Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave is a Forgotten Realms adventure set in 1374 DR, exploring the kingdom’s turmoil as dark forces threaten the Weave.
1.1 Overview of the Adventure Module
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave is a 160-page Forgotten Realms super-adventure for D&D 3.5 edition. Designed for characters levels 4-8, it explores corruption, mystery, and epic battles. Players investigate a false temple of Mystra, face lizardfolk, and confront forces of Shar and Cyric. This mega-adventure blends strategic combat and deep storytelling, offering a standalone experience or the first part of a trilogy.
1.2 Historical Context of Cormyr in 1374 DR
In 1374 DR, Cormyr faces a period of relative stability under the rule of the Obarskyr dynasty. The kingdom is rebuilding after past conflicts, with its capital, Suzail, and cities like Wheloon experiencing growth. However, beneath this calm surface, dark forces led by Shar and Cyric secretly manipulate events, seeking to undermine the faith in Mystra and destabilize the region. This turmoil sets the stage for the adventure’s unfolding conspiracy.
Key Features of the Adventure
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave is the first Forgotten Realms hardcover super-adventure, offering a comprehensive 160-page narrative designed for characters from level 4 to 8.
2.1 Designed for Characters of Level 4-8
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave is crafted for characters ranging from level 4 to 8, offering a dynamic progression through its intricate storyline and challenging encounters. The adventure is tailored to provide balanced growth, allowing players to evolve their abilities while navigating the dark forces of Shar and Cyric. This design ensures a cohesive experience, blending combat, exploration, and roleplay for parties of varying skill levels and preferences.
2.2 The First-Ever Forgotten Realms Hardcover Super-Adventure
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave holds the distinction of being the first-ever Forgotten Realms hardcover super-adventure, marking a milestone in the series. This 160-page mega-adventure sets a new standard, offering a rich, immersive experience with detailed locations, complex plots, and epic challenges. Its comprehensive design makes it a standout title, appealing to both veteran players and newcomers to the Forgotten Realms setting.
2.3 A 160-Page Mega-Adventure
Spanning 160 pages, Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave is a mega-adventure that delves into a vast conspiracy threatening the Realms. This comprehensive module provides intricate details, including locations, NPCs, and encounters, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience. Designed for levels 4-8, it offers a mix of exploration, combat, and role-playing opportunities, making it a substantial addition to any Forgotten Realms campaign.
The Setting and Locations
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave unfolds in iconic locations like Wheloon, the Vast Swamp, and the Plane of Shadow, each rich with lore and danger.
3.1 The City of Wheloon and Its Significance
Wheloon, a city in Cormyr, is central to the adventure, featuring a false temple of Mystra. Its green slate roofs and strategic location make it a hub of intrigue. The city’s new temple serves as a front for dark forces, drawing players into a web of corruption and deception, vital to the plot’s progression.
3.2 The Vast Swamp and Its Role in the Adventure
The Vast Swamp, a treacherous and mysterious region, plays a crucial role in the adventure. It serves as a hiding ground for enemies and a key location for uncovering the conspiracy. Players must navigate its dangers, encountering hostile creatures like lizardfolk, while unraveling the plot that threatens Cormyr. The swamp’s harsh environment adds layers of challenge and atmosphere to the adventure;
3.3 The Plane of Shadow as a Key Location
The Plane of Shadow is a critical locale in the adventure, offering a unique environment steeped in darkness and intrigue. Serving as a staging ground for the forces of Shar and Cyric, it introduces players to shadowy creatures and treacherous terrain. The Plane’s eerie atmosphere and challenging encounters make it a memorable and integral part of the narrative, enhancing the overall adventure’s depth and complexity.
The Main Conspiracy and Antagonists
The adventure centers on a sinister plot by Shar and Cyric’s agents to corrupt Mystra’s worship, destabilizing Cormyr and the Weave through deceit and dark magic.
4.1 The Evil Agents of Shar and Cyric
The agents of Shar and Cyric, powerful deities of darkness and lies, orchestrate a plot to corrupt Mystra’s worship, exploiting the chaos in Cormyr and the Weave. These agents, fueled by malevolent intentions, seek to undermine the balance of magic and plunge the realm into shadow. Their influence spreads through deception, manipulating key figures and sowing discord.
