See characters at the bottom of this page. Be sure to note their name if you have a preference and let us know on the registration form at checkout!
Drinks and Dragons: Breath of the Mossy Grove
Level 1-2: New and experienced players welcome
August 27, 2023 at 1:00:00 AM
In the vast expanse of the Azure Ocean, the CATALYSTS are sailing aboard their majestic ship, the Green Flash. As they navigate the open waters, they suddenly find themselves engulfed in a tempestuous storm. Seeking shelter, they arrive at an uncharted island, a haven amidst the turbulent waters. However, the island holds more than just temporary respite. Ancient ruins, enigmatic energies, and a nefarious presence await their arrival.
We have put together a team of ORCS and DORCS to assist, including our botanist, archeologist, and metaphysician, who will be accompanied by three observant and resilient members of our security team. Will you be one of these heros?
Sign ups close 24 hours before the game starts
MORE DETAILS
This is a great first-time experience to get a taste for using the Dungeons and Dragons rule system in a game we lovingly call ORCS and DORCS. Set in our homebrewed world of anthropomorphic animals headquartered at Catalyst Cabinet of Curiosities, we like to play games in a fun-first style. We use the D&D rules and heavily re-flavored races and classes, while going lightly on the traditional lore of Dungeons and Dragons. Our immersive games also include a fun "loot the room" component that give an escape room feel.
This is a one-shot designed for new players (but experienced players are always welcome) and includes everything you need to play, plus a full tutorial before the game starts. For people new to D&D, we have created the characters and a stripped-down character sheet with just essential information. We use level 2 characters for beginners because we find level one just a little too limiting and boring. If you want to get a head start on learning about the characters for this game, you can find them below. Character selection will be made at the end of the tutorial before the game gets started. If you have a favorite you'd like to request, note the name and let us know on the registration form at checkout. We will do our best to give everyone what they want and we will have a roll off in the case of 2 people requesting the same character. You are always welcome to re-flavor your character including name and gender.
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We begin at 6pm with a tutorial and the game is expected to go to 9:00 but can go overtime (so we have added an extra 30mins on the calendar just in case). This is an ages 21+ event with drinks and light snacks provided. All you need to bring is yourself! We provide dice, trays, minis, character sheets, snacks and drinks. Experienced players are welcome to bring their own dice and trays if preferred.
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A note on safety tools
Role playing games can present challenging topics or situations. This is an adult only game and we expect adult themes and situations to come up during play, though we never allow sexual assault by characters or NPCs (or by any players in the room). Please let us know if you have any subject sensitivities during checkout. We have never had any harmful situations and don't anticipate having any for this game, but we want everyone to feel safe and comfortable, creating a more joyful experience for everyone! In the unlikely event that you feel uncomfortable with a situation in the game, we will also implement the "X card" safety tool at the table. Flash it anytime and the story will fade to black with no questions. After the game, you can share with Jessica or the game master any specifics that could help us prevent the situation in the future, and in any format that you are comfortable sharing (in person, email, etc.).
(Please note: a reservation is required for each player as we only have room for 6 players and 6 characters prepared. If you would like to add a player to your reservation, please contact us to make sure there is room)
Sign ups close 24 hours before the game starts
CHARACTERS
Each of these Courageous And Thoroughly Astute Learned Investigators Seeking Truth and Safeguarding treasures (CATALYSTS) has pledged to search, rescue, protect and return treasured ARTifacts using their skills and expertise. Some are scholars (but still badass in battle!), and some are strongly built, specialized security forces.
There is a lot of information here that we will also go over in person on game night.
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Categories:
ORCS: Observant Resilient Custodian of Scholars -- the security team
These characters use limited magic and can take a lot of damage as well as deal a lot of damage. Great for first time players or anyone who just wants to smash stuff!
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DORCS: Diligent Optimistic Resourceful Curious Scholar -- the scholars
These characters have a scholarly area of expertise and are usually spellcasters, making them more of a challenge for first time players as there is much more information to keep track of.
Below you will find the character sheets we have custom created and will have ready for you.
For experienced players: we will also have the option to use DnDBeyond.com printed or digital character sheets. Be sure to bring your tablet or phone if you'd like to play digitally.
DnDBeyond Link:
Thera the Metaphysician
Category:
Species:
Snow Leopard
DORCS
Class:
Wizard
Character Summary
Born with a deep connection to the divine, Thera pursued the arcane arts in school where she learned all things magic and its interaction with history, religion and nature. She dove so deep in her studies she soon found glimpses of the future pressing in on her awareness. Her studies have made her skilled in investigation, especially magical mysteries, which has caught the attention of the CATALYSTS who have recruited her to help with their noble mission. She agreed to join hoping to gain more real-world knowledge about magic around the world, and only if her friend and protector Luna be allowed to join too. Thera can be found with her nose in a book or indulging in her vice of swatting things off surfaces.
Tips For Playing This Character
Thera is one of the more difficult characters for a first time player since she is a wizard which means her primary modus operandi is casting spells. There are many technicalities to remember and a lot of information to keep track of. There are a lot of options to choose and decisions to make which can be fun if you are familiar, but for your first time it might be overwhelming.
