The Immortal Storm (module)
Encyclopedia
The Immortal Storm is a 1986 adventure module
for the Immortals Rules
expansion to the Basic Rules
of the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
.
A strange, supernatural storm appears and threatens the entire multiverse. The Hierarchs of all the Spheres are unable to stop the storm. A supernatural eye sits in the center of the storm, watching the Hierarchs, until it finally makes contact and gives them a message in the form of a puzzle. The Hierarchs give the puzzle to the player character
s as a test to see how fit they are to undertake the mission. If they solve the puzzle, they will know what they need to destroy the storm; however, even if they do not solve it, the Hierarchs have already solved it and will impart that knowledge to the characters regardless.
The characters then begin searching the planes
to collect what they need to destroy the storm. The climax of the adventure features the characters searching for something in New York
, exploring that city as well as Chicago
. After collecting all the ingredients, the characters stand guarding the Hierarchs as they destroy the storm.
, and was published in 1986 as a 40-page booklet with an outer folder. The module features cover art by Larry Elmore
and interior art by Valerie Valusek
and Larry Elmore. This was the first module produced for the D&D Immortals Rules set, designed for a party of Novice Temporals – the lowest level of Immortal character.
reviewed The Immortal Storm for White Dwarf
#84. He compared the adventure's premise to that of Star Trek: the Motion Picture
. Davis points out the logical flaws that "everybody knows Our Heroes will get the mission no matter how badly they do" on the test at the beginning of the adventure, and that the storm would list the things needed to destroy it. He also felt that searching for items was a waste of the scope of Immortal characters, and that it would have been a far more interesting scenario to have the characters dealing directly with the storm itself. Davis did find the different planes presented in the adventure imaginative, although he found that the plane consisting entirely of music staves and populated by sentient musical notes "smacks more of Dr. Seuss
than D&D", and criticized the presence of air-filled tunnels in the Plane of Earth to help its inhabitants move about. Davis ridiculed the adventure's climax: "Our Heroes happen to need something from this humble little plane of ours, and as everybody knows, if it's vital to the survival of the multiverse, well gee whiz, it's just gotta be in the USA. I must admit, though, having an inter-planar gate on the New York subway might explain a thing or two." Davis also felt that the possibilities of newly-Immortal characters were "severely wasted by sending them on a trip down the shops. I'm sure that it would have been possible to come up with something a little more grand in scale for the first Immortals module." He felt that this gave the impression that the module was produced in a hurry, and concluded the review by stating "the module does have its moments, but my overall impression was one of disappointment".
Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, an adventure or module is a pre-packaged book or box set that helps the Dungeon Master manage the plot or story of a game...
for the Immortals Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Immortals Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Immortals Rules is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1986 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-Publication history:...
expansion to the Basic Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
of the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
.
Plot summary
In The Immortal Storm, a scenario for novice Immortals-level characters, Immortals from the five spheres of power (matter, energy, thought, time, and entropy) must join together in a quest through the planes for the Key to Eternity, to stop a cosmic storm.A strange, supernatural storm appears and threatens the entire multiverse. The Hierarchs of all the Spheres are unable to stop the storm. A supernatural eye sits in the center of the storm, watching the Hierarchs, until it finally makes contact and gives them a message in the form of a puzzle. The Hierarchs give the puzzle to the player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
s as a test to see how fit they are to undertake the mission. If they solve the puzzle, they will know what they need to destroy the storm; however, even if they do not solve it, the Hierarchs have already solved it and will impart that knowledge to the characters regardless.
The characters then begin searching the planes
Plane (Dungeons & Dragons)
The planes of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game constitutes the multiverse in which the game takes place.In the earliest versions of Dungeons & Dragons, the concept of the Inner, Ethereal, Prime Material, Astral and Outer Planes was introduced; at the time there were only four Inner Planes...
to collect what they need to destroy the storm. The climax of the adventure features the characters searching for something in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, exploring that city as well as Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. After collecting all the ingredients, the characters stand guarding the Hierarchs as they destroy the storm.
Publication history
IM1 The Immortal Storm was written by Frank MentzerFrank Mentzer
Jacob Franklin "Frank" Mentzer III , is an American fantasy author and game designer best known for his work on early materials for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. He was a performing folk musician from 1968 to 1975, and played one concert at the White House during the...
, and was published in 1986 as a 40-page booklet with an outer folder. The module features cover art by Larry Elmore
Larry Elmore
Larry Elmore is an American fantasy artist whose work includes creating illustrations for video games, comics, magazines and fantasy books. His list of work includes illustrations for Dungeons & Dragons, Dragonlance, and the comic strip series SnarfQuest...
and interior art by Valerie Valusek
Valerie Valusek
-Works:Valerie Valusek has produced interior illustrations for many Dungeons & Dragons books and Dragon magazine since 1985, as well as interior art for several Dragonlance novels, and cover art for the 1992 module Rary the Traitor...
and Larry Elmore. This was the first module produced for the D&D Immortals Rules set, designed for a party of Novice Temporals – the lowest level of Immortal character.
Reception
Graeme DavisGraeme Davis (game designer)
Graeme Davis is a writer and editor. He has worked extensively in the gaming industry and was one of the original designers of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay....
reviewed The Immortal Storm for White Dwarf
White Dwarf (magazine)
White Dwarf is a magazine published by British games manufacturer Games Workshop. Initially covering a wide variety of fantasy and science-fiction role-playing and board games, particularly the role playing games Dungeons & Dragons, RuneQuest and Traveller...
#84. He compared the adventure's premise to that of Star Trek: the Motion Picture
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek: The Motion Picture is a 1979 American science fiction film released by Paramount Pictures. It is the first film based on the Star Trek television series. The film is set in the twenty-third century, when a mysterious and immensely powerful alien cloud called V'Ger approaches the Earth,...
. Davis points out the logical flaws that "everybody knows Our Heroes will get the mission no matter how badly they do" on the test at the beginning of the adventure, and that the storm would list the things needed to destroy it. He also felt that searching for items was a waste of the scope of Immortal characters, and that it would have been a far more interesting scenario to have the characters dealing directly with the storm itself. Davis did find the different planes presented in the adventure imaginative, although he found that the plane consisting entirely of music staves and populated by sentient musical notes "smacks more of Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg and, in one case, Rosetta Stone....
than D&D", and criticized the presence of air-filled tunnels in the Plane of Earth to help its inhabitants move about. Davis ridiculed the adventure's climax: "Our Heroes happen to need something from this humble little plane of ours, and as everybody knows, if it's vital to the survival of the multiverse, well gee whiz, it's just gotta be in the USA. I must admit, though, having an inter-planar gate on the New York subway might explain a thing or two." Davis also felt that the possibilities of newly-Immortal characters were "severely wasted by sending them on a trip down the shops. I'm sure that it would have been possible to come up with something a little more grand in scale for the first Immortals module." He felt that this gave the impression that the module was produced in a hurry, and concluded the review by stating "the module does have its moments, but my overall impression was one of disappointment".