4.2 The Corruption of Mystra’s Worship
The corruption of Mystra’s worship lies at the heart of the conspiracy, as dark forces manipulate her followers and rituals. A false temple, disguised as a sacred site, serves as a front for twisted magic and sacrifices. This corruption weakens the Weave, destabilizing magic across Cormyr and threatening to plunge the realm into chaos. The agents of darkness exploit this corruption to further their sinister agenda.
The Adventure Plot
The adventure unfolds as heroes investigate a false temple of Mystra, battle lizardfolk in the Vast Swamp, and confront dark forces in the Plane of Shadow.
5.1 Investigating the False Temple of Mystra
The adventure begins with the construction of a new temple in Wheloon, supposedly dedicated to Mystra. However, the temple is revealed to be a front for dark rituals led by agents of Shar and Cyric. Players must uncover the corruption, decipher cryptic clues, and confront the evil forces manipulating the faithful. The investigation reveals the temple’s true purpose: to weaken the Weave and spread darkness across Cormyr.
5.2 Battling Lizardfolk and Other Enemies
Beyond the temple, the adventure thrusts players into the Vast Swamp, where they face relentless lizardfolk ambushes. These reptilian foes are manipulated by darker forces, serving Shar and Cyric. Combat scenarios are intense, with the swamp’s treacherous terrain adding complexity. Players must also contend with other enemies, including undead and shadow creatures, all part of the conspiracy to corrupt the Weave and plunge Cormyr into chaos.
5.3 The Final Confrontation and Resolution
The climax unfolds in the Plane of Shadow, where heroes face Shar and Cyric’s powerful agents. An epic battle ensues, testing strategy and strength. Victory restores balance to the Weave, halting the corruption of Mystra’s worship and saving Cormyr from darkness. This decisive confrontation concludes the adventure, leaving a lasting impact on the Realms and its inhabitants, ensuring the forces of light prevail.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Features balanced encounters, strategic combat, and varied challenges, encouraging teamwork and problem-solving. Designed to engage players with diverse playstyles, the adventure offers dynamic gameplay experiences.
6.1 Balanced Encounters for Party Play
The adventure offers balanced encounters tailored for parties, ensuring challenges scale with character levels. Combat scenarios are varied, from skirmishes with lizardfolk to battles with shadowy fiends. Strategic thinking and teamwork are rewarded, with encounters designed to test diverse skills and playstyles. This balance ensures all party members can contribute meaningfully, fostering collaboration and dynamic gameplay experiences throughout the campaign.
6.2 Strategic Challenges and Combat Scenarios
The adventure features diverse combat scenarios, from battling lizardfolk in the Vast Swamp to confronting shadowy enemies in the Plane of Shadow. Encounters are strategically designed to challenge parties, requiring tactical thinking and adaptability. Combat scales with character progression, ensuring consistent difficulty. The module offers dynamic battles that cater to various playstyles, blending melee, ranged, and magical tactics to create engaging and memorable conflicts throughout the story.
Reception and Reviews
Players and critics praised the module’s balanced encounters but noted it felt less compelling than other Forgotten Realms adventures, offering solid gameplay but lacking standout moments.
7.1 Player and Critic Feedback
Players praised the module’s balanced encounters and strategic challenges, while critics noted its solid design but lack of standout moments compared to other Forgotten Realms adventures. Many found the story engaging but felt it lacked depth in certain areas, making it a good but not exceptional experience. The adventure’s ability to adapt to different playstyles was commended, though some critics felt it was overly generic in its execution and pacing.
7.2 Strengths and Weaknesses of the Module
The module excels in its balanced encounters and strategic combat scenarios, offering a challenging yet fair experience for players. Its detailed setting, particularly in locations like Wheloon and the Plane of Shadow, adds depth to the story. However, critics note its predictable plot and lack of standout moments, making it feel somewhat generic compared to other Forgotten Realms adventures. Despite this, it remains a solid choice for players seeking a classic D&D experience.
Design and Development
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave was crafted by Richard Baker, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Matthew Sernett, and James Wyatt for the 3.5 edition.
