Bloom of the Abyss - Part I | Roots Beneath the Sand
Opportunity beckons in the streets of Port Godless - but whom will you trust when every choice carries a price?
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Sunday - 6:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
0 / 6 Seats Filled
Report Adventure
StartPlaying Money Back Guarantee
If your game doesn't happen, we guarantee a refund. Just reach out to StartPlaying Support. Refund Policy
About the adventure
In the bustling port of Azir, faith is outlawed and science rules. When a desperate job posting lures you into the service of a powerful research society, you uncover more than you bargained for. Whispers of corruption, sabotage, and dangerous secrets soon force a choice: side with the Society’s vision of progress at any cost, or aid those who would expose it - no matter the danger. Every decision shapes your future. Every ally may become your enemy. And every secret brings you closer to a truth darker than the desert night. The desert port metropolis of Azir, also known as Port Godless, is a quite the unique place. Ships from every corner of the Inner Sea arrive daily, carrying merchants, explorers, scholars, and adventurers alike. There are no gods here - the Pure Legion ensures faith is stripped from public life - yet life thrives all the same. Without priests to heal or bless, new traditions have grown: ingenious physicians practice advanced natural medicine, wizards and occultists push the limits of theory, and druids help the city wrestle with the encroaching desert. Amidst this vibrant chaos rises a new branch of the Vamar’vud Society of Sciences and Progress, a young but ambitious organization dedicated to research, invention, and discovery. They promise advancement for all, driven by curiosity and innovation rather than superstition. Their public face is professional, meritocratic, and results-driven, but whispers in taverns and alleys suggest something less clean: questionable sources of rare reagents, reckless experiments, and exploitation, hidden behind polished words. It is here, in the shadow of gleaming domes and bustling markets, that your story begins. You are adventurers of humble means but bold spirit - fresh off the docks, or already scraping by in the city - when opportunity comes knocking. What seems like honest work spirals into something more... The Society’s panel of demonstrations approaches, a showcase that could elevate their reputation or ruin it. Rival interests begin to circle - those who see the Society as a threat to both tradition and morality. You’ll soon find yourself pulled between two powerful figures with very different visions. Your decisions will matter. The Society rewards loyalty handsomely, but can you really ignore the rumors? The opening chapter of this campaign is more than a test of your blades and spells - it is a test of your convictions. In Azir, where gods are forbidden, you must decide whose vision for the future you trust, and whether you will stand by your choice or turn against it when the full weight of consequences is revealed.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Roleplay Heavy
Rules as Written (RaW)
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(1)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
11 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Knows the Rules
About me
Hey, I'm Bart! An avid fan of RPGs, my venture into the tabletop world started about 10 years ago. I fell in love with the amazing, immersive worlds and the agency that players have. Only later did I discover the realm of boundless possibility that having the GM seat grants. Since then I've been overjoyed to share stories with others whenever I can.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We will be making characters during the first session. Bring your coolest ideas! If you'd like to come with a character ready, that's great too! I recommend using the Pathbuilder2e app, it's quite convenient. It's free but you can buy the premium upgrade - it's worth it in my opinion but not strictly necessary. Try sticking to common feats, though should something catch your eye I'm happy to discuss including it! For those who wish - pregen characters are available too! Consider your preferred playstyle and we'll find one that suits you perfectly ^^
What to expect
Preparing for the session
A Discord account will be needed for voice chat during the session - I've got a server prepared for that purpose. Foundry VTT runs in browser, no download needed ^^
What Bartosz Rainka brings to the table
I enjoy a comfy, relaxed atmosphere at the table - I find it's most conducive to focusing on telling a great story and having fun! I generally embrace Rules as Written, enoying a more believable and realistic story - which might require sometimes changing the rules, if they don't seem to make sense to me. I also enjoy the cool, creative solutions only players can come up with and often rule on those on a case by case basis. We will discuss the details around combat encounters during session 0, however keep in mind that PF2e is a cooperative, tactical system - strategic thinking and teamwork are paramount. There will be ambient music, I enjoy the atmosphere it allows to create. This homebrew is the first part of a larger, lvl 1-20 campaign. I've decided to split it up to make each part more defined, and to make it more digestable as a whole. The campaign also features branching paths, so I thought that some players might be interested in looking into what would happen if they decided differently, without replaying previous parts of the story. Should you enjoy playing with me, you can definitely expect the campaign to continue ^^
Homebrew rules
Free Archetype Gradual Ability Boost
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Bartosz Rainka creates a safe table
Session 0 will be rolled into the first session, we will go over Lines and Veils and set our expectations for the story more generally. Before each session I will review the document to see if anything might have been added. There is a break planned roughly in the middle of the session. After the game I will stick around for about half an hour to talk about it, discuss Stars and Wishes, or just hang out ^^
Content warnings
Safety tools used