On Wine Dark Seas

Our story begins in the fishing village of Leister on the southern coast of Wolde, in the lands of Iobaria. A sleepy fishing village that sits on the precipice of destruction. Smugglers guide their ships to hidden coves, willing to slit the throat of any who cross their path. Monsters gather beneath the waves. Drowned sailors stir to unnatural life, animated by dark magic. The cults of forbidden gods extends its reach. While Leister slumbers, the evils that seek to plunder it grow stronger. Heroes must arise to keep the waves safe!

Welcome to Leister

Our story begins in Leister, a nondescript little fishing village tucked away on the southern coast of the State of Wolde. Fishing and trade have brought wealth to Leister’s roughly five thousand, mostly human residents. Inns and taverns include the Wicker Goat, Empty Net, and Snapping Line. Other notable locations include the Dwarven Anvil forge, the temple of Crisis, Kester’s Leather Goods, the Mariner’s Guildhall, and the Weekly Market.

A Brief History of Leister

Years ago, Wolde was a core part of the military might of Iobaria, and the regional princes took great pride in their assorted military campaigns against Hanolia, Khum, and Xian. Their focus turned ever outward from the province and toward military victories abroad, and thus they were unaware of how dangerous the Pirates of the Junian sea had become, even creating their own Principality in the Key Isles to the South called the Hold of the Sea Princes. Leister, like many coastal villages and towns, suffered heavily under the piracy and slavery of the cruel Sea Princes.

The fall of Iobar and the Empire it spawned created great chaos, and the Princes of Wolde returned to find themselves beset on all sides by usurpers, would be emperors, and the Sea Princes to the South, raiding their coastline. Swiftly, Prince Skoti reached terms with Falconhurst over the Reach to the west and set about destroying the Sea Prince Confederacy.

Turning their attentions inward, the Princes of Wolde gathered what wealth they could, arrayed themselves against and alongside each other, and determined how they would run the fledgeling nation. Part of that assessment was to realize that Wolde had no seaport, unlike neighboring Falconhurst or distant Kalanthe, the wealthier city-states of Iobaria...

With the Sea Princes now on the run, Prince Skoti has sent Troops and Agents south to establish security and trade. A band of dwarves carrying the Prince's decree have begun to mine the nearby hills. Although the recent changes stand to bring prosperity to the region, many locals don't wish to see their hometown change.

The Factions of Leister

The people of Leister generally find themselves split among the two following factions:

The Traditionalists are an alliance of the prominent fishing families and merchants of the town, along with workers who rely on those industries for a living. The Traditionalists remember the terrible times during the Sea Prince raids and have no desire to see the Prince's ambitions lead to open war.

The Loyalists are newcomers who have arrived from the central and northern reaches of Wolde, loyal to Prince Andrei Skoti. They feel that the town should focus on becoming a useful asset to the crown, and value the good of Wolde before the good of Leister.

Who are you?

You are a band of adventurers who seek the betterment of the lives of Leister. You might be a Loyalist come to raise the town's fortunes and make it a strong port, or you may be a Traditionalist who only seeks to protect the village.

You might be a fisher, born to the sea and providing for the town of Leister.

Perhaps you're a member of the Church of Crisis, and seek to counsel your neighbors in times of woe.

You might've come to Leister with the dwarven miners, bold with the Prince's decree and eager to make a fortune.

Maybe you're a marine, a soldier of the sea who pushes back against the smugglers and slavers of the Sea Princes.

Or you might be one of those smugglers, bringing in stolen elven wine under the darkness of a moonless night...

Whomever you are, this character primer will help you to flesh your character out more fully.

Character Ancestries

In Iobaria, many potential character ancestries are playable, but most are uncommon or even rare. For the purposes of this adventure, the following ancestries are available to player characters.

Common: Human, Dwarf, Elf, Half Elf, Half Orc.

Uncommon: Gravetouched, Heiligschein, Pactborn

Rare Drow, Gearhart, Halfling

Character Cultures

Separate from ancestries and backgrounds, players must choose a culture that their character to pair with their ancestry. The following cultures are appropriate to the region and should be taken.

Common Cosmopolitan, Noble, Traveler, Walden

Uncommon Akkadian, Raider, Zapporan

Rare Alfheimer, Hermitage

Character Classes

The available character classes for this campaign have been selected to be most applicable to the region, as well as the setting's core lore:

Common Cleric, Fighter, Ranger, Rogue, Wizard, Warmage

Uncommon Barbarian, Bard, Paladin, Warlock, Warsworn

Rare Artificer, Druid, Sorcerer

Character Backgrounds

The following Backgrounds are particularly appropriate to both the region and the setting. Don't feel limited by these backgrounds, but consider them!

Common Acolyte, Charlatan, Criminal, Entertainer, Failed Merchant, Fisher, Marine, Sailor, Shipwright

Uncommon City Watch, Courtier, Folk Hero, Gambler, Knight of the Order, Mercenary Veteran, Sage, Smuggler

Rare Far Traveler, Haunted One, Hermit, Inheritor, Noble, Urchin