Othenar is the fantasy setting that I've been working on for a while now, and I'm running a semi-regular D&D game set in the universe (despite generally not liking D&D all that much.

The Greater Rift is a society largely dominated by humans. Home to four major settlements (Hope, Irondwell, Fort Arndwen, and New Fernaeus), most of its inhabitants are the descendants of rebels sent down by the Empire of Egrondest, who take advantage of the magical field surrounding the Rift to keep dissidents from returning to cause them more angst later.

The Empire's portals lead to a receiving nexus in Arrival. The small outpost is filled with people who serve as a welcome party for those shunned by the empire, but it is also fortified against incursion. Only the cunning can spot the wards and charms that have been placed to ward off the Empire's undead and the caches of weapons before they are shepherded on to Hope or Irondwell.

The Greater Rift has exits leading down to the Lower Rift, which is largely inhabited by lizardfolk, beastpeople, and devils. While some human explorers have gone down there (and Fort Andwen guards a passage to and from the Lower Rift), the Lower Rift is too hot for the fungus that lights the Greater Rift to grow, preventing comfortable human habitation.

![The Rift.png](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/loreshapergames/GF25Irhr-The20Rift.png)