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Desert of Desolation is a compilation adventure module for 1st-edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

Deep blue mists of the night swirl over the sands of Raurin, the incomparable Desert of Dust. As the cool night air drains the heat from the sand, you & your friends huddle around your campfire, glancing nervously at the giant pyramid in the distance. Gradually, the winds change direction, bearing a thin streak of white mist toward you from the pyramid. It swirls & takes shape as a faceless man dressed in ancient robes & an ornate head-piece; moonlight shining through his ghostly body & robes, he lifts his arms toward the pyramid & speaks.

It was magic that conveyed you all to Bralizar, & an ancient map that guided you through the pass in The Dustwall. But it was, after all, the tales that finally brought you to this place - tales of endless wealth, of spirit-guarded pyramids, of crystalline obelisks, of gemstones with mysterious properties. Now, as the haunted voice of the spectre before you begins his tale, you wonder if the treasure & the quest are worth the price...perhaps your very lives.

Are you really the heroes of the prophecies, those who will overcome the foretold tests, & those for whom the treasure awaits? It is time to search your hearts before you venture further into the Desert of Desolation.

Description[]

Desert of Desolation combines the three previously published individual modules Pharaoh, Oasis of the White Palm, and Lost Tomb of Martek, which were produced for use with the 1st edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules.

Each module is an Egyptian-styled adventure. The individual modules were well received by critics at the time of their release, and the compilation has garnered accolades in the 2000s.

Pharaoh was created by Tracy and Laura Hickman soon after they were wed in 1977, and published by TSR in 1982. Oasis of the White Palm was a collaboration between Tracy Hickman and Philip Meyers, while Tracy Hickman wrote Lost Tomb of Martek; both were printed in 1983. It was the first TSR product to have the "Forgotten Realms" imprint.

Contents[]

  • Foreword
  • Chapter 1: Background And Storyline
  • Chapter 2: Judging Notes For The Referee
  • Chapter 3: Setting Up The Campaign
  • Chapter 4: Bralizzar, Gateway to Raurin
  • Chapter 5: Across Northknife Pass
  • Chapter 6: Desert of Desolation
  • Chapter 7: Sunken City Of Pazar
  • Chapter 8: Tomb Of Amun-Re
  • Chapter 9: Oasis Of The White Palm
  • Chapter 10: Temple Of Set
  • Chapter 11: Crypt Of Badr Al-Mosak
  • Chapter 12: Lost City of Phoenix
  • Chapter 13: Skysea/The Curse City Of Stone
  • Chapter 14: Lost Tomb Of Martek

Plot summary[]

Pharaoh[]

Pharaoh is an Egyptian-styled adventure that includes a pyramid map and a trap-filled maze. Cover art was provided by Jim Holloway.[1] In Pharaoh, the player characters are driven into the desert for a crime they did not commit. The characters journey to the sunken city of Pazar, and from there they travel to the haunted tomb of an ancient pharaoh. While in the desert, the characters encounter the spirit of Amun-Re, the last pharaoh of Bakar, cursed to wander the desert until his tomb is robbed. Amun-Re begs the PCs to remove his staff of ruling and the Star of Mo-Pelar from his tomb to break his curse. The tomb was built to be thief-proof, and has so far lived up to its reputation. While in Amun-Re's pyramid, the characters can use an item called the Dome of Flight to control or reverse gravity; carelessness can cause them to fall upwards, and the palm trees in this room bear exploding fruit. The module contains wilderness maps, and includes a number of smaller adventures which complement the main one.

Oasis of the White Palm[]

In Oasis of the White Palm, the characters arrive at the Oasis of the White Palm, which is on the brink of turmoil. Shadalah, who is to be the bride of the shiek's eldest son, has been kidnapped. The shiek believes her to be held by his enemies somewhere in the oasis. The player characters must solve a mystery before they can progress further. Once the characters make the contacts they need at the oasis, they continue to the Temple of Set and the Crypt of Badr Al-Mosak, and the adventure concludes in the City of Phoenix; there, the PCs must obtain the three Star Gems (the one from Amun-Re's tomb in the previous adventure, and two more introduced here) and free the djinni if they plan to move on to the next module.[2] The Oasis of the White Palm module contains wilderness maps, and includes a number of smaller adventures which complement the main one.

