Category: World of the Everflow

My homebrew world where tales of animal companionship, forgotten magic, and the question of who controls information are told.

  • Seven Additional Backgrounds in World of Everflow

    Seven Additional Backgrounds in World of Everflow

    All of these backgrounds vary from the system as outlined in the Player’s Handbook (2 skills and 2 languages/kits/games/instruments/tools). They are slightly more powerful, but also have limitations in regards to origin kingdom and maybe negative features. The bonuses include an extra non-damaging cantrip, a bit more equipment, a single weapon or companion points. A DM running a game outside of the World of Everflow should take caution in adding these to their campaign, but they may be needed flavors within their world.

    The backgrounds are: Street Mage, Glight’s Monitor, Keeper of Everflow, Tinker, Farmer/Rancher, Messenger Service, Villien

    This post was updated on 5/24/2020

    Street Mage

    Performing on the streets earned you a few coin, and the feeling that you are constantly hunted by those that wish to limit magic. You’ve found a way to take the new magic and use it to entertain the common man. You can be a hustler, an entertain, and some even call you a charlatan, but you know that magic is real and there is potential for so much more to Kin than a few animals and stodgy rituals.

    In most of the West street mages are welcomed in the ghettos while watched by the Guard when they visit good neighborhoods. In Qin they are often found dead in alleys, unless they are part of the Ashen Scarves.

    Skill Proficiencies: Performance, Sleight of Hand
    Tool Proficiencies: None
    Languages: Two languages
    Equipment: Gaming set, Fine clothes, 3 shells or similar, belt pouch containing 15 gold

    Feature: Prestidigitation and Wanted
    Word of your powerful magic (it’s not necessarily powerful) has spread. You heard you were being hunted and now know you cannot stay in one town too long as word will get out that you have learned to control magic. There are many who distrust magic, as the Awakening and magic lead to the fall of Sheljar and other cities around Kin.

    Characteristics: Charlatan

     

    Glight’s Monitor (Teacher)

    A Lorebook
    Actual photo of Encyclopedia Genetica by Ryan Somma at https://flic.kr/p/a6yTFZ

    Prerequisite: Must be a follower of Glight.

    These itinerant teachers visit small villages on the Day of Glight. They encourage reading, study and a knowledge. In all villages they are a welcome distraction from day-to-day life. The Day of Glight ensures that everyone has a bit of an education in how the Kingdoms came to be and what the various faiths are. But none can explain the Awakening and these magics that are now real, rather than legend.

    Glight has the second most followers in the West. These teachers are common throughout Kin, even in Azsel.

    Skill Proficiencies: History, Religion, Arcana
    Tool Proficiencies: None
    Languages: One of your choice
    Equipment: Folding chalkboard, chalk, common clothes, history book, belt pouch with 10 gold

    Feature: Pupil in power
    A former student of yours is now in a place of influence. During your traveling and teaching you taught hundreds. One of those is now in a position that can help guide you towards finding the answer to a question or the merchant that sells the rare, but needed equipment.

    Characteristics: Sage

     

    Keeper of the Everflow

    Prerequisite: Must be a follower of Quar.

    The Church of Quar and Bishop Ollium lead the largest faith in the West, Kirtin and Daoud. Due to the Everflow’s powers Quarites are popular in the other Kingdoms as well. The Keeper of the Everflow is part merchant, part cleric. They heal and serve the people, for a price. You serve this powerful Church spreading the word and maintaining its influence in all the Kingdoms.

    Shrines and churches to Quar dot the landscape throughout Kin. The Church’s historical control of the Font of the Everflow and Lake of Two Paths empowers them to limit all other faiths’ potency.

    Skill Proficiencies: Religion, Persuasion
    Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher’s Supplies
    Languages: One of your choice
    Equipment: One vial of the Everflow, 5 sticks of incense, vestments, common clothes, belt pouch with 5 gold

    Feature: Gift of Quar and First Aid (Spare the Dying if played outside of the World of the Everflow)
    When you visit a temple of Quar you can ask the ruling deacon to give the gift of the Everflow. If they have the resources and find your needs worthy you will get one vial.

    At non-Quarian temples you can still make this request but the chances of success are minimal. Most faiths will make an exchange for a lower price than typically asked.

    Characteristics: Acolyte

     

    Tinker

    Tinker’s travel between farmsteads, hamlets and villages that lack most smiths. They use both natural and magical means to repair metal goods. In the evening they share news or stories from history and legend. You don’t have a home, and have long left your family. Now, wandering the world you discover new tales and new ways to fix the problems that keep people from doing the things they love.

    They are particularly common in the less organized West as well as areas under sway of the Crinthian Confederation.

    Skill Proficiencies: Performance
    Tool Proficiencies: Tinker’s Tools
    Languages: Two of your choice
    Equipment: donkey/mule/pony, Tinker’s Kit, 1 pound each tin, copper, iron, pack saddle, traveler’s clothes, pouch with 5 gold

    Feature: Job Seeker and Mending
    Whether fixing small metal objects or telling tales in the local inn, you find a way to survive at a modest level. This can be through a mix of both activities or just one. If fixing objects all of a morning or afternoon of most days is occupied. If at an inn every evening and some afternoons are occupied.

