Horrors in the Dark The origin of the ShadowGate is lost in antiquity. Some claim it as the work of devils, others cannibal cultists or even demon lords. Not long after its discovery it was boarded up by the priests of the local church, and then fortified by paladins. Of late something has emerged from the portal. It remains trapped within the divine defences, but for how long?
The Hag's Hexes is a 66 page guide designed by Dungeon Masters Guild luminaries like JVC Parry and Janek Sielicki alongside rising stars and old stalwarts like Matt Butler, Matthew Gravelyn, and Tim Bannock. It was created with one thing in mind: to make hags more than the sum of their (often meager) Challenge ratings, giving them the mechanics, roleplay potential, and weird magic that can inspire campaigns, lay low kings and warlords, and potentially ensnare unwary Player Characters into campaign-changing curses or long-term bargains that force them into terrible moral quandaries! Split into five chapters, the authors have provided everything a DM needs to terrify their players for years to come. The Bestiary features over a dozen monsters; some are new hags, some are their minions or even their mobile lairs, and one of them -- the Shaitan AKA Desert Hag -- was featured in Monsters of the Guild! Bargains & Curses is a chapter filled with ideas that can kick-start campaigns, threaten valued NPCs, or put Player Characters' very existence and morality at stake. Chapter 3 includes two dozen items of wonderment, weirdness, and dread, ranging from fairy tale-inspired items of whimsy to terribly cursed items of horror. Chapter 4 is titled "Filthy, Vile & Downright Dirty" and provides dozens of roleplaying tips to make hags come alive, new mechanics inspired by and expanding on Volo's Guide to Monsters (coven spell lists, aunties, grandmothers, alternative coven members), and ends with useful combat tactics for each of the hags from the Monster Manual and Volo's Guide, as well as tactics for covens. Finally, Chapter 5 presents five encounter groups (with sub-encounters) to give you quick story seeds and monster lists that you can put together in minutes to create a single encounter or to inspire a full campaign, and ends with three full-length adventures -- each with 3-5 encounters -- that showcase many of the new monsters, rules, magic items, and so on that appeared in earlier chapters. Each of these adventures comes with an encounter map meant to act as inspiration for hag lairs, and they include useful mechanical ideas for terrain effects and descriptive keywords listed directly on the map for added inspiration and easy customization! Designed by Tim Bannock. Written by Matt Butler, JVC Parry, Janek Sielicki, and Tim Bannock. Edited by Matthew Gravelyn and Tim Bannock. Cover Art by Elena Naylor. Cartography by Tim Bannock using Inkwell Ideas' Dungeonographer (Dungeonographer is copyright Inkwell Ideas). Layout & Graphic Elements by Elena Naylor with Tim Bannock. Interior Art by Arcana Games, Bruno Balixa, David Lewis Johnson, Dean Spencer, Earl Geier, Filip Gutowski, Jacob E. Blackmon, Joyce Maureira, Petr Kratochvil, Jayaraj Paul, Brian Brinlee, and Wizards of the Coast.
A 5E adventure, Heroes of Green Hollow centers on an idealistic figure named Ler Dolis, and the community that has come to treasure him in his twilight years. They seek the help of a band of adventurers to dissuade mysterious raiders scouting the village. However, everyone finds themselves in over their heads when these raiders turn out to be only a small part of an army of well-trained mercenaries. Players must recruit allies, heal local wounds, and confront the looming threat- all while they reckon with the brutality that lurks inside and out. Heroes of Green Hollow is a D&D adventure that asks what it costs to leave a lasting legacy of goodness, and challenges players to recognize the consequences of drawing their sword. ◆ Difficult choices lead to completely distinct events and outcomes ◆ Guidance for creating characters with deep ties to the story ◆ Powerful DM tools for customizing the adventure to player preferences ◆ Low on prep time, high on drama and big narrative moments 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰… • Is an all-new campaign book for the D&D 5E system. • Designed for parties levels 3-5 • 200 pages long. • Features over 17 original full-color painterly illustrations and 11 new custom full-color maps • Includes a range of specialized character backgrounds and story hooks to help DMs integrate their parties deeper into the story. • Tools and tips to support new DM's running their first full campaign. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐌𝐬𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝.𝐜𝐨𝐦! 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐮𝐲? 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞! https://green-hollow.com/preview/ 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰: “Green Hollow is an amazing adventure that hopefully paves the way for more of its kind. It seamlessly blends traditional adventure design with immersive story mechanics reminiscent of CRPGs such as Mass Effect. Each choice the players make has meaningful and mechanically explicit implications on what is yet to come. Because of this the adventure has a “next gen” feel to it, making the overall storytelling experience feel more collaborative than ever. I can’t wait to see its release!" Scott McClintock, (𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐬: 𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫) “Green Hollow is so comprehensive and has so much to support DMs at the table. Some good examples include strong NPC dialogue, interior and exterior descriptions, DM Tips, and sidequests which make navigating the information easy but all give guidance in how to run this campaign. This also comes into play with the Combat tips. A powerful monster’s stat block can be quite daunting but the team have worked well to create easy to read guidance. This is definitely worth a look, I know I’ll be pinching a heap of this stuff for my games.” Stuart Watkinson, (𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚’𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐬) “We all know D&D is, at its core, a monster fighting game. Matthew and Ryan have taken a different approach with Green Hollow to encourage the characters to fight for peace. A well-developed set of NPCs frame the action, allowing for GMs to easily dive into roleplaying them. Guidelines within the adventures take into account numerous responses by the characters, giving Green Hollow the feel of a vibrant, living world.“ Alan Tucker, (𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬, 𝐀𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐩𝐬𝐞)
An exiled cultist and his kobold minions are spotted searching for long-forgotten ruins in the Dragonspire Mountains. Rumors say he looks for a precious gift to give a fearsome dragon that dwells there. What he hopes to attain with his gift is unknown, but can't be good for the citizens of Phlan.
