The Shard Cycle: A D&D 5e Campaign An Epic Adventure of Mystery, Destiny, and Forgotten Power Game: D&D 5e (2014 Ruleset) Campaign: The Shard Cycle (Homebrew) Campaign Length: Long Term Schedule: Tuesdays 10:30pm EST (Weekly) Game Needs: All Roles Setting: Forgotten Realms, Sword Coast Location: Discord (Voice), Roll20 (VTT), D&D Beyond (Character Sheets), Beyond20 (Dice) Requirements: Good microphone, stable internet, free Roll20 account, and weekly commitment Age: 21+ Experience Required: None Greetings, Fellow Adventurers! I am Vizual, a veteran Dungeon Master with over three decades of experience weaving epic tales through collaborative storytelling in the world of Dungeons & Dragons. In my campaigns, you are the heroes of the story. Your decisions matter, your actions have consequences, and the world continues to turn whether you choose to intervene or not. I'm looking for dedicated players to embark on an entirely homebrew campaign set within the familiar world of the Forgotten Realms. The Shard Cycle is a long term adventure filled with mystery, exploration, dangerous encounters, ancient secrets, and choices that will shape the fate of the world around you. But unlike most D&D campaigns, your story doesn't begin as an adventurer. It begins as an ordinary person. You are not a seasoned warrior, a powerful wizard, or a heroic champion. You're a commoner. Someone with a home, a livelihood, perhaps a family, and a life you've grown accustomed to. You have no reason to believe you're destined for anything extraordinary. At least, not yet. What Sets This Campaign Apart Intense Role Playing: Character development, meaningful interactions, and collaborative storytelling are at the heart of this campaign. Your character's relationships, motivations, and decisions will help shape the unfolding story. An Open Sandbox: The Sword Coast is yours to explore. Follow rumors, investigate mysteries, build relationships, and chart your own path. There is a larger story unfolding, but how you approach it is entirely up to you. The Wheel of Time: The world does not wait for adventurers. Events unfold, threats grow, and opportunities come and go. Choosing to act, or choosing not to, can have lasting consequences. From Commoners to Heroes: Everyone begins at level 0, using a custom commoner system. You won't start with the abilities and powers of a traditional adventurer. Those will come through the story itself, making your character's growth part of the adventure. Mystery and Discovery: Not everything will be explained at the beginning. The world holds secrets, and discovering the truth will be just as important as surviving the dangers along the way. A Living, Breathing World: NPCs have their own motivations, settlements face their own struggles, and the consequences of your decisions may be felt long after you've moved on. Campaign Overview: The Shard Cycle The Forgotten Realms. The Sword Coast. For most, life continues much as it always has. Merchants travel the roads between cities. Farmers tend their fields. Sailors brave the waters of the Sea of Swords. Nobles scheme, thieves steal, and adventurers chase fortune and glory. But something is changing. Strange rumors have begun to spread. Travelers speak of places where the air seems to shimmer, where unnatural creatures have appeared, and where once familiar landscapes have become twisted and unrecognizable. Some dismiss these stories as tavern tales. Others whisper that something is terribly wrong. And somewhere along the Sword Coast, a handful of ordinary people have begun experiencing something they cannot explain. Dreams. Dreams of places they've never visited. Faces they've never seen. Battles they've never fought. And an unsettling feeling that something, somewhere, is calling to them. Whatever is happening, the world has yet to understand its significance. And neither have you. Adventure Hook: Echoes of a Forgotten Dream It begins with a dream. You stand upon a battlefield beneath a sky you do not recognize. The ground is scarred and broken. Smoke drifts across the ruins of a place that might once have been a great city. Somewhere in the distance, steel clashes against steel, and voices cry out in a language you do not understand. You look down at your hands. They are not your hands. You wear armor you've never owned. In your grasp rests a weapon you've never held. And yet... it feels familiar. As though you've held it a thousand times before. A terrible sound tears across the sky. You look up. High above the battlefield, something impossible is happening. The sky itself appears to be breaking. A brilliant fracture stretches across the heavens, spilling an unnatural light over the ruined landscape. Around you, figures turn toward the light. You cannot make out their faces, but somehow you know them. You have fought beside them. You have trusted them. And though you cannot explain why, you would give your life for them. Then a voice calls out. Not from the battlefield. Not from the sky. But from somewhere deep within your own mind. "Remember." You awaken with a start. Your heart is racing. Your skin is cold with sweat. You're home. In your own bed. Surrounded by the familiar sights and sounds of your ordinary life. Just another dream. Except... you've had this dream before. And each night, you remember a little more. Campaign Highlights Begin at Level 0: Experience the transformation from an ordinary commoner into an adventurer, with your character's abilities emerging through the story. Explore the Sword Coast: Travel through settlements, wilderness, ancient ruins, forgotten dungeons, and places touched by forces beyond mortal understanding. Uncover an Overarching Mystery: Piece together clues, investigate strange events, and discover connections between seemingly unrelated occurrences. Meaningful Character Progression: Your growth is tied to important discoveries and accomplishments rather than simply accumulating experience points. A World That Reacts: Communities can prosper or suffer, allies can become enemies, and the consequences of your choices may extend far beyond the immediate adventure. Dangerous and Memorable Encounters: Combat will matter, but not every problem needs to be solved with a sword or spell. Your Story, Your Choices: There is no single prescribed path through the campaign. The decisions you make will determine how your story unfolds. The Adventure Awaits This campaign is intended for players who enjoy immersive role playing, character development, exploration, and unraveling mysteries over time. I'm looking for people who want to become invested in their characters, their companions, and the world around them. Players who understand that D&D is a collaborative storytelling experience, where the greatest moments often come from the unexpected. You don't need decades of experience, extensive knowledge of the Forgotten Realms, or even a firm grasp of the rules. All I ask is that you bring your imagination, a willingness to participate, and a commitment to the group. Every legend has a beginning. Some begin with a mighty warrior drawing a sword. Others with a wizard discovering an ancient spell. Yours begins with an ordinary life... and a dream you cannot forget. Will you answer the call? Interested in Joining? Please reply with the following information: Name You Would Like to Be Called: Confirm You're Over 21: Character Concept or Class You're Interested In: Experience With D&D: Official Campaigns You've Played In: What Do You Enjoy Most About D&D?: Discord Contact Information:
