Mists swallow your party and deposit you in Duskvale — a valley of eternal twilight ruled by the vampire lord Count Vorlag von Draken. There is no escape from his domain, only the desperate hope that you can find his weaknesses and destroy him before he claims you as his eternal playthings. This is gothic horror at its finest: a land where hope is a weapon, death is a revolving door, and the monster in the castle has been expecting you.
Story Arcs
Welcome to Duskvale
The party is drawn into the valley of Duskvale and discovers the nature of their prison. The village of Duskvale is a place of fear, and the road to Crowhollow is fraught with danger.
The Search for Allies
To defeat Vorlag, the party needs allies, artifacts, and knowledge. The fortune teller Madame Vespera has foretold where these can be found — but each location holds its own horrors.
Castle Crimson
Armed with artifacts and allies, the party ascends to Castle Crimson for the final confrontation with the lord of the land. But Vorlag has been playing games with them all along.
Session Outlines
These outlines are for planning reference only. Actual sessions are not created by the template.
Into the Mists
The party encounters mysterious mists that transport them to Duskvale. They follow a road through a dark forest to the village of Duskvale, where they meet terrified villagers and learn of the vampire Vorlag who rules this land. A plea for help from Markov leads them to his sister Elena, whom Vorlag has targeted.
Death House
Before leaving the village, the party investigates a haunted house where ghostly children beg for help. The house is a dungeon in miniature — each floor descends deeper into horror, culminating in a sacrificial basement. The house is a microcosm of Duskvale itself: beautiful on the surface, rotten beneath.
The Road to Crowhollow
The party escorts Elena toward Crowhollow, hoping to find safety. The journey passes the Mist-Wanderers camp at Mirror Pool, where Madame Vespera reads their fortunes — a card reading that determines the locations of key items and allies for the entire campaign. Encounters on the road include wolves and revenants.
Crowhollow — Town of False Hope
Crowhollow appears civilized but hides madness beneath the surface. The burgomaster forces weekly festivals to maintain "happiness." The church harbors a dangerous secret in its basement. The Mist-Wanderers camp outside town has its own dynamics. Multiple quest hooks emerge.
The Bones of St. Andral
The church's protective bones have been stolen, leaving it vulnerable to Count Vorlag's attack. The party must find and return them before sunset, or the church — and its refugees — are doomed. The trail leads through Crowhollow's political intrigues and criminal underbelly.
The Wizard of Wines
Crowhollow's wine supply — the only comfort in Duskvale — has stopped flowing. The party travels to the Wizard of Wines winery to discover it has been overrun by druids serving Vorlag. Reclaiming the winery provides a key ally and vital resources.
Silverwing Keep
The party explores the ruined mansion of the Order of the Silver Dragon — knights who fought Vorlag centuries ago. Their spirits linger as revenants, unable to find peace. The dragon Argynvost's skull, taken as a trophy by Vorlag, must be returned to lay them to rest and gain their blessing.
Highcroft and the Abbey
The village of Highcroft shelters behind walls, fearful of everything outside. Above it, the Abbey of Saint Markovia is run by a mad angel who creates flesh golems in a twisted attempt to create a bride for Vorlag. The party must deal with the angel and his abominations.
The Obsidian Sanctum
High in the mountains lies the Obsidian Sanctum, where dark vestiges are imprisoned in amber sarcophagi. Each offers terrible power at a terrible price. This is where Vorlag first gained his vampiric powers. The temple is guarded by arcanaloth and other dangerous entities.
Count Vorlag's Invitation
Vorlag sends a formal dinner invitation to the party. Attending reveals his charm, intelligence, and complete control over the situation. He toys with the party, demonstrating his power while probing for their weaknesses. The dinner is a trap — but refusing is also dangerous.
Van Holtz's Tower
The legendary monster hunter Van Holtz is hiding in Duskvale. His tower on Lake Baratok is warded against Count Vorlag's scrying. Finding him provides crucial knowledge about Count Vorlag's weaknesses. Van Holtz is paranoid but ultimately becomes the party's most valuable ally.
Whispering Tor
The druids who serve Vorlag conduct dark rituals at Whispering Tor, calling forth a living tree infused with evil. The party must disrupt the ritual, destroy the tree, and recover one of the artifacts foretold by Madame Vespera's reading.
