Changes: The Sunless Citadel

Revision as of 21:07, 13 April 2020

The Sunless Citadel (2000) is an adventure module for Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition written by Bruce Cordell. It is the first in a series of linked modules. It received a reprint in the D&D 5th edition adventure compendium Tales from the Yawning Portal (2017).

Plot

Background

Long ago, a great fortress built by a cult of the dragon Ashardalon sank into the earth in a forgotten cataclysm. Its ruins became known as the Sunless Citadel, and over the centuries numerous creatures made this place their home.

Twelve years ago, the druid Belak the Outcast discovered the Twilight Grove in the citadels depths. There he found the Gulthias Tree, grown from a wooden stake once used to slay an ancient vampire, and from which sprouts supernatural fruit known to cure any disease.

One month ago, four adventurers from the nearby town of Oakhurst ventured into the Sunken Citadel searching for the origin of the magical fruit. They never returned. It is up to you now, to find what is lost.

Synopsis

The player characters explore the Sunless Citadel, where they encounter a kobold named Meepo. His pet white dragon wyrmling was stolen by goblins who live deeper in the ruins. Meepo's tribe are eager to have their captured dragon returned.

The party battles or parleys their way through the kobolds before encountering the citadel's goblin inhabitants.

Deep in the citadel lies the Twilight Grove, wherein lives the Gulthias Tree, still tended by the druid Belak.

Development

Reception and influence

The Sunless Citadel is linked to The Forge of Fury (2000), which was designed as a follow-on.^[1]

Meepo the Dragon Keeper, a kobold character appearing in this adventure, was popular with players. In Dragon #359 (Sep 2007), Meepo appeared as the first entry in the article 1d20 Villains: D&D's Monst Wanted; Preferably Dead, a list featuring such legendary D&D opponents as Artemis Entreri, Acererak, Demogorgon, and Tiamat.

The fan-made 2003 video game Defense of the Ancients, which featured many characters named for existing popular fictional characters, features a koboldlike character named Meepo the Geomancer.

In 2017, The Sunless Citadel received a 5th edition conversion in the adventure anthology Tales from the Yawning Portal.

Links

The Sunless Citadel (3e) on Dungeon Masters Guild

References

↑ "The adventure was published shortly after The Sunless Citadel and was designed as a follow-up to it." Tales from the Yawning Portal, p34.

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0
Core rules
Player's Handbook • Dungeon Master's Guide • Monster Manual • Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game
Supplements
Arms and Equipment Guide • Book of Challenges • Book of Vile Darkness • Defenders of the Faith • Deities and Demigods • Enemies and Allies • Epic Level Handbook • Fiend Folio • Ghostwalk • Hero Builder's Guidebook • Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (Dungeons & Dragons Gazetteer) • Manual of the Planes • Masters of the Wild • Monster Manual II • Oriental Adventures • Psionics Handbook • Savage Species • Song and Silence • Stronghold Builder's Guidebook • Sword and Fist • Tome and Blood
Adventures
The Sunless Citadel • The Forge of Fury • The Fright at Tristor • The Speaker in Dreams • The Standing Stone • Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil • Heart of Nightfang Spire • Deep Horizon • Lord of the Iron Fortress • Bastion of Broken Souls • City of the Spider Queen

[1] "The adventure was published shortly after The Sunless Citadel and was designed as a follow-up to it." Tales from the Yawning Portal, p34.

[1]

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 Twelve years ago, the druid [[Belak|Belak the Outcast]] discovered the Twilight Grove in the citadels depths. There he found the [[Gulthias Tree]], grown from a wooden stake once used to slay an ancient [[vampire]], and from which sprouts supernatural fruit known to cure any disease.
-One month ago, four adventurers from the nearby town of [[Oakhurst]] ventured into the Sunken Citadel searching for the origin of the magical fruit. They never returned.
+One month ago, four adventurers from the nearby town of [[Oakhurst]] ventured into the Sunken Citadel searching for the origin of the magical fruit. They never returned. It is up to you now, to find what is lost.
 ===Synopsis===
 The player characters explore the Sunless Citadel, where they encounter a [[kobold]] named [[Meepo]]. His pet [[white dragon]] wyrmling was stolen by [[goblin]]s who live deeper in the ruins. Meepo's tribe are eager to have their captured dragon returned.
@@ Line 31: / Line 32: @@
 ==Reception and influence==
 The Sunless Citadel is linked to [[The Forge of Fury]] (2000), which was designed as a follow-on.<ref>"The adventure was published shortly after ''The Sunless Citadel'' and was designed as a follow-up to it." [[Tales from the Yawning Portal]], p34.</ref>
-[[Meepo]] the Dragon Keeper, the kobold character, inspired the character of Meepo the Geomancer in the 2003 video game ''Defense of the Ancients''.
+[[Meepo]] the Dragon Keeper, a kobold character appearing in this adventure, was popular with players. In {{DragonMagazine|359}}, Meepo appeared as the first entry in the article ''1d20 Villains: D&D's Monst Wanted; Preferably Dead'', a list featuring such legendary D&D opponents as [[Artemis Entreri]], [[Acererak]], [[Demogorgon]], and [[Tiamat]].
+The fan-made 2003 video game ''Defense of the Ancients'', which featured many characters named for existing popular fictional characters, features a koboldlike character named Meepo the Geomancer.
 In 2017, The Sunless Citadel received a 5th edition conversion in the adventure anthology [[Tales from the Yawning Portal]].
 ==Links==
-* [https://www.dmsguild.com/product/3727/The-Sunless-Citadel-3e The Sunless Citadel] on [[Dungeon Masters Guild]]
+* [https://www.dmsguild.com/product/3727/The-Sunless-Citadel-3e The Sunless Citadel (3e)] on [[Dungeon Masters Guild]]
 ==References==
 <references />
+{{DNDBooks3e}}
 [[Category:Adventure modules]]
 [[Category:2000 publications]]

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