Mistveil

Mistveil is an ominous and secret-laden realm, home to many different peoples and many different creatures. Magic is commonplace, studied as much as it is present in people’s bloodlines, and used both in everyday life as well as in combat. It sees all four seasons, sunny days as well as rainy or overcast, snow blanketing the realm in the winter months. Its people live scattered across the lands, in simple farming villages as well as larger towns and sprawling cities, traveling by horseback or horse-drawn carriages past crumbling ruins of old castles and churches. They live cheerfully in peaceful times, and fearfully when times are dire, threatened by monster attacks or unknown horrors. The realm is encircled by a huge, dense forest known as The Veilwood, eternally suffused with a mist that never seems to thin. All those who enter it never return, yet nobody dwelling in Mistveil remembers travelling through it.

Mistveil is the name of the realm, a place home to many different peoples, places, creatures, and monsters. The Veilwood is a gargantuan forest that encircles the borders of the realm. Dense and dark, evergreen pine and fir trees pressed so close together that the canopy lets no light through, even in the middle of the day. A thin mist seems to coat the forest floor, growing thicker the deeper one ventures inside. None who enter the border forest ever return, yet none of the inhabitants of Mistveil recall traversing the forest that rings it. It is home to many creatures, natural and mythological alike; while owls, bats, wolves, deer, and myriad woodland creatures roam the dense wood, so too do monsters like direwolves and banshees, or blood-hungry beasts. Duskmoor is the largest town in Mistveil, so named for the massive, deep lake it was built on the bank of. A large dock is built into the lake, with darkwood boats bobbing on the surface, used by local fishermen. The town is ringed by a tall stone wall, home to cobbled streets lit by tall lanterns, and timber-framed homes. Taverns and inns, cobblers and tailors, carpenters and metalsmiths, all walks of life and traders live and work in Duskmoor. Outside the protective walls lies the town’s farmland, providing the town with a reliable food source, as well as fuelling the town’s trade, all guarded by the town's militia. A small river runs through the town, originating from the lake at the south, and has several small stone bridges built over it at regular intervals. Akthyr is an old village formed around a crossroads, home to tall, crumbling churches and ancient religious iconography. There is only one tavern and inn, and the majority of the village workers are farmers tending the small farming fields on the town's outskirts. The homes of the town are low, brick walls in timber frames. Lacking any established defense and relying on the occasional adventurer or mercenary, they are susceptible to monster attacks. The population is older, more superstitious. Revenath is a small village nestled between the mountains that form the Southern Valley. It is surrounded by a small yet dense wood, and so its people subsist mostly on hunting and forage for both food and trade. They have access to the cave network that runs through the mountains forming the valley their town is nestled in, and so they trade mostly metal ore, gemstones, and lumber. Their people are rather isolated, with the only way to access the town being crossing the lake south of Duskmoor, walking an unmarked trail over or around the Whispering Mountains, or attempting to venture through the caves. There are said to be dryads in the surrounding forest, not to mention whatever else may dwell within. The Manor Grounds is nestled inside a deciduous forest, known well by the nearby settlements as home to a large pack of direwolves, vicious and ruthless monsters. Though it is thought to be abandoned, the grounds are well-maintained, surrounded by a wrought-iron gate, keeping The Manor safely enclosed. The Manor is a presumably abandoned building within the Manor Grounds, though it is always impeccably maintained, and one who draws close enough may find some open windows illuminated from within. There are rumours in Duskmoor and Akthyr that a Vampire inhabits the Manor, and those who go to investigate always come back dazed, with no memory of their investigation - if they return at all. The Monastery is nestled within the largest forest inside the Veilwood, known as Duskroot Forest, in the centre of Mistveil. The tall, worn spires stand high above the trees, painting a dark, oppressive sight. There is a small graveyard beside the Monastery, though the surrounding forest has encroached upon the grounds, tall trees growing between the gravestones. There are all sorts of rumours around Mistveil about what may inhabit the Monastery; a cult, ghosts