Age of Ashes: Flames of Eberron - Book 1

Creating your character

We’ll begin with Session 0, where we’ll introduce the setting, establish connections between the characters, and walk through character creation together. If you already have a concept in mind, that’s great, bring it! If you’re new to Pathfinder 2e or to Eberron, I’ll guide you through the process step by step in Foundry VTT so that your character feels both rules-solid and narratively grounded in the world. Starting Level: 1 XP Track: Milestone leveling Wealth: Standard starting gold or equipment packages per class. Optional Rules: Free Archetype included, or relic upon request. Setting Context The campaign begins in Breachill, a small Aundairian town along the road between Arcanix and Larunor, nestled in the rolling green hills near the ruins of Citadel Altaerein (now called Vanguard Keep). It’s a place of students, farmers, mercenaries, and wandering mages, a borderland between Aundair’s sophistication and Khyber’s lurking wilds. The annual Call to Heroes festival is about to begin, a local tradition where would-be adventurers take on contracts for the town. You’ll be one of those heroes, answering the call for your own reasons: curiosity, ambition, duty, or just tourism. Ancestries & Backgrounds All official Pathfinder 2e ancestries and heritages are welcome, including those from the included Path2e Eberron document. Humans, elves, halflings, and dwarves are common across Aundair and Khorvaire, as are half-elves. Orcs and half-orcs are often of Shadow Marches or Eldeen heritage. Goblin, hobgoblin, and bugbear characters might hail from anywhere. Other races can easily be fit in to the setting, and I'm happy to find how you fit best. Day of Mourning Accident? Tribe from Xen'drik? Extra-planar creature? Backgrounds tied to study, war, or exploration fit perfectly — Scholar, Arcane Prodigy, Guard, Mercenary, Outcast, or Field Researcher all make sense in this region. Classes Any class is fair game, with a few thematic notes: Sorcerers, Wizards, and Magi are at home in Aundair, perhaps trained at Arcanix or experimenting independently. Fighters, Champions, and Rogues might be veterans of the Last War or members of Breachill’s watch. Rangers and Druids may come from the Eldeen Reaches. Inventors and Gunslingers represent Eberron’s technological edge, magitech tinkerers, elemental engineers, or alchemists. Remember, gunpowder is a recent invention, discuss with me if using it. Clerics and Oracles can worship the Sovereign Host, the Silver Flame, or more enigmatic powers tied to prophecy and flame. Psychics, Thaumaturges, and Summoners fit neatly within Eberron’s arcane experimentation and planar intersections. If you’d like, I can help link your class to a faction or organization (House Cannith, the Arcane Congress, the Church of the Flame, etc.) during Session 0. Books & Tools You may use any official Paizo Pathfinder 2 content or the Path2e Eberron suppliment I provide.

