D&D And Calanthe: The Blue Crystal
Dungeons & Dragons (D&D / DnD), first published in 1974, is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game that was designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. For 45 years, Dungeons and Dragons has ignited the imagination with fantastical worlds and characters, all while relying on the creativity of the DM and players themselves.
The players work together to solve problematic situations, charge into battle, and gather treasures as well as knowledge. They have a sort of symbiotic relationship with the Dungeon Master (DM), who’s the game’s “referee” and primary storyteller. As the players explore the world that’s been created by the DM (with the rules established by D&D), the DM must also do a bit of improvisation as the players can throw all sorts of curve-balls based on the actions they attempt to make.
About Calanthe: The Blue Crystal
What once started as a physical table-top game, can now even be enjoyed digitally with people from around the world thanks to platforms like Roll20.net. This, the framework of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, the creativity of our 5 players, and the storytelling of our own Tatiana has created the campaign — Calanthe: The Blue Crystal.
“It’s been 5 years since the War of the Lower Realms has ended. Long enough for some wounds to heal, but not long enough for them to be forgotten.
Although the Three Dominions (Ishild, Wistfar, and Zaranthanz) were not officially involved in the battles, everyone knows that Ishild and Wistfar secretly supported Socarn with food and weapons, and that Asternia was brutally set upon by magic from Zaranthanz’s sorcerers and wizards as those lands were already weak against magic from ancient battle scars.
Hamersham — the main breadbasket of the Lower Realms — saw the war as an opportunity to expand, and since Ishild offered too strong of an opponent, they set their sights on Asternia and Helpold Gate — two realms that then had to join forces simply because of the old proverb: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Feodosia had tried to stay out of the fray — but when the peaceful fishing communities of Nianta’s Last Breath were set upon by the Socarn ships, Feodosia lent what naval help they could, and they lent Asternia food stock that Hamersham had since denied them.
The general public didn’t have a clear idea of what ended the decade long fighting — whether enough dying soldiers had finally thinned out the world’s militaries, farmers, merchants and craftsmen, and women called on to defend their homes left their farms, shops and entire villages in disarray and consequently supplies and food became scarce — or whether the ruling monarchs decided to spend their coin in other pursuits … but they sure were happy the war was done.
In the first two years following the War, the newly opened borders attracted an outpouring of travelers eager to explore the world and, frankly, visit the Three lands that had not been touched by war — where civilization and commerce mostly went on as it usually had.
While Asternians and Niantans struggled to get their lives back in order, Hamersham’s ruling monarch, Athtar, mysteriously took ill and died during a voyage across the Feather Sea. Some say the Queen of Zaranthanz, the feared Drow warrior, Drigara, rumored to be romantically involved with Athtar, killed him in a fit of jealousy. But those who knew the Queen — understood that was a carefully constructed lie, as Drigara never did anything in a “fit of passion.”
Regardless of the true reason behind his death, Athtar’s demise four years after the War brought with it a power void still empty as our story begins, as he had neither biological heir nor named successor.
Meanwhile — Asternia’s Elder, the druid, Barras, called upon Hamersham to rectify all the damage they had done. With Athtar out of the way, he argued, the governing bodies of Merfi could pay Asternia restitution for their deceased monarch’s past actions. Words that moved no hearts, unfortunately.
And as the preparations to celebrate the Fifth Armistice Day began in earnest, another political rumor surfaced: Barras’ daughter had been missing for several days, and although Barras strongly denied that she was missing — merely that she was on a peaceful mission to Wistfar — it did not quell the Asternians’ belief that she had been kidnapped as part of a nefarious plan. But then again, Asternia was powerless on the global political scale, and indeed even amongst the Lower Realms. What would kidnapping the Elder’s daughter accomplish?
— We begin our story a week before the Fifth Armistice Day, near the village of Balant, a day’s ride northwest of Sola, the latter being, for all intents and purposes, a capital or seat of power, of sorts, for the territory of Asternia. A mysterious man by the name of Charles Tenley has called upon the denizens of Asternia to rally to their Elder’s cause — to search for his missing daughter. Except, Barras has publicly denounced Tenley, and re-iterated that Hawyn was on a voyage to Wistfar.
Our heroes have chosen to meet Tenley at his camp outside Balant, as advertised on the notice boards. Whether or not they believe him, his offer of 2000 gold pieces is more than enough to whet their adventuring appetites.”
Watch The Official Episodes (Updated Weekly):
Live episodes every Saturday at 5 PM PST at Twitch.tv/MindMineTV and previous episodes posted every following Thursday at YouTube.com/MindMineTV.
Episode 1: Of Briffolk and Balant
Episode 2: Of Light and Monks
Episode 3: Of Bonfires and Brothels
Episode 4: Of Spiders and Elves
Episode 5: Of Willow and Spirits
Episode 6: Of Hubis and Bane
Episode 7: Of Torches and Potions
Episode 8: Of Bones and Goo
Episode 9: Of Chill and Crossbows
Episode 10: Coming Soon!
