At day 2 we are at 550% of our funding goal! Thank you so much for your excitement around this project!
We created a poll to see what our community thinks about the deck artwork for The Oracle Monster Generator. Weigh in on your favorite deck artwork at the bottom of this update.
The poll closes just before our next livestream so check it out before Tuesday morning!
Shout Outs
Here are some projects from our friends that we think you'll be interested in:
My name is James, and I’ll be your Onyx Path Crowdfunding Concierge for this new tabletop roleplaying game project - At The Gates. I’ll be updating the campaign as we go, hopefully adding Stretch Goals, answering questions, and providing support wherever needed as best I can.
I’ll note that I’m not part of the creative team on this project – so I won’t be able to immediately answer some of the more intricate rules or design inquiries – but having me manage this Crowdfunding campaign allows Danielle and the whole team of developers and writers to keep their focus on the awesome projects that they’ve got in the works.
That said, feel free to make me your point person for any questions or issues you may have. I'll make sure to dig up answers as quickly as possible and clear up any issues that arise. Mostly, I'm just looking forward to an exciting ride along with all of you on this (and future) projects.
This comment section is for all members of this community – united by our shared desire to see this project fund and develop – to cheerlead the project and figure out how best to spread the word about what we’re building here. If you’ve started a thread on whatever social media platform exists today or a Discord conversation about the game or this campaign – let me know about it so we can share that info. If you’ve discussed the game on a blog or podcast, let’s hear about it! If you’ve got funny ideas for social media hashtags, well we can do those too!
I will also be the person who gets to share the updates and previews with you! As noted on the main page and in the pledge descriptions, I also get to share an exciting treat –The At The Gates Draft Manuscript previews, so you can start reading the book immediately! Scroll down to the bottom of this post on the website to see the first BACKERS-ONLY update for a download link.
So, welcome to Crowdfunding by BackerKit! Welcome to the world of Gaia, the continent of Everend, and At The Gates! And now let’s see what waits for us on the other side of the gates …
International Shipping – Collected in the Pledge Manager
One quick note about Shipping before we get into the manuscript previews.
First up, it's amazingly expensive to ship, especially from Onyx Path's home base in the US. We get that, but there's not much we can do at this time. Onyx Path is in a difficult space where the company is big enough that they're not saving money by fulfilling out of Rich's garage, but small enough that they can't really set up international partners to handle portions of the fulfillment. So we are where we are - for now.
The best we can do at this point is to plan carefully, advise everyone up front that international shipping will likely be expensive (see our projections on the main page) and only charge what it costs us when the time comes. We’ll be charging for shipping in the Pledge Manager once the books are being printed and we can deal with the actual shipping charges rather than using our best-guesses this far out. If you live outside the US and aren't sure you want the hardcover or other physical items, you can pledge to the PDF tier now and upgrade your pledge in the Pledge Manager once we know the final shipping costs.
DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS - BACKERS ONLY
Remember, thanks to BackerKit magic, these download links are visible to Backers only - you must be logged in and reading this on the website to have access to the manuscript preview links. So, if you're reading this via e-mail, click that "Read The Update" link on the bottom and I'll see you below the title treatment.
WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK
I'm going to be sharing the manuscript in sections over the next 30 days, Part of the reason for that is to keep focus on one section at a time so that Danielle and the team can gather feedback to help guide the manuscript through the next steps of editing and development. To that end, they've created a special Feedback Form for you to submit your comments after reading each section!
Backers have access to the first two chapters from the draft manuscript for At The Gates, and we'll get the next two chapters on Tuesday May 14. But who wants to wait until then to see some of the fun stuff that we'll get to play with?
It' sounds like it's time for a Sneak Peek!
But first! Let's celebrate our first Stretch Goal achievement!
ACHIEVED! -At $32,000 in Funding - AT THE GATES Storyguide Screen - A three-panel Storyguide Reference Screen with charts and information for running a game set in the lands of Everend will be created and offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tiers for +$25.
SNEAK PEEK!
MAGES
In Gaia, the term mage denotes someone who had dedicated their life to the study of magic. While everyone can utilize Gaia’s magic in their everyday lives, mages don’t just use magic, they seek to understand it and the very fabric of existence. A mage is a scholar first and foremost, open to learning everything they can about the world, how it works, magic, the gods, and the nature of all things. In this, they develop a strong affinity for the magic of the world itself, able to wield the elements or take magic apart at its roots.
Abilities
Anyone who takes a special interest in magic and its nature is bound to learn how to not only wield it, but also control it. Mages learn the Art of Control early in their career, which allows them control over magical elements. This art is both physical and mystical in nature, giving the mage the ability to enhance her magic, and the magic of others. The Art of Control is one of focus and determination, allowing the mage to infuse her magic into everything she does.
