The Lore You Know

In this episode, I chat more about some military organizations on Scarn.   The Black Dragoons, a group of scum and villainy, hail from Lageni, a  nation under the rule of the Calastian Hegemony.  Then, on the other  side of the coin, the Order of the Morning Sky are devout followers of  Madriel who seek out disease and undead corruption on Ghelspad, scouring  it from existence.  

In part 2 of the Secrets & Societies talks, I chat about House  Asuras, the merchant empire whose power rivals that of nations in the  Scarred Lands campaign setting.

Secret cults and well-known organizations make up much of the day-to-day happenings on Scarn.  In this episode, I focus on two:  The  lycanthropic members of the Accursed, and the assassin zealots of the Cult of the Ancients.   

With guest star Chaz Callendar, I chat about the various creatures that  populate the continent of Asherak.  Then, we delve into what a warlock  pact with one of the demons from Asherak might look like!

The birthplace of the gods, a once-beautiful land, Asherak was scoured  by power beyond comprehension.  Join us as we chat about the shattered  continent where life began in the Scarred Lands setting!   

Diving in, we chat about the Blood Sea, the monstrous body of water  tainted by the blood of the titan Kadum.  Listen while we talk about the  features of the Blood Sea, and the twisted inhabitants of those foul depths.

Now that the continent of Ghelspad has been covered, we dip our toes in  what is the most eye-catching portion of the Scarred Lands map, the  Blood Sea!  To start, we chat about the Toe Islands, rumored to be  Kadum's toes, which erupted from the Sea sometime during the Divine War.   And pirates!  Don't forget the pirates!  YAR!   

Vigil Watch: Toe Islands https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/304627/Vigil-Watch-Part-1-The-Toe-Islands-5e-OGL

We wrap up our tour of Ghelspad by chatting about several locations in  the southeastern corner of the continent.  The nation of Durrover, the  Sorporatra Swamp, the Bloodrain Woods, the Kelder Steppes (not to be  confused with the Kelder Mountains), and the Hornswythe River are all  covered.

Vesh as a nation is still young, yet its influence is felt across the  face of Scarn.  Vesh represents opposition to the expansion of the  Calastian Empire, defense against titanspawn that would harm innocents,  and a guiding light that pushes back the corruption that continues to  fester in the roots of the world.  Yet the beacon of Vesh is not without  fault, and their views leave little room for some of the gray areas  where the Redeemed come into play.

Home to the wood elves and the tree-city of Vera-Tre, the Ganjus Forest  lies near the center of the continent of Ghelspad.  Within what is  possibly the safest forest in the land, it is rumored that the  Earthmother, Denev, slumbers.  To the south, god-scarred land lies in  ruin.  The land now known as the Haggard Hills was annihilated by Vangal  during the Divine War, and only the bravest or most foolhardy dare to  tread there now.

We delve into the lore surrounding the Bleak Savannah and the Kelder Mountains.     

Once a verdant land of rivers, forests, and farmland, the area now known as the Perforated Planes was the seat of the Ledean Empire.  Now only ruins and shadows remain in a land pock marked by magical scars and the destruction wrought by the gods.  Join us as we deep nerd about the history of the Perforated Plains, and some of the small locales nearby, including the Spires of Gaurak, the Stricken Forest, the Scrub Wood, and the cannibal druids of Khet!

Far to the north on the continent of Ghelspad lies Albadia, home of the  barbarian tribes.  This land nestles up against the Titanshome  Mountains, an inhospitable group of peaks that few divine or redeemed  call home.  Join us as we deep nerd about these Scarred Lands locations!

A large country in western Ghelspad, Darakeene stands alone, seeking no  allies.  Yet people travel there to attend the war colleges, or to visit  the Phylactric Vault, a wellspring of arcane knowledge and study.  Join  us as we deep nerd about this Scarred Lands location, as well as the  Fouled Forest, home of the wizard Yugman!

One of the few lands not marred by the Divine War, the Gleaming Valley  is now home to the Hollow Knights, and their progeny, the Hollow  Legionnaires.  Join us for the deep dive about the valley and the origin  of those who live there at the behest of the god, Corean.

