Within The Devils Reach PDF
Within The Devils Reach PDF
Within The Devils Reach PDF
At the Table Games would like David Doc Blue Wendt Matthew Sullivan-Barrett
to give a huge thanks to the Tresi Arvizo Colin Jessup
following people for supporting Jason Mosack Kevin Heckman
Within the Devils Reach: Mike Sands Dylan Boates
Antti Luukkonen Hamish Cameron
Van Ryder Games David M. Scott The Angry DM Rehm
Daniel M. Perez Wojciech Gbczyk Chris Heinzmann
Quinn Murphy Mr. Ryan Wilson Nathan noofy Roberts
Joshua Wehner Michael Shillott Kirin Robinson
The Time Tribe S Rob Rendell
Dev Purkayastha Marc Majcher Craig Oxbrow
Brian Kelsay (@ripcrd) Phil Garrad Jason Smith
Rich Harrison Wilhelm Fitzpatrick David M. Miles
Katie King Tim Jensen & Willow Palecek Marshall Miller
Damien Laing Jonathan Spengler Aaron Friesen
Felan Parker Simon ofSimonsSay.com Neal Dalton
Bryan Fischer Jeremy Tidwell Chris Thompson
Christian R. Leonhard David C. Bennett Jr. Steven Vest
Wes Price Daniel Lofton Roland Volz
Wordman James Gabrielsen Christian A. Nord
Matthew Is navel gazing a John Bogart Vortex Games LLC
Discern Realities move? Klein Victor Wyatt Rick Neal
Kyle Simons Robert Burke Joseph UserClone Le May
Ryan N Aech Jeff Tillotson Adam Koebel
Gerry Saracco Cameron Suey Genesis of Legend Publishing
Josh Rensch Jonathan Abbott Scott Acker
Lars Ericson Dan Luxenberg John Mehrholz
Paul Edson Kelley Rogers D. Mannon
Tony Dowler Jeff Troutman Joe Beason
Felix Girke Martin Greening Sage LaTorra
Steve Segedy Rishi Agrawal Brett Easterbrook
fel Matt Landis Jeremiah Robert Craig Shepersky
Nathan Trail Ralph Mazza
1
Table of Contents
Playing the Adventures 3 The Madness in Hamish Mine 16
The Town of Devils Reach 3 Fronts 16
Using the Maps 3 The Hall of the Triumvirate 18
Who Are The Tivati? 4 The Outer Temple of Brol 18
The Silent Tomb Speaks 5 The Inner Temple of Brol 20
Fronts 6 The Outer Temple of Venith 21
The Throne Room 6 The Inner Temple of Venith 21
Above the Green Lantern 8 The Outer Temple of Shia 21
The Builders Workshop 8 The Inner Temple of Shia 22
The Builders Quarters 8 Ending the Adventure 22
The Map Room 8 Appendix I:
The Hall Guards 8 Compendium Classes 23
The Burial Chamber 9 The Hand of Kryos 23
Ending the Adventure 10 Tivati Vessel 23
2
Playing the Adventures
This book, and each adventure in it, assumes that its Using the Maps
reader -- you -- is the GM, and is laid out for you to One of the great guiding principles in Dungeon
provide information to the characters as they make World is to Draw maps and leave spaces.
their way through them. In The Silent Tomb Speaks, the Within this book are several maps you can use
characters learn there is a looming threat rising up to in your game. You can print them out from the
destroy the world as they know it. In The Mad Scientists PDF, use them as inspiration for drawing your
Experiments, they will come face to face with the own maps, or some combination of both. Dont
mechanical worms, one of the most insidious weapons feel limited by the maps: if there is something
of Kryos, The Dark and Rising Triune God. In the final you or your players want that isnt covered in the
adventure, The Madness in Hamish Mine, they will maps or in the adventure, by all means, throw
encounter the Triumvirate, three cults of Kryos whose it in!
fickle god turns on his servants and makes them turn on
themselves.
