A community for lazy dungeon masters
1110 adventures found
Cover of Lest Darkness Rise
Lest Darkness Rise
3.5 Edition
Level 7
15 pages
0

Long ago, a local priest created a warded graveyard on a remote hillside. As the years passed, it gained a reputation as a spot whose defenses were powerful enough to keep undead in and tomb robbers out. Adventurers began to bring the remains of any creatures they suspected might become restless in death to the Tomb Steppe for interment, and in time they also sought aid against such creatures from the friendly priest. After his death, a brief spate of undead activity commenced, then died away once again. As the years passed, the tales of undead activity in the Tomb Steppe faded into legend, and colonists began to move into the lands nearby. The town of Night Falls was founded a short distance from the graveyard, and it grew quickly into a thriving trade center and farming community. Realizing that the Tomb Steppe was safe enough during the day, the citizens began burying their dead there rather than building new crypts on pristine farmland. Because this method of interment was cheap and easy, people from many surrounding communities brought their dead to the town as well. The business of burial brought new prosperity to Night Falls, and a guild called the Funerary House sprang up to control the trade. But it seems that the threat from the Tomb Steppe has not entirely been laid to rest. The Great Mausoleum -- the largest and finest tomb in the steppe, has been unsealed, and an apparition has been seen within. Who will go to the Tomb Steppe by night and reseal the tomb? Lest Darkness Rise is a short adventure for four 7th-level characters. In keeping with the season, it has a stronger horror theme than most D&D adventures. This scenario can be used as the climax of a series of adventures featuring its secondary characters, or it can simply be a site-based adventure that the PCs stumble across at the right moment. The scenario is set in a semi-civilized area in the far north, far from cities and churches, where winters are harsh and summers never get very hot. These inhospitable conditions have resulted in a low humanoid population. The scenario need not be set in such a wilderness; a rural farming community far from cities works just as well. The only real requirement is that the area have few settlements. The action takes place in the small town of Night Falls and a nearby necropolis of tombs, mausoleums, and graves known as the Tomb Steppe. As always, feel free to adapt the material presented here as you see fit to make it work with your campaign.

Cover of Goblin Defense
Goblin Defense
5th Edition
Level 1
47 pages
0

Player characters attacking the lair of monsters that have been menacing the local village is a common D&D trope. This adventure turns the trope on its head. In Goblin Defense, the players create goblin PCs, and have to fight off repeated attacks by adventurers who are stronger and better equipped than they are. Starting at level 1 and running until level 7, this module encompasses 16 battles against unique and typically themed groups of adventurers built using player character classes and rules. The module is designed for 3 players, each of whom takes on an individual role within the tribe, granting unique bonuses or options for actions outside of combat. Goblin Defense can also be played with 4 players, but is not recommended for 5 or more players without substantial revision. The players aren't alone. Each commands a squad of goblin minions who can help in combat... but goblins are fragile, and adventurers hit hard. Life as a goblin is often brief and violent. Many will die, but as long as some survive, the tribe will carry on. A simple ruleset is provided for managing actions during the downtime between each attack. During this time, players can work to train their minions to use better gear, hunt for food for their tribe, recruit replacement warriors, brew potions, and - most importantly - improve their lair and its defenses by adding walls, traps, tunnels, doors, alarms, and anything else their creative minds can come up with. As the exact layout and placement of defensive features is critical, this is designed to be played on a grid. A PDF is included with the map scaled to print on 24"x36" (Arch D) size paper, available at most print shops. DMs may enjoy the chance to briefly try out many different character class and subclass combinations as they attack and eventually fall to the goblin pests they're trying to eliminate. Page count: Information for the DM only 6 Information for the players 4 Adventurer statblocks 37

Cover of Cult of the Hungry Eye
Cult of the Hungry Eye
3.5 Edition
5 pages
0

Akeni was born a servant to a powerful drow family deep underground, but her personality was anything but servile. When she was caught in an affair with the house matron's mate, she killed the matron and her own paramour and fled, eventually stumbling into the lair of a powerful beholder mage named Ormathulak. Akeni knew immediately that the creature was just the ally she needed to wipe out her hated family. Pgs. 56-60

Cover of Factions of Sigil - Murder in Automata
Factions of Sigil - Murder in Automata
5th Edition
Level 10
7 pages
0

We get it. Factions are an integral part of D&D, but it's not always clear how to use them in your campaigns. Luckily, Factions of Sigil has you covered for each of the twelve main factions found across Sigil and the Outlands! This supplement goes over the various rules and lore around the primary factions found in Sigil and the Outlands, making it easy for any new or veteran DMs to integrate the factions more into the core stories being told, and making them feel more useful for the players that choose to join. This adventure sees the characters allied with the Fraternity of Order in Sigil and sent to the gate town of Automata to solve a vicious spree of murders.

