Ashes Beneath the Laurel: Elder Level Chronicle
Rome still stands, but its balance is failing. As elders, you must decide which pillar breaks first and what rises from the ruin you engineer.
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LANGUAGE
EXPERIENCE
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$20.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Friday - 3:30 AM UTC
Feb 20 / Session 2
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
2 / 4 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
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About the adventure
I have watched Rome argue with itself for longer than any marble remembers its own name. In the Senate, voices rise and fall like ritual tides. They think persuasion is born in the moment, that the right speech turns the wheel of history. They do not see the months of whispering beforehand, the debts called in quietly, the omens arranged to be misread. I do. I arrange where the wind blows, then listen as men congratulate themselves for feeling it on their cheeks. Caesar is not the storm. He is the pressure change that tells the wise to shutter their homes. I see it in the way senators cling to precedent while selling tomorrow piece by piece. I see it in the legions, no longer loyal to Rome but to the promise of victory embodied in one man’s shadow. I see it in the streets, where faith fractures and hunger invents new gods nightly. Rome still stands, yes, but it stands like an old colossus whose knees have begun to ache. This is where you exist. Not at the moment of collapse, but at the long, indulgent inhale before it. ⸻ Ashes Beneath the Laurel is an Elder-level Dark Ages: Vampire 20th Anniversary Edition chronicle set during the rise of Julius Caesar, when the Republic remains intact in name but is already failing in spirit. This is a game about power that has lasted too long and systems that only endure because immortals keep propping them up out of habit. Players take the roles of ancient Cainites who are integral to Rome’s stability. You are patrons of senatorial houses, unseen masters of military loyalty, architects of cults and commerce, and keepers of traditions older than the Republic itself. You do not scramble for influence. You are influence, and the question is how much longer your structures can survive the pressures you helped create. The chronicle centers on the balance of Rome’s Three Pillars: Senate, Legions, and Faith. Each decision you make subtly strengthens one while weakening another. There are no sudden catastrophes, only consequences that mature over years and decades. You will not witness Rome fall quickly. You will feel it decay in negotiations that grow sharper, alliances that feel more desperate, and victories that cost more than expected. This is a game of foresight, manipulation, and restraint. Of elders who believe they can guide history without being dragged by it. Of watching a mortal world slip toward something inevitable while deciding whether to preserve it, reshape it, or quietly prepare for what comes after. Rome will not shatter overnight. But you already know how this story ends. The only mystery left is whose fingerprints history will find beneath the dust.
Meet the Game Master
1 year on StartPlaying
87 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Knows the Rules, Teacher
About me
Welcome, storytellers, schemers, and seekers of strange worlds! I’m a GM with 7+ years of experience crafting immersive, character-driven stories across a wide variety of systems and settings. Whether you’re here for grimdark horror, noir intrigue, cosmic dread, or a chaotic romp through a world of wild adventure, I’ve got you covered. My greatest joy as a Game Master is creating a space where players feel empowered to shape the world and make bold, unforgettable choices. I’m deeply familiar with the World of Darkness in all its beautiful, brooding glory: Vampire, Mage, Hunter, Demon, Mummy, and more. From twisted political games in the night-haunted cities to the haunting path of the Fallen, I know the splats, the lore, and the mechanics inside and out. But that’s just the beginning. I also run: • Dungeons & Dragons (5e & 3.5) • Pathfinder (1e & 2e) • Mutants & Masterminds • Masks: A New Generation • Blades in the Dark • Call of Cthulhu • …and a wide range of other indie and mainstream systems. If you’re curious about a system not listed, just ask. Odds are, I’ve played it, run it, or I’m game to dive in and make it happen. Tone-wise, I have a strong love for dark, moody, and atmospheric stories, gothic horror, grim futures, supernatural conspiracies, but I’m just as comfortable with light-hearted adventures, heists, pulp action, or comedic fantasy. I’m flexible and love collaborating with players to hit the tone you want. Mechanically, I believe in the Rule of Cool. If the dice are grinding momentum to a halt, I’ll bend things to keep the story flowing. That said, I respect the system and know when to let mechanics shine. I’m patient, open to questions, and always happy to guide newer players or offer narrative tools to veterans looking to go deeper. My tables are collaborative, inclusive, and story-first. I’m big on session zero, safety tools, and making sure everyone’s voice matters, whether you’re a first-time player or a decades-long veteran. So if you’re looking for a GM who can: • Weave intricate plots with high stakes and rich lore • Pivot seamlessly between horror, humor, and heroism • Support your character’s personal journey while keeping the table engaged • And offer a professional, reliable, and player-focused experience. Then let’s tell a damn good story together.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
