RPGA1: Rahasia

The RPGA (TSR's "Role Playing Game Association) released a series of modules for purchase exclusively by its members.  The first of these was RPGA Module 1 "Rahasia" (1983) by Tracy and Laura Hickman.

Advertisement for RPGA Module 1 "Rahasia" in Polyhedron #11 (the newsletter of the Role Playing Game Association)

The adventure is designed for 5-8 characters, levels 1-2, using the D&D Basic game rules, and was based on an earlier self-published adventure designed by Tracy Hickman (of Dragonlance fame) and written by Laura Hickman.

Design Origins:

The Hickmans drew inspiration for "Rahasia" from Tracy's missionary experience:

In 1975, Tracy began two years of service as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormons).  His initial posting was for six months in Hawaii before his visa was approved and he moved on to his final calling in the nation of Indonesia.  There, he served as a missionary in Surabaya, Djakarta and the mountain city of Bandung before being released honorably in 1977.  As a result, Tracy can still speak conversational Indonesian and occasionally basis his magical phrases on that language.

Tracy Hickman, from My History

Tracy married high school sweetheart Laura Curtis upon his return to the United States, and the two published a series of "role-play supplements" using the "Nightventures" concept (scenarios designed to be played in a single night).

The first of these was "Rahasia" (1979) for character levels 1-2, followed by "Pharaoh" (1980) for character levels 3-4.  The third was to be "Eye of the Dragon" for character levels 5-6.

When Tracy was hired by TSR, "Rahasia" served as the basis for RPGA Module 1 "Rahasia" (1983) and "Pharaoh" as the basis for module I3 "Pharaoh" (1982).  Elements from "Eye of the Dragon" were used in conceiving the Dragonlance setting.

Rahasia:

The word "rahasia" is Indonesian for "secret" and alludes to a hidden connection between the magic of the elven forest and the veiled beauty of the elven princess.

Illustrations:

The cover illustration for RPGA Module 1 is by Harry Quinn, while the frontispiece and interior illustrations are by Darlene.

Charcoal and pencil illustration of the elven princess Rahasia, by Darlene.

Frank Mentzer, founder of the RPGA, gave Darlene the opportunity to illustrate the module:

Thanks to Frank Mentzer, I created all the interior illustrations for the RPGA1 module, Rahasia.  For the elvish script, I borrowed from an Arabic script known as Kufic.  I still love that calligraphy.

Darlene

(A few years ago, several of Darlene's concept sketches for these illustrations were auctioned on WorthPoint.)

Location:

While the adventure is not explicitly set within "The Continent", one potential location is the hills northwest of Lake Amsorak.  The river originating in the hex just to the northwest could be "the Hantu valley, beyond the Great Falls..."

I think this is a great spot for a number of reasons.  Firstly, because Akesoli is an underused starting-point for adventurers.  Secondly, the area to the west of the Republic of Darokin represents Mystara's version of the Indian subcontinent.

New Monsters:

Bone Golem,* Haunt,** Water Weird***

*also appearing in the Cook/Marsh Expert rules

**similar to Haunts appearing in modules B3 and B4 by Tom Moldvay

***created by Ernie Gygax, as mentioned in the preface to the AD&D 1e Monster Manual (1977)

Credits:

Design is credited to Laura and Tracy Hickman, with development and editing by Jon Pickens.  Cartography is by David S. LaForce.

Module B7:

RPGA Module 1 "Rahasia" and RPGA Module 2 "Black Opal Eye" were combined to produce module B7 "Rahasia" (1984).

(I much prefer the individual scenarios presented in RPGA Modules 1 and 2, as opposed to the mash-up represented by module B7.)