D&D5e - Adventure Shorts - Volume 1 (2nd Edition)
D&D5e - Adventure Shorts - Volume 1 (2nd Edition)
Adventure Shorts
Volume One, Second Edition
Designed for parties of five characters of levels one, three and five
R&D Adventures
Adventure Shorts
The Encounters
1. Forgotten Tomb
Encounter Levels
2. Ambush
Preparation
3. Abandoned Mine
4. Old Cottage
5. Black Tower
Credits
Doug Schultz
Writer, Artist, Graphic Designer
Rowan Schultz
Writer, Play Tester
Adventure Extras
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R&D Adventures
Forgotten Tomb
Setup
Long ago, this tomb was made to honor four great warriors,
but over time it has been forgotten. When the tomb was
built traps were installed to discourage tomb robbers, and
now four monsters have taken up residence there and will
attack anyone who enters. The encounter also includes the
following traps:
Tactics
Features
Torch Holders: All the torch holders are empty but usable.
There is a torch holder on the south wall near the door, and
three more between the statues.
Statues: These are large, about one and a half times as big as
a normal human. The statues have holes in the visors where
the arrow and dart mechanisms are located.
Sarcophagi: The sarcophagi are plain, sealed and cant
be opened without the use of stone masons tools and
someone proficient with the use of them. The sarcophagi
all have a coat of arms and a name carved at the foot end
facing the room. The names are: 1) Engel Rocque, 2) Dietz
Schermerhorn, 3) Kordel McKian, and 4) Hagen DeYoung.
If the adventurers do succeed in opening the sarcophagi
somehow, each warrior is buried with silvered longsword.
Hail of Needles Trap (1): The needles are released from the
visor of statue #3. Pressure plates to activate the trap are
located at both #3s on the map. Needles; +10 ranged (2d4);
Wisdom (Perception) to detect DC 15; Dexterity to disable
DC 15. Trap resets when pressure plate is released.
Narrative
At the foot of a low hill in the woods you see an opening that
looks like a cave between two large overgrown bushes. When
you look closer you discover that the opening is framed with
carved stone and that the stone door is partially open.
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Statue 4
4
Statue 3
3
Statue 2
Statue 1
1
N
E
W
S
one square = 5 ft
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Statue 4
Statue 3
Statue 2
Statue 1
N
E
Forgotten Tomb
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R&D Adventures
Ambush
Features
Setup
1. Road: The road that runs through the canyon is flat and
level. There is some flat ground between the edge of the road
and the bottom of the slope on either side.
Narrative
3. Pit Trap: The pit trap is located behind the hay cart. To
camouflage it the creatures have covered the opening with
hay. Its not easy to locate because hay is spread over the
entire area.
Tactics
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X
X
2
3
X
X
N
E
one square = 5 ft
Ambush
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one square = 5 ft
Ambush
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Abandoned Mine
Tactics
Features
Setup
Long ago this mine was worked by dwarves but was left
abandoned when they were attacked. Recently the creatures
have made the mine their home and will defend it if theyre
disturbed. The encounter also includes the following
obstacles:
Chasm (20-feet wide, wall-to-wall): Adventurers must
succeed in a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check DC15. A
successful check lets the PC move across the rails safely. A
failure means the PC falls. 20-ft. deep (2d6, fall). To climb
out requires a Strength (Athletics) check DC 12.
Ore Car in the Tunnel: The ore car is small, only big enough
for one adventurer to ride in at a time. It can be used to ferry
the adventurers across the chasm using a rope and grappling
hook, if they have one. The rails can only support the ore car
and one occupant weighing less than 170 pounds, otherwise
it will collapse. The rope could be used to hook the car and
bring it across the chasm with a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check
DC 20. The adventurers will have to cross it on the way out
of the tunnel too.
Narrative
4. Bone Pile: A fairly large bone pile. Some of the bones are
old and some are fresh.
5. Mining Chamber: Remains of two dwarves are found
in this chamber. One has a plain gold ring (10gpv) on his
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X
4
1
2
N
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W
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one square = 5 ft
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N
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one square = 5 ft
Abandoned Mine
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Old Cottage
Setup
Tactics
Narrative
Features
One day while traveling on the road through the woods you
meet two soldiers leading their horses. When they meet
you they seem very wary and look you over carefully before
speaking to you.
Soldier: Who are you and what are you doing in these
woods?
If the adventurers are reasonable and give a reasonable
answer the soldiers calm down and share more information
with them.
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4
1
2
8
N
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one square = 5 ft
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N
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one square = 5 ft
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Black Tower
As you approach you see the main door has a portcullis thats
open. Entering the tower you see a large compass design inset
into the floor pavers in the middle of the room. It doesnt look
like anyone has been here for a very long time because the
floor is covered in dirt and pigeon droppings, and there are a
few scattered boards and shingles lying around. Looking up
you see the inside of a timber frame roof 60 feet above your
head thats beginning to collapse. Theres a fair-sized hole in
the roof letting in a stream of light and a light breeze thats
blowing tattered banners hanging from the beams. Just then
a flock of pigeons takes flight, circling around the room before
they fly out the hole in the roof.
Setup
Many years ago the black tower on the hilltop was inhabited
by an eccentric old knight who is said to have come into
the possession of a cursed ring. Little is known about the
towers history since then and it has been left abandoned for
many years. This encounter includes the following creatures,
obstacles and items:
Tactics
Features
Tower: To your left and right (east and west) there are two
wooden doors (both locked AC 15, HP 10). Straight ahead
(north) the stone wall is blank except for a large metal shield
with a faded crest mounted about 10 feet above the floor. Set
in each of the remaining four walls is an arrow slit. There
are torch holders mounted to the walls between the doors
and arrow slits. The door in the east wall leads to the guard
house. The door in the west wall leads to a spiral staircase
that leads up to the top of the tower.
Once youre on the hilltop you see that the tower is perched
on an outcropping of rock, connected to the main part of the
Narrative
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one square = 5 ft
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one square = 5 ft
Black Tower
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Adventure Shorts
Forgotten Tomb
Ambush
Abandoned Mine
Old Cottage
Black Tower
A collection of short, challenging
adventures each that can be played in
a single gaming session.
2015 Schultz