Musings On The Borderlands - Levi Combs Edition

If you haven't heard the next D&D Starter Set will introduce new players to The Keep on the Borderlands. There are already some great options for playing the adventure with 5e (2014 or 2024). You could do it the way I did, by just winging with a basic version of the adventure. You could also go with Original Adventures Reincarnated #1: Into the Borderlands by Goodman Games. This version presents the original version and a 5e (2014) update.

I decided to do a bit of planning for a game that may never happen (because they normally don't). But hey, I enjoy doing stuff like this and maybe it can help someone else with their game.

Today I'm going to talk about three adventures that I think would be easy to work into the titular Borderlands. All three just happened to be written by the all around great person and creator, Levi Combs. 

Maybe I'm weird, but I think Three Curses For Sister Saren just makes sense to connect to the Keep. I take that back, I know I'm weird and I think it would be a great adventure to pair with the Keep. If you aren't familiar it centers around a small once-peaceful settlement called Crow's Rest. Player's must recover the remains of a cleric to save the valley from 1,000 demons. Designed for low levels, I think this and Keep could be ran together or one after another. Perhaps after making a bit of a name for themselves with the population of the Keep, the characters are told of troubles happening in the nearby valley. The adventure's Blackheart goblins and their new cleric chief could also be connected to the Caves of Chaos. If they players can lay Sister Saren to rest they have new allies and resources for the Keep. If they fail, then the Cave of Chaos will surely be bolstered by an influx of demons and/or rampaging Blackheart goblins. 

Now I'm going to mention a few adventures that could follow Keep. First we have The Horror Out of Hagsjaw. Hagsjaw is another out of the way settlement that could be connected to the Keep. The declining town has gained new life and the party could be sent by the Castellan to establish trade. While trying to complete this task, they learn of the occult activity that's corrupting the town. Another interesting connection you can make to the Caves of Chaos is have imagery of Shub-Niggurath in the caves. Perhaps the Chaos is the Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young.

The final adventure I'd include is one of my favorites, An Occurrence At Howling Crater. I would plant the seeds of Howling Crate early on. Players can here rumors of a cursed wasteland, emphasizing the danger and letting them know its not a place for the weak. The Wotts family could have had a reputation among the Keep that some of the old timers know. Members of the family spreading their faith in radiation to the Keep and nearby settlements (such as Crow's Rest or Hagsjaw) would be a fitting hook to actually give the party a reason to investigate the crater. 

Are you a fan of The Keep on the Borderlands? How would you expand the Borderlands?