Publisher: Goodman Games
If you are a fan of Fritz Leiber’s Lankhmar stories, you will love this new adventure from Goodman Games. DCC Lankhmar #11 The Rats of Ilthmar is a level 3 adventure for the Dungeon Crawl Classics role-playing game, set in the world of Nehwon. In this adventure, you will face the sinister cult of the Rat God, a deity that plans to unleash a plague of rats upon Lankhmar, the city of thieves. Will you be able to stop the Rat God and his followers before it is too late?
The Plot
The adventure begins with the Overlord of Lankhmar hiring you and your fellow adventurers to infiltrate the city of Ilthmar, a rival city that worships the Rat God. The Overlord has learned that the Rat God has a powerful relic hidden beneath his temple, a relic that can be used to summon a horde of rats that will devour Lankhmar. The Overlord wants you to find and retrieve the relic before the Rat God can use it.
The adventure is divided into three parts: The City of Ilthmar, The Temple of the Rat God, and The Relic Chamber. Each part has its own challenges, enemies, and rewards. You will have to deal with the shark-infested waters of Ilthmar, the twisted priests and cultists of the Rat God, and the monstrous rat-men that guard the relic. You will also have to make some tough choices along the way, such as whether to ally with or betray some of the factions in Ilthmar, or whether to keep or destroy the relic.
The adventure is designed to be played in one or two sessions, depending on the pace and style of the game master and the players. The adventure is also compatible with the DCC Lankhmar setting, which provides rules and guidelines for playing DCC games in the world of Lankhmar, including character creation, magic, combat, and more. The setting also includes several other adventures that can be played as standalone or as part of a campaign.
The Author
The adventure is written by Michael Curtis, who is an experienced and acclaimed author of DCC adventures. He has written several other DCC Lankhmar adventures, such as Masks of Lankhmar, Patrons of Lankhmar, and Through Ningauble’s Cave. He has also written adventures for other DCC settings, such as Empire of the East and Dying Earth. He is known for his creative and faithful adaptation of Leiber’s stories, his engaging and challenging scenarios, and his witty and humorous writing style.
The Art
The adventure is illustrated by Doug Kovacs, who is a renowned artist and cartographer for DCC games. He has created many iconic covers and maps for DCC products, such as Dungeon Crawl Classics Core Rulebook, Dungeon Crawl Classics Annual, and Dungeon Crawl Classics Horror. His art style is colorful, dynamic, and imaginative. He captures the essence and atmosphere of Leiber’s world, from the dark and grimy streets of Lankhmar to the exotic and bizarre landscapes of Nehwon. His maps are also clear and detailed, making them easy to use and follow.
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 Shark Bridge, a wooden bridge that spans the canal that separates Ilthmar from the mainland. The bridge is infested with hungry sharks that can leap out of the water and attack anyone who crosses it. The bridge is also guarded by a group of Ilthmarian soldiers who demand a toll from anyone who wants to enter the city.
- The Temple of the Rat God, a massive structure that dominates the center of Ilthmar. The temple is the headquarters of the cult of the Rat God, a sinister deity that commands the rats and their humanoid kin. The temple is full of traps, puzzles, and secrets, as well as fanatical priests and cultists who will stop at nothing to protect their god and his relic.
- The Relic Chamber, a hidden vault beneath the temple that contains the relic of the Rat God, a golden statue of a rat with ruby eyes. The relic is the source of the Rat God’s power, and can be used to summon a horde of rats that will devour Lankhmar. The relic is also guarded by a powerful rat-man champion, who will challenge anyone who dares to approach it.
What are the most interesting encounters in this adventure?
There are many interesting encounters in this adventure, but some of the most memorable ones are:
- The Shark Attack, a random encounter that can happen when the players cross the Shark Bridge. A group of sharks will leap out of the water and try to bite anyone who is on the bridge. The players will have to fight off the sharks or run for their lives, while avoiding falling into the canal. This encounter is a thrilling and dangerous way to introduce the players to the city of Ilthmar and its dangers.
- The Rat God’s Puzzle, a puzzle that the players will have to solve in order to enter the Temple of the Rat God. The puzzle consists of a series of stone tiles that have different symbols of rats on them. The players will have to arrange the tiles in a certain pattern that matches the Rat God’s commandments, which are written on a nearby wall. The puzzle is a clever and challenging way to test the players’ logic and creativity, as well as their knowledge of the Rat God’s cult.
- The Rat-Man Champion, a boss fight that the players will have to face in order to retrieve the relic of the Rat God. The rat-man champion is a huge and muscular rat-man who wields a massive flail and wears a golden mask. He is the strongest and most loyal follower of the Rat God, and he will not let anyone take his god’s relic. The fight is a epic and climactic way to end the adventure, as the players will have to use all their skills and resources to defeat him.
Dungeon Crawl Classics Lankhmar #11 The Rats of Ilthmar on DrivethruRpg
