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'''Fate of Istus''' is a multipart adventure for the ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game, taking place in the ''[[World of Greyhawk]]'' campaign setting. The | '''Fate of Istus''' is a multipart adventure for the ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' roleplaying game, taking place in the ''[[World of Greyhawk]]'' campaign setting. The adventure is designed for characters of any class or level, and was published as an in-game vehicle to explain the transition from the game's first to second edition. | ||
== Cover blurb == | == Cover blurb == | ||
Revision as of 12:16, 17 December 2024
| Fate of Istus | |
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| The cover of Fate of Istus, art by Daniel Horne (1989). | |
| Type: | Adventure |
|---|---|
| Code/Abbreviation: | WG8 |
| Edition: | First/Second edition compatible |
| Author(s): | Nigel Findley, Dan Salas, Stephen Inniss, Robert J. Kuntz, et al. |
| Editor(s): | Kim Mohan |
| Cover Artist(s): | Daniel Horne |
| Interior Artist(s): | Karl Waller |
| Publisher: | TSR |
| First Published: | 1989 |
| Pages: | 127 |
| ISBN: | 0-88038-712-2 |
| Class: | Officially published content |
| Setting date: | 576 CY |
Fate of Istus is a multipart adventure for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, taking place in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting. The adventure is designed for characters of any class or level, and was published as an in-game vehicle to explain the transition from the game's first to second edition.
Cover blurb
"This collection of linked adventures takes characters from the Bandit Kingdoms to Furyondy to the Wild Coast, with stops in some of Greyhawk's most exciting locales. But don't be fooled: This is more than just a travelogue.
A dread plague has struck the world of Greyhawk, and the adventurers must travel the length and breadth of the land seeking an explanation and a cure. This is no ordinary plague, but one that seems almost like a punishment - or a test - meted out some greater power.
Should the characters fail to uncover the secret of this quest, the world of Greyhawk will be forever changed.
This epic campaign provides hitherto unknown details about the cities of Greyhawk and tests each major character class in the AD&D game."
Plot summary
The player characters are approached while in Rookroost by Cymbelline (N male half-elf Th9/Brd10), a dandy popinjay and rascal, who tells them he knows the source of the plague.[1] He sends them to the tower of Ereaden the Sage, a wizard who had been studying the plague. Eredean is found dead in his lab, having died from contracting the disease. In his tower, however, the adventurers find potions which delay the progress of the plague. Additionally, monstrously large bats (4ft wingspan) Ereaden had been studying are found, as well as his journal full of notes containing "biological speculation"[2]. When investigating, the PCs find that the bats came from Relmor Bay, and that the bats are blamed for the spread of the original Red Death.
After following clues at the sage's tower, the adventurers find their way to Rel Mord.
Notable nonplayer characters
- Cymbelline: Half-elf 9th Level thief/10th level bard
- Alaric: Human 7th level fighter
- Morgorath's Beastman Avatar: deity can appear as anything
- Arlina: 12th level cleric
- Narlond the white alchemist and the Prophet of Boccob: 18th level magic user
History
The Red Death spread eastward across the Flanaess in 576 CY and persisted in the Domain of Greyhawk until at least spring of 583 CY, when the old village of Skorane was abandoned and deserted.[3]
