In this review, we talk about The Prophecy of Nine Omens Trilogy, a series of exciting adventures for D&D5e suitable for a group of characters from 10 to 12 levels. The product is only available in English and is published by Midnight Tower, which we thank for sending us a review copy. We recommend following them on their Facebook, Instagram and website to discover many new adventures and modules for D&D5e.
I would like to point out that this trilogy is the follow-up to Secrets of the Drow Trilogy and Rise of the Ice Dragon Trilogy, which we have already reviewed. Although they are connected, it is not essential to have played the previous ones.
If you are interested in buying it you can find it for 40$ in hardcover on DrivethruRPG. Otherwise, you can buy the PDF for 12$ by following the same link.
Review of The Prophecy of Nine Omens Trilogy Structure
The structure of The Prophecy of Nine Omens Trilogy is very particular; the manual is divided into four sections, the first three are the adventures while the fourth is a compendium with lore information and additional objects. I would have appreciated a general index that would certainly help in navigating between pages.
All adventures are structured very similarly; each boasts its own cover, a section for the GM and players, new opponents, NPCs and new magic items. In addition, each adventure has its own scheme, a great tool to help the various GMs to orient themselves within the plots. However, it denotes a very simple structure without so many branches, certainly suitable for one-shot but not for players looking for complex plots; in this case the master is required to expand the events and intertwine them with the stories of the characters. In addition, the manual contains all the instructions to adapt the adventures to a group of PGs of any level and a lot of suggestions to the GM on how to manage the most complex clashes and situations.
The writing of the manual is very simple but well done, smooth and never heavy; it is also a pleasant read just to take inspiration and ideas for your campaigns.
The Artistic Side of the Work
From an artistic point of view, the manual is made in a sublime way. This can already be seen on the cover, embellished with a highly striking illustration.
The style of all the illustrations is consistent and they are all really detailed and high quality; the new monsters, NPCs and magical objects are all accompanied by a dedicated image, which helps the dive a lot. There are also plenty of useful tactical maps to use for clashes; they are all detailed, clear and neutral enough to be reused. It is worth mentioning the presence of a beautiful map of the Eastern Farraway, the setting where the adventures will take place.
A point in favor of the manual is the use of italics, bold and colored fonts to emphasize important sections, terms of play or other relevant; the careful layout is a great help when reading the manual and gives a very enjoyable graphic appearance. Another advantage is the presence of props such as letters or similar to show to players during sessions.
The Plots of The Prophecy of the Nine Omens Trilogy
[This paragraph is the only one that contains some minor spoilers about the plot, since it would be impossible to talk about the events of the adventures without mentioning some details of the previous ones]
No Honour Among Thieves is the first adventure and tells us how our heroes are hired by a group of thieves to carry out the robbery of the century. We are faced with a plot full of action, enigmas and some surprises. The purpose of the robbery is to appropriate three magical orbs linked to a prophecy that, if it were to come true, would bring misfortune throughout the Eastern Farraway.
Sea Monsters Ahead, Captain! it is the second adventure; it takes place on a boat since our heroes, after recovering the spheres, will have to destroy them to stop the prophecy. They will then embark on a sea voyage to the temple designated to perform the ritual of destruction. This is the adventure with the simplest plot and serves as a glue between the other two; there are many fights and many social interactions.
The Sunken Temple of Sirenholm is the ultimate adventure and the most complex. In fact, the protagonists, after surviving the sea voyage, find the designated temple and cross the threshold. This adventure is a really intriguing dungeon crawling, in which our heroes will have to face the temple overcoming traps and defeating monsters; the ending is crackling and full of emotions.
We are therefore faced with three fairly simple but well-realized adventures, which constitute a crescendo of emotions and challenges. Surely with the right group they can give more sessions of pure fun.
The Brave Adventurer’s Guide, a Delightful Compendium
At the end of the manual, we find The Brave Adventurer’s Guide, a large compendium full of interesting additions.
It includes five new magical objects, all with their own story, well made and balanced. I appreciated for example a cloak that protects from traps or an elf rope that helps to climb.
Later there is also a rich selection of taverns and shops that can be used in our countryside. This is another element that confirms how the usefulness of this manual does not end with the stories it contains.
A further addition is new spells for all classes; some are quite simple, others are really interesting and can create exciting game situations.
The most substantial addition is the mission board; it is a series of mini-quests connected from the setting that are presented as sizes on a medieval sign. I appreciated it very much because it allows you to expand the hours of fun and enrich the overall plot, although individually they are quite simple.
Finally we find an in-depth look at the lore of the Eastern Farraway. In fact, we find a social, and geopolitical description, in addition to being able to discover its legends and myths; combined with the information present in the adventures and in the other manuals of the series, it allows us to outline a region in which to set other stories created by us.
Conclusions of the Review of The Prophecy of Nine Omens Trilogy
In conclusion, I can say that this series of adventures is really well done and above all, you can see the commitment in wanting to create exciting plots but suitable for any audience. This is confirmed both by the support given to the narrator, who is never confused and by the proposed situations, which will surprise and entertain both veteran and novice players alike.
Also from the artistic point of view, it is a work to be praised both for the illustrations and for the layout, so as to also be an excellent exhibition manual. The compendium at the end is a touch of quality that adds so much additional material to exploit in your campaigns.
In conclusion, The Prophecy of Nine Omens Trilogy has been promoted hands down as a great manual for all D&D5e lovers, but hurry up to find and destroy the orbs before it’s too late!
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