A community for lazy dungeon masters
197 adventures found
Cover of The Gnomes of Levnec
The Gnomes of Levnec
OSR
Low Level
20 pages
0

...There are older things in these forests too; the knights did not just battle the pagan kings of man but also the forest dwellers; the wodewose. Spend too long in any tavern or listen to a village alewife and you’ll hear stories of knights and wodewose duking it out in little patches of now cleared pastures. One of these little villages is the village of Levnec, a sad little town ruled by a self appointed lord banished from his seaside villa far to the south. His name is Lord Kristoph and he has been looking to hire some transient sell swords to solve his problem. Some of the townsfolk are (repeatedly) going missing and others are refusing to work, even after examples were beaten and hobbled by his men. Seeing as the townsfolk are blaming the local Gnomes, he would simply like these drifters to saunter in the wood, murder some Gnomes and bring them back to show the townsfolk there is nothing to fear (except him) and to get back to work.

Cover of The Matter of Alton's Shadow
The Matter of Alton's Shadow
OSR
Levels 1–3
7 pages
0

Alton Lightheart, a lhalfling thief, went looking for a magic sword at the Storm-Sun Cliff. He & his two comrades were ambushed by a dusk (collective term) of malign shadows. He was knocked out and nearly killed. Before the shadows could consume Alton, a giant owl pair chased them away. Later, he awoke badly injured, not knowing his allies’ fate (they became shadows). Shaken, Alton saw he no longer cast a shadow! Disturbed, he fled to the village of Croy. Alton’s freed shadow, Kra, and its dusk now stalk him, longing to devour him in the dim light. This chapter starts in Croy. As the PCs arrive, an exhausted Alton sits in the Dragon’s Claw Tavern, back to the wall, skittishly watching. He ask PCs for help to face these terrifying monsters before his essence fades away. Published by Wicked Cool Games

Cover of The Necropolis of Nuromen
The Necropolis of Nuromen
OSR
Level 1
19 pages
0

The Necropolis of Nuromen is a modular quest designed to let the referee introduce a group of 1st level characters to the thrills of Underworld exploration as they attempt to unravel they secrets of the evil necromancer’s lair and deal with some bandits, too. The Necropolis of Nuromen is set in a fantasy realm, beginning near the small town of Camlann Castle and leading adventurers to explore the sinister Necropolis of Nuromen. The narrative unfolds around Nuromen the Necromancer, who fell to ruin by dabbling in forbidden magic, leading to the downfall of his tower and the town known as Law's End. The adventure includes exploration of a haunted forest, encounters with various creatures, and a quest for lost treasures and magical artifacts hidden within the depths of the necropolis. To play this adventure you also require the BLUEHOLME™ Prentice Rules or the BLUEHOLME™ Journeymanne Rules. This is an updated Version of "Maze of Nuromen" from 2013.

Cover of Figgy Puddin' Steals Christmas - Shadowdark RPG
Figgy Puddin' Steals Christmas - Shadowdark RPG
OSR
Levels 1–5
22 pages
0

Figgy Puddin' Steals Christmas is a short adventure Designed for use with Shadowdark RPG. The adventure is designed for three to six characters of low to mid experience. The anticipated run-time is 2- to 4-hours. There's a bit of roleplay in this adventure, which may extend the playtime. Adventure Background A traveling jester known as Figgy Puddin’ and her Coal Smudge Gang have stolen Christmas presents and now hold them for ransom. While safe and secure in her lair, she awaits either a payment of an outrageous ransom, or a crew of heroes to claim the presents after they navigate her not-so-festive lair. What's the Adventure? After you introduce the hook, the adventure occurs in Figgy Puddin's lair - a refurbished kobold bunker consisting of eight rooms. As the characters explore the linear dungeon, they encounter new creatures, complete challenges, and are tested about their Christmas knowledge. However, the final confrontation with the naughty Figgy Puddin' could make for a very Unhappy and Unmerry Christmas for our heroes, the children of Thistleton, and their parents. Who Is Figgy Puddin’? Figgy Puddin’ was once a happy jester who loved Christmas. For years she traveled the realm, bringing fun and festive cheer to villages and children while preparing the way for Santa. However, times have become tough, and entertainment doesn’t always pay as well as one would like. As Figgy prepares for retirement, she’s learned she doesn’t have enough gold to last. During this time, she’s also decided that Santa doesn’t know who she is, let alone appreciate the work she puts in every year. Using her savings, extortion, blackmail, and other nefarious means, she’s convinced several mechanical geniuses and arcane specialists to help her refurbish her underground bunker with wondrous effects, creatures, and tests.

