Food trouble incoming!

A Baker’s Denizen is a short city-themed adventure by Howard Beleiff. Crafted for 4-6 players of 3rd to 5th level, it is written for use with the Labyrinth Lord ruleset, but could fit other OSR rulesets as well. If you enjoy food-inspired adventures, I also recommend checking out Azurth Adventures Digest Issue 1, which we previously reviewed and is full of sweets.

Disclaimer: We were provided with a free digital copy of this product.

The scenario

The story is set in the city of Elbion, hidden deep in the mountains, acting as the perfect refuge resort. A new baker called Ystala Tremaine arrives in the city and crafts delicious treats full of trouble for an older baker, Horthron Delb. While the whole city seems enchanted and visits the new bakery shop at all times, Delb senses that something smells wrong and rotten and hires the party to find clues that support his claims. It’s up to them to uncover the mystery behind (or should I say beneath?) this unhealthy addiction. Spoiler warning: Okay, I warned you! The baked goods are infused with demonic powers and are slowly eating the souls of the unsuspecting customers. Although Ystala appears as a 20ys, she is in fact a Hedge Witch with her own cat.

Encounters

The adventure starts with an investigation of some bread-scented rumours, but escalates as the party searches the bakery. From dark creepers and a dark stalker, to quasits and finally Ystala and her skeleton warrior, the encounters do not disappoint. And what about the cat I mentioned before? Well, this kitty is in fact a Marilith, and definitely not aligned with Ystala or anyone else, and she may even aid the players if she finds it beneficial.

Layout & Art

The adventure is designed in a two-column layout, with a colored background and big, bold headers to separate each section. Brief NPC presentations are included in boxed text when needed, and there is also a dedicated section just for them, with plentiful information to help the Game Master understand how and why they fit into the story. There are two versions of a Dyson Logos map, one in colour and one in black and white, with numbered areas that are described in the supplement.

As for the art, it is sparse but charming. From the cover to the inside illustrations, everything feels handcrafted, with black and white art fitting the theme of a zine. It is just the right amount of art, simple and not glossy, without overcluttering the pages.

Although bookmarks, read-aloud text, and a table of contents are not present, it is a short and well-organised adventure, so navigation was not an issue for me.

Extras

Two magic items are fully described in their own section: the cloak of witchery for powerful summoning rituals and the jar of preservation that keeps everything fresh forever.

Final Thoughts

A Baker’s Denizen feels like a GM’s comfort food. Simple ingredients mixed with darkness create an amazing recipe that can be great fun for the GM and the players. Have you played this adventure? Would you try it?

Stay crafty and smell that bread,
Your new favourite author.

This post contains affiliate links. By using them, you support the blog without any extra charge being applied to you.