The Order of Merlin | Gryffindor's Sword in the Stone | Protect Hogwarts from Morgana le Fay | FREE SESSION ZERO

About the adventure

Travel back in time to the 12th year of King Arthur's reign and discover the magic and mystery of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from a new perspective. You are no ordinary first-year student; you bear the Mark of Avalon, a rare birthmark that signifies your destiny is intertwined with the ancient magic of Camelot. But word from Headmaster Merlin reveals that other students also bear the Mark of Avalon, and it's up to you and your new companions to protect Hogwarts from encroaching dark forces. Merlin urges you and your party to uncover the hidden secrets of Hogwarts set by the Founders 100 years ago. These secrets contain the ancient protective magic that will be needed to defend the school from Morgana le Fay's dark ambition to become headmistress and gain control over Camelot as the new archmage. Your school years will be filled with both academic and magical challenges. You'll attend classes, learn spells, and train in defense, potions, and magical creatures. Beyond the classroom, join Hogwarts clubs, take on part-time jobs in Hogsmeade, and meet a cast of 24 student NPCs with their own stories, secrets, and potential loyalties. As Morgana's threat grows, you'll use your magical skills to explore forbidden areas, uncover hidden secrets, and confront those who seek to exploit the connection between Hogwarts and Camelot. Along the way, you'll face moral dilemmas and battles that will test your courage and resolve, all while uncovering the ancient magic that could safeguard Hogwarts from the growing darkness.

Additional Details

How to prepare

✅ A stable internet connection and a microphone are essential for voice communication during our game sessions. While a webcam is optional, it is highly encouraged as it adds a more personal touch to our games. ✅ Download and install Discord, our primary platform for communication, and create a Discord account if you don't have one already. Once you have an account, I will provide you with an invitation to join The Narrative Alchemist Discord server. ✅ Create a FREE player account at The Forge (https://forge-vtt.com/) to access our custom Grimoires & Gallantry virtual tabletop. This is essential for you to access digital characters sheets and view the game maps during our sessions. ✅ Before Session Zero, develop a basic character concept, including your chosen Hogwarts House and a brief backstory. Familiarize yourself with the Grimoires & Gallantry rules to understand the campaign's unique mechanics, and bring a notepad and pen for taking notes during sessions. ✅ If you have questions or need assistance, I'll be available on Discord to help you get set up!

What I provide

📑 Custom System Supplement: I provide a free homebrew .PDF file for Grimoires & Gallantry, a system I created specifically for this medieval Hogwarts campaign. This supplement builds off the D&D 5e ruleset and was inspired by the Wands & Wizards homebrew and the Strixhaven module. It offers a unique set of mechanics designed to enhance the magical academy experience, including an NPC reputation system and the removal of original spell slots that have been replaced by a Mana Point system. 💻 Proprietary Foundry VTT System: As a professional web developer, I've built a private system module for Foundry VTT tailored to Grimoires & Gallantry. It features custom Hogwarts House character sheets, allowing you to track relationships with other Hogwarts students, school schedules, and other unique mechanics. This module is integrated with top-down maps for combat encounters, animated videos and spell effects for roleplay ambience, and custom Hogwarts house scarf virtual token frames. 🎵 Audio and Ambience: I utilize KenkuFM and Syrinscape to create an atmospheric gaming environment with thematic background music and sound effects. These tools help set the mood during sessions, enhancing the overall experience. 🎙️ Discord Server: I provide a dedicated Discord server for game sessions and group conversations. This space is ideal for discussing character development and sharing in-game experiences. 🌍 World Anvil Page: Although it's under construction, I offer access to a World Anvil page that will serve as a repository for campaign lore and additional resources. For now, please refer to the Grimoires & Gallantry PDF for the core information.

Gameplay details

This campaign is a slice of life, magical academy adventure focusing on the everyday experiences and events at Hogwarts. You'll explore the daily life of a Hogwarts student while engaging in various activities, from attending classes to participating in school clubs, playing Kwidditch (the medieval predecessor of Quidditch), and forming friendships with fellow students. Each session aims to cover 1 month of in-game time and will typically include a mix of school-related activities and personal interactions, providing opportunities to develop your character's skills and abilities, make friends or rivals, and explore personal storylines. The emphasis is on character development, relationships, and exploring the magical world around you, lending to a high roleplay and high exploration experience. Players are encouraged to improvise and use the game to expand upon details to their character, and take advantage of each session's one month timeframe to make choices that can have lasting effects. Additional and specific details will be covered in Session Zero!

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

Breaks
Lines and Veils
Open Door
Session 0
Stars and Wishes

How will character creation work

I will provide a free Session Zero before the campaign, covering general game details and character creation, which we will do as a group. Although you'll receive a .PDF character sheet to sketch out your character concept, we will create our characters within the custom Foundry VTT system. I'll guide you through the setup process during our pre-session character creation. Characters will start at Level 1, as this is the beginning of your Hogwarts journey. The level progression will reflect your growth through the school years via the milestone method. You will select your character's Hogwarts House during character creation. Our primary reference will be the Grimoires & Gallantry homebrew .PDF, which contains the rules, mechanics, and updated spells unique to this campaign. You may also refer to the D&D 5e Player's Handbook for general character-building guidance. Other supplementary books should not be necessary, but if you have specific character ideas, feel free to ask, and I'll let you know if they fit within our campaign framework.

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.