The Premise
A century ago, the Vimor Empire rose from rebellion and bloodshed, crushing the Theocracy of Brafon and scattering the faithful across the land. Now, it rules with an iron grip, led by the mysterious Emperor Vimor, a man unseen for years but whose will is enforced by the terrifying Knights of the Rose—elite enforcers clad in crimson plate and bearing magic beyond mortal ken.
Worship of The Seven, once the heart of Ronia's faith, is now a crime punishable by death. Whole communities have vanished under accusation of heresy, and rumors whisper of an ancient presence behind the Empire’s rise—one born not of this world, but of dreams twisted into nightmares.
The campaign begins in Lexica, a fractured jewel of a city still reeling from an invasion of aberrations from beyond the veil of dreams. The incursion ended only weeks ago, and though the beasts are gone, scars—physical, political, and arcane—remain. In the wreckage, the players find themselves caught between rising unrest, buried truths, and the slow unraveling of reality.
Tone & Themes
Rebellion and Resistance: The party may be drawn into a resistance against the Empire or play its agents.
Cosmic Horror: Strange dreams, unknowable truths, and warped realities begin to bleed into the world.
Lost Faith: Religion is outlawed, but relics and memories of the Seven remain.
Mystery & Intrigue: Who is Emperor Vimor? What power sustains the Rose Knights? Why did the veil between worlds tear in Lexica?
Factions
The Vimor Empire: Totalitarian rulers spreading control through bureaucracy, might, and fear.
The Knights of the Rose: Elite enforcers, believed to draw power from an ancient, unknowable source. They are not zealots—they are soldiers. Cold, loyal, and lethal.
The Ash Knives: A street gang found only in Lexica, thriving in the chaos of the post-invasion city. Brutal and opportunistic, but with surprising connections.
Remnants of Brafon: Scattered worshippers, secret clergy, and hidden sanctuaries devoted to The Seven.
The Dreamtouched: Survivors of the invasion who hear things in their sleep or feel the veil thin around them.
Adventuring Structure
Hexcrawling: Between cities, ruins, borderlands, and forbidden forests, players explore the fragmented realm. Random encounters, ancient secrets, and lost faith dot the countryside.
City Intrigue: Lexica is a powder keg of unrest. Factions clash in alleys and courts, and the Ash Knives grow bolder by the day.
Faith vs. Authority: Whether they believe or not, the gods’ silence speaks volumes, and the Empire’s paranoia masks deeper fears.
The Dream Invasion: Strange creatures still lurk in cracks between worlds. Some citizens never stopped dreaming…
Starting Questions for Players
Who did you lose when the Knights of the Rose razed your home?
What symbol of The Seven do you still carry, even if hidden?
What dream haunts you every night since the invasion?
What ties you to Lexica, even now?
Have you ever spoken out against the Empire—or are you waiting for the right moment?
Did you or someone you love once worship The Seven in secret?
What does “faith” mean to you now that all official worship is banned?
Have you ever lied about your beliefs to survive?
Do you carry a token, relic, or text of the old faith?
What rumors have you heard about the Emperor’s divine patronage?
Were you ever a cleric, priest, or acolyte before the Vimor Empire rose?
Have you ever seen a Rose Knight in person? What did they do?
What is your opinion of the Emperor? Why do you fear (or admire) him?
Did your family benefit from the fall of the Theocracy of Brafon?
Have you ever impersonated a soldier or noble of Vimor?
What’s one law of the Empire you break regularly?
What do you believe happened to Emperor Vimor?
What did you lose during the recent dream invasion?
Do your dreams still feel wrong, fractured, or invaded?
Did you see something during the invasion no one believes?
What creature or horror from beyond dreams still haunts your mind?
Were you changed by the invasion — physically, mentally, or magically?
What dream or vision saved your life?
What part of Lexica do you know better than anyone else?
Who do you owe a debt to in the Ash Knives?
What secret path, ruin, or locked place have you always wanted to explore?
What do the people whisper about under their breath in the streets?
What do you fear is hiding in the lower tiers of Lexica?
What did you do during the invasion that made you a local legend (or pariah)?
Have you ever heard a voice whisper to you when no one was there?
What’s the oldest thing you’ve ever seen? How did it make you feel?
Have you ever dreamed of something that came true?
What name do you hear in your sleep that fills you with dread or awe?
Have you ever looked at a person or place and felt that something ancient was watching you through them?
What memory do you have that might not be your own?
Do you believe rebellion is an act of chaos or an act of justice?
Would you help strangers fighting oppression even if their cause was not your own?
Would you risk protecting someone hunted by the Emperor’s forces if it meant painting a target on yourself?
How would you decide if an ally in hiding was worth helping, when their fight could bring ruin on your head?
Do you see yourself as someone who works within the system to fix it, or someone who tears it down?
If you were asked to betray your station, your family, or your safety for the chance of change — what would you choose?
What line would the Emperor’s soldiers have to cross for you to consider standing against them?
What is worth risking everything for in this empire—freedom, truth, vengeance, or something else entirely?
What price would you be willing to pay for hope in a time of despair?
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