The Known Lands

The Merchant Guild

Leader: Vacant

The guild of Merchants effectively runs Aligona, with their control over the gold of the town, there aren’t many who stand against them, at least not for long. They own a large majority of the shops and markets within the town borders, and are more than happy to make deals with any up and coming entrepreneurs - willing to lend some capital for a cut of their future profits.

Under Arch-Vendor Copletti’s watch, the guild grew lazy and comfortable, with no need to expand further than what they already own. For many citizens of the town this is a good thing, as they all benefit in some way from markets, and most are unwilling to challenge the status quo.

Now though the Guild has been shaken to its core by the disappearance of Arch Vendor Copletti and their rapidly eroding power in the face of the rising Awakened Guild and other new challenges.

Kit ideas: Rich looking clothing, bags and pouches full of money or other wares, jewels, gold accents, feathered caps.

The Entertainers’ Guild

Leader: Troupe Leader Enzo

The market always has something going on, whether that’s the gentle music playing in the background, the comedic plays at the theatre, or the nighttime carnivals, the entertainment does not disappoint. With regular festivals and performances taking place across the city, the town takes its leisure seriously.

The guild comprises many troupes and acts of different sizes and formats. Enzo leads the group under the patronage of the Arch-Vender, as a way to part tourists from their money, or to distract from some of the more seedy goings on, there’s always work for a performer in Aligona.

Kit ideas: Bright and colourful clothing, light fabrics, makeup, red accessories, instruments or other entertainment gear.

The Vintner Guild

Leader: Luca Rosco

The slopes below Mount Sigmerus are particularly fertile, with many vineyards having sprung up around the town giving Aligona the moniker of the Town of Vines. The largest group of these are the ones owned by the Rosco family.

The trade between the winemakers, the wineries, and the barges are one of the only areas the merchants have not got full control over, with those transactions being handed by the Vintner Guild instead. The guild is one of the oldest organisations within the town, and maintains the many old traditions involved in the wine making process. 

Kit ideas: Leather accessories, large backpack, bottles, fine looking clothes, well worn boots, purple and blue highlights.

The Guild of the Awakened

Leader: Fiore Conti

The Guild of the Awakened has risen rapidly in power after the attack on Aligona by the dragon Atamo-Roth. With the aid of grateful citizens a grand new Guild Hall was raised in the town and has become a notable centre for organised magic, not only in Aligona but beyond. Even the Awakened of Aligona who do not come to the Tower are members of the Guild. Their first Guild Master Fiore Conti has so far preached a message of collaboration with other guilds, the Awakened offering their services to the ventures of the others. The Guild House has become a hub of trade and commerce for the town enriching the Awakened. 

Aligona is a town of opportunity, and many smaller organisations have sprung up under the guidance of the Merchant Guild. These groups have a wide variety of purposes, whether practical or leisure based, they all contribute to the economy of the town itself.

Some other buildings within the town you may be aware of are a museum which collects antique and esoteric items, and a small sword school tucked away in the back alleys.

The Dodgers

Leader: Silver

Not everyone can be rich, or even well off. There are those that wander the streets with little to their name. The Dodgers are one of the many groups of young cutpurses, pickpockets, and small-time thieves forced to make a living on the streets of Aligona. If you know where to look, you might be able to hire them.

After the previous leader died several years ago, Silver stepped up to lead the small gang, keeping the members fed and housed when possible. Based out of an old orphanage, the group is more of a family than an organisation, they have been known to give up on a score if it would get too risky.  

Members have no obvious uniform, but carry a black handkerchief hidden upon their person, to subtly identify themselves to their other members.

Kit ideas: Tattered clothes, a black handkerchief, many pockets, dirty or unwashed, fingerless gloves, odd trinkets, stolen jewels. 

Companions of the Shining Helm

Leader: Pellegrino Soubeyran

The noted Awakened Pellegrino Soubeyran returned to Aligona with a new passion. To found an order of citizens who offer charity and protection to others, all in the name of a being called the Helm. 

Pellegrino began to gather like minded individuals to them, hosting meals and philosophical discussions in their museum home. As the gatherings grew larger and more boisterous it was suggested by the redoubtable Octavia Soubeyran that a larger venue may be more prudent and the Companions have taken over a once ruined tower on the edge of Aligona, restored with the money of several wealthy Companions. 

