Table of Contents

Chapter 3: Exploration Rules

• Exploring a Hex
• Adventuring Sites
• Settlements

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Developed at Medieval Melodies by Jon Gazda.

Ashlen Calender

The Ashlen year was adopted from Garlancian traders who brought goods to them in their time of great need. It consists of 26 months of 14 days each, followed by a single day to celebrate the Summer Solstice.

The names of the week are inspired by an old Dwarven myth, and are Mornday, Truesday, Wenjasday, Thrazday, Fharday, Satisday, and Solday. Each month has two weeks, which delineate the days. For example, the 3rd day of the month is First Wenjasday, and the 11th day is Second Thrazday.

The Gods & Religion

There are many gods that are worshipped in Ashlen. Some were worshipped by the original Lords of Ashtonia, some were brought to them by trade, and yet others are local Gods worshipped long before humans lived here.

The Shadow, god of the swamp's twilight

Alignment: Neutral Evil Domains: Death, Nature
Considered a superstition by most, The Shadow is a minor deity that has lived in the swamps of Ashlen for longer than any mortal. He appears only at twilight, and is said to snatch up children who are not praying to Pelor for the night. In truth, The Shadow only hates those who disturb the swamp at twilight, which most people don't due to their nightly prayers. His favored creatures are blights, and the Gulthias Tree is an alter to him. He sends his minions to attack those who find his disfavor.

Bahamut, dragon god of good

Alignment: Lawful Good Domains: Life, War
Though not commonly worshipped in Ashlen, he is prayed to for protection from the Dragons that dwell in the mountains surrounding the country. His clerics are often travelers from distant lands that are welcomed happily to Ashlen.

Important NPCs & Factions

In this section you will find a list of the people and factions from across Ashlen that have an influence in the Valley of the Lords along with some information about their goals, methods, and leadership.

The Ashlen Army

Leader: Major Arthur Wyrmsmiter, Dwarven military officer
After fighting his way to victory, General Leon Manus ordered the army to continue to clear out the Valley of the Lords and establish a new set of border walls along the mountain footholds. Major Arthur Wyrmsmither was chosen for the task, and has devoted himself to building fortifications, leaving the exploration and clearing of the valley to other factions. Though they are well-funded, they are racing against time and hoping that the Orcs don't slip through their net.

The Army itself consists of battle-hardened soldiers who care more about achieving victory than doing so honorably. They stop short of breaking the laws of Ashlen, however, because doing so would result in expulsion. New recruits often struggle to reconcile their lack of experience and untested morals in the face of opponents (and allies) who will win by any means necessary, so there are many recruits that have elected to stay in New Ashe and take part in the job of clearing the valley of Orcs. The bulk of the army remains at the Western end of the valley, building and defending fortifications.

The Ashlen Army generally accepts Barbarians, Fighters, and Rangers. They provide the following services to all explorers in New Ashe, but non-members must pay twice as much as the normal price.

• Basic Smithing
• Weapon and Armor Purchase and Repair
• Combat Training

The White Roses

Leader: Whitikast Fourere, Human explorer
When the citizens of Ashlen heard that famed explorer Whitikast Fourere was planning to embark on an expedition to map the Valley of the Lords, there was plenty of gossip and excitement among the citizenry of Ashwright, as well as plenty of volunteers. But upon arriving in the city of New Ashe, the newly-christened adventurers discovered that their 'patron' was just as strapped for cash as they were. Whitikast had planned on making his employees find treasures and taking a percentage when they pawned them off to the other factions.

After calming down the angry and well-armed adventurers, Whitikast came up with a deal. He would use his charisma and connections to secure buyers and suppliers in New Ashe, while the adventurers would have free reign over the Valley. A simple percentage of goods found was the only requirement to using Whitikast's services. Though it meant Whitikast wouldn't be personally joining them on adventures, the explorers agreed to the terms of the deal, and the White Roses were born.

The White Roses accept any member among their ranks, but generally lean towards Bards, Rogues, and Sorcerers. Whitikast will purchase any item that the other factions won't take, including monster parts, nonmagical relics, and rare plants or insects. However, non-members will only receive 25% of the item's value when selling it, while members can sell items for 75% of their value.

The Church of Pelor

Leader: Bishop Wilhelm Vargus, Human missionary
After the war ended, the Church of Pelor was the first faction to arrive on the scene. In the city of New Ashe, they established a sanctuary for injured soldiers, as well as a place of worship for Pelor, Heironeous, Beory, Moradin and the Raven Queen. The Church has precious few members to support their work, and their efforts are heavily focused within the protective walls of New Ashe.

