Publisher: Goodman Games
If you are looking for a thrilling and immersive adventure for Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG, you might want to check out DCC #70 Jewels of the Carnifex by Harley Stroh. This adventure takes you to the city of Punjar, a place of sin and corruption, where you will uncover the secrets of a long-lost cult and its legendary jewels. This adventure is suitable for level 3 characters and can be played as a standalone or as part of a larger campaign.
The Plot
The adventure begins with the characters visiting the Bazaar of the Gods, a marketplace where various religions and cults sell their wares and services. There, they encounter a mysterious woman who offers them a map to the Chapel of the Carnifex, an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess of torture and execution. She claims that the chapel holds the jewels of the Carnifex, powerful artifacts that can grant any wish. However, she also warns them that the chapel is guarded by traps, monsters, and undead.
The characters must decide whether to follow the map or not. If they do, they will enter the Chapel of the Carnifex, where they will face many dangers and puzzles. They will also learn more about the history and beliefs of the cult of the Carnifex, and how they were wiped out by a rival faction. The characters will also discover that the jewels are not what they seem, and that they have a dark and sinister purpose.
The adventure culminates in the Crypt of the Carnifex, where the characters will confront the final guardian of the jewels and make a crucial choice. Will they claim the jewels for themselves, or will they use them to stop an evil plot that threatens to unleash a new age of terror?
What are the most interesting locations in this adventure?
There are many interesting locations in this adventure, but some of the most notable ones are:
- The Bazaar of the Gods: This is a marketplace where various religions and cults sell their wares and services. The bazaar is a colorful and chaotic place, where the characters can find anything from holy relics to cursed items, from divine blessings to infernal bargains. The bazaar is also a source of information and rumors, as well as potential allies and enemies. The bazaar is a great place to introduce the setting and the plot of the adventure, as well as to provide some side quests and encounters for the characters.
- The Chapel of the Carnifex: This is an ancient temple dedicated to the goddess of torture and execution. The chapel is a dark and sinister place, where the characters will face many traps, monsters, and undead. The chapel is also a place of secrets and mysteries, where the characters will learn more about the history and beliefs of the cult of the Carnifex, and how they were wiped out by a rival faction. The chapel is a great place to challenge the characters’ skills and abilities, as well as to test their morals and ethics.
- The Crypt of the Carnifex: This is the final resting place of the jewels of the Carnifex, powerful artifacts that can grant any wish. The crypt is a hidden and guarded place, where the characters will confront the final guardian of the jewels and make a crucial choice. The crypt is also a place of revelation and consequence, where the characters will discover that the jewels are not what they seem, and that they have a dark and sinister purpose. The crypt is a great place to conclude the adventure, as well as to set up a possible sequel or campaign.
What are the most interesting encounters in this adventure?
There are many interesting encounters in this adventure, but some of the most notable ones are:
- The Map Seller: This is the mysterious woman who offers the characters the map to the Chapel of the Carnifex. She is actually a member of the cult of the Carnifex, and she has ulterior motives for giving the map to the characters. She wants them to find the jewels and use them to resurrect the Carnifex, a powerful and evil entity that was sealed away by the gods. She will try to manipulate, deceive, or threaten the characters to follow her plan, or to sabotage them if they refuse. She might also appear later in the adventure, either as an ally or an enemy, depending on the characters’ actions and decisions. The map seller is a great encounter to introduce the main antagonist and the main conflict of the adventure, as well as to create some tension and suspense for the characters.
- The Hall of Mirrors: This is one of the traps in the Chapel of the Carnifex. It is a long corridor filled with mirrors that reflect the characters’ images. However, some of the mirrors are actually portals to other dimensions, where twisted versions of the characters await them. These doppelgangers have opposite personalities and alignments from the original characters, and they will try to kill them and take their places. The hall of mirrors is a great encounter to challenge the characters’ combat and survival skills, as well as to explore their identities and motivations.
- The Guardian of the Jewels: This is the final encounter in the Crypt of the Carnifex. It is a huge and monstrous creature that was created by the Carnifex to guard her jewels. It has four arms, each holding a different jewel: a ruby, a sapphire, an emerald, and a diamond. Each jewel grants a different power to the guardian: fire, water, earth, and air. The guardian can also use the jewels to grant wishes, but only for evil purposes. The guardian will try to stop the characters from taking or destroying the jewels, or to tempt them to use them for their own selfish or wicked desires. The guardian is a great encounter to test the characters’ strength and courage, as well as to present them with a final choice that will determine the outcome of the adventure.
Preview
Dungeon Crawl Classics #70: Jewels of the Carnifex on DrivethruRgp
