Solo Adventure Seeds: Sha-Thar, a World Scorched by Magic (and Sibling Drama)
Because Even Lone Wolves Need a Story
Hey there, adventurers! Today, I’m kicking off a brand-new series of posts. (Yes, I know I’ve introduced a lot of “series” lately, but hey, my blog is just getting off the ground, and I want to leave a few sagas brewing for the future.)
Introducing: Solo Adventure Seeds! The name is pretty self-explanatory, but let me break it down for you. These are bite-sized adventure starters, designed primarily for solo play but easily adaptable for group games. Each Seed will give you a quick setting, some hooks, and enough detail to jump into a game without spending hours prepping.
The idea for these Seeds came from The Seed, an item in Sword Art Online (SAO)—you know, that anime about virtual worlds and people getting stuck in them. In SAO, The Seed was a program that allowed users to create entire virtual worlds. I thought, “Why not bring that concept to TTRPGs?” Sure, it’s not groundbreaking, but hey, inspiration comes from weird places.
My goal is to give you enough material to start a game right away, with little sparks of creativity to help you build on the foundation. The structure is still a work in progress, but for now, each Seed will include:
Quick Context: A snapshot of the world.
World Restrictions: Rules to keep things spicy.
Adventure Hooks: Plot starters to get you rolling.
Extras: NPCs, items, and special events to flesh things out.
I’m not aiming to give you a full-blown adventure—just enough to get your imagination firing on all cylinders. Feedback and suggestions are welcome, because let’s face it, I’m making this up as I go.
Sha-Thar: A World Scorched by Magic
To kick things off, let me introduce you to the harsh, unforgiving world of Sha-Thar.
Quick Context
Sha-Thar was once a lush, vibrant world—think rolling green hills, crystal-clear rivers, and wildlife galore. That is, until Darza and Tshra, the two most powerful mages in the plane, decided to have a little sibling rivalry. These two had mastered the inner magical force known as Szu, and by combining it with the power of Mah-gmar crystals, they became nearly unstoppable. Their battle escalated into an all-out magical war, culminating in a cataclysmic explosion that nearly destroyed the world.
The “Brothers’ Apocalypse” (yes, they were brothers—awkward) turned Sha-Thar into a barren wasteland. Vegetation? Gone. Water? Evaporated. Civilization? Reduced to a handful of survivors. The only known settlement is a small dwarven enclave in the south. The rest of the population consists of Skurrid (ratfolk) and Mycellan (mushroom people), who live in underground cities to escape the scorching sun and arid landscape.
Note for Players: While Skurrid and Mycellan are classes in Shadowdark located in Unnatural Selection, you can choose other classes or reflavor existing ones to fit the world. Want to play a human scavenger or a desert-dwelling elf? Go for it—just make sure your character fits the harsh reality of Sha-Thar.
World Restrictions
Ancestries: You can only play as Skurrid, Mycellan, or Dwarves. And sorry, only one Dwarf per party—they’re rare, like a decent loot drop.
The Sun is Your Enemy: Traveling during the day? Good luck. Movement speed is halved, and your party can’t travel more than two hexes per day under the blazing sun.
Water is Life (and Hard to Find): Water is scarce, so ration it like your life depends on it—because it does.
Adventure Hooks
Roll 1d10 for a quick adventure starter:
Rescue a faction member from quicksand in the desert.
Find the ruins hiding a powerful artifact.
Activate the mechanism of the artifact you found.
Fight the rival faction for control of an underground zone.
Locate a hidden oasis in the middle of the desert.
Search for a missing person in the ruins.
Destroy the artifact giving the enemy faction an advantage.
Uncover the secret of the ancient ruins.
Retrieve a map from a crumbling tomb.
Escape a collapsing ruin before it buries you alive.
NPCs
Skunk: A blind rat who navigates by smell and can guide you through underground sections.
Sha-La: One of the few surviving humans, pretty old lady that had driven mad after losing her family in the explosion. She knows the lore of the Brothers’ Apocalypse.
Rah-ktha: A Skurrid infiltrator in the extremist Ahlaj-tha clan, secretly plotting their downfall.
Fiuser: A Mycellan who loves exploring ruins for ancient artifacts. He knows the layout of certain ruins like the back of his… uh, cap?
Items
Szu Detector Mechanism: An artifact crafted from the remnants of Mah-gmar crystals. Once per day, it allows the user to cast Detect Magic. This rare item is highly sought after by scavengers and scholars alike, as it’s one of the few remaining links to the world’s magical past.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed this first installment of The Seeds! Whether you use it for a quick solo session, adapt it for your group, or just steal ideas for your own world, I’d love to hear how it goes. Let me know what you think, and stay tuned for more Seeds to plant in your TTRPG adventures.
Now, go forth and explore Sha-Thar—just don’t forget your water flask.
P.S. If you have suggestions or want to see a specific type of Seed, drop a comment. I’m all ears.
Until next time, and remember, keep your blades sharp and your shields up!
-Mirokus (Codex Gigas)