Elyssom in a Nutshell

Elyssom - 1835

Rated E for Everyone

Introduction

Welcome to Elyssom, a world currently rushing through an industrial era at a pace that could only be explained as divine intervention. Until the early 1700s, magic and the Old Religion were the primary focuses behind every day life. The smallest task, most monotonous task was dedicated to the Gods to give thanks for all They had provided. The people revered their Deities and the Deities rewarded them. The forges burned hotter, the harvests more plentiful, the magic stronger. Elyssom was a shining beacon of inspiration.

Then, quietly, whispers of new Gods began to be heard in the streets and out of the shadows. The inspirations changed. The smallest, most monotonous tasks no longer inspired thanks. It was a burden. The people wanted more from their Deities and the Deities rewarded them all the same. The forges burned, the harvests provided, the magic thrummed quietly. The gifts burned less bright as Elyssom became a shining beacon of advancement over divine inspiration.

Now, as with the dawning of any new age, power and favor shift precariously. Mysterious attacks and disappearances are reported throughout the regions - with one marked exception, the capital region of Telospretyrne.

The Regions

Arlymmra

This is the most technologically advanced region (besides the capital). The region was originally dedicated to the Goddess of Arcana, Aldarae. The people of Arlymmra are very studious and academic focused. This is where most of the inventors are from. The region's government is a Magocracy Parlimentary Republic - you must be magic to be part of the government due to the perceived favor with Aldarae. However, some of the leaders in government worship a new god of arcana. The region has an old capital city called Braie which has been abandoned and the new capital city, called Dumbren, is located closer to the border with the big capital.

Kilevernous

This region is the least advanced of them all. They actively reject technological advancements in favor of slow, almost crunchy, living. However, there is an underground community that has been converted and favor a more lavish, hedonistic lifestyle. This region is filled with healers and religious scholars. They are mostly worshippers of The Goddess of the Vessel, Velinox. The region is mostly ignored by Telospretyrne because they view the region and their studies a waste. Most missionaries come from Kileverrnous. There are a couple of powerful people that have gone missing as well as several rebels. The capital city of the region is Poin.

Meisarette

This region only adopts what technology benefits them the most so it's not super advanced. The region is still heavily dedicated to the Divine of Terra, Telix. The people of Meisarrete are mostly farmers and miners. The people of Meisarrete also make a living by trading crops & mined goods and as adventurers. The region's government is democratic socialism - they are more focused on their own community than on technological advances. The capital region, Telospretyrne, keeps trying to force technology on them and seems to want to take over the region. Officials from Telospretyrne have been coming in to the border cities and threatening church leaders until they agree to convert to the new Gods of Progress. The leaders that refuse, disappear. The capital city of Meisarrete is called Rithol.

Halsommyr

This region is moderately technologically advanced. Traders, fishermen, and soldiers mostly come from this region. There is a big Navy/Military presence here and the region's government is a stratocracy. The region is closely aligned to the capital, Telospretyrne, due to the region's military strength. Low ranking soldiers often volunteer for duty in Telospretyrne but rarely return. While religion is no longer heavily influential in the region, Halsommyr used to be the region dedicated to the God of the Horizon, Huluirc. The capital of Halsommyr is Vasetmaie.

Telospretyrne (Telos)

Telospretyrne (or Telos) was created as a celebration of peace at the end of the Old War; the darkest era (around the early 300s) where the Divine Pantheon were at war with each other. The four regions (Arlymmra, Meisarrete, Kilevernous, and Halsommyr) each gifted a portion of their land to create the new capital region where the borders met and blurred. From Keres, the new capital looked like similar to a four-leafed clover around the borders but the closer to the heart became more layered, like a rose. It is here the people melted together - in the heart, a city square and The Knot, a small but beautiful garden interwoven with offerings for each of the Divine as a symbol of togetherness. Each quarter of the capital had its own small center with an iconic statue for each deity.

The Six Truths

1. Legends tell of arcane power sacrifice to the Old Gods but the rituals have been lost to time.
2. Arcane Scholars, government officials, and a small sect of cultists are preparing for the upcoming Nights of Darkness. Preparations range from doomsday style preparations to sacrifices to appease deities to finding ways to live without arcana.
3. A strange group has been seen visiting different towns. Every time they leave the area, people disappear and fiends/demon attacks happen.
4. Powers of the Old Gods have been becoming less stable. The more instable their powers become, the more technological advances are happening.
5. Low ranking soldiers from Halsommyr often volunteer for duty in Telospretyrne but rarely return home.
6. The truth is broken and scattered among the people, the folklore, and traditions of Elyssom; waiting quietly to be made whole and revealed.

Rated P for Players

Elyssom was created for a homebrew campaign using D&D 5.5e. Most races, classes, and backgrounds are welcome (Unearthed Arcana excluded). Characters were created at level 3 and ability scores use standard array.

Starting Location - What brings you to Thol?

Welcome to Thol. Despite being the second largest city in Kilevernous, time seems to pass slowly here. There is no rush of life to get swept up in as locals amble, aimlessly from bookshop to bakery along the cobblestone streets.

In a region renowned for its practical academia, monks and scholars populate the majority of the city. The old world and traditions are alive and well here.

The Feedback Tool - Stars & Wishes

Stars

At the end of the session, everyone gives some highlights – moments or techniques they enjoyed.

• Appreciation for the GMs prep work – if running online, and especially if they’ve taught the system e.g. for a one-shot
• Key moments of roleplay from the other players, or ways the plot twisted.
• Memorable scenes and situations – “I really liked the fight with the creature as we tried to hack the reactor…” / “That skill challenge worked really well” / “I loved the scene between X and Y’s PCs”

Wishes

Everyone also gives some wishes, which can either be things they weren’t too keen on, or things they’d like to see more of.

• Requests for more of some things – “I’d like to see more of the Captain soon, he feels like he should be recurring.”
• Rules that didn’t quite flow or sit right – sometimes even rulings. These are usually raised by the GM about their own rulings!
• Structural requests – we had “I’d quite like to fight a bit more,” once in a D&D game

The Safety Tool - Lines, Veils, Safety

A comprehensive, non-exhaustive topic consent survey was created and sent out using a Red (Line)-Yellow(Veil)-Green(All Clear) system.

Lines

This game will not contain any topic(s) that had at least one player respond RED on the consent form*.

Veils

Any topic(s) that had at least one player respond YELLOW on the consent form* will be "veiled" off-screen.

*Full list of topics, lines, and veils provided as a single document in campaign Discord under The First Campaign category in the Housekeeping channel

Safety

If at any time a player does not feel comfortable:

• ASK TO: “pause for a second” and we will pause to address any concerns
• OTHER SAFETY WORDS: yellow/red

Expectations & Miscellaneous

• This campaign is rated: PG-13 (if saying FUCK wasn’t limited).
• Take-backs/Retconning is permitted IF:
• the DM misrepresents a scene or creature.
• a player describes their character’s actions as an obvious joke.
• before the player rolls.
• Player-vs-player action: arguments/conflict okay but not to party divide; violence for violence sake is not okay.
• Consequences for abuse of rules: constant, flagrant abuse of rules may lead to removal from party (DM discretion)
• All characters will get time in the spotlight if they want it!
• Any rule that applies to PCs also applies to NPCs (and vice versa).
• We are on the SAME TEAM! I, as the GM, want you to succeed.
• Communication & inclusion is KEY. This is a collaborative experience.