"Khore does not conquer. He collects. Every soldier in his legion was once a debtor who could not pay. Now they march, tireless, bound by contracts signed in desperation. And Restraint? Restraint is drowning in gold. The perfect time to call in every debt at once."
Chapter Overview
Sessions
9-12 (12-16 hours)
Focus
War & Resistance
Key Locations
Partisan Gate, Threshold, Wrath Pits
Clock Advances
Conquest +2-3, All clocks critical
The Invasion Begins
Chapter 3 opens in media res. The Hollow Legion has crossed the Partisan Gate, and Restraint's defenders are in chaos. The timing is no coincidence—Khore waited until the domain was weakened by corruption before striking.
War State: Domain of Restraint
Territory Control (Start of Chapter 3)
- 🟢 Restraint Controlled: Praxis, Covenant, Monastery Hill
- 🔴 Khore Controlled: Partisan Gate, approaching Threshold
- 🟡 Contested: Threshold, Golden Mile
- 🟤 Corrupted (Enoch): Golden Mine, Sub-domains
Player Bastion Status
- If in Threshold: Under siege—evacuation or defense decision
- If in Praxis: Political crisis—council debates surrender
- If in Covenant: Safe but isolated—aid requests coming
Session 9: The Fall of Threshold
Threshold—the trade hub, the gateway city—falls within hours. But "falls" doesn't mean destroyed. Khore wants the infrastructure intact.
🎭 Opening Scene: The Hollow Tide
"They came without warning—a sea of gray figures marching in perfect formation. No war cries. No drums. Just the endless sound of boots on cobblestone and the click-click-click of debt tokens swaying from their belts. The Threshold garrison held for three hours. Then the Collectors arrived, offering terms: 'Surrender your valuables and your debts are forgiven. Resist and your debts are infinite.'"
Path: Hold the Line
Players who choose to defend Threshold become part of the organized resistance. They'll work with the remaining garrison, guerrilla fighters, and anyone else willing to make Khore pay for every street.
Defense Mechanics
Track Defense Points (starts at 10). At 0, Threshold falls completely.
- Successful Missions: +1 Defense Point
- Failed Missions: -2 Defense Points
- Each Day Without Action: -1 Defense Point
- Calling for Reinforcements: +3 DP, but Khore gains intel
Defense Missions
- Hold the Market Square: Combat-heavy, saves merchants
- Sabotage Supply Lines: Stealth, slows invasion
- Rescue Guildmaster Volara: Negotiation or combat
- Destroy the Collector's Ledger: Frees debt-bound soldiers
Key NPCs
- Captain Valor: Last garrison commander, idealistic
- The Smuggler Queen: Criminal boss offering "protection"
- Brother Abstinence: Zealot monk, hates Khore AND corruption
The Hollow Legion: Complete Bestiary
Khore's forces are organized by debt magnitude. The greater the original debt, the more powerful the Hollow.
Hollow Infantry
Tier 1 | Bound Soldier
Minor debtors—those who owed a few coins and couldn't pay. Now they march forever, their debt growing with each battle. Empty eyes, borrowed weapons, perfect discipline.
Corpus: 8 | Anima: 5 | Ego: 3
Abilities: Tireless March, Debt Token (regenerates if token intact), Formation Fighting
Weakness: Destroying debt token, paying original debt, The Count's interference
Hollow Sergeant
Tier 1 | Squad Leader
Debtors who showed leadership in life. Khore rewards initiative—even in death. Sergeants carry the tokens of their squad, making them priority targets.
Corpus: 12 | Anima: 7 | Ego: 5
Abilities: Command (buffs nearby Hollow), Token Keeper (squad shares damage), Rally
Weakness: Kill sergeant to disable squad, appeals to honor
Debt Collector
Tier 2 | Enforcer
Those who worked for Khore voluntarily—moneylenders, loan sharks, profiteers. In death they gained terrible powers: the ability to sense debt and the authority to collect it.
Corpus: 15 | Anima: 12 | Ego: 10
Abilities: Debt Sense (knows what you owe), Contract Chains (binding attack), Offer Terms
Special: Can create new Hollow from willing debtors on the spot
Hollow Lieutenant
Tier 2 | Commander
Major debtors—those who owed fortunes, kingdoms, their very souls. Lieutenants retain more personality than infantry but are utterly loyal to Khore. Some remember who they were.
Corpus: 18 | Anima: 14 | Ego: 12
Abilities: Tactical Command (area buffs), Shadow Step, Debt Absorption (steals HP via debt)
Weakness: Memories of past life, reminders of who they betrayed
The Hollowmaker
Tier 3 | Elite
Specialists who transform living debtors into Hollow. They carry ritual tools and can perform field conversions. Killing one is a priority—but they're heavily protected.
