A community for lazy dungeon masters
205 adventures found
Cover of Ancient Cargo
Ancient Cargo
5th Edition
Levels 2–4
6 pages
0

Something stirs in the waters surrounding Port Wadegrave, a strange presence which has sown fear and discord throughout the coastal town, and sailors fear to cast out upon the waves! Can anyone get to the bottom of these mystery monster sightings and make the port safe once more? Ancient Cargo is a sea-faring adventure for Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition in which the Player Characters (PC’s) must defend a ship against a host of oceanic threats if they hope to complete their journey to Port Wadegrave. This adventure is designed for characters of 2nd to 4th level and is optimised for four characters with an average party level of 3. The adventure is setting agnostic and can easily fit into any published or homebrew world.

Cover of From Shore to Sea
From Shore to Sea
Pathfinder
Level 6
32 pages
0

The deep waters of the Hellmouth Gulf have long concealed ancient mysteries, both wondrous and terrible. But these secrets have been submerged for too long, and the remote coastal village of Blackcove has accidentally awoken a slumbering horror from a bygone age. Strange creatures now venture from beneath the waves to steal townsfolk away in the dark of night.

Cover of Out of Luck: A one-shot heist with hijinx and heart
Out of Luck: A one-shot heist with hijinx and heart
5th Edition
Levels 4–8
26 pages
0

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?

Cover of FN4 - Recovery of the Intrepid
FN4 - Recovery of the Intrepid
AD&D
Levels 3–6
24 pages
0

"Yea I knows of a job for the likes of you" the bartender says as he wipes off the table. "This wizard who lives near the shore about two or three days ride lost somethin' he was expected on the ship The Intrepid. I hear he wants the cargo back and is willing to pay good coin for it to any who'd chance going into the Lake of Chaos." A grizzled old man in the corner gasps and says “any would want to go into that sea gots to be crazy. Aye, that wizard is lookin' for some crazy people. That waters haunted by dead sailors". "Oh come on” Telkall the bartender continues "you know that’s just an old story to keep kids away from the water. I'm sure it’s going to be an easy job for the likes you. You all appear to be quite able to take care of yourself. Go down the coast road for about two days if yer on horses and you'll see a stone tower. Ask for Kresellus ... he's the one you'll be lookin' for. Oh, and tell him Wolfgar sent ya ... if you could." Well things were getting boring at the Dead Orc Inn anyway.

Cover of Scourge of Scalabar
Scourge of Scalabar
AD&D
Levels 1–3
18 pages
0

Pirates and powderkegs. An undersea menace has the merchants of Scalabar up in arms. A strange sea monster is plaguing the trade ships near Scalabar, a coastal city. You have arrived in Scalabar at the behest of Sora Calhaigne. The lady of House Calhaigne needs brave heroes to investigate the loss of her galleon, the Morning Star. She has reason to believe that the sea monster is not what it seems. Includes a list of random city encounters, a keyed map of the port city, Scalabar, as well as a simple overland map of the Scalabar coast, a map of a typical two-story warehouse, a keyed map of the pirate caves, and a keyed map of the ship Thresher. Pgs. 10-27

Cover of DDEX01-11 Dark Pyramid of Sorcerer's Isle
DDEX01-11 Dark Pyramid of Sorcerer's Isle
5th Edition
Levels 5–10
49 pages
0

Long unoccupied, the pyramid on Sorcerer’s Isle now flows with strange magical energy, warping creatures and the landscape around it. The Cult of the Dragon and Red Wizards of Thay have taken notice, and it’s up to you to keep whatever power dwells there out of their hands. An adventure for 5th-10th level characters.

Cover of Neither by Sail, Nor by Oar
Neither by Sail, Nor by Oar
5th Edition
Levels 5–6
3 pages
0

The party arrange for passage on a fast ship called the Silver Slipper. The good Captain Sara agrees to take them aboard for a reasonable fee. The voyage, however, is marred by strange events, and the crew begin whispering about a dark statue taken aboard as cargo. The statue is to be delivered to a port beyond the PCs' destination. When a fog rolls in one night, the ship is attacked by evil agents of a dark god come to claim the statue. In this nautical nightmare, the PCs must travel aboard the ship, interact with the crew, and save themselves from a boarding party of eldritch evil.

Cover of The Vaka's Curse
The Vaka's Curse
AD&D
Levels 2–7
7 pages
0

Sail beyond the realm of the living. The wages of sin is sometimes worse than death. "The Vaka's Curse" is a short AD&D adventure for two PCs. The adventure is set entirely on board a ship, so it can occur whenever the PCs take a sea voyage. At least one PC should possess a silver or magical weapon. Pgs. 8-13 & 70

Cover of Pathfinder Adventure Path #37: Souls for Smuggler's Shiv (Serpent's Skull 1 of 6)
Pathfinder Adventure Path #37: Souls for Smuggler's Shiv (Serpent's Skull 1 of 6)
Pathfinder
Levels 1–4
100 pages
0

A deadly storm shipwrecks the passengers and crew of the Jenivere upon infamous Smuggler’s Shiv, an island off the coast of the jungle realm of Sargava. If they’re to have any hope of escaping the notorious pirates’ graveyard, the survivors will need to band together to outwit the isle’s strange beasts and legendary menaces. But can the PCs unite the swift-to-squabble castaways, especially when several seem to have mysterious goals of their own? And does Smuggler’s Shiv hide secrets even deadlier than its desperate denizens? This is part one of the Pathfinder Adventure Path "Serpent's Skull", but can be played as a standalone adventure that lasts approximately 10 four-five hour sessions. Great for first time dungeon masters. This is not a seafaring adventure. The PCs are shipwrecked on an island for the entire duration. This adventure ends with (hopefully) the PCs finding a way off the island (reaching level 3). It is therefore a great starting adventure with a definitive conclusion. After this module, you can continue with part two or change into your own homebrew.

Cover of WS3.5 Pirate Lords of the Dark Sargasso
WS3.5 Pirate Lords of the Dark Sargasso
AD&D
Levels 5–7
10 pages
0

The Pirates of the Dark Sargasso is a companion adventure made to go along with the events unfolding in Folio #16 (WS3 Distant Turtle City). It contains the information needed to run a side adventure that will help characters in their journey toward Distant Turtle City. After exploring the derelict wreck of the Blue Ki-Rin, the characters return to their own ship to tell a tale of dark adventure to their captain and employer. However, during the debriefing, strange sounds can be heard hon deck, and was that a scream... This adventure is formatted to both 1E & 5E gaming rules.

Cover of Assault on Hellmaw Island
Assault on Hellmaw Island
5th Edition
Levels 5–10
21 pages
0

Hellmaw Island is a place of legend, a hidden fortress protecting the greatest treasures in the world. Rumour says it is guarded by wicked traps, bizarre and terrifying monsters, and maddening enchantments. Our heroes have been tasked with penetrating this mysterious stronghold, and they will find it to be stranger and more dangerous than anything they have encountered before. Assault on Hellmaw Island is a 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons adventure for characters of levels 5-10. It will take 4-8 hours to complete.

Cover of Crisis in Freeport
Crisis in Freeport
3.5 Edition
Levels 7–9
62 pages
0

This adventure works best after going through the original trilogy (Death, Terror, and Madness in Freeport). After exposing the madness and corruption of the previous Sea Lord, a succession crisis is upon Freeport. There are no heirs to the seat of power, leading the Captains' Council to overturn the Law of Succession. But opening up succession plunges the city into chaos as various factions vy for the title. The PCs will need to survive riots and secret plots to make sure the right man (or woman) ends up with the job.

Cover of The Loathsome Deep
The Loathsome Deep
AD&D
Level 4
18 pages
0

In this adventure, the heroes dreamwalk into the nightmares plaguing Sylus Andropov, captain of the doomed sailing ship Wayfarer. It starts with the heroes arriving in Egertus, searching for the Clinic for the Mentally Distressed. Unfortunately, the members of the Nightmare Court don't want help to reach Dr. Illhousen. They throw a dangerous obstacle in the path of the heroes - a killer who terrorized Nova Vaasa a few years ago as the Kantora Strangler. Adventure III: The Loathsome Deep from Book Three: Book of Nightmares: https://www.adventurelookup.com/adventures/the-nightmare-lands TSR 1124

Cover of The Howling Caverns
The Howling Caverns
5th Edition
Level 1
58 pages
0

A horror fantasy adventure for 3-5 1st level characters The hunched beast prowls the forest, sniffing at the still air. The roiling sky flashes and thunder breaks the silence. The time is near and the beast senses it. The monstrous form bounds toward the darkened village, a demonic howl in its throat... Shipwrecked on a perilous shore, a group of adventurers stumble into a blighted land and come face to face with a great black beast with a terrible curse. Can they unravel the mystery and solve the Barghest's curse before it’s too late? - 58 pages, 10 locations, 10 dungeon rooms - 2 new spells and 5 new monsters - Over 20 original illustrations - Inspired by English folklore - Emphasis on exploration, interaction, and usability

Cover of The Corruption of Skyhorn Lighthouse
The Corruption of Skyhorn Lighthouse
5th Edition
Level 8
24 pages
0