This company prizes obvious bravery and generous public charity and have set themselves up to be Aligona's first line of defense whilst debating what new projects of compassion they should devote themselves to next. It is noted by many that they believe the Helm is a being in the stars whom they offer prayers to. 

Kit Ideas: Fancy and preferably shiny helmets to emulate their patron, quilted armour and doublets studded with gleaming metal, breast plates, bags of alms to ostentatiously offer.  

A string of kidnappings, thefts and killings happened in Aligona as the first Awakened emerged. The cause of this turned out to be another group of Awakened who served some kind of golden dragon statue. These crimes were merely the groundwork being laid for an attack on Aligona by the dragon’s worshippers who aimed to claim it as their new base of power. This was only stopped by the Awakened of the Tower before they hunted the creature down and destroyed it.

Aligona suffered a lot of damage which has taken time to repair but ever people capitalize on a new opportunity; many Awakened of Aligona have taken actions that have led to the addition of a new Guild to Aligona, the Guild of the Awakened. The majority of people in Aligona look up to the Awakened and celebrate this new guild as a route forwards to a bright (and of course wealthy) future for Aligona.

With the departure of Arch Vendor Copletti, a year or so after the return of magic, the Awakened Guild has risen to prominence as one of the most powerful guilds. The other guilds and groups come to them, seeking magical aid and petitioning them to deal with immediate dangers. Several members of the Guild are now considered pre-eminent citizens along side the Guild Leaders and as Wyrdr grows stronger in the north the eyes of the town turn to the Awakened Guild for their ongoing prosperity. 

Mount Sigmerus despite some sudden renewed activity at the beginning has ceased its rumbling for now.

• People from here are called: Ashainites, Ashainians

• People from here might be named: Persian or Babylonian names, such as Gahal, Tammuz, Monireh, Parisa, Nasim, or Nima

• People from here tend to value: the environment and communal spirit. The wastes have made life a bitter struggle for generations, and it is only those who have been able to trust their fellows that have survived. The gift of green and growing things is never taken for granted, nor the simple luxury of fresh water. 

• People from here look like: Well-travelled wanderers. The Ashainites favour both cloaks and cool robes as required to fend off the harsh weather, and many of them favour green, white and silver hues in their clothing. Gold is considered an ostentatious and crass colour. 

• People from here act like: the community is the heart of life, with everyone being expected to pitch in when the group is in trouble and to share what they have with their companions. There is no written law: you should do right by your people and if you don’t the people will judge you. 

• People from here believe: that the sins of the past can be forgiven and remedied, that it is always possible to rebuild after calamity, and that nothing is more precious than home. 

Led By: A number of respected veterans

The faction of Ashainites who pressed for renewal of the land while eschewing the faith and fervour of their ancestors, the Restoration is dedicated to healing Ashain until the wastes are nothing but a memory, and aims to reunite the wandering peoples from across the land for rebuilding. 

They have seen the gift of the Grey Tree bring new life to the land, and they set to work making the most of this blessing with love and zeal. The Restoration cleaves strongly to a sense of custodianship, and is most quick to turn on those they perceive as risking the safety of the newborn oasis. They preach the near-sacred duty of preserving and nurturing this second chance, and scorn any who would threaten their hard-bought future. 

Some others voiced their ideas for the future of Ashain before the end of the Grey Tree. While their paths were not trod, they retain the loyalties and priorities that led them to seek those ends. 

The Reclaimers

While most Ashainites have firmly rejected their legacy from the previous Age, the Reclaimers believe there is still merit in the relics and power Ashain had of old. Many of their fellows judge them as petty imitators of Dominion, ready to repeat the mistakes of the past, but the Reclaimers protest that today’s Ashain must use every tool at their disposal to protect themselves, and that refusing their legacy in full simply leaves it for others to pick at like vultures. 

 The Exodus

The Exodus originally sought to leave Ashain altogether, but have adjusted their views as the oasis grows. With sustainable life now a real future for Ashain, they seek to build roads and travel, mapping the changing of the wastes, reaching from the oasis to Soldia and beyond, connecting their home to the wide world beyond and forging alliances. Even where there are groups leaving Ashain, they are committed to keeping ties with their old home.  

