Review time and happy August!

A7 Beneath the Despairing Stone is a 5th Edition adventure for D&D crafted by Troll Lord Games and an electrum bestseller on DriveThruRPG. It is designed as part of the A series, but could also be used as a standalone supplement and involves a massive, floating rock. So without further ado, let’s start the review!

The scenario

Despairing Stone is a colossal boulder floating in a remote area. It does not radiate magic, but interestingly, a level 30 magic user could dispel what keeps it aloft, leading it to fall into the ground and permanently seal whatever lies below. The story provides several plot hooks to place the adventure in any campaign and not just the A series, ranging from a knight gone missing to repairing a magic item. Adventurers may even randomly stumble upon the Despairing Stone while on another mission.

The objective appears quite simple. Players need to free Avraam the Rock Lord, an ancient Oonmaukling that was imprisoned beneath the tower for aeons. To do so, they must apprehend four devils, whose symphony sustains the prison. The party needs to interrupt the ritual, and then use the actual instruments to open the final door and free Avraam. There are some ways to accomplish that, but keep in mind that said music could drive them insane (but we’ll get into that in the encounters section). Pretty simple, right? Except that devils will eventually return, giving limited time to complete the mission.

Encounters

The encounters involve exploration, puzzle-solving, and, of course, combat. Even the journey to the stone is unpredictable, thanks to a D12 roll table with wandering monsters.
Each devil inhabits a distinct section of the complex, described in great detail, making it feel truly unique rather than repeating the same formula. The dungeon is filled with unusual magical things. One chamber contains mysterious vials with unpredictable effects that could create rainbow bridges or grant hit points at the cost of slowing the user for a minute on whatever they may do.

One encounter that I find hilarious involves the devil Geerthtool. Why plot world domination when you can be obsessed with building the perfect chair? Unfortunately, as Geerthtool’s body changes constantly, no design remains comfortable for long. As a result, it constantly orders homunculi to craft new chairs, paying little attention to possible intruders unless they dare inspect or interfere with its latest masterpiece. Poor creature, and I laughed at it.

The dungeon itself is as dangerous as its inhabitants. The devil’s music slowly drives insane the minds of those who hear it, and after four days the characters will begin making charisma saving throws or succumb to its madness. A nice mechanic that adds constant pressure, encouraging the party to keep moving deeper and complete their task, instead of lingering for too long.

Oh, and don’t try to kill Avraam. As an immortal elemental lord, he is far more than the party could handle, and roleplay is encouraged. – You are not prepared!

Layout & Art

The supplement follows the two-column layout, with bold, capitalised headers that effectively stand out. Information is presented in a logical order, starting from an introduction to the adventure, and then moving to the actual “dungeon”. The dungeon is divided into clear, detailed sections, ensuring smooth navigation during gameplay.

The black and white illustrations capture the old school fantasy atmosphere, matching the document’s aesthetic. Maps with numbered areas are provided and are explored in the document through relevant descriptions. Although compact, the adventure includes detailed stat blocks for its unique devils. While a table of contents is absent, I honestly didn’t notice it until it was time to write this review, which I believe says a lot about how easy it is to navigate.

Final thoughts

Overall, A7 Beneath the Despairing Stone is more than a classic dungeon. It doesn’t throw endless combat at the party, but builds tension through exploration, environmental pressure and memorable encounters. If you enjoy adventures that reward curiosity and clever thinking instead of hack and slash, then this is an adventure worth trying.

Stay crafty and oh that’s a rock,
Your new favourite author.

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