Summary:

• Kantas is a continent on Toril, new to the people of Faerûn.
• It is planarly-unstable and portals are common. The reason is a mystery.

Before the Campaign: Founding Daring Heights

A wealthy human merchant named Willum Daffles and his Aasimar friend, the wizard Aurelia Archselon, used to travel together from time to time to escape the rigours of business and study. They were both a fan of exploring and hiking, and one day near the Sea of Fallen Stars, on a stormy outcropping they really shouldn’t have been on, they discovered a portal—a rift in the air.

Stepping through they found themselves on a hilltop in an area they didn’t recognise, a forest to the south. Time and research led them to realise that they were in a continent far from home, and finding a few nearby locals, in particular a witch named Granny Longtooth.

They learned that the land was called Kantas, and that the portal they had discovered was a wholly unique, stable portal between Kantas and Faerûn.

As a merchant, Daffles saw an opportunity, and six months later, Daring Heights was founded, as they brought construction crews and materials through. It was a dangerous land though, it was rapidly discovered, and Daffles also decided to draw adventurers to the town by commissioning a large inn to be built in the new town dedicated to providing adventurers with a base of operations. Thus, the Three Headed Ettin was built. Flyers were sent out across Faerûn to let people know of this new town of opportunity and profit to be made, for merchants and adventurers alike, and many flocked to the town.

Summary:

• Campaign began with Daring Heights about eighteen months old.
• Season 1 established the surrounding area—quarry in mountains to the west, port in swamp to the east, forest to the north and south.
• The Twilight were an army of local beings mutated with Shadowfell rituals into a semi-mindless army that conquered the Northern Forest.
• The NPC Ranger Keladry was corrupted and became a Twilight general.
• Adventurers gathered Erina, Bullywug, Grung, Orc and Daring Heights allies into an army and defeated them.

Through guerilla
tactics and the combined
might of the adventurers, they
were able to disrupt the Xvarts’ plans
and secure the portal. However, to their horror,
they realised that the battle at the fortress had not gone
well, and the thousands of orcs had overrun their friends and allies and were descending upon the city. Desperate, Aurelia ushered everyone through the portal to evacuate, and then destroyed the portal, unravelling some of its arcane threads so that while it was still a site of power, the stable link between Faerûn and Kantas was severed forever. And so Daring Heights was conquered by the orcs, with many adventurers captured and kept in the orcish war camp.

The survivors gathered in the camp in Faerûn. Mayor Daffles was missing and people looked to Aurelia for guidance. Ultimately, the Feywild came to the rescue. A deal was made with the Bear King, who ruled a city in Kantas as well. He agreed to chase the orcs out of Daring via a vast swarm of bees. Adventurers were assisted by a pack of bearfolk in exchange for a percentage of profits, a standing alliance and a set of three small stones to be placed around the city. Daring Heights was restored, though much lay in ruins. The orcs were routed, the Xvarts defeated, and people began to return. Without Daffles, a Council was formed to rebuild the city to its former glory. And so a year passed.

Season 3:
The Witch’s Hold

A year later, the city was rebuilt and prospering more than ever. At the end of the year, adventuring restarted.

The first order of business was tracking down the godling Raxivort, whose Xvarts had incited the invasion in the first place. Adventurers located his demiplane, stormed in, struck down the godling and returned the artifact granting him power to Nowhere’s patron of all people—a fiend.

A blue dragon was defeated under Kundar, hoarding information. Will, the angel of the Angelbark Forest, was saved from danger twice. A group of elves, the Galavir, potentially native to Kantas, were discovered in the Western mountains cut off from their soul migratory patterns by a Marid, who was summarily slain.

While Daring had been rebuilding, Port Ffirst had been flourishing. Lord Kensington had averted his gaze from the town when he was inducted into the City Council of Daring Heights and that, in addition to Voros Lenoir, merchant and sailor extraordinaire having finally discovered the maritime route from the Sword Coast to the shores of Kantas was the spark needed to ignite the growth of Port Ffirst.

Voros, alongside his much more business-oriented brother, Soros, sold all their businesses in the Sword Coast in search of a new life and found a Port Ffirst full of potential but forgotten by time and severely put beneath the needs of Daring Heights. In the year Daring Heights was being rebuilt, Port Ffirst grew tenfold in size and population with the construction of New Town and the Tritooth Wharf.

