diff --git a/src/apps/dashboard/migrations/0003_alter_note_owner_alter_note_shared_with.py b/src/apps/dashboard/migrations/0003_alter_note_owner_alter_note_shared_with.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6cfe497
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/apps/dashboard/migrations/0003_alter_note_owner_alter_note_shared_with.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Generated by Django 6.0 on 2026-03-12 19:30
+
+import django.db.models.deletion
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('dashboard', '0002_rename_list_to_note'),
+        migrations.swappable_dependency(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='note',
+            name='owner',
+            field=models.ForeignKey(blank=True, null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.CASCADE, related_name='notes', to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='note',
+            name='shared_with',
+            field=models.ManyToManyField(blank=True, related_name='shared_notes', to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/apps/epic/migrations/0001_initial.py b/src/apps/epic/migrations/0001_initial.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2e760b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/apps/epic/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# Generated by Django 6.0 on 2026-03-12 19:46
+
+import django.db.models.deletion
+import uuid
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    initial = True
+
+    dependencies = [
+        migrations.swappable_dependency(settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='Room',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.UUIDField(default=uuid.uuid4, editable=False, primary_key=True, serialize=False)),
+                ('name', models.CharField(max_length=200)),
+                ('visibility', models.CharField(choices=[('PRIVATE', 'Private'), ('PUBLIC', 'Public'), ('INVITE ONLY', 'Invite Only')], default='PRIVATE', max_length=20)),
+                ('gate_status', models.CharField(choices=[('GATHERING', 'Gathering'), ('OPEN', 'Open'), ('RENEWAL_DUE', 'Renewal Due')], default='GATHERING', max_length=20)),
+                ('renewal_period', models.DurationField(blank=True, null=True)),
+                ('created_at', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)),
+                ('board_state', models.JSONField(default=dict)),
+                ('seed_count', models.IntegerField(default=12)),
+                ('owner', models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.CASCADE, related_name='owned_rooms', to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL)),
+            ],
+        ),
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='GateSlot',
+            fields=[
+                ('id', models.BigAutoField(auto_created=True, primary_key=True, serialize=False, verbose_name='ID')),
+                ('slot_number', models.IntegerField()),
+                ('status', models.CharField(choices=[('EMPTY', 'Empty'), ('RESERVED', 'Reserved'), ('FILLED', 'Filled')], default='EMPTY', max_length=10)),
+                ('reserved_at', models.DateTimeField(blank=True, null=True)),
+                ('filled_at', models.DateTimeField(blank=True, null=True)),
+                ('funded_by', models.ForeignKey(blank=True, null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL, related_name='funded_slots', to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL)),
+                ('gamer', models.ForeignKey(blank=True, null=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.SET_NULL, related_name='gate_slots', to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL)),
+                ('room', models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.CASCADE, related_name='gate_slots', to='epic.room')),
+            ],
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/src/apps/epic/models.py b/src/apps/epic/models.py
index 71a8362..2cc90bd 100644
--- a/src/apps/epic/models.py
+++ b/src/apps/epic/models.py
@@ -1,3 +1,69 @@
-from django.db import models
+import uuid
 
-# Create your models here.
+from django.db import models
+from django.db.models.signals import post_save
+from django.dispatch import receiver
+from django.conf import settings
+
+
+class Room(models.Model):
+    GATHERING = "GATHERING"
+    OPEN = "OPEN"
+    RENEWAL_DUE = "RENEWAL_DUE"
+    GATE_STATUS_CHOICES = [
+        (GATHERING, "Gathering"),
+        (OPEN, "Open"),
+        (RENEWAL_DUE, "Renewal Due"),
+    ]
+
+    PRIVATE = "PRIVATE"
+    PUBLIC = "PUBLIC"
+    INVITE_ONLY = "INVITE ONLY"
+    VISIBILITY_CHOICES = [
+        (PRIVATE, "Private"),
+        (PUBLIC, "Public"),
