A community for lazy dungeon masters
310 adventures found
Cover of DL1 Dragons of Despair
DL1 Dragons of Despair
AD&D
Levels 4–6
32 pages
0

The beginning adventure to the Dragonlance, War of the Lance series of adventures, upon which the Dragonlance novels are based. The companions meet in the Inn of the Last Home to discover a barbarian couple with a mysterious staff. The PCs journey to discover the staff's history which leads them to a ruined temple to the Forgotten Gods. Includes a full map of Xak Tsaroth and overland maps, some color. Art by Jeff Easley. TSR 9130

Cover of Demonspore: The Secret of the Shrooms
Demonspore: The Secret of the Shrooms
OSR
Levels 3–6
83 pages
0

Establishing themselves in the cyst left by their dead god, a zealot band of Shrooms, a race known for bizarre projects and subtle objectives, have been working for decades on the strangest task in their strange history. They are growing themselves a new god.

Cover of DDAL05-18 The Mysterious Isle
DDAL05-18 The Mysterious Isle
5th Edition
Levels 17–20
31 pages
0

Baron Rajiram’s forces have secured the Nelanther Isles and have scoured the Sword Coast for treasures. Now they have begun to explore a mysterious island that recently just popped into existence nearby. SEER seems to believe that an aboleth artifact is their goal. It is up to the adventurers, in competition with the baron, as well as aboleths, the Kraken Society, and the mysterious caretaker of the island, to locate the Eye of Xxiphu and avert catastrophic disaster.

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 No Silent Secret
No Silent Secret
5th Edition
Level 1
10 pages
0

The adventure begins with the characters discovering the recently murdered Returned, Varyas, and confronting his killers. Varyas's gold mask bears a code on it, one that points toward the sage Khea who lives in the nearby polis. When the characters investigate, they learn from Khea that the writing is undecipherable except for the first line, which refers to the legendary Court of Orestes, a site sacred to the god Phenax. She also notes that a recent earthquake has uncovered a cave along the Khystonos River that could be the secret site's location. If so, then perhaps within lies the key to deciphering the mask, along with its own treasures. With the information provided by Khea, the adventurers set forth into the wilds, where they'll face multiple storied dangers before reaching the Court of Orestes. Once at the lost holy site, the characters discover ancient guardians, as well as an unliving entity with the potential to reveal Phenax's lost secret.

Cover of Temple of the Nightbringers
Temple of the Nightbringers
5th Edition
Level 1
10 pages
0

A tribe of goblins are raiding travelers on the Long Road, and our heroes decide to help. After a dangerous overland journey, they enter a mysterious abandoned temple where they encounter terrifying monsters, deadly traps, dark magic and a shocking secret. Will they survive the Temple of the Nightbringers? This adventure contains 14 encounters and includes a mixture of combat, roleplaying, puzzles and traps.

Cover of Tides of Dread
Tides of Dread
3.5 Edition
Levels 9–11
32 pages
0

The colony of Farshore has survived on its own for years, a secluded and struggling hamlet perched on the western shore of the tiny island of Temute. An island dwarfed by the savage landscape across the narrow channel to the north, a landscape of rugged mountains, tangled jungles, and trackless swamps. This is the Isle of Dread, and its resources and hidden treasures are matched only by its peril. Yet for all these dangers, what may bring doom to Farshore is not an invasion of inhuman monsters from the mainland, but an invasion of all-too-human monsters from across the sea. "Tides of Dread" is the fifth chapter of the Savage Tides 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 #352 of Dragon magazine features rumors of Farshore, a helpful list of improvements the PCs can make to the colony, and other features to help get PCs oriented in their new home on the Isle of Dread. The destruction of a pirate ship signals the beginning of a Crimson Fleet invasion. The PCs must race against time to prepare for the onslaught before an old enemy can release another savage tide. Pgs. 28-59 Also see Pgs. 60-71 Backdrop: Farshore City of Hope.