As expected, a new town growing out of the pockets of rich merchants attracts individuals of the criminal type. All small criminal activities were quickly snuffed out with the arrival of the mysterious vigilante-style masked thief by the name of Laeruna the Red. What started as a group of three or four able individuals quickly expanded and became a network of informants in the underbelly of Port Ffirst.

The growth spurt the small town undertook was clearly underestimated by the Lenoir brothers and basic resources were becoming a very expensive problem. To fight this, they brought in an expert on farming communities in Faerûn—Jill Graben. After invaluable help from the new adventurers that slowly flocked to Port Ffirst, an area in the nearby forest was vacated to allocate a farming community.

With the food problem beginning to be less of a nuisance, the Lenoirs called in some remaining favours to bring over new businesses and maritime security. This marked the arrival in town of the Grey Zephyr Armada, led by Admiral Jarnos Saltborn. Several merchants also arrived, including blacksmithing, leatherworking and magical services. Karlessa Highbringer, native to Kantas was also persuaded to start a business in Port Ffirst and opened the enchanting shop The Blue Soul Arcanum. The areas comprising Daring Heights and Port Ffist started at this time to be collectively called the Dawnlands by inhabitants.

Meanwhile, adventurers from Daring Heights discovered an alarming new threat: an army of giants, trolls and even a few young dragons was being massed in the western mountains.

Season 4:
The Amaranthine Games

Following Nowhere’s exile and Langston’s escape, life returned back to what counts as normalcy in the two towns of Daring Heights and Port Ffirst. Naturally, a group almost immediately set out for the far north at the direction of halfling child-prophet Idari Shortcrust and slew a vampiric duchess who was ruling over the kobold mining village of Kurzig Vondar north of the Angelbark Forest. “Normalcy” indeed.

The vampire, Duchess Khalister, gave people pause when they considered another figure in town who remained anonymous—known only as The Duchess herself. She was an information dealer of sorts who had sent many tips the adventurers’ way, including the location of the Arbiter’s Disc, but all attempts to ascertain her true nature failed. Her intent however, seemed clear, to help Daring thrive.

The strange elven tribe of Galavir, free of their Marid master, sought out the angel Will to learn what would become of their souls now. Will and the adventurers broke the remaining seals the Marid had left behind and freed these souls to rejoin the great elven cycle of souls.

Then a great plague struck Daring Heights—the Lassitude. It was a virulent, though rarely fatal, disease that sapped all energy away. The cause was determined to be Fey disguised as priests “helping” the town with blessings. They were chased to the Feywild and dispatched while clerics and doctors from Kundar aided local physicians in perfecting and distributing a cure. One hundred twenty-two died in total, a memorial raised in the graveyard as a marker for the burned dead.

This event shook Daring Heights, and they had had to quarantine themselves for the duration, but it was also the first time—in the Feywild—that the term the Amaranthine Games was heard.

The best-known lands

Whether your character lives in Daring Heights, Port Ffirst, or New Hillborrow, most of their fellow inhabitants will know a bit about these places, even if they haven’t been there themselves.

Port Ffirst

On the coast, north of the Feythorn Forest and south-east of the Angelbark Wood, stands Port Ffirst. This small town (or large village) was first established by Lord Kensington a couple of years after the founding of Daring Heights. After a slow start, the settlement has grown in the last year or two into a bustling port largely controlled by the Lenoir brothers. Its main neighbourhoods are the down-at-heel Old Town (including Old Port and Market Quay), the prosperous New Town, the Tritooth Wharf to the north, and the small island called the Hidden Quay. Notable sites include the Temple of Two Faiths (shared between Milil and Umberlee).

A few miles of farmland separate Port Ffirst from the Frog Bog to the west.

The Frog Bog

This swamp lies at the eastern edge of the Dawnlands, just west of Port Ffirst. It’s known as dangerous territory, inhabited by intermittently warring groups of grungs and bullywugs, not to mention the giant spiders, will-o’-wisps, and so on.

Lightning Bay

A few hours’ sail south from Port Ffirst along the coast is the beach resort of Lightning Bay, a holiday spot for Dawnlanders. The resort is surrounded on its landward side by the Feythorn Forest.

Willow Glade / Granny’s cottage

About a mile south-east of Daring Heights, at the edge of the Feythorn, stands an immense willow, at least 80 feet high. Some early Daring settlers still refer to the area as “where Granny’s cottage was” and tell how, until quite recently, there stood the cottage of a notorious witch. One day, they say, the cottage was simply gone; and, not long after, the willow suddenly appeared just a furlong or two away.

