Father's Day One Shot: The Curse of the Ancient Ways
This adventure is intended for up to 4 characters of 1st to 5th level. This adventure relies heavily on exploration, role-playing, and has many combat opportunities. This is a reverse fetch quest (return an item).
Adventure Hook
The character’s father, a retired adventurer, has fallen victim of a cursed item, which causes him immense suffering and will soon be fatal unless unless it can be returned to it’s proper place. He explains that a cursed item, a beautiful black pearl the size of an apple, is deeply rooted in ancient lore. He “acquired” while searching ancient ruins in The Hollows. If the item is not returned before he dies, the curse will pass on to his children.
The party must return the pearl to a temple hidden deep within The Hollows before their father’s condition becomes fatal.
Party Goals
The task for the party is to locate the temple from which their father acquired the artifact and return it to its proper place, which will remove the curse.
- Travel to The Hollows
- Explore The Hollows in search of the Temple of Ramvoldus.
- Locate the reliquarium.
- Return the Pearl of Tijn to its reliquarium.
- Return home safely.
Challenges
Locating Hollows:
The party must navigate through treacherous terrain, including swamps, dense forest and dark caves to find a passage into the small valley know as The Hollows.
Understanding the Curse:
The party must decipher ancient texts or riddles that explain the nature of the curse.
Each text fragment relates to a different aspect of the curse, such as health degradation, how the curse is inherited, and how to remove the curse.
Locating the reliquarium:
The are many stone ruins in The Hollows. The reliquarium can be found in the shattered ruins of the temple atop a giant Aztec style pyramid completely overgrown by forest. Alternately, the DM could move the temple inside the pyramid if more adventure time is needed.
The Final Challenge:
The Hollows is the home to the green dragon Zelenyy. The age of the dragon should be adjusted based on the level and size of the party.
Setting
The adventure takes place in an ancient, remote region known as The Hollows, a network of Aztec style ruins, hidden caves and secret passages nestled deep within a dense swamp. The area is cloaked in mist and darkness. Legends abound about its mystical creatures and hidden treasures. The cursed item was taken from a sacred site at the heart of The Hollows.
The Hollows could be just over the ridge in the dark forest next to the farm or far-far away from the farm where the adventure begins depending on how much travel you want to have in the adventure.
The mist and darkness surrounding the heart of The Hollows is the regional effect of the green dragon Zelenyy. Many fantastic creature call this area home, but all must bow to or flea from the dragon. There is a random encounter chart below, but feel free to update it with your own creatures.
The Pearl of Tijn
The Pearl of Tijn is a mythical artifact created by the legendary wizard Tijn for the Temple of Ramvoldus. The pearl can grant wishes, cure diseases, and heal wounds. It can only perform one action per character and only if resides in the Temple of Ramvoldus.
The last cleric of Ramvoldus used his wish to imbue the pearl with a curse: Whoever should remove the pearl form its reliquarium shall live a half life, surrendering their forfeited years to their eldest child on their attainment of adulthood, where they shall inherit the curse until the pearl is returned to its rightful place.
The reliquarium is a giant oyster shell last seen on the alter of the temple at the center of The Hollows.
OPTIONAL Skill Challenges
You can use the following skill challenges either as part of the exploration of the temple or as a final escape sequence at the end of the adventure.
Escape Setup: The ancient temple is crumbling after a trap was sprung. The party must navigate through 4 levels to escape.
How Skill Challenges Work:
Each round, a player describes how they contribute to the escape using a skill of their choice, but no one can use the same skill twice in the same level.
All traps should be a DC of 10 unless you are playing with a higher level party. In which case, increase the DC so the chances of success are about 55% (11 out of 20)
If you are using the recommended temple map from Dyson Logos, there are 4 levels to the temple. I am assuming you are using the bottom left room as the location of the reliquarium. Once the characters place the pearl into the giant clam shell, there is a low rumble and the temple begins to shake… The characters must leave immediately or risk being crushed.
If the characters entered the bottom level of the temple via the hidden cave entrance or explored it before finding the reliquarium, they will only need to perform 1 set of skill challenges to escape.
The level numbers below are numbered from the top going down. So, Level 4 is the subterranean temple with the secret cave entrance.
LEVEL 1 – The Trapped Entrance
The two stairways leading down into the temple are lined with traps that reactivate from ancient magic. They have been damaged by seismic activity and don’t always work as intended.