The tritons have arrested the keeper of Skyhorn Lighthouse for unleashing vile, bug-like abominations into the sea. When a lone triton comes to the characters and asks their help in exonerating the keeper, will the heroes rise to the challenge and confront the dangers lurking in the deep? The Corruption of Skyhorn Lighthouse is a 5-7 hour adventure for 8th-level characters. You can run The Corruption of Skyhorn Lighthouse as a standalone adventure or as a follow-up to The Secrets of Skyhorn Lighthouse, a free 5th-level adventure downloaded over 100,000 times with 350+ five-star reviews! Inside the The Corruption of Skyhorn Lighthouse, you'll find: -Three new monsters that prowl the ocean depths -A goblin submarine, a darkmantle sea captain, and a marid with a pet starfish grove -The Arcane Library's signature format to make running the adventure effortless -Combat cards for monsters, PCs, and special treasure -Gorgeous maps designed for easy use with Virtual Table Tops

Cover of Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Ghosts of Saltmarsh
5th Edition
Level 1
256 pages
0

Nestled on the coast of the Azure Sea is Saltmarsh, a sleepy fishing village that sits on the precipice of destruction. Smugglers guide their ships to hidden coves, willing to slit the throat of anyone foolhardy enough to cross their path. Cruel sahuagin gather beneath the waves, plotting to sweep away coastal cities. Drowned sailors stir to unnatural life, animated by dark magic and sent forth in search of revenge. The cult of a forbidden god extends its reach outward from a decaying port, hungry for fresh victims and willing recruits. While Saltmarsh slumbers, the evils that seek to plunder it grow stronger. Heroes must arise to keep the waves safe! Ghosts of Saltmarsh combines some of the most popular classic adventures from the first edition of Dungeons & Dragons including the classic ‘U’ series and some of the best nautical adventures from Dungeon magazine: The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh Danger at Dunwater The Final Enemy Salvage Operation Isle of the Abbey Tammeraut’s Fate The Styes All adventures have been faithfully adapted to the fifth edition rules of Dungeons & Dragons. Furthermore, this book includes details on the port town of Saltmarsh, as well as plenty of hooks to kick-off each adventure. Play through each story in a seafaring campaign leading characters from level 1 through level 12, or pull out sections to place in ongoing campaigns in any setting. The appendices also cover mechanics for ship-to-ship combat, new magic items, monsters, and more! “The Saltmarsh series consistently ranks as one of the most popular classic D&D adventures,” said Mike Mearls, franchise creative director of D&D. “With its ties to ocean-based adventuring, it was an obvious step to augment it with additional sea-based adventures and a robust set of rules for managing a nautical campaign.” Hoist your sails, pull up anchor, and set a course for adventure!

Cover of CCC-KUMORI-01-01 Wreckers
CCC-KUMORI-01-01 Wreckers
5th Edition
Levels 1–4
21 pages
0

Cargo ships are being dashed against the rocks west of Hulburg, lured off course by a mysterious light. Is this the work of ordinary thieves, or are more nefarious forces at work? Wreckers is a stand-alone adventure that premiered at Kumoricon in Portland, Oregon in October of 2017. Includes: Adventure .pdf in English and Spanish Magic Item Certificate .pdf All maps as high-res .jpg

Cover of Dungeon Short- Spider Isle
Dungeon Short- Spider Isle
5th Edition
Levels 4–10
17 pages
0

In this small 20 page adventure module, discover an island infested with giant spiders and hope that you don't get caught too deep in their web... Spider Isle- a 5e SRD adventure for levels 4, 7 or 10. In James Grammaticus' Dungeon Short series, James explores fantasy worlds and settings in short bite-sized one shot adventures that be used on their own, can spring off into a larger campaign, or can be used as a side-adventure in a campaign. Featuring 4 original statblocks, and a new playable race, find out what terrors await your players in Spider Isle. An Island Adventure Dungeon Short.

Cover of FVC13 - Plunder of North Port
FVC13 - Plunder of North Port
5th Edition
Levels 12–14
19 pages
0

You and your cohorts have pulled into Free Haven, a port city in the northern reaches to settle down for the season. Your respite is short lived as word reaches the city that a small community further north has been attacked by humanoid raiders! Refugees from North Port have arrived and report their community has been sacked. There is little hope of survivors and the fear is that Free Haven may be next. With little else to do, it is time for the party to put on their “hero caps” and save the day!

Cover of All Eyes on Chult
All Eyes on Chult
5th Edition
Level 1
17 pages
0

All Eyes on Chult is a 2–3 session adventure for player characters of 1st level. These characters will rise to 3rd level by the end of the adventure. It takes place in Port Nyanzaru, Chult just after two ships flying black flags enter the port under cover of dark. Though this takes place in locales familiar to players of the Tomb of Annihilation storyline and can be played as a side quest in Port Nyanzaru, it has no relation to the Death Curse nor any other major plot elements of Tomb of Annihilation. Instead, it focuses on two nefarious Faerûnian factions—the Zhentarim and the Xanathar Guild—working together to plunder Chult for their own gain.