Cleric Spellcasting Services

The Stone Scholars of Duzag Kar

Leader: Mage Adept Palma Bonewhistle, Dwarven Transmuter
After the Ashlen victory, the Dwarves of Duzag Kar sent a small contingent of Stone Scholars to the Valley to appraise it for historical, magical, and mineral value. Palma Bonewhistle, a skilled wizard with a sharp eye for gemstones, lead the Stone Scholars to New Ashe, where they established a small outpost and library for research purposes. Her dwarves aren't the most combat-ready bunch, so they prefer to travel with companions from other factions.

The Stone Scholars are also the best people in the Valley to appraise and buy items of historical value, though they are more familiar with Dwarven history than human. To remedy this, Palma has been more lenient about accepting humans and even half-orcs into the ranks of the Stone Scholars. If she didn't there'd barely be enough of them to call them a faction!

The Stone Scholars are dedicated to learning and knowledge, and generally accept Monks, Warlocks, and Wizards into their ranks. They provide the following services to all explorers in New Ashe, but non-members must pay twice the normal price.

• Magic Item Identification and Selling
• Magic Item Purchasing and Crafting
• Magic Training

The Shattered Sword Tribe

Leader: King Baggruk Neckbiter, Lord of the Orcs
The Shattered Sword tribe, until recently, was the dominant faction in the Valley of the Lords. They hunted game, threatened the locals, and lived without fear. That is, until Leon Manus came knocking on their door.

In a matter of months, King Baggruk had lost his stronghold, most of his army, and his position in the Valley. He pulled back to the Ciavoa Mountains to save what soldiers he could, and hopefully mount a counter-attack. The mountains have not provided the same verdant resources and strategic protection that the Valley did, but his army is still slowly recuperating. He has not forgotten his defeat, nor the human that dealt the blow.

Many of the Shattered Sword are still wandering the Valley, either left behind or having snuck back in past the Ashlen Army's border. They remain a threat to explorers searching the valley.

The Shattered Sword Tribe is an evil faction and does not tolerate explorers.

Quick Character Creation

To create a character in the Valley of the Lords, please use the following steps:

Classes in the Valley of the Lords (con't)

4. Choose a Faction

Based on your background, race, and class, you may already have a faction you must select, or certain factions you might be barred from. If you are not required to join a faction, you may choose to be an independent adventurer in New Ashe. However, you will not gain the benefits of membership in a faction.

5. Determine Ability Scores

Generate your characters ability scores using one of the following methods.

6. Describe Your Character

Write down any significant descriptors of your charater, including height, weight, and appearance.

Select two Personality Traits, an Ideal, a Goal, and a Flaw for your character. See Inspiration, Goals, & Character Growth for more information on these attributes, and how your character can use them.

Finally, your character starts their journey with Inspiration.

7. Choose Equipment

Your character begins with the equipment listed in their class and background. Your equipment was provided to you by your faction, or consists of personal items you have gathered or inherited over time.

If, at character creation, you can cast a spell that would require a costly material component, you have the appropriate materials to cast that spell. If the material components are consumed upon casting the spell, you have enough to cast the spell three times.

For example, if you are a first level Wizard that can cast Chromatic Orb and Find Familiar, then you begin the game with 30 gp worth of charcoal, incense, and herbs, and one 50 gp diamond.

At higher levels, you must seek out the material components to cast a spell if they are costly or consumed by the spell. The Stone Scholars and Church of Pelor are good resources for such materials.

8. Find an Adventure

Check the listing of available adventure sites, find a group of people interested in exploring it, and embark on your very own adventure!

Rock Gnomes

A fairly uncommon sight in Ashlen, Rock Gnomes are nonetheless a driving force behind the metallurgical industry of the country. They usually don't prefer to actually do any fighting, and enjoy their positions as smiths and repairpersons. In New Ashe, they continue these duties, making and repairing weapons and armor for a small fee.

Half-Orcs

Though they aren't particularly rare, Half-Orcs are mistrusted and sometimes mistreated in Ashlen. The kinder citizens understand that they did not choose to be born, the crueler punish them for it. Still, Half-Orcs can find work among the more diverse and accepting populace of the trading city of Thorpes. They also make fine soldiers, which has brought many of them to New Ashe. There are currently around 200 Half-Orcs in the reclaimed city.

Goliaths

Visitors from the mountains, Goliaths are loved in Ashlen for their great strength. However, a stigma exists among humans and dwarves that Goliaths are less intelligent than the more common races. Most humans won't ever meet a Goliath Cleric or Wizard in their lifetime, and thus the prejudice persists. But Goliaths enjoy a friendly relationship with the population of Ashlen, and visit for supplies if the mountains are being particularly unforgiving. When it came time to go to war, some Goliaths joined the Ashlen Army, and they now reside in New Ashe.

Backgrounds in New Ashe

Though any background can describe an adventurer in the Valley of Lords, some are more common than others. Also, your background may immediately tie you to a particular faction within New Ashe.

