BATTLE FOR
THE REALM
TRILOGY
INCLUDES
elsie’s extensive
planar guidebook
Journey to the Shadowfell, explore the Feywild, and survive the Abyss.
Unsheathe your sword. String your bow. Pack your potions.
Are you the heroes who will turn into legends?
A MIDNIGHT TOWER TRILOGY
Battle for the Realm Trilogy
The destruction of the powerful orbstones has had unforeseen consequences.
A tremendous magical surge awakened ancient stone portals in Eastern Farraway.
The realm is now on the brink of war.
You must travel to other planes and find the orbstones’ twins to seal the ancient
portals and restore balance.
But journeys to the Plane of Shadow and the Feyworld are unsafe at best.
And lurking in the Abyss is an old nemesis who craves revenge.
The time has come when heroes are forged into legends.
www.midnight-tower.com
ISBN: 978-1-9196299-9-5
All content © Tove Lund Jorgensen and Erik Jorgensen 2024. First Edition.
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC. System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.;
Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and Steve Townshend,
based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
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HEART
OF
DARKNESS
Explore Castle Whïsperia and destroy the powerful relic.
Unsheathe your sword. String your bow. Pack your potions.
Are you ready to travel to the eerie realm of the Shadowfell?
BATTLE FOR THE REALM TRILOGY ~ ADVENTURE ONE
Heart of Darkness
the first adventure
in battle for the realm trilogy
Chaos and conflicts are brewing in Eastern Farraway.
The recent destruction of three legendary orbstones has made magic erratic.
Surges in the arcane weaves spark storms, spells misfire with dire results, and
ancient portals to other planes are reopening.
You must travel to the eerie realm of the Shadowfell and find a powerful relic
at Castle Whïsperia. Only by destroying the relic can magic be restabilised and
escalating conflict be prevented.
But the relic is tied to the fate of a fallen paladin imprisoned for eternity in the castle.
His offer may save the realm – or spell its doom.
Unsheathe your sword. String your bow. Pack your potions.
Are you ready to travel to the eerie realm of Shadowfell?
www.midnight-tower.com
All content © Tove Lund Jorgensen and Erik Jorgensen 2024.
Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, LLC. System Reference Document 5.1 Copyright 2016, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.;
Authors Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Chris Perkins, Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee, James Wyatt, Robert J. Schwalb, Bruce R. Cordell, Chris Sims, and Steve Townshend,
based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
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CONTENTS
Overview6 Chapter 7: The fallen paladin 32
About this adventure 6
Chapter 8: Fighting the fallen paladin 35
Featured content 6
Additional downloads 6 Chapter 9: The neglected mausoleum 36
Synopsis 6 Mausoleum map 37
How to run this adventure 6 Chapter 10: Destroying the relic 40
Adventure flowchart 7
Chapter 11: Leaving the Shadowfell 41
Before the adventure begins 8
Chapter 12: New magic item 42
Hooks9
Shadowfell Armour 42
Chapter 1: Whiteport 10
Chapter 13: New monster 43
Chapter 2: A legendary quest 12 Soul leech 43
Chapter 3: To the ancient portal 15 Chapter 14: Legend & Lore 45
Leaving Whiteport 15 The History of Castle Whïsperia 45
Chapter 4: The Plane of Shadow 17 Appendix 46
Effects of the shadows table 17 Planar adventuring gear 46
The lost girl 19 How to scale this adventure 48
Maps: Player versions 51
Chapter 5: Crossing the moor 21
Bleakmarsh map 21
Chapter 6: The abandoned castle 23
Ground floor of the castle 23
Castle Whïsperia: Ground floor map 24
Castle Whïsperia: Middle and top floor map 25
Middle floor of the castle 28
Top floor of the castle 31
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OVERVIEW
about this adventure serious conflicts – and even wars between the
realms! To close the portals again, matching relics
Heart of Darkness is an adventure for the world’s that were once used to draw magical energy from
greatest roleplaying game (5e). It is designed for a the portals on the other planes must be found.
group of three to five 13th-level characters, but includes An ancient portal that leads to the Shadowfell
scalable encounters to suit any level from 1 to 20. has recently reopened. The characters have
The adventure can be played as a one-shot or as to sneak through the portal unseen and travel
part of Battle for the Realm Trilogy. In addition, the across the bleak landscape of Shadowfell to find
adventure can also be used in any campaign that Castle Whïsperia, where the relic called Heart of
allows planar travel to the Shadowfell. Darkness can be found.
