Explore Dark Secrets and Cosmic Terror in a Free DnD One Shot Adventure Inspired by Conan
Contents
Adventure Overview
The Elephant’s Heart is one of our favorite DnD one shots inspired by Robert E. Howard's original short story The Tower of the Elephant. It can be dropped into any campaign setting.
The Elephant’s Heart is one of the best D&D 5e One Shot Adventures to run if you love the sword and sorcery genre, or just want to explore a unique world of cosmic horror, barbarism and magic. The quest can be completed in two to four hours depending on your speed of play, or faster if your party gets TPK’d. This adventure is rated deadly.
This module can be used as a solo adventure for one-on-one play, or for up to four players of levels 3 to 5. More players and higher levels are possible, but the difficulty of encounters will need to be adjusted. The Elephant’s Heart was written as a DnD 5e one shot adventure and will work as a One DnD adventure as well.
One Shot DnD Adventure:
Play Time: 2 to 4 hours
Number of Players: 1 to 4+
For Level: 3 to 5
Difficulty: Deadly
Compatibility: D&D 5e, One D&D
Throughout the story, your players will encounter a cast of colorful characters. They will also face many challenges, including traps, puzzles, and deadly magical creatures. The Elephant’s Heart is sure to thrill and challenge your players as they venture into the world of Conan.
The Elephant’s Heart Adventure Summary
Your players seek to plunder the fabled riches of the Elephant's Tower in the city of Arenjun. As the adventure begins, your players encounter a group of rogues in a seedy tavern. A boisterous thief boasts of knowing the secret of the Elephant’s Heart, a gem that the players have been tasked to steal.
The thief tells the players about the Elephant's Tower, a mystical structure that is said to contain a fabulous jewel known as the Elephant’s Heart. The jewel is kept by a powerful sorcerer named Yara, who is rumored to be immortal and possess terrible magic powers. The kidnapper has a bad temper and will try to provoke the players into a fight. If they escape the tavern with their lives, they can attempt to steal the gem.
The Players must find a way to enter the Tower of the Elephant, which is surrounded by an outer wall. The Gardens beyond that wall are home to horrors that even the bravest of men would quail at.
The Tower of the Elephant can be infiltrated through the main gate, the roof or a secret entrance. Furthermore, on this night, Taurus the Prince of Thieves also seeks to lay his hands upon the treasure. Will players join forces with the royal rogue, or will they face him as a foe?
“Oh, hapless mortals, thou art set upon a path most perilous!” – Yara the Sorcerer
Yara spreads tales of the great wealth and power that lies within his tower so as to lure thieves into his grasp. And in the tower's labyrinthine corridors, his games of cat and mouse play out. None have ever emerged from that dread place alive.
Devious traps and magical defenses bar the players’ way as they ascend the tower's heights, where a strange being with the head of an elephant languishes in captivity. This is Yag-kosha, whose powers Yara the sorcerer steals to fuel his own foul immortality.
Should the players prove themselves true of heart and aid this captive, Yag-kosha bestows upon them the fabled Elephant's Heart, and the secrets of the jewel shall be theirs to command. Thus shall they have the power to defeat Yara and flee the tower, if they are fortunate enough to survive.
The Adventure Setting
The Elephant’s Heart D&D adventure and Yara’s tower can be dropped into any city or town that suits your needs. In this module, the city of Arenjun is provided as the backdrop.
The City of Arenjun:
“Those who seek to unlock its mysteries must be prepared to face the darkest aspects of human nature and the most terrifying of supernatural forces.” – Taurus, the Prince of Thieves
Arenjun is a sprawling city in the eastern Byzantine style, known for its decadence. The streets are lined with ornate temples and elegant gardens. The city is a center of commerce, where wealthy merchants and remorseless rogues come to trade goods and secrets.
Beneath the surface of Arenjun lies a dangerous underworld, ruled by powerful sorcerers, slavers, assassins and thieves. Legend has it that Arenjun was founded in ancient times by a secret sect of powerful sorcerers who used their magic to build the city's towering spires. Over the centuries, Arenjun has had a succession of puppet kings, each more corrupt than the last, who are controlled by these sorcerers.
Exploring Arenjun
The Tower of the Elephant is just one of the many mysteries that lurk within the city's walls. Before infiltrating the tower, players may want to explore. This overview will help you to add some depth to the setting if players choose to stock up on supplies or get sidetracked.
The Maul: Our adventure begins here. The Maul is the district in the city of Arenjun that is home to the most dangerous and disreputable characters. The streets are narrow, winding, and crowded. The buildings are all in various states of disrepair. The Maul is a place where one can find all manner of unsavory activities and stolen wares at any hour.
The Bazaar: A bustling marketplace where players can buy exotic goods, including silks, spices, and jewelry.
The Elephants Tower: A mysterious tower where a powerful sorcerer conducts his arcane rituals and projects invisible lines of influence across the city and the realm.
The Slave Markets: A brutal and disturbing area of the city where slaves are bought and sold. The players might come across a slave who knows about the Elephant's Heart or who might be able to help them in their quest.
The Arena: The players might be challenged to fight in the arena or might witness a fight that gives them valuable information.
The Temple of Set: A dark and foreboding temple dedicated to the evil god Set. The players might be lured here by cultists who are seeking the Elephant's Heart for their own purposes.
The Thieves' Guild: The players might be approached by a member of the guild who has information about the Elephant's Heart or who wants to hire them for a job.
The City Watch: Home to the guards who patrol the city streets and maintain law and order.
The Golden Circle: A walled enclave located in the heart of the city, reserved for the royal family, the nobles, and the most successful merchants. The streets of the Golden Circle are lined with mansions, pleasure palaces, and ornate gardens that exude decadence.
The Royal Palace: The centerpiece of the Golden Circle is the royal palace, a sprawling complex of opulent halls and chambers.
Adventure Hook
Yara, a sorcerer of great renown, is said to possess a magical gem that gives him immense power, making him immortal. The players have been charged with the task of stealing this object.
Perhaps a rival wizard or a cunning young dragon seeking to bolster its hoard has given them this quest. Or maybe the players have heard tales of Yara and seek to claim the object for themselves. The motivation should be clear and direct, allowing for quick entry into the one-shot adventure.
Contents
Adventure Overview
All maps created using Worldographer. According to our research, The Tower of the Elephant is in the public domain in the United States because it was legally published within the United States (or the United Nations Headquarters in New York subject to Section 7 of the United States Headquarters Agreement) before 1964, and copyright was not renewed. All original content Copyright 2023, Dungeon Matters.
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