Mages learn from one of two schools of magic, either to manipulate the world itself and the elements that make it up, or to manipulate magic itself. Those who concentrate on learning about Gaia, Outlands, and the nature of the magical world tend toward the Pillar of Elementalism, learning to create, destroy, and hold both those things in balance. They harness the generating forces of the world and turn them to their own designs. An elemental mage can conjure the elements to perform a variety of tasks from building fortifications from earth, creating a healing spring, or bringing down lightning. They also learn to manipulate time and fate, which holds all things in balance.
Mages who study the fundamental elements of magic itself instead learn the Pillar of Transformation. With it, they can manipulate magic to change the world around them, often affecting immaterial objects and constructs, giving them life, making, and breaking them, and even changing themselves to fit any situation.
Organizations
While mages clearly delineate themselves into two groups, scholarly and wild mages, there are few formal organizations built up around the profession. Mages are too headstrong to listen to anyone other than an archmage tell them what to do, and so they don’t even try.
That said, many mages have strong ties to the community that taught them. Wild mages aren’t all loners who experiment wildly. The most famous group are from Clan Mistwalk in Caparanite, who have a tight-knit community of generational mages. They are secretive of their magical ways, but those who leave their lands are conversant in magic that can only be found in the Outlands. Rumors state that their affinity for shapeshifting comes not from learning about the nature of magic and the natural world, but instead from the Void itself. Of course, there’s no foundation for these rumors that anyone can see.
Mages who study within an academic setting find that their colleagues are lifelong allies. No matter where they came from, or where they move to, those allegiances tend to ignore national borders. When Vitrumaria summoned daemons to attack Invesse, they refused to share their research with outsiders, marking the first time this tradition had ever been broken. Many mages who trained in Vitrumaria feel betrayed by their once friends, and blame President Hollister for the separation.
Mage Role
Primary Role: Damage Secondary Role: Investigation Physical Might: low Magical Might: high Defensive Ability: low Healing Ability: low Mobility: medium Leadership: low Intrigue: medium Investigation: high
Why Play a Mage?
Play a mage if you want to be a scholar who experiments with magic, be a battle mage who wades into a fight wielding the elements, be a crafter who infuses magic to make legendary items, have control over the very elements of the world, be able to make and unmake magic, or just really like being a know-it-all with a great deal of power to back it up.
WARRIORS
No matter where you come from in Everend, you’re expected to learn how to defend yourself against monsters, beasts, and void tainted creatures. Even the highest nobility has some training with a sword. A warrior isn’t just someone who has trained but has mastered the sword and all other weapons. They are in their element when armed, though are equally as skilled when carrying nothing more than the clothes on their back. A warrior isn’t just someone who fights well. They have trained in a variety of brutal attack styles and can easily switch based on the situation. If a warlord is an army’s commander and tactical mind, the warrior is the army’s right arm, as good as a hundred trained soldiers when in the heat of battle.
Abilities
Warriors are weapon masters trained in a variety of fighting styles and martial arts to ensure they can pick up anything and be a deadly force. All warriors use the Art of Might , which teaches them not just how to fight, but to be a whirlwind of damage in combat. They can set their sights on an opponent and goad them into one-on-one combat, then unleash a barrage of attacks that leave them staggered. They train with ranged weapons to maximize their output, allowing them to shoot further and with more deadly accuracy than any normal archer. As they learn deeper parts of the art, they can even summon their weapon to their side through magical attunement.
Warriors don’t just learn to wield a weapon, they learn to become one with their weapon, treating it as an extension of themselves. They specialize in the Pillar of Transformation, which allows them to perfect both themselves and their weapons, or even just create weapons out of nothing but light. Some warriors prefer the Perfection Block as their Keystone, allowing them to keep their weapon in pristine condition regardless of the stresses they put it under. Others choose Metamorphosis to allow them to dominate the battlefield by weakening opponents and changing to meet any situation. Finally, those warriors who focus on Transmogrify do so to let their weapon loose to fight on its own, or make or destroy weapons on a whim.
Community Role
People have two views of warriors depending on where they come from. Either a warrior is a representative of a nation’s military, and they should be feared for what they are capable of. Otherwise, a warrior is a home-grown hero, who protects their friends and family from outside dangers. These are extremely simplistic views of what a warrior is and can be, but it’s the common trope.
