Shackled City Players Guide's page

You believe/suspect there is a shrine near the lakes edge dedicated to Pharasma, whose domains are Death, Healing, Knowledge, Repose, Water makes the shores of crater lake an ideal location for such a shrine......

Shackled City is an adventure paths.
You must be “willing” to follow the campaign premise and plot.
You are playing an “adventurer”. You must be willing, even eager, to go into situations no sane, average citizen would get into.
Character Creation and Maintenance

The following books / guides are available for use
Pathfinder RPG Core Ruleset.
Pathfinder RPG Advanced Players Guide. Classes, archetypes, spells and traits approved, ask about everything else.

Pathfinder RPG 20 point buy (1 Ability score GE 8, all others GE 10, *after* racial adjustments).
Two Character Traits - One Campaign and one Basic.
Maximum hit points every level.
Maximum gold for class at 1st level
Each 1st level character also has one of the following items at no cost:
Wand of Cure Light Wounds (20 charges)
Wand of Magic Missle (20 charges)
Masterwork weapon
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds
Masterwork Thieves Tools

Name
Gender Class Level
ALignment Size humanoid (specify)
Init +4; Senses Normal/darkvision/etc, Perception +1
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DEFENSE
-------
AC 15, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +3 Wooden armor)
hp 9
Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +2
-------
OFFENSE
-------
Speed 30 ft.
Melee longspear +0 (1d6/1d8/x3)
Brace & reach

Ranged masterwork heavy crossbow +3
1d8 1d10 19–20/x2
120 ft. 8 lbs. P

Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 with longspear)

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STATISTICS
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Str 10, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +0; CMB +; CMD
Feats: Extra Hex, Extra Hex
Simple Weapon Proficiency
Skills: Appraise +4, Bluff -1, Climb +0, Diplomacy -1, Disguise -1, Escape artist +2, Heal +0, Intimidate -1, Knowledge (arcana) 8, Knowledge (history) 8, Knowledge (nature) 8,Knowledge (planes) 8,Perception +2*, Ride +2, Spellcraft 8, Sense motive 2*, Stealth +2, Survival +0, Swim +0,

Languages Common, Orc

Possessions: mwk Heavy Crossbow (freebie), Bolts (common) 20 /40*, Longspear, wooden armor, Spell component pouch, Backpack, Rope silk 50'*
winter blanket*, manacles w/simple lock
rations, trail (6days)*, weapon cords (2), Caltrops (2)*
Holy Symbol (wooden, 2, Gozreh), Flint & steel
Iron Pot (cauldron)*, sack (empty)*, bedroll*, fish hook (10)*,
whetstone, whistle, Grappling hook (1)*, Scroll case (2)*,
Saddle, riding; waterskin(3)*, pick,miner's*, shovel*, shortspear*
*Items in saddlebags

1 gold pieces
10 silver
100 copper

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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Hexes:Witches learn a number of magic tricks, called hexes, that grant them powers or weaken foes, using a hex is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The save to resist a hex is equal to 10 + 1/2 the witch’s level + the witch’s Intelligence modifier.

1.Evil Eye (Su): The witch can cause doubt to creep into the mind of a foe within 30 feet that she can see. The target takes a –2 penalty on one of the following (witch’s choice): AC, ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, or skill checks. This hex lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the witch’s Intelligence modifier. A Will save reduces this to just 1 round. This is a mind-affecting effect. At 8th level the penalty increases to –4.

2. Healing (Su): A witch can soothe the wounds of those she touches. This acts as a cure light wounds spell, using the witch’s caster level. Once a creature has benefited from the healing hex, it cannot benefit from it again for 24 hours. At 5th level, this hex acts like cure moderate wounds.

3. Cackle (Su): A witch can cackle madly as a move action. Any creature that is within 30 feet that is under the effects of an agony hex, charm hex, evil eye hex, fortune hex, or misfortune hex caused by the witch has the duration of that hex extended by 1 round.

Biography
......was raised by his mother and a coven of hags in the large and dangerous swampland region known as Hooktongue Slough. Being raised near creatures of a magical nature (magical knack trait)affected ..... influencing him to become a witch himself. ..... mother took on a mission for the good of the coven out of the swamp and into Restov, Barnabus still a youth in tow.

.... returned home and learning more and more witchcraft soon became very talented, yet still he was not allowed to join the coven nor any other coven in the Hooktongue Slough, mostly due to his maleness.

.....eventually left home and served for a brief time with a couple of small bands of former millitary men who appreciated healing limited though it was. During this time .....had the time to aquire a horse and learn some about that (pioneer trait). ......heard of the charter and wanting to find a place of his own accepted the charter.

