurance and the Tauluk go out
of their way to cultivate this image by going bare-
chested and wearing gaudy spirit amulets, each one
representing a specific spirit worshipped in Ishta.
However, all this ostentatious imagery is only that:
imagery. In truth, the Tauluk are a scarred tribe,
driven to the Domes of Maradhar by the Nazahuil
centuries ago. Before they were able to rout,
a bitter curse was bestowed on them, sapping the
entire tribe of much of its physical strength and
endurance… but something must have happened in
that mountain range.
Most probably, the Tauluk found the Taluan Caves
before anyone alive had even heard of them and
inside, they must have found something that led
them to connect to the spirits and commune with
them in a harmonious symbiosis unlike any seen
since. Whatever happened, they obviously didn’t
choose to live inside of the caverns but instead made
their homes elsewhere in the Domes of Maradhar.
Without their spirit guides, the Tauluk would be at
the mercy of the other tribes, the Troglodytes, and
the many deadly creatures that make the mountains
their homes. This has made them particularly
receptable to suggestions by the spirit gods –
so much so, in fact, that the Tauluk do not have
a chieftain anymore and rather rely on augury and
mediumship. Luckily, because of the harsh region
they live in, spirits like Huwsedo, the Wind Spirit,
Kta’Vaska, the Leaf Spirit, Uru’Massari, the Sky Spirit,
and Pakse-Muni, the Mountain Spirit are asked for
guidance more than all others, and none of those
beings are mischievous, spiteful, or malicious.
THE IMAL UHR
The Imal Uhr are mostly found near Lake Kahija and it
should come as no surprise that most Monstruo hail
from this tribe. Although the Imal Uhr believe in all
spirits, just like most other Ishtan tribes and societies,
91
Ishta
they worship the river and water spirits almost
exclusively. This has made them the most capable
boaters of the continent, but their attunement to
the water has also caused quite a skill drain as more
and more youngsters are deciding to travel to the
coastal harbors to find a ship and sail the seas.
As the younger tribespeople are off discovering
the world, the Imal Uhr population is aging and the
elderly are finding it harder to get taken care of.
This has led many of them to forge an unholy union
with some of the more unsavory spirits in the region,
allowing them to possess the venerable to sustain
them and prolong their natural lives with at least
a decade. However, this bizarre communion starts
to show after a while, with the older tribespeople
acting bizarrely aloof or uncaring, ignoring pain or
even reacting to certain things with incongruous
behavior that feels totally out of place.
THE A MILAK
Found mostly in the south-east of Torra Nyesa,
the Amilak are a tribe that has achieved a close
connection to the indigenous wildlife of the jungle
region. Their unique culture and traditions revolve
around their symbiotic relationship with these
animals, which allows them to survive and thrive
within the dense foliage of the region. Their founder,
Yacina Amilak, and her family, were lost in this region
many centuries ago. Although they were starving,
they refused to eat any of the animals found here,
despite the abundance of wildlife. Ready to die for
their beliefs, they were visited by the spirit Enu Sutu,
who represents all wild animals, and offered to learn
about edible plants, medicinal herbs, and drinkable
water in return for eternal worship.
The family endured, but in return for his help,
Enu Sutu demanded a guarantee that none of its
members would ever hurt or kill a living animal.
Grateful, Yacina offered her own body, and she has
been possessed ever since, kept alive by the spirit.
Despite her longevity, old age has taken a toll, and
the centuries are showing in her cracked skin and
slow movements. Her tribe has prospered since her
possession, but her weakened state is emboldening
some more vicious members of this rather dogmatic
group, and of late, voices are going up to adapt
meat and fish into the Amilak diet. So far, they aren’t
being heard, and the tribe remains known for its
extremely aggressive stance towards humans who
do not maintain a vegetarian lifestyle.
 TRAVEL ACTS
1. OBSTACLES
Dense Overgrowth
1
Up ahead, an overgrowth of bushes, branches, and above-the-ground roots bars easy travel.
Cutting through it will take some time, and may prove to be dangerous considering there are
several poisonous and thorned plants among the overgrowth.

Ravine
2
The ground drops into a steep ravine. If eyesight allows, a rope bridge can be seen miles
further down the canyon, but there is also a very narrow series of steps cut out of the rock
walls spiraling down to the bottom.

The Floor is Lava

3
An old molten magma river of 30 to 60 feet wide crisscrosses through the area here. The
solidified clinkers at the sides of its center layer jut out of the mass like threads, and can prove
unpredictably dangerous to step on, having not fully hardened.

Swamp Lake
4 The trail ends at a large swamp lake and snakes around it, but pockets of quagmire (sinking
mud) surround the body of water, making travel unpredictable and dangerous.

2. EVENTS
Tropical Thunderstorm
1
A lightning storm breaks loose, channeling forked arcs of electricity out of the cumulonimbus
clouds as loud claps of thunderous sounds assault the ears. The wind picks up as well and
animals may become afraid, possibly breaking loose and running away if not properly trained.

River Flood
2 A nearby rainstorm has caused a river to flood. The water soon expands to 5,000 to 30,000
square miles, washing away anything not tethered to the ground or attached to large objects.

Spirit Escape
3
The belongings of a clan that left behind their camp can be found up ahead. Amongst the pile
of mostly useless materials is a rumbling clay pot. It holds a malevolent, bound spirit who is
about to escape his prison.

Strangle Lichen
4 Strangle Lichen are hidden among the many other (less dangerous) plants growing in this area
and can mean death to those unable to spot them in time.

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 Ishta

3. CONFLICTS
Obega Clanspeople
1
A group of Obega clanspeople burst through the shrubbery. They are convinced anyone
looking like city-folk are in league with the city-states. They have little patience with verbose
accounts and will attack if angered.

Mandalin Attack
2 A pack of Mandalin that have been hiding – most probably in a nearby basin or creek – jumps
out of the surroundings, ready to attack.

Amalith
3 Three Amalith are found near a small river, feeding off the spirit of an unconscious Shaman by
the name of Ora. She can still be saved if someone were to react fast enough.

Blowpipes of Death
4 Blow pipes are fired by hidden Nazahuil, intent on putting their targets into a paralyzed state
before dragging them back to their camp for ritual sacrifice.

4. INTERACTIONS
Xerifa Patrol
1
A group Xerifas are on a regular patrol, pretty far outside of their city-state. They are
perfectly happy enquiring about any dangers or obstacles someone may have encountered
before reporting back to their camp.

Exiled Monstruo
2
A group of young, former Monstruo students have made their home near a cliff, trying to
hidden from anyone who approaches. If befriended, they might share their story of how they
were exiled from Camp Ymal after they had entered the forbidden ziggurat.

The Victim
Sayra, a brazen adventurer from Evandyr is found hiding behind a fallen tree. She has a broken
3 leg, but the rest of her party is in worse shape, as their maimed corpses are scattered around
everywhere. According to her they were attacked by a pack of Cazrick. Is that really what
happened though? Perhaps Sayra isn’t telling the whole truth.

City Caravan
4
A caravan is encountered on one of the winding paths through the jungle. The travelers are
dressed in dark, tattered clothing and their faces are painted with intricate designs. They offer
to trade goods, but are suspiciously secretive about who they are.

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 5. FLORA & FAUNA
Waterfalls
1
A nearby creek drops into a series of waterfalls. The constant mist from the falling water
creates an environment rich with rare plants and herbs, making it a prime location for
alchemists seeking ingredients for potions and spells.

Animal Congregation
A bizarre sight catches the eye as a congregation of animals can be seen at a clearing. The
2 ocelots, lemurs, kinkajous and agouti that have assembled here are not behaving as expected.
Instead of hunting each other or going about their usual business, they all sit in a circle around
an eerie, abandoned stone altar.

Spirit Orchids
3
The Characters come across a patch of multi-colored orchids. The flowers almost seem to be
alive, swaying and dancing in the breeze. Anyone taking a closer look and observant enough
may notice each orchid has a unique face etched into its petals.

Glowing Moss
4
A domed entrance to a grotto can be spotted up ahead, carved from dark, rough-hewn stone
that seems to blend seamlessly with the jungle. The air inside is cool and the grotto’s walls are
slick with moisture. Strange glowing mosses cling to every surface.

6. LANDMARKS
Mysterious Ziggurat
1
A ziggurat stands tall along a path amidst an otherwise endless sea of green. Its black stone
walls seem to absorb all light around it. A stairway spirals upwards like a serpent coiled around
its prey. Each step is etched with unknown symbols.

Reed Boat Market

2
A reed boat market can be seen alongside a nearby river stream. The boats are made by local
artisans using traditional techniques. They are not only functional but also beautiful, with
intricate designs carved into the reeds and colorful fabrics used for sails.

Fortified Observatory
3
An observatory is found in the middle of the wilderness, overgrown and clearly abandoned
long ago. It’s constructed much like a wooden barbican, but a single large telescope juts out
from a slit in its domed top. It seems to be untouched by looters or animals.

Hypnotizing Crystals
4
The jungle in this area is thick and impenetrable, a place where light barely penetrates the
canopy above. Yet, at its center is a clearing that glows with otherworldly light. Its source is
a large crystal formation at the center, pulsing with hypnotic energy.

94

HUEXOLTA
—THE MOUNTAIN GEM—
HUEXOLTA IS A MYSTERIOUS HALF-
SUBTERRANEAN CITY KNOWN FOR
MINING GEMS
POPULATION 26,483
GOVERNMENT City-state ruled by
a 5-person committee backed by an
aristocracy and organized bureaucracy.
DEFENSE 230 elite noble warriors with
ahtlatls and geradril wearing jazeraint
armor, 187 elite noble warriors with
short bows and short swords wearing
jazeraint armor, 129 elite noble warriors
with blowguns and spears, 713 commoner
fighters with maces and piecemeal armor
or loincloths, 515 commoner fighters with
hatchets and piecemeal armor or loincloth,
498 commoner fighters with spears and
piecemeal armor or loincloth, 43 Arak
Tiyiix (spirit-bound combat-sorcerers) with
various weapons and protective tattoos
SERVICES Art, astrology, bank,
fortunetelling, gambling, guide, jeweler,
library, lodgings (guesthouses), meals,
mediumship, stonemason, temple,
translator, woodworker
Ishta
Even before the ground drops into the valley below, visitors
to Huexolta are greeted by the high-pitched screeches of
winged reptilian creatures, astonishingly flying above them
in formations of three. Soon, they come across a valley
cut out of the rocks below, its rear protected by the sheer
granite mountains of the Dorganthur, with only a single,
heavily fortified mountain pass cutting through them,
barely visible from the southern vantage point.
A large, well-kept dirt road gently leads down, where it
eventually changes into a rock-hewn gulch that leads right
up to the impressive city of Huexolta, its lack of protective
walls allowing a direct look at its impressive blocks housing
multiple tiers of rectangular buildings erected around
plazas accessible through broad steps and stone suspension
bridges.
On the right flank, a huge fortress designed to look like
a flat head leans against the rest of the city, but nothing
attracts the attention so much as the many high towers in
the settlement’s core, cyclopean structures that are one,
two, or a swirl of colors separated by wide streets and open
squares. Towering above all other buildings – even the ones
on higher platforms – their red, green, blue, grey, brown,
and black spires dominate Huexolta’s skyline even more
than its imposing ziggurats and many statues.
95
OVERVIEW
Known throughout Ishta and beyond for its magical
and visual arts, as well as for the quality of its sage-
sorcerers, Huexolta is a marvel of architecture
characterized by great pyramids and temples, statues
that sometimes reach even higher than the ziggurats
that they are erected next to, and magical lighting
that lends it even more of a legendary status than it
would have without the integration of the arcane. In
the middle of the city stands a series of gargantuan
towers and smaller buildings, all made the distinctively
colored granite found nearby. Each of these belongs
to no other structure is allowed to use the same type
of stone.
The most iconic of all sights in Huexolta however is
undoubtedly that of its Kongamata (greatly feared
giant flying lizards which are indigenous to the Jungles
of Mararoka to the south) patrolling the azure heavens
above the city. These sentries of the sky are controlled
by the Arak Liman, sorcerers who dedicate their lives
to protecting the city, each of them bonding with
a single Kongamata after graduating and becoming
able to see through the creature’s eyes and control
their every move.
Locals of Huexolta will politely greet travelers and
answer questions if talked to in a language they
understand, and many of them will gladly serve as
guides or hosts should those visitors need assistance.
Citizens are raised to help others, but this also includes
not lecturing them – which means they will be shown
where to get ingredients for home cooking, but no-
one will actually cook for them (for example). For all its
splendor, Huexolta does not have any restaurants, inns
or taverns. Visitors are instead encouraged to sleep
inside of one of the many farms outside of the city
proper, but most locals are willing to accommodate
foreigners within their homes for a fee, effectively
hosting guest houses that sometimes have up dozen
visitors staying there.
Social life is experienced on the plazas and around
the maripol court, where people often gather to get
together, sharing food and drinks with anyone willing
to partake. The taverns that do exist are called ‘tamipu’
and are reserved for state personnel, including the
military, the Xerifa, and the organizations that also
have representation in the Smaragdine Council.
The city also counts many guilds and each of them is
housed in one of the center towers within the oldest
region of the city. This tradition has led to an unwanted
side effect, since there is no place left to build anything
in the heart of Huexolta and, should an innovation, art,
96
or craft come about, it will be impossible for another
guild to get its own building there. This has kept the
number of lodges stable for longer than anyone can
remember, although some recent developments were
integrated in the existing organizations. Guild members
always wear a black-and-green ribbon around their
wastes, no matter the specific organization.
SMARAGDINE COUNCIL
After the royal sovereigns who used to rule over
Huexolta were violently ousted out of power more than
800 years ago, a junta was installed and dubbed the
‘Smaragdine Council’. The idea was to have a committee
that truly represents the people’s best interests. To
accomplish this, one representative was chosen from
each of five organizations that were believed to cover
most strata of society. Over the centuries, this has had
the effect of making these institutions more influential.
Although Huexolta’s society isn’t entirely hierarchal,
the committee members hold more power than
anyone else and status is largely derived from being
a member of an organization that has a representative
in the Smaragdine Council. The 5 positions are chosen
every 2 years and each person can only be up for
election 5 consecutive times.
The positions are:
▪ 1 Sage-Sorcerer (Arak Madur)
▪ 1 Priest-Astronomer (Villak Umar)
▪ 1 Xerifa Chief
▪ 1 Guild Representative
▪ 1 Member of the Warrior Aristocracy
SAGE-SORCERERS: The Arak Madur are an order
of sage-sorcerers that focuses on ‘the attainment of
wisdom by doing good’. In many respects, this arcane
organization combines the roles that engineers,
architects, academics, scholars, and priests who worship
gods of knowledge usually hold in other societies. Arak
Madur swear fealty to the truth and are nominally
forbidden to lie. Telling an untruth is enough reason
to undergo the Imorek Maduram, a painful ritual that
strips someone trained in the magical arts of all ability
to cast spells. Urak Madur are supposed to spend their
lives in servitude of the society’s needs and this includes
making sure the local population receives education,
overseeing city planning and construction works, and
keeping knowledge easily accessible to every citizen.
PRIEST-ASTRONOMERS: The Villak Umar, by contrast,
are mediums between the spirit world and material
reality, astrologers, fortunetellers, oracles, and healers.

While the priests of most other cultures focus far more
on the relief of physical plain, as well as the treatment
of wounds and illnesses, the Villak Umar believe that all
natural bodily discomfort originates in the spirit world
and spend a lot of time talking with their patients,
preferring a far more mentally-centered approach and
the intervention of spirits to help.
XERIFA: In Huexolta, the Xerifa (wandering law
enforcers of Torra Nyega) have more responsibilities
than anywhere else. While they also keep the order
in faraway Nakbu and have almost complete judicial
power outside of the city proper, the court judges there
are independent magistrates, whereas in Huexolta, all
members of the court are elected from the ranks of the
Xerifa and the acting Constable Xerifa also has a seat
on the Smaragdine Council. This had led many to fear
that Nakbu might gain implicit control over Huexolta,
should nefarious elements in that city be able to bribe
or otherwise corrupt the local law enforcement. After
all, the Xerifa of both factions often convene at mid-
way points to share information and there are plenty
of opportunities to influence decision-making on the
other side.
GUILD REPRESENTATIVE: The guild representative
doesn’t need to hail from one of the major guilds,
although this helps getting enough votes from time to
time. More important is a question round in which the
potential new member is asked to present a project
for Huexolta, including ideas on how to improve the
lives of its citizens, repair or expand its infrastructure,
and so on.
WARRIOR ARISTOCRACY: Huexolta’s military is a mix
of elite warriors who live and sleep inside of the head-
shaped citadel flanking the city proper and a militia
of able adult citizens who receive their training at the
same citadel, but aren’t expected to go to war unless
drafted. The professional soldiers, however, are all of
noble blood, aristocratic descendants from the original
rulers of the city.
Instead of the obvious danger this could pose, keeping
noble-blooded sons and daughters as the nation’s first
and foremost military arm has served the city well, as
the occupation comes with a lot of status and respect.
Added to the mix is a complement of Arak Tiyiix, elite
combat sorcerers who completely tattoo themselves
or their fellow warriors. Once their entire body is
covered, spirits are summoned and bound to the
tattoos, providing these feared fighters with enhanced
strength and endurance, as well as arcane protection
and a range of powers.
97
Ishta
HISTORY
When the druidic orders that originally came to the
Dorganthur Mountains discovered the area where
Huexolta is now located, they immediately realized that
it could make for an easily defendable seat for their
first true city. While looking for possible resources, they
stumbled upon one of the richest gem deposits in all
of Ishta. The decision to stay was an easy one, but the
territory wasn’t entirely able to sustain any long-term
human community yet. However, the ruling diviners
who visited these lands were amongst the best and
most intelligent amongst their kind, and were able to
eloquently communicate their own ideas to the spirit
gods, who agreed to help them with their ambitious
architectural proposals.
Rather than being built up like most cities, Huexolta was
built down by literally carving away a mountain made
of igneous granite, then using the tailings to create the
Huexolta Valley.
During the decades of construction, the druids started to
differentiate and specialize, but modern scholars surmise
that this cannot have been enough to evolve to the
system of royal rule and widely differing arcane covens
that was eventually adopted. Aside from their exposure
to the local spirits, something must have happened
to introduce the magical arts to the druids. Within
centuries, there were many magical orders active, all
under the rule of a succession of princes and princesses.
Regrettably, some of the darker disciplines were also
allowed to be practiced, and, soon, necromancers
and demonologists started to form the most powerful
faction in the city. Their malefic influence corrupted
the royal houses and the malevolent spirits who guided
them began calling for ever more blood sacrifices.
After generations of twisted politics, and with the
undead skulking through every street, the great hero
Ilgamash and his courtesan wife, Kalindra, were able
to establish a coalition of sorcerers and warriors. The
resulting revolution led to bitter civil war, but Ilgamash
managed to turn the tide by convincing the military
commanders – all of them royalty – to abandon their
perverted family in return for a guaranteed position
as the new leaders of a new royal army, but ruled by
a committee of appointed officials instead of a single,
easily corruptible prince. This junta soon became known
as the Smaragdine Council, reflecting its exceptional
status in Torra Nyega. The coup succeeded and Huexolta
was reformed into the thriving city it is today.
LAYOUT
Huexolta is a city half buried into a mountain on
the southern end of the Dorganthurs. Situated in
a high valley, it is naturally protected by unclimbable
mountains at its back on three sides behind it, accessible
only through a well-guarded and heavily fortified
mountain pass. In order to make the drop from the
higher southern ground to the valley, which is also
known somewhat confusingly as Huexolta, but referred
to by most as ‘Huexolta Valley’, one must traverse the
broad narrow road across open terrain down, and any
caravan or large body of troops remains exposed for
almost a full day before being able to reach the shallow
ground where the dirt road turns into a gorge that
leads straight to the Torra Nyegan polis.
The granite found in the Dorganthurs comes in
a variety of colors, including gray, black, brown, red,
green, and a shade of blue-gray, making painting the
walls unnecessary. Architectural geniuses as well as
masters in city planning, the druid-turned-sorcerer-
engineer creators of the city carved the governmental
buildings into veins of different colors to produce
cyclopean structures that are one, two, or a swirl of
colors, then subsequently named the building using
that color scheme. Thus, the Red Citadel, the Black
Obelisk, the Green Tower, and other edifices are all
erected in differently-hued granite. All of these towers
are separated by wide streets suitable for marching
small armies of soldiers in between them for defense or
repression of civil unrest.
As the city expanded, entire blocks of stone were
raised, and dozens of massive pyramids and rectangular
structures were built on top of them several centuries
later, resulting in large platforms with broad streets
and extensive plazas connected by broad stairs and
bridges. The windows of all official buildings, including
its temples and towers, are lit by arcane lights, as are
its streets, making sure Huexolta never plunges into
darkness, a statement made by the new regime after
rejecting the perpetual darkness the city had fallen prey
to. Drinkable water colored by the crystal deposits in the
mountain above flows down and through an ingenious
irrigation system, creating ponds, artificial canals, small
lakes, and wells.
98
ECONOMY
The space beneath Huexolta is honeycombed with a vast
network of mines which stretches out beneath it like
an enormous spider’s web. And this is no coincidence.
The city was deliberately carved out of the rock above
one of the richest known find of gems in Athyr, veins
of diamond being the most common. Emeralds, rubies,
and other minerals have been located there as well, all
dug from the veins of the earth, cut into small highly
portable gems, and used as a currency in interactions
with the outside world.
The entire economy of Huexolta is based on gems, both
internally where less valuable uncut stones are used as
currency, and externally where the finely cut ones are
exchanged for hard-to-produce goods, small, easily
carried luxury items, drugs, and other, more commercial
transactions. Although there are no markets outside of
the Green-Brown Silo of Agricultural Exchange and
almost all trade is carried out through local shops within
the city or political trade channels beyond its confines,
these riches have allowed its citizens to enjoy their
high standard of living, advanced culture, and more
decadent pursuits.
CUSTOMS
All are raised in common to believe in promoting the
health of the state, and the necessity of maintaining its
power structure for the common good. Every child in
Huexolta is told about its dark history from an early
age on and warned about the dangers of the dark arts.
They also all learn to make a hand gesture with the two
outside fingers pointing up that is meant to avert the
evil eye and invite fortune to the well-meaning.
People dress in a sort of toga or wrap, typically worn
over one or both of the shoulders with the arms bear.
Making paints out of the natural resources here is
relatively easy, and garments come in a variety of bright
colors, much to the enjoyment of native citizens and
visiting foreigners alike.

