The Argent Reach

mid to low magic, 1600's level technology, it has all of the classic DND 5e races, dragonborn, halfling etc. there is rumors of an underworld/ infernal like realm.

Altryn is a continent roughly the size of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico combined. Its geography runs north–south, with cold regions in the north, temperate zones in the middle, and warm/tropical areas to the south and southeast. Regional Placement (North → South → Southeast): Northern Frostwilds (far north): Subarctic fjords, pine forests, icy seas, high mountains. Major City: Varesthal. Western Sapphire Coast & Isles (northwest/west): Warm Mediterranean coast, limestone cliffs, island clusters. Major City: Merinthos. Central Ember Plains (center of continent): Dry red-earth plateau, volcano-formed highlands, mines, industry. Major City: Redforge. Southwestern Sunsteppe (southwest): Rolling grasslands, semi-arid plains, nomadic cultures. No major city among the six, but regionally important. Southeastern Verdant Expanse (east-south): Dense ancient forests, swamps, petrified megaflora. Major City: Elderspire. Eastern Tempest Coast (mid-east to southeast): Tropical storms, mangroves, trade ports. Major City: Stormward. Mid-Eastern Mist Coast (between Merinthos and Stormward): Cool, foggy coastline, sheltered bay. Major City: Kingshold. City Locations Relative to Each Other: Varesthal = far north, cold fjord coast. Merinthos = west coast, warm and academic, facing open sea. Redforge = central interior, volcanic plateau, between north and south routes. Elderspire = southeast forests, inland slightly from coast. Stormward = east-southeast coast, tropical storms, major port. Kingshold = mid-eastern coast, cool, foggy, north of Stormward and southeast of Redforge. Varesthal (The Pearl of the North) Region: Northern Frostwilds (subarctic fjord coast). Climate: Cold, icy seas, harsh winters. Description: Stone-built cliff city, major naval power, whaling, shipbuilding, disciplined society. Tone: Gritty, proud, naval, northern. Government: High Moot of Clans ruled by a High Thane (current: Yrsa Thaldor). Merinthos (The Sapphire City) Region: Western Sapphire Coast & Isles. Climate: Warm Mediterranean. Description: Elegant coastal city of scholars, astronomers, cartographers, wealthy noble families. Tone: Refined, political, cultured. Government: Concord of the Nine Houses electing a First Speaker (current: Loras Vantellian). Redforge (Heart of the Ember Plains) Region: Central Ember Plains. Climate: Dry, dusty, volcanic highlands. Description: Industrial caldera city with metalworks, gunpowder foundries, mines, and early engineering. Tone: Proto-industrial, smoky, tough. Government: Guild-Forge Assembly of seven major guilds led by a Forge-Master (current: Beric Dunweld). Elderspire (City of the Great Trunk) Region: Southeastern Verdant Expanse. Climate: Dense temperate-to-subtropical forests, humid. Description: Vertical city carved into a massive fossilized tree; scholarly herbalists and foresters. Tone: Naturalistic, quiet, academic. Government: Conservatory Council led by a Presiding Chair (current: Elda Rennovar). Stormward (Bastion of the Tempest Coast) Region: Eastern Tempest Coast. Climate: Tropical storms, humid coasts. Description: Large fortified port known for shipyards, privateer suppression, trade fleets. Tone: Swashbuckling, windy, multicultural. Government: Admiralty Compact shared between Merchant Admirals and Marshal-General (current: Varrin Holt). Kingshold (The City in the Mist) Region: Mid-Eastern Mist Coast. Climate: Cool, foggy maritime climate. Description: Peaceful fog-shrouded coastal trade hub with elven architectural heritage; sleepy, calm atmosphere. Tone: Dreamy, serene, neutral. Government: Reigned by the seemingly immortal elf king Aerendir Valestrin with governance carried out by the Mist Court (Harbormaster, Treasurer, Guard Captain, Archivist, Merchant Guildmaster). [ NORTH — FROSTWILDS KEEP ] - Capital: Varesthal - Culture: Clan-based, naval, hardy - Power: Strong navy, cold-weather trade, furs & whale oil - Borders: Merinthos (SW), Redforge (S) [ WEST — SAPPHIRE COAST REPUBLIC ] - Capital: Merinthos - Government: Concord of Nine Houses - Culture: Academic, philosophical, wealthy - Power: Seafaring, cartography, diplomacy - Borders: Varesthal (NE), Redforge (E), Kingshold (SE) [ CENTER — EMBER PLAINS CONFEDERACY ] - Capital: Redforge - Government: Guild-Forge Assembly - Culture: Industrial, stoic, metallurgy - Power: Cannons, firearms, mining, engineering - Borders: Merinthos (W), Varesthal (N), Elderspire (SE), Kingshold (E) [ SOUTHWEST — SUNSTEPPE KHANATES ] - Capital: none (nomadic confederation) - Culture: Horse clans, caravan traders - Power: Mounted archers, seasonal migrations - Borders: Redforge (NE), Elderspire (E) [ SOUTHEAST — VERDANT EXPANSE LEAGUE ] - Capital: Elderspire - Government: Conservatory Council - Culture: Woodland, scholarly, herbalist - Power: Forest mastery, natural resources - Borders: Redforge (NW), Sunsteppe (W), Stormward (E) [ EAST-MID — KINGSHOLD DOMINION ] - Capital: Kingshold - Ruler: The Unaging Elf King Aerendir Valestrin - Culture: Foggy, peaceful, slow-paced, trade-based - Power: Maritime neutrality, diplomatic trust, east-west trade route - Borders: Redforge (W), Merinthos (NW), Stormward (S) [ SOUTHEAST COAST — STORMWARD ADMIRALTY ] - Capital: Stormward - Government: Admiralty Compact - Culture: Naval, multicultural, storm-hardened - Power: Large dockyards, privateer suppression - Borders: Kingshold (N), Elderspire (W) HE RED VERGE A compact, harsh, beautiful desert plane of red stone and scorching light — “hellish” only in appearance. What It Is A small, pocket-like plane about the size of a large country. Created long ago as a refuge for exiled celestials and reformed fiends, the realm is now balanced and peaceful despite its intimidating appearance. Magic works normally; only planar travel is unstable. It is watched by Lillith, the Ember Shepherd, an Infernal–Celestial hybrid who tends the land like a guardian.

all classic dnd 5e races exist. Dragonborn, elf, half elf, orc, half orc, halfling, human, teiflings they are pretty equally scattered amongst the 6 main cities and regions. celestical exist but are very rare. lillith, caulder, imogen and King Althamar are 3 notable examples.

some celestials (caulder and imogen) have been causing trouble recently, everywhere. a mysterious guild has gone around recruting people, many of which are never really seen again.

typical dnd 5e low magic. if you are a sorccer or trained in magic you can learn how to use it. very few people get high level magic. celestical exist but are very rare, they have high level powers of magic. almost god like. lillith, caulder, and King Althamar are 3 notable examples.

there is the infernal realm of the red verge. you can only be brough there and back with high level magic

Kingshold → Rivermarch (Western Coastal Route) • Goods: fish, salt, foreign imports, fine textiles • Route: foggy coastal road → inland river barges • Notes: Safe, slow; Kingshold is the main import/export port. 2. Rivermarch → Highspire (Northern Highlands Road) • Goods: grain, timber, tools → iron, steel, weapons • Route: follows river north, then mountain switchbacks • Notes: Most heavily guarded trade road. 3. Highspire → Frostglen (Northern Loop Route) • Goods: refined metal, stone goods → furs, lumber, bonecraft • Route: cold pine forests and rugged passes • Notes: Seasonal — snows close it in deep winter. 4. Rivermarch → Dawnsfall (Central Artery / Great South Road) • Goods: food surpluses, crafted goods → gems, salt, spices • Route: straight south across plains into red-mesa savannas • Notes: Largest and busiest overland trade route. 5. Dawnsfall → Merinth Vale (Southeast Wetlands Route) • Goods: gemstones, dyes, exotic goods → medicine, herbs, maps • Route: savanna paths → raised causeways through marsh • Notes: Slow travel due to humidity and waterlogged terrain. 6. Kingshold → Merinth Vale (South Coastal & Marsh Route) • Goods: foreign luxuries, wine, preserved fish → remedies, rare plant oils • Route: coastal road → swamp ferries • Notes: Lightly traveled but culturally important.

all major cites have a well defined legal system. justice is swift and fair. adventuring is seen as a little foolish but not out of the ordinary.

ancient family feuds between celetials are bubbling over. THE OBSCURA ENCLAVE Type: Traveling knowledge guild / cult Alignment: Neutral (obsessed with knowledge, morally flexible) Purpose: To gather knowledge at any cost and “offer” it to their dead god of knowledge, Xytheris, believing the god will awaken through their sacrifices. Methods: Travel between major cities and obscure ruins under the guise of scholars, scribes, alchemists, or mapmakers. Collect rare texts, artifacts, and specimens; occasionally human or sentient sacrifices in secret “ritual libraries.” Secrets are encoded in riddles, marginalia, or physical traps within their mobile sanctuaries (caravans, hidden towers, floating libraries). Structure: Grand Archivist — ultimate leader, rarely seen, interprets Xytheris’s will. Lorebinders — field agents who acquire knowledge. Scribes of the Silent Page — record findings in coded grimoires. Acolytes — apprentices and couriers, often unaware of full rituals. Appearance & Behavior: Black and deep indigo robes, masks resembling cracked books, faint ink stains on hands/faces. Travel in stealthy, small caravans; may pretend to be merchants, alchemists, or academics. Leave subtle signs in cities: arcane symbols, coded graffiti, or replaced scrolls in libraries. Adventure Hooks: PCs discover stolen artifacts or missing scholars linked to them. The guild arrives in a city seeking a rare text or magical knowledge. Their “ritual library” may appear in an abandoned site, surrounded by traps and puzzles. One of their sacrifices might be alive, giving PCs a moral dilemma. Notes for DM: Keep them mysterious and pervasive, not tied to one city. The dead god Xytheris need never manifest physically—its influence is subtle, through dreams, visions, or encoded texts. Can serve as recurring antagonists, uneasy allies, or morally gray rivals.