Session 0 Prep
Introduction
Section titled “Introduction”Content Screen
Section titled “Content Screen”Ask the players to think about any content they’re NOT ok with covering at the table; things that might upset or trigger them or cause undue stress.
Consequences
Section titled “Consequences”Explain that Character Death is a very real thing on both sides of the table. It’s important to ensure there is real weight/stakes behind your decisions for a campaign this long.
Expectations for the Campaign
Section titled “Expectations for the Campaign”- The scope of this campaign will be smaller than previous; I intend for most of the events to take place within the one continent
- Obviously that might change as you all make story decision that change the plot focus.
- I want you all to have fun; if there’s something that’s not working, not landing right, or just isn’t fun mechanically. Let me know either at the table or privately and we’ll discuss ways to get around it.
- Not enjoying your class? We can talk multiclassing and narrative reasons for it. OR I could think of a side quest for your character to earn the ability to “re-spec”
- BE THE AUDIENCE YOU WOULD WANT
- This is a mantra I’d really like for us to consider when we’re not involved in a scene. Even if you’re not currently engaged - your character is still doing something and you can either find a way to add to the scene OR bridge off a new scene whilst paying attention to their roleplay.
Expectations for the Session
Section titled “Expectations for the Session”- This session will be a little different than usual - especially with a lot of the ground work setting all the mechanics up.
- Please don’t be scared to ask questions - you’re probably not the only one it pertains to and at the worst it starts a discussion about the new rules
- I don’t have a physical copy of the 2024 rules yet so checking stuff will be a bit slower than usual - I also haven’t 100% read through the book yet so I’m going to be referring to it a lot.
- There will be an epilogue first to setup a narrative device before we get to your characters but I think you’ll all find it fun and a good icebreaker
Questions??
Section titled “Questions??”Are there any questions.
Epilogue
Section titled “Epilogue”Cold Open
Section titled “Cold Open”“Welcome. To. Vaelorys…
A world brimming with untamed magical and chaotic elemental powers. Countless races call this planet’s varied landscapes, climates, and locales home - bringing with them art, culture, and life to this broad world.
But you already know all that don’t you… because where this story starts… is at it’s end.
Each of you are legendary individuals in your own rights; this list of your historic deeds including but not limited to:
- Resisting a tyrannical coup de tat and preserving order in the name of the innocent
- Overcoming great beasts and conquering new land for your people
- Redefining the limits of Mortal martial prowess, creating and perfecting entirely new fighting styles with ease
- Proving your worth to the Gods themselves and respecting the beauty of the world.
- Reaching the apex of Magical knowledge and preserving your many thousand year old culture; leading your people into a new era of enlightenment
- Curing plagues, ending famine, and uncovering a secret plot that could alter the fate of Vaelorys forever…
You all come from different lands, cultures, and walks-of-life - but you have banded together here; some more tentatively than others, as heroes to save the world. It is time for the final battle…
I’d like you all to roll initiative please.”
Roll the D20 and remember the die roll
The Final Battle?
Section titled “The Final Battle?”- Each of you were given a prompt to describe an idealized version of your characters; for the opening of this campaign - I’d like each of you to make a level 20 character that aligns with this idealised version. Consider what choices you might make differently compared to your real character
- For stat rolls: 1x18, 2x16, 3x12
“On this day… Heroes will be victorious… Legends will be forged… Vaelorys will not go down quietly. The past few weeks have been a rollercoaster of learning to work together well enough to take down the Mad Mage Delyson Thorne; a man who has managed to seize unfathomable power through political and malicious methods.
The six of you now stand at the gates to the The Tower That Pierces The Sky - a structure that broke through the ground below Castle Zenytha at sunset the prior day.
This will be the site of your greatest achievements. You know he’s in there… and he knows that you’re coming…”
ENTER COMBAT WITH DELYSON… THEY WILL LOSE
Campaign Start!
Section titled “Campaign Start!”Cold Open
Section titled “Cold Open”“Welcome. To. Vaelorys…
A world brimming with untamed magical and chaotic elemental powers. Countless races call this planet’s varied landscapes, climates, and locales home - bringing with them art, culture, and life to this broad world.
