I've been interested in Shadow of the Demon Lord for quite a while now. The pared down streamlined nature of the game is very appealing. The boon/bane mechanic works really well with doing a sort of flat math thing better than 5e achieved. I'm always a fan of random tables and the suite of them to help guide character creation is a brilliant move.
In the ongoing struggle for playing games that really dig in and focus on the story first, a friend and I have put together a home group. The plan, I believe, is to do some short-term campaigns that will tell a full story rather than grinding on endlessly until we all become too busy to keep playing. I volunteered to be on deck first and after a bit of discussion, the group opted to go with Demon Lord.
For most of the shop games, I tended towards running modules. I prefer doing my own thing, but modules are a convenience in some ways. I always tried to shake those up, change things and organically grow from them based on the players' decisions, but in the end, it was still somebody else's story. For this campaign, I wanted to design my own thing from the ground up. So while keeping the standard setting the book has, I took an area on the map that didn't have much going on, sliced it out and zoomed in with detail.
Specifically, I looked towards the sort of open region in the eastern portion of the Northern Reach. The land that nestled between Mirror Lake and the Dark Forest while rising to just shy of the Bone Marsh. Other than these iconic landmarks, the map was devoid of detail other than marking a few major settlements. Zooming in there I crafted a sort of frontier region to play around with. Art has never been my strong point, so I utilized the excellent Hexographer program to do up a small map of the area we're concerned with.
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General Info
This area is still predominantly considered untamed wilds. The main center of civilized activity is the City-State known as Chester located in the northeastern portion of the map. What civilizations are found beyond this hub exist as rural farming communities or newly founded settlements. To date, it has known relative peace in comparison to the rest of the continent.
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The Dark Forest
Taking up the central portion of the region, these woods were once considered a part of the Mistwood which lies far off to the west. Over the ages changes in the geography of the Northern Reach left this portion disconnected. Despite the ample supply of lumber, its evil reputation has prevented any of the neighboring settlements from considering it a resource worth tapping into.
Beastmen gather in these woods and some say they have a settlement in the deepest part of the forest where they gather about a massive sinkhole offering up mortal sacrifices to the dark gods they claim to serve.
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Mirror Lake
The largest freshwater body in the Northern Reach, just bordering the western region of the map, Mirror Lake spreads out from the base of the Fall, where the Silver River spills over the top and crashes into the waters below. No one knows just how deep the lake is—no bottom has ever been found.
Several caves lead below the cliffs into a vast system that spreads out beneath much of the region, which is home to troglodytes, gnomes, and other dwellers in the deep places.
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Bone Marsh
Bordering just off the north of the region, the Bone Marsh covers a sizeable area along the Reach’s northeastern coast. A place of brackish waters, vermin, and unusually large reptiles, it takes its name from the salt-encrusted wood that covers much of the terrain like bones.
At least one tribe of lizardmen live in the swamps, and lights from their fires can be seen from miles away. The tiny settlements on its borders are filled with backward, strange people, many of whom display reptilian characteristics.
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Chester
The City-State of Chester can be considered the seat of authority for this region. A vast walled city built at the base of imposing mountains with a large castle central to everything. Ruled by the benevolent King Kerunos, their vast military has done much to settle this region. The smaller settlements contribute crops in as a tax which is then traded to fund both the city's growing opulence and to help further stabilize the lands.
Off the map, far to the east, resides one of the largest and oldest cities of all the Northern Reach, Gateway. Located along the Auroral Ocean, it acts as a major hub of commerce and trade. A majority of exports from Chester follow the lonely trade road snaking east towards Gateway.
The Cult of the New God has a very prominent presence within the city and their charity work has become something of a legend. Based in their Cathedral of the Rising Dawn, the Cult has done much to provide both assistance to the peasants of the land as well as taking up the role of teachers and offering education to all.
In recent years, the grim turn of Empire has reached even Chester. Fond of speaking to the people directly, King Kerunos has fallen ill and become bedridden sealed away from the public eye. The Queen, Amalia, remains distant and seemingly occupied leading rumors to brew about an affair. Various nobles argue over the proper manner of succession, fearing the worst since the King has no heir. There exist those within the Cult of the New God whose interests and sermons have begun dwelling on the chaos of the land and the rumors of a surge of demonic activity in the lands to the south.