or ghouls, more Vampires… It is uncertain what, exactly, dwells there. Duskroot Forest is widely considered haunted by the inhabitants of Akthyr, but those within Duskmoor do not believe so. Regardless, everyone is wary of the Monastery within. All manner of woodland creatures live within; packs of wolves, families of deer, owls and ravens and crows nesting within the trees. The trees are not packed so thick, so sunlight will filter through the trees during daylight, but there is an eerie feel to the forest at night. Several dead-end dirt paths wind through the forest. The Southern Valley is formed by the Whisperwind Mountains; tall, jagged mountains that tear high into the sky, yet dip low in the centre. Winding caves run through the mountains, with a wealth of metal ores and gemstones within, home to nesting bats and rock crabs. There are no sources of natural light within, and so the journey through the caves is long and treacherous, with no way to know the correct path. Skeletons are scattered amidst the paths, remnants of those who tried to venture through and lost their way. Harpies, hawks and eagles make their nests high up on the cliffs, and even a few mountain goats in the heights. The Northroad is a long dirt path that spans the width of Mistveil, and is the easiest road to take. It spans mostly fieldlands, only briefly dipping into the Northern Forest that surrounds the Manor. It leads to Akthyr, and crosses over two rivers via sturdy, well-constructed wooden bridges. The Southroad is a difficult road to take, winding through Duskroot Forest and even over part of the northern Whisperwind Mountain, making it very treacherous. Few people bother to take the Southroad, especially as it crosses no major settlements, meaning it has no use for trade. Many reports of monster attacks originate from here, as it tends to be a rather isolated path. It crosses a shallow point of the river running through the Duskroot Forest, though there is no established bridge as it is so deep that no builders dare to venture in. A small Hunters’ Camp is established a little ways off the Northroad, between Duskmoor and Akthyr, at the point where the Northern Forest meets the wide part of the river. While they do hunt regular creatures, they also do business in hunting monsters. There are only around 10 hunters living in the camp, all highly skilled, that work well together as a team. The East Watchtower stands southeast of Akthyr, and is staffed by a few people who live at the tower permanently. It serves as a place to warn the people of Akthyr of any incoming monster attacks. It is a tall, brick tower with multiple windows at every level to provide visibility, with a large bell at the top. The West Watchtower stands as part of the northern wall of Duskmoor, and is staffed by a rotating number of guards, serving as a method of warning the people of Duskmoor of any danger. It is a tall, brick tower with multiple windows at every level to provide visibility, with a large bell at the top. Evelyn’s Spire is a mysterious structure deep in the north of the Veilwood, crafted from clean-cut dark stone, with glass windows and sconces for torches higher up, along with a chimney emerging from the pointed roof that occasionally produces a thick mist. It was said to be constructed by a powerful human Sorceress by the name of Evelyn Achlys, around the same time as the Monastery. It is presumed to be inaccessible due to how deep into the Veilwood it is. The structure is perfectly maintained despite its age, though there is no way that Evelyn could still be alive…

Humans are the dominant race across the entirety of Mistveil, seen across every settlement, standing at average height, with all manner of hair colours and skin tones. They have their hands in most crafts, working as barkeeps and innkeeps, cobblers and tanners, tailors and clothmakers, hunters and gatherers, merchants and mercenaries. Generations of humans have lived in Mistveil. They are hardy, determined, versatile people. It is a small group of the elves and humans of Duskmoor that are the foremost investigators into the Veilwood, the Manor, the Monastery, and Evelyn’s Spire. Elves are one of the least common races, said to have come to Mistveil from a different plane entirely, and typically invest themselves in scholarly pursuits or the mastery of magic. They tend to be tall, with long, pointed ears, light hair and pale skin. The majority of elves live in Revenath, but a small group lives in Duskmoor. It is a small group of the elves and humans of Duskmoor that are the foremost investigators into the Veilwood, the Manor, the Monastery, and Evelyn’s Spire. They are a quiet and contemplative sort of people, who live for far longer than any of the other races. Some elves even claim to remember the construction of Evelyn’s