Preparing for the session

Before the first session, you’ll only need a few things ready to go, most of which I’ll help you with personally. I aim to make onboarding easy, even for first-time Pathfinder 2e players. You do not need to own any rulebooks; everything you’ll need to play will be provided through Foundry VTT and our shared Discord server. 🧭 Step 1: Join the Discord After signing up, you’ll receive a Discord invite link for the campaign server. This will be our main hub for: Voice chat during sessions Between-session updates and scheduling Rules questions, character discussion, and group coordination Once you’ve joined, introduce yourself and I’ll add you to your party’s group area. ⚙️ Step 2: Get Foundry Access We’ll be using Foundry Virtual Tabletop for all gameplay, maps, character sheets, and dice rolling. You’ll just need: A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge recommended) A mouse and microphone A stable internet connection No installation required, you’ll simply log into my hosted server via a link provided. The Foundry game will include: Fully automated character sheets Shared digital dice and chat tools Ambient music, battle maps, and cinematic storytelling. Token art provided for every character upon request. If you’re new to Foundry, don’t worry, I’ll give a short tutorial at the start of Session 0 to get everyone comfortable. 📘 Step 3: Character Prep You can either create your character ahead of time (using Pathbuilder 2e) or build together during Session 0. If you want to come prepared, please have the following ready: Character name and ancestry/class concept A short two-sentence backstory hook (why you’re in Breachill for the Call to Heroes) A portrait or token image if you’d like to use your own (otherwise, I can provide one) Session 0 will handle finalizing stats, backgrounds, and party connections, so no need to stress, come with an idea, not a spreadsheet. 🧰 Step 4: Familiarize Yourself (Optional) You don’t need to memorize anything, I’ll handle rules coaching in play. Look over the basic pathfinder second edition rules, and the rules of Eberron if you like. I'll fill in the rest as we go. 🧠 Step 5: Tech & Etiquette Test your mic and browser before the first session. Find a quiet, comfortable space to play if possible. Keep snacks, drinks, and a notepad handy, this is a cinematic, long-form adventure! Respect other players’ spotlight moments and enjoy the collaboration. 🎇 Step 6: Bring Your Sense of Wonder The campaign opens in a lighthearted frontier festival before sliding into deep draconic mystery. Come ready to laugh, explore, and make bold choices. I’ll handle the logistics, you just bring creativity, curiosity, and maybe a touch of ambition worthy of Aundair’s greatest heroes.

What Maeceus brings to the table

This campaign is built to be immersive, welcoming, and easy to jump into. I handle all the Pathfinder 2e rules, automation, and setup through Foundry VTT on The Forge, no prep needed on your end. You’ll join an ongoing, story-driven campaign set in Eberron’s Aundair, where magic and mystery intertwine. Whether you’re a Pathfinder veteran or brand new to the system, I’ll walk you through everything so you can focus on the story, not the rulebook. I provide clear narration, expressive NPCs, and a cinematic pace that balances combat, exploration, and character moments. I use ambient music and sound to set the tone, from quiet Arcanix taverns to thunder over dragon-haunted ruins, and do light character voices for flavor. You’re welcome to join in, but never required. Combat will feel tactical but fast-moving, using Pathfinder’s depth without bogging things down. I follow the rules as written for consistency but reward clever stunts, teamwork, and creativity. If something cool fits the moment, we’ll find a way to make it work. Between sessions, you’ll have access to our Discord for chat, scheduling, and downtime roleplay. I’ll post summaries and occasionally drop lore tidbits, handouts, or small side hooks to keep the world alive between games. Expect a tone that mixes adventure and intrigue, moments of humor and camaraderie alongside mystery, danger, and the thrill of uncovering ancient secrets. You don’t need to know anything about Eberron beforehand; I’ll introduce the world naturally as your characters explore it. My goal is to give you a consistent, story-driven campaign where you can relax, laugh, take big swings, and watch your characters grow from hopeful adventurers to heroes who shape the fate of a world.

Homebrew rules

I use a homebrew PDF that brings in aspects of Eberron lore into Pathfinder. Beyond that, I am doing a homebrew modified version of the Age of Ashes campaign to fit that setting, so aspects will be changed or renamed accordingly.

How Maeceus creates a safe table

This campaign leans into adventure, discovery, and the occasional dark mystery, but everyone’s comfort always comes first. Before the first session, we’ll take a few minutes to check in about any themes or topics you’d prefer to avoid. During play, if something ever feels uncomfortable, you can speak up or message me privately at any time. I’ll pause immediately and adjust without question. My goal is for everyone to feel relaxed, respected, and able to stay immersed in the story. I also keep an eye on pacing and tone, when tension runs high, we’ll balance it with levity, warmth, and breathing room. There’s no pressure to perform or stay in character; speak as much or as little as you like, and take breaks when needed. This is a collaborative game, not a competition. I encourage players to support each other, share spotlight moments, and build connections both in and out of character. The best stories come from trust and teamwork. In short: no stress, no pressure, just an engaging, cooperative campaign where everyone feels safe, included, and excited to see what happens next.