Entertainer

(Player's Handbook Page 130) An entertainer has little place in a war, which means you will need a good reason to be in New Ashe. The likely explanation is that you signed up with the White Roses to seek adventure. Unfortunately, there is little time for music in the Valley, and unless you can gain the ear of one of the Faction leaders, your By Popular Demand feature will prove to be useless.

Faction Agent

(Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Page 147) You are a member of a faction, and a trusted one at that. Each faction has a secret stronghold within their headquarters, and you are aware of where your faction keeps its secrets. If you do not know Dwarvish, Orcish, or Common from your race, select them as your languages. You also gain the appropriate skill for your faction.

Far Traveler

(Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Page 148) To use the Far Traveler background, you must be a member of a rare race. This includes the animal races, Elves, Halflings, Dragonborn, and Forest Gnomes. The language you speak is one from your homeland. The people of Ashlen and the Valley are still untrusting of those who are different than themselves. Most of the attention you receive will be negative.

Folk Hero

(Player's Handbook Page 131) Folk Heroes in Ashlen were likely drawn here as a part of the Ashlen Army or the White Roses, but this background does not require you to pick a faction. The War offered plenty of opportunities for common folk to step up and show their bravery, so your character likely became a Folk Hero a a result of the Orcish invasion. Your Rustic Hospitality won't do much good in New Ashe, but if you find villages or tribes in the Valley, they will recognize your charm.

Guild Artisan

(Player's Handbook Page 132) As a Guild Artisan, you are likely a Rock Gnome. If you wish to be proficient in Carpenter's Tools, Mason's Tools, or Tinker's Tools, you are a member of the Stone Scholars. Adventuring classes that use magic are most common in the Stone Scholars. Otherwise, you are a member of the Ashlen Army, which has need for craftsmen of all kinds. Your Guild Membership does not require a fee, but lacks the political power features. You can still gain shelter from your chosen faction. If you do not know Dwarvish, Orcish, or Common from your race, select one as your language.

Haunted One

(Curse of Strahd Page 209) To gain this background, you must be a Tiefling, Aasimar, or Genasi, or have undergone some sort of supernatural trauma. Haunted Ones can belong to any faction, but if an NPC is not a member of the character's faction, they will not provide the support granted by the Heart of Darkness feature. The people of Ashlen and the Valley are still untrusting of those who are different than themselves. As a Haunted One, you begin the campaign with 10 gp.

Hermit

(Player's Handbook Page 134) To gain this background, you cannot be a Dwarf or Human. If you do not know Dwarvish, Orcish, or Common from your race, select one as your language. Your discovery is related to a location in the Valley of the Lords that contains an item of great importance to you. Work with the DM to determine the name of the site and the reason it is important to you. The site will be placed on an undiscovered location on the map, and made available for delving once it is found.

Inheritor

(Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Page 148) To gain this background, you must be human. Your Inheritance is something passed down through your family for generations. You are in the Valley of the Lords to seek the history of your Inheritance, which may lead to revelations about your character. If you do not know Dwarvish, Orcish, or Common from your race, select one as your language. Finally, you must be a part of a faction to research your Inheritance. If the item belongs to multiple categories (such as a magic sword), you may choose which faction you are a member of.

Knight of the Order

(Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Page 151) A Knight of the Order is an elite member of the Ashlen Army. Their chosen skill is History. As a Knight of the Order, you have been discharged from active duty for some reason, the most common being age or injury. It isn't likely that you disgraced yourself, instead something forced you to give up your position. If you do not know Dwarvish, Orcish, or Common from your race, select one as your language.

Mercenary Veteran

(Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Page 152) A Mercenary Veteran is someone with considerable skill who joined up with the White Roses, and was instrumental in settling the deal with Whitikast Fourere. You might have some friends from your previous company, but you've left for good and might as well make the most of it.

Noble

(Player's Handbook Page 135) To have this background, you must be Human or Dwarvish. You are part of the clans that make up the Hammerholders of Duzag Kar, or the child of a duke appointed by King Darius V. Unfortunately, here in the city of New Ashe there isn't much in the way of nobility. The closest you'll get is Major Arthur Wyrmsmiter if you are a Dwarf, or Bishop Wilhelm Vargus of the Church if you are human. If you do not know Dwarvish, Orcish, or Common from your race, select one as your language.

Outlander

(Player's Handbook Page 136) Outlanders are those who are intimately familiar with the Valley of the Lords. To use this background, you must be a Firbolg, Aarakocra, or Half-Orc that lived among the Orcs before the War. The language you choose must be related to your race, Orcish, or Common. Your Wanderer feature has been altered for the Exploration Rules. Outlanders can re-roll a random encounter when they become lost, but they must use the new roll. Also, their Supply Cost is reduced by 1 gp, to a minimum of 1, when traveling through the Valley.

Sage

(Player's Handbook Page 137) This background does not require you to join a faction, though you will likely align with the Stone Scholars. If you do, you have access to their public library materials for research purposes. If you do not know Dwarvish, Orcish, or Common from your race, select them as your languages. Adventuring classes that use magic are most common in the Stone Scholars.

Sailor

(Player's Handbook Page 139) As a sailor, you are a conscript of the Ashlen Army. It's unusual for Sailors to be so far inland, so you need a reason for leaving the naval division of the military. Your Ship's Passage feature is useless in New Ashe, but if you help the factions build a port, you could open up a supply route back down to the trade city of Thorpes.

Soldier

(Player's Handbook Page 140) This background places you squarely in the Ashlen Army. However, since most of the army is stationed at the Western end of the Valley, you need a reason that you are stationed in New Ashe. It could be that the ferocity of the Orcish army was too much, or you requested a position in the reclaimed city. Either way, you did not make it far up the military's ranks, because those who did wouldn't have to stay in the Valley.

Urban Bounty Hunter

(Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Page 153) If you chose this background, you acted as a spy for the Ashlen Army. You weren't skilled in Urban espionage, but in tracking Orcish movements and intercepting information. Now, you've left that life behind, and you should think about why. It could be to get away from the Orcs, or it could be that you backed the wrong general before Leon Manus' victory. You might still be part of the Ashlen Army, but you don't have to be.

Urchin

(Player's Handbook Page 141) When you chose this background, you must select a faction that lifted you out of poverty. The Ashlen Army or Church of Pelor might have taken you in, or you could have joined the White Roses to find your own way to the top. You won't be able to use your City Secrets feature in the Valley, but if you begin an adventure in an ancient ruins, you can re-roll the random encounter once, but you must use the new roll.

Uthgardt Tribe Member (Shattered Sword Tribe Member)

(Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Page 153) You must be a Half-Orc who lived with the Shattered Sword Tribe to take this background. You've given up this life for some reason, and that reason should be part of your character's story. If you take this background, you cannot join a faction. If you do not know Dwarvish, Orcish, or Common from your race, select one as your language. Also, your Supply Cost is reduced by 1 GP, to a minimum of 1, when traveling through the Valley.

Waterdhavian Noble (Ashwright Noble)

(Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Page 154) You must be a Human Bard or Fighter with a Charisma of 18 or higher to take this background. You are a direct relative to King Darius V, in the Valley to pursue adventure and the history of your line. You must think of a reason you have been allowed to lead this lifestyle, such as being distantly in line for the throne or being disowned by your family. Additionally, due to the wilderness environment, you lack the Kept in Style feature, and instead gain the Retainer feature (Player's Handbook Page 136). Your retainers have the statistics of a Scout, without any attacks. Otherwise, they are the same as listed in the Handbook.

Inspiration, Goals, & Character Growth

The rules for Inspiration are being altered for this campaign. The original rules are in the Player's Handbook on page 125.

Class Alterations, Limitations, & Suggestions

Due to the exploration rules and the nature of life in New Ashe, classes may be altered, limited, or more/less common than others. The Artificer and Mystic classes are not available.

Bards

There is only one Bardic College in Ashlen, and it is part of the noble houses of Ashwright. That's not to say you must be nobility to become a Bard, but you certainly need a reason you were able to join the College. You might have gotten a letter of recommendation, or perhaps a noble heard you playing in a tavern and knew you had talent.

Bardic magic is common among the nobility of Ashwright, but somewhat looked down upon by the Dwarves of Duzag Kar. They prefer tradition and frankness to the subtle politics of the Ashwright courts. A Bard of Ashwright might travel to New Ashe for glory, gold, or perhaps to prove something to a fellow noble. They will almost certainly be a member of the White Roses.

As a Bard in New Ashe, you have access to the following subclasses:

College of Valor

(Player's Handbook Page 55) You are a member of the Badic College of Ashwright. You might be here on a mission from the college, or for personal reasons. You cannot take this subclass if you are a Dwarf, and you cannot be a member of the Stone Scholars faction.

College of Whispers

(Xanathar's Guide to Everything Page 16) You are a Bard from a distant land, here to learn about New Ashe and establish a foothold for yourself in the political structure of the system. You claim to be a member of the Bardic College of Ashwright, taking private lessons or in a different class than the other Bards you meet. To take this subclass, you must be an Elf, Dragonborn, Halfling, Forest Gnome, or one of the animal races of Khoomes. Your background must be Far Traveler.

Clerics

You have been chosen by your Gods to assist in their cause and further their presence in the Valley. As a cleric, you are part of the Church of Pelor faction, even if the deity you worship is not Pelor. The faction's temple is the only place for you to procure Holy Water, Priest's Supplies, and religious services.

The Temple offers space for a multitude of faiths, and several domains. If a domain is not listed below, it isn't available for worship in New Ashe.

If you are a cleric of Pelor, you will gain favor with the Church, and have direct access to Bishop Wilhelm Vargus. He can provide better religious services, such as casting the Raise Dead spell if he is brought a diamond of sufficient size.

