Welcome to the Society of Arcane Recoveries!
Greetings Esteemed Adventurer,
On behalf of the scholarly mages of the Arcane Academy of Thalorun, you are cordially invited to join a bold endeavor under the banner of the distinguished Society of Arcane Recoveries (SoAR).
Our current venture focuses on the enigmatic wonders that lie within the High Forest. Thus, we seeking brave souls like yourself to join our ranks and venture into this ancient and magnificent woodland, renowned as the largest forest in all of Faerûn, on behalf of our brotherhood to to uncover remnants of ancient ruins, forgotten settlements, and whispers of powerful artifacts long concealed by time.
Your unique talents and unwavering spirit have drawn the attention of our learned mages, who believe you possess the heart of a true explorer. Therefore, we humbly invite you to accept this honorable calling: to explore the shadowy depths of The High Forest, to scout its perils, and to recover the lost treasures of history for our society.
The Academy is located on the southern banks of the Dessarin River, near the Village of Stillwater, where we stand as a beacon of knowledge and exploration. In three days’ time, as the first light of dawn breaks, a caravan will depart from in front of the Happy Hall of Fortuitous Happenstance in Yartar and journey to Stillwater where our esteemed Head of the Society, Professor Doran Thalaxis, eagerly awaits your arrival.
Present this letter to the caravan leader to secure your passage as a valued member of our esteemed society.
With anticipation,
The Arcane Academy of Thalorun
SoAR - "Recovering the Past, Soaring into the Future!"
The Campaign
In this Dungeons & Dragons 5e campaign, you will embark on a journey as a budding member of the Society of Arcane Recoveries (SoAR), whose mission is to "rediscover, preserve, and protect the lost knowledge of the past." Throughout a series of episodic adventures, your character will work to gain renown and rise through the ranks of this respected organization, while delving into the mysteries of Faerûn's High Forest. This vast woodland is filled with ancient ruins, hidden dungeons, forgotten temples, abandoned villages, and powerful artifacts just waiting to be unveiled. You will take part in collaborative storytelling, crafting your own narratives as you navigate an ever-evolving world ultimately shaped by player decisions,
Key Characteristics
- In-Person Games. Game sessions for this campaign will take place in person, gathered around a table, with phones silenced, printed character sheets, and real dice. The only electronic exception is the DM's laptop, used for notes and managing maps or ambiance digitally. Sessions will typically be held at The Waystone or my home, but I’m open to playing at other locations around Midland if you have a game-friendly place in mind.
- Episodic Adventures. Adventures in this campaign will be episodic, with 1 to 4 missions posted monthly on the Adventures tab. Each session will last about 4 hours and will start and conclude at Stillwater, the safe hub for players. If you're interested in joining a mission, you can sign up; if not, don’t worry—there will be plenty of future adventures to participate in!
- Open Table and Rotating Cast. There will be no fixed group in this campaign; I plan to invite a diverse pool of players who can participate. Each session can be played with a different subset of between 3 to 5 players, creating a dynamic experience where no single party is permanent. This approach allows everyone to contribute to the evolving story and allows people to drop in and out as they are able.
- Living World. The world in this campaign is persistent, with player choices and discoveries shaping the evolving narrative. Each session will unveil clues for further exploration, allowing one group's actions and outcomes to impact the experiences of others. Updates on these discoveries will be documented in the site Wiki, accessible through the World Tab or by following this link: https://www.westmarches.games/communities/society-of-arcane-recoveries/world
- Multiple Characters. You can create up to three different characters to use in various sessions. All characters must be built using the D&D 5e 2024 Rules on the Society of Arcane Recoveries Campaign Account at D&D Beyond. I have included character creation guidelines to keep parties balanced and ensure that everyone has a great time: https://www.dndbeyond.com/campaigns/join/6942086774816527
- Sign-Up for Adventures. After creating your character(s) on D&D Beyond, please register it/them on this site following the Characters Tab at the top of this page. You can sign up for game sessions that intrest you and fit your schedule by visiting the Adventures Tab or following this link: https://www.westmarches.games/communities/society-of-arcane-recoveries/adventures.
- Shared information. Players are encouraged, though not obligated, to join the Society of Arcane Recoveries Discord server. This is a great place to introduce your characters, share information about your discoveries, form parties for upcoming adventures, and connect with other players. You can join the Discord server using this link: https://discord.gg/KA5cQNq7.