It has been a turbulent and exciting year for the people of Ashain, following the Arynian Gate opening to that wasteland and the choices made by the Awakened of the Tower their lands will never be the same again. 

Where they might have become refugees fleeing from a broken land there is now hope. The monsters of the wastes are scattered and Dominion’s Throne lies shattered. The Grey Tree fades and withers, its long life ending but as it does it blesses the land one last time thanks to the aid of the Tower. First a trickle, then a spring and now streams of power flowing outwards. what was once blasted wasteland starts to bloom. Stagnant water starts to flow and freshen, once fearful, starving animals begin to thrive.  A small number of people still leave for their own reasons, but the majority of the people stay to start to reclaim the land for themselves. 

Those under the thrall of one of the Shards of Dominion, at least those whose minds were not broken by the experience, return to their families once again. Damaged, but with a chance to heal. Others who followed willingly for their own power are either dealt with or manage to skulk off into the wilderness and disappear. No one knows for sure what happens to them, but most hope that they never return and are taken by the monsters that they sought to use

The Iron Hooks (known as Cutter’s Gang)

Leader: Cutter Hanneth

An old gang, but one that has risen to prominence in the last decade, the Hooks, or more commonly known now as Cutter’s Gang, are the current group in charge of the town. Previously starting as a group of pickpockets trying to survive the harsh conditions, they slowly grew in power, claiming a vast majority of the town as their territory. After one fateful incident involving a well known lawmaker being strung up on a meat hook, the name Cutter Hanneth began to strike terror in the streets of Durnmire. 

As his reputation grew, so did his enemies, but no for long. It seemed becoming an enemy of the Hooks was a quick way to end up on a hook yourself, acting as eel bait. After cutting a deal with the Bank, Cutter set about solidifying his rule over the town, and has maintained the status quo ever since. He’s been working to keep this hold against the other gangs, but he’s wary about the strangers and the new magics they seem to possess.

Their symbol is that of crossed hooks, tattooed somewhere on their body, often on the cheek.

Kit ideas: Nets and hooks, barbaric implements, rope, tattoo prominently placed or visible on clothing, cap or headscarf, leather armour, green accessories or tunics, scars or burns or other old injuries.  

The Bank 

Leader: Clinker

The Bank is a long running gang working in Durnmire, having been passed down through the generations. It’s said they’ve touched every single coin in the town, handling most of the transactions between townies and boat crews. Whilst the least violent of the three gangs, they are considered the most dangerous ones to cross - Shrieker and Cutter would kill you, but Clinker: she’ll get her money back, and more, and you’d feel every second of it.

After her father died, Clinker won the leadership in a game of poker rigged against her, outwitting her rivals with ease. She was the first to broker a truce with Cutter’s gang, eager to stop the Howlers’ interference with the town’s trade. Under her leadership, the Bank has flourished, growing to a power that some say threatens to rival the Hooks.  

Their symbol is that of four bars within a circle, tattooed onto the backs of their hands.

Kit ideas: Tattoo on hands or belt sash, blue and gold accessories, money bags, lightly armoured if at all, expensive necklaces, earrings, mostly clean and mercantile clothes.

The Howlers 

Leader: None, Disbanded

The Howlers started out as mercenaries, offering protection against the gangs of Durnmire for any crew and their cargo, provided they could pay the fee. Over time, their business grew, and so did their reach, breeding greed and corruption throughout the group. Pretty soon, they became no better than the gangs they acted against. At this time, Shrieker took control in a violent coup, cementing the official birth of the gang, and dictating the way they would operate from now on. Acting more like thugs than guards, the group began to harass the merchants, taking a cut of the profits. Anyone who didn’t pay quickly found themselves in the bog as eel food.

The Howlers started to seek out the other gangs, starting brutal fights in the street to make their mark upon the town. Eventually they made a truce of sorts with the Bank and with Cutter, splitting parts of the city between themselves. Unfortunately, this agreement was severed by the abrupt arrival of a group of strangers, who cut Shrieker down, feeding him to the very eels he feared. 

Since then the gang has been harried and hunted to extinction, they are now only a footnote in Cutter and Clinker's tale of rising to power.

Their symbol was that of a beast’s vicious teeth, tattooed onto their throats.