Corpus: 20 | Anima: 18 | Ego: 8
Abilities: Create Hollow (ritual), Debt Web (area denial), Soul Audit (reveals secrets)
Weakness: Concentration breakable, rituals have components that can be stolen
General Ledger
Tier 4 | Boss
Khore's personal representative in Restraint. A Hollow of such magnitude that they retain full personality and independent thought—a rare gift for loyal service. They carry the Master Ledger.
Corpus: 30 | Anima: 25 | Ego: 20
Abilities: Ledger Command (controls all nearby Hollow), Total Recall (knows all debts in domain), Call in Debts (mass damage to debtors)
Weakness: The Master Ledger itself—destroying it frees all Hollow in the domain
Sessions 10-11: The War Intensifies
As the invasion progresses, players face escalating challenges. The Hollow Legion adapts to resistance, and new threats emerge from unexpected quarters.
Sub-Scenario: Hold the Market Square
One-Shot: "The Last Stand"
Duration: 3-4 hours | Difficulty: Hard | Focus: Combat + Tactics
📜 Scenario Hook
"The Market Square is the heart of Threshold. If it falls, the city falls. Captain Valor has twenty soldiers, three barricades, and six hours until the next Hollow wave. You're all that stands between the Legion and total occupation. Make every decision count."
Defense Phase Mechanics
Resources
- Soldiers: 20 (each can absorb 2 hits)
- Barricades: 3 (each blocks one entry)
- Supply Caches: 2 (healing, ammo)
- Civilian Shelters: 1 (must protect)
Attack Waves
- Wave 1: 10 Infantry, 1 Sergeant
- Wave 2: 15 Infantry, 2 Sergeants
- Wave 3: 20 Infantry, 2 Collectors
- Final: 1 Hollow Lieutenant + survivors
Tactical Options
- Hold Position: +2 Defense, can't attack
- Sortie: Attack wave early, risk losses
- Trap: Sacrifice barricade for 5 kills
- Rally: Captain's speech, +1 morale
- Negotiate: Stall wave, costs reputation
Victory Conditions
- Perfect: All civilians safe, 10+ soldiers
- Victory: Civilians safe, any soldiers
- Pyrrhic: Some civilians lost, square held
- Defeat: Square falls, retreat to Praxis
Rewards by Outcome
- Perfect: +3 Defense Points, Hero status
- Victory: +2 Defense Points, respect
- Pyrrhic: +1 Defense Points, guilt
- Defeat: -2 Defense Points, shame
Sub-Scenario: The Smuggler's Tunnels
One-Shot: "The Long Road Out"
Duration: 2-3 hours | Difficulty: Medium | Focus: Stealth + Social
📜 Scenario Hook
"The Smuggler Queen knows tunnels that even the Hollow haven't mapped. She'll lead 100 civilians to safety—but she wants payment. Not gold (everyone has gold now). She wants a favor: a rival smuggler is somewhere in these tunnels, and she doesn't want him reaching Covenant alive."
Section 1: The Descent
- • Enter through hidden tavern cellar
- • 100 frightened civilians following
- • Stealth checks for noise discipline
- • First Hollow patrol: 3 scouts
- • Choice: Fight or hide?
Section 2: The Crossroads
- • Rival smuggler's hideout found
- • He has 20 more refugees with him
- • Smuggler Queen wants him dead
- • He offers to guide everyone if spared
- • Choice: Kill, spare, or betray?
Section 3: The Exit
- • Final tunnel leads to corrupted mine
- • Must pass through gold dust zone
- • Mass corruption check for civilians
- • Gilded Beasts guard the exit
- • Combat: 2 Gilded Beasts (Tier 2)
Resolution: Kill the Rival
Smuggler Queen is pleased. +120 refugees saved. But the rival's 20 refugees witness the murder—they'll spread word of your choice. -1 Reputation, +1 Smuggler favor.
Resolution: Spare the Rival
Rival leads everyone safely. +140 refugees saved. Smuggler Queen is furious—she'll remember. +1 Reputation, but you've made a powerful enemy.
Battle Encounter: Destroy the Ledger
Combat: "The Chain Breaker"
Difficulty: Very Hard | Enemies: 8+ | Objective: Destroy Ledger
⚔️ Tactical Setup
A Debt Collector has set up a conversion station, turning captured Threshold citizens into Hollow Infantry. The Collector's Ledger contains all their debt records—destroy it, and the newly-made Hollow are freed. But the Collector won't give it up easily.
