Welcome to Valombreuse

A 5e-compatible dark fantasy setting of power, secrets, and divine legacy.

Valombreuse takes you into a world poised between collapsing kingdoms and the echoes of forgotten gods. Across the continent of Céphéus, ancient bloodlines still carry the divine spark of long-vanished deities. Their descendants channel Blood Magic, a sacred and feared force that shapes politics, warfare, prophecy, and identity itself.

In this setting, players are not wandering mercenaries or rootless explorers.
They are heirs to a lineage, bound to a destiny written in their veins. Every character carries a divine imprint — a totemic ancestry that influences their magic, their instincts, and the alliances or enemies they will encounter. Valombreuse is a world where a whispered name can shift the balance of a kingdom, where secrets travel faster than blades, and where ancient powers watch silently from the shadows.

This Player Handbook offers a deep, narrative-focused experience for those who love intrigue, prophecy, and morally complex stories. It is designed for campaigns where choices matter, where loyalties fracture, and where the truth is often buried beneath layers of myth and blood.

CONTENT WARNING: This setting contains mature themes, a dark and oppressive world, and occasional artistic nudity in its imagery.

A Continent of 13 Kingdoms

Céphéus is divided into 13 realms, each with its own culture, history, rivalries, and divine heritage.
From the sacred forests of Jonturas, where clan traditions rule, to the militaristic fortresses of Tubéreuse, the volcanic badlands of Framentor, or the eerie crimson mists of the Purple Marshes, each kingdom offers unique threats and opportunities.

Political tension permeates the continent. Treaties are fragile, alliances temporary, and war never far. Every kingdom hides at least one secret that could change Céphéus forever — and the players may be the ones to uncover it.

Eight Divine Bloodlines

Behind every hero lies a forgotten god.
Valombreuse introduces eight playable bloodlines, each tied to a mythical ancestor — the Bear, the Eagle, the Dragon, the Spider, the Lion, the Wolf, the Phoenix, and the Serpent.

Every character automatically gains a Bloodline Class, advancing alongside their main class and granting:

• unique blood powers

• transformative abilities tied to their totem

• access to specialized Blood Domains

• visions, instincts, or ancestral compulsions

• bonuses, spells, and narrative hooks linked to divine heritage

Your bloodline is not a detail — it is a core pillar of who your character is, how they grow, and how the world responds to them.

A Reimagined Magic System: Blood Magic

Instead of traditional spellcasting, Valombreuse introduces a vast and cohesive system of Blood Magic built around divine ancestry.

Inside the handbook, you will find:

• 396 original spells

• four Blood Domains per bloodline

• shared universal magic (Ancient Blood Manipulation & Animal Form)

• rituals, transformations, elemental bending, corruption magic, healing arts, and more

• a unique progression that blends martial and magical playstyles

Blood Magic is powerful — but never without cost. Every use ties you deeper to your lineage’s destiny.

Seven New Classes

Valombreuse offers seven fully original classes, each with its own mechanics, systems, and thematic role:

• The Engineer, builder of inventions and mechanical companions

• The Oracle, conduit of prophecy and time-bending insight

• The Blacksmith, master of forged weapons and enchanted armaments

• The Nomad, wielder of curses and shadowy spirits

• The Wilderness Sentinel, primal defender of the wilds

• And others shaped by the diverse Orders of Céphéus

These classes are tightly integrated into the lore, ensuring each feels native to the world.

Backgrounds, Orders, and Factions

Characters in Valombreuse belong to more than a class. They are part of a living world of secrets, obligations, and power struggles. New backgrounds and faction systems allow players to align with:

• mystical Orders

• religious cults

• mercenary brotherhoods

• clan societies

• political circles

• hidden conspiracies

Every choice unlocks story hooks, allies, and enemies.

A Bonus Scenario to Begin Your Journey

The handbook includes the introductory adventure “In the Secret of Amberstar”, allowing you to start playing immediately while awaiting The Book of Secrets (February 2026). This adventure also sets the stage for the first Odyssey, Primus Sanguis, prequel to the grand campaign Sub Sole Veritas.

In blood we rise.
In blood, truth is revealed.