Songs for the Slain | Dark Fantasy | Grim Hollow 5.5e
In Etharis, the dead leave only stories. Track the beasts, answer the locals' desperate pleas, and survive the grim horrors of the dark.
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Friday - 9:00 AM UTC
Session Duration / 2.5–3.5 hours
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
In a world where the gods are dead and humanity is crushed beneath the iron grip of tyrannical arch seraphs and ruthless arch daemons, an even older nightmare has begun to stir. Deep within the fractured realm of Etharis, a long-forgotten, ancient evil is festering, rising from its prehistoric banishment to swallow what little remains of civilization. The only shield left against this looming cosmic dread is an ancient order of vanguard guardians, but they have been reduced to mere embers, lacking the numbers to hunt the rising horrors. Desperate times demand wretched measures. To rebuild their ranks, the vanguard has turned to the only source of manpower left: the brutal imperial salt mines, conscripting thieves, convicts, and minor criminals into service. This is where your story begins. Chained together and handed rusted steel, you are dragged from the dark of the pits and thrust into a godless crusade across the land, hunting the beasts and humanoids that haunt the desperate locals. You are the lowliest scum of Etharis, and you are the world’s absolute last line of defense. Songs for the Slain is a Dark Fantasy campaign using the Lairs of Etharis module and Grim Hollow 5.5e rules. It is designed for players who crave high-stakes survival, episodic monster hunting, and deep, atmospheric storytelling. It is tailored for those who love tracking terrifying beasts, solving the desperate plights of haunted villages, and uncovering the dark secrets of local folklore. If you enjoy playing flawed convicts who must find a glimmer of heroism in a bleak world, navigating the dangerous politics of devils and angels, and fighting cosmic horrors where every choice has a cost, this table is for you. As a Dungeon Master, my playstyle balances immersive roleplay with tactical, unforgiving combat where monster preparation and hunting strategies matter. I love to lean heavily into player backstory, ensuring that your past crimes, regrets, and personal ambitions directly impact the unfolding narrative. We will explore themes of penance, survival, and what it means to fight for a world that has already abandoned you. The fog is rolling in, the blood-red moon is rising, and the hunt awaits. Will you earn your redemption, or will your bones join the rest in the ash?
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Rule of Cool (RoC)
Meet the Game Master
4.9
(10)
1 year on StartPlaying
21 games hosted
Highly rated for: Inclusive, Creativity, Rule of Cool
Average response time: 2 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
👋 Hey everyone! I'm Hooli. I've been running Dungeons and Dragons and other TTRPG games for 6 years, focusing on creating immersive, character-driven stories where players have the freedom to really impact the world. 💻 Behind the screen, I love using digital tools to elevate our sessions. My games feature detailed maps, atmospheric music, VTT integrations, and full content sharing on D&D Beyond to make character creation and gameplay as smooth as possible. 🎭 My personal GM philosophy heavily favors the Rule of Cool over strict rules-lawyering. If you want to try something creative, wild, or epic, I'm almost always going to say "yes, let's roll for it." Whether we are running official modules or diving into a completely custom homebrew world, my priority is tailoring the campaign to what you want out of the game. 🌈 Most importantly, my table is an LGBTQIA+ friendly, safe, and inclusive space for all players. I want everyone to feel comfortable, have a blast, and leave the session with unforgettable stories.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
Forge your survivor during our Session Zero: -Utilize D&D Beyond for character sheets, utilizing allowed Grim Hollow and official 5e dark fantasy options. -Roll for stats to determine your character's raw strengths, flaws, and chances of survival. -Follow basic equipment guidelines, starting with the meager, rusted gear and tattered clothes spared for penal conscripts. -Establish fixed HP to withstand the brutality of Etharis, and advance your character using the milestone level-up system. -Define your character's past crime, their sentence in the mines, and the regrets that haunt them as we flesh out your background. -Prepare to immerse yourself in a dark, roleplay-heavy grimdark campaign where survival is a currency, resources are scarce, and a sharp wit is just as vital as a razor-sharp blade.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
To ensure a seamless experience, be sure to have your Discord ready for communication, your D&D Beyond account for character management, and a stable internet connection to avoid any unexpected surprises. Let's cultivate that P.M.A. (Positive Mystical Attitude) and dive headfirst into a world of whimsical wonders!
What Hooli brings to the table
As your grim storyteller and guide through the shadows of Etharis, I am ready to bring the dark majesty, tense politics, and cosmic dread of Grim Hollow straight to your tabletop. Get ready for a gritty, unforgiving ride filled with morally gray choices, terrifying ancient monsters, and a desperate struggle for survival. With beautifully haunting maps and atmospheric encounters, I will transport you to a world where the sun has set, the gods are dead, and every victory is paid for in blood. I will also provide tokens and minis, VTT support, and shared D&D Beyond Content to bring this dark fantasy to life!
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Hooli creates a safe table
During our session zero, we will go over characters, house rules, table expectations, team building exercises, scheduling, and most importantly, our safety system. Our safety system is color-based and functions similarly to "X, N, & O." The colors represent different levels of comfort and consent: - Green means everything is good to go. - Yellow means proceed with caution or check-in. - Red means stop immediately and address the issue. I want to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone to enjoy the game, so please don't hesitate to use these colors if you need to communicate your comfort level during our sessions. I will also provide a checklist during our first session to ensure that we are all on the same page and have a clear understanding of the rules and expectations for the game.
Content warnings
Safety tools used