Monster Monday: Bounty Hunters for Barrows & Borderlands and Swords & Wizardry

        

For Barrows and Borderlands

BOUNTY HUNTER. AC 2 (17) | HD 3 | #E 1 | MV 60’ | THAC0 15 | #A 1 (1d10) | SV 12 | ML 8 | AL Neutral | XP 47 | T (I) Description: Bounty hunters seek prey throughout the Polyverse, some are pure business while others are sadists who have found a way to earn a living while serving their darkest desires. Their guild is both powerful and vigilant, and will not tolerate one of their own being injured or looking foolish.

OSR Heroes: The Human Tank for Guardians

The Human Tank (Level 3) for Guardians

Sgt. Ellen Vanderbuilt

Strength 10/30 (+0/+9) Melee 4d6 damage

Dexterity 12 (+0)

Constitution 17 (+2)

Intelligence 18 (+3)

Wisdom 17 (+2)
Charisma 12 (+0)

Energy Points 8
Hit Points 35

Saving Throw 9+

Bonus To Hit +6 melee; +3 ranged

AC 17

Origin: Mutant

Class: Bruiser (Unstoppable; Acrobatic)

Gifts: Hacker

Powers: Armor; Projectile Fire; Super Strength x2; Super Speed

Limits: Bound (Merlin); Power Focus (Talisman)

Issue: Bad Press (from Mutant); Enemy (Warmaster); Phobia (Heights)

Money: $5,000

Languages: Chinese; French; German

OSR Heroes: Mister Hex for Guardians

Mister Hex (Level 3) for Guardians

Aidan Doyle

Strength 14 (+1)

Dexterity 12 (+0)

Constitution 16 (+2)

Intelligence 19 (+3)

Wisdom 13 (+1)
Charisma 19 (+3)

Energy Points 12
Hit Points 26

Saving Throw 10+

Bonus To Hit +3 melee; +2 ranged

AC 15 (ballistic bodysuit)

Origin: Supernatural 

Class: Power-Wielder

Gifts: Detective; Occultist

Powers: Bad Luck; Invisibility; Mind Blast; Retrocognition, True Sight

Limits: Bound (Merlin); Power Focus (Talisman)

Issue: Duty (C.A.M.E.L.O.T.)

Money: $7,000

Languages: Brythonic, Hebrew, Latin

Monster Monday: Primal's Man Bats for Barrows & Borderlands

        

For Barrows and Borderlands

MAN BATS. AC 5 (14) | HD 3+2 | #E 1-8 | MV 90’ (fly) | 

THAC0 15 | #A 1 (1d6+1) | SV 12 | ML 9 | AL Chaotic | XP 35 |

T (III) Description: Man Bats are a race of large dinosaur-sized chiropterans and serve as the minions/pawns of a mega spiders, with whom they share a symbiotic relationship.

Contents

Barrows & Borderlands: Skulltakers

       

For Barrows and Borderlands

SKULLTAKER. AC 3 (16 | HD 6 | #E 1 | MV 60’ | THAC0 13 |  
#A 2 (1d12) | SV 9 | ML 10 | AL Chaotic | XP 950 | T (IV) Description: I 'Skari, colloquially known as Skulltakers, hail from Tau Ceti and have a reputation as fierce killers and dogged bounty hunters. They insist on keeping the skulls of their victims on their backs, which helps attract a quality mate in their once-every-decade mating rituals. Once the ritual is over, they shed their skulls and begin their hunt anew until their next mating season.

Monster Monday: Conan's Night God for Swords & Wizardry

      

Night-God for Swords and Wizardry

Hit Dice: 5
Armor Class: 5 [14]
Attacks: L1 bite (1d8+1)
Saving Throw: 5 (fly 60)
Morale: 11
Special: Carry airborne
Move: 9/18 (flying)
Alignment: Chaos
Number Encountered: One
% in Lair: 40 
Challenge Level/XP: 5/240

The Night-God was a time-forgotten entity, worshiped in Shadizar, Zamora. It was served by a cult of red-clothed acolytes, led by the priestess Hajii, who kidnapped a young girl each month and took her to a minaret as an offering to keep the peace with the Night-God (despite never having seen it).

