Dragonbane | Secret of the Dragon Emperor [Beginner friendly]
In the Misty Vale, many seek out shards of an ancient statuette that is the key to the Dragon Emperor's tomb and a weapon of unimaginable power.
$25.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Friday - 2:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3â3.5 hours
Campaign Length / 11â15 Sessions
1 / 7 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
đ 50% off your first session â no experience needed âI know, I knowâthe dragon-knights fell, the demons waited, and now thereâs a legendary sword locked in a tomb that needs a shattered statuette to open it. Lucky for me, Iâve got every intention of claiming it.â đThe Misty Vale For centuries the fallen Empire of the Dragon Emperor lay buried beneath the Misty Valeâs haze. Now, fragments of his shattered statuette have begun to surfaceâhidden in ruined temples, guarded by zealots, or lost in haunted strongholds. That statuette is the key to the Emperorâs tomb⌠and to the Sword of Um-Durman, a weapon of unimaginable power. That sword could turn the tide for good, become a curse in the wrong hands, or simply be the greatest prize ever foundâin short, everything changes if you claim it. Will you chase coin, fight to save the Vale, or dare to wield the legendary blade yourself? âď¸ What Youâll Experience at the Table -11 modular, interconnected adventure sites set across swamps, crumbling strongholds, haunted woods and the fog-bound Misty Vale. -Risk-rich, cinematic combat where pushing your luck can earn glory or strain your body and mind. -A world of beastfolk, unsettled settlers and desperate factions, each with hidden agendas and shifting loyalties. -Meaningful choices that carry forwardâevery path toward the Sword of Um-Durman shapes a different legend for your character. âď¸ SYSTEM OVERVIEW Dragonbane is Free League Publishingâs modern revival of classic fantasy adventureâfast, perilous, and built on risk and reward. It uses a roll-under d20 system where calm precision brings success and failure invites chaos. Players can push a failed roll for another chance, but doing so risks gaining a ConditionâAngry, Scared, Dazed, or Exhaustedâtesting both resolve and stamina. The result is tense, cinematic play rooted in exploration, danger, and tough choicesâwhere cursed ruins hide ancient power, alliances are fragile, and every victory comes at a cost. All experience levels welcome. Questions before you book? Send me a message â happy to talk through it.
Game style
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Hexcrawl / Exploration
Roleplay Lite
Combat Heavy
Sandbox / Open World
Meet the Game Master
3 years on StartPlaying
54 games hosted
Highly rated for: Teacher, Knows the Rules, Creativity
Average response time: 17 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Like a lot of people, I grew up at the table â high school, college, and the years after â both as a player and a GM. Then life happened, and the dice went quiet for a while. When I found my way back in 2022, I knew exactly what kind of table I wanted to build, and I have been building it ever since. I run Free League Publishing and Year Zero Engine games almost exclusively, and for good reason: they nail what I care about most as a GM. Tension. Consequence. A world that feels real and pushes back. Whether we are surviving the ruins of Twilight: 2000, chasing the edge of the galaxy in Coriolis: The Third Horizon or The Great Dark, hunting xenomorphs in Alien, or uncovering old horrors in Vaesen, every session is built around atmosphere, player choice, and consequences that feel earned. I also run Dragonbane, Blade Runner, Tales From the Loop, Tales of the Old West, and Invincible: Superhero Roleplaying, so if a corner of Free League or the Year Zero Engine has caught your attention, there is a good chance we can make it happen. My tables are beginner-friendly and LGBTQ+ friendly, full stop. If you have never touched a Year Zero Engine game â or any tabletop roleplaying game â I will help you get comfortable before we roll. If you already know the systems, you will feel right at home. My Information Technology background helps keep Foundry VTT and Discord organized and accessible, and when tech hiccups happen, we sort them out together. With fifteen years of tabletop experience across science fiction, fantasy, horror, western, superhero, and post-apocalyptic games â and several years of dedicated online GMing since returning in 2022 â I know how to keep scenes moving, help new players feel capable, and give veteran players room to be surprised. What I am after is a table where your choices shape the world, the atmosphere pulls you in, and you leave with a story worth retelling. The best thing I hear after a session is not âgreat GMâ â it is players recounting what we built together, like they can hardly believe it happened. If that sounds like your kind of game, letâs play.
View Profile âCharacter creation
Creating your character
Seven preâgenerated heroes will be provided. Players also will have Character creation option that will take place before the first session, either during a short dedicated session/meeting via online, or coordination via Discord or email. We'll be using the core rules from the Dragonbane rulebook, following the options presented in the core classes and kin (optional kin from Bestiary are permissable as well). Please avoid third-party or homebrew material unless approved in advanceâDragonbane Core is all youâll need. If you're new to the system, Iâm happy to help guide you through character creation step by step!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
â To play, you'll need a computer (not a phone/tablet) capable of running Foundry VTT, a free Discord account, headphones, a decent mic (headset mics are okay but standalone mics are preferred), a stable internet connection (1mbps+), and a quiet environment. â A webcam is optional but highly recommended. â A good attitude, respect for others, and focus are essential. Join my Discord server after booking, prepare your mic and space, and if you're new, feel free to review the Foundry tutorial [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0jfRtmuwxU ] and the YZE rules [ https://freeleaguepublishing.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/YZE-Standard-Reference-Document.pdf ]. Join my Discord server, FreeVerse Studio: https://discord.gg/Y3cRVPRZSd Iâm happy to assist new or returning players with rules and setup!
What FatherJ brings to the table
â Foundry Virtual Table Top (VTT) [Free for players] with premium modules/assets. Foundry is web based and has everything we need to run the game - the game system, character sheets, Interesting battlemaps, music, and sound effects are provided as well. Also some additional add on modules to enhance the system and user experience (like virtual dice). It is free for the players to connect and use. â Discord server [Free for players] is used for voice with dedicated channels for group chat (online & offline) (a Discord account is necessary). â VDO ninja for any webcam/video conferencing [Free for players]. It is web based. â Themed PC tokens: A large library of awesome tokens, maps, artwork, music, and characters. Full Details and links will provided once you have signed up for a session. In each session, I will be prepared and excited to get started. I will do my best to ensure that all of my players are given chances at the spotlight and are encouraged to work together as a team. I will always be willing to listen as problems arise, and I am happy to problem solve issues if they occur.
Homebrew rules
Initially there will be no homebrew. Dragonbane has numerous 3rd party content available, any homebrew additions or inclusions into the campaign would be fully discussed and approved by all players and GM.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Headphones
Platforms used
Safety
How FatherJ creates a safe table
Overall tone of game aims for a PG-13 rating, sometimes drifting to R based on fantasy rpg violence/situations. All players are encouraged to speak up if the tone drifts beyond their comfort zone. Safety and respectful enjoyment come first. A consent form is requested to be filled out prior to the session to understand boundaries and any particular triggering items (lines and veils). There is open door policy that you may step away from the session at any time without explanation. If possible, leave a quick âBRBâ in chat and let us know when you return. You may also DM the Game Master (GM) directly at any time. Mid-point 10 min break Debriefing & Stars/Wishes
Content warnings
Safety tools used
