Winter is coming… grown too dangerous for many. Dragonborn become almost a common sight in the ports of Veloska and Vednya (West and East When the seas are rolling in, respectively). When the stars are growing dim, When the ghosts are howling near, Though few know the reason why, the Necromantic taint of the Then the Wild Hunt shall begin…. Dead Gods has been lessened, ending Necromancy’s slow erosion of the world’s lifeforce. A fabled Circle of Eight, a league of powerful It is the 710th year since the rise of the Old Tsars. It has been 25 years Wizards, has been credited with the workings of the Censure, as this since the War of Burning Snow, an explosive battle in the streets of interdiction against the darkness has been called, though no one has the city of Tarkhova which spelled the end of the Markyne family’s seen them since. power, and the rise of the Zimir. In the succeeding quarter-century, many changes have overcome the world of Godori. All the Fey Realms have shown a dramatic increase in activity. Without the constant threat of the Dead Gods, they have returned to Czernograd has finally settled the lands of Tarkhova to their liking, a state of politicking amongst themselves, while their mortal creating a large, wealthy city to serve as their western base of servants deal with the aftermath. The High Elves are returning to a operations. They have begun building frontier settlements in the far raiding lifestyle, bringing fire and steel to the northern shores of East, though the wildlands still pose a threat. And only two years Godori, while the Gnomes and Halflings settle new lands in ago did Sasha Ivanov soundly defeat the Golden Khanate to the Bodland, and Orcs begin to marshal for a world-ending battle. north, securing peace for a generation by destroying all semblance of a united Steppe beneath his bootheal. As well, the Dragon’s Maw has begun disgorging its inhabitants, flooding the lands with dragons of every shape and size. Great The Families of Czernograd have consolidated their power in the Hunts are called to cull the numbers of chromatic Dragons, but there wake of Burning Snow. The Zimir have become one of the Seven appear more and more as time passes. Families, the highest-ranking nobles of Czernograd. Their latest patriarch, Stepanovich Zimir, with his nearly sixty children (bastards And yet, what troubles many far more than these hardships, is the and legitimate both) has made his family one of the richest in the dryness of the autumn. As winter approaches, all agree it will be a world, if not the largest in number. mild year. Which, as any Baba might tell you, means that it will be a deep, dark time for all. Molkorvnya’s (Mokov) influence has grown considerably as well. The Prince, Mikhail Roshenko, is declared a Saint and a Tsar by the The Wild Hunt begins, and with it shall come an ageless winter. common people and his boyars alike, beloved for his just and fair rule as much as his apprant divine manifestations. With such support, the cities of Bolshepov, Nozhgorod, and Silichi all but bend the knee to the, arguably, largest city in Godori.

