In the Shadow of Growing Things - A Myths of Gaea Campaign

Creating your character

All characters are brought into being during Session Zero, where we gather not only to build mechanical foundations, but to weave each hero into the living fabric of Gaea. No preparation is required beforehand—this first session is a collaborative space where ideas take root, evolve, and become part of a shared myth. By creating characters together, we ensure that every story begins connected, grounded, and ready to grow alongside the world itself. Ability scores are determined through the ritual of chance and fate: you will roll 4d6, dropping the lowest die, repeated six times to generate your six core attributes. This method preserves both unpredictability and potential, reflecting a world where destiny is shaped as much by fortune as by will. Should fortune prove especially cruel, adjustments can be discussed to maintain a balanced and enjoyable experience for all. All characters begin at Level 1, standing at the threshold of their journey. In Gaea, even the smallest beginnings may echo across myth and memory, and early choices carry weight. Growth will be earned through play, discovery, and consequence, rather than assumed from the outset. Mechanically, characters will be created and maintained through D&D Beyond, where you will join the campaign and build your character with access to all necessary tools. This ensures clarity, accessibility, and ease of play as the campaign progresses. As Myths of Gaea is an evolving setting, players will also have access to setting-specific options—including unique species, subclasses, backgrounds, feats, and magical items drawn from the living lore of the world. These options reflect Gaea’s distinct cultures, mythologies, and the shifting nature of reality itself, allowing your character to feel deeply rooted in the setting rather than placed upon it. All guidance, resources, and setting-specific material will be shared through our Discord space prior to Session Zero and throughout the campaign. This includes lore, optional rules, and any evolving elements of the world as the archive continues to grow. You are never expected to navigate the process alone—the knowledge of Gaea is revealed step by step. In this way, character creation is not a prerequisite to the story—it is the first chapter of it.

Preparing for the session

Before stepping into Gaea, there are a few rites of passage—simple in form, but essential in ensuring that when the story begins, nothing stands between you and the world unfolding around you. Think of these not as obstacles, but as the tools by which the myth becomes visible. First, you will need access to our shared gathering space on Discord. This is where the living archive resides: session updates, lore, character discussion, rulings, and ongoing conversation all flow through this channel. It is both our campfire and our library, and you are encouraged to engage with it as much or as little as suits your style of play. Your character will be forged and maintained through D&D Beyond, where you will join the campaign and manage your sheet. To bring that character into play, we will use Roll20 as our shared map and battlefield. To bridge these two systems seamlessly, you’ll install the Beyond20 extension, allowing rolls and abilities to pass effortlessly from your character sheet into the game itself. For voice and presence, sessions will be conducted through Discord. No account is required—simply join the Video Channel at game time, and you’ll be drawn into the circle. A stable internet connection, a microphone, a webcam, and a willingness to be present are all that is needed. Finally, each session will be quietly preserved through unlisted recordings on YouTube. These recordings serve as a shared memory for the group—a way to revisit key moments, track unfolding mysteries, and support both the Myth Keeper and Champions in maintaining continuity. These videos remain private to the group unless all participants agree to share them more broadly. Once these preparations are complete, nothing more is required of you but your presence, your curiosity, and your willingness to step into a world that is already watching.

What Sarah brings to the table

To step into Gaea is to step into a world that listens—and answers. My role as Myth Keeper is not merely to present challenges, but to give form to that world in a way that feels alive, responsive, and worthy of your characters’ stories. At the table, I bring a strong emphasis on immersion through voice and presence. Key NPCs, allies, and adversaries are given distinct voices, accents, and mannerisms where appropriate—not as performance for its own sake, but as a means of making each encounter feel grounded and memorable. This is paired with ambient and thematic music, carefully chosen to underscore tone and atmosphere, whether you stand in a sacred grove, a crumbling ruin, or before something that should not yet have a name. My approach to storytelling is richly descriptive and deliberately paced. Environments are more than backdrops—they are active participants in the narrative. You will be given space to explore, question, and interact, with scenarios designed to reward curiosity, creativity, and engagement with your character’s unique abilities. Combat, when it arises, is meaningful and varied: sometimes tactical and demanding, other times swift and cinematic, always shaped by the context of the story rather than existing in isolation. Mechanically, I tend to honor the Rules as Written as a stable foundation—but Gaea is a world of myth, not rigidity. When a moment calls for it, the Rule of Cool is welcomed, allowing bold, creative actions to shape the outcome in ways that feel both exciting and earned. The goal is balance: consistency where it matters, flexibility where it elevates the experience. Perhaps most importantly, the story will not be imposed upon you—it will be grown alongside you. Your character’s backstory, choices, relationships, and roleplay will actively shape the direction of the campaign. Threads introduced in your past may return in unexpected ways; decisions made in passing may ripple outward into larger consequences. The world responds, remembers, and evolves. You can expect a wide cast of engaging NPCs—from wandering spirits and mortal allies to rival figures, enigmatic patrons, and fully realized villains whose motives extend beyond simple opposition. Creatures and encounters are designed not just to challenge, but to mean something within the world, contributing to a broader tapestry of myth and memory. In this way, what I provide is not simply a game, but a living narrative experience—one where your actions carry weight, your voice matters, and the world of Gaea reveals itself not all at once, but in layers, as all true myths do.

