Beyond the Witchlight: In the Shade of the Hinterwoods (2024 5e)

Every 8 years, a girl's dreams create a Wild Magic Zone around her home village as carnival music plays incessantly. This time, she hasn't awoken.

TYPE

Campaign

LEVELS

1

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
3 NEEDED TO START
$22.00

/ Session

Details

Weekly / Saturday - 11:30 PM UTC

Session Duration / 2.5–4 hours

0 / 5 Seats Filled

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About the adventure

Wherefore a Witch is Born Beyond a quiet village, the woods of Jecalsal have become a place of strange, wild magic. Every eight years, a mysterious and chaotic Wild Magic Zone emanates from the mind of a girl while she sleeps. However, this time, she never awoke from her slimber, causing her dreams - and nightmares - to bleed into reality. The forest's very being is a reflection of a the girl's mind, and the wild magic is the uncontrolled result of a powerful wish she made in her sleep. The local villagers are starting to lose their memories, and you are their last hope. This is a journey into a world born from a nightmare and filled with fantastical chaos. The adventure takes you into a strange and whimsical land ruled by sinister coven, where every step you take and every choice you make is a reflection of a soul in turmoil. In this world of dark fantasy, you will encounter charming, absurd characters alongside terrifying creatures, and your actions will literally affect the mind and body of a somnolent witch of burgeoning power. Our game will be a blend of mystery, dark fantasy, and comedy, offering a unique D&D experience. While there will be plenty of challenges and combat, this campaign is designed for creative problem-solving and social role-playing, offering many opportunities to use your wits instead of your sword. Whether you are a brand new adventurer or a seasoned veteran, this game will challenge you to think differently about what is real and what is a dream. To save Jecalsal and the girl, you must first save a dream. The question is, can you escape it before it becomes a nightmare?

Game style

Roleplay Heavy

Combat Lite

Realm Building

Rules as Written (RaW)

Theater of the Mind

Puzzle / Mystery Focused

Roleplay Lite

Meet the Game Master
Streamer
Teacher/Educator
Game Designer

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Teacher, Creativity, Knows the Rules

About me

Ever since I took a course in University on Medievalism in Games and Dungeons & Dragons was one of the course topics, I had an interest to play, but never found my passion for it after I finally decided to give it a go after graduating. What led me to this decision was inspiration (bardic and heroic) from Viva La Dirt League's (VLDL) D&D Campaign, a channel of content creators from New Zealand that I had been following for a while for their other skits, such as Video Game Logic. I started GMing 5e (2014), but switched to primarily the 2024 ruleset, although I prefer a combination of each, and I am more than flexible enough to accommodate either system in (my) games. I have been GMing since late 2023, enjoying the challenge of getting better with each session. Some of my favourite pastimes within D&D is homebrewing monsters, encounters, spells, magic items, and more to bring the lore of (my) worlds to the 5e system, taking inspiration from other great GMs out there. Admittingly, I have only really played D&D as a TTRPG system, although I have played modified or custom systems for shorter campaigns, adventures, or one-shots. I use D&D Beyond and Discord to run online games, and prefer those platforms due to my familiarity with them. I look forward to sharing in more adventures there (and in person).

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Character creation

Creating your character

Character creation will be done on D&D Beyond during Session 0. You can use any species and subclass, be it official, third party, or homebrew content. - stats: manually rolled. Roll 2 groups, choosing the better one - HP: manual or fixed (Player choice) - starting Level: 1 (Milestone levelling) - Refer to the Player's Handbook (2024) and Free Basic Rules (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/br-2024) - More info in the Discord server

What to expect

Preparing for the session

Hi everyone! Welcome to a homebrewed Wild Beyond the Witchlight campaign! Beginners and veterans are all welcome! We will be using 2024 5e ruleset and homebrew creations. If you wish to use any other content from another source book, please talk to me first. Here are the materials to help you get started: D&D Beyond Basic Rules: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/br-2024 (please get familiar with How to Play and navigating your Character Sheet) You will need to create a D&D Beyond account if you don't have one already. Link to the campaign: https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/join/69371251600915835 You can create character through the campaign link, or this link takes you to the character builder. I am more than happy to assist with character creation.(https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/builder). It's easier just to create a character for that campaign, though. Discord Server link: https://discord.gg/xVX8gbFq

What Eric the Ready brings to the table

I bring my own homebrew world and lore, incorporating official and homebrew content into our campaigns. My alchemy formula: - A generous dash of atmosphere. I utilize carefully selected ambient music and sound effects to set the tone for every scene, from the bustling noise of a city market to the unsettling quiet of a haunted ruin. For key NPCs, I embrace distinct voices and mannerisms to make them feel truly unique and memorable. - A splash of creativity and imagination. While I will challenge you with intelligent and strategic monsters, our game emphasizes creative problem-solving over simple brute force. The environment is always a factor, and I reward players who think outside the box and use their wits to overcome obstacles. Expect (some) puzzles and (minimal) riddles, social encounters, and moral dilemmas to be as frequent as combat. - A measure of collaborative freedom and storytelling. While I embrace the Rules as Written to ensure fairness and consistency, I am a firm believer in the Rule of Cool. If a creative idea sounds amazing and doesn't completely break the game, I will do my best to make it happen within the rules. I will also be upfront about my rulings, and I encourage open discussion to ensure everyone has a fun and positive experience. - A pinch of inspiration. The world we explore is a homebrewed setting built on a fantastic foundation, but it is not static. I will integrate your character's backstories, goals, and even their small-town quirks into the living, breathing world. Your actions will have a tangible impact on the story, and your choices will define the fate of the realm. **Note: As the Game Master, I am the final arbiter of the rules. While I will always listen to your arguments and perspectives on a ruling, the ultimate decision on game mechanics and what becomes canon for the world rests with me to ensure a consistent and enjoyable experience for all.** Let's tell stories together!

Homebrew rules

A House Rules document will be provided for Session 0 and is linked in the Discord server.

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Microphone

Webcam

Computer or Mobile Device

Pen & Paper

Safety

How Eric the Ready creates a safe table

All forms are available in the Discord server, including: - Player Safety & Consent to Gaming Form - D&D Session Recording Consent Form - All tracking sheets from the 2024 DMG (especially Game Expectations)

Content warnings

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions