Page 89 - Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting

tal’dorei campaign guide

emon, the city
stirring up the territorial inhabitants of the mountains.
Elven scouts report cyclops raiders and shamans conducting
of fellowship
strange rituals within the eyes of thunderstorms at night, and
hungry bulettes hunting beyond their normal domain, as if
guided by some unknown intelligence.
Metropolis • Population: 287,550
(68% Human, 7% Dwarven, 6% Elven, 19% Other)
daggerbay mountains adventures
Emon stands defiantly against all who would threaten
the eye of the Storm Tal’Dorei and its people. It is the cultural heart of human
civilization on this continent, and as the republic’s capital,
For mid-level characters: Hill giants are migrating into the
Emon is a nexus of politics, justice, business, industry, and
mountains, leaving their foothill settlements empty of
education within the realm.
warriors, civilians, and infirm alike. A half-elven scout
Encircled by 60-foot-high walls that stretch from the
named Thunderchaser has caused a stir in the Emerald
eastern fields to the western shore, Emon is accessible only
Outpost by bringing back the lightning-charred corpse of
through its heavily-patrolled gates and by skyship, the
a hill giant with one eye ritually gouged out. What are the
denizens of the city are generally well protected from out-
cyclops stormcallers (see page 132) planning beneath the
side attackers and sieges. A well-trained force of guards
concealing stormclouds of the Daggerbay Mountains?
known as the Arms of Emon enforces the laws of the land
a metal of memory from the Military District. Dense farms and farm com-
munities surround the northeastern boundary of the city,
For high-level characters: The ancient molten beast that was
while large slums cap the northern and southern land-
sundered beneath these rocky peaks left behind pockets
scape outside of the city walls.
of an incredibly rare metal with mysterious properties
called “orichalcum” far below the surface. The sudden dis-
government
covery has sent local entrepreneurs into a frenzy, and the
ensuing rush has already sparked some violence. As they Emon is the seat of the Council of Tal’Dorei, the nation’s
dig deeper, they discover that some essence of the ancient highest governing body. Though the council originally
creature still lives, and it is seeking vengeance. served under the Sovereign of Tal’Dorei, the nation’s final
Sovereign was killed when the Chroma Conclave attacked
emerald outpost Emon. Following the death of Thordak the Cinder King
and the rest of the Conclave, Emon was rebuilt and the
Council reformed as the backbone of the new Republic of
Small Town • Population: 1,456 Tal’Dorei. The Council and its members are described in
(89% Elven, 6% Human, 3% Halfling, 2% Other) detail on page 35.
One unintended consequence of relying on magic to
Originally established by the elves of Syngorn as a
rapidly rebuild Emon is that the mages of Tal’Dorei now
hidden outpost to keep watch over the growing empire
hold incredible influence over the fledgling Council. Some
of Drassig, the Emerald Outpost fell out of use after the
fear that without a Sovereign, the Council will be unable
Scattered War. Now it stands as a trade post between
to keep the arcanists in line, and Tal’Dorei will dissolve
Emon and Syngorn, and many day-to-day matters
into magocracy.
between the alliance of cities are handled here within the
Emerald Chambers—previously the outpost’s war room.
society
The Outpost is neutral ground, but its elven majority
population and heavy Syngornian military presence occa- While classically the heart of a human empire, Emon
sionally makes non-elven civilians and diplomats uneasy. boasts a diverse populace, with citizens of nearly all races
The outpost is governed by an agreed partnership between from all of Exandria’s many nations, thriving on the new
two appointed captains, one by the Council of Tal’Dorei, innovations and ideas of its diverse citizenry. Tal’Dorei’s
and the other by the Wardens of Syngorn. The Syngor- tight alliances with the elven nation of Syngorn and the
nian captain Maina Rusalla has held a well-known rivalry dwarven hold of Kraghammer invited some of those
with the Council’s appointed captain Jorn Krastef, and nations’ greatest artisans inside Emon’s walls, and their
their bickering tends to hold up political negotiations. A friends and families soon followed until Emon was home
small military presence is still kept here by both Emon to a significant minority of elves and dwarves. Under the
and Syngorn as part of the arrangement, though mostly as rule of Zan Tal’Dorei, Emon developed into a city whose
combat reserves. people valued innovation and collaboration, especially
in small, cohesive groups—virtues that some historians
believe has given rise to the prominence of the modern
adventuring party.
While Emon is becoming more commercial and the
“The Emerald Outpost is proof that we of Syngorn use of gold as currency has been ubiquitous throughout
should mistrust humans; not because of their Tal’Dorei’s history, many communities within the city are
treachery, but because of their greed, and the way still close-knit enough to use the barter system. During
grasping commerce seeps into the heart and spirit
like a slow, sweet poison.”
—Captain Maina Rusalla