Shadowfalls has long been under the sway of the vile chronolich Hazlewud. Now, your party has set out to end the undead wizard's reign of terror for all time, across all time.
A DCC RPG adventure for 4-6 PCs of level 3-4. Designed by Bob Brinkman.
For centuries, the town of Shadowfalls has languished under the oppressive rule of Hazlewud, a malevolent lich whose dark influence permeates every aspect of life. This undead wizard's dominion extends not just over the present, but across the very fabric of time itself.
The Town of Emerson aka Shadowfalls
Hazlewud is no ordinary lich, but a chrono-lich—a being of unparalleled necromantic power bound to Chronos, the god of time. In life, Hazlewud was Magistrate Elaro Milner, the cunning head of the Emerson village merchant guild. His vast wealth and political influence allowed him to indulge in unspeakable depravities while maintaining a facade of respectability. Consumed by an insatiable hunger for power and the fear of his own mortality, Elaro delved into forbidden magics. Through a series of grotesque rituals that corrupted the natural flow of time in the area, he transformed himself into an abomination that exists simultaneously in past, present, and future.
Grotesque Rituals and Forbidden Magics...
The rise of the chrono-lich tore a rent in time, causing a “waterfall” of shadowy anti-phlogiston near the guildhouse. The presence of these powerful energies manifests in horrifying ways. Hazlewud can summon younger versions of long-dead victims or withered husks of those yet to die. The town's clocktower, once a symbol of prosperity, now tolls at irregular intervals, each chime aging or rejuvenating random citizens. To the citizens, the village remains Emerson, but to outsiders it has become known in whispers as “Shadowfalls”.
Now, your party has set out to end the undead wizard's reign of terror for all time, across all time.
We're keeping it nice and simple with only a few pledge levels (plus some add-ons).
The relevant Pledge Levels for most people are the DIGITAL and PHYSICAL+DIGITAL. The Digital level includes the Evil Never Dies adventure module in PDF, separate images of each map for personal use, printable pre-gen characters for use with Evil Never Dies and other DCC compatible adventures, and digital versions of any stretch goals you unlock during this campaign.
The Physical+Digital level gets you everythingin the digital level PLUS a physical copy of the Evil Never Dies adventure module and any stretch goals you unlock during the campaign.
The recently unlocked Deluxe level gets you everything from the Physical+Digital level AND the Deluxe Hardback Edition of Evil Never Dies, the Poster Map Pack, and the Phlogistonic Energy Dice and more!
All unlocked stretch goals apply to both pledge levels unless otherwise noted.
If you own a retail store, sell online, or sell at conventions, we have a Retailer Only level where you can pick up a great, customizable bundle deal.
We also have a No Rewards level for people who just want access to the Pledge Manager. You can put as much money as you want (minimum $1) and then it will automatically apply toward your total in the Pledge Manager.
$1900 - Funding Goal Met. High-fives all around. Somebody's gonna chest bump the beholder (once). If we meet the funding goal on Day One then some of you will be extra happy.
$3000 - We Want Moar. Bob Brinkman will create additional Shadowfalls content (with a map) to be included in the Evil Never Dies book. Brett Hess will illustrate the map in his signature style, which will be in the book and also included in the digital map files and the Poster Map Pack add-on.
$3500 - We Still Want Moar! So far, Dan Smith has done 12 b&w half-page illustrations for Evil Never Dies, plus the full color cover! If we hit this stretch goal, I'll tell Dan to clean off his desk because I'm ordering SIX more illustrations.
$4000Dee Luxe. We add one more pledge level (and matching add-on) for a special fancy deluxe hardback edition of Evil Never Dies to the campaign and pledge manager.
$4500Variant Cover. We commission Brett Hess to do a variant cover for Evil Never Dies. standard edition. I've seen the concept sketch (to be revealed soon) and it's epic.
$5000Deluxe Variant Cover. We will extend the variant cover option for Evil Never Dies to include the Deluxe edition.
