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This is a standard TSR module, 32 pages with cardstock and maps on the inside. The cover claims that is specifically for beginning Dungeon Masters with a minimum of preparation. Both the colour (Darlene Pekul) and monochrome (David Tampier, David Sutherland III) covers show a group of adventurers standing in a fungus filled dungeon. The quality of David Sutherland's interior art leaves a little to be desired. As with many TSR modules of the time, I blame my short-sightedness on the endemic use the sans-serif small font.
The module begins with some excellent and basic advice for a complete novice DM; such as the utility of having a party leader, the need for a marching order, signing up henchmen, the management of time, the calculation of experience points, and a well-worded argument for the DM as a game moderator. Also noted is the requirement for the DM to allocate monsters and treasures to each room; perhaps a clever way of ensuring the beginning DM has actually read the module beforehand. Later in the text the requirement of rhyme or reason is made for the placement, creatures and treasures, although there is no obvious focus. Essentially, the monster list is carrion, small groups of low-level sentient creatures and flotsam and jestam for treasures.
The backstory of the module is simple: Many years ago, Roghan the Fearless (a fighter) and Zelligar the Unknown (a wizard), built a well-hidden complex, far from civilisation, the Caverns of Quasqueton. Whilst rumoured to be associated with evil, they were responsible for defeating barbarian invaders, and thus received the financial gratitude of locals, therefore funding their retirement. Nevertheless, the call of adventure took them again and gathering their henchmen they forayed into the land of the barbarians, never to be seen again. e of questionable ethical standing the two drove back a barbarian invasion and gained the support of locals. Eventually they gathered their own army and went on an expedition against said enemies where, more recently according to rumour, they met their demise. Apart from a stock of other random legends, the PCs also have in their possession a crude map to a location called 'Q'. Could it be?...
The scenario location consists of a worked upper level and a semi-finished dungeon level. Whilst most of the actual rooms themselves are fairly sensible and what one expect (a kitchen, chambers, a closet, a laboratory and workroom, a trophy room) there is also a few surprises like the fungoid garden and a room of pools (some magic, some wine, some green slime). What is most surprising however is that the level of total insanity in the design. Room 20 has walls that become a decreasing spiral, Rooms 15 and 16, which are 20 feet apart, teleport to each other, and the poor Captain had chambers that were the end of a 150' corridor before getting away when a simple door on his north or east wall would have reduced this to, well, nothing actually. The maze of doors and corridors, thankfully unkeyed, north of room 36 must have been deliberate. Not even Dungeon Geomorphs with their worst results could end up with something this bad.
This is probably the most ridiculous dungeon layout ever designed. Which is surprising, given that the lower, undeveloped section, is so clear. Perhaps it was the designers intention to show that sentient architects can create new levels of stupidity which natural cave formations cannot possibly hope for. Included in the caves are the requisite grand cavern with numerous bats, and a mystical stone which provides a random boon or bane. The final pages of the module provide list of potential hirelings (with personality), some with the worst names ever to grace fantasy literature.
Overall, In Search of the Unknown is a search-and-destroy mission that fails to "enable new Dungeon Masters to initiate play with a minimum of preparation"; indeed, significant work is required if the recommended list of monsters and treasures are to make any sense. There certainly isn't any plot to speak of, and nor is there anything that even speaks of what sort of people Roghan and Zelligar actually were or what they planned. It all stands in very strange contradiction to have a module that has such sensible advice in the opening pages, and then engages in the worst aspects of a randomly generated dungeon crawl.
One other matter must also be raised. Some twenty-five years ago when my friends and I played this module with our 2-3rd characters we came to a realisation after clearing the building out of hostiles; this place was (a) huge, (b) it included a dragon's skin, magical pools, a mystical stone etc, and (c) none knew where it was. With a little help from our Dwarf, who apparently knew a bit about building design, it made a very good base; indeed, it was virtually a castle for low-level characters. To this day, that memory remains the sole reason why I own the module.
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