If the Night-God is flying and hits with its bite, it gains enough hold to carry the foe into the air to drop.

If you like this post and others like it and have an extra $1 a month, please consider becoming a Patron of Cross Planes at Patreon.

Barrows & Borderlands: Kzin Race & NPCs

 KZIN for Barrows and Borderlands

+1 STR, +1 WIS

Infravision 60'.

Bite for 1d4 damage.

2:6 Climb Sheer Surfaces.


KZIN. AC 8 | HD 1 | #E 3-18 | MV 40’ | THAC0 19 |  
#A 1 (1d4 or by weapon) | SV15 | ML 10 | AL Varies | XP 10 | T (I) Description: Kzinti were bipedal digitigrade felines with orange fur, yellow eyes, pronounced fangs, ears resembling bat wings, four-fingered hands, and long tails. Males stood over two meters tall, with broad hunching shoulders and comparatively slender waists and limbs. Their internal anatomy included ribs with vertical bracing and multiple hearts. They breathed atmosphere similar to that of Humans. As carnivores, they were acutely averse to the consumption of plants. Their physical attributes made them powerful combatants.

Monster Monday: Wookies for Barrows and Boderlands

Over the weekend, I learned of Barrows and Borderlands when the author described it as "seeing Solomon Kane fighting a Sorcerer with a raygun while riding a velociraptor. It is also compatible with most OSR games and Original Modules". I went to the game's site and bought the box set because how could I not?

It's based on the Little Brown Books and is compatible with Swords and Wizardry, and it's a blast. There is a free PDF supplement featuring the Paladin, Geiger, and Chronomancer classes as well as the Comeliness Ability Score, and new Races and Psychic disciplines. BnB uses a roll to cast system for casting spells and a different roll to manifest system for psychic powers.

I decided to work up Wookies for it as both a playable race and as NPCs.

WOOKIE for Barrows and Borderlands
+2 STR, +1 CON, -1 CHA

2:6 Climb Sheer Surfaces.

Deal two-handed damage when wielding a melee weapon with one hand.

1/day go berserk for 1d6 rounds and deal +2 to melee damage and gain 2 damage reduction.


WOOKIES. AC 7 | HD 2 | #E 2–12 | MV 40’ | THAC0 19 |
#A 3 (1d8 or by weapon) | SV14 | ML 10 | AL Neutral or Chaotic | XP 20 | T (IV) Description: They are a species of tall, hairy humanoids from another world. They are quite strong and have been known to rip people's arms out of their sockets when provoked.

They have extendable claws, which they use for climbing; using them for anything else violates the Wookiee honor code. Despite their fearsome appearance and volatile temperament, they are regarded as intelligent, sophisticated, loyal, and trusting.

When angered, Wookiees are known to descend into a berserker rage for 1d6 rounds and deal +2 damage with melee weapons and gain 2 damage reduction. They can do this 1/day.

Help Our Local LGBTQ+ Organization and Win a Shadowdark Premium Core Hardcover!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/256987785780

Comic Book World is selling a Brand New, Sealed, Shadowdark Role Playing Game Premium Core Hardcover from The Arcane Library. All proceeds minus eBay fees will be donated to FlorenceKY Pride to help our local LGBTQ+ community.

Comic Book World was founded in 1981 and has been supporting all members of our local community ever since. Our company was founded by Paul & Cathy Mullins, and is currently run by their daughter, Priscilla Craddock, and her husband, Mark. Three of our children, Heather, Matthew, and Emma, also work for the company. 

Magic-Item Monday: Simon Belmon'ts Chain Morning Star for Shadowdark

Simon Belmont's Chain Morning Star for Shadowdark

Blessed silver chain whip.

Bonus. +3 chain morning star.

Benefit. It is a silver finesse melee weapon with a range of near that deals 2d4 damage. If you can use a club you can use this magic item.

Monster Monday: The Hush for Shadowdark

The Hush for Shadowdark

PDF download here.

