The Equinox of Falling Stars | D&D 5.5e Autumn Fey Horror One

Creating your character

All official D&D 5.5e content is welcome, along with approved 3rd-party and homebrew options! For this one-shot, create a Level 8 character suited to the adventure’s autumnal, fey, and slightly unsettling tone. I’m open to 3rd-party and homebrew classes, subclasses, feats, spells, species, backgrounds, and other options. Please send anything unofficial to me for approval before the game. My goal is to support creative concepts while keeping the party balanced and the game fun for everyone. Character Guidelines Level: 8 System: D&D 5.5e Official content: Allowed 3rd-party and homebrew content: Allowed with GM approval Multiclassing: Allowed Feats: Allowed Unearthed Arcana/playtest material: Discuss with the GM first Ability scores: Point Buy or Standard Array Equipment: Normal starting equipment, plus appropriate gear for a Level 8 adventurer Bring a Character With a Story This adventure explores change, sacrifice, memory, and letting go. Consider giving your character something they care deeply about—or something they refuse to lose. You might ask: What can’t your character let go of? What loss still affects them? What would they sacrifice to save someone they love? What part of themselves are they afraid will change? What do they hope will remain after they’re gone? You don’t need an elaborate backstory. A strong concept and a few meaningful details are more valuable than several pages of history. Most importantly, create a character who wants to be part of the adventure. You’ll be joining a party, investigating a supernatural mystery, and entering a forest where the rules of reality—and perhaps life and death—don’t quite apply. If you’re excited about a character concept, bring it to me. I’d much rather work with you to make something awesome than simply say no.

Preparing for the session

Player Prep Before the game, there are a few things I’d like you to have ready so we can spend our time playing the adventure rather than building characters or troubleshooting sheets. Before the Game- Please have the following ready: A Level 8 D&D 5.5e character Your character sheet is completed Your spells, abilities, feats, and class features are prepared Your starting equipment and appropriate Level 8 adventuring gear Any 3rd-party or homebrew material approved by the GM A basic idea of your character’s personality, motivations, and history A way to access Roll20 during the session A working microphone and a quiet enough space to participate You do not need to memorize the rules. If you're unsure how something works, ask! Part of my job as the GM is to help keep the game moving and make sure everyone understands what their character can do. A Little Character Prep This adventure is about change, sacrifice, memory, and letting go. You don't need a complicated backstory, but I'd like you to have at least one or two personal details your character can bring into the story. Before the game, consider these questions: What is something your character refuses to let go of? What is something they have lost? What would they sacrifice to protect someone they care about? What are they afraid of changing? You don't have to share your answers with the other players. Some of these ideas may become relevant during the adventure. What to Expect This is a 4–6 hour one-shot combining: ⚔️ **Combat** 🌲 **Exploration** 🎭 **Roleplay** 🔎 **Mystery & Investigation** 🧚 **Fey Weirdness** ⚖️ **Meaningful Choices** There will be opportunities to fight, negotiate, investigate, explore, and make decisions that can change how the adventure unfolds. Not every encounter needs to be solved with combat. Sometimes, the most important choice your character can make is deciding what they are willing to lose. One Final Request Come ready to participate, collaborate, and have fun. You don't need to be the loudest player at the table, and you don't need to have the perfect answer. Give the other players room to shine, engage with the world, and don't be afraid to take a risk. The story works best when the characters care about what happens. The seasons are turning. Come ready to decide what you’re willing to let fall.

What LordTank (Sebastian) brings to the table

My goal as a GM is to make this feel like **your story—not a script you’re following. Expect immersive roleplay, cinematic descriptions, memorable NPCs, atmospheric storytelling, and meaningful encounters. I give characters room to develop naturally and ensure player choices have real consequences. When appropriate, I’ll use character voices, dramatic narration, ambient music, and sound effects to bring the world to life. 🎬 Cinematic Storytelling I emphasize immersion and atmosphere. Expect detailed locations, strange supernatural moments, memorable NPCs, and scenes that feel like part of a living fantasy story. In The Equinox of Falling Stars, that means an eerie autumn atmosphere, unsettling fey encounters, mysterious discoveries, and moments when the environment itself may seem to be watching you. Combat That Matters Combat will be engaging, tactical, and purposeful. Not every encounter needs to become a fight, but when combat happens, it should feel meaningful. Enemies have motivations, battlefields matter, and victory may require more than reducing an enemy’s HP to zero. Creative thinking is encouraged. Use the environment, your abilities, and the situation to your advantage. Rules & the Rule of Cool I use the **rules as written** as our foundation, but I also believe in the Rule of Cool. If you have a creative idea that fits your character and the scene, ask me. I’d rather find a way to make a cool idea work than reject it because no specific rule exists. When necessary, I’ll make fair, consistent rulings to keep the game moving. Player Agency Your choices matter. You won’t be railroaded toward a predetermined solution. You may negotiate with creatures you expected to fight, discover solutions I didn’t anticipate, or make decisions that change how the adventure ends. I prepare situations, not scripts. 🛠️ What You’ll Have Access To I’ll provide: * A fully prepared adventure * Battle maps and visual aids when appropriate * NPCs and monsters with individual motivations * Atmospheric descriptions and storytelling * Roll20 support and game materials * Rules clarification when needed * A welcoming environment for new and experienced players * Flexibility for creative character concepts * Consideration for approved third-party and homebrew material Most importantly, I’ll bring enthusiasm, preparation, and a genuine desire to make the session memorable. Come ready to tell a story together. I’ll bring the world. You decide what happens next.

