Let's Get Those Nerds!!!

Introduction

This is the first installment of my attempt to do some sort of project per week. Some weeks I expect it will just be an interesting mechanic, others it may be a full world write up like this. Please provide any feedback you might have, I always appreciate input. The world is slightly incomplete, and some of the presentation may be weak. That’s part of the point though, to just get it done. Now foot dragging here, just pump out material. It might not be perfect, but it is better than nothing. Though this one was a bit late because of unforeseen circumstances, but it was important that I finish it.

What I have put together is a zombie apocalypse in a D&D setting. The setting is intended to be dark and deadly. The standard things which motivate players just don’t matter here. After all, what use is gold when you don’t have food to fill your belly, or you haven’t slept in two days because the zombies are hounding you. This certainly isn’t your standard D&D setting. I wanted the world to be horrible with little hope and few heroes. I tried to design it with adventurers in mind, allowing players to explore the setting and try to survive.

Something I didn’t get a chance to design was the infectious bite of the zombies from the zombie apocalypse genre. I just didn’t have the time for mechanical stuff. I imagined it being pretty terrifying. The mechanics I had planned would require a grab attack, and once a zombie successfully grabs a player it can try to bite. Once the player has been bitten, they will have to save verse disease. If the fail enough times, they die and become one of the walking dead themselves.

Well, let’s get into it. I hope you enjoy this little project of mine. By the way, I am taking this week off because I am a bit under the weather and this was actually a lot of hard work. I am certainly not wussing out, but the next project holds a special place in my heart. Next week I start my new project is called “Nephilim”. The basic concept is a fantasy settings with the trappings of mecha anime where the pilots control the bodies of slain angels in a war against demons.

Myrinaras’s Fall

Before the Funebrial Lords, Myrinaras was a beautiful and vibrant land. Golden plains and lush forests spread from Anjou’s western shores to the peaks of Cloudspine Mountains. Diverse cultures grew in Myrinaras’s many kingdoms, and those kingdoms fought petty wars over territory, honor, and wealth. People lived rich lives and were laid to rest in the earth. That was until the day when the dead rose, driven by an insatiable hunger for the living.

It started as isolated incidents across the land: reports of the dead rising and attacking the living. While disconcerting, the priests’ rituals seemed to strike them down rather easily. While uneasy, people didn’t want to consider the coming horrors and went back to their lives of simple pleasures.

Isolated incidents turned into consumed towns, then cities, and soon it would be Kingdoms. Before the kings and queens knew what was happening, refugees were pouring into their borders with stories of the hungry dead on their lips. Ironically, the kindness for the refugees was also the other nations’ undoing as those bitten by the dead soon took on a fever and became the walking dead themselves.

Just as the Funebrial Lords planned, their scourge tore through the nations of Svesnia, Harfoot, Urdmut, and Irithain in the north. As the refugees fled, the hungry dead followed after them, and those bitten helped shatter stalwart cities defenses. All hope seemed lost as heroes stood against the Funebrial Lords and fell, only to join the oncoming hordes as Funebrial Lords swept south through Eichhorn, Vacia, Allumut, and Balgoria.

The last of the living took refuge in the fortress at Sanctuarie on the Alabaster Wall of Anjou, as the last heroes of Myrinaras hatched a plan to save the world. Sister Lise Corday uncovered an ancient ritual that would create a flame to destroy the Funebrial Lords once and for all; all she needed was time. Time they did not have.

In grim determination, the seven heroes made a pact to give Sister Lise the time she desperately needed. Old enemies, Thaenir the Hunter and Domgrir Frosthelm, sacrificed themselves together at the battle of Thelzim Pass. The tales of bravery and sacrifice ended the feud between the dwarves and the elves. During the Siege of Pelinir Hold, Halfling, Dragonborn, and Eladrin gave their lives to delay the hordes just long enough. Marius Harmoot and Gemeti Anu lead their warriors into the undead vanguard, while Illithain danced his sword magic among the Funebrial flanks, slaying two Funebrial Lords single handedly before being struck down by Abigor himself.

