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Gabriel Robinson

@glowingroots.bsky.social

1.7K followers 620 following 490 posts

he/they. Glowing Roots Press. TTRPG designer: The Silt Verses RPG, Token, Candlelight. Contributor: Trophy, Brindlewood Bay, The Between, & more. In progress: The Bramble Gate, Bestow, The Piper’s Call, Trust Fall & more. https://glowingroots.carrd.co/

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · Nov 16

I’m Gabriel, a writer and TTRPG designer from the Pacific Northwest, living in coastal Virginia.

I wrote The Silt Verses RPG, Token, Candlelight, and contributed to Trophy, The Between, Brindlewood Bay and other games — with several more in the works!

Find out more at:
glowingroots.carrd.co

An occult diagram drawn in sand, being washed away by the tide. Cover for The Silt Verses RPG.

A shadowy monstrous figure reaches from the trees towards a person holding up a glowing flower. Cover for Token RPG.

A glowing wisp emerges from the mouth of a skeleton in armor, laying on its back among tangled roots. Cover for Candlelight RPG.

Self portrait wearing sunglasses, a turquoise scarf, orange plaid shirt, holding up a dried crab on the beach.

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 17h

That’s it for now - follow along with our #hauntalong this month for more horror film recommendations from some of my favorite RPG writer friends!

Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 17h

Ultimately, it’s like if Hereditary knew how to have a bit of fun instead of needing to remind you in every single scene that this is a bleak story about grief and trauma. It still goes there, but empathizes with all of its characters profoundly. For me, that’s what makes it rewatchable.

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 17h

This film gets pretty brutal, and doesn’t shy away putting these child characters in the absolute worst situations. It doesn’t explain the occult aspects of the story more than it needs to.

A boy holding a cat while standing in an empty pool at night

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 17h

Family trauma and sibling bonds are themes I’ve actively explored in my upcoming game Bestow, for example:

FAMILY SECRET: How do you know that your Elder was involved in occult rituals? How did you protect the other Siblings from this knowledge? (When marked, this becomes a Clue)

FAMILY LEGACY
Mark the next unmarked box:

Dream. Narrate a flashback to a time you witnessed something unsettling as a child, but no one believed you.
Awakening. Recall the time you first realized an adult was keeping the truth from you. The next time you act to shield another Sibling from an unwelcome truth, roll with advantage.
Unraveling. Narrate a scene showing how you tried to shirk the responsibility thrust upon you, but found yourself caving in the end.
Revelation. Narrate a scene showing how you have fully embraced the path of completing the work your Elder started. Describe how you attempt to redeem, and ultimately sacrifice yourself in service of the family legacy, then retire this character.

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 18h

I actually watched this film with one of my brothers while going through a traumatic family loss. There is so much I can relate to when it comes to being an elder sibling trying to protect a younger one from the real and incomprehensible horror that life can drop on you sometimes.

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 18h

To get personal for a moment - I’m someone who fully embraces horror as a cathartic experience, or to explore really difficult emotions to help process some my own.

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 18h

Oh, they also find out that Laura is fostering another kid! Ollie is “selectively mute” and has been through a lot, but everything is fine. Much of the tension of this film builds between the perspectives of Billy and Piper, what they do and do not share, and what we notice is very, very wrong.

Ollie, a young boy with a shaved head and intense stare near a blood stained door

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 18h

Billy Barratt and Sara Wong are phenomenal as siblings who are trying to do their best to look out for each other in traumatic circumstances. Piper is visually impaired, and the film uses some clever sound design and shifting focus to put the audience in her place.

Siblings Andy and Piper, looking different directions uncomfortably

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 18h

The story follows siblings Piper and Andy as they go through the sudden loss of a parent and enter the foster care system, where their eccentric new foster mother Laura (played by Sally Hawkins) immediately starts throwing up one red flag after another.

Picture of Laura, the foster mother, looking menacing at the entrance of some kind of shed.

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 18h

We get an intro of some grainy VHS footage of some kind of murder/ritual in a grimy warehouse, maybe Russia? Whatever is going on it’s pretty fucked up. I wonder what that’s all about?

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 18h

If you liked the Philippou brother’s previous film Talk to Me, but thought it could have leaned even more into body horror, the occult and metaphors for grief, you’ll love this wild ride.

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 18h

Continuing this year’s #hauntalong, I’m recommending Bring Her Back (2025).

Film poster for Bring Her Back, featuring a hand grading the head of a child with red demonic eyes and a circle of blood in the background

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 1d

Seriously - I’ve had that experience too, and glad to count myself in that company!

Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 1d

Jesse’s work is what truly got me into writing and designing RPGs. The Kalduhr forest is forever stretching its roots into my creative brain and inspiring new wondrous horrors. Jesse also happens to be a fantastic person to play and collaborate with, and I continue to learn so much from him! 🖤🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

Jesse Ross @jesseross.com · 1d

Tomorrow is my birthday, and this last year has been a rough one. If any of the games or other art I’ve made have had a positive impact on you, hearing your stories would bring me a lot of joy 💖

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Reposted by Gabriel Robinson

𝖏 𝖆 𝖈 𝖐 @jackofficer.bsky.social · 1d

Hello, rats and bats. It's #hauntalong time, and tonight I'm kicking off my selects with inarguably the best (authorized) Dracula movie ever.

Title card for "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992)

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Reposted by Gabriel Robinson

Amanda/iamatrex @iamatrex.com · 5d

Normally I'd try and link my hauntalong back to TTRPGs but all I gotta say here is: Lean into your weird silly ideas, create what you wanna see in the world, and it will find it's audience even if it's not everyone's bag. There are other weirdos out there like you!

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Reposted by Gabriel Robinson

Michael Van Vleet (he/him) @signalstation.bsky.social · 5d

I already posted once that I put my Weird West 1-short Devil, Aim For Me (and its French counterpart Dans le viseur du diable) on sale, so... I'm pretty much done, right?

Don't need to keep mentioning that it's 50% off at $4... I don't even need to post this, right?

itch.io/s/160633/the...

The Devil Aims For You by Michael Van Vleet

A bundle by Michael Van Vleet, $8.00 for DEVIL, AIM FOR ME: A One-Shot for Trophy Dark, Dans le viseur du diable

itch.io

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Reposted by Gabriel Robinson

Michael Van Vleet (he/him) @signalstation.bsky.social · 6d

Welcome back to the #hauntalong where every year, a group of RPG game designers, artists, and horror film weirdos spend the month of October sharing their recommendations!

Today we'll be talking about CUCKOO, the changeling myth and how weird it is to hear anything at all.

Title screen for the film CUCKOO featuring the word "cuckoo" on a dark background.

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 6d

Great location generator for your TTRPG needs

Weird Spy Satellite @weirdsatellite.bsky.social · 6d

Transmission #668 from NROL-82 (TOP SECRET)

1. Stronghold of Beehives
2. Shrouded Possum Causeway
3. Conspiracy Dock

Aerial satellite photo labelled in bright yellow letters:

1. Stronghold of Beehives
2. Shrouded Possum Causeway
3. Conspiracy Dock

Reposted by Gabriel Robinson

Mike Murderens | Clear Keep @clearkeep.bsky.social · 6d

Weeeeeee're baaaack.

#hauntalong has a group of ttrpg wrting/arting/playing friends chatting about their favorite horror movies.

This year, we've got a full month of recos, and we'll truly push Bluesky's threading feature well beyond the black rainbow.

Come haunt along with us.

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Gabriel Robinson @glowingroots.bsky.social · 7d

That’s just bonus caffeine!

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Reposted by Gabriel Robinson

Zach D Roberts @zdroberts.bsky.social · 9d

THIS IS HOW IT ENDS*

My latest film is on our speedrun to fascism. If you got a couple extra bucks, I could use the support on indiegogo.

I've been warning about what's happening right now for over a decade - help me make the film and get it in front of people's eyes.

Link: igg.me/at/TxlNrJxtI...

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Reposted by Gabriel Robinson

The Public Domain Review @publicdomainrev.bsky.social · 14d

A year before his death, the artist Howard Pyle set off for Italy, leaving unfinished on his Delaware easel his final painting *The Mermaid* — a profoundly haunting work of art: https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/pyle-mermaid

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Reposted by Gabriel Robinson

Pam, Godkillingway v.2025, Patch "Eepy" @thedovetailor.bsky.social · 27d

Hello folks, I am in need of non-fiction recommendations for:

+ Indigenous histories (esp from Canada & the Philippines)
+ Black history
+ Black Studies
+ Queer histories (esp from Canada and the Philippines)
+ Radicalization
+ Critical Race Theory

Signal boost pls.

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Reposted by Gabriel Robinson

Méabh de Brún @meabhdebrun.bsky.social · 15d

My one woman mini-series (2 eps) for @realmmedia.bsky.social has been nominated for a @writersguildirl.bsky.social award! If you like spooky stories, unreliable narrators, meditations on artistic merit & the sound of me ABSOLUTELY LOSING IT check it out!! open.spotify.com/episode/7h9k...

The Devil's Chair - Part 1

open.spotify.com

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