Dungeon Crawl - Lankhmar #4 Violence for Votishal *

System: Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) Setting: Lankhmar – Fritz Leiber’s world of Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser Module Type: Mid‑level adventure (typically for 3rd level characters) Tone: Gritty sword‑and‑sorcery, urban intrigue, divine weirdness, escalating chaos

🩸 Core Premise

The adventure centers on Votishal, a long‑forgotten god of violence whose influence begins to seep back into Lankhmar. As his presence grows, the city becomes increasingly unstable:

• Brawls erupt spontaneously

• Citizens become unnaturally aggressive

• Strange cultists appear

• Old grudges flare into bloodshed

The PCs are drawn into this rising tide of brutality and must uncover the source before the city tears itself apart.

🕵️ What the Players Encounter (Non‑Spoiler)

The adventure blends:

Urban investigation

Players navigate Lankhmar’s alleys, taverns, guilds, and temples, piecing together clues about the resurgence of Votishal.

Moral ambiguity

As with most Lankhmar adventures, nothing is clean. Allies may be untrustworthy, enemies may be victims, and the “right” choice is rarely obvious.

Sword‑and‑sorcery weirdness

Expect:

• Strange relics

• Divine manifestations

• Unpredictable magical effects

• Encounters that feel more like Leiber than Tolkien

Escalating stakes

The violence in the city grows the longer the PCs take, creating a sense of urgency and pressure.

🧩 What Makes This Module Stand Out

• Strong Lankhmar flavor — smoky taverns, corrupt officials, back‑alley deals, and gods who meddle in mortal affairs.

• Player‑driven structure — the adventure is reactive; the city changes based on the party’s actions.

• A memorable antagonist — Votishal’s influence is thematic, atmospheric, and mechanically interesting.

• Great for roleplay — factions, cultists, and NPCs with competing agendas give players lots to chew on.

🎲 Running It as a Judge

If you’re planning to run it, the adventure rewards:

• Letting the city feel alive and dangerous

• Emphasizing moral complexity

• Allowing players to choose their own investigative path

• Leaning into the creeping supernatural dread

It’s a compact module, but it packs a lot of atmosphere and tension.