Tepest as found in D&D 5e "Van Richten's Guide"
| Played | 4 times |
| Cloned | 1 times |
| Created | 185 days ago |
| Last Updated | 44 days ago |
| Visibility | Public |
Blackthorn Farm
The Blackthorn Farm is one of the largest in Viktal, known for its rich soil and abundant crops. However, locals believe the farm’s prosperity comes at a dark cost—rumor has it that the family has made secret deals with the fey, allowing their crops to flourish while the rest of the village struggles. The fields are always strangely quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of the blackthorn bushes that grow in unnatural abundance around the property. Active NPCs/Events: Mira Blackthorn, the stoic matriarch of the family, tends to the fields, her hands always stained with soil. She is known for her sharp tongue and cold demeanor, but some say she knows more about the fey than she lets on. Villagers speak of seeing strange figures moving among the crops at night, whispering and laughing softly. Rumor: It’s said that if you leave an offering at the blackthorn bushes and whisper your wish, the fey will grant it—but always at a hidden cost.
Fey Ring
Deep within Bentwich Woods lies a perfect circle of mushrooms, glowing faintly in the twilight. This Fey Ring is a portal to the fey realm, though its use is risky. The mushrooms pulse with otherworldly energy, and stepping into the circle may transport someone to a fey domain, but only if the fey deem them worthy. Sometimes, offerings are left here—flowers, coins, or other trinkets—hoping to appease the fey. However, there are whispers that those who vanish into the ring rarely return the same. Active NPCs/Events: The Silent Fae, a mischievous fey spirit, appears at the ring at dusk, watching travelers with interest. It communicates through gestures, offering riddles or deals for safe passage. Rumor: The Fey Ring is said to be a gateway to power, but only those with true fey blood can use it without losing themselves to the fey’s influence.
Fisher's Rest
Fisher’s Rest is the heart of Viktal’s hospitality, a cozy, welcoming inn with simple wooden furniture and a roaring hearth. The inn's walls are adorned with rustic decorations, giving it a homely atmosphere. Despite the eerie undercurrents in Viktal, the villagers are strangely cheery, eager to hear tales from travelers. Visitors are offered free lodging, encouraged to stay as long as they wish, especially with a seasonal Tithe Festival approaching. The innkeeper, Belis, warmly greets every guest and serves hearty meals, though an odd tension lurks behind his smiles. Rules for Fisher’s Rest: -Players can stay without cost, but over time may sense an unnatural eagerness from the villagers. -Villagers are happy to share stories and discuss the festival, but details about The Tithe are vague or deflected. -Visitors may experience peculiar dreams or find themselves subtly drawn into the village’s unsettling traditions the longer they stay.
Homestead of Lorn Fairstone
Lorn Fairstone’s farm, located on the outskirts of Viktal, has been overrun by toxic, vision-inducing fungi. The fungi spread quickly around his crops and livestock pens, causing hallucinations and fear. Strange fungus-covered creatures, believed to be myconids, have been seen lurking at the edge of the property. Lorn, a worried farmer, fears the fungi originate from the ruined village of Briggdarrow. He’s seen eerie spores glowing in the night and fears his farm may fall to the infestation.
Mourner’s Hollow
Just outside Viktal is a hollow in the earth filled with carefully tended graves, some marked, others unmarked. Known as Mourner’s Hollow, this is where the villagers bury their dead in secret. Most of these graves belong to those taken by the Tithe. The villagers perform private ceremonies here, away from Mother's gaze, marking their grief in silence. The earth seems too soft, as if it is unwilling to let go of those buried beneath it. Active NPCs/Events: Irena Moss, the quiet village gravekeeper, is often seen tending to the graves at dusk. She knows more about the villagers' private lives than most. Ghostly apparitions are rumored to appear on certain nights, whispering their stories or beckoning visitors to listen to their final pleas before they were taken by the Tithe. Rumor: Some believe that if you bury an item precious to a lost loved one in Mourner's Hollow, their spirit will visit you with warnings of what is to come.