    Characteristics: Folk Hero

    Farmer/Rancher

    You raise crops or animals for food. At some point your property, or that of your neighbors needed defense. Some of your friends and family were unable to survive the raid from the bandits, but you did. That’s when you discovered there’s more to life that a cock-a-doodle-do at dawn, milking goals, shearing sheep, weeding, swinging a scythe. Your people need protection. You are their hope of a simple, safe life.

    Many farmsteads and ranches in Telse lose family members to quests, adventures and those that are searching for better lives. In Kirtin every man or woman must serve, some do not come back from service. Daoud, Azsel, Mehmd and Crinth all have portions of the populace that start as mere serfs and become greater.

    Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling or Athletics, Nature
    Tool Proficiencies: Farmer’s Tools, Vehicles (Land or Water)
    Languages: None
    Equipment: Farmer’s Tools, common clothes, a beast of burden (mule, donkey, dog, flightless bird), lantern, flask of oil, week’s rations, pouch with 1 gold and 17 silver.

    Feature: Druidcraft and Foraging
    In occupied lands you know how to take just enough food to live without most farmers/ranchers noticing, unless you do so for more than 2 days.

    Characteristics: Folk Hero

     

    Messenger

    Prerequisite: Your bonded companion(s) must be a messenger bird/dog or a riding horse. You gain an extra companion point.

    Postduif
    “Postduif”. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Postduif.jpg#/media/File:Postduif.jpg

    Messengers work throughout Kin and the Lands of the Everflow. Their birds, dogs and horses carry news, treaties, love letters and more between the cities and towns that remain in the post-Awakening world.

    Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling
    Tool Proficiencies: None
    Languages: Any three Languages
    Equipment: Common clothes, map case, ink, quill, 5 pieces of paper, pouch with 15 gold

    Feature: Service Connections
    Past messages have been sent to two major cities as well as two small towns in the past. Your bonds know how to get to these places, to your home and to yourself.

    Characteristics: Folk Hero

     

    Villein

    When a youth comes of age they or their family visit the local Villein. While some, particularly Crinthians, do not use a service, many Kin find their first companion through the services of those who know animals as well as any.

    Most Villeins deal with mammals, though some in Daoud have experience with fish. Those in Mehmd deal with saurs and lizards.

    Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling (Expertise), Nature
    Tool Proficiencies: None
    Languages: None
    Equipment: 50 gp worth of non-bonded animals, common clothes, pouch with 5 gold

    Feature: Domesticating beasts
    You are able to calm the semi-wild beasts and prepare them for a bonding session. You also have two additional companion points but must have more than one companion.

    Characteristics: Guild Artisan, your art is raising animals.

     

     

  • Uprising & Rebellion: One Sheet

    Uprising & Rebellion: One Sheet

    This campaign is set five years after the Lorebook Hunters. With the call of magic strong in the Western Wildes, the kingdoms of the Everflow are stressed by magic. The New Peoples (Ken and Kon), the Offspring of Chorl, the elementals in The Ferments, the Haunting of the High Hills, truce at the River Crinth between the Crinth Confederation and Empire of Azsel, the Sundering of the Church of Quar, and the beacon of the Free City of Sheljar are all plaguing the Kingdoms of Daoud and Kirtin.

    Campaign Premise

    You are common people living in and around Kirtin-on-the-Lake who are inspired to free the city from under the rule of Daoud. You may want it to once again be part of Kirtin, or you may want to copy the Free City of Sheljar. The City Guard, a unit of Daoud’s military, and even dragons, who see Kirtin-on-the-Lake as their ancestral home, stand in your way.

    Background

    The Lorebook Hunters secured several of the Lorebooks, returning magic to the Land of the Everflow. In doing so they drew the attention of the Ken (dragons, elves, dwarves, gnomes, and other fey creatures). At the same time the goblins returned to the Land of the Everflow, with their smog-punk teknology.

    Grand Conflicts

    The Proctors of Grace and their other allies want to control access to magic. Certain dragons also want to repopulate Kirtin-on-the-Lake as the Ward of Mighty Trees is the ancestral home of certain types of dragons (at least a Red as that first DragonTree has regrown).

    Daoud will not allow their winnings (Kirtin-on-the-Lake and the Slope) to leave their control after centuries. The rebellion has taken control of the Dock District. What will they free next? While the mayor may be willing to have the rebels help repel the Proctors, he serves at the whim of an empire that refuses to recognize Kirtin-on-the-Lake as anything but its own territory.

    Facets

    • Each of the Peoples has a starting power.
      • Kin start with a Bonded Companion
      • Ken start with the Feat: Magic Initiate
      • Kon start with Tek
    • Exploring the zero-to-hero tropes, rebellion, and who gets to control knowledge.
    • Sandbox play.
    • Player agency creates history.
    • Drop in/drop out, whatever.

