Valdris: An Open-Source D&D Campaign World

A collaborative fantasy world featuring ancient Architect ruins for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

🌐 View Online | 📚 Browse in Obsidian

🌍 Overview

Welcome to Valdris, an open-source campaign setting designed for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. This living world is built by and for the tabletop RPG community, offering a rich fantasy setting centered around ancient Architect ruins that Game Masters can use, modify, and expand upon for their own campaigns.

Whether you're looking for a complete campaign world, inspiration for your own setting, or want to contribute to a collaborative worldbuilding project, Valdris welcomes you with open arms.

🚀 Getting Started

Prerequisites

• Obsidian (recommended for the best experience)
• Basic familiarity with D&D 5th Edition
• A spirit of adventure!

Quick Start

Option 1: View Online (No Installation Required)

Visit https://offendingcommit.github.io/valdris/ to browse the campaign world directly in your web browser. This online version includes:

• Full searchable content
• Navigation menu for easy exploration
• Mobile-friendly interface
• No software installation required

Option 2: Use with Obsidian (Recommended for GMs)

1. Clone or download this repository

   git clone https://github.com/offendingcommit/valdris.git

2. Open in Obsidian

   • Launch Obsidian
   • Click "Open folder as vault"
   • Select the Valdris directory

3. Explore the World

   • Start with the Welcome page
   • Browse locations, NPCs, and lore through linked notes
   • Use Obsidian's graph view to visualize connections

Using Without Obsidian

While Obsidian provides the best experience, all content is written in Markdown and can be viewed with any text editor or Markdown viewer.

📖 World Overview

Valdris is a continent where ancient mysteries and modern ambitions collide, where:

• Architect Ruins dot the landscape like sleeping giants from a lost civilization
• Clockwork Technology from the ancients defies medieval understanding
• Political Factions vie for control of awakening ruins and their secrets
• The Great Silence ended 800 years ago, but now the ruins stir once more
• Three Societies have emerged: Ruin-Holders, Wanderers, and Ruin-Shunners

Key Features

• Modular Design: Use the entire world or pick specific regions, NPCs, or plot hooks
• System Agnostic Core: While designed for D&D 5E, the lore works with any fantasy TTRPG
• Interconnected Lore: Every location, character, and event connects to the greater narrative
• DM-Friendly: Includes Adventure Hooks, random tables, and campaign seeds

🛠️ How to Use with Obsidian

Navigation

• Wiki-style links: Click bracketed text to navigate between related content
• Tags: Use #location, #npc, #quest, etc. to find related content
• Graph View: Visualize connections between people, places, and events
• Search: Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + F to search across all content

Organization

Valdris/
├── Architect Ruins/   # Ancient clockwork cities and sites
├── Settlements/       # Modern towns and cities
├── Factions/         # Tinker-Priests, Wanderers, Ruin-Holders
├── Lore/             # The Great Silence, awakening events
├── NPCs/             # Characters and their stories
├── Adventures/       # Ready-to-run quests and campaigns
├── Technology/       # Architect devices and mechanisms
└── Templates/        # For creating new content

🤝 Contributing

We believe the best worlds are built together! Whether you're adding a tavern, designing a deity, or crafting an epic campaign arc, your contributions make Valdris richer.

Ways to Contribute

• Add Content: New locations, NPCs, quests, or lore
• Improve Existing Content: Expand descriptions, add plot hooks, fix inconsistencies
• Create Resources: Maps, random tables, character art
• Playtest: Run adventures and share feedback
• Documentation: Help other DMs use and understand the world

Contribution Guidelines

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/YourAmazingAddition)
3. Follow the existing format and naming conventions
4. Ensure internal consistency with existing lore
5. Add appropriate tags and links
6. Submit a Pull Request with a clear description

See CONTRIBUTING.md for detailed guidelines.

📜 License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

This means you can:

• ✅ Share — copy and redistribute the material
• ✅ Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
• ✅ Commercial Use — even for commercial purposes

Under these terms:

• 📝 Attribution — Give appropriate credit to the Valdris community
• 🔄 ShareAlike — Distribute contributions under the same license

🌟 Community

• Website: offendingcommit.github.io/valdris
• GitHub: github.com/offendingcommit/valdris
• Issues: Use GitHub issues for bugs, inconsistencies, or feature requests

🎲 Running Valdris

For New DMs

• Start with a single region or city
• Use provided Adventure Hooks to kickstart your campaign
• Don't be afraid to make it your own!

For Experienced DMs

• Integrate Valdris content into your existing campaign
• Use the modular design to grab what you need
• Share your modifications back with the community

🙏 Acknowledgments

Valdris exists thanks to the creativity and dedication of:

• All our contributors
• The D&D community for endless inspiration
• The Obsidian team for their amazing tool

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May your dice roll high and your stories be legendary!

Get Started | Contribute | License