Just a little about myself to begin, before getting into the game, what it’s about, and who your other party members are. Firstly, I’ve been playing DnD since 2019. I would still consider myself a newbie as I’ve yet to get a character from low level to 20. I’ve also never completed a game as a DM. That’s right, this is my first game as DM EVER!
I don’t want to sell myself short though as this game has been going nonstop since August of 2022. I’ve lost some players and gained some players over the years.
Before I transition into giving details about the game, I just wanted talk about my influences in crafting this game. I approached the creation of this campaign from the perspective both producer of creative writing as well as longtime consumer of works by masters. This game is inspired by the award-winning Broken Earth book trilogy by the genius herself, NK Jemisin. When creating the campaign I also pulled from masters like Octavia E. Butler, Frank Herbert, Bram Stoker, Tananarive Due and her husband Steven Barnes. My own creative mind is activated by AfroFuturism, Sword & Soul, and Black Horror.
I wanted to make a game for adults and is BIPoC + LGBTQIA+ friendly. That's exactly what our game is!
Name of Campaign and More On the Inspiration: Burning Earth Crying Sky (BECS)
While attempting to bring the world created by NK Jemisin to the mechanics of Dungeons & Dragons, I found that both had to change to form my vision completely. I always tell potential new players this campaign is DnDish as opposed to strictly DnD, because for me, immersing players in a world so similar to NK Jemisin’s own was the most important thing here.
If you haven’t read her books yet, that’s fine. In fact, I’d prefer you not read them, so that you can feel as unsettled and on edge as the people of this world feel.
Progress and Duration: The story has as of now reached around the 60%-65% completion mark. It will continue until an organic ending is achieved. This was the decision of the players whom are enjoying a pretty open world.
Setting + Plot: In this game, the gods, and other higher powers aren’t literal beings. Instead, they are concepts represented by celestial bodies or heavenly events that encourage many of the same entities and narratives traditionally seen in DnD.
Here, magic and most creatures not human are hated. To most, those who use magic are abominations that should be killed or reported to The Academae. This mysterious institution has long been tasked with saving the people from those that use Arcane powers, though to the laymen, there is no difference between the Arcane and the Divine magics.
Even if one doesn’t use magic, they may still be subject to hate if they aren’t human or human passing.
This takes place on an alternate Earth, on the super continent Pannotia. Humans are the most numerous in this world and most live in one of the 26 deep valley communes along the equator.
Spanning from the westernmost part of the continent to the easternmost region, these communes, equidistant from one site to the next, are named Alpha through Psi respectively. Each, more or less, has its own government which is tasked with protecting its territories from raiders, and overseeing trade with neighboring communes. The further east, the less resource-rich, destitute and barren.
For reasons unknown, these specific deep valley sites are offer safe haven from disasters earthly disasters that are commonplace in the rest of the world. People living in these locations aren't victims of frequent of events colloquially known as earthshakes, swallowing-earth, earth-spat-flame, saltwater floods, killer storms or the like. Or at least, this was the case before the last great earthshake.
Almost two and a half months ago, the greatest earthshake in living memory hit Pannotia. It was so great that it even shook the communes.
“Everyone knows that the Arcane Children are to blame. Always causing destruction. What could they have done to warrant the wrath of Mother Earth so? It was them who caused the world to end the first time. Or was that the second time? Rumor has it, those wretched things also moved the close moons. Moved them out of order just for the hell of it, then put them right back. They caused that giant black storm cloud in the East too. Why hasn’t The Academae dealt with those fiends already?” -The opinion of the masses
While that black storm cloud is a growing danger, there is another looming threat. The threat that started all of this; the returning moon. Lost ages ago, it’s been called back. Soon, it will crash into the Earth, and crack it open like an egg. You and your new allies must stop it.
All hope isn't lost though. The magic artifacts used the call that lost moon back can be used to stop its crash corse. At least, they can if enough of them are gathered. The Obelisks are relics of the Old World. In more modern times, their true purpose is unknown to all, save you all. They are thought to be nothing more than "Close Moons". They orbit high above Mother Earth's equator, and in turn they move from commune to commune.
At this point in time, the party has captured two of these city-sized objects. After capturing the first, the party fell for an ancient trap set by the Academae. Consequently, this meant they had caught the Academae's attention. Before conquering their second obelisk, the party struck a bargain with the Academae. Teach their representatives the secret to conquering an Obsliek, and the Academae won't hunt our heroes despite their trangressions.
