Adamantine Chef:

Supreme Challenge!
A 3rd-5th level Forgotten Realms culinary adventure

This 3-4 hour adventure pairs action with humor. The menu includes high-flying martial arts action,
wild animal hunts, shopping, haiku, and, of course, a food fight! Dish this out as fast food for a fun game
night, or use the included tie-ins as extra flavor for an ongoing campaign. Delicious!

by Teos Abadía (Alphastream)

Art from the Prismatic Art Collection, CC-A Share-Alike license: Front and rear cover art by Amy Clare, modified on the front cover to change the color; P. 6 Priest hunter art by Christina Silliman, cropped;
P.8 Moruise by Jenna Fowler, cropped; P.10 Bazaar by Kaitlynn Peavler. Public domain art from Openclipart.org: P.11 Wild Boar by Hansendo; Rear cover Chinese Fast Food by Gnokii.

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Running this Adventure
Each year the Emperor holds a competition to
select the finest chef in all of Kara-Tur. The victor
is bestowed the title of Adamantine Chef, and
serves the Emperor personally for a term of one
year.
When a challenger emerges from outside Kara-
Tur, the current Adamantine Chef cannot bear
the thought of defeat. He conspires to foil the
challenger before the competition even begins.
The challenger turns to heroes for help in this
desperate hour!
This adventure serves up action paired with humor.
The menu includes high-flying martial arts action, wild
animal hunts, shopping, haiku, and, of course, a food
fight! Dish this out as fast food for a single game night,
or use the included tie-ins to serve this up as extra
flavor for an ongoing campaign. Either way, the results
should be delicious!
The encounters in this adventure are meant to be
fun. They present an easy to moderate challenge for a
party of 3rd-5th level characters. Information is
included within each section for adjusting encounter
difficulty.
Background
In the field of Shou culinary expertise there is neither
greater challenge nor honor than to become the
Adamantine Chef. Challengers compete for the title
until only one remains. The last challenger then
competes against the current Adamantine Chef in a
Supreme Challenge held in the challenger’s home
town. The Emperor himself selects the victor, who
serves the Emperor for one year before the challenge
is held once more.
This year is unusual, as the final challenger, Chef Mu
Pan, lives outside of the Shou Empire of Kara-Tur.
Despite being Shou, Mu Pan is considered an outsider
and socially beneath a chef who lives within Kara-Tur.
Showing great fairness, the Emperor has honored the
challenge. The Emperor sends his designee, Provincial
Magistrate Xang Su Ya, to oversee the Supreme
Challenge.
Master Ton Won is the reigning Adamantine Chef
and despises the through of losing his title – especially
to an outsider! He hires thugs and sets plans in motion
to ensure he will retain the title.
Chef Mu Pan often travels as a means of sharing his
cooking with others and finding new ingredients. He is
returning for the challenge when he meets the party.
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Selecting Mu Pan’s Home Town
Select the location for Chef Mu Pan that is the most
palatable for you. Several large cities in Faerûn have
sizeable Shou communities, perfect if you would like to
immerse the players in Shou culture.
Marsember: Located in the kingdom of Cormyr and
known as the City of Spices, this busy metropolis and
port has Xiousing (pronounced "yow-sing"), a small
cramped Shou district. Cormyr is relatively accessible
to the Sword Coast, useful if you are running published
adventures from the Tyranny of Dragons, Elemental
Evil, or Rage of Demons storylines. Dungeon #195
features Backdrop: Xiousing, an excellent resource that
also contains additional adventure hooks.
Westgate: Located south of Cormyr on the eastern
side of the Lake of Dragons, the Shou district is
growing in this independent trade city of 40,000. All
races and people are welcome here, so long as they
bring coin. The rule of the city has changed hands
many times in this freewheeling city, with kings
including paladins, vampires, doppelgangers, and
pirates. One of the key power brokers today is the Nine
Golden Swords, a Shou organization with criminal
aspects. Both the Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide
and the Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide provide
overviews of Westgate.
Nathlekh: South of Cormyr and just east of the
Giant’s Run Mountains, Nathlekh is almost entirely
populated by Shou people migrating from Kara-Tur.
Shou trade in the region is manipulated by the nine
Wei clans, the most powerful of which is the Neng Clan.
Nathlekh is an excellent choice if you want players to
experience a primarily Shou city.
Phsant or Telflamm: Many Shou live in
communities within these large and diverse cities in
the region of Thesk, far from the Sword Coast. The
cities mark the start of the Golden Way, a trade road
leading all the way to distant Kara-Tur. Thesk borders
Thay and can tie into the Tyranny of Dragons storyline
or adventures such as Dead in Thay. In addition to the
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide and Player’s Guide,
ADAMANTINE CHEF 2
the sourcebook Unapproachable East provides useful
information.
Published Storyline Adventures: You may also wish to
weave this adventure into one of the following
published adventures taking place along the Sword
Coast. Though the locations do not have a significant
Shou population, many Shou are drawn to the location
for Supreme Challenge. The visiting Shou create an
impromptu Shou market and celebrate Shou events at
all hours.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen: This adventure can fit
in nicely in Episode 4, with Mu Pan returning to either
Elturel or Baldur’s Gate.
Princes of the Apocalypse: It can be tremendous fun
to have Shou people invade the quiet town of Red
Larch, just as the events in Chapter 3 are beginning to
heat up. Chef Mu Pan returns home after a long trip,
and may even bring rumors concerning the missing
Mirabar delegation. The party could also run into Chef
Mu Pan as he returns to Beliard, coinciding with the
party traveling there for their investigations.
Out of the Abyss: When the characters escape the
Underdark in Chapter 7, this humorous adventure can
be a welcome break. It can reset the mood before you
again turn to the terrors below. The escape to the
surface world can take place around 5th level if the
party explores Blingdenstone, which affords a more
obvious route to the surface. The major city of
Neverwinter and the town of Triboar are both possible
destinations for a party leaving Blingdenstone.
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Adventure Synopsis
The characters happen upon Chef Mu Pan’s wagon as
he travels towards the Supreme Challenge. There is
time to meet his two children, and insightful
characters may realize there is something amiss with
their father’s expectations.
The wagon is ambushed by acrobatic Shou bandits.
Thankful for the rescue, Chef Mu Pan invites them to
the competition. However, foul play is delivered again
as Mu Pan’s kitchen has been ransacked and food is
missing. The heroes can again help, investigating the
theft, finding provisions in the market, and recovering
a missing supply wagon. All the wild boar in the
market has been mysteriously bought out, requiring
the characters to travel to the woods and rescue one
from a hungry Oni!
Returning, the characters can assist with the cooking
and entertainment. Their help finally forces the
villain’s hand, as the current Adamantine Chef, Master
Ton Won, brings a food fight the party will never
forget! If they can cook, entertain, and defeat the
villain, Chef Mu Pan may then become the Adamantine
Chef!
ADAMANTINE CHEF 3
Appetizer The Shou Scroll
While you may conceive of any number of appetizers
leading up to this adventure, this optional prologue
can occur one or more gaming sessions before you
start this adventure, adding depth to the experience.
The scroll may also help the characters during the
adventure, if they think to use it.
An NPC of your choice who trusts the party offers
the party a 60 gp broach if they will only deliver a
scroll to a Shou Sage. The sage, named Tso, was once
an accomplished military general and is now a scribe
for Clan Neng. He is based in Chef Mu Pan’s hometown.
The scroll is aged parchment, bound in waterproof
leather and secured with a thick wax seal.
If asked about the scroll, the NPC shares that it bears
the renowned calligraphy of the Shou prodigy Song
Yong Gai. The scroll is a short account of a monster
(which can be a dragon or one more fitting to your
current campaign).
First Course On the Road
The adventure begins in earnest as the party travels
along an open stretch of road, heading towards your
choice for Chef Mu Pan’s hometown. The party may be
traveling here solely to deliver the scroll, or may have
greater goals tied to their current campaign. Adjust the
text below if your campaign takes place in a different
season.
Spring has come early, the warm weather making it a fine
morning to travel on the open road. You and your
companions are nearing your destination and aside from
passing a few farmers, your travel has been uneventful…
until now.
Before you see the stagecoach, you hear its driver. The
cherubic Shou man sings loudly and happily, though with no
real talent, in a heavily accented voice. The stagecoach tilts
from one side to another, laden with pots, pans, and barrels.
As he pulls alongside you, the Shou man removes his white
mushroom-shaped chef’s hat and bows. “Travelers! Yes!
What does the road bring today? Fortune?” He smiles
broadly. Behind him, a curtain parts slightly and you can see
a boy and girl of no more than fourteen peering inquisitively.
The player characters may interact with Chef Mu Pan
as they wish. He welcomes an opportunity to talk with
strangers, even if they seem disinterested in
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Published Storyline Adventures
If you are running one of the published storyline
adventures, one of the following NPCs can offer the
scroll delivery quest.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen: Nesim or Leosim
(Chapter 3) could offer the quest in Greenest. Leosim
often consults librarians and could be sending the
scroll to the sage as payment for information on
dragons. If starting in Elturel, the Order of the Gauntlet
could provide the quest.
Princes of the Apocalypse: Any of the faction NPCs
in Red Larch could offer the quest. Endrith Vallivoe in
Vallivoe’s Sundries is a good choice, as he has an
interest in rare books.
Out of the Abyss: There is great variability as to
where the party will adventure before reaching the
surface. You may wish to wait until the PCs decide to
travel to the surface, then select an appropriate NPC to
offer the quest. If in Blindengstone, Nomi Pathsutter
and Dorbo or Senni Diggermattock make good choices.
conversation. He will ask them where they are going
(“Fortune indeed! We too travel there!”) and of their
adventures (“So scary! What courage!”). The
characters can use this as an opportunity to relish in
their accomplishments or share elements of their
character backgrounds. As they speak, the son and
daughter become less shy and slowly emerge to sit
alongside their father and listen.
Chef Mu Pan’s Story
Chef Mu Pan travels with his son Chuan-Sze, his
daughter Can-Yan, and three cooking assistants. Mu
Pan humbly explains that they travel to serve a meal to
the designee of the Emperor of Shou Lung, as part of
the Supreme Challenge. He has already bested several
opponents in his bid to become the Adamantine Chef.
Only one challenger remains: the current Adamantine
Chef, Master Ton Won. His children are clearly proud,
beaming as their father tells the story.
Chef Mu Pan suggests that they travel together,
saying it would be an honor to share his family’s
talents. As he introduces his children he tells the party
his visions for them (“My daughter is a dancer, so
elegant! My son is learning to be a chef – soon he will
teach me how to cook!”)
ADAMANTINE CHEF 4
Can-Yan, Chef’s Daughter Monsters:

Twelve years old, the chef’s bright and determined  1 Bang-Bang Ji, Bandit Captain (MM, p.344)
daughter is training to be a dancer, long a dream of  8 Clan Ran Goon Acrobat Thugs (see below)
Mushu, her deceased mother. Though Can-Yan is a
capable dancer, she is not exceptional. Mirroring their
culture, no one in the family is willing to admit this. Acrobat Thug
She has instead secretly discovered her talent while Medium humanoid (human, Shou), chaotic neutral
helping her brother cook. She is afraid to share her
talent as a chef for fear that it will shame her brother. Armor Class 14 (leather armor)
Hit Points 5 (2d4)
Speed 30 ft.
Chuan-Sze, Chef’s Son STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
Chef Mu Pan proudly trained his son to follow in his 15 (+2) 18 (+4) 11 (+0) 8 (-1) 8 (-1) 11 (+0)
footsteps as a chef. The father is so proud that he fails Skills Acrobatics +6, Athletics +6, Intimidation +2
to notice that the thirteen year-old lacks any true Senses passive Perception 9
talent as a chef. Chuan-Sze has begun to suspect that Languages Common, Shou
his few successes at cooking have been due to help Challenge 1/8 (25 XP)
from his sister. He has not yet voiced this to anyone. Acrobatic Leap. The Acrobat Thug’s long jump is up to
Frustrated and moody, he often retreats to the 30 feet and its high jump is 15 feet, with or without a
outdoors and has taken up painting as a form of running start. The thug does not provoke opportunity
meditation. He enjoys it far more than cooking, but attacks when it jumps out of an enemy’s reach.
does not want to fall short of his father’s expectations.
Actions
Concluding the Scene
The scene ends once the player characters have agreed Short Sword (wakizashi). Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to
to travel with Chef Mu Pan and heard his story. If hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) slashing
players don’t take the bait, you can proceed with the damage.
next encounter just as they are about to part ways,
allowing for the conversation to happen after the fight.

Won Ton Violence

Combat Encounter – Easy to Moderate Challenge

Chef Mu Pan’s stagecoach approaches several farmers

with low-brimmed hats. These are actually disguised
Shou thugs hired to waylay the caravan, damage
supplies, kill the chef’s assistants, and threaten (but
not harm) Mu Pan and his family.
Perception DC 15: Sharp-eyed adventurers can spot
the attack, allowing them to act in the surprise round.
Light: Sunlight provides normal illumination for the
caravan and road. The tree-tops are dimly illuminated
due to foliage.
Hand Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit,
range 30/120 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing
Chef Mu Pan slows his caravan as yet another group of damage.
farmers is walking in the center of the tree-lined road. The
farmers turn toward the caravan, tossing their wide- Tactics: Two Clan Ran Goon Acrobat Thugs swing
brimmed hats as they yell in the Shou language. As if for your
onto the rear of the stagecoach, opening the rear doors
to attack the assistant chefs (treat as commoners, MM
benefit, one of them yells "Goon acrobats of Clan Ran: now!"
p.345, AC 10 and 4 HP each). Two other thugs begin
The trees rustle as brigands concealed within swing
pulling supplies out of the stagecoach, damaging them
toward the caravans on ropes. They wield sharp blades and
or throwing them onto the road. The other four attack
wear matching red and gold outfits!
the characters. Throughout the attack, the thugs use

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their acrobatic leaps to fight in, over, under, and
around the moving vehicle. They often leap away or
switch which character they are fighting. They
constantly insult the chef’s culinary capabilities (“Too
spicy!” “Not enough sauce!”).
The Bandit Captain, named Bang-Bang Ji, threatens
Mu Pan (“No Supreme Challenge for you, one year! Else
you die!”) and attacks the character that appears to be
the most resilient.
The attackers will consider surrender if the battle
goes against them.
Caravan Damage: Be descriptive of the damage the
thugs are causing and let the players decide whether
they wish to take action. Though they are masterful
acrobats, the thugs of Clan Ran Goon are not
particularly bright. Opportunities abound for players
to foil the attack, prevent damage, revive assistants,
push foes off the moving vehicle, scare the attackers
away, convince them of their folly, or use better
insults! When players take non-combat actions to deal
with the attack, reward them with descriptions of how
the situation improves.
Adjusting the Challenge: This is not meant to be a
difficult encounter. The acrobats do not fight optimally,
and several of the thugs are focused on other activities
instead of engaging the characters. If you desire a
greater challenge, add 4 Hit Points to each Thug, so
they are likely to last for more than one hit. For an
easier challenge, remove two of the Thugs and remove
the Bandit Captain’s Multiattack action.
Concluding the Scene
Characters may investigate the damage to the
stagecoach. If any damage occurred, during clean up
Chef Mu Pan is surprised to find a canvas and a set of
paint brushes. He asks why these might be here, but
the children do not seem to know. Chuan-Sze will not
admit to his father that they are his.
If any goons of Clan Ran are interrogated, they say
someone hired them to attack the Chef. Their leader,
who handled the business arrangement, is named Mein
Chow. If pressed, the thugs reluctantly reveal the
location of their cave hideout. Characters may wish to
explore it now, though Chef Mu Pan will beg them to
first escort them to the city.
Treasure: Bang-Bang Ji has a pouch containing 10 sp
and 5 gp, and he wears a tarnished silver ring worth 25
gp once properly cleaned. The goons each carry 2 sp. A
symbol of a crab has been woven in golden thread into
the goon’s red and gold outfits, making them worth 3
sp each.
XP Award: If the stagecoach was not damaged or
only slightly damaged, each character gains an
additional 50 XP, beyond the experience for defeating
the foes.
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Guess Who’s Coming to
Dinner!
Chef Mu Pan and his family thank the heroes profusely
for saving them. “What fortune that we had such
heroes to safely see us to the Supreme Challenge!”
To thank them for their help, Chef Mu Pan invites the
heroes to attend the Supreme Challenge and be his
personal guests for his dinner. The dinner is being held
at a noble’s mansion, so as to properly welcome the
Emperor’s designee, named Xang Su Ya. While
foreigners are not normally in attendance at the
Supreme Challenge, his daughter suggests their
appearance may impress the hosts and make him seem
a worldlier chef.
After another hour of travel, Chef Mu Pan stops the
stagecoach and proclaims, “Now it is time for a special
lunch!” Beaming, he points to his son. “Chuan-Sze will
prepare this lunch for you!”
Chuan-Sze tries his best to hide his lack of enthusiasm
for this honor, dutifully (if moodily) fetching supplies,
starting a fire, and cooking a meal of fish with herbs.
Mu Pan proudly asks his daughter to demonstrate her
dance while the meal is cooked.
Characters who are paying attention may attempt a
DC 12 Insight check to notice that Chuan-Sze seems
preoccupied (he is nervous that his sister is not
helping him). Can-Yan dances ably, though interested
characters making a DC 12 Performance check may
notice that her level of effort is below that which
would be expected for this situation culturally.
Chef Mu Pan ponders aloud why he was attacked,
creating conversation with the characters. Listening,
Chuan-Sze becomes distracted. Unless a character
steps in, the fish is burned. Mu Pan is forced to
improvise and save the meal.
Confronting the family: If the characters notice the
children’s odd behavior and confront either Mu Pan or
his children, they all downplay the information and
seek to change the conversation. Mu Pan is troubled,
but does his best to not show this and to forget what
he has heard. He is unwilling to believe his son cannot
become a great chef or that his daughter does not want
to dance. The children are also unwilling at this time to
accept the reality. (You may of course change this if the
characters are persistent and it would make a better
narrative.)
Chef Mu Pan resumes travel shortly after the meal, his
hometown soon appearing on the horizon.
ADAMANTINE CHEF 6
Second Course Big Trouble in a Little
Kitchen
Arriving at Chef Mu Pan’s hometown just before
midday, the characters have some time before dinner.
They may part ways temporarily to deliver the scroll to
the sage, or continue with Mu Pan to the site of the
Supreme Challenge. If they part ways, Mu Pan asks
them to visit early in the afternoon, so that he may give
them a tour.
Delivery Service
The PCs can deliver their scroll to the Shou sage at any
time (even at the conclusion of the adventure) and that
decision can impact the adventure.
Peeking at the Scroll: A DC 15 Dexterity or Thievery
Tool check is required to open the scroll without
leaving obvious signs of tampering. The non-magical
aged parchment scroll contains information on a
monster of your choosing (fitting larger campaign
goals if desired, or perhaps leading to a later
adventure). A DC 10 Intelligence History, Wisdom
Perception, or Charisma Performance check reveals
the scroll’s calligraphy to be exceptional. A DC 15
check is required to copy the style.
Speaking with the Sage: Tso is a sage for Clan Neng,
the most powerful of the
nine Wei clans that
control trade in many
cities with a Shou
presence. His residence is
decorated in the Shou
style, with beautiful
watercolor scrolls, a rock
garden, and bamboo
screens bearing colored
silks. A small pen contains
several beautiful chickens,
of which he is very proud.
(You may need to modify
this location if it does not
fit the hometown. In a
small town such as Red Larch he could be an honored
guest of the Emperor and could rent a house and
decorate it.)
The retired general is glad to speak with the party.
He is very impressed by Chef Mu Pan’s story, likening
it to the hard-fought battles the general-turned-sage
saw in his days in Kara-Tur. He can share that Master
Ton Won, Mu Pan’s competition, is allied with Clan
Tsui, an old clan of information brokers. Access to the
