Borderlands Quest: Dagger Danger!

1Borderlands Quest: Dagger Danger!

Borderlands Quest: Dagger Danger!

A short adventure for level 1 characters

Borderlands Quest: Dagger Danger is a Dungeons & Dragons adventure that introduces four or five new players to the game and teaches you, the Dungeon Master, how to run it for them. This short adventure is meant to take two hours to play.

The adventure uses elements from the D&D Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands, allowing people who have that set to incorporate those elements, if desired.

The Basics

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a collaborative storytelling and roleplaying game. Each player takes on the role of an adventuring character: a hero with skill and knowledge—and sometimes magic—that lets them overcome challenges and achieve greatness!

One of the participants in the game takes the role of the Dungeon Master (DM). The DM acts as the lead storyteller, the keeper of secrets, and the referee. This document provides everything you need to know to get started as a DM.

The Rules

Dungeons & Dragons is a special type of game known as a roleplaying game (RPG). In D&D, the rules help determine if the characters successfully face challenges or encounter setbacks in their adventures. The rules also help the players tell a fun, exciting, and memorable story. The rules are explained as they come up in this adventure.

The Tools

To play this game, you need this adventure and dice: a d20, d12, d10, d8, d6, and d4. If you don't have these dice, you can find digital dice rollers online. Each player should also have a way to take notes and keep track of changes to their character sheet as the game progresses.

Preparation

Before running the adventure, prepare as follows:

Step 1. Read through the adventure once.

Step 2

Have your players create or claim level 1 characters on D&D Beyond.

Step 3

Review the monster stat blocks below.

Dungeon Mastering This Adventure

To play this adventure, you'll need either the D&D Beyond Basic Rules or the Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual.

Helpful Sidebars

Throughout the adventure, you'll find sidebar boxes like the one below with helpful information and tips on adventure presentation and rules.

Introducing Characters

To run this adventure, first present the character sheets to the players and read the read-aloud text below, which covers the basics of a character sheet.

You should use the premade characters available on D&D Beyond. If you're an experienced Dungeon Master, you might wish to make another group of level 1 characters for your players to claim on D&D Beyond.

These characters are the heroes you can play in this adventure. The words and numbers on the sheets describe who the characters are, what they're good at doing, and other important information. Choose the hero you'd like to play. As we play through this adventure, we'll talk more about what these words and numbers mean. Let's discuss some basics first.

Name

There's a space at the top of your character sheet where you can write your character's name.

Species, Background, and Class

Each character in D&D has a Species, Background, and Class that help determine who a character is and what they do best. Other information on a character sheet is based on these three elements.

Abilities and Ability Scores

All creatures (including your characters) have six abilities: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Each of the ability scores governs a specific characteristic. Strength is physical might; Dexterity is agility, reflexes, and balance; Constitution is health and stamina; Intelligence is reasoning and memory; Wisdom is perceptiveness and mental fortitude, and Charisma is confidence, poise, and charm.

Each ability has a score from 1 to 20, although your characters will have scores ranging from 8 (weaker than human average) to 16 or more (strong capability). Each of those scores has an ability modifier next to it. Whenever you make a D20 Test (a d20 roll to determine success or failure) with a specific ability, you'll modify the roll by the number appearing there.

Initiative

Each character has an Initiative modifier. When we get to a point in the adventure where we have to take turns—particularly during combat—I'll tell you to "roll Initiative." When this happens, roll a d20 and add your character's Initiative modifier.

After we get everyone's Initiative, I'll arrange them in order, starting with the character with the highest Initiative roll. From there, you act in descending order. After everyone acts, that's the end of the round. The Initiative order remains the same from round to round for the whole combat. If there's a tie, I'll decide which character or creature goes before the other.

The Characters

The following text contains a more complete discussion of the character sheet. Read this text to the players for a thorough discussion of the characters' abilities:

Character Actions

A character's actions hold the potential for either success or failure. Can you hit a monster with your weapon? Can you balance on a narrow ledge as you ascend a mountain? Can you convince a dragon not to eat you? You find the answer to these questions during the game by making a D20 Test!

Attacks

Each character can make attacks with melee or ranged weapons, or with melee or ranged spells. "Melee" means an attack that is used when a character is right next to a foe. "Ranged" means an attack that is used at a distance. Ranged attacks include the distance you must be within to hit a foe.

The number after the attack's name on your character sheet is added to the d20 roll (a roll of a 20-sided die) you make when your character attacks. The higher the number, the more likely the attack is to succeed.

Armor Class and Hit Points

Each character has an Armor Class (also called AC) and Hit Points (also called HP). A character's Armor Class is based on their speed, armor, and other factors and describes how difficult it is to hit them with an attack roll. The higher the AC, the harder they are to hit. Hit Points determine how much damage a character can take. When your character takes damage, you subtract that damage from their Hit Points. If a character's Hit Points reach 0, they are unconscious. You'll learn how to regain Hit Points later in the game.

Skills

Each character can use the skills listed on their character sheet. The number after a skill shows what the player adds to a d20 roll. The higher the number, the better the character is at that skill. If a character wants to use a skill that isn't on their character sheet, the player rolls a 20-sided die, adding an ability score modifier if the DM tells them that ability applies.

Equipment

A character has equipment they can use to overcome challenges. They also might find more equipment during their adventures.

Spells or Other Abilities

Each character has spells, special features, or other abilities. You get to choose when your character uses their spells or special abilities. However, each character can use their spells and special abilities either a limited number of times or only under special circumstances. If there's a small box next to a spell or ability, that means you can only use it that many times. Check off a box when you use it to track how many uses you have left.

Tips for Dungeon Masters

Here are some general tips for new Dungeon Masters.

Rule 0

Rule 0 of D&D is simple: Have fun. It's fine if everyone agrees to change the rules as long as doing so means the game is more fun for everyone.

Be Supportive

The players and the DM are all on the same team. DMs aren't playing against the characters. The DM wins when the players have fun and the story is exciting and memorable.

Use "Yes, and ..." or "No, but ..." Allow the players to succeed as much as possible and participate in the story. If they want to try something unexpected, try to say "yes" and work their ideas into the story. If you have to say "no" to an idea, suggest options that might work.

Use Your Imagination

Adventures are an outline for your game. Change or add anything that makes the game more fun. What does a monster smell like? That's up to you, or you can ask the players what they think!

NPCs Are Your Voice

While the players determine what their characters do, the DM controls the other characters in the game. Nonplayer characters (also known as NPCs) are a great tool for you to help the characters understand the game and the story, and to work information into the story smoothly.

Allow Alternatives

D&D is a game of fantasy where heroes use wits, skill, and determination to overcome obstacles. Sometimes those obstacles are defeated with weapons and spells, but characters can succeed in other ways. Communicating with monsters, tricking them or frightening them away, or avoiding a fight while cleverly sneaking past a challenge can be just as much fun.

Listen to Your Players

Encourage your players to speak to you, publicly or privately, if something in the game upsets them. Then respond appropriately. For instance, you can move past upsetting topics by quickly narrating a resolution to a scene and then moving on to the next part of the story.

More DM Advice

Here are some more advanced tips for Dungeon Masters.

Play Time

Learning to pace an adventure to make sure that it runs in a set time frame takes practice, but here are some tips to help.

Give everyone an opportunity to make comments and discuss the game as it plays. Once everyone has had the chance to give input, ask questions, and discuss a game situation, prompt the players to make a decision and keep the game moving forward.

To prompt the players, summarize the situation as they understand it, and then say, "What do you do?"

Presenting Encounters

This adventure is divided into "encounters," which are like scenes from a movie or show. Each encounter has specific challenges. Once the players complete the challenges, move on to the next scene. The flow of the game is described below.

Game Flow

A D&D session begins with the DM and the other players having a conversation. The DM explains the situation the characters are in. The players can ask questions about the situation, and the DM answers those questions to offer clarity. Then the DM asks the most important question in the DM's toolbox:

"What do you do?" At this point, the players explain what they want their characters to do. (If what they want to do is impossible, tell them so and ask them to choose a different action. For example, a character can't walk through a wall unless they have some special ability or magic that allows them to do so.)

