Image by Jeremiah Keyes
Pirates of Mistvale Expanse: Blackwake's Curse
Treasure hunters, survivors, debtors, and dreamers gather aboard The Relentless to chase Blackwake’s lost treasure through the Mistvale Expanse—where
$15.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Thursday - 4:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3 hours
Campaign Length / 4–6 Sessions
0 / 5 Seats Filled
Report Adventure
StartPlaying Money Back Guarantee
If your game doesn't happen, we guarantee a refund. Just reach out to StartPlaying Support. Refund Policy
About the adventure
Captain Blackwake is dead, but the fear he left behind is not. As officers aboard The Relentless, a privateer vessel charged with hunting pirates across the Mistvale Expanse, you have been sent to find Blackwake’s lost treasure before it falls into the wrong hands. Rumor says the treasure is cursed, and that whoever claims it may inherit more than gold: Blackwake’s terrible power, and the darkness that once let him terrorize these waters. But before your hunt can truly begin, betrayal strikes from within. The ship’s cook, Raxley Voss, leads a mutiny, steals the treasure map, strands The Relentless on a sandbar at low tide, and escapes with much of the crew aboard a stolen sloop. The officers left behind begin the story in chains, racing first to free themselves, then to save their ship, reclaim the map, and pursue a traitor who may already be one step ahead. This is a 4 session mini-campaign set in the Mistvale Expanse, a mist-draped frontier region in the homebrew world of Mahar Darna: a recently colonized “new world” of dangerous coastlines, competing ambitions, pirate legends, and things in the deep that are better left undisturbed. Expect a character-driven adventure with roleplay, pursuit, tense choices, and bursts of action. The story centers on a pirate-hunting crew forced into crisis, where trust is fragile, the sea keeps its secrets, and the hunt for treasure may become a question of what should be claimed, what should be destroyed, and what kind of people your characters will become along the way. Players may choose from pre-generated officers or create their own characters to fit the crew. Both newer and experienced players are welcome; I’ll make expectations clear and aim for a table that feels collaborative, low-pressure, and immersive.
Game style
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Roleplay Heavy
Combat Lite
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
About me
Long before tabletop RPGs became a regular part of my life, I was the kid who gave every game a plot—imagining motives, consequences, and character arcs even when the game itself didn’t ask for them. When my dad introduced me to Advanced D&D, it felt like finding the place where that instinct belonged. Since then, I’ve come to love tables where the story grows through collaboration, where player choices matter, and where characters are shaped as much by quiet decisions as by dramatic victories. I run games with an emphasis on trust, immersion, and giving players room to contribute without pressure. I want the table to feel like a place where people can try ideas, take risks, and help build something memorable together. My style leans strongly toward character-driven storytelling: worlds that react, NPCs with motives, meaningful choices, and moments where humor, tension, and surprise all have room to breathe. I believe in the rule of cool when it serves the story—especially when it creates the kind of moment players remember because it revealed something about a character, changed a relationship, or made the world feel suddenly alive. Whether you’re brand new to tabletop RPGs or deeply experienced, my goal is simple: leave the table feeling like something real happened there.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Character creation will be handled in a free Session 0 before the mini-campaign begins. Players are welcome to choose one of five pregenerated level 3 officers from The Relentless or build their own level 3 character after discussing it with me so we can make sure the character fits the crew and campaign. The pregenerated options are a captain (ranger), first mate (rogue), artificer, “deck wizard” (druid), and a storm cleric who serves as the crew’s spiritual support. If you would like to make your own character, we’ll talk through it during Session 0 or beforehand. Characters should make sense as officers aboard a privateer pirate-hunting vessel in the Mistvale Expanse. Stats will use standard array, with the option to lower one score in order to raise another if you want a slightly more customized spread. Players may use either 2014 5e rules or 2024 5.5e rules, but each character should be built entirely from one ruleset rather than mixing the two. I’m happy to work with both newer and experienced players to keep the process clear, collaborative, and well suited to this mini-campaign.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Before play, please make sure you have a free Discord account and a free Fantasy Grounds Unity account. We will use Discord for voice during sessions, with video optional, and for text communication between sessions. Fantasy Grounds Unity will need to be downloaded and installed on a computer before play. If you are new to Fantasy Grounds, that is completely fine—I will give a basic walkthrough during Session 0 so players can get comfortable with the interface and core functions before the campaign begins. If you are unable to use a computer and need to join from a phone or tablet instead, we can discuss alternatives. In that case, you may keep and reference your character through D&D Beyond, though Discord will still be required for communication. Session 0 is designed to make sure everyone is set up, comfortable with the tools, and ready to start the adventure smoothly.
What Tabletop Commons brings to the table
I provide a character-driven, story-rich game with a welcoming, low-pressure table and plenty of room for player creativity. My games emphasize immersion, meaningful choices, and backgrounds woven into the story so characters feel like part of the world rather than dropped into it. Players can expect roleplay, atmosphere, and a mix of tension, humor, and action. I enjoy character voices and expressive NPCs, and I may use ambient music when it adds to the mood, though neither is meant to overshadow play. Combat supports the story in my games: sometimes dangerous, sometimes cinematic, and often shaped by the environment and player choices rather than just trading attacks. I value pacing and fairness, so if a rules issue comes up, I usually make a quick ruling to keep the game moving and revisit it afterward if needed. I do embrace rule of cool when it leads to memorable moments, strong character development, or better storytelling, while still trying to keep things consistent and fair for the group. Most of all, I aim to provide a table where both new and experienced players can feel comfortable contributing, taking risks, and helping create a fun, memorable story together.
Homebrew rules
Drinking a potion is a bonus action; Each PC has one unique trait/ability/option that would normally be above the ability of a level 3 character. For example, the pre-gen druid PC has the option to wildshape into a blue whale.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Tabletop Commons creates a safe table
Player comfort matters to me, so this game begins with a free Session 0 where we will go over expectations, tone, boundaries, and the kind of story we want to build together. I use Lines and Veils as a baseline safety tool, and I’m happy to gather those privately if that is more comfortable for players. We’ll also discuss party expectations, preferred play style, and any topics players want handled lightly or left out entirely. During play, players are always welcome to message me privately or speak up if something needs to change. I use a simple X-card style approach digitally, meaning a player can say so out loud, type it in chat, or message me directly, and I will pause and redirect without requiring anyone to explain themselves in the moment. After sessions, I like to use a simple check-in and feedback approach in the spirit of Stars and Wishes so players can share what they enjoyed, what they hope for, and whether anything should be adjusted going forward. My goal is to keep the table welcoming, respectful, low-pressure, and responsive so players can feel safe investing in the story.
Content warnings
Safety tools used