Traitor Amongst Us: A DL6 DireLands Dark Fantasy Mystery
Investigating a missing Jhion scholar uncovers a conspiracy of stolen heat and blood. Can you expose the traitor before you become the next target?
TYPE
SYSTEM
LANGUAGE
EXPERIENCE
AGE
$15.00
/ Session
Details
Bi-weekly / Saturday - 11:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3.5–4.5 hours
Campaign Length / 5–8 Sessions
3 / 6 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
3/6
About the adventure
Welcome to the DireLands, a world gripped by a supernatural ice age where the flickering warmth of civilization is as fragile as the truth. In the capital city of Triniius, the sacred Jhion Order—the scientists and keepers of ancient cosmic wisdom—toil to power the nation of Bressus' survival. But beneath the polished marble of the Great Library of Diun and the industrial hiss of the Foster Gaer military docks, a cold rot is spreading. A prominent scholar has vanished, leaving behind a trail of encrypted notes and a shimmering, blue dust known as Void-Silt. As independent investigators hired by a desperate benefactor, you are the only ones standing between an ancient artifact's plans and a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of the Triumvirate. This adventure is a high-stakes blend of investigative noir and survival horror. You will navigate the gaslit alleys of the Seedy District, infiltrate elite military galas, and confront a war hero whose tragic fall mirrors the decaying state of the realm. This game is for players who love deep world-building, moral ambiguity, and the tension of being "watched" by a system that would rather bury you than admit its own flaws. Expect a narrative where your choices matter. We will be using the DL6 Game System, a streamlined, 3d6-based mechanic designed for fast-paced action and gritty consequences. In DL6, your abilities are tied to your health; as you take "Trauma" from the cold or the blade, your capacity to succeed diminishes, creating a "death spiral" that keeps every encounter tense. Whether you are a Magi weaving cosmic spells, a Warrior of the front lines, or a Priest buffering your allies against the dark, you’ll need to manage your Focus and burn your dice wisely. Join us for the adventure "Traitor Amongst Us" where the mystery is deep, the combat is simultaneous and deadly, and the truth is the most dangerous weapon of all.
Game style
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Roleplay Heavy
Combat Lite
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(10)
Less than a year on StartPlaying
11 games hosted
Highly rated for: Knows the Rules, Creativity, Storytelling
About me
With over 30 years of experience in tabletop roleplaying games, I bring a deep love of classic systems and immersive storytelling to every table I run. My roots are firmly planted in old-school gaming—especially AD&D—but I also actively run and enjoy modern systems, including D&D 5e (2024). I have a strong preference for rich, lore-driven settings. When using established fantasy systems, I most often run games in Dragonlance or within my own original DireLands campaign world, both of which emphasize character-driven narratives, meaningful choices, and long-term consequences. In addition to fantasy, I specialize in darker, more atmospheric campaigns. I run a fully homebrewed cosmic horror setting using the In Nomine system, inspired by World of Darkness themes and infused with elements of Clive Barker and classic monsters. These games focus on moral tension, surreal horror, and unsettling mysteries. Whether guiding epic heroes or exploring the shadows of the unknown, my goal as a Game Master is to create memorable stories, collaborative worlds, and engaging experiences for every player at the table.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
We will create your characters in a dedicated Session Zero. Because this is a brand-new game system (DL6), we will walk through the mechanics together, introducing you to the gritty DireLands setting and our custom Roll20 character sheet. This session is designed to get you comfortable with the 3d6 "roll high" mechanic and the innovative trauma system before the story begins. You don’t need to bring a finished sheet; we will build your heroes collaboratively to ensure everyone has a reason to be in the capital of Bressus. In the DL6 system, there are no character levels, your character grows through play. You will improve your Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Ability Scores directly using XP earned through adventuring. We will start with a baseline point-buy: choosing a Race (such as Human, Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, Orc, Halfling or Half-Blood) and a Class (Warrior, Thief, Priest, or Magi). Whether you want to be a battle-hardened mercenary, a scholar of the Jhion Order, or a street-wise mystic, the system is designed to let you build exactly the hero you envision. While the DireLands adventure "Traitor Amongst Us" begins with a missing person, don't feel restricted to playing a "detective." The DireLands are dangerous, and this adventure will challenge every facet of your character. You will face traditional fantasy combat, navigate lethal environmental hazards, and use skill-based deduction to survive. We will be using a custom Roll20 VTT setup specifically designed for this system, making it easy to track your Trauma and Ability Scores in real-time. All rules and reference materials will be provided—just bring your imagination and a willingness to survive the ice.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
This is a live streamed actual play. If you want, you can watch my DireLands Dark Fantasy Campaign Setting YouTube Playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3H1RSyLqWPGNBhDXdEC-kbGBHSHMyEb but it is not necessary. All that is required is for you to have a camera and microphone, sign up to my free Discord server and have a free Roll20 account. The game system and campaign setting will all be introduced to you through play. Just bring your imagination, and desire to have some fun!
What AdamPC brings to the table
I will be providing character tokens, battlemaps, ambient music, npc voices and an adventure, campaign setting, and game system that is entirely new yet familiar to all OSR fans.
Homebrew rules
This is using my new DL6 game system designed specifically for my DireLands dark fantasy campaign setting. It is designed to be a stripped down OSR style system so it should feel familiar.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Headphones
Webcam
Platforms used
Safety
How AdamPC creates a safe table
I use a Session Zero to set up expectations, the X, N, & O tools in addition to an after session brief with stars and wishes.
Content warnings
Safety tools used