Dungeon Backdrop: Scarlock Hill (P1) by Bart Wynants 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, one is an ad, three 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 Lonely Coast 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 a couple of millennia ago the Tuath emerged from the Tangled Wood of the Lonely Coast and, despite battles against goblins, dominated the region for 200 years until finally defeated by the goblins. One hero-king was rescued by the fey, in exchange for marrying the king’s first-born daughter, a deal the king tried to go back on, leading to his own death and that of his daughter. The king was buried in a barrow, which was taken over by evil cultists until they were wiped out.
The Adventure Begins has three different hooks for getting the characters involved.
Whispers & Rumours has six rumours about the hill.
The Surrounding Locality has overviews of the places around the barrow, followed by six pieces of wilderness dressing and six things to find.
Notable Locations at a Glance gives an overview of the important places in the barrow.
Architecture & Environment gives an overview of the barrow’s general features, followed by ten pieces of dungeon dressing and ten things to find, after which is a full-page map of the location.
The barrow is then described, with each location covered. The pages have a two-column format, one column having some GM Notes but otherwise being mostly blank. To get into the barrow requires a puzzle be solved, and there are notes on making such fun.
Aftermath has how to resolve the adventure, depending on which adventure hook is used, and there are three more adventure hooks. A sidebar explains how this is intended to work with Dungeon Backdrop: Craghollow Mine and Dungeon Backdrop: The Shard Isles along with The Secret Name to make a mini-campaign.
The final page of content has a map of Gloamhold and surroundings.
Dungeon Backdrop: Scarlock Hill (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 free of errors. As well as the maps, there are some stock black and white illustrations. Presentation is okay.
This is another backdrop in the series that should be easy enough to drop into another setting; all that’s really needed is a place to site the barrow. Some of the background will need altering, but given that the only definite way characters will discover any of it is through the rumours, this should not be difficult. Again, this is not an adventure that works out of the box; things will need adding to it. Instead, it is a mostly done adventure that could be configured to specific characters and levels. Dungeon Backdrop: Scarlock Hill (P1) can be found by clicking here.
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