Chapter 1: Campaigns in tal'Dorei 31Upon returning, they ascend to the head of their tribe,
while the elder retires. This journey often takes years, and
should one such chosen Ashari not return within a rea-
sonable period, a next-of-kin is chosen of the same family
or an allied bloodline to take up the Aramente.
relationships
The Ashari maintain peaceful, if sometimes tense, rela-
tionships between the tribes. Beyond this, much of life
within the Ashari is hidden from outsiders’ prying eyes.
They’ve come to understand the necessity of good relations
with nearby cities, so occasionally members will visit and
trade with towns and people near their guarded fane. As
such, they maintain positive (if limited) relations with the
free cities of Emon and Syngorn.
The Ashari nurture a seed of disrespect and mistrust
for Kraghammer, as the dwarves constantly disregard
their warnings against reckless mining and because
their arrogance during the last eruption of the Terrah
Rift led to widespread quakes and the collapse of an
entire mountain.
Though some Ashari worship the Wildmother, they
generally take caution with anyone who is largely devoted
to a non-nature aligned deity—particularly the Law-
bearer, despite her relationship with the Wildmother.
figures of interest
Pa’tiCe, he art of the mou ntain
Human Leader of Terrah. Elderly leader of the earth Ashari,
Pa’tice still shows vigor and strength to resist his age,
having led his people through many very tough challenges.
His stubbornness is legendary, and it’s said even death has
been forced to wait until Pa’tice deems it his proper time.
Korrin of the zePhr ah
Half-Elf Elder of Zephrah. His wife Vilya was lost while
she took the Aramente, and when the previous Voice of
the Tempest died of illness, Korrin was forced to act as
Voice until his daughter Keyleth came of age and com-
pleted her Aramente. Gentle with those who show honor,
and merciless to those who threaten his people.
Key leth, voiCe of the temPest
Half-Elf Leader of Zephrah. Hero of Tal’Dorei and
member of Vox Machina, Keyleth had completed her Ara-
mente and taken leadership among her people following
the destruction of the Chroma Conclave. Though a bit
shy and awkward at times, she has grown to embrace the
wisdom she’s acquired through her travels and exhibit her
quality as a leader.
The Brawlers’ League
The brutal bloodsports of the Brawlers’ League began,
unsurprisingly, during the vicious Drassig Dynasty. In
that cruel era, many of Emon’s affluent and indolent
social elite used their wealth to engage in entertainment
of a more “visceral” variety. The kingdom’s poor were
already fighting each other for scraps, so why not pay
them to literally fight to the death for their amusement?
Some strong, charismatic ruffians used this opportu-
nity to gain social power for themselves, and chief among
them was a rough-and-tumble entrepreneur from Kra-
ghammer named Bruel Sunderchin. Reaching out to his
network of lowlifes and cutthroats, Sunderchin became
ringleader of an annual gladiator tournament that caters
expressly to Exandria’s wealthiest elite.
Those who have become invested members of the
League’s events are anonymously delivered a golden coin
stamped with their symbol in the weeks leading up to an
event. These coins are required for entry into the events,
and each of those who wish to join, whether as a patron or
sponsor, requires a coin of their own.goals
The Brawlers’ League is always in search of hidden and
well-guarded locations around Tal’Dorei (and some-
times other realms) to establish their annual event. A
combatant or team is required to have a known and
cleared sponsor or manager to enter the event. There are
two tiers of bouts; one tier has teams of six battling via
single elimination until a victor is declared. The other
features single combatants fighting one-on-one, single
elimination, until a victor is declared. Killing your
opponents isn’t encouraged, but isn’t explicitly discour-
aged, either. Bets are placed in person at the event, or
remotely (via arcane messages and sending stones) from all
around Exandria.relationships
The Brawlers’ League is extremely illegal in all major
cities across Tal’Dorei. Should lawkeepers of any nation
discover the location of the annual event, the venue would
find itself swiftly strangled by the long arm of the law.
As such, magical protections and sentinels are placed
throughout the event to prevent any unapproved entry, or
to wipe the memory of those who do infiltrate.