It all starts simply enough: the characters are approached in a tavern by the local sage who would like them to fetch a certain species of rare mushroom that he needs for some alchemical experiments. Reading the Introduction, however, lets you know that far more than a few toadstools await the characters! For a start, the quest will lead them into the Dark Wood, which regular visitors to Adventureaweek's campaign world know is a place unsafe after dark and even during daylight hours it is wise to stick to the path. Worse than that, some of the inhabitants are busy hatching a dastardly plot that will soon ensnare the characters...

The adventure involves a fair bit of travelling around and talking to various people, some of whom are more helpful than others. The GM is provided with ample 'read aloud' and background material at every turn - provided, that is, that the characters do what is expected of them. There's at least one place where a single intelligent question could save an awful lot of bother... yet if one of your players asks it, you will have to make up the answer as it is nowhere to be found.

After a fair bit of toing and froing, the characters are - if they continue to follow the plot - suckered into a fine climactic encounter series where their skill with traps, in particular, will be challenged. It all makes sense - if you know what is actually going on - and makes for a good 'crawl' episode even if you don't, as the characters will not, at least not at this point. There's a fine map of the complex, clearly annotated and supported by the text to help you run it all effectively.

As well as the usual hyperlinked support - accessing the D&D 3.x and Pathfinder SRDs, as well as the magnificent Adventureaweek.com website with campaign world support for subscribers - and full stat blocks for everybody (and creature) encountered, there's a rather nice magic item to be found, as well as players' maps of the final complex, that show them what is apparent without giving much away - a nice touch as it would prove quite hard to describe in places.

Overall it is another fun adventure, challenging and potentially frustrating, perhaps quite slow to start but the pace and action increase as it progresses...

Return to Alchemist's Errand page.

Reviewed: 2 August 2012