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The Crooked Smile of the Crescent Moon (2024 5e) - Free Sess. 0
The afterlife's river is dammed. Its Ferryman is slain. All souls from beast to humanoid flood the lake 'neath the Crooked Smile of the Crescent Moon.
$22.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Friday - 11:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 2.5–4 hours
Campaign Length / 10+ Sessions
0 / 4 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
Welcome to the unsettling world of The Crooked Smile of the Crescent Moon, a campaign that utilizes the chilling lore of the Crooked Moon Sourcebook and is perfect for new players and veterans alike! You start as heroes from Harrowind, the proud, ancient land of the High Elves. This civilization was built on harmony and prosperity, but it was shattered by a brutal civil war over the nature of death and the afterlife. You fought for your beliefs, you fell in battle, and instead of finding the eternal rest promised to your people, you woke up in the ultimate horror: Treillis’bruyère Creux (The Hollow of the Woven Moor/Wickermoor Hollow), the failed afterlife. This is a folk horror story, where the elegant world of Elven magic clashes against the realm of souls. As you navigate the desolate, draining landscape of the Hollow, you'll be racing against time to save your own souls from being erased by the chilling influence of the Crooked Smile. Now, instead of a river, the Glostlight Express follows the tracks into the unknown. The game is beginner-friendly, focusing on teamwork, clever problem-solving, and overcoming terrifying challenges. We prioritize strong character roleplaying and atmospheric exploration as you fight to anchor your souls, find the legendary Lantern of True Sight, and discover a way to reopen the true path to the afterlife before the Elves’ ancient mistake dooms the entire universe. Escape the Hollow, or join the Bones of Erlith forever. The choice is yours.
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
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).
View Profile →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 Crooked Moon campaign! Beginners and veterans are all welcome! We will be using 2024 5e ruleset, Crooked Moon Sourcebook, and a bit of homebrew. 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) https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/join/6934181491633121 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
Platforms used
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