Page 59 - Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting

tal’dorei campaign guide

Providing much of Tal’Dorei and Whitestone’s grown westruun
food and produce, the community must import most all
other commodities outside of wood, making it an eager
Large City • Population: 26,205
stop for trade caravans, and an easy target for swindling.
(65% Human, 10% Gnome, 7% Tiefling,
As such, nearly 150 Shields from Westruun are semi-per-
5% Half-Orc, 1% Gnoll, 12% Other)
manently stationed here to keep the peace and prevent
unlawful activity, dragging any apprehended criminals The city of Westruun is the center of Tal’Dorei, a
back to Westruun for judgment. Even so, the influence of crossroads of culture along the Silvercut Roadway that
welcomes adventurers, traders, and vagabonds of all
darker interests still creeps up from time to time.
Turst Fields is also one of the few communities in kinds. Despite its name, Westruun is more east than
west, and was in fact named after Palest Westruun, the
Tal’Dorei that counts gnolls among not only its allies, but
trader and philosopher who founded the city. Though
its citizens. Without the Dustpaw gnolls, Turst would not
Westruun suffered greatly beneath the iron talons of
have survived its first summer., not with the bloodthirsty
the Chroma Conclave, the dragon’s destruction and the
Ravagers running rampant across the plains. Today, the
razing of the Herd of Storms has allowed the city to
humans and halflings of Turst Fields have not only been
reclaim its place of importance as an economic and polit-
accepted by the Dustpaws, but many have adopted the
ical power within Tal’Dorei.
gnolls’ language and animistic spirituality. This alliance
isn’t as accepted by the larger populace of Tal’Dorei, how-
government
ever, and racial relations do become pressed when dealing
with visiting political and foreign interests. Westruun is ruled by Margrave Brandon Zimmerset,
appointed after the fall of the Conclave in the wake of the
turst fields adventures previous margrave’s execution at the hands of the Herd
of Storms, a now-defunct tribe of barbaric nomads. A
a bad influence
margrave is a military official appointed by the Council
For low-level characters: A massive shipment of illegal suude of Tal’Dorei, and is a position held for life, or until the
from Stilben has caused a surge of addiction in Turst, lead- council deems them unfit to govern. Westruun’s standing
ing to strife within the community. To make matters worse, margrave has executive power over the region’s military
a young woman named Shela had an adverse reaction to a forces and holds power to establish and dissolve trading
recently arrived batch of suude, causing her to enter a psy- guilds, the lifeblood of Westruun. The city’s margrave
chotic rage, tearing four people apart before she was killed. commands a standing military of about 800 trained
Unbeknownst to its users, the latest shipment was laced with soldiers known as the Shields of the Plain, or simply
lycanthrope bile, and many users within the city may not be “Shields.” Despite Westruun’s importance, its military
aware they are already infected—and the ones responsible is often spread too thin to properly mount an offensive
are watching closely to see the fruits of their labor. against the guerrilla Ravagers.

revolution
gnoll recourSe
For mid-level characters: A hobgoblin calling herself Grud
Since Margrave Zimmerset is a military leader, Westruun
the Great has taken control of an arm of the Ravagers. Her
is technically under martial law, as are all Tal’Dorei cities
highly-organized regiment of hobgoblins has whipped the ruled by a margrave. This form of government is a relic of
local goblins and orcs into shape, and they now march on
the totalitarian rule of King Warren Drassig, and some
Turst. The army is too large to be stopped by just the PCs, of Westruun’s citizens chafe under their absolute rule.
but perhaps helping the somewhat friendly Dustpaw gnolls Any thoughts of dissent against the previous margrave,
secure an alliance with the standoffish Whitesnout, Priest- however, were snuffed out when the Chroma Conclave
Eater, and Riverwalker tribes will be enough. attacked. The black dragon Umbrasyl made short work
of the Shields and shattered the margrave’s rule before
the Six bladeS war
retreating to Gatshadow, leaving Westruun open for inva-
For high-level characters: The recent promise of profit in sion by Kevdak’s goliath herd. Umbrasyl and Kevdak were
Turst, if only its criminal elements can be organized and both slain by Grog Strongjaw and Vox Machina, freeing
yoked to pull in the same direction, has proven too great Westruun from tyranny.
a temptation. A new criminal gang calling itself the Six In the peace that followed the fall of the Conclave, the
Blades is making a bid for control of all illicit activity in newly-appointed Margrave Zimmerset made plans to
and around the community, and is violently making an return Westruun to its former glory. Some idealistic young
example of anyone—criminal or Shield—who gets in their students and traders take umbrage with this proposal—
way. Efforts to stamp out the gang have proven ineffective, when was Westruun last “glorious” under a margrave’s
and its members are unusually dedicated—even fanatical. rule? Word of Emon’s new, elected council has reached
The gang’s leadership is shadowy, and unknown beyond them along the trade roads, and word of revolution brews
the name “Hexen.” In fact, the mysterious Hexen is a in Westruun, with secret meetings occurring in smoky
marlith demon with ambitions to sow chaos and suffering corners of the Puddlemuck Tavern and in study chambers
far beyond Turst Fields, if given the opportunity. of the Westhall Academy.

58 chapter 2: gazetteer of tal’dorei