Valthorne

Valthorne, a militarized nation in Ecliptica, emerged from the Aetherian Empire’s collapse after the Calamity of the Void 300 years ago. Known for its disciplined armies and fortified plains, Valthorne stands as a bulwark against eldritch threats, shaped by betrayals and plagues from Eldritch Gods like Azagorth, Elysia, Morgrath, Nyrathos, Seraphel, Vortulon, Xyraxis, Zaladria, and Zephyrus. Its anti-magic militias, forged in the fires of the Calamity, resist cult activities tied to Ravensgate’s ongoing plague and lockdown. Valthorne’s warriors aid Albion’s Plague Doctors, seeking to uncover the plague’s source, craft a cure, and banish an Eldritch God to prevent a second Calamity, while guarding their lands against the gods’ resurgence.

Description:
Valthorne is a rugged expanse of windswept plains, dotted with fortified citadels, training camps, and Aetherian ruins etched with eldritch scars. Its iron-clad fortresses bristle with anti-magic wards, a legacy of resisting Elysia’s illusions and Seraphel’s purges. The air carries Zephyrus’s cryptic whispers, while shadows flicker with Zaladria’s deceit. The plague, confined to Ravensgate but echoing Valthorne’s Calamity-era afflictions like the Starveplague (Vortulon) and Shatterplague (Morgrath), threatens to spill into its borders. Valthorne’s aesthetic blends martial austerity with steampunk grit—soldiers in brass-plated armor patrol alongside steam-powered ballistae, their resolve tempered by cosmic dread.

History:
Valthorne was once the Aetherian Empire’s military heartland, its bastions guarding the empire’s frontiers. Its generals, swayed by Eldritch Gods, faced devastating betrayals: Elysia’s illusions turned allies against each other in the “Nightveil Betrayal,” Seraphel’s “Dawnfire Purge” incinerated troops deemed impure, and Vortulon’s “Hungerforge Crisis” starved armies into collapse. These events weakened Valthorne, paving the way for the Calamity of the Void.

During the Calamity, Valthorne’s bastions fell to Veil breaches, with Azagorth’s devourers consuming outposts, Xyraxis’s Witherplague decaying fortifications, and Morgrath’s madness driving soldiers to paranoia. Nyrathos’s whispers revealed forbidden strategies, leading to doomed campaigns, while Zaladria’s deceit fractured command structures. Aetherian arcanists sealed the gods in the Outer Darkness beneath modern Ravensgate, but Valthorne’s losses birthed a fierce anti-magic ethos. Post-Calamity, survivors formed a militarized nation, rejecting arcane reliance and fortifying the plains.

Today, Valthorne’s militias monitor Ravensgate’s lockdown, fearing the plague’s spread. Cults like the Ebon Star and Radiant Dawn infiltrate its borders, exploiting Aetherian ruins to weaken the seal. Valthorne’s generals, allied with Plague Doctors, investigate these ruins, suspecting the plague’s ties to Calamity-era afflictions and a potential new breach.

Regions:

  1. Valthorne Plains: Fortified grasslands with citadels, scarred by Elysia’s illusions and Seraphel’s purges, home to anti-magic militias.

  2. Ironscar Bastions: Ruined Aetherian strongholds, tainted by Azagorth’s devouring and Xyraxis’s decay, now militia outposts.

  3. Duskveil Highlands: Rugged hills where Zaladria’s illusions hide cult enclaves, threatening Valthorne’s borders.

  4. Starvehold Marshes: Wastelands from Vortulon’s Starveplague, where scavengers unearth Aetherian relics.

  5. Whisperwind Ridges: Windswept cliffs haunted by Zephyrus’s whispers, used by scouts to monitor rifts.

Characters:

  1. General Vren Ironblade

    • Description: Valthorne militia leader, scarred armor, steely gaze.

    • Backstory: Commands Valthorne Plains, fights Seraphel’s purges, tasks players to secure Aetherian ruins (Persuasion DC 15).

  2. Dr. Lysara Duskscribe

    • Description: Nocturne scholar in Valthorne, shadowed quill, wary eyes.

    • Backstory: Researches plague links to Nyrathos’s whispers, offers relic clues (Investigation DC 16).

  3. Lord Kael Shatterhelm

    • Description: Valthorne noble, fractured gauntlets, grim smile.

    • Backstory: Hoards Morgrath’s mirrors from ruins, trades intel for power (Persuasion DC 15).

  4. Captain Talia Windscar

    • Description: Skyrunners’ pilot, misty goggles, tense stance.

    • Backstory: Whisperwind Ridges scout, hears Zephyrus’s whispers, trades reagents (Insight DC 14).

  5. Sister Vionna Starveil

    • Description: Saffron Veil healer, golden robes, steady hands.

    • Backstory: Aids Valthorne militias, resists Elysia’s illusions, seeks relics to stop plague (Religion DC 14).

  6. Toren Ashforge

    • Description: Ironreach smith in Valthorne, ashen scars, grim resolve.

    • Backstory: Forged Xyraxis’s Ashshards, aids Plague Doctors with anti-rift tech (Arcana DC 15).

  7. Sylva Witherbloom

    • Description: Verdant Covenant druid, withered vines, calm gaze.

    • Backstory: Purifies Starvehold Marshes from Vortulon’s hunger, trades anti-plague herbs (Nature DC 12).

  8. Duskcaller Zorath

    • Description: Ebon Star cultist, void-scarred face, manic grin.

    • Backstory: Duskveil Highlands zealot, serves Azagorth, weakens seal. Fights players (CR 3, Cult Fanatic).

  9. Madame Elyra Gloomweave

    • Description: Syndicate seer, inky veil, cunning whisper.

    • Backstory: Valthorne fortune-teller, uses Zaladria’s illusions, trades plague lore (Deception DC 14).

  10. Windcaller Aeloria

    • Description: Breathseekers leader, misty robes, whispering voice.

    • Backstory: Whisperwind Ridges zealot, channels Zephyrus’s whispers, fights players (CR 4, Cult Fanatic).

Impacts on Denizens:
Valthorne’s denizens, hardened by the Aetherian Empire’s fall, bear the Calamity’s scars. Elysia’s illusions during the “Nightveil Betrayal” left militias distrustful of magic, forging anti-arcane doctrines. Seraphel’s purges burned soldiers deemed impure, fostering martial zeal. Vortulon’s Starveplague starved armies, leaving Starvehold Marshes as a grim reminder. Azagorth’s devourers consumed outposts, driving survivors to fortify Ironscar Bastions. Xyraxis’s Witherplague decayed fortifications, while Zaladria’s deceit fractured command, embedding paranoia. Morgrath’s madness and Nyrathos’s whispers led to doomed campaigns, with relics still haunting ruins. Zephyrus’s winds carried cryptic warnings, guiding some to safety but misleading others. Today, Valthorne’s militias patrol Ravensgate’s borders, aiding Plague Doctors against cults like the Radiant Dawn and Ebon Star, who target Aetherian ruins to breach the seal. The plague, confined to Ravensgate but tied to Calamity afflictions like the Shatterplague, threatens Valthorne if the seal fails. Denizens, from generals to druids, confront this legacy to prevent a new Calamity.