Page 7 - Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting

tal’dorei campaign guide

lived ancient beings who had already taken this world as though magic could be used to complete the most difficult
their home: the Primordials. These great Elemental Titans tasks with hitherto unknown speed, magic-users strove
that once dwelt deep within the land now rose from their always to innovate. As mages practiced and perfected
unseen domain to sunder the land once more. The gods their powers of creation, they soon unlocked the secrets of
watched as their children—their joy—were largely dashed life itself, giving birth to wondrous, dangerous new forms
against the broken rock or fed to formless terrors unleashed of life and power.
in the wake of the destruction. Demonic entities spilled The advent of the arcane seemed to be the key to a
from the umbra of the Abyss to feast on the carnage, called bountiful age of plenty, but also proved to threaten it,
forth by the violence and released to pick the carrion clean. as prosperity soon gave way to greed. Petty squabbles
Some gods were so full of grief and anger they wished erupted over resources and wealth among the elite, while
to abandon this world for another, trying to convince the rumor of immortality through perfected arcanum
their divine kindred to join the Primordials in reclaiming began to drive the greatest mages wild with a lust for
the realm for chaos so they could move on to start anew. power unending. One mortal mage, her name either
Others of the Creators wished to remain and subdue these lost or struck from history, crafted now-forbidden rites
native Primordials, to tame the land for the sake of their to challenge the God of Death, felling him and taking
creation and joy. This caused a divide among the gods. his place among the pantheon, making her the first and
Some left the family of the Creators to give into madness, only mortal to ascend. One powerful archmage, Vespin
joining their song and sword to that of chaos and destruc- Chloras, was inspired by this display. Driven by his
tion, taking and twisting their children in the image of hunger, he sought the guidance and power of the banished
their intent. Celestial sentinels locked into war with the gods, rending open the gates of their prisons and releasing
chaotic forces of the Abyss fell to hate and tyranny, forg- the betrayers into the mortal world.
ing the Hells under a fallen angel now claiming lordship. In their imprisonment, the gods of Hatred and Despair
The remaining Creators, wishing to salvage their home, twisted their prison into their own image, spawning
their creations, and their realized selves, were forced to unthinkable horrors that lived only to transform peace
take up arms and learn new methods of protection to into suffering, and righteousness into arrogance and greed.
defend the faithful among their creations. These gods are The Hells and the Abyss began to push their way into
referred to as the Prime Deities. They organized their fol- Creation. The Betrayer Gods and their hateful children,
lowers and taught them how to draw from the very powers unbanished and allowed re-entry into the Creation that
of creation: to build, to change, and to destroy, all for had exiled them, discovered the world unspoiled, save for
themselves and without the aid of divine power. Creation the avarice of mortals. The urge to ruin was now replaced
learned to defend itself through practices such as alchemy
with the desire to dominate, and the Betrayer Gods turned
or by autonomously bending the very fabrics of existence, their sights first to the Archmage Vespin who freed them,
though not on the scale of the gods’ works. making him their first thrall. The Betrayer Gods sought out
This gift was the knowledge of the first arcane magics.
the remnants of their offspring, scattered across the world,
With these newly granted capabilities, the good children and created with them a mighty and terrible new kingdom
drove away their traitorous kin, banished the Betrayer
on the far end of the world—Ghor Dranas.
Gods to their own prison-like planes, and ultimately
In this land of evil, where the twisted power of the
destroyed the Primordials while scattering the chaotic ele-
lower planes seeped into this world, the lords of darkness
ments to their own planes of existence just outside of this
tainted the minds of mortals, hungrily welcoming those
one. Peace finally blanketed the world for the first time
who had forgotten their way home, and offering great
since creation, and the first real civilization took root and
promises and boons to hearts easily swayed. These poi-
grew into a grand city called Vasselheim. The Cradle of
sonous seeds found fertile ground in the hearts of mortals
Creation. The Dawn City.
obsessed with the unlimited power of the arcane. With
Culture developed anew, the races ventured beyond
a legion of the damned behind them, the Betrayer Gods
to explore and discover their own lands, and great music
soon made their presence known to the world with an
filled the air to give name to this world once and for
assault on Vasselheim itself.
all: Exandria.
Though much of the city was reduced to rubble, Vassel-
the age of arcanum heim weathered the initial assault, saved by the intervention
of the gods. The Prime Deities descended to trade blows
Over time, some of the peoples grew arrogant. Seeing with their former brethren. The battle between divinity and
their arcane gifts as proof the gods held no sway over mortalkind, heroes and demons raged ceaselessly for twenty
their fate, some began to believe that, with enough under- days and nights until the dark forces, their surprise attack
standing, they could become as powerful as the gods thwarted, were forced to retreat.
themselves. As such, many began to shun faith for their Evil was repulsed momentarily, but with the reve-
own pursuits. Though this hurt and surprised the Prime lation of such a terrible foe, a dangerous arcane arms
Deities, they understood the willfulness of their creation race began. Trust was shattered indefinitely: If mortals
and endured out of love and hope for redemption. could fall under the sway of the Betrayer Gods, who
Great kingdoms sprang up. Castles were built in a was an ally? If ruin like this could be unleashed under
day, accelerated by the arcanists’ newfound power. Even the watchful eyes of divinity, how were they relevant?

6 chapter 1: campaigns in tal'dorei