The moon is full over the village of Deepwood, and the town is paralyzed by a terror that walks on four legs. While many tabletop adventures treat werewolves as simple monsters waiting to be hunted in the woods, Bad Moon Waning by Stan! presents a highly sophisticated, paranoia-fueled mystery for 10th-level characters. It is a story of community betrayal, secret heritages, and a moral quandary that tests a party’s judgment just as much as their combat prowess.
Introduction: The Shadow over Deepwood
Originally released as a free web enhancement for D&D 3.5, Bad Moon Waning is set in the isolated forest town of Deepwood. The premise is incredibly grim: the local priestess of Ehlonna has been savagely murdered, and a long-time resident, Trammil Nimman, has been hanged by a mob as a werewolf. As the player characters arrive, they find his body still swinging from a tree—a gruesome warning in a town where no one trusts their neighbor anymore.
The adventure is perfectly tuned for high-level play. It forces characters with massive magical and martial power to navigate a delicate social landscape where the “monsters” might actually be the victims, and the true villain hides in plain sight.
Narrative Core: The Secret Pack
The great twist of Deepwood is that a significant portion of its population consists of natural-born werewolves. For decades, they have lived in absolute harmony with their human neighbors, indulging their wild natures deep in the woods without ever shedding innocent blood.
This peaceful status quo was shattered by Armon Bistle, a manipulative con artist who discovered a cave packed with raw gold, alongside a minor artifact called Gnarlpaw’s Fang. By transforming into a terrifying “Werewolf Lord,” Bistle blackmailed the Deepwood pack into mining the gold for him under the threat of exposing them to the humans. To eliminate the pack’s rebellious former leader, Trammil, Bistle committed the murder of the priestess and framed him, leading to the town’s horrific lynch-mob justice.
Tactical Breakdown: Investigation and Uprising
The adventure functions as a sandbox investigation within the town, eventually culminating in a high-difficulty confrontation in the wilderness.
1. The Paranoia of Night Falls (Area B)
Players must navigate the frightened town to piece together the truth.
- The Ledger: The townsfolk guard Trammil’s ledger in the Temple of Ehlonna (Area B11). Deciphering this book (DC 25 Decipher Script) is the key to finding the buried treasure and understanding the pack’s movements.
- The Pack Members: The werewolves are hidden among the town’s artisans and farmers. Locations like the Jyles Farm (Area B14) and Ubert’s Shack (Area B9) provide subtle behavioral clues—such as an absolute absence of domestic pets and “marked territory” scratches—that point to the residents’ true nature.
2. Bistle Manor (Area B18)
The villain’s home is a gaudy, ostentatious yellow mansion that perfectly reflects his greed.
- The Ruse: Armon Bistle (Rogue 6) is a master of social engineering. He will actively follow the PCs around his house, acting the part of the “irritated rich man” to discourage their search and rush them out the door.
- The Library: Hidden on a secret, windowless third floor is Bistle’s true treasure hoard and a personal journal detailing his con artistry and the murder of the priestess. Finding this evidence effectively breaks the mystery wide open.
3. The Vale of the Silvery Moon (Area D)
The finale takes place in a grassy meadow where the werewolves have been burying the mined gold.
- The Battle: If the PCs arrive while Bistle is trying to retrieve the gold, they walk into a Lupine Uprising. Five werewolves in hybrid form are circling Bistle in a bloody hit-and-run battle, having finally decided to turn on their blackmailer.
- Hazardous Ground: The meadow is honeycombed with animal burrows, requiring Balance checks (DC 12) to move or make a full attack without falling prone, adding a frustrating environmental hazard to the melee.
Mechanics & Hazards: Gnarlpaw’s Fang
The module introduces a highly thematic minor artifact: Gnarlpaw’s Fang.
- The Power: This talisman allows the wearer to transform into a Werewolf Lord (either Dire Wolf or Hybrid form) with immense physical strength.
- The Deception: Unlike normal lycanthropes, the wearer retains their original human scent in human form, and smells strictly like the legendary Gnarlpaw in beast form. This mechanical loophole allowed Bistle to operate for months without the local werewolves ever identifying him as one of their own humanoid neighbors.
System Conversion: 3.5 to 5e and OSR
While designed for the 3.5 ruleset, the high-level stats of the Werewolf Lord require some specific adjustments when porting to other systems.
For 5th Edition (5e):
- Armon Bistle: Use the terrifying Loup-Garou stat block (from Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft), but add the Rogue’s Cunning Action and Sneak Attack features to reflect his base class.
- The Pack: Use standard Werewolves, but ensure they are played as Neutral Good protectors rather than chaotic killers.
- Gnarlpaw’s Fang: Treat this as a Legendary Wondrous Item requiring attunement.
For OSR (Shadowdark/Old School Essentials):
- Lycanthrope immunity to non-silvered weapons is absolute in most OSR systems. Make sure the players have access to silvered weapons in Deepwood, or the final battle in the Vale will be a one-sided slaughter.
GM Tips: The Moral Dilemma
- Emphasize the Tragedy: The most poignant part of the adventure is the townsfolk realizing they hanged an innocent friend. Use the town elder to represent the town’s collective guilt once Bistle’s journal is found.
- Scent and Tracking: If your party has a Druid or Ranger, lean heavily into the “Marked Territory” mechanic. Let them find the wolf scratches on the back of the tavern or the musk on the temple doors.
- Bistle’s Escape: Armon Bistle is a coward and a con artist at heart. If the fight in the Vale turns against him, he should use his high Charisma, his +2 dagger, and his Rogue evasion to slip away, potentially becoming a recurring campaign villain who “retires” to another town under a new name.
Conclusion: A Masterclass in Narrative Stakes
Bad Moon Waning is a standout module because the “monsters” are the ones desperately hoping for justice. It turns the classic werewolf hunt completely on its head, forcing players to protect a pack of lycanthropes from a purely human villain. For 10th-level parties, it provides a deeply satisfying blend of detective work and high-octane wilderness combat.
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