Publisher: Goodman Games
If you are looking for a thrilling and challenging adventure for your Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG group, you should definitely check out DCC #81 The One Who Watches From Below. This module is the winner of the Mystery Map Adventure Design Competition, and it shows. The author, Jobe Bittman, has crafted a masterful dungeon crawl that will test your skills, your wits, and your sanity.
The Plot
The adventure begins with the players finding a mysterious map in the possession of a dead adventurer. The map leads them to a hidden cave in the mountains, where they discover that they are not the first ones to explore it. The cave is actually the lair of a slumbering elder god, a colossal eye that can devour worlds. The god’s minions, such as eyeless goblins, acid worms, and eye tyrants, guard the cave and its treasures. The players must brave the dangers of the cave, solve its puzzles, and face the one who watches from below before it awakens and destroys everything.
The Features
The module is full of creative and memorable features that make it stand out from other dungeon crawls. Some of the highlights are:
- A unique and clever player handout: The map of the cave is actually an eye chart that reveals clues and secrets as the players explore. The map is also a puzzle in itself, as it contains hidden messages and codes that can help or hinder the players.
- A variety of encounters: The adventure offers a good balance of combat, exploration, puzzle-solving, and role-playing. The encounters are well-designed and varied, ranging from a room full of disembodied eyes that can grant or take away powers, to a giant acid worm that can swallow the party whole, to a final showdown with the one who watches from below.
- Tips and suggestions for the judge: The module includes helpful tips and suggestions for the judge on how to run the adventure, adjust the difficulty level, and expand the story. The module also provides alternative endings and consequences depending on how the players handle the situation.
What are the most interesting locations in this adventure?
There are many interesting locations in this adventure, but some of the most intriguing ones are:
- The Eye Room: This is a room full of disembodied eyes that float in the air and stare at the players. The eyes can grant or take away powers, such as vision, invisibility, telepathy, or madness. The players can interact with the eyes, but they must be careful not to anger them or attract the attention of the one who watches from below.
- The Worm Tunnel: This is a tunnel that leads to the lair of a giant acid worm that can swallow the party whole. The worm is asleep, but it can be awakened by loud noises or vibrations. The players can try to sneak past the worm, fight it, or even ride it to the other side of the cave.
- The Eye of the World: This is the final chamber where the one who watches from below resides. It is a massive eye that can devour worlds, and it is surrounded by smaller eyes that serve as its minions. The eye is slumbering, but it can be awakened by the players’ actions or by a certain event. The players must decide whether to flee, fight, or bargain with the eye, and face the consequences of their choice.
What are the most interesting encounters in this adventure?
There are many interesting encounters in this adventure, but some of the most exciting ones are:
- The Eye Tyrant: This is a powerful and intelligent creature that resembles a large eye with tentacles. It is the leader of the smaller eyes that serve the one who watches from below. It can cast spells, manipulate objects, and communicate telepathically. It is hostile to the players, but it can also be reasoned with or tricked. The players can try to fight, flee, or bargain with the eye tyrant, and face the consequences of their choice.
- The Eye Chart: This is a clever and fun puzzle that the players must solve to progress in the adventure. The eye chart is actually a map of the cave that reveals clues and secrets as the players explore. The eye chart is also a code that contains hidden messages and instructions that can help or hinder the players. The players must decipher the code and follow the directions, or risk angering the one who watches from below.
- The One Who Watches From Below: This is the final and most epic encounter of the adventure. The one who watches from below is a colossal eye that can devour worlds, and it is the source of all the eyes in the cave. It is slumbering, but it can be awakened by the players’ actions or by a certain event. The players must decide whether to flee, fight, or bargain with the eye, and face the consequences of their choice. The encounter can have different outcomes depending on how the players handle the situation.
Dungeon Crawl Classics #81: The One Who Watches From Below on DrivethruRpg
