Tal'Dorei Campaign Guide PDF

Chapter 1: Campaigns in tal'Dorei 29

The Factions and Societies

of Ta l’D or e i

While the dominant cultures of the continent have carved structure and law from the rough clay left beyond the
Divergence, these cultures each comprise several smaller factions. Whether councils of traditionally-minded politicians
striving to maintain control in a world beset by chaos and danger, or a union of opportunists ever-vigilant to reap the
benefits of an exploitable populace, these factions drive and manipulate the social and political direction of Tal’Dorei.
The alliances and tensions that can rise between the following societies can guide your adventurers’ destiny across the
spectrum of heroism and villainy.

The Arcana Pansophical

All Tal’Dorei’s greatest mages fought
at the Battle of the Umbra Hills.
They saw the incursion of demons
and devils firsthand, and were
rightly terrified that the spawn
of the Betrayer Gods could ever
return to the world. It was clear
that the Divergence did not
wholly prevent supernatural
evil from infringing upon
the world, and the mages
of Exandria must prevent
future “surprises” of this
nature. The mistakes of the
Age of Arcanum must never be
repeated. Considering this, Yurek
Windkeeper, high enchanter of
Syngorn and a well-respected arcan-
ist, reached out to the realm’s most
trusted and capable mages, and together
they formed a private society called the
Arcana Pansophical.

goals

The chief priority of these powerful arcane specialists is
to maintain the “Truth of Magic,” a strict code enacted
to never again allow the rampant misuse of magic seen in
the Age of Arcanum. General members are referred to as
“Guides,” while the higher circle of members who deal in
judgment and oversight are called “Makers.” At least one
member is established at each place of arcane learning.
Membership is largely kept secret unless out of
necessity, though the existence of the order is relatively
common knowledge. Anyone found to be practicing
magic is logged and checked up on routinely, as misuse
of magic is grounds for arrest, judgment by the Makers,
and punishment outside of the local law. Even so, their
reach and oversight are not without limits, and many dark
and terrible dealings manage to go unseen by the Arcana
Pansophical.

relationships

The Arcana Pansophical is respected, if somewhat feared,

in most human settlements. Syngorn and other elven

communities see the Pansophical as allies, as the roots of

the society began with Yurek within Syngorn itself. Kra-

ghammer only respects members that are dwarves, and

treat the rest with mistrust.

figures of interest

enCh anter yureK windKeePer

Maker, Elf Wizard (Enchanter). Founder of the Arcana

Pansophical, Yurek generally stays within Syngorn as the

nexus of the order, acting as consultant to the Wardens

of Syngorn.

alChemist oz gru ude

Maker, Halfling Alchemist. A rather ornery halfling,

Gruude’s interests lie in refining the latent magical ele-

ments in the “dormant” world, traveling often to continue

his research.

seer glori a ios

Maker, Human Wizard (Diviner). One of the great oracles

of divination, her visions have sent her to Vasselheim,

acting as a reaching arm of the organization.

magus se anor wiles

Maker, Human Mage Tutor Extraordinaire. A hum-

ble-looking traveler, his specialty is finding fresh and

emerging talent and helping them refine their arcane gifts.

Pl anerider ry n

Maker, Tiefling Planar Studies Specialist. A keen student to

Yurek who has grown into a master of planar travel and

arcane ley line patterns, Ryn is still mid-study, often dart-

ing between realms to complete her research.

tinKerer Quash dentdruggle

Guide, Gnome Construct Specialist. Obsessed with the

development of autonomous and living arcane constructs,

he is holed up in his laboratory within Kraghammer.