If you are a cleric of Bahamut or Olidammara, you are nominally part of the Church of Pelor for the services they provide, but they do not have a space to worship your deity. If you break or lose your Holy Symbol, you will not be able to replace it within New Ashe.

Druids

To become a druid, you must be a Firbolg or have trained under a Firbolg Druid. Druids are uncommon among the war-torn lands of Ashlen, and the same holds true in New Ashe.

Druids in New Ashe are caretakers of the Valley, doing their best to keep the spark of life alive as War has ravaged the land. A Druid might arrive in New Ashe to ensure explorers do not unduly infringe upon the land, or be working with the Church of Pelor as an emissary of Beory.

If you choose to become a Druid, you might gain access to the Goodberry spell. Due to the nature of the exploration rules, the function of the Goodberry spell has been altered. You can use Goodberry to reduce the Supply Cost of a day by 1 gp, to a minimum of 0 gp.

As a Druid in New Ashe, you have access to the following subclasses:

Circle of the Land

(Player's Handbook Page 68) This is the Circle that the Firbolgs teach, though they teach different spells based on where their tribe resides. They can teach Circle Spells associated with Forests, Grasslands, or Mountains. Your Firbolg Druid master might assign a specific quest to you, or simply task you with ensuring the newcomers to the Valley respect its ecology.

Circle of the Moon

(Player's Handbook Page 69) Every century or so, a child is born to the Firbolgs with exceptional Druidic ability. To take this subclass, you must be a Firbolg with a Wisdom score of 19 or higher. These Firbolgs have a spiritual connection to the Goddess of Nature, Beory. She will likely have a mission or task for you to complete, which would include you reclaiming the Valley after the War. When you reside in New Ashe, you are considered a member of the Church of Pelor, and can use its services.

Fighters

Fighters are incredibly common in Ashlen and New Ashe. The Bastard's War produced many soldiers, some of whom stood out from the rest by their skill or strategy. If you are a fighter, you are or were a member of the Ashlen Army.

Most of the Army is stationed at the West end of the Valley, meaning you will need a reason to be in New Ashe. You could have been reassigned, chosen to be discharged, or fled the army to operate under another identity. You might still use your Ashlen conscripted gear, or you might have found new weapons.

As a fighter from the Ashlen Army, you have access to the following subclasses:

Banneret

(Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Page 128) You were a low-ranking officer in the Ashlen Army, in charge of a small group of soldiers. They are gone now, and you can decide how you parted ways. Did you lose your men in a vicious Orc battle? Or did you flee because the pressure of leadership was too much? To take this subclass, your background must be Soldier or Knight of the Order.

Battle Master

(Player's Handbook Page 73) Though you were never an officer, you were a quick study in the Army and ended up teaching your fellow soldiers a few tricks in battle. You gained many friends this way, and are likely in New Ashe on assignment to gather recruits or train other explorers. To take this subclass, your background must be Soldier or City Watch.

Cavalier

(Xanathar's Guide to Everything Page 30) To own a horse is quite the expensive endeavor, and requires a background of some wealth. By virtue of your position, you were a low-ranking officer in the Ashlen Army, and likely chose to come to New Ashe of your own volition after the war. To take this subclass, your background must be Noble, Ashwright Noble, or Knight of the Order.

Champion

(Player's Handbook Page 72) You joined the army, but your strength comes from your natural talent and viciousness on the battlefield, not from your training. You never quite felt the connection to the cause that your fellow soldiers did, but you fought alongside them against the Orcs nonetheless. You are likely in New Ashe by honorable discharge or desertion. To take this subclass, your background cannot be Noble, Ashwright Noble, City Watch, or Knight of the Order.

Monks

Monks are rare in Ashlen, as there are no monasteries in the country. Thus, any monk in New Ashe has traveled here from a distant land, and must take the Far Traveler background if they are able. If you are a more common race, you must choose from the Anthropologist or Sage backgrounds.

Monks tend to follow the directives of their Monastic Order, and you are likely in New Ashe on some sort of mission. Perhaps your master has included this journey as part of your training, or maybe you have been sent here to recover an artifact that is precious to your Order. You do not have to join a faction, but would probably fit in among the Stone Scholars of Duzag Kar.

The following subclasses are available to Monks, based on the Monasteries closest to the Valley of the Lords.

Paladins

Paladins all have their own reason for taking up the cause. Some were contacted by the Gods or their angels directly, others saw the good the Church could bring and decided to join the cause themselves. Whatever the reason, as a Paladin in New Ashe, you are on a mission of your choosing, which you have devoted themselves to completing.

A Paladin often has a Patron God, who has granted them power while they pursue their quest. In New Ashe, the following Gods are seeking champions to fight on their behalf:

Paladins with the patronage of Beory, Heironeus, or Moradin can find a place in the Church of Pelor and use its resources if you wish. Paladins under Bahamut will be unable to find a space to worship, and if you break or lose your Holy Symbol, you won't be able to replace it in New Ashe.

Paladins are not required to join a faction, as your mission may be a very personal one.

Rangers

A Ranger is extremely helpful in the wilderness of the valley, and training to be one has become a common prospect among explorers in New Ashe. Those who have lived in the valley are particularly useful, and Firbolgs, Aaracokra, and Half-Orcs are likely candidates for Ranger training.

In fact, those who wish to become a ranger must undergo some training with these races to truly master the ability to navigate the Valley. When you become a ranger, think about who your teacher was, and what sort of things they might have taught you about life in the Valley.

If you choose to become a Ranger, you might gain access to the Goodberry spell. Due to the nature of the exploration rules, the function of the Goodberry spell has been altered. You can use Goodberry to reduce the Supply Cost of a day by 1 gp, to a minimum of 0 gp.

Additionally, if you have a feature that prevents you from becoming lost, it means you may re-roll a random encounter if the roll results in you becoming lost. You must use the new roll.

Finally, if you have a feature that increases the amount of food you can harvest on a given day, it instead reduces your Supply Cost on a given day by 1 gp, to a minimum of 1 gp.

You may choose to use the Unearthed Arcana Revised Ranger or Spell-less Ranger. As a Ranger, you may choose from the following Subclasses:

Hunter

(Player's Handbook Page 93) If you were trained by an Aaracokra or Half-Orc, you can choose to become a Hunter. You see the wilderness as a dangerous place, but one you have learned to live in. You can choose to join the Ashlen Army, if you wish. You might be in New Ashe to help defend it from the terror of the Valley, or to complete a personal vendetta against the Orcs who ravaged it.

Rogues

A rogue could be in New Ashe for a number of reasons, none of them perfectly legal. Whether on the run from Ashlen Law, taking advantage of Whitikast Fourere's White Roses, or simply plundering some ancient tombs, you are here for your own reasons and looking for riches to line your pockets.

Rogues usually have some situation that lead them to operate on the wrong side of the law. Someone may have wronged you and gotten away with it, or perhaps you had to resort to breaking the law to survive. Think about what sort of person you are, that you would forsake the protection of the government of Ashlen.

Rogues are not required to join a faction, but if you wish to do so, the White Roses are the only faction that can really put your skills to use.

As a rogue, the following subclasses are available to you:

Assassin

(Player's Handbook Page 97) Your character has mastered the arts of disguise and silent murder. Think about why you might want to gain such skills. Is there someone you want to kill personally, or for a job? They might be in New Ashe or the Valley. Or, perhaps you've already killed someone and are fleeing from the law. Either way, your skill set will make those around you nervous if you show it off.

Scout

(Xanathar's Guide to Everything Page 47) You've learned to navigate the wilderness, but with more regard to hunting and survival than to caring for nature. Your character might have grown up in the wild, or been forced from their home by an Orcish invasion. Wherever you come from, though, your skills will be needed in New Ashe.

Swashbuckler

(Xanathar's Guide to Everything Page 47) You were once a pirate or sailor with a flair for the dramatic. But something happened to force you to leave that life, and come to the landlocked city of New Ashe. Perhaps you were captured and forced to do work to repay your debts, or you lost your ship and must now find the gold for a new one. In the meantime, however, you can gain your own "crew" among the explorers of the White Roses.

Thief

(Player's Handbook Page 97) As a thief, you are certainly on the wrong side of the law. The real question is what you are interested in stealing and why. Are you looking to take the nobility down a peg, Robin Hood-style? Then you might be in New Ashe to hide from the law, or to target these high-and-mighty faction leaders. Or perhaps it's riches you desire, in which case the promise of ancient tombs bursting with treasure will have drawn your attention. No matter what you choose, make sure it's something your rogue can find in New Ashe and the surrounding Valley.

Sorcerers

In Ashlen, sorcerers are considered blessed by the Gods with natural power. However, this "Blessing" is often destructive, chaotic, and causes the sorcerer to become outcast from civil society. In Ashlen, sorcerers operate on the fringes of civilization, sometimes being sought out as oracles of the Gods that granted them power.

Of course, not all sorcerers actually have a conduit to the Gods. But even in New Ashe, they are treated with a mix of caution and reverence, lest the destructive magic they wield be unleashed on those around them. You could be in New Ashe for any reason, but you are only able to join one faction: the White Roses. Any other faction won't take the risk on you.

As a sorcerer, the following subclasses are available to you:

Divine Soul

(Xanathar's Guide to Everything Page 50) As a Divine Soul, you were chosen before birth by a God to spread their cause. You may select nearly any God to have given you this task, not just the ones worshipped in Ashlen. Your Divine Magic is based on the alignment of that God. You may not choose Olidammara or The Shadow. You are in New Ashe for a reason that is your own, but the powers granted by your heritage keep causing trouble for you. You might be trying to rid yourself of the powers, or looking for someone who can Commune with your God to see if the God can take the power back.