The Scaled Lands, known by their native Dragonborn as Dracary, have seen a mighty exodus as wars between the city-states have Races deep south beyond Dracary, the Vasha live in a strange, seminomadic sailing lifestyle. Dwarves, worshipers of Magdar, live beneath the earth and dwell Dragonborn were created by the Fey Lord Puck, ruler of the Summer within three mighty kingdoms. Despite multiple crusades, they have Court and its Flying Palace, from the remnants of Dragons and Men. yet to take another mountain to make into their next kingdom. City Their great city-states, each built by a different tribe or element, are Dwarves (Hill) dwell most often within human cities and work their far more advanced and majestic than anything humans have yet trades, while Steppe Dwarves (Mountain) hone their savage might built. If they were not so isolationist, nor reveling in civil war, the into a weapon itself, for the day they might forge a new King Under Dragonborn would be a mighty force to contend with. As it stands, the Mountain. many migrate to the north every year. Elves serve the Fey and share the same homeland as Mab and her Where Man and Elf meet, there shall be Half-Elves. Half Elves are a Winter Court. Once raiders and warriors, they have settled down in common occurrence throughout the realms of Godori, and few recent centuries, though that may no longer be the case. High Elves would bat an eye at their presence. The Markynes, a Czernograd remained in the Winter Isles the longest, using their magic to create a family relocated to Molkorvnya, are renowned for their love of Half wintry paradise. The Wood Elves have settled along the coasts and Elven relations. rivers of Godori, often blending into human society with nary a hiccup. Those Elves who betrayed Mab long ago now dwell in the Orcs (Half-Orcs) are a curious sort. They were once servants of Underdark (Drow), where they live in the cruel and maddening Oberon, Fey King of Autumn, until an unknown slight turned his realm of Lolth, the Spider Goddess. favor to wrath. He cursed them with hideous, misshapen forms, but later relented, granting them the strength to survive and struggle in Halflings and Gnomes hail from the isle of Caledor, the realm of a world that did not love them. Spring and Queen Titania of the Fey. Halflings love the land and live a simple lifestyle as farmers and laborers, while the Gnomes work Tieflings are the modern descendants of the Obrov Empire. They with Titania and learn the mystical arts at her side. Lightfoot were descendants of Oberon, and they had great magical and Halflings are renowned for their wanderlust, while Stouts prefer to technological prowess. Their turn to black sorcery and sinful ways to settle down in one place and set down roots. Forest gnomes follow maintain their power led to a Great War, which saw the destruction the Fey lifestyle of Titania’s court, while Rock Gnomes often leave to of their homeland and the transformation of their once fair race into learn from other races as well. a devilish form. They dwell in Hellmouths, ghettos within the larger cities of the world. Humans are a complicated bunch. They are spread over the whole of Godori and at times it seems like none of them share anything in Uncommon races include Warforge, Giants, Aasimar, and others by common at all. Broadly, Veloskans live in the west around request. Molkorvnya and the other free cities. Vednyak are the human tribes and peoples who lived upon the steppe and inhabit Czernograd. Vaelish humans live in the far east, where the deep forests and mountain keep their peoples hidden and reclusive. And in the deep, Factions The Necromancers are those who practice the forbidden art. Once, their magic by itself threatened existance. Now, something has changed the balance of the world to make this not so. What is to Czernograd is the largest city in Vednya, and one of the two or three become of Necromancy is yet to be seen, but for now it appears that largest cities in the world. It is the Black City, the City of Cathedrals, it will continue to be a hated art. and the home of Tsar Ivanov. Coming from Czernograd is to come from a sprawling metropolis where anything can be found, and The Nightingales are an assassin’s guild with a wide-range of everything’s for sale. Working for the city itself can be a daunting, members. The only consistent trait about them is their masterful use morally taxing effort. of illusions and deception. They do tend to avoid the most malicious and high-value of jobs, preferring low-key risk to body and soul. Molkorvnya is the largest city in Veloska, and the third or second largest city in the world. It is a large, though orderly and bright city The Order of Druid Circles is a council of Archdruids who formerly built of wood more than brick or stone. It is a pious merchant city, met in the Druid’s Spire in Tarkhova. Since Burning Snow, ruled by the gentle hand of a good monarch in Mikhail Roshenko. Czernograd has forced them to relocate to a variety of other towns The Hero’s Guild once met here, before it disbanded. and temples in the wilderness. The Chamber of Whispers is a Drow-only organization, whose The Red Sons are a band of professional mercenaries. Originally professionalism and emphasis on painless operations puts them based out of the steps, the Red Sons have adapted every successful directly in opposition to their own race’s usual proclivities. tactic, technology, or magic they came across until they became the most sought-after enforcers on the continent. They currently serve as The Haunt is a mysterious organization, made up of arcane rituals a police and garrison force for many cities. for contacting them and legions of secret sleeper agents. They maximize fear in their targets before striking with eldritch talent. The Serraton are the all-female military branch of the Apostic Church. Male members are accepted by Czernograd’s “Black” The Huntsmen are a young guild of monster-hunters who focus on Serraton forces. the great beasts and dire creatures of the world. They dabble in humanoid affairs, but their true talents lie in tracking and destroying Vargr are a Dwarven mercenary group dedicated to blowing things werewolves, vampires, and fey. up, lighting them on fire, and then blowing them up while on fire. The Inquisition is the secret branch of the Apostic Church. They Witchguard are a semi-secretive order of warrior monks who use often act completely without oversight to destroy the enemies of the alchemy and witchcraft to aid them in the destruction of magical faith. Few know their ways for certain, and the Serraton consider creatures, devils, demons, and undead foes. them borderline heretics at the best of times.

Masque are a wide-ranging web of investigators, charlatans, and spies whose true allegiance is unknown. Some say they answer to the Czernobog, Czernograd’s eternal spymaster, but no one knows for certain. Religion

Traditional Pantheon # Name Worshipers Description Infernal Pantheon (Archfiends) 1 Belya The Apostic The goddess of war, creator of # Name Worshipers Description Church metallic dragons, who demands 1 Apolikos The greedy Once the god of wealth, she now honor and mercy from her takes a monstrous, draconic form warriors atop a mountain of gold 2 Drazhia The Apostic The goddess of the underworld, 2 Laneiva The lustful Once a goddess of love and Church Svarog’s daughter, who looks after family, she now rules a sexual the dead empire where nothing is sacred 3 Firebird The Apostic A spirit of goodness, light, and 3 Mazaran The A newly risen lord of hell, who Church luck, though no one knows what gluttonous dreams of empire and commands this is exactly his followers to consume 4 Gea The Apostic Mother of the earth, sun goddess, everything in life to excess Church said to continue looking after the 4 Opranikov The prideful Once the god of music and world indefinitely prophecy, he now causes strife 5 Lunas The Apostic Moon god, love, life, freedom, and murder through his chaos Church who is the twin of Zachi music 6 Perun The Apostic Storm god, king of the gods, who 5 Tevyr The slothful Once the original God of Death, Church made the Interdiction that protects he simply wanders, causing the mortal-kind living to die under his shadow 7 Ratha The Apostic Creator deity, the one true 6 Thonos The envious Once the god of knowledge and Church supreme maker of all the world, secrets, and Zora’s brother, he deceased now instigates murder and 8 Svarog The Apostic Smith god, mortal-kind’s creator, madness from his mausoleum Church often believed to be Magdar as fortress well (see Dwarves) 7 Tsernya The The other Goddess of War, who 9 Zachi The Apostic Moon goddess, monsters, thieves, wrathful created the chromatic dragons Church guards, who is the twin of Lunas and fought her sister Belya for 10 Zora The Apostic Knowledge and wisdom goddess, ultimate power Church also of mothers, tombs, and the

