Session 0

Welcome everyone!

• Intro: Me :)
  • Playing DND for 5 years, DMing for the past 3(ish) years.
  • Work here as comms coordinator

House Rules

• First and foremost: DND also means "Decency and Deodorant." Don't be rude to each other and please have some self-awareness.

  • This is a safe space. What is said in this group, stays in this group (to a reasonable extent). Any talk of harming oneself or others, substance abuse, or anything like that in real life (not in game) would cause me to break confidentiality because of mandatory reporting (I am a mandatory reporter).
  • This is a space where you can try new things, whether it's voices, names, identities. Anyone who makes this an unsafe place for anyone will be asked to leave the campaign.
  • If I ever do something that makes you feel uncomfortable or makes this feel like an unsafe space, please come talk to me or send me a message via discord.
  • If I receive complaints about your hygiene (too much/little), I will talk to you about it. To prevent these awkward conversations, please make sure wear deodorant and bathe regularly. As a side note, spraying yourself down with body spray doesn't count as a shower.

• Try to keep things PG-13 for content, jokes, and language. If a few words slip out, that's fine. Every other word being a swear word is not fine, even if "that's how my character talks." No. Just no.

  • If the campaign is getting too dark, a joke makes you uncomfortable, or something like that, please let me know :)

Campaign Stuff

• DND Beyond: I have purchased Humblewood on DND Beyond. I would prefer if you used DND Beyond for your character sheet so we don't need to worry about where the physical copy of your character sheet is. There is also a dice rolling feature that you can use which calculates your total from a roll. You can also use physical dice. You can use your phone, tablet, laptop, etc.
  • This will also make sure that you are creating your character correctly.
  • If you are getting distracted by your phone or laptop instead of playing the game, airplane mode is a beautiful thing for your phone.
• Rule Gremlins: The world and my DM style may not be the same as you're used to. If we're in an area that's a shade of gray (meaning there's no clear answer), I may make a ruling that you don't agree with. Rule of Cool is thing here, too. However, it is up to me (the DM) to determine if you can or can't do the thing.
• Murder Hobos: Killing things to kill things is not a reason to kill things, be it NPC's or random creatures. Please don't. It's not fun for me nor is it for other players. I've worked hard on putting things together, so be considerate. You may also die fighting things that are above your level.
• Chaos Creators: Doing whatever you want is a big part of DND. However, if you are running off and doing your own thing from the plot, we may not get to finish the campaign. If there is one player that's chronically derailing things, the party can decide to leave them behind and move on. You may need to make a new character to stay with the party. Don't make this campaign about just you and only you while the rest of the group is stuck with you. We're here as a group, not a one-person show.
• Nat 1's are just as fun as Nat 20's. (Woodstock shark story)
• Absent: If you're going to be absent, I need to know. I can play as your character if you'd like, or they can be off doing something else. If you're not going to be here long term, we will have to talk about how that will affect the campaign.
• P-V-P: Not encouraged. If you and the player you're attacking are okay with it, then that's fine. Unless otherwise specified, it's non-lethal.
• If you don't like your character (whether it's class, race, etc.), let me know! We can figure something out. I want you to have fun, not be stuck with a character you hate playing.
• The most important part of playing DND is to have fun. If we've had fun and done some adventuring, that sounds like a success to me!
• Inspiration: I will play a YouTube video at the start of each session and you'll each guess what year it was made. The person who's the closest to the correct year will get inspiration for the session.

Getting to Know You!

• Intros
  • Name, School, Grade, years in Brigade, years in this hobby club, hobbies, etc.
• DND
  • How familiar are you with DND?
  • Would you prefer more combat or more role playing?
  • Are you in any campaigns right now?
  • Are there any DND podcasts/streams/shows you watch?
  • What is one strength you bring to the table?

Introduction to Humblewood

Humblewood lies on the eastern coast of a vast continent, nestled in a valley between the towering Crest Mountains and the marshlands of the Mokk Fields. It is a mystical, secluded place that gets by quite well without much trade from the outside world, due to the fertility of the soil and an abundance of natural resources. The Wood has many skilled workers and artisans, and this, coupled with the supply of raw materials, makes Humblewood a great exporter.

The Wood has a diverse population, but the true power in Humblewood are the birdfolk. At the heart of their nation lies the great capital of Alderh-=eart. The seat of commerce, art, and political power in the region, Alderheart has long been a refuge for those seeking fame, fortune, or protection.

There have been disturbing signs over the last few months, signaling that something is wrong in Humblewood. The troubles appear to originate from activity in the Scorched Grove, an ashen plain that was ravaged many centuries ago by a destructive fire. Whatever caused the fire has scarred the land with elemental magic, making it inhospitable to all but strange fire-based creatures. Of late, the Grove has begun to expand. At first, it was hard to notice the slow expansion, but those in tune with nature (especially the Tenders) could see the imbalance in the elemental forces of Humblewood. For many common folk, this imbalance has been experienced as unseasonal dryness, which has led to crop failure and an increased frequency of forest fires. There have also been a number of unusually aggressive emberbat clouds reported far outside of their natural ranges.

The true nature of the danger still remains hidden from the people of the Wood. A corvum necromancer named Odwald Ebonhart has stirred the elemental aspect of fire, which has lain dormant beneath the Scorched Grove since its first burning. The aspect’s energies have begun to empower fire-based creatures within the Wood. The increased range of emberbat swarms have brought fires that have expanded the Grove. Many forest-dwellers, who have been left without homes, have turned to banditry to survive. Soon the elemental incarnation will break free, and players must find a way to stop the aspect of fire before it reduces the Wood to ashes.

The party will be starting in Meadowfen as a group.

Making Characters

• Humblewood Races Overview (slideshow?)