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Chapter X: The Soundtrack of Shadows

Curating Your Noir Atmosphere

In the heart of Fade to Black, the atmosphere is as crucial as the narrative itself. The rain-slicked streets, the smoky jazz clubs, and the hushed whispers in dimly lit alleys all contribute to the immersive experience. To truly transport your players to 1940s Chicago, a carefully curated soundtrack is essential.

This chapter serves as a guide to creating the perfect noir playlist, drawing inspiration from the artists and genres that define the genre's soul.

The Essence of Noir Sound:

Noir is a symphony of melancholy, mystery, and raw emotion. The music should evoke a sense of unease, a feeling that secrets lurk in every shadow, and that redemption is always just out of reach.

Genre Recommendations:

* Vocal Jazz & Blues: The raw emotion and storytelling inherent in these genres are the lifeblood of noir. Artists like Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and Louis Armstrong paint vivid pictures of heartbreak, despair, and the struggle for survival.

* Instrumental Jazz: These pieces provide a subtle yet powerful backdrop to your narratives. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Charles Mingus offer a masterclass in creating mood and suspense.

* Film Noir & Crime Drama Soundtracks: These scores are designed to evoke cinematic tension and drama. Angelo Badalamenti, Ennio Morricone, and Lalo Schifrin provide a wealth of inspiration.

* Modern Noir & Dark Ambient: Artists like Portishead, Massive Attack, and The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble bridge the gap between classic noir and contemporary sounds, adding a layer of modern unease.

Playlist Building Tips:

* Variety is Key: Mix vocal and instrumental tracks, upbeat and slow pieces, to create a dynamic listening experience.

* Atmospheric Soundscapes: Don't be afraid to incorporate ambient sounds like rain, footsteps, or distant sirens to enhance immersion.

* Dynamic Volume: Adjust the volume to match the scene's intensity. Lower volume for tense moments, higher for action sequences.

* Player Input: Encourage players to contribute their own noir-inspired music to the playlist.

* Looping and Long Tracks: For background music, find longer tracks, or loop shorter ones to keep the mood constant.

Spotify Playlist Link:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4FR6jcUQQboSboSJk1ozuv?si=B_gN04xNT2aqxlBXmA3TUw&pi=N_o1-0fARRqPx

By crafting a soundtrack that resonates with the themes and atmosphere of Fade to Black, you can elevate your game to new heights, immersing your players in the shadows of 1940s Chicago.

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My Dearest Monster Hunter,

Where do I even begin? You, a sprawling, untamed wilderness of wonder, have been a constant companion throughout my life. From the wide-eyed wonder of a child facing a Rathalos for the first time on the PS2, to the seasoned hunter I am today, you've grown with me, challenged me, and filled my heart with a joy few things ever could.

I remember the clunky, yet thrilling, beginnings. The sheer awe of those early hunts, the feeling of mastering a weapon, the shared laughter with friends as we stumbled through Low Rank. We were young, and so were you, a nascent world brimming with potential.

Then came the years of chasing you across platforms. Scouring for a used Wii to dive into the depths of Tri, the cramped but glorious hours spent on the PSP, the 3DS nestled in my hands, each new iteration a testament to your evolving brilliance. We moved from huddled-together mobile hunts to the vast expanses of online services, and you were always there, a reliable beacon of adventure.

You've taught me patience, persistence, and the sheer exhilaration of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. Every new monster, a puzzle to be solved, a dance to be learned. Every new weapon, a chance to refine my skills, to become a better hunter. The armor, a testament to our victories, a symbol of the stories we've forged together.

And oh, the mechanics! How you constantly reinvent yourself, pushing the boundaries of what a hunting game can be. The thrill of mastering a new weapon gimmick, the satisfaction of perfectly timing a counter, the sheer spectacle of a turf war between titans ��� you never fail to amaze.

Now, in my thirties, you hold a special place in my heart. You're not just a game; you're a connection to my past, a source of joy in my present, and a promise of adventures yet to come. The announcement of Wilds, yesterday, sent a jolt of pure, unadulterated excitement through me. It's like seeing an old friend, one who always knows how to bring out the best in you, returning with even more stories to tell.

You, Monster Hunter, are more than just a game series. You are a world, a community, an experience. You are a constant source of wonder, a challenge to be conquered, and a friend to be cherished.

Thank you for the countless hours of joy, the shared memories with friends, and the unwavering sense of adventure. I eagerly await the day we meet again in the Wilds.

With a hunter's heart,

A lifelong fan,

Hero of Kokoto.

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Fantasy High: The Emerald Epoch

Setting Premise:

The Emerald Epoch is a campaign setting built upon the foundations of Dimension 20's "Fantasy High," expanding the world of Aguefort Adventuring Academy and the greater realm of Spyre. It moves beyond the initial focus on high school, exploring the wider implications of the events of the first two seasons and introducing new threats, factions, and mysteries that arise as the Bad Kids (or a new generation) move into their post-grad lives.

Key Themes:

* The Weight of Legacy: The Bad Kids' actions have reshaped Spyre. Their successes and failures leave a lasting impact, creating a world where new adventurers must grapple with the consequences.

* The Blurring of Lines: The clear-cut morality of high school gives way to the complex shades of grey in adulthood. Heroes face difficult choices, and villains might possess sympathetic motivations.

* The Unseen World: The events of "Sophomore Year" revealed the existence of powerful extraplanar forces. This campaign delves deeper into the connections between Spyre and these other realms, exploring the hidden dangers and opportunities they present.

* Growth and Change: Characters, both old and new, face the challenges of personal and professional development. They must navigate relationships, find their place in the world, and confront the ever-evolving nature of their own identities.

Locations and Factions:

* Aguefort Adventuring Academy (Post-Grad):

* The academy now offers specialized post-graduate programs, focusing on advanced adventuring skills, magical research, and political intrigue.

* New faculty members, perhaps veterans of the Bone Deep, or individuals with unique expertise, have joined the ranks.

* The school's legacy is both a source of pride and a burden, as it struggles to maintain its reputation in a changing world.

* Elmville and the Surrounding Regions:

* Elmville has experienced significant changes, reflecting the impact of the Bad Kids' actions.

* New businesses, organizations, and cultural trends have emerged.

* The political landscape has shifted, with new factions vying for power and influence.

* The Bone Deep's influence: The bone deep's remnants are still felt, and people still have to deal with the fall out of the events that transpired.

* The Feywild Fringe:

* The connection between Spyre and the Feywild has grown stronger, leading to increased activity along the borders.

* New portals and ley lines have opened, allowing for easier travel between the realms.

* Fey creatures, both benevolent and malevolent, have become more prevalent in Spyre.

* The Astral Expanse:

* The Astral Plane, once a distant and mysterious realm, has become more accessible.

* Astral travelers and merchants have established new trade routes and settlements.

* Powerful astral entities, both benevolent and malevolent, have begun to exert their influence on Spyre.

* The Shadowfell's Reach:

* The shadowfell has begun to leak into the world more often, and more intensely. Areas of Spyre are being consumed by shadow.

* New cults and organizations have arisen, worshipping dark entities and seeking to exploit the Shadowfell's power.

* The line between the living and the dead has blurred, leading to increased undead activity and spectral phenomena.

* Factions:

* The Aguefort Alumni Association: A powerful network of former Aguefort students, some of whom are seeking to maintain the status quo, while others are pushing for radical change.

* The Emerald Syndicate: A shadowy organization of merchants, politicians, and criminals, seeking to exploit the chaos and instability of the post-Bad Kids era.

* The Order of the Astral Sages: A group of scholars and mystics, dedicated to understanding and harnessing the power of the Astral Plane.

* The Shadow Court: A collection of powerful Shadowfell entities and their followers, seeking to plunge Spyre into darkness.

* The Remnants of the Bone Deep: Disparate groups of those that survived the Bone Deep, some seeking redemption, others seeking revenge, and others still seeking to continue the work of the original bone deep.

Campaign Hooks:

* A series of mysterious disappearances in Elmville leads the party to uncover a hidden conspiracy.

* A powerful artifact, connected to the Astral Plane, falls into the wrong hands, threatening to unleash chaos upon Spyre.

* A growing conflict between the Feywild and Spyre forces the party to choose sides.

* The Shadowfell is leaking into the world, and the party has to find the source and stop it.

* A new generation of students at Aguefort Adventuring Academy must live up to the legendary status of the Bad Kids.

* The Bad Kids, now adults, must face the consequences of their actions and confront the challenges of their post-high school lives.

Tone and Style:

* The Emerald Epoch maintains the humor and heart of "Fantasy High," while exploring more mature themes and complex narratives.

* The campaign blends classic fantasy tropes with modern sensibilities, creating a world that feels both familiar and fresh.

