## Description Once the capital of [[the Julous Dominion]], Zadash sits at the central crossroads of [[the Marrow Valley]] in the southern region of [[the Dwendalian Empire]]. The city is a bastion of law, civilisation, and military might -- its stone walls encircling a sprawling metropolis of trade districts, noble quarters, military garrisons, and underground networks. The skyline is dominated by the spires of the [[Tri-Spires]] district, where political power and wealth concentrate behind guarded gates, while the [[Innerstead Sprawl]] hums with commerce, taverns, and the daily business of tens of thousands of citizens. Beyond the inner walls, the [[Outersteads]] spread outward in a ring of markets, workshops, and residences where the common folk live and work. The party arrived at Zadash in [[Wildemount Session 20|Session 20]] and it became their primary base of operations for the middle arc of the campaign. Within its walls they joined [[the Cobalt Soul]], competed in the [[Victory Pits]] tournament, infiltrated a [[the Road|Road]] smuggling warehouse, explored the [[Blackflow Tangles]] beneath the sewers, travelled through [[Gloom's End]] in the [[Shadowfell]], and earned a property deed to [[Talimman's Rest]]. The city's layered politics -- [[the Cobalt Soul]], [[the Cerberus Assembly]], [[the Dwendalian Empire|the Empire]]'s military apparatus, and the criminal underworld of [[the Road]] and [[the Myriad]] -- provided a web of intrigue that shaped the party's decisions for over fifteen sessions. ## NPCs | Name | Description | Title | Location | | ---- | ----------- | ----- | -------- | | [[Balsashi]] | High [[Archivist]] of the [[the Cobalt Soul|Cobalt Soul]] -- briefed the party on [[the Road]], the stolen ledger, and regional threats | [[High Curator]] | [[Valley Archive of the Cobalt Soul]] | | [[Pumat Sol]] | [[Firbolg]] shopkeeper who runs the magic shop with his simulacra | Shopkeeper | [[Invulnerable Vagrant]] | | [[Martellus Meridius]] | Wealthy noble patron of the [[Victory Pits]], commissioned [[Jericho]]'s expedition to [[Auldi]] | Noble | [[Meridian House]] | | [[Brutus III]] | [[Goliath]] gladiator and leader of [[the Broken Chains]], pursuing [[Thorag Stonefist|Thorag]] | Arena Champion | [[Victory Pits]] | | [[Yadaka Briggman]] | Master of ceremonies at the [[Victory Pits]] tournament | MC/Steward | [[Victory Pits]] | | [[Nolan]] | Local drunk and gutter contact, provided intelligence on kidnappings and the sewer network | Informant | [[Leaky Tap]] | | [[Gungeon Hammerthornne]] | Dwarven carpenter hired to restore [[Talimman's Rest]] | Carpenter | [[the Crooked Peg]] | | [[Cora Kettle]] | Ghost of the former innkeeper of [[Talimman's Rest]], died in a fire searching for her cat Buttons | Ghost | [[Talimman's Rest]] | | [[Edmund Sartarius]] | Claret Orders ally, recurring underground contact | Sewer Guide | [[Zadash Sewers]] | | [[King Ratch]] | Leader of the [[Gutter Court]] denizens beneath Zadash | King of the Gutters | [[Gutter Court]] | | [[Rhogar Veyraath]] | [[the Dwendalian Empire|Crownsguard]] captain who worked with the party during the warehouse investigation | Captain | [[the Dwendalian Empire|Crownsguard]] Garrison | | [[Wynfrenia Steelmane]] | [[the Road|Road]] operative captured at [[Vannerie and Son Shipping]] | Operative | Warehouse District | | [[The Crow]] | Captured [[the Road|Road]] operative (Karen Doulst) who provided intelligence on [[Tazio Sorn]] and [[Elyra Vance]] | Prisoner | Crypts beneath Zadash | | [[Gillian Hall]] | Scholar tied to the stolen ledger investigation, accompanied the party through [[Victory Pits]] | Scholar | [[Valley Archive of the Cobalt Soul]] | | [[Volothamp Geddarm|Volo]] | Famous author, encountered at the [[Leaky Tap]] celebration after the tournament | Author | [[Leaky Tap]] | | [[Sullivan Nixon]] | Contact encountered during the party's investigations | Agent | Various | | [[Sir Loras]] | Leader of Dawn's Debt, honourable rival team in the [[Victory Pits]] | Arena Competitor | [[Victory Pits]] | | [[Virian Ashdancer]] | Elf duelist who fought [[Khan]] one-on-one in the tournament | Arena Competitor | [[Victory Pits]] | | [[Wessick the Trim]] | [[Dragonborn]] barkeep who brews black sand coffee | Barkeep | [[Leaky Tap]] | | Calypso | Blue-furred [[tabaxi]] shopkeeper | Shopkeeper | Wears and Ends | | Tiberius | [[Tabaxi]] clothier | Clothier | Hem and Sigil | | [[Wyatt Fedar]] | Starosta (mayor) of Zadash, congratulated the party after the tournament | Starosta | [[Tri-Spires]] | | [[Roarke]] | [[Tiefling]] in ashen-red half-plate, sought a private word with [[Khan]] | Unknown | [[Victory Pits]] | | [[Sarcelle]] | Sorcerer from [[Rexxentrum]], freed from the [[the Road|Road]] crypt beneath Zadash | Prisoner (freed) | [[Julous Dominion]] crypt | | [[Miriam Valkor]] | Performer imprisoned for investigating noble family secrets, freed by the party | Prisoner (freed) | The Gilded Lark | | [[Linzi Landon]] | [[Halfling]] historian tracking death record discrepancies, freed by the party | Researcher | Julous Dominion crypt | | [[Elyra Vance]] | [[the Road|Road]] operative with a poisoned whip, fought the party in the ritual chamber | Operative | Ritual chamber | | [[Jareth Stonevein]] | Dwarf who recognised [[Ray Clawbreaker|Ray]]'s armour, called him "Kyren Sunpride" | Unknown | Ritual chamber | | [[Joyce Wyatt]] | Kindhearted elder cook in the [[Gutter Court]], former daycare worker | Cook | [[Gutter Court]] | | [[Jericho]] | "Two-Tap" Vale, expedition leader commissioned by [[Martellus Meridius]] | Expedition Lead | [[Leaky Tap]] | | [[Salenti's Fortunes|Salenti]] | Silver-braided [[half-elf]] fortune teller at the festival | Fortune Teller | Festival grounds | | Ophelia | [[Half-orc]] woman running the bathhouse | Proprietor | [[Steam's Respite]] | ## Locations | Location | Description | Owner/Operator | | -------- | ----------- | -------------- | | [[Valley Archive of the Cobalt Soul]] | Regional headquarters of the [[the Cobalt Soul|Cobalt Soul]] -- library, intelligence hub | [[Balsashi]] | | [[Victory Pits]] | Arena complex where the tournament was held | [[Martellus Meridius]] (patron) | | [[Leaky Tap]] | The party's primary tavern and lodging in Zadash | Unknown | | [[Invulnerable Vagrant]] | Magic shop run by a [[firbolg]] and his simulacra | [[Pumat Sol]] | | [[the Evening Nip]] | Rundown dive bar where [[the Broken Chains]] were lodged | Dwarven barkeep | | [[Talimman's Rest]] | Property awarded to the party after the tournament, haunted by [[Cora Kettle|Kettle]] | Party (deed from [[Martellus Meridius]]) | | [[the Crooked Peg]] | Carpentry shop where [[Gungeon Hammerthornne]] works | [[Gungeon Hammerthornne]] | | [[Steam's Respite]] | Bathhouse in the [[Tri-Spires]] district | Unknown | | [[Heart of the Allhammer]] | Dwarven temple of [[Moradin]] | Priestesses | | [[Meridian House]] | Estate of [[Martellus Meridius]] | [[Martellus Meridius]] | | [[Vannerie and Son Shipping]] | Warehouse used by [[the Road]] for smuggling operations | [[the Road]] front | | [[Zadash Sewers]] | Sewer network beneath the city, entrance to the [[Blackflow Tangles]] | [[Edmund Sartarius]] (guide) | | [[Gutter Court]] | Underground community beneath Zadash, ruled by [[King Ratch]] | [[King Ratch]] | | [[Blackflow Tangles]] | Fungal cavern network beneath the sewers, ratling territory | [[the Rattling Prince]] (defeated) | | [[Tri-Spires]] | Wealthiest district, home to noble estates and the [[Valley Archive of the Cobalt Soul|Archive]] | Noble houses | | [[Innerstead Sprawl]] | Central commercial district -- shops, taverns, markets | Various | | [[Outersteads]] | Outer ring of residences, workshops, and common markets | Various | | Wears and Ends | Cluttered corner shop in the [[Pentamarket]] | Calypso | | Hem and Sigil | Fine clothier in the Pentamarket | Tiberius | | [[Salenti's Fortunes]] | Fortune teller tent near the [[Victory Pits]] festival | Salenti | | The Gilded Lark | Establishment in the [[Tri-Spires]] where [[Miriam Valkor]] stayed | Unknown | | The Hissing Anvil | Blacksmith near [[Talimman's Rest]] | Sholan | | Marrow Keep | Military fortification visible from the banking ward | [[the Dwendalian Empire|Crownsguard]] | | The Last Stitch | Abandoned cobbler storehouse in the sewers | Abandoned | | [[Raven's Den]] | Graveyard and temple -- arrival point from the [[Shadowfell]] | [[The Raven Queen]] | | [[Julous Dominion]] Crypt | Ancient Halyx family tomb beneath Zadash, [[the Road|Road]] hideout | [[the Road]] | ## Factions | Faction | Description | Key NPCs | | ------- | ----------- | -------- | | [[the Cobalt Soul]] | Monastic