Septimus Odrik, the Necromancer Lord of Haverhill and the author of the Infernemans, a treatise on undeath containing rituals for the creation of different types of undead. The ritual requires at least five children with innate magical ability to be sacrificed to Orcus over a period of several days.

AC 13, HP 19, ATK 2 death touch +3 (1d6 + life drain), MV near, 

S -1, D +3, C +1, I +0, W +1, Ch +0, AL C, LV 4

Undead. Immune to morale checks

Incorporeal. In place of attacks become corporeal or incorporeal.

Life Drain. 1d4 CON damage. Death if reduced to 0 CON.

Silence of the Grave. Sound is muted within near of the Hush. Creatures inside the area are defened, and any sounds they create cannot be heard.

New Release Warlock Patron: Saint Aramys for Shadowdark

Art by James Shields

I've just released a new Warlock Patron, Saint Aramys for Shadowdark. She is the slayer of the unquiet dead, the patron of those who survived. She empowers their victims so they can wage a personal war against the undead who preyed upon them.

Its up for sale exclusively at DriveThruRPG.

Monster Monday: Cylon Centurion for Shadowdark

Cylon Centurions for Shadowdark

PDF download here.

“The Cylons are the creation of a long-extinct reptilian humanoid race, also called Cylons, and view humans as a nuisance and an obstacle to the expansion of the Cylon Empire. The armies of metallic, armored Cylon Centurions are ruled by a unique, yet replaceable, Cylon known as the Imperious Leader.”

AC 15, HP 12, ATK 1 rifle (near) +3 (1d6+2) or 1 fist +3 (1d6), 

MV near, S +3, D +3, C +3, I +0, W +3, Ch +0, AL C, LV 2

Blaster. The rifle’s damage die explodes if a 6 is rolled and there is no cap.

Impervious. Cold immune.

Masters of the Universe: Man-At-Arms' Armor and Mace for Shadowdark

 

Armor of the Man-at-Arms for Shadowdark

Mythral and leather plate left over from the Eternian Epoch.

Bonus. +2 

Benefit. AC 18 (includes magic bonus). Ignore any damage dealt to you of 3 points or less. Undetected creatures do not have advantage to attack you. You can wield any weapon.

Mace of the Man-at-Arms

Mythral mace. 

Bonus. +2.

Benefit. Shoot a bolt of energy near with DEX, 1d8+2 damage (includes magic bonus to damage). 

Monster Monday: Warduke for Shadowdark

WARDUKE for Shadowdark

Download PDF here.

“A true fighter,” Warduke feels, “makes himself rich and powerful by the strength of his sword arm. He takes what he can—if you would keep your possessions, kill those who seek to take them.” He calls his sword “Nightwind.”

AC 15 (chainmail + shield), HP 38, ATK 3 +3 flametongue sword +6 (1d8+1d4+3), MV near, S +3, D +0, C +2, I -1, W +0, Ch +0, 

AL C, LV 8

Darksight. Has infravision.

Fearless. Immune to morale checks.

Grit. Has ADV on STR checks.

Implacable. Has ADV on CON checks.

Monster Monday: Tonberry for Shadowdark

 

TONBERRY for Shadowdark

Click here for a PDF.

“Sneaky beings that slowly creep through the darkness carrying knives and lanterns. Their incessant, innocent stare stabs through opponents, pushing them over the brink of despair.”

—Dissidia Final Fantasy museum description

AC 14, HP 44, ATK 3 knife +3 (4d6), MV close, S +3, D +3, C +4, I +0, W +1, Ch +3, AL C, LV 9

Chef’s Knife. Have ADV on attack rolls.

Grudge. Regain 2d6 HP when they slay a creature.

Rancor. Damage dice explode when a 6 is rolled. Roll the die again and add it to the total; there is no cap.

Traveler. Teleport a near distance.

Monster Monday: Cosmic Enforcer for Shadowdark

Cosmic Enforcer for Shadowdark

You can download a PDF here.

The Cosmic Enforcers are tasked with maintaining neutrality throughout the polyverse. They were founded by the Overlords of Trolla to witness and police the Forever War between Law and Chaos.