Obstacles:
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Blades swing from the walls.
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Pressure plates trigger darts.
Example Skill Uses:
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Acrobatics (DC 14): Dodge and weave through deadly traps.
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Thieves’ Tools (DC 13): Disable an active trap (DEX).
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Survival (DC 12): Identify trap mechanisms and paths of least resistance.
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Insight (DC 15): Predict how the ancient trap sequence works.
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Stealth (DC 13): Move silently to avoid triggering magical alarms.
LEVEL 2 – The Pressure Plate Gauntlet
The floor ahead is a sprawling mosaic of stone tiles — some worn, some pristine. With each misstep, ancient mechanisms groan, and 4 heavy stone doors begin to shut. You realize: you only have so many mistakes before you’re sealed in forever.
Obstacle:
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Dozens of pressure plates with mixed effects: safe, harmful, or trap triggers.
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Incorrect steps begin shutting the heavy stone doors at the entrance of each of the 4 stairways.
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The correct pattern is obscure or coded in the surrounding murals or symbols.
Example Skill Uses:
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Investigation (DC 13): Spot minute differences between safe and unsafe tiles.
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Perception (DC 14): Hear subtle clicks from a tile before committing.
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History (DC 15): Recall temple floor patterns from similar ruins or murals.
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Arcana (DC 13): Detect magical auras around trapped tiles or control glyphs.
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Acrobatics (DC 14): Leap over dangerous tiles or gaps safely.
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Insight (DC 14): Read the design logic or pattern in the floor’s layout.
Optional Bonus Mechanic – “Wrong Step Tracker”
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With each failure, describe a visual of the doors grinding shut:
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1st failure: There is a stone on stone grating noise. You turn around to find the source only to realize the stair cases are being sealed off by large stone doors descending from the ceiling. The sound stops with the door about a quarter of the way closed.
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2nd failure: The doors are halfway down — wind from the outside starts to fade.
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3rd failure: The doors slam shut, and the ceiling begins to drop. The room is pitch black.
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LEVEL 3 – The Collapsing Chamber
The floor tilts and begins to sink into the earth. Sand and debris pour in through cracks in the far wall.
Obstacles:
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Floor is unstable and slippery, and slowly sloping.
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Rubble begins to fall from the ceiling.
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A stone slab is blocking the hallway between the stairs and the main chamber on this level.
Example Skill Uses:
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Athletics (DC 13): Leap across broken stones or hold up collapsing beams.
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Arcana (DC 15): Dispel or destroy the magic glyphs holding a door shut.
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Investigation (DC 12): Locate the correct pressure plate to open the door.
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Sleight of Hand (DC 14): Rapidly solve or disarm the crumbling locking mechanism.
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Perception (DC 13): Notice a safe route through falling debris.
LEVEL 4 – The Flood Temple
Water surges in from an underground spring cracked open during the collapse.
Obstacles:
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Water rapidly rises, making some paths inaccessible.
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Documents and wooden structures become unstable.
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A submerged crawlspace is the only exit.
Example Skill Uses:
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Athletics (DC 15): Swim while carrying gear or party members.
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Nature (DC 13): Detect water currents to avoid being swept into debris.
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Intelligence (DC 14): Recall the layout from old murals to find the exit.
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Strength (DC 16): Force open a jammed underwater grate.
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Medicine (DC 13): Help a party member who’s drowning or panicked.
How to Hex Crawl
Finding the temple at the center of The Hollows is a hex crawl exploration. I recommend printing some hex map pieces, cutting them out, and lay them down on the table as the players explore. Each hex is an opportunity for an encounter or discovery.
Don’t think of a hex crawl as real-time, movement-by-movement game play. A typical in-game day will allow 3 to 4 hex moves per day. The turn cycle works like this:
- DM asks what the player(s) are doing or which direction they are exploring
- Players describe what they want to happen on their 4-hour turn duration
- DM rolls for events like random encounters and events
- DM describes the results of the player’s actions and the events that occur based on dice rolls. If combat is involved, switch into 6-second combat turns for the combat then roll play out any follow-up that is needed.
- Rinse and Repeat
This is a very simplified version of the process, but it shows you how you can get through a HUGE map in a reasonable time.