DnDBeyond Link:
Luna the Arcane Archer
Category:
Species:
Snowy Owl
ORCS
Class:
Fighter
Character Summary
Luna joins the team as an arcane archer with a seeking arrow, a skill she learned from her best friend Thera who has brought her on this adventure. Luna is a natural acrobat, skills she uses to expertly strike her foes. Having grown up in the forest, Luna possesses innate survival instincts and a remarkable affinity for handling animals. Motivated by her love for nature, Luna is driven to protect it from the tyranny of those who seek to exploit and harm it. She is looking forward to further enhancing her archery skills and desperately hoping no one discovers her secret: she is afraid of the dark because – despite being an owl, she does not have darkvision.
Tips For Playing This Character
Luna is probably the easiest character to play and recommended for first time players. She has a few special features that can be used when you're up for it, but you can also play her by focusing on roleplay and using few game mechanics.
DnDBeyond Link:
L. the Archeologist
Category:
Species:
African Elephant
DORCS
Class:
Rogue
Character Summary
L. is a delightful paradox of scholarly wisdom and mischievous playfulness. Their erudite demeanor and boundless intellect are tempered by a mischievous spirit that loves nothing more than engaging in harmless pranks and whimsical antics. L. finds joy in the discovery of new knowledge but is equally thrilled by adventure and the unexpected twists that life presents. Despite their mischievous tendencies, L. is a respected scholar and a reliable ally who has been called upon to help investigate the newly discovered temple. For this, their first mission, they have been paired with Grendy, a friend from home.
Tips For Playing This Character
As a Rogue, L. could be a good pick for a first time player as they do not cast spells and their weapons are pretty straight forward to use. They do have some fun trick moves, but you don't have to use them until you are ready. A rogue's specialty is to be cunning and sneaky, not necessarily to do the most damage, so if you are here to smash stuff L. shouldn't be your first pick. They are here to solve mysteries and have many areas of expertise that will lead to a lot of opportunity for creative thinking and roleplay.
DnDBeyond Link:
Grendy the Guardian
Category:
Species:
Gorilla
ORCS
Class:
Paladin
Character Summary
Grendy lived a rough and tumble life that caused harm to his community. Everyone thought he was unredeemable until the goddess Solstice touched him with a beam of light filling him with hope and guidance, inspiring him to do good in the world. He has joined the CATALYSTS to do just that. Grendy uses his strong, intimidating body to protect the team and intercept attacks, while using his divine powers instilled in him by Solstice to smite enemies and heal allies. For his first mission, he has been partnered with L. the archeologist, his friend from home, who can be a bit of a prankster, and the captain wants Grendy to keep an eye on them.
Tips For Playing This Character
Grendy is here to smash stuff! He is the "tank" of the group with the strongest armor and highest hit points (health). His specialty is protecting the group by intercepting attacks and providing healing, so he is best played by staying close to his allies. He has a few spells he can cast to make his attacks more powerful, and he has the highest charisma modifier meaning he makes a good leader and will likely do well in a social encounter. If a first time player is up for a little challenge, Grendy could be a good choice.
DnDBeyond Link:
Cecilia the Botanist
Category:
Species:
Fruit Bat
DORCS
Class:
Druid
Character Summary
Cecilia has recently joined the CATALYSTS with her childhood friend Rudi, and together they hope to get revenge on the INHIBITORS who decimated their homeland. Cecilia is a gentle but determined druid, guided by her insatiable curiosity and love for plants and the natural world. She values compassion, empathy, and understanding, seeking peaceful resolutions whenever possible, but will never back down in a fight. When faced with challenges, she relies on her druidic magic including transforming into a gorilla to aid her allies and thwart her enemies. While she possesses an extensive wisdom and knowledge of plants and their properties, she sometimes struggles with feelings of self-doubt.
Tips For Playing This Character
As a druid and heavy magic user, Cecilia would be difficult for a first time player, but great for someone with a little bit of experience that wants to try it out. She has weapons, but as a DORCS she was built to be really good at scholarly pursuits and magic -- which can do damage -- but it can also be used in many other supportive and creative ways. If you would like to choose this character we recommend doing some googling to familiarize yourself with the technicalities and mechanics of spell casting and the druid's "wild shape" feature before the game so you can jump right in and play this character to the best of her abilities.
DnDBeyond Link:
Rudi the Ranger
Category:
Species:
Tree Gecko
ORCS
Class:
Ranger
Character Summary
Rudi, a new member of the CATALYSTS, joined the organization alongside his childhood friend Cecelia. With his arboreal background, Rudi possesses a remarkable talent for concealing himself, particularly in trees and foliage. A superior hunter and adept at throwing weapons, he showcases exceptional dexterity and strength. Rudi also possesses the ability to heal wounds, a skill that proves invaluable in the field. Motivated by a burning desire for revenge against the INHIBITORS who decimated his home, Rudi's thirst for vengeance can occasionally drive him to recklessness.
Tips For Playing This Character
Rudi the Ranger could be a good pick for a first time player, or great for someone with a little bit of experience ready to try something new. Rangers rely on their weapons and can cast a couple of spells but they don't have to to be effective and a fun play. Rudi is a thrown weapon specialist meaning his weapons do the most damage when thrown from a distance. If you want to get clever, try using his special gecko climbing ability and camouflage to hide (stealth) and throw from in a tree. This will require some understanding of game mechanics, (which we will teach you) but used repeatedly so it shouldn't take long to get the hang of it.