The Brigands of

Bristleback Burrow
A 1st–3rd level adventure designed for use with Shadowdark RPG

“No amount of coin is worth crossing paths with the Bristlebacks; they’ll rob you
of more than your gold.” – Myrtle Salesbury of Salesbury & Sons Caravansary.

The Brigands of Bristleback Burrow is an independent product published under the Shadowdark RPG Third-Party
License and is not affiliated with The Arcane Library, LLC. Shadowdark RPG © 2023 The Arcane Library, LLC
 Contents
03 Overview
04 Areas 1–12
07 Creature stats & NPC generator
08 Keyed Map

Written by Brynjar Már Pálsson.

Cover art by @nbomedroned / Fiverr.com.

Check out their other amazing work over at
www.artstation.com/nbomedroned.

Other minor illustrations were generated with Midjourney A.I. software.

2
 Overview
ROOM DESCRIPTIONS
The keyworded descriptive elements in
bold in the beginning of each area are safe
to share with the players. The bulleted
descriptions below them are for the GM.
BACKGROUND
Once a series of interconnected mining
tunnels, Bristleback Burrow has gone
through many inhabitants ranging from
priests to warlords with each leaving a mark
on its construction. Now it serves as a bandit
hideout for the Bristleback goblin clan where
tensions are high. Reenk and his veterans
don’t like how Derrig is leading the clan and
plans are already in motion to change that.
FACTIONS AND COMBAT
The Boss. Derrig is a craven goblin boss
whose penchant for cruel punishments has
caused a rift in his late father’s clan.
His two loyal gnoll bodyguards protect him
with fervor and fight to the death. One is
with Derrig in area 3, the other resides over
the throne in area 10. Derrig flees through
secret tunnel if in danger.
The Right Hand. Reenk is a cunning and
manipulative goblin shaman whose
ultimate goal is becoming clan leader.
He resides in area 8 attempting to cast a
ritual. Backed up by several loyal goblin
veterans who control areas 4–8. Retreat
through area 4 tunnel if outnumbered.
The Instigator. Keira is an ambitious and
patient doppelganger, secretly forming a
mutiny within the clan so she can take off
with the contents of the hidden vault. Until
then, she resides in area 10, drinking.
Each normal goblin has a 3:6 chance to
be in on the mutiny. Once it starts, the
mutineers attack areas 8–10 while Keira
secretly breaks into area 11 and then tries
to escape in the chaos. Flees with as
much loot as possible if threatened.
The Undead. Helga Blackmantle was once
the old mine’s foreman. Now an undead
wight, she seeks the return of her treasured
stone tablet, stolen by Derrig.
Resides in area 12 searching for more
miners to raise as skeletons. Retreats
behind her minions if threatened.
3
RUMORS
1 The burrow is rife with secret tunnels.
2 The goblin boss wears a magical iron crown.
3 The Bristleback clan is famously fond of traps.
4 Undead stalk the abandoned mines below.
5 The old warlord had a vault brimming with gold.
Past inhabitants hid many treasures that have
6 never been uncovered.
ENTRANCES & ENVIRONMENT
◆ [1] Temple. Carved into the top of a hill.
◆ [4] Storage. A cargo lift hidden next to a
river descends into a natural cavern.
◆ [6] Kitchen. A narrow, hidden chimney
pokes up on the side of a rocky hill.
◆ [12] Mines. Submerged tunnel leads to a
river. The southern tunnel opens up to a
boarded–up mine entrance.
Temple. The cracked alabaster walls and
vaulted ceilings give the impression of past
beauty. Its azure motifs and expertly carved
pillars a stark reminder of its lost splendor.
Burrow. Cramped and muddy vermin–
infested hallways with the lingering stench
of urine and body odor. Goblin voices echo
from the gloom as flickering torchlight
emanates from intermittent wall sconces.
Mines. These winding, abandoned tunnels
are pitch black and full of cobwebs. Strange
shadows seem to flicker and disappear in
the eerie silence as a cold breeze flutters.
APPROACH
The Bristleback clan is in turmoil as its
leaders vie for power and the rank–and–file
dread the inevitable confrontation.
