Night Voices, Desert Sands

A DUNGEON WORLD adventure about misplaced children

by Osmond Arnesto

" You ca n fi n d th i n g s i n th e d esert th a t

sh ou l d n t be th ere.
Sea sh el l s. Fi sh bon es.
You a re a sea sh el l n ow."

G on a l , on e of th e m a n y

CREDITS & LEGAL

Artwork:

With Thanks To:

Qu i n n Dom browski , CC

M y pa tron s Em i l y, Soph i a

BY- SA 2.0

Bra n d t, a n d Ll oyd Ti su el a

www. fl i ckr. com /ph otos/q u i n n a n ya /

Pl ea se con si d er su pporti n g th e
crea ti on of th ese a d ven tu res a t

Fonts:

www. pa treon . com /oa rn estorpg

Am a ti c SC & J osefi n
Sa n s, SI L O FL 1 .1

Writing, Design, & Layout:

www. g oog l e. com /fon ts

Osm on d Arn esto

oa rn esto@ g m a i l . com

Dungeon World:
Sa g e LaTorra & Ad a m

Night Voices, Desert Sands

Koebel , CC- BY 3 .0

N ovem ber 20 1 4

d u n g eon - worl d . com

GETTING STARTED
To sta rt, a l l you a n d you r g rou p wi l l n eed to pl a y th i s
a d ven tu re i s a t l ea st two si x- si d ed d i ce, pa per, a n d
pen ci l s. Th e con ten ts of th i s book ca n be u sed h owever
you wa n t i n you r g a m i n g , bu t I th i n k i t works best a s th e
fi rst sessi on (s) of a n ew Du n g eon Worl d ca m pa i g n . As a
fi n a l n ote: j u st m a ke su re th a t you r pl a yers kn ow th ey wi l l
be pl a yi n g a s ch i l d ren wh o, for a l l i n ten ts a n d pu rposes,
h a ve been orph a n ed . You r g a m e ca n of cou rse be a s
l i g h t- h ea rted a s you wa n t, bu t th ere i s a l wa ys th e
possi bi l i ty th a t th i s ca n be a sen si ti ve su bj ect for som e
pl a yers.

INTRODUCTION
Sta rt wi th som eth i n g l i ke th i s:
Som e of th em a re sta rti n g to ca l l th e M a ta a n
orph a n a g e. Som eti m es you h ea r th e word h a u n ted ,
bu t on l y a s m u rm u rs i n th e n i g h t. You , h owever, a re sti l l
resi sti n g th e u rg e to ca l l i t h om e. I t wou l d feel l i ke a
su rren d er. Besi d es, you ca n t be h ere forever.
Wh y a re you r pa ren ts fi g h ti n g for th e Pa tri ots?
Wh a t keepsa ke d i d you bri n g wi th you wh en you were
ru sh ed ou t of you r h om e?
Look a t you r fel l ow i n m a te on th e l eft. Ask for th ei r
n a m e. You a re bond ed by fri en d sh i p. Wh a t i s som eth i n g
you a d m i re a bou t th em?
Look a t th e on e on th e ri g h t. Ask for th ei r n a m e. You a re

bond ed by ri va l ry. Wh a t i s som eth i n g th ey d o better

th a n a n yon e el se?
Wri te d own you r na me, you r keepsa ke, th e th i n g th a t i s

a d mired a bou t you , a n d th e th i n g th a t i s you r ta l ent.

Pl a yers ta ke a +1 to a l l rol l s th a t sh owca se wh a t i s

a d mired a bou t th em a n d to a l l rol l s th a t u se th ei r

ta l ent. An y rol l m a d e to a i d or i n terfere som eon e a
pl a yer i s bond ed to i s si m i l a rl y g i ven a +1 . Pl a yers a l so
ta ke a -1 to a l l rol l s i f th ei r keepsa ke i s ta ken from
th em , wh i ch wi l l en d on l y wh en th ey g et i t ba ck.