Cover of Castles & Crusades I3 Dogs of War: Felsentheim
Castles & Crusades I3 Dogs of War: Felsentheim
OSR
Levels 3–5
24 pages
0

Shall you claim the glory of heroes, or accept your doom? You have raised the ire of the goblin warlord, and now you flee his kingdom with war parties hot on your trail. You must reach the borderland town of Felsentheim, for if you do not, no alarm will sound to hearken the coming of the Dogs of War and your bodies will lie in the forest grass, forgotten by all but the worms! Shall you claim the glory of heroes and warn the people or accept your doom and suffer death in the Treklant? Enter again the World of Inzae, where all things slip into the Maelstrom, and from hence true heroes are born.

Cover of A Lion in the Ropes
A Lion in the Ropes
OSR
Levels 2–4
27 pages
0

Lord Galveston's lands are plagued by murders. For the past several months people have been disappearing. Some bodies have turned up, their corpses found along the banks of the river. Strange tracks of a cat-like creature have been found around the villages, and rumors abound that a charon fiend, a dreaded beast of chaos, has come from the nearby wood and settled in the area. The latest victim is the Deacon of the Four Saints Church in Capendu. His body, found in the river, sent the alarmed villagers in search of aid. The adventure unfolds in the lands of the aged Lord Galveston and plunges everyone into a twisted tale of wild beasts and the restless dead.

Cover of The Purple Worm Graveyard
The Purple Worm Graveyard
OSR
Levels 1–2
16 pages
0

It is said that when the largest and most ancient of purple worms know that the time of their death is near, they make their way through rock, earth, and water to the legendary Purple Worm Graveyard. Canny adventurers can return from this quest with a fortune in purple ivory. Foolish ones will die. The Purple Worm Graveyard is a short dungeon crawl adventure that’s best for levels 1-4. The adventure has 15 entries and is designed to provide a variety of challenges for a new adventuring party or one-shot game. The adventure is designed to provide interesting monsters, traps, tricks, and treasures.

Cover of Adventure Module BL1-2: The Ruined Hamlet/Terror in the Gloaming
Adventure Module BL1-2: The Ruined Hamlet/Terror in the Gloaming
OSR
Levels 1–2
58 pages
0

Into the Unknown! The wilderness around the cave stronghold called Gold Hill Trading Post is dangerous and scattered with ruins of large and small settlements. Will your party find fame and fortune, solve ancient mysteries, or just disappear into the Borderlands like so many that came before? This module contains underground and wilderness maps that form a detailed adventure and mini-campaign for beginning characters, including an abandoned village, haunted graveyard, ruined church, traders’ camp, wilderness encounters, and monster lairs. It also includes a ruined keep and dungeon as well as a mapped and detailed “base camp” stronghold. The module is designed for use with all “classic” fantasy roleplaying game rulebooks or sets for Basic- and Expert-level players and gamemasters. It can be converted for use with “Advanced” fantasy game rules and compatible systems with a minimum of effort. Cover art by William McAusland! Print version (with full art) available at www.barrataria.com. Picked as one of the best by Bryce Lynch at tenfootpole.org!

Cover of He Who Claimed the Sun
He Who Claimed the Sun
OSR
Levels 0–8
80 pages
0

An OSR adventure module for character levels 5-8 -[or a funnel for character level 0]- designed for Old-School Essentials, compatible with most old-school pen-and-paper RPGs. When the One God's faith washed over the world, the Old Gods of the forest fought back. They fought back with fire, with blood and with ice, and with every season. And they lost. Last night, the cathedral built on the site of their defeat burned, unearthing forgotten stairs... A journey begins, from that unholy crypt through a hellish fairy realm, to the deadly, blasphemous truth. - A busy abbey and its denizens: drop it into your campaign, as a regular stop or base of operations. - A mythic peregrination, inside­­ & beyond the faithtrap dungeon that awaits underneath: 29-ish rooms puzzling rooms and areas to explore, and survive. - Five paladins who will help (or hinder) the PCs during the adventure, and an oracular procedure to bring them to life. - Oh, and too many gods... Includes a fully-linked interactive PDF, a Referee's Toolkit (printable and fillable tracking sheet, player handouts, and maps) as well as player-friendly VTT maps.