AC 18, HP 56, ATK 3 blaster (far) +6 (3d6) or 3 staff +4 (2d8), MV near, S +3, D +5, C +2, I +4, 

W +4, Ch +2, AL N, LV 11

Impervious. Only damaged by magical sources.

Magic Resistance. Hostile spells targeting the cosmic enforcer are DC 18 to cast.

Omens (WIS Spell). DC12. Self. ADV on all actions for 1d4 rounds.

I've just released Folk Lore 2 for Shadowdark

I've just released Folk Lore 2, which features 11 new ancestries for Shadowdark, including Bearfolk, Catfolk, Crowfolk, Elephantfolk, Hippofolk, Lizarfolk, Mantisfolk, Pangolinfolk, and Raccoonfolk.

You can purchase it here.

Monster Monday: Thog the Ancient for Shadowdark

You download a PDF link here.

Duchy of Saint Albus: Who is Saint Albus?

As I develop the Duchy using old and new blog material (see Duchy of St. Cuthbert posts), I've decided to develop Saint Albus as Patron with Boons for the Warlock class in Shadowdark. But to do that, I have to figure out who Saint Albus is, right?

Here we go...

One autumn, during the Harvest Festival in Quagmoor, Arcterus Von, a necromancer and vampire, directed his undead forces to invade it, abduct as many children as possible, while he raised the dead to join him. Seventy children were acquired that day and over the next decade, Von experimented on each one, slowly destroying all of them until only a lad named Albus remained.

The boy, who was only three when taken, endured these horrors by focusing on a voice within, telling him he had been chosen and assuring him he would survive and destroy his monstrous captor.

As the boy endured, the voice grew louder, and it began preparing him to become a holy weapon to hunt and destroy the undead plague upon this land.

At dawn on the lad’s thirteenth birthday, the voice revealed itself as a celestial being named Minevos who freed Albus and completed his training so he could finally destroy Von and his forces.

Over the next ninety years, Albus of Quagmoor’s war against undeath became legendary, and he founded an order to share the training Minevoss bestowed upon him to protect the world against the undead monsters that see the living as prey.

On his death, Minevoss declared Albus a Saint, a patron to those who survived against undeath and had the conviction to hunt and destroy them. Now, some hear Saint Albus’s voice within themselves at their darkest hour, teaching them to fight, hunt, and destroy the undead scourge.

Duchy of Saint Albus: 20 Rumors

Inspired by Jeff's Gameblog, below are rumors circulating the Duchy. 

Fair warning: Some of these may be true.

Roll a d20 or pick one: 

1) Duke Gruber Bant's family has traded their eldest children to devils for generations. It is the origin of their lands, title, and wealth.

2) There is a treant in the Forest of Kurn named Wand who has mentored the druids that serve Shorwald County (which includes the Duchy).

3) Luvelda Mor, Mayor of Spartanville, has slain two dragons.  

4) Willy Dung was the brightest student of magic the Hexenschule had seen in over a century. Unfortunately, a single night in the dreaded Scholomanse on Lake Thane left him mute and prone to seizures.

5) The Green Wraith that haunts the Wraithwood was Duke Gruber Bant's older brother, Evard. Gruber murdered him so he could become Duke.

6) Morkin's Comet will bring doom when it arrives on the Summer Solstice.

7) Naomi Volstang hates wizards because her twin brother, Nester, died while attending the Hexenschule.

8) The Green Wraith that haunts the Wraithwood is an elf druid who has turned her back on Obad-Hai and now frolics with the Black Goat during the full moon. 

9) Duke Gruber Bant has taken Tsarina Tetlaunna IX of Yurik as a lover.

10) A werewolf prowls the moors east of the Hexenschule. It has claimed seven victims in the last three years.

11) Golden Hall is a staging ground for azers to invade the Duchy.

12) The wood elves of the Forest of Kurn have taken to eating humans.

13) Rangers stationed at Fort Buckler say it is haunted.

14) A teenage girl in the village of Oakhurst was kidnapped from her bed two nights ago.

15) Old Scratch, an ancient wyvern, is nesting in the ruins on Parliament Hill.

16) Clerics at Glyph Abbey have begun charging more for their services because they have lost favor with Ioune.

