The Styes

Greyhawk Source

The Styes
Cover art for The Styes, illustrated by Joachim Barrum, in Dungeon #121 (2005).
Type:	Adventure
Edition:	Third and fifth editions
Author(s):	Richard Pett
Editor(s):	Erik Mona, James Jacobs, Jeremy Walker
Cover Artist(s):	Joachim Barrum
Interior Artist(s):	Joachim Barrum Cartography: Jason Engle
Publisher:	Wizards of the Coast
First Published:	Dungeon #121
Pages:	24
Class:	Officially published content
Setting date:	595 CY

This article is about the adventure. For the harbor district of Prymp where the adventure is set, see the Styes

The Styes is an adventure by Richard Pett, taking place in the World of Greyhawk™, set in 595 CY.

It was first published for third edition in Dungeon magazine #121 (April 2005). for ninth level characters. It was later released in fifth edition as one of the adventures in the anthology, Ghosts of Saltmarsh (2019) for eleventh level characters.

Blurb

"A series of mysterious murders shakes the downtrodden folk of the Styes- a decaying port fallen on hard times and slowly being reclaimed by the sea. Even after the so-called Lantern Ghost killer is caught and executed, some in the district believe that the true killer is still out there. It's left to the adventurers to follow the clues that the local militia ignores, exposing corruption, the clandestine activities of a dark cult—and the alien presence whose evil lurks beneath it all."

Content

This adventure includes a background section, explaining who Tharizdun is and about the "Lantern Ghost Murders". There is a surprisingly thorough gazetteer of the district for such a small adventure. It goes into the residents and politics of the area, as well as what life is like in the Styes, even with encounter tables included. There's a layout of the district and a map by Dyson Logos.

The rest of the adventure is separated into five parts, covering different places where the PCs will investigate and where the major encounters occur. An "aftermath" section deals with how a campaign might tie into the adventure, or what plot threads may lead out of it. In the case of the Ghosts of Saltmarsh version, it deals with the consequences of not killing the end-villain, and what a DM might explore if the adventurers don't succeed.

Reception and influence

Writing for Bell of Lost Souls, J.R. Zambrano called The Styes "an absolute hidden gem of an adventure." He further said, "It has everything [...]–a sinister cult, hidden evil, and a haunted, ominous feel to everything. It feels very shadowy and urban all at once. And it makes sense, as this adventure is heavily influenced by China Miéville’s Perdido Street Station. [...] It is not only a fun adventure to play, it’s also fun to read–it captures the feel of a haunting horror fantasy and drops you right in. [...] This adventure is full of twists and plots that run deep.."

See also

See also: the Styes (the district, rather than the adventure)

References

Bibliography

• Pett, Richard. "The Styes". Dungeon #121. Bellvue, WA: Paizo Publishing, Apr 2005.
• Mearls, Mike and Kate Welch. Ghosts of Saltmarsh. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2019. Item code C6297. ISBN 978-0786966752.

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
The Styes	Adventure	Located in: Ahlissa,	Dungeon magazine #121	40-62
The Styes	Adventure	Located in: Ahlissa,	Ghosts of Saltmarsh, D&D 5e	28, 163-185