If you run only one adventure from this book, and The Town of Devils Reach
intend on eventually running others from this or future A blight at the edge of the map... is what most know
books in the series, The Madness in Hamish Mine is your about the town of Devils Reach. Built atop one of
best choice to begin with as it provides the most insight the deepest (and dangerous) silver mines ever delved,
into what will come later. The Impending Doom in any Devils Reach is an inhospitable place to live, and even
adventures not played will still occur, and the town they more difficult to make a living there. Most of the towns
left behind will likely not be the same when they return. population works in the mines for what amount to slave
At the end of each adventure, you will find a section wages, with nearly all of the businesses and services
on how to transition the adventure into the events of the controlled by the various mine owners.
next adventure, whenever the party believes they have There are two notable exceptions to this. The first
enough information to continue onward. is the Sick Dog, a bar and inn located in the middle of
town, owned by a half-orc named Dog-Face. Dog-Face
owes his livelihood to the towns mayor, Torvin Land.
Mayor Land tolerates the existence of the ill-reputed
The Setup: bar for one reason: it keeps the miners happy -- well, as
happy as they can be in as miserable a place as Devils
News and Rumors Reach -- with a place for them to drink and fight after a
Recently, some very disturbing things have happened hard day in the mines, keeping their disorderly behavior
around town and the Great Wizard Alastor has decided neatly contained within.
to look into them -- or, more accurately, as Alastor is The other exception is Alastors Emporium, owned
far too old for that kind of thing, he has sent a party of by Alastor Land, Torvins brother. Torvin allows his
up-and-coming adventurers to investigate them in his brother to run his little shop mostly to keep him out of
stead. The Silent Tomb has started to speak again, there his affairs. Alastor does a brisk business in potions that
is evidence of grave robberies, and rumors of strangers he displays on the wall behind his counter, while most of
engaged in vile deeds deep within the Hamish mine the other wares in his shop are rarely sold. Alastor sees a
-- any of these hooks should draw the characters into good amount of foot traffic as the towns inhabitants are
a particular adventure, or better yet, to explore all of drawn in by all of the wild magical items on display in
them. Each hook leads to a different adventure (The his large glass front window, and most who come in end
Silent Tomb Speaks, The Mad Scientists Experiments, up walking away with some kind of trinket or potion.
and The Madness in Hamish Mine), and each adventure
is modular so that it can lead into any of the other
adventures, or into the adventures of The Skies Over
Danbury, the next book in the Gears of the Worm God
series.
3
Opening Questions
Before you start any of the adventures, there are six Who Are The Tivati?
questions the players need to answer that will help The Tivati were a race of pure air and light,
tie their characters together, as well as customize the champions of Chaos and Good in the world. When
adventure for your group. The players should answer Kryos finished his conquest of the lower planes and
the following three questions before their characters turned his eyes to the material plane, the Tivati were
start their first adventure in Within the Devils Reach: the first to stand against him. They were known as
The town of Devils Reach is a pit at the far end master craftsmen of their day, and though few relics
of nowhere and Alastor Land is a great wizard who of their work survive today, they are among the
chooses his servants (including you) carefully. With most sought-after artifacts. Kryos was defeated and
that in mind: broken into three lesser gods by Aaleric, the leader
and chief artificer of the Tivati. Soon thereafter the
Tivati departed the material plane, rather than allow
1. What brought your character to Devils Reach? themselves to anointed and worshiped as god-kings
2. What did your character do that caught the by the mortals, which would lead to the corruption of
attention of Alastor? their pure nature. However, Aaleric remained, both
to guard against the return of Kryos and to protect
3. Your character has agreed to serve Alastor - why? a hidden cach of Kryos most dangerous weapons
from falling into the hands of any who might use
Bonds between their characters here, with the GM them.
providing guidance as necessary. If one player mentions
another players character during these questions, you Starting With an Adventure
should ask if that applies to a Bond that already exists
or if they should write a new Bond. Every player should, Any of the adventures in this book are a good place to
by the end of these questions, have some idea for their start a campaign. Whichever adventure you choose to
character to have a Bond with Alastor, and they should start with, make sure it starts in media res. In The Silent
write that Bond in their playbook. Tomb Speaks, for example, the characters should be
confronted by the wolves as they emerge from the cave
The remaining three questions are specific to each entrance. In The Mad Scientists Experiments, maybe the
adventure, and will be covered in each adventures characters discover Domerains zombies digging up a
introduction. Be sure to take notes of the answers body. Or in The Mines of Madness, the characters might
that players give to each question, reintroducing those begin in the mines as a group of miners turn a corner
elements when they have dealings with the town and and discover them. In any event, whatever you decide
Alastor. you absolutely should not start with the characters
in the Sick Dog (you all meet in a tavern...) or with
getting their orders from Alastor (a great wizard has
brought you together, and begins by telling you...) --
there may be no school like the old school, but theres
no need to stick too close to the old tropes to start your
adventuring.
