U3: The Final Enemy (1983) – what a thrilling title – wraps up the Saltmarsh trilogy with the party going on a recon mission inside an enemy stronghold ahead of a larger siege.

Having the gathering of strategic information be the goal rather than wholesale slaughter is extremely unusual for an early D&D scenario, I think, and is likely still a novel test of restraint for even modern players. The opposition is substantial should the party go in loud, and doing so is likely to be disastrous for the overall military action even if the players survive.

Compared to the other modules in the series, though, this one is pretty straightforward. There are still some surprises, but nothing so philosophically different as what form the core of the previous modules.

This one boasts some early Keith Parkinson art, which doesn’t yet look very Parkisonian, honestly. And I have no idea what is up with that color piece – is it a misprint? Some weird stylistic choice? No clue.