The Broken City
33 years ago, in the 435th Year of the 4th Age a disaster struck the most powerful port of the North, a violent series of explosions released clouds of acrid smoke and the city once known as Nyang'oro became a place of sorrow and the dead. Many fled the war torn city but were cut down in their tens of thousands. Each rose to become a new creature, a corrupted piece of power lodge horrifically within them as they beg to have their foul lives ended with no one to listen. In the years since however, the lords around this land have begun to face the dangers as the Plaguemist expands across the countryside. This has created in some a desire to find the relics of this old power to solve their personal squabbles while others seek the key to ending the plague before its scalding tendrils reach even farther. The one spot of safety close to the Edge is the elegantly protected Emberwood Village, its Divine protection able to fight off the Plageumist and allowing actual rest within its borders. From there it is the 3 weeks trip by road to the old mountain town of Drake’s Hostel, and the many bands of mercenaries, treasure hunters, and traders who seek to meet their fortune there. Now, members and hirelings of the Asviq Trading Company have formed once again at the end of the monsoon season to find all the items of value they can and get out before the acid rain of the season returns. In its midst is a band of as yet unknown heroes who just might change the world.
Campaign Begins: Character Ideas (For those who need inspiration)
The Callous Guard - this character served somewhere nearby for experience but low pay. Something happened in their small town that forced their hand to leave and make money. Now with limited options and their contract running out they need a good influx of cash and with their connections they think they know a way
The Loyalist Vassal - This character is loyal to the old status quo, stemming from their grandfather’s lineage which had power before the Plaguemist hit or they believe that someone in their family (or someone whom they serve) has a claim to the throne.
The Amethyst Mage - This low ranking member of the Amethyst Academy isn't the best student and knows they aren't likely to graduate with the needed high marks unless they do an extremely important deed. This means they've been sent to the dreadful city on a mission from the academy.
The Foreign Mage - Other people have heard of the powers lost within the great city and for many different reasons they have come. They are seeking allies, power, the source of corruption, or the lost knowledge of a great civilization are coming to the city. Now it is up to them to find that which has drawn them in without dying in the process.
The Cunning Thief - this character was a poor member of society with little prospects. To make themselves a life or to escape a problem they've traveled to the city to make some money, with a contact inside the Queen of Thieves' court.
The Devoted Follower - A member of a church that has been sent along the path to take a look at the cursed city, as there are many places of worship which see the curse upon the Edge and believe that settling it is not only a good thing to do but is required by their Divines. The options for which can be found in the information section below.
The Naive Pilgrim - The newest religion in the region is taken up by worshippers of the Lightbringer Irideth that have broken from the byzantine church far to the east. They have found in the grandiose destruction of the city a new thing to worship, transcending all life itself and following Lucretia the Apostate into the violet mist with their Pilgrimage Leader.
The Wandering Minstrel - This great speaker has traveled under the advice of their sponsor to give out the good news that they need, or have left whoever paid them last to seek out a new patron. The Hooded Lanterns are seeking out more troops to take back the city while lords around seek to gather willing vassals to farm their lands and improve their economic standing. Meanwhile some can still be just on their own, trying to make their own history .
The Hardened Survivor - Whether by force or by choice this character simply can’t leave the cursed city or its proximity and now they've been inundated with the Plaguemist. This provides some protection but at a cost which not even the greatest alchemist or Cleric have found a way to remove. And now they have something holding them here that resides even deeper, a blessing that even they wish wasn’t given
The Factions of the Edge
The 5 Main Factions
The Lanterns
The once elite members of the Royal Guard which survived the Plaguemist coalesced into a force that they called the Lanterns, their names coming from the use of such items to explore the old city. They’ve long since lost everyone from this old age and now only a few fully trained soldiers left to fester in the broken parts of the city along with their duty to guard the people who remain. Their main objective is to reinstate the Von Kessel family back to the throne or to at least find the Seals of the Ancients which would unlike the old arcane defenses and allow a chance at success
The Amethyst Academy
This old institution began under the Dwarven Empire and survived in some capacity far away in the North utilizing their amazing arcane tower sponsored by the ruling family. They came close to achieving a great breakthrough and it is said that this breakthrough was the cause of the Plaugemist, though the Academy would vehemently deny it. Now that only a few towers are left across the continent they have become desperate for help, even from looters who wanted to take the magic items within. Their main objective is to unlock the tower and access the hidden storerooms within
The Church of Embers
This powerful cult had ascended under the leadership of a great unholy Cleric only to be destroyed 10 years ago. Now their remnants have begun to go feral as the accursed magic corrupts their minds and beliefs, accruing power not through prayer of the Divine but through the glowing purple stones found below. They seek the pieces of Plaguestones to refine and shove into their chests to draw their own light in and proclaim the power of the Falling Fire. Their main objective is to harvest the Plaguestones in most dangerous areas of the city and through holy communion access stronger powers
The Tarnished Order
The Church from the southeastern Delta that followed the holy lightbringer Irideth had split from their original church only a few hundred years ago, the militant preaching of their Saint leading the knights on Crusades against all evils that they find. Where once there were hundreds of knights here after the Great Crusade 10 years ago, now only a few dozen remain and the church which once preached the guiding light now seek donations. The only thing that can reinvigorate this group is to regain the Holy Avenger dropped by their old champion, which is their main objective
The Spined Hyenas
Residing on the top of a great lighthouse across the street from the Academy Tower there lies a great Gnoll which ascended through the liches and necromancers and paladins along its path to destroy the pinnacle of Plaguestone atop the accursed tower. Now this bringer of death demands subjugation and the drawing of blood in the name of their Divine. Their main objective is consumption
The Minor Factions
Mayor Alvish of Emberwood Village - This great knight once tried to reconquer the region but after losing the fight he gave up his birthright to instead regain the trust of the local people, which have gathered around the holy protections left on this ancient village. They seek protection, foodstuffs, and the ability to cure themselves of the Corruption around them
The Black Gambit - Every place has things that are needed, and when some people need more than their wallets can afford they go through the Black Gambit. Where there was once a league of theives who were led by a queen this new violent and elite group of rogues seek to gather the magical items found within for themselves and without hesitation make their fortunes selling it elsewhere. They utilize the areas around and underneath the outer city to maneuver their troops and goods
Asviq Trading Company - This Independent Company hailing from the city of Tyrr has made money expanding their purchasing or Plaguestones from scavengers and selling them in ports to the South, mostly Anagueso and Hazik City. This normally comes into the form of buying off the stones from the Lanterns and the The Gambit and selling them to the wider world, though with the recent influx of mercenaries the individuals are starting to make good headway in undercutting them
Oscar Yorrin the Forsaken - This man was once an Academy Mage but was expelled just before completing his task because he attempted to steal the Book of Desecration, an item held by the Academy because they can't destroy it or send it to another plane. It houses many spells to bind the dead without concentrating on a spell. Other mages kicked out for similar reasons have flocked to the neighborhood he's been protecting using his small army of zombies. Only around 5 mages are following him at the present but more will soon come
The Fishlings -This strongly monarchical society of demi humans has taken over the deepest sewers, the old Dwarven tunnels which once held access to the greatest aquifer ever known. Now the Cerulean Queen seeks converts, people who want a new life with the promises of no more worries. Of course this process turns the subjects into fish people whose memories are erased and whose minds are under the influence.