If the players want their characters to return to
town before the adventure is over, you should remind
them that Alastor will surely be keeping tabs on their
progress and will not be impressed with anything less
than success. If they still insist on returning to town, you
should make sure to have some Grim Portent remind
them why they should have not shied away from their
assigned task.
4
The Silent Tomb Speaks
Fronts Questions
The GM should ask the players the following questions
The Tivati, the Lords of Air and before beginning the adventure, asking each question to
only one player, and not asking any player more than one
Light question. If there are only two players, ignore the last
question. Advice for the GM: direct the first question
to the player who seems the most disinterested:
Impending Doom
The looming darkness is rising again. If the mortals do 1. The Silent Tomb is said to be full of great treasures.
not deal with this, the Tivati must return to set things What do you hope to find down there?
right -- and the first place to suffer their wrath will be 2. The Silent Tomb is said to be guarded by a terrible
the stinking cesspit that is Devils Reach. monster. What do you fear it might be?
3. The Silent Tomb has begun to speak. What dark
truth about you are you afraid it might share?
Stakes
How close are the Four Winds to reviving their You should use the players answers, but twist them.
master Aaleric? If they mention a monster similar to one that already
Will Aaleric trust the party to deal with the rising resides within the Tomb, thats great, youre golden.
threat? But if they describe something totally off the wall, you
What will he do if he decides not to trust them? should take one of the monsters in the Tomb and turn it
into something like what they described. Doing that is
easy: keep the stats for the monster as listed, but re-skin
them by changing their description, giving them moves
Cast that make sense for their new skin. If they suggest
The Four Winds a fantastic treasure, place it in the Throne Room and
Aaleric have the beetle trap triggered if they remove it, or locate
it within the Builders Quarters and have the Seekers
Ghost want it badly enough to bargain for it. Whatever
dark truth the player describes for their character, you
Grim Portents should push the player to have the character reveal it
Aaleric calls to another mind to draw them in. to or for them to somehow allow it to be discovered by
The Four Winds begin to cleanse the tomb. the group.
One of the Four Winds enters town looking for
victims.
Locations:
Entrance
Dangers
The blue lantern trap
Foes
The wind tunnel trap
Wolves - d8 Damage, 1 Armor, 10 HP (close, forceful)
The Throne of Aaleric trap
Trip you to get you down to their level.
Aalerics phylactery
Drag you screaming into the cave.
Rend you with teeth and claws.
Instinct: to protect the den.
5
Environment The Throne Room
A cave entrance that turns into a twisting crypt with
alcoves containing bas-reliefs along the outer wall that
depict the Tivati, led by Aaleric, as they battle a great Foes
looming darkness. One of the alcoves has become the
wolves den. In the final alcove, there is a scene of Aaleric The beetle swarm - d6 Damage, 3 Armor, 10 HP (hand,
splitting Kryos into three parts with a mighty staff. tiny)
Pick up and drop you from a height.
Surround you and swarm over you (you take half
Loot the damage it is dealt).
A shield, a red lantern, oddments worth 1 Load and 5 Bite you with a thousand tiny mouths (Ignores
Gold, the body of a female fighter upon which is found Armor).
a silver coin embossed with a seven-pointed star. Instinct: To consume whatever it finds.
Magic Environment
The red lantern is part of a set of three that work together A large chamber, and in its middle a large marble statue
to unlock the room beyond. It appears to be work just of a figure seated upon a throne, a bald man about nine
like a normal lantern giving off good light when lit, feet tall wearing robes -- this is Aaleric. In his right
although red in color, and always has a full reserve of hand, he clenches a staff with a large crystal at the top,
oil no matter how long it burns, staying lit until it is put the staff he wielded as he broke Kryos, as the characters
out. A knob on the side of the lantern serves to focus will recognize from one of the bas-reliefs. His left
or widen the beam. The lanterns cannot be removed hand is open with two fingers pointing outward, as
from the Tomb unless carried by someone wearing the the four others curl back -- he has six fingers on each
Bracelet of the Builder (see below). hand. Upon his chest are several gems set into what
looks like a pendant carved into the marble, the stones
6
Around the room are three recessed areas. Within
two of these are differently colored lanterns hung on
chains. Each chain goes up into the dark of the hill
overhead. The lantern behind the throne is blue, the
one to its right green. The recess to the left has an empty
chain where a third lantern can hang, and the characters
will also find the desiccated body of a long-dead elf who
appears to have fallen to his death. If any of the lanterns
are lit, the other two light up as well.
