Campaign Commentary On The Free Adventure Crossroads of Chaldén By Vince Puccio, Leon Baradat, and Rene Baradat & B2 Keep on The Borderlands

 "The Crossroads of Chalden are near the barbarian lands of snow and ice. The people are gruff and suspicious of outsiders, and to folk from other lands they seem introverted and superstitious. This Dragonsfoot publication is a ready-to-play module with an introduction to a new world for First Edition Dungeons & Dragons. Plenty of information to flesh out the world in which Chalden lies, or to place it within the World of Greyhawk. Included is also helpful hints for new DMs in how to run and adjudicate the module. An AD&D adventure for Characters Levels 2-3." 

So what's going on here? LB1 Crossroads of Chaladen is perfect Sword & Sorcery compaign mid point module but what's actually going on here? According to the introduction; "The local population has a special aversion to thieves, since the region has been plagued by bandits for years. Typically, those here aren’t the "stealthy handyman" type that would join in an adventure, but more the "evil cutthroat" variety. Thieves in the party will be left alone, however, as they are in the king’s service. Two centuries ago, bands of outlaws roamed the countryside of the old Kingdom of Chaldén, robbing and murdering at will. The king was forced to hire additional men to protect his lands; he roused the population and with a small army of peasants and men-at-arms managed to wipe out most of the bandits. Those who avoided destruction were forced into hiding deep in the wilderness, and peace reigned for a time"

"Half a century later, reports of robberies and murders returned. The outlaws spread slowly across the area for thirty-five years as order deteriorated in the kingdom. A horde of brigands finally stormed the castle, looting and burning everything within. The castle was razed to the ground, as the bandits repaid a debt they considered long overdue." 


 LB1 Crossroads of Chaladen is easily converted over to Castles & Crusades with little issue for experienced DM's and players. Now imagine if you will that the Germany barbarian tribes have been pushed to thier absolute limits. Now they've expanded into the French border because of the push of Chaos.  Chaos's armies of humanoids have been pushing the barbarins off thier lands and starving them. This leads back into the French kingdom of Chaldén where the Germany barbarians are invading. There are other forces behind this push. 

So they go back to thier ancestral raiding lands and here's where events of LB1 Crossroads of Chaladen overlap with  from Stains upon the Green's abandoned Dwarven city straight into Dark Wizard's #4 Vault of the Dwarven King. Chaos wants to seize control of the terror weapon of the Dwarves the Lava Elemental. 

Now why is this happening?! Because of the fall of the Roman fortresses along the border of the Germany terrorities in B2 The Keep on the Borderlands by Gary Gygax. We see the agents of Chaos working thier way across Europe as the forces of Chaos rise in  Mark Taormino's Maximum Mayhem Dungeons #0 Village of the Borderlands . B2 Keep on the Borderlands shows how the temples and shrines of Chaos are serving the meeting points for the armies of Chaos. And there are also parties of Chaos adventurers who are unlocking the ancient artifacts and monsters of Chaos. 
The Dwarven Fotress of Tar Kiln could lead to multiple sessions to plumb the depths of all it's mysteries.The Codex Classicum. hints about the Dwarves having a vested interest in many of the Roman god's legacies that they've left behind on Earth.