Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting

The cover art by Aaron Riley, depicting Vox Machina fighting the Chroma Conclave during the fall of Emon.

## Attribution Information

### **Authors**

* Matthew Mercer
* James Haeck
* Joseph Carriker (additional content)
* Steve Kenson (additional content)

### **Illustrators**

* Conceptopolis
* Biagio D'Alessandro
* John Anthony Di Giovanni
* Kent Davis
* Stanislav Dikolenko
* Claudia Ianniciello
* Hal Mangold (Art Direction and Graphic Design)
* Svetoslav Petrov
* Andrey Vasilchenko

### **Editors**

* Jennifer Lawrence
* Evan Sass

## Publication Information

### **Media type**

* Hardcover
* PDF

## Chronology

### Followed by

*Explorer's Guide to Wildemount*

“
I have never written anything like this before. The process has been a delightfully challenging and rewarding experience throughout, and I have my talented allies in its creation to thank. I now stand at the end of my journey of putting this unique, personal, and colorful world onto paper from within my head, and I am extremely proud of what we've done… and I sincerely hope you feel the same.
”

–
Matthew Mercer
[edit]

***Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting*** is a sourcebook written by Matthew Mercer with the help of James Haeck. It was published on October 17, 2017 by Green Ronin Publishing and was available in both hardcover and PDF formats, but is now out of print.

The guide is presented as a reference for players looking to run their own campaigns in the setting inhabited by Vox Machina. It is also accepted as a canon resource for the purposes of this wiki. The guide covers in detail the history, geography, politics, and other lore of the continent of Tal'Dorei as of 812 PD, one year after the fall of the Chroma Conclave. As such, it contains some information that has never been covered in the main storyline of Critical Role.

The book would later receive an updated and expanded rerelease in the form of *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn*.

## **Publisher's summary**

“
Critical Role has taken the roleplaying world by storm and now you can join the adventure! Until now, the wondrous and dangerous lands of Tal'Dorei have been the sole stomping grounds of the show's adventuring company, Vox Machina. But now, you can explore these realms in a tome from the pen of Game Master Matt Mercer himself! Will you find one of the revered Vestiges of Divergence or perhaps discover part of the Chroma Conclave's legacy? Can you help the Ashari in their sacred charge to prevent the elemental vortices from overwhelming the world, or will you find yourself embroiled in the machinations of the Clasp? This setting book takes an in-depth look at the history, people, and places of Tal'Dorei, and includes new backgrounds, magic items, and monsters for the Fifth Edition rules.
”

–
Publisher's summary
[edit]

### **Chapter 1: Campaigns in Tal'Dorei**

* The History and Calamity of Tal'Dorei
	+ The Myth of Exandria
		- The Founding
		- The Age of Arcanum
		- The Calamity
	+ The History of Tal'Dorei
		- Gwessar
		- The Iron Rule of Drassig
		- The Scattered War
		- Battle of the Umbra Hills
		- The Rise of Tal'Dorei
		- The Icelost Years
		- The Cinder King
		- The Chroma Conclave
	+ Tal'Dorei Reborn
* Running a Tal'Dorei Campaign
	+ The Secrets of Tal'Dorei
		- All-Powerful, Imprisoned Gods
		- Dawn of a Republic
		- A Land Thrice-Destroyed
		- Mother of Invention
		- Uncharted Territory
* The Pantheon of Tal'Dorei
	+ The Prime Deities
		- The Archeart
		- The Allhammer
		- The Changebringer
		- The Dawnfather
		- The Everlight
		- The Knowing Mistress
		- The Lawbearer
		- The Matron of Ravens
		- The Moonweaver
		- The Platinum Dragon
		- The Stormlord
		- The Wildmother
	+ The Betrayer Gods
		- The Chained Oblivion
		- The Cloaked Serpent
		- The Crawling King
		- The Lord of the Hells
		- The Ruiner
		- The Spider Queen
		- The Strife Emperor
		- The Scaled Tyrant
* The Races of Tal'Dorei
	+ Dwarves
		- Mountain Dwarves
		- Hill Dwarves
		- Duergar
	+ Elves
		- Wood Elves
		- High Elves
		- Drow
	+ Halflings
		- Lightfoot
		- Stout
	+ Human
	+ Dragonborn
		- Draconians
		- Ravenites
	+ Gnomes
		- Rock Gnomes
		- Forest Gnomes
	+ Goliaths
	+ Half-Elves
	+ Half-Orcs
	+ Genasi
	+ Tieflings
* The Factions and Societies of Tal'Dorei
	+ The Arcana Pansophical
	+ The Ashari
	+ The Brawler's League
	+ The Chamber of Whitestone
	+ The Claret Orders
	+ The Clasp
	+ The Council of Tal'Dorei
	+ The Houses of Kraghammer
	+ The Golden Grin
	+ The Myriad
	+ The Remnants
	+ The Wardens of Syngorn

