The Fiend of Turlin’s Well (5e) by Skeeter Green is a role playing game supplement published by Frog God Games for use with Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. 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 characters of levels 1 and 2 and is also available in a Swords & Wizardry version.

The supplement is available as a PDF from DriveThruRPG for $6 and is also available in printed form from sites such as Amazon. The PDF is the version reviewed although it was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. The PDF has 34 pages with two pages being the front and rear covers, one the front matter, one the Table of Contents, one being blank and one the Open Game License.

The adventure starts off by warning that this is a psychological horror adventure and has a darker style than would be expected from swords & sorcery, instead verging into horror territory.

The Introduction explains that the adventure is intended for 4-6 Tier 1 characters and that it takes place in part of Bard’s Gate over the course of ten days. A sidebar essentially continues with more content warning. The Adventure Summary covers the events of the adventure and that it takes place a few weeks after A Matter of Faith from Bard’s Gate. Though that adventure doesn’t need to be run, this one can follow on from it. A map has Turlin’s Well in detail.

Background describes the events that have led up to the current situation and this is followed by How to Use This Adventure, which has tips on doing so and explains there are cinematic elements. Getting Started is on getting the characters involved, with some different options depending on their background, including the always futile attempt to have a relaxing time.

Adventure Start has the first encounter the characters have. This is followed by a list of rumours to hear and a timeline for the adventure. This is followed by the fixed events of the timeline, a variety of encounters. Finally, the lair of the Fiend is described.

Appendix A: Creatures has stats for various monsters as well as the Between creature template for creating Between creatures.

Appendix B: New Items has a single magic item.

Appendix C: Written Secrets has something from Casterhage, a secret that is written, can be triggered and has consequences for doing so, complete with one secret.

Appendix D: Teratashia has a brief description of this Demon Princess, one of the major powers of Between.

Appendix E: The Lyre Valley Beholder has several handouts from this news sheet related to the adventure.

Appendix F: Eyes on the City has brief details on certain upcoming events.

Appendix G: Page 3 Personalities has an in-character interview with an NPC.

Appendix H: Guild Announcements has a list of guild openings.

The Fiend of Turlin’s Well (5e) in Review

The PDF is bookmarked, with most major and minor sections linked. The Table of Contents is to a similar level of depth and is hyperlinked. Navigation is good. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. Bar some maps, there are very few illustrations, though the handouts are nice. Presentation is okay.

Though the adventure is set in part of Bard’s Gate, and although there are references to Castorhage and Between, an alternate dimension, from The Blight, all from the Lost Lands, it should be comparatively easy to drop it into another setting. Having The Blight will give more background on Between, but it isn’t essential.

Between does have a strange effect on the Fiend’s lair, with some new rules. Characters can suffer from mental exhaustion, caused by the link to Between, and this can have various effects, listed in different places, ranging from Disadvantage on ability checks through hallucinations, madness and finally catatonia. This definitely adds another level of risk to the adventure, and one not tied to monsters. That could make it rather harder than most are used to for a Tier 1 adventure. It is, as mentioned, rather more of a horror adventure than is usual for 5E, so it may not be for everyone. The Fiend of Turlin’s Well (5e) is a different type of adventure that can be found by clicking here.