Close
Close
Advanced Search

D&D Solo Adventure: Citadel of the RavenClick to magnify
Quick Preview
/gs_flipbook/flip.php?xml=/demo_xml/245542.xml&w=500&h=354
Full‑size Preview
https://watermark.dmsguild.com/pdf_previews/245542-sample.pdf

D&D Solo Adventure: Citadel of the Raven

ADD TO WISHLIST >

5e Solo Gamebooks presents Citadel of the Raven, the third in our series of solo adventures. Citadel of the Raven is the sequel to Tyrant of Zhentil Keep, but is also playable as a standalone solo adventure. The first solo adventure in this series is titled The Death Knight’s Squire.

This is the gamebook/pdf. For the Fantasy Grounds version, click here.

This is a Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition adventure designed for one level 3 player, without a DM. It can also be played by two players without a DM, as a DM+1 adventure or even as a full DM-led campaign with multiple players, but it is primarily designed for a solo player. The written narrative entries in this book serve in place of the dungeon master and guide you through the adventure.

At 589 entries, you can expect a lot of variety from this solo quest. There are several main paths your character could take, and numerous encounters and options on those paths (including short sub-threads designed for specific classes), making the number of possible adventures practically endless. Add to that the characteristics of your class, and the numerous variegated combat encounters, and it’s safe to say that no two run-throughs of Citadel of the Raven will be the same.

24 .jpg maps are also included for use with various scenarios throughout the book, packaged as a zip file and loadable into any VTT you happen to be using. They also look great printed out, if you happen to be playing with miniatures.

At the end of this quest, you will advance to level 4, ready to continue with the next solo adventure in our series, The Tortured Land.


This is an outstanding product… a true D&D experience of the highest quality... You can expect a challenging and engaging D&D roleplaying experience from this solo adventure. 5 stars. I hope they make the entire series to level 20.

Ray D.


The Citadel of the Raven is an incredibly replayable solo adventure featuring diverse and challenging combat encounters, as well as a wide array of areas to explore.

Kristina Chun


I didn't know who to trust in the adventure, everyone seemed to have their own secret agenda going...Be ready to stay at the edge of your seats!

Adrian Aguirre Riofrio


Citadel Of The Raven is such a large solo adventure that I got lost. I got lost in the wilderness, and underground, before finding my way. And it's a great thing to explore a world where you can wander, have new adventures and discover a little bit of the unknown.

James Svoboda  


Citadel of the Raven, the next epic length solo-adventure instalment by author Paul Bimler, is heavy in immersive storytelling and glittered with moments of narrative-driven combat sequences, which leaves the player completely swimming in an enthralling high-fantasy adventure. The replayability is nearly endless and the combat, derived from a rich assortment of creatures and villains spanning D&D history, was nothing less than thrilling. In short, you’d be foolish to pass over this experience.

David La Boon



It might be a good idea to go and play through Tyrant of Zhentil Keep before you embark on this quest. Citadel of the Raven is playable as a standalone, but there are many clues and items gained in Tyrant of Zhentil Keep that may – or may not! – prove useful in this quest.

These books are written for players who can’t find a group, DMs who seem to have had that role thrust on them for all eternity, and anyone wanting to discover how a solo adventure works.

Please check out our full range of solo adventure titles:

Death Knight's Squire

Tyrant of Zhentil Keep

The Tortured Land

Drums at Daggerford

The Solo Adventurer's Toolbox

Solo Adventure Bundle 1 (First 4 solo adventures)