Currently, everyone is your party is at the Academae. All isn't smooth sailing though. They are trying to gather enough support to clear themselves of all suspicion and having difficult time to say the least.
Setting As It Effects Game Mechanics: So just how gods aren't what they are traditionally in DnD, alternate realms aren't what they typically are. The single exception is the Ethereal Plane. There are also no undead.
In this game, spells which reshape earth or otherwise manipulate its mass ( ex. Move Earth, Manipulate Earth, etc.) are unpredictable.
Necromancy spells which are based on summoning (un)dead, do not work.
You: It’d be least troublesome if we could introduce your character here before the group leave the Academae. So for the sake of expediency as well as more cohesive storytelling, you will be working with a character that is partially made by myself. It'd make the most sense at this point in time for you to play a representative of the Academae. That could be a student, or even a brand new professor which would explain your level. You would be made to fit into one of the academic departments. This means that your experiences and history would be influenced by the Academae and its rigorous standards for students.
As a representative of the Academae, you would have started your tutelage there in the Foundations department. Which means you have at least a level or two of the Fighter class. And as you were even considered for the Academae at all means that you also have classes in one of the Arcane Magic classes such as Wizard, Warlock, Sorcerer, or even Artificer.
We can discuss you history as it would determine your alignment. Your history will determine if or how you are able to resist the Academae's extreme conditioning program. Maybe you don't are are fully loyal? Maybe you did resist? That would mean you will need to be able to describe in detail how exactly.
Rest of the Party:
N1-GL aka Nigel (Warforged Artificer Wizard Multiclass) - A remnant of the Old World built before the end. This is the newest member to the party. After an unspecified amount of time unconscious, N1-GL was unearthed and awoken by another member of the party.
Rose Moon (Half-Orc Druid Barbarian Multiclass) - A kooky wanderer rejected by the traveling commune she was born to for not being human enough. She met the party by happenstance and decided to do her part to help, rather than just standing by while the world ended.
Schöna Moonbow (Half-Elf Cleric) - An elder who just recently regained some of her youth thanks to some poorly understood Old World technology. Schöna has a familial connection to your party’s current mission.
Ekkara Allis (Aarakocra Fighter) - He serves as counterintelligence as well as a soldier from a more well-to-do commune. Though he's a fighter, he likes to think of himself as a Wizard Supreme.
Yingyue (Dragonborn Monk) - Separated from her people by a great cataclysm, she hails from a foreign land called Dragonrest by her people. She recently comes to Pannotia as a refugee and struggles grasping the politics of her new home.
Gameplay Expectations:
RP / Combat is about 50/50
I also expect out of game camaraderie or at least cordialness. I’d hate to see the bumping of heads spill over into the game.
I expect that there will be no metagaming. Instead, FIND OUT IN GAME-Theres a lot not mentioned in this thread. Explore this world and RP.
Day, Time, Location: This game happens every Sunday at 7pm Eastern Standard Time and goes till 9:30pmEST EXCEPTION BEING if two or more players can’t make it. You are expected to inform me ahead of time if there’s a holiday or special day coming up that stops you from participating.
The game is played across 3 different online places. We voice on Discord (this is voice only absolutely no text unless another player is playing for you). We have our character apps on DnDBeyond. For now, until DnDBeyond works out the bugs on its battlemap feature, we use Roll20 for playable map.
That it folks!!! If you have any questions, please be sure to message me or ask here Our next game is on August 25th, 2024 so maybe you want to listen in?
Update:Here are examples of a character I partially crafted. You would fill in the rest according to your own character history+personality preferences. Essentially, you determine everything else besides the fact that you're a representative of the Academae
Character Option(s) Example Option 1:
Name{Insert Name}New Academae Professor or Student
Class and Level: Multiclass {Lvl 1-9 Fighter and lvl 1-9 either Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, or Artificer (Combination should add up to 10 lvls)
History: How did you come to be a member of the Academae? Sold out by community? Did you volunteer as a youth? Which commune are you originally from, or are you from the wilderness? {Insert the rest of your history.
Alignment: {Insert Alignment}
Magic Items: As a representative of the Academae you will start with two magic items that would make sense for you to have given your unique abilities/specialties. As a Professor, you may choose a Very Rare item and an Uncommon or Common item. As a Student and Upperclassmen, you can choose a Rare item and an Uncommon or Common. These items should make sense within the confines of your department and the institution itself.
