TTRPG ADVENTURE

THE CURSED TUMULUS

Idea

  • TTRPG adventure module for dungeons and dragons 5th edition.
  • Adaptation of graphic novel Hel’blar (by Alex and Sergio Sierra) into an interactive experience.
  • Modification of standard rules to fit thematic experience of the player.
    NOTE: Please don’t read this if you are a player and your group will play this module. SPOILERS AHEAD!

Story

  • The Jarl of Larvik just returned with his men from a raiding party. They found their town in chaos with undead roaming the streets.
  • Larvik has been attacked by a group of terrifying draugar (undead creatures with some similarities to vampires).
  • Not only that, the children of the Jarl and the Jarl’s sister have been abducted by these monsters.
  • A search party must be formed to rescue the children and kill the undead abominations.

Maps

Scandinavia's populated areas

Adventure area

Southern part of Vestfold Kingdom (south-west of real world Oslo)

Larvik surroundings

Adventure's playable area

Town of Larvik

Marking key locations

Farm

River crossing

Tjolling

Tumulus

Encounter flow

The adventure follows a linear story structure, with the exception of events 4 and 5 which can be done in order or simultaniously (splitting the party). These are the events:

  1. Arrival to Larvik: First fight with undead enemies. RP to discover what happened. Starts the quest to chase the draugar.
  2. Destroyed farm: Small fight and info gathering about draugar current whereabouts.
  3. River crossing: Tough fight with one of the draugar and some wolf minions.
  4. Cave: Recovery from wounds and info gathering about how to kill the draugar indefinitely. Surprise attack.
  5. Town of Tjolling: Big fight with undead that can be avoided with stealth. Information gathering about how to protect from draugar attacks.
  6. Cursed Tumulus: Final boss fight.
Flow of the linear adventure with the different encounters

DnD modifications

To fit the viking theme these are the modifications made:

  • Human is the only playable race.
  • There is magic, but it is rare. However the gods and all norse mythology is real.
  • The classes usable by players are defined by the viking archetype (as shown in the table).
  • Wilderness traversal rules: to avoid blocking part of the adventure behind a single rol, if the roll fails they will face further opposition but they will still reach they’re destination in time.
  • Homebrew enemies:
    • Undead (Aptergangr)
    • Draugar
    • Draugar boss
    • The Unmentionable
  • Favored by the Norns mechanic: mechanic that allows players re-rolling bad rolls with many caveats of course.

Objectives and obstacles

Objectives:

  • Primary objective: Rescue the children.
  • Secondary objetive: Discover why undead appeared and undo whatever curse brought them to this world.

Obstacles:

  • Monsters:
    • Draugar: Once men they were cursed after death and came back as draugar. Very similar to vampires: must eat blood, very powerful
    • Undead (Aptergangr): Towns people that have been drained by the draugar and have become undead. Can only be killed by removing their head.
    • Dire wolves: Wolves controlled by the draugar.
    • The Unmentionable: Demon trapped in the tumulus. Mastermind behind the curse, will stay in the shadows (possible BBEG for another adventure after this one).
  • Wilderness traversal: The players are chasing an enemy with almost half a day of a head start.
  • Lack of information: Players will have to unravel the mistery of the abduction, the location and weak spots of the monsters and the curse that started everything.

PDF

You can download the full PDF (in Spanish) here: El túmulo maldito