◆ Goblins will think that any outsiders are
hired mercenaries at first glance.
◆ Mutineers will assume that any outsiders
have been brought in for the mutiny.
◆ Goblin Veterans will seek to steer or use
any outsiders for Reenk’s ultimate goal.
◆ Derrig and his gnolls are outmatched and
will happily pay for outsider help.
 Areas 1–12
Danger level. Risky. Check for random
encounters every 2 crawling rounds and
after walking into a room with a goblin
veteran or bristleback hyena.
Light. A dim, flickering torchlight barely
illuminates most rooms. The mines are in
total darkness with dark–adapted denizens.
NPCs. See page 7 for goblin NPC generator.
Mutiny. Each time you roll on the random
encounter table after the first, add a
cumulative +1 to the result. After the
Mutiny! encounter has occured, switch to d6
and reset counter.
1. TEMPLE HALL
Creatures: A group of small, green
humanoids in a heated arguement. Walls:
Bas–relief carvings of knights on horseback.
Pillars: Blue motifs on cracked marble.
◆ Goblins. Four. Were sent to paint scary
images and threats on walls. Arguing over
what to paint and where.
◇ NPCs. Grubnash (bulging eyes), Ooble
(big belly), Skraggit (burned fingers),
Ugrok (aggressive, tattooed face).
◇ Buckets. Four. Charchoal paint.
◆ Pillars. Three pillars have their motif
slightly off pattern. Rotating each back
into place opens a concealed floor tile.
◇ Compartment(C). Hides Forbearance,
a magical silver shield with a winged
crown motif. The wielder can 1/day
negate all damage from a single attack.
2. TEMPLE SHRINE
Statue: Stalwart woman in full plate holding
a longsword with both hands. Walls: Blue
mosaic art depicting knights. Cages: A putrid
stench wafts from ramshackle cages.
◆ Sword. Azure hilt, lionhead pommel (70gp).
◇ Stuck in the statue’s grasp.
◆ Mosaic. A yelling knight has a hidden
crevice in the mouth. Deep inside is a
hidden lever which quietly slides the
knight mosaic aside, revealing area 4.
◆ Cages. Two, open. Each contains two
collared bristleback hyenas chained and
hungrily snarling.
4
RANDOM ENCOUNTERS
d4 Details (Duplicate results of 7+ use result 6)
1 1d4 curious goblins come asking questions.
2 Wall torches go out. Goblins re–light in 2d6 rds.
2d4 goblin highwaymen return to burrow with
3 2d10gp loot each. 1:6; roll on Treasure Table.
1d4 savage bristleback hyenas escape from
4 area 9, attacking anyone they come across.
5 1d4 wary Goblin Veterans come patrolling.
6 2d6 skeletons crawl out of pit in area 7.
7+ Mutiny! (see page 3, The Instigator).
3. TEMPLE CRYPT
Creatures: A crowned goblin lounges on
silk pillows atop a raised dais next to a tall
brown–furred bodyguard and two goblin
servants. Coffins: Stone. Blue mosaic lids.
◆ Boss Derrig. Lavender and cinnamon
perfume. Drinking wine and eating cheese.
◇ Wears Purity, an iron crown capable of
casting Shield of Faith 1/day.
◇ Knows that Reenk is planning a coup
but afraid to act while morale is low.
◇ Is willing to pay handsomely for killing
Reenk and his goblin veteran lackeys.
◆ Fang. Gnoll bodyguard, (eye–patch, dour).
◆ Servants. Nabz (klepto), Krid (docile).
◆ Coffins. Two, open. Skeleton in ruined
knight gear in each. Hidden under one is
Virtue, a Bag of Holding magically inert
while held by a non–lawful character.
4. GOBLIN STORAGE
Room: A hectic cargo area full of crates and
humans bustling about, supervised by a
foreman and goblin veteran. Tunnel: Strong
breeze blows in from the adjoining cave.
◆ Ukoz. Goblin veteran, (scarred lips, sleepy).
◆ Humans. Trikk (foreman, bossy) ordering
around four vapid bandits stacking crates.
◆ Cargo. 16 variously sized crates. Each crate
has 4d4 of the following mercantile goods:
1. Spices (5sp each). 2. Textiles (10gp each).
3.Porcelain (4gp each). 4. Herbs (1sp each).
5. Furs (5gp each). 6. Dyes (2gp each).
7. Tea (5sp each). 8. Glassware (3gp each).
5. GOBLIN LAIR
Room: Small group of goblins sit on a floor
covered in straw and punctured hyena pelts.
Smell: Rancid urine and rotten food.
◆ Goblins. Toe (no shoes), Snot (no nose),
Squib (mumbles incoherently).
