The Birds Don't Sing | A Family's Story (Daggerheart)
Sacred birds are dying across the city. No one knows why. No one knows how to stop it. But everyone agrees, it's only going to get worse.
$15.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Saturday - 1:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
Campaign Length / 10–15 Sessions
2 / 5 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
2/5
About the adventure
- Free Session 0 Included - "The Birds Don't Sing" is a 15 to 20 session dark mythic fantasy campaign for players who love unraveling mysteries, rich worldbuilding, and stories where the deeper you dig, the more the ground shifts beneath you. Something is wrong in the city of Kethavar, and it has been wrong for long enough that people are starting to notice. The ancient birds, creatures that have nested here longer than the city itself has stood, are going silent. Some are found dead in the streets. Others vanish without a trace. The ones that remain don't sing the way they used to. They screech, low and wrong, like something is hurting them that nobody can see. The scholars have no explanation. The priests are holding emergency consultations they aren't publicizing. The factions that govern this city have started blaming each other loudly enough that ordinary people are getting nervous. Whatever is happening began quietly, in the margins, in places easy to ignore. It is not staying there. Your party arrives, or is already here, when the city decides it needs people willing to go where its institutions won't. The investigation starts simply enough. It never stays that way. Kethavar is an old city with a long memory and a few things it would prefer to forget. The birds may be the first sign of something surfacing, but they won't be the last. This campaign is built around escalating mystery, political tension, and a city that reveals itself slowly and not always willingly. Your characters will matter to the story, to the factions vying for control, and to whatever truth is working its way up from underneath everything. Expect: • A central mystery that earns its answer • Political intrigue and competing factions • Ancient lore and forgotten history • Antagonists with reasons you'll come to understand • Cinematic combat with real stakes • Choices that shape the city's future By the end, you'll know why the birds don't sing. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Combat Lite
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
4.9
(38)
1 year on StartPlaying
68 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Teacher
Average response time: 24+ hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hey, I’m Jayke. Game Master, published writer, game designer, queerfolk, and a person with “too many creative hobbies” and not enough restraint to stop picking up new ones. My games tend to focus a lot on character, consequence, and letting the story grow naturally from the decisions you make. I’m not here to fight the players. I’m here to take you seriously, see what you do, and figure out what happens next. I’m not a perfect GM by any means, and I’ll be the first to say it, but I try my best, adapt to what my players need, and genuinely value critique and feedback so I can make the best experience possible for everyone at my table. I love running for new players, experienced players, and anyone in between. You don’t need to know all the rules. You just need to show up, engage, and be willing to exist in the world for a few hours with me. Best case scenario, we tell a great story and have a great time. Worst case scenario, I TPK the table, question my life choices, and we try again while laughing about our terrible decisions.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
At Session 0, we will go over the game and discuss character creation. We may or may not use Decuma so players have some relationships among their characters during the session 0, and any restrictions or limitations will be presented as well. Characters will start at level X for this campaign, and we will be using Demiplane/Foundry to track their progression. This campaign does not have much in the regards of player-stories as part of it's narrative, but players are open to write stories and I will do my best to implement them. Content type and limitations will be discussed at Session 0, or you can reach out and ask.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Requirements: 1. Discord account, where we will be in a shared call for play 2. Demiplane account, which will be used for character sheets 3. A Quiet Space to play, with little interruption if possible 4. A Computer, Microphone, and Headphones (Webcam optional) Additionally, I do prefer players showing up 15 minutes before starting time, but I understand that's not always entirely possible, so it is not required.
What Jayke brings to the table
What I provide: 1. Free-to-use browser based Virtual Tabletop (Foundry) 2. Shared Daggerheart content (through Demiplane) 3. A Discord chatroom and voice channel for game communication When it comes to the more abstract things: I use a Virtual Avatar of a bear for every game I run so players have a visual aspect to their GM. Additionally I use a open-source bot to play Music and Ambience, as well as doing voices for characters (to the best of my monotone ability). I am a loose rule follower and always prefer "coolness" over by-the-book rules. My only important note is that I don't like argumentation at the table, if there is a conflict I will address it swiftly and immediately to keep the game moving, and I will remove players mid-game if it becomes a problem.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Jayke creates a safe table
All of my games feature three important safety systems to make sure all players are comfortable: 1. Session 0 Before every game I host a Session 0 to make sure all players are comfortable and have appropriate expectations for play. I also often keep the time open for players to ask questions as well as build their characters. 2. Tabletop Break Around halfway into every session, I host a 15-30 minute break for players to step away to use the bathroom, get more snacks, or just decompress. I have pretty severe social anxiety and understand some players need a break now and then. 3. Debriefing + Stars & Wishes At the end of the session, I open the floor for players to give honest feedback on their experience, whether it be positive or critical. I do this so I can improve my games going forward, but also to make sure no on has a negative experience. Additionally, we will use the Stars & Wishes system so I can make sure to include what players want in future sessions. 4. Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist During session 0 I will provide the Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist for players to fill out so I can adapt the campaign in accordance to any sensitive topicality for the players.
Content warnings
Safety tools used