Grace of the Emperor

© 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved.
For the last couple of months, I have been working on a new campaign setting for an upcoming home game. Accumulating the lore piece by piece, concept by concept, I grew quite attached to this little world I call Oswor. Inspired by the great Vaults of Vaarn, I decided to share some parts of Oswor that excite me.

Three nations populate the continent of Oswor: Cani, Ursi and Humans. Despite what some modern historians might let you believe, their joined history stretches way before the Emperor's Landing.

While some might consider the old ways barbarian and uncultured, the truth is it was a relatively peaceful and quiet time. Ursi hunters lived in their clans in the glaciers of Merzlota. Human blacksmiths and farmers lead their life in the forests of Foothills. Finally, Cani nomads crossed the great planes of Engein, their trade serving as the connective web of the three nations. Of course, Osworians knew conflict and war. However, they were not prepared for the bloodlust and brutality of Khanacs.

Erupting from the earth, massive mindless beasts killed the people of Oswor with unmatched ferocity. Only a couple monsters were enough to level an entire village. With mandibles capable of crushing forged iron and carapace easily brushing off arrows and swords alike, Khanacs were unstoppable. When all hope was lost, salvation came from the sky.

The Guiding Light. The Beacon of Hope. The Immortal Emperor. Descending like the Sun itself from his airship, evaporizing the beasts with his mighty Artillery Lenses, the Emperor saved Oswor from bloodthirsty Khanacs. Blessed be the day of the Emperor's Landing. Blessed be the 300 years of his fair rule. Blessed be the Radiant Empire.