Spire and the Monastery. Half-Elves are born from unions between elves and humans, and are often looked down on by elves in particular. They tend to be on the taller side height-wise, with a similar range of hair and skin colours to humans. They are more numerous than elves themselves, and many half-elves have a grudge against elves due to their discrimination. They live a little longer than most other races, though nowhere near as long as elves do. Though half-elves are present across most of Mistveil, there are no half-elves in Revenath. Gnomes are few and far between, and are stubborn, hard-working people identifiable by their short height and their pointed ears. They are well-suited to navigating caves, and the vast majority of their population in Mistveil live in Revenath, making a living mining or guiding people through the caves. The gnomes that live in Duskmoor are mostly metalsmiths, though a couple of them make a living peddling their wares. Halflings are fairly numerous, with their population mostly split between the three major settlements, and easily spotted, identifiable by their below-average height and slightly larger rounded ears. The halflings living in Akthyr are mostly farmers and animal tenders, the halflings of Duskmoor are mostly cobblers, tanners, or stoneworkers, with some working as merchants or bar staff, and the halflings of Revenath are mostly miners, guides for the mountain paths, or hunters. Tieflings are the least populous race in Mistveil, and are not very well-liked, with most people believing them to be devils or demons, just as bad as the Vampires and Werewolves that threaten them. They are of average height, with horns in a variety of shapes and sizes protruding from their foreheads, and arrow-tipped tails from the base of their spines. Their skin colours can vary dramatically, including shades of blue, purple, or bright red.

The settlements in Mistveil are not so large or overambitious as to threaten one another, and they all collectively face a larger threat; the monsters that dwell within the land, harrying the borders of the settlements and harming the people and their livelihoods. As of late, monster attacks and sightings have grown more frequent all across Mistveil, from the depths of its forests to the isolated mountains, to the very streets of its settlements. As with any realm, it is home to its undesirables; thieves and scammers have their underground network in the underbelly of Duskmoor, though they must do so carefully so as to not arouse suspicion of the town guard. One of the taverns in town is a front for their underground hideout, and is known by the others in the town as a place to avoid. One of the largest threats to Mistveil is the inhabitants of the Manor - it is owned by a true Vampire and her Vampire Spawn, those she has turned. The people of Mistveil do not know for certain who or what dwells in the Manor, as those who go to investigate are either killed on their way through the Northern Forest, killed by the Vampires who live within, or turned by the Vampire into one of her Vampire Spawn. Those who return from such investigations are both drained of blood and hypnotised to forget what they have seen. Lady Solaire is the name of the True Vampire that inhabits the manor, that creates more Vampire Spawn as she pleases to serve her as so-called maids and butlers, and her main aim is to find a way to safely stand in the sunlight. She believes a mythical gemstone called the Sunstone will grant her wish, and believes that it resides somewhere in the Whisperwind Mountains. Another major threat is the inhabitants of the Monastery, once again largely unknown by the people of Mistveil, as many fear the place is haunted. They are not entirely incorrect - Undead live within. Ghosts, Ghouls, Wraiths, Zombies, Revenants, they all dwell within the walls, fences, and graves of the Monastery. They rarely venture out from the walls of their homes, aside from the Revenants who will occasionally venture into the forest surrounding their home. The entire Monastery grounds are cursed so that no dead interred within will remain in the ground, being instead turned by the curse into some manner of Undead. Most of the Undead living here are visibly so, shambling zombies or ghosts bearing a passing resemblance to the living, ghouls and wraiths that have become twisted in undeath and now look nothing like the mortals they once were. Three Revenants, previously human, live within the Monastery - of the three, Wrath is almost “perfect”, looking exactly as he did in life, and his Undead nature can only be discerned via magical detection. He seeks only to end the one who cursed him to undeath, as do his brothers, Ven and River. They look mostly as they did when alive, with a few visible patches of rot or lingering fatal wounds.

