A community for lazy dungeon masters
202 adventures found
Cover of A Ship in the Mist
A Ship in the Mist
5th Edition
Levels 1–2
17 pages
0

A Ship in the Mist - A Horror One Shot In A Ship in the Mist, the players are hired to recover a lost skyship known as the Sky Scythe and retrieve an experimental artifact called the Veil of Aramis. The Sky Scythe disappeared decades ago under mysterious circumstances, only to resurface in a desolate region. As the players investigate the ship, they uncover its eerie connection to a plane of madness and horror. The adventure features a blend of horror, mental manipulation, and high-stakes combat, culminating in a tense race against time as the ship’s fate hangs in the balance. This adventure is meant for low levels (1-3) and a cast of 3-5 players, contains some combat, but mostly exploration oriented encounters. Expected playtime 4 hours (1 session) - One shot The adventure is leans heavily into horror, with no real redemption ending. This adventure can also be a replacement for Death House as a starter quest for Curse of Stradh, where at the end of the adventure they would end up in the mist outside Barrovia.

Cover of Pathfinder Society Scenario #29: The Devil We Know—Part I: Shipyard Rats
Pathfinder Society Scenario #29: The Devil We Know—Part I: Shipyard Rats
Pathfinder
Levels 1–7
23 pages
0

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?

Cover of Pathfinder Society Scenario #20: King Xeros of Old Azlant
Pathfinder Society Scenario #20: King Xeros of Old Azlant
3.5 Edition
Levels 7–11
21 pages
0

Panic grips Absalom when a huge crystalline sailing vessel appears suddenly in the harbor. Identified as the King Xeros of Old Azlant, the ship presents a great opportunity for the Pathfinder Society. You and your fellow adventurers are summoned by Venture-Captain Adril Hestram and dropped aboard the King Xeros to explore it and report back. Only, what you find isn't an empty vessel, but a sinister ship with a vile intent. Difficult and unforgiving scenario, typical of Greg A. Vaughan. Contains lots of monsters from the Ethereal Plane and a mysterious setting. If playing under Pathfinder Society rules, a six-player party is recommended, rather than the standard four for early PFS seasons. Using Pathfinder RPG versions of monsters reduces the lethality, as the constructs are no longer immune to critical hits and sneak attack damage, and the Xill no longer automatically bite for paralysis on a maintained grapple.

Cover of Plunder & Peril
Plunder & Peril
Pathfinder
Level 4
64 pages
0

Tall tales of hidden riches are common in the pirate-infested taverns of the Shackles, but when Captain Varossa Lanteri claims to know the location of the secret treasure hoard of legendary Captain Jemma Redclaw, it seems she may be telling the truth. Captain Lanteri hires the PCs on as crew to help her assemble the magic key that will open the door to Redclaw’s treasure... and the ancient cyclops stronghold in which it’s hidden! Can the PCs survive long enough to claim their share of the lost loot, or will their enemies—or their allies—send them to a watery grave?

Cover of The Cube of Vanya
The Cube of Vanya
5th Edition
Level 5
15 pages
0

Inspired by the "Happy Fun Ball" from the web series Critical Role, The Cube of Vanya is a magical adventure through demi-planes created by an ancient wizard, now destabilized by a malevolent dragon. The adventurers find themselves trapped within a series of themed planes with no idea how they got there. Navigating these planes to find a means of escape, they uncover the secrets of the cube while piecing back together their own memory. During the campaign the adventurers may fight shadow demons in an inn which is really a prison, flee a tornado while perched perilously in the sky, forge a weapon within a volcano, and much more. The module is structured in a non linear manner allowing the adventurers to choose their own way, or for the DM to pick and choose their favourite bits to highlight. The adventure was written with four level 5 players in mind but it would be easy to tweak for different sized groups around that level.

Cover of WS5 The Shattered Tower
WS5 The Shattered Tower
AD&D
Levels 6–10
25 pages
0

The ship makes its way into the Corsair Mists, a region of the Halo Ocean said to devour ships and drive sailors mad. Somewhere in the oppressive fog, the White Ship awaits, but before the Adventurers can make it to their final desination, they must overcome the challenges of the mist. The fell necromancer Molo of the Thirteen Wives is still out there, still seeking to find his key to immortality and power that could jeopardize the entire Nameless Realms, and only the fearless crew can stop him. Join a sea elven ritual to hunt megalodon sharks, explore a long-cursed alchemist's tower made of blue crystal, and journey to the forge of Hyperion, Titan of Fire, himself. This adventure is formatted to both 1E & 5E gaming rules. Also available in PDF.