Sadly, the Last Heroes’ bravery would not stop the advance of the hungry legions, and they marched upon Sanctuarie. At the base of the Alabaster Wall, Agonnes de Phillip stood before Abigor and his minions with only his greatsword and faith to protect him. Agonnes and his men fought valiantly as Sister Lise struggled to complete the ritual, and in a moment of hope, Agonnes drove his blade deep into Abigor’s chest. As Abigor fell, the Funebrial Lords turned on one another. Agonnes stood victorious and cheers rang from the walls of Sanctuarie, but hope is an ephemeral thing; easily dashed and cast to the winds. With his last ounce of strength, Abigor struck Agonnes down and at the sight of her lover struck down, Sister Lise faltered in her ritual. The flame sparked to life Lise and was pulled into it; her soul and the flame became intertwined. The power of the ritual drove back the remaining Funebrial Lords.

For a short time, the survivors thought the flame would save them and steadily cleanse the world of the undead. Instead of growing, the flame began to fade and its radiance slowly withdrew allowing the undead to draw closer and closer to Sanctuarie. The priests postulate many reasons for this, but the reasons do not matter. The flame will fade within the coming year, and there is no way to prevent it.

When the flame snuffs out, the remaining Funebrial Lords will sense its absence and descend on Sanctuarie to consume the last of the living. The light is fading. Life is fading. Even Death is not even certain. All that remains is suffering. There is no hope.

Myrinaras

What once remained of Myrinaras is a fleeting memory. All that remains is a scarred and diseased land, consumed by the Funebrial Lords and their hordes. The ruins of once grand cities smolder and rot like the people who once occupied them. Pockets of survivors dot the land, but those people are often little better than the hordes they fear.

Sanctuarie, The Last Living City

Overview

Sanctuarie is a near impenetrable fortress, that even the Funebrial Lords struggled to siege. It kept watch with its siege engines over the Aldean Sea, forcing Ithian pirates to give it wide berth. Many kingdoms had tried to take it from the King of Anjou. All failed; their bodies dashed upon the rocks at the base of the Alabaster Wall.

Once a city of 30,000 living souls, all that remains of this once great city are but five thousand of the starving and wretched. What was supposed to be the salvation of Myrinaras has become an empty husk. The city is falling into ruins while the factions within it fight one another for domination.

Much of the city is abandoned, with slums and filth filling the areas where people live. The once great aqueducts, which provided clean water to the populace, have fallen into ruin, those with the knowledge to maintain them are long dead in the service of the Funebrial Lords. Once adventurers came from distant lands with ancient treasures and piles of gold, but now all that anyone craves is food. The people who control the food are the ones who hold power.

The architecture of Sanctuarie is designed for the purpose of defense, and that is one of the reasons why the city had never fallen to any invader. The city climbs the Alabaster Wall in three-tiered motte with a keep surrounded by a bailey resting at its peak. A switchback road leads up towards the keep, and invaders must pass through three brutally defended gatehouses to reach the keep. At the base of the first tier a massive curtain wall forms the primary defense. The walls are able to withstand even the most powerful siege engines and magic bombardment. The Burning Keep rises high above the city giving a clear view of the land that lies below. At the pinnacle of the Burning Keep shines the Dying Flame, the fading magical flame that keeps Funebrial Lords at bay.

Points of Interest

The Wall

The massive curtain wall that protects the outskirts of Sanctuarie is falling into disrepair and crumbling. As the Undying Flame has steadily faded, the Wall no longer falls within its radiance, and is vulnerable to attacks from the undead. While the Funebrial Lords pay little heed to Sanctuarie while the Flame still burns, aimless hordes of undead will assault the wall from time to time, and sometimes manage to break through into the first tier. The Wall’s primary gatehouse begins the Approach, the main road that leads all the way Burning Keep, which houses the Dying Flame.