"The Tree Prince“ is a short adventure. The adventurers will meet a fae leader for whom they will fulfill a task.
This uniquely styled adventure involves players starting out with little information about the characters they will play. No characters are prepared in advance. This is a nonstandard method of play. Player characters only know their names, ability scores, race, and background. This adventure was created to give the feeling we got as kids just starting out with D&D. It will be great for new players and seasoned vets alike. Who is in charge? Who is torturing the players? Let the chaos begin…
"All-Seeing Eye" is a oculo swarm and night scorpion lair for five 5th-level characters.
Dragonbowl is a setting and pulp action adventure in one. It plunges a party into a rich festival scenario that revolves around a deadly gladiatorial contest, where the dangers they face in the arena are almost secondary to those they encounter in the murky criminal underworld they find themselves in: a world that stinks of corruption, human trafficking, illegal dinosaur-trading, necromancy, blood sacrifice and unnatural arcane experiments. The action takes place in a vast cavern in Mount Waterdeep, known as the Underbelly, where not only Dragonbowl Arena, but also an entire festival grounds – consisting of temples, bars, casinos, funfairs and markets - has been constructed to host this grand sporting extravaganza. With Xanathar, Jarlaxle, Davil, Volo and the Black Viper all in attendance, and scores of 'entanglements' (faction missions) to keep players busy, Dragonbowl can be played as a sequel to Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, or as a first step towards the Undermountain and the Dungeon of the Mad Mage. Equally, it can be played as a stand alone adventure, or easily transported into other settings. The adventure is written for a party of four 6th level adventurers, and easily customisable for three to five players, of any mid-tier level (the adventure contains maps and handouts adapted for both 4 and 5 player tables). The adventure is designed to last around ten to fifteen 4-hour sessions, but can very easily be shortened or lengthened according to the DM's desire. The adventure features all three pillars of play: combat (in and out of the arena), social interaction (a succession of parties and parades, where players can get entangled in NPC business) and exploration (30+ locations in the festival grounds alone).
A Mists of Akuma adventure for 4 to 6 characters of 13th level. This second adventure in the second wave of Mists of Akuma adventures comes to you from the mind of Anthony Alipio and is a tale inspired by the classic film Seven Samurai! Join the legendary iconic hero Tomoe Masamune (the samurai known as the Crimson Blade) and defend the simple village of Noru from the power-armored bandit king Calvert Boyd and his raider army in an epic mass battle your table will never forget! A two-page spread preview of the contents of this adventure. What you'll find in Honorable Wills: 3 Maps! (classic Noru, modern Noru, and Bandit Camp) 11 New Statblocks! including heroic samurai, rebellious tengu, devious bandits, and more 2 Ways to End the Adventure! Included in Act 3 are directions for running the final climactic mass battle like it's seen in the film that inspired this module and for a more contemporary approach tailored to the nuances of D&D 5E mechanics
Dread tales told in the dead of night! When the shadows grow long in Waterdeep and the fireplace in the taproom of the Yawning Portal dims to a deep crimson glow, adventurers from across the Forgotten Realms, and even from other D&D worlds, spin tales of dark dungeons and spread rumors lost treasures. Within this tome are seven of the deadliest dungeons from the history of Dungeons & Dragons. Some are classics that have hosted an untold number of adventurers, while others are newer creations, boldly staking a claim to their place in the pantheon of notable adventures. The seeds of these stories now rest in your hands. D&D’s deadliest dungeons are now part of your arsenal of adventures. Enjoy, and remember to keep a few spare character sheets handy. Includes seven adventures: Against the Giants Dead in Thay Forge of Fury Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan Sunless Citadel Tomb of Horrors White Plume Mountain
This 4 hour adventure for 3rd level characters begins in a prison cell where the adventurers must figure out a way to escape, acquire weapons and armor to defend themselves more effectively, and most importantly, escape a repurposed dwarven forge that has been appropriated by a fire giant who uses slave labor and even a captured red dragon wyrmling to smelt ore and forge an arsenal under the volcano Mt. Hotenow.
The town of Innisfall lives in the shadow of dragons, but has managed to broker a peace with them through the years and avoided outright destruction. Now, a dragon has been murdered and the visiting party of adventurers is accused of perpetrating the deed. Can our heroes prove their innocence and restore the uneasy truce the town has lived under for generations?…
In the small hamlet of Riverbend, the miller’s wife is missing, and the locals suspect the husband himself was involved. But all is far from what it seems. Ellessandra, the missing woman, is actually an elf from the Summer Lands. She came to live in the human settlement when the miller made a dangerous pact with the River King, the lands’ powerful sidhe ruler. Now, the player characters must unravel the truth behind Ellessandra’s disappearance, piece together the involvement of a young fey lord, and dive into the fey courts of the Summer Lands to stop a raid that would surely spell Riverbend’s doom. All the while, Arthurian intrigue and mischief runs high among the fey lords and ladies in this mercurial, open‑format adventure from acclaimed adventure designer Wolfgang Baur!
You wake up in a pitch-dark cavern... The stench of bodies fills your nostrils. The crack of bone and the sound of teeth rending flesh are the only sound you hear. Something is feeding nearby...something you can't see. We Eat in the Dark is a deadly adventure for 3rd or 4th level characters. Navigate the caves of the Darkshard Abattoir, where light sources are muted and creatures hid invisibly in the dark. Fight for your life against troglodytes empowered by a mysterious artifact and other cavern hazards. Includes an appendix for limited starting gear for a more lethal challenge. A perfect murder-happy one-shot for your players to question your friendship.
On the night of the rare Witch Moon, a binding spell placed over the mighty devil Tchernabog finally breaks. Will the characters be able to survive the night of boiling hellfire, furious undead, and diabolical mayhem Tchernabog orchestrates from atop Devil's Peak? Night on Devil's Peak is an apocalyptic, events-based survival adventure for 6th-level characters. It takes about 5-6 hours to complete and includes: -The awakening of a CR 24 devil, mighty Tchernabog! -A powerful holy relic the characters can wield in battle -Two diabolical new monsters: Tchernabog and giant flaming skeletons -Combat cards for each monster, PC, and special treasure -Gorgeous digital maps (with and without grid) for virtual table tops
The wedding was meant to unite poweful families from Everlund and Silverymoon. "Til death do us part" comes sooner for some couples than others when undead hordes and a feral demilich are uninvited guests. The Dead Wedding is a short, 3 to 5 hour adventure for characters level 14 to 16. The adventure contains maps for Moonshadow Keep and the crypt of the demilichess Regetta Arch Therm, deadly traps, and RP hooks that enable players to use high-level non-combat abilities.
This scenario picks up where the Ga Mantse Tombs left off. As your party delves deeper into the natural caverns they begin to uncover more and more unusual amphibian creatures in their path. With the amount of bad guys you’ve found in the tunnels it is hard to imagine what will be at the end! This adventure is the perfect segway to a much larger problem in the lands beneath Mellowmarble.
The Iron Route, an important trade road east of Phlan, is beset by competing bandits. An exiled Black Fist officer leads his band of mercenaries turned cloaked ruffians, while a mysterious dragonborn sorcerer commands screaming savages from the north. In this war over the trade route, the beleaguered merchants are the victims, and Phlan suffers from a lack of supplies. It’s up to adventurers to strike out and reopen this vital route.
Hushed Hills is an adventure location set in a haunted town nestled in hilly woodlands. It doubles as a toolbox with encounters and NPCs to support DMs in running a gothic horror adventure. You can use it in three ways: 1. Run the Hushed Hills as a Tier 1 adventure that takes one, two, or three 5-hour sessions (based on the starting quest you select). 2. Select the best encounters and NPCs to add to your game. 3. Use the presented content as fuel to inspire your ideas. This toolbox is packed with assets and consists of: • 50 encounterswith 4 quests to tie them into an adventure. • 21 NPC outlines (including eldritch chimeras), • 3 multi-phased boss battle against the Godless Chimeras. Assets are grouped into 3 regions, including Crestfall Abbey, Town of Kletva, and Mirage Forest. Each region has a high-resolution map and each NPC a portrait.
An ancient palace constructed by the mighty Wind Lord Boreas has a new master: the gnoll sorcerous matriarch Odjanbago and her clan—the Archthieves. With the flying Sky Palace at her command, Odjanbago’s legendary clan of thieves and killers have cast a shadow of fear over the Southlands’ northwestern desert. All tremble in fear of the Archthieves, from the jinnborn tribes of the Dominion of the Wind Lords to the priests of Bastet in Nuria Natal. Even lords of Midgard’s Seven Cities grow uneasy at their mention. Whether they hail from the Southlands or elsewhere in Midgard, the PCs must shoulder the responsibility of ending Odjanbago’s reign of terror.