The Physiks

Leader: Hemlock

Said to be the true heart of Durnmire, the Physiks are a group of ex-mercenaries, cut-throats, and physicians who keep an uneasy peace in the halls of the Proctor Inn. It is the only neutral ground in the town, where all violence is forbidden by Oaths instated by the Awakened Notary and medical treatment is... mostly free. The current gangs respect the rules, knowing that in return, they will always be safe within the walls - provided they continue to pay the service fee. Good medical care is hard to get in the swamps. Nowadays they are the only slight balancing group to Cutter and Clinker. However since their former leader, Stitch, met a grisly end they have been keeping their heads down...

Their symbol is that of a pair of wings, clearly worn on their arm or hanging from their belt.

Kit ideas: Either worn leather armour with an intimidating look or grimy aprons and overalls full of bandages and equipment, clearly visible group symbol.

Smaller Gangs

Not all gang members find themselves falling in with the main four. Whether it’s out of a desire to bring a ray of hope and goodness to the dark streets of Durnmire, or purely a matter of ambition, many smaller groups exist within the ecosystem of the town. Their methods and aesthetics change between groups, but most wear more subdued colours, and hide their gang markings to avoid standing out and being targeted by the larger gangs.  

Gang members use a mix of symbols depending on the group they belong to. 

Kit ideas: Loose and hanging fabrics, dull or muddy colours, scarves, scars, hidden gang tattoos, hidden pockets, worn and tattered clothing.

Dredger's Run 

Until recently they were considered an up and coming gang, with many influential Awakened and growing roots in the town. Dredger’s Run, were operating under the radar, biding their time. But now no one seems to know where they have gone. Their crew almost completely vanished from the streets of Durnmire...

They can be identified by the mark of a hand grasping a dagger, usually sewn onto a handkerchief, or spare scrap of fabric, easily hidden.

The Burning Hammers

A relatively new gang, the Burning Hammers have grown around a fiery smith-leader and mark themselves with hammer tattoos. They consist of smiths and craftspeople and well-muscled types who are as comfortable beating iron as they are breaking bones when defending their gang’s workshops. They prize ingenuity and skilled craft, and take pride in selling quality goods to those willing to pay. 

They speak with pride of their cunning and puissant leader, who burns with the forge’s flame and works iron like dough in their fingers.

Boat Crews

Some find themselves working on the water. Whether to escape the gangs or work for them, it’s a tough way of life. There’s no constant when working on a boat. The weather and locations constantly change and boaters need to be able to adapt to whatever situation they find themselves in. As such, crew members tend to dress in a mix of practical and identifiable. After all, a crew needs to be memorable to pull in the big jobs.

Crew members use a mix of symbols depending on the boat they belong to. One notable group, the crew of the Salvation, has no fixed uniform, colour, style or fabric as their roots lie in various cities. They can be identified if one looks closely, however, as every member of the crew wears a unique set of old runes they dug out of the swamp.

Kit ideas: Nets, hooks, crew symbol / primary colour scheme, many pouches, belts and bags, other seafaring memorabilia. 

The people of Durnmire are always ready to take advantage of changes in the status quo and this time it has been no different. The Iron Hooks and the Bank were quickly able to secure support from the Awakened of the tower leading to the death of Shrieker and the scattering of the other big gang in town, the Howlers.

However not all is well, rumours abound that Clinker, head of the Bank, is also an Awakened leading to strained relations. People continue to disappear in the Bog and all sorts of rumours are flying. Of packs of eels devouring whole crews, an entire small village being drowned by the bog and dead things digging their way out of the bog. They say the Awakened fought something called the Eel That Walks. They say it is made of a thousand Eels and speaks with a thousand voices and the Awakened killed it. But they are saying its back and looking for revenge. 

Though the Bank and Ironhooks are in control (especially after a series of recent killings) and their rule now looks mostly unchallenged there are still some big questions. The Gang called Dredgers Run have vanished from the streets. They were potentially rivals to the Ironhooks and Bank with a number of powerful Slaugh in their group. but no one has seen much of them or their leader Glint for sometime. 

The other source of challenge is the Proctor Inn where the Physicks are centered, with the Awakened Notary pushing oaths and agreements to strengthen the places importance as a neutral ground. 

One bright spot are the continued works of the Barge "Salvation". Many of their members still being active in the community providing aid and miraculous cures or off on strange expeditions... 