Option 2:
Name{Insert Name}New Academae Professor or Student
Age: {Insert Age}
Profession: Student at the Academae (Junior or Sophomore)
Class and Level: Multiclass {Lvl 1-9 Fighter and lvl 1-9 either Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, or Artificer (Combination should add up to 10 lvls)
History: How did you come to be a member of the Academae? Sold out by community? Did you volunteer as a youth? Which commune are you originally from, or are you from the wilderness? {Insert the rest of your history.
Alignment: {Insert Alignment}
Magic Items: As a representative of the Academae you will start with two magic items that would make sense for you to have given your unique abilities/specialties. As a Student and Upperclassmen, you can choose a Rare item and an Uncommon or Common. These items should make sense within the confines of your department and the institution itself.
I have a character who is a human monster hunter (fighter) and mercenary. I have some ideas on how my character could meet your party if you want to hear them. If this sounds good to you, DM me @rottenapplecores
I am interested, barely know anything of dnd but I would love to learn more, I tried making my own character as well but I'm not well informed on how the stats like strength work
Are the levels set to be on the given classes or can they be something outside of that? Can it all be in a single class or is the multiclass enforced?
Hi hi. So you don't necessarily have to multiclass if and only IF you are one of the Arcane Casters. The character you would be playing is representative of a, for lack of a better description, an evil Hogwarts. You don't have to be evil, obviously, but at this institution is for Arcane magic users, you wouldn't be there if you weren't one.
Hey there! I love this concept so much! It's clear you've put a lot of thought and hard work into this campaign! I would love to join it if you're still accepting new players. Is it alright if I PM you and chat about the campaign some? Thanks!
Hey there! I love this concept so much! It's clear you've put a lot of thought and hard work into this campaign! I would love to join it if you're still accepting new players. Is it alright if I PM you and chat about the campaign some? Thanks!
Yeah feel free to DM me. We actually have a game tonight.
Just a little about myself to begin, before getting into the game, what it’s about, and who your other party members are. Firstly, I’ve been playing DnD since 2019. I would still consider myself a newbie as I’ve yet to get a character from low level to 20. I’ve also never completed a game as a DM. That’s right, this is my first game as DM EVER!
I don’t want to sell myself short though as this game has been going nonstop since August of 2022. I’ve lost some players and gained some players over the years.
Before I transition into giving details about the game, I just wanted talk about my influences in crafting this game. I approached the creation of this campaign from the perspective both producer of creative writing as well as longtime consumer of works by masters. This game is inspired by the award-winning Broken Earth book trilogy by the genius herself, NK Jemisin. When creating the campaign I also pulled from masters like Octavia E. Butler, Frank Herbert, Bram Stoker, Tananarive Due and her husband Steven Barnes. My own creative mind is activated by AfroFuturism, Sword & Soul, and Black Horror.
I wanted to make a game for adults and is BIPoC + LGBTQIA+ friendly. That's exactly what our game is!
Name of Campaign and More On the Inspiration: Burning Earth Crying Sky (BECS)
While attempting to bring the world created by NK Jemisin to the mechanics of Dungeons & Dragons, I found that both had to change to form my vision completely. I always tell potential new players this campaign is DnDish as opposed to strictly DnD, because for me, immersing players in a world so similar to NK Jemisin’s own was the most important thing here.
If you haven’t read her books yet, that’s fine. In fact, I’d prefer you not read them, so that you can feel as unsettled and on edge as the people of this world feel.
Progress and Duration: The story has as of now reached around the 60%-65% completion mark. It will continue until an organic ending is achieved. This was the decision of the players whom are enjoying a pretty open world.
Setting + Plot: In this game, the gods, and other higher powers aren’t literal beings. Instead, they are concepts represented by celestial bodies or heavenly events that encourage many of the same entities and narratives traditionally seen in DnD.
Here, magic and most creatures not human are hated. To most, those who use magic are abominations that should be killed or reported to The Academae. This mysterious institution has long been tasked with saving the people from those that use Arcane powers, though to the laymen, there is no difference between the Arcane and the Divine magics.
Even if one doesn’t use magic, they may still be subject to hate if they aren’t human or human passing.
This takes place on an alternate Earth, on the super continent Pannotia. Humans are the most numerous in this world and most live in one of the 26 deep valley communes along the equator.
Spanning from the westernmost part of the continent to the easternmost region, these communes, equidistant from one site to the next, are named Alpha through Psi respectively. Each, more or less, has its own government which is tasked with protecting its territories from raiders, and overseeing trade with neighboring communes. The further east, the less resource-rich, destitute and barren.