◇ Huddled together, eating and grumbling
about too short breaks.
◇ Release hyenas if threatened.
◆ Wall. 2 bristleback hyenas collared to
short chains spiked into the wall.
◆ False Door. Locked, DC 15 DEX to pick or
DC 12 STR to force.
◇ Trapped. Acid spills from a tipped
bucket overhead. DC 18 DEX or 1d4.
6. GOBLIN KITCHEN
Creatures: A hulking humanoid stirs a large
cauldron while a pair of goblins sneak about.
Hole: Opens into murky water 20’ down.
◆ Ogre Chef. Penelope (blind, sweet,
grandmotherly, protective of kitchen).
◆ Goblins. Taz (deceptive), Gurt (simple).
◇ Trying to steal a snack and sneak away.
◆ Wall. Bucket and 20’ pole, each tied to a
rope sit next to the hole.
◇ 2 skeletons lie in the water, skulls eerily
bobbing and hands grabbing anything.
7. MAIN HALL
Creatures: Armed goblins fend off an
undead skeleton clambering out of a pit.
Room: Filthy stone chamber held aloft by
decorated pillars and stone walls.
◆ Goblins. Uhb (fierce) and Zap (timid)
fend off a climbing skeleton while next to
them, Garl (mad genius) resets a floor trap.
◆ Pit. Collapsed mining tunnels full of
rubble and corpses. Outer edges are
10’ deep, concaving to 20’ at the center.
Circled by a stone floor and a dingy wood
balustrade.
◇ Tunnel. Connects to area 12 via a narrow
tunnel hidden in deep shadows where a
group of 4 skeletons wander aimlessly.
◆ Pillars. Strung with 1–3 bodies, each with a
sign stating ‘thief’ or ‘trespasser’ etc.
◆ False Doors. Locked, DC 15 DEX to pick or
DC 12 STR to force.
◇ Trapped. Acid spills from a tipped
bucket overhead. DC 18 DEX or 1d4.
5
8. WARLORD’S STUDY
Creatures: A lanky goblin in a leather cap
scribbles chaulk on the floor. Room: A plush
study with a pair of standing plate armor
sets flanking a desk and bookshelf.
◆ Reenk. Hurriedly finishing the vengeful
spirit summoning for the other armor set.
◇ Offers to give one animated armor
in exchange for killing Derrig but will
immediately betray them afterward.
◆ Veterans. Blight (maimed), Gnarl (fanatic).
◆ Plate Armor. One is an animated armor
under Reenk’s control. Worth 130gp each.
◆ Study. Writing supplies, map of the
burrow, a cheap, leather–bound spellbook
with a wand motif on the cover. Contains
detect magic, feather fall & magic missile.
◆ Bookshelf. Moldy leather ledgers and an
unfinished manuscript ‘Being a Warlord’.
◇ Behind. Locked leather tube(DC 12 DEX)
containing a scroll of fixed object.
9. WARLORD’S KENNEL
Room: A pungent stench of urine and filth
wafts out of stalls on either side of the room.
Noise: Loud snarling and banging coming
from large crates with heavy locks.
◆ Crates. Six. Each barely contain the 1d4
rabid bristleback hyenas locked inside.
◇ Inside. 1 crate has a gold and jade scarab
pin (20gp) buried in excrement.
◇ Scraps. Various bones and rotten food lie
scattered around the crates.
◇ Troughs. Two, filled with pungent water.
10. WARLORD’S THRONE
Noise: Raucous laughter and clinking cups.
Party: Merry goblins drink and dance on
tables. Throne: A battered and brooding
gnoll sits on the once majestic stone throne.
◆ Claw. Gnoll bodyguard, (sharpened claws,
hates parties). Retreats through secret
tunnel to warn Derrig if trouble starts.
◆ Table 1. 5 belligerent goblins share a whole
barrel of ale atop the table.
◇ Zog (dancing), Grik (tired), Snik (yelling),
Draz (crawling), Fiz (banging a beat).
◇ Under. Two more ale barrels (10gp each).
◆ Table 2. 3 goblins huddled in conversation.
◇ Nix (looking around), Grub (trying to eat
a snack), Keira (recruiting mutineers).
◇ Under. Two kegs of lamp oil (5 flasks
each), 8 torches and a crowbar.
◆ Table 3. 2 goblin veterans gambling
and drinking around a war table, their
weapons heaped atop it.
◇ Grime (never washes), Snatch (freakishly
long arms). Both are drunk (DISADV).
◇ Under. An ivory horn mug carved with
rams charging each other (35gp).
◇ Map. Old war map with crude goblin
plans doodled and scribbled all over.
11. WARLORD’S VAULT
Walls: Chipped red paint covered in vulgar
goblin scribbles and drawings. Treasure: An
opulent chest overflowing with loot. Armor:
An old armor stand draped with furs.
◆ False Door. Locked, DC 15 DEX to pick or
DC 12 STR to force.
◇ Trapped. Acid spills from a tipped
bucket overhead. DC 18 DEX or 1d4.
◆ Chest. Open. 70gp, 520sp, 3 statuettes of a
lady, a knight and a horse (30gp each).
◇ False Bottom. Contains a broken and
chipped stone tablet with dried blood
and strange writing. This is the stolen
Pact Slate of Beherit.
◆ Armor Stand. Beneath the furs hangs
a dead goblin wearing the Raging
Conqueror’s Armor, a +1 chainmail. Curse:
suffer 2d4 damage when donned. Wearer
may suffer 1d4 to re–roll a failed attack.
◇ Furs. 4 bristleback hyena furs in pristine
condition (5gp each).
◇ Goblin. This was Darig, Derrig’s father. He
wears a gold toering(10gp) in his boot.
6
12. FLOODED MINES
Tunnels: Claustrophic and winding tunnels
full of rubble and cobwebs. Senses: Eerie
silence, ephemeral dancing shadows and an
uncharacteristic cold.
◆ Dead–ends. 2d4 mismatched skeletal
miners held up with rotting ligaments and
armed with pickaxes.
◇ Skeletons. Silently looking for more
bones for Helga to re–animate. Lazily
attack the living unless they carry
pickaxes or otherwise look like miners.
◆ Flooded Tunnels. Eastern tunnels are on
average 5’ deep with another 3’ above the
water. 5 lost skeletons hide beneath the
water, their skulls poking out slightly.
◆ Helga. An undead female human(wight)
wearing mining attire and wielding a
sharpened thigh–bone pickaxe.
◇ Is willing to grant the PCs a Boon of
Beherit in exchange for retrieving her
missing tablet, hidden by the goblins.
◇ Tablet. Discreetly hopes that the tablet
has some way for her to reverse her fate
and become human again.
◇ Minions. Surrounded by 10 skeletons
that blindly follow her every command.
BOON OF BEHERIT
2d6 Details
2 +2 to Constitution stat or +1 to spellcasting.
3–7 +1d4 to maximum hitpoints.
8–11 Gain advantage on CON death timer rolls.
Choose one option or 2 points to distribute
12 to any stats.
Pact Slate of Beherit
A broken and chipped stone tablet with infernal
writing and streaks of dried blood.
Effect: Stamp your finger in your blood onto the
tablet. Upon each death, return to life with 1hp after
1d4 hours.
Curse: Lose 1d4 CON each return. When you return
with 0 CON, become a wight.
 Creatures
animated armor
AC 15, HP 11, ATK 1 longsword +3 (1d8), MV near, S +3,
D +-1, C +2, I -1, W +1, Ch +0, AL C, LV 2
Statue. When standing still, looks exactly like a suit of
armor.
bandit
AC 11 (leather), HP 4, ATK 1 club +1 (1d4) or 1 shortbow
(far) +0 (1d4), MV near, S +1, D +0, C +0, I -1, W +0, Ch -1,
AL C, LV 1
Ambush: Deal an extra die of damage when
undetected.
doppelganger
AC 12, HP 20, ATK 1 dagger (close/near) +2 (1d4), MV
near, S +1, D +2, C +2, I +1, W +0, Ch +4, AL C, LV 4
Change Shape: In place of attacks, transform into any
similarly–sized humanoid.
Telepathy: Can secretly hear the surface thoughts of
all humanoids within near.
gnoll
AC 12 (leather), HP 10, ATK 1 spear (close/near) +1 (1d6)
or 1 longbow (far) +1 (1d8), MV near, S +1, D +1, C +1, I -1
W +0, Ch -1, AL C, LV 2
Rage: 1/day, immune to morale checks, +1d4 damage
(3 rounds).
goblin shaman
AC 12 (leather), HP 19, ATK 1 staff +0 (1d4) or 1 spell +3,
MV near, S +0, D +1, C +1, I +0 W +2, Ch +1, AL C, LV 4
Keen Senses: Can’t be surprised.
Bug Brain (WIS spell): DC 13. Near range, one target.
Target’s INT drops to 1 for 1d4 rounds.
Skitter (WIS spell): DC 12. Self. Climb like a spider for
5 rounds.
Stink Bomb (WIS spell): DC 12. One target within
far 2d4 damage and DC 12 CON or DISADV on next
check / attack.
goblin veteran
AC 13 (chainmail), HP 10, ATK 1 bastard sword +2 (1d10)
or 1 crossbow (far) +0 (1d6), MV near, S +2, D +0, C +2,
I -1, W +0, Ch -1, AL C, LV 2
Keen Senses: Can’t be surprised.
hyena, bristleback
AC 10, HP 4, ATK 1 bite +0 (1d6), MV near, S +0, D +0, C
+0, I -2, W +1, Ch -2, AL C, LV 1
Quills: When a melee attack misses you, the attacker
suffers 1d4 damage.
ogre
AC 9, HP 30, ATK 2 ladle +6 (2d4), MV near, S +4, D -1,
C +3, I -2, W -2, Ch -2, AL C, LV 6