Spells currently prepared...
Orisons-
Daze
Light
Mending

1st level
-Command
-sleep (15% fail chance)

These are background traits chosen at first level for the Shackled City campaign to add depth and help incorporate the character into the story.
1. Child of Jzadirune
2. Demonscarred
3. Dream Haunted
4. Long Shadowed
5. Mark of the Beast
6. Nobility
7. Scarred Soul
8. Scion of Surabar
9. Touched in the Head
10. Wyrm Blooded
Background Traits:
Child of Jzadirune
One of your ancestors lived in Jzadirune at the time the Vanishing struck. You are especially resistant to diseases, but find the prospect of becoming sick yourself horrifying.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on all saving throws made to resist the effects of disease.
Drawback: You suffer a -2 morale penalty on saving throws against fear while in the ruins of Jzadirune, or when fighting creatures that are diseased or can inflict disease with a spell, supernatural ability, or extraordinary ability.

Demonscarred
One of your ancestors was a half-fiend. As a result, you carry some of that taint with you.
Benefit: Regardless of your actual alignment, spells, and spell-like abilities with the evil descriptor treat you as if your alignment were evil. Magic items are similarly fooled. An unholy blight spell, for example, won’t damage you, no matter what your actual alignment is.
Drawback: Regardless of your actual alignment, spells and spell-like abilities with the good descriptor treat you as if your alignment were evil. Magic items are similarly fooled. A holy word spell, for example, will harm you even if you are good aligned.

Dream Haunted
Your dreams are haunted by strange visions of tortured landscapes and deformed monsters. In some of these dreams, you are the deformed monster!
Benefit: You are used to fatigue, and suffer no penalties when you become fatigued. When you become exhausted, you are instead treated as if you are fatigued.
Drawback: You suffer a -2 penalty on saving throws against effects that cause madness or insanity, and on saving throws against sleep effects. If you are normally immune to sleep effects, you lose that immunity.

Long Shadowed
You are descended from a tribe of indigenous peoples who died out as a separate tribe many centuries ago. Still, this tribe’s penchant for necromantic magic runs in your blood.
Benefit: You automatically stabilize if reduced to negative hit points. When you take damage from negative energy, you reduce the actual damage you take by 5 points.
Drawback: Healing magic works poorly on you. Whenever you regain hit points from magical healing, you gain 1 less point of healing per character level you possess, to a minimum of one point per die rolled.

Mark of the Beast
One of your ancestors was a lycanthrope. Select a predatory animal of your choice; that animal feels a mystic bond with you.
Benefit: Animals have a strange reticence when they attack you, and suffer a -2 penalty on all attack rolls made against you. If you have the wild empathy ability, you gain a +1 bonus on wild empathy checks.
Drawback: You suffer a -4 penalty to saving throws made to resist lycanthropy, and take +1 point of damage from attacks made by silver weapons.

Nobility
You were born into a noble family.
Benefit: You start play with an additional 200 gp, and gain a +1 bonus on all Diplomacy and Intimidate checks made against citizens of Cauldron or the nearby villages. Certain NPCs in this campaign may react more favorably to your presence.
Drawback: You are well-known and recognizable, and suffer a -4 penalty on Disguise rolls made against citizens of Cauldron or the nearby villages. Certain NPCs in this campaign may react more poorly to your presence.

Scarred Soul
You’ve led a particularly tough life. Perhaps you’re an orphan, or maybe you suffered some sort of traumatic experience as a child. Whatever the cause, your childhood experiences have left you jumpy and haunted.
Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus on initiative checks.
Drawback: Your experiences have left your mind less able to deal with trauma, and as a result you suffer a -1 penalty on all Will saves.
Scion of Surabar
You are a descendant of the man who discovered Cauldron, helped settle the region, and aided in the defeat of an ancient demonic army.
Benefit: Pride for your lineage girds your mind and soul. You gain a+2 morale bonus on saving throws against fear, death effects, and insanity or confusion.

Drawback: Demons that encounter you in this region (not those that you might fight on other planes) can instinctively sense you lineage and connection to their old enemy, and gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and weapon damage rolls when fighting you.

Touched in the Head
You’re a little crazy.
Benefit: Your mind is disorganized and chaotic. You gain a +1 bonus on all saving throws against mind-affecting effects, save for those effects that cause confusion or insanity.
Drawback: Your inability to concentrate for long makes you suffer a -1 penalty on all Wisdom-based skill checks.
Wyrm Blooded
One of your ancestors was a half-black dragon. You have some sort of distinctively draconic feature, be it reptilian eyes, scales on the backs of your hands, or tiny vestigial horns on your head.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus on all saving throws against acid effects, a +2 bonus on Swim checks, and a +1 bonus on Listen and Spot checks.
Drawback: Your body isn’t quite as limber as it should be. You take a -1 penalty on Reflex saves

Population: 4,500 adults (large town).
Mixed (79% human, 9% halfling, 5%
gnome, 3% dwarf, 2% elf, 1% half-elf,
1% half-orc).