This is an Elder level Dark Ages: Vampire 20th Anniversary Edition chronicle. All player characters are ancient Cainites who have existed long enough to shape Rome’s institutions rather than merely survive within them. Characters should be at least several centuries old, with established domains, bloodlines, and influence networks embedded in the Republic’s political, military, or spiritual structures. Characters are created using Elder character rules, including additional Freebie Points and access to advanced Disciplines, Backgrounds, and Status appropriate to their age and reputation. Each character must be tied directly to at least one of Rome’s Three Pillars: the Senate, the Legions, or Faith and the Streets. These ties should reflect long term investments, not recent schemes. Clans should be chosen with consideration for their historical presence and philosophy in Roman society. Concepts should emphasize patience, legacy, and control rather than personal heroism. Your character has already made compromises that shaped history; this chronicle explores whether those compromises can still hold. Ambition is expected. So is restraint. You are not building a character who asks for power, but one who already has it and must now decide how much more the world can endure.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
This chronicle is a slow burn, politically heavy Elder game focused on long term consequences rather than immediate action. Players should come prepared to engage with intrigue, negotiation, and subtle manipulation, often over the span of years or decades of in game time. Reading up on the late Roman Republic and the rise of Caesar will help ground your character’s perspective, but exact historical knowledge is less important than understanding the themes of decay, balance, and inevitability. Sessions will be supported by Discord for out of character communication, scheduling, handouts, and between session intrigue. Private channels may be used for secret deals, long conspiracies, and elder level plotting. Roll20 will be used for character sheets, dice rolls, reference materials, and the occasional tactical or visual scene, though most play will be narrative driven. Come prepared with a clear sense of your character’s long term goals, what they fear losing, and which of Rome’s pillars they rely upon most. This is a game where patience matters. The more thought you put into who your elder is and how they maintain control, the richer the chronicle will become.
What Silas the Endless brings to the table
I will provide a fully realized Elder level chronicle set in Ancient Rome, grounded in Dark Ages: Vampire 20th Anniversary Edition lore and late Republican history. This includes a living political landscape where the Senate, Legions, and Faith are constantly shifting in response to player actions, with consequences that unfold gradually rather than immediately. Players will have access to detailed setting information, major NPC elders, mortal power figures, and faction agendas that evolve over time. I will supply curated handouts, timelines, maps, and reference material through Discord, along with private channels for secret dealings and long term schemes. Roll20 will host character sheets, dice rolling, and visual aids when needed. The game will emphasize meaningful choice, moral weight, and narrative continuity. Your decisions will shape Rome’s future, even when the results are not immediately visible. This is a chronicle built to reward patience, foresight, and careful play.
Equipment needed to play
Computer
Internet
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Silas the Endless creates a safe table
This chronicle deals with themes of power, corruption, decay, violence, and moral compromise in an ancient setting. Player comfort and trust are essential to exploring these ideas safely. Before play begins, we will hold a Session Zero to establish expectations, tone, and boundaries, including Lines and Veils to clearly define content that will not appear or will fade to black. An Open Door policy will always be in effect. Players may step away from a scene or session at any time without explanation. Breaks will be built into sessions, and additional pauses can be requested whenever needed. We will use clear out of character communication through Discord to check in between sessions and address concerns privately if desired. Player agency and consent will be respected in all scenes involving intense themes. The goal is a heavy, thoughtful chronicle, not discomfort. Safety is part of maintaining trust, and trust is what allows this game to explore the darkest corners of Rome without harm.
Content warnings
Safety tools used