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Celestial Emperor provides Clan Tsui with information
that furthers their machinations.
Calligraphy Help: The party may later decide to ask
Tso for help with calligraphy. If the party was pleasant
when they visited, a DC 12 Charisma Persuasion check
secures his help and a PC performing calligraphy gains
a +2 bonus and advantage on the check. If the party
was not pleasant, the DC to convince the sage is 18 (or
at disadvantage, if you so choose).
Supreme Kitchen Problems
When the PCs arrive at the site of the Adamantine Chef
competition, they find security is already at a high alert
both due to the presence of the Emperor’s designee
and a recent break-in. All characters must surrender
their weapons and remove their armor, or stay
outside. Spellcasters are given a bracelet which
inhibits spellcasting. When casting a spell, a DC 18
Arcana check must be attempted or the spell fails and
the action is wasted. The bracelet is removed and
weapons and armor returned if the party leaves the
premises. (These precautions make the final encounter
more fun. Monks are not affected – they get to have
their lunch and eat it too!)
You find Chef Mu Pan in the middle of his kitchen, and it is a
scene of chaos. Food containers have been knocked over,
spilling their ingredients all over the counters and floor. A
large food cabinet has been bashed open, the cupboards
bare. Mu Pan stands blinking, stunned in disbelief, while his
children race around him, trying to clean up the mess.
The news is dire indeed. The kitchen cupboard has
been broken into, and important supplies Mu Pan had
ordered ahead of time have been stolen. In addition,
the hunter that was to bring him wild boar has sold his
meat to someone else for an exorbitant amount and
has left town. His assistants have left him, already sure
of his defeat.
Guests are beginning to arrive and the meal must be
prepared. Chef Mu Pan again needs the heroes’ help!
There are several ways the party can help.
Missing Ingredients: Though Mu Pan has the
ingredients from his stagecoach, he needs the special
ingredients he ordered ahead of time.
 The stolen ingredients could be purchased from the
market, but Mu Pan cannot spare the time to go
shopping. If the PCs will help, see Shop Suey.
ADAMANTINE CHEF 7
 The party can try to recover the ingredients. If they
learned of the Ran Clan’s cave, they may go to the
hideout. They may also search the kitchen. With a DC
12 Investigation check they find a shred of cloth
bearing the distinctive symbol of a crab – the symbol
of clan Ran’s goons. See Supply Chain.
Wild Boar: This is the centerpiece for the main dish.
If it cannot be found in the market, one would have to
be hunted in the woods outside of town. See Pig
Stickers.
The party can approach these tasks in any order, but
unless you want a longer adventure they only have
time for two of the three options. Chef Mu Pan ensures
the party receives any necessary passes to travel into
Shou areas of the city (if applicable) and begs them to
make haste.
Troubleshooting: The party may have different ideas.
It can be fun to allow these as an ad-hoc encounter. If
the party is floundering, the ideas could uncover a clue
leading to one of the options, perhaps short-cutting it
in some way. You could also borrow elements from
the encounters and weave them into the party’s ideas,
with a similar end result. For example, Clan Ran may
decide to attack the party, and when defeated can
reveal they took the supplies and left them back at
their empty cave.
It is possible the party might suspect the Chef’s son
or daughter. Any investigation uncovers that the son
was suspiciously late to meet his family at the kitchen,
but the party finds that Chuan-Sze had shirked his
duties to do some painting away from his father’s eyes.
Shop Suey
Roleplay and Skill Encounter – Easy Challenge
The Supreme Challenge has drawn a number of Shou
visitors, including a food market to serve them. Can-
Yan, the Chef’s daughter, can share its location (if
necessary) and provides the shopping list and money
for the items.
Running the Shop Suey Scenes
This is intended as a fun role-playing encounter. While
skill use is often called for, as DM you have great latitude
in making these scenes fun. Adjust the scenes and the
challenge level (or skip rolls entirely) based on
character actions and towards an outcome that will be
fun for the players.
Shou Merchant Stalls
Plum Wine Merchant: When the party arrives they
find the red-haired owner, Lo Bac Top, in an argument
with a customer. The customer, Tou Fu, is drunk and
claims that the wine he purchased was sour and he
should receive a free bottle. If anyone offers to buy
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some wine, he continually increases his demand for
even more free wine. It is possible to talk him down
once the characters have made a convincing argument
or threat (DC 16 Persuasion or Intimidation, advantage
for good roleplaying). He has the statistics of a
berserker (MM p.344) if it comes to blows. Lo Bac Top
is happy to provide a bottle of Plum Wine if the
characters handle his drunk customer.
Produce: Several Shou vegetables are available for
sale at this stall. The price for all the vegetables is only
3 gold, but the merchant, Mi So, refuses to sell to any
non-Shou. She can be manipulated, especially if the
party plays on her concerns that her food might not be
as good as those in other stalls or other towns. She is
also having a romantic involvement with the owner of
the adjacent stall, which is a secret she does not wish
to be made public. Characters could also convince
someone else to buy the vegetables for them.
Fishmonger: The fishmonger, Dou Ban Yu, has been
paid off by Clan Ran to not sell to the Chef, his family,
or the party. The fishmonger is not very bright and she
can be tricked into believing they are someone else.
Spices: The spice merchant, Hung Lo, is trying to sell
a curiosity he now regrets purchasing. He tries to sell
the carcass of a strange beast, which he claims is
delicious (it isn’t). It has two long eye stalks extending
from a disc-shaped body, with many thin spiked
tentacles hanging from the bottom of the disk. Before
they may buy spices, characters must either buy the
carcass for 100 gp or negotiate a solution with the
merchant.
The Assistant: While exploring the stalls the party
may spot one of Chef Mu Pan’s assistants. He is deeply
shamed to have left Chef Mu Pan, but did not want to
lose the competition. If the party convinces him that
victory is still possible, he promises to return to his
chef at once.
ADAMANTINE CHEF 8
 Supply Chain The Thugs are less confident and attack whoever is
closer or last attacked them. The Thugs will surrender
Combat Encounter – Easy Challenge if Mein Chow is defeated.

Clan Ran’s remaining goons and their leader, Mein Adjusting the Challenge: This is a relatively easy
Chow, reside in a cave a short distance outside of town. encounter for most parties. If you desire a greater
Though irate that the clan failed in their attack on the challenge, add 1 Thug and increase Mein Chow’s hit
stagecoach, Mein Chow is now feasting on the food points by 12. For an easier challenge, the thugs can
stolen from the kitchen cupboards. He also has the show their fear: they fight with disadvantage when one
payment from Ton Won, which pleases him greatly. of their clan drops and if only Mein Chow is left the last
The bandits are not particularly careful. A single runs away.
guard sits just inside the narrow cave entrance, but is
at disadvantage to detect anyone attempting to sneak Concluding the Scene
up on her. Any surviving bandits confess to their many crimes,
The cave itself is roughly 30 feet in diameter, with including being hired by Ton Won, the current
many crates and boxes from previous banditry spoils. Adamantine Chef! Clan Ran is responsible for the
Most are empty, though a few contain the cupboard stagecoach attack, for ransacking the kitchen, and for
ingredients and treasure. convincing the fishmonger to refuse to sell his prized
fish to the party. The heroes may wish to confront Ton
Monsters: Won, but Chef Mu Pan will try to convince the party
otherwise. He will not truly win the title if it is taken
 1 Mein Chow, Monk of the Stone Hand (See below)
from Ton Won with no actual Supreme Challenge. He
 3 Thugs (MM, p.350)
believes it is honorable to inform the authorities only
after the competition.
Treasure: The cave holds the missing supplies
Monk of the Stone Hand
stolen from the kitchen. Other crates hold paintings
Medium humanoid (human, Shou), neutral evil
and silks worth a total of 30 gold.
Armor Class 13 (leather armor)
Hit Points 39 (6d8+8)
Speed 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
12 (+1) 16 (+3) 14 (+2) 8 (-1) 10 (+0) 12 (+1)
Skills Athletics +3, Acrobatics +4
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages Common, Shou
Challenge 1 (100 XP)

Actions
Multiattack. The monk makes two Paralyzing Fist
attacks.
Paralyzing Fists. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach
5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4+2) bludgeoning damage.
The target must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving
throw or be paralyzed for 1 minute. The target can
repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns,
ending the effect on itself on a success.
Pig Stickers
Heavy Crossbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, Combat and Skill Encounter – Easy to Moderate
range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6+2) piercing Challenge
damage.
The characters must hunt a wild boar in the dense fog-
Tactics: Mein Chow, Monk of the Stone Hand, is filled forests outside of town. However, they are not
furious, wading into battle and attacking different the only hunters!
targets with his Multiattack, hoping to incapacitate his Characters may attempt a DC 15 survival check to
opponents. find signs of wild boar. If it takes more than one failed
try, their enemies gain surprise.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . ADAMANTINE CHEF 9
Searching the woods you find tracks belonging to a pair of
wild boar. The tracks lead into a valley dense with
undergrowth and laden with a thick fog. It is very difficult to
spot tracks, but you can hear boar grunts just ahead.
A sudden squeal is followed by a loud roar! As the fog
swirls you momentarily see a massive ogre-like creature, its
ugly head featuring a single eye and two curved horns. A wild
boar races out of the mists, sees you, and runs back towards
the oni. The oni’s filthy club comes smashing down, but the
boar dodges just in time and disappears squealing into the
fog.
Monsters:
 2 Giant Boar (statistics as MM, p.323, but of medium
size)
 1 Oni/Cyclops (Describe as a type of Oni, but use the
statistics for a Cyclops found in MM, p.45)
8-10: The fog clears momentarily and the creature can
act normally, seeing all other creatures. If the creature
is the Oni, it uses Multiattack to attack a boar and a
random PC.
Troubleshooting: If spells or special abilities threaten
to short-cut the encounter, and that wouldn’t be fun,
the fog could be magical and make the spell or ability
less useful. For example, an ability granting
tremorsense might instead allow a character to roll
twice and choose one result.
Adjusting the Challenge: If the Oni is too great a
challenge, you could lower its attack and damage to
that of an Ettin (MM, p.132). To make the encounter a
greater challenge, lower the Boar’s hit points by 10.
XP Award: Award each character 200 XP if they rescue
a boar, or 300 XP if they rescue both boars.