For reasons unknown, these specific deep valley sites are offer safe haven from disasters earthly disasters that are commonplace in the rest of the world. People living in these locations aren't victims of frequent of events colloquially known as earthshakes, swallowing-earth, earth-spat-flame, saltwater floods, killer storms or the like. Or at least, this was the case before the last great earthshake.
Almost two and a half months ago, the greatest earthshake in living memory hit Pannotia. It was so great that it even shook the communes.
“Everyone knows that the Arcane Children are to blame. Always causing destruction. What could they have done to warrant the wrath of Mother Earth so? It was them who caused the world to end the first time. Or was that the second time? Rumor has it, those wretched things also moved the close moons. Moved them out of order just for the hell of it, then put them right back. They caused that giant black storm cloud in the East too. Why hasn’t The Academae dealt with those fiends already?” -The opinion of the masses
While that black storm cloud is a growing danger, there is another looming threat. The threat that started all of this; the returning moon. Lost ages ago, it’s been called back. Soon, it will crash into the Earth, and crack it open like an egg. You and your new allies must stop it.
All hope isn't lost though. The magic artifacts used the call that lost moon back can be used to stop its crash corse. At least, they can if enough of them are gathered. The Obelisks are relics of the Old World. In more modern times, their true purpose is unknown to all, save you all. They are thought to be nothing more than "Close Moons". They orbit high above Mother Earth's equator, and in turn they move from commune to commune.
At this point in time, the party has captured two of these city-sized objects. After capturing the first, the party fell for an ancient trap set by the Academae. Consequently, this meant they had caught the Academae's attention. Before conquering their second obelisk, the party struck a bargain with the Academae. Teach their representatives the secret to conquering an Obsliek, and the Academae won't hunt our heroes despite their trangressions.
Currently, everyone is your party is at the Academae. All isn't smooth sailing though. They are trying to gather enough support to clear themselves of all suspicion and having difficult time to say the least.
Setting As It Effects Game Mechanics: So just how gods aren't what they are traditionally in DnD, alternate realms aren't what they typically are. The single exception is the Ethereal Plane. There are also no undead.
In this game, spells which reshape earth or otherwise manipulate its mass ( ex. Move Earth, Manipulate Earth, etc.) are unpredictable.
Necromancy spells which are based on summoning (un)dead, do not work.
You: It’d be least troublesome if we could introduce your character here before the group leave the Academae. So for the sake of expediency as well as more cohesive storytelling, you will be working with a character that is partially made by myself. It'd make the most sense at this point in time for you to play a representative of the Academae. That could be a student, or even a brand new professor which would explain your level. You would be made to fit into one of the academic departments. This means that your experiences and history would be influenced by the Academae and its rigorous standards for students.
As a representative of the Academae, you would have started your tutelage there in the Foundations department. Which means you have at least a level or two of the Fighter class. And as you were even considered for the Academae at all means that you also have classes in one of the Arcane Magic classes such as Wizard, Warlock, Sorcerer, or even Artificer.
We can discuss you history as it would determine your alignment. Your history will determine if or how you are able to resist the Academae's extreme conditioning program. Maybe you don't are are fully loyal? Maybe you did resist? That would mean you will need to be able to describe in detail how exactly.
Rest of the Party:
N1-GL aka Nigel (Warforged Artificer Wizard Multiclass) - A remnant of the Old World built before the end. This is the newest member to the party. After an unspecified amount of time unconscious, N1-GL was unearthed and awoken by another member of the party.
Rose Moon (Half-Orc Druid Barbarian Multiclass) - A kooky wanderer rejected by the traveling commune she was born to for not being human enough. She met the party by happenstance and decided to do her part to help, rather than just standing by while the world ended.
Schöna Moonbow (Half-Elf Cleric) - An elder who just recently regained some of her youth thanks to some poorly understood Old World technology. Schöna has a familial connection to your party’s current mission.
Ekkara Allis (Aarakocra Fighter) - He serves as counterintelligence as well as a soldier from a more well-to-do commune. Though he's a fighter, he likes to think of himself as a Wizard Supreme.
Yingyue (Dragonborn Monk) - Separated from her people by a great cataclysm, she hails from a foreign land called Dragonrest by her people. She recently comes to Pannotia as a refugee and struggles grasping the politics of her new home.
Gameplay Expectations:
RP / Combat is about 50/50
I also expect out of game camaraderie or at least cordialness. I’d hate to see the bumping of heads spill over into the game.