R ELIGION
Although almost all known spirits are worshipped in
Torra Nyega, a few of them are outlawed and even
uttering their names is cause for excommunication.
Actually praying to them is worse, and Xerifa
will summarily execute anyone they see or hear
worshipping the dark spirit gods, such as Munajé, The
Death Spirit or Lapayetta, The Demon Spirit. Despite
this harsh punishment, there are sects that convene at
night, calling on these very same spirits and appeasing
them with human blood, and their numbers seem to
be increasing too fast to seem plausible. Quite possibly,
the cults of the Heralds of Doom have succeeded in
infesting Huexolta and bolstering the dark spirit splinter
religions to accomplish their own wicked goals.
Many of the spirits have dedicated temples in Huexolta,
including the Green-Blue Temple of Kajemba, The
Day Spirit, whose presence is called upon even by the
sorcerers while they are infusing their windows with
magical light, Xalhuota, the River Spirit, who helps to
purify the mountain water, and Bao-Ar, the Mountain
Spirit, who has promised to protect Huexolta from all
outside danger. The most prominently worshipped
entity, however, is Pakse-Mni, the Binding Spirit, and
nowhere else is the fine line between priests, shamans,
and sorcerers so thin as in Huexolta, where both spirits
and magic are fully ingrained in daily life.
LOCAL SPECIALTIES
‘Black Eggs’ are chicken eggs that have been picked
for months in brine using salt, ash, and lime. They taste
better than they smell or look.
‘Tchaka’ is a hearty stew made with dried corn, red
beans, squash, and smoked pork.
‘Zamzaganu’ is a sort of meat porridge made with the
flesh of an enormous jungle lizard, but this time boiled
with leeks, garlic, turnips, and dates.
‘Joumou’, is a savory stew made from squash flavored
with thyme, parsley, and chill peppers.
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Ishta
GOINGS-ON
1. A Kongamata glides over the Characters, then
picks up speed and flies up to Green Tower of
Heavenly Astronomy, where it disappears through
one of the upper slits designed to accommodate
these winged lizards.
2. A group of children is sitting on the steps of
a nearby ziggurat, listening to a young Arak
Madur telling them a folkloric precautionary tale
about the dark spirits.
3. Four Arak Tiyiix are training on one of the
courtyards. Their tattoos seem to be gliding and
flowing over their bodies as they’re interspersing
their weapon drills with amazing acrobatic feats
like backflips and somersaults.
4. A squadron of noble warriors is marching towards
the citadels in perfect order, disciplined and
focused on their destination.
5. Several commoners are cleaning the walls of
a pyramid, using water and soap to make sure
everything is pristine again.
6. People are all running or walking to another
location in the city, excited. They are attending
the upcoming game at the Blue-Red-Green-
Black Malepol Court and some of Huexolta’s
champions are playing this afternoon.
7. A few barbarian foreigners are aimlessly walking
around, confused about the lack of inns and
taverns in the city. They are mostly ignored by
the locals.
8. A family is skinning a jungle lizard outside their
house. Next to them is a pot with hot stones in it
to cook the meat in.
9. A man is being dragged away by three Xerifa,
accused (and thus also convicted) of worshipping
Lapayetta. The man is screaming out his
innocence and calling out to Lapayetta for in-
between, making it rather hard to believe him.
10. On one of the squares, a few youngsters are
talking to the spirits around them. The spirits are
answering, as a gust of wind ending in a small,
unharmful tornado in the middle of the group
are demonstrating.
K EY LOCATIONS
CUAXYLTY’S GUESTHOUSE: Although Huexolta
doesn’t have any inns or taverns that cater to foreigners,
visitors are often pointed to Cuaxylty’s house, where
the old former Arak Liman will gladly play host to up
to 12 guests at the time. Patrons are treated to local
specialties and drinks, and for an extra fee can also
enjoy the excellent services of someone who knows
the entire layout of not just the city, but its environs
by heart, having seen them through the eyes of her
bonded flying lizard back when it was still alive.
MALEPOL COURT: The most colorful square in all of
Huexolta (and one of the few multi-colored structures
outside of the towers), the city’s malepol court is a 60
feet-deep basin accessed by long flights of stairs inside
one of the building blocks. Surrounding the upper
stairs are small buildings where food, drinks, and toys
are sold, and the entire place gets crowded during
game time. With games on every 3 days, much of the
city’s cultural life revolves around this court and other,
smaller ones like it. Malepol is played with four teams
competing at the same time and trying to get a single
leather ball inside of a goal hoop using any body part
available. Special games feature Arak Tiyiix and draw
even more spectators.
THE FORBIDDEN ZIGGURAT: The only ziggurat
made of basalt, not granite, the Forbidden Ziggarat
stands alone on its own platform. Astonishingly, it
isn’t patrolled by elite warriors, but by a revolving
threesome of one Arrak Madur, one Villak Umar, and
one Xerifa. Huexolta’s ruling body maintains that it is
being kept there as a monument and as a reminder
of darker times, when some of the pyramids were
appropriated and corrupted by evil spirits during the
civil war.
TUHELTA’S GEM EXCHANGE: Even though the front
of Tuhelta’s Gem Exchange is a small, immaculate adobe,
a fortified door with a unique locking mechanism in
the back provides access to a far larger silo where gem
currency and exclusive jewels are kept. Inside of the
customer area, gems are glued to the many shelves,
serving more as examples than as products that can
be bought, but Tuhelta is an extremely proficient
appraiser and will even graciously offer clients to check
the balances he uses before (or after) he weighs the
coins or gems that are to be exchanged.
BLACK OBELISK OF THE ARCANE ARTS: This
thin black sliver of rock is home to all sorcerers and
100
spirit-talkers, no matter their kind. Uniquely, there
are many rooms where they can be trained in the
mystical arts, or where they can practice their craft
without being disturbed, and all are warded by spirits
to prevent collateral damage or interference by evil
spirits. Sorcerers are taught by others in their order,
but those who are sensitive to spirits or to the arcane
can also go here and petition for an instructor. Most
such questions are met with a positive response within
weeks or months. There are rumors that some of
the chambers have been sealed because too many
malicious entities were summoned there, while less
common hearsay claims there is a hidden underground
level where necromancy is still practiced.
BLACK-RED KANCHOW (GAMBLING HOUSE):
Huexolta’s largest kanchow is a three-story rectangular
building made of some of the most difficult to find
red granite with elegant swirls of black granite in it.
Registration is required to enter to avoid – or, at the
very least, punish – theft and the casino is guarded
by hirelings who all also serve time in the militia at
all times. All kinds of gambling games can be found
here, and tough, multi-round huitillica tournaments
are organized every month.
BLUE SPIRE OF PRECIOUS STONES: This slim but
elegant structure is the home of the city’s jewelers, and
is thus exceedingly well-guarded and designed with
security and defense in mind. Gems are brought here
and cut, then sold directly to local traders and shops.
Foreigners are forbidden to enter, although some
notable exceptions have been made throughout the
last few years, the most significant of which is a supposed
visit by Emperor Zhang of Roshan. Unfortunately, the
enigmatic ruler was never actually seen by anyone and
thus it remains unknown what he looks like.
GREEN-BLUE TEMPLE OF KAJEMBA: An imposing
structure comprised of a vaulted roof supported
by pillars that rise more than 120 feet into the sky,
Kajemba is only worshipped during daytime. There are
several intricately decorated daises underneath the
roof but no walls, and each platform is dedicated to
worship on a different time of day. Each period also
represents a different aspect of day, such as food and
drink, crops and harvest, light and illumination, birth
and education, hope and opportunity, and healing.
GREEN TOWER OF HEAVENLY ASTRONOMY: The
tallest structure in the city features reclined walls and
numerous large vertical rectangular openings in its

surface to allow its visitors to peer at the sky. It is upkept
by the Villak Umar, many of whom also live here, and
its upper levels are only accessible to them. It is said
that the world’s largest telescopes and astrolabes are
found in its observatory and the sorcerer-astronomers
aren’t doing anything to prove that rumor false.
GREEN-BROWN SILO OF AGRICULTURAL EXCHANGE:
The lower ground levels of this squat structure are open
on one side, creating a sort of giant tent in which an
enormous farmer’s market conducts its business daily.
It is the only market of its kind to speak of, which also
serves to delineate the importance of grains. The upper
levels are reached by ladders and wenches, which can be
hauled up if there is a siege, while the lower catacombs
can be sealed off from below.
RED-BROWN TOWER OF ARAK LIMAN: A stout,
imposing building, the Red-Brown Tower of Arak Liman
features a single ground floor and a winding staircase
going up 90 feet to get to the first of its five floors.
There, dozens of servants work round the clock to wash
and feed the entranced Arak Liman, using hot water
tubs and intricate hand techniques to manipulate their
jaws and throats. The city’s complement of Kongamata
is kept on the two highest levels and attended to by
highly-specialized animal handlers who work closely
together with the servants below.
RED CITADEL OF MARTIAL INVULNERABILITY: This
is the home of the Huexolta military. It is the widest of
the Huexolta towers, with its bizarrely smooth exterior
featuring a human face and spartan quarters that
only take up a small portion of its upper level inside.
Its exceedingly thick walls, murder holes, arrow slits,
and other fortifications make it the most defensible
location in the city and it is riddled with twelve-foot-
long tubes that can be extended outwards through
wall slots. The tubes can fire pointed projectiles that
are projected by minor wind spirits and that can reach
any point inside or just outside of the city.
RED-GREEN PILLAR OF SAGACITY: This cylindrical
structure is basically an enormous, carefully guarded
library with its living quarters and laboratories situated
entirely beneath, save for the top levels in which both
the rarest manuscripts reside together with a small
army of librarian-servants overseen by Arak Madur.
WHITE SMARAGDINE PALACE: Made from white
granite but encrusted with hundreds of emerald
mosaics depicting rulers from the past eight centuries,
101
Ishta
the White Smaragdine Palace is where the Huexolta’s
Smaragdine Council convenes on a weekly basis. It is
accessible to the public, but heavily guarded by a full
complement of elite warriors during those days that
the committee convenes.
HUEXOLTA VALLEY: The location of the Twelve Villages,
the Huexolta Valley is the home to thousands of living
residents, with roughly 500 dwelling in each village.
These villagers labor in the surrounding fields, providing
the entire community with all of its food needs.
K EY NPC S
PRINCE AMAR LEEKAN: Prince Amar Leekan is the
last remaining member of the royal bloodline that
was removed from power more than 8 centuries ago.
Physically enormous in literally every direction, the
current Prince has never been seen walking on his own
but is always transported through the efforts of servants
using conveyances of various sorts. A member of the Arak
Madur and master of the arts of the priest-astronomer
as well as an adept politician, much of Prince Amar’s
time is spent lobbying for the various guilds.
CUAXYLTY METICLA: Cuaxylty is a kindly old woman
who used to be an Arak Liman for 22 years. After losing
her Kongamata to a band of marauding Troglodytes
11 months ago, she decided to return to her family’s
house, which she found empty. She refurbished and
now wants to dedicate her life helping foreigners who
visit by offering her services as a host and guide.
ALYA JALMEZ: One of the servants working in the
Red-Brown Tower of Arak Liman, Alya is kind, good-
natured, and always willing to crack a joke. She loves
the Arak Liman she takes care of and often also goes
to visit their Kongamata, treating them almost as her
own pets. This has made some of her colleagues think
she might be a little jealous and even overly protective
of the animals, and they may be right.
UMALA HILKAMESH: A jeweler by trade, Umala is also
absolutely obsessed by gems. She is an expert appraisal
and knows absolutely everything there is to know
about jewels – not just the ones commonly found in the
Dorganthurs and in Huexolta, but found anywhere. As
a shopkeeper, she has become used to hide her greed,
but she isn’t above to hire thieves or even assassins to
recuperate some of her most priced goods.
SMARAGDINE COUNCIL occasions. This has led the other committee members
M EMBERS to become annoyed at times, as they feel that some
Xerifa should be punished for certain transgressions that
RAZGUL MANAR: The current Arak Madur committee
the Constable is willing to turn a blind eye to.
member, Razgul Manar, has ruled capably ever since he
was chosen to succeed his much-loved but debilitated GUILD MASTER QUAMIL: Guild Master Quamil is
predecessor Yamla Mao, but his taciturn demeanor a master of secrets, a shrewd negotiator, and a feared
and ghostly face have led many citizens to speculate opponent in the game of politics that is played out
that he is a necromancer – a reviled occupation that among the various guilds.He is a tall, imposing figure,
was banned back when the junta first took over. Razgul clad in the intricate and ornate robes of the ruling
hasn’t reacted to this rumors yet, but the city certainly elite. His face is hidden behind a mask of gold and jade,
has seen an increase in incidents with the undead since adorned with strange and exotic symbols that hint
he joined the Smaragdine Council. at the depths of his knowledge and power. His voice
is low and commanding, and his every gesture is filled
GRAND ORACLE NEPHITIY: The ruling Villak Umar,
with a sense of purpose and authority. Despite of his
Grand Oracle Nephitiy was elected amongst the city’s
impressive appearance, some say that he is a puppet
priesthoods for her great accuracy in fortunetelling,
of the guilds, a figurehead who is manipulated by the
but of late, she has begun refusing to even look at the
true powers behind the scenes. Others believe that
stars. In an unprecedented move, Nephitity has literally
he is the ultimate power in Huexolta, the one who
spiked her chin to hang a weight on the protrusion,
truly controls the Smaragdine Council and its various
making raising her head difficult and fairly painful. In
interests. He is known to have a vast network of spies
public, she has been claiming that she has done so
and informants, who keep him apprised of all the latest
because the spirits have directed her to remain humble
developments in the world of guild politics. He is also
in her function, but to close confidantes, she has
a master of diplomacy, able to negotiate complex deals
admitted that she had been seeing ominous portents
and alliances that benefit all the guilds under his sway.
in the sky and she doesn’t dare to gaze at the celestial
constellations anymore for fear of going insane. GENERAL OMECIHUATL: The master of the Red Citadel
of Martial Invulnerability is a towering, intimidating
CONSTABLE AZEL OATILES: One of the members of the
man who oversees the defenses and internal security
Smaragdine Council, Constable Azel Oatiles is shrewd,
of Huexolta with ruthless determination. Little is known
quick on his feet, and physically fit. Always entirely
of his personal life; though he clashes often with Lady
clean shaven, he always moves with undeniable flair and
Xochitl of the Blue-Red-Green Spire of Precious Stones
elegance, but often feigns ignorance to make people
during meetings. As one of the sitting members of the
feel more comfortable and to get suspects to reveal the
Smaragdine Council, General Omecihuatl is known to
truth about their actions. Oatiles leads his Xerifa with
take his duties seriously, although he is also purported
a firm hand but has defended their actions to the other
to be slightly paranoid at times.
members of the Smaragdine Council on numerous

THREATS & DOOM: R ISE OF THE UNDEAD

The Forbidden Ziggurat has nothing to do with the civil war of 800 years ago. In fact, it has only been
sealed for the last 12 years and is being used by a sect of necromancers that holds its sacrifices there. The
death mages have secretly been raising undead inside and are building an army of Zombies, Mummies,
and worse to take over the city and turn it into a necropolis under their command. Council member Razgul
Manar knows about this movement and has been trying to stop it, but is afraid to act as much of his own
power derives from the same source. If the cult succeeds, the entire city state will be run over by the living
dead within months, turning the subregion into a cesspool of plague and pestilence.

102
 Ishta

QUEST HOOKS
i ii
ROYAL COUP
Since his royal line was stripped of power 8 centuries ago,
Prince Amar Leekan has grown up in a family that has
always accepted the Smaragdine Council’s rule as a given.
The Prince has never shown any intention of changing
that, but most committee members have come to realize
that he may wield more power and influence than any
of them are openly willing to admit, and his requests
have been denied more often over the latest few months
than at any time before. Unfortunately, the committee’s
misgivings are now risking to become somewhat of self-
fulfilling prophecy, as for the first time, Prince Leekan
is wondering whether he should look into disbanding
the Smaragdine Council and re-establishing royal rule
over Huexolta. However, he has been asking too many
questions, and Constable Azel Oatiles is looking to enlist
the help of some discrete investigators or adventurers
who are willing to delve into the matter.
Reward: If the Characters find proof of Prince Leekan’s
plans and present it to the Council, they will be
handsomely rewarded with their pick of jewels. If they
leave any room for the prince to deny the accusations,
they may risk imprisonment or worse. If they choose to
side with the royal, they’ll be given a position of power
within his court as well as a chest full of treasure.
i ii
THE PORTENT
A group of fortunetellers have all seen a landslide
that will cover the entire city in the near future, but
they can’t pinpoint what its exact origin or path will
be without having some material from the mountains
to attune to. They believe that a piece of rock taken
from the general location of where the source of the
landslide is supposed to be is necessary. Through it,
they intend to call upon the local spirits for guidance.
Characters brave enough to help will have to face the
local Troglodyte tribes and natural dangers to find
the necessary raw materials. Should someone return
with the rock, the spirits will only want to talk to one
person: Grand Oracle Nephitiy. For the fortunetelling
to succeed with the help of the spirits, the Grand
Oracle will need to be persuaded to look at the stars
one more time, almost certainly losing her mind in
doing so.
Reward: The diviners and the Council will prefer
keeping the possibility of a landslide a secret to their
people for fear of panic erupting, but if the Characters
are successful, they will be rewarded with a different
gem and a free divining or medium session each.
i ii
THE ILLNESS
Of late, several Kongamata have fallen victim to
a mysterious disease. More are sick and the Arak Liman
are extremely concerned. The Characters are hired
to discover what is going on, as their numbers are
dwindling fast. Behind it all is a rogue band of Obega.
Their chief, a powerful shaman known only as Elc, has
been sending disease spirits to the Red-Brown Tower
of Arak Liman to finish off the winged reptiles. He is
planning to target the Xerifa next to break the control
Huexolta has over its surrounding reason, but has no
interest in invading the city or killing off its population.
Reward: If successful, the Characters will be granted
their own – unbound – flying lizard. It won’t be bound
to the Characters, but it will be able to understand
simple commands and accept the PCs as its new
masters.

THREATS & DOOM: A RCANE EXPLOSION

The arcane lighting of the city is drawing a lot of magic from Athyr, but isn’t inherently dangerous.
However, the Guild of Engineers has just put in a proposal to add more magical elements to the buildings.
Their plans are wild and include self-sealing doors, magical traps, spirit theaters and arenas with windows
into the spirit world. If their proposals are accepted, the works will spill arcane energy into the city,
destroying it, or unleash an untold number of spirits into the world – both benevolent and malevolent –
which will result in an all-out war fought partially in the material world and partially in the ethereal one.
Either way, no-one wins.

