363661-Sample.Pdf

Sample file ADVENTURER’S GUIDE TO JEOSUNG

AUTHOR were used in the layout of this book Aurélien Lainé PROOFREADERS MECHANICS WRITERS Bruno Giraudon, Greg Schiestl, Andrew T. Ha, Dean Baker, Guy Larke Jr., Nicolás Castagnet, Omoye Boroni Michael Mars Russell SPECIAL THANKS EDITORS I would like to thank all the backers of the 2019 Daniel Kwan & Emilie Blain Kickstarter campaign that made this book a reality. There was a mountain of impossibilities between the ILLUSTRATORS idea for this book and its publication. You hammered down the mountain into a small hill that made Brandon Chen, Joel Rong, Khanh Bui, Tommy Lee everything possible. Thank you all very much. MAPS ILLUSTRATORS EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS Daniel Hasenbos & Léo Marbacher This book is a labor of love which took me over 3 years to complete. It wouldn’t have been possible without the LAYOUT support of my family back in France, my family here in Aurélien Lainé South Korea, and my friends all around the world. STOCK ART Thank you all very much for your support. Designs from Freepix and Shutterstock

Except as otherwise identified, all portions of this book are © 2020 Red Scales Publishing All rights reserved. The Koryo Hall of Adventures, the Koryo Hall of Adventures logo, and all related marks and images are © 2020 Red Scales Publishing. The mention of, use of or reference to any company, trademark or product in this book is Samplenot a challenge to the trademark or copyright in question. file www.hallofadventures.com Table of Contents

Preface ...... 5 The Palm...... 32 Hamgyöng Province...... 92 How to Use This Book...... 6 Farmers & Fishers Guilds...... 33 Cheonmando ...... 92 Jeosung’s Mythology And Early Fishers’ Guild of Nakshi Urigashi-eub...... 92 History...... 8 Yeonan...... 33 Inju-myeon...... 92 The Age of Heavens...... 8 Rice Farmers’ Guild of The Edge ...... 93 The Age of the Dragon Kings...10 Ssalbada ...... 33 Saenam-si ...... 93 The Wizard Yun Sepyeong ...... 11 Tea Farmers’ Guild of Yangyang-Myeon...... 94 The Winds of Darkness...... 12 Boseong ...... 33 Wünu Mountains & Jobeuntang Three Stars in the Long Night..12 Political Factions...... 34 Province...... 95 The Retaking of the Lands...... 14 The Gaya Confederacy...... 34 Hwangtonro Crossing...... 96 Jeosung...... 14 Saenam Separatist Jihaguk ...... 96 Movement...... 35 The Wall of Uzu ...... 97 The People of Jeosung...... 16 The Shadows of The North...36 Jobeuntang Province ...... 97 Common Languages...... 16 Religious Factions...... 36 Giljobeun Forest ...... 97 Classes & Aristocracy ...... 16 Sect of Changjo...... 36 Hwando-myeon...... 98 Yangban ...... 16 Sect of Yoggu Haneul...... 38 Wangongseong-myeon ...... 99 Joongin...... 17 Visualizing Jeosung...... 40 Wangongseong Shrine ...... 99 Sangmin...... 17 Yuldö...... 100 Cheonmin...... 18 Architecture ...... 40 Common Amenities...... 40 Gm tip: playing in mudangguk...100 Nobi...... 18 Mudangguk NPCs ...... 101 Foundations of Magic ...... 18 Farming...... 41 Rituals for the Sparks ...... 19 Food & Drinks...... 42 Noonnara...... 109 Races of Jeosung...... 19 Instruments...... 42 Kwanbuk ...... 109 Dragonborns ...... 19 Jangseung, the Totem Spirits....42 Heuksubada...... 109 Hwasanyong...... 19 Location Names...... 43 Yangdong-eub...... 110 Nokyong ...... 20 Shrines ...... 43 The Banggeoson Yulaeyong ...... 20 Valuables...... 43 Watchtowers...... 111 Dwarves ...... 20 Jimyeongsajeon, The Gazetteer of Yalu River...... 112 Hwangmoon Dwarves .....20 Jeosung...... 53 The Crossing of the Dark Hwasan Dwarves...... 21 Jeosung Calendar & Weather...53 Souls...... 112 Elves ...... 21 Golybosü...... 112 The Koryo Hall of Adventures ..55 High Elves...... 21 Ulchi Mundok's Mansion...... 112 Running The Hall ...... 58 Wood Elves...... 21 Dornod...... 113 The Hall’s NPCs ...... 64 Gnomes...... 22 The Infinite Forest ...... 113 Goliaths...... 22 Mudangguk...... 75 The Plains of Dornod...... 114 Halflings...... 22 Kwan Province...... 78 The Frozen Rivers of Dornod114 Forest Halflings...... 22 Yonggu-myeon...... 78 Shrine of Yong...... 114 Plains Halflings...... 23 Samjihok Chilseongmun...... 79 Cheonsanju...... 115 Half-elves...... 23 Michuhol-teukpyeolsi...... 80 Kuklak-eub...... 115 Humans...... 23 Ansan-eub ...... 84 Temple of Hwanggung...... 115 Noonsalam ...... 24 Shrine of Munjong ...... 84 Dongnoonnara...... 117 Religion...... 24 Yodong State...... 84 Temple of the Midnight Oil ...117 Spirits in Jeosung...... 25 The Bay of Keo-in...... 84 Kingdom of the Fat Toad...... 117 Chungju-eub ...... 85 Gungnae-eub...... 119 Agencies & Factions ...... 26 Gwayang-myeon...... 85 Sanjangro Crossing ...... 120 Agencies...... 26 Yodongseong-myeon ...... 86 Hwangmoon-myeon...... 120 Geumyongcheong ...... 26 Liuasang Rivers...... 89 Seobanggeoson Watchtowers.121 Gomnaru Port Authorities...26 Namkaebi Province ...... 89 Yezo-myeon...... 121 Jaeincheong ...... 27 Boseong Hills ...... 89 Tong-In-eub ...... 122 Sangincheong...... 28 Hamheung-eub...... 90 Cheongsubada ...... 123 Seongsucheong ...... 29 Goseong-myeon ...... 90 Gm tip: playing in Noonnara...... 123 Criminal Factions...... 30 Taeyang-eub ...... 90 Noonnara NPCs...... 124 The Brethren of Bulkott...... 30 SampleSooptap-eub ...... 91 file The Eyes of Käl...... 31

