Welcome to Noctem Arcanum Academy | A Dark Academia 18+
A darker take on Strixhaven-- you will be attending the infamous institution's rival; Noctem Arcanum Academy. Where the strongest, survive.
$30.00
/ Session
Details
Play by Post (Asynchronous)
Billed Weekly / Sunday - 9:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 2–5 hours
1 / 7 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
1/7
About the adventure
Good evening, lovely ghouls, gargoyles and everything in between! I am Willow, and hopefully I will be your DM for this adventure! I've been DMing for about 10 years now, and I'm ready to give 110%! This game was created with several inspirations in mind, and a few questions that were raised when running Strixhaven myself! Does Strix have any rival schools? What are THEY like? What would a D&D Durmstrang Institute (Harry Potter, for those who don't know) look like? With how wonderful and bright Strixhaven is, surely someone SOMEWHERE built a starkly contrasting university, surely! An idea came into fruition with a signature amount of inspiration material (Persona 5, Danganronpa, Harry Potter, Strixhaven, and Mash: Magic and Muscles). So, instead of an outright magic school only centered on that-- I've made my own! An overall adventurer institution that focuses on all classes equally! Teaching the dangers of being an adventurer, and not holding any hands in the process! We will be starting at level 3, homebrew is permitted (explained in FAQ), ToTM WILL be present-- but I do my best to provide maps! In addition, I have content prepared for up to (and beyond, should you want it) level 20! That said, I have no idea how long this game will be. It depends on you, the players, and your progression rate! || More additional game context! || In the valley of a long forgotten mountain range, between the ever-lurking mists that never seem to fade, stands Noctem Arcanum Academy. A questionable, but nevertheless proud, rival of Strixhaven. Where those with enough desire to survive and surpass the common adventurer, can learn to master nearly every form of power available to us mere mortals. With fifty levels of uncertainty, and the very origin of the institution unknown, student and faculty alike have flocked to Noctem for centuries. Finding the... alternative methods of Noctem Academy to be just the right fit! It is a neutral ground, of breeding the best of the best. Good and evil alike battle with wits, muscle, magic, and really anything else they can get their hands on. Survival is for the strong, and if you're going to-- why not be the best at it? Break a few bones along the way, yours or someone else's! Only the brave even consider applying to the imposing school, and survival isn't guaranteed when you walk the hallowed halls of this gothic, towering fortress. Detention may claim a life or two, but that could mean less competition for you! Join wickedly wonderful clubs, sports teams, or jobs while trying to balance a personal life. Apply your very best self, to one of the 120 courses that our staff has to offer!
Game style
Play By Post
Roleplay Heavy
Theater of the Mind
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Sandbox / Open World
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(8)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
Highly rated for: Creativity, World Builder, Storytelling
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hi! Willow, a storyteller and Game Master with about ten years of dice rolling, world building, and plot twisting experience. Most of which has been Play-by-Post. I run a wide variety of systems! Dungeons & Dragons, Godbound, Vampire: The Masquerade, other World of Darkness titles, City of Mist, and more; because I love matching the right game to the right group. I’m online and available 12+ hours a day through discord, which means I’m flexible, responsive, and ready to support you between sessions. My biggest passion as a DM is investing in my players’ stories: taking your ideas, characters, and wild theories and turning them into unforgettable adventures we build together. Whether you want high drama, fantastical vibes, gritty horror, or chaotic fun, I tailor each campaign to what excites you. When I’m not running games, you’ll probably find me absorbing inspiration from other media or painting in my spare time! Every game I run is crafted with intensive care, creativity, and a genuine love for collaborative storytelling. If you’re looking for a DM who listens, adapts, and brings your imagination to life, I’d love to play with you! Thank you for considerations, and may all your rolls be ever in your favor!
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Character creation will occur before the first official session! I will be having a hard start date, however if players need more time to discuss concepts, we can work with it as it comes! We will be starting at level 3! Stats are rolled (4d6 drop the lowest), however-- I offer special curses in exchange for more rolls! Where you get to craft a special narrative! For flavor, and some plothook fun!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Discord is required, as this is a Play-By-Post game! Roll20 is optional if you would prefer to keep your playsheets there, but Google Documents are just as good! I will be providing a Discord server and link to a Roll20 room if it is desired!
What Sleepy brings to the table
I tend to write novella levels of replies, but this IS NOT expected of my players! I understand sometimes that sometimes, shorter and faster replies are more necessary. But regardless, I am ready to offer out this large sandbox I've built a castle in! Smash it, build on it more, do whatever! Just make it interesting, I say! I provide maps where I can, and Theater of the Mind if some spaces just get TOO impossible to visually provide. I believe that anyone can make a compelling case or creative uses of their abilities, and try to provide enriching, complex roleplay. Stories are the lifeblood of why we are all here, after all! Rule of Cool is certainly in play in this more bombastic setting, and I provide documents as well as playlists to help outline your adventure! I also streamline multiple RP dedicated rooms, so you don't feel rushed to complete your intense scene with a rival. You can have your long RP moments and be in the main story scene investigation at the same time, with these time capsules!
Homebrew rules
Drinking or Feeding potions are a bonus action! I offer Brutal Crits (criticals that have lasting or more devastating/explosive effects) should my players want them.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer or Mobile Device
Platforms used
Safety
How Sleepy creates a safe table
I will be providing a Consent Checklist and be holding a general social contract discussion with all players before we begin. Any extra sensitive material that players may be uncomfortable speaking about, I will reach out to privately, so we can discuss what I can do to ensure your comfort and enjoyment!
Content warnings
Safety tools used