Campaign Overview

In a frontier realm where wealth buys both favors and fear, fools' gold—the glittering but hollow currency of illusion—has flooded the markets of Aurumreach. The coins appear magically real, yet crumble to dust under scrutiny and drive those who possess them to reckless greed. The source is tied to an ancient artifact known as the Heart of Midas, which amplifies wealth but corrupts the wielder’s heart. The party must identify the hoax, shut down the ritual powering it, and decide what to do with the artifact before the city collapses beneath a tide of obsession.

Setting & Tone

Brillmere’s gleaming port town of Aurumreach sits at the edge of wild seas and wilder ambitions. Markets glitter, taverns buzz, and conspiracies glitter brighter still. The campaign blends intrigue, exploration, and combat against gilded guardians and illusion-wielding tricksters. Themes explore greed, truth versus desire, and the cost of prosperity.

Main Quest

Unravel the origin of fool's gold, unmask the patron behind the Gilded Fox, and either destroy or redeem the Heart of Midas. The heroes must traverse city streets, hidden mines, and a vault beneath an archmage’s library to prevent a single act of wealth from unleashing lasting ruin.

Act Structure (Brief)

• Act I: The Spark in Aurumreach. A festival triggers a flood of counterfeit gold. PCs chase leads, stopping riots and discovering the Gilded Fox cipher and a spy network among merchants.


• Act II: Sable Hollow. Clues point to a ruined mine where reality warps into gold-glittering mirages. The party fights gilded constructs, gathers map fragments, and delves toward a hidden route to the Vault.


• Act III: The Vault Beneath the Arcanum Library. An ancient illusion rite powers the Heart of Midas. The party confronts the Masked Architect and the Fox’s chief illusionist, choosing to seize or shatter the artifact.


• Act IV: Eclipse and Ethics. A solar eclipse triggers the final rite. The PCs must seal the Heart, destroy it, or broker a dangerous bargain that risks corruption for power.

Key Locations & Hooks

• Aurumreach Market District: where coin flurries begin; hook: a banker’s debts mount as fools' gold siphons wealth away.


• Sable Hollow Mines: a labyrinth of glamoured tunnels and trapped illusions.


• Arcanum Library Basements: a vault with shifting walls and a ritual chamber.


• The Gilded Fox Hideout: a masquerade theater where masks reveal truths if the wearer lies.

Challenges & Encounters

Illusions, glamour traps, gilded guardians, and morally fraught decisions about wealth distribution. Time pressure from the festival countdown and the eclipse adds urgency.

Rewards & Outcomes

Magic items: Coin of Truth (advantage on Insight, detect lies about wealth), Mantle of Quiet Glamour (stealth and deception), and a minor artifact tied to Heart of Midas. Renown with a merchants’ guild and a rare chance to reform Aurumreach into a balanced city of wealth and wisdom.