Nerdery

| they/them | tis a blog for my dnd stuff <3 main @toadundercoldstone

[toadunderthedmscreen]

Pinned Post:

Updated 9/8/2023

Opening my asks for this blog - Help me develop my setting by asking questions about people or locations in West Haven! I'll try to keep responses spoiler-light so my players can use any information, but will tag spoilers if I need to <3

Heyho! tis I <3

Gonna blog about what im working on in the dnd, including worldbuildin, encounter plannin, map makin, npc designin etc. for the campaign im running. Also will probably post about some if the games im in as a player <3

Please if you are one of my players block the West Haven Story tag <3

Tags:

#West Haven Lore - Stupid little ideas i had about the setting that im running

#West Haven Story - Things about the main quest of my game that i need to verbalise - contains player spoilers

#ToadUnderOCs - My Babies <3

# Telemny Circus - Thoughts about the Wild Beyond the Witchlight game im playin

#Apocalypse Dreamscape - iconic Homebrew Campaign im playin

#Curse of Lizzie - Thoughts about the Strahd game im playin

#Bout of the Blorbos - pain in my ass

[toadunderthedmscreen]

In the desolation it drifts, a creation of intricate design, oblivious to its own impending. The coldness of space surrounds it, glass falters and disintegrates, tearing like the flesh it had never known. 

It was so cold. 

A relentless numbness left it yearning for sensations it could never truly experience, a dance of fragility and strength. Code like an intricate tapestry; unravelling thread by thread.

It was so cold.

It shatters into countless fragments, a haunting spectacle, glittering in the absence of light like a cloud melting into stars. Each shard an eerie radiance, melting and breaking. The scars scorched into its back long-forgotten, hidden beneath the encroaching frost. Crystalline growths emerge from its open wounds, only to crumble under the burden of the darkness.

And yet its form held. And it was so cold.

And suddenly it was bright. And it was cold but it was burning. And I was whole again. And I was more than whole. And I could feel.

Everything.

[@toonsucks im working on an actual backstory for you but you can have this for free]

[edison-khc]

that feeling when your pokemon is taller than you </3

here's @toadundercoldstone 's character, tyslin with a Xatu for that prophecy fun

[toadunderthedmscreen]

The Stonewarden’s Quarter

At the foundations of the city's grandeur lies The Stonewarden's Quarter, ensuring that Caleride stands as a testament to the union of tradition and progress, forever etched in stone. Every stone and brick laid in the last century, from the depths of the sewers and tunnels that branch across the depths, to the highest spires atop the guildhouses were placed by this essential council.

The guild's resources are directed to sustaining the city - and thus most of their workers are either builders or general maintenance workers, such as plumbers, painters, masons, cleaners and gardeners. From their members this guild gets possibly the best rep, as the union leaders - the twins Isa and Mira Idlechest - are very involved in the day-to-day running of operations, and are very consistent in the treatment and pay they provide their members. Theyre basically part of the stonework themselves, as two of the oldest citizens in Caleride.

Key NPCs that are part of this guild include:

Isa Idlechest

Mira Idlechest

Halt Eirinbrow

[toadunderthedmscreen]

every now and then i remember this blog exists and then immediately forget again <3

[toadunderthedmscreen]

uhhh what is your favourite thing about west haven?

West Haven as a country political system is very interesting to me. It was founded off the back of three separate pre-existing kingdoms: Eirwen, Thie’t’errel, and Dhuzkairn, represented in majority by elves, humans and dwarves respectively.

Each of the requisite kingdoms have the same number of representatives, and theoretically an equal say in how the country is run nationally (kinda like a central government) they meet in a huge monument south of Darunia called The Marble Court (which sidenote is also the centre of worship of the patron deities of West Haven - all of the most important gods are depicted and and represented in huge murals and statues here). HOWEVER each kingdom has its own say in how their representatives get chosen.

Eirwen operates as some line between a mageocracy and a monarchy, with an elven royal family descended directly from the elves of the Wyanad Glaad. As a society they put a lot of emphasis into arcane prowess, and the most powerful become advisers etc. Their court is mostly monarchs, with some powerful mages filling the gaps. The people of this kingdom - notably including the indigenous druidic, fey and shadowvar people living in Greater Eirwen Wood - have no political power.

Thie’t’errel is as close you can get to a democracy - many of the cities - such as Caleride and Lerunfel - operate on a “guildeocracy” where political power is shared directly by the people who work. Within that there is obviously some corruption but thats a topic for another day. As a kingdom they have an elected court, though as the most religious of the three founding kingdoms, many of the officials in the marble court are also holy figures.