8.1 The Team Behind the Adventure
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave was developed by renowned designers Richard Baker, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan, Matthew Sernett, and James Wyatt. Their collaborative effort ensured a cohesive and engaging narrative, blending intricate plots with dynamic gameplay mechanics. This team’s expertise in Forgotten Realms lore and Dungeons & Dragons mechanics made the module a standout in the series.
8.2 The Module’s Place in the Forgotten Realms Series
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave serves as the first installment in a three-part adventure path within the Forgotten Realms series. This 160-page module sets the stage for subsequent adventures, introducing key locations and plot threads. Designed for the 3.5 edition, it seamlessly integrates into the broader Realms lore, offering a compelling narrative that expands the world while remaining accessible as a standalone story.
Legacy and Impact
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave left a lasting mark as the first Forgotten Realms hardcover super-adventure, influencing future modules and enriching the D&D community.
9.1 Influence on Subsequent Adventures
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave set a precedent for Forgotten Realms adventures, inspiring later modules with its intricate plot and detailed settings. Its success as a hardcover super-adventure influenced the development of subsequent Forgotten Realms campaigns, encouraging more ambitious and interconnected storylines. The module’s structure and depth became a benchmark for future designs, shaping the direction of D&D adventures.
9.2 Community Modifications and Adaptations
The community has embraced Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave by creating custom adaptations, including adjusted encounters for higher-level play and homebrew expansions. Fans have also converted the adventure to 5th Edition, enhancing its accessibility. Digital tools like FoundryVTT have enabled virtual tabletop experiences, while some DMs have integrated additional plot threads or modified key antagonists, showcasing the module’s versatility and enduring appeal among D&D enthusiasts.
Tips for Running the Adventure
- Prepare thoroughly by studying key locations like Wheloon and the Plane of Shadow.
- Guide players to uncover the conspiracy against Mystra gradually.
- Balanced encounters ensure challenges suit party strength and level.
- Use vivid descriptions to highlight the Weave’s decay and its impact on Cormyr.
10.1 Preparing for the Campaign
To run Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave effectively, DMs should thoroughly familiarize themselves with the module’s 160 pages, focusing on key locations like Wheloon and the Plane of Shadow. Understanding the main antagonists, Shar and Cyric’s agents, is crucial for maintaining the adventure’s dark tone. Prepare encounters to reflect the Weave’s decay and its impact on magic. Emphasize the conspiracy’s depth to engage players in unraveling the mystery. Ensure balanced challenges for levels 4-8, adapting as needed for party strength. Highlighting the significance of Mystra’s corruption will enhance the narrative’s urgency. Finally, use the module’s detailed descriptions to immerse players in Cormyr’s rich setting and the looming threat to the Weave.
10.2 Enhancing Player Experience
To enhance player experience in Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave, emphasize the mysterious atmosphere of locations like Wheloon and the Plane of Shadow. Encourage roleplay with NPCs tied to the conspiracy, allowing players to uncover the plot’s depth. Highlight the corruption of Mystra’s worship to create moral dilemmas and narrative stakes. Use descriptive language to immerse players in the decaying Weave and the sinister forces at play, ensuring a memorable adventure.
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave stands as a landmark adventure in the Forgotten Realms, blending epic scope with intricate lore, leaving a lasting impact on D&D history.
11.1 Final Thoughts on Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave is a landmark adventure that masterfully blends intricate storytelling, strategic combat, and immersive world-building. Its epic scope and rich lore make it a standout in the Forgotten Realms series. Designed by a talented team, the module offers a balanced and engaging experience, appealing to both players and DMs. Its legacy endures as a testament to innovative adventure design, leaving a lasting impact on D&D history.
11.2 Its Place in Dungeons & Dragons History
Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave holds a significant place in D&D history as the first-ever Forgotten Realms hardcover super-adventure. Its innovative design and ambitious scope set a new standard for mega-adventures, influencing future modules. This 160-page milestone showcased the potential of large-scale storytelling in the Forgotten Realms, leaving a lasting legacy and inspiring subsequent adventures with its rich narrative and intricate gameplay mechanics.