This is a nontraditional combat challenge, where the

party must save at least one wild boar from the Oni. Returning to Chef Mu Pan
Roll initiative and use the special rules below. Once the characters have attempted two of the three
PC Victory: If a PC gets a chance to see a boar, it may scenes, they must return to Chef Mu Pan. Continue to
try to grab the boar and begin to move away. If the PC the Third Course.
still has the boar grabbed at the end of their next turn,
they are able to move out of the fog and the party is
victorious. Characters may come up with other ways to
secure the boar, including spells or clever tactics.
Oni Victory: If the Oni kills both boars, the Oni grabs
them and leaves, ending the encounter.
Boar: The boar does not take any actions. They are
the target, squealing and running through the mists.
Confusing Fog: The thick fog creates a confusing
environment. Distance and movement are irrelevant,
though on a roll other than 2-4 a character may leave
the fog and the encounter. At the start of their turn,
each combatant (Oni or PC) rolls a d10:
1: The creature thinks they see a foe, when they
actually are seeing an ally. They make an attack against
a randomly determined ally using their favored
weapon. If the creature has no allies, it attacks itself
(perhaps running into a tree or missing a foe and
hitting itself).
2-4: The creature hears muffled sounds but cannot
find anyone in the thick fog. If the creature is grabbing
a boar, this ends the grab. No actions this turn.
5: As above, but in addition the wild boars use a
Charge attack against two random creatures (Oni or
PCs).
6-7: The creature sees one of the boars and can act
normally. If the creature is the Oni, it uses Multiattack
to attack the boar and then attacks a random PC at
disadvantage.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . ADAMANTINE CHEF 10
Third Course The Supreme Challenge!
The party returns to the kitchens, finding Chef Mu Pan
has been poisoned! One of his favorite snacks, moon
cakes, had been left in the cupboard, and now it
appears it was a deliberate attempt to take him out of
the competition.
Pale and confined to a chair, Chef Mu Pan does his
best to direct his son and daughter with the cooking,
though they are making slow progress. He
apologetically asks the characters for additional help.
Assisting with the Supreme Challenge
Roleplay and Skill Encounter – Easy Challenge
The Supreme Challenge is primarily about cooking, but
it also includes the presentation of the meal and
accompanying entertainment. The party can help with
one of several tasks. These encounters are meant to be
fun and are less about rolling dice than the experience
of the players and how they approach the situations.
Because of that, DCs are not listed for skills. Use your
judgment in deciding whether a task has been
completed. When in doubt, an easy task is DC 10, a
medium challenge is DC 15, and a hard task is DC 20.
The Emperor Has No Haiku
Mu Pan hired entertainers to perform prior to the
meal, but they were intimidated into not appearing. He
had promised the guests painting, calligraphy, and
haiku.
Haiku: One or more players must write an actual
haiku (consisting of three lines of five, seven, and five
syllables). The characters may use skills, magic, or
other means to make this task easier. For example,
they could use investigation to learn that the Emperor
favors haiku dealing with cherry blossoms, spring, and
humility.
Painting: The party may determine that Chuan-Sze
is becoming a talented painter. They may notice paint
on his apron, as he has at times taken a break to go
paint in secret, using the canvas and paints hidden in
the stagecoach. They may also notice he is very
uncomfortable whenever painting is discussed. If
asked about this, he asks to speak with a character in
private and trusts the PC to decide what is best. If Chef
Mu Pan sees or learns that his son made the painting,
he begins to ask questions. How the characters handle
this delicate subject is meant to be a fun roleplaying
situation.
A character may also attempt the check, using
Perform or other applicable skills. As with the haiku,
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
the party may use magic or skills to find a subject that
would please Xang Su Ya (the Emperor’s designee) or
guests.
Calligraphy: A character may use Perform to try to
create calligraphy on a scroll, but this is a very difficult
task to perform without training. Chuan-Sze can help,
due to his understanding of painting, but the easiest
way to complete the task is to use the scroll the party
brought for Tso, the sage. Copying the scroll’s style
requires the sage’s permission or using the scroll
before it is given to the sage.
Dance: Mu Pan may suggest that his daughter, Can-
Yan, could dance. Allow the characters an Insight check
to note that she is very unwilling to do this. If the
characters do not intervene, she eventually agrees to
do it for her father, but does not do particularly well. A
different character could dance, but this causes Chef
Mu Pan to ask questions.
You (and Yan) Can Cook
With Chef Mu Pan incapacitated, the party is asked to
help cook the meal. You may use any of the below
elements as they prepare the meal of fish, boar, and
noodles with vegetables.
Curing Mu Pan: Characters may use magic or other
means to try to cure Mu Pan’s poisoning. Such efforts
help him, though he is still behind schedule and asks
for their help.
Assistants: If one or more assistants were brought
back, they help during this time and make the cooking
tasks easier.
Chuan-Sze: Mu Pan entrusts the most important
cooking to his son, hoping he will rise to the occasion.
The opposite is true. He is slowly accumulating several
containers filled with the results of his failed cooking
(used in the next encounter!). PCs may notice him
spilling ingredients, see him misreading a recipe, or
have a chance to prevent him from overcooking the
fish or boar.
Can-Yan: Can-Yan is either practicing her lackluster
dancing or helping her brother in minor ways. PCs may
realize that she is often anticipating her brother’s or a
character’s mistakes and tries to make suggestions to
help. If they watch her they can soon confirm that she
is a talented cook. Mu Pan will listen to the party if
they recommend that he allow Can-Yan to act as head
chef, and her brother quickly agrees as well.
Concluding the Preparations
When the meal is completed and the entertainment
ready, Chuan-Sze leaves to inform the Emperor’s
designee that they are prepared.
ADAMANTINE CHEF 11
The Emperor’s Chef Strikes
Back
Master Ton Won has orchestrated attack after attack,
only to see the party foil his plans. When he hears Mu
Pan has somehow managed to prepare a meal, he
decides to serve revenge, cold, all by himself.
The door to the kitchen opens and Chuan-Sze comes flying
through it, landing in a heap in front of you.
Stepping through the door is a tall man in golden robes
wearing a golden chef’s hat. With one hand twirling his
extremely long upturned moustache, Master Ton Won
addresses you.
“I do not know how you overcame all that I set before you,
Mu Pan, but your bid to defeat me ends now!”
Two men enter the room behind him, carrying trays filled
with dim-sum buns. Master Ton Won cackles as he grabs one
and hurls it towards Mu Pan. It narrowly misses him, but
when it strikes a green flame erupts, momentarily setting fire
to the wall!
Can-Yan looks to you, then to several containers where her
brother had deposited some of his cooking mishaps. “We can
use these as weapons! We fight back now!”
Due to the security in place, Master Ton Won and his
cooks are weaponless – just like the PCs. He has baked
something special for the occasion. Fortunately, Can-
Yan quickly adds a few ingredients to the containers
with her brother’s food waste. This gives the party
special combat options.
Food Fight!
Combat Encounter – Moderate Challenge
Monsters:
 1 Master Ton Won (Use the statistics for a Bandit
Captain found in MM, p.344, but ignore all listed
attacks)
 2 Evil Sous Chefs (Use the statistics for a Spy found
in MM, p.45, but ignore all listed attacks)
Tactics: For their attacks, Master Ton Won and the
Evil Sous Chefs use either the poisoned moon cakes,
flaming tofu, or exploding dim sum buns. Master Ton
Won has a +5 attack bonus, while the Chefs have a +4.
Can-Yan and Chuan-Sze spend the combat
preparing the special food and passing them to the
characters.
Special Food Attacks: The PCs may use any of the
following food attacks. They will not know what they
Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only .
do until the first time they are used. An attack is
treated as a thrown weapon (range 20/40, most
targets will be within 20’) using Strength or Dexterity
and the attacker applies their proficiency bonus to the
attack. Effects take place only if the attack roll
succeeds.
 (Poisoned) Moon Cakes: The target and any
adjacent creatures take 2d6+4 poison damage and
must make a DC 12 Constitution save or be
poisoned. A poisoned creature repeats the save at
the end of their turn until the condition is ended.
 (Exploding) Dim Sum Buns: The target and any
adjacent creatures must make a DC 14 Dexterity
save, taking 3d6 fire damage on a failed save or half
as much on a successful save.
 (Flaming) Tofu: The target takes 2d6 fire damage
on this turn and any successive turn unless they
succeed at a DC 12 Dexterity check to extinguish the
flames.
 Sticky Rice: The target must make a DC 14
Constitution check or become restrained. The target
may make a check at the end of each of its turns to
end the condition. A target that is already restrained
when struck by Sticky Rice becomes stunned until
the end of the encounter (no save, though an ally
may spend an action to end the stunned effect).
 (Acidic) Noodle Webs: The target and one adjacent
creature must make a DC 13 Dexterity save. A
creature takes 2d6 acid damage and becomes
restrained for one round on a failed save, or half as
much damage (and is not restrained) on a successful
saving throw.
Adjusting the Challenge: If the party is unwilling to
use the special attacks, Can-Yan or Chuan-Sze could
make an attack, demonstrating the capabilities. If the
party is having trouble due to one of the attacks, the
enemies could run out of that food item. If the party
needs a greater challenge, Master Ton Won gains
advantage on all saving throws. Additionally, he
becomes enraged when at half hit points, gaining the
ability to make two attacks a round.
Treasure: Master Ton Won carries a pair of gold-
trimmed chopsticks given to him by the Emperor,
worth 200 gp.
Concluding the Scene
Chef Mu Pan can barely believe that the current
Adamantine Chef is a dishonorable criminal.
Nonetheless, Mu Pan does not think the competition
should be disrupted. He asks the party to wait until
after the Supreme Challenge to inform the authorities
or the Emperor’s designee of what has happened.
ADAMANTINE CHEF 12
Desert Course (and Rewards)
The massive food fight complete, Chef Mu Pan Extending the Adventure
(perhaps assisted by his daughter) presents the meal
If you wish to have further Shou-flavored adventures,
to the Emperor’s designee. The haiku is read (perhaps
the Emperor’s designee asks them to travel with her to
by one of the characters), the painting is displayed
Kara-Tur, for she has need of outsiders for a special
during one of the courses, and the calligraphy is shown
mission involving criminals. This leads to the
just before desert is served.
adventure The Five Deadly Shadows, available on
Success or Failure: If you deem that the party was
DnDClassics as part of Dungeon 195. A 5E conversion
successful overall in returning the missing supplies or
document will soon be available for the adventure.
food, helped with cooking and the performances, and
defeated Master Ton Won, designee Xang Su Ya is
greatly pleased. On behalf of the Emperor, Chef Mu Pan
is declared the next Adamantine Chef. Should he
instead lose, he is humble and accepts the decision.
Family Issues: If the party helped Chef Mu Pan
understand the wishes of his children, he comes to see
this as the greatest victory. He thanks the party for
giving him the gift of truly recognizing the talents of
his children and teaching him to honor their ways. The
family promises them a dinner in their honor
whenever they are in town.

