The Madness of Petty Kings
Will you rally the barons against the coming darkness? Or will you succumb to the eldritch hunger festering beneath the land?
$30.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Saturday - 11:00 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–4 hours
Campaign Length / 10–20 Sessions
1 / 6 Seats Filled
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One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
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Meet your party members
1/6
About the adventure
The Ashenvale Valley teeters on the edge of chaos. Once a bastion of prosperity, it now faces threats from every direction—baronies locked in bitter intrigue, ancient horrors stirring in long-forgotten ruins, and whispers of otherworldly corruption that twist the minds of those who dare seek power. You are travelers summoned to Rennet Keep, hired as agents and outsiders in a land where loyalty is a rare and dangerous thing. The fractured nobility clings to power, old alliances crumble, and something foul stirs in the deep places of the valley. In this campaign, you’ll navigate a world of morally complex decisions, unravel forbidden mysteries, and clash with enemies both monstrous and human. Your choices will shape the fate of the Ashenvale—for better or worse.
Game style
Combat Heavy
Hexcrawl / Exploration
Roleplay Heavy
Sandbox / Open World
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(25)
1 year on StartPlaying
101 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Teacher, Storytelling
Average response time: 23 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Rule 1: Treat others with respect and consideration. Abusive language is prohibited. Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and all other types of harassment are prohibited. Rule 2: Explicit depictions of excessive or gratuitous violence are prohibited. Rule 3: Explicit descriptions of sexual intercourse are prohibited. (That level of adult content should be avoided. Let’s keep it “Avengers level PG13” so Captain America gets one use of the “F-Word” per film.) I’d love to tell you all about me, but instead...let’s hear from a few NPC’s that know me the best: NPC TESTAMONIALS: “Greg V? Yeah I know him, he made me up on the spot!”--Steve the Town Guard “Sure! I can tell you about Greg V’s GMing style...he’s attentive and imaginative!”--Steve the traveling merchant. “Excuse me? No , I don’t have a ‘British,’ accent. I’m from Waterdeep.”--Baron Steve of Waterdeep TL;DR Enthusiastic, committed, friendly, and accommodating. Flexible and eager to run the games you want to play. Played my first game of D&D back in 2017, and was delighted to have found a new hobby and obsession! Over the last 9 years I’ve been lucky enough to run games in person at both conventions and in game stores. The first time I ran a game online was in the early days of the quarantine. I’ve become familiar with Fantasy Grounds, Owlbear Rodeo, and a smattering of Foundry VTT. Gaming online has become a total comfort zone for me, but I am very lucky to be able to continue gaming in-person with a few different friend groups. D&D 5e will probably always be my “baseline,” but I’ve also become interested in several other game systems as well. I ran a few “Learn to Play” slots of Alien RPG by Free League at a local area convention. If you’ve heard of the new, tactical RPG, Draw Steel, I’ve run several campaigns of that already, and I have knowledge of the boutique VTT for Draw Steel on STEAM. Additionally, I ran Dungeon Crawl Classics for several months in 2024. I've run Delta Green, and Marvel Multiverse RPG! In terms of the “hobby” of tabletop rpg’s, I do spend quite a bit of my free time listening to podcasts, watching YouTube videos, and reading articles about D&D, and Tabletop gaming in-general. I've appeared on a few videos on the YouTube channel Looking for Mom: https://www.youtube.com/@LookingForMomTTRPG
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
-starting with level 5 Heroes! -Standard Array OR Point Buy -2024 Rules OR any approved 3rd Party Source (be prepared to help us understand any 3rd party character!) -We'll discuss starting equipment once you join the Discord!
What to expect
Preparing for the session
What You Should Bring: A Character (Level 5 to Start) Bring your unique character to life. Think about their goals, motivations, and how they might be affected by the moral and political struggles of the Ashenvale Valley. A Willingness to Roleplay This campaign focuses heavily on character development, so come prepared to interact with NPCs, make decisions, and get into your character’s mindset. Your roleplaying will shape the direction of the campaign. A Love of Exploration and Discovery There are secrets to uncover, hidden dungeons to explore, and ancient powers to confront. Be prepared to get curious, solve mysteries, and immerse yourself in the unknown. Teamwork and Strategy This game will require you to work with your fellow adventurers. There will be moments of combat, diplomacy, and challenges where your teamwork will be key to success. Keep in mind that strategic planning is just as important as roleplaying. Open-mindedness and Adaptability The world of Ashenvale is unpredictable, and things may not always go as planned. Be ready to adapt and embrace the unexpected, especially with the evolving, complex storylines and the chaotic world you’ll be navigating. A Positive Attitude Whether we’re celebrating victories or facing tough challenges, bring a positive and collaborative mindset. This is a shared experience, and I want everyone to enjoy the journey, no matter where it leads.
What Greg V brings to the table
What I’ll Bring: A Rich Story and World I’ll provide a detailed, dynamic world filled with moral choices, ancient mysteries, and the ever-looming threat of madness. You’ll explore a land teetering on the edge of chaos, facing both political intrigue and eldritch horrors. Immersive Roleplaying Expect a game where your decisions matter, whether you're navigating delicate alliances between rival baronies or uncovering dark secrets beneath the surface. The world will feel alive with complex NPCs, dangerous factions, and unexpected twists. Engaging Encounters and Puzzles Prepare for a mix of tactical combat, environmental challenges, and puzzle-solving. Whether it’s navigating the sewers beneath a castle or facing off against twisted cultists, the game will offer a variety of challenges for your characters to overcome. Themes of Madness and Corruption Expect elements of psychological horror and dark magic. As you explore the valley, you'll come across mind-bending encounters and the slow, insidious corruption of powerful forces. A Customizable Experience I’ll tailor encounters and narratives to your characters' backgrounds and choices, ensuring every player has moments to shine and their decisions impact the story. A Friendly, Collaborative Environment Whether you're new to D&D or a seasoned player, I aim to create a welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable, and everyone’s input matters. We’ll work together to shape the adventure as it unfolds. Immersive Online Tools To enhance your experience, we’ll use Discord for voice communication and discussions, ensuring a seamless connection. Ambient music from Kenku FM will be playing in the background, setting the perfect tone for our sessions, from tense moments to eerie encounters. Additionally, we'll use Owlbear Rodeo to manage the game board with custom tokens, giving you an interactive and visual experience as we bring the world to life.
Equipment needed to play
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Greg V creates a safe table
This campaign will begin with a discussion of our non-negotiables (also found in my DM Profile). Additionally, the discussion will include any important items that players want avoided in this brief campaign. The use of breaks will be used, not just as practical, "hey it's time for a quick break!" but also as way to reflect on where we've been, narratively, and to ensure players are comfortable. At the end of each game session, there will be a chance for another reflection on narrative themes and content. In general, I am always seeking player feedback to help make this the game you want to play.
Content warnings
Safety tools used