[Sarelth]

Dark clouds gather over the war-torn lands. Armies march to battle once again, answering the ancient call to arms. The banners of noble houses flutter raggedly before the onslaught; some will fall, but others will weather the storm. Across the ruined empires of Cerilia, the dogs of war are let loose. Somewhere on a muddy battlefield, a common man becomes a hero -and a hero becomes a king.

The BIRTHRIGHT campaign setting allows players to explore the grand scope of national politics as they guide their domains and influence the events of the continent of Cerilia on the world of Aebrynis. In this setting, the player characters are kings and nobles, prelates and guild-masters, great wizards and royal heralds. They're the leaders of their own kingdoms and domains, wielding the power to wage war or seek peace. At their command, armies march and kingdoms fall.

Most characters in the BIRTHRIGHT campaign are descended from heroes of old. These ancient heritages are called bloodlines. Scions of the bloodlines are gifted with abilities beyond those granted to the common folk of Cerilia, and over hundreds of years they've naturally risen to positions of power.

There is some quality of kingship, an aura or divine right, that calls to the ancient blood; most of Cerilia's rulers are blooded scions.

Bloodlines wax and wane in strength with the quality of a king's rule. Hundreds have been extinguished since the earthshaking wars that shaped modern Cerilia, while others have risen in prominence and power. There are also bloodlines of evil in Cerilia, descended from the forces of darkness that besieged the land in the dawn of history. These powerful adversaries are known as the awnsheghlien (aun-SHEY-lin), an Elven word meaning "Blood of Darkness."

There is far more to the BIRTHRIGHT campaign setting then political conflict. Cerilia is plagued by dangerous natural predators, bandits and pirates, tribes of humanoid marauders, and the dark forces of the awnsheghlien. Naturally, these perils are only a distant threat to people residing in the Anuirean heartland or in a Khinasi city-state, but wild mountains and deep forests - and their dangerous denizens - are no more than a few week's ride from even the most civilized parts of Cerilia.

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Has some similarities to the King Maker Adventure Path, which I will be using to update the setting to Pathfinder as well as any other material I can find that I feel suits the theme and feel of the setting. Suggestions are welcome as to what sources I should look at for ideas. Please feel free to post thoughts and critics.