Publisher: Goodman Games
If you are looking for a thrilling and atmospheric adventure to play with your friends, you might want to check out DCC #82 Bride of the Black Manse, a level 3 adventure for Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG. In this adventure, you will explore a haunted mansion, where a dark pact with an archdevil is about to be fulfilled. You will uncover the secrets of the Liis family and their doomed bride, and face the horrors that lurk in the shadows. You will also experience a unique mechanic that allows you to inhabit the roles of the deceased family members, and relive their memories and emotions.
The Story
The adventure begins with a mysterious invitation to attend the wedding of Lady Annalise Liis, the heiress of the Liis estate. The invitation is signed by Lord Anton Liis, her father, who has been missing for years. You arrive at the mansion on a stormy night, only to find that the bride is nowhere to be seen, and the guests are acting strangely. You soon realize that something is very wrong, and that you are trapped in a nightmare.
The Liis family has a dark history, involving a deal with an archdevil named Belphagor. The deal required the sacrifice of every firstborn child of the family, in exchange for wealth and power. However, Lord Anton Liis broke the deal when he fell in love with his daughter, Annalise. He hid her away from the devil, and tried to find a way to break the curse. He discovered that there was a way to do so, but it involved a ritual that would take place on the night of Annalise’s wedding. The ritual required the participation of twelve guests, who would represent the twelve signs of the zodiac. The guests would also have to wear masks that belonged to the previous victims of the curse, and relive their memories and emotions.
The adventure is divided into three acts, each corresponding to a different time of the night: dusk, midnight, and dawn. Each act has different events and challenges for the players, as they explore the mansion and try to survive. The adventure also has multiple endings, depending on the choices and actions of the players. Will they be able to save Annalise and break the curse? Will they succumb to the devil’s influence and betray their friends? Will they escape from the mansion alive? The fate of the Liis family and their guests is in your hands.
The Gameplay
The adventure is designed for Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG, a retro-style game that emphasizes creativity and fun over rules and realism. The game uses simple mechanics and random tables to create exciting and unpredictable situations. The game also encourages players to role-play their characters, and rewards them for doing so.
The adventure is suitable for both experienced and novice players, as it provides enough challenge and variety to keep everyone engaged. The adventure can be played in one or two sessions, depending on how fast or slow you want to go. The adventure also comes with pre-generated characters that fit the theme and story of the adventure. You can use them as they are, or modify them as you wish.
One of the most interesting features of the adventure is the mask mechanic. Each player will receive a mask that belonged to one of the previous victims of the curse. The mask will allow them to experience flashbacks of that person’s life, as well as their emotions and personality traits. The mask will also affect their actions and decisions in certain situations. For example, if you wear the mask of a cowardly person, you might have to make a saving throw to avoid running away from danger. If you wear the mask of a greedy person, you might have to make a saving throw to resist stealing something valuable.
The mask mechanic adds a lot of flavor and depth to the adventure, as it allows you to explore different aspects of your character and role-play them accordingly. It also adds an element of mystery and suspense, as you try to figure out who was your mask’s previous owner, and what happened to them. The mask mechanic also affects the outcome of the adventure, as it influences how you interact with other characters and events.
The Presentation
The adventure is well-written and richly detailed, with excellent maps and illustrations by Doug Kovacs. The maps are clear and easy to follow, showing all the important locations and features of the mansion. The illustrations are stunning and evocative, capturing the mood and atmosphere of the adventure. The illustrations also include portraits of all the pre-generated characters and masks, which help you visualize them better.
The adventure also includes helpful tips and advice for running it smoothly and effectively. It provides suggestions for setting up the scene, creating tension and suspense, handling combat and challenges, managing time and events, and resolving different endings. It also provides some optional rules and variants for adding more flavor or difficulty to the adventure.
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 Ballroom: This is where the wedding ceremony is supposed to take place, but instead, it is a scene of horror and madness. The guests are dancing in a frenzy, oblivious to the blood and corpses on the floor. The players will have to face the wrath of the bride’s mother, who is possessed by a demon and wields a deadly scythe. The players will also have to deal with the effects of the masks, which will make them act according to their zodiac signs.
- The Library: This is where the players can find clues and information about the Liis family and their pact with Belphagor. The library is full of books, scrolls, and journals, some of which are magical or cursed. The players will have to be careful not to trigger any traps or curses, or attract the attention of the ghostly librarian, who will try to silence them. The players will also have to solve a puzzle involving a secret passage and a hidden chamber.
- The Chapel: This is where the ritual to break the curse is supposed to take place, but it is also where Belphagor awaits his bride. The chapel is a dark and sinister place, with a large altar and a stained glass window depicting the devil. The players will have to face Belphagor himself, who will try to tempt them or destroy them. The players will also have to decide whether to help Annalise or betray her, and whether to complete or stop the ritual.
There are many interesting encounters in this adventure, but some of the most notable ones are:
- The Masked Ball: This is the first encounter of the adventure, where the players are introduced to the other guests and the masks. The players will have to mingle with the guests, who are all wearing masks that represent the zodiac signs. The players will also have to wear masks that belonged to the previous victims of the curse. The masks will affect their actions and decisions, as well as trigger flashbacks of their past lives. The players will have to balance their own personalities and goals with those of the masks, and try to figure out who they can trust and who they should avoid.
- The Ghostly Feast: This is an encounter that can happen at any time during the night, depending on the players’ actions. The players will hear a bell ringing, and see a long table set with food and drink in the dining room. The food and drink are actually rotten and poisonous, but they appear fresh and delicious to the players. The players will also see the ghosts of the Liis family and their servants, who are sitting at the table and enjoying the feast. The players will have to decide whether to join them or not, and face the consequences of their choice.
- The Demonic Possession: This is an encounter that can happen at midnight, when the bride’s mother, Lady Eliza Liis, becomes possessed by a demon. She will attack the players with a scythe, and try to kill them or force them to join her side. She will also reveal some secrets and truths about the Liis family and their pact with Belphagor. The players will have to fight her or flee from her, and try to save her or destroy her.
Dungeon Crawl Classics #82 Bride of the Black Manse on DrivethruRpg