Eberron Solo Adventure: The Saviour of Sharn

Tables of Doom: 5E Solo Adventuring

Adventurers Wanted!: The Dread Vault of Tgozur

Adventurers Wanted: Labyrinth of Lies

Menace of the Icy Spire - 5e Solo Conversion

Rage of the Rakasta 5e Solo Conversion

Ghost of Lion Castle 5e Conversion

Toolbox Solo Adventure A1: The Dead Don't Sleep

pixel_trans.gif
 
 More from this Title's Contributors
pixel_trans.gif
 
 Customers Who Bought this Title also Purchased
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif
Reviews (11)
Discussions (17)
Customer avatar
JOHN S November 29, 2023 2:34 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Any updates on the Roll20 conversion?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B December 10, 2023 9:06 pm UTC
CREATOR
The adventure currently being converted is Tyrant of Zhentil Keep. I haven't heard from the Roll20 team for a while, but they have assured me they are working on it.
Customer avatar
Philip L October 29, 2023 3:41 pm UTC
Can I play these solo Adventures easily as a couple, or is it only for one person? :S
Customer avatar
William P August 11, 2022 4:35 am UTC
I know I found this adventure pretty late after its release, but I still absolutely loved both of its parts and I wanted to say so. My favorite aspect by far was trying to figure out which of the items in the Zhentil Keep marketplace might end up being useful to me later on, and (*not sure if this is a spoiler, so be warned*) the creative ways that the author found to seed these items into later encounters was incredibly validating. One thing I was curious about - the firepowder that I bought from a little goblin was one of the more expensive items I acquired, and I don't see a place where I can use it. Should I hold on to it and expect it to be useful in later adventures? Or should I use it up and treat it as gunpowder?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B November 02, 2023 1:40 am UTC
CREATOR
Thanks William! Glad to hear you enjoyed it... and yes, I try my best to include items that are useful later... although some are red herrings, and perhaps could be useful for that character if they go on to do a group game. But by all means, treat as gunpowder for sure! I also sometimes have uses for items in later books. You can get an item in book 1 and have a use for it turn up in book 4! I'm about to do that with a particular encounter in my next one that I'm writing. (book 7, Flight to Undermountain)
Customer avatar
Josh B June 03, 2022 1:52 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I accidentally skipped like half the adventure because I was sleep deprived and not paying enough attention and still had an amazing time. I think that speaks to this one's strength.
Customer avatar
M A B February 23, 2022 9:35 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I agree with previous commenters that it was hard to manage the final battles, as I had to keep flipping back and forth between the stat blocks and the story prompts. I ended up just noting down the prompt number each time I had to go to the end, which was okay, but 'return' links would've facilitated things.

The whole combat with the mage (Shannah) needs to be reworked. First, she starts too far away to do the things she's supposed to do (unless the party has won initiative and closed the range significantly). Second, War Priest doesn't work the way it's being used: you have to make an 'attack' to use it, and then you get a bonus action to attack with a weapon. The 'cast a spell' action isn't the 'attack' action, even if the spell asks you to make an attack. So, in her first turn, when she uses Hexblade's Curse (BA), then attacks with her longsword (potentially earning a bonus action), she's already used her bonus action for the turn, and, further, can't use the War Priest bonus to cast a spell....See more
Customer avatar
Cody S December 13, 2021 10:44 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi! Is there an option to buy just the Map Booklet?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B December 17, 2021 7:57 am UTC
CREATOR
Hey Cody. Why would you want just the maps? I'm curious. The only reason I can think is that you'd obtained a bootleg copy of the adventure through through an illegal pdf site. I hope I'm wrong in that assumption!
Reply
Customer avatar
John H January 03, 2022 1:08 am UTC
Wow. XXX? Dude just asked you a question and that's your douchy response?.
Reply
Customer avatar
Cody S January 11, 2022 3:21 pm UTC
PURCHASER
My thoughts exactly John. I'm actually looking to run a short campaign that visits the Citadel before and after its fall. When I googled citadel maps this book came up, and I thought the maps could be a good resource as I don't want to make my own for this. Figured I could save a couple bucks if I just got the maps.
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B January 12, 2022 7:40 pm UTC
CREATOR
OK, sorry, that probably came across as a bit brusque. My products have been pretty mercilessly pirated across various sites and it's a constant struggle trying to deal with it...I apologise if that came across as "douchey." The thing is, the included maps are just battlemaps for encounter areas. As this is a solo adventure (where you can't reveal whole maps at a time) there aren't really any maps of the layout of the Citadel of the Raven in this product (and none that I could find in any official adventures). I hope that's helpful, and sorry once again for the douchy response!
Customer avatar
Harry S July 25, 2021 3:15 am UTC
PURCHASER
Over it was great, only thing is that there doesn't seem to be an outlet for codeword topography in this or the subsequent adventures.
Customer avatar
Jamie F June 10, 2020 1:31 am UTC
I loved it. What an exciting adventure. I can't wait to start the next one.
Customer avatar
Brittany B May 08, 2020 7:20 am UTC
PURCHASER
Once again, I loved every minute of this and the challenges challenged me more than ever, and now I'm very excited to start the next adventure!!! please write more!!!
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B May 20, 2020 11:15 am UTC
CREATOR
Thanks for the support Brittany, and the next one is now available. I'm also working on the next one beyond that now
Customer avatar
Dale N February 26, 2020 6:53 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Wow, just finished The Citadel after playing DKS and ToZK. Amazing! A great way to 'scratch the DnD itch' when no DM is around. I highly recommend this series. Looking forward to Drums at Daggerford.

