Corsairs and History
Chosen by royal decree, you are summoned to aid in a mission of recovery and discovery. Your decisions will shape not only Elmwood but Tetara as well
$10.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Sunday - 10:00 PM UTC
Mar 15 / Session 32
Session Duration / 3–5 hours
4 / 6 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
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About the adventure
Corsairs and History: An Elmwood Adventure A post-war fantasy campaign of relics, restoration, and rising tensions in the Elmwood Republic. The war is over, but peace is still young. In the heart of Tetara, the Elmwood Republic begins to heal after the devastating Dark Elf War. Fields are being tilled again. Cities rise from ash. But beyond the walls of Farwyn, the land remains unsettled. Whispers of buried histories, forgotten artifacts, and unseen threats stir once more. Chosen by royal decree, you are summoned to aid in a mission of recovery and discovery. Under the guidance of scholars and monarchs, you’ll journey across the realm—through enchanted forests, war-torn villages, and ancient sites—uncovering relics lost to time and helping shape the next chapter of Elmwood’s future. This game is ideal for players who enjoy: Roleplay-rich, exploration-driven campaigns Ancient ruins, magical mysteries, and post-war intrigue Tactical combat and choices that carry weight A grounded, immersive world with room for heroism and growth Game Details: System: D&D 5e Playstyle: PvE | Heavy Roleplay | Exploration | Light Mystery | Tactical Combat Tone: Classic Fantasy with elements of magical history, politics, and a recovering world Platform: Forge VTT + Discord | D&D Beyond (Beyond20 extension required) Welcoming New and Veteran Players Whether it’s your first roll or your fiftieth session, you’re welcome at the table. Before we begin, a free Session 0 on Discord will cover everything—character sheets, backstories, tool setup, and expectations. Come prepared to build a hero and become part of a living world.
Game style
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(10)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
53 games hosted
Highly rated for: World Builder, Storytelling, Sets the Mood
About me
Hello fellow adventurers! I'm your guide to a world born from boundless creativity and the roll of the dice. I've been mastering the art of Dungeon Mastering for over four years, steering a ship of a homebrew world I and a group of players have crafted from scratch. My games are built on the foundations of D&D 5e. I allow the use of A.i art from players and occasionally myself for character tokens. All maps are created by me or bought via patron. Story concept writing are all done by me. (improv is king!) If you are uncomfortable with a.i being used by players, this may not be a good fit for you! I believe in a game where freedom and storytelling intertwine, creating memorable, character-driven journeys. Everyone should feel equal weight and everyone should matter in some aspect regardless if you're a ride along or here for the story kind of player, you'll be sure to get dragged into it. My games tend to be darker or as they say "traumatizing" for player characters and black and white is a no no in my world. Everything has a reason, a logic to it and perspective. I strive to weave your character's backstory into the very fabric of the world, enriching the narrative and ensuring your place in this evolving tale. While I don't use voice acting, I excel at matching the tones and styles of various NPCs to enhance the narrative and bring our characters to life. This approach helps maintain the immersion and gives each character a unique presence in our story. I use Discord for seamless communication and VTT to bring our encounters to life. I also require players to have the DnD Beyond 20 extension for a smooth and integrated gaming experience. My sessions are rich with visuals and assets that enhance your experience and draw you deeper into the lore. The Campaign world I run is called Tetara. Tetara’s history is shaped by three major events: The Great War — an ancient conflict that left behind scattered ruins, lost histories, and sealed remnants of old powers. The War of the Gods — a later upheaval that damaged the world further and erased or distorted large parts of recorded history. The Dark Elf War — the most recent and catastrophic conflict.(The original campaign) This war pushed the world to the brink of extinction and sets the stage for the beginning of the entire campaign saga. Where Player Involvement Began Players entered the story at the exact end of the Dark Elf War, when nearly everything was in ruins. (the last remaining kingdom Aras, an island kingdom, made its final stand) There were: no stable governments collapsing borders scattered survivors no clear leadership widespread devastation From that point, the players themselves became the foundation of the new era. In the first campaign, the players founded the first two kingdoms after the war, (Elmwood Republic and Kingdom of Aideon) directly deciding how civilization restarted and what the new world would look like. Everything that exists in modern Tetara — nations, alliances, rivalries, political structures, and emerging cultures — is built on the choices players made in those early sessions. The Player Premise Moving Forward Across all campaigns since then, players continue to drive the direction of the world by: Rebuilding towns, nations, and systems of governance Strengthening or reshaping the kingdoms they originally founded or new ones Exploring ruins and sites left behind by the Great War and War of the Gods Recovering lost knowledge and history Protecting the world from new threats tied to old conflicts Influencing future politics, alliances, and conflicts Deciding what Tetara becomes in the long term The world is intentionally open and player-driven. Each campaign adds new information, new consequences, and new pieces of the world’s story. The Overall Player Goal Across all current and future campaigns, the broad purpose is: Rebuild the world after the Dark Elf War Maintain or evolve the kingdoms players created Uncover the truth about Tetara’s past Understand how the Great War and War of the Gods still affect the present Prevent hidden or forgotten dangers from rising again Shape the next era of Tetara through their actions as teams Players are not just adventurers in the world; they are the ones building the world, rebuilding civilization, and creating the future history of Tetara. If you're ready to explore a multi-layered world where the story reacts to your choices and the limits are as vast as your imagination, grab your dice, and let's create memorable adventures together!