Appendix: Random Encounters
The following encounter table is to be used for exploring The Hollows. Creatures do not automatically attack unless scared or provoked. Animals such as wild board will run away unless they are hunting and see the party as prey or if they are defending themselves or their young.
| 2D10 | Qty | Name | Award XP Each | Total Award XP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-5 | – | Mysterious sounds | ||
| 6 | 5 | Giant Poisonous Snake | 50 | 250 |
| 7 | 1 | Centaur | 450 | 450 |
| 8 | 1 | Griffon | 450 | 450 |
| 9 | 5 | Giant Centipede | 50 | 450 |
| 10 | 1 | Ogre | 450 | 450 |
| 11 | 5 | Pixie | 50 | 450 |
| 12 | 1 | Boar | 50 | 450 |
| 13 | 1d10 | Elven/Aztec warriors | 50 | 150 |
| 14 | 5 | Rats | 10 | 50 |
| 15 | 4 | Giant Rats | 25 | 100 |
| 16 | 3 | Panther | 50 | 150 |
| 17 | 1 | Black Bear | 700 | 700 |
| 18 | 2 | Ankheg | 450 | 900 |
| 19 | – | DM’s Choice | ||
| 20 | – | Dragon tracks |
All creatures are also taken from the basic rules and/or Monster Manual.
Zelenyy, The Green Dragon
Zeleny is a very cruel, vane and greedy dragon. He will only negotiate or trade if he can see no other way to get what he wants. Keeping his word is never his intention. He is dull witted, but a cunning and ruthless hunter. It may help to think an encounter with him as a large hungry cat playing with mice before eating them.
Zelenny will never fight to the death and will retreat to safety if he feels like he might suffer serious harm. Zelenny is not looking for a fair fight, he is looking for food and treasure.
Zelenny desperately wants the pearl returned and will bargain, trade, or preferably kill for it.
Dragons are more than a bag of hit points. Below is a video from Insight Check that does a deep dive on green dragons that will help you run a better encounter.
Stat Blocks:
Choose a stat block based on the size and level of the player characters.
- Green Dragon Wyrmling (Recommended for this adventure)
- Adult Green Dragon
- Ancient Green Dragon
Dragon's Hoard
If your characters decide to go hunting for the dragon’s hoard, here are a few randomly generated hoard options.
Wyrmling
A total of 295 gp worth of coins, art objects, and/or gems, as follows:
190 gp in coinage:
70 gp
800 sp
4,000 cp
10 gp gemstones (×3; worth 30 gp total):
Azurite (opaque mottled deep blue)
Lapis lazuli (opaque light and dark blue with yellow flecks)
Blue quartz (transparent pale blue)
50 gp gemstones (×1; worth 50 gp total):
25 gp art objects (×1; worth 25 gp total):
Embroidered silk handkerchief
4 mundane items:
A scroll containing a long epic poem in praise of the dragon
An hourglass filled with sparkling sand
A kneeling bench, which anyone addressing the dragon is required to use
Several embroidered throw pillows depicting wyrmling dragons
Magic Items
Spell Scroll (2nd Level) – Alter Self
Potion of Healing
Dust of Disappearance
Potion of Superior Healing
Spell Scroll (4th Level) – Elemental Bane
Adult
A total of 85,781 gp worth of coins, art objects, and/or gems, as follows:
76,341 gp in coinage:
4,300 pp
32,000 gp
13,000 sp
4,100 cp
10 gp gemstones (×4; worth 40 gp total):
Banded agate (translucent striped brown, blue, white, or red), ×2
Eye agate (translucent circles of gray, white brown, blue, or green)
Tiger eye (translucent brown with golden center)
50 gp gemstones (×5; worth 250 gp total):
Jasper (opaque blue, black, or brown)
Onyx (opaque bands of black and white, or pure black or white), ×2
Citrine (transparent pale yellow-brown)
Carnelian (opaque orange to red-brown)
500 gp gemstones (×4; worth 2,000 gp total):
Alexandrite (transparent dark green)
Topaz (transparent golden yellow), ×3
1000 gp gemstones (×3; worth 3,000 gp total):
Star sapphire (translucent blue sapphire with white star-shaped center), ×2
Opal (translucent pale blue with green and golden mottling)
25 gp art objects (×6; worth 150 gp total):
Small gold bracelet
Embroidered silk handkerchief, ×2
Silver necklase
Gold locket with a painted portrait inside
Black velvet mask stitched with silver thread
250 gp art objects (×4; worth 1,000 gp total):
Large well-made tapestry, ×2
Large gold bracelet
