General Information

[Ysolde]

Game Name The Knights of Justice

Game System Pathfinder

Theme Mystery, Politics, Grim Dangers, Good vs Evil

Flavour Lest Darkness should Fall

Plot Summary In the south of Takasharr, an order of paladins was begun centuries ago. It was an order of religious zeal and utmost, sworn loyalty to their cause and to one another. Their lives were bound by strict ritual, protocol, and military discipline, such as it was. They called themselves the Knights of Justice. The Knights of Justice were forged from the exigencies of life in some of the harsher parts of the south. All kinds of humanoids, various creatures, and evil men who wished to grow their power in relative peace called the inhospitable marshes and forests of the south lands home. It was the Knights who pledged themselves to the defense of the free races. What started as a small cadre of bodyguards that escorted travelers and caravans soon grew into a martial order. Fortifications and outposts were built. Soldiers were trained. Before long, the Knights of Justice were a wall of magic and steel separating Takasharr from the darkness that, left unchecked, would gradually engulf her. But time erodes all things, and as the Knights drove away the darkness with their light, there became less and less reason for their existence. Membership waned. Provinces that once felt a sense of urgency to keep the Knights staffed began to divert their funds and manpower to other projects. Outposts were abandoned for lack of soldiers to staff them, and many of the Knights holdings, today, are staffed with a skeleton crew that can are only able to keep up the barest minimum of patrol circuits. The Knights remain true to their charter and continue to keep the ways safe for travelers and serve as a buffer against the odd incursion of goblin tribes or the predations of lycanthropes, but the religious roots have long since faded into the past. No one in the Knights of Justice, today, could even tell you what their religious origins are, and their spiritual roots have become sublimated into the day to day task of trying to eke out a survival with low supplies. Some vestiges of this heritage are still seen, however, as many of the rituals continue to live on, although many have forgotten what they might have once meant. You find yourself called in to see the commander of your Outpost

About Takasharr:
The Empire of Takasharr was once a great and powerful nation with magics that defied description. Now it is a number of dukedoms and petty politics with little power left in the Emperor's name.

History as you know it:
A thousand years ago the Empire of Takasharr was overrun by a demonic horde. The most catastrophic of these invasions destroyed the capital city itself and utterly rocked the entire empire. The Knights of Justice were created to fight the demons. Consecrated to a goddess whose name has been lost to history the knights fought and won the empire back, but not without great sacrifice.

When the war was over the Empire was not the same as it had been. Magics failed, roads slowly decayed and entropy seemed to set in. It has been a slow elongated decay into petty squabbles that just seem to grind everything down. The Empire is on it's last legs and little seems to be able to prevent it all from collapsing.

If you take knowledge history or the like I will provide you with more information based on the number of ranks you take in that knowledge. The same goes for other knowledge skills.

About Magic:
Arcane magic users are less well known and not common. DM will work with you to craft an appropriate background

Dieties and divine magic:
The goddess of Justice sacrificed herself to end the war a long time ago. Her name has been lost to time. Evil demons are worshipped by some, but their taint is usually obvious to most people. This is not to say you can't be a Paladin, Cleric, Ranger, or Druid. Just that at the beginning of this story the holy powers don't always work as well as you might like. This has a high likelyhood of change later in the game.

About Races:
Humans - The vast majority of what is left of the empire are humans. They live in towns, villages and cities that all seem to be decaying and suffering from crime, corruption, and bandit raids.

Elves - The elves were the central part of the empire. Their magic and construction held magical portals, roads and devices together. Most of the major elven races and people died when the empire fell. What is left live in small wooded groves and keep to themselves.

Dwarves - The dwarves were just as much part of the empire as the other races, but as with elves were hit hard by the destruction of the empire. Those who are left live in small caverns and societies which often owe their existance to a Duke or Duchess.

Halflings - Most live among the humans. There are rumors that a halfling land once was part of the empire, but no one can say where it might have been.

Gnomes - The few gnomes left usually live in the scattered dwarven communities.

Half-Orcs - Half-orcs live on the outskirts. They are usually not accepted in either human or orc society.

Drow - The Drow are known to be raiders. Their Duchy broke from the empire and continues to harry and raid other communities.

