Lord Tyger
2012-01-11, 02:13 AM
Just something I put together for a possible future campaign. Critiques welcome.
Overview
Castle Carceros-
Essentially, the Castle and the grounds surrounding it make up a penal colony of the theoretically Lawful Neutral but actually quite corrupt Beloved Empire.
Castle Carceros is at the center of the colony. A single central tower of reflective black stone juts towards the sky. Around the top is a series of crimson glowing sigils. The rest of the castle is obviously built later, a chaotic cluster of brick, stone, and wood additions that sprawl out horizontally.
This is all initially unclear to new arrivals, as the entry point is a cellar deep beneath Castle Carceros proper. It is here that they meet their Warden, an ancient mummy believed to be the first prisoner of Castle Carceros, and it is here they learn the rules of the Castle.
Do not interfere with the functioning of the Colony, which is to say the arrivals of food and the mining of Yliastr, as well as the experiments of the Three Penitents. Apart from this, the Warden cares little for the activities of his wards, though he offers them the chance to earn greater comfort, and potentially their ultimate release if they work for him.
Yliastr is the theoretical Prima Material, from which the Gods created the universe. Alchemists have long sought after it, as it is believed that it alone can be transformed into the Ideal Substances (the three Grails of the Alchemist’s trade, Azoth, Soma, and Eitr). What the Three Penitents believe to be Yliastr is present in small quantities in the Howling Void that lies beyond the safe area created by Castle Carceros.
Since the process of retrieving Yliastr from the Howling Void is dangerous and ill-understood, penal labor is used for this purpose. Even then, the service is voluntary, though surviving six months doing it is one of the only ways to earn release from Castle Carceros without the intervention of the Warden, who reserves the rarely exercised right to convert sentences to time served in the event of extraordinary service.
Food and materials are brought in via a ritually opened rift to the Beloved Empire. Violent escape through this rift has never been successfully attempted, as the portal is one way, opened from the other side on the rare occasions of return, and the Warden personally threw the only three men ever to attempt to take the ritualists hostage into the Howling Void. However, a few individuals, largely those with powerful criminal or political connections in the Beloved Empire have managed to smuggle themselves through. More frequently, various contraband is smuggled through in the food shipments, placed by various allies and family members of those in Castle Carceros.
Howling Void
The Howling Void-
Outside of the zone of safety created by the central tower of Castle Carceros lies the Howling Void, a maelstrom of unordered matter and energy, constantly shifting, and changing whatever comes into it. Those who enter without proper protection find themselves torn into their component elements and scattered throughout the cosmos.
After decades of experimentation, the Three Penitents were able to imitate the effects of the tower on a limited scale, creating the Void Incantation which offers some protection from the transmutative properties of the Void. Now prisoners venture into the Howling Void bearing special containers which distill the essence of the Void to produce Yliastr.
Even with the Incantation, however, the Void is far from lacking in dangers. Prolonged exposure can cause unpredictable physical and mental alterations, in addition to which the Harvestmen are not the only venturers into the Void. Various Outsiders appear there, although their purpose and allegiance remains uncertain.
Physically, the Howling Void manifests as a chaotic swirl of ever changing patterns, an eerie piping and droning that rises and falls unpredictably, and, the only bizarre constant, a strong smell of cinnamon.
Important Persons
The Warden- An ancient Dread Mummy Monk. How he came to be in Castle Carceros is unclear, but he ruthlessly protects the Three Penitents and their work. Outside of that, he amuses himself by interfering in the intrigues and lives of the prisoners under his watch. His long existence has given him a gloomy outlook on life, and of almost any venture, he can be certain to predict its end in tears.
Athos- The First Penitent: Athos is a wizard of considerable puissance, who came to Castle Carceros, pledging to dedicate his life to the betterment of mankind, after his experiments caused the death of his wife and children. He specializes in Abjuration, and he is responsible for maintaining the Void Incantations. He was the first of the Penitents to arrive, before the prison was set up, and proved the existence of Yliastr.
Victoria- The Second Penitent: Victoria is a haunted oracle of the Dark Tapestry, empowered and taught to seek redemption after a life as a fraudulent fortune teller. She predicted the arrival of the Third Penitent, and convinced the Warden to dedicate his undeath to the three of them, as well as bringing about the establishment of the penal colony.
The Third Penitent: This iron-masked figure has no name, and his origin is unclear. He is a sublime alchemist, and the creator of the process for extracting Yliastr from the Howling Void. He is also the leader in the experimentation with Yliastr, attempting to render the Ideal Substances.
