Welcome to How Not to Host a Murder, a short D&D experience that captures the details of Mike Krahulik (Penny Arcade)'s adventure run at the Acquisitions Incorporated live game at PAX East 2016. The wizard Elminster is hosting a murder mystery party, and you are invited. When you arrive at his demiplane home with the other guests, however, the night quickly turns sour as it is discovered that Elminster has truly been killed! It falls to the party to investigate the death and identify the culprit before they can escape the premises. When they've been identified, it's a race to apprehend the murderer before they can escape amidst the kooky chaos of Elminster's sanctum in this comedic adventure for sub-optimal 7th-level adventurers.
In the Outer Planes, a holy sword can be a fiend's best friend, especially when the owner wants it back? Sneaking into the second layer of foul Bagtor ain't easy, but with a little help from the right high-up men, it can be done. 'Course, exactly who the right high-up men are can give a basher pause, so it's often best not to ask. But there's a sword to be found, and bloods needed to find it. Truth is, those who don't end up lost are sure to find out that no good deed goes unpunished! Fires of Dis is a Planescape adventure for four to six characters of 5th to 9th levels. From Sigil, the City of Doors, the heroes plunge head-first into a dangerous journey across the Outer Planes. Their quest for a stolen sword leads them to the hostile gate-town or Ribcage, the treacherous plane of Baator, and the disciplined burg of Fortitiude - a gate-town teetering between two planes, just waiting for something to tip the scales. Your player characters need wits as keen as their steel to brave the fires of Dis and survive!
Dementlieu: Dance with the Devil is a sandbox psychological horror adventure for 4-5 characters of 6-7th level. It can be played over the course of 6-8 hours for a one-shot, but works better when played slowly over the course of 2-3 games. This is the second part of the Carnival of Lost Souls campaign. It can also be played as a standalone adventure. Dementlieu: Dance with the Devil features: - A tragic story of ambition and pretense. - Exciting dive into the world of trick curses, second-meanings, and loopholes. - Exploration of the decadent Theater, that harbors a dark secret. - Rules for Talent Show and Aristocratic Game of Polo - anything to get a coveted ticket to the Grand Masquerade! - A detailed timetable of the exquisite and socially tense event for which the whole domain lives - the Grand Masquerade! - A group of mysterious guests to make your social events even more exciting! - New custom monsters to make combat encounters truly memorable and exciting - High-quality maps, also available in universal vtt format Made in Ukraine
"The Alchemists' Guildhall" is a rusalka lair suitable for four or five 6th-level characters. This adventure can be completed in one session.
The Keeper of the Flame—head of the Thranish church—has died and an election is coming. Two religious orders want their candidates elected by any means necessary. Deceit. Terror. Murder. Nothing can stand in the way of the Inquisitors of the Pure Flame. Except maybe a young girl who can perform actual miracles… "Nobody Expects the Thranish Inquisition" is an adventure for an EVIL party of 5th-level characters. The players take control of the ruthless, cunning, moustache-twirling inquisitors of the Pure Flame. Their enemies, the Flame of Purity (an entirely different religious order), have discovered a wonderchild—a girl named Jaela Daran—and are planning to elect her as the next Keeper. In order to prevent this, the characters must investigate three miracles that the girl has already performed and erase all traces of them. Then they must bring her before the assembly of cardinals and expose her as a heretic. What could possibly go wrong? The adventure takes place in the world of Eberron but can easily be transposed to another setting.
Four doors of mystery appear in the Cage. They lead to four adventures, if a basher has the dark of them. "These aren't doors in the traditional sense, cutter, but they're portals just the same. They appear for a short time every 500 years, popping up in different parts of Sigil. Each hides a mystery that's waiting to be solved, and together they just might hold the key to a secret of the multiverse. All a body's got to do is tumble to the right keys, open the doors, and face down the Unknown." - Estavan, merchant lord Doors to the Unknown is a collection of four Planescape adventures that can be played separately or as a mini-campaign. When four doors appear in the Cage, the barmies crawl out of the shadows, and the heroes get drawn into events that could have consequences for the entire multiverse. Each door leads to a different plane and a different deadly challenge for the player characters. Together they offer a way to stop an ancient menace before it strikes again.
Far out in the void, an ancient city of vampires endures. Welcome to Araveshti, a city of a thousand towers floating safely in the shadow of the world, glittering with starlight, thrumming with ancient magics, and crawling with vicious immortals. Will you seek to destroy these bloodthirsty aristocrats? Or will you help them pursue their bizarre alchemical experiments in immortality? Or will you simply seek a way to escape their twisted and crumbling paradise? Within these ancient towers, adventurers will find vampire lords and servants, zealots and goliaths, as well as werewolves, mycotic zombies, victims of strange experimentation, fanatical holy knights, tragic vampire hunters in black, shipwrecked dreamers, castaway aliens, metal angels, eldritch horrors, star dragons, and (of course) the vampires' giant dragon-killing mecha suit... This is a dark sandbox. Players will explore a vast city of undead people and monsters in outer space, full of homages to classic horror and science fiction films and literature. ADVENTURE TYPE: Mid Level / Combat / Exploration / Dark Fantasy / Fantasy City / Gothic Horror DESIGN NOTES This adventure is intended for mid-level characters around Level 5-10 Players explore a large vampire city in space, encounter numerous NPCs and monsters, and engage with diverse factions to destroy, conquer, or escape from the city 40+ unique encounter locations, plus countless randomly generated locations 100+ original magic items 40+ original monsters One city map Estimated play time: 1-8 sessions (4-32 hours)
A madman stalks the fog-shrouded streets of Paridon, killing with gruesome precision - and always at midnight. A party of brave adventurers witnesses the most recent of these brutal murders. Now that they've seen the killer's face, they're sure to be his next targets. Who can be trusted in this city where the residents are not what they appear to be? Those who dare to track the killer will find strange allies - and even stranger enemies. The adventurers must investigate the ancient mystery behind the murders that take place when the clock strikes the "Hour of the Knife." This 64-page adventure includes a full-color poster-sized map of Paridon. The adventure is based on the popular RPGA Network tournament by Bruce Nesmith. TSR 9456
The nefarious master wrestler Dib, the goblin, is "terrorizing" the streets of the town (or city). Since his defeat in his roadside fortress, the would-be chieftain has plotted his revenge. Gathering to him a new batch of dim minions, Dib has transformed a stolen merchant wagon into a machine of war. The wagon is powered by several goblins inside who, while devoted to Dib, lack the strength to pedal the thing quickly or consistently. Dib's plan to wreak a path of havoc through the streets has resulted in something a bit more disappointing. In this light-hearted and quirky adventure for four first- or second-level PCs, the party must confront the war wagon, gain entry to it, and defeat its defenders—the lives of several potted plants and a few market stalls depend on it!
What good is a king without a city to rule over? What happens when everyone in a city disappears, gone without a trace? This is the state in which an adventuring party, your characters, finds Sheol in; a city devoid of all life forms, claimed by Hegemon, a Wraith that used to be its king. Explore the empty city! Be mindful of the thieves' guilds! Find your way to the portal that leads to the castle! Fight your way through the hoards of undead to foil Hegemon's insidious plan! An adventure perfect for the middle part of any campaign, full of plot hooks, possible plot points and areas of exploration! Tons of places, like the Tower of Eiden, with backstories to tie in with any existing campaign! Discover the "Hell's Gifts", red gems that defy space! This adventure offers: 30 pages of exploration of an empty city and a castle swarming with undead. Maps for major locations Two new Monsters, Hegemon and Corvus, also usable as NPCs. 3 new magic items. A plethora of plot hooks, possible plot points, and setting-neutral lore. Many hours of fun gameplay A Dungeons & Dragons adventure written for 8th level player characters, with level adjustments for levels 5-10 for the encounters.
Part 1 of the "The Devil We Know" campaign arc. Shipyard Rats is a Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 1st to 7th level characters (Tiers: 1–2, 3–4, and 6–7). When simultaneous kidnappings of Pathfinder and Aspis Consortium agents rock Cassomir's Imperial Naval Shipyards, the Society orders you to join forces with hated Aspis agents to solve the mystery. Can you work together with the enemies of the Society to uncover the source of the kidnappings, or will you perish in the shipyards of Cassomir?
Escape from Elturel is a 6-8 hour Dungeons & Dragons adventure for characters of levels 1-2, for use as an introduction to Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. Pilgrims and travelers flock to the holy city of Elturel to bask in the light of its second sun. But when the Companion starts to malfunction, the characters must escape the doomed city before it is pulled down to the Nine Hells. In the aftermath, a caravan of refugees needs their help to find a safe haven in that notorious hive of scum and villainy, Baldur's Gate! The adventure has everything you need to start a new campaign in Elturel, including: - a new adventure hook for Descent into Avernus - short introductory encounters set during and after the fall of Elturel - a skill challenge for escaping Elturel as it is pulled down to Avernus - resources, encounters, travel activities, and NPCs for a caravan to Baldur's Gate - notes for transitioning into Descent into Avernus - two creature and NPC stat blocks - a map pack with two maps by Dyson Logos Escape from Elturel also includes suggestions for combining this adventure with Burial in Baldur's Gate if you want to run a mixed party of characters from Elturel and Baldur's Gate.
