Against the Abyss: Echoes of the Western Reaches
Torchlight flickers in the Western Reaches. Treasures, terrors, and ancient echoes await those bold enough to stand Against the Abyss.
About the adventure
The torchlight only pushes so far. The rest belongs to the abyss. Set in the grim and perilous Western Reaches, this long-term Shadowdark campaign blends deadly dungeon crawls, pulpy heroics, and classic fantasy danger. Whether you're a fresh torchbearer or a grizzled veteran, you'll dive into a world of cursed ruins, forgotten gods, and dark things that whisper from below. We’ll draw from the Cursed Scrolls, Western Reaches content, and hand-picked third-party modules to build a living world shaped by your choices. Expect brutal but fair combat, evocative exploration, and the thrill of earning every step forward.
Game style
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
$25.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Sunday – 1:00 AM UTC
3–5 Hour Duration
0 / 6 Seats Filled
GAME MASTER
Gareth
n/a
4.9
(12)
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Report Adventure
Meet the Game Master
4.9
(12)
1 year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, Voices, Rule of Cool
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hey there! I’m Gareth, and I’ve been rolling dice and building worlds for most of my life. My first brush with TTRPGs came through Dragon Dice by TSR—I didn’t know the rules, but the magic of it hooked me. That fascination turned into dungeon-crafting with Hero Quest, and eventually led to a lifelong love of storytelling and tabletop adventures. Over the years, I’ve played and explored a wide variety of games: Pathfinder 1e, D&D 3.5, Vampire, Werewolf, and more. I’ve been actively DMing since 2015 with the release of 5e, and I haven’t looked back. I see myself as both narrator and fellow player—we’re building the story together, not just playing through a script. I love improvising when the players go off the rails (which they always do), creating immersive environments with music and narration, and making sure everyone at the table is engaged—whether they love combat, RP, exploration, or just rolling shiny math rocks. I primarily run 5e, but I’m not bound to just one system. I pull from a wide range of 5e-compatible content, especially third-party publishers like Kobold Press. I also run Shadowdark, Vampire, Werewolf 5e, and dabble in Numenera, Blackbirds, Wrath & Glory, and Coyote & Crow. If it has cool mechanics and a great setting, I want to bring it to the table. Let’s roll some dice and tell a story worth remembering.
View Profile →Reviews (12)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Creativity
Voices
Rule of Cool
Benjamin Klein
Empowers and adapts to the players to do cool shit. Heightens every beat and detail.
Lisistala
Experienced leader, great voices and presence. Made me feel comfortable.
Storm Sternad
10/10
ianaria
If i could say one thing about this game master its that he’s goddamn creative. Makes wild and crazy stories with intense twists and overly like able npcs. He is one for the rule of cool if you wanna do it you can certainly try. He makes you wanna play for hours.
Michelle Aguilar
Very animated and interactive DM. It was my first time playing and he was very helpful and guided me through the game without giving anything away. I had a lot of fun!
Sierra Richards
Gareth is a fantastic GM for players of all experience. He's patient and helpful when explaining to new players how everything works but also great with experienced players! All of Gareth's campaigns are entertaining and fun to play through! He's fantastic at adapting to when things go drastically unexpected and keeps the flow moving. I'd recommend Gareth as a GM for any level of group or player because you're guaranteed to have a great adventure!
Character creation
Creating your character
Character creation will happen during session 0. All characters will start at level 1.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Players will need a Webcam and microphone. Alchemy and discord will also be needed for play. Reading the rules ahead of time is not required, but I strongly encourage players to familiarize themselves with the basic rules. I can provide a quick start guide upon request. If you want to create characters before session 0, that is fine as well, and I can provide any help you may need.
What Gareth brings to the table
As your GM, I bring a flexible, collaborative style to the table. I run the game with a strong "Rule of Cool" approach—player choices matter, and the world responds. I don’t get hung up on rules lawyering; instead, I focus on fun, flow, and immersion. You can expect: Dynamic combat with real risk and reward Improvised storytelling that reacts to your actions Theater of the mind with tactical clarity Original content pulled from third-party sources and Shadowdark’s best releases Character voices and immersive ambient music to bring the world to life A tone that blends gritty peril with heroic adventure Whether you're here for the thrill of the delve or the triumph of the story, you'll be part of shaping a dark and dangerous world that remembers your actions.
Homebrew rules
There are no homebrew rules at the start of the campaign, but based on player actions and requests that can change.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Gareth creates a safe table
We kick things off with a Session 0 to establish the world, tone, rules, and characters. It’s also a time to set expectations and ensure everyone’s on the same page. I don’t use formal safety tools like X/N/O or Lines & Veils, but I maintain an open-door policy—players are encouraged to message me privately at any time if something makes them uncomfortable or if they want to clarify anything. I take those messages seriously and will adjust as needed to keep the table fun and respectful. The goal is to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, heard, and excited to come back for more adventures.