The Man Jack: A half-orc Barbarian and Pugilist, serving is his nineteenth consecutive sentence for acts of murder, assault and arson. Has spent a long time in the void, with interesting effects on his mental status.
Jonathan Lee- Wheeler-dealer, rumored to have a personal pipeline to the outside. Runs the Tipsy Turnkey.
Locations
Locations:
The Tipsy Turnkey- A modified barracks in Castle Carceros, now the site of a tavern run by Jonathan Lee. No traditional drinks are available, replaced instead by a strong narcotic beverage brewed from certain toxic mushrooms which Lee cultivates in the cellar. The site of much gambling, especially on the cage fights.
The Spire- The center tower of Castle Carceros, which bears the Great Wards which keep the Howling Void at bay. The Warden’s personal quarters are here, which means the prisoners mostly stay clear.
The Penitent’s Workshop- Located in a reinforced basement directly beneath the Spire, the Penitent’s Workshop also includes their personal quarters. It is here that the Penitent’s carry out their experiments with Yliastr. It also rumored the Workshops contains a cell for certain individuals mutated by the Howling Void, too dangerous to be allowed free reign in the prison, but whom the Penitent’s believe they may yet gain valuable knowledge from.
Fiddler’s Green- A legend among the prisoners, Fiddler’s Green is supposedly an island of tranquility in the Howling Void, where there is no Warden or Penitents, but there is an abundance of fruit bearing trees and sweet water.
The Ideal Substances
The Three Ideal Substances:
Yliastr can theoretically be rendered into any form of matter. The three substances which the Penitents are most eager to achieve though, are Azoth, Soma, and Eitr.
Azoth- The All-Cure. Azoth can overcome and disease, illness and infirmity, granting the consumer renewed vigor and youth. Also known as the Elixir of Life.
Soma- The God-Drug. Taken in small doses, Soma causes euphoric visions and profound insight into the nature of the Cosmos. In large doses, it is believed that it will render the Final Knowledge, raising its consumer to status as a new God.
Eitr- The Life-Source. Eitr is believed to be essential in the creation of life. Specifically, the First Penitent theorizes that it is the ineffable substance of which souls are composed.
Overview
Castle Carceros-
Essentially, the Castle and the grounds surrounding it make up a penal colony of the theoretically Lawful Neutral but actually quite corrupt Beloved Empire.
Castle Carceros is at the center of the colony. A single central tower of reflective black stone juts towards the sky. Around the top is a series of crimson glowing sigils. The rest of the castle is obviously built later, a chaotic cluster of brick, stone, and wood additions that sprawl out horizontally.
This is all initially unclear to new arrivals, as the entry point is a cellar deep beneath Castle Carceros proper. It is here that they meet their Warden, an ancient mummy believed to be the first prisoner of Castle Carceros, and it is here they learn the rules of the Castle.
Do not interfere with the functioning of the Colony, which is to say the arrivals of food and the mining of Yliastr, as well as the experiments of the Three Penitents. Apart from this, the Warden cares little for the activities of his wards, though he offers them the chance to earn greater comfort, and potentially their ultimate release if they work for him.
Yliastr is the theoretical Prima Material, from which the Gods created the universe. Alchemists have long sought after it, as it is believed that it alone can be transformed into the Ideal Substances (the three Grails of the Alchemist’s trade, Azoth, Soma, and Eitr). What the Three Penitents believe to be Yliastr is present in small quantities in the Howling Void that lies beyond the safe area created by Castle Carceros.
Since the process of retrieving Yliastr from the Howling Void is dangerous and ill-understood, penal labor is used for this purpose. Even then, the service is voluntary, though surviving six months doing it is one of the only ways to earn release from Castle Carceros without the intervention of the Warden, who reserves the rarely exercised right to convert sentences to time served in the event of extraordinary service.
Food and materials are brought in via a ritually opened rift to the Beloved Empire. Violent escape through this rift has never been successfully attempted, as the portal is one way, opened from the other side on the rare occasions of return, and the Warden personally threw the only three men ever to attempt to take the ritualists hostage into the Howling Void. However, a few individuals, largely those with powerful criminal or political connections in the Beloved Empire have managed to smuggle themselves through. More frequently, various contraband is smuggled through in the food shipments, placed by various allies and family members of those in Castle Carceros.
