Old School Renaissance – Adventurer Conqueror King System – Secrets of the Nethercity

ACKS, Old School

Publisher: Autarch

Cyfaraun is a city of ancient lineage. The name itself is an Auran corruption of its original elven name, Cyfarawn. Evidence of elven construction is still visible in the city’s oldest district, today called Old Cyfaraun. Many city residents know that Old Cyfaraun was founded atop an earlier settlement – Ancient Cyfaraun, buried by cataclysmic ashes over 500 years ago.

Only the most illustrious sages are aware that the Ancient City was itself built over an even deeper ruin, a Forgotten Cyfaraun, a city brought low by an earthquake almost 2,000 years ago. Forgotten Cyfaraun was reduced to rubble but its lasting legacy is a hidden Nethercity, a treacherous place of twisting tunnels, dusty catacombs, and black, volcanic caves that waits, forgotten and unplumbed – until now…

Review of Adventurer Conqueror King System – Secrets of the Nethercity

Are you looking for a fantasy role-playing adventure that will take you to an underground city full of secrets, dangers and treasures? If so, you might want to check out Adventurer Conqueror King System – Secrets of the Nethercity, an adventure designed for the Adventurer Conqueror King System (ACKS), but easily adaptable to other d20-based games. In this review, I will tell you what this adventure is about, what are its main features, and what are my opinions on it.

What is Adventurer Conqueror King System – Secrets of the Nethercity?

Adventurer Conqueror King System – Secrets of the Nethercity is an adventure module that takes place in the city of Cyfaraun, a city of ancient origin, built on several layers of ruins. The deepest and most mysterious of these layers is the Nethercity, a hidden city of tunnels, catacombs and volcanic caves, that hides the terrible truth about the ancient empire that ruled the kingdom.

The adventure is suitable for characters from 3rd to 8th level of experience and offers many hours of fun and challenge. The adventure does not have a fixed plot, but rather a sandbox-style exploration, where the characters can choose their own path and goals. The adventure can also be linked to other adventures in the AX series, such as AX3: Capital of the Borderlands and beyond.

What are the main features of Adventurer Conqueror King System – Secrets of the Nethercity?

The adventure has many features that make it unique and original, such as:

  • Over 20 different areas to explore, each with its own history, atmosphere and difficulty. The areas are very well described and illustrated, with detailed and artistic cartography made by Dyson Logos and Simon Forster. The areas are also full of interactive elements, such as traps, secret doors, puzzles, magical items and monsters.
  • 4 new character classes, inspired by the elven culture of the ancient empire: the Elven Cultist, the Elven Hierophant, the Elven Warlord and the Elven Mage. These classes offer new options and abilities to players, as well as integrating well with the plot of the adventure.
  • 14 new monsters, 26 new magical items and over 40 new macabre spells, that add further variety and originality to the game. Some examples of these elements are:
    • The Awakening Dragon, a green dragon that feeds on the life energy of living beings.
    • The Awakening Globe, a magical artifact that allows you to control the dragon and awaken the ancient elves.
    • The Awakening, a spell that allows you to transform a living being into an elf of the ancient empire.

The most significant encounters of Adventurer Conqueror King System – Secrets of the Nethercity

The most significant encounters of the adventure are those that test the skills, strategy and courage of the characters, and that lead them to discover the secrets of the Nethercity. Some examples of these encounters are:

  • The Awakening Dragon, a green dragon that feeds on the life energy of living beings. The dragon is controlled by a magical artifact called the Awakening Globe, which is located in the Great Temple of Awakening. The adventurers will have to face the dragon and its cult, and decide whether to destroy or use the globe.
  • The Alchemical Laboratory, an area full of bizarre and dangerous experiments, where the ancient elves tried to create artificial life. Here the adventurers can find monstrous creatures, such as the Bone Golems and the Faewyrd, and magical items, such as the Cauldron of Creation and the Iron Mask of Cyfaraun.
  • The Secret Tomb of Aliens, a hidden area where the ancient elves kept the remains of an alien race that they had met and fought. Here the adventurers can discover the truth about the origin of elven magic, and face the alien creatures, such as the Incarnates of Terror and the Star Guardians.

The secrets of the Nethercity on DrivethruRpg