$5500Stat Block Art. One of the great things about DCC is the tendency to invent new monsters for every adventure. That way you're always going to see something new and interesting. This adventure is no exception, so I've asked Bob to really load it up (and he has!!) If we hit this stretch goal we'll include art with every stat block.
$6000 Super Secret Final Stretch Goal. Bob got an idea. An awful idea. Bob got a wonderful, awful idea! When we were planning the stretch goals, Bob looked at me and said "Hey! What if we add more content, but make it something DCC GMs could use everywhere, not just in Evil Never Dies?" and I said "Oh, like an add-on? Sure why not?" AND BOB SAID "no, get this, we don't charge any extra for it. We just, you know, give it to them for free!" and here we are.
If you guys break through the final stretch goal, that day will forevermore be known as Bobsgiving Day.
Around here, I'm told the elves have a saying.Granted, my elvish is a little rusty, but I think it translates to "the best way to hit stretch goals is singing loud for all to hear". So if you want to see whatever else we have under wraps... help us get the word out!
In addition to the Pledge Levels and Stretch Goals, we have a number of add-ons available. You will be able to add them with your pledge during the campaign or in the pledge manager once it opens.
T-Shirts (multiple designs), Official DCC Dice (yes all 14) in a variety of styles, a Map Pack with poster-sized versions of all the maps needed for the adventure, and character art commissions (full or headshot) from our featured artists Dan Smith and Raven Evermoor.
We also have our previous releases, including back issues of the system-neutral Explore Dungeons Zine(s), as well as our 5e compatible zine: Tales from the Tower, our Mörk Borg zine : sMörkåsBorg, our Mörk Borg compatible solo Viking survival adventure game KINLESS, and more.
NOTE: Most of the add-ons include both Digital and Physical versions. We haven't quite figured out digital t-shirts or dice yet, but our goblin scientists insist they are close to a breakthrough. Character commissions are digital only, but you are welcome to print them.
Shipping will be calculated and collected after the campaign through the Pledge Manager.
As for when it will ship, let me break it down:
The manuscript is complete.
Additional town content from Stretch Goal #2 is in progress, to be done by mid November.
Editing and review process is complete. Layout process is in progress, to be done by end of November. Post-Layout review can take up to a week. Files hit printer by early December. Digital fulfillment happens when files go to the printer by early December.
Cover art and interior art are complete.
Additional art from Dan (Stretch Goal #2) is complete.
All 4 maps (3+Bonus) by Bob are complete and submitted to our Cartographer (Brett).
First map (Crypt of the Chrono-lich) final art is complete.
Second map (The Holding of Elaro the Necromancer) final art is complete. Third map (Merchant Guild of Emerson) final art is in progress, to be ready by end of November. Fourth map final art should be ready by mid-December. Poster maps should be at the printer by mid-December.
We expect everything to be complete on our end by mid-December.
Turnaround time on printing could be as little as 2 weeks or as long as 5 weeks. (We won't know until we submit the files to them.) Fulfillment will begin immediately after receiving the printed books and maps.
We feel reasonably confident that we could start fulfillment in January.
If we hit the Deluxe Volume Stretch Goal, that can impact fulfillment date by up to a month.
Evil Never Dies is designed by Bob Brinkman (Crypt of the Devil Lich, DCCDying Earth #7 - Magnificent Machinations at the Grand Exposition of Marvels). Featuring interior & cover art by Dan Smith (Wizards, FASA, Steve Jackson Games) and cartography by Brett Hess (IG: @ArtOfBrettHess). Published by Explore Dungeons.
What risks, if any, are associated with this project?
As with any crowdfunded project, the following risks apply:
Supply Chain Issues caused by things out of human control can affect turnaround times on printing and shipping, and fulfillment costs. We will try to mitigate this by waiting to collect shipping charges so we can provide the most accurate quote. None of these should stop us from delivering, but they can cause delays.
The writing, interior art, and maps are nearly done already and should be complete and in layout by the time this project ends. If we hit the Moar stretch goal, it will delay delivery by about a month or so (which also partly depends on how early we hit that stretch goal).