* The emphasis on character development and interpersonal relationships remains a core element of the experience.

This setting allows for a wide range of stories, from high-stakes adventures to intimate character dramas, all within the vibrant and ever-evolving world of "Fantasy High."

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Beaver Trapper: Oregon, 1825 - Summary

"Beaver Trapper: Oregon, 1825" is a role-playing game set in the wilderness of 1825 Oregon, where players navigate harsh terrain, face dangerous wildlife, and compete with rival trappers. The game emphasizes role-playing, resource management, and exploration.

Core Mechanics:

1. Attributes, Skills, and Vitality:

Players allocate 3 points across Strength, Wisdom, and Charisma, influencing actions and checks.

Skills provide specializations like Trapper, Hunter, Survivalist, Negotiator, or Medicine.

Vitality Points (VP) are crucial for survival, with players starting at 3 VP and losing them through combat, environmental challenges, or disease.

2. Rolling for Success:

Actions require rolling 1d6 + relevant attribute and skill bonus against Difficulty Ratings (DR) ranging from Easy (DR 3) to Extreme (DR 6).

Critical successes and failures add narrative consequences.

3. Food, Camp, and Supplies:

Food is tracked as rations, and players must hunt, trap, or forage daily.

Failing to secure food results in penalties to Strength, Wisdom, and overall vitality.

4. Travel and Encounters:

Travel is divided into Short, Medium, and Long Routes, with encounters varying from wildlife to environmental hazards.

Encounters are triggered daily or as decided by the Game Master (GM).

5. Combat:

Combat is fast-paced, with 1d6 + Strength or Weapon determining success.

Melee and ranged weapons have different damage values, and armor can reduce damage.

6. Character Development and Progression:

Players can improve attributes or skills after a successful season or milestone achievements.

7. Endgame and Victory Conditions:

The goal is to survive the season and accumulate wealth and reputation.

Victory is measured in points: Legendary Trapper (20+), Survivor (10-19), or Failed Trapper (5 or fewer).

8. GM’s Role:

The GM creates the world, narrates events, and presents meaningful choices, influencing players' survival and success.

The game challenges players to balance survival needs, strategic resource management, and narrative choices in a dynamic, hazardous environment.

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Rule 0: Respect & Responsible Roleplaying

Beaver Trapper: Oregon, 1825 is a historical roleplaying game set during a time of complex social, political, and cultural dynamics. The fur trade brought together people from diverse backgrounds—Indigenous nations, European settlers, American frontiersmen, and more—each with their own perspectives and struggles. While history contains elements of racism, colonialism, and conflict, this game is about survival, exploration, and storytelling—not reenacting bigotry.

As players, we agree to the following principles:

We do not roleplay overtly racist or bigoted characters. Your character can have personal biases, cultural misunderstandings, or struggle with trust, but outright hate speech, dehumanization, or discrimination have no place in our game.

We acknowledge historical realities without glorifying oppression. Indigenous nations played a major role in the fur trade, and their cultures deserve to be treated with respect. The same goes for all other groups present in the setting.

We focus on character-driven stories, not harmful stereotypes. This game is about navigating the wilderness, surviving the elements, and engaging in the human struggles of trade, trust, and survival.

We play with mutual respect. If something makes a player uncomfortable, we pause and discuss. The goal is to create an engaging and immersive game where everyone feels welcome and respected.

This game is about living on the edge of civilization, forging alliances, making tough choices, and seeing what kind of legacy your trapper leaves behind. It is not a space to reinforce historical injustices. Let’s explore the past in a way that values the humanity of all involved and creates an unforgettable story-first experience.

[friendlydungeonmanager]

BEAVER TRAPPER: OREGON 1825

A Game of Survival, Trade, and the Wild Frontier

Introduction

The year is 1825. The Oregon frontier is vast, untamed, and brimming with opportunity—if you can survive it. The fur trade is booming, with the rich pelts of beaver serving as the currency of empires. British, American, and Russian trappers push deeper into the wilderness, competing for every stream and valley. But they are not the first to walk these lands. The Indigenous nations have lived here for generations, knowing its dangers and its bounty better than any outsider.

You are a trapper, a figure caught between civilization and the wild. Perhaps you are a free hunter, seeking fortune in the fur trade. Maybe you are a Hudson’s Bay Company agent, enforcing British control over the region. Or perhaps you are a Nez Perce or Chinook trapper, mastering the ways of the land while navigating the growing presence of foreign powers.

The wilderness does not care for your ambitions. Raging rivers, brutal winters, and deadly predators threaten your survival at every turn. Rival trappers might steal your hard-earned pelts—or put a bullet in your back. Native tribes may offer trade and friendship, or they may see you as an invader. Every decision shapes your fate.

Do you have the skill, the cunning, and the will to endure? Or will the land claim you as it has so many before?

What is This Game?

Beaver Trapper: Oregon, 1825 is a narrative-driven tabletop role-playing game about survival, exploration, and trade in the Pacific Northwest during the height of the fur trade. Players take on the roles of trappers navigating the dangers and opportunities of the frontier, facing the elements, wildlife, and human conflict as they attempt to gather enough pelts to turn a profit—or simply stay alive.

What You’ll Need

A few six-sided dice (d6)

A character sheet (or a piece of paper)

A group of players and a Game Master (GM) to guide the story

What Kind of Game is This?

Survival-Focused – Manage food, supplies, and the brutal conditions of the wilderness.

Historically Grounded – Inspired by real-world history, but open to storytelling freedom.

Fast-Paced & Dangerous – Combat is quick and deadly, and poor planning can mean disaster.

Roleplay-Driven – Diplomacy, trade, and alliances matter just as much as hunting skills.

Your Goal

Your ultimate objective is to survive the trapping season and return to civilization with enough pelts to make your risk worthwhile. Along the way, you’ll forge relationships, face deadly challenges, and leave your mark on the Oregon frontier—if you live to tell the tale.

The mountains call. The rivers beckon. The beaver are plentiful. Will you seize your fortune, or will the wilds break you?

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Guide to Designing a Class or Subclass for Dungeons & Dragons 5E (2024 Update)

This is the structure I use to create classes for 5.5e. Part of what allows me to get them made so quickly, though the playtesting part usually happens after I post a 2nd or 3rd draft of a class. This was partially designed by my father, who taught me DnD many years ago, the DnDwiki and my own edits of the years I've been using it. Recently edited out the out dated terms from things like 3.5e, but I I missed something, please feel free to comment, DM or even leave an ask! All that aside: hopefully this helps you actualize your ideas! ❤️

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I. Designing a New Class

Creating an entirely new class is a major undertaking. Follow these steps to ensure balance and viability.

1. Core Concept & Identity

What role does your class fill? (Martial, caster, hybrid, support, tank, utility, etc.)

What makes it unique? (How does it differ from existing classes?)

What is its theme and fantasy? (e.g., "A warrior who channels the power of the stars" or "A time-traveling mage")

What mechanics reinforce the theme? (e.g., a unique resource system, new spell mechanics)

2. Key Class Features

Primary Ability Scores: Choose the main stat(s) (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, etc.).

Hit Dice & Survivability:

d6 (Glass-cannon casters, like Wizards)

d8 (Hybrid classes, like Warlocks or Monks)

d10 (Martial classes, like Fighters or Rangers)

d12 (Tanky classes, like Barbarians)

Armor & Weapon Proficiency:

Light armor: Rogues, Bards

Medium armor: Rangers, Warlocks

Heavy armor: Fighters, Paladins

Weapon limitations: (e.g., simple vs. martial weapons)

Saving Throws: Choose two primary saves (e.g., Constitution & Wisdom for a durable frontline class).

Skills & Tool Proficiency: What skills match the class fantasy?

Spellcasting? If applicable:

Full Caster: Progression like Wizard, Cleric, or Druid (9th-level spells at level 17).

Half-Caster: Progression like Paladin or Ranger (5th-level spells at level 17).

Third-Caster: Similar to Eldritch Knight or Arcane Trickster (3rd-level spells max).

Unique Spell System: Warlock-style Pact Magic, or custom mechanics.

3. Class Progression Table (1st-20th Level)

1st Level: Core defining mechanic (e.g., Sorcery Points, Sneak Attack, Rage)

2nd-5th Level: Basic combat features and subclasses unlock

6th-10th Level: Expanding utility, mobility, or survivability

11th-15th Level: Specialization and powerful defining traits

16th-20th Level: Capstone abilities, ultimate power spike

4. Resource Management

Does the class use a special resource? (e.g., Ki, Sorcery Points, Maneuvers)

How does it regain resources? (Long/short rest, action economy, reaction-based)

Does it have scaling mechanics? (Spending resources to boost effects)

5. Balancing Considerations

Compare with official classes to ensure features are not too strong/weak.