An d fol l ow th a t wi th som eth i n g l i ke th i s:

I t wa s d i ffi cu l t to fi n d sl eep ton i g h t. Ea ch ti m e you r
eyel i d s g rew too h ea vy to ca rry, you cou l d swea r h ea ri n g
th e fa i n t voi ce ca l l i n g you r n a m es. You fi n a l l y rose from
bed to fi n d sca r m i ssi n g from h i s. Wi th a n ewfou n d
sen se of u rg en cy, you ch a sed th e sou n d th rou g h th e
twi sted h a l l wa ys to th e l a rg e wel l i n th e ba sem en t. You
see h i m , fl a i l i n g i n th e wa ter, a s i f h e wa s th e ba th toy of
a n i n sol en t ch i l d . An d th en you h ea r th e g i g g l i n g i n th e
wa l l s. Wh a t d o you d o?

G H OST CH I LD : Th e si g h t of a you n g g h ost often

l ea ves a h ea vy h ea rt i n i ts wi tn esses, wi th i ts i m pl i ca ti on s
of a l i fe cu t sh ort a n d a n ever- en d i n g exi sten ce of
con fu si on . I n m a n y ca ses, th e ph a n tom of a ch i l d sti l l
bel i eves i tsel f to be a m on g th e l i vi n g . M a d n ess i s
com m on i n th ose wh o a re n ot a bl e to m a ke sen se of th i s
n ew worl d . I N STI N CT: to fi n d a fri en d

Grou p, Sm a ll, In tellig en t

0 H P 0 Arm or 0 d a m a g e
- Fi n d a toy i n everyth i n g
- Beg for h el p

Pl a yers i n fl i ct d 4 d a ma g e, ba reh a n d ed . Th e fi rst ti m e

a pl a yer i s h u rt, th ey wi l l wri te d own I wil l be fine.
Th e secon d ti m e, I a m ba d l y wou nd ed . Th e th i rd
ti m e, I a m fa d ing a wa y. After th e th i rd ti m e, h a ve
th em rol l th ei r l a st brea th a s u su a l . On a 7+ , th ey wi l l
l i ve, bu t th ey n eed h el p. Tel l th em to cross ou t I a m

fa d ing a wa y, a n d a l so wh a t th ey see wh i l e between

th e worl d s of l i fe a n d d ea th . On a m i ss, th ey wi l l wri te
d own I a m g one. Th ey ca n ch a n g e sea ts a n d crea te
a n ew ch a ra cter a s i n th e i n trod u cti on .

OTHER QUESTIONS
- Wh a t wa s th e M a ta before i t wa s repu rposed to
h ou se ch i l d ren l i ke you? Wh y wa s i t bu i l t i n th e m i d d l e of
th e d esert?
- Wh y d o you r peopl e h a te th e crown? Wh y d o you r
peopl e l ove th e crown?
- Wh a t d a n g ers a re ru m ored to l u m ber i n th e d esert by
d a y a n d sl i th er over th e sa n d s by n i g h t?

THE CARETAKERS
Th ere wi l l a l wa ys be som eon e wh o i s i n i t for th ei r own
g a i n . Ch oose on e or m ore before you beg i n , or l et you r
pl a yers rol l s revea l wh o h a s u l teri or m oti ves. H owever
you d eci d e, th a t person s d a n g er wi l l com e to bea r.

Sta kes
- Wh y wi l l th e ch i l d ren be forced to l ea ve th e M a ta?
- Wh o wi l l j oi n th e spi ri ts th a t etern a l l y wa l k i ts wa l l s?

Eullia Rey

i s th e d e fa cto m a tron of th e M a ta a s i t

stores, for l a ck of a g en tl er term , th e ch i l d ren of th e m en

a n d wom en fi g h ti n g th e M on a rch i sts over con trol of th e
i n d epen d en t Du ch y of Porra . Sh e i s stoi c, i f col d a t ti m es,
bu t h er pra cti ced ski l l i n feti l l eri a m a kes h er a n i d ea l
l ea d er sh ou l d th e crown fi n d i ts wa y to th e M a ta .

