The Girl, The Dungeon, and the Succubus - Original Dungeons & Dragons Eldritch Wizardry Supplement III And Castles & Crusades - Session Repor

 Last night's Castles & Crusades game run by my buddy Steve had a definitive Original Dungeons & Dragons Supplement III Elderitch Wizardry connection. I was playing a fighter who was send in with a team to save a small child. Little did we know what we were getting into. 

The baron's daughter had been playing down by the local river and had stumbled upon what she thought was a piece of jewelry. What it was was something far worse. This little innocent had stumbled upon a demon's amulet. And then the little child went missing. 
This is where we were called in. And things got very interesting very fast. Nearby the baron's manor house was a dungeon. It seems that the baron's relatives weren't exactly the mild upstanding sorts. 
The ancient line of Baron von Ruffles had been using some very unsavory tactics to gain wealth and fame. And now little Elsa was suffering for it. The dungeon location was actually an old cult headqaurters and we went straight into a place that had been a portal to the Abyss.
And little Elsa was waiting for us and we had to deal with two packs of demon possesed dire wolves and a bunch of demonic rats. 

But what really almost took us out was a rather innocent looking door that was actually a giant killer mimic! We battled that thing for a long while until we retreated and then used burning oil to take it out! We swore that there was a clock ticking someplace on this and busted into the former cult headquarters. Elsa wasn't home & instead we had a full blown succubus waiting for our party. We knew going in that that this wasn't going to be easy. And brought in two clerics high level clerics from the temple of light. Our group took some hits but we had wards preparred. And this was an uphill battle as we took down a pack of Vrocks. We had seven players and things got ugly as one of our fighters got taken to the Abyss! After over an hour of game play we knocked out Elsa and then things got bad. We had to hold back the forces of darkness and perform an exocism on the kid. She managed to take out two of our number with acidic vomit but we saved the kid. And gain back the amulet even as the demoness swore revenge on us. 

The amulet is now the problem & we've brought it too the to the temple of light. OD&D Supplement III Eldritch Wizardry is quite clear on the use of demonic amulets; "Demons' Amulets: Demon Princes maintain their vital essences in small containers — their souls, so to speak, are thus at once protected and yet vulnerable if some enterprising character should gain the amulet. Demons' amulets cannot be detected as such by any magical means, and they do not otherwise appear unusual in any way. The device need not be with the most powerful Princes, although the lesser demon lords typically need to carry theirs on or near their persons. Possession of an amulet gives the possessor power over the demon to whom it "belongs" for the space of, for example, one adventure, and never more than a day (24 hours). The amulet must then be returned to the demon — or it can be destroyed and thus condemn the Prince to abyssment for a year (and he may return thereafter only if summoned). Use of an amulet is very, very dangerous. Possession of one will double chances of calling the attention of another demon, and any demon not controlled by the device will immediately attack the person possessing such an amulet." 

So we're not taking this matter lightly at all. Our party is re equipping and meeting next week to deal with that dungeon. We saved the girl whose gained psionic abilities as a result of her brush with the dark forces. And we've got an NPC/cleric of light watching over her. We hired her, checked on her creditentials, spoke with fellow sisters of light at the temple. No DM Steve we know how you tick. 

There are several things bothering us as experienced players about Elsa and the Baron's family. How did this dungeon stay hidden for so long. Where are the caretakers of it & more importantly whose runnnig this demonic cult now?! We're going back to that dungeon & we want answers! I'm coming into this campaign blind and playing a fighter whose got an agenda. So why isn't DM Steve using the Tome of Corruption? The truth is that I don't think he owns it. And used a supplement from his own collection and to throw us off a bit. This is all fine but that dungeon is getting cleared and that cult will be exterminated! 

Another 1d5 Random Strange & Twisted Dungeon Locations Encounter Table For Your Old School Campaigns

There are ruins & twisted locations that that have slipped down between the cracks of reality into their own dark and twisted Hells of their own making. They wander across the dimensions under their own power taking adventurers and lives as they want. These places have an agenda all of their own & love to take the souls of those whose egos & reputation attract their attention.