When people first meet a warrior, they might be wary of who she works for. Is she a mercenary for hire? Is she a noble’s personal bodyguard? Is she part of the army? If she proves herself useful, those concerns seem to melt away. Most people are happy to have a trained warrior nearby if a problem arises, no matter who they work for. Then again, cut-throats, thieves, or established mercenary groups might see a new warrior as a threat to business and try to run her out of town or kill her if they think she’s overstaying her welcome.
While most people in political positions tend to be warlords or harriers, warriors easily slot into leadership roles through dent of might. In Caparanite, warriors are valued as leaders over all other professions, regardless of how tactically minded or smooth talking someone might be. Warleader Tristan Beard is a warrior of great renown, and he earned his title through combat prowess. Of course, he would be a fool not to listen to a warlord’s council, and is smart enough to keep council with the other clan leaders and pay them mind.
Warrior Role
Primary Role: Damage Secondary Role: Support Physical Might: high Magical Might: low Defensive Ability: medium Healing Ability: low Mobility: medium Leadership: low Intrigue: low Investigation: medium
Why Play a Warrior?
Play a warrior if you want to be an elite fighter, be able to take on multiple opponents at the same time, focus on having a single cool weapon that changes and grows with you, fly into a furious rage of metal and death, be a knight of the realm, or protect those you care about most.
This is just an excerpt from Chapter 3, which covers the Professions your characters can take in At The Gates. We'll get the whole manuscript for this chapter (along with Chapter 4) on Tuesday.
On Sunday, we'll get another sneak peek looking at Heritage and Upbringing, two other important Paths in building your characters.
Until then, please continue to spread the word to your friends and friendly gamers and let's see if we can't unlock a Stretch Goal or two while we journey across Everend!
At $36,000 in Funding - AT THE GATES Bookmark Set - Need something cool to mark your place? We'll have a set of six At The Gates cardstock bookmarks offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tier for +$15.
Welcome to the campaign - the journey will be short but intense! We created this update primarily to welcome you to the campaign and to let you know that we value communication with our backers. We'll keep the number of updates reasonable, but you'll be hearing from us often - feel free to ask us anything.
Since you're here, would you mind telling us what is the MAIN reason you backed the game? You can tell us more in the comments section - this will help us fine-tune what we share with you as the campaign progresses.
Well, we're just smashing through Stretch Goals in these early days! We've just knocked through our second target!
ACHIEVED! - At $36,000 in Funding - AT THE GATES Bookmark Set - Need something cool to mark your place? We'll have a set of six At The Gates cardstock bookmarks offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tier for +$15.
It may take me a little bit to get the new Add On set up and running, but in the meantime, let's look at our next set of Stretch Goals!
As we increase the overall funding and support for the project, we’re able to add additional resources to the project, expand the rewards listed, and add in new offers and opportunities. Each Stretch Goal will have a target that, once reached, will add a project to the reward list for backers of the relevant Stretch Goal path. Whenever we achieve a stretch goal, the image will be updated to reflect the achievement.
At $40,000 in Funding - AT THE GATES Companion - More On Professions and Arts - The At The Gates team will create a small Companion PDF containing more information on each of the Professions and new associated Arts (special Professional techniques). All backers receiving the At The Gates PDF as one of their rewards will have the Companion PDF added to their rewards list as a bonus!
At $43,000 in Funding - AT THE GATES Digital Wallpaper - Awesome At The Gates artwork will be used to create a wallpaper for your computer desktop. This digital wallpaper will be added to the rewards list of all backers supporting this project.
A few more Stretch Goals to act as guide posts and milestone markers along our journey! While I enjoy the standard Onyx Path celebratory Stretch Goals like the digital wallpaper, I'm especially intrigued by the Companion PDF which will have more information on Professions and their Arts! New Content!! Love it!
Please continue the great work we've done so far - share this campaign with your friends and friendly gamers! And let's keep it growing and going!
One of my pillars of magic is teamwork, and we've certainly come together to achieve something amazing!
THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED!
Thanks to your support, AT THE GATES will begin the journey from draft manuscript to a fully-developed PDF and hardcover release launching a brand new gameline for Onyx Path! Amazing job!
And, even as brave heroes set out from their corner of Everend to explore the greater world, a vast expanse of possibilities opens to us!
I'm talking about Stretch Goals!
As we increase the overall funding and support for the project, we’re able to add additional resources to the project, expand the rewards listed, and add in new offers and opportunities. Each Stretch Goal will have a target that, once reached, will add a project to the reward list for backers of the relevant Stretch Goal path.
We're going to start by unveiling two new possible add ons...
At $32,000 in Funding - AT THE GATES Storyguide Screen - A three-panel Storyguide Reference Screen with charts and information for running a game set in the lands of Everend will be created and offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tiers for +$25. At $36,000 in Funding - AT THE GATES Bookmark Set - Need something cool to mark your place? We'll have a set of six At The Gates cardstock bookmarks offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tier for +$15.
We're just at the beginning of our journey, and have a month of travel ahead of us! We've already accomplished our primary goal - funding the book - but now it's time to see what adventures we can have over the next four weeks! We'll start by unlocking some new Add On options, but these are just preliminary stepping stones to more possibilities... Expanded information on professions? New Arts (the techniques of the various professions)? More Advanced Paths?
Let's celebrate our achievement ... and then continue our adventures to unlock even more rewards!
It's been 24 hours since we launched, and we have:
Funded the campaign (yay!)
Unlocked the expanded version of Widmar's Destiny, the Quickstart Scenario, which will now be printed in the Book of Eclipse, with more scenes, narrative forks, and more pregen characters to choose from.
Unlocked FREE Alchemy RPG VTT support for all backers, so you'll be able to easily play games online when the module becomes available.
Not a bad start!
We have several other things that we hope to feature, including… has anybody said Solo Mode? Yep, that will unlock at 30 000€!
However, we know for a fact that the best way to tell people about the campaign is for them to hear about it from a trusted friend.
Besides, we can't reach every corner of the Internet without your help, so please don't take it for granted that someone else will do all the sharing :) (imagine me pointing like Uncle Sam right now, we need you, pls)
Sharing the link with friends and fellow players on online and offline communities is the easiest way for YOU to get the best game we can make.
Introducing the Twilight Spears
One of the things we wanted to do with this campaign was to take a mercenary company through the four seasons of the game with our backers. Whatever the outcome, we'll include it in the Core Book of the game as something you can use at your table.
Here's how it will work: Over the course of 4 different updates, we will tell the story of a Company called Twilight Spears, led by two siblings who are unable to find common ground. After the story bit, you'll be able to vote on what happens next. Whichever option wins will be the basis for the next season. Are you ready? Let's get started.
INTRO
The Twilight Spears are a notorious mercenary Company serving the Republic of Dormas, led by two siblings, Jared and Kyra Dyer. Brother and sister are like day and night: Jared is calm and thoughtful, while Kyra is bold and impetuous. The two inherited leadership of the Company from their father, who died a year ago during the bloody battle to retake Widmar.
Jared and Kyra compete for the absolute leadership of the Spears, but never escalate to an actual duel. At least until now...
The Twilight Spears - Season of Blood
[Note: The Season of Blood is the part of the campaign where a mercenary Company takes steps toward a greater goal.]
Fifty-seventh year of the Sun, third day of the fifth month: the Twilight Spears are stationed in Widmar, just outside the walls. The situation is not the best; the Iron Giants, the most feared Company of all those serving the Erenwald Empire, has just completed a major encirclement maneuver, locking the Spears in a deadly grip.
As the front line of the Twilight Spears is being torn apart by the Giants' armored infantry, Jared and Kyra find themselves faced with a crucial decision:
Jared's choice:"Let us surrender and bargain with the leader of the Giants. The salvation of the Company in exchange for the secrets we have learned about our employer's defenses. We will be accused of treason by the Republic of Dormas, but with good mediation the Giants will integrate us into the ranks of the Erenwald Empire. They will certainly want to avoid any leaks."
Kyra's choice:"Surrender is not an option, the only hope is a desperate charge to smash through the center of the enemy ranks and take out their leader. It will be a massacre for us, but the few survivors will go down in Republic history for their heroism, and with the reward we will rebuild the Company."
Voting will be open for the next 24 hours only!
Reminders & other notable things
Some of our community members are setting up a Valraven game to try out the Quickstart. Jump on our Discord and let us know if you're interested in joining.
So this may be old information to our Day 1 backers, but for all of the folks following along on the fence or waiting until the stars align to join in... let's learn a bit more about Everend.
Then, when I send out our poll about where your new character is from, you'll have the background needed to play along!
THE NATIONS OF EVEREND
“A people divided, and yet one people. Everend is all of you, and yet it is no one of you.”
Testament of Aaramus
When people resettled the land after the Time Before, they picked locations rich in natural resources and defensible positions. What started as a trickle of repopulation and exploration turned into lines drawn in the sand and warring factions. When the dust settled, seven great nations dominated the continent, which they call Everend.