Loot
If the stones can somehow be removed they will
certainly be of value. The lanterns, strangely alien and
obviously magic, are definitely valuable, but if anyone
attempts to remove them from the cave entry
they disappear from hand, reappearing on
the chain where they were found. The elf
has a leather tunic, a silver pentacle upon
which a seven-pointed star is embossed, and
a magic wand that can store one spell (anyone
can cast a spell into it and that spell replaces
any stored spell. Any wielder can then cast the
spell as normal, but it is lost on any result <10).
Magic
If anyone attempts to take the staff
from the statue, or if the throne is
left facing the blue lanterns recess, a
swarm of beetles pours out from the
mouth of the statue and attacks.
If the throne is rotated to face
the recesses to the right or left of the
entrance, with a lit lantern placed
within the recess, a strong wind blows up
that will raise or lower anyone to the upper
appearing to be part of the marble itself -- it is not levels above the alcoves.
obvious how they could have been placed there. On If all of the lanterns are placed on their chains, and
the ceiling over the throne is a large painted mural of a the two triangular crystals are in place, the wind trap
great, looming darkness. in the upper level is disengaged as bright white light
The statue rests upon a circular dais. Judging by from the top of the statues staff banishes the darkness
scratches and patterns in the deep dust around the painted above the throne.
Tomb, it appears that it can be rotated. There are two
triangular crystals sitting on pillars around the dais and
a third pillar stands empty.
7
Above the Green Lantern Loot
The body of a human thief floats at the top of the hallway
where it descends into the water. On his body can be
Foes found a silver disk embossed with a seven-pointed star, a
Ghost of the Thief - d10 Damage, 5 Armor, 15 HP dagger of ghost touch (which allows the bearer to +1d4
(close, stealthy, gibbous) damage to a ghost), the triangular crystal from the
throne room, a ruined set of clothes, a ring of feather
Hold you down under water. falling, and 15 gold.
Choke the life from you.
Flit away out of your reach.
Instinct: to keep anyone from removing the treasures he The Builders Workshop
died trying to take.
Environment
Environment Moldy parchments float in the water that has flooded
Most of this floor is submerged in water. Anyone who the room, and a large stone workbench sits in the
wishes to explore the area underwater will be defying middle.
the danger of drowning before they make it back to
the dry part of the hallway. If anyone takes a treasure
from the submerged rooms, they will be attacked by the
Ghost.
Builders
Quarters
Hall
Guards
Builders
Workshop
Map
Room
Above the
Green Lantern
8
Loot The Hall Guards
A Crafters Chisel (which allows the user to craft and
shape stone as if it were clay), +1 short sword, and a fist
full of Gems. Foes
The Ghost of the Elf appears, asking the party to return
his body to lay to rest in the town cemetery. He promises
The Builders Quarters to open the door from the other side and disarm the
trap if the party will do so.
Loot
The Bracelet of the Builder, a health potion, & 20 Gold.
Environment
There is a long hall with the Hall Guards, two statue
figures holding staves in their hands, sculpted to appear
as though they are charging down the hall, with a pit
Magic down to the Throne Room at the other end.
The Bracelet of the Builder allow the wearer to unlock
any door in the Tomb, makes the air elevators work
without moving the throne, and allows the character to
remove the staff from the statue and the lanterns from
Magic
the Tomb.The Bracelet is keyed to Aalerics tomb but The Hall Guards are a trap that blows any who fail a save
others exist, keyed to other locations. to the bottom floor (d10 Damage). If a party member
has the Bracelet of the Builder, or if the lanterns are lit
with the crystals in place, the trap does not go off. If the
trap is disarmed, the door is open.
