Tales of Argosa is a ruleset for deadly fantasy D20 adventures and The Midlands Low Magic Sandbox Setting is a setting by the same author. The rules lean closer to swords and sorcery than high fantasy, with magic spells having some limitations and most classes not casting spells. The author has also written several adventures set in the Midlands, Adventure Framework Collection #1 and Adventure Framework Collection #2, several of which feature the settlement of Crow’s Keep.
This settlement and these adventures are perfect for use in further world building. Three recent adventures are also out: Adventure Framework 67: Sky Tower of Belk Xos, Adventure Framework 68: Caverns of Shennog, and Adventure Framework 69: Crypt of Kursaba.
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Sky Tower of Belk Xos
The Sky Tower of Belk Xos is a challenging dungeon crawl and perfect for kicking off a campaign. One of the treasures found inside is a homing map, a dark grey, heavy sphere covered in circuitry and the size of a tennis ball. If thrown into the air, the homing map hovers for a short time and projects a holographic display depicting various landmarks including the Trackless Moors and the nearby Crow’s Keep. A pulsing purple glyph denotes the position of some N’Tarcs, which are alien rivals to the alien beings found in the Sky Tower called the Verrg. Based on the danger the Verrg posed, PCs are likely going to be interested in seeking out and stopping whatever nefarious plot the N’tarc are hatching. Especially since they have a major magical item called the rod Of Mensicor.
Crow’s Keep
Crow’s Keep (The Midlands Low Magic Sandbox Setting page 43) is the capitol of Midlander society. As a rugged settlement it offers adventures of its own as well as the nearby Great Lake, Forest of Drelnor, and the Trackless Moors. The Trackless Moors are where the N’tarc lair in the Red Moon Harvest adventure and guard a major magical item called the rod of Mensicor.
Crow’s Keep is home to its own adventure, Cultists of Crow’s Keep, found in Adventure Framework Collection #1 starting on page 55. Another adventure into the Trackless Moors can be found in Adventure Framework Collection #2, Fens of Mölot Baat starting on page 144 and another across the Great Lake, Rise of the Starborn, beginning on page 103.
Crow’s Keep is threatened by border skirmishes with the Nydissian Empire to the south. A GM interested in political adventures could flesh out this cold war and even introduce a full-fledged war between the two rivals.
Red Moon Harvest Adventure
In the Trackless Moors outside of Crow’s Keep is a crumbling manor. Alien beings from the stars called the N’tarc have taken up residence and are harvesting organs from nearby farmers. Whether the PCs care about the farmers or not, the aliens also have a major magical item with them called the rod Of Mensicor.
One of the major attacks of the N’tarc is aging PCs by several years. While gruesome, this attack seems to promise either future troubles or immediate death if it happens often enough. One option is to replace this attack with gift of the jade moon which functions similarly to rolling a d12 on the Dark and Dangerous Magic table (Tales of Argosa page 92).
New Major Magical Item
Major magical items are rare (maybe one an adventure at most). They having a starting power and gain more as a player character levels up. The rod Of Mensicor combines several ideas from the core book into a new item particularly well suited for a cultist or magic-user.
Rod of Mensicor
This dread moonsteel rod is crowned and capped with preserved alien tentacles. Enchanted by Mensicor, a star witch from a distant planet, the rod has been brought to the PCs’ world by the alien N’tarc. The green tinged moonsteel somehow mutes the capricious nature of the Veil.
Gabbling of the Jade Moon
Range: Far Duration: 2d6 minutes
You conjure the apparition of an alien, emerald green moon. Creatures within Close range that look upon the moon at the time of casting must make a Luck (Will) save or be overwhelmed by madness. If the spell takes hold, roll 1d4 for the effect (or choose on a Great Success). Affected targets will defend themselves if attacked.
- Attack you and your allies in a berserker fury (if aware of you, otherwise reroll).
- Mull around yelling, screaming, pulling at their hair/clothes, gnashing teeth, etc.
- Stand in place, drooling and murmuring contently to themselves.
- Silently attack each other with wide and vacant eyes.
Next Steps
PCs who defeat both the Verrg and the N’tarc will be quite the alien hunters. They will likely have made some contacts in the settlement of Crow’s Keep as well. Additional frameworks like Fens of Mölot Baat and Rise of the Starborn can lead the PCs back out into the wilds, while Cultists of Crow’s Keep offers an urban adventure with no wilderness travel required.
GMs interested in political intrigue could create further adventures revolving around the ongoing cold war with the Nydissian Empire to the south. A GM wanting to explore all out war could see these border skirmishes ignite into army versus army conflict, perhaps pulling the PCs right into the middle.
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