If the action is very easy to do, the character automatically succeeds. Opening an unlocked door or lifting a light object doesn't require heroic effort, so no d20 roll is necessary.

When the action is somewhere between easy and impossible, trying to do it could lead to success or failure. That's when the DM calls for a d20 roll. (See the D20 Tests section earlier in this document.) This roll, plus its modifiers, determines whether the character succeeds or fails. What does success or failure mean for an adventure? This is where you and the players get to tell a story together!

Narrating Successes and Failures

When a d20 roll succeeds or fails, the DM and the players can turn that result into a part of the ongoing story. What does it look like when a monster is defeated? What does the Gnome Barbarian say or do if the heavy boulder blocking the cave doesn't budge? These points in the game can spark great storytelling and acting moments.

Remember, though, that part of the DM's job is to keep the game's story moving forward. If describing every single attack roll in a long combat gets boring, just say how much damage the attack deals and get to the next exciting moment.

Introducing the Adventure

Once the players have familiarized themselves with their characters, you're ready to introduce the game.

Now that you're familiar with your characters and the basics of the rules, we're going to play a short adventure to introduce you to Dungeons & Dragons. As the Dungeon Master, I tell you what's going on in the world around you, and I use the rules and dice rolls to determine what happens in the story. But the most important aspect of the game is your input. You help tell the story of your characters' adventures.

In a moment, I'll describe the scene you're in, and then you'll tell me what you want your character to do. Your character can try to do anything, but each character is specially trained to do specific things well, so think about what your character might be more successful doing. Their skills, weapons, spells, equipment, and abilities are listed and described on your character sheet.

When your character does something that might succeed or might fail, I'll have you roll one of these 20-sided dice and add a number to it. This is called a D20 Test, and the number you add indicates how good your character is at what they're trying to do. The result tells me whether your character succeeds or fails. Then I'll describe the outcome, and the story moves forward. Now let's begin playing this adventure! It's called Borderlands Quest: Dagger Danger!

More Rules Details

Below are some rules details that come up in this adventure:

D20 Tests. The 20-sided die (d20) is the most-used die in D&D. It is rolled whenever a character or a creature tries to do something important. Things a character might try to do are listed under "Attacks" and "Skills" on the character sheets. If a character is about to be attacked or influenced by a physical or mental effect, they might need to make a "Saving Throw."

Next to attacks, skills, and saving throws are numbers, such as "+5." This is the number a player adds to their die roll when their character uses that attack, skill, or saving throw. If the die roll is a 10, the +5 bonus is added, and the final total for the attack roll is 15.

How does the player know if their roll succeeds or fails? That's determined by the Armor Class or Difficulty Class, which are described below!

Armor Class. The number a character tries to equal or exceed with an attack roll is called Armor Class (also called AC). The higher a creature's Armor Class, the harder that creature is to hit. In the previous example, the attack roll would hit a creature with an Armor Class of 15 or lower.
Damage. When an attack roll hits, it deals damage. The damage roll appears after the attack on the character sheet. If a Greataxe does "1d12 + 3 Slashing," the player would roll one 12-sided die (d12) and add 3 to the die roll. The DM subtracts the total from the creature's Hit Points.
Hit Points. Every creature in D&D has a number of Hit Points. This number reflects the damage a creature can take before it falls unconscious or is defeated. When a character or creature is damaged by an attack, trap, or hazard in the game, the amount of damage dealt is subtracted from the character or creature's Hit Points.

If a creature reaches 0 Hit Points, they are defeated. The players can decide if this means a creature is dead or just Unconscious.

When a character reaches 0 Hit Points, they are unconscious. In this adventure, a character at 0 Hit Points remains unconscious until they regain Hit Points through healing or until the end of the encounter, at which point they regain 1 Hit Point automatically. The adventure details other ways to regain Hit Points.

