A community for lazy dungeon masters
46 adventures found
Cover of GK1 The Adventure Begins
GK1 The Adventure Begins
AD&D
Levels 1–3
17 pages
0

Adventure awaits both AD&D & 5E D&D players looking to take on the challenges of a Steampunk style setting! Using Gary Gygax's notes from the original AD&D DMG under 'Sixguns & Sorcery' and incorperating them into the setting, this introductory gazetteer and adventure will give players the opportunity to use the Nameless Realms (Roslof Keep & Taux) as the backdrop in a later age, The Gun Kingdoms. Secure a ship, find a crew, and take on the xenophobic and apocalypic setting as you try to deliver a spy back to the government she stole from. Will your players become part of the 'greater good' of the new world government, or will they become its opposition, striving to help the dying race of the Enlightened? Only time will tell. This adventure is formatted to both 1E & 5E gaming rules.

Cover of Pathfinder Adventure Path #59: The Price of Infamy (Skull & Shackles 5 of 6)
Pathfinder Adventure Path #59: The Price of Infamy (Skull & Shackles 5 of 6)
Pathfinder
Level 11
92 pages
0

The adventurers now have their own island and port, but they’ll need more than one ship to defend it. When a past rival sends a fleet to attack them, they’re forced to pull out all the stops to defend their island home, scouring the harbors and docks of the Shackles in order to recruit more ships and crews to their flag. Yet when they sail to the attacker’s own island to get their revenge, the adventurers discover a traitor—one whose betrayal threatens not only their own fleet, but the very islands of the Shackles themselves. This volume of Pathfinder Adventure Path includes: • “The Price of Infamy,” a Pathfinder RPG adventure for 11th-level characters, by Tim Hitchcock. • Fleet battle rules that allow players to stand as admirals and commodores directing their own armadas against enemy fleets in large-scale naval warfare, by James Jacobs. • A glimpse behind the gray veil of Norgorber, Golarion’s most secretive deity, by Sean K Reynolds. • Lock-breakers and sea-devils in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by Robin D. Laws. • Four new monsters, by Savannah Broadway, Ryan Costello, Mark Moreland, and Sean K Reynolds.

Cover of The Ghostship Gambit
The Ghostship Gambit
BECMI
Levels 3–6
6 pages
0

'Help wanted: Fearless crew to stop undead pirates. Pay bills before applying." The first thing you'll hear is dead silence. The party must hunt down a ghostship disrupting commerce in the trade port of Koll. At least, everyone thinks it's a ghostship, the party may discover otherwise.

Cover of SJA1 Wildspace
SJA1 Wildspace
AD&D
Levels 6–8
64 pages
0

On a busy day in the marketplace, something hurtles down out of a clear sky. When the dust clears, you c can see that it's a ship's anchor, attached to a rope that stretches up as far as you can see. What do you do? Pull you AD&D game players up the rope and into the astounding universe of fantasy space! Send their spacegoing galleon, the Skyrunner, across the vast reaches of Wildspace. Drop them in the Hive, the largest dungeon ever created. Then pit them against the Ravager, a monster that threatens the characters' entire homeworld! TSR 9273

Cover of Serpents of Scuttlecove
Serpents of Scuttlecove
3.5 Edition
Levels 15–17
34 pages
0

The vile city of Scuttlecove is the home of murderers, thieves, demon whorshipers, peddlers of vice, and monsters. Here, anyone can find a place to hide, provided they can survive the terrors and dangers that infest the city streets. Scuttlecove is also the home of the Crimson Fleet, a notorious band of pirates who have long held the Vohoun Ocean as their private looting grounds. The time has come to take the fight to these legendary pirates, to confront them in their own depraved lair. "Serpents of Scuttlecove" is the eighth chapter in the Savage Tide Adventure Path, a complete campaign consisting of 12 adventures appearing in Dungeon Magazine. For additional aid in running this campaign, check out Dragon magazine's monthly "Savage Tidings" articles, a series that helps players and DMs prepare for and expand upon the campaign. Issue #344 of Dragon magazine features several additional locations the PCs might wish to visit during their stay in the city of Scuttlecove. The characters once again board the Sea Wyvern, this time to sail for Scuttlecove – a hideous city of pirates, slavers, cannibals, and worse – in search of clues to the final Savage Tide and the rescue of their patron. Pgs. 42-75 Also see Pgs. 76-85 for Backdrop: Scuttlecove City of Chaos.

Cover of Ruins of the Immortal Warlord
Ruins of the Immortal Warlord
OSR
Level 3
8 pages
0

Standing 100 feet off the shores of the vast Sapphire Lake are the ruins of a small fortress standing atop a rocky islet. The fortress belonged to a lich posing as a warlord from the Kingdom of Old Hagada, but fell rapidly into ruin when the Shrouded Hero was able to pierce the lich with the Blade of Five Seals. The lich cursed the assassin and his incompetent guards with his final breath. He cursed them to the same fate, their bodies petrifying and all of their souls being sealed in the Sheath of Five Seals. Afterwards, the warlord’s armies were defeated on the battlefield and the fortress became abandoned. In this short 3rd level dungeon crawl, the party investigate a ruined island fortress to solve a mysterious puzzle box. You can run this as a one-shot or plop this into your campaign world with minimal effort. The adventure is designed for Shadowdark RPG and references the core rulebook. If you're an experienced game master, you could convert the adventure to whatever system you prefer.

Cover of Grotto of The Queen
Grotto of The Queen
AD&D
Levels 6–9
16 pages
0

The Lantanese have lost their magical ship, but they aren't willing to fight for it. That's where your heroes come in. She's expecting you. A party of adventures has gone missing, and the inhabitants of a local town have been acting strangely it is up to the party to figure out what is going on and stop whatever force are at work on the towns people Pgs. 8-23 & 47

Cover of Pathfinder Adventure Path #57: Tempest Rising (Skull & Shackles 3 of 6)
Pathfinder Adventure Path #57: Tempest Rising (Skull & Shackles 3 of 6)
Pathfinder
Level 7
92 pages
0

The time has come for the heroes to take their places as true pirate lords. But doing so will require more than a ship, a scallywag crew, and a hold full of plunder—they’ll need to win the esteem of the Hurricane King himself. If they succeed, they’ll earn the right to claim even greater glory by participating in the Free Captains’ Regatta, a grueling race along the fringes of the mighty hurricane called the Eye of Abendego. The winners receive a fat prize purse, their own private island, and a seat on the Pirate Council of the Shackles. Will the adventurers triumph against fierce competitors, old rivals, and the treacherous winds and currents of the Eye? Or will their ship be claimed by the storm, a doom that’s befallen so many before them? This volume of Pathfinder Adventure Path includes: • “Tempest Rising,” a Pathfinder RPG adventure for 7th-level characters, by Matthew Goodall. • Details on the infamous pirate lords of the Shackles and new rules for storms at sea, by Tork Shaw. • A gazetteer of the infamous pirate city of Port Peril, by Liz Courts. • Ghosts and cylcopes in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by Robin D. Laws. • Five new monsters, by Jesse Benner, Ryan Costello, Philip Minchin, and Tork Shaw.

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 Strike on the Rabid Dawn
Strike on the Rabid Dawn
3.5 Edition
Level 15
21 pages
0

A terrible thunderstorm batters a seaside port, yet thunder and lightning are nothing compared to what is about to be unleashed by the diabolic crew of the Rabid Dawn. Casters with access to control water, control weather, or control winds will prove especially valuable, as will characters with strong Swim skills. The adventure is best suited to a predominantly good or neutral aligned party of PC's. Strike on the Rabid Dawn takes place in the port city of Hardby (Dungeon #109). As most of the action takes place within a lighthouse and on a ship at sea, however, any suitable port from your campaign makes an appropriate substitution for Hardby. Pgs. 12-32

Cover of U1 The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh
U1 The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh
AD&D
Levels 1–3
31 pages
0