### **Chapter 2: Gazetter of Tal'Dorei**

* The Calendar and the Passage of Time
	+ Holidays
* The Lucidian Coast
	+ K'Tawl Swamp
	+ Mooren Lake
	+ Rootgarden Marsh
	+ Stilben
	+ Summit Peaks
	+ Zephrah
* The Alabaster Sierras
	+ Mooren River Run
	+ Parchwood
	+ The Salted Bluffs
	+ The Shearing Channel
	+ Whitestone
* The Dividing Plains
	+ The Bramblewood
	+ Foramere Basin
	+ Ironseat Ridge
	+ Ivyheart Thicket
	+ Kymal
	+ The Ruins of Torthil
	+ Shadebarrow
	+ Silvercut Crossroads
	+ Throne of the Archeart
	+ Torian Forest
	+ Turst Fields
	+ Westruun
	+ Wildwood Byway
* The Cliffkeep Mountains
	+ The Emberhold
	+ Fort Daxio
	+ Gatshadow
	+ The Grey Valley
	+ Jorenn Village
	+ Kraghammer
	+ Lyrengorn, the Elvenpeaks
	+ The Neverfields
	+ Othendin Pass
	+ The Pools of Wittebak
	+ Serpent's Head
	+ Terrah
	+ Umbra Hills
	+ Yug'Voril
* The Stormcrest Mountains
	+ The Ashen Gorge
	+ Bronbog
	+ Cavern of Axiom
	+ The Dreamseep Marshlands
	+ The Frostweald
	+ Wrettis
	+ Ruhn-Shak
* The Rifenmist Peninsula
	+ Beynsfal Plateaus
	+ Byroden
	+ Mornset Countryside
	+ The Orroyen Tribes
	+ Rifenmist Jungle
	+ Stormpoint Mountains
	+ Tz'Arrm, Helm of the Emperor
* The Verdant Expanse
	+ The Gladepools
	+ The Mirescar
	+ The Shifting Keep
	+ Syngorn
	+ Tormor Falls
	+ Vues'dal Waters
* The Bladeshimmer Shoreline
	+ Crystalfen Caverns
	+ Daggerbay
	+ Daggerbay Mountains
	+ Emerald Outpost
	+ Emon, the City of Fellowship
	+ Ruins of O'Noa (New O'Noa)
	+ Scar of the Cinder King
	+ Ruins of Salar
	+ Seashale Mountains
	+ The Shalesteps
	+ Visa Isle
* The Distant Regions of Exandria
	+ Issylra
	+ Marquet
	+ The Shattered Teeth
	+ Wildemount