Avoid front-loading too much power in early levels.

Ensure scaling is consistent (progression should feel rewarding).

Playtest & tweak based on real gameplay feedback.

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II. Designing a Subclass (Archetype)

Subclass creation is more common than creating a full class. Subclasses should integrate seamlessly with the base class while offering a distinct playstyle or thematic direction.

1. Choosing a Base Class

What class does the subclass belong to?

Does it complement or subvert the base class’s mechanics? (e.g., Shadow Monk focusing on teleportation vs. Way of Mercy Monk healing allies)

Does it focus on combat, utility, or roleplay features?

2. Subclass Features by Level

Official subclasses typically gain features at:

3rd Level (or 1st for some classes like Cleric, Warlock, and Sorcerer) – Core subclass identity.

6th Level – Second layer of enhancement, typically defensive or mobility-related.

10th or 14th Level – Unique high-level feature, often very thematic.

14th-18th Level – Capstone feature (if the class structure allows).

3. Subclass Balancing

Ensure synergy with the base class.

Avoid making it too strong early. (If 3rd level is too strong, multi-class dipping becomes a problem.)

Make sure it's fun to play at every level. (No dead levels!)

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III. Playtesting & Final Adjustments

1. Testing in Different Play Environments

Low-level Play (1-5): Does it feel unique and fun from the start?

Mid-level Play (6-12): Does it remain viable without overshadowing other classes?

High-level Play (13-20): Does it hold up in epic encounters?

2. Compare with Existing Options

Match power levels with official subclasses.

Use damage calculations and combat simulations.

Check for unintended exploits (infinite loops, stacking mechanics, overpowered combos).

3. Adjust as Needed

If too strong, reduce uses per rest, lower numbers, or add counterplay.

If too weak, improve action economy, add more uses, or increase effect size.

[friendlydungeonmanager]

Everyday Items of Calorum

“A world made of food is a world of endless innovation.”

In Calorum, where stone, metal, and wood do not exist, everyday tools, weapons, and household goods must be crafted from organic materials, foodstuffs, and enchanted culinary creations. Below is a collection of mundane items, reimagined through the lens of a world where cheese is stronger than steel, sugar can be spun into silk, and bone is the foundation of civilization.

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Common Tools & Equipment

Cheese-Wax Candles (Lanterns & Light Sources)

"The soft glow of a gently burning cheese-wax candle fills the room, its scent a delicate balance of aged gouda and warm butter."

Made from rendered cheese fat and beeswax, these candles burn cleanly and double as emergency rations.

Special Variant: Blue Vein Candles glow with a faint, eerie light, said to be favored by Mold Cultists.

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Hardened Biscuit Plates (Shields & Armor Reinforcements)

"The knight's shield, once fresh-baked, now bears the hardened crust of a hundred battles."

Crafted from overbaked, reinforced hardtack, these shields are remarkably durable and often chewed on in moments of desperation.

Special Variant: Aged in a buttermilk brine, granting resistance to water damage.

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Candy-Glass Windowpanes (Glass Substitutes)

"The stained candy-glass of the chapel shimmers with hues of spun sugar and hardened syrup."

Sugar-crystallized sheets used for windows, delicate but incredibly decorative.

Special Variant: Some nobles commission “Heatproof Caramel Glass”, which is less likely to melt in summer.

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Salt-Brick Walls (Masonry & Construction Materials)

"The walls of the stronghold glisten in the torchlight, each salt-brick carved with prayers to keep the damp away."

Pressed and dried bricks of hardened salt, reinforced with dairy mortar to prevent crumbling.

Special Variant: “Spiced Walls” absorb moisture and fill rooms with a faint scent of rosemary and thyme.

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Licorice Rope (Common Ropes & Climbing Gear)

"The rope stretches, slightly pliant, but strong enough to hold a man’s weight."

Woven from thick strands of black licorice, it is surprisingly durable and often chewed on absentmindedly by sailors and thieves.

Special Variant: Cinnamon-Spiced Rope burns hot and fast when ignited, making it useful in sabotage.

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Milk-Paper Scrolls (Paper & Parchment Substitutes)

"The contract is written on a thin sheet of hardened cream, the ink settling into its buttery surface."

Made from dried sheets of skimmed milk, these scrolls resist water but crumble when exposed to fire.

Special Variant: “Aged Brie Parchment” retains a faint smell, making them difficult to forge—a trained nose can tell a real document from a fake.

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Weapons & Armor

Hardened Bread Clubs (Common Blunt Weapons)

"The brigand hefts a club of stale sourdough, its jagged edges sharp enough to break bone."

Crafted from bread aged into rock-like hardness, these weapons are cheap, disposable, and—if desperate—edible.

Special Variant: Honeyed Rye Mace – Infused with honey, making it sticky enough to disarm opponents.

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Bone-Lattice Helmets (Common Head Protection)

"The warrior’s helmet is a lattice of knotted ribs and sinew, bound together with aged cheese wax."

Woven from cured bone and tendon, these helmets are lightweight yet durable.

Special Variant: Candied Skullcaps—coated in hardened sugar, which shatters dramatically but absorbs one solid blow.

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Meat Jerky Slings (Ranged Weapons)

"The hunter loads his sling with a dense, rock-hard chunk of dried venison, snapping it toward his target."

Used by Meatfolk hunters, these slings fire hardened jerky projectiles, which can also be eaten in dire situations.

Special Variant: Pepper-Cured Ammo – Hits leave a burning irritation in open wounds.

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Candy-Glass Knives (Common Bladed Weapons)

"The merchant’s dagger, spun from rock candy, gleams with a crystalline shimmer."

Made from sugar, syrup, and heat-forged enchantments, these knives shatter after a few strikes but cut incredibly well.

Special Variant: Peppermint Daggers—deal extra cold damage on a critical hit.

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Adventuring Gear

Preserved Cheese-Wax Cloaks (Common Cold-Weather Gear)

"The cloak is heavy and warm, its waxed surface repelling rain and preserving the faint scent of aged cheddar."

Lined with hardened cheese wax, these cloaks are weather-resistant and slightly edible in emergencies.

Special Variant: Blue Cheese Furs—emit a strong, pungent scent, keeping wild beasts at bay.

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Spongecake Cushions (Common Mattresses & Padding)

"The traveler collapses onto the soft spongecake bed, sinking into its pillowy embrace."

Made from resilient spongecake, these cushions absorb shock incredibly well and are sometimes used in armor padding.

Special Variant: Rum-Soaked Bedding – Retains warmth in cold climates but highly flammable.

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Whey-Skin Waterskins (Common Drinking Containers)

"The waterskin is supple, its outer layer crafted from the dried skins of cheese curds."

Made from pressed whey curd, these waterskins retain a faint, nutty flavor.

Special Variant: Sourmilk Skins – Can be fermented into drinkable yogurt if left untouched for a few days.

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Gummy Bandages (Common Healing Aids)

"The healer presses a strip of pliant gummy to the wound, sealing it with sticky resilience."

Crafted from soft gelatin and medicinal herbs, these bandages adhere naturally and provide mild pain relief when licked.

Special Variant: Honeycomb Wraps – Slow bleeding twice as effectively but attract insects if left uncovered.

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Household Items & Currency

Caramel-Wax Seals (Letters & Royal Edicts)

"The letter is stamped with a swirl of hardened caramel, its glossy surface marking the sender’s authority."

Used for sealing scrolls and messages, the wax is chewable and dissolves in hot water.

Special Variant: Spiced Ginger Seals – Infused with heat-activated cinnamon, causing slight burns to unauthorized handlers.

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Cured Meat Coins (Currency of the Meat Lands)

"The merchant bites into the edge of the coin, testing the salt-curing before nodding in approval."

Instead of metal, the Meat Lands use thin, hardened slices of cured meat as currency.

Special Variant: Aged Bone Tokens – More valuable, harder to counterfeit.

[friendlydungeonmanager]

Religions of Calorum: The Divine Feasts and Faiths

"Food is sacred, and to eat is to partake in the divine."

The people of Calorum believe that the gods themselves formed the world through the First Feast, each deity contributing an ingredient to the meal that became existence. Across the land, different faiths interpret this divine act in their own ways, leading to rival cults, state religions, and heretical sects vying for influence.

Some gods are widely revered, while others are feared, whispered of in secret feasts and forgotten halls. And then, there is The Bulb, a faith once minor, now rising with terrifying speed, threatening to consume all others in its expansionist hunger.

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The Grand Pantheon of Calorum (The Old Faiths of the First Feast)

Mother Milk – The Nourishing One (Major Deity, Worshipped in the Dairy Kingdom & Beyond)

"All things begin in milk. Let them end in purity."

