Welcome to Woldchester: A City of Secrets

The City of Woldchester

"Woldchester is a city with too many cellars and not enough explanations. Every time we think we’ve mapped its secrets, the ground shifts and something older stirs beneath our feet."

- Bertram Tealeaf, Former Head of the Supernatural & Paranormal Society

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Woldchester is no ordinary city. Tucked away in the Yorkshire Wolds, it’s a place where ancient energy hums beneath cobbled streets and ghost stories are whispered like weather forecasts. In Beyond the Veil, Woldchester serves as a key setting for investigations - a hub where folklore, academia, and the unexplained intersect.

An Ancient Heart

Woldchester’s history predates even the Romans, with roots stretching back to Neolithic times. Its streets are layered over forgotten shrines and burial grounds, and its skyline is dominated by gothic spires, ivy-covered colleges, and timeworn churches.

The Supernatural & Paranormal Society (SPS)

While not formally linked to the University of Woldchester, the SPS has deep ties to the city. Many of its most prominent investigators began their work here, including the legendary Charles Stephenson. Today, Woldchester remains a hotspot for SPS activity and a frequent starting point for fieldwork.

Where Ley Lines Meet

Woldchester sits atop a rare convergence of ley lines, believed to amplify supernatural phenomena. Investigators often report strange readings in the city’s older quarters, particularly around the ancient Druid’s Circle - a mysterious stone monument located on university grounds. More on this strange site in an upcoming blog.

Factions Rooted in Woldchester

While many groups pass through Woldchester in search of the unexplained, two organisations are woven directly into its fabric:

• The Forgotten Scholars Club - A clandestine society of university staff, students, and former academics who delve into lost knowledge, forbidden texts, and the occult. Meeting in hidden rooms and forgotten libraries, they guard dangerous secrets and occasionally assist investigators, though always on their terms.

• The Watchmen of Woldchester - A quiet but ever-present force made up of local residents with a long memory and a keen sense for the unnatural. They watch the ley lines, record supernatural events, and act as the city’s unofficial guardians. When something stirs beneath Woldchester, the Watchmen are often the first to notice.

  
  

Legends of the City

Woldchester is rich with folklore and chilling tales, each adding to its mysterious reputation:

• The Tale of the Grey Rider - Silas Grey, a notorious highwayman, met his end at Tallow Tarn after a failed escape from local authorities. His ghost is said to ride silently along the tarn's edge on misty nights, searching for the treasure he lost or a path out of his watery grave.

• Hollow Glen Woods - This shadowy woodland near Edgewood is home to tales of Will-o'-the-Wisps and a mysterious old woman who appears at dusk, warning travellers of danger. Strange lights and eerie whispers draw the curious deeper into the trees, and not all return.

These are just a few of the countless legends whispered through Woldchester’s alleys and moors. Every district has its tale, and every tale hints at deeper truths waiting to be uncovered.

A Living Setting

Woldchester also bears the scars of the Great Fracture - a mysterious surge of supernatural energy that tore through the city decades ago. Though largely contained, the event left lingering anomalies and reshaped entire districts. One such area is the Fracture Wards, where the lines between reality and the unknown remain thin.

Shops in the Fracture Wards have adapted to this strangeness. Many lean into Woldchester’s supernatural reputation, offering rare equipment, artefacts, and custom gear perfect for investigators looking to upgrade their kit. Whether you're seeking an EMF upgrade or protective charms, the Wards are worth a visit - if you know who to ask.

You might be tracing a missing person, chasing a banshee’s wail, or unravelling a decades-old mystery - Woldchester is your anchor. It's a city that rewards curiosity and punishes the reckless. Every alley might hold a clue - or a trap.

One thing is certain: in Woldchester, the past is never truly gone.

Uncover the Truth. Survive the Unknown.

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Disclaimer: Woldchester is a fictional city created for the tabletop roleplaying game Beyond the Veil. Any resemblance to real places or events is purely coincidental.