Tree-shrine of Silvanus

A few miles east from Willow Glade, only a few minutes into the forest, is a shrine to the god Silvanus, built / grown up among the tree branches.

The firbolgs

Most people know there’s a community of firbolgs living in the Feythorn, not too far from Daring Heights, but nobody knows exactly where.

The mysterious mountain

Some people swear that once you get a few hours into the forest you can sometimes see a huge solitary mountain off to the east. But surely such a peak should be visible from Daring Heights?

The Dell

There’s said to be a village of erina (or “hedgehog people’ as humans often call them) named the Dell near the north-western edge of the forest.

The southern mountains

There are vague tales of mountains beyond the south-eastern edge of the Feythorn.

Stoneleaf

Much of Daring Heights was built with stone quarried from the Sunset Spine mountains at their nearest point, about 20 miles west of the town. The quarry and the village that grew alongside it are both named Stoneleaf. For some years they were overrun by undead and other uncanny creatures, but quarrying has recently begun again under the management of the Olem-Murnelvar Trading Company.

Other mines and quarries

Stoneleaf is not the only place in the Sunset Spine where settlers have delved. Others include the Copperforge mine, Bettia’s quarry, Grey Tree, and Kerfuffle’s mine. The Guild of the Emerald Tradition also operates a number of mines in the Spine.

Galavir

It’s fairly common knowledge that there’s a village of elves up in the mountains, a couple of days’ journey from Daring Heights, called Galavir. People say these elves have hair that floats as if underwater and that they eat and drink nothing but the water of a lake in their village.

The western desert

A huge desert is believed to lie west of the Spine, partly rocky, partly sandy. Rumours also exist of a fabled yuan-ti
city buried under the sand.

The Beacon Tree

Also called the Lighthouse Tree or Tree of Safe Harbour, this is remembered as an important landmark by early explorers of the area, though few people travel in that direction now. It is an extremely tall tree on the edge of the Angelbark Wood, north and a little east of Daring Heights. People say that it glows in the dark and that its fruit has restorative properties.

The Angelbark Portal

Many Dawnland adventurers have heard of, and some have used, this ancient stone arch in the Angelbark Wood that acts as a portal to a number of other planes – each with a different key or password.

Rowan’s Glade

A few Dawnland adventurers know of a place deep in the Anglebark where a river has cut a deep gorge in the ground and left a roughly triangular patch of forest standing alone, surrounded by the chasm. Or or two remember when this was the stronghold of the Twilight, creatures corrupted by exposure to the Shadowfell plane. Nowadays the place has a better reputation as the home of the dryad Rowan.

Forestroost

Some have heard of this settlement of aarakocra and kenku somewhere in the Angelbark but its location is mysterious.

The far north

Only a handful of Dawnlanders have ever been beyond the northern edge of the Angelbark. There are rumoured to be grassy hills, rivers, and a mountain range named Ux Verthica. Some speak of a kobold village named Kurzig Vondar, renowned for mining and crafting precious metals.

The Scorching Badlands

North-west of the Dawnlands, north of the Sunset Spine and west of the Angelbark Wood, the land gets hotter and drier and is known as “the Scorching Badlands”.

The Underdark

The Underdark extends under Kantas just as it does under Faerûn – or maybe this is a separate Underdark entirely. These deep places are believed to be inhabited by drow, duergar, mind-flayers, myconids, and many dangerous creatures.

Zeyshel

Some Dawnlanders know that at the bottom of the sea, not far from Port Ffirst, lies a city of tritons named Zeyshel. It has little interaction with the surface-dwellers but is fairly friendly (by tritons standards).

Ratfolk settlements

Explorers have reported one or two settlements of ratfolk on and in the Sea of Tears. One, called Clansky Port, is said to be on an island somewhere off the coast. Another larger settlement is thought to be somewhere on the coast north of Port Ffirst, perhaps named Manus Refuge.

The islands

There are numerous islands in the Sea of Tears, but few have been charted. Some are said to be inhabited, including the Tolomak Islands and a group just called “the four islands”. Others, like Ghoul Island and the Island of Sekolah, are spoken of as places to avoid. There are also stories of a drifting island called Ka’ohu Kina inhabited by aarakocra and carrying in its depths a giant egg.

Nuyeya

Some Dawnlanders are vaguely aware of the Bear Kingdom, with which Daring Heights has established diplomatic relations. It’s said to be mostly in the Feywild but with at least one settlement in Kantas named Neuyeya. It supposedly lies far up the coast to the north, where the edge of the Angelbark Wood meets the sea.

