The Beast of Tashnar (HIGH LEVEL CAMPAIGN)

Creating your character

Character creation will take place before Session 1, with a short Session 0 used to finalize concepts, align tone, and weave characters into the world of Thera. Because this is a high-level campaign with deep narrative weight, characters should be created collaboratively rather than in isolation. Every character is expected to have a reason to exist in a world already scarred by catastrophe—ties to bloodlines, institutions, faiths, immortality, or legacy are strongly encouraged and will be actively used in play. The campaign starts at Level 16. Characters are assumed to be powerful, experienced figures—legendary heroes, feared warlords, ancient scholars, saints, monsters with restraint, or survivors who have lived long enough to see empires rise and rot. This is not an origin story. Your character should already have a reputation, a history of difficult choices, and something to lose when the future itself is threatened. Stats will be determined using Point Buy or Standard Array to maintain balance at high levels. No rolling for stats. This ensures every character begins on equal footing in a campaign where narrative consequence matters more than raw numerical advantage. All official D&D 5e 2014 core books are allowed (Player’s Handbook, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything). Unearthed Arcana, third-party content, and homebrew options require explicit DM approval before being used—this includes subclasses, races, feats, and spells. Characters should be created using D&D Beyond (preferred) or submitted as a clean digital sheet before Session 1. The focus is on clarity, cohesion, and story integration rather than optimization. This campaign rewards players who build characters with strong themes, moral tension, and long-term consequences in mind. If your character’s backstory cannot survive being interrogated by gods, monsters, or history itself—it likely won’t survive the campaign either.

Preparing for the session

1. Join the Discord Server All game communication, scheduling, lore discussion, and voice sessions will take place on Discord. You must join the server to participate. 2. Create Your Character in D&D Beyond Build your character in D&D Beyond at Level 16, using only approved sourcebooks (2014 core rules: Player’s Handbook, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, and Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything). • Use Point Buy or Standard Array for stats

What GM Kam brings to the table

This campaign is run with a cinematic, narrative-first GM style that emphasizes tone, consequence, and immersion. I regularly use character voices, deliberate pacing, and ambient music and soundscapes to reinforce mood—especially during horror, tension, and major revelations. Silence is used intentionally. Scenes are meant to feel heavy, unsettling, and memorable rather than fast or comedic. Combat at this level is intense, tactical, and dangerous. Enemies are intelligent, prepared, and often layered with environmental or narrative complications. Fights are not filler—they exist to change the world, kill important NPCs, reveal truths, or force hard decisions. Expect multi-stage encounters, mythic enemies, and situations where retreat, negotiation, or sacrifice may be as valid as victory. Positioning, resource management, and teamwork matter.

How GM Kam creates a safe table

This campaign explores dark, mature themes—including generational violence, extinction, vengeance, moral collapse, and horror. Player safety is a priority, and the goal is to create an intense experience without crossing personal boundaries. Before play begins, we will establish clear content boundaries during Session 0. Players will be encouraged to share topics they do not want depicted on-screen (hard lines) and topics that should fade to black or be handled carefully (soft lines). These boundaries will be respected at all times, no explanations required. We will use simple, practical safety tools: • An open-door policy: any player may step away at any time for any reason. • A pause/check-in system: if a scene becomes uncomfortable, it can be paused or redirected without disrupting the game or requiring justification.