Magic is commonplace, and is accessible by people of all races and all walks of life. Some people have magic innately in their blood, and are able to cast it at will even from birth, though the skill does require training and development; these people are known as Sorcerers. Some people acquire the use of magic through a pact made with a powerful entity that provides them with their power; these people are known as Warlocks. Some people attain use of magic through rigorous study, either solitary or within institutes dedicated to such study; these people are known as Wizards. Finally, some people are gifted magical power through worship of a deity or higher power, typically manifesting in divine strength or healing power; these people are known as Clerics. Magic is used more commonly in battle, though there are people who utilise it for an easier time in day-to-day life. Combat magic tends to be more destructive, manifesting in spells that summon lightning, fire, or ice to damage opponents, or even psychic damage to fracture an opponent’s mind, and most combat spells tend to have an effect on the environment as well. There is also healing magic, used to heal wounds, cure ailments, and rid people of curses. Utility magic may be used to lift and carry heavy objects, or communicate with people from far away - though there are applications in daily life for elemental magic, too, such as lighting lanterns or manifesting water. Religion is an odd topic in Mistveil, with there being clear evidence of past worship in Akthyr and the Monastery, though of what Gods or Goddesses, it is unclear. In fact, no Gods or Goddesses that are worshipped by the people have any origin of worship within Mistveil - instead, it seems as though wherever people existed before they came to Mistveil, the memory of their Deities remains. There are known followers of Selûne, Mystra, Ilmater, Helm and Sylvanus dwelling within the many settlements of Mistveil. Selûne is the Goddess of the moon, stars, wanderers, seekers, and good-aligned Werewolves, and is followed by a wide variety of people from all walks of life. Mystra is the Goddess of magic, followed mostly by those who entrench themselves in its use. Ilmater is the God of endurance, perseverance, and suffering, and is followed most often by those in dire straits or times of suffering. Helm is the God of guardians and protectors, followed mostly by knights or warriors. Sylvanus is the God of wild nature, and is mostly worshipped by those living in Revenath, though some of the hunters at the Hunters’ Camp also worship Him.

The truth of Mistveil is that it exists on a plane entirely separate from the Material Plane, and those who find themselves in Mistveil have actually fallen through a rift between planes. This travel between planes is what obscures their memories of arriving in Mistveil. Many of the Deities worshipped by people dwelling in Mistveil are Deities with widespread worship on the Material Plane, and many schools of magic practised in Mistveil also have their origin in the Material Plane.

It is uncertain what, if any, major eras came before, considering the general uncertainty that surrounds Mistveil like a blanket. There are old, crumbling churches scattered among the streets of Akthyr, as well as the Monastery nestled within Duskroot Forest, though nobody in Mistveil knows who these places of worship were dedicated to.

Gold is the currency used across the entirety of Mistveil, with Silver and Copper pieces used for smaller amounts. 10 Copper is equivalent to 1 Silver, and 10 Silver to 1 Gold. Each settlement has their own products they are known for, and it is trade between the three main settlements that allow for everyone to thrive. Revenath’s proximity to the lake, the mountains, and the surrounding forest means that they offer mostly natural goods; gemstones and metal ores from the caves in the mountains, meat and forage from inside the forest, even fish from the lake. Their trade is done exclusively with Duskmoor, as they have a safe trade route over the lake, but any other routes in or out of Revenath are either too long or too treacherous. Akthyr has the benefit of being in a relatively open area, and thus has large swathes of farmland. This makes up the bulk of their trade, as they trade livestock both alive and processed, as well as the goods their livestock produce. Goods such as milk, eggs, cheese, wool and yarn, and hides are the most common, though they do also trade some of the river fish in much smaller amounts, as well as some of the produce not grown in Duskmoor. They have a safe route to the East Watchtower, and a safe route along the Northroad to Duskmoor, though it does pass through a thinner part of the outskirts of the Northern Forest. The Hunters’ Camp mostly trades in their services as hunters, both of natural creatures and magical ones. They use the meat and hides they acquire through their hunting, as well as the fish from the small lake they border, to sustain themselves. However, they do trade some of their skins and hides with both Duskmoor and Akthyr, as they have safe trade routes to both settlements. Duskmoor offers the most variety of products, mostly due to the size of the settlement relative to the others, and due to their ease of access to all of the settlements, it serves as Mistveil’s trading hub. They have established trade routes to Revenath over the lake, as well as the Hunters’ Camp and Akthyr via the Northroad. They trade in a huge variety of goods due to the variety of trades, businesses, farmers, and merchants; fresh produce, cloth, leather, processed and smithed metal for both weapons and structures, fish from the lake, lumber, and much more. There is a central marketplace for both established and wandering traders.

Adventurers are viewed as a necessary part of the preservation of the settlements, and are rarely short of work. There are an endless number of jobs that can be offered to adventurers, both low- and high-risk, such as offering help as farmhands, cleaning and maintaining the settlements, moving goods to and fro, even filling part-time positions in taverns and inns. There is often work to be done in protecting trade carriages as they travel along the Northroad, as it passes through the Northern Forest, and though it is rare that a trade carriage gets attacked in such a thin stretch of forest, there is always a chance. While a lot of hunting is taken care of by those in the Hunters’ Camp, some adventurers are dedicated Monster Hunters, and some may simply be called to cull what the Hunters’ Camp cannot or will not. Justice and its administration falls to the authorities in each settlement; In Revenath, it is The Elder who is in charge of the village, its people, and its rules. She is the first and last authority on any rules broken or crimes committed, as well as the punishments doled out. Some are relatively lenient, such as banishment into the surrounding woods for a week, whereas some are deadly, such as being sent into the mountain caves with no torch, essentially being left to perish. In Akthyr, the Chief is a position passed down along a human bloodline that originated when Akthyr was established. They are in charge of all decisions pertaining to Akthyr’s operations - allocation of land, of homes, of trade, of law, and of justice. Most criminals apprehended in Akthyr are escorted to Duskmoor for their punishment, along with a record of the crime they committed and the punishment the Chief determined as appropriate, to be passed on to Duskmoor’s Mayor. In the Hunters’ Camp, the Boss is the hunter with the most major kills under their belt, and so it changes from time to time. Justice is a simple matter, and mostly pertains to whether someone has betrayed the camp - traitors are killed, and their corpses are tossed into the Northern Woods, for the wildlife and monsters to dispose of. In Duskmoor, the major operations of the large town are all headed by the Mayor, an official elected by the townspeople every few years. While the Mayor assumes authority, they are under the constant scrutiny of the townspeople, and it is not unheard of for a Mayor to be ousted from their position. Laws may change as the Mayor does, but the core laws that have maintained order among the townspeople rarely change. These laws are enforced by the Duskmoor Town Guard, a force led by the Head Guard that anyone can join if they so wish. It is a paid position, of course, and it is the Town Guard that scouts for and arrests any criminals, and doles out punishments in accordance with the guidelines set by the Mayor.

