Tales of Ephyra: Dead Signal | A Techno-Noir Western Thriller

Creating your character

Character creation happens together during our session zero, before the main adventure begins. You don't need to come with anything finalized — just a rough idea of who your character is and why they're working as a deniable contractor on the Frontier. System: Fabula Ultima — all rulebooks are provided in the Foundry module, so you don't need to own anything. Starting Level: 10 Classes: Any classes from any of the provided books are available — no restrictions. Character Concept: Your character should have some connection to the Frontier — former military, a trade guild outrider, a salvager, a fixer, whatever fits. The doc includes five optional character hooks (The Outrider, The Fixer, The Scrapper, The Medic, The Ghost) that you're welcome to use as a starting point or springboard. Stats & Build: We'll work through stats and abilities together in session zero. New to Fabula Ultima? No problem — I'll walk you through it.

Preparing for the session

Before our session, you'll need a free Foundry VTT account and access to our server — I'll send you an invite link after booking. No special downloads required beyond a modern web browser. We'll kick off with a short session zero before the main adventure — this is where we'll build your characters together, talk through the tone of the game, and make sure everyone's on the same page about content and expectations. Come with a rough idea of who your character is and their connection to the Frontier, but nothing needs to be finalized beforehand. No prior knowledge of the world of Ephyra is required. Everything you need to know will be woven into the game naturally.

What MakotoMifuneGM brings to the table

I run narrative-focused, roleplay-heavy games where the story and characters come first. Expect distinct voices and personalities for every major NPC — the people you meet in this world feel real, and your choices matter to them. Every session is scored with curated ambient music to set the tone — from the dusty tension of the Frontier wastes to the eerie quiet of Old Haven at night. The atmosphere is part of the experience. All Fabula Ultima rulebooks are provided directly in the Foundry module — you do not need to own or purchase anything to play. Just show up ready to roll. I favor the Rule of Cool and lean into dramatic moments over strict rules enforcement. This is a one-shot built around a meaningful moral choice, so come ready to engage with the story and each other — not just the dice.

How MakotoMifuneGM creates a safe table

Player safety and comfort are a genuine priority at my table, not an afterthought. Here's how I handle it: Session Zero — Before we play, we'll go over Lines and Veils together as a group. Lines are hard stops — content we won't touch at all. Veils are content that can exist in the story but stays off-screen. Everyone's input shapes the table we build together. X-Card — Available throughout the entire session, digitally in chat or held up on video — whichever feels most comfortable for you. No explanation needed, no questions asked. If the X-Card is invoked, we edit, skip, or redirect immediately. Open Door Policy — If something comes up mid-game that you'd rather handle privately, my DMs are open. You can step away from the table at any time, no explanation required. Aftercare & Debrief — We close every session with a debrief. This is a space to decompress, talk about what landed, what didn't, and check in with each other as people — not just players. Dead Signal deals with themes of institutional betrayal and moral compromise, so taking a moment to land the plane together matters to me.