Dungeon Backdrop: Pit of Unquiet Souls (P1) by Creighton Broadhurst is a role playing game supplement published by Raging Swan Press for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. 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 19-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $3.75 but was purchased at a reduced price in a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, two are ads, two the front matter and Contents and one the Open Game License. The PDF comes in two versions, one optimised for print and high-end devices and the other for low end devices and mobile.
Using a Dungeon Backdrop is a standard piece explaining how to use this, that the backdrop is intended for use with the Duchy of Ashlar but can be modified to fit elsewhere, that location descriptions only cover the basics and that treasure is only minor and level appropriate treasure needs adding.
Dungeon Background explains that the pit, which was previously called by a different name, was the site of a mine near Dunstone where a meteorite had buried itself centuries ago; the star metal is valuable. However, as the miners delved deeper, they heard voices and all bar the original person left, who disappeared.
The Adventure Begins has three adventure hooks for directly getting the characters involved.
Whispers & Rumours has six rumours about the mine.
The Surrounding Locality gives a general overview of the surrounding area. There are also ten pieces of wilderness dressing and ten things to find.
Notable Locations at a Glance gives an overview of the important places inside and outside the pit.
Generic Dungeon Features gives a description of the general features along with ten pieces of dungeon dressing and ten things to find, after which is a full-page map of the mine, including side view and the surface.
The mine is then described, covering the various locations. Each page has two columns, one with the description and the other mostly blank except for some GM Notes.
Aftermath wraps things up using the three adventure hooks, depending on which one was used.
Further Adventures has a new adventure hook as well as continuing to investigate two sites mentioned in a diary in the adventure, Dungeon Backdrop: Ruins of Bleak Hill and Dungeon Backdrop: Starfall Chantry, and to refer to the Vile Star storyline, if using it, for how to progress to Ruins of Bleak Hill.
The final two pages of content are player handouts.
Dungeon Backdrop: Pit of Unquiet Souls (P1) in Review
The PDF is bookmarked with major and minor sections linked and only sidebars missing. The Contents is to a similar level of depth and is hyperlinked. The text maintains a two-column format and appears to be mostly free of errors. As well as the map, there are some stock black and white illustrations. Presentation is okay.
This is an easy enough backdrop to site other than in the Duchy of Ashlar, as all that’s really needed is some wilderness to put a mine in that’s reasonably close to a town. The background is also pretty usable. This, like other Dungeon Backdrops, isn’t an adventure but a general framework for such; the GM can add treasure and monsters suitable for whatever level they choose, making it something that’s flexible but not usable out of the box. Dungeon Backdrop: Pit of Unquiet Souls (P1) can be found by clicking here.
Leave a Reply