Dungeon 154 - Night of the Straw Men

[Shroomy]

The first adventure of the last 3.5e Dungeon was released today. It's a Side Trek for 1st level characers called "Night of the Straw Men"

Each year in the village of Steeplefall, the villagers celebrate the Day of the Straw Men. A villager must merely whisper his or her sins to the small effigy, then burn it in a massive fire at the town square to be scoured clean.

But someone has an ulterior motive at this year's burning. After the PCs have had a chance to enjoy the festivities, at the evening's bonfire, a dark power strikes. Can the characters save the festival and the innocent townsfolk in attendance? Even if they do, who or what was behind the attack?

http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/duad/20080507

Its kind of cool [sblock]that the adventure features the scarecrow converted by Shade and Boz for Dragon; I remember when they were working on it over on the General Monster board.[/sblock]

 

[GlassJaw]

I agree, cool little scenario. Would probably make for a good kick-off to a campaign, since it introduces a small town and some potentially recurring NPC's. I think it would be fun to play up the holiday and beliefs of the townsfolk, perhaps they are very superstitious overall. Would make for some interesting role-playing opportunities, especially if the PC's are the more pragmatic and level-headed sort.

 

[Arnwyn]

I wonder if we're ever going to see the end of that "three part arc"...?

 

[Vascant]

I wonder if we're ever going to see the end of that "three part arc"...?

I have been waiting for that myself

 

[Demmero]

@Shroomy: Thanks for getting the word out (I wrote "NotSM"). With Boz and Shade responsible for the Dragon magazine conversion of the boss monster--and with you having your own adventure due out soon--the final 3.5 issue of Dungeon's got a neat ENWorld vibe to it

@GlassJaw: Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the Side Trek.

@Anyone Who Cares: I'm really glad that online Dungeon accepted a submission that depended so heavily upon a monster that appeared in a print version of Dragon magazine. It's nice to get a bit of continuity--however small--between the print and online versions of the magazines. I was pretty bitter when the magazines' print runs were ended...and I'd still greatly prefer a print version to an online one. Still, any version of the mags is infinitely better than having no version of them at all. I hope the 4E versions hit the ground running and really take off.

 

[Prince Atom]

I must admit, when I first read the title, I thought it would be about an Internet flame war.

But it sounds fun. It sounds kind of like something I'd come up with, a creepy plot with everyday objects and things becoming a threat.

I let my Dragon subscription lapse a long time ago, when it looked like I wouldn't be playing D&D anymore. I've regretted that for some time now.

TWK

 

[Shroomy]

@Shroomy: Thanks for getting the word out (I wrote "NotSM"). With Boz and Shade responsible for the Dragon magazine conversion of the boss monster--and with you having your own adventure due out soon--the final 3.5 issue of Dungeon's got a neat ENWorld vibe to it

@GlassJaw: Thanks for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the Side Trek.

@Anyone Who Cares: I'm really glad that online Dungeon accepted a submission that depended so heavily upon a monster that appeared in a print version of Dragon magazine. It's nice to get a bit of continuity--however small--between the print and online versions of the magazines. I was pretty bitter when the magazines' print runs were ended...and I'd still greatly prefer a print version to an online one. Still, any version of the mags is infinitely better than having no version of them at all. I hope the 4E versions hit the ground running and really take off.

Interestingly enough, my adventure also includes some content from Dragon (unless, it was changed in editing, but I doubt it).

 

[Emirikol]

so noted. i'll update the index.

jh

 

[Knightfall]

There is also another new adventure up as well. It is called City of Blood and is for the Eberron campaign setting.

 

[Rechan]

I really like the little side-trek. Very nice.

Also, love the "whisper your sins into the straw doll and toss it in". That's some awesome bit of ritual right there.