“Forward.”
― A Journey to
the Center of the Earth
 |
| D1-2 Descent Into the Depths of the Earth |
The story thus far:
The final confrontation with the giant, King Snurre,
and the entry of mighty adventurers into the caverns under his stronghold […]
discovered that Dark Elves, the Drow, had instigated the giant alliance and its
warfare upon mankind and its allied races. Numbers of these evil elves fell
before the onslaught of the party of adventurers, but many of the important
Drow fled away to the northwest – the escape route a seemingly natural passage
a full 30’ wide extending endlessly under the earth. […] [D1-2 Descent
into the Depths of the Earth – 2]
Thus begins D1-2 Descent Into the Depths of the Earth.
Or do we mean Oerth. No matter. It’s a compilation module, a compiling of D1 Descent
Into the Depths of the Earth and D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa, much like
G123 was a collecting of G1, G2, and G3.
And much like that earlier compilation, this one adds little
new to what came before. The text is the same, the maps are the same, as are
the encounter tables. That seems a bit of a missed opportunity, doesn’t it? But what did we expect, anyway? That said, this is already a fairly lengthy compilation. Its 28 pages
is more in tune with what we had come to expect of the releases of the day. It’s not entirely identical, actually. We were treated to new art, far superior to my eye
than much of what was in the earlier issues, although quite a few of those
original inclusions are still present, too. So, why was D1-2 necessary when D1 and
D2 were already out in the world? For the same reason G123 was: Its publication
saved TSR printing costs; why continue to print two rather diminutive modules
when they could issue one.
I digress. The giants have been defeated, but an evil
race of dark-skinned elves has been discovered to be behind their attacks against the folk
of Geoff, and presumably Sterich and the Yeomanry.
To what purpose, we ask? Discovering why is paramount!
 |
| The Underoerth |
Luckily, the drow left behind a map, one presumes leading back to their underoerth lair!
Fortunately, the party discovered a map of the maze of
tunnels under the earth - hundreds of miles of passages, areas shaded and
marked with cryptic symbols, and what is most probably the course of an
underground river! [D1-2 – 2]
Lucky us!
Did the PCs blunder down into the depths after the
retreating drow? I can only assume they did, initially. But I expect they were
soon handed their hat and in retreat themselves, harried back up to the lighted
world after biting off more than they could chew.
Or were they more cautious? You might recall that long
ago, in an adventure far, far away, they were cautioned against being too rash.
And to report back their findings….
 |
| A Secret Force... |
Perhaps they did just that.
Let’s assume they did… report back. And that they had meant
to return all along (stranger things have happened); they were ordered to, after
all.
These adventurers must deliver a sharp check, deal a
lesson to the clan of hill giants nearby, or else return and put their heads
upon the block for the headsman's axe! [[G123 – 2]
The powers that be that sent them on their mission in the
first place don’t seem the forgiving type, do they, so the PCs probably did.
So, they returned, they reported, and they are prompted
to delve down deeply into this vast underdark to discover what motivated these drow to
drive the giants to attack on the surrounding settlement on the surface. Presumably
to put and end to their nefarious plans.
Who does volunteer for this dangerous mission? I do mean
volunteer, because we must assume that none are coerced into participation since our potential cast of characters changes from G123 to D1-2. I’m talkin’
pregens here.
 |
| Into the Deep Dark |
Perhaps certain of the elvenfolk will help, for the Drow besmirch and stain their race, and such aid - whether in magical items, personnel, or both - might well prove the difference between success and failure, life and death. [D1-2 – 2]
It would seem that it's only the elven folk who believe the drow to be a clear-and-present danger: 3 grey elves, Darg Blonke (F), Ycore Rixie (F/M-U), and
Fage the Kexy (C); a wood elf, Fnast Dringle (F/M-U); and another half-elf, Shab
Heanling (T), answer the call. A gnome does, as well, Keak Breedbate of Nithe (F/T). Only one human is
willing to join them, a paladin by the name of Philotomy Jurament. [You’ll forgive
me for writing all those names out, I do love the absurdity of them! But where in gods' name is Croodle and Nithe, I wonder?]
Why such a change? I suppose Mr.
Gygax reasoned that multi-class characters, and elves in particular, had a better chance of
success against what might come than the prior humancentric offerings. One questions
that wisdom, though, given that he once wrote that the drow neither forgive nor
forget, and above all else they bear enmity for all of their distant kin —
elves and faeries — who drove them down and now dwell in the meadows and dells
of the bright world. [G123 – 29]
 |
| Drow neither forgive nor forget... |
Why is any of this important when players could run
their own PCs through the adventure? I believe the pregens were important
because, used or not, these characters gave DMs a template on how much magic
high-level characters could hope to expect. I expect, though, that most 9th
to 14th level characters had a great deal more than that given here.
Far more! Even as I write this, I recall characters of mine decked out with more
magic than Gary might have originally imagined an archmage to have had
opportunity to gather, an all too common likelihood when considering the
abundance of magical items scattered about in each and every adventure module I’ve
ever read or played.
 |
| May fortune follow... |
But such an expedition will certainly require the
utmost thought and care in planning and preparation. How many persons should
comprise the expedition? how will they be supplied and equipped? and what of
drinking water? [D1-2 – 2]
Unless the PCs sallied forth upon completion of the G series without delay, which I suppose is/was as likely a possibility as any. Or so I imagine. I/we were as rash, once upon a time.
What follows? Adventure. D1 Descent Into the Depths of
the Earth and D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa. This actually brings me
full circle back to the beginning of this piece. And to these two earlier mentioned posts: Thoughts on D1 Descent Into the Depths of the Earth, and Thoughts on D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa. I invite you to peruse them, if you haven't already. No point in my repeating myself, after all. Not too much,
anyway.
“And
whichsoever way thou goest, may fortune follow.”
― Journey to the Center
of the Earth
One must always
give credit where credit is due. This post is made possible primarily by the
Imaginings of Gary Gygax and his Old Guard, Lenard Lakofka among them, and the
new old guards, Carl Sargant, James Ward, Roger E. Moore. And Erik Mona, Gary
Holian, Sean Reynolds, Frederick Weining. The list is interminable.
The Art:
D1-2 cover, by Jim Roslov, from D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth, 1981
The Underoerth, by Erol Otus, from D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth, 1981
Drow, by Bill Willingham, from D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth, 1981
Into the Deep Dark, by Erol Otus, from D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth, 1981
Drow Prisoner, by Jeff Dee, from D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth, 1981
D1-2 back cover, by Erol Otus, from D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth, 1981
Sources:
9019 D1 Descent Into the Depths of the
Earth, 1978
9020 D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa, 1978
9059 D1-2 Descent Into the Depths of the
Earth, 1978, 1981
9058 G123 Against the Giants, 1978, 1981
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