Some times, when we go looking for something, it finds us. Such is the case I feel with Serpent in the Fold. I was searching, when this was coming out, for just a fun module that had a Scarred Lands feel. I found instead a module that IS simply Scarred Lands ideas, concepts and overall FUN that is both a module AND a sourcebook. Not unlike Interludes: Excursions into Bluffsides, Serpent in the Fold is more than just a pluggable module for challenging your players. It's a guide for the Scarred lands as well as having some GREAT ideas for using random Wilderness encounters, natural and unnatural occurring weather effects, and even more, CHALLENGING thought provoking opponents. Well that's enough rambling about how good I THINK it is. Let's just start with the basics and then work our way through. I will promise NO spoilage, at least for prelude and introduction.
The cover art shows us a tattooed Half orc sorcerer/monk, a female Albadian barbarian woman, a half elf ranger/bard wielding a strang double sickle, and a dwarven fighter/wizard with a battleaxe. Now some of you might be asking "How DOES he know this?!" Well it's simple. These are also people you meet in the introduction/opening chapter. The Stalwarts are the "default" group if you're planning on running the campaign WITHOUT ever referring to the free prelude adventure. They are also one of four groups that your party WILL meet if they are in Lave and have gained notice from the locals as well as the Vigils. But I get ahead of myself. The Stalwarts are battling strange green skinned undead. You'll find out more about them at the end of the book, but I must say THAT was one of my favorite things about this.
The interior artwork is very nicely done, each depicting VERY well the material that's discussed in each section. Inside front cover, a map of Sky Keep, which will play a roll in your quest. The inside back cover has a large well done overview map of the area of Vesh and its surrounding neighbors. Overall the art work was VERY well done and I enjoyed it and the cover at A LOT!
(Quick side note, you look at the dedication section, you'll see my name mentioned there too. Just food for thought ladies and gents!
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The preface gives us the detials of the last battle of Mormo against the gods. Sufficient to say this was probably the MEATIEST little read in while and probably one of the best done. It also give us insight into one of the few heroes of the Divine War, Lillandel, female ranger in the service of Tanil and defender of the Broadreach now the Hornsaw. Still her group, the Lillandila, a group of rangers and even some Vigils that have joined in trying to restore the land with the forces of Vera-Tre. What I liked best in this little story was fight JUST before her defeat, as both her daughters, the twins Belsameth and Madriel fought against the Hag Mother. That was a poiginent moment right there.
The Introduction opens us to the major parts of the story as well as the principal players in our little game of cat and mouse or rather serpent and mongoose. The Amphora's history is more fully fleshed out in the first page as well as recommending using the free prelude from the S&SS on its website. The next page details some of the interested parties that wish to own the power of the Amphora the Dar al Annot, Hags and others that serve the Blood Crone and who want the Amphora as a way of strengthen their hold on the Hornsaw denizens. The other is the Cannibals/Druids of Khet. These want it as they see themselves as the true power for Mormo's brood. While there are many factions, (one of the more powerful ones is led by Sharliss Serpentkiss, a medusa druid/bloodwitch described in the Divine and the Defeated), one the factions that has an interest is the Bringers of Autumn, druidic followers of the Autumn King, Ilkuthsra. A stranger and more fearsome being I doubt exists, while he's not a TRUE necromancer, he does display many powers that might make him seen that way. This was cool for me because FINALLY we are moving even FURTHER away from the usual "natural" druid and more into a "druid as a force, often natural" kind of deal. So with that, the gods and the Vigils, we come to the opening of the Cycle. Here the players recieve instructions to meet with the Home Commander, Kelemis Durn in Lave at the Hall of Command at Lave, Vesh's capital. There the party meets other prospective adventurers, some that might be used later for conflict or assistance, OR just as ideas for party make up. There after some time, and the reading of the preface to the party, the Home Commander reveals that more information about the Amphora is needed. Thus the part is sent off to Hedrad to find such information. Now the adventure BEGINS!
Chapters 1, 2 and 3 all deal with various facets of the adventure. While I WISH I COULD say more, without completely spoiling the adventure, what I can say is that the stuff in here is great. From therandom wilderness encounter charts, the motivations of the enemies AND of NPCs, PLUS the treasure, are ALL detailed and presented in a wonderful way. AND unlike your usual dungeon crawl/wilderness adventure, there are chances for running a great EVENT based campaign EVEN if you fail your mission (Though it would seem kind of not fun to do that!
Over all I LOVED this aspect and finding the serpent that lurks inside the Vigils as well. (Oopps maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that...
) The fights are tough, the environs great,and overall, if you love the Scarred Lands or want more than just running around in a dungeon crawl type module, you get it with Serpent in the Fold. By the end of this adventure, if your party isn't interested in learning more about the Scarred Lands OR at least continuing this adventure, well all I can say is that it's not this module's fault!
The appendix has some of information on the important NPCs as well a new type of contrust that looks undead, Vine-Dead. I have to say I LOVE this idea and certainly they act like undead even if they aren't. Kudos to Joseph and Ari about making these guys AND including the spell too! Perhaps they can be used in some places OTHER than just Serpent?
So I have to thank BOTH Joseph Carriker and Ari Marmell, both for WRITING this AND making their dedication to yours truly. If you loved the Scarred lands, GET THIS MODULE. IF you love event based moduling, GET THIS MODULE! If you just want to have fun, AGAIN GET THIS MODULE! You'll not be dissappointed.