Any suggestions for other solo adventures until DaD is released?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B February 26, 2020 9:59 pm UTC
CREATOR
Hey Dale, have you played the next in the series after Citadel? It's called The Tortured Land, a level 4 adventure.
I've also written some shorter solos. Tables of Doom, Dread Vault of Tgozur and Labyrinth of Lies.
Reply
Customer avatar
Dale N March 01, 2020 10:13 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I am actually at the last battle in Tortured Land. So far it has been awesome. I will definitely try the three you suggested. Really want to take my level 5 PC forward so will try to pick the one that is best suited. Well, unless that will put me too high for your next in the series Drums at Daggerford....
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B April 25, 2020 12:35 am UTC
CREATOR
Hey Dale, Drums at Daggerford just released :)
Customer avatar
Joric R January 23, 2019 8:22 am UTC
PURCHASER
SPOILERS.

Just finished my first playthrought, managed to succeed, this one was my favorite so far! The trek trought the mountain pass felt very real and i loved it! I knew i shouldn't had thrust that kindly young lady, but hey what's an insight check? :P

If i had two little negative point, i felt like the final narrated battle were a bit wonky, i really liked the one at the end of Death Knight's squire, but in this adventure, having to read the text then jump at the end of the book then come back broke the pace a bit. Granted i could had copied paste the page elsewhere, but still i felt like it was handled in a better way in the first adventure.

My second point is about lore. The Jaezred Chaulssin is supposed to be an evil patriarchal Vhaerunite sect, it felt pretty weird to have Merinyon lead the group, female Drow in Vhaerunite society are generally the male counterparts of Lolthites society. Beside, i completely expected the drow to turn on me at any point, but then at...See more
Reply
Customer avatar
Joshua F April 29, 2020 12:36 am UTC
PURCHASER
I loved the adventure but I agree that having the battle in partial narrative form was a bit awkward. For example, against Shass, the narrative says she attacks first with her longsword but the map had her 60 or 70 feet away from the PC and Merinyon. Also, I had my character keep Rass's Sun Blade because why wouldn't they but the text says nothing about it.
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B April 29, 2020 7:44 am UTC
CREATOR
Hey Josh
Yeah there was a fair bit I had to tie up at the end of the adventure. Also, in the introduction I do mention that you are free to interpret aspects of the adventure as you wish, so your keeping of the Sun Blade is totally legit. But yeah, as you can understand it's hard to account for every eventuality in a solo adventure. A DM would be able to respond in the moment, but in an adventure like this it's hard to all the different ways that the story might unfold. Thank you for you support though. I've just released the latest one actually, a level 5 adventure named Drums at Daggerford. I hear you regarding the narrative battle, and it's not something I've repeated, but there were a few narrative threads to tie up!
Customer avatar
Gerald W December 22, 2018 6:28 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi. Spoiler here.

I can't find a link. So, during the Ettercapling encounter which happened after entry 326, there is an option to take the dash option and continue north. There is no link to be able to do that. The only option, besides dying, is to win and continue back down the north path. Are they the same thing?

"5. You may flee this encounter by taking the dash action, heading north. The ettercapling will not follow. "

49 - You wipe a foul yellow slime from your blade and start back down the northern path.

