Campaign Mechanics
For standard D&D 5E rules, see Game Mechanics - Reference For homebrew items and effects, see Homebrew_
Party Status
Current Level: 6
Advancement: Milestone-based (DM determined, not XP) Last Level Up: End of Session 30
Campaign-Specific Mechanics
Bane Watcher Initiation Ritual
Purpose: Grant Bane Sense ability to new members
The Ritual:
- Drink dragon blood mixture (from dead dragon god)
- Make Constitution saving throw
- Failure: Take damage (5+ observed), extended unconsciousness, possible death
- Success: Still unconscious 4-20 hours
- During unconsciousness: shared prophetic vision
- Wake with permanent Bane Sense ability
Party Results (Session 18):
| Character | Roll | Result | Unconscious Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elik'r Stormswallow | Natural 20 | Survived easily | 20 hours |
| Elvva Beltavar | 20 | Survived easily | ~6 hours |
| ToooAh | 15 | Survived with difficulty | 7 hours |
| Ser Tessell Highfrost | 13 | Struggled but survived | ~6 hours |
| Lady Odonia of Galantri | Failed | Took 5 damage | 4 hours |
Bane Sense Ability:
- Permanent passive ability (always active, cannot turn off)
- Allows sensing The Bane's presence
- No range limit
- Current Stage: Overwhelming sensory overload (like hearing all prayers at once)
- Development: Improves with training and experience
- No mechanical bonus yet (story/RP ability)
Shared Prophetic Visions
Trigger: Dragon blood ritual side effect
Nature:
- All participants experience identical dream
- Don't initially realize it's shared
- Shows past events, prophecies, hidden truths
- Cannot control what is seen
- Duration varies per participant (4-20 hours)
Purpose:
- Bane Watcher training and initiation
- Reveals hidden threats and connections
- Provides plot hooks and lore
Active Conditions & Curses
Psychological Conditions
Voice of Guilt (Elik'r Stormswallow):
- Constantly hears own voice: "It's your fault"
- Acquired Session 23 (ethereal plane trauma)
- No known cure
- No mechanical penalty currently
Trauma-Triggered Temporary Petrification (Elvva Beltavar):
- Can become temporarily petrified (frozen, unaware) when triggered
- Trigger: Traumatic flashback + Bane influence + green glow on spells
- Acquired Session 25 - Self-resolving with successful Wisdom save
- Natural 20 save resulted in rapid recovery (Session 25)
- May recur under similar conditions
- See Homebrew for full details
Green Glow Enhancement/Corruption (Elvva Beltavar):
- Green spectral glow appears on offensive spells
- First appeared Session 24
- Effects unpredictable (enhancement or petrification)
- Progressive - appearing more frequently
- Reflection Pattern Confirmed (Session 34):
- Wisdom saving throws required during spellcasting with green glow
- First two failed saves: resisted successfully
- Third failed save: full spell damage reflected back to caster
- Session 34: Failed 3rd Wisdom save (rolled 5), 32 damage from Agonising Scorcher reflected, knocked unconscious
- See Homebrew for full details
Psychological Curse - Combat Trigger (Elik'r Stormswallow):
- Voice of guilt curse triggers during combat when causing friendly fire
- Session 30: Hit Elvva with Fire Bolt (Natural 1), heard "Ah, it's my fault again!"
