TSR 9034 - B2 - Keep on the Borderlands.pdf - Basic D&D Modules B Series - Kitraida

Dungeon Module B2

The Keep on the Borderlands

by Gary Gygax

INTRODUCTORY MODULE FOR CHARACTER LEVELS 1-3

This module includes a cover folder with maps and a complete description booklet to form a ready-made scenario for

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ® Basic Set. It has been specifically designed for use by beginning Dungeon Masters so that

they may begin play with a minimum of preparations.

Within are many features to aid novice players and Dungeon Masters: legends and background information, a list of

adventuring characters, tips on how to be an effective Dungeon Master, plus an interesting area for characters to base

themselves in (the Keep) before setting out to explore the Caves of Chaos!

If you enjoy this module, lok for more releases in the D&D ® family from TSR, The Game Wizards.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ® and D&D ® are registered trade marks owned by TSR Hobbies, Inc.

TSR Hobbies, Inc.

POB 756

LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

9034

Dungeon Module B2

The Keep on the Borderlands

by Gary Gygax

INTRODUCTORY MODULE FOR CHARACTER LEVELS 1-3

This module includes a cover folder with maps and a complete description booklet to form a ready-made scenario for

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS@ Basic Set. It hus been specially designed for use by beginning Dungeon Musters so that they

muy begin play with a minimum of preparations.

Within are muny features to aid novice players and Dungeon Musters: legends, history and background information, a list

of adventuring characters, tips on how to be an effective Dungeon Muster, plus on interesting area for characters to base

themselves in (the Keep) before setting out to explore the Caves of Chuos!

If you enjoy this module, look for more releases in the D&D@ family from TSR, The Gume Wizards.

Distributed to the book trade in the United States by Random House, Inc. and in Canada by Random House

of Canada, Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby trade by regional distributors.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS@ and D&D@ are registered trademarks owned by TSR Hobbies, Inc.

TSR Hobbies, Inc.

POB 756

LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147

PRINTED IN U.S.A.

ISBN 0-935696-47-4

acters are to adventure, be sure to have a non-player char-

acter or two go along, as well as a few men-at-arms. In ad-

dition, give the player characters a magic dagger or some

magic arrows and at least one potion of healing - family

bequests to aid them in finding their fame and fortune

when they go against Chaos.

The DM should be careful to give the player characters a

reasonable chance to survive. If your players tend to be

rash and unthinking, it might be better to allow them to

have a few men-at-arms accompany them even if the party

is large, and they don’t attempt to hire such mercenaries*.

Hopefully, they will quickly learn that the monsters here will

work together and attack intelligently, if able. If this lesson is

not learned, all that can be done is to allow the chips to fall

where they may. Dead characters cannot be brought back

to life here!

Using the KEEP as “home base”, your players should be

able to have quite a number of adventures (playing

sessions) before they have exhausted all the possibilities of

the Caves of Chaos map. Assuming that they have played

well, their player characters will certainly have advanced

a level or two in experience when the last minion of dark-

ness falls before their might. While your players will have

advanced in their understanding and ability, you will like-

wise have increased your skills as DM. In fact, before they

have finished all the adventure areas of this module, it is

likely that you will have begun to add your own separate

maps to the setting. The KEEP is only a small section of the

world. You must build the towns and terrain which surround

it. You must shape the societies, create the kingdoms, and

populate the countryside with men and monsters.

The KEEP is a microcosm, a world in miniature. Within its

walls your players will find what is basically a small village

with a social order, and will meet opponents of a sort. Out-

side lies the way to the Caves of Chaos where monsters

abound. As you build the campaign setting, you can use

this module as a guide. Humankind and its allies have es-

tablished strongholds - whether fortresses or organized

countries - where the players’ characters will base them-

selves, interact with the society, and occasionally en-

counter foes of one sort or another. Surrounding these

strongholds are lands which may be hostile to the bold ad-

venturers. Perhaps there are areas of wilderness filled with

dangerous creatures, or maybe the neighboring area is a

land where chaos and evil rule (for wilderness adventures,

see DUNGEONS & DRAGONS@ EXPERT SET). There are natural

obstacles to consider, such as mountains, marshes, deserts,

and seas. There can also be magical barriers, protections,

and portals. Anything you can imagine could be part of

your world if you so desire. The challenge to your imagina-

tion is to make a world which will bring the ultimate in fabu-

lous and fantastic adventure to your players. A world which

they may believe in.

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeon Module #B2

The Keep on the Borderlands

Introduction: Welcome to the land of imagination. You are

about to begin a journey into worlds where magic and

monsters are the order of the day, where law and chaos

are forever at odds, where adventure and heroism are the

meat and drink of all who would seek their fortunes in un-

common pursuits. This is the realm of DUNGEONS &

DRAGONS@ Adventure Game.