While most people have fled the first tier in favor of the second tier, there are those who refuse to move or lack the means to permanently reside in the second tier. The Wall itself is currently occupied by the Order of Agonnes, a small group of survivors dedicated to defending the first tier.

Gallowdowns

The area in the shadow of the Wall is a filth-ridden slum. Once grand stone buildings and beautiful structures stood, but years of incursions and scavenging have destroyed much of that. The husks of stone structures have been disassembled and shacks and

shanties have been constructed in their place. For mutual defense, the residents built elevated walkways that allow them to escape undead which find their way into the city.

The Gallowdowns falls outside the radiance of the Dying Flame, making the area rather dangerous and feared. The slums act as a tension point for much of the city, and the various factions in the city often use the people who reside in Gallowdowns as scapegoats. The area is full of flea-ridden flophouses and brothels, and it is often where the few new refugees end up. Disease runs rampant in the Gallowdowns, and life is miserable for all who call it home. The Order of Agonnes technically controls the Gallowdowns, but Abigor cultists, Cabalists, and Scavengers also control vast swaths of the area.

If anyone were considered a local leader, it would be the Selig Eichhorn, The Gallows King. Selig claims he is the rightful heir to the throne of Eichhorn, but it is assumed he is just a bit crazy from loosing his arm to the Infection a few years back. Regardless, he is a just and educated man, and skilled with a blade. He is without fear, and works diligently to organize the people of Gallowdowns. Selig has become the arbiter for many disputes and has driven out Brotherhood Inquisitors on more than one occasion.

The Glimmer

The Glimmer is the primary market of Sanctuarie and rests just beyond gatehouse into the second tier. The Glimmer lines both sides of the approach and is a crowded and disorienting collection of buildings. In the days before the Funebrial Lords, the Glimmer was a place where anything could be bought and gold literally lined the streets. That time has passed and now the Glimmer is a shadow of what it once was; often called the Tarnished Market, or Marché Terni in Anjoun.

Unlike the Gallowdowns, many of the original structures are standing from before the fall of Myrinaras. The side streets and back alleys had always been hard to navigate, but it has become even more so as of late. During the day, the second gate is opened, and those from the Gallowdowns are permitted to wander the district under the watchful eye of district’s guards who are paid handsomely by the Scavenger’s Guild.

Gold has little use in the markets of the Glimmer, but goods essential for survival are highly sought for barter. Almost anything can be purchased here, but sale of necromantic items is strictly forbidden. The Cabalists and Brotherhood both diligently hunt anyone who might be trafficking in such items. Food and daily essentials are most sought after, and fetch the highest price in the market, but alcohol and illicit drugs are also in high demand. The clean, safe taverns and brothels of the Glimmer are always busy with people trying to find some way to forget the fading flame at the top of the Burning Keep.

The Glimmer also houses those who might be considered the rich in Sanctuarie. The wealthy in Sanctuarie are a mixed bunch, ranging from old nobles to resourceful peasants. This section of the Glimmer hugs the wall next to the third gate, and goes by a variety names both positive and derogatory depending on whom you speak. The homes of this area are heavily fortified and fiercely defended by their residents, who are always afraid of uprisings and riots. Most guards will kill first, and ask questions later.

The Abbey

The first thing you see when passing through the third gate is the Abbey of Lise. The abbey and its surrounding city blocks are controlled by the Brotherhood of the Flame, and anyone passing through the area into the Burning Keep faces inspection and questioning from the fanatics that make up the Brotherhood. Most try to circumvent the area by going through the smaller gates or passing through the Alchemists Quarter. The Abbey is an immaculately maintained area, which the Brotherhood maintains as a symbol of their purity and dedication to the Dying Flame.

The Alchemist’s Quarter

Pressed against the wall of the third tier lies the Alchemist’s Quarter. The Alchemist’s Quarter is a collection of laboratories and workshops, which where the Alchemist’s Guild produces a wide variety of items ranging from healing potions to poisons. Most of the buildings in this area are stonework, which serves the wizards of this quarter well, allowing them to contain any potential accidents from their experiments.