I expect that there will be no metagaming. Instead, FIND OUT IN GAME-Theres a lot not mentioned in this thread. Explore this world and RP.
Day, Time, Location: This game happens every Sunday at 7pm Eastern Standard Time and goes till 9:30pmEST EXCEPTION BEING if two or more players can’t make it. You are expected to inform me ahead of time if there’s a holiday or special day coming up that stops you from participating.
The game is played across 3 different online places. We voice on Discord (this is voice only absolutely no text unless another player is playing for you). We have our character apps on DnDBeyond. For now, until DnDBeyond works out the bugs on its battlemap feature, we use Roll20 for playable map.
That it folks!!! If you have any questions, please be sure to message me or ask here Our next game is on August 25th, 2024 so maybe you want to listen in?
Update: Here are examples of a character I partially crafted. You would fill in the rest according to your own character history+personality preferences. Essentially, you determine everything else besides the fact that you're a representative of the Academae
Character Option(s) Example
Option 1:
Name{Insert Name}New Academae Professor or Student
Age: {Insert Age}
Profession: Professor at the Academae
Race: {Choose either Aarakocra, Aasimar, Dwarf, Elf, Genasi, Gnome, Goliath, Half-Elf, Halfling, Half-Orc, Halfling, Human, Tabaxi, Teifling}
Class and Level: Multiclass {Lvl 1-9 Fighter and lvl 1-9 either Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, or Artificer (Combination should add up to 10 lvls)
History: How did you come to be a member of the Academae? Sold out by community? Did you volunteer as a youth? Which commune are you originally from, or are you from the wilderness? {Insert the rest of your history.
Alignment: {Insert Alignment}
Magic Items: As a representative of the Academae you will start with two magic items that would make sense for you to have given your unique abilities/specialties. As a Professor, you may choose a Very Rare item and an Uncommon or Common item. As a Student and Upperclassmen, you can choose a Rare item and an Uncommon or Common. These items should make sense within the confines of your department and the institution itself.
Option 2:
Name{Insert Name}New Academae Professor or Student
Age: {Insert Age}
Profession: Student at the Academae (Junior or Sophomore)
Race: {Choose either Aarakocra, Aasimar, Dwarf, Elf, Genasi, Gnome, Goliath, Half-Elf, Halfling, Half-Orc, Halfling, Human, Tabaxi, Teifling}
Class and Level: Multiclass {Lvl 1-9 Fighter and lvl 1-9 either Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard, or Artificer (Combination should add up to 10 lvls)
History: How did you come to be a member of the Academae? Sold out by community? Did you volunteer as a youth? Which commune are you originally from, or are you from the wilderness? {Insert the rest of your history.
Alignment: {Insert Alignment}
Magic Items: As a representative of the Academae you will start with two magic items that would make sense for you to have given your unique abilities/specialties. As a Student and Upperclassmen, you can choose a Rare item and an Uncommon or Common. These items should make sense within the confines of your department and the institution itself.
sounds neat
I am Interested
Still recruiting players!!
I can only join at 11:23 - 12:23 CT USA time because I'ma school student
I have a character who is a human monster hunter (fighter) and mercenary. I have some ideas on how my character could meet your party if you want to hear them. If this sounds good to you, DM me @rottenapplecores
I would love to join if you are still recruiting! Do you want me to send my character concept to you over discord or on dndbeyond?
I am interested, barely know anything of dnd but I would love to learn more, I tried making my own character as well but I'm not well informed on how the stats like strength work
Are the levels set to be on the given classes or can they be something outside of that? Can it all be in a single class or is the multiclass enforced?
Hi hi. So you don't necessarily have to multiclass if and only IF you are one of the Arcane Casters. The character you would be playing is representative of a, for lack of a better description, an evil Hogwarts. You don't have to be evil, obviously, but at this institution is for Arcane magic users, you wouldn't be there if you weren't one.
Hey there! I love this concept so much! It's clear you've put a lot of thought and hard work into this campaign! I would love to join it if you're still accepting new players. Is it alright if I PM you and chat about the campaign some? Thanks!
Yeah feel free to DM me. We actually have a game tonight.
Are y'all still taking players! I am interested in potentially joining!
Are you still looking for players my character is a wizard raised by red dragons
Could i also join i have used to be in a campaign vut i got kicked but could i join
I am Interested i am 13 tho
I would be interested, though I am a beginner and can't play very often because of college schedule
also no at the time of play in dungeon with pasta
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