Dheghom
Background illustration by Joze 'Vitogh' Grozelj
What to Know
Dheghom is unlike many other worlds, and there are some important pieces of lore you should be aware of when considering how to approach character creation, adventures, and campaigns. While the book itself will delve deeply into many of these concepts, this brief overview should help you to get a sense of what you are getting yourself into.
1. Closed System
Dheghom was specifically created by the gods to be closed from the rest of the typical fantasy multiverse in order to protect themselves and their creations. As part of their creation, they placed themselves within the confines of the world and exist as physical entities with divine souls. They believed they could act as fonts of energy to sustain the world they created, but their power is waning as more of them become corrupted.
2. War is Eternal
War is a reflection of the corruption within the system the gods created. Where there is not an active war, there is a cold war. This reality is compounded by powerful factions that hold the power of nations themselves, often driving conflict for their own benefit.
3. Magic is Mistrusted
Magic is fueled by the gods themselves, by the energy that created Dheghom. However, like all other pieces of this world, the corruption of the gods has twisted the magic as well. While some cultures have fond memories of the old magics, the industrialized nations exist as a way to compensate for that missing power. Common people are terrified of all forms of magic and when an individual is suspected of practicing dark arts, they react violently, oftentimes with the law on their side.
4. Technology is the Future
The introduction of black powder has changed the warscape. The sound of war has changed. In the same way that the technology of the crossbow allowed the unskilled to kill with little training, black powder has redoubled the deadliness of war. The fear and paranoia that infests Dheghom means that a loaded pistol is not far from reach for those who can afford it, and the violence that once only filled the fields of battle has begun to spill into the streets of the grand cities.
5. A Dying World
The conflagration of plagues, natural disasters, war, magical chaos, and general devastation across the face of Dheghom has convinced many of its inhabitants that the end times are coming. Whether or not this is true, such beliefs have resulted in a new wave of panic that has caused the borders of great nations to wither under the tumult of prophetic vagrants, mob rule, and violent fanatics.
6. The Weight of History
The memory of better times has become clouded, even among the longer-lived species. However, those who still speak with the gods have a sense of what has been lost, even as they try to protect them. Meanwhile, gods that have been corrupted in ages past now ravage the lands, fueled by hatred, fury, and despair.
Legal
This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 ("SRD 5.1") by Wizards of the Coast LLC and available at https://dnd.wizards.com/resources/systems-reference-document. The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 ("SRD 5.2.1") by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.