Before we start this Isle of the Dreaded Accursed review, we would like to thank the JVC Parry and Mr. Tarrasque for sending us a copy of the manual.
Today we present you an adventure for fourth/fifth level characters for D&D 5e that take them up to level ten, depending on the approach of the players. This manual has about seventy pages with good quality maps and handouts, which will take you to a maritime setting full of monstrous creatures and rampant tension. There are also references to the Ultimate Bestiary: The Dreaded Accursed manual, that contains all the monsters of this work (thanks to the collaboration between the team of authors and Nord Games).
You can find the PDF of the adventure on the Drivethrurpg website at cost of 25 euros and a physical copy will soon be available too.
The physical manual is the result of an excellent Kickstarter campaign, dating back to June 2022 and which, thanks to more than 900 supporters, raised over 27,000 euros (much more than the minimum goal of 4,000 euros).
The Wrath of a God
I will try to present the adventure without making excessive spoilers, to avoid ruining the pleasure of playing it.
What happens when a sea deity unleashes its fury? It is precisely around this question that the whole work revolves. In the previous months, several events involving the sea and sailors have made it clear that Elvirath, the Goddess of the Sea, is completely enraged. This is where the story begins with. The characters will be involved in an adventure that will take them to travel the seas and try to discover the secrets and motivations behind so much divine anger.
In fact, the starting point is that sailors are faithful to the evil deity of the sea Elvirath. The Goddess is worshiped by offering her sacrifices and gifts and living in fear of her name and her fame. Everything seems to work for some time, at least until things change and the Goddess begins to manifest her fatal wrath; ships, docks and sailors are her target, making it clear that something has happened that she didn’t like in the slightest.
The Narrative Structure of the Module
Considering its structure, Isle of the Dreaded Accursed can easily be played as a stand-alone story or inserted into a campaign without much effort.
The adventure has a classic structure and it is divided into chapters (six to be precise), making it easy for the master to follow the flow of events and their relative management. At the beginning it is possible to find some narrative hooks to lure the players into the heart of the events of the story. There are many paragraphs to be read directly to the players, containing the description of the places and the words of the various NPCs.
From the beginning of the first chapter, it’s clear that we are reading an action-packed adventure; players will certainly not miss the opportunity to get involved and risk their own life in order to succeed in their quest. Everything is set in good quality maritime environments that make ports, ships and islands seem alive. The NPCs are also charming, charismatic and not repetitive.
Also the appendices at the end of the book are remarkable. The references within the text are all clear and very simple to find. Specifically we have a first appendix, actually a side quest, also with a structure divided into parts. I found the following ones particularly interesting as they present new races, classes and spells designed specifically for this adventure, giving new ideas for gameplay and interpretation. There are also new monsters, maps and handouts.
Graphic Style and Handouts of Isle of the Dreaded Accursed
From an aesthetic point of view, the manual is very pleasant with dominant colors tending to different shades of green. The paragraphs to be read to the players are easily identifiable at a glance thanks to green boxes.
Moreover the illustrations are very nice for and help to immerse yourself even more in the game atmosphere; also the most important NPCs of the adventure have their dedicated art.
The map section is well represented; there are all the useful ones for the places encountered throughout the story.
Finally, the module presents a series of ready-made handouts, which look enjoyable and which can be used as they are, or exploited as inspiration.
Conclusions of the Isle of the Dreaded Accursed Review
Isle of the Dreaded Accursed is therefore a fun, linear adventure module that offers a remarkable series of challenges to the player. It is ideal for those who want to face their fate at sea. I believe that it can meet most of the tastes of masters and players by offering interesting, exciting and dynamic sessions.
So now you just have to go and take a look at it!
