Exploring the Tomb of Khaem! Beginners welcome! PlayByPost!

Exploring the Tomb of Khaem! Beginners welcome! PlayByPost!

Explore the underdark! Beginner Friendly! Escape the drow and save the world while forging friendships with strange beings in stranger places!

TYPE

Campaign

LEVELS

1–15

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

All Ages
About the adventure

Captured by the drow, you escape and survive in a foreign and hostile new world. For newcomers and veterans alike, it’s a gripping adventure filled with danger, discovery, and transformation. Strange allies emerge. Ancient secrets are uncovered. Whispers of something far worse begin to take shape as horrors from the Abyss itself have broken free and now roam the Underdark. A blend of survival horror and mythic adventure will entertain the players as they forge uneasy alliances with strange allies, face terrifying monsters, and wrestle with survival in the Underdark. The choices you make—who to trust, where to flee, and when to fight—shift the course of the entire campaign. This is a campaign for players who want a story that evolves from desperation to epic confrontation. It rewards creativity, courage, and collaboration, whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned dungeon delver. Out of the Abyss is more than a fight against monsters—it’s a journey through darkness, toward redemption, revenge, or ruin. The Abyss is calling. Will you escape it—or become part of it?

Game style

Play By Post

Rule of Cool (RoC)

Roleplay Heavy

Sandbox / Open World

Theater of the Mind

1 SEAT LEFT
$15.00

/ Session

Details

Weekly / Monday – 3:00 PM UTC

Aug 11 / Session 6

Session Duration / 1 hour

2 / 3 Seats Filled

GAME MASTER

Mark

he/him

4.9

(16)

Schedule

Mon, Aug 11 | 3:00 PM – Session 6

Mon, Aug 18 | 3:00 PM – Session 7

Mon, Aug 25 | 3:00 PM – Session 8

Mon, Sep 01 | 3:00 PM – Session 9

Mon, Sep 08 | 3:00 PM – Session 10

Mon, Sep 15 | 3:00 PM – Session 11

Each player will be charged when a session starts.

Report Adventure

Meet the Game Master

4.9

(16)

Published Writer
Teacher/Educator
Game Designer

2 years on StartPlaying

265 games hosted

Highly rated for: Creativity, Sets the Mood, Storytelling

Average response time: 3 hours

Response rate: 100%

About me

TL;DR: Veteran GM with a massive RPG library and decades of experience. I run fun, story-driven games shaped by player choices, fate, and creativity. You bring the characters—I’ll bring the world! My GM style is relaxed, story-rich, and focused on collaborative fun. I run dynamic, sandbox-style campaigns. Player choices matter and the world reacts. One-shots are brisk and punchy, racing toward a satisfying conclusion. Custom campaigns are always shaped by player preferences, character backgrounds, and preferred play styles. "Destiny dice” and “iron dice” keep things thrilling—embracing both luck and consequence to create stories that stick. Player agency is most important. The real magic happens when fate, risk, and reward intertwine—those moments when a single die roll can alter everything. Whether you want to kick down doors, solve mysteries, forge political alliances, or explore the unknown, I’ll help tailor the experience. My goal is always to create unforgettable memories shaped by your choices and the chaos of the dice. I’ve played and run a many systems—D&D (from the original boxed set to 5e), Dungeon Crawl Classics, Mutant Crawl Classics, Call of Cthulhu, Traveller, Top Secret and many more. My campaigns take place in rich, varied settings like the Forgotten Realms, Mystara, Blackmoor, Hyperborea, and original worlds. I own and run modules from WotC, Kobold Press, Frog God Games, DCC/MCC, and tons of third-party publishers. If it’s been written, I’ve probably read it—and if I haven’t, I can get up to speed quickly. I’ve been rolling dice since Tunnels & Trolls and the earliest days of D&D—back when Chainmail was still in play. Since then, I’ve lived a wild, story-filled life both in and out of games. Now i hope to bring that passion to your table . From batchelor parties to birthday games; corporate team-building to grognard reunions, I’ve run it all. The best games are forged in shared challenges and the camaraderie that comes with them. Let’s tell amazing stories together.

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Reviews (16)

Proficiencies

Players say this GM is great at:

Creativity

Sets the Mood

Storytelling

Brian avatar

Brian

Played 136 sessions

Mr. Ryan combines a common-sense approach to gaming that leaves the players in a realm where choices have consequences and real-life factors come into play. He makes sure that there are boundaries and conditions that ensue with every choice your character & party make. Mark’s worlds do involve the panorama of creatures, monsters & player characters that D&D embraces; but outliers are treated appropriately & with an explanation of why things are the way they are. For example: • You want a magical sentient sword? Roll periodically for control over it, or it controls you! • Try to use your great sword in a narrow passageway? Mark will ask you describe how you are going make it a viable weapon in such close quarters. • You play a Tiefling? Sure, you can. But here come the townsfolk who are none to happy to see you – ‘outsider’! Note that the mundane does not predominate either – you can find your party stuck in the shadow-realm, or trying not to annoy a Qilin, or trudging through an extra-planar hell-scape or just a down & good o’l dungeon crawl. He will not bog-down game-time with the mundane minutia of day-to-day expenditures or things that matter little. He has a reason for any roll or activity your characters must account for. Inclusively, you’ll just a good time developing your character and delving deeper & deeper in the game’s world-scape. Along with his knowledge of Medieval history and history in general, give an excellent backdrop to any campaign he manages. If You want a sense of realism and an adventure steeped in a setting that has historical accuracy and references? Marks’ your DM. Its Marks’ game – but your adventure!

dawwius avatar

dawwius

Played 38 sessions

Let me preface this review by saying that I am a completely new player with very little frame of reference for what constitutes a good or bad DnD experience. There is a good chance that points I make fall more in line with overall comments on DnD rather than feedback for the gamemaster himself, moreover comments may also reflect my inexperience with the game and would not be relevant for experienced players. The new player experience was overall great, and Mark really shined at helping me assimilate core information, allowing me to establish a firm foothold despite joining mid-campaign and despite my relative inexperience. Outside of combat scenarios, Mark made sure to guide the game in a way that did not feel forced by giving us the necessary information or nudges to handle new developments without removing any sense of our own agency. During combat, I felt a little bit more out of my depth due to the sudden increase in complexity presented and I struggled a little bit with knowing what I was allowed to do and what actions I should take, although Mark did help ease these burdens. On top of this, the pacing of the game felt slower during combat scenarios and there were noticeably long periods where I felt I had less to contribute. Hopefully with a little bit more confidence, these issues will resolve themselves. With regards to world-building, Mark's usage of online visual aids really aided in setting a concrete tone and giving me a stepping stone with which I could better visualise the narrative, keeping the experience both exciting and engaging. Overall, Mark was clearly knowledgeable and very professional, and I really enjoyed the experience. The few issues I had involving combat, owing to my inexperience, did not overshadow the things I did enjoy. I am looking forward to my next game session!

Dave avatar

Dave

Played 35 sessions

Mark is a fantastic GM. His games are really fun! With an enormous background in history and a talent for world-building that has balance and context, his games and campaigns are always fun. Mark is GREAT at keeping “the amazing” amazing. One of the tricks of fantasy games I think, is being in a world of fantasy with cause and effect, or limitations, or boundaries, shaped by cause and effect. Without this, the fantastical become the mundane. Things that ought to be bizarre, shocking, or amazing become normal, unremarkable, and boring. Mark’s has a true talent for creating inhabitable worlds that are always amazing. Mark is at his best when he describes a medieval town, or a dwarven forge, or an elven city, with all that ought to be there. How the citizens live and think and fear. His adventures have resonance and weight. Great fun!

John avatar

John

Played 33 sessions

Mark has been an incredible Game Master who consistently goes above and beyond to bring stories to life. I’ve had the pleasure of playing several different systems with him including Dungeon Crawl Classics and D&D 5e, and no matter the setting or format, he delivers a rich, immersive experience every time. What truly sets Mark apart is his flexibility and dedication. He’s been extremely accommodating of my hectic work schedule, even going so far as to open up one-shots just so I could jump in and play while we looked for other players. Whether it’s a play-by-post scene, a fast-paced one-shot, or a long-form campaign, Mark brings the same level of care, creativity, and narrative depth to every session. I’ve played multiple characters under his guidance, and he’s helped breathe life into each one with thoughtful worldbuilding, meaningful interactions, and memorable NPCs. His games are the kind you look forward to all week. Highly recommended for anyone who values storytelling, flexibility, and a DM who truly cares about the players and the world he builds.