103
 NAKBU
—CITY OF CARAVANS—

THE PRIMARY LOCATION FOR

CARAVANS COMING OVER THE
IRON PEAKS OF DORGANTHUR TO
Upon approaching the white city of Nakbu, it is hard not
EITHER ARRIVE IN OR DEPART FROM
TORRA NYEGA
to notice the many footprints and traces – both old and
more recent – in the dirt road leading up to it. Surrounded
by a semi-circle of rectangular fortresses and barracks, the
POPULATION 7,589 full-time; roughly
city proper is built in a circle as well: multiple platforms
1,800 more visiting at any given time.
with rectangular buildings surrounding eight monumental
GOVERNMENT Junta board of Jimya towers and an imposing central citadel. The sky seems
(priest-astronomers) under direction of
clearer here than anywhere else, as if one had just entered
Jimya-Lao Xiantrix.
a different time of day or even an entirely other reality,
DEFENSE 184 warriors with geradril and the air somehow smells clearer and more flowery, as if
wearing jazeraint armor, 118 warriors with the spirits worshipped inside of the city are greeting their
athlathls and shields wearing jazeraint visitors.
armor, 142 warriors with spears and shields
wearing hide armor, 92 warriors with
Mere miles beyond Nakbu, the Iron Peaks of Dorganthur
blowguns and maces wearing hide armor,
46 cavalry with javelins and maces, 54 stand, but here, the mountains are further apart than up
warrior spirits led by 12 Jimya west or east, allowing for easy access, both by land and
river. Guard outposts are dotted next to these passes,
SERVICES Adventuring supplies, armorer/
smaller than one would expect, and sporting the same
blacksmith, companionship, curio, general
supplies, guide, healing, housing, jeweler,
white walls found in the city proper, only slightly tainted by
lodgings, meals, mounts, stonemason, dust and dirt.
storage, taxis, tailor, tapestries, temple,
translator, woodworker

104

OVERVIEW
Nakbu is a medium-sized walled city situated in a cool
semi-alpine valley near the headwaters of the Orn
and at the foot of the well-marked trail which leads
northward to the most frequented pass through the
Iron Peaks of Dorganthur. Despite Nakbu being much
smaller than Huexolta, its junta of priest-astronomers
called Jimya lays claim to almost all of the Torra Nyegan
territory that isn’t covered by Huexolta, making it
a city state in name, if not in reality.
Nakbu is a pleasant if somewhat disreputable place, and
one of the few communities in Ishta which contains
a comparatively large population of non-Ishtans, all
of whom are busily engaged in the import of foreign
goods and the export of Ishtan ones via caravans over
the nearby pass from Ethennia; mostly from Tamon
and Samorra, but others come through Oman as
well. Nakbu also attracts the odd professional traveler
(typically adventurers, sages, architects, and herbalists)
heading south into Ishta. Most simply visit for a brief
period of time and the majority of its inhabitants are
still Ishtan, but with a noteworthy ethnic and social
variety of people.
Although the original settlers of Nakbu were druids,
their advantageous position of the city soon started to
change society and was ruled by merchant princes for
centuries. However, these trade moguls proved harsh
and demanding on the local populace and when their
priest-astronomer counselors grew tired of seeing their
warnings being disregarded, they staged a successful
coup and installed a junta. Unlike the junta of Huexolta,
which has representation from different careers, the
junta of Nakbu is ruled by priest-astronomers – called
‘Jimya’ in Nakbu – only and the number of members
varies as all are elected until unable to serve, while
members join their ranks automatically after serving 21
years as priest-astronomers.
Decision are made by majority vote, but with the
acting Jimya-Lao (or ‘Chief Priest-Astronomer’) having
tie-breaking rights. To the chagrin of many, the
current Junta is deeply divided about issues ranging
from civilian autonomy to Xerifa patrol hours, and
Jimya-Lao Xiantrix has been ruling in favor of the more
progressive elements within her council consistently.
If she keeps up this pattern, she might be confronted
with an uprising by the tougher priest-astronomers at
her side.
The priest-necromancers of Nakbu only use recent
charts and although they are supported with Ayaari
artifacts, they don’t believe in referencing older
documents, believing the knowledge back then is
105
Ishta
incomplete. Because of this, they don’t realize that
many of the stars have disappeared since the coming
of the Heralds and anyone claiming so would have
a hard time making them accept that fact.
As much as Nakbu is known for its merchants, its Xerifa
(wandering lawmen/judges), and its priest-astronomers,
nothing horrifies their would-be adversaries so much
as their warrior spirits, fearsome spirits led by the
only Jimya who worship Zebado, the War Spirit. This
regiment of destructive ethereal beings is capable of
completely obliterating far larger cadres while the
complement of 12 specialized priests that leads them
stays in the background, directing their fury towards
any enemies in their way. Their overpowering presence
is another reason why Nakbu’s city-state assertions are
only truly challenged consistently by the Obega.
LAYOUT
Unusually for an Ishtan settlement, Nakbu was
deliberately constructed as a circle with its population
contained entirely within its outskirts, save for
a modest docking facility for the barges which carry
its trade up and down the Orunuro River and an outer
circle of military barracks and small fortresses that
serve to protect the city from unwanted incursions,
as Nakbu does not have a wall. Most of the army and
the Xerifa have headquarters, training grounds, and
living quarters here, although an entire regiment stays
in the center citadel at all times and the dozen Jimya
who direct spirit forces hold a separate section in the
periphery, just in case the spirits manage to break loose
and try to cause mayhem.
The Jimya-Lao’s residence is located in the center of
town, with the remainder divided into four sections: the
Gem Quarter, Celestial District, the Grand Marketplace,
and the Stablery. None of these are strictly professional
districts, as they all contain a mixture of residences and
businesses, but the focus is evident.
ECONOMY
Trade is the primary purpose of the City of Caravans.
Besides the trade coming over the mountain pass,
small, finely cut gems come upriver from Huexolta,
which also supplies a steady stream of medicinal herbs
and unique carvings. Finely made weaponry from
Ethennia is also imported through Nakbu, while other,
stranger objects are brought all the way upriver via
Kintaba. Often, these products are of unknown origin
and the Kintaban traders aren’t telling, but many
Nakbuti believe that they mostly hail from Taliath
and even Keldor – two secluded regions that remain
a mystery to most of the world. Of course, most trade
products are by necessity small items, with gems,
jewelry, precious metal ingots, and medicines heading
north into Ethennia, and scrimshaw carvings, herbs,
books coming in.
CUSTOMS
While exotic by Ishtan standards, the culture of
Nakbu is typical of that of the inhabitants of Torra
Nyega. Locals are welcoming to strangers, generous,
and outgoing compared to the decadent inhalants of
Ishtan metropolises like Qualat or Huexolta. Like other
Ishtans outside of Huexolta, the inhabitants of Nakbu
tend to identify themselves by profession; for example,
Shimsusa the Courtesan, Urbarra the Guard, and Zimah
the Jeweler. Last names are virtually unknown, although
some families have adopted one, apparently mainly to
appeal to foreigners.
Of particular note is the custom of ‘maloa-mina’, which
basically means one should never – ever – respond
a question with only a short ‘no’ or ‘yes’. Nuances
are not preferred, but required, and most answers
will be lengthy and will often include a reference to
the celestial alignments or the spirit gods. Again, it is
understood that foreigners aren’t accustomed to this
and locals will try to be patient as long as possible
before losing their poise and disengaging from the
conversation.
R ELIGION
Like most of Torra Nyega, the Ishtan population of
Nakbu worships the land’s spirits. In spite – or maybe
because of – the people ruling Nakbu, most methods
of divination are looked down upon, as astrology is
considered to be a superior method of divination, and
all temples here cater either to Dalnorra, the Night
Spirit, Uru’Massari, the Sky Spirit, or Urunura, the
Divination Spirit. Although there are many minor spirits
representing specific stars and constellations, they are
honored, but not actively worshipped.
Services include copious consumption of chaiza, but
rarely stick to scripts and are ad-libbed, although
certain principles are always followed and the spirit
god being worshipped is mentioned profusely. They
are a source of celebration, but chanting and making
music just isn’t something most people of Nakbu are
interested in or used to, and thus isn’t used.
106
ORGANIZATIONS
There are many merchant organizations publicly
active in Nakbu; and presumably other, less-reputable
ones are secretly present as well. In the past, these
trader groups were in charge of the city, but now, they
have to answer to the Jimya. This actually has worked
out very well for them, as the astrological insights of
the priest-astronomers are shared diligently bwith
the merchants, who have profited tremendously from
their fortunetelling, warnings, and suggestions. This is
a deliberate decision, and the ruling body knows full
well that this policy helps prevent resentment and
discontent.
The Jimya themselves wear the same woven or knitted
textiles with colorful embroidery as the rest of the
citizens from Nakbu, but add cloth chaplets with
golden rims to that to be easily identifiable. They are
more revered than any other occupation and also
maintain their own – much feared – army regiment.
The Xerifa are clothed much the same as their
colleagues from Huexolta, but generally carry maces
and blowguns. Although they patrol both the city and
its environs, there aren’t enough of them to maintain
the same level of vigilance all over the city-state and
most of them are posted inside of Nakbu or within its
valley. While the Xerifa from Huexolta have a presence
in its Smaragdine Council, all law enforcement from
Nakbu answers straight to the junta and thus holds less
power, especially as far as policy is concerned.
LOCAL SPECIALTIES
‘Sambaza’, deep fried crispy fresh water fish served on
tiny wooden skewers with citrus, small bowels of a tart
and spicy sauce.
‘Kappa’, a dish of boiled tapiocas cooked in a ground
paste of coconut and spices.
‘Pashrutum’, a broth of chicken accented by leek,
coriander, and onion flavors.
‘Nibilu’, the mild and dry shredded flesh of a type of
giant lizard. This dish is served with a variety of spicy
condiments and has a sweet, earthy aroma.
‘Chaiza’, (the only alcoholic beverage made in the
region, is a fermented corn drink that plays an integral
part in all celebrations. During rituals, it is drunk by the
priest-astronomers in gem-encrusted gold cups and
offered to the spirit gods.

GOINGS-ON
1. A new caravan has just arrived from over the
mountains, including a complement of Ka’heen
who are clearly looking for something.
2. A big fight breaks out in the Cua-xualtu between
locals and a renowned adventuring party after
the former group heckled the troupe’s two
minstrels during a particular badly-received
uncalled far performance.
3. Imlak Uhr river pirates have been spotted
a dozen leagues downriver from Nakbu. They
have a bound spirit moving the boat faster than
is normally possible and seem intent on reaching
the city proper.
4. Somebody thought it was funny to stable their
Dinosaur mount alongside the horses. It wasn’t.
5. A discontent rogue priest-astronomer has
heretical things to say about the spirit gods
after several of his prophecies have proven to be
widely inaccurate. The Xerifa are searching for
him.
6. There’s been a break-in at the Five Banners
warehouse, and the city guard are looking for
suspicious outlanders to blame.
7. An adventurer from Evandyr is seen arguing with
some of the locals after asking whether it would
be wise to stay here for a full week. Following
local custom, the citizens refused to give him
a straight answer, which has apparently riled him
up quite a bit.
8. A group of Obega guerillas is being escorted to
one of the garrison buildings in the periphery of
the city after being caught trying to set fire to
a Xerifa patrol headquarters.
9. Three Xerifa come up to the Characters and
start chit-chatting. They appear friendly, but are
simply checking if the PCs are keeping enough of
a low profile.
10. A jeweler from Huexolta who has been working
in Nakbu for over a year now is being insulted by
a group of young kids because of his accent.
107
Ishta
KEY LOCATIONS
THE GEM QUARTER: Although Nakbu’s gems used to
be cut quite poorly, it has seen a revival after attracting
some of the best jewel cutters of Huexolta in exchange
for superior living quarters and lower taxes. This
move was the last one promoted by the right-wing
section of the junta and it has served to heighten the
rivalry between the city and Torra Nyega’s one other
major city, which is one of the reasons why Xiantrix is
reluctant to allow more passive-aggressive ideas bear
fruit. Whatever the case, senior gem cutters willing to
reach new apprentices have been given larger, more
comfortable shops, with their own living quarters
located on top of them, which has created an entire
neighborhood of fairly similar white buildings.
THE CELESTIAL DISTRICT: This is where Nakbu’s only
towers are located: eight large structures centered
around a monumental citadel where the junta holds
court and where all of its members except for the
Jimya-Lao come to live with their families once they
are promoted to its board. The star charts, astrological
texts, and telescopes found here rival any of those
encountered in Ethennia, but it is rumored that much
of their efficiency is due to several mythical artifacts
kept in secret chambers only accessible to the Jimya-
Lao and her most trusted colleagues. This is true, and
were the cults to discover how many powerful Ayaari
divination and recording devices are kept within the
citadel, Nakbu would be in grave peril indeed.
THE MARKETPLACE: The market is where the
settlement’s public commerce takes place, as opposed
to the private merchant-to-merchant transactions of
the Gem Quarter. Farmers bringing in fresh food from
Torra Nyega’s villages, fishermen bringing in the day’s
catch, down-and-out sage-sorcerers sell protection
from curses, tailors and cobblers all hawk their wares.
The Grand Marketplace isn’t an actual plaza, but rather
a labyrinth of small, winding roads and dozens of stone
shops, each of them offering wares like pottery, tapestry,
and more. Contrary to Huexolta, many of the goods
here are geared towards visitors and adventurers and
include dry rations, sambaza and other local specialties,
chaiza, and all kinds of adventuring supplies, although
iron weapons and sophisticated armor won’t be found
here and animals are forbidden to enter this quarter.
THE STABLERY: The Stablery is where livestock can
be purchased, as well as riding steeds. There are no
blacksmiths, however, and saddles or reins aren’t
used and considered to be an affront to the animal
spirits. Luckily, this aversion doesn’t extend beyond
the Nakbu culture and natives regard foreigners as
ignorant, not necessarily as enemies. This is also where
the only tamipu are found, but while these inns only
cater to state personnel in Huexolta, they host mainly
outside visitors in Nakbu, and most residents will point
foreigners to these establishments instead of charging
a fee to let someone stay within their own homes.
Tamipu even feature hay mattresses, whereas locals
simply sleep on the floor.
YOALTA’S ENTERTAINMENT CORNER: Connected
to the Grand Marketplace by a single alley, this sleazy
small subdistrict houses the small city’s entertainments,
including brothels, gambling dens, taverns, restaurants,
and herbalists of a less-than-reputable sort. By law
Nakbu’s sex workers and its financial services are also
restricted to this district. It is run by a single person,
crime boss Yoalta, but she is allowed to do pretty
much as she pleases as the Xerifa prefer having
one dependable person to deal with than having
to investigate and question all sorts of criminals if
something goes wrong in this part of town.
THE JIMYA-LAO’S RESIDENCE: Standing next to
the center citadel and connecting to it through an
enclosed corridor more than 20 feet in width is the
palatial structure where the Jimya-Lao lives. It sports
eight domes around a larger ninth one, reflecting the
layout of the district, and each of them has its own
telescope. The central dome has an immense lens
sticking out of it, always pointed to the sky.
THE CUA-XUALTA: Although there are almost no inns
in Torra-Nyega, the Cua-xualta, located in the Stablery
district, is a fully-equipped tamipu with three floors,
drinking and eating facilities, and four large rooms,
each suitable for up to 8 travelers. Guests are still
expected to make their own food, but can use all of
the utensils available downstairs and chaiza is available
at all times.
K EY NPC S
JIMYA-LAO XIANTRIX: Wise beyond her years,
Xiantrix has been trying to keep the peace between
both factions within her own council for years now.
She is acutely aware of the dangers should her more
conservative colleagues win, but also realizes that
she needs to give them a win soon and is discretely
lobbying friendly Jimya to add subjects on the agenda
that will appease the more vehement opposition if she
casts the tiebreaking vote. If the progressives in her
faction get wind of this, the government is almost sure
to explode.
108
TEAHMA THE TAMIPUWA: Teahma is a Tamipuwa
– a tamipu owner – from Ova Dyr. As a young girl,
she often joined her parents – diplomats working for
the royal family of Tamon – on business trips to Ishta
and after their death she decided to stick around and
found the Cua-xualta. She tells everyone this is because
she loves living in Nakbu, but secretly, she is fascinated
by spirits and she’s been dabbling on summoning them
from out of the cellar. Things are bound to go very
wrong very soon.
ROMLIN THE XERIFA: One of the best investigators
in all of Torra Nyega, slim Romlin has become famous
throughout not just the city-state of Nakbu, but
Huexolta as well. He has a supernatural smell instilled in
him by a spirit who wanted to thank him for releasing
it from a Keldorian lantern box, keen human insight,
and an excellent understanding of how things work in
the world. Romlin doesn’t like to be bound to anything
or anywhere for a long stretch of time and has refused
any position of power offered to him, preferring to be
‘just a xerifa’ who is allowed to handle things pretty
much as he wants to, as his superiors believe that will
yield the best results.
SIMUSH THE TRANSPORTER: An extravagant fellow
who specializes in transporting those learned men
fleeing the Rhogoon and fickle fortunes which can
be found in Ethennia to the city of Huexolta. Simush
considers himself to be a lettered man, able to judge
the value of educated Ethennians and to get them
over the Iron Peaks of Dorganthur without them being
eaten by monsters. He knows how to get things and
people into – or out of – Nakbu without the authorities
noticing.
AGATA ASUKA: A former coquette from Roshan,
who retired from her previous career to become
an appraiser and trader in opals far to the south of
her native land where none know of her previous
profession. Agata has built up a respectable business
in the Gem Quarter of Nakbu and is renowned for her
elegance and beauty even as she slips into middle age.
URBARRA THE GUARD: A big man with big appetites,
Urbarra doesn’t make nearly enough working as
a caravan guard. Skilled both with his spear and with
a bow, he is willing to hire out to anyone traveling
the length of the Orunuro from Nakbu to Kintaba;
assuming they can pay well, of course. He’s a veteran
and can appraise his employers of the many perils
which lay in wait along and between its shores.
 Ishta

QUEST HOOKS
i ii
THE HEIST OF MARUM AMLAK
Consternation at the Grand Marketplace! Someone
has succeeded in robbing Agata Asuka’s shop of all
gemstones at bright daylight! Even Romlin the Xerifa is
flabbergasted, and help is needed to find out what has
happened. The robbery was orchestrated by master
thief and spirit-talker Marum Amlak, who had Agata
possessed by one spirit while having air spirits lift the loot
up through the roof. If Marum is caught, he has more
spirits at his disposition and will not go down easily.
Reward: Agata will offer the Characters five bright
opals if they succeed and will also help them to guide
through Nakbu during her downtime.
i ii
FUNERAL BOAT
A single funeral boat has come drifting into Nakbu. It is
carrying ornamental offerings and personal belongings
of someone who might be a shaman, but there is no
corpse or any indication of an exact identity on board.
The locals don’t want to touch the thing and will ask
the Characters to investigate. In truth, the funeral boat
is a diversion sent by a group of Mandalin. An entire
water cage full of these froglike creatures is attached to
the bottom of the boat and they are intent on climbing
out at night to scout Nakbu for their tribe and bring
back some tasty food (i.e., human flesh) as well.
Reward: If the Characters manage to stop the
Mandalin before they succeed in capturing some
succulent young humans or in drawing up a map of
the city, the board will reward them with an honorary
title and a small building capable of housing one family.
i ii
IMAO THE FORTUNETELLER
Imao the Fortuneteller has gone missing. One of the
few diviners who use scrying through reflective water
surfaces and mirrors, Imao warned almost all of his
clients that he would soon be captured and taken away
by unknown bandits. This has a lot of people spooked,
but if the Characters help, they may discover that Imao
staged his own death to demand ransom form the
junta board as well as solidify his reputation of being
a dependable fortuneteller despite not depending
on astrology.
Reward: Mostly thanks and a meal at the citadel. Maybe
a gemstone, depending on how the Characters act.

THREATS & DOOM: THE DOOMSDAY DEVICE

One of the devices in the Celestial District is the Clock of Doom, an enchanted Ayaari device used by that
alien race to count down to the destruction of their world. It was first set soon after the Heralds of Doom
appeared and was found many millennia later near Nakbu. Jimya-Lao Xiantrix tried resetting it several
times, but each time it jumps to 3 years before 0. This has Xiantrix spooked, but, worse, several of the
Jimya have gossiped about its existence, which is attracting some of the cults, all of which are ready to do
anything to get the device into their hands.

THREATS & DOOM: THE GEM OF A MLEESH

Forgotten on a dusty shelf in one of the shops in the Gem Quarter is the Gem of Amleesh, a jewel used
by a conclave of sorcerers to bind Amleesh, an ancient necromancer-king from Huexolta in it. The jewel
was passed down for more than 750 years and after a few generations, its true purpose was forgotten. If
it is taken from the shelf, Amleesh’ presence will awaken and enchant the holder with one command: find
a way to shatter to the jewel and set the spirit of Amleesh free. Powerful and merciless, the necromancer-
king will rain terror upon Nakbu until no living soul is left standing.

109
 JUNGLES OF
M AR AROKA

HISTORY And then Munajé came.