Economy: (3,000 gp limit) Coffee, exotic
woods, cut gemstones, obsidian,
dyes, spices.

Authority Figures: Lord Mayor Severen Navalant, male
human; Terseon Skellerang, male human (captain of the
Town Guard).

Town Emblem: A watchful eye wreathed in blue flames.
Description: Believed to have been founded by Surabar
Spellmason, Cauldron is the most populous area in the
Cauldron Region. Nearby villages include Redgorge, Kingfisher
Hollow, and Hollowsky. The Cauldron region is in a
subtropical jungle

The town’s buildings, tightly packed and built from volcanic
rock and wood, line the inner bowl of a nameless,
dormant volcano. The elevation keeps Cauldron’s temperatures
below that of the surrounding jungle, giving
Cauldron a roughly temperate climate. Cobblestone roads
form concentric circles around a small lake of cold water,
which fills the volcano’s basin. Although the town’s sewage
seeps into the lake, local clerics routinely purify the
water for the citizens in exchange for charitable donations
to their temples.

A 50-foot-tall fortified wall of black malachite encircles
the city, tracing the outer rim of the volcano, becoming
major thoroughfares that lead to other towns and distant
realms. The districts nearer the rim of the city tend to be
occupied by upper class families and elite merchants. The
closer one gets to the centre of town (and the closer to the
pungent odours of the central lake), the shoddier the construction
and the more dangerous the dark alleys. Houses
directly on the lake are often built with stilts to protect
against flooding during the rainy season in winter.
Smaller avenues connect the four main roadways (from
outer to inner, the avenues are named Obsidian, Magma,
Lava, and Ash), which form concentric terraces down to
the lake in the centre of the town.

Cauldron is ruled by a Lord Mayor, elected to his position
every two years. The post is currently held by
Severen Navalant, whose term expires in roughly 20
months. Other important individuals in the city include
Terseon Skellerang, captain of the guard, the members of
the noble families, and Cauldron’s few wealthy merchant
interests.

Cauldron's major exports come from two sources: mines
and plantations. Both industries are based in the hills surrounding
the city, and are managed by the various noble
families who live in the area. Obsidian and diamonds are
the primary products mined in the region. Plantations usually
produce sugarcane and coffee. Most of those who
dwell in the city itself are either merchants, scholars, or
workers in the mines and plantations in the lowlands. Water
is never scarce in town, but most of the city's food must
be imported from Sasserine since the local fishing and
farming enterprises are meager at best.

Citizens have historically paid a modest yearly flat tax
of 1 gp, while merchants and nobles pay a 5% income tax
each year. In addition, a 1sp gate tax is charged for noncitizens
who enter the city by any of its four gates.
All inhabitants of Cauldron that own a building, or are
part of a family that owns a building, are considered citizens
regardless of economic status. Most Cauldronites
have a simple malachite ring made or given to them when
they reach the age of majority. The ring always bears the
town emblem. Nobles often purchase very elaborate rings,
or have extravagant brooches made to show their citizenship.

Currency in Cauldron
Cauldron uses the currency minted in the capital city of
Sasserine—rings (pp), suns (gp), moons (sp) and stars
(cp).

Trade bars in 100, 500 and 1000 gp denominations are
also used.

Temples
1. Church of Sarenrae, Temple of Sarenrae(Obsidian
Ave). A two storey structure with white marble walls, infused with viens of vivid blue. Flanked by dark buildings of black stone. A pair of white marble statues of armored virtous warriers stands on each side of the temples heavy wooden doors.
High priest is Sarcem Delasharn (male human).

2. Temple of Lordly Might: Temple of Gorum(Obsidian Ave).
Currently headed by Asfelkir Hranleurt (male half-orc).

3. Cathedral of Nethys: Temple of Nethys (Obsidian
Ave). A beautiful, towering structure run by Embryl
Aloustinai (female human).

4. Shrine of Imodeae: Temple of Imodeae (Magma Ave). A small
yellow tower tended by Kristof Jurgensen (male human).

Taverns and Inns

Slippery Eel Tavern: The Slippery Eel Tavern is a favourite
tavern for miners, plantation workers, and other working-
class citizens. The food and drink are cheap, and the
town guard tends to ignore the place, making it a handy
site for illicit deals and clandestine meetings. It is located
on Magma Ave, and run by Fallo Grymkin (male human).

Tipped Tankard Tavern: This tavern is generally regarded
as the best place in the city for common folk to get
a drink. It’s a favourite place for off-duty city guards, and
as such, brawls are fairly rare. It is located on Ash Ave,
and is run by Rivek Mol (male human).

