SIBERSPACE BEGINS... (Patreon)

Greetings, Threshold Patrons! 

The results are in. Session 16 marks the end of Season 1 of Threshold, and for the rest of the year we're going to explore the threshold of Siberspace. This is going to be based on the Space Race campaign I discussed in this article—and based on the poll, our adventurers will be part of Aundair's Dragonhawk Initiative. The Dragonhawks seek knowledge, and in our first session will be Aundair's first manned exploration of the Ring of Siberys. 

There's a number of new patrons, so here's a quick update of how this works. You are all part of this campaign. The story is ongoing and we will have an established cast of characters. But the PLAYERS change each session. Because of the rules of Patreon I can't choose players at random. So, each month I will have a poll to determine WHEN the game will be played—make sure it's a different time each session, to help players in different time zones—and then I will pose a creative challenge, like Tell me what the character hopes to find in space. You tell me which character you want to play and answer the question, and I'll pick my five favorite answers. Players cannot play in consecutive months. The sessions are recorded and shared with all Threshold patrons after the session. 

By the numbers, not everyone will have a chance to be at the table. But even if you don't have a chance to roll dice, I want you to be part of the story. The begins NOW, as we start Session Zero for Siberspace. Over the course of the next week I will be posting a series of polls to establish the details about our cast of characters—their classes, their species, their secrets. I'm also actively brainstorming these ideas on the Threshold Discord, so drop in if you want to be part of that conversation! Beyond this, an important aspect of this campaign will be what happens BETWEEN the missions; there will be time jumps and it will be up to all of you to decide on the priorities of the Dragonhawk Initiative, which may involve both polls and story hours on the Discord. So regardless of if you end up on the stream, I want you all to be part of the story. 

That starts now. Thanks to the last poll, we're using the Dragonhawk Initiative. So the first thing we need to decide on is our SHIP. At this point in time, the Dragonhawk Initiative only has two fully-functional Spelljammers. I mentioned two in the article, but I'm going to offer you four choices; the top two will be the ships of the fleet, and the top choice will be the ship our adventurers are on. The Dragonhawk Initiative blends traditional arcane magic with fey magic, and each ship is unique. Here's the choices...

• Dawncatcher follows the model of the classic spelljammer, a sailing ship with sails formed from shimmering arcane energy. 
• Dragonhawk has the hull of a traditional ship, but is propelled by animated wings of wood and gold. 
• Wayfinder has the shape of an uprooted tree, with iridescent sails spread between its boughs.
• Fairhaven has the shape of a stylized dragon turtle; it's more solid than the other designs, but also slower. 

Because time is short, I'm also going to use this poll to establish the basic details for our CAPTAIN, the first of our six player characters. The Dragonhawk Initiative is an arcane research initiative, and values knowledge and magical talent over force. With this in mind, my recommendation is that our captain be a Bard—charismatic, having a blend of magic and skill, and able to encourage and enhance the abilities of other members of the crew. But are they a Glamour bard with experience negotiating with supernatural beings, or a swashbuckling Blades bard? Or for a twist, are they a Glory paladin, devoted to Aureon and certain that the pursuit of knowledge will bring glory to their nation? 

And what about their species and background? Here's three ideas developed on the Discord: 

• Chance. A Khoravar folk hero. Born into a noble family whose estates were lost when the Eldeen seceded. The inheritor of their family’s bargain with Fortune’s Fool: the bigger the risks they take, the greater the rewards if they succeed. They took great risks during the Last War, and the stories of their bold deeds have become popular stories across Aundair. 
• The Old Oak. An elf soldier who’s served for three centuries. They've founded at least two dueling societies and they have wands older than you. Not crazy about being assigned to a research mission, but they’ll make sure everyone gets home safe.
• The Frog Prince. Cursed by a hag, this noble scion is currently a hexblood grung. While their condition is an embarrassment to their family, Prince is determined to earn respect through their bold deeds.

This is only the beginning—over the course of the week we'll be developing other characters and the foundation of the story. If you have questions about this, post them in the comments! 

Thanks for your support!