If you plan to play in this module and participate in the fun

of adventuring, stop reading now. The information in the

rest of the module is for your Dungeon Master or DM, so that

he or she may guide you and other players through a thrill-

ing adventure. Knowing too much about the contents of this

module will spoil the surprises and excitement of the game.

Dungeon Masters, if many copies of this module are avail-

able to the players, you may wish to alter sections of the

Keep and the Caves of Chaos. If you do this, you will be sure

to have new surprises for players who might be familiar with

some of the contents of the module. You are not entering

this world in the usual manner, for you are setting forth to be

a Dungeon Master. Certainly there are stout fighters,

mighty magic-users, wily thieves, and courageous clerics

who will make their mark in the magical lands of D&D@

adventure. You, however, are above even the greatest of

these, for as DM you are to become the Shaper of the

Cosmos. It is you who will give form and content to all the

universe. You will breathe life into the stillness, giving mean-

ing and purpose to all the actions which are to follow. The

others in your group will assume the roles of individuals and

play their parts, but each can only perform within the

bounds you will set. It is now up to you to create a magical

realm filled with danger, mystery, and excitement, com-

plete with countless challenges. Though your role is the

greatest, it is also the most difficult. You must now prepare

to become all things to all people.

NOTES FOR THE DUNGEON MASTER

The basic instruction book for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS@

Game has given you the information necessary to under-

stand this game and start play. This module is another tool.

It is a scenario or setting which will help you to understand

the fine art of being a Dungeon Master as you introduce

your group of players to your own fantasy world, your inter-

pretation of the many worlds of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS@

Adventure. THE KEEP ON THE BORDERLANDS is simply of-

fered for your use as a way to move smoothly and rapidly

into your own special continuing adventures or cam-

paigns. Read the module thoroughly; you will notice that

the details are left in your hands. This allows you to person-

alize the scenario, and suit it to what you and your players

will find most enjoyable.

NOTE: Several words in the following text will be followed by

an asterisk (*). This means that the word will be explained in

the Glossary at the end of this module.

This module has been designed to allow six to nine player

characters of first level to play out many adventures,

gradually working up to second or third level of experience

in the process. The group is assumed to have at least one

magic-user and one cleric In It. If you have fewer than six

players, be sure to arrange for them to get both advice and

help in the KEEP. For example, they should have advice

from a friendly individual to “stay near the beginning of the

ravine area, and enter the lower caves first”, to avoid their

getting into immediate trouble with higher level monsters.

Likewise, the services of several men-at-arms* must be

available to smaller parties, If only two or three player char-

NOTE: For your convenience, whenever a monster or non-

player character (NPC*) is described in the text, the details

will be listed in the following order:

Name (Armor Class, Class/Level or Hit Dice, hit points, Num-

ber of Attacks per round, Damage per attack, Move-

ment (per round), Save as class and level, Morale)

Armor Class = AC; Class: Cleric = C , Fighter = F, Magic-

user = M , Thief = T , Dwarf = D, Elf = E, Halfling = H, Normal

Man = LVL 0 or NM; Level = #, Hit Dice = HD, hit points =

hp, Number of Attacks =#AT, Damage = D, Movement =

MV, Save = Save, Morale = ML.

Class/level is only used for non-player characters (NPCs),

while Hit Dice is used for all other monsters. Movement in a

game turn is three times the movement given for one com-

bat round. NPCs save at the same level as their class level

of experience.

When dice are used to randomly determine a number, the

type of dice used are abbreviated ‘d#’ (‘d4’ means a four-

sided die, ‘d6’ a six-sided, and so forth). If more than one is

rolled, the number required is placed before the ‘d’ (‘2d6’

means two six-sided dice). If any number is to be added to

the total of the dice, it is indicated afterward (‘d4 + 2’ means

to roll a four-sided die and add 2 to the total: ‘2d8 + 1’ will

thus give a number from 3 to 17). You will quickly get to

know all of these abbreviations, and may use them when

you design your own dungeon.

Examples: Taverner (AC 9, LVL 0, hp 6, #AT I, D 1-6, ML 8)

Guard (AC 4, F 1, hp 7, #AT 1, D 1-6, ML 10)

Kobold (AC 7, HD V2, hp 3, #AT 1, D 1-4, MV (40’)

Save NM, ML 6)

#AT l/2 indicates that the player may only attack once

every 2 rounds.

An asterisk after Hit Dice indicates an experience point

bonus.

* * Two asterisks after Hit Dice indicates double the normal

experience point bonus.

