Roots
A series of Modern-Day Horror One-Shots. Something has gone wrong. Looking into it is only going to make things worse.
$10.00
/ Session
Details
2 players following this game
Once / Sunday - 1:00 AM UTC
Nov 15
Session Duration / 3–6 hours
1 / 5 Seats Filled
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Meet your party members
1/5
About the adventure
These one-shots are all built for modern-day Call of Cthulhu. Each scenario begins with an ordinary mystery or situation and follows it somewhere considerably darker, and much, much stranger. Each one is self-contained but varied in style and inspiration, from folk horror to urban legends. Characters do not need to be professional investigators, and new players are welcome alongside experienced ones. These are adventures for mature players. The horror can become bleak, violent, uncomfortable, and come upon you suddenly. But the heart of Call of Cthulhu is the attempt to understand what is happening and push back against the darkness, even when the odds are very much against you. If you feel that first prickle crawling up your neck, don't worry. A little fear keeps you sharp. Good luck out there... OCT 24 - The Disappearance at Gadsen's Bend Nikki Sandson went into the mountains to finish her American Folklore dissertation and never came back. She and her boyfriend were last heard from near Gadsen's Bend, a rural community deep in the Appalachian mountains. Some of the locals may remember seeing them, but getting people to talk round these parts may be another matter entirely… OCT 31 - Whatever Happened to Alice Miller? After the death of her boyfriend, fifteen-year-old Alice Miller withdrew from almost everyone around her. Then, late one night, she disappeared. Her parents want answers, and the police aren't ready to call it anything more than a runaway. Maybe you can help figure out what really happened… NOV 14 - Roots Biomedical researcher Beatrice Bell has been missing for three weeks. Her car was left at work, her phone was found smashed in the parking lot, and the research she was conducting before she vanished points toward a string of remarkably similar disappearances stretching back decades... NOV 21 - Mortal Remains Elize Dufferin has been murdered in her home, and her husband Howard is nowhere to be found. Perhaps you can pick up the trail as similar cases begin to surface...
Game style
Roleplay Heavy
Rules as Written (RaW)
Theater of the Mind
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(10)
2 years on StartPlaying
20 games hosted
Highly rated for: Storytelling, Creativity, Inclusive
Average response time: 18 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
Hi, I'm Dylan! I've been running TTRPGs for over a decade now, but my love of tabletop games goes back much further. Ever since I discovered the thrill of collaborative storytelling, I haven't been able to get enough. I'm a film nerd at heart, and I bring that cinematic sensibility into every game I run. I love character-driven narratives that feel personal and unforgettable, whether the tone leans epic, harrowing, or just plain fun. My goal is always to help players tell stories about their characters that feel meaningful and alive.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
I'll provide pre-generated investigators so we can start play right away. If you're experienced with Call of Cthulhu and want to bring a custom character, you're welcome to, just have them ready before the session (standard modern-era investigator, pending Keeper approval). There will be no full character-build workshop during session time.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Create a Discord account (or make sure you can log in). The session will use Discord for voice. Create an Alchemy VTT account and confirm you can access the platform. If possible, install the Discord and Alchemy VTT apps (mobile or desktop). They tend to run smoother than browser for most people. Test your mic/headphones and a stable connection ahead of time so we can jump in quickly.
What Dylan brings to the table
I tend to lean toward theater of the mind, using character voices and scene-setting to build the tone of the game. Mechanic wise, I focus on investigation and player choice, you'll always have multiple ways to approach a problem. As a baseline, I go Rules as Written with flexibility into Rule of Cool when the moment calls for it. When it comes to combat, we'll stay mostly narrative, but I can drop in a grid for clarity when necessary.
Homebrew rules
Spending Luck - Spend Luck points to improve any non-fumbled skill roll, including those in combat (excluding damage, Push, and Sanity rolls, critical successes, or to buy off fumbles or firearm malfunctions). Schrödinger's Backpack - If an item is within your spending limit, and it's vaguely reasonable your character would have bought it before heading into the unknown, chances are it's probably in there. A bit more exotic or hyper-specific? Luck roll. Roleplay Inspiration - Strong roleplay moments may grant a small temporary benefit, such as advantage on a related skill check. Rule of Cool Clause - If something cinematic and fitting enhances the story, I'll allow it, even if it bends the rules slightly.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Dylan creates a safe table
We'll start the session by quickly setting Lines & Veils together (what's off-limits, and what can exist but stays off-screen). I also keep an open-door policy. If anything feels off at any point, you can say so, step away, or ask to redirect with no pressure and no questions required in the moment. We'll also take a short mid-session break about halfway through to reset and check in.
Content warnings
Safety tools used