On their way, they meet a lost girl and her dusk
featured content wolf puppy, and the characters can help them
return to the Material Plane. However, when the
➛ Open adventure with two different quest paths. characters cross the moor, they are attacked by
➛ New monster: Soul leech. soul leeches, a new type of monster introduced in
this adventure. If they reach the neglected castle,
➛ Detailed NPCs with background descriptions. the characters have to navigate its different rooms
➛ Unique magic item: Shadowfell Armour. until they reach the top tower room, where a
fallen paladin is imprisoned.
➛ Legend & Lore: The history of Castle The fallen paladin gives the characters a choice:
Whïsperia They can face him in combat, or they can free his
➛ Original full-colour maps and illustrations. beloved, who is buried in a mausoleum near the
castle. Depending on the characters’ choice, they can
additional downloads either fight the fallen paladin or his undead bride.
When the characters have dealt with the
Maps, VTT tokens, and handouts for the adventure situation, they obtain a set of Shadowfell Armour
can be downloaded here: and other treasure. They can then destroy the
http://midnight-tower.com/additional-downloads-hod/ relic, a beating heart in a glass dome located in
the fallen paladin’s tower room. When the quest is
synopsis done, the ancient portal to the Shadowfell closes,
and the characters can use a teleportation scroll
The characters are currently in the lively harbour they have received from Octavia Dragonborn to
town of Whiteport in Eastern Farraway. return to the Material Plane.
Spellcasters in the group have noticed that
magic is weirdly unstable. Later, during the night how to run this adventure
at the inn, lightning unexpectedly strikes the
building. The characters can help to put out the Most of this adventure takes place on the Plane of
fire before it spreads. Afterwards, they meet the Shadow, a gloomy and desolate realm also known
famous mage Octavia Dragonborn. She explains as the Shadowfell. The DM is encouraged to be
that magic is erratic because three legendary generous with descriptions of sights, sounds, smells,
orbstones were recently destroyed, which and tactile experiences. For example: Drifting veils
released a tremendous amount of arcane energy. of fog, creaking doors, the reek of death, and rotting
In addition, ancient portals that once connected textiles falling to pieces at the merest touch.
Eastern Farraway to other planes have started The most important part of the adventure is to
to become active again. This can in turn lead to have fun while exploring the eerie Plane of Shadow
in search of the relic.
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ADVENTURE FLOWCHART
Meet Octavia
Find the Heart of Darkness
Across the Shadowfell Castle Whïsperia
Leeches and a lost girl Locate the tower room
Accept Liondre’s offer Refuse Liondre’s offer
Explore the mausoleum Fight the fallen paladin
Complete the quest
Destroy the relic
Ending and reward
Teleport to Winterhold
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BEFORE THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
nce upon a time, permanent magic Some of the surplus of arcane magic has
portals connected Eastern Farraway gravitated towards the ancient stone portals
with other planes of existence. However, that are located throughout Eastern Farraway.
due to mounting tension and escalating Recently, a portal that leads to the Plane of
conflicts, a group of powerful mages closed Shadow, also known as the bleak and deadly
the stone portals. The mages used enchanted domain of the Shadowfell, has been reactivated.
orbstones to siphon arcane power from the portals Should all the ancient portals reopen in this
and thereby deactivate them. The orbstones were fashion, serious conflicts – or even wars! – may
created in pairs; one was used to close the portal erupt between the planes.
in the Material Plane, while its matching relic was
used to close the portal on the other side. a demon biding her time
These legendary orbstones and relics were The demon Malgonath, a powerful ancient marilith
coveted by both wizards and warlocks with known as the True Queen of the Abyss, has followed
dubious intentions who wanted to unlock the the recent developments with interest. She has been
tremendous power that was stored inside them. involved in the Blood War for aeons and has long
To safeguard the orbstones on the Material Plane, planned to conquer other planes using a Sphere
they were hidden away and eventually lost to time. of Annihilation located at the Temple of Tanaaris.