Difficulty Class. Like the Armor Class determining whether an attack roll succeeds or fails, the Difficulty Class (DC) determines if an ability check or saving throw succeeds or fails. The DC of an ability check or saving throw is the number that a player's roll must equal or exceed to succeed.

Starting the Adventure

Begin the adventure by reading the following to the players.

Yesterday you saw a quest posted on a quest board at the Keep on the Borderlands. The quest was posted by Quintanna Zorn, an adventurer with a strange request. The quest post asked someone to go to the Kobold Cave, one of the mysterious and dangerous Caves of Chaos, and retrieve a valuable heirloom that Zorn dropped when she was there seven days ago.

She and her group defeated a group of kobolds there and looted their belongings. They'd also found a baby dragon being kept by the kobolds, which they took into the wilderness to release safely. Zorn will be back in a few days, so in the meantime she posted a quest for someone to retrieve that dagger.

The dagger is a Zorn family heirloom, according to the quest posting. It's not magical or even very valuable, but it has sentimental value to Quintanna. It's a simple steel dagger with an opal set into the pommel. The post promised a reward of 100 Gold Pieces to the person or group who brings the dagger to Zorn at the Traveler's Inn when she returns from her trip.

Now you stand in front of the Kobold Cave, ready to retrieve the dagger and get the reward.

Let the players ask any questions they might have about the events leading up to their arrival. After you've answered their questions, continue to "Cave Entrance."

The Adventure Hook

An adventure hook is the challenge, opportunity, situation, or conflict that "hooks" the players into an adventure, motivating them to pursue it. It introduces the characters to the adventure: what's happening, where they are, what they know, what their goals are, and so on.

This adventure hook starts the characters at the point where they have already done some of the work in finding the location, and they are ready to jump into the main part of the adventure. When you start an adventure this way, it generally gets the players into the action faster, but it might also bring some questions.

Sometimes the adventure text answers these questions, and other times it doesn't—because there's no way the text can accommodate every question a player might ask. One of the challenges, and one of the joys, of being the Dungeon Master is getting to add your imagination to the story.

Kobold Lair Features

The cave has the following features:

Ceilings. The cave's ceilings are 10 feet high.
Environment. The cave has rough stone walls and a dirt floor. The floor is littered with gnawed animal bones and junk left by the kobolds.
Lighting. The cave is unlit, and its denizens rely on Darkvision or other means to see. Area descriptions assume the characters have a light source or other means of seeing in Darkness.

Looking Back?

Starting right at the entrance to the cave gets to the action more quickly, which many players enjoy. Some players, however, want to know what their characters know, including what they might have done or asked in the time between reading the quest post and arriving at the cave. Managing those flashback questions well comes with experience. Here are some potential questions and how to handle them:

Could I have bought something before we left?

If the item was something that you think would be a common piece of adventuring equipment worth 10 GP or less, allow the player to subtract the cost and add it to their inventory. A list of items suitable for purchase can be found in the D&D Beyond Basic Rules under "Equipment."

Could we find out more about the Caves of Chaos?

The caves are near the keep, and dangerous creatures are known to dwell there. No one the characters could have talked to knows about the Kobold Cave specifically.

Do we know anything about Quintanna Zorn?

The characters don't know Zorn personally, and the people they ask about her say she is a trustworthy, seasoned adventurer. You can make up the other details or change them to fit a story you want to tell.

A1: Cave Entrance

When the characters examine the cave's entrance, read or paraphrase the following:

The characters can examine the entry of this cave to learn more about who passed through here and what might await them inside.

Searching the Area. No D20 Test is needed to learn that this entrance has not been traveled much recently. If a character takes the Search action and succeeds on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception or Survival) check, they notice several human-sized boot tracks leading away from the cave, along with clawed tracks. A successful DC 10 Intelligence (Nature) check can identify these tracks as those of a small dragon. One pair of human-sized tracks and one pair of slightly larger unbooted tracks lead into the cave, although steps were taken to hide them. These fainter tracks indicate that two creatures walked into the cave: the human-sized creature about four days ago, and the bugbear just hours ago.
Studying the Cave Entrance. By shining a light or peering into the cave entrance, the characters can get a better look at the damp area. A character taking the Study action and succeeding on a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check realizes the moisture isn't water: it's a greasy substance that might cause a person jumping into that area to slip when they land.

Crossing the Pit

A character with a Strength score of 10 or higher can jump over the pit if they get a running start of at least 10 feet. If they do this, however, they land on the greasy area (a trap laid down by the new master of these caves) and must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or slip on the grease and slide into the wall to the north of the pit, taking 3 (1d6) Bludgeoning damage and having the Prone condition until they stand up.

If a character attempts to cross the pit by climbing down into the pit or along the tunnel walls, they can do so without needing to make a D20 Test if they move at half speed, and they do not slip in the grease.

A2: Hidden Bugbear

When the first character crosses the pit, read or paraphrase the following:

The passageways lead to a cave blocked by a beaded curtain (x) and a cave containing mostly junk (x).

Hidden Bugbear

Lugga, a Bugbear Warrior, hides in the shadows of the nook. She moves into the hallway and attacks when the first character enters the greasy area. If the character(s) who crossed the pit first have a Passive Perception of 16 or higher, they are not Surprised. Otherwise, they are Surprised. Roll initiative!

Preparing for a Fight

In this scene, the characters encounter a creature (Lugga the bugbear) who engages the characters in combat. Although the fight might end early, you still need to be prepared to run the fight! Here's how that plays out:

Describe the Scene. Determine where everyone is standing at the start of the combat. Describe any other important details within the scene.
Roll Initiative. The players each roll a d20 and add their Initiative modifier. The character with the highest result goes first, and the characters act in descending order. Lugga the bugbear acts on her Initiative roll within the Initiative order.
Take Turns. On each of their turns, the characters and Lugga can move up to a distance equal to their Speed. Before, after, or during their movement, the characters or Lugga can use their action to take the Attack action, take another action, or move up to their Speed again (the Dash action.)

Dealing with Lugga

Although Lugga attacks initially, she is not unreasonable and can be reasoned with, as outlined below. She was kicked out of her clan for arguing with the leader, and she came here searching for other bugbears.

Fighting with Lugga. Lugga is Hostile and attacks. She continues attacking until she is defeated, she is Bloodied, or a character takes the Influence action and succeeds on a DC 10 Charisma (Persuasion or Intimidation) check. At that point, carry on using "Talking with Lugga."
Talking with Lugga. Lugga surrenders if she is Bloodied. Alternatively, she stops attacking if a character succeeds on the Persuasion or Intimidation check to make her Indifferent.

Whether she surrenders or stops attacking, Lugga tells the characters her story. She adds the following information if a character takes the Influence action again and succeeds a DC 15 Charisma (Persuasion) check to make her Friendly:

Lugga heard strange moaning sounds to the west, behind the beaded curtain.
She also heard weapons clanging down the hallways to the southeast, but no talking or shouting like you might hear in typical combat.
Lugga just wants to leave this cave and find some friends.
If Lugga is Friendly, the characters can convince her to come with back to the keep after this adventure.

Roleplaying Attitudes and Negotiations

When you roleplay a character or creature, you determine how they think, act, and talk. Roleplaying is part of the whole game, but it comes to the fore during social interactions.

You should use an NPC's (nonplayer character's) personality, history, and goals—as well as the characters' actions—to determine how an NPC reacts to the characters. More importantly, the players use your portrayal of NPCs to learn their goals, then use that information to influence or interact with the NPCs.

If the characters offer an NPC something they want or play on their sympathies or fears, they can form friendships, ward off violence, or learn key information. Alternatively, If the characters insult or threaten or anger an NPC, that NPC might betray or attack the characters.

A3: Kobold Zombies

When the characters push past the beaded curtain into the room west of the passageway, read or paraphrase the following:

These four kobold Zombies were magically animated and then discarded here by Groth the Wicked, a necromancer and alchemist. The zombies sense the characters when they enter the room, and they say "Brains" in the Draconic language. They fight until the characters defeat them, after which they're dead for good.

