
OSR / d20 / Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Setting by OnceWas
The Wistful World of OnceWas – Campaign Setting Compendium
Where Ancient Magic Bleeds Into Reality
Welcome to a realm where kingdoms rise and fall on the whims of fate, where gods walk among mortals, and where adventure lurks beyond every mist-shrouded forest and mountain pass.
This is not a world of simple heroes and villains.
In OnceWas, pirate kings rule island nations born from prison colonies. Magocracies jealously guard arcane secrets while barbarian hordes descend from frozen wastes. Elven kingdoms nurse millennia-old grievances, and desert empires command vast armies across sun-scorched sands. Demons scheme in shadow, and the Void Beyond hungers at reality’s edge.
Consequence Shapes Everything
The Twelve Kingdoms stand divided by history, ambition, and blood—their borders contested by sword and sorcery. Ancient ley lines pulse beneath the earth, marking sites where reality wears thin. Factions scheme in secret, pursuing agendas that span generations. The very fabric of existence is layered—material, ethereal, and beyond—with entities moving between worlds for purposes mortals can barely comprehend.
Inside This Compendium:
• The Twelve Kingdoms: Detailed histories and cultures from the scholarly towers of Arcanum to the brutal pirate haven of Banorak
• Gods & Demons: Divine pantheons and infernal entities who demand worship and sacrifice
• Secret Factions: Organizations pulling strings behind thrones across the realm
• Comprehensive Timeline: Millennia of conflict, triumph, and world-shaping events
• Living World Details: Languages, currencies, social hierarchies, laws, and professions that ground your adventures in authenticity
Whether your players navigate courtly intrigue, delve into ancient ruins, or stand against cosmic threats, OnceWas provides the rich, morally complex foundation for unforgettable campaigns where every choice matters and every action echoes through history.
Adventure awaits. What legacy will you leave?
OnceWas Campaign Setting is available through DriveThruRPG in PDF.
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