The Frozen North

About the adventure

This is an atmospheric horror survival game set in the frozen northlands of Icewind Dale in the Forgotten realms at about the same time that Rime of the Frostmaiden takes place. The game, as written, is for first and second level characters, BUT if the table would prefer to play with higher level characters, that's fine as well. While I wrote it for the D&D Adventurer's league, it makes a fine home-brew game as well, where I can add encounters that didn't make it past editing. Your character has a reason to be going to Icewind Dale. Perhaps you're running from your past - the folk of Icewind Dale don't ask a lot of questions about who you were before you got here. That and it's a loooooong way from the troubles (and the law) of more civilized areas like Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter, and Waterdeep. Maybe you're going to the Dale to check in on an old mentor, or a friend, or a family member. Perhaps you're trying to set up a merchant route for a trading coster. Regardless of your origin, you are on a caravan heading northeast from Luskan towards the Ten Towns, and then perhaps onto Kelvin's Cairn. The Frozen North is an adventure that features the classic struggle of the heroes versus nature... but in this case nature is being corrupted with evil magic. The stakes are high - survive or die! Yes, this game has elements of horror. BUT... I strongly believe that games should be scary-fun, not scary-bad. The horror elements will be dialed back or turned up to a level that everyone at the table is comfortable with!

Additional Details

How to prepare

You should create your character with the above specifications before the game. If you do not want to create a character, let me know and I'll make one for you. I will also send a Zoom link so we can use Zoom for voice and video. Video isn't required, of course, but I strongly prefer that you use video. Being able to see people's faces and read their expressions helps people communicate and tell better stories together! (Plus a lot of us are so isolated right now that seeing another human face is often very comforting!) You don't have to install Zoom; you can run it from your browser. A microphone for voice is required.

What I provide

As we're online-only, I'm bringing a beautiful experience! I have over 700 hours DMing on Roll20, and this adventure will feature bespoke custom-made color maps that have been prepared especially for this game for Roll20 (using Inkarnate, DungeonDraft, Dungeon Painter Studio, and Photoshop). The Roll20 materials also contain many non-combat pages that have beautiful atmospheric pictures and puzzles as well as music and sound effects for each page.

Gameplay details

This game focusses heavily on exploring and surviving hazards. Several of those hazards are the weather itself, but a fair few are monsters as well. Having said that, I can tailor the experience to YOUR needs. Does the table want a lot of roleplay? Can do! Does the table want a lot of combat? No problem! The table will decide if this will be run as an Adventurer's League Adventure or as homebrew. If it's an Adventurer's League adventure, your character must be first level and must be built using the AL guidelines. If it's a homebrew adventure, the table must decide on the level they want to play at (first through fifth), and must be built using common sense guidelines that will be sent to you when you register, but in brief 27 point buy, standard HP, all WotC sources are good (others can be discussed), reasonable magic items, no flying characters except at 5th level. I will send you links to Roll20 and a D&D Beyond campaign. You can make your character either place, or just with pen and paper. You can roll dice in R20, D&DB, or roll physical dice and just tell me the results. I strongly prefer seeing people's faces, reactions, and body language by using video - but it's optional for you. A mic for voice is required. We will be using Zoom. This game will be run using this code of conduct. https://www.benandpaigewrite.com/code-of-conduct

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

(none)

How will character creation work

Characters will be made with 27 point buy, default HP, and only using the following sources: Player's Handbook, Xanathar's Guide to Everything, Volo's Guide to Monsters, and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (contact me if you're interested in a source outside this list). No flying characters are allowed at less than 5th level. First level characters will start with one potion of healing and one common magic item. Second level characters will start with one potion of healing, one common magic item, and one uncommon potion (other than Philter of Love). Third level characters will start with one potion of healing, two common magic items, and one uncommon potion (other than Philter of Love). Fourth level characters will start with one potion of healing, two common magic items, two uncommon potions (other than Philter of Love). Fifth level characters will start with one potion of healing, two common magic items, two uncommon potions (other than Philter of Love), and one uncommon magic item. I will send you a link to the Roll20 game and my D&D Beyond campaign and you are welcome to make your characters in either places using all of my resources (I have all the things). You're also free to just make your character on paper if that's what you like best.

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.