Officials and Representatives

Town Leader: Castellan Ygritte Cole

Assistant: Niall Tew

The town is run by a group of elected officials, led by the Castellan. The citizens vote for their representatives who then hold the position for life or until a vote of no confidence is cast. Commonly, officials will step down when they feel that they can no longer fulfil their duties. The current Castellan, Ygritte Cole, has been in power for many years, and has focused their work on securing the town from the dangers beneath, often sealing and trapping passages to the Old City.

Representatives tend to be busier than most within the town and have clear roles, such as scribes, messengers, and investigators. They also tend to be more aware of the dangers that lie beneath them, sometimes having seen the horrors first hand.

Kit ideas: Colourful and well kept robes, paperwork, parchment and quills, an index of laws and rules, colourful accessories.

Students and Librarians

Elected Representative: Dean Ailbhe Quinn

In the lower layers, you can find old libraries that are carefully curated by Keld’s famous scholars. Researchers and sages work as far down as they need so they have better access to the tomes and treatises required for their work.

They are managed by a team of librarians, and their dean, as elected in by the students and faculty. All citizens of Keld are able to have an education, teaching a range of subjects, from farming to stonework, from physics to archaeology, no topic is too vocational or too theoretical to learn.

Students tend to be buried in their research, whether that’s reading it, writing it, or teaching it, education is the focus of most citizens' lives. They rarely think of the hidden knowledge beneath their library, giving the vast amount already within their reach, with the exception of the most curious.

Kit ideas: Grey and black robes, ties and cravats, shoulder bags, books, paperwork, mechanical equipment, candles, study materials.

Labourers and Stonemasons

The modern town is precariously stacked on top of the old ruins and crumbling caverns that make up the ancient fortress. Houses are built on top of each other and any spare surface is covered in lanterns to keep the darkness at bay. Part of the work of the masons is expanding the space, digging deeper into the old city to find more room for the new. It is dangerous work and is carefully managed by the office of the Castellan.

Trades tend to be singularly managed and without competition, with most citizens starting out as an apprentice, both learning the craft on the job and through part time study at the library. As such, practices are handed down from master to student, often with them taking on the surnames of their professions.

Kit ideas: Grey working clothes, farming equipment, muddy and worn boots, stone working tools for masons, bandages and herbs for physicians.

Treasure Hunters and Explorers

In the lowest areas of Keld are many unexplored, criss-crossing passages and tunnels that sometimes give way to natural caverns dug by creatures of the deep earth or caused by earthquakes and cave-ins. Those deep areas that are not blocked by debris are mostly barred or trapped on the Castellan’s orders to discourage adventurous folk from delving too far and never returning. 

One such group, the Thursday Night Gin and Debate Club, serves as a cautionary tale. Once a popular student group, a drunken misadventure into the labyrinth led to their downfall. What few members of the group survived emerged slowly but surely over the five years that followed. Deciding that none should experience what they did, the survivors joined the Castellan's office to help safeguard the tunnels against unauthorised intrusion.

Also in the lower levels can be found groups who collect and care for the old artefacts that are often found in the most ancient halls and passageways. One group, known as the Cruinneachán or the Repository, is a guild of people tasked to seek and protect ancient and dangerous relics. Members of the team venture into the catacombs below Keld risking their lives to find items before foolhardy treasure hunters can accidentally activate them.

Kit ideas: Practical but well kept robes, plenty of bags and paperwork, ropes and grappling hooks, maps, odd trinkets and archaeological finds.

As the Awakenings began the mighty citadel was rocked by subsidences and quakes. The deep catacombs exposed, many of those more foolhardy than wise went down into these newly exposed ruins to seek their fortune and almost none returned. None slept easily in Keld, troubled by dreams of what lay below in the dark of the earth.

No more hapless adventurers dared venture down.  Except for the Awakened of the Tower: they arrived in Keld from places unknown and delved into the depths. Only rumours have been heard amongst the populace. Of nightmares in the dark being driven out by light, of great cost in life, of an ancient and insidious creature lurking below Keld being destroyed and exercised. Gossips speak of them delving yet deeper, and uncovering strange devices of brass and cogs. Since then the citadel has begun to put its affairs in order, new areas beginning to flourish, such as the Blood and Berries, an apothecary owned by a pair of Awakened.