The dreadful jails below the appalling City of Skulls, Iuz's nightmare capital, contain many wretched and desperate captives. Among them is Earl Holmer, Knight Commander of the Shield Lands. A brave spy in Dorakaa has shown the ay to find and free Holmer—is your party up to the job of freeing him? King Belvor IV of Furyondy believes so. In the way stand fearsome priests and mages of the Lord of Pain; ogres, giants, fiends, and worse hinder the struggle to defeat the traps and guardians of Iuz. Plucking Holmer from his grasp will bring great renown, knighthood, and treasure—for those who survive. None has ever escaped Iuz's jails. Who will you be the first to use stealth or storm to breach them? TSR 9405
As darkness presses into the narrow, muddy alleys of Goldstar, silent shadows slip out of hiding. Now is the hour for cutpurses and cutthroats to creep into the night to do their work. Would-be victims bar their doors and lie sleepless in their dingy hovels waiting for dawn. Your task sends you into this dismal, dangerous place after sundown. No moon lights your steps as you scurry past yowling cats in smoke, fog-filled alleys. Above you and beneath you lurk unseen encounters. Somewhere ahead in the despairing gloom lies your goal, if you can survive Midnight on Dagger Alley. TSR 9104
As the City of a Thousand Forges perseveres in the face of threats both internal and external, the effects of the planar portal continue to make everyone uneasy. When unusual individuals are drawn to the city because of the portal’s power, heroes are asked to keep the peace and ferret out anyone intending to bring harm to Melvaunt. A D&D Adventurers League adventure set in Melvaunt. The characters investigate six groups/individuals to work out their real purposes in Melvaunt.
A ship captain, Alyse Carl, double crossed the Thieves Guild Ebonclad in the past. Alyse and her ship, the Spearhead, has recently returned to port in Kintalla. Seeing an opportunity, the guild sends out a crew of its newer members to settle the debt. The mission has three major objectives: to discredit the reputation of the trader captain Alyse Carl, to turn the goodwill of her crew against her, and to relieve her of ownership of her longship, the Spearhead. The party can use whatever resources it desires to complete the mission, but is under orders not to kill Alyse Carl.
Take down a brutal crime boss in this one-shot heist with hijinx and heart. Explore Umizu, a seedy coastal steampunk city-state inspired by pre-modern Japan. Umizu is a Radiant Citadel locale that never got a full adventure--until now! Out of Luck features a cursed tanuki statue, a baby’s birthday party, and a steamboat fireworks battle! This one-shot includes everything you need to run a memorable caper: - Full-Color VTT-compatible steamboat bathhouse maps (DM and Player versions) - 8 Hand-drawn portraits and tokens for monsters and NPCs - Player handouts, a suspicion tracker, and three new stat blocks - Compatible with the Radiant Citadel or the Golden Vault; run as a one-shot or as part of a campaign - Thoroughly playtested and reviewed; over 30 players and DMs have gone through the adventure - A printer-friendly version Synopsis The Independent Merchants of Bright Moon Pier are sick of the Safe Oceans Society’s protection racket. After negotiations turn violent, the merchants opt for subterfuge. They hire the characters to infiltrate Boss Yashima’s birthday for her infant daughter and trick Yashima into accepting a cursed artifact, the Idol of Misfortune. Will this be a clean caper, or will the characters find themselves out of luck?
Once every 10 years, the cosmopolitan city of Goka on the western coastline of Tian Xia hosts the Ruby Phoenix Tournament on an island off the coast. Infamous for its strange spectacles and exciting mix of fighting styles, the contest draws combatants and spectators from all over the world. The tournament’s winner gets his choice of a single item from the legendary treasury of an ancient spellcaster and earns a reputation beyond imagining. But this year, not all who have come to compete do so out of respect for the traditions of battle or even out of greed for the reward. They seek instead nothing so much as red revenge and political domination!
"Few brave souls dare to visit the City of the Dead at night. Some might say that tales of nighttime horrors are for children, but the wise folk know better" Three members of the Jackals gang, a famous grave robbers, are found murdered in the City of the Dead cemetery in Waterdeep. Their wounds are horrible, and their jaws are completely destroyed. City Watch is looking for heroes who are willing to stand up for their city and investigate this murder which has a clear supernatural influence. This adventure can be used as a faction mission for Waterdeep: Dragon Heist as well as a standalone one-shot. Sins of the Past features: - Investigation of a mysterious murder, which leads to uncovering one of Waterdeep’s families dark secret - Old family mausoleum full of dangers and secrets - Famous Mirror of Life Trapping with enemies trapped inside, which adventurers should face - Encounters with various undead creatures like will-o-wisps, zombies, specters, and ghosts - Moral dilemma characters should solve and two possible outcomes
Welcome to The 5th Annual Memorial Pie Crafting Tournament and Festival Sponsored by Lord Komdor Shatterfury and the Dessert Council! This exciting gala right in the middle of town is an excellent opportunity to relax, enjoy some fun pie related events and games, and then watch the final round of the Pie Crafting Tournament to see which pie Lord Shatterfury chooses as the best one of the festival! Just ignore those sour faces over there, they would rather eat cake. But I’m sure those bakers won’t cause any problems! This one shot adventure can be stand alone or dropped into any campaign in any setting. The first half is an opportunity for players to explore, have some fun, win some fun prizes, and learn a bit about the festival. The second half is a dramatic fight with a deadly dessert turned legendary monster, a custom monster with a full 5e stat block and art! The adventure is easily adapted for PCs of almost any level just by changing some of the custom monters stats, and provide plenty of light hearted role playing opportunities!