O2: Blade of Vengeance

O2 "Blade of Vengeance" (1984) by Jim Bambra with Phil Gallagher is an Expert D&D one-on-one adventure, designed for a 7th level elf.

Module O2 "Blade of Vengeance" (1984) by Jim Bambra.  Cover illustration by Jeremy Goodwin.

Creative Team:

Jim Bambra is a prolific D&D game designer, who worked closely with Phil Gallagher and others, at TSR UK.  The pair also collaborated on module B10 "Night's Dark Terror".

Illustrations were by Jeremy Goodwin, contributing a memorable aesthetic.

Design Origins:

The one-on-one format was originally pitched as "Duel the Referee":

A Duel the Referee adventure for use with the D&D® Expert Set, for a character of 4th to 14th level. A single elf confronted with the mysterious destruction of his home must find those responsible.

In a Duel the Referee adventure, a single player matches his skill against the problems posed by the Dungeon Master and the plot of the scenario.

Each adventure has several alternative plots, so that the player can switch roles and see which character best achieves the goal of the adventure.

Dragon #94 (February, 1985)

The Adventure:

Erystelle of Dorneryll, accompanied by her warhorse, Starbrow, and a pair of war dogs, Eslin and Tarcil, returns home to find her kin slain, and embarks on a mission to avenge their deaths.*

*I recently attempted to run this adventure using ChatGPT, with mixed results.

For a series of actual play reports, including a couple of nifty in-game artifacts, check out "Blade of Vengeance" Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part Five over at Delta's D&D Hotspot.

The Emerlas:

Location of The Emerlas, a wild and beautiful region within Canolbarth Forest.

In addition to providing an in-depth description of the northern part of Canolbarth forest, the module describes the Shining Isle of Karelia, a celestial domain which appears as a bright star in the heavens, as well as the Misty Hills, a region immediately to the north.

The scenario has a strong B/X vibe, and presents a faerie version of Alfheim.*  The capital of Alfheim and the Tomb of King Alevar are described in module X10 "Red Arrow, Black Shield".  The entire region was more fully developed in GAZ 5 "The Elves of Alfheim".

*there is no mention of the Relic of an elven clan, a Tree of Life, or the hereditary role of a Keeper, as described in the D&D Companion Set rules, although the silver ship Erystelle uses might be considered the nocturnal version of an elven lightship

New Monsters:

Animated Brambles, Shargugh, Flitterlings, Faedorne, Silver Warrior, War Dogs

Scorbane:

An intelligent sword +2, +4 vs. dragons, triple damage vs. red dragons; Int 11; Ego 11; AL N.

Scorbane's blade is inscribed with an enamelled red dragon and the hilt is in the form of a dragon's head.  At Scorbane's pommel, a magical green gem is clenched in the dragon's teeth.  This gem has the property of being able to cure light wounds (as the spell) on the sword's owner, three times per day.

In addition, Scorbane has the following powers: detect magic, find traps, find secret doors, read magic, immune to the charm spells of red dragons.