Cover of Corsairs of the Great Sea
Corsairs of the Great Sea
AD&D
Levels 6–8
96 pages
0

Set Sail with the Pirates of Chaos! A thousand welcomes, noble friend! I see your eye is as keen as the eagle and your mind as sharp as my jambiya, for you hold in your hand a great treasure. This box contains everything needed to launch an epic adventure featuring corsairs and mamluks: - A stunning poster map of the Corsair Domains and Zakhara's northern shores. - Six full-color cardstock sheets containing maps and player aids. - An 8-page booklet filled with new monsters, including the dreaded ghul-kin. - A 32-page sourcebook detailing the wily pirates of Hawa and their greatest enemies, the stalwart mamluks of Qudra, plus several new magical items. - A 64-page adventure book presenting a fabulous array of tales set in or near the Corsair Domains. Meet the beautiful and notorious Jayani al-Jasir, called by some the Queen of pirates. Face untold perils to fetch the wondrous waters of the River of Gold. Save Hawa's people from the horrible Soultaker, and much, much more. But beware! Treachery awaits at the hands of those you trust most! Recommended for use with the Arabian Adventures rulebook. TSR 9449

Cover of Zassan the Slaver
Zassan the Slaver
5th Edition
Level 5
20 pages
0

Every year, the small town of Whitetree has to sacrifice a child as tribute to a fiery salamander slaver, Zassan. The players must pursue the slaver, attempting to stop him and retrieve his precious cargo before it’s too late!

Cover of Floating Gardens of Bahb-Elonn
Floating Gardens of Bahb-Elonn
OSR
Level 1
14 pages
0

This scenario was originally written for use as a competition event at Games Day 1987. We have published the adventure so that you will be able to reproduce the competition. The scenario also serves as an introduction to the forthcoming supplement detailing the land of Lustria. (see WFRP World Map, p272). At Games Day the party had to play the part of a small band of pygmies, and we have included details of this party so that you can use them too. You should carefully read the notes on Witchdoctors, Ancestor Spirits and the spell Control Spirits before starting play. If a conventional party is used here there is a significant chance that players will lose favourite characters. Much of the scenario is geared towards pygmies, (some tunnel heights, the presence of pygmy ancestors and so on), and a party without access to pygmy-magic may find some areas extremely difficult. Pgs. 11-27 Published by Games Workshop

Cover of SJA2 Skull & Crossbows
SJA2 Skull & Crossbows
AD&D
Levels 6–10
64 pages
0

Different worlds have different laws. But everywhere you go, you're going to find people who bend and break those laws and turn a healthy profit doing it. Whether sailing the high seas or the Flow, they are called pirates. It's these pirates that you've been hired to hunt. With letters of marque in your mapcase, your job is to track down and capture, alive or dead, some of the most dangerous characters in the known( and unknown) spheres. Of course, not everyone in space is a pirate. You'll also meet Torgan Betz (a man famous for bending the laws, rarely breaking them), Tiktitik, the Thri-kreen crusader, " Thought Taker," the illithid, and the feared Drow commander Teela Darkcloud. Even so they all have their personal agendas, and it's often hard to tell enemies from friends. TSR 9286

Cover of The Dread of Dynwel
The Dread of Dynwel
5th Edition
Levels 2–8
241 pages
0

The Dread of Dynwel is an adventure set in the Forgotten Realms and optimized for 4-5 players. The characters start as a down on their luck but somewhat experienced crew of adventurers with a wanted poster which pays a much-needed gold reward. Soon, events in the Sunset Vale are revealed as more dangerous than they seem, sweeping the characters along with them. From the heights of the Sunset Mountains, the alleyways of Scornubel, and depths of the Reaching Wood: The Dread of Dynwel covers levels 2 through 8 and features material which can be played as a full campaign or dropped into an ongoing one.

Cover of The Goblin Bathwater Incident
The Goblin Bathwater Incident
5th Edition
Level 1
54 pages
0

Synopsis: Goblin Bathwater, a magical drug, has taken hold in a sleepy coastal town at the edge of the Empire. As the characters investigate the origin of the drug, they uncover an international criminal conspiracy, wild and ancient magic, and a threat to reality itself. Contents: This beautifully made, 54-page adventure offers: A fully fleshed out, setting-agnostic starter area, brimming with colourful NPCs and hooks for adventure. Balanced encounters to bring characters to level 2; then some more devious encounters on their way to level 3. Three mini-dungeons built on the design philosophy of the "5 room dungeon method" Multiple big, cinematic set-piece boss encounters what will make your players feel epic. A facetted intrigue, which does not immediately suggest a simple, ready-made solution but invites the players to come up with their own, personal approach. Why pick this adventure? Hey, my name is Marius. This is my first time publishing on the DMs Guild but I wouldn't call myself a newcomer. I started playing Pathfinder 1e back in 2014. When I took over as our group's DM in 2019, we swapped over to 5e. We have run many, many modules and adventures since. Currently I play three games a week. In short: You could say I'm hooked. I created The Goblin Bathwater Incident as the ideal adventure for in-between your big modules, but it isn't a simple little adventure. With a playtime of about 30 hours, it still manages to hit that sweet-spot, where it establishes context, makes you grow fond of NPCs, and makes those big bossfight wins so much sweeter, all without taking more than a few sessions. The Goblin Bathwater Incident is different from many of the 1st tier adventures in that it pits the characters against traps and monsters, but also asks difficult, open-ended ethical questions, where a simple strategy of "apply sword to head of bad guy" will not cut it.