K’ul Goran

The republic of K’ul Goran is bounded to the west by the Sea of Tears, to the north and east by the Jar’s Skyreach mountains, and to the south by jungles. It’s also said to be in some sense “next to” the Plane of Air. The land is hilly and fertile though perpetually swept by unnaturally powerful winds. Its people are cultured and musical, consisting mostly of minotaurs, air genasi, and aerotaurs (a mixture of the two races). News and citizens of K’ul Goran come the Dawnlands relatively often through trade with Port Ffirst, diplomatic ties with Daring Heights, and refugees from the recent upheavals and conflicts in the republic. Dawnlanders may have heard mention of some of K’ul Goran’s cities and towns such as the capital Zot Goran, Jarvenol, Maray, the recently destroyed Cape Za’Suul, and Nrav’Garat. There are also rumours of a network of outcasts called the Shunned living underground in K’ul Goran with a place called the Crystal Spire as their headquarters.

Gotre’sham

North of K’ul Goran, in the Jar’s Skyreach mountains, it’s said that there live elves called the Gotre’sham.

Giants

The parts of Jar’s Skyreach that lie east of K’ul Goran are inhabited by giants, who not long ago invaded the republic – though some say they were manipulated into doing so by other forces.

Character Options

You may use only officially published Wizards of the Coast content from the sources listed below to create your character.

Character Avatars

We encourage our players to create their own avatars, otherwise using art licensed for non-commercial redistribution, or getting permission to use existing art from the owner. We also have some budding artists among us if you'd like to involve them. Otherwise, we also recommend the following online avatar creator: RinmaruGames and HeroMachine

Levelling Characters

Levelling characters in the The Kantas Expanse campaign is based on participation milestones. All new player's of the Kantas campaign start their first characters at level 2. You can also start at level 1, should you wish, and level up as described in the Levelling Up table.

Your character levels up after playing a certain number of sessions at their previous level. The Levelling Up table shows the number of sessions you have to play at each level before earning your next level. Counting sessions played and levelling up your character is not optional.

If your character would level up part way through a multi-parter session, levelling is at the discretion of the DMs. If an opportunity does not present itself, you level as normal at the end of the adventure, with any sessions played in excess of that level carried over to your new total

Kantas House Rules

First-timer Boost

If you haven't played in a Kantas session before, message the DMs on Meetup or on our our Discord ask for a first-timer boost. You can get into the next Beginner Friendly game much faster!

Type and Scope of Play

The Kantas Expanse campaign is a persistent campaign world and adventure seasons are planned by the DMs in a similar way to most episodic television shows; there are a number of key sessions that progress an overarching seasonal storyline among many other intertwined storylines. That said, most of our adventure sessions can be summed up as one shots. For ease of playability, any given adventure is likely to fit into a stand alone session with a complete beginning, middle, and end. There are also times where the adventure spans over multiple sessions.

Time passes in Kantas like it does in real life. In between adventures your characters carry on living and so they do if you do not play for a few weeks. In Part 2 of this Guide rules to help you manage these downtime spells are presented.

Downtime Activity Slots

In Kantas, Downtime Activities (DTA) are measured based on the effort and time they are expected to require: a DTA can be Light or Taxing. Two Light DTAs are considered equivalent to one Taxing DTA in terms of time and effort. Each week between adventures, characters have 1 Taxing DTA slot they can spend. Thus, they are able to undertake 2 Light DTA or 1 Taxing DTA. Some Light DTAs also have the option to be increased to Taxing with an associated bonus and extra requirements.

Mundane Items

All items for which prices are provided in the Mundane Items table can be bought in small quantities from NPCs. The only exceptions to this rule are camels, elephants, and waterborne vehicles. They cannot be bought or sold without consulting the DTDMs. All other mundane items can be sold to NPCs for their nominal value if new, or half if used, but not severely damaged. Repairing a damaged mundane item, when possible and allowed, restores the item to a used status for the purpose of selling it on.

Magic Items

Magic items cannot be bought or sold without the approval
of the DTDMs.

If a character would like to buy potions or oils, the DTDMs approval is required. Their availability varies depending on their price. The DTDMs will allow one d100 roll per DT week per potion or oil to determine their availability. The first potio or oil sought by a character will have a 80% chance of being available. Each further potion or oil sought will decrease this chance by 30% for potions or oils worth 300 gp or more, and 20% for potions or oils worth less than that. Potions or oils worth 1000 gp or more are not readily available and might be exceptionally commissioned with the DTDMs’ approval. Potions of Healing (Regular) are an exception to this general rule and up to 3 can be bought per DT week without consulting the DTDMs.

