LilaLoom Press is currently funding YŌVĀKYĀNA, a comprehensive campaign setting for 5E roleplaying games inspired by the rich tapestries of ancient Indian and Persian mythologies. The project, which has already more than doubled its initial Kickstarter funding goal, is being developed in Poznań, Poland, and is scheduled for delivery in May 2027.
As the tabletop community in 2026 continues to navigate the long-term integration of the 2024 ruleset, YŌVĀKYĀNA offers a bridge between eras. The book is designed for full compatibility with both the 2014 and 2024 versions of the world’s most popular roleplaying game, ensuring that gaming groups can adopt the new setting regardless of which mechanical iteration they prefer.
A World of Lengthening Shadows
The setting is anchored in the Age of the Conquering Sun, a period where the rule of the god-sun Ašpatis is beginning to falter. Players are positioned at a turning point in history where divine light is dimming and ancient, forgotten darkness is returning to the world. This narrative tension serves as the backdrop for the “Tales System,” a mechanic that lets players choose a mythical archetype and earn points to leave a lasting legacy on the setting.
At the heart of the geography lies Ayattayōva, a massive capital city described as the world’s beating heart. The project includes a hand-drawn city plan that details over ten districts, from the sacred Grand Temple to the impoverished Rags. To populate this urban landscape, the creators have included fourteen Great Guilds and more than twenty-five primary NPCs, providing a dense web of political and social intrigue for urban-focused campaigns.
Tabletop Mechanics and Player Options
YŌVĀKYĀNA introduces substantial mechanical weight to support its mythological themes. The book contains over 300 pages of content, including more than 15 new subclasses and 10 new lineages. These options are designed to feel at home in the specific setting while remaining versatile enough to slot into any 5E environment.
Notable subclasses include the Path of the Inverse Flame for Barbarians, the Oath of Perfection for Paladins, and the Legend Domain for Clerics. There are also more specialised options like the Tollkeeper Ranger, who collects debts at the mystical Veil, and the Guild Operator Rogue, who represents the social upheaval of the expanding kingdom.
The new lineages include diverse origins, such as the Yōvaka elves, the chosen children of the gods, and the Anśaric orcs, who inherit the beauty of the Old Moon. For players seeking something more unusual, the Aukasa are austere beings formed from the amalgams of broken souls following ancient wars.
YŌVĀKYĀNA has been in development at our home tables for over four years, built from hundreds of pages of worldbuilding notes accumulated through active play. The setting’s descriptive material is roughly 80% drafted.”
Rewards and Fulfilment
The campaign offers a variety of entry points for players and Game Masters, ranging from digital-only packages to high-end physical collectors’ editions. The digital tiers provide the core rulebook and a backer-exclusive soundtrack, while higher-value tiers include physical hardcovers, GM screens, and custom dice. Those looking for the complete experience can opt for tiers that include cloth maps of the world and city, a tarot deck of the Major Arcana, and a 3D-printable STL file for the Divine Remnant. The project is being produced by EU-based manufacturers to maintain high environmental and quality standards, including Smyth-sewn binding for the physical books to ensure durability at the table.
The YŌVĀKYĀNA campaign is an all-or-nothing project that will only be funded if it reaches its target by Thursday, May 21, 2026. Following the close of the campaign, physical production is slated to begin in early 2027, with the first wave of shipments expected to reach backers between May and August of that year.
- Pledge €25 (approx. £22): Acolyte. Includes the PDF rulebook and the backer-exclusive digital soundtrack.
- Pledge €50 (approx. £44): Novice. Provides the standard hardcover rulebook, the PDF version, and the digital soundtrack.
- Pledge €55 (approx. £48): Illuminator. A digital-focused tier including the PDF rulebook, a Foundry VTT module, a digital GM screen, and the soundtrack.
- Pledge €90 (approx. £79): Lightkeeper. Includes the physical hardcover, PDF, physical and digital GM screens, and a custom dice set.
- Pledge €145 (approx. £127): Hierophant. Includes all items from the Lightkeeper tier plus a tarot deck, a cloth map, and an STL file for miniatures.
- Pledge €210 (approx. £184): God-Sun’s Ascendant. The ultimate tier featuring a numbered alternate cover hardcover, all digital modules, three cloth maps, and all physical accessories.