The benevolent spirits hadn’t struck a deal with the
In every sense of the word, the Jungles of Mararoka
settlers yet and the colonists’ numbers were dwindling
were the last frontier for the original settlers of
fast, mostly due to the hostile environment and
Ishta. Coming in from the west and north-west, the
ravenous beasts that were able to best even the most
first colonist groups spread across the land and most
powerful of natural animals. A plan of action was
of them found fertile places to hunt, forage, or live
needed and Munajé offered one. The spirit would
in long before reaching the eastern coast countless
teach the clans the dark magic needed to survive.
ages ago. But even so, some of the most adventurous,
But there was more, as the Death Spirit offered an
courageous, and foolhardy peoples fought and cut
even more permanent solution: put the many dead
their way through until they finally reached jungles so
to use. They would rise as defenders of the clans, and
dense that it was impossible to simply find open places
the existence of these undead guardians would make
and build there. Because of the limited space, they had
further bloodshed amongst the living almost entirely
to spread out. Tribes split into clans, many of them
unnecessary.
evolving along different paths.
The debate amongst the clans took weeks, but after
Between the thick foliage, something stirred. As the clan
some of the larger clans that refused to ratify an
shamans began communing with the spirits, dark entities
agreement with Munajé withdrew, a decision was
took notice as well. Lapayetta was the first to make itself
made: Munajé would be allowed to aid the settlers in
known, but the Demon Spirit overestimated his own
return for service and the occasional human sacrifice.
charisma, and the shamans rejected its proposals to
Pyramids were erected, soaked in sweat and blood,
summon otherworldly beings into the world, realizing
testaments to both the mundane and the otherworldly
they were too alien and destructive to trust. Next came
power that had been granted to the Mararokans.
Waniga, and some spirit-talkers agreed to listen to its
offers, as the Monster Spirit promised them scores of During the next centuries, the clans prospered. The
monsters to defend their peoples’ efforts at fending animated dead went to battle for them, leaving
off the near-constant animal attacks. After intense the living free to build and create. Those who were
deliberation, they sent it back to the ethereal realm closest to the Death Spirit benefited even more than
as well, unwilling to trade one threat with another – others and all over the Jungles of Mararoka, dozens
potentially even greater – danger. of necromancer-kings came into power, indebted to

110
 Ishta

111
each other through their allegiance to Munjaé if not by Obscured during all those years by Howeme, the
blood. Their ambitions were clear: to build a common Shadow Spirit, the Jaida had struck a deal of their own
great empire of death and entropy worshippers that even before leaving their villages and cities. On the
could one day stretch far beyond the borders of Ishta. outskirts of the Jungles of Mararoka, they had formed
their own society, one that communed not just with
Alas, during the next centuries, the Mararokans’
Howeme, but also with Ikomeno, the Beast Spirit,
enemies – beasts, monsters, cultists, and foreign
Pakse-Muni, the Binding Spirit, and Zebado, the War
invaders alike – also become more plentiful and
Spirit. Enraged at Munajé, Ikomeno and Pakse-Muni
knowledgeable. In the rest of Ishta and in Ethennia,
had approached the clan women themselves and
the tribes were still too disorganized or isolationist
had taught them how to tame the apex Dinosaurs,
to intervene in Ishtan politics, but across the seas, the
while Zebado had shown himself willing to establish
concerns of the Evandyrian kings and Thalian pirate
a regimen of grueling but effective combat training
lords were growing. Time seemed limited and many of
that would establish the Jaida as unequalled mounted
the clans turned against each other even while their
warriors.
perverted kings were trying to build an empire that
they envisaged to one day reach beyond the borders Within mere months, the Jaida’s victory was complete as
of Ishta. the last of their former sinister rulers had been mauled
to death between the grisly teeth of the legendary
With the necromancer-kings facing so many dangers
Tyrannosaurus Rex known as Umala and the undead
and calling on the Death Spirit ever more frequently,
had been destroyed or sealed within the ziggurats
Munajé was getting more difficult to placate.
where they had first risen. The lady champions were
More human offers were needed, more elaborate
welcomed as liberators and their male breeders as their
mummification was necessary, and more services were
necessary support, and the Death God was rejected
required. With these requirements came widespread
and, ultimately, disavowed.
discontent as mothers and fathers were increasingly
left without children and children were left without Most of the pyramids were either left to crumble,
parents. dismantled, or destroyed. The Ishtans who were still
standing were given the opportunity to diversify and
In the end, Munajé and his necromancer puppets
prosper, although monsters and all kinds of beasts
overreached themselves. Their rule had been absolute
often caused their populations to dwindle before
for centuries, but their subjects were slowly starting
picking up again. During this period, the harbor town
to understand that there were benevolent spirits to
of Kintaba was founded on the southern coast and the
call on as well, and that maybe it was not entirely
resulting trade brought more abundance, although it
unavoidable to keep seeing the faces of loved ones,
also started to attract more pirates from Taliath.
now decomposed and shambling, devoid of the souls
and the most of the memories they had while still alive. After three centuries of relative calmness, the various
tribes, now also organized into smaller clans, started
Then, about 9 centuries ago from current times, the
to incur losses along the Mararoka border with
women of Clan Queliny disappeared together with
the Badawo Wilds. A new enemy had found its way
their daughters and youngest children, leaving the
across: the Beastmen, fierce, animalistic creatures that
men and their already-corrupted male scions behind
were used to fighting Dinosaurs and other fearsome
in the dark of night, never to be seen again. Within 40
monsters. Their presence has been a threat to the
years, Clan Queliny stopped existing, and the mystery
peoples of the Jungles of Mararoka ever since, and
to the sudden exodus endured until a hundred and
a strategy to protect the clans from their incursions
one years had passed.
and raids has not yet been found, as the many family
After more than a century, the women of Clan Queliny units living in the subregion haven’t been able to
returned, hungering for revenge and riding the great organize well or completely enough to counterattack
Dinosaurs known as Tyrannosaurus Rex, ready to strike effectively and their mistrust of strangers is keeping
the death blow to the warring clans. Clan members no them from forging alliances with the outside world.
more, these women warriors were the Jaida and their
wrath was terrifying.

112

OVERVIEW
The Jungles of Mararoka are a vast region of
southeastern Ishta that stretch from the seas in the
east and south to the Orunuro River to the west, and
to the southern tip of the Iron Peaks of Dorganthur
to the north. It is almost entirely without cities, but
permanently settled villages are plentiful in the jungle.
Living successfully in the Jungles of Mararoka
requires a person to be extremely attuned to their
surroundings, both to prevent them from becoming
prey to the many fearsome creatures which dwell
within it, as well to be open to the many opportunities
for food and medical supplies which it contains. Thus,
its inhabitants are extremely alert to both danger and
opportunity, making them superior trackers, guides,
and hunters within their own familiar land. Generations
of strife have made them wary of outsiders, and they
prefer not to interact with foreigners if at all possible.
Almost all live in small clans and the difficult terrain
stops them from interacting extensively with the
other clans of their tribe, and even more with those of
other tribes. This had led to a smattering of languages
being spoken throughout the subregion, and Baadi,
Nuwemi, Oeresa, Panto, and Suhemi all have dozens
of dialects, making understanding the natives here
even more difficult if they haven’t picked up a more
universal language like Ishtan.
While there are currently no inhabited city states in
the vast tangle of rain forests, thorny thickets, saltwater
swamps, freshwater marshes, and scrub woodlands that
make up the region, in previous centuries there most
certainly were, and their majestic but foreboding ruins
remain, monuments to darker times now overgrown
with vines and trees of every description. The most
noteworthy of these is Ushurra, a portion of which is
still used as a sort of ceremonial ‘capital’ and meeting
place for the jungle’s many tribes. But there are dozens
of others, most of which are considered to be haunted,
and these are avoided by the local people. Thus, they
may contain vast treasures for any bold adventurer to
discover, or hold the promise of death for the foolhardy.
EXPLORATION
Most of the commerce, exploration, and travel that
takes place in the Jungles of Mararoka is conducted in
one of two ways: by waterway or on trails. To make the
best use of its many small rivers, various sorts of sturdy-
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Ishta
looking canoes carved from the trunks of trees are
employed, typically rowed by a team of two, with either
a single passenger or bundle of cargo between them.
Travel overland is by exclusively human ‘caravans’ with
porters being guided by specialized captains known
as Kiongozi. These travel down nearly invisible paths;
though these are not really ‘paths’ as those from other
parts of Athyr would think of them. Rather, the trails
of the Kiongozi are systems of metal spikes of some
length driven into trees – one at every league or
so – that may be found by guides skilled enough to
pick them out safely among seemingly identical trees,
nestled among identical bushes.
The Jungles of Mararoka are fertile breeding and
hunting grounds for giant insects and enormous
identical poisonous snakes; all of which are doing
their best to avoid giant identical predatory beasts.
These include (though are not limited to) leopards
and panthers of various sorts (including gigantic),
aggressive, viciously fanged Dinosaurs of many
varieties, foul tempered and giant territorial sloths
known as Mapinguari, and similarly a sort of monster
armadillo which is, yet again, foul-tempered and
prone to chase explorers up trees, then trample their
carriage and porters into the mud below.
As bad as these animals and beasts are, Mararoka’s
true monsters are even more horrid. The feared Jungle
Arachnids are spiders as big as an adult human that can
scale any surface on the millions of setules that make
up their tight tufts of hairs while still being able to use
their furry hooked tentacles to great and devastating
effect, breaking open their prey’s skull to suck in the
brain fluid they feed on.
From across the borders with the Badawo Wilds,
Beastmen invade the jungles with ever-increasing
numbers. Their raids have become more brazen of
late, as if driven by some kind of unnatural force or
new, charismatic leader. These foul creatures are
intelligent and able to wield weapons with monstrous
strength, making them exceedingly effective warriors.
Worse, they know this kind of terrain well and can
take advantage of it. This has made them the bane of
the Jaida, who have been taking heavily losses despite
being able to hold their ground most of the time.
Recently, however, some of the Beastmen raiders have
been showing up with what must be mythical weapons,
and it seems like the tide may soon turn in their favor.
Unfortunately, living creatures are nowhere near the
only threat to the Jungles of Mararoka. Huge, colorful
flowers known as Mind Blooms project their pollen
through the areas where they stand, infecting anyone
who breathes them. Victims start to have random
thoughts and act upon them until the seeds take hold
deep enough and they are consumed with the single-
minded desire to walk up to the host Mind Blooms,
where they are then enveloped and consumed. The
much smaller Barbed Weed activates when walked
upon, cutting through even plate armor to feed on
bleeding feet and legs. More dangerous fauna and flora
remains to be uncovered, waiting for unsuspecting
travelers to feed on.
Given all of the perils overland, river travel is generally
preferable... despite the presence of crocodiles of
both the standard and gigantic sort, fearsome and
incredibly dangerous reptiles which lurk in the mire,
a variety of poisonous giant frog or toad capable of
POINTS OF INTEREST
THE P YRAMID
OF NUMAN K HAMON
In the middle of the Jungles of Mararoka stands
a ziggurat, overgrown with dark vines that bleed
blood and gnarled trees that desperately try to pry
themselves loose from the building’s unrelenting
cold grip. Neither tomb nor living quarters, the
Pyramid of Numan Khamon was once exclusively
used by the necromancer-king as a throne on top
of an enclosed ritual room where the disobedient
would be tortured by scores of undead. The throne
is still there on top of the ziggurat’s highest step,
built out of the same piece of stone and jutting out
of the canopy just enough to look over the jungle.
Bound by spirits and magic sigils, the entrance seems
shut forever, depriving adventurers of the tomes of
dark knowledge as well as the treasure inside.
swallowing a man whole, and a form of giant (though
quite edible) catfish, also large enough to gulp down
an adult human in a single sip. Birricadi swim through
the waters as well, and Rimalin Leeches aren’t big at
all, but rather so small that they are almost invisible
until they attach themselves to a living being, after
which they grow bloated within half a minute ready to
devour their prey.
All of these dangers great and small do not deter the
most determined of adventurers, as the abandoned
pyramids left here are either virtually untouched or
have been plundered, and the gigantic varieties of
regular animals tend to fetch high prices on markets
all over Athyr as well as in the trading shops of the
Evandyrian and Ethennian gladiatorial arenas.
SECRETS & RUMORS
• The clans living in the general vicinity of The
Pyramid of Numan Khamon claim to have been
hearing wailing and shrieking inside of the edifice
for decades now. They avoid the place for obvious
reasons, and some even claim the sounds are
those of a multitude of ravenous undead. Has
some kind of necromancer been able to get in,
discover some forbidden knowledge and raise
more undead? Or does the spirit of the long-dead
Numan Khamon himself haunt the place? If true
and the necromancer-king is allowed to regain
his former strength, no living being will be able
to stop him from enacting revenge that has been
centuries in the making.
• Sometimes, the winds around the ziggurat
seem to be whispering, clearly an invitation to
come in. The voice is thought by most to be the
malevolent spirit god Munajé, but others are
convinced that it actually belongs to Huwsedo.
The Wind Spirit once helped the people of Ishta
and maybe it has its reasons to ask them to take
up the challenge and enter somehow?
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 Ishta

THE SHORES OF SOLITUDE

On the eastern tip of Ishta lie the Shores of Solitude,
a small patch of land where no sound penetrates. Neither someone takes the
the animals scurrying over the beach nor people trying time to observe
to speak to one another are heard, and those who try these wooden rods,
to talk only find empty air coming out of their mouths. it will soon become
Standing in the middle of the Shores of Solitude are apparent that their
twenty poles where former necromancer-kings and slave shadows are leaning
masters were left to die, as even with their tongues they into each other, as if
would have been unable to cast their reviled incantations. they are ever growing
No-one really knows what causes the sound to disappear closer, no matter
within a radius of at least 300 feet of the poles, which where Aureya and
seem to be placed at the epicenter of the bubble. If Issira are in the sky.

SECRETS & RUMORS

• The dome of silence was created by clan sorcerers with the specific purpose
of punishing their evil subjugators. It remains there because fortunetellers
foresaw a new wave of dark magic-users, and the shadows cast by the poles
are counting down to that moment. When they finally merge into each other,
a new era will break, possibly heralding the end of mankind in Ishta.

• The absence of sound is only an illusion. Rather, the sounds are carried away
by Huwsedo the wind god, who eats them to create the storms and tempests
of the world.

• The entire area is not on Athyr at all, but rather a pocket dimension that
accesses a reality without sound. If one is to find the right way to enter
further, one would step outside of Athyr entirely and into another world –
maybe the spirit realm, maybe a wholly different one.

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TOMALEK PEAK
On the last peak of the eastern Dorganthurs, a ledge leads agrees that there
to a single cavern that would be wholly uninteresting if must be something
not for a 6-foot shaft leading down into the darkness. No deep down – living
light can illuminate this vertical tunnel and no rope seems or otherwise,
long enough to be safely lowered down with any degree worth a fortune or
of certainty. Many have speculated what secrets the revealing secrets of
mountain, called Mount Tomalek, holds, but everyone ancient times.

SECRETS & R UMORS

• The shaft leads down to the magical roots of Mount Tomalek. These supernatural tendrils
are infused with the arcane essence of Athyr and any spellcaster who is able to travel deep
enough can draw on their immense power, effectively becoming a conduit for the crackling
mystical energy found here.

• Below is the home of a spirit god, most probably Bao-Ar, the Mountain Spirit, Balkepi, the Fire
Spirit, or Jamasepta, the Earth Spirit. None of these spirits is evil, but it is unknown whether
visiting them would be considered an intrusion or a welcome diversion. If the latter, chances
are that the spirit residing here would want to play a game or at least have an interesting
conversation, and that anyone who is able to entertain them would be handsomely rewarded
with some kind of supernatural gift.

• The drop may lead to an ancient Ayaari artifact buried here – probably by the alien race itself,
or by spellcasters who caused so much collateral damage while trying to use it that they
decided to bury the device before it could be misused again.

THE GROVE OF AQUILAS

Deep within the tangled Jungles of Mararoka lies a place reflect Aureya and
both enchanting and perilous. The glade is surrounded Issira’s multicolored
by a curtain of mist, a swirling miasma that obscures the light filtering through
view of any who would try to peer within. Those who the canopy above.
dare to pass through the veil find themselves in a place To enter this grove
of wonder and terror, where the laws of physics seem is to enter a world
to bend and warp at every turn. The air hums with the of enchantment and
arcane energy of ancient enchantments, and the very peril, a world where
earth seems to pulse with a life all its own, as if it had the very fabric of
a heartbeat. reality seems to
The grove is guarded by towering trees, their gnarled shift and bend. For
trunks stretching skyward like the fingers of some ancient, those with the courage and the cunning to navigate its
eldritch giant. Their leaves rustle with a whispered dangers, the grove offers a wealth of adventure, wonder,
melody, as if they are alive with the secrets of the and magic. But for the unwary, it is a place of certain
universe. In the center lies a series of bubbling pools, doom, where even the most powerful of adventurers
each one shimmering and sparkling with a different hue, may find themselves lost forever in the twisting,
ranging from deep purple to iridescent as the waters otherworldly realm.

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 Ishta

SECRETS & R UMORS

• The reality-warping effect of the Grove of Aquilas is caused by an alien artifact that lies hidden
deep underneath the foliage, encapsulated in barren, twisted ground that is contorted like the
muscles of a beast: the still-active part of an Ayaari terraforming engine. The techno-magic
battery will keep powering this machine for another millennium at least. If unearthed, the
machine is a wonder to behold, a labyrinthine network of glowing wires and circuits, a fusion of
arcane magic and advanced technology that defies comprehension.

• Although the exact origin of its name is shrouded in mystery, some local clan members who know
about the grove say it was named after a warlock who has been claiming the glade as her own
for decades now. She is said to be stuck in the reality-bending field of energy that permeates the
place and has gone quite insane. Her prolonged exposure has made her actions seem erratic and
almost random, but it has also forged a symbiosis between her and the grove, and Aquilas can
command almost any aspect of it for a moment before it changes into something else again.

• The different colors of the waters are thought by many to mean something. Maybe they each
produce some kind of specific effect when drunk, or maybe they allow someone to peer into the
future if used correctly.

TEMPLE OF ZEBADO be able to touch her

in unarmed or armed
One of the few ziggurats that were erected after the
combat, without
Jaida uprisings, both the outside and the inside walls of the
drawing blood.
Temple of Zebado are engraved with hundreds of images
showing one-on-one fights, small skirmishes, and all-out Xiuma still holds
war scenes, as well as warriors standing in triumphant a weekly service to
poses, weapons (some of which aren’t common or even Zebado, the War
used anymore), and armor. Inside, the temple’s inner shrine Spirit, here. Alas,
is connected to dozens of armories, enclosed training since the temple
rooms with wool dummies, living quarters, and more. It is stands in the middle
tended to by Xiuma the Warrior-Priest, but no-one else of nowhere, she
lives or teaches here, as Xiuma is fiercely protective of often goes about the
the temple and is only willing to teach 6 individuals every ceremony alone, but she will welcome anyone who is
year. In order to study under her tutelage, one must first serious about paying tribute to the spirit god.

SECRETS & RUMORS

• Xiuma has taken a vow with Zebado not to teach anyone who is unworthy, but she hasn’t found
a single apprentice for 6 years now and her last one became the clan leader of his own tribe.

• Xiuma is far older than she looks. For 309 years now, she has been tending to the temple,
waiting for Zebado to finally release her from her servitude so she can die of old age. She knows
the War Spirit is looking for some champion of sorts, but doesn’t know why, although she
suspects it has something to do with the celestial realignment that is due in 3 years from now.

• Xiuma isn’t human at all, but rather an incarnation of Zebado himself. The spirit god is being
courted by spirits from all sides, but hasn’t decided on who he should pledge allegiance to yet.
He will regard the morality of anyone who bests him in combat as indicative of the path he
should follow – dark, neutral, or light.

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 PEOPLES & CULTURE
The people of Mararoka are nominally organized in
tribes, but the clans within each such group have so
much autonomy that they sometimes seem to belong
to different societies altogether. All clans do feel an
unwavering allegiance towards their mother tribe and
still get together during eclipses to celebrate the spirits
and share stories. Clans are difficult to keep track of as
they are always named after their current elder, who
stays in charge until death or until unfit to serve as
a leader anymore. At that time, the entire name of
the clan changes to the name of the new person in
charge. The only exception is formed by the Jaida, the
powerful and skilled Dinosaur riders whose ancestors
helped overthrow the Jungle of Mararoka’s despotic
former rulers.
All clansmen have a few things in common as well.
They are distinct in appearance from the cosmopolitan
inhabitants of Ishta’s city states. In their environment
the traditional toga isn’t practical, and they disdain
it in favor of simple but distinctive embroidered loin
cloths (the only item of clothing they really need) or
long strips of cloth wrapped around their waists and
held there by two sashes.
Hair styles and jewelry vary wildly from tribe to tribe
and even from clan to clan, with body piercings being
extremely common. Many Mararoka warriors favor
using the fangs of conquered predatory reptiles for
this purpose, while others utilize ‘plugs’ made from
gold, silver, and jade or materials such as shells, wood,
bone, copper, and even stone. This is in partly because
the average Ishtan, whether nobleman, villager, or
tribesman, wears their day-to-day wealth and status on
their body. This may include rings worn on the fingers or
toes, earrings, ear clasps, bracelets, necklaces, torques,
clasps, and a bizarre native form of belt comprised of
removable links of different sorts of precious materials.
All of these decorative adornments are designed to be
removed at will and used as currency.
These fearsome jungle-dwelling people are semi-
nomadic, sometimes practicing a limited form of
agriculture, sometimes hunting, often fishing, often
restlessly moving within large territories recognized by
other tribes in custom and tradition. However, this is
where most of the similarities end, as their customs
vary widely. Here are a few of the best-known clans.
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CLAN BITIKU
Clan Bitiku is a small extended family whose members
live close to the Temple of Zebado and visit its priestess,
Xiuma, at least once a month. They have been trying
to defeat her for years now, but none have succeeded.
This has not earned the priestess their rivalry or
disdain, but rather their respect, although the clan’s
two youngest ‘adult’ members – fourteen-year old
Faydal and his sixteen-year old sister Kaestria – have
been found arguing about how to tackle the priestess
and seem covetous not just of the lessons she has been
holding back, but also of the connection she clearly has
to the War Spirit and of the treasure they believe she
might be hiding.
All Bitiku clan members are quite ferocious if provoked
(and in recent years they certainly have been!) and
skilled with many weapons, including poisoned blow
darts, bows, spears, clubs, bolos, knives, and a peculiar
sort of sword (if one wishes to call it that) made from
a flat elongated pierce of wood with viciously sharp
teeth taken from giant, carnivorous lizards embedded
along its edge. Clan Bitiku does not have many allies
but also lacks sworn enemies, as dark fates typically
befall those who intrude with malice upon the territory
of the clan if they are captured.
CLAN A MILA
Led by the elder shaman Amila, this clan believes that
all great spirits should be worshipped – not just one or
even a selection of spirits. They are convinced that not
paying service to the darker spirits only serves to anger
them and are firmly intent on finding a balance in
their ceremonies. This had led other clans of the same
tribe to look at Clan Amila with mixed distrust, disdain,
and curiosity, as they prefer to keep their distance
while trying to gauge whether this unconventional
approach can be successful. For now, Clan Amila has
been prospering, and the bizarrely coincidental good
luck its members have been having seems to be almost
preternatural in nature. The clearings they pick to raise
their tents in are never hit by rain even when a storm
rages mere feet away; the fish they catch are always
big and edible; and if they bow down to pluck a plant,
one can safely bet that it will not only be nutritious,
but also delicious.

