##### Mount Ain [Phillip A. Urlich](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/GaWWb1)

\page # Table of Contents {{toc,wide - ### [{{ Table of Contents}}{{ 2}}](#p2) - ### [{{ Welcome to Lumen}}{{ 3}}](#p3) - ### [{{ A West Marches Campaign}}{{ 3}}](#p3) - ### [{{ A New Kind of West Marches}}{{ 3}}](#p3) - ### [{{ Lumen World Map}}{{ 4}}](#p4) - ### [{{ World of Lumen}}{{ 4}}](#p4) - ### [{{ Stories of Lumen}}{{ 6}}](#p6) - ### [{{ How Did We Get Here?}}{{ 8}}](#p8) - ### [{{ Character Creation}}{{ 11}}](#p11) - ### [{{ Backgrounds}}{{ 14}}](#p14) - ### [{{ Bastion and the Frontier}}{{ 16}}](#p16) - ### [{{ Merit}}{{ 17}}](#p17) - ### [{{ Homesteading}}{{ 18}}](#p18) - ### [{{ The Life Compass}}{{ 20}}](#p20) - ### [{{ Down Time Activities}}{{ 22}}](#p22) - ### [{{ In Game Timescale}}{{ 22}}](#p22) - ### [{{ Limited Downtimes}}{{ 23}}](#p23) - ### [{{ Work}}{{ 23}}](#p23) - ### [{{ Firearms, Ammunition, and Properties}}{{ 24}}](#p24) - ### [{{ Crafting and Adventures}}{{ 25}}](#p25) - ### [{{ Carousing}}{{ 26}}](#p26) - ### [{{ The Community}}{{ 30}}](#p30) }}

##### Destroyed Rune [Tianling](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/q91lNe)

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page ## Welcome to Lumen With an impassable desert to the north, an uncrossable mountain range to the east, and two unsailable seas to the south and west, it would make sense to see the continent of Lumen as a cage. Between this and its tragic history of draconic warfare and present struggle against otherworldly aberrants, one would expect her people to be beaten down and apathetic. But, despite the difficulty of living in this world, the people of Rivanfel, her largest city, still fight to rise above this adversity by re-discovering ancient technology and bringing on a magical renaissance. ### Bastion, A New Frontier With all of this overflowing ambition, they seek to expand their influence by reclaiming lands that were once abandoned due to past tragedies. Lumen’s brightest, strongest, and bravest have been collected together to erect a new site of innovation and hope at the intersection of great magical potency at the far reaches of the country. Join these Frontier Folk on their journey to create, maintain, and improve Bastion, a town of our creation. ### General Rules Before you start to play, consider the following rules: • Don’t be a chucklenugget! Please be considerate of your fellow Players. • Timeout: if you are uncomfortable with anything that happens in the game, just say “timeout” and the DM will take a break and give everyone a chance to address the issue. • Non-consensual and unsupervised PvP is not allowed. If a situation requires PvP, it should be non-lethal. This includes touching other people’s possessions. • Toxicity, harassment, and discrimination in any form will NOT be tolerated. If there is a genuine issue with another Player, whether it's in or out of game, please privately let a DM know so we can address the problem. Alternatively, if you wish to remain completely anonymous, there is an anonymous Google form (https://forms.gle/veyhQwwbpWXqxAgz7) that is always available for complaints and concerns. This notifies all DMs. • Be mindful of speaking over other Players and the DM during games. • If you have an issue with someone on the server (including DMs), please reach out to a DM you feel comfortable PMing. It will be brought to DM chat, anonymously if you prefer, and discussed with an open mind. If necessary, we will reach out to you and other involved parties to make sure it sees a resolution. You may also use the Google form for anonymous reporting. \column ## A West Marches Campaign Coined by Ben Robins in his titular game, West Marches is a style of play that allows DMs and Players to host games at virtually any time. It does this by having multiple DMs and even more players in a single shared campaign world. All players start at the same home location and explore outwards each session. At the end of the session they make it back to their home location and share what they learned about the world. At its heart, West Marches games are collaborative games forcused on exploring a shared living world whose boundaries grow each time an adventure takes place. I'm here to tell you this is barely a West Marches game. It would be better described as a collaborative homegame in our own setting. So don't be afraid to get attached to your characters. Invest in them emotionally. We promise we won't break your heart... ## A New Kind of West Marches Many of our games run by the collection of DMs are part of many wider plots and stories. Each session may be only a small part of a larger story, or maybe a more one-shot type session. You'd be advised to treat this campaign as a homegame in which you're a living being in this world. Work with the DMs and your fellow players to create your character and understand every piece to the puzzle in this fantastic game. There’s mystery, there’s intrigue, there’s combat (both physical and social); you’re also always free to request sessions focusing on certain Pillars of play. Have fun in your way! ### Getting up to Speed Here in this community, we have a variety of ways to learn the general plots, stories, and types of games that DMs run. In the next few pages, we will go through some of the areas in Lumen along with what stories each of the wonderful DMs are going to run in the world. Knowing what is available and relevant to you will assist in creating a character you can truly connect to and be immersed with in the server we’ll be crafting as a community. Additionally, the **brainstorming** channel is a good place to ask other players what the general situation is if you are signing up for a game in a story you have not been following. Rely on each other to understand the information in your possession and use it to your full advantage. {{pageNumber,auto}} \page # Lumen World Map

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# World of Lumen ### City of Scales This remote settlement isn’t much more than a medium-sized town settled on a cliff that overlooks the Southern Sea. What gives them the confidence to nestle themselves just south of a dragon-infested mountain range? Put simply, the majority of its population has been touched by draconic influence, and have sought to escape the prejudice that many of their ilk face among the general population of Lumen. ### Everflow Caught between the land and the lake, Everflow is a pocket of serenity in a world full of anxieties and dangers. Its calming meadows, peaceful acres of sparse forest wood and rolling hills have made it a famed location for honeymoons, vacations and retreats in the name of rest. ### Fatherwood A sprawling and verdant forest that is equal parts enchanting and intimidating. The small hamlets tucked away within its vibrant greenery have respect and fear for the creatures that exist within the woods. The tales that they’ve told have spread throughout the entirety of Lumen so that any traveler who attempts to traverse the trees is properly prepared. \page ### Fort Capra An old city, though not as old as Rivanfel, that dealt with the plague of dragon attacks in its own blunt way. It built its walls high and strong within the protection of the Capra Mountains. The condensed architecture of the city is situated inside of one large fortress that has only been attacked occasionally by dragons, though has never been fully breached. Mushrooms are a popular crop due to the inaccessibility of sunlight, though the citizens of the fort are known to make their coin in more nefarious methods. ### Il Tavolo Once a quiet and peaceful community, the expansion towards the North has caused Il Tavolo's unique position of bordering the waters while watching over its surrounding area to attract a number of prosperity-seeking people to the Giants Table. The ever-stretching canyons and desert of Il Tavolo are home to a number of strange sights, such as The Living Cactus, and some depressing sights, such as Rotters Gulch. Unfortunately, Il Tavolo has descended into a near-constant state of violence due to disputes between those living in the town of Drydock and those in the surrounding areas. ### Impolito Mire A swamp covered in low-hanging fog, the Impolito Mire sits below sea level, and is mostly inhabited by semi-aquatic people and those who don’t mind when things get a little moist. It is only recently that those from outside Impolito Mire have braved the trek into these wetlands for highly valued waterproof fibers and wood. The older residents are mistrustful of outsiders entering the Mire for trade, but the younger generation sees them as a boon and are friendly and helpful. \column ### Rivanfel An expansive and miles-long sprawling city that creeps along a river valley in Jay’s Sprawl and into the waters of the Southern Sea, earning its name of Sunken City. Because of the ever-rising tide the city has crept its way from the shore all the way up into the nearby mountain range. The city itself features domed roofs heavily and has many canals that connect the most wealthy and poorest districts. Its population is made up of nearly equal parts terrestrial and underwater races that have united together under the banner of the Council of Tides. ### Villa de Vivre The hardships of a world recovering from the draconic apocalypse are many, but they don’t stop the people of Villa De Vivre from living their lives to the fullest. The pursuit of artistry and comfort are the two primary tenets of this village by the delta. Dozens of vineyards and fruit farms have sprung up to take advantage of the fertile soil and fresh water. Bakers, fromagers, vintners, and other food specialists hone their crafts while surrounded by its gorgeous scenery. ### Ziercia Located in the foothills of the Ziercian Uplands and on the northern shores of the Southern Sea, Ziercia exists in a constant state of uncertainty. No ruling government has managed to maintain control of the city for long. Seedy organization vie for control of the city, in a constant state of conflict with one another. It is a breeding ground of crime, and of upward mobility. As a twisted foil to Rivanfel, Ziercia lives by the mantra of Might Makes Right. Within the center of the city is a monument constructed long before the time of the Eruption. It has survived the ravages of time, and many have flocked to it as a rest stop before they attempt to broach into The Shattered Isles.

##### Fantasy Forest Exploration [Richard Lay](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/DAQLwn)

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page ## Stories of Lumen ### Between the Lines With the founding of Bastion comes new experiences and enterprises. The realm is new to the eyes of its pioneers, who now build a town at the border of its territory. From there, Lumen can be rediscovered and categorized once again via the founding of the Bastion Curiosities Bureau, who seeks to help make sense of all the chaos and edge cases that exist in the world today, and sort it out properly.

Of course, this is nothing but a naïve ideal: the world has moved on from what it was to what it is now, and the boundaries of what is known are but faded mirages over the centuries. The scars and rifts that shape the world now fill it with things outside of perspective, coax out mysteries that dare to be acknowledged and the very fabric of the reality it is made of. Things that torment the dreams of those who look into it, spiraling down corridors of never-ending shadow, and to witness things vaster than what the mind can comprehend. Things that are wanting, watching, and waiting. Still, in some parts that is what being a pioneer is all about: wading into that unknown and facing the things that may unravel this contorted tapestry, and making sense of it all on the boundary of sanity.

The question that concerns the mind then, for those who peer over the edge of the abyss: what lies between the lines that define our world? ### Hellfire and Brimstone After a good long time, strange creatures have begun spilling out into different corners of Lumen, bearing all the signs and behaviours of Fiends. Having not been seen across Lumen for many, many years, their reappearance over the past three years has caused some to grow concerned...especially once they started moving in packs? gangs? To be honest, people aren't sure how to classify these destructive invaders but they've certainly made a show over adapting themselves to their new environment.

Whether it be as wandering outlaws, terrifying beasts or insidious beacons of temptation, a single name has rung out across Lumen. The Burdened, a group of supposed fiends and humans said to leave nothing but death in their wake. With recognition though, comes notoriety. And notoriety? That leads to Bounties. But who in their right mind would put a price on the head of a Fiend? Let alone confront one... \column ### Masks and Mortality The Visage of Death and Life, Bringer of Mortality, The Mask Mother. This entity goes by many names, inhabiting Lumen and beyond longer than any mind can comprehend. Some say that she was the First, and will be the Last.
Such forces of nature cause churches and followings to gather in reverence of the Visage. Many various sects follow her numerous aspects of the Cycle of Mortality and her Keepers that she has assigned to them. The Keepers are her direct delegates, granted mystical powers and placed within different places of Lumen to aid the Cycle in a direct manner.
Delve into the dance of Mortality, helping the churches with their own problems and qualms, working to keep the Cycle in balance. Help lost spirits, put down dangerous ghosts, and minimize threats to the Cycle. Keepers, religious groups, and mystical entropy await. ### Roots of Artifice Within Rivanfel are several notable families that have lent their resources and intellect to the task of innovating and advancing the technology of the city. The Qiro's and Ishra's are the two largest names in this game, and are widely known to be rivals. It is also known that they both seek to harness unique sources of arcane power for their technology, including the highly magical fur, nails, and other leavings of orikin.
But what are orikin?
Orikin are marvelous creatures that are undeath and rebirth incarnate. They revitalize chosen spaces simply by existing, their stewardship of tiny territories their main purpose and joy. Unfortunately, their highly magical nature makes them prime prey for dragon. It's the diligence of The Flock that keeps the orikin protected.
With these two conflicting ideologies, the nobles of the city and the druids of the Flock often find themselves at odds. Will they ever see eye to eye, or are they destined to bitter antagonism?

{{artist,position:relative,top:700px,left:-120px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Cataclop Bang Bang [Chris Regnault](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/qG0EN) }}

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page ### Salvage Crew The past few centuries have seen the waters of Lumen swell, the rising tides claiming entire cities for the sea. This unexplained phenomenon has forced adaptation and innovation, leaving little time to ponder the ancient secrets and artifacts that have been lost to the waves. Until now. A few brave, eccentric, or just foolish individuals are looking to reclaim the history of Lumen from the depths of the ocean.

One of these individuals is the Captain "High Admiral" Splorg Mizgog the Fifth. Their company, aptly named Admiralty Salvage, is looking to hire the brave, eccentric, or foolish to dive into Lumen's waters and dredge up any historical artifacts or ancient technologies that may be hidden beneath the waters....and they've just opened a new office in Bastion. ### Creeds of Caution Explore the various creeds that define the world. From the Creed of the Rose, a religious organization whose goal is unification of all the Cardinals under a single banner. A doctrine that seeks to abandon the ideals of the individual cardinals and instead dedicate themselves to the Compass Rose, the very essence of divinity. To the Druids of the Tide, who seek to bring life and sustenance to all places in Lumen. Through their groves they seek to bring the fluidity and energy of water as far as the City of Scales and beyond. To Rivanlfel, a place of meritorious power that seeks to strike the balance between progress and the defense of their city To the city of Ziercia, which lives and breathes on power. The blood oaths, backstabbing, and criminal underworld all in a desperate attempt to maintain a control over the main waystop to The Shattered Isles. To the Shattered Isles themselves, a long destroyed portion of the country of Lumen, infested with a unknowable force.

\column Perhaps, through a clever manipulation and understanding of these various factions across Lumen, you can come to learn the truth of what resides deep within the Fallen Capital ### The Tower A huge, travelling structure of at least one hundred floors, the Tower is a challenge to be conquered. Protected by Leuruna, the Visage of magic and arcane knowledge, entering the Tower is a dangerous prospect but has for a long time been one of the most well-known ways to access magic in a world where the well of magic has been drying up for an age. The lower floors can be entered alone to deepen your connection to the weave, or even create one where none exists. Through the conferral of a Rune, would-be mages can gain a connection to the weave, as well as a symbol of status in Rivanfel. The higher levels of the Tower contain unknown riches and long forgotten magical secrets, tempting prizes for those brave (or foolish) enough to attempt the climb. For those who can afford it, The Runic Academy will prepare you for your ascension of the solo floors of the Tower; attendance is said to lower the chance of death in your solo trials by a significant margin. Climb with a group as you try to reach the top to meet Leuruna herself and beseech her for your hearts' desire.

{{artist,position:relative,top:700px,left:120px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Wallpaper Atlantis [A.Rocha](https://www.artstation.com/andreasrocha) }}

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page # How Did We Get Here? ### The Continent of Lumen **Lumen** is an ancient land with a history that is both fascinating and grim. The age of its oldest settlements aren't known due to much of its history being lost in the draconic turmoil that ripped through these lands half a millennia ago. There are many sites of fallen ancient society that are scattered around the countryside. A good majority of them have been made into colonies for the aberrations that have slipped through into this reality. Rediscovering the amazingly advanced technology of the past has become quite difficult because of their presence in this spaces.

It's loss of knowledge, magic, and lives isn't the only thing that the continent struggles with. It's unique geography has turned it into the perfect prison. The golden sands of the Impasse house unbearably hot days and shudderingly cold nights. The mountains of **Malaregno** are practically un-scalable with their verticality, and require thick coats to brave its freezing temperatures. The Grand Lake and Southern Sea both become overwhelmingly hostile when one sails far out enough on them, throwing out impossible to survive storms. Not to mention that all of them are also well known for their unique monstrous fauna, only adding another layer of difficulty to the environmental factors. There have been expeditions to travel beyond each of them, but not a single one has returned.

Even with all of these difficulties, the one reoccurring theme of her people is that they strive to innovate and understand the world they live in. A glowing example of this lies with the rediscovery and utilization of **leylines**. These wells of magic lie deep underneath the ground, and radiate out a palpable magical aura that can be harnessed by the most adept magicians and artificers. The train that Rivanfel has constructed is propelled by a powerful arcane engine that harnesses this very energy. **Bastion** has been set on a Nexus where many of these lines cross with the hopes that the people who settle there will pioneer more wonderous techniques and technology to be used in conjunction with the energy the leylines emit.

The people of Lumen carry a great deal of hope and dedication with them, so its only a matter of time before a new horizon can be met. \column ### The Cardinals and Afterlife **North, South, East, and West** are the gods that nearly every Lumenite turns their faith to. Each god's domain of influence is shaped after the environment that falls in that direction in relation to the **Fallen Capital**. North is for the **Impasse** which conjures imagery of friction, heat, carrion, and strife. South is for the **Southern Sea**, bringing thoughts of storms, pressure, monsters, and uncertainty. East lays claim to the **Malaregno** mountains, representing snow, elevation, flight, and loss. Finally, to West is **Capra Range** and the **Grand Lake**, which evokes paths, exploration, storytelling, and curiosity.

**The Cardinals** are quiet entities. There is no known report of anyone ever seeing or even speaking to one of them. Because of this despondence, nothing is known for certain about them. Their gender, appearance, and machinations are all up for interpretation, of which there are many. Dozens of sects and denominations exist underneath the Cardinals, and some even dedicate themselves to multiple gods or specifically to **Visages**, grand entities shaped by the hands of the gods, and **Champions**, powerful mortals who channel the energy of the gods. This has caused both conflict and collaboration over the many years that they have been worshipped.

Religion swelled in its importance following the confirmation of the existence of the afterlife. Centuries ago there was a ritual in which many priests on the that had just crested into death were revived. Upon returning to life, they recounted being in a wide white plain where ephemeral souls waited before ropes of distinct color lifted them up into an endless sky. In all of their reports, only four colors were ever seen represented in these ropes. Some priests also shakily mentioned seeing fiendish hands pulling lingering souls downward or alien tendrils carting them off into the horizon. The priests recognized that if a soul had not aligned itself to be claimed by a Cardinal, it would they wait in that state of **Purgatory** until forcibly claimed by more malevolent entities.

{{note ##### Suggested Domains **North:** Death, Forge, Light, War **South:** Death, Nature, Tempest, Twilight **East:** Knowledge, Order, Tempest, War **West:** Knowledge, Life, Nature, Trickery }} {{pageNumber,auto}} \page ### Theories of Ancient History There is one event that defines the record keeping of modern Lumen: **The Eruption**. Little is known about the continent’s history before that grand pivot of history occurred, but based on speculative rumors passed down through the ages, there was a time when elves, dwarves, gnomes, and other latently magic-bearing races were able to live for much longer than they do in the present day. Today, even the longest-lived races only make it to roughly 300 years of age before dying of old age.

Even with how little modern historians know about the world before the Unworldly Age, nearly every Lumenite is familiar with the Era of **Drakonotte** and how it came to a sudden end with The Eruption. The exact nature of the cataclysm isn't known, as the site of its epicenter is flooded by unworldly aberrations in the present day. It is popularly theorized that Pre-Eruption Lumen was some sort of unified country, with its **Capital** being located on a peninsula to the south of Malarengo. There is confidence in this theory because of consistencies between the technology and architecture of ancient ruins in completely geographically separate regions. This unified government persisted through Drakonotte, but was suddenly and unceremoniously eradicated.

There are hundreds of eye witness accounts that have been passed down through the ages. The average retelling recounts the following: at the edge of dusk, the horizon burned with an sudden overwhelming light that shone like 1000 suns. Depending where in the world the story comes from, this light lasted somewhere between minutes and hours. The peninsula where the Capital sat was completely obliterated, becoming what is now known as **The Shattered Isles**. To this day, it's still a mystery what caused the explosive incident. What *is* known is that two other events of great note followed The Eruption: The rise of aberrants and the fall of magic.

With the loss of a unified government and magical reliance for protection against a newly emerging foe, it only makes sense that so much of written and spoken history was lost and destroyed. But, a rebirth finally came after after centuries of regression. \column ### Shadow of Dragons Even with a lack of recorded history, dragons are a well known, longstanding threat to the people of Lumen. These ancient beasts come in many forms, but all of them share one formidable similarity: a hunger for magic. There isn't a known dragon that doesn't find its growth and development stunted a few years after hatching. The evolutionary response to this was to develop a means of consuming and digesting magical energy in order to spur on their increase in power. Sanctified areas, mystical artifacts, and prodigious casters are the favorite prey of these gluttonous creatures. Because dragons are such a varied species, there's almost nowhere they can't be.