Mother Milk is the matron of purity, nourishment, and dairy magic. She is worshipped as the divine provider, ensuring that food is wholesome and sustains life. Her faith is strongest in the Dairy Kingdom, where her paladins and clerics battle against corruption in all forms.

Domains: Life, Light, Protection

Symbol: A golden chalice brimming with sacred milk.

Tenets:

Purity above all. Food must be clean, unspoiled, and blessed.

Share the feast, but only with the faithful. The unclean must be purified.

Rot is the great enemy. Mold, decay, and corruption must be burned away.

Religious Orders:

The Holy Cream Order – The militant arm of Mother Milk’s faith, dedicated to preserving dairy magic and purging heretics.

The Fondue Priests – A less strict sect, devoted to communal feasting and the sacred act of churning butter.

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The Great Carver – The Butcher God (Major Deity, Worshipped in the Meatlands & Beyond)

"All flesh is fuel for the strong. Do not let it go to waste."

The Great Carver is the patron of warriors, hunters, and feasting. He embodies the balance of consumption and strength, teaching that meat must be earned, not given freely. His faith is strongest in the Meatlands, where his warpriests lead warriors into battle with blades forged from bone and sinew.

Domains: War, Strength, Hunger

Symbol: A cleaver embedded in a feast-laden table.

Tenets:

Strength decides who eats. Only the worthy may partake in the feast.

To waste meat is an insult. Every cut must be used, every beast honored.

Glory is found in battle. Bloodshed is the most sacred offering.

The Meat Pantheon (Lesser Deities Under the Great Carver):

The Crimson Heifer (Beef) – Goddess of endurance and might, patron of cattlefolk and gladiators.

The Boarfather (Pork) – God of feasting and revelry, patron of raiders and cooks.

Winged Claw (Poultry) – Trickster god of speed and cleverness, patron of hunters and messengers.

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The Hearth Lord – The Architect of Civilization (Major Deity, Worshipped in the Grain & Starch Dominions)

"Through fire and flour, we build. Without structure, all crumbles."

The Hearth Lord is the god of bread, labor, and civilization. His followers believe that without the labor of bakers, builders, and planners, society itself would collapse. His faith dominates the Grain & Starch Dominions, where his priests oversee infrastructure projects, farming laws, and the grand mills that feed Calorum.

Domains: Knowledge, Order, Forge

Symbol: A flame rising from an open oven.

Tenets:

Bread is the foundation of life. Without grain, there is only hunger.

All things must be built to last. Work must be precise, thoughtful, and enduring.

The weak must be guided. Without labor, civilization will fall to ruin.

Religious Orders:

The Grand Millkeepers – The high priests of the Hearth Lord, who oversee construction and agricultural projects.

The Breadforged Brotherhood – A sect of warrior-monks, dedicated to defending those who build.

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The Sugar Baroness – Queen of Indulgence (Major Deity, Worshipped in Candia)

"A world without sweetness is a world not worth living in."

The Sugar Baroness is the goddess of luxury, temptation, and protection. She is revered in Candia, where her faithful believe that to indulge is to celebrate life itself. But her faith also carries a hardened edge—for Candians know that luxury must be defended.

Domains: Trickery, Protection, Pleasure

Symbol: A gilded candy apple, half-eaten.

Tenets:

Pleasure is divine. Sweetness, in all its forms, is sacred.

Luxury must be defended. If others would take from you, they are your enemies.

Deception is a weapon. The clever will always feast first.

Lesser Deity:

The Sugarplum Fairy – A lesser goddess of festivals, dreams, and fey mischief. Beloved by children and performers.

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The Bulb – The Faith That Threatens All Others (A Rising Power in the Dominion & Beyond)

"All light is false but ours."

The Bulb was once a minor faith in Vegetania, a cult that revered the deep roots, the unseen forces of life within the soil. But over time, it grew beyond its origins, spreading into the Grain & Starch Dominions, where it found fertile ground among laborers and farmers who resented the merchant-architects.

Now, The Bulb is not just a religion—it is a movement. A machine. A growing power.

Government: A theocratic order, where the High Rootkeeper dictates doctrine and policy.

Primary Focus: Expansion, conversion, and military strength.

Current Goal: To overthrow the old systems and plant a new world.

Beliefs of The Bulb:

The gods have failed us. They bicker over their petty feasts, while the world suffers.

All must take root. Society must be restructured into a single, unified faith.

The Harvest is Coming. The Bulb will one day bloom fully, and when it does, the unfaithful will be culled.

Why Other Faiths Fear Them:

The Bulb has a military machine rivaling the Holy Cream Order.

They reject the First Feast, believing that all other faiths must be uprooted.

Their followers are fanatically devoted, willing to die for the cause.

[friendlydungeonmanager]

The First Feast: A Myth of Creation

The Banquet of the Divine (The Origin Myth of Calorum)

"Before there was land, before there was hunger, there was only the Feast Eternal."

The oldest myths speak of a time before mortals, before kingdoms—when only the gods dined at the table of existence. The Feast Eternal was a divine banquet that stretched across the cosmos, a gathering of the first deities, each creating a dish to share with their celestial kin. It was through this sacred meal that the world was formed.

Mother Milk churned the first lands of dairy, rich and fertile, flowing with pure, endless sustenance.

The Great Carver forged the first beasts of meat, crafting warriors of sinew and blood.

The Hearth Lord baked the first grains, weaving the fabric of civilization from flour and fire.

The Sugar Baroness spun the first sweets, crystallizing the wonders of pleasure and indulgence.

But one god refused to share his dish.

The Mold King, known then as The Keeper of Preservation, had prepared a final course—one that would end the feast and begin the cycle of decay. But the other gods saw it as a blasphemy, a perversion of the perfect meal. They cast him down, sealing him in the dark places beneath the world, where he would be forgotten.

But all things spoil. And the feast was never truly finished.

[friendlydungeonmanager]

Holidays, Events, & Festivals of Calorum

“A feast is more than food—it is history, power, and war served on a platter.”

Calorum is a land where food shapes faith, politics, and culture. Every kingdom, from the holy Dairy Lands to the warrior halls of the Meat Folk, celebrates its heritage through grand feasts, sacred fasts, and competitive culinary warfare. Below are some of the major holidays, regional festivals, and infamous banned celebrations that define life in Calorum.

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Major Holidays of Calorum

The Great Churning (Dairy Kingdom, Springtime Festival)

"Milk flows, butter rises, and all are nourished."

A sacred celebration of Mother Milk, the Great Churning is held at the start of spring, marking the new milking season. Entire towns gather to churn butter in massive communal barrels, and pilgrims flock to Fondueford to witness the High Priest of the Holy Cream Order bless the first curd of the year.

Traditions:

The Grand Churn-Off: Competitors race to churn the smoothest, most divine butter, judged by paladins of the Holy Cream Order.

Blessing of the Rind: Dairyfolk bathe newborns in sacred milk to ensure strong bones and pure souls.

Butter Wrestling: A sport where warriors, covered in sacred butter, attempt to grapple each other in an arena.

Festival Dish: "The Eternal Butter" – A blessed, ever-fresh butter said to grant vitality and protection from rot when consumed.

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The Red Feast (Meat Lands, Summer Solstice)

"Eat, drink, and prove your worth!"

The largest and most savage festival in the Meat Lands, the Red Feast is a celebration of battle, feasting, and survival. Warlords gather to honor the Great Carver, their warriors competing in feasting contests, duels, and ceremonial hunts. The festival lasts until the final warrior standing claims the title of Feastborn Champion.

Traditions:

The Feast Trials: Competitors must eat an entire banquet of meat without stopping—if they collapse or refuse more, they are disqualified.

The Hunt of the Wild Boar: A massive boar, blessed by the Meat Priests, is released into the wild, and hunters compete to slay it with nothing but their teeth and knives.

The Blood Pact: Warriors cut their palms and mix blood with wine, swearing oaths of loyalty or vengeance under the eyes of the Meat Gods.

Festival Dish: "The Feastbeast Roast" – A mythic creature slain during the festival, its flesh is believed to bestow strength upon those who eat it.

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Breadbonding Day (Grain & Starch Dominions, Harvest Time)

"No one eats alone."

A solemn yet heartwarming holiday, Breadbonding Day celebrates community, family, and the balance of food. Rooted in the Grainfolk’s traditions, it is a time when even enemies must break bread together, honoring the belief that grain is the foundation of all civilization.

Traditions:

Breaking the Loaf: Families bake a single, massive loaf of bread, breaking it at sundown to symbolize unity.

The Breadforged Procession: The sentient bread golems of the Grain Dominion gather to recite their history, reminding the world that they, too, deserve recognition as a people.

The Peace Meal: A tradition where rival factions must eat together, often resulting in uneasy truces or deadly betrayals.