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Emperor Jayhrad V
Jayhrad the Fifth is known to be a dour man who seems to care little about the emipre and its problems. He often leaves political matters to Dukes with the result that little gets done. He is known far and wide as someone who likes his parties and drink.



Imperial Prince Zalandris
The Imperial Prince was born to the now deceased Empress. He is nine years old and is currently in the care of Knight Marshall Tiberius of the Knights of Justice. This is a precarious position for the Knight Marshall and there are numerous political manuevers to have the young Emperor educated by someone else.



Duke Aselred of Haverghast
Duke Aselred has his own personal army in defiance of numerous Imperial Decrees against such things. He has somehow gained special dispensation for his armies, but such dispensation and his subtle threats make him very unpopular with the other Dukes and Duchesses.

Duke Byrant of Wessix
Byrant of Wessix has just become the duke. Little is currently known about him or what he intends to do next.



Duchess Wyn’neth of Fallhold
The Duchess is a well known supporter of the Knights of Justice and the Duchy of Fallhold is well known to be one of the most prospeous in the empire. She is always seen with a neclace of Silver depicting the scales of Justice. She is known far and wide to be honest and full of integrity.

Duke Simard of Pictrava
Duke Simard is known for his sloth and the fact that he cares not at all about his Duchy. He and the emperor are often seen together at parties, balls, and the like drinking large quantities of alcohol.



Duchess Kathrynn of Solentide
The Duchess is a young girl of seventeen and she is known to be flighty and unconcerned with matters of state. She seems always unable to make up her mind and often rambles off into flights of fancy. There are rumors that her father was killed by the Queen of Kar'naris so that she would inherit and thus weaken the empire.




Duke Grimhammer of Northgard
Duke Grimhammer represents the largest citadels of the dwarven people. He tends to stay far in the north and avoids coming to the capital to even be involved with decision making.



Duchess Irw'in'thana of Star Pointe
Duchess Irw'in'thana represents the elven people. They live on the island of Star Pointe and are often dealing with raids from Queen Karnariss and other threats from the sea. The Duchess highly values the Imperial Navy and funds it heavily. She tends to be less concerned with other matters.



Duke Trevesh of Union
Duke Trevesh is not known for much other than his propensity to back one or the other Dukes and Duchesses one day and then back another on the next. He seems almost mercurial and yet his decisions always seem to benefit his own personal trading company and line his pockets with gold.



The Queen of Karnariss
The Queen of Karnariss is the ruler of the Drow. She is the current matriarch and rules her chaotic raiders from the mountain islands in the north, but those islands also have tunnels throughout the empire and her people take great pleasure in using them to raid and pillage the empire. Especially the Elves of Star Pointe.

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Arcana:
Rank 0: Magic weave? What? Oh that's the stuff where people move their fingers and pretty lights happen right?
Rank 5: A bit of information on the magical weave and the major theories on why it isn;t working

Dungeoneering:
Rank 0: People say there are dungeons in the swamps and below the ground too
Rank 5: Some detail on the closest Goblin dungeons and some famous dungeons in the empire
Rank 10: More detail on some of the dungeons in the empire

Geography:
Rank 0: There will be maps provided on Saturday the 9th in our new forum.
Rank 5: You get to see some of the secret maps
Rank 10: More of those secret maps

History:
Rank 0: What you've seen is what you get. You never learned much more and haven't cared to
Rank 5: Some details about the history of Takasharr, the Knights and the Demon Wars
Rank 10: More details on the names of the major figures and some of the people alive today

Local:
Rank 0: There's a town called Wethills near the wethills outposts and some goblins out in the swamps. Other outposts are out there somewhere.
Rank 5: The names of the nearest Knight outposts, More about the Wethills environs, monsters, goblins, and the Town nearby
Rank 10: Better detail on the major Goblin tribes, plus information about the three nearest Knight outposts and their commanders plus the next town over

Nobility:
Rank 0: It is generally a good idea to bow or curtsey to a noble.
Rank 5: A scattered assortment of the major Noble houses and what they outwardly think
Rank 10: More detailed information on the nobles including some secrets and less savory actions

Planes:
Rank 0: Demons destroyed our world they are bad and from Hell
Rank 5: Major Demons and their calling. What materials might work best when fighting demons and devils
Rank 10: Who the Demon King was that the Goddess of Justice sacrificed herself to destroy, and a few other tidbits

Religion
Rank 0: The goddess of Justice defeated the Demons that assaulted the empire. She sacrificed herself so that we could all live.
You'd also know the major celebration days.

