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Can You Survive? (Hold Back the Dead One-Shot)
As a horde of undead approaches Ironspine Keep, can you hold the line? Or, will you fall at the hands of the undead?
Free
Details
Once / Saturday - 10:00 PM UTC
Aug 16
Session Duration / 4–6 hours
5 / 5 Seats Filled
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Schedule
Meet your party members
5/5
About the adventure
This One-Shot is based on Dungeons and Dragons' Hold Back the Dead, with minor homebrew for items and weapons for players. As Adventurers, you have received a message calling for aid. To help guard a fortress out in the Western Heartlands of Faerûn from a potential attack A relentless undead horde, their hollow eyes aglow with malevolence, a relentless undead horde advances with chilling precision. Each footstep echoes with the memories of lives long extinguished, raised from their graves by the dark sorcery of the malevolent Lich Szass Tam. The air hangs thick with despair, as the scent of decay mingles with tension on the wind. Can you muster the fortitude to hold the line against such a tide of despair? The fate of many rests upon your shoulders, poised at the precipice of dread and determination. As heroes you’ve been tasked with defending a section of the fortress walls from encroaching monsters, or the region will fall to Szass Tam’s tide of death.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Rules as Written (RaW)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
4 games hosted
Highly rated for: World Builder, Rule of Cool, Creativity
About me
Hello! I’m Jon, and I’ve been a player of Dungeons and Dragons for more than 20 years. Throughout this time, I’ve explored countless worlds, crafted a range of characters, and shared unforgettable adventures with friends. For the past four years, I’ve taken on the role of Game Master, where I’ve enjoyed the challenge of creating an original-immersive world and guiding my players through epic quests based on their backstories. Each session brings a new opportunity for creativity and collaboration. I love watching my players become fully engaged in the stories we build together and push the bounds of their characters' capabilities.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Each player will have the opportunity to create a level 4 character. We will use the standard array for ability scores, ensuring a balanced foundation for your character’s abilities. We will be using the 2024 rules, but you may use official content species, classes, or subclasses listed under the 2014 rules if unavailable in the 2024 ruleset. Third-party content will be allowed upon approval. Please also select a free feat of your choice within feat restrictions. Please also choose one blue/Rare items, and three green/Uncommon items. As well as two common potions of healing. As this is a one-shot, please have fun with your backstories. While they may not play a massive role in the story, they are still great for helping you flesh out your character. They can be as long or short as you wish.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
You will need a microphone and a secure internet connection. You will first receive an invitation link to join the Discord server. Once you’re a member, you’ll find additional resources, including a link to the campaign page where you can create your characters. A safety tool checklist outlining essential safety measures and guidelines will also be available to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for all participants.
What The Astral Table brings to the table
I provide custom maps and tokens to enhance our gameplay experience, along with curated content from D&D Beyond to ensure we have the most up-to-date resources at our fingertips. Additionally, I incorporate ambient music to set the mood and immerse us in the world we’re exploring. While we'll primarily stick to the Rules as Written to maintain consistency and fairness, I believe in embracing the Rule of Cool whenever it enhances the story or experience. This means that if a player's creative idea adds excitement and fun to our session, I'm all for bending the rules to make it happen. Let's make our adventures memorable!
Homebrew rules
Spells: Hunter's Mark is NOT concentration. Spiritual Weapon 2014 edition. Potions: Potion of Angelic Slumber is not an option to choose during item selection.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How The Astral Table creates a safe table
I will share a link for you to join the Discord server, where we’ll discuss campaign details and connect with each other. Additionally, I will send a link to our D&D Beyond campaign page, which will contain all the resources and character sheets you’ll need. Before we kick off our first session, I’ll also provide a safety tool checklist. Please make sure to complete this checklist, as it’s important for ensuring everyone feels comfortable and safe during our adventures together.
Content warnings
Safety tools used