A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Dungeon Crawl Classics Horror #1: They Served Brandolyn Red

Dungeon Crawl Classics Horror #1: They Served Brandolyn Red by Stephen Newton 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.

The supplement is available from DriveThruRPG as an 18-page PDF 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 the front matter, about half a page the Open Game License and one page is an ad.

The Introduction states that this is an adventure for 8-14 0-level characters – a funnel, in DCC terms – but it could be adapted for 1st level characters. It is also said it can be run in two ways; either kill the things that attacked the characters, or try to find out what was behind it all.

Background explains that a local vintner’s wife, Brandolyn, was having an affair with an elf. The vintner found out and took it badly, killing his wife and pretending she had vanished. This is followed by a list of the encounters and their types.

Player Option: Family Background explains that a number of encounters are tailored to local backgrounds, and these can be handed out to them.

The adventure itself starts at a wedding. The son of local nobility is marrying the daughter of elven nobility, and things are going well, despite problems between the two families. Until the wedding is attacked by monsters and many people, including the groom, are killed. The characters will have to defend themselves but, this being a wedding, they lack weapons. The groom’s father blames the bride’s father and plans to eventually attack him.

The characters are going to have to track down the true monsters and deal with them before things spiral even further out of hand. A sidebar discusses Brandolyn Red, a rare and valuable wine named by the vintner after his wife, and after he killed her.

There are some disturbing secrets that can be revealed in the adventure; the characters should find out what actually happened, even if they just attempt to kill everything. Continuing the Adventure has some wrap up text and ideas for further events.

Two pages then have backgrounds for the local families, with heraldry, for handing out. Another page has two handouts, one a family tree and one an illustration.

Dungeon Crawl Classics Horror #1: They Served Brandolyn Red

The PDF is bookmarked, but only the major sections are linked. Navigation isn’t bad, but it could be better. The text maintains a two-column black and white format and appeared to be nearly free of errors. There are a number of black and white illustrations, up to full page in size, and a full-page map. Presentation is good.

The adventure’s background, as appropriate for a generally horror-themed adventure, is rather disturbing. If the characters find out the truth, they will likely be disturbed as well. The adventure can, as mentioned, be played in a simple kill-the-attacking-monsters way, or it could be played with a bit more investigation. It might be possible for the GM to expand that idea too. Dungeon Crawl Classics Horror #1: They Served Brandolyn Red is an interesting little adventure and it can be found by clicking here.