Cusp Of Sunrise: This high-society club on Obsidian Ave
is a favourite place for Cauldron’s rich and powerful to
meet and relax.

Drunken Morkoth Inn: This is perhaps the most popular
inn in the city of Cauldron. A regular stop for many merchants
and travelling adventurers, the combination of
comfortable beds, good food, and reasonable prices make
it a favourite among the city’s returning visitors. Each of
the rooms is decorated with a humongous painting of
Cauldrons legendary lake monster, a large morkoth. The
paintings depict the morkoth in any number of embarrassing
and ridiculous scenes, always with the morkoth drunk
and confused, and often in incongruous locations. It is located
on Obsidian Ave, and is run by Halpeen Welvihk
(female human).

Minuta’s Board: This low-cost inn and flophouse caters to anyone
who cannot afford to stay at Cauldron’s better inns. Prices
here are 75% normal, but the owners make no guarantees
against theft or loss. It is located on Ash Ave.

Coy Nixie: The Coy Nixie is a high-class tavern and
dancehall on Obsidian Ave owned and operated by the
Aslaxins. Although prices here tend to be nearly double
the normal asking price, the food and drink are rivalled
only by the Cusp of Sunrise. These two locations have a
healthy competition - while the Cusp is generally held to
have better food, drink, and entertainment, there are no
membership fees at the Coy Nixie.

Weer’s Elixirs: Owned and operated by Vortimax Weer, a
retired adventurer (male human), this cramped shop is the
preferred place in Cauldron for potions and alchemical
items. It is located on Ash Ave.

Gurnezarn’s Smithy: This smithy on Magma Ave is generally
regarded as the finest such establishment in the city
of Cauldron. Its owner, Phalian Gurnezarn (male human),
has long held his own against competitors, the Lathenmire
Smithies.

Zanathor’s Provisions: A general store on Obsidian Ave
run by Bjellkir Zanathor (male human)

Sure Foot Livery: The Sure Foot Livery is the best clothing
and tailoring shop in town. The business is run by a
no-nonsense halfling woman named Tippys Surefoot. It is
located on Ash Ave.

Tygot’s Old Things: Tygot Mispas (male halfling) runs
this well-stocked antiquity shop on Lava Avenue. The
shop specializes in non-magical art objects gathered from
across the known world. Tygot frequently buys old documents
and art objects from local adventurers. The shop is
a two-storied structure with a small flat on the upper floor
and a well-organized business area on the lower.

Garthun Imports: This well-kept building houses the offices
of Adrick Garthun (male human), a prominent merchant
whose import of alcohol, tobacco, exotic sweets,
and seafood has catapulted him to the height of success.
Adrick often travels to Sasserine to import special items
for customers. It is located on Obsidian Ave.

Skie’s Treasury: Numerous stores in Cauldron sell magic
items and gear, but only one of them makes its sole business
buying and selling magic items to adventurers -
Skie’s Treasury. Skie’s Treasury is owned and run by Skie
Aldersun (female gnome). The modest building is constructed
from blocks of volcanic stone. The facade of the
building bears dozens, if not hundreds, of symbols and
sigils that have been carved into the face of the stone.
One door and a pair of tiny windows face the road and
overlook the lake below. Above the door, a sign proclaims
the establishment to be Skie’s Treasury, but more impressive
are the numerous items of treasure - rings, coins,
wands, necklaces, rods, potions, scrolls, and more - that
seem to slowly orbit the sign and shine with soft golden
light. Every now and then, two of the items bump against
each other, ringing softly like a wind chime. It is located on
Lava Ave.

Alameda Moneylenders: Coins can be exchanged for
trade bars and gems at this quiet shop just north of the
South Gate on a side-street off of Obsidian Avenue. No
surcharge is levied for exchanging coins for trade bars or
gems. Owned by the Alameda family, a close-knit dwarven
clan, their primary trade is the exchanging of coin, but
they also offer banking services. Opening an account requires
a flat fee of 10 gp, with a 5 gp monthly charge required
for each month afterwards.

Westkey’s Map Emporium: Dundar Westkey (male
dwarf) runs this small shop on Obsidian Ave that sells
maps. It is a new shop, and as such generally only stocks
general maps of the area.

Lakeside Pavilion: This open pavilion is one of the oldest
structures in Cauldron. Said to have been formed via
magic cast by Surabar Spellmason himself, the pavilion is
traditionally where the lord mayor issues announcements
and decrees. It has also become a favourite place after
dark for illicit meetings. It is located on Ash Ave.
Town Hall: Cauldrons town hall is a single-story building
and one of the oldest structures in the city. The building
serves as a place for the Lord Mayor and his advisors to
hold meetings with the nobles and important people in the
city. Records of ownership, historical documents, and
similar archives can be had here. It is located on Obsidian
Ave.