Homebrew rules

While the foundation of play rests upon familiar rules, Gaea is a living world—and as such, certain adjustments have taken root to better reflect its rhythm, its dangers, and its moments of unexpected brilliance. These homebrew elements are designed not to complicate, but to enhance flow, encourage creativity, and reward engagement. Potions, for instance, are treated as instruments of survival rather than interruptions of momentum. Drinking or administering a potion requires only a Bonus Action, allowing you to remain present in the unfolding moment—whether pressing an advantage or pulling an ally back from the brink. Fate itself has a more visible hand in this world. A natural 20 on any attack, skill check, or saving throw is always a success, regardless of modifiers. Such moments are not merely mechanical—they may be flavored as flashes of divine favor, instinct, or mythic alignment. Conversely, a natural 1 is always a failure. These failures are not catastrophic by default, but they matter—a misstep, a falter, a brief unraveling that may carry a small narrative or mechanical consequence into your next action. Positioning in combat carries tangible weight. Flanking an enemy grants Advantage, rewarding coordination and tactical awareness. Yet Gaea is not a forgiving world—your enemies are just as capable of exploiting this principle. Awareness of the battlefield, and of one another, becomes a shared responsibility. Beyond mechanics, there exists a system of shared recognition: a communal pool of Inspiration dice. At the beginning of each session, a number of d12s equal to the player count is placed into this pool. Players may award these dice to one another for moments that elevate the game—clever tactics, meaningful roleplay, bold risks, or contributions that enrich the table. These dice may be spent to enhance rolls, but they are fleeting; unused inspiration fades at session’s end, encouraging presence and generosity in the moment. Additional rulings may arise as the campaign evolves, always in service to clarity, balance, and narrative cohesion. When such moments occur, they will be communicated openly and applied consistently. In all cases, these rules are guided by a single principle: to support a game that feels fluid, rewarding, and alive—where both triumph and failure carry meaning, and where the story is shaped not only by what succeeds, but by how it unfolds.

How Sarah creates a safe table

Every story told in Gaea is a shared act of trust. While the world itself may explore mystery, tension, and the unknown, the space we create together must remain grounded in safety, respect, and open communication. Your comfort as a player always takes precedence over the needs of the narrative. Before the campaign begins, players will be provided with a Lines & Veils document, allowing each person to clearly define boundaries. Lines represent content that will not appear in the game, while Veils indicate topics that may exist but will fade to black or remain off-screen. This document is private, respected without question, and forms the foundation of how the story is shaped moving forward. During Session Zero, we will also discuss expectations, tone, and any additional concerns to ensure everyone enters the game with clarity and confidence. At the table, communication remains open and ongoing. Players are always welcome to speak up—whether verbally, through chat, or by message—if something becomes uncomfortable or needs adjustment. There is no requirement to justify or explain; a simple signal is enough to pause, redirect, or move forward differently. The goal is not to test limits, but to create a space where everyone feels secure enough to fully engage. Aftercare is treated as an extension of play. Following intense or emotionally charged moments, space is given to decompress, reflect, or simply step back into a more relaxed state. This may take the form of brief check-ins after sessions or continued conversation through our shared channels, ensuring that no one leaves the table carrying more than they intended. These practices are not constraints—they are what allow the story to deepen. When players feel safe, they are free to take risks, to invest emotionally, and to explore the world with confidence. In this way, the table remains not only a place of adventure, but a space of mutual respect and shared understanding. Note about "Content Warnings" section below: Items were added to the list because there is always a possibility of them happening, but in no way are they definitely or even probably going to occur. I'd rather be safe than sorry. But this is where the Lines & Veils document comes in very handy.