Polesia

Polesia is a horror/dark fantasy-themed world setting used by the Crit and Run Crew. It employs the Pathfinder RPG as its base framework and is modified by the Grim 'n Gritty combat rules, the House Rules Handbook's Spellpoint System, as well as a few well established house rules implemented by Crit and Run.

Campaigns

Paradise City (Circa 150 CA)

Set in the provincial city of Lacaeta CA and following the adventures of local peace keepers Gruck (a half-orc fighter), Clooney (a nezumi psion), and Whisper (an elfling rogue). The group solves various mysteries and battles ancient terrors in the back alleys of the city, culminating with a raid on an undead crypt in which Whisper is killed and an ancient demi-lich named Mel-Ketek is released. The whole city is blanketed in Ethereal Mists and beset by dark nightmares and horrific monsters. Navigating this labyrinth of horror the group performs a foul rite to Shub-Nigurath that resurrects Whisper. Clooney is lost somewhere in the chaos but the group is joined by a mysterious dhampir named Lecroix who aids them as they seek out Mel-Ketek and battle the monstrosity. Their victory is not without cost however and Gruck gives his life blood to sanctify the area and keep the demi-lich dead. Whisper becomes an inhuman herald for Shub-Nigurath, and Lecroix eventually becomes a full vampire. Happy endings to all!

Spring Guardians

The annual Spring Festival is taking place in Okyoku, the capital city of The Okubo Empire. Certain ill omens have caused much concern among senior members of the Imperial staff, and so the powerful clans of the Empire have been asked to volunteer trusted samurai to preside as special magistrates over the Spring Festival. Selected were two members of the infamous Sasori Clan: The courtier Ichimitsu Shiro and the samurai warrior Satanaka, both of whom are, typical to Sasori traditions, much more than they seem. Alongside them is the Kami medium Daibutsu of the Shineinawashi, and a traditionalist Tora Samurai warrior named Saizo. Most unexpectedly of all, a Kitsune martial artist named Kanzen Ken was mysteriously chosen as the fifth champion. Together, the five spring champions must keep the peace in a city full of intrigue, while simultaneously investigating a mysterious set of murders and disappearances.

Dead Hills (Circa 1050 CA)

In the city of Angor Sven circa 1050 CA an ancient fallen star seems to flare to life unleashing a tide of aberrant life on the countryside. The quest began with the heroes Obrey Zerkin of the Angor Sven Zerkins (an elf sorcerer), Travor (a dwarf cleric of Kalaros), and Levitz (a human anarchist of Ramna). As they explore the mysteries of the countryside and try to find the source of the evil overwhelming the people they meet a mysterious woman from Asashiro named Ryume (an elan soulknife/elocater) as well as the unknown Grant Lorweaver (a city elf assassin of Ashtra). But just as they meet new allies, Obrey is ambushed and killed in the tunnels. The quest ended with the destruction of the star and the group vanishing mysteriously and reappearing on a deserted frozen mountainside.

The Vault of Xyra Pt. 1 (Circa 1051 CA)

Beginning in the city of Xyra, this advanced-level campaign chronicled the adventures of the Paladin Sir Anthony Cronqvist, his companion, the mysterious Theurge Shinta, a teacher of the Xyra Magi Jack Anchors, and the battle-hardened dwarf mercenary Brekhan HeBrekhan.

Through the Void

Picking up after the events of Dead Hills, the heroes Travor, Levitz, Ryume, and Grant find themselves on a ship captained by the same Androids that helped them destroy the Obelisk. As they try to get back to Polesia they encounter many hazards and enemies that lurk in the dark Void of the heavens, as well as countless wonders and strange worlds and peoples that none on their own would have ever guessed at.

World Asunder (Circa 1055 CA)

A three part campaign in which different factions try to make their way in Antanides during a Great War between Avandor, Lattanera, and the City States.

The firtst group will be part of the crusading armies of Avandor pushing south through the City States. Four soldiers of renown including the undercover angel Zeta, half-orc sorcerer Shamar, Pentaragorn a dragonborn sorcerer, and an augmented rougue named Adam, lead the charge both against the south as well as other enemy forces that press against Avandor's borders.