But, fear of the draconic enemy need not be as prevalent in the present day due to one sliver of bittersweet hope. The population of dragons present in Lumen diminished greatly after The Eruption, signifying the end of Drakonotte. Because of the sudden absence of powerful magic in the continent, the majority of them that hadn't died in the cataclysm migrated beyond the borders or went into hibernation to conserve energy. It's thought that the majority of them returned to hidden caves within Malaregno. But, with the rapid development and advancement of magic in the present day, who knows how long the silence of these powerful beings will last? ### Rise Of The Aberrants The only consistent response that is had to these otherworldly entities is fear. They began appearing in larger quantities after The Eruption, though some theorize that they've been lurking in the shadows for much longer. Abberants come in many forms and with a variety of behaviors. Some bear intellect while others are more monstrous. They can appear seemingly out of thin air whenever they desire. Many have taken to starting colonies within the ruins of ancient Lumen, though some roam the countryside in search of a means to sate their appetites.

They're less difficult to find the closer one gets to the Shattered Isles. The heavy presence of aberrations there has made it nearly impossible to send research or reclamation expeditions to survey the area of the Fallen Capital. There is also little known about their nature due to there being such an abundance in variety. The only certainty when it comes to these alien beings is that they're nothing but trouble.

{{artist,position:relative,top:700px,left:120px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Little Creature [Becca Halstedt](https://www.reddit.com/r/BossfightUniverse/comments/qvfpfe/while_wandering_a_large_and_dry_desert_a_small/?rdt=41142) }}

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page ### Highlights of Rivanfel Rivanfel is the oldest known pinnacle of society on Lumen that still has a thriving population. It was once a humble seaside village that, through the collaboration of water-breathing and land-walking peoples, was built partially into the water. With the rising of the world tide, new buildings had to be constructed further inland every several years, and the old surface homes sunk beneath the waves to become the new residences for the submerged population.

Over its history it didn't only expand in size, but in its faith as well. The peak of Drakonotte was also the height of religious celebration within the city. Lumenites from all over the continent would travel to Rivanfel, causing its population to swell in numbers and diversity. Its people stayed strong through the tragedy of the Eruption and the rise of the aberrant threat.

Present day Rivanfel continues to be a symbol of unity and prosperity. The Council of the Rising Tide has persisted for over a century now, and continues to support the expansion and development of the city. After the endless expansion inland took the city over a leyline within Jay's Sprawl, the boom of magical and technological innovation only expanded. It continues to be a shining beacon for the rest of the continent to turn to. ### Prides and Prejudices Lumen's people come in a diverse array. But, certain differences can make a person praised or misunderstood because of the complicated history of the continent. Humanoids with latently magical abilities are seen as defiant and wonderous for having their blood be a shining example of the return of magic. Many also worry for their lives, as they are the prime prey for the few dragons that are still active and present in the world. On the other hand, people with draconic or alien features are met with skepticism due to their perceived relation to the greatest enemies of Lumen. The same two ends of the spectrum apply to the divine and fiendish races that are present in the world. One is met with adoration while the other is met with avoidance. \column ### A Renaissance of Magic and Technology There are many in the present day who work to uncover the lost innovations of old Lumen, and even more who have been working to create brand new ones. Steam engines, clockwork mechanisms, and firearms have been streamlined into simpler technology that a decent portion of the population can easily interact with. New spells for casters to utilize are being discovered and created every day! When it comes to the understanding of ancient technology, the Council of the Rising Tide has recently discovered how to utilize Waystones, an ancient means of simple teleportation. When it comes to the combination of technology and magic, the greatest modern marvel is the arcane engine train that already has tracks spanning miles of Lumen. The ultimate goal is to have it reach every point of major civilization and eventually further beyond.

{{note ##### What about Known Magic? Spells found in the PHB are considered to be ancient magic while spells found in any other book are considered to be more recently created. 7th level and above magic is practically unheard of in Lumen. }}

{{artist,position:relative,top:700px,left:-120px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Little Creature [Stephen Wood](https://realmsofahlus.fandom.com/wiki/Whyz) }}

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page # Character Creation Bastion: A New Frontier guidelines for character creation. These rules help to keep the game fair and balanced for everyone involved. If you are new to Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition or if you have any questions at all about character creation, **@DMs** any of the DMs in **#questions** and we will help guide you through the process! ### Character Sheet Players can make characters by accessing Bastion: A New Frontier in Roll20. To create a new character sheet, grab a spare blank sheet and get building! Make sure to claim the sheet by changing the name and adding character art to the sheet to represent your character. #### Alignment Characters may not be of an Evil alignment when created: to fit the premise of this game, your character has at least some motivation to make the world a better place. The pressures of life as an adventurer may drive some to Evil, but that does not necessarily mean the character must be retired. These shifts will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The exception to this is Chaotic Evil - any character which shifts to this alignment is no longer fit for play. No exceptions. #### Level Players level together, meaning that all characters are the same level. The current level is displayed in #pcs-are-1st-level channel. Leveling is accomplished through a system of Capstones. #### Age All PCs created must be __at least__ 18 years old (or the adult age of their race) or older at the start of play. #### Hit Points Players must take the **average hit point** calculation as described in the PHB. #### Ability Scores Players must use the 27 **point buy** method for determining ability scores as decribed in the PHB (pg 13). Players can also use this **[link](http://chicken-dinner.com/5e/5e-point-buy.html)** to help calculate their ability scores. ***Taking a 6:*** You can take a 6 in one base stat (Before racials) to instead use 29 **point buy**. This would not allow you to start with a base stat over 15 (Before racials). Remeber that this DOES NOT mean you have a 29/27 point buy but rather 27/27 with two extra points to spend now that the minimum has been lowered. \column ## Character Registration Once your character is finished, ping @DM with your character name and roll20 name in **#questions** to have them check it over. If everything looks ok, the DM will then register you for the campaign, granting you your permissions. We also ask that you add yourself to our **[Demographics Sheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f9qwkyfP1vC0cFq9baCToi9XtI6U3D0sECBEWhwLcsU/edit?usp=sharing)** once your character is approved. ## Races Race When selecting your race, please consider that in this setting there are prejudices against people who look as though they are of draconic, aberrant, or fiendish heritages. They tend to be treated with suspicion and discrimination. Races that have more positive biases in this setting are those who present themselves to be more celestial or latently magical in nature. They tend to find more acceptance and praise among most of the population of Lumen.

##### Multiple Characters [Ellen Gilmore](https://ellengilmore.tumblr.com/)

Character Creation

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page ### Free Respec **Once** per character after your character has been approved and character creation is locked in, you may change anything about your character as if you were recreating the character. After changing your character, you must post to the channel ⁠downtime with an @ DMs to show that you are using your free respec and to get the respec approved by a DM. #### DM Consultation There are a few things that you need to talk to a DM about and get approved if you would like to do them for your character. If you wish to swap your racial Ability Score Bonuses around, as per the Tasha's optional rules, make sure you give a good in lore reason for yor character to have the swapped stats. The same goes for the rules to swap your racial languages, but ensure that your character knows Common. The rules for swapping out skills during play are allowed, again, with proper reasoning. If you wish to multiclass make sure to have a reason and communicate it with DMs for a justification. ### Allowed Resources The resources allowed for character creation are as follows. * **Player's Hand Book (PHB)** * **Sword Coast Adventurers Guide (SCAG)** * **Xanathar's Guide to Everything (XGE)** * **Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (MTF)** * **Eberron Rising from the Last War (ERLW)** (Excluding the Dragonmark and optional rules) * **Explorer's Guide to Wildemount (EGTW)** (Excluding the backgrounds, the dunamancy spells are on the Wizard, Warlock and Sorcerer spell lists) * **Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (TCE)** (Excluding the magical guidance optional feature and the custom lineage racial choice) * **Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft (VRGR)** (The Hexblood, Dhampir and Reborn races cannot be used as a starting race.) * **Fizban's Treasury of Dragons** * **Monsters of the Multiverse** (Excluding Shadar-kai, Remember the global changes apply to all races! ) * **Strixhaven** - (All Non-Silvery Barbs spells and Owlin) * **Book of Many Things** - (Only the Spells) Unless specifically noted, players may use any combination of race, class, spells, and feats from these books. Some materials such as UA and homebrew are allowed, please refer to the **Additional Character Creation Resources** section for the most up to date allowed resources.

{{artist,position:relative,top:0px,left:190px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Forgotten God [Kim Youngju](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/NybAW5) }}

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page ## Additional Creation Resources This is a collection of extra content from Wizard's of the Coast's Unearthed Arcana and some homebrew choices. Periodically we may add more subclasses to this as the DMs can look over them. Any homebrew with an asterisk* is one of our creations and can be found [HERE](https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/z8Bpue4F7tpY) ### UA and Homebrew #### Artificer - Explorer Specialist* #### Barbarian - Matt Mercer's Path of the Juggernaut - Path of The Dragon* #### Bard - College of Maestro - College of Dogma* #### Matt Mercer's Blood Hunter - Order of the Ghostslayer - Order of the Mutant - Order of the Profane Soul - Order of the Lycan - Order of the Hemoshifter* #### Cleric - Spirit Domain* #### Druid - Circle of Bestial Soul* - Circle of Tides* #### Fighter - Eldritch Knight Archetype (Revised)* - Gunslinger Archetype - Monster Hunter Archetype #### Monk - [Revised Four-Elements Monk](https://img.4plebs.org/boards/tg/image/1433/19/1433195829577.pdf) - Way of Brilliance* #### Paladin - Oath of Heroism - Oath of Many Paths* #### Ranger - Gadgeteer Archetype* #### Rogue - Eldritch Archetype* #### Sorcerer - Stone Origin - Phoenix Origin - Sea Origin - Giant Soul Origin - Prismatic Origin* - Updated Sorcererous Origin Spell Lists* #### Warlock - Seeker Patron - The Forged Patron* - Extended UA invocations for these subclasses **only** #### Wizard - Theurgy Tradition - School of Runes* #### UA Feat - Skill Feats #### Lineages - Orikin* - Lacunae*

{{artist,position:relative,top:550px,left:-160px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Uncharted Book Cover [Sylvain Sarrailh](https://tohad.artstation.com/projects/DXox9) }}

