The Necropolis is a massive, ominous, and walled city of the dead that sprawls over the rolling hills on the northern edge of Ptolus. Enclosed by forty-foot-tall stone walls and heavy iron gates, this district serves as the final resting place for the city’s citizens. However, it is far from a peaceful graveyard. In your Eraedal setting, the Necropolis is a highly volatile, strictly guarded containment zone.
The thin veil between life and death in this area causes the deceased to frequently rise as mindless undead. Because of this constant supernatural threat, the district is heavily garrisoned and patrolled by militant religious orders. The common public is only allowed inside during daylight hours under armed escort to visit family tombs. At dusk, the massive iron gates are slammed shut, locking the undead—and anyone foolish enough to remain behind—inside the dark, fog-shrouded hills.
Prominent Locations
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The Dark Reliquary: A massive, terrifying cathedral built from black stone that stands at the highest point of the cemetery hills. This structure is the absolute stronghold of The Fallen (true fiends) and The Forsaken (a macabre death-cult). It serves as a dark mirror to the city’s holy temples, acting as a gathering point for dark magic, necromancy, and sinister rituals.
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The Ossuary: A sprawling, multi-tiered underground mausoleum where the bones of the city’s poorest citizens are stacked in labyrinthine catacombs. It is a highly dangerous hotspot for spontaneous undead manifestations, requiring constant cleansing rituals.
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The Gates of Lead: The primary, heavily fortified western entrance to the Necropolis. This gatehouse is a military garrison constantly manned by the City Watch and elite holy warriors who strictly monitor everyone entering or leaving the graveyard.
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The Death’s Head Tavern: A macabre, bleak tavern built right up against the outer walls of the district. It caters almost exclusively to grave diggers, undertakers, and grim adventuring parties who specialize in hunting the undead or harvesting rare necromantic alchemical ingredients.
Prominent People
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Vamal Shard: An influential and highly secretive leader within The Forsaken death-cult. Operating from the shadows of the Dark Reliquary, Vamal is a master of necromancy who orchestrates grave-robbing operations and coordinates the creation of powerful undead thralls. Mechanically, he fits as a high-level Witch (with a Curse or Night patron) or a dark Wizard who avoids direct conflict, preferring to use waves of undead and political blackmail to protect his cult’s secret operations.
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Brother Fabien: A battle-hardened, stern priest who commands the religious defenders stationed at the Gates of Lead. Clad in heavy steel plate embossed with the holy spiral of Pharasma, Fabien has spent decades purging the cemetery hills. Mechanically, he is a high-level Cleric (Cloistered or Warpriest) with a Undead Slayer archetype. He is a grim but invaluable source of information for adventurers seeking bounties on specific powerful undead or looking to purchase consecrated holy water and anti-plague elixirs.
PF2e Mechanical Identity for Vault Tagging
Behind the GM screen, use these Pathfinder 2e baselines to flavor Necropolis encounters, haunting hazards, and holy defenses:
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Common Ancestries: Visited by all living ancestries during the day, but permanently occupied by Dhampirs (vampire-touched heritages) and malicious undead entities like Ghouls, Wights, and Wraiths at night.
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Prevalent Classes: Champions (Paladin/Redeemer causes fighting the undead), Clerics (wielding vitality magic), and dark Wizards or Witches specializing in the void and shadow traits.
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Signature Archetypes: Undead Slayer, Exorcist, and Hallowed Necromancer.
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Threat Focus: Encounters here heavily feature the Void (Negative) damage trait, life-draining curses, and poison-based diseases like Ghoul Fever. Holy spellcasters rely on the holy sanctification modifier and high-rank heal spells to survive.