    Variant Rules

    • Playable races are Human, Hin/Halfling, Goliath/Firbolg, Elf, Dwarf, Gnome (wood only), Goblin, Hobgoblin, Bugbear.
    • There are seven backgrounds unique to the Everflow available beyond what is in any published book.
    • Use point buy or custom array for starting attributes. If you want something random, the redrick roller gives random point buy valid stats.
    • Start at 3rd level, because power is cool.
    • Long rests require 24 hours within sanctuary. This creates a pace of play more similar to novels than video games.

  • The Marching Tankard Coaching Inn

    This fits my world-space quite well, since the continent of play every thinking person has an animal companion.

    Dyson Logos's avatarDyson's Dodecahedron

    A lovingly maintained coaching inn, the Marching Tankard is more than most travellers expect along the back roads servicing a few small settlements.

    the Marching Tankard - Ground Floor - Tagged the Marching Tankard – Ground Floor – Tagged

    While the Tankard’s history goes back a few generations, the current ownership brought it up to the standards it holds today. In his years as a roadwarden, Gunter Grohl saw the tankard as his perfect retirement spot – a nice sturdy compound & inn, far enough off the beaten track that it doesn’t get too busy or crowded, but still bringing in enough traffic to not become a money-sink. So when a windfall came his way in his late 30s, he bought the establishment and has happily settled in.

    The Marching Tankard - Upstairs - Tagged The Marching Tankard – Upstairs – Tagged

    A fairly typical outpost-style coaching inn, the Tankard only has one gate for traffic (larger coaching inns usually operate with two gates so…

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  • Monk: Way of the Frayed Knot

    Monk: Way of the Frayed Knot

    The Way of the Frayed Knot is a Monk subclass that attempts to feature some Western fantasy tropes. The most common of these is Friar Tuck from Robin Hood, but there are other studious, religious types that fought alongside rogues and pirates.

    Some ignored their ideals. Others felt that the ideals of the gang or troop were more in common with their religious beliefs. In the magical settings of most versions of D&D the Way of the Frayed Knot will have some amount of overlap with a Cleric. While these Monks commonly use bludgeoning weapons, it is not required mechanically, though I’m tempted to make it so.

    This is a work in progress for a subclass of Monk. Language still needs adjustments to meet 5e. My purpose in sharing is to garner feedback about the concept as it fits the description and entertainment within most 5e paradigms. A lot of the power is wrapped up in Cleric spells as rituals.

    Cloistered Student

    The Drunken Monk, Mansion House, Cardiff
    The Drunken Monk, Mansion House, Cardiff by Michael Gwyther-Jones (CC BY 2.0)

    At 3rd level, when selecting this Monastic Tradition, you gain proficiency in Religion (or another Intelligence skill if you already have Religion) as well as a proficiency in one of the following artisan tools — Brewer’s Supplies, Calligrapher’s Supplies, Mason’s Tools, Painter’s Supplies, or Woodcarver’s Tools.

    Circle of Life

    At 3rd level you gain access to the ability to Channel Divinity. You have one use per short or long rest at this level. At 8th and 18th level you gain an additional use of this ability.

    Some Channel Divinity effects require saving throws. When you use such an effect from this class, the DC equals your spell save DC (8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier).

    The Channel Divinity options available are Preserve Life and Sacred Weapon (with Wisdom being the attribute connected to that Paladin ability). You may also use 3 Ki Points towards a Channel Divinity. This cost replaces the per rest cost for that specific usage.

    You may pay 1 Ki Point to cast the following Cleric spells as Rituals at 3rd level;

    • Ceremony (XGtE)
    • Detect Magic
    • Detect Poison and Disease
    • Purify Food and Drink

    At 5th level you gain access to the following Rituals, at the cost of 1 2 Ki Points;

    • Gentle Repose
    • Silence

    At 9th level you gain access to the following spells as a Ritual, at the cost of 1 4 Ki Points;

    • Feign Death
    • Water Walk

    At 13th level you gain access to the following spell as a Ritual, at the cost of 1 7 Ki Points;

    • Divination

    At 17th level you gain access to the following spell as a Ritual, at the cost of 1 11 Ki Points;

    • Commune

    Live to Fight

    Monk
    Monk by Vladimer Shioshvili (CC BY-SA 2.0)

    Starting at 6th level you are able to cast Prayer of Healing at the cost of 2 Ki Points. Your spellcasting ability modifier for this Prayer is Wisdom.

    The use of an additional Ki Point increases the spell level by 1, granting an additional 1d8 of healing to the spell.

    You also gain proficiency in Healer’s Tools if you do not have this proficiency. If you do have this proficiency, you are granted double your proficiency bonus on checks for this tool.

    Submission

    At 11th level your blows are now so potent that Stunning Strike no longer costs a point of Ki.