The Red Death ended when Morgorath, the divine agent of Istus (goddess of fate), who was spreading the plague was slain,[4] though this gave the same impression as the first outbreak in c.496 CY—that it simply ended without a cure.[1]
Table of Contents
| Chapter | Page | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | 2 | |
| Ye Olde City's Scroll #1: Rockroost | 3 | |
| Adventure #1: The Sage's Tower | 6 | Nigel Findley |
| Ye Olde City's Scroll #2: Rel Mord | 14 | |
| Adventure #2: Swords for Hire | 17 | Dan Salas |
| Ye Olde City's Scroll #3: Jurnre | 25 | |
| Adventure #3: Countdown in Jurnre | 28 | Stephen Inniss |
| Ye Olde City's Scroll #4: lredd | 37 | |
| Adventure #4: Diambeth's Delving | 40 | Nigel Findley |
| Ye Olde City's Scroll #5: Wintershiven | 47 | |
| Adventure #5: Service for the Dead | 50 | Nigel Findley |
| Ye Olde City's Scroll #6: Leukish | 58 | |
| Adventure #6: The Garden of Evil | 62 | Dan Salas |
| Ye Olde City's Scroll #7: Rauxes | 26 | |
| Adventure #7: Down with the Wizard | 72 | Robert J. Kuntz |
| Ye Olde City's Scroll #8: Chendl | 83 | |
| Adventure #8: At the King's Right Hand | 85 | Nigel Findley |
| Ye Olde City's Scroll #9: Verbobonc | 93 | |
| Adventure #9: Iuz's Gambit | 95 | Robert J. Kuntz |
| Ye Olde City's Scroll #10: Hesuel IlShar | 105 | |
| Adventure #10: The Scarlet Masque | 108 | Stephen Inniss |
| NPC #1: Cymbelline | 120 | Nigel Findley |
| NPC #2: Alaric | 122 | Dan Salas |
| NPC #3: Morgorath's Beastman Avatar | 124 | Stephen Inniss |
| NPC #4: Arlina | 126 | Nigel Findley |
| NPC #5: Narlond, the White Alchemist and the Prophet of Boccob | 127 | Robert J. Kuntz |
Credits
Authors: Nigel Findley, Dan Salas, Stephen Inniss, Robert J. Kuntz
Coordinators: Bruce Heard, Karen S. Broomgarden
Editing: Kim Mohan
Typography: Betty Elmore
Cartography: Diesel
Cover Art: Daniel Horne
Interior Art: Karl Waller
Distributed to the book trade in the United States Random House, Inc., and in Canada Random House of Canada, Ltd. Distributed to the toy and hobby trade regional distributors. Distributed in the United Kingdom TSR UK Ltd.
product number 9253XXX1401
ISBN 0-88038-712-2
Retcons of Fate of Istus
Some parts of the adventure, notably the connection of the Scarlet Brotherhood monks with monks from the Oriental Adventures land of Kara-Tur and the loss of all monkish abilities, were ruled noncanon and contradicted in The Scarlet Brotherhood Sean K. Reynolds (1998). The name of the archfiend "Baael" was changed to Baalzephon in Ivid the Undying Carl Sargent (1995). In addition, the version of Verbobonc in Fate of Istus is different from the one in Vecna Lives! David Cook (1990).
Publishing history
Fate of Istus was released by TSR in February 1989 for $10.95 USD.
On September 13, 2016, it was re-released in digital format on DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Masters Guild for $4.99.
By 2023, Fate of Istus reached the rank of Electrum seller on DriveThruRPG.
External link
- Fate of Istus at the TSR Archive.
- Fate of Istus at the Dungeon Masters Guild.
References
Citations
- ↑ a b WG8 Fate of Istus (1989), p.6.
- ↑ WG8 Fate of Istus (1989), p.12.
- ↑ Player's Guide (1998), p.52.
- ↑ WG8 Fate of Istus (1989), p.6.109.125.
Bibliography
- Findley, Nigel, Dan Salas, Stephen Inniss and Robert J. Kuntz. WG8 Fate of Istus. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989. Item code TSR9253.
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WG8 The Fate of Istus | Adventure | Located in: Various, | Dragon magazine #164 | 19 |
| WG8 The Fate of Istus | Adventure | Located in: Various, | El Raja Key Archive (Standard Edition) | 20, 21, 136 |
| WG8 The Fate of Istus | Adventure | Located in: Various, | From the Ashes: Atlas of the Flanaess | 73 |
| WG8 The Fate of Istus | Adventure | Located in: Various, | Ivid the Undying | 29 |