Desolate and abandoned, the evil alchemist's mansion stands alone on the cliff, looking out towards the sea. Mysterious lights and ghostly hauntings have kept away the people of Saltmarsh, despite rumors of a fabulous, forgotten treasure. What is its sinister secret. Made for 5-10 character of levels 1-3, contains maps, handouts and encounter descriptions. The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh is the first installment in a series of three modules designed and developed in the United Kingdom for beginning adventures with the AD&D rules. TSR 9062

Cover of Pathfinder Adventure Path #58: Island of Empty Eyes (Skull & Shackles 4 of 6)
Pathfinder Adventure Path #58: Island of Empty Eyes (Skull & Shackles 4 of 6)
Pathfinder
Level 9
92 pages
0

Having won the Free Captains’ Regatta, the adventurers must now claim their prize—the uninhabited Island of Empty Eyes. Yet exploring strange ruins and fighting the isle’s monstrous denizens won’t be enough. Once they’ve got things well in hand, the adventurers must host a feast for the Shackles' infamous Pirate Council, only to have a dangerous situation turn even worse when a mysterious saboteur threatens to disrupt the party. Can the adventurers tame their island and protect their influential guests? Or will they lose the respect of the pirate lords and fade into obscurity? This volume of Pathfinder Adventure Path includes: • “Island of Empty Eyes,” a Pathfinder RPG adventure for 9th level characters, by Neil Spicer. • Pirate legends and mysteries of the Shackles, by Jack Graham. • Details on the cyclopes who once ruled the Shackles, by Gareth Hanrahan. • Island harpies in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by Robin D. Laws. • Five new monsters, by Alex Greenshields, Michael Kenway, Mark Moreland, and Tork Shaw.

Cover of Weathering the Storm
Weathering the Storm
5th Edition
Level 5
28 pages
0

Provost Faurious has procured an Aethervane, an astrolabe-like instrument tied to Kythri that's used to navigate manifest zones. Unfortunately for the Provost, the Riedran ship that was carrying the Aethervane across the Sea of Rage to deliver it to their agent in Regalport fell victim to piracy. The player characters are dispatched to Regalport to meet up with the Provost’s agent there and petition High Prince Rygar for more information about the stolen cargo. When the characters dock in Regalport, they meet the Provost’s contact and are ushered into a meeting with High Prince Rygar. Wishing to show his intolerance for piracy, Rygar charters one of his own ships for the party’s use as they investigate the stolen cargo. Upon arriving at the crash site of the stolen cargo, the party is set upon by a fleet of pirates known as the Wind Whisperers. When things turn sour, a new surprise reveals itself as an unnatural storm rolls in, a stolen airship at its heart. The Wind Whisperers have found a way to convert the Aethervane to serve their own purposes. Seeking aid from Rygar and House Lyrandar, the heroes chase after the pirates by sail and airship. As they do, they are bedeviled by the Chaos Fleet—strange ships sailed by an even stranger crew that are drawn to the Aethervane and the chaos it brings. In a final airborne confrontation, the party boards the rogue airship and retrieves the sought-after artifact, with a chance to salvage or sink the stolen vessel in the process…

Cover of AT3 Playing Down the Dawn
AT3 Playing Down the Dawn
AD&D
Levels 5–7
12 pages
0

The tournament of the bloody stones has come to Taux, and the streets are said to run red with the blood of the combatants. Now, amid the crackdowns of the Sturgeons and the secret duels of the three great fencing schools, the heroes must once and for all solve the mystery of the House Vash blood feud. Taking on the guise of foreign swashbucklers, all must brave bloody single combat, pirates, ravenous cursed lowl, and evne magical reverberations from distant Roslof Keep! Complete the Adventures of the Emperald Serpent trilogy with this module. This adventure is formatted to both 1E & 5E gaming rules. Also available in PDF.

