Lore#

World knowledge, history, and important concepts.

Delerium#

A crystalline substance that fell with the meteor fifteen years ago. It glows with an octarine (iridescent purple-green-yellow) color and is extremely valuable — but also extremely dangerous.

Properties#

• Mutations: Touching delerium with bare skin causes horrific mutations
• Contamination: Wounds from delerium-tipped weapons cause contamination that spreads if not treated
• Value: A chip sells for 10gp; a fragment for 100gp

Contamination#

Exposure to delerium-infused creatures can cause contamination (constitution save). Contamination is tracked in levels. When gaining a level, roll a d6 — if the result equals or is lower than your contamination level, you gain a mutation. Can be purged by any flamekeeper or potentially a druid living north of Emberwood Village.

Harvesting#

• DC 15 check (investigation, survival, or arcana) to find delerium in the city
• Revisiting an area grants advantage on the check
• A chip takes 5-10 seconds to extract
• A fragment takes about a minute to extract
• Must be stored in reinforced glass vessels
• Check the sides of buildings rather than picked-clean main streets

Safe Handling#

Per Armin Gainsbury’s guide:

• Never touch with bare skin
• Use insulated gloves and tongs
• Store in reinforced glass vials (2gp small, 4gp medium)
• Mine with picks or hammers

Special Uses#

• Animus Capture: Delerium can capture the “animus” (soul) of a monster within 10 minutes of death, useful for crafting
• Falling Fire Ritual: Rumored that Falling Fire adherents plunge delerium into their hearts at the crater

The Meteor#

Fifteen years ago, a meteor struck Drakkenheim, destroying most of the city and killing the royal family. The meteor brought delerium and the corrupting haze that now covers the city.

Effects#

• Created the crater at the city center
• Spread delerium throughout the ruins
• Caused the purple haze (octarine glow) that covers the city
• Mutated creatures and people
• Killed or drove away most inhabitants

Ratlings#

Mutated rats that walk on two legs. They are intelligent enough to manufacture weapons and tactics.

Characteristics#

• Small creatures, about three feet tall
• Walk on hind legs
• Use rusty blades and delerium-tipped arrows/sling bullets
• Already mutated by delerium, so it doesn’t affect them further
• Keep prisoners alive (to eat later)
• Congregate in sewers and ruined buildings
• Have “Ratling Cunning” — can all disengage and flee as a group
• Attack with pack tactics (advantage when allies are adjacent)
• Can say “Kill!” (unclear if they can say anything else)

Known Location#

• Rat’s Nest Tavern (Scrag Lane, NW of Drakkenheim, outside inner city walls)

The Rat God#

The ratlings of the Rat’s Nest Tavern worship a deity simply called The Rat God (also referred to as “the Rat Goddess” by some ratlings — likely the same entity). Their warlock served as religious and military leader, presiding over an inner sanctum housing a delerium idol dressed as a demonic obese rat. The idol incorporated the large delerium node beneath the tavern as its centrepiece. Skull and bone offerings were laid at its feet.

The Sacred Flame#

The dominant religion in the region. The meteor’s fall has split the faithful into factions with different interpretations.

Factions#

Holy Sites in Drakkenheim#

• St. Vitruvio’s Cathedral
• St. Selena’s Monastery (near the crater)
• Chapel of St. Brenna

Key Prayer (Traditional)#

“Carry me to the flame. Let it judge my weary soul. If I burn, let others see. Sacred flame, make me whole.”

— Recited by Heda Zlathrak

The Haze#

A purple, octarine-glowing mist that covers Drakkenheim. Limits visibility to about 60 feet. Creatures mutated by delerium don’t seem to want to leave it, making Emberwood Village (just outside) relatively safe.

No long rests are possible inside the haze. The city has not seen a clear day in fifteen years, despite how clear the skies are outside it.

Drakkenheim City#

Castle Drakken perches atop a high rocky hill above the city. Four bridges reach across the Drann River. Key landmarks include the great dome of St. Vitruvio’s Cathedral, the cosmological clock tower of Market Square, and the Amethyst Academy’s obsidian glass tower — broken in half at the middle, but the top still hovers above in defiance of gravity.

Monster Harvesting#

Monster parts must be harvested within 10 minutes of death or the haze corrodes anything usable. Common parts (bones, fluids, organs) can be taken by hand; anything above CR 1 requires a monster harvesting kit (50gp). Parts can be sold to Armin Gainsbury in Emberwood Village.

The Old Gods#

An older religious tradition focused on nature spirits and the gods of the land. Captain Ansem follows this tradition rather than the Sacred Flame.