Setting

[Paladin]

Here lies information specific to my homebrew setting.

[Paladin]

The valley of Greyhearth is an oasis of peace in a world gone mad. The sheltered vale is ringed on all sides by nigh-impenetrable mountains. Dwarves delve beneath the soaring peaks and elves inhabit their well-managed forests. Halflings till the rich black earth on the flood plain amid Greyhearth's many winding creeks and rivers. Humans occupy the hills near the mountains and control the only entrance to the idyllic paradise.

A single pass leads into and out of Greyhearth, and it is guarded by a massive wall of hewn stone and a gargantuan oaken door. A watch tower of native black stone soars skyward, called by locals The Black Spire. What lies beyond the Black Spire?

Death. Chaos in all its myriad forms. Desolate plains, steaming jungles, parched deserts, violent seas, and worse. Generations ago, civilization survived a mighty cataclysm that wracked the earth and destroyed Those Who Came Before. Greyhearth is the last remaining bright spot beneath a shroud of utter darkness. At least, that is the story told by the historians of Greyhearth.

Beasts from beyond attack the wall from time to time, and tribes of shaggy, savage cavemen lurk in the hills beyond to prey on anyone foolish enough to venture beyond the spire. The Watchers, an elite regiment composed of representatives of all the civilized races, stand guard to defend the wall against all comers.

Trebuchets line the wall to hurl boulders at flying beasts. Wizards occupy the spire to bring down bolts of lightning and cast searing fireballs. And warriors bearing arms await their chance to come to grips with their foes.

Criminals and other undesirable elements are cast out beyond the spire and the door is sealed shut behind them. As the ages march on, precise knowledge about what lies beyond erodes until only rumors and whispers remain. What fate awaits those cast into an inhospitable world?

It's time for you to find out. Greyhearth is at capacity. Populations stretch to fill their territories and chafe against the restraints imposed by their neighbors. Dwarves exhaust their mines. Elves see ever-dwindling supplies of game. Halflings complain that even the heavy soil near the rivers doesn't produce like it used to. Humanity expands and the young grow restless. They yearn to go beyond, but their elders caution restraint.

In a bid to find new territories and new food supplies, members of the various races currently occupying Greyhearth have agreed to send a number of joint expeditions into the world beyond to map the terrain, find new sources of food and navigable waterways, and possible sights for frontier settlements. The army will follow once each expedition procures enough actionable intelligence and deal with any major threats.

The time for hesitating is past. Society must move forward. No more may the civilized races cower in fear behind their high walls and stark mountains. New ground must be broken, new enemies faced and conquered, and new tales told.

Come, comrades. It's time to venture Beyond the Black Spire.