17) Katarina Malifaux, a member of the Crimson Steel adventuring band, purchased the Lummock family farm to spy on Duke Bant for her older sister, Belladonna, who is the Jarl of Jarlsburg.

18) Grimm, a prize pig raised by Neville Breck of Brighten, is said to be fluent in seven languages and has taken over running the Breck farm. 

19) The ground has been trembling to the west of Golden Hall, close to Blunder's Pit.

20) The Brotherhood of Bones and Teeth has returned to St. Albus after 50 years. Fishermen say to stay away from caves on the shore of Lake Thane.

Monster Monday: Jade Giants for Shadowdark

JADE GIANTS for Shadowdark

You can download a PDF here.

According to Abu Engg, Marquis of Byth and First Librarian of Thu Q’en, the jade giants arrived from beyond the stars about four months after the mantisfolk landed aboard the Envoy. Zek’tune, the Sorcerer of the Pinnacle, made first contact with them and gifted them the Iron Forest. For well over a century they kept to themselves and were mostly forgotten until the sky started following along the edges of their homeland. Fire and smoke rose like a devouring monster and within a month the Iron Forest and the Pinnacle were no more and in their place huge, silk yurts dotted the region and every man, woman, and child within the jade giant's ranks began to prepare for war.

AC 14 (chain), HP 29, ATK 2 longswords +4 (2d6), MV double near, S +4, D +1, C +2, I +1, 

W +0, Ch +0, AL C, LV 6

Fury. If they take damage they have ADV on their next attack roll with melee weapons.

Spell Resistance. Hostile spells targeting them are DC 15 to cast.

Monster Monday: Icemen for Shadowdark

Icemen for Shadowdark

You can download a PDF here.

Loki is a cold and unforgiving deity who sends forth long nights, blasting winds, and a cold that can seep into one's soul as easily as their bones. Ever vigilant, Loki listens for the cries of the dying and offers them an alternative to a lonely death. Those who accept his whispered offering find their very skin hardening into transparent ice that no longer feels the wind or the cold as they follow his clarion call to join him in his realm. Once there, they wait to be unleashed upon his enemies.

AC 15, HP 6, ATK 1 spear (close/near) +1 (1d6),
MV near, S +1, D +0, C +1, I +0, W +1, Ch -2, 

AL C, LV 1

Hopeless. Immune to morale checks. 

Impervious. Cold immune.

Invulnerable. Immune to critical hits with weapons.

Monster Monday: Void Shaman for Shadowdark

VOID SHAMAN for Shadowdark

You can download a PDF here

Chod’Xoth, the Unending Night, the End of All, the Nightmare Primeval, recruits their servants from those suffering from lifelong night terrors, slowly but surely alienating them from any loved ones they may have and shattering their sanity night after night after night. A Void Shaman is a pitiful creature, their mind and body warped and their corruption total and complete. The only thing left to them is loyalty to the monster that hollowed them out.

AC 14, HP 22, ATK 1 spell +4 or 1 whip +1 (1d4), MV near, S +0, D +0, C +0, I +1, W +4, Ch +2, AL C, LV 5

Blind/Deafen (WIS Spell). DC 12. Near creature has DIS on appropriate sense for 5 rounds.

Command (WIS Spell). DC 13. Issues a verbal command to a Far creature they must obey for 3 rounds. If it harms the creature, they may make a DC 12 charisma check to end the spell.

Ghostwalk. 1/day, turns incorporeal for 3 rounds.

Holy Weapon (WIS Spell). DC 11. Target weapon becomes magic gains +1 to attack and damage rolls for 5 rounds.

Smite (WIS Spell). DC 12. Near creature takes 1d6 damage.

Spiderwalk. Crawls on walls and shear surfaces.

Wraithsight. Hidden and invisible creatures can be seen.

Monster Monday: Death Knight for Shadowdark

Art by James Shields 

http://jeshields.com/wp/

Death Knight for Shadowdark

You download the PDF here.