3 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES TABLE OF CONTENTS Daewanguk...... 129 Chenju-myeon ...... 174 Equipment and Magic Items ...219 Imjeong Province...... 132 Sajidö ...... 175 Magic Items...... 220 Tanchön-myeon...... 132 Asan-myeon ...... 175 Mudang Charms...... 223 Kapeunsoom-ri...... 134 Kilsangsa Temple...... 175 Mudang Rare Magic Items .....223 Hwanghai Province ...... 134 Imjadö ...... 176 Spirit And Spells...... 22 5 Mujisup...... 134 Hatong Gundabae ...... 176 Tang...... 226 Kusäng Gunbudae...... 135 Udö ...... 176 Būl ...... 227 Kyochä-myeon...... 136 Gamangsupdö ...... 177 Mūl ...... 229 Sakju-eub...... 137 Shrine of Kae...... 177 Gongi...... 230 Sukchön Gunbudae...... 138 Chhilsandö...... 178 Maheum...... 232 Gamsijadö...... 138 Nakshi Yeonan Province...... 178 Daeshin and Daegam Donggyeong Province...... 139 Donuimun Gate...... 178 Affinities ...... 23 4 Huju...... 139 Kapsang-myeon...... 178 Daeshin List ...... 234 The Ruins of Palgeun Milae ...141 Myeongju Port ...... 179 Daegam List ...... 237 Dr Lee Jaema Provincial Shipwreck Ruins ...... 180 Yun Sepyeong Spells...... 239 Clinic...... 141 Millae-eub ...... 180 Evil Spells...... 240 Shrine of Infinite Emptiness ..141 Chungwha-eub ...... 180 Pyeonghwa Peak...... 141 Ruins of Unjusa Temple...... 181 Beasts Compendiums...... 241 Dodanjeol Shrine...... 142 The Chän Cluster...... 181 Appendix ...... 26 3 Yänhai ...... 142 Broken Kings of Seungli Special Rule: The Reputation Shrine of Ondal...... 142 River ...... 181 System ...... 263 Yösang Gunbudae...... 143 Dongsangcheo Gundabae ...... 182 Wall of Heroes...... 266 Haedong Yonggungsa Temple143 Camp 13...... 182 Bibliography...... 269 Gomnaru-teukpyeolsi...... 144 The Great Forges...... 182 Portfolios ...... 269 Tomb of the Goyohan Forest .148 Geumjohangu - The Forbidden Book specs...... 269 Eondok Province...... 148 Harbor...... 183 Index ...... 270 Gaeul Forest ...... 148 Dongji-eub ...... 184 License ...... 272 Ssalbada ...... 148 Gm tip: playing in Haenamguk ..184 Ilsijeok-eub...... 149 Haenamguk NPCs ...... 185 The Bay of Roaring Currents149 . Pathfinder Options...... 194 Buldotäng-eub ...... 150 Race of Jeosung: Dragonkin...194 Hapdök Gundabae Ruin...... 150 Traits...... 196 Hongju-eub ...... 150 Hamaeng Hosa...... 19 6 The Ren...... 150 Hanisa ...... 19 7 Tapsa Temple...... 151 Hero of the Hall...... 19 7 Cursed Plains of Kyeoltuji ...... 151 Hwarang ...... 19 7 Tree of Exaltation ...... 151 Kisaeng...... 19 8 Saro-eub...... 151 Trader...... 19 8 Gm tip: playing in Daewanguk...153 Tea Master ...... 19 8 Daewanguk NPCs...... 154 Wonhwa...... 19 9 Haenamguk ...... 161 Yangban ...... 19 9 Chaandö...... 165 Mudang Class...... 200 Bada Jangseung...... 165 Spiritual Affinities...... 204 Haemadö...... 165 Mudang’s Equipment ...... 210 Haemasijang...... 165 Jesa...... 211 Eastend...... 169 Jaein...... 212 Jigaknamu Temple...... 170 Bard Archetype...... 21 3 Pirin Gunbudae ...... 170 Sunim...... 215 Sodihodö...... 171 SunmudoArchetype ...... 216 Shrine of Sodihodö ...... 171 Taekwondo Archetype ...... 217 Chejin Crossing ...... 171 Komundö ...... 171 Sejong-teukpyeolsi ...... 171 Broken Cliffs of Chimultoji....173 Ulyongdö...... 173 SampleBuyuseom...... 173 file Bay of Mulyongs ...... 174