Character Creation

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page # Backgrounds ## Affluent *The ideas of classic nobility aren’t really prevalent within the city of Rivanfel; gaining social sway within this society relies on your ability to contribute products and services to the people of the city and beyond. You are part of one of the high ranking families who have gained the riches that grease the wheels of politics.*
**DM:** Agnostic
**Skill Proficiencies:** Persuasion, History
**Tool/Language Proficiencies:** Any one artisan tool or instrument pertaining to your family’s claim to wealth and one language or gaming set of your choice.
**Equipment:** A set of fine clothes, a trinket that exemplifies your family’s claim to wealth, a purse containing 25gp.
**Feature: Money Talks**
When you mention your family and their contributions to society, it carries weight in conversation. However, if you mention your connections too often, it could draw the attention of nefarious individuals. ## Flock Member *You are part of the Flock, a Druid enclave that dedicates itself to the stewardship of the orikin and following the Visage named Shepherd. The Flock specializes in using the sheddings of orikin to make clothing and accessories imbued with latent magical power.*
**DM:** Karina/Sara
**Skill Proficiencies:** Animal Handling, Nature
**Tool Proficiencies:** Weaver’s and Herbalism
**Equipment:** Your spiritual vestments, an herbalism kit, and a cool rock/leaf/seed that you found out in nature.
**Feature: Spiritual Vestments**
You have a piece of clothing or accessory fashioned from the sheddings of orikin. There is intrinsic magical potential within it that allows it to be a good base for crafting a magical item. \column ## Masked (Not Available) ~~*You are a member of a secretive thieves' guild called Paper Trail. All of its members wear full face masks of different designs to hide their identities but declare their unity. The guild has a special coded means of communication using sheet music. You specialize in the subtle collection and distribution of important paper documents belonging to high powered individuals.*
~~**DM:**~~ ~~Karina/Sara~~
~~**Skill Proficiencies:**~~ ~~Stealth, Investigation~~
~~**Tool Proficiencies:** Any musical instrument and your choice of Forger’s or Calligrapher’s
~~**Equipment:**~~ ~~An instrument you're proficient in, a tool set you're proficient in, and your unique mask.~~
~~**Feature: Inkling**~~
~~Whenever you look over paper documentation, you understand its purpose, effects, and hidden clauses if there are any. You’re also keenly aware of the presence of invisible ink~~ ## Hell-Marked *You've seen the face of Hell itself, and the bright red eyes that accompanied it. Who's to say how it happened, or even why you're still standing here today to talk about it. All you know is that when the Burdened and the Fiends in Dust passed through your home, nobody was spared. You, however, were left with a Hell-Mark. A brand from the one calling himself The Mortal. What he said to you? That's private. But that Hell-Mark hasn't gone away and it seems like it never will.*
**DM:** Stryke
**Languages:** Infernal
**Tool Proficiencies:** Navigator's Tools
**Skill Proficiencies:** Choose two from Nature, Deception or Athletics
**Equipment:** 15gp, a Hell-Mark of your own design on your body, a Wanted poster for one of the Burdened and a torn cloak
**Feature: Off-Limits**
To those who might recognize your Hell-Mark, you're treated with caution. Someone or something they might not want trouble with has claimed you as their own, and some boundaries you just don't overstep. Extraplanar creatures or those mortals who may know more about them will be cautious around your Hell-Mark, granting you a wide berth but a curiosity into the nature of the mark as well {{pageNumber,auto}}

##### Character Design 2 [Massimo Di Leo](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/POZnB)

\page ## Forged *Though the forces of Hell might not be as ever-present a threat as they once were, the Forged of Raegar's Anvil are vigilant of all extraplanar threats that they can handle. While few in numbers, they're reinforced by the dead of those Forged who have since passed on. Bound to the damned to protect the living, the Forge extols a heavy cost on those who choose to be forged by it, but in return, you gain eternal brotherhood*
**DM:** Stryke
**Languages:** One of your choice between Infernal or Abyssal
**Tool Proficiencies:** Smith's Tools
**Skill Proficiencies:** Choose two from Insight, Survival or Investigation
**Equipment:** 10gp, a Signature Callsign of your choosing, 1 vial of Holy Water and unrepairable nerve damage in your dominant hand
**Feature: Tempered Will**
The souls of the Forge have seen a lot in their times, and that information is something you're privy to as part of your membership with Raegar's Anvil. When entering into dangerous situations, you never shown a sign of fear and none will be seen by those wishing harm upon you. The Anvil's reputation is shaky at best, causing any public actions you take to be given an extra layer of scrutiny. ## Courier *You’ve worked alongside the Lumen postal service, helping to deliver correspondence and packages with a route that could span city blocks or the entire known world. You understand the importance of the written word, and may be personally familiar with what it takes to get those words across a dangerous land.*
**DM:** Agnostic
**Languages:** Two of your choice
**Skill Proficiencies:** Choose 2 from Athletics, Investigation, or Survival
**Equipment:** 10gp, a Courier’s coat and hat, a satchel, a letter of personal significance
**Feature:** Don’t Shoot the Messenger
Most law-abiding folks recognize postal service workers as neutral parties seeking to hasten communication. When you're on an active delivery, you are less likely to be hindered by government officials or guards. However, because of the potential importance of your cargo, you may become a bigger target for theft. \column ## Frontier Settler *The untamed wilderness of Lumen is the ideal place for new beginnings, and you're just the person to help stake a claim there. You're no stranger to hard work and know a good foundation when you see one. Still, the call of the frontier urges you to press ever onward to find new places to make your mark.*
**DM:** Agnostic
**Tool Proficiencies:** Choose two from Carpenter's, Mason's, Woodcarver's Tools
**Skill Proficiencies:** Choose two from Animal Handling, Athletics, or Nature
**Equipment:** 5gp, Common clothes, Mason's or Woodcarver's Tools, a pair of work gloves, a keepsake from your hometown
**Feature:** Plotting the Land
You know just what to look for when considering a new place to settle down. When you inspect an area of natural terrain for 10 minutes, you can determine how viable it is for building a structure, road, or farm. {{pageNumber,auto}}

{{artist,position:relative,top:500px,left:-150px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Herdsman [Sveta Pikul](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/a6nQk) }}

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{{artist,position:relative,top:0px,left:190px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Landscape [BoredArt](https://www.boredart.com/2016/02/superb-landscape-art-to-keep-the-outdoors-with-you-at-all-times.html) }}

# Bastion and the Frontier Lumen is a dangerous world, but a member of the Council of Rising Tides in the city of Rivanfel has had enough of cowering from the unexplored frontier. Out of this decision and the recent invention of the Train, the settlement of Bastion has begun to slowly build itself up as a first step in reclaiming the lost corners of Lumen from the ancient draconic and aberrant menaces that lay across it.
You’ve chosen, for your own reasons (whatever they may be) to be part of this first group of settlers looking to turn Bastion from an idea into a reality. The Frontier will be harsh and unforgiving, but this is first and foremost a group effort by all those leaving their lives behind in search of the promise of adventure. This might be seen as a crazy decision by some, but to others it represents a fresh start. It’s opportunity, pure and simple, all it comes down to is what you and your fellow settlers will make of it. ## Seasonal Skips At the end of each IRL month PCs will be able to account for additional time spent during that season. This covers all the travel time that might have otherwise come into conflict with the ordinary 1:1 timescale of the server. This time amounts to four weeks of time. For active players, this may largely be consumed in time spent on adventures which take more than a single in character day. But it is also an opportunity to have your character work on other projects. This time cannot be used for limited DTAs such as learning a tool or language, but can be used for crafting or story purposes. If you have a specific thing you would like to do that involves a DM’s storyline this is a good opportunity to collaborate with them on what you would like to be doing. To use this additional time during the Seasonal Skip write up a downtime before the last day of the IRL month describing what you do and tagging any relevant DMs or PCs who are involved. The benefits do not take effect until the 1st day of the next IRL month. {{pageNumber,auto}} \page # Merit In order to reflect your sway within the settlement of Bastion, you are given **Merit.** Since everyone is a contributing member to this society on the fringes, all PCs start with **3 Merit** at the beginning of each month. You can gain Merit by working jobs, completing vital tasks, or doing general good for the sake of Bastion. You can have a maximum of **10 Merit** at a time. You can choose to spend Merit on the items listed below. {{classTable,frame |Cost| Item| |:--:|:--:| |1 Merit| 50gp| |1 Merit |Potion of Healing | |1 Merit| Request an audience with a high ranking member of society | |1 Merit| Request an item to appear in the next shop of the current available rarity | | 1 Merit| Use a Waystone |2 Merit| Potion of Greater Healing | |2 Merit| Potion of Resistance | |2 Merit| Switch your current Job Pool, noting this in your next Work Post |3 Merit| Potion of Heroism | |3 Merit| 200gp Homesteading Credit| }} >**Potions and Scrolls obtained with Merit cannot be sold for gold.* >**Item rarity and cost may be requested by a player in the #questions channel* At the beginning of each month, no matter how much Merit you have, all PCs are reset to having **3 Merit**. Since everyone is progressing, you can't use old sway for new favors. {{pageNumber,auto}}

{{artist,position:relative,top:0px,left:190px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Morcis Deorum [BoaIllustrations](https://x.com/boaillustration/status/1659558251896221696) }}

