Blood of the Wolf: A Viking Saga

Creating your character

I’ll personally assist each player with character creation to ensure your hero feels naturally tied to the story and the world of Knorxwen. Together, we’ll build a backstory that connects you to your siblings, your fallen bloodline, and the frozen land you’re returning to. All characters will use rolled stats (4d6, drop the lowest) for ability scores. We’ll create characters before the first session during a short one-on-one Discord call or chat. This helps lock in your concept, align tone, and ensure the group feels like a single saga rather than strangers. Allowed Options Races/Species: - Human - Goliath - Orc - Dwarf Classes: - Barbarian - Fighter - Ranger - Cleric - (A Seiðr practitioner, a Cleric may exist in the story, but the focus remains on mortal warriors and the will of the Old Gods.) Banned Feat: Lucky Homebrew or additional features may be discussed if they fit thematically within the world’s tone and realism. 🩸 A Note from the DM I know these restrictions might seem strict at first glance, but they exist for a purpose. Blood of the Wolf is not a high-fantasy campaign filled with endless spells and dragons. It’s a grounded, gritty Viking saga about family, vengeance, survival, and the strength of the human spirit when the gods themselves fall silent. By focusing on a limited set of races and classes, we create a story where every scar, strike, and sacrifice feels earned. You’ll experience a campaign that celebrates character-driven storytelling, real emotional weight, and the raw brutality of life in a frozen world where legend is forged through blood and honor, not fireballs. (even though they are fun) This focus allows me to craft a richer, more immersive story where your choices matter deeply, your weapons have names, and your deeds echo through the fjords for generations.

Preparing for the session

Before joining the campaign, please make sure you’re ready with the following: - Basic Rules Knowledge: You should have a general understanding of the 5e ruleset, no need to be an expert, just familiar enough to enjoy smooth gameplay. - Microphone: A clear, working microphone is required for communication through Discord. - Webcam: A webcam is mandatory. My GM style relies on reading player expressions and emotions to enhance immersion and storytelling. - Fantasy Grounds Access: You’ll need access to a PC and the Fantasy Grounds demo version (I own the Ultimate license, so no purchase is required). - Spotify Premium: Access to Spotify Premium is required for synchronized background music and ambient sound. Shared audio helps everyone experience the same atmosphere during key story moments. - World Primer PDF: You’ll receive a short Velyndor World Primer document before Session 0. Please read it to understand the setting’s tone, lore, and major themes. Once you’re confirmed for the campaign, you’ll receive a Discord invite where we’ll handle introductions, scheduling, and character setup.

What Ragnarrlokk brings to the table

You can expect a cinematic, immersive, and emotionally grounded experience built on story, atmosphere, and choice. Every session of Blood of the Wolf feels like a living saga complete with music, voice, and mythic weight. I run the game like a Viking epic brought to life: - 🎙️ Character Voices & Immersive Roleplay: Each NPC speaks with their own tone and mannerisms, from stoic jarls to whispering seiðr witches. Dialogue feels like a living story, not just exposition. - 🎧 Cinematic Ambience & Sound Design: Sessions use ambient music, environmental audio, and subtle cues to shape emotion, roaring fires, howling winds, chanting in the distance. - ⚔️ Tactical, Brutal Combat: Fights are cinematic but deadly. Every strike matters. Weather, exhaustion, and the terrain itself become part of the battlefield. - 📖 Rule of Cool Meets Realism: I honor D&D 5e’s rules, but if something creates an unforgettable, cinematic moment and fits the tone, the Rule of Cool wins. - 🩸 Deep Narrative Consequences: Every decision shapes the rebellion, your family’s fate, and the legends told about you. I track morale, loyalty, and reputation as living parts of the world. This campaign is low magic, high story, and deeply character-driven. I’ll help you discover the soul of your character, not just their stats, so your hero feels like part of a living world. You’ll get personalized one-on-one world onboarding, ongoing narrative recaps, and a campaign that remembers your deeds and failures alike. My goal as your DM is simple: to make you feel like you’re living through a Viking legend, not just rolling dice in one. Every session should leave you saying, “That felt like part of a saga.”

Homebrew rules

To enhance immersion and pacing, I use a few light homebrew rules designed to make the game more cinematic and engaging: - Potions as a Bonus Action: You can drink a healing potion as a bonus action, but administering one to another player still requires an action. - Critical Damage Boost: Critical hits deal double dice and include a cinematic flourish, sparks fly, bones crack, or armor splinters under the impact. - Death Save Tension: Rolling a natural 1 counts as two failed death saves, while a natural 20 counts as two successes. - Heroic Inspiration: Exceptional roleplay, clever problem-solving, or emotional storytelling may earn Heroic Inspiration, a one-time reroll usable on any check. - Rest & Recovery: Short rests take 30 minutes; long rests are 6 hours. However, interrupted or unsafe rests may not grant full recovery depending on the situation. All other mechanics follow standard 5e rules unless adjusted for storytelling flow or immersion.

How Ragnarrlokk creates a safe table

Player comfort and trust are my top priority. My games are built to explore emotional storytelling, heroism, and tension, never harm or discomfort. To be clear: there will never be any references to, or depictions of, sexual assault or sexual violence in my campaigns. Period. These topics have no place at my table. That said, my stories may include themes of murder, mystery, mild horror, and fantasy violence to build suspense and challenge the heroes. These moments are always handled with care, respect, and a focus on narrative impact, never shock value. Before we begin, we’ll go over a Session 0 to discuss boundaries, tone, and comfort levels. I also use Lines & Veils and the X/N/O safety system so players can pause, skip, or adjust any scene if needed. My goal is to create a world that feels thrilling and intense, but always safe and respectful for everyone at the table.