Briarsreach is a picturesque town built along the border of the Emerald Coast, known for its thriving trade in exotic herbs, vibrant textiles, and spellbinding tales of the ancient Elderwood. Recently, however, the peaceful atmosphere has been replaced with unease. Mutated wildlife and erratic weather patterns have left the residents afraid, and the usual cheerful hum of the town is dampened by whispered rumors of danger.

Town Description:

Market Square: Once lively with merchants selling vibrant produce, now quieter as farmers complain of blighted crops and unnatural growth.

Elderwood Path: A shadowy trail leading into the forest, adorned with makeshift wards and talismans from townsfolk hoping to keep the disturbances at bay.

Temple of Antheria: A small, sturdy shrine where the townsfolk pray to the dwarven goddess of the earth and balance, now visited more frequently due to rising fears.
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The Drunken Hart Tavern

The Drunken Hart Tavern serves as the town's beating heart. Its wooden beams are decorated with trophies of past hunts, and the air smells of spiced mead and fresh bread. Despite the warmth of the hearth, a tension looms over the patrons as they huddle together and share stories of recent horrors.

Key Features:

Hunting Trophies: A massive stag’s head mounted above the bar, a local legend said to have been felled by the founders of Briarsreach.

Leylight Lanterns: Small, glowing lanterns powered by faint leyline magic, flickering more erratically than usual.

Notice Board: Filled with mundane errands, but a new parchment stands out, warning travelers to avoid the Elderwood.

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Core Setting Rules

Shattered Leylines

Localized Magic Zones: Create zones where magic behaves differently:

High Magic Zones: Spells above 3rd level can be cast normally, but with a chance (20%) of causing a Wild Magic Surge.

Low Magic Zones: Spells above 3rd level require a DC 15 Arcana check to succeed; failure results in a misfire or spell slot loss.

Dead Magic Zones: Magic does not function at all.


Optional Rule for Players:

PCs attuned to unstable magic (e.g., Nytheri, Lumivyr) may roll with advantage when controlling spells in High Magic Zones but take double damage from Wild Magic backfires.



Airships and Thalorium

Thalorium Core Mechanics:

Airships require Thalorium crystals to stabilize their flight. Without it, they crash.

Include Airship Combat Rules from Ghosts of Saltmarsh, with modifications to accommodate flying combat.

Build unique airship templates for factions (Aerithal’s swift cutters, Skaldren’s armored dreadnoughts, etc.).



Veil of Sundering

Dimensional Breaches:

Each in-game week, roll 1d6 to determine whether a breach occurs nearby.

On a 6, a portal opens, allowing a challenge-appropriate entity to enter.


Breaches can bring foes (demons, aberrations), allies (celestial guides, lost adventurers), or environmental chaos (storms, planar warping).
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Key Factions

1. Concord of Arcanists: Scholars and mages dedicated to stabilizing the shattered leylines, often clashing with those exploiting them.

Goals: Restore balance, prevent misuse of arcane power.

Conflict: Other factions see them as hoarders of magical secrets.



2. Skyborne Sovereigns: Aerithal-dominated guilds that monopolize airship technology and trade.

Goals: Maintain control over sky routes and Thalorium resources.

Conflict: Rogue Aerithal warlords destabilize the skies.



3. Ironspire Collective: Skaldren industrialists who harness the leylines to craft weapons and machinery.

Goals: Expand influence underground and above.

Conflict: Seen as reckless for tapping unstable leylines.
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Eryndor: Days of the Week, Months, and Special Days


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Days of the Week

Eryndor has a seven-day week, with each day named after celestial or natural phenomena:

1. Aurday - Day of the Rising Sun (new beginnings and hope).


2. Lunaris - Day of the Moon (reflection and rest).


3. Veynday - Day of Winds (exploration and change).


4. Flamday - Day of Flame (passion and creativity).


5. Terraday - Day of the Earth (work and stability).


6. Hydros - Day of Water (healing and renewal).


7. Shadorn - Day of Shadows (introspection and endings).




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Months

Eryndor has an eight-month calendar, with each month tied to a season and its respective theme:

1. Dawnrise (Spring) - 30 days, heralding the renewal of life.


2. Sunmarch (Spring) - 28 days, symbolizing growth and perseverance.


3. Bloomtide (Summer) - 31 days, representing abundance and vitality.


4. Highsun (Summer) - 30 days, honoring the peak of the year's warmth.


5. Harvestfall (Autumn) - 31 days, celebrating the fruits of labor.


6. Duskwatch (Autumn) - 30 days, a time of preparation and reflection.


7. Frostwane (Winter) - 31 days, marking the cold's endurance.


8. Snowrest (Winter) - 30 days, embodying rest and introspection.
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Highsun:

Day of Valor (Highsun 10): Honoring warriors and adventurers with displays of martial prowess and offerings to war deities.


Harvestfall:

Harvest Festival (Harvestfall 20-25): A weeklong celebration of the year's harvest with markets, games, and ritual sacrifices of grain or fruit to the gods of agriculture.


Duskwatch:

Night of Veils (Duskwatch 30): A mysterious festival where people wear masks and honor the spirits of the dead.


Frostwane:

Winter's Vigil (Frostwane 15): A solemn day of endurance, spent huddling together and praying for warmth and protection.


Snowrest:

Eryndor’s End (Snowrest 30): Marks the year's final day, celebrated with quiet introspection and resolutions for the new year.




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Religious and Worship Days

Shatter’s Memory (Sunmarch 1): Worshipers honor the gods of magic and balance, reflecting on the impact of the Shattered Crown.

Divine Concord (Highsun 15): A day of unity among all temples, with shared rituals and offerings to all deities.

Eclipse Night (Shadorn, varies): A rare celestial event tied to the gods of shadow and light, marked by night-long vigils and prayers.
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Local Festivals in Eryndor


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1. Leyline Renewal (Bloomtide 10)

Druids and mages gather to stabilize and cleanse the fractured leylines. The event includes:

Ritual Circles: Communities create intricate magical circles at leyline intersections, chanting and casting spells to harmonize the chaotic energies.

Mage Duels: Friendly spell duels are held to demonstrate control over magic.

Gifts to the Land: People plant trees and offer rare herbs to the land as thanks for its magical bounty.



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2. Skyship Day (Highsun 5)

A celebration of technological ingenuity with events like:

Skyship Races: Airships race through challenging courses marked by floating rings and obstacles.

Artisan Showcases: Engineers and artificers display innovations in airship designs and magitech.

Evening Fireworks: Massive, colorful displays light up the night, symbolizing the triumph of mortal creativity.



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3. Festival of Forges (Harvestfall 15)

Dedicated to blacksmiths, artisans, and the dwarves of Eryndor:

Forge Showcases: Blacksmiths display their finest weapons, armor, and tools.

Anvil Games: Competitions like speed forging, hammer throwing, and precision crafting.

Forge Blessing: Temples to crafting gods hold ceremonies to bless artisans and their tools for the coming year.



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4. Festival of Whispers (Duskwatch 20)

A mysterious event honoring knowledge and secrets:

Night Markets: Rare books, artifacts, and hidden treasures are sold by enigmatic merchants.

Secret Tellers: People share stories and confessions anonymously in sacred places, trusting the spirits of knowledge to carry them.

Illusion Displays: Mages perform elaborate illusions, symbolizing the veiled truths of the world.



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5. Festival of Beasts (Snowrest 5)

A celebration of the bond between mortals and animals:

Parades of Beasts: Processions featuring domesticated animals, magical creatures, and even summoned spirits.

Beast Trials: Contests showcasing animal companions, such as races, hunting trials, and strength tests.

Blessing of Companions: Druids and priests offer blessings to animals for health and loyalty.



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6. Starsong Eve (Aurday closest to Snowrest 20)

A festival devoted to stargazing and celestial magic:

Star Mapping: Astronomers create maps of constellations believed to guide travelers and predict magical surges.

Sky Choirs: Singers gather to perform hymns inspired by the stars, accompanied by glowing magical displays.

Wishmaking: People release floating lanterns, making wishes for the new year.



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7. Crimson Hunt (Terraday closest to Frostwane 15)

A dangerous festival in frontier regions:

Monster Hunts: Skilled adventurers compete to bring down the most fearsome creatures in a day-long hunt.

Hunter's Feast: Communities gather to celebrate with a feast featuring the spoils of the hunt.

Trophy Processions: Hunters display their trophies, earning glory and recognition.



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8. Feast of the Forgotten (Duskwatch 28)

A somber festival honoring those lost to time:

Memory Altars: People build altars with mementos of loved ones or forgotten heroes.

Night of Silence: For one hour, the community observes silence to honor the deceased.

Lantern Release: Floating lanterns are sent into the sky or down rivers, symbolizing the passage of spirits.



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9. Festival of Unity (Highsun 20)

Celebrates alliances and cooperation among the diverse peoples of Eryndor:

Trade Pavilions: Merchants from across Eryndor gather to sell rare goods and share traditions.

Unity Dances: Communities perform traditional dances, blending different cultures into shared celebrations.

Peace Rituals: Leaders gather for rituals symbolizing trust and cooperation, sometimes resolving disputes.



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10. Eternal Flame Festival (Flamday closest to Frostwane 30)

A celebration of resilience during the harsh winter:

Bonfires: Large communal fires are lit in every village to symbolize warmth and endurance.

Tales of Triumph: Elders recount stories of survival and perseverance to inspire younger generations.

Flame Walks: Participants walk barefoot over warm embers (safely!) as a sign of strength.
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1. Leyline Attuned

You were born or spent a significant time near fractured leylines, developing an innate connection to their chaotic power. This connection defines your destiny as both a gift and a curse.

Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Nature
Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism Kit
Languages: Primordial
Equipment: A fragment of a shattered leyline crystal (serves as a spellcasting focus), a journal with leyline sketches, traveler’s clothes, and 15 gp.

Feature: Resonant Awareness
Your connection to the leylines allows you to sense nearby disruptions. You can detect unstable magic or leyline anomalies within 1 mile. The DM may reveal additional details (like direction or intensity) based on your Arcana checks.

Suggested Personality Traits:

1. I feel a strange pull toward magical anomalies, as though they're calling to me.


2. I often lose myself in deep thought, distracted by the ebb and flow of magic around me.



Suggested Ideals:

1. Balance: Magic must flow naturally, free of exploitation.


2. Curiosity: Understanding the leylines is more important than anything else.



Suggested Bonds:

1. I owe my life to a mentor who taught me how to survive near the leylines.


2. The leylines’ energy saved me once, and I must return the favor.



Suggested Flaws:

1. I’m reckless when it comes to magic, trusting too much in its chaotic nature.


2. I struggle to trust others, fearing they’ll exploit my connection to the leylines.




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2. Skyborne Explorer

You’ve spent your life navigating the skies, whether aboard a skyship or exploring floating islands. You are drawn to the freedom of the open skies and the secrets they hold.

Skill Proficiencies: Perception, Survival
Tool Proficiencies: Navigator’s Tools, Airship Engineering Tools
Languages: Auran
Equipment: A skyship journal with detailed star charts, navigator’s tools, a small token from a fallen crew member, and 10 gp.

Feature: Skyship Navigator
You can easily navigate aerial environments and have advantage on Survival checks to find your way through storms or other challenging weather. Additionally, you can assist in airship repairs, reducing downtime by half.