Cover of Breaker Of Chains
Breaker Of Chains
5th Edition
Levels 6–8
26 pages
0

The shrine on the edge of town has been little more than a landmark for generations – but now eerie runes have begun pulsing across its surface, and rumour has it a dark force is growing. Now the party must investigate the threat, and destroy whatever lurks inside the Hall of Lament once and for all. The Legend of Zelda meets Hellraiser in the latest adventure from Chris Bissette, creator of Bulette Storm! Breaker of Chains is a 4 hour old school adventure, featuring tricks, traps, exploration, traps, and ritual sacrifice. Never again will your players waltz into a dungeon convinced that you aren’t willing to kill them in new and horrible ways! Published by Loot The Room

Cover of They Dug Too Deep
They Dug Too Deep
OSR
Levels 1–4
3 pages
0

Greed blinds the eyes of contentment Dwarf miners discovered a precious stone deposit. Unfortunately, their greed led them to dig tunnels too deep. Upon breaching the walls of an unholy temple, the miners unleashed a bizarre creature that decimated them all. 'They Dug Too Deep' is a system-agnostic one-page dungeon about exploring an abandoned and mysterious dwarven mine. As characters delve into the site, they'll uncover that not everything is as it seems – a sealed entrance from the inside, the corpses of dwarves scattered around, strange messages on the walls... Play to discover what really happened! 2023 Winners' Circle One-page Dungeon! 'They Dug Too Deep' was awarded as one of the top 10 one-page dungeons in the 2023 One Page Dungeon Contest! To celebrate, we offer you some extra stuff to enhance your play experience. There is more underground than just precious stones... What you'll find here: A complete 18-room one-page dungeon with easy preparation. A GM's Pamphlet containing tips on how to run the adventure and compiling the most relevant information. 4 character sheets using the Vagari RPG rules system. 5 custom tokens for use in your favorite VTT. Mini-hexcrawl map (NEW!)

Cover of Atop The Mountain
Atop The Mountain
5th Edition
Level 11
3 pages
0

She lay down her sword and wept; her tears are the water. She lay down her body and slept; her bones are the fountain. Atop the mountain, at the war’s end, a place for gods to wonder.

Cover of Regrowing Pains
Regrowing Pains
5th Edition
Levels 9–12
6 pages
0

This quest is for a party looking to resurrect a character whose corpse is missing body parts necessary for survival. Lower-level resurrection spells don’t work on a creature that is missing a head, heart, or other vital organ. To resurrect the body, the characters turn to Vaprak, patron deity of trolls, and attempt to earn the god’s assistance. However, a band of frost giant hunters intend to destroy Vaprak's temple along with everyone inside it. Includes a quest-related NPC that a player can control if they're waiting for their character to be resurrected.

Cover of Death Ascendant
Death Ascendant
AD&D
Levels 6–8
64 pages
0

Death Is in the Cards The remnants of the Ebon Fold are cutting a deadly path through the Falkovian countryside, draining travelers of their life force and leaving withered corpses in their wake. Hot on their trail you come across the sole survivor of one of these deadly attacks, a young vistani man with an extraordinary skill for fortune-telling. His tarokka deck helps close the gap between you and the assassins. Together you follow the trail through Darkon, the dark domain of the lich lord Azalin, to the city of Nartok. With an Unholy Alliance... Something very strange is happening in Nortok. The killers enter the Temple of the Eternal Order and don't come out. It seems that the state of religion of Darkon is giving succor to these assassins. To make matters more confusing, the Kargat, the domain's secret police, has put aside its feud with the Eternal Order and has a large contingent staying at the temple as well. These three organizations working together bodes ill for the residents of Nartok. ... And Schemes Within Infernal Schemes Great amounts of life energy are being collected for some foul purpose, although no one seems to know what exactly it is. The tarokka cards provide only mysterious glimpses of the future - a future in which a powerful evil sweeps the land and Death walks the world. Can you discover the truth of what is happening in the temple in time to avert the disaster predicted by the cards? Death Ascendant is a full-length adventure that can be run as a stand-alone scenario or as the second part in the Grim Harvest series. It contains a 64-page adventure booklet plus a full-color poster map detailing the Temple of the Eternal Order. TSR 9526

