Page 13 - Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting

tal’dorei campaign guide

answers to this riddle, Raishan received a promise from a tenuous alliance, they gave chase and finally slew this
Thordak. Thordak would cure Raishan’s malaise, should last standing member of the Chroma Conclave, ending
she discover how to break the red dragon’s bindings, and dragon reign over the land and restoring rule once more to
aid in conquering all of Tal’Dorei. She formed a plan and the Council of Tal’Dorei.
amassed unlikely allies in three other chromatic drag-
ons: Umbrasyl the Hope Devourer, Brimscythe the Iron tal’dorei reborn
Storm, and Vorugal the Frigid Doom.
After infiltrating the Pyrah Ashari for nearly five
years, Raishan finally unlocked the seal between the Only one year has passed since Vox Machina slew the
planes that bound Thordak and set him free, allowing Chroma Conclave, yet much of Tal’Dorei is already
the entire circle of ancient dragons, now called the returning to prosperity. Major cities like Westruun and
Chroma Conclave, to unleash an assault of catastrophic Emon are especially fortunate, for the vast amounts of
proportions on the great city of Emon, and the Tal’Dorei wealth plundered from the dragons’ ancient hoards have
countryside. Nearly three centuries of Tal’Dorei rule allowed them to hire legions of arcanists to magically
in the realm ended under the rule of Sovereign Uriel restore much of what was lost. Tal’Dorei is on the road to
Tal’Dorei II, his life cut short when much of Emon was recovery, but all is not well. The newly-formed Republic of
reduced to rubble. Tal’Dorei finds itself increasingly indebted to the mages
The attack not only killed the Sovereign Uriel, but also who facilitated Emon’s rebirth, and there is worry that the
scattered the Council of Tal’Dorei, throwing the realm fledgling Republic will crumble under the pressure.
into chaos. Thordak the Cinder King, now swollen with Beyond Emon, the landscape of Tal’Dorei has been
elemental energy, claimed all Tal’Dorei as the Con- forever scarred by the presence of the Conclave, especially
clave’s domain. The remnants of the civilized lands were the Cinder King. His hellfire left marks on Tal’Dorei
divided up and taken as trophies by the Conclave, while that will never heal—magical wounds that bleed fire and
the capital Emon was ruled by the Cinder King himself, ooze chaotic magic. Smaller cities beyond the reach of
with Raishan secretly pulling the strings from the shad- the Council have begun to succumb to sinister influences.
ows to bend the momentum of these events in her favor. The Betrayer Gods sense weakness within the world. The
One by one, the members of the Conclave fell to the lightless madness of the Chained Oblivion churns beneath
might and cleverness of a band of misfit warriors known Gatshadow. The lost blade of Graz’zt the Seductive calls
as Vox Machina. These heroes eventually gathered their from the Umbra Hills for a new master. Zehir the Dark
allies and stormed the capital of Emon, slaying Thordak Serpent raises armies south of Syngorn. The cults of the
the Cinder King and freeing the people. Upon discover- Whispered One spread like a poison through Tal’Dorei’s
ing the machinations of the real mastermind Raishan the remote frontiers. Tal’Dorei needs heroes—and this time,
Diseased Deceiver, with whom Vox Machina had held Vox Machina alone will not be enough.
Running a Tal’Dorei Campaign

Tal’Dorei is not just its history—do not treat this book as an encyclopedia, or as shackles that bind you to the characters
and environments presented within. As you flip through the pages to come, consider why you want to run an RPG cam-
paign set in Tal’Dorei, and in the larger world of Exandria. What about Critical Role inspires you as a Game Master? Is it
the bonds of family and love between its many characters, or are you searching this book for the secrets of its plot and the
machinations of its vilest villains? Whatever the initial spark that led you here, hold tight to it as you read and search for
ways to feed your personal flame of imagination. And when you are done? Create.
the secrets all-powerful, imprisoned gods

of tal’dorei Tal’Dorei was nearly destroyed when the gods fought one
another in the Calamity. Now, the Betrayer Gods are sealed
in otherworldly prison planes and the victorious Prime Dei-
The world of Exandria is steeped in familiar and accessible ties have disappeared into self-exile. An unbreakable barrier
fantasy themes, with all the elves, dwarves, and wizards stands between the mortal and immortal realms, and no
you might expect from such an RPG. This is a world new deity dares breach it lest the Betrayers break from their
gamers will find themselves right at home in. Tal’Dorei eternal prison and wreak havoc once more. At best, a deity
also holds secrets that will challenge your expectations, can only grant their clerics a small measure of their power
and you may enjoy putting your own twists on these great to enact their will upon Exandria.
mysteries of the world. Each of these secrets can form the However, there are several cults that wish to circumvent
backbone of an entire campaign, or can serve as flavor to this barrier and summon their dark patron onto the Material
create the impression of a world that is larger than just the Plane. Others seek to unravel the forgotten rites of ascen-
player characters’ story. sion, thought destroyed once the Matron of Ravens stepped
into the pantheon. What would happen if a mortal were to

12 chapter 1: campaigns in tal'dorei