The Map Room
9
While the body of Aaleric is no longer alive, the Loot
phylactery that contains his soul allows him to speak
to the characters, and he will ask any who are able to Aalerics phylactery carries his soul. If the proper ritual
cross the bridges and reach him to vow to end the evil with sacrifices is made, it will allow him to rise; if it is
rising in the land: Finish forever the Worm God. If taken and worn, it allows Aaleric to speak with and even
the players so vow, he will grant them his phylactery so through the wearer, providing the party with the ability
that he can keep track of them. If not, he will call his to re-roll one roll per adventure. As Aaleric grows in
guards to attack. If the players best his guards, he will strength, he will offer the phylacterys wearer greater
continue to beg them to fight the evil even as they leave. power, in exchange for greater control over the wearer.
10
The Mad Scientists Experiments
Fronts The Gnoll Temple
Domerain Impending Doom
The Gnolls will send enough bodies to the Cult of
Impending Doom Kryos that they will be able to take over Devils Reach.
If Domerain completes her work, the Horror will grow
and spread as it adds its victims to itself.
Stakes
Will Renveck see reason and stop desecrating
Stakes bodies?
What vile, unspeakable deed must Domerain Will the Gnoll fanatics allow the party to enter the
perpetrate to complete her work? temple?
Will the party be able to stop Domerain before her Will Drovas turn on his master and possess him
work is complete? with the spirit of Kryos?
Will Domerain be able to tempt one of the party
to help her?
Cast
Renveck, the High Priest of Venith
Cast Drovas, a Secret Adept of Kryos
Domerain the Weird
Dog-Face the Half-Orc
Dog-Faces men
Grim Portents
Bodies going missing from the graveyard.
Zombies rising from the Hamish Mine.
Grim Portents The Cult of Kryos taking over the town.
Bodies going missing from local graves.
Zombies with mechanical worms inside of them
attack. Dangers
A Horror is perpetrated. Gnoll Fanatics
Questions
The GM should ask the players the following questions
before beginning the adventure, asking each question to
only one player, and not asking any player more than one
question. If there are only two players, ignore the last
question. Advice for the GM: direct the first question
to the player who seems the most disinterested:
11
12
1. Mayor Land has invited a very strange woman to Environment
live in his private rooms above the Sick Dog. What
makes her so strange? The graveyard is always shrouded in mist, even on
bright, sunny days, and on an overcast night, it is
2. There are all kinds of rumors flying around town thicker than seems natural. The graveyard is a strange
about the Gnolls who have taken up residence in mix of burial plots and mausoleums spread about, filled
the old temple of Brol. What do you think they are with marked and unmarked graves alike. If the party
up to? investigates during the day, there is evidence of recent
3. There is evidence of a lot of nighttime activity in traffic throughout and tampering; if at night, they will
the town cemetery, and more than one grave seems meet the zombies and Gnolls already fighting each
to have been disturbed. What do you think is other.
happening?
You should use the players answers, but twist them. Loot
Make whatever the player says about Domerain true,
but far more terrible than they described. If they think There are bound to be things of value in the mausoleums
someone is creating zombies out in the graveyard, if the party decides to rob a few of them.
you are golden; if not, use what they told you and
either change what the zombies are to fit that. or even
misdirect the players so they think that the zombies are
what they think they are. The Gnolls are probably up
The Sick Dog
to more than simply desecrating bodies -- use what the
players come up with to make their aims far more broad
and sinister. Foes
Dog-Face - d12+2 Damage, 2 Armor, 10 HP (close)
Throw you into furniture and then make you pay
Locations for it.
Devils Reach Graveyard Hit you with a club.
Stab you with a knife.
Foes
Dog-Faces Men(5) - d6 Damage, 1 Armor, 10 HP
Zombies (3) - d8+2 Damage, 0 Armor, 10 HP (close, (close)
forceful, intelligent, construct)
Throw you into furniture and then make you pay
Biting and infecting you (-CON Debility). for it.
Slamming into you with fists. Hit you with a club.
Tearing off a limb to replace one that is lost. Stab you with a knife.
13
Domerains Lab
Foes
Domerain - d10 Damage (Ignores Armor) 1
Armor, 10 HP
Throw a barbed syringe at you.
Plunge a syringe that is already in you
(-CON Debility).
Hack at you with her bone knife.
