Intrigue at Thorneweald | Beginners Welcome! | Custom Adventure
A pulp-noir murder mystery in grim fantasy: Navigate rain-slick cobblestones and search for rumors in smoky taverns in a race against the clock!
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Sunday - 12:00 AM UTC
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
1 / 6 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
Imagine Sin City (the 2005 film), or the Maltese Falcon (the 1941 film), along some Conan the Barbarian pulp-ish shenanigans, in a medieval-style world that feels like Tim Burton’s Batman (the 1989 film). Then think pulp-noir meets grim fantasy: rain-slick cobblestones, smoky taverns, whispered rumors, and a ticking clock toward the solstice. Every clue is a breadcrumb, every ally a liability, and every night a razor-edge between investigation and annihilation. Will the group expose the truth, and claim the bounty? Or will the darkness that stalks Thorneweald swallow them whole? The CLOCK IS TICKING, and the answer lies in the shadows you dare to lighten up in this murder-mystery game. IN THIS CAMPAIGN: 🩸Darkness is a blade that cuts flesh. Nighttime is a deathtrap, unless you carry a flame! 🩸Magic is a whispered myth; those who wield it are feared, reviled, or hidden. 🩸You are part of a guild, a rag-tag band of everyday folk who have grown tired of the day-to-day toil. Throw your lot in with the town adventure guild and solve this mystery.
Game style
Combat Lite
Hexcrawl / Exploration
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Roleplay Lite
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(11)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
4 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Storytelling
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hey there, I'm Matt! I'm a pretty busy family man, father of 3 kids ages 10 and under, but I've always set aside time for TTRPGs which have been a part of my life since high school years. At every step of life I've managed to maintain my status as a "career GM," even sometimes running games for my kids. I've GM'd games at GenCon independently, full-time, for the past 4 years. My game interests tend towards simpler, 'indie' kind of games. Examples are Shadowdark, 'Borgs, Cairne, Dragonbane, Mothership, Alien RPG, Liminal Horror, and so forth.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Please create a LEVEL TWO Shadowdark character following the core rules. All "official" published material can be used, and I HIGHLY recommend shadowdarklings.net to guide you. If you need assistance, please contact me on Discord @ grimkok.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
In addition to your fresh character, the game will be organized on a Discord server and played on Owlbear Rodeo. You will need a good internet connection and a decent microphone and webcam.
What Matt brings to the table
Campaign management on Discord Recommended soundtrack/listening
Homebrew rules
Initiative - We use side-based initiative rules Torch Timer - Light sources work on a USAGE DIE, not a real-time timer. However, for this adventure, time tracking will be an essential part of the story!
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Webcam
Platforms used
Safety
How Matt creates a safe table
As a general rule, as a GM I employ Lines and Veils. Please note that Bigotry, Racism, Sexual Content, and real-world politics are NEVER allowed. For specific Lines and Veils, I keep an open door policy and invite all players to discuss as needed. Any player can call for a break at any time as needed.
Content warnings
Safety tools used