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 Parallel Dungeons
Parallel Dungeons
OSR
Levels 3–4
8 pages
0

Three dungeons in one! The party is given a "dimension shifting device" and sets out to explore a 15-area cave, simultaneously occupied by the DEMON CORSAIRS, the remnants of an ASTEROID MINING OPERATION, and the MONASTERY OF TRANQUILITY & TRANSCENDENCE! The three dungeons are presented in three columns, so when the characters shift from one dimension into another, it's easy to find the corresponding area description. For use with old-school or OSR RPG systems. Recommended for character levels 3-4. Published by Eldritch Fields.

Cover of Old Sea-Dog
Old Sea-Dog
AD&D
Levels 2–5
7 pages
0

A barque with a bark; or, You can't be Sirius! Another day, another kidnap victim to rescue - but this victim has four feet and likes old soup bones. An adventure with some bite. Sir Veneti of Chardon's prize mastiff was stolen just before the city's mastiff duel. He knows that it was his biggest rival, Sir Machi. Sir Veneti needs the party to seize Sirius, the mastiff, from a ship called Gale's Teeth. What the party doesn't know is that a pirate stranged in town is also planning a heist on this ship the very same night that they plan to steal back the mastiff! This adventure has opportunities for both combat and roleplaying, and allows for multiple ways for the players to finish the adventure. Pgs. 32-38

Cover of Deadman's Quest
Deadman's Quest
3.5 Edition
Level 1
20 pages
0

Living pirates are a common enough hazard around the islands known as the Serpent's Teeth. A dead one is even more trouble- especially when his treasure has been stolen. Characters who successfully complete this adventure should be of sufficient level to tackle the award-winning Freeport trilogy, Death in Freeport, Terror in Freeport, and Madness in Freeport. Pgs. 84-103

Cover of Flotsam
Flotsam
AD&D
Levels 6–8
2 pages
0

Sometimes things are not what they seem. While the PCs are sailing through pirate-infested waters, a crewman spots the floating wreckage of a sailing ship. Two survivors are standing on the deck waving frantically. The survivors — an eccentric old man, and a noble woman, claim to be merchants from Waterdeep, but are in fact pirates. During an attack on a merchant vessel, the old man, a mage, had missed with a fireball and hit their own ship causing serious damage and killing several crew mates. As punishment, the pirate leader left them marooned on the wreckage, taking the ship they had attacked. This is a short module focused on roleplay. Combat is unlikely as the pirates have no reason to attack or threaten their rescuers. The female survivor seeks a hidden treasure, which could provide a hook for ongoing adventure. While the module isn't explicitly written for solo play, it could be easily adapted for any group size provided the power balance between rescuer and pirate is maintained. Pgs. 24-25

Cover of Wreck Ashore
Wreck Ashore
3.5 Edition
Level 1
11 pages
0

Though small, Seawell is a prosperous trading town with a good location on the coast. Next to it is a long peninsula that features mostly swamplike terrain. The inhabitants of this peninsula include tribes of lizardfolk, plus several kinds of reptiles and amphibians. Most of these creatures don't bother the town, and Seawell's militia is experienced at repulsing raids by the more aggressive lizardfolk. A large reef extends the entire length of the peninsula on the side away from Seawell. This great wall of coral is a favorite site for fishermen, but it has always presented a serious hazard to ships approaching from that direction. Thus, about 45 years ago, the people of Seawell built a lighthouse on a small promontory near the reef, about 200 yards from the shoreline. Operated by a family that lived inside it, this lighthouse ensured that ships could easily steer clear of the reef. A few weeks ago, ships stopped arriving from that direction. Three ships are now overdue, and the people of Seawell have begun to suspect foul play. Thus far, however, they have not been able to investigate because of increased raiding by the lizardfolk. Something has stirred them up, and the town militia has been too busy repulsing raids to mount an expedition to the reef. Wreck Ashore is a short D&D adventure for four 1st level player characters (PCs). The scenario takes place on and around a swampy peninsula that juts out from a longer stretch of coastline. Along one side of this peninsula stretches a dangerous reef. Just offshore on the reef side stands a lighthouse built to warn ships of the danger. At the base of the peninsula on the side away from the reef is a small port town called Seawell.