Pandora’s Dungeons: Chapter 1 – The Box by Marshall Lemon is a role playing game supplement published by Gorgon’s Breath Games. This is an adventure for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition and, as such, is covered by the Open Game License with some parts considered to be Open Game Content as a result. This adventure is intended to be a low level starter adventure.
This is a Pay What You Want PDF that is available from RPGNow. The supplement has thirteen pages of which one page is the front cover, three the front matter and one the Open Game License. One page is also taken up by a map of the temple and the associated caves and there are two pages of stat blocks.
The adventure starts with an overview; although this functions as a stand-alone quest, it is also intended to be the first part in an adventure series. It then gives the Adventure Background. Five demon lords were defeated by the titular Pandora, a powerful cleric, and her associates. Unable to destroy the demons, they were instead imprisoned in a box, and a temple built to protect this. Pandora sealed herself in the box with the demon lords and, over time, knowledge of all was forgotten – in part deliberately; the location of a box full of demonic power was suppressed.
Introducing the Party, as a consequence, has them not knowing about the box or Pandora. Instead, they are dealing with a goblin raiding party that inhabits a cave system connected to the forgotten temple.
The various locations in the caves and temple are then covered, finishing in the room which houses the box. Which radiates intense goodness – after all, it is supposed to make sure none of the evil inside escapes. It is highly likely that the characters will open the box, thereby releasing the demon lords who flee to their five dungeons. Pandora is also released and can possess a willing person to inform them of what just happened.
Continuing the Adventure is on future supplements in the series. Each demon lord and their lair will be described in one. There is also mention of what happens if the characters do not open the box, it could be purchased by a collector. Who may well open it. Finally, if the characters refuse to help Pandora, demonic incursions will start troubling the land and they will need to deal with such, probably now without the help that Pandora offered.
Pandora’s Dungeons: Chapter 1 – The Box in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and, although these would have been appreciated, the supplement is short enough that they aren’t essential.
The supplement lacks illustrations, excluding the front cover and the Patreon ad. The maps of the caves and temple are black and white and would appear to be drawings that have then been scanned in and cleaned up. Both maps are on a grid, but this is almost impossible to see. Presentation is okay.
It’s mentioned in the text that players should not be told the name of the adventure, for if they are they will more than likely not open the box they find. Moreover, it seems likely that, in such a case, not only would they not open it, they probably wouldn’t sell it either and are more likely to collapse the temple if they can, preventing anyone having access. A case where keeping the name of the adventure secret is a must.
The concept itself is quite interesting. A simple exploit against a group of goblins can inadvertently trigger a problem for the entire continent. Fortunately, the demon lords immediately depart or this would be a very short-lived campaign. It’s suggested that the GM develop side quests in association with the five dungeons, although until at least one of those is released, doing such would be tricky. This adventure is a good start to the series and it will certainly be interesting to see how it is developed. Pandora’s Dungeons: Chapter 1 – The Box can be found, and checked out for free, by clicking here.
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