order of [[Ioun]], intelligence network | [[Balsashi]], [[Ilan Voltaire]] | | [[the Dwendalian Empire]] | Imperial government and military | [[Rhogar Veyraath]], [[Wyatt Fedar]] (Starosta) | | [[the Road]] | Criminal syndicate -- smuggling, artifact trafficking | [[Tazio Sorn]], [[The Crow]], [[Wynfrenia Steelmane]] | | [[the Myriad]] | Criminal organisation with connections to [[the Road]] | Referenced | | [[the Cerberus Assembly]] | Conclave of powerful mages | Referenced in intelligence briefings | | [[the Broken Chains]] | [[Victory Pits]] rival team, pursuing [[Thorag Stonefist|Thorag]] | [[Brutus III]] | | [[Gutter Court]] | Underground community of sewer-dwellers beneath Zadash | [[King Ratch]] | | [[the Julous Dominion]] | Ancient pre-[[the Dwendalian Empire|Dwendalian]] empire -- ruins and crypt beneath Zadash | Defunct | | [[House Meridius]] | Noble house sponsoring the [[Victory Pits]] and expeditions | [[Martellus Meridius]] | | Dawn's Debt | Adventuring team with [[Bahamut]] sigil, honourable [[Victory Pits]] competitors | [[Sir Loras]] | | [[Rust and Rhyme]] | Adventuring team, [[Victory Pits]] competitors | Unknown | | [[The Black Veil]] | Adventuring team, eliminated by chimera in the tournament | Unknown | | [[the Brazen Chorus]] | Adventuring team with brass instruments, [[Victory Pits]] competitors | Unknown | ## Sessions | Session | Summary | | ------- | ------- | | [[Wildemount Session 20]] | Arrival at Zadash -- gate checkpoint, [[Leaky Tap]], [[the Cobalt Soul|Cobalt Soul]] archive, meeting [[Balsashi]], [[Michael]] joins the party | | [[Wildemount Session 21]] | Scouting [[Vannerie and Son Shipping]], [[Victory Pits]] registration, drinking with [[Nolan]], night infiltration of the warehouse | | [[Wildemount Session 22]] | Warehouse fight, [[Wynfrenia Steelmane|Steelmane]] captured, ledger returned to [[Balsashi]], Dawnstar fragment lore | | [[Wildemount Session 23]] | [[Invulnerable Vagrant]] shopping, bank visit, [[the Evening Nip]] investigation, [[Heart of the Allhammer]] relic return, festival games | | [[Wildemount Session 24]] | [[Victory Pits]] tournament -- [[Khan]] vs [[Virian Ashdancer]], team battles, hydra fight, [[Brutus III]] challenges [[Thorag Stonefist|Thorag]] | | [[Wildemount Session 25]] | Tournament finale vs [[the Broken Chains]], [[Martellus Meridius]] awards prizes and deed to [[Talimman's Rest]], after-party | | [[Wildemount Session 26]] | Shadow demon battle at [[Talimman's Rest]], meeting [[Gungeon Hammerthornne]], summoning [[Billy Thomas|Billy]], ghost of [[Cora Kettle|Kettle]] | | [[Wildemount Session 27]] | Descending into [[Zadash Sewers|the sewers]], meeting [[Edmund Sartarius|Edmund]], fighting [[Otyugh|Otyughs]], discovering the [[Gutter Court]] | | [[Wildemount Session 28]] | Deeper into [[Blackflow Tangles]] -- [[the Dwendalian Empire|Crownsguard]] checkpoint, ratling patrols, multi-room settlement battle | | [[Wildemount Session 29]] | [[Ratling Oracle|Chittermass]] fight, secret corridor, breaching the ritual chamber, [[Ratling Oracle]] battle | | [[Wildemount Session 30]] | Ratling warren cleared, [[the Rattling Prince]] defeated, return to [[Gutter Court]], [[Vine Lord]] battle | | [[Wildemount Session 31]] | Northern tunnel exploration, [[the Julous Dominion|Julous Dominion]] crypt, wights and shadow bandits, freeing [[Sarcelle]] | | [[Wildemount Session 32]] | Cult disguises and ambush, capturing [[The Crow]], discovering [[the Road]]'s library, rescuing [[Miriam Valkor]] and [[Linzi Landon]] | | [[Wildemount Session 33]] | Water elementals, flooding the complex, ritual chamber, [[Lord Veynar]] rescued, transported to [[Gloom's End]] | | [[Wildemount Session 34]] | Navigating [[Gloom's End]] -- corpse market, [[Sangora]] encounter, [[Khan]]'s tattoo, shadow [[the Cobalt Soul|Cobalt Soul]] research | | [[Wildemount Session 35]] | Vampire spawn ambush, [[Dolandar Mausoleum]], "[[Beyond the Barred Horizon]]" read, portal home, [[Jareth Stonevein]] reveals [[Ray Clawbreaker|Ray]]'s father | | [[Wildemount Session 36]] | Return to Zadash -- meeting [[Jericho]]'s crew, shopping at [[Pumat Sol]]'s, [[Thorag Stonefist|Thorag]]'s promotion, reporting to [[Balsashi]] | | [[Wildemount Session 37]] | Departing Zadash with [[Jericho]]'s crew -- campfire backstory revelations, ferry ambush |