In the time since, a steady flow of refugees has arrived from a place called Gullnane, claiming to have been driven from their homes by the wrath of the forest. They have settled in a shanty town outside of the walls as a small number are slowly accepted and the plight of the people of Gullnane becomes more desperate. That flow has only recently stemmed, as Wights and Skeletons have marched from Hrath Dain, and raised a fort south of the town. None know their purpose, but many are driven to grim speculation. 

Whilst much of Soldia was ruined in the previous age by Ashain forces, led by the creature Dominion, the past year has seen a lot of change. Pieces of the town that were too ruined have been pulled down and portions of what can be reclaimed and rebuilt have been. By no means as glorious as Aligona, nor with walls as high as Keld, the tiered town of Soldia now offers simple places to live and work, huddled together in the much larger ruins. Even if parts of the city are still ruined and carry the marks of the past.

The town seems to hold no grudges against the Ashainites of this age, Rycharde declared them welcome and so they are. Over the past year, taking advantage of the skills of the remaining barrow wights in masonry and carpentry, a small but growing core of craftspeople has developed; no doubt helped by some of them having a much reduced need to sleep.

Tavar Reithu, the tower where the Throne of Soldia sits, still commands a view over the town and is where Lord Rycharde holds court.

Magic is not as feared amongst the people of Soldia and the constant presence of the barrow wights in and around the town has made people, if not comfortable, at least used to undeath.

Following the routing of the undead horde by the Awakened of the Tower, Rycharde was crowned Sovereign of Soldia and led his wights to resettle the ruins. A steady trickle of refugees and opportunists from across the nearby lands has followed to the reclaimed settlement, including a few small groups from Ashain to the south.

Rycharde welcomes all who will come, so long as they bend the knee to him, and he offers sorcerous protection to those who do so.

The Keepers

Counsellor: Elder Rassim

The Keepers are an old and rare profession in Thea. Whilst Keepers have sworn to avoid any leadership roles amongst the communities in the forest, they are well respected and often provide counsel on matters of tradition. They maintain and grow the laws of the forest, a library of contracts and deals, oaths and promises sworn between the communities. Some of these can span back before the memories of even the oldest keeper. Stranger yet are some of the materials used in these bindings, the bark of an old tree, a carved marker stone, the skin of a once fresh kill. And yet it is these strange contracts that fare much better against the weathering of time than those of parchment and paper.

There are not many Keepers left, with many having forgotten the ways of old, but there are still a few around to manage the bargains made within the forest. Elder Rassim, the oldest of the Keepers and most well known, stays within the town proper to train younger recruits.

Keepers wear Bluebell flowers, to show their profession.

Kit ideas: Long robes in earthy tones, keys, rope, parchment and quills, an index of laws and rules, ink stained hands, a pile of scrolls and paperwork.

The Tellers 

Counsellor: Erin Silverbark

Another old role, but one that has grown more popular with recent times, the Tellers maintain the stories of the forest. Almost rebelling from the archaic order of the Keepers, the Teller pass their knowledge down through oral tradition, adding their own flourishes and amendments to the stories in a way that they might grow and evolve, taking on a life of their own. Teller have been known to wander between settlements in the forest, singing to new communities, and learning of new encounters that they can spin into their next tale. They are the ones inspiring the young in hushed whispers around a campfire, whilst singing of the enticing dangers of the dark woods that surround them.

The Tellers, like most groups in Thea, do not have a leader, but few have grown notable enough for their reputations to have spread beyond the forest’s limits like Erin’s has. With even some stories focusing on them, on a child found in the forest at a young age, finding themselves drawn to the notes and words of the Keepers nearby, on a bard said to even charm the creatures of the forest with their music. 

Tellers wear Daffodils to show their profession, and they can often be found with an instrument.

Kit ideas: Travelling clothes, mostly clean, but in vibrant colours, an instrument, songbook, worn boots, a collection of knick knacks from their travels.

The Lost

Counsellor: Bark of the Lost

The forest is too dark sometimes, and in those times, there are some in Thea who feel its call, the pull to wander beyond the Blumefold. Those too weak or too curious are called the Lost, as they leave their homes to walk into the woods. Most Lost are just that, and many fail to return alive, but those that do, return changed from their visit. 

