The Shadow Vale Player's Guide

The Shadow Vale Player’s Guide is a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Compatible campaign setting based in a ‘pocket kingdom’ in the heart of Maras, Western Oljanus, in the Torn World.

With a towering cliff to the west, an ancient and impenetrable forest to the north, and a vast lake to the south, Shadow Vale is cut off from the rest of the world. No one comes in, no one leaves. Few outsiders even know it exists.

But all around—from the wilderness littered with ruins, to the mysterious statues in the heart of the human settlement of Rune—there are signs that this is an ancient land, and yet few clues of who and what came before.

This guide seeks to provide you with the information you need to know as a player or GM before entering Shadow Vale as dauntless adventurers. Who lives within each settlement, what do they care about, and what do they think of each other? If trade does not come into the ‘Vale, what equipment is for sale, from where, and how is it paid for? What gods are worshipped, and how does this affect each faction’s opinion of outside people?

The information in this guide will not only help you understand the ‘Vale and its inhabitants, but will also prolong the lives of our humble adventurers, for we all really hope that you do not accidentally stumble into Plas-Tok territory ill-prepared, or erroneously try to hug a Vastersund Raider. You do know what a Vastersund Raider is, right? No? Then that’s why you need this guide ...

“What of this region?” Tribune Spurius de Geta stabbed at the map with leather-clad fingers.

“Barbarians.” The answer was short and curt. It carried with it a tone that indicated that so much more meaning was implied within the single word. “We know little of the region save that to get there you have to cut your way through hostile forestry, swim a lake, or wade through a swamp while peeling funnel leeches off your skin. It’s not a pleasant place.”

Spurius watched as the older Olcinius leaned heavily on the table and—with broad strokes of his hand—continued. “Our scouts indicate that there is no way up the cliff face … here.” Olcinius traced a dark line on the map. “This swamp, this forest, and this lake make the region nigh on impenetrable. Add to this the hostile natives and all you really have is a pocket of barbarism with little or no redeeming features.”

Olcinius scowled openly. “If we’re going to talk to Konungr Hoth Grimnismál in Blessed Gorge, the northern route is the only way, there’s nothing for us in Shadow Vale.”

The Shadow Vale Player's Guide includes:

• A foreword by the renowned miniatures sculptor Jason Wiebe
• Detailed discussion on races and classes in Shadow Vale
• Recommended character traits
• Rules on Trade & Barter
• New weapons and armor
• Over a half dozen detailed maps of Shadow Vale and the settlements
• Full color twin-moon lunar calendar
• Over 30 gods detailed, each with their unqiue symbol