Shadow Magic

(Xanathar's Guide to Everything Page 50) Your powers were granted by The Shadow, a minor deity born in the swamps of Ashlen. The Shadow seeks to eliminate those who mar the lands around Ashlen, but it only has power at twilight. It chose you to extend its influence, a cause which you can choose whether or not to accept. If you do accept it, you might be in New Ashe to ensure the land returns to the unsullied state it once held before the Orcs and humans arrives. If you reject it, you could be in New Ashe for your own reasons, or to flee from the swamps where The Shadow has the strongest influence.

Wild Magic

(Player's Handbook Page 103) Your powers were granted to you by Olidammara. Why? Who knows. The God of Revelry is unpredictable and irreverent, and you might as well been an accident. You might be bitter about your powers or have begrudgingly accepted them, but Olidammara definitely hasn't told you why you are the way you are. You probably have your own reasons for being in New Ashe, and they likely have little to do with your powers.

Warlocks

Sorcerers are treated with trepidation in Ashlen, but Warlocks are truly feared. Those who have spoken to the beings on the other side of the veil, made a pact with them (whether or not it was purposeful), and draw power from them can command respect and hatred all at once from the citizenry of Ashlen.

Surprisingly, however, there is a place for Warlocks to study and control their powers in Ashlen. The Stone Scholars of Duzag Kar treat Warlocks with morbid fascination instead of revulsion, and their halls are open to those who have made Dark Pacts.

You have likely come to New Ashe to continue your studies into your unique powers, or to attempt to uncover something that will help you break the bond you share with an otherworldly being.

The Stone Scholars cannot help everyone who comes to their door, however. They have the resources to assist those who have the following patrons:

The Fiend

(Player's Handbook Page 109) You, who have made a deal with the devil, can come to Duzag Kar to better understand terms of the infernal contracts you have signed. There are Scholars devoted to each of the Archdevils of the Nine Hells, whom you would work with to learn more about your powers. For Asmodeus, there is a whole team of scholars and lawyers dedicated to deciphering his legendary decrees, but even then they usually fail to fully comprehend these agreements. To make a deal with the Lord of Baator is to take you soul into your own hands.

The Great Old One

(Player's Handbook Page 109) Duzag Kar would have to turn you down if not for the tireless work of Professor H.R. Mockstone, himself a Warlock of the Old Ones. He has strained his mind nearly to the breaking point in order to learn more about the ancient and terrible beings that grant you and him power. He can read any tome and understand any language, and sometimes assigns his students tasks that have no clear meaning but seem to quell the angry stirrings of their patrons. Perhaps he has assigned you such a quest in New Ashe.

The Hexblade

(Xanathar's Guide to Everything Page 55) Ashlen being a country that worships the Raven Queen for their funeral rites, there are more than a few Hexblades that find their way into the hands of Ashlen citizens. The Scholars of Duzag Kar can help you speak to the being in your blade, understand its wishes, and hopefully allow the two of you to live symbiotically, rather than parasitically. They often send their students on mission to learn the origins of the blade they wield, to better understand its properties and desires.

Wizards

Ashlen is a martial nation, and mastery of magic is not a common pursuit among commoners. Most people would rather have the immediacy of a blade than try to hone magical energy for long years. But the dwarves of the Stone Scholars know better.

To a dwarf, the time needed to take control of magic is not long at all. A decade of life studying is a pittance in comparison to the power arcane control can bring. They are a primary source for spell research, magic items, and spellbooks in Ashlen.

Since arriving in New Ashe, the Scholars have begun to take non-dwarfs into their ranks in order to expand their numbers and ensure they accomplish everything they need to before the Valley is overrun by soldiers. You might be a new recruit, conscripted in New Ashe, or a dwarven veteran of the Scholars here with your companions.

The Dwarves are accomplished mages and can provide instruction in any of the following Schools of Magic:

• Abjuration (Player's Handbook Page 115)
• Conjuration (Player's Handbook Page 116)
• Divination (Player's Handbook Page 116)
• Enchantment (Player's Handbook Page 117)
• Evocation (Player's Handbook Page 117)
• Illusion (Player's Handbook Page 118)
• Transmutation (Player's Handbook Page 119)
• War Magic (Xanathar's Guide to Everything Page 59)

Hex Properties

When a Hex becomes Discovered, four of its properties are immediately revealed.

Hex Tables

In addition to the hex's four properties, a hex has two tables associated with it that are not not entirely revealed when it becomes Discovered.

Example Exploration

Let's say we have a forest hex we want to explore. On the first day, we arrive in the hex and find out its properties:

So we have to pay 5 hit points and 2 gold per character in the party. We also reveal the first entry on the Random Encounter Table, which is wolves.