Festival Dish: "The Hearth Loaf" – A special bread infused with wheat magic, it stays fresh forever if shared but crumbles to dust if hoarded.

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The Sugar Carnival (Candia, Midwinter Festival)

"A world without sweetness is a world not worth living in!"

A decadent, chaotic, and deeply political festival, the Sugar Carnival is both a public celebration and a battlefield for Candian nobility. The entire kingdom becomes a realm of illusion and indulgence, where citizens feast on candy, trade secrets, and commit audacious heists.

Traditions:

The Masquerade of Flavors: Nobles wear enchanted masks made of spun sugar, concealing their identities as they engage in forbidden duels, arranged marriages, and political betrayals.

The Grand Sugar Race: Contestants ride enchanted caramel beasts through a deadly obstacle course, dodging honey traps and peppermint golems.

The Confectioner’s Gambit: Bakers compete to create a sugar-based masterpiece—the winner is granted an audience with the Sugar Council.

Festival Dish: "The Eternal Bonbon" – A mystical candy that grants a vision of the future—but may also reveal horrifying truths.

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Forbidden Festivals & Banned Rituals

The Moldwake (A Heretical Holiday of Rot, Outlawed in All Kingdoms)

"The feast is not yet finished."

A blasphemous, underground festival of the Mold Cult, held in secret locations across Calorum. The Moldwake is a perversion of Breadbonding Day, where cultists consume mold-ridden feasts, believing it brings them closer to the Rot.

Forbidden Rituals:

The Spoiled Offering: An entire feast left to rot for weeks is then consumed in a grotesque ceremony.

The Bone-Flesh Bake: The faithful bake a corpse into bread, believing it fuses their souls with the Mold King’s will.

The Unholy Toast: Cultists raise goblets of spoiled milk, pledging their bodies to the Great Rot.

Why It’s Banned:

The Moldwake has led to entire villages being overtaken by fungal corruption.

Those who participate often succumb to the Rotting Curse, transforming into Fungal Thralls.

The festival is believed to be a step toward resurrecting the Mold King.

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The War of Chefs (Outlawed Culinary Warfare, Banned in the Grain Dominions)

"One feast to rule them all."

The War of Chefs was once an officially sanctioned battle between the great cooking guilds of Calorum, where rival chefs would create enchanted feasts that could weaken, empower, or kill their opponents. The last War of Chefs ended in catastrophe, leading to its banning across all civilized lands.

Banned Techniques:

Poisoned Pastries: Magical desserts that induce paralysis in those who consume them.

Soul-Forged Stew: A cursed dish that steals the soul of the eater, binding them in servitude.

The Forbidden Recipe: A lost culinary spell capable of rewriting reality through food.

Why It’s Banned:

The last War of Chefs ended in mass destruction, as a rogue baker accidentally summoned a bread elemental army.

The Holy Cream Order deemed the competition heretical, as it "weaponized food, which should be sacred."

[friendlydungeonmanager]

Cultural Hybridization System: Embracing the Flavors of Calorum

Overview

Calorum is a land of trade, conquest, and culinary fusion. Over generations, many people have blended traditions, adopted new ways of life, or even physically changed due to prolonged exposure to another culture’s magic, food, or faith.

This system allows players to customize their character’s heritage by selecting a primary “Birth Culture” (base race) and an Adopted Culture, gaining additional traits at the cost of a minor penalty.

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Step 1: Choose Your Birth Culture (Your Core Racial Identity)

Your Birth Culture determines your:

✅ Ability Score Increases (no changes, you retain your base racial bonuses)

✅ Size & Lifespan (unchanged from base race)

✅ Base Movement Speed (unchanged from base race)

✅ One Unique Racial Feature from Your Birth Culture (e.g., Dairyfolk’s “Curdled Fortitude” or Meatfolk’s “Carnivore’s Strength”)

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Step 2: Choose an Adopted Culture (Your Secondary Influence)

Your character has adopted cultural, magical, or physical traits from a different racial background. Choose one of the following benefits from the Adopted Culture’s list, balancing it with a cultural strain penalty.

✅ Choose One Benefit from the Adopted Culture:

A secondary racial ability (e.g., Grainfolk’s “Hardened Husk” or Candian’s “Sugar Rush”).

A skill proficiency tied to that culture (e.g., Grainfolk gain “Baking Tools,” Dairyfolk gain “Religion,” etc.).

A minor magical trait linked to the Adopted Culture (e.g., Meatfolk’s “Flameborn Resistance” or Dairyfolk’s “Milk’s Mercy” spell-like ability).

❌ Gain a Cultural Strain Penalty: (The Weakness of Hybridization)

Every culture has a biological, social, or magical cost to blending lineages. Choose one penalty from the options below.

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Cultural Strain Penalty Table (Choose One Per Hybrid Character)

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Example Hybrid Builds

1. Dairy-Candian Noble (Raised in the Holy Cream Order but influenced by Candia’s magic)

Birth Culture: Dairyfolk (Aged Rind)

✅ “Curdled Fortitude” (Survive at 1 HP once per long rest)

✅ Base movement speed & stats from Dairyfolk

Adopted Culture: Candian

✅ Gain “Sugar Rush” (Bonus Dash once per long rest)

Cultural Strain Penalty: Flavor Instability

❌ Vulnerable to Fire Damage (Due to Candian’s sugar-crystal body)

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2. Grain-Breadforged Worker (A Breadforged who gained Meatfolk war-training in battlefields)

Birth Culture: Grainfolk (Breadforged)

✅ “Constructed Body” (No need to eat/sleep, immune to poison)

✅ Base movement speed & stats from Grainfolk

Adopted Culture: Meatfolk

✅ Gain “Bloodied Feast” (Gain temp HP when reducing a foe to 0 HP)

Cultural Strain Penalty: Digestive Rejection

❌ Cannot gain benefits from eating normal food—requires specialized Breadforged energy sources

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3. Meat-Vegetanian Berserker (A warlike Meatfolk raised by the deep-rooted warriors of Vegetania)

Birth Culture: Meatfolk (Flameborn)

✅ “Flameforged Weapons” (Once per short rest, ignite weapons for +1d6 fire damage.

✅ Base movement speed & stats from Meatfolk

Adopted Culture: Vegetanian

✅ Gain “Vine-Wrapped Limbs” (Unarmed strikes now have 10-ft reach and gain advantage on grapples)

Cultural Strain Penalty: Culinary Clash

❌ Distrusted by Meatfolk & Vegetanians (one values conquest, the other balance—NPCs from both factions may treat you as an outsider)

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Optional Rule: Deep Hybridization (Two-Trait Variant, Extra Cost)

If a DM allows it, players can select TWO traits from their Adopted Culture instead of one—but must take two penalties from the Cultural Strain list to balance it.

Example:

Candian-Dairy Hybrid with both “Sugar Rush” and “Milk’s Mercy”

Penalties: Fire Vulnerability & Social Disadvantage with both Candian and Dairyfolk

[friendlydungeonmanager]

Playable Races of Calorum

The people of Calorum are as diverse as the feasts that shape their world. Forged from food, faith, and centuries of culinary warfare, each race carries with it the traditions, strengths, and burdens of their origins. Whether hardened like an aged cheese, light as a spun sugar strand, or resilient as a well-baked loaf, the people of Calorum are bound by the belief that food is not just sustenance—it is destiny.

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Dairyfolk (Children of the Cream)

"The Rind Endures."

The Dairyfolk are the chosen people of Mother Milk, their bodies shaped by curds, cream, and hardened rinds. They are the faithful guardians of the Dairy Kingdom, dedicated to upholding purity and resisting corruption. Some are noble knights of the Holy Cream Order, while others are wandering cheese artisans, spreading the sacred craft of aging and churning.

Dairyfolk Traits

Ability Score Increase: +2 Constitution, +1 Wisdom

Age: Dairyfolk mature faster than humans, reaching adulthood by 15, but their lifespan varies—hard cheeses may live up to 300 years, while soft cheeses may spoil after only 60-70 years.

Size: Medium

Speed: 30 ft.

Features

Blessing of the Rind: You gain resistance to necrotic damage, as the divine protection of Mother Milk keeps you from decay.

Curdled Fortitude: Once per long rest, when reduced to 0 HP, you can instead drop to 1 HP, as your hardened dairy flesh sustains you.

Cheese Plate Armor Training: You have proficiency with medium armor, as you are naturally trained to wear the cheese-forged armor of the Holy Cream Order.

Subraces of the Dairyfolk

Aged Rind (The Hard Cheese Folk)

Steadfast, patient, and nearly unbreakable, the aged cheeses stand firm through time.

Ability Score Increase: +1 Strength

Enduring Flesh: You have resistance to non-magical bludgeoning damage.

