The Dead Rise and the Realms fall! "Ashen Kingdom" for AD&D 2e

About the adventure

It was a gift, delivered to Azoun IV, King of the Forest Kingdom of Cormyr. A simple box, adorned with an "E" and the sigil of the Sage of Shadowdale. It radiated magic, as was swiftly confirmed by the Royal Wizard Vangerdahast, but beneath the benign enchantments that surrounded the box was a trap, hidden in the weave of the spells. Black smoke billowed out, seeking all living beings in the audience chamber. As it poured into their lungs they choked and collapsed -- the only survivors being two guards who slammed the doors shut and ran. Yet the victims of this assassination did not rest easy and their corpses pulled themselves to their feet, the smoke leaking out of every orifice. Azoun retook his throne and his now-deceased followers roamed the castle. Those they slew rose again as mindless undead, waiting for the commands of their progenitors. Tanalusta Obarskyr, heir to the throne, has vanished, and her sister Alusair, under heavy pressure from the army of the dead, has retreated from Suzail to the nearby city of Marsember. Nowhere seems safe -- the Blue Dragons evacuated many on the Royal Fleet, but now ships come limping back to Marsember harbor, bearing the injured and forsaken, claiming the curse has spread across the Dragonmere to Teziir and Westgate. Messengers from Myrmeen Lhal, of the northern city of Arabel, report the city to be under siege from the north and the east -- seemingly independent of the crisis in Suzail. The priests of Myrkul, Lord of the Dead, have been silent -- providing no answers, even under extreme duress. What is this tragedy that befalls the Heartlands? How far has it spread throughout the Forgotten Realms? What will you do as the world ends? "Ashen Kingdom" is an open-ended campaign, with the grand conceit of "what if the Forgotten Realms had a zombie apocalypse?" It is set in the time of the Second Edition campaign setting, but pre-Time of Troubles, even if the rules are from an era soon (or long after.) The epic high fantasy of the Realms is muted to that era. Yes there are archmages about, however they are proving difficult to reach, and many of the powerful agencies of the Realms have been shattered by this event. No experience is required to play, as we're mostly destroying the canon as the game progresses. There is a degree of open play to the game, set up as a sandbox, and enough materials will be provided to help you make informed decisions! If you're a fan of the Korean show "Kingdom", the show Black Summer, or any dark fantasy, you should find something for you here. The tone is dark, but with some humour present to contrast the horror.