IN DARKEST

WARRENS

ULTIMATE EDITION
SCOTT MALTHOUSE
Orville Rowan (Order #34764728)
 IN DARKEST WARRENS
IN DARKEST WARRENS is a minimalist
fantasy roleplaying game for 3+ players.One
player is the Referee, who runs the game and
adjudicates the rules. The others are players
who control characters in a fantasy world.
ASSIGN ATTRIBUTES
Characters split the following numbers
between each attribute: 5+, 4+, 4+, 3+. The
lower, the better.
Brawn: used for strength and melee.
Nimble: used for ranged and agility.
Mind: used for intelligence and spellcasting.
Person: used for personal interactions.
In addition, characters have an assigned
number of wounds and special abilities.
Characters start with 1d6 x 10 gold coins.
CHOOSE A CLASS
Warrior: 5 wounds, Slayer: make a number of
extra melee attacks equal to half level
rounded up. Once per combat.
Rogue: 4 wounds, Shadow: attacks against
the rogue are -1 for rounds equal to half level
rounded up. Once per combat.
Mage: 3 wounds, Caster: may cast spells - see
mage spells. May only wear hide armour.
Ranger: 4 wounds, Volley: make a number of
extra ranged attacks equal to half level
rounded up. Once per combat.
Barbarian: 6 wounds, Frenzy: on a successful
attack, deal extra damage to opponent equal
to half level rounded up. Once per combat.
May only wear hide armour.
MAGE SPELLS
All spells usable once per combat or hour out
of combat. Spells are not expended on a
failed test.
Hold: Test Mind to pin an opponent in place
for 1 round per half class level rounded up.
Heal: Test Mind to heal target 1 wound per
half class level rounded up.
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Hex: Test Mind. Target within 30ft has -1 to
attack for 1 round per half class level rounded
up.
MAKING TESTS
When a character needs to do something that
has a risk of failure, they must roll a d6 on a
relevant attribute. Meeting or exceeding the
number is a success. Difficult tasks have a -1 to
the roll and easy tasks have a +1.
COMBAT
Rounds: A round is the time taken for each
combatant to act (a turn).
Initiative: Each player Tests Nimble. Successes
act before enemies and failures act after. Players
determine amongst them who acts in which
order.
Actions: Characters can take two unique
actions, including attack, move up to 30ft, cast
spell, draw weapon, and use an item. Speaking
is not an action unless it’s for more than 10
seconds.
Attacking: Attackers either Test Brawn (melee
attack) or Nimble (ranged attack). If successful,
the attacker has scored 1 damage against the
opponent. Ranged attacks in close combat get -1
penalty.
Modifiers: Bonuses and penalties from the same
sources don't total up.
INJURY AND DEATH
Successful attacks do 1 damage, which is
deducted from the character or enemy’s wound
score. If a character reaches 0 wounds they are
out of action. On their turn they must roll d6.
On a 4+ they stay at 0 but are stable. If they fail,
they go to -1 and die. Of they are damaged while
at 0 they will die. Characters heal 1 wound per
hour naturally.
CHARACTER ADVANCEMENT
As characters go on more adventures, they gain
MINIMALIST FANTASY ROLEPLAYING
more experience through experience points Devil: 4+, 7 wounds, can cast Hold as a level 4
(XP). Gain XP as follows: Mage once per combat
● Killing monster 1-5XP Dragon: 2+, 17 wounds, can use fire breath 4+ as
● Completing quest 5XP 2 actions:, dealing 3 damage.
● Great roleplaying 2XP Elf: 4+, 4 wounds, can move 50ft in forests
Goblin: 5+, 2 wounds, special action: May make a
Once a character reaches 20XP x their level, second movement.
they level up gaining 2 extra Wounds. There are Hell Hound: 4+, 6 wounds, As an action, target
a total of 6 levels. must Test Mind become frightened for 2 rounds.
Iron Golem: 3+, 11 wounds, cannot be the subject
TREASURE of a Hex.
Treasure can be found in deep and dangerous Kobold: 5+, 2 wounds, gains a +1 to attacks if
caverns. Roll for random treasure: within 10ft of another kobold or dragon.
1. 1d6 gold coins Lich: 3+, 9 wounds, may cast Hex as a level 6
2. 2d6 gold coins Mage.
3. Artifact worth 1d6 x 5 gold coins Manticore: 3+, 15 wounds, if the attack hits the
4. Gem worth 1d6 x 10 gold coins target must Test Brawn or become poisoned for 3
5. Diamond worth 1d6 x 20 gold coins rounds.
6. Magic item
MAGIC ITEMS
Magic items may have their own unique effects,
such as enhancing an attribute when used (i.e.
Ring of Dodge: +1 Nimble when avoiding
hazards), or perhaps a crown that turns the
wearer into an intelligent squirrel. Let your
imagination run wild.
ENCHANTED WEAPONS
Enchanted weapons provide a +1 bonus to
damage. These are very rare.
BESTIARY
Creatures have one number they roll against for
Tests and combat. Many also have special
abilities.
Angel: 4+, 7 wounds, can cast Heal spell as 4th
level Mage.
Bugbear: 4+, 4 wounds, can make a second
melee attack against a different opponent.
Centipede, Giant: 4+, 3 wounds, as a move, may
burrow 30ft into the ground.
 Nymph: 4+, 6 wounds, spells have no effect
on the nymph as long as they are in a glade.
Ogre: 3+, 10 wounds, can use an action after
damaging a foe to knock them prone.
Orc: 4+, 3 wounds, after damaging a foe the
orc gains a +1 to its next attack.
Phoenix: 4+, 7 wounds, the first time a
phoenix reaches 0 wounds it rises with 4
wounds.
Rat, Giant: 5+, 2 wounds, if the rat damages
a foe, the target must Test Brawn or become
diseased for 1 round.
Skeleton: 4+, 5 wounds, blunt weapons take
a -1 to attacks against the skeleton.
Troll: 4+, 8 wounds, each round the troll
regenerates 1 wound unless it is damaged by
fire, in which case its regeneration stops.
Unicorn: 5+, 3 wounds, can use an action
make a Test. If it succeeds, it turns invisible
for 1 round. Attacks against it are -2.
Vampire: 4+, 10 wounds, if a vampire deals
damage, it can take an action to heal 1
wound.
Wolf: 5+, 2 wounds, after damaging a foe the
wolf may use an action to pin the target.
Zombie: 4+, 6 wounds, after damaging a foe
the target must Test Brawn or become
diseased for 2 rounds.
ITEMS
● Hide Armour (+1 wound, 60gc)
● Chain Armour (+2 wounds, 80gc)
● Plate Armour (+3 wounds, 160gc)
● Aristocrat clothes (30gc)
● Commoner clothes (5gc)
● Hardy Boots (2gc)
● Backpack (1gc)
● Field rations (4gc, 3 days worth)
● Ink (2gc)
● Flint and steel (3gc)
● 50’ rope (3gc)
● Grappling hook (15gc)
● Water flask (5gc)
● Tent (10gc)
● Torch (1gc)
● Bedroll (4gc)
● Blank book (5gc)
Orville Rowan (Order #34764728)
● Chalk (1gc)
● Healing Potion (30 gc, heals 2 wounds)
● Thieves tools (20gc)
● Winter gear (125gc)
● Melee weapon (15gc)
● Ranged weapon (15gc)
● Arrows/bolts/darts x 10 (2gc)
ADVANCED OPTIONS
The following options are if you would like to
add some further depth to the game.
ADVANCED COMBAT
Defense: Opponent gets -1 to its next attack
against defending character. One action.
Flee: Move twice away from an opponent. One
action.
Trip: Test Nimble. If succes, the adjacent
opponent falls prone. One action.
Hold: Test Brawn. If succes, an adjacent
opponent is pinned for 1 round. One action.
Unarmed: Unarmed characters have -1 to
attacks.
STATUS EFFECTS
Poisoned: Take 1 damage each turn.
Paralysed: Cannot move or act.
Stunned: Take a -1 to all rolls
Pinned: Cannot move
Diseased: Take 1 damage each turn and -1 to all
rolls.
Prone: On the ground. Takes an action to stand.
Attackers gain +1 to prone targets.
Frightened: Must move away from the source of
the effect each turn.
ADVENTURE - THE COW OF BOBURN Room 7: The tied up cow Brenda is mooing
The following is a short introductory adventure frantically while Gurk the goblin king (not a real
for 1st level characters. title, he’s just full of himself) drinks straight from
Synopsis: Goblins have taken over an old fortress its udders. He is surrounded by 4 goblin “royal
near to the hamlet of Boburn and have stolen the guards” with spears. Gurk has the following stats:
town’s prized cow for eating. 4+, 3 wounds, special action: touches his crown to
Hook: The characters are told that the cow, replenish 1 wound (limit: 4 times). Knocking his
Brenda, produces the best milk, a significant crown off reduces him to 1 wound. Crown is
export of Boburn. The hamlet elder Vandern worth 60gc with magic left or 10 gc without.
will pay 50gc for its safe return. Room 8: An ancient fountain containing a
Road to the Fortress: A mile northeast of the stinking viscous yellow liquid. It is goblin bile - a
hamlet is the fortress. On the way the players poison that lasts for 3 rounds. It’s also sought by
can Test Mind to spot animal traps the goblins the rich for its aphrodisiac qualities when
have set up. There is a 2 in 6 chance that a heated.There is a chest of stolen treasure here -
character will step on one and receive 1 damage. roll twice on the random treasure table.
They may come across Old Woman Wenna
foraging for fungi, who tells them the goblin
king’s crown holds his strength.
The Fortress: The portcullis entrance is guarded
by two goblins with clubs who are eating rat
meat and playing a card game. They will
attempt to swindle the characters out of their
money with a rigged game. Test Mind to see cow
tracks.
Room 1: 4 goblins are drinking stolen
ale, which is much too strong for them. There is
a 3 in 6 chance each of them are drunk, giving
them -1 to attacks. They would love some stale
bread to have with their beer.
Room 2: A goblin is cowering from 3 giant rats in
the dirty bedroom quarters. He has a prized
emerald worth 15gp.
Room 3: 3 kobolds are fighting 4 goblins and a
wolf, exchanging curses. One kobold has a
poisoned dagger (if damages an enemy, they are
poisoned for 2 rounds).
Room 4: 2 giant centipedes bursts out of the wall
and primarily attacks anyone who smells most of Concluding the adventure: Upon retrieving the
cooked meat. cow, the adventurers are guests of honour at a
Room 5: A luminous moss grows on the walls. 3 great feast. Once over, this may be a good place to
goblins are licking it. If anyone licks the moss introduce the town of Darkholme, which sits only
they must Test Mind or trip out for 3 minutes,
a couple of miles east of Boburn. Vandern tips
giving them the stunned effect but seeing the
world in a new way. them off that his friend Moon Sirencall is looking
Room 6: A bugbear is eating the carcass of a for recruits to help with guard duty, since her
kobold on a makeshift table. It needs some better actual guards are completely inept.
seasoning.
 REFEREE GUIDE
THE REFEREE GUIDE is a collection of
options from previous In Darkest Warrens
supplements that add new elements to the
basic game.
TRAVELLING
Every adventurer worth their salt must travel
cross country in search of fame and fortune.
Sleep: Adventurers require at minimum 6
hours sleep per night. If they go 20 hours
without, they must Test Brawn or become
fatigued. While fatigued, they move at half
speed and take a -1 to Tests.
Horse travel: Horses can travel 40 miles per
day on level road, 30 miles on grassland, and
20 miles through mountains and thick scrub.
Ponies move at half the speed of a horse.
Ship travel: A sailing ship can travel 48 miles
per day, a rowboat 15 miles and raft 6 miles.
MOUNT AND VEHICLE COSTS
● Horse (60gc)
● Pony (30gc)
● Rowboat (100gc)
● Raft (30gc)
● Sailing Ship (1,300gc) [Requires 4
crew minimum]
● Ship crew (2gc per person, per day)
● Wagon (110gc) [Holds 20 items]
WEATHER
Heavy rain: Rain can hamper progress,
halving movement speed.
Extreme cold: Without the correct Winter
Gear (15gc), every hour an adventurer is in
extreme cold they must test for fatigue. They
must also reduce their wounds by 1 every
hour they are exposed.
Extreme heat: In extreme heat an adventurer
needs 1 pint of water every 3 hours or they
must test for fatigue.
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If they go 12 hours without water their wounds
are reduced by 1 every hour after.