Town Guard Barracks:
These buildings house the bulk of Cauldrons town guards. The central area of this walled compound is used for training, and the low, single-
story keep is the aboveground facade for the Cauldron
Prison, a five-level underground facility that can hold hundreds of prisoners. The guard captain, Terseon Skellerang, lives in a one-story
green-roofed house in the south-western corner of the
compound. It is located on Obsidian Ave, next to the Town
Hall.

Taskerhill: Lord Ankhin Taskerhill is
the inheritor of the fabulously wealthy
Taskerhill mines and estates. Ankhin
is the richest man in Cauldron, and
now that he is a widower (his wife
having recently passed away) he is
also one of the most sought after men
within its walls.

Lathenmire: Beswink and Lioral Lathenmire are the current
heads of the House Lathenmire, which has not yet
officially been given the patent of nobility, but is expected
to overcome that obstacle before the end of another decade.
Beswink started life as the third son of a poor weaponsmith.
When he caught the eye of Lioral, the only
daughter of a successful merchant, he had the chance he
needed to turn the tide of his fate. With the help of his new
bride, Beswink began to buy out the other weapon and
armor smithies in Cauldron. Coupled with the trade routes
established by Lioral’s father the two quickly became one
of the most financially influential couples in Cauldron.

Garthûn: Adrick Garthûn is the patriarch of a small dwarven
community just to the south of the village of
Redgorge. However, he spends most of his time in Cauldron
looking over his import business. Adrick is gregarious
and friendly in his business dealings, but is taciturn and
often short when questioned about his family. It is known
that he has several children, but he speaks neither about
them, nor about his wife.

Tercival: Alek Tercival, a paladin of St Cuthbert, is the
last surviving member of this land rich, monetarily destitute,
noble family.

Navalant: The current Lord Mayor is the sole inheritor of a
powerful family that claims to have been given the patent
of nobility by Surabar Spellmason himself. The family controls
large orchards north of Kingfisher Hollow, and it is
rumored that they have a standing pact with the fey in the
area, which allows them to maintain their control on the
rare wood trade out of the region. Even though Severen is
the last member of his line, he is not on speaking terms
with his parents, who disapprove of the fact that he married
into the Hollow family. However, it was this marriage
(fruitless, currently) that brought Severen’s name to the
attention of the Noble’s council, and ultimately led to his
appointment 13 years ago.

Aslaxin: The Aslaxin family is currently
the most powerful house in the
town of Kingfisher Hollow, now that
the Taskerhills have moved most of
their interests into the city.
The Aslaxin rice crops are one of
the greatest sources of food in the
region, and their dominance of the
food import trade seals the family’s
continued power in the region.
However, the true gem of the Aslaxin empire is the art
trade.

Skellerang: Lord Captain Commander
Terseon Skellerang was, as
is the tradition in Cauldron, granted
nobility for the course of his appointment.
Terseon has never had time
for a wife or family, but he is still
fairly young, and plans on having a
family later in his life.

Knowlern: Lady Ophelia Knowlern
inherited control of this house when
her father and brother died in a mine
explosion, and she has been loath to
marry, giving up her power. She
makes her home in Hollowsky,
where she can better look after her
interests in the areas mines (both
south of Hollowsky and in the immediate
vicinity of the Haunted Village).
At the behest of Jenya Urikas, she often sits in as a voice
of reason and compassion at Cauldron’s council meetings.

Rhiavadi: Lady Thifirane is the only
living member of this ancient house.
She lives alone (discounting servants)
in what is widely considered the most
ostentatious display of wealth in the
city, a multileveled, towered structure
on Obsidian Avenue. Though she controls
interest in several businesses in
the region, it is known that she has little
patience for them and allows most decisions
to be made by subordinates. She
is a very sought after bride, but the rumormongers
of Cauldron doubt if she will ever find a partner.

Hollow: The Hollow family, currently led by Sardis and
Maeth, is the greatest half-elven clan in the region, being
traditionally led by an elf patriarch and a human matriarch.
The family’s plantations are responsible for the foundation
of two of the areas villages (Kingfisher Hollow and
Hollowsky). The family claims numerous sons and daughters,
as well as noble born Elves, most of whom live in
Elvenhome or have gone to seek their fortunes in other
lands.

Spellmason: Surabar Spellmason and his line was given
the patent of nobility by the leadership of Sasserine upon
his founding of Redgorge and Cauldron. For 250 years or
more, the Spellmason family was one of the most respected
in the region, and one of the most powerful. However,
Surabar’s line came to an abrupt end when a caravan
led by brothers who were the last to bear the name
mysteriously disappeared.

Vhalantru: Lord Orbius Vhalantru was given the patent of
nobility shortly after moving to Cauldron 15 years ago.
Immediately upon arriving to the city he gave a huge
sum of money toward the restoration of several town
structures, including the Town Hall. The grounds of Vhalantru’s
manor are among the most beautiful in Cauldron.

