Would you dare to enter a tower built on the edge of a dangerous swamp?

A9 Beneath The Helm of Night is a 5th Edition adventure for 3-5 players of levels 9 to 11, and an electrum bestseller on DriveThruRPG by Troll Lord Games. It can be used as a standalone supplement or as part of the Assault on Blacktooth Ridge series. If you are interested in more of their work, we have also reviewed A7 Beneath the Despairing Stone (linked for your convenience).

The scenario

The adventure takes the party into a tower standing on an island, on the edge of a dangerous swamp, called the Tower of Horesk. The island is surrounded by fog, stagnant water and dangerous creatures, giving off anything but a welcoming feeling. The supplement provides four ways to involve the players with the tower, including following rumours from a tavern, or simply discovering it while on a journey.

The objective is pretty straightforward. The party needs to enter the tower, plunder its treasure, and destroy the evil that lurks within. Except it’s not just that. Various inhabitants await the adventurers, including forces that rule the tower, such as the Aghul Devils. Certain NPCs will provide information or become allies, at least temporarily, giving the party more than one way to approach things.

Encounters

The tower is full of areas that reward exploration. Forty of them, to be exact. Even reaching the tower could become an encounter on its own, providing an early taste of what will follow. Once inside, the party may or may not encounter orcs, devils and even undead. The adventure also introduces new creatures, like the moundule, which are large, vine-covered tree stumps found in swamps or forest ponds.

The supplement rewards parties who pay attention to their surroundings, as traps and magical items are hidden throughout the tower. For example, there is an acidic gas trap that deals 3d8 damage to anyone who doesn’t watch their first step on the stairs. There are also memorable encounters beyond simply defeating a monster. Imagine being cast into the Void just because you wanted to splash some fresh water on your face. One area features a pool that serves as a sacrificial chamber that sends unfortunate victims directly into the Void.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention Leonard. Leonard is the tower’s Chamberlain and a slave to the evil forces. He informs the party about a noble knight who came from the south, and insists that they free him so that he can find the knight who can aid the party. Bonus tip – I wouldn’t even trust my shadow in that tower!

My favourite encounter is the magical bed that restores full hit points to anyone who sleeps on it for a night. Who wouldn’t like that?

Layout & Art

The layout follows the 2-column style, with bold text that stands out when needed. The information is presented logically, starting from a general view of the supplement and moving to its actual areas. As I mentioned above, there are 40 areas, numbered and accompanied by simple maps and detailed descriptions. Despite its compact size, the supplement features one appendix with statblocks for new monsters, one for magic items and one for the Void. That appendix includes rich lore for time, sustenance, rest, travelling, and healing in the Void, and finally guidance on how to replace it, if it doesn’t fit in your setting.

As for the art, it follows the black and white style of A7 Beneath the Despairing Stone, which I am quite fond of.

Final thoughts

As you can probably imagine, I enjoyed this review, and I totally recommend A9 Beneath The Helm of Night, either as a one-shot or as part of the A-series. We would love to hear from you, especially if you have tried it or are planning to do so.

Stay crafty and watch your step,
Your new favourite author.

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