The Seinrill Catacombs
An ‘Unknown Shores’ Adventure Campaign For 1st - 20th Level Characters
"The true horror of existence is not the fear of death, but the fear of life. It is the fear of waking up each day to face the same struggles, the same disappointments, the same pain. It is the fear that nothing will ever change, that you are trapped in a cycle of suffering that you cannot escape. And in that fear, there is a desperation, a longing for something, anything, to break the monotony, to bring meaning to the endless repetition of days."
Beneath the venerable lands of Areeott, where noble bloodlines trace back to the misty veils of time and dark legends coil tightly around the roots of reality, lies a subterranean expanse of history that has absorbed the echoes of a thousand years. This immense necropolis serves as the final resting place for the illustrious Seinrill lineage, a family whose history is as enigmatic as it is ancient. But the catacombs are far more than a mausoleum; they are a living museum within an ornate palace for the dead. The Seinrill understand that power lies in knowledge, both of self and of history. Thus, each display, each statue, and every dusty tome serves a purpose beyond mere remembrance—they are the chronicle of power and a sanctuary of lost knowledge. They are tools for those who would understand the true nature of power.
The Seinrill Catacombs are alive with the memories of the departed, becoming a living history of not only the Seinrill family but also those who have dared to uncover its secrets. It is a place out of time, where history is not always the past. An arcane vault of ancestors and memories where the living can learn the lessons of bygone eras and reunite with the dead. It is both a solemn testament to a cursed lineage, and a foreboding tomb for secrets that were never meant to surface.
Corvyn Seinrill, the Baron of Areeott, serves as the catacomb's enigmatic sentinel, guarding these hallowed halls against the ravages of time and the prying eyes of the world beyond the borders of Areeott. He is as much a part of the catacombs as the living stone from which they are carved. It is said his essence permeates the very walls, and his will influences the ebb and flow of the catacombs' magic. He remains a figure of intrigue and dread, a treacherous reminder that some legacies refuse to die.
In "The Seinrill Catacombs," adventurers are beckoned into the heart of a cryptic saga that spans centuries. A tale woven with the threads of knowledge, power, and a tragic curse that whispers through the bloodline of the Seinrill family. Each step through this mausoleum of memory could be a step closer to pinnacles of power or a descent into the madness that comes with confronting eternity.
Throughout the ages, the catacombs have been shrouded in mystery, drawing inquisitive souls, and daring adventurers to explore their depths. Few have traversed its corridors in search of knowledge, power, or the thrill of the unknown. Fewer still have ever returned. The path is perilous, the riddles are complex, and the guardians as deadly as they are vigilant. Only those with courage in their hearts and keen minds will emerge from the shadows, their names etched alongside the legends of the Seinrill family; with those who fall, reduced to silence and dust.
This adventure module for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition invites players to the world of “Unknown Shores” to unravel the mysteries of the Seinrill Catacombs, a unique dungeon experience that defies the conventions of traditional burial crypts. Designed for characters of all levels, this campaign offers a rich narrative that can propel heroes from modest beginnings to the pinnacles of power.
Will you brave the Seinrill Catacombs and emerge legends, or will you succumb to the whispers that beckon from the depths? Prepare to embark on a journey through a solemn burial ground, where every corridor holds a century, every room a revelation, and every shadow a story waiting to be told. Gather your party, ready your spells and prepare for an experience that transcends time.
Welcome to the Seinrill Catacombs.
Your legacy awaits.
Themes
Version 1.8: Playtest Ongoing
Current Location: The Conservatory
Openings: 2 Available
- Andrielle Seinrill
- Anson Seinrill
- Augustus Seinrill
- Bright Wish of Cherished Rain
- Corvyn Seinrill
- Cynthia Lockhart
- Daemon Seinrill
- Dain
- El
- Elliot Bertrand
- Entaris Itarr
- Ersyn Seinrill
- Gavin Rask
- Inquisitor Matius
- Lady of Shadows
- Lazzill
- Lord Bancroft
- Lucien Voldrani
- Mara Snowe
- Master Osso
- Nallathen the Unmaker
- Nathaniel Carrington
- Neja
- Noppa
- Oriana Proudfeather
- Raktanus
- Roland Amraz
- Sarmorn Vorag
- Satine LaBelle
- Seth Cliffdane
- Shadeep
- Sholto
- Simon Lockhart
- Terrik Bancroft
- Tevish
- Tezcacoatl
- Warenka
- Xal'Kanan
- Zai Akkara
- Zaya Seinrill
- Zazaka
There's several things in this plot that are right up my alley, how trauma can effect relationships, layered stories, unreliable narration through the very real way in which memories become distorted, and gray morality. I don't tend to consume a lot of really black and white story telling. Life is complex and has layers, I much prefer stories that use those layers. Probably obvious, since I know you've read some of my articles, but I also like playing with an, "ideal society." What's ideal for some won't be for others, of course, and humans are involved. Of course seeing that as a topic is interesting as well.
That's all Areeott is. I'm working on the article for the kingdom itself. There's just years worth of stuff I keep having to pick through. It's very much a place like the Village from the Prisoner with a kind of "There is no War on Ba Sing Se" energy if everyone there was a member of the Scorpion Clan from Legend of the Five Rings. The adventure is basically a crawl through a memory dungeon of the fractured psyche of a BBEG who's actually not the BBEG.