"Welcome to Ethel: A Weird West Mystery ($5 Intro)

"Welcome to Ethel: A Weird West Mystery ($5 Intro)

As darkness sets, strange noises can be heard in the shadows, robed figures lurk, and the things that go bump in the night wander. Welcome to Ethel...

TYPE

One-Shot

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
3 NEEDED TO START
$5.00

/ Session

Details

Once / Tuesday - 3:00 PM UTC

Feb 10

Session Duration / 2.5–3.5 hours

0 / 5 Seats Filled

Report Adventure

Money Back Guarantee

StartPlaying Money Back Guarantee

If your game doesn't happen, we guarantee a refund. Just reach out to StartPlaying Support. Refund Policy

This game will begin once 3 players have joined
About the adventure

The New Mexico Territory, 1870. The west has a way of sitting strange with you. A real way of warping your idea of how reality works and the town of Ethel is no exception; in fact, it's the case that proves the rule. Ethel is a strange place filled with strange people who live strange lives, but at dusk fall the town changes becomes something different. Ethel at night feels like a home for the wicked men, lost causes and devils of this world and maybe the next. Whether you are a traveler just passing through, or longtime resident, Ethel will find new ways to surprise you, to challenge your concept of reality and prove that monsters are real. This game is a Weird-West procedural where every session player will interact with a new story, new monster, and new problems to solve. Although the game design is dark in town the game play is likely to be lighthearted and campy. Buffy the Vampire Slayer meet Nightvale. Thanks for coming to Ethel! Since this was a promotional game to launch my studio, I kept the price at $5 just to cover the platform fees. The real payment I'm asking for is a review. If you had fun with the game, dropping a 5-star review on my profile helps me keep running these community games. It takes 30 seconds and it’s the best tip you can give me.

Game style

Roleplay Heavy

Rule of Cool (RoC)

Sandbox / Open World

Meet the Game Master
Podcaster
Neurodivergent
Voice Actor
Game Designer

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Storytelling, Visual Aid, Inclusive

About me

My mission as your Keeper is to be your Virgil—your guide through an immersive world of mystery and intrigue. With over a decade of experience running TTRPGs across the spectrum, I view GMing as an art form—a craft I sharpen every single day. I bring a professional background in audio engineering and podcast production to the table, ensuring smooth technical delivery. I combine this production value with advanced VTT automation to create a 'Director's Cut' experience. I run games because I am passionate about the shared story. My goal is to create a high-fidelity experience that you will love as much as I do. I am excited to collaborate with you on a campaign we will remember forever. Let's Play!

View Profile →
Character creation

Creating your character

Character Creation happens together at the table at the beginning of the session just come to the table with a concept of what you would like to play. I will provide form fillable PDFs of everything you need.

What to expect

Preparing for the session

You will need a Discord account and to join my private server. You will also need to sign up for a Forge-VTT.com account. All of which are free and easy.

What Cory The Keeper brings to the table

🎙️ Broadcast-Quality Audio: Immersive soundscapes and voice acting (check the trailer!). 🧩 Interactive VTT: Custom Clue Boards, automated lighting, custom battle maps, custom generated background images and bespoke Foundry modules. 🎬 Watch the 30-Sec Trailer: https://youtu.be/Wl_Hfyfy49o

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Computer

Microphone

Safety

How Cory The Keeper creates a safe table

I employe a system I call "Freeze or Fade". "Freeze" stops the scene in tracks as we can discuss it as a table if need be. "Fade" forces the scene to black immediately and we move on, then I will follow up with you post session to resolve the concern. I also employe industry standards like Lines and Veils, Break Calls, and address this all pre-session.

Content warnings

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions