Tal'Dorei Campaign Guide PDF

Aberrations

The vilest and most intelligent of Tal’Dorei’s monstrous

civilizations, aberrations lurk in corkscrewing caverns

deep below the surface of the earth. There is no question

that aberrations are truly, irredeemably evil—all who

attempt diplomacy with these twisted monstrosities end

up as their food, or worse, their braindead thralls.

Many kinds of aberrant civilizations exist; some are

lost cities of the ancient aboleth, while others are active

colonies of flayers. What all types of aberrant civiliza-

tions have in common is that they are not of this world,

and that all of Exandria’s creatures are chattel, a resource

to be enslaved, traded, and consumed. The underground

empires of the dark elves have long since succumbed

to madness, their psyches shattered and their bodies

twisted by the aberrations’ unnatural influence. Even

the deep dwarves, the duergar, struggle against the tide

of madness.

Though every dark elf is familiar with the dark whis-

pers that echo within their mind, and every duergar child

knows the stories of the Thousand Eyes in the Deep, the

races of the surface world are unprepared for the aberrant

threat that lurks below them. Of the many alien beasts

that plot against the surface world, the remnants of the

aboleth empire are the most ambitious. As beings of the

darkness, their only hope of conquering the surface world

is to unite their domains. Overseer Durrom, lord of Salar,

plots to collapse the Pillars of the Earth that support the

surface of Tal’Dorei, causing the continent to crumble

into his subterranean realm.

Major aberrant settlements include the flayer colony of

Yug’Voril, deep below Kraghammer, and the aboleth ruins

of Salar, beneath Emon. It stands to reason that nearly

every major humanoid settlement has a city of other-

worldly horror hidden beneath it. Perhaps that’s why city

life is so maddening.

Beastfolk

The term beastfolk was coined by humans as a way of

referring to a half dozen separate cultures native to

central Tal’Dorei. The wild magic released during the

early era of the Age of Arcanum,as well as the chaotic

energies scattered during the Calamity, did more than

just destroy armies: it created entirely new races from

allies and adVersaries

T

he lands of Tal’Dorei are rife with dangers, challenges, and mysteries. As you craft your own stories that traverse

these fantastical paths, your players will encounter NPCs of many factions, backgrounds, and skill sets to either lend

to their cause, or attempt to end it where they stand.

Monstrous Races

The cities and strongholds of the folk from the Campaigns chapter (see p. 22) are not the only civilizations on the

continent. The term “monstrous races” was first coined by humans under the rule of Drassig. Some say it was an

attempt to demonize those who resisted colonization, others assert that their evil is inherent. Depending on the story

you want to tell in Tal’Dorei, either point of view may be true—or, for a morally ambiguous story, both could have

shades of truth.

Regardless of how righteous, civilized, or intelligent these beings are, most will attack humans and humanoids on sight,

and negotiations can be difficult. However, some are willing to make alliances out of desperation, greed, or even pure

goodness unclouded by prejudice. Some examples include the aberration Clarota’s brief, treacherous partnership with Vox

Machina in the caverns below Kraghammer, the Dustpaw gnoll tribe’s desperate alliance with the humans of the Dividing

Plains, and the fey folk’s tenuous peace with the elves of Syngorn.

These descriptions are to aid a GM’s roleplaying of NPCs outside of the typical player races. By giving monsters depth

and civilization, a GM can make their intelligent monsters more than just XP to be gained. How does a goblin tribe retal-

iate to an attack compared to a flayer enclave? Though this section does not include stats for using these creatures as player

characters, the history and roleplaying details below can help a player who wants to play an unconventional “monstrous”

character in Tal’Dorei.

“As we grow, we are often taught to fear the unknown. To stay close, stay safe, and bury our curiosity. I rebelled like many youth do
and struck out into the world, using my faith and wit to cast away the shadow of mystery. Do you know what I discovered, child?
I found the shadow does not cast away easily. The wilds harbor dangers untold, and the black of night shields many hungry mouths
full of teeth and malice. So... Listen to my words, child: Stay close, stay safe, and by the wisdom of the Changebearer, bury your
curiosity with all your might.”
—Lady Diassa Kwynn, paladin of the Lawbearer, to her squire Aedla

chapter four