Environment
Domerain has 5 zombies stationed in the outer room of Magic
her apartment. The zombies appear to be going about
mundane tasks but will attack if anyone enters. If someone gets injected with a syringe they take 1
Damage every time they make a move. If they die before
The inner room of her apartment is both bedroom being healed, the hard bargain is to come back as an
and laboratory. There is a bed in one corner, and in the Undead to fight for Domerain. If Domerain is killed
other a long table where Domerain has been working they continue as normal, but remain Undead.
on her Horror.
When the Horror is defeated, it spills out tiny gears,
wires, and hydraulics everywhere. Alastor will be very
interested in finding out all he can about the Horror,
Loot and will definitely want to examine the mechanical
Domerains syringes (5 of them, worth 15 Gold each), a worm.
mechanical worm in a vial, 9 Load and 30 Gold worth
of laboratory equipment.
14
The Outer Temple
Foes
Gnoll Fanatics (10) - d8+3 Damage, 1 Armor, 6 HP
(close, blessed, intelligent)
Biting and rending your flesh.
Stabbing you with wicked knives.
Throwing you over a pew.
Environment
The outer temple was once used to house human
worshipers but is now an encampment for transient
Gnolls. Most of the pews have been ripped up to be
used as firewood. Filthy beds litter the floor. The Gnolls
are not happy about having visitors and will likely attack
if they are threatened or accused.
Foes Foes
Drovas - d8+3 Damage, 1 Armor, 6 HP (close, blessed,
Renveck - d8+3 Damage, 1 Armor, 6 HP (close, blessed, intelligent, magical)
intelligent, magical)
Casting spells to hurt or trick you.
Casting spells to hurt or trick you.
Stabbing you with wicked knives.
Stabbing you with wicked knives.
Raising dead bodies to fight you.
Throwing you over the altar.
Environment Environment
In the woods behind the temple, Drovas has constructed
The Inner Temple was once home to an altar to Brol, a crude altar to Kryos, and has been desecrating bodies
but has now been corrupted into the worship of Venith. for use by his brothers in Hamish Mine.
Renveck is not as hostile as his followers, and may even
try and talk with the characters if there is some kind of
break in the fighting.
15
The Madness in Hamish Mine
Fronts Cast
Lord Chaplain Durras
The Triumvirate The Templars of Brol
Impending Doom Grim Portents
The Aspect of Kryos will rise from its pool, spreading The Templars bar their temple and the sound of
mechanical worm zombies all over Devils Reach. battle chants begin.
The Templars take control of the elevator.
Stakes The Templars march on Hamish Mine.
Will the party discover the Aspect of Kryos before
it reaches full power? Note: if one of your players is playing a Cleric or
Will the cultists who created the Aspect turn against Paladin, think about changing Brol into whatever god
it when they realize it is a threat to all, including the character serves. If the Templars recognize their
them? holy symbol, they are likely not to immediately react
with violence.
Cast
The Aspect of Kryos
Mechanical Worm Zombies
Grim Portents
Visions of Kryos, plaguing those in the mine and
below.
The zombies begin to show up in the other cults
territories.
The Aspect of Kryos rises from its pool.
Impending Doom
The Templars will destroy Hamish Mine, converting
and enslave the miners and the town above.
Stakes
Will the Templars ally themselves with the party?
Will the Templars work to end the fighting before
rising to take control of the mine?
16
The Temple of Venith The Temple of Shia
Stakes Stakes
Will the Gnolls ally themselves with the party? Will the priests ally with the party?
Will the Gnolls sacrifice the high priests of the Can the priests keep control of their zombie army as
other orders? the Aspect of Kryos gaining strength?
Cast Cast
Grashnat, a High Priest of Venith Horbath
Gnoll fanatics Boglin and Janna Veris
17
Questions
The GM should ask the players the following questions
before beginning the adventure, asking each question to
only one player, and not asking any player more than one
question. If there are only two players, ignore the last
question. Advice for the GM: direct the first question
to the player who seems the most disinterested:
18
The Hall of the
Environment
At one end of the chamber is the elevator up to the
Triumvirate mine. At the other end, is the door to the Outer Temple
of Shia. To the right is the door to the Outer Temple of
Venith, and to the left is the door to the Outer Temple
of Brol. To the right of the door to Brols temple is a
Foes spiral staircase that follows along the wall, going over
The Aspect of Kryos waits within the pool, staying the other two doors up to a large platform above the
there until all of the non-player characters within the door to Veniths temple. In the center of the room,
mine are turned into zombies, or its presence has been under the far edge of the platform is a large murky green
revealed to the characters. If any of the factions have pool, surrounded with arcane symbols.
begun to move against the others, this room will either
be filled with their troops, or with the troops of two or
more factions fighting.
