In the Isle of Ealdun setting, between the land of the gods and the mortal lands, lies a land of monsters–the Cha’lon. It is a land of awesome beauty–and terrifying evil.
The Land of the Monsters
The Cha’lon is actually the first extra dimension that I thought of for Ealdun, not the Chia’ad. I was looking for something similar to the land of the fey–a land of monsters. Not necessarily evil, but definitely dangerous. I also wanted something that explained the fantastical creatures, and where they came from.
So what exactly did I come up with? Well, in the Isle of Ealdun setting there is a dimension, or land, just beyond the Mortal Lands that is where all of the mythical and monstrous creatures come from. This land or dimension is known as the Cha’lon, and is spoken of in fearful whispers by the people that inhabit the Isle.
The Cha’lon is a land where fantastical creatures, both wondrous and monstrous, come from. These creatures cross over to the Mortal Lands to feed on creatures there and to breed. Most monsters then go back to the Cha’lon, but some stay and breed true. That is how creatures from dragons to giants came to live in the Mortal Lands.
In addition to the normal fantastical creatures of the Cha’lon, there are the creatures I call the Outsiders. The magic of the Chia’ad flows through the Cha’lon, and then into the Mortal Lands. This influences both the Cha’lon and Mortal Lands in a number of ways. One important way is through the creation of the creatures known as the "Outsiders."
Outsiders are creatures that have been warped by the magic of the Chia’ad–both fantastical creatures and creatures from the Mortal Lands. Even worse, the magic of the Chia’ad can also create completely new obscenities that bear no resemblance to any known mortal or creature. Outsiders are shunned by mortals and those from the Cha’lon.
How It Will Work
Most of the effects of the Cha’lon will happen behind the scenes for the players. The Cha’lon just is, and the creatures the PCs see are already in the Mortal Lands. I do not see PCs traveling to the Cha’lon, and so I do not intend to make a map of it, or flesh it out in any detailed way–it is a source, and I want to leave it at that.
How it does affect the Mortal Lands will happen in three ways: dreams, visions and crossovers. Most mortals will encounter the Cha’lon through random dreams of that land or the creatures from it. This will be a great source of story hooks and sources of adventures.
A smaller number of mortals will encounter the Cha’lon through visions–actual hallucinations of that land or its creatures. These are waking dreams where the mortals may see visions of castles or monsters, and may even speak with them–but still without physical contact.
Finally, a few mortals will actually encounter the Cha’lon through a crossover of creatures from the Cha’lon to the Mortal Lands. These are rare, wondrous–and always dangerous. When creatures cross over to the Mortal Lands, they do so to feed on mortal creatures and to breed. Most creatures then go back to the Cha’lon, but a few may stay. Either way, the creatures bring a part of the magic of the Cha’lon with them, and this can affect the Mortal Lands around them in strange and unpredictable ways.
No matter how mortals encounter the Cha’lon, there is always the opportunity to encounter the Outsiders of that land. These are creatures, from humanoids to completely random creatures, that have somehow been warped by the magic of the Cha’lon. These obscenities are feared and shunned even by the "normal" creatures of that land–and especially in the Mortal Lands.
Influence On the Setting
All of these have an affect on the cultures of the Isle. Most mortals fear the Cha’lon, its magic and the creatures it brings. A few embrace it, and seek it out. All who encounter it are considered touched somehow, and either unlucky or lucky, depending on the person’s view of the Cha’lon. Stories of the fantastical creatures are spread through the various cultures, much like they are in our own world.
In the end, this is all color for the setting. It will drive story hooks and adventure opportunities for players, and allow the Referee to help bring life to the setting, and drive story lines. It will also keep the players on their toes by offering creatures that may or may not conform to their existing knowledge of stock monsters.
So what do you think? I know that this concept is not really new, but it is the first time I’ve done something like this for a campaign setting. Let me know what you think in the comments below!
Marko ∞
(Originally published on inthelabyrinth.org, on 6/18/2021.)
