Return to Teutoberg Forest

About the adventure

In the thirty-fifth year of Emperor Augustus’ reign, the Roman Empire grew quickly. Her steel-armored legions spread Roman culture and rule across Europe. But in the year which will one day be called Anno Domini 9, the legions were badly thwarted. General Publius Quinctilius Varus led three legions north of the Empire’s borders and into a wild, heavily forested land populated by fractious German tribes. He expected little resistance in bringing one after the other under the Roman standard. What he did not expect was betrayal by one of his most trusted officers, Arminius. The son of a German chieftain whose peers turned on him for friendliness to the Romans, Arminius was given up as a hostage while still a boy. But he never forgot his true Cherusci heritage. When General Varus led his legions into the dark German forests, Arminius secretly organized a resistance. Using his extensive understanding of both Roman and German military doctrine, he led the German warriors in an ambush. What followed was slaughter. Over a day and a half of brutal fighting, three full legions were extinguished. Even an attempted retreat only led to a trap and more death. General Varus and his commanders committed suicide by falling on their sword once defeat became certain. Rome would never expand further into Germany. You were there. You survived that battle. And now it’s time to go back. This game runs through the module "Return to Teutoberg Forest," available on the Miskatonic Repository.

Additional Details

How to prepare

Camera is optional, but please have a functional microphone and stable Internet connection. Players should also have at least the basic (unpaid) version of Fantasy Grounds. I prefer players roll dice within Fantasy Grounds.

What I provide

I shall provide a Zoom room 20 minutes before start time for players to do a tech test, get to know each other, and get into character. I will provide the password to the Fantasy Grounds game during this time as well. Basic battlemaps will also be provided within Fantasy Grounds. I will also have tokens with portraits prepared; feel free to provide your own portrait if you wish.

Gameplay details

Players will receive a Consent Checklist via Google Forms after signing up. The form is anonymized, players will not have their identities revealed unless so chosen. Breaks will be called after intense scenes or combat for players to ground themselves, eat, drink, or talk about the scene. Time will be set aside after game's end to discuss anything that arose or process. This is a game about war veterans returning to the site of their trauma, and exploring how they choose to process the emotions which arise as the result of that. There is an extra layer of magic, the supernatural, and undeath to make these themes more accessible. While some elements such as execution may or may not be present, the game revolves around trauma and the poor care provided in the Classical period.

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

Breaks
Debriefing
Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist
Open Door
X, N, and O Cards

How will character creation work

I have pre-generated characters available on request. Players may create their own character using the rules laid out in the Cthulhu Invictus supplement for Call of Cthulhu, 7th edition. Characters must be veterans, or posing as veterans, of Legio XIX and the Varian Disaster. PCs may not start with any magic. I will make myself available to discuss any concepts or ideas.

Players can expect

• Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
• Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
• If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.