The Lost that survive spend little time in the town, only stopping to trade or receive requests from the inhabitants. They spend the rest of their time wandering the hidden and overgrown paths of the forest, finding hidden ruins, and fighting against the monsters in the dark. As they age, some are able to fight the compulsion, and are able to return back to their families, stronger and wiser for the journey. Bark is one of the oldest Lost, and helps to advise the town council on matters of the deep woods, and the creatures that live there. 

The Lost wear Black Lilies to show the hold the forest has over them.

Kit ideas: Ragged and tattered clothes, furs and leather armour, leaves and twigs caught in their clothes, hunting gear, fresh wounds and bandages.

The Guides

Counsellor: Mags the Blind

Many who wander the forest end up lost if they leave the paths. Most end up dead. But there are those who manage to return, alive, but changed. The Guides are a group that care for those less fortunate souls, and for any travellers who pass through the forest late at night. Started by Mags, one of the Lost themselves and someone who knows all too well what dangers the forest holds, the group has made many a shelter and camp fire along the paths, to help aid those in need.

Encountering many types of travellers, they are a friend to many, but especially to the Road Wardens and the Lost who wander the woods, often providing them with medicinal herbs to treat their injuries, and a soft bed to rest themselves.

Guides wear Yellow Roses to show their profession. 

Kit ideas: Warm furs, woollen fabrics, bags and pouches full of ingredients, warm coloured clothes, with braided and woven accessories.

Smaller Settlements

There are small pockets of people dotted around throughout the clearing, having made their homes amongst the small groves and streams that can be found within the breaks in the trees. These people truly embody the self sufficiency of Thea, able to sustain themselves on the nature around them.

These settlements are often named or known for the colour and types of flowers they surround themselves with. One such commune is located near to the Blumefold. Made up of only a few dozen people, mostly Tulani, they mainly forage and trap small animals instead of hunting larger game. Focusing on the arts, the homes within are decorated with pale flowers, and delicately dyed carpets, throws and tapestries. The people have a strong belief in the idea of the ‘wisdom from the wind’, the interpretation of sounds, smells and even pollen or petals off the breeze to determine warnings or omens.

These groups often use flowers or other plants as their symbols.

Kit ideas: Colourful natural fabrics, cloth, scarfs and loose clothing, hunters tools, leather scraps and armour, woven accessories, small furs and some herbs.

The town of Thea was slow to see the full impact of the newly Awakened world, it remained quiet and secluded for a short while longer than many of the other towns. The first hints of change were when several villagers fell afoul of ancient pacts with creatures of the woods they were unaware of. By felling trees beyond bounds laid down in times long past they lost the protection of the pines and were claimed by the woods.

A greater calamity befell the town soon however with a deadly plague ripping through the town. The Blumefold began to wither and none knew what the origin of the sickness was nor how to cure it. The Awakened of the Tower arrived to offer aid though. The generally believed, but oft debated, facts amongst the townsfolk is that some disfigured monster, clad in rusting armour had brought the plague, for what reason the townsfolk do not fully understand. But with the Awakened of the Tower’s magic they were able to find cures and the vast majority of those sickened recovered. Aid was rendered in other ways as well. Bandits who had long haunted the woods were hunted down and Road Wardens, even those that looked more dead than the rest, had begun to create new pathways linking Thea more closely with the rest of the known lands.

Now the sickness has abated, the town seeks to find its new path in this changing world. Do they cleave to the old ways and oaths sworn by those long passed or seek new paths for their town? They seek for the Awakened to lead them as they become a launching off point for many explorers beyond the Known Lands. All the while the Blumefold blooms with new life and healers come to the town to learn what they can. 

There are many noble houses that help support the kingdom. Aside from their crest, nobles tend to dress alike, in keeping with the latest fashions at court.

Kit ideas: Rich looking clothing, colourful accents, clean and polished metal or glass accessories, black base layers, metal armour

House D'Brey

Leader: Lord Henrik D’Brey

D'Brey Motto: "Undying Devotion"

Shrewd and calculating, the D’Brey family hold a fearsome reputation within the court. Being one of the houses without profitable land, suitable only for livestock, the family honed their skills in trade and bartering, and now handle much of the exported goods that leave the city. Their land reaches to the north west of the town, leading up to the hills.