The Longer, The Stronger: You have advantage on Constitution saving throws against poison or exhaustion effects.

Soft & Fresh (The Creamfolk)

Gentle, nurturing, and deeply in tune with the divine, the soft cheeses are healers and diplomats.

Ability Score Increase: +1 Charisma

Nourishing Touch: Once per short rest, you can touch an ally and restore 1d8 + your level HP.

Milk’s Mercy: You can cast Lesser Restoration once per long rest.

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Meatfolk (Warriors of the Red Feast)

"The strong must feast. The weak must be fed to the flames."

The Meatfolk are the warrior clans of the Meat Lands, their bodies forged from sinew, marrow, and muscle. Born from the divine fires of the Great Carver, they believe battle is sacred, and their very existence is a testament to strength, hunger, and the pursuit of conquest. Some become noble warriors, others mighty hunters, and a few fall to the madness of endless feasting.

Meatfolk Traits

Ability Score Increase: +2 Strength, +1 Constitution

Age: Meatfolk mature quickly, reaching adulthood at 14, but only live to about 60-80 years before their flesh begins to break down.

Size: Medium

Speed: 30 ft.

Features

Carnivore’s Strength: You recover twice the normal amount of hit points from consuming cooked meat during a short rest.

Blood Frenzy: Once per short rest, when you reduce a creature to 0 HP, you can immediately make another melee attack as a bonus action.

Meat’s Might: You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Subraces of the Meatfolk

Flameborn (The Warriors of the Great Carver)

Born for war, the Flameborn are relentless warriors, forged in the fires of conquest.

Ability Score Increase: +1 Dexterity

Blazing Hunger: You have resistance to fire damage.

Flameforged Weapons: Once per short rest, you can ignite your weapon, causing it to deal an additional 1d6 fire damage for 1 minute.

Bonebrood (The Elders of the Meatfolk)

Wiser and more patient, the Bonebrood are the philosophers and strategists of the Meatfolk.

Ability Score Increase: +1 Intelligence

Unyielding Body: You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened or stunned.

Marrow Magic: You can cast Heroism once per long rest.

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Grainfolk (The Starch-Bound Builders of Civilization)

"Through the harvest, we endure."

The Grainfolk are the architects of civilization, their bodies made of woven wheat, hardened oats, and sturdy barley. They are the farmers, bakers, and traders of Calorum, known for their resilience and ingenuity. They founded the Grain & Starch Dominions, a land of vast fields, ancient mills, and thriving cities.

Grainfolk Traits

Ability Score Increase: +2 Wisdom, +1 Dexterity

Age: Grainfolk reach adulthood by 18 and live up to 150 years.

Size: Medium

Speed: 30 ft.

Features

Wheaten Resilience: You gain advantage on saving throws against poison and exhaustion effects.

Breadmaker’s Hands: You have proficiency with artisan’s tools (baking tools).

Hardened Husk: When you take non-magical slashing damage, you can use a reaction to reduce the damage by 1d8 + your proficiency bonus.

Subraces of the Grainfolk

Breadforged (The Golem-Born of the Dominion)

Created by the Grainfolk, but now seeking their own place in the world.

Ability Score Increase: +1 Constitution

Constructed Body: You do not need to eat or sleep but must consume flour and water once a day to sustain yourself.

Mighty Knead: You count as one size larger when determining carrying capacity.

Pasta-Weavers (The Fluid & Adaptive Grainfolk)

Flowing like dough, these grainfolk are flexible and adaptable.

Ability Score Increase: +1 Charisma

Elastic Limbs: Your reach increases by 5 feet.

Rolling Dodge: Once per short rest, you can take the Dodge action as a reaction.

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Candians (The Sugar-Bound Nobility of the North)

"A little sweetness goes a long way."

The Candians are the people of sugar, their bodies composed of spun candy, caramelized syrup, and crystalline confections. They are cunning traders, masterful illusionists, and decadent aristocrats. The Sugar Council rules over Candia, spinning politics as delicately as their finest treats.

Candian Traits

Ability Score Increase: +2 Charisma, +1 Dexterity

Age: Candians live 100-200 years, though softer sugarfolk may “melt” sooner.

Size: Medium

Speed: 30 ft.

Features

Sugar Rush: Once per long rest, you can double your movement speed for 1 turn.

Caramel Coating: You have resistance to cold damage.

Sweet Words: You have proficiency in Persuasion.

Subraces of the Candians

Hard Candy (The Crystal-Bodied Aristocrats)

Unyielding Form: You have resistance to non-magical slashing damage.

Soft Sugar (The Tricksters & Weavers of Candia)

Sugary Step: You can cast Misty Step once per long rest.

[friendlydungeonmanager]

Legendary Magical Items of Calorum

The world of Calorum is rich with powerful artifacts, each one a reminder of ancient victories, cursed betrayals, or lost knowledge. These items are sought after by kings, thieves, and adventurers, each with their own intentions. Below is a list of legendary magical items, complete with their lore, powers, and current whereabouts, or the rumors surrounding their location.

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1. The Eternal Cheese Blade

Legendary Weapon (Longsword), Requires Attunement

Lore

Forged during the Great Dairy War, the Eternal Cheese Blade is said to have been tempered in the milk of Mother Milk herself, enchanted with the power to cut through corruption. The blade is said to be able to purify any blighted land, making it a symbol of justice and purity in the war against the Mold King’s forces. Its edge never dulls and cannot be contaminated by mold, rust, or decay.

It was last wielded by Sir Custard Velour, a renowned paladin of the Holy Rind, who fell during the battle at Gorgonzola Keep, where the sword was lost in a final battle against the Mold King's cultists.

Powers

Radiant Smite: The sword deals an additional 2d6 radiant damage against creatures of decay (undead, fungus-based, Mold King cultists).

Purifying Strike: Once per day, you can use an action to channel divine energy, causing the sword to release a cleansing pulse, healing all allies within a 20-foot radius by 2d6 hit points and cleansing them of any poison, disease, or curse.

Blade of Justice: The sword’s attacks always bypass resistance to necrotic or poison damage, particularly against creatures from the Mold King’s influence.

Current Whereabouts

The sword is rumored to rest in the depths of the Mold King’s crypt, located in the Blighted Vale of Vegetania, sealed away by the Dairy Paladins to prevent its corruption. Some say it is in the hands of the Mold King’s most loyal servant, now corrupted by rot and decay, while others claim it is hidden in the ruins of Gorgonzola Keep, waiting for a worthy paladin to reclaim it.

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2. The Churn of the Eternal Milk

Legendary Artifact (Censer), Requires Attunement by a Cleric or Paladin

Lore

The Churn of the Eternal Milk is a sacred relic of Mother Milk, an artifact said to churn divine milk that can heal even the most grievous of wounds. It was created by the first High Priestess of Mother Milk, Dame Butterbelle, who used the churn’s milk to cure a plague that swept through the Dairy Kingdom. Legend has it that the churn's power is tied to the purity of one’s heart—only those truly devoted to the divine will of Mother Milk can unlock its full potential.

Powers

Sacred Churn: Once per day, you can use an action to churn divine milk, creating a pool of healing milk. All creatures within a 30-foot radius can drink from the pool, restoring 3d8+5 hit points.

Milk of the Gods: The milk produced also grants immunity to poison and disease for 1 hour.

Blessing of Purity: The user can cast Lesser Restoration at will, and Greater Restoration once per long rest, without expending a spell slot.

Current Whereabouts

The Churn of the Eternal Milk was last seen at the Creamstone Monastery, hidden deep beneath the Grand Temple of Mother Milk in Fondueford. However, rumors suggest that the cult of the Mold King infiltrated the temple during a recent raid, and it is now thought to be in their possession. Others say that it rested in the secret vault beneath the Temple of the Great Oven, where only the most trusted high priests are allowed to enter.

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3. The Mold King’s Crown

Legendary Artifact (Crown), Requires Attunement

Lore

The Mold King’s Crown is an artifact of immense power, said to have been forged by the Mold King himself. It is made of rotting bone and blackened mold, with an aura of decay and corruption that seeps into the minds of those around it. The crown is whispered to have the power to control the growth of mold, rot, and decay, turning entire kingdoms into fungal wastelands. The first monarch of the Meat Lands supposedly wore the crown after conquering the Kingdom of Candia, though it was lost during the Great Dairy War.

Powers

Fungal Dominion: While wearing the crown, you can summon and control mold-based creatures, including spore servants, mold golems, and fungal monstrosities.

Rotting Presence: The crown exudes an aura of decay and fear. Any creature within 10 feet of you must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute.

Mold King’s Will: You can cast "Inflict Wounds" at will, dealing 2d10 necrotic damage, and once per day you can cast Animate Dead as if it were a 5th-level spell.

