Candlekeep Mysteries: A Deep and Creeping Darkness (2014 Rules)
The city of Vermeillon lies empty, its streets silent and its history buried in dust. Something drove the people away. It’s up to you to uncover what.
Free
Details
Once / Saturday - 2:00 AM UTC
May 16
Session Duration / 3–3.25 hours
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
**This is a free one-shot and is being run as a demo of my DMing style for players interested in joining future paid campaigns. It’s a relaxed, low-pressure way to try my table, ask questions, and see if we’re a good fit.** The city of Vermeillon lies abandoned, a place once alive now swallowed by silence. Streets are empty, homes are shuttered, and the wind carries whispers of lives that vanished without warning. Every corner feels heavy with secrets, and the longer you linger, the more the emptiness seems to watch. Shadows stretch unnaturally across crumbling buildings, and faint traces of the past linger in unexpected places. Broken toys, scattered papers, and signs of sudden departure litter the town. The air is thick with unease, and even the smallest sound seems amplified in the deserted alleys. What drove the citizens away remains unclear, but the sense of something deeply wrong grows with every step. This adventure emphasizes exploration, investigation, and atmospheric horror, rewarding players who examine their surroundings, piece together subtle clues, and confront the unease that grows in silence. Encounters are less about combat and more about tension, revelation, and the dread of the unknown. A Deep and Creeping Darkness offers a chilling, immersive experience where the city itself becomes a character, a place of beauty, decay, and secrets that dare to be uncovered. Players will feel the weight of isolation, the pull of curiosity, and the creeping dread that some truths are more unsettling than any monster.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Roleplay Heavy
Organized Play
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(59)
5 years on StartPlaying
107 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Inclusive, Storytelling
Average response time: 1 hour
Response rate: 100%
About me
I remember being invited to play in my first game of D&D several years ago. I immediately fell in love with the magic of tabletop RPG's. I had always wanted to try playing, but had struggled to do so for the longest time. When I finally found a group with which to play, I was blessed with a truly outstanding dungeon master. He intricately wove the storytelling and gameplay elements of Dungeons & Dragons in a way that was nothing short of beautiful. In no time at all, I was hooked. That group eventually broke up when the dungeon master moved away. But I'll never forget that truly fantastic experience I was treated to. Since then, I've taken it on myself to try to perfect the art of dungeon mastering and to bring that experience to as many prospective adventures as possible. Now I've taken the next step and brought my Dungeon Mastering skills to StartPlaying. It is my goal to share my vision of what D&D can really be with as many of you as I possibly can.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
There will be a brief session 0 before the one shot. I will be available to assist with last minute character creation details at that time. As this is a one shot, I will trust players to create their own characters. I will be available to assist players. I will also review character sheets prior to session time to ensure there are no problems.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Prior to being approved, players with whom I have not yet played will recieve a complimentary consultation to ensure this one shot will be a good fit for them. Please have accounts for Discord, Roll20, and D&D Beyond. Also, please have all character creation finished before session time.
What Brian brings to the table
I will provide the Roll20 module, which includes all of the game critical assets. I will also provide content sharing for D&D Beyond, which will provide players with all necesary character creation content. I will also create and maintain a Discord server.
Homebrew rules
Rules will generally be as written, with specific exceptions made where the rules do not serve the needs of the game or players.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Brian creates a safe table
I make a point of meticulously setting expectations prior to game time so that everyone is on the same page as far as what to expect. I do also have an open door policy at any time and have a zero tolerance policy for rude behavior between players. Additionally, to protect more introverted players, I utilize DMing techniques intended to prevent them from being overshadowed or left out by more outgoing players.
Content warnings
Safety tools used