If a character would like to buy a spell scroll, the DTDMs approval is required. The availability of scrolls varies depending on their level (see the Buying Scroll table). The DTDMs in case allow one d100 roll per scroll per DT week to determine availability.

If a character would like to sell magic scrolls, the DTDMs approval is required. Scrolls usually have a certain likelihood of being sold of 100% − 10% × the spell level. Scrolls above level 4 cannot be sold in downtime.

Bardic Performance Complications

Resources:
Sourcing Ingredients

The perfect brew requires the perfect ingredients. To get started, you will need to source the necessary ingredients to begin. Depending on what you are trying to brew, these ingredients will vary and to make your own unique brew, you will need to gather various spices and flavorings to accompany it.

Conducting this activity requires a safe place to carry out the work. You will not be able to effectively do this DTA if you do not have a regular room in town that you can set up the equipment in. Finally, you will need to have a set of Brewer's Supplies to carry out this DTA.

Undertaking the Brewing DTA requires a total of 2 Taxing DTA slots and 2 Light DTA slots, spread over 4 weeks to complete and a cost of 10 gp for the various materials and bottles needed to create and store your brew. These do not need to be carried out consecutively but each week not spent carrying out this activity, once started, increases the risk for something to go wrong (see Complications for details).

Resolution:
Home-Brewing

Brewing Complications

Building a Shelter

Some Characters may find the hustle and bustle of city life not to their liking, preferring to live on the fringes of the DT safe zone in roughly built structures where they can be alone, avoid any unwanted attention or maybe just feel closer to nature.

These types of shelters, due to their isolation, will always be classed as Squalid for the purpose of managing your characters lifestyle and all associated costs of that lifestyle still apply, as you will no doubt need to occasionally buy supplies in the nearby town or make repairs and improvements to your shelter to ensure it remains functional.

By their very nature, these structures are temporary and as such will need to be rebuilt on occasion. How often this will require to be done will depend on how successful your character was in building their shelter.

Business “Hands-On” Involvement

Your staff are far less skilled and diligent than you. If you spend DTA slots taking over the day to day running of your business, you gain a bonus to you next monthly roll. This bonus is equal to +2 for each Light DTA slot spent and +5 for each Taxing DTA Slot spent. This modifier still applies if you are running a small business with no paid staff.

The maximum benefit that can be obtained from this feature is using the equivalent of 4 Taxing DTA slots.

Upper Class Complications

Mundane Items

Mundane Items Crafting

Brewing Healing Potions

Characters can brew healing potions if they are proficient with—and have access to—a Herbalism kit. It is only possible for characters to create Potions of Healing and Potions of Healing (Greater). Anything beyond that requires specialised premises which are beyond the means and knowledge of adventurers.

Mundane Item Crafting Complications

Other Crimes

Other crimes—and crime against property—might still be committed by characters while adventuring. The Kantas Expanse is home to many different societies and independent settlements. Although no unified codex and policing force is in place against crime, most civilisations have codified the acts that are considered criminal.

If a character commits a crime in the midst of an adventure, its potential consequences will be resolved by the DMs either during or after the session.

Resources:
Planning your crime

A character must spend 1 Taxing DTA slot and at least 25 gp gathering information on potential targets to commit the intended crime. For the brazen few who aim for the biggest hauls, preparation can make the difference between your crime being a failure or a success.

If you have a target in mind, you can carry out the Tailing and Scouting DTA to try and get the edge on your mark. If successful, you can use the pieces of information gained as a modifier for the rolls you make in committing a crime. You can add a +1 bonus to all Crime checks for each piece of information obtained in a previous Tailing and Scouting Downtime activity to a maximum of +3.

The Tailing and Scouting DTA must be carried out spending either a Light or Taxing DTA slot, immediately before the Crime DTA is carried out. If the player decides to do this, the 25 gp needed to carry out the Crime DTA are considered paid if a Taxing DTA slot was used. The cost of the Crime DTA is instead halved in case a Light DTA slot was used.

Resolution:
Executing the Plan

The character must make a series of checks, with the DC for all the checks determined by the the amount of profit sought from the crime (see the Loot Value table). Successful completion of the crime yields a given amount of gold, as shown on the Loot Value table.

