Publisher: Goodman Games
Dungeon Crawl Classics is a role-playing game that pays homage to the classic fantasy adventures of the 70s and 80s. It is a game of high adventure, low magic, and deadly dungeons. It is a game where you can play as a peasant, a warrior, a wizard, or a cleric, and explore ancient ruins, forgotten tombs, and eldritch realms. It is a game where you can face terrifying monsters, cunning traps, and dark secrets. It is a game where you can create your own legend.
One of the latest adventures for DCC is DCC #101 The Veiled Vaults of the Onyx Queen. It is a level 0 adventure, which means that you start with a bunch of ordinary characters with no class, no skills, and no equipment. You have to survive a perilous journey and earn your heroic status. The adventure is written by Michael Curtis, who is known for his excellent DCC modules such as The Chained Coffin, The Croaking Fane, and Doom of the Savage Kings.
The Plot
The adventure begins with a shocking twist: you and your fellow characters wake up in a luxurious palace, surrounded by masked cultists who are about to sacrifice you to a mysterious corpse-god. You have no idea how you got there, or why you were chosen. You only know that you have to escape before it’s too late.
The palace is actually an ancient vault that belongs to the Onyx Queen, a legendary sorceress who ruled over a lost civilization. The vault is full of wonders and horrors, secrets and dangers. You have to explore the vault and find a way out, while avoiding the cultists, the guards, the traps, and the monsters that lurk in the shadows. You also have to discover the truth about the Onyx Queen, her corpse-god, and your own destiny.
The Features
The adventure is a masterpiece of horror and mystery. It draws inspiration from the works of Clark Ashton Smith and H.P. Lovecraft, two of the most influential writers of weird fiction. The adventure has a dark and eerie atmosphere, with hints of cosmic horror and ancient secrets. The adventure also has a lot of variety and creativity. It offers different paths and options for the characters to explore the vault and its mysteries. It also has some unique features that make it stand out from other DCC modules:
- Alignment and occupation matter: Your character’s alignment (Lawful, Neutral, or Chaotic) and occupation (such as farmer, blacksmith, or thief) affect how you interact with the vault and its inhabitants. For example, some doors will only open for certain alignments or occupations. Some items will only work for certain alignments or occupations. Some creatures will react differently to certain alignments or occupations. This adds an extra layer of challenge and role-playing to the adventure.
- Class selection: The adventure gives solid reasons for your character to choose a class (such as warrior, wizard, or cleric) after surviving the initial ordeal. For example, some items will grant you spells or abilities if you choose a certain class. Some patrons or deities will offer you their patronage or blessing if you choose a certain class. Some secrets will reveal themselves to you if you choose a certain class. This adds an extra layer of customization and progression to the adventure.
- Replay value: The adventure has a lot of replay value because it is not linear or predictable. You can choose different paths and options each time you play. You can also experience different outcomes depending on your choices and actions. For example, some secrets will only be revealed if you do certain things or go to certain places. Some events will only happen if you trigger certain conditions or meet certain criteria. Some endings will only be possible if you achieve certain goals or make certain sacrifices. This adds an extra layer of excitement and surprise to the adventure.
What are the most interesting encounters in the adventure?
The adventure has many interesting encounters that test the characters’ skills, wits, and luck. Some of the most interesting ones are:
- The Hall of Masks: This is the first encounter of the adventure, where the characters wake up in a lavish hall full of masked cultists who are about to sacrifice them to the corpse-god Mordiggian. The characters have to find a way to escape their bonds, avoid the cultists, and reach the exit. The encounter is tense and thrilling, as the characters have to act quickly and stealthily before the ritual is completed. The encounter also introduces the importance of alignment and occupation, as some masks will only react to certain types of characters.
- The Garden of Delights: This is a beautiful and serene garden full of exotic plants, animals, and fountains. However, it is also a deadly trap, as the garden is actually a living organism that feeds on the life force of its visitors. The characters have to avoid the garden’s defenses, such as poisonous flowers, carnivorous vines, and hypnotic birds. The encounter is challenging and deceptive, as the characters have to resist the temptation and allure of the garden and find a way to escape its grasp.
- The Onyx Throne Room: This is the final encounter of the adventure, where the characters face the Onyx Queen herself, who is actually a powerful lich who has been ruling over the vault for centuries. The characters have to confront her and her minions, such as skeletal warriors, mummified priests, and shadowy wraiths. The encounter is epic and climactic, as the characters have to use all their resources and abilities to defeat the Onyx Queen and stop her from unleashing her corpse-god upon the world.
What are the most interesting locations in the adventure?
The adventure has many interesting locations that showcase the history and culture of the Onyx Queen and her lost civilization. Some of the most interesting ones are:
- The Vault of the Onyx Queen: This is the main location of the adventure, where the characters explore the palace of the Onyx Queen. The vault is a massive and complex structure that contains many rooms, corridors, chambers, and secrets. The vault is full of wonders and horrors, such as ancient artifacts, hidden treasures, bizarre creatures, and deadly traps. The vault also reveals the story and personality of the Onyx Queen, who was a powerful and ruthless sorceress who ruled over a decadent and doomed empire.
- The Library of Lost Lore: This is a location within the vault, where the characters can find a vast collection of books, scrolls, tablets, and other sources of knowledge. The library contains information about various topics, such as magic, history, religion, science, and art. The library also contains some rare and forbidden texts that can grant the characters access to powerful spells or secrets. However, the library is also guarded by a mysterious entity that will test the characters’ intelligence and curiosity.
- The Temple of Mordiggian: This is a location within the vault, where the characters can witness the cult of the corpse-god Mordiggian. The temple is a dark and sinister place that is filled with corpses, bones, blood, and candles. The temple is where the cultists perform their rituals and sacrifices to appease their god. The temple also contains a portal that leads to the realm of Mordiggian, where the characters can face the ultimate horror.
Dungeon Crawl Classics #101 The Veiled Vaults of the Onyx Queen on DrivethruRpg
