Adventure #26

Revenge
Theme
In this adventure, some villain has so offended one or more of the characters that he cannot be suffered to live.
(Alternatively, the injured party could hire the characters to avenge his honor.) The villain must be found or
otherwise gotten at, setting up the final duel or showdown between villain and characters.
Explore a New Area
Goal
The heroes are hired or convinced to enter an unmapped area and explore it. They may be making a map; they may
be trying to find someone who disappeared into this area in the past; they may be following legends that tell of
treasure in the unexplored interior.
Not in Kansas
Story Hook
The PCs are minding their own business and find themselves transported to a strange place. They must figure out
where they are, why they are there, and how to escape.
Geographic Progression
Plot
This is the simplest sort of adventure plot. The heroes have an area to investigate or travel through; they have
encounters based on where they are. For instance, the traditional dungeon, where monsters are tied to specific
rooms or areas. Or, if the heroes are travelling along a narrow valley or through an enchanted forest, they might
suffer ambushes and other encounters fixed to various points along their travel plan. The plot, then, is getting to the
villain by surviving the intervening obstacle encounters.
Chase to Ground
Climax
First, you have the Heroes Chasing the Villain. The villain, after a series of encounters with the heroes, is running
to safety, to some place where he can acquire more power, or to somehwere he can accomplish some dread
purpose such as assassination or mass murder. The heroes chase him, have to deal with the obstacles he leaves
behind, and finally catch up to him before or just as he reaches his goal. Here, we have the final duel between the
villains forces and the heroes. Second, you have the Villain Chasing the Heroes. Often, in a story like this, the
heroes have found out how to defeat the villain -- such as getting to a particular temple and conducting a particular
ritual. The villain chases them all through their quest, catching up to them just as they're commenciing their ritual;
they must, with heroic effort, conclude the ritual while suffering his attacks. Third, you have the Master Villain's
Sudden Escape Attempt. This takes place in adventures where the Master Villain's identity is unknown until the
end. His identity is revealed and he makes a sudden bolt for freedom; the heroes give chase. This usually results in
a dangerous foot-chase through nasty terrain -- such as across rooftops, through the dungeons, or across an active
battlefield.
On the Sea
General Setting
Most of the action occurs on the sea -- the heroes are shipborne for some reason, docking in lots of ports. Again,
this is good for adventures where the heroes are investigating clues left all over the map, are part of some trading
enterprise, or are being pursued by villains.
Classic Dungeon
Specific Setting I
This would be the standard monster-filled labyrinth; perhaps it's a nesting ground for the master villain's monster
troops.
Catacombs Specific Setting
II
These can be catacombs beneath a living city or a ruined one; they can be long-forgotten or still in use.
Advance Agent
Master Villain
This villain is the vanguard of some sort of invastion; often, he is trying to open up a portal to a dimension full of
trapped demons and evil gods.
Moronic Muscleman
Minor Villain I
This fellow is a huge, powerful monster of a fighter. His job is to smash anything the villain tells him to smash. He
does that very well, but don't ask him to do any thinking; he has no time for such brainy stuff.
Avenger
Minor Villain II
This character is much like the Master Villain of the same name, but he's not in charge of all this villainy, and he's
definitely an enemy of one of the player-characters. You'll have to decide who he is and why he hates one of the
heroes; he could be anything from a recurring villain to someone who simply lost a fight to the hero once.
Arrogant Snob
Ally/Neutral
For some reason, the heroes have to accompany or escort an arrogant nobleman or craftsmaster. They can't afford
to abandon or kill this person; he or she may be their employer, an expert on the place they're going to, one of their
relatives, or a relative of the royal family. And this person makes their life hell with sniping comments,
haughtiness, and other unbearable traits.
Ravager
Monster
Encounter
This is another classic monster encounter; the monster which is bedeviling a community or local area and will
continue to do so unless the heroes destroy or defeat it. Yes, this is similar to the Master Villain of the same name,
but the Ravager usually has no master plan -- it just wants to kill, destroy, or eat.
Old Friend at the Wrong Time
Character
Encounter
When the heroes are trying to sneak through a guardpost, citadel, or city where they can't afford to be recognized,
one of the characters' old friends recognizes him and loudly renews their acquaintance in full view of the guards
looking for the characters. This usually leads to an exciting chase as the heroes must escape.
Tomb Deathtraps
Deathtrap
Another classic type of trap is the sort of triggered trap left behind in abandoned tombs, ruins, and catacombs.
Here, a hero who touches the wrong step, floor tile, wall brick, torch bracket, mounted gemstone, or other device
will trigger some sort of ancient trap designed to kill tomb-robbers and intruders.
Footrace
Chase
The chase involves the characters on foot, probably through such terrain as city streets or the corridors of a palace.
One hero may realize that the's being pursued by a party of enemies and choose to run for it; the heroes may have
caught up to the Master Villain, prompting him to run for his life.
Hero Fulfills Prophecy
Omen/Prophesy
This is the most useful sort of prophecy. In the early part of the adventure, one of the heroes discovers that he
fulfills some ancient prophecy.
Lack of Familiarity
Secret Weakness
The Master Villain, if he comes from the past or another dimension, or belongs to an alien race, might be
sufficiently unfamiliar with this world that he essentially defeats himself. How? By making incorrect guesses about
human behaviour. One classic error involves underestimating the human capacity for self-sacrifice.
No Hurting the Villain
Special
Condition
For some reason, the heroes cannot afford to fight the villain directly. For instance, what if a demon possesses the
body of the child of one of the characters, or a very important child spoken of in prophecy, one without whom the
world will perish?
Ally Quandry
Moral Quandry
You set up the situation so that the heroes have a good chance at defeating the Master Villain if they get the aid of
two specific individuals, probably experts in fields relating to the villains' activities. But the two experts hate one
another and refuse to work together, even if it costs them their world.
Artifact that Doesn't Work
Red Herring
Often, epic quests against powerful Master Villains require that the heroes find some legendary artifact, the only
object which can defeat the villain. If your heroes have had no trouble getting to the artifact -- they've effortlessly
sliced through every obstacle you've put in their path and are confidently advancing on the resting place of the
magical item -- you can have it not work.
Wanted by the Law
Cruel Trick
One final complication, one which occurs pretty frequently, is when the heroes are wanted by the law. When
they're wanted by the law, they have to travel in secret and very limited in the resources they can acquire.
Based on tables from the Dungeon Master's Design Kit by TSR, Inc.