We wrap up our deep nerd chat about the Hornsaw Forest by delving into  the many groups and personalities that call the forest home!

Once, within living memory for some of the longer lived races of  Ghelspad, the Broadreach Forest was a pristine haven of nature and life.   Then the Divine War happened, and the titan Mormo was slain in battle  that raged through the forest.  During the conflict, the titan corrupted  the forest, and later her spilled blood furthered the taint that seeped  deep into the land.  Join us as we chat about the history of the  Hornsaw Forest!

Following up from our last episode which covered the history of the City  of Necromancers, we chat about the present day of Hollowfaust, and  potential adventure hooks for your Scarred Lands games!

Like so many cities on Ghelspad, Hollowfaust is built on the bones of  what came before.  In the City of Necromancers, however, those bones  come alive and walk the modern streets!  Join us as we delve into the  history of Hollowfaust, the trials it has faced as it rose up as a hub  of activity in the region, and the necromancers who founded it.

Now available for Community Content publishing on DriveThru RPG's  Slarecian Vault, Fenrilik is a frozen wasteland that lays far to the  north on Scarn.  Join us as we talk about the history of the world, and a  bit about the process of the creation of the Frostlands of Fenrilik  book for D&D 5E, the update from the 3rd Edition lore!  

Only recently added to the Scarred Lands canon of playable races, the  minotaurs are probably not quite what you expect.  Children of the  Earthmother, Denev, they were created by the titan to help clean up the  world of Scarn, the mortal "janitors" who have been charged with fixing  what the titans have broken.  Almost wiped out from a magical disease  during the Divine War, the minotaurs now struggle to fulfill their  life's purpose. If you create something for the Slarecian Vault community content  program that ties in with the minotaurs or Dromyas, I would love to know  about it so I can spread the word!  Please drop a message on Twitter if you do!   

The Scarred Lands Players' Guide mentions the lesser titans, creatures  of massive power that fall short of being labeled a true titan for one  reason or another.  Spiragos was the first lesser titan in Scarred Lands  canon, but another has appeared via the Community Content program.   Join me as I talk about Keshe, and the children of the lesser titan, the  Akesheth.   

The Holiest City of Hedrada is the subject of our chat this time, and if  you think it sounds like a great vacation spot, you may want to listen  in before making any travel plans to the city of Hedrad!  ;)

Once a city stood proudly at the base of a tall mountain, inside of  which lay the largest library in the known world.  That city was  destroyed, but the survivors took refuge in the mountain, and somehow,  the library was saved.  Join us as we talk about the famous Library of  Lokil!

Once, the Charduni Empire covered large swaths of Ghelspad.  Now, the  remnants of that empire reside behind a massive wall of bones on the  peninsula of Chardunahae, scheming their schemes and possibly building  toward a future that other countries can only worry about until the bone  gates open.

What do you do when the tooth of a titan falls just outside your  fledgling city?  You mine it and make it worth your time in gold!   Welcome to Fangsfall, a city that has arisen only recently in the  history of Ghelspad.

In part two of our talk about the serpentfolk of the Scarred Lands  setting, we delve into the lands and life of the asaatthi, and the  changes that have appeared in the 5E version compared with the original  3E books.

In this first chat about the asaatthi race from the Scarred Lands  setting, we talk about the vast history of the snakefolk.  One of the  oldest races on Scarn, they have been around to see A LOT, and once had  an empire that covered a good portion of Ghelspad.  Come #deepnerd with  us as we talk about the highs and lows of the asaatthi!

The ironbred are horsefolk (not centaurs) of the Scarred Lands setting,  and they appeared for the first time as player race options in the  Scarred Lands Player's Guide for 5E and Pathfinder.  Join us as we  discuss their origins, and their growing society as it's reflected in  the recent canon release of Vigil Watch: The Iron Court!   

We wrap up our lore delve about Shelzar by visiting the areas around the  ancient city.  Join us as we do some deep nerding into the Scarred  Lands setting by Onyx Path Publishing!