Some of the shamans outside of the clan have been
warning that Clan Amila’s string of incredibly good
fortune is only a ruse by the dark spirits to draw them
in and lead them further down a path that can only
lead to bad things, but the clan members certainly
aren’t listening and have no intention to stop or even
slow down their dangerous religion experiment.
CLAN QUACALA
Clan Quacala is one of the most open-minded family
units in Mararoka. Its members don’t only welcome
strangers, but gladly invite them to their village. This
is a direct consequence of its clan elder, Quacala, who
has instructed everyone to be friendly and offer visitors
succulent dishes and the best chaiza available. She is
acutely aware that foreigners are the best way to learn
about what is going on in the outside world, about
new ideas and technology, and about looming dangers
and the movements of other peoples or monsters.
Under their genius chieftain, this clan has become one
of the most innovative, successful clans to roam the
Jungles of Marraroka. Quacalo has travelled extensively
and has brought many ideas and products from other
nations to her clan, including Roshani scale armor,
Vahlian swords, Ethennian spices, and more. It is even
whispered that Quacalo holds a mythical artifact, but
no-one knows exactly what. The rumors are true, as she
has acquired an Ayaari disintegrator several years ago.
THE M ERCENARIA
Not a clan but rather a powerful organization, the
Mercenaria are an army of mercenaries that was
formed a mere 9 years ago by Yowelta the Huntress,
a Clan Quacala champion who broke with her family
after disagreeing about the morals and edicts imposed
by Quacala herself. Despite their differences, she
was given a large recompense for past services and
founded the Mercenaria out of her own pockets. The
organization has grown exponentially since then and
is recognized throughout Ishta as one of the most
fearless military forces in the entire realm. Yowelta has
yielded control since, preferring to stay in the shadows
and advise. Some believe she has incurred too many
grave injuries over the years and is now unfit for active
duty, although she remains sharp as ever.
The Mercenaria maintain several easily defendable
camps in the Jungles of Mararoka, where they can’t
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Ishta
be easily found or attacked, and all know the trails
through the wilderness just as well as any Kiongozi.
While Kiongozi are members of their individual clans
and stay within their family units when not acting
as guides, the Mercenaria live, sleep, eat, and drink
together, and dissention is punished with immediate
banishment… after getting stripped down of all
belongings. Camaraderie is encouraged and promoted
through occasional feasts, sports competitions, and
boardgame tournaments. Their slogan, ‘All Stay
Together’, reflects their no-one-is-left-behind policy
and has greatly aided in attracting fresh members.
Although the Mercenaria mostly consist of Ishtans,
many of their current leaders and instructors are
foreigners, mostly from Evandyr. Most of them were
hired directly by Yowelta, who found them in Ishta’s
harbors while looking for the most able and willing
commanders. The Mercenaria are now spearheaded by
the Thalian Sir Barabos Manos, a veteran captain who
used to command his own fleet. He left after losing
an argument with his supervising board and suffering
a devastating defeat because he was obligated to
follow their proposed strategy, and he feels he
has something to prove. Manos is already looking
into expanding his mercenary army to the seas and
acquiring war galleys, but for now he is content staying
in the jungles and building up a legendary reputation
with his Mercenaria.
THE JAIDA
The literal meaning of Jaida is ‘She Who Rides The
Giant Lizard’. These woman warriors hold a high
status amongst the people of Mararoka, who have not
forgotten that they were liberated by them more than
800 years ago.
The Jaida are a matriarchal clan, and all women are
taught from the age of 13 how to control and ride
Tyrannosaurus Rex. Even though the spirits allow them
to forge the bond necessary to do so, this remains
a backbreaking and burdensome process, but failure
is not an option, and the children are taught never to
give up. Most continue to try until they either succeed
or die. They are also taught the art of warfare from
this age on, including not just martial skill itself, but
war philosophy, strategy, and tactics. At age 16, they
are sent out on an initiation rite that culminates with
going into a part of the jungle where wild Dinosaurs
are known to thrive. There, they must find and bond
with their own Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Jaida who undergo the rite are encouraged to help
each other but are often forced to find a balance
between team effort and individual needs, as the
bond a Jaida has with her Tyrannosaurus Rex is highly
personal and spiritual, and that Dinosaur will never
again let anyone else command it – not even another,
more experienced Jaida. Only one in three initiates
survives the ordeal, and those who do are required
to bring back the bodies of their fallen sisters to be
honored and blessed by the spirit gods before burial. A
bond between a Jaida and her Tyrannosaurus is for life
and when one dies, the other usually goes on a lone
suicide mission, raking in as many trophies before
ending it with laying down their life. Both of their
names are added to their camp’s totems, there to be
remembered by their sisters until there is no-one left
to do so.
The biggest Jaida settlement of Mararoka is known as
Jaimala, led by the mighty Tharaqui Thunderstorm. She
stands tall and proud, her lithe form draped in armor
of gleaming gold and dark green, adorned with the
bones and teeth of the mighty beasts she has hunted
and slain. Her long, black hair cascades down her back
in wild waves, framing a face that is fiercely determined.
Her eyes are a piercing green, sharp as the talons of
a raptor, and they gleam with a fierce intelligence
and unyielding will. Her mount is a towering, veteran
Tyrannosaurus Rex, its scales as black as obsidian and
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its teeth as sharp as knives. Together they are an
unstoppable force, charging through the jungle with
the power and grace of a thunderstorm.
Her village is the node of a larger network of camps, all
connected through trails that are only identifiable by
the Tyrannosaurus Rex steeds, who are trained to use
their exceptionally keen sense of smell to follow the
routes from one camp to another.
The camp itself is a marvel of engineering. It is
composed of a series of large huts, built from – and
upwards against – the trunks of massive trees, woven
with vines and thatch to create a sturdy, yet flexible
structure. The huts are arranged in a circle, with
a central clearing that serves both as a training ground
and a gathering place. The structures seem to be one
with nature, with vines and flowers wrapped around
their supports, and hanging gourds filled with water.
They are connected by a network of rope ladders,
bridges and vines that seem to defy the laws of physics,
snaking through the air with a grace and fluidity that is
both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
In the center of the village stands a massive totem,
carved with images representing Howeme, Ikomeno,
Pakse-Muni, and Zebado, and topped by a large
Tyrannosaurus abstraction, an unmistakable symbol of
the Jaida’s bond with the great beasts and their place
as rulers of the jungle.
 Ishta

TRAVEL ACTS
1. OBSTACLES
Forest Fire
1
Animals run past in a hurry as if distraught by something. Before long, dark smoke comes
dwindling down the jungle. The heat, combined with a rare drop in humidity, has caused some
of the jungle to catch fire.

Barricidi Rapid
A rapid that can’t be found on any map runs through the area as far as the eye can see. The
2 stream is full of Birricadi and there is no rope bridge to be seen. If these Monsters aren’t
enough of a problem, the water and the jagged-rock waterfall it leads to could easily drag
away anyone trying to swim across.

Sliding Slope
3
The land, mostly flat until now, suddenly slopes upwards. It’s not too far a journey to get on
top, but the many loose leaves and other sediment make it difficult to get to higher ground
without causing the debris to slide down.

Infected Swamp
4
A large stretch of land turns into a vast swamp up ahead. There are a decent number of
hammocks sticking out of the water, but it will be tough getting from one protrusion to the
other. What lurks in the mud and foul water of this swamp is another matter entirely…

2. EVENTS
Tropical Cyclone
1
A tropical cyclone sets in and the travelers are caught right in the middle of it. It is warm with
clear skies, but all around this patch of jungle a destructive eyewall has formed, with strong
winds and heavy rainfall. The cyclone moves west and this area won’t be safe for much longer.

Volcano Eruption
2
The ground starts to tremble, and then an ear-deafening explosion is heard. A nearby volcano
has erupted, sending projectiles of hot stone and balls of fire to come crashing down in
a 10-mile radius around the angered mountain.

Dinosaur Stampede
3 A herd of Brachiosaurus is running away from some unseen predator. They are absolutely massive
in size and anyone caught in their path risks getting crushed into the ground by the stampede.

Landslide
A few drops of rain come falling down, but before a minute has passed the rain becomes
4
a torrential force, clouds darken, and thunder can be heard. Solid ground turns to pools of mud,
and within a few minutes the ground starts to shift and move, large chunks of ground come
sliding down from uphill areas, and trees and chunks of rock crashing down, causing a deadly
situation.

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 3. CONFLICTS
Beastmen Camp
A group of Beastmen has set up a well-guarded camp against a rock formation in the near
1 distance. It looks recently built. The side of the camp facing away from the cliff is protected
by wooden palisades and two watchtowers. Multiple bands of Beastmen patrol the area
surrounding the camp, driven by some purpose that is yet unclear.

Arachnid Feast
2
A pack of Jungle Arachnids is encountered feasting on the brains of an entire local clan. One
of the clan members is still alive and could be saved, but the mostly-satiated Jungle Arachnids
will likely attack anyone who tried to intervene.

Trickster Spirit
A trickster spirit manifests as a beast. It will talk to anyone willing to listen in one of many
3 Isthan tongues and proposes to play a game. If all three of its riddles can be solved it will grant
a wish that pertains to the many secrets of the jungle. It will, however, interpret any wish
made quite literally or try to find gaps in the grammar used to twist and pervert the wish.

Anaconda Attack
4
A Giant Anaconda attacks! It will appear out of nowhere and hasn’t had a meal in over
a week. It will be a fight to the death, no matter what is attempted to calm or scare away
the creature.

4. INTERACTIONS
Jaida Encounter
A group of fierce Jaida are on patrol in the region, seemingly distressed. The dino riders will
1
threaten anyone they encounter but won’t immediately kill. They have been suffering losses
from Beastmen attacks and are trying to find out what caused the sudden influx and whether
the Beastman have any plans to venture deeper into the Jungles of Mararoka to pillage and
enslave local tribes.

Elladon the Innocent

A sailor from Orthoss by the name of Elladon is hiding in a nearby grove. A band of Mercenaria
2 in the area is looking for the wanted criminal, who has fled Kintaba after allegedly having
murdered someone. Elladon is innocent, as he will gladly tell anyone who seems interested, but
at the same time the Mercenaria offer a sizable reward for any information on his whereabouts.

Clan Quacala
3
Several Quacala members are encountered, who insist whomever they meet will join them for
a meal and stocking up on provisions in their nearby village. Always interested in the stories of
outsiders, the Quacala mean no harm, and their intent is god-willed.

Lost Pirates
4
Half a crew of pirates is trying to cut its way through the jungle. They’re lost and trying to get
to Kintaba to join their captain and fellow mates. They have no interest in robbing or killing
anyone here and would rather get some help in returning to their ship.

122
 Ishta

5. FLORA & FAUNA

Glowing Moss
1
A strange, red moss is found clinging to some of the trees. It glows faintly in the suns’ light but
brighter when it is dark. When cut, it keeps glowing for another 6 to 9 hours before getting
too dim to be of any use.

Triceratops Eating
A pair of Triceratops is found eating from low-hanging branches. If anyone makes too much
2 noise, the dinos will stop feeding and look around. If the sound is too loud or threatening,
they will run away, but won’t attack. Anyone with the right skills to do so could attempt to
befriend the creatures, who are kindhearted in nature.

Red Ant Infestation

Hundreds of thousands of red ants are working around their nest. It is an exceptionally large
3 colony, and the ants could become extremely dangerous if provoked. They seem to have
stumbled upon a deposit of some sweet-tasting, purple liquid. It definitely isn’t honey and its
origin is somewhat of a mystery.

Monkey Mischief
A group of small monkeys attempts to steal rations and provisions from travelers who aren’t
4 native to the region and who they know are an easy target. They will attempt it brashly at
first, and whether successful or not, they will follow the travelers around and try again and
again whenever they leave their belongings unattended.

6. LANDMARKS
Hot Spring
Steam rises from a pool of crystal-clear water inside a small rock formation. Despite its
1 foreboding appearance, this hot spring offers a haven of warmth and comfort. The water is
surrounded by moss-covered rocks and exotic plants that thrive in the humid environment,
creating an otherworldly atmosphere that seems almost surreal.

Stone Faces
Between the tropical shrubbery, a group of 34 stone faces stands on a reclining slope. They
2 are tall and imposing, their expressions – different for each face – are frozen in time. Hidden
paths lead deeper into the jungle or stumble upon small clearings where strange rituals were
once performed.

Rubber Tree Grove

A rubber tree grove is found deep within the jungle. It serves as a minor trade hub for
3 merchants, who come from far and wide. The area is guarded by either Mercenaria or local
clan members and anyone trying to enter the area is denied entrance. The grove has been the
target for many raids of late and many guards have been seriously injured or even killed.

Ziggurat Shrine
4
A small, abandoned ziggurat is found, largely overgrown. It now hosts a colony of unnaturally
giant insects, who have mutated and grown in size due to some magical energy still
emanating from within.

123
 K INTABA
—FORTRESS ISLAND—
A FORTRESS HARBOR CITY AND
TRADING POST LOCATED JUST
UPRIVER FROM WHERE THE
ORUNURO MEETS TO SEA OF BLOOD
POPULATION 4,856 full-time; roughly
2,309 more visiting at any given time.
GOVERNMENT A semi-military dictatorship
with a fortress lord at its head.
DEFENSE 210 archers with geradril and
short bows wearing gambeson armor
and leather helmets, 230 archers with
longbows a wearing gambeson armor and
leather helmets, 198 warriors with spears
and shields wearing wearing chainmail and
helmets, 165 warriors with blowguns and
maces wearing chainmail and helmets, 124
cavalry with javelins and maces wearing
chainmail and helmets, 32 spirit-talkers,
16 two-masted schooners with a full
complement of crew, 2 hired war galleons
with Evandyrian mercenaries, 36 canoes
and reed boats with enough crew to man
24 of them at a time
SERVICES Adventuring supplies, armorer/
blacksmith, art, black market, boat fares,
companionship, curio, bank, dancers,
fletcher/bowyer, general supplies, guide,
healing, hirelings, housing, jeweler,
leatherworker, lodgings, meals, mounts,
music, repairs, shipbuilding, ships, storage,
taxis, tailor, tapestries, temple, translator,
woodworker
As the Sea of Blood flows around the Kintaba Island, the first
thing any navigator seas is a black war galleon bearing both
a Thalian and an Kintaban flag. Ballistae and bolt throwers
line its skull-encrusted hulls as the attentive crew keeps
its eyes fixed on incoming ships, obviously disciplined and
focused on the job. Within minutes, a smaller and highly
maneuverable two-masted schooner bearing the Isthan and
Kintaban flags appears from behind the impressive vessel, its
crew waving at the newcomers before the ship sails around
the galleon to guide their guests through the treacherous
strait without incurring hull damage.
The sight is identical whether the west or east strait is
chosen, but only the eastern channel is deep and broad
enough to allow larger vessels in.
Kintaba is built on Kintaba Island, nicknamed Harbor Island
since the port was founded, a while after the Jaida Dino
Riders managed to overthrow the despotic regime in the
Jungles of Mararoka. It stands apart from mainland and
the only way to cross over is a narrow land connection of
only 60 feet wide or passage by reed boat, canoe, or raft.
Giant herbivorous amphibious lizards called Yoatls are
seen swimming through the water, towing these boats
or – sometimes – getting towed by them.
Constructed out of towering logs stuck into the earth on
the only lower piece of land before the island rises, its
wooden architecture is far more eclectic than anything
found on Ishta, as are the banners, flags, and sign posts
that are visible upon approach. Veteran travelers will
recognize writing in not just the Ishtan languages, but in
tongues from all over Athyr, and symbols belonging to all
kinds of different cultures. Of particular note are the many
native tribal and clan emblems, crests, or placards, making
the port feel even more diverse, if not beautiful.
Unusually, a wooden wall trails the outskirts of the harbor
to ditto rectangular fortress towers, all lined across the
entire perimeter of the land and looming over the unscalable
white cliffs that drop down into the lukewarm Sea of Blood,
earning the harbor the moniker ‘Fortress Island’.
124