Everend is a sprawling landmass featuring raging river lands, magically blighted fields, seemingly endless deserts, towering mountains, frigid wastelands, and strange borderlands. The people are as diverse as the landscape, many born from the land and tempered by its wilderness. While the nations in Everend share a history and a continent, their individual people, cultures, approaches to issues, and problems are distinctly unique.
Caparanite is a nation of hardy people who have carved a living out of harsh tundra. Orydonia is conversely a relatively peaceful nation of farmers and crafters who have tamed bountiful lands. The Federation of Eves is a group of island nations who recently won their independence and struggle to find an identity in continental politics. Invesse is an isolated nation that is dealing with its first ever invasion. Selacha is a confederation of rich coastal city-states who have banded together for mutual defense. Talpidium sits in the highest mountain range on Everend and boasts some of the best metalsmiths anywhere. Vitrumaria is a nation of determined people who have learned to tame the desert and now, daemons.
The past year has thrown what was once a relatively peaceful continent into turmoil and strife. The discovery of daemons has impacted every nation, from Caparanite to Eves, and everyone is struggling to come to terms with it. Daemons destroyed an entire mountain in an explosive show of force yet unrivaled in Everend’s history. Since that fateful day, every nation has raced to match the might that Vitrumaria demonstrated with that act. Since then, a terrifying blight has struck at the heart of the continent’s grain belt, creating massive food shortages, and putting a strain on all nations. Refugees flee from war and hunger creating instability in the nations they end up in. Squabbles over resources, land, and borders have escalated into saber rattling between once peaceful nations. These crises have forced nations to look inward at their own troubles, while fearfully glancing at their neighbors expecting them to strike.
For the common people of Everend, the advent of daemon summoning has caused unrest and a disruption to everyday life. Many Orydonian farmers are out of work due to the blight and seeking their fortunes elsewhere. People in warring nations are reminded daily that their normal life is not returning any time soon. Vitrumarian citizens struggled under a tyrannical leader and a group whose outspoken resistance paints a target on everyone’s back. Invesse’s people must choose to flee or fight, both options a dangerous proposition. Caparnite’s warriors see opportunities in these conflicts, but also know that their own fates aren’t so easily won. Something dangerous is encroaching on their northern border, which could mean danger for everyone. Selacha’s people worry about yet another war so soon after they were expelled from Eves. While Eves worries that supporting their allies might turn Vitrumaria’s eyes in their direction. Talpidium’s people fear that their monarch’s refusal to research daemons will lead to their eventual destruction, but at the same time fear that unchecked research could spell their doom.
Behind all that is the excitement of learning about the unknown. More and more people are taking up the mantle of summoner, researcher, and adventurer. Everend holds expanses of unexplored lands, ancient relics buried in long-forgotten ruins, and untamed magic. People who were once content to make their living in a pastoral setting are now looking to these wonders for glory and fortune. Anyone attempting to take advantage of these must contend not only with rival explorers, but the very political powers of Everend who each have their own agendas, needs, and ambitions.
What follows is a high-level overview of the most important concepts and ideals held within a nation and the philosophies and circumstances which drive the people living there. Secret societies, grand conspiracies, local rivalries, quarrelling lovers and more are found within and give a flavor of the sorts of adventures that could take place there and the sorts of characters you are likely to meet. Furthermore, the political context of the nations of Everend is key to the ongoing crises which drive the people living there to action. This provides fertile ground for the creation of stories which will be both fulfilling and exciting to experience and participate in as each character plays their role in the developing lore of each land.
Caparanite
“The way of the shepherd is the way of survival. It is easy to call ‘barbarian’ one who must fight to survive.”
All-Khan Tristan Beard, Leader of the Caparanite Clans at War
Survival against the odds. If a single phrase could sum up a nation, the Caparanite clans would carve these words in stone upon the borders of the barren, frigid wastes they call home for all to see. Caparanite is a complex political animal comprising a vast network of clans and small nations, each with a distinct culture, united by their common goal of mutual survival in their harsh homeland.
The hard lands breed hard people and Caparans are recognized across Everend as some of the finest warriors on the continent. Their militaristic way of life and their harsh, yet straightforward, code of law make them a nation of serious people who are honest, forthright, and blunt in conversation. Their way of life leaves little room for intrigue and backbiting. It is strength and the ability to survive which Caparans respect above all. These diverse people consist of mostly goat- and mole-people, along with a variety of other humans.
Caparanite warriors proudly and openly wear the furs and fetishes taken from defeated enemies and bear weapons as a matter of course wherever they go. As serious as they can be, they also value the sanctity of each moment and often have a devil may care attitude when celebrating or enjoying the company of friends, baying loudly of this or that battle fought many years ago, and proudly showing the scars they gained on that day and the lessons taught by those wounds.
