A Beacon in the Night by Joseph Mohr is a role playing game supplement published by Old School Role Playing for use with Cepheus Engine. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.
The supplement is available as a 13 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. Two pages are the front and rear covers, three the front matter and three the Open Game License.
The opening paragraphs explain that the planet in question is a non-aligned agricultural planet in the Sonora sector – though not stated, the adventure is in the Frontiers of Space setting. It has a strange alien spire that overlooks the primary settlement; the only way of entering the spire is climbing a staircase on the outside and lowering oneself into it. No-one has returned from trying. A patron wishes to hire the characters to explore the spire, which he believes to have a beacon.
The Patron gives details on the NPC.
Complications are potential problems; there was a device to activate the beacon but it’s in pieces.
Key to the Beacon details the various location on the beacon.
Search Modifiers is modifications for searching for parts of the mechanism, the major part of the adventure.
The Mechanism has details on the device.
Completion Modifiers are what’s needed for success.
Calling the Volkeids Home is what might happen if the beacon is activated. Which is described as being beyond the scope of the adventure.
The final page of content has a map of the beacon.
A Beacon in the Night in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is short enough that they are not needed, but would have been appreciated. The text maintains a single column format and some minor errors were noticed. Bar the map and covers, there are no illustrations. Presentation is adequate.
This is a pretty simple and straightforward adventure. Characters just search the area until they find the pieces they need; when all are found, it’s basically complete. The only challenges are searching for the parts and the fact the spire is on a mountain. All told, rather bland. A Beacon in the Night can be found by clicking here.
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