To attempt a crime, the character makes three checks: Dexterity (Stealth), Dexterity using Thieves’ Tools, and the player’s choice of Intelligence (Investigation), Wisdom (Perception), or Charisma (Deception).

If none of the checks is successful, the character is caught and jailed. If you are repeatedly caught for your crimes, the DTDMs may rule that other adverse effects may be applied as you become known as a criminal. For example, a permanent +1 to future DC for the Crime DTA, or a permanent −1 to DTA Carousing check.

If only one check is successful, the heist fails, but the character escapes. If two checks are successful, the heist is a partial success, netting the character half the payout. If all three checks are successful, the character earns the full value of the loot.

Serving Jail Time

If caught and arrested, The character must pay a fine equal to the profit the crime would have earned and must spend the rest of the DT week in jail followed by mandatory public service for each 25 gp of the fine. This service will be spent carrying out unpaid work for the council or Guild in charge in that locale. For the Character, this means they will be available to take part in adventures but will not be able to carry out any other DTAs until their public service is fulfilled.

The DTDMs may exceptionally decide to provide a tailored punishment depending on the nature of the crime committed or other external factors.

Repeat Offenders and Lying Low

Each time you commit a crime in Kantas, you gain some infamy and the chances of being caught or your crime running into complications increases. For each successful Crime DTA you commit, the DC of your next Crime DTA increases by the value shown in the Loot Value table. These modifiers stack and affect your Crime DTA DC until you are arrested and serve jail time.

Alternatively, a Character may decide to lie low and let the attention fade off. For every consecutive DTA week not spent carrying out a Crime DTA, the modifier total is reduced by 1.

Resources:
Gathering Your Stake

The Gambling DTA can be carried out by spending either 1 Light or 1 Taxing DTA slot. Only 1 Light DTA slot per DT week can be spent for the Gambling DTA. This activity also requires stake of at least 25 gp, up to a maxiumum of 50 gp when a Light DTA slot is spent, or 100 gp when a Taxing DTA slot is spent.

Resolution:
Testing Your Luck

The character must make a series of opposed checks against a named NPC gambler if present or checks with a DC determined at random. Part of the risk of gambling is that one never knows who might end up sitting across the table.

The character and, if present, the named gambler NPC make three opposed checks: Wisdom (Insight), Charisma (Deception), and Charisma (Intimidation). If the character has proficiency with an appropriate gaming set or Dexterity (Sleight of Hand), that proficiency can replace the relevant skill in any of the checks. The NPC rolls using 2d10 instead of 1d20. If a named gamble NPC is not present, the DC for each of the checks is 5 + 2d10; generate a separate DC for each one. Consult the Gambling Results table to see how the character did.

Before rolling for complications and after the Gambling Results are determined, if 0 or 1 successes were achieved, the character can double the stake and Gamble again once. The results of both rounds of gambling add up in this case. The limit for the stake is tripled for this second round of Gambling.

Resources:
Entering the Pits

The Pit Fighting DTA can be carried out by spending either 1 Light or 1 Taxing DTA slot. Only 1 Light DTA slot per DT week can be spent for the Pit Fighting DTA. The fights here are purely martial, focusing on the combatants ability to fight. No magic is allowed but Magical weapons are permitted.

Resolution:
There Can Be Only One

The character takes part in a series of fights culminating in one last contest against an NPC from a roster of fighters. The character will make three competing checks against their opponent, a Strength (Athletics) Check, a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check and a special Constitution check using your highest Hit die as a modifier. The character can replace one of these checks with a weapon attack.

Relaxation

A character may decide to get themselves so good old fashioned Rest and Relaxation in the DT safe zones after a particularly trying adventure, taking some time to rest and recover from the hardships that come with a life of adventure. Daring Heights, Port Ffirst and New Hillborrows have baths and other amenities that can cater to characters looking to unwind.

Resources:
Finding Faith

Performing religious or civil service requires access to, and often attendance at either a temple (or a similar place of worship and faith), or a civic institution whose beliefs and ethos align with the character’s. If such a place is available, the Religious or Civil Service DTA can be carried out spending either 1 Light or Taxing DTA Slot. No expenditure of gold is required. Only 1 Light DTA slot per DT week can be spent for the Religious or Civil Service DTA.

Resolution:
Lending a Hand

The character attempts to gain a favour from the institution they volunteer at for a week, potentially helping with services for the institution and the community at large.

