Sample file Tower of the Mad Twins An adventure for four to five characters of levels 4-10 Version 1.3 Background: Nimgyu Cartography: Chris Bissette, Erin Harvey Cover & Internal Art: Patrick E. Pullen Editor: Ginny Loveday Production and Layout: Jeff C. Stevens Written by: Jeff C. Stevens @jcorvinstevens www.jeffstevensgames.com DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards of the Coast. This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast. ©2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK. All other original material in this work is copyright [2019] by Jeff C. Stevens and published under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild Sample file 2 | Tower of the Mad Twins Looking for more adventures and supplements? Sample file 3 | Tower of the Mad Twins Using this Supplement Average Party Level This adventure introduces a generic halfling The Average Party Level (APL) can be used to village called Dove’s Hollow, which should be calculate the appropriate challenge level for easy to insert into most campaigns. your party. To calculate the APL, add the total levels of all characters and divide the sum by Text in these yellow boxes is to be read to the number of characters (rounding up for .5 or players. greater). Text in grey boxes is for the DM only and should You Are the Dungeon Master not be read to players. As mentioned above, you do not have to run this adventure as written. You are empowered Creatures to make changes as you wish – adjusting the Most of the creatures in this adventure are encounters as the game is played, if you like. If found in the 5th Edition Monster Manual. Page you think the adventure is too big, cut out a numbers have been included for easy reference room or two. If the threats are too easy, give but depending on the printing edition of your them additional hit points or an extra attack. Monster Manual, they may not match. Find Any Errors? Unless otherwise noted, all NPCs have the stats We tried to make this perfect but I’m sure we of a commoner. missed a thing or two. If you find something, or just have a question, send me a message: Maps Unless otherwise noted, for all maps: www.jeffstevensgames.com 1 square = 5 feet. You can also download the maps from the Dungeon Masters Guild. Using NPCs During the adventure the party is introduced to several NPCs. This is your chance to engage with the characters and players. Many of the NPCs have personalities written, but feel free to adjusts those personalities based on the actions of the characters. Sample file 4 | Tower of the Mad Twins The Lighthearts’ paranoia caused them to seal Background the tower’s basement – filling it with traps and A halfling girl, Naona, has contracted a rare using it as a storage area for the Balaba fruit. halfling disease known as Ling-Rot. The disease The only means of accessing the basement is via is hereditary, but can remain dormant for a portal located on the top level of the tower. several generations, only to surface and cause havoc to a family. Ling-Rot begins as a small, The two also hired an alchemist to craft two black spot near the sternum. The spot continues potions; one to sprinkle around the soil of the to grow on the skin and internally. It is a slow tree which keeps the fruit from ripening, and and painful disease; one for which healing another to pour over the unripe fruit which magic has no effect. The only cure is a poultice causes it to ripen instantly. These potions made from the ripe fruit of a rare tree - the protect their fruit, allowing them an endless Balaba Tree. supply of ripe Balaba fruit which they now crave. They didn’t believe that they could trust Naona’s mother, Kylia, is worried about her the alchemist however, so the poor soul now daughter and her tardy husband. When she first spends his days in a cell deep within the meets the adventurers, she assumes they have dungeon. come to assist in gathering the fruit to save her daughter. The Lighthearts have also hired security details. A group of bugbears guards the area around Naona’s father, Pinsot, left the village to the Lighthearts’ tower, and a group of brigands, retrieve a fruit for the poultice. He should have led by Captain Slice (human woman), patrol the returned yesterday, however the forest is ripe forest. These brigands rarely visit the halfling with bandits. Pinsot fell into a trap and is now a village. When they do though, they are often prisoner at the bandit camp. disrespectful and cause mayhem. A Balaba Tree grows two-day’s journey from the Adventure Synopsis village. However, it is guarded by Devaston The goal of the adventure is to recover a ripe Lightheart, an evil halfling rogue, and Mila, his Balaba fruit, returning it to the village so a wizardly twin sister. They now control the tree poultice can be created to save the afflicted and its fruit. Mila fell ill with Ling-Rot fifteen Naona. summers ago, and she was the last known case of the disease in this region. Devaston traveled The party must journey to the Balaba Tree, to the tree with Mila, crafted the poultice, and which could include several wilderness healed his sister. encounters at the DMs discretion. They may also save the girl’s father, release a captive Devaston and Mila grew hungry as she healed, alchemist, and free a couple of servants. The so the two ate the ripe fruit from the tree. The finale of the adventure includes options for fruit of the Balaba tree, when used as a roleplay, negotiation, and combat. poultice, and when consumed in small amounts, has no ill effects. However, if the fruit is consumed regularly, it begins to twist the mind of the consumer, turning it into a paranoid and evil being. Many of the forest animals have learned not to eat the fruit. Unfortunately, SampleDevaston and Mila did not know this. file 5 | Tower of the Mad Twins Running the Adventure Important NPCs The adventure is written for four to five Naona Brownshoe – the young halfling girl characters with an Average Party Level (APL) afflicted with Ling-Rot. between 4 and 6. Scaling Suggestions have been Pinsot Brownshoe – Naona’s halfling father added for adventuring parties with an APL up to Kylia Brownshoe – Naona’s halfling mother 10. Scaling options have not been included for treasure, rewards, or experience. Devaston Lightfoot – halfling rogue Mila Lightfoot – halfling Necromancer A portion of this adventure involves trekking Captain Slice – female human Brigand Captain through a forest and assumes an average party base walking speed of 30 feet. The total walking distance is 40 miles and should require two full- Adventure Hooks days of travel. • The party notices a wanted poster in a tavern that reads ‘There is a sick child in Not all encounters or puzzles in this adventure Dove’s Hollow – please help if you can.’ will be a challenge; some are only present to • The party overhear a few townsfolk enhance the tone of the adventure. speaking about a sick halfling child. If asked about the child, they state ‘She lives in Dove’s Hollow – a halfling village NPCs and Scaling not far from here. They say she has Unless otherwise noted, all NPCs have the something called Ling-Rot.’ statistics of a commoner (MM, p 345). • The party, while traveling along the countryside as they look for their next Creature scaling suggestions are included. Use profitable adventure, come upon a the below to scale the skills checks and saving village of several small huts, with a throws. couple of larger buildings in the town • APL 7-8 add 1 to all written checks and square. They overhear two halfling men saves discussing a dire situation. • APL 9-10 add 2 to all written checks and saves Dove’s Hollow Feel free to change whatever you want in this Dove’s Hollow is a small halfling village that lies adventure, using it more like a guide for your along a major road. It is often used as a personal DMing style and placing it as you wish waypoint for travelers, and the village has in your campaign. constructed a large inn to accommodate larger- sized travelers. The village includes a It is suggested that you read this module at blacksmith, a supply store, and a healer; all of least once before running it so that you have an which could supply the party with mundane and understanding of the encounters and hazards it basic items. includes, allowing you to make any adjustments that you feel are necessary for your adventuring party. That being said, be prepared to be Sampleunprepared and just roll with it. file 6 | Tower of the Mad Twins Dove’s Hollow Sample file 7 | Tower of the Mad Twins character had a distant relative who passed Chapter 1 – The Afflicted from the disease.