Thanks.
Gerald
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B December 22, 2018 8:31 pm UTC
CREATOR
Hey Gerald
Thanks for finding this error! I'll get onto correcting it asap.
In the meantime, just continue to Entry 49 (but ignore the bit about wiping slime from your blade).
Apologies :(
Reply
Customer avatar
Gerald W December 23, 2018 4:23 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks. I'm enjoying it for the third time around.
Customer avatar
Jakub B December 14, 2018 7:17 pm UTC
PURCHASER
OK i might be a part of a very very tiny minority, but when starting the death knights squire i picked an elf, the DROW variant. I find it amusing that my DROW ROUGE reacts the way he reacts, and the reaction of SOME of the characters.
Reply
Customer avatar
M A B February 23, 2022 9:11 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Maybe he should try applying less rouge?
Customer avatar
Clemens K December 04, 2018 12:32 am UTC
PURCHASER
Is it just me or is this adventure module missing a .pdf map booklet? The previous modules all had one, in addition to the .jpg map files. Since I prefer printing out the map booklet and flipping through it while I embark on the adventure with my physical minis, I'd appreciate it if a .pdf map booklet was added to this module as well.
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B December 04, 2018 12:44 am UTC
CREATOR
Hey Clemens
I didn't make one because I thought it wasn't being used, so I just did jpgs for this one.
However, you raise a good point. I will put one together now and have it in the download area for this adventure by tomorrow. How's that?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B December 04, 2018 1:22 am UTC
CREATOR
OK Clemens, the Maps Booklet is now available for download! Hope you enjoy. Regards, Paul.
Reply
Customer avatar
Chad C December 04, 2018 2:45 am UTC
PURCHASER
Nice turnaround :)
Reply
Customer avatar
Clemens K December 04, 2018 12:06 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks! It's really appreciated!
Customer avatar
Matthew C October 27, 2018 5:56 pm UTC
PURCHASER
This is a good adventure, though something I noticed with this and the previous adventures in the trilogy:
I noticed that I frequently kill story-important bosses long before the campaign seems to expect them to die. By my own admission I'm playing a slightly OP homebrew subclass of ranger, but not so OP that I don't think official classes couldn't pull it off either. Is there some contingency in the book for this event that I missed?

What I ended up doing was basically skipping to the next part (IE, selecting "that attack misses", etc, until it got to the part where they died). Would this be "right" so to speak?
Customer avatar
Gerald W October 16, 2018 3:36 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi. I agree with the others that this is a great adventure. When can we expect the next installment?
Reply
Customer avatar
Paul B October 16, 2018 7:53 pm UTC
CREATOR
Working on Tables of Doom 2 at the moment (sequel to the first Tables of Doom, also available on here), then planning on writing three in this series sequentially. Some time in January for the next one!
See 16 more
Narrow Results
$ to $
 Follow Your Favorites!
NotificationsSign in to get custom notifications of new products!















Product Information
Mithral seller
Community Content
Author(s)
Rules Edition(s)
Pages
166
Format
Original electronic Click for more information
Scanned image
These products were created by scanning an original printed edition. Most older books are in scanned image format because original digital layout files never existed or were no longer available from the publisher.

For PDF download editions, each page has been run through Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software to attempt to decipher the printed text. The result of this OCR process is placed invisibly behind the picture of each scanned page, to allow for text searching. However, any text in a given book set on a graphical background or in handwritten fonts would most likely not be picked up by the OCR software, and is therefore not searchable. Also, a few larger books may be resampled to fit into the system, and may not have this searchable text background.

For printed books, we have performed high-resolution scans of an original hardcopy of the book. We essentially digitally re-master the book. Unfortunately, the resulting quality of these books is not as high. It's the problem of making a copy of a copy. The text is fine for reading, but illustration work starts to run dark, pixellating and/or losing shades of grey. Moiré patterns may develop in photos. We mark clearly which print titles come from scanned image books so that you can make an informed purchase decision about the quality of what you will receive.
pixel_trans.gif
Original electronic format
These ebooks were created from the original electronic layout files, and therefore are fully text searchable. Also, their file size tends to be smaller than scanned image books. Most newer books are in the original electronic format. Both download and print editions of such books should be high quality.
File Last Updated:
March 30, 2019
This title was added to our catalog on June 25, 2018.