4 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface

have been living in Seoul, South Korea for over to match the requirements of the game. I also tried to ten years now. During that time, I have taken match the architecture closely to what it was in the language classes, cultural classes, and attended medieval era, but had to provide some more thrilling I tourist-targeted performances as well as more alternatives in order to make the world broader and private traditional concerts. I took pansori and haegeum more interesting to explore. I also took monsters from discovery courses, Korean temple cooking classes, and Korean lore and expanded on them and created brand makgeolli brewing classes. I have also read Korean new ones. For instance, the dokkaebi has been widely authors, and watched Korean films and television modified from its original concept to make it a more shows. Over those ten years, I produced a documentary interesting creature. on Korean people and the gap between how younger Language. I spent a fair amount of writing time generations and older generations look at their own sticking with accuracy when it came to language. At country. I was a local producer for a temple food first, I wanted to use traditional Chinese characters documentary and more recently developed a story called “hanja” in Korea, as those were the common outline for a Singaporean company based on some early language used in medieval Korea. It quickly became history events in Korea pre-dating the Three Kingdoms apparent that it was a confusing choice for those not era. It is with all that personal history with Korea that I familiar with Korean history, so I decided to change couldn’t help but notice that the most popular keywords those with modern Korean writing called “hangeul.” about Korea around the world were k-pop and k-drama. Another choice I had to make was how much Korean I Now, don’t get me wrong, those two pieces of pop would actually use in the book, and I chose almost culture have done a tremendous job of putting Korea on none, as I don’t want players to have to learn a language the map. However, I also believe that they should not be to be able to play. There are some instances where the only lens through which to look at South Korea. hangeul is used but overall, it’s discreet and doesn’t I decided to write this campaign setting when it interfere with gameplay. became apparent that the game it is connected to was Names and spelling. For names, I chose to follow the becoming increasingly popular in Korea. I thought that common tradition of fantasy that provides names that it would be fair to have a Korean setting to play in describe the places they refer to. I chose names in Korea. That in itself was not enough, however, as I also Korean and then provided their romanization. However, wanted people from around the world to discover what it quickly became apparent that some of those were Korea has to offer beyond the realms of k-pop and difficult to pronounce for people who didn’t study the k-drama. For that, I needed to create a world that not language. Therefore, I made some slight modifications only matched closely Korean lore and history, but was that may alter the meaning of the words if translated also altered to connect with an international audience. back to Korean, but make the names easier to work with This book, after all, aims to communicate and connect in the middle of a game. So it is possible that some with people through the use of thrilling adventures. It romanized Korean words are not spelled the way they isn’t a treatise or a scholarly work. So, I needed to make are on other resources, but it is intentional. The key is sure that its content was attractive to a broad audience. always to favor gameplay and ease of use. To conclude For that, I had to make difficult choices. on names, I have also decided to go with linked first Culture and Lore. While I tried to stick to Korean names across the board. Therefore, while the reader may lore as closely as I could, I also needed to make some be able to find first names spelled Ji Hae, Ji-Hae, or Ji- changes to make this book more compatible with hae in other resources, I have chosen to go with Jihae to Samplegameplay. For instance, the use of spirits in shamanism, avoid having hyphens sprinkled allfile over the book. and the extent of the shamans’ powers are both created

5 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES PREFACE Pronouns. In this campaign setting book, I have used investigation, or as bonus information to integrate in an three sexes for characters: androgynous, female and already existing adventure when players find themselves male. Female and male characters fall under the in that area of Jeosung. It is important to note that some umbrella of common pronouns but androgynous wild spirits presented in those “sightings” come with characters needed a set of pronouns of their own. I stats. Those stat blocks are explained in detail in the chose to go with the Spivack pronouns which seem to Spirits List chapter of this book. have been gaining momentum over the years. Those come in the form of e/eir/em, and are used everytime an NPCS androgynous character is refered to. Due to the large number of NPCs available in Jeosung, I want this book to appeal to a wide audience, not they have all been gathered at the end of each realm’s only because I believe that there is a lot to learn about description. Common NPCs have been presented with Korea that goes beyond what is in the current cultural their names, place of residence, race, gender, their zeitgeist, but also because I love the game it is connected title—if they have one—and a short description. Some to wholeheartedly. It has taught me a lot about of the NPCs’ designs were supported by backers of the imagination, pushing the limits and working as a team. 2019 Kickstarter campaign. For those, the descriptions I don’t know if I have succeeded in communicating my are replaced by a vignette that gives a better feel for who attachment to both this game and Korea, but I do hope the characters are. that I have succeeded in providing a world worth exploring for hours and hours of fantastic gameplay. WIDE RANGE OF ADVENTURES Finally, this book was designed to provide a wide range So pick up your weapons, fill up your pouch with of adventures. The jobs on the job board give players a herbs and charms, put on your armor, and get ready to chance to either be heroes or scoundrels, and also jump into the world of the Koryo Hall of Adventures. provide exploratory and diplomatic missions. GMs can choose to run investigation adventures, information Seoul, March 2020 gathering adventures, and the good old dungeon crawls. Aurélien Lainé Information provided in sidebars not only offers flavor to sprinkle around the games, but also real triggers for alternate adventures. Therefore, GMs shouldn’t hesitate to send their players on a cookbook building mission How to Use This B�k that focuses on gathering the best recipes from around the realm. They can also use their players as liaisons This campaign setting book has been laid out in an between the different agency offices, or task the players intuitive way that makes it easy to navigate. The reader with getting a job on a fruit farm in the south or as will find several items included that will enhance both soldiers along the Open Wounds of Haenamguk. the reading and playing experience. ADD-ONS TO THIS BOOK ADVENTURE TRIGGERS A lot of material that was developed for the book Throughout the book, the reader will find highlighted couldn’t make it in due to page count restrictions and information that serves as adventure triggers that GMs contracts with freelancers. As such, you can find can use to organize one-shots or as a base for a longer add-ons to this book atwww.hallofadventures.com . adventure. Such add-ons include the spell list developed by Koryo Deeds. Written on parchment-like Andrew T. Ha especially for the Mudang class, a backgrounds, the Koryo deeds represent the jobs pronunciation guide and a small dictionary for the advertised on the jobs board at the Koryo Hall of Korean-inspired words, as well as adventure triggers Adventures. The instruction not only offers the and all sorts of material related to the world of Jeosung. adventure trigger but also details on location and rewards. Sightings. Sightings are inside more discreet boxes and present information about spirits, suhosins, gumihos, or other instances where someone reported something that was either unusual or that presented a Samplethreat. Those can be used as adventure triggers for file

6 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES PREFACE Sample file Chapter 1 Jeosung’s Mythology And Early History