\page # Homesteading Being on the frontier means that your homes have to be built from the ground up, allowing you to have complete control over what goes on in your abode. To move out of the Town Hall you may purchase a **One Room** home from this list below with a 500gp discount. Additional rooms to add onto your home can be purchased, and take 1 IRL week to construct. Rooms can look like anything you want, and can even be outdoor spaces! If you have a proficiency in Mason's, Smith's, Carpenter's, or Glass Blower's tools you can spend **one LDTA** to reduce the cost of the room's construction by 250gp. ##### Home Turf, *775gp* Your home is where you feel the most comfortable, powerful, and in control. You are the master of your own abode. **Select one skill to have advantage on inside of your home.** ##### Workspace, *750gp* You've sectioned out a space in your home where you can properly pursue your passions. **Select one tool, instrument, or game set to have advantage with inside of your home.** ##### Ritual Shrine, *500gp + 250gp x spell level* Indulge in this magical renaissance. **Select one ritual spell (save for Find Familiar) to be able to cast as a ritual while within your home.** ##### Giving Back, *900gp* Making sure people have the equipment they need to stay alive out here on the frontier is vital. **Add an item costing 250gp or less that's already been in the shop as permanent stock. You may only take this upgrade once.** ##### Work From Home, *700gp* You are so dedicated to your work that you can't help but bring some of it home with you. This is a space where you can catch up with what you're lagging behind in. **You can use both of your LDTAs to Work in the same week.** ##### Safe Place, *800gp* Safety is a priority in a frontier town like Bastion. **A small team is hired to guard your home in shifts, reporting any break in attempts or unusual activity.** \column ##### Freezer Space, *650gp* Reliable food storage is important when you're so far away from bustling markets. **Gain a Chest of Preserving with doubled dimensions.** ##### Endless Closet, *650gp* Everyone deserves options when it comes to clothing, and you __really__ prioritize a wide variety of fashion. **You gain a set of Shiftweave with an infinite number of outfits embedded inside of it that you can only alter while still in your home.** ##### Green Thumb, *650gp* Being so close to a desert isn't as daunting as it seems when you're dedicated to your passion for plants. **You can grow any kind of plant in your home no matter its environmental requirements.** ##### Medicine Cabinet, *700gp* It's a rough and tumble life out here, so you have to be prepared to shake off scrapes and bruises at a moment's notice. **You gain a basic health potion at the beginning of each week. They expire after one week.** ##### The Help, *700gp* Out here in Bastion there's so much that needs to be done. You think it's a good idea to get an extra pair of helping hands. **You gain an Unseen Servant that exists indefinitely inside your home.** ##### Guards and Wards, *800gp* In a world where magic is becoming more accessible you want to make sure you don't fall victim to the people who use it. **You have advantage against on saves against Divination Magic while inside your home.** ##### Pet Sanctuary, *775gp* With the power of magical science you don't have to worry about losing your pets forever! **You can bind up to three pets to this sanctuary. While bound, you can spend the # of times the pet has died x 50gp to revive it.** ##### Oasis, *800gp* The hot winds of the desert aren't that far away, so why not have a dedicated space made to cool off? **A large pool or globe holds 15 cubic feet of fresh or salt water. Soaking in this water for 1 hour imparts the effects of Lesser Restoration. Spending 100gp on special components upgrades this to the effects of Greater Restoration for 1 hour.** {{pageNumber,auto}} \page ##### Potion Station, *1800gp* With this upgrade you can craft any of the potions below for their associated costs. **You may craft up to 5 potions in one week.** - Potion of Climbing - 15gp + 1 day - Potion of Comprehension - 50gp + 1 day - Potion of Watchful Rest - 50gp + 1 day - Potion of Resistance - 70g + 3 days - Bottled Breath - 175gp + 2 days - Potion of Fire Breath - 175gp + 2 days - Potion of Diminution - 250gp + 3 days ##### Specialist Bench, *1250gp* Select a toolset. Items crafted with this toolset have their crafting time reduced by half. Additionally, you can switch your Work Category to Infrastructure at any time with no Merit cost. **When you roll an Infrastructure Work Roll, your result is automatically bumped to the next highest Work Reward.** ##### The Ranch, *1800gp* You have space to raise livestock and can switch your Work Category to Artisan at any time with no Merit cost. When you roll an Artisan Work Roll, your result is automatically bumped to the next highest Work Reward. Additionally once per week you can choose an animal from your Ranch to assist you in your day to day activities. The animals return to the ranch at the end of the week. - **Beast of Burden:** The Beast of Burden assists in shouldering the loads you cannot carry yourself. **When rolling on a work roll, you may add a bonus equal to your proficiency bonus to the roll.** - **Blue Ribbon:** You tote your prized stud out around the town. **While the animal is near, you have advantage on Persuasion Checks against creatures who like animals.** - **Farm Friend:** A trusty friend that helps you both on and off the farm. **When you bring this creature with you, your passive perception is increased by 5.** - **Trusty Steed:** A friend to help you quickly traverse lumen. **Gain a Bounding Toad or another mount from the mount list of your choice for the week.** (Note: If your Steed dies, you must pay the gold to replace a new one for your ranch at the end of the week. The steed avoids combat at all costs) \column ##### Socialite Space, *1250gp* When discussing a rumor with an NPC in your home, you can undeniably convince them that something is true so long as it has been said in ⁠📜noted-and-noteworthy or ⁠📌bastion-bulletin by another Player. To do this with a PC, you must succeed a contested charisma skill vs insight check first. You have advantage on this charisma check. **Additionally, you can switch your Work Category to Social at any time with no Merit cost. When you roll a Social Work Roll, your result is automatically bumped to the next highest Work Reward**. ##### Astrology Room, *2200gp* Once a week you may conduct a spiritual ritual to learn the secrets of the people you've gotten close to. You may ask one question about an NPC or a consenting PC and get a truthful answer. **You must have personally met this individual and know the season of their birth. The DM or Player can always request a different question be asked.** ##### Astronomer's Den, *2500gp* Once a week you may expend gemstones to consult the stars. Roll a d100. 1+ you may cast the Augury spell once before the end of the week, expending 25gp of gemstones. 31+ you may instead cast the Divination spell once before the end of the week, expending 100gp worth of gemstones. 61+ you may instead cast the Legend Lore spell once before the end of the week, expending 250gp worth of gemstones. 81+ you may instead "predict" one of the following events to happen within the 7 days, expending 100gp worth of gemstones. - Consult a HH or DM to see if an NPC arrives in Bastion - Consult @Sara [Shio, Draconic] to determine what the weather will be - Select the result of your next carousing roll ##### Hobbyist Seat, *800gp* Select one instrument or game set that you have proficiency in. **Whenever you make an ability check that uses this proficiency outside of Work, you can treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.** \page # The Life Compass ### How it Do? Starting from Level 4, you gain a series of added abilities from a variety of options. At each level, you can pick **one** of the options, continuing to grow your skills and abilities based on how you feel your character has developed. ## Starting Trope - Level 4 - **Soldier:** Battle, for better or for worse, is your home and fighting for what you believe in is a familiar feeling to you. When planning a skirmish or encountering a new combatant, you gain an idea of what sort of tactics they use in battle. Gain a trinket that allows you to cast either Spare the Dying or Blade Ward. Only you can use this trinket in this way.
- **Explorer:** The wilds of the Frontier are a home to you, whether that be above the water or beneath it. When navigating through unexplored territory, you’ll have a much better chance at finding whatever it is you’re looking for. Gain a trinket that allows you to cast either Druidcraft or Mold Earth. Only you can use this trinket in this way.
- **Sanctified:** Your influence within a church/sect of the god of your choice ensures that others who follow the same deity will give you a measure of respect. Gain a trinket that allows you to cast either Control Flames or Shape Water. Only you can use this trinket in this way.
- **Scientist:** The esoteric and arcane practices of the renaissance are fresh in your mind. When looking at new or ancient technologies, you’ll know far more than the average citizen. Gain a trinket that allows you to cast either Light or Mending. Only you can use this trinket in this way.
- **Occultist:** Life is full of oddities, and you’re lucky enough to be counted among them. When provoked by the unknown, you’re far more likely to get a grasp on the unseen entities lurking amongst us, and more likely to commune with them. Gain a trinket that allows you to cast either Encode Thoughts or Minor Illusion. Only you can use this trinket in this way.
- **Criminal:** Laws are suggestions, or maybe just annoyances. Nevertheless, you know what it means to get things done, and who to talk to in order to get a fair price or deal. What happens in the shadows is just a teleglyph away. Gain a trinket that allows you to cast either Mage Hand or Message. Only you can use this trinket in this way. \column ## Pathways - Level 5 - **Veteran:** Once per week, you can determine the level of combat experience of creatures within sight and where they have trained. - **Protector:** Once per week, you can read a room to determine who is the most likely to become a threat to you and those you’re protecting. - **Delver:** Once per week, you may sense the presence of natural weaknesses and traps within view of the space you're currently occupying. - **Tamer:** Once per week, you may charm a beast you can see if it has an intelligence of 3 or lower. This charm lasts until you break the beast’s trust. - **Devout:** Once per week, you learn the cardinal alignments of all creatures within sight. - **Departed:** Once per week, you learn if creatures within sight are influenced by extraplanar energies. - **Arcane:** Once per week, you can focus on a piece of writing and choose to comprehend it if you can’t already. - **Eldritch:** Once per week, you can determine if something unseen is observing you. - **Memory:** Once per week, you can obfuscate your identity from someone you’ve met before, tricking them into thinking they’ve never met you. - **Abnormal:** Once per week, you can repel creatures with your features, making them more likely to retreat from your presence. - **Shady:** Once per week, you can effectively hide your presence in a crowd of people. - **Grunt:** Once per week, you can convince a creature you’re talking to that you would be the perfect candidate for a certain task. ## Mindful Moment - Level 6 - Universal for All Players Once per week you can take a short rest in 10 minutes instead of one hour. Monks also regain ki points at the end of this rest. ## Apprentice - Level 7 - **Social Sidestep:** Once per conversation when you make a social faux pas you can correct your blunder and salvage the conversation. - **Arcanist’s Eye:** You can determine the relative power and worth of a magical item upon inspection. - **Weakest Link:** You can always recognize who or what the highest priority target for an opponent is. {{pageNumber,auto}} \page ## Rising - Level 8 - **Eye on the Prize:** You’re always aware of who the most influential person in a space is and how influential they are. - **Blood in the Water:** You can always recognize who the most emotionally vulnerable person in a space is and how emotionally vulnerable they are. - **On the Road Again:** You can always recognize the fastest and safest route to get somewhere. - **Wild Thing:** You can always recognize the best place to camp out or hide out. - **Battle of Wits:** You can always recognize when something is poisoned or diseased. - **Scent of Blight:** You can always recognize when something is cursed or desecrated.
Additionally, **All Players gain an additional Attunement Slot** ## Seniority - Level 9 - **Wordless Intent:** After interacting with a creature you don’t share a language with for 1 minute, you learn how to communicate with them effectively. - **The Best Policy:** When interacting honestly with a creature, you convey your intentions without any chance of having it misconstrued. - **Discerning Eye:** If you spend 1 minute observing an area, you can spot any hidden creatures that are not invisible. - **Adverse Adaptation:** When moving through extreme environmental factors, they do not affect you. - **Scrapper:** You can adapt any material into a makeshift version of a weapon or tool you’re proficient in over the course of 10 minutes. - **Salvager:** You always know where to find a reliable source of a material you need. ## Defy Fate - Level 10 - Universal For All Players You gain a Legendary resistance once per week. \column ## Mastery - Level 11 - **Inspirational Mastery:** You can spend 10 minutes during a short rest when you’re communing with up to 5 other creatures to grant them and yourself one of the following effects: - They gain advantage on saving throws made against being charmed or frightened for the next 4 hours - They gain 2d10+proficiency bonus temp hp for the next 4 hours - **Navigation Mastery:** You can spend 10 minutes during a short rest to grant yourself up to 5 other creatures one of the following effects: - You gain a Swimming speed equal to your movement speed for the next 4 hours - You gain a Climbing speed equal to your movement speed for the next 4 hours - An additional 10ft added to your movement speed for the next 4 hours - **Salvage Master**: You can spend 10 minutes during a short rest working with spare materials to produce one of the following effects: - Turn up to 6 mundane weapons into +1 weapons that retain their enchantment for 4 hours - Create up to 6 Superior Healing or Vitality Potions that last for 4 hours {{pageNumber,auto}}

