Image by Sad Potato
The Lightless Beacon
A storm strands you on an island where the lighthouse beacon is dark—and something ancient and hungry stirs in the shadows. It may demand your sanity.
$23.00
/ Session
Details
Once / Saturday - 11:00 PM UTC
Mar 28
Session Duration / 2–3 hours
0 / 4 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
The Lightless Beacon is a one-shot horror mystery for Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition, perfect for both new players curious about the world of Lovecraftian horror and veteran investigators craving a short, intense experience of cosmic dread. This game requires no prior knowledge of the Call of Cthulhu system—just a willingness to step into the unknown, keep your wits about you, and perhaps, if the stars are right… survive. The setting is the bleak and wind-lashed North Island, off the Massachusetts coast, in the year 1926. As the game opens, your characters—ordinary people bound for a new chapter in their lives—are thrown into peril when a violent storm drives your ferry off course, forcing an emergency landing on the island. But as you approach the lighthouse that should guide all vessels safely to harbor, you see only darkness. The beacon that should be burning bright is dark. The lighthouse stands silent. Something is very, very wrong. In the isolation of the island and under the pounding storm, you and your fellow castaways must explore the seemingly abandoned lighthouse, uncover what has happened to the keepers, and survive the horrors that may lurk just beyond the veil of human understanding. Expect a blend of atmospheric suspense, investigation, roleplay, and creeping terror—with the real threat being not just physical survival, but the shattering of your characters’ fragile sanity. I run this game in a story-first, character-driven style, with a focus on immersion, player choice, and the slow build of tension. Whether you’re new to tabletop roleplaying or a seasoned investigator of the Mythos, this session is designed to be a welcoming, cinematic, and unsettling introduction to the dark mysteries of Call of Cthulhu. Will you be a voice of reason? A courageous hero? Or will you descend into madness before the light returns?
Game style
Theater of the Mind
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Roleplay Heavy
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(22)
3 years on StartPlaying
33 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Storytelling, Teacher
Average response time: Under 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story." I love fun. And roleplaying games. And cheese. And horror! I'm a professional "Learn To Play" DM, artist & writer, that enjoys teaching beginners how to play these games. I love writing and collaborative storytelling in all its forms. I use horror as a tool for creating fun and escaping reality for a few hours. I'm a professional storyteller in all its forms: writing books, ttrpg adventures, short stories, novels, and TV shows. Roll20 and Discord are my favorite replacements for in-person gaming. I live on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, so that makes in person gaming difficult these days. So, I invested a ton of time, energy, art, writing, and creative juice to improve my Virtual DM game. I am one of the best Professional DMs you will ever encounter and have over 40 years' experience (I'm older than dirt lol). Most of my players are LGBQT and women, so we respect consent and are kind to all who play. No racism, transphobia, misogyny, or homophobia allowed. I want this to be a fun safe place for everyone. My favorite game systems are Call of Cthulhu 7th ed, D&D 5e (2014), Pathfinder 2nd ed, Cyberpunk Red, and Shadowrun 5th ed. I live in the Azores, Portugal on Sao Miguel Island. It's the Hawaii of Europe and an awesome place to live. I reside here with my family, chickens, dogs and cats.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Pre-generated characters will be provided. You will have a choice of one of the four following characters: Antiques Dealer, Artist, Bureau Agent, and Marine Biologist.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
I will be using Roll20 (VTT for the game) and Discord (audio and video). You will need the free version of Roll20 and Discord to play. I will supply everything else. I will need the email you use for Roll20 and Discord.
What Sad Potato brings to the table
#1 Have fun, if it isn't fun, we're not doing it right. #2 Rule of Cool. #3 I do character voices. #4 I use ambient music and sound effects.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Sad Potato creates a safe table
Player Safety & Comfort Player safety and comfort are my top priorities. I use Lines and Veils and X, N, and O Cards to create clear boundaries, ensuring everyone feels respected and safe throughout the game. These tools can be used digitally via chat, voice, or held up on video—whatever works best for you. Before the game, I’ll send a Lines and Veils form for players to share their preferences and boundaries privately. In our brief Session 0, we’ll review these together, establish tone, discuss any sensitive content, and set expectations for both horror elements and player agency. After each session, I always check in with players for aftercare—offering a chance to decompress, ask questions, or simply share how they felt about the experience. My goal is to create an immersive, spooky, and thrilling game that is emotionally safe, respectful, and welcoming to all players, whether you’re new to horror or a seasoned investigator.
Content warnings
Safety tools used