The Beast of Blackwood Grove (Free Session)
TYPE
SYSTEM
LANGUAGE
EXPERIENCE
AGE
Free
Details
Once / Monday - 2:30 PM UTC
Jan 20
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
1 / 5 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
1/5
About the adventure
In the remote village of Witt's End, nestled at the edge of the ominous Hollowshade Woods, lies Blackwood Grove. There, an unrelenting, mournful cry has shattered the peace. Night after night, the sound pierces the air, sending shivers down spines and driving even the bravest hunters to abandon their forest routes. Fear has taken hold of the villagers, who speak of a shadowy beast lurking in the woods—a creature of immense size with glowing eyes and talons capable of ripping through trees. Desperate for relief, the village elder has called for adventurers to investigate the cries and put an end to the terror, offering a modest reward from their meager coffers. The weather turned for the worse as you traveled to your destination. Deep cold and harsh wind caught up to you, forcing you to hurry for relief. Fortunately, despite the light dusting of snow that doesn't stick to the ground but does make breathing uncomfortable, you make your way. Upon arrival, you find the village tense and wary, their plight complicated by the presence of the Red Talons, a mercenary band renowned for their ruthless efficiency. Led by the charismatic but cunning Captain Seako Draeven, the Red Talons make it clear that they intend to claim the glory and the reward for themselves, leaving you with a choice: collaborate with these hardened soldiers of questionable morality or navigate the dangerous woods alone with your new companions. As tensions with the Red Talons boil over, the adventurers face mounting pressure to act before the Crying Beast's torment spills into the village itself. The choices you make will shape not only the fate of Witt's End but also the future of the Hollowshade Woods and Blackwood Grove. Will you bring peace to the forest, or will the cries of the beast echo forever in the darkness?
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
1 year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, World Builder, Storytelling
About me
Behind the Grind: The Pro GM Chronicles https://www.youtube.com/@PSGKno1 Interviews with seasoned Pro Game Masters for tips, insights, and details for the GM community. Shameless plug aside, I'm so glad you're checking me out. "Welcome, travelers! The fire’s warm, the ale’s cold, and the stew’s hot. Find a seat, and I’ll be right with you." That was the line one of my first GMs used when we entered the tavern many, many years ago. It set the mood for a fantastic set of adventures. I hope to do the same here for you. I'm Jay, PSG Kno1, and a few other not-so-nice names. I'm an advocate for an awesome RPG system: Point System Gaming (https://sites.google.com/view/pointsystemgaming/home) and host a YouTube channel dedicated to interviewing other pro-GMs to discover any tricks of the trade and secret sauce that they might be willing to share (https://www.youtube.com/@PSGKno1) called "Behind the Grind: The Pro GM Chronicles." As a firm believer in the power of storytelling, I love how the system blends so many aspects of gaming. After decades of development, I'd love to introduce you to it. I have been running games for the last 5 years with PSG and can vouch for its validity as a gaming system. It's as simple and elegant as it is lethal, so don't get comfortable. It's worth a look. My games are a series of fantasy one-shots to introduce folks to the system. As a man who has much ... ahem ... life experience, to include placing 2nd in the D&D feature at the 1990 European Gencon in Camber Sands, England, I love to challenge the player and force folks to consider the implications of their choices. The one-shots will have a selection of pre-generated characters tying into the story. I'm also going to run a series of short campaigns (3-5 sessions) where you can create your own characters or use pre-generated ones. You can expect a lot of role-play (doesn't have to be 1st person) and a good bit of combat if necessary. I'll be using a variety of voices (some badly) as I have no shame. The creatures you'd be facing are not the run-of-the-mill baddies, so stay on your toes. I'll do everything possible to make this immersive, fun, and fulfilling.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
For all one-shots, you will be given a selection of characters to choose from. Characters will have a basic background, but you will fill in the rest. They're just stats. You bring them to life. For the short campaigns, you can make your own character or choose a pre-made. If you make your own, I'll be glad to assist in its creation.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Please ensure you have a computer/webcam (Optional but preferred)/mike. You need to be seen and heard. You'll also need an Owlbear Rodeo and Discord account. Reading the rules beforehand isn't necessary, as I will be glad to help explain the rules and walk you through the needed dice to roll. Bottom line is that I want you to have fun. What I provide -Digital maps (some dynamic) -Ambiance Music/Sounds -Tokens -Character Sheets -Attempts at voices -Story
What PSG Kno1 (Fantasy) brings to the table
As the GM for a one-shot, the PC is assumed to buy into the scenario. However, free will and creativity are still encouraged. You have an objective. How you accomplish the objective is up to you, and I will try my best to help you facilitate that effect. Want to ride a dinosaur? OK, this is your Target Die. Make friends with a demon? Err ... sure! Roll these dice. I don't usually arbitrarily say "No" so let's go. RaW is important but RoC has its place. Also, at the end of the session, I'll ask you to DM me your choice for the best RPer. If there's a tie, GM will decide. The winner will receive a certificate that will also be worth a discount in future sessions. It's just a small "Thank You" for trying this out, and I hope you come back for more.
Platforms used
Safety
How PSG Kno1 (Fantasy) creates a safe table
Please ensure you have a computer/webcam/mike. You need to be seen and heard. You'll also need an Owlbear Rodeo and Discord account. Reading the rules beforehand isn't necessary, as I will be glad to help explain the rules and walk you through the needed dice to roll. Bottom line is that I want you to have fun. What I provide -Digital maps (some dynamic) -Ambiance Music/Sounds -Tokens -Character Sheets -Attempts at voices -Story As the GM for a one-shot, the PC is assumed to buy into the scenario. However, free will and creativity are still encouraged. You have an objective. How you accomplish the objective is up to you, and I will try my best to help you facilitate that effect. Want to ride a dinosaur? OK, this is your Target Die. Make friends with a demon? Err ... sure! Roll these dice. I don't usually arbitrarily say "No" so let's go. RaW is important but RoC has its place. Also, at the end of the session, I'll ask you to DM me your choice for the best RPer. If there's a tie, GM will decide. The winner will receive a certificate that will also be worth a discount in future sessions. It's just a small "Thank You" for trying this out, and I hope you come back for more.
Content warnings
Safety tools used