Adventurers who travel between places and times may hear 1d6 rumors or whispered legends about this place  or that place of legend. They might be drawn to the chatter in a local watering hole or tavern. There could be 1d3 minor relics or treasures to draw the attention of adventurers in pawn shops or certain forbidden market places. The legend of these places wealth seems to grow with each telling.Most horrible of all sights are the little unpainted wooden houses remote from travelled ways, usually squatted upon some damp grassy slope or leaning against some gigantic outcropping of rock. Two hundred years and more they have leaned or squatted there, while the vines have crawled and the trees have swelled and spread. They are almost hidden now in lawless luxuriances of green and guardian shrouds of shadow; but the small-paned windows still stare shockingly, as if blinking through a lethal stupor which wards off madness by dulling the memory of unutterable things."The Picture in the House"
HP Lovecraft




Another 1d5 Random Strange & Twisted Dungeon Locations Encounter Table 

1. Morotundur - A former strong hold of the Atlantis empire this place had all of its occupants slaughtered by demons and their souls eaten. This was a result of an ancient object that was held in the dungeons below the place. There is a demon of law  spirit bound within the stones that hold the place together with the souls of anyone it captures using them as fodder for its power. There is 1d20 minor object of power which have been dropped by adventurers over the centuries here.
2. Rincazgu -The so called castle of lust that holds the souls of some forty six vampire lords and their attendants. This place was once the ancient court and repository for the royal vampire lords and ladies throughout the centuries but the death of one innocent girl cursed the place to Astral winds and now it wanders eternity taking anyone it can to satisfy it blood lust and perverse ironic twisted magicks.
3. Detungl - The residence of the Lord of the Purple Fools, this place holds the promise of an evil and very foolish god of chaos who challenged the mad  satirist gods. They cursed the fool and trapped him within this place's walls. He or it now wanders the planes eating the souls with promises of hidden treasures and relics.
4. Kongorgl- The abode of the last saint of  Ubbo-Sathla who can no longer retain its own shape and so its existence has shattered the local time and space continuum. The whole place shimmers and shakes as the violence of its existence causes it to constantly fade and become 'real'. There are treasures of this place that come up on the auction block from time to time renewing interest in this location.
5. Lulronturth - The so called spawning ground of the ancient lords, this former castle is now ruins but below the place are under ground ruins that were once the prison for the damned soul of a wizard of very high undead status. The thing fed on so many people that the gods cursed the place right out of existence. Wandering the planes has the advantage of the owners of this place setting their own agendas of good evil. There are many souls sold to the demonic owners of the place. There are actually 1d8 legendary monsters wander the halls of this ancient pile of old school goodness.
   

   This  post is not an attempt to violate the copyrights or trademarks of any 
   of the films nor properties named in this post. All ideas are for a 
   private table top rpg campaign. None of the ideas or opinions expressed 
   in this post are meant to violate the trademarks nor copy rights of any 
   of the table top rpgs discussed nor are they in away responsible for the
    thoughts or opinions of the author. The writing, ideas, and opinions 
   are copyrighted and trade marked to the author and Dark Corner 
   productions. This post is for entertainment & educational purposes 
   only.

1d4 Random Strange & Twisted Dungeon Locations Encounter Table For Your Old School Campaigns

Out in the wastelands there are places with all of their own personal agendas, these places have slipped between the cracks of reality & become places of torment for a wide variety of prisoners from places better off forgotten or lost. These strange adventure locations appear throughout the dimensions causing mayhem for whatever or whomever they can. They almost have a malevolent or dangerous streak of intelligence about them.


Adventurers who travel between places and times may hear 1d6 rumors or whispered legends about this place  or that place of legend. They might be drawn to the chatter in a local watering hole or tavern. There could be 1d3 minor relics or treasures to draw the attention of adventurers in pawn shops or certain forbidden market places. The legend of these places wealth seems to grow with each telling.

Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places. H. P. Lovecraft
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/hplovecr278131.html

Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places. H. P. Lovecraft
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/hplovecr278131.html

"Searchers after horror haunt strange, far places. For them are the catacombs of Ptolemais, and the carven mausolea of the nightmare countries. They climb to the moonlit towers of ruined Rhine castles, and falter down black cobwebbed steps beneath the scattered stones of forgotten cities in Asia. The haunted wood and the desolate mountain are their shrines, and they linger around the sinister monoliths on uninhabited islands. But the true epicure of the terrible, to whom a new thrill of unutterable ghastliness is the chief end and justification of existence, esteem most of all the ancient, lonely farmhouses of backwoods New England; for there the dark elements of strength, solitude, grotesqueness, and ignorance combine to form the perfection of the hideous"
"The Picture in the House"
HP Lovecraft

