Mark of Amber (1995) is the first, and last, adventure for the Glantri campaign box. It is also the last adventure for the Mystara line.

It is a sequel to one of my favorite modules, X2: Castle Amber (1982). In that module, inspired by some of the stories of Clark Ashton Smith, the Amber family comes to Glantri from France, the players uncover the family’s curse and, in lifting it, destroy the castle and everyone inside. Its pretty psychedelic, too.

This box assumes that the Amber family, now using their real French name, D’Ambreville, somehow came back, along with their castle, and now are a full principality of Glantri rather than a spooky secluded house in the wilds of the country. Stephen Amber (who was central to the curse in the original mod) is now the ruler of the principality and also an immortal who is central to the nuclear meta-magic available in Glantri.

Like Night of the Vampire, the adventure is laid out as a sandbox punctuated by special events. There are a number of dream sequences that are done very well, featuring difficult decisions that impact the resolution of the adventure. There is a wedding instead of a masquerade. There are golems. There are nice call-backs to the original scenario and lots of family skullduggery and a serial murderer. The climax is a bit crap, though, being a big brawl that pretty much requires the help of an NPC to win. Never a great way to go out.

Like X2, this adventure is a stand-out for me because, ending aside, it doesn’t feel like a D&D adventure. Its a lot of intrigue, really, and the surreal, narcotic atmosphere (a lingering influence of Clark Ashton Smith) is tasty as hell. It’s a shame it is pretty much the end of the line.