ou may think that these forests are South, and Seomagoseong in the West. From these thousands of years old, this dormant fortresses, the Heavenly People ruled over all living volcano has never hurt a soul, and the things. Y people of Jeosung have lived in relative However, a day came when there were too many peace for as long as the world has existed. Or you may Heavenly People and not enough Jiyu to feed all of already know that every place in this world has grown them. One Heavenly Man, called Jiso, made his way out of chaos and destruction. It all started in the peace from Dongmagoseong to the closest cliff where he of the Infinite Night. found a grape vine and, unable to control his hunger, picked some of the grapes and ate them. As soon as he The Age of Heavens bit into the grape with his toothless gums, the juice exploded inside his mouth and he discovered the five The time before anything existed is called the Infinite tastes of bitterness, saltiness, spiciness, sourness, and Night. There was no light, no living things, only an sweetness. This was the very beginning of Jeosung’s infinite amount of spiritual energy. From that energy, people’s passion for food and tastes. Jiso returned to his two deities under the names of Yulryeo and Mago came people to tell them about what had just happened. The into being. In the beginning, Yulryeo couldn’t handle Heavenly People started to eat grapes from the cliff living in a world of profound darkness and so he died of vines, but they quickly learned the price that comes despair. Mago loved Yulryeo very much and couldn’t with eating living things. They began to grow teeth and bear to exist without him for long. After his death, she spew saliva that turned into venom; they were able to gave birth to two goddesses, Gunghee and Sohee, who see the heavens but could no longer hear them. They in turn gave birth to two Heavenly Men and two were no longer pure, and instead of children, they gave Heavenly Women. These Heavenly Beings were in the birth to all sorts of creatures. The first creatures came in shape of humans, carrying all virtues and no failings, the form of bears, dogs, horses, birds, snakes, and and were given the gift of procreation. Harnessing the dragons, and were called the Primordial Beasts. power of spiritual energy, the four Heavenly Beings and The people from Dongmagoseong started to blame the three goddesses brought Yulryeo back to life. His Jiso, and all those who ate the grapes were banished body was transformed into light, and his soul became from the fortress. As they were leaving, Hwanggung, the four elements of Air, Water, Fire, and Earth, thus one of the guardians of the Heavenly People, told them creating Iseung, the material world. Yulryeo’s mind then that if they could recover their state of purity, they became the fifth element of time and divination. Mago’s would be welcomed back into the Dongmagoseong. The body and soul became the seasons, the colors, and the word of their exile travelled around and all the weather, and together, Yulryeo and Mago became the Heavenly People from the other Heavenly Fortresses incarnation of Obangsaek, the five elements that were strictly instructed to not eat any other living thing. connect all things in Jeosung. However, the rumor of the five tastes got the better of From that point on, the Heavenly Beings worked hard some. Those who couldn’t resist were in turn exiled everyday to build a world in the name of the gods of from their respective Fortresses. creation. They built four heavenly fortresses at the four Very quickly, the exiled Heavenly People came to the cardinal points of the realms to honor Mago. These conclusion that the only way to become pure again was fortresses were all built next to a source of Jiyu, the to drink Jiyu once more. So, under the command of spiritual water that fed the Heavenly Beings, and they Jiso, they stormed Dongmagoseong, overwhelming its Samplewere called Bukmagoseong in the North, guardians and inhabitants, and brokefile the gates and Dongmagoseong in the East, Namagoseong in the walls to access the source of the Jiyu. When they finally

8 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES JEOSUNG’S MYTHOLOGY & EARLY HISTORY TANG found it, the spring overflowed, throwing the spiritual water in all directions. As it left the protection of the fortress, the Jiyu turned into inedible earth, leaving Jiso and all the Heavenly People to starve. The word of the Obangsaek attack spread out and other exiled Heavenly People stormed two more fortresses in an attempt to regain the Pil�rs of Reality their purity. Only Bukmagoseong in the north was spared; as it was situated high in the mountains, it had very few grape vines for its inhabitants to eat. The rest of “Serenity, beauty, and love are all things that a the Heavenly People found themselves without food and cup of tea made from a lotus flower can shelter, and started to build houses and eat all sorts of provide. Turn to the West, close your eyes, and plants and animals in order to satiate their hunger. In let the scent of this magnificent flower caress turn they gave birth to even more creatures, more vile your soul, for there is nothing more fulfilling and terrifying than the Primordial Beasts. and elusive than being in harmony with The guardian Hwanggung fled to the Bukmagoseong Obangsaek.” looking for protection. He prayed to Mago, begging for - Follower Jeongkwan forgiveness. He swore to her that he would make it his life's mission to help the Heavenly People recover their When Yulryeo and Mago turned their beings into purity, even if it took him an eternity to do so. She the elements that would give birth to Obangsaek, agreed to help him and gave him the Four Heavenly they created a blueprint for the people of Iseung. Heirlooms. He called upon the leader of each castle, This blueprint is a set of affinities that allows them taught them agriculture, and gave one of the Heirlooms to interact with the spiritual energy. Shamans are to each before sending them back to their destroyed the most educated in how to use Obangsaek in fortresses. Cheonggung was now in charge of the realm their rituals and use it to its full potential. However, around the Dongmagoseong, Baekso took over the it has been such a foundational part of the world realm around the Seomagoseong, and Hukso took over that even common people have an unconscious the realm around the Namagoseong. Hwanggung stayed basic understanding of the concept and use it for in the harsh weather of the northern mountains where architecture, cooking, daily rituals, and festivals. the only Heavenly Fortress still stood and renamed the Here is a quick run down of the affinities. You can region Cheonsanju, the Land of the Heavenly Mountain. find more information in the Mudang Class There, he swore an oath to help humankind become chapter of this book. pure again; to do so, he sacrificed his own purity and bit Tang. This Bangsaek is connected to beginnings into the only grape he could find near the heavenly and renewals and the element of earth. It is all fortress. In his heart, he knew that he could only show about solidity, construction and protection. the way back to purity by finding it himself. Būl. This Bangsaek is connected to the element of Hwanggung ruled for another thousand years, using fire. It represents duality where one side is full of his Heavenly Heirloom to rule over fire and the sun. He warmth, leadership and the will to help at all costs, then passed the Heirloom onto his oldest son, Yuin, while the other is filled with aggressiveness and giving him the full power to rule over the people of the dreams of endless power and domination. Northern Fortress. It is said that during his son’s rule, Mūl. This Bangsaek is connected to the element of Hwanggung grew more isolated, spending months at a water, symbolizing adaptability and the ability to time in mountain caves praying and meditating until he quickly understand most situations and change finally found a way for humans to reach purity again, an behavior accordingly. event known as Nirvana or the Awakening. By this time Gongi. This Bangsaek is ruled by the element of air however, Yuin had given in to human life and left the and is often related to playfulness and happiness, Bukmagoseong to use the Heirloom to tame fire and but also connected to exorcism and death. teach his people how to cook food. He came back to the Maheum. The fifth Bangsaek is connected to the Bukmagoseong only once to honor his father’s mind and divination. The spiritual word “Maheum” achievement and pass the Heavenly Heirloom onto his is also used in common language as a throwaway own son, Hanin, who became the last ruler of the Sampleterm to signify fatalism. Heavenly People. file