The Burning Keep

At the top of the third tied lies the Burning Keep. Controlled by the Keepers of the Flame, they maintain the structure to the best of their ability and enforce it as neutral ground. The Burning Keep is a large complex where various factions will come to mediate problems and residents pray at the Chantry of the Flame or attend services in the Cathedral. Deep within the Burning Keep lies the Reliquary, which contains the last repository of religious relics, tomes, and texts from before the Fall. The access to the Reliquary is permitted by the Keepers, but strictly monitored to protect against theft and vandalism.

At the top of the keep is the Chamber of Flame. Within this chamber burns the Dying Flame that keeps the undead at bay. The ritual should have created a flame fueled by the faith of those in the city, but when Lise faltered something went wrong. Sister Lise writhes in the flame, her ghostly form barely visible through the eerie blue flames. There are times when she speaks to those in front of the flame, but her words are always laced with riddles and rarely coherent. As the flame steadily consumes her soul, it grows dimmer and its protective radiance recedes steadily each day. By all estimates, the flame should snuff out in less than a year.

The Bones

Sanctuarie was once a city of 30,000 people, but now only five thousand people remain. Most died of starvation or during the siege. After the slaying of Abigor, many simply took their own lives, unable to bear the thought of the world they were left with. This has left large sections of the city abandoned. It has become the home of ruffians, thieves, cultists, hermits, revolutionaries and outcasts. Very few of the Sanctuarie’s residents venture out into the Bones, but sometimes Brotherhood inquisitions and Cabalist hunting parties can be scene scouring the area. Most of the structures have collapsed from exposure, but many are burned from fires that tear through the area. Broken aqueducts also dump water into areas, submerging sections of the Bones. In general, it is very easy to get lost within the area, and traveling among the ruins requires a knowledgeable guide or a recent map. The Bones is incredibly unsafe for outsiders, and only the suicidal and dangerous venture out into the area.

Factions of Sanctuarie

The five thousand souls that make up Sanctuarie at any given time have no ruler. Various factions control sections of Sanctuarie, and control the lives of their residents in any way they see fit. Some factions control no territory, moving among the city trying to implement their agendas. There are hundreds of factions in the city, but most are small and have little influence, but there are larger factions which effect the everyday life of residents much more directly.

Seven major factions vie for power in Sanctuarie, while each claims different reasons for their actions; all are driving by the need to survive. Some are generous, others driven by self-interest. Regardless, they effect the everyday lives of the few living people who occupy the rotting husk of Sanctuarie.

The Brotherhood

The Brotherhood of the Flame is a collection of fanatical paladins, soldiers, clerics and religious fanatics who elevated Sister Lise Corday to the status of a goddess, and the Brotherhood worships her along side the Light. The Brotherhood is lead by a Svesnian Paladin named Abbot Martili Zutter. Abbot Zutter is a religious fanatic obsessed with the words of the Dying Flame. He preaches they are prophecy and he and his followers have gained great influence with Sanctuarie. They believe the sin within the city is causing the flame to dim, and Lise has commanded him to root out that sin. They use this influence to pursue and punish the sinful, sending out inquisitorial patrols to cleanse the city. Few are considered free from sin and they have been known to perform everything from public lashings for thieves to sealing a brothel shut and setting it aflame with the occupants still inside. Most residents give them wide berth, but they have attracted a rather broad following among the needy, frightened, and devout. Those that do not live in the Abbey proper act as informants, providing inquisitorial patrols information on their fellow residents’ improprieties.

They face opposition from the Scavengers, Cabalists and Order of Agonnes, who see them as dangerous fanatics. The Brotherhood in turn hates these groups, preaching against them as sinful and corrupted by Abigor. The Keepers of the Flame hold a neutral stance towards the Brotherhood, hoping to temper their fervor, while the Brotherhood sees them as weak minded and spineless.