Howling Void
The Howling Void-
Outside of the zone of safety created by the central tower of Castle Carceros lies the Howling Void, a maelstrom of unordered matter and energy, constantly shifting, and changing whatever comes into it. Those who enter without proper protection find themselves torn into their component elements and scattered throughout the cosmos.
After decades of experimentation, the Three Penitents were able to imitate the effects of the tower on a limited scale, creating the Void Incantation which offers some protection from the transmutative properties of the Void. Now prisoners venture into the Howling Void bearing special containers which distill the essence of the Void to produce Yliastr.
Even with the Incantation, however, the Void is far from lacking in dangers. Prolonged exposure can cause unpredictable physical and mental alterations, in addition to which the Harvestmen are not the only venturers into the Void. Various Outsiders appear there, although their purpose and allegiance remains uncertain.
Physically, the Howling Void manifests as a chaotic swirl of ever changing patterns, an eerie piping and droning that rises and falls unpredictably, and, the only bizarre constant, a strong smell of cinnamon.
Important Persons
The Warden- An ancient Dread Mummy Monk. How he came to be in Castle Carceros is unclear, but he ruthlessly protects the Three Penitents and their work. Outside of that, he amuses himself by interfering in the intrigues and lives of the prisoners under his watch. His long existence has given him a gloomy outlook on life, and of almost any venture, he can be certain to predict its end in tears.
Athos- The First Penitent: Athos is a wizard of considerable puissance, who came to Castle Carceros, pledging to dedicate his life to the betterment of mankind, after his experiments caused the death of his wife and children. He specializes in Abjuration, and he is responsible for maintaining the Void Incantations. He was the first of the Penitents to arrive, before the prison was set up, and proved the existence of Yliastr.
Victoria- The Second Penitent: Victoria is a haunted oracle of the Dark Tapestry, empowered and taught to seek redemption after a life as a fraudulent fortune teller. She predicted the arrival of the Third Penitent, and convinced the Warden to dedicate his undeath to the three of them, as well as bringing about the establishment of the penal colony.
The Third Penitent: This iron-masked figure has no name, and his origin is unclear. He is a sublime alchemist, and the creator of the process for extracting Yliastr from the Howling Void. He is also the leader in the experimentation with Yliastr, attempting to render the Ideal Substances.
The Man Jack: A half-orc Barbarian and Pugilist, serving is his nineteenth consecutive sentence for acts of murder, assault and arson. Has spent a long time in the void, with interesting effects on his mental status.
Jonathan Lee- Wheeler-dealer, rumored to have a personal pipeline to the outside. Runs the Tipsy Turnkey.
Locations
Locations:
The Tipsy Turnkey- A modified barracks in Castle Carceros, now the site of a tavern run by Jonathan Lee. No traditional drinks are available, replaced instead by a strong narcotic beverage brewed from certain toxic mushrooms which Lee cultivates in the cellar. The site of much gambling, especially on the cage fights.
The Spire- The center tower of Castle Carceros, which bears the Great Wards which keep the Howling Void at bay. The Warden’s personal quarters are here, which means the prisoners mostly stay clear.
The Penitent’s Workshop- Located in a reinforced basement directly beneath the Spire, the Penitent’s Workshop also includes their personal quarters. It is here that the Penitent’s carry out their experiments with Yliastr. It also rumored the Workshops contains a cell for certain individuals mutated by the Howling Void, too dangerous to be allowed free reign in the prison, but whom the Penitent’s believe they may yet gain valuable knowledge from.
Fiddler’s Green- A legend among the prisoners, Fiddler’s Green is supposedly an island of tranquility in the Howling Void, where there is no Warden or Penitents, but there is an abundance of fruit bearing trees and sweet water.
The Ideal Substances
The Three Ideal Substances:
Yliastr can theoretically be rendered into any form of matter. The three substances which the Penitents are most eager to achieve though, are Azoth, Soma, and Eitr.
Azoth- The All-Cure. Azoth can overcome and disease, illness and infirmity, granting the consumer renewed vigor and youth. Also known as the Elixir of Life.
Soma- The God-Drug. Taken in small doses, Soma causes euphoric visions and profound insight into the nature of the Cosmos. In large doses, it is believed that it will render the Final Knowledge, raising its consumer to status as a new God.
Eitr- The Life-Source. Eitr is believed to be essential in the creation of life. Specifically, the First Penitent theorizes that it is the ineffable substance of which souls are composed.