- Deals 3 psychic damage consistently when triggered
- Specifically triggers when harming Elvva (person he failed to save Session 22)
- No known cure, active combat threat
Dormant Bane Commands
Acquired: Session 23 (ethereal plane exposure during resurrection)
Affected Characters:
- ToooAh: "Kill Ser Tessell Highfrost"
- Lady Odonia of Galantri: "Kill Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian"
- Patriarch Siegfried Wildner: "Betray the mole"
Mechanics:
- Currently dormant (trigger conditions unknown)
- Requires Wisdom saves to resist when activated
- Green spectral energy visible during resistance
- Can be broken by external shock (physical damage observed)
- Characters may not remember receiving commands
Resurrection Mechanics
Necromantic Resurrection (Session 23)
Requirements:
- High-level casters (11+ observed)
- Multiple support mages
- Safe location for bodies during ritual
- Constitution/Wisdom saves during journey
- Combat capability in ethereal plane
Risks:
- Not guaranteed to succeed
- Bane influence stronger in ethereal realm
- Psychological trauma (witness subject's traumatic history)
- Officiating mage may sacrifice themselves
- Bane can plant dormant commands in minds
Consequences Observed:
- Elvva Beltavar: Successfully resurrected, must take Warlock level 2, witnessed 200+ year trauma
- Patriarch Siegfried Wildner: Unconscious with no vital signs (recovered Session 25 with power increase)
- Elik'r Stormswallow: Cursed with guilt voice
- Three party members: Dormant Bane commands planted
- All party: Gained understanding of resurrection's true cost
Trauma-Triggered Temporary Petrification
Character: Elvva Beltavar | Acquired: Session 25
Effect: Temporarily frozen in place, completely unaware, must be carried
Trigger: Traumatic flashback + Bane influence + green glow on spells
Session 25 manifestation:
- Cast Aganazzar's Scorcher with green glow
- Triggered village-burning flashback with harsh indiscernible voice
- Petrified for several minutes (ramparts to gatehouse)
- Rolled natural 20 Wisdom save and recovered before throne room
Mechanics:
- Wisdom saving throw to resist/recover
- Duration varies (minutes observed)
- Can self-resolve with successful save
- May recur under similar trigger conditions
Origin: Ethereal plane exposure during resurrection (Session 23)
House Rules & Rulings
Death Saves
- Standard D&D rules apply
- DC 10 at start of turn when at 0 HP
- 3 successes = stabilized
- 3 failures = dead
- Natural 20 = regain 1 HP
- Natural 1 = 2 failures
Resurrection Availability
- Necromantic resurrection possible but extremely dangerous
- Standard clerical resurrection (when available) generally accepted
- Party has witnessed consequences firsthand
Milestone Leveling
- No XP tracking
- DM determines level advancement based on story progression
- Last advancement: End of Session 23 (Level 5 → 6)
Party Composition Reference
Active Party (Level 6)
Ser Tessell Highfrost - Life Cleric of Ilmater (Leader)
- HP: 45 | AC: 18 | Chain mail, mace
- Permanent facial scar (Session 23)
- Player: Paul
Lady Odonia of Galantri - Ranger Hunter (Duchess)
- HP: 28 | AC: 14 | Leather armour
- Twin Blades of the Serpent
- Companion: River (Rottweiler)
- Homebrew Warg ability
- Player: Annie
Elik'r Stormswallow - Paladin of Vengeance
- 17 years old, Gold Dragonborn
- Chain mail, greataxe (2H), longsword (1H)
- Can enhance sword with dragon breath (fire damage)
- Player: Kieran
ToooAh - Monk
- Aarakocra (flight 50ft)
- Brews magical teas (d100 effects)
- Adopted Avicia
- Status (S34): Whereabouts unknown (kept in Fizwidget's Winter Realm as punishment S33, did not return S34)
- Player: Joy
Elvva Beltavar - Sorcerer 5/Warlock 1
- 217 years old, Drow
- Main DPS (currently petrified Session 25)
- Must take Warlock level 2 next opportunity (DM requirement)
- Dragon's Tear gem
- Player: Shannon
Military Forces
Total Troops: 712
- 60 initial troops (recruited by Ser Silvar)
- 420 footmen
- 200 Elven archers
- 16 knights (and 16 squires)
Base: Stormhold Keep Status: Currently cannot return (engaged in Belendar combat)
Quick Reference
Action Economy
- Action: Attack, Cast Spell, Dash, Dodge, Help, Hide, etc.
- Bonus Action: Certain spells, class features
- Reaction: Opportunity Attack, Shield spell, etc.
- Movement: Based on speed (typically 30 ft)
Advantage/Disadvantage
- Roll 2d20, take higher (advantage) or lower (disadvantage)
Critical Hits
- Natural 20 on attack roll
- Double all damage dice (not modifiers)
Notes
Cross-References:
- Standard D&D rules → Game Mechanics - Reference
- Homebrew items/effects → Homebrew
- Character details → 02 Party Members Index
- NPCs → 02 NPCs Index
- Lore context → Lore and Worldbuilding
Last Updated: Session 34