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Racial Pantheons # Name Race Description 1 Corvei Drow Lolth’s little sister, the Rebel, Queen of Dead Pantheon Whispers # Name Description 2 Derendroth Drow Lolth’s consort, Lord of Magic and 1 Gothoric Fallen war god, once son to Perun, now inspires Tarantulas, Drider-Lord mad necromancers and knights 3 Lolth Drow The Dark Mistress, Spiderqueen, Lady 2 Volkos The Traitor-Dragon, the one who devoured the of Menzoberranzan, creator of Drow gods and when beheaded birthed the Devils 4 Perennios Drow High Angel of Redemption 3 Oambr Once a God of nature, betrayed the others to preserve his garden, set aflame eternal 1 Cannaugh Dwarf The First Deep Dwarf, Traitor King and 4 Kathras Musical deity, herald of the gods, now sounds the Dark Smith horn of the banshees 2 Dwegan Dwarf Father of the Dwarves, the First King 5 Sithrak Sapient swarm of insects which once devoured the Under the Mountain soul of a god 3 Magdar Dwarf Smith-King, creator god of the 6 Pitas A coiled wyrm that encircles the oceans, or did Dwarves, possibly an incarnation of until it was slain and made into an undead horror Svarog 7 Allana Belya’s younger sister, goddess of youth, beauty, 4 Naothian Dwarf War-Goddess of the Dwarves, and light, died for love demands her sons to return with their 8 Corran Master of horses, sailing, and hunting, slain by shields, or upon them Volkos

The Babas # Name Trait Description 1 Baba Kashka One Eye Grand Baba The Fey Courts 2 Baba Yngrid Seven Fingers House made of treats # Name Court Description 3 Baba Busha Four Ears Likes children, hates liars 1 Mab Winter The Mad Queen of Winter 4 Baba Ludma Iron Teeth Feeds soup to travelers Isles 5 Baba Gurtru Two Tongues Fixes up castles 2 Titania Spring The Good Lady of Caledor 6 Baba Druma Three Legs Drives thunderstorms 3 Puck Summer The Trickster of the Pleasure 7 Baba Stasia Third Eye Messes with churches Palace 8 Baba Petr Firebird Ran a business 4 Oberon Autumn The Lord of Oberov 5 Ashen Wolf Autumn Fire spirits at war with Oberon 6 The Wild Hunt Winter Hunters rebelling against Mab 7 Gelatinous Summer The Jolly Jelly Convocation 8 Shadowcat Spring Dreamstealer The Deities The Dwarves worship their own pantheon of ancestors. Their creator god is supposedly a deity named Magdar, but most Apostics consider him a manifestation of Svarog. The Apostic Church is the primary faith in Godori. They profess to worship the pantheon of traditional gods, the survivors of the God The Babas are a coven of seven witches with untold magical powers. War. The church follows two hierarchies, one for women and one for Mages the world over pray to them, though they rarely answer. They men. Men begin as Lay Brothers (monks), rise to become Patriarchs appear to be regular old women in all respects, except everything (priests), then Ecclesiarches (Bishops), and then finally Hierophants about them is intensely magical. They appear both helpful and (Arch-Bishop). Women join the Serraton, the church’s military unfriendly, so no one is certain if they are good, evil, or something branch, beginning as Lay Sisters (support and frontline), then rising else entirely. to Shield Maidens (warriors), Matriarchs (officers), and finally Mother Superior (General). The Fey have dominated much of the world since the Gods left it to mortal hands. The Four Courts rule the Fey, though they often war Rathism is a branch of Apostism that only follows Ratha and his wife with each other and within themselves. The Fey are chaos incarnate. Gea. This is a popular Tiefling faith, as it snubs its nose at the general way of things. Void is a strange subject. The Dead Gods exist in a hellish black sea, a limbo beyond limbos…and yet the emptiness seems to have a The Fiends are worshiped in secret by heretics, usually in return for presence all its own. It is Hunger of a dreadful sort, and few who dark favors. They were once regular deities until Volkos, in an look to it for power remain long sane. attempt to overpower the Gods, ate them and converted them into his hydra-like heads. When decapitated, their twisted Archfiend forms emerged and took control of Pandaemonium, the City of Hell.

Demons are nearly infinite in number, born from dead angels, mortals, and negative emotions in general. They reside in the chaos of the Abyss. Both Devils and Demons are held to a Law called the Interdiction, which limits their access to the mortal realm.

The Dead Gods are just that. They fell during the God War, and were returned to hideous unlife by the Emperor Artas during the final moments of the Great War. They want nothing more than to devour the world, all the souls in it, and finally the Void itself (see below). The Censure holds their malevolent powers at bay in a similar way to the Interdiction.

The Drow worship many deities, including Lolth and her kin, as well as a Solar who seeks to turn some of them back to the Light.