+        (INVITE_ONLY, "Invite Only"),
+    ]
+
+    id = models.UUIDField(primary_key=True, default=uuid.uuid4, editable=False)
+    name = models.CharField(max_length=200)
+    owner = models.ForeignKey(
+        settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, on_delete=models.CASCADE, related_name="owned_rooms"
+    )
+    visibility = models.CharField(max_length=20, choices=VISIBILITY_CHOICES, default=PRIVATE)
+    gate_status = models.CharField(max_length=20, choices=GATE_STATUS_CHOICES, default=GATHERING)
+    renewal_period = models.DurationField(null=True, blank=True)
+    created_at = models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True)
+    board_state = models.JSONField(default=dict)
+    seed_count = models.IntegerField(default=12)
+
+class GateSlot(models.Model):
+    EMPTY = "EMPTY"
+    RESERVED = "RESERVED"
+    FILLED = "FILLED"
+    STATUS_CHOICES = [
+        (EMPTY, "Empty"),
+        (RESERVED, "Reserved"),
+        (FILLED, "Filled"),
+    ]
+
+    room = models.ForeignKey(Room, on_delete=models.CASCADE, related_name="gate_slots")
+    slot_number = models.IntegerField()
+    gamer = models.ForeignKey(
+        settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, null=True, blank=True,
+        on_delete=models.SET_NULL, related_name="gate_slots"
+    )
+    funded_by = models.ForeignKey(
+        settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, null=True, blank=True,
+        on_delete=models.SET_NULL, related_name="funded_slots"
+    )
+    status = models.CharField(max_length=10, choices=STATUS_CHOICES, default=EMPTY)
+    reserved_at = models.DateTimeField(null=True, blank=True)
+    filled_at = models.DateTimeField(null=True, blank=True)
+
+
+@receiver(post_save, sender=Room)
+def create_gate_slots(sender, instance, created, **kwargs):
+    if created:
+        for i in range(1, 7):
+            GateSlot.objects.create(room=instance, slot_number=i)
diff --git a/src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_models.py b/src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_models.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d200af7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_models.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+from django.test import TestCase
+
+from apps.lyric.models import User
+from apps.epic.models import Room, GateSlot
+
+
+class RoomCreationTest(TestCase):
+    def test_creating_a_room_generates_six_gate_slots(self):
+        owner = User.objects.create(email="founder@example.com")
+        room = Room.objects.create(name="Test Room", owner=owner)
+        self.assertEqual(GateSlot.objects.filter(room=room).count(), 6)
diff --git a/src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_views.py b/src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea24dac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/apps/epic/tests/integrated/test_views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+from django.test import TestCase
+from django.urls import reverse
+
+from apps.lyric.models import User
+from apps.epic.models import Room
+
+
+class RoomCreationViewTest(TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.user = User.objects.create(email="founder@test.io")
+        self.client.force_login(self.user)
+
+    def test_post_creates_room_and_redirects_to_gatekeeper(self):
+        response = self.client.post(
+            reverse("epic:create_room"),
+            data={"name": "Test Room"},
+        )
+        room = Room.objects.get(owner=self.user)
+        self.assertRedirects(
+            response, reverse(
+                "epic:gatekeeper",
+                args=[room.id],
+            )
+        )
+
+    def test_post_requires_login(self):
+        self.client.logout()
+        response = self.client.post(
+            reverse("epic:create_room"),
+            data={"name": "Test Room"},
+        )
diff --git a/src/apps/epic/urls.py b/src/apps/epic/urls.py
index e69de29..e05d5a3 100644
--- a/src/apps/epic/urls.py
+++ b/src/apps/epic/urls.py
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+from django.urls import path
+from . import views
+
+
+app_name = 'epic'
+
+urlpatterns = [
+    path('rooms/create_room', views.create_room, name='create_room'),
+    path('room/<uuid:room_id>/gate/', views.gatekeeper, name='gatekeeper'),
+]
+
diff --git a/src/apps/epic/views.py b/src/apps/epic/views.py
index 91ea44a..df5a7ce 100644
--- a/src/apps/epic/views.py
+++ b/src/apps/epic/views.py
@@ -1,3 +1,22 @@
-from django.shortcuts import render
+from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
+from django.shortcuts import redirect, render
 
-# Create your views here.