• 1) Sacrifice day is the longest and darkest day of the year
• 2) Judgement day is usually when a high level knight is sent to local towns to sit in judgement. This happens three times a month, but is not usually celebrated in many placed anymore.
• 3) Atonement and forgiveness day is a winter festival after Sacrifice and it is a day when people are suppose to seek out those they have wronged and seek forgiveness and to atone
• 4) Merciful forgiveness a Fall festival when if you can find it in yourself you are supposed to forgive those who have done you wrong usually after they have done atonement since the last winter.
• 5) The Bounty of Justice is the harvest festival where everyone thanks the goddess

Rank 5: How to perform the rituals and ceremonies. Names of major Martyrs of the Faith.
Rank 10: Theories of the Priests on how the Goddess might return. Minor Martyrs of the faith. Ceremonies to banish evil.

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Map of Takasharr

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The History of the empire previous to The Sacrifice is writ in legends. What is know is that a Demon King named Sentu came forth in the capital city and his hordes attacked the empire from all sides. The Imperial army was pulled back to fight the swamrs of demons in the capitalto attempt to save it. The Knights of Justice were the only thing standing between a tide of invaders and numerous cities and towns all over the empire.

In the end the Goddess drew forth from the faith of her Knights and the people of the world. It was with that faith that she pushed the invading demons back into the hells. Weakened by that feat she strode into battle against Sentu himself. Justice against the Destroyer of Worlds, she sacrificed herself and the Capital of the Empire itself and explosion which rent the sky and created the place called simply Sacrifice.

When it was all over the Empire was rocked, Elves and Dwarves had been laid to waste and the Halfling lands utterly destroyed. Still the empire limped on the roads worked and things slowly picked up, except magic no longer seemed to work. Teleportation stones that sent people from one end of the empire to the next would rip them apart. Wands exploded on use and scrolls simply burned up. The Knights and Clerics of Justice could no longer cast some of their most powerful spells or if they did horrible effects would happen.

Since that time it seems as if the Empire has just slowly become worse. Corruption in every major city and town. The Drow revolted and began to worship evil and darkness. Attacking the and raiding the rest of the empire. Goblins appeared in numerous places and became difficult to route and remove. The orcish people became nomadic and also attacked and raided the rest of the world.

Each emperor, over time seems to have grown more greedy and less capable of ruling. The dukes and duchesses of the empire squabble and bicker, some even raising armies which somehow get defeated by the remains of the imperial armies or the Knights of Justice.

 

The Planes
- The world you live on is a giant sphere it orbits the elemental plane of fire and is surrounded by the elemental plane of void, also called space, out in the void itself you can see more spots of elemental fire peeking through each one theorized to hold another sphere like the one you are on.

The Celestial Heavens: In ancient times one could look to the sky and see brief glimpses of gateways into the heavens. Some theorize there were also gates on High Mountains as well. The heavens are where the Goddess of Justice came from and where her angelic host side. Names of the angels have been lost along with the goddess though it is said they can grant powers and do things in the name of Justice. However all the gateways were closed and destroyed when the gateways to the hells were.

The Hells: As with the heavens there were once gateways that opened from the Hells onto the world. These gateways were closed in the begnnings of time, but even so they had been patrolled by the celestial host. No one knows how they were opened, but when they did open that was when the hordes attacked. Acording to myth these gates were closed and destroyed by the goddess when she sacrificed herself.

Elemental Fire: The realm of elemental fire peeks through the void in numerous places. Beings of pure flame are said to live and reside within without a care for the mortal worlds that their plane heats.

Elemental Void: Every plane lies within the elemental Void each one a tiny speck in comparison the the massive void. Nothing is said to be able to survive within the void unless it is on a world.

Astral Plane: Spirits of the dead travel through the astral plane to the realms of heaven and hell. It is here that the bodies of dead angels and demons reside. Some people theorize that the body of the goddess may reside within the Astral plane.