Enemy Forces
- 1x Debt Collector (Tier 2): Holds the Ledger
- 4x Hollow Infantry: Guard the perimeter
- 2x Hollow Sergeants: Coordinate defense
- 1x Hollowmaker: Converting prisoners
- Prisoners: 12 citizens, 4 already converted
The Ledger
- Location: Carried by Debt Collector
- HP: 15 (magic resistant)
- Protection: Collector uses body as shield
- Destruction: Fire or Restraint blessing
- Effect: Frees all Hollow in 100ft radius
Objective: Destroy Ledger
Primary goal. Frees 8 newly-made Hollow (they're confused, not enemies). +2 Defense Points.
Bonus: Save Prisoners
Rescue before conversion. 8 unconverted prisoners = 80 saved civilians total.
Bonus: Kill Hollowmaker
Prevent future conversions in this district. +1 Defense Point, valuable intel.
Crisis Event: The Golden Betrayal
Enoch's corruption accelerates during the war. Gilded Ones appear in both armies, attacking indiscriminately. A temporary ceasefire between players and Hollow becomes possible—or necessary.
Ally with Hollow (Temporary)
+3 Defense Points, -20 faction reputation with Restraint, valuable intel gained
Fight Both Sides
Heroic but costly. -2 Defense Points, but maintain all allegiances
Intel Event: Khore's True Fear
Through infiltration, interrogation, or divine revelation, players learn the truth: Khore's invasion is desperate, not aggressive.
The Revelation
Enoch's prison wasn't just in Restraint—it was bound to all domains through ancient pacts. If Enoch fully awakens in Restraint, the corruption will spread through every connected domain. Khore is trying to contain the outbreak by conquering and isolating Restraint before it's too late. He's not the villain—he's trying to save Nowhere Land.
Strategic Event: The Council's Decision
Praxis convenes an emergency council. The Genii representatives must choose how to respond to the invasion. Players' actions throughout Chapter 3 influence this vote.
Option A: Total Resistance — Fight Khore to the last, preserve Restraint's independence. (Zealots support this)
Option B: Negotiate Terms — Accept Khore's occupation in exchange for help against Enoch. (Partisans support this)
Option C: Seek The Doctor — Find the legendary healer, hope for a miracle cure. (Genii support this)
Option D: Awaken the Count — Desperate measure—contact The Count for intervention. (No one wants this, but...)
Session 12: The Wrath Pits Emerge
Chapter 3 culminates with a new sub-domain manifestation—but this one is different. The Wrath Pits don't just appear; they erupt, tearing through the battlefield and swallowing combatants from both sides.
The Wrath Pits: Sub-Domain of Rage
🔥 Description
"The ground splits open during the battle. Soldiers fall—Hollow and Restraint alike—into a chasm that shouldn't exist. Below, a realm of eternal combat: gladiatorial pits where the dead rise again and again to fight, where rage is the only emotion that exists, where victory means nothing because there is no end, only more fighting, forever."
Wrath Pits Rules
- • Combat checks every hour (no choice)
- • Death = respawn in pit, +10% corruption
- • Violence is rewarded (kills grant temporary buffs)
- • Calm or peace attempts cost HP
- • Exit requires: forgive an enemy publicly
Boss: The Pit Master
- Corpus: 28 | Anima: 20 | Ego: 8
- An aspect of Enoch's Wrath. Once a warrior who fought Enoch's imprisonment, now corrupted.
- Powers: Rage Aura, Endless Fury (regenerates in combat), Call Champions
- Weakness: Refuses to fight peaceful targets, can be reasoned with (barely)
Chapter 3 Conclusion
Clock Advances
At the end of Chapter 3, update faction clocks:
- Enoch's Corruption: +2 (Wrath Pits permanent, Golden Mine expanding)
- Khore's Conquest: +2 to +3 (depends on defense success)
- Restraint's Fracture: +2 (war has broken unity)
- Encyclopedist's Research: +1 (data from both forces valuable)
⚠️ At least one clock should be at 5+ by now. The campaign is reaching crisis point.
Chapter 3 Success Criteria
- ✓ Players experienced war in Nowhere Land
- ✓ Learned Khore's true motivation
- ✓ Faced impossible choices with consequences
- ✓ Entered the Wrath Pits sub-domain
- ✓ Influenced the Council's decision
Leading to Chapter 4
The war has revealed the true scope of Enoch's threat. With the Wrath Pits open, Chapter 4 takes players deep into the sub-domains to find the key to stopping the corruption—before both Khore and Enoch consume everything.