The second group will include the fallen angel Ishtar, Maximilion Archus a disgraced cavalier, Vitae (a dhampir cultist of Xamen Dor), and the mysterious assassin Tiberius. Hilarity ensues when they are forced to police the city of Lattanis and find their lack of moral character tested as they defend the city from crime, monsters, and conspiracy.

Lastly, in the city of Xyra, the human (Eshtoran) wizard Marlamin Gallantra, the human bard ?, Mikhail Dalton an aasimar monk, and Veran a human Death Mage. This group will be undertaking missions for the Shining City and trying to frustrate both the Avandori and Lattaneran advances through the City States.

With Great Power Pt. 1 (Circa 1058 CA)

A campaign of mythic proportions, taking place during the Great War between Lattanera and Avandor. Following the exploits of Borin the human Barbarian Champion, Mordechai the human (Belteshazzar) warrior Marshal, Decadus the aasimar oracle and hierophant, and a warforged paladin of the Rising Phoenix, as they face horrors and wonders beyond understanding, including the machinations of Haman, a lunatic with aspirations of becoming a god.

With Great Power Pt. 2 (Circa 1065 CA)

Set seven years after Pt. 1, a shadow spreads from the Dead City of Ep and blankets the surrounding countryside. The mindless dead swarm across newly cursed ground, seemingly driven by a malevolent will that guides them into Avandor and the Freedlands. Whispers circulate of the return of Rhone the Reaper, but many fear it is something far worse, for more than just the undead march on the north, demons have also been spotted and strange lights flaring through the dark skies have the Rift Wardens on edge. Avandor has issued the call for another Black Crusade, and this time heroes of renown answer the call. Borin the human Champian, Mordechai the Belteshazzar Marshal, Decadus the aasimar Hierophant, and ??? the warforged Guardian, bring their considerable power and forces to bear against this demonic incursion, facing a foe beyond any that they have before. This time it is no mere dictator claiming to be a god, this time they may in fact face a true deity of Death.

Extinction (Circa 1915 CA)

Humans of Polesia have had great success in recent centuries and their empires span the world. Magic is now a well understood science, and the other races have become few and far in between as human dominance reaches its zenith. Yet somewhere in the depths of the Void, a doom fast approaches.

History

See full article: Historical Timeline of Polesia

While mortal scholars can only guess at the state of the world beyond ten thousand years in the past, Polesia's history extends much further back in time. Empires and races long since gone extinct or simply biding their time, have covered the world in ages before mankind or even the first humanoids walked Polesia's surface.

Lands of Polesia

Antanides

The largest continent in Polesia located in the north. Currently the home of many nations, faiths, and wondrous places, Antanides also has a long and rich history going back to the very first recorded elven, dwarven, and human empires. The following places are located in Antanides:

Avandor Dominion

Main article: Avandor Dominion

A wonderful land of oportunity and prosperity, that is if you're an orc or half orc and a devout follower of Erabis.

Dead City of Ep

Main article: Dead City of Ep

An ancient city in the midst of the Necrolands, whose builders are unknown, and whose geometry is strange and in some cases nauseating and disorienting. Currently only inhabited by the restless dead as well as the legendary drow vampire, Rhone the Reaper, and (legend claims) the sacred remains of Saint Dioclese the Stern who keeps the monster in a deathlike sleep.

Eshtorah

Main article: Eshtorah

Eshtorah is a country in south-eastern Antonides that is rich in culture and history dating back to when they held the southern quarter of the continent as part of their great empire.

Freedlands, The

Main article: The Freedlands

A land of barbarian tribes and petty fiefdoms or occasionally independent cities.

Ghōl, Lost Island of

Once the seat of the ancient Avaladh Empire, Ghōl is now at the bottom of the ocean.

Iboria

A frozen wasteland full of primeval beasts, hags, drakes, orcs, neanderthals, and some of the most fearsome humans imaginable.

Lattaneran Empire

Main article: Lattaneran Empire

The Lattaneran Empire is an empire to the West on the main continent of Polesia.

