The Soteria Esoterica Campaign Setting
Soteria Esoterica is a tabletop RPG setting steeped in mystery, magic, and adventure. Located on the hidden Archipelago Soteria, this urban fantasy world blends the everyday life of a bustling island chain with a powerful undercurrent of the supernatural. Here, modern technology and ancient secrets coexist, where sprawling cities filled with neon lights, hidden alleyways, and towering skyscrapers stand shoulder to shoulder with enchanted forests, volcanic landscapes, and shadowy coastal caverns. The people of Soteria are unaware — or choose to ignore — that magic, myths, and things that go bump in the night are as real as the tropical breeze.
Settled in 1838 by the visionary priest-turned-heretic Andres Zambrano, Soteria has since grown into a culturally rich and diverse archipelago with its own unique history, shaped by pioneers, immigrants, and supernatural beings alike. The cities — Salvation, Bastion, Haven, and others — serve as hubs of human ingenuity and diverse life, with marketplaces, industrial complexes, criminal syndicates, and secret societies that give the islands their distinctive character. While to the uninitiated, Soteria may seem like just another tropical paradise, those in the know understand that it sits at a crossroads of realms, where the natural and the supernatural overlap and where things are never quite what they seem.
The setting boasts a rich tapestry of supernatural ancestries that players can explore. From the half-divine Nephilim called to lofty ideals of justice, to the half-demonic Raphaim who balance power and temptation, to the Changelings whose ties to the Fae world imbue them with magic and wonder, the world is filled with complex characters who struggle between their dual natures and human society. Revenants walk the line between life and death, given a second chance to complete a mission or seek redemption. Essentials — beings tied to fire, water, earth, and air — serve as guardians and avatars of nature itself, influencing the world with their elemental gifts. And then there are the Mortals, ordinary humans who may not be inherently magical but are often driven by ambition, creativity, and determination to master the mysteries of the world around them.
Magic in Soteria Esoterica is layered and multifaceted, hidden just beneath the surface. Mortals are largely blind to its presence, dismissing it as folklore or urban legend, while those who know the truth navigate a dangerous world where arcane powers are real and can be deadly. Multiple forms of magic intertwine throughout the setting — from the arcane to the divine, plunging into primal power and even those able to enchant through their verse. Magic can be a source of wonder and power, but it often comes with a cost, whether through mental strain, dangerous side effects, or attracting unwanted attention from darker forces.
The islands themselves hold secrets of their own, from the eerie perpetual twilight of the Twilight Coast to the Perplexicon, an ancient temple with an enigmatic blend of architectural styles from multiple ancient cultures. Unique resources like pneumatinum, a rare and powerful metal, add intrigue, coveted by governments, magitech corporations, and supernatural entities alike. Beneath the polished surface of modern life, tensions simmer between mortals and supernatural beings, magitech and natural magic, progress and tradition.
Players in Soteria Esoterica can shape their destinies as hunters of the supernatural, detectives investigating dark mysteries, mages seeking forbidden knowledge, vigilantes fighting for justice, or rebels navigating criminal empires. Whatever their path, they are part of a world where danger, adventure, and intrigue are always just around the corner, and every shadow may hide a new discovery, an untold story, or a hidden danger. Whether exploring the secrets of the islands, battling dark forces, or becoming part of the underground supernatural community, each character will forge their own story in a world where the mundane and the magical collide.