Cover of Acid Metal Howl
Acid Metal Howl
5th Edition
Levels 5–8
48 pages
0

In the deep desert lies the dead city of Yumar, the source of countless bizarre rumors. Was it destroyed by a demonic metal sphere? Did it sink into a pit of acid? Were its people transformed into cursed beasts? Is it ruled by vicious thieves or mad nuns? In fact, the only thing stranger than what happened to Yumar a century ago is what will happen a few days from now... ADVENTURE TYPE: Medium Sandbox City / Ruin DESIGN NOTES: This adventure is intended for characters levels 5 to 8. It includes a ruined city, shrine, wizard tower, menagerie, several factions, and the surrounding wilderness. Each area contains various encounters and unique items. There are many opportunities for combat, but it is possible for players to explore most areas and complete many interactions without any combat at all, depending on their choices. INCLUDES: Story hooks, dialogue prompts, random encounters, factions, illustrations, stat blocks, original creatures and treasures, and overview maps. KEYWORDS: city, ruin, celestial, angel, dwarf, dwarves, miner, thief, thieves, cleric, nun, shrine, adamant, adamantine, lycanthropy, mind control, nightmare, mutation, mutant, wizard tower, menagerie, body horror

Cover of Dungeon Crawl Classics Lankhmar #5: Blasphemy & Larceny in Lankhmar
Dungeon Crawl Classics Lankhmar #5: Blasphemy & Larceny in Lankhmar
Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG
Level 5
16 pages
0

A member of your gang awakens in an alleyway with foggy memories of a deal made, a job taken, a partner slain, and a heist planned. They struggle to remember the details, but you all agree that breaking into an abandoned temple should be a simple matter – in and out. Yet the heist is on a collision course with something sinister. What begins as an easy job becomes anything but, as you confront cultists, vengeful spirits, and the servitors of a long-forgotten god. While seeking an easy score, you uncover a plan to strike a blow into the heart of Lankhmar, and no one is safe from the blasphemous plot. A choice needs to be made. Will you stand with the city, or risk letting it descend into chaos? Curse the gods of Lankhmar for their cruel joke that, in the shadowed alleyways of Lankhmar, there is no such thing as a “simple matter.” Officially licensed from the estate of Fritz Leiber.

Cover of Shadows Under Emystrell
Shadows Under Emystrell
5th Edition
Levels 2–3
110 pages
0

For months, the dreams of the people of Emystrell have become dark and terrible. It seems their nightmares have come to life as in recent weeks, people have mysteriously gone missing, vanishing in the night without a trace! Everyone is too paralyzed by their own despair to do anything or venture far from the safety of their homes. Emystrell is on the brink of collapse. The baron is offering a handsome reward to anyone who can show proof of the end of whatever evil curse that has taken hold of their town. This adventure is designed for a party of 3-5 heroic characters from the 2nd to 3rd level. It has elements of mystery and investigation in the first section which can be detailed and highly involved for groups that enjoy the process of searching for clues and solving mysteries or just as easily glossed over for groups that are more tactics focused. The second section of the adventure features the dungeon: a labyrinthine complex of an ancient elven crypt which the thieves guild has used as a base of operations for a decade...until the serpent worshipping cult arrived. The third section of this book is the detailed map and notes on the town and surrounding area of Emystrell. Roleplaying notes are kept light to allow for room for your own interpretations and details to NPCs remain as free to do with as you choose unless I felt inspired and hoped to give you a cool idea. This adventure has hooks for Dungeon Masters interested in a larger campaign involving the sinister plots of the Yuan-Ti (snake people) as well as other interesting adventure hooks (such as the giants in the nearby mountains or the stolen gem: The Eye of the Dragon). These plot points are intentionally left vague for you to fill in the gaps based on what your players seem interested in. You are invited to use this as a launch point adventure to lead your heroes on a larger adventure that might someday set them against an Anathema Serpent demigod, or it may simply be the adventure that begins their journeys and the evil of Yargoth stops here at Emystrell. If your campaign is set in a pre-published setting, this town of Emystrell can be replaced or fit into any campaign with a few tweaks to local gods and names. If you are playing in Dragonlance, you could replace Yargoth the Dread Serpent with Tiamat, or Dendar in Fearun. The local goddess, Tyr, could be the Tyr from the Forgotten Realms or even Norse myth if that is your campaign setting.

