I’ve written about Dungeons & Dragons before. I maintain that it still holds the title for “Best Pandemic Activity.” I also know that all of my readers immediately started their own games after having read my screed about said table-top RPG, and are still playing them. With quarantine restrictions loosening, and more and more Americans getting the vaccine, the need for Zoom D&D would seem to be over. However, you don’t need to stop playing D&D even if you’ve received the vaccine. D&D is even better in person than it is over Zoom. Playing in-character feels more natural, combat moves quicker, scene-setting is more effective, and your jokes hit harder. Heck, even being able to clink glasses with your fellow adventurers is better than that thing where people pretend to cheers by tipping their glass at the camera.
In the spirit of this I’ve decided to craft the outlines of a Dungeon & Dragons campaign for all my loyal subscribers. I’m not the first person to do this. Wizards of the Coast – the company that publishes D&D – releases new pre-made adventures for sale all the time. You can also find countless adventures, both free and not, online. Simply use your preferred search engine and type in something to the effect of “D&D adventure” and you’ll find a whole heap of stuff to work with. So, if you don’t like this one – which to that I would say “Dang, Dude, What the Heck?” – you can use one of those. There are also random character generators, dungeon generators, dice rollers, and even a site that can make your pre-made adventure look like an official piece of merch. Feel free to use all of that for this!
So what is this pre-made adventure? What does it include? Well, a few things. One, it describes a world for you and your group to play in. Two, it details some of the rules of that world. Three, it gives the outlines of a basic story and sets up some NPCs. Four, I also provide some ideas for pre-made characters players could use if they wanted. Fifth, and finally, it sets up a place for future adventures to take place, ones concocted, and hopefully, influenced by playthroughs of this.
So what doesn’t it do? It doesn’t lay out every step of the story. It sets up some goals and initial conditions. The fun is in how you get from point A to Point B, I think. Being required to do stuff is never fun. It doesn’t come up with a bunch of pre-made dungeons, mostly due to the fact that doing that would have been a lot of work and no one is paying me to do it. It also doesn’t provide a bunch of stat blocks for pre-made characters/enemies/whatever, because you – read, an online generator – can do that yourself. There’s also no map, but you can generate one yourself. Or use graphpaper.
So go ahead to use this for free! Or Venmo me for it if you want. Or pay to subscribe to this. If you have any questions about the game, just let me know. I’ll answer them for you. Have fun!
This Adventure is called Sylvain’s Lament
Introduction:
Sylvain’s Lament is a pre-made D&D campaign. It takes place in Kear-an Sar, one of the many realms of Multiverse. Feel free to share with your friends!
General Information
Guidelines for Sylvain’s Lament campaign:
Campaign uses mechanics of whichever D&D edition you want to use.
Dungeon master and players need only this document and D&D Basic Rules. D&D Basic Rules document is available for free online.
Copyright stuff:
Sylvain’s Lament is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy. Not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast, Wizards of the Coast LLC.
Preparations
This campaign is made for beginner-advanced DMs and beginner-advanced players. Players can either use the pre-fab characters, create new ones of their own, or bring in their long-standbys.
Step 1 - Choose main quest line
Players together choose one of the questlines that matches best with what they want to do.
Option 1 – Secure the Realm
Option 2 – Topple an Empire
Step 2 - Create characters
Give your character at least one reason for why they’re here. Options are available in the pre-made character section.
Step 3 - Play the game!
Main quest
Players together choose one of the main quest lines.
Secure the Realm (Option 1)
Adventurers are either duty bound to or hired by Emperor Morgoth of Kear-an Sar for various reasons. Their main enemy is the rebel forces lead by Sylvain. Emperor Morgoth considers the adventurer’s duty complete when Sylvain is defeated and the rebel forces scattered. Characters will be inducted into the nobility if they are successful.
Each character chooses at least one of these motives or plans a new one with dungeon master.
Reason to duty-bound to Emperor
As a punishment for a past crime I am forced to act for the Emperor
Pledging myself to the Emperor is the only way I can make a name for myself
The Emperor needs my support and will do anything I can to support the realm.
