Council of Thieves

Your adventure begins in the city of Westcrown. Westcrown lies along the southern rim of the jagged island chain known as the Dragon Isles, or Bael Turath. The island upon which Westcrown, as well as the current capital, Egorian, lies is the only habitable island remaining in the once mighty Bael Turath - Imrryr. Rough waves crash mightily, eroding away at the harsh cliffs of the magic-infused coastline. Small woodlands dot the island, their twisted depths dark and oppressing, while further inland, river valleys lined by fallen columns wind beneath once-mighty bridges and fiend-haunted ruins. Yet, for all its dark glory, the Dragon Isles were once beautiful beyond measure, all for the amusement of its infernal rulers.

Westcrown lies as the last vestige of the old order, where the reluctant nobility sulked away after the great catastrophe that almost destroyed all of Bael Turath and the new government, the House of Thrune, subjugated the rest of the country and officially denounced diabolism. Like the fading warmth of twilight, Westcrown remains but a spectre of its former glory. Its ancient architecture is dominated by a crumbling northern quarter filled with unseen menaces and its nights are haunted by a twilight plague of deadly shadows.

Bael Turath is also notable as the birthplace of the people known as tieflings, and indeed it is the only nation on Æsëa to have a notable tiefling population. Though once the dominant people in Bael Turath, since its fall they have enjoyed an unusual status; though perhaps “enjoy” is the wrong word. Turathi humans see tieflings responsible for the catastrophe that caused the Bael Turath’s fall. Tieflings are now seen as lesser beings, though the House of Thrule has outlawed outright genocide. Despite this, tieflings were formed from infernal pacts with devils made by the ancient Turathi, and that blood still flows through them today. Citisens hide away tiefling offspring, ashamed of their very existence. And that’s a best-case scenario.

Because of this, most tieflings carry around hatred and resentment in their hearts. Some strive for greatness as a way to prove their worth and show up those who failed to appreciate their talents. Others embrace their heritage and become fiends in mortal form, running illegal operations, thieving, murdering, or worse.

Bael Turath is a land of deception and intrigue, backstabbings and bluffs. It labours under a cursed history, with all manner of loosely moraled individuals populating its many shadowed streets. A flame shines all the brighter in dim Westcrown, though, and adventurers of courage and principle find their services greatly needed, and the ability to make a difference draws heroes from all over the land. The Wiscrani (as citisens of Westcrown are known) often live hard lives, yet they carry themselves with pride nevertheless. Will you and your fellow adventurers help restore the crumbling honour of Westcrown?