Marabi

A desert/plains country south of the Desolation of Shahar-Khet.

Necrolands

A blighted wasteland where the dead walk and demons sometimes appear. Also the final resting place of Saint Dioclese the Stern and the ancient dread vampire Rhone Tavier.

Shahar-Khet, Desolation of

The Ruins of Shahar-Khet are the remains of an ancient civilization of humans. The ruins are notable for their strong auras of chaos magic.

Shulashomu

A degenerate empire to the south and east of the Desolation of Shahar-Khet, run by priest kings who worship foul gods, most countries leave Shulashomu to its own devices and it does the same in turn.

Skaalvatar

The home of the dragonborn and their draconic liege lords.

The Spellrend

Also known as the Spell Rent Waste, it is a blasted wasteland that contains the ruins of ancient Shahar-Khet and the once the idyllic, desert-elf kingdom of Eredhel.

Thesian Peninsula

Just north of Threksos, the Thesian Peninsula is ruled by dozens of petty kings and warlords who have fought each other and the monsters from the northern Techio Planes and the Ash Desert since the Thesian Empire, only briefly interrupted when their land was annexed by the Latanerans.

Threksos

A shadow of Thesian Democracy run wild. These Independent Cities make up the western portion of the City States.

Xyra, Grand City of

Main article: Xyra

A city fulla wizards.

Asashiro

Main article: Asashiro

Asashiro is a smaller continent to the Southeast. It is ruled by the aristocratic warrior class of the illustrious Okubo Empire.

Kmet-Tha

Don't go there.

Zhongguo

Main article: Zhongguo

Just West of Asashiro, Zhongguo is a large island where stuff happens.

Zumwalla

Main article: Zumwalla

Zumwalla is an ancient and wondrous continent somewhat to the south of Antanides and Asashiro. It is believed that humanoids might have originated from this lush and wild environment.

Kuri Archipelago

There are cannibals here.

Races of Polesia

Main article: Races of Polesia

Polesia is home to the following playable races.

Dragonborn

Dwarves and Half-Dwarves

Elves and Half-Elves

Orcs, Half-Orcs, and Dwargs

Gnomes and Dwarrow

Halflings and Elflings

Humans

Neanderthals

Warforged

The Gods of Polesia

Main article: List of the Gods of Polesia

The gods in Polesia are not as direct as are those of other campaign settings, and generally when you attract the attention of a god (or rather what people worship as a god) it's a very bad thing.

In the millennia since sentient creatures first arose in Polesia there have been countless spirits, outsiders, and monsters worshiped, forgotten, and revived throughout the ages. Currently the following deities are the most commonly worshiped by humans in Antanides:

Akmanu (NE): The god of forbidden knowledge who is heavily associated with necromancy.

Apithia (N): The fickle goddess of love, loss, and delirium.

Ashtra (N): The goddess associated with destiny and balance.

Atalos (N): The god of war and soldiers.

Ekosis (NG): The god of the sun and of glory.

Epka (NG): The goddess of the earth and a patroness of farmers.

Erabis (LN): The god of law, courts, and civilization.

Hazera (CN): A Marabish goddess of the moon and the struggle against the dark.

Hessa (N): The goddess of community, nobility, as well as a lesser goddess of magic.

Kalaedes (N): The god of roads and travel.

Kaleros (CN): The god of revolution and liberty.

Nikandros (N): The god of music, art, and inspiration.

Ramna (CN): The goddess of vengeance and harsh justice.

Typhera (N): The goddess of the sea and exploration.

Special Groups, Guilds, and Affiliations

The Asherlux Society

Main Article: The Asherlux Society

A group of mostly human accolytes that adhere to strict martial and aesthetic training, whereby the full "self" can be discovered.

The Brotherhood of the Rising Phoenix

Main Article: Brotherhood of the Rising Phoenix

The Brotherhood of the Rising Phoenix is a special order of Paladins and like-minded individuals sworn to root out corruption.

The Stillwater Lodge

Main Atricle: Stillwater Lodge

A psuedo-religious group obessessed with undeath and immortality, as well as powerful magic.