Vanderboren: The Vanderborens, Lord Premiach and Lady
Aeberrin, are the newest of Cauldrons nobility, having received
the patent of nobility only nine years ago. The house is Cauldron’s
answer to real-estate tycoons, and they own several important
buildings and businesses in the city, including Sure Foot
Livery and the Lantern Street Orphanage.

Sasserine: Sasserine is the capital city of the area, and is
200 miles south of the Cauldron Region. It has a 40,000
gp spending limit. Sassarine is not on the island that Cauldron rests upon and a few days of sea travel is necessary to get there...

There are two ocean-side "dock towns", they are simply referred to as East Town and West Town. These coastal communities were built after the Dark Times, by the richer merchant families in Cauldron, looking to reestablish their fleet of trade ships. These small towns are nothing more than warehouses, docks and a fortified wall.
A few people have settled in these areas, even naming them as towns, but Cauldron refers to them as east and west town, regardless of a few locals....

Hollowsky: The village of Hollowsky is the smallest of the
four human settlements in the Cauldron Region. With a
population of 460, it barely qualifies as a village. The halfelven
community of Starforest can be found here.

Redgorge: This village was the first human settlement in
the area. Founded about 700 years ago, Redgorge was at
one time a much larger settlement, but it never fully recovered
from a demonic assault long ago. Redgorge sits in a
narrow strip of flat ground between a cliff and an immense
quarry of red pebble gravel. West of the village, a prodigious
line of fortifications known as the Basalt Bastions
protect the land, their massive walls unguarded and
draped with vines. These fortifications, as impressive as
Cauldron’s outer walls, tower over the village itself. They
were built ages ago by Surabar Spellmason’s powerful
spells in a single week, to aid in the defense of Redgorge
against the denizens of the Demonskar.
Today, Redgorge is a farming and mining village. The
old Stonemasons District, where Surabar Spellmason
once dwelt, is visibly depopulated and most its buildings
lie empty and in ruin.

Kingfisher Hollow: The town of Kingfisher Hollow, with
its population of 2,100 souls, is the second largest settlement
in the Cauldron Region. It’s also the primary location
for the region’s plantations - the town is surrounded by
fields of coffee, cotton and sugarcane.

Lucky Monkey: This is a popular roadside tavern on the
northwest road. It houses a shrine to Cayden Cailean. It sits to the east of the road, partially surrounded by the dense jungle. The building is old and well used - the chimneys stained with soot, the roof sagging, the wood siding weathered and stained with from last year's mildew. A smaller stable stands to the building's side in a similar condition. The building’s facade sports numerous carved wooden monkeys, many of whom are engaged in risky, death-defying stunts. In one, a wooden monkey balances on a narrow tree branch to get a banana hanging over a sleeping tiger; in another, a monkey sits on a boulder completely unaware that a poacher sneaking up behind him was suddenly attacked and eaten by an ankheg, finally a monkey sitting stretched back with his arms over his head recieves pleasure from a female monkey.

Elves: Elves form 2% of Cauldron’s population, but also
hail from the city of Elvenhome.
Elvenhome lies 40 miles due east of Cauldron, and is
allied with Sasserine. As such it welcomes other races inside
its borders, mostly for friendship, but sometimes for
training.
Half-drow are not uncommon in Elvenhome. If the drow
parent was known to the people of the city, their half-drow
children are accepted with open arms as any other halfelf.
Wild elves also roam the jungle around Elvenhome,
and sometimes join the barbarian clans of the region.

Gnomes: Gnomes form 5% of Cauldron’s population.
They don’t tend to live in the wilderness, but do have small
communities in the other settlements.
Gnome architects and artisans designed and built
much of Cauldron. Though only a few gnomes know it,
one of these architects, a gnome wizard named Jzadirune,
carved out a secluded enclave for himself and his kin beneath
the city. It became a sanctuary for gnome spellcasters
and mastercrafters, and became known as a place
to build or acquire wondrous magic items.
However, 75 years ago, the enclave fell prey to a mysterious
plague known as the Vanishing. The origin of the
plague is a mystery, although some scholars speculate
that the gnomes’ unorthodox methods for creating magic
items spawned the disease. Others hypothesize that an
unscrupulous competitor or a dissatisfied customer created
the disease to put the gnomes out of business. All
that is known for sure is that the Vanishing was born inside
the gnomes’ magic items and infected anyone who
handled them.
The entrance to the enclave has long since been lost.

Dwarves: Dwarves form 3% of Cauldron’s population, but
also hail from various mines and citadels along the mountain
range that Cauldron’s volcano is part of. Dwarves inside
the city generally work as traders, selling goods their
relatives have mined.
Dwarves are considered to be good, courageous and
trustworthy people. Within the last decade, a dwarf named
Zenith Splintershield marched into the Underdark with a
small army to save the vast caverns from evil.