Since we are ending the day here, we get to roll a d4 on the Discovery Table. We get a 3, revealing the three lowest entries on the Discovery Table. It's Nothing, a burnt down tree, and an Adventure Site labeled "Wolf Den". The Ranger in the party has an Intelligence (Nature) modifier of +4, so they easily determine the Wolf Den is built for a party of Level 2 Adventurers.

On the second day, we have to pay 5 hit points and 2 gold, and reveal the second entry on the Random Encounter Table, which is Constrictor Snakes. Since the forest has a Discovery Time of 2, we don't get to roll on the Discovery Table today.

On the third day, we pay 5 hit points and 2 gold per character, and reveal the next entry on the Random Encounter Table. It's a Brown Bear, but this doesn't necessarily mean we fought a Brown Bear that day. We may have simply seen signs of its existence.

Now that 2 days have passed, we can roll the Discovery Die at the end of the day. Since it is our second roll, the die increases to a d6, which rolls a 4. The 4th entry on the Discovery table is revealed, which is Nothing. At this point, we can continue to spend gold to explore the forest, or leave, or enter the Wolf Den.

Adventure Sites

An adventure site is where your character will find gold, monsters, and experience. You find an Adventuring Site by exploring a hex and rolling on the Discovery Table. Once you've found a site, you mount an expedition to uncover its treasures!

Settlements

Once you have explored the Valley of the Lords for a bit and Conquered a few hexes, you might want to start considering making a settlement, or expanding New Ashe.

A Settlement requires a certain number of Conquered hexes to support its population. These hexes must provide the right mix of resources to support the Settlement, or you won't be able to get things started. There are three types of resource a hex can provide: Food, Construction, or Defense. A hex's resource is determined by the DM, not by the terrain or sites within the hex.

Pillaged Settlements

If the attackers are reduced to 0 Siege Points, they are defeated and retreat. Any resources the settlement lost can be reclaimed at a rate of 1 per week, as long as it has at least 1 natural resource remaining. PCs do not count towards natural resources.

If the settlement has lost all of its natural resources, it is Pillaged. Every hex that was used as a resource in the battle becomes Unknown once again, and the DM repopulates the Random Encounter Table of each hex to include the attackers or their servants.

To reclaim the hexes, you will need to re-explore them and reveal the Random Encounter Table once again. However, the hex that contained the settlement is now Pillaged, with a Danger Ranking of 25 HP and a new entry on its Discovery Table: the ruins of the settlement. In order to reclaim this hex, you must delve this dungeon and defeat the monsters that attacked the settlement.

Example Attack

Let's say a squadron of Orcs attacks one of our Towns.

As a reminder, a Town requires at least 2 Food, 2 Construction, and 2 Defense resources. Let's assume this is what we have available for our Town. Meanwhile, the Orcs number 70 and have 15 hit points each, giving them 5 Siege Points (15 x 70, divided by 200 since they are medium creatures, and rounded down).

On the first day, the Orcs attack. If there are any characters within the Town's Area of Influence, they hear about the attack immediately and would be able to ride to the Town's rescue. However, let's assume they aren't around.

The Orcs would deal 5 damage to the Town, reduced by 2 due the Town's Construction resources. The Town, meanwhile, would deal 2 damage to the Orcs due to its Defense resources. At the end of the day, the Orcs have 3 SP remaining, and the Town has lost 1 Food, 1 Defense, and 1 Construction resource. The Town doesn't have to lose its resources evenly, but it is choosing to.

On the second day, word reaches New Ashe of the attack. But this Town is quite distant, and let's assume no characters can make it out to the Town's defense. The Orcs deal 3 damage to the town, reduced by 1 due to the Town's Construction. The Town deals 1 damage to the Orcs due to their Defenses. The Orcs have 2 SP remaining, but the Town is down to 1 Food resource. They chose to keep the Food because if they had dropped to 0 Food, they would have lost 2 Resources and been overrun.

On the third day, assuming no heroes come to its aid, the Town falls as it has no resources to protect itself from the Orcs. The resource hexes become Unknown, and the Town's hex becomes Pillaged.

Instead, let's say a pair of explorers were in the area and were able to come to the town's aid on the second day.

The characters arrive in town. One raises up a militia to add 1 to the Town's Defense score, and the other barricades the walls to add 1 to the town's Construction score. Now, at the end of the day, the town loses only 1 resource, which they elect to be Defense. Meanwhile, the Orcs lose 2 Siege Points, putting them at 1 SP remaining.

On the third day, the Orcs have 1 SP, while the village has 1 Food, 1 Defense, and 2 Construction resources. They easily rout the remaining Orcs, who retreat back into the wilderness. The day has been saved!

Image Credits

• Cover: https://frankatt.deviantart.com/art/Winter-Is-Gone-421275223
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• Watercolor Stains: http://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/SkKsdJmKf