A Fractured Genius
Grim Portents
- On e of Eu l l i a s ch a rm s i s stron g er th a n a n ti ci pa ted
- Del i vered l etters bri n g ba d ti d i n g s on th e Pa tri ot fron t
- Eu l l i a h ol es h ersel f u p i n h er stu d y, pori n g over books
- Th e food a n d su ppl y ca ra va n d oes n ot a rri ve
- Li fel i ke fi g u res of d esert bea sts a re fou n d i n h er stu d y

Doom: Eu l l i a s con cocti on i s m i xed i n to th e n ext m ea l ,

bu t i t i s too stron g a n d i n stea d of g i fti n g everyon e wi th
stren g th , tu rn s i ts con su m ers to l i fel ess sta tu es

Xavier Capello

a cts a s th e M a ta s sch ool tea ch er a n d

resi d en t ph ysi ci a n . H e com es from a n obl e u pbri n g i n g ,

bu t a pa m pered l i fe wa s too i d l e for th e you n g sch ol a r.
H e h a s been ca l l ed a rrog a n t a n d a bra si ve, bu t u n d er a l l
th e bl u ster i s a ki n d h ea rt th a t stu d en ts wi l l a l wa ys fi n d ,
a n d a yea rn i n g on e d espera tel y tryi n g to vye for th e
a tten ti on of th e m a tron .

A Lovestruck Spy
Grim Portents
- Xa vi er a rg u es wi th th e pri est a bou t th e wa r
- An u n sen t l etter to th e crown i s fou n d
- Th e pri est s bod y i s m u rd ered d u ri n g h i s pra yers
- Xa vi er tri es to con vi n ce th e m a tron to fl ee wi th h i m
- A ri d er i s ca n be seen i n th e d i sta n ce on e n i g h t

Doom: Th e l on g a rm of th e crown a rri ves a n d

sl a u g h ters a s m a n y a s th ey ca n i n a sta tem en t to th e
Pa tri ots

A pl a yer wh o i s h u rt ca n a l wa ys a pproa ch th e
ph ysi ci a n for m ed i ca l a tten ti on . Th a t i s, i f th ey a re
wi l l i n g to en d u re th e probi n g q u esti on s. H e m i g h t
n eed m ore th a n even th e m ost wel l - fa bri ca ted l i e i f
th e wou n d i s g ri evou s. After trea tm en t, a pl a yer ca n

immed ia tel y cross ou t I wil l be fine. Th ey wi l l n eed

a t l ea st a week of rest before th ey ca n cross ou t I
a m ba d l y wou nd ed " a n d possi bl y a l ot l ong er for " I
a m fa d ing a wa y."

Lluc Albert ,

a pri est wh o fl ed th e cou rt of th e crown , ca n

u su a l l y be fou n d sweepi n g d u sty room s or h a m m eri n g

d own l oose boa rd s. H e i s a q u i et m a n , n ea r i n vi si bl e i n
a n a tm osph ere of ru n n i n g ch i l d ren , boi sterou s d octors,
a n d th e l oom i n g th rea t of wa rfa re. H e i s l a m e i n on e
l eg , so th e sou n d of th e cru tch a l wa ys h era l d s h i s a rri va l .

A Mourning Diabolist
Grim Portents
- A ca n d l el i g h t vi g i l i s h el d for m em bers of th e
pri esth ood th a t were l ost i n th e wa r
- Ll u c borrows th e ph ysi ci a n s a n a tom y books a n d th e
m a tron s books on h ea l i n g
- Th e sta tu e of a m i n or d evi l i s fou n d i n a n u n u sed room
- A few ch i l d ren g o m i ssi n g , th ei r bed s cl ea red
- Ll u c tra ps a wa ywa rd g h ost i n a sm a l l g em

Doom: Cou n tl ess ch i l d ren a re g i fted to th e a l oj a i n th e

cel l a r, a n d Ll u c d i sa ppea rs a fter ca ptu ri n g th ei r sou l s
ALO J A: Al so kn own a s wa ter- wom en , th ese a n ci en t
bei n g s m a ke th ei r h om es u n d er th e wa ves of fresh wa ter.
Th ei r d ea l i n g s wi th h u m a n s a re u su a l l y l i m i ted to fi n d i n g
l a n d - l ocked m a tes to keep th em com pa n y, or h ooki n g
ca rel ess ch i l d ren wh o frol i c too cl osel y to th e sh ore. Th e
ca ptu red ra rel y su rvi ve th e m eeti n g . I N STI N CT: to
protect fa m i l y