Cover of The Maze Beneath the Maize
The Maze Beneath the Maize
5th Edition
Levels 5–6
23 pages
0

The Therayle farm, which has been in the family for generations, was the best producing in the region. It now faces ruin. Hugh Therayle, the current owner, is at wit's end trying to reestablish even a modicum of control over the disrupted land. But, when Hugh saw the ancient doorway jutting up from the middle of the field where his corn used to be, he knew that this wasn't the type of problem a plow could solve. More than two centuries ago, a red wizard by the name of Houn made a discovery that shook the foundations of magic on Toril. Yet, due to a considerable amount of effort on his part, it never saw the light of day. The exact nature of this discovery is unknown but it involves the location of the skeletal fragments of an ancient being. The weave, which governs all magic on Toril, reacts strangely to the fragments. More information existed before Houn destroyed his research and fled Thay. His current whereabouts are unknown but many of his peers have attempted to track him down and steal his research for themselves.

Cover of The Proving Glade
The Proving Glade
5th Edition
Levels 3–6
15 pages
0

The Proving Glade is a one-shot adventure meant for parties or duets. Your characters arrive in a small settlement that has a big problem. The forest, its lifeblood, has seemingly withdrawn its bounty. Others have gone in, only to return hours later confused about how they got out. Will your party have the wherewithal to navigate the treacherous forest, pass its surprising tests, and uncover what’s truly going on? I wanted a forest adventure that felt alive and busy. I also didn’t want every encounter to be solved with the swing of a sword. The Proving Glade is about questioning value, morality, judgement, and redemption. This adventure was written as part of the Summer 2019 RPG Writer's Workshop. We also submitted In the Heart of the Forest. While these two adventures are not necessarily connected, they both involve navigating difficult and dangerous scenarios in a forest and could naturally be strung together. This Product Includes -A 3 to 4 hour one-shot designed for parties or 1-1 play. -A new Sidekick stat block: Daelin Hoofbane, ranger extraordinaire. -A new custom creature: the mysterious and powerful Alseiad, a glade nymph of incredible beauty. -2 new maps: One region map for the forest around Quaervarr near Silverymoon and one battle map for The Hydra's Mire.

Cover of The Vault of the Devourer
The Vault of the Devourer
5th Edition
Levels 1–4
32 pages
0

Amid the gales and snowy Earthspur Mountains, the tumbling ruins of the ancient Tempest Mage's tower brood over the village of Windy Valley. When a kidnapper flees into the ruins, it's up to a group of adventurers to apprehend the rogue and save his victim from the vault below. Published by Cold Iron Conventions and Draxtar Games.

Cover of DRAGONBOWL
DRAGONBOWL
5th Edition
Levels 5–7
306 pages
0

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).

Cover of Bahamut's Shame
Bahamut's Shame
4th Edition
Level 21
6 pages
0

As the story goes, worshipers of Bahamut and worshipers of Gruumsh spent years warring. As the dead piled up, a Bahamut faithful crafted a weapon of devastating power. Most of the inventor’s peers balked at its use, but some felt it was justified. Those few who used the weapon were twisted into mad, dark beings by its corrupting power. The rest of Bahamut’s flock locked them and the weapon away in a dungeon prison. The dungeon and its terrible secret were long forgotten—until a group of rakshasas happened across the ancient tale. Now they seek the weapon for their own designs. Pgs. 132-137

Cover of Ancient Cargo
Ancient Cargo
5th Edition
Levels 2–4
6 pages
0

Something stirs in the waters surrounding Port Wadegrave, a strange presence which has sown fear and discord throughout the coastal town, and sailors fear to cast out upon the waves! Can anyone get to the bottom of these mystery monster sightings and make the port safe once more? Ancient Cargo is a sea-faring adventure for Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition in which the Player Characters (PC’s) must defend a ship against a host of oceanic threats if they hope to complete their journey to Port Wadegrave. This adventure is designed for characters of 2nd to 4th level and is optimised for four characters with an average party level of 3. The adventure is setting agnostic and can easily fit into any published or homebrew world.

