Raiding the Obsidian Keep
by Joseph R Lewis
from The Merry Mushmen
Encounters in the harbor, pg. 12
A green bottle bobs on the waves. A scrap of paper is rolled up inside it:
“Dearest Olivia, We were destroyed by foul sorcery before ever reaching land. We cling to a rock now. The sharks are closing in. Each day, someone dies. So go on, marry my brother, if you want. I don’t care anymore. Love, Bruno.”
Torchlight Score: 4/5 – Bright
This acclaimed adventure is praised for evocative, concise writing, interactive encounters, memorable NPCs, and distinctive magic items. Reviewers highlight its open, non-linear design that encourages agency and creative problem-solving. Its clear organization and readiness for “pick up and run” play are frequently noted as major strengths, even within a dense layout.
Delve Deeper: 2 Sources
Designed for characters level 2–4, this adventure spans several sessions and is set on Isla Requia in the Sakeen Sea. Players investigate the vanished holy fleet sent by the Archbishop of Radiant Vitela to destroy the Obsidian Keep, seeking lost treasures, rescuing sailors, and uncovering the fate of its rulers, Duchess Forza and Duke Avito. The fleet’s destruction came from a red storm of chaos, unleashed when Avito sacrificed his daughter Bianca to summon the immortal horror Vermesh, leaving the Keep plagued by chaos mutations.
The adventure unfolds across four main sections with roughly fifteen encounter locations each: the Harbor of Death, Survivor’s Beach, the grounds at the Foot of the Obsidian Keep, and the Keep itself. Within the fortress, play continues through its cellar and three upper levels, providing a layered and escalating challenge.