    Kneel Before the Gods

    At 17th level when you Stun a creature they fall Prone. You also gain an additional two blows from Flurry of Blows. Those blows can be against any target within your reach.

  • Here There Be Dragons

    Here There Be Dragons

    In most fantasy worlds dragons are hoarders of treasure. In some they are (also?) destroyers of worlds. There are worlds where dragons founded existence. On Krynn the chromatic and metallic dragons battle each other sometimes interfering in the lives of Man.

    In establishing the World of the Everflow I wanted a slightly different take upon how dragons (as well as other dragonkin) exist within the World.

    Dragons are part of the People of Ken. They are knowers of things, especially of magic. They, and all of the Ken, control access to magic of all kinds. For millennia of millennia they prevented the People of Kin (companionship and love) from knowing magic. Through the Scholars and the Proctors of Grace the Dragons and their followers (Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes) kept their thumb on magic, eliminating all but love and the healing power of the Everflow.

    Rather than piles of gold, a dragon’s home back on Ken (the continent) is full of scrolls, books, and tomes. The long lives of all Ken mean that their minds are full of mighty spells well beyond the standards of Dungeons & Dragons.

    Dragon breath by Nicklas Lundqvist (CC BY-SA 2.0)
    Dragon breath by Nicklas Lundqvist (CC BY-SA 2.0)

    Their immense powers are legendary, the same way that our modern world views dragons — a story so fictional it is not even legend. Statues and tales about dragons are created for artistic reasons.

    Within the current campaign the dragons are returning to Kirtin-on-the-Lake seeking an ancestral homeland in the Ward of Mighty Trees. These trees are essential to the Dragons life in ways that the group has yet to discover.

    Those Dragons, from the Ale Dragon Brewst Griselle to a mighty Red waiting on the southern plains of Kalst’s Field, are now quite real. Some fit in well. Brewst is small enough to fit inside buildings. He drinks and cavorts. His study of brewing, distilling, and vintning is familiar to the Kin. Yes, he’s different, but there is also familiarity.

    Other drakes do not cause fear, initially. They remind most in Kirtin and Daoud about the lizards of Mehmd, a Kin-ish kingdom that bonds with lizards more frequently than mammals.

    KOMODO DRAGON by NAPARAZZI (CC BY-SA 2.0)
    KOMODO DRAGON by NAPARAZZI (CC BY-SA 2.0)

    But, when those drakes fought they taught fear. Their breath of fire, or poisoned stingers, killed in ways that nature should not. The drakes are not as intelligent as a person. Unlike Brewst they do not speak. They consume. Negotiation is not possible.

    Brewst, and his companion gnome Oolia, are talkers. They also use the power of illusion and charm to work their way towards their goals. The governor and the group do not know these goals. They only know that the influence of the two continues to grow.

    They worked as advanced scouts for the Proctors of Grace. Their goals could be called fey-like as all of the magical Ken work in ways that are not familiar to Kin (Goliaths, Halflings, Humans). The plans of Ken take centuries or even millenia.

    When life lasts at least a few hundred years the approach to the world is incomprehensible to races that live to 100 at most.

    Now, our heroes have to discover how these plans impact life in Kirtin-on-the-Lake, and the two kingdoms. This process of discovery could be deadly, it will be challenging. In the end, life in Kirtin and Daoud will change. Our heroes will determine how much it changes and how the Dragons will be included, punished, or rewarded.

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  • Playing with Passive Expertise 2

    Playing with Passive Expertise 2

    Probably something I’m borrowing.

    Chris S. Sims's avatarChris S. Sims

    In the first entry of this short series, I wrote about the philosophy of passive skill or trait use in roleplaying games. That piece focused on information exchange and the use of passive skill to determine the baseline of what a character knows in a game. There, I claimed you could use passive skill, or almost any trait you might normally roll for, in active situations in a game.

    What that claim means, in practical terms, is allowing player characters to have a bottom performance level in physical activities, such as athletics and stealth. This passive us fits alongside the mental acuity I advocated for in the first essay. For the sake of narration and speed of play, it’s fair for this floor of expertise to apply to NPCs, too. They can sometimes perform fancy maneuvers based on their capabilities just like the player characters.

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  • Society of Veil and Shadows

    Society of Veil and Shadows

    The Society of Veil and Shadows are a group of rogues dedicated to obscuring and protecting their guild from spies — both arcane and mundane. While able to contribute to the uprising’s success via sneak attacks and other clandestine abilities their true power is their ability to cast a few spells, most of which help keep the rebellion secret.

    This is a work in progress for a subclass of Rogue. Language still needs adjustments to meet 5e. My purpose in sharing is to garner feedback about the concept as it fits the description and entertainment within most 5e paradigms.

    Spellcasting (3rd Level)

    Similar to what is described for the Arcane Trickster, but the two schools allowed are Abjuration and Conjuration. Every member of the Society learns the spell “Block.” This spell is one of the cantrips learned at third level.

    Block (3rd Level)

    cantrip abjuration

    • Casting Time: 1 reaction
    • Range: touch
    • Components: V S M (steel ring)
    • Duration: until next turn
    • Classes: Wizard, Cleric
    • When an Enchantment, Divination, Illusion, Transmutation spell is cast targeting yourself or an ally you can touch, you grant the target advantage on saving throws versus that spell and on any saves versus spells until your next turn.

    Safehouse (9th Level)

    You have learned certain rites and patterns in order to cast any ritual from the following schools of magic – Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Illusion. The spells must be on the Wizard spell list. To cast such a ritual you must have a spellbook, or similar, in your possession. These rituals may only be cast once per long rest, each.

    Cloud of Doubt (13th Level)

    You may create a 30′ by 30′ cloud of patchy fog. Any target within the Cloud of Doubt is partially obscured. In addition, any creature entering the the cloud must make a Charisma saving throw or shift its demeanor towards the positive (hostile become indifferent, indifferent become friendly). The cloud is centered on a space up to 60′ from yourself. You must maintain concentration on the Cloud of Doubt, or it dissipates in 8 hours.

    You may create a Cloud of Doubt a number of times equal to your Intelligence bonus (minimum 1) per Long Rest.

    Unchained (17th Level)

    When in shackles, handcuffs, jail, and the like, while conscious and able to speak, you are able to cast Misty Step without using a spell slot. If you cast using a spell slot you may take a number of allies with you equal to the level of spell slot used.

    Misty Step no longer counts as a known spell for you.

  • Uprising and Rebellion Session Two & Three & Four: Burning of the Red Oak; Dock District Militia Forms

    Uprising and Rebellion Session Two & Three & Four: Burning of the Red Oak; Dock District Militia Forms

    Red Oak Burns!

    Elves set the Red Oak ablaze with a mystical fire; Their Dragon and Gnome kin escape the Ward of Mighty Trees as noble defenders of the weak help the ward’s weakest; Daoud guard ineffective; Dock District forms own armed militia, refusing Daoudian assistance

    Several stories cover the week since the Carnival War.

    Dock District, Kirstin-on-the-Lake | Neremyn Quizana

    Over the last three sessions the group kidnapped the governor, convinced him to fund the arming of the Dock District Militia, and had him deliver a speech to the people of the Dock District. They promised to help repel the mages and dragons that set the mystical fire to the Red Oak, murdered several members of the guard, and attempted to kill the governor.

    Governor le Riche is not willing to cede anything but the Dock District at this time, though the group will be welcomed within the Ward of Mighty Trees. Outside of those two districts the City Guard will be wary at best, and frequently threatening.

    The group managed to gain enough arms and armor to outfit 20 militia with chain shirts, 3 Javelins, and a longsword. Ten other militia have glaives, scale mail, and short swords.

    A large segment of Daoudian infantry has set camp to the south of the city. Originally sent to deal with the uprising this infantry, in the royal blue and gold of the Queen, is now established in a way to prevent a ground attack by the Ken.

    Cast of Characters

    PCs

    Req (male dwarf paladin-vengeance) — the dock worker left the Land of Ken to pursue the new world in the Land of the Everflow. He is finding his way among the working class of the lake city.

    Roland (male human rogue-thief) — the former sage was recently fired from his position in local university. His teachings challenged Daoud’s control of Kirtin-on-the-Lake. He has a small cat that avoids all conflict.

    Whym (female halfling ranger-gloom stalker) — the former circus member is of noble heart and fights to protect those who are threatened by darkness. She has a huge dog, Kelb.

    Quelimo  Galanodel, aka Q (male elf rogue-propagandist) — the former journalist in Ken has combined techniques learned while working in the lands of magic with the praktikum of the gobkons. Now he publishes broadsheets in Kirtin-on-the-Lake pushing warnings against his own kind as well as building support for an independent KotL.

    NPCs

    Two Goblin kids — The two kids were being harassed by Daoud guards. Our likely heroes helped the kids get out from under the guards eyes. Our heroes also bought two clockwork toys (14gp total for a cat and a dog). They are originally from Sheljar and their airxip arrived at the docks just a few days ago. This ship fled KotL after the dragon attack.

    Penzer — owner/operator of the Rusty Clam. Penzer now trust Roq and helped the group exit the district through the sewers. He is a squat halfling with a lazy, older wolfhound.

    Wilkie, a Member of the Guard — One of the guard is a former student of Roland’s. He is friendly, though disrespectful. So far he is willing to gossip about former classmates. He is unwilling to fight the people of his city. Roland arranged a meeting with his former student. He is a human with a seagull companion. Wilkie is now a Sergeant within the official Daoudian guard and the lone representative of the Gov

    Odger — a teacher who runs a small library. Odger put the group up for the night. He will provide safe-haven, but not fight. He is a goliath with 10 swallows as companions. Loyal to Governor.

    Governor Roreldus Androouet le Riche, Servant of the Queen and Commander of the Northern Fleet and the 3rd Marines —  a weak man more concerned with power than justice. Will do nearly anything to maintain the place of prominence in KotL. The Northern Fleet are two boats that roam the lake and are maintained on Androouet Isle in the middle of the lake. The 3rd Marines no longer exist.

    Emdock Athew — a human speculator/smuggler who is the captain of a small airxip. His First Mate, Koits, is loyal to Emdock, but the rest of the crew tolerates the human outsider. Crew is Koits, seven other goblins, and two mulgobs (one of the mulgobs took a liking to Req & Whym and is currently unnamed).

    Koits — the goblin First Mate who does know common. He works for Emdock out of loyalty earned from an unknown incident.

    Places of Interest

    Rusty Clam — a lower class dive bar that serves the dockworkers and related laborers. It is Req’s favorite bar. Penzer runs it, but Req gets his name wrong most of the time. The Rusty Clam has sewer access big enough for humans and smaller peoples.

    Cracked Mug — a higher class bar for ship captains and other officers. The alley besides the Cracked Mug seems to be the source of the rebels vandalizing the posters advertising the upcoming festival. Brilene is the owner of the Cracked Mug. She bought it after retiring from the Daoud Navy. Her companion is an older Bay Retriever.

    Barracks — the group knows the location of the barracks where the Daoud guard responsible for the Dock District rest and refresh. The Dock Militia (they need a cool name) now occupies the barracks.

    Ogder’s Library —  outside of Ogder’s Library is a fountain with access to the sewers for all sizes of people. It is a large main room with space for 8 human-sized students to sit in circle around a goliath-sized lounge chair. The walls up to the 25 foot ceiling are covered in books. There is a small (for a goliath) side room with a single desk, wardrobe, and daybed as well.

    Districts

    Lake Docks — a rough neighborhood of longshoreman and the businesses that serve them. There is a river to the north that brings goods from Kirtin-in-the-Sky as well as one to the west that flows into the lake that gets occasional goods from Gate (Mehmd). The river that flows out of the lake drifts to the south and east, eventually reaching the eastern ocean and Daoud’s largest port on that side of the continent.

    University — Roland used to teach in the University District. There is a Temple to Glight, a couple large libraries, many places such as Ogder’s office, a large fountain supplies water. There are small manufactured amphitheaters for classes and debates. The University District has never been attacked by any invading force during the Six Kingdoms era, nor the Post-Awakening Age.

    Ward of Mighty Trees — this once squalid neighborhood is the ancestral home of a draconic empire. The red oak now burns and there is evidence that more trees will convert to DragonTrees at various points over the next few months.

    North Shore — is a middle class district of mostly craftspeople who are generally loyal to Daoud. It exists on both sides of the city wall. The shore is unusually flat and incapable of being used for shipping.

    Clues and Hints

    Roland learned draconic. Upon reading the stolen scroll he learned that there is another ritual planned for the Eclipse of Feylf on Spring 57, which at the end of the last gaming session is 13 days away.

    There is a thief(s?) working the ships and boats at the docks. They are stealing jewelry, metal toys, glass baubles. At this time this issue is not known to be related to the Uprising, nor the Draconic Invasion.

    Thunder from Shadows is leading the rebellion. Is it a group or a man who is above Q?

    old: Q is the pamphleteer, and wanted by authorities. The group now has a woodblock stamp image of the elf as well as a description with his location being at/near the Cracked Mug.

    old: Roland’s old student, Wilkie, is meeting the group tomorrow evening.

    old: Posters advertising the Festival of Feylf are being torn down and replaced by a rebel group. This has become common enough that even new arrivals to the city have seen it happen in broad daylight. The Festival is four days out.

    old: Daoud is increasing the Dock District guard prior to the Festival of Feylf. This seems to be a response to the arrival of airxip from Sheljar as well as visitors from the Western Wildes.

    Grand Themes

    There is a Draconic Invasion of Kirtin-on-the-Lake that is forcing the Uprising and Daoud to find ways to work together, around their issues with each other. The group has learned that the dragons once ruled the Land of Kin from the Ward of Mighty Trees.

    Uprising & Rebellion as the story of Free Sheljar spreads the people of Kirtin-on-the-Lake want to be free of the Empire of Daoud. Thunder from Shadows is a group or leader of the Rebellion.

    Proctors of Grace are People of Ken who shuttered the Land of the Everflow off from magic. They have taken over most of the Western Wildes.

    The Scholars are a group of People of Kin who had powerful magic as long as they worked with the Proctors to control the rest of the Land of the Everflow.

    Lorebook Hunters of Free Sheljar have gathered at least three Lorebooks and seem to have opened the Land of the Everflow to magic again.

  • Uprising and Rebellion Session One: The Carnival War

    Uprising and Rebellion Session One: The Carnival War

    Carnival War

    Festival of Feylf marred by Daoudian violence; Civilian losses must be avenged; Barracks raid related?

    Photo of a fire breather at New Jersey Ren Faire, provided as representation of the Festival of Feylf
    Photo by: R’lyeh Imaging https://flic.kr/p/26JNj2h (CC BY 2.0)

    As Daoud leadership tried to mollify the masses a fight erupted at the annual Festival of Feylf. With swarms of commoners and general onlookers present the visiting carnival’s performance recognized the new influence of the Kin on Kirtin-on-the-Lake. The elves were particularly strong in their use of magicks to astound. Fireworks and noisemakers were provided by gobkon from Free Sheljar.

    Peacefully assembled people of Kirtin desired to use the festival as a moment to accent that the peoples of Sheljar and Kin offer an example to a stronger town. Some Daoud guard must have strong objections as they lined up to prevent the crowd from rallying in front of the stage.

    As the two sides opposed an arrow flew from the southern hill that overlooks Isouda Ampitheatre. This act of violence incited a response, as Sybbyl took a grave wound. The dozens of common people of Kirtin thrust forward to protect young Sybbyl and to gain vengeance for her.

    The Daoud Guard kept tight ranks, but could not hold off as the peoples rose up. Though some of Kirtin fell, the Daoud loyalists were scattered. Help for the free peoples came from the stage and hill as a dwarf dockworker joined the fray.

    Due to that hearty dwarf, a halfing carnie, and a studious-looking human the peoples’ losses were minimized.

    Authorities report heavy losses by the guard, but this author knows that is an exaggeration. They have also stated that there is now a curfew in the Dock District until they find this author and those who support the Thunder from Shadows.

    This author promises to keep the free peoples of Kirtin informed of future developments from the Carnival War.

    Dock District, Kirtin-on-the-Lake | Neremyn Quizana

    Dock District guard barracks were reportedly raided during the Festival. A spokesman for Daoud suggests that three guards were found dead at the end of the day. The space was looted, but only the officer and sergeants goods were stolen. No bonded companions were injured in the attack.

    As pamphleting and propaganda are themes being explored through the campaign this recap of the session is written in the tradition of yellow journalism. When the adventuring party rises the day after the conflict they will read the recap of their own exploits.

    Cast of Characters

    PCs

    Req (male dwarf paladin-vengeance) – the dock worker left the Land of Ken to pursue the new world in the Land of the Everflow. He is finding his way among the working class of the lake city.

    Roland (male human rogue-thief) – the former sage was recently fired from his position in local university. His teachings challenged Daoud’s control of Kirtin-on-the-Lake. He has a small cat that avoids all conflict.

    Whym (female halfling ranger-gloom stalker) – the former circus member is of noble heart and fights to protect those who are threatened by darkness. She has a huge dog.

    NPCs

    Two Goblin kids — The two kids were being harassed by Daoud guards. Our likely heroes helped the kids get out from under the guards eyes. Our heroes also bought two clockwork toys (14gp total for a cat and a dog). They are originally from Sheljar and their airxip arrived at the docks just a few days ago.

    Penzer – owner/operator of the Rusty Clam. Penzer now trusts Req and helped the group exit the district through the sewers. He is a squat halfling with a lazy, older wolfhound.

    Wilkie, a Member of the Guard – One of the guard is a former student of Roland’s. He is friendly, though disrespectful. So far he is willing to gossip about former classmates. He is unwilling to fight the people of his city. Roland arranged a meeting with his former student. He is a human with a seagull companion.

    Odger — A teacher who runs a small library. Odger put the group up for the night. He will provide safe-haven, but not fight. He is a goliath with 10 swallows as companions.

    Places of Interest

    Rusty Clam – a lower class dive bar that serves the dockworkers and related laborers. It is Req’s favorite bar. Penzer runs it, but Req gets his name wrong most of the time.

    Cracked Mug – a higher class bar for ship captains and other officers. The alley besides the Cracked Mug seems to be the source of the rebels vandalizing the posters advertising the upcoming festival. Brilene is the owner of the Cracked Mug. She bought it after retiring from the Daoud Navy. Her companion is an older Bay Retriever.

    Barracks – the group knows the location of the barracks where the Daoud guard responsible for the Dock District rest and refresh.

    Clues and Hints

    Thunder from Shadows is leading the rebellion. Is it a group or a man who is above Q?

    Q is the pamphleteer, and wanted by authorities. The group now has a woodblock stamp image of the elf as well as a description with his location being at/near the Cracked Mug.

    Roland’s old student, Wilkie, is meeting the group tomorrow evening.

    old: Posters advertising the Festival of Feylf are being torn down and replaced by a rebel group. This has become common enough that even new arrivals to the city have seen it happen in broad daylight. The Festival is four days out.

    old: Daoud is increasing the Dock District guard prior to the Festival of Feylf. This seems to be a response to the arrival of airxip from Sheljar as well as visitors from the Western Wildes.