Jordan avatar

Jordan

Played 24 sessions

Mark is such a great GM! He brings years of experience to the table and always has answers to questions. He is great at storytelling and actually adds knowledge of medieval warfare, which has been incredibly interesting to learn about. I’d recommend him to anyone. :)

Inthens avatar

Inthens

Played 17 sessions

Mark is a talented GM with a wide and deep set of skills that weave together every session to provide something very fun and entertaining. It is clear his level of knowledge is deep, and coupled with the excellent resources pulled from various places in the RPG sphere, he never fails to provide a layered and engaging story. While the level of preparation that goes into each session is very high, that doesn't mean you are locked into a linear path - there is never a player-created situation, no matter how wacky and creative, that Mark cannot embrace and turn into a consistent and engaging story. Would definitely recommend.

Character creation
Creating your character

Pre-made characters are available. or Characters can also be made in session zero.

The current party

The current party A small band of heroes and unlikely allies is travelling through the upper Underdark and discovered the Lost Tomb of the Sorceror Queen Khaem of the Netherese! This is a Play-By-Post game run in a dedicated Discord Server with multiple channels for information, lore and communications. 📅 Posting Schedule: 🔹 Most days there is one Long DM Post usually in the morning (UK Time) which carries the narration, story progression, and an evolving world. 🔹 Bonus Posts will occur for light interactions, skill checks, roleplay, and mischief! 🔹 Check In Once a Day (or more). A post keeps the story moving. 🔹 Chats, Dice Rolling & Planning occur on the Discord Channel. 🔹 Life Happens...just drop a note and your place will be held but the story will progress. 🎯 Enjoy on the Journey Watch this to get a feel for what you are facing: https://youtu.be/3pgOys0EET0?si=9mI_g0MFEbulENe2

What to expect
Preparing for the session

The Theater of the Mind (written portion of the adventure) will occur on Discord supplemented by images and battle maps as needed. You will need an account on Discord. Access to the dedicated server will be open prior to the game. Owlbear Rodeo may be used. No subscription is necessary. Characters will be made or provided on D&DBeyond. Pre-made characters are always available. Players will make characters during session zero; or, we can make one prior to the game session.

What Mark brings to the table

This is a Play-By-Post game run in a dedicated Discord Server. Pacing: At least one post each day (UK time) and a varied number of shorter messages in reply to any @ pings. Additional replies/posts are subject to my availability throughout the day. I am bringing decades of games experience, a robust community, in depth characterisation and the flexibility to adapt to player styles. Pacing: At least one long DM post each day (UK time) and a varied number of shorter messages in reply to any @ pings. Additional replies/posts are subject to my availability throughout the day. My knowledge of the campaign is extensive having run it five times. I look forward to new twists and turns that the players will bring into the game,

Homebrew rules

We will craft the house rules we want to play in the first session...or play by the rules as written. You decide! Sword & Sorcery games are fun with luck, sanity, fleeting luck and modified critical hits...but we can play they way you want!

Equipment needed to play

Computer

Internet

Microphone

Safety
How Mark creates a safe table

Private channels will be provided for each player to discuss any questions or concerns.

Content warnings
Blood
Character Death
Death
Deep or Large Bodies of Water
Extreme Violence
Fire
Gore
Lifechanging Injury
Mental Illness
Murder
Spiders
Violence
Insects
Scars
Drowning
Execution
Illness
Language/Cursing
Mind Control
Mutilation of Corpses
Paralyzation
Slavery
Classism
Freezing
Mutilation
Body Horror
Safety tools used

Additional tables

2 available

1 SEAT LEFT

Weekly / Tuesday – 4:00 AM UTC

Aug 12 / Session 7

2 / 3 Seats Filled

3 SEATS LEFT

Weekly / Tuesday – 2:00 PM UTC

Aug 12 / Session 0

1 / 4 Seats Filled

Frequently asked questions

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