Image by Samantha Beaumont
D&D 5e One-Shot | He Who Waits | Beginner Friendly
The town is silent. Every rescue team sent has vanished. You’ve been called to find out why but something is already waiting in the shadows, watching.
$10.00
/ Session
Details
1 player following this game
Once / Saturday - 11:00 PM UTC
Oct 17
Session Duration / 3–5 hours
0 / 5 Seats Filled
Top Game Master
One of StartPlaying's top-rated GMs, a player favorite and highly recommended.
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About the adventure
The town of Hollowbrook is silent. Every rescue team sent to investigate has vanished without a trace. Now it’s your turn to uncover the truth — but as you arrive, you find an eerie emptiness: streets abandoned, doors swinging in the wind, and a sense that you are not alone. Something waits, something watches, and it is patient. Time is your enemy, and as night approaches, the danger grows more immediate. He Who Waits Watches is a suspense-driven, mystery-horror one-shot designed for experienced players who enjoy investigative gameplay. Your goal is to gather clues, piece together what happened, and survive the unseen threat that stalks Hollowbrook. Expect tension, strategy, and moments that will make you question every shadow. This is a story where observation, deduction, and clever planning are just as important as combat. Combat in this game is a little tougher than your typical one-shot — danger is real, and mistakes carry consequences. However, the real challenge comes from the atmosphere and mystery: every decision could bring you closer to the truth or closer to the unseen threat. Roleplay, exploration, and teamwork are essential, and creative problem-solving will be rewarded. This is a homebrew adventure I wrote and am currently playtesting, so players have the unique opportunity to experience something fresh and provide feedback that may shape the final version. If you enjoy suspense, unraveling mysteries, and facing a relentless, intelligent predator in a classic fantasy setting, this is the game for you.
Game style
Combat Lite
Puzzle / Mystery Focused
Roleplay Heavy
Theater of the Mind
Game themes
Meet the Game Master
5.0
(63)
2 years on StartPlaying
70 games hosted
Highly rated for: Creativity, Storytelling, Inclusive
Average response time: 4 hours
Response rate: 100%
About me
I’ve been Dungeon Mastering Dungeons & Dragons since 2018, with a passion for creating original adventures where players are encouraged to roleplay, get creative, and make the story their own. Homebrew is at the heart of what I do. Every one-shot, mini-campaign, and short campaign I run is written by me, allowing me to create a wide variety of adventures—from ridiculous comedy and chaotic fun to mysteries, horror, high-stakes action, and everything in between. At my table, my biggest priority is making sure everyone is having fun and gets a chance to participate. I take a flexible approach to the rules and love when players think outside the box. Rather than looking for the "right" solution, I want players to feel comfortable experimenting, making unexpected choices, and seeing where the story takes us. I also design my games to be easy to fit into real life. Not everyone has the time—or wants—to commit to a campaign that could run for the next two years. My one-shots tell a complete adventure in a single session, my mini-campaigns run for just four sessions, and even my longest short campaigns are designed to wrap up within about three months. Whether you have one free night or you're looking for a complete campaign experience without a years-long commitment, my goal is the same: give you a memorable adventure, a complete story, and a table where you can have fun playing D&D.
View Profile →Character creation
Creating your character
(This is a 3rd level adventure) Players should have their characters fully created, including stats, abilities, and equipment, before the session begins to ensure the game starts on time. Ability scores may be chosen using the standard array or by rolling 4d6 and dropping the lowest die, following Player’s Handbook rules. Homebrew options are allowed, but please check with me beforehand so I can review and confirm balance. Characters should be set up in Roll20. Instructions are included below the game listing — please check those first. If you have a sheet as a PDF and cannot input it, send it to me 1–2 hours before the session so I can upload it for you. If you are a new player needing help with character creation, let me know in advance so I can assist before the session, avoiding delays. Also, please inform me if your character is already in Roll20, so I can review the sheet and ensure everything is ready for gameplay. The goal is to make character creation efficient and stress-free, allowing all players to focus on strategy, roleplay, and enjoying the adventure.
What to expect
Preparing for the session
Before the game, please make sure you have the following: Accounts & Platforms Discord – A free account is required. This is where we’ll communicate, roll dice, and run the session. Please make sure your mic is working and that you’re in a quiet environment. Roll20 – A free account is also required. This is where your character sheet will live and where the game board and interactions happen. After signing up, you will receive an invite link from me to join the game session. Once you join, I will provide a character sheet in your Roll20 Journal. Character Sheet & Token Preparation Please fill out your character sheet in Roll20 before the session. If you encounter any issues, you can send me a PDF of your character sheet, and I can input it for you. Please send this 1–2 hours before the session to allow time for setup. Character Image: Please provide an image of your character via Discord when signing up. This will be used to create your token for the battle maps, so your character is represented visually during play. Equipment & Environment A working microphone is required. A quiet space free of distractions is important for immersion and game flow. Optional but recommended: headphones for clearer audio and better focus. Other Recommendations Be ready to take notes, as this is a mystery-focused, investigative session — clues are important. Make sure your internet connection is stable to avoid disruptions. If you’ve never used Roll20 or Discord before, log in a few minutes early to test your setup.
What Samantha B. brings to the table
I strive to create an immersive and engaging experience where the story comes alive through visuals, sound, and interactive storytelling. I use vivid images, maps, and digital handouts to help you visualize locations, clues, and important objects, allowing you to interact with the world directly. Ambient music and sound effects enhance mood, build tension, and make scenes feel alive, whether subtle background noise or dramatic cues. All NPCs have distinct personalities and voices, making interactions memorable and easy to follow. Combat and encounters use tokens on battle maps, and I embrace the “rule of cool”, encouraging creative solutions and rewarding clever ideas. My table style is laid-back and flexible, focused on keeping the game fun while maintaining engagement. Players can expect a mix of strategic gameplay, immersive storytelling, and interactive problem-solving, designed to make each session memorable and enjoyable.
Homebrew rules
Potions: Drinking a potion is a bonus action. Critical Hits: Deal maximum damage plus a damage roll. Weapons: Switching weapons is a free action. Chases & Travel: I use streamlined, custom rules to keep these exciting without bogging down play. Tone: Rules are flexible—fun and story come first. I’ll adapt or clarify as we go to keep the game flowing.
Equipment needed to play
Internet
Computer
Microphone
Platforms used
Safety
How Samantha B. creates a safe table
There will be a debriefing/check-in after the session to see where everyone is at. Also to see if anyone needs any aftercare.
Content warnings
Safety tools used