The Warlands

The original campaign in the World of Caerdolan was titled Warlands and is set in a relatively small, remote corner of the world where feudal and tribal leaders compete for control over land and the people who live off of it. The focal point of the story is the citadel of Silegby on the southern coast. It is the largest town in the Warlands and the seat of the high king Murad. The title of “high king” is a tenuous one as Murad has spent a lifetime forming and maintaining alliances with his neighboring warlords. These alliances have become particularly vital in the defense of the kingdom from a new and terrifying threat that approaches from the northern wilds. Barbarian tribes allied together under a people calling themselves the Varanáa have begun invading the northern reaches of the kingdom, burning villages and capturing Murad’s subjects to be made into slaves or ritual sacrifices. With these attacks come reports of warriors that shape-shift into beasts, and witches that animate the bodies of the slain to fight for them. Unfortunately, the Varanáa invasion coincides with the end of a bloody conflict between Silegby and its most bitter rival: the upstart kingdom of Aerellus. In the final battle, during which Silegby was besieged, the king of Aerellus was slain, along with Murad’s son and heir, Durad. Now, in an attempt to put aside their differences and cement an alliance, Prince Keobahn of Aerellus is to wed Murad’s daughter, Nuara. The alliance is threatened before it even begins as, in the midst of the wedding ceremony, a dark power binds the wedding guests and a black-cloaked figure appears, taking the terrified bride away. Thus begins the campaign titled Warlands as the player characters journey to rescue the missing princess and become champions of the king.