The halls of power are filled with smiles, whispers, and daggers, but the true ruler governs from the shadows. Most D&D adventures thrust players into remote wildernesses or deep dungeons. Sheep’s Clothing, a D&D 3.5 adventure by Robert Wiese for 11th-level characters, takes a different approach. It drops the party squarely into the center of royal court politics, where the primary antagonist hides in plain sight, pulling the strings of the kingdom through magical domination.
Introduction: The Corrupted Court
Originally released as a free web enhancement, Sheep’s Clothing is a masterclass in urban investigation transitioning into a localized dungeon crawl. The premise revolves around Raidath Veranan, a seemingly minor but rapidly rising courtier.
In reality, Raidath is a 300-year-old vampire wizard who has infiltrated the inner circle of the king’s advisors. He uses his supernatural abilities to mind-control politicians, forge documents, and silently assassinate his rivals. The player characters (PCs) are brought in as “disposable investigators” by a paranoid noble who realizes the court’s dynamic is shifting unnaturally.
Narrative Core: A Web of Domination
The genius of this module lies in its slow burn. The PCs do not kick down a door and fight the vampire on day one. Instead, they must navigate a sandbox of political events:
- Sudden Policy Shifts: Trusted advisors completely reverse their lifelong stances overnight.
- Dead Bureaucrats: Officials who oppose Raidath are found brutally murdered in the woods, their deaths staged to look like wild animal attacks.
- The Bodyguard: Raidath is always accompanied by Klidd Vorr, a stoic ex-monk who harbors a dark secret: he is an afflicted werewolf struggling to maintain control.
The turning point occurs when the PCs pry too closely, prompting Raidath to send an elite strike team of Werewolf Lords to eliminate them. Once the assassins fail, the vampire formally invites the PCs to his estate for a “polite discussion.”
Tactical Breakdown: The Veranan Estate
The second half of the adventure takes place at Raidath’s manor, an incredibly hostile environment designed by a paranoid wizard.
1. The Mist-Shrouded Grounds
A magical Mist Rod mounted on the manor’s roof blankets the estate in perpetual fog. This creates a terrifying approach for the players.
- The Hounds: The mist hides a pack of Mist Mastiffs (CR 7 shadow mastiff variants). They use the fog to blend into the shadows and trip spellcasters.
- The Corrupted Forest: Raidath has animated the surrounding woods. Evil Treants (CR 8) flank the party, using the thick underbrush to separate the PCs before they even reach the front door.
2. The Lethal Entryway
Raidath does not welcome unannounced guests. Both the front and back doors are rigged with Deathblade Wall Scythe Traps (CR 9). These reset automatically and coat the intruder in lethal poison, while an integrated alarm silently alerts the vampire.
3. The Vampire’s Playground (Area 12-20)
The interior of the manor is designed specifically for a vampire’s mobility.
- The Tactics: The walls are pierced with 1-inch ventilation holes. Raidath casts Guards and Wards, then assumes Gaseous Form to travel freely through the walls. He materializes, unleashes a barrage of spells or attempts to Dominate a PC, and turns to mist before the martial characters can pin him down.
The Boss: Raidath Veranan (CR 13)
Raidath is a Vampire Wizard 11, making him a highly intelligent and slippery foe.
- Prepared Spells: He relies on battlefield control and debuffs, bringing spells like Cloudkill, Feeblemind, Confusion, and Wall of Ice to divide the party.
- Contingency: The entire house is under a permanent magical effect that automatically counterspells Daylight with Deeper Darkness. Players relying on sunlight spells to weaken the vampire will find their magic immediately snuffed out.
System Conversion: 3.5 to 5e and OSR
Converting a heavily spell-reliant 11th-level adventure requires a focus on action economy.
For 5th Edition (5e):
- Raidath: Use the Vampire Spellcaster variant from the Monster Manual. Give him the Misty Step spell as a Legendary Action to replicate his hit-and-run wall-vent tactics.
- Klidd Vorr: Use the Loup Garou stats or a standard Werewolf with the Martial Arts and Stunning Strike abilities of a Level 9 Monk.
- The Counterspell Manor: In 5e, rule that the house casts Counterspell at 3rd level specifically targeting spells that create sunlight or radiant damage.
For OSR Systems:
- High-level OSR characters will find the Dominate spam extremely dangerous. Provide clues in the royal court (perhaps through a friendly cleric) that the party should procure Protection from Evil scrolls before visiting the manor.
GM Tips: Maximizing the Paranoia
- Play the Politics: During Part One, make the dominated nobles act subtly strange. They shouldn’t act like mindless zombies, but rather like overly agreeable politicians who suddenly lack personal conviction.
- The Werewolf Monk: Klidd Vorr is a fantastic NPC. He loses control during the full moon and tries to flee the palace before he transforms. If the players catch him mid-transformation, they face a moral dilemma: kill the bodyguard, or restrain him and discover his connection to Raidath.
- The Hit-and-Run: Do not let Raidath stand and fight in a single room. Use the manor’s layout. Have him throw a Fireball from a balcony, turn to mist, flow through the floorboards, and ambush the party’s cleric in the kitchen two rounds later.
Conclusion: A High-Society Nightmare
Sheep’s Clothing perfectly blends high-society roleplay with brutal tactical combat. It asks 11th-level players to use their wits just as much as their weapons, presenting a villain who is smart, wealthy, and deeply entrenched in the political system. It is a fantastic template for running a vampire who relies on systemic corruption rather than a dusty crypt.
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Disclosure: If you pick up this adventure through my link, I’ll earn a few gold pieces to keep the lights on in the dungeon at no extra cost to you.