+from apps.epic.models import Room
+
+
+@login_required
+def create_room(request):
+    if request.method == "POST":
+        name = request.POST.get("name", "").strip()
+        if name:
+            room = Room.objects.create(name=name, owner=request.user)
+            return redirect("epic:gatekeeper", room_id=room.id)
+    return redirect("gameboard:index")
+
+def gatekeeper(request, room_id):
+    room = Room.objects.get(id=room_id)
+    slots = room.gate_slots.order_by("slot_number")
+    return render(request, "apps/gameboard/room.html", {
+        'room': room,
+        'slots': slots,
+    })
diff --git a/src/core/urls.py b/src/core/urls.py
index 3831b91..d4ad285 100644
--- a/src/core/urls.py
+++ b/src/core/urls.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ urlpatterns = [
     path('dashboard/', include('apps.dashboard.urls')),
     path('lyric/', include('apps.lyric.urls')),
     path('gameboard/', include('apps.gameboard.urls')),
+    path('gameboard/', include('apps.epic.urls', 'epic')),
 ]
 
 # Please remove the following urlpattern
diff --git a/src/functional_tests/test_gatekeeper.py b/src/functional_tests/test_gatekeeper.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46178ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functional_tests/test_gatekeeper.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
+
+from .base import FunctionalTest
+from apps.applets.models import Applet
+
+
+class GatekeeperTest(FunctionalTest):
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+        Applet.objects.get_or_create(
+            slug="new-game", defaults={"name": "New Game", "context": "gameboard"}
+        )
+
+    def test_founder_creates_room_and_sees_gatekeeper(self):
+        # 1. Log in, navigate to gameboard
+        self.create_pre_authenticated_session("founder@test.io")    
+        self.browser.get(self.live_server_url + "/gameboard/")
+        # 2. New Game applet has room name input, create button
+        self.wait_for(
+            lambda: self.browser.find_element(By.ID, "id_applet_new_game")
+        )
+        self.browser.find_element(By.ID, "id_new_game_name").send_keys("Test Room")
+        self.browser.find_element(By.ID, "id_create_game_btn").click()
+        # 3. User is redirected to Gatekeeper page for new room
+        self.wait_for(
+            lambda: self.assertIn("/gameboard/room/", self.browser.current_url)
+        )
+        self.wait_for(
+            lambda: self.assertIn("/gate/", self.browser.current_url)
+        )
+        # 4. Page shows room name, GATHERING status
+        body = self.browser.find_element(By.TAG_NAME, "body")
+        self.assertIn("Test Room", body.text)
+        self.assertIn("GATHERING", body.text)
+        # 5. Six token slots are visible
+        slots = self.browser.find_elements(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".gate-slot")
+        self.assertEqual(len(slots), 6)
+        # 6. Slot 1 has Drop Token btn; slots 2–6 show as empty
+        slot_1 = slots[0]
+        slot_1.find_element(By.CSS_SELECTOR, ".drop-token-btn")
+        for slot in slots[1:]:
+            self.assertIn("empty", slot.get_attribute("class"))
diff --git a/src/templates/apps/gameboard/_partials/_applet-new-game.html b/src/templates/apps/gameboard/_partials/_applet-new-game.html
index 297f00b..3710f93 100644
--- a/src/templates/apps/gameboard/_partials/_applet-new-game.html
+++ b/src/templates/apps/gameboard/_partials/_applet-new-game.html
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
     style="--applet-cols: {{ entry.applet.grid_cols }}; --applet-rows: {{ entry.applet.grid_rows }};"
 >
     <h2>New Game</h2>
-    <ul class="game-type">
-        <small>[feature forthcoming]</small>
-    </ul>
+    <form method="POST" action="{% url "epic:create_room" %}">
+        {% csrf_token %}
+        <input id="id_new_game_name" name="name" type="text" placeholder="Room name" />
+        <button type="submit" id="id_create_game_btn" class="btn btn-primary btn-xl">Start<br>Game</button>
+    </form>
 </section>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/templates/apps/gameboard/_partials/_gatekeeper.html b/src/templates/apps/gameboard/_partials/_gatekeeper.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2461e96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/apps/gameboard/_partials/_gatekeeper.html
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+<div class="gate-modal" role"dialog" aria-label="Gatekeeper">
+    <header class="gate-header">
+        <h1>{{ room.name }}</h1>
+        <span class="gate-status">{{ room.gate_status }}</span>
+    </header>
+
+    <div class="gate-slots">
+        {% for slot in slots %}
+            <div
+                class="gate-slot{% if slot.status == 'EMPTY' %} empty{% endif %}"
+                data-slot="{{ slot.slot_number }}"
+            >
+                <span class="slot-number">{{ slot.slot_number }}</span>
+                {% if slot.gamer %}
+                    <span class="slot-gamer">{{ slot.gamer.email }}</span>
+
+                {% else %}
+                    <span class="slot-gamer">empty</span>
+                {% endif %}
+                {% if slot.slot_number == 1 and request.user == room.owner %}
+                    <button class="drop-token-btn">Drop Token</button>
+                {% endif %}
+            </div>
+        {% endfor %}
+    </div>
+</div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/templates/apps/gameboard/room.html b/src/templates/apps/gameboard/room.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..34c2715
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/apps/gameboard/room.html
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+{% extends "core/base.html" %}
+
+{% block content %}
+    <div class="room-page">
+        <div class="room-shell">
+            {% comment "game room content" %}gaussian blur + darkening (cf., e.g., tooltip effect) {% endcomment %}
+            <div class="room-table"></div>
+        </div>
+
+        {% if room.gate_status == "GATHERING" %}
+        <div class="gate-overlay">
+            {% include "apps/gameboard/_partials/_gatekeeper.html" %}
+        </div>
+        {% endif %}
+    </div>
+{% endblock content %}
\ No newline at end of file