Waterdeep Legends: Effigies from The Cosmic Alley (DnD 5e Campaign)(Level 3~10)

About the adventure

The Outer Gates shudder violently, weakening with each knock. Elsewhere, a mighty Bard goes insane, drowned by the dissonant whispers: "Let. Me. In." Waterdeep is no stranger to horrifying tales, but you've never felt the city like this. Uncertainty and tension are palpable when the sun sets. Adventurers / lawmen following strange, baffling cases through the night often go missing; their corpses turn up mutilated in inexplicable, unnatural ways. You, an adventurer of some repute, were hired to deal with one such "baffling case", but how do you handle what you've found? Will you combat the rising conspiracy and foil the cosmic horrors unleashed onto Waterdeep? And however can you survive the vast web of lies, murder, and eldritch horror with your sanity intact? Your choices are many, your mistakes hopefully few. But whatever you do-- "Beware Him Who Stalks Behind...Beware Him Who Stalks Behind...Beware Him Who Stalks Behind...Beware Him Who Stalks Behind...Beware Him Who Stalks Behind......" EXPECT: 🐙 Strong Lovecraftian Horror 🎩 Victorian Era/Steampunk Setting (w/ rudimentary firearms and clockwork technology) 🕵️‍♀️ Noire Style Detection/Investigation 🤪 Sanity Mechanics 🩸 BRUTAL Urban Combat

Additional Details

How to prepare

• Make a free account on Roll20.net (link for game will be sent prior to session). • Make a free Discord (a link to my server will be sent prior to session, game info will be posted there). • MICROPHONE REQUIRED. (I suggest testing the connection through the settings in discord prior to the game. We will use push to talk to avoid talking over one another and eliminate background noise). • A WEBCAM IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED, but is not a requirement. (It's hard to "read the room" as a GM if I can't see facial expressions / cues, but some people don't like to be on camera and that's totally fine.) • A solid internet connection (will make your gaming experience much more enjoyable).

What I provide

I provide the entirety of the module including maps, all the tools for character creation, and an immersive soundscape! Supplemental content provided through Roll 20 compendium sharing: - Players handbook. - Xanathars Guide to Everything. - Tokens for varied character art.

Gameplay details

This module is a 'Call of Cthulu'-themed hex crawl, set in reimagined steampunk Waterdeep, year 1854. The two main modes of gameplay are sandboxing and dungeon delving/investigating. Players must both survive the cobblestone jungle and investigate the source of the 'wrongness' pervading the city. Random encounters are frequent, social encounters are vital, and combat is brutal and quick! The overarching plot is a race against time to stop the unknown taint from fully corrupting Waterdeep / finding a way to end the madness at its source. (Session 0 will determine if the group wants a shorter fast-paced story, or if the main quest should be structured for long-term play.) Waterdeep is a full sandbox complete with Religion, Politics, Organized Crime, Law Enforcement, Shops, and most importantly, DUNGEONS. It also affords "slice-of-life" gameplay: enjoy full character customization, start a business, join a guild, craft your own spells / weapons / armor / items, buy a property, join a gang / mafia, invent a new technology, partake in local holidays and festivals, you name it! Forge your place in the world by exploring Waterdeep's many Wards, and piecing together the daunting mystery. This Game is Rated: M for mature | PEGI 18+ | Adult Content Warning: Some players may find content in this campaign disturbing, however, this content is HIGHLY NEGOTIABLE. The most important thing is that everyone has fun creating a story that'll be fondly remembered. During session 0, we'll discuss what content you DON'T want to see, and review the safety tools I use. If you'd like to be more discreet about your content preferences, please, speak with me privately before / after any session. By default, Waterdeep Legends has "Strong Themes" and frankly depicts: Intense Lovecraftian Horror, Intense Violence, Strong Sexual Content (adult situations, frequent nudity, and disturbingly sexualized monsters), Acts of Terror, Gruesome Death, Insanity, Self-Harm / Suicide, Organized Crime (drugs, prostitution, gambling), and Drug Use / Addiction. | Important Notices: •Gunpowder weapons are "Very Rare" in Waterdeep, but come in a variety of sizes and shapes. (Using cover, flanking, and smart tactics is vital to survival!) •Plot armor doesn't exist in Waterdeep, but combat is balanced, fair, and focuses on teamwork to survive. •"Stars and Wishes" will be asked periodically to better tailor your player experience! •A note on play style: I like to voice NPCs and roleplay to the fullest and am grateful when players feel comfortable going all the way, but there's NOTHING WRONG with wanting to just slay bandits, rob stores, grab loot, and speak purely in 3rd person. That's cool too. I only have three expectations: 1) treat everyone (including myself) with the same respect that you expect. 2) follow StartPlaying's behavior policy. 3) uphold the general façade of immersion at the virtual "table".

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

Aftercare
Lines and Veils
Luxton Technique Discussion
Open Door
Session 0
Stars and Wishes
X, N, and O Cards

How will character creation work

I offer four pregenerated characters for you to choose from. They integrate smoothly into the campaign, so your experience won't suffer for picking this option. If you want help making a custom character, I do a walkthrough for anyone interested at the end of "Session 0"! If you want to do it on your own, you can! Bring your character to Session 0, and I'll review it with you afterwards. You can point buy, use the standard array, or roll for abilities, and can use classes from the PHB or XGtE. Session 0 is ESSENTIAL to establish a cohesive group, backstory, character ties etc. Characters death IS POSSIBLE in this one, so you are encouraged to create a backup character.

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.