The Defiled Sanctuary! 4th-5th level! Beginner Friendly! PBP!
An astral convergence threatens to open portals to other dimensions. Stop the evil plot! Learn to play Dungeons & Dragons!
$15.00
/ Session
Details
3 players following this game
Play by Post (Asynchronous)
Billed Weekly / Tuesday - 11:00 AM UTC
Session Duration / 2 hours
2 / 4 Seats Filled
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One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
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Meet your party members
2/4
About the adventure
Strange celestial events in the sky are causing the wild magic to flow strong and unpredictable! The druids say an astral convergence threatens to open portals to other dimensions. Others pooh-pooh the story as classic centenary doom cults. There are stories of heroes who pursued an evil sorceror claiming he would open the a gateway during a similar convergence...the heroes disappeared but so did the sorceror. Nothing came of the so-called plot; thus it has faded to legend. A century has passed...rumors abound as the same convergence is due to happen this year. Astrologers say it will be a stronger converegnce. Is this the same doom-sayers predicting the end of the world? Again. Or are evil forces are at work behind the scenes gathering components to open a gate and dominate the world? The rumors circle on a gem called the Eye of the Night. True or not, the Eye of the Night would be a perfect lens from which to view the convergence... Come play in this is a Play-As-You-Can Westmarches campaign. Weekly, a scene will unfold. The plot will progress! Evil forces will advance their schemes in this world spanning campaign. Will you stop them? Show up for the chapters you can play. Or play them all...from 1st to 13th level culminating in a battle royale as you try to stop evil. Fast-paced exploration, deadly encounters, and strange magic, this campaign is a wild ride from the first encounter to a final desperate stand against enemy forces. As YOUR story unfolds, investigate abandoned ruins, uncover long-buried secrets, and confront hidden threats.
Game style
Theater of the Mind
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Dungeon Crawl
Play By Post
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(27)
3 years on StartPlaying
570 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Knows the Rules, Storytelling
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
I run story-rich, player-driven adventures. You bring the characters—I’ll bring the world—we will make it ours together. My GM style is relaxed, story-rich, and collaborative. Whether you want kick-down-the-door dungeon crawls, exploration, westmarches, horror, or mysteries in the dark, I’ll tailor the game to your players. One-shots are brisk and punchy, delivering a complete adventure in a single session. Campaigns are dynamic and sandbox-style, shaped by your preferences, backstories, and play style. I’ve run many games and campaigns across a variety of systems: • D&D • Dungeon Crawl Classics • Mutant Crawl Classics • Call of Cthulhu • Traveller, • Top Secret • Shadowdark • Mörk, Cy_Borg, Pirate Borg My shelves are stacked with classics and modern gems alike—I’ve got you covered. If not, I can run it. I’ve run games for everything from bachelor parties to birthday surprises, corporate team-building events to reunions. My tables are welcoming, flexible, and focused on making sure everyone has fun. The best games are forged in shared challenges and the camaraderie that comes with them. Let’s tell some amazing stories together!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We will all create characters together at our session zero, we will make sure we all know what each other would like to play and build a rounded party together. Pre-Made Characters are available.
Blessings-Be was supposed to be a refuge...a quiet town on the edge of the Ferahn Forest, where pilgrims walk softly, fishermen rise early, and the faithful journey to the sacred Mourning Cave. But something is wrong. The waters of White Tip Lake still ripple. The bells still ring. The prayers are still spoken. Yet the people… hesitate. They smile too slowly. Speak too little. And when the name of Arden Brightheart is mentioned, their eyes drift—not upward in reverence, but sideways… in fear...because the hero has returned. Or so some say.... Pilgrims whisper that Arden sits once more upon his marble throne, radiant and restored. Others claim the crypt is choked with darkness—that the light of Honorus no longer reaches its depths. Some speak of the dead rising. Some say the future itself is being rewritten. And a few...very few...dare to whisper another name: The Dread Watcher. You arrive as outsiders. Uncertain. Untrusted. Unafraid...at least for now. The town will not guide you. The faithful will not warn you. Whatever truth lies within the Mourning Cave…you must uncover it yourselves. If the light of Honorus has been twisted... If the blade that once pinned evil to the stone has failed... Then whatever sits upon that throne is not a savior. It is something that sees is Evil incarnate and it is waiting for you. Chapter 3 begins here: A holy site turned mystery. A legend turned lie. A confrontation where faith, truth… and fate itself may be broken. Seats are limited. Returning players strongly encouraged. 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... If it was live, it would be a Play-As-You-Can West March style campaign. Each chapter will be run as a mini-campaign. Come play and you will progress through the chapters with a truly epic battle at 13th level. Join up and try the a chapter!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
The Theater of the Mind (audio 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. A pre-made character can be provided. Some players also enjoy the background music and effects of Syrinscape. A free account is now required for you to log into the site. Once you have the free account, a pregame link will provide you the immersive sounds. While fun, the music and sounds are not required.
What Mark brings to the table
Decades of Experience running a multitude of games and game systems both for fun and professionally as part of team building operations. Ready access to discuss the campaign, concerns and questions. I will be available through discord to answer questions. Players who need direct assistance can schedule a time to chat directly. Each layer will be provided with a direct and private means of communication. Access to relevant books and rules will be provided. Custom and Curated Battlemaps. Battle maps and tokens will be provided on Owlbear Rodeo. I will also provide maps and images as needed on Discord. NPCs with Motivations, Likes/Dislikes, Personalities, Quirks...no more cardboard standees. Tactical Combat with Roleplay. Official Digitally Produced Adventures by the publishers. Premade Characters for anyone who wants them.
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, fleeting luck and modified critical hits...but we can play they way you want!
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Mark creates a safe table
Each player will be provided with a private Discord channel for the discussion of issues or concerns before, during and after sessions. The content warnings will vary depending on the game choice, but it is highly likely the game will have levels of violence involving player characters and non-player characters, with death always being a possibility. SAFETY TOOLS ・During Session 0 we will discuss Lines and Veils. ・A 10 minute break will occur roughly halfway through the session. Additional breaks are always available on request. ・Further details of all tool implementations are provided within the discord server. Feel free to ask any questions for clarification.
Content warnings
Safety tools used