Lazar’s Gate is a fortified gateway town on the Kingsroad, deep in the backcountry. The stoutly walled settlement was originally built as an outpost for the Order of the Knights Leprous, who patrol the distant Kingsroad. Although none would dare say it to their deformed faces, the townsfolk know them as the Rotting Watch—plague-stricken men conscripted to fight off beasts and bandits, providing merchant caravans some measure of safety on the dangerous road. Their condition makes them uniquely suited to this role, as even hardened criminals would not dare come near the blighted warriors, much less fight them. In return for their service, the knights enjoy a certain level of dignity not normally afforded to those with their affliction.
The surrounding backcountry is as wild as it is dangerous. Despite the peril, stories of ancient ruins, burial mounds, and tombs containing treasure have drawn adventurers to the region. You are one such adventurer! Even though the sight of the leper knights patrolling the walls makes your skin crawl, you have begrudgingly taken up lodgings in Lazar’s Gate. Besides, it’s safe and furnished with all the basic necessities—provided you steer clear of the mauve-cloaked knights and keep plenty of rotbane and leeches on hand…
A Sandbox Campaign with Daggerheart
Each game session is treated as a standalone adventure in the West Marches style. This means the campaign is exploration-driven and built for a rotating group of players, where the players—not the DM—drive the story. In each session, players decide on a goal and explore a dangerous, persistent wilderness location from a single “safe” starting town, hopefully making it back in one piece by the end of the session! There is no fixed party; anyone who attends the game joins the party for that expedition. This format emphasizes player agency, map-making, and discovery, as players share information about their findings in the backcountry with the rest of the group between sessions.
Daggerheart
We are running the campaign with Daggerheart, the narrative-forward game from Critical Role. Ideally, you will have your own copy of the game to help you create a character, but if not, we can figure something out. New characters all start at level 1 and level up based on the number of sessions they complete (roughly three sessions between levels). If you want to join for the first time, let’s set up a quick 10-minute Zoom call to chat before playing together. We can discuss the campaign frame and character creation.
House Rules
- We play roughly twice a month for approximately 4 hours on Sundays usually (2pm start). This may vary based on GM availability.
- Everyone brings snacks to share. We supply soft drinks, coffee, and tea.
- No politics at the table—we play games for escapism.
- Sense of humor: not so much a rule as a strong recommendation.
- Free rotbane and leeches. Kidding! You have to bring your own supply.