Ardrik Arn, the King in Shadow, slaughtered the Knights of the Silver Star as they defended Empress Marvana of Urik outside of Red Moon Keep. The moment the last of them fell Arn’s sorcery spirited away their remains while ordering his army to retreat. Unbeknownst to all the King had unearthed the Kakodex, a supremely evil tome translated by Ogdu of Vol-Tak a thousand years ago. The King in Shadow used one of its spells to resurrect all fourteen Knights into his Heeku’Drom—his Death Knights.

AC 18, HP 44, ATK 3 long sword +6 (1d10), MV near, S +4, D +2, C +3, I +1, W +2, Ch 0+1, AL C, LV 9 

Deathbringer. Critical hits deal triple damage.

Death’s Mantle. 1/day, immune to a spell.

Invisibility. 1/day, invisible for 3 rounds.

Fearless. Immune to morale checks.

Greater Undead. Has advantage on charisma checks to be turned.

Pillar Of Salt. 1/day, near target of LV 5 or less becomes statue of salt for 3 rounds.

Smite (WIS spell). DC 12. Far target takes 1d6 damage.

Shadowstep. 1/day, teleport double near.

Weapon Properties for Shadowdark is On Sale Now!

A few weeks ago, Jeff Kraykovic brought up the idea of importing 5.24's Weapon Mastery into Shadowdark in the Facebook group and this is what I worked up. It uses luck tokens to power properties a weapon has for a special affect in combat. Additionally, I have optional rules to use them in Pulp Mode.

You can purchase it exclusively here (it is an affiliate link).

A to Z of the Polyverse: A is for And then there was light! (A to Z Blog Challenge 2025)

This is the A to Z of the Polyverse.

What is it? Glad you asked.

The Polyverse is what I call the setting of the various DnD campaigns I have run stretching back to the early 90s starting with ADnD 2E's Haunted Halls of Eveningstar. It was the first module I ever ran and my first time running ADnD 2E. I made a ton of mistakes. A. Frickin. Ton.

I had read the Avatar Trilogy and stupidly had Lolth tempt a player who wholeheartedly tried to kill the rest of the party. As they chased him out of Eveningstar he set fire to some grasslands to cover his tracks.

Those actions created a group of Elven terrorists who are plotting to take back their homeland known as the Kinn'A'Nacht.

From there a high level Wizard named Dunwich began recruiting for a secret society known as the Circle of Fire with the ultimate goal being to kill the Gods and replace them with him and his fellow members.

Then I didn't run much DnD for a long time. 

However, when 5E came out I started making up for all of that lost time. The Polyverse saw the murder of Tiamat and the ascension of Ashardalon as the God of Chromatic Dragons. 

Then Saint Cuthbert was trapped in the Demiplane of Dread known as Ravenloft.  The last group who tried to rescue him wiped each other out when one of the PCs found the Hand of Vecna.

The City-State of Jarlsburg and Duchy of Saint Cuthbert/Saint Albus both became major areas for my games. 

In my most recent game the city of Greenway and its Hexenschule came into focus and a plot by the Elves to murder Lolth and replace her with her brother Vulkoor was revealed. And Dunwich and his secret society began to set things into motion in the open by recruiting the PCs...it just took me over 30 years to get there.

Things are very much afoot.

Monster Monday: Exoscout for Shadowdark

Autoscout for Shadowdark

When Zaul built his fane to Vor, the Hunger That Stalks, in the Wraithwood, he didn’t realize that the site was chosen due to the strange objects that fall from the sky once every millennium. The objects are exoscounts sent by the Confederation to ascertain if a world is worth annexing. They are designed to transmit data for approximately six months before they lose power and self-destruct but Vor has been reprogramming it, upgrading its power supply, and adding weapons to its load out. Outworlders would only mean more food.

AC 16, HP 16, ATK 2 claws +3 (1d8) or arm-mounted crossbow +3 (1d6), MV near (climb, swimb), S +4, D +3, C +3, I +3, W +4, Ch 0, AL C, LV 3

Deadly. Critical hit on a natural 18-20.

Impervious. Cold immune.

Keen Senses. Can’t be surprised.

Self-Destruct. Explodes after 1d6 turns at 0 HP. 

