Old School Renaissance – Dungeon Crawl Classics – DCC Day #3 Chanters in the Dark

Publisher: Goodman Games

Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG is a game that celebrates the old-school style of fantasy role-playing, with gonzo adventures, weird magic, and deadly dungeons. Every year, Goodman Games organizes DCC Day, an event that brings together DCC fans and players from all over the world. As part of the celebration, they release a series of new adventures for the game, each with a different theme and style. One of these adventures is DCC Day #3 Chanters in the Dark, written by Daniel J. Bishop, a veteran DCC author who has created many memorable modules for the game.

What is the adventure about?

The adventure begins with a shipwreck, as the PCs find themselves stranded on a rocky shore in a dark and stormy night. They soon discover that they are not alone, as they encounter a group of beast-men who worship a strange entity called the Caretaker. The Caretaker is the guardian of a portal to the Abyss, a realm of chaos and evil that lies beneath the surface. The PCs must explore the underground area, where they will face various dangers and secrets, such as weird fungi, ancient machines, and the Chanters in the Dark, a sinister cult that plots against the surface world. The adventure also introduces some new monsters, spells, and items for DCC RPG.

What are the most interesting encounters in the adventure?

Some of the most interesting encounters in the adventure are:

  • The fungus garden, where the PCs can find a variety of strange and useful fungi, such as the glowcap, which emits light, the spore bomb, which explodes when disturbed, and the mind mold, which can enhance or impair mental abilities. However, they also have to deal with the fungus men, who tend to the garden and attack intruders.
  • The ancient machine, where the PCs can discover a relic of a lost civilization, a huge device that generates power from the Abyss. The machine is guarded by a metallic worm, a deadly creature that can burrow through metal and stone. The PCs can try to activate or deactivate the machine, with unpredictable results.
  • The Chanters in the Dark, where the PCs can encounter the main antagonists of the adventure, a cult of humans who have been corrupted by the Abyss. The Chanters wear masks and robes, and chant in an unknown language. They are led by a high priest, who wields a black blade that can cut through anything. The Chanters are planning to unleash a horde of abyssal spawn, twisted creatures that serve the Abyss, on the surface world. The PCs can try to stop them or join them, depending on their alignment and goals.

What are the most interesting locations in the adventure?

Some of the most interesting locations in the adventure are:

  • The rocky shore, where the PCs start the adventure after their ship crashes on the rocks. The shore is dark and stormy, with waves crashing and thunder rumbling. The PCs can find some clues and items from the wreckage, such as a map of the underground area, a compass, and a flintlock pistol. However, they also have to avoid or fight the sea hags, who lurk in the water and try to drag the PCs to their doom.
  • The abyssal portal, where the PCs can see the entrance to the Abyss, a realm of chaos and evil that lies beneath the surface. The portal is a large circular opening in the ground, surrounded by metal spikes and wires. The portal emits a strange light and sound, and sometimes spews out abyssal spawn, twisted creatures that serve the Abyss. The portal is guarded by the Caretaker, a mysterious entity that wears a metal mask and a cloak. The Caretaker can control the portal and the abyssal spawn, and can also use abyssal magic, a powerful and unpredictable form of magic that draws from the Abyss.
  • The hidden temple, where the PCs can discover an ancient temple dedicated to an unknown god. The temple is hidden behind a secret door in a cave, and is decorated with strange symbols and statues. The temple contains a sacrificial altar, where the Chanters in the Dark perform their rituals, and a treasure vault, where they store their loot. The temple also holds a dark secret, that could change the fate of the world.

Dungeon Crawl Classics Day #3 Chanters in the Dark on DrivethruRpg