Much like the Miskatonic Repository for Call of Cthulhu, Seventh Edition and the Jonstown Compendium for RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha, The Companions of Arthur is a curated platform for user-made content, but for material set in Greg Stafford’s masterpiece of Arthurian legend and romance, Pendragon. It enables creators to sell their own original content for use with Pendragon, Sixth Edition. This can be original scenarios, background material, alternate Arthurian settings, and more, but none of this content should be considered to be ‘canon’, but rather fall under ‘Your Pendragon Will Vary’. This means that there is still scope for the authors to create interesting and useful content that others can bring to their Pendragon campaigns.
—oOo—
It is a full colour, eighteen page, 3.0 MB PDF.
The layout is tidy, though it does need a slight edit.
Where is the Quest Set?
The Adventure of the Phantom Bell is a scenario for Pendragon, Sixth Edition. It can be set in any year, though ideally in early spring or late autumn.
Who should go on this Quest?
Knights of any type are suitable for The Adventure of the Phantom Bell, though they should at least be household or mercenary knights in service to a liege lord. Awareness,
First Aid, Folklore, Hunting, Play Instrument, Sing, Bow, and Horsemanship skills will be useful as will combat skills.
What does the Quest require?
The Adventure of the Phantom Bell requires the Pendragon, Sixth Edition Core Rulebook and the Pendragon: Gamemaster’s Handbook.
Where will the Quest take the Knights?
The Player-knights are tasked by their liege lord to attend to Greenway, a remote village where several people have gone missing. He suspects that Picts or Saxons might be responsible, but wants the disappearances investigated and put a stop to. The disappearances have been happening at regular intervals, so the Player-knights only have a few days before another one occurs. The scenario is linear is nature, the players have a choice of routes, a short one and a long one, with the former being more challenging. Taking the short gives the Player-knights more time in Greenway before the next person goes missing. Either way, the scenario tightens up a little as the impending disappearance grows near, and moves towards a confrontation with those responsible. This is nicely handled with the various possible situations being covered in a nasty combat with a surprisingly tough opponent.
The presents one or two interesting dilemmas to the Player-knights that test their Personality Traits in different ways. Some of these do stray into ‘Your Pendragon May Vary’ territory, so the Game Master is free to use them or not, as is her wont.
Throughout the scenario, the Player-knights will encounter a fair and mysterious hunter, ‘Eanswith, the Swan Maiden’, who will aid them on their journey to Greenway, in giving clues as to who—or what—might be responsible for the abductions, and if necessary, aiding them in killing it. Unfortunately, she is not only an intriguing figure for the knights and their players, but also for the Game Master. Simply put, she is not portrayed strongly enough and her motivations and interactions with the Player-knights are underwritten. The Game Master will at least want to develop a little more dialogue so that her portrayal can be easier.
Should the Knights ride out on this Quest?
The Adventure of the Phantom Bell is a relatively easy and straightforward adventure to run and play, and ultimately, insert into a campaign. It needs a bit more development, but that should not be beyond the skills of any good Game Master.
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