Running B1 In Search of the Unknown By Mike Carr for an OSR Sword & Sorcery Campaign Jump Off Point

 So tonight I was listening to the Bigus Geekus stream on youtube & it was a good stream.  However all the talk about pre generated PC's and Con's got me thinking about basic play in Castles & Crusades. Or starting a campaign & reading through 'The OSR Grimoire' blog got me thinking about using a classic TSR adventure. And so once again Dave Carr's B1 In Search of The Unknown is in my hands. 

There are several reasons to use B1 & the module plot while basic serves up it's history and rational well:"Many years ago two wealthy adventurers, Rogahn the Fearless and Zelligar the Unknown, built a hidden complex known as the Caverns of Quasqueton. From this base, they conducted their affairs away from the prying eyes of civilization. While of questionable ethical standing, the two drove back a barbarian invasion and gained the support of locals. Eventually, they gathered their own army and went on an expedition against said enemies, where they met their demise." 
So Dave Carr's B1 'In Search of The Unknown' is a great module to pair up with Gary Gygax's B2 Keep on the Borderlands. Why because the PC's could hear rumors about the humanoids invading the various nearby human lands and sacking villages. Perhaps the abode of Rogahn the Fearless and Zelligar the Unknown could hold answers. And as simple as that we're off to the races. 

What if the ruins of the abode of these two really might hold answers?! How well B1 is actually a how to build a dungeon module. And it's very easy to add in Castle & Crusade monsters & treasure from the Castles & Crusades Monsters & Treasures book. 

Add in the fact that the humanoid monsters from B1 might actually be scouts for the advancing armies of Chaos and things get very interesting very fast. The PC's might after ransacking the  abode of Rogahn the Fearless and Zelligar the Unknown might stumble into  the Caverns of Quasqueton. This is where the party found the journal that belonged Rogahn the Fearless and Zelligar the Unknown which detailed thier interactions with the Caves of Chaos from B2 The Keep on the Borderland. These two NPC's cast a very long shadow within our campaign by having served the lord of the keep. 
And having been vassel rulers of the Village of Hommlet. If one is going to run B2 In Search of the Unknown be aware that it's a pretty dangerous module. Also be sure to download  the B1 Campaign Sourcebook. There's a ton of additional material within the B1 Campaign Sourcebook. We actually had the PC's be related to both Rogahn the Fearless and Zelligar the Unknown there by having a far more personal connection to the classic adventure. Eventually the PC's eventually laid claim to both the keep and the fortress of Rogahn the Fearless and Zelligar the Unknown . 

What works so well with running B1 In Search of the Unknown with Castles & Crusades is how responsive the C&C system is to classic modules. C&C is easy to house rule, run, and take on play from the ground up. 

All one needs too run  is the C&C  player's handbook & maybe C&C Monsters & Treasure. 
 B1 is a template & tool box for running adventures & modules. This slots the adventure right into your own C&C or old school campaign. Framing the adventure within campaign is simple and easy as play can help to determine the role that B1 has within your campaigns. 

We've run B1 numerous times across the board in various campaigns. So using a classic module for Castles & Crusades isn't rocket science. I hate to use that turn of phrase but it's true.  For our own Chronicles of Yerth Sword & Sorcery campaign. We started with B1 In Search of the Unknown and it was the foul dealings of  Rogahn the Fearless and Zelligar the Unknown that got us involved. The two heroes were actually incharge of the barbarian army that they   'vanquished' but were actually building a mercenary army to help topple the king. Unfortunately for them the cult of Elemental Evil's faction in the Caves of Chaos rose up and killed them. This has led to the region of the Borderlands stagnating. Enter the party here. 

There are several reasons why B1 In Search of the Unknown Works for a Castles & Crusades Campaign : 

1. B1 is not well known today and is out right dismissed by less experienced players and so it's tricks & traps are unknown to these players. 
2. B1 In Search of the Unknown is a great module to tie into your home campaign because this is what it was created to do. 
3. Rogahn the Fearless and Zelligar the Unknown are blank slates easily modified for your C&C adventures. They can act as hooks into other adventures. 
4. B1's caverns could have tunnels that lead into other dungeons further expanding the role that B1's adventure location might play within your campaigns. 
5. There's something that seems to draw back players to B1 In Search of the Unknown again & again.