The Discarded - A Psychological Horror Campaign

Game: D&D 5.5e
Group type: Online (Discord)
Experience: Veteran (or those quite comfortable with roleplay)
Timezone: CST
Schedule: Saturdays, Weekly (Session time TBD but I am available all day/night)
Roles sought: Five Players (Five out of Five Slots Open Currently)
Game style: Horror, Hack n Slash, Psychology (We heal from trauma at this table)

A group of patients at Renathion Mental Asylum are selected for Doctor William J. Renathion's groundbreaking treatment plan, involving an arcane device known as The Key (meant to lock away one’s troubles, if you will). The procedure is a resounding success, removing all mental illnesses / bodily afflictions from each patient. Unfortunately, as each patient walks out of the asylum healthy, they leave behind a sick, twisted version of themself trapped in a nightmare rendering of the asylum within The Key. Based on the footsteps (and hooves/claws) approaching, it would appear the good doctor's treatment plan has been successful before...perhaps even hundreds of times.

In this campaign, we will explore emotions, mental illness and the applications of Dungeons and Dragons as a therapeutic tool. During character creation each player will choose a core flaw or affliction their character suffered from prior to treatment at the asylum. You will play as the pure embodiment of this affliction trapped within The Key, having been extracted as a separate persona from a patient. You are trapped in a dimension full of other “successes” from the procedure, all of which are horrid beasts beyond comprehension seeking to destroy and/or consume you. Each layer of this hellish version of the asylum has within it an emotion or illness that the good doctor removed from himself during trial runs of The Key. These are the cornerstone encounters the party will have to navigate in order to eventually break free of the device. By the end of their journey, the party will have changed drastically, perhaps even ascending beyond their core flaws.

This campaign will require a significant emotional and time investment as it is intended to be a high quality podcast touching on sensitive topics. The framework for this campaign will be created alongside a licensed Social Worker to ensure the themes touched on are done in a respectful, professional manner. It is imperative that we approach these difficult themes properly. There will of course be extensive vetting of each player and a lengthy session zero. If you are interested in participating, please fill out an application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEwFpPaMMDw9eP0mPb17MOZ_rWL2F5VYGA8swCkBohRSnhZg/viewform?usp=header