{{artist,position:relative,top:700px,left:-120px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Spoils of Adventure [Zezhou Chen](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Qr8LkE) }}

\page # Down Time Activities Down Time Activies (DTAs) acccount for the time between adventures. They represent the normal everyday upkeep and maintenance that every character needs to do in order to be ready for the threats of Teresia. Below are the rules regarding Down Time Activities. ## In Game Timescale The server runs at a 1:1 timescale to real life. So each day in the real world corresponds to 1 day of time in the game setting.
Because adventures within sessions might take more than one day to complete, to account for that extra time we do a monthly timeskip, which is detailed further in the **Seasonal Skips** section earlier in this document. ### Shopping Players may buy both mundane and magical items from the local shops using gold. Most standard items from the PHB are available for sale within reason. Check the #shops-and-trade channel if you’re not sure. Players can check the list of items available within the #quartermaster channel. A player can purchase any item from the list by posting a downtime in the active stock thread, indicated by the dates listed on the thread title ### Preparing/Undefined Players who can benefit from actions done outside of a session, must spend their time participating in a *Preparing DTA* in order to reap said benefits. Summoning, pre-casting spells, silvering weapons, and any other benefits that **expends time outside of a game session**, **MUST BE ANNOUNCED**. Each time a player would benefit from any such action, they must announce in the **#downtime** chat. ### Item Sale Players may sell magical items **that have not been crafted** to the local shops for hold in return. For **shops-and-trade**, consult **@Quartermaster** for the amount gold you can recieve for the item's sale. For shops outside of Bastion, you must find a shop that would be willing to buy the items you have for sale. The DM in charge of that store will let you know how much you can sell an item for, depending on the shop. A player can gain the benefits of Item Sale by announcing in the #downtime chat. \column ### Trading/Gifting Players may trade mundane and magical items to each other. A PC is limited to trading 100*Level gp worth of money, materials, or items to another PC once a week. You are also limited to receiving this amount of money, materials, or items. This does not apply to reimbursement for revivals. Mundane item crafting commissions do not count towards this rule. This resets every week. You must @ Quartermaster for any and all trades.

##### Frog Shop [Madeline Hale](https://ismarus-art.tumblr.com/post/623644244622671872/%EF%BE%9F-%EF%BE%9F-welcome-to-the-frog-shop-this)

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## Limited Downtimes Some downtimes take an extended period of time or can only be done every so often. Things like learning a new skill set, working your job, or even exploring the streets of Arboria. Unlike normal downtimes these have a limit once every **IRL** week, and only **two** may be used per week, though they cannot be the same type. These limited Downtimes reset at **12:01am EST** on Sunday. ### Learning Tools/Languages Learning a tool or language takes 4 weeks and costs 200gp. Knowing a tool within the same tool family reduces the cost of learning by 1 week and 50gp, to a minimum of 2 weeks and 100gp. The tool families can be found within the **Tool Families** tab of the **Player Resources** Document found here: [Player Resources](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f9qwkyfP1vC0cFq9baCToi9XtI6U3D0sECBEWhwLcsU/edit?usp=sharing)
### Expertise If you're already proficient in a tool and want to become an expert, you can do so by spending 4 limited DTAs, provided you can find someone to teach you. This will likely require a DTA, maybe an RP or a little adventure set up by a DM or Storyteller. You can only get an expertise this way once. \column ## Work You may spend one of your weekly Limited Downtimes to **Work**. Bastion is a growing settlement. It needs all the helping hands it can get to help it grow and thrive! There are many forms of Work that you can engage in. They've been sectioned out into the six categories below so that many occupations can be represented. {{classTable,frame | Categories|Examples| Applicable Skills | |:--:|:--:|:------------------:| |Artisan | Chef, Smith, Tinkerer| Any Artisan Tool | |Enrichment| Researcher, Journalist, Minister| Arcana, History, Religion, Persuasion, Medicine| |Infrastructure| Construction, Demolition, Planner| Carpenter's, Mason's, Glassblower's, Athletics, Insight| |Maintenance| Waste Management, Landscaping, Housekeeper| Herbalism, Tinker's, Vehicles, Sleight of Hand, Animal Handling| |Protection| Law Enforcement, Scout, Bouncer| Athletics, Investigation, Perception, Survival, Intimidation| |Social | Advocate, Diplomat, Performer| Persuasion, Performance, Any Instrument, Calligrapher's, Any Gaming Set | }} To complete a **Work** downtime, roll a skill check based on your Work Category. If there's an alternate check you have justification for rolling, @DMs in **#questions** to determine if you can use it. After rolling, refrence the below table to claim your Work Reward. {{note **Note:** You may not use any items, abilities, or spells to modify your work roll due to this roll representing your contributions over the course of a week. }} ##### Work Rewards {{classTable,frame | Work DC | Reward | |:----------------:|:--:| | 0 | 1 Merit| | 5 | 5gp*level +1 Merit| | 10 | 10gp*level +1 Merit | | 15 | 15gp*level +1 Merit| | 20 | 20gp*level +2 Merit | | 25 | 25gp*level +2 Merit | }} Everytime you **Work**, you contribute **1** to a pool dedicated to your Work Category. This is to represent how doing your job helps Bastion as a whole! When these pools reach certain thresholds you unlock new benefits that affect the entirety of Bastion. These pools are tracked in **#work**.

{{artist,position:relative,top:950px,left:-380px,margin-bottom:-30px ##### Neverwinter Crafter [Kyoung Hwan Kim](https://www.deviantart.com/carmensinek/art/Neverwinter-Crafting-384520648) }} {{pageNumber,auto}} \page ## Firearms, Ammunition, and Properties ### Firearms | Name | Cost |Damage| Weight| Properties | |:----|:---:|:---:| :---:|---:| |Derringer| 30 gp| 1d6 p.| 2 lb.| (range 20/80), Concealed, Light, Reload (1)| |Six-Shooter| 80 gp |2d4 p. |2.5 lb.| (range 80/320), Concealed, Light, Rapid Fire, Reload (6)| |Longarm| 150 gp| 1d10 p.| 10 lb. | (range 100/400), Two-Handed, Reload (4)| |Boomstick| 150 gp| 2d6 p.| 6 lb.| (range 20/60), Concealed, Reload (2)| |Blunderbuss| 150 gp |2d6 p. |8 lb.| (range 40/120), Rapid Fire, Reload (2), Two-Handed| ### Properties #### Misfire When you attack with any firearm and roll a 1 on the die, the firearm misfies. This means that the attack automatically misses, and the weapon cannot be used again until you spend an action to try and repair it. To repair your firearm, you must make a DC 10 Tinker’s Tools (Dexterity or Intelligence) check. If your check fails, the weapon is broken and must be repaired during a short rest, costing a quarter of the firearm's value. Creatures who use a firearm without being proficient increase the weapon’s misfire and repair score by 1. #### Reload A firearm has limited ammunition and an action must be spent to replenish it. Next to reload there is a number which represents the number of shots that can be fired before an action is needed to reload. Additionally, it only takes a bonus action to reload a firearm when you are loading half or less of the total ammunition (minimum of 1). \column #### Concealed Items with this property are often very small and easily hidden on your person. Items with the Concealed property can be hidden on your person over the course of a minute. If done so, it takes a DC 13 Perception check to notice the item. Alternatively, you can make a Sleight of Hand check to hide it on your person, taking the number rolled as the Perception check DC necessary to notice the item. #### Rapid Fire Firearms with this property tend to fire faster. If a firearm with the Rapid Fire property is fired using the Attack action, you can use your bonus action on the same turn to fire it again, so long as you have the necessary ammunition and it doesn't need to be reloaded. ### Ammo |Name| Cost |Amount| |:----|:----|----:| | Derringer Ammo| 1 gp| 40| |Six Shooter Ammo| 2 gp| 30| |Longarm Ammo |1 gp| 10| |Boomstick & Blunderbuss Ammo| 1 gp |20| ### Firearm Proficiency To gain firearm proficiency at character creature you must be an Artificer, Gunslinger Archetype Fighter, or take the Gunner feat as your 4th level ASI. If you would like your character to gain proficiency in firearms during play, you can seek out someone who is already proficient to teach you. Leaning in this way costs 200gp and four weeks, using a Limited DTA each week.

##### Magitech Guns - Rifle and Pepperbox [Ryan Van Dongen](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/YBwr4X)

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page ## Crafting and Adventures Time spent on adventures and outings (sessions) cannot be spent on crafting. ie: a session that takes place over one day negates one day of crafting time, a two-day one negates two, and so on. There's only so much time in a day. ### Mundane Item Creation A character with the appropriate resources, tools, and time can spend their downtime on creating mundane items. Any nonmagical item in the PHB (and certain others) can be created in this way, given the relevant tool proficiency.

The materials required to craft an item cost half of its listed value.

The time it takes to create an item depends on its value. For each day you spend crafting, you can make 10gp of progress towards creating the item. Therefore, you can make up to 70 gp of progress per week. You can create multiple items in a single day if their combined value is less than or equal to 10gp.