Suggested Personality Traits:

1. I have a story for every star I’ve ever seen.


2. I keep detailed notes on every new place I explore.



Suggested Ideals:

1. Freedom: The sky is limitless, and so am I.


2. Discovery: There’s always something new to uncover.



Suggested Bonds:

1. I seek to honor the crew of a lost skyship I once served on.


2. My first glimpse of a floating island ignited my love of exploration.



Suggested Flaws:

1. I have an overconfidence in my navigational abilities, even when I’m wrong.


2. I’m prone to wanderlust and struggle to stay in one place for long.




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3. Shadowed Pilgrim

You were born in or spent time traversing the Umbral Wastes, learning to survive in its perpetual twilight. The shadowy energies of the region have left their mark on you.

Skill Proficiencies: Stealth, Insight
Tool Proficiencies: Disguise Kit
Languages: Sylvan or Deep Speech
Equipment: A small obsidian charm (from a temple in the Wastes), a dark cloak, a disguise kit, and 12 gp.

Feature: Twilight Survivalist
You are accustomed to navigating shadowy terrain. You can see twice as far as normal in dim light, and you have advantage on saving throws against effects that would obscure your vision or disorient you.

Suggested Personality Traits:

1. I speak softly, as though I’m afraid of drawing too much attention.


2. I never let my back face an open door or window.



Suggested Ideals:

1. Resilience: The Wastes taught me that survival requires adaptability.


2. Balance: Shadows and light are two sides of the same coin.



Suggested Bonds:

1. I protect a sacred shadow temple that has long been forgotten.


2. My travels in the Wastes introduced me to a being who may still watch over me.



Suggested Flaws:

1. I instinctively distrust those who act too cheerful.


2. My time in the Wastes makes it hard for me to let my guard down.




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4. Forgebound Artisan

You grew up in the Molten Forgeholds or apprenticed under a Skaldren master, learning to create powerful weapons and tools.

Skill Proficiencies: Smithing, Arcana
Tool Proficiencies: Smith’s Tools, Jeweler’s Tools
Languages: Ignan
Equipment: A small forge token, a set of smith’s tools, a piece of unworked ore, and 15 gp.

Feature: Forge Expertise
Your understanding of forging and metallurgy allows you to identify the origin and crafting techniques of any weapon, armor, or tool. You can also repair damaged items with basic resources (no cost for non-magical items).

Suggested Personality Traits:

1. I hum forge songs when I work, regardless of where I am.


2. I love discovering unique crafting techniques from different cultures.



Suggested Ideals:

1. Mastery: Perfecting my craft is my life’s work.


2. Protection: A well-forged weapon can protect those who can’t protect themselves.



Suggested Bonds:

1. I strive to complete my master’s final, unfinished project.


2. My family’s forge holds secrets I want to uncover.



Suggested Flaws:

1. I judge people based on the quality of their equipment.


2. I often get lost in my work and forget other obligations.




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5. Totem Spirit Seeker

The Totemwilds have shaped your life, granting you a deep connection to the primal spirits that guide your path.

Skill Proficiencies: Survival, Animal Handling
Tool Proficiencies: Woodcarver’s Tools
Languages: One tribal language of your choice
Equipment: A carved wooden totem, woodcarver’s tools, a map of the Totemwilds, and 8 gp.

Feature: Spirit Guide
Once per day, you can perform a 10-minute ritual to commune with a totem spirit. The spirit provides guidance, granting you advantage on your next skill check related to nature, survival, or navigation.

Suggested Personality Traits:

1. I often speak to animals as though they understand me completely.


2. I have a deep respect for nature and find cities overwhelming.



Suggested Ideals:

1. Harmony: Nature and civilization must coexist.


2. Tradition: The wisdom of the spirits must be preserved.



Suggested Bonds:

1. A specific totem spirit has chosen me as its protector.


2. I owe my life to a guide who taught me the ways of the Totemwilds.



Suggested Flaws:

1. I find it hard to adapt to situations that don’t align with nature’s balance.


2. I distrust those who harm the wilderness without cause.