Ashendell Vale | Spooky Autumnal Folklore Campaign | D&D 5e 2024
In Ashendell Vale the Fog has come too soon. It creeps onto every road. Only Hunters dare enter to protect the Vale and hope to return.
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Tuesday - 7:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–5 hours
Campaign Length / Up to 40 Sessions
2 / 5 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
2/5
About the adventure
There is a valley caged by Fog. Ashendell Vale is no kingdom. It has no crown, no armies, no city walls. It is a hearthrealm: a gathering of villages cradled within the mountains and bound together by kinship and tradition. The Vale’s people live close to the land, and closer still to story. Here, folklore is alive. Every tale told by firelight is remembered, for in the Vale, stories have power. And above all stories stands the Fog. It is the keeper of seasons, the warden of borders, the breath of the valley itself. In autumn it descends, in winter it holds fast, and in spring it lifts again. And each year, at the turning of seasons, the Hunters’ Rite begins. Chosen from their families, youths step into the Fog to guard the Vale and protect the balance. Their task is simple to name but harder to bear: protect the Vale. Watch the mists. Return if you can. This year, the Fog comes too soon. Heavy and restless, it swallows roads, snuffs lanterns, and whispers the Hunters’ names back to them like a promise—or a warning. The rhythm of the seasons falters. If the Fog arrives before its time, who can say if it will lift again when spring comes? Ashendell Vale is a longform Dungeons & Dragons 5e campaign where fantasy and folklore meet the uncanny. It is a story of family, chosen and found. Of folklore come alive, nursery rhymes, myths, legends and songs. And it is a story of balance, of nature and ourselves. Inspired by the Irish and Scottish Highlands, Practical Magic, Halloweentown, the Hobbit and Princess Mononoke. Full of autumnal, whimsical and spooky vibes. This campaign will also use the materials of Grim Hollow and Crooked Moon. This is the year the seasons stopped. The year the Fog lingered. The story of Ashendell Vale waits to be told. And you, the Hunters, must step inside it.
Game style
Hexcrawl / Exploration
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Theater of the Mind
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Realm Building
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(10)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
29 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Storytelling, World Builder
Average response time: 24+ hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Howdy, adventurers! I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember. Before TTRPGs I built whole worlds out of notebooks, running games for friends everywhere from the playground to dinner parties just for the joy of it. When I discovered tabletop roleplaying, everything clicked: the characters, the drama, the laughter, the heartbreak. I’m a literature and editing major, a published author, and a freelance editor/writer. But my favorite title will always be Game Master. Right now I run seven ongoing campaigns, all set in my own immersive homebrew worlds, places full of mystery, whimsy and emotional depth. My tables are beginner-friendly, narrative focused and roleplay-heavy. Whether you’re rolling your very first d20 or you’re a veteran who loves complex character arcs, my goal is the same: to create games that feel alive, cinematic, and unforgettable. I bring in custom maps, music, handouts, lore, and homebrewed mechanics to make every session feel like you’ve stepped into a story that you get to help write. If you’re looking for a reliable GM who blends immersive storytelling, strong roleplay, and epic adventure, you’re in the right place. Let’s tell a story worth remembering.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We’ll begin with a free Session Zero, where we’ll discuss tone, story, rules, safety tools, and create characters together. After Session Zero, I’ll schedule a 1-on-1 with each player to dive deeper into backstories and weave them into the campaign. - Starting Level: 3 - Stats: Rolled during Session Zero (4d6, drop the lowest) - Tools: Characters will be created on D&D Beyond - Ruleset: D&D 5e (2024 rules), Player’s Handbook applies - Important Note: Characters will come of age during Session 1, and they must be from within Ashendell Vale. All species and classes are available, however. This approach ensures everyone starts on equal footing and gives each character a personal tie to the story before play begins.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Before play begins, please make sure you have the following ready: - Discord account: all sessions are run via Discord video & audio. You’ll be invited to a private Discord server with all players and the GM after joining; - D&D Beyond account (for character sheets and actual play); - Above VTT installed and added to your browser (we’ll use it for maps & dice); - Dice: I allow physical and digital dice. Honor system applies; - Headphones recommended to avoid audio feedback; - Webcam and microphone required (your computer/device default is fine). That’s all you need to get started, everything else will be handled together in Session Zero.
What Whimsy Izzie brings to the table
As your DM, my focus is always story first, mechanics second, with plenty of room for the Rule of Cool. Expect a balance between roleplay, exploration, and combat, where the mechanics support the story we’re building together. Here’s what you can look forward to: - Handouts & Lore: Custom lore documents, house rules, and campaign notes to keep you immersed. - Homebrew Content: Unique items, spells, and mechanics crafted to fit your characters’ concepts and backstories. If you dream it, I’ll help you bring it to life. - Atmosphere: Music, maps, slideshows, and reference art to bring the world to life in every session. - Style: I use character voices (try!), descriptive narration, and cinematic storytelling to create an epic, immersive experience. My goal is to make every player feel like the hero of their own story while weaving everyone together into something greater than the sum of its parts.
Homebrew rules
I use a small set of homebrew rules to enhance storytelling and cinematic play. All of these will be explained in detail during Session Zero, but here are the highlights: - Death Moves: Inspired by Daggerheart, characters at 0 HP face dramatic choices when they risk death, making it a narrative moment rather than just dice rolls. - In-Combat Dialogue: Short in-character exchanges are always allowed during combat, banter, threats, or tactical calls keep the story alive even in the heat of battle. - Rule of Cool: Creative ideas that fit the story and character will often bend the rules in your favor. - Story-First Adjudication: If a mechanical question arises, narrative impact comes first, RAW comes second. Additional optional rules and safety tools will be covered in Session Zero so everyone is on the same page before we dive in.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Webcam
Headphones
Platforms used
Safety
How Whimsy Izzie creates a safe table
Player safety and comfort are a top priority in my games. We’ll always start with a Session Zero to set expectations, establish tone, and review safety tools together. The tools I use include: - Lines & Veils; - X, N, and O Cards - used as a streelight system of Green, Yellow and Red. - Open Door Policy - Players may step away at any time, no explanation required; - Breaks - To keep everyone comfortable we take one long break in the middle of the session and several short breaks throughout and when needed; - Aftercare - We ALWAYS close with Aftercare and Debriefing (15–30 minutes after each session). This space allows us to cool down from intense scenes, talk about highlights, and check in with each other as people, not just characters. The goal is for everyone to feel safe exploring heavy themes and surreal storylines while knowing there’s a strong safety net in place.
Content warnings
Safety tools used