In the year Nine Hundred And Twenty Post-Departure,Vaelorys is a flourishing and thriving world full of civilizations, heroes, and legends, it would be easy to believe that this must be the apex of it’s history, but that would be a lie. Even a not-so-keen eye would spot; littered across Vaelorys’ landscapes, the scars left by The Cataclysm; a long past war between the Gods that resulted in the construction of The Raven Ward; a powerful magical lattice that prevents Divine Beings from physically entering the Material Plane - limiting them to exuding influence through their most devout followers instead. In their absence; Mortal life has slowly but surely rebuilt.
On this lively and storied planet; our focus for this story is the North Western continent of Otheria. To it’s North we have the frigid and harsh lands of Stahn - a combative country made up of a hardy people, whilst to it’s South lies a vibrant and colourful land known as the Paradisian Coast - where a sea-farer’s wildest dreams await.
To the East; across the Desert Of Despair, lies the mysterious country of Orsana - due to their treacherous sands, not much is known about their culture or people outside of the trade they make with the people of Otheria.
Lastly, we turn to the landlocked country of Terick; home of the Vaena Kingdom; named after Terick Vaena I who colonised these lands in the 2nd Century Post-Divergence. The Vaena Family now rule from the capital city of Zenytha in it’s North East where the land is highest, whilst agricultural practices are localised to the South Western regions.
It is here; on a Winter Fronmark morning, that our story begins in the small drinking town of Rookwell. The town was once the agricultural centre of the Kingdom, but after the Eastern town of Rainmark was built, the town’s folk pivoted towards developing it’s four competing taverns.”
Rolling Stats
Section titled “Rolling Stats”- Rolling stats
- Stat total threshold of 72 - you may scrap your all your stats and reroll till you get above this threshold (no selective rerolls)
- If you chose rolling - you can’t back out if you get bad rolls.
- Point Buy
- If you want to be boring - do this
FORWARDS
Section titled “FORWARDS”We are in the 3rd Month of the year; Vaelorn, and it is the second last day of the week; Fronmark.
- The two of you had a bit of a sleep in the previous morning and so you only made it to Rookwell well after night had set in.
- Your cart immediately caught the attention of the townsfolk who mentioned that they hadn’t seen potions this effective since the Apothecary to the town’s Southwest shut down 3-or-so years ago. You’ve made 2d12 silver so far.
- An Elvish male with long blonde hair arrives with a cross look on his face
- “You’re in the way of my shop! I’ve been here for decades and now you want to push me out in a single night - typical behaviour of less civilized individuals I might guess…”
- A younger male with the same blonde hair but paler skin approaches and says “Uh hey - you lot. Please move your cart before he really gets mad…”
- Arriving in town last night from the North-western road, you found a room at the Sorrowseed Pub.
- You awoke to the scent of meats, pastries, and other foodstuffs you’d never smelled before - breakfast was truly an experience this morning.
- Following breakfast; you made your way toward the town centre to speak with someone about their supposed Raider problem.
- Arrives from the North Eastern road after cutting across a hilly plains biome to avoid the nearby city of Roan.
- You notice some people speaking to a Human woman at a shop called Julio’s Goods and Wares and a large armoured male exiting a rickety building with a sign that that says “Sorrowseed Pub”.
- The journey to Rookwell was quite pleasant and eye-opening for yourself - you’ve definitely made the right choice coming here. The town itself is quainter than you’d expected but still larger than the previous town you’d stayed in.
- You’d arrived a day or so ago - taking your time to explore the town for all it had to offer. You made sure to try each of the tavern’s beverages and even tried mixing them together at one point; much to the disgust of the people around you.
- You awoke this morning face lying down in the dirt as you recalled falling over and deciding it was a very good place for a nap.
- Despite a general soreness - you don’t seem to be too worse for wear so you head forth to explore more of the town and try to understand where this “Raider Problem” is supposed to be.
- Unable to get the right opportunity the previous night; you rented a room whilst keeping an eye on your target. You will not let this chance slip through your fingers.
- You awoke this morning with a bit of a sore throat but it cleared up after a cup of tea with honey provided by a tourist passing through. It reminds you a little bit of home; where honey was collected within it’s walls.
- You are sitting at at a small table on the ground floor; looking across at the man in simple plate armour who you’d followed here at mention of that name.