At the end of the required time, the character chooses to make either an Intelligence (Religion), a Strength (Athletics), a Intelligence (History), a Wisdom (Medicine), or a Charisma (Persuasion) check. If a Taxing DTA slot was spent, add a +2 bonus to the roll. The total of the check determines the benefits of service, as shown on the Religious or Civil Service table.

Resources:
Investing in Research

A character needs access to a library or a sage in one of the DT safe zones to conduct research. Alternatively, a character can try to piece together official knowledge with rumors and legends. The DTDMs determine if suitable sources are available to a character given the declared focus.

Conducting Research requires 1 Taxing DTA slot and at least 100 gp spent on materials, bribes, gifts, and other eventual expenses.

Resolution:
Gathering Knowledge

The character declares the focus of the research. The focus has to be either:

• one creature of any of the types specified in the Monster Manual, but not a named individual
• one specific location within a city or in the wilderness
• one magic item

The focus can be existing or legendary. The focus cannot be extended to entire races, countries, or general knowledge fields. For example it cannot be “to learn as much as I can about how to travel the planes”. On the contrary, and acceptable focus could be: “to learn as much as I can about this forked rod I have seen (or heard about) used (or mentioned) as a required component for plane travelling.”

The character makes an Intelligence (Investigation) check with a +1 bonus per 100 gp spent beyond the initial 100 gp, to a maximum of +3. The DTDMs can exceptionally allow other Intelligence-based skills and even Charisma (Investigation) checks depending on the circumstances of the research.

In addition, a character who has access to a particularly well-stocked library or knowledgeable sages gains advantage on this check. A character can also call in a favor from one allied contact gained as a result of the Carousing DTA—thus spending it—to gain a bonus. Determine the information learnt using the Research Outcomes table.

Resources:
Staking Your Target

Tailing and scouting requires 1 Light DTA slot and 10 gp spent on materials, bribes, gifts, and other expenses. The player may also choose to dedicate more time and resources to this activity, thus electing to spend 1 Taxing DTA slot and spending an additional 150 gp to increase their chances for success. The DTDMs might rule the activity impossible given special circumstances or increase the minimum downtime and/or gold required for an attempt.

Resolution:
Gathering Intel

The character declares the focus of the tailing or scouting - namely, a specific individual or place. At the end of the activity, the character makes a Dexterity (Stealth) check against the target Passive Perception or a set DC to be determined by the DTDMs based on the circumstances). You have a +3 bonus if a Taxing DTA slot is being spent. In exceptional circumstances (eg., access to a particularly knowledgeable informant), the DTDMs might award advantage on this check. On a failed check, you are caught in the act and must roll for a complication on the Stealth Check Complication table.

Once you have completed the Dexterity (Stealth) check, you may then make an Intelligence (Investigation) check to determine how much information you learn using the Tailing and Scouting Outcomes table. If a Taxing DTA slot was spent, the +3 bonus will also be added to your Intelligence (Investigation) check. Remember, some complications may affect how much information you gain.

Stealth Check Complications

Language and Tools Training

Resources:
Finding Your Mentor

The Training: Physical and Martial DTA can be carried out spending either 1 Light DTA or 1 Taxing DTA slot. Only 1 Light DTA slot per DT week can be spent for the this DTA.

Access to a person willing to train you is also required. This person needs to be suitable to the training you are undertaking. For example, someone skilled in combat or with proficiency in the weapon you are training with.

The person training you can be an NPC or another character of a higher level than you. If another character is training you, you are free to negotiate the costs and details of this training together with the other player. If you wish for an NPC to train you, you will need to have a narrative reasoning for them to want to help you and should speak to the DTDMs to confirm. The DTDMs will also determine if the NPC requires payment in exchange for the training.

Resolution:
Wax on, Wax off

The character hones their skills practicing under the tuition of their chosen teacher. No Ability checks are needed for this activity.

Once the training is complete, the character gains a +2 modifier to their next attack roll with the relevant weapon they trained with in session in case 1 Light DTA slot was spent, or two attack rolls in case 1 Taxing DTA slot was spent.

Complications

Training like this rarely comes with any complications, the cost and training being agreed directly with the trainer before the activity begins. No complications roll is required for this activity.

Resources:
Doing Honest Work

The Work DTA can be carried out by spending either 1 Light or 1 Taxing DTA slot. Only 1 Light DTA slot per DT week can be spent for the Work DTA.

Resolution:
Earning Your Keep

To determine how much money a character earns, the character makes an ability check: Strength (Athletics), Dexterity (Acrobatics), Intelligence using a set of tools, Charisma (Performance), or Charisma using a
musical instrument. If a Taxing DTA slot was
spent, add a +2 bonus. Consult the Wages
and Earnings table to see how much money
is generated according to the total
of the check.

