Page 65 - Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting

tal’dorei campaign guide

but eventually his reign of terror came to an end. Utterly floor, this forest once marked a bastion of influence
defeated by the Dawnfather during the Calamity, the for the Demon Prince of Indulgence. During the
wounded god retreating to Acek’s domain to rally. How- Scattered War, Trist Drassig obsessed over the possi-
ever, the Dawnfather followed close behind, shackling bility of losing and pledged his service to the demon
and banishing the dark god within the depths far beneath in exchange for power to smite his foes. The bargain
Gatshadow. It was said that Acek’s mind and spirit were accepted, the Demon Prince sent his forces to this
so filled with his master’s essence, the god’s banishment valley to aid Trist in the Battle of the Umbra Hills, but
tore his body asunder. Today, only the empty maze of ultimately both fell to the incredible power of the rebel-
deadly chambers and traps remain beneath the mountain, ling forces. The release of terrible energies cursed both
forgotten and awaiting discovery. the battlefield and the valley where the demonic forces
The high bluffs of Gatshadow have in recent years been hailed. Now left cursed and dead, the valley remains
the home of many a villain, most recently the ancient a whispered warning to dealing with demons, and a
black dragon Umbrasyl of the Chroma Conclave. Legend hotbed of darker entities drawn to the ruined place.
says that Gatshadow’s interior tunnels spiral infinitely
downwards, into a void of utter darkness. Immortal, grey valley adventures
white-eyed devotees of madness pace endlessly into Gat-
Sword of the demon prince
shadow’s depths, carrying lightless torches, whispering
that the Chained Oblivion itself is sealed in the depths For mid-level characters: In a dream, a warrior PC continu-
below. The stone doors that bar entrance to Gatshadow’s ally sees visions of a noble, kingly sword embedded in the
lowest reaches are sealed by magic so great, even the most ground, surrounded by shadows and demons. “Free me...
inquisitive of the Arcana Pansophical cannot breach them. “ it whispers. “I need your help… I am in the Grey Valley.”
The sword is not as it appears; though the Demon Prince
gatshadow adventures was defeated at the Battle of the Grey Valley and banished
to the Abyss, his accursed greatsword still lingers. The
blood of the dragon last shard of his malevolence in this world, Graz’tchar,
For high-level characters: The body of the ancient black dragon the Decadent End rests in the center of the valley, its tip
Umbrasyl was never recovered—some think that’s a waste embedded in the earth. The twin hezrou demons that
of a perfectly good business opportunity; after all, a black guard it pretend to be the ghosts of great knights, protect-
dragon’s bones are a potent alchemical reagent, and its scales ing the blade of a lost Sovereign of Tal’Dorei.
stronger than any steel. Of course, there is a reason why no
one has dared to recover the Hope Devourer’s corpse. When Jorenn village
Umbrasyl died, the caustic acid and magical blood within
its body seeped through the caverns of Upper Gatshadow,
devouring stone and transforming the mountain’s upper Small Town • Population: 1,873
levels into a vitriolic swamp maze, teeming with oozes, half- (68% Human, 10% Dwarf, 8% Halfling, 14% Other)
black dragon warriors, and the spirits of goliaths from the For many years, Jorenn Village was just a tiny pioneer
Herd of Storms that failed to kill the dragon. town trying to build off the unused resource of sha-
degrass. Over the past seventy years, the village has
no lightS in the darkneSS
exploded in size and population after plentiful silver
For epic-level characters: The wars of gods and mortals veins were discovered within the nearby rocky hills.
ended when the Betrayer Gods were banished to their Hardworking common folk and opportunistic pros-
planes of eternal imprisonment, but something has upset pectors alike flocked to Jorenn despite its unsettling
the laws of the planes. A being called the Nameless— proximity to the Umbra Hills.
supposedly a cultist of the Whispered One—has stolen Jorenn is far enough away from Emon that the influence
her master’s secret knowledge and fled to Gatshadow in of the Council rarely touches it, giving opportunists and
search of the tortured spirit of Acek Orattim. Agents of lowlifes freedom to subvert and control both the village
the Arcana Pansophical have sensed that the lower gates government and the local economy. Ten years ago, a small
of Gatshadow have been breached, and frantically call for circle of vigilantes and mercenaries declared themselves
Tal’Dorei’s greatest heroes to rush to the evil mountain. protectors of Jorenn, and took the name Shadewatch, hunt-
As the PCs race to the bottom of a labyrinth of insanity, ing and slaying creeping dangers in the night and returning
they will discover that they race not only the new Herald to great fanfare. Over the past decade, others seeking fame
of Oblivion, but also the Remnants she betrayed. and glory joined the ranks of the Shadewatch and the group
ballooned into the unofficial town law enforcement.
the grey valley ilantes now personally stoke the fires of fear, all while
Yet corruption took hold of the Shadewatch. The vig-
demanding increasing tribute for their services—and
North of the Umbra Hills lies a wide valley of ill breaking kneecaps if they don’t get it. Today, the people of
omen and dark history. So named for the forest of Jorenn are just as afraid of the Shadewatch as they are of
dead, petrified trees that fill the majority of the valley the creatures they keep at bay.

64 chapter 2: gazetteer of tal’dorei