Play by Post Descent to Avernus and the broken Chains of Hells
Dungeons & Dragons 5e | Campaign
About the adventure
š„ DESCENT INTO AVERNUS: and the Broken Chains of Hell š„ One of the most iconic cities in Dungeons & Dragons loreāElturelāhas fallen into the claws of devils. Its people, gripped by terror, scramble to save their souls, while others seek redemption... all trapped in a nightmare made real. But the devilsā greed knows no bounds: Baldurās Gate is next. In the Nine Hells, betrayal runs deep. Devils and demons turn on each other, while desperate mortals strike dark bargains, selling their souls for fleeting power. The chains of Hell strain and rattle, threatening to break free and unleash an infernal tideācunning devils and loathsome demons, hungry for souls, clawing their way into the world above. You are the last hope. As heroes, you must fight not only for your own souls but for the countless lost. Youāll face ruthless infernal forces, learn the secrets of devilish contracts, and protect Baldurās Gate from being dragged down into the abyss. Like an old devil once whispered: "Whatās worse than a devil you donāt know? A devil you do." The chains of Hell are groaning... ready to snap. Will you stop them in time? Can you save Baldurās Gateāand the entire Sword Coastāfrom Avernusā wrath? āļø Adventure Details: For 3 to 6 players. Heavy roleplaying and teamwork are essentialāsurvival depends on it. Levels 1 to 13+ epic journey. Special rules will be discussed during Session 0. Perfectly welcoming to new players! Weāll play using the 2024 D&D rules. Your nightmare begins soon. Will you rise to the challengeāor fall with the rest? š What Is a Play-by-Post D&D Game? š In a play-by-post Dungeons & Dragons game, we tell the story through written posts rather than live sessions. Instead of gathering around a table or hopping on voice chat, each player writes their characterās actions, thoughts, and dialogue as part of an ongoing narrative, like a collaborative novel or roleplay thread. Hereās how it works: š¬ You post what your character does or says (and sometimes what they think). š² The š DM (thatās me!) responds with world details, NPC reactions, and outcomes. ā° You donāt need to post at the exact same time ā you can check in once or twice a day (or more, depending on our pace) and add to the story. ā Dice rolls, combat, and skill checks happen in the posts ā weāll handle those in a streamlined way. Itās great if you: š Want a flexible schedule (no need to set a live meeting time). āļø Enjoy writing and roleplaying your characterās personality, backstory, and choices. š Love building a detailed, slow-burning story with the rest of the group. Think of it as writing a D&D story together
Game style
Play By Post
Play By Post refers to a game in which players interact with the story through messages and text posts. These games are typically played asynchronously throughout the week, which gives players time to consider what they want to do next, and engage with the story at their own pace.
Roleplay Heavy
āRoleplay Heavyā games place the focus on the story, the characters, and the world they live within, and tend to lean hard into the various roleplaying elements of the game. These games will frequently find the party talking with NPCs, exploring the personal elements of their backstories, or even having emotional moments around the camp fire.
Rule of Cool (RoC)
āRule of Coolā emphasizes creative story beats over sticking to a systemās rules as written. Players have the ability to push the limits of the rules or even break core rule mechanics at times if the Game Master thinks it is interesting, fun, or cool enough.
Combat Heavy
āCombat Heavyā games emphasize the combat mechanics within their systems over roleplay or puzzle solving. There are frequent and longer battles with enemies and a greater emphasis on tactical game play.
1 year on StartPlaying
88 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Knows the Rules
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
Additional details
How to prepare
How Should Your Players Prepare? To join this play-by-post game, players will need: š» A Device for Posting: You can play using a PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone ā whatever works best for you to check in regularly and write posts comfortably. A larger screen (like a PC or tablet) can make things easier when reading maps or longer posts, but itās not required. š Internet Access: A stable internet connection is important so you can access D&D Beyond, our play-by-post platform (like Discord or a forum), and Owlbear Rodeo for maps. š D&D Beyond Account: Youāll need a free D&D Beyond account to create your character and access shared materials through the campaign link I provide. š° A Bit of Time and Enthusiasm: Play-by-post works best when players check in once or twice a day (or as we agree) and stay engaged in the shared story. Bring your creativity, patience, and excitement to build a fun experience together! š Discord Account (Required): Weāll be playing through a dedicated Discord server, so make sure you have a free Discord account and are familiar with navigating channels and replying in threads. āļø Mindset: Bring your creativity, your character, and your curiosity. Play-by-post is slower-paced but rich with story and emotion ā it shines when players are invested in the narrative and each other.