### **Chapter 3: Character Options**

* Player Class Options
	+ Blood Domain
	+ Path of the Juggernaut
	+ Runechild
	+ Way of the Cobalt Soul
* Tal'Dorei Backgrounds
	+ Clasp Member
		- Variant: Myriad Operative
	+ Lyceum Student
	+ Ashari
	+ Recovered Cultist
	+ Fate-Touched
* New Feats
	+ Cruel
	+ Dual-focused
	+ Flash Recall
	+ Gambler
	+ Mending Affinity
	+ Mystic Conflux
	+ Rapid Drinker
	+ Spelldriver
	+ Thrown Arms Master
* The Vestiges of Divergence
	+ Agony
	+ Armor of the Valiant Soul
	+ Cabal's Ruin
	+ Circlet of Barbed Vision
	+ Condemner
	+ Deathwalker's Ward
	+ Fenthras
	+ Honor's Last Stand
	+ Kiss of the Changebringer
	+ Mythcarver
	+ Plate of the Dawnmartyr
	+ Pyremaul
	+ Spire of Conflux
	+ Titanstone Knuckles
	+ Whisper
	+ Wraps of Dyamak
* Optional Campaign Rules and Guidelines
	+ Combat With Larger Parties
		- Rapid Quaffing
		- Multi-Spell
	+ Accelerated Downtime
		- Arduous Rally
	+ Alternative Resurrection Rituals
		- A Taxing Return
		- Didn't Come Back Right
		- Didn't Come Back Right (Advanced)
		- The Fading Spirit

### **Chapter 4: Allies and Adversaries**

* Monstrous Races
	+ Aberrations
	+ Beastfolk
		- Centaurs
		- Driders
		- Gnolls
		- Lizardfolk
		- Sahuagin
		- Minotaurs
	+ Fey
	+ Giantkin
		- Lowborn
		- Highborn
			* Cloud Giant
			* Fire Giant
			* Frost Giant
			* Stone Giant
			* The Council of Seven Scepters
	+ Goblinkin
		- Goblins
		- Hobgoblins
		- Bugbears
	+ Orcs
* Allies and Adversaries of Tal'Dorei
	+ Ashari
		- Ashari Firetamer
		- Ashari Stoneguard
		- Ashari Waverider
		- Ashari Skydancer
		- Cinderslag Elemental
	+ The Clasp
		- Clasp Cutthroat
		- Clasp Enforcer
	+ Cyclops Stormcaller
		- Notorious Stormcallers
	+ Goliaths
		- Goliath Stormborn
		- Goliath Brawler
	+ Kraghammer Goat-Knight
	+ Ravagers
		- Ravager Slaughter Lord
		- Ravager Stabby-Stabber
	+ Remnant Faithful
		- Remnant Cultist
		- Remnant Chosen