 

Arcana:
A Short Treatise on the Magical Weave: The Magical Weave is part and parcel of our world. It was once a glimmering pure ribbon of power without flaw. However, now it has numerous breaks and cracks these breaks and cracks seem to be the worst around the area of Sacrifice itself where the Goddess and the Demon King fought and both fell. These breaks and cracks have only grown worse since the Sacrifice and many people theorize that it is due to the battle itself that such breaks and cracks were originally formed.

Shaping the forces of the Magical Weave requires a spiritual connection to the heavens, a connection to other spirits, study and learning, a pact with fey or demonic creatures, or a bloodline that somehow connects a person with the power of the Arcane weave. Each discipline connects in a different way and it is unclear exactly why some magics are so different from others.

The weave interacts with a caster via verbal, somatic, and material objects in this world though it is possible with practice to eschew some or all of these items. What really matters here is that the literal weave of magic enters the caster and then does what it has been asked to do. Not like a puppy, but more like a literal threads within a loom with the caster being the weaver. At the end of the day this is why spells fail the thread chosen is broken or frayed and thus will not fit into the final tapestry.

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Map of The Starry Lady Outpost

Starry Lady Area Map

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Fallhold detail the orange is Lord Elrin's territory...

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Baron Barsdurb - Demon Baron vying to become the Prince of all the hells. His known balliwick is Slaughter. Any who revel in killing and death follow him. He is especially pleased by bloody conflict

Baron Eiderdow - Demon Baron vying to become the Prince of all the hells. His known balliwick in hatred and intolerance. At first it seemed that it was just in terms of humans over other races, but now it seems he simply thrives on it no matter the race involved.

Vincula - The Demon Lord of chains. Vincula is said to be a powerful succubus. She controls most of the other succubi and entraps souls through seduction and lies.

Lord Sethmont - The demon lord of undeath. He seeks to rule a world that is mainly walking corpses. The living should become as cattle to the undead.

Lord Eissenhardt - The demon lord of avarice. He represents unchecked greed in all forms, covetousness for things that are not your own and the desire to take them for yourself. Many thieves worship him. His symbol is a golden cow.

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Duchess Wyn'neth of Fallhold
The City of Fallhold never fell to the demonic hordes. Duchess Wyn'neth the first was said to have held the city against the demons. Her great, great, great, etc. granddaughter is a black haired human woman with silver blue eyes. She is well known to financially support the Knights of Justice and has the largest outpost for training and supplying the Knights. The Duchess is loved by her people and her Duchy is one of the most free and fair places to live. It is a shining jewel and many come to live there to benefit from pieces of the ancient empire not seen anywhere else. Including the Moonwalde forest where many sylvan elves hail from.

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Wethills black book with LINKS to the reference posts!!

 