1d4 Random Strange &
Twisted Dungeon Locations Encounter Table

1. Kalkarthanako once the temple of a god of Law who committed ritual suicide it has become the prison for many different types of ancient horrors. The dungeon location is now the home base for a cult of dimensional roving plunderers who use the place as a treasure vault & base of operations.Many have come here seeking riches only to find ruin. 
2. Sauabergoth 'The Ashen Smug' this is a side venue of Hell it serves as the base of torment for a wide variety of Neiphiliam spirits who were ripped from their bodies after the Fall of Man. These spirits are demonic ghosts who are tormented day and night by demons of the darkest stripe but this place contains the treasures of the Fallen men. This place travels the dimensions trying to trap & murder those who hear its siren call and there are many black wizards who have fallen to it wiles. 
3. Ngordurthegl or 'Cthulhu's Fart' this strange tenacious vault of ancient forbidden magick was the home for a cult from Atlantis worshipers who were worshipers  of the Great Old Ones. When that forbidden place was destroyed & drifted into legend. This place became trapped in the dreams of the gods of man. There are a thousand years worth of treasures here from the ritual suicides of the cult's black magicians. A Star Spawn of Cthulhu has been trapped here fueling the transit of the vaults of this place across the dimensions. The ancient undead magicians fuel its travels with sacrifices of victims who are drawn here by promises of treasures beyond the ken of man
4. Urglkor is the Devil's Graveyard a dungeon of incredible proportions built on the back bone of an ancient alien space craft. The place was taken into the dimensional Abyss as part of the bounty to a group of alien demons who became trapped as part of an ancient curse. Magicians come here for the demonic library of Chaotic magick that was a part of the ship's mission. Demons hunt the souls of those who come here.

Original Empire of The Petal Throne - Actual Play Event - Encounter With H'y Turis's 'Eater of Trespassers & the Helpless'

Original box set courtesy of tekumel.com

So last night I got together with friends for a game of the original  Empire of The Petal Throne box set; we generated characters & began to explore the underworld of  the city of Jakalla. We were fresh off the boat barbarians. Things went from weird to stranger as we were hired by a small group of xenophobic Tsolyani patron priests.They were hiring us for the recovery of artifacts from the underworld for some reason our party of outlaws & adventurers weren't trusting these priests to much. You can get a digital copy of EPT here.

I wasn't dungeon mastering last night's game instead I was playing with six other friends of mine.

Back of Empire of the Petal Throne box set courtesy of  tekumelcollecting.com

A great blog for EPT collectors 

So dodging guards we made our way into the underworld, past priests, guards, & strange altars we made our way down, down, into the underworld. We found ourselves in a passage with many rooms branching off into all kinds of tunnels and side rooms. We found ourselves at a door and we listened at the door and heard voices within. So we tried another door. A simple hasp locked the door and with a bit of luck we found ourselves in a room with a battered leather chest.

Tudro and Georgian furniture at the Red Lodge Museum in Bristol
Photo by Climatophile

Then right outside the room we heard those muted voices approaching and came face to face with another group of adventurers! Damn it! These idiots blundered into the same room and they were loaded with several minor artifacts. Melee broke out among the two groups and that took up a good portion of the evening but that's when the cage came down from the ceiling!

Aztec warriors from 'the Foundry' were a good stand in for the rival adventurers in last night's game!

And that's when H'y Turis's 'Eater of Trespassers & the Helpless' made its appearance! The thing quickly devoured two of our party before we could even blink wrong. It was a thing wrought from insanity & the warped imagination of the dungeon master. We had to think fast but it was getting close to two A.M.



We were in the clutches of a demon of the underworld! We had to think fast but the it was getting late but we all had work in the morning. So we'll wrap this up until next time, the thing was it was nice to get out from behind the screen.

Ten things I noticed about last night's Empire of the Petal Throne game:

1. Combat is deadly in the original box set, I mean nasty and very dangerous. 
2. The EPT game isn't as complex as its made out to be its really the fluff that can be off putting. 
3. Rival adventurers are nasty business in any old school game & I've got to use more of em. 
4. The underworld in EPT is one part adventure movie and one part dungeon on steroids. 
5. NPC Guards and other NPC's had the party moving very quietly and carefully. \
6. Mood seems even more important in EPT then even in original Dungeons & Dragons. 
7. I can honestly see how campaigns might last years in the game. 
8. Experienced players don't want to touch or look at anything, these guys were more cautious then Call of Cthulhu players. 
9. Original Empire of the Petal Throne PC's don't take long to generate 
10. Keep things very simple when starting a game of original Empire of the Petal play.