Treasure: If Master Ton Won is turned into the

authorities after the competition, the Emperor’s
designee rewards them with magic items for both their
tact and for uncovering the corrupt Master. Roll four
times on Magic Item Table C in the Dungeon Master’s
Guide.
If the party informed the authorities prior to the
meal, the Emperor’s designee is less pleased by the
disruption and what could be an attempt to influence
the competition. Nonetheless, she rewards the party.
Roll four times on Magic Item Table B in the Dungeon
Master’s Guide.
Potions and Scrolls: In either case, any potions,
scrolls, or similar items come in the form of a fortune
cookie and must be eaten to gain the effect. The
fortune within could at your discretion contain an
additional benefit. This may be advantage on a check
pertaining to the fortune, a cryptic treasure map, a
riddle referring to a treasure horde, or other benefit of
your choosing.

Not for resale. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only . ADAMANTINE CHEF 13
 Martial Arts! Food! Dangerous Beasts! Cooking!

Adamantine Chef:
Supreme Challenge!
Each year the Emperor holds a competition to select a new Adamantine Chef. When a challenger
emerges from outside Kara-Tur, the current Adamantine Chef aims to win before the first dish is
served. The challenger turns to heroes in this desperate hour!

About the Author

Teos Abadia is a frequent author and contributor for a
variety of organized play campaigns. He has worked with
Wizards of the Coast on several exciting projects. Available
online:
 The Howling Void
 Vault of the Dracolich
 Confrontation at Candlekeep
 The Five Deadly Shadows
A full list of writing credits, as well as articles providing
guidance on many topics, can be found on his blog at
Alphastream.org. Teos is active on Twitter
(@Alphastream).