Join us as we continue our talk on the oldest (surviving) city on  Ghelspad, Shelzar!  Make sure you check out Episode 14 for the history  of the city, as well!

Calastia, the empire of King Virduk, called The Black Dragon.  A  conundrum of social morays, its people live well, are educated, and  well-fed...yet the King and his nobles are nefarious at best, commonly  called villainous by those outside of the collection of nations.  Come  listen as we chat about the largest empire in modern day Ghelspad!

The manticora are a catfolk race of the Scarred Lands.  Their history on  the world of Scarn has been short, as they were only created by Vangal  the Ravager within the last 200 years.  Now abandoned by their creator,  they are making their own way in the world, which makes for quite an  interesting growing culture!  Come listen by we chat about the manticora  and the city they've founded!   

Burok Torn is home to the Kelder dwarves, once allies and friends with  the Drendali elves.  Now the two are enemies, and the dwarven city is  set upon by elves, gorgons, and other monstrosities.   Join us as we discuss the founding of the city, and the nature and  relationships of the Kelder dwarves and the Drendali elves.     

This episode brings up racism; in-game, in game design, and as players.   This is an important, ongoing conversation.  If you have something  constructive to include in the conversation, I hope you will share your  thoughts over on Twitter.

Nope, they aren't the House from Hogwarts, they are the ratfolk of the  Scarred Lands D&D setting!  And WOW, they are diverse and  interesting!  Are they the result of titans raising up common rats?  Or  did they mutate and rise up on their own after nomming on titan essence  after the Divine War?  Come have a listen while we chat about one of the  most diverse races on Scarn!

After the defeat of the titan, Kadum, the mithril golem wandered across  the land, only to stop and stare out over the newly formed Blood Sea.   Mortals devoted to the god Corean built a wall around the now motionless  behemoth,  and placed a temple at its feet.  Over the years, a city  grew up around the golem, and then a protectorate.  Listen in as we  discuss the history of the mithril golem, and some adventure ideas that  you can use for your Scarred Lands campaign!

The planes, the existence beyond that of mortal ken.  They are the  places were gods dwell, and creatures of nightmare and imagination are  born.  The Scarred Lands setting has an incredible 35 recorded planes,  plus the Prime Material where the adventurers dwell.  Join us as we chat  about these places of cosmic power, and the beings affiliated with  each!

Join us to learn about the demigods that round out the divine pantheon of the world of Scarn!

Though mentioned in every episode up until now, we have not detailed the  gods that make up the pantheon of Scarred Lands divinity.  Join us as  we talk about the Victors of the Divine War, including some details  about their worshipers and Heralds!

Perhaps more than any other event in the history of the Scarred Lands  setting, the Divine War defines modern times.  The world of Scarn is a  post-apocalyptic setting, where the survivors are only now beginning to  live what they may call a "normal" life, yet even still, horrors from  the war that ended only 150 years ago still plague the world.   Come listen to Sarah and I chat about the reason for the war, and how it  played out as the titans were dispatched by their children, the gods of  Scarn.

The race known as the Slarecians are an integral part of Scarn's  history, dating back to the very creation of the world.  But what were  these strange beings with powers unlike any others seen in the Scarred  Lands?  And how did their tampering with the mortal races of the world  affect things today?  Have a listen and we shall explore this mysterious  race and their creators!

Dragons.  They're half the name of the world's most popular role playing  game, and they are a huge part of the history of the world of Scarn.   Sarah and I sit down to discuss the dragons of the Scarred Lands  setting, their history and origin, and the creatures the exist on  Ghelspad (the main continent) that the people of the world think are  dragons but aren't!

The worlds of Dungeons & Dragons are vast and innumerable.  DMs and  game designers around the world publish settings, run home brews, and  mix and match worlds for their campaign's needs.   The Scarred Lands is one of those settings, one created in 2000 for 3rd  edition D&D, and has now been updated for 5E.  So let's dive in to  the lore of the setting as I chat with Scarred Lands author, Sarah  Stewart. 

In this episode, we discuss the epochs that occurred before the modern  age, eras where the titans ruled over Scarn, and how those ages looked.