Heavy Fog: Fog lowers visibility and has the
same effect as shadows (see below).
LIGHT LEVELS
Shadows: There is a small amount of
illumination. Those attacking within and into
shadow get a -1 to attack rolls.
Darkness: There is a complete lack of light.
Those attacking in darkness must roll a d6
before they do damage. On a 4+ the attack
misses. In addition, anyone in darkness takes a
-1 to any Test to see anything. However, they
gain a +1 when trying to remain unseen.
BREAKING OBJECTS
Most objects can be broken, which is
particularly helpful when trying to bash a door
in or smash a locked chest. Like monsters,
objects have a wound value, from 1 for fairly
fragile (pottery) to 30 for impossibly hard
(mithril). Adventurers make attacks as normal
against objects - when they reach 0 wounds they
break.
ENCUMBRANCE
Adventurers are known to lug loot and items
around on their backs, but if they carry too
much they risk becoming encumbered.
ADVANCED OPTIONS FOR THE BASIC GAME
They can carry 10 items, including armour that Darkness trap: 2+ Very Tough, Effect: The
they wear. 10 arrows or other expendable items location is plunged into darkness.
are counted as 1 item for purposes of Arrow trap: 4+, Tough, Effect: One target within
encumbrance. If they have more than 10 items at 50ft takes 1 damage.
any time, they must move half speed. Feel free to alter the toughness of certain traps or
add new status effects, like disease or paralysis.
TRAPS
Adventurers must always be wary of traps when PLAYER RACES
they are excavating a warren, ruin or any other In addition to your character having a class, they
place of potential deadliness. can also choose a race. Races add new abilities to
Finding traps: Traps are usually hidden from your character.
view. A Mind Test can reveal the mechanism of Human: When trying to persuade or forge
a trap, while a Nimble Test can disable a found alliances with a human, re-roll Test Person and
trap. take the highest roll.
Trap difficulty: Some traps have a difficulty Elf: Unaffected by darkness or shadows.
level. This represents how tough they are to spot Halfling: When trying to sneak, may re-roll Test
and to disable. Tough traps give a -1 penalty to Nimble and take the highest roll.
rolls to find or disable the trap, which very tough Dwarf: Gains an additional +1 to wounds when
traps give a -2 penalty. wearing armour.
Trap roll: Like monsters, traps have a roll they Dragonkin: Does not take a penalty to unarmed
must make to trigger correctly and hit. Unlike attacks.
monsters, these are usually only triggered once. Half-0rc: While at full wounds, may re-roll Test
Traps roll once for every target affected. Brawn and take the highest roll.
Acid trap: 4+, Tough, Effect: acid splashes in a
10ft radius, doing 2 damage.
Fireball trap: 3+, Effect: attacks 1d6 people in a
20ft radius, doing 2 damage.
Spear trap: 4+, Tough, Effect: a spear skewers 1
target, doing 1 damage.
Poison gas trap: 4+, Very Tough, Effect: The gas
fills the room and the trap locks any doors.
Those caught in the trap must Test Brawn or
become poisoned until they are away from the
gas.
Anti-gravity trap: 3+, Tough, Effect: all within a
30ft radius “fall” to the ceiling, taking 1 damage.
Spike pit: 2+. Effect: spikes are hidden in a 20ft
pit. Those who fall into it take 2 damage.
Crushing room: 2+, Effect: The walls of a room
begin to move in. Those caught inside within 2
minutes are crushed to death.
 DARKHOLME
DARKHOLME is a setting for In Darkest
Warrens - a great starter town for any
campaign. This frontier town sits in the
Vainlands, an area wrecked by war.
THE BROKEN KIRK
Once a grand church, now a barely rebuilt
ruin. The last Priests of the Seven Tongues
have a base here, lead by Archpriest Gurgun
Spindleward, a wrathful, bombastic man
who hopes to revitalise the order in whatever
way he can, including making dealings with
the demons lurking beneath the kirk.
FIDDLER’S QUARREL
A shabby tavern where ruffians go to drown
their sorrows and fight each other. The
bandits gang the Dog’s Nethers use the back
rooms to hatch their schemes, whether it’s
holding up a trade route or smuggling illegal
mushrooms into the town. They are led by a
beautiful elf called Leesh Furrowsnap, a
sophisticated and well-read bandit. The
cellars of the Fiddler’s Quarral lead to a
warren of smugglers tunnels. Recently
excavations have awoken a group of kobolds
who were slumbering in the rock.
