Setting
What is Drakkenheim?
Drakkenheim was once the capital of Westemär—a thriving gothic metropolis of magic, power, and political influence. Fifteen years ago, an eldritch meteor storm destroyed the city, leaving behind a contaminated ruin filled with monsters, madness, and mysterious arcane crystals known as delerium.
Today, the city is abandoned, warped by unnatural magic, and choked by the Haze. Treasure hunters, factions, pilgrims, and opportunists now descend upon the ruins, each seeking power, knowledge, or salvation.
This campaign focuses on:
- Exploration of a dangerous ruined city
- Faction-driven political conflict
- Magical contamination and transformation
- Personal ambition and moral choices
Player Agency
Your Story
Drakkenheim is not a fixed narrative. Your character’s goals, alliances, and decisions will shape how the campaign unfolds.
The five factions of Drakkenheim each seek a different future for the city: restoration, control, destruction, salvation, or exploitation.
Your choices determine:
- Which factions rise or fall
- What happens to delerium
- The fate of Westemär
- Whether Drakkenheim is restored, destroyed, or abandoned
Every group’s Drakkenheim is different. You decide the outcome.
Table Setup
How We Play
- Foundry VTT maps, tokens, journals, automation, lighting, and tactical tools
- Tabletop Audio with music used by the Dungeon Dudes in their Drakkenheim playthrough
- Dynamic lighting and immersive environments
- Structured exploration so every player gets meaningful spotlight time
Combat is dangerous. Not every encounter should be solved with violence. Planning, negotiation, retreat, and faction alliances matter.
Rules
Character Creation
Allowed Sources
- Player’s Handbook 2024
- Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
- Sebastian Crowe’s Guide to Drakkenheim
- Options available in Foundry
Requirements
- Character tied to the setting
- Must choose a personal quest
- Short backstory
- Character + token art
Core Mechanic
Personal Quests
Personal quests are the foundation of Drakkenheim. They are the reason your character enters the city, risks contamination, and becomes entangled in the fate of the ruins.
Quest Reward
When your character completes their personal quest, they may choose either an Ability Score Improvement or a bonus feat, subject to DM approval.
Apocalyptic Vision Dreams of the Meteor
You have been haunted for years by visions of the meteor crashing down. Your quest is to reach the heart of the crater, confront whatever waits there, and end the nightmares.
Arcane Secrets Forbidden Knowledge
You believe Drakkenheim contains lost spells, hidden research, and dangerous arcane lore. Your quest is to recover this knowledge and master secrets others fear to touch.
Blighted Landscape Nature Corrupted
The contamination spreading from Drakkenheim threatens the natural world. Your quest is to study the most corrupted places in the city and discover whether the damage can be reversed.
Claim the Throne Blood of Kings
Your family may have a distant claim to House von Kessel. Your quest is to find proof of your inheritance in the cathedral, noble estates, or Castle Drakken—and perhaps claim the crown.
Faction Aspirant Rise Through the Ranks
You strongly believe in the ideals of one faction. Your quest is to join them, serve their cause, climb their ranks, and become one of their most important champions.
Family Matter Bring Them Home
Someone close to you has become involved with one of the factions—or trapped by them. Your quest is to find them, understand what happened, and bring them back if you can.
Find a Cure A Loved One Transformed
Someone you care about was contaminated by delerium and became something monstrous. Your quest is to find them and discover whether their transformation can be undone.
Lost Heirloom Return to the Ruins
You once lived in Drakkenheim, or your family did. Your quest is to recover an heirloom from the Inner City: something sentimental, valuable, magical, or tied to your legacy.
Monster Slayer Earn a Legend
You seek glory by hunting the greatest horrors in Drakkenheim. Your quest is to defeat three legendary or infamous monsters and return with proof of your victories.
Overwhelming Debt Fortune or Ruin
You owe a staggering debt. Your quest is to earn enough wealth through delerium, treasure, and dangerous work in Drakkenheim before your creditors or bounty hunters catch up to you.
Personal Pilgrimage Sacred Places
You seek meaning through holy sites within the ruined city. Your quest is to visit sacred places, perform rites, and understand your place in the divine order.
Score to Settle Revenge or Ambition
You have come to Drakkenheim to kill or overthrow one of the faction leaders. Your quest may be driven by revenge, justice, rivalry, or the desire to take their place.
Power Struggle
Factions of Drakkenheim
Hooded Lanterns Reclaimers
Veterans and soldiers seeking to restore Drakkenheim and rebuild Westemär. They fight a constant war against monsters and chaos within the ruins.
Queen’s Men Criminal Syndicate
Thieves, smugglers, and opportunists serving the Queen of Thieves. They profit from chaos and seek to control the city’s wealth and trade.
Knights of the Silver Order Holy Crusaders
Devout warriors who believe delerium is a corruption that must be destroyed. They aim to purge Drakkenheim completely.
Falling Fire Religious Cult
Followers who believe delerium is sacred and part of a divine prophecy. They see transformation as salvation.
Amethyst Academy Arcane Power
A powerful mage organization seeking to study and harness delerium. They pursue knowledge and magical dominance.
Player Tools
Campaign Notes
You will receive access to a private Notion workspace for this campaign.
- Character journals
- NPC tracking
- Faction notes
- Session recaps
Table Expectations
Safety & Tone
- Dark fantasy themes: horror, mutation, corruption, undead, monsters, moral ambiguity
- PG-13 tone, with occasional dark fantasy intensity
- No sexual content
- No harassment or discrimination
- No cruelty between players
Boundaries are discussed privately during Session Zero.
Preparation
Before Session Zero
- Join Discord
- Access Foundry
- Read this guide
- Create a level 3 character concept
- Choose a personal quest
- Prepare character and token art