Cover of FQ10 - Enclave of the Exterminatus
FQ10 - Enclave of the Exterminatus
AD&D
Levels 5–7
49 pages
0

While enjoying a nice honey wine in the backwater community of Bench you discover citizens have been kidnapped from the surrounding area. After further investigation the mystery leads to a compound being built by the Exterminatus! With the danger mounting can the party slow the march of the evil cult and maybe pick up a few more pages of the arcane tome? Are they stealthy enough to infiltrate the stronghold? At almost 50 pages this adventure has the Precinct of Bench and the large compound of the Exterminatus each of which can be used in separate campaigns!

Cover of Dungeon Crawl Classics #6: Temple of the Dragon Cult
Dungeon Crawl Classics #6: Temple of the Dragon Cult
3.5 Edition
Levels 8–10
32 pages
0

In Temple of the Dragon Cult, the characters are called in to pursue a dragon that the king’s army was able to wound but not kill. It seems straightforward enough: the army tracked the dragon to its lair, and all the characters have to do is go in and kill it. But this dragon has a devoted cult of dragonblood followers who worship its every breath. Its lair is their temple — and they’ll fight to the death to defend their dragon-god…

Cover of Temple of the Mad Dragon Priestess
Temple of the Mad Dragon Priestess
5th Edition
Level 1
15 pages
0

Blackstone Cave was once a smugglers’ lair, but it was cleared out decades ago. Now there are strange noises coming from the cave, and local authorities are afraid smugglers and bandits have taken up operations again. What will the adventurers find? More importantly, will they be able to survive the machinations of the Mad Dragon Priestess? A straightforward dungeon crawl with combat and opportunities for role-playing. The party is tasked with investigating strange noises coming from Blackstone Cave, an abandoned smuggler's lair. They find kobold cultists have moved in, but they're not the average dragon cultists.

Cover of Doom of the Dragon Grafter
Doom of the Dragon Grafter
Draw Steel
Levels 9–10
26 pages
0

Explore political intrigue, gene splicing, and a thrilling battle for survival in the Timescape's World Below in DOOM of the DRAGON GRAFTER, a 9th to 10th-level adventure for Draw Steel! You and everyone you know has a story of the dragon who ruined your life. You've lost so much and wondered why it had to be this way. Recently you learned that all these dragons that wreaked havoc on Orden were intentionally created to do so, all as an experiment run by a voiceless talker known as Lord Pulposa. You don't know why he did this, or how you're going to break into his lab. What you do know that you're going down into the World Below after him to make sure his schemes will never hurt anyone again. You are the Doom of the Dragon Grafter. Features: - Over 25 pages of an adventure written by the author of The Workshop Watches and The Fall of Blackbottom (that's me!) - 23 Victories worth of encounters - Lord Pulposa, a level 9 Solo Monster designed by Scott Bullock, guaranteed to terrorize your friends and enemies - Battle Maps & Positioning Maps for most combat encounters - Some Draconian fiction thrown in there for good measure - Shared under a CC-BY Sharealike so you can do whatever you want with it - A Goblin named Spanky

Cover of Moon over Graymoor
Moon over Graymoor
5th Edition
Level 1
17 pages
0

Moon over Graymoor is a short adventure written for Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, for first level player characters. It is intended to be a good first adventure to run; something for new players, or even a new Dungeon Master to try. The players are turned loose in a hamlet that has suffered a handful of vicious murders, and it’s up to them to investigate. Players will gather clues, canvass the villagers, and if they’re smart, pick up a few things along the way that might just give them enough bite to face off against the beast, and survive.