You and 1,290 other absolute legends showed up and pushed this project all the way to $281K. That’s… epic and unreal, right?
It’s been about a week since funding closed, and we just want to take a moment to say it properly... thank you. This big ol' project exists because of you!
And now we finally get to start showing you more of what’s coming. The Umbral Caldera cover art reveal...
Cover art by Mark Riddick.
The Umbral Caldera is exactly what it looks like... suffocating, dark, dangerous and crawling with all manner of creatures. Mark absolutely nailed the tone here, and we cannot wait for you to hold this pretty little zine in your hands.
Surveys & Pre-orders:
We’re currently in the process of getting everything lined up on the backend. Surveys are slotted to hopefully go out in about a week, once funds have fully settled.
Alongside that, preorders will open soon for those who missed the campaign or want to grab more. It's possible pre-orders will be opening sooner as we are discussing with Backerkit to implement and beta test a new literal late pledge feature. We’ll keep you posted every step of the way.
That's it for the Dungeon Damsel side of things! And some of you might be thinking... "what about the metallic dice set?" And for that, we are considering our options... more on it later.
Now onto...
We also want to point you toward something pretty cool from Elderbrain that’s currently in prelaunch:
Spawns of the Mindrender is a massive 600-page dark fantasy adventure and campaign setting for levels 11–15, built for both 2014 and 2024 5e. It leans hard into survival, exploration, and large-scale conflict in a brutal mountain realm, with a branching narrative that evolves as players dig deeper.
I know we’re all Shadowdark gremlins here. This is a different system, but the dark fantasy energy is very much there. If you’ve got even the slightest itch for a bigger, crunchier, high-level experience… this thing looks seriously cool and absolutely worth a peek.
They’re also doing something fun with their follower rewards. Before launch, followers help build a custom encounter location through community voting. As more people join, more pieces unlock... dungeon, NPC, magic item, boss, even a subclass. The final version gets revealed at launch.
Followers will also receive: • A PDF encounter location built from those votes • Extra printed character sheets that evolve as milestones are hit (for physical backers)
It's a really big project, and they helped share our little one! So let's share the love and show them some support in turn!
If that sounds like your kind of thing, it’s worth following now while those rewards are still active.
We just crossed $250,000, which means the Druskara Dice Tray is officially unlocked.
Mark Riddick is creating a full original piece for the surface, the same way he approached the GM screen, so it will feel like part of the set instead of an extra accessory, and it will be provided for FREE in the Ultimate Collection Tier!
And now, we are 24 hours away from the close of the campaign! If you've been waiting to decide, the TIME IS NIGH!
NEXT STRETCH GOAL UNLOCK: $300k
At this milestone, we’re bringing something special to the table: a custom metal dice set inspired by the cover of Spells & Specialties. Think a wolven ram skull, wrapped in intertwining thorned vines and roses. Beautiful and brutal. A piece that captures the core of Druskara: Life and death. Growth and decay.
These are not going to be some sort of standard item with a generic template and generic branding. They are going to be crafted, with input and design from your favorite artists, and brought to life alongside a dedicated 3D render artist to make sure every detail is perfected. The weight, finish, and overall feel will be built around Druskara's core aesthetic: wicked, beautiful and murderous.
These dice are going to be LIT like a freshly burning torch.
The momentum is building and we’re right on the edge of this one. If you’ve been eyeing an upgrade or know someone who’d love Druskara, now’s the perfect time to share this project with your friends and have them jump in alongside you!
$300,000! Let's go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Dungeon Damsel Team
The dice tray will be available as an add-on, and it will be included for free in the Ultimate Collection ($359). So if you had your eyes on this tier already, this makes it even more valuable!
It will be a fully original piece by Mark Riddick -- design above is placeholder to give you an idea of how the artwork will cover the entire tray. You’ve seen Mark's work on the GM Screen and slipcase, so you know the incredible quality he provides:
The tray itself will feature magnetic connectors or metal snaps and full-surface printed artwork! Final Designs pending.
NEXT UP! Those METAL DICE. But let's get that dice tray secured first...
Coming up tomorrow, the Dungeon Damsel duo, Xane and Bunni, have been invited to appear on Exalted Funeral's Coffee and Coffins live podcast at noon on Thursday, April 2!
We hope to see you there! Click HERE to find the YouTube Stream!
Something you should ALSO be aware of is that these amazing hosts are also the creators of TAVERS: The Meow Wolf Roleplaying game which is live on Kickstarter right meow! It ends VERY SOON (tomorrow!), so if you want to back this portal-hopping, mystery-solving TTRPG, then you'd better get on it! Click HERE to see their Kickstarter page!
Players assume the role of TAVERS, interdimensional travelers who use Source (the fountain of creative energy) to open portals between worlds and wield wild powers that rewrite the rules of reality itself.
We met artist Phil Stone at Gary Con, and the second we saw his work, we knew we had to bring him in to help finish Druskara!
Now that the campaign is funded (and then some -- thanks to you!!), we’re easing back into production mode and ramping art again.
Please feast your eyes on the first new piece since the Backerkit campaign began!
We feel that Phil has perfectly represented the truly mirror-glass surface of the Shining Knight's special armor in a pure black-and-white format, which isn't easy to accomplish!
The Shining Knights are the chosen enforcers of the Shining City, clad in mirror-bright armor that gleams with an unnatural clarity. Their weapons and plate are forged from shining steel, a rare and tightly controlled metal forbidden beyond the city’s rule. Possession alone is enough to draw severe punishment.
None earn the title of Shining Knight lightly; only those who endure years of relentless training and rise through the highest ranks are permitted to bear the name. They are also trained in a specialized arcane discipline built for combat tactics, allowing them to reshape the battlefield while fortifying and rallying their allies.
To stand as a Shining Knight is to uphold a vision of moral purity, obedience to the queen, and authority over the kingdom.
