Settlement Type: Trade City
Region: The Free Lands
Government: Ruling Council
Ruler: The Darkshine and Kurgan Clans
Population: ~45,000
Defenders: The Hellriders, City Watch, Temple Militias
Symbol: Stylized Head of the Tarrasque
Notable Landmark: High Hall, the Obsidian Pit
Overview
The'Rune is a stern and luminous city built upon a high bluff overlooking a broad trade road, and a nearby river. Its upper streets are all pale stone, bell towers, shrines, courts, and formal gardens, while its lower quarters are crowded with warehouses, ferries, workshops, and market squares. For generations, The'Rune was held as a bastion of law, piety, and safety. Merchants came for its markets and trade traffic.
Refugees came for the protection of the Hellriders and the Paladins of the city. Before it's fall into hell, and its subsequent return, it was also protected by the divine radiance of a device call The Companion; a radiant star that burned above the city.
New Sigil of The'rune
History
Shattered Age
The'rune began as a fortified settlement overlooking a vital crossing of river and road. Its position made it a natural strongpoint against raiders, monsters, and the unrest of the borderlands. Over time, walls rose, towers thickened, and shrines gathered around the hilltop keep. During the Shattered Age of Feng, when the forces of the Dark God ran amok in the Freelands, The'rune was once of the few fortified settlements to hold out against these forces.
The Sundering
The'rune was once directly next to the Elven Settlement of Moonstair. These cities were often rivals, if not openly hostile to each other. During one of these breakdowns in diplomacy, an unknown elven archmage used forbidden magic to move the entire settlement of Moonstair further down the river, away from The'rune.
Circle of the Eight
During a time of steep religious turmoil, where avatars of ancient long lost gods again walked the earth, The'rune became the center of worship for these returned gods; known then as the Circle of the Eight.
During the final years of The'Rune's monarchy, the city became one of the most organized power bases of the circle. Queen Katarina exiled the Hellriders, formed an arm loyal to her and pushed the Circle's faith and influence within the city. This push was centered around a larger goal to seize the Tower of Ascension itself. Her motivation was uncertain, some say she was driven mad by the death of her betrothed and scandalous wedding, others say she simply sought power and a seat among the gods themselves.
The Queen's army was ultimately defeated, and Queen herself killed, by an army of northern Dwarves accompanied by the mortal forms of Sylvester, Gurkel, and the adventurers of The Foamy Four. After the Queen's death and the exposure of the Cirlce of the Eight as a Feng-led conspiracy, The Hellriders were able to bring the city back into the fold of the true gods and installed a ruling council to govern the city.
Main Article: The Circle of Eight
The Fall
One senior ruler of The'rune, Thavius Kreeg’s enterned into a dark pact with the Archdevil Zariel, ruler of Avernus, when the city was being overrun by vampire-led undead. Kreeg, then a priest of Krom, prayed for salvation, and Zariel answered. In exchange for saving the city, she provided the Companion, a “second sun” that destroyed the vampire threat and made Kreeg a celebrated savior.
However, the price of this salvation was steep. Kreeg agreed to surrender all lands under the Companion’s light and the souls of all who were oath-bound to defend the city after fifty years. He later spread the Creed Resolute, an oath of loyalty sworn by Hellriders and Paladins, across the realm, binding even more souls to that hidden contract.
The'rune fell when Kreeg’s secret pact with Zariel came due: the Companion darkened, infernal chains seized the city, and it was dragged into Avernus above the Styx. Refugees fled, while those trapped within endured devils, demons, famine, and ruin around High Hall. A group of adventures traveled into Avernus to save the city; eventually recovering the Sword of Zariel, awakening the angel’s lost conscience. Restored to her celestial form, Zariel shattered the corrupted Companion, freeing a planetar bound within and breaking The'rune’s infernal bondage. The released celestial then raised the city from Hell and returned it safely to Urth, though the scars and damage run deep.
The Companion, Darkened
Geography
The'rune rises around a defensible hill above the Scarlet River, with High Hall crowning the height and the lower city spreading across the flatter ground below. A ravine and canal help divide the upper and lower portions, while the Garden runs along the ridge like a long green spine through the city.
City Layout
Districts
High Hall
| This clifftop castle is the crowning architectural jewel of The'Rune. Both the main cathedral and center of city governance it stands above the rest of the city on a high cliff face. After the last ruling Monarch, Queen Katarina, was deposed by the last of the chosen and their dwarven allies, the new found ruling counsel took up residence. Replacing the Circle of the Eight Cathedral, High Hall was rededicated to Krom, Talic and Torgo, although most gods have representation in decorated halls. Perhaps the most impressive feature of High Hall is its massive pipe organ, which can be used to call the faithful from throughout the city. There is also a massive undercroft that can be used to shelter citizens during a siege or similar disaster. |
Dock District
| The Dock District spreads across the lower flatlands beside the river and serves as the city’s working heart. Warehouses, stockyards, wagonyards, traders, and riverfront businesses crowd its streets, making it louder, dirtier, and more practical than the upper city. It is the district of labor, commerce, freight, and everyday movement. |
Market District
| As a useful local subdivision, the Market District can be treated as the eastern commercial quarter of the Dock District centered on Shiarra’s Market. Here the city becomes dense, noisy, and colorful, with crammed stalls, produce, caravans, barges, and haggling merchants pressing together in a maze of trade. It is the public face of Elturel’s lower-city commerce. The Market District is also the home of the newly built Obsidian Pit, a gladiatorial arena where one can watch and bet on fights while discussing business. |
Ezric Darkshine placing bets at the Obsidian Pit
Westerly District
| Westerly is the cleaner and more prosperous western portion of the lower city, where wealthier homes, better-kept shops, and more orderly streets soften the harsher character of the docks. It feels like a bridge between noble refinement and mercantile life, making it a useful middle ground between the High District and the riverfront labor wards. |
Government
Once a Monarchy, the city is now ruled but a ruling council of the four district rulers. After the council members were killed during the Fall into Avernus, they were replaced with members of the Darkshine and Kurgan clan members who saved the city in Avernus.