Keepers of the Flame

The Keepers of the Flame, often called the Keepers, hold the Burning Keep and tend the Chamber of Fire. They administer the area and make sure that all have access to the cathedral that lies within the keep. In addition to being religious men and women, they are also scholars trying to devise a way to strengthen the Flame so it can fulfill its intended purpose. They have collected a large repository of ancient tomes and artifacts, which they study in hopes of finding the solution. The Keepers provide access to their library for a nominal fee, which they use to maintain the keep and collect new materials for the library.

The Keepers are always looking for new texts and will pay handsomely for any unique tomes or artifacts. This constant interest means they have a good relationship with the Scavenger’s Guild, adventurers, and new refugees who wander the outside world.

The Keepers play the neutral party in the city, acting as an arbiter to keep the peace between various factions. The Burning Keep is considered is considered neutral ground, and no weapons are permitted within its walls. Access to the library is open to everyone, but as of late the Keepers have become more cautious since a Brotherhood devotee tried to burn a section of the library that Abbott Zutter claimed held “sinful texts”.

Order of Agonnes

Standing stalwart on the wall without the benefit of the Dying Flame’s radiance is the Order of Agonnes. The Order is dedicated to hunting down the undead that penetrate the walls and fending off mass attacks. Everyone but the Brotherhood and the Cult of Abigor universally respect them. The Order is lead by an aging Dragonborn named Sin-Nassir. Sin-Nassir served along side Argonnes, and took command of his legions after he fell in battle. Disgusted with the cowardice of the other factions, he vowed to hold the Wall regardless of the status of the Dying Flame.

While they hold the wall, they also patrol the Gallowdowns and the exterior of the wall. They make an effort to drive off the undead attracted to Abigor’s Grave at the base of the Alabaster Wall. Sin-Nassir is concerned they may have the means of resurrecting Abigor, and he is determined to see that doesn’t happen.

The Order has a strong relationship with the Alchemist’s Guild which provides the much needed expertise for siege engine maintenance, as well as the Cabal whom they work with to hunt down the undead in the city and the Cult of Abigor. They have a tenuous relationship with the Scavenger’s Guild. There is no love lost between Sin-Nassir and Abbot Zutter, who Sin-Nassir suspects is responsible for the numerous attempts on his life.

Scavenger’s Guild

The Scavenger’s Guild is rather diverse group of people who travel to the outside world, recovering food, supplies, and manufactured goods from the ruins. Their members are merchants, adventurers, thieves, and soldiers. While duty, faith, or community motivates some of the factions, the Scavengers are only interested in wealth. They control the movement of all goods in and out of the city. Anyone bringing goods into the city is expected to pay ten percent of their goods to the Guild in order to do business in the city. This tax has created a number of black markets in the Bones, which the Scavengers hunt down relentlessly.

Scavengers are generally tolerated by all factions, except the Brotherhood, because they provide and essential service. The Brotherhood only tolerates them as long as they have something they need, and it is not unheard of for an inquisitorial patrol to raid a Scavenger guild house for supplies for the Brotherhood’s “war against sin.”

The Cabal

The Cabal is an amorphous group dedicated to hunting down necromancers and undead in the city and the surrounding area. They are a secretive group that tries to move among the shadows. Made of people from a wide variety of professions, most come from some sort of magical training, either divine or arcane.

The Cabal has members within every faction of the city, acting as spies and agents who provide information that furthers their goals. They have little interest in the politics of the city, and instead see every group as a resource to be used in their war against the undead. Their actions are not always direct, and they will sometimes manipulate groups into striking at undead nests or cults that pop up around the city.

Cult of Abigor

The Cult of Abigor is a collection of individuals dedicated to the worship of Abigor and his resurrection. The origins of the Cult can be directly attributed to the death of Argonnes, and the collective trauma that created. Rather than being driven to slay the undead, they instead decided they should become one with them. The Cult of Abigor is a fanatical death cult that is universally reviled across the city. No faction considers them an ally. Every faction, both great and small, has a bounty on the heads of Abigor Cultist. It is rumored they have contact with Haagenti, who supplies them with resources and magical materials.

