Dungeon Crawl Classics #80: Intrigue at the Court of Chaos by Michael Curtis is a role playing game supplement published by Goodman Games for use with Dungeon Crawl Classics. 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 1 characters.
The supplement is available as a 40-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $6.99 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, one is the front matter, about half is the Open Game License and two are ads.
The Introduction explains that this adventure embraces one of the fundamental differences of Dungeon Crawl Classics; that characters do not need to become high-level heroes to go on cosmos spanning adventures. There is a caution in this section, because it’s possible that one or more PCs may betray their fellows, and that this is not suitable for all groups.
The Adventure Background explains that there are still sparks of the First Chaos lying around the cosmos, though the gods of Law gathered these up. Over time, they’ve forgotten about one of these, called the Yolkless Egg. Which Chaos has discovered and wants.
Starting the Adventure has the characters invited, whether they like it or not, to the Court of Chaos.
Intrigue at the Court of Chaos starts by covering the eight most important figures at the Court. Event 1: Introducing the Court of Chaos has the characters coming around and asked to help recover the Yolkless Egg. Yes, they can decline to help, but it’s easy to see that this is not an offer they can refuse and survive.
Event 2: Temptation has the characters tempted by the members of the Court to betray their fellows and, rather than deliver the Egg to the Court as a whole, deliver it to one of the members. For a bigger reward.
Event 3: Departure has the characters leave the Court for the Plane of Law. There, they will need to pass a number of different tests in order to get the Yolkless Egg.
Event 4: Return to the Court of Chaos has the characters return with the Egg. What they do with it will alter how this final encounter plays out, and it’s possible that this could be a scene of mass betrayal.
Glimpsed by Chaos is an optional event to build up to this adventure. Finally, there are five handouts for different members of the Court and the offers they would make.
War Pit of the Chaos-Wizards by Steve Bean is a bonus adventure included in the second printing. This is for 2nd level characters and is simple enough. The characters are asked to fight on behalf of one of the Xeno-Coven of chaotic wizards who regularly have proxy fights with each other over who leads their regular meets. Downside; the person they fight for requires them to be undead. But says they will fix this afterwards.
Dungeon Crawl Classics #80: Intrigue at the Court of Chaos in Review
The PDF is bookmarked but only the major sections are linked. Navigation could be better. The text mostly maintains a two-column black and white format and appeared to be free of errors. There are many black and white illustrations, including handouts and maps, all of which appear to be custom. Presentation is very good.
Neither adventure in this supplement is suitable for every group. As is stated, Intrigue at the Court of Chaos will not be suitable for groups who have problems with character betrayal, which is truthfully quite a hefty proportion of them. The adventure itself is interesting because it has 1st level characters trotting around the planes, something perhaps only otherwise seen in Planescape, and a nice change.
The second adventure, given how it works out, isn’t that suitable for campaign play as written, though it could make a decent convention game. Only if the requirement of being undead is removed, and in which case why have it in the first place, does it work well as a campaign adventure. Dungeon Crawl Classics #80: Intrigue at the Court of Chaos has some interesting, albeit potentially flawed, concepts, and it can be found by clicking here.
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