Creeping Cold by Ian McGarty and Jayson Gardner is a role playing game supplement published by Silver Bulette for use with Swords & Wizardry. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result. This is an adventure for level 3-5 characters and is also available in a version for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.
The supplement is available as a 36-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $10 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. One page is the front cover and two the Open Game License.
The Introduction explains that this module is more of a murder mystery than a typical adventure, and most of it takes place at one location with a frozen storm raging. There is a description of the various sections.
Cold Effects has rules for cold for a S&W game, including the effects of frostbite. Cold limits what the characters are able to do.
NPC Quick Reference Chart briefly lists the more salient points of each NPC. This is followed by NPC Descriptions, which goes into the different characters in more detail.
The caravanserai, where much of the adventure takes place, is then mapped and described. Following this is a four-day Timeline of events.
After the brief overview in the Timeline, each day is then gone into in more detail, including events that happen, dangers and any places visited.
Following this are descriptions for three new monsters, stats for three of the NPCs, the combat-worthy ones, two new spells and three new magic items.
The rest of the supplement has four pages of handouts and five pages of maps.
Creeping Cold in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and, given the length and number of sections, really could have used them. Navigation is poor. The text maintains a two-column colour layout and some minor errors were noticed. There are a lot of colour illustrations, which appear to have been stock images that were selected for being relevant, plus some black and white maps, which appear to be custom.
This adventure is a combination of investigation, with some combat encounters. The addition of the rules on cold make it more difficult than it would otherwise be; venturing out in the snow is dangerous and without that the characters might not have been forced to go to the caravansarie. There is a definite degree of danger in the adventure, and also something that may be a bit of a moral choice. Defeating one monster may not be the best option. Creeping Cold is an interesting little adventure, though not cheap at full price, and it can be found by clicking here.
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