The Road to Drakkenheim: An Intro Adventure

Creating your character

Level: 3rd Level. Stats: Use Standard Array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) or Point Buy. This ensures game balance and a fair experience for everyone at the table. Equipment: Starting equipment based on your class/background, plus one Potion of Healing and 50gp of additional mundane gear from the PHB. For this one-shot, your character must have a reason to be on this road. Whether you are a penniless noble, a mercenary seeking coin, or a scholar chasing rumors of the meteor, you have been hired by Eren Marlowe to ensure this caravan reaches Emberwood Village. When you join, think of one "Drive" that keeps you walking toward the Haze: Are you escaping a past you’d rather forget? Are you seeking a cure for a loved one? Or are you just here because 25 gold is more than you’ve seen in a year? -- Where: We will use Foundry VTT. Once you join, I can provide a link to a character-builder or help you import your sheet from D&D Beyond. Sources: You may use any official WotC book (PHB'24, Tasha’s, Xanathar’s, etc.). If you want to use homebrew or 3rd-party content (including Drakkenheim-specific subclasses), please run it by me first!

Preparing for the session

Just ensure you have a stable setup (internet, mic, computer), discord, and a web browser!

What Mariah brings to the table

You’ll experience high-fidelity tactical maps with dynamic lighting, line-of-sight walls, and integrated soundscapes that shift as you move through the world. The automation is set up so you can spend less time calculating math and more time making choices. 📜 Intentional Narrative Design I believe every session should feel like a cinematic event. I prepare extensive notes and "canon scripts" for my NPCs and key scenes to ensure the dialogue is sharp and the pacing is tight. This preparation allows me to improvise with confidence—when you go off-script, I have the deep world-knowledge to react organically without breaking the immersion. ⚖️ Expert Game Balance & Flexibility With nearly a decade of experience, I have a deep understanding of 5e’s mechanical "breaking points." Tactical Combat: Encounters are designed to be challenging but fair, rewarding clever use of terrain and teamwork. The "Fateweaver" Rules: I prioritize the story but I back it up with solid mechanical logic. If the book doesn’t have an answer for your creative idea, I will find a way to make it work that keeps the game balanced. 🎨 Professional Visual Materials Upon joining, you’ll receive my custom Visual Player Primer. This 5e-style document is designed to give you a "scannable" understanding of the world’s lore, factions, and unique mechanics (like the Haze and Contamination) so you feel like a part of the world before the first die is rolled. 🤝 Mentorship & Support Whether you’re looking to sharpen your combat tactics or want a safe space to improve your roleplay, I’m here to help. I don’t lecture, but I’m always available to offer insights and "coaching" to help you get the most out of your character’s journey.

How Mariah creates a safe table

We will be using Lines and Veils, and go over boundaries in Session 0.