thedmtoolchest

The Chest of the Decadent Lord | 2nd-Level Fifth Edition Adventure

Added 2021-10-17 16:05:48 +0000 UTC

A simple delivery turns into a race against time to find a thief hidden in a party of nobles.

The Chest of the Decadent Lord

The Chest of the Decadent Lord is a Fifth Edition adventure intended for three to five characters of 1st to 3rd level and optimized for four characters with an average party level (APL) of 2. A simple delivery job is hijacked by a thief who gets away with the goods. Tracking them leads to a noble party in full swing and no way of knowing where the thief is hiding or their true motivations.

This adventure occurs in the Freelands campaign setting but fits any existing campaign with only a few modifications and name changes.

Background

War has been a constant companion for many throughout the continent of Astaria for centuries, and most have lived their entire lives without knowing peace. Occasionally, there are brief lulls, but some will always take advantage when they last for too long. The elven city-state of Nyquist is one such example, which for generations has enjoyed a rise in mercantile prosperity since it won the last war with the tiny island nation Olumbica across the Western Sea.

Like much of the Z’hing-Tao Empire, Nyquist’s lands are filled with rolling hillsides, broad rivers, and verdant woods that make up part of the Shimmering Forest. It is a lush, green land with a charming habit of mist clinging to lowland areas on cold, clear evenings. It is a land filled with rich, natural resources that are sought after from coast to coast.

Over the past decade, Olumbica has observed Nyquistian society and how it has changed. A conspiracy of exiled officials has devised a plan to exert control by means other than force and put their plans into motion.

Adventure Summary

The characters are hired to take a chest to the Lord of Nyquist's country estate, but the goods are stolen before they take possession. The thief is tracked to a noble manor in the city, where a party is currently in full swing. The characters are sent in to retrieve the goods without making a fuss. They navigate the party, gaining clues as to the identity of the thief. Eventually, the thief is unmasked, and the characters must decide on how to handle the situation.

New Creature Template: Agent

Content Download Note:

Please note that the download links will not work unless you are signed into Patreon.

Clicking any of the links below while not a patron of that tier will result in a 403 error. To access the content, please consider becoming a patron and joining us on this grand adventure!