Saltmarsh & Greyhawk
Trouble has come to the road between Saltmarsh and Burle.
A merchant has vanished. A hunter has failed to return from the marsh. A fisherman disappeared along the Kingfisher River. Strange tracks have been found near the road, and travelers speak of howling beyond the reeds.
Some in Saltmarsh have begun whispering an old word.
Gnolls.
River Dogs is a new adventure for characters of 2nd–4th level, set in the Hool Marsh and Drowned Forest of Greyhawk. It can be dropped directly into a Ghosts of Saltmarsh campaign or adapted for any isolated marsh, river, or flooded woodland.
If you’re a player interested in River Dogs, stop reading here and send your DM to the Adventure Library instead.
[VISIT THE ADVENTURE LIBRARY]
Into the Hool Marsh
The adventure begins with a series of disappearances along the road between Saltmarsh and Burle.
The characters must cross the Hool Marsh, follow the trail into the Drowned Forest, and discover what has been hunting travelers along the river and roads.
But the gnolls are only part of the story.
Deep within the drowned woods lies an ancient pool of perfectly still water. Strange whispers drift across its surface, calling visitors by name and urging them closer.
Something has gone wrong here.
And the dead are no longer staying dead.
Exploration, Tracking, and Investigation
River Dogs is built around wilderness exploration rather than a traditional dungeon.
The characters navigate the Hool Marsh, track their quarry through the Drowned Forest, and uncover the mystery through several interconnected encounters:
The Drifting Fisherman — An abandoned fishing boat drifts silently near the riverbank.
The Hanging Trees — Gnoll charms, arrows, and two corpses hang among the ancient cypress trees.
The Still Pool — A forgotten Suel site hides the source of the corruption spreading through the forest.
The Gnoll Camp — The trail ends with the River Dogs themselves and a prisoner who may still be saved.
The order in which some of these locations are discovered can change depending on the characters' tracking and choices.
Old Garl
Characters investigating the disappearances may also encounter Old Garl, an eccentric fisherman who wanders between Sharkfin Bridge, the Hool Marsh, and the Drowned Forest.
Most locals believe he is simply strange.
They are wrong.
Garl mutters fragmented warnings about “river dogs,” drowning, and water that should not be drunk. His broken memories continually draw him back toward the place where he died.
He may offer clues, lead lost characters deeper into the forest, or simply appear somewhere he should not be.
Designed for Saltmarsh & Greyhawk
River Dogs is written for the World of Greyhawk in 576 CY and fits naturally into a Ghosts of Saltmarsh campaign.
The adventure uses locations and factions around Saltmarsh, including the Hool Marsh, Burle, the Kingfisher River, and members of the Saltmarsh Town Council.
However, very little needs to change to place the adventure elsewhere. The Hool Marsh can become any dangerous wetland, while Saltmarsh and Burle can be replaced with settlements from your own campaign.
River Dogs Art Pack
A separate River Dogs Art Pack is available for groups who want additional visual assets for their game.
The pack includes:
- 5 Battle Maps
- Character and Creature Tokens
- Original Character Art
- Theater of the Mind Artwork
- Saltmarsh Coastal Map
- Sound Files
The battle maps cover locations throughout the Hool Marsh and Drowned Forest and are designed for use with virtual tabletops such as Foundry VTT.
Download River Dogs
River Dogs is available as a free PDF.
River Dogs Art Pack
Includes battle maps, tokens, original art, Theater of the Mind artwork, and sound files.
If you use River Dogs in your campaign, I’d love to hear where the trail led your players and whether anyone was foolish enough to drink from the Still Pool.
River Dogs for Foundry VTT is coming soon.
