Delight in the Delta
The decrepit creature writes in a broken scrawl on the dungeon stones that surround it, a comment bereft of happiness that screams out the cruel and unusual punishments afflicted to this thing which once could call itself a man. Another creature, one even more foul, wrapped in the dull chains of war approached the singular hole which allowed light into the cell. It tosses a stale chunk of bread onto the floor. For once the decrepit one ignores the hunger, it’s so hungry the feeling itself is lost to its mind. The chained monster looks through the hole with interest. “It is ready.”
With strange motions one of the stone walls descends into the floor beneath it and two more chained monsters strangle the decrepit one into its own bath of chains and spikes, a coffin from which the creature is sent forward into the world, eyes and mind as broken as its body. It awakens in random moments but this is the most the decrepit one had been awake for who knows how long. It stands across a field from a few sullen men draped in ragged clothes and wielding farm equipment. The town behind them is already halfway burned and the decrepit one manages to feel a singular pang of guilt before marching forward.
The Armies approach! Of the greatest powers in these important regions it is mostly held by the State itself but with freedom comes more danger, the lands around allow for all kinds of adventurers to take down the monsters patrolling the edges of civilization. Nomadic groups regularly trade with the soldiers and merchants which move around the bay in rotations of exchange, from which the Great Counts of the Hazikka garner their coins. As such they are the targets of many raiders, pirates and now the strange chained armies from across the sea. So while the Hazik ignores the issues the local nobles take up the issues with intense difficulty and may not even succeed if not for some intrepid heroes
Campaign Begins: Character Ideas (For those who need inspiration)
The Anxious Guard - this human character served somewhere nearby for experience but low pay, having been run out from Hazik City for their lack of humility after insulting a rich noble, though this character would counter that nobility doesn’t deserve any respect. Now with limited options and their guard contract running out they need a good influx of cash and with their defensive Warden abilities plus their connections to the Abu Sani they have been invited into the elite adventuring group
The Convict - This ferocious character was imprisoned for many years in a Hazikite prison cell, being released only to kill certain targets that the leaders felt deserved it, using their ferocious Pirate violence. The deal being each one extending their life for another year. Their monstrous infernal horns above their goblinoid ears have made them a pariah in most circles, reducing their chance at release to absolute zero. However now the leaders are feeling desperate, and should this character return with a weapon or a dragon’s head they will be released. Now if only they could get this magic rune with a deadly spell off their back
The Wildman - This river goblin character is a member of the Ughuao Tribe and part of the regular groups that travel out to seek employment within the armies of the states to the south, their expert knowledge of mounts and archery exceeding the normal and with little to stop them they are almost mandatory in most wars in this region. This includes the coming fight against the hated monsters from the region and this character knows how to drain money from the government while killing its enemies
The Loyalist Vassal - This character is loyal to Count Goeddard of Castle Sheinzel as they are beholden to the old status quo, whether that is because their grandfather had power before the Imperial Wars or they believe that someone in the Counts’ Courts can reform the old ways, especially as their branch house has retrained the old magics, their Werewolf Form a secret of this family
The Wandering Songsword - This Character is a great singer and duelist who has traveled under the advice of their fellow Goblinoid courtier to gather great stories of the Dragons and return to their home. They’ve found a place within the elite adventurers of the wild regions around the Lifestream for this purpose and are anticipating the greatest story of their generation to arrive soon
The Journeyman - This Character has completed the Trials of Poison from within the Deathcap Grove and has been sent as a guide for the exhibition, with their exploring skills residing in the knowledge of both the Draconic poisons and the areas around the Lake along with their angelic heritage changing their human form into an Aasimar, guiding their way. Their only task is to return alive after finding the item, the Grove is intent on retaining their good relations with the Abu Sani and not lose another member before the Deathbloom make their move
The Rogue Mage - The Paijaka regularly train those that they believe will accept and learn their ways but this Genasi character instead took that training and left with a tome for contacting another realm. Now with this stolen artefact and their excellent training the court of magi are on the hunt and only either governmental support or even more powerful magic will be able to protect them. Now whether their Occult knowledge and fiery prowess will keep them alive long enough to succeed is still in the air
The Avenging Purifier - This character hails from the original Draconian Kingdom under the Green Death and exhibits the trademark green scales and strong body of a worshipper from that region. They have been sent here after the trio killed one of Arizziian’s emissaries, one of their own Kin, Velguthraavix, this Character’s Baron. Now they seek vengeance under the sanction of Count Cossin and will utilize their War-Priest powers to do so
The Double Agent - this Halfling character was a poor member of society with little prospects in the legal world. To make themselves a life or to escape a problem they joined the elite team of the Hazikite spy ring as an expendable member but rose through the ranks. But now there’s only one more way to make their way any further up, to enter the Court of the Count Cossin and take these violent weapons for their own government when the moment is reached
The Elite Hazikite- A member of the Hazikite Guard is one of the only people in the world who has access to a functioning Dragonpowder Weapon, its explosive shots striking down enemies with ease. This Character is a member of one of the noble houses that had Orc heritage within it, and as such wears their traditional garb with pride over their well-made Imperial Uniform. This Character serves at the request of the Hazik and may have their orders above the Count’s to return with this secret item
The Factions of Bayernia
Count Jimin “The Sandshark of Bijorn” Cossin - Count of Bijorn (Shark Insignia) - This harsh man has ruled over the Bayern Prefecture with a strong grip for the last 40 years. He has great influence over the Hazik’s Bayern Prefecture. This is because the capital Bijorn is the only other major city with direct access to the ocean. He is the official purser of Hazik, directing its flow of money and sponsoring many industries that have people he trusts running them. He seeks the seat of the Hazik as he is both power-hungry and distasteful of the current Hazik’s desire to keep the status quo against the other States that surround them, most notably the Dynasty
Count Alexei Goeddard (52) - The place of power for this region, with a family who only recently have held all the lands around Bale Lake. He is extremely well liked by his populace and is now represented by a modified version of his late wife’s family crest, a pink six-petal flower on a black background with a white four-point star design in the center. He is a tall man with tanned skin, hair pulled back into a long ponytail in the style of the Sparrow Islands. He wears a simple long blue silk robe over his riding pants and underneath a wide shouldered poncho inlaid with gold filigree in a wonderfully complex pattern of flowers. On top of that is a simple well-made hauberk of light chain
The Invaders - The strange force led by the Black Commander has invaded from the Southwest and are pushing towards the capital city, little is known about this army besides the fact that people know the army is small but made of professional soldiers that absolutely savaged the first militia sent to confront them. Their only demand from the surviving soldiers was “Tell your Lords to run”
The Savashan League - This Independent Company hailing from the city of Bessetown has made money expanding their control of access into the Bay and their ability to counter the ships of their enemies and control this with the great fortress they’ve built on Swallow Island just offshore from Cuidad Primo at the center of the Bay. Castle Stormshield has large stocks of supplies, soldiers, and sailors along with ship killing ballistae that maintain this monopoly over trade, which the states around them have started to chaff at
Paijaka - The secretive mage order hails from the Old Empire and while it’s not a part of the government anymore it still has agents amongst the ruins that seek to understand the strange things which go bump in the night. One of their most recent points of interest are strange stories of people being transformed by one of their own members…
