Arrak

Arrak is a continent on the Material Plane consisting of 4 independent regions; the Dawn Republic, Bresseras, the Troubled Lands and the Unbroken Empire. Underneath the surface lies the underground super-region, the Underdark.

## **History**

### **Pre-Lightfall**

For 1200 years, Arrak was a haven of peace and prosperity, blessed by the Passing of Pelor's Light. Once a century, the comet known as Pelor's Light would appear in the sky, radiating positive energy which blessed crops, healed the sick and kept monsters in magical slumbers.

### **The Lightfall**

As the celebrations begun for the 13th Passing of Pelor's Light, the comet appeared in the sky. However, at its peak, Pelor's Light shattered into thousands of shards, which rained down across Arrak, flattening homes and cities, and destroying governments and economies. Monsters were awoken and started ravaging the lands. Everything was thrown into chaos. To this day, no one knows how or why the event, known as the Lightfall, happened.

### **Post-Lightfall**

46 years have passed. The world is slowly recovering. Heroes have come and re-established cities and nations. The towns and cities act as beacons of light and hope against the darkness. They are safe-havens, with organised armies and militias, protecting the people against the monsters and dangers that now lurk in the hills, the woods and the dungeons of the land.

## **Locations**

### **The Dawn Republic**

Dawn Republic is a mercantile country located on the eastern regions of Arrak. It is the second largest country on the continent. The Government of the Dawn Republic governs the country.

Dawn Republic is heavily visited throughout the Lightfall campaign, appearing in the majority of the sessions so far. The populated areas visited in the campaign are, in order of appearance, Tallfield (2-6), Longwood Forest (7-9), Spire of Eternal Autumn (7-9), Feyden (9-11) and Talis'Val (11-20, 25-27, 29, 39-40), Burkley (28-29), Redcrop (30) and Melody (30-32).

TO ADD: Aramount, Briarcrest, Firstlight, Newlight, Greybell, Velderbann

### **Bresseras**

Bresseras is a desert kingdom located on the western regions of Arrak. It is the oldest and largest country on the continent. Bresseras is also a hermit kingdom as its inhabitants are only concerned with events happening within its borders. Its capital is Bresseras, governed by the patriarchal ruler, the Wyrmking.

Bresseras is visited in the campaign from Episodes 82-83. The locations visited in the campaign are, in order of appearance, Ziyou (82).

### **The Troubled Lands**

The Troubled Lands is a frontier region located on the northern regions of Arrak. It is the third largest country on the continent. With its tough terrains and cold climate, civilisation is scarce with frontier towns scattered across the region. It is described as the "cold wild west".

The Troubled Lands is visited in the series from Sessions 32 to 39. The locations visited in the campaign are, in order of appearance, Spire of Winter (32-39), Hallow (33-34), Fenris' Lair (34-35), Frost Giant's Land (38) and Monastery of Bahamut (38-39).

### **The Unbroken Empire**

Unbroken Empire is a country located on the southern regions of Arrak, and it is the smallest country on the continent. Its inhabitants established the country by their own will, with no race superior to another. Slavery is outlawed within the Empire.

The Empire is led by a leader known as the Young Empress, described as a young god-emperor personality with powerful divine abilities. The Young Empress has issues with the deities, believing that they are the cause of the Lightfall. Thus, the only belief she thinks is worth following is one's self belief and that all people should work together. As Mark Hulmes commented, the Young Empress' philosophy is "very Jedi Order-esque with a bit of Buddhism" with goals of "perfecting the body, working together and everybody has to do their share." To enforce her belief, the Young Empress employs Paladin Knights to ensure that everybody works together. In turn, the Empire has no nobility, no upper class and no monetary system.

### **The Underdark**

The Underdark is an underground super-region located underneath the continent of Arrak. There is no unified underground government since each individual city-state and region has a different form of rule. There are two known gateways into the Underdark. One is through the Temple of Tharizdun located in Whisper's Walk, Talis'Val. The other is via Aramount.

The Underdark is visited in the series from Episodes 20 to 25, and briefly mentioned in Episodes 40. The regions visited in the campaign are, in order of appearance, The Garden of Stone (20-23) and Temple of Dah'Mir (23-25). The Aramount Mining Facility is mentioned in Episode 40.

### **Planes of Existence**

Various other Planes of Existence are connected to Arrak, with some permanent gateways to some, and strong magic needed to reach others.
The Planes of Existence visited include the Feywild in Episodes 7 and 9, a demiplane of the Shadowfell in Episode 18, demiplanes belonging to Salah Balan and his ex-wife Deshira, Fenris' Lair in Episode 35 and Arborea in Episodes X and Y.

## References

1. ↑ Screenshot from *"The Story So Far"*
2. ↑ Mark's DM Question ANSWERS