Woefully Encysted Creature
@forlornencystment.bsky.social
West Philadelphia. TTRPG blogger at forlornencystment.blogspot.com.
pine nuts on top. very jiggy.
pine nuts on top. very jiggy.
That concludes my readthrough of B1: In Search of the Unknown! I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have. This is a great introduction to any game of D&D - as good now as it was when first published. If you don't want to read the whole thread, keep an eye on my blog - I just might write a summary.
November 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
That concludes my readthrough of B1: In Search of the Unknown! I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have. This is a great introduction to any game of D&D - as good now as it was when first published. If you don't want to read the whole thread, keep an eye on my blog - I just might write a summary.
The Background Sheet also has a great list of tips for players:
November 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
The Background Sheet also has a great list of tips for players:
The Players' Background Sheet reiterates much of the information we already know about the module's story, but adds this bit of detail which clarifies how the player characters know the location of Quasqueton:
November 25, 2025 at 9:16 PM
The Players' Background Sheet reiterates much of the information we already know about the module's story, but adds this bit of detail which clarifies how the player characters know the location of Quasqueton:
There's a neat little bit explaining how many henchmen are available (based on the number of player characters), what class they are (based on a die roll), whether they're secretly CHAOTIC EVIL (10% chance), & their personality traits (attitude, disposition, courage, & loyalty).
November 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
There's a neat little bit explaining how many henchmen are available (based on the number of player characters), what class they are (based on a die roll), whether they're secretly CHAOTIC EVIL (10% chance), & their personality traits (attitude, disposition, courage, & loyalty).
Next is a list of pregenerated characters, which can be chosen by the players (in lieu of creating their own characters) or recruited as henchmen. Players are intended to reference the Players' Background Sheet, which only includes name, race, & class. They don't know the characters' ability scores!
November 25, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Next is a list of pregenerated characters, which can be chosen by the players (in lieu of creating their own characters) or recruited as henchmen. Players are intended to reference the Players' Background Sheet, which only includes name, race, & class. They don't know the characters' ability scores!
Now that we've finished, let's see how I did with keying. Note that an "empty" room is not really empty, it's just a room that I did not stock with an additional monster or treasure per the module's instructions.
November 25, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Now that we've finished, let's see how I did with keying. Note that an "empty" room is not really empty, it's just a room that I did not stock with an additional monster or treasure per the module's instructions.
We conclude with Area LVI, which contains a statue which trollishly points towards a rocky outcropping of no significance. There's also a pit trap.
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
We conclude with Area LVI, which contains a statue which trollishly points towards a rocky outcropping of no significance. There's also a pit trap.
-LV: A one-way secret exit from the dungeon. It leads to a rock ledge 40 feet above the ground, & the door closes after 10 seconds, so the party could end up stranded here if they don't have climbing gear. It's on the far side of the stronghold from civilization, so it takes longer to get back.
November 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
-LV: A one-way secret exit from the dungeon. It leads to a rock ledge 40 feet above the ground, & the door closes after 10 seconds, so the party could end up stranded here if they don't have climbing gear. It's on the far side of the stronghold from civilization, so it takes longer to get back.
XLV is the CAVERN OF THE MYSTICAL STONE. There's a magical chunk of mica. You can break off a piece & EAT IT (or just put it in your mouth) for all sorts of goofy (complimentary) effects. This rock is alluded to in the legend table earlier in the module which is fun.
November 25, 2025 at 5:11 PM
XLV is the CAVERN OF THE MYSTICAL STONE. There's a magical chunk of mica. You can break off a piece & EAT IT (or just put it in your mouth) for all sorts of goofy (complimentary) effects. This rock is alluded to in the legend table earlier in the module which is fun.
Area XXXIX is a museum with more environmental storytelling type stuff. Dudes rock. I also rolled up a single unfriendly orc in here. Perhaps they are convinced of the value of the sick barbarian curved sword & threaten the party to back off?
November 25, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Area XXXIX is a museum with more environmental storytelling type stuff. Dudes rock. I also rolled up a single unfriendly orc in here. Perhaps they are convinced of the value of the sick barbarian curved sword & threaten the party to back off?
Area XXXVIII is an access room, which I believe connects to Area XXX via the stairs there. There's nothing but old mining equipment here.
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Area XXXVIII is an access room, which I believe connects to Area XXX via the stairs there. There's nothing but old mining equipment here.
We also have a new wandering monster table for level 2. Orcs & troglodytes appear in twice as many numbers, there are +1 as many kobolds, & giant centipedes, giant rats, & berserkers have been replaced by huge spiders, zombies, & goblins. For comparison:
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
We also have a new wandering monster table for level 2. Orcs & troglodytes appear in twice as many numbers, there are +1 as many kobolds, & giant centipedes, giant rats, & berserkers have been replaced by huge spiders, zombies, & goblins. For comparison:
We've reached level 2! There are three (!) ways to get here: the hole you can climb down in Area XIX, the stairs in XXX, & the pit trap outside Area XXXVI. Nice! The level is mostly unfinished caverns & is intended to be difficult to map.
November 25, 2025 at 4:33 PM
We've reached level 2! There are three (!) ways to get here: the hole you can climb down in Area XIX, the stairs in XXX, & the pit trap outside Area XXXVI. Nice! The level is mostly unfinished caverns & is intended to be difficult to map.
Area XXXVII is Rogahn's weight room. Not much going on here.
November 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Area XXXVII is Rogahn's weight room. Not much going on here.
Area XXXVI is a featureless utility room. In the hall outside the room is a set of false steps meant to create the impression that the party is descending to a new dungeon level, as well as a pit trap which drops characters into a pool of cold water on level 2 with a fun little swimming minigame.
November 25, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Area XXXVI is a featureless utility room. In the hall outside the room is a set of false steps meant to create the impression that the party is descending to a new dungeon level, as well as a pit trap which drops characters into a pool of cold water on level 2 with a fun little swimming minigame.
Area XXXV is three identical guest chambers. One has a false door for some reason!
November 25, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Area XXXV is three identical guest chambers. One has a false door for some reason!
Area XXXIV is the armory. For some reason there's a torch-extinguishing trap (?) here. There are also some (mostly useless) weapons & two locked chests with nothing in them.
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Area XXXIV is the armory. For some reason there's a torch-extinguishing trap (?) here. There are also some (mostly useless) weapons & two locked chests with nothing in them.
Area XXXIII is a barracks & contains what you would think. Interestingly, this also looks to be where the secret entrance to the stronghold is, although this isn't mentioned in the text.
November 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Area XXXIII is a barracks & contains what you would think. Interestingly, this also looks to be where the secret entrance to the stronghold is, although this isn't mentioned in the text.
Area XXXII is the advisor's chamber, home to Marevak (the advisor). There's a valuable painting, & a locked desk drawer trapped with nauseating gas. I wish the notes "Suggestions for the Further Development of Quasqueton" were expounded upon a bit. I love stuff like that in a dungeon.
November 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Area XXXII is the advisor's chamber, home to Marevak (the advisor). There's a valuable painting, & a locked desk drawer trapped with nauseating gas. I wish the notes "Suggestions for the Further Development of Quasqueton" were expounded upon a bit. I love stuff like that in a dungeon.
-Finally, a pool of muting which causes 1 to 6 hours of muteness. The PLAYER cannot speak & can only write messages if their CHARACTER has an Intelligence of 14 or more (it says player but I assume this is a mistake). This seems like it would suck for the player but I can't help finding it funny.
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
-Finally, a pool of muting which causes 1 to 6 hours of muteness. The PLAYER cannot speak & can only write messages if their CHARACTER has an Intelligence of 14 or more (it says player but I assume this is a mistake). This seems like it would suck for the player but I can't help finding it funny.
-A green slime pool which contains a 20 hp (!) green slime
-A drinking pool filled with refreshing ice cold spring water
A pool of wine which is so delicious it may compel a character to drink too much & become intoxicated. If they return, they're even more likely to drink too much again!
-A drinking pool filled with refreshing ice cold spring water
A pool of wine which is so delicious it may compel a character to drink too much & become intoxicated. If they return, they're even more likely to drink too much again!
November 24, 2025 at 4:15 PM
-A green slime pool which contains a 20 hp (!) green slime
-A drinking pool filled with refreshing ice cold spring water
A pool of wine which is so delicious it may compel a character to drink too much & become intoxicated. If they return, they're even more likely to drink too much again!
-A drinking pool filled with refreshing ice cold spring water
A pool of wine which is so delicious it may compel a character to drink too much & become intoxicated. If they return, they're even more likely to drink too much again!
At last we have reached Area XXXI, the ROOM OF POOLS. There's a LOT going on here. There are 14 pools:
-A pool of healing that cures disease or heals 1-6 hp once/day. It doesn't work if stored in a container like a flask. There's only a 30% chance it will be there on subsequent delves.
-A pool of healing that cures disease or heals 1-6 hp once/day. It doesn't work if stored in a container like a flask. There's only a 30% chance it will be there on subsequent delves.
November 24, 2025 at 4:06 PM
At last we have reached Area XXXI, the ROOM OF POOLS. There's a LOT going on here. There are 14 pools:
-A pool of healing that cures disease or heals 1-6 hp once/day. It doesn't work if stored in a container like a flask. There's only a 30% chance it will be there on subsequent delves.
-A pool of healing that cures disease or heals 1-6 hp once/day. It doesn't work if stored in a container like a flask. There's only a 30% chance it will be there on subsequent delves.
Area XXIX is ERIG's chamber. Erig is Rogahn's friend & captain of the guard at Quasqueton. There's not much going on here, just a really cool door decoration & some minor treasures. Personally I think it would be cool if Erig & Rogahn were in love.
November 24, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Area XXIX is ERIG's chamber. Erig is Rogahn's friend & captain of the guard at Quasqueton. There's not much going on here, just a really cool door decoration & some minor treasures. Personally I think it would be cool if Erig & Rogahn were in love.
Area XXVII is another room of black slate, red granite, & white marble, which is striking to imagine. I like that Mike Carr calls out how tacky the yellow & purple hangings are:
November 20, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Area XXVII is another room of black slate, red granite, & white marble, which is striking to imagine. I like that Mike Carr calls out how tacky the yellow & purple hangings are:
Area XXVI is the trophy room, which contains lots of cool (apparently worthless) stuff from the enemies Rogahn & Zellivar have defeated - as well as a hanging dwarf skeleton...for some reason:
November 20, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Area XXVI is the trophy room, which contains lots of cool (apparently worthless) stuff from the enemies Rogahn & Zellivar have defeated - as well as a hanging dwarf skeleton...for some reason: