In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting

Campaign setting

A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...

 for the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

(D&D) role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

, the Age of Worms is an age of darkness and despair heard of only in ancient prophecies. According to these prophecies, the herald of the Age of Worms is said to be the undead deity Kyuss

Kyuss (Greyhawk)

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Kyuss is a demigod concerned with the creation and mastery of the Undead...

, who is somehow involved with the Ebon Triad

Ebon Triad

The Ebon Triad is a cult in the fictional world of Oerth in the Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game...

.

The Age of Worms Adventure Path

The Age of Worms can also refer to Dungeon

Dungeon (magazine)

Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...

magazine's Age of Worms Adventure Path

Adventure Path

Adventure Paths are serial adventures for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Though originally applied to the series of Third Edition modules beginning with The Sunless Citadel, the phrase has more recently come to apply nearly exclusively to several lengthy series, each consisting of...

, a campaign designed to take player characters from 1st to 20th level over the course of twelve issues (#124–135). Though the series is set in a somewhat abstracted World of Greyhawk (the Free City of Greyhawk

Free City of Greyhawk

The Free City of Greyhawk, also known as Greyhawk City and the "Gem of the Flanaess," is a fictional city-state in the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...

 becomes the Free City, etc.), it can be adapted to other D&D campaign worlds and notes are provided for converting the setting to Eberron

Eberron

Eberron is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, set in a period after a vast destructive war on the continent of Khorvaire...

 or Forgotten Realms

Forgotten Realms

The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...

. The Age of Worms Adventure Path was given an Honorable Mention in the "Best Adventure" category of the 2007 ENnie Awards

ENnies

The Annual Gen Con EN World RPG Awards are annual, fan-based awards for role-playing game products and publishers hosted at Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana...

.

The Age of Worms adventure path was the next in succession after Shackled City

Shackled City

The Shackled City Adventure Path is a role-playing game campaign designed for Dungeons & Dragons, originally appearing as a series of modules in Dungeon Adventures, later published in a hardcover edition collecting all previous installments plus an additional chapter written especially for the...

and was shortly followed by a third called Savage Tide

Savage Tide

The Savage Tide Adventure Path is the third and final Adventure Path for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game published in Dungeon Adventures...

.

Summary

Age of Worms develops from a small town of Diamond Lake

Diamond Lake (Greyhawk)

In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Diamond Lake is a mining town. Situated on the north shore of a lake of the same name, Diamond Lake is located in the Cairn Hills, and lies three days ride east of the Free City of Greyhawk.-Government:Diamond...

, then leads to intrigue in the Free City and then on to a mysterious cult that exists only as a front to bring about the events leading up to the Age of Worms. As the players encounter the various architects of the plot, they uncover the nature of the coming age, and battle the ultimate masterminds behind it. In the end, they face the two primary antagonists: Dragotha and Kyuss.

This adventure path differs from the first primarily in its use of established World of Greyhawk characters such as Kyuss, locations such as Greyhawk (though it is called the "Free City"), and items such as the Rod of Seven Parts

Rod of Seven Parts

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game the Rod of Seven Parts, formerly known as the Rod of Law, is a powerful artifact.-Description:The Rod of Seven Parts, when whole, is a 5-foot-long pole...

.

The entire Adventure Path consists of the following installments:

Chapter	Title	Authors	Illustrators	Levels	Issue	Date
1	"The Whispering Cairn"	Erik Mona Erik Mona -Career:Erik Mona served as the editor-in-chief of Dragon magazine since 2004 and Dungeon magazine from 2004 to 2006; at the time, both magazines were published by Paizo Publishing, until the license through Wizards of the Coast expired in September 2007...	Joachim Barrum, Chad Du Lac, Steve Prescott Steve Prescott (artist) -Early life and education:Steve Prescott grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and he graduated with a BFA in Illustration from Columbus College of Art and Design.-Works:... , Eva Weidermann, Jim Zubkavich; Wayne Reynolds Wayne Reynolds Wayne Reynolds is a British artist whose work has appeared in comics and role-playing games.-Early life and education:Wayne Reynolds was born in Leeds, UK...  (cover); Robert Lazzaretti Rob Lazzaretti Rob Lazzaretti is an artist whose work has appeared largely as a cartographer for roleplaying games, particularly the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR.-Biography:Rob Lazzaretti was born and raised in central Illinois...  (cartography Cartography Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...  for entire series), Darlene Pekul Darlene Pekul -Biography:Pekul graduated from Beloit College in 1976.After college Pekul dated Mike Carr, who was working as an editor at TSR Inc., the publisher of Dungeons & Dragons. As a result of this connection Pekul started to do freelance work for TSR...  (calligraphy Calligraphy Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...  for entire series)	1–3	124	July 2005
A band of would-be adventurers explore a long-lost tomb near Diamond Lake Diamond Lake (Greyhawk) In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Diamond Lake is a mining town. Situated on the north shore of a lake of the same name, Diamond Lake is located in the Cairn Hills, and lies three days ride east of the Free City of Greyhawk.-Government:Diamond...  and uncover a necromancer's conspiracy with local merchants.
2	"The Three Faces of Evil"	Mike Mearls Mike Mearls Michael Mearls is a writer and designer of fantasy role-playing games and related fiction.He worked as a freelance writer and designer for various gaming publishers for several years before being hired in June 2005 as a designer by Wizards of the Coast. He was a Lead Developer for Dungeons &...	J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann	3–4	125	August 2005
The heroes penetrate a tripartite cult Cult The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...  operating in secret underneath Dourstone Mine, hoping to merge their three unholy deities. The name of Kyuss Kyuss (Greyhawk) In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Kyuss is a demigod concerned with the creation and mastery of the Undead...  and rumors of worm-eaten dead arise.
3	"Encounter at Blackwall Keep"	Sean K. Reynolds Sean K. Reynolds Sean K Reynolds is a professional game designer who has worked on and co-written a number of D&D supplements for Wizards of the Coast, as well as material for other companies. He does not put a period after his middle initial.-Background:...	J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann	5–6	126	September 2005
While seeking out a sage to shed light on their recent discoveries, the heroes come upon Blackwall Keep, an outpost beset by lizardfolk Lizardfolk Lizardfolk are a fictional humanoid species in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:... , and a rescue mission ensues.
4	"The Hall of Harsh Reflections"	Jason Bulmahn Jason Bulmahn -Career:Jason Bulmahn became the managing editor of Dragon in 2004 and is now the lead designer of Paizo Publishing and the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. The Beta version of the Pathfinder RPG received the gold ENnie award for "best free product or web enhancement" in 2008...	J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann	7–8	127	October 2005
In the enormous Free City, doppelganger Doppelgänger (Dungeons & Dragons) In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Doppelgangers are monstrous humanoids, identified primarily by their ability to change their shape and appearance to mimic almost any humanoid creature...  assassins lead the heroes to an illithid Illithid In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...  dealing in unholy relics.
5	"The Champion's Belt"	Tito Leati, Richard Pett	J. Barrum, Matt Dixon, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann; Howard Lyon (cover)	9–10	128	November 2005
In order to investigate Loris Raknian, the warlord who tried to have them killed, the heroes must enroll in the greatest gladiatorial Gladiator A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...  tournament in the world – the Free City Games. What they end up with is an Apostle of Kyuss come to claim the blood of a champion.
6	"A Gathering of Winds"	Wolfgang Baur Wolfgang Baur Wolfgang Baur is an American game designer, best known for his work with Dragon magazine. He designs role-playing games and also is known for his work at Wizards of the Coast.-Biography:...	J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann	11–12	129	December 2005
The heroes return to Diamond Lake to seek out their patron Allustan and present him with all they've learned of the cult of Kyuss and their activity. When they find that the dragon Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons) In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game , dragons are an iconic type of monstrous creature used as adversaries or, less commonly, allies of player characters...  Ilthane has leveled Allustan's home, they must defeat it and re-enter the Whispering Cairn to seek out the missing wizard.
7	"The Spire of Long Shadows"	Jesse Decker Jesse Decker -Biography:Decker began playing Dungeons & Dragons in 1983 during recess at his elementary school. During the summer of 1996, he began doing "temp work" for Wizards of the Coast, before returning to finish college that fall. After finishing college, he returned to Wizards of the Coast, where he...	J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann	13–14	130	January 2006
Allustan's mentor Manzorian Tenser In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Tenser is an archmage who actively seeks to rid the Flanaess of evil...  tells the heroes of his colleague Balakarde, who explored the site of Kyuss' divine apotheosis. When they follow in Balakarde's footsteps, the heroes find a site with tales of its own to tell of Kyuss and his blasphemous practices, as well as the alien architect of the Age of Worms.
8	"The Prince of Redhand"	Richard Pett	J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann	15–16	131	February 2006
Manzorian tells the heroes to seek out Lashonna, sorcerous advisor to tyrannical Prince Zeech of Redhand and possibly the last person to see Balakarde alive. To meet her, however, the heroes must make it through Prince Zeech's extravagant ball and be on their best behavior.
9	"The Library of Last Resort"	Nicolas Logue	J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann	16–17	132	March 2006
Once the heroes meet Lashonna, she sends them to the Isle of Last Resort, to uncover the location of the phylactery of Kyuss' general, the dracolich Dracolich In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, a dracolich is an undead dragon that possesses certain abilities of a lich.-Publication history:The dracolich was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons...  Dragotha. A power-hungry cleric of Vecna Vecna In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Vecna was a powerful wizard who became a lich. He was eventually destroyed, and his left hand and left eye were the only parts of his body to survive...  and his minions have the same idea, however.
10	"Kings of the Rift"	Greg A. Vaughn	J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann; David Hudnut (cover)	18–19	133	April 2006
Now that the heroes know where to find Dragotha's phylactery, they must get it. This involves infiltrating a huge fortress currently occupied by giants and besieged by dragons.
11	"Into the Wormcrawl Fissure"	James Jacobs	J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann; Dan Scott (cover)	19–20	134	May 2006
With Dragotha's phylactery secured, the heroes must travel into the deadly Wormcrawl Fissure to reunite Balakarde's broken spirit and either destroy or blackmail Kyuss' dracolich general.
12	"Dawn of a New Age"	Tito Leati	J. Barrum, S. Prescott, E. Weidermann; Wayne Reynolds (cover)	20–21	135	June 2006
The new Spire is complete, and Alhaster is under siege from legions of Kyuss' undead minions. The heroes must battle their way through the city and fight back the darkness before confronting the Wormgod himself.