Magic
The pool draws in power from every death in the mine,
The Aspect of Kryos - d12+1 Damage, 4 Armor, 48
slowly stirring and simmering with each extinguished
HP (reach)
life, and deep within it, the Aspect of Kryos reaches out
Invade your mind. to stir up trouble between the cults that make up the
Control a zombie. Triumvirate.
Smash you with its tentacles.
Environment
One large barracks, a larger industrial forge, and an even
larger practice arena takes up the entrance to this temple.
If the Templars are still preparing, they will likely be
evenly distributed among these three areas. If they have
begun to raid the mine above for slaves, these chambers
will be guarded by only two Templars per room.
Loot
There are fresh weapons of every variety within the
Outer Temple of Brol. Most of them provide +1 to
both Hack & Slash rolls and Damage rolls.
19
The Inner Temple of Brol Environment
If the Templars are still preparing, Durras will be in
his quarters, deep in prayer to his dark goddess. If the
Foes harvesting of slaves has begun, Durras will be in the
main arena sitting upon his umber hulk skull throne,
Lord Chaplain Durras - d12 Damage, 4 Armor, 16 HP as he watches his two best Templars fight to the death,
(close, magical) attempting to foresee what Brol desires of him next.
Smash you with his mighty hammer.
Call forth reinforcements.
Cast healing upon his wounded Templars. Loot
If the party defeats Durras, he has a hammer that gives
+2 to Hack & Slash rolls, a shield that gives +2 to
Templars of Brol - d10 Damage, 2 Armor, 8 HP Defend rolls, and a helm that gives +2 Armor
Knock you down with their shield.
Hack at you with their sword.
Control undead.
Magic
Anyone who sits on the throne while combatants fight
below can Discern Realities as though they are anywhere
else so long as they can describe the place.
20
The Outer Temple of Environment
The Inner Temple of Venith is a large chamber with a
Venith raised dais in the center. If the sacrifices have begun,
most of the Gnolls will be found here, or in the other
Loot
There is much that would be of use to a practitioner of
magical arts, but most of it is in use and would need to
be disassembled if the party wishes to take any of it with
them.
21
The Inner Temple of Shia Ending the Adventure
If the party are able to get any information about
what the cults were doing, either from surviving cult
Foes members, or from other evidence found (papers, ritual
Horbath - d10 Damage, 4 Armor, 20 HP (close, items, etc.), they will likely report this to Alastor.
magical) Alastor will recognize just how dangerous all of this is,
and will dispatch the party send them to track down
Cast a spell upon you. his own old adventuring party -- this quest to bring
Command zombies to attack. Alastors old party together again will be covered in The
Raise zombies from the floor. Skies Over Danbury.
Environment
Horbath has no quarters as he never sleeps,
spending all his time absorbed in experiments
in his private lab. Even if the party kill his two
lieutenants, Horbath is still willing to talk to the
party, as he has felt his control slipping since the
Aspect of Kryos was awakened.
Loot
Horbath has 400 Gold, 18 blank scrolls, and
various potions and poisons in a hidden chamber at
the back of the lab.
22
Appendix I: Compendium Classes
The Hand of Kryos Tivati Vessel
If a character dies after being infected with mechanical If a player dies while wearing Aalerics phylactery,
worms, Death does not greet them. Rather it is Kryos Death does not greet them. Rather, once the danger
himself, three faces superimposed upon each other -- that felled them has passed, they gain this move:
a china mask, a handsome male face, and a gruesome
face of writhing, mechanical worms -- tempting them
to return as his servant. If they agree, Kryos will return Aalerics Protection:
them to life, and they now have this move: When you die while wearing Aalerics phylactery, do
not roll last breath. As soon as your body is no longer
in danger, Aaleric revives you.
Hand of Kryos:
If you have Aalerics Protection these moves
The voice of Kryos speaks to you and commands count as class moves.
you; if you obey his command, mark experience; if
you disobey Kryos will, mark experience and take -1
forward until you complete a task for Kryos. Speak to the Wind:
If you have Hand of Kryos these moves count When you call upon the wind to answer you, you may
as class moves: Discern Realities about any place the wind blows.
