The Maelstrom's Reign - Expedition Bloodwake!
A storm-wracked sea hides sunken empires, cursed islands, and secrets that should have stayed drowned—will you chart your fortune, or vanish beneath t
$23.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Saturday - 7:00 PM UTC
Dec 20 / Session 19
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
6 / 7 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
6/7
About the adventure
The Endless Sea is in turmoil. The Maelstrom, an eternal storm that births and consumes islands, grows more violent, threatening the balance of power among the five great nations, the Wayfarers, and the free pirate fleets. But deeper forces stir—the cults of Elemental Evil, guided by a sunken power buried beneath the waves, seek to shape the seas into their own nightmarish domains. As factions race to exploit, control, or destroy the Maelstrom, the adventurers—pirates, adventurers, or mercenaries with the fate of the seas in their hands—find themselves caught in a web of alliances, betrayals, and supernatural forces. From raiding lost vaults of the deep to battling skyborne raiders and ghost ships, the party must forge their legend, gather allies, and unravel the mystery of the storm’s true origin—before the sea itself is reshaped in fire and ruin.
Game style
Hexcrawl / Exploration
Sandbox / Open World
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(40)
2 years on StartPlaying
373 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Knows the Rules, Inclusive
Average response time: 6 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hi there! I’m Cody, also known as Pax, a professional Game Master based in San Antonio, Texas. I’ve been playing and running tabletop RPGs for over twenty years, starting back in 2nd edition, spending plenty of time in 3.5, and now primarily running 5th edition. I first got into 5e through Adventurers League, running weekly public games for five years straight with tables of seven or more players. That experience taught me a ton about managing large groups, keeping sessions engaging, and helping both new and veteran players feel like part of the story. Over the past couple of years, I’ve transitioned into running private campaigns full-time, completing six full campaigns and building a wonderful, supportive community along the way. I have a deep love for taking established modules and tweaking them to create smoother gameplay, give characters more meaningful connections to the story, and expand on the content to make the narrative feel dynamic and impactful. If you’re looking for a reliable GM with a strong understanding of the rules, experience handling large groups, and a passion for teaching new players, you’re in the right place.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Characters will begin at level 3 and will be made during session 0. If you'd like to make your character before the session, you're more than welcome to. You may roll for stats using rules listed in the discord server, or use either point buy or the standard array. All official books are allowed with third party or partnered content approved on a case-by-case basis. Characters using the 2014 ruleset receive a bonus feat at level 1 as part of their background, unless the background awards a feat or additional spells already. In addition to your starting gear, you begin play with a potion of healing. If you have any questions or need help, I'll be available through discord prior to the session.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Players will need to have a Discord account, a D&D Beyond account, and a working microphone. If you'd like to use a webcam you're more than welcome to, but it is not required. Your character must be complete before the session starts.
What Pax brings to the table
I will be bringing my DND Beyond library, custom maps, encounters, and handouts. I am no voice actor, but I do my best to give NPCs unique voices and mannerisms.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Headphones
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Pax creates a safe table
We will primarily be using the 2024 ruleset, but legacy content will be available if it hasn't been updated. During session 0, we will go over safety tools, campaign content, character ideas, backstories, and party connections.
Content warnings
Safety tools used