## **Appearances**

### **Characters**

**Vox Machina**
Doty (picture only) • Grog Strongjaw • Keyleth • Percival de Rolo • Pike Trickfoot (picture only) • Scanlan Shorthalt • Taryon Darrington (picture only) • Trinket (picture only) • Vax'ildan • Vex'ahlia
**Deities**
Asmodeus • Avandra • Bahamut • Bane • Corellon • Erathis • Gruumsh • Ioun • Kord • Lolth • Melora • Moradin • Pelor • The Raven Queen • The Raven Queen's predecessor • Sarenrae • Sehanine • Tharizdun • Tiamat • Torog • Zehir
**Appeared in Campaign One**
Allura Vysoren • Anna Ripley • Artagan • Assum Emring • Brimscythe • Brom Goldhand • Cassandra de Rolo • Clarota • Delilah Briarwood • Drake Thunderbrand • Dranzel • Earth Titan (indirect mention only) • Elle Gorgofon • Eskil Ryndarien • Forscythia • Galdric • Ibbimas • Ivon • Jekt Wince ("Jekt") • J'mon Sa Ord • Kamaljiori • Kevdak • Korrin • K'Varn • Lady Kima of Vord • Mikael Daxio • Murghol • Nostoc Greyspine • Pa'tice • Purvan Suul ("Purvon Kol") • Raishan • Salda Tal'Dorei • Saundor • Shaun Gilmore • Shenn • Sherri • Sun Tree • Sylas Briarwood • Thordak • Thordak's spawn • Thurmond Adlam • Tyrelda ("Tirelda") • Tofor Brotoras • Ulara • Umbrasyl • Uriel Tal'Dorei II • Vorugal • Vecna • Warren • Zanror ("Zanroar")
**Appeared in the pre-stream adventures or mentioned in Campaign One**
Atrix (indirect mention only) • Dwala (indirect mention only) • Errevon • Gradim Greyspine • Kradin Grimthorne • Modeth Lai • Orcus ("the Demon Prince of Undeath") • Ozwyn Gruude ("Oz Gruude") • Sammanar • Sevil Howthess • Trysta • Vilya • White Duke • Yenlara • Yos Varda
**Not mentioned in Campaign One, but appeared or mentioned later on-stream**
Bertrand Dwendal • Elmenore • Graz'zt • Leylas Kryn • Lorkathar • Ryn
**Other NPCs**
Abdar • Acek Orattim • Aedla • Ardokles • Arethusa • Arhanna Lewyn • Artenn Gitelle • Atz Yuminor • Auld Connaught • Avandros • Black King • Blenton Zuurthom • Brandon Zimmerset • Bruel Sunderchin • Burning Oak • Calis Krishtan • Catyurit family (Empi, Foryuna, Helina, and Rych) • Cedargaunt • Celindar • Clemain Astural • Davia Redtresses • Diassa Kwynn • Drunneq Bronzegrip • Duana • Durrom • Dyamak • Elikka • Estella Ladimar • Eye of the Storm • Fei Yujian • Felrinn Derevar • Fetch • Gholesh • Gloria Ios • Grogan • Grud • Haddi Bronzegrip • Hanna Wasseran • Hdar • Heinrich Runescribe • Hexen • Ichabarr • Ida Mudrake • Illaman Falconsong • Il'shavfa • Ixrattu Khar • Jaktur Krishtan • Jeremiah Sook • Jillian Sylph • Jorick LaMensh • Jorlund Vohr • Jorn Krastef • Jorskymmar • Karaline von Ethro • Kay Clearsight • Keeper of the Moontides • Keinla • Kyle Woll • L'Arkhelle • Lissana • Lornak Syfe • Luneskon • Lustran Zeth • Lyssev Sorveline • Maina Rusalla • Maledicta Hexos • Maledicta Hexos's lieutenant • Mauvlettir • Molten Titan • Moon Mistress • Murghol and Ulara's daughter • The Nameless • Narrel • Neminar Drassig • Norad Firth • Nyx • Oalan • Oben Sunderchin • Odellan Tal'Dorei • Oluk Wagonsbane • Ovam'mura • Ouestra • Palest Westruun • Perron Brill • Prudence • Quash Dentdruggle • Quinton Puck • Rawndel • Rensten Woll • Rill • Seanor Wiles • Sevil Howthess's grandchildren • Shaktia • Shef Silverleaf • Shela • Sightless One • Silvercomb • Temmik Lars • Teresa Dulamar • Thangrul • Thardraxxus • Theadorn Krazz • Theona Balmhand • Thunderchaser • Todora • Trist Drassig • Trence Orman • Tz'Jarr • Udah • Umentu • Unidentified Arcana Pansophical spy • Unidentified doppelganger • Unidentified drow assassin • Unidentified duergar prince • Unidentified frost giant jarl • Unidentified hill giant • Unidentified investigator • Unidentified manawort • Unidentified myconoid monarch • Unidentified oni • Unidentified pet remorhaz • Vasilios • Vespin Chloras • Vrylaska Fellbranch • Vryll • Waken • Wallera Glorendar ("Wallera Glorenthar") • Wapalmter • Warren Drassig • Wendle Truss • Wilmet Wizcrack • Windybranch • Winston Destwiler • Woden • Wyrmhide Thunderbrand • Yabber Tinysoot XIV • Yenlara's grandson • Yurek Windkeeper • Zan Tal'Dorei • Zilloa • Zuun'dak
## **References**

1. ↑ ArtStation - Critical Role Tal'Dorei Campaign Guide, Aaron J Riley
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 *Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting* on Amazon
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting*, p. 1.
4. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting*, p. 12. "Only one year has passed since Vox Machina slew the Chroma Conclave", which occurred in 811 PD.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting*, p. 3.
6. ↑ See *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting*, p. 12.

**Art:**

## **External links**

* *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting* (hard copy)
* *Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting* (PDF)