Caparanite also possesses powerful mages from across its vast territory who, unrestricted by a hierarchical structure overseeing the use of magic, have mastered many arts that aid in their quest for survival. Any magical mishaps that have caused disaster there would be largely unnoticed as the uncountable peoples of the far north are often disconnected from their counterparts in the south. If word stops coming from a remote settlement, it’s as likely they died in the cold or to an attack from the savage beasts that roam the Outlands as any magical disaster.
Despite these many advantages, the reality of Caparanite is a people to whom living to see another day is the highest honor and who view ownership as “if you can protect it, you can keep it.” They are highly prized as mercenaries, but also feared as ferocious raiders. Since the major clans united under a single Khan, they are a threat to those neighbors whose fertile lands could secure a living for all the people of the north.
The Federation of Eves
“No price is too high for freedom.”
Representative Elise Finnley
The confederation of islands to the east of Everend, the Federation of Eves, is a young nation of seafarers, fisherfolk, and divers. A long and grueling war with its neighbor, Selacha, hardened this group of islands into a single nation, determined to take its place amongst the great nations of Everend so it can never again be trampled and treated as a prize to be conquered. The Federation has only considered itself a nation for ten years and Everend’s other nations (with the reluctant inclusion of Selacha) have only recognized it for half that time.
Two factors bind the federation together. The first is mutual protection against Selacha. The second is the Well of Creation. It’s the reason the federation was never a united nation before, and why it must be one now. The islanders believe the Well is the source of all magic in Gaia; it’s too powerful and precious for any one nation to control. The small island nations kept one another in check for generations, agreeing that no island should be more powerful than the others and thereby claim more control over the Well. Selacha coveted the Well, and conquered island after island to encroach on it. Only the islands’ decision to unite, becoming the Federation of Eves, stopped Selacha from rolling over them and taking possession of the Well of Creation.
The islands’ people reflect the wondrous variety of fish, sea mammals, and birds that inhabit the archipelago. Bright plumage and sharp beaks are common sights, as are shimmering scales and translucent fins. Shark-featured pirates crew sleek, rapid ships and serpent-folk defend their sandy, stony, or thickly forested homes.
The Federation is still reckoning with what it means to be a single nation: to cooperate, to balance one island’s needs against another, and how to define themselves. Each island has its own values, heroes, and legends and as the war that united them recedes into history, scholars, thinkers, and other ambitious individuals race to determine what, beyond defending the Well of Creation, will keep the new nation together as it enters the next stage of its development.
Invesse
“We are at war, but we are neither cowed nor defeated. If our invaders thought they would have an easy time of it, they severely underestimated the mettle of an Invessan.”
General Bash Bransom III
A peninsula on the southeastern edge of Everend, Invesse is bordered by Vitrumaria to the northwest and Selacha to the north. This swampy, heavily forested nation has densely packed population centers along its coasts separated by nearly impassable jungle land and pockets of Outlands. The eastern city centers have thrived for ages as hubs of sea trade, lumber manufacturing, and fishing, allowing them to grow into sprawling urban environments. While in the western and northern areas of the peninsula, a more rural way of life has prevailed with simple farms and fishing villages. Invesse is home to many bird-, lizard-, and fish-people, though several other peoples have settled there over the years.
Invesse’s northwestern border was protected by a mountain chain that stretched far into Vitrumaria’s south. That is until S’kallah the Dustbringer flattened the mountains and allowed Vitrumarian troops to swarm into the nation. Now they are embroiled in a war with an enemy who has them outclassed and outmanned. Tukila Swansong, Invesse’s leader, has sent a call for aid from Everend’s other nations, but few have responded. Each has enough of its own problems to spare troops or supplies to aid the fight. Swansong believes a simpler truth lies beneath the other nations’ inaction: No one wants to be the next target.
Invessans aren’t totally outmatched, though. Vitrumarian forces have only pierced the northern and western parts of the peninsula, incapable of making their way deeper due to their lack of knowledge of the Outlands and jungle terrain. Invesse’s forces harry the invaders, deflecting attacks to lead Vitrumarians deep into the jungle or into Outlands they aren’t prepared for. They have locked up Vitrumaria into a long and costly war, and for Invessans, the stakes are their homes and way of life. They aren’t backing down, even if they don’t have help. Swansong knows the first gate was found in Invesse, and has no compunction of using it to build up her own daemon army if that’s what it takes.
Orydonia
“From within and without our society, our land is under constant assault. We must defend it, but also remain true to the values that make it such a prize.”
