Heroes' Epoch Campaign: Background - Regions of Arctaran (Patreon)

I'm continuing work on maps and locations for the Heroes' Epoch campaign, a Pathfinder 1st-ed game using my Start-11 rules.

I have a rough map with the main location I expect to use for adventures, the continent of Arctaran. I know I'll be adding two cities crucial to the early stages of the campaign, the cities of Hoard and Ironbridge. But I also want to give some background on regions around the continent, for players to use in their own character histories (if desired), and to give context to the landmass as a whole.

I included notes on how common various threats of given CR (Challenge Rating) are in each region, because the PCs are starting at 11th level. They should have some idea where they are tougher than most anything they are likely to run into, and where running into an ancient dragon is a RARE occurrence beyond the norm for that area.

I'll get into Hoard and Ironbridge later.

ARCTARAN

The Hook

The Sceald Sea, also known as The Hook, is a sea ranging from 60 to 200 miles in width. It has very few native mid-to-high CR threats, no established tool-using underwater nations, is rich in fishing and trade, and is a moderate target of piracy and underwater colonization. It is low in shipwrecks, and high in fully submerged ancient ruins.

Wainward Headlands

The Hook curls around the Wainward Headlands, a peninsula of thick, rich woodands and fertile farms and hunting. The Headlands have 4 seasons with long springs and short and occasionally harsh winters. It is heavily settled, with a network of thorps and villages set along roads an easy day’s travel apart, and larger towns set roughly a week apart. The westernmost point of the Headlands is the City of Hoard (officially “Brarguren’s Canton”).

Montmenil

To the west of the Hook is the Montmenil, or the Hilllands. It has lush valleys, hills, and a few rare mountains generally not part of mountain chains. It has fair soil, thick forests and wilds, 4 seasons with long Springs and short but often harsh winters, and a moderate number of low-CR threats, rare medium-CR threats, and a high-CR threat only every decade or so. Its culture is similar to Middle Ages western Europe, with scores of kingdoms, similar to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales to the west, Portugal and Spain to the south, Belgium and France to the north, and Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland to the east. The kingdoms of the Montmenil often fight each other over border wars or on points of honor among their royalty, many of whom have bloodlines with strong ties to outsiders (aasimar and tieflings, but also elementally infused people and many lines of bloodragers and sorcerers with outsider bloodlines and other classes with Eldritch Heritage feats) and some enmities go back to the Titan’s Epoch.

The Uerngwen

To the immediate North of the Hook is the Uerngwen, the Alder-Tree-Plain, which is largely flat but is well above sea level. It has rich soil, 4 distinct seasons, mild weather, and extensive low-CR threats, a moderate number of medium-CR threats, and few high-CR threats. Its culture is similar to Middle Ages central Europe but with the largest unified governments being a few cities-states, which have spheres of influence including numerous towns and lots of villages and hamlets. There are semi-independent large towns, with smaller spheres of influence of villages and hamlets, and a small number of independent small towns.

Northlands

North of the Uerngwen are the Reisende, also known as the Northlands, rocky lands that slope toward the ocean. Here live the Clans of the Reisende (the name is used for both the land and the people who dwell there). (https://www.patreon.com/posts/expanding-with-50547391)The soil is poor, winters long, low and mid-CR threats are common, and rare high-CR threats exist. Its culture is similar to Middle Ages northern Europe, as seen through the lens of the Reisende clan notes.

Swordlands

Southeast of the hook are the Swordlands, with extensive hills, multiple mountain ranges, deep, swift rivers, giant lakes, and microclimates that make the weather extremely unpredictable. They have long, hot summers and no winter to speak of. The culture is similar to Middle Ages southern Europe, especially Spain and Italy, with many of the oldest, largest cities on Arctaran and extensive trading fleets. The highest CR threats are from citizens of these cultures, or are brought about through their machinations and plots. Each city and town is officially independent, but various alliances and organizations exist to form larger societies. Dwarves, elves, and gnomes are the most common species, and due to their long lifespan hold nearly every position of power, causing halflings, humans, orcs, and half-elves and half-orcs to often rebel against authority and become hotspurs and troublemakers or even pirates, brigands, and anarchists.

Tomorrow for my paid-members-only Tavern Thursday post, I'll do a tavern set in the Heroes' Epoch campaign (but useable in most typical fantasy games. Friday I think I'll post the Threat Assessment Guide I am providing players, so prepare them for what 11th level foes may look like. Then Monday, I'll offer up my notes on the cities of Hoard and Ironbridge, which also contain the opening set-up for the PCs in Heroes' Epoch.

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Given I am still facing bills from my 18-month-long fight with cancer (now in remission!), I'll note those who are both interested and able to do so can also offer addition support through my Ko-Fi (now with pictures of our new kittens!), or the GoFundMe I set up[ for cancer costs.