Zenith was never heard from again, but the dwarves of
Cauldron take that as a sign that his quest was successful,
and he is moving through the Underdark, clearing out
the evil things, and creating bastions of good. They think
of him as a hero.
Of late, a new vein of obsidian has been discovered by
the Clan Arduun, who have begun mining it and sending it
to Cauldron to be sold. However, Clan Blackaxe believes
they are entitled to the vein, and are preparing to take it
back.

Half-orcs: Half-orcs make up 1% of the population of
Cauldron. The environs around Cauldron are generally
troubled by other sorts of creatures, so goblinoids don’t
quite have the bad reputation they do in other places. As
such, half-orcs are accepted as normal members of society.
South along the mountain range from Cauldron is a
half-orc settlement named Dogash-Ber. Many barbarians,
fighters and rangers come from this settlement as mercenaries.
It is rumoured that a lair of metallic dragons lies
somewhere close to Dogash-Ber, and that they have
taken to reproducing with the villagers, as there is an increasing
number of half-orcs being born with natural magical
aptitude.

Halflings: Halflings make up 9% of the population of
Cauldron, making them the largest group of non-humans
in the city. Outside of Cauldron, there are large numbers
of halflings in Kingfisher Hollow working as farmers.
The halflings that dwell in Cauldron run the gamut of
trades and professions, and are generally well respected
folk.
However, as halflings have a natural talent for sneaking
and hiding, there are a fair number who work for the various
thieves guilds in town.

Half-Elves: Half-elves make up 1% of the population of
Cauldron, making them as rare as half-orcs. Half-elves
can also be found in two other places—Elvenhome and
Hollowsky, in a small settlement known as Starforest.
The half-elves of Starforest are especially skilled at
magic, and count many sorcerers and wizards among
their numbers. All of the various types of half-elves are
welcomed, and each becomes a member of the Starforest
family. As such there are many varied skills and professions
in the mix, making Starforest a great place to learn.

Barbarians: The barbarians in the
lands around Cauldron are fierce jungle
warriors. They often have to deal
with dinosaurs, gnolls and even other
tribes. There are rumours that some
tribes contain barbarian/sorcerers.
Some tribesman claim to have
seen a crater deep in the jungles
West of Cauldron where, in ancient
times, a great city once stood. It is
now reported to be infested with demons.
Much of the campaign takes place in urban and dungeon
environments, so a barbarian designed to excel in
the wilderness won’t have as much to do as one who focuses
on skills like Climb, Intimidate, Jump, and Listen.
Bards: Many bards train at the Bardic College in Sasserine,
and then decided to travel north to see more of the
world. Many come to try to find a monavic deva that is
said to watch over and protect the region.
An excellent choice for the campaign, there are ample
opportunities to influence important NPCs during the campaign
and skill in Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidation, plus
access to enchantment and illusion spells can be a great
help.

Clerics: The clerics in Cauldron are often called upon to
cleanse the water of the central lake. During a harsh winter
several decades ago, the waters of the central lake
rose so high they reached Ash Avenue and completely
submerged many of the lower buildings. Representatives
of the churches got together under the urging of the then
high priest of the church of Sarenrae and created several
wands of control water to combat the next flood season. That winter, priests from the four temples patrolled the lower streets of Cauldron and fought back the flood using their wands. The citizens were grateful for their aid, and assisted with sandbagging and shoring of buildings where they could; even with the magic wands, the flood
waters could still do significant damage.
So successful were these measures that, after that
flood season ended, the city of Cauldron erupted into a
massive festival. In the years to follow, this grew into a
tradition. It became to be known as the Flood Festival. But
time breeds contentment, and as the years went by the
temples began refining their uses of the wands and found
they could build fewer wands and still make it through the
season. At the same time, the Festival became more extravagant
and gaudy. Over the past decade, the winters
have been fairly mild, and it is doubtful the lake would
flood again even without the wands.
Clerics in Cauldron generally worship either Sarenae,
Gorum, Nethys or Imodea. Shrines to several other gods exist in the area.
There is some undead in the campaign, but not large
amounts, so feats that convert turning attempts to other
abilities might be worth considering.

Druids: There are mainly two types of druid in Cauldron
and its environs: jungle and mountain druids. Being subtropical,
and existing inside the crater of a volcano, many
druids live in the city as it is close to nature.
Other druids roam the jungles, or walk the mountain
paths.
Rumour among druids tells of silvery, froglike creatures,
the size of a human, who live in the Underdark in
the Cauldron region.
Some druids claim to have seen a crater in the jungle
to the West of Cauldron. It feels wrong to them.
Druids have the same issues as barbarians, but there
are many opportunities to use the Druid’s special abilities.
The inhabitants of the region are familiar with animal companions
and will generally be understanding of their presence.