If you have an assistant to aid in your project, you may make 20gp of progress per workday. An assistant must possess the relevant tool proficiency for the item being created, and cannot craft their own items while serving as an assistant. ### Scroll Creation A character with proficiency in the Arcana skill may spend downtime on creating spell-scrolls. A character can only create scrolls of a spell they know or can prepare. Crafted scrolls may not be used by other characters to scribe into spellbooks. Creating a scroll requires a certain amount of money (for gem-infused inks and spell-grade vellum) and crafting time, as listed on the table below: | Level | Cost | Crafting Time | |:-----:|:-----:|:-----:| | 1st | 30gp | 1 days | | 2nd | 60gp | 3 days | | 3rd | 100gp | 7 days | | 4th | 160gp | 14 days | | 5th | 320gp | 28 days | Scrolls of 6th level and above cannot be made in this way. ### Healing Potion Creation A character with proficiency in either Alchemist's Supplies or Herbalist's Kit can spend downtime on creating healing potions. This requires money and time based on the tier of potion being created, as listed on the table below: | Tier | Cost | Crafting Time | |:-----:|:-----|:--------------| | Healing | 25gp | 1 days | | Greater | 75gp | 7 days | | Superior | 500gp | 21 days | | Supreme | 1,000gp | 28 days |

{{artist,position:relative,top:50px,left:160px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Fantasy Forest Exploration [Richard Lay](https://www.artstation.com/artwork/DAQLwn) }}

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page ## Carousing Once a week you may **Carouse** as a downtime. How you choose to wind down (or wind up) between expeditions can take many different forms! >Roll a d10 on one of the following tables that best reflect the kind of carousing you're getting up to. | Domestic Respite | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 1 | Amidst the quiet revelry you take the time to relax by the fire. You try to recall the last time you got to relax in this manner before coming to Bastion. What location comes to mind first? Were you among old allies when this occured? *Gain 1 point of inspiration that lasts for 1 IRL week or until used.*| | 2 | Someone thought to bring in a delightful treat to be enjoyed! They said they obtained it from someone or somewhere that's to die for. Who is this person or what was this place? *Gain 1 potion of healing in the form of that treat.* | | 3 | While moving about your residence you come across an old keepsake that reminds you of years long past. What is the keepsake and what memory is it tied to? *Gain advantage on your next Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw.* | | 4 | At first you thought it would just be an enjoyable evening, but then the CRASH happened. An item prominently on display within your private space has been destroyed. What was the item, and who's responsible for breaking it? *Choose one item from your inventory to break. You may use a DTA to determine if it can be fixed or replaced.* | | 5 | Having others inside your home gives you a new appreciation for it, so much so that you think to do a bit of sprucing up. What did you change about the interior of your residence? *Gain a 10% discount on the next Homesteading Upgrade that you purchase. You cannot gain this benefit again until the discount is used.* | | 6 | While going to get something from the pantry you saw a critter sitting on a bag of rice before it scampered away. When you went to find and capture it, you quickly discovered a whole infestation. What is the creature infesting your space, and how are you going to get rid of it? *Once a week you may roll a DC 12 Investigation check to stop the infestation. On a failure it gets worse.* | | 7 | An unexpected visitor stopped by and managed their way inside. How did they end up inside your home, and how did you get them to leave? *Select one of the Party People to become annoyed with or charmed by.* | | 8 | Whilst spending some time indoors, you hear a knock at the door. It's a delivery from the local post office from an anonymous sender. Who do you suspect the delivery is from? *Coordinate with a DM or HH to determine the nature of the package/letter.*| \column | Domestic Respite | Result | |:--:|:--:| |9 |At times, the Frontier Folk of Bastion might forget they're on a massive intersection of leylines, but oh boy the Nexus Point they rest on doesn't! There's a sudden surge of magical energy that causes the house to shake and transmutations to occur. How does the architecture of your home change? **If desired, change one housing upgrade you have to another of equal or lesser value.** |10 | While relaxing indoors you hear a crash through your window. A horrible vagrant has broken into your home and intends to steal your property! **If you have the Safe Place housing upgrade, you catch the thief and turn them in for a level x 10gp reward. If not, a 10gp an item from your inventory is stolen.** | Wilderness Wander | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 1 | While walking through the local outdoors you came across a neat looking stone on the ground. After putting it in your pocket something unexpectedly majestic occured. What was it that you witnessed? Do you give credit to the lucky rock? *Gain 1 point of inspiration that lasts for one week or until used.* | | 2 | Out in the wilds you came across a surprisingly friendly beast. After spending some time with it, it even thought to bring you a gift! What kind of beast was it? Is it still following you around? *Coordinate with a DM or HH to determine the nature of the item.* | | 3 | As you stared out at the horizon you can't help but remember a time in the past where you watched the sun rise/set alongside someone else. Was this a pleasant memory? Who was this person, and when's the last time you talked to them? *Gain one keepsake worth level x 10gp that you've 'had this whole time'.* | | 4 | An interesting bug paid you a visit while you were outdoors traipsing about. It was so thrilled to meet you that it invited a swarm of its friends to tag along. What were these bugs, and did you discovery a new allergy in the process of meeting them? *You are affected by the poisoned condition for the next IRL 48 hours.* | | 5 | You thought it would just be a peaceful stroll, but nature had other plans in mind. You were caught unawares as the attack sunk into your body. What creature attacked you and how did you manage your way out of the situation? *Gain a prominent scar of your choosing.*| {{pageNumber,auto}} \page | Wilderness Wander | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 6 | The outdoors is a perilous place full of dangers, though some are more subtle than others. The morning after you got home, you discovered small draconic scales covering your face and had an intense cough in your lungs. At what point in your exploration do you think you picked up this illness? *Gain resistance to Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning, or Poison damage for 1 IRL week or until cured.* | | 7 | On your excursion into nature, you noticed an unfamiliar plant sprouting in a peculiar place. You decided to take part of it home with you out of curiosity. What does the plant look like and how was it growing? *Gain 1 Elixir of Health.* | | 8 | At some point during your traipsing you decided to move off the beaten path and stumbled across a true curiosity: an ancient shrine dedicated to one of the Cardinals. What does it look like and who is it dedicated to? *You are afflicted by a small cosmetic effect depending on the god the shrine is dedicated to for 1 IRL week. North: A halo of light above your head. South: You grow intense fangs. West: Flowers bloom in your hair. East: A small cloud that reflects your emotions above your head.* | | 9 | When you were enjoying a wander through nature you came across a wonderous sight/site. An orikin plot! What sort of creature did the orikin used to be? **Gain 1 orikin shedding as a gift it gave you. (@Sara or @Karina for more information)**| | 10 | Out in the wilds, you stumble your way into a weather worn shrine to nature. **Roll a DC 15 Nature or Survival check to determine if you leave this place undisturbed. On a success, you receive a minor boon. On a failure, the something strikes you with an unsavory curse. Coordinate with @DMs or @Helping Hand to determine the nature of what you received.**| | Urban Exploration | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 1 | While exploring the market district you came across someone handing out free samples. The taste was like nothing you've ever had before! You nearly cried. What was the food you tried? *Gain 1 point of inspiration that lasts for one week or until used.*| | 2 | In the middle of your time out you were suddenly approached by an angry stranger. They were insistent that you'd slighted them in some way and demanded justice. What claim against you did they make, and is it true or false? *Select one of the Party People to become enemies with.* | | Urban Exploration | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 3 | Out in the streets of the city you come across a flier advertising classes. You follow up and find that there's no one else there but you and the teacher. Because it's just you, they decide to teach you a few tricks of the trade. Who was this mentor and what did they teach you? *Reduce learning time on one language or tool of your choice by one week.*| | 4 | You decided to be adventurous and try a new drink at one of the establishments you went to while out. The taste was excellent and carried some unexpected side effects. What was the name of the establishment and do you intend on going back? *For the next IRL week your eye and hair color change randomly whenever you sneeze.*| | 5 | There was a stranger you met during your excursion out. You took the time to listen to them tell a story about their life. What sort of story did they tell you? At the end of the tale, they gave you a keepsake as thanks. What was it? *Gain one keepsake worth level x 10gp.* | | 6 | Nearing on the end of your time out, you suddenly noticed one of your posessions had disappeared from your person. What did you lose? When you began to look around, you met someone. Who was this person, and how did they help you find what you were looking for? *Select one of the Party People to become friendly with.* | | 7 | Not every face in the city is a friendly one. While listening to a salesperson's pitch on a street corner, you find yourself engrossed in what they're selling - so much so that you didn't notice your bag being rifled through. What was the salesperson selling that drew in your attention so much? *Lose 1 item from your inventory determined by a DM or HH.* | | 8 | While roaming the streets you came across a public fixture, causing some damage to it in the process. How was it damaged, and did you do it on purpose, or accidentally? Did you try to help fix it, or simply pay a fine to not get in trouble? Your destruction was noticed by locals who've always hated that fixture anyway. *Lose 25gp and gain 1 Merit.*| | 9 |While out and about, someone recognizes you! Not from your grand adventures, but from your day to day work in Bastion. They ask for tips and tricks in your field of specialization. Do you humor this person? If so, what advice do you give them? **Gain one fan from Party People and a +5 bonus to your next ⁠💵work roll.**| {{pageNumber,auto}} \page | Urban Exploration | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 10 | During your time in the city, you catch sight of a newspaper with an article written about Bastion. It recounts a recent event that you've taken part in, but the details seem slightly off kilter. What exactly did they get wrong? **The merit fee for your next trip to Rivanfel is waived. If you write the article in ⁠📌bastion-bulletin (with the correct information written in parentheses), gain 1 merit.**| | Charity Work | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 1 | Things were winding down as you were wrapping up with your work when someone thought to come up and thank you for the work you've done. They also gave you a compliment that you've never heard before that continues to stick in your mind. What did they say? *Gain 1 point of inspiration that lasts for one week or until used.* | | 2 | Someone that you've helped catches you while you're working and wants to make their gratitude known by giving you a gift. Do you remember this person? How did you help them in the past, recent or otherwise? *Coordinate with a DM or HH to determine the nature of the gift.* | | 3 | You carry out your charity work in full view of fellow Frontier Folk. Word gets around about what you're doing, though some of the details get a bit scrambled in the grapevine. What's a flattering rumor being spread about you that simply isn't true? Do you intend to correct the rumor? *Gain a 10% discount on the next item you purchase from the shop. You cannot gain this benefit again until the discount is used.* | | 4 | Someone notices the work you're doing and doesn't agree with the cause that you're supporting. What part of what you're doing do they dislike, and do you have the desire to see that their view is changed? *Select one of the Party People to become philisophical rivals with.* | | 5 | Volunteer work changes you as a person, but you weren't expecting it to change you like this. A witch in disguise shook your hand and suddenly a distinct mark appeared on your forehead before she cackled and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Why did the witch hex you and what does the mark look like? *You have disadvantage on ability checks (a type of your choice) for 1 IRL week.* | | 6 | While in the midst of your work, you were assigned a partner so you both could assist one another. After spending a few hours with this stranger, you found that the two of you had a surprising amount in common. What's one opinion that you two shared? *Select one of the Party People to become friendly with.* | | Charity Work | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 7 | You've decided to give your time for a cause you think is important, but you're presented with the oppotunity to give even more than you expected. Someone clearly in need of help walked up to you, asking if you could spare anything that could help them. You decided to give them one of your items that you thought would help them in the long run. Who was this person and how were they struggling before you assisted them? *Lose 1 item from your inventory.* | | 8 | Even though you've chosen to volunteer your time, you feel so strongly about this cause that you think to volunteer your coin as well. The donation is a public one. How did you feel when all eyes were on you? *Lose 25gp and gain 1 Merit.* | {{pageNumber,auto}} | Charity Work | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 9 |A journalist from a fairly well read article drifts through and does an interview with you for a puff piece they're working on. What memorable quote did you leave them with? **Post a positive rumor about yourself in ⁠📜noted-and-noteworthy** | | 10 | Though most adolescents are harmless enough, you come across one who's a real dickhead. While focusing on your task, the little vagrant pulls an obnoxious prank that loses you progress. What did the little rascal do? **Gain one of the following due to stress from the "kids these days": grey hairs, forehead wrinkles, myopia, or crow's feet.**| | Entertainment District | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 1 |You can't help but be drawn by the allure of gambling that the entertainment district offers. Decide to try your hand at a game of chance to see if luck would be on your side. What game did you play and who did you face off against? **Roll a d20. On an even number gain 1 Merit, and on an odd roll lose 1 Merit.** | | 2 |Performers abound within this district and you make your way over to the theatre. The play struck a chord with you in a way you can't describe. What was the production about? **Gain 1 point of inspiration that lasts for 1 IRL week or until used.** | | 3 |With the influx of traveling salesmen and entertainers, the number of exotic animals on display has increased as well. You spot one such creature and feel your focus lingering on it. What drew you to this creature? **If you would like, you may adopt this creature as a pet. Coordinate with a DM or HH to determine its nature.** | \page | Entertainment District | Result | |:--:|:--:| | 4 |The entertainment district is a place for recklessness and fun! One way or another, you find yourself tangled up with someone else who made their way here and a bond is forged. **What happened that brought the two of you so close together? Select one of the party people to forge this deep bond with.** | | 5 |The glitz and glamour of the entertainment district is so marvelous that you find yourself wishing to wear a piece of it. Lucky for you, you see the perfect thing on display as you make your rounds. What does this piece of clothing/accessory/outfit look like? **Gain a piece of attire that gives you +1 on persuasion checks. This attire cannot be worn with armor or and the bonus does not stack.** | | 6 |The thrill and excitement of the entertainment district can cause you to make hasty and ill-advised decisions. You say something entirely unique a shopkeep had on display and decided that you MUST have it. What was the item in question? Lose 50-100gp or 1-2 Merit and gain one extremely cool non-magical or aesthetically magical item of your choice. **Coordinate with a DM or HH to make sure the price is reasonable for the item you've gained.** | | 7 |While milling about the entertainment district you saw someone that you recognized to be sort of famous! Your interaction was a brief but memorable one for sure. How did you introduce yourself to them? **Coordinate with a DM or HH to determine who this person of grand repute is. Then roll a DC 15 charisma skill of your choice to determine whether your impression was good or bad.** | | 8 |The entertainment district is an exciting spot full of possibilities. You feel as though you could remake yourself here, and you make the choice to do so. Who is the first person to meet the “new you” after your appointment? **Gain one new tattoo, piercing, haircut, or dyed hair color of your choice.** | | 9 |The revelries and melodies that wind out of the entertainment district stick with you... Like really stick with you. Annoyingly so. You have an earworm you just can't shake. What is the song called? **For the next irl 24 hours you are deafened, too distracted by the tune to hear anything else.| | 10 | Through the throngs of jovial people you spot a shady individual who seems to harbor ill intent. Curiosity takes you closer to them, but they disappear before you're able to confront them. What did you suspect this person was up to? A minor annoyance or something more malicious. **Coordinate with @DMs or @Helping Hand to determine the identity of this individual.**|