Lost Tomb of Martek[]

The goal of the player characters is the tomb of the millennium-dead wizard Martek. The tomb lies in the vast Desert of Desolation, and the majority of the adventure takes place within Martek's tomb.[3] The adventure is organized into seven parts, taking the party from the desert through a number of planes on their way to the Citadel of Martek. They must use the Star Gems to revive the dead wizard. When they have done so, he lets them choose from a variety of magical treasure, and leaves to defeat the efreet.[3]

Index[]

Click here for page index

Characters[]

Abu KaresanAeraldothAl-DolakAlham Pasha BurakAman Al-RaqibAmun-ReAshuk MasaniAthis Al-DinBandikBarisBarus BroadbladeCookieCorga KazanEl-TarifaFuigarmHabrauk Al-NirinHassan ArslanHogan UnderwoodKaedrosKalitratesKerinaKhalif MubrekKhalithariusKorus EikothKrinos PandipolousLarithMartekMunafikMuthi PashtralNadron IlanisPawnisPercivilisPritRoland the MinstrelRose UnderwoodSardokShadalahSithal Al-HusnSothalTasha LalTekuna ChandThurnas NetmasterTolnus GranicusTrifakasZomaraZorath Blackblade
Referenced only
Badr Al-MosakChininsk AmbarElminster AumarFogli ForkbeardHochart VestmanJoachim MullerschmidtKharanKalif ManiozimusKordanSedarikTakosh-ReQatrun Medrusa

Creatures[]

aerial servantandrosphinxant (fire ant)aspbeetlebeholderbugbearcamelcentipedechabang manclay golemcockatricecryptknightdesert jackassdoppelgangerdrowdustdiggerdwarffruitflyghastghostghoulgiant fire beetlegiant mountain goatgiant poisonous snakegiant ratgiant scorpiongiant spidergnomegoblingoatgophergorgongrizzly beargroaning spirithalflinghill gianthorsehuge spiderhyenajackallarge spiderlurker aboveminotaurmountain lionmummynecrophidiusneo-otyughotyughpackratpegasuspurple wormrocrust monstersandmanshadowshadow demonskeletonskittercrabsmoke mephitsnake (cobra) • spectresphinxtarantulathunderherderticktortoisetrappertroglodytetrollumber hulkwar dogwightwraithwolfworgxornyetizombie
Referenced only
cattledjinnfalcongoatsea dragongulllionmonkeymoth

Locations[]

Bodies of Water
Me'at HalwaPool of TefnutResurrection SpringRiver AthisSweepaway FordOasis of Akhir
Buildings
Bathhouses
Baths of DrususBaths of GarimsharrBaths of KordekBaths of Persepolis
Crypts & Tombs
Crypt of Badr Al-MosakPyramid of Amun-ReTomb of Martek (Grandal)
Taverns & Inns
Happy Hogan's Desert IglooHouse of MirthInn of the Golden PalmThe Swayback Camel
Temples
Temple of BalderTemple of EilishTemple of HorusTemple of PrometheusTemple of RaTemple of Set
Deserts
Plains of Purple DustRaurin
Landmarks
Skysea
Mountains
Dustwall MountainsHinjazMound of the Lawgivers
Nations
Bakar
Roads
Sandvoyagers Track
Settlements
AkhirBralizzarMedinat MuskawoonPazarTerbakar
Valleys
Athis valleyBreakheart CleftGiant Step CleftNorthknife Pass
Referenced only
Alamber SeaGheldanethGoldenflowGolden WaterInner SeaJhandylMulhorandPandemoniumPhannaskulPhelzolPhoenixSeldazzarSemkhrunSempharThommarUttermost EastUnthalassUntherUstannZindalankh

Magic[]