However, the orbstones were recently But when the orbstones were destroyed in the
rediscovered by the evil ice dragon Isdrekin underwater temple, the old building collapsed, and
Nixius, with the aid of the drow beneath the artefact was buried deep under the sea.
Winterhold and a group of loyal cultists. Isdrekin However, the ancient stone portal situated near
wanted to use the orbstones to wrench open Malgonath’s lair in the Abyss has recently begun to
a portal to the Plane of Ice and, together with hum and spark with energy. If the stone portal opens,
his draconic kin, enslave the people in Eastern Malgonath and her vast number of loyal demonic
Farraway. Fortunately, his plans were thwarted underlings will do anything to slake their thirst
by a group of brave adventures who slew the ice for blood – and get their revenge on the annoying
dragon and seized the orbstones. adventurers who previously derailed their plans.
unexpected consequences if the characters haven’t played the
According to the Prophecy of Nine Omens, the prophecy of nine omens trilogy
legendary orbstones were foretold to cause death If you haven’t played the previous trilogy, or if
and destruction throughout Eastern Farraway. you are playing this adventure as a one-shot
Therefore, the orbstones were brought to the adventure, the following information can be used
underwater Temple of Tanaaris, where they were to introduce the characters to the adventure:
destroyed once and for all – however, this act The characters are famous heroes in Eastern
initiated a new disaster that no one had anticipated! Farraway. They are currently in Whiteport
When the orbstones on the Material Plane together with the dwarf Bjorn Amberclan, who
were destroyed, a violent surge of magic was is a cousin or childhood friend of one of the
unleashed and tore through the arcane weaves, characters. The group are currently staying at an
causing spells and magic items alike to become inn where one of the characters hears a tale about
increasingly unstable. a group of powerful adventurers who recently
However, pure magic can neither be created nor destroyed three powerful orbstones, which is said
destroyed. For as long as the corresponding relics to have made magic unstable.
that were used to close the portals on the other
side still exist, magic will remain highly volatile.
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hooks clerics, paladins, monks
Eastern Farraway is on the brink of war – but you
The following hooks can be used to motivate can stop it. This is the legendary challenge and
characters to accept this mighty quest: quest that you have been waiting for. The threads
of fate and divine guidance have prepared you for
barbarians, fighters this moment your entire life.
Finally! Here at last is a chance to prove yourself
against foes mightier than anything anyone druids, rangers
has ever faced before. To glory! To immortality! The reopened portal threatens both the people in
Because who in their right mind would say no to Eastern Farraway as well as its unique nature – the
becoming a truly legendary hero? Not you, that is very land itself is at risk! You know that this task
for sure! will be a tremendous undertaking. But closing the
portals is of utter importance lest your home be
bards, rogues destroyed and all its beauty reduced to ashes.
The adventurers who accept this quest will no
doubt be spoken and sung about for generations sorcerers, warlocks, wizards
to come. This is your opportunity to etch your No one understands magic better than you.
name into the golden chronicles of both fame and The arcane weaves are currently growing more
history. Oh, and saving the realm is obviously very unpredictable by the hour, and a complete
important too, of course! unravelling will sunder the realm.
The only way to restore balance is to destroy
the powerful relics on the other planes.
bjorn amberclan bjorn
Bjorn Amberclan is a middle-aged male amberclan
mountain dwarf commoner (LG). He is
short for a dwarf and has copper-coloured
hair around a bald patch. He specialises in
archaeology and the long-gone Ironshield
Clan, especially their ancient language.
Trait: Fieldwork is all good and well, but
the best kind of research is the type that
can be done surrounded by books in a
comfy inn.
Ideal: Knowledge. I’m deeply passionate
about archaeology, and my special
research area is ancient runes. (Good)
Bond: I search for information and
knowledge that can help protect my
hometown of Winterhold.
Flaw: I’m comfortable to a fault and
try hard to avoid both dangers and
unnecessary adventures (I loathe outdoor
camping).
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