Shadowlords - The Message - Part 1 - Quest Journal
Beginning in the trade town of Scornubel, a mystery begins in the town of Scornubel and leads to dangers far afield from civilized lands. In the first module of the Shadowlords, The Message, a vision by the high priestess of Lathander causes events to unfold. The party is asked to deliver a letter to Captain Preth of the Red Shields. He fights with Zhentarim invaders to the north, though Josura the high priestess suspects there is more behind the battle. The party must make their way to Captain Preth, though the road is difficult and uncertain.
Shadowlords - Part 1 - The Message
Creator’s: Adam Miller
Expansions Needed: NWN 1.61
Setting: Forgotten Realms.
Gameplay Length: 2-4 hours.
Starting Level: Level 1-2.
Classes: All classes.
Races: Any.
Alignment: Quest options for good and evil characters.
Link To Module Download at NWVault
Author’s Notes
None.
Tested Version: 1.20
Journal
This is a charming side step of an adventure, thought to be enjoyed it must be seen as the start of a campaign and not so much an adventure into itself. There are a fair few side quests for an adventure this size but if you chose to run through the module you could easily complete it within an hour.
The combat is probably the hardest thing you will have to face in this module, for some characters, being such a low level, one hit and it could be curtains for you. Fortunately there are a few henchmen you can choose to aid you in your quest although only one henchman (except for a brief time mentioned in the spoilers page) can be with you for the majority of the adventure.
I don’t think a single character could complete all of the adventure’s side quests, there are quests for those with a decent persuade skill, for small characters, druids and others and while none of them are particularly difficult some completionists may be left feeling a little frustrated.
The module is well balanced though and encounters have some room for scaling though not much, however, if you lack the ability to dish out damage and the henchman you chose keeps on dying then there is an option to miss most of the combat in the game.
Overall there’s some nice elements in this module that stand out but that they could have been fleshed out a bit more to make a “Let’s play it for the Story” kinda game to a memorable adventure for a starting character.
Shadowlords - The Message - Part 1 - Screenshots
         
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Shadowlords - The Message - Part 1 - Spoilers
Shadowlords - The Message - Part 1 - Spoilers
Henchmen
There’s a fair few henchmen to choose from but for the most part you are limited to one one, with the exception of the goblin caves where another joins you temporarily. There doesn’t seem to be any auto respawns early on for henchmen, if Anera dies in the goblin caves she seems to disappear for good, but if she dies while facing Shrak she will resurrect herself.
Here are the list of henchmen:
- Nooble Unders - Fighter - Found in the Monastary where you start your adventure.
- Tiera Swift - Thief - Found getting in trouble outside the main gate.
- Anera - Cleric - Found at the loading transition of the abandoned mining town.
- Topak Arniman - Fighter - Found inside the goblin caves, he is the only henchman that can be added as well as one other henchman but once you find your way to his camp he will leave for good.
Cave Spider
This mini boss is only open to halflings and gnomes, the entrance to which can be found in the first cave system you come to that has a crazy old miner still trying to make his riches there. It’s a nasty little fight but there is a +1 named shortsword for loot in a cocoon as well as some random loot.
Shresh the Goblin Elder and the Puzzle Ring
The answer to this riddle is 3.14, the value of pi, enter 3,1 then 4 to receive a +1 ring of protection.