The Order of Empedocles: A cult set on world domination

About the adventure

The Bigovia Adventurers’ Guild is more than a hall — it’s a fortress of ambition. From the street, you first hear the clang of steel, the bark of instructors, and the thud of sparring weapons. Outside its stout stone walls lies a training yard, ringed with wooden dummies, archery butts, and chalked arenas where fighters clash under the watchful eyes of veterans. Newcomers sweat through drills, their armor loose and ill-fitting, while scarred veterans bark corrections or demonstrate clean, efficient strikes. Archers loose volleys into straw targets, arrows thrumming through the air in steady rhythm. Spellcasters practice from a distance, bursts of flame and crackling bolts of light flaring bright against the afternoon sky — a reminder that this is a place where talent is sharpened into survival. Beyond the yard, the guild’s great oak doors stand open, spilling light and noise into the street. Inside, the hall thrums with life: the smell of sweat and pipe smoke, the hum of chatter, the clatter of armor and mugs. A massive bounty board dominates the far wall, plastered with notices of monsters, missing folk, and promises of gold. Behind the counter, a stern guildmaster scratches away at a ledger, while a smiling halfling clerk darts about with coin pouches and ink stamps. From a small dais, a clear voice cuts through the din: “Adventurers! Take quests suited to your rank! No fool’s gold and no foolish deaths on my watch — the guild won’t bury the reckless!” The room stirs with laughter, chatter, and renewed purpose. Beyond the tall windows, the Ravenflow River glitters, carrying whispers of promise and danger alike. Here, in the guild’s heart and yard, the adventurers of Bigovia prepare themselves — and it is here that your story begins.