Alchemists’ Guild

The Alchemists’ Guild is a small faction within the city, controlling fewer than four city blocks, but they provide an essential service to the city. They are the creators of everything from potions to poisons, which every group needs for their operations within the city. They Scavengers rely on them heavily for unique goods, while the Order relies on them for essential supplies to continue the defense of the city.

The Alchemists are driven not by greed or power, but by knowledge. They are a loose association of wizards, artificers, and other learned people who are interested only in expanding their knowledge. Each Alchemist has a very different outlook; some side more with the Order of Agonnes, while others have no qualms about supplying the Cult of Abigor with necromantic supplies.

Other Factions

There are a multitude of smaller factions within the city. Some hold power out in the Bones, while others hold power only in small sections of the city. Generally, factions do not fight amongst themselves, but if a faction gets in the way of another faction’s goals, violence has been known to erupt. It truly varies from faction to faction. Some are simply neighborhood communities, while others are brutal thieves guilds. Factions may even occupy the same physical locale.

Outside Sanctuarie

Ironhelm

Resting along the western slopes of the Cloudspine Mountains is the free Dwarven hold of Ironhelm. Isolated in the high peaks, the small community of about 200 Dwarves and 100 other people has sealed themselves deep within the mountain. They rely on the relative robust resources of the caverns, and rarely let refugees inside their stronghold.

Ironhelm is one of the few communities that still actively trade, and their caravans travel the region trading for goods they cannot produce themselves. Ironhelm weapons and armor are highly sought after by the survivors of the Fall, and they are able to demand high prices for their equipment. They also have access to one of the few untainted sources of water, and they trade water, wine, and beer with the local communities.

Wormwood

Nestled in a valley between the Cloudspine and Dragontooth mountain ranges lies the Wormwood. The Wormwood is the domain of the elves, and they fiercely defend it from all intruders. The Wormwood elves are known for their savagery, and they have little interest in dealing with outsiders who they suspect are agents of the Funebrial Lords.

The elves live high in the trees and hunt whatever undead wander into the forest. They are currently loosing ground to a collection of tomb spiders that have infested the forest. The elves will often take mercy upon those they see slaying the tomb spiders, and having proof of hunting them may gain an explorer sanctuary within an Elven community.

Dread Plains

Stretching from the Cloudspine Mountains to the western shores of the Cenurian Ocean lies the Dread Plains. A mix of rolling hills and open expanse, one can see for miles in all directions from a high hill. This is both a boon and a curse, for undead hordes wander this land seeking the flesh of the living.

Near the center of the plains lie the ruins of Pelinir Hold and the domain of Lady Meridiana. From this ancient city she steadily expands her domain, attacking isolated communities of survivors foolish enough to make their presence known.

The Funebrial Lords

During the Fall, the Funebrial Lords numbered thirteen and were lead by Abigor. When Abigor was slain by Agonnes, the remaining Funebrial Lords turned on each other. Over the past ten years, they have warred and politicked against one another, and only seven remain.

Much to the surprise of the people of Myrinaras, the Funebrial Lords actually have a society, though twisted and evil. The Funebrial Lords rely heavily on the living. They treat the living as cattle, trading them as food, entertainment, and troops. Survivors are often surprised by the willingness of sentient undead to trade with the living for other people, and some humans actually trade with the Funebrial Lords as a means of survival. Some communities actually survive by paying a “tax” to the local Funebrial Lords in the form of their children and adults.

