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A Road to Waterdeep

Published Date

Publisher: Dungeon Masters Guild

The Northfurrow Wagon Trail to the City of Splendors is Paved with Choices

The hearth-fires of Peebles are far behind you. Before you lies the Northfurrow, a lonely wagon trail cutting through the snow-choked wilderness of the Lower Dessarin Valley. For a first-level adventurer, the thirty miles to Waterdeep aren't just a journey—they are a gauntlet.

Against the backdrop of the treacherous Stump Bog and the shadows of the Maiden’s Tomb Tor, the road belongs to more than just merchants. It's packed with opportunities to investigate a burned out coaching inn, heroically rescue citizens in distress, deal with the orc spies of the Black Earth Cult, and brave the winter weather of the Sword Coast.

Will you arrive at the gates of Waterdeep as heroes, or just more "sheep" for the city’s wolves to shear?

A Road to Waterdeep is a sensory-rich, four-hour adventure designed to bridge the gap between a small-town start and the urban intrigue of the North’s greatest metropolis. Whether you are running Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, or a homebrew campaign, this journey sets the tone for a world where the winter weather is as biting as an orc’s blade.

Inside this Adventure, You’ll Find:

  • The "Weight of Choice" Mechanic: A unique narrative system where the weather reacts to the party’s morality. Their actions on the road are manifested in the ease or difficulty of moving forward.

  • Visceral Winter Survival: Rules and descriptions that bring the freezing Dessarin River and the muddy Field Ward to life, turning a simple trek into a battle against the elements.

  • Foundations for the Future: Hooks involving the Cult of the Black Earth, the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors, and the tragic mystery of the Winkston Coaching Inn.

  • New Player-Friendly: Specifically balanced for 1st-level characters, providing a mix of social roleplay, investigation, and tactical combat. Especially written with first time DMs in mind.

The North Gate is in sight. But first, you must survive the trail.

Adventure Information:

  • Optimized For: 1st-Level Characters

  • Estimated Playtime: 4 Hours

  • Setting: The Forgotten Realms (Northfurrow Trail / Waterdeep)

  • Compatibility: 2014 & 2024 (5.5e) Core Rules

Created by Robert L. McClarin

A Road to WaterdeepPrice

: $1.99