Subject of Interest	Why?	First Introduced
Blunt Tooth	Goblin in charge of security detail in Toothgnasher Village	earlier than Kubar
Lord Westin	Working against Duchess of Fallhold
Sir General Kane	Man inside Lord Westin's pocket. Sends men to harass villagers and collect supplies.	Wethills Outpost post 437
Mira's Blacksmith Son	Has been making a lot of weapons	post 442
Duchess of Fallhold
Kerzwin	Small captured imp that group interrogated. Arrived in area by gate created by Emperor's own (Imperial General). Imps are being used to corrupt people.	post 456
Imperial General	Plausibly General Kane. Has item/"piece" from the Greatest of Demons that was created during the battle of the goddess. Brought the "incubus", Newt, with him. Only has half a legion at his disposal. Three of the five of the cohorts are attacking Dwarven Fortress of Aine. Fifth is split between Marshpointe and Tip. Fourth Cohort is to the south fighting "rebellious factions". Appeared with Lord Elrin when he returned from a hunting expedition. Rebellion at Wethills Forts crushed the general. Knights are moving to join rebels there. Set up shop at City Hall of Marshpointe	458
Newt	Shape shifting "incubus" later found out to be a corrupted gold dragon. He drew in children to tempt mortals and to sacrifice them. Was trying to bring a "friend" over (possibly a reference to Great demon). Newt was trying to get Baron Eiderdow here. Felt betrayed by goddess. Deceased. Killed with a whack to the sack.	462
Lord Elrin	Lord of the area rebelling against the Duchess. Has a Vrock and Osyluth at his call.	462
Demon King	Big bad guy trying to enter mortal realm.	462
Celestial Language	Might hurt demons?	469
Cloth (Magic?)	Used to go over magical wall. Made on dwarven loom.
Marshpointe	Small town whom is currently occupied by enemy forces. Good people await the duchess to help them.	476
Reaver's Run	River that runs through Marshpointe	Marshpointe Scouting Mission
Cold Creek	Creek that runs through Marshpointe
The Centurion	Officer Ceraan met at the tavern. Looks at his own men with disgust and fear. Xenophobic. Perhaps enchanted?	1
Baron Eiderdow	Mentioned by Centurion that he will purge lands of non-humans. Known as Demon of hatred, Prince of Human Purity. Needs to escpae Hell.	11
Thad Farr	Farrier. Good guy loyal to Duchess, forced to make new better weapons for General	14
Miss Stacy	Local herbalist of Marshpointe, fled with a little girl to the elven isles after giving him info.	31
Dwarves of Aines	Currently under siege, then comes Fallhold	31
Wessix	Is on enemy's side and some dukes	44
Tiraslee	Is planning on capturing the little Eagle . Little eagle = heir of emperor	44
Cyril	Will take care of the Old Eagle. Old Eagle = emperor.	44
Fortin	Was lost to enemy by knights who are looking for Mercy	44
Band of Knights	Looking for Mercy ?	44
Dame General Clarice	Has all three legions and could hold the area (?) against Barghest threat.	44
Man in Black?	Will be heading to Aine disguised as a dwarf.	49
General's Artifact	Lost at Aine. Loss has hindered operations.	49
Demon Baron	Possibly Baron Eiderdow (confirmed)	49
Duchess in Elven Lands	Could use a good witch	49
Lord Fortin second mention	Possibly error and meant Lord Elrin	57
Church goers in Marshpointe	Possibly trustworthy	57
Magic Loom	Dwarven made. Destroyed with explosives that were going to be used to attack Fallhold.	78 Nice Summary Post
Sil'vane'rial	Handmaiden of Auroinia. Previously imprisoned by Newt. Bard class.	170
Auronymix	Newt's pseudo name	170
Auroinia and her mate Vernosaur	Deceased dragons. Killed by Newt	170
Weyr	A sacred dragon place?	170
Another Demon Baron	involved along with the Queen of Karnariss.	170
Mayor Quinn of Greensil		170

Notable NPCs in Greensil:
Mayor Quinn - Appointed by the Three Lords/Ladies - Possible RP meeting
Lady Arawen, Lord Rendon, Lord Skiprock - The Three they own most of the land around here - not possible to get a meeting with
Guard Captain Howe - Appointed by the mayor - Possible RP meeting
Estelle Elegance - Courtesan and possible thieves guild leader - Difficult, but not impossible to get an RP meeting with

If you just want to roll a gather info I can do that for you. If you want to talk to a notable NPC that's great too. As always the game is directed by your actions.

 

Goldsil is known for the golden wood they trade from the forests south of the city. Known as the Golden Oak the wood is fine grained and a thing of true beauty. Gatesil is near the Feywood and often trades in potions and (illegally obtained and often fake) parts of fey creatures. Greensil is mostly known for cabbage, cucumbers, and green tomato along with a toll bridge across the Wulsfell river.

Further beyond that Wynwood is an old town with an entirely depleted woods. Wulsfell, the town, is across the river from Goldsil and runs a ferry it is also known for wines grown on the steps.

Even further beyond that is Haragen, a small Halfling and gnome community in rugged hills near a lake. Across from Harhgen is Westholm and Solhagen is south of that.

You can't recall much of Amersil or Sunsil, but suspect they are port cities. Ealdheim is a port city known for a large elven population.

Further beyond Solhagen you exit the Duchy of Union and enter the Imperial Lands. Witch Hill is a Dwarven Citadel where the only known Witches and Warlocks in the Empire come from. The Old Holds are beyond that, these are all semi-destroyed forts and such with villages around them. Aryandai forest is where most Imperial Lumber comes from to build ships. The Fields of Ruin is where a large number of battles in the Demon War were fought. The fields are tilled and used, but have never produced that well. Additionally people will stumble into ancient magical explosives and other items.

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New Imperia Maps

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N/a

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Old City Map

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