What I provide
š§ Flexible, Organized Play-by-Post ā Designed for Busy Schedules Step into a rich, story-driven world where your imagination shapes the adventure ā all on your own time. Whether youāre checking in once per day or several times throughout, the story keeps moving. š Play Anytime ā Post when it works for you: once or multiple times a day, on your schedule š¬ Ongoing, Organized Narrative ā I maintain steady pacing with daily DM updates, structured threads, and clear prompts ā Join Anytime ā No fixed start dates; new players can seamlessly enter the campaign at any point šļø Streamlined Gameplay ā Scenes, locations, and encounters are clearly organized in channels so you can jump in without confusion š¤ Consistent DM Support ā Iām active daily to respond, guide, and keep the world alive, so youāre never left waiting Whether you're in a different timezone, have a variable work schedule, or just prefer thoughtful storytelling over voice games, this format is crafted to support and engage you ā reliably and at your pace. What I Bring to the Game As your DM, I provide a full set of tools and resources to create an immersive, smooth, and engaging experience: š² D&D Beyond Access: I share access to my D&D Beyond content, including all official sourcebooks, character options, spells, items, and monsters ā making character creation and reference easy for everyone. šŗ Custom Maps and Tokens: I prepare custom maps and tokens, which we use on Owlbear Rodeo for a clean, easy-to-use virtual tabletop (VTT) experience. Whether itās tense dungeon crawls, city intrigue, or wild overland travel, the maps are designed to bring the world to life. š Storytelling and Roleplay Focus: My GM style is all about bringing players together through roleplaying ā I work to create meaningful moments that encourage characters to bond, care about each other, and develop both individually and as a group. I shape the story around player choices and help everyone contribute to building a fun, collaborative narrative. āļø Smooth Mechanics and Pacing: I handle the mechanical side ā from managing encounters to keeping track of initiative and rules ā so players can focus on the roleplay, exploration, and fun. Overall, I aim to create a welcoming, story-rich environment where everyone feels valued, involved, and excited to see what happens next.
Gameplay details
Lines and Veils Document: Before the game begins, I will send out a digital Lines and Veils document (usually as a Google Form or shared doc) where players can privately note any topics they want excluded entirely (Lines) or faded to black (Veils). This document stays available throughout the campaign, and players can update it anytime. In Session 0, we will cover: ā Group expectations (including tone, pace, and play style) ā Lines, Veils, and allowed themes ā Character creation and party dynamics ā How conflict between characters is handled (with consent!) ā Scheduling, pacing, and communication channels
Content warnings
Safety tools used
⢠Breaks
⢠Lines and Veils
⢠Session 0
⢠Stars and Wishes
⢠X, N, and O Cards
How will character creation work
Character Creation For this play-by-post game, hereās how weāll handle character creation: š Where & How: Characters will be created on D&D Beyond using the shared campaign link I provide. This gives everyone access to all the official content I own, making it easy to build your character with the right options and tools. š² Stats: Weāll use rolled stats (Iāll provide the method and rolling instructions), so everyone starts with a unique and flavorful build. š Starting Level: All players will begin at Level 1, giving us time to grow into your characters and develop their stories naturally. š Allowed Books & Content: You can use anything from the official D&D Beyond content I share. If you want to bring in third-party material or homebrew, just check with me first so we can keep things balanced and fair. ā° When: Weāll handle character creation during Session 0 ā this will also serve as a training session where we practice using the play-by-post tools, posting style, and pacing. That way, everyone feels comfortable before we dive into the main story.
Players can expect
Combat / Tactics
Medium
Roleplay
High
Puzzles
Low
Experience level
Beginner
Platforms used
⢠D&D Beyond
⢠Owlbear Rodeo
$10.00
/ Session
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Details
Weekly / Monday - 4:00 PM UTC
168 Hour Duration
0 / 6 Seats Filled
Requirements
Experience required: Beginner
Age: 18+