9 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES JEOSUNG’S MYTHOLOGY & EARLY HISTORY TANG Yuin left to finish his life amongst his people while The Age of the Dragon Kings Hanin reigned for another thousand years. He dedicated The end of Hwaggung’s line created a void that some his life to his grandfather’s achievement and taught his creatures were eager to fill. The campaign for purity people not only the lessons of his grandfather’s life, but wasn’t to the taste of the creatures born during the fight also how to carry these lessons to the rest of the world. for Jiyu, and some of them, dragons and dragonkin at He used the power of his Heirloom to bring sunlight the forefront, started their quest for power. They and good weather to most of the realms so that the emerged first in the east and created Dongyongguk, the common people could find inspiration in the light. Realm of the Dragon in the East, building their fortress During the three-thousand-year reign of Hwanggung’s against the Eastern coast where Gomnaru stands today. line, humankind slowly gained back its original form, Another faction took over the southern islands, calling but never became completely pure again, instead them Namyongguk, the Realm of the Dragon in the becoming the people of Jeosung. The passing of Hanin South. These new rulers came to be known as the marked the end of the Age of Heavens and the Heavenly Dragon Kings. They grew sick of the ways of Fortresses’ locations were forgotten. Some scholars Hwanggung and the Heavenly People, and instead speculate that the temple of Hwanggung in Cheonsanju turned towards the gods for power and spiritual was built within the ruins of Bukmagoseong, and that inspiration. the floating island of Buyuseom in the South is a Those Dragon Kings built powerful, lasting dynasties remnant of the Namagoseong. As for the two other by calling each ruler “the Dragon King,” keeping names fortresses, no one really knows where they stood but and personal details secret. This created the now- many still search for them. The Four Heavenly common misconception that the dragon kings were Heirlooms would each come to shine and then immortal beings that reigned for centuries. Their only disappear in the centuries that followed, the Age of the goal was to gain power and exterminate any Heavenly Dragon Kings. People left alive. They created armies of human beings and used them to fight endless wars against the only realm still under the effects of Yuin’s benevolence. His only goal, quite opposite to his father’s, was to create a decent place for all creatures to live. That realm was in the West and was called Yuinguk, the Realm of Yuin. Not only did Yuin release all of his power after Primordial Beasts passing the Heirloom to his son, he also dedicated the rest of his life to improving the lives of the creatures in As the first divergent races to be born from the the West. A new ruler rose to power in Yuinguk and Heavenly People, the Primordial Beasts have a created an army to defend those under attack from the strong connection with spiritual energy and the Dragon Kings in the East and South. By that time, the basic characteristics that make up all creatures in Heavenly People had all turned into the human beings Iseung (strength, dexterity, constitution, that exist today and therefore were no longer able to use intelligence, wisdom, and charisma). The spiritual the spiritual energy the way they used to. The Second lexicon signs associated with each primordial beast Age was dominated by the constant wars between the are used as seals when creating shamanic charms. East, West, and South. The primordial beasts, their spiritual lexicon signs, Those three kingdoms all had their strengths, each and the characteristics that they influence are as seemingly related to the known powers of each follows: Heavenly Heirloom. The West was more spiritual, following the teachings of Yuin and connecting with the 곰 개 말 spirits that roamed its forested lands. The South took Bear [GOM] Dog [KAE] Horse [MAL] advantage of the volcano that stood on its main island Strength Dexterity Constitution to build the Great Forges and engineer the most powerful weapons known to this day. As for the East, it 새 뱀 용 used the diversity of its land to develop a strong agriculture state and a powerful trading economy. It Bird [SAE] Snake [BAEM] Dragon [YONG] was the first realm to connect with foreign visitors from Intelligence Wisdom Charisma Samplebeyond the Endless Seas, opening file the doors to races such as elves, dwarves, and halflings to make their way

10 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES JEOSUNG’S MYTHOLOGY & EARLY HISTORY TANG into the realms. It is during the second age that the Ren around the realms to disrupt the life of all creatures, came to be, linking the hills of Ssalbada and the Inner finally knocking on the door of the gods, asking for a Port of Gomnaru, a feat only achievable with seat at the table. When they refused, he infused himself tremendous magical powers such as an Heirloom would with more and more spiritual energy, sacrificing tens of provide. thousands of spirits in the process. The Age of the Dragon Kings was a time of both great achievements and chaos. The endless wars between the three Dragon Kings had become senseless and rooted in tradition. In Namyonguk, the fires of industry turned into an inferno of development and construction. The realm was building more ships than anyone would need for centuries. In Dongyonguk, the king changed so often due to coups and backstabbing that they once had a five-year-old ruler due to a lack of any other legitimate options. As for the West, it struggled to reconcile the constant war with its original mission of protecting life and creating an equal world for all creatures. By that The F�r Heavenly Heir�oms time, the original dragons had gone and humans were at Known as the most powerful items that have ever war with other humans. It was an age of chaos to be existed, the Four Heavenly Heirlooms of Mago sure, but it was also an age that saw the rise of wizards have been lost for ages. They have been described and impossible feats. Each Dragon King had their own in manuscripts as simple items of everyday life, but army of wizards who studied the fabric of spiritual many speculate that this is just a disguise to make energy and used their findings to further the war against sure that no one can ever find them again. Each the other realms. Dark sorcerers rose from hidden Heirloom has specific powers connected to an corners of the realms and used the wizards’ research to element. manipulate the spiritual energy to their will until finally, The Bronze Bowl of Earth. Strong and the most infamous wizard in history did the unbreakable, this heirloom is surely the heaviest of unthinkable. His name was Yun Sepyeong and he them all. When struck with its accompanying stick, changed the world forever. this heirloom can move earth around and shape it in any way the user may imagine. Place the bowl on The Wizard Yun Sepyeong the ground for best results. The Stones of Fire. Warm to the touch, these stones There was nothing notable at the edge of the Wünu are smooth as if they had spent centuries in the Mountains and Cheonsanju until one day, there was a currents of the oceans. When struck together, they tower. It was not a common tower, but rather a sharp create a spark that can be molded into any type of and very narrow mountain, not unlike a giant stalagmite fire, from the flimsiest torch to the fires ofa shooting up into the sky. It was taller than any other powerful forge. mountain and it glowed blue day and night. Inside lived The Tea Set of Water. There is a calming simplicity the wizard Yun Sepyeong, a scholar and stellar wizard to this celadon tea set composed of a pot, four from the armies of Dongyonguk. He sought refuge in cups, and a cooling bowl. When used in unison this isolated place to devote himself to his dark with songs and prayers to Mago, the people who experiments. For all of the realms’ long history, there drink from one of the four cups can control water was one rule: the material and the spiritual can interact in all its forms: humidity in the air, ponds, lakes, but they can’t enslave one another. Yun Sepyeong and oceans. thought differently, and he found a way to bend spirits The Smooth Fan of Air. Quite unlike regular fans, and suhosins to his will. He created what is known as the material that makes this heirloom is so soft that the Spiritual Cage spell, made with a combination of some have refused to call it fabric. It seems to have necromancy and shamanistic rituals. It locks a spirit’s been made straight out of spiritual energy. When consciousness into a magical cage inside their mind, waved while meditating, this fan allows its user to allowing the caster to take over the spirits and use them control the weather in all its forms. at will. Yun Sepyeong raised an army of mortal creatures Sampleand spirits and made it clear to the world that he wanted file to become a god among the gods. He sent his armies

