Vathak 5e Adventures – One Dark Night by Jason Owen Black is a role playing game supplement published by Fat Goblin 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 the Shadows Over Vathak setting for 3-5 characters with an average level of 5.

The supplement is available from DriveThruRPG for $3.95 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 and one the Open Game License.

Adventure Background explains that Wilhelm’s Eve, named after a popular vindari poet, is held on the Winter Solstice, with merrymaking followed by executions and returning home. Every year, people are killed that night, at random in different cities across Vathak; the killers are known generally as the Wilhelm Killers, and one is in Kandar when the characters are there.

Adventure Location explains this needs a northern city with a gothic aesthetic and in Shadows Over Vathak it takes place in the Vindari Quarter of Kandar.

Adventure Hooks has a number of ways of getting the characters involved; a sidebar explains that the adventure is designed to resemble a slasher film.

Running this Adventure and Abbreviations explains what’s needed and how material is laid out. A sidebar gives some details on the Shadows over Vathak setting.

Beginning the Adventure explains it starts after nightfall after the inhabitants have gone home but the PCs are still on the streets.

The Wilhelm Killer gives the motivations and goals of the killer, as well as his stats.

The Vindari Quarter gives an overview of the quarter, with descriptions of points of interest.

Encounters with the Wilhelm Killer explains that the killer wants to kill, but he also wants to inspire fear, and explains his tactics.

Sanctuary looks at what happens if the PCs seek to seek such from the killer.

Conclusion has wrapping up.

Vathak 5e Adventures – One Dark Night in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and has enough sections that these would be useful. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are some black and white illustrations. Presentation is okay.

There is only one enemy in this adventure, and if played properly he should be toying with the characters; he should not just appear and be dealt with. The aim is to spread things out. Neither the festival itself nor the city are really that important; the adventure could be dropped into another setting and that there’s a festival at all could be ignored. Vathak 5e Adventures – One Dark Night is a different type of adventure and it can be found by clicking here.