Solita ry, Stea lthy, Deviou s, In tellig en t

1 2 H P 0 Arm or d 8 d a m a g e, rea ch (h ook)
- H i d e j u st bel ow th e su rfa ce
- Em bra ce th e l i fe ou t of som eth i n g
- H ea t wa ter to boi l i n g tem pera tu res

LOCATIONS
The cellar
Th e M a ta s store of food i s repl en i sh ed a t l ea st on ce a
m on th , a n d provi d es for h a rd ch eese a n d pa a m b
tom q u et wi th every m ea l . Despi te th e pri est s efforts,
th e occa si on a l , h a rm l ess d esert bea st wi l l fi n d i ts wa y i n .
Th e m a i n a ttra cti on i s th e en orm ou s wel l th a t d ra ws i ts
wa ter sou rce from a n u n d erg rou n d spri n g .

I mpressions: ri ppl es of yel l owed wa ter, a m u rky

refl ecti on , wh i spers from u n d ern ea th , a l i za rd expl ori n g
th e wa l l , m i ce g n a wi n g on g ra i n s, l on g sh a d ows on th e
fl oor

When you ta l k to a spirit of the d epa rted , rol l . On a

1 0 + , i t wi l l tel l you wh a t wi l l a l l ow i t to fi n a l l y rest. On a
7- 9, th e G M wi l l a sk you on e of th e fol l owi n g , to wh i ch
you m u st a n swer tru th fu l l y a n d a fter wh i ch th e spi ri t
d i sa ppea rs:
- Wh o or wh a t d o you sti l l bel i eve i n?
- Wh a t a re you m ost a fra i d of?
- Wh y d oes pa rt of you wi sh you r pa ren ts n ever retu rn?
On a m i ss, you sa y som eth i n g wron g a n d th e g h ost
i m m ed i a tel y becom es h osti l e.

10

Eullia Reys study

Wh en th e m a tron i s n ot overseei n g th e l ectu res, ta l ki n g
bu si n ess wi th th e ph ysi ci a n a n d th e pri est, or i n specti n g
th e g rou n d s, sh e ca n be fou n d i n a room sh e h a s ta ken
a s h er reposi tory of ch a rm s a n d feti sh es. Everyon e i n th e
M a ta i s forbi d d en to en ter h er stu d y wi th ou t h er, n ot
th a t th e m a tron h a s freq u en t vi si tors.

I mpressions: m u rky bottl es l i n i n g th e sh el ves, a ca t

sl i n ki n g u n d erfoot, j a rs of bon es a n d fea th ers, th e sm el l
of stra n g e h erbs, th e ti cki n g of th e m ech a n i ca l cl ock,
cl u ttered books a n d pa pers

When you sa mpl e one of the ma trons potions , rol l a

d 6 or ch oose on e power from th e fol l owi n g l i st. Th e
power n ever l ea ves you , u n l ess you a sk th e m a tron to
rem ove i t from you . Th e G M wi l l tel l you wh a t i s req u i red
of you i n th a t ca se, a n d h ow h a rsh l y you a re to be
pu n i sh ed . You ca n on l y d o th i s on ce.
1 . You a re a bl e to u n d ersta n d th e crea tu res of th e d esert,
bu t th ey ca n n ot u n d ersta n d you .
2. You a re a bl e to see th rou g h wa l l s, bu t on l y th e peopl e
beh i n d th em .
3 . You a re a bl e to ta ke th e form of a ca t, bu t you a re
l i m i ted to wh a t th e a n i m a l i s a bl e to d o.
4. You a re a bl e to brea th e u n d erwa ter, bu t you wi l l
a l wa ys a ttra ct i n sects on l a n d .
5 . You g row a pa i r of g oa t s h orn s th a t d ea l d 6 d a m a g e
(h ea d bu tt), bu t th ey a re n ot ea si l y con cea l ed .
6 . You a re a bl e to becom e i n vi si bl e for a sh ort ti m e, bu t
you r sh a d ow i s a l wa ys presen t.

