Introduction
This is one in a series of reviews covering most of the Basic D&D
sets and modules. I was digging through my old D&D materials before
selling them, and decided to write reviews of them for people to know
what is worthwhile and what should be avoided.
These reviews will contain spoilers, so avoid at your own risk. Of
course, since these modules have been out for 17 years or so, maybe it
is a little late for spoiler warnings.
In Search of Adventure
This is a super-module collecting the adventures B1 through B9 and
linking them together through short interludes. Small changes to some
adventures were made and parts of them sometimes left out. It came out
in 1987, is 160 pages, and was put together by Jeff Grubb.
The adventures are printed all in the same font, but the order and
writing is basically intact. The new monster statistics are at the end
of the module, as are the maps on perforated sheets. The overall
design works remarkably well.
It was designed to be used with GAZ1 The Grand Duchy of Karameikos,
which detailed the campaign area. Fortunately, they put enough
information in this product that it stands alone well.
The adventures linked
The action starts in Threshold, but the PCs eventually travel all over
the Duchy. There are three main tracks.
The first has the players cleaning out Caldwell's castle and the
dungeons below (B9). Their fame spreads in Threshold and they are hired
to retrieve something from the Rock (B8). After returning from the
Rock, they may detour to the Caverns of Quasqueton (B1) before being
captured by the forces of the Black Eagle Barony. They must escape the
fort (B9) and warn Luln of an impending attack. The mistress of Luln
repels the attack and sends a report to Specularum with the PCs. There
they must expose the Veiled Society (B6).
The second arc has the players investigating the theft of a holy
artifact by a lapsed cleric, Elwyn (B9). She had contacts with an evil
temple farther north, so the PCs travel there to destroy it and its
humanoid supporters in the Caves of Chaos (B2). The PCs receive a
message from an Immortal and must save Haven, where they are instantly
transported (B3). After Haven emerges from its spell, the PCs ride
down-river and probably stay at Guido's Fort (B5). After they resume
their journey, they eventually reach Specularum and are embroiled in the
affairs of the Veiled Society (B6).
The third arc has the players traveling north to deliver a package to an
elven maiden and give a message to a trader's partner in Selenica. Once
in the elven village, they must save Rahasia from a terrible fate (B7).
After reaching Selenica, they discover the partner has embarked on a
trading expedition into the desert and follow him there. There they
fall prey to a sandstorm and must take refuge in a Lost City (B4). They
meet the contact in the desert by chance and he takes them to
Specularum, where they meet the Veiled Society (B6).
What was changed?
I'll outline below what changes were made. The original adventures I
have already discussed in previous reviews, so I'd encourage readers to
refer back to those.
B1 - they just include the maps. This adventure can be played as a
little side-trek, but the DM has to do all the work.
B2 - they only include the Caves of Chaos, and the objective is
rechanneled into destroying an evil cult that Elwyn (of B9 fame) was
working with.
B3 - The beginning is reworked, and the interlude justifies the
adventure much more.
B4 - Only the five upper levels of the pyramid are described and maps
provided.
B5 - Only the monastery and the lower levels are given.
B6 - A new map of Specularum is given which fits the ones in all other
Karameikos products. Other than that the adventure is almost exactly
the same.
B7 - The adventure is presented completely.
B8 - Only the middle of the three routes is given. The rest is the
same.
B9 - In general, the adventure is presented as listed, except the
princess kidnapping adventure (the worst of the five) is left out.
Interestingly, they change the name of the being in Elwyn's Sanctuary
from Namyats to Chardastes.
Conclusions
In general, this was a heroic and largely successful attempt to tie
together the modules. Some of the interludes and changes make the
modules better than when they were originally published. The main
faults of the project come from not changing the published modules
enough. With this product, you can actually create a pretty decent
campaign. With GAZ1 and its source material, you can expand all the
interludes, add more role-playing, and make it a good campaign. I would
recommend this product if you are interested in starting a campaign in
Karameikos and need some ideas for adventures. After these modules, you
can nicely segue back into B10, one of the best D&D modules ever
written.
Go to forum!
(Due to spamming, old forum discussions are no linked.)