Luisa Drosser, President of Orydonia
The beating heart of the continent of Everend, Orydonia was once a picturesque, idyllic expanse of rolling hills and fertile plains. At least, until a magical blight destroyed much of the viable farmland overnight. Since then, Orydonia has been thrown into disarray and the balance of power on Everend is upended. The abundance of food and water had previously elevated Orydonia to primacy among the nations of Everend. Its people enjoyed a state of satisfaction not found elsewhere which allowed them to develop both culturally and politically beyond their neighbors. Orydonia’s democratic socialist nation had systems to manage food, housing, and resources to ensure that nobody was left wanting. Now, that same system is stuck in deliberation as they fight over how to respond to the unthinkable, as people go hungry and many lose their livelihoods, their homes, and in many cases their lives.
Orydonia is a cosmopolitan place, seeing people from across Everend settling in its lush lands. In the deep country, fox- and rabbit-people speak in broad local dialects and nod sagely at talk of the passing seasons. In the cities, keen eyed bird-people wear elaborate togas complete with finely crafted brooches and tiaras, their plumage dyed in colorful hues to attract attention. People of all stripes hawk their wares on city streets, and debate philosophy in tea houses across the nation.
Under this veneer of calm lies a nation facing several crises without a good path forward. As Caparanite seeks to overtake what little fertile land remains untouched by the Blight, refugees spill into the border from Invesse, and their own populace sits near total economic collapse, internal politics grow heated on how to deal with these issues. Orydonia is a nation on the brink. A stricken power, clinging to its ideals of democracy and equity for all, while being torn apart by forces that it struggles to contain.
Selacha
“History? All history is good for is proving nothing lasts forever.”
Regna Eliza Romanelo
The nation of Selacha occupies the eastern coast of Everend. It’s composed of nine separate, self-governing city states, united by trade deals and political marriages.
The Nine CrownsSelenese is Selacha’s capital, where the Council Regnant meets to discuss matters of government that affect all the city states. Selenese, Valenta, Trieve are known as the Three Great Crowns. They’re the largest, the most powerful, and the loudest voices in the government-of-governments, the Council Regnant. They also bore most of the cost of the recent war with the Federation of Eves, so are the most financially precarious. Below them are four other cities — Solente, Aseda, Vielle, and Callandia — which make up most of the country. The other cities are outsiders: Palancia, always poor in relation to the others, and Agathine, which has fallen so deeply into debt it’s now owned by the banking house of Olentrave.
Selacha runs on luxury, and it always has. Whole communities of divers retrieve beautiful pearls from the bottom of the ocean; dyers process rich, lustrous tints from shells, crustaceans, and ocean flora; and pirates capture and commandeer the cargos of merchant ships up and down the coast.
This league of quarrelsome city states is in a precarious position. Some might say their best days are behind them — but only in private, because patriotism and a breed of stubborn optimism is the current trend in public discourse. Selacha’s still recovering from a grueling and expensive war with the Federation of Eves. Not only was the war costly, losing their former protectorate cut off many revenue streams, like the rightly prized purple dye produced on one of the Evesian islands.
They’re close to bankrupt with little sign of recovery, and Caparanite looms on their northern border, threatening to take the most valuable asset Selacha has left: the city of Palancia’s aaramite mine. It’s a testing time for Selacha, and rather than cooperating, each of the cities is turning inwards, looking out for its own interests at the expense of the nation.
Talpidium
“Our people strive to look beyond, and sometimes they miss what is right in front of them.”
Lyca Sapphire, Queen of Talpidium
Talpidium is a nation built in stone, and as unchangeable as its foundation. Ranging all through the Dawn Palisade and ending at the Barrier Sea to the west, Talpidium’s borders are tight and defensible. This has left the nation largely unassailable through the multiple wars that have plagued the continent since the Reconstruction.
This mountainous region is home to miners and delvers, comprised largely of mole- and crystalline-people and others suited to the subterranean dwellings. Along the coast, brave explorers with weather beaten scale and fin make a living hauling fish and hunting fabled sea creatures.
Talpidium has long been an isolationist nation, making trade deals with neighbors only for hard-to-find foodstuffs or aaramite. Anything else they make for themselves or do without. Situated in a hard-to-reach place has made the nation complacent of its place in Everend, which has made dealing with new threats a difficult transition.
War between Vitrumaria and Invesse might not normally even spark interest in the broadsheets, but the devastating daemon attack that leveled a mountain has given the whole nation pause. If Vitrumaria sets its sights on Talpidium next, no amount of natural border can stop them. The Monarchy has taken a traditional approach to this threat, hiring Caparan mercenaries to defend the southern border, and increasing funding for weapons research.