Current Whereabouts

The Mold King’s Crown was lost when the Mold King fell, though it is believed to have been taken by his most loyal followers during his defeat. Some claim it is hidden in the crypt of the Mold King, deep beneath the Rotting Hollow of Vegetania, or that it was taken by an unknown cultist who wielded it to bring about a new rise of rot and corruption. However, whispers from the Black Butter Market suggest the crown is currently in the possession of a powerful noble in the Grain & Starch Dominions, who has been rumored to possess a sudden, unnatural desire for fungal alchemy.

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4. The Cheese-Wheel Shield of Justice

Legendary Shield (Shield), Requires Attunement

Lore

The Cheese-Wheel Shield of Justice is a holy relic created during the last battle of the Great Dairy War by the paladins of the Holy Rind to protect their most sacred warriors. Crafted from hardened cheese, this shield was blessed by Mother Milk and imbued with the ability to absorb corruption and decay. It is said that the shield’s power can reflect the very decay of the Mold King’s magic, protecting those who wield it from his influence.

Powers

Radiant Shield: The shield grants +2 AC and, when wielded, any attack from a creature of rot or decay (such as the Mold King’s servants) deals half damage.

Reflect Decay: Once per day, you can use an action to reflect necrotic damage back at the attacker. The attacker must make a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or take the same amount of necrotic damage they dealt.

Purification Aura: You can use an action to create a 10-foot radius of sanctified energy, which removes mold, rot, and decay within the area and cures any disease. This aura lasts for 1 minute.

Current Whereabouts

The Cheese-Wheel Shield of Justice was last seen in the hands of a paladin during the final battle of Gorgonzola Keep. After the battle, the shield was lost—some say it was buried with the fallen paladin in the sacred vault beneath Gorgonzola, while others believe it was taken by a powerful merchant who snatched it from the battlefield. Rumors from Butterbay suggest that the shield is being held by a hidden order of paladins who secretly fight the rise of the Mold King’s influence, but its exact location remains unknown.

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5. The Fungal Codex

Legendary Tome, Requires Attunement by a Wizard or Sorcerer

Lore

The Fungal Codex is an ancient book believed to have been written by the Mold King’s most devoted followers—scholars who believed that rot was the final form of life. It contains forbidden knowledge on the art of fungal necromancy, the creation of spores that can control living creatures, and the secrets of turning living flesh into fungal biomass. It is said that whoever can master the Codex’s power will have the ability to raise armies of fungal zombies and spread decay across entire kingdoms.

Powers

Sporecraft: The Codex grants the ability to summon fungal creatures such as spore servants, mold golems, or fungal beasts once per long rest.

Mold Mastery: While attuned to the Codex, you gain proficiency in Arcana and Nature, and have advantage on checks to identify or control mold, fungi, or decaying organic matter.

Fungal Ascendance: Once per day, you may cast Animate Dead or Create Undead using fungal creatures instead of regular undead. The creatures created are immune to necrotic damage but vulnerable to radiant.

Current Whereabouts

The Fungal Codex was lost in the ruins of a forgotten city, once home to a cult of fungal necromancers in the Wheyward Isles. It is believed to have been washed away during a massive storm that sank the island. Scholars in the Grain & Starch Dominions seek to recover it for personal gain, while whispers suggest it might be hidden in the deepest vaults of Vegetania, guarded by an ancient fungal creature.

[friendlydungeonmanager]

Imperium of Man: "Are we the baddies?"

A "Brennan Lee Mulligan" styled "Rant"

Oh, you think the Imperium of Man are the good guys? You think the galaxy-spanning, boot-stomping, fascist theocracy that worships a half-dead corpse as a god and treats human life as an expendable resource are the heroes of the story? That these skull-covered, servitor-making, purge-happy lunatics are somehow the last bastion of hope in the grim darkness of the 41st millennium?

Well, strap the hell in, because I am about to drive a Baneblade straight through that miserable little delusion of yours.

The Imperium isn’t just bad. The Imperium is cartoonishly bad. The Imperium is so objectively, horrifically, unimaginably cruel that if you plucked literally any human being from our world and dropped them into its nightmarish bureaucratic hellscape, they would be begging for a xenos invasion within five minutes.

Let’s break this down:

1. They Worship a Rotting Corpse on a Chair – The Emperor, the so-called “savior of humanity,” is dead. Well, technically alive in the same way that a car battery with jumper cables clamped to a cadaver’s forehead is “alive.” But that doesn't stop the Imperium from running itself as a theocratic death cult that executes people for heresy if they so much as question whether their god-emperor might prefer a functioning government over an endless tide of skulls and fire.

2. Human Life is Worthless – The Imperium doesn’t see humans as people. It sees them as ammunition. You? Me? Your friends, your family, your sweet old grandma who just bakes cookies and watches her stories? We are all just cogs in the endless war machine. The Imperial Guard? That’s just sending waves of undertrained, under-equipped civilians into battle, armed with flashlights, in the hopes that the enemy will run out of bullets before they run out of bodies to throw into the meat grinder.

3. Xenophobia Taken to the Absolute Extreme – The Imperium doesn’t just hate aliens. It doesn’t just fear them. It actively refuses to consider diplomacy, peace, or any form of coexistence because “better dead than xenos.” Oh, you’ve got a friendly space empire that just wants to chill and vibe in the cosmos? Doesn’t matter. The Imperium will exterminate them, because the very concept of “not human” is a death sentence in their eyes.

4. Technology is Treated Like Magic – You ever try to troubleshoot your Wi-Fi and someone tells you to “turn it off and on again”? Imagine that, but with battle cruisers, and instead of an IT guy, it’s a robed weirdo chanting hymns to the machine spirits because understanding how technology works is heresy. The Imperium has tanks, guns, starships, and even AI—but they don’t actually know how any of it works, because progress is forbidden. They would rather die screaming in the dark than innovate in any way.

5. The Inquisition is Just Orwellian Terror Dialed to 11 – Imagine if the Spanish Inquisition had nuclear weapons and the legal authority to obliterate entire planets on a bad hunch. That’s the Inquisition. If they think—even for a second—that your world might have some Chaos corruption, they will Exterminatus your entire planet without blinking. That’s like nuking New York City because one guy in Queens might be possessed by a demon.

And here’s the kicker: It’s all by design. The Imperium knows it’s an unlivable hellscape. It thrives on suffering, because the moment people actually get a chance to think—to stop, breathe, and say, “Hey, maybe life shouldn’t be an endless nightmare of war and death”—the whole system crumbles. The Imperium is an empire of fear, and it only survives because it has convinced its people that the only alternative is worse.

But here’s the final, most gut-wrenching part: It doesn’t have to be this way.

The Imperium has the resources, the manpower, the intelligence to be better. To change. To actually protect humanity instead of just throwing it into the fire. But they won’t, because it’s easier to keep everyone afraid, ignorant, and obedient than it is to build something better.

And that? That is why the Imperium of Man is not just the bad guys. It’s why they are the most tragic, most horrifying villains in all of Warhammer 40K. Because the worst evil isn’t the kind that comes from demons or monsters. It’s the kind that comes from good intentions turned to ashes, from a dream of unity that became a nightmare of endless war.

So yeah, if you think the Imperium are the good guys? Think again.

[friendlydungeonmanager]

The System of Rot, Mold, and Fungus (Calorum-Specific Mechanics)

The Mold King, the dark god of decay, corruption, and unending fungal growth, seeks to consume all of Calorum in a tide of rot. His influence is felt in blighted fields, cursed food, and festering bodies, his power spreading through mold-infested cults, necrotic fungal plagues, and living spores that take hold in the flesh of the weak.

This system introduces mechanics for Rot, Mold, and Fungal Infection, including diseases, curses, and magical corruption associated with the Mold King’s forces.

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The Mechanics of Rot, Mold, and Fungal Corruption

1. The Spoil Track (Measuring Corruption Over Time)

Creatures, food, and environments affected by the Mold King’s influence slowly succumb to rot and decay, represented by Spoil Levels (0-5).

Paladins (Oath of the Holy Rind) and Clerics (Life Domain or Dairy Faith) can purify areas over time.

Druids and Necromancers may commune with the Mold, bargaining for forbidden power.

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2. The Rotting Curse (Inflicting a Creature with the Mold King’s Blight)

When a creature is exposed to Mold King corruption (eating cursed food, being attacked by a fungal cultist, breathing in tainted spores), they must make a DC 14 Constitution save or suffer The Rotting Curse.

The Rotting Curse (Lingering Disease & Mutation)

Stage 1 (1d4 days): Skin becomes clammy, appetite for normal food fades.

Stage 2 (1d6 days): Necrotic fungus spreads through the body; take 1d6 necrotic damage per long rest.

