Craedock Newcomer's Guide

Welcome aboard...

The denizens of Craedock live in a thriving world of wind and wave, song and sail. The world's higher water to land ratio and regular seasonal cycles drives an oceanic culture of trade and exploration as the seas carve the landscapes and empires rise and fall. Scribes and spellcasters sail the seascape, either recording the events of the world, or altering them.
Lore is a cultural focal point of most Craedock societies, and epics and odes of heroes inspire adventurers young and old. Storytellers are celebrated at most of Craedock's holidays, and this emphasis on the sharing of tales has spurred a single world religion, the Duotheism, to emerge: with a Father God and Mother Goddess watching over the world with the help of their Angelic offspring. Craedock's cultures are varied though, as the world's five major continents are divided my enormous, majestic oceans, traversable only by the largest and truest of merchant vessels, royal entourages, and holy pilgrimages. The rise and fall of various empires has dotted the lands with ruins, and the world's 10,000 years of history provide for a rich archaeology, all prime for exploration.
The most recent event to have had global implications though was the Fall of the Elder Stone. This meteorite that struck the planet at the center point of its continents caused the downfall of no less than two of the world's major empires and threw the planet into a decade long winter. Many parts of the world have recovered in the 331 years since, but some still struggle in the anarchy that has ensued.
The world knows peace in many corners, but the city-states and kingdoms of the land display a wide variety of structures, governments, and cultures: and any number of them can be as fearful and warmongering as the next. In addition, the deepest seas, tallest mountains, and darkest forests are home to eldritch magics, sinister mages, and colossal beasts of great power. Tales of dragons and krakens, although they are rarely seen, give an allure of danger and awe to the skies and seas. The libraries of the world are no strangers to blood soaked parchments.
Irregardless of any given man or woman's starting point in life, the oceanic makeup of the land provides all the world with a view of the seascape horizon. In a world where most citizens can make a path of their own, not even the most blessed oracles can always divine from where the next hero of the world shall rise.

Metagame

Craedock is a Tabletop Roleplaying Game setting designed for use with any roleplaying system that supports a high seas or high fantasy setting. New players should look over the Gazetteer category of Craedock for whichever region their Game Master (GM) declares the party to be starting in. Review the city-states, territories, or kingdoms of the region and select a hometown for your character. Then review the Religion Guide and select a deity, angel, or demigod whom's teachings your character adheres to. The GM may have certain restrictions on your characters hometown and deity. Afterwards, feel free to explore the remaining lore of Craedock, but always keep in mind that just because an article is visible to you as a player does not mean it is known to your character or even common knowledge in the region or world.

Dylan's Players...

If you're in one of the original playgroups of the author of Craedock, see the following guidelines for character creation:
Feel free to use any race or class options or spells in the PHB, XGE, or Player's Companion. You may request features from additional resources.
To roll ability scores, roll 4d6 and take the total of the highest three. Repeat this until you generate six numbers, and allocate these into your ability scores.
Begin at level three. New players are encouraged to develop a first level character and then add the additional levels.
For gear, use only the starting equipment described in your class and background descriptions. You may make requests with the GM for substitutions.
Follow the more detailed advice on the Discord server.

© Dylan Eugene Wheeler 2018
Click to view the Author's Copyright Notice.