AD&D – DL1 Dragons of Despair Actual Play, Part 3/4

Join DLSaga and players with this third of five actual play sessions of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Dragonlance Official Game Adventure DL1 Dragons of Despair by Tracy Hickman. This is the first adventure set in Dragonlance, and the first of four adventures that makes up the first Dragonlance Chronicles novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight. You can buy DL1 Dragons of Despair here: https://preview.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/16880/dl1-dragons-of-despair-1e?affiliate_id=50797

Cast of Characters

  • Tanis | 5th Level Half-Elf Fighter | Kyle
  • Tasslehoff Burrfoot | 4th Level Kender Thief | Lauren
  • Caramon | 6th Level Human Fighter | John
  • Raistlin | 3rd Level Human Magic-User | Chris
  • Goldmoon | 5th Level Human Cleric | 
  • Riverwind | 5th Level Human Ranger | Gabriel
  • Sturm Brightblade | 6th Level Human Fighter | Mike
  • Flint Fireforge | 4th Level Dwarf Fighter |

Game Setup

Last time on Dragons of Despair: The heroes delivered the Blue Crystal Staff to the Council of Highseekers in Haven. The high seekers demanded the staff, and when one member tried to grab it, lightning arced from it and struck him, throwing him across the room. Terrified for their lives, the highseeker demanded the heroes deliver the staff to Xak Tsaroth, as the army demanded. It was the only way to ensure the safety of Haven and its refugees from all around Abanasinia. Reluctantly, the heroes confiscated a riverboat and headed down the White Rage River, quickly learning where it got its name from. They crashed in the rapids, and washed up on shore just south of Darkenwood. They headed into the forest for resources and were met by spectral guardians who were ready to destroy the heroes until they revealed the Blue Crystal Staff. They were immediately led through the night to the Forestmaster, who also told them a powerful being said they should deliver the staff to Xak Tsaroth in return for the greatest gift given to man. They were given Pegasi to ride, and taken to the foothills of the Eastwall mountains. They stopped to warn the Que-Shu tribe about the coming army, but found that they were too late. The entire village was destroyed. Now, with sorrow in their heart, an army at their proverbial door, and an unknown destiny ahead of them, they passed through the Eastwall Mountains into the swamp outside of Xak Tsaroth. They were ambushed by dragon men and now find themselves captured in the swamp.

About DL1 Dragons of Despair

You stand on the road east of Solace, tired from five years of adventuring, from a fruitless search for lost clerical magic. You know the old proverb that claims “You must return to find what you left to seek,” but the saying never really made sense. Soon, however, it will.

For the world of Krynn is not the same: refugees stream out of the northernmost human lands, telling horrible tales. An invading army has burned their villages and put their families and friends to the sword. Among these stories you hear even darker rumors-that older evils, the dragons themselves, have returned to the world, for new and more terrible purposes.

“Dragon of Despair” is the first in TSR’s series of Dragonlance adventures for use with the AD&D game system. Your players will adventure in the world of Krynn, visit strange places such as Haven or ruined Xak Tsaroth, and encounter the bizarre draconians and spectral minions. They can play the modules as a set of separate adventures or as a great quest that spans the entire Dragonlance story.

An adventure for characters Level 4-6.

Written by Tracy Hickman.

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