OVERVIEW
The fortress city of Kintaba is one of the only two
harbors in Ishta, and by far the most eclectic. It
was founded after the Jaida managed to topple the
cruel regime of necromancer-kings and evil spirit
worshippers that had enslaved most of the population
about 8 centuries ago, but its growth has been
exponential. The regime installed by the newly-formed
military on the southern coast has always accepted all
folks from all walks of life as equals, and the resulting
trade brought more abundance. Even though it also
started to attract more pirates from Taliath, but never
in numbers that have threatened the existence of the
local Ishtans, no matter how tumultuous and chaotic
life gets here sometimes.
Kintaba is a military outpost and, unusually for Ishta,
maintains its own small fleet of sixteen seaworthy
two-masted schooners. These boats are fast, easy to
maneuver, and enjoy a large capacity for ballistae
and catapults. Their narrow hulls and shallow drafts
mean they can easily hide in estuaries and surprise
their enemies, typically while working in tandem with
the Evandyrian mercenaries hired by Fortress Lord
Mashda or pirate allies handling scouting duties for
him. When signaled that their prey is nearby, they sail
out quickly to shower them with stones and bolts, then
grapple to board and fight it out hand-to-hand. As
Kintaba Wardens seldom loose this sort of fight, and
Kintaba’s easily defendable position makes unwanted
incursions outrageously difficult, pirates mostly avoid
the southeastern coast of Ishta.
The city has a small complement of warriors simply
referred to as ‘spirit-talkers’ who do not serve an official
function per se, but who function as militia when the
city faces a supernatural threat or when it seems like
it would be wise to involve the spirits in a particular
confrontation. These shamanic fighters do not use
spirits to complement their own physical prowess,
preferring to send them in at a distance so they can
take advantage of the spirits’ unique ethereal abilities.
Kintaba also maintains a Yoatl farm where these
giant amphibious animals are bred and raised to use
as towing beasts for the small Kintaban boats. These
reptilians sense sandbanks and other things that might
obstruct easy passage and guide the rafts and canoes
through the island straits with ease and agility. Since
the highlands of the island often block the wind, their
assistance means that many of the smaller vessels travel
a lot faster than one would expect them to.
125
Ishta
Fortress Lord Mashda has shown himself to be a firm
but just ruler and even though he does not surround
himself with advisors or even a board or council, there
have been no signs of a brewing insurrection of any
kind, mostly because of his demonstrated forward-
thinking and his willingness to let the people under
his dominion make their own decisions. Mashda does
have great plans, however, and wants to expand
Kintaba over the entire island, effectively making it
into a fortified island-state under his control. To this
end, he has invited farmers from all over to hold
land and grow crops outside of the city proper, and
bring their own seeds, plants, or even animals if they
choose to do so, all in return for lower taxes. So far,
this is working out extraordinarily well, and dozens of
hamlets are cropping up in all directions. The head
crew manning the two war galleons from Taliath have
all been promised land as well, and this is keeping
the mercenaries even more loyal than the sizable fee
they’re already getting.
LAYOUT
Kintaba is a large walled stockage built out of towering,
treated logs driven into the earth. Within, however,
is a vibrant and fascinating complex of warehouses
and market stalls in which countless transactions take
place between Taliath merchants (In the moment; in
another, they are pirates!) and Ishtan bargemasters
as goods are transferred up or out of the Orunuro.
This bartering and exchange of currency has naturally
caused a second, ‘outer’ Kintaba to come into
existence beyond its walls filled with restaurants, tea
houses, taverns, brothels, and all the other various sorts
of semi-reputable establishments which cater to sailors
and merchants. These stretch down to the fortress’s
extensive dock system that is filled with barges and
ships off all sizes.
Just as important as the layout of the city itself is its
defensive position, as the lands surrounding Kintaba
slope upwards fast. There are no beaches outside of
the port and the island instead drops down almost
500 feet, making it almost impossible to enter through
anywhere but the straits leading up to the harbor.
Impressively, a wooden wall is built along the island’s
entire perimeter, and wooden watch towers line the
full circumference.
THE PEOPLE OF K INTABA
If asked, most Ishtans would say there is no such thing as
a ‘Kintaba people’, as the entire harbor is populated by
folk from all over Athyr, and while not entirely wrong,
they would not be completely right either. Despite the
mix of clans and tribes with many other ethnicities,
there is such a thing as a prevalent sentiment and
a standard way of going about things, beginning with
the observation that Kintaba is never quiet, not even
deep in the night. People who are easily irritated have
either learn how to become more accommodating,
leave the city cursing, or are ostracized by their more
tolerant neighbors and acquaintances. This has helped
make Kintaba a fun place for more outgoing people,
but individuals and groups who like their mannerisms
refined, their dinners quiet, and their conversations
sophisticated often end up hating the place altogether.
Culture clashes do occur, but unlike the rest of Ishta,
minstrels, bards, and stage actors have an audience
here, and are fairly well represented. Here, no square
can be crossed without some kind of song, poem, or
play resounding from out of one of the taverns or inns
– the only such establishments found in the Jungles of
Mararoka.
TRADE
Anything and everything which travels in or out of the
Orunuro River first passes through Kitaba, where the
Wardens inspect and charge a modest tariff on goods.
There is also a lively public market within its walls
in which anything from exotic pets to finely crafted
rapiers can be purchased or traded for. Additionally,
significant commercial transfers take place on the
docks, where cargo from incoming seaworthy ships
is transferred to river-going barges poled or towed
upriver by lizards-of-burden, and vice versa.
CUSTOMS
Because of the plethora of languages spoken in
Kintaba, residents who were born here – or who have
been staying in the harbor for a long time – are prone
to use far more gestures and hand signs than Ishtans
from elsewhere in the region. This sometimes seems
exaggerated and overly melodramatic to people who
aren’t from here, but the custom soon starts to make
sense, as certain body language is fairly universal to
fellow citizens and this greatly aids communication
when both the person who is trying to say something
and their listener speak different tongues.
126
A hilarious tradition that was born in the taverns
of the harbor is ‘facesmudging’, which is when the
patrons of the place write all kinds of funny and/or
disparaging remarks on the cheeks of guests who pass
out after drinking too much ghostbroth, usually with
chalk or cold coal. Some facesmudge artisans who
have specialized in writing intelligible short poems and
painting beautiful small illustrations on the inebriated
clientele.
R ELIGION & CULTS
The Wardens of Kintaba aren’t known for being
particularly religious in the traditional Ishtan sense,
but they are fairly superstitious and all wear layered
necklaces with pendants that each represent a different
benevolent spirit. In the city proper, there are shrines
to many of the spirits as well as a non-denominational
temple where foreigners who worship other gods or
pantheons are allowed to pray and – if their religion
requires them to do so – sacrifice material goods. There
is even a small chamber reserved for animal offerings,
although live offerings are strictly forbidden.
Naturally, Huwsedo, the Wind Spirit and Xalhuota, the
River Spirit are venerated more than any of their ilk,
but interestingly, there are large shrines dedicated to
Odo Oya, the Rain Spirit, and Cuatalemo, the Thunder
Spirit as well, indicating an implicit preoccupation
with possible storms and other weather phenomena
that may impede travel on the waters. Enu Sutu the
Song Spirit does not have a shrine, but rather an entire
amphitheater dedicated to him, and when minstrels
or other artists have shown that they draw in crowds
too large for the taverns or inns, Mashda often invites
them to play there and pays them himself, without
charging an entrance fee.
ORGANIZATIONS
The Fortress Lord doesn’t tolerate a lot of rival
organizations within his small territory, where the
Wardens’ rule is complete (if somewhat relaxed).
The Taliath corsairs have their own organizations, of
course, ranging from individual ship hierarchy to loose
alliances of captains in support of a supposed ‘prince’,
but no-one in Kintaba actually knows how their society
is really structured and different crews tend to share
widely different accounts on the matter.
Guilds in Kintaba do not exist and giving names to
groups of people is even actively avoided (even the
Wardens are named such only because the locals

found it easier to have an actual way to refer to
them), although craftsmen and artisans alike regularly
organize in small groups that resemble collectives
instead of highly-organized unions, and all are required
to keep their own profits. Instead of regular taxes,
the Fortress Lord imposes a tax that is determined
through a checklist that includes not only the size of
the property, the location of the shop and the type of
service being offered, but also the size of the sign and
– especially – the amount of Warden protection being
asked for. The Fortress Lord is known to discuss and
sign all agreements himself and has always been very
understanding and willing to discuss issues, which has
earned the dictator a tremendous amount of respect
amongst the traders and merchants of his city.
LOCAL SPECIALTIES
‘Etouffee’ is a dish of shellfish, simmered in a light fatty
sauce served over rice.
The ‘chayote’ fruit is cooked and served like summer
squash; it is generally lightly cooked to retain the
crispy consistency.
‘Snapper Soup’, made from the snapping turtle. It is
a heavy, brown broth similar in appearance to a thick
beef gravy.
‘Ghost Broth’ is a velvety drink made out of wide variety
of grains with a high alcohol percentage that is known
to never cause a hangover… although people who get
drunk on it tend to pass out for a while.
GOINGS-ON
1. A drunken pirate from Taliath stumbles out of
a nearby tavern, his face full with funny one-liners
and phrases like ‘Kick me, I’m drunk!’, written
in chalk.
2. A Warden detachment strolls down the street,
looking through the window of each tavern and
restaurant it passes quite ostentatiously before
resuming its patrol.
3. The Fortress Lord himself walks past. Most people
don’t even seem to notice until some step aside
to let him through. Mashda has no guards with
him whatsoever and takes the time to talk to
some of the locals.
4. A troupe of Ethennian bards are arguing at the
corner of a tavern about the songs they are
127
Ishta
going to play. Some of the Ishtans passing by roll
their eyes or look at each other, smirking.
5. A local trader is loudly promoting her wares,
amulets to most of the good spirit gods.
She is a little too tenacious about it, though,
and doesn’t seem very eager to take ‘no’ for
an answer.
6. In front of a local tavern, an entire Ishtan clan
wearing similar feathered helmets and loincloths
is seen waiting to be allowed in. The place is
already packed and there are 23 of them, so it
may be a while.
7. A fruit trader rolls up his cart, packed with
chayote, up to the Characters, asking them
whether they would like a bite (if they do taste,
they’ll also have to pay for the entire fruit).
8. A squire is removing some of the plate armor
of his lord-knight, who is sweating profusely in
the heat.
9. An Ethennian noble is seen arguing with an
innkeeper. He is looking for a ‘bathing inn’, but
there are none in the entire subregion and the
prospect of simply having to use a wooden tub
isn’t particularly to his liking.
10. A couple of children are climbing the walls of
their parents’ house in order to get a good look
at the ships coming in.
K EY LOCATIONS
FORTRESS LORD’S OFFICES: This complex of heavily
constructed two-story wooden buildings serve as both
the residence and administrative headquarters for
Fortress Lord Mashda, and can be used as a fallback
position (or ‘keep’) should the town’s walls be breached.
THE DOCKS: This bustling series of long wooden piers
allow both river-going barges and sea-going ships to
dock and load, unload, or exchange goods. There is
a separate section for vessels whose captains or masters
would like to tie up for a while for shore leave. The
wardens’ three vessels are also docked in this area.
PUBLIC MARKET: The famously colorful and lively
market area of Kintaba is a great place for Ishtans
to purchase exotic foreign goods, while exotic
foreigners purchase Ishtan goods. It is also an excellent
place for (more sober) ship’s captains to conduct
economic transactions.
THE AMPHITHEATER: Like many other places in
Kintaba, the great marble amphitheater has no specific
name attached to it, but it is one of the favorite
places of any Kintaban to find some entertainment.
Only the best musicians and artisans are allowed to
perform on the semi-circular stage. A technological
marvel, the stage can be raised or even dropped up
to 10 feet into the ground with a pulley mechanism,
and its straight half has a screen that functions as an
easily-changeable backdrop.
THE FIVE-PRONGED TEMPLE: Not really a temple as it
is usually thought of, the Five-Pronged Temple actually
consists of five large white shrines centered around
a stone plaza. One shrine is dedicated to Huwsedo,
another to Xalhuota, a third to Odo Oya, and a fourth
to Cuatalemo. Surprisingly, the fifth shrine is devoted
to Oseme, the Breath Spirit, who is worshipped there
as a conciliatory, unifying spirit who celebrates all living
beings that breath and the power of passionate love.
TAVERN UMILA: Simply named after its famous owner,
Tavern Umila features the most complete assorted
drinks from all over Athyr as well as memorabilia taken
from Umila’s many adventures. In the center is a huge
orb more then 6 feet in diameter of the blackest glass
imaginable, but not even Umila knows what it is exactly,
as she pried it from the dying claws of a Dragon after it
killed most of her friends.
THE SPIRIT AND THE GOD: An inn that boasts literally
hundreds of signs outside, all naming different gods in
the writing of the cultures where they are worshipped
as well as featuring slogans like ‘Your God Says: Come
In!’ and ‘No Pantheon Excluded!’ Inside, the place is just
as chaotic and crowded, as the Ethennian innkeeper
Jamayr has no less than twenty-four different kinds
of Ghost Broth on tap, and has been known to quip
that the ‘spirits are in his spirit’. No-one ever laughs
with the pun, but Jamayr keeps thinking it is pretty
funny nonetheless.
K EY NPC S
FORTRESS LORD MASHDA: Aside from being the
city’s dictator, Mashda is one of the best warriors in
the region and maybe in all Athyr, and has once been
seen defeating an entire score of raiders from Taliath
before needing to sit down and rest. This dark, friendly
man is actually a former Taliath corsair prince who
replaced the previous fortress lord (his former lover
and friend) when he was killed in battle stopping an
upriver raid. He is a diligent and serious man who also
loves jokes and entertrainment, respected by his staff
128
of entirely Ishtan subordinates. Mashda, however, also
keeps a dark secret, as he is indebted to a bookie after
he spent too much money at a gambling house in
Huexolta, and he is planning on adding the number of
windows to his tax checklist.
CAPTAIN SAYIDA: Enormous and imposing even
by Taliath standards, the mercenary captain of the
Galleon Massari (one of the two warships patrolling the
island’s straits) is a voluptuous rampart of bejeweled
dreadlocks, silk, and weapons. Boisterous and well-liked
in Kintaba, her carousing is the stuff of legend, as is her
prowess in battle.
NUMUSHDA: Always found in the Five-Pronged
Temple, Numushda spends most of her time praying
to Oseme. She seems extremely pious, but many locals
know that this place of worship also functions as some
kind of a private office, as Numushda will arrange
companionship and even joint lodging with one of her
workers if paid the right amount of money:
KHATYR: Khatyr is one of the most efficient Yoatl drivers
in Kintaba. Young, handsome, and suave, his steering is
unparalleled and he is known to make his boat make
maneuvers no-one else is able to accomplish. Khatyr is
also quite the swashbuckling hero and is always looking
for adventuring opportunities. However, he is quite
reckless and although he isn’t arrogant, his fearlessness
could soon devolve into recklessness, endangering
the very people he is supposed to transport from one
location to another.
JAYMAR, PRINCE OF AMLESH, SCOURGE OF THE
OCCULT: The innkeeper of The Spirit and the God is
actually the prince of a small Ethennian city that was
once infested by a cult. A caring and responsible ruler,
Jaymar left his palace in the hands of the rest of the
royal court and followed the cult to Ishta, where he
managed to completely decimate its chapter. While
staying there, he took a liking to the region and his
new anonymity, and finally ended up opening his own
inn and becoming an innkeeper… one with a sizable
amount of wealth and a keen awareness of dark and
shady dealings, who is willing to take down any evil cult
he comes across.
GERALDINE OF OSKOLIM: The conductress of bard
troupe ‘Songs from Beyond’, Geraldine is a pretty good
singer, but an even better storyteller. She loves writing
the lyrics to the original songs her troupe plays, but,
unbeknownst to anyone, she has ulterior motives, as
the dark god she and her band of minstrels worship is
allowing her to hide subliminal messages in their music,
all meant to slowly corrupt their listeners and destroy
their sense of morality.
 Ishta

QUEST HOOKS
i ii
THE RAID UPRIVER
Once again, the small Taliath raider Sir Lamaras
d’Harangue has slipped past ‘the Stump,’ heading upriver
under cover the of night to capture some cargo barges
or attack villages. Captain Sayida is going in pursuit along
with one of the fortresses’ ships to stop them.
Reward: If the Characters help the captain in his
pursuit, he will offer them a paid position in his
personal retinue. If they pass, he will promise a future
favor to each of them, to be called in at a time of
their own choosing.
i ii
OUT TO SEA
The military commanders overseeing the watchtowers
have informed the Fortress Lord that a group of pirates
has set up an outpost at the mouth of a deep inlet
(almost a river) off the coast to the northeast. Most
likely they are attempting to create a permanent base
with which to raid the coastline as far north as the
Dorganthur Mountains. Unless they are quickly crushed
and stopped, of course. Unfortunately, there are no spies
available as Mashda has deployed all of them on some
secret mission and he is now looking to hire a group of
intrepid adventurers to look into the issue.
Reward: If the PCs manage to successfully scout the
region and solve the problem, Mashda will ask them
to play a game of cards with him. If they win, they can
claim one of his most prized possessions as their own. If
they lose, he will simply pay them in coin.
i ii
THE DARK BOOKIE
The bookie Fortress Lord Mashda owes money to is
a cult leader who used magic to misdirect the dictator.
His ultimate aim is to start an entire chapter of the
cult on the island and use it as a base of operations.
Numushda, who has been supplying the Fortress Lord
with some much-needed diversions, has found out
about his gambling debts, but knows that confronting
him will be met with denial, and is looking into hiring
someone to look into the matter, as she feels something
is terribly wrong.
Reward: If the Characters succeed, Numushda will
offer any kind of information they may need for free,
or provide the PCs with any service she can arrange for
them. If they approach Fortress Lord Mashda tactfully,
he will offer them coin in order to keep quiet and
a boat to sail away on, but he will be too afraid that
they would tell anyone about what happened to have
them stay in Kintaba.

THREATS & DOOM: THE MOTHER

Unbeknownst to anyone, the elder Yoatl used in Kintaba all have the same mother… and these reptiles
can grow to sizes far bigger than is thought. Standing 30 feet tall and with a head-to-tail length of no less
than 310 feet, the great Yoatl Mother has recently become aware of what her children and their offspring
are used for, as one of the dark spirits has told her about this travesty. She is underway to the island, but
needs to stop for weeks at a time to gorge herself on huge sea animals. When she finally arrives, she will
not hesitate to kill every single human on Fortress Island, Ishtan or not, and none of the watchtowers will
be able to withstand her onslaught.

THREATS & DOOM: THE WAVE OF JAMARAKH-A LUHN

Underneath the island, a great water spirit called Jamarakh-Aluhn is brooding. He isn’t worshipped by
anyone in Ishta and has grown jealous of both Huwsedo and Xalhuota. Wild as a whirlpool, he has no idea
of how to communicate with humans and if his frustration continues to fester; he will end up creating
a crushing wave that will smash over the entire island, destroying everything from the harbor to the
mountains in the north-east.

129
 GLOSSARY: ISHTA
Ethereal beings that feed on
spirits but that are tethered to
AMALITH the riverbanks, which they can
only leave for short periods at
a time.
A tribe whose members have
AMILAK achieved a symbiotic relationship
with animals.
Sorcerers from Huexolta who
dedicate their lives to protecting
the city, each of them bonding
ARAK LIMAN
with a single Kongamata,
experiencing its surroundings
through its own senses.
An arcane association of sage-
sorcerers from Huexolta that
focuses on ‘the attainment
ARAK MADUR of wisdom by doing good’.
Part engineer, part architect,
academic, scholar, and priest.
They are forbidden to lie.
Elite Huexoltan combat
sorcerers who completely tattoo
ARAK TIYIIX
themselves, binding spirits to
their tattoos once fully covered.
Horned, piranha-like fish that can
BIRRICADI gnaw their way through an inch
of flesh within seconds.
A ferocious clan living in the
BITTIKU
Jungles of Mararoka.
Slimy grub that eats out
BURROWER
entire organs by digging itself
MAGGOTS underneath the skin and entering
the blood vessels.
Big, catlike beings, expert
climbers with muscular hind legs
CAZRICK
that allow them to jump from
tree to tree.
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A sturdy axe capable of slicing
through wood if swung hard
GERADRIL
enough, made from the antlers of
the Geradron.
A large six-legged herbivore with
razor-sharp antlers, the Geradron
GERADRON
makes for great prey, while its
antlers are used to make geradril.
In the absence of taverns and
inns, the citizens of Huexolta
often invite visitors into their own
GUESTHOUSE
homes, making for guesthouses
that can sometimes cater up to 12
people at a time.
The Imal Uhr are mostly found
near Lake Kahija. Its members
worship the river and water
IMAL UHR
spirits almost exclusively. Also the
clan that delivers the Monstruo
who help navigate Lake Kahija.
The dino riders of Mararoka,
a matriarchal group whose
female warriors each bond
JAIDA
with a Tyrannosaurus Rex. They
are hailed as freedom fighters
across Ishta.
The priest-astronomers of
Nakbu, who also deliver the
JIMYA
representatives who preside its
ruling junta
Giant flying lizards indigenous to
KONGAMATA
the Jungles of Mararoka.
A vile froglike species that
worships only a perverted
MANDALIN version of the demon spirit
god Lapayetta, recast in their
own image.

