Dungeons and Dragons Campaign

The Cursed Heir is a Dungeons and Dragons campaign that takes place in a realm that stands on the brink of collapse.

Fiendish armies – goblins, orcs and worse – sweep across the region, overwhelming the King’s forces, massacring soldiers and civilians alike. Those fortunate enough to survive speak of impossible sights and unsettling behavior – as if the invaders are driven by something beyond normal conquest or bloodlust.

Drafted into the war effort and marched to a remote keep on the front lines of the war, players begin their new lives in the King’s service. But what begins as straightforward military garrison duty gradually unfolds into something far more sinister. As they investigate abandoned settlements, delve into forgotten ruins, forge uneasy alliances, and confront ancient horrors, they begin to discover that the war is only a veil for a far greater threat.

Soon, the true enemy comes into focus: a dark and mysterious cult led by an enigmatic figure known only as the Hollow Prince. Wielding an ancient amulet of terrifying power, he acts towards the fulfillment of prophecy that threatens not merely the kingdom, but perhaps the fate of the world itself.

The Cursed Heir is a story of mystery, political intrigue, dangerous adversaries, and heroic adventure, where every revelation uncovers another layer of a millennia-old conspiracy. As the truth behind the Hollow Prince, the prophecy, and the amulet slowly comes to light, the party must decide whom to trust – and whether destiny is something to be fulfilled… or defied.

The Cursed Heir is designed to be enjoyed by groups of all experience levels, but it is especially well suited to new and first-time players. The campaign begins with characters who are just as inexperienced as the players controlling them, allowing everyone to learn the game naturally as the story unfolds.

Combat, exploration, investigation, and roleplaying mechanics are introduced gradually across the opening act (Chapters 1-4), while extensive GM guidance helps Dungeon Masters confidently run each session. As the adventure progresses, both the characters and the players grow in confidence together, culminating in an epic, high-stakes campaign that rewards teamwork, creativity, and thoughtful decision-making.

The Cursed Heir is designed as a full-length, multi-session campaign spanning ten story-driven chapters. Depending on your group’s pace and how much optional content is explored, expect 20-30+ hours of gameplay.

But rather than one massive, continuous slog, this campaign is structured for multi-session play. Each of the 10 chapters is effectively its own “episode” that propels players through a unique and challenging environment while advancing the larger, overarching narrative.

The Cursed Heir is a dark fantasy adventure featuring political intrigue, ancient mysteries, supernatural horror, difficult choices, and moments of heroism. While there are lighter moments and memorable personalities, the campaign embraces mature themes of corruption, betrayal and tragedy in a gritty world where victories are hard-earned.

This adventure is created for 2024 Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules for its creatures and mechanics, using material from the System Reference Document 5.21 (“SRD 5.21”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.21 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.

Yes. In fact this campaign was created to be friendly to new or first-time DMs. Every chapter includes extensive guidance, behind-the-scenes story, explanations, pacing advice, important NPC summaries, and long-term narrative notes, while also providing player-facing descriptions to use at the GM’s discretion. It’s all designed to make running the adventure straightforward and fun – even if it’s your first campaign.

The campaign begins at Level 1, allowing players to grow naturally from inexperienced conscripts into legendary heroes over the course of the adventure.

Combat is an important part of the campaign, but it is only one piece of the experience. Players will also investigate mysteries, negotiate with rival factions, solve environmental challenges, explore ancient ruins, and make choices that influence future events and relationships.

There are plenty of fights to be had… or creatively avoided.

Yes. While The Cursed Heir follows a carefully crafted overarching story, the players’ decisions influence how that story unfolds. Throughout the campaign, choices can affect relationships with important NPCs and factions, determine optional rewards and allies, unlock additional quests, and shape how the world responds to the party’s actions.

Like many published adventure campaigns, the central narrative remains focused on delivering a cohesive epic story. However, how the party reaches that conclusion – and the allies, enemies, and consequences they accumulate along the way – is very much shaped by their decisions.

In addition to the adventure itself, you’ll find an accompanying document containing a comprehensive collection of:

• Custom monsters and NPCs
• Original magic items
• Merchant inventories
• Detailed maps
• GM reference material
• Story handouts and in-world documents
• Quick-reference appendices

Everything is designed to keep gameplay flowing without constant preparation.

Yes! The Cursed Heir is the opening chapter in a larger Hollow Prince saga. While this campaign tells a complete and satisfying story, it also lays the groundwork for future adventures as the consequences of the Hollow Prince’s prophecy continue to unfold.