Stage 3 (1d8 days): Mind begins hearing whispers from the Mold King, offering power in exchange for submission.

Stage 4 (1d10 days): If not cured, the creature transforms into a Mold Thrall, losing autonomy and becoming a servant of the Rot.

Curing the Rotting Curse

Lesser Restoration (Before Stage 3) – Removes the affliction entirely.

Greater Restoration or Paladin's Lay on Hands (20 HP worth) – Purges all fungal corruption.

Consuming Blessed Dairy (Consecrated Milk or Cheese) – Grants advantage on all saves against the Rot.

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The Cult of the Mold King (Rotting Faithful of Decay and Fungal Ascension)

The Cult of the Mold King is an ancient heretical sect, formed by those who believe that life is fleeting, but rot is eternal. They seek to accelerate entropy, spread the blessing of decay, and consume the world in fungal rebirth.

Beliefs & Doctrine

"All things rot. All things must return to the Mold."

"Dairy is an abomination, preserved against the will of decay." (A direct affront to the Dairy Kingdom.)

"The Mold King speaks through the spores. He whispers the truth of the end."

"Embrace the Rot, and you shall never die." (Fungal Thralls believe they are "immortal," but in reality, they are puppets of the Mold.)

Leadership & Ranks

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Cultist of the Mold King (CR 2 – Basic Fungal Cultist)

Medium Humanoid (Humanoid, Fungal), Neutral Evil

Armor Class: 13 (Molded Flesh)

Hit Points: 27 (5d8+5)

Speed: 30 ft.

STR: 12 (+1)

DEX: 14 (+2)

CON: 14 (+2)

INT: 10 (+0)

WIS: 12 (+1)

CHA: 14 (+2)

Abilities:

Mold Sense: Can detect rotting food, corpses, or fungal growth within 120 feet.

Spoil Touch (Recharge 4-6): Touching a food item, liquid, or fresh corpse instantly corrupts it, advancing its Spoil Level by 1.

Fungal Regrowth: If reduced to 0 HP, the cultist reanimates as a Fungal Thrall in 1d4 rounds unless burned or purified.

Actions:

Rotting Grasp (Melee Spell Attack): +4 to hit, 1d6 necrotic damage, target must make a DC 12 Constitution save or suffer the Rotting Curse.

Spore Cloud (Recharge 5-6): A 10-ft radius cloud of hallucinogenic mold erupts from the cultist. Creatures must make a DC 14 Constitution save or be poisoned for 1 minute, suffering visions of the Mold King.

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The Mold King’s Greatest Plagues (History of Rot Across Calorum)

1. The Great Spoilage of Fondueford (98 Years Ago)

The Cult of the Mold King infiltrated Fondueford, turning a holy cheese vault into a necrotic breeding ground.

Over half the city’s dairy supply was lost overnight.

The Holy Cream Order executed 200 suspected cultists in retaliation.

2. The Blight of the Golden Wheel Fields (40 Years Ago)

A rogue druid known as Father Bluevein infected the cheese fields, causing entire wheels to ferment uncontrollably, growing into walking, monstrous "Cheese Blights."

Paladins of the Holy Rind waged war against living cheese horrors for months.

3. The Spoiled Armada (15 Years Ago, But Rumored to Return)

A fleet of Mold-King worshippers, their ships covered in blackened, fungal growths, attempted to invade the Dairy Isles.

The Dairy Navy repelled them, but their spore-infested wrecks still drift at sea, cursed and abandoned.

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[friendlydungeonmanager]

The Holy Cream Order: The Dairy Kingdom’s Religious Authority

The Holy Cream Order is the dominant religious force in the Dairy Lands, worshipping Mother Milk, the Goddess of Comfort, Nourishment, and Purity. It is both a spiritual institution and a militant enforcer of divine law, controlling massive wealth, military power, and political influence across the Dairy Kingdom. While it claims to be a benevolent force, its zealotry, strict laws, and obsession with "dairy purity" have led to brutal inquisitions, dairy embargoes, and persecution of heretics.

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Doctrine & Core Beliefs

The Holy Cream Order follows The Edicts of Purity, a set of divine laws said to be handed down by Mother Milk herself.

1. Dairy is Sacred. Milk, cheese, and butter are gifts from the divine, meant to be consumed and shared among the faithful.

2. Dairy Must Not Be Tainted. The mixing of dairy with unholy ingredients (e.g., unnatural alchemy, Mold King corruption, non-dairy "milk") is a grave sin.

3. The Faithful Shall Be Nourished. The Holy Cream Order ensures that the devout will never starve, distributing blessed dairy to the faithful—but heretics and unbelievers are denied this bounty.

4. Purity Must Be Defended. The Order has a divine duty to combat rot, decay, and heresy, leading to conflicts with the Mold King’s cults, smugglers, and rival faiths.

The most extreme followers of the Order believe that non-dairy diets are sinful, and that those who refuse to partake in dairy must be purified or exiled.

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Hierarchy of the Holy Cream Order

The Holy Cream Order functions as a theocratic hierarchy, with a central religious authority controlling doctrine, enforcement, and sacred dairy distribution.

1. Grand Priestess of Mother Milk (Supreme Leader of the Order)

Current Leader: Grand Priestess Butterbelle Lactessa

The spiritual and political head of the faith.

Interprets the will of Mother Milk and issues divine decrees.

Maintains a ruthless grip on power, purging any dissent within the church.

2. The Council of Cream (High Priests & Priestesses)

A ruling body of twelve high priests, each overseeing a different domain of faith and governance.

High Shepherd Cheddarus Velasius – Oversees religious law enforcement (The Inquisition).

Blessed Sister Brie Sanctora – In charge of healing and divine dairy blessings.

Holy Judge Fontina the Stern – Administers punishments and heresy trials.

3. The Dairy Paladins (Holy Warriors of Purity & Protection)

A militant order of warrior-priests, trained in both divine magic and combat.

Tasked with defending holy sites, protecting dairy supply lines, and purging heretics.

Led by Grand Marshal Parmesan Rindstone, a veteran warrior who has never lost a battle.

Specialize in "Ritual Purification," which often involves burning the unfaithful in vats of molten butter.

4. The Cream Inquisition (Secret Police & Witch Hunters)

The most feared branch of the Order, tasked with identifying, exposing, and eradicating heresy.

Conducts trials, public executions, and mass purges.

Roots out secret Mold King cultists, dairy smugglers, and those who "corrupt" dairy.

Led by High Inquisitor Gruyère Daggerveil, a cold, calculating zealot.

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Major Holy Sites & Temples

1. The Grand Temple of Mother Milk (Fondueford, Capital of the Faith)

The largest cathedral in the Dairy Kingdom, housing sacred dairy relics and ancient scriptures.

Built around the "Milk Basin," a legendary hot spring of eternal dairy.

The site of annual divine festivals, where the faithful bathe in blessed milk.

2. The Whey Monastery (Training Grounds of the Dairy Paladins)

A fortified monastic citadel, where Dairy Paladins are trained from childhood.

Houses ancient dairy combat techniques and divine cheese artifacts.

Only the most devout warriors are allowed entry.

3. The Vault of Aged Wisdom (Secret Archives of the Faith)

A hidden underground vault, storing forbidden texts, ancient recipes, and lost dairy knowledge.

Guarded by golems made of hardened parmesan, animated by sacred butter magic.

Only the highest-ranking priests know its true location.

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The Holy Cream Order’s Conflicts & Struggles

1. The Dairy Wars Against the Meat Lands

The Order has been locked in conflict with the Meat Lands for centuries, viewing their carnivorous ways as "barbaric and corrupt."

Dairy Paladins frequently raid the Meat Lands, burning butcher shops and freeing dairy animals.

The Meat Lords retaliate with brutal invasions, viewing the Dairy Kingdom as a self-righteous threat.

2. The Mold King’s Corruption (The Holy Order’s Greatest Enemy)

The Mold King, a dark deity of rot and decay, directly opposes Mother Milk.

Cultists of the Mold King seek to corrupt dairy stocks, causing mass spoilage.

The Holy Cream Order leads violent purges to eliminate hidden rot-priests and fungal abominations.

3. Internal Schisms & Rebellion

Radical clergy believe the Order has become too political and corrupt, calling for a return to simpler faith.

Peasants and merchants grow resentful of high dairy taxes and the "Blessed Tithe" (forced dairy donations).

Secret factions within the faith seek to overthrow Grand Priestess Butterbelle and reform the church.

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State-Enforced Dairy Laws (Enforced by the Inquisition & Dairy Paladins)

The Holy Cream Order has strict laws governing how dairy is produced, consumed, and traded. Breaking these laws can result in fines, exile, or even execution.