Mazes & Mondays: The Dawnward March p2
Three Part Series: #2 of 3
Adventuring in Caldrithar: Blades in the Ashes
The land of Caldrithar is a realm of broken thrones and buried fire, where the bones of ancient kings lie beneath the boots of marching warbands. It is a place where the wilds whisper secrets older than the Silver Flame, and every crumbling ruin might house a relic—or a curse. For those who dare to tread its blood-soaked roads, Caldrithar offers danger, glory, and the chance to shape the fate of a world on the brink.
Adventurers in Caldrithar are not mere wanderers. They are scavengers of forgotten power, champions of flickering hope, or sellswords with nothing left to lose. The land is alive with conflict: warlords clash in the valleys, raiders strike from the sea, and something ancient stirs beneath the mountains. The Iron Dominion’s shadow stretches long, but so too does the light of resistance.
Yet not all threats wear banners. Wyrd beasts, twisted by old magics, stalk the forests. Cultists of the Ashen Flame whisper in ruined temples. And in the deep places of the world, the Hollow Ones—souls stripped of memory and mercy—gather in silence.
But Caldrithar is not without allies. The Wardens of the Emberwood, the Stormbound Corsairs, and the Last Flamekeepers still hold fast in hidden strongholds and forgotten sanctuaries. A clever blade or silver tongue may win more than a battle—it may win a kingdom.
In Caldrithar, every step is a gamble. Every firelit camp could be your last. But for those who endure, who rise when others fall, there is a chance to carve a legend into the stone of a dying world.
2d6 Encounter Tables for The Dawnward March
Table 1: Hidden Threats in the Wilds of Caldrithar
| Roll | Threat |
|---|---|
| 2 | A Hollow One warband, silent and relentless, tracking the party by scent alone. |
| 3 | A cursed glade where time flows backward—those who linger forget who they are. |
| 4 | A wounded wyvern, maddened by pain and lashing out at anything that moves. |
| 5 | A ruined chapel now home to Ashen Flame cultists performing a dark rite. |
| 6 | A band of Iron Dominion scouts laying traps for resistance fighters. |
| 7 | A starving beast of the old world, half-flesh, half-stone, hunting for prey. |
| 8 | A haunted battlefield where the dead rise each night to reenact their final charge. |
| 9 | A false refugee caravan—actually slavers in disguise. |
| 10 | A sinkhole opens beneath the party, dropping them into a forgotten crypt. |
| 11 | A corrupted druid grove, its guardians twisted into bark-covered horrors. |
| 12 | A storm of ash and fire, driven by unnatural winds, sweeping across the land. |
Table 2: Potential Allies and Factions
| Roll | Ally |
|---|---|
| 2 | A lone Flamekeeper, hunted and wounded, carrying a relic of immense power. |
| 3 | A Frostborn emissary seeking warriors to aid in a northern rebellion. |
| 4 | A band of Stormbound Corsairs offering passage—or a duel for honor. |
| 5 | A Silver Flame knight-errant, disillusioned but not yet broken. |
| 6 | A merchant prince with a secret map and a price on their head. |
| 7 | A Warden of the Emberwood, offering guidance through cursed lands. |
| 8 | A bard who knows too much and sings too loudly—wanted by many. |
| 9 | A former Iron Dominion officer turned traitor, seeking redemption. |
| 10 | A mystic from the Azure Isles, bearing visions of a coming cataclysm. |
| 11 | A child prophet, guarded by a band of desperate villagers. |
| 12 | A hidden enclave of scholars preserving forbidden knowledge. |
Table 3: Unusual Discoveries and Treasures
| Roll | Discovery |
|---|---|
| 2 | A sealed vault beneath a ruined tower, humming with ancient energy. |
| 3 | A sword buried in a stone cairn, warm to the touch and whispering in dreams. |
| 4 | A journal written in a forgotten tongue, its pages unburned in a fire. |
| 5 | A cache of Dominion weapons, marked for a traitor’s use. |
| 6 | A tree that bleeds silver sap—rumored to heal or curse. |
| 7 | A broken automaton from a lost age, still guarding its master’s tomb. |
| 8 | A glowing crystal that repels Hollow Ones—but draws something worse. |
| 9 | A banner of a fallen house, still carried by a ghostly standard-bearer. |
| 10 | A ring that grants visions of the past—but at a cost. |
| 11 | A relic of the First Flame, inert until touched by true courage. |
| 12 | A map etched into bone, leading to a place that no longer exists—or hasn’t yet. |
Settlements in Caldrithar: Ashes, Bastions, and Breathing Rooms
In the shadow of conquest and rebellion, the settlements of Caldrithar are as varied as the people who cling to them. Some are scarred but defiant, others hollowed by fear, and many more are ruled by opportunists or haunted by the past. A village may offer shelter and stew—or steel and betrayal. A town may be a beacon of resistance or a puppet of the Iron Dominion. Even a humble campfire in the woods might be watched by eyes that do not blink.
Adventurers must tread carefully. The line between sanctuary and snare is thin, and the land itself is weary. Yet in these scattered places, hope still flickers, and legends are born.