Become familiar with this module, then make whatever ad-

ditions or changes you feel are necessary for your cam-

paign. Once you are satisfied, gather the players together

and have them create their characters. This will take some

time, so at first, don’t plan on getting much playing done

unless there is a lot of time available. After each person has

rolled the numbers for his or her characteristics (Strength,

Intelligence, etc.), selected a class, and found how much

money he or she has to begin, you should introduce them

to the setting by reading the Background section to them. If

you wish, feel free to limit the classes your players may

choose as suits your setting. You might wish not to have

elves or halflings in the KEEP, or you might not want any

thieves as beginning characters. It is all up to you as DM to

decide the shape of the campaign. Likewise, you can opt

to give the player characters a special item of equipment

to begin with - possibly mules, a weapon, some trade

goods, or virtually anything of small value (within reason).

After you have explained the background, allow your

players to begin interacting with their characters. Give

them time to wander around the KEEP, learning what is

there, finding the limits of their freedom, and meeting the

other “inhabitants” of the place. They may quickly estab-

lish their base in the Traveler’s Inn, purchase their equip-

ment, and then visit the tavern - where they may gather

bits of information for their coming adventures. All of this

play, as well as what will come afterwards, requires that the

players play the personae (personalities) of the characters

that they will have throughout the length of the campaign,

much like an actor plays a role in a play. You, however,

have a far greater challenge and obligation! You not only

must order and create the world, you must also play the

part of each and every creature that the player characters

encounter. You must be gate guard and merchant, inn-

keeper and orc oracle and madman as the situation dic-

tates. The role of DM is all-powerful, but it also makes many

demands. It is difficult to properly play the village idiot at

one moment and the wise man the next, the noble clergy-

man on one hand and the vile monster on the other. In one

role you must be cooperative, in the next uncaring and

non-commital, then foolish, then clever, and so on. Be pre-

pared!

Whether the first time you play or the next, the players will

set forth to find and explore the many Caves of Chaos. You

must describe the journey to the place and what the char-

acters see, and allow them to choose how they will go

about their adventuring. In such situations, the DM must be

a truly disinterested party, giving information as required

by questioning and proper action, but neither helping nor

hindering otherwise. When the players experience their first

encounter with a monster, you must be ready to play the

part fully. If the monster is basically unintelligent, you must

have it act accordingly. Make the encounter exciting with

the proper dramatics of the animal sort - including noises!

If the encounter is with an intelligent monster, it is up to the

DM to not only provide an exciting description but also to

correctly act the part of the monster. Rats, for instance, will

swarm chitteringly from their burrows - a wave of lice-

ridden hunger seeking to overrun the adventurers with

sheer numbers, but easily driven off squealing with blows

and fire. Goblins, on the other hand, will skulk and hide in

Determining Armor Class:

Armor Class

Type of Armor

None

Shield only

Leather

;

Leather&Shield

Chainmail

Chainmail &Shield

Plate Mail

Plate Mail &Shield

Plate Mail & magic Shield +1 (or other

combinations)

Note that an Armor Class (AC) of less than 2 is possible for

characters wearing magic armor, carrying a magic shield,

having a higher than normal Dexterity score, and/or wear-

ing a ring of protection. Players using these items will sub-

tract bonuses from their AC - for example, a fighter using

both Plate Mail + 1 and Shield + 1 would have AC 0.

Using the Combat Tables:

To find the die roll needed to hit any Armor Class, look at

the HOW TO ATTACK section in the D&D Basic Set rule-

book. Compare the Level (if a character) or Hit Dice (if a

monster) with the AC of the target to find the number

needed ‘to hit’. For Armor Classes lower than 2, adjust the

number upwards; a character needing a roll of 17 to hit

AC 2 would need an 18 to hit AC I, 19 to hit AC 0, and so

forth. Unless magic or silver weapons are needed to cause

damage (and not available), a roll of 20 will always hit,

and a roll of 1 will always miss!

A bonus of +1 should be added to the “to hit” die roll of

high level characters, for they have more training and ex-

perience in fighting. This bonus will apply to Fighters of 4th

level or above, to Clerics and Thieves of 5th level or above,

and to Magic-Users of 6th level or above.

Movement in Combat:

Combat movement is usually very short and quick. In a

combat situation, only short charges or retreats are al-

lowed. After combat is resolved, movement rates return to

normal. The movement speed for characters is:

Unarmored, unencumbered man:

40 feet per

melee round

Metal armored or encumbered man:

20 feet per

melee round

10 feet per

melee round

Metal armored, encumbered man:

To determine a monster’s movement speed in combat,

divide its base movement speed by 3.

Note: Movement speed may be different if the optional en-

cumbrance rule is used.

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