Where once peace and understanding were the talks of the day, they are now replaced with judgment and the warning of impending war. At the center of it all Duke Tellryn, a former knight captain and much beloved by the peasantry works at his wits end in an attempt to maintain some semblance of order.
The City-State is slowly becoming a powder keg ready to explode.
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Zellinin
Of note primarily to historians, bordering the blighted lands on the northwestern part of the map is Zellinin. Several generations ago this was intended to act as the capital of the region as it began to be settled. However, a great catastrophe occurred bringing about the complete ruin of the city. Some say this event also began the slow spoiling of the surrounding lands.
The true nature of these events is lost to time though rumors suggest the scholars of the Cult of the New God based in Chester hold records concerning the incident.
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The Order of the Divine Blade
This holy temple, located at the base of the northern end of the mountain range just above the Dark Forest, was actually the first settlement throughout this region several generations ago.
Founded by an order of paladins within the Cult of the New God based in Gateway, these warriors and accompanying scholars desired to found a place among nature where they might find both solitude and a sort of closeness with the natural world the New God forged. The Divine Blade is their founder's philosophy for a warrior to be sharp of both mind and body, but to only brandish this skill in the protection of life; never to willfully take it. They worked closely with both the church and the settlers to found Zellinin and their Order still bears the pain of the loss experienced with its fall. Nowadays, they operate closely with the church based out of Chester readily dispatching their paladins to push back Beastmen incursions or help settle rural troubles with marauders or bandits.
The Order exists as perhaps the one absolutely true force of good within the region.
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Greenfield
Named thus for the open rolling plains that surround it. This settlement is located to the west of The Order of the Divine Blade. Predominantly a farming village, it stands on its own within the region as its people fully embrace the Old Faith. Despite some insistence from the Cult of the New God, they have been primarily left alone on the issue due to their openness to welcome Cult Priests and Order Paladins as openly as any other. They are known to host a great harvest festival every Fall season where they venerate the Queen of Summer.
In recent years, the town has been gripped with ominous rumors of foul things sighted to the north through the truth of these claims have never been verified. Many of its citizens refer to the ruins of Zellinin as a cursed place that acts as a home to any number of hideous creatures. Children are forbidden from going too far north of the settlement and stories of the old capital act as chilling tales around evening campfires.
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Rawlinswood
Formally the first settlement established in the region. Named thus due to originally being founded just on the edge of the Dark Forest. The area was quickly deforested and the city found itself troubled by hordes of Beastman launching savage raids in anger at their presumed trespassing. It was only with much support from Gateway back east and the Cult of the New God that the Beastmen were beaten back within the dark depths of the woods.
It was thus their success and the push of resources into the region that led to Chester being founded to the north just across the river. Since then the city has known relative peace. The home of many inventors, Rawlinswood has become known for being a major exporter of Clockworks and other cutting-edge discovering of the Empire.
In recent years, the city has faced some turmoil as a divide has worked its way between the people. There are many who wish to further cut back the Dark Forest and expand their settlement, yet they are opposed by those who fear once more incurring the wrath of the Beastmen who lurk within. It has been so long since such an encounter occurred, some argue the race of savage creatures have surely died off and there is no longer anything to fear.
Thus, Rawlinswood is poised as a rapidly developing city with its swift march of progress now blocked by fear and superstition.
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Lenville
Located in the southwestern portion of the map, nestled between Mirror Lake and the Dark Forest, this is the newest settlement in the region. Named for the great hero Len (originally Len's Village and later shortened), who first settled the area, its remote location keeps it from having much trade proper back towards Chester. What trade does head that way must make a long journey north and then east to avoid braving the dangers of the Dark Forest. Thus, much of their trade is sent in a straight shot south to the various cities of the neighboring Lowlands region.
Like most of the settlements in the region, Lenville operated predominantly as a farming village. Given their location, they have enjoyed an abundance of produce and many also make use of Mirror Lake for a small fishing trade. At the founder's order, citizens were forbidden from entering or attempting to log within the Dark Forest as a means to curtail any interest its Beastmen might take with the settlement.
Since the passing of Len, one of the elders in the village has acted as a mayor of sorts upholding the way of things as set by their founder. Peaceful and scenic, Lenville exists as an idyllic location hidden away from the wider chaos tearing throughout Rul.
As such, mortals of all Ancestries have found their way to this community. Whether looking for a fresh start, a place to go missing in or simply just passing through all walks of life can be found here without much disdain between them.
Lenville will be the starting area of play.
