Qandela Obscura is an online Illuminated Worlds community campaign that began in December of 2023.
The campaign involves investigators of Candela Obscura seeks to procure phenomena of the Flare to research and protect the world from its dangers and magick, based on the TTRPG of the same name.
About
In the northern reaches of Noma, on the continent of Osugbo, the city of Newfaire stands on the brink of upheaval. Once a quiet, unassuming region, predominantly human and simple in its ways, it now faces a lurking danger. Since the severance from all other planes, the world has slipped into a mundane forgetfulness, its people blind to the encroaching shadows.
In the aftermath of the Great No Man’s War of 27 CR, a delicate balance of faith, law and order holds the Fairelands together beneath the watchful eyes of The Primacy, Noma’s Central Government; its presence felt more in decree than in flesh.
It is now 37 CR, and strange events ripple through Newfaire, the Fairelands, and beyond. The boundaries between worlds have thinned, and The Flare—an incomprehensible plane of existence—brushes against our world, unleashing aberrant and eldritch threats long buried in the annals of forgotten history. The city, consumed by its mundane struggles, has forgotten the ancient dangers that claw their way back into existence.
Since time immemorial, circles of extraordinary individuals—professors, street magicians, occultists, and even petty criminals—have risen to confront the darkness. Stalwart and unyielding, they serve as beacons in the consuming night, their efforts shrouded in secrecy. They are the agents of an dedicated organization: Candela Obscura.
Player Characters
Find the Roster of Player Characters Here —> ROSTER
Important NPCs
Piers Corden
A magician searching for the real magic of the world, Piers Corden joined Candela Obscura later in life. There he quickly became a mentor figure for some of the new members, and eventually was promoted to the role of Lightkeeper. He can be very blunt and to the point, with a sometimes lacking bedside manner. However, he cares very deeply and will go to extreme lengths to protect those under his care. His meeting place for investigators is a secret room in the concession area of the Tempest Theatre, which he owns.
Harrison Park
Former Periphery Detective turned Private Eye, A Harrison "Harry" Park is a gruff but deeply principled Lightkeeper, driven by an unyielding need to uncover the truth and seek justice, no matter the personal cost. Harry often uses a jaded exterior and dry wit tie conceal lies a genuine care for those he mentors.
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The Story So Far
The Illusionist and the Alchemist
In the shadowy depths of the Eaves, a grim and perplexing pattern began to emerge. Bodies were discovered bearing savage and unusual injuries—lacerations, missing gold fillings, and punctured cheeks. A deadly hunt for gold had taken a twisted turn, revealing a sinister figure, or perhaps something more unnatural, scouring the city for treasure in the most gruesome manner. Amidst this chaos, an alchemist sought the help of Candela Obscura, believing that a hidden trove of ancient artifacts in Oldfaire held the potential to advance their mission in ways yet to be understood.
Meanwhile, the Red Hand had stolen priceless treasures from a prince, including rare items from a famed collection. An expert from Candela Obscura, deeply familiar with the city's dark underbelly, led the investigators through an underground market, where they hoped to reclaim the stolen goods. Their objective: infiltrate the market, locate the treasures, and discover who had purchased them. But as the investigation unfolded, they unearthed an artifact of immense importance—only to discover that the Red Hand had no intention of surrendering it before an official auction. Forced into action, the team seized the artifact by any means necessary.
A talented illusionist, renowned for his mesmerizing performances, had long been the subject of rumors—whispers of a dark past, a past entwined with a powerful faction and a mysterious artifact procured from an auction. As the investigators followed the tangled trail, they discovered deeper connections to his dangerous mission. Their search led them to a perilous location, where the mystery of the alchemist, the artifacts, and the illusionist’s true intentions took on an even darker hue.
The investigation took a chilling turn when three thieves, each with a purple crystal embedded in their temples, were apprehended after attempting a series of high-profile robberies. Candela Obscura was tasked with uncovering the force behind these criminals and their nefarious purpose. As the arc reached its climax, the illusionist announced his final performance—one that promised a deadly spectacle. The investigators had to act swiftly, intervening before he could carry out his fatal plan, saving the innocent theatergoers caught in the deadly web. In the final confrontation, the illusionist performed a dangerous ritual—one aimed at merging two individuals into a single, nightmarish entity. Racing against time, the investigators halted the ceremony, saving the alchemist, but not before tragic lives were lost to the ritual’s dark magic.
The Herald and the Fang
Six months after the cataclysmic events at the theater, the investigators were called to the icy isolation of Shrivelineline, tasked with investigating the mysterious deaths of Cardinal Reynolds and Cardinal Zeroth—both of whom had been in contact with the recently deceased Divine Herald. Upon examination of the Herald’s body, the investigators found disturbing signs of tampering: a mask affixed to prevent the soul's departure and an incision suggesting that poisoned blood had been deliberately extracted. Their investigation soon led them to a list of potential Divine Herald candidates, one of whom, a shadowy figure named Fournier, caught their attention. As they dug deeper, they discovered the enigmatic Melody Wildes, a newcomer from Lacroix, who, along with others, seemed to fall under the sway of a mysterious figure known only as Mr. Woods. Gin, ever watchful, spotted the elusive figure observing them from afar.
The investigators’ pursuit of the truth soon entangled them in a sprawling conspiracy, one with roots stretching deep into the world of vampyres. The case began with a worker from the Ruby Rapture, who exhibited strange symptoms after an unusual bloodletting by a local doctor. This unsettling discovery was followed by a violent encounter with a woman baring fangs. The connection between the sick worker and a series of supernatural events began to crystallize. As suspicions mounted, the team discovered the creeping presence of vampyric infection, now taking hold across the city. In a parallel investigation, they sought to protect a Deaconess who had gained terrifying telekinetic powers after touching an ancient artifact. The artifact’s dark nature drew the deadly interest of the Pyre, and despite their best efforts, the Deaconess met a tragic end, further entwining the team in the perilous web spun by dark forces and vampyric influence.
The Red Rash epidemic, now spreading with alarming speed, became the next focus of their investigation. Tracing the outbreak to the newly appointed Divine Herald, the investigators discovered a chilling truth: Countess Fournier of Lacroix had been deliberately spreading the Red Rash to identify potential victims for conversion into vampyres. Fournier’s sinister plot involved an army of newborn vampyres, and the creation of a twisted "Vampyre Nursery" to shape and control them. As the investigators delved further, they uncovered a labyrinthine network of vampyric activity, one that reached into the highest circles of power. Along the way, they ventured into the Scarlet Woods, where they encountered the vengeful spirit of the Owl Wain, whose tragic past held the key to a deeper understanding of the forces at play. As the stakes escalated, Jamie’s tragic death marked a turning point, pushing the team to confront the ever-encroaching vampyric control that threatened to overtake Newfaire.
In the final stages of their pursuit, the investigators discovered that Fournier’s vampyric influence extended even further, reaching into the upper echelons of power—including the Periphery, who now hunted them. Forced to go underground, the team formed an unlikely alliance with the Gerwich Vampyre Hunters, and together, they devised a plan to distribute a true cure for the Red Rash and vampyric infection. Their journey took them to La Croix, where they confronted Fournier, determined to sever her hold over Newfaire. With clever strategy and unyielding determination, they managed to force her to return to La Croix, where she would face her aunt and the high priestess in a ritual sacrifice that had led her to flee her homeland and amass an army of vampyres in Newfaire. With vital information secured, the investigators braced for the next chapter in their battle against the dark forces lurking in the city.
House Rules
Especially if you're running a Community Campaign, it's important to let your players know what special rules you have in play for them.
