Vick's Hangout

DND 5E - Darkness Ascends - Story

For this game, I’ll be using the concept outlined in this post .

The gameplay for this story can be found here .

Notes

This is a story of the character Zareth Kael from his embracing his powers to reaching Level 3. I wanted to start the solo game from Level 3 but wanted to document how he came into his powers and how he grew more powerful.

Early Years

Zareth Kael’s story begins not with fire or prophecy, but with silence and mercy. He was left as a baby on the stone steps of a quiet village orphanage, swaddled in darkness and mystery. Sister Mariel, a gentle-hearted nun who believed every soul deserved love, raised him with unwavering kindness—teaching him compassion before the world could teach him fear. Though his eyes glowed a muted yellow, like candlelight behind thick glass, and his shadow sometimes twitched even when he stood still, she never flinched. Among the villagers lived a retired bard, once a seasoned adventurer, who recognized the subtle signs of a deeper, more dangerous origin. He said nothing. Memories of old companions twisting into fear had taught him that suspicion spreads like wildfire. In this small, quiet place, he chose silence—not out of ignorance, but out of hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, the darkness that clung to Zareth would not be his fate.

2 minutes to read

DND 5E - Darkness Ascends - Prologue - Gameplay

For this game, I’ll be using the concept outlined in this post .
For the oracle, I am using the Loner 2E, that I am using part of the One Hero Engine .

The story from this gameplay can be found here .

Early Years

Oracle
Question: Was Zareth's childhood troubled?
Twist Counter: 0
Odds: Likely
Chance Die: 1
Risk Die: 2
Roll: [ 3 ] [ 2, 2 ]
Outcome: Yes, but
Result: Abandoned as a baby at an orphanage with a kind hearted nun who showed kindness and nurturing, allowing him to have kindness and compassion

Oracle
Question: Does anyone in the village know about infernal bloodlines?
Twist Counter: 0
Odds: Unlikely
Chance Die: 1
Risk Die: 1
Roll: [ 6 ] [ 2 ]
Outcome: Yes
Result: A bard who retired in the village knows about tieflings and infernal bloodlines

Oracle
Question: Did the bard reveal the truth about Zareth to anyone else?
Twist Counter: 0
Odds: Likely
Chance Die: 1
Risk Die: 2
Roll: [ 3 ] [ 4, 5 ]
Outcome: No
Result: The bard kept silent because his previous adventuring party experienced fear and doubt and didn't wish to hurt a little child

The Darkness Calls (Level 1)

The Darkness Deepens (Level 2)

The Darkness Embraces (Level 3)

2 minutes to read