Many in the nation believe Talpidium should look to securing their own daemons if they want to have a chance against their aggressive southern neighbor, but Queen Lyca refuses, considering the magic far too chaotic and dangerous to play with. She has put forward a prohibition against daemon summoning, considering their chaotic magic too dangerous to play with.
Vitrumaria
“Everyone wants power, but only those who can take it and hold it are fit to keep it. If someone takes your power from you, you weren’t mean to have it in the first place.”
Harold Hollister, Vitrumarian President
Located on the southwestern side of Everend, Virtumaria is dominated by a vast desert on the leeward side of the mountains separating it from Invesse. Despite Vitrumaria touching the Barrier Sea, the nation’s biggest cities are found deep in the desert mining the aaramite found there. People live in elaborate cities built from the magical material placed precariously on the shifting sands.
The nation is currently controlled by a tyrant who has designs on empire building, President Harold Hollister. For generations, lizard-, bird-, stone-, and bat-people have enjoyed prosperity under Vitrumarian democracy. Fueled by a culture that glorifies self-reliance and determination, these people aren’t taking their oppression laying down, even if that means partnering with what would be otherwise their strongest enemies.
After discovering daemons in Invesse’s Outlands, President Hollister used the entities to invade the nation in hopes of recruiting more creatures to his side. The war is not proceeding as planned, taking far too long to quell the peninsula. Expert strategists have assured the president that Vitrumaria would win eventually, the cost in troops, resources, and the devastation daemons bring to the land aren’t worth it. Hollister has no plans to stop his invasion though and has locked up or killed anyone suggesting otherwise.
Public sentiment is dictated by propaganda, which declares the war a roaring success. Unfortunately, despite carefully placed broadsheets and public displays of victory, a resistance movement has arisen by the name of the Anti-Hollister League. This former activist group has turned into a militia bent on disrupting Vitrumarian war efforts, smuggle refugees out of the nation, and find allies among the other nations. While information leaving Vitrumaria is highly contained, the AHL hopes that if others learn of public discontent, they will be more willing to assist in overthrowing the government. Additionally, a third party in the form of the Aaramite Court, wealthy oligarchs who own the aaramite mines, works at the upper levels to temper Hollister’s advances. While they don’t support the populist Anti-Hollister League, they do sometimes support their actions to weaken their shared enemy.
This is just the most general overview of the nations of Everend. In the draft manuscript, which backers have access to, you'll be able to dig deep into each nation and learn about the history and cultures. More importantly, you'll see the Story Seeds that are included throughout the manuscript. This is one of my favorite bits in the text - the ideas and adventures suggested really get the imagination going! I love it!
So let's keep on exploring Everend and please invite your friends and friendly gamers to join in!
If you're a veteran of our previous campaigns or you've watched the launch stream, you already know me. If not, my name is Tommaso, I'm the Creative Director at The World Anvil Publishing, and I'll be in charge of all campaign updates and backer communications.
You can always reach me by leaving a comment on the campaign, sending an email to [email protected], or joining our Discord server, where I am known as tommasodb.
Funded!
The first battle is won! The campaign was funded in just 90 minutes– Thank you! We hope this will be the definitive edition of Valraven, so spread the word, we've got plenty more to unlock.
You can:
Share the campaign on Discord servers, Whatsapp, iMessage or Telegram groups, or post the link anywhere you think your fellow players might gather. There's only so much we can do on our own, so word of mouth is really the best way to get the most out of your pledge.
Talk about Valraven with your regular group or other players you meet live - maybe some of them would like to join your order, add an Add-On or two, and save on shipping?
With that out of the way, let’s talk Stretch Goals – the upcoming ones are:
Scenario - Widmar's Destiny Extended (included in the Book of Eclipse): The Quickstart Scenario with additional scenes, an alternate beginning, and more pregen characters to choose from!
Alchemy VTT support: All campaign backers will receive free access to the Alchemy VTT version of Valraven: Chronicles of Iron and Blood and all available supporting materials backed in the campaign. Estimated delivery end of 2025.
War Site: Widmar (included in the Book of Eclipse): A new chapter focused on the city of Widmar, with story hooks, new NPCs, events, faction agendas in the city, and more.
…and we have more in store.
Also, if you have the time, let us know what is the MAIN reason you supported the campaign, you can vote here.
That will help us plan the next updates.
Before I go, two suggestions: make sure you read the project FAQ, especially our Refund Policy, and even if you're the "back and forget" type, don't mute the updates - we don't want people to miss out on important information about production, surveys, and shipping. I promise I'll make them worth your time.
