Rifts of Alera

About the adventure

Rifts of Alera [18+][High Fantasy/Horror/Apocalyptic][RP: Heavy Combat: Medium][3-4 players] Crooked crows and twisted stags cry betwixt the cracked deadwood trees that sit atop the blackened corrupt hills. A cold wind laced with foul arcana rolls over the dips and rises of the scarred plains. The sky is blotted with dark grey smoke, acidic rain falls from broiling storm clouds, and sun rays are considered nothing more than a children's story. The world wasn't always this way. By Gods and Devils alike, Alera was considered a jewel amongst the Terrestrial Realm. Elves, dwarves, humans, and various other races lived in harmony for thousands and thousands of years without much more than menial conflict. As Gods of virtue and celestials looked upon the crowned jewel that is Alera with protective eyes, Devils, demons, and Gods of Tempest and violence looked upon Alera with prospective eyes. Wanting to claim the jewel for themselves, creatures of the Abyssal realm lied in wait to pounce and claim Alera. Opening a rift that served as a connection to the Abyssal realm, the monstrosities that emerged from the tear instantly set out on a conquest of destruction to corrupt and kill the inhabitants of the Celestial's beloved land. A war between creatures of the Celestial realm and creatures of the Abyssal realm tore throughout the land of Alera, demolishing the land beneath them as cursed and holy powers alike shattered the fabric of reality surrounding this very planet. Centuries passed and the war continues to rage. Areas specifically cordoned as warzones with a potent atmosphere enough to kill any mortals that stumble upon it. Communities of the original inhabitants of the once crowned jewel, now roam the plains in search of a way to halt the ongoing war that decimates their home. But beware, the chaotic influence of Abyssal creatures runs rampant upon Aleran lands. You never know what may happen, never know what is real, what isn't, you may lose your conscious, you may lose your sense of self, but never forget the one rule. Stay alive. (TL:DR horror fantasy setting with monsters, demons, and celestials constantly warring across the lands. Violence, gore, horror, religious references, and mature content. Think of it like 5e Fantasy Doom Eternal)

Additional Details

How to prepare

Players will need to have access to Discord, an app and program that allows for voice and video calling without much hassle, as well as serve as an avenue of discussion between players and DM, in order to participate. Each player will need access to a microphone with decent sound quality as well as headphones or earbuds of decent quality to participate! Other apps and programs that will be used are dndbeyond and Roll20. If players of the group are willing to purchase Foundry VTT then that is an applicable program as well, but the aforementioned sites work as well! Players are allowed to bring and use their own dice at their own discretion, though services like Roll20 and dndbeyond offer the ability to virtually roll for ability checks and the like. IF you are going to be using physical dice, I operate under the ideals of the Honor System, in which I expect each player to uphold a modicum of respect and answer their dice rolls honestly.

What I provide

Each eventful combat, scene, and location will have a digitally constructed map that each Player will have access to as their characters come in contact with them. Session soundtracks will also be available to each Player as their characters come across scenarios connected to the soundtracks. I.E specific battle scene music, character background music, dream music, down-time music, etc. There IS the possibility of getting caricatures of each Player's character, but I completely depends on how the campaign and group itself pans out!

Gameplay details

Rifts of Alera is a tactial D&D 5e fantasy horror game. There will be a mixture of RP, exploration, puzzles, and lurking among the shadows so as not to get caught by the monstrosities that roam the cracked charred wastelands. Planning and investigation will also play part in this campaign as players uncover the truth behind the ongoing cataclysmic war, as well as the fate of those that originally inhabited the lands of Alera. All sorts of players are welcomed, from newbies to veterans alike, but be warned that although this will be an entertaining action-packed campaign, it is one in which consequences weigh heavily. Although you can participate with little-to-no experience, it is not entirely recommended unless you are confident in your chances of survival. Then by all means, be my guest to Alera!

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

(none)

How will character creation work

The blackened wastelands swarming with chaotic and holy essences have mixed to create some dastardly monsters and beasts with strength and violence to meet their ferocity. So, those that remain upon it's lands and survive despite these tribulations are of notable strength. A character concept will happen between the DM (me) and the Player (you), prior to Session 0. In Session 0 all of the players in the respective group will sit down to discuss character concepts as well as given more information about the environment and scene they are specifically playing in so that a character that the Player, group, and DM are all comfortable with! Character creation will most likely be handled in dndbeyond as it is an easily accessible site that both the Player and DM can access for the sake of ease. HOMEBREW IS ALLOWED. Clear it with me first and we can go over its mechanics and if it will fit well into the campaign!

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.