Old School Renaissance – Dungeon Crawl Classics – DCC #83: The Chained Coffin (2nd Printing)

Publisher: Goodman Games

If you are looking for a new and exciting setting for your Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG campaigns, you might want to check out the Chained Coffin, a hardcover book that collects and expands on the adventures and supplements set in the Shudder Mountains, a land of mystery and folklore inspired by the Appalachian region and the works of Manly Wade Wellman.

What’s inside the book?

The book contains the following contents:

  • The original Chained Coffin adventure, which introduces the Shudder Mountains and the main plot of the book. The adventure involves finding and opening a chained coffin that contains the spirit of an ancient hero, who can grant a boon or a curse to those who seek him.
  • Sour Spring Hollow, a mini-setting that explores a haunted valley where a witch and her kin dwell. The adventure involves investigating the secrets of the valley and dealing with the witch’s schemes.
  • The Devil’s Den, a mini-setting that delves into a cave system where a devil and his minions lurk. The adventure involves fighting or bargaining with the devil and his allies, as well as discovering the hidden treasures of the caves.
  • The Witch of Wydfield, a mini-setting that focuses on a village where a witch has taken control. The adventure involves uncovering the witch’s plans and freeing the villagers from her influence.
  • The Crooked Trail, a mini-setting that follows a winding path through the mountains where various dangers and wonders await. The adventure involves exploring the trail and encountering its inhabitants and events.
  • The Seven Shrines of Nav’k-Qar, a mini-setting that reveals an ancient temple complex where a dark god slumbers. The adventure involves finding and entering the temple, as well as facing its guardians and traps.
  • Moon Eyes and Fire Flies, a sourcebook that provides additional information and inspiration for creating your own adventures in the Shudder Mountains. The book includes new monsters, magic items, NPCs, locations, and folklore.

The book also includes a fold-out map of the Shudder Mountains, which can be used as a spinning puzzle to reveal hidden locations and secrets. The map is beautifully illustrated and adds to the immersion of the setting.

What are the most interesting encounters in the adventure?

The adventure has many interesting encounters, but some of the most memorable ones are:

  • The spinning map puzzle, which is a fold-out map of the Shudder Mountains that can be rotated to reveal hidden locations and secrets. The map is a key element of the original Chained Coffin adventure, and it adds a lot of fun and mystery to the exploration of the setting.
  • The witch of Wydfield, who is a powerful and cunning adversary that has taken control of a village and its inhabitants. The witch has a variety of tricks and allies, such as a scarecrow golem, a devil in disguise, and a cursed well. The heroes have to find a way to expose and defeat the witch, or risk becoming her victims.
  • The devil’s den, which is a cave system where a devil and his minions lurk. The devil is a master of deception and temptation, and he offers the heroes various deals and bargains in exchange for their souls. The heroes have to resist the devil’s charms and fight their way through his traps and servants, or succumb to his influence.
  • The seven shrines of Nav’k-Qar, which is an ancient temple complex where a dark god slumbers. The temple is full of dangers and mysteries, such as giant spiders, undead warriors, and arcane secrets. The heroes have to find and enter the temple, as well as face its guardians and traps, or risk awakening the dark god and unleashing his wrath.

What are the most interesting locations in the adventure?

The adventure has many interesting locations, but some of the most intriguing ones are:

  • The Chained Coffin, which is the name of the original adventure and the main plot of the book. The Chained Coffin is a mysterious artifact that contains the spirit of an ancient hero, who can grant a boon or a curse to those who seek him. The Chained Coffin is located in a hidden valley in the Shudder Mountains, and can only be accessed by solving a spinning map puzzle.
  • The Shudder Mountains, which is the name of the setting and the source of many legends and secrets. The Shudder Mountains are a range of pine-covered hills that are inspired by the Appalachian folklore and the stories of Manly Wade Wellman. The Shudder Mountains are home to various creatures and characters, such as witches, devils, spirits, and a foul thing that moves in the night.
  • The Seven Shrines of Nav’k-Qar, which is one of the mini-settings and adventures in the book. The Seven Shrines of Nav’k-Qar are an ancient temple complex where a dark god slumbers. The temple is full of dangers and mysteries, such as giant spiders, undead warriors, and arcane secrets. The heroes have to find and enter the temple, as well as face its guardians and traps, or risk awakening the dark god and unleashing his wrath.

Dungeon Crawl Classics #83: The Chained Coffin (Compiled 2nd Printing) on DrivethruRpg