Serpent's Skull | Jungle of Lost Empires

Creating your character

Before the adventure begins, we’ll hold a dedicated Session 0to set expectations, answer questions, and build characters together. We’ll discuss the themes, review any house rules, ensure everyone is comfortable with the campaign’s tone, and build a party with strong reasons to trust and travel together. This campaign begins at the 1st level aboard the *Jenivere*, a merchant ship bound for the Mwangi Expanse. Your character might be a scholar, explorer, mercenary, missionary, sailor, treasure hunter, merchant, or simply someone looking for a new beginning. Whatever your background, you should have a clear reason to leave familiar shores behind—and be ready for the journey to take an unexpected turn. Ability Scores: We will use a *6×6 roll grid* for ability scores. Roll *4d6*, rerolling all *1s*, and keep the highest *three* dice for each result. Fill the grid from *left to right, top to bottom* until all 36 spaces are complete. Once everyone is finished, choose one complete *row, column, or diagonal* to use as your six ability scores. For Roll20, use: `[[4d6r<1kh3]] [[4d6r<1kh3]] [[4d6r<1kh3]] [[4d6r<1kh3]] [[4d6r<1kh3]] [[4d6r<1kh3]]` We’ll build the full grid together during Session 0. This game uses Pathfinder 1e. All Paizo-published material is welcome, and I’m generally open to third-party content on a case-by-case basis. If you have an unusual class, archetype, ancestry, or homebrew concept, bring it to Session 0, and we’ll see how it fits the campaign. More important than optimization is creating a character with believable motivations and a reason to work with the rest of the party through hardship, discovery, and danger. Serpent's Skull is a campaign of survival, exploration, mystery, and ancient adventure. Characters who can adapt to changing situations, endure harsh environments, and contribute outside of combat will have many chances to shine. Survival skills, Knowledge abilities, healing, crafting, navigation, diplomacy, and magical utility are all valuable. As the campaign unfolds, you’ll brave untamed jungles, delve into forgotten temples, negotiate with rival expeditions, uncover lost civilizations, and face horrors that have slumbered for ages. Characters driven by curiosity, ambition, duty, faith, or the pursuit of forgotten knowledge fit the tone especially well. The Mwangi Expanse is vast, diverse, and alive. The people you meet will judge you by your actions, your reputation, your ancestry, your faith, and the choices you make throughout the campaign. Shipwreck survivors, pirates, indigenous cultures, explorers, treasure hunters, scholars, and ancient enemies all have their own goals and perspectives. Your decisions will shape not only your relationships with them, but also the course of the expedition itself. Above all, create a character who embraces adventure, thrives in the unknown, and is eager to uncover the legendary secrets hidden beneath the jungles of the Mwangi Expanse.

Preparing for the session

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What LordTank (Sebastian) brings to the table

My goal is to deliver a game that feels like stepping into a living world rather than simply moving from encounter to encounter. I strive to balance immersive roleplay, tactical combat, meaningful exploration, and character-driven storytelling so that every session feels memorable. Here's what you can expect from my table: A premium Roll20 experience featuring Pro assets, Dynamic Lighting, animated spell effects, immersive maps, handouts, journals, and organized character resources. Voiced NPCs with distinct personalities to help bring the world to life. Ambient music and soundscapes that enhance exploration, tense encounters, and dramatic moments without overwhelming gameplay. High-quality visual handouts, artwork, letters, maps, and props that make discoveries feel tangible. Character-focused storytelling, with your backstory, goals, and relationships woven naturally into the campaign whenever possible. Tactical Pathfinder 1e combat that rewards teamwork, positioning, and creative thinking while remaining fair and challenging. Rule of Cool—within reason. I respect Pathfinder's rules because they create consistency, but I'm always willing to reward clever ideas, cinematic moments, and creative problem-solving when they make the game more exciting. A welcoming environment where new players can learn Pathfinder at their own pace, and veterans can enjoy deeper tactical and narrative opportunities. Above all, I want players to leave each session feeling like they accomplished something meaningful—whether that means surviving a brutal battle, solving an ancient mystery, forging lasting friendships with NPCs, or making a discovery that changes the course of the campaign. My job is to challenge you, surprise you, and help create a story you'll be talking about long after the adventure ends.

Homebrew rules

To keep the game moving and reduce unnecessary bookkeeping, I use a few quality-of-life house rules: Legolas Ammunition Rule: Normal arrows, bolts, bullets, and other standard ammunition are considered plentiful. You are assumed to recover or replenish enough mundane ammunition that it doesn't need to be tracked. Only **special ammunition** (cold iron, adamantine, silver, alchemical, magical, specialty arrows, etc.) must be counted. Additional house rules and optional systems will be reviewed together during **Session 0**, ensuring everyone understands how they work before the adventure begins.

How LordTank (Sebastian) creates a safe table

Creating an enjoyable game starts with making sure everyone at the table feels safe, respected, and comfortable. While **Serpent's Skull** is a campaign of swashbuckling adventure, survival, exploration, and ancient mystery, player well-being will always come before the story. We'll begin with a dedicated **Session 0**, where we'll discuss the campaign's themes, tone, content warnings, table etiquette, house rules, and expectations. We'll also build characters together, establish party connections, and make sure everyone is excited about the style of game we're creating. If there are topics you'd rather avoid or portray differently, Session 0 is the perfect opportunity to discuss them. This campaign may include themes such as **shipwreck survival, isolation, starvation, disease, parasites, dangerous wildlife, jungle hazards, drowning, body horror, ancient curses, cults, undead, giant insects and reptiles, snakes, spiders, gore, character death, and psychological tension**. These elements serve the adventure's atmosphere but will never be prioritized over player comfort. We'll establish boundaries together and respect them throughout the campaign. I maintain an **Open Door Policy** at every session. If you ever need to step away—whether to take a break, handle something in real life, or because a scene becomes uncomfortable—you never need to ask permission or explain yourself. Simply step away and return whenever you're ready. Your comfort always comes first. Communication doesn't end with Session 0. I encourage players to message me privately before, during, or after any session if something isn't working, if a scene made you uncomfortable, or if you'd like to discuss feedback, character development, or future story ideas. I'm always happy to adjust the game to ensure everyone continues to have a positive experience. My goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive table where players feel comfortable immersing themselves in a dangerous world filled with mystery, exploration, and unforgettable adventures. Together, we'll tell an epic story where everyone can take risks, celebrate victories, and face the unknown knowing that their enjoyment and well-being remain the highest priority.