Tokens NOW IN STOCK!
You can NOW order official True Dungeon Treasure Tokens! We have already shipped out a bunch of tokens, and we thank everyone for their support and enthusiasm. It looks like it is going to be another crazy year of token madness.
FIVE Golden Tickets Claimed !!!
We have already had 5 people turn in the Golden Ticket codes – but 11 remain to be claimed. Some of the winners bought less than $100 worth of tokens, so anything is possible. To review, we are randomly distributing 16 special Golden Ticket tokens in all the first printing tokens this year. The token will gain you access to a special Thursday morning running of True Dungeon with many cool extras. Good luck on getting your Golden Ticket.
True Dungeon Playtest Went Well
Last weekend I was able, with the help of some friends, to put together a mock version of the 2008 True Dungeon adventure in an old warehouse. We playtested many combat and puzzle ideas – and we tried out some of the new cavern walls. I am pretty pleased with the results, but there are many improvements I want to make. I think players are going to be pleased with the caverns, the NPCs, the interesting combats and a few of the other surprises. This year’s event at Gen Con Indy should be a lot of fun.
Thanks to everyone who helped with the playtest.
Jeff Martin
Director
True Dungeon
A new chapter in our ongoing story Introduction:
Chapter Five – “Hope For the Lost”
Lord Ev’n pursed his lips.
“It’s summed up in one word,” he said. “War.”
“There must be more,” I said.
“Indeed.” He stared at me with piercing but kind eyes. I sensed great sorrow in his posture and voice. “In the council we were not blind, but . . . how should I say it? I think we wanted to be blind. We wanted to say—‘not in our time.’ But there they were—standing before us. Not only did they bring tales, but they brought proof.”
Ev’n paused and pulled at his bottom lip.
“Of course we knew about border incursions by orcs and even scattered raiding parties of goblins led by hobgoblins and giants. Gearon’s family had been killed by such.”
“My father died seven years ago at the hands of orcs,” I said.
“Yes, I remember that Widseth related that his son had been killed. We grieve your loss. We were not vigilant enough in the early years to stem the tide. Now as the enemy closes on us, our vigilance pays little reward.”
Ev’n was silent for a moment. It surprised me the show of reverence as each in the circle bowed their head to me and expressed grief.
It was spring, but the night air still had the chill feel of winter to it. I rubbed my hands and blew into them.
“Sorry,” Breon, the mage, said. “I can’t risk fire. Your cloak will have to do.”
I nodded toward him. “Thank you. I’m fine. Please continue, Lord Ev’n. You said they brought proof.” I took a bite of bread and chewed it slowly.
“Well, many adventurers had already arrived in Greyhawk. The man known as Spellweaver brought evil tales from the south. The rogue Enwii and his company of rascals from the East had been in the city from more than a month before you Grandfather and his friends arrived. Enwii had brought stores of equipment and weapons that they offered to every common man. This was very strange because Enwii was known as a shrewd trader—not one who lightly gives things away.”
Lyndar interrupted, “When asked about it, he simply said that he had seen the devastation in the east, and he wanted every man and woman to have a chance to defend themselves.”
“Why didn’t the council listen?” I asked.
“Tales—all tales. Even when the druid Dougal appeared from the northern mountains, the council dismissed his words. He is a learned man who has studied the stars and movements of the planets. Searching ancient scrolls that he found in the ruins of Dale du Carboon, he found clues that the rise of two powers, unified as one, will destroy the world of men.”
“Two powers?” I asked.
Lord Ev’n cleared his throat. “Not so fast, young one. Each tale has its proper place and pace.”
“I’m sorry I interrupted.”
“Some on the council believed the signs, but not enough to do anything until Gearon, Widseth, and Nightshade arrived with proof.” In the dim mage light Ev’n looked around the circle. He last stopped and gazed at me. Then he continued.
“The three companions had seen the scattered forces of the enemy gathering. They did everything they could to delay and disrupt the foe’s plans. They fired supply stocks, and killed messenger riders. They were shadows in the night that probably gave Greyhawk an additional month to prepare, but Greyhawk did nothing. We ate and drank and took our leisure while the outlands paid the price for our lethargy.
“But three couldn’t hold an army at bay.
“No,” he paused, “there were others who believed the danger to be real. Most of them were outlanders, fighting for their homes. Most never returned. And still the council dallied.”
I shook my head. “Begging your pardon, Master Ev’n, but it sounds as if the enemy had seats on the council.”
“You’re a shrewd young man.”
He smiled at me, but behind the smile, I could see pain.
“As the story goes, the three came upon a huge encampment. Ever the daring one who has cheated death, Nightshade suggested that she try to enter the tent of the leaders and steal plans while they slept. Gearon and Widseth knew she could do it, but they also knew her impetuous nature. They insisted that they observe the camp all afternoon, watching the patrols and marking the weakness in the pickets. Then they saw him. He was a huge man—you might say a giant, but not really so. All bowed to him. He was the leader—no mistake. Nightshade marked his tent. As night fell she slipped unseen past the guards and into the Captain’s tent. She gathered some letters and maps that she found on a table. Then she saw something shiny on his hand. If you know Nightshade, you know she can’t resist shiny things.”
Everyone in the circle laughed. Evidently her penchant for shiny things was well known among these comrades.
“She had to have it, but in her eagerness she made a mistake and knocked a cup off the table. The Captain woke and instinctively grabbed his sword, but she was quicker, and in an instant she drew her sword and struck a true blow into his heart. He died without a sound. She quickly cut his hand off and slipped into the darkness. I don’t think even Nightshade realized the treasures she had acquired until she rejoined Gearon and Widseth.”
“The proof was the leader’s hand?” I asked.
“No, the maps and letters would have been convincing enough, but it was the ring on his hand—the ‘shiny’ that had attracted Nightshade’s attention that stunned the council. It was a signet ring for Iuz. The ancient evil had once again found followers and allies. When Nightshade presented the ring to the council, tales turned into reality.”
I fell asleep that night curled around my backpack, covered by my cloak. My thoughts before sleep revolved around the strange and terrifying world that I had enter.