Drakkenheim: Terror in Tierhaven | Play by Post (PbP)

Creating your character

We will have a Session 0 over Discord. It will be asynchronous and over text. We will discuss character concepts, safety tools, and any desired rule variants. We will decide together on the method for ability score generation. Characters will start at level 1. We'll start cozy, relatively mundane, and even slice-of-life, in contrast with the horrific discoveries you are about to make about what has happened in Drakkenheim and how it is affecting the wider world. The population of Tierhaven is human, so human characters are encouraged, but narrative creativity is certainly welcomed if you have another idea! Characters should have some kind of tie or hook to Tierhaven. We will work together to establish personal goals, backstories, links to elements of the setting, and any bonds the characters have to one another. Starting resources may be customized depending on the characters! Some ideas to inspire you (or feel free to come up with your own!): - A local farmer or craftsperson of Tierhaven - A traveler coming for a visit who has relatives in Tierhaven - A knight from the Baron trying to impress the town with promises of better protection than the Duke offers - A brigand from a mercenary company looking for new targets in the wake of a Westemar in turmoil after the civil war - An acolyte assisting the Flamekeeper at the local Chapel of the Sacred Flame - An Amethyst Academy apprentice having been assigned the late mage's old post in the observatory tower near Tierhaven Character sheets will be created on D&D Beyond, or you can make a PDF if you prefer.

Preparing for the session

You will need a Discord account, as well as the Discord software on your phone or computer. You may also want to have a D&D Beyond account for your character. Familiarize yourself with the lore of the setting, and come with a rough idea of what kind of character you'd like to play, and what story you'd like to tell! Introduction to Drakkenheim: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/dodr/introduction-to-drakkenheim The World of Drakkenheim: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/dodr/the-world-of-drakkenheim ~~Five Quick Facts about the World of Drakkenheim~~ The setting of Drakkenheim diverges from the default assumptions of Fifth Edition in four key ways: 🌌 The gods are silent and distant. They don’t manifest physically nor speak with worshippers, and do not interfere in earthly matters. Planar cosmology is mysterious and unknowable, but sages have still developed many conflicting (and wildly incorrect) theories. 🛐 Divine spellcasting powers aren’t granted by gods. Instead, clerics, druids, and paladins tap into sacred energies through devotion, meditation, and resolve. Violating one’s religious tenets won’t result in a loss of this ability, but a crisis of faith might. 🎇 Individuals can’t become wizards through study alone. The arcane magic of both sorcerers and wizards alike is borne in the blood, which may be harnessed via practice and study. 📜 The laws of the land bar arcane spellcasters from holding noble titles. Although using arcane magic is legal, the nations of the continent are party to a treaty known as the Edicts of Lumen, which strips arcane spellcasters of any noble or royal inheritance. Disregard for the edicts in any land is cause for war. 🛣️ High-level NPCs and spellcasters are exceptionally rare in the wider world. Despite their few numbers, such people still have a profound impact on society. However, Drakkenheim has attracted an uncommonly high concentration of such individuals.

What Constance brings to the table

I enjoy creative writing and heavy role-play, working character backstories into the narrative and tying them to the world around them, and providing a setting where character choices are impactful and serious. This is a short, straightforward adventure, but we will be expanding on it and fleshing it out as we go based on your characters. I will provide concept art, maps, setting notes, and other information in a Discord server where we will also run our game in Play-by-Post format. I may provide some homebrew as appropriate for your character such as feats, mounts, and items. We will use D&D Beyond for character sheets, or you can fill out a PDF character sheet. Posts are asynchronous--post when you have time. I will post at a minimum at least once every other day. In addition, I will check and reply throughout the day as I am available to move the action, reply to conversations, or answer questions.

How Constance creates a safe table

We will have a thorough Session 0 with discussion of what everyone is hoping to get out of the game and what everyone's boundaries are, setting in place communication strategies if something should come up for anyone. I am also always available privately to discuss or address any concerns that you have about anything going on, or anything that you need me to know to run the game enjoyably for you.