Slay the Frost Maiden ~ Cold Dark Survival Horror Adventure ~ Neurodivergent/ LGBTQIA+ Friendly

About the adventure

You clutch your hands to your chest; they’ve gone completely numb and you are afraid frostbite may set in soon. Despite being bundled tightly, the biting cold seeps through, chilling you to your very core and freezing your exposed skin. Exhaustion has taken its toll and the only warmth comes from the aching in your limbs. The blizzard rages and if it wasn’t for the rope tied around your waist, leading into the white emptiness, you would think you had lost your companions altogether. Hope that the storm might eventually let up diminishes with each passing moment. You squint into the storm at the huddled, shadowy shapes of your companions: they fare no better. Your options are limited and time is running out: you must continue pushing forward or succumb to the relentless cold. You find yourself beneath the watchful gaze of colossal peaks at the base of the frozen, mountainous Spine of the World. Avalanches pose a real threat here, so you hold your frozen breath and try to move as quietly and quickly as possible. You spot the dark shape of a cave mouth, its entrance guarded by frozen, cracked bones. Jagged icicles hang from it, resembling menacing jaws poised to snap shut. Faint tracks are visible in the snow - a trail of large, clawed pawprints, evidence of recent activity. Do you brave the bitter cold in search of safer shelter, or do you enter the ominous cavern, uncertain of what awaits you inside? The group exchanges uneasy glances: neither choice is appealing, and you cannot risk staying still for too long. What do you do? ~~~~~~~~~~ Welcome to Rime of the Frost Maiden: A Cold Survival Horror Adventure. Auril, the Frost Maiden, has cast a relentless spell over Icewind Dale, subjecting it to perpetual winter for well over two years. With no end in sight, the residents of Ten Towns have resorted to drastic measures, including ritual sacrifice, in futile attempts to appease the Frost Maiden. Desperation reigns. Here enters your party of adventurers. Whether your motivations are altruistic or self-serving, you've come together as a group of potential heroes, eager to make a difference or earn some coin. Whatever drives you, the fate of Icewind Dale rests upon your shoulders. Brace yourselves for the challenges ahead. "Rid is a top tier GM, one of the best I've met in the last 8 years of my own GMing career. I had massive burnout and hadn't played D&D for fun for at least 2 years, but getting to be a player experiencing Rid's care and competence as a GM has reminded me why I love TTRPGs. I feel so lucky to have gotten a chance to find the fun and joy in it again at his table, and I'll continue playing in Rid's games for as long as I feasibly can! --M Ebel, co-author of Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden" Art Made by Robin Childs https://robinachilds.com/

Additional Details

How to prepare

💻 - Working computer (mic is required, camera is recommended) 🐲 - DnD Beyond Account 🎧 - Discord Account 🗺️ - Roll20 Account Optional: 🎮 - Beyond20 - This optional extension for Chrome or Firefox that will allow you to send digital rolls into Roll20 from a DnD Beyond character sheet. 🎲 - Dice - You can roll real dice or roll digitally but digitally is preferred for ease for play. Once you sign up for the game, links will be shared for the tools, along with additional details. Players are encouraged to ask me questions.

What I provide

Knowledge and Experience: 🍺 Embark on your adventure with an experienced GM boasting 6 years of expertise and a track record of completing over 5 multi-year campaigns. This journey encompasses thousands of hours dedicated to worldbuilding, map creation, game preparation, and running games. 🍺 Enjoy the company of a passionate and enthusiastic GM who continually strives to refine the art of GMing. 🍺 Benefit from a well-rounded TTRPG pro, who wields perspective from both sides of the tabletop and understands the player experience. 🍺 Benefit from a GM who actively employs a "Yes, and..." play style, ensuring your decisions profoundly impact the story, unveiling boundless possibilities. Tools of the Trade: 🍺 Gain access to the DnD Beyond Campaign, featuring Legendary Collection content sharing. 🍺 Immerse yourself in vivid descriptions and heart-pounding moments that bring the game world to life. 🍺 Benefit from our dedicated private Discord server, exclusively set up and managed for our campaign. 🍺 Enjoy an enhanced gaming experience with custom sounds, music, and ambient effects generously provided by Syrinscapes. 🍺 Immerse yourself in meticulously crafted maps, utilizing Roll20's dynamic lighting system for a truly immersive adventure. 🍺 Explore the world with uniquely designed custom maps, personally handcrafted to enrich your gameplay. 🍺 Expect high levels of role-play from me, complete with distinctive character voices that breathe life into each persona.

Gameplay details

❄️Characters Start at level 1 ❄️They will have a free feat and an extra 10 HP. (Trust me, you'll need it) ❄️Each character will be given the choice of a secret that will tie them to the Icewind Dale. ❄️Session Zero is where we will cover character connections, game themes, content warnings, and safety tools. ❄️Pregenerated characters will be available if preferred. ❄️When we have at least three players, we will run one shots to get you ready for the campaign ahead. ❄️We will begin the campaign as soon as we have the minimum players (5). Rime of the Frost Maiden deals with themes of survival and horror in the quintessential high-fantasy setting of Dungeons and Dragons. With the heavy and persistent landscape of a never-ending winter, this game might not be a good fit for people who suffer from seasonal depression.

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

Aftercare
Breaks
Debriefing
Monte Cook RPG Consent Checklist
Open Door
Session 0
Stars and Wishes
X, N, and O Cards

How will character creation work

🎲Character creation can take place either before or during Session Zero, but it's strongly recommended to have your character ready before Session Zero. This allows us to dive right into the game as soon we can. 🎲Pre-generated characters will be available at start for those who need them. 🎲Upon joining the campaign, you will receive a link to the D&D Beyond Campaign, along with instructions for character creation. 🎲Backstories are appreciated (but not necessary to play). Character creation rules are as follows: 🎲 You can use Point Buy or Standard Array for ability scores. 🎲You can purposefully take a lower stat, but you cannot go lower than 6 on any one stat. Feats 🎲 Everyone gets one free feat to start with. 🎲 The Lucky feat is not available for use. Health 🎲 You gain an extra 10 Hit points at character creation. This is a permanent bonus. Level 🎲 Rime of the FrostMaiden - Will start at level one.

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.