Borough Bound

Sootwyn Barrow 01 - The Stain

Added 2022-10-18 21:37:46 +0000 UTC

There is no escape

Happy October, everyone, and welcome to Sootwyn Barrow! This haunted village is perfect for Halloween one-shots or mini arcs. We've got everything you need for spooky adventures: a gothic town, a spooky cemetery, and an unhallowed tomb. Plus, we've got a central roguelite quest structure that your players are going to absolutely hate—in the best way!

Sootwyn Barrow is a city and an adventure all rolled into one. It consists of three releases, each of which takes you further east toward the climax of the quest. Stick with us!

Borough Guide

This first document introduces you to Sootwyn Barrow and presents the central plot mechanic: the Sootwyn Stain. This curse renders your party immortal... kind of. They can't die per se, but they will be slowly drained of their lifeforce, and they'll fall unconsonscious every day when the sun rises. They'll have to make their way through the city, descend into the tomb of the "vampire king" Vasile Albescu, and then end the curse for good, all without getting killed by the legendary Barrow Lords.

Chapter 1 introduces you to the first of the Barrow Lords: the sporting beastmen Beshik and Haun. If your players want to unmake the Sootwyn Stain, they'll have to get past these immortal hunters first.

Maps

The western map of Sootwyn Barrow is the main portion of town. The gates inexplicably beckon you in. Back alleys are prime for ambushes. Shattered cobblestones, rotten trees, and vengeful gargoyles tell a story of a town afflicted. For an extra dose of spooky, use the mist variant. Or, y'know, screw it. Don't even use this as a Halloween town. Just whip out the pleasant variant for a cutesy little Victorian adventure.

Patrons at the Chief Courier tier and up also get access to two interior maps. The Twilight Bethel is the little chapel where adventurers are deposited each day after they succumb to the curse. The Champion's Grotto, on the other hand, is a secret subterranean speakeasy where the beastmen drink with their most respected prey.

Music

"Beastmen" is horror boss music. As your party confronts Beshik and Haun in the cluttered streets, this track will be the perfect score for the duel. Alternatively, if your players try to sneak past the merciless hunters, you can put on the "(Tension)" variant. In lieu of pounding drums and charging strings, you just have the ambient fear of wandering the moonlit city streets alone.