Homebrew rules

I use a few house rules to keep play flowing, encourage cinematic choices, and create room for memorable moments. Rules should support the story—not get in the way of it. 🎲 Rule of Cool If you have an idea that the rules don't clearly cover, ask me. If it fits the situation, suits your character, and doesn't undermine another player's fun, I'll usually work with you. I may call for a check, add a reasonable cost, or adjust the effect for balance, but creative solutions are encouraged and rewarded. ⚔️ Cinematic Combat Combat is more than standing still and trading attacks. Describe what your character is trying to accomplish, not just which attack or spell you're using. The environment, improvised actions, teamwork, class features, spells, items, and unusual tactics can all matter. Clever plans may create advantages, change the battlefield, or solve problems without dealing damage. 🌟 Inspiration Inspiration may be awarded for: * Memorable roleplay * Taking a meaningful risk * Embracing a character flaw * Helping another player shine * Engaging with the adventure's themes * Finding a creative solution Choices involving change, sacrifice, renewal, and letting go may carry special weight during this adventure. 🍂 The Equinox The Equinox is not merely a date or backdrop—it is a force of transition. As the balance between light and darkness shifts, the world may respond to meaningful choices. Acts of sacrifice, release, renewal, and acceptance can influence what becomes possible. You may encounter moments when the Equinox offers a choice, reveals a hidden path, alters an omen, or asks something in return. These effects are story-driven rather than a separate spell system, and their consequences may not always be immediately clear. 🍂 Equinox Tokens Each character begins with **one Equinox Token**. You may spend it to: * Reroll a failed saving throw * Turn a failed ability check into a success * Reduce incoming damage by **2d10** * Immediately stabilize a dying ally The Equinox demands a price. When you spend your token, briefly describe something your character lets go of: a memory, regret, promise, possession, fear, or emotional burden. That release may be purely narrative—or it may echo later in the story. The Equinox remembers what is surrendered, and choices made at moments of transition can shape the adventure. ⚖️ Fairness & Consistency I’ll apply these rules consistently and explain significant rulings. If something isn't working, we can adjust it. The goal is not to surprise you with hidden rules, but to make the game more engaging. Come ready to experiment, think creatively, and occasionally do something the rules never expected.

How LordTank (Sebastian) creates a safe table

Safety & Table Expectations My goal is simple: everyone should feel safe, respected, and excited to be at the table. I run a collaborative, roleplay-focused game where players are encouraged to take risks, make bold choices, and invest in the story. That works best when everyone feels comfortable, and their boundaries are respected. Safety First The Equinox of Falling Stars includes themes of death, loss, sacrifice, memory, decay, supernatural horror, and difficult moral choices. These themes are part of the adventure, but never at the expense of player comfort. Before we begin, we'll establish Lines & Veils: * Lines are subjects that should not appear. * Veils are subjects that may exist but will be handled off-screen or without graphic detail. You never need to justify a boundary. If something makes you uncomfortable, say so. You may pause, step away, or ask me to change direction without explaining why. Open-Door Policy Need a break for any reason? Take it. You don't need permission. If something in the game isn't working for you, let me know. I'd rather adjust the game than have someone silently endure an uncomfortable experience. Respect the Table Everyone deserves a chance to participate. Please: Respect other players and their boundaries. Give everyone opportunities to speak and contribute. Avoid talking over others. Don't dictate another player's character's thoughts, feelings, or actions. Keep disagreements respectful. Separate player knowledge from character knowledge. Don't deliberately sabotage the party or another player's experience. Celebrate other players' moments rather than competing with them. Characters may disagree; players must remain respectful. Roleplay & Sensitive Topics Characters may experience fear, conflict, grief, temptation, and difficult choices. That's part of the story, but fictional conflict should remain fictional. PvP, betrayal, stealing from another PC, or similar actions should not happen simply because "that's what my character would do." If an action could significantly affect another player's character or enjoyment, talk to that player and the GM first. Failure Is Part of the Story You are allowed to fail. Rolls may go poorly, plans may fall apart, and decisions may have consequences. I don't treat failure as punishment. Failure is an opportunity for the story to change. I aim to challenge your characters, not punish you for being creative. New Players Welcome You don't need to know every rule before sitting down. Experienced players may help newer players, but backseat playing isn't welcome. Everyone should make their own decisions and discover their character. Ask questions. Try things. Make mistakes. Communicate If you're unsure, ask. If you're uncomfortable, say something. If you're having a great time, tell us that too! My responsibility is to provide a prepared, engaging, respectful game. Your responsibility is to help create a table where everyone can have fun.