SZ1 Lair of the Toad

LAIR OF THE TOAD

A Fantasy Adventure for Zero Level Characters
Compatible with OSRIC & most 1E Retroclones

Hello and welcome, adventurers and Game Masters!

In your hands is a newly revised zero level adventure for use with OSRIC, 1E compatible retro clones, and all editions of the world’s greatest roleplaying game! This adventure focuses on gaming with neophyte zero-level player characters, and new parties of such would-be adventurers. This adventure takes place beneath the streets of the coastal village of Dùn Mara which is in the nation state of Dùn Bhriste, in the author's campaign world of Terrans. 

SYNOPSIS: In this adventure, your players will portray a group of young friends who have grown up together in and around Dun Mara. On the fateful night of this adventure, they have met at their favourite local pub, The Golden Harp, to drink, laugh, share their dreams of adventure and maybe, if they are very lucky, to see one of the travellers from distant lands who sometimes frequent the pub. Before the night is through, they will indeed meet such a traveler, in the person of Alura Morrowgan, a fledgling magister who will seek their assistance in recovering her ancestral signet ring, which was stolen by an albino rat which then fled down a nearby sewer grate.

In the sewers below their hometown your players will face dangers they never knew existed and, if they survive the ordeal, they will earn the right to call themselves adventurers! 

The adventure contains a completely detailed and keyed dungeon map, done in the Old School blue and white style, as well as new monsters to challenge your players and new magical items to thrill them. Players may use the four (4) pre-generated characters provided in this supplement or create their own with the Zero Level Player’s Guide from Starry Knight Press. 

This scenario will test your neophyte adventurers in many ways, as it contains combat, exploration, diplomacy and role-playing challenges. If they make it all the way through and recover Alura's signet ring, this adventure should provide sufficient experience to raise your group of 4 to 6 zero level player characters to the dizzying heights of first level, where they must then make the momentous decision about which profession they intend to follow in their adventuring career!

TABLE OF CONTENTS and DUNGEON MAP

PRINTING TIP: This book is presented in DIGEST format (5.5" W x 8" H) perfect for reading on a tablet or smartphone. If you want to print it out you can do so as is, or if you prefer a compact format you should set-up your PDF program as follows: (1) Set it to LANDSCAPE format, (2) Set it to print 2 pages to one, (3) Set it to print on both sides of the page (duplex printing), and (4) Set the duplex printing to flip the book on the left hand short edge. 

This scenario is the first in an SZ-Series of zero level adventures, meant to be used with my Player's Guide; more zero level adventures will be available soon. While it is recommended that you have the Zero Level Player’s Guide to play this scenario, as it details the zero level rules used therein, the GM is welcome to use any such rules or to create their own.