Bathin

Bathin is the lord of consumption. His massive, bloated form lumbers with his hordes when he is on the warpath, or sloshes about when rests on his bone throne when holds court. His magic focuses on manipulating people and undead through hunger. Those infected by Bathin’s zombies are known for consuming massive amounts of food until the moment they die and become a zombie themselves. Zombie hulks are common within his forces, but almost all his forces are non-sentient undead. Bathin has an outright hatred of Lady Meridiana for her rejection of his advances, and Bathin’s kingdom is deeply in debt to Haageniti. He is currently in the middle of a brutal conflict with Gader’el and Melchorm.

Lady Meridiana

While most Funebrial Lords are horrific to look upon, Lady Meridiana is stunningly beautiful and the Funebrial Lords all pine for her attention and favor. Lady Meridiana is a master of manipulation and passion. She takes great pleasure in manipulating the living into choosing to serve her in undeath, rather than simply taking them by force. Unlike many of her brothers, her undead legions are made up largely of sentient undead, with non-sentient undead making up the fodder of her forces.

She controls the lands surrounding Pelinir Hold and large swaths of the Plains of Dread. Having the weakest military of the Funebrial Lords, she maintains her hold on her lands through manipulating the other Funebrial Lords to fight amongst themselves.

Gader’el

Towering above the northern remains of Urdmut, is Frostmane Hold, the domain of Gader’el. Gader’el was Domgrir Frosthelm in life, but he was raised after the loss of two Funebrial Lords at the hands of the Last Heroes. After taking his new name, he turned his eyes to his old home Frostmane Hold. His forces took control of the fortress easily and claimed the Dwarves as his new subjects.

Gader’el is currently in a pitched conflict with Bathin, who is determined to take his kingdom for himself. He is also dealing with dwarf rebels who hide deep in the tunnels of Frostmane. The rebels have found unexpected allies in the Duegar and Goblins who had once been the Dwarves enemies.

Chemosh

Controlling what was once Ithia, Chemosh holds the lands south of Sanctuarie where his undead fleets intercept the few remaining Ithian pirates smuggling goods to Sanctuarie. Chemosh was once the spymaster for Lord Abigor, and his legions were never very large. They are even smaller now, and Chemosh traffics in information that allows him to maintain status among the Funebrial Lords. It is said that he has damning information on every one of the Funebrial Lords, which stops them from simply crushing his forces. His navy is second to none, and all the Funebrial Lords rely heavily on his fleets to move both troops and chattel

Valefor

In the northern frozen wastes there rests a massive structure of ice and stone. Within that towering structure sits the wrathful Valefor. Valefor was once Abigor’s second in command, but his pride and arrogance caused him to be manipulated and tricked by the other Funebrial Lords. There are few as skilled in battle as Valefor, and few as naïve and idealistic.

Having lost his territory and soldiers to the manipulations of the other Funebrial Lords, Valefor has begun to raise an army of gnolls, orcs, and goblins rather than traditional undead. Valefor fully believes the other the other Funebrial Lords will rally around him when they see his armies march upon Sanctuarie. His idealism may be a greater threat to Sanctuarie than any of the Funebrial Lords undead legions.

Melchorm

Melchorm is the most pathetic of the Funebrial Lords. His lands have fallen into disrepair, and his treasury is in a shambles. He has steadily given more and more of his power over to Haagenti, and he has practically ceded control of his lands to other Funebrial Lords. Ironically, Melchorm is the most powerful of the Funebrial Lords, and he could easily crush them into grave dust if he saw fit. Regardless, he has little interest in power, and spends much of his time pouring over tomes and scrolls searching for some ancient ritual. What the ritual will accomplish isn’t known, but scandalous rumors among the Funebrial Lords claim he has turned against the Funebrial Lords and is trying to restore the life of Myrinaras.

Haagenti

The living beings are the currency of Funebrial culture, and it is Haagenti who controls that currency. Unlike the other Funebrial Lords, Haagenti makes great effort to make measured use of his living chattel. Rather than imm¬ediately converting them into the undead, he instead maintains complex breeding programs enhanced by magic and alchemy. Haagenti then manipulates his fellow lords with the temptation of easy flesh and souls, driving them into debt and ruin.