    Grand Themes

    Uprising & Rebellion as the story of Free Sheljar spreads the people of Kirtin-on-the-Lake want to be free of the Empire of Daoud. Thunder from Shadows is a group or leader of the Rebellion.

    Proctors of Grace are People of Ken who shuttered the Land of the Everflow off from magic. They have taken over most of the Western Wildes.

    The Scholars are a group of People of Kin who had powerful magic as long as they worked with the Proctors to control the rest of the Land of the Everflow.

    Lorebook Hunters of Free Sheljar have gathered at least three Lorebooks and seem to have opened the Land of the Everflow to magic again.

  • Uprising & Rebellion Session Zero

    Uprising & Rebellion Session Zero

    Kirtin-on-the-Lake is the former winter capital of Kirtin. The lake city occupies the southwest corner of a massive lake and its fantasy-medieval urban area extends from those shores to a few of the islands within the lake. Roughly a century ago the Empire of Daoud and the Green Isle captured the lake city from Kirtin, reducing the kingdom to the hills and mountains surrounding the summer capital – Kirtin-in-the-Sky. The kingdom and empire have been at war for over 19 passings of the Dragon (the moon with a 21 year cycle).

    born to run
    Telse to Sheljar, about 40 days air travel from Kirtin-on-the-Lake

    Now, with magic again in the world with legendary races walking the streets and the call of freedom ringing out from the Free City of Sheljar the occupied peoples of Kirtin-on-the-Lake are questioning their status within Daoud. Some want to rejoin Kirtin, others want to follow the lead of Sheljar, and still others see the Empire of Daoud as a source of wealth and well-being.

    Into this environment three potential heroes began a journey by rescuing a couple gobkon children from a confrontation with the Dock District guards. They learned about each other and maybe some clues about a popular protest.

    This session was ~3 hours and included both character creation and two social encounters.

    Unlike my earlier campaign launches in Fifth Edition this new campaign started with a session zero. Character creation took place as a group. We worked through the party structure and the motivations together. It also meant that world details were added during the character creation process. 

    This campaign is set in the Land of the Everflow, but the amount of house rules is greatly reduced. In this campaign any Kin (human, halfling, goliath) starts with a bonded companion, any Ken (elf, dwarf, gnome) starts with magic initiate or ritual caster, and any Kon (goblin, hobgoblin, mulgob) starts with an improved version of the rock gnome Tinker feature. All characters started at third level. Several custom classes are available, but none were chosen. Magic works as normal.

    Cast of Characters

    PCs

    Req (male dwarf paladin-vengeance) – the dock worker left the Land of Ken to pursue the new world in the Land of the Everflow. He is finding his way among the working class of the lake city.

    Roland (male human rogue-thief) – the former sage was recently fired from his position in local university. His teachings challenged Daoud’s control of Kirtin-on-the-Lake.

    Whym (female halfling ranger-gloom stalker) – the former circus member is of noble heart and fights to protect those who are threatened by darkness.

    NPCs

    Two Goblin kids — The two kids were being harassed by Daoud guards. Our likely heroes helped the kids get out from under the guards eyes. Our heroes also bought two clockwork toys (14gp total for a cat and a dog). They are originally from Sheljar and their airxip arrived at the docks just a few days ago.

    Penzer – owner/operator of the Rusty Clam.

    Member of the Guard (unnamed, so far) – One of the guard is a former student of Roland’s. He is friendly, though disrespectful. So far he is willing to gossip about former classmates. Maybe that will extend to the other guards?

    Places of Interest

    Rusty Clam – a lower class dive bar that serves the dockworkers and related laborers. It is Req’s favorite bar. Penzer runs it, but Req gets his name wrong most of the time.

    Cracked Mug – a higher class bar for ship captains and other officers. The alley besides the Cracked Mug seems to be the source of the rebels vandalizing the posters advertising the upcoming festival.

    Barracks – the group knows the location of the barracks where the Daoud guard responsible for the Dock District rest and refresh.

    2018 Fantasy Faire - Tiny Town by PS Hernandez
    2018 Fantasy Faire – Tiny Town by PS Hernandez (CC BY 2.0)

    Clues and Hints

    Posters advertising the Festival of Feylf are being torn down and replaced by a rebel group. This has become common enough that even new arrivals to the city have seen it happen in broad daylight. The Festival is four days out.

    Daoud is increasing the Dock District guard prior to the Festival of Feylf. This seems to be a response to the arrival of airxip from Sheljar as well as visitors from the Western Wildes.

    Grand Themes

    Uprising & Rebellion as the story of Free Sheljar spreads the people of Kirtin-on-the-Lake want to be free of the Empire of Daoud.

    Proctors of Grace are People of Ken who shuttered the Land of the Everflow off from magic. They have taken over most of the Western Wildes.

    The Scholars are a group of People of Kin who had powerful magic as long as they worked with the Proctors to control the rest of the Land of the Everflow.

    Lorebook Hunters of Free Sheljar have gathered at least three Lorebooks and seem to have opened the Land of the Everflow to magic again.