Treasure

Two Potions of Healing were hidden by Groth the Wicked in the trash in this room.

A4: The Treasure Fights Back

When the characters first see this room, read or paraphrase the following:

This room contains discarded junk from previous residents.

Animated Swords

The four Animated Flying Swords remain motionless on the floor until a character approaches them or touches one. When that happens, the swords rise and attack.

Groth Enters

Groth the Wicked (Cultist) is in the next room, examining the Zorn family dagger. When he hears combat in this area, he enters the initiative order and comes into the room on the second round to attack. He fights until he is dead.

Treasure

One of the animated swords retains a small amount of magic after being defeated, giving the characters access to a +1 Shortsword. Groth carries the Zorn family dagger.

A5: Groth the Wicked's Experiment

The characters likely enter this room after dealing with Groth in the previous cave. When they enter this room, read or paraphrase the following:

This makeshift laboratory has been Groth's center of experimentation for the last week.

Alchemical Experiment

Groth is attempting to make a potion that makes the drinker resistant to Necrotic damage. His work was interrupted by the characters, and now the experiment is dangerous. The experiment explodes in three rounds unless the characters add the final ingredient to the mix: a sprig of wolfsbane. A character must take the Study action and succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence (Arcana or Nature) check to know how to proceed. If the experiment explodes, each creature in room takes 7 (2d6) Acid damage. If the characters add wolfsbane, they complete the potion successfully (see "Treasure" below).

Gnome Prisoner

Groth kept this gnome named Gooster (Commoner) as a prisoner, planning to use him as a test subject for the experiments. To free him, the character must take the Utilize action and succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check using Thieves' Tools to unlock the restraints. A character can also use an action and succeed on a DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check to break the chains. The chains have a 10 AC, 15 Hit Points, and a damage threshold of 5.

Treasure

Groth's workshop contains 100 GP. If the characters successfully finish the alchemical project Groth started, they have a Potion of Necrotic Resistance. Gooster additionally gives the group 20 GP for rescuing him.

Taking On a Noncombat Challenge

At some points in a D&D game, you might have a challenge that isn't a combat but is still tense and exciting. In this case, the characters need to quickly finish the potion and rescue the gnome before experiment explodes.

As the players brainstorm their ideas, engage them in a discussion. If the idea is preposterous, like smashing the alchemical equipment as a means of finishing the experiment, it's okay to say the idea won't work. Ideas are provided in the adventure text, but alternative methods can be allowed if they make sense.

Using the Help Action. Characters who are not actively making the ability checks can use the Help action on their turns to assist those who are trying to finish the experiment or free the gnome. By assisting in this way, the helping character chooses the character they're going to assist. That character has Advantage on their ability check or attack roll.

Conclusion

If the characters succeed in their mission, they can return to the Keep on the Borderlands with the Zorn family dagger. Quintanna Zorn eventually meets them at the Traveler's Inn to pay their reward for the dagger.

Now What?!

If the characters complete this adventure successfully, you have many options to continue their adventures. Here are just a few. All of these are available digitally or physically on D&D Beyond and at your local game store.

Check out the D&D Starter Set: Heroes of the Borderlands, which is thematically linked to this adventure and has everything you need to start a D&D game with new players!

Pick up the Player's Handbook to get a solid foundation for all sorts of adventures!

For an anthology of adventures featuring dragons, Dragon Delves offers play for levels 1-12!

If you want to dive into a D&D setting, Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn has a whole world to explore!

If spooky games are fun for you and your players, Ravenloft: The Horrors Within offers frightfully good horror-themed inspiration!

Credits

Project Lead:. Chris Tulach
Designer:. Shawn Merwin
Editor:. Sadie Lowry
Graphic Designer:. Rich Lescouflair
Cover Illustrator:. Luca Bancone
Interior Illustrators:. John Grello, Dario Jelusic, Brian Valeza
Cartographers:. Marc Moureau
Producer:. Bill Benham

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