Background Features and Downtime

Some Background Features give characters access to special DTAs. If you think your characters’ background should open up new options for them, you can always ask the DTDMs to consider new additions to this list.

Pet Bonding and Training

These rules are for players who would like their character to have a pet and train them during downtime to have a mechanical impact on the game. A trained pet will be able to help you both in downtime and in adventuring time. If you would like to have a pet exclusively for narrative reasons, your pet will—subject to the DMs’ approval—be considered untrained. Untrained pets will immediately flee from dangerous situation, if they can be convinced to follow you on your adventures at all. Unlike familiars and animal companions all pets trained and untrained are ultimately NPCs under the control of the DMs during a session. They return your love and listen to you for the most part, but maintain an independent will.

Which creatures are capable of creating bonds with other species and becoming pets is ultimately at the DMs’ discretion. Only beasts of up to size medium can become pets. Trained and untrained pets should be manageable to live with so creatures that are large in size or bigger cannot normally become pets. However, not all medium or smaller beasts make for suitable pets. You must also reasonably have the facility to house your pet. Most medium or smaller creatures may be able to share a room with you but when considering a pet, consider what requirements that creature may need. A Frog, for example, will need access to non-salt water to live effectively. Pets also differ from mounts, which are more akin to beasts of burden. Horses and creatures generally used for travel or work purposes should not be considered pets. The Pet Examples table provides some examples of common pets in Kantas.

Obtaining a pet will usually require you finding (or in some cases purchasing) the creature first, unless you brought it to Kantas with you. If you have something particular in mind, speak with the DMs to see if it can be established how you found your pet.

Meeting the Pet and Initial Standing

First impressions are important, and the conditions under which you meet your potential pet will determine your initial Standing with them and affect the speed at which you form a bond. At any time, you have five possible Standings with a potential pet, as described below.

Initiating the Bond

After you meet a creature and at the first opportunity when you can spend time with it, you must try to start the bonding process.

Strengthening the Bond

After you spend enough time in close contact with your pet, you can try to strengthen the bond you have with them.

Completing the Bond

The bonding process is completed once you have passed three Bonding Checks (as the result of Initiating the Bond and Strengthening the Bond activities). Once the bonding process is completed the creature has fully become your pet.

Improving your Standing

You can also try to improve your standing with your pet by spending quality time with them.

Training Costs

Training comes with increased cost to account for extra food and treats to aid in the training process, the purchase or hiring of equipment, treating any potential injuries, and in some cases, paying for any damages your pet may have caused. Each week of training will cost 3 gp on top of the regular upkeep costs.

Teaching a Command

After you spend enough time with your pet, you can try to teach them a command. When teaching a command over multiple DT weeks, you can take up to two consecutive DT weeks off without hindering your progress. Stopping the training for longer will however invalidate all the progress made up to that point teaching the command.

Upkeep Costs

There is an associated cost with keeping a pet in the form of making sure you have food available, basic grooming equipment, toys and housing costs. The upkeep costs for a pet each week is as follows:

• Tiny Creature: 1 sp
• Small Creature: 3 sp
• Medium Creature: 5 sp

Neglect

While the upkeep costs also assume that you carry out the basics of pet care, if you do not spend quality time with your pet, they may begin to feel neglected. A neglected pet is less willing to listen to your commands and might grow surly or aggressive towards you and your party. Serious neglect can even lead to your pet leaving you forever.

Once the bond is established, you will need to spend quality time with them to ensure they do not feel neglected. If you do not regularly spend time with your pet your Standing with them will begin to diminish. For every 3 DT weeks that pass without you spending at least 1 Light DTA slot with your pet, your Standing with them will diminish by one level. Remember that you can increase your standing level with your pet by succeeding in Improving your Standing DTA.

The activities costing 1 Light DTA slot you can do with your pet to prevent neglect are opportunities to narrate your life with your pet and can include options such as walking, grooming, playing with them. Teaching your pet a command will also prevent neglect for the duration of the training.

Depending on your Standing, your pet will begin to show signs of bad behaviour. If your standing becomes Disliked, your pet will start to show anti-social behaviour and bother other people, walking into their rooms, trying to get their attention and generally trying to get in the way. Your pet will also become less willing to learn commands. When you try to train your pet and your Standing is Disliked, add plus + 3 to the Learning Difficulty.