11 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES JEOSUNG’S MYTHOLOGY & EARLY HISTORY TANG The End of the Gods The Winds of Darkness The arrogance of the wizard angered the gods, and the As the dust continued to settle and the people of the lands that were hospitable became a stage of complete realms tried to make sense of what had happened, new chaos. Earthquakes shook the entire world, the Hwasan sounds emerged from the void. Beasts of all sizes volcano erupted like never before, and waves as high as started to roam the land. Bulgasaris, gwishins, mountains rocked the Inner Sea. The North found itself dokkaebis, all the creatures of legend were now running covered in snow all the way down to what is now the all over, hunting, killing, and taking over what was left city of Yodongseong. The South was under scathing of villages and cities. Dokkaebis, the smartest of them heat, stuck between wildfires and volcanic stones falling all, decided that they would rule over all creatures by from the sky. Everywhere in between, all creatures ran creating armies of evil. to try and find any kind of protection. The Dragon The disarray across the realms was so great that the Kings braved the dangers to meet on the island now invasion felt like a cold wind running freely throughout known as Haemadö. They agreed to bring their armies the lands. To impose their rule, the armies of dokkaebis together, sail to the tower of the wizard, and kill him in made pacts with the most vile creatures hiding in an attempt to regain the favor of the gods. As one, all the remote parts of the realms and let them loose, soldiers on all the available ships sailed north. As they spreading fear and death. Their main settlement was in got closer, they found with horror that the wizard had the southern city of Groth, today’s Saenam. It occupied already gone too far and the energy around his tower a perfect location with access to the sea, open paths on was no longer the shimmering blue of spiritual energy, either side of the Wünu Mountains, and proximity to but instead the golden radiance of godly power. From the ocean that led to the rest of the world. From there, their ships, barely staying afloat on an already angry sea, they sent a message to the world. Ships filled with more the Dragon Kings saw the golden glow of the souls of evil creatures came in at every new moon. Soon, the the gods rush upwards towards the sky from all parts of armies of darkness were so vast that the taking of the the lands, rushing to escape the power of this crazed entire continent was inevitable. The creatures who were wizard. As they were partway up to the sky, a spear of colonized lived in fear as forced labor or hid in elevated golden energy emerged from the wizard’s tower with a areas in the Wünu Mountains and in the snow-covered demented Yun Sepyeong at its tip, chasing after them. land of Cheonsanju, or on the remote islands away from The sea level rose, as if attracted by the wizard’s god-like the mainland. Greed and the thirst for power had energy, throwing most of the Dragon Kings’ armies into brought the world of the Dragon Kings to its knees. the ocean. Those who stayed aboard the few ships that There were nothing more than a few stars left in the weren’t swallowed by the rising waves had but an instant night to shine upon the survivors. to witness the end of the gods. As the golden spear began to catch up with the gods, the sky that once was a shiny blue turned a pale Three Stars in the �ng Night shimmering green. As it did, a succession of events Destroyed shrines, heads of beheaded shamans and occurred: the golden spear blinked out of existence, wizards pinned to sign posts across the realms, humans then the waves fell back into the bed of the Inner Sea as packed up in cages and released only to serve as food if dropped from the sky, the earthquakes stopped, and for the large beasts. Those are just a few of the the Hwasan volcano suddenly quieted down until horrifying accounts that survived the Winds of neither lava nor a single sound came out of it. If the last Darkness. Some also wrote about the constant grey fog Dragon Kings had survived just a little longer instead of accompanied by the smell of burnt flesh that disappearing in the depth of the sea, they would have surrounded the lands in the East. There were a few acts seen Yun Sepyeong fall from the sky, inert, and land on of resistance such as the Twenty-Five Moons Siege of his tower which collapsed and exploded in a cloud of Yodongseong and the Landslide of Tanchön, but none dust. It took hours for the rocks from Hwasan to stop of them had enough impact to turn the tide around. falling from the sky, days for the water in the Inner Sea The forces of darkness were greater in numbers and to return to normal, and quarters for the wildfires to fearless, and the humans had no gods or spirits to fall stop burning. Finally, silence fell and the cold wind of back on for help. Some of them searched deep into old darkness swept through the lands. The gods were gone manuscripts for a sign of relief and found the teachings and the spirits had cut all ties with the people of Iseung. of Hwanggung. They hid far away in temples, joining SampleThis moment when everything rushed from chaos to the Followers of Hwanggung en masse.file The creatures of silence has come to be known as the Fall. Jeosung had lost all hope, seeing nothing more than