Silk robe with gold embroidery
750 gp art objects (×4; worth 3,000 gp total):
Obsidian statuette with gold fittings and inlay
Carved harp of exotic wood with ivory inlay and zircon gems, ×2
Ceremonial electrum dagger with a black pearl in the pommel
6 mundane items:
A jar with a dead illithid tadpole floating in preserving chemicals
A tarnished brazier with pleasant-smelling ash
A kneeling bench, which anyone addressing the dragon is required to use
A jar with a dead illithid tadpole floating in preserving chemicals
A spinning wheel
A jar with a dead illithid tadpole floating in preserving chemicals
Magic Items
Spell Scroll (4th Level) – Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound
Ancient
811,651 gp in coinage:
51,000 pp
300,000 gp
16,000 sp
5,100 cp
10 gp gemstones (×2; worth 20 gp total):
Banded agate (translucent striped brown, blue, white, or red)
Eye agate (translucent circles of gray, white brown, blue, or green)
50 gp gemstones (×2; worth 100 gp total):
Quartz (transparent white, smoky gray, or yellow)
Zircon (transparent pale blue-green)
100 gp gemstones (×2; worth 200 gp total):
Coral (opaque crimson)
Amethyst (transparent deep purple)
500 gp gemstones (×4; worth 2,000 gp total):
Black pearl (opaque pure black), ×3
Alexandrite (transparent dark green)
1000 gp gemstones (×3; worth 3,000 gp total):
Star ruby (translucent ruby with white star-shaped center)
Black opal (translucent dark green with black mottling and golden flecks)
Yellow sapphire (transparent fiery yellow or yellow-green)
5000 gp gemstones (×2; worth 10,000 gp total):
Ruby (transparent clear red to deep crimson)
Jacinth (transparent fiery orange)
25 gp art objects (×5; worth 125 gp total):
Cloth-of-gold vestments
Black velvet mask stitched with silver thread, ×3
Gold locket with a painted portrait inside
750 gp art objects (×1; worth 750 gp total):
Silver chalice set with moonstones
2500 gp art objects (×4; worth 10,000 gp total):
A necklace string of small pink pearls
Eye patch with a mock eye set in blue sapphire and moonstone
Platinum bracelet set with a sapphire
Jeweled anklet
7500 gp art objects (×2; worth 15,000 gp total):
Painted gold child’s sarcophagus
Jade game board with solid gold playing pieces
7 mundane items:
A scroll containing a long epic poem in praise of the dragon
A set of seven candlesticks bearing a god’s holy symbol
A set of irregular polyhedral dice (with 9, 13, 25, and 34 sides)
A painting by an artist long forgotten by everyone except the dragon
A tarnished brazier with pleasant-smelling ash
An extensive historical record in the form of carefully knotted strings
A treatise on alchemy etched on steel cylinders
Magic Items
Spell Scroll (7th level) – Mordenkainen’s Sword
Potion of Cloud Giant Strength
Horseshoes of a Zephyr
Spell Scroll (9th level) – Meteor Swarm
Recommended Maps
5 Responses
Hi, I’m confused about how I go about purchasing the module the Curse of the Ancient Ways. Is it a stand-alone module? Do I purchase and download it? Is it a boxed set somewhere? I’m a long term AD&D player and DM but looking for something that contains everything, including characters, all in one set so I can run the family through something over the course of a weekend. Thank you.
Carolyn, There’s nothing to purchase. My adventures are a “less is more” approach to game prep. Coming from AD&D modules, I can see how this would be confusing. Think of this as your DMing prep notes..Read through a couple of the other adventures and you will see what I mean.
Check over at DriveTheuRPG for more detailed modules.
Carolyn, I updated the site to add some premade player character sheets from our home game. https://dmingdad.com/player-character-sheets/. There are also some character profile pages here: https://dmingdad.com/characters/. Hope this helps!
Love the blueprint this adventure provides. I’m incorporating it into a homebrew open world sandbox I’m running with my family. Do you know when your next adventure will be posted?
Hey Paul! Thanks for the feedback. I am working on another adventure now. It should be done before the end of July. It will be posted on Patreon first, the the website a couple of weeks later.