Cover of Secret Hide-Out of Glaxorzis, that Sorcerous Creep!
Secret Hide-Out of Glaxorzis, that Sorcerous Creep!
OSR
Low Level
8 pages
0

What it says on the tin! You are after GLAXORZIS, THAT SORCEROUS CREEP, who wronged you somehow. Kidnapped your friend, stole your shiny artifact, played a stupid prank on you. Follow him underground into a complex of 21 rooms spread out over three levels. This is a barebones thingie, printable/foldable as a pocketmod. No stats. For fantasy adventure games where you die in a hole. Published by: Eldritch Fields

Cover of The Beast of Borgenwold
The Beast of Borgenwold
OSR
Levels 1–3
61 pages
0

STRANGENESS AND TERROR FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE! Borgenwold is cursed, they say. Cursed by pride and greed to cower in fear of the past. A fell monstrosity from beyond the grave has risen to devour this town and all who dwell here. Open this book and to find... a town in the grip of horror, drunken monster hunters in way over their heads, debts, desperate bargains, miraculous goblins feasting upon godflesh, the treasures of the dead, and the price to be paid by those who seek to claim them. The Beast of Borgenwold is a 59-page Old School Roleplaying Adventure designed for characters of between 1st and 3rd level, and designed to be compatible with Old School Essentials by Necrotic Gnome, and other B/X and OSR affiliated games. mini hexcrawl (12 hexs) plus a small dungeon

Cover of The Hole in the Oak
The Hole in the Oak
OSR
Levels 1–2
40 pages
0

Old-School Essentials Adventure A hole in an old oak tree leads characters down to a maze of twisting, root-riddled passageways, the chambers of an ancient wizard-complex, and the banks of an underground river where once a reptile cult built their temples. A classic expedition into the Mythic Underworld for characters of 1st to 2nd level. 60 keyed areas, rumour table, loot summary, dungeon background info, suggestions for expanding the dungeon. Keyed in a quick-reference, bullet point format. Unlabelled map included for VTT use. The Hole in the Oak can be linked with The Incandescent Grottoes to form a large, 3 level dungeon with over 115 keyed encounter areas!

Cover of The Singing Stones
The Singing Stones
OSR
Levels 3–5
26 pages
0

"Investigate a mystical valley where stones can speak and monsters roam." "The Singing Stones" is a wilderness, point-crawl adventure for characters levels 3-5. It is set in a mystical valley known as Opera Valley, which is filled with sentient, speaking stones. It emphasizes exploration, interaction with unique environmental features, and solving mysteries through dialogue and puzzle-solving rather than straightforward combat. 23 keyed locations Written for the Old-School Essentials (OSE) rule system

Cover of The Haunted Hamlet - and other hexes
The Haunted Hamlet - and other hexes
OSR
Low Level
40 pages
0

The Haunted Hamlet and other hexes details four unique modular locations for your game. Made for old school essentials, but can easily be used with other old-school systems or even 5E. The four locations detailed in the zine focus on gameable content and being easy to use at the table. The locations are not connected to one another and can be sprinkled onto your campaign map however you like, or run as one shots. The PDF is graphic and art heavy and utilizes random tables and other tools to make it easier for GMs to run in a pinch. Details: 40 pages Single column text 8.5 x 5.5 aspect Black & White Bookmarks Four hex locations Random tables A rival NPC party A sky merchant A one page town Two hirelings

Cover of Castles & Crusades I1 Into the Unknown: Vakhund
Castles & Crusades I1 Into the Unknown: Vakhund
OSR
Levels 1–2
26 pages
0

No introductions are necessary for I know well who you are, my intrepid adventurer. A weary traveler indeed. Have a seat, my friend, before you enter the Graffenvold and traverse its byways. Have you come here to rest, to leave the muddy tracks and sharp edges of the world behind? Is that, it my fine fellow? Or have you come to beat down the Lords of this Land and submit them to your will? Which is it fellow, the easy or the hard road you are after? I fear you have gone beyond yourself, and here in Inzae your mistake may be your doom. For beyond yonder door is a fearful world clinging desperately to life. Its denizens struggle against a vast array of malignant forces that seek to drag them deeper into the pits of the Maelstrom. And even here, in this backwater called the Reintier, you will find no respite from this meaningless and overwhelming struggle. So take heed traveler, take heed as you enter the Graffenvold, it will do you well to remember that this is a deadly world and lest you take care, you will be engulfed in its dying spasms. Traveling south in the goblin kingdoms is always frought with danger. So many will go only so far as the Baron's outpost, The Vakhund, The Watchdog Tower, and reside there in safety while merchants and others fare their way down the road. But what happens when the Vakhund is attacked by goblins, orcs and bandits? A princess is kidnapped, and only a dangerous trip into the dark, infested goblin kingdoms will reveal the answer. A Castles & Crusades adventure intended for 4-8 characters of levels 1-2, Vakhund: Into the Unknown marks Part 1 in the thrilling Death on the Treklant Trilogy and introduces the grimly realistic World of Inzae. Those brave enough to enter her Maelstrom and become heroes shall linger long in the halls of valor and memory.

Cover of Are You Familiar?
Are You Familiar?
OSR
Levels 4–10
2 pages
0

One page side quest, one page maps. For decades old Alma Scarlet-thorn and her cat, Ferox, entwined as witch and familiar, reveled in tormenting travelers passing near her lair. But, recently, Alma has favored her newly created mist golem more. Although Ferox has enjoyed the power of their bond, she now believes the magical connection is no longer worth this jealousy. The cat, Ferox, has been searching for a way to punish her mistress or remove the golem. Adventure hooks provided. Published by Wicked Cool Games

Cover of Tomb of the Serpent Kings
Tomb of the Serpent Kings
OSR
Level 1
22 pages
0

People keep asking for "beginner" dungeons. Everyone can name "classic" dungeons - Tomb of Horrors, Barrier Peaks, Ravenloft, etc. - but in order for those adventures to make sense, there needs to be some sort of introduction. It's like all the adventures we have are Bach concertos. People keep writing amazing works of staggering genius, but someone needs to write a book on how to play the piano. I had the same questions, and since I couldn't find anything satisfactory, I decided to write the kind of dungeon I would have loved to find. I wanted to write the best basic OSR dungeon for beginners that I could, and I also wanted to show the design process. If you like this dungeon, please share it, tell people about it, print copies and leave them lying around local game stores, or email this post to friends who have "always wanted to try D&D but don't know where to start". The entire thing is and always will be free.

Cover of Barrow of the Elf King
Barrow of the Elf King
OSR
Level 1
16 pages
0

"Barrow of the Elf King" is an evocative and intricate adventure module, specifically tailored for a party of 3-4 level one adventurers using "The Vanilla Game" rule set. This adventure delves into the mystical and eerie depths of an ancient barrow deep within the Old Forest, a place shrouded in darkness and mystery. It offers an experience that combines puzzles, combat, moral choices, and exploration, all set within a hauntingly atmospheric setting. "Deep in the Old Forest, where the trees grow tall and thick, where the sun rarely pierces the canopy, is an earthen mound. No birds sing in this part of the forest, no wind blows. The leaves of the trees seem larger, the canopy thicker. Even at mid-day, it is almost too dark to see" The HTML web version is free.

Cover of Shadowbrook Manor
Shadowbrook Manor
OSR
Levels 1–3
13 pages
0

Once a powerful proponent of Law, the Archmage Tazimack the Red was eventually driven mad by a fear of mortality. As he slipped into insanity his retirement home began to reflect the chaotic bent of his mind. Long after Tazimack’s unnaturally animated body has disintegrated, his manor house remains as a shadow cast by a twisted intellect. Can the characters bring order to this chaos?

Cover of Bitterbark's Circus
Bitterbark's Circus
OSR
Levels 8–9
30 pages
0

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Step right up, ladies and gentlemen, and behold the greatest circus in the land! Behold the skilled mummers performing at The Stage; you’ll literally feel like you’re part of the play! Thrill to the death-defying acts (and audience) in the two rings under the Big Top! Laugh at the antics of the baleful buffoons, harmful harlequins, and malevolent merrymakers of Clown Alley! Gaze in wonder at the wild beasts of the Menagerie, (just make sure you know which side of the bars you’re on)! All this and more, for the small price of a single admission, to Bitterbark’s Magnificent Circus! The circus is in town! But there’s something not quite right about it. There are rumors of missing children, evil plots, and more. Can you discover the secrets hidden inside Bitterbark’s Magnificent Circus? Intended as a stand-alone adventure, but there are notes on how to include it as part of the Castle of the Mad Archmage mega-dungeon adventure. Published by BRW Games