Feet of Kryos:
When you calm yourself and attempt to sense the The Four Winds:
servants of Kryos, roll +WIS. On a hit you get a good When you spend time communing with the spirits of
sense of where the nearest servant of Kryos is. On the Tivati, roll +WIS. On a 10+ take 4 hold forward,
a 10+, you take +1 forward when dealing with that on a 7-9 take 2 hold forward. You may spend your
creature. On a miss, you feel so strongly drawn to the hold any time you are threatened 1-for-1 to call forth
servant of Kryos that you take - 1 forward until you one of the Four Winds to protect you. On a miss, you
encounter a servant of Kryos. have angered the Tivati and lose access to all of the
Tivati Vessel moves except Aalerics Protection until
you can commune again.
Will of Kryos:
When you announce yourself as a Hand of Kryos in
the presence of the servants of Kryos, roll +CHA. On
a hit, a number of Kryos servants equal to your level
that are present immediately fall under your control
and the rest flee your presence. On a miss, all servants
of Kryos present attack you.
23
Appendix II: Bestiary
Beetle Swarm Miners
d6 Damage, 3 Armor, 10 HP (hand, tiny) d6 Damage, 10 HP, 1 Armor (close)
Pick up and drop you from a height. Stab you with a pickaxe.
Surround you and swarm over you (you take half Mind their own business.
the damage it is dealt). Sound the alarm.
Bite you with a thousand tiny mouths (Ignores Instinct: To mind their own business.
Armor).
Instinct: To consume whatever it finds.
Necromancer
Bouncers d10 Damage, 2 Armor, 18 HP (close, magical)
Cast a spell upon you.
d6 Damage, 1 Armor, 10 HP (close)
Command zombies to attack you.
Throw you into furniture and then make you pay
Attack you with their staff.
for it.
Instinct: To gain power over death.
Hit you with a club.
Stab you with a knife.
Instinct: To do as the boss tells them to. Templars of Brol
d10 Damage, 2 Armor, 8 HP
The Four Winds Sound the alarm.
Surround you and cut off your escape.
d8+2 Damage, 5 Armor, 11 HP
Hack at you with their swords.
Knock you off a bridge into the pit below.
Instinct: To serve their Lord Chaplain.
Strike at you with its longsword.
Move from one place to another instantly.
Instinct: To protect the Tivati. Undead Horror
d10 Damage, 3 Armor, 18 HP (reach)
Ghost Throw you into a wall.
Throw you out a window.
d10 Damage, 5 Armor, 15 HP (close, stealthy, gib-
Tear off your limbs & incorporate them into itself.
bous)
Instinct: To revenge itself upon the living.
Hold you down under water.
Choke the life from you.
Flit away out of your reach. Wolves
Instinct: To revenge itself upon the living. d8 Damage, 1 Armor, 10 HP (close, forceful)
Trip you to get you down to their level.
Gnoll Fanatics Drag you screaming into the cave.
Rend you with teeth and claws.
d8+3 Damage, 1 Armor, 6 HP (close, blessed, intel-
Instinct: to protect the den.
ligent)
Biting and rending your flesh.
Stabbing you with wicked knives. Zombies
Throwing you around. d8+2 Damage, 0 Armor, 10 HP (close, forceful,
Instinct: To kill outsiders. intelligent, construct)
Biting and infecting you (-CON Debility).
Slamming into you with fists.
Tearing off a limb to replace one that is lost.
Instinct: To return to Domerain with fresh corpses.
24
GEARS
OF THE
WORM GOD
Within the Devils Reach is a set of three introductory adventures for
Dungeon World. You are adventurers from Devils Reach, a little town
on the backside of nowhere and people have been disappearing. To
make matters worse there are a lot of new faces in town including some
weirdo that the mayor brought but no one quite knows why. But the
worst bit is that there is a cave, just outside of town that has been silent
for years and it just started speaking.
What are you and your band of friends going to do? Find out in, Within
the Devils Reach, the first in a series of adventure books that will
take players across a wide fantasy world and pit them against pirates,
dragons, mechanized undead and a god of pure reason and evil. The
full adventure set, Gears of the Worm God, kicks off with a bang and
ends in blood.