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For Duty & Deity
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(AD&D Forgotten Realms/Planescape Crossover)
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By Dale Donovan; 1998; TSR,; ISBN 0-7869-1234-0; $13.95
In For Duty & Deity, an adventure suitable for both Forgotten Realms and Planescape campaigns, characters descend into the Abyss at the behest of the church of the goddess of wealth. While there is the ultimate promise of golden gains, there is also the problem that demons are involved . . .
For Duty & Deity is a fast-paced adventure that begins on Toril with the mystery of the missing Faerunian goddess of trade and wealth, Waukeen, whose place has been assumed by the goddess Lliira, acting as "regent" to Waukeen's powers since the Time of Troubles. The Holycoin, high priest of Waukeen, wishes to solve the mystery, calling on your party of adventurers for a quest that will eventually take them to the Abyss itself.
This tale incorporates the concept of the Infinite Staircase through the Planes of existence, linking it to the independent adventure anthology Tales from the Infinite Staircase (Planescape), which may be used along with Duty for either Forgotten Realms or Planescape, or alone in any campaign with a DM wishing to take the good fight out onto the Planes. Detailed notes are provided in each book for weaving either Duty into a Planescape campaign, or any of the eight adventures in Talesinto Duty or any Prime Material Plane campaign.
The writing is very clean and concise, with all statistics for creatures and individuals provided nicely and conveniently arranged. Ownership of any of the Planescape products is not necessary, though some DMs may like to have the Planescape Monstrous Appendix I & II books for more creature background. Those curious for more on the Abyss itself may want the Planescape Planes of Chaos boxed set, but there is more than enough here to be able to complete the Duty adventure without it. Rules changes for magic in the Abyss are also included. There are two page numbers omitted in references in our review copy: help is provided above for those with such errors in their copies.
This adventure is intended for a well-balanced party of high level characters of good alignment. The companion volume of Tales from the Infinite Staircase is intended for 3rd to 5th level Planescape characters, but as an inherently planar set of adventures could be easily interwoven into Duty for the same high level party (possible adjustments for difficulty level are included in each book).
A worthwhile journey, For Duty & Deity is a must for any Forgotten Realms campaign and rates 8 on a 10-point scale.
--Sharon Daugherty |