The World of The Breath Before
Avros
Avros is a land shaped by old magic, fractured kingdoms, and the lingering scars of forgotten wars. Its regions shift from quiet frontier towns to ancient marshlands, from fortified cities to wild forests, from deep caverns to snow capped peaks, and it is surrounded by a sinister mist. Though Avros appears peaceful on the surface, its history is threaded with conflict - and the balance between mortal ambition and supernatural forces grows thinner with each passing season.
Volume's 1 to 3 of The Breath Before takes place in the north west stretch of Avros, where the small settlement of Sanctuary clings to survival against a hoard of undead.
Sanctuary
Sanctuary is a small, isolated settlement built on hope, stubbornness, and the belief that ordinary people can carve out a life away from the chaos of the wider world. Its wooden homes, narrow streets, and watchful gate give it a humble charm, but beneath that simplicity lies tension: trade is thinning, travellers bring unsettling news, and the town's safety feels more fragile with each passing week as the undead return to the marshes.
Sanctuary is the heart of Volume's 2 and 3 of The Breath Before - the place where the party converges, where secrets begin to surface, and where the quiet before the storm finally breaks.
Flamerock
Flamerock is the captial of Avros and home to the Wyrmkin, a militaristic race of half-dragon's led by Queen Praxar and defined by discipline and an unwavering loyalty to their beliefs. Its soldiers and people are indoctrinated from youth, its leadership is uncompromising, and its ambitions stretch far beyond its borders. To outsiders, Flamerock appears orderly and righteous; to those who have suffered under its campaigns, it is a relentless force of righteous conquest. The heart of the city sits atop the Black Rock, a mythic spire that formed from centuries of tectonic movements.
In Volume 1 of The Breath Before, Flamerock's control begins to creep into the region surrounding Sanctuary with unmistakable aggression. Their actions are the first hint that Avros is on the brink of something much larger.
The Forgotten Marshes
The Forgotten Marshes are a sprawling wetland of sinking paths, drowned ruins, abandoned fishing villages, and... home to the undead. Few dare to enter them, and even fewer return alive. The marshes are a place where Avros' past still breathes - a reminder of the wars and tragedies that shaped the continent long before Sanctuary existed.
In Volume 2 of The Breath Before, the marshes serve as both a physical and symbolic threshold. They hide truths, test the party's resolve, and foreshadow the deeper supernatural forces that will change Sanctuary forever.