The Élan Collective

Main Article: Elan Collective

The Élan Collective is a secret conspiracy of psionically-charged humanoids with mysterious interests and deep-reaching fingers.

West End Unified Trade and Import Guild

Main Article: West End Unified Trading and Import Guild

One of the most powerful mercantile guilds in Antanides, the West End Unified Trading and Import Guild (or West Enders as they're commonly known) is run and almost exclusively operated by powerful gnome families.

Languages of Polesia

Various Human Languages

While most of the traditional languages of D&D and Pathfinder can be found in Polesia, there is no true "Common Language" for humanity. Lataneran is the closest one to this concept but even it is not the universal default. The following are the most common languages found in Antanides and some of the other continents.

Askald: The dominant language spoken by the dragonborn of Skaalvatar, and the men of Askaldheim, Averheim, Ulmar, and Vardaland in the North-western part of the Freedlands.

Avaladh: The language of the extinct island empire of Ghōl. Also, a dialect of its written form was used in Shahar-khet as an alphabet for the elites, and a fairly true to form dialect is still spoken by the Belteshazzar. This language is restricted and cannot be spoken as native language without GM permission.

Avandori: A bastardization of Lataneran mixed with Thesian and Ibori spoken commonly in the Holy Erabissian Empire.

Benoan: A derivative of Lataneran spoken by the natives of Benoa.

Eshtoran: Spoken by the people of Eshtorah and a common language for arcane spells to be transcribed and recited in. Also spoken as a secondary language in Marabi.

Khetish: The language of the Ancient Shahar-khet Empire and also the chief language of Shulashomu (as a dialect of course). It is a very popular language for some of the older arcane and divine spells.

Lataneran: Spoken by the True Empire of Latanera, also one of the commonly accepted languages of scholars and Trade, and additionally a very common language for many divine spells cast by clerics, oracles, warpriests, and paladins.

Ibori: The main dialect spoken by the tribes in Iboria.

Kaoi: An almost obsolete language spoken by the last holdouts of the Kaoi Confederacy, mostly replaced now with a bastardization of Okubo.

Marabish: The language spoken by the plains and desert dwellers of Marabi.

Okubo: The official language of the Okubo Empire in Asashiro.

Sengalach: Spoken by the people of Dal Armita, Dal Eran, the Bannoch Highlands, and Clalder Blaugh in the Freedlands.

Tenngi: The common language of the steppe peoples of northeastern Asashiro, including the Kogrun Khanate.

Thesian: Aside from Lataneran Thesian is one of the most common trade and scolar languages in Antanides, and also one that many arcane spells are written in.

Tradespeak: A pidgin language formed from Marabish, Thesian, and several languages from the Freedlands. Its a very common language throughout the City States, though it is only used for business.

Tugali: The main language used in Dhumarja, Saamavi, and Kasmira. Also spoken in northern Zumwalla in areas near the Sengari Straits, and Bhetene.

Viedoan: A Lataneran derivative spoken primarily in the Viedoan Empire and throughout the Gellian Isles.

Zhongese: The language of both the North and South Kingdoms of Zhongguo. It is also spoken as a secondary language in the Okubo Empire.

Notable Non-Human Languages

Dwarves:

Amukil: The traditional language of the dwarves of Radezhka, it is a secret tongue rarely taught to outsiders and the dwarves go to great lengths to make sure it isn't circulated widely in the world at large.

Yzhekh (Ee-jek): The trade language of the dwarves in northwestern Antanides and in the City States. When a non-dwarf says they speak dwarvish, they are usually referring to this dialect.

Elves:

Lambrie (lam-bree-uh): One of the oldest elven dialects, spoken throughout the Silvermist Forest and, generally, all remaining elven settlements speak at least a bastardization of it that is close enough in structure so that one can easily catch on to the "pure" form.

Gnomes:

Halflings:

Wispaweth: An almost secret language spoken amongst halfling clans.

Notable Characters

Clooney

Conric Planter

Cronqvist, Sir Anthony

Gruck

H'Adazha, Torzha

HeBrekhan, Brekhan

Ichimitsu, Shiro

Ichimitsu, Saburo

Mirumoto,Ryume