Image by Richard Howes (the DM Warhorse)
The Spider-Queen's Revenge
A gritty, magical, and political campaign beginning before the invasion that plunges characters from humble recruits into desperate city defenders.
$20.00
/ Session
Details
Weekly / Tuesday - 10:30 PM UTC
Session Duration / 3–4.5 hours
Campaign Length / 5–14 Sessions
0 / 5 Seats Filled
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About the adventure
Your Spider‑Queen campaign is a tight, high‑stakes arc that begins in the tense calm just before the barbarian invasion and moves fast from city politics into outright war, necromantic horror, and a climactic hunt for Farra Jadeana. Players begin as ordinary, low‑rank folk (level 0) tasked with routine duties and favors for nobles, merchants, and the Wizard’s Coil; those same contacts pull them into political maneuvering as rumors and betrayals surface. As the invasion ignites, the party must thread the needle between warring interests: curry favor with or dodge the leaders of guilds and government — to learn who profits from disappearances and bodies. Those political choices shape resources, allies, and enemies while the PCs gather intelligence. Investigations force them into dangerous infiltrations, exposing secrets, spying, sneaking into lairs and castles. Encounters scale with the stakes—street brawls and covert thefts become raids on laboratories and battles—pushing characters from Level 0 to 12 as they gain allies, arcane tools, and hard choices about collateral damage and justice. The climax is a multi‑layered operation: expose the conspiracy, cut Jadeana’s supply lines (bodies, arcane reagents, and corrupt officials), and assault the locus of her resurrection magic—culminating in a siege, a ritual confrontation, and either the Spider‑Queen’s capture or a desperate containment. Throughout, political navigation matters: which factions live, which betray them, and whether the PCs seize justice or become instruments of a new order. PvP not allowed. We use Standard 5e point buy system, you start with 27 points to raise your six ability scores from 8 to 15. Average Hit points on leveling up. Basic starting equipment or gold.
Meet the Game Master
Less than a year on StartPlaying
About me
While running online 5e games since February 2020 with the same group of players for the last 4-6 years, we enjoy Homebrew adventures in my 35 year old game-world. We play published game modules and campaigns that are four hours each week. Backstories for the PCs are woven into the games. Each campaign is approximately 6 to 11 months long. I prefer to GM'd for adults in the age range of 35 to 60+. I have in the past run games geared towards teenagers (but not at this time.) For clarity, we play old-school DND style: Heavy Roleplay, up to 50% combat as needed, but not required. Not allowed: Politics and gratuitous sex in-game or above-the-table. Everything else is canon and by published content. Even homebrew is okay based on a review of the power-levels. Roll20 tabletop and Discord audio/chat.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
DND beyond or Roll20 directly. Will send links to my subscriptions and VTTRPG.
Older 35-65 average player age. Typically male. 50/50 roleplay and combat. Role of cool and everyone has fun.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Have a character roll20 up 27 point buy, nothing above 15 to start. Discord Audio must be working. Roll20 free account needed. DND Beyond Optional.
What Richard Howes brings to the table
SPIDER-QUEEN CAMPAIGN: SESSION ZERO SUMMARY Welcome to a dark fantasy campaign set in the days leading up to the Gyr invasion and the eventual hunt for the Spider-Queen, Farra Jadeana. The story combines politics, investigation, horror, warfare, and difficult moral choices. Characters begin as ordinary people and gradually rise to become major figures in the conflict. CAMPAIGN THEMES This is a gritty, morally complex world. Your characters are expected to be fundamentally good people who try to protect others, but the setting will frequently force difficult decisions with no perfect solution. Major themes include: Political intrigue and shifting alliances Investigation and mystery solving Undead, necromancy, and forbidden magic Body horror and magical experimentation Warfare, invasion, and survival Loyalty, sacrifice, and corruption TABLE EXPECTATIONS We are here to create a cooperative story together. Players are expected to: Respect other players and their boundaries Avoid disruptive behavior Share spotlight time Communicate absences when possible Avoid excessive metagaming Support the group's goals Characters do not have to agree on everything, but they should have reasons to work together. SAFETY AND CONTENT This campaign contains mature themes including: Undead and necromancy Body horror Kidnapping Slavery Violent death Human experimentation These subjects exist as story elements, but player comfort comes first. The following rules apply: No graphic sexual content Fade-to-black for intimate scenes No content that violates established player boundaries Anyone may pause or redirect a scene if needed Each player should privately provide the DM with Lines (content that never appears) and Veils (content that may exist but remains off-screen). CHARACTER CREATION Characters begin at Level 0. You are not heroes yet. You are apprentices, laborers, guards, scribes, refugees, criminals, or ordinary citizens caught in events larger than yourselves. After completing the first adventure, characters advance to Level 1. Allowed options include standard races and classes unless otherwise discussed. Homebrew or setting-specific options require DM approval.
Homebrew rules
We go by 2024 canon. We use a discord channel for specific rules, but that's always in flux and subject to negotiation and change.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Richard Howes creates a safe table
Player safety and comfort are a priority in my games. Before the campaign begins, I will provide a Lines and Veils form for players to complete privately. Any content listed as a Line will not appear in the game. Content listed as a Veil may exist in the setting but will occur off-screen or be handled with a fade-to-black approach. Players may update their Lines and Veils at any time during the campaign. During Session 0, we will discuss campaign themes, expected tone, table etiquette, character expectations, player boundaries, and safety tools. I will clearly explain the types of content that may appear in the campaign, including horror themes, undead, necromancy, body horror, kidnapping, slavery, and violence, so players can make informed decisions about their participation and boundaries. At the table, I use an X, N, and O system: X = Stop, skip, or immediately move away from the current content. N = The content is approaching a boundary and should be softened or redirected. O = Everything is okay and the player is comfortable continuing. These signals can be given verbally, through direct message, in chat, or by holding up a card on camera. Players never need to explain why they are using a safety tool. I also maintain an open-door policy. Players may step away from the game at any time for any reason without needing to justify their decision. If a scene becomes uncomfortable, we can pause, take a break, revise the scene, or move forward without discussion if that is what the player prefers. After sessions involving particularly intense themes, I conduct a brief aftercare and debrief period. This usually includes checking in with players about what they enjoyed, what they would like to see more or less of, and whether any content crossed or approached a personal boundary. Players may also contact me privately after the session if they prefer not to discuss concerns in a group setting. My goal is to create a table where players feel comfortable engaging with dramatic, emotional, and sometimes dark stories while knowing their personal boundaries will be respected at all times.
Content warnings
Safety tools used