Armor & Clothing
boots of elvenkindcloak of elvenkindcloak of protectionharness of Sekerhelm of alignment changenecklace of strangulationmedallion of timering of contrarinessring of invisibilityring of protectionring of spell turning
Books
book of infinite spellslibram of gainful conjurationlibram of ineffable damnationtome of clear thoughtTome of Timetome of understanding
Items
crystal balldecanter of endless waterincense of meditationincense of obsessionliahonapalm sign amuletphylactery of monstrous attentionscarab of protectionskull of Garathstaff of curingstaff of rulingstaff of teleportationStar gem of Martek • (Star of Aga-PelarStar of Khan-PelarStar of Melos-PelarStar of Mo-PelarStar of Shah-Pelar)
Potions
oil of slipperinessperiapt of foul rottingpotion of clairaudiencepotion of ESPpotion of gaseous formpotion of invisibilitypotion of invulnerabilitypotion of undead control
Spells
burning handscomprehend languagesdimension doordistance distortionfireballflame strikeflyglyph of wardinghastelightning boltlimited wishpermanencyremove cursesanctuarytemporal stasistime stopwall of firewall of lightning
Substances
unholy water
Weapons
Bar-EthelEnduvalscimitar of the Sultansword of 9 lives stealingsword of dancingwand of fireballswand of paralyzationShylo's Slicer

Organizations[]

AirlancersLancers of DeathMalatathPazar dynastySandvoyagers Guild

Religions[]

AnuBaldurCeltic pantheonDunatisEgyptian pantheonFinnish pantheonGreek pantheonHorusIsisNornsNorse pantheonOsirisPrometheusRaSetTycheUntamo
Referenced only
ApolloFriggHeimdallLokiOdinSekerZeus

Miscellaneous[]

Armor & Clothing
baldricbanded mailchainmailleather armorplate mailrobesashturban
Art & Literature
201, A Sea OdysseyA Thousand Nights and a NightBetter Caves and Dungeons CookbookFarewell to Limbs, A Pictoral Vorpal GlossaryGone with the Air ElementalHumantales for Young FairiesLedger of the Sandvoyagers GuildMartek, By MartekMoby DragonOrc Stew and Its Uses in LubricationParadise DisplacedSnow Dwarf and the Seven WightsTome of Amun-Re
Currencies
platinum piece
Ethnicities
DurpariRaurindiGuilderPalan-teen
Fields of Study
Astrology
Food & Drinks
alecoconutdateflourpita breadwine
Gemstones
black sapphirecitrinediamondemeraldmoonstonepearlruby
Items
blanketbookbraziercandlechaincleavercoffin (sarcophagus)compass rosecutlerydavitgonghammerhingeincensekettlemanaclesmapmirrornetoil lamppouchsaddlescrollstaketenttorchvial
Materials & Substances
brassbronzecementcoalcopperdrow sleep poisonflagstoneglassteelgoldgraniteironleadlimestonemarblemortarobsidianpaperplasterplatinumsandstonesilksilverslatesteelsulfurwool
Phenomena
The Shaitan
Plants
bambooferngrasslilymoldmosspalm tree
Titles
Pharaoh
Vessels
reed boat
Weapons
battleaxedaggerdartlancescimitarspearwhip
Referenced only
applebanded mailbeerdungmangopineappleorangepearsplint mail

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • This adventure was ranked the 6th greatest adventure of all time by Dungeon magazine for the 30th anniversary of the Dungeons & Dragons® game in 2004.[4]

Credits[]

  • Original Module Design: Tracy Hickman, Laura Hickman, Philip Meyers
  • Additonal Design: Peter Rice, William John Wheeler
  • Editing: William John Wheeler, Curtis Smith, Edward Sollers, Marlene Weigel
  • Cover: Keith Parkinson
  • Cartography: Dennis Kauth, Ron Kauth, Dave LaForce, Steve Sullivan, Stephanie Tabat
  • Typography: Betty Elmore

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Notes[]

  1. As the product was adapted to the Realms using Ed Greenwood's first materials sent over to TSR, it is taken to predate the rest of the 1st edition products, which were set in 1357, but to be set close enough in time that those would remain valid. Thus, the date of 1356 is chosen.

External links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

  1. Tracy and Laura Hickman. Pharaoh (TSR, 1982), ISBN 0-888038-007-1
  2. Meyers, Philip and Tracy Hickman. Oasis of the White Palm (TSR, 1983)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Hickman, Tracy Raye. Lost Tomb of Martek (TSR, 1983)
  4. Erik Mona, James Jacobs and the Dungeon Design Panel (November 2004). “The 30 Greatest D&D Adventures of All Time”. In James Jacobs ed. Dungeon #116 (Paizo Publishing, LLC) (116)., pp. 68–81.
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