The Meat Grinder!/ 5e One Shot
A mage sought forbidden knowledge. Now his shattered lab devours adventurers. Welcome to the Meat Grinder.
$25.00
/ Session
Details
Once / Thursday - 10:00 AM UTC
May 14
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
A violent magical explosion has shattered the home and laboratory of the eccentric wizard Valas Margoth. Strange lights flicker through the ruined halls, unnatural creatures prowl the chambers, and the dead refuse to stay buried. Local authorities have sealed the grounds, but rumors whisper that the wizard’s experiments unleashed something far worse than anyone expected. Adventurers who dare to enter must navigate unstable magic, deadly traps, bound elementals, and restless undead as the wizard’s twisted defenses continue to activate in unpredictable ways. The Meat Grinder is a combat-heavy Tier 2 dungeon crawl designed for Level 5 characters. Tactical thinking, teamwork, and careful resource management will be essential as every chamber may become a deadly battleground. The dungeon is dangerous, the encounters are unforgiving, and reckless adventurers may not make it out alive. If you enjoy tense dungeon exploration, tough fights, and high-stakes adventuring, step inside the wizard’s ruined laboratory and discover the terrible price he paid in pursuit of forbidden knowledge. ⚔️💀
Game style
Dungeon Crawl
Combat Heavy
Roleplay Lite
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(8)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
9 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Rule of Cool
About me
I first picked up Dungeons & Dragons back in 1982, starting with the classic Moldvay Basic Set (red or blue box—I honestly can’t remember anymore!) and soon graduated to AD&D. I played all through high school and college, taking a long break afterward until the 5th Edition revival during the pandemic pulled me back in. What began as a small online game of Lost Mine of Phandelver for a friend quickly grew into a regular group with his brother and my cousin. We’ve been playing together almost every week ever since. Over time, I’ve mixed Lost Mine with Dragon of Icespire Peak, weaving player backstories into the core story for a more personalized campaign. I’ve also run a dark fantasy homebrew set in a friend’s world, and most recently, I DM'd Storm King’s Thunder (to completion). My strengths as a DM lie in blending prewritten adventures with homebrew storytelling, keeping the rules clear and consistent, and fostering collaborative, character-driven narratives. I’m dedicated to creating an engaging, cooperative experience where everyone at the table contributes to the story and walks away with great memories. Whether it’s classic sword-and-sorcery, grounded realism, or high-heroic fantasy, I love helping players tell stories that feel alive and personal.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
All characters will begin at Level 5 and we'll use the Standard Array for ability scores. Links to the D&D Beyond campaign and Roll20 VTT server will be posted in the Discord server.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
A few quick steps to make sure you’re ready for adventure and can jump right into the fun: Check your setup: Make sure you have a stable internet connection and a working microphone. Try to play in a quiet space with as few distractions as possible so we can all hear each other clearly. Create your accounts: You’ll need Discord for voice and video, D&D Beyond for character management and dice rolls, and Roll20 for maps and visuals. Know your tools: We’ll use D&D Beyond for all character sheets and rolling dice, while Roll20 will act purely as our tabletop for maps and tokens. Bring the right energy: Show up with a positive, open attitude and be ready to have fun, collaborate, and tell great stories together. Once you've joined a session, I'll send the discord server link!
What Ira brings to the table
At my table, you can expect a cinematic, story-driven adventure with vivid descriptions, energy, and a sense of fun. I run games as a series of connected scenes — each with its own tone, pacing, and purpose — blending exploration, combat, and roleplay in a balanced way. You’ll hear silly voices, hit-or-miss accents, and plenty of enthusiasm as I bring NPCs and the world to life. My focus is on immersion, teamwork, and moments that feel like a fantasy film unfolding at the table. For one-shots, we’ll lean more into exploration and combat, keeping the pace brisk while still leaving space for meaningful roleplay and character choices. Above all, I want players to feel welcome, creative, and part of something memorable — a table where laughter, tension, and storytelling come together in one shared adventure.
Homebrew rules
No major homebrew rules. Generally accepted conventions like- drinking a potion as a bonus action and flanking. Happy to consider suggestions.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Webcam
Platforms used
Safety
How Ira creates a safe table
My table is built on respect, inclusion, and collaboration. Everyone is welcome, and bullying, harassment, or discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. We’re here to tell great stories together — and that means being polite, patient, and supportive. Players may use a Pause Card at any time to stop the action if something is confusing, overwhelming, or needs clarification. We’ll pause, check in, and continue when everyone’s ready. We also use X, N, and O Cards (physical or in chat): X (Red): Stop — content is unsafe or uncomfortable. N (Yellow): Caution — heading toward discomfort. O (Green): Yes — this is great, keep going. These tools help keep communication open and everyone safe. My goal is a table where all players feel welcome, respected, and free to explore adventure with confidence and creativity.
Content warnings
Safety tools used