The Emperor has promised to help me destroy my enemies.
The Emperor paid for the orphanage where I grew up.
Kear-an Sar is the jewel of The Cosmos and must be protected at all costs.
I was born for this. My destiny is to serve the Emperor
Serving the Emperor will allow me to wreak havoc and not get in trouble
Possible activities for groups going through this path:
Figuring out Sylvain’s weaknesses
Fighting Sylvain’s forces
Reinforcing Diplomatic ties with local rulers
Infiltrating Sylvain’s Camp
Encouraging Empire reform
Finding ancient artifacts to help your fight.
Topple An Empire (Option 2)
Characters have agreed to help Sylvain take down the Kear-an Sar Empire led by Emperor Morgoth. Main enemy are the forces of Emperor Morgoth. Characters have been promised places by Sylvain’s side if they succeed, as well as all the loot and plunder they can handle.
Each character chooses at least one of these motives or plans a new one with dungeon master.
Reason to fight against the Empire
The Emperor is the unlawful ruler of Kear-an Sar. She must be defeated.
When we win I will be rewarded with vast amounts of land and money.
Sylvain fights for justice and equality. That is the side I am on.
The Empire has various occult secrets I wish to gain access to.
The Empire has imprisoned my family and I wish to avenge them
Sylvain is the second coming of the Lords of the Cosmos.
If I don’t fight my neighbors will look down on me.
This is the best chance for me to get my murder on.
Possible activities for groups going through this path:
Figuring out how to assassinate Morgoth
Fighting the forces of the Empire
Making diplomatic ties with local rulers
Infiltrating Morgoth’s leadership
Helping the people of the Empire
Finding ancient artifacts to help your fight.
Background Information
Region related details
Location: Kear-an Sar is the sole continent on the planet of Ildain, one of the worlds of the Multiverse. Kear-an Sar is currently under the rule of Emperor Morgoth of the Ildain Empire. Kear-an Sar is about 700 miles across from East to West, and 450 miles across north to south, Sailing around the continent takes around 3 weeks.
Environment: Climate of the region is largely temperate. West Kear-an Sar is largely made up of deciduous forests. Mountains line the north coast. To the west are fens and hilly highlands. The South is largely farmland and prairie. Fresh water rivers run through the land. Several of the mountains have year-round snowcaps. Large animals mostly stick to the mountains and deepest areas of the swamp, though they occasionally venture out to more human inhabited areas.
Population: Kear-an Sar has about 100,000 inhabitants. Half-elves, humans, elves, and dwarves make up the majority of the population. Dragonborn, Halflings, Gnomes, Orcs, Half-Orcs, Tieflings, and other assorted races all exist in Kear-an Sar but in much smaller numbers. Most people live in small villages and hamlets, though four major cities control much of the commerce.
History: Kear-an Sar had been around for a while. While its earliest history remains shrouded in mystery, it is a rich one. The earliest histories tell of elven rulers who experimented with various political formations including anarchy, democracy, theocracy, and autocracy. Eventually, as the elves lost powers Kear-an Sar fell into disarray and split into multiple Duchies, Kingdoms, Republics, Palatinates, and Princedoms. Humans allied with the half-elves gained political and economic prominence within the last century, taking the whole of Kear-an Sar under their rule. This alliance rose to power through a combination of demographic changes, economic pressure, and military might. The Dwarves allied themselves with the Elven forces and as a result recently saw their fortunes fade. The major cities Kingsbad, Kear-an, Rylinsberg, and Junisberg have been around since the beginning of the reign of the elves.
Commerce: The four main cities, Kingsbad, Kear-an, Rylinsberg, and Junisberg function as the primary economic centers of Kear-an Sar. Kear-an is the seat of the Empire and is the political center of Kear-an Sar. The four cities are where farmers send their crops, and where most of the highest-quality artisans are to be found. Kingsbad is known for its metalworking, Kear-an for its orchards, Rylinsberg for its textiles, and Junisberg for its art. Trade and commerce are all overseen by the Emperor. The lost elven city of Myinbard is said to be somewhere in the mountains, but no one has seen it since it fell to a mysterious plague.
Government: Emperor Morgoth rules in tandem with the Council of Citizens. While the Emperor has final say in decisions regarding matters of state and economics, the Council of Citizens, made up of the nobility, can and does act as a check against her power.
Religion: Several religions exist on Kear-an San, many of which cut across race and class lines. The most popular reveres the Lords of the Cosmos. Newer folk religions have begun to spring up that revere the current Emperor and consider Morgoth as a deity. Various local religions, often based on natural gods exist and are mostly practiced by various village dwellers. Rumors of blood sacrifices abound.
Magic: Magic is common and abundant in Kear-an San, though the Emperor has recently made attempts to start controlling the continent’s magic users. This decree has not been met with wide acclaim.
Region related factions
The Empire is the main source of law and order. The IldainGuards patrol the main roads and trading routes. The Empire also sends out patrolling judges and guards to maintain the Emperor’s law in the small villages and hamlets.
Sylvain’s Rebels a group of rebels currently fighting back against the Empire. The rebels include a mix of all races. They have managed to take over much of the countryside and are moving toward Kear-an at the start of the campaign.
The Council of Citizens act as the main check on the Emperor. Made up of nobles throughout the country. While they are largely pro-Empire, their first and foremost goal is to maintain the trade networks that keep them wealthy.
The Priests of The Cosmos are the most powerful religious group on Kear-an San. They help maintain temples throughout the Empire and pay for traveling priests to attended to villages and towns throughout the land. Have a small bloc in the Council of Citizens, but are actively trying to gain more power.
Important Individuals
Emperor Margoth is somewhat new to her reign. Having inherited the title from her father, she is the fourth Emperor of the Vondrain line. In her fourth year of rule. She is working to keep the Council of Citizens in line and her empire intact following Sylvain’s rebellion. A Half-Elf. Rather distrustful of Magic. (For DM Only. Sylvain is Margoth’s half-sister and Margoth cast out Sylvain in order to gain the throne.)
Sylvain is a half-elf though is often mistaken for a full elf. Leader of the rebel forces, she preaches a form of politics that if not 100% pro-democracy is a least more centered on local rule and getting rid of an empire completely. Denies the godhood of Emperor Margoth. (For DM Only. Sylvain is Margoth’s half-sister and Margoth cast out Sylvain in order to gain the throne.)
High Priest Val-San is a Tiefling who has risen to the top of the Priests of the Cosmos. Has led them to where they are, and wants even more political power.
Robyn Hartchock, Krate an-Har, Felce Dwyan are all human nobles on the Council of Citizens.
Jun Vor, a dwarf, is Sylvain’s right-hand lieutenant.
Greant Higgs is Margoth’s Seneschal.
Towns, Services and NPCs
Kear-an San has four major cities and countless small villages. Most of the campaign will take place in and around Kear-an, which is described below. If the DM wishes to play in other cities, and villages, they should feel free to take from the alternate names provided, and develop their own. The basic outlines of the other three cities are provided. A set-up for two basic villages is provided and DM can change names to create others depending on campaign needs.
Kear-an
Town of Kear-an has about 16,000 inhabitants. The largest town in Kear-an San. It is the capital of the Empire. Mostly populated by half-elves and humans, though all races are present. Kear-an used to be an ancient eleven city and old ruins are mixed in with new buildings. Some say that the old Elven treasures lay deep beneath the city.
Harbor of Kear-an is quite busy and sees twenty or thirty ships of day.
Marketplace is near Harbor.
Barch (Human, female, old) sells fish.
Hylin (Half-elf, male, butcher) sells meat.
Briann (Dragonborn, female) sells alcohol.
Flak (Dwarf, female) sells textiles.
Bringe (Orc, male) sells cheese. Hates Hayla.
Hayla (Elf, female) sells cheese. Hates Bringe.
Mrinch (Halfling, male) sells fish.
Fant (Gnome, female) sells fruits and vegetables.
Olign (Half-orc, male) sells wine.
The Marketplace also is inhabited by jugglers, pickpockets, sleight-of-hand magicians, and various other entertainers.
Buckle and Sword is a seedy tavern. Run by Corg (Tiefling, male) Other taverns of a similar nature include Ishnan’s Prayer, The Mad Bear, Ringwald’s Charm and The Spotted Orc.
The Golden Sheaf is tavern largely inhabited by artisans, traders, and other non-nobles. Run by Lampir. (Half-Elf, Male)
The Emperor’s Table is the finest ale house in Kear-an. Run by Ymarra (Human, Female) a distant cousin of the Emperor. Other taverns of a similar nature include The House of Lords, The Council’s Table, The White Ox, and The Councilor’s Hall.
The Waterman’s Rest is a large inn with many types of rooms available. The Waterman’s Rest is owned and run by the Half-Elf/Human couple Shanai (Human, male) and Quist (Half-Elf, male). Inns typically are inhabited by traders and other adventurers. The poor sleep in stables or in temples and the rich sleep in other rich people’s houses. Other inns include Dragon’s Perch, The House of K’Han, The Feathered Nest, and The Merry Hearth.
The Black Anvil is a blacksmith. Store has all common metal equipment available and individual items can be ordered. Heavy Metal is run by Opathu. (Dwarf, male)
Deer’s Grace is a leatherworks. Store has all common leather equipment available and individual items can be ordered. Leather & Lash is run by Rhamed. (Half-Elf female)
Cloths & Clothes is a tailorshop. Store has all common clothes available and they can make individual items on order. Run by Gaveral. (Gnome, female)
The Herbarium is an alchemy shop. Store has potions and spell ingredients for sale. Run by Lysis (Dragonborn, male).
Kear-an University is one of the two universities in Kear-an San. Current Dean is Professor Rammekhan (Halfling, Female)
Vellum is bookstore. Store has books and maps available. Run by Dis. (Human, female
There is are several stables just outside of the city gates. Run by the Empire. Each has several types of horses for sale. (Human, female)
Master Finnegan (Half-Elf, Male) is a shipwright. Boats and ships can be purchased from him.
The Vondrain Bank is the only bank in Kear-an. Bank buys, sells, loans, changes and stores bullions, gems, currencies and other valuable items. Run by Trindel (Half-elf, Female), cousin of the Emperor. (Human, male)
The Temple of the Cosmos is across town from the market. Temple offers healing services as well as a place to make sacrifices to the Gods. Current Head priest is Turindel (Elf, Male).
Capital/Emperor’s Palace sits in the middle of the city. This is where the Council of Citizens meets as well as where the Emperor holds court. The judges also have their quarters and hall of Justice here.
Barracks serves as headquarters for The Vondrain Guards. General Ferrad (Human, Male) is currently in charge of the Guards. This is connected to the Imperial Palace.
Feel free to populate the city with other characters as needed/change the above to anything you need.
Other Cities:
Kingsbad – Slightly smaller than Kear-an, around 12,000 people. Similar services. On a river, so river trading traffic rather than ocean trading traffic. Also has a high population of miners so has a few prominent jewelers, and metal workers.
Rylinsberg – Population of around 17,000, though poorer than the other cities. Most people work with textiles. Similar services to the others, though all slightly shabbier. Close to the fens. Excellent cloth is available here. Next to a lake.
Junisberg – Smallest of the four cities with a population just under 9,000. Has a large number of artists, a university and a sea port. The richest city.
Gishtown
Village of Gishtown has about 500 inhabitants. The leader is a Mayor named Laylan (Elf, Female). Most of the residents are Elves. The village is surrounded by grain and cereal fields. A small stream flows nearby.
The Black Crow is only tavern in Gishtown. Run by Keir-la. (Elf, female)
The Shallow Ledge is an inn with a small amount of basic rooms available. Run by Cordair (Human Male). This is where Vondrain Guards and Judges stay when they are in town.
Fresh Goods is general store. Run by Tyäinis (Elf, male).
The Stump is distillery. Produces gin and other spirits. Wild Spirit is run by Gorlin (Dwarf, male).
A newly built Temple honoring the Emperor has just been erected. It is led by a Priest named Gearthan.
Small Ryian
Village of Small Ryian has about 750 inhabitants. The residents are a mixture of races. It is run by a group of twelve Elders, which function as a council. They are elected by acclaim. They live on a river, and have a small pier, those only a few smaller traders stop. Fruit orchards surround the village.
Fingerman’s Hut is one of the two taverns in the village. Run by Uderain (Half-Orc, female).
The Bronze Trout is the other tavern in the village. Run by Filch (Halfling, Male).
Lucky Lantern is inn with small amount of basic rooms available. Run by Aenthe (Half-elf, Male). This is where Vondrain Guards and Judges stay when they are in town
Raw Goods is general store. Run by Iok. (Half-orc, male)
Apple’s Blessing is Cidery. Produces cider and other apple related products. Run by Verouth (Tiefling, Female).
Premade characters
Players can use these characters to get the game started fast.
Rogue
Name: Alleana Breakwater
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Class: Rogue
Background: Comes from Blackburn, a small fen village.
Background Features: Knows the ways of the fen and its customs.
Alignment: Neutral Good
Defining event: I was gifted a family shield as a child and vowed to use it to the best of my ability.
Personality trait: I enjoy a good joke.
Ideal: Justice. “We all must reap what we sow.”
Bond: I work for those who have been unjustly done wrong.
Flaw: Too often I think I am the only one who can bring justice to a broken world.
Languages: Common, Elvish, and Fen
History: Alleana is born and raised in the fen village of Blackburn. She was initiated into the family tradition of shield-bearing. She wants to improve society by bringing justice to the world.
Fighter
Name: Hinchful Stoneklaw
Race: Mountain dwarf
Gender: Male
Class: Fighter
Background: Folk preacher who lost his faith
Background Features: Strong voice and clear message
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Personality trait: Knows there is a spiritual power out there and wants to find it.
Ideal: I want to all those who worship to find a common bond with each other.
Bond: I support all those that respect and revere their gods.
Flaw: People are turned off by my intense religious fervor.
Languages: Common, Dwarvish
History: Hinchful was born and raised in a small village in the forest lands. He spent most of his life as the village priest, until he became disillusioned with its teachings. He hopes to find a way to unite all of Kear-an Sar’s religions.
Wizard
Name: Marsh Vallandin
Race: Gnome
Gender: Male
Class: Wizard
Background: Magic Researcher who lost their funding for *unclear* reasons
Background Features: Arcane knowledge and specialized equipment
Alignment: True Neutral
Personality trait: Will let nothing get in the way of his pursuit of knowledge.
Ideal: I want to understand the world.
Bond: I back all those that seek to true understanding.
Flaw: I tend to ignore morality if it gets in my way.
Languages: Common, Ancient Elvish (Written only)
History: Marsh was born and raised in the University district of Kear-an. He spent most of his life as the researcher and wizard, until the public learned of some of his more outré experiments. He wants this war to be over so that he can get back to his studies.
Druid
Name: Loupe Avon
Race: Half-Orc
Gender: Female
Class: Druid
Background: Mountain dweller who has decided to re-enter society
Background Features: Knows the secret places in the mountains and foraging
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Personality trait: Wants to protect natural places from the encroaching government.
Ideal: Environment. We only have one world.
Bond: The creatures and plants of the mountains are my friends.
Flaw: I don’t understand other humans well.
Languages: Common, the Bird Tongue
History: Loupe has lived in the mountains of Kear-An Sar for as long as she can remember. Recently she has heard disturbing news from the animals she has befriended. She has left the mountains in order to try and convince the world to leave the mountains alone.
Now Adventurers/DM, the rest of the story is up to you. Will you investigate the rumors of blood sacrifices in the villages, traverse the mountains in search of an ancient eleven city, or convince the nobles to aid you on your journey in deciding who will be the ruler of Kear-an Sar? Or will you forge your own path? The choice is yours.