Free OSR Adventure Location Resource - Adventures In High Wold By Corey Ryan Walden For Your Old School Sword and Sorcery Campaigns On The Dark Corner Blog

Every adventurer needs a town where they can hang their hat and begin the quest for gold and glory, we've got just the place as a free resource. A brand new free adventure setting on the Dark Corner blog this evening.
Adventures In High Wold By Corey Ryan Walden has everything right out of the gate for a town setting for an D&D style old school campaign.

But every town has its secrets including this one. 

We take a look right over
HERE

'The Pay What You' Want' OSR Adventure -HS1 The Lost Shrine of Sirona From Jeremy Reaban For Your Old School Campaigns On The Dark Corner Blog

Today we look into the 'The Pay What You' Want'  OSR Adventure -HS1 The Lost Shrine of Sirona From Jeremy Reaban a good old old school hack and slash adventure which will challenge or end your PC's.
There's adventure to be had in this dungeon crawl, gold & glory await right over
HERE

Free OSR Adventure - Tomb of the Mummy Priest By by MedievalMan For The Basic Role Playing System On The Dark Corner Blog

               

Today we take a look at another Pseudo Egyptian desert romp of an adventure in the old school tradition for the Basic Fantasy Rpg or the retro clone of system of your choice.
This adventure is just perfect for OD&D style campaigns as well.
Right over
HERE

Free OSR Adventure From Dragon's Foot Catacombs of Death By RC Pinnell For Expert-Companion Level D&D And Your Old School Retro Clone Systems On The Dark Corner Blog

There is death out in the desert of this high level 12-15 level adventure for your PC's in The Catacombs Of Death, a brand new free module on Dragon's foot that will have your characters on a dungeon crawl with several solid twists.
Today we take a look at this quest for more then mere fortune and glory.
Right Over
HERE

FREE OSR MODULE: "THE HIDDEN TOMB OF SLAGOTH THE NECROMANCER” For Your Old School Campaigns On The Dark Corner Blog

We take a look a great free system neutral old school adventure 

Grab your party of adventurers, wake up the wizard, and plunge into the depths of a module of high adventure with 

THE HIDDEN TOMB OF SLAGOTH THE NECROMANCER

“The long lost Tomb of the evil necromancer Slaggoth, is buried deep with in a cavern complex. The caves have become the home of a trio of ogres and their band of goblin henchmen. The goblins guard the entrance by watching through a small crack in the rock above the entrance, alerting the other goblins when anyone approaches the entrance. The goblins will then unleash a small pack of wolves that they have chained in the front caves against the intruders. If the wolves are not enough to repel the intruders, the goblins will send a runner across the wooden rope bridge to the ogre lair to warn their masters
Right Over
HERE

Free OSR Resource From Raging Swan Press - Be Awesome At Dungeon Design For Your Old School Campaigns On The Dark Corner Blog

We take a look at The Be Awesome At Dungeon Design OSR system agnostic book on the Dark Corner Blog, this is a resource on the care, feeding, and preparation of one of the corner stones of the old school hobby, the dungeon.
Right over
HERE

Review and Commentary On The Cave of Seiljua From GM Games Free Old School Adventure

Available For Download Right Here

Intro: 

This is a perfect old school Viking style adventure of blood, thunder, and death! This is a perfect mid level adventure that can be turned into a rocking space opera! 

Drivethrurpg Description : 

Ragnar has slandered a fellow clansman, but fled before he was brought before the Thing.  The jarl orders the players to return Ragnar...alive.  The jarl believes Ragnar is hiding in an old cave within the wildlands.  A place once hunted often to thin out the horrible creatures that lived there. 

This is a mid-level, one pahe, viking themed adventure.  No stats have been included since I've used the one-page dungeon theme.  Enjoy.

Using  The Cave of Seiljua From GM Games For Your Old School Space Opera 

On The Cave of Seiljua From GM Games makes a perfect forgotten colony world and the encounters are very system neutral. The set up works very nice as a back group for a space opera.
The Space Viking springs to mind while reading this module. Adapting it to this set up requires a bit of a balancing act but it works very nicely. A bit of DM slight of hand and this can easily become gate way into an entire campaign. The encounters are pretty heavy for a normal party but a party of mid level Stars Without Numbers PC's this is a perfect adventure! 


In the end this adventure is a solid offering with its toes in a dark science fictional or fantasy background. It works very well as a background intro.
 Download it and let the action begin! 

Review and Commentary on The Free 'The Ancient Academy' Dungeon Up On The Dark Corner Blog

This was part of a horror themed Stormbringer inspired OD&D retroclone session last night. Part of the ruins of an 'invisible college' ala Harry Potter that the forces of chaos had slaughtered.
Details can be found right over 

HERE