Preparing for Shadowvale
With artifacts gathered and allies rallied, the party prepares for the assault on Castle Crimson. Last-minute loose ends are tied up, equipment is prepared, and the party steels themselves for the final confrontation. Vorlag sends a warning — or a taunt.
Castle Crimson
The party enters Castle Crimson. The castle is enormous, spanning multiple towers, crypts, and halls. Vorlag appears and disappears, testing the party, separating them, and wearing them down. Each room tells a piece of his tragic history. The artifacts pulse with energy as they near their purpose.
The Lord of Duskvale
The final confrontation with Vorlag in his chosen arena within the castle. He fights with centuries of experience, supernatural powers, and complete knowledge of his own castle. The artifacts are the key to weakening him. Victory means freedom from Duskvale; defeat means eternal servitude. Even in death, Vorlag promises he will return — for the curse of Duskvale can never truly be lifted.
NPCs
Count Vorlag von Draken
Vampire · Lord of Duskvale
The master of Castle Crimson and the entire domain of Duskvale. A brilliant military commander in life, he made a pact with dark powers for immortality and murdered his brother to claim his bride — who chose death over Count Vorlag's embrace. Now he rules an eternal prison, endlessly seeking a replacement for his lost love. Charming, intelligent, and utterly without mercy.
Elena Kolev
Human · Duskvalian Noblewoman
The latest incarnation of Count Vorlag's lost love, Ilona. She is brave, compassionate, and determined not to become Count Vorlag's prisoner. She has been bitten twice — a third bite would make her a vampire spawn. The party must protect her while she proves herself a capable ally in her own right.
Markov Kolev
Human · Village Leader
Elena's brother and the burgomaster's son. Called "Markov the Lesser" by villagers who compare him unfavorably to his father. He is brave but overwhelmed, desperate to get Elena somewhere safe. His devotion to his sister is absolute.
Madame Vespera
Mist-Wanderers · Fortune Teller
An ancient Mist-Wanderers seer who reads the party's fortune with her tarokka deck. Her reading determines the locations of the artifacts and allies needed to defeat Vorlag. She is far more than she appears — her connection to Duskvale runs deeper than anyone suspects.
Rudolph Van Holtz
Human · Monster Hunter
The legendary monster hunter, now old and haunted by decades of loss. He entered Duskvale to destroy Vorlag and has been hiding ever since, gathering intelligence and preparing. Paranoid and mistrustful, but once he accepts the party as allies, his knowledge and courage are invaluable.
Ezmerelda d'Avenir
Human · Monster Hunter Apprentice
Van Holtz's former student, now searching for him in Duskvale. A skilled fighter and investigator with a prosthetic leg and a wagon full of monster-hunting supplies. Braver and more optimistic than her mentor, she provides a much-needed spark of energy.
Kasimir Velikov
Dusk Elf · Elder and Scholar
The leader of the dusk elves, whose people were nearly destroyed by Vorlag. He seeks the Obsidian Sanctum to find a way to resurrect his dead sister. His knowledge of ancient lore and the dark powers makes him a valuable but potentially dangerous ally.
Malrik
Dusk Elf · Count Vorlag's Chamberlain
Count Vorlag's most loyal servant, a dusk elf who betrayed his own people to serve the vampire lord. He is surrounded by the screams of his victims — a psychic aura that can incapacitate the unprepared. Deadly in combat and utterly devoted to his master.
Locations
Village of Duskvale
A village of boarded windows and locked doors huddled in the shadow-sm of Castle Crimson. The inhabitants live in constant fear, rarely venturing out after dark. The church is one of the few places of relative safety, though even its protection is failing.
Crowhollow
A walled town that attempts to maintain normalcy through mandatory weekly festivals. Beneath the forced cheer lies fear, political intrigue, and dark secrets. The burgomaster rules through intimidation disguised as optimism. Multiple factions compete for control.
Castle Crimson
Count Vorlag's ancient fortress, perched on a pillar of stone a thousand feet above the village of Duskvale. The castle is enormous — dozens of rooms across multiple towers, connected by dark corridors and secret passages. Vorlag knows every inch and can appear anywhere. The crypts beneath hold centuries of the dead — and worse.
The Obsidian Sanctum
An ancient temple high in the mountains where dark vestiges — entities of immense evil — are imprisoned in amber sarcophagi. Each vestige offers power in exchange for corruption. This is where Vorlag first made his pact. The temple is guarded by ancient defenses and the entities within constantly tempt visitors.