goblin skeleton miner

AC 11, HP 5, ATK 1 club +0 (1d4) or 1 shortbow (far) +1 AC 10, HP 11, ATK 1 pickaxe +1 (1d6), MV near, S +1, D +0,
(1d4), MV near, S +0, D +1, C +1, I -1 W -1, Ch -2, AL C, LV 1 C +2, I -2, W +0, Ch -1, AL C, LV 2
Keen Senses: Can’t be surprised. Undead: Immune to morale checks.

goblin boss wight foreman

AC 14 (chainmail), HP 20, ATK 1 spear (close/near) +3
(1d6), MV near, S +2, D +1, C +2, I -1 W +0, Ch +1, AL C, LV
4
Keen Senses: Can’t be surprised.
AC 11, HP 15, ATK 1 pickaxe +3 (1d6) and 1 life drain +3,
MV near, S +3, D +1, C +2, I +1, W +0, Ch +3, AL C, LV 3
Greater Undead: Immune to morale checks. Only
damaged by silver or magical sources.
Life Drain: 1d4 CON damage. Death if reduced to 0
CON.

GOBLIN / BANDIT GENERATOR

d8 Names (goblin / bandit) Appearances Behaviors

1 Giznak / Willem Hunched / Hobbled Sneaky / Deceptive

2 Sniggle / Aldric Big–nosed / Warty Greedy / Cunning

3 Blagruk / Beatrice Bug–eyed / Squinty Curious / Scheming

4 Skritter / Hugo Chubby / Toothless Cowardly / Prankish

5 Snibbles / Mabel Pale–skinned / Lanky Timid / Cautious

6 Zizgag / Cedric Long–limmed / Malnourished Evasive / Forgetful

7 Glint / Osmund One–eyed / Scarred Erratic / Shy

8 Blim / Agatha Sharp–toothed / Barefoot Scheming / Arrogant

7
 in/out

Derrig

Fang pillar motifs

crate crate
C to area 5
L

goblins

to area 9

Locked doors require DC 12 DEX to pick or DC 15 STR to force.

Secret doors represent revolving walls, unless otherwise stated.

T : Acid bucket. DC 18 DEX or 1d4

X : Concealed floor trap (no muddy tracks). Chute opens down into pit, 10’ below.
L

L in/out
Trikk

T. 1
T. 2
Claw

L
T. 3
Snot
Uhb Squib Toe
crate Zap
crate
crate
crate
crate
crate Gurt
Penelope

Taz

L L

Reenk Garl

in/out
Helga

in/out