12 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES JEOSUNG’S MYTHOLOGY & EARLY HISTORY TANG inky darkness when they looked up at the sky. It was in launched his attacks. Those were acts of mutiny, the middle of this interminable night that three stars sabotage, and targeted assassinations. Every trick in the began to shine. book was used to weaken the armies of darkness. Käl was a rogue dragonkin with the grit of a thousand Li Yongjeon, who has become known as Admiral giants. He established a camp against the Cheonsanju Yeongjo, was a young naval engineer who escaped from mountainside in the cold lands Noonnara; from there, Jeosung by hiding in the cargo hold of an enemy he sent messengers all around the realms to attract warship that sailed across the seas. He carried with him creatures of all races and backgrounds. All those who the plans for a new kind of warship with the potential to came were taught basic combat and strategy by Käl put a dent in the enemy’s navy. Once on the shore of himself. When the group was large enough to be called faraway lands, he hiked as far as he could up the coast an army, he named it the Shadows of the North and until he came across a powerful elven fleet. He offered the ship plans in exchange for the Elves’ help in his war against the dark forces occupying his home land. Witout spiritual activity, there is no spiritual energy, and without spiritual energy, seeking for spiritual activity is as vain a task as they come. When Yül set out to reconnect the material world with the spiritual world, there was no hope in sight. The world quickly found out that the only hope lay inside her and the few shamans who found ways to escape the terrible fates of their counterparts. They made their way to Yül’s hideout deep in the Wünu Mountains. It took years of meditation and transcendental chanting and dancing until finally, in the soft light of a morning sun, a spirit answered. It was the most revered spirit in that area of the world, the mountain patron Sanshin, and with her, she brought a spirit unknown to the world, the Seven Stars Spirit. Over half a century into the occupation of the realms, the rogue-turned-army general, the naval engineer- turned-diplomat and the shaman-turned-spiritual- architect were getting ready to join forces and retake the lands from the armies if darkness.

The Seven Stars Spirit

The origins of the Seven Stars Spirit is still up for known gates right now, all of them noted in the debate. No one has formally been in contact with it Gazetteer section of this book. The gates are a set of for anything other than transportation. When seven pine trees forming a very rough circle in Sanshin introduced the spirit to Yül during the which firefly-like lights float around a faint yellow Winds of Darkness, her explanation was simple. glow. The prayer goes as follows: “Seven Stars There are seven connected gates in this world and Spirit, be my guide through the darkness, from the Spirit of the Seven Stars is their regent. Those here to [name of the destination gate], be my who want to use them must stand within the guide, don’t let the spirits of the underworld catch confinement of the gate and ask to be sent to another me as I leap and bound, so be my guide, be my Samplegate in a prayer to the spirit. There are only four guide, be my guide.” file

13 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES JEOSUNG’S MYTHOLOGY & EARLY HISTORY TANG The Retaking of the �nds Namyonguk, the last realm to be freed, was liberated. Admiral Yeongjo, Yül, and Käl finally met on the With time and the help of Sanshin, Yül reconnected battlefield in the plains of Kyeoltuji, where the last with the spirits, pushing her congregation of shamans to major battle for the Retaking of the Lands occured. It its limits to chant and dance and offer jesa (shamanic was a somewhat bittersweet meeting, engulfed in blood offerings) without rest. Their work created sparks of and loss. The three of them agreed that the bulk of the spiritual energy, and magic—albeit weak and isolated— fighting was done and declared this day the last day of returned to the world. She slowly built an army of spirits the Winds of Darkness. They stood on burnt lands and and, with the help of the connected network of the ruins of the old world. The past was gone and the future Seven Stars Spirit, she met with Käl in Yezo. She shared was uncertain. In the end, they couldn’t quite decide if what the spirits of the wind told her, that a man from they had created a second chance or if they found the south was on his way with a navy of heavy warships. themselves in the deserted lands of hell. The two of them agreed on a plan and the pieces on the chessboard started to move. Jeosung To Admiral Yeongjo, they were simple musings; to the common people, they were dreams, feelings, a “Every new day that separates us from the horrors growing warmth in their chests as days came and went. of the Winds of Darkness is a reminder that we live Those visions, those dreams were about a new era of on borrowed time. One day or another, it will be the freedom and life. They were about a southern city where end of the world and we will escape from this hell a great battle was to take place. They were about picking that we call life.” up any tool usable as a weapon and getting ready to - Unknown Daewanguk Scholar fight. Admiral Yeongjo knew that the army of elven ships now under his command was not to head for his In the spiritual lexicon, Jeosung means “hell” or “the homeland but a city in the south of Yuinguk. As he land after death.” As they witnessed the utter changed the destination of his ships, the wind started to annihilation of anything that looked like life in the blow stronger and the navy of Dragonships started to realms, Kál, Yül, and Admiral Yeongjo decided that move faster. there was no fitter name for this desolate continent. The word from the Shadows of the North was They now had an impossible task in front of them—that disruption. Fire across the lands and ash floating in the of making Jeosung a proper place to live once more. The air attracted the attention of the armies of darkness who first thing they agreed on was to establish Cheott- moved the bulk of their forces towards Dongyonguk. Banggeo, also known as “the first line of defense,” all The Shadows moved with the support of the growing across the realms. Each new leader was free to enact it network of Temples of the Followers of Hwanggung in any way they wanted but they had the responsibility scattered around the realm. It took only one day, a day to enforce it to prevent something as horrific as the like no other. Messages traveled faster between enemy Winds of Darkness from ever happening again. camps, decisions were made more recklessly than they Yül made her way back to her hideout, which she otherwise might have been. A single day when the opened to visitors from the rest of the world. It is now might of all spirits dictated the movements of dark kings known as the shrine for the Sanshin spirit, and monstrous generals. Spirits and shamans gathered Sanshinnamü. She helped found Michuhol, the largest south of the Wünu Mountains; the enemy’s navy sailed city on the northern edge of what used to be Yuinguk, across the Inner Sea, clearing the way for Admiral and created the Council of Five, made up of five Yeongjo to sail towards Groth, the city of hope. The shamans in charge of keeping the balance between the pieces were in place for the most memorable night in material and spiritual worlds. With the help of spirits the history of Jeosung. and shamans alike, she has pushed winter back Admiral Yeongjo’s navy, Yül’s spiritual army, and the northwards. Seasons are not yet back to what they used common people who heard the drums of war took the to be, but the area is livable, and anything north of the city overnight. As they made their way up Yuinguk, snow line around the Yalu River is considered to be dismantling any large enemy settlements, the admiral Noonnara, the land of snow. sailed across the Inner Sea and destroyed the enemy Käl took over the leadership of what used to be navy with his unbreakable Dragonships. The army of Dongyonguk and renamed it Daewangguk, the elves accompanying him fought the bulk of the enemy’s kingdom of the king in the East. Without the education Sampledefenses with the help of the Shadows of the North on necessary to run a kingdom, he turnedfile to the past and land. After years of fighting all across the lands, used all the manuscripts at his disposal to recreate the