Fighters: Fighters can be found anywhere, and Cauldron
is no different. Fighters often join the Town Guard, or become
caravan guards and protect merchants travelling to
the other settlements or Sasserine, or join skirmish
squads who journey around the base of the volcano and
kill any dangerous beasts who come too close.
There is a retired fighter in town who has become a
trainer. His name is Dree Turmont (male human).
Elven fighters may come from Elvenhome.

Monks: Monks are rare in Cauldron and its environs.
There is a trainer near Redgorge named Old Sheeba
(male human), and an elven trainer in Elvenhome who
teaches the way of the Tyelka Quárë.
Rumour speaks of an evil monk trainer who lives north
of Cauldron along the mountain range, who was once a
student of Old Sheeba but has become corrupted. His
students are not as wise, but make up for it in ferocity. He
has some grudge against his master, and he seems to
want revenge.

Paladins: Paladins in Cauldron are also rare. They
generally come from noble families, but some are simple
folk who hear the call of a god.
Some paladins in town have recently had a dream
where they see a person with a smoking flame in place of
an eyeball. They don’t know what it means.

The most notable paladin in town is Alek Tercival, a
paladin of Sarenrae, who is often seen travelling around
town on his white charger.

Rangers: The rangers in the area can be found both in
the wilderness and in the city. They are often in the Town
Guard, and sometimes employed as members of Skirmish
Squads who patrol the base of the volcano and prevent
monsters from getting too close. Some travel the jungle in
search of ruins, caves and interesting places.
Elven rangers have usually studied in Elvenhome.
Some non-elves also study there too, especially after
hearing about the Naur Pilindi Edhel—dangerous elven
snipers who also use magic.
Some rangers who have travelled far to the east of
Cauldron have returned with stories about a ruined city,
and the strange half-snake/half-humans that have been
seen there.
Rangers have the same issues as barbarians and druids.
The best choices for a ranger’s favoured enemies are
animals, dragons, humanoid (human, goblinoid, or orc), or
outsider (evil).

Rogues: The rogues of Cauldron come in
many shapes and sizes. Some are diplomats,
whose tongues are sharper than
their rapiers. Some work for the Town
Guard performing the jobs that bulky, muscled
fighter-types just aren’t good at. Some
are freelance, while others are in guilds.
The city has more than one small guild
of thieves, but perhaps the most influential
is the Last Laugh. The guilds symbol is the
silhouette of a laughing jester, shown in
profile.
The guild oversees various rackets,
including security, blackmail, extortion and assassination.
Generally only the most nefarious and unscrupulous
rogues join the Last Laugh.
There are a large number of traps in the numerous
dungeons so the normal rogue skills would be useful.
Also, rogues focusing in social skills will have ample opportunities
to use them.

Sorcerers: Sorcerers pop up in many places. Recently a
tribe of jungle barbarians has found that some tribesmen
possess the power of sorcery. Many half-orcs of Dogash-
Ber seem to be sorcerers too. The Cauldron area has long
been inhabited by dragons, so it stands to reason that sorcerers
would be common.
Rumours among the folk of Dogash-Ber tell of a black
dragon who is trying to create an army of his spawn, but
none know his name or where he is, or even if the rumours
are true. He may possibly also be reproducing with
the half-orcs.

Wizards: The wizards of Cauldron and its environs have
long had many interesting things to study, and as such
have been attracted to the region. In terms of study, there
is a wizard academy in Sasserine (taught by archmages)
and also Istima-Naur in Elvenhome (taught by Val-Edhel).
Also, every now and then the Town Guard encounter a
problem that needs a magical solution.
Surabar Spellmason himself was a wizard of great
power, and as such wizards in the area are treated with
respect.
Arcane lore tells of an ancient race of strange 6 armed
beings that once lived in the region. The wizard academy
in Sasserine would be interested in anything that could
reveal more about these enigmatic creatures.

Days of the week: Starday, Sunday, Moonday, Godsday,
Watersday, Earthday, Freeday. Godsday is a day of worship,
and Freeday is a day of rest.

Following are the months, in the format
Month (days in the month) Season:
Needfest (7) Mid-Winter.
Fireseek (28) Winter
Readying (28) Spring
Coldeven (28) spring
Growfest (7)
Planting (28) low Summer
Flocktime (28) low Summer
Wealsun (28) low Summer
Richfest (7) Mid-Summer.
Reaping (28) high Summer
Goldmonth (28) high Summer
Harvester (28) high Summer
Brewfest (7)
Patchwall (28) Autumn
Ready'reat (28) Autumn
Sunsebb (28) Winter