Apocalypse Keys | Play Emotionally Vulnerable Monsters Tasked with Saving the World

About the adventure

Take on the role of an Omen class monster, wielding formidable power that can greatly aid the world. But society shuns you and fears the things you are capable of. And so you work covertly through DIVISION, a secret organization that battles occult threats and investigates the impending apocalypse. DIVISION also offers the kinship of other monsters like yourself. These relationships may be the only way to stave off the growing darkness brewing within you―a darkness that threatens to turn you into the very thing you’re fighting against, a Harbinger. Beginner friendly 🔰 LGBTQ+ friendly 🌈 Combat occult threats 🤜 Investigate supernatural phenomena 🔎 Explore emotions & relationships 👩‍❤️‍👨 Play conflicted and complex larger-than-life characters 😭 Apocalypse Keys promotes safe, collaborative storytelling, larger-than-life player characters, and both empathetic and cataclysmic solutions. Influences include: Hellboy, Men In Black, Penny Dreadful, and Doom Patrol.

Additional Details

How to prepare

🎙️ A mic is required. A webcam is optional. 📜 You do not need to have read the rules in advance. The rules will be taught as we play. 📑 Character options and reference materials will be handed out in advance. 🕒 If you're joining midway through, you will need to undergo an onboarding session on Discord one hour before the session starts.

What I provide

🖥️ Rollable character sheets and play aids in Roll20

Gameplay details

🔞 This game deals with mature themes such as the end of the world, supernatural forces and the occult. Some concepts lean into experiences that may find parallel with racism and marginalization. Concept ------------- 💔 Apocalypse Keys is a game of emotional connection, complicated relationships, unpredictable mysteries, larger than life apocalyptical threats, and the brightest hope in the darkest despair. You are monsters bound by fate, love, and power. 🎨 Apocalypse Keys is also a game of discovery and creation. You will often be asked to answer questions by inventing new truths about the world, and be flexible when new secrets and huge revelations suddenly come into play. Tone -------- 🔎 There will be a lot of mystery, horror, and a focus on investigation. We will also often look at the emotional state of our characters and their relationships with each other and their own powers of darkness. 💕 Many mechanics focus on relationships and romance, so this is something to keep in mind. If you would like to have your character opt out of romantic entanglements (with NPCs, PCs, or both), please let us know! 💀 The tone can be very dark, since we are dealing with apocalyptical themes, horror, the supernatural, and so on. But Apocalypse Keys is meant to have at its heart a sense of hope. If things get too intense for any of us, we’ll use our safety tools, such as Lines and Veils and the X-Card, to move into a different direction. Subject Matter ------------------------ 🤕 Apocalypse Keys asks you to play characters who are conflicted and complex, each yearning to connect meaningfully to the monsters and humans around them. They are terrifying and monstrous, but they are also aching and human. To play Apocalypse Keys means playing vulnerable characters in a position to hurt and be hurt. The emotional tension of the game lies in the characters attempting to move past that and accept they’ll make mistakes while still striving to be better.

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

Aftercare
Breaks
Lines and Veils
Open Door
Session 0
Stars and Wishes
X, N, and O Cards

How will character creation work

🖌️ Character creation will happen in our first session together. 🔝 Please read through the playbooks beforehand and think about your top 2 or 3 playbook choices. 📑 Possible playbooks, listed from most straightforward to most complicated: ╰┈➤ The Summoned - A violent monster summoned from another world ╰┈➤ The Surge - A desperate monster, barely in control of their power, seeking to share the burden with others ╰┈➤ The Found - A psychic monster who can read hearts and minds, but cannot remember their own past ╰┈➤ The Shade - A cerebral monster who defied death and oblivion ╰┈➤ The Last - A lonely monster from another world who is the last of their kind ╰┈➤ The Fallen - A charming monster who was once a divine being ╰┈➤ The Hungry - A ravenous monster nearly consumed by their hunger ⏳ If you're joining the campaign midway, you'll need to create your character before the start of the session. During the session, you'll just have to introduce your character as the other players introduce theirs, and create your starting Bonds.

Players can expect

• Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
• Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
• If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.