A custom in Nakbu that decrees
MALOA-MINA no-one should ever respond with
only a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
A popular team sport and ball
game that draws large crowds in
MARIPOL
Huexolta and cause for the city’s
main social gatherings.
Imal Uhr tribe members who
function as guides on Lake Kahija.
MONSTRUO
Their drum playing keeps the
Xioqwetla at bay.
A superstitious tribe of stargazers
and astrologers that considers
MUWALI
itself closer to nature than any
other.
A tribe of fanatical maneaters
NAZAHUIL whose culture revolves entirely
around death and bones.
A tribe found in the north
OBEGA of Torra Nyega whose value
freedom above all else.
Expert climbers who have
OSADOR developed their own harnesses,
native to Akshan.
An open-minded clan from the
QUACALA Jungles of Mararoka that is very
welcoming to strangers.
A term sometimes used to
distinguish the major spirits who
SPIRIT GODS
are worshipped as gods in Ishta
from minor ones.
Kintaban warriors who use
SPIRIT-TALKERS spirits to complement their own
physical prowess.
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Ishta
STRANGLE Suffocating plants found near
LICHEN bodies of water in Torra Nyega.
State personnel taverns
in Huexolta that cater to
TAMIPU organizations that also
have representation in the
Smaragdine Council.
A tribe whose members go bare-
chested and wear gaudy spirit
TAULUK amulets, each one representing
a specific spirit worshipped
in Ishta.
Foul humanoids found in the
TROGLODYTE
mountains of Ishta.
Huexoltan mediums between
the spirit world and material
reality, the Villak Umar are
VILLAK UMAR astrologers, fortunetellers,
oracles, and healers. They also
have a representative in the
Smaragdine Council.
Giant amphibious animals that
are bred and raised to use as
YOATL
towing beasts for the small
Kintaban boats.
WARDEN Kintaban peacekeepers.
Judge-lawmen of Huexolta and
XERIFA Nakbu who wander the land in
groups of three.
Gigantic monsters that dwell
in the transparent depths of
XIOQWETLA
the Kahija, only deterred by
Monstruo drumming.
A Mararokan clan that
believes all great spirits should
ZAMILA
be worshipped – even the
darkest ones.
 CHAPTER 3:
ISLANDS
OF ROSHAN
THE R EGION
The Islands Of Roshan are an archipelago separated from
the mainland of Athyr by the always crystal-blue but
sometimes tempestuous Sea Of Jewels. A meritocracy
with little respect for the old and the decrepit, most
of the realm is ruled by the mysterious emperor
Zheng, whose dynasty has held an iron grip over the
Islands since time immemorial. It is comprised of eight
large main islands, though their supreme ruler resides
on his own, centrally-located island-city, Kyoso, an
architectural marvel built on cliffs too high for anything
but flying creatures and the island’s imposing 300 feet-
wide pulley elevator platforms to reach.
Other than the southern trinity of islands Omara, Sionto
and Arosha, the empire also holds sway over the frigid
northern islands of Eshiri, Riukala, and Oneshi. Eastern
Iokara and Unigo are of little importance to the
emperor, as they count too few settlements and too
many monsters to risk spreading the family’s imperial
forces too thin, but most of the people living on the
400 inhabited smaller isles (out of a total of about
2,000) do pledge allegiance to Zheng and follow his
dynasty’s tenets. The islands range from land masses tens
of millions of hectares in size to tiny, frozen sandbars
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barely worth a mention on any map. This has made
estimating the true number of inhabitants here nigh to
impossible even to their rulers, with informed guesses
ranging from 2 to 3 million, while Roshan’s number of
supernatural creatures per capita is higher than any
other known place on Athyr, putting it into the hundreds
of thousands, a large chunk of which is concentrated in
the east.
ABOUT THE
ISLANDS OF
ROSHAN
Perhaps more than any other region in the world, the
monotheistic Islands of Roshan are steeped in tradition
and nowhere have beliefs and ideologies evolved so little
over het last few millennia than here. This may be partly
because the empire is heavily populated by monsters
both majestic and frightening, which has been the case
since anyone can remember. Where in other regions, the
creatures of myth and legend have disappeared, none
of the great beings talked about in Roshani myth and
 Islands of Roshan

legend seem to have gone extinct. If written about in There are a great many fabled places to be found in
poems or covered in musical compositions 10.000 years Emperor Zhang’s realm. Most of these don’t need to
ago, they are still bathing in the clouds above, swimming be uncovered or even pinpointed on a map, as their
in the oceans, and roaming the lands, visible to all who existence is somewhat well-known. No-one would ever
point their heads in the right direction. Much of this can question that the Temple of Yaorak – a blasphemous
probably be attributed to the relatively forgiving Roshani wizard who led a sect that worshipped the Ancient Gods
attitude towards nonhumans. before the organization was cleansed by the dynasty –
is haunted by the spirits of the malevolent heretics, but
On the islands, only monsters that have been shown to
most Roshani would never dare to tread inside. Many
threaten or attack fellow citizens, their livestock, or their
people know the Tomb of Emperor Xiao-Hin is guarded
resources are actively hunted, whereas others are left
by golems that still channel the long-dead ruler’s energies
alone. This policy is called the Ildum-Li, which roughly
from beyond the grave, but also that anyone who enters
translates as ‘Quarter Given’ in Eroshan or ‘Bowing the
will be afflicted with the same curse that killed him. And
Knee’ in Eshi. This mindset is even adopted in regions
there is no doubt that the Celestial Cave of Giya-Lin can
that don’t adhere to imperial law, which includes Iokara,
be accessed through the everlasting Amiyi clouds above
Unigo, and some of the smallest islands on the continent.
Roshan, but only spellcasters or people on flying steeds
With their myths so intact and their factual history so can reach the cave to ask for the oracle’s advice.
murky, much of Rohsani storytelling is based on epic
All magical places of significance are guarded by the
adaptations of past accomplishments and heroic deeds,
imperial army and only dynastic visitors are allowed in,
spiced-up folklore, and verbose myths, some of which
should they be strong, bold, or stupid enough to wish
cover multiple volumes of threehundred pages or
so, but a few famed places have remained undiscovered
more. Nowhere else can so many supposedly magical
so long that even Roshani discount their existence. If the
ceremonial garbage, sophisticated ornaments, and
underwater mirror palace of the aquatic emperor Nih-
emblematic weapons or armor be found. In Roshan,
Oaix is real, it remains hidden under millions of cubic
arcane flourish is nothing to hide or lock away, but rather
feet of crushing fluid. If there really is a shrine where
something to wear, flounder, or use.

133
the canonical Hair of Jigao is kept safe, it is undoubtedly
guarded by the One True God’s celestial servants. And if it
is true that the human-hating Kylin retain a kingdom that
stretches out from the subterranean grottos underneath
Eshiri to domed underwater settlements just off the
Riukalan coast, no-one is ready for the clear danger this
devilish and lithe scaled species poses.
Despite being an island chain, Roshan’s borders are well-
guarded. The various ports have strict rules and guidelines
for those who visit, usually for the purpose of trade or
seeking treasure, but many an Ethennian or Evandyrian
can be found especially on the Trinity Islands. Whatever
the future may hold, Roshan’s ideology has been firmly
rooted in its monotheistic religion and belief in the One
True God, who is worshipped in the three Aspects that
together comprise a Holy Trinity representing every
sentient living being: Jigao (The Body), Gaoya (The
Mind), and Aoji (The Soul). Even priests are dedicated to
a specific Aspect of the Trinity, and it is rumored that
Gaoya clergy has mental powers that are very different
than magic encountered anywhere else.
Every priesthood strives for self-improvement with
a focus on their chosen Aspect, and, uniquely, libraries
are operated by all three ecclesiastic branches working
together, each running a separate, clearly-delineated
section of these athenea. This has led to exceptionally
well-organized and referenced centers of learning and
book collections, where knowledge is strikingly accessible
and easy to find, if present. Needless to say, the Islands
of Roshan are often frequented by academics and
adventurers from across the ocean who are seeking more
information on a wide range of subjects, and nowhere
on Athyr can more concentrated expertise be found on
subjects like legends, myths, folklore, monsters, anatomy,
and human behavior, although almost all athenea are
sorely lacking books on history and geography.
KYOSO
Stretched out over an entire island, the capital of Kyoso
is Emperor Zheng’s private home. It holds his royal
army and fleet, his servants, his hunting grounds, his
palaces, and those family members who aren’t residing
in their own stately mansions on the other islands. The
city-island is thought to be impenetrable, which in
no small part is due to the many watch keeps dotted
around the smaller islands, the protective embrace of
the bigger Roshani masses of land, and the enormous
wall that constitutes the entire island’s perimeter.
134
Evidently, the existence of this island and its private
nature also contributes heavily to the peoples’
willingness to accept an emperor who is never seen
and only heard of. It also serves to heighten the almost
mystical sense of mystery and awe that surrounds
Zheng and, by extension, the other, more visible and
present members of his dynasty.
THE EIGHT
M AIN ISLANDS
THE TRINITY ISLANDS
With their proximity and easy access to the empire’s
seat in Kyoso, it should come at no surprise that the
presence of the dynasy and the church of the One
True God are felt more strongly in Omara, Sionto, and
Arosha than anywhere else except of course for Kyoso
itself. Proud warlords who received their medals and
armor embellishments straight from their dynastic
rulers patrol the lands and their highly-disciploned
troops deliver swift and summary justice whenever
needed. The multi-leveled temples of the One True are
higher here than on the other islands, often allowing
each of the three three different orders to occupy
their own floors, with the priests of Jigao taking in the
lower levels, their peers of Gaoya above them, and the
Aoji clerics taking in the upper floors.
Of all islands, Omara caters to the most Roshani visitors
from other islands, as the Tinal-him, an extensive
cemetery on the southern tip of the land where the
greatest heroes of Roshan are buried, has been the
prime destination for a great many pilgrims, many
of whom claim to be descendents of these warriors,
minstrels, seers, and mages of old, and it is widely
believed that anyone who dies here cannot have their
souls taken by the Munagi.
Omara has no real harbor, and its locals maintain
hundreds of small docks. As easy as it is to anchor
a small boat here, it is impossible for larger ships to get
close to the island and even simply passing through the
strait between Omara and Sionto would be a grueling
challenge to even the best of captains. Without a port
to speak of, Basari is its most important city. Nicknamed
‘Rickety Town’, it is a wooden stronghold that seems
far weaker than it really is. Centuries ago, the local
thugs struck a deal with the dynasty to build a fiercely

loyal militia in return for exclusive gambling rights, and
that arrangement is unchanged. Every single corner of
Basari is guarded by fearless expert warriors, combat
mages, and other eclectically-armored Roshani, and
the city is bursting with bookies, all kinds of gambling
houses, fighting rings, and animal races (the most
famous of which feature Monsters from all over Athyr).
This is also where Roshan’s most extensive penitentiary,
The Wooden Fortress, can be found, and it serves as
a perfect example of prison design.
Sionto has two rival harbor cities: Soyama and Orenaga.
The former’s claim to fame is it easy access to Ethennia
(despite the often-rough waters of the Sea of Jewels),
while the latter’s location is far less easily accessible
to pirate raiders and marauders, making it a far safer
city and more popular with the local populace. So far,
the rivalry has always remained playful, and all kinds
of competitions are regularly organized between the
two ports. Resentment is growing somewhat, though,
as The Seven Waves, an annual frigate race, has now
been won by Orenaga seven times in a row and some
Roshani are suspecting foul play by the local dynasty
representatives.
In Arosha, the Jingling-lan, the ‘River That Cuts’,
seems to spring out of nowhere before flowing into
the central water basin simply known as the Kiryn-
Tan (‘Fragmented Heart’) before literally dividing the
island in distinct segments. No natural source has ever
been found, and it simply seems to begin in the Border
Mountains before crashing down into the lake. Many
of the canonical tales state that these waterways are
the persisting tears of the great Indral, the last know
representative of an ancient race of gigantic fur-
covered creatures that towered over the Islands long
before Arosha assumed its current form. Indral is said
to have grown up with Rylik-Ying, the very first Roshani
emperor, and to have cried himself to death after the
man died of old age while cradled in Rylik-Ying’s hands.
More ominous versions of the tale claim that the
venerable ruler was crushed to death by the creature,
while the most fantastical account speculates that
Indral and his gargantuan companion were the same.
The Aroshan rivers are broad and easily navigable
by even mid-sized ships, making central Naen a very
popular and easily defendable harbor. It is known
for its floating market, fishers, skilled navigators, and
expert divers, and a prime destination for captains and
naval commanders who seek to recruit new crew.
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Islands of Roshan
E SHIRI AND R IUKALA
As one travels up north, the temperature progressively
drops, the gastronomy changes to an even more fish-
based cuisine, and people start to wear thicker clothing
and become more taciturn. Correspondingly, the type
of monsters that inhabit the lands differs significantly
as well, with fur-covered beasts and thick-skinned,
muscular sea creatures being far more common in and
around these lands.
Of particular note are the Yon-la. These white-furred,
ape-like creatures have been mistaken for albino
Beastmen by foreigners and were hunted by glory-
seeking Slayers for years until the dynasty issued
a decree to protect them. Since then, there numbers
have exploded and no-one really knows why, as they
can only bear children once every three years and never
have more than two babies at a time. This is extremely
suspect, but the dynasty seems reluctant to start an
investigation. Moreover, the ban has attracted some
of the most vicious, unscrupulous bands of monster
hunters anywhere on Athyr, and these bandits have
chased the rare Quanar – a semi-intelligent feathered
scavenger species – to the brink of extinction. This is
very disquieting, as certain folktales posit the Quanar
as the offspring of the great Xuocual Malan, giant
predatory birds of legend that are supposed to be
able to speak. Although no-one has actually seen one
of these legendary beings, both islands might be in
trouble if the ancient tales are true.
IOKARA AND UNIGO
As the most eastern and distant islands of Roshan, both
Iokara and Unigo have little contact with the dynasty.
The people here are often referred to as Roshani-mak
(‘Fake People from Roshan’) by other Roshani, who
feel their hunter-gatherer lifestyle is barbaric and
outdated. The real reason for not moving towards
agriculture is twofold: the harsh territory and freezing
temperatures in Iokara don’t lend themselves well to
agriculture outside of its southern tip, and there are
way too many monsters to make big settlements on
Unigo viable. One might be tempted to think that
walled cities would make for better protection, but
one would be wrong, as many of the creatures here
have an innate arcane ability to fly or even shimmer
out of existence in one spot and reappear in the next.
This has the people of Unigo constantly on the move,
looking for temporary shelter on an almost daily basis.
Although nomadic by necessity, the Iokara natives and
Unigo residents have vastly different customs, even up
to the point that certain gestures common on one island
can mean exactly the opposite thing on the other. In
the past, this has led to bitter skirmishes between both
peoples, but over the last decades, they have been
collaborating a lot more, finding common ground in
the contempt other Roshani often have for them.
ONESHI
Also called ‘Dragon Skull Island’, Oneshi is, indeed,
somewhat shaped like the skull of a particular type
of Dragon that is bizarrely common on this island.
Luckily, these ‘Yua-lyiun’ are hugely territorial and
don’t venture out of their mountain lairs very often,
preferring to hunt for whales and other large fish
that are mainly found off the northern coast of the
island. These winged mastodonts remain one of the
most enigmatic of monsters in Roshan, as they seem to
migrate to the north when it gets warmer, as if they
prefer colder temperatures to hotter ones. This had
led many to speculate that there must be more land
THE ONE TRUE LANGUAGE
GOD OF ROSHAN OVERVIEW
All three aspects of the One True God, which will be
covered in more detail for the complete release of the
Guide to Athyr:
Jigao: Body
Gaoya: Mind
Aoji: Soul
136
across the sea, although some claim to have seen Yua-
lyiun dive underneath the surface of the sea, where
they stay for hours before resurfacing, and think
the Dragons might have some kind of underwater
habitats there.
Oneshi has an interesting history as it was granted to
the guilds by Emperor Umlin-Ha 431 years ago with the
specific purpose to come up with new innovations and
new ideas. A conqueror at heart, perhaps Umlin-Ha
wanted to create an advantage he could use against
territories he wished to invade, but he soon died in
mysterious circumstances and his throne was succeeded
by his benevolent wife, Yili-Quin, who decided to use
the guilds’ inventions and recommendations to steer
the empire in a different direction. The guilds stayed
on Oneshi, attracted more apprentices, and grew
their families, expanding into what might be the most
diverse and interesting villages in all of Athyr. As one
could suspect, each village is known for its specialty,
and some of the guilds have become very specialized,
with the Guild of Firemakers and the Guild of Arcane
Translations as the of the most notorious ones.
MOSTLY
LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN
Eroshan Omara, Sionto, Arosha
Eshi Eshiri, Ryukala, Oneshi
Aroshi Unigo, Iokara

CHAPTER 4:
SUNDERED
WASTES
THE R EGION
The Sundered Wastes mark the border between east
and west, and stretch all the way from the pirate-ridden
Moon Skull Bay in the south to the Sea Of Jewels and
the cold, jagged peaks of Kheldor in the north. Once
a region of fertile ground, mighty rivers, and flora as
diverse as anything ever seen on Athyr, this is the cradle
of humanity. Mankind first sprang here and prospered in
the magic-rich fields of green.
The ancient Eldra Gavan mastered the arcane essence
of the world, learning fast because of the great ley line
that ran from what are now the Black Sands to the
damned landscape of Malak’Dor. Sadly, the very same
power leakage that infused this people with sorcerous
capabilities also caused the Balram Mador – the ‘Great
Sundering’ – more than 30.000 years ago, long before
the coming of the Heralds of Doom and even the Battle
of the Gods.
Why the arcane energies of Athyr suddenly erupted
outwards is not known, but most academics surmise
that nearly 70.000 years of tapping into them finally
caused the magic to escape in an explosion that left
the Sundered Wastes as they are now: a mostly-barren
landscape with little vegetation, marked by cracks and
137
Sundered Wastes
crevices, great precipices and deep ravines, delineated
by rocky coasts with no beaches and mountain ranges
rivaled only by the cordillera found in mysterious
Keldor, with the Vale of Lost Souls as its only significant
forested area.
Throughout this desolate territory, magic still runs
free and wild, unchecked by anyone except for the
Red Wizards in the north – the only ones who seem to
understand its true nature. More chaotic than anywhere
else, the primal forces that rage across the Sundered
Wastes have changed the lands in ways unimaginable by
most. In large parts of the Sundered Wastes, gravitational
anomalies, toxic clouds that abrade the already-
rough surface of the lands, and lifeforms that retain
resemblance with neither the animals nor the monsters
in other parts of the world seem to be more common
than anything that adheres to the traditional laws of
physics. Still, it is exactly this prevalence of otherworldly
phenomena that attracts so many adventurers to this
region, as nowhere else have so many once-mundane
items been endowed by pure puissance. Maybe more
importantly, the Sundered Wastes remain the only place
where the remnants of the Eldra Gavan can be found,
as their wall carvings and mystical sigils have endured,
there for the most daring and knowledgeable to find.

ABOUT THE SUNDERED WASTES
Although their proximity to the Beshaar Desert and the
Plains of Nihar Din might leave some who only know the
Sundered Wastes from looking at Athyr’s world map
thinking that this region is an extension of the eastern
deserts and steppes, anyone who has thread unto these
lands for but a few seconds knows better. Contrary to
Ethennia, only some stretches of the Wastes are covered
by sand. Most of the territory is rocky and there are huge
height differences, making the entire territory the least
level of any on Athyr. In fact, almost all of the Sundered
Wastes’ deep crevasses and chasms used to be seas or
lakes, and their bottoms are replete with fossils and other
residue of long-dead sea critters and plants. Something
still stirs there, as mysterious as it was when it was still
hidden underneath the water, and travelers who were
forced to travel through these treacherous basins often
disappear, as if something predatory picked them off in
a matter of minutes, maybe even seconds, before they
were able to sound an alarm or alert their allies. In fact,
1847 years ago, the entire army of the legendary Ishtan
necromancer-king Imila Rah disappeared here while
trying to scale the fissures of The Black Sands, and its
regiments are rumored to still dwell here, undead legions
who might endanger the entire region if they weren’t
confined by the steep cliffs and unscalable bluffs that
keep them entrapped forever.
Aside from the coastal towns of Nhakai and Asreja, the
central city of Faru Sadin, and the sorcerer stronghold of
Quan, there are no human settlements bigger than tent
camps in the Sundered Wastes, and there are not enough
interconnected centers of civilization to have kingdoms
arise. As a result, no-one really rules the Sundered Wastes,
and only the Kayachi – nomadic tribes known to outsiders
as ‘the Scavengers’ – have managed to survive here. In
no small part, this is thanks to their trade with the Red
Wizards, who provide them access to agonizing arcane
surgery, grifting metal enhancements onto their scarred
bodies that are thought to be prototypes of the more
advanced but gruesome-looking implants the sorcerous
order from Quan is known for.
Once enhanced, most Kayachi get addicted to their
body modifications, which gives them even less reason
to settle in any one area. Instead, they hunt and gather,
roaming from one place to another, seeking shelter from
the ever-changing, treacherous landscape, and looking
for old Eldra Gavan or even Ayaari artifacts to exchange
with the Red Wizards. Meanwhile, they survive mostly
on darkroot and Hiriku meat when above ground, and
tubers, rats, and eyeless cave crabs when staying on the
bottom of the Wastes’ chinks and apertures. To avoid
139
Sundered Wastes
overpopulation and the inevitable, deadly depletion
of limited resources which would flow from it, the
Scavengers have evolved various social mores that keep
their numbers limited in rare times of plenty, and almost
all participate in monthly gladiatorial battles that are
designed to pitch the more martial improvements made
by the Red Wizards against each other to test them
before trying to use them in even deadlier situations.
Although it is not known which gods are worshipped by
the Red Wizards, they at least seem to pay lip service to the
same pantheon followed by the Kayachi. Unsurprisingly,
the nomads do not have ceremonies or set rites as almost
all other religions do, but rather simply believe in their
eight gods and curse their names instead of pleading
them to intervene. It is believed that divine beings are
narcistic megalomaniacs, wily tricksters, lustful hedonists,
and gluttonous alcoholics with a sense of humor who
love it when humans don’t pretend to love or even like
them just to get what they want from them, and respect
a more irreverent attitude a lot more (the Kayachi may
not be completely wrong in their assumptions.
Kayachi swear against Orthar, The Blood God, when
they are hurt, but also if they didn’t manage to injured
someone else badly enough. They rail against Rhak, The
Crafter, when a device doesn’t work or when someone
doesn’t like their attempt at creating a beautiful piece of
art (Kayachi art tends to be almost comically crude and
shockingly erotic). They spit out the name of Kamano,
The Beast King, when one of their animals doesn’t listen,
when a pet is in pain, or when attacked by a beast. They
curse the name of Diredja, The Lustful, when an attempt
at seduction fails, but also while making love. They grin at
the thought Silnami, The Judgemental, blaming him for
their misfortune and getting involved in fluke accidents,
believing that he is punishing them for past transgressions.
They scream at Wazini, The Trickster, after discovering
they were lied to or paid too much for something, but
also when one of their own attempts at misdirection fails.
They blame Arakrex, The Great Scorcher, for weaving
the magic that contributed in causing the Balram Mador
and for any act of magical aggression against them. And
they are angry at Milandre, The Amalgamated, when
one of their body grafts causes them to become ill or
when a body modification fails.
Whether it be the inhuman beings that have mastered
the peculiarities of the Sundered Wastes’ geography, the
sudden tearing of the earth, the months-long darkening
of the sky, pellets of stone raining down on unsuspecting
travelers, or streams of toxic air, all bring death and
suffering to those who aren’t quick to adapt. Regardless
of the exanimated hordes that roam the lowest grounds
and the random bolts of arcane force that suddenly
spring into existence at the most unlikely of places,
adventurers are still drawn to the Sundered Wastes, and
the best of them don’t just return home to have songs
written about them, but to become kings and queens.
SUBREGIONS
THE BLACK SANDS
Unsettling and ominous, The Black Sands are exactly
that: an entire subregion covered in sands of various
dark shades. From ebony to onyx and charcoal: literally
the entire territory is black, from the licorice-colored
mountain peaks to the extremely unnerving vantablack
surfaces of its biggest ravines. Sovereigns from all over
the world send artisans and dyers here to bring back
pigments to use in their most expensive tints, but most
do not have the stomach to continue onwards for
more than a few miles, as the absence of color makes
even simple movements far more difficult. Here, the
very shadows seem to move, arcane shades of ages
bygone that want nothing more than suck every speck
of chromaticity out of their living hosts.
FARU SADIN
Sandwiched between The Black Sands and Malak’Dor, in
an area that has no name other than the Sundered Wastes,
Faru Sadin is the only bastion of civilization outside of the
cities and towns along the region borders. Despite being
inhabited by humans, Faru Sadin is almost as alien as the
uninhabited parts of the Sundered Wastes. It stretches
higher than any other known center on Athyr, and
although it only covers a relatively small surface area, life
here is distributed amongst many different levels, each of
them connected through wires and elevators, cables and
ropes, ladders and stairs, bizarrely-curved walkways and
two kinds of thoroughly alien-looking flying steeds: the
Ymryll, winged lizards the size of horses that instinctually
only fly up until they break the clouds, and that are bred
on the floor level to bring their riders to higher ground;
and the Daremdar, similarly-sized gliders with three
heads stacked on top of each other that are bred on the
higher levels to bring their passengers to lower grounds.
The Kayachi of Faru Sadin are not ruled by a single
sovereign or royal family, but rather by the Guild of
Alchemists, whose members are elected through
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a painstaking process that involves successfully
completing a thaumaturgic process and distilling
a number of enchanted brews. In fact, the way of
life here is so different from the nomadic existence
of most Kayachi that most tribes do not refer to the
citizens of Faru Sadin as such, but rather as ‘Sadinians’.
Although the Guild of Alchemists in no way possesses the
arcane knowledge wielded by the Red Wizards, its designs
wouldn’t work without the prevalence of raw magic in
the region. Of late, the institution has been busy trying
to reverse engineer the Red Wizards’ body modifications.
M ALAK’DOR
Ancient Athyrian for ‘The Scaled Lands’, Malak’Dor is not
a misnomer, as its surface is broken up in large flakes,
laminas, plates, and other incrustation of all shapes and
forms. Not nearly as dark as The Black Sands but still
mostly grey and black, Malak’Dor is home to several
large carnivorous species that hide underneath its many
layers, however thin, and prey on each other as well as
on almost any living being of flesh and bone. Carapaced
borrowers, teethed arthropods, and acid-spewing
monsters thinner than sheets of paper slither through
the cracks of these fields, and their presence would be
enough to give any adventurer pause were it not for the
existence of Golmorhan – flaked creatures with fronts
that hover above the surface while their tail ends trail
through the upper layers of Malak’Dor, leaving easy to
follow grooves in the surface peel. The Golmorhan can
be tamed and ridden up to the southern ends of the
Northern Wastes and the north ends of Faru Sadin, and
provide transport to the area just outside of Quan far
faster than cutting through the more tranquil western
flank or the mountain passes to the eastern side.
THE NORTHERN WASTES
The Northern Wastes border Keldor, the Sea of Jewels,
and Beshaar, and harbor the largest concentration
of Kayachi anywhere in the Sundered Wastes. This is,
of course, due to the presence of the Red Wizards,
who hold unchallenged sovereignty over the great
city of Quan. As one draws nearer to Quan, it is hard
not to notice that modified Kayachi are becoming
more plentiful, and most of the nomads living close
to the center are both heavily mutilated and strongly
enhanced, with gas masks that are stitched to their
faces to protect them from the toxic clouds in the area,
skin that has been replaced with protective leather or
metal plates, and eyes that have been removed in favor
of internal goggles that allow for better-than-human

vision being some of the most common adjustments.
However, none of these even hold a candle to the far-
reaching ‘mecharcan’ adjustments the Red Wizards
have implemented on their own, and their entire
city is a nightmarish amalgam of metal contraptions
and symbiotic lifeforms that cater to their sorcerous
masters’ every whim.
Despite their disquieting appearance and surroundings,
the Red Wizards are very welcoming to strangers and the
city holds a disproportionate amount of inns and taverns
for a place that is difficult to access except for the forked
rivers running from the north of Beshaar to the mountains
east of the city, but those are nowhere near bi enough
for anything larger than medium-sized one-masters to
sail on. Despite of their agreeableness, the Red Wizards
are rumored to secretly pry their visitors for information
about Ayaari or Eldra Gavan technology, and Quan is said
to rest on an arcane nexus point that may either erupt at
any time, or host demonic beings that the sorcerers have
made a deal with in order to power their own artifacts
and extend their influence.
THE SOUTHERN WASTES
The least inhospitable of all subregions, the Southern
Wastes are of strategic importance due to the region’s
only two true ports: Nhakai and Asreja. Despite both
being essential for travel, these harbor cities are difficult
to reach, as they top large cliffs and bringing in ships
safely to the docks below is an arduous affair best left
to experienced and skilled sailors. Once inland, travelers
soon face more difficulties, as supernatural phenomena
become more prevalent near The Black Sands and as
the river that runs from Asreja ends in a particularly
CURSED GODS OF LANGUAGE
THE SUNDERED OVERVIEW
WASTES LANGUAGE
MOSTLY
SPOKEN IN
Instead of worshipping their gods, people from the
Sundered Wastes mostly just curse at their gods when
things go wrong or when some calamity befalls them.
Orthar: The Blood God Silnami: The Judgemental
Rhak: The Gluttonous Wazini: The Trickster
Kamano: The Beast King Arakrex: The Great
Scorcher
Diredja: The Lustful
Milandre: The Depraved
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Sundered Wastes
impassable node of the Alakh Mountains. However,
the ridges to the west and to the east of the Southern
Wastes also hold more remnants of the Eldra Gavan than
any other place in the subregion, and there are many
wall carvings, glyphs, crude drawings, and old utensils to
be found in its caverns and natural tunnels.
VALE OF LOST SOULS
The only large wooded area in the entire Sundered
Wastes, the Vale of Lost Souls would probably make
for a good site to build a harbor at, if not for it being
enclosed by a huge, oval-shaped mountain range and
its inhabitants: a mischievous species of sadistic Faerie
creatures. These small, pointed-ear humanoids seem to
be the only beings still capable of naturally harnessing
the magic energies flowing throughout the Sundered
Wastes, but they wield their power in the most
abhorrent, twisted way. Prone to creative but viciously
destructive behavior, these xenophobic forest dwellers
have ruthlessly killed off the entire animal populace of
the Vale, and anyone who enters here will be taken
aback by the total absence of bird or mammal noises.
The Valists, as they are nicknamed by the Kayachi, are
completely preoccupied with being the sole caretakers
and rulers of the forest, but are nevertheless challenged
by their feared enemies: the lost souls of thousands of
Eldra Gavan who died here, and whose essences remain
linked to the forest, the only fertile ground of significant
size left in the Sundered Wastes. Unfortunately to the
Valists, many adventurers invade the premises, drawn
by the presence of enox, a rare and priceless rock that
grows underneath the trees of the Vale and fetches
extremely high prices at markets all over Athyr.
Across most of the Sundered
Kayachi
Wastes
Malak Dorr and Northern
Athraki
Wastes mostly
 CHAPTER 5:
EVANDYR
THE R EGION
Evandyr is the westernmost known continent of Athyr.
It’s a place of widely different environmental conditions
and terrain, with a frozen north, hot arid south, dark
forests, vast mountain ranges, and a surprisingly large
amount of fertile land perfect for settlement. This
ideal land is, however, unevenly distributed due to an
abundance of microclimates created by a combination
of huge mountain ranges with numerous bays,
peninsulas, and rivers.
Most probably, it is precisely because of these geographic
and agricultural factors that Evandyr has never really
stood united except when threatened by outside
kingdoms from across the seas. Instead, its six distinct
kingdoms, Solnos, Oskolim, Lhandor, Vahlia, Korchova,
and Orthoss have been at odds with each other for
more generations than anyone cares to remember.
Dotted with citadels and castles, border keeps and
island fortresses, Evandyr is a land of countless hamlets,
almost as many villages, civilized towns, and palatial
cities. However, it is also a land with much untamed
hinterlands, damp dungeons, and haunted ruins where
the ethereal specters of rulers past lament their own
avariciousness and impatience. A land where nature
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may not actively work against the people it caters to,
like it does in regions like Ethennia or the Sundered
Wastes, but where it hides monsters like the fabled
Hydra, where corrupt rulers, scurrilous religious sects,
and opprobrious cults operate both in the open and
out of obscure shelters, and where conspiracies are
forged that will potentially change the face of not just
Evandyr, but the entirety of Athyr forever.
ABOUT EVANDYR
Nowhere else in the world are the lands so fertile and
abundant, nowhere else is the local produce so varied
and are trade guilds so powerful and active… and
nowhere else are neighboring countries so distrustful
and – sometimes – even covetous of each other. Ruled
by rivalling kings and queens who don’t hesitate to
arrange marriages purely to enforce blood bonds and
strengthen allegiances, Evandyr is rife with political
infighting and infested with spy networks, backstabbing,
deception and underhanded dealings.
As different as the kingdoms of Evandyr are from each
other, all of them adhere to a fairly strict feudal system
with lieges and lords, knights and squires, priests and
 Evandyr

143
clerics, monks and nuns, and numerous vassals forced
to pay ever-increasing taxes, often to fund their
sovereign’s intelligence apparatus and arsenal. Still,
open warfare is rarer than one would expect, mostly
because each kingdom’s aristocracy has too many
common enemies to risk weakening the bordering
forces so much that they won’t be able to come to
their aid should an emergency arise.
With so much power concentrated in its cities and their
surroundings, most rulers do not have the resources to
keep their hinterlands safe and free of monsters, rovers,
and marauders. A lot of Evandyr is pure wilderness and
many freebooters, brigands, and raiders set up camp
here. Most of these bandit bands have more reason to
fear the many indigenous monsters and otherworldly
creatures that skulk through the dark forests than
they would knights or soldiers. The most dangerous
of them, such as Llewella’s Company, have succeeded
in striking a deal with these malevolent beings, and
their existence poses a serious threat to Evandyr’s
sovereigns, who are often forced to hire adventurers
and mercenaries from outside of the continent to deal
with their problems.
In those places where the rule of law holds sway
in Evandyr, it is invariably oppressive, and used to
reinforce a millennium old social structure in which
the commoners are bound to the land they live on
and are rarely allowed the right to leave it without
permission. Meanwhile, the aristocracy constantly
compete with one another on behalf of titled nobles,
who use commoners like strategic pieces in a board
game. Thus peasants, gentry, aristocracy, and nobility
all quietly despise one another, and have done so for
over a thousand years.
The authority of any potentate in these regions is
mostly hypothetical, though the princes of Orthoss
and Vahlia do at least patrol the roads and pathways of
their respective realms. In many places, travel between
communities is extremely dangerous, and except
for the Orthosi, most people in Evandyr live under
the shadow of fear, for the roads that run through
the uninhabitable wild places in-between pockets of
civilization and dangerous woods are stalked by entire
legions of undead, horribly mutated humanoids, and
rabid preternatural wolves, while the existence of free
cities in the south is the only reason why, at least up
until now, the Evandyrians have been able to keep the
pirates of Taliath in check.
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Except for Solnos, there aren’t many public libraries
in Evandyr and much of its population is illiterate, but
many people of learning keep private book collections
and some even open their homes to their fellow
citizens or interested travelers. However, deception
and covertness provide fertile ground for clandestine
experiments and research into the darkest of arcane
arts. If expressed per capita, there is no place on Athyr
where the high availability of dark tomes and forbidden
lore has prompted so many pernicious sorcerers from
summoning baleful demons and vengeful ghosts, all in
a bid to further their own influence.
For all its conservatism, Evandyr’s established religion,
the Sareclum, often seems to be the one thing that
binds its inhabitants together. Its dioceses often overlap
two or three kingdoms and all religious orders –
priests, nuns, monks, and beguines – are well-educated
and fluent in Old Evandyrian. All believe in the same
pantheon, but most temples and chapels are dedicated
to a single deity. Unsurprisingly, the god one chooses
to follow tends to predict a lot about that person’s
character and disposition, although most Evandyrians
tend to be pragmatic and go to whatever temple they
think will cater to their needs best, sometimes even
attending several services a week, all of them dedicated
to different supreme beings. Although worshipping
Bhalion, the Prince of Darkness, and his father, Ekashi,
The Hateful, is forbidden, both play a significant part in
the pantheon’s lore.
The other dark gods, Melorra (Queen of Chaos), Yadira
(The Deceitful), and Shaeida (Harbringer of Death), and
Jergal (The Envious) have all retained their temples and
followings, mostly because their priests believe that
they represent less enviable character traits that can
become more dangerous if denied, and thus should
be focused through rituals that are supposed to be
cathartic. Still, their flocks often serve as nests for
the greedy, the lustful, and the covetous, and well-
intentioned adventurers often find themselves dealing
with them and their less conscientious clerics.
Worse still are the cults. Almost all maintain a presence
on Evandyr, and although access to original knowledge
on their Heralds of Doom is limited, their members
remain the most imminent threat to both the continent
and the world.
Understandably, adventurers willing to take up the
task of taming Evandyr’s wilderness areas, stand up

against the malevolent creatures that too often
plague its forests, and take up arms against the cults
are extremely welcome and venerated everywhere
in Evandyr, with Slayers being particularly revered. In
fact, the fastest route to success and renown on this
continent has never been ascendency to any throne,
but rather martial prowess and strategical insight –
so much so that the paths walked by these monster-
killing daredevils have become true careers supported
by entire colleges, great guilds, and affluent royals.
K INGDOMS
Evandyr is made up of six kingdoms, each with their
own unique culture, traditions, and landscapes.
K ARCHOVA
Karchovans are best known for their great galleons and
caravels. King Zabian holds more western isles than any
other Evandyrian sovereign, and his family has created
a seemingly impenetrable defensive belt out of both
archipelagos, littering them with ship wharfs, military
barracks, watchtowers, and fortresses. Unfortunately,
Korchova’s small elite military, the Kozoch, counts too
large a share of demonologist sorcerers, and its naval
commander, Iwaan Baylev, may hold too much power
for the Korchovan royals to rest easy.
Despite the rumors surrounding the Kozoch, many
adventurers are drawn to Karchova’s capital city of
Madena – the only harbor capital in all of Evandyr – and
for one particular reason: its Seafarer’s Guild is the only
one in the world that actively caters to adventurers
and not to fishermen or other people who ply less
dangerous trades. Here, hirelings, mercenaries, and
would-be heroes are not only trained in navigation,
geography, and sailing, but also in ship-to-ship combat,
monster baiting, and other skills that do not have
peaceful intentions. Run by none other than Supreme
Commander Boras Mendrov, its members stand as
some of the most versatile and capable seafaring
adventurers Athyr has ever known.
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Evandyr
LHANDOR
Situated to the west of Evandyr’s military giant Vahlia,
the Lhandorian queen Yvrette recently managed to
secure her country’s safety by having her youngest
daughter, princes Imerelda, betrothed to the Keldorian
prince Maskarev. This has made the nobles bolder than
ever before, encouraging them to raise taxes along the
toll rivers running from the great Central Lake to Solnos.
Lhandorians are also widely known throughout Athyr
for being extremely superstitious – mostly about curses,
bad luck, and portents of doom. Commoners of any
station spend their days festooned with a wide variety
of charms, totems, phylactery, and amulets. Rooms are
constantly smudged with herbs, complicated warding
gestures are enacted, and mirrors of any kind tend to
get treated with extreme suspicion. This is encouraged
by the fact that Lhandor also has the largest share of
bona fide fortunetellers, seers, and diviners anywhere
in Evandyr, and many a hero has come here first to
learn about their fate before mastering the courage to
live up to their potential.
ORTHOSS
Far more carefree than other Evandyrians, Orthosi have
spawned some of the best minstrels, travelling bardic
troupes, and swashbuckling heroes on Athyr. Already
well-protected from their more serious and taciturn
northern neighbors from Karchova and Vahlia by the
huge Gerneyan Mountain Range, the Orthosi royal
houses managed to secure an enduring alliance with
the semi-feral humanoids known as Berendir centuries
ago, and ever since, this fierce mountain species has
succeeded in discouraging any army from trying to pass
through the mountains or enter Orthoss by crossing the
western bay delineating its border with Karchova.
An agreement with some of the most powerful Thalian
pirate lords to offer their crews safe haven in freetowns
scattered along the coast, all in return for their
protection should it ever become imperative has done
the rest. This has also led to Orthoss becoming one
of the only places to confer with Thalian buccaneers
and privateers, find out about what is going on in the
sailable regions of The Abyss, and stay up to date with
news out of Moon Skull Bay. In fact, many a pirate has
started selling information in Orthosi inns and taverns,
so much so that it has become a business more lucrative
than actual raids or smuggle runs to many.
OSKOLIM VAHLIA
A highly advanced fishing culture, Oskolim do not only There is no doubt that Vahlia has the largest surface of
excel as trawlers, clam diggers, and lobster trappers, fertile mass of land in all of Evandyr, and access to so
but also as rugged mariners who are said to be many resources has turned the kingdom into a huge
capable of surviving freezing temperatures even when trading powerhouse that is only kept from becoming
submerged for protracted periods of time. Confronted the most authoritative nation in Evandyr by its borders
with icebergs and entire floating islands of ice, Oskolim with the other kingdoms and by the lack of easy sea
have cemented an already-legendary reputation access because of the Gerneyan Mountain Range and
for themselves by building the only icebreaker ships the Berendir who make their home there. If not for the
anywhere on Athyr – juggernaut boats that double as manmade passage through the two mountain passes
capable, if slightly difficult to maneuver, warships. leading to the Sabretooth Bay east of Tarvos and to
the north of Mooncrest Valley, Vahlia would not be
Often at odds with Solnos over the mineral-rich
able to capitalize on its trade capabilities as well as it
northern Isles of Urbolg, Oskolim has nonetheless
has done over the last centuries.
retained control over the ice-covered peninsula,
despite the incessant (and obviously state-sponsored) This – amongst other, more typical reasons – has led
guerilla naval raids of which the Solni royals officially Vahlians to keep sponsoring the largest, best-armed
deny all involvement, and even the sporadic incursions military in the known world, and it’s only the mutually
by Lhandorian raiders have done nothing to change assured destruction of drawing the renowned First
the status quo. King’s Regiment away from Sabretooth Bay should
passage to the Middle Sea be cut off that has kept the
entire continent from becoming unstable, undoubtedly
SOLNOS plunging it into incessant warfare.
Well-known for its availability of higher education and Needless to say, Vahlia also has some of the world’s best
the grand universities that mark the land more than military schools and the weapon training to be had
its palaces and temples. Adroit diplomats, charismatic here is unparalleled. Adventurers who are educated in
negotiators, and soft-spoken rulers, the princes and the art of war and combat skills so typical of the Vahlian
princesses of Solnos are all just as versed in espionage army usually hold an edge over fighters who have been
and double-dealings. Friendly at most times, but taught cruder and less effective martial techniques.
ruthless if necessary, Solni have astounded the rest of
Evandyr by striking the most incredible land ownership
deal in recent history, signing an agreement with
Lhandor not to contest rulership over the western
island of Domaia by turning it into a massive resort
open to the peoples from all six kingdoms, as long as
the required amount of gold is paid.
Still, Solnos is also marked by its illustrious past, when
ancient bloodlines waged a grisly war with the rest of
the continent, and the land to the south-west remains
largely barren except for the half-buried remains of
soldiers long dead and war machines the likes of which
have not seen since. There may be more treasure to
be found there than anywhere else on Evandyr, which
is why so many adventuring troupes – often in search
for the same mythical item or priced relic – clash here.

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 Evandyr

GODS OF LANGUAGE
EVANDYR OVERVIEW
An overview of the Evandyrian Pantheon, which you
will be able to read more about in the final release of MOSTLY
this book: LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN
Vanorra: The Fortubo: The Dreamer Vahlian Vahlia
Earthmother
Lirr: The Illuminating
Melorra: The Queen of Lhandorian Lhandor
Bhalion: The Prince of
Chaos Darkness
Karchovan Karchova
Anagdir: The Courageous
Jergal: The Envious
Felnor: The Bringer Orthosi Orthoss
Torin: The Valorous
Of Justice
Nerys: The Angel of
Erathis: The Osho Oskolim
Beauty
Knowledgeable
Ekashi: The Hateful Solno Solnos
Acanthe: The Bestower
of Power Morgalf: The Inventor

Shaeida: The Harbinger Dherone: The Patron of

of Death Peace

Parsemos: The Voice of Xinteus: The Watcher in

Reason the Sky

Yadira: The Deceitful Ephalos: The Protector

Gorshag: The Lord of Geshta: The Forsaken

War

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