Welcome to Cheliax

Cheliax is a nation forged in fire and blood, where Asmodeus is not just a god but a political reality. For centuries, the infernal House of Thrune has ruled with an iron fist, binding the nation to Hell through contracts signed in blood and sealed with souls. The capital, Egorian, is a city of black spires, shadowy alleys, and whispered conspiracies—a place where trust is a currency spent foolishly and power is the only law.

The nation's history is written in infernal contracts. When House Thrune seized power during the Chelish Civil War, they did so with the backing of Hell itself. Asmodean priests brokered the deal: the nation's soul in exchange for victory. Now, centuries later, that debt is coming due.

⛧ The Shadow Conspiracy

Unbeknownst to all but a few, a velstrac—a creature of pure shadow and pain from the Shadow Plane—has been manipulating House Thrune for generations. This entity, known only as The Shadowed Hand, has been subtly guiding the nation's politics, waiting for the moment when Cheliax's infernal contract could be renegotiated—not with Hell, but with the Shadow Plane.

The velstrac's plan is elegant in its cruelty. By binding Cheliax to the Shadow Plane, it would transform the nation into a realm of eternal twilight, where shadow magic reigns supreme and mortals become playthings for creatures of darkness. The infernal contract that currently holds Cheliax in thrall to Hell could be broken—but only if a new contract is signed, and only if the blood of House Thrune is spilled to seal it.

Darian Thrune, the ambitious heir, discovered this plot. He was not murdered for a crown—he was murdered for information. He had found a copy of the original infernal contract, and he had begun to piece together the velstrac's centuries-long manipulation. His death was not the end of the conspiracy; it was the beginning of its final phase.

⚔️ The Party's Role

The party is hired by a powerful intermediary—perhaps the Spymaster of a rival house, a Pathfinder Society agent, or a desperate faction within the Chelish government. Their patron is The Unseen, a shadowy figure who operates from the Grand Bazaar of Egorian, feeding information to those willing to pay the price.

The party's task is to investigate Darian Thrune's murder and uncover the conspiracy behind it. They will navigate the treacherous politics of Egorian, interview key witnesses, and eventually infiltrate the heart of House Thrune itself—the Palace of Thrune.

As the investigation deepens, the party will uncover the truth of the velstrac conspiracy, the existence of the hidden infernal contract, and the true nature of The Twice-Damned—the assassin whose mark is a crown branded into the floor.