Cover of Don't Get Lost in Whiskaway Wood
Don't Get Lost in Whiskaway Wood
5th Edition
Levels 5–9
22 pages
0

Hidden deep within The Reaching Woods is a swamp grotto known to the locals of Hardbuckler as Whiskaway Wood. The townsfolk know to keep their distance from this place as few make it back. If they do, they come bearing toxic diseases that place the entire town in jeopardy. This is the situation the town is dealing with when the adventurers come knocking on the outer gates of Hardbuckler. In this adventure, the party must go forth into the swamp in search of Rotwood Maggie, a hag priestess of Talona who calls Whiskaway Wood her home. She possesses information on how the adventurers may go about saving the town, but her secrets don’t come cheap. In addition, some of the information she possesses may leave the adventurers questioning whether the town deserves to be saved at all. Features a disorienting swamp dungeon bolstered by several new magic items, creatures and diseases! Be sure to check out the full preview of the adventure when you visit the page!

The Coming Plague
5th Edition
Levels 4–7
6 pages
0

When a vile and mysterious plague strikes the city of H'vari, the Satrap orders a quarantine until the disease is cured. The PCs become trapped in a city in the throes of an epidemic.The players must venture into seedy tenements, walk among the dead and dying, uncover the unique symptoms and find a cure. Will the players solve the mystery behind the pestilence or will they themselves succumb to the coming plague... "The Coming Plague" is a four-hour adventure for 3-6 players. It is written for characters of 4th-7th level. The PCs are trapped in a plague-ridden city until they discover the source of the disease, a vile Otyugh. This module includes a two hand rendered maps and a new goddess to add to any pantheon. ...the vile Otyugh busts from the water and lashes out with it's disgusting, ropy tentacles! It's howls and bleeps are like nails on a chalkboard. It seems happy that a fresher meal has come along...

Cover of The Gribbits Detective Agency
The Gribbits Detective Agency
5th Edition
Level 1
15 pages
0

Janos Meer, the powerful underworld figure known as the Beggar King, has vanished. Gribbits - Meer’s right-hand goblin - has tasked a group of neophyte adventurers with getting to the bottom of where his boss has gone, and why. This is easier said than done, of course. The explosive destruction quite accidentally meted out by the Dragon Friends some months prior has made their city a dangerous place. It’s up to the adventurers to follow the clues through the urban chaos, unravel the mystery of the missing Meer, and maybe - just maybe - expose a conspiracy greater than any of them expected. The Gribbits Detective Agency is a Dungeons & Dragons adventure for four 1st-level characters.

Cover of Fires of Iskh
Fires of Iskh
5th Edition
Level 20
28 pages
0

When a volcano appears out of thin air, the ensuing eruption is a cataclysm unseen in this age. A group of legendary heroes will need to get to the heart of what's causing the volcano Iskh to break into the Material Plane, and in doing so, defeat an evil so ancient and powerful that the fabric of reality trembles at her wrath... Fires of Iskh is an adventure for four or five 20th-level characters. It includes: -Six new monsters! -A planar incursion from the Elemental Plane of Fire! -A super volcano full ancient secrets! -An epic battle with an ancient red dragon! -A carefully crafted format to make running the adventure easy and customizable. -Combat cards for each monster, PC, and special treasure. -High-quality digital maps for use with virtual table tops.

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 Menagerie of Mysteries
Menagerie of Mysteries
5th Edition
Level 6
8 pages
0

In this level 6 adventure for 4-6 players the party comes across a man named Johann Dhomm who was transporting animals in cages to his private island where he has a menagerie (a kind of zoo) that he eventually wants to open to the public. But the animals have escaped and he asks the party to try and catch them alive for him. However, the animals are actually quite dangerous and range from Gazers to a Wyvern.

Cover of Night on Devil's Peak
Night on Devil's Peak
5th Edition
Level 6
25 pages
0

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

Cover of DDAL06-02 The Redemption of Kelvan
DDAL06-02 The Redemption of Kelvan
5th Edition
Levels 5–10
25 pages
0

A strange, foreign wizard calling himself Kelvan has appeared at the same time a mountain materializes out of thin air. He asks you to recover the Gloomblade from a Netherese ruin in order to help him with his research into this strange new mountain. A Two-Hour Adventure for 5th-10th Level Characters. Optimized for five 8th-level characters.

Cover of DDEX01-14 Escape from Phlan
DDEX01-14 Escape from Phlan
5th Edition
Levels 5–10
27 pages
0

Three important citizens of Phlan, who stand against the tyrannical dragon that rules, seek to escape and find refuge across the Moonsea. Can you extricate those that are vital to the factions before it’s too late?

Cover of Diamond Dash
Diamond Dash
5th Edition
Levels 9–19
6 pages
0

This quest is for a party looking to acquire diamonds to use as components for higher-level resurrection spells. To gather what they need, the characters embark on a brief expedition to the Elemental Plane of Earth where diamonds are fairly abundant. However, the party only has an hour to gather as many diamonds as they can before the portal—and the entire cave area—collapses. Includes a quest-related NPC that a player can control if they're waiting for their character to be resurrected.