THE OBSIDIAN TOWER
Home to the Regent of Darkholme, Duke
Elris Barrow, a petty and corrupt man who
runs the town like a mob boss. His daughter
Pelda aids him in his dirty dealings, all in a
bid to gain further riches. He often cons
adventurers into helping him get even richer
through plundering warrens.
HOLLYLEAF INN
Run by a dragonkin husband and wife, the
inn is rather pleasant for Darkholme and a
favourite of travellers passing through.
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The dwarf mage Elodin Rustybeard has
permanent residency here, a befuddling and
confounding fellow, he often requires rare
ingredients (mostly monster parts) for his
experiments.
THE GARRISON
Several town guards are here at any one time,
wasting their day getting drunk and playing
cards. Captain Moon Sirencall, a strict hafling
woman is at her wits end and has taken to hiring
freelancers to help take care of town business.
She needs spies to uncover the Dog’s Nethers
and bring their suspected smuggling ring to an
end.
THE DIRT MARKET
So called because it only ever takes place in the
muddy square when it rains. Adventurers can
find all sorts of wares here. Pendolin Washer, an
antiquities collector, will often pay good prices
for the retrieval of treasure. He was cursed years
ago, fading out of existence on a full moon, and
wishes to be rid of this hex.
HALFMOON FOREST
Sitting a mile out of the town, flanking the main
trade road, is Halfmoon Forest, the haunt of the
Biletongue goblin clan led by warchief Gak
Helmethead. Goblins were all but decimated in
the Night War thirty years ago and Gak has
taken leadership to return the goblin empire to
its former glory. He uses his clan to hunt for
magical treasures that will aid them in invading
Darkholme, which they wish to be their base of
operations. A manticore called Eltrosh has
recently been awoken from his magical slumber
and Gak is eying him as an ally in his conquest.
Silver wolves prowl the forest, the great enemy
of the goblins.
DREDGESIDE DOCKS
The docks are home to sailors, ruffians and
general ne'er-do-wells. Gambling and other vices
are plentiful at the docks, but easy money can be
made as a dockhand or a sailboat crew. The
Dog’s Nethers operate here, but have been
embroiled with an underground war with a new
gang of dwarves called Stonecheek’s Boffers, led
by Chanty Hammersmash, a brutal tyrant of a
woman. She will hire adventurers to interfere
with their rival’s operations. Three vile witches
live in a cove near the docks (jokingly called
‘sand witches’ by the locals). They are
responsible for a series of sea tragedies and have
been forging an alliance with the kobolds in a
bid to help them awaken their dragon lord
Snaretooth, bringing brilliant chaos to
Darkholme.
TOWN SETTING
THE SEVEN FINGERS
Seven standing stones on the outskirts of the town.
It’s a mystery to who built them, but any
dragonkin who stand in the centre get a feeling of
dread. These are the actual stone fingers of the
dead fiend god Gollus, his severed hand having
landed here centuries ago. He was the deceiver of
dragons, having turned against the dragon goddess
Ionolai and murdered her. His hand is now home
to brainless monsters who are drawn to its magical
aura.
THE BONEYARD
A gravesite where hundreds were buried after the
Night War. Now abandoned and unkempt, the
mausoleum and warrens beneath are now the
home to Draeder, a lich prince who believes he is
the rightful ruler of the Vainlands. He builds an
undead army of skeletons, zombies and more to
unleash on Darkholme when the time is right.
Locals in the area have been attacked by these
fiends of the night, dragged down into the
Boneyard to be resurrected as a minion of the lich.
THE SPIRE
Owned by a lonely elf mage called Petunia
Rootlocks, the spire was once a great marvel of all
the Vainlands. Now it is partially wrecked and
Petunia is the last of the mage faction known as
the Arcane Warders. She can feel the great fluxes
happening in Darkholme, but locals pass her off as
a nutcase hermit.
IN DARKEST WARRENS copyright Scott Malthouse and
Trollish Delver Games 2016. Art © J.M. Woiak, Jack
Badashski and Heather Shinn of the Stinkygoblin, 2016. Map
art by Dyson Logos