CM1 "Test of the Warlords" (1984) by Douglas Niles was released the same year as the D&D Companion Set, to showcase the new rules and also expand the D&D game world.
CM1 "Test of the Warlords" by Douglas Niles. Cover illustration depicting a black avenger by Clyde Caldwell.
About the Author:
Niles' first published work for TSR was AD&D module N1 "Against the Cult of the Reptile God" (1982), set in the World of Greyhawk. This was followed by module X3 "Curse of Xanathon" and module B5 "Horror on the Hill" (1983).
He worked on the War Machine rules with Garry Spiegle for the D&D Companion Set, followed by the Battlesystem (1985) fantasy combat supplement, and its second edition (1989), later becoming a prolific novelist (The Moonshae Trilogy; et al.)
Prologue:
The prologue to CM1 picks up where the epilogue to the Companion Set leaves off:
With the fall of the Black Eagle Barony and its allied forces, the settled lands of the continent are now peaceful. Most of the land's dungeons have been plundered, and monsters have been driven from all but a few of the civilized dominions. Prosperity reigns throughout the land now, which is just how the rulers want it. The government is stable, and day-to-day life is routine. Prospects for adventure, however, are minimal.
Then comes word from the north: the empire of Alphatia has claimed the vast lands of Norwold, and has appointed a king to rule over those lands. This monarch is in need of steadfast characters to administer the many dominions that may be carved from the wilderness of Norwold!
From CM1 "Test of the Warlords" (1984)
The Setting:
Norwold lies to the north of the lands and environs of the D&D wilderness:
Areas claimed by the Empire of Alphatia and the Empire of Thyatis
Clash of empires
Alphatia is described as the oldest empire in the world, situated on a massive island to the east of Norwold, a civilization built on a foundation of magic. No fewer than 1,000 36th level magic-users make up its ruling council.
The secret name of Alphatia is given as Atlantis, in keeping with the framework that the D&D game world is a version of our own world in the ancient past, and evoking other fantasy versions of Atlantis (ie. Númenor, Valusia, Melniboné)
Thyatis is described as little more than a century old (compared to a thousand years in the Gazetteers). The empire spread rapidly outward from Thyatis, its capital city, to encompass several large islands off the southern coast of the continent.
Unlike Alphatia, Thyatis developed a triad of co-governing theocratic, magical, and military powers. Many historians attribute Thyatis' rapid growth to its leaders' fabled capacity for greed and trickery (evoking Western perspectives of the Byzantine Empire).
Cities and demi-human clans
Descriptions of three major cities in the region are provided: Alpha "the King's City",* erected on the ruins of an ancient fortress; the pirate's haven of Landfall, under the control of a powerful Thieves' Guild; and the free city of Oceansend, ruled by King Yarrvik the Just.
*see A city of Alpha mini-Gaz (2013) by LoZompatore
Several halfling clanholds* and elven foresthomes are also mentioned
*see The History of Leeha (Threshold #7, April 2015), Land of Leeha (Threshold #8, July 2015), and Races of Leeha (Threshold #8, July 2015) by JTR
Special geographical features
Two volcanos, 75 miles apart, are connected by a towering "arch of fire" reaching 6 miles in height (the northern volcano is an inflowing vortex from the plane of fire, and the southern volcano is an outflowing vortex to the same plane).*
A large whirlpool in one of the northern bays is an elemental vortex flowing to the elemental plane of water.*
*elemental vortices are described in the multiverse section of the Companion Set rules
Frosthaven, the island home to a huge clan of frost giants (mentioned as the possible terminus of the Great Northway, in "Tortles of the Purple Sage"(1987) by Merle Rasmussen).
The Wyrmsteeth Range is home to nearly 1,000 dragons.*
*see "Who's Who in the Wyrmsteeth" part 1 (Threshold #8; July 2015) and part 2 (Threshold #9; September, 2015) by Francesco Defferrari
Nonplayer Characters:
Statistics and brief personality profiles are given for King Ericall of Norwold (F28); Lernal the Swill (F6) the king's half-brother; King Yarrvik the Just (F9); Tarn Oakleaf (D24) the druidic representative to King Ericall's court; Madiera the Counselor (M25) Alphatian advisor to King Ericall.
Competing NPCs include Alak Dool (M19) from Thyatis; Sir Ernest Day (F16) a former paladin; Rutger Dag (F15) from Vestland; Sandralane of Glantri (C16); Max the First (F15); Allisa Patrician (F15) from Ethengar; Longtooth (T20) from Thyatis.
Land Grab:
This section outlines how you can bring the characters into the campaign.*
*see "The Great Land Rush of Norwold" part 1 (Threshold #7; April 2015) and part 2 (Threshold #8; July 2015) by Simone Neri
A two-year seasonal timeline for a Norwold campaign is provided.
Major Events:
This section describes two major events that take place in Norwold during the campaign, a frost giant raid (winter) and a royal wedding (summer).
Illustration by Jeff Easley
Norwold Encounters:
This section outlines five major scenarios that may take place during the adventure:
The ruins of Alinor - the ruins of an ancient city, once ruled by Alinor, prince of Alpha, a powerful magic-user
The dungeon of Kwyll - constructed by an evil cleric, now a powerful undead creature
Revenge of the mountain clan - a dwarven forge of power is being held by creations of the mad wizard Gargantua
Barbarians' battle - showcasing rules for unarmed combat
The crones of Crystykk - presumably inspired by Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch from "The Black Cauldron" (1965) by Lloyd Alexander; also reminiscent of the Graeae
War of the Crown:
This section lists the war machine statistics for all forces involved in the war for control of Norwold. Major events of the war and key strategies are given.
Epilogue:
This section lists possible scenarios for continuing a campaign in Norwold:
Dominion conflicts
Dragons of the Wyrmsteeth
The giants of Frosthaven
Test of the crones
Beyond Norwold
A table of random encounters is also included.
Prerolled Characters:
Geoffrey of Heldann (C15) a wandering cleric from the Heldann Freeholds
Weston the Tall (T15) a wandering thief (a "rogue")
Quillan Elm Grower (E10) an elf from the Forest of Alfheim
Brogahn of the Steppes (F15) a wandering fighter from the Ethengar Khanate
Claransa the Seer (M15) a wandering magic-user (a "magus") from Specularum
Recommended Viewing:
If you're intrigued by this module, I recommend checking out CM1 Test of the Warlords - A BECMI adventure module review (March 31, 2024) by BECMI Berserker
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