Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
Mysterious dreams and a vanished child draw you to Phandalin—where a shattered obelisk whispers of ancient madness beneath the earth.
$15.00
/ Session
Details
4 players following this game
Bi-weekly / Sunday - 1:30 AM UTC
Oct 25 / Session 24
Session Duration / 2–2.5 hours
6 / 7 Seats Filled
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
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Schedule
Meet your party members
6/7
About the adventure
Welcome to Phandalin—a rugged frontier town on the edge of civilization, where old legends lie buried beneath crumbling ruins and friendly smiles may hide darker truths. What begins as a simple job escorting a wagon will spiral into a sprawling tale of lost mines, ancient secrets, and a rising madness that threatens the very fabric of reality. This adventure starts with a reimagined take on The Lost Mine of Phandelver, a beloved classic that eases you into the world of Dungeons & Dragons—and then plunges you into a second half of cosmic horror, as shadowy cults and otherworldly forces emerge from beneath the earth. Guided by a seasoned Dungeon Master who specializes in teaching new players and crafting collaborative stories, this campaign is all about your choices, your creativity, and your character’s journey from humble beginnings to hero—or something far stranger.
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(30)
3 years on StartPlaying
373 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Beginner Friendly, Inclusive
Average response time: 13 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Well met, adventurers! I'm Avner, and whether you're brand new to tabletop role-playing or continuing a long journey, I'm thrilled to share a table with you. I started DMing 10 years ago when I got tired of waiting for someone else to run a D&D game and decided to learn how myself — and I've been immersed in the hobby ever since. In my three years on StartPlaying I've hosted over 300+ games and counting, and I've done my best to soak up every system I can get my hands on. My dice-rolling journey started with Warhammer Quest and HeroQuest, and these days I run and love 5e and the new 2024 D&D, Star Wars RPG, Pathfinder, Genesys, Cypher, World of Darkness, and many more. What ties them all together is the thing I care about most: players telling a shared story, with highs and lows that create memories lasting years. I've played in just about every format there is — dice around a kitchen table, across a camera, on Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds, and plenty of hard-fought play-by-post. If there's a way to play, I've probably tried it. What I bring to a table isn't just rules knowledge — it's a polished, immersive game with custom maps, atmospheric audio, written recaps so no one loses the thread, and a story we build together. I'd love the chance to bring that to you.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Character creation will occur during session zero. We will be using the 2024 Dungeons and Dragons rules, although there will be an opportunity for players to use materials from 2014 that have not yet been updated. We will use D&D Beyond to create our characters and a campaign link will be shared so that I can share materials with the players who do not have access to them. We will use an import tool to import them in Fantasy Grounds.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Have a Mic and a stable internet connection.
What Avner brings to the table
I will be providing my experience as a seasoned Dungeon Master, materials in D&D Beyond and the content on the Virtual Tabletop, professional Maps, ambient music provided through Kenku FM as well as a Discord Server for communication during and in between sessions. Although I am not a voice actor, I do my best to provide character voices that are genuine and immersive. I am a story based DM who will aspire to make you feel a deep emotional connection to the story where your choices matter and drive the plot and characters experience forward. I will use the rules as a foundation to build on, but I do make decisions that will increase the player experience and help drive the story forward when the moment strikes. I strive to provide a rewarding and fulfilling D&D experience.
Equipment needed to play
Microphone
Internet
Computer
Platforms used
Safety
How Avner creates a safe table
Lines and Veils Document: Before the campaign begins, I will share a Lines and Veils document where players can set clear boundaries on what content they want to avoid (Lines) and what content they are comfortable with if it remains off-screen (Veils). This will be updated as needed throughout the campaign. 🛠 Session 0 Discussion: We will dedicate Session 0 to setting expectations, reviewing content warnings, and discussing safety tools. During this session, we’ll also go over player backstories, discuss character motivations, and ensure everyone is on the same page regarding the tone of the campaign. ✋ X, N, & O Cards: We will use digital safety tools to ensure that everyone feels comfortable at all times: X (Stop): Used when something needs to stop immediately. N (Pause): Used to indicate discomfort and request a tone shift or scene change. O (OK): Used to affirm that everyone is comfortable and enjoying the scene. These signals can be sent through private messages or via video chat gestures, depending on the platform. ❤️ Aftercare: After each session, I will offer aftercare time where players can debrief and share their thoughts about what happened in the session. This is especially important in a campaign with emotionally charged content. Players are encouraged to voice concerns, ask questions, or simply talk about the story’s impact on their characters.
Content warnings
Safety tools used