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Character Creation Players can create their characters before Session 0, or build them during Session 0 if they’d like help or guidance. I’ll review all character sheets before the session begins to make sure everything is good to go. Character Details Level: 3 Platform: Characters must be created in D&D Beyond Ability Scores: Use Point Buy or Standard Array (no rolling) Allowed Content: Official sources only (no Homebrew or Unearthed Arcana) You may use either the 2014 or 2024 Player’s Handbook rules Starting Gear: Use class and background starting equipment Feats: Allowed if granted by your background (2024 rules) or if you choose Variant Human Important: Set Character to Public Please make sure your character is set to “Public” under Character Settings in D&D Beyond so I can view and review your sheet before the game.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
How Should Players Prepare? Here’s everything you’ll need to join the game and be ready for the Festival of the First Crown: Required Tools A working microphone (no webcam required) A StartPlaying.com account (to reserve your seat) A Discord account (for voice and pre-session chat) A D&D Beyond account (for character creation and gameplay) A Forge VTT account (free, used to access the game in Foundry) The Beyond20 browser extension (to connect D&D Beyond to Foundry) Character Creation Create your character in D&D Beyond using Point Buy or Standard Array (Level 3) Set your character to Public visibility You may use 2014 or 2024 official rules (no homebrew or UA) If you need help, character creation can be done during Session 0 with guidance! Rules Knowledge You don’t need to know all the rules! I’ll explain anything you need to know as we go That said, reading through your class and background ahead of time is helpful. If there are any questions prior to sessions 0 please let me know!
What Dm/Gm Travis brings to the table
What I Offer My Players – Corsairs and History: An Elmwood Adventure Discord for Voice & Chat All in-game communication will take place on Discord. Once you're signed up through StartPlaying, you'll receive a private server invite for your session and Session 0 prep. D&D Beyond for Character Sheets Characters must be created and managed using D&D Beyond. You can build your character using either the 2014 rules or the updated 2024 Player’s Handbook. ✅ Standard Characters Only ✅ Point Buy or Standard Array only ❌ No Homebrew or Content Sharing Enabled Beyond20 + Foundry VTT via The Forge Gameplay will take place on Foundry VTT, hosted via The Forge. You'll need: A free Forge account The Beyond20 browser extension This setup lets you roll directly from your D&D Beyond sheet into Foundry for seamless, immersive play. StartPlaying Sign-Up Required All players must sign up through StartPlaying.com to reserve a seat. Session 0 scheduling, campaign prep, and ongoing session updates will be managed through StartPlaying and Discord. My GM Style – What You Can Expect in Elmwood Balanced Play – RAW Meets Rule of Cool I stick to the Rules as Written for clarity and consistency—but I’m always open to bending the rules when it enhances the story, rewards clever thinking, or supports cinematic, character-driven moments. Story-Rich Exploration in a Living World This is a roleplay-forward PvE campaign set in a recovering republic full of forgotten ruins, political undercurrents, and magical remnants of war. Player choices shape the tone of each region and how NPCs react in future sessions. Tactical Combat, Player-Driven Decisions Combat is present but purposeful. Expect meaningful encounters where strategy, positioning, and environment play a role. Roleplay, discovery, and solving problems in-character are just as important as battle. Immersive Presentation I enhance each session with: Battle maps tailored to each location Dynamic lighting and weather (Foundry tools) Ambient music and nature/urban sounds that match the tone of each moment Visuals that bring Elmwood to life
Equipment needed to play
Microphone
Headphones
Computer
Internet
Platforms used
Safety
How Dm/Gm Travis creates a safe table
Safety Tools & Gameplay Details This game is meant to be fun, welcoming, and inclusive for everyone at the table—whether you're a new player or a seasoned adventurer. We'll spend some time before we play making sure everyone feels comfortable, prepared, and respected. Session Zero – Discord Prep Before the game session, we’ll hold a brief Session Zero on Discord (text or voice, depending on your preference). In this check-in, we will: Go over character creation and answer any rules questions Set expectations for tone and play style Discuss the game’s themes Introduce and explain the X, N, O safety system Make sure everyone knows what to expect and has a voice at the table Safety Tools – X, N, & O System During the game, we’ll use the X, N, and O system to help everyone feel safe and heard: X – Stop. A line has been crossed or something is uncomfortable. We'll pause and adjust immediately. N – A nudge to shift away from something. It’s not a full stop, but let’s ease up or move on soon. O – All good! A quick way to show you're okay with the current scene or tone. You can use these tools in Discord chat or say them out loud—whatever feels most comfortable. Aftercare At the end of the session, we’ll take a few minutes to: Share favorite moments Check in on how everyone felt about the session Give space for feedback or private chats if needed This is casual, supportive, and always optional. Additional Gameplay Notes Beginner-friendly and welcoming to all experience levels Focus on roleplaying and story. No forced PvP—everyone should be like-minded and working together Characters can be pre-generated or created ahead of time All players are encouraged to engage at their comfort level
Content warnings
Safety tools used