Near creatures DC 12 DEX or 3d6 damage.

Duchy of Saint Albus: Wraith Widows for Shadowdark

 

Wraith Widows for Shadowdark

Hundreds of years ago, Zaul, an evil druid dedicated to Vor the Hunger That Stalks, transformed a coven of hags, the seven Moonbow sisters, into giant, spectral spiders. He then raised a sprawling fane for the wraith widows to guard in the heart of the Wraithwoods. Those haunted woods loom large on the southwestern border of the Duchy of Saint Albus.


AC 14, HP 19, ATK 1 bite +4 (1d4 + poison) MV near (climb), 

S +2, D +2, C +1, I +2, W +2, Ch -2, AL C, LV 4

Incorporeal. In place of attacks, become corporeal or incorporeal.

Poison. DC 12 CON or paralyzed for 1d4+1 hours. 

You can download a PDF of the stat block here.

 

The Duchy of Saint Albus: 20 Questions

In the early days of this blog I worked on the Duchy of Saint Cuthbert setting and I'm thinking about dusting it off for my next Shadowdark game. I've decided to move away from using Saint Cuthbert though so Saint Albus it is.

Inspired by Jeff's Gameblog.  

1. What is the deal with my cleric's religion? Dominant religions in the Duchy are Bahamut, Erathis, and Ioun for the humans; Moradin for the dwarves; Corellon for the elves of Highsun and Sehanine for the elves of Leafhome.

2. Where can we go to buy standard equipment? Greenway, Pike's Run, Twincrest, and Black Hill.

3. Where can we go to get platemail custom fitted for this monster I just befriended? Klaxxon Ironshaper at Golden Hall.

4. Who is the mightiest wizard in the land? Magister Viola Plune of the Hexenschule.

5. Who is the greatest warrior in the land? Captain Morgan Stroud is the Head of the Duke's Royal Guard and a First Sword of the Steel Chateau.

6. Who is the richest person in the land? Duke Gruber Bant.

7. Where can we go to get some magical healing? The Seminary at Cypher Abbey or the Hearthblaze at Golden Hall.

8. Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, curse, level drain, lycanthropy, polymorph, alignment change, death, undeath? The Seminary or the Orchard, a brothel run by Madam Enya Twomorrows in Greenway.

9. Is there a magic guild my Magic User belongs to or that I can join in order to get more spells? If your an Alumni of the Hexenschule you are automatically a member of the Harkness. Non-alumni can join the Harkness by paying an annual fee of 25 gold.

10. Where can I find an alchemist, sage, or other expert NPC? The Hexenschule, the Orchard, or the Seminary.

11. Where can I hire mercenaries? Greenway and Black Hill.

12. Is there any place on the map where swords are illegal, magic is outlawed or any other notable hassles from Johnny Law? Magic is outlawed on the Volstang family farm. Swords and magic are not tolerated in the Orchard.

13. Which way to the nearest tavern? The Merry Manticore in Greenway.

14. What monsters are terrorizing the countryside sufficiently that if I kill them I will become famous? Wraith widows (giant spiders), condorbears (a creation of the hexenschule), Old Scratch ( a wyvern).

15. Are there any wars brewing I could go fight? Tzorn has established a base in Tonga about 60 miles West of the Duchy and has been clashing with the City-State of Liberty for close to two years. The Dominion's Navy established a blockade along the coast of Dar Dang 3 months ago and tensions are rising fast.

16. How about gladiatorial arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes? Black Hill's Bloodsport occurs on the last weekend of every month.

17. Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight? The Brotherhood of Bones and Teeth, the Parliament of Shadows, the Pit Vipers, and the Red Door.

18. What is there to eat around here? The Orchard's menu is legendary for culinary and carnal treats, Plum's in Greenway, the Caul and Crow in Black Hill, the Silver Stag in Twincrest, and Winnie's in Pike's Run.

19. Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for? The Idol of Perrin, Moonsilver's Hart, the Black Trove of the Scholomanse, the wreckage of the Sea-Sprite.

20. Where is the nearest dragon or other monsters with Type H treasure? The green dragon Stranglevine in the Wraithwood.