Children of the Drowned Empire | Grim Hollow

Creating your character

Character creation happens before Session 1 with my guidance. We'll have a free Session 0 (2-3 hours) where we collaborate on characters, discuss themes, and establish party dynamics. The Process: After booking, you'll receive a campaign primer with Castinellan lore and current events Session 0: We discuss safety tools, character concepts, and party connections I work with each player individually to develop backstories tied to the campaign Characters start at level 3, competent but not legendary Character Creation Rules: Point Buy (27 points) or Standard Array Any official 5e race/class (Grim Hollow transformations available but optional) Starting equipment: standard class equipment + 100gp All official WotC sourcebooks allowed (PHB, Xanathar's, Tasha's, etc.) Grim Hollow content encouraged but not required One free feat at level 1 Backgrounds: We use Grim Hollow's Profession system instead of standard 5e backgrounds, you'll choose a profession that ties into the world (examples: Fisher, Mercenary, Smuggler, Scholar, Monster Hunter, Heretic, Devourer, etc.) Setting Context: Magic exists but mages are hunted by the Arcanist Inquisition—spellcasters must be cautious The gods died in the Gods' End; divine magic works but its source is mysterious Castinellan is gothic, coastal, politically tense, and increasingly dangerous With monoliths appearing and monster attacks rising, the Inquisition's witch hunts make everything worse Your character needs a reason to stay and investigate when things get dangerous I'll help you create a character you'll love for 50+ sessions. Questions welcome!

Preparing for the session

Before Session 1: Create a Discord Account - Voice chat, between-session RP, handouts, and campaign updates Create a Foundry VTT Account - Browser-based (I host the server, no purchase needed) Create a D&D Beyond Account (O - For character sheets Read the Campaign Primer - 3-4 page document on Castinellan (sent after booking) Fill Out Player Questionnaire - Brief form on play style, character ideas, and boundaries Attend Session 0 (Free) - Character finalization, safety tools, party dynamics

What Davi brings to the table

Production Quality: Foundry VTT with dynamic lighting, fog of war, animated tokens Custom maps and high-quality tokens Curated music playlists for atmosphere Digital handouts and props (letters, maps, journal entries) Session recaps within 48 hours (in-character chronicler style) Gameplay Experience: Player agency is paramount, I adapt to your choices, not a fixed story Spotlight moments for each PC based on backstory Between-session RP encouraged in Discord (never required) Tactical, dangerous combat rewarding strategy and creativity Multiple solutions to problems, no "one right answer" Consequences that matter, actions have weight Communication: Available via Discord between sessions Open to feedback and adaptation Regular check-ins on pacing and content Responsive to player needs and concerns

Homebrew rules

I use Grim Hollow's expanded rules to enhance the dark fantasy experience: Combat & Actions: Flanking grants Advantage (as per standard 5e optional rule) Drinking a potion is a Bonus Action (administering to someone else is still an Action) Influence Dice (Grim Hollow social mechanic) - Earn and spend dice to affect social encounters, faction relationships, and NPC reactions Critical Hits: Roll damage normally, then add maximum weapon/spell dice (makes crits feel more impactful) Death, Injury & Recovery: Grievous Wounds (Grim Hollow) - When you drop to 0 HP, roll on the Grievous Wounds table for immediate complications (bleeding, broken bones, concussions, etc.) Permanent Wounds (Grim Hollow) - Critical failures on death saves or catastrophic damage may result in permanent injuries (scars, lost limbs, lingering trauma) that affect your character mechanically and narratively Death saves are private (only you and I know your count—adds tension) Resurrection is extremely difficult - Requires rare components, dangerous quests, and isn't guaranteed (death matters in Grim Hollow) Rest & Recovery: Alternate Resting Rules (Grim Hollow's Gritty Realism variant): Short Rest: 8 hours of sleep in a safe location Long Rest: 2 days of downtime in a settlement or secure location This makes resources matter and creates natural story pacing Long Rests require genuine safety - Camping in a dungeon won't cut it unless heavily fortified

How Davi creates a safe table

I take player safety seriously. Here's how we keep the table safe and fun for everyone: Session 0 - Setting Boundaries: We'll spend real time in Session 0 discussing content, boundaries, and what everyone's comfortable with. You'll each fill out a Lines and Veils document and share it with me privately. Lines are hard boundaries, content that won't appear in the game at all. Veils are things that can exist in the world but we handle off-screen or fade to black. We'll also establish X, N, O cards for use during sessions (explained below). Before sessions with heavy content, I'll give appropriate warnings. During Sessions: We use X, N, O cards (via Discord reactions or hand signals on video). X means "stop this content immediately, we need to pivot." N means "I'm uncomfortable, let's move past this quickly." O means "I'm loving this, more please!" You can step away from the table anytime for any reason, zero explanation needed, that's the open door policy. I'll check in during intense scenes to make sure everyone's still good. Between Sessions: I check in with players after emotionally heavy sessions. We use Stars and Wishes periodically as a feedback tool, what you loved, what you want more or less of. DM me anytime if something in a session bothered you. I respond within 24 hours and we'll figure it out together. Content in This Campaign (18+): This is dark fantasy with horror elements. You'll encounter violence and gore from monster hunting (graphic but not gratuitous), body horror from transformations and grotesque creatures, corruption and possession themes, morally gray situations with no clear right answers, potential character death (combat is dangerous with the wound systems), and permanent consequences like scars, injuries, and trauma that affect your character long-term. What Won't Appear Without Explicit Consent: Sexual violence of any kind, on-screen harm to children (they may be in danger but harm happens off-screen if at all), real-world bigotry (racism, homophobia, transphobia, etc.), player-versus-player conflict without prior agreement between players, and anything specifically on your Lines document. My Commitment: I've been running games for years and I'm committed to creating a space where everyone feels safe, heard, and excited to play. If I mess up, please tell me. I'll apologize, adjust, and do better. Your comfort and fun are more important than any story beat.