Voices of the Blackwood

The Characters

Four figures stand at the heart of Eminence's opening chapter. Three lead the guilds. One waits beneath the ancient tree, chanting in a corrupted tongue. Their paths are already crossing.

Every deck you bring to the table follows a leader. Every leader was once someone — with grievances, ambitions, and a stake in what happens when the seals of the Gravebark finally weaken.

Excerpts below are drawn verbatim from the Blackwood character record.

Commander Grak · The Iron Legion

Iron Legion — Herovale

Commander Grak

The Relentless Tactician

Beneath the high battlements of the Iron Legion's stronghold, Grak surveys his gathered forces. The courtyard hums with discipline — lines of soldiers clad in polished steel, their banners rippling in the cold wind. His armor gleams, a blend of practicality and intimidation, the sigil of his Legion.

Grak's mind is a battlefield in its own right. His strategies are calculated, his ambition tempered by pragmatism. Yet, as he listens to the scouts' reports of Blackwood's unyielding terrain and its unnerving whispers, a shadow of doubt flickers in his thoughts. He dismisses it with a growl. Doubt is a luxury his station cannot afford.

To Grak, Blackwood is a gamble worth taking. The Royals Guild has humiliated him long enough, casting him as a blunt instrument of war, unworthy of their esteem. Yet, with the wealth of the forest's resources and the prestige of claiming its secrets, they will have no choice but to recognize him.

"The forest will bend to our will — or it will burn."

High Seer Valtor of the Sapphire Covenant

High Seer Valtor · The Sapphire Veil

Sapphire Veil — Arvandor

High Seer Valtor

The Watcher of Fate

In the luminous halls of the Sapphire Covenant, Valtor sits alone, his sapphire ring casting faint reflections of light onto the polished marble floor. He turns the ring slowly, his eyes half-closed as visions blur into focus. He sees the Iron Legion's banners advancing through Blackwood, the cultists' rituals beneath the ancient tree, and the Seals' fading glow.

In the distance, he hears the whispers of the Auralis — the Elyndari's ancient kin, silent observers who still linger in Eminence. Their voices speak warnings too cryptic to grasp fully, but one thing is clear: the seals cannot fail.

Yet, Valtor knows the cost of action. The Sapphire Covenant is fractured, its scholars and mages more devoted to arcane theory than practical intervention. And Blackwood is distant, both geographically and politically. Many dismiss its omens as the superstitions of barbarians.

"The light of the Sapphire Covenant must shine again, for the darkness that stirs in Blackwood will not stop there."

Mac Oakmoss · The Shadowleaf Syndicate

Shadowleaf — Blackwood

Mac Oakmoss

The Shadow's Keeper

The forest floor is soft beneath Mac's boots as he moves through the underbrush. He blends seamlessly into the shadows, his dark cloak masking his presence. Around him, members of the Syndicate trail silently, their faces obscured by hoods. These are his people — Rangers, Rogues, and Tradesmen, each sworn to protect the forest and the loose network of settlements that depend on it.

Mac pauses, crouching low near a smoldering campfire. Tracks lead away from the site, their erratic patterns betraying haste. Cultists. They've been here, and recently. He clenches his jaw, the implications gnawing at him. Blackwood has always been his home, its secrets an extension of his own identity. But now, the forest feels unfamiliar, hostile even.

The Iron Legion's presence is a threat to his Syndicate, but the whispers coming from deeper within the woods unsettle him more. He has heard of the Gravebark, the ancient tree that the cultists claim will awaken an imprisoned Naphil spirit. If they succeed, it will mean ruin — not just for Blackwood, but for all Eminence.

"We move at dawn. No one defiles this forest while I'm still breathing."

Cult of the Gravebark — Antagonist

Malveth Anil Quarlani

Whispered Devotion

Deep in the forest, far from the paths known to hunters and scouts, the cultists gather in the shadow of the Gravebark. The tree is immense, its roots burrowing deep into the earth like the claws of a beast. Its bark is blackened and cracked, as though charred by fire, yet it pulses faintly with an inner glow — a sickly, greenish light that emanates from runes etched into its surface.

The cultists kneel before it, their heads bowed. At the center stands Malveth Anil Quarlani, their leader. An orc of imposing stature, Malveth wears robes adorned with bone charms and fragments of runed metal. His voice, a deep and resonant cadence, carries across the clearing as he chants in the corrupted tongue of the Naphil.

Malveth's eyes burn with zealotry. He believes his purpose is divine, ordained by the Naphil themselves. But he is not blind to the dangers that surround him. The Iron Legion's advance, the Sapphire Covenant's meddling, and the Syndicate's interference all threaten his plans. Yet, he welcomes the chaos. For in chaos, his master will rise.

"The seals weaken. The bloodline stirs. Soon, the master will awaken."

◇ Notable Figures ◇

Champions and Enemies

Not every fate hinges on a Leader's crown. These are the unique champions who walk beside them — or against them. Every one of them is a card you can draw.

Lieutenant of the Cult · Undead Knight Captain

Darius, the Undead Nightmare

"The undead knight loomed in the doorway, his armor coated in dried blood, his greatsword slung across his back. In his hands, he carried a relic — a jagged shard of obsidian, its surface etched with faintly glowing runes."

Darius serves Malveth as his most trusted hand. He returns from the Blackwood's forgotten places bearing relics of the original sealing ritual, his hollow eyes betraying no emotion, his voice reporting each victory and each new setback in the same level tone.

"There is more, Master. One of our altars has been destroyed."

Enforcer of the Iron Legion · Barbarian

Otis

Grak's enforcer, a man of raw strength, his armor battered and unadorned, his face shadowed by a perpetual scowl. He rides a massive, shaggy warhorse as unruly as its rider, and even in the gloom of Blackwood his hand rests on the hilt of his axe.

Otis is skeptical where Grak is certain. He is the voice reminding the Commander that this forest is not just another obstacle. He is the one who names Gnarsh in the dark before Gnarsh charges.

"Obstacles don't bleed shadows, Commander."

Blackwood's Terror · Bugbear Barbarian

Gnarsh

Not a bugbear — the bugbear. A hulking form silhouetted against the canopy, grotesque muscles rippling beneath coarse matted fur, eyes burning with feral intelligence and a mouth curled into a cruel grin over jagged teeth. His spiked club is slick with what looks suspiciously like dried blood.

Even Otis, the unshakable enforcer, drew his weapon when the name was spoken. Gnarsh doesn't hesitate. He charges.

"Hold the line!" — the last order before he reached them.

◇ Champions Yet to Rise ◇

Leaders Waiting for Their Chapter

These Leaders appear as cards in the game, but their full stories are still being written. Each set will unveil more of Sylara — and more of them.

Kaelgar Grimaxe — Orc Leader · imposing warlord of a rising warband
Thaldrik Ironbraid — Dwarven Leader · voice of the Khazadûn mountains
Captain Lyra Stormblade — Human Leader · scholar of ancient runes
Zrag the Whistler — Goblin Leader · mischievous, cunning, commanding
Finn — Halfling Leader · sharp-featured schemer of quiet villages
Caelum, Grimsnik, Morka, Zik, Zogrog, Arya, Boulderbrew, Brimstone, Captain Thorne, Castillo, Eldra — and more still, each a card, each a chapter to come.

The Storm Draws Near

Their paths already cross in Blackwood. New characters, banners, and betrayals will follow as the story of Sylara unfolds — every set unveils new regions, guilds, and mechanics, evolving the narrative over time.

◇ Meet their Guilds ◇ Walk the World