14 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES JEOSUNG’S MYTHOLOGY & EARLY HISTORY TANG Today, barely two hundred years after the Retaking of the Lands, the people of Jeosung celebrate the reopening of the borders of Haenamguk, the fully functional trading port of Gomnaru, the spiritual beacon of Michuhol, and the fact that despite their regular encounters with ferocious beasts and ghosts, their life is Cheott-Banggeo somewhat livable. There are new threats coming from Cheott-Banggeo is a rule among all the realms in the northern tribes and the many factions around the Jeosung prescribing that every creature that is part realms are a constant source of instability, but as it of an organized society of any size must be given stands, the realms don’t seem to be on the brink of access to educational tools to learn at least three extinction. The bruises from the Winds of Darkness cantrips from the wizards’ spell list. Each organized may never disappear and the wounds may never heal. society is free to choose how to make this happen, There is, however, one thing in this world that brings but it is the leaders’ responsibility to ensure that hope in the hearts of the people. If the life of a farmer, a everyone gets equal access to that education. thief, a scholar, or a lord isn’t quite a fit for them and they yearn for something more rewarding, they can always head out to the Koryo Hall of Adventures and kingdom in the image of what it used to be. He then take a job as a full-time adventurer. divided the entire realm between the bravest and most loyal members of the Shadows of the North and made each swear to protect their people and help clean up the remaining filth left from the armies of darkness. Everyone, individually or as a nation, deals with trauma and loss in their own way. Admiral Yeongjo sailed back to Namyongguk to find a now-dormant volcano that had left the realm devastated by its past eruptions. The land was ashes and scorched earth, and it seemed only logical to leave it all behind. He didn’t, however, and after time had passed, two messages were sent to the other realms. The first one said that Namyongguk had been renamed Haenamguk. The second stated that its borders were closed until further notice and anyone trying to enter without express permission from the Directorate of Haenamguk would be killed on sight. Over the ensuing decades, more and more watchtowers appeared along the coasts of the many islands. The realm and its representatives only participated in the bare minimum of diplomacy, thus becoming known to all as the Hermit Kingdom. As for the gods, they never came back. Some scholars say that they went to Okwang, the continent of the gods somewhere in the universe. Some people in Jeosung actively try to reconnect with the gods, but they only hear silence and see the shimmering green sky that they have left behind. After the ascent and fall of the wizard Yun Sepyeong from the sky, any type of flight above the level of the highest peak of Cheonsanju has become impossible, making flying in general a lost art. Once the realms took the shape of functioning societies, the Followers of Hwaggung came out of hiding and built many temples in the open. They are now a Samplepowerful religious force all across the realms. file

15 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES JEOSUNG’S MYTHOLOGY & EARLY HISTORY TANG Chapter 2 The People of Jeosung

Common �ng�ges The classes currently recognized in Jeosung are Yangban, Joongin, Sangmin, and Cheonmin. The more The most common languages used in Jeosung are the illegitimate class created by Haenamguk is called Nobi. common tongue and the spiritual lexicon. The former made its way into Jeosung when people from beyond YANGBAN the Endless Seas started trading with the kingdoms of The aristocrats of Jeosung the Dragon Kings. The latter is the primal language that was used by the Heavenly People, the spirits, and the The aristocratic class of Jeosung, the yangban, includes gods. The spiritual lexicon, also called the Native military officials, government officials, members of the Jeosung Tongue, is often used for names and king's court, scholars and descendants of rich families. descriptions or sayings that don’t quite translate into the In theory, all those who join the ranks of public officials common tongue. There used to be many regional can gain the rank of yangban by passing the national dialects but all of them disappeared throughout the test called Gwageo. However, the cost and availability of Winds of Darkness, giving favor to the common tongue. education narrows down the pool to mostly families Other languages, such as Elvish and Dwarven, followed who already have the yangban status. the races that came to settle to Jeosung, but they are As they don’t have to worry about the common tasks limited to the communities who speak it and rarely of everyday life such as cooking, cleaning and keeping taught in the realms. their house in order, yangbans concern themselves with furthering their education, working up the social ladder and marriage. Finding the right partner within C�sses & Aristocracy the yangban class is of utmost importance as it is a key Talking about classes is always a sore subject in Jeosung. part of maintaining their reputation among other At the beginning of this age when everything had to be aristocrats. Yangban families are under a lot of pressure re-built, there were no classes and everyone was equal in to have every generation study and succeed in their pain and in dealing with the tasks at hand. As becoming high level officials. The title of yangban can Daewangguk grew back from the ashes, modeling its be stripped from a family if its members fail to become society on the fallen kingdoms of the Dragon Kings, the officials during three successive generations. This rule is social classes were reinstated. Many tried to fight it at seldom enforced and some families keep their yangban first as it was in complete opposition with the values of status for many generations despite falling to maintain this post-Winds of Darkness world. However, the their status in society. This law can become a handy tool government of Daewanguk put all its weight behind for opposing families looking to dishonor one another. these changes and before long, the four classes that The list of yangban families is kept up to date by the existed during the time of the Dragon Kings were back Geumyongcheong, the Yangban agency. in the realm. Soon, the system spread to Haenamguk as Due to the nature of their right of passage to become well, where the military government added another members of the aristocracy, yangbans are a competitive class while no one was watching, one that created an group. They like to find ways to differentiate themselves outcry in the chambers of the Mudangguk council. from one another by claiming greater legitimacy or While the realm of the shamans has been actively dishonoring others so that they get their yangban status fighting against it, groups from the Gaya Confederacy removed. In Daewangguk, for instance, a blood-rank are working hard to spread the idea and get King Suro system from 1 to 6 has emerged. People with traceable of Saenam to make social classes official in the region. lineage to aristocratic families going back to the era of Samplethe Dragon Kings are given rank 6file and can join the

16 THE KORYO HALL OF ADVENTURES THE PEOPLE OF JEOSUNG TANG