From publisher blurb:
Memento Mori is more than just a campaign setting, but a means by which to change the setting of 5e games from Medieval High Fantasy to a more Victorian Gothic/Dark Fantasy. It doesn't quite fit into any perfect mold. Memento Mori is part Victorian Gothic, part Dark Fantasy, and even with a dash of Steampunk. It isn't any one of those but contains elements of each. Luna Publishing has been running Memento Mori campaigns for years.
Memento Mori takes a unique approach to theme. Magic is always a corrupting force, and its use is both dangerous and corrupting. Guns have replaced many weapons on the field of battle. Strange sciences provide dangerous means to combat the darkness. Damnation is seductive, and the world takes yet another small step towards self-destruction. Let's note a few major themes in Memento Mori in detail:
Magic is Evil
Magic derives from terrible sources. Memento Mori does not differentiate between Arcane and Divine magic, and thus utilizes different spellcasting classes. There are two primary means to gain magic; The Witch and the Occultist.
Witches are enslaved to their daemonic masters. Whether through pact, through bloodline, or by some other dark means the witch gains their power from daemonic forces who exchange their magic for the witches service in spreading corruption through the world. Most witches accept this corruption and turn wicked. Others try and challenge it and maintain their morality by defying their daemonic patrons.
Occultists choose to learn the formula, ancient verbal components, and dark material which is magic. They seek to master magic itself and invite the darkness of corruption with their hubris. Some manage to challenge the darkness and master it. Most, however, fall to their corruption and bring disaster.
Science
Science and technology is on the rise in Memento Mori. Steam trains, metal ships, firearms, flying machines, and even radio has become more and more common and available. These technological advances allow most to take advantage without the danger of corruption from magic. Two classes most show this, the Scholar and the Alchemist.
The Scholar is a brilliant person who utilizes their remarkable insight to help their companions while discovering secrets of their own. These secrets can give them all manner of unique benefit useful to both them and others. A scholar is a unique take on the Bard class that acts primarily in a support role without magic.
The Alchemist masters the power of chemistry in order to destroy, heal, and even alter the natural state of things. Alchemists can create mixtures, draughts, and bombs that can be useful in any party of adventurers. Alchemists can be ranged damage dealers, or support characters with equal ease.
Brutality
The world is still filled with danger, and violence is rampant. Firearms have changed the battlefield, and the armored knight is a thing of the past. As such Memento Mori has several unique options for characters who prefer a good scrap.
Brawlers learn the art of the fight through its brutal application. Tough as nails, the Brawler relies on raw moxie to pummel their opponents often with bare hands or simple weapons. They are rarely skilled with firearms, but in close quarters are devastating opponents. Brawlers take many skills and abilities from the standard Monk and Barbarian classes.
Knaves are skilled at living by their blades, their tongues, or their wits. Sometimes all three. Knaves rely on skill, stealth, and surprise to defeat their enemies and keep themselves alive. Knaves are a slightly altered version of the Rogue class.
Soldiers are the expert men-at-arms who specialize in both ranged and melee combat. Wars are no longer fought on horseback in open field so often. Soldiers are a modified form of the Fighter class that takes the new ways of battle into account.
Witch Hunters are warriors who specialize in the destruction of deadly witches, fiends, undead, and other abominations. Their skill and expertise in hunting prey is legendary, and a well-equipped witch hunter utilizes unique weaponry, alchemy, and technology in their pursuits. Witch Hunters combine aspects of the ranger class with that of the paladin.
Unique Lineage
In the world of Memento Mori there are few actual races only humans, but there are a number of strange human lineages that help define strange and dark heroes. From the erudite and haughty Electus, to the terrible and cursed Kurz.
Electus: The Electus have a history tainted with black magic, witchcraft, and strange sciences. Electus rarely, if ever, raise their voice. Passion seems meaningless to them, but the truth is that the Electus simply have motives and lusts that are not easily understood, and sympathy for others is often impossible for them.
Felisican: A race of animal/human hybrids created by the Electus over a thousand years ago. Felisicans have spread across the world creating their own cultures and communities. The Grimalkin is the most common Felisican. They resemble common mammalians such as feline, canine, bovine, and even ursine. There are also Rodentia, Reptilian, Avian, and Anuran.
Kurz: Outnumbered by masses of rebellious hordes, crippled with constant civil strife, and feeling their empire degrading from within, the Kurz turned to a dark and insidious source for a solution. Whatever force beckoned to their side did grant them their wish but they were not and never would be the men they once were.
Changeling: Changeling are born not from love, or any form of natural reproduction. They are born from abduction. Often the abduction of babies or young children. The Fey abduct a normal child from their home and drag them into the spirit world. In their place the fey leave a changeling. No changeling has any memories of their time spent with the fey. In fact, some never even realize their own origin. Memories are lost in the land of the fey. Instead, the imposter changeling is raised by the family. Forever marked by some strange disability or deformity.
Dhampyr: Dhampyr have different origins. Of the six types of vampire that exist each have a half-blood known commonly as a Dhampyr. Each of them have unique qualities and appearances. The Moroi is the most common, but others such as the Orlok, the Preta, and the Lazarene can sometimes be found. Dhampyr inherit their undead lineage's taste for blood but are still alive despite their inherent corruption.
Promethean: The Prometheans are born through a strange and vile combination of alchemy, science, and magic. The body is rejuvenated and made to never rot with strange alchemy. Science seems to reignite the mind, and magic seems to be what brings the two together.
Contents
The Memento Mori Campaign Setting includes the following:
8 Character Classes - Some unique, and some minor edited versions of existing classes. Many of the classes have easy compatibility with pre-existing 5e content and Game Masters can easily adopt new published works as they see fit.
24 Subclasses - 3 per class should provide plenty of character options. Many classes are compatible with existing published material outside of Memento Mori with few if any tweaks.
20 New Spells - Designed for use in Memento Mori, but compatible outside of the campaign setting as well.
8 Unique Backgrounds - Also designed for Memento Mori, but compatible outside of the campaign setting as well.
Corruption System - Designed for use in Memento Mori, but compatible outside of the campaign setting. Players must be careful when they flirt with power, or as they face the forces of darkness, they may find themselves part of them.