The Bone Cairn
At the heart of a dark grove lies the Bone Cairn, a mound of weathered stones and bones, bleached white and stacked high. It is an ancient fey burial site, sacred and feared by the locals. The air around the cairn is unnaturally still, and no birds or animals come near. Some say the bones belong to humans taken by the fey, while others believe it’s the resting place of powerful fey warriors. The area around the cairn is littered with trinkets—tokens left by villagers hoping to appease the fey. Active NPCs/Events: The Bonekeeper, a fey guardian, watches over the cairn. She is rarely seen, but her presence is felt. She is silent but highly protective of the site, punishing those who disturb it. Rumor: It’s said that placing a bone from the cairn under your pillow will grant fey dreams—visions of the future or the past—but disturbing the cairn brings the wrath of the Bonekeeper.
The Fungal Caverns Beneath Briggdarrow
Beneath Briggdarrow lies a network of damp, oppressive tunnels overrun with glowing fungi. At the heart of the caverns is the Fungal Throne, where the Myconid Sovereign resides, controlling the spread of the fungal plague. These treacherous caverns are filled with toxic slime, spore clouds that induce confusion, and twisted fungal beasts. The Sovereign, once a guardian, was corrupted by dark fey magic and now seeks to expand its domain above ground, spreading its toxic influence across Tepest. Freeing it from its curse might stop the spread of the fungus, but destroying it would also end the threat—at a great cost.
The Old Mill
The Old Mill stands at the edge of the village, a hulking structure that has long since stopped turning. The large wooden blades are rotting, and the millstone is cracked. Despite its abandoned appearance, locals claim they can sometimes hear it creaking at night, as if it’s still in use. The mill was once vital to Viktal’s prosperity, but after an accident that took the miller’s life during the Tithe many years ago, it fell into disrepair. Active NPCs/Events: Silas Dewright, the miller's son, often visits the mill to reflect on his father’s death. He’s haunted by dreams of the mill turning again, but the air around him always feels cold and heavy. Visitors have reported strange occurrences, like hearing voices or seeing the mill turn slowly, despite there being no wind. Rumor: Some believe the mill is cursed by the fey, and the spirit of the old miller lingers, seeking justice for his untimely death.
The Shadowed Pool
Hidden among dense thickets, The Shadowed Pool is a small, perfectly still body of water surrounded by trees that seem to bend toward it. The water is unnaturally dark, reflecting the sky but nothing else. It’s said that the pool shows the true nature of those who gaze into it. Some see visions of their deepest fears or darkest desires, while others see the future. Fey creatures are often seen near the pool, watching curiously, but they never approach the water themselves. Active NPCs/Events: Korwyn, the Fey Guide, sometimes appears at the pool, offering to help lost travelers find their way out of Bentwich Woods, but his services come with a price—usually in memories or emotions. Rumor: It’s said that anyone who can retrieve something from the bottom of the pool will be granted immense knowledge, but no one knows what lies beneath its shadowed surface.
The Wailing Tree
In a sunken hollow, The Drowned Glade is a waterlogged area where ancient stones peek out of the marsh. The water here is still, yet unnervingly dark, as if hiding something beneath the surface. Strange, twisted trees grow out of the swamp, their roots submerged in the murky water. The air is thick and humid, and any sound seems to be swallowed by the oppressive atmosphere. Locals believe the glade is a place of lost souls, where the spirits of those claimed by the Tithe wander aimlessly. Active NPCs/Events: Mira Dewbloom, a water fey, sometimes emerges from the glade, offering blessings or curses depending on the nature of those she meets. She is curious but unpredictable. Rumor: The water in the glade is said to grant visions to those who drink it, but such visions come at the cost of one’s sanity, often revealing dark truths about the Tithe.
The Withered Grove
At the edge of Viktal lies a patch of forest that locals avoid—the Withered Grove. Once a thriving part of the woodland, this grove is now a twisted, decaying area. The trees are gnarled and blackened, with no leaves or life, as if the land itself has been cursed. The villagers whisper that this was where the first Tithe took place, the ground forever scarred by fey magic. Despite the fear surrounding the grove, desperate villagers sometimes visit, leaving small offerings in the hopes of diverting the fey’s attention from their families. Active NPCs/Events: Madis Whisperwind, a reclusive herbalist, can be found here collecting strange herbs for fey dealings, claiming the area still pulses with fey energy. Children speak of seeing shadows moving among the trees, and the air is thick with whispers that feel like the wind carries distant voices. Rumor: Locals say anyone who ventures too deep into the grove may hear the voice of those lost to the Tithe, calling out to be freed.