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The Mata courtyard

Th e rem n a n ts of th e ori g i n a l a rch i tects a ttem pts to
m a ke th e M a ta a pl ea si n g si g h t to l ook a t rem a i n ; th ere
a re h a l f- fi n i sh ed m u ra l s, a n a ssortm en t of cl i pped d esert
fa u n a , a n d a n u n i n sta l l ed fou n ta i n . Th e ch i l d ren ru sh to
th ei r esta bl i sh ed spots a fter m a n d a ted h ou rs of l ea rn i n g ,
sepa ra ti n g i n to va ri ou s cl i q u es, or si tti n g a l on e.

I mpressions: sch ool ya rd ta u n ts yel l ed a cross th e

cou rtya rd , a popu l a r son g su n g ou t of key, pi l es of
u n even rocks, trees a n d a n i m a l s d ra wn i n th e sa n d , th e
d u st fa l l i n g off a bou n ci n g ba l l , a sca ry story tol d by a
sm a l l fi re

When you g et into a bra wl with one of you r fel l ow

inma tes , rol l . On a 1 0 + , a l l 3 a re tru e. On a 7- 9,
ch oose 2. Wh a t you d on ' t ch oose becom es fa l se. On a
m i ss, ch oose 1 .
- You wi n , a n d g a i n th e respect of th e l oser s fri en d s.
- You a re n ot h u rt i n th e scu ffl e, ou tsi d e of m a ybe a
m i n or bru i se n ot worth worryi n g over.
- N on e of you r ca reta kers fi n d ou t a bou t i t.

12

ITEMS
M oon cha rm: (1 u se) A feti sh m a d e ou t of bl u ej a y
fea th ers wra pped a rou n d sn a ke ta i l bon es i n th e sh a pe
of a crescen t. Cru sh i n g i t a l l ows th e u ser to m a n i pu l a te
sm a l l obj ects from a fa r for a sh ort ti m e.

Gol d en ma sk: A pa per- th i n vei l th a t covers th e ea rs. At

th e cost of th ei r h ea ri n g , i t a l l ows i ts u ser to be si l en t to
th e worl d , i n a l l of th ei r m ovem en ts or a ttem pts a t
ta l ki n g wh i l e i t i s on th ei r h ea d .

Frog l eg ensa ima d a : (3 u ses) Th i s pa stry i s fi l l ed wi th

g rou n d frog l eg s a n d a certa i n com bi n a ti on of h erbs. A
si n g l e bi te i s en ou g h to m a ke u se of i ts m a g i ca l property,
wh i ch a l l ows th e ea ter to si n g th ei r l i sten ers to sl eep.

Ll u c Al berts broom: Th i s seem i n g l y ord i n a ry broom h a s

been en ch a n ted to a l l ow th e u ser to ri d e i t i n th e a i r a s
l on g a s th ey repea t th e ph ra se, H ere, th ere, h en ce,
th en ce. I t ca n a ct a s a keepsa ke for th ose wh o h a ve l ost
th ei rs.

Eu l l ia Reys ha zel wa nd : (3 u ses) I n voki n g th e power

of th e wa n d ca u ses a l l h u rt to d i sa ppea r, a n d even
sl i g h tl y i n vi g ora tes th e ta rg et (+1 forwa rd ). Th e wa n d ca n
a l so a ct a s a keepsa ke for th ose wh o h a ve l ost th ei rs.

13

EPILOGUE
Arra n g e th e Du n g eon Worl d ch a ra cter sh eets on th e
ta bl e. Tel l you r pl a yers som eth i n g l i ke th i s:
Pi ck a ch a ra cter sh eet. H ow d i d you com e to be kn own
by th i s m on i ker?
Th e M a ta sa w m a n y vi si tors sol d i ers, fa m i l i es,
sca ven g ers com e th rou g h a fter you l eft. H ow h a s you r
cou n try ch a n g ed i n th e l a st twen ty yea rs?
As you g rew, you fou n d n ever l ost th e a bi l i ty to ta p i n to
a n y powers you m i g h t h a ve g a i n ed . I t m i g h t h a ve seen
u se m a n y ti m es i n th e fa ce of wa r. H ow h a s th i s cou n try
sta yed th e sa m e i n th e l a st twen ty yea rs?
You a l l sh a re a bon d th a t ca n n ot be resol ved . We

su rvived the M a ta . Wh a t h a s brou g h t you a l l ba ck

tog eth er?

14