- Bramburt Darkshine - M Halfling Paladin - High District
- Bik Darkshine - M Halfling Cleric - Market District
- Gorn Kurgan - M Human Rogue - Westerly District
- Ezric Darkshine - M Halfling Sorcerer - Docks District
Below the District leaders, the bureaucracy of The'rune is maintained by magistrates, temple canons, sworn record-keepers, bridge captains, and gate officers. Law in The'rune is visible, formal, and often severe.
Religion
Though many lawful and benevolent powers are honored in The'Rune, the city’s public identity centers upon duty, vigilance, sacrifice, and civic holiness.
The most commonly worshipped gods in the city are:
- Krom
- Torgo
- Magnore
- Talic
- Vauchy
In the final years before the final ascension, the dominant religion was The Circle of the Eight; imposed upon the population by the cities last monarch, Queen Katarina. This faith quickly fell apart after it was revealed to be a larger conspiracy constructed by the evil god Feng.
Economy
The'rune draws its wealth from four main sources:
- grain and produce from the surrounding farmlands
- river commerce and ferry traffic
- caravan trade through the Free Lands
- pilgrimage and temple activity
Its lower quarters are full of coster houses, warehouses, drovers, copyists, shrines, bed-houses, stables, bargemen, and food merchants. Though the Crown District speaks endlessly of piety, the Dock District knows that cities survive on sacks of grain and men willing to unload them.
Trade Partners: The Winterlands, The Burning Sea, The Corsair Seas, Dwarven Holds, The Free Lands
Military and Orders
| Hellriders | The oldest and most celebrated mounted defenders of The'Rune. Traditionally responsible for patrol, escort, road defense, and rapid response, they are tied deeply to the city’s heroic image |
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| Order of the Companion | A more formal holy order founded in the age of the Companion. They serve as elite defenders, doctrinal enforcers, and symbols of the city’s sacred mission. |
| City Watch | Drawn from both lower and upper quarters, the watch handles common law, gate security, and urban unrest. In times of catastrophe, many die trying to preserve order long after order has become impossible. |
| Captain Zodge |  | Captain Zodge is a hard-nosed former Iron Circle officer who treats crisis as a tool for control, leaning on pressure, intimidation, and expediency rather than idealism. He presents himself as a dutiful soldier, but beneath that discipline he is ambitious, opportunistic, and willing to use other people as disposable assets if it helps him tighten his grip on the situation. Gaining the favor of the Darkshines; he left The'rune to help oversee the city watch of The'rune |
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| The Hellriders | |
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| The Hellriders are famed warrior-knights of The'rune, serving as cavalry, guardians, and champions of the city’s laws and people. Revered across the region, they earned their name from the legend that they rode into Hell itself beside Zariel. Though later generations honored that tale as proof of unmatched courage, the order’s history is shadowed by terrible loss and buried guilt. To The'rune, however, the Hellriders still stand for duty, sacrifice, and defiance against evil. |
Notable NPCs
| Bik Darkshine | Elder Sibling of the Darkshine Clan and Cleric of Gurkle. Lawful man and always supportive of his siblings. Member of the ruling council of The'rune, overseeing the Market District. |
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| Bramburt Darkshine | Halfling Paladin of Talic and Member of the Darkshine Clan. Member of the ruling counsel, overseeing High Hall. Rarely parted from his faithful mount, a flying Warcat. |
| Gorn Kurgan | Human Noble from the famed Kurgan Klan of the Well lands, now a member of the Ruling Counsel. Enjoys drink, sensory enchancing substances and members of the fairer gender. |
| Ezric Darkshine | Halfling Sorcerer of the Darkshine Clan. Member of the ruling council overseeing the Dock District. Enjoys a good smoke. Spends downtime with other nobles watching and betting on matches in the Obsidian Pit. Very High Constitution. |
| Corven Darkshine | Halfling Member of the Darkshine Clan. Warlock in service to Marrow/Zariel. Transformed into a half-celestial after retrieving the Sword of Zariel; Corven now seeks to enforce noble justice as the leader of the Hellriders. Travels with his celestial familar, a cat names 'Mr. Mittens' |
| Reya Mantlemorn | Young Human Fighter and member of the Hellriders. Now second in command of the Hellriders after the city returned from Avernus. |
Media
Gorn Kurgan on a Fox Hunt
Bik Darkshine overseeing City Financing
Brambert playing the Organ of High Hall
