The Ruined Tower of Zenopus 5e

About the adventure

this is the sample dungeon found in Holmes Basic. It's a beginner dungeon set in a small port town called Portown. adventurers will delve into the old ruin tower and try to discover lost secrets! this game is intended as a learning experience for me in using online platforms to play D&D. I'm open to feedback and suggestions on how to make play online go smoothly. please bear with me and the mistakes I'm likely to make during the session! Background -100 years ago the sorcerer Zenopus built a tower on the low hills overlooking Portown. The tower was close to the sea cliff west of the town and, appropriately, next door to the graveyard. Rumor has it that the magician made extensive cellars and tunnels underneath the tower. The town is located on the ruins of a much older city of doubtful history and Zenopus was said to excavate in his cellars in search of ancient treasures. Fifty years ago, on a cold wintry night, the wizard's tower was suddenly engulfed in green flame. Several of his human servants escaped the holocaust, saying their master had been destroyed by some powerful force he had unleashed in the depths of the tower. Needless to say, the tower stood vacant for a while after this, but then the neighbors and the night watchmen complained that ghostly blue lights appeared in the windows at night, that ghastly screams could be heard emanating from the tower at all hours, and goblin figures could be seen dancing on the tower roof in the moonlight. Finally, the authorities had a catapult rolled through the streets of the town and the tower was battered to rubble. This stopped the hauntings but the townsfolk continue to shun the ruins. The entrance to the old dungeons can be easily located as a flight of broad stone steps leading down into darkness, but the few adventurous souls who have descended into crypts below the ruin have either reported only empty stone corridors or have failed to return at all. Other magic-users have moved into the town but the site of the old tower remains abandoned. Whispered tales are told of fabulous treasure and unspeakable monsters in the underground passages below the hilltop, and the storytellers are always careful to point out that the reputed dungeons lie in close proximity to the foundations of the older, pre-human city, to the graveyard, and to the sea. Portown is a small but busy city linking the caravan routes from the south to the merchant ships that dare the pirate-infested waters of the Northern Sea. Humans and non-humans from all over the globe meet here. At the Green Dragon Inn, the players of the game gather their characters for an assault on the fabulous passages beneath the ruined Wizard's tower.

Additional Details

How to prepare

webcam or mic is needed as well as the ability to use zoom. you can bring your own dice or use the dice roller in owlbear rodeo. you may want a pencil and character sheet for notes.

What I provide

I'll provide a link to the Owlbear rodeo once everyone is in the Zoom call. I will use Owlbear rodeo to provide maps, dice, tokens, and all the essentials for a fast and loose ttrpg experience.

Content warnings

(none)

Safety tools used

Breaks
Debriefing
Open Door
Session 0
X, N, and O Cards

How will character creation work

we will make characters in session zero and discuss why your characters have come to Portown and then play some D&D! This adventure is for 1st level characters and is expected you advance to at least 2nd level.

Players can expect

• Find a game to join solo or search for a professional game master for you and your friends/coworkers/family.
• Book your session and wait for the Game Master to approve you.
• If you don't have a blast with your first game, your next game is on us.