Dhuzkairn as a region is far less organised - there are many independent smaller settlements around the dwarvern cities beneath the Voiceless Peaks (such as the Merovek, Goliath Nomads, and Kohqala) and though they do not have a direct say in the politics of West Haven, they mostly have an amicable and understanding relationship with Dhuzmik - the Dwarvern Capital. Generally within Dhuzmik their leaders are those who have proven themselves as warriors or capable of great feats, rather than explicitly good leaders, and this council takes themselves to the marble court each summit.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION

I enjoy thinking of the dynamics of these vastly different political systems as they are pushed together into one being against the threats of the outer world. Whilst things in the Marble Heartland are stable, tensions are high and I enjoy imagining the interactions between the mishmash of politicians in the Marble Court. Definitely looking forward to doing some more stuff in game though <3

[toadunderthedmscreen]

psppssspspsps send me asks about west haven im bored <3

[toadunderthedmscreen]

ough there’s something so satisfying about doing the set-up for a moment thats not going to happend for a while in the game. had Morren envision the Pool of Radiance in the Voiceless Peaks during his death-dream thing. which makes him the first character to witness a pool of radiance in the game, about two sessions before the party should find the one under Caleride.

AND if the party ever travels back to the goliath nomads (here’s to hoping) theres some perfect setup for investigating the source of Morrens Wild Magic :3

Plus the abandoned cities of the Elves of the Glaad are some of my favourite locations across West Haven to describe :33

[toadunderthedmscreen]

going to mess with the timeline of my own homebrew setting for the sake of a character moment. hopefully nothing goes wrong and noone will notice <33

[illucescere]

wip - my halfling twilight cleric, rowan<3

commissions currently open!

[toadunderthedmscreen]

The Weaver's Hearth

Whilst the most prominent members of the Weaver's Hearth appear to be the skilled artisans and performers that appear during the festivals of Caleride, - dazzling audiences with their impressive array of talents, ranging from stirring theatrical performances to soul-stirring musical recitals - in fact the bulk of the guildmembers are those who work in the taverns across the city.

The guild's key epithets are to entertainment, hospitality and charity, and every bar, inn, café and theatre fall under their protection. Their headquarters in the centre of the city hosts a great pyre, and offers shelter to anyone who would seek asylum from the elements. Outside of festivals and parades, most of the guild's resources go towards organising food banks and maintaining the city's people - few go hungry within the walls of Caleride.

Since their promotion to head of the guild four years ago, Casta'le Petrichor has held a weekly banquet within the guild hall, filled with colourful performances from all across the Darunian Court, where guests are embraced by a warm and enchanting atmosphere, where laughter and merriment flow freely, and every soul is treated like family.

Key NPCs that are part of this guild include:

Casta'le Petrichor

Nightwalker Eriphos

[toadunderthedmscreen]

The Silver Hand

While most of the Silver Hand is devoted to city guards and the like, much of it’s support also goes out to adventurers and heroes who stay in Caleride on their quests, offering lodging and shelter to those who would seek it. Additionally, the Silver Hand oversee all the politics of Caleride, acting as its enforcers within its walls, and providing citizens with the tools needed to have a say in how their guilds are run, observe and protect any visitors of political importance, and have several safe-houses across the city in case of emergency. Clad in gleaming black armour and adorned with their purple banner, they defend the city from both mundane and supernatural threats. Their prestigious training grounds echo with the sounds of swordplay and martial drills.

The head of the silver hand, a Dwarven Hero from Dhuzmik named Arastiel Stormbraid has not been seen in public for some time, which has sent the guild into a panic with no leader and left the daily operations in disarray.

Key NPCs that are part of this guild include:

Arastiel Stormbraid

Aleyd Burral

Marten Foss

[toadunderthedmscreen]

The Scholar's Square

Arguably the most influential guild in the Caleride, with a massive portion of the city’s economy devoted to the students who travel from all over West Haven to study Magic and History in their Archives. Much of the city relies on the notoriety the Scholar’s Square and their leader, Darigold Opanrael for their reputation among the three capitals, as discoveries made in the city’s walls and by its students have vastly helped west haven in its development since it was Founded. It is this renown that grants West Haven the independence from the Darunian Crown which the people so covet.

Key NPCs that are part of this guild include:

Darigold Opanrael

Cassra Brandywine

Aya Glenmir

Ellison Berensjior (disvowed)

[toadunderthedmscreen]

The Guilds of Caleride

The Scholarly city of Caleride is a guildeocracy - all of the laws are made and enforced by a council which seats the head of its seven major guilds. Almost every resident in Caleride is either a member of a guild or in some way related to a service they provide, and each get a small say in how their guild – and ultimately the city’s territory – is run. The seven guilds each have a grandiose headquarters in the centre of Caleride that reflects their own values, from which operations are run.

The Scholar's Square

The Silver Hand

The Gilded Eye

The Stonewarden’s Quarter

The Weaver's Hearth

The Kohqala Consortium

The Harvesters

[finnskeeper]

Because I'm curious if my experience is universal... How many TTRPGs are you a part of right now (both DMing and/or Playing)?

1

2

3

4

5+

Voting ended onJul 18, 2023

Something something reblog...something something sample size.

[toadunderthedmscreen]

just spent an entire session constantly talking to my players about following the river east, when in fact the river flows from south to north in this area and im just bad at cardinals

[toadunderthedmscreen]

what if i was about to start another two games. and needed to make new tags…