La Notte Eterna - an epic-fantasy setting for D&D 5e, soon on Kickstarter!
La Notte Eterna (“The Eternal Night”) is a project by Ali Ribelli Edizioni for D&D 5e, soon available on Kickstarter. From February 1st you can back this project, which will lead to the publication of an epic-fantasy setting that will leave you breathless! We hope the review below tickles your imagination. Our thanks to Ali Ribelli Edizioni for sending us the preview of the Quickstarter Guide and of the project’s other materials.
Neir is a cold planet that has lost the light and warmth of its sun, now lit and warmed only by the Moon. When Laon, the solar deity, was imprisoned, the star went out — but the god managed to pour his powers into the satellite orbiting the planet, saving the mortal races from total extinction. The change in climate upended the world, bringing to the surface races once confined to the depths and turning members of once-enemy races into friends, for the sake of survival.
The setting provided in the manual will include detailed descriptions of numerous realms and of the main cities.
The QS guide shows us a map of the continent hosting the setting, a quick description of the regions, and a long, detailed exploration of the duchy of Ouin — a region ruled by five proud and powerful knightly orders, led in the setting’s current year, for the first time, by a Duchess.
Many peculiar creatures populate the setting.
The QS shows us the mighty Loy’ach, a demon resembling a werewolf that will surely reap more than a few characters (it reminded us of Brooks’s Jachyra), and the sinister Soul Hunter, an undead created by necromancers to hunt ghosts and spectres. Three new player races are also presented: the Karevi, a people emerged from the Hidden Lands devoted to trade and slavery; the Wiloi, descendants of ancient summoners with a gift for magic; and the Urakian, a nomadic people who, living amid magical radiation, developed animal-like physical traits.
On the rules side, the manual will offer 16 paths — new archetypes for every class, themed to the setting.
The quickstart presents the primal path of the Wolf of the North and the monastic tradition of the Chosen of Darkness. The first, born in the glacial Valleys of the Giants, lets the barbarian not only withstand extreme cold but even wield it as a weapon; the second grants the monk who follows Garod — if they survive the gruelling training — the power to become one with the shadows.
Trouble may literally rain from the sky, with the Meteors mechanic.
Entities from other worlds, divine beings and cursed artefacts periodically crash onto the world of Neir, upending the characters’ adventures. They can be random events decided by a table and a die roll, or planned by the Master and heralded by dark prophecies. The Quickstart gives us three examples: a sentient scythe named Yolandi — actually a demon turned into a weapon, searching for her sister Nindja, who was turned into a sentient sword instead — and a legendary Artefact shaped like a spear, which reveals its enormous power only in the hands of a true hero.
Another distinctive mechanic of “La Notte Eterna” is Sphere Magic.
Through a summoning sphere and a relic tied to a dead hero, by sharing their own life energy, a PC can summon that hero to their side from the mists of Neir’s past. These summoned heroes can be simple puppets without memory — easier to control but more limited — or they can keep all their memories and their personality. In the latter case, more than a ‘companion’ under the player’s control, they are a true NPC who must be persuaded to act, with all the problems arising from differences in alignment or culture. The QS gives the examples of a lesser hero, Emperor Nufrazad IV, and of a supreme hero, Arkanis of the Blades.
The characters’ relationship with the deities is explored further, with the addition of Divine Inspiration.
The setting’s original deities answer the prayers of their faithful — or rather, their deeds. Performing actions that bring changes to the world, small or great, lets you accumulate divine inspiration points, which can be spent on blessings or miracles granted by the gods.
True Magic introduces new spells that can be learned through training by all caster classes, not only on levelling up. By consuming more than one spell slot per casting, these spells surpass normal magic of equal level in power and effects.
Beyond all this, the QS also offers NPC examples, the outline of an adventure for level 15 PCs, an explanation of Neir’s original calendar and monetary systems, and many more glimpses of what the manual will contain.
Glimpses also offered by “The Star Gazer”, a monthly periodical laid out like a newspaper, featuring adventures, characters, monsters, stories and lore of Neir, plus interviews with the people involved in the project and updates.
The impression it gave us is of a game with a character of its own — a solid setting to explore and delve into, supported by the 5e system with interesting additional rules.
It is thus suited both to newcomers taking their first steps in the world of RPGs, and to more experienced players looking for something different from the Forgotten Realms and Greyhawk. We are curious to discover more about this high-fantasy world brushed with post-apocalyptic hues, where survival is a daily matter but the hope of a better future shines undaunted, like the Moon in the sky.
If we have piqued your curiosity, follow the Kickstarter campaign launching on February 1st 2023, which will include a great deal of material. Besides the “Corebook”, the “Monsters and Heroes” bestiary and the “The Song of Nebvarasa” expansion, supplementary booklets, miniature and dice sets and much more are planned, along with numerous stretch goals.
BACK THE PROJECT! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aliribelli/la-notte-eterna
La Notte Eterna trailer ↓
Find out more about La Notte Eterna ↓
https://linktr.ee/LaNotteEterna
Find out more about Ali Ribelli Edizioni ↓
https://linktr.ee/aliribelliedizioni
