Pyramid Review
The Witchfire Trilogy, Part Two: Shadow of the Exile (for d20)
Published by Privateer Press
Written by Matt Staroscik
Illustrated by Brian Snoddy and Matt Wilson
64 pages; $9.95
Shadow of the Exile is the second part of the Witchfire trilogy of adventures set in Privateer Press' campaign world of the Iron Kingdoms. Designed for a small party of third through fifth level characters, the adventure continues on the action from The Longest Night. What separates the Iron Kingdoms from other more standard flavored d20 backgrounds is its dark and grimy mixture of technology and magic, which includes steam power, guns, and large lumbering robots known as Steamjacks.
(SPOILER ALERT!)
The trilogy centres on the trade city of Corvis in the kingdom of Cygnar. In The Longest Night, the party travelled to Corvis, where they were asked by Father Dumas to investigate a spate of grave robberies. This led them onto the vengeful plans of a young sorceress, who happens to be Father Dumas' niece. A decade earlier, Alexia Ciannor's mother and her coven had been executed for witchcraft as part of the former King Vinter Raelthorne IV's inquisition. Though Vinter has been deposed by his brother Leto and is now thought dead, Alexia desired revenge upon both those behind the executions and the city of Corvis itself. Part of this involved stealing Witchfire, an ancient greatsword of immense power, and then raising an army of undead to bring down upon Corvis on the night of its favorite festival, known . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: August 31, 2001
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