In the snow-choked, abandoned village of Three Forks, a two-hundred-year-old grudge refuses to die. High-level D&D adventures often struggle to maintain a grounded, emotional narrative amidst world-ending stakes and planar travel. Matters of Vengeance by Darrin Drader circumvents this by offering a deeply personal, gothic horror story tailored for 15th-level characters. It weaves a tragic tale of lost love, demonic corruption, and a hostage rescue mission into a brutal, high-tier dungeon crawl.
Introduction: The Ruins of Holden Manor
Originally published as a free web enhancement for D&D 3.5, Matters of Vengeance sends the party to a remote, winter-ravaged village. The current heir to the local barony, Erim Holden, has been abducted by the Dragon’s Fang mercenary company and dragged to the ruined Holden Manor to be sacrificed.
But the mercenaries are not the true masters of the manor. They have been hired by the Death Knight Ombrol Losladan, an undead horror acting on a centuries-old vendetta against the Holden bloodline.
Narrative Core: A Demonic Romeo and Juliet
The backstory elevates this module from a simple undead-bashing quest into a Shakespearean tragedy. Ombrol was a commoner in love with Taryn. While he was away at war, her family fell into debt, forcing her to marry the cruel Baron Holden. When Ombrol returned, they attempted to flee together, but the Baron ambushed them, murdering Taryn and imprisoning Ombrol.
Driven mad by grief in the Baron’s dungeons, Ombrol eventually listened to the whispers of the demon prince Orcus. After slaughtering the manor’s inhabitants, Ombrol was killed by the local militia, only for Orcus to raise him as a Death Knight. Now, two centuries later, Ombrol seeks to end the Holden bloodline permanently by sacrificing Erim on an unholy altar.
Tactical Breakdown: The Frozen Gauntlet
Assaulting a fortified manor held by a 15th-level mercenary captain and a Death Knight requires serious tactical planning. The adventure is split into the village approach and the manor interior.
1. The Village Guardposts (Area A & B)
The ruins of Three Forks serve as an early warning system.
- The Shadows: Six Advanced Shadows hide in the deep gloom of the ruined buildings. They use strike-and-fade tactics, melting into the floors and walls to drain the party’s Strength before the real fight begins.
- The Swordwraiths: These undead fighters (CR 7) deal Strength damage on every hit. Because of the heavy snowfall and dim light, players face a persistent 20% miss chance on all attacks against them.
2. The Living Mercenaries (Area C & 7)
The inclusion of the Dragon’s Fang Mercenary Company creates a fascinating dynamic. These are living, breathing human Fighters (Level 10) and Wizards led by a formidable captain.
- The Tactical Twist: The mercenaries can be reasoned with. A high-level party can use Diplomacy to convince these soldiers that fighting alongside a Death Knight is a fatal career mistake, potentially bypassing several deadly encounters.
3. Taryn’s Bedroom (Area 5)
Amidst the rot of the manor, one room remains pristine: Taryn’s old bedroom. Ombrol has preserved it flawlessly as a twisted shrine to his lost love. It is a brilliant piece of environmental storytelling, though it is protected by a lethal Energy Drain Trap (CR 10).
The Boss: The Death Knight and the Captain (Area 13)
The final encounter in the ceremonial chamber is a massive, multi-threat battle.
- Ombrol Losladan: As a Death Knight Fighter 7/Blackguard 3, Ombrol is a melee powerhouse with an AC of 27 and a +4 greatsword. He projects a 15-foot Fear Aura, radiates Despair (penalizing enemy saves), and can unleash an Abyssal Blast (10d6 fire/divine damage) to devastate clustered groups.
- Akaron Swiftblade: The mercenary leader is a Fighter 15 wielding a +2 flaming bastard sword. He flanks with the Death Knight while his mercenary wizards pelt the party from the back lines.
System Conversion: 3.5 to 5e and OSR
Porting this high-level threat requires careful selection of modern stat blocks.
For 5th Edition (5e):
- Ombrol: The 5e Death Knight (CR 17) fits perfectly. To reflect his Blackguard levels, ensure he utilizes his Hellfire Orb early to soften the party.
- Akaron Swiftblade: Use the Warlord stat block (from Volo’s Guide to Monsters), which allows him to command his mercenaries effectively.
- Swordwraiths: Use the Sword Wraith Commander and Sword Wraith Warrior stat blocks from Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes.
For OSR Systems:
- The combination of Shadows and Swordwraiths dealing ability score damage will quickly cripple an OSR party. Emphasize the possibility of negotiating with or bribing the Dragon’s Fang mercenaries so the players can conserve their resources for Ombrol.
GM Tips: Maximizing the Tragedy
- Play the Grief: Ombrol is evil, but his rage is born of genuine heartbreak. During the final battle, have him scream about Taryn’s murder. If the players read Taryn’s diary in Area 5, they might even try to use her memory to distract or demoralize him.
- The Weather: Don’t forget the heavy snow. It limits visibility to 100 feet and provides concealment, making ranged combat difficult and forcing the players into the brutal melee range of the undead guards.
- The Hostage: Erim is locked in Area 12. If the party triggers the alarm but delays reaching the ceremonial chamber, the mercenaries will drag Erim to the altar, putting a strict “ticking clock” on the final combat.
Conclusion: A High-Level Heartbreak
Matters of Vengeance proves that tier-3 adventures don’t have to rely on dimension-hopping to be memorable. By grounding the conflict in a relatable, human tragedy, the adventure makes the undead villain far more compelling than a standard monster. It provides excellent roleplay opportunities, environmental challenges, and a truly epic final battle.
👉 [Avenge the fallen and claim your copy of Matters of Vengeance on DriveThruRPG]
Disclosure: If you pick up this adventure through my link, I’ll earn a few gold pieces from the Dragon’s Fang mercenary coffers at no extra cost to you.