A Look At The Assault on the Slave Lords Series

 

So in the Producer Letter, Sev said the next “Classic” module is going to be Assault On The Slave Lords. This is one of those early modules that most people might not have ever heard of before.

The A  series was created for the AD&D Open tournament at Gen Con XIII, which took place in 1980. It is a series of four modules, which are meant to be played sequentially.

A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity
A2 Secret of the Slavers Stockade
A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords
A4 In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords 

You can also pick up the entire series complied into 1 giant  Supermodule: A1-4 Scourge of the Slave Lords. The A1-4 compilation  was slightly revised for play by higher level characters in order for it to be used as a follow-on in an overall campaign beginning with module T1-4 The Temple of Elemental Evil. The overall campaign could then be continued into the GDQ1-7 supermodule Queen of the Spiders.

 

Let’s break the series down, so you know about what we might see in the DDO version!

 

A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity   

As the first module in the series, Slave Pits of the Undercity was the first TSR publication to introduce fans of the Greyhawk setting to the Slave Lords and their operations in the central and southwestern Flanaess.

It is time to put a stop to the marauders!  For years the coastal towns have been burned and looted by the forces of evil.  You and your fellow adventurers have been recruited to root out and destroy the source of these raids.  But beware, hundreds of good men and women have been taken by the slavers and have never been seen or heard from again!

 

A2 Secret of the Slavers Stockade   

The previous adventure (A1) ends with the capture of a map to a fortress citadel used by the slavers. The A2 module gives the Dungeon Master the option to run an overland adventure through the Drachensgrab Hills to reach the fort shown on the map, or simply start the adventure with the party overlooking fort itself. The object of the module is to enter the fort through stealthy means and slowly eliminate the slavers before a general alarm can be raised.

The battle against the slavers continues!  You and your fellow adventurers have defeated the slavers of Highport, but you have learned of the existence of another slaver stronghold, and you have decided to continue the attack.  But beware!  Only the most fearless of adventurers could challenge the slavers on their own ground, and live to tell of it!

 

A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords   

The third adventure in the “A” series of modules, and bears the code “A3”.

Part 1 is relatively short and meant to finish quickly, within 3 hours, in tournament mode. It is a trap filled, monster heavy section used to lure the group into a secret tunnel leading to the hidden city of Suderham.

Part 2  the adventure, the group enters the city of Suderham. This new setting offers the players an opportunity to test their role-playing skills rather than primarily focusing on combat or stealth.

Something of note to this module is how it provides a number of non-player characters in the city with whom the players can interact and exchange information. To complete the module, the group must find one of several secret entrances to the catacombs beneath the city where the final part of the adventure plays out.

Part 3  of the adventure is filled with dangerous creatures. In the final room of this section, the players are captured as a set-up for In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords. If this section is played outside of a tournament, however, it is possible for the players to defeat the slavers and exit the area victorious.

Into the Drachengrab Mountains!  Hot on the trail of the marauding slavers, you and your fellow adventurers plunge deep into hostile Hills.  Spurred on by your past success, you now seek the heart of the slaver conspiracy.  But hurry!  You must move quickly before the slavers recover from your previous forays and attack!

 

*Note from what we know, Turbine WILL NOT be using anything from this module*

A4 In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords   

This is the fourth and final adventure in the “A” series of modules, and bears the code “A4”.

The A3 module finishes with the players as captives of the Slave Lords, and they begin module A4 in the same condition. Through a series of incidents they quickly find themselves free but completely empty of equipment and spells.

The final scenario plays out as a massive earthquake threatens to bring down the tunnels around the group and they must exit the caverns within four hours or perish in the ensuing collapse. The labyrinth is a difficult test for characters without equipment and spells and challenges the players’ wits and role-playing ability rather than focusing on traditional combat.

Once the players emerge from the caverns they face a final test in escaping the island itself. This can be accomplished by attacking the surviving Slave Lords, in an massive epic battle that takes places on the docks.  or escaping via a different boat, or possibly by swimming.

 

Trapped in the dungeons of the Slave Lords!  The hardy adventurers must find a way out, with only their wits and courage to help them.  But can they do it before everything is destroyed by the dreaded Earth Dragon?

 

I have some found memories of playing through this, the group I played with indeed went through the temple, then jumped right into this for or campaign, that we stretched out for over a year. I can’t wait to see how they pull this off in DDO.

If you would like to own these modules for yourself, they are available for PDF purchase over on the DMSguild

A1 Slave Pits of the Undercity
A2 Secret of the Slavers Stockade
A3 Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords
A0-A4: Against the Slave Lords