{{artist,position:relative,top:90px,left:100px,margin-bottom:10px ##### Let’s have a walk in this souk market [iguana_nick](https://ko-fi.com/s/ff8bfd35fc) }}

{{pageNumber,auto}} \page # The Community We are a community, a close community. We have our rules, our inside jokes, and our history. As much as this is our community, if you're reading this as a member now you're part of this loving close community. Here are a few guidelines as to how we roll. ## Roleplay Channels Our community relies on text roleplay to tell some of the stories we might not have time to tell in session. We have a few rules and guidelines for those chats in order to keep everything ok_hand.jpg: - PvP in RP chats is permitted, as long as boundaries are respected. All Players should indicate their level of comfort with conflict in text RP by taking the appropriate role in the #welcome channel. - When someone says “Stop” you stop, no exceptions. - The chats are rated PG 13. We don’t ignore that steamy situations exist but, fade to black when necessary. Failure to follow these rules can result in a temporary removal from the chat, or even a ban from the server. ### Conflict in Text RP Please familiarize yourself with the categories of conflict below before engaging in text RP:

❌ **Unacceptable Conflict:** This type of conflict between Player Characters is never allowed, and should not be engaged in. Unacceptable conflict includes: attempted murder, torture, sexual harassment, bullying (both physical and emotional), spying without Player consent (physically or by use of magic, such as Scrying), grand larceny. Remember, you must always adhere to the content expectations as they are outlined in our Content Expectations (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1loqeZaN-5IsAkKTxoN5wtQl6re2g-6G0_l7oB9omIGE/edit?usp=sharing).

🟢 **Green Level Conflict:** This type of conflict is allowed between Player Characters of Green level conflict tolerance. Green level conflict includes: unprovoked physical attacks (up to one action, then the RP must be taken to a sparring area/channel if physical conflict continues), unprovoked verbal attacks (please respect content expectations), unfriendly spell usage, minor theft, pranks, or any of the Red Level conflicts

🟡 **Yellow Level Conflict:** This type of conflict is allowed between Player Characters of Green Level or Yellow Level conflict tolerance. Yellow level conflict includes: any of the Green level conflicts as long as Player consent is obtained, or any of the Red level conflicts

🔴 **Red Level Conflict:** This type of conflict is always allowed between Player Characters of all conflict tolerance levels. Red level conflict includes: deception or insight checks, low-level invasive magic (ie. Identify, Detect Magic)
If you find yourself accidentally in breach of another Player's comfort level, feel free to rewind the scene. As always, open communication with your RP partners is the best way to ensure that we all have fun and feel safe! ### RP Guidelines Roleplay is about getting to explore your characters and the world outside of a session. There are many ways to have good roleplay, but here are a few guidelines. - **"Yes, and"** it's the key to good improvisation and roleplay (Since most of it is improvisation) - **"It's not all about you!"** Interact with others, explore this world together. - **Put your character's thoughts and actions in italics, their words in "", and OOC comments in ( ).** - Timescale is can be funky. Be understanding if someone happens to be working or can't respond. - Don't be afraid to be light hearted, or dramatic. - If you want a more in-depth description of the place you're in, don't be afraid to @ a DM to help set the scene. - Don't be afraid to seek out NPCs or PCs for RP! - Some scenes are open and some scenes are private! Please ask permission of the other participants before joining a scene. ## Discord Guidelines As a community we do have a few rules and guidelines that encompass every chat in the server. - Try to stick to the appropriate chats. - Don't post NSFW media. - No rape jokes. - No bullying. - No political arguments. Take it to PMs. - Don't be a creep. - Don't be a jerk. - Don't speak ill of other players. - Do not argue with a DM, concerning a ruling, a rule's enforcement, etc. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a warning or ban from the server. {{pageNumber,auto}} \page ## FAQ Here is a collection of some frequent questions, rules, and other such nonsense. Some of this information may receive corrections in the future ### Retirement/Returning You can retire characters permanently or temporarily with a retirement DTA. You can bring them back with an Returning Timeskip DTA during the seasonal skip. This will use the Returning characters next seasonal timeskip DTA. While a character is Retired they cannot be used actively in RP chats, they cannot be used in DTAs, and from this point onward they DM controlled NPC. When a character is Returned they keep the same sheet that they had used before, along with any items, boons, or clout numbers. Additionally, when Returning a character they regain the use of their free respec. ### New Content Whenever a new UA or book is released, it is **not** legal to use in the server *until* the DMs have reviewed it. Additionally, the DMs do not accept submissions to review homebrew for the server. ### DM Applications If you would like to apply to be a DM on the server you have to reach a few base requirements: - Minimum of three months of being active in the server. - At least six months of DMing experience - No outstanding negative opinions against you from existing DMs. If you are in line within all of these requirements, privately message an existing DM to request a recommendation. They will bring forward your request to the others to ensure that there are no issues. You will then be granted the @ Trial DM role and experience a month-long trial period. During this time, you must run at least two games where you're expected to demonstrate a mix of two or three of the three pillars of D&D: Combat, RP and Exploration. At least one game must also have at least one current DM in attendance to take notes, either as a player or just as an observer. Right after your sessions, we’ll review the notes and talk over how we felt things went. Questions are encouraged, as we’re always happy to help others improve or share experience.

In addition to running a game, you will be invited to work with the other DMs behind the scenes. There's more to DMing in a West Marches than just running games, and we want to make sure that you're prepared to take on the admin work that comes along with being a DM. During this month of Trialing, you will be doing almost all the tasks of a full DM: downtimes, text-based RPs, sessions, and/or Job Boards are all tasks that you will be expected to engage in, to varying degrees. This month of trialing will also be an opportunity for the team to better understand how you operate as a DM in the server, and if that fits the necessary DMing style. At the end of the month, final decisions are made by the DM team. ### Helping Hand Applications If you're not interested in becoming a DM but wish to still help us operate and run the infrastructure behind the scenes, we have our Helping Hands. Each role serves a unique purpose but you're not necessarily restricted to just the one role. Upon asking the DMs, you can dabble across the different roles, all of which can be found right here! https://docs.google.com/document/d/17PKouLX3qjPRQynayb5-NE7DETaG1D35Me0JnjqKLZY/edit?usp=sharing To do so, just message a DM to see if there are any open spaces in the role you'd be interested in and we can take things from there! ### Ritual Books and Spellbooks Player characters who use a ritual or spellbook (via the Ritual Caster feat or the Wizard class) are unable to learn spells via other player characters' ritual or spellbooks. ### Mini-Respecs When you level up, you can make one of the following changes to your character. These changes must be made within a week of the level up. Be sure to @DMs in downtimes indicating what has changed. You may choose one of the following: - Change your starting stat array. - Swap out one chosen spell from your cantrip or spell list and swap it for another. - Swap one ASI or Feat. - Swap one skill proficiency with another from your starting class's proficiency list. - Swap one class level with that of a class you currently have levels in, prior to the level up. ### Resurrections Each character has one free resurrection in the form of the spells Raise Dead or Reincarnate spell. Outside of that, missions or other methods of alternate revival can be provided by the DM in charge of the PC's death. This method of revival can often introduce lingering effects on the revived character

Roleplay Channels/FAQ

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