Heart of Darkness | Campaign book

A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger sends a group of unlikely heroes on a dire mission. One thing is certain - they've been tricked by a sinister entity much more powerful than themselves. And should they fail, they stand to lose much more than just their mortal lives.

Heart of Darkness is a tier 2 adventure module for 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons. It can take player characters from levels 4 to 10 using milestone-based leveling. The campaign contains three distinct phases. Chapters 1-2 are a mostly linear introduction to the main quest of the campaign, with a series of events and locations that gradually open up, inviting the players to explore. Chapters 3-5 detail three discrete open world regions, each of which features their own settlements, dungeons, random encounters and quests. It's up to the players to decide which path they want to take and whom they wish to align with to resolve their main quest. Chapter 6 is the grand conclusion of the campaign's story, in which many of the choices they made in prior chapters will greatly impact the outcome of their adventure.

What's inside

• 202 pages between six chapters, an introduction and appendices
• 7 tables of random encounters per region, 7 settlements, 7 dungeons
• 75 new enemy statblocks of all creature types, ranging from CR 1/4 to 15
• 6 new spells used in enemy statblocks and dungeons and 18 new magic items for the players to find on their journey
• An appendix of optional mechanics that enhance different aspects of the campaign: crafting equipment from different metals, expanded travel rules, changing weather effects, and nighttime encounters when camping in the wilderness
• A guide for running the preparatory session 0 and making your players' characters relevant to the setting with options for deities, warlock patrons, and backstory prompts — the player-facing companion document to that section is available for free here
• Plentiful interior illustrations and maps drawn by me in a distinct style to give the campaign a unique look and feel — with the exception of two beautiful landscape pieces by Magdalena "barn-swallow" Pietrzak

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