2d6 Tables for Settlements in Caldrithar
Table 1: What Kind of Place Is It?
| Roll | Type of Settlement |
|---|---|
| 2 | A forgotten shrine turned into a makeshift camp by exiles and pilgrims. |
| 3 | A burned-out village, its ruins now home to scavengers and ghosts. |
| 4 | A fortified hill-town, flying the banner of a minor resistance lord. |
| 5 | A nomadic camp, moving to avoid both raiders and recruiters. |
| 6 | A trade outpost, neutral ground for smugglers, spies, and mercenaries. |
| 7 | A farming hamlet, trying to survive by paying tribute to whoever passes through. |
| 8 | A coastal fishing village, wary of both sea raiders and mainland warbands. |
| 9 | A ruined fortress, partially reclaimed by a band of desperate defenders. |
| 10 | A hidden enclave, protected by illusion, oath, or ancient magic. |
| 11 | A refugee camp, overflowing with the displaced and the dying. |
| 12 | A holy site, still tended by a dwindling order of monks or mystics. |
Table 2: What Is Its Condition?
| Roll | Condition |
|---|---|
| 2 | Recently attacked—smoke still rises, and survivors are few. |
| 3 | Under siege, with supplies dwindling and morale cracking. |
| 4 | Occupied by enemy forces, but resistance simmers beneath the surface. |
| 5 | Plagued by sickness, with outsiders viewed as threats. |
| 6 | On edge, rumors of betrayal or invasion spreading like wildfire. |
| 7 | Wary but stable, guarded by local militia or hired blades. |
| 8 | Quiet and tense, as if something unseen watches from the woods. |
| 9 | Recently liberated, but leadership is fractured and trust is thin. |
| 10 | Thriving in secret, protected by clever defenses or powerful allies. |
| 11 | Haunted by the past, with strange dreams and whispers at night. |
| 12 | A beacon of hope, where people still sing, feast, and believe. |
Table 3: What Hidden Danger Lurks Here?
| Roll | Hidden Threat |
|---|---|
| 2 | A cult of the Ashen Flame, secretly converting villagers. |
| 3 | A Dominion spy, manipulating events from within. |
| 4 | A cursed relic, buried beneath the town square, leaking corruption. |
| 5 | A changeling, impersonating a local leader. |
| 6 | A Hollow One, hiding among the people, feeding in secret. |
| 7 | A secret tunnel, used by raiders or smugglers. |
| 8 | A pact with a forest spirit, now broken and vengeful. |
| 9 | A forbidden book, passed hand to hand, warping minds. |
| 10 | A wounded monster, hiding in the cellar or well. |
| 11 | A ghost, bound to a tragic event, influencing the living. |
| 12 | A prophecy, recently uncovered, that names one of the PCs. |
Glossary of Caldrithar
Hollow One
A soulless husk animated by forgotten magic or ancient curses. Hollow Ones retain fragments of memory and skill but lack empathy, mercy, or fear. They are often used as shock troops by dark powers or wander the wilds, drawn to places of sorrow.
Cult of the Ashen Flame
A fanatical sect that worships destruction as purification. They believe the world must burn to be reborn and often infiltrate settlements to sow chaos. Their rituals involve fire, blood, and the invocation of forgotten gods.
Warband
A loosely organized group of fighters, often loyal to a local warlord, rebel leader, or mercenary captain. Warbands vary in discipline and purpose—from noble resistance fighters to brutal marauders.
Sea Raider
Pirates and coastal warlords who strike from the sea, often from the Serpent Isles or other lawless archipelagos. Known for swift attacks, brutal tactics, and vanishing before retaliation can arrive.
First Flame
A mythical source of light and order said to have once united the land. Some believe it is a literal fire, others a divine force or ancient relic. Many factions seek it, either to restore the world—or to control it.
Stormbound Corsair
Seafaring warriors from the Azure Isles, known for their honor, speed, and tempest-forged ships. Some serve noble causes, others chase glory and gold. Their loyalty is rare but powerful.
Dominion Officer
A commander or enforcer of the Iron Dominion. Often cruel, calculating, and backed by elite troops or dark magic. Some are true believers in unity through conquest; others are simply ambitious survivors.
Warden
Guardians of the wild places—forests, ruins, and sacred groves. Wardens are often solitary, bound by ancient oaths to protect the land from corruption, both natural and unnatural.
Flamekeeper
A priest, scholar, or warrior devoted to preserving the ideals of the Silver Flame—honor, unity, and sacrifice. Flamekeepers often carry relics, lore, or rituals believed to be tied to the First Flame.
Druid
Mystics who draw power from the land itself. In Caldrithar, many druids are twisted by the war or corrupted by the Ashen Flame, but some remain true, serving as healers, guides, or guardians of balance.
Scavenger
Survivors who pick through ruins, battlefields, and forgotten places for anything of value. Some are desperate, others cunning, and a few stumble upon secrets that could change the course of the war.
Champion
A hero of the people or a chosen warrior of a cause. Champions are often marked by fate, prophecy, or sheer will. They inspire others and are frequently targeted by enemies seeking to break morale.
Sellsword
A mercenary with no allegiance but coin. In Caldrithar, sellswords are everywhere—some noble, some treacherous, all dangerous. Many find themselves drawn into greater causes despite their intentions.
Forever in game,
T. Glenn Bane
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