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 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 AL3 - River Pirates
AL3 - River Pirates
5th Edition
Levels 3–5
19 pages
0

With a bit of experience under your belts, you roll into the small town of Windomere with the hopes of catching a ferry to the larger community of Sepopolis. Your initial greeting lacked a warm glow and you quickly discover why. Apparently a river pirate with the moniker of ‘Slippery Peat’ and his cronies have been causing quite a stir in the area. You have a bit of a layover…ready to do the region a favor?

Cover of M1 Into the Maelstrom
M1 Into the Maelstrom
BECMI
Levels 25–30
32 pages
0

Alphatia, the most ancient empire, land of the arcane and obscure secrets. It has grown for centuries and its might now overshadows the cauldron of civilization. Some say the Alphatians come from elsewhere, but no one knows for sure. Beyond the scope of mortals broods an evil mastermind, still in darkness. Once a betrayed emperor of ancient Alphatia, now an entity of the Sphere of Entropy, he seeks revenge on the greatest empire and on the race of man. His plots brought a deathly fog on all of Norworld. Perhaps it will extend to the southern nations. The matter is grave, so much that lords of the spheres have now to show their might. For them, it is time for mortals to intervene. Man defends his cause for him to earn divine favor. A great armada has been raised and able commanders must be found. Prove your worth, and the eternal portals of the spheres may open for you. TSR 9159

Cover of GK2 The Druid Child
GK2 The Druid Child
AD&D
Levels 3–5
14 pages
0

The world in which the air sailors still travel is a shrinking one, where each death is knowledge lost that will likely never be regained. There should be a sadness about that that penetrates all things in the Gun Kingdoms setting. The era of magic is coming to an end, and with it will go the skyships. This adventure is formatted to both 1E & 5E gaming rules.

Cover of X7 The War Rafts of Kron
X7 The War Rafts of Kron
BECMI
Levels 9–12
32 pages
0

The lerendi princess, Corinna, has disappeared. She set sail aboard a ship of the Minrothad Guilds - the guilds whose ships have been pirated and plundered for many weeks. Trade is horribly disrupted as many ships leave, never to be seen again. The guild masters now call for adventurers of great skill and renown. They offer small fortunes to any who can help them discover who is pirating their ships. But most importantly, to any who can rescue the princess. Can you and your party of adventurers defeat the dangers that lurk in the dark depths of a terrifying sea? Or will you find a watery grave within the cold confines of a murky sea floor? This game adventure contains special rules for underwater adventuring. TSR 9079

Cover of The Baron
The Baron
AD&D
Levels 5–8
30 pages
0

In this adventure, the heroes face the sinister Baron Metus, the vampire who took the life of Van Richten's son, Erasmus. Metus, with Daclaud Heinfroth, has been doing the bidding of the ghost of Madame Radanavich in her quest to destroy Rudolph van Richten. But Metus has his own reasons for seeing van Richten destroyed as well. Included in Bleak House: The Death of Rudolph van Richten TSR 1141

Cover of Gathering Darkness: Whisperwind
Gathering Darkness: Whisperwind
5th Edition
Level 3
31 pages
0

What’s Included Gathering Darkness: Whisperwind is a self-contained 6-7 hour adventure for the 5e system and is meant for four or five 3rd-level characters. This premium module contains: A complete story, battle maps, and custom NPC stat blocks Random encounters for entering houses in a haunted village A new mechanic called Blight which affects creatures based on their exposure to the horrors of Whisperwind A table of Lingering Effects that reflect the influence of the Dark on Whisperwind’s inhabitants The is the first adventure in the Gathering Darkness Anthology. The Setting This adventure takes place in the cursed coastal village of Whisperwind, a place stuck in a perpetual state of twilight. Once a thriving hub for fishing and trading, Whisperwind now exists in a place beyond time and space. Those unfortunate enough to end up there can come from any plane and any period of time – past, present, or future. Not much is known about the cursed village. In fact, most people are not even aware of its existence, and those that have heard of it often believe it to be a fairytale created to scare children. What they do know is this: once you enter Whisperwind, you may never leave. What they may not know is that inhabitants of Whisperwind do not die of natural causes and may live forever if they are not killed by other means. Instead, prolonged exposure to Whisperwind can have radical effects on the body and mind. The strongest willed may be unaffected, while the weak may lose their minds or be consumed by the terrible sickness known only as blight… Your Mission Uncover the mysteries of Whisperwind, survive the horrors that attempt to drag you into the Dark, and escape alive with your sanity intact.