Image by Marius Bota
Grim Hollow - The Beast of Etharis - Custom Campaign
In the grimdark world of Etharis, a mysterious creature known only as 'The Beast' has appeared in Etharis with a consort of other nightmares!
About the adventure
The gods are dead & 'The Beast' has appeared, letting a cavalcade of monsters loose on the world. This campaign is for players who love the dark fantasy RPG style of GoT or The Witcher. This campaign plunges you into the brutal, unforgiving world of Etharis, where the stench of gunpowder mixes with the ever-present aroma of decay. The world stands on the brink of war all whilst a mysterious monstrosity known as 'The Beast' has appeared causing havoc wherever it treads. The gods have all fallen & the growing Arcane Inquisition wishes to wipe magic off the face of Etharis. A primordial being may awake to end the world & the lich princess may awake from her slumber. The landscape is unforgiving & the residents live in perpetual fear. This adventure embraces player agency. Your characters' choices will shape the narrative, influencing the fate of entire regions and the people within them. The work I put in is designed to encourage roleplaying and meaningful character development. Your decisions will determine who lives, who dies, and the ultimate destiny of Etharis itself. Key Features: New Subclasses: Brand new subclasses for the grimdark world of Etharis, maybe you'll try sangromancy & use the new blood spells? Or a Vermin Ranger & have your rats eat your enemies alive? New Enemies: Tired of the typical D&D monsters? Face off against horrifying new creatures born from dark alchemy, blood rituals, evil fey, or plucked from the nightmares of children. Advanced Warfare: Master the deadly art of blackpowder weaponry and an exotic arsenal you'll need to kill monsters & feel like a badass. Tough Choices: Navigate a world where survival demands compromise and forces you to confront your own darkness. Brutal Combat: Combat will test your might & strategic minds as you face off against an array of monsters and villains with a few tricks up their own sleeve. Guts & Gore: A highly descriptive GM with masterful improvisation skills to ensure that the world is detailed & that final killing blow feels oh so satisfying. Character-Driven Narrative: Your choices, alliances, and actions shape the narrative in a meaningful way. Voices: I will implement my wide array of accents & impressions so each NPC feels fresh & dynamic. Embark on a journey where survival is a victory and every choice carries a heavy price. The fate of Etharis hangs in the balance...
Game style
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Organized Play
Game themes
$25.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Thursday – 5:30 PM UTC
3–4 Hour Duration
2 / 6 Seats Filled
GAME MASTER
Joey The DM
he/him
5.0
(22)
Each player will be charged when a session starts.
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(22)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
52 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Teacher, Voices
Average response time: 6 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hello, my name is Joe, I'm 28 years old & I have been a DM for the past 6 years running both games online through roll20 & in real life. I have had overwhelmingly positive feedback from my many players which has prompted me to start hosting games on here. I am a fair & enthusiastic DM who promises a compelling story with a clear, concise narrative with plenty of whacky characters & voices along the way. I'm confident 2 sessions & my stories will have you hooked, however if I'm not the DM for you I understand & so I would like to offer the first 2 sessions of any campaign I run for free so if you aren't satisfied with my DM'ing, you haven't wasted any money. Don't be shy, say hello & let's embark on original & unforgettable adventures.
View Profile →Reviews (22)
Proficiencies
Players say this GM is great at:
Storytelling
Teacher
Voices
Petar
Played 18 sessions
Joey is a super fun and easygoing DM, does voices, remains in character, and creates an overall chill vibe. He gives all players and ample amount of attention, and encourages creativity.
Andre
New review
Played 15 sessions
Just finished the Lost Mines of Phandelver with Joey! Joey is an amazing DM, very patient and understanding with players trying to figure out what all their spells do. Joey puts in a lot of time and effort to ensure that the players have fun and are challenged just enough. His voice acting is excellent wither he's voicing NPC's, PC's who had scheduling conflicts or Giant Spiders!! It's unfortunate that StartPlaying only allows me to choose 3 tags to define Joey as a DM because he quite literally encompasses all available tags! If you are a seasoned D&D player, if you're new or just want to try it out I HIGHLY recommend you secure yourself a spot in one of Joey's upcoming games! I will definitely continue to trust Joey with leading future campaigns!
Matt
Played 12 sessions
Joey is an incredibly talented at enabling brand new players & hardened TTRPG veterans with his warm charm. Joey is able to easily create an immersive experience for each player through the utilization of character unique voices and vivid descriptions of every action, environment, and character. I would strongly recommend Joey as a DM for any TTRPG at any skill level.
Nathaniel
Played 12 sessions
Currently playing through Curse of Strahd with Joey the DM. Each session is infused with gothic dread, thanks to Joey's vivid descriptions and curated music. The atmosphere he creates is immersive, drawing us into Barovia. One of Joey's standout talents lies in his character voices. Each voice he crafts brings the tortured inhabitants of Barovia alive, making every interaction memorable and engaging. As every Dungeon Master knows, players often throw unexpected curve balls—be it through an unconventional action or a peculiar question. Joey handles these moments with remarkable skill and adaptability. He always strives to help the players achieve their goals or suggests alternatives that are fair, enjoyable, and logical within the context of the story. This flexibility not only keeps the narrative cohesive but also makes every decision feel meaningful and rewarding. In short, Joey the DM is a great Dungeon Master, and I can’t recommend him highly enough for anyone looking for an unforgettable Dungeons & Dragons experience.
Spencer Conklin
Played 12 sessions
Genuinely creative, fun, and passionate D.M. Looking forward to more sessions.
Chrissy
New review
Played 9 sessions
I've now had a number of sessions with Joey and I am so glad that I joined his group. He has made it a welcoming, fun - and funny - experience to join in on. Im still learning and he has an endless well of patience, but also, a good deal of excitement for his players to have a fantastic time. It's a safe, fun environment. His voices and atmosphere are amazing. He works so hard to ensure that we have as many maps as possible and he takes the time to let the story breathe. Truly, one of the most fun blocks of my week!
Character creation
Creating your character
Signing up to the game I will give you a link to my DND Beyond which will contain all the source material required so you can create a Grim Hollow character for the campaign following the specific Players Guide. Stats will be rolled at the free Session 0 game, live in view of everyone, followed by a discussion on what everyone is intending to play. We will be starting at Level 5. In terms of assistance with backstory I will also be doing one to ones with all the players so I can make my own notes & offer feedback so we can build an amazing character together that you will be excited to play every week & most importantly, not get killed!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
In preparation you will need: - DND Beyond Account - Roll20 Account - Laptop - Microphone - Video camera is optional - Discord Account - To have read through the Grim Hollow players guide & have a clear understanding of the mechanics of your character. - A Level 5 character ready for session 1, this will be covered in Session 0
What Joey The DM brings to the table
Utilising Roll20 players can expect: - Battle Maps with Dynamic Lighting - A dynamic custom campaign that will change with player choices - A well-spoken, imaginative, borderline twisted narrator - Player & Monster tokens - Source material for Grim Hollow provided - Detailed knowledge of the lore of Etharis - Gore, a lot of it - Ambient & thematic music - Character voices & good times - Bad times for your character - The rogue will steal something - The wizard will cast Fireball - Monsters... probably
Homebrew rules
- Drinking a potion is a bonus action - Custom transformations are covered in the players guide & new weapon mechanics are also covered there.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Joey The DM creates a safe table
During session 0 we will start with introductions, then I will be handing each player a copy of the RPG consent checklist to be filled out. We will then head onto character discussion before crafting your very own. Then a final debrief of confirmation of repeating play dates.