It is mostly wildlife and monsters that threaten the people dwelling within Mistveil, though there are a few unexpected threats that the people are largely unaware of; Vampires and Vampire Spawn have had rumoured sightings for as long as any have lived in the realm, said to dwell recently within The Manor, though historically they have been said to live even within the settlements, deceiving their neighbours to feed on them. They are mostly immortal creatures that subsist on blood to survive, that burn in sunlight and possess great physical and psychic power. True Vampires may choose to turn those they bite into Vampire Spawn, weaker Vampires that are bound to serve the true Vampire that turned them. Vampires are territorial, and do not take lightly to any other creatures encroaching on what they have deemed to be their territory. The most dangerous, and only, true Vampire in Mistveil is Lady Solaire. She was an elf once before, turned into a Vampire Spawn by the old Vampire that lived in the Manor a few centuries before. She drank his blood and killed him when she grew tired of his treatment of her and the other Spawn, becoming a true Vampire in the process. Her primary desire is to find a way to stand in the sunlight without burning to death, and as such she researches and accumulates power. She has discovered mention of a gem called the Sunstone from one of the old tomes in her library, and believes it is somewhere within the Whisperwind Mountains. Any who draw close to the Manor will either be killed for food, turned into a Vampire Spawn if she likes their look, or drained of some blood and hypnotised to forget all they saw. Her Spawn serve her as maids and butlers, with the aim of lulling any visitors into a false sense of security while their fate is decided. Lady Solaire is a beautiful young-looking woman, with long, blonde hair, piercing red eyes, and pale, pale skin. Werewolves and other Were-creatures have been seen in Mistveil for ages, with most sightings and attacks happening on farms in the outskirts of the settlements, though there have been a few cases of them appearing within the settlements and harming those who dwell there. Lycanthropy is a curse that can be passed on through Werewolf bites, and those who are found to be Were-creatures or cursed with Lycanthropy are often put to death. They say Werewolves dwell in the deep forests, namely Duskroot Forest and the Veilwood itself. Most Werewolves are cursed to be so, and thus lose control when they transform under the full moon’s light, leading to them rampaging and venturing out of the forests, attacking settlements, farms, and fields. Anyone could be a Werewolf or carry the curse of Lycanthropy, regardless of their race, age, or gender. Undead dwell within the bounds of the Monastery in the centre of Duskroot Forest. The most threatening of them are the least sentient; Ghosts, Zombies, Ghouls, and Wraiths are those that seek only to drag the living to join their number. They are dangerous and unpredictable, and will attack any living being that enters the Monastery grounds without an escort. Revenants, however, are a different story. They look barely different from how they did in life, only bearing patches of Undead rot or wounds that would be fatal to a mortal as signs of their undeath. Revenants seek only to kill the one who killed them, and are created when someone dies with a great grudge. There are three Revenants in Mistveil, and all of them dwell within the Monastery. Wrath is the oldest of the three, a once-human man that is now a “perfect” Revenant; one absolutely indiscernible from a living person to the naked eye, only detectable through magical means. Wrath has short, messy black hair, green eyes with deep black smudges beneath them. He was a warrior in life, and as such is well-built and strong, wielding a two-handed greatsword. Ven and River are the names of the other two. Ven has long, brown hair tied into a ponytail, deep brown eyes, and was a tanner in life. River was a fisher, and is the youngest of the three, a young man with curly blonde hair and hazel eyes. They view one another as brothers, and address one another as such, though they were not related in life. Dryads, also known as Wood Nymphs, dwell in the woods surrounding Revenath, and they protect the forest in which they dwell. They are generally non-aggressive, but if anyone threatens the trees they protect, they will retaliate fiercely, and are not afraid to spill blood. Harpies, great monstrous birds with human heads and chests, make their nests in the highest cliffs and peaks of the Whisperwind Mountains. They lure in travellers with their song, which is a form of hypnotism, and with their hypnotic song may draw people off the paths and the cliffs entirely, enticing them to fall to their deaths. If their song is interrupted by any means, they grow aggressive immediately and will attack with their talons. Aside from the monsters derived from magic, the usual wilderness can be found around Mistveil. Packs of wolves roam the woodlands, both within Mistveil and within the Veilwood itself - the largest pack lives within the Veilwood, and is so large that some suspect it is actually multiple packs. A few bears live in the Veilwood, though not in the forests within Mistveil, and are rarely seen. The greatest villain and monster, the largest threat to Mistveil, are all one and the same, and one that no soul living in Mistveil knows of. Evelyn Achlys, the human Sorceress responsible for creating Evelyn’s Spire and for splitting Mistveil off from the Material Plane, still lives, albeit no longer as a human. Nowadays, she is a Lich, a creature that has embraced undeath as a means of attaining eternal life, and is extremely powerful and dangerous. If anyone seeks to return to leave Mistveil, they must triumph over Evelyn, who has only grown more powerful and more malicious in undeath. It is impossible to access Evelyn’s Spire by normal means, and it is only by an invitation from Evelyn herself that one may find a safe path through the Veilwood to her spire - however, this has never happened for as long as Mistveil has existed.