Silverwing Keep
The ruined mansion of the Order of the Silver Dragon, knights who fought Vorlag and were destroyed. Their spirits linger as revenants, trapped between rage and despair. The dragon Argynvost's beacon, if restored, provides hope to all of Duskvale.
The Wizard of Wines Winery
The only source of wine in Duskvale — and wine is one of the few comforts the people have. The winery has been in the Martikov family for generations. The family are secretly wereravens who oppose Vorlag. The winery is currently under siege by evil druids.
Mirror Pool and Mist-Wanderers Camp
The Mist-Wanderers camp at Mirror Pool is one of the few colorful, lively places in Duskvale. The Mist-Wanderers can travel freely through the mists — a privilege granted by Vorlag. Madame Vespera holds court here, and the Mist-Wanderers trade, sing, and tell stories around their campfires.
Quests
Protect Elena
Escort Elena Kolev to safety. She has been bitten twice by Vorlag — a third bite will make her his forever. Find a place in Duskvale where even Vorlag cannot reach her.
Madame Vespera's Fortune
Madame Vespera's tarokka reading reveals the locations of three artifacts and an ally that can help defeat Vorlag. Find them all before confronting the vampire lord.
The Bones of St. Andral
The church in Crowhollow has lost the holy relics that protect it from Count Vorlag's forces. Find and return the bones before the church is attacked at sunset.
Restore the Beacon
The dragon Argynvost's skull was taken by Vorlag as a trophy. Return it to Silverwing Keep to light the beacon and give hope to all of Duskvale — a powerful symbolic and magical act.
Destroy Vorlag
The ultimate quest. Armed with artifacts, allies, and knowledge, confront Count Vorlag von Draken in Castle Crimson. Only by destroying the lord of the land can the party hope to escape Duskvale.
Encounters
Wolves of the Svalich Road
Packs of wolves, some dire, stalk the party on the road. These are Count Vorlag's eyes and ears — he sees through them and may choose to attack or simply observe.
Death House Basement
The sacrificial chamber beneath Death House contains a shambling mound and the ghostly echoes of past sacrifices. The house itself begins to turn against the party as they try to leave.
Druids of Whispering Tor
Count Vorlag's druid servants conduct a dark ritual to create a blight tree. The party must fight through berserking druids and animated blights to disrupt the ceremony.
The Obsidian Sanctum Guardians
Ancient guardians protect the Obsidian Sanctum. A powerful fiend oversees the vault and tests all who enter with riddles and combat.
Count Vorlag von Draken
The final battle with the lord of Duskvale in Castle Crimson. Vorlag phases through walls, summons minions, and uses the castle itself against the party.
Factions
The Keepers of the Feather
Neutral Good
A secret society of wereravens who oppose Vorlag from the shadows. Led by the Martikov family, they operate the Wizard of Wines winery and the Blue Water Inn in Crowhollow. They provide intelligence and safe haven but lack the power to confront Vorlag directly.
The Mist-Wanderers
True Neutral
Traveling people who can move freely through Duskvale's mists. Most serve Vorlag in exchange for this freedom, acting as his spies and agents. A few, like Madame Vespera, have their own agendas. They are not inherently evil — they are survivors making the best of a terrible situation.
Count Vorlag's Court
Lawful Evil
The vampire lord's inner circle: Malrik his chamberlain, his vampire spawn brides, and the various servants and spies who do his bidding. They enforce his will throughout Duskvale and ensure no one escapes his domain.
The Order of the Silver Dragon
Lawful Good
The ghostly remnants of knights who fought Vorlag centuries ago. Trapped as revenants, they alternate between rage and despair. If the party can restore their beacon and give them peace, they may aid in the final battle against Vorlag.
Recommended Characters
Pre-built characters designed for this campaign setting. Create them separately from the character templates page.
Sir Alaric Morningstar
Human · Paladin · Level 3
A paladin sworn to an Oath of Vengeance against all undead, drawn into Duskvale by the dark mists. Alaric hunts Count Vorlag von Draken with holy steel and righteous fury, but the Dread Lord has broken better men than him.
Dawn Priestess Ilyana
Elf · Cleric · Level 3
An elven cleric of the Light domain who was drawn into Duskvale's perpetual twilight. Ilyana carries the light of the dawn into a land that has forgotten what sunlight looks like, serving as a beacon of hope in a realm of despair.
Use This Template
Create a new campaign pre-populated with all the arcs, NPCs, locations, quests, encounters, and factions from this template.