The house, like many others within Wyrdr, follows the tradition of the first born successor. As a result, and due to the level of education they tend to receive, some family members go on to be employed within the royal court as scribes or librarians.

Their house crest is that of a flame above a black diamond with a grey and blue background.

House De Flint and House Otolith

Leader: Lord Wilfred De Flint and Lord Bor Otolith

Otolith Motto: "Through our foundations, we rise"

These houses represent the backbone of the mining industry in Wyrdr. The newer De Flint family, whilst small, has been slowly growing in power, with their discovery of silver veins within their mines. The family is well liked by their workers, and there are rumours that the nobles of the family take turns to work in the mine to help keep themselves humble.

The Otolith family is an older one, and prides itself on rewarding hard work, with the successors to the house having earned the title through achievement rather than birthright. In addition, they put more emphasis on loyalty to the house over the crown. The family runs a large number of mines and quarries that help provide the town of Wyrdr with all the ore, stone, and sand that they need to maintain the grand buildings of the kingdom. Parts of their land reach all the way to the shores of Loch Udron.

The house crest for House Otolith is that of a castle with the colours of brown, blue, black and gold.

House Fontaigne

Leader: Lord Helena Fontaigne

Fontaigne Motto: "From earth we rise"

The family is ancient and rich with old money, propped up by the mines they own, but poor in prestige at court due to a mounting string of misfortunes and maladies that seem to plague the house. It is unclear when this seemed to affect the house, but the consequences are becoming much more dire for the household, an untimely death, a scandal, and damning rumours. Some say they might be cursed. Led by the widowed matriarch, the family remains strong and tightly knit despite the current circumstances. 

The family usually employs servants and miners, but they have begun to seek out more varied help of late, including those more knowledgeable in the occult.

Their house crest is that of skulls facing a jewelled gauntlet holding a black crown rising out of the black earth.

House Varthale

Leader: Lord Seofon Varthale

Varthale Motto: "To live and conquer"

Whilst all of Wyrdr is steeped in tradition, there is perhaps none who follow them so rigidly as the Varthale family. The house is one of the oldest, with nobles from the family upholding many areas of the community, including positions amongst the royal knights, the judiciary, the crafting house, and the trade centre.

Not much is known about the family’s own traditions, except that the Lord’s seventh child is exiled upon the age of 18. Strangely, the current head, Lord Varthale, is a seventh child themselves, only having returned to the house after the deaths of all of their siblings.

Their house crest is that of a two golden griffins above a black crown with seven swords fanned out below it.

In Wyrdr, if you aren’t lucky enough to be born a noble, there are only two paths open to you. Either join and serve a noble family, or take up the trade, and work in metal or glass. 

The Glassblowers

Leader: Forge Master Orlan

The forge exists in the centre of Wyrdr, with the bellows, furnaces, and the chimes of hammers acting as the beating heart of the town. Many skilled and trained craftsmen make their living within these walls, forging metal and blowing glass into the night.

Kit ideas: Colourful metal and glass accessories, black or brown base layers, full or partial metal armour, crafting equipment, hammers, goggles.

The Awakened of the Tower had few interactions with Wyrdr in the year or so since the Awakened emerged. But rumours have spread of a town invigorated, and afraid. The smoke from the forges rise ceaselessly above Loch Udron, new arms and armour are made at breakneck pace on command of Amran. Heralds go forth proclaiming treachery among the old houses, faithlessness towards Wyrdr will not be tolerated. Some claim many of the old houses, such as Van Otolith, have been all but swept away in a tide of sudden arrests and grisly executions. Meanwhile House Varthale has seen an epidemic of its sons and daughters following mad visions and dreams off into the woods, not standing by their house when war is on the horizon. Now some whisper it is the time of new houses to earn their knighthoods and be raised by Amran to replace the feckless and spent powers that came before.

One group that has certainly been raised are the glass makers of Wyrdr. They toil as hard as the smiths and the peasants of Wyrdr whisper about them creating the tall beings that accompany the knights on their patrols. Meanwhile amulets and broaches of black glass are sold by many to proclaim their loyalty to Amran and Wyrdr. All are shaped from the sand of Loch Udron which has seen a flurry of activity in recent months.

Still the rumblings of potential rebellion continue in dark corners and hidden cellars. Strangers to the town are said to breach curfew for secret gatherings to plot against Wyrdr.